Reviewed by Lesley
TITLE: Santa of the Creek
SERIES: Collier’s Christmas Creek
AUTHOR: Sue Brown
PUBLISHER: Self published
LENGTH: 174 Pages
RELEASE DATE: November 18, 2024
BLURB:
Collier’s Creek needs an emergency Santa. Why does it have to be the one man who hates Christmas?
Being the gay brother of the mayor in a small town is a living hell. Dean Hobart isn’t stupid. He knows the town knows he’s gay. Half the men in Collier’s Creek are gay. No one cares. It’s just that no one will talk about it. Not to him and especially not to his brother. Dean lives in this halfway world, and he hates it.
Echo loves his life in Collier’s Creek. He’s the new bartender in Randy’s Bar and Grill. He loves it here. Even the sheriff is gay. When the mayor asked him to be the town Santa for the Christmas festival, of course he said yes. Echo lives his best life, and he loves it.
Until Echo breaks his leg in an unfortunate collision with a small dog and the town scrambles for an emergency Santa. He suggests the mayor’s brother, the cute guy with the saddest eyes Echo has ever seen. No one thinks that’s a good idea, least of all Dean.
Echo isn’t going to take no for an answer. He’s on a mission to cheer up the Santa of the Creek. Whether Santa likes it or not.
Celebrate the holidays with the men of Collier’s Creek, where magic fills the air and irresistible romances are the highlight of the festive season. Six low-angst romances, each filled with heartwarming moments and swoon-worthy romance.
REVIEW:
This is the third (publication date wise) book in the Collier’s Christmas Creek series. You do not need to have read any of the other books in the series to enjoy this one as they occur over the same time period and the stories are not interdependent even though some of the same supporting characters do pop up.
Echo has just moved to Collier’s Creek to be near his Aunt Hebe and her wife Heather, the only family that he still talks to. He has gotten a job he enjoys at Randy’s Rodeo Bar and Grill and a nice place to live with his cat Ariel. He also has some eye candy Dean, the mayor’s brother to keep an eye out for although everyone says he doesn’t have a chance with the man who isn’t openly gay.
Echo’s a real people person who is more than happy to be the towns Santa this year at the mayor’s behest. His first Santa gig is at the old folks home his aunt manages which also happens to be on the same day Dean volunteers there. An unfortunate incident with a small dog means that Echo is injured, and Dean has to step in and help out acting as Santa for all the remaining events. Echo is not going to abandon him totally and agrees to be his elf as long as his ankle allows it.
One of the things I liked about this book is the complexity of Dean’s character. The fact he is gay is the best-known secret in town, but it is something that he is afraid to admit to anymore. As we understand what has happened to make him who is now it all makes a lot more sense and is actually really sad. But this is Christmas in Collier’s Creek and Echo with the support and encouragement of some meddling towns folk (Gloria, Hebe you know who I am talking about) is the man to bring him out of his shell. To make Dean brave enough to start moving on and living his best life.
I am loving this series and am excited for the next one.
RATING: 
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