I’ve got some more holiday book reviews! I know, I know, I’ve done a lot of Christmas posts this year, and I might still do one or two more quick reviews, but I’ll be getting back to the usual stuff soon. Anyway, most of these are about Christmas, but one is more about general holidays with a bit of Hanukkah. Most are m/m. One is a collection of short stories. And yes, two have the words “Christmas Spirit” in the title. I enjoyed all of these, even if I had some issues here and there. So here are my thoughts, and Merry Christmas if you’re celebrating!

*Quick Reviews are posts where I share summaries and links for reviews I’ve recently posted to Goodreads and Amazon but don’t plan to make full review posts for here on the blog. Tag links are at the end.*

The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish

In The Remaking of Corbin Wale, a man moves back home to start his own bakery and meets a man who steals his heart but might be cursed for anyone he loves to die.

This was a sweet, lightly magical holiday romance with a sort of floaty, ethereal feel and nice characters. Also, one of the characters might have been neurodivergent, though it wasn’t stated in text.

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Audiobook*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes lightly magical stories, sweet m/m holiday romance, possibly neurodivergent characters, and a fairytale-esque feel.

Tags:
Fantasy, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Holidays, Hanukkah, LGBT+, Standalone, Gay (Main Character), Gay (Love Interest), Neurodiversity, Other Supernatural, M/M Romance, M/M Explicit Sex, Solo Explicit Sex, Audiobook

My Full Review:
Goodreads | Amazon

My Christmas Spirit by K.C. Wells

In My Christmas Spirit, a man’s last boyfriend comes back as a ghost to help him move on and find love again.

Parts of this were silly and unrealistic, but the romance felt genuine and sweet, and the author managed to keep it out of heavy, sad territory by focusing on the present and the new romance.

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: eBook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes silly but sweet m/m Christmas romance and stories that deal with heavy topics but stay light.

Tags:
Fantasy, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Holidays, Christmas, LGBT+, Standalone, Gay (Main Character), Gay (Love Interest), Ghosts/Spirits, M/M Romance, M/M Explicit Sex

My Full Review:
Goodreads | Amazon

In Christmas Spirit, a kitchen worker and his mean boss get stuck in a mysterious hotel together over Christmas and fall for each other.

Christmas Spirit by Ali Ryecart

In Christmas Spirit, a kitchen worker and his mean boss get stuck in a mysterious hotel together over Christmas because of a snowstorm and fall for each other.

This was a cozy Christmas romance with hate to love, forced proximity, age gape, only one bed, and a touch of magic.

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes cute and cozy m/m Christmas romance, a touch of magic, age gap, forced proximity, and hate to love.

Tags:
Fantasy, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Holidays, Christmas, LGBT+, Standalone, Gay (Main Character), Gay (Love Interest), M/M Romance, M/M Explicit Sex

My Full Review:
Goodreads | Amazon

The Vet’s Christmas Familiar (Familiar Mates Book 4) by TJ Nichols

In The Vet’s Christmas Familiar, an injured shifter stuck in eagle form is brought to a vet who can communicate with animals and is confused why he can’t with this one.

To be honest, this wasn’t very Christmassy, but I loved the premise, there was some cool magic and shifting, and the romance was nice. Don’t worry that it’s technically part of a series, it’s a complete standalone.

*Rating: 3.5 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes shifters, the power to communicate with animals, familiar/fated bonds, the start of a romance more so than the relationship after, and stories that start tragic but end hopeful.

Tags:
Fantasy, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Holidays, Christmas, LGBT+, Standalone within a Series, Gay (Main Character), Bisexual (Love Interest), Shifters, Witches, M/M Romance, M/M Explicit Sex

My Full Review:
Goodreads | Amazon

A Christmas Carriage Ride by Kitty-Lydia Dye

A Christmas Carriage Ride is a collection of eight short stories based on classics, all taking place around Christmastime.

I tend to like short stories in which the characters stand out or the plot has a unique twist, whereas these were more about feel and atmosphere, but I think it’ll be really enjoyable for readers who like that and/or who love classics like Phantom of the Opera, Dracula, Sleepy Hollow, etc.

*Rating: 3 Stars // Read Date: 2020 // Format: Ebook via TTS*

Recommended For:
Anyone who likes short collections, classics, and stories that aren’t too Christmas-y but have a slight holiday feel.

Tags:
Fantasy, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Holidays, Christmas, Retelling, Anthology/Collection, Standalone, M/F Hint of Feelings or Romance, M/F Established Relationship, No Explicit Sex

My Full Review:
Goodreads | Amazon