This Christmas by J.M. Snyder & Secret Santa by J.M. Snyder

[reviews_and_ramblings]

This Christmas by J.M. Snyder

This Christmas is a sweet story about two college guys who are both alone for Christmas time in the campus. Despite what everyone is probably thinking, is not at all a naughty story, and Ned and Bobby are not taking advantage of the freedom of being far from their family in an almost empty college dorm. Ned is still harbouring a broken heart, his boyfriend Jake cheated on him and not in a good way, if there is any good in cheating; he did it very bad, very hurting and it’s not easy for Ned to forget. Doesn’t matter that, from a memory here and there, we can understand Jake was not really Ned’s soul mate, doesn’t matter that probably Ned is better without him, and doesn’t matter if Bobby was Ned’s high school crush way before he met Jake. When Ned meets Bobby on Christmas Eve, and Bobby lets Ned understand he would like to spend Christmas together, Ned is not ready to fulfil this dream. Luckily for Ned, fate has other idea in mind and Bobby is a very persistent guy.

As I said, this is not a story about sex, and actually between Bobby and Ned there would be no sex at all, while instead Ned remembers some past experience with Jake; it’s like the author wants to make a point, Bobby and Ned is a true romance, and they don’t need to get down and dirty to prove the reader. I liked this approach, I like the author focused more on the feelings than on the bodies.

http://www.jms-books.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=54&products_id=74

Amazon Kindle: This Christmas
Publisher: JMS Books LLC (November 28, 2009)

Secret Santa by J.M. Snyder

Secret Santa is a classical office romance, with all the sweet naughtiness that usually these romances convey. Micah is Jewish and so he should not partake in the Christmas festivities, but his office organized a Secret Santa gift exchange and now he has a nice little packet on his desk. Only that inside the packet there is a box of condoms and the message is very, very naughty. In an office of few people, there are only 2 other gay men, and one is in a committed relationship, so Micah is sure the gift is from Brady. Brady is no bad as a chance, but Micah would have preferred for him to be Jonathan. Only that Jonathan is not gay, as Micah found out the very first night they hung out together, when his drunken move on him was kindly rejected, kindly but still rejected. Micah doesn’t believe in Santa, but maybe, if he is a good guy, he will have his dream comes true.

A nice and sexy short story, with a final sweet touch, Secret Santa is a good short interlude during the Christmas season.

Amazon Kindle: Secret Santa
Publisher: JMS Books LLC (December 26, 2010)

This Christmas is included in So in Love: Stories of Gay Romance. Contains the stories:
•Afflicted
•Caught Off Base
•Henry and Jim
•His Song
•Love in the Library
•Maybe
•Skaterboy
•This Christmas

Amazon: So In Love: Stories of Gay Romance
Paperback: 230 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (September 29, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1449520545
ISBN-13: 978-1449520540

Reading List: http://www.librarything.com/catalog_bottom.php?tag=reading list&view=elisa.rolle