Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Watermelon Kisses by Freddy MacKay

[reviews_and_ramblings]

Watermelon Kisses: A Holiday to Remember

Such a beautiful, heartfelt story. So many feels for a short tale. I laughed, I cried. Amir and Esmail warmed my heart. A wonderful, realistic story about two men who love each other and managed to escape from a terrible place, and now try to live in peace and safety in a new country. Relatable and sweet. At times, the almost poetic use of the English language made me sigh with contentment. There's a constant melancholy mood, complete with doses of hopefulness, all of which works well in the holiday setting. Finding inner peace after a trauma can't be easy, and I applaud the main characters for doing so through love and compassion. A truly lovely novella that pulls on your heartstrings.

Part of the "A Holiday to Remember 2017" Series

Life hasn't been easy for Amir since he fled Iran after a brutal imprisonment. The trauma experienced at the hands of the guards left a dark spot on his soul. The one constant in his life since relocating to Chicago has been his lover—now husband—Esmail, whose steadfast love and support has soothed his wounded heart.

​But this Shab-e Yalda, Amir wants to be the one giving his husband something special, because even after the darkest nights, the sun will rise again.

A Holiday to Remember
Freddy MacKay - Watermelon Kisses
Foster Bridget Cassidy - But to Love More
Toni Griffin - Corey's Christmas Bundle
Angel Martinez - Safety Protocols for Human Holidays
Nicole Dennis - Secrets & Silk
Kassandra Lee - Winter Home
Jill Wexler - The Christmas Eve Craigslist Killer
Jayne Lockwood - New Beginnings
Tray Ellis - A Piece of Ourselves
J. Scott Coatsworth - I Only Want to Be With You
Siri Paulson - A New Year on Vega III