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Christmas Story Special Review

Renee Stevens

Entry posted by Renee Stevens in Reviews

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Well, it's Christmas Eve. Hope everyone is ready and if you celebrate, hopefully Santa visits you tonight. Make sure you're in bed early! To help you get into the holiday spirit, we asked the review team to pick some of their favorite Christmas/Holiday stories and write a short review. If you haven't already read these stories, they are definitely worth checking out. And maybe, if you have an extra moment or two during a lull in the festivities, leave the authors a story review!  Now, I'm going to leave these with you as I finish with the preparations for Baby J's very first Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas

from the Gay Authors Staff

 

 

 

Last Christmas
Comicfan

Reviewer: Parker Owens
Status: Complete
Word Count: 10,821

 

There are so many good things to say about this story, I’m not sure where to begin. That’s probably why it’s a favorite Christmas tale. For one thing, it’s about healing, a theme toward which I naturally gravitate. The central character, Frank, has suffered traumatic loss after traumatic loss. Tragedy and misfortune have taken so much away. He’s changed his profession from trainer to artisan; now he ekes out a living selling the products of his hands.  He’s numbed by it all and seems beaten down by life.


Yet something stirs inside Frank when Chris walks into his store.


We see a friendship unfold and something potentially wonderful begin to flower for Frank. What warms the heart is watching Frank thaw, seeing him reclaim himself from his pain. The reader can cheer him on, willing Frank to see what ought to be plain.


Of course, isn’t that an experience common to so many of us? We miss something splendid and incredible right under our noses, just as Frank does. Fortunately, he finds the courage to reach for that very thing, only to see it become something far more fantastic than he expected. 

 

Category: Fiction   Genres: Fantasy, Romance   Tags: gay, love, brothers, holiday  Rating: Everyone

 

 
Wildone
Reviewer: Puppilull
Status: Complete
Word Count: 3,287

 

Christmas… The time for cheer and goodwill toward all. However, the sweetness of the season can put you in a foul mood, just for being too much and sometimes fake. If this happens, I would prescribe an antidote in the form of Meeting Santa, a story devoid of Christmas coziness. It revolves around a man hellbent on proving Santa exists, and he has some big plans for the jolly, old man if or when they meet. Anticipation builds throughout the short story and your curiosity will mount for every paragraph. With a few, well selected lines, Wildone outlines his main character, a man who is rather bitter. Instead of letting the injustice of life paralyze him, he’s taking action. As an added bonus, the story will teach you quite a bit about what preparations and equipment are needed for a trek to the North pole.

 

Category: Fiction   Genres: Adventure   Tags: mature adult, no sex, modern, holiday, christmas  Rating: Mature

 
 

Muscle Bear Santa
Carlos Hazday

Reviewer: Timothy M.
Status: Complete
Word Count: 2,992

 

If you like stories with lots of banter between hunky guys, Muscle Bear Santa is the perfect choice. Plus the banner will probably make you wish for a Christmas Night visit from this special Santa – or any night he’s free. :P Enjoy the warm feeling of spending time with two great guys who care about each other and people around them.

 

Category: Fiction   Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance   Tags: young adult, adult, gay, north america, light-hearted, christmas  Rating: Mature

 

 
Mann Ramblings
Reviewer: Renee Stevens
Status: Complete
Word Count: 5,599
 
I kind of forgot how twisted this tale really was until I re-read it for this review blog. We all push the limits sometimes, and Mann Ramblings is no exception, which he clearly shows in this little tale. A moment of jealousy, peppermint schnapps, a riot, and a scandal that ruins Christmas send Rudolph far from the North Pole to escape the chaos. Sounds a bit messed up, right? Well, that’s because it is. I guarantee that after reading about Rudolph’s Christmas, you won’t look at Santa, Rudolph, or the elves in the same way as you did previously. At least, that’s the general consensus among those who have already read Rudolph's Tijuana X-mas. Mann freely admits that brandy may have been involved when he wrote this little Christmas tale, though he claims that was the only mind-altering substance involved. Regardless, this little tale will have you shaking your head and laughing out loud from the first word to the last.
 

Category: Fiction   Genres: Comedy, Fantasy   Tags: mature adult, celebrity, 20th century, holiday  Rating: Mature

 

 
craftingmom
Reviewer: Blind Ambition
Status: Complete
Word Count: 5,674

 

The true spirit of Christmas is often lost in the commercialism and capitalism that we so often see during the holiday season. Christmas is a time to share with family and friends. A time to cherish past memories. More importantly, Christmas is a time to give of your time and heart. Craftingmom reminds us of these simple things in Santa's Little Helper, as we see the unfolding story of Chase. An innocent, bright-eyed child asking the mall Santa for a larger car to sleep in. How will Dean, Santa's aide, provide a little spirit and hope to Chase and his father Tony? This is a heart-warming story that represents the true magic of the holiday. A reminder of compassion, love, and empathy. Humanity at its best!

 

Category: Fiction   Genres: Drama   Tags: child, young adult, gay, christmas  Rating: Everyone

 
 

The Sweater
Valkyrie

Reviewer: Aditus
Status: Complete
Word Count: 1,152

 

For Dean and Tommy everything starts with a joke, which then becomes their first Christmas tradition. Add another family member, and some more well-loved rituals and routines, and you have an amazing Holiday season to look forward to every year. Until everything changes and the bliss of the past seems to be out of reach. 

 

Their daughter Ashley thinks she has found the solution. By gift-wrapping the joke that started it all, she hopes to free all the beautiful memories locked away, and pave the way into a hopeful future.

On a personal note: I couldn’t help buying an unbelievably kitschy novelty mug, big enough for the first portion of much needed coffee on Christmas Morning. 

 

Category: Fiction   Genres: Historical, Romance   Tags: holiday, christmas  Rating: Mature

 

 

Since this is the last review for the year, I just wanted to take a moment to thank the review team. You all are awesome, and I so appreciate your hard work and the time that you have spent providing me with reviews for the blog. I look forward to working with all of you in 2019!  I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and the absolute best in the coming year. Thank you, again.

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northie

northie 20,948

Posted (edited)

Well ... Mann's story certainly got my Christmas Eve off to a good start.  :lmao:  Hopefully I'll get to the others as well. Thanks to the review team.  :) 

Edited by northie
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Valkyrie

Valkyrie 109,984

Posted

  • Site Administrator

These are all well worth reading.  Comicfan's "Last Christmas" is one I like to re-read every Christmas.  Renee is so right when she says you will never look at Santa and Rudolph and crew the same again after reading Mann's story.  :unsure: :rofl: I have to commend Puppilull for her review of Wildone's "Meeting Santa".  :unsure: Remind me to never piss Steve off... *runs to LPW to steal the shiny*  :whistle: 

 

Thank you so much, @aditus for the lovely review of "The Sweater".  :hug::kiss: 

Quote

On a personal note: I couldn’t help buying an unbelievably kitschy novelty mug, big enough for the first portion of much needed coffee on Christmas Morning. 

 

:gikkle:  I'm waiting until tomorrow to open this, but :gikkle::hug::kiss:  :wub::glomp: 

 

Thank you to the review team for your hard work all year. I look forward to seeing what stories you all recommend next year.  :hug: 

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comicfan

comicfan 13,404

Posted

Awww. Thanks for highlighting Last Christmas. Mann's Rudolph story is ... well, different. Lol. :rofl:

 

The rest are new to me so off to read.

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Puppilull

Puppilull 18,786

Posted

villfarelser_god_jul.jpg

 

Greetings from Sweden! Vikings do it violently... 

 

(Santa says "Merry Christmas. And no funny business.")

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Timothy M.

Timothy M. 50,193

Posted

Quote

 

Since this is the last review for the year, I just wanted to take a moment to thank the review team. You all are awesome, and I so appreciate your hard work and the time that you have spent providing me with reviews for the blog. I look forward to working with all of you in 2019! 

 

You're welcome @Renee Stevens  I'm glad we've been able to help, including Cia who posted the reviews while you were focused on a more important part of your life. Godt Nytår fra Danmark :hug: and see you in 2019.

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