My Review for His For The Holidays Anthology

His For The Holidays
Josh Lanyon, LB Gregg, ZA Maxfield & Harper Fox
Carina Press
Contemporary M/M Holidays
4 out of 5

Four stories of families, Christmas antics and the magic of the season as these talented authors transport the reader when reading HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS.

First up is author L. B. Gregg’s Mistletoe At Midnight, a charming tale of first love revisited, forgiveness and magic all within the confines of a family who enjoy meddling. Can a man find a way to have his first love in his life again this Christmas?

 I have to admit, this author’s contribution had me in stitches. I loved the dynamics between Owen and his family, who all seemed to want to meddle in the poor man’s love life. The characters fairly stepped of the page and within a matter of minutes I was drawn into a story that had me flipping the pages with eager abandon, looking to see what would happen next for Owen and Caleb. If you haven’t read on of this author’s books, try the latest novella from LB Gregg and get ready to grin your way to a wonderful Christmas.

Next up was Harper Fox’s Nine Lights Over Edinburgh and one that I found a little too heavy for this anthology. Don’t get me wrong, it was a well written story but it felt out of place with the other books and light-heartedness of the stories in HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. The characters were well written and the story flowed nicely. I haven’t read one of this author’s books before and plan to check out the backlist to see if there are any more to read over the holidays. 

Third up is I Heard Him Exclaim by Z. A. Maxfield and found it utterly charming. The story was well told, the characters well written and the romance between Steve and Chandler was sweet and at times, so very hot I thought the computer screen was going to melt. I haven’t read one of this author’s books before but found the novella in this anthology to be a perfect introduction to this author’s writing. I am eager to see what else I can find to enjoy in the backlist of titles by this author.

          Finally, author Josh Lanyon delivers Icecapade, a story of a jewel thief turned novelist and his nemesis, FBI detective finding love after a decade of being apart. Just one teeny problem…the detective thinks he is the one who is robbing houses and is determined to put Noel behind bars…for good. Can Noel show Robert that he is a reformed thief?

          Josh Lanyon is a master at creating complex characters and making them completely lovable. Noel and Robert is a perfect pair together and though Robert comes after Noel, convinced he is a thief still, Noel finds a way to melt his icy heart. Vulnerable and sexy, the way this author creates his books leaves the reader with magic from beginning to end. I am hoping the author comes back to Noel and Robert again in the future. I would love to read more about them.

          HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS is a perfect mix of fun and lightheartedness within the magic of Christmas. Each author delivers a wonderful novella that will keep you highly entertained from beginning to end. If you are looking for a sweet anthology to explore, then grab HIS FOR THE HOLIDAYS and settle in for an afternoon of reading fun. I look forward to finding out what these authors have in store for their readers in the future.

Idea Farm

Where do you get your ideas? It’s the question everyone asks—and like most authors, I can only say from the recesses of my cracked mind. However—the other day I was tooling around looking up an old movie for a friend and I got distracted reading the brief plot lines IMDB has listed for all their movies.

Wheels began to turn.

And I thought—Good God. These could all be used for gay romances! Just move one word or change a he to a she and --ta da!-- an endless supply of possible storylines for future LB Gregg m/m comedies. It's an IDEA FARM.

This thought makes me breathe a sigh of relief happy.

Without further ado—here’s five random picks of

Movies That Could Be Turned Into LB Gregg Novels**

(**Based on their plot line as told by IMDB. I'm not STEALING. I'm simply...doing something else that is totally on the up & up)


The Good The Bad and The Ugly

A bounty hunting scam joins two men in an uneasy alliance against a third in a race to find a fortune in gold buried in a remote cemetery.

That’s what I call Possible Historical Cowboy Menage. M/M/M. This could be a new arena for LB.


Alfie

For Alfie, the only real life is sex life; only then can he kid himself he is living. Sex is not used as the working-class boy’s way to ‘the top’…

D/s. Is this just me? I see the words 'boy' and 'top', not to mention sex x's 2, and I know this could be a winner.


The Trap

A trapper takes a mute boy as his unwilling wife to live with him in his remote cabin in the woods.

Does anyone out there remember Oliver Reed? I saw this movie when I was a young teen and…it was an eye opener. I think it would play better as a sort of Victor Banis inspired Bear/cub story. Think of this also as a kinky capture fantasy book.


Sabrina

A playboy becomes interested in the son of his family's chauffeur. But it's his more serious brother who would be the better man for him.

OK total pronoun confusion. I see that...but...let's just tinker a bit, shall we?

A playboy becomes interested in the son of his family's chauffeur. But it's his more serious older brother who would be the better man for Sabrina.

This would make a fine romantic comedy for men, if you can find it in your heart to love a man named Sabrina. Best of all it works that May/December trope I adore. Who's the male equivalent to Audrey Hepburn? Would Montgomery Clift play Sabrina? Yes. Yes he would. Oh man. Uhm...this is hot. ::fans self::


Pretty in Pink

A poor boy must choose between the affections of his doting childhood sweetheart and a rich but sensitive playboy.

Oh. That's exactly the kind of story I would write....with...a playlist and perhaps a car chase thrown in to keep things fun--and then sex in that car with Echo and the Bunnymen playing over the radio. 0_o

Although--why does he have to choose? Could this be a contemporary m/m/m coming of age rom com?

::LB runs off to scribble madly::

Thanks Dawn for inviting me today! You can catch my latest release, Catch Me If You Can, on Kindle, at ARe, or at MBaM (#3 today!) I'm running a special contest on my blog--up for grabs are two $15 gift certificates.

About LB:

LB Gregg began writing in the spring of 2008 at the encouragement of author pal, Josh Lanyon. She never once looked back (although occasionally she looked down and tripped over her own feet). 2009 saw the publication of her best selling Men of Smithfield series.

LB lives in the Connecticut hills with two lazy dogs, three above-average children, and a smoking hot husband who, thank the good Lord, loves to cook.

You can find LB at her blog, Noseinabook or visit her website www.lbgregg.com .