Liam LivingsCritiques

This was a first read for me from this author and I liked it! William and Luke, both not wanting a relationship for reasons but they work and after some mild drama and angst we have an enjoyable read with a HEA

I was expecting the usual piece of fluff but was happily surprised. While the story followed the holiday trope, there was enough humor and introspection to hold my attention. Mr. Livings is new to me but I hope to read more of his books.

I just couldn't fully love this. Right off the bat, Brad annoyed me. He was a bit of an arse, and I couldn't find his qualities endearing. I was hoping that I would begin to like him a lot more as the story progressed, but I found that I just couldn't get into the story. There was obviously something about James that made Brad stop looking around and consider dating, but I had a real hard time pin pointing what that was. It wasn't written in a way where I could experience it with them and grow to like them more; I was just really told that it happened and was forced, like James, to believe it was real. James' wishy washy attitude bothered me a little also. I understand why he would be hesitant, and I understand why he would change his mind, but I also understand that it was hard to believe Brad could be all in when I couldn't feel it myself. What really bothered me, though, was the way the wishy washy was written. It's hard to explain. Sorry! Not a bad story. I just wish there was a bit more substance surrounding their feelings and connection.

David and Christian from ‘Christmas Serendipity’ are back, and after last year’s awful Christmas, when Christian’s parents told him “not to bother” to visit now that he turned out to be gay, I thought they deserved a better one this year. But while they have agreed to stay with Christian’s parents, much to David’s worry, the initial contact does not look very promising at all. It will take some doing for things to get somewhere near acceptable for two men who love each other as much as these two.

David is not looking forward to Christmas the way it is currently planned. Theoretically, now that Christian’s parents are speaking to them on a regular basis and have invited them for a Christmas visit, things should be okay. He is still worried about making a good impression, and about them judging him “not enough” for their son. Then he overhears Christian on the phone discussing sleeping arrangements – and David loses it. Separate rooms? Especially for Christmas? Why should he even bother? But as his best friend, Tony of the fabulous cocktails, tells him: “do it and think of Christian”. That made me laugh, but it also made me sad that some parents are so bigoted. As it turns out, there is more to the story, and I loved how Liam wrote the rest of it.

If you want to know how Christian and David are doing a year after ‘Christmas Serendipity’ (which you should definitely read first), if you like a distinctively British touch with your Christmas stories, and if you’re looking for a read that deals with real problems but does so in a very sweet touch, then you will probably like this novella. Oh and the ending? Absolutely perfect!


NOTE: This book was provided by JMS Books for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.