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Mistletoe at Midnight

by L.B. Gregg (Goodreads Author)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 301 ratings · 56 reviews

(Part of His For The Holidays Anthology)

Owen McKenzie has traveled to Vermont to spend an old-fashioned Christmas with his family when he finds himself staying at the same inn as his first love. Owen is disconcerted to realize he's still attracted to Caleb Black but refuses to pursue him. Caleb left him once, and Owen's not going down that road again.

Caleb is ready for a...more

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Published December 6th 2010 by Carina Press

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Strawberries for Dessert by Marie Sexton

Best M/M Romance Published in 2010

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Feb 22, 2011 Dina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, m-m, novella

I know the holidays are over, but I was in the mood to read some feel-good Christmas stories and this one seemed to be a fun one. Luckily, it was. :)

Owen McKenzie is about to start a new chapter in his life as St. James' newest veterinarian, but he needs to survive Christmas with his meddlesome family first. Tired of being ambushed with surprise set-ups and mysterious guests at every family event since his ex-boyfriend Keith walked away months ago, he put his feet down with his well-meaning moth...more I know the holidays are over, but I was in the mood to read some feel-good Christmas stories and this one seemed to be a fun one. Luckily, it was. :)

Owen McKenzie is about to start a new chapter in his life as St. James' newest veterinarian, but he needs to survive Christmas with his meddlesome family first. Tired of being ambushed with surprise set-ups and mysterious guests at every family event since his ex-boyfriend Keith walked away months ago, he put his feet down with his well-meaning mother the last time he was home. He thinks he's finally safe from her matchmaking, so imagine his surprise when he arrives at the inn where they're going to spend the holidays and finds Caleb Black playing the piano while Owen's mother bangs out "Jingle Bells".

Caleb is Owen's "one that got away", his first lover, his first love... and his first heartbreak. Now, 15 years later, Owen realizes he's never gotten over Caleb but is wary of getting involved with him again. He's been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it, so thanks, but no thanks. That's what Owen says to himself, but what does Caleb say? Does he see Owen as his "one that got away" too?

This was my first read by Ms. Gregg and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed it very much. The story is narrated by Owen and I'm not too keen on first-person narratives, but I liked Owen's "voice". He was an overall nice guy with a few shortcomings - like his unwillingness to let himself open up - and I felt myself drawn to him. I didn't connect with Caleb on the same level, though. I liked him - or what I got to see of him, I should say. The "problem" is, Owen's family was as interesting as Caleb and I'd dare to say they had as much ~~screen~~ page time as him. Owen's mother made me laugh and want to bang my head on the table at the same time, his father tugged at my heart and his brother was just crazy enough to be the best brother ever. I even liked Owen's ex-boyfriend Keith, which was refreshing considering how Romancelandia is full of despicable and hateful ex-lovers, LOL.

Besides the first-person narrative, I had a bit of a struggle with the way flashbacks were inserted into the story. I liked seeing how Owen and Caleb met and fell in love when they were in their late teens and coming to terms with their sexuality, but some of the flashbacks came out of nowhere and hit me right in the middle of a scene. All things considered, that was just a minor issue I had because I did like Ms. Gregg's writing and had a fun time reading this story. Oh, and I loved the Christmas gifts Owen and Caleb exchanged. Sweet!

Note: This story is also available in His For The Holidays anthology.
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Dec 13, 2012 T'Lar rated it 1 of 5 stars

When in the future, no doubt after reading positive reviews for other books she will write, I find myself wondering whether I should give this author another whirl despite the two so-so books of hers that I've tried and this dreadful novella, I want to remember that the interfering mother in Mistletoe at Midnight actually was given this pearl of dialogue by the author in question: "You should always seize the opportunity for love. When your father and I were in Le Corsaire, we made love in the w...more

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Sep 12, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, glbt, holiday, m-m-romance

"‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!’" – Dr. Seuss

I know it’s a little early to be pushing holiday books. Or maybe, in this case, I’m a little late, seeing as how this book came out in December of 2010. Well, better late than never, as the saying goes, which is pretty much what this lovely little Christmas romance is all about. It’s about the one that got away; it’s about second chances and the fact that it’s better to...more "‘Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, ‘doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!’" – Dr. Seuss

I know it’s a little early to be pushing holiday books. Or maybe, in this case, I’m a little late, seeing as how this book came out in December of 2010. Well, better late than never, as the saying goes, which is pretty much what this lovely little Christmas romance is all about. It’s about the one that got away; it’s about second chances and the fact that it’s better to be fifteen years late reconnecting with your first love than never to have reconnected with him at all. It’s about having everything to gain and nothing to lose and stripping away all the boundaries you’ve built around yourself and embracing the one from your past who will, from this day forward, be your future.

Caleb Black left Owen McKenzie when they were both just eighteen-years-old, but not by his own choice. Caleb was the kid whose father couldn’t stand the thought of having a gay son, so he sent Caleb away to military school to rid himself of the daily reminder of his son’s perceived shortcomings. Caleb couldn’t find it in himself to say goodbye to Owen, and as the weeks turned into months, the months to years, enough time passed that Caleb began to believe in the suggestion that maybe what he and Owen had shared was more fiction than fact in Caleb’s mind, and it was best to leave the past buried in the past.

Enter one meddlesome brother and a best friend who both know neither Owen nor Caleb have ever truly gotten over each other; mix that with an ex who shows up at a decidedly inopportune time, a huge measure of serendipity, a snowstorm, as well as a sprig of mistletoe, and you’ve got the makings of a full-circle romance between two men who’re meant to be, though it took some help to connect the dots, and a long time for them to come together and close that circle.

Mistletoe at Midnight is a story about a first love that’s ingrained so deeply inside that it feels as though it’s always been a part of you, a feeling that never faded but was there all along, and all it needed was for a spark to be lit in order for it to burn again. It’s that love that’s the true gift and the miracle that makes this novella a pretty wonderful and very feel-good sort of read.

TNA (less)

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Jan 09, 2011 Kassa rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Mistletoe at Midnight is the first story of the His for the Holidays anthology but also sold separately. LB Gregg delivers another adorable and entertaining story filled with warm sheets during winter chill. The pacing is very quick and the novella is over before you know it, creating a perfect length to get readers interested and then satisfied. Fans of Gregg and even newcomers will likely enjoy this offering.

The story starts from Owen’s first person perspective. As a vet in a new to...more 3.5 stars

Mistletoe at Midnight is the first story of the His for the Holidays anthology but also sold separately. LB Gregg delivers another adorable and entertaining story filled with warm sheets during winter chill. The pacing is very quick and the novella is over before you know it, creating a perfect length to get readers interested and then satisfied. Fans of Gregg and even newcomers will likely enjoy this offering.

The story starts from Owen’s first person perspective. As a vet in a new town, his family has come to spend the holidays at a nearby inn. Little did Owen know that his match making mom would deliver some holiday mischief. Also at the inn is Owen’s ex-boyfriend and as if that’s not enough Owen’s very first boyfriend is there too. Life is about to get sticky for Owen as he travels the potential emotional mine field while attempting to have a Christmas holiday to remember with his family.

LB Gregg knows how to deliver a quirky and adorable story. This is no different. Owen and his crazy, affectionate family are somewhat over the top but not enough to frustrate or alienate readers. The story relies heavily on coincidence and set ups that aren’t necessarily realistic but they could be in a stretch. I could see where the story was going and while I didn’t buy into it, I could enjoy the wit and charm of the characters anyway. Owen’s family is slightly ridiculous from his embarrassing mom to over the top brother but they’re also exactly like a family that doesn’t have the same boundaries as others. No one knows how to embarrass you quite like family and in many respects the story captures that mixture of affection and exasperation.

The characters are well developed and feel genuine. There is a bit too much emphasis on Caleb and Owen’s past, which is as much of an angst riddled issue as it’s set up to be. Again, a lot of this plays into the coincidences and actions of others which may not always be realistic. Yet if you can get past that issue, Owen and Caleb have good chemistry and no real reason not to get together. Since Owen is the first person narrator, his thoughts and emotions are clear and very open. Caleb is definitely less so but clearly interested in Owen so you know the two will get together.

This is a nice take on the “one that got away” second chance at love theme. Gregg offers some great humor and a lot of warmth and charm to the story. The chilly Vermont setting comes across so well you almost want to be next to a fire while reading and the sparks between Owen and Caleb are sure to warm you up. The pace is very quick and the story is never dull or slow. Instead you easily read this in one sitting and finish it satisfied. I’d easily recommend this one for fans of Gregg as it has all the great strengths of the author and those new to Gregg’s great comic timing and humor, which is not to be missed.
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Dec 08, 2010 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-romance-or-erotica

3.5 stars
Owen McKenzie travels to Vermont for Christmas among his family. However, this year, it comes with a surprise -- Caleb Black, Owen's first crush/boyfriend whom he hasn't seen for 15 years, is also there. Will family crazy meddling/matchmaking can finally bring the two guys together?

I always enjoy the theme of "the one who gets away" as well as crazy family gathering ala "Home for the Holidays". This story has the right start and formula. The McKenzies are the all-around crazy and caring...more

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Dec 06, 2010 Jenre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, romance

Owen is on his way to spend a few days in a country hotel with his family. He’s just about to make some major changes to his life having taken on a new position as a vet in a small town and hopes to have a quiet Christmas with his family – or as quiet as Christmases ever are for the McKenzies – safe in the knowledge that his mother has promised to stop setting him up with blind dates. When he arrives at the hotel, Owen is stunned to find that one of the guests is his first love, Caleb. The attra...more Owen is on his way to spend a few days in a country hotel with his family. He’s just about to make some major changes to his life having taken on a new position as a vet in a small town and hopes to have a quiet Christmas with his family – or as quiet as Christmases ever are for the McKenzies – safe in the knowledge that his mother has promised to stop setting him up with blind dates. When he arrives at the hotel, Owen is stunned to find that one of the guests is his first love, Caleb. The attraction between them is still strong, but there’s a lot of hurt in Owen which proves to be a barrier.

There was much to like about this story which managed to be very different to the previous L.B. Gregg books that I’ve read, whilst also retaining the author’s quirky style. There were a couple of themes in the book which served as the main focus. Firstly, there is the theme of family. The McKenzies are a bright, rumbustious family, headed by the indomitable Patricia whose obvious love for her son often manifests itself in meddling, and an ability to say the most embarrassing (and yet also very astute) things about Owen. Owen is the youngest of the family and as a result is overshadowed by everyone else, especially his older brother, Ryan. I enjoyed the scenes with Owen and his family a great deal, as they said much about how Owen allows his family to dictate his life, how he is eager to please and yet how close and loving they all are as a family. I also liked how as the story progresses, we get to see the internal effect that having such a boisterous family has on Owen, leading to his sense of detachment, and how he begins to break away from that as his relationship with Caleb is rekindled.

The second theme of the story is that of a second chance of love – or rather love rekindled, as neither man seems to have ever stopped loving the other. As Owen is the first person narrator we, at first, only get his side of the story and as with many first person narratives my sympathy was with Owen. The back story of Owen and Caleb – how they met and important points in their past relationship – is skilfully interwoven through the story through a series of short flashbacks which I felt worked well within the narrative. It also allowed me to see the yearning and nostalgia that Owen feels about his time with Caleb which is then underwritten by hurt feelings, and a desire not to be hurt again. The hesitancy Owen feels about Caleb is therefore wholly understandable when placed in context with how badly he was hurt by Caleb in the past.

This story is completely character based. There’s no great mystery, no action sequences (unless you count snowmobiling), no scenes of high drama. Instead there are several beautifully written scenes where the characters interact with one another and we learn about their feelings and motivations mostly through dialogue. This means there’s quite a large cast to the story with the McKensies making up 6 characters, Caleb and his friend May, the two owners of the hotel and Keith, Owen’s ex-lover. Each character has an important role to play in the unfolding drama and so it never felt overcrowded. Even Keith, who for a long time made me wonder what exactly his purpose was in the story, was there to show us something of Owen’s behaviour in his past relationships. Actually, I felt very sorry for Keith by the end of the book, and part of me wishes for a happy ending for him too.

Overall, I was thoroughly engrossed in this story of family and love re-found. The pacing of the story is swift – but not as fast as some of the author’s other books, and there’s lots of the humour often seen in L.B. Gregg’s books, found mostly in the interaction between the family and Owen. In terms of emotional content, this has to be one of the best books I’ve read by this author. The conversations between Owen and Caleb made my heart ache, especially in the way that Owen holds back, fearful of getting too emotionally involved and in the intense yearning between the couple.

If you’re looking for a romantic story with a holiday theme which is strong on character and witty dialogue, but also has an underlying tender emotion, then I highly recommend Mistletoe at Midnight. I enjoyed it a great deal.(less)

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Dec 04, 2010 Mantastic rated it 4 of 5 stars

I’ve always enjoyed L B Gregg and Mistletoe At Midnight is a fun holiday story. The “voice” is a bit different from her earlier stuff. The fun, wit, can-you-believe-this chaos, and strong romance are all still present. Cool family, too. Love Owen’s brother Ryan. The stuff that comes out of his mouth is classic L B Gregg.

The difference seems to be a slightly darker, despair vibe that I haven’t really seen in anything other than the Halloween hit, Dudleytown. The character of Owen, and Caleb to a...more

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Dec 06, 2012 DaisyGirl rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: december-holidays, m-m, genre-romance, i-returned, romance-contemp

2.5 Stars

Owen McKenzie is a hunky veterinarian who was recently dumped by his boyfriend, Keith. He has relocated from Boston to Vermont to start anew. Owen and his family are spending an old-fashioned Christmas at the Evergreen Inn. Surprisingly so is Caleb Black, Owen's first love who left him without so much as a goodbye back in high school. Although Owen is still incredibly attracted to Caleb, he is reluctant to get involved. Caleb, on the other hand, wants a second chance. Owen and Caleb mus...more 2.5 Stars

Owen McKenzie is a hunky veterinarian who was recently dumped by his boyfriend, Keith. He has relocated from Boston to Vermont to start anew. Owen and his family are spending an old-fashioned Christmas at the Evergreen Inn. Surprisingly so is Caleb Black, Owen's first love who left him without so much as a goodbye back in high school. Although Owen is still incredibly attracted to Caleb, he is reluctant to get involved. Caleb, on the other hand, wants a second chance. Owen and Caleb must wade through a meddlesome family, an unwanted ex, and a nasty snow storm to find their HEA.

***CAUTION: SPOILERS***

I thought this book had the makings for a great story. Unfortunately, I was really frustrated with it. I think it's because I didn't like Owen. At times he was okay and I could relate to him, even feel for him but, ultimately, I think he's an ass. It started at the dinner table when Owen referred to losing his virginity with Caleb as an "inconsequential event." Wow. Bastard much? Then, he refused to accept any responsibility for his failed relationship with Keith. Granted, I didn't like Keith. Breaking up via text message? How classless is that? Yet, his goodbye speech to Owen on the porch was telling. And later, Owen admitted to Caleb that he never opened up to Keith because, in the long run, Keith "didn't matter." Although Owen conceded that he sounded incredibly callous, it didn't seem to bother him. He just shrugged it off as a matter of fact. Well, it bothered me. That kind of self-awareness is great but I expect some regret with such a realization, Keith's asshole-ness notwithstanding. Unfortunately, Keith wasn't the only asshole in that relationship and callous assholes do not a hero make in my book.

Caleb was decent enough but a little passive for my taste. Although I enjoyed Owen's family, especially his mom, they got in the way at times. (view spoiler)

Bottom line: this book had the makings for a great plot but ultimately fell flat IMHO.

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Feb 01, 2013 Katharina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary

This is a very cute story. Very christmassy and a bit too sugarsweet to be real but still a good, satisfying read.

Owen wants to celebrate Christmas with his parents and his brother in his new hometown. What he doesn't expect is his first high school love to be there as well. He hasn't seen Caleb in 15 years, but, to his own discomfort, still feels strongly about him. Together with his meddlesome mother and brother, his latest ex-boyfriend Keith who shows up too, and his sick father, this makes...more

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Jan 25, 2011 Janna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Mistletoe at Midnight
LB Gregg

5 out of 5 stars

This is a perfect holiday story! It has a fabulous love couple, some sort of Christmas miracle, an intriguing narrator's voice, this author's distinctive humor and an engaging plot.
Owen is the narrator of the story. He is a vet and he and his dog arrive late for the Christmas get-together of his family at an inn in Vermont. At arrival he discovers that his first love, Caleb, is also staying at the inn. And to make things even more complicated, his mo...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Sas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

Fave Quote: '"I'm sorry." His breath tickled my neck and his voice changed. "I wish I could change it all, but I'm glad for who I am. And you turned out pretty fucking fine, Dr. McKenzie."'

- Storyline - 8/10
- Hero - 10/10
- Hero - 10/10
- Chemistry - 10/10
- Steaminess - 8/10
- Sweetness - 9/10
- Secondary Characters - 10/10
- Setting - 9/10
- Details/Quirks - 9/10
- Banter/Humor - 9/10
- Ending - 10/10
- Ridiculousness - 7/10
- Annoying the shit out of me factor - 0/10
- This book described in one word/phr...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Plainbrownwrapper rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm

A family's Christms reunion, hosted at a small Vermont inn, gets complicated when not just one but TWO of the MC's ex-lovers are unexpectedly included in the celebration. Hijinks ensue.

Whether or not I like a specific story of hers, I can always count on LB Gregg for professional writing -- and this one is no exception. There's a significant amount of feeling crammed into a small space with this short story, and Gregg's efficient prose is able to quickly convey atmosphere and history and emotion...more

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Dec 18, 2010 Katie(babs) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Owen McKenzie’s family has decided to spend Christmas in the picturesque town of Evergreen, Vermont where Owen has moved and will soon work as the town’s new veterinarian. Along with his dog Jake, they’ll stay at a local inn along with his player of a brother Ryan, their cancer stricken father, a matchmaking mother who doesn’t know when to quit, and more than enough uncles and cousins who can’t seem to stay away from the booze. Owen hopes this new change in scenery will give him the tranquility...more Owen McKenzie’s family has decided to spend Christmas in the picturesque town of Evergreen, Vermont where Owen has moved and will soon work as the town’s new veterinarian. Along with his dog Jake, they’ll stay at a local inn along with his player of a brother Ryan, their cancer stricken father, a matchmaking mother who doesn’t know when to quit, and more than enough uncles and cousins who can’t seem to stay away from the booze. Owen hopes this new change in scenery will give him the tranquility he’s looking for. Unfortunately this Christmas may give him major heartburn instead. His mother has not only invited his recent ex-lover, Keith to stay with them, but a blast from Owen’s past comes back to haunt him. Due to his mother’s meddling, Owen’s first love from high school, and Evergreen resident, Caleb Black, is staying at the same inn as well. It has been fifteen years since Owen last saw Caleb; and his attraction for the former rebel hasn’t diminished. Caleb was his first everything, the boy he admired, had a bad crush on, and kissed.

With Keith badgering him, and Caleb giving him mixed signals, Owen’s entire world has become topsy-turvy. He can’t help but think back to those times he and Caleb shared together as teenagers. And when a massive snow storm strands both men alone together in a cabin, Caleb is more than willing to move forward with Owen. For once in his life all Owen has to do is say yes, and take that chance before Caleb walks out of his life again for good.

L.B. Gregg continues to astound me with her writing. Mistletoe at Midnight is the perfect example of how her skills as a writer have grown. This is a nice, tender romance that channels a bit of Dickens’ holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Caleb is not only Owen’s past, shown in nice detail through flashbacks, but his present and future.

L.B. has a great way of showing family camaraderie in all its lovable wackiness from drunk relatives; to a nuisance of mother who acts the way she does all because she wants her children happy. I wished Mistletoe at Midnight could have been longer, just to see more of Owen’s interactions with his sick father. My throat clogged with emotion over this relationship because it shows how parents can be vulnerable, and how they look toward their children to keep them happy. We see perfectly through Owen’s parents’ eyes how proud they are of their son. I also enjoyed Owen and Ryan’s brotherly teasing toward one other.

Mistletoe at Midnight is a short, fast read that really tugs at the heart. It’s a family saga combined with a long lost love reunion romance that’s not to be missed. (less)

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Dec 08, 2010 Smokinhotbooks K.C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

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KC and K-Khan must have done something right this year, cause Santa came a little early, and what did ol’ Saint Nick bring, but an awesome bookie for KC and me. We here at Smokinhotbooks think LB Gregg is the shiznit and when we found out that one of our fav authors had a happy holidays book, it felt as if a Christmas miracle had happened.

So give yourself or a lucky friend the gift of a little Christmas tingle. Nothing says Joy to the World, like boys kissing boys.

Owen McKen...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-mm-read, ebooks-i-own, novella-length, tis-the-season

5 stars

A cute, quick read. I LOVED Ryan. He reminded me so much of myself it's insane. All of his snarky comments made me laugh so hard. I would love to see a book about Ryan and May.

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May 01, 2011 Kirsten rated it 4 of 5 stars

Having never read anything by this author before, I was very pleasantly surprised. This story hit rather close to home, with the father who had cancer, so maybe I was predisposed to like it, but both lead characters were tremendously engaging and the brotherly relationship between Owen and Ryan was perfect. I did think that Keith was a bit of a caricature and he was a little too obviously the romantic rival who never stood a chance, but I guess in a short story like this, you can't have everythi...more

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Dec 27, 2010 Emanuela ~plastic duck~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

A sweet story, full of humor. The main characters are cute, but I think Owen's family was a protagonist by itself, especially the mother. The flashbacks were not really confusing, but somewhat inconsistent and they happened randomly, so I felt dragged out of the story sometimes, but I liked the author's writing and this story made me want to read something else by LB Gregg. I really liked Owen, I could totally relate to him, because I'm a bit socially unskilled too, so his inner struggles felt r...more

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Feb 06, 2012 Grandmat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

Enjoyable book. I read it after reading, or started to read, three rather dismal books in a row. This was refreshing and came at a good time for me. It's a simple love story with a happy ending, but along the way were complications and an endearing, wacky family. I'm rather a sucker for good family relations for gay characters. Unusual in that the secondary characters are fully formed and engaging, as well as Owen and Caleb. Even the ex is sympathetic in the end when he finally reveals a flaw in...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Brandilyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, holiday

Part of the His for the Holiday's Anthology. Caleb was Owen's first love. But one day he just disappeared from Owen's life. Since that day nearly 15 years ago, he has held himself seperate from everyone, his family, his lovers, his friends. After being dumped, yet again, he decides to start over in St. James Vermont. Turns out that is where the one and only Caleb, jus happens to live. Can they find love again over the Christmas holidays?

Somewhat convenient meeting, and I am not sure why they bot...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Elizabetta rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: anth, holiday-or-winter-theme, faves, grat-h

Re-read for the M/M Bingo challenge: 5+ stars

Oh, how lovely it would be to get away to Evergreen Inn, the sprawling B&B farmhouse in a snow encrusted Vermont pine forest straight out of a Currier & Ives picture. LB Gregg paints such a picture perfect setting that pulls you in from the start, you can feel the crunch of fresh snow underfoot and smell the piney boughs.

Owen McKenzie’s family has decided to gather at Evergreen for the Christmas holiday as it’s in Owen’s new backyard. He’s a v...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Kat rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, review, glbt, romance

My review is cross-posted from Joyfully Reviewed: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/new-r...

Owen Mackenzie’s family has come to Vermont for Christmas and Owen is ready for a full-fledged Mackenzie family holiday. He’s just hoping that for once his mother has left her matchmaking skills at home and no actuary waits in the wings hoping to be Owen’s Mr. Right. Upon arriving at the inn, Owen is stunned to find that, while his mother isn’t playing matchmaker, Mr. Right is staying at the very same inn…o...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

First in the "His for the Holidays" anthology, this was a nice "the one that got away/second chances" kind of story. I have a fondness for these, so I really liked this one. I almost wish it had been longer, because I wanted to know more about Owen and Caleb, both as they built their new relationship, and about the years they spent apart (especially Caleb). While Owen as a great viewpoint character, a little selfish part of me wanted a peek into Caleb's head, too. Extremely readable and enjoyabl...more

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Dec 08, 2011 Nikyta rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: carina-press, second-chances, a-sweet-cute-read, ex-lovers, contemporary, bubbles-safe, pets, m-m, teachers, xmas-hanukkah-solstice-etc, comedy

I really liked this story. LB Gregg always has characters that are so likable, funny and I always just want to squeeze them tight, they're so cute.

From the beginning to the end this book is entertaining. Owen's mom constantly trying to set him up with guys was extremely funny to me especially when she is mostly the cause of all of Owen's problems during Christmas. Then there's the brother, Ryan, who I found both funny and charming. The intensity between Owen and Caleb felt very real and the fee...more

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Dec 01, 2010 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, galley

So, the summary is a bit misleading. I thought Owen and Caleb would be stuck in a cabin for the duration of the story, but that's not the case. There is conspiring going on, however. LOADS of it.

I liked Caleb. He knew what he wanted and he went after it. Very admirable. Owen, on the other hand, is a mess. Not that messy is bad. He just needed a push before he realized what he wanted as well.

This was a good, short read and I think I'm going to check out what else L.B. Gregg has written. ;)

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Dec 12, 2010 Jeri rated it 3 of 5 stars

This one was very much so-so for me. A pleasant read, but somehow the characters and their relationship never really caught me ... maybe because I never really felt I believed in the relationship, which is essential for a romantic story. Two men who haven't had any contact for so long ... and it's immediately true love? I like a nice fairy tale, but I just wasn't feeling it.

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Dec 06, 2012 Adriana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: b-i-n-g-o, contemporary, male-male

Short story about a guy who ends up spending Christmas with his first love, the one-that-got-away... and his last ex-boyfriend.
I was a little exasperated by Owens meddling family, but they did all because they love him.
It was funny at times and a little sad, but in the end it's a sweet holiday love story.

Warning: Flashbacks

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Dec 04, 2012 Shaz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, holidays

This is a lovely short Christmas story about finding love again after it being lost for almost 15 years. Owen has never quite gotten over Caleb's leaving without any warning when they were teenagers. And when he meets him again during a Christmas celebration with his family he's not sure he's ready to have his heart broken again.

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Jan 12, 2012 Pia Veleno rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: queer-mm, source-collection

The writing was good, and the two MC's interesting, including the flashbacks sprinkled through the story. Unfortunately, the over-the-top meddling mom and brother (and the brother's xmas gift) didn't sit as well with me.

Gregg can definitely write, however, (so as long as it's not a Carina Press book with their anti Kindle format stance,) I'd check out another story from her.

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Dec 19, 2010 Camilla ~ ♥Qhuay At Last♥ ~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

What a cute love story to help you find your Christmas spirit..

I thought this was a funny and sweet short story about two guys that never stopped loving each other..

I really loved Owen and Caleb together, and with the awesomeness that is Owen's mother and brother, I thought this was a great read..

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Jan 14, 2011 Lacey Savage rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow. I loved this book from the first word to the last. An engaging first-person voice, beautiful writing, and fabulous characters made this one a real winner for me. I loved the way the author incorporated the holiday season into the plot, as opposed to just using it as a backdrop. Great, great book. (A+)

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Other Editions (2)

Genres

Romance > M M Romance

47 users

Contemporary

15 users

Holiday

13 users

Holiday > Christmas

12 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

8 users

Romance

7 users

Glbt

5 users

Short Stories

5 users

M M Romance > M M Contemporary

4 users

Adult

2 users

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About L.B. Gregg

LB Gregg (Lisabea) writes fun, fast-paced contemporary male/male romances for a variety of publishers including Samhain, Musa, and Carina Press. Her wildly successful Men of Smithfield books feature hot, hunky men looking for love in small town New England. You can find more information about LB, The Men of Smithfield, and her fun series Romano and Albright at www.lbgregg.com.

More about L.B. Gregg...

Books by L.B. Gregg

Catch Me If You Can (Romano and Albright, #1)

Trust Me If You Dare (Romano and Albright, #2)

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