The Christmas Package

Delivery with a Smile #2

by Megan Derr

Allen has had enough. His latest job went south, his favorite car has been totaled, people keep wanting his lover dead, and on top of all that he still has not a single damn clue what to get his lover for Christmas—a gift he desperately wants to get right, because otherwise he fears he’ll be spending New Year’s alone.

Then he finds himself forced to take an unusual job on Christmas Eve, and Allen wonders if they'll even live long enough to exchange gifts...

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Short Stories, Christmas, Holiday, LGBT

22 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 20, 2011

About the author

Megan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.

meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr

Reviews

[Vio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh yay! More fun and games in this hilarious installment. Jack and Allen are back with an unusual job to deliver with a few hiccups along the way, I am loving these two together. My one big gripe it's way too short, ends just as things get interesting. No this cant be the last of Jack and Allen's adventures, no way. A novel would be fantastic and well worth the wait here's hoping Megan has more up her sleeve.

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allen and Jack continue their adventure in this ( way to short ) story, and I'm hoping for a third part to see them finally get to Allen's place and maybe settle a bit and see more of them together!

[Plainbrownwrapper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this is a good example of how a short short SHOULD be written. This one has character history, worldbuilding, a real plot, excitement, romance, the whole package -- and all in just a few pages.

Seriously, how can you NOT love a story that contains the following paragraph:

"Jack sighed. Allen ignored him. All he'd wanted was for one thing to go right. It should have been an easy day. Wake up. Go to breakfast with Jack. Go kill Mr. Waterstone. Go back to the hotel. Wait 'til Jack fell asleep, then sneak out to try and do some Christmas shopping. The only blemish on his day should have been a phone call from his mother."

This is a funny adventure story about two assassins in love, who are sent on a mysterious assignment to deliver a kitten to someone on Christmas Eve. But there is much more to it than a simple delivery. There are whole crime families involved, betrayal, rival assassins, ginger snaps, that kitten, and the question of happily ever after. Just a typical Christmas Eve, right?

This is evidently a continuation of the previous story Delivery With A Smile , but I haven't read that one yet and I was able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone.

[ttg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this holiday short story (and sequel to Delivery with a Smile), Allen and Jack are pulled into a Christmas Eve job they don’t want to do, even though the potential payout might solve some of their problems (i.e. the contract out on Jack.)

This is a fun quick read that’s set six months after the first short story that introduced the characters. Jack and Allen are more established, both together and as Handler and Contractor, but things are still a little tense since they’re often on the run from those out to get Jack. Overall, it was fun to revisit their dynamic; I appreciate also that Derr wrote both men as very strong characters, that even though Allen is willing to step up to protect Jack, Jack is in no way a victim.

It’s a short story, so a few things were left hanging (or were they just macguffins?) Oh well. I wouldn’t mind reading a longer story with these two, maybe something with more plot and development. (Maybe we’ll get another sequel someday?) In the meantime, if you enjoyed Delivery with a Smile, you’ll probably dig this short as well.

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute sequel. Allen and Jack are back. Allen starts out having another bad day and then they are roped into making a special delivery. There is more funny banter as they make their journey to deliver the goods. I was enjoying it quite well, but it is short and just seems to end. Hope there will be more adventures of Jack and Allen in the future.

[Gieliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 bamfy stars! I knocked out 1 star only because this left me wanting more.

I need this to be a full novel! Or a series even! Please, Megan, pretty please! Jack and Allen are both badass and awesome. I would really love to see more of them.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I'm still not sure what message the kitten was supposed to convey, but I really liked this peek into life for Jack and Allen. Wouldn't mind more, either.

[☾⋆⁺ Nurse After Dark · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Home sounds good, but if I show you where I live, I'll have to kill you if you break up with me."
"I'll keep that in mind."

This short reminds me of Armed & Dangerous in some ways - with the blasé talk about hits, handlers, and all of the travel time making the backdrop of most of the story. I would love to read an expanded version beyond the 33 pages! Jack and Allen were likeable characters but I don't think we got enough time to get to know them well enough. I do wish the Christmas present plot had been properly resolved too.

[Britta ★ Nachteule ★ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Oh I love the chemistry and the humor between Jack and Allen. My only complain it's too short! And it could have had more of Allen's mom!

It should have been an easy day. Wake up. Go to breakfast with Jack. Go kill Mr. Waterstone. Go back to the hotel. Wait 'til Jack fell asleep, then sneak out to try and do some Christmas shopping. The only blemish on his day should have been a phone call from his mother.

Somehow I enjoyed the first story more but I can't say what I missed.

Book #1: Delivery with a Smile ---> My Review

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to read a Megan Derr book for a challenge on the MM boards and picked this one as it was fairly short.
Whilst reading it, I then realized it was book 2 and thought I might have missed some important facts because I hadnt read book 1. Then I found out that book 1 was only 24 pages so I am not sure I would have had anymore info.
Anyway, this was way too short to have a real story and I am not sure what the story was or the purpose of delivering the kitten at the end of the book.
The book really needed to be longer to flesh out the characters.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was nice to revisit Jack and Allen, in this Christmas short story. I would love to spend more time with these two, in a full length novel.

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok short story but the first one was much more charming and cute than this one. I got a little bored in parts of this one honestly and it was too short to be getting bored

[La*La · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still like the heroes, but the 1st novella was more enjoyable. This one was just too short.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

We get to see Jack and Allen six months alter and all is not well in paradise. Everyone is still after Jack to catch or kill and Allen just wants to see his lover happy and safe. A job offered will get them that but at a cost. Nice to see them again though would have loved to learn more about what it means for them in the future.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awfully cute for a hitman and handler story!

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, very short. I didn't like it as much as the first one though.

[Alexa Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, funny, and leaves you hungry for a much longer, more developed story with these two!

[Alec]

A carjacking, followed by a sex scene, followed by criminal syndicate activities—all in forty pages. Merry Christmas to all.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews.

This is a continuation of Delivery with a Smile which I reviewed last week. Jack and Allen have been together for several months, both as lovers and with Jack as Allen’s handler, dealing with the logistics of the jobs he takes on. However, now that the truth of Jack’s identity is on the streets, they are both a target for Jack’s enemies as well, making life a series of tacky hotels in out of the way places. Christmas is nigh, and Allen is determined to get Jack the perfect gift. But Allen also sense something is wrong in their relationship. Jack seems to be snappish and distant at times and Allen’s insecurity comes to the fore. He’s sure Jack is tired of their life and perhaps him, so is doubly determined to find the perfect gift.

He leaves Jack sleeping, to go shopping, only to be picked up by a rival crime family where he’s given an offer he can’t refuse. He accepts the job, against Jack’s wishes (he doesn’t want to be beholden to a crime lord), and they head on their way, running into a series of ambushes along the route, but finally reaching their destination.

I liked that Allen was less confident in this story, you saw him more as a real person, and he wanted to have a normal life. He wanted to take Jack home, rather than live on the run, which was why he agreed to the deal. However I never really found out what Jack’s problem was. Was it just a case of being tired of living out of hotels? Was he getting tired of being a handler? Was he tired of Allen? It didn’t seem like it, but … I never really found out for sure. And my bigger issue? What was the deal with the kitten? Neither the two guys, nor the reader, find out the significance of the crime boss sending a fluffy kitten to a supposedly clean businessman. The guy doesn’t seem surprised when two men with guns arrive on his doorstop delivering a kitten and yet… What does it mean? I wanna know!

So while there were again some humorous moments in this story and I really liked Allen more, I felt a bit confused at the end as I was left with unanswered questions as to the behaviour of Jack and the businessman/crime boss. I like the author’s voice, but it is quite a bit different from her fantasy stories, which is where I think she really shines. Fans of the Jack and Allen will enjoy this one as they move their relationship forward.

[Alaska · Rating 3 out of 5]

This short story didn't feel like a Megan Derr book to me (more Abigail Roux) and I couldn't enjoy it that much because I always felt that there was something missing. The writing quality is as good as always, no argument there. I liked the characters and the plot, too. But after reading I searched for the main story because that felt like a little interlude authors sometimes write to their longer books. There are so many open questions at the end, things which are just shortly mentioned but you want to know more about it. What is with that cat? Who is the Emporer? Who is Xavier Lord? Will Allen have to work for Azura from now on? Will the contract on Jacks head be reversed? What is with Allen's parents?
There is just something missing...and I hope there will be a longer sequel.

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story about two hitmen at Christmas' Eve. It's not a short story with a definite beginning and end, it's more like a slice of life of two people with an interesting job. The interesting job, in this case, is pretty peculiar and mysterious. I liked how well-matched these two guys seemed to be, especially Jack's grumpiness. You'd better read the free story Delivery With A Smile first.

[L-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

My biggest problem with this series in a nutshell is the length. I'm a very greedy reader and I want more, more, more of Allen and Jack. I really enjoyed reading about them again, and I like the way Jack is demonstrating skills that show he is Allen's perfect partner. There are a lot of unanswered questions. Who really are Azure and the Emperor and what's the deal with the ugly kitten? I love this world Ms. Derr created and I would like to see a real full length novel or novella to finally satisfy my hunger for these characters.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

Remember what I said when I felt like reading Delivery With a Smile was like reading a well-written fic? Well, reading this sequel is like reading a fic of a fic and I love it. Add a kitten to the mix, along with some angst brought about by missing their home and miscommunication which made my chest tingle, and the finding-a-perfect-present-for-your-partner dilemma, this was the perfect sequel for me. I am a sucker for these tropes/conflicts, especially if they're written so wonderfully and this one definitely is.

[Caecus Sentius · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great follow up story to "Delivery With a Smile," but what made me happiest about this story is the fact that it was able to tie in characters and an very old plot from Megan Derr's early days of writing. It is a solid story over all that takes place in the same universe as one of her old stories, "Rainbow," pulling in two of it's minor characters, who we were only given glimpses of in the past. Hopefully this is a sign of good things to come!

[Sandra]

$1.99 at Less Than Three Press, kinda pricey for being so short but I liked the first one (which was free), Delivery with a Smile.

[Asynia · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first instinct was to give this one 2 stars, but I realised that I was probably being unfair, since I had such high hope after the wonderful Delivery with a Smile.

Let's just say I'm disappointed, okay.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this more than the first story, but still, something about it I just don't get:) Can't put my finger on it, which is kind of disturbing. I like the humor and the chemistry between Jack and Allen, but perhaps I have to read it again to clear up what didn't work for me:)

[Thorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this story as much as I enjoyed the first one in this verse, or as much as I was hoping I would. Somehow the zaniness of the characters and plot is a bit toned down, despite the thing with the gangster kitten delivery.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not particularly memorable, although it appears that Megan Derr has learned to use an editor and avoid obvious errors. There was barely a sex scene and nothing very intense, not much story, not much explanation. It was fine, but not anything to reread or even think about again.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first one to this and wanted to see what happened to the couple.

Its a nice read but... Too many things are left unanswered and again, the ending comes to quickly...

I liked it but was left a little unsatisfied and wanting more.