Too Hot for Santa

by Helena Stone

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Jonah Walsh’s fledgling acting career in Dublin comes to an abrupt end when a video of him in a compromising position goes viral on social media. The offer of a part in a Christmas play in Sydney, Australia arrives at exactly the right time, although he isn’t sure about celebrating Christmas in the scorching heat. Nick Claseman isn’t happy that the actor he and his sister have hired will be occupying his granny flat. As for Jonah’s enthusiasm for Christmas, Nick doesn’t get it. He hasn’t decorated or celebrated in years.

When Jonah turns out to be anything but a stuck-up starlet with delusions of grandeur, and Nick proves he’s not usually grumpy and borderline hostile, the two men gravitate toward each other. Their attraction morphs into something more when Jonah reacquaints Nick with the pleasures of Christmas and Nick shows Jonah the beauty of Australia. But Jonah is only Down Under for a few months. It would take a Christmas miracle for them to have a future together.

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

53 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2018

About the author

Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.

The urge to write did come as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a delightful shock. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters and stories in her head and heart with the rest of the world.

Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish countryside she divides her time between reading, writing, long walks, and her part-time job in a library. A grown-up daughter and her ever-loving and patient husband make sure she occasionally takes a break too.


You can find Helena here:

Website:
http://helenastone.blogspot.ie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helena.stone...

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HelenaStone63

Reviews

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely sweet, adorable, sexy and charming love story during a Christmas down under! Absolutely loved Nick and Jonah so much! The author manage to pack a lot of story in so few pages. Excellent!

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4 stars

Author Helena Stone has re-released her holiday story, Too Hot for Santa, just in time to please anyone who loves seeing a scrooge turn into a believer. Nick is your classic Ebenezer due to a rough break quite a while before Jonah ever arrives on the scene. Despite Nick’s grumpiness, Jonah is an infectious ball of energy who happens to love Christmas. He sees his time in Australia as a way to reinvent his career, which has taken a serious detour over a scandal that he never intended to happen. With little angst and lots of romance, Stone weaves a sweet story of second chances and happy ever afters.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Jewel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas short. Set in Australia, Too Hot for Santa isn't the usual Christmas fare. No snow, no caroling, and only as festive as it really needed to be. For a person, like me, that doesn't get too much into the Christmas spirit, it was the perfect balance of festive and real.

Jonah Walsh is heading to Australia, from Ireland, after being caught in flagrante delicto ... and his acting gigs dried up. He just needs to lay low for a while and people will forget, right? But who knows, a Christmas play in Australia might be just the thing to take his mind off things.

Nick Claseman is grumpy when his sister tells him she cast a new person in their play, and oh by the way this person will be staying with Nick. He doesn't have high hopes that this new actor will be more than an entitled brat.

Both Jonah and Nick were in for a surprise when t turned out they got along!

This story is just what I needed today. It didn't feel too abbreviated, their attraction felt real and though the timeline is compressed, it didn't feel too insta. That's a win, in my book.

---------------------
ARC of Too Hot for Santa was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Hot for Santa was a treat, and then some, to read. Nick does not come off well in the beginning and I was apprehensive of his unwarranted grinchy attitude, but it didn’t take long for him to redeem himself and become a character I wanted more of. Jonah is such a likable and genuine character you can’t help but like the guy and want all good things for him. I think what I appreciated most was that neither of them were perfect, they both had good intentions and they communicated well. They read like real and relatable people, so it was easy to connect with them. All of this added up to a story that flowed well and the relationship between Nick and Jonah moved along with no manufactured angst or miscommunication, a perfect formula for a short story. I’ll be happy to read this one again next holiday season.



**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irish actor Jonah gets an offer to appear in an Australian Christmas play, and not a moment too soon as his viral video "of a barely known gay actor receiving a blow job in the toilet of a club" destroys his acting options in Dublin. Nick, who is financing the theatre production along with his sister, is convinced that Jonah is an entitled actor-type and is prepared to despite him. But once Nick settles Jonah into his "granny flat" and stops being such a jerk, the two men start an easy friendship complete with sightseeing and some pretty hot sex. This is a sweet story that feels complete in the 50+ pages, ending with a HEA epilogue. 4 stars.

I received an ARC from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jonah Walsh, as Irish as the day he was born, lands in Sydney to take an acting job offer that came in the nick of time. He was caught on camera getting a blowjob and the clip went viral so fast his agent dropped him and he lost his acting job. Fortunately, this offer to spend the summer months in Sydney came in just as he was despairing over his life choices. Now all he has to do is get used to the unbearably hot summer temps in Australia and to ignore the equally hot Nick Claseman.

Nick is technically Jonah’s boss, though his sister is the one who hired him for the play they are both producing. And Nick’s not too happy that she offered Jonah the granny flat at his house. But when he meets Jonah and the two get to know one another, he’s more than happy to spend time with him—in and out of bed.

This is a pretty lighthearted tale of a grumpy Aussie who is positively affected by a happy-go-lucky Irishman. By the time they get to opening night, the two have become inseparable and the possibility of Jonah staying in Australia is something they both want.

I liked the characters and the tour of Australia readers get to see along with Jonah, but what bothered me is that Nick never seemed to work. Though stated early on that he and his sister were producing the play, any mention of production and scheduling always revolved around her. Though it may be a minor point, it took away plot substance for me. Nick’s role in the book was more of a roommate lover and less of a boss or authority figure. Others may not be bugged by this detail and it is, overall, a sweet holiday story.

ARC provided by the publisher through Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words in exchange for an impartial review.

[Brigham Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Helena Stone’s work and “Too Hot for Santa” is no exception. It’s a sweet, fun romance set in Sydney with one main character who is Australian and another who is Irish. The setting is lovely and so are the characters. While their first introduction is less than stellar, it’s easy to see why their feeling for each other build quickly from there and the chemistry between them is as sizzling as the weather! The glimpse into the future at the end is delightful and this holiday romance set down under should be at the top of your list!

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this tale of Christmas down-under! Nick and Jonah are wonderful together and the glimpses of Sydney and the surrounding area just added to the charm. This has been a bumper year for Christmas/Holiday stories and Ms. Stone's skill with words pushed this one to the top of my list of favorites. The epilogue is perfect and wraps up the story in the best way.

[Ruthie Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~

This is a really cute short story - Irish actor has his chances of success as an actor seriously affected by an unfortunate social media video ... so he travels half way round the world for a second chance on the stage. His new landlord and boss, Nick is not very excited by his house-guest's arrival, but maybe Jonah will bring the cheer of the season with him.

It is fun to get some insight into the rehearsals for the new show, and be a tourist along with Jonah. And, it is never easy to make such a short story have depth, but it worked well here, and definitely gives off good holiday vibes.

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, steamy read in a hot Christmas somewhere in Australia. With a infamous Ireland actor and the Australian producer.
This an opposite attract and enemy to lover's short.
It was actually a very enjoyable short to devour.
Recommended!

[Sara]

Cute but it took me over a week to finish, so take that for what's worth.

[Sunne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and sweet quick read, no drama. 3.5 stars

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new beginning can be important for many reasons, but for Jonah – an actor who is just about to be successful in the UK – it is a recent scandal that spread across the internet and ruins any chance for a good next role. What follows is a cute story about the positive effects of facing the unknown, trying something new, and learning to deal with an entirely different climate. Add some great scenes about Jonah’s adventures when sightseeing in and around Sydney, and you get a very entertaining story.

When Jonah gets an offer to take part in a Christmas play in Sydney, he figures Australia may just be far enough away for him to be able to recover from the brouhaha before returning. The one thing he is less sure about is the heat of the Australian summer – and it begins to bother him as soon as he arrives. From the heat to the unexpected intensity of the sun, from pool parties for Christmas to his host’s attractiveness, Jonah is in for a lot of new experiences.

Nick is more than a little skeptical about hiring an actor from overseas, but he and his sister, who run the theater company, need someone with an Irish accent to play a leprechaun. As soon as he meets Jonah, his worries are out the window, but he realizes there might be “trouble” of the romantic kind instead.

If you like reading about Christmas celebrations in different places, if you want to watch two strangers get along better than either of them expected, and if you’re looking for an entertaining holiday read in a non-snowy setting, then you will probably like this novella.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Penumbra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Hot for Santa is a short story starring Jonah Walsh, an actor, and Nick Claseman, a theater financier. This is told in third person from both Jonah and Nick’s pov.



I enjoyed this short Christmas story set in Australia. It’s a fast, no angst read that fits well in the holiday genre.

The author did a surprisingly good job of covering the growth of Jonah and Nick’s relationship in slightly over fifty pages. Because of a compromising video of Jonah that went viral, he destroyed his career in Ireland. When the job offer from Australia arrived, he took it. Nick meets Jonah at the airport and they don’t get off to a good start. Once Nick realizes what a jerk he’s being, he sets out to make Jonah welcome. Since this is a short story, the author couldn’t cover a lot of territory; however, each scene was set up nicely to move the relationship along. There is one thing about Nick that perplexes me. Maybe I missed it, but what is Nick's profession? Sure he finances the theater, but where does he get his money to do that?

There’s one thing that I wish was better written, and this comes down to personal preference. Endings to books are very important, especially the last few lines. They are the last impression made and can make a book fall flat or even ruin it. This book’s epilogue was a nice finishing touch, but I would’ve liked it if the last paragraph of the story was more heartfelt with emotion rather than a statement of fact. The last paragraph was about describing a thing, there was no emotion to pull me in. The last line used the words, ‘represented’ and ‘declared’, to indicate Nick’s feelings. Those words don’t convey an emotional impact; they are a statement of facts, as if I was reading an instruction manual or sitting in on a business meeting. I felt cheated because the ending didn’t show the great love Nick felt in his heart and I wanted to feel. The story was cute and sweet, but the last paragraph just left me feeling let down. If the author ever makes a second edition, I hope she considers rewriting the last few paragraphs with heartfelt emotion in mind.

If you want to learn a little about what Christmas in Australia is like and also to relax with an entertaining, HEA story, you’ll probably like Too Hot for Santa. Despite my disappointment with the last paragraph where it fell flat without emotion, the author created convincing, likeable characters. I give this story, 4 Stars.

[Dani Elle Maas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start with saying that this is a not really traditional Christmas story. As it is set in Australia, it is Christmas in the summer…at least it feels that way.
This story is very sweet and gentle with no big surprises and no angst or real drama. If you are looking for fluff, you are at the right place picking up this short holiday tale.
I have to say the characters are enthralling and you get a small sense of who they are but the main issue I have with it, is that it felt so rushed. It was like jumping from one thing to another just to have it all cramped up in a short story.
For me that was a real shame. I felt like I connected or should I say could have connected to both main characters but was prohibited from doing so because it went so fast.
The story starts out with a not so happy first meeting but when Nick gets to know Jonah, there is mutual attraction for sure.
It is nice how Jonah manages to bring back the Christmas spirit for Nick and his place (this being a holiday story 😉 )
The author did a good job in bringing them together at a (too) fast pace and I loved how they got to know each other, sharing similar tastes.
The expected happy ending is nice and the epilogue thankfully adds a bit extra to the story.
Overall if you are looking for a sweet gentle story, you are at the right address with this one.
Review on www.lovebytesreviews.com

[Courtney Bassett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet and enjoyable. I always have fun with characters that start off surly and then come around. I was a bit disappointed not to get to see their first time together, and despite their obvious commitment at the end, we don’t get to see any “I love you” moments other than implied through gifts and actions. Still, it was well written and overall satisfying despite my quibbles.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this short Christmas story set in Australia with an Irish MC. I was afraid Nick was going to be a Grinch for no reason but he soon redeemed himself. Jonah is very likeable and I did enjoy re-visiting Sydney through his eyes. The epilogue was a lovely conclusion to this holiday read.

[Robbie Newell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little read

This is a sweet little read that won’t take up too much of your time and it’ll make you go “AWWW”.

After going viral for all the wrong reasons, Jonah gets a job offer and relocates to Sydney for a few months to perform on the stage, which also results in unexpected love.

A short, simple read that’s quite sweet and enjoyable.

[... · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, no angst, no heat holiday romance that was pleasant enough, but also forgettable. What should have been impactful moments were handled off-page or else told-not-shown, keeping me from getting all that engaged with the characters.

[Monika · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars

I would have liked this story a lot more if things hadn't moved so fast and for me the end was too abrupt. Overall it was a nice little Holiday read.

[Katy Beth Mckee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonah is trying for a new start. Nick is skeptical at first but he quickly gets over it. Both men start out cautious but things "heat up" quickly.

[Heather York · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a video of Jonah Walsh in a compromising position surfaces, his acting career takes the hit so when an offer for a Christmas play from Australia comes to his door he jumps at the opportunity. The idea of celebrating the holiday in the heat and sun down under is a little off-putting but not enough to turn the offer down. To say Nick Claseman isn't happy with his sister when he learns the actor they hired will be staying in his granny flat, is an understatement, but it is what it is. Their differing ideas on Christmas is not enough to squash the growing attraction between Jonah and Nick but with it only being a temporary gig, what happens when the play is done? Will this holiday fling be more?

I have not read everything Helena Stone has written but what I have read has never disappointed and Too Hot for Santa hasn't either. As a born and raised Wisconsinite where the possible snow season(and yes that is real thing here in the frozen tundra) is about 240 days out of the year and only July and August is physically impossible to get snow, the idea of spending Christmas in a climate that sees no white stuff is just unimaginable. HOWEVER, Miss Stone does an incredible job of putting Jonah in just such a Christmas that I felt if I looked out my window I wouldn't see the white stuff in my yard or the leaf-less branches swaying back and forth.

Nick and Jonah may not have the standardized-cutesy-Hallmark-ish first meeting but personally I thought it was even better. Watching these two navigate the holiday as well as each other was a pure joy and delight. Too Hot for Santa may be a short novella that we all know will end in a HEA but riding along on Nick and Jonah's journey discovering that HEA is long on fun and holiday cheer that I never wanted to see end. And getting a glimpse of the boys' future is like finding one more gift under the tree after you've bagged up all the torn wrapping paper. Helena Stone serves up a true holiday treat from beginning to end.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a feeling that I would be a little discombobulated to be in Australia over the holidays as their seasons are opposite to mine in North America. Sweating through summer heat at Christmas would probably throw me for a bit of a loop, much like it does Jonah upon arriving down under to perform in a Christmas play. The welcome he receives from Nick sure doesn’t help him feel any more comfortable either.

Nick and his sister, Jenny, own the production company that is performing the Christmas play that Jenny hired Jonah to star in. They need an Irishman and Jonah is born and bred in Dublin. He also needs to get away from home for a while after a bit of a scandal and Jonah firing his agent. Nick isn’t happy that Jonah is going to be staying in his granny flat attached to his house, but he’s even less thrilled when he realizes that Jonah seems to love Christmas as much as Nick dislikes it. I had a feeling the next months were going to prove quite entertaining for both men.

It doesn’t take Jonah and Nick long to begin to share some of their backgrounds with each other. The spark of attraction certainly doesn’t hurt and they end up discovering they have a lot in common. Nick doesn’t dislike the holidays so much as his ex was huge on decorating, but he dumped Nick after four years together and Nick hasn’t felt the holiday spirit since. It only takes a cute Irish actor to remind him of the joys of the season.

‘Too Hot for Santa’ is a very sweet love story with a lot of fun local colloquialisms. I never knew “thongs” meant something completely different in Australia. Some of this story is predictable but it was still quite enjoyable.



DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on RAINBOW BOOK REVIEWS were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. The first edition of this book has been provided by the publisher for the purpose of a review.

[Suze · Rating 3 out of 5]

Narky Nick has to house Irish actor Jonah while he is in Sydney performing in a Christmas play.
Nick starts off grumpy but actually the two guys become pally very quickly.
It is a short story so we move along quite quickly but quite enjoyable and does what the brief says - Christmas in a warm place, lights and all!!
Probably a 2.5* really as having slept after reading, I think I felt a lack of actual story - what was there I liked but definitely felt like there was a hole somewhere!

[c. · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 66%
and it’s only like 68 pages so that’s saying something. But it was incredibly boring. And really fast moving, but in a way that made it seemed like a day went by when really it was weeks? But then the author would say that there was still months left? Meaning no time had passed but it had? Mindfuck.
Didn’t care about the characters or the plot. I’m surprised I read as much as I did. No smut, which is always a thumbs down for me.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute, short Christmas love story set in Australia. Nick and Jonah are absolutely adorable and they quickly are attracted to each other, but Jonah is here from Ireland temporarily. This is sweet, gentle, and thoroughly enjoyable.