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Festive Fakes #1
The Christmas Deal
Will fake boyfriends become the real deal this holiday?It’s the most wonderful time of the year—except ex-Marine Logan is jobless and getting evicted. Worse, he’s a new single dad with a stepson who hates him. A kid needs stability—not to mention presents under the tree—and Logan’s desperate.Then he meets lonely Seth and makes a deal.Can Logan temporarily pretend to be live-in boyfriends to increase Seth’s chances at a promotion? If it provides a roof over their heads for the holidays, hell yeah. Logan considers himself straight—he doesn’t count occasional hookups with guys—but he can fake it. Besides, with his shy little smile, Seth is surprisingly sexy.Make that damn sexy.Shocked that Seth has only been with one man, Logan can’t resist sweetening their deal to teach him the joys of casual sex. No strings attached. No feelings. No kissing.No falling for each other.Easy, right?The Christmas Deal by Keira Andrews is a steamy gay Christmas romance featuring fake boyfriends, bisexual awakening, a clueless single dad with an angry preteen, and of course a happy ending.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2019
604 people are currently reading
2032 people want to read
About the author
Keira Andrews
65 books3,055 followersKeira aims for the perfect mix of character, plot, and heat in her M/M romances. She writes everything from swashbuckling pirates to heartwarming holiday escapism. Her fave tropes are enemies to lovers, age gaps, forced proximity, and passionate virgins. Although she loves delicious angst along the way, Keira guarantees happy endings!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 791 reviews
October 30, 2023
~4.5~
This is how you write a "gay for you" story without denying that bisexuality is a thing. So many GFY stories never so much as utter the word "bi," as if it were some dirty secret.
Logan thinks of himself as straight, even though he has enjoyed getting off with men in the past. I would say Logan is initially more-than-a-little-bicurious but purely heteroromantic. He doesn't deny that getting his dick sucked by a dude is hot, but he can't imagine having a relationship with a man, kissing a man, cuddling with a man.
Until he meets Seth: adorable, slightly geeky, buttoned-up Seth, who wears pressed chinos and loafers during a kitchen renovation project.
Seth and Logan are thrown together by Logan's sister Jenna, who also happens to be Seth's friend and colleague. The new boss is all about families, including "the gays," so Jenna sort of, kind of pretends that Seth and Logan are a couple.
Jenna is amazing and means well, but a simple white lie turns into what Seth and Jenna's coworker calls a "caper." The boss, a brash Southern gal, falls in love with the idea of a loving same-sex couple and wants to have dinner with Seth and Logan at their house; plus, they (including Logan's defensive stepson, Connor) are invited to the company's family retreat.
Yes, this is another fake boyfriend/fiance story, and it's OH, SO GOOD: poignant, gentle, sensual, with a touch of hurt-comfort (Logan's spirit is broken like his body used to be, and Seth is hurting due to his family's ongoing rejection).
The kid comes first, then sex, then marriage.
Logan's interactions with Connor were painful to read about, but that's because they felt so raw and real. My daughter is 13, and she too recently lost a parent (her dad). She's not an orphan like Connor, whose bio dad is a neglectful fuckhead, but losing a parent colors everything. Connor lashes out because he's hurting, and Logan doesn't know how to deal with that, so he pushes right back. Seth shows Logan how to be patient.
Declared dead by his hateful, religious family when he came out, Seth sends his parents and siblings a Christmas card every year, and every year the cards are returned to sender. Seth longs for a family of his own. He wants Logan and Connor to stay, even after the holidays are over.
The so-called caper becomes the real deal.
This isn't the most glittery of Christmas books, and I think that's why I liked it so much. The epilogue is better than any present.
This is how you write a "gay for you" story without denying that bisexuality is a thing. So many GFY stories never so much as utter the word "bi," as if it were some dirty secret.
Logan thinks of himself as straight, even though he has enjoyed getting off with men in the past. I would say Logan is initially more-than-a-little-bicurious but purely heteroromantic. He doesn't deny that getting his dick sucked by a dude is hot, but he can't imagine having a relationship with a man, kissing a man, cuddling with a man.
Until he meets Seth: adorable, slightly geeky, buttoned-up Seth, who wears pressed chinos and loafers during a kitchen renovation project.
Seth and Logan are thrown together by Logan's sister Jenna, who also happens to be Seth's friend and colleague. The new boss is all about families, including "the gays," so Jenna sort of, kind of pretends that Seth and Logan are a couple.
Jenna is amazing and means well, but a simple white lie turns into what Seth and Jenna's coworker calls a "caper." The boss, a brash Southern gal, falls in love with the idea of a loving same-sex couple and wants to have dinner with Seth and Logan at their house; plus, they (including Logan's defensive stepson, Connor) are invited to the company's family retreat.
Yes, this is another fake boyfriend/fiance story, and it's OH, SO GOOD: poignant, gentle, sensual, with a touch of hurt-comfort (Logan's spirit is broken like his body used to be, and Seth is hurting due to his family's ongoing rejection).
The kid comes first, then sex, then marriage.
Logan's interactions with Connor were painful to read about, but that's because they felt so raw and real. My daughter is 13, and she too recently lost a parent (her dad). She's not an orphan like Connor, whose bio dad is a neglectful fuckhead, but losing a parent colors everything. Connor lashes out because he's hurting, and Logan doesn't know how to deal with that, so he pushes right back. Seth shows Logan how to be patient.
Declared dead by his hateful, religious family when he came out, Seth sends his parents and siblings a Christmas card every year, and every year the cards are returned to sender. Seth longs for a family of his own. He wants Logan and Connor to stay, even after the holidays are over.
The so-called caper becomes the real deal.
This isn't the most glittery of Christmas books, and I think that's why I liked it so much. The epilogue is better than any present.
December 23, 2020
** CHRISTMAS BUMP! ** : )
A fun story about two very different guys who truly needed one another, even if they didn't realize it when they were first thrown together.
Uptight Seth had his shit together, with a nice house and a good job, but after being dumped by his longtime boyfriend a year ago and written off as dead by his conservative family, he was unhappy and floundering in his personal life.
On the other hand, ex-Marine Logan's life was pretty fucked up after being injured on the job, losing that job and his new bride, then being left with custody of her 13 y.o. son, Connor, and on the brink of becoming homeless.
But when Seth's coworker, Jenna (Logan's baby sister), sets a whopper of a lie in motion to get him a much-deserved promotion, things began to change for both men for the better, and it was great to watch their circumstances improve.
I've gotta say, as far as far-fetched setups for romance go, the way that Keira set this one up was pretty genius. Was it outlandish? Oh, yeah! But was it cute and ultimately plausible? Definitely! I thought the whole thing was pretty slick, TBH.
The turning point for the romance happened when heterosexual Logan admitted to Seth that he'd had sex with men in the past, just when the urge to scratch that itch came along, but not due to romantic attraction.
This opened the door for their agreed-upon "deal" to expand into new territory. Sexxxxxy, nekkid territory, of course. heh
I really enjoyed getting the POV's from both guys and seeing their relationship change, then grow, becoming more and more important, eventually becoming something that both men wanted to continue longer-term. Maybe even forever.
And I felt so sad and angry for Connor, who'd suddenly lost his mother, without the much-needed support of his biological father. His turning point, when both his and Seth's lives were in danger and he realized that Logan would truly be there for him? Wow, that was *everything* for me in this story.
The feels were there, the side characters were a joy, the angst was manageable, the steamy situations were consistenly hot, and I appreciated that there was an epilogue from 5 years down the road, so I'd rate this one at around 4.25 "Caper!" stars.
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November 17, 2019
Keira Andrews never fails me, and The Christmas Deal delivered with a delicious opposites-attract, fake boyfriend, sexuality discovery story that made me want to squee and beg for more!
I heart holiday stories that make me happy, and though this book features two guys going through some rough times, the overall vibe is support and love. Ex-Marine Logan has such a wonderful family that it was a joy to read about, even with the drama with his step-son. I usually don't like kids or kid-drama in my romances, but Keira Andrews has a way of doing family books right. I loved the heart-warming feeling of the story, and I thought Keira pulled everything off seamlessly.
Yes, let's talk about the bisexuality of Logan because I love a repressed sexuality character coming to terms with his attractions for the first time. Yes, Logan pushed those feelings towards men way down, but the way he acted with Seth... whew sexy and sweet, all at the same time! I love how the romance was slow burn (slow burn is my crack!!), and the way the feelings developed felt organic and explosive. I could have read about their sexy-times all day and all night!
Sexy, sweet, heart-warming, and yet packing an emotional punch, The Christmas Deal should be your one-click Christmas romance of 2019!
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
I heart holiday stories that make me happy, and though this book features two guys going through some rough times, the overall vibe is support and love. Ex-Marine Logan has such a wonderful family that it was a joy to read about, even with the drama with his step-son. I usually don't like kids or kid-drama in my romances, but Keira Andrews has a way of doing family books right. I loved the heart-warming feeling of the story, and I thought Keira pulled everything off seamlessly.
Yes, let's talk about the bisexuality of Logan because I love a repressed sexuality character coming to terms with his attractions for the first time. Yes, Logan pushed those feelings towards men way down, but the way he acted with Seth... whew sexy and sweet, all at the same time! I love how the romance was slow burn (slow burn is my crack!!), and the way the feelings developed felt organic and explosive. I could have read about their sexy-times all day and all night!
Sexy, sweet, heart-warming, and yet packing an emotional punch, The Christmas Deal should be your one-click Christmas romance of 2019!
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
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December 10, 2019
The Christmas Deal is a stand alone M/M holiday romance by Keira Andrews. This was my very first book by Keira and I loved it. This genre is fast becoming an obsession with me. I had been seeing this one in my news feeds and I couldn’t pass it up.
Logan Derwood is having a very bad year. After a serious accident, he lost his job. Now he’s being evicted from his apartment. He also has become a single step father to a very angry teen age boy. A boy who isn’t going to get any Christmas or even have a roof over his head if things don’t change. Logan considers himself straight. He has had occasional hook ups with men but they were sex only, to let off steam. Emotions or romance are for women only.
Seth Marston has always known he was gay. When he came out to his parents, they completely cut him out of his life. A little over a year ago he moved to Albany and bought a fixer upper house. But his long term boyfriend left him soon after. It’s been over a year but he still hasn’t gotten past it. He was the only man he has ever been with. He doesn’t believe in casual sex. The company Seth works for has been bought out by another company, and his new boss is very family oriented. He is the prime candidate for a promotion, a job he’s already been doing without the title or raise. But will he get passed over because he’s single?
Logan’s sister has the perfect solution to both her brother and her friend Seth’s problems. Logan and his step son, Connor, can move in with Seth through the holidays and pretend they are engaged. That way Logan has a place to live and Seth has the family he needs for the promotion.
Seth is instantly attracted to Logan. But as far as he knows, Logan is straight. Seth helps Logan with ways to deal with Connor. And Logan helps Seth to work on the unfinished remodel projects in his home. Logan also offers to help Seth with his hang ups with casual sex. They can hook up, no emotions, no kissing. Just help each other out. But Logan is in for a surprise when his heart starts to get involved. Because Seth is stirring up some feelings that he never saw coming.
This was such a sweet, and hot story. Logan was such a dirty talker. I loved it. And Seth was surprised that he did too! It broke my heart at how down on himself Logan was with everything going on in his life. And Seth’s loneliness also broke my heart. These two were perfect for each other. I loved that Logan was always willing to listen to advice, either from his sister, from Seth’s new boss, and from Seth.
This was a perfect compliment to my holiday reading list this year and you can be sure that I will be checking out more of this author’s books.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Logan Derwood is having a very bad year. After a serious accident, he lost his job. Now he’s being evicted from his apartment. He also has become a single step father to a very angry teen age boy. A boy who isn’t going to get any Christmas or even have a roof over his head if things don’t change. Logan considers himself straight. He has had occasional hook ups with men but they were sex only, to let off steam. Emotions or romance are for women only.
Seth Marston has always known he was gay. When he came out to his parents, they completely cut him out of his life. A little over a year ago he moved to Albany and bought a fixer upper house. But his long term boyfriend left him soon after. It’s been over a year but he still hasn’t gotten past it. He was the only man he has ever been with. He doesn’t believe in casual sex. The company Seth works for has been bought out by another company, and his new boss is very family oriented. He is the prime candidate for a promotion, a job he’s already been doing without the title or raise. But will he get passed over because he’s single?
Logan’s sister has the perfect solution to both her brother and her friend Seth’s problems. Logan and his step son, Connor, can move in with Seth through the holidays and pretend they are engaged. That way Logan has a place to live and Seth has the family he needs for the promotion.
Seth is instantly attracted to Logan. But as far as he knows, Logan is straight. Seth helps Logan with ways to deal with Connor. And Logan helps Seth to work on the unfinished remodel projects in his home. Logan also offers to help Seth with his hang ups with casual sex. They can hook up, no emotions, no kissing. Just help each other out. But Logan is in for a surprise when his heart starts to get involved. Because Seth is stirring up some feelings that he never saw coming.
This was such a sweet, and hot story. Logan was such a dirty talker. I loved it. And Seth was surprised that he did too! It broke my heart at how down on himself Logan was with everything going on in his life. And Seth’s loneliness also broke my heart. These two were perfect for each other. I loved that Logan was always willing to listen to advice, either from his sister, from Seth’s new boss, and from Seth.
This was a perfect compliment to my holiday reading list this year and you can be sure that I will be checking out more of this author’s books.
For more about this book and so many more, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
November 19, 2019
This was an outstanding, amazingly beautiful Christmas romance. Absolutely spot on and perfect from beginning to end.
Logan and Seth are such a beautiful couple and even though the fake boyfriend trope has become so popular that it feels like every other book features it, it never gets old.
Seth has a very peculiar issue at work. His CEO puts great emphasis on families and expects an employee to be settled down and married in order to get a promotion to a higher management position. Seth is good at his job and feels that he deserves a promotion.
But he’s hopelessly single and - after a devastating break up – too scared to date again.
His friend and colleague Jenna seizes the moment and brings her unemployed widowed brother into the picture, suggesting a ‘Christmas Deal’ that shall help both Seth with his unusual employment issue and Logan, who just recovered from a tragic accident that cost him his income and career and from the death of his wife who left him a difficult and cheeky step-son who doesn’t miss any opportunity to blame Logan for the death of his mom.
In one word: a HUGE clusterfuck.
Seth offers Logan and step-son Connor to stay at his house over the Christmas holidays. In return Logan will help with the unfinished kitchen and when the CEO comes to visit they all would play happy family so Seth gets his promotion…
So far so good. But living with hot and hunky Logan isn’t the easiest task especially when Logan suggests a little no-strings attached fun with the shy and repressed host as part of the deal, revealing a side of himself that maybe isn’t totally straight.
And gosh, the sex in this book is hot, it’s almost unbelievable. I tend to regard sex scenes in books in a pretty technical way. But not these. These scenes swept me off my feet and left me drooling and wishing this was a pop-up book so I could ‘unfold’ Logan and borrow him for a bit.
Sheer perfection.
I also loved Seth so much. He was so prim and proper and couldn’t even swear out loud. And yet he had such a sad and touching past. It made me so happy to see all of the guys (Seth, Logan and Connor) in this book become a family that sticks together and faces the hardships of life as a unit. I’m almost in tears just thinking about them.
And best of all, this really is a wonderful Christmas romance with ice skating, lots of snow, Christmas songs, sledding, etc. etc. You can virtually smell the pine scent of their Christmas tree. And the dialogue is spot on, absolutely flawless.
I noticed that Keira Andrews writes spectacular Christmas romances. This definitely won’t be my last of hers this year!
Please read it!!!
5 stars and a favorite!!
Logan and Seth are such a beautiful couple and even though the fake boyfriend trope has become so popular that it feels like every other book features it, it never gets old.
Seth has a very peculiar issue at work. His CEO puts great emphasis on families and expects an employee to be settled down and married in order to get a promotion to a higher management position. Seth is good at his job and feels that he deserves a promotion.
But he’s hopelessly single and - after a devastating break up – too scared to date again.
His friend and colleague Jenna seizes the moment and brings her unemployed widowed brother into the picture, suggesting a ‘Christmas Deal’ that shall help both Seth with his unusual employment issue and Logan, who just recovered from a tragic accident that cost him his income and career and from the death of his wife who left him a difficult and cheeky step-son who doesn’t miss any opportunity to blame Logan for the death of his mom.
In one word: a HUGE clusterfuck.
Seth offers Logan and step-son Connor to stay at his house over the Christmas holidays. In return Logan will help with the unfinished kitchen and when the CEO comes to visit they all would play happy family so Seth gets his promotion…
So far so good. But living with hot and hunky Logan isn’t the easiest task especially when Logan suggests a little no-strings attached fun with the shy and repressed host as part of the deal, revealing a side of himself that maybe isn’t totally straight.
And gosh, the sex in this book is hot, it’s almost unbelievable. I tend to regard sex scenes in books in a pretty technical way. But not these. These scenes swept me off my feet and left me drooling and wishing this was a pop-up book so I could ‘unfold’ Logan and borrow him for a bit.
Sheer perfection.
I also loved Seth so much. He was so prim and proper and couldn’t even swear out loud. And yet he had such a sad and touching past. It made me so happy to see all of the guys (Seth, Logan and Connor) in this book become a family that sticks together and faces the hardships of life as a unit. I’m almost in tears just thinking about them.
And best of all, this really is a wonderful Christmas romance with ice skating, lots of snow, Christmas songs, sledding, etc. etc. You can virtually smell the pine scent of their Christmas tree. And the dialogue is spot on, absolutely flawless.
I noticed that Keira Andrews writes spectacular Christmas romances. This definitely won’t be my last of hers this year!
Please read it!!!
5 stars and a favorite!!
November 25, 2019
Sadly, this one didn't work for me at all.
I don't think I liked any of the characters. I disliked Logan right from the start and that never changed. Jenna and Angela are the typical nosy and know-it-all female characters that I can't stand. Seth and Connor were likable in the beginning, but as the story progressed they kind of started to annoy me, too.
I couldn't connect to Logan or Seth and I personally didn't find their romance believable. It just felt convenient in more than one way. I didn't feel the transition from the arrangement they had to something more.
The only part of the story I enjoyed was when Logan first moved in with Seth. But once they started "hooking up", it went downhill for me. There were moments that I found really awkward. I didn't like the way the intimate scenes were written, they were some of the worst I've ever read. I'm never a fan of dirty talk, I almost always find it off-putting and it was particularly bad here. It definitely ruined what little I liked about this story.
I don't think I liked any of the characters. I disliked Logan right from the start and that never changed. Jenna and Angela are the typical nosy and know-it-all female characters that I can't stand. Seth and Connor were likable in the beginning, but as the story progressed they kind of started to annoy me, too.
I couldn't connect to Logan or Seth and I personally didn't find their romance believable. It just felt convenient in more than one way. I didn't feel the transition from the arrangement they had to something more.
The only part of the story I enjoyed was when Logan first moved in with Seth. But once they started "hooking up", it went downhill for me. There were moments that I found really awkward. I didn't like the way the intimate scenes were written, they were some of the worst I've ever read. I'm never a fan of dirty talk, I almost always find it off-putting and it was particularly bad here. It definitely ruined what little I liked about this story.
January 23, 2021
3.5 Hearts
As per the blurb, Seth and Logan are both in a pickle. Seth needs to look attached in order to be considered for a promotion, and Logan needs a place to stay for the holidays as he struggles with his own demons of being unemployed and a newly single dad.
Essentially, Seth is a lot in stasis after his breakup a year ago. He’s been passed over for advancement due to not being married, so Logan’s situation is the perfect solution. Seth will get a ready made family with his fake fiance, and he’ll also get his house finally finished for dinner with the boss to show he’s the right man for the job. Meanwhile, Logan can provide his stepson his first holiday without his mom while not feeling like a complete loser as he earns his keep. Eventually and not surprisingly, close quarters allow Seth and Logan to fortuitously make another “deal”. Seth, having only been with one other person, is locked up real tight, and Logan desperately needs some stress relief. It’s only just “getting off” with absolutely no strings attached and absolutely no feelings involved. Uh huh.
Beware Logan, who insists his same sex attraction is only relegated to hook ups and is adamantly still straight. He also has some serious self loathing due to his unfortunate bad luck in all things regarding love, career, and finances. Seth in turn, has boatloads of insecurity and an awful hateful family to come to terms with. Mix this with a grieving surly teen, and this really runs the emotional gamut.
Narrated by John Solo, I truly appreciated the different tones and inflections as his performance was spot on with all the feelings Andrews brings to the table. This audio version is highly recommended if you’re a fan of Solo, Andrews, or both!
Reassuredly, Andrews rarely skimps on the smexy, and here she doesn’t fail in the UST, the explicit, or the dirty talk. Thankfully too, there’s no protracted angst as both Logan and Seth eventually realize their love for one another and become the family they always desired. So yes, this is quite the implausible romance, but as Christmas stories go, the reader is advised to just kick back and go with the flow. Cheers!
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review
As per the blurb, Seth and Logan are both in a pickle. Seth needs to look attached in order to be considered for a promotion, and Logan needs a place to stay for the holidays as he struggles with his own demons of being unemployed and a newly single dad.
Essentially, Seth is a lot in stasis after his breakup a year ago. He’s been passed over for advancement due to not being married, so Logan’s situation is the perfect solution. Seth will get a ready made family with his fake fiance, and he’ll also get his house finally finished for dinner with the boss to show he’s the right man for the job. Meanwhile, Logan can provide his stepson his first holiday without his mom while not feeling like a complete loser as he earns his keep. Eventually and not surprisingly, close quarters allow Seth and Logan to fortuitously make another “deal”. Seth, having only been with one other person, is locked up real tight, and Logan desperately needs some stress relief. It’s only just “getting off” with absolutely no strings attached and absolutely no feelings involved. Uh huh.
Beware Logan, who insists his same sex attraction is only relegated to hook ups and is adamantly still straight. He also has some serious self loathing due to his unfortunate bad luck in all things regarding love, career, and finances. Seth in turn, has boatloads of insecurity and an awful hateful family to come to terms with. Mix this with a grieving surly teen, and this really runs the emotional gamut.
Narrated by John Solo, I truly appreciated the different tones and inflections as his performance was spot on with all the feelings Andrews brings to the table. This audio version is highly recommended if you’re a fan of Solo, Andrews, or both!
Reassuredly, Andrews rarely skimps on the smexy, and here she doesn’t fail in the UST, the explicit, or the dirty talk. Thankfully too, there’s no protracted angst as both Logan and Seth eventually realize their love for one another and become the family they always desired. So yes, this is quite the implausible romance, but as Christmas stories go, the reader is advised to just kick back and go with the flow. Cheers!
Thanks to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review
Read
November 24, 2022This fake-dating romance is FREE for five days only through Sunday, November 27! You can also Whispersync the audio narrated by the amazing John Solo for only $7.49:
Universal: https://readerlinks.com/l/2408141
Amazon US: https://readerlinks.com/l/3010480
*
Release day is here! Fa-la-la-la-la! I'm delighted with the early response to Logan and Seth's story, and I hope you enjoy it! Buy now or borrow in KU:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2XaN2Tv
Amazon Universal: https://relinks.me/B0818WHJPN
✅ Single dad
✅ Fake boyfriends
✅ Bisexual awakening
✅ Warm and fuzzy holiday feels
It'll be in wide release after the first three months in KU. Happy holidays! <3
Universal: https://readerlinks.com/l/2408141
Amazon US: https://readerlinks.com/l/3010480
*
Release day is here! Fa-la-la-la-la! I'm delighted with the early response to Logan and Seth's story, and I hope you enjoy it! Buy now or borrow in KU:
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2XaN2Tv
Amazon Universal: https://relinks.me/B0818WHJPN
✅ Single dad
✅ Fake boyfriends
✅ Bisexual awakening
✅ Warm and fuzzy holiday feels
It'll be in wide release after the first three months in KU. Happy holidays! <3
December 13, 2020
*Reread December 2020
Just as sweet and lovely as the first time. 🥰
*1st read November 2019
What a perfect Christmas story to start the season with! Despite the very real grief and guilt being experienced here, this story was sweet and adorable and full of all the feels. I loved everything about it!
Once again, thank you for the awesome gift Treat yo' (Sh)Elf, I loved this so much!!! <3
Just as sweet and lovely as the first time. 🥰
*1st read November 2019
What a perfect Christmas story to start the season with! Despite the very real grief and guilt being experienced here, this story was sweet and adorable and full of all the feels. I loved everything about it!
Once again, thank you for the awesome gift Treat yo' (Sh)Elf, I loved this so much!!! <3
December 1, 2025
So wholesome, sweet and beautiful. 🥹
December 23, 2019
Bingo! We have a winner, folks. Every December I stuff myself with holiday romances and sometimes, it’s hard to pick a favorite. I didn’t have that problem this year because The Christmas Deal swiftly soared to the top of my list. The circumstances that provoked this fake boyfriend scheme were rather irritating but I was grateful for whatever push brought these two together. First, we have Logan who is seriously down on his luck. Life has been kicking him in the pants and he just needs to catch a break. When he stumbles into an awkward meet ‘n greet at his sister’s office, he really has no idea that fate is finally pulling him back up. Next, we have Seth and oh my, I instantly fell head over heels for him. His heart has been broken and his family was the first to throw the sledgehammer many years ago. Christmas is his favorite holiday but he doesn’t celebrate anymore, figuring he has no reason to. When Logan and his surly step-son temporarily slip into his life, he remembers what it’s like to be truly happy. Too bad it’s only short term, he could get used to this…deal.
What's to like: Keira’s characters always feel very genuine to me. The situation may be a little far fetched but the characters are far from it. I loved that Logan’s incredible sister, Jenna, had ‘spit up’ on her shirt when the big boss dropped by for a visit. And that Conner secretly loved the scarf Jenna gave him. It’s all those little details that bring together the big picture and slams home how ‘real’ it is. I also enjoyed how Logan came to accept pieces of himself. He’s always dated women despite his attraction to men. He’s hooked up with men and won’t deny his enjoyment but that’s where he draws the line. His life is far from perfect but he still envisions some sort of white picket fence in his future. And that includes a wife. But when his arrangement with Seth starts to ignite burning desires between them, he thinks they are both due a little fun. Might as well make the best of it and besides, it’s only sex. Until…it isn’t. Seth helps him see that you can put whatever makes you happy behind the white picket fence and in turn, Logan shows Seth it’s okay to love again.
What's to love: Of course, I adored both Logan and Seth. Not to mention the rest of the outstanding cast. But what really got to me was the feels. The pages pulse with an abundance of emotions. From Logan’s desperate frustrations to Seth’s deep loneliness, I felt it. Add in Conner’s turmoil and I held onto each chapter with bated breath. I was anxious, nervous, heartbroken and then, overcome with joy. Since Logan lost his job with the railroad every corner has been filled with closed doors. Late on his rent, his landlady had no choice but to evict him. With no money, no job and no home, things couldn’t get much worse. His shotgun wedding last year was short-lived and left him suddenly facing parenthood alone. Rock bottom….yeah, he’s currently residing there. So when he’s thrown into a fake relationship with his sister’s coworker, he doesn’t have much to lose. Except, his heart. Seth has been building a picture-perfect life since he moved to town. But his big beautiful house is empty and so is he. He would do just about anything to fill it but what will it take to transform his house into a home? Perhaps he just has to make the right deal?
Beware of: Slow burn with scorching chemistry and sexual awakening. The stark reminder that sometimes our family is not with whom we share blood but those we trust and invite into our hearts. And two opposites pretending…until they’re not.
This book is for: Anyone looking for a complete package this holiday season, trust me, this is a deal you don’t want to miss!
Book UNfunk
What's to like: Keira’s characters always feel very genuine to me. The situation may be a little far fetched but the characters are far from it. I loved that Logan’s incredible sister, Jenna, had ‘spit up’ on her shirt when the big boss dropped by for a visit. And that Conner secretly loved the scarf Jenna gave him. It’s all those little details that bring together the big picture and slams home how ‘real’ it is. I also enjoyed how Logan came to accept pieces of himself. He’s always dated women despite his attraction to men. He’s hooked up with men and won’t deny his enjoyment but that’s where he draws the line. His life is far from perfect but he still envisions some sort of white picket fence in his future. And that includes a wife. But when his arrangement with Seth starts to ignite burning desires between them, he thinks they are both due a little fun. Might as well make the best of it and besides, it’s only sex. Until…it isn’t. Seth helps him see that you can put whatever makes you happy behind the white picket fence and in turn, Logan shows Seth it’s okay to love again.
What's to love: Of course, I adored both Logan and Seth. Not to mention the rest of the outstanding cast. But what really got to me was the feels. The pages pulse with an abundance of emotions. From Logan’s desperate frustrations to Seth’s deep loneliness, I felt it. Add in Conner’s turmoil and I held onto each chapter with bated breath. I was anxious, nervous, heartbroken and then, overcome with joy. Since Logan lost his job with the railroad every corner has been filled with closed doors. Late on his rent, his landlady had no choice but to evict him. With no money, no job and no home, things couldn’t get much worse. His shotgun wedding last year was short-lived and left him suddenly facing parenthood alone. Rock bottom….yeah, he’s currently residing there. So when he’s thrown into a fake relationship with his sister’s coworker, he doesn’t have much to lose. Except, his heart. Seth has been building a picture-perfect life since he moved to town. But his big beautiful house is empty and so is he. He would do just about anything to fill it but what will it take to transform his house into a home? Perhaps he just has to make the right deal?
Beware of: Slow burn with scorching chemistry and sexual awakening. The stark reminder that sometimes our family is not with whom we share blood but those we trust and invite into our hearts. And two opposites pretending…until they’re not.
This book is for: Anyone looking for a complete package this holiday season, trust me, this is a deal you don’t want to miss!
Book UNfunk
November 15, 2020
Audio 5 Stars
STORY....4.25 Stars
Great feel good holiday story 😍
STORY....4.25 Stars
Great feel good holiday story 😍
December 28, 2019
What a fun read this was! I needed light, relatively undemanding reading...beats expected and delivered, an ending without angst, sentences that don't slap your nose off and command your undivided attention...I got all that, a sweet bisexual tough guy realizing he can fall in love with a man, and build himself a happy family to boot.
Not entirely happy, to be fair...there are people in the world who love their hate more than they love anyone or anything else. But those jackasses aren't in the story, just the book, so it was okay.
It took me four days to read this slim volume, which should tell y'all what you need to know about my powers of concentration. Not good. Need that apnea issue solved STAT.
As I read this, I imagined the Hallmark movie of it. It's damn near perfect...with the few serious (NOT for the eww-ick homophobes among us!) sex scenes snipped, of course...and couldn't be more suitable to their need to make *serious* amends after caving to a few screaming lunatics when an ad on their network offended the religious belief that kissing is Just For Straights. No lip-lockin' lesbos on the teevee! That's wicked and wrong and will force Almighty Gawd to Frown and Smite.
But the Holocaust didn't? Starving people, freezing homeless vets, don't? Families separated by cruel and evil political policies are kosher with this Almighty of theirs? Guess so....
So Hallmark caved after a LOT more people got mad at 'em for being spineless worms. They issued a statement about it that was weak-kneed in the extreme, which made even more people mad. So what they need, if they want to get ahead of the nasty PR dumpster fire they're kindling, is to make them a queer Xmas movie. And this one? It's about perfect. Family trouble, bad choices haunting the main characters, a Cinderfella transformation for both leads. A ratty teenager whose misery about his life changing for the worse is handled by shouting and cussing and being cruel, so exactly like life; hijinks ensue. A supporting cast of endearingly daffy stock characters...the Office Goof, the Overbearing Boss with a Heart of Gold, the Earth Mother/Fix-it Lady, the Old Dad in the Chair...you know. Old wounds heal, new wounds scab over, and the strong structure of love carries the whole weight of the action with creaks and groans but no catastrophic failures.
It's a romance, that's not a spoiler.
Double-digit w-bombing starts past the 50% mark. I still can't believe anyone, anyone at all still less an author of more than ten books (like Keira Andrews is), thinks using the w-verb is a good idea. No one winks in real life, not least because it's cheesy and makes the winker look lame and mildly stupid. The winkee is entitled to smack the winker, or so say I, and I stick to my guns: Stop this! Wesist the wink! (And "Welease Wodewick" while you're about it, Biggus.)
I still recommend the read to any and all whose spirits are dragging, whose ho-ho-ho has transmogrified into you-dirty-ho and whose taste for fun with family needs a bit of smut to make it work, in the Tim Gunn sense. Now it's time for my nap, to dream dreamy dreams of dads with sons coming home from Harvard and carving the turkey for the whole famn damily. Just like it oughta be.
Not entirely happy, to be fair...there are people in the world who love their hate more than they love anyone or anything else. But those jackasses aren't in the story, just the book, so it was okay.
It took me four days to read this slim volume, which should tell y'all what you need to know about my powers of concentration. Not good. Need that apnea issue solved STAT.
As I read this, I imagined the Hallmark movie of it. It's damn near perfect...with the few serious (NOT for the eww-ick homophobes among us!) sex scenes snipped, of course...and couldn't be more suitable to their need to make *serious* amends after caving to a few screaming lunatics when an ad on their network offended the religious belief that kissing is Just For Straights. No lip-lockin' lesbos on the teevee! That's wicked and wrong and will force Almighty Gawd to Frown and Smite.
But the Holocaust didn't? Starving people, freezing homeless vets, don't? Families separated by cruel and evil political policies are kosher with this Almighty of theirs? Guess so....
So Hallmark caved after a LOT more people got mad at 'em for being spineless worms. They issued a statement about it that was weak-kneed in the extreme, which made even more people mad. So what they need, if they want to get ahead of the nasty PR dumpster fire they're kindling, is to make them a queer Xmas movie. And this one? It's about perfect. Family trouble, bad choices haunting the main characters, a Cinderfella transformation for both leads. A ratty teenager whose misery about his life changing for the worse is handled by shouting and cussing and being cruel, so exactly like life; hijinks ensue. A supporting cast of endearingly daffy stock characters...the Office Goof, the Overbearing Boss with a Heart of Gold, the Earth Mother/Fix-it Lady, the Old Dad in the Chair...you know. Old wounds heal, new wounds scab over, and the strong structure of love carries the whole weight of the action with creaks and groans but no catastrophic failures.
It's a romance, that's not a spoiler.
Double-digit w-bombing starts past the 50% mark. I still can't believe anyone, anyone at all still less an author of more than ten books (like Keira Andrews is), thinks using the w-verb is a good idea. No one winks in real life, not least because it's cheesy and makes the winker look lame and mildly stupid. The winkee is entitled to smack the winker, or so say I, and I stick to my guns: Stop this! Wesist the wink! (And "Welease Wodewick" while you're about it, Biggus.)
I still recommend the read to any and all whose spirits are dragging, whose ho-ho-ho has transmogrified into you-dirty-ho and whose taste for fun with family needs a bit of smut to make it work, in the Tim Gunn sense. Now it's time for my nap, to dream dreamy dreams of dads with sons coming home from Harvard and carving the turkey for the whole famn damily. Just like it oughta be.
December 28, 2019
In wrapping my head around doing this review, I realize there is an awful lot of backstory and so much happening in this book, but it doesn't feel that way. Andrews takes all those details - small or large - neatly tucks them together and weaves everything into a really charming holiday love story full of family and new beginnings.
Logan has an entire basketful of descriptors - ex-marine, injured railroad worker, widower, unemployed, single dad - but the bottom line is he's a good guy, struggling with raising a teenager and still stunned by the loss of his job and friends and a marriage that happened for all the wrong reasons.
Seth is 37 (but reads a lot younger, IMHO), with an ex-boyfriend, few friends, and a job promotion he completely deserves .... but he needs a fake boyfriend to seal the deal. Enter his co-worker / best friend Jenna who offers up her brother Logan for the job and the story starts to unfold.
The real strength of The Christmas Deal is the well-developed cast of characters who make the "fake boyfriend" scenario believable and relatable. The new boss, Angela Barker, is a tough Southern broad who could have easily become a stereotype. But she is written with heart and a certain amount of tough-minded charm. Logan's sister Jenna is a gem of a character - warm and loving and nurturing - and constantly trying to dab away spit-up with a Tide pen.
There's sizzle and a spark right from the start between Logan and Seth, but Logan can't quite get past his convoluted idea of being straight and yet occasionally "helping a buddy out" with an occasional blow job, hand job or "I'll fuck someone's ass if they want it. Like I said, it's just about getting off." [...] "I'm probably sayin' this shit all wrong. With guys, it's just quick and easy.." As Seth asks:
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review at Gay Book Reviews.
Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
Logan has an entire basketful of descriptors - ex-marine, injured railroad worker, widower, unemployed, single dad - but the bottom line is he's a good guy, struggling with raising a teenager and still stunned by the loss of his job and friends and a marriage that happened for all the wrong reasons.
Seth is 37 (but reads a lot younger, IMHO), with an ex-boyfriend, few friends, and a job promotion he completely deserves .... but he needs a fake boyfriend to seal the deal. Enter his co-worker / best friend Jenna who offers up her brother Logan for the job and the story starts to unfold.
The real strength of The Christmas Deal is the well-developed cast of characters who make the "fake boyfriend" scenario believable and relatable. The new boss, Angela Barker, is a tough Southern broad who could have easily become a stereotype. But she is written with heart and a certain amount of tough-minded charm. Logan's sister Jenna is a gem of a character - warm and loving and nurturing - and constantly trying to dab away spit-up with a Tide pen.
There's sizzle and a spark right from the start between Logan and Seth, but Logan can't quite get past his convoluted idea of being straight and yet occasionally "helping a buddy out" with an occasional blow job, hand job or "I'll fuck someone's ass if they want it. Like I said, it's just about getting off." [...] "I'm probably sayin' this shit all wrong. With guys, it's just quick and easy.." As Seth asks:
"But you're not gay."At first, Logan offers nothing more than casual sex but the way their relationship evolves and grows is equal part sexy as hell and sweet. And once we get more of Seth's backstory, I dare you to NOT feel your heart shatter just a bit:
"Exactly." Now Seth was getting it.
"Or bi?"
Logan scoffed, "Isn't that just being wishy-washy or pretentious?"
For so many years, he'd told himself Christmas wasn't for him. That he didn't deserve it somehow. Standing in front of the tree, surrounded by holiday glitter and color, he ached down to his bones for this home to truly be his and not only for show.Happily, Seth gets his wish, Logan and Seth get a perfectly wonderful HEA and The Christmas Deal leaves you with a warm sense of family and holiday cheer. It's a lovely way to start the holiday season! 4.5 stars
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review at Gay Book Reviews.
Stop by my new blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
November 14, 2019
I've read some absolutely smashing Christmas books so far this year and now Keira's is currently sitting at the top of the tree.
This was so good, it had absolutely the right mix of festive cheer and sharp pain to stop it ever becoming overly cloying.
I absolutely love the fake boyfriend trope and here Keira gives it a fresh look with a sister accidentally setting up her friend and sort of boss at work with her down on his luck brother.
Throw a grieving stepson into the mix and you really have a perfect recipe for a Christmas romance with all the feels. I wanted to surround Logan in bubblewrap within the first few pages, the poor guy has got the weight of the world on his shoulders and none of it has been his doing.
Seth has been hurt by those who should love him best and he's still dealing with his long-term partner's desertion of him a year previously after they made major life decisions and he was then left in the lurch.
The fake boyfriend scenario seems like a great temporary deal for all of them and the sparks start flying almost from the off as Logan starts to realise that his previous encounters with men might not have just been meaningless sex.
I loved how Keira approached his dawning awareness of his bisexuality. No erasure here, he's not gay for Seth but he absolutely is romantically falling for a man for the first time with all the confusion that entails.
With a super setting and a great bunch of secondary characters (I loved Logan's dad, his sister, her family, as well as Jenna and Seth's wonderfully outspoken boss Angela) this really does provide a lovely romance to unwrap for the festive season.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
This was so good, it had absolutely the right mix of festive cheer and sharp pain to stop it ever becoming overly cloying.
I absolutely love the fake boyfriend trope and here Keira gives it a fresh look with a sister accidentally setting up her friend and sort of boss at work with her down on his luck brother.
Throw a grieving stepson into the mix and you really have a perfect recipe for a Christmas romance with all the feels. I wanted to surround Logan in bubblewrap within the first few pages, the poor guy has got the weight of the world on his shoulders and none of it has been his doing.
Seth has been hurt by those who should love him best and he's still dealing with his long-term partner's desertion of him a year previously after they made major life decisions and he was then left in the lurch.
The fake boyfriend scenario seems like a great temporary deal for all of them and the sparks start flying almost from the off as Logan starts to realise that his previous encounters with men might not have just been meaningless sex.
I loved how Keira approached his dawning awareness of his bisexuality. No erasure here, he's not gay for Seth but he absolutely is romantically falling for a man for the first time with all the confusion that entails.
With a super setting and a great bunch of secondary characters (I loved Logan's dad, his sister, her family, as well as Jenna and Seth's wonderfully outspoken boss Angela) this really does provide a lovely romance to unwrap for the festive season.
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review
January 4, 2025
4 Stars
A fake relationship and a bi-awakening weren’t on ex-Marine Logan’s bingo card this Christmas, but that’s exactly what he gets when his struggle to find a steady job and his untimely eviction leads him to entering into a mutually beneficial deal with a work colleague of his sister, trading pretend boyfriend duties for a roof over his head over the holidays.
It’s no trouble really, because the guy, Seth, seems like a really nice dude and possible new friend material for Logan. Seth’s kind and welcoming to Logan, but he’s also quite lonely, having been jilted hard by his religious family and his cheating ex in the past, with a potential job promotion on the line if this whole fake relationship caper goes awry.
This had some interesting character dynamics and I appreciated the full cast ensemble that kept this fun and easy reading, even when some of the heavier themes (of loss and grief, in various forms) came into play. I liked the burgeoning romance between Logan and Seth, as Logan finally comes to terms with his bisexuality and Seth finally finds his place in the world and his people.
I liked Seth a lot, but I struggled with Logan quite a bit, pretty much from the first page until very late in the story. I think his personality just didn’t sit right with me. Or, I didn’t quite like how in denial he was for a long time about his attraction to men, especially considering his past sexual encounters. But I appreciated how, despite my niggles, these two seemed to fit nicely together, with a bit of an opposites-attract thing going on that worked well for them in the long run.
Interestingly, my favourite part of this story was the thing I thought I’d dislike the most when I started the book: Logan’s defensive and rebellious thirteen-year-old step-son Connor. This kid was GOING THROUGH IT and damn if his story didn’t absolute gut-punch me in the feels a time or ten. He bordered on too vitriolic at times, especially early on, but ultimately this kid, and his initially unsteady connection to Logan, was the thing that made this whole thing memorable for me. He even made me cry, which, if you know me, means an instant extra star.
Overall, this was a decent M/M Christmas tale, mixing the fake relationship antics nicely with the deeper, poignant themes. Hurt-comfort, found family and unconditional love and support shine brightly here, making this a warm and lovely read for the holiday season.
******************************
Festive Fakes series
Book 1 - The Christmas Deal (4 Stars)
Book 2 - The Christmas Leap (3.5 Stars)
Book 3 - The Christmas Veto (pending…)
A fake relationship and a bi-awakening weren’t on ex-Marine Logan’s bingo card this Christmas, but that’s exactly what he gets when his struggle to find a steady job and his untimely eviction leads him to entering into a mutually beneficial deal with a work colleague of his sister, trading pretend boyfriend duties for a roof over his head over the holidays.
It’s no trouble really, because the guy, Seth, seems like a really nice dude and possible new friend material for Logan. Seth’s kind and welcoming to Logan, but he’s also quite lonely, having been jilted hard by his religious family and his cheating ex in the past, with a potential job promotion on the line if this whole fake relationship caper goes awry.
This had some interesting character dynamics and I appreciated the full cast ensemble that kept this fun and easy reading, even when some of the heavier themes (of loss and grief, in various forms) came into play. I liked the burgeoning romance between Logan and Seth, as Logan finally comes to terms with his bisexuality and Seth finally finds his place in the world and his people.
I liked Seth a lot, but I struggled with Logan quite a bit, pretty much from the first page until very late in the story. I think his personality just didn’t sit right with me. Or, I didn’t quite like how in denial he was for a long time about his attraction to men, especially considering his past sexual encounters. But I appreciated how, despite my niggles, these two seemed to fit nicely together, with a bit of an opposites-attract thing going on that worked well for them in the long run.
Interestingly, my favourite part of this story was the thing I thought I’d dislike the most when I started the book: Logan’s defensive and rebellious thirteen-year-old step-son Connor. This kid was GOING THROUGH IT and damn if his story didn’t absolute gut-punch me in the feels a time or ten. He bordered on too vitriolic at times, especially early on, but ultimately this kid, and his initially unsteady connection to Logan, was the thing that made this whole thing memorable for me. He even made me cry, which, if you know me, means an instant extra star.
Overall, this was a decent M/M Christmas tale, mixing the fake relationship antics nicely with the deeper, poignant themes. Hurt-comfort, found family and unconditional love and support shine brightly here, making this a warm and lovely read for the holiday season.
******************************
Festive Fakes series
Book 1 - The Christmas Deal (4 Stars)
Book 2 - The Christmas Leap (3.5 Stars)
Book 3 - The Christmas Veto (pending…)
December 18, 2019
4.5 stars
Daaaaym, that was a good love story. I'm all kinds of warm and fuzzy.
This is an adult romance between two men who haven't had it easy in the past. Logan has suffered a severe accident in his previous job that has left him practically unemployable. To make it even worse, his hasty marriage afterwards has left him a widower in charge of a teenage stepson. Not far from being homeless, he accepts a crazy deal to get him through the holidays.
Seth's background is one of those horrific ones that has left him alone in the world. No family, and as of a year ago, no boyfriend either. He's a caring and sentimental guy. When his co-worker tries to help him get a promotion using a little white lie circumstance drops him and Logan into a fantastical escapade.
Falling in love has never been so easy. They work so well together yet don't realize how good they are for each other at first. Meanwhile, us readers are screaming in our heads for them to open their eyes and see what's right in front of them.
Thirteen year old Connor's back story is even more heartbreaking than the others. But every child should be so lucky as to end up in the loving arms of a family like his.
I just adored this story from beginning to end. I didn't feel like there was any manufactured relationship drama. The entire plot felt plausible and left me feeling happy like a good contemporary romance should.
Now I need the assistant's story. Dale? I'm so curious!
Daaaaym, that was a good love story. I'm all kinds of warm and fuzzy.
This is an adult romance between two men who haven't had it easy in the past. Logan has suffered a severe accident in his previous job that has left him practically unemployable. To make it even worse, his hasty marriage afterwards has left him a widower in charge of a teenage stepson. Not far from being homeless, he accepts a crazy deal to get him through the holidays.
Seth's background is one of those horrific ones that has left him alone in the world. No family, and as of a year ago, no boyfriend either. He's a caring and sentimental guy. When his co-worker tries to help him get a promotion using a little white lie circumstance drops him and Logan into a fantastical escapade.
Falling in love has never been so easy. They work so well together yet don't realize how good they are for each other at first. Meanwhile, us readers are screaming in our heads for them to open their eyes and see what's right in front of them.
Thirteen year old Connor's back story is even more heartbreaking than the others. But every child should be so lucky as to end up in the loving arms of a family like his.
I just adored this story from beginning to end. I didn't feel like there was any manufactured relationship drama. The entire plot felt plausible and left me feeling happy like a good contemporary romance should.
Now I need the assistant's story. Dale? I'm so curious!
December 18, 2019
The Christmas Deal by Keira Andrews is a sweet Christmas story about two men that are totally opposites, but find out that they are exactly what each other needs.
Seth needs a “fake boyfriend” to help impress his new boss to prove to her that he is a family man. Logan needs a place to live and regroup and begin to put his life in order for both himself and his stepson, Connor. Somehow, Logan’s sister, who is also Seth’s BFF, comes up with a plan that will help everyone out. What could possibly go wrong? All they have to do is pull off a fake relationship through the holiday season.
This is a perfect low angst, GFY Christmas story that will put a smile on your face!
Seth needs a “fake boyfriend” to help impress his new boss to prove to her that he is a family man. Logan needs a place to live and regroup and begin to put his life in order for both himself and his stepson, Connor. Somehow, Logan’s sister, who is also Seth’s BFF, comes up with a plan that will help everyone out. What could possibly go wrong? All they have to do is pull off a fake relationship through the holiday season.
This is a perfect low angst, GFY Christmas story that will put a smile on your face!
December 23, 2019
*4,5 stars*
What more could you ask of a Christmas-themed book?
Keira Andrew pretty much nails it for me:
.) Two lovable MCs:
A very sad and defeated Logan (and no wonder considering what’s going on in his life!) and very lonely and heart-broken Seth (that man is a total sweetheart).
.) a very Christmassy plot:
I liked the scenario, even if it is somewhat unlikely. I was completely happy to buy into it all and enjoyed it thoroughly.
.) a GFY
Well it’s not quite like that, but I think Logan makes it look like one.
I loved that we got some depth here, not only with Logan re-evaluating his sexuality, but also with his problems in general.
This comes very close to a full novel and even though things do fall in place quite neatly at the end (but isn’t that exactly what you’d expect from a Christmas story?), I had a great time!
What more could you ask of a Christmas-themed book?
Keira Andrew pretty much nails it for me:
.) Two lovable MCs:
A very sad and defeated Logan (and no wonder considering what’s going on in his life!) and very lonely and heart-broken Seth (that man is a total sweetheart).
.) a very Christmassy plot:
I liked the scenario, even if it is somewhat unlikely. I was completely happy to buy into it all and enjoyed it thoroughly.
.) a GFY
Well it’s not quite like that, but I think Logan makes it look like one.
I loved that we got some depth here, not only with Logan re-evaluating his sexuality, but also with his problems in general.
This comes very close to a full novel and even though things do fall in place quite neatly at the end (but isn’t that exactly what you’d expect from a Christmas story?), I had a great time!
November 24, 2019
3.5 stars
This was very lovely in places, but do have to say that I had a hard time liking Logan. It also felt a bit more serious than I expected.
Logan is jobless and almost homeless since he will be evicted in a couple of days. He has no idea what to do, and he also needs to take care of his 13 year old stepson. He was married to Connor’s mother for a few months when she died and now he is a single dad all of a sudden.
And Connor is not happy with Logan as a stepdad. He is a sullen teenager who is still grieving his mother and who feels very unwanted.
When Logan goes to pick up his sister from her work, he is suddenly thrust in the middle of a soap opera. His sister Jenna seems to have lost her mind when she introduces Logan as the fiancé of a man he never met before.
Seth has worked with Jenna for some time and they’re close friends. When he hears the big boss is coming to promote certain people, Jenna reminds him how family oriented Angela Barker is. And when Angela sees a picture of Logan and Connor on Seth’s desk (which Jenna shoved on there), Jenna jumps in and says Seth and Logan are engaged.
So it seems Logan and Seth are now engaged. But perhaps Seth can help Logan out a bit. Seth needs his new kitchen put in and Logan needs a place to stay for a few weeks. So they strike up a deal. Logan will install Seth’s new kitchen and will pose as his fiancé on the company’s Christmas weekend, and Logan and Connor can stay with Seth until Logan gets a job….
I liked Seth and I loved the parts with Conner. But I kept thinking that Logan just needed to hug the boy and not act so harsh and swear so much. I know he never thought of himself as a father and he had no idea what he was doing, but he never showed his love for the boy at all. And that was the thing Connor needed the most, to know someone loved him.
I also had a bit of trouble with Logan and the way he thought that women were for love and men only for sex. I get that some people do indeed think that way and do not consider themselves bisexual, but I just never clicked with him and his way of thinking.
The money trouble also felt very depressing, and not what I was expecting in a Christmas story.
But Seth was kind of adorable, and I loved the epilogue.
This was very lovely in places, but do have to say that I had a hard time liking Logan. It also felt a bit more serious than I expected.
Logan is jobless and almost homeless since he will be evicted in a couple of days. He has no idea what to do, and he also needs to take care of his 13 year old stepson. He was married to Connor’s mother for a few months when she died and now he is a single dad all of a sudden.
And Connor is not happy with Logan as a stepdad. He is a sullen teenager who is still grieving his mother and who feels very unwanted.
When Logan goes to pick up his sister from her work, he is suddenly thrust in the middle of a soap opera. His sister Jenna seems to have lost her mind when she introduces Logan as the fiancé of a man he never met before.
Seth has worked with Jenna for some time and they’re close friends. When he hears the big boss is coming to promote certain people, Jenna reminds him how family oriented Angela Barker is. And when Angela sees a picture of Logan and Connor on Seth’s desk (which Jenna shoved on there), Jenna jumps in and says Seth and Logan are engaged.
So it seems Logan and Seth are now engaged. But perhaps Seth can help Logan out a bit. Seth needs his new kitchen put in and Logan needs a place to stay for a few weeks. So they strike up a deal. Logan will install Seth’s new kitchen and will pose as his fiancé on the company’s Christmas weekend, and Logan and Connor can stay with Seth until Logan gets a job….
I liked Seth and I loved the parts with Conner. But I kept thinking that Logan just needed to hug the boy and not act so harsh and swear so much. I know he never thought of himself as a father and he had no idea what he was doing, but he never showed his love for the boy at all. And that was the thing Connor needed the most, to know someone loved him.
I also had a bit of trouble with Logan and the way he thought that women were for love and men only for sex. I get that some people do indeed think that way and do not consider themselves bisexual, but I just never clicked with him and his way of thinking.
The money trouble also felt very depressing, and not what I was expecting in a Christmas story.
But Seth was kind of adorable, and I loved the epilogue.
December 13, 2022
This was such a perfect sweet Christmas story. I love fake dating and it was done really well in this book. I can't believe how quickly I read this book today, I could barely stop. This is a really good Christmas book and now I'm excited to read book 2!
December 6, 2019
Not bad at all, though a bit too sweet at times. Logan saved it for me by not pulling any ridiculous pushing away moves that could so easily have happened.
3.75 stars
3.75 stars
November 22, 2019
*3.5 stars*
Keira Andrews offers us, readers of MM romances, a sweet Christmas story, with low-angst and a “fake boyfriend” trope, involving :
• Logan, gruff but dependable, widowed after a short and loveless marriage and trying hard to find a job,
• Seth, well-mannered, a bit timid, very kind and lonely as his family nastily shunned him and his long-term boyfriend left him,
• and on the side, Connor, Logan’s stepson, an angry teenager, but who could blame him as he has to deal with growing, grieving his mother and having an absent father.
I’m not a real fan of the “fake boyfriend” trope but here, it’s quite cleverly and humorously introduced : I can so imagine how a small white lie could go out of control and I was pleased to watch everybody going with the flow to help one and another.
I enjoyed Seth’s kindness, Logan’s awakening to bisexuality without disrespecting Seth, the familial interactions and all the nice and accepting sentiments from many side-characters.
It’s a sweet Christmas story, even if I admit it was a bit too insta-love and suspend-belief for me to be swooned or left dreamy. But it was a warming read nevertheless, with a very lovely epilogue for these 2 likable MCs.
ARC of “The Christmas Deal” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Keira Andrews offers us, readers of MM romances, a sweet Christmas story, with low-angst and a “fake boyfriend” trope, involving :
• Logan, gruff but dependable, widowed after a short and loveless marriage and trying hard to find a job,
• Seth, well-mannered, a bit timid, very kind and lonely as his family nastily shunned him and his long-term boyfriend left him,
• and on the side, Connor, Logan’s stepson, an angry teenager, but who could blame him as he has to deal with growing, grieving his mother and having an absent father.
I’m not a real fan of the “fake boyfriend” trope but here, it’s quite cleverly and humorously introduced : I can so imagine how a small white lie could go out of control and I was pleased to watch everybody going with the flow to help one and another.
I enjoyed Seth’s kindness, Logan’s awakening to bisexuality without disrespecting Seth, the familial interactions and all the nice and accepting sentiments from many side-characters.
It’s a sweet Christmas story, even if I admit it was a bit too insta-love and suspend-belief for me to be swooned or left dreamy. But it was a warming read nevertheless, with a very lovely epilogue for these 2 likable MCs.
ARC of “The Christmas Deal” was generously provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 3, 2023
Loved this one. Two interesting main characters with well written chemistry and connection between the two. The addition of the step-son in the mix worked well to increase the emotional aspect of the story. My favorite holiday read so far this season.
November 14, 2019
I'm not going to lie, the beginning of this had me worried. Logan took some warming up to, but what got me to my happy place is there is no massive miscommunication, there wasn't drama or manufactured angst, and can I get a hallelujah that Logan's bisexuality wasn't treated as "gay for you", but a learning process of acceptance?
All in all I really liked it, from the way the kid side is handled, to the side characters, who are wonderful, and Seth in his entirety *sighs*...plus I loved the dual POV.
Looking for a fun and sweet holiday romance with dual POV, some heat, a humorous caper, and a wonderful HEA ending? Look no further!
Advanced Review Galley copy of The Christmas Deal provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted to Gay Book Reviews.
All in all I really liked it, from the way the kid side is handled, to the side characters, who are wonderful, and Seth in his entirety *sighs*...plus I loved the dual POV.
Looking for a fun and sweet holiday romance with dual POV, some heat, a humorous caper, and a wonderful HEA ending? Look no further!
Advanced Review Galley copy of The Christmas Deal provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted to Gay Book Reviews.
Read
November 9, 2023Dnf @16%.
I'm setting this aside for now.
Can't get a feel for the characters (main and secondary, too).
The setup was strange/OTT, Logan isn't yet likeable, his marriage sounded somewhere between awful and horrible, his relationship with his stepson worse.
Can't imagine, with these starting points, to get to the point where I enjoy reading about a fake relationship in the weeks before christmas, with a stepson who recently lost his mother and rightfully hates his steldad, in the middle of it all.
But who knows, maybe I'll try it again next year.
I'm setting this aside for now.
Can't get a feel for the characters (main and secondary, too).
The setup was strange/OTT, Logan isn't yet likeable, his marriage sounded somewhere between awful and horrible, his relationship with his stepson worse.
Can't imagine, with these starting points, to get to the point where I enjoy reading about a fake relationship in the weeks before christmas, with a stepson who recently lost his mother and rightfully hates his steldad, in the middle of it all.
But who knows, maybe I'll try it again next year.
November 24, 2022
So here's the thing. I'm extremely, and I mean extremely picky when it comes to GFY/bisexual awakening stories and so on. I don't know what it is that's putting me on the edge, sometimes it can be a phrasing, sometimes it can be an action... you get it. The main reason I'm reading M/M is to get away from everything being so damn straight all the time and actually read about characters I on some level can connect to when it comes to the love story arc. And well, this one made me clam up straight away with Logan saying that he hooked up with guys but he wasn't gay. It's not that I don't think bisexuality is a thing or that you can realize late in life that you are into more than just the gender society tells you to be into. Neither am I against people being in denial about their sexuality. (I always feel like I have to make that clear while writing a review like this). It's just not what I want in my romances and it can upset me a great deal if it's not done "right". After that, I was sure I was going to dislike this book. And I did dislike this book for quite a while. Thank god, I kept on reading though because when all is said and done and Logan is slowly accepting himself this is lovely book. And I fell in love with Logan and the story itself.
This was a great addition to the fake boyfriends trope (which is one of my favorite tropes). Sweet and fluffy and exactly right for the season. Connor, Logan's step son was a great secondary character. My heart broke for him and I loved seeing him slowly starting to heal. Kids in romances can be tricky but this was done all the way right.
Reread Nov 2022 and I still love it!
This was a great addition to the fake boyfriends trope (which is one of my favorite tropes). Sweet and fluffy and exactly right for the season. Connor, Logan's step son was a great secondary character. My heart broke for him and I loved seeing him slowly starting to heal. Kids in romances can be tricky but this was done all the way right.
Reread Nov 2022 and I still love it!
November 10, 2019
As always, Keira Andrews delivers all the Christmas feels with this full-length novel about fake boyfriends becoming real lovers. Logan and Seth are adorable and hot together. I was rooting for them from the first meet-cute!
Logan's family situation is as believable as it is fraught, and the way Keira handled writing his surly step-son is fantastic. As for Seth's family, they are wonderfully handled in a completely different way. I adored the full cast of characters in this book almost as much as the MCs. The office friends, the camaraderie between side characters, the families--it all led to a very real-feeling, very sweet holiday story that I haven't stopped thinking about since I first read it.
Oh, and the scenes between Logan and Seth? Um, super hot. So good!
To sum up: sexy, sweet, heart-tugging, and wonderful. Everyone will want to read this book for their holidays! It will soon become a favorite!
Logan's family situation is as believable as it is fraught, and the way Keira handled writing his surly step-son is fantastic. As for Seth's family, they are wonderfully handled in a completely different way. I adored the full cast of characters in this book almost as much as the MCs. The office friends, the camaraderie between side characters, the families--it all led to a very real-feeling, very sweet holiday story that I haven't stopped thinking about since I first read it.
Oh, and the scenes between Logan and Seth? Um, super hot. So good!
To sum up: sexy, sweet, heart-tugging, and wonderful. Everyone will want to read this book for their holidays! It will soon become a favorite!
January 13, 2020
Really great story. I'm a little bit (read: a lot) in lust with Logan. And I'm a little bit like Seth myself, so that works out well, right?
I can't say no to a growly, fuzzy, muscly, broody, dominant man who likes to dirty talk. Just can't.
I can't say no to a growly, fuzzy, muscly, broody, dominant man who likes to dirty talk. Just can't.
November 21, 2019
Let's make a deal
3.75 stars
That was an adorable story.
Seth and Logan make a deal to pose as a family for the holidays. Seth is looking for a promotion with a family oriented boss while Logan is looking for a break after losing his job and being evicted.
Let's just say they take the whole "fake it to you make it" to a whole new level.
I really enjoyed it.
3.75 stars
That was an adorable story.
Seth and Logan make a deal to pose as a family for the holidays. Seth is looking for a promotion with a family oriented boss while Logan is looking for a break after losing his job and being evicted.
Let's just say they take the whole "fake it to you make it" to a whole new level.
I really enjoyed it.
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