Unwrapping Christmas

Rebel Sky Ranch

by Kelly Fox

College isn't working out, and I'm still trying to figure out what comes next.

I suppose volunteering for the local Christmas Cleanup is better than staring at the four walls of my house all day long, even if I don't know what the heck I'm doing. Here's hoping the locals don't mind my gothy Christmas elf attire.

While I was hoping the volunteer work would help me to discover something about myself, I wasn't expecting to unwrap a whole new...dynamic. At least not until Junior, a tall-strapping cowboy, shows me what I've been missing.

Unwrapping Christmas is a 33k-word novella set in the Rebel Sky Ranch series. It includes a gothy femme boy, a sweet, commanding cowboy, and enough Christmas cheer to make you smile.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Novella, BDSM

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 23, 2022

Reviews

[anouk♡ semi-hiatus · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒚 𝒎/𝒎 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 and I enjoyed it a lot!🎄💖

Junior and Tanner are 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒐 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒄𝒖𝒕𝒆🥹.
And the smut is so hot!❤️‍🔥

I found out after starting this novella that’s it’s a part of the ‘𝑹𝒆𝒃𝒆𝒍 𝑺𝒌𝒚’ universe!
I haven’t read these books yet (𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘐’𝘮 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰𝘰!) and I had no issue following this story. 💕

I would’ve liked it to be a little longer, it’s 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂-𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒂-𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. This book moved extremely fast. I think a few extra ‘build-up’ pages would’ve been nice. 😊

[Kati *☆･ﾟ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0**** stars


* :• ☆ *:･ﾟ

With all her usual tenderness Kelly Fox again wrote some serious lovable characters. I loved a lot about this novella and I think, besides Tanner & Junior, I did coming back to Rebel Sky Ranch and all its people the most.


And even though I’m not the biggest kink fan I adored watching Junior, the hot gay cowboy, and Tanner, the goth kitten, stumble into a mutual like for it by accident and watch them explore it together. All the while Tanner tried to figure out what to do with his life, now that college is not working out for him.

And I sooo loved Tanner’s makeup *hearteyes

My eyes are, as ever, lined in kohl, but I added a red blush across my nose and cheeks, then used some white eyeliner to add freckles. I’m calling it festive goth.

* :• ☆ *:･ﾟ

************
Rebel Sky Ranch Series:

Book 1 - Goodnight - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Sparrow - 3.5 stars
Book 3 - Navarro - 4.25 stars
Book 4 - Warwick - 4.0 stars


Novellas:


The Sheriff's Troublemaker - 3.5 stars
Unwrapping Christmas - 4.0 stars

[Rin (indefinite hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need to have a word with Ms. Fox because she is not allowed to ruin all other Christmas novellas like this for me while also making me have all the horny feels. 😭

Yes, this is a part of her Rebel Sky universe. You can totally read this as a stand alone but all of the side characters are from previous books are in this and the two MC’s have been introduced in previous books as well. I personally don’t think you can get maximum enjoyment out of this without the background of those books.

So that plays a part in my love for this. I’ve been hoping we get Tanner’s HEA since he was introduced. I love this little kinky story so so much and this will be a revisit every holiday season. It had all the elements. Unique characters, on fire sex, teeny bit of drama, found family, and all the shmoopy feelings. It was just… awesome.

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this. I mean, of course I did. Give me a cute little femme boy, added bonus for lacy panties, and I'm a happy reader!
I can't believe that I almost didn't read this. Kelly Fox hasn't always worked out for me, so eventually I just stopped trying any of her books. But when I saw the cute, femme, "goth kitten" on the cover, I had to make an exception. So glad I did.
Oh, and the kink... 🔥

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my lawd 🤦

This novella is connected to Rebel Sky Ranch series. Read it after you finish the series.

🟣 Insta-love, but not believable
🟡 Size difference
🟠 One MMC in his 20's, one 19
🔵 Weird attempt at D/s
🟢 Good characters, but didn't get a good story
🌶️ Spice good, but too much of everything; both vers but prefer t/b in this dynamic

If you remember Junior from Sparrow's book, he's a big, buff cowboy in his 20's and one of the three cowboy brothers who come to work on Trip's farm, but he stays there.

Tanner got kicked out his home for being gay and then he dropped out of college in his first year.
Tanner's a "goth kitten" -I don't know how that's accurate with how he's dressing up in the book and on this cover-, so he likes a more feminine style with a touch of darkness, he's portrayed as a lost kid who doesn't really know what to do with his life. And 5 years later he still didn't have a job. Okay.

Tanner and Junior have to work together when Tanner comes to Trip's farm to volunteer for christmas decorating, so right off the bat there's supposed chemistry and pull, that I'm still looking for, didn't find it yet.
I bet they were attracted to one another, it just wasn't written well.

They hook up once and instantly start thinking about the D/s dynamic with absolutely not knowing what they're doing, with Junior getting his wisdom from Warwick and Sparrow and that in itself was weird as hell, too much talking and too personal for just ONE hook-up, because Junior just knows he wants to be Tanner's pleasure dom.

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

Insta-love gone bad. No, it wasn't believable even for insta-love.

Both characters had a lot of potential, but they weren't presented well, especially Tanner.
As a femboy, he was in the right environment and I did love the idea of a big cowboy plowing him, but their story wasn't well developed. Their relationship has absolutely no build-up.

The D/s part was soooo cringe!
Ohmygod, that was the worst! 😆
Junior doesn't know what the hell he's doing and Tanner calling him "Sir" and kneeling out of freaking nowhere, I'm like what?? What are these guys doing?? It was so artificial and didn't really belong here, I think.

And on the final Rebel Sky Ranch Christmas dinner we get

"Well, well, well. Looks like we've all been freshly fucked this fine Christmas Day."

"'Tis the season," I crack back, popping my brows."

Wow.

If I go to a dinner party and someone says that, I either start drinking like crazy or get the hell out of there.

Weird, weird dialogues, weird interactions, it actually surprised me plenty, because I loved Rebel Sky Ranch series and those characters were much more endearing than they're presented in this novella.

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Kelly Fox circles back to side characters in her books and tells their stories, whether it's a full-length novel or a quick read like this one.

Tanner and Junior make a bit of an odd couple, but odd couples are usually the best to read about. That's certainly the case in this blistering-hot, sweet, mildly kinky holiday tale, where the couple begins to explore BDSM. It's also my favorite kind of Christmas book - the kind that's set around Christmas but isn't *about* Christmas.

Tied to the Rebel Sky Ranch series, you could possibly read Unwrapping Christmas as a standalone but would probably feel like you missed some back story.

[Steph (semi-hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell y’all this is the best holiday novella I’ve ever read that isn’t an exaggeration. Junior and Tanner are the absolute sweetest! I want to gush all over the place about the total perfection. I want an extended story. And the epilogue? Holy hotness 🥵This novella does stand-alone but I think for maximum enjoyment the rest of the Rebel Sky series should be read. Especially to fully enjoy my personal favorite interaction with previous characters.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute, but very fast. While it technically stands alone, I think I would have enjoyed it more had I read more than just the first book in the Rebel Sky Ranch series. Because I didn’t have much background on these two characters, their connection didn’t resonate with me as strongly as I’d hoped. Nevertheless, I did enjoy my time with this, and I may end up going back and reading the other books anyway.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up
Didn't realize the characters are from another series. The story works ok as a standalone, but I would have understood some things better if I had a bit more background on the characters.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable!

Low angst, sweet, a little bit of light kink.

[Amos24601 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh…..

This was….okay. Don’t get me wrong, I wanted to love it so much but I just…didn’t. Tanner was, of course, adorable. Junior was, of course, swoony in all his cowboy glory. I just didn’t really feel their connection and maybe that’s a me issue, but I don’t know.

I did love the realness of the first meeting. Junior putting his foot in his mouth was realistic and I appreciated that detail. I also adored Tanner and his aesthetic. Little goth kitten was on point for him. Their scenes together were super spicy and definitely sexy. However, I hated that their first encounter was in some little old lady’s garage. That was such a weird choice. I also didn’t love that their second encounter involved so many different things, kind of like they needed to rush and fit it all in. The epilogue was, oof, so sexy.

I loved all the Rebel Sky cameos though. It’s always fun to catch up with previous characters. I’m clearly in the minority here with my rating and I’m glad it worked so well for so many people, I just wasn’t one of them.

[Badh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brave Tanner

I thought that Tanner was so strong and brave, even if he didn't necessarily think so. It took a lot of guts for him to stand up to his dad and for him to try to replan his life.

[Readingjourney [semi-hiatus] · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s absolutely not a standalone novella. In my opinion you have to read the other books in the series to understand what’s going on here. The writing seemed juvenile and awkward to me, I did not like it.

[Meg (queer_book_recs) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally on his own after growing up with a domineering and homophobic father, Tanner is having fun expressing his darkly flamboyant personal style, but college isn’t going well and he’s not sure what he wants to do with his life. He’s hoping volunteering to help the Rebel Sky crew put up holiday decorations for the community will give him some direction. He’s not expecting to hit it off so well with Junior, the big, handsome cowboy running the volunteer crew. This volunteering job might just be a bit more life-changing than he expected.

I really can’t get enough of the men of Rebel Sky Ranch! Tanner and Junior were previously minor side characters, and I do recommend reading the Rebel Sky Ranch series—including Patrick and Jason’s book The Sheriff’s Troublemaker—to really appreciate the appearance of characters from previous books. Tanner and Junior are such a sweet opposites attract pairing! I adored them together and loved reading about them starting to explore kink and figure out what they like. I loved their communication! I also loved the descriptions of Tanner’s make-up looks, very on-trend for how the kids are doing their makeup these days! Overall just a sweet, sexy, and heartwarming romance—can’t ask for more than that from a holiday novella!

[LizzieG Garrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy the Rebel Sky Ranch community that Kelly Fox has created. This holiday story features Tanner, a young man who struggled for so long under his abusive tyrant of a father and is now living out and proud in all of his glitter and eyeliner glory. Then we have Junior, another brawny, gentle giant that is just the perfect match for Tanner. They kind of stumble into some mild D/s kink at the beginning and learn and explore as they go. The sexy times in this were Hot with a capital AF. This had all the insta - sex and love but it worked for me.
This could be read as a standalone, but one would miss on a lot of the nuance and backstory with Tanner and several other Rebel Sky characters.

[Iz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read any of the books in this series, but "Unwrapping Christmas" stands alone quite easily.

It's kinky, it's sweet, it even has a touch of drama and a whole lot of found family. Also, did I mention that it's kinky? GAH, I feel like I'm about to embark on yet another kink readathon.

I'm still not 100% sure Kelly Fox is the author for me, but I definitely loved this one (and I definitely love the way this author writes kink).
Tanner and Junior's relationship was pretty much insta-love, but weirdly, it didn't bother me; I also loved them individually, Tanner especially (and I'm soooo jealous of his impeccable fashion sense). Anyway, I really liked this short, but steamy and romantic as hell, novella.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a steamy, kink introducing holiday story? Look no further than Kelly Fox's return to Rebel Sky and a novella that brings the next generation to the forefront! We meet Junior and Tanner, who've made appearances in the previous books, but come into their own as Tanner searches for something to love and finds someone to love at the same time!

It's a kinky, steamy holiday romp with a HEA that was a fast and fabulous read with sparks, a goth santa hat and the start of something amazing! It can be read standalone, but you'll find that you'll enjoy it more by knowing the men that Tanner and especially Junior interact with and look to for advice and ideas...

[Demetra Roussakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an awesome Christmasy time read. Tanner and Junior are paired together to go to neighbors homes to decorate for Christmas. What started as a fun job putting up decorations started to feel like more. Loved the way Junior was there for Tanner. Loved the chemistry and the way they communicated their feelings and desires. Love the Rebel Sky series and this was a perfect addition.

I received a copy of this book for my review.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect Christmas novella for fans of the Rebel Sky Ranch world. It is low-angst, positive, feel-good fun. Tanner is a young femme goth stylish man who is not in a good place. He's attended a semester at the local community college and it did not go well. He's learned that college is not for him, but he doesn't know what is next. His father is an angry, screaming bigot who has repeatedly rejected Tanner. Tanner's mother has just taken the step to divorce his father and that adds more issues for the family.

Tanner decides to volunteer for a community project, where he meets up again with Junior, who was several years ahead of him in high school. They both experience instant attraction, but Tanner feels no confidence and Junior doesn't know if he will like Tanner beyond the physical attraction. What will happen when they spend more time with each other?

This book is a good catch-up on previous MCs in this world. It's got a great community spirit of giving vibe, a little light toe-dipping into the world of D/s, affirming friendships, and love that will last a lifetime.

[C. Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanner, a cute little goth elf, heads back home after a miserable semester at college. His Uncle suggests that Tanner volunteer with local Christmas Cleanup crew while he is trying to figure out his next steps since college isn’t working out for him.

Enter Junior! Tanner and Junior hit it off with a bang, and their sweet relationship grows from there.

Sweet Christmas novella from the Rebel Ranch series!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this novella until after I started I realized The rebel sky series is the only one I haven't read of the authors lol But oh well I still recognized the side characters even though they're cameos didn't mean much to me. The intimacy scenes are hot and A+ for all the communication while the couple dabbles in light damn sub dynamic for the first time.

Light bondage , toy play , fisting

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

this honestly felt so chaotic (in a good way??) but absolutely everything i needed after going through some angstier books. i haven't even read the actual series but after reading this i definitely want to. this was also way kinkier than i thought it was going to be asdfghjkl but i rock with it, it was a fun read and at the end of the day that's what matters!

[justinegreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

this one wins cutest holiday novella for this year! i love the friendship and relationship development between Tanner and Junior, these boys know communication like no other, the spice was so good too!

4⭐️ | 2🌶️

[The Secret Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwrapping Christmas was fast paced, intense and steamy! I completely adored the characters and the story had the perfect mix of sweetness, kink and Christmas.

I fell in love with this story just as hard and fast as Tanner and Junior did with each other. They might seem like an odd couple at first but together their chemistry was off the charts. It was great seeing them curiously explore dynamics that were new to both of them, and I absolutely loved the kink and spice level - Kelly really brought her best!

As a bonus there was also some Rebel Sky Ranch cowboys thrown in, my favourite part was when Junior was asking for advice and while Sparrow was sharing his wisdom, Warwick was very much... being Warwick. I've missed those guys and this novella is a must if you enjoyed the Rebel Sky Ranch series!

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

There seems to be a default assumption that holiday-themed romances have to be sweet, but Fox sees this assumption, packs a ton of sweetness into this novella, and then raises the spice level off the charts as a surprise bonus.

The “Christmas” element here functions mostly as a time setting that allows the characters to interact, but I appreciate that Fox also incorporates other winter holidays into the experience. Ultimately, this story is about Tanner and Junior encountering each other as young adults finally coming into their own. They’re approaching adulthood from vastly different directions, but the spark of connection happens to work for both of them. And sparks definitely fly as they fall into a dynamic that surprises both of them with its intensity.

However, instead of having her characters be immediate sexual savants and ride off into the sunset together, Fox always sets her books firmly in the real world. Junior and Tanner put in the work to figure out how to make every aspect of this new relationship work for them. Consent is always sexy in romance stories, but Fox proves here that communication can also make even subtle exploration into something incredibly romantic. (And spicy. There is some chili powder in this cozy seasonal hot chocolate.)

This novella is set in the same part of Fox’s epic shared world as the cowboy romances, and many familiar characters are present, but this story can be read as a stand-alone. I do hope, however, that new readers who are here for the holiday spice are intrigued by this amazing found-family cast of characters and check out the rest of the books. I had a lovely time revisiting some old friends (especially the Sparrow and Warwick show, which is always a delight), and I know that new readers who enjoyed their time here will love them just as much.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author.

[Jamie Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unwrapping Christmas is an absolute joy to read. It's a novella filled with sweet sweet heat and some very hand-fan worthy moments. There is no shortage of chemistry between the brawny cowboy and fiesty goth college student.

Junior and Tanner are the freaking cutest and both deserve their own HEA but to see Tanner get his happy ending after all the stuff his dad pulled in the Sheriff's Troublemaker made my heart grow 3 sizes (seriously, go read it if you haven't already). It was a pleasure watching their relationship blossom so deeply in such a short time. All of the side characters showing up for the town and each other was a great time too. Anytime I get to see Desi and Sam at Rebel Ranch I'm in stitches.

This is a fast paced novella so it's intense and has an instalove intensity to it which I am 100% here for in a holiday story. Add in a bit a kink and communication and I'm basically purring.

Going back to Rebel ranch at Christmas was a blast. It was a great spinoff and I hope we see more from these guys in future books.

[Nessie Reads MM · Rating 3 out of 5]

6.5/10 ⭐

~^~

I do not think this is a standalone. The beginning of this novella threw me because there was little introduction to the many side characters, which I later found out have their own series. If I had known I would have read these first.

The relationship between Tanner and Junior developed at lightning speed as did their d/s relationship (even though both characters had little knowledge about it). While the sex was hot, I didn't feel like the character had time to develop the trust or connection required for such scenes. The epilogue fisting scene also came out of nowhere.

Tanner is such a sweetheart and I feel cheated for not getting a full length novel about these two getting to know each other and falling in love, while discovering the joy of d/s and kink. The scene where they visit the Christmas ready Main Street was lovely and I honestly wanted to read more scenes like this between them.

I'm going to give Rebel Sky Ranch a go next, see if I like the series better than the novella.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kelly Fox never disappoints me in the heartwarming stories she gives us of Men finding love in all sorts of unexpected places and configurations and Unwrapping Christmas is no exception. This was just a fun story to read and I loved every minute of it. We have Tanner, who we have met in previous stories, a young man who is trying to figure out where he fits in in the world who crosses paths with Junior, someone who knows who he is but is still learning about life. Together we get to see them start off with some light flirting and jump right into discovering together what common kinks they enjoy along with finding a true and lasting love all with a little Christmas Magic. What could be better! As with most of the authors' novellas, we get to catch up with familiar characters from past stories while we get to fall in love with a new couple, Win-Win! This was a great quick read for a cold night cuddled up with a warm blanket and a nice hot drink,,,, enjoy!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quickie smut from side characters after the series romances.
HEA. Standalone in connected universe, Goodnight Rebel Sky series cameos.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5: Romantic erotica with multiple descriptive sex scenes and adventurous behaviors. MM Romance, learning together (BDSM), D/s, 'Sir', Pleasure dom, Delayed orgasm, multiple orgasms, cock cage, questionable food choice of lube, toys, fisting
Tropes: Cowboys, Small town, New adult, Insta-L
Setting: Small town USA
Subplots beyond the main & romantic plotlines: Novella hits fast to earn those 5 peppers. Plenty of interactions established with the town and characters to earn the HEA epilogue.
Character Tanner: Sweet, Femme boy
Character Junior: Sweet, Commanding, Cowboy,
Best Makeup: Christmas goth kitten freckles

Note: I provide full star ratings for books I complete, aiming to accentuate their strengths while refraining from negative critiques.

[Shana_Bobana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored everything about this book. Tanner is wondering what to do with his life. He’s not sure what career sounds good to him and he’s come to realize college isn’t for him. When his uncle suggests he volunteers to help decorate the city for Christmas he has no idea his life is about to change.

Junior doesn’t know a lot about Tanner except what he’s heard from others. Junior quickly learns that not only is Tanner is really attractive on the outside he’s an incredible person on the inside too.

Their chemistry is instant but it also grows into a really sweet romance. If you’ve read the rest of the Rebel Sky Ranch books this fits in so well, but it also can definitely be read as a stand alone. If you like sweet and steamy holiday reads you need to check this book out.

I did receive a free ARC of this book but that did not influence my review.