A couple of weeks ago I asked for holiday recommendations with the catch that it could be anything but contemporary. There are a ton of holiday stories set in the modern world, which is awesome, but for a reader like me who prefers Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Paranormal, I wanted to see more holiday stories in the genre I love to read.
This is the result when I asked for recommendations on Facebook. There were enough of them to cover both today and next Saturday.
At the end of today's list, I'm also adding my favorite holidays reads that I reread often.
Enjoy!
Series: Realms of Love, 1
Author(s): S.J. Himes
Length: 173 pages
Publisher:
Genre: Romance / Sweet / Gay / Fantasy /
Notes: I'm starting off with this one because I read it the day after it came out and really liked it but I doesn't fall into the reread list because I haven't reread it... yet. I will but probably not this month because I'm swamped! Great story!
Blurb: Rescued from slavers, healer novice Jaime Buchanan finds himself alone and free in Pyrderi, a kingdom of magic, mythical creatures, and a culture as open and kind as his homeland was cruel and close-minded.
Despite his rescue, Jaime is not left without scars, both mental and physical. Traumatized by his experience and hiding his gift, Jaime struggles to earn his place in the kitchens of Angharad Palace, the heart of Taliesin City. His former life as a student of the healing arts leaves him at a disadvantage in the kitchens, and his damaged state is becoming more apparent by the day.
One day, when necessity and fate intervene, Jaime meets someone unexpected—Prince Maxim, youngest son of the Pyrderian king, a sword master and a devastatingly kind man. Unaccustomed to powerful people with compassion and heart, Jaime flees. A cascade of events reveals Jaime’s hidden talents of healing, and he finds himself not in chains, but at the beginning of a new life.
This swift change of fortune opens Jaime up to new possibilities, including a smitten prince who cautiously courts Jaime, easing him away from his fears and reminding him that compassion and love can make him strong. The winter solstice is quickly approaching, and Prince Maxim shows Jaime the enjoyment and excitement to be found in a land that embraces the ice and cold, and the mysteries of all things magical. He learns to see the man under the royal mantle, and Maxim is more than even Jaime suspected.
The winter solstice is nigh when tragedy strikes, and Jaime learns that his past of grief and sorrow can be a pillar of strength for his solstice prince. If there is one thing that Jaime believes above all else, it is in the healing power of love.
Series:
Author(s): Cassie Decker
Length: 38 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 1, 2017)
Genre: Romance / Dystopia / Gay /
Notes:
Blurb: An aggressive super-flu pandemic wipes out a majority of the population over the course of one Christmas holiday—and brings Tobin and Kyle together. For almost a year, they’ve been trekking across the country from Colorado toward a sanctuary in upstate New York. Kyle’s survival skills have kept them alive, and Tobin wants to repay the man he loves with a very special gift of his own making. He sneaks off in search of the last few pieces… only to get himself and Kyle kidnapped by a desperate stranger. With their journey to New York on hold—possibly indefinitely—they’ll need to accept that home isn’t always defined by a place as much as the person you’re with.
The Complete Forester Trilogy Series: (Tales of the Forest Book 0)
Author(s): Blaine D. Arden
Length: 342 pages
Publisher:
Genre:
Notes: All three acts take place during Solstice.
Blurb: “There is always a way.”
Kelnaht, Taruif, and Ianys are meant to be together, but old promises and the decree of the elders prevent them from claiming each other openly at Solstice. Kelnaht can investigate murder and foul play, but he can’t see how he can keep both his lovers without breaking the rules. But if he believes in the guide’s words and trusts his faith in Ma’terra, they will find a way to clear the fog and puddles from their paths.
The Forester
Kelnaht, a cloud elf, is a truth seeker caught between love and faith, when a murder reveals an illicit affair between two tree elves he desires more than he can admit. Kelnaht’s former lover Ianys once betrayed him, and the shunned forester Taruif is not allowed to talk to anyone but the guide, their spiritual pathfinder.
Lost and Found
A stripling goes missing from the tribe, and heavy rainfall hides all traces of his whereabouts. With days creeping by without a lead, it’s hard to keep the tribe’s spirits up, more so when Kelnaht’s own future depends on the elders. Taruif has been shunned for almost twenty turns, but now that a possible forester’s apprentice is coming of age, the elders consider reducing his sentence. Taruif could be set free.
Full Circle
When several children fall ill with more than a summer bug, truth seeker Kelnaht is assigned to investigate. What he finds is deadly and threatens the life of every underage child in the tribe, including Ianys’ daughter Atèn. Then a wounded traveller is found in the forest, left to die after a vicious attack.
Series:
Author(s): Siri Paulson
Length: 35 pages
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books, LLC; 1 edition (December 30, 2017)
Genre: Romance / Sci-fi / Genderqueer / Space Colony /
Notes:
Blurb: Part of the "A Holiday to Remember 2017 Series"
On the colony planet Vega III, everyone knows Beck—outgoing, fabulous, and genderqueer—and nobody notices Anil, the quiet plant biologist. But when Anil finds Beck hiding in his greenhouse, lonely and missing Earth, it's Anil who is able to comfort Beck by letting them talk about what they miss most—the feeling that comes with celebrating the holidays with loved ones, especially New Year's Eve.
The two of them are drawn to one another, but both of them are hiding secrets about their sexuality. With trust between them already on shaky ground, Anil's elaborate plans to cheer Beck may well backfire.
Series:
Author(s): MD Neu
Length: 50 pages
Publisher: NineStar Press (December 18, 2017)
Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Lesbian / Dragons / Magic / Young Adult /
Notes:
Blurb: Carmen is eleven years old and wants to get her dragon. Since she was seven years old, she understood two things. One, she was going to be the strongest Dragon Keeper there ever was. The second was that she was going to marry her best friend, Mattie.
As Christmas approaches the magical charms Carmen has to use to fight off her curse are taking a toll on her health. But that can’t stop her from taking her final test to become a Dragon Keeper. If she passes her test she gets her dragon, if not, she has to start all over, relying on different magical charms to fight the curse for her. That is something Carmen doesn’t want to have to go through. The testing is difficult and charms make her sick. Carmen has decided that if she doesn’t get her dragon this Christmas she’s not going to go for a third attempt, even if that means she can’t marry Mattie when she grows up.
Series:
Author(s): J.K. Pendragon, Talya Andor, A.F. Henley, E.E. Ottoman, Megan Derr
Length: 228 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC (December 17, 2014)
Genre: Romance / Anthologies / Fantasy / Gay / Genderqueer / Lesbian /
Notes:
Blurb: Less Than Three Press presents a collection of stories about people brought together by the magic of mistletoe...
Here for You by J.K. Pendragon
Warren's life has been shrinking ever since his wife passed away. Blind, and finding it difficult to adjust to life on his own, it's easier to hide away in his house. When his friend Missy invites him to a Christmas party, an unexpected kiss with a stranger under the mistletoe leaves him confused and wondering...
The Christmas Spirit by Talya Andor
Christmas in Japan is no big deal for Ash Harmon, with his family half a world away and supernatural problems that have no respect for the holidays. When he picks up a bodyguard job for a rising star of figure skating who seems to be encountering trouble with a restless spirit, he stubbornly resists the unexpected attraction to his charge, wary of the risks that come with relationships. But the mistletoe has other ideas...
A Beautiful Thing by A.F. Henley
Sometimes, Fate gets tired of being ignored. And some nights, Fate decides something will just have to be done about it. Enter Drualus, Senior Correspondent for the Collective Assembly of Christmas Fae, working with the Night Before Reach Out Program. He's got a few short hours to change Scott Misener's outlook on life, love, and understanding. Lucky for Scott, Dru knows a tried and true trope that might just do the trick...
Ad Meliora by E.E. Ottoman
It's Christmas Eve and An-An and M.C. have plans to spend Christmas in Texas with An-An's family. But their plans are cut short when M.C. takes on a last minute case. Thankfully, though, it should be an easy exorcism.
Until they arrive at the snowbound lodge where trouble resides, and come face to face with a demon wolf unlike anything they've ever encountered.
Two Parts Mistletoe by Megan Derr
Kingston has worked hard to get where he is: owner of his own shop, master potion maker, well-respected... and lonely, too busy with life to enjoy more than his regular visits to Acacia House. If he wishes his loneliness might be eased by Hux, the man he meets at Acacia twice a month, well, someday he'll work up the nerve to ask. Maybe.
Then Hux unexpectedly visits his shop, distressed and in desperate need of help to save his employer from a love potion...
Series: Shifting Through the Snow series
Author(s): Jenn Dease
Length: 67 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (December 15, 2017)
Genre: Romance / Gay / Paranormal /
Notes:
Blurb: Can a flight instructor and stable manager find love, especially when one is a reindeer shape-shifter and the other is Santa's relative?
Lester is a flight instructor. Humboldt is the village stable master. After Humboldt suggests something that helps two of Lester's students, they begin the journey both have wanted but hadn't taken the chance to start.
It's a month before Christmas and Humboldt's Uncle Nick needs a reluctant Lester to once again join his team for the holiday. Humboldt has Miriam doing her best to get between the two.
With the village behind them, and family encouraging both of them, can the two find lasting love? The reindeer shape-shifter with a secret, and St. Nick's (Yes, we mean Santa Claus) Austrian relative?
Series:
Author(s): Lex Chase
Length: 63 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press; 1 edition (November 30, 2015)
Genre: Romance / Gay / Urban Fantasy
Notes:
Blurb: Jackson has loved Vegas since God created Man—literally. As demonic incubi hailing from the Seventh Circle of Hell, Jackson and Vegas have never been anything more than roommates. Now living among humans, they run Eaven, a TripAdvisor-recommended detour-worthy diner famous for its devilishly decadent pies. Business is dead on the holidays, and Jackson will gleefully stab himself with a spatula if he has to clean spotless pots and pans one more time.
For fun—or torture—Vegas makes him a bet that should Jackson win, they take a much-needed vacation. Should he lose, he’s doomed to clean out grease traps for all eternity. When the challenge is to fall in love with other people by Christmas, it proves Vegas isn’t the least bit interested. But when they find an abandoned baby in the trash, she could be the Christmas miracle to warm Jackson’s cynical heart.
Series: (The Enchanted Series Book 2)
Author(s): Shawn Bailey
Length: 83 pages
Publisher: MLR Press (December 22, 2017)
Genre: Romance / Gay / Paranormal
Notes: The first book in the series is Don't Fear the Reaper, a Halloween story.
Blurb: Can an enchanted reindeer and a cupid angel find love in the North Pole?
Reindeer Lancelot Rein has been in love with angelic singer Gracien Camari from the first moment he laid eyes on him many years ago. He never really thought he'd stand a chance with someone so glorious until he got assigned to be Gracien's bodyguard and asked to accompany him from his present home at the North Pole to Rome to sing with the Vatican choir. Just being near him made Lance' heart beat faster. But could a singer for the Pope date an everyday Joe like him? Just one kiss from the angel's full lips made Lance brave enough to take their relationship to the next level. Then he learns that Gracien was created by the archangels and had a preordained future waiting for him. Could Lance let Gracien go to Heaven to do the Lord's work after seeing the beautiful angel naked and in his bed?
Series: (Eternal #1)
Author(s): HL Holston, AJ Burke
Length: 27 pages
Publisher: SH Publishing (December 4, 2016)
Genre: Romance / Historical / Gay / Paranormal /
Notes: Right now it is FREE
Blurb: Archibald Pearce fights the Germans, but he can’t fight his heart or destiny.
When an extraordinary Christmas gift from his French lover, Frédéric Lafont, triggers memories of lost love and holidays past; can the two men survive long enough to cherish their second chance at a timeless love?
A Christmas paranormal M/M romance short story.
Bonus!
Here is the list of my favorite holiday rereads!
Series: (IMP Universe)
Author(s): Angel Martinez
Length: 84 pages
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books, LLC; First edition (December 23, 2014)
Genre: Romance / Sci-Fi / Gay
Notes: One of my favorite all time holiday reads!
Blurb: Exiled to Earth for perhaps the worst failure in Irasolan history, General Teer must assimilate or die. Earth is too warm, too wet, too foreign, but he does the best he can even though human males are loud, childish louts whom he can't imitate successfully. When a grieving seaplane pilot strikes up a strange and uneasy friendship with him, he finds he may have been too quick to judge human males. They are strange to look at, but perhaps not as unbearable as he thought.
Title: Cherish Your Name
Series: (The Warder Series Book 6)
Author(s): Mary Calmes
Length: 213 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (December 27, 2011)Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Gay / Urban Fantasy /
Notes: My favorite book of the series and one that I reread at least 2x a year.
He loves Dylan, his hearth, but Dylan’s parents, the Shaws, are another story. They think Malic is a cradle-robber, among other things. At least their neighbor, Brad, seems to like him. Then again, maybe not. When Malic gets offered to a demon who wipes his memory of everything but Dylan’s name, it will take all Malic has to escape his new life in a hell dimension and return to the man he calls home.
Title: Lucius's Bite
Series: (Family Of Misfits Book 1)
Author(s): K-Lee Klein
Length: 175 pages
Publisher: MLR Press,LLC (June 21, 2012)Genre: Romance / Gay / Paranormal /
Notes: My first book by K-Lee Klein and one of my favorite paranormal series.
All Lucius needs is his family. They might be a mismatched and unconventional group but they're the only "real" family he knows and wants. What Lucius doesn't need is the strange, beautiful man who arrives as a last minute dinner guest and knocks him and his wolf on his ass, literally.
Just being in the same room with the mysterious Nicu proves disastrous. Lucius knows without a doubt he doesn't need the havoc Nicu threatens to bring to his predictable, but comfortable existence. But when he stands to lose the man who is tearing his life apart, Lucius realizes he doesn't know what he needs at all.
Title: Reindeer Games
Series:
Author(s): Kenzie Cade
Length: 68 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC (December 8, 2015)Genre: Romance / Gay / Paranormal /
Notes: Sweet, and cute, and fun read.
This year, the pranks with his reindeer have gotten out of hand. Instead of preparing for the Big Day, Niklaus Kringle is hunting for his missing sleigh. Locating it should have been easy, but games easily won are seldom worth playing...
Series: I.O.N. Series, 1
Author(s): Lexi Ander
Length: 138 pages
Publisher: Less Than Three Press, LLC; Second edition (February 29, 2016)Genre: Romance / Gay / Urban Fantasy / Paranormal /
Notes: LMAO! Yes, I just inserted one of my own sorta-holiday stories into the mix. Why yes, I do reread this story and not just when I'm getting ready to add another book to the series. Diego and Beck have a special place in my heart.
Memories of a dead brother and an untouchable drug lord rise inevitably to the surface, and Diego dreads that the man he loves is mired in the world that Diego tried to escape. But Beck's secrets aren't so simple, and neither is the world in which Diego has been living...
Title: Snow on Spirit Bridge
Series:
Author(s): Freddy MacKay
Length: 217 pages
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books, LLC; First edition (December 21, 2014)Genre: Romance / Gay / Contemporary Fantasy /
Notes: Wonderful story with lots of heart that wrings the tears from me.
Distressed by how miserable Finni is, his roommate, Mamoru, offers to be Finni's family for Christmas. Little does he know how much one agreement would change everything between them, because both of them kept secrets neither ever dreamed were true.
Series:
Author(s): MA Church
Length: 70 pages
Publisher:
Genre: Romance / Gay / Sci-Fi
Notes: This is a fun addition to the series. Can it be read alone? Probably not but if you wanted to give it a try, it is FREE.
Keyno not only learns the importance of Christmas to his chosen, he’s also shocked and confused as to why Dale hasn’t shared this with him. There is no such celebration on Tah’Nar, but that doesn’t stop Keyno from trying to bring happiness to Dale. He’s not only a starship captain, he’s also an excellent strategist. He gathers his closest friends—Doc and Gibor—and researchers the holiday.
He finds three important things about Christmas: First there is an older, heavyset male called the Santa Claus. The second is the holiday usually revolves around a tree laden with shiny baubles and lights with gifts under it. And finally they learn they’re supposed to eat way too much, then lie around and moan because they ate too much.
Humans are so odd.
These mighty warriors survived the birth of their young, surely an undertaking of this magnitude is not beyond their grasp. Hopefully Dale will be pleased with all the trouble Keyno went to. But just in case, Keyno has a very special surprise in store for his chosen for his first Tah’Narian Christmas.
Title: Trouble Comes In Threes
Series: (Fur, Fangs, and Felines Book 1)
Author(s): MA Church
Length: 234 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press; 1 edition (December 26, 2014)Genre: Romance / Poly / Gay / Paranormal /
Notes: This is one of my favorites and I have it both on ebook and audio. :)
Out of the punishing weather and full of tuna, Dolf and Tal are happy to be snug in Kirk’s house. But then their human goes outside for firewood and suffers a nasty fall that leaves him unconscious. Now the two cats have no choice but to reveal themselves.
Kirk wakes up to find the two kitties are actually Dolf and Tal. They’re cat shifters—and his destined mates. Being part of a feline threesome is enough for Kirk to grapple with, but soon he learns they come from a clowder that doesn’t believe humans and shifters should mix. Kirk knew those two cats would be trouble. Little does he know the real trouble lies ahead.
Title: Zombie Wonderland
Series:
Author(s): Piper Vaughn
Length: 43 pages
Publisher:
Genre: Romance / Gay / Dystopia / Zombies
Notes: I get a stupid grin on my face whenever I pull this up on the app. A holiday with a little suspense of the unusual kind.
All Emery wants for Christmas is someone to share it with. It looks like he might finally be getting his wish in Ross, the sexy customer he’s been crushing on for months. But neither of them counted on the zombies or on being caught in the worst blizzard in half a century. Even with a plan for contending with the zombie hordes, surviving will take a miracle.
It’s not exactly how Emery dreamed of spending Christmas with Ross, but he can’t think of a better way to spend a zombie apocalypse.
Thank you for stopping by and reading!!
An exciting selection, I will have a few new reads now :-) I love that you added your own book to this list. Diego and Beck are such a cut couple <3.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to next weeks list!
LOL! I could not keep them from the list. They insisted. :)
DeleteThank you for including The Solstice Prince.
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure! Great story!
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