Book Reviews

Book Blurb

It’s July in Smallwood, Nevada. Time to try, once again, to bring the two halves of the community together to plan the town’s holiday festival.

As usual, the craftsmen and women on bar owner Wild Bill Toohey’s side want the holiday celebration to reflect the rowdy, fun-loving Gold Rush Days of the west. On the other side of town, Smallwood Inn’s Clive Pritchert and members of the Handcrafter’s Co-op see the winter holiday as a more mellow, family affair.

Longtime resident Harold “Gizzard” Ramsey thinks if he can just get Bill and Clive together to plan the yearly event, everything will be all right. Glenglory Ski Resort management thinks their event planner, Sylvia Marsden, will whip the town into shape.

Who will win in this holiday planner’s nightmare? Gizzard’s betting on love.

 

Book Review

Here is the low down. It's a short tale, relatively sweet, and worth the time and money if you acquire it on the cheap. Wild Bill runs a gay bar – Leather and Lace, and is thirty-something. Clive owns the local inn, and has been active in past holiday fairs. The plot that pairs them as partners isn't particular new, but has a pleasant (and short!) style.

 

Glenglory Ski and Family Fun Corporation chooses to bring a Christmas fair to downtown Smallwood, though Glenglory's reputation is somewhat questionable. Nonetheless, under the cooperation of Chris and Bill – two of Smallwood's leading businessmen – the program is going forward. Of course, though somewhat at odds (differing personalities and styles), these men are attracted to each other. As the tale is short, a few additional characters provide useful literary seasoning.

 

The writing style nicely presents Bill and Clive and their coming together, and the flow of this tale, though (blessedly) brief will keep the readers' attention for the necessary time. The tale's miscues are sufficient for even a mid-20th-century romance film, and the allusion to sex is minimal enough that the story can be left where the kids might find it (i.e., it's safe to read on public transportation).

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by the author for the purpose of a review.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 17643 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	26-July-2025
Price	$3.49 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.jms-books.com/pat-henshaw-c-224_462/a-lovely-plan-for-the-holidays-p-5489.html