Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A scarred ex-biker with a hardened soul. The hot new nurse in town guarding his own bruised heart.

Tam Dubois is used to being alone. With a body that bears the marks of his mistakes, he’s grown to like it. But scratching out a living with pen and ink is tough, the numbers don’t work, and the only solution he can think of gives him the opposite of Christmas cheer.

A lodger.

It’s the last thing he wants, but like most things in life, it happens anyway, and the stranger he’s so keen to avoid turns out not to be a stranger at all,

It’s him.

Tam can’t believe it--and he doesn’t want to. But matters of the heart don’t play by the rules, and as Christmas approaches, love might just prove the greatest gift of all…

If they’re brave enough to unwrap it.

Christmas On Stardust Lane is a steamy, angsty MM holiday romance. Expect: forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a chaotic canine with a bad case of little dog syndrome.

 

Book Review

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good holiday story, so going into this I had high holiday expectations. This book then far exceeded those expectations and may well turn out to be my favorite of the year.

 

The characters were so well-developed I felt I knew them, and this included Tam’s brother, Sab, a strong secondary character. Bhodi was a caring, giving, loving treat to get to know, and I’m thankful that the author saw fit to finally give him someone who would love him for all he is—inside and out.

 

Tam is physically and emotionally damaged due to a major motorcycle accident six years before when he nearly lost his life. Isolated is how he likes to live his life and, since he’s self-employed, that’s not too difficult for him to maintain. Hook-up apps get him over the hurdle of appeasing his appetites once in a while, and he’s definitely a no-strings sort of guy. Bhodi is a travel nurse who breezes into Tam’s life on more than one front—he not only spots Tam’s wrist injury outside the hospital and attempts to help him get treatment (Tam resists for reasons we learn later), he also happens to be Tam’s new tenant in an apartment annex to Tam’s home.

 

Thus the stage is set for close proximity, some angst, sexual chemistry, and more. Plus, it’s the holiday season, so we have wintry weather complete with snowflakes, and all the warm and fuzzy feels that accompany the season. We also have an overworked Tam whose self-employment is to do calligraphy cards, notes, letters, posters, etc., and they are most in demand for the holidays. Add in an overworked Bhodi, who fills in several extra swing shifts at the hospital, and the two rarely get time for their budding friendship, never mind more.

 

I enjoyed the way the author set up the events that led to Tam and Bhodi finally realizing theirs was more than a friendship, and despite both their negative opinions on loving relationships, that was exactly what each needed not only for the holidays but, in fact, forever. A beautiful “one year later” epilogue was the icing on the proverbial cake. I definitely recommend this heartwarming story to all lovers of romance.

 

 

 

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

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 246 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	13-November-2024
Price	$4.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $21.99 hardcover
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Stardust-Lane-Garrett-Leigh-ebook/dp/B0DDLH1LLS