Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings by Nell Iris
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short story (46 pages)
Other: M/M, Anal play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

Christmas is coming, and young couple Casey and Ellis are very much in love. Unfortunately, they’re also the definition of dirt poor, and they don’t have the money for nonessentials like decorations. Or a turkey. Or gifts. Between the recent death of Casey’s beloved momma and Ellis’s estrangement from his family, all they have is each other.
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When Ellis finds the saddest-looking Christmas tree south of the Mason-Dixon Line thrown away outside his workplace and brings it home to Casey, things look up. Life is still a struggle, but wealth isn’t always measured in money, and what seems worthless to others is often invaluable to the people who love it.

Casey and Ellis might be practically broke, but for the first time in Casey’s life, they’ve managed to get a Christmas tree – something that Casey is eternally grateful to Ellis for. They string red-dyed popcorn to decorate the tree and both Casey and Ellis use their ingenuity and buckets of love to find Christmas presents for each other.

This is a really sweet and heart-warming Christmas story. It reminded me strongly that a lot of the Christmas season really is your attitude and how you work with what you have. Ellis and Casey might be skint budget-wise, but they have so much love and joy in each other, and their simple gifts to each other has so much thought and love soaked into it that I can’t imagine anyone would think they are anything but emotionally rich. All too often the consumerism consumes Christmas and I found this short story to be refreshingly different and a good reminder that one doesn’t need a stack of money to enjoy the holiday.

While at times bitter-sweet, this emotional story was just so delicious I read it all in one sitting – desperate to know what happened next in the lead up to Casey and Ellis’ Christmas Day. While the two men have a very loving and committed relationship, there’s only one sex scene – the focus of the story being more about Casey and Ellis’ day-to-day life and their lead up to Christmas. I found the whole story interesting, emotional, romantic and best of all a lovely representation of two men who adore each other but have no money and find ways to still celebrate Casey’s favorite holiday of the year together.

Full of lovely warm-fuzzy feelings and two interesting, layered characters this is a great short story and one I thoroughly enjoyed. Recommended.

The Puzzle Box by CC Bridges
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short story (31 pgs)
Other: M/M, Anal Play
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Fern

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The final puzzle could lead Cole to a gift beyond his wildest expectations.

Cole and James had been together a long time, but with James deployed for Christmas Cole just doesn’t see the point in celebrating or getting excited about the holidays. When the first package from James arrived, Cole enjoyed the memories it brought back, but was confused. When the next package arrived, Cole realized James had organized something very special for them both to help celebrate this Christmas.

I found this to be a fun and sweet, sentimental Christmas story. I loved how Cole remembering all the special memories with James helped me as the reader to get to know James’ character as well as Coles – even though James wasn’t “on screen” too much, being deployed. This was a freshly unique manner of telling me about a character so important to Cole and showed me loads about their relationship without the need of having James be physically present – and I loved it. Even with James away for most of the book there’s a bunch of chemistry and one short but steamy sexy scene – enough, I feel, to satisfy readers wanting a bit more spice in their Christmas story, but at the same time not too much. The sensuality level was just right for me. Best of all, the romance and love between Cole and James was clear and just lovely to read, making this a deeply satisfying book on many levels.

Readers looking for a super short, quick and sentimental Christmassy read should enjoy this story. I found it to be sweet and heartwarming, the puzzle pieces giving Cole a bunch of happy and loving memories from times past with himself and James. The happy ending was lovely and satisfying. This is a great, quick read that I really enjoyed.