Title: Calendar Boys December: First and Always
Author: Jamie Craig
Publisher: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure
Genre: Contemporary, Interracial, GLBT (M/M)
Length: Extended Amber Kiss (13 K words)
Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
THE BLURB
What would you do if all your dreams came true on Christmas morning?
Michael Pappas has been dating football superstar Tre Griffin on the sly for nearly a year. Unfortunately, the demands of Tre’s career often keep them separated and alone. But Tre has a plan to change all that, and showing up unannounced in Miami on Christmas Day is just the beginning of his surprises…
THE REVIEW
Michael was not looking forward to a lonely Christmas. His boyfriend Tre was on the road with his football team and he was planning on spending some time with his twin sister and her family over Christmas. Michael didn’t know whether Tre’s demanding schedule would allow them any time together, so he was staying with his parents over the holidays. He and his father George were talking about the game the night before when George dropped a bombshell by asking him about his relationship with Tre. Since Michael didn’t want to lie, he confessed they were more than friends and that he was gay. To his surprise his father was very understanding but they both were dreading telling his excitable mother.
While they were discussing Michael’s love life the doorbell rang and their surprise visitor, Tre, makes Michael’s Christmas complete. As soon as they could decently leave the Pappas’ home the guys escape for a well deserved reunion at their special place, the hotel where they first met, and it was there that Tre gave Michael the most wonderful surprise Christmas present.
Calendar Boys December: First and Always is a fitting end to this series since the first book was Miami’s Perfect Weekend where Tre and Michael met. I loved this book and the way Jamie Craig brought their relationship full circle at Christmas and gave our lovers a well deserved HEA. The sex between this couple was really loving as they made up for lost time and demonstrated what they meant to each other.
What I liked most about this story was the way the authors bridged the gap since Tre’s and Michael’s first meeting, but I don’t believe that First and Always is a standalone book; it would be much better enjoyed if read with Miami’s Perfect Weekend. My only disappointment is that the story was so short – I would have liked to spend more time with the guys.
I love this series and I will be very sorry to see it end. However, Jamie Craig promised to write 4 more stories, so fans of the series who will be suffering from withdrawal will have something to look forward to next year. I will be posting reviews over the next several weeks for those books in the series that I have read but haven’t reviewed before on the blog. Great work ladies on this wonderful series!
Not sure I’m going to read this one since I haven’t read Miami and it’s not on my wish list… Not that I think it isn’t good – all Jamie Craig stories are well-written and enjoyable – but the topic just didn’t grab my attention enough. I’ll have to read the 8 other Jamie Craig stories on my WL before I ever get to those two :).
Well if you were going to read this one, it’s not a standalone so you would have to get Miami first. I believe you still have a number of these that you haven’t read so you have a long way to go.
*sigh* Long way would be an euphemism. I think it measures in miles at this moment. It is a fun road to travl though ;-DDD