Sean's not looking forward to another year of playing the Ice Palace Prince.
When Sean came up with the idea for Valle Granja's Ice Palace and Winter Village market for the holidays, he never imagined that he'd be named the honorary prince of the event. Now, several years in, he can't seem to ditch the title. But at least there's one perk. He gets to admire one of the business partners for the event, a man he knew in hich school: Lowell. It's just too bad the handsome alpha is probably already taken.
Lowell's been attracted to Sean since high school, but never dared to say anything.
Between being a nerdy alpha during high school, and not wanting to face off against Sean's alpha girlfriend, Lowell's always admired the other man from afar. But as he interacts with the gorgeous omega he starts to wonder if everything he knew about the him was true.
But even if Sean's available and likes men, would he be interested in Lowell?
Ice Palace Prince is a 14K word , non-shifter, M/M, Mpreg romance
Summary:
Justin's dating life has just gone from bad, to worse.
Justin's never had the best luck meeting alphas, and for more than a year it's been a string of disappointing dates. So when he meets a seemingly nice guy at a charity party for the Valle Granja Art Museum, he thinks his luck has changed. Instead he finds himself trying to ghost a man who refuses to take 'no' for an answer.
Max can't help but protect the omega living in his apartment complex.
Max is newly single, and still rying to find out what signs he missed before his last relationship ended. However all those thoughts come to a screeching halt when he finds his neighbor hiding on his porch. He quickly learns that the omega is scared of another alpha, and decides that he'll do whatever is needed to protect the handsome man.
However, will Justin return Max's feelings as they shift from protection to attraction?
Tinsel Time Treasure is a 35K word , non-shifter, M/M, mpreg, omegaverse romance
Content note: A stalking ex-partner plays a role in this book. Therefore it may not be suitable for readers sensitive to this topic.
Original Review December 2024:
Again, another book read out of order but in this series, Holiday Surprise, each book is a standalone with a different couple at the forefront. Some friendships carryover but it's not a necessity to know their journeys before reading a new book.
Ice Palace Prince is another lovely, entertaining, and fun read that is perfect for holiday fare. Second chance romance just screams Xmassy to me, or perhaps in this case "youthful miscommunications" mixed with "bossy perceived high school girlfriend" is more accurate than "second chance" as Sean and Lowell never really had a first chance waybackwhen.
Again, Lacey Daize nails everything in this entertaining holiday gem.
Tinsel Time Treasure #8
Original Review December 2024:
I haven't read all the entries in Lacey Daize's Holiday Surprise series but of the one's I've read I can honestly say Tinsel Time Treasure probably has a bit more darker-ish undertones. They aren't "in your face" details but the things Justin finds himself facing are not sweet but they do lead to something, or someone, that has the potential to be brilliant.
Max of course is going through some things that have left his heart hurting too and when these two meet, the chemistry is so much deeper than alpha/omega, protector/protectee, it's a bit all encompassing which isn't exactly where either party is heart-ready but sometimes fate knows best.
A delightfully fun, heartwarming tale with moments of heartache to make this mpreg realistically beautiful, as realistic as mpreg can be anyway, truth is by the end of the book you almost believe it to be real, an wouldn't our world be different if mpreg did in fact exist. Tinsel Time Treasure leaves you smiling and wanting to give both parties huge Mama Bear Hugs to let them know everything is going to be as it's meant to be.
Ice Palace Prince #2
Chapter 1 - Sean
~July~
“Knock-knock!” sing-songed a cheery voice.
I looked up from my computer to see my supervisor, Elaine, standing in my office door, a huge grin on her face.
I sat back in my chair. “Either the wicked witch was fired, or you’re here to tell me that I’ve got more work.”
She laughed, strode over and dropped into the guest chair on the opposite side of my desk. “The second.”
“Damn,” I sighed. “A man can hope.”
She shook her head—salt-and-pepper curls bouncing—with a chuckle. “I don’t know if any of us will live long enough to see her fired or forced into retirement. She’s been here longer than anybody else and seems to think her sole purpose is to make everybody miserable.”
I blew out a long breath. “Benefits of a government job, can’t be fired without cause.”
Elaine nodded. “And as HR manager, she knows exactly where the line is that keeps her on the safe side.”
“I’m just glad I only have to interact with her a couple times a year.”
“You and me both. Now… onto the reason I’m here.”
“Wait!” I said, holding up a hand. I glanced at the calendar. “Lemme guess…”
I scrubbed a hand down my face when I put two-and-two together. There was only one option: it was time to start the promos for the Valle Granja Ice Palace and Winter Village.
It also meant that she likely had other reasons for being there too. “No…”
Elaine laughed again. “Yep. It’s time.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Please tell me I’m just one of the coordinators this year.”
Please don’t ask me to play the prince. Please don’t ask me to play the prince.
“And why would we take away your key role?” she joked.
“Maybe because it’s time for somebody else to do it?”
“Oh no, this event was your idea, and everybody loves it. I think it’s only fair that you get to play the part of the prince for another few years.” She paused. “Besides, it’s not as if you’re not used to being in the public eye, not with all those debate and cheer competitions your teams won when you were in high school and college.”
“It really should go to somebody younger. I’m almost thirty!”
“So what?” she asked with a shrug. “You’re still single. Maybe this will land you a good alpha.”
“How would playing the prince get me an alpha? There’s no time to flirt when I’m that busy! Besides, there’s nothing special about me.”
“Oh hun, there’s always time to flirt. And you’re far more desirable than you give yourself credit for.”
I decided to ignore her second point. “You try flirting with anybody during the opening ceremonies. I can barely get in a few sentences before I’m pulled away to talk to somebody else.”
“Long enough! Give them a nice smile, bat your eyelashes a few times, and you’ll get the alphas falling all over you. That’s a promise.”
“You do know that most bosses would discourage flirting while on the job.”
“When have I ever been like most bosses?”
I groaned. “Point.”
She leaned forward. “Anyway, we’ve got to schedule a photo shoot for you so that the graphics department has time to get everything together. It’ll be time to start getting vendors soon, then the posters need to be out by the beginning of October.”
“You’re really going to make me do this?”
“What would the Ice Palace be without its prince?”
“Then get a new prince! Tie it to one of those scholarships we just got the funding for.”
She laughed and stood. “Too late! You’re it.”
I sighed and she headed towards the door.
I thought I was free when she poked her head back in. “Oh, by the way…”
“What now?”
“Jefferson Construction has offered to donate their time to building again this year.”
I swallowed. Hard. That meant…
She laughed. “I knew it!”
“Get out!” I yelled, throwing a pen at the door for emphasis.
She kept chuckling as she headed down the hall.
Of course Elaine noticed my crush. She wouldn’t say anything to anybody else, but she loved making people face their own truths, and mine was that I was majorly attracted to Lowell Jefferson.
Just thinking about his green eyes, dark hair, scruffy beard, and broad shoulders made my cock perk up. Unfortunately, I’d missed my chance when I didn’t chase him when he was the nerdy alpha in high school. There was no way a man that fine was still available.
Tinsel Time Treasure #8
Chapter 1 - Justin
~October~
Iforced a smile as the alpha across the table droned on about how bad his ex was—which was never a good sign on the first date.
The language was another red flag. He was using whatever terms he could to dehumanize the poor man who’d been with the insufferable bastard, and I could see why the other omega bailed after only a couple months.
“Sluts like him just don’t understand that alphas have needs,” he continued. “I’m never dating a prude like that again.”
Was he a slut or a prude? I wondered to myself. The terms kinda cancel each other out.
“You understand, right?”
“Umm…” I started, scratching my short dark beard.
“Of course you do,” the alpha continued before I could come up with an answer. “You look like a proper omega: one who knows his place in a relationship.”
I replied with a nervous chuckle, then felt a wave of relief as I saw a waitress approaching our table.
“Excuse me,” I said softly. “I’d like to wash my hands before we eat.”
“Um… ok,” he replied, obviously put off by my interrupting his sexist monologue.
“I’ll be right back,” I promised.
He nodded as he picked up his silverware to start eating.
Of course he wouldn’t wait. Why would an alpha ever wait for an omega?
I pretended to hurry, and as soon I was in the relative privacy of the restroom I pulled my phone from my pocket and sent a quick text to my best friend, Kaleb.
Disaster date! Call in five and give me an excuse to leave.
I received a thumbs-up emoji almost immediately. I quickly deleted the messages so that there would be nothing there if my date tried to protest and demand to see my phone. Then I splashed some water over my hands so that they would be cold and slightly moist if he wanted to check that I’d actually washed them.
“Sorry,” I replied as I took my seat again, adjusting my glasses where they’d slid down my nose.
He merely nodded, staring at his phone.
I noticed that half his meal was already gone, and my pile of fries looked suspiciously smaller than it had been when I’d left the table.
“This looks great,” I said as I picked up my burger.
“It’s ok,” he shrugged and scrolled something on his phone. “It’s edible. Next time I’ll introduce you to something better.”
Not gonna be a next time, I thought as I chewed and nodded.
My date continued onto a tirade about how restaurant quality had gone down over the past several years, and somehow he tied his rant to more omegas in the workplace. Something about how with omegas working there were more customers, meaning that cooks had to make food faster, thus resulting in lower quality.
I could have cried with relief when my phone rang.
My date scowled as I pulled it out of my pocket, not recognizing the hypocrisy that he’d just been on his own phone.
“Kay?” I asked, putting on a concerned voice. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?”
Kaleb snickered. “Putting it on a bit thick, aren’t you?”
“Oh Kay,” I sighed. “I’m so sorry. How old was she?”
“If your date is buying this, he must be all of five.”
“Sounds like she had a good life.”
Kaleb wailed on demand, loud enough that one of my date’s eyebrows rose.
“I’ll be there as soon as possible,” I announced. “You wrap yourself in a blanket and I’ll pick up your favorite ice cream. Is there a date for the funeral yet?”
Another wail from Kaleb.
“I’ll wait with you until your mom calls with more details.”
“Thanks Just,” Kaleb sniffled exaggeratedly. “I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up the call, noting the deep scowl on the alpha’s face. I pulled out my wallet, estimated my half of the meal and threw some cash on the table.
“You’re leaving?” my date asked incredulously.
“Sorry. My best friend just lost his grandmama, and they were super close. He’s devastated.”
“We’re in the middle of a date!”
“And he’s at home, sobbing his eyes out.”
“He can call somebody else.”
“He doesn’t need to, because I’m going.”
I walked away before my date had a chance to respond. I’d figured out almost immediately that he was a pig, but any man who argued with the ‘dead relative’ excuse was automatically upgraded to piece of shit.
Sure, it was a lie, but that was one of those situations where a person should be believed. Though I bet he had more sudden emergencies during dates than not.
I got into my car and placed a to-go order from Cluck Hut—fried chicken for me and a chicken pot pie for Kaleb, then I drove to the nearest grocery store and grabbed a couple pints of Rocky Road.
It was only about twenty minutes after his call that I pulled into the parking lot for his apartment and carried our food to his place.
“Uh-oh,” he said, eyeing the bags.
“Yeah,” I sighed as I carried them in and set them on the table.
“How bad was it?”
I passed over his chicken pot pie, and he shook his head. “Damn.”
“He tried to argue that I shouldn’t leave.”
“The fuck?”
“Yeah.”
Kaleb stood, put the ice cream in the freezer, and returned with plates and silverware.
“So who did I lose this time?” he asked.
“Your grandmama.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I swear, she has more lives than a cat.”
“How’s she doing?”
He laughed. “Fine, no thanks to you.”
“Say hello for me, and tell her I killed her off again.”
“Can do.”
“So besides arguing with the dead relative escape, what else was wrong about this one?”
“Shall I start with the ex-bashing, or the blatant sexism.”
“Oof. Sorry Justin.”
I shook my head. “What can I say? I’m just doomed to date all the worst alphas.”
“You’ll find a good one eventually.”
I snorted. “Maybe if I switch to female alphas. But…”
He nodded. “Yeah. They’re pretty, but not my thing either.”
I sighed and plowed some chicken into my mouth.
“Well, you’re here,” Kaleb said. “We can spend some more time working on your costume.”
“Works for me.”
My luck with alphas sucked, but at least I had Kaleb.
Saturday Series Spotlight
Lacey DaizeLacey lives in New Mexico with her four critters. She’s a Jill-of-all-trades by day, but loves writing in her spare time. She dabbles in a variety of pairings, but jumped feet-first into the deep end of omegaverse the first time she read it. She loves the play on social expectations and the different ways to express romance.
Ice Palace Prince #2
Tinsel Time Treasure #8
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