Summary:
This collection features all three stories in the Snow Hope Island series. Each is a spicy M/M erotic holiday romance filled with lots of holiday fun. Contains the stories:
Operation Toy Rescue: When Jules gets shipped off to Snow Hope Island for ninety days, he never expects to fall for his new boss, but his heart has other ideas. Felix isn’t thrilled when party boy Jules arrives, but he has other problems. For years he’s tried to get Santa to take all the forgotten toys. When Jules comes up with a plan to save the toys and Snow Hope, they team up. Can they also save each other?
Operation Reindeer Rescue: When one of Santa’s reindeer becomes depressed, what’s an elf to do? Caleb had always made sure the reindeer were ready for the big night, but when Dancer won’t participate in any activities, they bring in the new vet, Greg Starr. There’s an instant attraction between the men, but Caleb’s been hurt in the past. If he can’t get past his fear, he could lose the one man he’s meant to be with.
Operation Destiny: Snow Hope Island is beautiful, the community is like a family, and it’s the ideal home for an elf. Still, Noel was lonely. He loved running Frosty’s Diner, but he wanted more. When Charlie Claus shows up on the island, Noel is instantly attracted to him. The more time Noel spends with him, the more he falls for Charlie. Would Charlie ever give up his life and move to the island permanently?
Operation Toy Rescue #1
Original Review December 2018:
When Santa sends Jules Evergreen to Snow Hope Island for 90 days, his hope is Jules will settle down, return to the North Pole, and find his place. What Jules finds is an attractive boss, Felix Winterson and a never-ending inventory of broken toys. When Jules comes up with a plan to present to the big guy, will he realize what has been missing in his life and find a place with love at Snow Hope Island?
I must admit that the premise had me intrigued when Operation Toy Rescue crossed my path and when I read it, the story far surpassed what I expected. Let's face it, who doesn't love the Island of Misfit Toys part of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Don't get me wrong, Operation is not a re-telling of Rudolph but one can't help but have flashes of nostalgia when Felix shows Jules the warehouse of damaged toys. Now I won't go into Jules' plan for the toys or what happens when the plan is put before Santa but I loved watching him finally finding his place in the world. Not every elf is made for the 9 to 5 of toy making that is required at the North Pole😉😉.
Sarah Hadley Brook has created a lovely holiday tale that is an entertaining blend of Hallmark-ish rom-com and Spirit-of-Christmas fantasy that will make you smile, laugh, and warm your heart. Operation Toy Rescue first and foremost entertains but it also reminds you that Christmas isn't about being perfect and sometimes the imperfections in life(and toys) can make everything fall into place. You'll notice I didn't make much mention of the connection between Jules and Felix but the blend of heat and sweet is pretty spot on. Definitely a gem you don't want to miss.
When Santa sends Jules Evergreen to Snow Hope Island for 90 days, his hope is Jules will settle down, return to the North Pole, and find his place. What Jules finds is an attractive boss, Felix Winterson and a never-ending inventory of broken toys. When Jules comes up with a plan to present to the big guy, will he realize what has been missing in his life and find a place with love at Snow Hope Island?
I must admit that the premise had me intrigued when Operation Toy Rescue crossed my path and when I read it, the story far surpassed what I expected. Let's face it, who doesn't love the Island of Misfit Toys part of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer? Don't get me wrong, Operation is not a re-telling of Rudolph but one can't help but have flashes of nostalgia when Felix shows Jules the warehouse of damaged toys. Now I won't go into Jules' plan for the toys or what happens when the plan is put before Santa but I loved watching him finally finding his place in the world. Not every elf is made for the 9 to 5 of toy making that is required at the North Pole😉😉.
Sarah Hadley Brook has created a lovely holiday tale that is an entertaining blend of Hallmark-ish rom-com and Spirit-of-Christmas fantasy that will make you smile, laugh, and warm your heart. Operation Toy Rescue first and foremost entertains but it also reminds you that Christmas isn't about being perfect and sometimes the imperfections in life(and toys) can make everything fall into place. You'll notice I didn't make much mention of the connection between Jules and Felix but the blend of heat and sweet is pretty spot on. Definitely a gem you don't want to miss.
Operation Reindeer Rescue #2
Original Review December 2023:
It's been too long since I read Sarah Hadley Brook's Operation Toy Rescue but I remember it well so I was intrigued to discover there was a follow-up novella. Operation Reindeer Rescue is as deliciously fun as the first visit to Snow Hope and Santa's village.
This time we follow Caleb, one of Santa's elves, as he tends to the Reindeer especially Dancer who seems to be distancing himself from the life he loved so much. Enter the village's new veterinarian, Greg and he brings wonderous things everywhere he goes.
The attraction and chemistry between Caleb and Greg is instantaneous but whether more evolves, well let's face it, it's Xmastime which 99% of the time means HEA so no surprise here that there is no real complications between the MCs. That's not to say there isn't doubts, especially on Caleb's part but answers present themselves to their reindeer sadness and their decision to go slow and wait until after the Big Guy's Big Night kind of loses it's not-so-shiny shine😉.
I guess what I'm trying to say(in a bit long-winded kind of way) is if you enjoyed Operation Toy Rescue than you will definitely love Operation Reindeer Rescue. If you haven't read Toy yet, don't worry you won't be lost, but I highly recommend giving Toy a read. With Santa's Village and Snow Hope Island, Sarah Hadley Brook has created a deliciously fun universe that will leave you smiling and full-on grinning like a silly fool but if one can't be silly while enjoying the holidays, what's the point in celebrating? No idea if the author has any plans for further tales of Snow Hope Island and the nearby land of Santa but if there are I will definitely be snagging a copy.
Operation Destiny #3
Original Review December 2023:
When I first read Operation Toy Rescue 5 years ago I absolutely loved it! When I discovered there had been a follow-up, Operation Reindeer Rescue I was ecstatic, gobbled it up, and loved it as well. Then about a week ago I stumbled across yet another one set in the universe of Snow Hope Island and neighboring North Pole, to say my heart's pitter patter picked up would be a bit OTT but I was definitely excited.With Noel and Charlie we get to see how the blending of contemporary and fantasy is what makes this universe something special. There is just the right tinge of normalcy and Christmas magic to satisfy both sides of the holiday coin. Their romantic journey in this holiday short is deliciously delightful. I don't know if the author has plans for future tales from Snow Hope Island and the North Pole but I do know that I'll be keeping an eye out next holiday season because finding these surprises really brightened up my holiday reading time.
RATING:
Summary:
Kings of Hell MC #5
--- The real demons live within ---
Laurent. Time traveller. Devoted husband. Stubborn as the devil himself.
Beast. Kings of Hell MC president. Will stop at nothing to protect his family.
After everything Baal put them through, neither Laurent nor Beast considered ever making another pact with a demon, but in the spur of the moment, temptation becomes too great, and they decide on one more deal.
This time, with Mr. Magpie.
But the gift might prove to be more than they can handle. The danger to the human world has already strained their relationship, but Magpie’s offering brings out the worst in both Laurent and Beast. Confronted with each other’s flaws, they need to decide if, despite all they’ve been through together, perhaps they’re just not meant to be.
With the world on the brink of collapse, and their pact binding them in new and unexpected ways, they have to put their differences aside to stand a chance at saving their family.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: motorcycle club, alternative lifestyles, demons, tattoos, secrets, crime, gothic, opposites attract, biker, commitment, family, sacrifice, relationship issues, established couple
Genre: Dark, paranormal M/M romance
Content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes
Length: ~105,000 words (Book 5 in the series)
FINAL BOOK IN THE SERIES. NOT A STANDALONE.
WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, offensive language, and morally ambiguous characters.
Laurent. Time traveller. Devoted husband. Stubborn as the devil himself.
Beast. Kings of Hell MC president. Will stop at nothing to protect his family.
After everything Baal put them through, neither Laurent nor Beast considered ever making another pact with a demon, but in the spur of the moment, temptation becomes too great, and they decide on one more deal.
This time, with Mr. Magpie.
But the gift might prove to be more than they can handle. The danger to the human world has already strained their relationship, but Magpie’s offering brings out the worst in both Laurent and Beast. Confronted with each other’s flaws, they need to decide if, despite all they’ve been through together, perhaps they’re just not meant to be.
With the world on the brink of collapse, and their pact binding them in new and unexpected ways, they have to put their differences aside to stand a chance at saving their family.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS:
Themes: motorcycle club, alternative lifestyles, demons, tattoos, secrets, crime, gothic, opposites attract, biker, commitment, family, sacrifice, relationship issues, established couple
Genre: Dark, paranormal M/M romance
Content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenes
Length: ~105,000 words (Book 5 in the series)
FINAL BOOK IN THE SERIES. NOT A STANDALONE.
WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, offensive language, and morally ambiguous characters.
Hard to believe it's been 7 years since I last read this book, I've listened to an entry every October and now I'm back to the end. I'm not going to say I remembered everything that happened in the finale, In the Arms of the Beast but everything came flooding back as I listened and I loved it just as much now as 7 years ago.
There's really nothing I can add to the original review other than it ticked all my audio boxes. If you've read my audio reviews before, you'll know that the bar I judge by is old time radio shows out of the 30s, 40s & 50s. Is that fair? I think so, yes, it's a completely different medium on paper but when you think about it, OTR had to paint a picture with just words, voices, and the occasional sound effect, you don't have the latter but in audiobooks you have the former. Once again, the narration paints a vivid picture bringing life to the authors' words. Just spot on all the way around. Kings of Hell MC is definitely a must read in order series but you won't be sorry because it's horror and paranormal at it's creepiest.
Original Review March Book of the Month 2019:
When a pact with Mr. Magpie is made, both Laurent and Beast have differing reactions and they are both determined and stubborn towards the pact. Will this be one too many pacts for the Kings of Hell?
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! I warred with myself whether to read In the Arms of the Beast, not because I didn't want to but because I didn't want to say goodbye to this series and knowing this was the finale made me want to prolong it as long as I could. HOWEVER, my need to know what happened to my favorite motorcycle club won out and in I jumped. Boy am I glad I did because as I already stated: HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!
Now, I won't touch on the plot but I will say if you have been reading Kings of Hell MC as I have from the very beginning this is definitely one you don't want to skip because you already know how amazing this group of people are and if you haven't started or you were waiting for it to be completed to begin, well now you can and trust me you will not be disappointed. This one starts off from where Gray's Shadow ended which means it truly grabs the readers attention from page one. There's love, hate, twists, turns, good, bad, hope, defeat, wins. losses . . . well I think you get the idea that Arms has a little bit of everything that we've come to expect from the Kings and their enemy, Baal. That's all you're going to get from me about the plot as everything is important and I refuse to ruin anyone's adrenaline rush that I know you'll experience as I did when reading.
Now as for Laurent and Beast, well it was a no-brainer that the series should end with the same couple we first met but don't think that doesn't mean they are the same as they were in Laurent and the Beast. Beast is still gruff, straight forward, and takes no BS from anyone but he's also got a side that is, well I refuse to use the word "soft" because no one is going to accuse Beast of being soft and live to tell the tale, but he definitely lets his heart show more but the tough guy we've come to know and love is certainly his goto side. As for Laurent, well he's still a bit naive when it comes to life in the 21st century but he is learning more and more every day. One thing I found to be interesting with Laurent in book one was his love of everything plastic(don't ask me why other than its the last thing I would have thought of in a time travel story😉) and though he still loves plastic, circumstances cause him to learn that not all plastic is a good thing for the future. This is a minor element but for me it showcases the authors' talents for making the little things more than just a plot device to fill in pages and that even when characters grow they always retain a small bit of who they were.
Who knew such a dark and twist filled series good be so inviting? Who am I kidding, of course it would be inviting. Kings of Hell MC has a little bit of everything and I can honestly say "everything" because since book one started with some time travel it even has a little sci-fi factor(okay that might be stretching it because its down to demonic elements that the time travel occurs but I'm sticking to the "has everything" statement😉). In the Arms of the Beast is a fitting end to the series, although after reading it I have to be honest that I don't think we've seen the end of this group of guys(or at least some of them) but I won't elaborate on what made me come to that decision because you'll have to discover that on your own just as I did.
In the Arms of the Beast is a win-win from beginning to end but it is definitely not a standalone. Sure, you'd still enjoy the book if you started here without reading the first four but you'll be scratching your head and going "huh, wonder what that's about" a lot so I highly recommend reading Kings of Hell MC in order, you won't be sorry.
RATING:
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN! I warred with myself whether to read In the Arms of the Beast, not because I didn't want to but because I didn't want to say goodbye to this series and knowing this was the finale made me want to prolong it as long as I could. HOWEVER, my need to know what happened to my favorite motorcycle club won out and in I jumped. Boy am I glad I did because as I already stated: HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!
Now, I won't touch on the plot but I will say if you have been reading Kings of Hell MC as I have from the very beginning this is definitely one you don't want to skip because you already know how amazing this group of people are and if you haven't started or you were waiting for it to be completed to begin, well now you can and trust me you will not be disappointed. This one starts off from where Gray's Shadow ended which means it truly grabs the readers attention from page one. There's love, hate, twists, turns, good, bad, hope, defeat, wins. losses . . . well I think you get the idea that Arms has a little bit of everything that we've come to expect from the Kings and their enemy, Baal. That's all you're going to get from me about the plot as everything is important and I refuse to ruin anyone's adrenaline rush that I know you'll experience as I did when reading.
Now as for Laurent and Beast, well it was a no-brainer that the series should end with the same couple we first met but don't think that doesn't mean they are the same as they were in Laurent and the Beast. Beast is still gruff, straight forward, and takes no BS from anyone but he's also got a side that is, well I refuse to use the word "soft" because no one is going to accuse Beast of being soft and live to tell the tale, but he definitely lets his heart show more but the tough guy we've come to know and love is certainly his goto side. As for Laurent, well he's still a bit naive when it comes to life in the 21st century but he is learning more and more every day. One thing I found to be interesting with Laurent in book one was his love of everything plastic(don't ask me why other than its the last thing I would have thought of in a time travel story😉) and though he still loves plastic, circumstances cause him to learn that not all plastic is a good thing for the future. This is a minor element but for me it showcases the authors' talents for making the little things more than just a plot device to fill in pages and that even when characters grow they always retain a small bit of who they were.
Who knew such a dark and twist filled series good be so inviting? Who am I kidding, of course it would be inviting. Kings of Hell MC has a little bit of everything and I can honestly say "everything" because since book one started with some time travel it even has a little sci-fi factor(okay that might be stretching it because its down to demonic elements that the time travel occurs but I'm sticking to the "has everything" statement😉). In the Arms of the Beast is a fitting end to the series, although after reading it I have to be honest that I don't think we've seen the end of this group of guys(or at least some of them) but I won't elaborate on what made me come to that decision because you'll have to discover that on your own just as I did.
In the Arms of the Beast is a win-win from beginning to end but it is definitely not a standalone. Sure, you'd still enjoy the book if you started here without reading the first four but you'll be scratching your head and going "huh, wonder what that's about" a lot so I highly recommend reading Kings of Hell MC in order, you won't be sorry.
RATING:
Summary:
Harper Valley Witch #2
With Valentine's Day approaching, Match is looking forward to being a mushy, romantic cliché with the boyfriend of his dreams. The fight to get his pay increased hasn't been going well, and he's long fed up with the bitter cold of winter, but snuggling with Ronan after a day spent picking herbs and flowers is pretty good compensation.
Until he returns to his apartment only to find an eviction notice, despite having done nothing to merit it—and then the town is struck by a deadly Jack Frost, and the Guard goes to work in earnest to stop it. But when he stops at shop after shop for help, for food, as he works through the day and night, Match is turned away and thrown out by people he thought were his friends…
Jurassic Measures by Davidson King
Summary:Jason McPherson loves his job and his life. There’s no drama, he has the love of his parents, and an assistant that gives him all the friendship he needs. Yeah, life is good…calm.
That is until Landry Astor storms into his tailor and design shop making demands and unknowingly steals Jason’s heart.
Landry isn’t all he seems to be and soon enough, Jason’s once quiet life turns upside down. It’s going to take some Jurassic measures to make sense out of everything…but that’s okay, because together, they’ll have forever to figure it out.
Jurassic Measures was part of the Cretaceous Crushes Charity Anthology which is now unpublished. This was my contribution to that anthology. Nothing has been added or changed from it’s original version.
Original Review October 2025:
This was originally released as part of the Cretaceous Crushes Charity Anthology(which is no longer available) but I never got an opportunity to read it at the time so when the author released it as a short story, it was completely new to me. You don't often see, or at least I haven't come across it before, dinosaur shifters in any genre. I imagine in a way that left a pretty shallow pool for the author to dive into and she certainly dived head first filling it with all kinds of unusual awesomeness.
Could Jurassic Measures have been better as a full length novel? Perhaps, but it plays very well as a short novella. World building can be difficult in a short story but Davidson King really paints the picture here letting us know how dino shifters survived all this time. We get to see how the whole fated mates works when Landry introduces Jason to his parents, in doing this she is able to blend brevity with details.
I'm going to stop here so as not to spoil anything. I will say this isn't the dark, action-packed suspense stories we tend to associate the author with, is it outside her comfort zone? No, because she has given us lighter stories around the holidays before but just not what she typically creates. You'll laugh, you'll smile, you will definitely want to know more but you don't need to know more to pull you in and want to see the HEA for Jason and Landry. On a personal note, October has been a difficult month for me as it was my first birthday without my mother and she loved Halloween and all the gore and scare that goes with the holiday. I love the dark stuff, especially this time of year but King's Jurassic Measures was exactly the right amount of lightness I needed. For that alone I want to send a huge thank you to the author, for that moment of light.
Wolf shifter Kieran goes to a hockey game with his brother, Colin. When the players skate onto the ice, his wolf speaks. Mate. Which player is it?
Hockey goalie Shiloh and some of his teammates go to a local bar after losing their game. An angry fan, who lost money betting on them, shows up with a gun.
M/M romance
Short read
Dual 1st person POV
FTB
HEA
Snow Hope Island by Sarah Hadley Brook
Operation Toy Rescue #1
He was surprised that no one else was in the building yet. Unless they were upstairs in the loft, or locked away in an office. He thought he’d seen Eve’s coat hanging from a peg up front.
Jules opened the laptop and logged in, ready to get started. He really wanted to take that trip to the warehouse with Felix and the quicker he finished logging things in, the quicker that could happen. As he carefully opened a rather large box, he heard a door open and turned to see Felix, Eve, and Zuzu hurry out of Felix’s office. All wore a look of panic and his heart jumped.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as Eve grew closer.
“The Big Guy is coming for a visit three days before Christmas! We just found out. He never does this. Never, Jules.” Her voice rose as she spilled the news.
Jules glanced at Felix and caught his eye, holding it for a moment. “Isn’t Santa coming a good thing?” he asked, confused.
“We don’t know. He never does this. Never,” Eve reiterated.
“She’s right. He doesn’t. What if he wants to make major changes? Or move us to the North Pole?” Felix asked.
Jules crinkled his brow. In his mind, moving to the North Pole would be great. Felix would be closer to Jules. “You don’t want to live at the North Pole?”
All three of them looked at him in shock, their mouths gaping open.
“What?” he asked.
“The North Pole is headquarters. It’s chaos,” Zuzu explained.
Okay, I’ll give them that. But there were good things, too.
“But you’d be closer to ...” he flicked his gaze to Felix and felt his cheeks heat up. “The main operation,” he finished lamely.
“But we like it here. Our island is beautiful and we’re like a family. What if we’re torn apart?”
“I don’t think Santa --”
“You don’t know, Jules,” Eve broke in. “Maybe he thinks we don’t do enough to help these toys.”
Felix was vigorously nodding his agreement, so Jules shut his mouth and sat down in front of his laptop, considering the possibilities. He finally glanced back up, his lips curving up into a small smile as he eyed all three. “Then I guess there’s only one thing to do, guys. We need to show Santa how important the island is to children all over the globe.”
“How do we do that?” Eve asked quietly, her brow furrowed.
“By developing a kick ass plan to get these ‘inadequate toys’ into the hands of kids,” he explained, using air quotes. It was really just expanding what he and Felix had talked about last night. But calling it a plan made it feel more real. More promising.
Again, they gaped at him. Well, all but Felix. He was grinning. Happiness filled Jules’s chest and his heart raced as he grinned back, warmth spreading through him. Their gazes held and Jules felt like Felix was peering inside of him. Like he was seeing the real Jules. Not the guy that always screwed up. Not the guy that only thought of himself. But the one that finally -- finally -- wanted to do something worthy. Something that would bring others joy.
“Jules is right. We need to work together to show Santa we can handle the responsibility of taking care of the toys on this island. To prepare them for new homes. To convince him to take them with him on Christmas Eve.” Felix straightened his shoulders as determination flitted across his face and hope flashed in his eyes.
Jules couldn’t look away. The man was beautiful in every way.
Jules opened the laptop and logged in, ready to get started. He really wanted to take that trip to the warehouse with Felix and the quicker he finished logging things in, the quicker that could happen. As he carefully opened a rather large box, he heard a door open and turned to see Felix, Eve, and Zuzu hurry out of Felix’s office. All wore a look of panic and his heart jumped.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as Eve grew closer.
“The Big Guy is coming for a visit three days before Christmas! We just found out. He never does this. Never, Jules.” Her voice rose as she spilled the news.
Jules glanced at Felix and caught his eye, holding it for a moment. “Isn’t Santa coming a good thing?” he asked, confused.
“We don’t know. He never does this. Never,” Eve reiterated.
“She’s right. He doesn’t. What if he wants to make major changes? Or move us to the North Pole?” Felix asked.
Jules crinkled his brow. In his mind, moving to the North Pole would be great. Felix would be closer to Jules. “You don’t want to live at the North Pole?”
All three of them looked at him in shock, their mouths gaping open.
“What?” he asked.
“The North Pole is headquarters. It’s chaos,” Zuzu explained.
Okay, I’ll give them that. But there were good things, too.
“But you’d be closer to ...” he flicked his gaze to Felix and felt his cheeks heat up. “The main operation,” he finished lamely.
“But we like it here. Our island is beautiful and we’re like a family. What if we’re torn apart?”
“I don’t think Santa --”
“You don’t know, Jules,” Eve broke in. “Maybe he thinks we don’t do enough to help these toys.”
Felix was vigorously nodding his agreement, so Jules shut his mouth and sat down in front of his laptop, considering the possibilities. He finally glanced back up, his lips curving up into a small smile as he eyed all three. “Then I guess there’s only one thing to do, guys. We need to show Santa how important the island is to children all over the globe.”
“How do we do that?” Eve asked quietly, her brow furrowed.
“By developing a kick ass plan to get these ‘inadequate toys’ into the hands of kids,” he explained, using air quotes. It was really just expanding what he and Felix had talked about last night. But calling it a plan made it feel more real. More promising.
Again, they gaped at him. Well, all but Felix. He was grinning. Happiness filled Jules’s chest and his heart raced as he grinned back, warmth spreading through him. Their gazes held and Jules felt like Felix was peering inside of him. Like he was seeing the real Jules. Not the guy that always screwed up. Not the guy that only thought of himself. But the one that finally -- finally -- wanted to do something worthy. Something that would bring others joy.
“Jules is right. We need to work together to show Santa we can handle the responsibility of taking care of the toys on this island. To prepare them for new homes. To convince him to take them with him on Christmas Eve.” Felix straightened his shoulders as determination flitted across his face and hope flashed in his eyes.
Jules couldn’t look away. The man was beautiful in every way.
Operation Reindeer Rescue #2
Caleb hung their jackets and scarves on a set of hooks on the wall, just inside the door.
“Smells absolutely wonderful in here.”
Caleb gestured for Greg to take a seat at the round wooden table in the kitchen, but Greg shook his head. “Can’t I help with anything?”
Caleb smiled. “Sure. Grab some plates and glasses from the cabinet just next to the refrigerator. And silverware is in the drawer right over there.”
Greg set the plates on the counter for Caleb and then set about placing the silverware on the table. Once Caleb pulled the tray from the oven and dished it out, Greg grabbed the plates and set them on the table.
Soon they were sitting down to the best meal Greg had eaten in years. “You are an amazing cook,” he said as he tried to keep from shoveling each bite into his mouth.
Caleb watched him with a grin. “You seem extra hungry.”
Greg took a long drink of his milk before answering. “Before I moved out here, I was living on fast food or frozen meals. I’m not much of a cook. Not really one at all. I can heat up things in the microwave, put a pizza in the oven, but not much else. They fed me well at the clinic, definitely, but this ... this is melt-in-your-mouth, can-I-have-seconds-and-thirds, kind of food.” He leaned forward and whispered, “Is this your superpower?” he asked with a wink.
The blush spread across Caleb’s face and down his neck, pleasing Greg immensely. “You’re adorable, Caleb. I bet you have guys beating down the door to date you.”
Caleb shook his head. “Hardly,” he mumbled.
Greg was shocked. “I guess the men around here aren’t too bright, then. Letting you slip through their fingers.” He put his fork down and reached across the table, tapping a finger until Caleb slid his handout and Greg could stroke the top of his hand. “I know we just met, and I’m probably doing this all wrong, and this is all so new to me, the North Pole, the Island, working with the reindeer ... but I keep having this urgent feeling that if I don’t say something to you, then I might be blowing the most important thing in my life. Which I know could also scare you, being so blunt.”
Cale leaned back and blew a breath out. “Wow. I don’t think anyone’s ever been so honest with me. People hide behind flirting, looking for a hook-up, or just a fling, but you’re kind of putting it all out there, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. I am. It’s been a long time since I’ve dated. I spent a lot of time getting my degree and then I just sort of immersed myself in my work. Besides, everyone I met seemed to be the same ... nobody piqued my interest.”
Caleb’s eyes darkened. “But I did?”
Greg rose from his seat and rounded the table and took his hand, crouching down in front of him. “I don’t want to scare you off, but I couldn’t let this night go by without telling you I’m interested.” He laughed nervously. “I’m not usually too good at this,” he admitted.
Operation Destiny #3
By the time the dinner rush was over, bone-tired. Gus stayed a little later than usual to help but Noel sent him home at eight when the last guest was heading out. He knew Gus’s wife was waiting for him -- they’d just married a few months ago and were still in that adorable honeymoon stage. Not that Noel was jealous about that. Not really. Perhaps a little. Maybe.
He was just starting to clean the grill when the bell rang again and without looking up, he knew it was Charlie. The air crackled and his heart thrummed in his ears as he pivoted slowly and found a snow-covered Charlie, still standing in the doorway, awkwardly hopping from one foot to the other.
Heat spread through him slowly, warming him from the inside out until he felt as if he were wrapped in a cozy fleece blanket. Pure happiness filled him and he wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced it like that before.
Their eyes locked for a moment and his chest tightened. Was Charlie feeling it too? Noel swallowed hard and mentally chided himself for briefly forgetting how to speak. Until Charlie let out a quiet chuckle and broke the moment.
Noel waved him in with a smile. “Hey, Charlie. I was really hoping you’d stop by. What can I get you?”
“Am I too late?” He stayed near the door, as if to leave if needed.
“No!” he answered, a little too loudly. “I mean, no, we don’t close for another hour. Come in and get warm.”
He stomped off the snow and came closer. “I meant to get in here earlier, but got busy working again and lost track of time. I do that a lot.”
Noel grabbed a towel and wiped down the counter, gesturing to a stool. “Well, no worries. I’ll fix you up with something warm -- whatever you’re in the mood for.” He bit back a grin at the way Charlie’s cheeks pinked up. Interesting ...
Charlie slipped his coat off and laid it across a stool and stood awkwardly at the bar, his eyes sweeping the empty diner. “Not too busy today?”
Noel braced his hands on the counter and leaned in close, noting a pale pink blush spread across Charlie’s face. He smelled like vanilla and mint and Noel wanted to breathe deep, but figured he might weird Charlie out, so he fought the urge. “It was busy earlier, but this time of year most of the islanders are off to bed early because they’re all up at the crack of dawn.”
Charlie met his gaze. “So am I messing up your schedule coming in late?”
“Like I said, you’re not late. And even if you were, as long as someone’s here, you’re always welcome.” His gaze fell to Charlie’s pink lips and then to his throat as Charlie swallowed hard. Noel smiled as he brought his eyes back to Charlie’s. “Especially if it’s me here,” he whispered and tried not to chuckle when Charlie’s blush deepened. God, the guy was adorable -- and so fun to flirt with.
Charlie chewed his lower lip as he slid onto a stool. “I’d hoped you would still be here,” he admitted softly as he met Noel’s gaze.
Noel’s heart leapt in his chest, but he tamped down the excitement. “Admit it, you just want me for my ham and Swiss sandwiches,” he teased, winking at him.
Charlie surprised him by flirting right back. “Who doesn’t want a man that can handle a griddle the way you do?” He asked coyly as he leaned his forearms on the counter.
Noel grinned. A confident Charlie was an even sexier Charlie. He leaned across the counter until they were only a few inches apart. “How can my griddle and I serve you?”
In the Arms of the Beast by KA Merikan
A hot flash pierced Laurent and trailed all the way to his toes when Beast’s blue eyes met his. The red neon above the entrance shed a colorful glow on his powerful figure, but his face, scarred as it was, softened with tenderness. Beast hadn’t expected Laurent’s presence, but he’d appreciate it nevertheless. Laurent might not be competent at using guns or fighting, but he would support Beast as best as he could on the difficult path his man needed to walk.
When Gray started talking to Beast outside, taking away his attention, Laurent refused to wait any longer. He put his notebook away and went straight for the door, itching to put his arms around his man. He doubted thinking of Beast in such a way would ever grow old. His. Man. A concept unthinkable in year 1805, the time Laurent had left behind.
“How did it go?” he asked when Beast had finished the hurried conversation.
Beast didn’t answer at first, instead sweeping Laurent to his chest until Laurent’s feet left the asphalt. Relief was like warm water splashing down Laurent’s back, and he circled the thick, warm neck with his arms, bumping their foreheads as tenderness took root in his heart.
“We have it,” Beast whispered into Laurent’s ear.
Laurent kissed Beast with a smile, itching to see the jewel. “But are you not injured?” he asked when he spotted dried red dots on Beast’s vest.
Beast shook his head and gave Laurent another peck on the lips. If the blood wasn’t Beast’s, Laurent didn’t need to know who it belonged to.
When Gray started talking to Beast outside, taking away his attention, Laurent refused to wait any longer. He put his notebook away and went straight for the door, itching to put his arms around his man. He doubted thinking of Beast in such a way would ever grow old. His. Man. A concept unthinkable in year 1805, the time Laurent had left behind.
“How did it go?” he asked when Beast had finished the hurried conversation.
Beast didn’t answer at first, instead sweeping Laurent to his chest until Laurent’s feet left the asphalt. Relief was like warm water splashing down Laurent’s back, and he circled the thick, warm neck with his arms, bumping their foreheads as tenderness took root in his heart.
“We have it,” Beast whispered into Laurent’s ear.
Laurent kissed Beast with a smile, itching to see the jewel. “But are you not injured?” he asked when he spotted dried red dots on Beast’s vest.
Beast shook his head and gave Laurent another peck on the lips. If the blood wasn’t Beast’s, Laurent didn’t need to know who it belonged to.
Frostbite Lovebite by Megan Derr
"Of course this is your idea of a relaxing day off, I don't know what I expected," Ronan said with a dramatic sigh as they reached the top of the latest incline.
The meadow at the top, as hoped, contained all the flowers he'd been seeking, or nearly all of them, hard to tell at just one glance. Setting down his bag, Match dug out the various reusable bags he'd bought for precisely this purpose.
Though he grew many of the herbs, plants, and flowers he needed for his work, it was impossible for a single hedge witch to grow everything they used. The good thing about living next door to an enormous forest was that he didn't have to go far to get what he needed, or gamble on an online seller being as reliable as their glitzy website promised. Thankfully, between his own foraging and a couple of shops in town he rarely had to chance online shopping at all.
"We've been dating for over two months, you know what you're in for. And what's not relaxing?" he demanded. "It's a pretty day, if cold, just about everything I was looking for is right here in this meadow, and the only other thing we're doing tonight is dinner, maybe dinner and a show if you stop mocking my ideas of fun."
Ronan grinned, maybe leering just a bit in that lethally charming way of his. "Show, huh? Gonna dance for me, Match?"
"Keep dreaming, cause that's the only place I'm doing a strip dance. Now shut up and focus. See that Hellebore there?"
"Probably, but I've no idea which one that is."
"Oh, my god, it's not even a rare flower!" Match pointed to the dark, dusky pink flower in question. "That one. Pick the blossoms carefully, stow them in this bag. They don't need to be kept intact, but the less damaged in transit the more I can control how I break them down and use them later."
Ronan saluted. "Yes, my lord."
"Shut up." Rolling his eyes, smiling all the while, Match set to work on picking different flowers, starting with Winter Aconite and then moving on to Crocus, Snow Drops, Winter Heath, Witch Hazel, and finally Glory of the Snow. "Not bad for a couple hours' work."
"Most of that spent hiking. So did we get all your flowers? Dare I ask what they're for?"
"All kinds of things, but winter flowers are especially hardy so they're good for spells that have to last a long time, like wards. Many curses use winter-blooming flowers and herbs, and their counters require the same, so always good to have a supply."
Ronan gave him a look. "And they all happen to grow in the same meadow just ten miles out of town?"
"My grandmother's work, she was always immensely proud of it. Come on, I'll let you buy me iced coffee on our way back home."
"How very gracious," Ronan said, bowing low as Match walked by him to lead the way back down the trail. Thankfully, the return trip would go faster than the climb up, though going down always seemed more difficult than going up when it came to climbing. Did actual, real hikers and climbers feel the same?
Match replied loftily, "I'm always gracious." Even though that wasn't true, at all, even a little bit. Asking anyone for anything, especially his infinitely better off friends, was incredibly difficult. Ronan's family was stupid levels of wealthy while Match could barely afford his shitty one room apartment.
Which meant in the whole two-ish months they'd been dating, Ronan did most of the paying. Match had been allowed to pay for their Chinese food a whole one time. As friends, he'd never minded occasionally making his friends buy him coffee, but he didn't want anyone thinking he was some kind of gold digger. Certainly, that's what Ronan's family had said at the ball they'd attended back toward the end of December, right at the end of the month. Ugh, worst night ever, and Ronan had been so angry over their behavior that he'd quite literally thrown away his phone, gotten a new one, and had not bothered to get the numbers of any of his family back. They communicated through his uncle or not at all.
Not fair to poor Uncle Phillip, but he seemed fine with it for the time being.
Ronan's bright, candy red Challenger stood out in the gloomy, mostly empty parking lot, he slid into the passenger seat and sighed gratefully to be out of the increasingly biting wind. The day was still nice, but he had a feeling that there was going to be a storm that night. "Gonna get extra cold tonight."
"Want to come over and snuggle by the fire?" Ronan asked, and when Match hesitated added, "Uncle Rick bought a fancy new hot chocolate, it has cinnamon and cardamon and everything."
"Damn it," Match said in defeat. He always felt awkward at their house, painfully out of place even after three months, but he liked their house, and Rick had a hot chocolate collection fit for the Palace of Versailles.
Ronan grinned in triumph, threw the car into gear, and headed off. "Swing by your house to drop off your stuff, do anything with it that can't wait, then go to mine? My uncles are going out this evening, won't be home until like midnight…"
"You know my apartment doesn't have other people in it and you could fuck me there whenever you wanted, right?"
"I mean if you want to stay there a little longer before heading to mine…"
Match laughed. "Nah, I'd rather wait for your much more spacious, infinitely less creaky bed. Let me stash my flowers in the fridge and then we can go." As they pulled into the parking lot, he kissed Ronan quick. "Wait here, I'll be five minutes."
"Kay."
Slinging his bag over one shoulder, he slammed the car door shut and jogged across the parking lot and up the stairs—and stopped as he saw a bright orange flyer taped to his door. What the hell?
His heart dropped into his stomach as he got close enough to read the large, bolded EVICTION NOTICE across the top. What the fucking fuck? He snatched the flyer off the door, stomach in knots now, bile burning the back of his throat. He'd never missed a single rent payment in his life. He didn't have anything illegal or against the rules. Ronan obviously hadn't moved in. He didn't make noise or have lots of people over or play loud music, he didn't even have anything that could play music like that. Or a TV.
Keeping an unauthorized pet.
He'd cleared the pixies. Connell had said he could have them, had even said he'd add an actual clause for them when Match's lease was up for renewal in February. Match had been content with the verbal approval because Connell was an old friend of his parents, he had no reason to mistrust him or demand it in writing sooner.
This made no sense. Connell had never had a problem with his pixies before, why wouldn't he come talk to him first?
Folding the note up, he shoved it into his back pocket, unlocked the door, and hastily went about storing his flowers in the fridge, checking on the pixies and giving them some extra food because he probably wouldn't be home their normal feeding time, before hastening back to the car. Whatever was going on, the office was closed for the day so there was nothing he could do until morning. He would enjoy his night with Ronan, then go and see Connell first thing tomorrow morning. Probably he'd just put it on the wrong door or something stupid like that. It was all that made sense.
Forcing his anxiety and worry away, determined not to bother Ronan or drag down their evening with whatever the hell this mess was, he mustered a smile as he slid back into the car. "Miss me?"
Jurassic Measures by Davidson King
PROLOGUE
Deep breaths.
I love my job, I love my job, I love my job.
Okay, I do love it, but honestly, my father is like a rabid dictator. He doesn’t let me be my own creator or have my own ideas.
Ever since I was a little boy, all I ever wanted was to be like my father. He wasn’t just an amazing tailor, he designed suits, gowns, and anything the human body could wear. When I was fifteen, I had the nerve to ask him why his shop was called McPherson Tailors and not Tailor and Designs? He smacked me on the back of the head and explained he wasn’t some namby-pamby designer. Which also told me he had no idea what namby-pamby meant or that designers were artists.
When I graduated high school I still very much wanted to work beside my father. I truly believed I could convince him to expand on the title and maybe even travel.
At twenty-one, I took the risk and asked, “Maybe we should travel and promote the shop and your…our work?”
Another slap upside the head and a stern, “People come to me not the other way around.” At least he didn’t say namby-pamby.
Now, I’m thirty-three, my father’s arthritis has slowly been getting the better of him and he’s coming up on his seventieth birthday. Many nights as we closed, he’d announce he’d be retiring and leaving all this to me one day. A part of me longed for the day I could turn McPherson’s into something more, but on the other hand, I would miss working with the old man.
As we locked up one clear and still brisk March evening, my father gripped my arm and turned me to face him.
“Jason.”
His eyes were full of worry and suddenly I was no longer chilly, but instead sweating. “What’s wrong?”
He snorted and shook his head. “Nothing is wrong. I wanted to tell you all day, but I kept stalling.” His sigh was heavy, weary. “I’m officially retiring. My hands…” The way he held them up, visibly stiff and slightly swollen at the joints, it was easy to see he was in pain. “You’ve had a vision for this shop and I’ve held you back.” I had my own set of keys to the store but he handed me his. Symbolism maybe?
“Your time has come.”
“Dad, I…”
“You’re so talented, Jason. You’ll bring McPherson Tailors into the future, and I…” He wiggled his fingers. “I’ll rest.”
My heart ached realizing this was the last time I’d be closing the shop with my dad, and at the same time excitement bubbled in the pit of my belly.
“I love you, Dad.”
His smile was wide and bright and when he laughed, it was as contagious as ever. Yeah, he was a dictator of his craft, but one hell of a father.
“I love you too, Son. Now let’s go home. Your mom told me I wouldn’t get any pot roast if I didn’t finally tell you tonight.”
“When were you supposed to tell me?” I quirked a brow.
He shrugged. “Maybe two months ago.”
“Jesus,” I mumbled under my breath. “Let’s get you home then. I’ll have some pot roast with you before I go to my place.”
The Wolf's Goalie by A Williams
Kieran
I had let my brother talk me into coming to the season opening hockey game and was regretting it. It was really loud in the venue and the game hadn’t even started yet. And it was cold too.
“How can you stand the noise?” I asked.
Liam said, “You get used to it. They play a lot of 80s music, you’ll like that.”
“Sure.”
Right on cue, the 80s song Eye of the Tiger blared over the loudspeakers.
Since he was a wolf shifter like me, I’d been surprised that Liam had asked me to come, shifters had sensitive hearing. I looked around at the rest of the audience. They were drinking, either beer or soft drinks; and eating popcorn or hot dogs or pizza. And excited to be here, it seemed.
We had almost been late due to traffic and missed their warmups and stretching sessions, unfortunately. I would have enjoyed that; it wasn’t shown on TV when the games aired.
Eye of the Tiger was followed by The Final Countdown. And the crowd got even louder than I thought was possible when the visiting team, the Franklin Finches, skated out followed by the home team, the Springfield Starlings. I liked hockey as much as the other fans did, only I’d rather watch it from the comfort of the living room in my apartment.
The roar of the crowd dimmed as I got the weirdest tingling sensation, just before my inner wolf said MATE. That was unexpected. I gazed around the crowded arena, how was I supposed to figure out which person it Then I looked down at the rink with the hockey players. It had to be one of them because my wolf had spoken just after they’d skated out.
Sarah Hadley Brook lives smack-dab in the middle of the Heartland and is the mother of two wonderful young men, as well as two cats. During the day, she works in the nonprofit world, but reserves evenings for her hobby-turned-passion of writing, letting the characters she conjures in her mind take the lead and show her where the story will go. When not working or writing, she can be found reading, working on dollhouses, trying her hand at new recipes, or watching old movies and musicals. In her ideal world, Christmas would come at least twice a year, Rock Hudson and Doris Day would have costarred in more than three movies, and chocolate would be a daily necessity. She dreams of traveling to Scotland some day and visiting the places her ancestors lived. Sarah believes in “Happily Ever After” and strives to ensure her characters find their own happiness in love and life.
K.A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.
Megan is a long time resident of m/m fiction, and keeps herself busy reading, writing, and publishing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she's not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her cats, or watch movies (especially all things James Bond). She loves to hear from readers, and can be found all around the internet.
Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.
She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.
If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.
A. Williams is primarily an author of short stories and has had over 150 stories published in various print and online magazines. She was thrilled to discover KDP’s short read categories. It's a perfect fit for her.
A. has always been interested in reading and writing speculative fiction. Her first published story was about a vampire at a Halloween party. She got a contributor's copy in the mail. Yeah, she's that old.
Apart from writing, her hobbies include reading, listening to music, playing CYOA games, and watching movies. She'd like to be able to say she was an avid walker and biker, but doesn't wanna lie.
Sarah Hadley Brook
KA Merikan
Snow Hope Island by Sarah Hadley Brook
In the Arms of the Beast by KA Merikan
Frostbite, Lovebite by Megan Derr
The Wolf's Goalie by A Williams
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