This story made me laugh, grin at Bianca's cleverness, and sigh in happiness at the end. What more could you want from a Christmas story? As far as I am concerned, any story, really, but the fact that this one is set around Christmas makes it even more special. I liked all three characters (yes, even stubborn, blinders-wearing Curtis), and the love they shared was wonderful to witness. The fact that their antics, some of them disturbingly realistic, made me laugh on top of that was a bonus.

Gavin is a great guy, and the fact that he's raising his daughter Bianca on his own, after her mother died when she was very young, may have changed his life, but he welcomes it. He has a crappy job and works long hours so he can give her everything she deserves, and is as devoted as any father could be. There is only one problem, or so Bianca thinks now that she's ten: he doesn't have a boyfriend. Gavin has his own thoughts about that, but Bianca is determined to see him happy.

Curtis has become Gavin's best friend ever since he moved into the apartment across the hallway from where Gavin and Bianca live. He loves Bianca, and Gavin, but he doesn't want to admit the latter. He thinks he is straight. In fact, he spends most of the story trying to convince himself he wants a woman, because he is desperate to have a family. He is such an idiot, refusing to acknowledge what is right in front of his nose. But once he does? The sparks definitely fly!

If you like Christmas stories with lots of heart, if you enjoy tales that make you laugh and sigh, and if you're looking for a story with characters so real they seem to want to jump off the pages, you will probably like this novella as much as I did.





NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
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Audio 2h 6min ( )

A nice seasonal romance, Christmas + kid is a sure recipe for success. Bianca "Bee" is the only daughter of a single gay dad; the story is old, Gavin and his best girl friend from high school got together only one time at prom night and Bee was the result of that. It is possible their story was fated to end, maybe like friends, but unfortunately Bee's mother passed away in a car accident, and now Gavin has decided to move to the big city and moreover to a gay friendly condo. There he meets Curtis, one of the few straight neighbors and so, even if Gavin has a big crush on Curtis, they become "only" best friends... but Bee has other plan for this coming Christmas.

While I liked Gavin, a sweet man, very right in the role of dad, actually, it was easy to image him as an househusband, devoted to the home and his daughter while his partner cared for the money side of the relationship, at time I wanted to knock Curtis down. First of all, if you are not gay, why did you let Gavin fall for you, well knowing he has a crush? It was selfish, he wanted the family Gavin and Bee represented, without giving to Gavin the partner he deserved.

Anyway, that was mostly me, Curtis wasn't at all a bad man, actually he was very good with Bee, and also a good friend for Gavin. The story had, of course, a light tone and an obvious happily ever after waiting for the two men. I also enjoyed that, while Bee has a main role in the plot, she wasn't stealing the center stage to the love story between the two men.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AGFRFTI/?tag=elimyrevandra-20

2.5 stars. Sweet story, cute kid, but the MCs lacked chemistry and heat. ( )

Do not get in the way of a young girl and her plans for everyone to have a happily ever after. Straight Curtis gets roped in to help find Bianca's dad Gavin someone to make him happy but Curtis just can't seem to see anyone good enough for his best friend. ( )