Just three more days of this giveaway event left, and in the final countdown, we have the fabulous Twinkle Twinkle by Josephine Myles. As ever, let’s start with the blurbz:
When old schoolmates meet again, sparks fly!
It’s Christmas Eve, and down in Accident and Emergency Dr. Tom Berriman really hasn’t got into the festive spirit. Newly returned to his home town, he’s missing the big city he left behind and can’t get enthusiastic about a holiday he’ll be spending on his own. That is until he catches sight of the attractive electrician fixing the lights—who promptly crashes down out of the ceiling and becomes Tom’s patient. Tom can’t believe his luck…until he realises he knows the man already.
Electrician Vince has changed out of all recognition since they were at school together, where Vince was the butt of all the bullies’ jibes—and worse—while nursing a hopeless crush on Tom.
If the newly-hunky Vince can forgive his former tormentor, and Tom can get over his lingering guilt, maybe their Christmases won’t be quite so lonely after all.
I really loved this story. It’s short but it packs a punch, and as with many of Jo’s stories, it manages to be both earthy and touching at once. It also features one of my very favourite things – MCs who share a difficult history. Here we have A&E doctor Tom and electrician Vince, who haven’t seen each other since they were at school, where Vince was bullied by Tom’s group of friends.
I loved how Jo showed that the character that was diminished by this history was not Vince but Tom. Of the two of them, it is Vince who has moved on, Vince who shows Tom how to find the courage to overcome the past. And how Vince does that – bravely, boldly – is so very entertaining to read.
I’ve got to add that one my favourite things about this story is how thematically pleasing it is. It’s about, I think, sparks and jolts. Sparks of attraction, and of life and vitality. Jolts of recognition and reality. The text is sprinkled with flashes and sparks and electricity, twinkles and fairy lights and sparkles. So richly enjoyable. So wonderfully, gorgeously satisfying. Highly recommended. 🙂
To win a copy of this lovely story, leave a comment about your favourite Christmas decoration. The winner will be decided at 8pm on 12th December 2015. And if you just can’t wait, you can buy a copy here 🙂
Oh, and remember, there’s still 2 more days of giveaways to go!
About Jo:
English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.
Jo publishes regularly with Samhain, and now has over ten novels and novellas under her belt. Her novel Stuff won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Bisexual Romance, and her novella Merry Gentlemen won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Romantic Comedy. She has also been known to edit anthologies and self-publish on occasion, although she prefers to leave the “boring bits” of the ebook creation process to someone else. She loves to be busy, and is currently having fun trying to work out how she is going to fit in her love of writing, dressmaking and attending cabaret shows in fabulous clothing around the demands of a preteen with special needs and a soon-to-be toddler.
Website and blog: http://josephinemyles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/josephine.myles.author
Twitter: @JosephineMyles
EDITED TO ADD – THE WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY IS LEE TODD – CONGRATULATIONS!
My favourite decoration is my Christmas tree, which I try to design differently every single year (which is quite difficult, because I try not to buy new ornaments…) Unfortunately, the tree is also my cat’s favourite decoration!!!
😀
Before I get to decorations, I have to say that one of my all time favorite holiday stories is Josephine Myles’ Merry Gentlemen. Love it.
As for decorations, it’s tough to choose. I enjoy getting to look at every day the ones that have been in the family for a long time, the ones that I remember from my childhood.
When my parents were first married, my mom bought this set of wooden ornaments, flat like rolled out baking dough, and there were paper cut-outs that fit each one: Santa with his sack of toys over his shoulder, kids in a sled heading downhill, a couple standing under a streetlight, and many more, all of them in the what we’d describe as maybe very early twentieth century looking garb. She decoupaged the paper overlays to the wooden pieces and they’ve been a part of Xmas ever since I was born.
A few have been given as gifts over the years, passed on to family members starting their own families, babies making their debut, etc. Mom passed away a couple of years ago this coming January, and it makes me smile to look at the ornaments hanging amongst the lights, knowing even more of them are sprinkled throughout the family, bringing the same smiles to them. 😀
My favourite Christmas decoration is one my parents had. There were four candles, which related to the four Sundays of Advent, and some gilded angels above the candles on a circular fitting. The warmth of the candles when lit made the angels spin round slowly. I was fascinated by how it worked, as well as liking the effect!
I’m also very fond of the old tree decorations which have survived since we were very little, and which really feel like Christmas. We’ve never put up decorations particularly early, which I think helps keep them special!
My favorite decoration is the collection of ornaments we have gathered as we travel. Wherever we go, we try to buy a Christmas ornament particular to that location. Then, when we decorate the tree, we can also remember all of our travels.
Your write-up definitely makes me want to read this one. Plus, the cover is awesome – the feather boa and the look on his face.
My favorite Christmas decoration is the tree top that we got a few years ago. It has a large star that lights up and Santa in his sleigh with reindeer spin around the top of the star.
My favourite decoration has to be my Disney collection. I was a sucker for Disney as a kid and was lucky enough to get an extra special collection of ornaments for my tree, from my parents. I got 2 every year and I still have every single one of them.
Going back to a previous day where you asked about a favorite actor in a Christmas movie, and I said it was Jimmy Stewart in It’s a Wonderful Life. So, coming back to today’s question, I have only one answer. I don’t consider my Christmas tree decorated until I put on my It’s a Wonderful Life ornament. It’s got George and Mary on one side looking lovingly at each other and then the movie’s title on the other. I was not exaggerating my love for it. 🙂
angel on the tree
My sister in law gave me a lovely Christmas dove – I believe it’s handmade pottery and hand painted. It’s very special.
every year my mum used to paint a Christmas scene on our glass sliding door….they were beautiful and would last for as long as you wanted
we have had Santas, nativity scenes, Aussie Christmas scenes, Christmas trees, teddy bears, baubles…..if it has been on a Christmas card then there is a chance she has painted something similar
Oh, I love how individual all these answers are. And I WISH I had a It’s a Wonderful Life ornament! We buy a new decoration every year. This year is a little fox in a glass bauble. I also have a very soft spot for my Wobbly Santa who I posted a picture of on Facebook the other day 🙂
My favorite decorations are lights. I love how they illuminate the darkest time of year.
yayyyyy!!! 😀