Emma Wilson

This is a very quiet, gentle story that perfectly reflects not only Sam’s character but his slow struggle back toward life after his accident. I loved the gradual reveal of what happened, and treasured the few things he said to help Alex (and me)understand what was going on inside his head. They were like little breadcrumbs scattered in a seemingly random pattern – but once I got the picture it became clear they hadn’t been placed randomly at all.

Sam is a quiet guy. I bet lots of people think he goes along with their plans and ideas just because he doesn’t object. Nothing could be further from the truth, especially in the case of his ex-boyfriend. Sam just thinks things through very carefully, and many people took that for acquiescence. After the accident, Sam has a hard time readjusting physically, after all he almost died, and mentally. He just knows that Alex is good for him, never mind that he’s his total opposite in the how-much-is-said-out-loud department. But since Sam is slow and methodical in the way he appraises people, and he is not a vocal guy, the understanding of what Alex means to him sinks in slowly.

Alex is a chatterbox. He also used to have a crush on Sam when they were in school, and I don’t think that crush is over yet. Or it gets revived. Whatever the case may be, Alex is determined to get closer to Sam, and he has the patience to stick it out. Maybe it’s the fact that Alex likes to talk, and Sam likes to listen. Maybe it’s because they share an interest in cars. Whatever it is, I loved watching their romance develop slowly over the weeks it takes to restore Sam’s car.

If you like your romances to simmer as they slowly come to a boil rather than flare up and explode in your face, if you enjoy stories about opposites who definitely attract, and if you’re looking for a quiet read that speaks through what isn’t said as much as through the characters’ words, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (altro)

What an adorable story! Christmas or not, this set of characters and circumstances would work at any time of the year. Full of hilarious observations, self-criticism, and misunderstandings based on assumptions that really should be outlawed, this story made me smile, and laugh, and yell at the two main characters to "wake up" and get their acts together all at the same time.

Eric is shy, has just moved to Britain, works from home, and has very few friends. He is too afraid to put himself out there, so he shares his best friend Janet's as best he can. Not that he misses anything. There is one exception: his neighbor. He'd love to be friends with him, a lot more than friends actually, but the man has a boyfriend, or so Eric thinks, so he is off limits. It doesn't stop Eric from watching him like a hawk, to the point where he accuses himself of being a stalker.

Rhys is charming, works hard on opening a restaurant, and wishes he could figure out how to get closer to his "adorkable" (great word, Emma!) neighbor. But each time he so much as looks at the man, he seems to freeze and just stares at Rhys. When circumstances conspire to push the two men together, the hilarity increases, but both of them face an uphill battle against themselves and their preconceived notions before they can finally connect.

If you like stories about men who are their own worst enemies in the relationship department, if shy dorks just do it for you, and if you're looking for a read that is as funny as it is sweet, then you will probably like this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.… (altro)