Series: So This Is Christmas
Author: Christina Lee
Self Published
Publication date: November 15, 2019
Length: 162 pages
Reviewed by Michael
Synopsis
Blair Anderson only thinks of Caden Bell as his best friend’s younger brother, a straight-laced jock still dating his high-school sweetheart. They are as different as night and day. Caden has always considered Blair an enigma, the way he lights up every room with his self-confidence and perfectly sculpted cheekbones. But since childhood they’ve drifted worlds apart.
Life as an international model isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, so when Blair escapes to his best friend’s beach house for some R&R, he’s shocked to discover Caden had the same idea. Apparently, he called it quits with his girlfriend and was looking for a little alone time too.
Instead of rock, paper, scissors to determine who gets to stay, they decide to share the house and keep out of each other’s way. Easier said than done. As they reconnect, Blair is captivated by Caden’s bald honesty. And Caden realizes that Blair isn’t a mystery—he’s genuine and funny and still utterly gorgeous.
Seeing Blair in a new light short-circuits Caden’s brain, and before he knows it, he’s confiding in Blair about his bi-curiosity. Blair couldn’t be more taken aback as advice turns to solace, then ignites into an intense spark neither man anticipated. Blair had done and seen it all, so what could it hurt to help Caden experience some new things?
After all, it’s only a holiday hookup.
Until it’s not.
*PLEASE NOTE: This book completely stands alone from Beautiful Dreamer and they do not have to be read in order.
Review
I haven’t
read much of the “best friend’s brother” trope, and I’m not sure why. I’m not particularly adverse to it. I just…haven’t. It just so happened that this one came up for
review right at the time when I needed something to get me into the holiday
mood.
Two birds,
one…book as it were.
Blair and
Caden haven’t seen each other in years.
While Blair has maintained a friendship with Christopher, he’s only seen
his younger brother on social media. It
doesn’t help that Blair’s been incredibly busy being a world class model. However, that career choice has become
exhausting, and he’s in need of a break.
So, his old friend offers the use of his beach house over the Christmas
holiday.
What neither
of them know is that Caden is in need of a getaway himself, after breaking up
with his long-term girlfriend and coming to some realizations about himself.
Despite
basically growing up together, because of the years apart, Caden and Blair have
to get to know each other all over again.
Blair had to learn to see Caden as an adult, and Caden had to learn to
see Blair as something other than someone more interested in the superficial.
I have to
say, when any trope is handled incorrectly, it can be more about the sex than
about the relationship. And that was my biggest
fear going into it. I didn’t need to
worry. Christina navigates this
relationship with a deft hand and sensitivity, drawing the reader into the
lives of both Blair and Caden, as well as their family. This could have easily devolved into nothing but
one long sexapade for the two, since no one would really know. Yet, it doesn’t.
This was
just what I needed to get in the holiday groove.
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