Alex had to leave the mean streets of Chicago in a hurry. Now he’s weathering his first Christmas in a small town in Colorado.Cory had a boyfriend and now he doesn’t, which means the Christmas holiday is turning out to the the loneliest he’s had in years. When they meet at a Holiday Fair, Alex finds himself being drawn into Cory’s world. A world where there is grace to be found in a simple, … home-cooked meal, books read out loud by firelight, and the golden glow of welcome. Alex has never wanted anything as tame as hearth and home. Now that he wants it, it’s not anything he can have. Nothing feels he deserves, at any rate.Can Cory and the Spirit of Christmas Present prove to Alex that love is love? An m/m romance with cakewalks, blizzards, hurt/comfort, a snow globe, hot chocolate kisses, and Christmas!Although this book is part of A Snow Globe Christmas series, it is a complete stand alone and it isn’t a requirement that you read the previous books to follow along. We wish everyone a happy holiday season.
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Wonderful characters and this story just pulled me in! A little bit of hurt/comfort and some slow burn culminating in a very sweet tale.
A nice story about the need to accepting and confronting your past to get your future. Even if Alex and Cory’s easy to read, low angst, love story was made for Christmas season is perfect every time that you want to have a nice reading. Loved it!
Cory and Alex get a heart-warming three and a half stars in this Christmas romance about two men from two different worlds coming together and finding love.
I really enjoyed this small town Christmas story of opposites attracting. Cory is almost an anachronism; with a penchant for bow ties, wool trousers and suspenders, and an aficionado of hot chocolate made from scratch with real chocolate, cream and butter, he doesn’t have much in common with Alex, fresh from Chicago with his leather jacket and trouble at his back. They meet over a snow globe purchase at a holiday fair – the simple lone cottage surrounded by evergreens within the globe represents the hearth and home that Cory has longed for, and has only just come to realize how essential it is to have someone with whom to share it. Alex, for his part, never imagined that home and hearth was something that would ever be in the cards for him, until he meets Cory.
As with other works by Jackie North, this story is beautifully written, and the pleasure in reading it is derived from her prose – descriptions of the small town bustle, the dance at the Grange, the holiday fair, reading by firelight as the blizzard blows outside, real hot chocolate, and the simple honesty expressed in the feelings of yearning and attraction. This is a stop-and-smell-the-Christmas-roses story, and the fragrance is sweet. Highly recommended.
This was a lovely small town romance. At the beginning, Cory was judgmental around Alex, so I didn’t think I was going to like him. He quickly changed his attitude and my mind. I loved watching Cory and Alex begin to become more and more comfortable together, and I enjoyed watching their feelings grow. Alex had moved away from a sketchy and scary life, but he had a wonderful sister and brother-in-law who cared about him. Having Cory in his life seemed too good to be true. His difficulty adjusting to being able to count on others was heartbreaking. I loved the small Colorado town and its good-hearted people, especially Cory and Alex. What a sweet, sexy, lovely holiday romance!
So so very good, what a wonderful addition to the Snow Globe Christmas series and an enjoyable sweet treat to warm your heart on a cold winters day. For Cory having gone through a horrible break up has made it hard to get into the holiday spirit, so it’s a good thing the town has an array of festivities to be part take of. Alex needed to get out of Chicago and decided moving to small town Colorado where his sister and her boyfriend lives is just the right place to be. After bumping into each other at the holiday activities they are starting to realize that maybe they might have a lot more in common then either one of them thought, a date, a dance, a kiss and maybe a start to something wonderful.
Jackie North has written a truly charming Christmas story about two lost souls who find each other when they least expect it.
The first meeting between Alex and Cory didn’t bode well. Both are grumpy and not blessed with the Christmas spirit. Alex left his bad past in Chicago behind and tries to begin anew in the small town his sister lives in. Cory is getting to get his life back together after being a bad breakup.
Right from the start, it was a captivating story that gave me all the feels I associate with Christmas: warmth, love, and fun. Cory and Alex, although being opposites, have that magical connection that you can’t describe but feel all the same. They bring out the best in each other, caring for each other, albeit reluctantly at times, born out of doubt and insecurity, and they go all out without wanting anything in return.
Appearances can be deceiving because under his gruff exterior and sometimes rudish manners, Alex has a warm and giving heart. And Cory might come across as a proper and bookish type, but he has a will of steel and doesn’t take no for an answer, and he goes the extra mile for Alex.
Alex’s sister, Angela, and her husband, Richard, are great people, who help and accept both men without questions asked.
So place a couple of pillows on the floor in front of the fireplace, make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and enjoy this heartwarming Christmas story.
is a charming nativity themed story,in which two men that seem diametrically opposed, surprisingly connect and fall in love.
Because reformed street thug Alex and well-mannered Cory seem to have nothing in common. But they do. They so amazingly,beautifully do. They’re both gentle,tender hearted and caring. All they want is to belong,to be seen and appreciated for who they really are.
Alex and Core clash when they first meet,to then start taking steady, tentative steps toward each other. It’s such a sweet discovery,a slow uncovering of feelings. They’re adorable together,so endearing,that I just wanted to hug them,keep them safe and happy.
Surrounded by the frosty, Christmas wonderland of small town Harlin,they learn to accept support and help from one another and family. They find home,love and happiness…in a story that filled me with warmth and joy.
Highly recommend.
A road to travel together
Alex is trying to start fresh but it’s a big adjustment for him and he literally bumps his way into Cory’s life. BTW, Cory’s ex is a jerk and I’m glad he’s rid of him; however, he’s a bit prickly. In fact, they both have a touch of the Grinch in their own way, which made for some excellent friction and made it all the sweeter watching them fall for each other. They connect on a strong level, balance each other’s personalities, and soften their rough edges. As an aside, I bet Cory’s hot chocolate is fantastic and we must be kindred spirits as I also love ice cream on cold days. Plus, I loved the Airplane nod.
“You’re like the hot meal I didn’t know I was hungry for, till I met you.” I’m not ashamed to admit that they both pulled at my heartstrings, especially with the snow globe and Alex’s troubles. I think he needs a lot of Cory cuddles. Speaking of, I adored how protective Cory can be, how he took care of Alex, who is very stubborn, and how he never gave up on him. Both Cory and Alex may have thought the punch was sweet but it has nothing on them, this town, and the wonderful people that live in it. It makes me wish I could visit during the holidays. A sweet and lovely story about finding your way and learning to live and love again.