A good story overall though I didn't really feel a connection between the characters that was building from when they reconnect.
Cosmin has recently lost his father though is struggling with it due to how bad their relationship had come and is now about to lose his radio show. Eric has struggled the last few years with not having constant work and the breakdown of his marriage. Both have regrets and things to work on in their life but aren't sure how to move forward. They get stuck together when an ice storm shuts them in Cosmin's father's home together and they soon act on the attraction that they share but neither know how to move forward once they return to "normal" life.
Cosmin's character I found quite hard to like, not very relatable and very.....wordy in his thoughts and ideas. Eric is very tough on himself for his past but is sure of how he feels towards Cosmin but both are afraid of the possible rejection. Eve does write wonderfully descriptive scenes, I really saw how she described the setting especially when the ice storm shuts down the area. The gradual development of the relationship goes at a good speed as they have an intense few days together and then the time to think on what they truly want.
A good story overall though I found it a little hard to get into. There are some lovely moments with friends and family as well, especially for Cosmin as he reminisces about his past and spends quality time with his best friend and her daughter at their time of need.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and am happily giving a review.

Holidays in Blue has a much more melancholy tone than the typical Christmas romance.

Loss is a major theme of the story. At the beginning of the book, Cosmin is told that the radio program he has hosted for years has been cancelled. He gets permission to air one more show, which he plans to use to memorialize the life and death of his sister, who was killed in a car accident along with their mother. Their deaths led to the subsequent destruction of his relationship with his grieving father, who has recently also passed away. When Cosmin goes to his father’s house to find some information he needs for the show and is trapped there by a massive ice storm, he reconnects with his old neighbor Eric, who has suffered his own losses—a failed acting career and a failed marriage. The ice storm gives them time to get to know each other as adults and a chance to move on by finding something new and wonderful in each other.

The old sitcom Frasier gets referenced in connection to Cosmin, and it’s an apt comparison. Like Frasier, Cosmin is very erudite and thoughtful. He’s not an unlikeable character, but he does come across as pretentious, which the author acknowledges by having Eric’s sister use that word to describe him. Much of the humor in the TV show came from others (often his father) taking Frasier down a peg when he got a little too high-flown. Eric, who’s a much more down-to-earth person than Cosmin, plays that role here, and I liked him for it.

Eric grounds Cosmin somewhat, but there’s still quite a bit of philosophizing in the novel. Cosmin’s the kind of guy who discusses the works of Proust and Victor Frankl, which is fine. I thought the book had some interesting things to say about grief and healing. However, there’s too much thinking and not enough feeling for me. That’s certainly true of the culmination of the book, Cosmin’s last show, which is not the emotional high point that I expected. At times, I felt like the relationship between Cosmin and Eric got somewhat lost in all the deep thoughts.

I enjoy Christmas romances that have a more subdued mood, so this one scored for me there. I just wish the book had focused more on the love story and less on analyzing its characters.

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Unfortunately this book was a miss for me. Based on the synopsis I expected to enjoy this one so much. As I was reading, I didn’t personally feel like there was building chemistry between the main characters. I will not be sharing my opinion in a review outside of NetGalley.

Cosmin Tessler finds out at the holiday party that his radio show is not being renewed in the new year, and therefore, the last show he recorded was indeed his last. As a result, he’s in a sour mood and not very nice to the bartender working the gig. Even after he realizes the bartender is none other than Eric Campbell, the younger neighbor from across the street while he was growing up. After Cosmin wallows in his grief over the loss of his show, he knows there’s nothing that will change the station’s mind. But he does manage to finagle one last show out of the station, in order to truly give his show a proper send off. Determined to get to work on that, he heads back to his family home, where he hasn’t been in years and not at all since his father’s death a month ago.

Eric Campbell is an out of work actor who had a small amount of success on a strange sci fi show before it got cancelled. Now, he makes his living doing some voice work and the occasional bartending gig. He think he’s a fuck-up, especially after some of the things he’s done, and is wallowing in his misery at Christmas. When Eric’s mother suggests he heads home earlier than he originally planned, and that his parents will be home in time to join him for Christmas, Eric agrees. He also runs into his former girlfriend, who is now his true self and introduces himself as Dillon. It’s a fortuitous encounter, as it gives Eric hope, fond memories, and an opportunity to record an audition for an audiobook he thought he’d have to miss.

Both Cosmin and Eric are at their family homes when an ice storm the likes Toronto hasn’t seen in a long time hits the city. Eric, not knowing Cosmin’s father has passed, braves the weather to check on the older man — only to find Cosmin there instead, wading through past memories and old hurts, looking for particular information about his and his sister’s adoptions. Eric offers to help, not only because he can see Cosmin needs it, but because he’s always harbored a crush on the man. There’s an attraction between them, and being stranded together allows them to act on it.

But while they are discovering each other, the past rears it’s head. For Cosmin, it’s finding out what was really going on in his father’s head, and discovering everything was not what he thought. For Eric, it’s coming to terms with why his marriage ended and how he’s going to move forward in his life and career. They support one another on their journeys and find a love they’ve both been longing for.

I love forced proximity romances, so when I read the blurb for this one, I was quick to pick it up. Unfortunately, for me, this story was a mixed bag. The writing is lovely, descriptive and lyrical without being over the top. The characters are well developed and fully fleshed out. But the story itself didn’t always work for me, and that lessened my enjoyment of this book.

So first off, the romance. This is billed right off the top as a forced proximity romance, but the romance seemed, to me, as a secondary story line. I had a hard time connecting with Cosmin and Eric’s relationship, and I didn’t feel the connection between them. Their chemistry was lackluster, I didn’t feel the heat or desperation, and it just seemed like they were together because Eric was acting on his long held crush. I wanted so much more from them, and I just didn’t get it here. So as a romance, it didn’t work for me.

But there’s a lot of other stuff going on here that did work. If you take the romance out of the equation, you have a lovely novel about grief and misconceptions. About a father’s love that was prevalent and well known to everyone but the person who needed to see it. About a man who made some bad choices in his past, but has finally course corrected and seeing a future for himself. There are also side plots of an inheritance for Eric, and a friend of Cosmin dealing with an eating disorder and her backsliding. There is so much going on, way too much to unpack in one review, but it actually worked for the theme of this novel. It is sad at times, and heartbreaking in a lot of ways. Some plot points don’t get fully resolved, nor could they, and we are only left with the feeling of loss.

As I said, the book is wonderfully written, though the pacing is slow at times. And the romance aspect of it didn’t work for me, nor did I feel the connection between the MCs. If you’re looking for a pure romance, I would say skip this book. But if you’re looking for a story about two men finding their way and working through their pasts, then I would cautiously recommend it.

4 stars — This one went a lot better than I was anticipating in some moments. I’m scurr of “litrature” as Eric would say. I am low brow…so very far from high brow. And I think I can be intimidated by books that have a more high brow feel. This wasn’t quite that though…it was more like Cosmin was high brow, and Eric was more my speed, and while there were elements that were too much for me, all in all I came away feeling more open or something. I still don’t feel like “quotidian” needs to be used that often though. 😛

Honestly, this story was so much deeper than I was expecting. It was a very unusual romance in so many ways, because a lot of the story was about both Eric and Cosmin finding their individual ways through life, and it just happened that they were the catalyst for the other in making some insights and beginning that journey, if that makes sense. But unlike another Christmas book I read recently that had strong individual storylines, I felt like while the relationship could be on the back burner at times it was still vital to the story. It was just…well, unusual.

I honestly didn’t think I was going to like Cosmin. Just like so many people in his life, I thought he was pretentious. But through his eyes, and through Eric’s eyes, I came to see that there was a lot more going on with him — that just because he liked the deep thinking didn’t mean that he looked down upon others who enjoyed other things. I really need to keep a more open mind when I’m presented with hoity toity stuff — it’s like I become defensive because it’s not my jam, and I start assuming that I’m being looked down upon. But that really wasn’t who Cosmin was.

And Cosmin had one heck of a crazy life story. I didn’t always follow all of the revelations he made along the way, but he really made me think about a lot of aspects of life in a different life. I loved that.

Eric was wholeheartedly more my speed. Which is funny, since he cheated in his past, and cheating is a button topic for me. But I think he managed to humanize the whole thing. It’s still not something I’m ever going to be that okay with, but I appreciated the opportunity to see all of who a person is, and that sometimes people make mistakes — and that they *can* grow.

And even though so much of the story concerned their individual stories, I really did end up liking them together. They were the epitome of opposites attract, but I think that was exactly what they each needed. They gave something to the other that they hadn’t been able to find anywhere else. I just really enjoyed it, even if for me the steamy chemistry was only so so. It was the rest of the connection that really sold me.

There were a few bits and pieces of the story that I felt conflicted on (but I’m not going to go into them), but honestly? In the end it was interesting to read something so different from what I usually read…and it gave me that feel-goodness that I need out of a Christmas book by the ending.

Carina Press has marketed "Holidays in Blue" as "A Forced Proximity Christmas Romance" and my expectation, combined with the 207 page count, was this would be a short, sweet romance set during the holidays. So, I fully acknowledge this was my bad.

Eric and Cosmin lived across the street from one another but because Cosmin is older, were never really school friends. This did not stop Eric from crushing on Cosmin, and seeing Cosmin and his boyfriend Maurice making out when he was a teenager was an important point in Eric realizing that perhaps he was not completely straight, but rather bisexual.

Eric became a (divorced) sporadically employed actor while Cosmin is a teacher, writer and radio personality. When Cosmin loses his radio show, he has one final broadcast which he wants to center around his family relationship. When he returns to his family home in Toronto, a huge ice storm strands him and Eric together.

So far, so good. However, as Cosmin uncovers family secrets, there is a lot of reflection about his relationship with his father, his sister, etc. And Eric comes to an understanding about his failed marriage, as well as an unexpected windfall as the result of a chance encounter. I must admit that I struggled with Morton's writing style - at times exasperated by the glacial pace, and then absolutely gobsmacked by the emotional impact of an eventual revelation or understanding.

We get a lot of insight into Cosmin, and Eric, but yet their relationship seems unexamined and I just didn't feel a strong connection to the characters. Also, at times, the book felt dated, with mentions of Cosmin's Blackberry and the radio show vs. a podcast which seems like such a natural fit for his talents. On the whole, the pace of the story did not work well for me and because of this, my feelings about this book may be different than yours. 3.5 stars, and I welcome your comments!

3.5* Not your average Xmas tale - not a romance, but an unexpectedly moving tale.

This is refreshing in the sense that it's not an out-and-out romance or an Xmas tale - there's a token romance that totally didn't work for me, but there's a lot of humanity in it, some wilfully flawed, some unintentionally flawed, and there's healing and hope.

I can't say that I liked the leads or their backstories, and I actually found Cosmin high maintenance and Eric rather fickle, but despite this, I appreciated Cosmin going through his late father's letters and diaries, and realising that he was a chosen child (he'd been adopted) and that he had been very much loved, even if his father hadn't been able to show him or tell him. There were reasons for this other than his father's age, generation and mindset, and it was heart-warming to learn that his father had addressed Cosmin's long-term other as his husband in some clippings he'd cut out and stored. I felt a bit sad that Cosmin only came to the realisation after all his family had passed away, but I think it helped him and it allowed him to help someone in need.

I appreciated, too, how anorexia was portrayed as the awful mental illness it is, gripping a young girl and endangering her life. There was no judgement and her parents weren't shown to be utterly helpless or hopeless and I liked that she began to overcome her illness realistically.

I can't recall a read where I've been less invested in the leads, and yet at the same time, been interested enough to finish the tale - here, it's cos of Cosmin and his Romanian background, and his prickliness and intelligence and him learning to be more human and engage more, when he was already in his 40s. It proved that people can change for the better and be open to change.

ARC courtesy of Carina Press and NetGalley, for my reading pleasure.

An ice storm becomes a perfect opportunity for these two ex-neighbors to spend time together. Getting to know each other become more than they expect, when the attraction they feel for each other start to come to the surface, in this emotional holiday romance.

When Cosmin’s radio show is cancel, he decide to go back to his childhood home, to prepare to give his audience the rightful ending he has dream of. Eric is also back home, when an ice storm hits the city. The neighbors find themselves alone together, and with a mutual attraction too strong to ignore it. When the storm has pass and they can go back to their lives, they can’t stop thinking of each other. Now they have to decide if this chance encounter could become something more, as their feeling for each other start to grow.

It was an unusual holiday romance. Not exactly what I expect, but maybe because of that, I love it. It had a slow pace, but it didn’t make me lose attention any moment. I liked the writing style. I also liked the characters, which were far from perfect, exactly the kind of character I love to read.

The plot was interesting, even if at times felt like it went far from its way and focus a bit more in secondary characters. It didn’t happen often, and the secondary characters mentioned had also captivating stories to tell, so it didn’t bother me at all. I loved how heavy on emotions this book was. It was what I liked the most about it. Most of all, when it center on Cosmin and his father’s relationship. I guess this could be a little troublesome for some readers, especially if they are looking for a feel-good romance.

Erick and Cosmin back stories where enthralling. I was particularly fond on Cosmin, but I loved both of them. I can’t say this was a romantic book. There was a relationship between them, and they do stat having feelings for each other, but I don’t think that was the main subject of the book, even if they do had an amazing chemistry. The few romantic scenes were great. I particularly loved the little gestures. I do think they care for each other and they are getting to love each other. What it lacks on romance, it delivered in emotion. I absolutely love the personal growth they both showed. Overall It was a beautiful book. I really loved reading it.

This M/M novel was not what I expected, since it included much more of a dark emphasis on issues such as grief, adoption, losing jobs, and more. Perhaps I should have paid more attention to the title! There is an age gap between the two main characters, who become stuck in an ice storm in their former neighborhood while each is dealing with life crises that must be resolved before they can come together. This is a thoughtful and serious book with romance in the mix, and while I didn't always enjoy it, I will be interested in what the author does in the future.

Loved, loved, loved. It's a complex, poignant and well written novel that moved me and kept me hooked.
I loved the well developed characters, the tightly knitted plot and the great style of writing.
I was expecting a cozy and light Christmas novel and I got an excellent novel full of emotions.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This book was tricky to review because I did like the plot (this is not a happy book at all) and the concept (well done though a bit too slow for my taste) and ONE of the main characters, Eric, but the other... I didn't liked Cosmin. I didn't like him at all. Reading his POV was not enjoyable for me. The first time he and Eric meet at the bar he was so rude and I get he wasn't feeling well due all what was going on in his life but that was awfulI. I adored Eric, he was amazing and sweet and although some things in his life aren't good he was or tried to be a good guy. I related to him a bit more with his struggles and not feeling worthy rather than with Cosmin. I do admit that I liked how the complement each other and helped each other throughout the book.
Overall even if it was a sad heavy story, it was a beautiful book.

This story was such a delightful surprise! It was not at all what I expected, it was so much MORE, so emotional, melancholic and gripping! Reading the blurb, I imagined that it would be a light and sweet Christmas romance, but Holidays in Blue was very far from that. It was a story about grief, about how to survive the aftermath of lifechanging tragedies and about daring to love again after failed relationships.

Cosmin Tessler is a forty-plus semi-famous radio show host. Intellectual and sophisticated, but lonely. Eric Campell is quite the opposite. A ten years younger bisexual actor, whose marriage to a woman failed brutally and whose actor jobs are drying up. When Cosmin’s radio show is cancelled and Eric’s life has hit rock bottom, they both return to their old childhood homes next to each other. When a massive ice storm hits the city, they end up stranded together and unexpectedly back in each other’s lives again, for Christmas. Despite their difference in age, their long-ago crush and undeniable attraction prove too much to resist…

But the romance part is only one sub plot in this book. The other sub plot, and the one I loved most, was Cosmin’s journey into the past when going through the boxes his recently deceased father had left in the house. Some previous tragedies had left Cosmin and his father on different paths, never quite repairing their relationship. But finding his father’s note books, Cosmin discovered how much his father had loved him but failed to tell or show him when he was alive. He could finally understand the situation behind his own adoption from an orphanage in Romania and see the joy he had brought his adoptive parents who’d been plagued by sadness until then.

There were some truly amazing character developments in this book and I really enjoyed the backstory with the adoption of Cosmin and his sister and the way the family tragedy was described. It was also so emotional and sad to learn how Cosmin and his father had lost each other due to bad communication skills in the aftermath of pain and suffering. This book dealt with a lot of heavy issues, such as grief, loss, anorexia, infidelity, alcoholic problems and denial, in a raw and realistic way. But it was nevertheless a hopeful and encouraging story, showing how we can all find new meanings in life and new people to love. It is never to late, if we just put ourselves out there.

The minor complaints I have are that the pacing was a bit slow at times and that the romance didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped for. At times, Cosmin came across as quite pretentious and as if he was trying to make others feel dumb. His attraction to the younger, not so intellectual, Eric therefore didn’t feel a hundred percent believable. I never felt any deep emotions from Cosmin that would have made me understand what he saw in Eric other than that he was young and attractive. And for Eric, for most parts of the book, it only felt as if he getting a chance to live out his childhood fantasies about the older boy next door, not as if he was really in love with the Cosmin of today, but rather with the image of Cosmin in his dreams.

But I immediately rooted so for Eric, and if Cosmin was who he wanted, then I do not want to stay in the way… Eric truly was a sweetheart, so kind and messed up and gorgeous he just melted my heart.

So, all in all, this was a gripping, cathartic and bittersweet book dealing with important issues, that I highly recommend. And, even though the story takes place during Christmas, it’s not a typical Christmas read, but deserves to be read any time of the year!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin/Carina Press for the ebook copy and the opportunity to read this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review!

Instalove with an age gap and set around Christmas. This isn't your typical chocolate box Christmas book. It's quite dark and gritty.

Je ne reviendrai pas sur l'histoire en elle-même, le résumé présente assez bien les choses même s'il y en a de trop.

J'ai eu du mal à lire cette romance de Noël qui n'en est pas vraiment une. Le truc, c'est qu'il y a trop de choses, trop de thèmes abordés, sans que ce soit exploité à fond.

La romance n'est pas crédible du tout... A un moment, j'ai cru que j'avais loupé des pages mais non. En gros, Cosmin et Eric se sautent presque dessus, alors qu'on y allait gentiment mais sûrement. L'évolution du couple n'est pas développée non plus ensuite.

J'étais plus captivée par les recherches et interrogations de Cosmin sur son adoption et tout ce qui touche à sa famille, en particulier son père, qu'autre chose.

C'est dommage car je pense qu'il y avait matière à beaucoup plus. La plume de l'auteur reste agréable cependant, elle a réussi à créer une ambiance cosy à travers du moins une atmosphère quelque peu pesante du fait des thèmes abordés. (2,5/5)

such a beautiful romance novel

HOLIDAYS IN BLUE is a novel following Cosmin and Eric, neither of who are having the best time, when a storm happens and they get stuck together for a few nights leading up to Christmas.

this one has a rather melancholy and emotional feel to it, especially when it comes to Cosmin's storyline with his father. Cosmin and Eric stay in Cosmin's fathers house during the storm and during that time Cosmin comes across some things of his late fathers that change the tone of their relationship. I really loved this storyline, I thought it was so beautiful and I loved seeing Cosmin start to realise how important he had been to his father and vice versa

I also adored how there was no real relationship conflict or angst. their relationship didn't feel rushed or forced at all, the progression of their feelings came across completely natural to me, and then it just continued on an upward trajectory which was so lovely to see as it's very unusual to read a romance without a big conflict scene.

I think when people hear 'Christmas romance' they often do picture a more cheesy, fluffy romance novel and this is definitely not that. this is a beautiful, emotional, quiet romance that has a lot of heart to it. I enjoyed this one a lot and i'll definitely be reading more from Eve Morton in the future.

The best way I can describe Eve Morton's stunning novel, Holidays in Blue - Deep, haunting, cathartic, engrossing and so real. This is so far away from a light-hearted romance, there is true substance here. Cosmin and Eric's relationship evolves organically, deeply connected in their souls. Simple destiny.

Old journals, final broadcast of a radio show, an ice storm, family loss, a return to- and from the past: so many elements here perfectly woven in to a stirring tale.

Can I say that I hate the (full) title? "Holidays in Blue: A Forced Proximity Christmas" sounds like yet another quick read, M/M Romance stereotype. This book is SO much more.

There is a beautifully poetic, ethereal aesthetic to this story, as told in the words of Eve Morton. I was right there the whole time. I felt it, lived it and loved it. Morton has captured the essence of the human experience through her characters' eyes.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely the most unusual novel I've read in a very long time. I absolutely love what Eve Morton is saying in Holidays in Blue, it's a heartfelt message, beautifully delivered, and written so cleverly it kind of snuck up on me.

These characters... just wow. So unique and deep and interesting and flawed, wonderfully flawed. It was impossible to guess where they'd go next, and Ms. Morton weaves their stories together in the most complex and fascinating way. This one's a winner!

Eve Morton has a stylish way of writing and I'm anxiously awaiting more from this talented author.

This review will be posted on instagram (@soooomanybooks) on 17th November. The review will be uploaded to Goodreads the same day.

Thank you @netgalley, @karinapress and @evemorton for the copy.

Holidays in Blue was my first story that was set at Christmas time. I quite enjoyed the setting and the trope but I have ambivalent feelings.

Holidays in Blue is forced proximity M/M novel. Cosmin and Eric (former childhood neighbours) meet by chance at Cosmin's office Christmas party and then not long after back at their parents' house. When an ice storm hits they are forced to stay put and they only have each other's company.

The story:
I quite liked that this book was mostly an emotional jouney and private growth. We mainly get to see how both characters put their past into new perspective because of their meeting and whirlwind affair.
Cosmin just lost his radio show and with his father's passing over his head he is extremly under the weather.
Eric who works two jobs to remain above water thinks he's a looser and he still tries to figure out what to do.
Their chance meeting is just what they seem to need at the time. And so they spend the icestorm together but what comes after the sky clears reamins hidden for both of them... though they seem to hope for the same thing.

The Characters:
Cosmin's story was quite relatable for me. He's a rather successful teacher/writer/radio show host but he's alone at 44. He is educated and smart, he loves literature and talking about literature. He's also kind of stuck in the past after a family tragedy. His relationship with his father has been distant that bothers him and now that he's gone he feels he's been left without answers.
His journry to grief and letting go was very interesting.

Eric is basically the stellar opposit of Osmin. He's younger, he's an actor, less stuffy but much more insecure.
His failed marrige and career make him feel like a looser and he constantly thinks he's not good enough. The meeting with his teenage crush again after so long brings out memories in him and also he wants nothing more than to help the man who seems stuck in thr past. I liked his personality and how it balanced out Cosmin's quiet resolve.

Both the story and the characters were interesting and kept me reading. I really liked how much the two characters grew individually and together as well.

The ambivalent feelings come from the writing. It was stuffy and boring sometimes. I kept putting down the book to do something else because it was too dry sometimes. But also somehow it managed to describe so many things at the same time. The voices of the characters were fitting and I could see their inner turmoil inside their heads.

All in all, it was a pretty great book. I would've loved some more lightness and ease to the story but the characters development throughout the story made up for the dry writing. And maybe it wouldn't have the same imapct if it was written otherwise.

To put in a few words, Holidays in blue was the sttruggle of minds putting past hurts and mistakes into new light giving a chance to move on to something new and hopeful.

Okay so this was a bit of a surprise for me. I was hoping and expecting a lighter Christmas romance. The problem was that there were many important issues that were brought up, such as adoption, grief, anorexia, infidelity, and loss of job to name a few. It was definitely a heavy and at times sad story. The romance between the two leads was also a bit unbelievable. I loved the idea of two people finding love stranded in an ice storm but I needed more of their relationship to make it believable for me. Overall, I liked the idea of the story.

I received this ARC from the publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.

The netgalley shelf wouldn't work and the book wou
Don't load for me. Great book. I love the cover. I can't use the kindle app due to space