A big city boy back in the small town during the holidays, an unfortunate turn of events, and a run-in with his high school crush?!

SAY LESS! Amirite? Honestly this book has a lot of the fun romance and holiday tropes, and I ate it up. Definitely a cute, queer (quete?!) holiday romance you need to add to your festive TBR! *ahem forced proximity trope*

4/5 Stars

**Gifted by Netgalley & Entangled: Brazen - thank you! All opinions are my own.

A car accident on the way back to his hometown for a quick visit finds him face to face with the hot Police officer. What will happen when he discovers his best friends younger brother is the hot officer who is not the same pestering younger brother he remembers from his childhood days.

Max Robertson returns to Edgewood for a Christmas visit with his best friend while work demands should've kept him in the city. What will happen when he tries to please everyone?

This M/M slow burn brings holiday cheer when they both discover they have more in common than they ever realized.

Hot cocoa, holiday cheer and a bit of spice make the season so much fun!

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day. This one took by surprise!

Like a steamy Hallmark holiday movie, this book had all the snow, all the small town angst, and all the happy endings. Not to mention quite a bit of steamy sex.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

The best way to describe this book is Hallmark with some steam. It is soft and sweet and a great holiday book.

Dominic has always had a crush on Max, his brother's best friend. When Max has to come back to his hometown he is surprised that the townspeople are happy to see him, but he's especially happy to reconnect with Dominic.

This was such a cute, cheery romance! Both characters had some serious issues they were dealing with but they were dealt with in a very lighthearted way, which is exactly what I am looking for in Christmas time romances. The characters had plenty of depth, as did the story, without weighing the book down. With the addition of Hal(Dominics's brother and Max's best friend) and his family, this made for a very heartwarming winter read.

A very lovely book between the characters. Easy read of relationship. ............................................. ..........................................................................

This is my first book by Cari Z and I really enjoyed this holiday story. A best friend’s little brother/unrequited love romance featuring a small town police officer and a big city attorney originally from that small town. As this was a novella the relationship moved at a rapid pace and while I would have loved to have more time with them as their relationship grew, I still enjoyed every minute of this story.

Max has just landed the client that more than likely get him the corner office and a big promotion right before he must return to the small town where his family imploded to spend the holidays with his best friend, Hal, and his two daughters whose mother left for no reason. The last thing he needs when he has to be back to NYC on Monday is sliding into a snow bank and wrecking his car, but the hot cop Dominic that rolls up to rescue him might make this trip interesting until he gets to Hal’s home and realizes Dominic his Hal’s little brother, “Nicky.”

The attraction between Max and Dominic was evident from the start and it was cute how Dominic was so easily flustered at first. They had some obstacles being they lived in different places and led very different lives, but they also had a pretty strong bond from the start.

A fairly uncomplicated, easy to read, sweet yet sexy romance; His Holiday Crush was a treat to read.

I enjoyed this holiday romance story. The chemistry between Max and Nicky was immediate and their connection felt easy from the beginning. I liked the play on the best friend's sibling trope especially with Nicky having a childhood crush on Max and recognizing him immediately, while Max felt the initial attraction to Nicky without realizing he was his best friend's little brother. I also enjoyed the interactions with Hal and his children. This was a quick read which I really enjoy when it comes to holiday romances. I can see myself reading it again next year.

I am so here for queer romances getting the Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movie treatment. Give me all the tropes, give me all the clichés, gimme gimme gimme!

Max has a shot at a big promotion at his fancy New York law firm, but his best friend Hal invites him back to the small town he left ten years ago for Christmas. It's an offer Max can't refuse, especially not once Hal's adorable daughters call Max to make sure he's definitely coming. Reluctant to spend much time in a place that holds few good memories and with a boss pushing him to prove he deserves that promotion, Max decides to make it a one-day visit, just long enough to support Hal and the girls after their mother walked out on them. But then Max crashes his car during a snow storm and he has to get rescued by the handsome Dominic, a local cop and, as it turns out, Hal's younger brother. Suddenly, the idea of being stuck in town for a little bit longer doesn't seem like such hardship.

This was a short and sweet romance. I like the best friend's sibling trope in general and it was done perfectly here, without too much posturing by Hal. Same with the unrequited crush trope, since Dominic used to have a crush on Max back in high school. Combined with the small-town setting, this story was as close to perfect as it could get for me. I liked that both Max and Dominic have emotional baggage that they are dealing with and the open way they talked about their issues. It made the characters more realistic, moving them away from the flat character trap.

It's just such a shame that it was so short. The story really could have benefited from being fleshed out a bit more. It feels very insta-love, despite Max and Dominic's history, partly because the point is made several times that Max doesn't see Dominic as Hal's younger brother Nicky. Combined with them thinking of the other as 'the one' after barely a week together, it all feels a little bit rushed.

This was a cute easy read. No drama or angst, just 2 guys falling in love over the holidays after getting stranded together. Cold nights and warm hands does a body good.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. Pretty decent holiday read, though a bit predictable.

I unfortunately couldn't finish this book until after the holidays but it was still such a sweet and enjoyable romance. So happy there are so many more queer holiday romances than their used to be! And this one especially is sure to delight.

This is the kind of holiday story I enjoy and it definitely served its purpose for me. It was fun and entertaining. It had great secondary characters and two MCs that shared amazing chemistry and an undeniable connection. I liked both characters individually, but I loved them even more together. I especially enjoyed the fact that Max and Dominic weren't in the market for love, but they fell hard for each other and ultimately allowed themselves the chance to explore it further.

All in all, a sweet, fun story with nice steamy moments to make it even more of a treat to read.

His Holiday Crush is a cute and very readable Christmassy romance about a workaholic lawyer who reluctantly returns to the hometown he’d intended never to go back to one Christmas, and finds love where he least expected it. It’s well written and the characters are likeable; it was a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours, but it’s nothing I haven’t read before.

Lawyer Max Robertson has had little time in his life for anything other than work for years, and is on the verge of closing the deal that will make his career. For the first time in years he’s agreed to go back to Edgewood – just for for Christmas; normally his best friend Hal and his family visit Max in New York, but Hal’s wife walked out on him and their two young daughters a few months back, and as this will the girls’ first Christmas without their mom, Max agreed to visit them instead. But as Christmas approaches, he starts to wish he hadn’t said he’d go, and he tries to wriggle out of it; he can’t and in the end, he decides he’ll go but will stay for only one night, telling himself it’s because he has to get back to the city in order to finish the fine-tuning on the deal.

Fate has other ideas however, as a snow storm hits as he’s on the road on the outskirts of town, and when he swerves to avoid a deer in the road, he spins out of control and ends up in a ditch. He’s not badly hurt and manages to call 911; not long afterwards a local police officer arrives to help him; Max fails to recognise the officer as Hal’s younger brother Dominic, who returned home six months earlier after his stint in the army.

Dominic had a big crush on Max when they were younger, and seeing him again – gorgeous and sexy AF – that crush comes roaring back to life. Dominic is a bit dismayed that Max doesn’t recognise him straight away, although he supposes it’s not surprising since they’ve not see each other for years – and is even more surprised when Max appears to be… flirting with him? When Hal arrives and introduces the hot cop who rescued Max as his little brother, Max is stunned. Pleasantly. Who knew the kid who used to trail around after him and Hal would grow up to be so hot?

With Max’s car out of commission until repairs can be made, he’s going to have to stay in Edgewood over Christmas, which naturally gives him a chance to reconnect with Dominic as well as with Hal and the girls – and causes him to start reassessing his choices.

Although, as I’ve said, this is a story I’ve read lots of times before, it’s nicely done and well written, the leads have great chemistry and there are some engaging secondary characters, notably Hal and his two daughters, who read like actual children rather than plot-moppets. I appreciated the absence of the ‘don’t mess with my younger sibling’ message that so often crops up with this trope; Hal is fully supportive of Max and Dominic getting together, particularly as he knows Dominic hasn’t had it easy since returning home (he has PTSD, for which he’s receiving treatment) and thinks he deserves to have something good in his life. Hal’s soon-to-be ex-wife is all but demonised for most of the book though, which I found a little uncomfortable. All we know about her is that she just up and left and abandoned her kids, and it’s not until much later that we get a chance to see that maybe there’s more to it. I understand that it would have been difficult to explore that further given the story is told from Max and Dominic’s points of view and not Hal’s, but things there could have been a little more nuanced.

For all its predictability, this is an easy and engaging read. The romance is a bit insta-love-y, but I liked that Max and Dominic allow themselves to be vulnerable around each other, and the care Max shows Dominic in bed (teaching him there’s more to sex than a quick pump and dump!). On the downside, I didn’t really buy the reasons behind Max’s dislike of his home town, and Dominic’s reaction to the conflict near the end is really over the top.

That said, if you’re looking for a low-angst, Hallmark-esque, small-town romance that makes good use of its tropes, and has enough heat to keep you warm on a cold winter’s afternoon, His Holiday Crush might just fit the bill.

C+ / 3.5 stars

*2.5 stars*

My rating might seem a little harsh for a generally non-offence, cute Christmas story, but I could barely keep my attention on it, and after a week of reading it in pieces, I finally forced myself to finish.

I usually can't get enough of holiday romances, but it's taking something really special to hold my interest during these Covid times. I need that rush, that huge spark, that hook to draw me in. His Holiday Crush felt a little predictable and bland.

I like Cari Z., and I've read a bunch of her work, but His Holiday Crush felt a bit done before. I swear I've read many similar books, both of the MF and MM variety, and the gay Lifetime movie I watched recently was even kind of similar. I need something more to keep my attention these days.

I think if you want a story with lots of content with secondary characters (kids, especially), and a "big city boy comes back to his hometown" kind of romance, this book might suit your mood. It's not a bad book by any means, just not something that could squeeze my heart and keep me reading all night.

shrugs

This was so cute and just what I need for a Christmas read!

Both characters in this are adorable and I rooted for them to get together from the start. Max is a workaholic attorney trying to get a promotion. He goes back to his hometown for the first time in a decade and ends up stuck for Christmas. Dominic "Nicky" is a veteran with PTSD trying to help his newly single brother with his daughters while overcoming his own issues.

I liked that Max and Nicky clicked right away and didn't take long to start something. Nicky had a crush on Max growing up and now that they're both adults, it's time to make it real. Both guys are so great with the girls and it was incredibly sweet. They would be excellent dads and play off each other well. The chemistry was well done, the romance scenes were steamy and fun, and I thought this was just a great read overall!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughts: This book was just so sweet! I adored the friendship between Max and Hal, and I loved how Max cared so much for Hal's two little girls and wanted to be there for them during Christmas. He gets more than he bargained for when he crashes his car on the outskirts of town and ends up being rescued by Hal's younger brother, Dominic. Dominic's childhood crush on Max is still very much intact, and as the two spend more time together they find they can't deny their mutual attraction. <spoiler>And Hal was totally here for it, which I absolutely loved!</spoiler> The dynamic between Hal and Max is too cute, and the way Dominic and Max take care of the girls was an adorable additional element. The chemistry between Dominic and Max was amazing yet so tender at the same time. There are some heavy topics weaved into the story - divorce, alcoholism, PTSD, to name a few - but none are delved into too deeply so they don't bring the mood of the story down at all. That sounds cold and callous, but my point is that this is meant to be a holiday romance and therefore the author clearly was trying to keep things light despite the heavier issues that people have to deal with in real life. All in all, I thought this was a cute, light-yet-serious-at-times holiday romance that was perfect for reading next to the Christmas tree or a warm fire.

***Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.***

I thought the cover of this book was adorable, so naturally I requested an ARC of it - look, I'm a little shallow, ok? I'm glad I did, because this is a feel-good holiday story, the sibling's-best-friend-trope equivalent of a cup of hot cocoa.

Despite last minute work for landing a client that'll finally get him to make partner at his NYC law firm, Max gets guilt-tripped into visiting his recently divorced best friend, Hal, and his daughters for Christmas in the small town they grew up in. He only intends to stay for a day or so, but a snow bank - and a hot police officer - cause a change of plans. Dominic, Hal's younger brother, had a crush on Max back in high school, and seeing him again - after rescuing him from that snow bank - only rekindles those feelings. But Max has avoided his hometown for very good reasons, and he has no plans on staying. Will a Christmas fling leave them both broken-hearted, or is this instead a little bit of Christmas magic?

“Hal was my best friend, a huge part of my past and hopefully a huge part of my future, and he and the girls undoubtedly needed all the support they could get right now. But was I considering the idea because of them or because of recent developments involving a gorgeous man and orgasms?”


Both main characters had their own reasons for avoiding a relationship. Dominic's an army vet and a small-town cop, and neither career has really lent itself to him having a real relationship. Max is a complete workaholic, but once he arrives back in town, he morphs into a much happier person, happily building a snow family with the girls and making commemorative raccoon sandwiches for Dominic (after they have to scare a family of raccoons out of Dominic's construction-zone-aka-house). They initially bond over helping take care of Hal's girls, through making grilled cheese sandwiches and snowmen families. But there's a definite spark between them, and once they start exploring that, it changes the dynamics between them and makes Max start wondering if there's more to life than making partner. While this is a best friend's sibling trope book, Hal fully encourages the relationship, which I appreciated. Hal and the girls were fun side characters, and I enjoyed seeing how both main characters interacted with them.

As for cons, I wasn't crazy over how they talked about Hal's ex-wife or how she figured into the bleak moment. At one point, a character mentions off-hand that she was struggling with depression, but the book never really explores that. I'm not saying that negates the fact that she up and left her kids, but as a mom who struggles with her own mental health, I felt a lot more compassion for her than any of the other characters seemed to. Continuing with the family theme, I did like how Max's relationship with his father was handled and that there was no magic reconciliation. Max had very valid reasons for being reluctant to come back home, mostly due to his father, and I thought they were thoughtfully explored. Dominic's half of the story, however, seemed to suffer in comparison.

I'd give this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I'm a complete sucker for holiday novels.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The last line of the synopsis is not quite how it happens...laugh. It is actually better in the book. Cari Z writes one heck of a love story. I think what I appreciate about His Holiday Crush the most is the honesty. Sometimes real-life sucks and Cari Z balances that with an unexpected romance for both men.

Max has his own reasons for not wanting to go back home and they are legit. BUT and it is a big “but” here, sometimes we allow the ugliness of the past to let us forget some of the good things and Max gets to experience a re-awakening of sorts.

Dominic...ahhh Dom...I just crush on him. I am veteran with PTSD too and man I connect with Dominic. It is not easy living with war especially when you end up with part of it inside you. The adaptations you have to make to live your new life. Z displays this with incredible depth and sensitivity.

His Holiday Crush is also about family. The family you make when everything else hits the skids. Now I will confess that Steph is my favorite. I automatically want to hug both kids close, but especially Steph. I love the dynamic of everyone forging together to make the family work.

It’s Christmas time so there is romance too. What seals the deal for me and this book is when Max brings up his attraction to Dominic to Hal right away before something happens. Bro-code. I have so much respect for Max and Z for writing this type of communication. No subterfuge happens, just honest communication and respect.

His Holiday Crush has a little bit of everything and a happy ending. Put this romance on your reading list.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.