LGBT Monday: Winter Wonderland

Author: Heidi Cullinan
Series: Minnesota Christmas, #3
Released: November 10th 2015
Publisher: Samhain
Length: 205 pages
Source: Publisher for review
Buy: Amazon 

Finding Mr. Right can be a snow lot of fun.

Paul Jansen was the only one of his friends who wanted a relationship. Naturally, he’s the last single man standing. No gay man within a fifty-mile radius wants more than casual sex.

No one, that is, except too-young, too-twinky Kyle Parks, who sends him suggestive texts and leaves X-rated snow sculptures on his front porch.

Kyle is tired of being the town’s resident Peter Pan. He’s twenty-five, not ten, and despite his effeminate appearance, he’s nothing but the boss in bed. He’s loved Paul since forever, and this Christmas, since they’re both working on the Winter Wonderland festival, he might finally get his chance for a holiday romance.

But Paul comes with baggage. His ultra-conservative family wants him paired up with a woman, not a man with Logan’s rainbow connection. When their anti-LGBT crusade spills beyond managing Paul’s love life and threatens the holiday festival, Kyle and Paul must fight for everyone’s happily ever after, including their own.

Warning: Contains erotic snow art, toppy twinks, and super-sweet holiday moments. Best savored with a mug of hot chocolate with a dash of spice.

Among the many authors in the M/M genre, both seasoned and new, Heidi Cullinan stands out for the sheer quality of her prose, the deep understanding of her characters and the subtle sense of humor that permeates her every page. All these defining characteristics were present in Cullinan’s earliest work, but as she matures, they become more pronounced and each of her books brings forth a new surprise.

I must confess that I adored the previous two books in this series. For me, they’re a sure sign that Christmas is coming in its full romantic shine. I love romance as much as the next person, but there’s something so special about holiday stories, and especially those that take place around Christmas. After all, we all dream about our very own Christmas miracles and we love to witness them happening to others, fictional or otherwise.

Paul Jansen and Kyle Parks make a very odd pair, but that’s usually true for Heidi’s boys. We remember Paul from the previous two books and we remember that he was not our favorite. But as we learn more about him, some of his past actions become more understandable, if not entirely justified. Paul may seem like a bear on the outside, but he is a delicate, vulnerable, soft-hearted man on the inside. In fact, both of these men crush stereotypes left and right, which is precisely the sort of thing I appreciate. Being Christmas-themed, these books are a bit lighter than Heidi’s usual work, but the overall tone, the characters and everything else can only be described as perfect for the holidays.

Winter Wonderland is a fairly quick read, but that only makes it all the more appealing. It’s easy to reread in winter months and it basically guarantees the same level of delight each time you decide to pick it up. All three books have made it to my ‘comfort reread’ list were they’re sure to stay for many years to come.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.