Sometimes Life Just Needs a Little Plaid

Excerpt Thursdays continue with this clip from: A Gift of Ash and Frost.

This short story kept wanting to be longer. The two main characters were fascinating, as were the rest of the men in the household. Perhaps someday I'll get a chance to go back and explore their story further.

Summary: When new residents come to the Grange, Mathias applies for a job at the house and is hired on at the housekeeper’s request for the Christmas season. He finds there a temptation of the body and heart in the form of the house’s master, one that he is ill-equipped to handle or resist … not that he has the desire to do so.

( “Numberless are the world’s wonders, but none more wonderful than man.”  )

The start of the month is always grand as new reviews show up and I get to hear that someone enjoyed one of my stories. That makes my day.

Here's some new ones - please click on the reviewers link for the full review:

Hearts and Flowers:

Reviewed by Brett at Rainbow Reviews - (4 stars)A truly delightful short story and a quick read. As the book title suggests, this story is cute, humorous, and sweet. The only “flaw” by my estimation is the slightly forced and hurried interactions with the therapists the main character goes to see. This is hardly detrimental for the story because of the fast pace and size. A fully enjoyable read that I recommend.

Thank you Brett, I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Reviewed by Whitney at Fallen Angel Reviews - ( Whitney wrote a terrific review and I'm putting it behind the cut so I don't have to cut it ) Thank you so much Whitney!


Whitney was busy this month as she also reviewed A Gift of Ash and Frost ( which I will again put under a cut )

Thank you! Whitney!

I'm pleased to say that elisa_rolle reviewed my two stories that are part of the Dreamspinner Press Advent Calendar .

Here are snips of the reviews and links to the full review:

A Gift of Frost and Ash - Full Review here . - This is one of the best historical gay romance I read lately, my only regret is that it's too short and left me with the desire to read more. and ...As I said the story is really short, 50 pages, but it has a very well developed plot, and Mathias is a well-round character; on the other hand Mr. Mason and the two gentlemen are only hinted, and I would really glad to read more, on how they arrive to live in a isolated country house, even if it's obviously conceivable.

Giving Gifts - Full Review Here . When you find such good characters, you can only say that it's a shame that they leave you so soon

I'm very pleased Elisa enjoyed the stories.

A Gift of Ash and Frost
Buy Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=55_128&products_id=1435

Reviewed by Whitney at Fallen Angel Reviews. 4 Angels This is an engaging read with characters that are well-developed in spite of the shortness of the story. Mathias quickly captures the sympathy and affection of the reader, and although less time is spent with the secondary characters, we still get to know them through Mathias’s eyes. Throughout the story, Mathias repeats his mother’s philosophy: Be careful what you wish for. In the beginning, this is a negative and somewhat self-defeating adage that suggests that reaching for something above one’s station in life will lead to disaster. At the end, however, this takes on an entirely different connotation, as Mathias realizes that being true to himself can actually lead to positive results. Readers picking up A Gift of Ash and Frost should expect an enjoyable experience. This story is well worth the read.

Reviewed by Emily: Full Review here - This is the second story from Chrissy as part of the advent calendar ~ this is quite different from the first story and is just as enjoyable. This is an intense story of a man who has been dealt a difficult hand with his life, more so than you can possibly imagine from the start of the story. As the story progresses, we learn more about Mathias as he discovers things about himself. I love the style this story is written in ~ it pulls you right into the overall setting of the story.

and The story's fast pacing drives toward the exceptionally poignant ending. This is the type of story that I really do feel I need to read numerous times in order to fully digest and appreciate all of it's intricacies and nuances ~ something that I personally love in a story. I really enjoy when each reading can reveal a bit more about the charcters and the underlying design of the story. It is a beautifully written and moving story that I greatly enjoyed and can't wait to read again.

Reviewed by Elisa Rolle - Full Review here. This is one of the best historical gay romance I read [sic] lately, my only regret is that it's too short and left me with the desire to read more."