This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
My Review:Title: Christmas Kitsch
Author: Amy Lane
Published by: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: December 7, 2018
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 220
Genres: Contemporary, Holiday, LGBT, Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2022 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2022 COYER Summer, Lenoreo's 2022 Diversity Reading Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:Sometimes the best Christmas gift is knowing what you really want.
Rusty Baker is a rich, entitled, oblivious jock, and he might have stayed that way if he hadn’t become friends with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. When Oliver kisses him goodbye before Rusty leaves for college, Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.
But nothing can help Rusty survive a semester at Stanford, and he returns home for Thanksgiving break clinging to the one thing he knows to be true: Oliver is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
Rusty’s parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. But with Oliver’s love and the help of Oliver’s amazing family, Rusty realizes that failing college doesn’t mean he can’t pass real life with flying rainbow colors.
Second Edition -- First Edition published by Riptide Publishing, December 2013.
4.5 stars — I love it when a book just hits.
There were lots of little things that reminded me strongly of The Locker Room, but not so much that it felt like a regurgitated story — this one was all its own. It was just things like *how* Rusty struggled with his parents neglect…and his feelings about his home and his own worth. That was very reminiscent of Xander for me.
This story was told entirely from Rusty’s POV, and while normally I kill for dual POV, it worked. It was really a lot about Rusty finding himself, figuring out who he was and what he wanted, and then trying to see that through. Occasionally it would have been nice to know what Oliver was thinking, but then again Oliver let you know.
Rusty was such a gentle soul in so many ways — so inherently good and kind. It was hard to see how his soft heart had been molded and shaped in an ugly manner by his parents. It was fantastic to see Oliver and his family help him see that he could reshape his heart. Occasionally I was really frustrated trying to understand Rusty’s thinking — I don’t know if the writing was just a bit convoluted, or if it’s just really hard to get into that mindset. So I became frustrated with his view on things on many occasions. But despite that, I truly loved him and was rooting for him to figure his shiznit out.
Oliver could be a bit bulldozery in some cases, but in general he had the patience of a saint. I loved seeing how Rusty changed him as well.
Oliver’s whole family was just fantastic — what a colourful set of characters. And it wasn’t just Oliver’s family, Rusty’s sister was pretty awesome, and despite the weird start, Rex was pretty fun and sweet too…just…bold.
There were some difficult topics broached in this story, and while nothing was laid out in black and white (which is my preference), I still appreciated those touches.
So yeah. I had a hard time picking a book to read, and I’m really glad I settled on this one. While I don’t always understand everything, Ms. Lane has a habit of creating characters that just get to my heart.
I love it when I manage to find the right book at the right moment for me. Glad it happened for you!