Company for Christmas


A.E. Ryecart - 2018
     Who says fairy tales are only make-believe? Every night, Nathan works the street known as The Rack. Like every other rent boy, he dreams his Prince Charming will come and take him away to a better life. Too bad Nathan's stopped believing in fairy tales. Max has everything except the one thing he craves: somebody to love, cherish, and protect. Somebody to call his own. When Nathan and Max’s worlds collide on the cold and grimy backstreet, little do they know that Christmas magic has already cast its spell. Maybe fairy tales really can come true after all. Company for Christmas is a 16k novelette. A warm woollen coat instead of a glass slipper, an unconventional found family, an inflatable Father Christmas called Dirty Santa... and the best Company for Christmas ever.

Comfort and Joy


Alexa Land - 2019
     One’s an overly cautious, nerdy workaholic who just can’t seem to loosen up. The other’s a hot, tattooed bar owner who doesn’t take anything very seriously. An undeniable attraction flares between them when they get stuck in a cozy cabin right before the holidays. All too soon though, the storm passes and they’re back out in the real world. There are a million reasons why this should be nothing more than a weekend fling, including the fact that Jed’s life is in San Francisco and Dakota’s is in the Sierras. Plus, Jed’s demanding career doesn’t exactly allow time for a social life. But when something feels so right, can either man just walk away? Or will two total opposites figure out how to make it work, despite all the obstacles in their path? This light-hearted holiday romance is set in the world of Alexa Land’s Firsts and Forever Series. While long-time readers will recognize some familiar faces, this novella can be read as a stand-alone.

Old Acquaintance


Avon Gale - 2015
    But Andrew’s wife leaves him for another man before the ink dries on the contract, leaving Andrew to enjoy the fruits of his labors—and their sprawling, oceanfront home—all alone. Despite being convinced he has nothing much to celebrate, Andrew goes to the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club’s annual New Year's Eve party… and meets Elias Rivas, the young, good-looking server who’s always had his eye on Andrew. It might be the new beginning Andrew didn’t even know he needed. A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2015 Advent Calendar package "Sleigh Ride".

The Douglas Fir


Anyta Sunday - 2013
    A gift that will surprise him, and win his heart.A gift that just might be magic . . .(A contemporary gay romance story)

Once in a Snowstorm


Ofelia Gränd - 2015
    With only three days to Christmas, he doesn't want to be alone. He wants a place to belong, wants people around him who won't look down on him. He might not find all that at his mother's place, but at least it's better than being alone in the city. If he can make it there, that is.Tristan is looking forward to a quiet night in front of the TV, but instead, he has to save an idiot in designer clothes from freezing to death in his forest. Tristan tries not to notice the man's good looks, just like he has tried not to notice any man's good looks for the last seven years. He knows where relationships go and is far better off living alone, with his dog, in his cabin.Aiden is driving Tristan mad with his bratty comments and irresponsible ways, and Aiden is going crazy from Tristan's judgmental attitude. Luckily, in a few days, the weather will clear up, and the two men won't have to be together any longer. But will a few steamy nights with the grumpy lumberjack change Aiden's mind about wanting to leave? And will Tristan still want to go back to his peaceful, predictable life without fear of getting his heart broken?

All I Want


Stella Starling - 2016
    Especially since he gets to work at Chicago’s prestigious Ashby’s department store in “the North Pole,” doing his part to make the magic of Christmas come alive for others.All Bennett “Ash” Ashby wants for Christmas is to forget about it. Unfortunately, his father is forcing him to pay penance for the media frenzy caused by his latest public sex scandal. The Ashby heir, working as a lowly department store Santa? Only the fact that no one will know it’s really him can save Ash the embarrassment of being stuck in a fat suit instead of partying with his friends.But when Elliott catches Ash’s eye, Christmas starts to look a whole lot brighter. And even though Elliott would never have the guts to say yes if he knew who Ash really was, falling for “Ben,” the new Santa, is another story all together…

The Holiday Hookup


Baylin Crow - 2021
    He dresses like it's Casual Friday every day of the week.2. Everyone loves him, even though I'm pretty sure he doesn't actually get any work done. It's the smile, I think. Definitely the laugh.3. He's so relaxed, sometimes I can't even tell if he's awake. Or conscious.4. He doesn't respect my office space boundaries. Stay in your own office and stop messing with my stuff!Okay, the list is actually really long, but none of it matters because it's time for the annual Secret Santa exchange, and guess whose name I draw.Hunter freaking HollidayAnd he knows this because, I repeat, he won't stay out of my office and leave my things alone.Even though I didn't ask, he has no problem telling me exactly what he wants.Me. For one nightThe Holiday Hookup is an MM Christmas short story with high heat and low angst.

Humbug


Joanna Chambers - 2015
    As far as Quin is concerned, Christmas is a giant waste of time. Quin's on the fast track to partnership, and the season of goodwill is just getting in the way of his next big project. But when Quin's boss, Marley, confiscates his phone and makes him take an unscheduled day off, Quin finds himself being forced to confront his regrets, past and present, and think about the sort of future he really wants…and who he wants it with.

The Date


May Archer - 2018
    Nothing in life was guaranteed-perfect, especially not guys... and most definitely not guys in the immediate vicinity of tiny O'Leary, New York. And then sexy Navy SEAL Ash Martin walked into Cal's bakery, and made him wonder if fate might have cooked up something sweet for him after all. Their connection was immediate, all-consuming, and definitely not vanilla... but could their perfect date last for more than just a night, or even a season? Note: This is a 23k word SHORT STORY that first appeared in the Heart2Heart anthology as “The Baker and the SEAL." It has been slightly expanded.

Hopes and Fears


Rowan Speedwell - 2010
    The only real relationship he's ever been in was with the subject of his best-selling book, "Caged," a young man held hostage for five years. Unfortunately, it was entirely one-sided, since Zach was already involved with someone else.So the last thing Brian expects when he goes in for treatment for an injured knee is to develop feelings for his physical therapist. But Jerry seems intent on either avoiding Brian or demanding more than he is willing to give, and Brian doesn’t know if he has the courage to face his past to forge a future.

Sergeant Delicious


Annabeth Albert - 2020
    But stationed far from home, he’s lonely and homesick for more than just his favorite foods. Thinking ahead to his homecoming, he responds to an ad seeking a date for a special gourmet dinner, but he doesn’t anticipate an immediate connection with the intriguing foodie who placed the ad. Food writer Damien is looking for his big break, and reviewing an uber-exclusive secret restaurant may be exactly what he needs if he can score a date to go with him. He doesn’t expect to enjoy corresponding with Xavier quite so much, nor is he prepared for his powerful surge of lust for the hot marine. However, Damien’s had more than his share of bad luck when it comes to romance, but Xavier is determined to win Damien over. Course-by-course, they fall deeper into like. When they finally give into their passion, sparks fly. But is it a flash in the pan or the recipe for lasting love? Sergeant Delicious was originally published in the Heart2Heart anthology and has been expanded with a new bonus spicy epilogue. It’s a stand-alone foodie novella with sweet, low-angst feels and a quirky Oregon setting with a dash of military romance flavor.

The Holly Groweth Green


Amy Rae Durreson - 2017
    Lost in the Hampshire countryside on a snowy Christmas Eve, Laurence stumbles across lonely Mistletoe Cottage and its owner: Avery. Avery is bright and beautiful, welcoming Laurence to his home with warmth and joy. But Laurence can’t stay forever, and Avery’s secrets mean he can never leave. When everything goes wrong, it’s up to Laurence to find a way to secure a happy-ever-after for their midwinter fairy tale.

Gingerbread Spiced Daddy


Leona Windwalker - 2020
    I’ve screwed up in every single department they put me to work in back at the Pole. Assigned to the general labor pool to do whatever grunt work of the day that’s needed, I was just handed the joy of going into the human world to serve as a candy cane patrol monitor at a shopping mall Santa’s grotto for the whole of this holiday season. It’s depressing as all get out, seeing all of those loved up couples and happy families enjoying the festive atmosphere while I go back to the crappy motel room I share with another failure of an elf. Is it too much to ask to have someone of my own to cuddle up with in front of a roaring fire and have sexy times with next to the Christmas tree? That’s when I see him, a breathcatchingly handsome man standing there in line, holding his kid’s hand, naturally. Still, I can dream, right? He looks just like my ideal notion of the perfect Daddy. Cliff I don’t know how I let myself get talked into taking my niece Laurette to go see Santa. Okay, yes, I do. I made the mistake of telling my sister that I was going out to do some personal Christmas shopping, pick up the gift baskets my boss ordered for our department heads, and to order the decorated giant cookie for the staff Christmas party. As soon as she realized I would be stopping at the mall, that was all she wrote. So, here I am, standing in line wearing the Santa hat Laurette insisted I wear, wondering just what the hell that guy in the elf costume handing out candy canes to the kids as they leave is staring at. He better not be some weirdo thinking about trying to get Laurette alone later or snatching her from the parking lot or something. No, wait, it's me he's looking at. I know I look ridiculous in this hat and it doesn’t go with my leather jeans and bike jacket but he looks pretty stupid too in those small shorts, striped tights, and let’s not forget his elf hat which has bells on it. Bells! Gingerbread Spiced Daddy is a Christmas romance following one Winter Elf fresh from the North Pole as he finds his HEA in the human world over the holiday season thanks to a little magic called love.

Counting Fence Posts


Kelly Jensen - 2016
    Henry Auttenberg likes numbers—it’s his job—but he isn’t going to count them all, even if the view outside the rental car is less confounding than the driver, his attractive but oh so obnoxious colleague, Marcus Winnamore. It’s Christmas Eve, and Henry would much rather be home with his family. When the blizzard that grounded their flight forces them off the road, however, he’s stuck with Marc until the storm passes—or a plow digs them out.As the temperature outside plummets, the atmosphere inside the car slowly heats up. Henry learns the true reason for Marc’s chilly distance—he’s not exactly straight… maybe… and he’s been fantasizing about Henry’s mouth, among other things. Confession laid out, Marc is all for sharing body heat… and more. Henry isn’t interested in being an experiment, but as the night and cold deepen, he could be convinced to balance certain risk against uncertain reward.

Krampus Hates Christmas


Andi Van - 2016
    He was born to be Krampus, but the Holiday Council refuses to let him help his brother Nick—aka Santa Claus—with the Naughty List until he finds his holiday spirit. To meet that challenge, he’s turned human and dumped in a strange apartment. Lewis Weatherby loves the holidays and always has. Not only do his parents own a pumpkin patch and tree farm, he’s also inherited a Christmas-themed shop. All he wants from Santa is the man of his dreams, and the Big Guy might’ve just delivered. Lewis’s new neighbor Karl is gorgeous, sweet, and has a fantastic sense of humor—if his jokes about being Krampus are any indication. Soon getting home is less important to Karl than what will happen when Lewis inevitably realizes the truth behind his jokes. He’s finally starting to understand the real joy of the season—now he just has to figure out how to hold on to it.