Beautiful Temptation (So This is Christmas #2) [Blair & Caden] by Christina Lee

Beautiful heart-felt story. I adored both Blair and Caden. They were both in a difficult situation in life and sometimes holidays' cheer isn't what's needed, it's the peace and quiet and sometimes the RIGHT company even if an unexpected one.

Caden Bell needs to figure some things out and though he loves his family he needs the time alone which is why when everyone is away he decides to go to his brother Christopher's beach house saying nothing to anyone. Yet Blair Anderson, Christopher's best friend, has already given Blair the okay to said beach house and when they stumble upon each other they are both reluctant to leave yet not sure about staying together. They might have gotten along great when they were kids (or rather when Caden was a kid) but as teenagers things have changed a bit and though both have secretly kept tubs on one another it's totally different spending this time together when both are in need of solace.

It doesn't take long for them to realize they actually DO get along pretty great. Even if the overly vibrant extroverted life-of-the-party model couldn't be more different than the muscled jock who liked to keep to himself. Yet the compassion Caden shows right from the start towards Blair makes him reluctant to leave even if he would rather stay on his own. After having a heart to heart things change. They both see there is more to each other than they thought or saw before. Blair have been living a very stressful life including drugs and an eating disorder and Caden have broken up with his high-school sweetheart to figure out his own bisexual sexuality.

Beautiful Dreamer (So This is Christmas #1) [Garrett & Rory] by Christina Lee

ADORABLE! This novella was so sweet! I LOVED IT! First, before the romance, I really enjoyed the holiday vibes and nostalgia around it. I don't celebrate Christmas but I loved the whole feeling of this novella. I was a bit like Kate (Rory's girlfriend) getting to know these two families and their traditions, ones they perfected over a lifetime of friendship between them. They might have been apart for the past 6 years but it made no difference once they got together again for the holidays. 

Garrett Coleman and Rory Sweeney have been best friends since they were little, as their mothers are best friends it worked wonderfully. They spend their days playing and having fun together, at times with Rory's older brother Finn. Growing up Garrett idolized Finn and even before he realized he was gay, he was simply fascinated with the guy. His self assurance, charisma, good looks. Yet everything fell apart after his mother was diagnosed with cancer.  Feeling like his whole world was shattered he went partying where he shouldn't have and the guy who came to his rescue - and total embarrassment - was Finn. Being drunk only made thins worse. Ever since then he made his best to ignore Finn. It wasn't difficult. Being in college and helping his family as much as he can during his mother's recovery made it hard to look beyond his personal bubble. Yet now, 6 years later, he is driving to the one place he knows he won't be able to ignore Finn - their family cabin where they spent so many Christmases together.