Good evening my lovely readers,
happy to have you here. I’m so happy to share my release blitz post with you, which includes my review of Amy Aislin’s Christmas Lane, a sweet age-gap (May-December) story where the whole town is in Christmas mood and our main characters Zach and Holland in particular. :3
Read further and you can have a sneak peak of the book with the cool excerpt. And while you’re here, be sure to participate in the giveaway at the end of the post. 🙂 A tremendous prize is awaiting you.
Good luck and happy reading. :3
Christmas Lane by Amy Aislin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
*~~*ARC kindly provided by the author to me in exchange for an honest review *~~*
Age gap, May-December, however you call it, stories with age differences are my jam and whenever I can get one book with it, I’m happy. :3
This story in particular was bittersweet and amazing in equal parts. I really loved how we saw Zach’s interest, his crush for Holland being reciprocated, although it takes its time for the both to accept it – or, more in Holland’s case, he worries the age gap and can’t imagine that Zach has a crush on him.
The moment the both guys are a unit it’s a sweet amazing story. But until it’s this way they have to go through a few misunderstandings and the appearance of Holland’s former lover Mika isn’t making it easy for the growing, gentle and tender relationship – although the more we get to know him, the reader learns a new side of Mike and it’s amazing how the group of people around Holland are also including Zach over the book.
Zach is a really vulnerable, calm and sensitive character. We learn that he isn’t feeling connected with people his age, feels like an outsider and not accepted or – worse – ignored. My heart broke several times when I read about his sadness, about his loneliness and he is such a sensitive guy, you want to wrap him into a blanket and never let him go.
He is – due to several reasons in the past – not overly interested in sex; it isn’t clearly told in the book but with the information the reader gets – Zach is wording his thoughts – , it’s clear Zach is demisexiual and needs a stronger connection to his partner to feel totally fine having a sexual intercourse or any other kind of intimacy. This fits wonderfully to his sensitive character and highlights even more his wish to be the one for someone – to be cared for, to be cherished, to be seen and where he can truly himself, where he can just himself. Holland is all this, and the way Amy Aislin is creating the bond between the two characters is heartwarming and amazing.
I really loved that Holland never tries to force Zach into anything; he is gentle and kind, he listens and he is attentive; he notices when Zach is cold or how he likes his tea – something Zach is taking care of too – and who is slowly learning the quirks and habits of his younger lover.
The book is really a joy and the side characters are a bunch of supportive guys who definitely have their own stories to tell and I can’t wait to read more in the series.
The townsfolk is a group of slightly noisy people but who have the heart at the right place. 😀 Several times in the book I threw my hands into the air because of Zach’s sister’s behaviour or of her friends. Sometimes I was even angry about her but she never acts out of malice but she seems to live in her world.
This book deserves its 5 out of 5 stars. 🙂 If you love stories with a great character development, love age gap stories and have a heart for crafting and seeing characters blooming out in doing their work, this book is totally yours. 🙂
RELEASE BLITZ / REVIEW
Title: Christmas Lane
Series: Lighthouse Bay # 1
Author: Kelly Jensen
Genre: M/M Romance, Contemportary
Release Date: November 29, 2018
Publisher: self published
Length : 65.000 words
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer at Simply Defined Art
Add to you bookshelf:
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PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon Universal Link
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Blurb
It’s recent college graduate Zach Greenfeld’s favorite time of the year and he’s just received a temporary gig planning Lighthouse Bay’s Christmas parade. Not only does it speak to his penchant for organization, it also puts him face to face on a daily basis with his unrequited crush—Holland Stone. But his new job starts off in disaster when the most important float—Santa’s sleigh—gets damaged.
Holland needs to win the Lighthouse Bay Christmas parade float competition in order to grow his new dollhouse-making business. The prize is an article in a major city newspaper, and nothing beats free advertising. Except, eager to help the adorable parade organizer, he volunteers to help fix Santa’s sleigh, leaving no time to work on his own float, and putting his prize at risk.
Damaged floats, snowstorms, and a last-minute parade emergency force Zach and Holland closer than ever. All they need is a little bit of Christmas magic to help them realize they belong together.
Excerpt
Holland dragged a thumb over Zach’s cheek, causing Zach to break out in chills, and lowered his head again.
Zach met him halfway this time, and it was…perfect. Sweet. Disney-channel worthy tame. Just lips against lips and breathing each other in.
Until Holland tilted Zach’s head, slanting their mouths together, and probed at the seam of Zach’s lips with his tongue.
Zach opened, a combination of excited, anxious, and curious. But, to his surprise, Holland didn’t swoop in and take over. He coaxed. He teased. He seduced.
One hand settled at Zach’s lower back, drawing him in, snuggling their bodies close. The other cupped Zach’s neck. He was hard and firm all over and, cocooned in his embrace, Zach had never felt more cherished. And in this one simple act, where Holland held him so carefully and didn’t push and pressure, Zach had never felt more desired.
They were both breathing unsteadily by the time they separated. Holland’s eyes were at half-mast as he swept that damnable thumb over Zach’s wet lower lip. Zach nipped it playfully, and Holland smiled at him.
Bonus content
You ever wanted to know how Holland and Zach look like?
Have a look at this amazing drawing (by Tara Spruit) of the two, being all cozy together.
You also want more stuff? Click this link and you’re directed to the author’s website with lots of bonus stuff for this release. 🙂
Author bio – Amy Aislin
Amy started writing on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class was forced to stay inside for recess. Tales of adventures with her classmates quickly morphed into tales of adventures with the characters in her head. Based in the suburbs of Toronto, Amy is a marketer/fundraiser at a large environmental non-profit in Toronto by day, and a writer by night. Book enthusiast, animal lover and (very) amateur photographer, her interests are many and varied, including travelling, astronomy, ecology, and baking. She binge watches too much anime, and loves musical theater, Julie Andrews, the Backstreet Boys, and her hometown of Oakville, Ontario.
Author links / get in contact
Website
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GIVEAWAY
There is a giveaway in which Amy is giving away a Christmas Lane prize pack, including a signed paperback of Christmas Lane, a personalized Christmas tree ornament, vanilla-flavored loose leaf tea, and a character art print.
Your chance to win *click*
Please note: the giveaway is not sponsored, administered or endorsed by Mikku-chan / A World full of Words.
Blogtour and release blitz hosted by/through A Novel Take PR
Mikku-chan 