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heresthepencil's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
If you're looking for a sweet little thing to warm you up just in time for Christmas, A Special Delivery is it. The story doesn't bother with conflict, with unexpected turns of events, with dark secrets - it's all just the loving fuzziness of late December. There's something magical in blanketing yourself with that coziness, essentially just a feeling of being kept safe & sound.
The blurb tells you everything you need to know plot-wise, but no one would go into this story expecting surprises. What the reader is waiting for are the Tropes. And oh boy, is there an abundance of them here and are they all lovely. Cooking together? Check. Playing with dogs? Check. Hot chocolate? Check. Talking by the fire? Check. Cozying up because of the snow? CHECK! Every little thing that comes to mind when you picture a night before Christmas Eve - happens.
What the story could benefit from, though, is some more words. Because it's really short and while that in itself isn't really a flaw, a few more pages would allow us to connect with the characters more. As it is, we only get a vague outline of the guys, more of a promise than actual people. It works. But it could work better.
All in all, it was an adorable treat to go with the hot chocolate I had tonight. A heartwarming and very seasonal tiny piece.
If you're looking for a sweet little thing to warm you up just in time for Christmas, A Special Delivery is it. The story doesn't bother with conflict, with unexpected turns of events, with dark secrets - it's all just the loving fuzziness of late December. There's something magical in blanketing yourself with that coziness, essentially just a feeling of being kept safe & sound.
The blurb tells you everything you need to know plot-wise, but no one would go into this story expecting surprises. What the reader is waiting for are the Tropes. And oh boy, is there an abundance of them here and are they all lovely. Cooking together? Check. Playing with dogs? Check. Hot chocolate? Check. Talking by the fire? Check. Cozying up because of the snow? CHECK! Every little thing that comes to mind when you picture a night before Christmas Eve - happens.
What the story could benefit from, though, is some more words. Because it's really short and while that in itself isn't really a flaw, a few more pages would allow us to connect with the characters more. As it is, we only get a vague outline of the guys, more of a promise than actual people. It works. But it could work better.
All in all, it was an adorable treat to go with the hot chocolate I had tonight. A heartwarming and very seasonal tiny piece.
breadedbookpages's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy of this story from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This story includes: a very cute dog, a misplaced delivery, getting snowed in, proximity putting two men in one space, sparks being there but very subtle. This story gave me such a homey feel. Also, I love that they bonded over books. I love bookworms in books.
This story includes: a very cute dog, a misplaced delivery, getting snowed in, proximity putting two men in one space, sparks being there but very subtle. This story gave me such a homey feel. Also, I love that they bonded over books. I love bookworms in books.
hartd's review against another edition
2.0
This is a nice set of moments, but it isn't really a story. There is no conflict, which does not usually bother me, but there's no real moment of connection either, just a couple of characters who kind of like each other and somehow end up together.
There's so much missing. In one of the first scenes, Colin's dog gets a little aggressively affectionate with James, and James laughs. But Colin doesn't react to James laughing. More importantly, who is Colin? What does he want out of life? Are he and James suited well to each other? I don't know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
There's so much missing. In one of the first scenes, Colin's dog gets a little aggressively affectionate with James, and James laughs. But Colin doesn't react to James laughing. More importantly, who is Colin? What does he want out of life? Are he and James suited well to each other? I don't know. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
cadiva's review against another edition
3.0
This is a short short story but it still manages to lay down a cute MM 'accidental' meeting romance between two guys at Christmas.
When Colin gets an incorrectly delivered parcel he sets out to return it to its rightful owner and meets James. Then the snows come down and force them to spend a pleasant night together (no sexy times though).
It's very sweet, no steam at all, which actually works for the fairly gentle nature of the narrative. I felt their connection was genuine and the epilogue believable. Also cute dog involved.
#ARC received from the publishers Nine Star Press as part of the 2017 Holiday series in return for an honest and unbiased review.
When Colin gets an incorrectly delivered parcel he sets out to return it to its rightful owner and meets James. Then the snows come down and force them to spend a pleasant night together (no sexy times though).
It's very sweet, no steam at all, which actually works for the fairly gentle nature of the narrative. I felt their connection was genuine and the epilogue believable. Also cute dog involved.
#ARC received from the publishers Nine Star Press as part of the 2017 Holiday series in return for an honest and unbiased review.
giorgina_serron's review against another edition
3.0
SINOPSIS EN ESPAÑOL:
Colín solamente pretendía llevar un paquete que le habían entregado por error a un par de casas de la suya. Pero una tormenta de nieve no le deja más opción que aceptar refugiarse con el desconocido James. Durante el transcurso de una larga noche, un fuego crepitante, un chocolate caliente y la nieve del exterior conspiran un poco para acercar a los dos hombres. Pero ¿Durará su conexión más que la tormenta?
Un libro ideal para el verano, corto, simple y entretenido.
En esta novela la autora busca hablar sobre el mensaje original de la navidad: amor, paz, evitar la soledad, etc.
La historia es muy dulce, no hay problemas ni nada inesperado. Una historia simple, que entretiene y todo es felicidad, de principio a fin.
No soy de leer romances pero admito que este pequeño libro de 26 páginas me compró desde la sinopsis tan encantadora que nos da la autora.
Puede que la historia quede un poco corta y no se conozcan a los personajes en profunidad pero siento que no está mal ya que encaja con los mensajes de navidad. En este caso los protagonistas se ayudan mutuamente, Colin que devuelve el paquete mal entregado y James que le da alojo al muchacho para que pueda pasar la tormenta en un lugar seguro.
Como esta no aminora en ningún momento ambos deberán compartir hogar y socializar entre ellos. Esto también incluye al perro de Colin, Anubis.
A partir de este primer encuentro se produce una atracción (que no es lo mismo que un instalove) y Colin decide que invitará a James para tener una cita, algún día.
Por ello la historia me atrajo tanto, quería ver como se manejaba lo romántico en tan pocas páginas sin caer en los clichés de siempre o el instalove básico que ya estoy harta de ver.
Colín solamente pretendía llevar un paquete que le habían entregado por error a un par de casas de la suya. Pero una tormenta de nieve no le deja más opción que aceptar refugiarse con el desconocido James. Durante el transcurso de una larga noche, un fuego crepitante, un chocolate caliente y la nieve del exterior conspiran un poco para acercar a los dos hombres. Pero ¿Durará su conexión más que la tormenta?
Un libro ideal para el verano, corto, simple y entretenido.
En esta novela la autora busca hablar sobre el mensaje original de la navidad: amor, paz, evitar la soledad, etc.
La historia es muy dulce, no hay problemas ni nada inesperado. Una historia simple, que entretiene y todo es felicidad, de principio a fin.
No soy de leer romances pero admito que este pequeño libro de 26 páginas me compró desde la sinopsis tan encantadora que nos da la autora.
Puede que la historia quede un poco corta y no se conozcan a los personajes en profunidad pero siento que no está mal ya que encaja con los mensajes de navidad. En este caso los protagonistas se ayudan mutuamente, Colin que devuelve el paquete mal entregado y James que le da alojo al muchacho para que pueda pasar la tormenta en un lugar seguro.
Como esta no aminora en ningún momento ambos deberán compartir hogar y socializar entre ellos. Esto también incluye al perro de Colin, Anubis.
A partir de este primer encuentro se produce una atracción (que no es lo mismo que un instalove) y Colin decide que invitará a James para tener una cita, algún día.
Por ello la historia me atrajo tanto, quería ver como se manejaba lo romántico en tan pocas páginas sin caer en los clichés de siempre o el instalove básico que ya estoy harta de ver.
tanouska's review against another edition
4.0
Short but sweet :) Could have easily read a few more k of this, even though it does feel complete.
(I bought a few books/short stories from the winter-holidays-collection that 9starpress made, which I found because a friend of mine wrote one of them, so expect a few more fluffy wintery romance stories in my reviews in the coming weeks :P )
(I bought a few books/short stories from the winter-holidays-collection that 9starpress made, which I found because a friend of mine wrote one of them, so expect a few more fluffy wintery romance stories in my reviews in the coming weeks :P )
digthewriter's review
3.0
3.5 rounded down.
I've struggled with my review for this story for a while, especially given that the e-book was provided to me by the author for a fair and honest review.
To be completely honest, I found the writing to be a bit pedestrian. It's a feel-good story about two strangers that are in different points in their life, how they connect, and end up sharing a holiday together. It's sweet.
I didn't realize there was no sex in this story (ha!) and I didn't miss it.
I did miss a bit of background. I couldn't tell where the story was taking place. Sometimes I thought it was in the US, but then the lingo and dialogue made me think otherwise. Where were Colin's parents? Why were they living in another country and the epilogue sort of glossed over some questions that could have been answered.
I liked that James wasn't so black and white. He was hot and hunky and even if this was an insta!love story of sorts, it didn't make me wanna gag. I also felt like the appeal of the books and the big library was really an idea more being shoved down my throat than anything else. Like the author was struggling to make the MCs interesting so it was like "hey, they like books. We all read right? That's what makes them interesting!"
There were times when I felt like the dog was even bored with these two.
It's been over a week since I read the story and I can't remember what Colin does for a living. I think James works a lot — I got that. Basically that and that his family was supportive of him being gay.
The things that jumped out to me and that I still remember is the first kiss they shared. I thought it was done well, and finally, I thought Colin had grown a bit of spine.
All in all, this was a bit of scattered brain ideas trying to fit into 8000 words and it made me feel like a lot of it could have been taken out. Or that it needed to be 16000 words instead. It was good enough that it made me wish this was a full-fleshed out book with background, and the ex coming back, and it could still be fluff and happiness, without random information that led nowhere.
I've struggled with my review for this story for a while, especially given that the e-book was provided to me by the author for a fair and honest review.
To be completely honest, I found the writing to be a bit pedestrian. It's a feel-good story about two strangers that are in different points in their life, how they connect, and end up sharing a holiday together. It's sweet.
I didn't realize there was no sex in this story (ha!) and I didn't miss it.
I did miss a bit of background. I couldn't tell where the story was taking place. Sometimes I thought it was in the US, but then the lingo and dialogue made me think otherwise. Where were Colin's parents? Why were they living in another country and the epilogue sort of glossed over some questions that could have been answered.
I liked that James wasn't so black and white. He was hot and hunky and even if this was an insta!love story of sorts, it didn't make me wanna gag. I also felt like the appeal of the books and the big library was really an idea more being shoved down my throat than anything else. Like the author was struggling to make the MCs interesting so it was like "hey, they like books. We all read right? That's what makes them interesting!"
There were times when I felt like the dog was even bored with these two.
It's been over a week since I read the story and I can't remember what Colin does for a living. I think James works a lot — I got that. Basically that and that his family was supportive of him being gay.
The things that jumped out to me and that I still remember is the first kiss they shared. I thought it was done well, and finally, I thought Colin had grown a bit of spine.
All in all, this was a bit of scattered brain ideas trying to fit into 8000 words and it made me feel like a lot of it could have been taken out. Or that it needed to be 16000 words instead. It was good enough that it made me wish this was a full-fleshed out book with background, and the ex coming back, and it could still be fluff and happiness, without random information that led nowhere.
cadiva's review
3.0
This is a short short story but it still manages to lay down a cute MM 'accidental' meeting romance between two guys at Christmas.
When Colin gets an incorrectly delivered parcel he sets out to return it to its rightful owner and meets James. Then the snows come down and force them to spend a pleasant night together (no sexy times though).
It's very sweet, no steam at all, which actually works for the fairly gentle nature of the narrative. I felt their connection was genuine and the epilogue believable. Also cute dog involved.
#ARC received from the publishers Nine Star Press as part of the 2017 Holiday series in return for an honest and unbiased review.
When Colin gets an incorrectly delivered parcel he sets out to return it to its rightful owner and meets James. Then the snows come down and force them to spend a pleasant night together (no sexy times though).
It's very sweet, no steam at all, which actually works for the fairly gentle nature of the narrative. I felt their connection was genuine and the epilogue believable. Also cute dog involved.
#ARC received from the publishers Nine Star Press as part of the 2017 Holiday series in return for an honest and unbiased review.
apostrophen's review
3.0
This was a meet-cute/stranded holiday story that was fun and fluffy, plus bonus doggy content for the puppy-lovers among the readers. It's a gentle little story about two men "clicking" in a snowstorm, and it's like hot chocolate after a cold slog through the snow: sweet, warm, and goes down easy.
solly's review
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up.
I read a whole (short) story in Spanish for the first time in years! I didn't struggle as much as I thought I would! Yay!!!
This was a very cute snowed-in short story. The MC receives a package that is not his and decides to give it back to its owner but (oh no!!) guts caught in the storm and has to stay the night at the handsome stranger's house.
I think if I had read it in English I would have had wanted this to be longer, but as it was my first read in Spanish in a WHILE I was very glad that it was as short and sweet and easy to read as it was.
Cute but quick romance, cute characters, and a cute dog called Anubis!!
(I guess thank you, story, for being a part of my renewed determination to become properly trilingual)
I read a whole (short) story in Spanish for the first time in years! I didn't struggle as much as I thought I would! Yay!!!
This was a very cute snowed-in short story. The MC receives a package that is not his and decides to give it back to its owner but (oh no!!) guts caught in the storm and has to stay the night at the handsome stranger's house.
I think if I had read it in English I would have had wanted this to be longer, but as it was my first read in Spanish in a WHILE I was very glad that it was as short and sweet and easy to read as it was.
Cute but quick romance, cute characters, and a cute dog called Anubis!!
(I guess thank you, story, for being a part of my renewed determination to become properly trilingual)
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