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shandra's review
5.0
Christmas tends to make people think about happy things and celebrating family and friendship and love. I, personally, loved Brandon Witt chose to showcase the people who are often forgotten on Christmas in his short story Teddy Bears. Brian is exactly the kind of guy I know since I'm one of those geeks who is way too old to be a geek. He's insecure about the things a lot of people over thirty-five are insecure about: obsessive fan tendencies, weight problems, being alone, not having the best career, never having started a family of his own, etc.
Brian is an easy guy to fall in love with because he's utterly genuine as himself.
What made Teddy Bears a 5-star read for me?
James Olsen genuinely appreciated Brian McKay for the man he was, the life he chose to live, and being his authentic self.
That's a Christmas miracle right there.
It doesn't hurt the sex was hot, the teddy bear hamsters were ridiculously adorable, and all the fandom references made my inner fangirl squeal with joy. The only complaint I have about Teddy Bears is it was entirely too short because I could have read about these two men for so much longer without ever getting bored, but honestly? It was exactly enough to leave me giddy with Christmas joy and a happy ending not to be dismissed out of hand.
Brian is an easy guy to fall in love with because he's utterly genuine as himself.
What made Teddy Bears a 5-star read for me?
James Olsen genuinely appreciated Brian McKay for the man he was, the life he chose to live, and being his authentic self.
That's a Christmas miracle right there.
It doesn't hurt the sex was hot, the teddy bear hamsters were ridiculously adorable, and all the fandom references made my inner fangirl squeal with joy. The only complaint I have about Teddy Bears is it was entirely too short because I could have read about these two men for so much longer without ever getting bored, but honestly? It was exactly enough to leave me giddy with Christmas joy and a happy ending not to be dismissed out of hand.
nnof's review
4.0
I am disappointed "Buffy and her Teddy Bear Vampire Lovers" isn't a real thing
I liked this short story. The telltale sign of a good one is that I wish it were longer.
I liked this short story. The telltale sign of a good one is that I wish it were longer.
suze_1624's review
3.0
I enjoyed this light hearted romp with a serious message. 3.5*
I found bits funny - Phillip in particular.
James seems a truly good guy.
Despite his best efforts, Brian does come across as alone - he has friends but remains isolated.
A short story so lots of questions about Brian and James spring to mind. And as someone else suggested, a great setting for lots of stories!
I found bits funny - Phillip in particular.
James seems a truly good guy.
Despite his best efforts, Brian does come across as alone - he has friends but remains isolated.
A short story so lots of questions about Brian and James spring to mind. And as someone else suggested, a great setting for lots of stories!
pam_h's review
4.0
This was great, and I almost gave it five stars -- for Buffy, and Catan jokes, and Spike and Angel, and those last few pages that are ooey gooey perfection -- but it is still just a little Christmas shortie that spans maybe 10 days or so and a few dates. But the characters are great, even the ones that show up for just one scene, and it's definitely not your cookie cutter Christmas romance. I loved it, it put me in a good mood and I need to find a full-length novel to try from this author.
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
Aren’t we all looking for acceptance? The freedom to be who we are and have someone love us, warts and all? This feeling, the happiness and completeness when you meet someone who loves you, right where you are, is what this Christmas novella is all about. Teddy Bears is a quintessential Brandon Witt novel, filled with heartwarming emotions, quirky characterizations, and resolves in a satisfying HEA.
In keeping with the Bah Humbug theme of this year’s anthology, Brian McKay hates Christmas. All of Christmas, December 1st all the way till January. But, it’s not just Christmas Brian doesn’t like; he doesn’t particularly like people in general. Now that he is in his forties, Brian just wants to be left alone to live his life the way he wants to, away from a judgmental human race. He loves RPGs, collecting figurines (which he uses to create YouTube videos), Barbies, and his hamsters. Brian’s work at a bathhouse isn’t perfect, but hey, it pays the bills and allows him to live as he would like to.
James is a bisexual daddy bear who has been alone for a while. He keeps frequenting the bathhouse where a certain bear works, but he can’t seem to make the man pay attention to him. When he serendipitously runs into Brian while at a toy store buying Christmas gifts for his grandchildren, he leaps at the chance to finally have the man he has been fantasizing about.
Cue the Christmas miracles and all the feels. Brian begins to unwind under the calming and supportive, loving nature of James. Miracles keep happening, one after another, as James discovers all the things Brian perceives as being “bad” about himself and turns them into positives. It is a journey of self-awareness and acceptance which ends with both men finding a way forward together.
“I want you to know that how you are is how I want you. You’re the first man I’ve found interesting in years. I got you the doll because I want you to be who you are. That’s the man I want to keep seeing.”
I have to say, I appreciate how Witt creates layers in his stories; having both MCs be bears juxtaposed against the teddy bear hamsters (who stars in those Buffy and Her Teddy Bear Vampire Lovers videos); creating “bath house Santa”; all of these ideas create layers which draw you into his stories and make them interesting, relatable and a joy to read.
This story is all about the feels and I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
In keeping with the Bah Humbug theme of this year’s anthology, Brian McKay hates Christmas. All of Christmas, December 1st all the way till January. But, it’s not just Christmas Brian doesn’t like; he doesn’t particularly like people in general. Now that he is in his forties, Brian just wants to be left alone to live his life the way he wants to, away from a judgmental human race. He loves RPGs, collecting figurines (which he uses to create YouTube videos), Barbies, and his hamsters. Brian’s work at a bathhouse isn’t perfect, but hey, it pays the bills and allows him to live as he would like to.
James is a bisexual daddy bear who has been alone for a while. He keeps frequenting the bathhouse where a certain bear works, but he can’t seem to make the man pay attention to him. When he serendipitously runs into Brian while at a toy store buying Christmas gifts for his grandchildren, he leaps at the chance to finally have the man he has been fantasizing about.
Cue the Christmas miracles and all the feels. Brian begins to unwind under the calming and supportive, loving nature of James. Miracles keep happening, one after another, as James discovers all the things Brian perceives as being “bad” about himself and turns them into positives. It is a journey of self-awareness and acceptance which ends with both men finding a way forward together.
“I want you to know that how you are is how I want you. You’re the first man I’ve found interesting in years. I got you the doll because I want you to be who you are. That’s the man I want to keep seeing.”
I have to say, I appreciate how Witt creates layers in his stories; having both MCs be bears juxtaposed against the teddy bear hamsters (who stars in those Buffy and Her Teddy Bear Vampire Lovers videos); creating “bath house Santa”; all of these ideas create layers which draw you into his stories and make them interesting, relatable and a joy to read.
This story is all about the feels and I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Carrie for The Novel Approach Reviews
shelbanuadh's review
1.0
Brian is just so incredibly self-deprecating that it was impossible to enjoy this. He is invisible, a bear, a daddy, a fat slob, stupid, dirty, a geek, etc.
On top of that, he is a miserly scrooge.
On top of that, he is a miserly scrooge.
apostrophen's review
4.0
So Teddy Bears was a great little novella that explored a queer holiday from a bunch of fresh angles that I can’t recall seeing before:
One: both of the guys involved aren’t in their twenties/early thirties. (I love reading about guys my age or guys older than I am, frankly.)
Two: bears who aren’t just muscle bears! (And one who’s struggling to be cool with his body, which—hey—we’ve all been there, no?)
Three: nerd/geek who isn’t “secretly gorgeous super-lean model type once he gets new clothes and reveals his abs.” (Because no.)
Four: Buffy/Spike/Angel dwarf hamster YouTube stars. (No, like, really.)
Five: a bathhouse setting for a romance? (Yep.)
So, with that in mind, if you’re in the mood for a holiday story that lives up to its description, you’re well advised to nab this one for the next time you want something jolly, sweet, a little bit smexy, and funny to boot. This was a wonderful bit of warmth for a frigid winter day.
So, thanks, Brandon Witt.
One: both of the guys involved aren’t in their twenties/early thirties. (I love reading about guys my age or guys older than I am, frankly.)
Two: bears who aren’t just muscle bears! (And one who’s struggling to be cool with his body, which—hey—we’ve all been there, no?)
Three: nerd/geek who isn’t “secretly gorgeous super-lean model type once he gets new clothes and reveals his abs.” (Because no.)
Four: Buffy/Spike/Angel dwarf hamster YouTube stars. (No, like, really.)
Five: a bathhouse setting for a romance? (Yep.)
So, with that in mind, if you’re in the mood for a holiday story that lives up to its description, you’re well advised to nab this one for the next time you want something jolly, sweet, a little bit smexy, and funny to boot. This was a wonderful bit of warmth for a frigid winter day.
So, thanks, Brandon Witt.
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