Not enough in the prologue to really feel the pull and tug of the relationship two years down the road. If the prologue had been longer and shown the men involved together I would have felt their meeting again more strongly. Also the epilogue was simply a continuation of the previous chapter, whereas I expected something showing them further on. That or it didn't need an epilogue at all.
Enjoyed it but didn't *feel* it like I expected.

Not enough in the prologue to really feel the pull and tug of the relationship two years down the road. If the prologue had been longer and shown the men involved together I would have felt their meeting again more strongly. Also the epilogue was simply a continuation of the previous chapter, whereas I expected something showing them further on. That or it didn't need an epilogue at all.
Enjoyed it but didn't *feel* it like I expected.

Whether as a short story or as a Christmas story, ‘A Case of Christmas’ worked for me on both fronts. First, it stars great characters: Shane, a reluctantly Christmas-y special agent on the mend from a serious injury, and a mysterious former love interest turned new neighbor. Second, there is an old man hunting for sunken treasure. And third, the peace and quiet Shane is looking for never materializes. It’s a good thing he is fit and reasonably healthy to start with because all the interruptions that keep happening could drive a perfectly healthy person to require bed rest.

Shane is shocked to find the man he knew as Norton two years ago has bought the cottage across from his on Catalina Island. Worse, the man pretends not to remember what they had together was as special as Shane remembers it. After considerable initial tension and during a hurricane that causes the power to fail, they begin to deal with what happened. And when they talk neither of them minces words. I loved that discussion if you can call it that, with its fast back-and-forth that helped clear the air. Quite quickly one thing leads to another. Soon the men are not only talking again but celebrating Christmas together – and then some.

If you like stories with a bit of mystery around the characters as well as events, if you want to find out more about two men who are equally talented at deceiving others when their jobs require it, and if you’re looking for an entertaining, fun read with lots of emotions and a message of hope, then you will probably like this enchanting novella. ( )

Story: 8
First MC: 8
Second MC: 8
Secondary characters: 5
Mystery: 5
Sexual tension: 6
Humor: 5
Hotness: 6
Product placement: 3
Ridiculousness: 2
Annoying: 1
Audio: 10 (2h 38min)
To re-read: 7

"You met someone? it was the same tone that parents used when dragged to jail in the middle of the night to bail out children they had previously believed candidates for angelhood. My kid? Mine?"

"he stopped panting like someone practicing his obscene phone call routine and tried to straighten up" ( )