First, this is not a GFY story. Chris is mourning the death of his wife of 30 years. He's bisexual and did not keep it a secret from his wife or kids. He had relationships with men before he was married. Wade is dealing with a very recent breakup (it's been a week) with a longtime partner. Just Chris, he's feeling lonely during the holidays. Wade has been coming to Chris' Christmas tree farm for years and is shocked to discover Chris s men too.

I d the characters (Yay for MCs in their 40s and 50s!). These MCs talk, go on dates and every thought doesn't revolve about lusting after the other. And bonus, they're not rich and are having business troubles.

I didn't buy the HEA though, and that has more to do with the condensed time frame than the story itself. When we meet them, Wade and especially Chris are still grieving the loss of their previous partners, so it seemed rushed that they fall into this new relationship so wholeheartedly. I wanted to see them struggle a bit more with moving on and really get to know each other in this new context. I did appreciate that Chris struggled a bit with having sex with someone other than his wife; that was a nice, realistic touch.

But all of a sudden, there were I love yous and the book ended. I wanted to see what happened after Christmas.

m-m-read4 s Serena YatesAuthor 97 books769

It is hard enough to find love when you're young, but once you're over forty, it seems almost impossible.

Chris, a bi man who lost his wife to cancer a year ago, finds out how tough it is to admit he may be falling in love again when he least expected it. Guilt troubles him because it feels as if he's cheating on his wife, even though she is gone, and it muddies the waters considerably. Luckily, he is old enough to deal with it all!

Wade has recently dumped his cheating boyfriend and is as lonely as Chris. He may be younger, but he has no idea how to find someone to share his love with in the small town he has made his home. He does feel attracted to Chris, and what follows is a slow friendship merging into more that had me smiling.

If you gentle love stories involving older men, if you enjoy reading about two men openly admitting what is holding them back and dealing with it together, and if you're looking for a warm and tender Christmas-themes story, then you will probably this one.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
gay holiday2 s Ann1,452 131

After reading so many books about 20-something's falling in love it was nice to read something different. This was a sweet short about second chances with more mature MC's that felt pretty realistic given their circumstances. The HEA came with some pretty major life changes that happened a little too quickly, but it's a holiday short so I have to take that with a grain of salt and just be happy that they're happy. dsp-advent-2013 merry-jizzmas shorts2 s Amber1,294 34

This was more a 3.5 star story but it had moments that stirred me so I went ahead and gave it four stars. As I was reading this story I couldn't help but think that portrayal of Chris trying to get over his wife's death and deal with his awakening feelings for Wade was extremely well done for such a short story. I d how they didn't just jump into bed and Chris being open to a new love but still struggling with his love for his wife. For me more than anything else made the story since I didn't feel near a connection to Wade. many advent calendar stories this one suffers from being too short to really get a believable HEA that we are given. I really would have seen a more expanded version of the story but it is a nice little quick read. genre-m-m-contemporary1 Lissa1,203 128

I'm really on a kick when it comes to holiday stories this year! ;)

Chris owns a holiday tree farm and lost his wife almost a year ago to cancer. He hasn't dated since her death, but when his friend, Wade, comes to visit and get his tree from the farm, Chris wants to change that. Wade, too, is lonely this holiday season; his partner of ten years has recently left him, his business is struggling, and he's feeling pretty miserable. They hang out together, realize there are sparks, and go from there.

I d that this wasn't "gay for you." Chris was an established bisexual and didn't give two shits about anyone who knew that fact. He was also faithful to his wife for thirty-six years, until her death, which I think is great because bisexual characters are often portrayed as being incapable of monogamy (and yes, I know that monogamy doesn't work for everyone, etc, etc, but I don't think it's fair that bisexuals are almost always portrayed as being unable to commit - bisexuality is an orientation, NOT indecisiveness!).

I also d that both Chris and Wade weren't young twenty-somethings. They've been through a few ringers; Chris is probably in his early- to mid-fifties, and Wade was in his forties. The older I get personally, the more I to read about characters who aren't young bucks falling in love. ;)

My only real complaint is that the ending felt really rushed. I know that this short story was originally part of an Advent series from Dreamspinner, so the author was rather confined to stylistic elements, including word count, but I really think that the story would have worked better if it was quite a bit longer - maybe not a fully developed novel, but at least another thirty plus pages.

Altogether, however, I enjoyed this short story and would read more from this author.ebook fiction holiday-fiction ...more1 Penumbra1,024 12

Heart of the Pines is one of the stories from Dreamspinner’s 2013 Advent Calendar package ‘Heartwarming.’ The story is told in third person from both Chris Moss’ and Wade Hart’s pov.


This book was supposed to convey the idea of ‘heartwarming’ for the holidays, and I think the author captured that. From the very beginning I was pulled in by the feelings of Chris Moss, a man in his fifties, who lost his wife a year previously. Now he runs their tree farm by himself. He’s still grieving, but is lonely too. One of his regular customers at the farm is Wade Hart. Wade is about ten years younger and has recently broken up with a boyfriend. Both understand how the other feels with their loss and start to hang out with each other. Wade is gay and is surprised to learn that Chris is bi, which of course gives Wade hope because he really s Chris.

I thought there was maybe too much talk about Chris’ wife, but as I read further, it made more sense because gradually Wade became more part of Chris’ life and there was a shift in emphasis on who was important. Also mentioning Chris’ wife showed that bisexuals can love both women and men equally and don’t need to choose just one sex so many people think.

This is a short story so time moves quickly with chapters skipping days or weeks. The plot is centered on everyday interactions between the two men as they get to know each other. It doesn’t have much angst. I d that the author covered the issue of impotence with regards to Chris. You’ll have to read that scene to find out how the situation worked out between the two men.

I thought the author pulled me into the emotions of Chris for the beginning of book, but then shortly before halfway, the writing took on more telling, and less showing and I wasn’t as deeply drawn in. There were also more grammar errors. Despite that, I enjoyed Heart of the Pines. I was hoping the feels in the story would continue throughout the book it had in the beginning, because I was prepared to give it perfect stars. But unfortunately, it flickered about half way through. So instead, I will give this book 4 Stars. I recommend this to anyone who would a heartwarming Christmas read about two older men finding love again, and where the author treats the subject of bisexuality and impotence with understanding.


051-to-100-pages angst-none bought-at-dreamspinners ...more GayListBookReviews472 53

Beans:  I am becoming a fan more and more of watching mature men fall in love. This story was enchanting. Chris is grieving the loss of his wife of many years. He is running his tree farm, the everyday of the business, lonely and without cheer . Chris struggled to find the joy of the season with the memory of his late wife so tied to Christmas. Wade walks in looking for something to cheer him up, take his mind off his lonely Christmas plans after his long term partner and him split. He brings joy and laughter again to Chris and they start a beautiful friendship.
I adored how they acknowledged the attraction, and talked about it. I saw two men who saw something, someone, special in front of them. They had to ask themselves if extending themselves once more was going to be worth the heartbreak if it didn’t turn out.
It was wonderfully written, and full of depth and sincerity. A well done story.
Nina:  I enjoyed this story very much.  These men know heartbreak and have experienced life.  They were adorable together.  The natural transition from friendly acquaintances to friends to lovers was well done.  I was glad to see a bisexual story that plays against the stereotypes of promiscuity and immaturity and tells us about relationships and love.
Chris and Wade are able to help each other out and provide some much needed companionship and support when they need it most.  They end up surprised by how much they each other and how sexy, interesting and likable they find one another.
I was quickly drawn in and rooting for them.  I loved this story of sexy older men falling in love and finding happiness once again.


To see more of this review and others it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbook.wordpress.com Julie HayesAuthor 84 books101

(4.5 rating)

Christmas is coming, and Wade is helping out his older friend, Chris, at his Christmas tree farm. Life isn’t easy for either one of them. Wade’s lover, Jeff, moved out, leaving Wade stuck with a retail cooking establishment that really isn’t his thing, when all he really wants to do is cook. Chris is facing his first Christmas alone since the death of his beloved wife, Mary.

Can two guys who think they’ve lost everything find something new in each other? Maybe with the help of a red-nosed reindeer?

This is the perfect feel-good story. Although a Christmas tale, it works at any time of the year. It’s about never giving up, and believing in the power of love. Chris discovers that finding a new love doesn’t negate the old. And Wade finds someone he can actually depend on.

Reading this story is eating a chocolate chip cookie right out of the oven—it’s hot and gooey, and filled with something wonderful. If you’re looking for drama, you won’t find it here. But if you want heart-warming and emotionally satisfying, then pull up a chair and set for a spell.

Love lives here.
Sadonna2,639 46

I d this story of two mature characters who are friends and move on to something more. Both men are dealing with the loss of their partners - Chris losing his wife to cancer and Wade being dumped by his long term partner. Wade helps Chris with decorating his Christmas tree farm and Chris invites him out to dinner and they go from there. Wade is really surprised to learn that Chris is bi and that it wasn't a secret at all but he was faithful to his wife. As their friendship grows, so does their attraction.


I d the way the author sensitively portrayed Chris's heartache over is wife and also his new desire for Wade. A nice, gentle and heartwarming story.bi-character contemporary friends-to-lovers ...more Julesmarie2,506 85

I think having one of the characters compare Chris to Santa Claus killed what little enjoyment I might have gotten from the story.

Chris and Wade were impossible to distinguish at first. We head-hopped a lot, and the names felt backward to me anyway, having Wade be the younger one.

And the emotions didn't connect for me. Chris still cries all the time over his wife, and he tells Wade they need to go slow. They date for 3 weeks after realizing they're interested in each other before they do more than kiss. And then the very next day they're planning to move in together, combine businesses, and get married.

Just not for me.holiday m-m Shelley Chastagner2,549 37

Nicely done with a Christmas flavor. Chris and Wade are both working their way through loss. The book feels it deals with only Chris's loss and coming to a place where he's ready to move on with his life. Wade's is every bit as painful, but seems to be ignored for the most part. I loved how honest these two are with one another. Chris explains what he's thinking, no running away and leaving Wade to figure out things. Wade impressed me, he understands Chris's struggles and reassures him that they're normal and he's willing to wait until both of them are on the same page before moving their relationship further.
Adult readreread Mandy*reads obsessively* 2,202 331

Hooray for older MCs.
Wade's partner left him and left him with a failing business. Chris's wife of over 30 years died a year ago and he's running his Christmas tree by himself and working hard to make ends meet.
Wade and Chris ( and their respective partners ) have been friends for years, but this year they start seeing each other in a different light.
Chris is bi-sexual, it's not a GFY, and his grown children are supportive of him.
I d that they moved slowly, dated and had a friendship. I d how it ended, but I guess I just wished it hadn't felt quite so rushed at the end. dsp-adventscalendar friends-to-lovers holiday ...more6 s Secretly Reading944

This is a wonderful story of two mature men becoming each other’s port in life’s storms. Chris will always love and miss the wife he lost to cancer but is willing to explore his feelings for Wade, a man whose long-term boyfriend left him. I adored the way Chris and Wade accept and love each other and this goes for their sexual intimacy as much as their emotional. This is a tad sentimental for my usual taste but the characters were so lovely I didn’t care in this holiday season.
*review copy provided by publisher*2013-reads contemporary dsp-advent-calendar ...more Ramsi455 1 follower

Uh...I'm not really sure how to rate this.

I d it generally and had fun reading it. I especially LOVED that they were older Mc's. That's a huge soft spot of mine ;)

I appreciate that they had a friendship for years and that nobody was suddenly GFY.

But in the end it felt somehow rushed, especially the end!
So I go for a middle rating.

I think it could have been a very good story if it had come out as a longer story. Thomaidha Papa706 39

3.5~4 Hearts
Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

I loved this story!
I have a bit of a soft spot when it comes to stories with older guys, yes, but this one was so good that I believe even the twink-lovers will find this read just awesome...

Read the entire review here.

Thommieadvert-calendar-2013 anthology contemporary ...more Rachel Emily4,180 335

I d that this was with older characters, and I d the setting of this story too. I would have d to read more and have a longer story with more time for Chris and Wade to fall for each other, but this was very sweet and I enjoyed it!contemporary-m-m holidays-m-m romance-m-m ...more The Novel Approach3,091 137

Dreamspinner titled this year’s Advent collection Heartwarming,and out of all the stories I’ve read, this one may just fit that description the best.


See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproach.com/20... Suze3,567

I enjoyed this snowy romp, two older guys getting together to fill the gaps left by partners gone, gradually building their friendship into something more.
As befits a christmas story, it is a bit sweet in places but also lots of hot together time too! Teresa3,478 40

3.5 stars - I d how Chris's continued grief and moving forward was dealt with. I d that the guys dated and took things slow though the rushed I love you's at the end were a little soon in coming. holiday-winter mm romances May125 10

I got this as part of the Dreamspinners summer tweet giveaway. It is such a great story! A bisexual man portrayed so well and the loss of his wife gives us an understanding of the capacity of his heart to love. Both MC's are fabulous! Just read it, it's good and it'll give you the Christmas feels!mm Gaa-chan962 18

3.5 starsadvent-calendar-2013 contemporary grieving-hero ...more Anke2,477 98

More 3.5 stars Kat598 108

3.5 starsadvent-calendar holidays Karl114 21

2.5-3 stars Candice2,897 130

Read on 11-27-14

Nice story. I really felt for Wade and Chris.

I wouldn't mind a story about Eddie now ;) He was fun.jingle-bells m-m Katy Beth Mckee4,185 52

This one was a very different take on friend to lovers. I felt so happy for both of these men. holiday-christmas m-m Ro3,032 16

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