Review: Warm Tender Xmas Story
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 1, 2012
Henry Calder is a little old man in a young mans body. He has always carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. His mom allowed him take care of his baby sister Amanda like he was the parent. He was always the responsible one, even down to his mom announcing she was leaving for Reno to live when he `came out'. It was also the same day his baby sister told mom she was pregnant. It wasn't long before Amanda cracked under the pressure of being a baby raising a baby, and left her sweet four year old baby Josie with Henry -" Uncle Hank", and disappeared.Hank follows all the rules. He has a good job, a small immaculate house, and now he is struggling to raise his niece with no help. The only thing he allows himself, is time at the gym to burn off stress, and he has plenty of that. His gym has a day care, with an annoying twink called Justin. Josie, his niece, adores Justin, and he does not understand why...and now the story begins.We follow the frustration of Uncle Hank, trying to juggle a life thrust at him, and he bears it because of who he is. He hasn't had a relationship for over a year. The last one had ended badly, finding his partner in bed, in their apartment, with someone else. He gets up in the morning, dresses, goes to work, makes dinner for himself and Josie, play time, bath time and bed time. It hurts to watch, as it seems he lives by rote. Enter Justin.I had almost forgotten how much I love Amy Lane when she writes on the lighter side. This relationship between Henry and Justin was so sweet, and so heartfelt. And light (Yes Amy can do light). Henry is explaining to Justin why he did not like him. He felt Justin was a drama queen."See Turkeys are the drama queens of the animal world" he explains. "They freak out at any little thing, but they ignore all the important things. So, you put a bunch of turkeys in a pen and let a fox in there, and they look at him and think, Hey It's a Fox! So the hell what? Which is bad, because the fox is eating the turkeys, right? But these same turkeys see a snowflake and they're like Omigodomigodohmigod and they run around freaking out, and they trample the other turkeys, and they hurt them too."Hank does not want drama, he keeps his life tight, no frills, so he cannot be hurt any more...Justin is exactly what he needs, the limp hand drama queen to brighten up his days and nights. Hank is busy working towards getting full custody of Josie. Justin has been watching from afar for months, crushing on Hank. Justin is twenty one, going to school, lives at home and works at the Cal- Fit gym. I loved him telling Henry, "the only reason I live at home, is because someone worries if I don't come home." OMG so sweet.Some of the lines are laugh out loud funny. Justin says to Henry "You don't like me because you think I'm a big ol flaming mo, and you're way too butch to have anything to do with me". During the shopping spree to Toys `R Us, finding the perfect gift for Josie, Justin whips the toy out of Henry's hands and tells Henry "you do not take the first one, you pick #2 or #3 because they are not all touched by everyone." ...Those were words to live by from my mother when we shopped.This is a perfect story for a perfect holiday read. You will possibly want to re-read it, as I will. It makes your heart feel good (with no tissues). Thanks for the Christmas present Amy Lane... I was a good girl this year...Review by Gloria LakritzReview Chair and Sr Reviewer for the Paranormal Romance Guild