Review: The Best of Christmas in M/M Writing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 7, 2012
I've been quite remiss in my Amy Lane reading recently (not to mention also Mary's books, and my Fridays and Saturdays have been very lonely with no Author Backlist Reviews), and I didn't have much time this week, but... I've been meaning to read this Christmas short forever!  I read Amy's story for this year's Dreamspinner Advent collection, Turkey in the Snow and loved it, but I've still been meaning to read this one, so I thought now is the perfect time to drag it out, right?It was!  Charming as always, Amy really got to me with Kit's character.  When he becomes friends with his new (and hunky) assistant Jesse and wishes that he could join in on a basketball game, he decides it's time to get in shape.  Kit has terrible self-esteem, not only from the extra weight he carries, but also because of his mother's terrible treatment his whole life -- yet another reason he's not come out and a virgin pushing 30.  He still lives at home because he's scared to leave her alone.  But when he buys a DVD of a workout with Danny Fit (a hunky and [maybe?] gay workout superstar), his whole life starts to change for the better.  Hopefully, that includes Jesse.The best thing about Amy's stories are the characters, and while I could say the quirky writing, that still goes back to the characters because somehow that voice always seems to work perfectly with their characters.  Kit is no different.  For all his perceived flaws, he's a wonderful character simply because he's the best of what we, as a society, see as worthless.  It is the perfect story for this time of year, when we want everything to be tied up in a cute little bow and reading about it happening (in a completely non-cheesy way, so I thought) was perfect.  I can't believe I put off reading this for so long!So, if like me, you find that you've still not read this a full two years after it's release, please go and get it now.  It's heartwarming and cute and you'll fall in love with this couple.  Another treat from the incomparable Ms. Lane.