SANTA DADDY, kink romance for celebrating the holiday

SANTA DADDY
KEIRA ANDREWS
self-published (non-affiliate Amazon link)
$4.99 Kindle edition, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Mall Santas aren’t supposed to be hot!

Hunter is hopelessly adrift after college. He’s still romantically inexperienced, can’t find a real job, and has no clue what to do with his life. Desperate, he returns to his humiliating old gig as an elf at the Santa's Village in his hometown's dying mall.

Enter the sexiest Santa ever.

Twice Hunter's size and age, lumberjack Nick makes Hunter tingle. Too bad he's super grumpy and intimidating. Years after the tragic death of his partner, Nick has his beagle and long, hard days on his Christmas tree farm. That’s plenty. But he can’t refuse a loyal friend’s plea for help and finds himself filling in as Santa. Despite Nick's attempt to stay aloof, the beautiful, anxious young man playing elf brings out his long-dormant daddy instincts.

Then a surprise blizzard traps them alone in Nick’s isolated forest home. Will they surrender to the sizzling spark between them and find the release and comfort they crave?

Santa Daddy is a sweet and spicy holiday gay romance from Keira Andrews featuring an age gap, m/m first times, role playing, Christmas romance feels, and of course a happy ending.

I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM THE GOODREADS M/M GIFT EXCHANGE. THANKS!

My Review: Spicy indeed! Eww-ick homophobes strongly cautioned.

Workplace romance that would get both guys canned (!) in 2025, with an age gap that would cause serious high-volume tuttage from the puritanical purseylipped posse of pisspots who decide these things for other people. I trust my strenuous exercise of kindness and diplomacy is masking my real feelings from their gaze or further contumely will head my way.

Those tedious persons dispensed with, we'll now enter the chatroom.

These men are insta-lust bonded, as a novella's limited size demands, and believably so to me, as they're each in very needy stages of their lives. Nick's lost a partner long enough ago that he's past the rawness of fresh grief. Hunter's out of school, transitioning to adulthood and as astrologers say, "void of course." He's casting about for what to do now, and meeting Nick plants the seeds of a future he realizes he wants. Nick, as Santa, is incongruous being so majorly studly and not a little grumpy of affect. Te saving grace for Nick is the way Hunter brightens his world. It's a little uncomfortable, he's told himself he's a hookups-only kinda guy, but Hunter...gets under his skin.

Of course he can't show that to Hunter. He presents himself as cold and judgmental. He's ready to be more but this is who he's been for so long that, well, the mask became the man.

Hunter's not having it. He's hot for the body and convinced there's a volcano under the snowpack. He's excited by the domineering way Nick chastises him for being late to work...he's got his kinky side...and wants a bit of the heat he feels coming off their mutual interest.

Generally daddy kink needs more room to develop than a novella. It works better if we see the men settling into their roles in the lifestyle, see them negotiating their needs from each other and finding the balance point between love and desire. That's something that's rushed through...dare I say past...in Santa Daddy.

I think this is a good chance to say these guys were made for this kink, they were just waiting for the right partner to come along. Nick even has moments, like in Ghost, where his dead partner urges him to let loose and live again. It's creepy to the materialists, but I see it as his own emotional system communicating his real feelings using imagery he'll trust to be truthful and safe.

You're getting a good, happy-results holiday story and a nicely smexy package it's wrapped inside, with most all Keira Andrews stories. This one is a good example of a shorter-than optimal version.

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS MAGIC delivered on its title for this old Grinch

A LITTLE CHRISTMAS MAGIC
K.C. FAELAN
Beaten Track Publishing (non-affiliate Amazon link)
99¢ Kindle edition, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: It's the day after Thanksgiving and Ryan Forsyth is helping his friends decorate for Christmas. Little does he know that the weekend will usher in a profound change to his life, a chance for happiness if he isn't too afraid to reach out and grasp it.

Boone Ainsworth has been friends with Ryan since junior high, ever since their mutual friend Greg Hayes introduced them. Since the day they met, no one has stood a chance at claiming Boone's heart except Ryan, but Ryan is so deep in the closet, he hasn't got a clue.

Their happily ever after is just a step away, until a panicked decision changes everything. From that point on, things don't go smoothly and Ryan and Boone make mistakes neither may be able to forgive. But it's the holidays, and Ryan is banking on a little Christmas magic to help smooth the way.

I RECEIVED THIS BOOK FROM THE GOODREADS M/M GIFT EXCHANGE. THANKS!

My Review: A story written for an anthology, it's a novella-sized bite of Yuletide sentimentality that I ate up with a spoon. Four friends get together to crap up...decorate, I mean decorate...the home that's a kind of shared base for the four of them. Kai and Greg, the couple whose home it is, have been together for a while. Ryan and Boone are two points on a school-age triumvirate of friendship that's survived the angst and anger of adolescence. Ryan's out, came out with Greg in school; Ryan's straight. He proved this by dropping Greg and Boone after they came out...only for a while, only until he realized they were his friends first and gay second. Making up then meant a real connection could last until young adulthood.

But single Boone has always known that Ryan has first call on his heart. And Ryan is conspicuously single, too. Ryan thinks his jealousy of Boone's casual dates with guys is about the time they use that Boone could...should...spend with him. As buds. It can't sexual possessiveness. He's straight...goes out with girls!

After a car accident affords him the chance to really look at his life in detail, Ryan starts facing up to his emotional reality: he loves Boone as more than a friend. He also has a lot of internalized homophobia. It isn't easy to come out to yourself, it's scarier than saying it to others because you're saying it for the very first time: "I'm gay" when you barely know what that might mean to you. By the time it comes out of your mouth, it's at least possible to *think* the word gay in relation to yourself.

Screwing things up is a young-person specialty. It's scary how much of life consists of trying to make good on your screw-ups at every age. Ryan and Boone go from goof to solecism to fucked-up nasty and yet...this one relationship gets these bonehead boys to work at it, keep working at it, try again.

That's the Yule spirit I needed in 2025. It might as well be 34th Street out there I feel such a need for a miracle! In this brief story of two young guys seeking a path to each others' hearts I felt closer to it than at any other time this ugly, fractured year.

HOW MANY SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?!, an Advent book for the eager little Yule-loving elf

HOW MANY SLEEPS UNTIL CHRISTMAS?!
REBECCA PATTERSON (Illus. Luciano Lozano)
Happy Yak (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$18.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Packed with the magic of Christmas, this funny picture book about a child counting down to Christmas is the perfect story to celebrate the holiday season.

Join the countdown to Christmas in this festive family frolic of a picture book! This hilarious and heart-warming story features everyone’s favorite Christmas activities and captures the exciting build-up to the big day.

“LOOK! LOOK! LOOK! IT’S CHRISTMAS!”
“Not yet!” said Mummy.
“How many sleeps?!”
Mummy had a long think. “Fifty-three.”
“Not long now!”
“Quite long,” said Mummy.

Full of Christmas chaos and festive fun, such as singing carols (A LOT), decorating the tree, wrapping presents (or siblings!), preparing for Santa's arrival . . . and many more sweet family memories.

How Many Sleeps Until Christmas?! is full of character and personality. The family setting will strike a familiar chord with parents and impatient young readers who just can’t wait until the big day! This is a joyful book to celebrate the holiday season, and a perfect Christmas gift.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: It's like a bound version of an Advent calendar. It starts with Halloween decorations tripping the inner holiday alarm:

this just tickles me no end

...and on we go, asking The Question again and again and again.

...but, as the adults know it must, the day arrives:

I was captivated from the title to the artwork to the clever lines. I'd say it's pretty solidly a lap-reader's book...a little too advanced for the ones who need it most and not as necessary for the first-graders. Of course, that's just on average; every kid is different and you know your young giftees the best. Don't overlook this adorable helper with the eager, overeager really, holiday maven in your clan.

It's really big fun to read aloud!

JINGLE JUMBLE SANTA, a board book for the newest little lap-reader

JINGLE JUMBLE SANTA
SPENCER WILSON (artist)
Happy Yak (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$9.99 board book, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Jingle-Jumble Santa features Santa as you’ve never seen him before. Surfing Santa is funny on its own, let alone combined with skiing Santa’s legs! And picture chef Santa in his kitchen on top, combined with fishing Santa sitting in his boat... The final spread will show classic Christmas Santa all ready for Christmas Eve.

Have silly scrambled fun with these mix-and-match Santas that all have crazy, colourful personalities. Over 144 combinations to keep little ones entertained for hours.

In this wacky split-page board book, meet...
Jungle Santa! Zipping through the trees.
Keep-fit Santa! Working up a sweat.
Chef Santa! Cooking up a storm.

But also...
Jungle Santa! Cooking up a storm.
Keep-fit Santa! Zipping through the trees.
Chef Santa! Working up a sweat.

Featuring a dozen loveable Santas, this playful pre-school offering is full of humour, with the final page seeing Santa have a close call with a chimney on Christmas Eve...

Exciting matching game for laughing and bonding with your little one

Ideal Christmas gift for babies and toddlers

A precious keepsake from Christmas that can be re-read year-round

A crazy range of Santa characters to surprise and entertain

What’s the funniest Santa you can make? Read together at playtime or before bed! Or share with your friends and family to really crack them up laughing!
A delightfully silly book that makes an ideal Christmas gift for 1-4-year-olds, which will then be picked up from the shelf year-round for non-stop fun. Perfect for sitting down with your little one and laughing together at the crazy combinations you come up with. Fun, bright images to help keep kids entertained and distracted, and the interactive, split-page format makes this a quirky and exciting read for any time of day.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: It's all in the gimmick. Flipping different parts of pages at different times in the read creates cute, unlikely Santas.

They're neither great art nor superb literature, but I can't think of too many better ways to entertain the newest arrival on St. Nicholas Night.

WHERE'S SANTA?: Find Santa Claus as He Travels the World, lovely pattern-recognition and geography practice book

WHERE'S SANTA?: Find Santa Claus as He Travels the World
NAYANE SENHA (artwork)
Chartwell Books (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$10.99 hardcover, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Where in the world is Santa Claus? Peruse the vibrant Christmas-themed scenes from across the globe to find holiday-inspired items and even Santa Claus himself!

Bring the spirit of Christmas to life with Where's Santa? Filled with fun and festive scenes featuring Santa Claus, elves, presents, and more, explore Christmas around the world with this delightful activity book where every page is a jolly new adventure.

Look for Santa and Christmas-inspired items from each country, including:

USA

Canada

Mexico

Brazil

England

Germany

India

Japan

Australia

South Africa

And more!

A fun and interactive way to celebrate the holiday, enjoy the magic of the season as you look through each puzzle and find facts about how Christmas is recognized across the world. A fantastic stocking stuffer, gift, or winter-break activity, Where's Santa? offers countless hours of fun. Let the search for holiday magic begin!

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: A book ideal for the lap-reader who needs a bit of pattern-recognition practice. It's the Where's Waldo? of the Yuletide. The holiday theme can woo the excited kid to settle in and enjoy some carefully hidden good-for-them knowledge acquisition.

The fun little facts about the countries will give the reader a chance to sneak in some education, or can be left aside if the kid's squirmy...the illustrations are, i think, just right to keep a lap-reader engaged but not overstimulated.

On St. Nicholas Night, the tree goes up, the mugs of hot chocolate magically appear, and a big, warm lap beckons after all that excitement...perfect time to find Santa around the world.

SISTERS OF THE JUNGLE: The Trailblazing Women Who Shaped the Study of Wild Primates, perfect for young women interested in life sciences

SISTERS OF THE JUNGLE: The Trailblazing Women Who Shaped the Study of Wild Primates
KERIANNE McGOOGAN
Douglas & McIntyre (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$19.99 ebook, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Sisters of the Jungle explores the history of primatology, a rare scientific discipline led primarily by women, from pioneers like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey to author Keriann McGoogan’s own adventurous field studies.

Since the 1970s, the science of primatology has been dominated by women—a unique reversal, as men usually outnumber women in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.

Today, one of those women is primatologist Keriann McGoogan, who has traveled to the far corners of the earth in search of wild primates. In Sisters of the Jungle, McGoogan combines stories about her own studies of howler monkeys (the loudest living primate) and lemurs (the most endangered group of animals on the planet) with those of the women who paved the way: intrepid scientists like Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Biruté Galdikas, and Alison Jolly who broke boundaries, made astonishing discoveries and ultimately shaped the trajectory of an entire branch of science.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Women in STEM are only going to increase in numbers as "AI" (currently sophisticated LLMs not the AGI the tech scum are swearing is weeks away) becomes The Threat to Manhood the clique will worry about. Suddenly a human with ovaries won't get so much flak.

Such is my prediction, anyway.

The women who founded the concept of modern primatology are the subject of the memoir-cum-biography. The author's degrees are inspired by these foremothers of the field. After her first book, a memoir of her time in Madagascar researching lemurs, it seemed to be only right to discuss the founders of the current practices in primatology that are returning such excellent results. It pays huge dividends to stand on the shoulders of giants.

My desire to read this book was mainly to see if I could recommend it...was it too wonky, for professionals only, was it too chatty, for celebrity seekers only...none of the above, thankfully. It is a surface treatment of the lives and accomplishments, in the teeth of great opposition, of the multiple women who spent careers...lives...in pursuit of knowledge about humanity's last living cousins.

contents page

We're all indebted to these researchers for the many insights into the reality of being human that our primate family members have given us. Six women whose determination, passion, and intelligence have made our entire world both bigger in scope and brighter in affect.

our subjects of study doing their thing

There are always foregoers, frontrunners, trailblazers to thank for any truly revolutionary advance in any field. We're lucky to have had these women's contributions. Their enrichment of the world led to some media attention:

...that has paid dividends as well as extracted prices.

It is not too much to say that following their examples is a gift to give the world. I'm suggesting you show the young women in your life that it can be done because it has been done.

BIRTH OF A HIPPIE: A Graphic Memoir, a charming visit to a bygone future

BIRTH OF A HIPPIE: A Graphic Memoir (The Chronicles of a Back-to-the-Lander #1)
JoDEE SAMUELSON
Pownal Street Press (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$21.95 paperback, available now

Rating: 4.5* of five

The Publisher Says: Birth of a Hippie is a heartfelt graphic memoir that begins in the Prairies, as JoDee Samuelson, the youngest daughter of a Baptist minister―begins to search for her place in the world. Through her enchanting illustrations and witty storytelling, JoDee chronicles life on the Canadian prairies. Ultimately JoDee’s journey takes her from Alberta to Prince Edward Island.

In telling her story, JoDee blends humor, heart, and introspection. Birth of a Hippie recounts JoDee’s coming of age story from Prairie girl to be an independent spirit, back-to-the-lander, and health-food pioneer in a small Island on the East Coast. This graphic novel explores themes of family, identity, and self-discovery―offering an intimate glimpse into the life of a woman finding her place in an ever-changing world.

Perfect for fans of LGBTQ2+ narratives and those interested in the history of the back-to-the-land movement, Birth of a Hippie is both a personal story and a universal exploration of roots, resilience, and belonging.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Giving new life to the old nostrum "there ain't nobody here but us chickens" is the best, quietest moment of humor in Author JoDee's graphic memoir...her life is a journey from mainstream religiosity to self-acceptance of her sexuality, to the world of those who believe in living with instead of off Nature's gifts.

What made this a more-than-usually good sequential-art read for me is that I'm of the author's generation. The story is one I'm much in sympathy with as a result. The aesthetics are familiar to me, being those of the old underground comix scene. I'm in sympathy with Author JoDee's journey out of an environment of prescribed roles and thought into one that is exciting. is dynamic, tries new things and invents stuff for itself.

A young dyke, a back-to-the-lander, a questing, questioning ecowarrior, are all good giftees for the book. Also, old folks feeling like the past is the place to be, or just nostalgic for a vanished kind of optimism could use an inoculation against feeling forgotten.

You get the idea. I'm charmed, and suspect I'd be charmed by Author JoDee as well. I felt a bit off the five-star rating because there were moments I did not understand why we were cutting to or away from a scene; it could easily be me, since I'm not native to the sequential-art audience.

Getting one for old Aunt Lynne might prove to be the best gift this Yule.

THE LITTLE WILD LIBRARY: HAWTHORN; WILD ROSE; ELDER

HAWTHORN: Simple things to do with the plants around you
CLARE GOGERTY
David & Charles (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$12.99 all editions, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Throughout the year, the hawthorn tree gives shelter to birds, and then feeds them into the fall with its vibrant red berries. Steeped in myth, the hawthorn is a magical tree. In The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn, discover how to make the most of this ancient and useful tree, with recipes and makes to try throughout the year.

Introducing The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn—a captivating pocket-sized guide to the magical and practical hawthorn tree. Known for its frothy white blossoms in spring and vibrant red berries in autumn, the hawthorn is a beloved tree that provides shelter, food, and enchantment throughout the year. From the moment its blossoms appear in May, to the fall when its berries brighten the hedgerow, this book reveals how to forage, craft, and cook with this ancient tree, all while uncovering its deep roots in myth and folklore.

Whether you're new to foraging or looking to connect with the ancient plants of the hedgerow, The Little Wild Library: Hawthorn is the perfect introduction to this magical tree. With its blend of practical foraging advice, seasonal projects, and enchanting folklore, this guide will inspire you to embrace the hawthorn’s many gifts and explore the natural world around you.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: While this book is aimed squarely at the European hawthorn species...multiple...the North American hawthorns don't appear to be all that different from theirs, and grow quite widely around the entire US.

I'd check all this out with my state's agriculture department

practical advice for not getting speared by the thorns

dowsing...sure, why not

comestibles, pretty to look at

comestible, very practical but kinda homely

Everything about hawthorns is appealing to me; I've smelled them and seen them dressed in their spring finery, and looked at the pretty leaves the rest of the year. Anything that will garner more positive notice of them seems to me to be a very good thing indeed.

An inexpensive gift item for an outdoorsy giftee; someone concerned about how to live off the land; and a lover of pretty things to keep around to lift one's spirits.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

WILD ROSE: Simple things to do with the plants around you
CLARE GOGERTY
David & Charles (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$12.99 all editions, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Peeking out of hedgerows and spilling a beautiful scent, the wild rose is one of the most charming wild plants to find. A favourite of bees when the flowers are in bloom, its vibrant red rosehips are a much needed burst of colour as fall turns to winter and the landscape darkens.

In The Little Wild Library: Wild Rose, discover how to make the most of this beautiful plant, with recipes and makes to try throughout the year. Once you've found your favourite wild rose, come back as the seasons change and find new things to do with your foraged treasure—from edible treats to useful tinctures. Discover recipes that make use of robust and plump rosehips that decorate the branches in autumn, and return in the spring to forage and gather petals and flowers to explore new ways to use this most ancient of roses. All the recipes and makes are beginner friendly, making it easier and more fulfilling to engage with the natural world and form a connection to the plants and flowers that decorate our lives.

Learn how to identify the wild rose amidst its hedgerow friends from the comprehensive botanical information included, and take this pocket-sized book out on foraging adventures to help spot the rosa canina waving merrily on a spring breeze, or brightening a dull fall afternoon. Through the book, learn about the history of the wild rose, including how it got its name, and discover some of the myths, legends, and folklore attached to this beautiful plant.

The perfect beginner's guide to foraging, in a handy pocket-sized format, The Little Wild Library: Wild Rose will reveal the secrets of the hedgerow and inspire those new to foraging to experiment and explore the beautiful plants around them.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Foraging roses...sounds sacreligious, doesn't it, the way roses occupy such a central place in modern gardening. Wild roses do not resemble their cultivated cousins. Never forget that the source of every apple you've ever eaten came from that time in Kazakhstan that a horny meadowsweet got a nearby wild rose pregnant.

anything that smells this good has folklore

foraging without pain

the hips are very useful

edibles all look so pink!

smellables are really pink, too

I'd never thought of making, or drinking, rose-petal vodka ever even once; nor had making confetti from rose petals so much as creased my cranium.

This is a beautiful, inexpensive book for the floral fan in your gifting circle.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

ELDER: Simple things to do with the plants around you
CLARE GOGERTY
David & Charles (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$12.99 all editions, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: A favourite of foragers, the Elder tree is the very essence of summer, with frothy blooms emerging in the late spring and filling the hedges and pathways with a glorious fragrance. As the seasons turn, the elderberry comes into its own, a delicious food for humans and animals alike, bursting with vitality and an excellent source of vitamin C.

In The Little Wild Library: Elder, discover how to make the most of this beautiful tree, with recipes and makes to try throughout the year. Once you've found your favourite elder, come back as the seasons change and find new things to do with your foraged treasure—from edible treats to useful tinctures. Beginner-friendly, the elder is the perfect plant for those new to foraging to get to know—with easy-to-follow recipes for favourite makes such as the delicate and romantic elderflower champagne.

Learn how to identify the elder amidst its hedgerow friends from the comprehensive botanical information included, and take this pocket-sized book out on foraging adventures to help spot the elder blossom bursting forth in the spring sunshine—though you'll be sure to catch its heavenly scent before you see it! As fall arrives, return to your favourite elder and gather the elderberries that shine brightly from its branches. Through the book, learn about the history of the elder, and discover some of the myths, legends, and folklore attached to this beautiful plant.

The perfect beginner's guide to foraging, in a handy pocket-sized format, The Little Wild Library: Elder will reveal the secrets of the hedgerow and inspire those new to foraging to experiment and explore the beautiful plants around them.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: A gorgeous gift item. I think it's got its heart in the right place, offering sensible and whimsical alternatives to simply seeing—and smelling in this case—these startlingly lovely trees. Any of your herbalist giftees, your young hiking enthusiasts who need a reason to slow down, or really any crafting/canning/foraging enthusiast will appreciate how lovely it is.

start with basics for best results

passing on the lore

helps to know how to start

never heard of pontack before? me neither, sounds like the make of my first car

never thought of frying flowers before

A beautiful, inexpensive object is a good thing to have in your pocket at Yuletide.