Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Two days before Christmas, widower Steven drives to the North of England to meet his estranged son, Andy, hoping for a reconciliation. Steven rejected his son when, as a nineteen-year-old student, Andy came out to his parents. Andy now enjoys a happy and fulfilling relationship with Peter, who initiates contact with Steven by forwarding an almost childlike letter to Santa, in which Andy asks for a father who loves him.

Andy isn’t quick to forgive his father, but the bad weather conspires to strand them all together over the holidays. Father and son experience a steep learning curve, not helped by Steven’s realization that his son’s lover is older than he is. But proximity and familiarity have a way of breaking down barriers, and if all three men can work together in the spirit of cooperation, this Christmas might be one that changes their lives forever.

First edition published by Amazon Digital Services, 2013.

Book Review

Too many parents reject their children for being gay, but it is rare to see them coming around. Sometimes this only happens years later and, as is the case in ‘Dear Santa, Dear Dad’, the change of mind is caused by a life-changing event. Steven lost his wife two years earlier, and it has given him the impetus and the time to reconsider things. As a result it only takes one letter from his son’s boyfriend to make Steven embark on a “crazy” mission with the objective of attempting a reconciliation.

Steven is an impulsive man, so he drives up to the north of England a couple of days before Christmas for a “surprise” visit. Once he sees Andy again and meets the boyfriend, Peter, who started everything, it becomes clear to Steven that things are not as straightforward as they were in his head. He was ready to apologize and wants to make amends, but the resentment Andy still harbors goes much deeper than Steven expected.

What I like about the story is the slow catching up Andy and Steven do, not rushing into things but taking it step by step. Yes, it happens comparatively quickly, but it did not feel rushed to me. Seven years of animosity and anger (on Andy’s part) and the sheer ignorance of how a gay relationship works (on Steven’s side) made that fairly slow getting-to-know-each-other process essential. Peter was there as a supporting element in the background, but it’s clear that he plays a significant role in not just the initial step to get Steven there, but also in the eventual rapprochement between father and son. It was a beautiful thing to watch!

If you like thoughtful stories about real issues, if you think that parents and their children should always keep a door open to let in forgiveness, no matter how hard they fight, and if you’re looking for a charming read about finding peace, then you will probably like this short story.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Short Story, 48 pages/14437 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	14-December-2016
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/dear-santa-dear-dad-by-tj-masters-7889-b