Book Reviews

Book Blurb

Koh Timura returns home to Honolulu for the holidays. It's the first time he's celebrated Christmas since his mother's death years earlier. But unemployment and dealing with his stubborn dad and his extremely young stepmother doesn't make Koh feel especially merry and bright. His Japanese-born father is a traditionalist who likes to celebrate with the old country ways of doing things—fried chicken on the table and Santa-San bringing gifts to all.

But Koh soon learns that everybody deals with pain and loss in different ways. As he adjusts to being back in the islands, he encounters Adam Takagawa, the guy he loved all through high school. Will their passion flare again? Can some things broken really be fixed? Is sad and lonely Koh due a Christmas miracle after all?

 

 

First edition published by Amber Allure, December 2013.

 

Book Review

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time, yet there are many for whom it has been turned into a very sad and lonely affair. Koh, in this story, is an example of that - for various reasons. His mother died nine years ago and Koh hasn’t been back since then, his father remarried, and while Koh missed his family in some respects, returning doesn’t exactly make him feel happy. There are too many old wounds and hurts that need to be dealt with, including an unresolved relationship with Adam, the guy he loved through high school, and the first man Koh runs into when he looks for his bags at the airport. Looking at the list of things that could lead to disaster, a true Christmas miracle is exactly what Koh needs.

Koh thinks he has it bad, and he isn't wrong. But as he discovers what's been going on at home while he was gone, he finds out that others have had it worse. It was interesting to find out, at the same time as he did, and watch him deal with the various bits of news. And as things with Adam take a an unexpected but very welcome turn, Koh finds out a few more bits of news that make him gain a new perspective on his life and his family.

Adam has been trying to deal with his grief on his own but it's been hard. Sharing some of his thoughts and fears with Koh gives him new hope. As the men get closer, I found myself totally engaged in their increasing intimacy, and I loved how they managed to help each other. Add that beautiful internal journey to the magnificent setting of Hawaii and some of its beautiful natural wonders, and I found myself entranced.

Even though, at first glance, a Japanese Christmas set in Hawaii made me wonder how A.J. was going to pull that one off, the story more than confirmed for me that mixing traditions and people with differences can be truly magical. And that is what this book was for me: a magical mix between a great love story between two men who deserve some happiness, and some very special multi-cultural Christmas magic. Absolutely wonderful!

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 64 pages/18000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	05-December-2017
Price	$1.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Santa-San-Japanese-Christmas-J-Llewellyn-ebook/dp/B077YT7733