Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A classic tale takes off in sexy new directions! Poor Mr. Dickens must be twirling in his grave.

When E.B. Scrudge, putz extraordinaire and all-around numbnuts, is visited by his dead ex on Christmas Eve, he can’t imagine how his life could sink any lower. But the three ghostly spirits that come along after are even worse! Good lord, a dyke, a drag queen, and rounding out the trio, a big, hunky bear with nipple rings and a butt plug! What’s next?

What’s next is a good deal of soul-searching and some hard lessons learned with a dash of redemption thrown in for good measure.

And love too, believe it or not. Love that had been simmering all along at the heart of Scrudge’s miserable existence, although he was too selfish to see it—until a trio of holiday beasties pointed his sorry ass in the right direction.

 

Book Review

John Inman is a very favorite author of mine and the thought of reading his version of the classic Charles Dickens tale 'A Christmas Story' had me beaming with joy. I could only begin to imagine what the author was going to bring to the table for this one so I was turning pages like a whirlwind. I can guarantee that 'Scrudge & Barley' is well worth reading and rereading during the holiday season.

"Absolute and total subservience, that’s what he required. Not to mention a goodly dose of adoration, feigned or otherwise. And God help those employees who faltered in their devotions."

E.B. (Ebbie) Scrudge is worse than Ebenezer Scrooge. Years before Ebbie became the owner of Scrudge & Barley, Inc., an insurance firm, he was the personal secretary (read: flunky) of old man Barley, and Scrudge worked his way into the old man's bed and his will, getting everything when Barley died. Now he rules the company with an iron fist and Willie, his own flunky, is in love with him and happy for the meager scraps of attention he receives on his knees behind Ebbie's desk.

Willie lives a very lonely, sad life caring for his mother with advanced dementia and truly having no life beyond work and home. He may not be innocent in body but his soul shines with its innocence and belief in the good of others. A definite complete opposite from Ebbie who is going to experience a Christmas Eve unlike any other and, in fact, unlike anything Mr. Dickens could have imagined. I am not going to go into detail regarding Ebbie's visitors as those are spoilers. However, believe me when I say it was a very painful past, present, and future.

"Dying alone is not the worst of fates, Scrudge. Dying unredeemed is what the living should fear most.”

Much like the classic, 'Scrudge & Barley' left me feeling a little sad, a little melancholy, and very introspective. I adored the author's rendition and it's certainly not his fault I felt that way, it was just the nature of the beast. A wonderful take on an old classic!

 

 

 

 

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 and print
Length	Novel, 200 pages/65028 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	07-December-2015
Price	$6.99 ebook, $14.99 paperback, $14.99 bundle
Buy Link	https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/scrudge-barley-inc-by-john-inman-2978-b