Book Reviews

Book Blurb

The Australian bush. A Christmas with friends. A chance to mend a broken heart.

Steve Hayes is spending Christmas break away with a group of friends. He's determined to put his two-timing ex-boyfriend in the past and enjoy his week away. Steve is equally terrified and happily surprised to find that Corey Oh, the guy he’s been admiring from afar, has been invited along too. But Steve knows there's no way someone as wonderful as Corey, who could have any man he wanted, would be interested in him.

Can a misadventure with a Christmas pudding help Steve's dreams come true?

First edition published by MLR Press, December 2015. The original story has been re-edited and expanded by the addition of a 5k word epilogue.

Book Review

Steve Hayes, of 'The Proof Is in the Pudding' by Nic Starr, is nursing a broken heart; his controlling ex, Richard, broke up with him and threw him out. Between the stress at work and having to find a new place to live, he's frazzled. His friends come to his rescue and take him with them on Christmas break.

As his contribution to Christmas dinner, Steve has decided to make his mother's Christmas pudding. Steve is in the middle of preparing his 'masterpiece' when Corey walks in. Although Corey is new to their group, the guys have invited him to join them. Steve has been crushing on Corey since he first met him, but his bad breakup has been keeping him from moving on. With Corey so close, Steve is tempted to make a move, but figures that Corey wouldn't want him. Corey jumps right in, helping Steve with the pudding. Things are going well, both with getting to know Corey better and the progress of the pudding, when disaster strikes. The wooden spoons holding the pudding up over the steam break, 'showering' Steve with boiling water! It appears Steve's much needed getaway has been ruined.

This is an endearing story of great friendships and love, in which a Christmas pudding is the motivation. I really liked Corey and Steve and the heartwarming end of the story. Thanks, Nic, you are great at creating flawed but real characters.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 19000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	02-December-2018
Price	$2.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Proof-Pudding-Nic-Starr-ebook/dp/B07L3863SV