A quirky holiday romance about Faith, Hope, and…er…glow-in-the-dark condoms!
Three years ago, a scandal cost antiquarian “book hunter” James Winter everything that mattered to him: his job, his lover and his self-respect. But now the rich and unscrupulous Mr. Stephanopoulos has a proposition. A previously unpublished Christmas book by Charles Dickens has turned up in the hands of an English chemistry professor by the name of Sedgwick Crisparkle. Mr. S. wants that book at any price, and he needs James to get it for him. There’s just one catch. James can’t tell the nutty professor who the buyer is.
Actually, two catches. The nutty Professor Crisparkle turns out to be totally gorgeous—and on the prowl. Faster than you can say, “Old Saint Nick,” James is mixing business with pleasure…and in real danger of forgetting that this is just a holiday romance.
Just as they’re well on the way to having their peppermint sticks and eating them too, Sedgwick discovers the truth. James has been a very bad boy. And any chance Santa will bring him what he wants most is disappearing quicker than the Jolly Old Elf’s sleigh
The Dickens With Love – Josh Lanyon
December 1, 2009
M/M Romance
Ebook, Novella
Samhain Publishing
Book was received from author
Before you start this book, make sure you have vodka, creme de cocoa and goldschlager on hand – just trust me on that. You know Smexy likes her cocktails, and things that sparkle – put those together and you have a Stardust, and it sounds like it is full of sparkly deliciousness. There is much more to this lovely book than booze though, so let’s get to it.
James Winter is a book appraiser that has fallen on hard times. Three years ago he had the life many envied, a successful antique book hunting career and a steady relationship. All of that came crashing down after James discovered his mentor and boss got mixed up with forgery and murder. Although James was not directly involved, his name was dragged through the mud and his career and relationship are gone.
Now James lives a very lonely, sparse life. He still appraises books, but his clientele has become a bit shady. Mr. Stephanopoulos wants a supposedly lost Dickens Christmas book, and he will pay anything to get it. Sedgewick Crisparkle claims he has this book and is ready to put it up for auction. Mr. Stephanopoulos asks James to verify this book is the orignal, and his only condition is that Sedgewick not disclose it is Mr. Stephanopoulos that is the buyer.
James meets Sedgewick and one look at the book, James is pretty sure this is the real deal. More that that, Sedgewick is very attractive – that is about where his good qualities end, at least on their first meeting. Sedgewick is very flip and serious and putout James is in his hotel room looking at the book. Things begin to change however after an incident with an ocelet (oh yes) and rumors of James’ past are cleared up. Romance at Christmas time, is there anything better?
The Dickens With Love is just what the first sentence of the blurb above states. Sedgewick must have faith that James is not a product of his past, that he is trustworthy and upstanding. James must have hope that his life will not be remembered by the awful incident three years ago and there are good things to come in the future. And what would a Christmas story be without some hot lovin’ with red and green peppermint flavored condoms?
I immediately fell in love with James. The lonely, depressed vibe in a character always appeals to me because when he does find love and happiness it makes it that much sweeter. Sedgewick made me work a little harder to come to like him. At the beginning of the book he is made out to be a very rude, no nonsense man. After he realizes James is better than what his past paints his picture as, he warms up and you get to see much more of his charm. I think it was after he waited two and a half hours in the parking lot for James and refused to let him slip out of his grip that I started rooting for him.
This is just the tale of two guys falling in love and it is witty and told very well. Did I think they confessed absolute love for each other a little too quickly? Yes, but hey, it’s a Christmas story – there needs to be love and happy endings. There was quite a bit of romance scenes in this novella and they were quite steamy. With the backdrop of the lost Dickens story it really brought out the Christmas spirit. Finally, James and Sedgewick love books. When James realizes the Dickens book is an original, his hands shake and he stands there and loses all composure. There is nothing better than a romance book that celebrates books and reading.
I feel like I always repeat myself at this point in a Josh Lanyon review. I need to make a blog button and just insert it at the end of my reviews that says “Smexy likes the way Josh Lanyon writes,” or maybe something more catchy, but you get my drift. Go make yourself a cocktail and snuggle up with The Dickens With Love.
Rating: 4 1/2 stars
Recent Reviews:
Well-Read – Excellent
The cocktail sound very delicious and quote review; And what would a Christmas story be without some hot lovin’ with red and green peppermint flavored condoms?
That is defintely getting some x-mas pleasure! it does trigger my thought of; Is this the imagination of the author talking or would such actually be out there?
Josh lanyon is on the shelves thanks to you Mandi and all i have to do now is to find a bit of time to read the novella's. Glad to hear you got your JL fix again.
Hey Leontine
I think it is both the imagination and sure, why wouldn't it be out there!
This one is only 70 some pages I think, so it is one you could easily read in one sitting. *awaits Leontine's first JL experience* :)
Hey honey! Sorry I have been MIA on you! How have you been? Hope all is well with you and your family.
Wow… this is one Hot little Christmas book and a Josh Lanyon book at that. I know how much you love this guys writing… Hummm…. And I love your CoCktail recipe =)
Great review honey!
Hope you have a great day!
I know – after all this talk I realize I am saying Cocktail. HA…kind of funny.
Where have you been girly? I'm off to find ya!
Thanks for the review, Mandi.
And to answer Leontine, yes, all the…er…accessories in this book are quite real and available for purchase. If one is so inclined.
Merry Christmas to you, Leontine – HA!
I've got to get this one too!! I'm so greedy ;) Great review, Mandi!
@Leontine: where your mind wanders sometimes, girl!! tuttut
LMFAO – Thanks for answering my question Mr. Lanyon but now my mind is in the gutter. Red and green peppermint flavored condoms, talk about christmas wrapping :)
LOL christmas wrapping!
Sounds great to me! I so need to get a few Lanyon books.
Great review hon!
ERR – Greedy is never a word that should be used when collecting books:) This is a really fun holiday book!
Leontine made my smut badge – she is the original ;)
Leontine… My mind never made it to the red and green peppermint flavored condoms….
Wow… Hummmm… I see something just added to my Christmas wish list…
And I thought my mind stayed in the smutty gutter!
Susi – I know you liked LB Gregg so I really think you would like Josh Lanyon too :)
See what you are missing Cecile not reading m/m? :) This book will definitely put u in the Christmas spirit..very sweet and sexy.
Red and green peppermint flavored condoms, talk about christmas wrapping :)
*S-splutter!*
I see, I am missing so much… I mean… I am a hussy, yes I am. I am smutty, yes I am… New to m/m, yes I am… But I am so loving this aspect of a wrapping up a gift that keeps on giving, lmao!!!
Humm… And Josh, you said items were for sale……. hummmm "Present time anyone"!!!
But I am so loving this aspect of a wrapping up a gift that keeps on giving
Oh Cecile..you crack me up.
Just bought this one….
Thanks for the review… Jen did pimp me on this one…
E.H>
Any book where you mention to read it with "coctails" is an instant buy for me.
Here we go — a little X-mas thank you to Mandi and the gang. *g*
Stardust Martini
From The Dickens With Love
Ingredients
• Vodka
• Creme de Cacao
• Goldschlager
• Headache tablets (optional)
• Combine four parts vodka with one part
of créme de cacao in cocktail shaker cup.
• Shake it baby, shake it all you can tonight
• Pour mixture into martini glass
• Slowly and gently add the sparkling
Goldschlager, so the gold flakes slowly descend
through the drink like stardust.
Hey – Thanks!
There is a time in the book where James orders a stardust and it comes with blue curacao and pineapple juice and when I first googled it that was the only recipe I could find. I commiserated with James ;)
This has already been added to my New Year's Eve cocktail menu :)
Sipping the cocktail, love the sparklies, letting the flavors roll over tongue *tries to ignore the shake it baby, shake it all you can tonight comment*
sips some more on cocktail, a moment later….nah, ain't going to happen.
Sorry Mr.Lanyon, just want to know who does the shaking…all night long?? James or Sedgewick?
Now I have Lionel Richie in head:
Everybody sing, everybody dance
Lose yourself in wild romance
We're going to Party, Karamu, Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!
We're going to Party, Karamu, Fiesta, forever
Come on and sing along!
All night long (all night), All night (all night)
Sorry to get so out of topic Mandi *forgive me*
EH – Jen did a great review…as always :)
Smokin – I think every book should be read with a cocktail – kidding (*whispers* so not kidding)
oh PS; I have the collected novella's;
CRADS ON THE TABLE
DANGEROUS GROUNDS
IN SUNSHINE OR IN SHADOW
SNOWBALL IN HELL
Those will be my introduction to your work. You wouldn't happen to have reviews of those Mandi?
Umm…Josh, your recipe…that was sexy. *sigh*
My reading list is getting out of control and I promised I'd slow down a bit. Not gonna happen, I'm getting this-NOW. :) Great review Mandi.
*my word verification is FATE. It's meant to be, I'm getting this. hehe*
Leontine – First of all – both James and Sedgewick can shake it…shake it real good. (stop putting songs in my head! ;)
Secondly, I have read Dangerous Grounds and Snowball but that was before I had my blog. So I never reviewed..I do recommend though. Have not read the other two yet.
FV – You are not allowed to have your reading list in control..that is not fair nor fun :)
Srsly – I think I mentioned this once but it is about 75 pages..so you could read this in a night. You know you want to…..:) Word Verification is always right.
I leave for a couple of minutes to check on my officers… and this is what I come back too…
You girls are indulging in the CoCktails Josh has provided you with… Damn….
**goes to make my drink… with Linoel Richie song in head, thanks Leontine… Mixes… Shakes…** OH James and Sedgewick can both shake and well you say huh..
**takes sip… damn… delicious**
All night long… All night… hee hee..
How did we get a Lionel Richie song as the theme for this book? ;) Trying to picture James and Sedgewick dancing to that song…
Is anyone singing along with Leontine..LMAO.
Totally making hubster pick up ingredients on the way home.
**Raises hand…** I am… damn her for sticking that song in my head.. I can so see bodies together very close… back to chest… of course no shirt on… ummm… Swaying with the beats… ummmmm…
I am coming over later for a drink with you Mandi!!! =)
This sounds so quirky and sweet! Great review.
I haven't read a Josh Lanyon book before, but apparently he is the go-to author for quality M/M, so I'm going to have to check him out.
I would love to hear your thoughts on a Josh Lanyon book:)
I'm so ready to jump into Lanyonville….I went to his site to check the detective books but he's got so many other books I don't know what to start with!! Is this one a stand-alone? It sounds good.
Hey Patti
This story is totally a stand alone and it is one of the few that are not detective based.
His Adrien English series is prob the most popular (Fatal Shadows is the first) but he also started a new series this year and the first is called Somebody Killed His Editor. If you search my blog I reviewed it. It was really good.
Spectacular review! I've just purchased this book and hope to get to it soon.
This sounds like a very fun book, actually! And you know I love my Goldschlager. ;)
Eyre – You will have to let me know what you think. I was just checking out your blog – very cool :)
Heidenkind – Goldschlager brings out the best in us or at least the fun side.
I so need to read Josh Lanyon's books ASAP! *looks at calendar* Hurry up Christmas and my Christmas present..that sounds really bad, but said present will let me read such lovely books :)
Tell Santa to get his booty moving!
I loved this one as well. And of course immediately wanted to run out and get the ingredients for the drink too! :)
I TOTALLY made myself a Stardust after reading this book. I felt so fancy. ^_^