M/M Romance Christmas Boxset

By: Isobel Starling

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

This M/M romance bundle contains four seasonal romances from award-winning author Isobel Starling.

Back Where He Belongs (M/M puppy-play novella)

Kier Campbell returns to Scotland from Australia to spend Christmas with his family. What he finds is a gift that is worth more than money could buy.

"Daddy Christmas" (daddy-kink short story)

Ryan Sutherland is a side character from Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper. This short story gives him the happy ending he deserves.

The Christmas Bonus

The Investobank Christmas shindig at the Lorien Hotel puts Jake Walters and the object of his lust in the same place at the same time...and it's Christmas!

Fred & Ginger

The Big Boy Cupcakes baker has to rush the last-minute order of cock cupcakes for the party of a celebrity, but in his haste to deliver, he falls foul of an over-keen chocolate Labrador named Fred, and his handsome owner....

©2018 Isobel Starling / Decent Fellows Press (P)2018 Isobel Starling / Decent Fellows Press

just right for quiet commutes

Series of short sweet and spicy stories all centered around the holidays. Loved it!

LOVED IT!

I really enjoyed it! Although these stories are short, they don't lack entertainment. The narration was excellent. The author did an excellent job with the characters. I have read many books by this author and love her writing style! I look forward to reading more of her books. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Great stories

Out of the four stories, my favorite one is Fred & Ginger. Loved everything about it; the story, the couple, the cute dog, the banter and especially the cupcakes.

I enjoyed the stories and listening to this narrator. I absolutely adore his voice so much that I finished it in one sitting; love the different accent he does.

Sweet & Fun

I really enjoyed these fun, sweet holiday stories, especially Fred & Ginger and Back Where He Belongs. The narration by Gary Furlong (who is one of my favorite narrators) made them even better!

Short, Sweet & Spicy!

Great short stories. Very hot scenes. Awesome narration by Gary Furlong. Highly recommended. It'll keep you warm in cold winter nights!

For those who love short stories.

I am a big fan of this author’s writing and a really big fan of the narrator. Gary Furlong’s accents are amazing, His Scottish and English accents sound authentic and curl around in my brain deliciously. I have to admit to an audio crush. I could listen to him all day.

There are four stories in this boxset, with some of the stories being better than others. By better, I mean more developed; the stories a little longer in which you come to know the characters better.

***

In ‘Fred and Ginger’, Chris had baked “dirty” cupcakes for a famous actor and was taking them out for delivery when a dog named Fred tripped him up and caused him to spill the cupcakes on the streets in front of the Christmas shoppers. It is a comical moment with edible penises laying all over the ground. The dog’s owner, Robin, feels bad though and offers to help him bake more cupcakes. Chris recognizes Robin from a past encounter and the two find themselves wanting to reconnect while they race to finish the order. It is a quick story but the characters are interesting. I like that the end of the story shows promise of something more between them.

***

‘The Christmas Bonus’ is probably the quickest story or at least it felt like it. It is a story of two co-workers who have watched each other from across the office but haven’t had too much interaction. The company Christmas party offers them the chance to finally talk or possibly do more… It is a good premise but there isn’t really a romantic connection and it doesn’t give me any idea if there is any potential for this couple. It offered the least for me as a romance lover.

***

‘Daddy Christmas’ is another of the shorter stories. It is more or less a Grindr hookup for the two main characters. There is a D/s theme to the story with one character looking for a “Daddy.” The hookup seems to leave a more lasting impression than a one night stand. There seemed to be affection building between the Daddy and sub. Even though the ending is a little open ended, I felt at least a spark of hope that they might see each other again. And again.

***

I think ‘Back Where He Belongs’ is the longest of the stories. There are parts of this story I connected with and some I didn’t. It is a second chance romance which I love. Kier left Scotland to explore the world and keep his attractions in the closet. He also left his boyfriend Douglas. He returns home for Christmas years later, and his vehicle breaks down stranding him on the side of the road. And in a predictable turn of events, guess who passes by and rescues him? Predictable or not, I love chance meetings between exes who never really stopped caring for the other. With the weather only getting worse Douglas takes Kier to his home. The tension and attraction between them is obvious, and I couldn’t help but feel for Keir as he worries that Douglas has moved on. I also worried how the two could work out if Keir was returning to Australia after the holiday.

Here is the part that I didn’t really connect with. Before Kier left his relationship with Douglas involved dominance and submission, and puppy play. Kier was the Master in the past. But in wanting to make amends to Douglas, the two switch positions in the present. Now, I recognize that puppy play is a legitimate kink, and I worry when I say that I don’t connect that I’m coming off judgy. I’m not. It just isn’t my kink. So I feel like I only half listened to their play. This part of the story doesn’t actually take up a significant amount of time, though. After they reconnect and Kier acknowledges his mistakes, they both decide to set things right. Kier brings Douglas to his parents to celebrate the holiday where he admits why he left. This story definitely had the most promising ending and I really enjoyed it.

***

Even with the longer stories, this audiobook was a quick listen at around four hours. I definitely recommend this author and narrator. If you like shorter stories this audiobook is definitely for you.

Four book Christmas Boxset

A fantastic collection from Isobel. As usual, it was a winner.

FRED AND GINGER 4.5 stars
A lovely holiday short story with great characters, second chances, sweet moments, a few laughs and an ending that left me smiling.

THE CHRISTMAS BONUS 3 stars
This was a super short that felt much more like the beginning of one of Isobel's books. I would love to see this fleshed out as I instantly became interested in Ethan and Jake.

DADDY CHRISTMAS 4.5 stars
After meeting Ryan in the book Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper, I was pleased to see he had his own book. The man rankles the nerves with is over the top behavior and it's still present when he shows up at Cameron's door. I liked that Cameron saw beyond Ryan's behavior to what the boy needed. He gives Ryan the focus and boundaries he needs while providing a space for him to learn to embrace quiet along with giving him space to be the exuberant, bubbly man he is.

BACK WHERE HE BELONGS 5 stars
I really enjoyed Kier and Douglas as they reconnected after five years. It's a bit of a struggle as they separated badly. Kier uses wanting to travel, explore and see the world as his excuse. He admits his fear was the real cause. Regret and shame are very tangible on the page. Douglas has moved on to a long term relationship that ended. It was evident that his heart has never moved on from Kier. It takes a bit of bravery for the two of them to open up about the past, reconnect and make plans for the future. I loved Kier's mum. What a wise woman.

Audiobook: Terrific narrator. Nice voices and easy pace. I loved his voice for Kier and Douglas best.

Hot, Sweet, and Fun

This is an enjoyable set of four short stories. My favorite was Fred and Ginger, followed by Back Where He Belongs, then Daddy Christmas and the Christmas Bonus. Fred and Ginger was sweet, sexy, and fun, and who can resist naughty cupcakes. I really enjoyed the connection between Kier and Dougie in Back Were He Belongs, and I loved their second chance. I wasn't into the puppy play, but that is just me. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Daddy Kink was entertaining, and I liked seeing Ryan from Detective Fox again. The Christmas Bonus was my least favorite because it was just too short and open ended for me to really connect with the characters. Still, all enjoyable, steamy listens.

Gary Furlong is fantastic with the narration. The characters all have distinctive voices, and Mr. Furlong does a great job expressing their emotions.

I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook from the author and have voluntarily left this honest review.

Fun and kinky

Four short stories, all different but all fun.

Fred & Ginger is, IMHO, the funniest, and OMG! I so much want to see those cupcakes :P

The Christmas Bonus: this one is the one I liked the less, I simply didn't engage with the characters :(

Daddy Christmas: this one was funny and cute. An older daddy and an irreverent twink who found their match during Christmas. Lovely.

Back Where He Belongs: The kinkiest of the four, and the angstier, too. I was really invested in this one, and it's the most... complete is not the word, maybe fulfilling? There is a lot going on here and is very, very emotional. Strangely, even as portraits a kink I'm not particularly fond of, this one is my favourite.

Gary Furlong does a good job with the narration.

Great Stories & Furlong is Wonderful!

Four Christmas Stories:
Fred and Ginger is a colorful and creative holiday short. Between Isobel Starling's descriptions of the yummy baked goods (I really want to see those fondant cocks) and the fun, offbeat neighborhood in which the shop is located, I couldn't resist skipping back a few times to listen to Gary Furlong read it again.

I'm always going to give high marks when an author can create so much chemistry between the characters so quickly, and in so few pages. Both men are interesting guys and I'd love to learn more about them... the story of their Grindr hook-up would be amazing, just sayin'.

Fred and Ginger has all the hot, intimate, playful sex I'm learning to expect from Isobel Starling - and there's some pretty creative stuff in this one ;).

As always, any story read to me by Gary Furlong is going to elicit warm and pleasant feelings... I do love the way he says "cock" and "balls", it's almost like he's smirking - because he knows we really do love to hear him say "cock" and "balls". Well it's a win/win for everyone and I can only but hope that he continues to narrate the deliciously naughty stories of Isobel Starling.

The Christmas Bonus
Fun short story about a recently divorced man (who's been doing MF for <i>way</i> too long).

The object of his desire turns out to be a very pleasant surprise at the company holiday party... I enjoyed the connection the two men make, but I would have loved just one more chapter ;)

Daddy Christmas
Nice story about a confident, older guy who finally finds his mate.

Back Where He Belongs
I love a second chance romance, especially at Christmas.

When Keir comes back home after five years away, a chance encounter with his true love shows him what he's been missing. The two men make a change in their power dynamic (not to mention some deliciously hot puppy play) and reinvent their relationship.

I'm really enjoying Isobel Starling's lusciously dirty stories, and this one's lighthearted, fun and creative. It's also available an audiobook narrated by the marvelous Gary Furlong, and with a yummy Northern Scots accent? Yes, please!

an audiobook copy of MM Romance Christmas Boxset was provided at my request by the author for the purpose my my honest review