My Kind of Christmas

Men of Fort Dale, Book 5

By: Romeo Alexander

Narrated by: Michael Ferraiuolo

Nick: Team Maelstrom is my family as much as the family who raised me. That includes Matt, my partner in crime, and the closest I have to a soulmate. We get each other, and that’s all we’ve ever needed. But there’s a part of me that won’t be silent, the part that wants so much more with Matt. Yeah, I’m in love with my best friend, and I had no idea a fun family Christmas would change everything.

Matt: Nick is my best friend, brother in arms, and so much more. We’ve been through a lot together, in and out of the army. I didn’t have a family growing up, so Team Maelstrom and Nick’s family have become mine. I love everything about Christmas and I wasn’t going to pass up the chance of spending a snow-covered Christmas holiday with them. I certainly wasn’t expecting to find out Nick had been in love with me for years, but it was a bigger surprise for him to find out that maybe, it wasn’t all in vain.

Come and celebrate a romantic fun Christmas with decorations galore, snow-covered scenery, meddling sisters, and a slightly drunk father…who really should learn to keep his mouth shut!

©2020 Romeo Alexander (P)2021 Books Unite People

Sweet friends to lovers

This story is just so kind and sweet. Imagine being in love with your best friend forever..the only catch is, he’s definitely not gay. So the love stays unrequited… until one day it doesn’t.

What I adored here is how effortless Matt’s love feels once it finally surfaces. He doesn’t question it, doesn’t agonize over labels....he just eases into the relationship like it had always been meant to be. That quiet acceptance, rooted in friendship, makes the romance feel natural and deeply affirming.

- ❄️ Holiday backdrop: Snowy town, small-town vibes, and festive traditions that set the perfect stage.

- 🎖️ Military camaraderie: Nick and Matt’s bond as army brothers adds depth and authenticity.

- 💕 Romance payoff: It’s not gratuitous..yes, there are spicy moments when they finally get together, but the focus is on tenderness and emotional connection.

-🎄 Hallmark-but-MM vibes: Cozy, heartwarming, and full of found family sweetness.

This book reminded me that sometimes love doesn’t need to be complicated...it can be simple, kind, and inevitable. And honestly, it got me right in the Christmas mood.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Matt & Nick

This was a good holiday story and an entertaining friends to lovers read. The audiobook was even more interesting with Michael Ferraiuolo's great narration.

I received an ARC and this is my unbiased opinion

"Just You and Me..."

The remarkable range of narrator Michael Ferraiuolo is on full display here, with distinct voices, on-point accents, and very good female voices. He made listening an absolute pleasure, and I especially liked Nick's Southern accent.

Being new to the series, I was a little lost at the start of this story because it felt like being bombarded with characters and relationships I should already know. But, once the focus moves off-base and squarely onto Nick and Matt as they spend Christmas with Nick's delightful family, it's terrific.

Nick and Matt are about as close as best friends can be, sharing an apartment and serving in the same military unit, but Nick has a secret. He's secretly in love with his best friend, despite never really being attracted to men, other than Matt.

Matt's easy acceptance of "you and me" - his go-to reassurance to Nick - and his eager willingness to pursue more with him (once the initial shock wears off) tempers this from being a super angsty coming out romance. Nick has enough inner angst for the both of them, and Matt is a welcome balance to that.

It's all very loving, supportive, exploratory, and super steamy from there, with some forced proximity and Christmassy goodness in the mix. Overall, a recommended listen, even if new to the Men of Fort Dale series.

Nick & Matt

This was good story. I liked Nick and Matt together.

This is the first book in the story I’ve read/listened to and it can definitely be read as a standalone. The other characters from previous the books are mentioned, but they don’t really take place and the very short times they do, it might make you interested in their story, but nothing is left out in this story to where you would have to know their story. I super appreciate this because I’m not the biggest fan of “men in uniform” stories, and I get the feeling all the previous ones take place with them, or at least have parts of them, “in uniform.” This one does not. It’s pretty much just set during a family get together.

I had a little bit of a hard time with Matt’s nonchalantess through the whole story though. Like, he considers himself straight, but he had sex with a guy previously, liked it, and still thought of himself as straight? Like, no dude, you’re not. He didn’t even think anything of it, just as like a one and done thing. And then of course he ends up in a serious relationship with his gay best friend. Definitely not straight. I could have gotten over all of it if it hadn’t of been for his nonchalant reaction to everything though. Maybe I’m bias though, because I have family with the same nonchalance attitude as Matt and I find it to be incredibly irritating. Either way, Matt’s reactions just made me have a hard time connecting them as much as I wanted to in the very short time frame that it took place in. The one year later epilogue I could totally understand though since by that point, they had already been together for a year.

Overall, despite my critical review, I did still really like the story. If I could star rate it out of 10 though for more accuracy, I’d probably give it a 6.

~~~ I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. ~~~

I need to listen to more of Men of Fort Dale!

My first listen/read of this author and this series. Definitely adding the rest of the Men of Fort Dale to my TBR.

Love the slow-burn, hidden attraction, friends to lovers, holiday story with a focus on emotion and tenderness.

Really enjoyed the narrator, Michael Ferraiuolo's difference between Nick and Matt's voices and accents. He has great range between all the characters voiced.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.