Review: Home for the Holidays by Lori Toland

November 23, 2013 • Reviews • • Sophia Rose
Review: Home for the Holidays by Lori TolandHome for the Holidays by Lori Toland

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance
Published by Indie/Self Published on October 18, 2013
Pages: 190
Format: eBook
Source: Author
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four-stars  

I was eager to dive right in with this sequel to The Replacement Guitarist to see where things went for Blaze and Jason.  It picked up right where the other one ended and jumped right into the stress of the holidays.  I was so curious about Jason’s family and impatient to discover what would happen when Jason was introduced to Blaze’s family.  I got all that and more with this second installment in the series which should most definitely be read in order.

Jason and Blaze were planning to spend a few days in NYC and then head home to LA for several quiet days just for them before they must part ways when Blaze heads to Europe on tour.  Best laid plans and all that… suddenly Jason’s family decides they’re going to spend Christmas together and they’re going to do it at Jason’s house.  Blaze feels like an observer when Jason shuts him out emotionally without explaining what upsets him so badly about his family’s visit.  Meanwhile, Blaze misses being with his own family even as he gets to know Jason’s famous Hollywood family.  It isn’t long before an unexpected set of circumstances lead to an impromptu trip to visit Blaze’s family too.  He worries about his parent’s reaction and having to tell his Gran about Jason.  The distancing thing still hasn’t been fixed between him and Jason and now he had to add the worry after meeting Jason’s family that they really were from different worlds.  Even while they have declared their love at the end of the previous book, they both wonder if love is enough.  So much happens in this segment of the story to test them.  Things really happen fast at the end and it is left wide open for the next book to pick up that dangling thread.

As I said, I loved the idea of the stressful family holidays which added some scenes that made me chuckle being the backdrop for this one, but it was also fun to see them beginning things together as a couple too.  Everything is so tentative and new- that is everything, but their scorching hot love life.  Nothing tentative about that.  These guys are as into each other as two lovers can be.  Even though they weren’t on tour, there was still plenty of page time of them participating in their shared musical world.  I love it that Jason writes music and Blaze can appreciate it because of his background and it’s cool that Jason can recognize Blazes guitar talent too.  There is a bit of angst as they get used to trusting in each other’s love, but it doesn’t last so long that it gets irritating.  Watching them make-up was definitely worth the misunderstanding.

So after enjoying this second segment with Jason and Blaze set during the holiday season, I look forward to what is coming next for this very engaging couple.  Those who enjoy a spicy m/m contemporary romance set in the music entertainment world should give this series a try.

Review by Sophia Rose

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Sophia Rose

I was born and raised near Sacramento, CA. I have read since I was four years old and developed tastes that run the gamut of literature. I went away to college and have a degree in education, a certificate in family history research, and a certificate in social work. I worked for a non-profit agency with low income families for 20 years which included being responsible for the children’s library and promoting/teaching adult literacy. I have lived in Southeast Michigan for the last 18 years and I am currently a book addicted homemaker with a cat and husband who keep me grounded. Recently, I made it a challenge to review each book that I have read as a favor to author friends who said reviews are important. I have done reviews for Good Reads, Amazon, eBay, and Smashwords, but mostly at Goodreads and Amazon.
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  • Sounds good Sophia. I love the craziness of family at the holidays. Always entertaining to read. And fun to see how a couple deals with things after they find their “happily ever after”.

    • Sophia Rose

      Yes, I like to see what happens after the HEA b/c many times that’s when some of the true conflicts, misunderstands and make-ups happen and family craziness in this one wasn’t LOL hilarious, but it was funny.

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