ARC Review: Too Hot for Santa by Helena Stone

Blurb:

A Story from the Warmest Wishes: Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar

Jonah Walsh’s fledgling acting career in Dublin comes to an abrupt end when a video of him in a compromising position goes viral on social media. The offer of a part in a Christmas play in Sydney, Australia arrives at exactly the right time, although he isn’t sure about celebrating Christmas in the scorching heat. Nick Claseman isn’t happy that the actor he and his sister have hired will be occupying his granny flat. As for Jonah’s enthusiasm for Christmas, Nick doesn’t get it. He hasn’t decorated or celebrated in years.

When Jonah turns out to be anything but a stuck-up starlet with delusions of grandeur, and Nick proves he’s not usually grumpy and borderline hostile, the two men gravitate toward each other. Their attraction morphs into something more when Jonah reacquaints Nick with the pleasures of Christmas and Nick shows Jonah the beauty of Australia. But Jonah is only Down Under for a few months. It would take a Christmas miracle for them to have a future together.

Jewel's rating:



I thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas short. Set in Australia, Too Hot for Santa isn't the usual Christmas fare. No snow, no caroling, and only as festive as it really needed to be. For a person, like me, that doesn't get too much into the Christmas spirit, it was the perfect balance of festive and real.

Jonah Walsh is heading to Australia, from Ireland, after being caught in flagrante delicto ... and his acting gigs dried up. He just needs to lay low for a while and people will forget, right? But who knows, a Christmas play in Australia might be just the thing to take his mind off things.


Nick Claseman is grumpy when his sister tells him she cast a new person in their play, and oh by the way this person will be staying with Nick. He doesn't have high hopes that this new actor will be more than an entitled brat.

Both Jonah and Nick were in for a surprise when t turned out they got along!

This story is just what I needed today. It didn't feel too abbreviated, their attraction felt real and though the timeline is compressed, it didn't feel too insta. That's a win, in my book.

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ARC of Too Hot for Santa was generously provided by the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

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Happy Holidays!