2016 Advent Calendar Review ~ Teddy Bears by Brandon Witt

2016 Advent Calendar Review ~ Teddy Bears by Brandon Witt

Title: Teddy Bears
Author: Brandon Witt
Category: Holiday, Contemporary
Pages: 47

Dreamspinner ~ Amazon ~ GoodReads

Other than working the front desk of a gay bathhouse in Denver, Brian McKay is a bit of a recluse. At the best of times, his social life consists of work, role-playing games at a local toy shop, and making YouTube videos with his Teddy Bear hamsters. The arrival of the holidays—with the annoying music, Christmas shopping, and all the reminders of how he disappointed his father—just reinforces his reclusive nature.

When James Olsen, a gorgeous daddy bear who frequents the bathhouse, notices him, Brian is at a loss. He’s not proud of his own bear status or his struggle with weight. The idea that James has interest in him beyond an easy hookup is more than Brian can fathom. But with a little bit of holiday magic, James might help Brian learn to accept Christmas again—and himself.

*Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by Dreamspinner Press for my reading pleasure in hopes of an unbiased opinion, a review was not a requirement.*

Teddy Bears is a novella in the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Advent Calendar - Bah Humbug. 

Brian McKay is a middle age, chubby man who works the desk of a bathhouse. For fun, he plays role-playing games and using his teddy bear hamsters creates YouTube videos. He is not a fan of anything Christmas and has had enough of the season. Then one day while working the desk, Brian is speechless when checking in James, an older, hot bear. He can't even look at James to continue with his job, and his encounter in the bath house is even more awkward. All of that changes when Brian runs into James in a toy store and James asks to see him again.

I loved that this story was not about two perfect twenty-somethings. Brian is in his 40's, struggling with his weight, and hates to be thought of as a bear. He's alone in the world which easily makes his aversion to everything Christmas easy to understand. This story was told from Brian's POV, which explains why James, though older, comes across as a perfect older man. And with James' help, Brian is going to learn about love, family and acceptance something that's missing in his life.

Where better to find some Christmas love than a bath house? Though, I will never be able to think of Santa as a wholesome character again after this book! This is a must read Christmas novella!

Rating: 4.5 stars