This is my first book by Cari Z and I really enjoyed this holiday story. A best friend’s little brother/unrequited love romance featuring a small town police officer and a big city attorney originally from that small town. As this was a novella the relationship moved at a rapid pace and while I would have loved to have more time with them as their relationship grew, I still enjoyed every minute of this story.

Max has just landed the client that more than likely get him the corner office and a big promotion right before he must return to the small town where his family imploded to spend the holidays with his best friend, Hal, and his two daughters whose mother left for no reason. The last thing he needs when he has to be back to NYC on Monday is sliding into a snow bank and wrecking his car, but the hot cop Dominic that rolls up to rescue him might make this trip interesting until he gets to Hal’s home and realizes Dominic his Hal’s little brother, “Nicky.”

The attraction between Max and Dominic was evident from the start and it was cute how Dominic was so easily flustered at first. They had some obstacles being they lived in different places and led very different lives, but they also had a pretty strong bond from the start.

A fairly uncomplicated, easy to read, sweet yet sexy romance; His Holiday Crush was a treat to read.

I forgot to review this book after reading it so I am late on reviewing it. One thing that I am most certain about this book is that this book was super cute. I liked the two main characters because the way they were with each other was so cute. I liked how their relationship developed and I like the Christmas vibe that this book had. I was glad that the long crush was finally acquired and the main character didn't need to suffer more. I really ended up enjoying this book and would like to see other books Cari Z. comes up with in the future.

I enjoyed this holiday romance story.  The chemistry between Max and Nicky was immediate and their connection felt easy from the beginning.  I liked the play on the best friend's sibling trope especially with Nicky having a childhood crush on Max and recognizing him immediately, while Max felt the initial attraction to Nicky without realizing he was his best friend's little brother.  I also enjoyed the interactions with Hal and his children.  This was a quick read which I really enjoy when it comes to holiday romances.  I can see myself reading it again next year.

I am so here for queer romances getting the Hallmark/Lifetime holiday movie treatment. Give me all the tropes, give me all the clichés, gimme gimme gimme!

Max has a shot at a big promotion at his fancy New York law firm, but his best friend Hal invites him back to the small town he left ten years ago for Christmas. It's an offer Max can't refuse, especially not once Hal's adorable daughters call Max to make sure he's definitely coming. Reluctant to spend much time in a place that holds few good memories and with a boss pushing him to prove he deserves that promotion, Max decides to make it a one-day visit, just long enough to support Hal and the girls after their mother walked out on them. But then Max crashes his car during a snow storm and he has to get rescued by the handsome Dominic, a local cop and, as it turns out, Hal's younger brother. Suddenly, the idea of being stuck in town for a little bit longer doesn't seem like such hardship.

This was a short and sweet romance. I like the best friend's sibling trope in general and it was done perfectly here, without too much posturing by Hal. Same with the unrequited crush trope, since Dominic used to have a crush on Max back in high school. Combined with the small-town setting, this story was as close to perfect as it could get for me. I liked that both Max and Dominic have emotional baggage that they are dealing with and the open way they talked about their issues. It made the characters more realistic, moving them away from the flat character trap.

It's just such a shame that it was so short. The story really could have benefited from being fleshed out a bit more. It feels very insta-love, despite Max and Dominic's history, partly because the point is made several times that Max doesn't see Dominic as Hal's younger brother Nicky. Combined with them thinking of the other as 'the one' after barely a week together, it all feels a little bit rushed.

This was a cute easy read. No drama or angst, just 2 guys falling in love over the holidays after getting stranded together. Cold nights and warm hands does a body good.

I received a copy of this arc from NetGalley for an honest review. Pretty decent holiday read, though a bit predictable.

I unfortunately couldn't finish this book until after the holidays but it was still such a sweet and enjoyable romance. So happy there are so many more queer holiday romances than their used to be! And this one especially is sure to delight.

This is the kind of holiday story I enjoy and it definitely served its purpose for me. It was fun and entertaining. It had great secondary characters and two MCs that shared amazing chemistry and an undeniable connection. I liked both characters individually, but I loved them even more together. I especially enjoyed the fact that Max and Dominic weren't in the market for love, but they fell hard for each other and ultimately allowed themselves the chance to explore it further. 

All in all, a sweet, fun story with nice steamy moments to make it even more of a treat to read.

His Holiday Crush is a cute and very readable Christmassy romance about a workaholic lawyer who reluctantly returns to the hometown he’d intended never to go back to one Christmas, and finds love where he least expected it.  It’s well written and the characters are likeable; it was a pleasant enough way to pass a few hours, but it’s nothing I haven’t read before.

Lawyer Max Robertson has had little time in his life for anything other than work for years, and is on the verge of closing the deal that will make his career.  For the first time in years he’s agreed to go back to Edgewood – just for for Christmas; normally his best friend Hal and his family visit Max in New York, but Hal’s wife walked out on him and their two young daughters a few months back, and as this will the girls’ first Christmas without their mom, Max agreed to visit them instead.   But as Christmas approaches, he starts to wish he hadn’t said he’d go, and he tries to wriggle out of it; he can’t and in the end, he decides he’ll go but will stay for only one night, telling himself it’s because he has to get back to the city in order to finish the fine-tuning on the deal.

Fate has other ideas however, as a snow storm hits as he’s on the road on the outskirts of town, and when he swerves to avoid a deer in the road, he spins out of control and ends up in a ditch.  He’s not badly hurt and manages to call 911; not long afterwards a local police officer arrives to help him; Max fails to recognise the officer as Hal’s younger brother Dominic, who returned home six months earlier after his stint in the army.

Dominic had a big crush on Max when they were younger, and seeing him again – gorgeous and sexy AF – that crush comes roaring back to life.  Dominic is a bit dismayed that Max doesn’t recognise him straight away, although he supposes it’s not surprising since they’ve not see each other for years – and is even more surprised when Max appears to be… flirting with him?  When Hal arrives and introduces the hot cop who rescued Max as his little brother, Max is stunned.  Pleasantly. Who knew the kid who used to trail around after him and Hal would grow up to be so hot?

With Max’s car out of commission until repairs can be made, he’s going to have to stay in Edgewood over Christmas, which naturally gives him a chance to reconnect with Dominic as well as with Hal and the girls – and causes him to start reassessing his choices.

Although, as I’ve said, this is a story I’ve read lots of times before, it’s nicely done and well written, the leads have great chemistry and there are some engaging secondary characters, notably Hal and his two daughters, who read like actual children rather than plot-moppets.  I appreciated the absence of the ‘don’t mess with my younger sibling’ message that so often crops up with this trope; Hal is fully supportive of Max and Dominic getting together, particularly as he knows Dominic hasn’t had it easy since returning home (he has PTSD, for which he’s receiving treatment) and thinks he deserves to have something good in his life. Hal’s soon-to-be ex-wife is all but demonised for most of the book though, which I found a little uncomfortable.  All we know about her is that she just up and left and abandoned her kids, and it’s not until much later that we get a chance to see that maybe there’s more to it.  I understand that it would have been difficult to explore that further given the story is told from Max and Dominic’s points of view and not Hal’s, but things there could have been a little more nuanced.

For all its predictability, this is an easy and engaging read. The romance is a bit insta-love-y, but I liked that Max and Dominic allow themselves to be vulnerable around each other, and the care Max shows Dominic in bed (teaching him there’s more to sex than a quick pump and dump!).  On the downside, I didn’t really buy the reasons behind Max’s dislike of his home town, and Dominic’s reaction to the conflict near the end is really over the top.

That said, if you’re looking for a low-angst, Hallmark-esque, small-town romance that makes good use of its tropes, and has enough heat to keep you warm on a cold winter’s afternoon, His Holiday Crush might just fit the bill.

C+ / 3.5 stars

*2.5 stars*

My rating might seem a little harsh for a generally non-offence, cute Christmas story, but I could barely keep my attention on it, and after a week of reading it in pieces, I finally forced myself to finish.

I usually can't get enough of holiday romances, but it's taking something really special to hold my interest during these Covid times. I need that rush, that huge spark, that hook to draw me in. His Holiday Crush felt a little predictable and bland.

I like Cari Z., and I've read a bunch of her work, but His Holiday Crush felt a bit done before. I swear I've read many similar books, both of the MF and MM variety, and the gay Lifetime movie I watched recently was even kind of similar. I need something more to keep my attention these days.

I think if you want a story with lots of content with secondary characters (kids, especially), and a "big city boy comes back to his hometown" kind of romance, this book might suit your mood. It's not a bad book by any means, just not something that could squeeze my heart and keep me reading all night.

shrugs

This was so cute and just what I need for a Christmas read!

Both characters in this are adorable and I rooted for them to get together from the start. Max is a workaholic attorney trying to get a promotion. He goes back to his hometown for the first time in a decade and ends up stuck for Christmas. Dominic "Nicky" is a veteran with PTSD trying to help his newly single brother with his daughters while overcoming his own issues.

I liked that Max and Nicky clicked right away and didn't take long to start something. Nicky had a crush on Max growing up and now that they're both adults, it's time to make it real. Both guys are so great with the girls and it was incredibly sweet. They would be excellent dads and play off each other well. The chemistry was well done, the romance scenes were steamy and fun, and I thought this was just a great read overall!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thoughts: This book was just so sweet! I adored the friendship between Max and Hal, and I loved how Max cared so much for Hal's two little girls and wanted to be there for them during Christmas. He gets more than he bargained for when he crashes his car on the outskirts of town and ends up being rescued by Hal's younger brother, Dominic. Dominic's childhood crush on Max is still very much intact, and as the two spend more time together they find they can't deny their mutual attraction. <spoiler>And Hal was totally here for it, which I absolutely loved!</spoiler> The dynamic between Hal and Max is too cute, and the way Dominic and Max take care of the girls was an adorable additional element. The chemistry between Dominic and Max was amazing yet so tender at the same time. There are some heavy topics weaved into the story - divorce, alcoholism, PTSD, to name a few - but none are delved into too deeply so they don't bring the mood of the story down at all. That sounds cold and callous, but my point is that this is meant to be a holiday romance and therefore the author clearly was trying to keep things light despite the heavier issues that people have to deal with in real life. All in all, I thought this was a cute, light-yet-serious-at-times holiday romance that was perfect for reading next to the Christmas tree or a warm fire.

***Thank you, NetGalley and publisher, for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.***

I thought the cover of this book was adorable, so naturally I requested an ARC of it - look, I'm a little shallow, ok? I'm glad I did, because this is a feel-good holiday story, the sibling's-best-friend-trope equivalent of a cup of hot cocoa.

Despite last minute work for landing a client that'll finally get him to make partner at his NYC law firm, Max gets guilt-tripped into visiting his recently divorced best friend, Hal, and his daughters for Christmas in the small town they grew up in. He only intends to stay for a day or so, but a snow bank - and a hot police officer - cause a change of plans. Dominic, Hal's younger brother, had a crush on Max back in high school, and seeing him again - after rescuing him from that snow bank - only rekindles those feelings. But Max has avoided his hometown for very good reasons, and he has no plans on staying. Will a Christmas fling leave them both broken-hearted, or is this instead a little bit of Christmas magic?

“Hal was my best friend, a huge part of my past and hopefully a huge part of my future, and he and the girls undoubtedly needed all the support they could get right now. But was I considering the idea because of them or because of recent developments involving a gorgeous man and orgasms?”


Both main characters had their own reasons for avoiding a relationship. Dominic's an army vet and a small-town cop, and neither career has really lent itself to him having a real relationship. Max is a complete workaholic, but once he arrives back in town, he morphs into a much happier person, happily building a snow family with the girls and making commemorative raccoon sandwiches for Dominic (after they have to scare a family of raccoons out of Dominic's construction-zone-aka-house). They initially bond over helping take care of Hal's girls, through making grilled cheese sandwiches and snowmen families. But there's a definite spark between them, and once they start exploring that, it changes the dynamics between them and makes Max start wondering if there's more to life than making partner. While this is a best friend's sibling trope book, Hal fully encourages the relationship, which I appreciated. Hal and the girls were fun side characters, and I enjoyed seeing how both main characters interacted with them.

As for cons, I wasn't crazy over how they talked about Hal's ex-wife or how she figured into the bleak moment. At one point, a character mentions off-hand that she was struggling with depression, but the book never really explores that. I'm not saying that negates the fact that she up and left her kids, but as a mom who struggles with her own mental health, I felt a lot more compassion for her than any of the other characters seemed to. Continuing with the family theme, I did like how Max's relationship with his father was handled and that there was no magic reconciliation. Max had very valid reasons for being reluctant to come back home, mostly due to his father, and I thought they were thoughtfully explored. Dominic's half of the story, however, seemed to suffer in comparison.

I'd give this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 because I'm a complete sucker for holiday novels.

I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The last line of the synopsis is not quite how it happens...laugh. It is actually better in the book. Cari Z writes one heck of a love story. I think what I appreciate about His Holiday Crush the most is the honesty. Sometimes real-life sucks and Cari Z balances that with an unexpected romance for both men. 

Max has his own reasons for not wanting to go back home and they are legit. BUT and it is a big “but” here, sometimes we allow the ugliness of the past to let us forget some of the good things and Max gets to experience a re-awakening of sorts. 

Dominic...ahhh Dom...I just crush on him. I am veteran with PTSD too and man I connect with Dominic. It is not easy living with war especially when you end up with part of it inside you. The adaptations you have to make to live your new life. Z displays this with incredible depth and sensitivity.

His Holiday Crush is also about family. The family you make when everything else hits the skids. Now I will confess that Steph is my favorite. I automatically want to hug both kids close, but especially Steph. I love the dynamic of everyone forging together to make the family work. 

It’s Christmas time so there is romance too. What seals the deal for me and this book is when Max brings up his attraction to Dominic to Hal right away before something happens. Bro-code. I have so much respect for Max and Z for writing this type of communication. No subterfuge happens, just honest communication and respect.

His Holiday Crush has a little bit of everything and a happy ending. Put this romance on your reading list.

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.

4.75/5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this spectacular e-arc!

What a great way to spend the month of December. Loved the book which i didn't expect. I haven't seen a single Hallmark Christmas movie but it very much gave the same vibes. I mean, it's very much a gay short Hallmark movie in itself. The cover's a bit misleading but im not gonna shit on a small publishing budget. Am not gonna rate this "fully" 5 stars as i thought that the selection of topics handled could've been tackled in better ways, perhaps lengthening the book a bit. At the end, i may eventually buy this book and make it a tradition to re-read it every december.

A very adorable romance!

I enjoyed the romance buildup between Dominic and Max. They were just *muah* perfection together. Max had his issues with wanting to achieve goals with his job, and at the same time he was battling the feelings he was developing for Dominic. Staying in Edgewood was not part of his future plans, but if Dominic is part of Edgewood, maybe being there wouldn't be such a bad idea after all.

I definitely think His Holiday Crush was cute and had all the festive feels to it. If you're looking for a sweet and steamy romance, this is totally one to pick up from Cari Z.

Thank you Entangled for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is exactly the holiday read I needed during what is a strange and sometimes very difficult holiday season. 

This book truly has every ingredient needed for a heartwarming holiday m/m romance: one man (Max) who only thinks about work and has to be forced to take a vacation back to his hometown for Christmas, his best friend (Hal) with two adorable children who are all struggling after Hal's wife left them, the small town cop (Dominic, aka Nicky) who is Hal's brother and who also happens to have had a crush on Max since they were in high school. Cue Max crashing his car in a snowstorm, which leads to being rescued by Nicky and having to stay in his hometown far longer than expected.

Every character is fantastic, and I was rooting so hard for all of them. Dominic and Max are such a cute couple who bring out the best in each other and help each other grow. Max's relationship with Hal and his daughters, Hal and Nicky's brotherly bond, and Nicky as uncle to Hal's two daughters, are the sweetest. Even when there are some difficulties in the characters' lives (an intense argument, Max having to decide between a big city job and love in a small town, Nicky's PTSD, the wife and mother who left, Max's alcoholic father), these all lead to loving moments and important plot development.

If you need a lift this season, this is definitely a great book to lose yourself in.

I give it a 5 star. It's really sweet, much more than just a romance, it's all about family and special bonds that they are forming among the people. 

I really liked little Steph. Both girls actually. 
Max and Dominic very really cute, they had great chemistry and I hope Hal will get his happy end too!

While at first glance this is another “big city guy reluctantly returns to his small hometown and falls in love with a townie at Christmas” story, the quality of the writing makes it stand out from the pack.

It’s the way the details are handled that elevates this holiday romance over others. For example, sometimes the reasons why the city guy avoids going home or the small-town guy can’t possibly relocate seem somewhat insignificant. That’s not the case here. Max has an excellent reason never to go back to the town he left as a teenager—his father killed a girl while driving drunk, which created such a cloud over his family that he feels unwelcome. When Max goes there anyway and falls in love with Dominic, his best friend’s brother, Dominic’s PTSD from his military service creates a need for a quiet environment that is an equally compelling reason for him not to consider moving to the city to be with Max. The author gives them some real issues to overcome on the way to their HEA.

The secondary characters were also a plus. The townspeople have enough quirks to make them interesting, and Max’s boss, who at first seems like the stock hard-driving, career-first type, ultimately turned out to be more than I expected. But it’s Max’s friend Hal who really caught my attention. He is the catalyst for Max to return home, and Hal’s troubled relationship with his ex-wife plays a pivotal role in the plot. He also is very supportive of both Max and Dominic as a couple. Hal got enough page time that I wouldn’t mind seeing him show up again in his own story, because the guy could use a happy ending for himself.

I do wish they hadn't fallen for each other quite so quickly (I don't love instalove), but other than that, this Christmas romance pretty much ticked all the boxes for me. Recommended!

A copy of this book was provided through NetGalley for review; all opinions expressed are my own.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet family Christmas romance with a little bit of angst and personal growth. The story is basic. Successful city boy Max takes an enforced break in his hometown and takes time to evaluate his life – while enjoying the company of a sexy deputy.

This book manages to hit a whole stream of my romance weaknesses. I love the self-discovery Max experiences as he visits his hometown for the first time in far too long. I love a good small town deputy and I have a soft spot for single dads, home restorations, and cute dogs. Hell, I didn’t even mind the small children in this book. Add some snow and the only thing that keeps this story from turning into saccharine schmaltz is the well-crafted characters and their complicated histories.

I always enjoy Cari Z’s writing style and I tend to love the author’s characters. Max and Nicky are fabulous leading men, and this is a satisfying Christmas read.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Max Robertson hasn't been back to Edgewood, his hometown, in years. His father made a name for himself (not in a good way) and left Max the center of unwanted attention. He's living in New York City working his butt off to become partner. When his best friend Hal's young daughter calls and begs him to come for Christmas, Max can't say no. Hal's wife walked away from Hal and their daughters, and left Hal to raise his daughters alone. Max feels the guilt of not being there when they needed him the most, so he promises he'll be there for Christmas.

Dominic has always had a crush on his brother's best friend, Max, but he never expected to have to save him when Max slides off the road into a snowbank. Max doesn't recognize Dominic at first and feels an attraction to the hot police officer that saved him from freezing.

I enjoyed build up in this one. The relationship between Max and Dominic is easy and relatable. Hal was a great secondary character. Max is able to bring calm to Dominic's chaotic mind and Dominic is able to slow Max down, they really are what the other needs. His Holiday Crush is the perfect, quick, holiday read!