Boughs of Evergreen: A Holiday Anthology
All Mitch wants for Christmas is a quiet holiday free from grief. Patching up the face of the target of a mugging in the back alley of his bar seems to throw that wish right out into the cold Chicago night. But the tatted, pierced, and skinny-jean wearing Keller Graham is fearless and proves to be more than a pair of icy blue eyes lined in black. Keller may be a thief, but Mitch never expected him to steal his lonely heart.
What a tease this story was! Hunter Frost makes perfect use of these twenty-three pages…she hooked me, pulled me in for the ride, and left me wanting more. More of the sexy MCs, the intriguing storyline, and of the Christmas cheer!
I loved the premise here, and both of the main characters were so interesting, and instantly loveable. Mitch is an ex-military medic, now bar owner, who breaks up a fight outside his bar on Christmas Eve. He brings the victim, Keller, into the bar to tend his injuries, where he discovers that Mitch is heavily into the whole Christmas spirit thing. Keller is a basically homeless artist, who could definitely use some joy in his life.
There is a pretty instant attraction – which is in no way hokey – and the two guys have fantastic chemistry…but, it is their connection that really sells the story. It feels so genuine, and “meant to be,” I found myself riveted while they listened to each other’s histories, and shared Christmas together. Both of their pasts are filled with hurt, but they each seem to be exactly what the other needs to move forward in their lives.
Surprisingly satisfying for being so short, An Angel in Eyeliner is a wonderful little Christmas story! I really hope she thinks about expanding this for a novella or novel at some point, because I feel like Mitch and Keller have more story to be told. I definitely recommend this one.