Hello everyone!
Time for book three in our countdown to Christmas (and to the end of December as well) and can we just say how fast time flies, again??
Like, didn't December just start last week or something?
How is it almost Christmas already?!
But okay, fine, Christmas is almost here for us and it's time to write another blog post about a book.
When it comes to this one, bear with me a little please, because sadly I had no time to read it again yet and so I'm punching it out of my brain from memory.
Hopefully I got the gist of it right!
Although I mean, it's not rocket science.
It's happily If Only in my Dreams, by Keira Andrews.
As before in my posts, links to previous reviews will be found at the bottom of the page, so if you've missed the two blog posts I've already done so far of Ms Andrews' books, go take a look at those, or type 'Keira Andrews' into the search engine on top of the blog itself.
Now, to the book proper:
Charlie is in a bit of a fix. He's trying to get home for Christmas - but the flight has been delayed for days, and he HAS to be home on Christmas Day.
Why?
Because he promised his little sister Ava he would be, that's why.
Ava was diagnosed with leukemia and after successful treatments has finally gone into remission, and Charlie has this PTSD dream about what will happen if he doesn't come home on time to keep his promise: Ava's cancer will come back, and she's going to die.
Of course, rationally he knows this won't just happen, but nothing about fears is rational now, is there?
His only other option besides missing Christmas is driving in a rental car, but just his luck: the last one has been rented already - by someone he DOESN'T want to meet, honestly.
Gavin is the one that got away, the one who, back in high school, Charlie thought might have been 'the one', especially since they kissed and made out at one of the local swimming holes that summer, but the day AFTER this all happened ... well, there was a bit of a misunderstanding. And then the misunderstanding led to an even bigger mess when Charlie lashed out, and of course then their friendship was over, let alone a possible relationship.
Did I mention Charlie and Gavin became best friends after Gavin's family moved into the neighbourhood?
Yep.
Anyway, back to today, where Charlie's desperate and Gavin is still mad (so is Charlie honestly), but the two of them reach an agreement.
For Ava, they're going to both use the rental, drive it home, and then go separate ways as soon as they possibly can.
I mean, as soon as one of them stops slipping and falling on ice and they actually start talking again, that is.
Though what better way to air your issues out than stuck in a car that has only so much space to give and so much amusement until it all becomes boring as hell?
Yeah, you can probably see where this is going.
Not only that, however, but of course the boys also get a flat. Because why wouldn't they?
And why would the rental company supply spare tires?
It doesn't, so they're kind of stuck staying in a small town overnight, or until their car's fixed in any event, and as the motel is kind of full they end up sharing a room (though not quite a bed yet, as you'll see).
First they have to air some things out in the open, which is to say, that misunderstanding gets understood, finally, Charlie shares his fears about Ava, and Gavin admits that, actually, the girl everyone thought was his girlfriend has been encouraging him to come out and go flirt with guys since he's gay.
Here's the thing though: Gavin's father, when Gavin went to talk to him about it, basically told his son to be quiet and not tell his mother so he wouldn't upset her.
Which meant Gavin has been keeping his mouth shut on this for years and years.
But on a side note, he likes Charlie and Charlie TOTALLY likes Gavin, so while they have to stay over to get their car fixed, the motel room sees a little bit of action within those four walls, lemme just put it that way.
Thankfully, they also arrive back home just in time, though not everything ends quite as well as you'd expect.
Gavin's parents are certainly not as welcoming or forthcoming about their son's sexuality as Charlie's have always been, so Gavin runs back to Charlie first opportunity he gets. Charlie also gets the chance to apologise to Gavin's long-term past girlfriend for what happened in high school, and they sort of settle into a tentative friendship.
So as Charlie's parents head out on New Year's to treat themselves, Charlie and Gavin spend it with Ava and together, and also end up entertaining Gavin's parents when they come to apologise.
It'll be a rocky road ahead, but they can do it together, right? Right!
And as for our couple, they decide, hey, why should we fly back to college when we can rent a car again and drive? Take the time to really enjoy the trip?
Off they go, to happily ever after!
As with other Christmas books, this one was short, sweet, sexy and to the point, and it covered some really good topics within the whole compartment of sexuality and how parents cope with it once they realize their image of their children maybe isn't quite what they expected. But I enjoyed it, and Charlie and Gavin were precious once the miscommunication got cleared up.
And I mean, come on, it's a Christmas book. You gotta love stockings and presents - and blindfold races carrying someone piggyback style.
xx
*image not mine
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