It’s been a little over a year since Leta Blake published a new book and I’m happy to report that she’s back and better than ever. Mr. Jingle Bells was certainly worth waiting for. I received an early copy of the audiobook, performed by Nick Hudson, and I loved it.

Nick did a great job with all of the voices and he was particularly great with Ashton’s voice and style. It’s not often that an audiobook will invoke strong emotions for me (make me cry LOL) but towards the end of this story Nick made that happen. I’ve only listened to one other audiobook that he has performed but I will certainly listen to more now.

Ashton makes no apologies for who he is; he loves lip-gloss, sparkles and fun. Walker is one of Ashton’s business partners and he seems to merely tolerate Ashton. When Ashton has to find a place to stay while his apartment building is being fumigated, their other business partner suggests that Walker offer Ashton a place to stay. Their forced proximity makes both of them realize that their perception of each other may not be as accurate as they thought.

The story deals with some really difficult issues. Ashton’s family is worse than dysfunctional. His mother is an addict and he was placed with his religious fanatic grandmother who was abusive. Walker has a controlling father who’s OK with Walker being gay as long as he doesn’t date “femme” men.

We were given many clues along the way so it was no surprise when the major conflict came in this story. Ashton’s reaction to Walker’s secret was maybe a bit over-the-top but I think he had good reasons to be concerned. Fortunately, Leta Blake’s masterful wordsmithing had everything work out just fine. The epilogue set about a year later, was like lots of real butter on freshly popped popcorn – absolutely perfect!

Reviews for Leta Blake

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Hearing Ashton’s name, Walker froze in place. When he looked up, he almost couldn’t breathe. Ashton wore a pair of tight, black pants that cupped his ass and package, and a soft-looking, gold blouse beneath a black, faux-military jacket covered with gold and red trim.

He carried a Starbucks cup, like every morning, and, in the winter light from the big windows, he looked stunning. Absolutely breathtaking. What with his pale skin, dark hair, and all that black, gold, and red contrasting so perfectly. He looked like a model. Or a famous actor. He looked unreal. It was maddening.

Walker wished they’d instituted a dress code back when he, Casey, Ashton, and Nicole had met with their business attorney to draft all their other office policies. At the time, he’d barely known Ashton and hadn’t realized they’d need to prohibit Ashton’s entire wardrobe due to the risk of it sending Walker into a dazed and confused state nearly every single day. For fuck’s sake! How the man dressed, how he talked with that little lisp, the way he held his hands and moved his hips…none of that was Walker’s business. Why couldn’t he stop noticing it?

“Come here! You have to draw for Secret Santa!” Kayla said.

Ashton released a soft squeal of joy and rushed forward to shove his free hand into Kayla’s proffered bowl. Walker stayed only long enough to witness the overly dramatic production Ashton made of swirling the remaining four papers around before choosing one. Without waiting to see Ashton’s reaction to the name he’d chosen, Walker stalked off, his skin prickling with unwarranted irritation.

Once safely inside his lightly cluttered office, Walker shut the door and dropped his lunch on his desk. Settling into his ergonomic chair, he folded the piece of paper with Ashton’s name on it into a tiny square and slipped it into his desk drawer. He couldn’t quite bring himself to throw it away. It felt rude somehow. Ashton might make Walker feel confused and agitated but he still deserved better than the trash can.

Hoping the spicy banh mi wrap would distract him, Walker took a bite. Unfortunately, his tension didn’t dissipate, but at least he was sweating now from the spice and not from a riot of unwanted emotions over Ashton Sellers.

Why did he feel this way?

It wasn’t as if he were attracted to Ashton. Walker could never want a man like that—all feminine and glamorous, all gut-churningly beautiful. No. Walker liked women who were stereotypically feminine, and men who were, well, stereotypically masculine. Thickly muscled. Hairy in the right places. Button-ups during the week, and Polo shirts and golf shorts on the weekends. A beer drinker. A golfer.

Always a golfer.

Walker winced. His last boyfriend had been a traveling golf pro. Sebastian had spent most of their short relationship on tour. He’d never been around when Walker wanted him, much less needed him. He’d been only so-so in bed. But he’d ticked most of Walker’s boxes of someone worthy of interest, and they’d had a good run. Until it was over. That was always the way with the men Walker dated.

Home for the Holidays Series

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