Customer Reviews

All I Want for Christmas

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"All I Want For Christmas" is not as strong as "Summer Share". However I am rating it 5 stars because of "If You Believe" by Mann, which is one of his best efforts to date. Mann is one of my favorite writers and "If You Believe" is a treasure. Hauntingly beautiful, it is written with a poignancy and honesty which just tugs at my heart. Yes Mann, I wish I have my own merman too. "An Extra Large Christmas" is fun and Kenry does not disappoint. I was least impressed with Jeffrey's and Tyler's efforts as I never like stories with "Hollywood" influence. Yet "All I Want For Christmas" still shines because of one gem, "If You Believe"

This was an easy selection for me, since it features short stories by four of my favorite authors of light/comic gay fiction. The four stories (averaging about 75 pages each) are set during the holiday season, in accordance with the title.

In the opener, Jon ("Boyfriend Material") Jeffrey features his character Carson St. John, who is the wickedly-biting editor of a gay mens magazine. Carson is offered a better job on a famous men's magazine, with the added bonus that he'll be working with a charming, very handsome (and single) Brit who expressed an interest in him. Loaded with catty criticism of the NYC "A list" gay community.

Chris ("Can't Buy Me Love", "Uncle Max") Kenry has a cute story with an interesting twist: Frank Malloy is a well-known photographer, best known for his "coffee table" books of male nudes, primarily young smooth twinks, surfers, etc. He is regularly approached by cute young men looking to model for him, but the irony is that Frank is only attracted to chubby men ... like the UPS man Al, who Frank keeps coming to his door daily by ordering things through mail order he really doesn't want or need. Frank also meets up with a Czech former porn star, who wants to be Frank's apprentice, but Al thinks Frank is having an affair with.

My favorite of the four is by William J ("The Men From The Boys", "Where The Boys Are") Mann, who explores the emotional dynamics between four diverse gay 20-something men who have been friends since their early teens. At the age when they start to favor "settling down", they struggle with relationships as well as each other's perceptions of their chosen boyfriends.

Last but not least, Ben ("Gay Blades", "Hunk House", "Tricks of the Trade") Tyler brings us a fun look at the home of an aging, overbearing rich Hollywood icon, Polly Pepper, and her gay son, Tim, who functions more like her personal assistant. Tim realizes Mom holds the pursestrings, and is generally happy with his status as "Polly Pepper's gay son", except that he resents that any guys he meets seem to be more excited about having access to Polly than to him.

There is an old saying, "In the spring, a young man's fancy turns to love." However, a young man does not only fall in love in springtime and sometimes he falls in love with another man. This anthology of four short stories chronicles the lives of gay men who only want Santa to leave them one present under the tree: someone to love forever.

1.) He'll Be Mine By Christmas Morning / Jon Jeffrey

Carson St. John seemingly has it all. He is the editor of a successful gay men's magazine and a popular television personality. Added to that, he has good looks, great clothes, and money to burn. Unfortunately, Carson is feeling burned out by his career path and he is tired of lunchtime quickies with the latest married man due jour. He is also very full of himself. A twist of fate gives Carson an opportunity for an exciting new career and a real relationship with a great guy. However, can Carson overcome his self-centered ways before he loses everything he had ever dreamed was possible?

2.) An Extra Large Christmas / Chris Kenry

What do you do when everyone in your life expects you to lust after Brad Pitt but you secretly lust after John Goodman? Frank Malloy makes a very successful living photographing naked studs for coffee-table books. However, what he really wants to do is photograph the splendor of Italy...Yet he is too afraid to change. He would also love to go to Italy with someone special...Yet he is too afraid of people finding out that he does not fantasize about guys with six-pack abs...He fantasizes about guys with beer guts.

The best part of Frank's day is when Al, the hefty local delivery driver stops by to drop off the packages that Frank orders on a daily basis just to see him. A friendship turns to love for the two of them but Frank, fearing a tarnishing of his public image wants to keep his relationship a secret. Will Frank have the courage to be his own man or lose the love of his life?

3.) If You Believe / William J. Mann

James, Christopher, and Michael have been like three peas in a pod since elementary school. This Christmas however, Michael is feeling pretty jealous of his best friends. He already feels awkward around them because he is not as smart as James is, or as handsome as Christopher. To top it off, they have boyfriends to spend the holiday with and Michael does not (even if James' boyfriend is a jerk and Christopher's boyfriend is almost 40). With average looks, in a dead end job, and no boyfriend in sight, Michael begins to wonder if he will ever find someone to love. On Christmas Eve, Michael learns not to judge a book by its cover (and to care about himself) when he finds out that his soul mate might just be...Christopher's boyfriend, Bud.

4.) Naughty Or Nice / Ben Tyler

Tim Pepper has a life that most gay men would kill to have. The son of Hollywood legend Polly Pepper (think Carol Burnett), Tim has a relatively cushy job as his mother's social secretary & party planner (even if it does mean dealing with his mother's histrionics, 24/7). With good looks, charm, and more money than God to boot, you would think guys would be clamoring to get into Tim's pants. They are...but it is usually so they can get Polly's autograph. When Tim meets a florist named Evan, he decides that in order to know if Evan really cares for him, Tim cannot tell him his real identity. Will Tim find true love or will his paranoia cause him to be lonely on Christmas morning?


I really did not like Jeffrey's story. To me, Carson started out a conceited jerk and ended a conceited jerk even though we were supposed to believe he was a "changed man," now that he had found true love. It was one of those situations where I am sitting there thinking, "I give it six months, tops." Carson did not deserve as good a guy as he got. There were parts of the story that I enjoyed, however. Any of the scenes, which involved Carson's blasé assistant or his best friend, were fantastic. I found these characters to be very engaging and interesting. I would definitely read a novel with either or both of them as the main character.

What I enjoyed the most about Kenry's story was the fact that Al was not the "typical" picture of what is considered handsome. I think it gives hope to all of us guys who probably will not make the cover of GQ. I think there was a strong theme in the story of having the courage and the maturity to not care what other people might think and do in your heart what you know is right.

I thought Mann's story was the best written out of the four stories. I thought he wrote with real grace and he was very adept at conveying his character's emotions to the reader. There were themes all over this story such as love, death, loneliness, fear, loss, new beginnings. I felt as if I was traveling the journey with his characters and when the story ended, I wanted more. In this story more than any other, I was dying to know, "What happens next?" However, this story was like life. Everything is not always wrapped up so neatly.

Tyler's story was the most fun. Personally, I thought the secondary characters of Tim's mother and her confidante/maid, stole the show. Both of them made me laugh out loud and it was just fun to wonder what outrageous thing was going to come out of their mouths next.

If someone is offended by coarse language, this probably is not the book for him/her (The opening conversation in the first story takes place after oral sex). However, this book is much more about the lives of the characters, than sex. If you are looking for a fun, entertaining read with some alternative romance during any holiday season, pick this book up!

William J Mann steals the whole show in All I want for Christmas in "If you Believe".

Three friends who have been together since their high school days and have shared in both the good and the bad. James the handsome one with the successful boyfriend, Bernard, Christopher the good looking blond who's afraid of growing old and alone, and then there's Michael the narrator the outsider of the group who never has a boyfriend.

Its another year but things are different Christopher has a new boyfriend who he considers is "the one", Bud the older man who is continuously teased and made fun of by James and is the outlet of Christopher's constant whining, Michael and Bud who despite their age difference seem to be able to connect with each other and see who the other really is. Bud notices Michael who seems to take a back seat to his friends, whenever he is with them and seems to dwindle under what he perceives as their shine. Having a father who always plays Santa Claus for the children despite his age, thoughts of a mother who he lost when he was thirteen and the constant assaults of memories he cant let go Michael leads us through it all. As Christmas nears there is a breaking point between friends as Christopher and Bud's relationship hits it's last snag.

I loved "If You Believe" I was hoping I would like the other stories as well but unfortunately none of them were. It was a bittersweet story that I wish would be continued and published Michael was a wonderful storyteller and my heart really went out to him because he didn't cut himself enough slack despite the fact that I believe readers could see he had more to offer. Funny and sad at times If You Believe reminded me of Christmas classics as we travel through the past and present with the holiday's as a lingering background, Michael playing the titular role of the character who learns that the holiday's can be what dreams are made of and that this Christmas maybe he'll finally get what he wished for.

I was determined to find some gay Christmas stories this year and happily came upon "All I Want For Christmas," four short stories written by some of today's best authors of the genre. The winner here was "An Extra Large Christmas" by Chris Kenry. It was a totally heart-warming piece, I especially liked it as it just wasn't typical. I don't want to spoil the story for you, but I love that Kenry had a hunky guy falling for someone (the UPS man) who did not exactly fit the gay stereotype. Michael Mann who is among my favorite authors offers a very appealing story here with "If You Believe." The other two stories were enjoyable but not as outstanding as the two I have already mentioned. A great book to cuddle up with in front of the fire, I highly recommend it!
Guy De Rosa
Los Angeles, California