Funzee's Cozy Couch: ARC Review : Secret Santa by Jay Northcote

Title: Secret Santa

Author: Jay Northcote

Publisher: Jaybird Press (self published)

Length: 38,000 words approx

Genre: contemporary m/m romance, holidays, Christmas

Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Release Date: Friday 24th November 2017

Series info: This book is a standalone

My Rating : 5 of 5 Stars

Keeping secrets is never a good way to start a relationship

Theo hardly has time to date. Between work and caring for his four-year-old son there aren’t many hours left over. He’s lonely though, so he joins a hook-up app and starts chatting to a guy called Luke. Luke seems friendly and they arrange to meet. Theo doesn’t mention that he has a child. It’s early days and he’s worried about putting Luke off before they get to know each other.

Luke is currently working as Santa at the local shopping mall. He figures Theo never has to know. Christmas will be over soon and Luke will move on to a new, less embarrassing job. He’s surprised when Theo and a little boy visit Santa one afternoon. Theo doesn’t recognise Luke, and Luke realises he’s not the only one with a secret.

Despite misgivings on both sides, they start dating, and the chemistry is amazing. But as Christmas approaches their secrets pile up like colourful packages under the tree. If they’re not careful, they’ll lose the best gift of all—each other.

Goodreads | Secret Santa

The secrets between them loomed, seemingly insurmountable. Luke wanted to fix things and make it right, but he didn’t know how.

Theo only knew about his own dishonesty. He didn’t know about Luke’s.

Keeping secrets is never a good way to start a relationship...

🍭🍭🍭

Yup! Keeping secrets is never a good way to start a relationship!

I couldn't agree more!

And that what makes this Christmas Novella had successfully grip me since the very first page to the very last.

The author 'cruelly' put the reader as 'the third party' and watch how these two MC's falls into silly 'misunderstanding' because of the secrets they keep from each others and THAT made you feels like as if you're in the middle of big soccer games and you're sit on the tribune, yelling on the player on the fields with stupid words like, "Gosh! Come on! Not like that!" or in this case, what you're say would be like "Oh! Come on! Say it! SAY IT!! Aaaaaargggghhh!" etc - until almost the end of the reading!

And THAT what's makes this book feels a bit emotional in a good way and absolutely worth to read!

The chemistry between Theo, Luke and little Archie are beautiful and warmed my heart.

Secret Santa is definitely a highly recommended read to welcoming this Christmas Holiday! So, don't miss it!

Amazon | Amazon UK | Universal Amazon Link

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn’t stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press. Many of his books are now available as audiobooks.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.