Title: By the Chimney with Dare
Author: Leigh Ellwood
Length: 26 pdf pages
Publisher: DLP Books
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: B-
Blurb:
Alone for the holidays, Jimmy Carvana accepts a volunteer gig with his uncle’s limousine service, shuttling party guests to and from the local vineyard. When he’s asked to pick up Santa, he’s surprised to find a handsome, dark-haired man in a red suit as opposed to the stereotypical jolly old elf. As Santa, Trey Jeffries delights young and old, but alone in a cozy cabin on the outskirts of Dareville, he’s willing to offer Jimmy the gift that keeps on giving! Spend your holidays in Dareville this year, and watch out for the mistletoe.
Review:
This seasonal story is part of Leigh Ellwood’s Dareville series. I’ve not read any of the other books in the series, but that didn’t matter in the case of this story which follows chauffeur, Jimmy, who works for his uncle’s company. He’s running a charity job ferrying people to and from a party when he is asked to collect the guy posing as Santa for the party. Trey turns out to be completely different from expected and there’s lots of flirting going on between the two. Jimmy is only too happy to be the one to give Santa a lift home.
This was a cute short for those who are looking for a mini romance with a nicely written sex scene. As the third person narrator, Jimmy is the most rounded out of the pair and I enjoyed reading about his discomfort of the warm Virginia Decembers, the way he deftly extricates himself from half drunken female advances and his instant attraction and lust for Trey. Much of the story is focused on Jimmy’s job, a bit of background and the dance that he and Trey perform in the warm up before the action, but I liked that we are given some background on Trey so that he becomes more that just an object of lust. The sex scene itself is nicely written and erotic, and the story ends with a satisfying HFN.
Overall, if you are looking for an erotic short with a hint of romance and two genuinely likeable characters then this short should be just the ticket. It’s cheap too at only 99 cents, so there’s no excuse not to buy 
.
