All I Want for Christmas

Jeffrey, Jon, Chris Kenry, William Mann, Ben Tyler. "All I Want for Christmas", Kensington, 2003. Four by Four Amos Lassen Four stories by four of Kensington's best authors comprise "All I Want for Christmas" but it does not have to be Christmas to enjoy these stories. Jon Jeffrey's "He'll Be Mine by Christmas Morning" is about acid tongued Carson St. John, the editor of "BFM", a popular gay men's magazine. Carson is used to having his way and calling the shots for everyone. Then he meets hunky and handsome Callum Fox. a British intellectual. Carson is determined to get him regardless if cost, Frank Malloy is the hero of "An Extra-Large Christmas" by Chris Kenry. Frank is photographers famous for his nude photos and no one knows what really turns him on are chubs. He lusts for Al, a barrel chested delivery man. Will Frank find out if Al has a package for him? Ben Tyler's "Naughty or Nice" is about Polly Pepper's son and his life as the child of a famous celebrity. Tim is blonde. has dimples and is a real cutie but for some reason he thinks that guys only use him so that they can meet his mother who is a gay cultural icon. Then he meets Evan and he falls madly in love but there is a problem--does Even like him because of his mother or is he really interested in Tim--could Evan be Tim's perfect Christmas present? "If You Believe" by William J. Mann is about four friends, James, Christopher, Michael and Bernard. Even they are very close, the relationship between them seems to be getting weaker with every meal they have together. Things really begin to change when Christopher has a new lover and brings him along for Christmas Eve. "If You Believe" is an amazing story and it will haunt you but all the stories are good. Even though the book is now six years, old it is the perfect Christmas gift for the guy that you can't seem to find a present for. What all of the stories have in common is that each of them deal with that perfect Christmas gift--someone to have and to hold.

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 do

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

"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.