Good book-this gives you real insight on the issues.

Status: Busy. Super bezee!

I am now backing up some precious Online Original Fictions.

NO!

I just need to keep em safe from sudden disappearance.

     3.75 stars

    When I think about this series of short books as a whole, I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoyed them, there was a lot that I really loved about them....but I can't help but feel maybe just a little disappointed by the ending. 


   I guess I feel like Julie did through most of these books....I'm left wanting answers. But maybe that was what the author was going for, as Jules realized I'm this book, to stop trying to search for all the answers and rush to an end and instead simply cherish what you have, and enjoy the now. So I guess I have some conflicting emotions, while I can appreciate that sentiment and think it's kind of cool, I also have all these burning questions that I wish I would have gotten answers to. What happened between Derek and Rebecca? Did she really just leave Zoey with him? What happened at school with Matt? Did Just a Little Soirée ever happen? How did Charlie fair in the end with everything? More than anything though I would have loved to see what everyone's, most especially Luke and Julie's, happy ever after looked like.

     This book took place over a year after the previous one, and A LOT had changed in that time. Just a Little Sequel was chalk full of surprises. I was shocked by so many of them, but they definitely made for an interesting story. I loved all the progress made between Julie and Luke. But at the same time there was always one thing that I found a little odd and I thought left their romance to fall short....passion. I think Salt-n-Pepa said it best....

or we can even class it up a little...

I found it rather hard to believe that they existed in this place where after being in love for years they never did more than hug and kiss. I guess I thought maybe the author was holding out for awhile because Julie was 17 at the starting of these books and some people are not fond of diving into that controversial underage sex subject. But she hit 18 a few books ago, and Luke was in his mid twenties, and as far as I know neither had any religious beliefs or anything that made them want to wait. And it never really talked about it, except for the bread thought Julie had about Rebecca having an unplanned pregnancy and that being enough to make her want to focus on the emotional part of her and Luke's relationship for well over a year. I guess I just felt like all they've done this entire series was work on that, and I personally would have enjoyed a little more passion, or at the very least for it to be acknowledged that it had to have been something they thought about, and rather often I would think. That end just felt unrealistic and rather immature to me. 

     All in all though I thought this was a really cute series, I was roped in after the first book! I loved that the first 4 were free through B&N, it was a great idea because after reading those first few free ones I was hooked, and immediately purchased the remaining 5 so I could devour the whole thing! And the books I did purchase were all reasonably priced, I don't think I paid more than $1.99 for any of them. 
Well worth every penny a spent, this series was a delight to read from start to finish. 
                          

Sock it to Me, Santa! by Madison Parker
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read from December 24 to 25, 2013 — I own a copy

This brought love and Christmas to me. Warms my heart and tickle my funny bone. Plastered a goofy grin on me.

Ryan's first word describing Jamie to his mom was, soft. That goofy grin of mine started right at that point onwards. Lol. Ryan wasn't exactly a perfect person, he is filled with insecurities and was a little too self absorbed to see things around him clearly. He should really thank Mrs. Keats his homeroom teacher for setting up that Secret Santa gift exchange challenge.

That event did a hell lot of good drawing Ryan out of his protective shell, helping him to look deeper than the skin and also to let his true self shine. I'll say, Jamie brought out the best in Ryan and of course Ryan's loving understanding mom must be credited as well for the undying support she gave.

The author did great with Ryan's characterization, he is very much a believable teenager trying to find his own footing in life, was troubled by his sexuality and being too overly sensitive to public judgment. Although I didn't get to know Jamie as much due to the fact that the story was entirely in Ryan's POV, but he still managed to endear himself to me. Jamie might look effeminate and soft as everyone including how Ryan first perceived him yet he is stronger than anyone even the bullies and Ryan. This is because he stand tall and proud of who he is. He acknowledges his true self and wouldn't hide like Ryan did just to fit in. At least he isn't living a lie and I admire his courage and sense of self-value to stand firm against unjust negativity directed at him daily. He is beautiful inside out. He shines, and this is what attracted Ryan to him.

Ryan's sudden discovery of his fetish was priceless. There are many adorable moments in this book such as the aforementioned embarrassing fetish discovery, giggly chapstick exchange and the Great Shoe Operation was utterly romantic!


Here's my assortment of feelz for this book...

Fell in love with the Hoobajoob socks monkey

I want him please? Found him on the internet and fell in love with him. He makes me wish I could sew well.

Haz too much happy magic mushrooms


Touching, heart-warming moments worth a thousand words


Moments of intense annoyance over some idiots!


Lastly, bone-meltingly sweet and romantic moments which I took my time to savor each morsel

Then, I pen this short note....

Dear Author,

Thank you for bringing Christmas and love to me.

With tears of joy,

Kyn

That ending was perfect and most meaningful. It highlights a message that bigoted fools are unworthy of your time. So don't waste your life over these shallow minds. Go live life and love without regrets as it should be.

Pick up this book, read it and love it!



BOOK DETAILS:

Title: Sock it to Me, Santa!
Author: Madison Parker
Publication Date: November 12th, 2012
Type: Short Story, 13,290 words
Genre: M/M, Gay, LGBTQ, Coming Out, Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult Fiction
Tags/Keywords: student, school, closeted, coming out, first love, having a crush, falling in love, romance, holidays, christmas, secret santa, gift exchange, contemporary, adorable character, adorable story, humor-comedy-fun, feel-good-story, effeminate male, engrossing, insecurities, low confidence, inspiring, no sex, realistic, twink, young adult, young man, angst

Description:
Ryan is assigned to Jamie Peterson for his class's secret gift exchange. If word gets out that he has to make a handcrafted gift for flamboyant and openly gay Jamie, Ryan will be the laughing stock of the school. It's a good thing no self-respecting boy would be caught dead in a craft store, because otherwise he'd be at risk of being spotted when his mom drags him to her weekly craft workshops. He hopes Jamie will appreciate all the trouble he's going to for this assignment. Finding the perfect gift is gonna be tricky. Jamie deserves something good, though, after all the crap he has to put up with at school. At least, Ryan tells himself that's the reason he's putting so much thought into the gift. It couldn't be that he has feelings for Jamie, could it?


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* Reviewed on December 26th, 2013


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Comment on December 25th, 2013:
Loved this

View all my reviews