Sock it to Me, Santa!

July 12, 2013 by Pip

Title : Sock it to Me, Santa!

Author : Madison Parker

Publisher : Madison Parker

Purchase links : Amazon ~ B&N ~ ARe ~ Smashwords

Genre : M/M, Contemporary, Young Adult

Length : 55 pages (e-book)

Published : November 12, 2012

Blurb:

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 ?

Review:

What an absolutely adorable read. It is YA so no sex, but damn… I think I have a foot thing going on. 🙂

Ryan’s Homegroup teacher organises a Secret Santa gift exchange – 3 weeks, 3 gifts, but they all have to be handmade. Fun idea! But for those that aren’t good at crafts it is a difficult task…. possibly made harder depending on who your recipient is. Ryan knows he is gay, but has elected to stay in the closet until College. Jamie also knows he is gay, but is fairly open about it. Of course Ryan draws Jamie’s name in the Secret Santa – but what the heck will he make him? He hardly knows the guy. It made me think of Christmas Carol – instead of 3 ghostly visits though we have 3 gifts – and the increased feelings behind each gift is just beautiful, culminating with a total *thud* moment.

This book really hits its mark in showing how tough it can be at school. The panic that Ryan feels – second guessing every action in his interactions with Jamie, he was terrified people would discover his secret – it really pulled at my heart-strings. School can be tough and with all the social networking, and not a lot of privacy, it makes it even harder.

I loved Ryan and his family so much. Yes, he stays quiet when he should speak up. Yes, he should have been brave enough to openly be Jamie’s friend. But you feel his fear, and feel for him. He is a good guy, and ultimately he comes through.

Jamie is a shining star, living his life his way. He endures the actions of idiots, almost immune to them. But when someone he likes hurts him – that dims his light. Takes away his lustre. Isn’t that always the way? The closer you are the deeper the cut.

I really loved this book. I would love more of these guys! Let’s all go to College with them and share the trials and tribulations that entails. I don’t want to say goodbye yet 😦 Go. Buy the Book! At 99c buy one for your friend too! 🙂

Rated 4 stars by Barb