Glass Tidings Paperback – December 5, 2016

When I began reading this book, I wasn’t sure whether I would continue or put it aside until another time. I decided to keep reading & I’m happy I did. The story begins with Eddie drifting into a small town & witnessing a child getting hit by a car. Fearing he would be judged based on his physical look, as soon as the ambulance arrived he would slip away. But once the police & ambulance arrived, Eddie realized he wasn’t being looked at as a suspect. Christine the police officer on scene asked Eddie to stay a few days to give a full account of what he witnessed. Instead of staying in a hotel, Christine asked her friend Gray who came out of his home to see what was going on if Eddie could stay with him. Gray reluctantly agreed figuring it would be only a few days. As Eddie was going through his duffel bag he realized in all of the commotion his safety goggles were busted & he had no money to buy another pair which he needed to earn a living. Gray needing help told Eddie he would buy him a new pair & he could work at his seasonal store to pay him back.The story evolves from there which teaches Eddie & Gray not to judge a person on their looks or actions. There isn’t needless ongoing filler, giving enough for the back story of why Eddie & Gray are the way they are. Read this book, you won’t be disappointed.

This story is one of those that sneak up on you and when you're finally aware of it, the characters have already crawled under your skin and you can't put it down anymore.At least, that's what happened to me.It took me a few chapters to get into this book. It's my first by this author and the writing style was one I had to get used to. But, it's exactly that same writing style that is so captivating about this book. By choosing the words to tell this story, the characters and their surroundings got to me in a certain way and I couldn't shake them off anymore, not even when I closed the book. It took a while for Eddie and Gray to fade into the background again.It's certainly not your typical Christmasread, but it does have a kind of wintery, holiday season feeling to it and that's on the author, because she creates a certain atmosphere, a vibe, in this story and she does that very well.There's this guy, Eddie, who never sticks around. He's hurt, he has a hard time getting attached to people, because all life has proven him so far, is that at some point, they all let him down. It doesn't mean he doesn't crave it. He longs for a family, for someone to love him and for him to love. For some place and someone to belong. That's something the author does very well. Without really giving words to it, you sense it all through every line, through every word you read. Every interaction between Gray and Eddie, every thought you draw from Eddie's mind, even though he keeps telling himself something different.And Gray is kind of the same, even though he tells himself the life he built for himself after his last boyfriend left him, is a good one. He doesn't need to have someone around, to take care of other people. He's a recluse and he's fine with that.Until he isn't and that's Eddie's doing.This was a slow burn, age gap romance, very cleverly and well written. It's not the light, warm and fluffy holiday read you might look for around Christmastime, but it certainly does have a lot of feels.I loved it, and will be sure to look for more of Amy Jo Cousins books.

In this unique and heartwarming Christmas romance, Grayson Croft is lonely but surviving in his quiet home in the small town of Clear Lake. His last boyfriend left for the excitement of the big city, but Grayson runs a Christmas shop that’s been in his family for a few generations and one he isn’t willing to give up. It’s only open for a few months before Christmas but the income he makes sustains him for the rest of the year. Still, by himself he sees no need to decorate his home for the season when he lives among the tinsel in his shop all day. The last thing he wants is company, and certainly not of the variety that gets thrust upon him.Eddie Rodrigues is a drifter, a man who makes his way from the north to the south and back again every year at the whim of the weather. A glass artist, he creates wares to sell at renaissance fairs and gets by on a survival basis. When his last relationship, which he thought might tide him over for Christmas doesn’t pan out, he’s on his way down to Texas when the car he ‘borrowed’ dies, and in backtracking to the small town he’s just passed, he witnesses a hit and run. Shocked and unsure what to do, the decision is made for him when the local police officer passes him off to stay with her friend Grayson while she investigates. Eddie plans to stay as short a time as possible, anxious to get down south and resume his regular life. But he and Grayson find something in each other that strikes a chord, and soon Eddie’s plans to leave before the Christmas holiday get put on hold. Will a man who never stays in one place long enough to build a relationship find the home he’s been seeking?What interesting characters! They are such opposites and yet both looking for something that they soon discover the other is able to provide. It’s a wary friendship at first, and Eddie isn’t used to trusting anyone so it takes him a while to be comfortable around Grayson. Plus he’s used to having to repay favors with other ‘favors’, a notion that definitely puts any sexual attraction between them on the back burner for a little while as they gain their senses of self around each other. Gradually they build the trust they need to be comfortable with more, even knowing that whatever they have now will be gone when the holidays are over and Eddie leaves for good. They share some sexy love scenes, but more importantly the emotional connection they build is sweet and satisfying. I loved that Grayson found a way to incorporate Eddie’s artistic talents into his store while Eddie was able to return the favor and bring some of what Grayson loves about the Christmas season back into his home again. It would be too simple to say that they’ll have a happy ever after – it will take work and communication and trust to go the distance. But we’re left with the feeling that this couple will make every effort to do just that. It’s a lovely story.

This was such a wonderful feel good holiday story, I really didn't want it to end. Gray and Eddie were wonderful together, developing as characters as the reader and they got to know one another.

I must have bought this book by mistake as I was looking at another author with a similar title and clicked on this book by mistake, it was alright I suppose but am not in the habit of reading gay boy/girl books so was abit of a ho humm as I started to read. I did finnish it not much different to the usual romance story lines. but won't be rushing out to buy another, sorry but can only say it was O.K

Grossartige Charakterzeichnung, im Sinne von Erklärung für den Leser/die Leserin, warum Menschen sich manchmal ganz anders verhalten, als wir erwarten. I Really love this book.

Great read