The Lights on Knockbridge Lane

I'm not a big fan of Christmas romances, or romances that feature kids, but I'll follow Roan Parrish anywhere, especially when she is the author of the first gay Harlequin category romance. Although the plot veers dangerously close to corny (Adam wants to make his 8 year old daughter happy so he promises that their house will have The Most Christmas Lights Ever), the romance between Adam and Wes is just quirky enough to balance the scales.

Wes is reclusive, shy, and overly fond of animals that most people run from. Watching him gradually come out of his shell as Adam and Gus demonstrate how much they appreciate him (weirdness and all) is just lovely. Also the presence of a tarantula named Bettie and various other creepy critters, provides some counterpoint to the treacle. Plus what is the last romance novel you read that includes a scientific explanation of bioluminescence? Gus is a little too precocious to be real, but I'll let that slide because Adam's amazing parenting skills are one of the factors that make him so attractive, along with his lack of shame about his tendency to cry whenever he feels strongly about something.

Adam and Wes both have some family issues to work through, but the angst is low-key, as befitting a holiday romance, and even the inevitable third-act crisis is resolved quickly. I hope this won't be the only Harlequin M/M romance to be published; at the very least they need to get on board for the next book that Parrish is obviously planning for Adam's nonbinary sibling, River.