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Jay Northcote
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A Family for Christmas Kindle Edition

by Jay Northcote (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 958 ratings
Zac never had a family of his own, but Rudy has enough to share.Shy, inexperienced Rudy has a crush on Zac from the moment his new colleague walks through the door. On an office night out before Christmas, Rudy finds the courage to make a move, and they form a tentative bond. When he discovers Zac will be alone at Christmas, he invites Zac to come home with him.Zac prefers to keep people at arm’s length. Yet when Rudy offers him a family Christmas it’s impossible to resist. With no parents of his own, Zac is pleasantly surprised to be welcomed by Rudy’s. The only drawback is that everyone assumes they’re a couple. Unwilling to disappoint Rudy’s mum and make Christmas awkward, they decide not to deny it.It’s not a chore for Zac to pose as Rudy’s boyfriend, but the pretence makes him want things that scare him—things like a real relationship with Rudy. Zac’s suffered enough rejection in his life already and is afraid to risk his heart. If he can get over his past rejection and let Rudy inside his armour, he might get more for Christmas than he ever imagined.This story is a standalone book with a satisfying happy ending.44,000 words approx
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  1. Print length
    177 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 17, 2016
  4. File size
    2.4 MB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fun, sweet, clumsy, cute, sexy, innocent, heart-warming and more than a little bit charming. Highly recommended." My Fiction Nook

"A heart-warming gem" Sinfully Gay Romance
"A Family for Christmas was exactly what I needed in my life right now - a light, sweet, sexy and very romantic story which gave me all the good feels." The Way She Reads

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N2HPPKB
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jaybird Press (November 17, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 17, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 177 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1540410161
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 958 ratings

About the author

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Jay Northcote

Jay Northcote

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Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England. He comes from a family of writers, but always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed him by. He spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content.

One day, Jay decided to try and write a short story—just to see if he could—and found it rather addictive. He hasn't stopped writing since.

Jay writes contemporary romance about men who fall in love with other men. Jay has five books published by Dreamspinner Press, and he also self-publishes under the imprint Jaybird Press.

Jay is transgender and was formerly known as she/her.

Web: www.jaynorthcote.com

Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/JN-readers

Twitter: @jay_northcote

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaynorthcotefiction

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
958 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoy this heartwarming holiday tale about finding love, with one review noting it's a low angst story without becoming sappy. The book features engaging male leads, and customers appreciate its readability as a quick read, with one mentioning it's perfect for enjoying with a cup of hot chocolate. Customers praise the writing quality, particularly the British setting, and find it warm and accepting.

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63 customers mention "Story quality"63 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy this sweet Christmas tale, describing it as a beautiful love story about finding family, with one customer noting it's a low angst holiday narrative.

"...racially diverse characters and/or secondary characters; stories about self-discovery, overcoming difficult childhoods or other obstacles but not..." Read more

"...Entertaining and enjoyable story with a sturdy implied HEA. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.3 ~ Stars: 4 ==========================..." Read more

"...Another well-written and wonderful story by Jay :)" Read more

"...You can feel the love and affection that all these people have for one another. There were a few things I was less fond of, though...." Read more

31 customers mention "Heartwarming"31 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and endearing, with one customer noting it's sweet without becoming sappy.

"...The book was told from dual POV. And finally, the sex scenes are both sweet and steamy; the Sardines scene was really HOT...." Read more

"...Entertaining and enjoyable story with a sturdy implied HEA. . Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.3 ~ Stars: 4 ==========================..." Read more

"...his kindness, shyness, and awkwardness makes their relationship very endearing and sweet. Another well-written and wonderful story by Jay :)" Read more

"This was a cute book with a lot of cute things, but it definitely came across as more sex than fluff...." Read more

28 customers mention "Character development"28 positive0 negative

Customers love the characters in the book, particularly Rudy and Zac, with one customer noting the engaging male leads and another appreciating the racially diverse cast.

"...racially diverse characters and/or secondary characters; stories about self-discovery, overcoming difficult childhoods or other obstacles but not..." Read more

"...Secondary characters were a joy. I laughed out loud over Holly’s antics at one point and was glad I was not reading in public at that moment...." Read more

"...I really like Mark’s voice and thought he did a great job with the character voices...." Read more

"This book not only is a great story with excellent character development, but its pacing is absolute perfection!..." Read more

22 customers mention "Readability"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a great quick read, with one mentioning it's perfect to enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate.

"...Overall, I really enjoy Northcote as an author. He is a great writer, very prolific (which I really appreciate when I find an author I like), and..." Read more

"...The audiobook production was well done and overall it was a really enjoyable listening experience." Read more

"So well done. Great pacing with really likable characters. Sometimes twenty four hours really does impact the rest of your life...." Read more

"...Zac and Rudy’s story is cute and sappy and makes for a wonderful read." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book, particularly its British English style and setting.

"...Overall, I really enjoy Northcote as an author. He is a great writer, very prolific (which I really appreciate when I find an author I like), and..." Read more

"...Another well-written and wonderful story by Jay :)" Read more

"...It's British, so the 'society/work/family not accepting them as a couple' angst is missing, which was a relief for this American reader...." Read more

"...Jay Northcote is a wonderful writer and I look forward to reading of his work!" Read more

6 customers mention "Emotion"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, with one mentioning how it tugs at the heartstrings, while another appreciates the realistic portrayal of emotions.

"...Low angst is this story leaves more room for a feel-good, sexy novella. Lead characters work well together despite their differences...." Read more

"...Zac and Rudy are not just adorable they feel so very real...." Read more

"...They bring warmth, love and the best feelings of what family and home can be to the story...." Read more

"...Warm, wonderful feel-good story that tugs at the heartstrings." Read more

4 customers mention "Warmth"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book warm and cozy.

"...And finally, the sex scenes are both sweet and steamy; the Sardines scene was really HOT...." Read more

"...It is fun to watch a hero with trust issues fall in love. Very cozy and sexy." Read more

"...Warm, wonderful feel-good story that tugs at the heartstrings." Read more

"...I loved Rudy's family, so warm and accepting." Read more

3 customers mention "Acceptance"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the acceptance theme in the book.

"...I loved Rudy's family, so warm and accepting." Read more

"...Perfect Christmas tale of love and acceptance! 10 stars out of 5!!!" Read more

"Warm loving Christmas about the love of family and acceptance...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • thegudgeon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Finding love and a family at Christmas
    Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I have read almost all of Jay Northcote's books (22 of them...holy cow!) and love most of them. I can't decide whether A Family for Christmas or The Law of Attraction is my favorite book of his, but I've read this one 3 times in the past year(!), so maybe it has a slight edge. Overall, I really enjoy Northcote as an author. He is a great writer, very prolific (which I really appreciate when I find an author I like), and when he gets it right (for the kind of book I love), he really gets it right! I'm married to a Brit, so I also love reading books set in the UK. I know some other reviewers have complained about it, but I actually enjoyed the British English and different terms for things. (I also LOVED getting an explanation of the game Sardines. I used to read Regency romance novels and could never figure out how that game was played, lol.)

    The story takes place over Christmas with Rudy inviting his work colleague, Zac, home for Christmas. I really resonated with both main characters for different reasons. Shy Rudy is adorable and harboring a huge crush on the enigmatic Zac. His pining and insecurities are very sweet, as is his ability to give Zac some of the things that Zac secretly longs for. And Zac...he hit me in ALL the feels. Northcote did an amazing job of capturing Zac's feelings of childhood loneliness and how that can affect the stories you tell to and about yourself as you grow up. Zac's longing for a family and unconditional love - and the hard protective shell he'd built up - was very well written and made me tear up several times. I loved watching both MCs grow and take a chance on being vulnerable with each other. The scenes with Holly the kitten were also really cute.

    Other things I liked: the secondary characters were well-written, both the work colleagues and Rudy's family. The book was told from dual POV. And finally, the sex scenes are both sweet and steamy; the Sardines scene was really HOT. My only negative about the book is that I wish it were longer! I would have loved to spend more time with Zac and Rudy.

    =====================
    A general note about my reviews in case you're looking for similar books. I work in the mental health field IRL and reading is a way to decompress, so (generally) I will purposely choose books that deal with "lighter" subject matter. I favor books that deal with characters growing and resolving their personal/relationship difficulties and getting their HEA.
    **What I look for in a book: first and foremost, strong writing and editing (I hate typos!); racially diverse characters and/or secondary characters; stories about self-discovery, overcoming difficult childhoods or other obstacles but not crushing angst; stories and characters that are "realistic enough" (i.e. I doubt half the players on a hockey team are gay IRL, but for the sake of a well-written series, I can roll with it); well-written sex scenes; dual POV in the storytelling.
    **Themes I generally don't care for: "daddy" relationships (unless done really well); sub/dom stories; insta-love; sci-fi/fantasy; mpreg; shifters; lots of kink; GFY (again, unless done really well); kidnapping or bodyguard stories; crazy/violent/stalker exes; MCs with severe mental health issues, severe trauma, or substance abuse/addiction
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Tina J
    4.0 out of 5 stars 4.3 > Sweet, Sexy Holiday Novella
    Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩ 4-STAR ✩ REVIEW ✩ ✩ ✩ ✩

    This is a darker cover for being a Christmas-themed story. The model appears to have a darker coloration of skin, hair, and eyes and is wearing darker clothing against a dark background. Pair that with a thin title font and it’s not really flashy. While all is nearly monochromatic, it somehow still caught my eye. Maybe it was the cute face of the young man or the author name standing out in a transparent red banner… either way, it was just enough for me to click to read the synopsis and the plot concept was what pulled me in to read it.

    POV ~> Third person
    Setting ~> England

    While I tend to not gravitate to English settings, mostly due to the terminology differences, I was pulled to this one for its story idea and am glad I took the chance to read it.
    Zac and Rudy are co-workers. Rudy’s been crushing on Zac since Zac was hired a month ago, but Zac is private and keeps to himself. A night out brings them together unexpectedly and leads to Rudy inviting, almost insisting, Zac spend Christmas with his family instead of alone.
    Zac does not have any real family experiences to reference and does not know what to expect, but he never imagined the welcoming HOME feeling he receives from Rudy’s family.
    Low angst is this story leaves more room for a feel-good, sexy novella. Lead characters work well together despite their differences. Secondary characters were a joy. I laughed out loud over Holly’s antics at one point and was glad I was not reading in public at that moment.
    Entertaining and enjoyable story with a sturdy implied HEA.
    .
    Rating: [R] ~ Score: 4.3 ~ Stars: 4
    ==========================
    ⭐ ⭐ **** Disclosure of Material: I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon and am voluntarily leaving unbiased and unsolicited feedback. I was not asked, encouraged, or required to leave a review - nor was I compensated in any way. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising". ***** ⭐ ⭐
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  • Love Wins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Colleagues to Lovers
    Reviewed in the United States on December 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I love Jay Northcote's books and his holiday stories are some of my favorites :) Rudy is shy and inexperienced with a crush on his new colleague Zac. After their work holiday party, they share a drunken kiss and Rudy learns more about Zac. After a tentative friendship forms, he discovers that Zac has nobody to spend Christmas with so he invites him to join his family for Christmas.

    Zac grew up in foster care and has no family so he is surprised at how welcoming Rudy's family is when he joins him for his family Christmas. Unfortunately, Rudy's mother mistakes them as boyfriends so they have to keep up the pretense for the duration of their time at home. As both men pretend to be boyfriends, they start to have develop feelings for the other since both men have had a crush on the other. Zac doesn't believe that he deserves a boyfriend like Rudy or a family like his but if he opens his heart, he'll find everything he wants this Christmas. Rudy is the perfect fit for Zac and his kindness, shyness, and awkwardness makes their relationship very endearing and sweet. Another well-written and wonderful story by Jay :)
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Zaide Nicholas
    5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect read if you're looking for something cute and festive this Christmas
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 12, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this on kindle as I was in the mood for a quick, light Christmas read and I got exactly what I was looking for.
    Having read most of Jay's other books on kindle I already knew I would like the writing style and had a good idea of what to expect from the intimate love scenes. As always Jay delivered a heart-warming story of two people who are struggling with their own issues offering comfort to each other and finding themselves taking the first steps towards a new love.

    I loved the characters completely and it's nice to see a diverse cast of LGBTQ characters in the same book. Rudy was adorably shy and sweet (I love a guy who blushes) and Zac was suitably sexy and mysterious. I really loved the interaction between them and the chemistry was great, there was no shortage of steamy, intense scenes and some delicious flirting (sexy/love scenes were as always very tastefully written...and very steamy!)
    Rudy's family were all so lovely and welcoming, they took Zac under their wing without question. You could say that maybe the family were too perfect (does anyone's family manage a Christmas together in the same house without any arguments?), but this is supposed to be a feel-good Christmas story so I can forgive it for the lack of bickering or angst.

    The story was simple enough and there weren't any big events or plot twists but that just left more time for cute and sexy moments between our lovely duo, so no complaints there!

    If you go into this expecting too much then you may feel let down, but if you go in hoping for a fun, cute (and maybe a little cliche) Christmas story then you won't be disappointed!
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  • DJM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A feel good nook
    Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I love the plot, the characters and the animals. I love how the title fits so perfectly. Perhaps it is unrealistic to think 10 people can be so friendly without problems of some sort but that is one of the feel good aspects of this book.
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  • Den8s
    5.0 out of 5 stars A lire
    Reviewed in France on March 9, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Chouette histoire, facile à lire
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  • J Shaw
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Christmas treat
    Reviewed in Australia on November 29, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderfully written Christmas story that keeps you turning pages, with characters who come to life as you read.
    Who wouldn't want this family for their own?
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  • Ellynyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sehr romantisch und supersüss
    Reviewed in Germany on March 4, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Rudy schwärmt für seinen neuen Kollegen Zac. Doch dieser hält sich ziemlich bedeckt und seine Kollegen auf Distanz. Für einen Social Media Verantwortlichen, ist er ziemlich unsozial. Dabei ist Zac gar nicht unfreundlich. Er geht nur keine engeren Bindungen ein, denn das Schicksal hat ihn immer wieder eines Besseren belehrt. Doch sein scheuer Kollege Rudy hat etwas an sich, das Zac aus dem Tritt bringt und ihn berührt.

    Als Rudy Zac über Weihnachten zu Rudy’s Eltern einlädt, nimmt Zac an. Die Einladung, wie auch die Annahme überrascht beide Männer und sie fragen sich, ob es klug war. Doch zu spät, die Familie wartet schon auf Rudy und seinen Freund. Denn Rudy’s Mutter hat da etwas missverstanden und glaubt, dass Zac der Freund ihres Sohnes ist. Sie über den Irrtum aufzuklären, bringt Rudy jedoch nicht übers Herz und Zac ist willig die kleine Farce über die Feiertage aufrechtzuhalten.

    Der Kurzroman ist wirklich supersüss (und das aus meinem Munde) und wirklich romantisch geschrieben. Auf wenigen Seiten erzählt Jay die Geschichte des scheuen und hoffnungslos romantischen Rudy und des kühlen und im Grunde genauso unsicheren Zac’s. Eine große Rolle spielt auch Rudy’s Familie, die Zac mit offenen Armen aufnimmt und Zac mit ihrem Humor, Warmherzigkeit und Offenheit überrascht.

    Zwischen Rudy und Zac entwickelt es sich relativ schnell, aber da sie sich ja schon eine Weile kennen, stört das Tempo nicht. Erst ist es ein Freundschaftsdienst, dann ein kleiner Feiertagsflirt. Und am Ende lässt Zac, der so lange allein und immer wieder enttäuscht wurde, seine Mauern fallen und sich auf Rudy ein.

    Gegen Ende hin erfährt man dann auch mehr von Zac’s Vergangenheit und die Gründe, wieso er mit Familienbande so überhaupt keine Erfahrungen hat. Für meinen Geschmack hätte die Geschichte durchaus noch ein paar Seiten verdient, aber sie hat mich auch so mit einem zufriedenen Lächeln zurückgelassen.
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