Better Not Pout by Annabeth Albert
Review by Lauren
Source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own
Official Summary (add to Goodreads): One hard-nosed military police officer.
One overly enthusiastic elf.
One poorly timed snowstorm.
Is it a recipe for disaster? Or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for holiday romance?
Teddy MacNally loves Christmas and everything that goes along with it. When he plays an elf for his charity’s events, he never expects to be paired with a Scrooge masquerading as Santa Claus. His new mission: make the holiday-hating soldier believe he was born to say ho-ho-ho.
Sergeant Major Nicholas Nowicki doesn’t do Santa, but he’s army to his blood. When his CO asks an unusual favor, Nick of course obliges. The elf to his Kris Kringle? Tempting. Too tempting—Nick’s only in town for another month, and Teddy’s too young, too cheerful and too nice for a one-night stand.
The slow, sexy make-out sessions while Teddy and Nick are alone and snowbound, though, feel like anything but a quick hookup. As a stress-free holiday fling turns into Christmas all year round, Teddy can’t imagine his life without Nick. And Nick’s days on the base may be coming to a close, but he doesn’t plan on leaving anything, or anyone, behind.
Review: Annabeth Albert is one of my favorite authors, so if you haven’t checked out her books yet, please do so! You could even start with Better Not Pout as it’s a holiday-themed stand-alone. While the book seems like it would focus more on Christmas, it actually starts right before Thanksgiving and goes through New Year’s Eve, so you can start it in November, December, OR January!
Annabeth Albert creates a cute, holiday appropriate read in Better Not Pout. Book review #ontheblog #mmromance Share on XAlbert is fairly known for writing about military men, so of course, we have Nick, who is about to be retiring from the military and has been enlisted to help the nearby town. The elf to Nick’s Santa, is Teddy, who has lived in the town his entire life (apart from going away to college). He’s much younger than Nick, but the two of them eventually warm up to each other. Nick is someone who feels like he’s meant to be alone, after past failed relationships, and Teddy is a person who always wants to help others. He’s determined to do right by Nick, even if their relationship has to end when Nick retires.
I like all the little holiday moments throughout the book. Teddy has a big family and they were a lot of fun! It was great to see how close they all were, and they were more than happy to bring Nick into their fold while he was there.
Better Not Pout is a cute read and definitely a fun one for the holiday season!
It reminds me off a Christmas movie but a gay couple for a change. ?
Aww, this sounds like a cute storyline! :]
This looks like it would be perfect for this time of year!
I’ve seen this featured on several blogs today and everyone seems to have enjoyed it. A read I’m considering for this year’s seasonal Challenge, I think it will make a great addition.
I liked this one too. And I’m happy there was more to Teddy’s character. I thought he was going to be flighty but he was so sweet and generous.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Oh it looks perfect for this period of the year!
This sounds cute! I’m in the mood for holiday reading.
I’ve never heard of this author before, but it sounds like a wonderful holiday read (and I love that it takes place during the whole holiday season—Thanksgiving through New Year!). Also thank you. Now I’ll have that Christmas song stuck in my head all day ?
I’ve never read this author, but I really love reading holiday books this time of year!
This sounds perfect for the HoHoHo Readathon. I already have my TBR sorted for that this year but will have to keep this holiday read in mind for the future.
Sounds like the perfect kind of read for this time of year. Makes me want to add a couple of holiday-themed books to my TBR list for these last couple of months in the year. Always enjoy books where there is a focus on family as well.
I love books with a Christmas setting/theme this time of year!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
It has been a while since I read any of Annabelle Albert’s writing. It sounds like I need to read her again soon.
Love the cover! It puts me in a wintery frame of mind where a fire and a glass of wine sound perfect. A loving family always adds to the appeal of any story. I’ll have to check out Annabelle Albert’s writing soon. Great review, Lauren! 🙂
Huh. Why would their relationship have to end when Nick retires? Is he not out or does he have a kid?
This sounds so cute! You’re the second blog I’ve read today that really liked this one. I’ve read her M/M military romances and those are pretty steamy. I’m assuming that these are a bit more toned down? Either way, I love her military romances and I plant to read this beauty soon.
This sounds so adorable and I added it to my TBR right away. Sounds like the perfect read for these coming holidays 🙂
I’ve never really gotten into reading holiday themed fiction, but this one does sound really fun!
That synopsis! That cover! Love the sound of this one. Annabeth has been on my radar for so long… this might be the one that finally introduces me to her writing.
This sounds like a great Winter read! Grumpy Santa! Cant have that! LOL
This sound so cute! And perfect for anytime in winter! ❤
I need to find myself a copy of this book! It sounds perfect for me and I love that it is a standalone because I have yet to read any of this author’s works. 🙂
The Holidays, everything just feels so magical during them 🙂
Here we go!!
I absolutely love reading holiday themes books around Christmas so thank you for putting this one on my radar, Lauren! It sounds really cute, too. I love it when there are big, lovely families in the Christmas books I read so big tick to this one. I’ll have to bookmark it to remember to read it come December! I almost feel like I ran out of them last year so it’s good to know there’s at least one I haven’t read, haha.