Christmas Kitsch

By: Amy Lane

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Sometimes the best thing you can get for Christmas is knowing what you really want.

Rusty Baker is a blond, rich, entitled football player in a high school full of them - just the type of oblivious jock all the bullied kids hate. And he might have stayed that way except he develops a friendship with out-and-proud Oliver Campbell from the wrong side of the tracks. Rusty thinks the friendship is just pity - Oliver is very bright, and Rusty is very not - but then Oliver kisses him good-bye when Rusty leaves for college, and Rusty is forced to rethink everything he knows about himself.

But even Rusty's newfound awareness can't help him survive a semester at Berkeley. He returns home for Thanksgiving break clinging to the one thing he knows to be true: Oliver Campbell is the best thing that's ever happened to him.

Rusty's parents disagree, and Rusty finds himself homeless for the holidays. Oliver may not have much money, but he's got something Rusty has never known: true family. With their help and Oliver's love, Rusty comes to realize that he may have failed college, but he'll pass real life with flying rainbow colors.

©2013 Amy Lane (P)2015 Riptide Publishing

A fun Christmas story

Beautifully written and beautifully read. Loved all the characters who were fully fleshed out and complex. My favorite quote, "I don't know what I am, but I think I'm Oliver sexual.".

One of my all time favorites from both Amy & Nick

Rusty is a “nice boy”. Tries hard, plays football, dates girls… but he’s not the “quickest”. He can eventually figure things out – given enough time- but he takes awhile to get there.
Good manners and a fascination for the new kid – chocolate to Rusty’s vanilla – prompts Rusty to befriend snarky, openly gay, Hispanic and funny Oliver. Oliver can hold his own with Rusty’s “friends” but it’s Rusty who becomes Oliver’s best friend in the last year of high school.
When it comes time for Rusty to go to Berkley, where he just knows he’s going to fail, Oliver does all he can to assure him that he’ll be there for him and that he knows Rusty won’t get lost in the shuffle. And… he kisses Rusty – telling him to just “think about it”.
Rusty is left at Berkley- lost, scared, trapped with a crazy but warm-hearted-hyper-sexual-roommate (Rex), and the memory of Oliver’s kiss to make him question…everything.
When it becomes apparent that Rusty is in fact not ready for Berkley – though he tries damn hard – he is ready for Oliver and knows that Oliver is more than just his best friend. Rusty goes home for Thanksgiving and is greeted by Oliver and kisses. His family witnesses this and kicks Rusty out of the house.
Luckily, Oliver’s family is there to help Rusty pick up the pieces and get him set up. What follows, is Rusty’s jump into the deep end of adulthood and his navigation of his first real relationship that also happens to be his first gay relationship.
Oliver’s impatience and love both help and hinder him in this process, but the underlying support he and his dad offer Rusty give him the strength to grow into the man he needs to become.
**
After Gambling Men, this is my favorite Amy Lane book. It is sweet, funny, tender, lightly sexy and really wonderful.
Rusty’s character is so open and honest as is Oliver. I love that the two have constant communication about their feelings, but even so, still manage to run into trouble because relationships are hard! Oliver just can’t understand Rusty’s reluctance to have him move in and Rusty just can’t be pressured in to giving Oliver anything but a wonderful home.
Oliver is just smart and snarky enough to ease the saccharine sweetness of Rusty’s goodness and make them a real, fun, and sexy couple.
I loved the interactions with the secondary characters. The role model of Oliver’s dad. The hilarity of the cousins. The hero-worship of Rusty’s sister. And the eventual grace of Rusty’s parents.
I read this book when I need a warm hug on a rainy afternoon and it always makes me feel better.
I can’t recommend it enough.

Audio
I have been waiting for this to come out on audio FOREVER! I love Nick Russo so I was psyched to see he narrated this. He does Oliver and his family to PERFECTION! Just a hint of accent with a boatload of attitude! I love his Rex and even his Nicole! He absolutely outshone my expectations and made the wait totally worth it!

Highly recommended!
6 of 5 stars

melt your heart ❤

What a sweet cozy romantic ride. Loved every second of this audio book. Nick J Russo is the virtuoso of audio performances. The characters made my heart ache with love they were so endearing especially Rusty the loveable lunk head. Oliver was equally loveable and together they are one of my favorite couple ever.I laughed out loud so many times...Amy Lane is so brilliantly witty. Another great listen...Amy Lane and Nick Russo never disappoint!

Great story that made this sarcastic gay cry more

Great story that made this sarcastic gay cry more then once. Listen to this one during the holidays

sweet, funny and heartfelt story

Love this story. it alternatively makes you laugh then cry. I just love Oliver's family. Hope Rex gets/has his own story. Great Narration.

Rusty and Oliver

Loved, loved, loved this book. It's told mostly from Rusty's POV, but with plenty of Oliver's input. The struggles Rusty has with who he is and who he wants to be for Oliver felt genuine. He wants to give Oliver everything; his heart, his protection, a perfect home and life. It's a struggle that he can't do that every moment. Oliver is patience personified. He gets frustrated, but he never loses faith. I loved that Oliver's family accepts and embraces Rusty into their fold. He's one of their own. The side characters are great; especially Rex and I would like to see him have his own book. They each add a wonderful layer to the story.
Highly recommended book and author

Audiobook: terrific narrator

Just a beautiful story

I was up half the night reading this story. I just couldn’t put it down. Growing up, finally understanding who you really are and unconditional love. This one really needs to be moved up the TBR list!

Oliver 💖 Rusty

Any additional comments?

"I'm Oliver-sexual."

What a lovely Christmas tale this was. I just adored Rusty. Every time he thought he was stupid, I just wanted to hug him because he truly had a good genuine heart with everything and everyone. I loved Oliver and his family and was just over the moon for Rusty's sister.

A lovely story indeed!

Sweet Holiday Romance.

Rusty is from a wealthy family and he knows he is a dumb jock. His family wants him to go to Berkely but he knows he could never make it there. His father of course insists and pulls strings, making it hard for him there as well. He is a bit slow on the uptake not realizing how
his best friend in high school feels about him. Around Thanksgiving, he finally got it and was so glad to see Oliver he got caught up n a kiss and was busted by his mom finding him from rags to riches. But what he learns is that there is more to life than what money can buy and the best families you don't have to be born into.

This is a very sweet,story about two young men finding each other, becoming friends first and solidifying their relationship. Rusty wants to be able to offer Oliver more than an air mattress on the floor in a cold apartment and Oliver wants to teach Rusty home is where they are.

I loved this story. I loved how they relationship built but what I liked the most was where so many people hopped in in Rusty's time of need. Not only with material things but support.

As usual, Nick J Russo gave a stellar performance. He has a soothing voice and drew me into the story.

If you like sweet, New adult romance, coming out, gay for you, finding one's place in life, A holiday story and a clean but sexy story you will love this

I was given a copy of this for an honest review..

great emotional first love, newness story.

love Nick's narration and characterization of the story. such a great listen and emotional quips that draw you into the story definitely listen to this one again.