From the Bookshelf of RJ Scott…

The Christmas Throwaway

R.J. Scott

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#Competition - Tell me your favorite Christmas book - tag the book in your comment :)
By R.J. · 8 posts · 11 views

last updated Dec 07, 2020 06:26AM

What Members Thought

Oct 31, 2010 Serena Yates rated it it was amazing

Shelves: gay, holiday

Oh, this story tugged at my heartstrings! The opening scene alone, with Zach sleeping on an icy-cold bench in a church graveyard made me shudder in sympathy and wonder what had happened to him. It immediately pulled me into the story, and there I stayed, watching his life's drama unfold before my eyes. I was totally fascinated by both Zach and Ben, the cop who finds and rescues him, as well as Ben's amazing family and friends. It all makes for a wonderful story – Christmas or not. For me, the sp Oh, this story tugged at my heartstrings! The opening scene alone, with Zach sleeping on an icy-cold bench in a church graveyard made me shudder in sympathy and wonder what had happened to him. It immediately pulled me into the story, and there I stayed, watching his life's drama unfold before my eyes. I was totally fascinated by both Zach and Ben, the cop who finds and rescues him, as well as Ben's amazing family and friends. It all makes for a wonderful story – Christmas or not. For me, the special atmosphere added by the holiday was wonderful, but I'm just saying, the story stands on its own and would be pretty awesome even without that added magic.

As sad as Zach's background story is, and it's pretty brutal, he never lets it get him down. Yes, the fact that he's been kicked out of his family home depresses and saddens him, but he is determined to run to the ends of the Earth before letting his father regain power over him. Luckily, he turns eighteen in three days, so he hasn’t got long to hold out. That is when Ben finds him, and he realizes two things. One, he was at the end of his rope, with no money, no food, and out in the freezing cold. Two, if this seemingly nice guy decides to arrest him, he is done for. The temptation of spending a night in a warm bed proves to be bigger than his fear though, and things develop from there.

Ben is an amazing guy. He is a professional about rescuing Zach, and controls his feelings for him admirably well, even though he is sorely tempted. But he understands that Zach needs help, after the brutal beatings from his father that he's endured for years, and that the much younger man needs to find his feet before anything more can develop between them. Yet he manages all of that without pushing Zach away, which is quite a feat!

The rest of Ben's family (his mother and sister, and after some hesitation his brother) deserve a mention as well. They all pull together to give Zach something he's never had: a loving family. Even Ben's best friend and some of his cop colleagues get drawn into the cause to help. Simply perfect! The pace of the story and Ben and Zach's developing relationship were realistic, as were some of the things Zach went through (like panic attacks) as he recovers and makes a life for himself.

If you like stories about lost boys who become amazing men despite a lack of support from their biological parents, if you enjoy a "rescue" story set around Christmas and the special atmosphere that can add, and if you're looking for a sweet story about two men who are deeply in love before they even realize it themselves, then you will probably love this story as much as I did. I think it's adorable and just the thing to make my inner romantic purr!

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Oct 31, 2010 R.J. added it · (Review from the author)

Buy Links

Ebook
Amazon US: https://goo.gl/5mKQsi
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/6EL7Df
Barnes & Noble: https://goo.gl/Amz5kw
KOBO: https://goo.gl/kXz2eH
Smashwords: https://goo.gl/HsWdzv
iTunes: https://goo.gl/6hCUwm

Paperback Links
Amazon US: https://goo.gl/R6cm9J
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/owwLfZ

Audiobook
Amazon US: https://goo.gl/ErhV36
Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/3UxM2G

RJ's Website Link: https://goo.gl/avTpqp

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Dec 10, 2012 Paul rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bought_it, holidays, audiobook

A definite must read! How adorable are Ben and Zach? Great story, interesting secondary characters and enough of every emotion to keep the pages turning.

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 29, 2013 Sue bowdley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites, male-male

Another great book by r.j. scott..absolutely loved Zachs story....Ben was amazing and so glad they got their HEA x

2 likes · Like · see review

Aug 19, 2016 V.L. Locey rated it it was amazing

Oh my goodness, what a glorious read. It touches the heart, truly.

I loved the way the story and romance gently unfolded. It was perfect for a holiday romance. The leading men were well-written and believable, the romance soft and gentle, and the sex sultry. Ms. Scott weaves a wonderful tale here.

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