Cynically Sweet (Booklikes)

A few months back, I signed up for an email newsletter from Coffinhop (http://coffinhop.com/) press. The other day, I was reading through my emails and found an announcement for a book, this book in fact. My first thought was that it sounds incredibly weird, right? "A Very Merry Manlove & Kickerdick Xmess" by Axel Howerton. So I mentioned I'd never read anything by them, an ignorant point considering that I now find out that they're the Publisher/ Editor of coffinhop.com, the afforementioned website that I had signed up to. Anyway, getting back on topic: I like weird, which is great. So I expressed my interest and was soon offered a free copy in exchange for a review. I've very gratefully accepted and would love to share my thoughts, as seen below. I haven't read any books by Axel Howerton, before this, but this took my interest from the very moment I began reading it.

Artie Menlowe and Jurgen Kierkedoek are working on Christmas Eve. Well, they're arguing is what they're really doing. However, they are trying to get to work. Alexander “Chips” Roman and Thomas, his teenage son are the job. Chaffeuring them about and acting as temporary security for the pair. Chips has suspicions of his son's sexual orientation and endeavours to "fix" him with the attentions of women at a brothel.

The book is short, admittedly. However, right from the start, I'm very intrigued by this pair. I found their lovers' quarrel to be amusing, laughing out loud at some of the portions. I found that the author doesn't need to use much description in some areas, but does so in a manner that I can just about imagine myself tagging along on their adventure. When he does use description, it's kind of light and fun. It's a writing style that I would refer to as being very "sassy". I'm quite jealous of that, to put it bluntly; I can't get through writing just a review without rambling. This entire post is very much evidence of that.

The thing I like most is the characters. I think the most impressive thing is that, though these two are obviously kind of tough is that somehow Artie and Jurgen seem really sweet together. It's hard to explain, but it just feels like one of those incredible couples in books or other media where you just know that the pair belong together and love each other very much, despite whatever arguments or plots that get thrown their way.

I imagine that this type of book is not for everyone. Though I found it funny and interesting, some might not appreciate the use of curse words or might not enjoy that type of humour. Mind you, they aren't the ones writing this review. My only real complaint is that it's too short. I know it's a short story, but these are the type of characters that I would love to see more often, by a writer that I would like to see more of. I'm actually intending to buy Hot Sinatra, another book by the same author as a Christmas present for myself and you can't stop me! In fact, I don't think I can stop myself from doing it...

I loved the entire story. The ending is perfect. The characters are all brilliant and fit in to the book properly. This is definitely an author that I will be looking out for in future. I want to rate it six stars, but five is the highest we can go here. :(