TINGLE BELLS

Review

TINGLE BELLS – Mardi Ballou

ISBN: 1-4199-0870-7

December 2006

Erotic Gay Paranormal Romance - Short

Rated: E-rotic

Princeton, NJ – Present Day

After years of struggling, inventor Justin Clancy has finally invented a sure thing – Tingle Bells, a leather strip bearing four special bells that when shaken emit a sound that instantly arouses anyone who hears it. Justin is convinced his invention will become a runaway bestseller and save his eccentric family from financial ruin. However, Justin's dream of a secure future is in peril when he starts to receive calls from his vendors complaining of the discordant noises the Tingle Bells are emitting. It's quickly apparent that someone has put a hex on the Tingle Bells to change the sound. If Justin hopes to save Christmas for his family, he's got to act fast and track the culprit. Flipping through a phone directory, he sees an advertisement for Ramon Ramirez, a private investigator qualified for metaphysical situations. Quickly arranging a meeting with Ramon, Justin is floored by the instant electricity that crackles between them.

The love child of a Latin playboy and a television personality, Ramon Ramirez has never really had a family and is intrigued by his new client's devotion to his. More importantly, even though Justin is his total opposite, never before has Ramon felt such an immediate bond with another man. Agreeing to help, Ramon can't bear to end their meeting and asks Justin to dinner and, by evening's end, the two are lovers. But as they track the Tingle Bell's saboteur, Ramon and Justin each begin to wonder if their relationship is the start of something special or doomed to burn out due to their differences.

While packed with sensuality and humor, TINGLE BELLS has a rushed feel to it that leaves one with the feeling that something is missing. Ramon is clearly drawn as a man who yearns to belong to someone, but Justin's behavior is confusing and sometimes maddening to read about. The Clancys, who are witches, perfectly illustrate the joys and frustrations found in each family. Although TINGLE BELLS has its flaws, it is a quirky tale that showcases the pitfalls of searching for Mr. Right and the love of family, warts and all. And that is a story worthy of the season.

Isabelle Spencer