Santa’s Naughty list

Those who know me, know that I’m not a huge Christmas fan. That being said, a good book centering around the holidays will bring me a bit of cheer and this was that book. I’m a fan of Leta Blake and so was looking forward to this book and I wasn’t disappointed.

Aaron is lonely. He does random hookups with guys passing through Knoxville, but he keeps those dalliances secret. He’s a teacher who was caught with his pants down with the wrong person. That man wasn’t censured, but Aaron was. The only job he could get after that is one that brings him a measure of satisfaction, but he’s always watching his back. He loves teaching, but he also yearns to be able to be honest about who he is. But he can’t, so in the closet he stays.

R.J. finished high school and lit out of town. He had a rough go of it and being part of rock bands and touring the world has brought him minor celebrity, a bit of cash, and a whole lot of loneliness. When he spots his former composition teacher, he seizes the opportunity for some fun. Mr. Aaron Danvers featured in some of his more intense fantasies as a young man and now he’s presented with the opportunity to act out some of those. He’s also home for Christmas and has the opportunity to reconnect with his mother and her new family. It hurts that she’s so much more present for his younger half-siblings, but he’s mature enough to understand she did the best she could when he was growing up.

So the two men hook up. And man is it hot. I always love a little BDSM with my romance and this book delivers. BDSM lite. I also love when the standard dynamics of older physically dominant man and younger submissive slighter man. This book tosses out the old tropes and gives me something different and I loved that.

There are plenty of family dynamics on both sides so there’s lots to keep the story going. The question was how could they continue their relationship after the holidays ended and RJ goes back on tour? Well, that’s an answer for that question as well.

I also enjoyed the humor including the inappropriate cat and the general fun. This was a light-hearted book that touched several dark topics including previous abuse and parental alienation.

So overall a great book. I’m going to have to go back and read the first book in the series, even if it is unrelated.

Quick note on the narration of John Solo. I think he suits the material and did a great job. A great pairing just in time for the holidays. Enjoy.

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1 person found this helpful

Wonderful!

This is my second listen to this one so obviously I love this audiobook! The characters are well developed and so interesting!

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Great listen

Loved the Reader of the story- book was good and engaging - fun listen and wasn’t repetitive

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A festive, kinky story that will keep you warm

Thoroughly enjoyed this kinky BDSM Christmas romance from Leta! Narrated by the talented John Solo, with emotion and plenty of heat, it's a great holiday steamy read and a wonderful edition to the series.
Aaron and RJ explode on the pages and have fantastic chemistry between them. I usually don't read BDSM books, I like kink but a little less hardcore then this. Yet I feel like Leta built the relationship between both men really well, and gradually enough for me to get into it even if it's not my usual reading preference. And, of course, Leta describes their nights together with plenty of HEAT and well researched detailing. She did justice to the lifestyle, and I really liked that they started out lighter and built it up to a more BDSM relationship.
It was both, funny and emotional, I loved RJ's mother and stepdad, Aaron's father too. They had so much love to give and balance Aaron's cold-hearted mother.

It's a wonderful addition to the series (with Mr. Frosty Pants now out in audio) and I liked to see Casey and Joel again too.

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Does not disappoint

Mr. Naughty List by Leta Blake is the second in her Home for the Holidays series and can be read as a standalone. RJ had a cameo role in Mr. Frosty Pants as one of the secondary characters, thus tying Mr. Naughty List to the series. Here we learn about him and his kinks, which are both deliciously naughty and heartwarmingly romantic at the same time.

Are you on Santa’s naughty or nice list this holiday season? Let’s be naughty together this year!

As always, the narration by John Solo is riveting, as he unfolds the past and currently budding relationship between RJ Blitz and Aaron Danvers. His depiction of their kinky times conjures up a live porno in our mind, which dramatically ratchets up the heat. Conversely, he delivers the tender and intimate moments in such a way that fills our hearts with the romance we crave.

There isn’t an age gap to speak of, since only a few years separate RJ and Aaron. RJ was once Aaron’s student, an underachiever angry at the world. At the time, Aaron was a new teacher, trying to navigate his life as a grownup and really didn’t focus on the broody teenager; whereas RJ struggled to control his racing hormonal mind against the devious things he wanted to do to his sexy teacher.

The Dom/sub component is light BDSM play with an older sub and younger Dom that is behind closed doors and fulfills both RJ and Aaron – the “Mr. Danvers” role play is delectable. Their time together is supposed to be a holiday fling that will end when RJ returns to his career as a musician and Aaron to his teaching career. Uh Oh! Feelings develop and their hearts engage. Now what? Will the holidays work its magic on RJ and Aaron?

The contrast between Aaron, the meticulous control freak (unless he is in the bedroom,) and unsettled powerhouse, RJ, gives their story credibility and definition. It’s their insecurities that both bind them and could also be their demise. The family drama on both sides is a catalyst to grasp onto their undeniable attraction and the very thing standing in their way.

Aaron’s dad is a real hoot. His acceptance of Aaron and his unconditional love for his son warms my heart. On the other hand, Aaron’s mother is a piece of work. Her manipulations of her son, molding him into the image he “needs” to project, are downright disgusting. When Aaron finally takes control of his life out of her hands, it’s glorious.

I struggled with the concept of a romantic coupling of a former student and his teacher being considered “taboo,” while at the same time, I guess I get it. At this point in their lives, both RJ and Aaron are consenting adults and although there was attraction during those earlier years, it was never acted upon. In fact, the flashback to those times is merely humorous innocent fantasies.

Mr. Naughty List takes the joy of the holidays and works its magic on two restless souls, bringing them together. Just wait until you get to their epic happy ending; it does not disappoint.

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2 people found this helpful

OMG amazing!!!

Wow this book was amazing!!! First of all the chemistry between the main two characters was absolutely explosive!! It was so steamy it honestly made me blush. But apart from that it had a really great plot with deep and well developed characters. Characters that I cared for and loved very very much. I completely lost myself in the story, it was perfect. And the narrator voiced the characters beautifully. He was fantastic! I really really loved it and highly recommend it!

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Enjoyable!

I really enjoyed Aaron and RJ's story. It was filled with so much warmth and caring and then sprinkled with dashes of very hot kink and steam, topped off with doses of some family drama and character developmentand evolution. It was a combination that really worked for me. I have always enjoyed Leta Blake's writing. She really writes her characters well and I always feel so connected to them. RJ had a strength and maturity I really liked and was just what Mr. Danvers (Aaron) needed to come out from behind his teacher's desk and really embrace life and how he wanted to live, love and be loved.

The story was really elevated for me by John Solo's narration. He is just so talented and brings such emotion and feeling to the story. He was fabulous here, bringing Aaron and RJ to life...the whispers, the sighs, the chuckles, the drama, the feelings...he just brings it all and it just takes the story up a level.

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Domination for Christmas

I’m not usually a fan of Ds stories but this was really good. A good follow up to Mr Frosty Pants. Great narration.

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Merry Kinky Christmas, Mr. Danvers

Goodness me, "Mr. Naughty List" is one hot little holiday listen! Well, not really so little at nearly 11 hours, but definitely hot enough to necessitate rolling around in a snowbank afterward. For all the steamy Santa D/s play though, there is a fair bit of angst courtesy of MCs Aaron and RJ catching feelings plus Aaron being closeted because his mother is basically a controlling, homophobic lump of coal (she really is the worst) who also happens to be his boss. Aaron and RJ's hard-won holiday HEA is all full stockings and sweetness, and worth the angsty journey. Narrator John Solo delivers another wonderful performance here, naughty elves and all! I received this free review copy audio book by request and have left this honest review voluntarily.

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Enjoyable, not only at Christmas

Wasn’t sure what to expect. I’ve seen mixed reviews for this author. Turns out I really liked it.

Good writing, well crafted characters, even found myself laughing through some parts. Tackles heavier issues without getting bogged down or becoming too dark. Well done.

John Solo is always solid. Not the most talented voice actor in narration, but he manages to capture the essence of the story and deliver the lines to convey their intended meaning. That’s more important than being able to do voices so well I believe it’s multiple narrators.

This one is definitely worth a credit and going into my Listen Again folder. I’ll be collecting more from Leta Blake.

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