One of the things I always enjoy about Garrett Leigh’s Christmas books is that she delivers a story that feels ‘seasonally appropriate’ with all the feels and vibes you’d associate with the time of year, without going big on the schmalz and syrup that characterises so many Christmas romances. This year’s Christmas on Stardust Lane is no exception, and we’re introduced to Tam and Bhodi, two men whose instinct for emotional self-preservation has left them both more than a little lonely – and who might just find that most special of gifts in each other.

The last thing grumpy ex-biker Tam Dubois wants to do is to rent out the small annexe he’d been using as his art studio, but his work as a freelance calligrapher isn’t bringing in enough to pay the mortgage on the house and he has no other way to drum up extra cash. Accepting the need to do it doesn’t mean he has to be happy about it, and at least with the way things are set up – the annexe has a separate entrance and a lock-box for the keys – he won’t actually have to see or speak to the guy who’s taken the place on a six month lease. When the story begins, he’s just endured another well-meaning ear-bashing from his brother Sab on the subject; well he listened with half an ear while trying to find something in the attic. When his search proves fruitless, and cursing at having cleared out his studio for a tenant he doesn’t even want, he trudges out to the garage, which is filled with stuff – piles of wood, scrap metal and motorbike parts – from his old life he never got around to getting rid of. The good thing – the box he’s looking for is in there; the not so good thing – it’s stuck behind a vast stack of unfinished worktops which doesn’t look too steady. And it isn’t, as Tam finds out to his cost.

Critical care nurse Bhodi Jones has relocated from Cornwall following a break-up that has left him battling insecurities. He can’t blame his ex; he made it clear from the start that all he wanted was some no strings sex, but Bhodi had to go and catch feelings, and given his usual MO is to get going when the going gets tough, he’s starting over somewhere new for the umpteenth time. He’s just arrived at the hospital to start his new job on the night shift in the HDU (High Dependency Unit) when he notices a man hovering around the entrance to A&E. He appears to have injured his arm, but instead of going inside, he turns around and heads back to the car park; and even though Bhodi is running a bit late, he goes to make sure the man – who he can’t fail to notice is bloody gorgeous – is okay. He insists he’s fine (he clearly isn’t) but Bhodi can’t force him inside and they go their separate ways.

When Bhodi rolls up at his new place the following morning, all he wants is to faceplant into bed. As he’s letting himself in, he hears frenzied barking just before a small dog crashes through the fence that separates the annexe from the main house and starts jumping up at him in excitement. As Bhodi crouches down to say hello, he hears rapid footsteps and a litany of French and English curses coming closer, then looks up to see two long legs clad in jeans and biker boots… and further up to tattoed arms, one of them clasped closely to a strong chest. It’s the guy from last night at the hospital. And this time, Bhodi isn’t going to let him get out of getting that arm looked at.

As the days pass, and despite his intention to keep himself to himself, Tam’s interest has been piqued and he can’t help thinking about Bhodi and wanting to know more about him. He tries hard not to feel that way – Tam swore off relationships long ago – but something about Bhodi has captivated him, something beyond his good-looks and weary good humour. If he believed in that sort of thing any more, he’d say it was le coup de foudre… but he doesn’t, so it can’t be. And Bhodi has made it clear he’s not up for anything more than friendship anyway. Which is fine by Tam. He could use a good friend.

Dinner and hanging out gradually becomes a regular thing and Tam and Bhodi spend quite a bit of their down-time together and growing closer as they get to know each other better and do small things to make each other’s lives easier and/or more comfortable. Their mutual attraction might have been instant, but the author takes time to develop an actual relationship between them; they both acknowledge the attraction and are upfront about their desire for each other, but also about their reasons for not taking things in that direction. Bhodi knows he can become too invested too quickly and is wary of reading more into what’s happening between him and Tam than there is, and Tam has had his heart broken one too many times to want it to happen again. They try hard not to fall for each other, but the author does a terrific job of showing them doing exactly that; they have chemistry at sheet-burning levels, but the strong emotional connection they share is evident long before they jump into bed together and it’s clear that what they have is forever material – they just have to be brave enough to reach for it.

There’s not a great deal of conflict here; this is mostly a story about two people figuring out how to move forward together and get past their mis-steps. At times, the language used to describe feelings can feel overblown, and Bhodi’s freak out near the end feels a bit over the top, but the two of them talk through things like adults, which I always appreciate. I liked that Tam and Bhodi are both regular guys with unglamorous jobs who juggle long hours, family dynamics, money worries and general life stuff, just as we all do, and the relationship between Tam and Sab (who is getting his own book next year) is really well written.

Christmas on Stardust Lane (what great street names this town has!) is a warm and heartfelt romance with enough Christmas magic and seasonal good cheer to bring the warm fuzzies on the coldest of days.