Blame It on the Mistletoe

By: Eli Easton

Narrated by: Jason Frazier

When physics grad student Fielding Monroe and skirt-chaser and football player Mick Colman become college housemates, they're both in for a whole new education. Mick looks out for the absent-minded genius, and he helps Fielding clean up his appearance and discover all the silly pleasures his strict upbringing as a child prodigy denied him. They become best friends.

It's all well and good until they run into a cheerleader who calls Mick the "best kisser on campus". Fielding has never been kissed, and he decides Mick and only Mick can teach him how it's done. After all, the physics department's Christmas party is coming up with its dreaded mistletoe. Fielding wants to impress his peers and look cool for once in his life. The thing about Fielding is, once he locks onto an idea, it's almost impossible to get him to change his mind. And he just doesn't understand why his straight best friend would have a problem providing a little demonstration.

Mick knows kissing is a dangerous game. If he gives in, it would take a miracle for the thing not to turn into a disaster. Then again, if the kissing lessons get out of hand, they can always blame it on the mistletoe.

©2013 Eli Easton (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

Great story, performed wonderfully.

It’s amazing how much I used to struggle with trying to love Christmas. Then again, if you’ve ever worked retail, you probably get it. So it’s nice to return to Christmas and find it actually enjoyable.

Also – Christmas stories.

That said, this isn’t one. Or rather, there’s a very tenuous Christmas component to it, but it’s not a story that really has Christmas centre-stage. And even post-retail me is okay with that.

Eli Easton‘s Blame it on the Mistletoe is a fun novella-length audiobook that I listened to in a single afternoon worth of household chores, and it was a lovely way to pass the time. The narrative set-up is pretty simple: a jock has a roommate who’s a super-smart (and rather cute) nerdy type. They’re very close, and when the nerd learns that jock has the reputation of being the best kisser on campus, he asks for lessons.

Yup. That’s right. Lessons.

The reason why, and how the two end up together (there’s no spoiler there, as anyone who’s ever read any gay romance will know they’re on a collision course), is actually quite adorable. Even better, the (as-yet) straight jock character doesn’t come across as a gay-for-you character at all (a trope I have little patience for), but rather a character who has successfully managed to not-think-about-it for a very long time – until his roommate’s request makes him realize what’s going on.

It’s sweet. It’s fun. And it’s performed wonderfully by Jason Frazier, who I honestly think is one of the best audiobook performers out there. Seriously – everything I’ve heard him perform is elevated by his skill as a narrator. If you’re at all an audiobook enthusiast, check him out.

sweet, sexy, beautiful story

I just loved this story, and the performance was great. I have a bit of a crush on Fielding myself.

Too short!

I thought this was adorable. I just wish it had been longer. I liked the narrator as well. He’s new to me but I would definitely listen to him again.

My Favorite Christmas Story

I came across this story over a year ago and it was the first m/m story I read. Not only did it renew my interest in Christmas stories, but it also was the beginning of my one true love of reading m/m. This year, I purchased the audiobook so I could enjoy it all over again, just like the first time! This story was so delightful and wholly entertaining. The narration by Jason Frazier was PERFECT, maybe the best audio performance EVER of intense physical arousal and thoughts without the blatant over-the top sex occurring in the story! His voice just made me melt! Eli Easton is a fantastic author with a wonderful imagination. I whole-heartedly recommend this audiobook.

Fantastic

I absolutely loved this book! The narration was absolutely spot on perfect for the book. I have nearly 300 audiobooks and this was definitely in the top 10 best narrated books I've heard. The story was so sweet and enjoyable.

very cute

book was cute and love the narrator ability to chance his voice to fit different characters

Dear Dreamspinner, Please use Jason Frazier more

Would you listen to Blame It on the Mistletoe again? Why?

Yes. It was such a short, sweet, feel good read with excellent narration. Definitely going to listen to this again.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked the characters. Even the side characters were likable.

Which character – as performed by Jason Frazier – was your favorite?

Mick. The story is told from his POVS and Jason Frazier gave him this really pleasant, sultry voice. It sounded really appropriate for a twenty-two year old guy and everything he was feeling was conveyed by the narrator in such a way that it really felt like the character was telling his story instead of just a narrator reading words on a page.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Mick realized he was in love for the first time. And with hist best friend.

Any additional comments?

I wish this was longer. And, Jason Frazier should narrate more books. I'm kind of disappointed he's only done a handful of them. He's definitely got the knack for it. If I could, I'd pay him to re-do all the audiobooks that were butchered by Jeff Gelder and Andrew Schwartz and then pay him some more to narrate other books that don't have audio versions available. So... Dreamspinner Press, if anyone actually keeps track of these reviews, there you go.

narration was fabulous

What did you love best about Blame It on the Mistletoe?

I haven't listened to any other audio books by this narrator, but he was perfect for this one. I loved this book when I read it but enjoyed it much more in audio. The first scene where Mick and Fielding got hot and heavy was, wow, turn on the AC because I'm going up in flames.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Blame It on the Mistletoe?

Definitely the first time they get together.

Which character – as performed by Jason Frazier – was your favorite?

Mick. I didn't feel like this was a narrator reading, but more that I was really listening to Mick's inner dialogue.

If you could take any character from Blame It on the Mistletoe out to dinner, who would it be and why?

Fielding, because he looks at everything from a different perspective than most people.

Any additional comments?

Highly recommend in audio.

MY ALL TIME FAVE

I'm always listening to his book!!! I simply love Fielding!!!!

I was thrilled by this book from the start. The way that Fielding entered Mick's life like a cute, innocent hurricane, throwing Mick's convictions thru the air and leaving the poor footbal player totally lost and hooked (even without realising it).
Their friendship and interactions were pretty funny and amazing and this is a book that I'll read more than once for sure.
The Narrator Jason Frazier did a GREAT job on this book. I'll certanly look for more books narrated by him.

Amazing

Loved it! I had already read this story before, but Jason Frazier brought a whole new life to it. I just flailed all over again.