An Unexpected Sanctuary

I’m ashamed to say that I put off reading this story until I absolutely had to. This was a shame because I actually quite enjoyed An Unexpected Sanctuary. Now why did I wait? Honestly, I had a difficult time reconciling a post-apocalyptic story with a holiday romance. Yet Decker pulled it off wonderfully.

The story is told from Kyle’s perspective and it’s apparent that there’s a bit of hero worship on his part for Tobin. That’s not to say that his feelings for Tobin aren’t real, but rather that he sees an imbalance in their relationship, believing himself to be the weaker partner, unable to contribute in a meaningful and measurable way to their relationship. Like most nerdy geeks in romances, he sees his lack of physical strength and his failures as outweighing his intelligence and successes. Because of this, he takes a major risk when he ventures out on his own at night to acquire the last few pieces he needs to finish the gift he’s been making for Tobin. Unfortunately, this decision makes it easier for him and Tobin to be captured… and this is where I worried that the story would take the dark turn that is typical of post-apocalyptic stories. Thankfully, their kidnapper’s motives were not nefarious and (without revealing any spoilers) Kyle and Tobin find their unexpected sanctuary.

I think the main reason I enjoyed this story so much was that when the moment was right, Tobin had no problem telling Kyle why he mattered – why it was Kyle who gave Tobin a reason to keep going every day. I liked that the traits that Kyle saw as his weaknesses were the very things that Tobin saw as Kyle’s strengths. It made for a very touching scene. I thoroughly enjoyed An Unexpected Sanctuary and finished the story with a smile on my face.

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Stocking Stuffers: An Unexpected Sanctuary by Cassie Decker to read and review.

Post-apocalyptic isn't usually my genre but this story of Tobin & Kyle is sweet and loving despite the circumstance and still leaves that feel good holiday vibe.

One of my favorite books of all time is ‘The Stand’ by Stephen King. (I loved the miniseries as well but that had more to do with my crush on Gary Sinise than on the accuracy of the show.) Regardless, I’m fascinated by post-apocalyptic stories and movies. I have no idea why except that I suspect I’d be one of the first wave to die, even though I like to imagine myself as a total badass. When I saw Cassie Decker’s contribution to this year’s Dreamspinner Advent Calendar, I was really excited as these days it’s entirely possible to imagine the entire world getting wiped out by a virus. I loved watching Tobin and Kyle dealing with life a year after the whole world fell apart.

It has been a year since Kyle rescued Tobin from three thugs after society fell apart and Tobin still doesn’t know why Kyle is stays with him, or how the man can love him. Tobin was an engineering student - basically useless now seeing as there’s no power - while Kyle’s father took him hunting, camping, and fishing since he was in diapers. Tobin would have died or been killed a long time ago without Kyle and even though Tobin has gotten a little better at some tasks, he’s fully aware of who’s keeping them alive. Tobin is very much in love with Kyle and it’s because of that love, and his desire to make something for Kyle for Christmas, that sees both men taken by one of the gangs that has proliferated in this past year.

What they think is a gang member anyway but who turns out to be a nice man trying to take care of his family and he just needs their help to fix his roof. Apparently the last group of people Max approached nicely attacked him and took everything he had, hence his desperate measures with Kyle and Tobin. Kyle and Tobin are more than happy to help and Tobin even finds another project, more suited to his particular skills, to help this family. When the repairs are done though, will it be worth it to leave, or find their own sanctuary with where they are?

A wonderful addition to this year’s Advent stories although I do wish it were longer. In my opinion, a little more backstory revolving around the challenges these two men have faced in the past year would have brought a little more complexity and depth to the characters. However, I greatly enjoyed every moment of the read.

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

An Unexpected Sanctuary marks another short from Dreamspinner’s Advent series which totally surprised me. I’m not much for sci-fi, dystopian, or fantasy romances, so I imagine that had I read the blurb for this as an individual story, I would have skipped it. And I definitely would have missed out.

I found the idea of a flu pandemic changing the world an interesting plot choice for a holiday themed story and I wasn’t sure how that would work. However, the author did a wonderful job carrying warm holiday feelings throughout the book, reminding the reader it isn’t the gifts and decorations that make the holiday bright, rather it’s loved ones, safety, and a place to call home. Though the reader predominantly gets to know Tobin because the story is told from his point-of-view, the characters were both likeable and the romance between Keith and Tobin very sweet. I would have liked to see more of the relationship develop over the course of the story, but I found the plot interesting and the backstory very intriguing. This is one of those shorts I think would make for a great full-length novella so the characters, the romance, and their survival could be explored in greater detail. I love being surprised by stories I may not have picked or authors I haven’t tried and Unexpected Sanctuary did both. If you’re looking for a different sort of holiday story or are a fan of dystopians, I’d certainly recommend this title.

*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*