Three years ago, antiquarian book hunter James Winter lost everything when a scandal his employer caused brought him down with it.  Now James is stuck working at Barnes and Noble and only disreputable clients will hire him, clients like Mr. Stephanopoulos.  Mr. S has a lead on a previously unpublished book by Charles Dickens and he wants James to get it before its owner, chemistry professor Sedgwick Crisparkle, puts the book up for auction.  Mr. S doesn’t care how James convinces the good professor to sell him the book, so long as James doesn’t reveal that Stephanopoulos is the buyer.  James needs the paycheck, but more than that, the prospect of holding a previously-unheard of Dickens story in his hands tempts him like nothing else…except, perhaps, the book’s owner.  Sedgwick Crisparkle looks more like a bookish angel than a nutty professor, and the attraction between book hunter and book owner is too much for either to resist.  But when Sedgwick discovers who James’s employer is, it’ll take a Christmas miracle like Dickens would write to keep these two men together.

The Dickens with Love is a book lover’s dream, filled as it is with hope, love, and, of course, an unpublished Christmas novella by Charles Dickens.  Josh Lanyon has an unparalleled ability to write a romance that is incredibly sweet without being cloying.  Both James and Sedgwick are interesting, intelligent men that have that everyman scholar appeal plus a little something extra.  I was drawn to them, without being able to put my finger on why, other than Mr. Lanyon’s talent for creating endearing, memorable characters.  Like all of Mr. Lanyon’s stories, The Dickens with Love is engaging, tender, and irresistibly sexy.  It also has an extra dash of forgiveness and the joy of new beginnings, making The Dickens with Love a holiday treat that can and should be enjoyed all year long.  Like the Stardust martinis James and Sedgwick so enjoy, The Dickens with Love simply sparkles.