Review: Lucky by Ana Bosch

Lucky (Evergreen) by Ana Bosch
Dreamspinner Press
Short Story: 76pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Ever since Martel Heller rolled his first dreadlock, his love life has been blessed. For seven years he’s had the luxury of cherry-picking the hottest men available. But when the dress code at his new job forces him to hack off his lucky locks, his good fortune comes to an end.

To make matters worse, if Martel shows up at the company Christmas party alone, his creepy coworker Phil will know he’s single. As a last resort, Martel enlists his best friend, Felix, a fashion photographer, to hook him up with a model. Then plans fall through, and Martel ends up stuck at the Christmas party with the last person he expects—but as the hours pass, he wonders if he's finally learned what it means to be lucky.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2012 Advent Calendar package "Evergreen"

Review:
Martel has a lot going for him; especially his dreads that guarantee he gets laid. Never one to be turned down, that is until his boss tells him to get it cut because it doesn't suit the workplace. With the haircut Martel seems to have lost his mojo, also the hairdresser left a shaved streak in the back. Martel then blames his best-friend Felix the one who sent him to the salon. Well, Martel needs a date to his work holiday party and he needs it bad. Phil his boss has been making sexual advances and he wants to put him off for good, and he needs a hot date to pose as his boyfriend (might not happen cus his hair is so messed up, boohoo).

With his mojo gone (the hair) it's up to Felix to land him his hot date but instead Felix turns out to be his hot date (say what). Martel doesn't think it will work: for Felix isn't hot enough (though he's dressed to kill and looking good) but he really isn't the type he would go for. However, beggars can't be choosers and hopefully pervert boss Phil will get idea, Martel is surely taken.

Really, Martel is a shallow character but I really liked him. He's not completely horrible and has moments of kindness. Plus, he's Cuban-Jamaican and any diversity in a character is a sure win in my book. My only big problem was that of his boss Phil *grrrr* there is office flirting, and then there is one comment away from ending up on a sex offender list (This rings true of Pervert Phil). I can't imagine a job being so important to take someone saying they’re going to tie you up. That is just all kinds of inappropriate.

Lucky also has one of my fave tropes, the friends to lovers. I was rooting for them from the beginning, and Felix easy acceptance was just beautiful. There was no questioning; he just went with the flow. I wanted it to be longer, but I feel good about how the author ended the story. It’s the right kind of holiday feel and Martel's job really makes it especially Christmassy.

Should You Read It? Yes, because it has interracial love :D and Martel had dreads (that’s freaking cool) and he really grows on you. Check out pervert Phil, he's so vile I am surprised he hasn't been arrested yet. Really nice read!

4 Pants Off