Just in Time

by Jacqueline Rohrbach

The legendary ghosts of Christmas—Past, Present, and Future—failed to cure Evan Eazer of his misanthropy. He hates people, loves conflict, and has a swearing habit to boot. Phil, the Ghost of Imaginary Time couldn’t be more thrilled. Finally, it’s his turn to get off the bench and into the game. He’s sure he can cure Evan and earn back his place in the giving-people-Christmas-epiphanies rotation.

Evan won’t reform easy. He’s immune to Phil’s many charms and seems content to live out the rest of his life bitter and alone. Worse, Phil’s time on the bench has left him ignorant to the ways of humanity. He struggles to navigate the new world and find his place within it let alone help someone else find his way back on the right path.

But one thing Phil does understand about the strange world in which he finds himself is Evan and his pain. He knows what it’s like to be misunderstood by pretty much everyone. But can he get Evan to understand him, too?

Genres: Christmas, M M Romance, Fantasy, Holiday, M M Paranormal, Gay, Romance

ebook

First published November 26, 2018

About the author

Jacqueline Rohrbach is an asexual/aromantic author of queer romance and speculative fiction. Her books focus on offbeat characters caught up in strange, sometimes absurd situations where they have to grow with each other in order to save the day. She loves her cinnamon roll alphas with extra icing, her sarcastic ladies with the spine to back their spunk, and her antiheroes with the softest of soft spots for the love of their life. Currently, she’s the author of four full-length novels and three novellas. When she’s not writing, you can find her walking with her two dogs, Mulder and Nibbler or trying to catch a nap.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've had a string of mediocre books recently, but then Just in Time comes along and reminds me of how fecking enjoyable books can be again!

I haven't read Jacqueline Rohrbach before now, but she is on my radar forever more. Just in Time was funny as hell, and actually worked as a romance in under 75 pages.

The story was a cute, irreverent holiday tale. I am a sucker for a curmudgeon MC, and I loved how grumpy Evan was at the start. It was really fun to watch him with the clueless Phil. I laughed out loud at parts, and I couldn't put it down.

Maybe not everyone's cup of tea, but I found Just in Time to be smart, light, holiday goodness.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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[CrabbyPatty · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Just in Time" is a quirky retelling of Charles Dicken's famous Christmas Carol with a new addition to the ghosts of Past, Present and Future --- the Ghost of Imaginary Time. So what exactly is the Ghost of Imaginary Time, or as he calls himself, Phil? As Phil explains:

Everyone wants to be understood, I suppose. But my gig, my true gig, is that no one can. Past helps humans deal with their trauma, Present helps them cope with reality, Future gives them something to change. I make you face up to the fact that you don't know shit.

Still not sure what that exactly means? Well how about ....

Think of me as an imaginary number, a placeholder for the impossible. That's me. I don't have a defined beginning or end. I'm not clean cut and simple like Past, Present and Future. Some words are like that, too. They're placeholders for everyone we can't imagine but imagine all the time. Love, for example.

Yeah. Well. Anyhoo ... Human Evan is a cold-hearted bastard and when Past, Present and Future fail to get him to reform, Phil gets to try his hand. And sure, if Phil had taken the time to read the human manual, he would have known things ... helpful things like how to NOT freak out people by smiling creepily all the time or offering them candy he has unwrapped to streamline the eating process.

But as Phil spends more time with Evan, he realizes the danger - if he acts more human, he'll become more human and soon he's an "I love you" away from becoming fully human. There is love and redemption and a new life in store for both Evan and Phil as the story ends, but I didn't really feel any chemistry between the two, and while their HEA is well deserved, it seems at odds with the first part of the story. Also, I'm still not sure exactly what the Ghost of Imaginary Time is! 3.5 stars.

I received an ARC from NineStar Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

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[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, fail to reform mean and hurt Evan, the Ghost of Imaginary Time smells his chance to finally prove himself worthy and begs for a chance to bring the "irredeemable wanker" around. Warning him to not get to close unless he wants to turn into a human himself, the three let him go. You can imagine what happens next, when an irreverent, charming, and slightly crazy young man will not leave the grumpy Evan alone :)

This was really short, but still managed to pack quite a punch. In the beginning I thought this would be one hilarious story until the end, but then feelings came into play, and Evan began to have his Christmas epiphany, and. Well. There were tears. I never heard of this author before, but I'm glad I gave this one a shot. For such a short story, this was really wonderful!

[Kazza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, fuck me. Who knew so many wankers swear at NASA?

Very funny, contemporary take on A Christmas Carol.

You could read this and have a drinking game centred around the word fuck and wanker and be stonkered part way though.

Jacqueline Rohrbach is a favourite author of mine and this novella is good reading.

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[Heather York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read an M/M story reminescent of Dickens' A Christmas Carol for years now and although this isn't exactly what Just in Time is, there are elements of it involved. Ever wonder what would happen to Scrooge if the Ghosts of Christmas failed to show him the true meaning of the holiday? Well, Just in Time explores that case and the Ghost of Imaginary Time is sent in, even if he has to push to get the chance.

I'm really not going to speak too much to the plot of this holiday short other than I found it to be quite ingenious. A lovely blend of classic and originality. Phil the Ghost of Imaginary Time is probably way too chipper considering the task before him as well as the outcome the last time he was sent in but you gotta love his gung-ho spirit. Personally, my gung-ho would have turned to get-up-and-outta-here about five minutes after meeting Evan the man who beat the Ghosts of Christmas, but not Phil he doesn't give up so easily.

Now, don't get me wrong, there are some dark moments that Phil faces and he begins to waver but never truly gives up. Does he succeed where the previous ghosts failed? For that you have to read Just in Time for yourself but you can probably guess where the characters end up but as so often, the meat-and-potatoes of this holiday tale is not in the destination but the journey getting there. Trust me, this is not one you want to miss.

[Isabelle Adler · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual for this author, the writing was absolutely superb. I thoroughly enjoyed this little Christmas story that blended dark humor, absurdity, deep anguish, and real hope.
This being a short story, it felt a bit rushed where the development of the romance was concerned, but otherwise it was a wonderful quirky tale about what makes us human. "Persons are made of people," indeed.

[Nicole Diskin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I happily received this tale as an Advanced read thanks to Net Galley and Nine Star Press!
Just in Time was a quick fun and sexy read!
this a very unique take on a Christmas Carol with our Scrooge named Evan who is as our ghost of imagination likes to say multiple times a Wanker! I loved the combo of hilarious comedy, sexy, and Christmas redemption!
this sexy tale made me laugh and pulled at the heartstrings simultaneously! I loved every second of it!
Great Job Jacqueline Rohrbach!

[Lillian Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

What did I just read? Mad, funny, sad in places, all at the same time.

The author took a well worn, much loved tale and gave it a new and fresh spin, and made it into a believable paranormal romance.

I love a grumpy MC, and Evan is one of the grumpiest, foul-mouths I've met in a long time. As for Phil... aww, bless him, he really should have read the manual.

A quick read, but still a satisfying romance in under 100 pages.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Evan Eazer is Scrooge personified and not even the three ghosts from the Dickensian tale of reform can influence him to change. But maybe an unconventional ghost can do what none of the others can. The Ghost of Imaginary Time (just call him "Phil") seizes the chance to redeem himself while redeeming Evan. As Phil learns about the human world and bumbles his way into Evan's life he finds that Evan's pain and the possibility of being truly understood by the surly man are lures that could keep him in the human realm forever; but only if Evan will soften to the possibility of happiness and cultivating a charitable heart.

I liked this story's premise and the interaction between all the ghosts. Phil's ignorance and naivete was cute and highly amusing at first but soon became over the top and incessant. There was no acculturation to soften his glaring lack of social awareness. And the coworkers conspiring with Evan for a way to report him to HR as well as Evan's blatant hatred and animosity was just too much. The jump to something different from antagonism was extremely abrupt and didn't really make sense in the situation. Then the development of more between them didn't really happen. I saw some softening and feelings, but not enough introspection or confessing to make it believable. There were quite a few loose ends that didn't really get wrapped up in Evan's endeavors to improve the world around him making this story seem like a cheap knockoff rather than a unique, modern take on a classic.

[UnusualChild{beppy} · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Evan is quite a grump/Grinch. Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future have had a go at him, and he still hasn't had an epiphany to change his ways. So the fourth ghost, the ghost who has been on the bench for years (if not centuries), the Ghost of Time Imaginary, asks for a chance to help Evan change his ways. In order to not screw up like he did the last time, the ghost is supposed to read the human manual, but he finds it boring, so he wings it. As Phil, the new guy hired to replace the woman Evan got fired.

This was cute. Phil is completely clueless, but somehow incredibly wise at the same time. He is stubborn, which makes him a good match to get Evan to have a heart. The only problem is that if Phil is around humans for too long, he will become one, and if Evan has his epiphany, Phil's task will be complete and he will leave Evan behind. There is actually quite a bit of emotion packed into this short story.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a new take on the old classic Scrooge with the addition of a new ghost , The Ghost of Imaginary , otherwise known as Phil. I liked the concept of the story but it felt a little off for me with the characters .. a little too much hatred on Evan's part and overkill on Phil's naivete. I didn't feel the completeness of the story. I felt Evan didn't really atone for his numerous misdeeds. I give it a 3 1/2* rating.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unsure what to expect from a Christmas story - I thought maybe just a smaltzy but sweet holiday romance.

Then I met Evan Eazer and Phil - aka Imaginary .

So a saddened young man mourning his mother who turned bitter, and a sort of ghost, more of an artificial time construct.

Surprisingly, this turns out to be a moving story of self growth and discovery and hot, steamy m/m love!

Way more fun and snarky than I expected - and I liked it a lot!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evan was at the graveyard visiting his mom. Phil is like Father Time and ends up becoming human in order to help Evan. Phil directs him to forgive his sister, Phil explains that sometimes you have to forgive before you can receive forgiveness yourself. I found that to be a powerful message as in life we sometimes forget that you have to give in order to receive. I found myself reflecting on things after reading this book. A truly enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shelley Chastagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this quirky holiday short story. A retelling of A Christmas Carol set in the current day. Phil made me snicker with his attempts at being human but not bothering to read the manual has caused a few problems. Evan's bitterness has affected every part of his life and caused harm without his intention. I liked that Evan learns that giving an apology doesn't earn him forgiveness but gives him a way to forgive himself. His surprise for Phil was perfect.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Scrooge's story with a twist Past, Present, and Future need help and they get it with the Ghost of Imaginary Phil. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is a cute story but it lacked in some places.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

The three ghosts of Christmas have failed to change him so it is up to the fourth ghost to try to change him. It may not be as easy as they think. See if they can make him change

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing sweet MM holiday romance storyline. Amazing characters. Good likable well-written book. It was a pleasured to read and review it.