Rainbow Book Reviews
Snow, ancient spells, secret identities, and a romance are the exciting ingredients for this charming wintertime story set in rural England. The quirky characters pulled me in as much as the mystery that was hinted at from the beginning, but unfolded only gradually as Rowan and Owain got to know each other. Based on a tiny hint in the early part of the story I suspected what might be going on, and watching the author develop the story was very enjoyable. Rowan lives in California, so he is a little reluctant about spending the holidays in a quaint English village. But his parents have rented a cottage there and he loves them, so he decides to give it a go. The scenery turns out to be amazing, but the real surprise is Owain. Rowan is attracted to him from the beginning, and even though he believes it will never be more than a holiday fling, he fully embraces their romance. Little does he know how much more is going on beneath the surface than he ever would have suspected! Owain has lived for a long time, and only a few of his family of elves are still left. He enjoys their Yule celebration, where they can all drop their glamour and appear as they really are, and he loves running his reindeer farm that provides lots of winter magic for visitors and villagers alike. Owain did not expect to be so drawn to Rowan when they first met, but it soon turns out that he cannot resist the human’s charm. When Owain falls too deeply he has no clue what to do – and what he ends up setting in motion has some very unexpected consequences. If you like elves, magic, and Yule traditions, if you want to watch two men fall for each other despite their very different outlooks on life, and if you’re looking for a cute read with lots of mystery, some drama, and a very passionate romance, then you will probably like this novella. It may be a slow burn, but it packs quite the emotional punch!
