Laurie Terson

The battle of job responsibility versus personal life is not an easy one. But few couples suffer as much as Jace and Taylor in this story. With a vacation planned over the Christmas days and last year’s plans having been canceled due to Taylor’s job, a lot is riding on this year taking place as planned. So when Taylor’s boss calls just before Christmas, asking Taylor to work for “at least” the next five days, the disaster is immediate and complete. Not a good start to the season and not an easy setup to create a happy ending from.

Jason figures he is entitled to some time off with his partner of three years. All he hears when Taylor’s boss calls is Taylor not being able to say no and prioritizing the job over their little family. For Taylor it is all about just getting this next promotion so he’ll be able to set his own hours. He doesn’t want to go, but he is unable to put his foot down and say no – for fear of losing his job. Both positions are perfectly understandable, but they are diametrically opposed. The conflict can’t be solved unless one party gives up what they feel is important to them.

Both men are willing to take a step back from their entrenched positions because, in the end, they do love each other. But internally admitting that maybe he didn’t mean everything he said is as tough for Jace as it is difficult for Taylor to admit that maybe he should have said no to his boss for once. It takes the inexplicable appearance of a baby girl in the ranch’s barn and the words of a mysterious stranger to Taylor at one of the airports on his trip to make both men reconsider their priorities.

If you like stories about conflicted men, if a bit of magical Christmas mystery is your thing, and if you’re looking for a story about an ordinary problem with an extraordinary solution, then you will probably enjoy this wonderfully magical novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by MLR Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mehr)