Day 1

Reviewed by Vicki

TITLE: The Magic of Weihnachten

SERIES: Dreamspinner Advent Calendar 2014 Celebrate

AUTHOR: Bru Baker

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 51 Pages

BLURB:

American Walsh Brandt is happy when a promotion lands him his dream job and a quiet new life in Germany. Until December rolls around, when he realizes it’s almost impossible to hide from the holiday season in Germany.

Dierck Reiniger is fascinated by Walsh’s hatred of Christmas and makes it his personal mission to help Walsh enjoy Weihnachten and the German traditions he grew up with. Walsh has a great time getting to know Dierck—but he still isn’t sold on Christmas, despite Dierck’s efforts. Dierck’s on the rebound, and he’s determined to develop their physical relationship slowly, much to Walsh’s frustration. It isn’t until they’re alone in a secluded cabin—hiding from the traditional trappings—that Walsh finally recognizes what the magic of the season can bring when spent with someone special.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2014 Advent Calendar package “Celebrate!”.

REVIEW:

This is what I was hoping to get with a group of stories about holidays set in other countries! A chance to read about other holiday traditions!

Walsh is an American living in Germany. He has no parents left, no siblings, and very little family. He doesn’t seem to really have any connections to anyone. So moving around for work isn’t an issue, although it seems to encourage his lack of contact. He seems content, I wouldn’t necessarily say happy, but he’s ok who he is. He’s lived in Mannheim for six months, gradually getting to know the town and enjoying his shopping routine for local products. He makes his runs through the local market, gathering meat, cheese, bread, and fresh vegetables, learning that a chat with the sellers is a pleasant necessity. One day he wanders in the the market square only to discover it has been transformed in to a dreaded Christmas market. The problem is, Walsh does not like Christmas. It’s all about family and he doesn’t have anyone. He makes his reluctant way through the market until he literally bumps in to…

Dierck is a man from a happy family, with several siblings, parents, and happy memories of the holidays. He loves Weihnachten, and can’t imagine anyone wouldn’t! He’s on his own this year, not wanting to travel to see his parents in Berlin when his sibling won’t be there. So he plans on spending the holiday in town, and helping his neighbor with a broken hip. He is a big, strong sweet man, not too long out of a relationship. He bumps in to a handsome American and offers to buy him a coffee to replace the one he caused his new friend to spill.

What follows is a very slow and gentle holiday romance. Dierck is just the person to bring Walsh out of his self-imposed anti holiday funk. Whether he wants out or not! Dierck invites him to caroling parties, events in the town, and brings him boots filled with sweets. He basically bullies him in to the holiday spirit. Walsh kicks and screams the whole way. It’s a sweet little story, a little longer so there is some background to the men, and a little tiny bit of drama toward the end. But no sex! Just a good holiday story.

So I know nothing about German traditions around the holidays, and I can’t read or speak the language. This story gave me a glimpse of life in a German town, and a very nice look at some holiday traditions. I want the treats and the mulled wine! I bumbled my way through the unfamiliar words, and thoroughly enjoyed it! I think this is my first reading of anything from Bru Baker and it was well written. I liked Walsh and Dierck, although Walsh was a bit cold and harder to get to know. Dierck was just a big sweetie! I assume the German was accurate and the Weihnachten stuff was as well, it was certainly nice to read.

I love these Advent stories every year and I can’t wait to read more of them!

RATING: 

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