Reviewed by Vicki

TITLE: The Winter Spirit 

AUTHOR: Indra Vaughn

PUBLISHER: Indra Ink

LENGTH: 125 pages

BLURB:

Nathaniel O’Donnelly likes his life quiet, his guests happy, and his ghosts well-behaved.

Although a boyfriend wouldn’t go amiss. Someone to share his beautiful B&B with, even if it is in the middle of nowhere and he’s long past the wrong side of thirty. Problem is, Nathaniel’s living with a ghost who thinks he’s cupid, and whose arrows fly a little too straight.

Gabriel Wickfield had the unfortunate luck of dying before his time, and now he’s stuck trying to make romance happen to earn his right to move along. Not that he’s bored in the meantime–Nathaniel is just too easy to tease. And also a little bit scrumptious…

With the curse reaching its expiration date, Gabriel needs to make this final match this Christmas. Without it, nothing but darkness awaits.

Love can conquer all, but can it beat death?

REVIEW:

What a lovely little story!

Indra Vaughn is a new author for me, the blurb caught my eye but I wasn’t familiar with her writing. I’ll be checking out her other books for sure!

This story is from the perspective of Nate, owner of a small B&B, slightly chunky, a little lonely, with no family and not a lot of friends. He lives in his B&B which he inherited from an uncle, he has an employee (Elisa) that comes in every day to help, and he has contact with his guests, but otherwise he seems pretty lonely. He does have one friend, Gabriel the resident ghost. Nate and Elisa are pretty comfortable with Gabriel’s presence, they stop to chat with him in a mirror now and then, and put up with him trying to hook them up. Eventually Gabriel figures out that Elisa is not Nate’s type and gives up.

Nate is lonely and would like a man, but he lives in a small town and isn’t very outgoing. He is a little excited to see the name of an old crush of his show up on a reservation right before Christmas. He tries not to think about it though, he hasn’t seen Owen in 20 years. Who knows if he’s even gay? Or single? Owen arrives and flirts, giving Nate some hope, and pissing off Gabriel!

I wasn’t sure where this story was going for a bit, and I was pleasantly surprised to see where Indra took us. I loved it. This is just such a gentle love story, as we learn about each man, and they are drawn closer together. There is a nice little side story involving two other guests that I loved. But what I really loved was Gabriel. Such a great character, with such a poignant story.

This is a very good story. It’s just the right length, not too short to leave me frustrated and wanting more, but enough time to tell us the background of the characters, give us a nice love story, and a perfect ending. Indra didn’t cram too much in, and didn’t rush the story. I would have liked a little more sex, although this story is more about the romance than the sex. Then there is the ending. Oh yes, the perfect ending. Brought a tear to my eye.

I highly recommend everyone pick up this sweet little Christmas story. I loved the story, the characters, and the writing! Get in the spirit and buy this one!

RATING:

BUY LINK:

Amazon