Reviewed by Cindy
![Colina de Lavanda (2018 Advent Calendar - Warmest Wishes) by [Li, August]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51iHGAc0TtL.jpg)
TITLE: Colina de Lavanda
SERIES: 2018 Dreamspinner Advent Calendar – Warmest Wishes
AUTHOR: August Li
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 57 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2018
BLURB:
Lord protector of whores, thieves, sorcerers, and deviants.
Owning a parcel of land the railroad needs to cross means Edward gets to run the border town around the station as he sees fit. What starts as a place to indulge his varied appetites becomes a haven to society’s castoffs, and if Edward encourages legends about its founder to flourish, well, he’s not so much a liar as a man who wants to protect all the cultures living in peace. Being mayor means folks might ignore his vices, but they also expect him to fix what goes wrong.
When a crushing heat wave and drought threaten not only the town’s diverse holiday celebrations but its very existence, Edward must turn to the one man he’d rather french kiss a timber rattler than face—the icily elegant Cantonese mage Edward walked out on but never stopped loving.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar “Warmest Wishes.”
REVIEW:
This was a really interesting premise. Edward is a good man who wants to create a world where people can be who they are without judgement. He’s also the person people come to for help when there’s no where else to turn. Now, helping people means swallowing his pride and asking for help.
There’s a little bit of magic involved with this story and I liked it a lot. The author paints a pretty picture of a historical world that’s just a little bit different from what our history might remember.
I can’t really say too much without giving a lot away, but Edward is a very sympathetic character and the situation he finds himself in is unique but due to motivations that are easy to understand. Giving someone so much of yourself feels dangerous when you’re not sure of what the outcome will be.
Shu is a patient man whose power of forgiveness is the most amazing thing about him. And he’s pretty amazing…
There isn’t a lot of room for anticipation to build here, but the author makes the most of this short story. For me, it actually felt like a complete story, and not something crammed into too small of a space.
It’s a little strange, a little special and well worth the read, especially if you like stories that are a little different.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
What a lovely story – thank you for the review.
Thank you for the review. This sounds really interesting 🙂
Thank you for the review. The story sounds quite interesting.
This author has been a hit or miss for me. Not sure about it but thank you for the review.
I might check this one out. Different is good!
OK, sounds different and one I may keep putting off from the blurb – but thats why these reviews are so good to see that first impressions may be wrong
Not what I would consider a Christmas story, but lovely nevertheless. Though there are still a few days left til all calendar stories have been revealed, this one is already among my favourites.