Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Christmas in Dresden
AUTHOR: Edward von Behrer
PUBLISHER: JMS Books
LENGTH: 40 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 4, 2021
BLURB:
Advertising executive Daniel Richardson is offered a huge promotion, though it means uprooting himself from his comfortable life in Manhattan and moving to Dresden, Germany. As he adapts to his new situation, he discovers what a delight it is to live in the gorgeous baroque city, though sometimes simply buying groceries can be a challenge.
At his local grocery store he meets an adorable something checkout clerk named Dieter. One day, on the spur of the moment, Daniel invites Dieter to dinner. There is something about him Daniel can’t quite explain, a comfort level between the two men that goes deeper than their causal interactions would explain.
While Dieter leads Daniel through Stollenfest, the centuries-old celebration of Christstollen on the first Saturday in December, he confesses he has often been able to see into both the future and the past. What Dieter tells Daniel goes against everything he has been taught to believe, but it oddly dovetails with a deeply upsetting experience he had in a museum shortly after arriving in Dresden. What does this bizarre revelation mean for the two of them?
REVIEW:
Through serendipity, Daniel, an NYC expat living in Dresden, meets a younger man, Dieter, at the chain grocery story near his new apartment. He’s been stressed about his job setting up the new office for his advertising firm but he finds solace in cooking and has been trying new foods while also working and trying to learn German. Dieter is a cute guy who is quite friendly and remembers Daniel’s previous purchases. On a whim, Daniel invites Dieter to his flat to have dinner with him after he runs to the store to pick up a couple of missing ingredients. They really hit it off and have a really enjoyable evening. As they are getting to know each other, both are quite busy. With the holidays approaching, they find it a bit harder to find any real time, but on the day of Stollenfest, they both have free days. Dieter plans a whole wonderful surprise day for them and reveals why he things they are so in synch and feel like they just fit, despite having known each other for only a couple of months. Daniel is skeptical at first, but he cannot deny their chemistry and the natural flow of their relationship 🙂
Oh my! This was really an unexpected and thoroughly delightful surprise. I hadn’t read anything by this author, but I really hope that he writes more because this short story is a real gem. I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but this was just lovely. We get a real sense of both Daniel and Dieter just in the few pages and their interactions. I really enjoyed the dialogue – so spot on with German/English idiom and grammar 😉 Now I really want to visit Dresden! I highly recommend this story. I think if you love stories of meant to be love stories, low angst stories with a lovely holiday twist, you will find this very satisfying.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
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