Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Christmas Wish List
SERIES: Hartbridge Christmas
AUTHOR: N.R. Walker
NARRATOR: Glen Lloyd
PUBLISHER: Bluehart Press
LENGTH: 6 hours and 44 minutes
RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2022
BLURB:
In need of work and a change of scenery, Aussie expat Jayden Turner agrees to a short-term chef position at a bed-and-breakfast over the Christmas holidays. After all, how hard could it be in a small town in the mountains of Montana? What he finds is a grand old house in a beautiful town, and his new boss is gorgeous, gay, and single.
After his divorce, Carter “Cass” Campion bought his great-aunt’s run-down country manor in his hometown, and he’s determined to get it ready for the busy holiday period. Recently out as gay, he’s been focused solely on his business and hasn’t had time for a man. Not that many gay men come through Hartbridge….
As his new clients arrive, and being away from his two kids, celebrating Christmas is the last thing on Cass’ mind. But his new chef has other ideas. And if there’s one thing on his Christmas wishlist this year, Jayden can make it come true.
REVIEW:
Jayden Turner has taken a temp job a chef at a BnB over over the holidays as her moves on from a job and relationship in Missoula. He’s an Aussie ex-pat who went to culinary school and decided to stay after his family returned to Australia. The Manor is just outside of the town of Hartbridge, but he cannot find the road where it says it should be on the GPS. He returns to the town and stops at the local hardware to get directions. While there he meets the proprietor and serendipitously enough, his partner who just also happens to be Australian! In another stroke of luck, the Manor owner also is in town – to get sign materials so that everybody else can also find the road to the manor house 😉
Jayden is really impressed with the work that has been done on the house. Cass has spent a lot of time updating and redoing the manor. The kitchen is spectacular and Jayden is excited to get things going. There are a couple of days before the first guests arrive and still plenty to do. Jayden wants to help and Cass has plenty of lists of things that need to be done, but he seems to have some difficulty focusing. Then there is the underlying sizzle of attraction. When Jayden shares that he was in a relationship with a man, Cass is happy to find out that he’s gay too. But Cass has actually ever told anyone outside of this family. It was the cause of the breakup of his marriage. He confesses his truth to Jayden and that seems to make things both better and also add some tension when it’s obvious that they are interested in each other.
Cass’s kids arrive to help decorate for Christmas. It’s clear that Cass loves his family and that he would do anything for his kids. He also has a wonderful friendship with his ex-wife who is the only person he ever even dated. They were high school sweethearts – the cheerleader and the quarterback and he was busy living up to everyone else’s expectations. But he had to finally be true to himself. Jayden makes an offer of helping Cass learn the “gay ropes” so to speak – no strings since it’s a short time thing and they have to focus on getting the Manor ready. Together, they make a good team and are ready for the first guests.
In the meantime, Jayden gets to enjoy small town life with Cass. He really likes the town and the people – although he and Cass do get a lot of attention just by being out together anywhere. But when help is needed Jayden jumps right in, endearing himself to the town in general. It’s clear that as the holidays are coming to a close that Cass would really like him to stay. Jayden doesn’t exactly have a clear vision of the future and he does love the town and he’s grown closer to Cass and his family, but what about the pros and cons?
Once again N.R. Walker has written the perfect Hallmark Christmas movie 🙂 Cass hasn’t been “out” that long and he’s returned home to take over a bit of a family legacy. Things have been a bit awkward since he came out, but he and his ex-wife are still friends and they are doing a great job co-parenting their kids. It’s been two years and he’s had some hookups, but Jayden is really the first guy that he’s had any sort of ongoing relationship with. Jayden has done more of the casual thing. With Cass’s family, beyond the holidays he understands that casual won’t work for Cass. But Jayden’s not really sure what he wants. The small town vibe is strong in this one. Diner that is social hub? Check. Town Hardware store run by local family? Check. Town runs on gossip and everybody knowing everybody else’s business? Check. Holiday festivities where the whole town turns out? Check. Emergency where the new guy in town can save the day? Check. Gay twist with the couple who is thrown together fit together perfectly? Check. Snowy perfect Christmas at a newly opened Bed and Breakfast? Check. I loved every single thing about this one. No angst, holiday spirit, cute kids, etc. etc. Also loved seeing Hamish and Ren again.
Glen Lloyd adds a wonderful flair to this story with his authentic Aussie accent. His Jayden is truly adorable. His American accent for the other characters was also well done. I loved his performance of the kids too! So cute and bubbly and real. He is a favorite and I look forward to more of his work. I hope NR Walker continues to partner with him as I think he really does a superb job of acting the stories rather than telling them. Highly recommended for all the warm holiday feels one expects from an NR Walker holiday story. 😀
RATING: 
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