Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE: Merry Christmas Cupid

SERIES: Hartbridge Christmas #3

AUTHOR: N.R. Walker

PUBLISHER: BlueHeart Press

LENGTH: 253 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 8, 2022

BLURB:

After a year of tragedy, forty-four-year-old Gunter Zuniga is leaving heartbreak behind and moving to the peaceful and picturesque town of Hartbridge, Montana. He buys an old house in need of some work, which he naively thinks he can manage now that he’s single and retired—he has nothing but time.

Clay Henderson runs the local sawmill with his dad, and it’s the busiest time of year. Firewood and Christmas trees are in high demand, and a delivery of firewood to the old house on Cedar Bark Road leaves him curious about the new man in town.

Clay has never had time for romance and Gunter certainly isn’t looking, but Hartbridge has a way of working its Christmas magic; the jingle of Christmas bells, snow, and love are ringing in the air. And Gunter and Clay are about to get the best Christmas gift they never asked for.

REVIEW:   

Could this book be any sweeter? It’s scrumptious and I adored it!

It seems Cupid has struck again in the small town of Hartbridge, Montana – Gunter and Clay are the third couple to meet and fall in love during the holiday season, this time in the super charming, angst-free Merry Christmas Cupid.

We met Gunter in Christmas Wish List as a guest at Cass and Jayden’s Arabella Manor B&B last Christmas. After a tumultuous year of major life changes, Gunter returns to Hartbridge for a fresh start. He purchases a house in disrepair and while he renovates it, he stays at the B&B for a few weeks. During that time, he watches Jayden and Cass longingly, wishing he had a loving relationship like theirs. He craves intimacy and being loved.

One of the first tasks Gunter has to do at his new house is order firewood from the local sawmill. Cue the big, sexy lumberjack, Clay, who delivers the wood and finds other things to check out for Gunter, manufacturing reasons to spend time with him. Clay is bisexual but… closeted. He feels he’s living as half a person, never being able to live his truth but fearful of coming out in his small town. But now that he’s growing feelings for Gunter, it’s time to reconsider keeping his big secret.

The leading men are wonderful together: they’re both caring, kind, and protective of each other. They communicate openly and avoid misunderstandings. Their relationship progresses organically. One of the ways they communicate is through texting. I always love that in books, I don’t know why. Clay’s not sure why Gunter, who’s older, richer, and more worldly, would be interested in him, though.

N.R. Walker continues to build upon her Hartbridge world, one where people are friendly, smile and wave. Everyone knows each other and knows their business, but that also means they share in each other’s happiness and successes.

The book has plenty of great side characters who elevate the story greatly, beginning with the fabulous Hamish and Jayden. They take Gunter under their wings during his pursuit of love. They have, after all, been in his shoes recently and think love is inevitable and imminent. They keep insisting the town has romantic powers at Christmas time. Their partners, Ren and Cass, keep busy rolling their eyes at their sometimes outrageous and highly amusing nosiness and antics. I adored Clay’s dad, Cliff. They have a very close father and son relationship, and Cliff has quite the sense of humor with his playful double entendres.

All in all, this is a lovely story and one of the best holiday stories I’ve read this year. This heartwarming book can be read as a standalone but reading the first two books in the series will give you greater background on Jayden and Cass and their B&B, and Hamish and Ren who began the series. Their books are equally adorable so there’s no reason not to read those first. I hope this series continues; I detected at last one man who could fall under Cupid’s spell.

RATING:

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