Reviewed by Larissa
TITLE: Linus
SERIES: Christmas Sprites, Book 4
AUTHOR: Macy Blake
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 107 pages
RELEASE DATE: December 22, 2022
BLURB:
Never sleigh never.
Linus is having a Christ-massive problem. His cousins have all found their fated mates and their sprite magic is making beautiful things happen in the small town of Mistletoe Falls they call home. His magic? Well, it’s making a fa-la-la-la-lasting impression…and not in a good way.
No need to Claus a scene!
When Colby’s best friend runs away to Mistletoe Falls, Colby follows. From the moment he arrives, things are an elf-ing mess. Strange things keep occurring in and around the Tinseled Inn, all involving its bewitching owner, Linus. Colby is determined to find out Linus’s secret, and if he doesn’t end up getting his chestnuts roasted, he may discover that Linus will make more than his Christmas bright.
If you love fated mates, Christmas hijinks, and magical elves, er, sprites, who make the season bright, this holiday romance will help you have a tree-mendous holiday season.
REVIEW:
Linus, the fourth and final book in Macy Blake’s Christmas Sprites series, is the most humorous of the four short stories, mainly because it is the most OTT and Linus is the most endearing, outrageous of the four sprite cousins. We have seen Linus in the background of the first three stories, and it’s very clear that he not only believes in fated mates, but is very invested in the belief that the magic of old is returning again.
Linus is the last of the four cousins to find his mate, and the poor guy so desperately wants to find the love of his life, his other half, that he’s convinced himself that he’s at fault. His sunshiney personality has dimmed – it’s hard to be cheerful when he’s in the doldrums of romance. But Linus isn’t going to sit still … he’s resolved to take matters into his own hands. So, he embarks on a surreptitious plan to appease the goddess and beg forgiveness for whatever it is he’s done to offend her – and offend her he must have because why else would his cousins have found their mates, but he hasn’t??
However, in his pursuit of forgiveness, Linus goes a bit off the rails. His normally impeccable holiday magic is haywire, and he is reduced to petty larceny when he “borrows” a baby goat for his ceremonial offering to the goddess. The goat is an adorable addition to the storyline and Linus’ interactions with the goat are too funny.
Nothing in Linus plays out like you would expect because it’s impossible to predict the inspired antics that Blake weaves into the story. Not a whole lot makes much sense, though, except for the undeniable connection between Colby, the BFF of Tate, Eldon’s mate, and Linus.
Like Linus, Colby finds his world off-kilter as well. He’s possessed with the need to follow Tate to Mistletoe Falls, but he doesn’t really understand why. Nor does he understand why he inexplicably cannot resist getting pulled into Linus’ shenanigans. And throughout all of it, these two numbskulls don’t realize that they are mates.
The high point of the series comes at the end of Linus. Colby’s indoctrination into all things magic is hysterical, and it also provides lots of warm fuzzies from the found family of the other couples.
You need to read these short stories in order. They are super short, fluffy, and candy cane-sweet. There’s almost no steam and zero angst. Just happy holiday vibes, humor, and four solid HEAs. Recommended.
RATING: 
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