A Charming Idea by Alex Mar

CharmingIdea-LGTitle: A Charming Idea

Author: Alex Mar

Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy, Christmas

Length: Short (40pgs)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (1st December 2012)

Heat Level: Explicit

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Having fallen on hard times, London-based wizard Evan keeps his charms shop open on Christmas Eve. When he finally gets home, he finds his neighbor, Kian, languishing with a wound that hasn’t healed properly. He takes Kian in and they share the Christmas roast from their neighbor, Mrs. Halfpenny—neither suspecting the magic in the marinade that will make their holiday especially merry.

Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3422

Review: Evan has his own charm shop, because of poor trade he is staying in London and not returning to his family for Christmas and finds himself working on Christmas Eve. Finally getting home for the night he comes (trips up over) across his neighbor, Kian, injured in the hallway. Helping Kian takes a turn for the best when he shares his Christmas roast with Kian… as Mrs. Halfpenny added a little extra ingredient.

This is a very short story that has a lot of Christmas magic. Evan has always had an attraction to Kian, but because of Kian’s abrasive manner and standoffish attitude, Evan has avoided him as much as possible. Discovering Kian injured and unable to get to his own flat, Evan offers him help and with a little help from Mrs. Halfpenny’s cooking he discovers Kian isn’t as bad as he seems.

Evan and Kian lose their inhibitions after sampling Mrs. Halfpenny’s cooking. They both reveal more than they normally would have and they finally act on the attraction that they both feel. This is a cute story that is very hot and heavy in the later half. The first half gives us a build-up of both characters and we get a general idea about them. The passion that explodes between them is scorching hot and it is amazing that they had hidden it behind their outer shells. But, once the façade has been shattered, boy do they act the attraction between them.

I will recommend this to those who love charming magical stories, lowering inhibitions, explosive passion and a very happy magical Christmas.