Title: A Special Christmas, 2nd edition
Series: N/A
Author: Julie Lynn Hayes
Genre: Holiday
Length: Novella (52 pages)
Publisher: Torquere press (December 4th, 2013)
Product link: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4083
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: Florian Donati has an almost childlike innocence in the body of a god. Unaware of his charms, he enjoys his life, working in his family’s drycleaning business in Prohibition-era Chicago. He loves his job, loves singing Italian opera, and loves the people in his life, including his friend Loria and the notorious gangster Alphonse Capone. Still, he dreams of having adventures and finding love.
Nick Giannakopoulos is a young Greek immigrant who’s come to America to live with his uncle’s family, working with his cousin in the family pharmacy. There are many things he’d love to do, including going to a party in a speakeasy that he and his cousin Milo have been invited to. But it’s on Christmas Eve, so family obligations preclude their going — until Fate intervenes, and Nick and Florian end up at the same speakeasy in Romeoville and find themselves sitting at the same table.
Is instant attraction a basis for a long-term relationship? Or is this just a passing Christmas fancy? Previously published by Silver Publishing.
Reviewer: Pammie
Review: A romantic first time love story.
This is a fairly short Christmas read, with the added interest of a peek at the Prohibition era.
Florian likes singing opera, and works in his family’s dry cleaning business. Nick works in the family pharmacy. They also share a similar hero-worship for the gangsters of the day, especially Al Capone. The fates conspire to bring the young men together in a speakeasy on Christmas Eve. Nick is instantly smitten with the gorgeous Florian, and Florian equally with the handsome Nick. On the cusp of sharing a public kiss, the speakeasy is raided. Staying the night at the house of a friend, the two young men find first love together.
It’s a beautifully romantic tale. Nick worries that he will lose Florian just as they’ve met. Florian has no such doubts and plans their happy ever after. I hope if the author writes any more about this gorgeous couple, they get it.
If you like first love, romance and Christmas reads, this is for you.