Title: An Angel for Christmas
Author: Lily Grace
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary M/M
Length: Novella
Rating: 4 out of 5
A guest review by Kassa
Summary Review: Although most people are burnt out on holiday stories, keep this one in mind.
THE BLURB:
Sebastian has done the one thing a guardian angel is never supposed to do. He’s fallen in love with a mortal. When his human falls into serious jeopardy, Sebastian descends to Earth without permission.
Kevin’s bartending job just doesn’t pay enough, his mother’s hospital bills keep piling up, and now he’s borrowed money from the wrong person. He needs a miracle this Christmas season. Kevin just didn’t expect it to come in the form of an actual angel.
Not caring that he’s breaking all the rules that govern guardian angels, Sebastian helps Kevin all he can. But the consequences of Sebastian’s actions could be dire for the angel, unless Kevin can perform a miracle of his own.
THE REVIEW:
An Angel for Christmas is a lovely, heart warming story perfect for Christmas. This is the kind of story that romance fans should love as it has the perfect amount of tension, a touch of angst but not too much, enjoyable characters, and a happy ending so charming that it kind of makes up for any faults. This is not the most believable holiday story but it has a lovely message of hope and a happy ending for fans who just want something nice and easy with for the holiday season.
The story begins with the angel Sebastian. He’s been an angel for over three hundred years but he’s obsessed with his human charge Kevin. Sebastian can’t help wanting more for Kevin and Sebastian feels fixated on watching him. When something terrible shows in Kevin’s future, Sebastian breaks all the rules and rushes to help. Over the following weeks, the two form a friendship and perhaps something more. Yet Sebastian is see through and could be called back to heaven at any moment. Their tenuous connection hangs by a thread pulled taut with stress, worry, and apprehension.
Told from alternating third person point of view, the novella offers a wonderful sense of innocence and wonder mixed with the beauty of angels. Sebastian really shines as an ancient angel, yet untouched by any jaded cynicism. He has a wonder and awe at the smallest things that is endearing. His devotion and adoration for Kevin feels genuine, but not ridiculous. Instead Sebastian’s feelings of loneliness and frustrated helplessness come through very well. His desire and need to help Kevin beyond all rules helps create a real foundation for their relationship while it’s easy to see how the two connect on an emotional and physical level.
Kevin makes a nice contrasting character as an intelligent, hard working young man that’s struggling against a bad fate. Some of the characteristics afforded to him by the story don’t necessarily make sense, such as Kevin’s comment that he’s too trusting. Kevin didn’t come across as too trusting to me but a level headed man that’s losing his fight against money worries and stress. His later outburst is well crafted and shows the emotional burden Kevin lumbers under even while attempting to be upbeat.
The plot has a few moments of pure unreality. The final resolution is very neat, clean, and totally wraps up any problems in one fell swoop. It’s totally unrealistic of course, as is their happy ending, but that’s not the point and I doubt anyone will mind. It is after all a story about guardian angels finding love. Instead the resolution feels lovely and heart warming, offering a much deserved happiness for all involved. It’s a bit over done and meant to pull at your heart strings but it’s definitely charming.
This is one of the better holiday offerings and has a great blend of romance, whimsy, fantasy, and a touch of angst to make it mean that much more. I think romance fans will really quite enjoy this novella and the easy writing will have you devouring this in one sitting.
I enjoyed this one too Kassa. Sure the ending is unrealistic but it’s angels, I think it pretty much crosses into the “this isn’t real territory” right there. LOL I liked Sebastian a lot and felt for his plight and how frustrating that was for him. This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoy her light easy style.
Exactly! I think if you’re reading a story about angels to begin with, you’ve suspended disbelief and bought into it. At least that’s how I go into it. I’ve not read anything else by this author, I’d never even heard of her before so I’ll check out her backlist.
I enjoy a light, easy style as well and it’s hard to find the balance of light but satisfying. Thanks for the tip!
I think this is only her second book. I’m not 100% sure but she’s new at Torquere. She wrote a very cute short about two young guys on vacation called Just a Summer Fling, no smexin’ but I really enjoyed it.
No smexing? Is that even allowed in m/m!? I thought m/m meant sex! (jk)
I’ll check that out. Thank you!
LOL Usually but in this case for a short it was totally appropriate. 😉 It happens Kassa, it happens, hard for a girl like you to believe I know. 😛
LOL. I know, right? I was a little worried when I wrote ‘Fling’ that the lack of sex would be an issue. ;p But, it just didn’t make sense for the story to put it in.
And, Tam, you’re almost right. 😉 ‘Angel’ is my third book. I have one other short story, besides ‘Fling,’ called ‘Forces of Nature.’
Kassa
You made me put this book in my immediate TBR pile. The way you told Sebastian’s and Kenin’s story pulled me into it and I love stories about angels to begin with (even though I’m such a disbeliever about all things celestial) 🙂
I have not read any stories by Lily Grace and one of the best things about this sub genre is that new authors are discovered every day – some good, and others not so good. Lily seems to be one of the former and I look forward to losing myself in her world.
Thanks so much for this. (I’m not one of those readers who is jaded by all the holiday stories. 🙂
Hi Wave, thanks! I hope you really like this. It’s super short and easy to read so hopefully won’t burden your TBR too much.
You’re absolutely right in that it’s really fun to discover new authors all the time. Sometimes I’m leery about new names but then again I discover ones like this that really know how to hit a reader sweet spot and remind me to take chances. I’m excited to read more from Grace.
Oh and I really love holiday stories. They’re best at the holiday time but I love to read them all year long so I’m glad you’re not jaded yet (more to come!).
Great review. ‘An Angel For Christmas’ is my favorite holiday story and I am glad to read such a thoughtful and lovely review about it an my favorite review page. You have to check out (and hopefully review) Lilly Grace’s short story ‘Forces of Nature’ as well. I am sure you will love it as much as I do.
Oh I’m so glad this was your favorite. It’s definitely one I’ll reach for again during the holidays and I can’t wait to read more works by this author. Thanks for the recommendation!
Thanks so much for such a thoughtful review, Kassa. I really appreciate it! I’m so glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Welcome : ) Thank you for such a lovely story. I’m looking forward to your other works. Even though Tam called me a smut lover (she’s so sweet to me) I can appreciate a no sex story! I may have to read yours to prove it. Such a great excuse to bump it up to the top of the TBR pile.
Thanks so much for checking out my other stuff. I’m flattered! Hehe. Tam’s so funny and it’s lovely of her to recommend ‘Fling.’ LOL. I feel very proud to have written one of the only non-sex m/m stories in existence. 😉