Review: An unusual and intriguing Christmas read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 29, 2013
This is an unusual short Christmas story with a neat twist. Resa is going home for Christmas, but is not as excited at the prospect as one might expect. She has been trying to 'better' herself and escape from her rural,Louisiana bayou roots. With sheer hard work and determination she almost made it, but a run of bad luck,including losing her job and her rich boyfriend means she now has to make the trek back to her little hometown to work for her beloved uncle in order to earn enough money over Christmas to try to salvage something from the dire situation she now finds herself in.To make matters worse, the boy her family has been trying to pair her up with since childhood, Chandler Caillou, has returned from a good job in Baton Rouge, to 'wrestle alligators'. Despite her determination to avoid him at all costs, Resa  and Chan are inevitably thrown together and she discovers he has not only changed and matured since she last saw him but has hidden qualities she never  appreciated before.The author's vivid descriptions of the location and customs are beautifully written and really drew me into the story. There are subtle hints of the supernatural throughout the story, but these are not fully revealed until near the end. The climax is a cleverly worked surprise and in the true Christmas spirit, the story leaves the reader feeling that  what is really important in life is commitment to ones family, and a sense of belonging. The sweet romance running through the story is not overstated but hints at future developments, and  this quick read is a great story to read over Christmas, although it would be enjoyable at any time of the year.I received a free copy of this story in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.