Reni Kieffer

Christmas in the Finnish woods, for someone who did not grow up used to the freezing cold, almost complete darkness, and other horrors (like moose and bears in the wild), can be a very scary adventure. Ian is willing to face it all because his boyfriend wants him to meet his parents, and probably because Ian doesn’t want to spend Christmas alone—even if he doesn’t believe in the religious or the commercial part of it. But Ian’s parents are too horrible, and less than accepting, so Ian figures that not much can go wrong. Ha!

Ian grew up with parents who sound less than warm, so he isn’t used to a family where everyone is close. He doesn’t like the extreme cold, his first encounter with a moose almost ends up with the car in a tree, and the thought of spending an afternoon in a sauna with Jake’s parents terrifies him more than he will admit. None of that compares to the shock of encountering Jake’s outraged ex-girlfriend who turns up and starts a yelling match of epic proportions.

Jake loves Finland and all the Christmas traditions – even though he prefers life in New York with Ian. He still wants Ian to see where he comes from, and wants him to meet his parents. The moose, bears, and other animals can’t shock him, and neither can much else. His ex is in a league all her own, but Jake has made his choice and is determined to make Ian see he is serious. It’s a good think Jake is so stubborn!

The way Ian tells the story made me laugh. His observations are to the point, but his sometimes sarcastic and skeptical comments are hilarious. I loved all the details about Finnish Christmas, including the sauna visit. I visited Helsinki this summer, and many people there mentioned the importance of saunas and the fact there are enough of them in the country to fit every single citizen, including babies, into a sauna at the same time, left me very impressed. So yeah, I can see Jake and his family dragging Ian inside without even thinking about it.

If you like Christmas stories that make you laugh, if you still want there to be a strong emotional element and a wonderful message of love and acceptance, and if you’re looking for a read to make you feel warm inside while learning something about how other people celebrate Christmas, then you will probably enjoy this short story.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
… (altro)