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Gifts
A sweet contemporary romance novelette from the award winning author of "The Green Rose" and "The Budapest Moon Series"...
Figure skating is in Christian Jansen's blood. When he trips on uneven ice and drops his partner, Chris breaks his arm. Now he's looking for a second chance.
Famke deVries lost her skating coach four months ago. Needing to connect with her roots, she returns to Amsterdam and agrees to be Christian's new skating partner.
Christian and Famke connect on a deep level, understanding each other's losses, but will their chemistry off the ice interfere with their goal to go to the Olympics?
Figure skating is in Christian Jansen's blood. When he trips on uneven ice and drops his partner, Chris breaks his arm. Now he's looking for a second chance.
Famke deVries lost her skating coach four months ago. Needing to connect with her roots, she returns to Amsterdam and agrees to be Christian's new skating partner.
Christian and Famke connect on a deep level, understanding each other's losses, but will their chemistry off the ice interfere with their goal to go to the Olympics?
60 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2013
15 people want to read
About the author
Stephanie Burkhart
44 books416 followersJust a little about me: I was born in Manchester, NH but live in Castaic, California with my husband, and 2 sons. I have fond memories of Manchester, but have made California my home. I earned a BS in political science from California Baptist University in 1995.
I have been writing since I was 5, first making homemade comic books. Now, I work on creating short stories and novels. I spent 11 years in the US Army and over 7 years in Germany. Writing is a passion that still challenges me.
I have been writing since I was 5, first making homemade comic books. Now, I work on creating short stories and novels. I spent 11 years in the US Army and over 7 years in Germany. Writing is a passion that still challenges me.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 30, 2013
Christian Janssen is an Olympic pairs figure skater who has had back luck a year earlier. He has dropped his partner while doing the overhead lifts and that partner has left him even though Christian is the one injured during that accident on ice. Christian loves skating but he doesn't trust himself anymore. When his friend Stephen's sister Famke deVries agree to be his partner, Christian is overjoyed.
Famke, too, has experienced a loss in her life. The teacher she liked and went to New York to train with has passed away, leaving her feeling stranded. Plus, she is heartbroken when she sees how much her father with Alzheimer's has deteriorated. She finds Chris supporting her and being a friend both to her and her brother.
The story opens with Famke arriving from New York and Stephen and Christian meeting her at the Shiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The attraction between Christian and Famke start there and grow to love through the progress of the story. The story question is: Will Famke and Christian be able to work together and win the national competition to represent their country in the Olympics, despite the emotional baggages they carry and the powerful attraction they feel to each other?
The setting of "Gifts" is Amsterdam, very close to the Christmas season. The highlights of life in Amsterdam, the streets, addresses, food and local customs enhance the story with accuracy, such as a visit to the Kris Kringle market and Famke getting clogs with Christian for her ailing father, brother, Christian, and herself, for the Christmas celebration. Usage of Dutch words and phrases, such as Sinterklaas for Santa Claus add greatly to the enjoyment of the story.
Although the storyline is uncomplicated and the characters not too many, this love story is a joy to read. The book is written with strong insight into the main characters and core situations, and it is adorned with cultural color and ice-skating savvy. The language is used well, and word choices are impeccable. The lack of sex scenes is a plus as this concentrates the focus on the central story and marks this novelette as suitable reading even for early teens.
Famke, too, has experienced a loss in her life. The teacher she liked and went to New York to train with has passed away, leaving her feeling stranded. Plus, she is heartbroken when she sees how much her father with Alzheimer's has deteriorated. She finds Chris supporting her and being a friend both to her and her brother.
The story opens with Famke arriving from New York and Stephen and Christian meeting her at the Shiphol Airport in Amsterdam. The attraction between Christian and Famke start there and grow to love through the progress of the story. The story question is: Will Famke and Christian be able to work together and win the national competition to represent their country in the Olympics, despite the emotional baggages they carry and the powerful attraction they feel to each other?
The setting of "Gifts" is Amsterdam, very close to the Christmas season. The highlights of life in Amsterdam, the streets, addresses, food and local customs enhance the story with accuracy, such as a visit to the Kris Kringle market and Famke getting clogs with Christian for her ailing father, brother, Christian, and herself, for the Christmas celebration. Usage of Dutch words and phrases, such as Sinterklaas for Santa Claus add greatly to the enjoyment of the story.
Although the storyline is uncomplicated and the characters not too many, this love story is a joy to read. The book is written with strong insight into the main characters and core situations, and it is adorned with cultural color and ice-skating savvy. The language is used well, and word choices are impeccable. The lack of sex scenes is a plus as this concentrates the focus on the central story and marks this novelette as suitable reading even for early teens.
Displaying 1 of 1 review