What do you think?
Rate this book
The Christmas Angel #2
Summerfield's Angel
After the hard winter of 1888 ended Alby Boyle’s work as a Nebraska ranch hand, he returned to New York City in search of his long-lost family. His mother and brothers are nowhere to be found, however, and after Alby’s years of absence, Five Corners no longer feels like home. His prospects seem as dim as the nighttime alleys.When Alby pauses to admire an angel ornament in a department store window’s Christmas display, he meets Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Wealthy, handsome, and enthusiastic, Xeno brings Alby some temporary cheer. But for Alby to achieve his dreams of love and a real home, well, that may take a bit of holiday magic.
120 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2018
About the author
Kim Fielding
182 books1,316 followersKim Fielding lives in Oregon and travels as often as she can manage. A professor by day, at night she rushes into a phone booth to change into her author costume (which involves comfy clothes instead of Spandex and is, sadly, lacking a cape). Her superpowers include the ability to write nearly anywhere, often while simultaneously doling out assistance to her family. Her favorite word to describe herself is "eclectic" and she finally got that eighth tattoo.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews
November 29, 2018
4.5
This Christmas Series is turning out to be quite delicious.Some of my favourite Authors who have definitely delivered here.
The third book I've read and I'm more than giddy.The absolute cuteness,the perfect scene setting and the men who are just adorable together.
The Christmas Angel is back casting her magic in this charming story.Set in New York in the late 19th century where two men from completely different worlds collide and find their adorable HEA.I was melting at the story of how Xeno came across the Angel.
After a hard winter working as a ranch hand Alby has returned to the place he used to call home many years ago and is intent on tracking down his mother and brothers.Taking to the streets of New York he stops to look at a Christmas Angel in the window of Summerfield's department store.He's mesmerized by her and has no idea how his life is about to change.
Xeno Summerfield is like a breath of fresh air to Alby.He's everything Alby isn't-wealthy,charming,handsome and Alby feels the pull of him,no man has ever stirred up so many feelings in him.
Xeno and Alby were just too cute together,I was swooning big time here!
Highly Recommended.I can't wait to read the other books and see the Angel casting more magic.
An Arc of Summerfield's Angel was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.
This Christmas Series is turning out to be quite delicious.Some of my favourite Authors who have definitely delivered here.
The third book I've read and I'm more than giddy.The absolute cuteness,the perfect scene setting and the men who are just adorable together.
The Christmas Angel is back casting her magic in this charming story.Set in New York in the late 19th century where two men from completely different worlds collide and find their adorable HEA.I was melting at the story of how Xeno came across the Angel.
After a hard winter working as a ranch hand Alby has returned to the place he used to call home many years ago and is intent on tracking down his mother and brothers.Taking to the streets of New York he stops to look at a Christmas Angel in the window of Summerfield's department store.He's mesmerized by her and has no idea how his life is about to change.
Xeno Summerfield is like a breath of fresh air to Alby.He's everything Alby isn't-wealthy,charming,handsome and Alby feels the pull of him,no man has ever stirred up so many feelings in him.
Xeno and Alby were just too cute together,I was swooning big time here!
Highly Recommended.I can't wait to read the other books and see the Angel casting more magic.
An Arc of Summerfield's Angel was kindly provided to DirtyBooksObsession in exchange for an honest review.
This review is post
ed on DirtyBooksObsession
December 6, 2018
~4.5~
Alby works hard and longs for simple things: a meal in his belly, some warmth in his bones, some decent rest for his body and mind. He arrives in New York City just before Christmas 1888 in the hopes of finding the family he was forced to leave behind when he was shipped off to Nebraska as a young teen.
His first day in the city, Alby, who knows ranches and horses and back-breaking work, is drawn to a department store window where he spies a beautiful Christmas angel with shining red hair. He’s so focused on the angel, he’s nearly trampled in the street by a trolley. Fortunately, a handsome young man is there to pull him back from danger.
Xeno is nothing like Alby: he’s wealthy, articulate, and well traveled. He’s also utterly charming and sees Alby as an equal, despite their obvious difference in social class. Xeno and Alby run into each other time and again, as if drawn together by a thread of fate.
This is a poignant, magical story about two men from completely different worlds who keep crossing paths. Xeno vows to help Alby find his family, while Alby, prompted by a vision, gallops madly through the streets of New York to save Xeno’s life.
Alby is the narrator of the story, but Xeno feels just as real. He becomes an idealized version of himself because we see him as Alby sees him.
The men share lunch, kisses, an elevator ride, and stolen moments of passion; in the end, they save each other, with a little help from the red-headed angel.
Fielding is a brilliant writer. The story feels true to the time and place, and 19th century New York comes alive on the page. There are the street urchins and ruffians and men chasing dreams while staying at the YMCA.
I loved every moment I spent with Alby and Xeno. There is so much tenderness in this story; a feeling of nostalgia and hope permeates every page. The epilogue made me weep, not because it was sad, but because it was perfect.
Alby works hard and longs for simple things: a meal in his belly, some warmth in his bones, some decent rest for his body and mind. He arrives in New York City just before Christmas 1888 in the hopes of finding the family he was forced to leave behind when he was shipped off to Nebraska as a young teen.
His first day in the city, Alby, who knows ranches and horses and back-breaking work, is drawn to a department store window where he spies a beautiful Christmas angel with shining red hair. He’s so focused on the angel, he’s nearly trampled in the street by a trolley. Fortunately, a handsome young man is there to pull him back from danger.
Xeno is nothing like Alby: he’s wealthy, articulate, and well traveled. He’s also utterly charming and sees Alby as an equal, despite their obvious difference in social class. Xeno and Alby run into each other time and again, as if drawn together by a thread of fate.
I want to burrow into you—into your mind as well as your body. I want to know everything about you, everything you’ve done and all you’ve hoped for. I want to know what fresh strawberries taste like on your tongue, what the color green looks like through your eyes. I want to see you laugh, Alby.
This is a poignant, magical story about two men from completely different worlds who keep crossing paths. Xeno vows to help Alby find his family, while Alby, prompted by a vision, gallops madly through the streets of New York to save Xeno’s life.
Alby is the narrator of the story, but Xeno feels just as real. He becomes an idealized version of himself because we see him as Alby sees him.
The men share lunch, kisses, an elevator ride, and stolen moments of passion; in the end, they save each other, with a little help from the red-headed angel.
Fielding is a brilliant writer. The story feels true to the time and place, and 19th century New York comes alive on the page. There are the street urchins and ruffians and men chasing dreams while staying at the YMCA.
I loved every moment I spent with Alby and Xeno. There is so much tenderness in this story; a feeling of nostalgia and hope permeates every page. The epilogue made me weep, not because it was sad, but because it was perfect.
“Now that you’ve unwrapped your gift, does it meet your expectations?”
“I never expected anything like you.”
January 3, 2020
4 Hearts - Team review with Chelsea!
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of MM historicals yet, but I am slowly coming around more this year and will say that this series thus far, has been quite enjoyable to my nervous nelly self.
Having read the first story and now this second one, I’ve concluded that this is pure fantasy where there’s simply no need to worry too much about bigotry and discovery and to really just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Here, the benevolent angel has set her eyes on Alby and Xeno, two men on complete opposite sides of the societal spectrum who keep bumping into each other and eventually, come to realize that their differences complement rather than contrast.
There is a good dose of angst regarding Alby's sad story as he returns to NYC in search of his family. Though he’s had it rough, he’s definitely a survivor in all the best ways. When Alby is hit with wondrous happiness by the charming and forwardly eccentric Xeno, he resigns himself to just enjoy the moments so he can have plenty of memories to warm himself with later. Of course though, his and Xeno’s guardian angel has something else in mind for the both of them and that doesn't involve them being apart.
This was smexy lite but still very sweet with a happy fairytale ending (plus epilogue!) that’s pretty implausible. However, I really wouldn’t want my holiday stories, especially historic ones, ending any differently, so cheers!!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
To be honest, I’m not a huge fan of MM historicals yet, but I am slowly coming around more this year and will say that this series thus far, has been quite enjoyable to my nervous nelly self.
Having read the first story and now this second one, I’ve concluded that this is pure fantasy where there’s simply no need to worry too much about bigotry and discovery and to really just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Here, the benevolent angel has set her eyes on Alby and Xeno, two men on complete opposite sides of the societal spectrum who keep bumping into each other and eventually, come to realize that their differences complement rather than contrast.
There is a good dose of angst regarding Alby's sad story as he returns to NYC in search of his family. Though he’s had it rough, he’s definitely a survivor in all the best ways. When Alby is hit with wondrous happiness by the charming and forwardly eccentric Xeno, he resigns himself to just enjoy the moments so he can have plenty of memories to warm himself with later. Of course though, his and Xeno’s guardian angel has something else in mind for the both of them and that doesn't involve them being apart.
This was smexy lite but still very sweet with a happy fairytale ending (plus epilogue!) that’s pretty implausible. However, I really wouldn’t want my holiday stories, especially historic ones, ending any differently, so cheers!!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
November 10, 2019
have read 3 books so far out of this Christmas angel series and each and every book was a win. 👏 Loved the chemistry and slow-burn relationship between Alby and Xeno. And a lovely HEA for these two soulmates. Very low-angst and all the good feels.. just the way I like my festive stories. Loved it. 💜
4 love has no discrimination stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 love has no discrimination stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 4, 2018
3.5 Stars
After spending almost two decades living and working the land in Nebraska, Alby Boyle returns to New York in search of his biological family who he was separated from 17 years prior.
One day, during his search, Alby finds himself captivated by a Christmas Angel adorning a holiday window display at a retail store named Summerfield’s. Before long, Alby is dreaming of the fiery haired angel, who leaves him with good feelings and promises for a brighter future.
It’s also outside Summerfield’s that Alby serendipitously crosses paths with Xeno Summerfield. Beautiful and spirited, Xeno brings to life new and profound feelings in Alby, making him begin to wish for a future he never thought possible.
My favourite element of this story was undoubtedly the vivid and engrossing historical setting that Fielding created in her 19th century version of New York City.
As for the romance aspect, Alby and Xeno were sweet together, no doubt, but there was a certain spark missing for me that kept them in the nice rather than extraordinary book couple category.
Not my personal favourite, but Summerfield’s Angel was still a very charming and welcomed addition to this multi-author holiday series.
After spending almost two decades living and working the land in Nebraska, Alby Boyle returns to New York in search of his biological family who he was separated from 17 years prior.
One day, during his search, Alby finds himself captivated by a Christmas Angel adorning a holiday window display at a retail store named Summerfield’s. Before long, Alby is dreaming of the fiery haired angel, who leaves him with good feelings and promises for a brighter future.
It’s also outside Summerfield’s that Alby serendipitously crosses paths with Xeno Summerfield. Beautiful and spirited, Xeno brings to life new and profound feelings in Alby, making him begin to wish for a future he never thought possible.
My favourite element of this story was undoubtedly the vivid and engrossing historical setting that Fielding created in her 19th century version of New York City.
As for the romance aspect, Alby and Xeno were sweet together, no doubt, but there was a certain spark missing for me that kept them in the nice rather than extraordinary book couple category.
Not my personal favourite, but Summerfield’s Angel was still a very charming and welcomed addition to this multi-author holiday series.
January 7, 2019
*3.5 stars*
I enjoy Kim Fielding's writing, and Summerfield's Angel was no exception, though there are other stories in The Christmas Angel series that I liked more.
I thought the writing in the story was lovely. Kim has such a way with words, and I found the story to be atmospheric and perfect for the era in which it was set.
I think my major complaint is that the main couple didn't have much of a connection, IMO. They seemed to be over-invested from the start, and I guess I didn't quite understand why. There wasn't enough page-time with them together (novellas are hard), even though the ending was beautiful.
A cozy, sweet Christmas story with a few minor flaws. Still very successful.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
I enjoy Kim Fielding's writing, and Summerfield's Angel was no exception, though there are other stories in The Christmas Angel series that I liked more.
I thought the writing in the story was lovely. Kim has such a way with words, and I found the story to be atmospheric and perfect for the era in which it was set.
I think my major complaint is that the main couple didn't have much of a connection, IMO. They seemed to be over-invested from the start, and I guess I didn't quite understand why. There wasn't enough page-time with them together (novellas are hard), even though the ending was beautiful.
A cozy, sweet Christmas story with a few minor flaws. Still very successful.
*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*
goodreads|instagram|twitter|blog
December 4, 2018
*** 4.5 Stars ***
I used to avoid m/m historical romances like the plague - partially because I found most of them to be poorly researched and detailed, but mostly because I didn't believe that authors would be able to provide me with a satisfying happily ever after in a time when the world was so cruel to same sex couples. I mean, is "happily ever after" really happily ever after if the men can't live together openly, if they're forced to deny who they are to each other to almost - if not every - person they know?!
But a handful of stellar recommendations from friends led me to a very select group of authors that I trust to work within the realities of the time periods that they write about and yet still give me an ending that will make my heart happy.
Kim Fielding is on this short list.
Fielding made New York City in the 1880s come alive for me in a way that I've never experienced before - not through (numerous) history textbooks, not through period dramas, and certainly not through any mainstream MF romance novel I've ever read. Her descriptions of big picture details like the eye-watering stench of the city, the sadly sagging tenement housing, and the way neighbourhoods changed hands from one ethnic group to another over the decades pulled me in, but it was the minute details - like the hardy but boring food at the YMCA, and the use of a magic lantern when giving a presentation - that spoke to my museum curator's soul.
And I could tell that this story was special because despite reading nearly the entire story with a low-grade heartache for these two characters who society told weren't worthy of love and commitment and family the same way that hetero couples are, I was still smiling with every page. Alby and Xeno were an unlikely couple and yet I just believed that they worked together. I basked in their joy of each other and the world around them, and the story just made me happy to read it.
And, okay, I acknowledge that the chances of Xeno's father knowing about and being supportive of "his proclivities" is unlikely, but by that point my yearning for their happily ever after and my acceptance of a little Christmas novella glitz was able to shout down my inner realist and I was able to just enjoy the ooey, gooey, heart meltingly perfect ending to Summerfield's Angel.
It's been twenty minutes since I finished the book and I am still smiling, so there's got to be something said for that, right?!
I used to avoid m/m historical romances like the plague - partially because I found most of them to be poorly researched and detailed, but mostly because I didn't believe that authors would be able to provide me with a satisfying happily ever after in a time when the world was so cruel to same sex couples. I mean, is "happily ever after" really happily ever after if the men can't live together openly, if they're forced to deny who they are to each other to almost - if not every - person they know?!
But a handful of stellar recommendations from friends led me to a very select group of authors that I trust to work within the realities of the time periods that they write about and yet still give me an ending that will make my heart happy.
Kim Fielding is on this short list.
Fielding made New York City in the 1880s come alive for me in a way that I've never experienced before - not through (numerous) history textbooks, not through period dramas, and certainly not through any mainstream MF romance novel I've ever read. Her descriptions of big picture details like the eye-watering stench of the city, the sadly sagging tenement housing, and the way neighbourhoods changed hands from one ethnic group to another over the decades pulled me in, but it was the minute details - like the hardy but boring food at the YMCA, and the use of a magic lantern when giving a presentation - that spoke to my museum curator's soul.
And I could tell that this story was special because despite reading nearly the entire story with a low-grade heartache for these two characters who society told weren't worthy of love and commitment and family the same way that hetero couples are, I was still smiling with every page. Alby and Xeno were an unlikely couple and yet I just believed that they worked together. I basked in their joy of each other and the world around them, and the story just made me happy to read it.
And, okay, I acknowledge that the chances of Xeno's father knowing about and being supportive of "his proclivities" is unlikely, but by that point my yearning for their happily ever after and my acceptance of a little Christmas novella glitz was able to shout down my inner realist and I was able to just enjoy the ooey, gooey, heart meltingly perfect ending to Summerfield's Angel.
It's been twenty minutes since I finished the book and I am still smiling, so there's got to be something said for that, right?!
Read
September 7, 2018This has been such fun! Seven authors, seven settings, seven timeframes. What connects all the stories is a certain angel ornament--who brings love to lonely men. If you're looking for some Christmas romance with maybe a sprinkle of magic on top, these stories are for you.
My contribution to the collection, "Summerfield's Angel," takes place in New York City in 1888. I had a wonderful time doing the research, and I made some fascinating discoveries. Have you ever heard of the West Side Cowboys? I hadn't, but they turned out to make the perfect addition to my tale.
You can read these stories in any order.
My contribution to the collection, "Summerfield's Angel," takes place in New York City in 1888. I had a wonderful time doing the research, and I made some fascinating discoveries. Have you ever heard of the West Side Cowboys? I hadn't, but they turned out to make the perfect addition to my tale.
You can read these stories in any order.
December 23, 2018
Audio Review 22Dec2018: 4.5 Stars
I'm rounding up my previous rating because of how much I enjoyed KC Kelly's narration for this lovely tale. Hearing the story made me love it all the more, and I think (after reading a couple of other books in this series) that so far it most resembles what Eli's book (the first one) started out with a heaping helping of magic. And I really do love how Alby says that next year, The Angel can choose who She most wants to go home with. Because it ties in so nicely to the next book.
Also, it took me a re-read (listen) to remember that I learned only the most basic facts of the 1886-1887 winter with it probably only being covered because of how the cattle dying affected Teddy Roosevelt (and that was in an AP class). The Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Montana, part of the National Park Service, did an amazing job of expanding that knowledge and and how it impacted the entire ranching industry as a whole, effectively changing the West.
If you ever have a chance to visit there I whole-heartedly recommend it. Only, yeah, you know...not NOW because almost all the NPS properties that don't have State funding to keep them open are closed or have no one to do the daily upkeep & plow the roads due to the shut down.
Original Review 03Dec2018: 4.2 Stars
So, remember how I was worried other books in this connected series wouldn't be as good as the first? Well, I think I can stop being concerned. This was also wonderful! I loved how much research went into this (the NYC historical setting, YMCA, and references to the blizzard that completely changed the American frontier & cattle ranching in particular). Plus, like in book 1 - there's at least one another character I want a story for (Alby's YMCA roommate).
(Although, I do also wish I knew what happened to The Angel in the 100+ years since we last saw her; it's mentioned she was found in a dusty curiosity shop, but how did she get there?)
I'm rounding up my previous rating because of how much I enjoyed KC Kelly's narration for this lovely tale. Hearing the story made me love it all the more, and I think (after reading a couple of other books in this series) that so far it most resembles what Eli's book (the first one) started out with a heaping helping of magic. And I really do love how Alby says that next year, The Angel can choose who She most wants to go home with. Because it ties in so nicely to the next book.
Also, it took me a re-read (listen) to remember that I learned only the most basic facts of the 1886-1887 winter with it probably only being covered because of how the cattle dying affected Teddy Roosevelt (and that was in an AP class). The Grant-Kohrs Ranch in Montana, part of the National Park Service, did an amazing job of expanding that knowledge and and how it impacted the entire ranching industry as a whole, effectively changing the West.
If you ever have a chance to visit there I whole-heartedly recommend it. Only, yeah, you know...not NOW because almost all the NPS properties that don't have State funding to keep them open are closed or have no one to do the daily upkeep & plow the roads due to the shut down.
Original Review 03Dec2018: 4.2 Stars
So, remember how I was worried other books in this connected series wouldn't be as good as the first? Well, I think I can stop being concerned. This was also wonderful! I loved how much research went into this (the NYC historical setting, YMCA, and references to the blizzard that completely changed the American frontier & cattle ranching in particular). Plus, like in book 1 - there's at least one another character I want a story for (Alby's YMCA roommate).
(Although, I do also wish I knew what happened to The Angel in the 100+ years since we last saw her; it's mentioned she was found in a dusty curiosity shop, but how did she get there?)
November 23, 2018
Oooooh, I liked this! I loved the writing, the whole atmosphere of the place. Such a great comfort Christmas read.
It’s 1888 and Alby has just arrived in New York City. Now in his 30s, he has come back to the place he left when he was 13 when he was shipped off to work at a farm. Alby would like to know what happened to his mother and brothers, but the home he was born in doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
When Alby almost gets run over by a trolley, someone pushes him out of the way. Xenocrates Varnham-Summerfield his savior introduces himelf as. But Alby can call him Xeno.
When Alby tries to find a place to stay for the night, Xeno tells him to go to the YMCA. So that’s where Alby ends up. A place where he can eat, wash, and sleep while he is in the city.
Alby tries to find out more about his family, but he doesn’t know where to start. And he also keeps running into the beautiful Xeno….
Alby and Xeno were a joy to read about. Alby was sweet and a little gruff, while Xeno was this positive ball of energy. I loved how this was completely angst free. These men couldn’t seem to stay away from each other, and with the help of a christmas angel, they sure got their well-deserved HEA.
------------------------------
An ARC of Summerfield's Angel was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
It’s 1888 and Alby has just arrived in New York City. Now in his 30s, he has come back to the place he left when he was 13 when he was shipped off to work at a farm. Alby would like to know what happened to his mother and brothers, but the home he was born in doesn’t seem to exist anymore.
When Alby almost gets run over by a trolley, someone pushes him out of the way. Xenocrates Varnham-Summerfield his savior introduces himelf as. But Alby can call him Xeno.
When Alby tries to find a place to stay for the night, Xeno tells him to go to the YMCA. So that’s where Alby ends up. A place where he can eat, wash, and sleep while he is in the city.
Alby tries to find out more about his family, but he doesn’t know where to start. And he also keeps running into the beautiful Xeno….
Alby and Xeno were a joy to read about. Alby was sweet and a little gruff, while Xeno was this positive ball of energy. I loved how this was completely angst free. These men couldn’t seem to stay away from each other, and with the help of a christmas angel, they sure got their well-deserved HEA.
------------------------------
An ARC of Summerfield's Angel was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
October 7, 2020
***Audio Review ***
Just as delightful as the written story. KC Kelly is a wonderful narrator.
***Book Review ***
Well...wasn't this a little Xmas cracker?? Absolutely loved it...as I do most of Kim Fielding's stories. A delightful addition to the Christmas Angel series.
Just as delightful as the written story. KC Kelly is a wonderful narrator.
***Book Review ***
Well...wasn't this a little Xmas cracker?? Absolutely loved it...as I do most of Kim Fielding's stories. A delightful addition to the Christmas Angel series.
January 3, 2019
Ahh, what a nice Christmas romance! 🎄
Xeno and Alby are as different as night and day, but somehow they click and complement each other. As always the Christmas Angel is doing her best to bring two lonely souls together.
Kim Fielding's writing is always a pleasure, and here I particularly enjoyed all the little details about New York at the end of the 19th century.
And Alby and Xeno are just lovely, as characters and as a pair.
My last festive novella for this season, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you so much for your lovely gift, Christelle! 😘
Xeno and Alby are as different as night and day, but somehow they click and complement each other. As always the Christmas Angel is doing her best to bring two lonely souls together.
Kim Fielding's writing is always a pleasure, and here I particularly enjoyed all the little details about New York at the end of the 19th century.
And Alby and Xeno are just lovely, as characters and as a pair.
My last festive novella for this season, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thank you so much for your lovely gift, Christelle! 😘
December 10, 2018
Overall book rating: 4.5
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.8
All things sweet and fluffy with holiday sprinkles on top
Alby made me wanna hold him really really tight. His character pulled at my heart strings and I adore him.
He’s back in town after 17 years on his own, having been just a boy when he last saw his family. Alby didn’t have it easy growing up yet he’s not all about the heaps of wrong being done to him. He just soldiers on and makes the best of what he has. Trying to see the silver lining in every dark cloud in his own simple way.
He meets Xeno. Bright as a shooting star across his sky, and of course his world starts to gain colour. Xeno is something else and you can’t help but love him for who he is. He brings joy to Alby’s life, even though as they both believe, it’s only for a little while.
I really enjoyed the “historical” feel to the story. It somehow made it more special to me.
I’m really having fun with the series.
On to the next one!
Audio Book: N/A
Book Cover: 3.8
All things sweet and fluffy with holiday sprinkles on top
Alby made me wanna hold him really really tight. His character pulled at my heart strings and I adore him.
He’s back in town after 17 years on his own, having been just a boy when he last saw his family. Alby didn’t have it easy growing up yet he’s not all about the heaps of wrong being done to him. He just soldiers on and makes the best of what he has. Trying to see the silver lining in every dark cloud in his own simple way.
He meets Xeno. Bright as a shooting star across his sky, and of course his world starts to gain colour. Xeno is something else and you can’t help but love him for who he is. He brings joy to Alby’s life, even though as they both believe, it’s only for a little while.
I really enjoyed the “historical” feel to the story. It somehow made it more special to me.
I’m really having fun with the series.
On to the next one!
November 23, 2018
This gorgeous late 19th century New York set romance wonderfully follows up Eli Easton's opener in this series of seven intertwined festive stories.
Xeno and Alby were a joy, I loved the depiction of 1800s New York and the Bowery, department stores and the YMCA which provided honest succor for the working man with no place of his own.
The Christmas Angel worked her magic here in a way which I felt was time period believable and I loved the Epilogue :)
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Xeno and Alby were a joy, I loved the depiction of 1800s New York and the Bowery, department stores and the YMCA which provided honest succor for the working man with no place of his own.
The Christmas Angel worked her magic here in a way which I felt was time period believable and I loved the Epilogue :)
#ARC kindly received from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
December 27, 2019
5 adorable cowboy stars! 🤩
Well, I thought that Alec from book 1 Christmas Angel was adorable, but Alby is maybe even sweeter, LOL.
Alby Boyle, a ranch hand, broke and alone in a big, big city, looking for his long lost family - I felt for him almost instantly. How can such a man, who has gone through so much in his life, and who has been basically bereft of affection and a loving touch for so long, still be so good-natured and open-hearted?
Drawn to a certain wooden angel on an expensive NY street window display, he meets Xeno, or, I should say, Xenocrates Varnham-Summerfield ;)
Xeno is flamboyant, rich, well-educated and artistic - who would have thought he could be interested in somebody as insignificant and boring as Alby. Right?
Well, those two work perfectly together... *sigh*
I loved their conversations, Xeno's unobtrusive care for Alby, and Alby's protectiveness and sweet, sweet heart: .
I liked that this big, strong, rough cowboy was so tender towards Xeno in 'sexy times'. I loved that his delicate Xeno was more dominant in bed than Alby.
The only teeny tiny complaint was that the angel-lady appeared maybe too much... Her interference happened a few times too many and that's why this story was less believable to me - I know, I know, it's a 'Christmas' story with a 'prodigious' wooden ornament, filled with the spirit of holidays and magic, but still ;) And only because of this one little detail I preferred Eli Easton's story a bit more :)
Generally? I loved the story, I loved the 1880s NY background, and I loved the MCs very much <3
Well, I thought that Alec from book 1 Christmas Angel was adorable, but Alby is maybe even sweeter, LOL.
Alby Boyle, a ranch hand, broke and alone in a big, big city, looking for his long lost family - I felt for him almost instantly. How can such a man, who has gone through so much in his life, and who has been basically bereft of affection and a loving touch for so long, still be so good-natured and open-hearted?
Drawn to a certain wooden angel on an expensive NY street window display, he meets Xeno, or, I should say, Xenocrates Varnham-Summerfield ;)
Xeno is flamboyant, rich, well-educated and artistic - who would have thought he could be interested in somebody as insignificant and boring as Alby. Right?
Well, those two work perfectly together... *sigh*
I loved their conversations, Xeno's unobtrusive care for Alby, and Alby's protectiveness and sweet, sweet heart: .
I liked that this big, strong, rough cowboy was so tender towards Xeno in 'sexy times'. I loved that his delicate Xeno was more dominant in bed than Alby.
The only teeny tiny complaint was that the angel-lady appeared maybe too much... Her interference happened a few times too many and that's why this story was less believable to me - I know, I know, it's a 'Christmas' story with a 'prodigious' wooden ornament, filled with the spirit of holidays and magic, but still ;) And only because of this one little detail I preferred Eli Easton's story a bit more :)
Generally? I loved the story, I loved the 1880s NY background, and I loved the MCs very much <3
November 24, 2018
I'm reading my way through this series. Maybe I'm biased because I love these authors and because I'm *in* the series. But so far I'm loving the books.
This historical is a lot of fun. It's set in 1880's New York, which is an unusual period for a romance. It features the son of a wealthy department store owner and a rough cowboy who is a bit of a fish out of water in New York. The romance is sweet. I loved the way Kim used the angel ornament as a kind of guardian angel figure in their lives, urging them together. Great and hopeful ending. I always love Kim's books and this is no exception.
This historical is a lot of fun. It's set in 1880's New York, which is an unusual period for a romance. It features the son of a wealthy department store owner and a rough cowboy who is a bit of a fish out of water in New York. The romance is sweet. I loved the way Kim used the angel ornament as a kind of guardian angel figure in their lives, urging them together. Great and hopeful ending. I always love Kim's books and this is no exception.
December 27, 2018
4 hearts - Tag team with R *A reader obsessed*
Lovely start to my Christmas reading for this year.
I was so in the mood for some wild western romance and this booked ticked all those boxes beautifully. We have a cowboy, horses, railroads, an upper class store owner and dirty bawls near the saloon, but there is also Christmas and magic angels and men falling in love.
I felt the magic angel was very well integrated into this story, she most definitely was not an overwhelming part but her bursts of appearances worked well within the story and added a little extra character to those scenes.
I loved Xeno, I thought his character was so sweet. Xeno's bubbly and slightly eccentric; Alby balanced him out so well with his calm disposition. There's a bit of depth to Alby’s history and I was curious to see how his investigations into his past would work within the story but I was glad it didn't overshadow the romance.
Quite low steam, but not nothing and it worked well for this sort of character/relationship development and romance.
Very sweet and excellent happily ever after, especially given the time period.
Lovely start to my Christmas reading for this year.
I was so in the mood for some wild western romance and this booked ticked all those boxes beautifully. We have a cowboy, horses, railroads, an upper class store owner and dirty bawls near the saloon, but there is also Christmas and magic angels and men falling in love.
I felt the magic angel was very well integrated into this story, she most definitely was not an overwhelming part but her bursts of appearances worked well within the story and added a little extra character to those scenes.
I loved Xeno, I thought his character was so sweet. Xeno's bubbly and slightly eccentric; Alby balanced him out so well with his calm disposition. There's a bit of depth to Alby’s history and I was curious to see how his investigations into his past would work within the story but I was glad it didn't overshadow the romance.
Quite low steam, but not nothing and it worked well for this sort of character/relationship development and romance.
Very sweet and excellent happily ever after, especially given the time period.
December 2, 2022
Super sweet holiday treat!
Historical - 1888
Meet cute via angel
A dreamer and a cowboy in NYC
A search for home
A search for love
A totally worthy Christmas read!
Historical - 1888
Meet cute via angel
A dreamer and a cowboy in NYC
A search for home
A search for love
A totally worthy Christmas read!
November 26, 2018
This is a beautiful story about finding your root and on the way, finding your love.
Sweet, poetic, and very much Kim Fielding writing style.
The story was almost dreamy, like you were living in that day, and felt the situation. You know, how some books swallow you inside and lived in that. I was there watching Alby and Xeno finding out that, even in the wild 'east', on that era, there were some people who care about their 'partnership', as Xeno's father called it.
But not without any miracles from the angel display on Xeno's store.
This was Christmas after all, magical things happened.
Summerfield's angel was an entertaining, sweet, and like I said earlier, a dreamy romance. Low angst and a promise of a great future, this book will bring you to the earlier years of New York and people who lived there, and of course, romance!
I enjoyed this book, and you should too!
December 2, 2018
I am absolutely smitten with this series so far! Fielding takes us across the pond a century later. Our glorious angel has found her way to the Big Apple. That’s right. NYC in 1888 is quite the place to be. Alby has returned after his life has taken another abrupt turn. He might have been born in the city but he finished his childhood and grew into a man in the vast open country. Nebraska saved him from his impending future of imprisonment, or worse when living in New York was dragging him through the gutters. “Placing out” was a blessing in disguise and gave him opportunities he would have never known. But when the great blizzard hit, things hit rock bottom once more. Untethered and unsure, Alby ventures back to where his roots began. He should have known it was a fool’s errand hoping to find his family but perhaps it was ordained that someone else should find him.
What's to like: A cowboy in New York attracts a great deal of attention. When Xeno spots the curious man outside his store window he can’t stop the magnetic draw. He is stricken with a burning desire to discover all there is to know about Alby. And the allure is equally balanced, for Alby is fascinated with Xeno too. He’s far too rich for his blood but Alby can’t seem to help himself. He’s helpless when Xeno requests anything of him and he hasn’t had anyone ever look at him the way Xeno does. Xeno is capable of securing almost everything his heart desires. He’s a man with means and should be content. Sadly, money doesn’t sate all desires and Xeno wishes for a man to fall in love with. And not just for now, but for forevermore. Fortunately, a beauty in gowns of gold sprinkles her magic and brings Alby and Xeno the most precious gift of all…love.
What's to love: Fielding delivers the complete Christmas wish list! Sweet, sexy, and a swoony ending. I adored both Alby and Xeno. I loved taking a stroll back in time in New York City. I relished the pleasant persistence the angel brought to the story. The secondary cast remains out of focus but nevertheless, they were impacting. I appreciated the focal point remaining on Alby and Xeno since the pages were limited but still enjoyed the rest of the cast. From YMCA’s saving grace to Xeno’s family, they all round out this spectacular story. Of course, what I love most of all was the forbidden but fated romance between our lost cowboy and his striking shopkeeper. A simple meal turns into a special present which then develops into an overnight surprise. I was entranced every step of the way.
Beware of: A glimmering lady who continues to interfer…for which we are all beholden to her. Two diverse men that demonstrate love is infinite and blind to social status. And a few heart-racing scenes ranging from slippery sheets to speeding steeds.
This book is for: If you haven’t begun your Christmas stories as of yet, what are you waiting for? And please do stop here. I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy this divine intervention.
**Also noteworthy to mention that Kim is donating all the royalties from this book go to Doctors Without Borders! So go on, treat yourself and someone else!
Book UNfunk
What's to like: A cowboy in New York attracts a great deal of attention. When Xeno spots the curious man outside his store window he can’t stop the magnetic draw. He is stricken with a burning desire to discover all there is to know about Alby. And the allure is equally balanced, for Alby is fascinated with Xeno too. He’s far too rich for his blood but Alby can’t seem to help himself. He’s helpless when Xeno requests anything of him and he hasn’t had anyone ever look at him the way Xeno does. Xeno is capable of securing almost everything his heart desires. He’s a man with means and should be content. Sadly, money doesn’t sate all desires and Xeno wishes for a man to fall in love with. And not just for now, but for forevermore. Fortunately, a beauty in gowns of gold sprinkles her magic and brings Alby and Xeno the most precious gift of all…love.
What's to love: Fielding delivers the complete Christmas wish list! Sweet, sexy, and a swoony ending. I adored both Alby and Xeno. I loved taking a stroll back in time in New York City. I relished the pleasant persistence the angel brought to the story. The secondary cast remains out of focus but nevertheless, they were impacting. I appreciated the focal point remaining on Alby and Xeno since the pages were limited but still enjoyed the rest of the cast. From YMCA’s saving grace to Xeno’s family, they all round out this spectacular story. Of course, what I love most of all was the forbidden but fated romance between our lost cowboy and his striking shopkeeper. A simple meal turns into a special present which then develops into an overnight surprise. I was entranced every step of the way.
Beware of: A glimmering lady who continues to interfer…for which we are all beholden to her. Two diverse men that demonstrate love is infinite and blind to social status. And a few heart-racing scenes ranging from slippery sheets to speeding steeds.
This book is for: If you haven’t begun your Christmas stories as of yet, what are you waiting for? And please do stop here. I’m quite sure you’ll enjoy this divine intervention.
**Also noteworthy to mention that Kim is donating all the royalties from this book go to Doctors Without Borders! So go on, treat yourself and someone else!
Book UNfunk
November 10, 2018
<3
Disclaimer, I have a book as part of this series. However, all the books are standalones and I've been so thrilled to read some of the stories already.
Swoon. This one was emotional and touching, and I devoured it. I don't often read historical gay romances, but damn, that was so good.
<3 <3 <3
Disclaimer, I have a book as part of this series. However, all the books are standalones and I've been so thrilled to read some of the stories already.
Swoon. This one was emotional and touching, and I devoured it. I don't often read historical gay romances, but damn, that was so good.
<3 <3 <3
December 5, 2018
This second book of the seven-book series about a wooden Christmas Angel is set in 1888, and the wooden angel at the heart of this series has made it from London (where she was handcrafted in 1750) to New York. She still seems to have men’s happiness as her central “mission” and she has picked a tough pairing this time. Alby is a hardworking cowboy from Nebraska who has returned to his birthplace to try to find his family. Xeno is the son of a rich department store owner with a flair for marketing before that word had been invented. Neither man believes he can ever find love – not when same-sex relationships are illegal – but the angel has other ideas!
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
December 8, 2018
This was just ok for me. I liked the time period this was in and I liked the angel's role in the story. I also liked their decision at the end on what to do with the angel. But...I felt no connection between the two mc's. I have no idea what they saw in each other. There's was no chemistry between them.
I think it's time for me to admit that this author's books and I are never going to gel. I feel the same way about every book of hers I read. The writing's fine but I never feel a connection between the MC's.
I think it's time for me to admit that this author's books and I are never going to gel. I feel the same way about every book of hers I read. The writing's fine but I never feel a connection between the MC's.
December 31, 2021
This was a lovely sweet Christmas story. I love the reappearance of our carved angel and her ability to bring love together. Alby and Xeno were really cute together. Alby's had a rough life out on the plains, pulled away from his family and sold into indentured servitude. He got lucky with the ranch he ended up on, but times are hard and now he's back in New York as an adult trying to find the remains of his real family. What he finds instead is a lovely young man determined to help him as well. Xeno's been a proud part of his family's department store. He understands marketing. But his personal life isn't one the family can acknowledge.
I liked how this story worked within the historical elements and still found a way for these two to have a life together. A really lovely feel good story.
I liked how this story worked within the historical elements and still found a way for these two to have a life together. A really lovely feel good story.
December 18, 2018
I don't even know what is happening right now...
Like seriously... Impatient Elf has rendered me speechless!!
I just came home to find not 1, not 2, not 3, but 7 books in my inbox!!!
Christmas Angel, Summerfield's Angel, A Soldier's Wish, Santa Daddy, The Magician's Angel, Christmas Prince, and Christmas Homecoming
I'm grateful beyond words for all this Christmas fluffiness <3<3<3<3
Like seriously... Impatient Elf has rendered me speechless!!
I just came home to find not 1, not 2, not 3, but 7 books in my inbox!!!
Christmas Angel, Summerfield's Angel, A Soldier's Wish, Santa Daddy, The Magician's Angel, Christmas Prince, and Christmas Homecoming
I'm grateful beyond words for all this Christmas fluffiness <3<3<3<3
December 20, 2023
Read for the "Festive" prompt in the 2023 TBR Challenge.
Summerfield’s Angel is the second book in the multi-author Christmas Angel series from 2018. The seven titles (all novellas which can be read in any order) are set in different historical periods - from the Regency to the present day – and locations, and are linked by the eponymous angel, a Christmas ornament that brings the miracle of true love to those lucky enough to find it.
Just before Christmas of 1888, cowboy and former ranch-hand Alby Boyle has travelled from Nebraska to New York City in search of the family he was forced to leave at the age of thirteen. After seventeen years out west, the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling city streets are unfamiliar, but he is drawn to the window of a department store, where, atop a Christmas tree adorned with lights, glittering ribbons and baubles, sits a beautiful angel with shining red hair that appears to be smiling down at him. Having looked his fill, Alby turns away and steps off the curb, only to be yanked backward so violently he trips and lands on his backside, just as a horsedrawn trolley trundles past.
Looking up into the face of his rescuer – tall, handsome, well-dressed and perhaps a few years shy of his own thirty - Alby slowly gets to his feet and rescues his hat from the puddle it fell into. After offering his thanks, Alby asks the stranger if he can direct him to Baxter Street; the other man expresses concern and makes it clear just what sort of area Alby will be heading into, but he points out the way and they part.
That night, having had no luck in finding out what might have happened to his mother and siblings, Alby beds down in a dismal dormitory in the Bowery. Assailed by unpleasant memories of the brutal winter that led to his leaving the ranch he’d lived and worked on for more than a decade, Alby desperately seeks for something else to fill his mind – and thinks of the angel. In his mind’s eye, her golden gown shimmers and her wings flutter as she gestures for him to look beyond her to… the young man who had pulled him from the path of the trolley. Alby falls asleep with a smile on his face.
The next morning, Alby finds himself drawn back to the angel in the shop window, even though he knows it’s pure foolishness to stand outside daydreaming. He’s about to turn away when a hand grips his arm and a familiar voice jokingly asks if he’s trying to get trampled by horses again. The young man – every bit as handsome and vivacious as Alby remembers – introduces himself as Xenocrates Varnham-Summerfield – Xeno for short – and he suggests to Alby that rather than going to one of the Bowery flea-pits that night, he should go to the YMCA instead; he’ll get better accommodation and decent food for the same price. Alby is sceptical – but agrees to consider it, and the two of them go their separate ways. But not for long.
Summerfield’s Angel is a charming, magical story about two very different men from completely different worlds whose paths keep crossing ‘by accident’. The historical background to the story is fantastic – Kim Fielding really brings late nineteenth century New York to life, with its street-urchins and ruffians, the hustle and bustle of Broadway, the stench of the city, the miserable, run-down tenements of the Bowery, the simple but necessary work done by the YMCA in providing shelter for working men with no place of their own. It’s all fascinating and superbly done.
The story is told entirely from Alby’s PoV, and he’s a wonderfully rounded central character. His story is a tragic one – he stole in order to help feed his family, but was caught and shipped out West, ending up on a ranch where he worked until the devastating winter of 1886-7 (known as the Big Die Up) that wiped out all the cattle there. As he trudges around New York, searching for the place he grew up in, his loneliness and sense of isolation are palpable; life hasn’t been kind to him, but Alby is a survivor in the best of ways. He’s pragmatic and doesn’t look back and brood over all the bad things life has thrown at him because he knows it’s pointless. Instead, he tries to find the good in his situation and to make good memories to sustain him in the future.
I liked Xeno – he’s sweet and loving and irrepressible, a real force-of-nature type brimming with ideas and enthusiasm – but he’s not as well fleshed-out as Alby is, and unfortunately, their romance is rushed. In fact, the first half of the novella is so completely engrossing that it took me a while to realise that the romance hadn’t really started yet. They’re sweet together, and despite their differences, they just ‘fit’ - but I wish they’d had more page time together and that the author had had the time to build a deeper connection between them.
I’m not the greatest fan of Christmas stories in general, because they’re often far too syrupy sweet for my taste, but Kim Fielding manages to inject enough sweetness into this one without going completely overboard. Perhaps the ease with which Xeno’s father accepts his son's sexuality is unlikely given the time period, but, eh, it’s a story about a magical wooden angel helping people find true love, so why not?
Summerfield’s Angel is a poignant and heartwarming read that delivers everything you could want in a Christmas romance; a dash of magic, a soupçon of sweetness and a lot of love. The first half is definitely stronger than the second and things are perhaps a little too neatly wrapped up at the end, but it’s a lovely story that is well worth adding to your Christmas TBR.
Summerfield’s Angel is the second book in the multi-author Christmas Angel series from 2018. The seven titles (all novellas which can be read in any order) are set in different historical periods - from the Regency to the present day – and locations, and are linked by the eponymous angel, a Christmas ornament that brings the miracle of true love to those lucky enough to find it.
Just before Christmas of 1888, cowboy and former ranch-hand Alby Boyle has travelled from Nebraska to New York City in search of the family he was forced to leave at the age of thirteen. After seventeen years out west, the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling city streets are unfamiliar, but he is drawn to the window of a department store, where, atop a Christmas tree adorned with lights, glittering ribbons and baubles, sits a beautiful angel with shining red hair that appears to be smiling down at him. Having looked his fill, Alby turns away and steps off the curb, only to be yanked backward so violently he trips and lands on his backside, just as a horsedrawn trolley trundles past.
Looking up into the face of his rescuer – tall, handsome, well-dressed and perhaps a few years shy of his own thirty - Alby slowly gets to his feet and rescues his hat from the puddle it fell into. After offering his thanks, Alby asks the stranger if he can direct him to Baxter Street; the other man expresses concern and makes it clear just what sort of area Alby will be heading into, but he points out the way and they part.
That night, having had no luck in finding out what might have happened to his mother and siblings, Alby beds down in a dismal dormitory in the Bowery. Assailed by unpleasant memories of the brutal winter that led to his leaving the ranch he’d lived and worked on for more than a decade, Alby desperately seeks for something else to fill his mind – and thinks of the angel. In his mind’s eye, her golden gown shimmers and her wings flutter as she gestures for him to look beyond her to… the young man who had pulled him from the path of the trolley. Alby falls asleep with a smile on his face.
The next morning, Alby finds himself drawn back to the angel in the shop window, even though he knows it’s pure foolishness to stand outside daydreaming. He’s about to turn away when a hand grips his arm and a familiar voice jokingly asks if he’s trying to get trampled by horses again. The young man – every bit as handsome and vivacious as Alby remembers – introduces himself as Xenocrates Varnham-Summerfield – Xeno for short – and he suggests to Alby that rather than going to one of the Bowery flea-pits that night, he should go to the YMCA instead; he’ll get better accommodation and decent food for the same price. Alby is sceptical – but agrees to consider it, and the two of them go their separate ways. But not for long.
Summerfield’s Angel is a charming, magical story about two very different men from completely different worlds whose paths keep crossing ‘by accident’. The historical background to the story is fantastic – Kim Fielding really brings late nineteenth century New York to life, with its street-urchins and ruffians, the hustle and bustle of Broadway, the stench of the city, the miserable, run-down tenements of the Bowery, the simple but necessary work done by the YMCA in providing shelter for working men with no place of their own. It’s all fascinating and superbly done.
The story is told entirely from Alby’s PoV, and he’s a wonderfully rounded central character. His story is a tragic one – he stole in order to help feed his family, but was caught and shipped out West, ending up on a ranch where he worked until the devastating winter of 1886-7 (known as the Big Die Up) that wiped out all the cattle there. As he trudges around New York, searching for the place he grew up in, his loneliness and sense of isolation are palpable; life hasn’t been kind to him, but Alby is a survivor in the best of ways. He’s pragmatic and doesn’t look back and brood over all the bad things life has thrown at him because he knows it’s pointless. Instead, he tries to find the good in his situation and to make good memories to sustain him in the future.
I liked Xeno – he’s sweet and loving and irrepressible, a real force-of-nature type brimming with ideas and enthusiasm – but he’s not as well fleshed-out as Alby is, and unfortunately, their romance is rushed. In fact, the first half of the novella is so completely engrossing that it took me a while to realise that the romance hadn’t really started yet. They’re sweet together, and despite their differences, they just ‘fit’ - but I wish they’d had more page time together and that the author had had the time to build a deeper connection between them.
I’m not the greatest fan of Christmas stories in general, because they’re often far too syrupy sweet for my taste, but Kim Fielding manages to inject enough sweetness into this one without going completely overboard. Perhaps the ease with which Xeno’s father accepts his son's sexuality is unlikely given the time period, but, eh, it’s a story about a magical wooden angel helping people find true love, so why not?
Summerfield’s Angel is a poignant and heartwarming read that delivers everything you could want in a Christmas romance; a dash of magic, a soupçon of sweetness and a lot of love. The first half is definitely stronger than the second and things are perhaps a little too neatly wrapped up at the end, but it’s a lovely story that is well worth adding to your Christmas TBR.
December 29, 2019
RECENSIONE: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...
3.5 stelle
Questo libro è una novella natalizia che fa parte della serie The Christmas Angel che è composta da sette racconti autoconclusivi, che possono essere letti anche singolarmente, legati tra loro da un filo conduttore: una magica statuina a forma di angelo che si ritrova in ogni racconto. Della serie fanno parte: “L’angelo di Natale” di Eli Easton, “L’angelo del prestigiatore” di Jordan L. Hawk, “Il desiderio di un soldato” di N. R. Walker, “L’angelo bisbetico” di Anyta Sunday, “Un principe a Natale” di Rj Scotte e questo, tutti in uscita il 24 di dicembre con Triskell a cui poi si aggiunge "A casa per Natale" di L. A. Witt che l'autrice ha già pubblicato in self. La novella è breve e pur essendo di genere contemporaneo ha un’ambientazione particolare in quanto le vicende si svolgono nel 1888 a New York tra quartieri ricchi e poveri che fanno venire in mente vagamente le ambientazioni del film David Copperfield e l’ambiente western. La stessa storia non presenta le classiche situazioni delle novelle natalizie, ma una trama diversa e insolita. Troviamo il protagonista Alby Boyle, un giovane cowboy, che dopo aver concluso il suo lavoro in Nebraska decide di tornare a New York per ritrovare la sua famiglia perduta da tempo. Durante le sue ricerche si ferma a guardare la vetrina natalizia di un grande magazzino per ammirare la statuina di un angelo ed è in quel momento che conosce Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Xeno è un giovane ricco, bello ed entusiasta che aiuterà fin da subito Alby. Da qui pian piano si dipanerà poi tutta la storia che porterà i due a provare attrazione uno per l’altro. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi, com'è naturale in una novella vista la sua brevità, è naturalmente incentrata solo sui due protagonisti e soprattutto su Alby che ci appare come un giovane forte che è riuscito a superare le avversità che la vita gli ha presentato e che è rimasto ancorato all'affetto verso la sua famiglia da cui è stato separato e che ora vuole ritrovare. Lui è un giovane onesto che cerca una persona da amare e la possibilità di farsi una famiglia, anche se realisticamente sa che ci vorrebbe una magia. Di contro Xeno Varnham-Summerfield è un giovane ricco, bello, allegro e al tempo stesso generoso, che non bada alle convenzioni sociali e aiuta Boyle in ogni modo senza farglielo pesare, anche donandogli solo un po’ di allegria e spensieratezza. La narrazione è chiara e lineare, ma il linguaggio utilizzato non sembra molto in linea con il contesto storico in cui è ambientata la vicenda. Ci si aspetterebbe infatti un linguaggio più adeguato all'epoca e al contesto sociale dei due protagonisti, mentre risulta più contemporaneo e quindi in parte dissonante con la storia. Al tempo stesso anche il modo di affrontare l’attrazione e l’amore tra Alby e Xeno sembra troppo “libero” e più consono alla nostra epoca che non alla fine dell’Ottocento....
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
3.5 stelle
Questo libro è una novella natalizia che fa parte della serie The Christmas Angel che è composta da sette racconti autoconclusivi, che possono essere letti anche singolarmente, legati tra loro da un filo conduttore: una magica statuina a forma di angelo che si ritrova in ogni racconto. Della serie fanno parte: “L’angelo di Natale” di Eli Easton, “L’angelo del prestigiatore” di Jordan L. Hawk, “Il desiderio di un soldato” di N. R. Walker, “L’angelo bisbetico” di Anyta Sunday, “Un principe a Natale” di Rj Scotte e questo, tutti in uscita il 24 di dicembre con Triskell a cui poi si aggiunge "A casa per Natale" di L. A. Witt che l'autrice ha già pubblicato in self. La novella è breve e pur essendo di genere contemporaneo ha un’ambientazione particolare in quanto le vicende si svolgono nel 1888 a New York tra quartieri ricchi e poveri che fanno venire in mente vagamente le ambientazioni del film David Copperfield e l’ambiente western. La stessa storia non presenta le classiche situazioni delle novelle natalizie, ma una trama diversa e insolita. Troviamo il protagonista Alby Boyle, un giovane cowboy, che dopo aver concluso il suo lavoro in Nebraska decide di tornare a New York per ritrovare la sua famiglia perduta da tempo. Durante le sue ricerche si ferma a guardare la vetrina natalizia di un grande magazzino per ammirare la statuina di un angelo ed è in quel momento che conosce Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Xeno è un giovane ricco, bello ed entusiasta che aiuterà fin da subito Alby. Da qui pian piano si dipanerà poi tutta la storia che porterà i due a provare attrazione uno per l’altro. La caratterizzazione dei personaggi, com'è naturale in una novella vista la sua brevità, è naturalmente incentrata solo sui due protagonisti e soprattutto su Alby che ci appare come un giovane forte che è riuscito a superare le avversità che la vita gli ha presentato e che è rimasto ancorato all'affetto verso la sua famiglia da cui è stato separato e che ora vuole ritrovare. Lui è un giovane onesto che cerca una persona da amare e la possibilità di farsi una famiglia, anche se realisticamente sa che ci vorrebbe una magia. Di contro Xeno Varnham-Summerfield è un giovane ricco, bello, allegro e al tempo stesso generoso, che non bada alle convenzioni sociali e aiuta Boyle in ogni modo senza farglielo pesare, anche donandogli solo un po’ di allegria e spensieratezza. La narrazione è chiara e lineare, ma il linguaggio utilizzato non sembra molto in linea con il contesto storico in cui è ambientata la vicenda. Ci si aspetterebbe infatti un linguaggio più adeguato all'epoca e al contesto sociale dei due protagonisti, mentre risulta più contemporaneo e quindi in parte dissonante con la storia. Al tempo stesso anche il modo di affrontare l’attrazione e l’amore tra Alby e Xeno sembra troppo “libero” e più consono alla nostra epoca che non alla fine dell’Ottocento....
CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/
December 12, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.75 stars
I was wonderfully surprised by Summerfield’s Angel. It’s the second book in the Christmas Angel collection, and while each book is a stand alone, they are tied together by an angel theme. I don’t usually read books that are connected, even loosely, to a religious theme, because as an atheist those themes don’t resonate with me. But something about the blurb spoke to me and I’m glad it did. Alby is the standout here in terms of development. His loneliness and isolation are palpable and heartbreaking. He’s been to hell and back, but he hasn’t given up and he’s willing to see the goodness around him, even when it comes from the unlikeliest places. Xeno is an irrepressible light in the darkness. He’s sweet and loving and utterly engaging. Despite being seeming opposites, Xeno and Alby have a connection that feels genuine.
The angel theme runs throughout Summerfield’s Angel, but it never overpowers the connection between Xeno and Alby. There’s enough warmth to appeal to nearly every reader, without alienating those of us who don’t necessarily prescribe to the religious aspects of the holiday. The story is exceptionally well rounded and even though it was a shorter novel, I felt there was a believable and gratifying resolution. There’s plenty of history here as well and while I felt there were occasionally a bit too many references, it’s generally handled smoothly.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
4.75 stars
I was wonderfully surprised by Summerfield’s Angel. It’s the second book in the Christmas Angel collection, and while each book is a stand alone, they are tied together by an angel theme. I don’t usually read books that are connected, even loosely, to a religious theme, because as an atheist those themes don’t resonate with me. But something about the blurb spoke to me and I’m glad it did. Alby is the standout here in terms of development. His loneliness and isolation are palpable and heartbreaking. He’s been to hell and back, but he hasn’t given up and he’s willing to see the goodness around him, even when it comes from the unlikeliest places. Xeno is an irrepressible light in the darkness. He’s sweet and loving and utterly engaging. Despite being seeming opposites, Xeno and Alby have a connection that feels genuine.
The angel theme runs throughout Summerfield’s Angel, but it never overpowers the connection between Xeno and Alby. There’s enough warmth to appeal to nearly every reader, without alienating those of us who don’t necessarily prescribe to the religious aspects of the holiday. The story is exceptionally well rounded and even though it was a shorter novel, I felt there was a believable and gratifying resolution. There’s plenty of history here as well and while I felt there were occasionally a bit too many references, it’s generally handled smoothly.
Read Sue’s review in its entirety here.
December 7, 2018
4.5 stars. I'm having a little bit of a tough day and it's probably not a good idea for me to review warm and fuzzy Christmas stories right now, LOL. So short and sweet, I really loved this one. Great characters, terrific setting, warmth, connection and Christmas magic that jumped right off the page. Genuinely magical!
December 15, 2018
Great addition
4 ⭐️
a well crafted story that kept me engaged throughout
I really liked Alby and his attitude to life. He had simple needs, of food, shelter and a job. He wasn’t afraid of work and he was prepared to do whatever he needed to. I also liked Xeno but didn’t really connect with him as well. I was looking forward to see how the boys would get their HEA and wasn’t disappointed.
4 ⭐️
a well crafted story that kept me engaged throughout
I really liked Alby and his attitude to life. He had simple needs, of food, shelter and a job. He wasn’t afraid of work and he was prepared to do whatever he needed to. I also liked Xeno but didn’t really connect with him as well. I was looking forward to see how the boys would get their HEA and wasn’t disappointed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 154 reviews