The Trouble With Elves by @writer_reese #audiobook #review #lgbt

Dana reviews the audiobook edition of The Trouble With Elves by Therese Woodson (published by Dreamspinner Press, November 30, 2013, 56 pages; released on audible.com 09/09/2014, narrated by Ryan Kennard Burke)

 

Blurb: 

Cal Martin loathes Christmas music, especially the cliched carols pumped through the mall speakers on endless loop. Even worse is the holiday-themed hell of Santa’s Village that looms right in front of the sports store he manages. It’s yet another hurdle for Cal as he tries to survive the world of retail during the soul-sucking holiday season…until he catches a glimpse of one of Santa’s elves and becomes infatuated with the cheery, gorgeous guy dressed in candy-cane tights.

Of course, just walking up to the guy and asking him out isn’t easy, and a botched attempt at matchmaking ends up turning a simple courtship into a mess for the gossip page. What can Cal do to overcome his social ineptitude, correct erroneous assumptions, and maybe have a merry little Christmas of his own?

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package “Heartwarming”.

My thoughts: 

Story

The Trouble With Elves is a sweet romance. The holiday music and decorations in the mall he works at. turns Cal into a real grinch. When he sees an elf at the Santa station at the mall he begins to slowly change his opinion about Christmas. Before that can happen though there is a case of mistake identity that adds humor to the story. Rumor spreads of Cals attraction to the elf to Alexandra (Alex) but the object of his affection was her twin Alexander (Xander). It did add for some fun moments in the story and I loved the relationship Cal had with his own brother, who also worked at the mall.

Xander is the total opposite of Cal. He loves Christmas, he’s a musician where Cal is a former athlete. and he works well with people especially the kids. He is exactly what Cal needs. He makes him soften and though there was some confusion of who liked who, it was a happy moment when they both realized that they had feelings for each other. I really enjoyed it for the sweetness and lack of real complications.

Narration

I thought the narration by Ryan Kennard Burke was good. He did inflect slight voice changes into the different characters, but only small amounts. He did put emotion into his reading though and I enjoyed it. I definitely felt it brought a realness to the story.

8/10 pots of gold