As promised, here’s the next in the Christmas/Holiday MM romances 😀 I read this one immediately after the first even though I had every intention of crossing at least one of my outstanding nonfiction ARCs off my list. I was smart after finishing this one and made myself finish a nonfiction before I got to read the third in this series!
As much as I enjoyed The Problem with Mistletoe, this one ramped up the cheese and I am here for it. It was less about Christmas than the first (and I’m assuming the last, Mistletoe in the Marigny), but between the super nerdy tall guy (Joel), the beefy veteran prince of a small European nation (Freddie) it worked for me.
Seriously though, as much as I enjoyed the first one, this one was so much better when it came to identifying with the characters. Not only do they mention Star Wars and Star Trek and argue over “gay” history in the British Museum, they lob Jane Austen quotes at each other with abandon. Let me repeat that for you in bold and all caps THEY LOB JANE AUSTEN QUOTES AT EACH OTHER. I mean if I wasn’t sold this would’ve done it for me. Seriously, swoon, clutch my pearls, fan myself, take a cold shower, you get it.
“The soldier gave him a megawatt smile that stunned him and said, ‘”But your family owe me nothing. Much as I respect them, I believe I thought only of you.”‘
Wow, he is a side of beef, Joel thought appreciatively. He noticed before, but up close, he was even better-looking as well as well-built. And he’s flirting with me. Me?! Oof! He eyed the nice way the trooper’s biceps stretched his fatigues. Then Joel narrowed his eyes. ‘Wait, was that from Pride and Prejudice?’
The soldier’s wide face lit up in surprise. ‘You know it?’
‘Of course I do.’ Joel huffed indignantly. ‘Jane Austen’s popular culture, not some fringe hoity-toity—’
‘Okay, okay, no offense, but that’s the second Superman shirt I’ve seen you wear and most . . .’ The trooper’s eyes darted around.
‘”Nerd.” The word you’re looking for is “nerd.”‘ Joel grinned, not the least bit embarrassed to be a geek.
‘Most nerds of my acquaintance don’t read Jane Austen.’
‘I’ll accept that’—Joel took his turn to search for a word; he wanted to impress this guy—’disapprobation from you.’
“Well done.’ The trooper gave Joel an appreciative smile.” (50)
There was even a bit where one of Freddie’s friends mimicked the infamous Lady Catherine de Bourgh scene from Pride and Prejudice and I most definitely squealed out loud! (See additional quotes for MORE Jane Austen references . . .)
If there was one thing I wasn’t impressed with in this book it was the sex scenes—the book would’ve been better without them. They weren’t bad (I’m still reeling from the butthole comment in It’s a Steal), but they also weren’t good. They were rushed and frankly I would’ve preferred if they happened off the page like they did in the first book. I almost feel like I need to take back my comment sassing the female writers of MM romance, because when you hold the scenes from this novel up to those, they win hands down.
“‘You know what? Sometimes love just isn’t enough,’ Joel told her. ‘Love doesn’t make all the problems go away or magically make everything better. As much as I care about him, I just can’t see where it goes. He belongs in that castle on a mountain in Etreustein. And they need him there. I really don’t belong there—at all. I need to accept and embrace this for what it was: an affair. It was just an affair.’ (298)
Baxter brought the drama (above) and I really liked that he also brought the humor in this novel. Heavier subjects (PTSD was a big plot point, as was depression and conservative parents/royalty) were a big part of the story, but he balanced it really well with humor from the protagonists AND the minor characters which is always a bonus for me. I mean be still my heart:
“‘Maybe you two can tour the world and have adventures. You both like history and museums and crap. You can be gay mystery archaeologists!’
‘You can’t just be gay mystery archaeologists. You need a degree,’ Joel countered. ‘Or something . . .’
‘There are degrees in gay mystery archaeology?’ Her eyes went wide and she leaned forward. ‘What kind of degree would that even be? Archaeology with a minor in queer studies? Maybe your prince can buy you a degree.’
‘There aren’t . . .’ He slumped back in his chair.” (304)
And then he included a call back in the last few pages to this scene and I’m 99% sure I said yessssss out loud. Basically, if I wasn’t clutching my pearls I was talking to myself, so this was definitely a good read for me.
Recommendation: This is a 100% made for TV movie waiting to happen from the imaginary European country to the final scene where the friends help with the big reveal I love you moment on a rooftop in NYC that just happens to have been bought by said royalty, I am here for it. I would watch the shit out of this movie and honestly will probably come back to read this again next Christmas.
Opening Line: “‘What?’ Joel shouted, lifting his head off the bed.”
Closing Line: “Joel looked heavenward. ‘You’re the worst.'” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Other Books in Five Points Stories
Additional Quotes from Bring Me Edelweiss
“No thank you. I booked a room in a small hotel over by the British Museum.” He picked it for its location. He loved museums, and at the moment, they had an exhibit he wanted to see: Hadrian and Antinous. The book he just finished reading, Ben Pastor’s The Water Thief, was about an ancient Roman’s search for the truth about Antinous’s death. The Bithynian youth, lover of Emperor Hadrian, was forced into a life he did not choose. It was no surprise that the young man’s story resonated with him.” (30)
“Joel sat back in his chair with a grunt. ‘A college hipster boyfriend got me into her. He was a bar back at the House of Blues and an English major at Loyola. I fell in love with her work and that was the end of it. How about you?’
‘Similar story. A young lady I was seeing at university was hopelessly besotted with Matthew MacFadyen, Pride and Prejudice 2005. We didn’t last, but my love for Austen continues.’
‘Oh,’ Joel said, a little let down. A young lady? Too bad, but what was I thinking?
The man had a wry smile on his face like he heard Joel’s thoughts or at least guessed them.
‘My love for Matthew MacFadyen continues too. She and I had that in common.’ With a wink, he offered another megawatt smile.” (51)
“What a dick. I wasn’t expecting a welcome-to-the-family party or anything, but gosh, he sounds like the commander of the Death Star.” (223)
“The heat rose in his face. It was like the entire family was going out of its way to make fools of themselves. I’ll just text them I’m leaving.” (298)
“‘No, no, no.’ He pointed at her and laughed. ‘You’re doing the Lady Catherine thing, from Pride and Prejudice. You’re voicing your displeasure.’
‘I am voicing my displeasure,’ Julia stammered. ‘But I do not know this Lady Catherine,'” (316)
“They loved each other, and Joel was not getting over it. To his mind, such things as soulmates were silly, romantic nonsense. Something for TV shows on the CW. But when he did think about forever, he thought about Frederick. He was his other half. The problem now was what he should do about it. He needed to talk to his father; he’d waited long enough.” (329)
“Joel stopped halfway up the stairs, turned, and tossed the ball back to him. ‘And “if any young men come for Mary or Kitty, send them in, for I am quite as leisure.”‘
Enrico caught the ball and shouted after him, ‘What the hell does that mean?'” (333)
“‘Or rather she suggested I say something to you.’ Freddie grinned and cleared his throat. ‘Her talk with you, “it taught me to hope, as I had scarcely ever allowed myself to hope before.”‘
‘Well done, Mr. Darcy.’ Joel gave his prince another kiss.” (354)
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