This is the follow-up I didn’t know I wanted. We once again find ourselves in Hartbridge, Montana, last visited when Hamish from Tic-Tac-Mistletoe crashed his car in front of Ren the big burly hardware store owner’s house and a whirlwind romance commenced.
We see them again almost immediately when Jayden, another Australian ex-pat and chef extraordinary, comes into the hardware store to ask for directions to the chateau where his next job is. And in walks owner of said chateau and newly single and somewhat-out Cass.
Even though I legit just dissed whirlwind three-day romances just yesterday, I am HERE for it today.
He looked like he stepped straight out of a magazine full of ruggedly handsome middle-aged country men. (12)
Walker did a wonderful job of writing Cass as inexperienced, but figuring out what he wants and Jayden as strong willed but also nervous and cautious when it comes to Cass. Jayden propositions Cass in the most awkward of ways and is turned down because of business, but they both find it incredibly difficult and agree that after Christmas they’ll hook up and have a few days of fun.
But, before they can get to Christmas they realize they’ve started falling for each other. Jayden gives Cass all these wonderful firsts that have nothing to do with sex, like holding hands and hugging and just being domestic, and it was so freakin’ adorable. When Cass’s kids come to stay Jayden panics, but does a wonderful job of making an impression and it just goes from there.
‘I came out to my parents when I was fifteen,’ I said, adding a pinch of salt to the pot of water. ‘I told them I had a date and we were going to the movie and asked if my mum could pick my date up on the way. Of course she said yes. Out walked a guy and he got into the back of the car with me, kinda shy and nervous, and that was that. They absolutely knew beforehand, or so they told me afterwards.’ I opened the box of pasta. ‘I just didn’t think I needed to make an announcement about it. If I had been dating a girl, I wouldn’t have said, “Hey, I’m straight,” and so it should be the same for us right?’ (49)
What made it work was Cass’s hesitancy to get into anything with an employee and Jayden’s being extra cautious about Cass’s family, not because he didn’t want kids or a man with kids, but because he didn’t want to disrupt their lives if he was moving on. The fact that Walker waited until almost 3/4 of the book was done before they actually had sex just worked. It was a slow simmer building to a boil and she didn’t overdo it. She gave us two well written not-rushed sex scenes with various to-dos and kept the humor in it all, which is always great.
‘Well, I don’t know what else to call it. It feels like a cyclone, if I’m being honest. Out of control and no idea if the damage will be minimal or catastrophic. Or you know those rides at the fair. Amazing and exhilarating, but also like I could puke. (23o)
The last chapter before the epilogue was probably my favorite. Everyone coming to surprise Cass at different times and then Cass’s dad inviting Jayden to their Christmas with the grandkids, and Cass’s ex telling Jayden they obviously loved each other it was just so heartwarming and sigh inducing. And, instead of ruining it and jumping straight to their wedding, because obviously, Walker gave us Hamish and Ren’s wedding and a proposal for Cass and Jayden. It just worked.
Recommendation: Such a sweet romance that I didn’t know I wanted. I grabbed it when I found out it was connected to Tic-Tac-Mistletoe and absolutely adored it. Walker did a great job of writing to characters at different points in their lives coming together for a necessary reason and realizing they could be perfect and then figuring it out. I really hope there are more in this series, I could go with an entire gay town in remote Montana 😀
Opening Line: “I wasn’t sad about leaving Missoula, Montana, behind.”
Closing Line: “I didn’t need any wish list or pros-and-cons list to know my answer. ‘Yes.'” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from Christmas Wish List
“You ever eaten food that was made with love, with ingredients that are cared for, and you can tell the difference. Nothing compares to something made from the heart.” (80)
“‘When he leaves, I’ll know what I’m missing. Right now, I can guess. I can wish, and I can long for it. But I don’t know what it’s like, how it feels, or how much I want it. And if he shows me . . . when he leaves, I’ll know then what I won’t have again. I’ll know what I’m missing.’ I shook my head, not really believing I just admitted that out loud. ‘Not sure I could handle that.'” (100)
“‘Mm.’ I tried to smile and I spoke low enough so only he could hear. ‘I justt realized that people in here probably think we’re on a date or something.’
Jayden’s eyes went wide. ‘Should we act straight? Should we talk really loud about football or something? Hockey? I’m not entirely up to code on het-speak.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘No. I don’t want to pretend . . . Not like that. I just haven’t done this . . .'” (141)
“I wanted romance.
I wanted to fall in love with a man. I wanted to be loved by a man in return, to know what that felt like.
I wanted it with him.” (170)