Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Business has been good at Paul’s Café in Madison, Wisconsin—until a few months before Christmas. When Nick opens Nick’s Restaurant next door, Paul watches his customers leave for cheaper food and an owner who smiles more. With his livelihood at stake, Paul lashes out, trying to drive away Nick’s customers, but Nick won’t go easy, and escalating sabotage threatens to ruin the holidays for both of them.
Paul thinks all he wants for Christmas is to see Nick’s Restaurant go under, but the more he tries to drive Nick away, the less he’s sure he wants him to go. Nick is everything Paul secretly craves, but by the time he realizes Nick is all he really wants for the holidays, he might have ruined any chance for them to get together. And there might not be a present in the world that can fix that.
Wreck the Halls is a cute enemies-to-lovers short story with a mix of Grinch and Scrooges. As Paul and Nick clash over the weeks, it’s easy to see why they try to outdo the other. And to understand why they loved their cafes so much.
Unfortunately, as with any short story, there are too many details left to the reader’s imagination. That’s without counting how fast they moved forward and talked about love. There are also some situations easily solve by simply talking instead of ignoring it.
Overall, it’s a quick read for those looking for a little Holiday cheer.
The cover by Brooke Albrecht is a bit simple but fitting for this story.
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ebook, 46 pages
Published: December 1, 2017, by Dreamspinners Press
ISBN: 9781640803053
Edition Language: English
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 