Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

I found this story even more painfully nostalgic than the previous story, Christmas Homecoming, which took place in the post World War II era.  I am a similar age to the MCs and the era in which the story takes place was very painful as I, and many others I knew, lost family and school friends in the Vietnam War. So I fell in love with Richard, the young soldier, immediately.

Gary is a typical teen of the era. Going with the flow, he accompanies his buddies to an event in New York that will later be known as Woodstock. He meets the lonely soldier in a diner along the way.  The young man, Richard, is about to ship out to California where he’ll be sent on to Vietnam to fight in the war no one wants and become a vet that no one acknowledges.  But in the meantime, he has a few days R&R, and on the spur of the moment he acts on his desire for Gary, something he’s never done before, and he goes with him for the weekend. That weekend cements their relationship and the author very cleverly tells the story from that point until a year later via letters Gary exchanged with his soldier. 

When the letters stop, Gary loses his mind until he finds Richard, with the help of a friend, in a San Diego Veterans Hospital with a mangled leg.  The next segment of the story is told through Gary’s visits with Richard at the hospital until he’s finally able to come home to San Francisco, where Gary now lives with one of their friends from Woodstock.  The story is slow burn, very poignant, often heartbreaking, but romantic as well. As the young men fortify their love for each other, Gary presents Richard with a beautiful Christmas angel who seems to help him find the strength to be true to himself, despite his parents’ strict Christian beliefs and their inability to express any love for him.  They do, we hope, live happily ever after.

If you are looking for a slow-burn romance, one with two strong, loving characters, this is one to add to your holiday list this year. Though part of the Christmas Angel series, each book can be read as a standalone.

The cover by Meredith Russell features a handsome young soldier in camo set against a background of firefights and helicopters in a night sky. Representing the era of the Vietnam War, this is Richard the MC of the story.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 224 pages
Published December 2nd 2018 by BlueHeart Press
ASINB07KVRLNKG
Edition Language English
Series The Christmas Angel #5

The Christmas Angel Series

Christmas Angel – Eli Easton – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Summerfield’s Angel – Kim Fielding – Amazon US | Amazon UK
The Magician’s Angel – Jordan L. Hawk – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Christmas Homecoming – L.A. Witt – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Shrewd Angel – Anyta Sunday – Amazon US | Amazon UK
Christmas Prince – RJ Scott- Amazon US | Amazon UK