I’m going to narrow this choice down to one of my own stories. I could easily pick HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (my personal favorite as a child) or a story that is very traditional but since I’m an advocate for the M/M erotic romance genre, I’m going with SIN AND SALVATION by Laura Baumbach. That’s me, of course! Currently it is published by LooseId but in December the rights will go to MLR Press (http://www.mlrpress )and it will be available on their website.
Here’s the blurb about the story: Ian Flynn, a vampire finds his perfect love in 1823 Victorian England in the form of Trevor Sheffield, a young stage actor. He keeps his true nature a secret from his lover until one Christmas Eve when Trevor is brought to the edge of death by a street gang mugging. Rather than lose the man who helped him discover he still had a soul (and a heart to break), Ian turns Trevor. Afterwards, he spends every Christmas Eve alone, wondering if he committed a selfish act of greed or a self-less act of love eternal.
The story is about a lot of emotions—guilt, revenge, self-loathing, desire, and ultimately a deep love that has been sustained over decades. It’s about love that goes against the traditional system and manages to survive. I think those positive emotions are part of what the holiday season is about. Making a family, however eclectic (yes, I consider vampire unions eclectic and this is a vampire story), bringing together people who are good souls, no matter what else they are, who need each other, and creating a bond that lasts forever.
Add the backdrop of Christmas, a time when many think back on their lives and their friendships, and the story gains a layer of warmth and hopefulness it might not have if set at a different time of the year. It can be a spiritual time of year for many which carries a weight to it that other holidays may not possess and that makes the story have a greater depth for me.
Christmas is my favorite holiday and my favorite type of story to read once the air grows frosty and the days are more overcast that sunny. That first swirl of snowflakes bring a touch of magic to the air. I start imagining colorful lights, pine boroughs and red ribbons, crackling fireplaces and hot cocoa. I’m filled with a sense of contentment and a desire to have my friends and family very near to me. I think good holiday stories bring that whole sense of belonging to life. What’s your favorite story for the holiday season?
4 comments:
Hi Laura,
My favorite story for the holiday season so far is Paty Jager's Christmas Redemption (interesting that your stories have similar titles!) which I'm reviewing this month.
Sin and Salvation sounds like a complex, heartwarming story. I agree that the setting at Christmas can give a story an extra layer of meaning.
Happy Holidaya!
My favorite holiday story was MacGregor's Christmas by Nora Roberts many years ago. It was the first holiday romance I'd read and made me seek out other holiday stories.
I've read lots and lots of holiday-themed stories over the years but have yet to find one I've read over and over. Maybe this year I'll check out my overflowing shelves and pull out a couple, blow off the dust (yes, I'm horrible at housework), and settle back by the fire, with hot chocolate and whipped cream, for a good read.
I've read quite a few Christmas stories over the years. Unfortunately, when we moved to smaller quarters this year, I had to donate most of my books and no longer have those old copies of Christmas stories.
"Call Me Mrs. Miracle" by Debbie Macomber is a favorite of mine.
Happy Holidays!
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