Frozen Embers by Sasha Skye

[reviews_and_ramblings]

At the very end of the nineteen century, Ashley is a young man who is struggling to find something to eat on Christmas' Eve. He carved some wooden figurine, hoping to sell them as Christmas ornaments, but people pass him without seeing the poor young man. Desperate to find any possible buyers for his wooden carvings, Ashley decides to burn them for a bit of warm. But the small fire is not enough and Ashley slowly descend toward a certain death for cold and hunger.

Oliver is a Danish doctor in London to visit his sister. He is wealthy and handsome, but alone on Christmas' Eve, since he prefers the company of men and he haven't never found a discreet man to share his life. When he sees the lovely young man on the street, his first thought is to save him from death, but when Ashley is again healthy and awake, Oliver could see that the man is very pretty and gentle mannered. The obvious consequence is brought on with a nice sexy scene, maybe a bit too "modern minded" (lotion in the bedside table of a guest room which is hosting a sick person?) but nevertheless very romantic.

Ashley is pretty and cute, he obviously needs a man to keep him, he is not able to take care of himself. Oliver is gentle and caring, almost a fatherly figure. The story is very nice, also Oliver's family (a sister and her husband) are supporting and happy that their relative found a nice man to share his life. So in the end, everyone is happy, and this is a Christmas tale, which reminds me a lot "The Little Matchgirl", so the happily ever after is expected.

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Comments

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

You are welcome Sasha to post any link you would like.

The first comment was from an Italian reader like me, and both of as notice the similarity with the Little Matchgirl (Piccola Fiammiferaia), but this is probably due to the fact that Andersen is still a very common read for European young reader. Making your doctor Danish, you only add a one more reason to recall Andersen.

But I don't find that this is a problem, instead I like it, it gave a old fashion tone to the story that I liked.

Elisa

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes Burro means Butter, even if I know that in Spanish it means something all different. Elisa