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jackiehorne's review
3.0
2.5 Fun to read a Christmas romance with two lesbian leads. Except for the ending, with its troubling racial politics that the demands of a happy ending romance create...
Jasmine Oliver decides to open a seasonal Christmas tree shop, to help support herself and her younger sister Rose. She researched the best spot, invested in great trees, is advertising her site's gay-friendly vibe, and is all set for success—until she realizes that a much bigger tree selling site is opening just down the street. When Jasmine goes over to chew out the owner, she discovers Darcy, the organizer, though, she discovers not only that the site has been selling there for years, but that its profits go to support a charity, "Sleep Safe Youth." The competition site's manager, Darcy, can't help but feel bad for Jasmine, though, and keeps offering her help—in part because she's so attracted to the younger woman.
The developing romance between the two leads is sweet and convincing, as are the interactions between Jasmine and her sister Rose, and between Jasmine and her friends who are "helping" with the tree sale project. The problematic racial issue comes up at the black moment, when one of the teens working at Darcy's lot, jealous of the attention Darcy is paying Jasmine, engages in
"A second chance!" Jasmine couldn't believe what Darcy was saying. "It sounds like she's had a second chance, two or three times. If she were a black girl, how many chances do you think she'd get. she'd be in prison already."
"That may be true," Darcy said, "but sending Caitlin to jail w0n't all of the sudden give justice to black people."
Jasmine felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She waved weakly. "Hello? Do you remember who you're talking to? Black woman here?"
.....
"It doesn't seem to matter to you that my business was destroyed, or that I got hit in the face. Justice for me, the black woman, doesn't matter, just as long as Caitlin doesn't have to suffer." (Kindle Loc 1730-36)
Turns out the reason Darcy wants to give Caitlin another chance is that she herself was the beneficiary of a second chance, given her by a person she once robbed, and she wants to give that same chance to Caitlin. Of course, that woman is black, and of course she comes to talk to Jasmine (after Darcy asks her to), to explain Darcy's past. Which, somehow, magically turns Jasmine's valid cultural critique into Jasmine's "blinders": "How could she have turned her back on Darcy when Darcy was just being true to herself? She'd been so afraid Darcy would let her down that she made it happen" (Kindle Loc 2092)..
Of course, we have to have a black moment. But it left me with a sour stomach, to have a white author (at least, what appears to be a white author from her web site photo) have a black character make a valid racial critique, only to make that critique disappear so that the black character can experience character growth. Such a disappointment for what could have been a cute, fun read.
Jasmine Oliver decides to open a seasonal Christmas tree shop, to help support herself and her younger sister Rose. She researched the best spot, invested in great trees, is advertising her site's gay-friendly vibe, and is all set for success—until she realizes that a much bigger tree selling site is opening just down the street. When Jasmine goes over to chew out the owner, she discovers Darcy, the organizer, though, she discovers not only that the site has been selling there for years, but that its profits go to support a charity, "Sleep Safe Youth." The competition site's manager, Darcy, can't help but feel bad for Jasmine, though, and keeps offering her help—in part because she's so attracted to the younger woman.
The developing romance between the two leads is sweet and convincing, as are the interactions between Jasmine and her sister Rose, and between Jasmine and her friends who are "helping" with the tree sale project. The problematic racial issue comes up at the black moment, when one of the teens working at Darcy's lot, jealous of the attention Darcy is paying Jasmine, engages in
Spoiler
some not-so-friendly vandalism at Jasmine's site. Jasmine wants to call the police, but Darcy urges her not to, a request that enrages Jasmine, because she is half-black, and the perpetrator, like Darcy, is white:"A second chance!" Jasmine couldn't believe what Darcy was saying. "It sounds like she's had a second chance, two or three times. If she were a black girl, how many chances do you think she'd get. she'd be in prison already."
"That may be true," Darcy said, "but sending Caitlin to jail w0n't all of the sudden give justice to black people."
Jasmine felt like she'd been punched in the gut. She waved weakly. "Hello? Do you remember who you're talking to? Black woman here?"
.....
"It doesn't seem to matter to you that my business was destroyed, or that I got hit in the face. Justice for me, the black woman, doesn't matter, just as long as Caitlin doesn't have to suffer." (Kindle Loc 1730-36)
Turns out the reason Darcy wants to give Caitlin another chance is that she herself was the beneficiary of a second chance, given her by a person she once robbed, and she wants to give that same chance to Caitlin. Of course, that woman is black, and of course she comes to talk to Jasmine (after Darcy asks her to), to explain Darcy's past. Which, somehow, magically turns Jasmine's valid cultural critique into Jasmine's "blinders": "How could she have turned her back on Darcy when Darcy was just being true to herself? She'd been so afraid Darcy would let her down that she made it happen" (Kindle Loc 2092).
Of course, we have to have a black moment. But it left me with a sour stomach, to have a white author (at least, what appears to be a white author from her web site photo) have a black character make a valid racial critique, only to make that critique disappear so that the black character can experience character growth. Such a disappointment for what could have been a cute, fun read.
thebookishbabbler's review
3.0
Actual rating 3.5
This was cute, even if it was insta-love and had some unnecessary drama. I still enjoyed it a decent amount.
This was cute, even if it was insta-love and had some unnecessary drama. I still enjoyed it a decent amount.
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