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judeinthestars's review
4.0
3.5*
This is the third romance in the Tinsel and Spruce Needles series, but my first story by this author. While the previous novellas are alluded to in this one, it can, however, be read as a standalone.
Wild Bells is the least Christmas-y Christmas novella I’ve read this year. Sure, there’s a tree, some snow, a garland-making non-binary student whose soon to be ex-tutor is hoping to bed but it’s not what this story is about at all.
Mia, a twenty-seven-year-old lawyer-to-be, calls herself “the Dykemaker”, as in no straight woman can resist her. Except for Linda Ling. If you thought this was going to be a toaster oven romance, think again. Because it’s not Linda Mia ends up falling for, it’s her twin sister Sandra. While “Linda is all that, Sandra is… something” (I’m more or less quoting Mia here).
Sandra is everything Mia thought she didn’t want. She’s not gorgeous, she’s in a wheelchair, she wants to date Mia. Mia doesn’t do dates. Yet, in an ironic twist of her usual modus operandi, Mia finds herself unable to resist Sandra.
Watching Mia acting totally out of character, trying to fight the unexpected attraction was a lot of fun, and I wish some of these scenes had been longer, more detailed. When Mia and Sandra go on their first date (Mia’s first date ever), almost all we know is what Mia feels afterwards. I know novellas are supposed to be short, but a few more pages would have been welcome. As it is, the reader can see Mia falling (that part is believable) but not how, not why. So while I really enjoyed this story, it left me wanting more.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the third romance in the Tinsel and Spruce Needles series, but my first story by this author. While the previous novellas are alluded to in this one, it can, however, be read as a standalone.
Wild Bells is the least Christmas-y Christmas novella I’ve read this year. Sure, there’s a tree, some snow, a garland-making non-binary student whose soon to be ex-tutor is hoping to bed but it’s not what this story is about at all.
Mia, a twenty-seven-year-old lawyer-to-be, calls herself “the Dykemaker”, as in no straight woman can resist her. Except for Linda Ling. If you thought this was going to be a toaster oven romance, think again. Because it’s not Linda Mia ends up falling for, it’s her twin sister Sandra. While “Linda is all that, Sandra is… something” (I’m more or less quoting Mia here).
Sandra is everything Mia thought she didn’t want. She’s not gorgeous, she’s in a wheelchair, she wants to date Mia. Mia doesn’t do dates. Yet, in an ironic twist of her usual modus operandi, Mia finds herself unable to resist Sandra.
Watching Mia acting totally out of character, trying to fight the unexpected attraction was a lot of fun, and I wish some of these scenes had been longer, more detailed. When Mia and Sandra go on their first date (Mia’s first date ever), almost all we know is what Mia feels afterwards. I know novellas are supposed to be short, but a few more pages would have been welcome. As it is, the reader can see Mia falling (that part is believable) but not how, not why. So while I really enjoyed this story, it left me wanting more.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
chantal550's review
3.0
Thank you to the publisher for an arc.
Wild Bells is an f/f romance with a disabled love interest that takes place over Christmas and New Year. I was so excited to read this from the cover and the description but unfortunately I was underwhelmed.
This was too short the relationship was not developed enough. There would be times where a scene would cut off right when it was getting started then Mia would be talking to her family and it would go back to the scene. It was very jarring, some scenes ended abruptly then were followed by Mia repeating what happened in the scene to her friend. This effectively cut the scene right when it was getting exciting then went into a boring summary of the scene. I love that the love interest is disabled but I'm not sure if this story is own voices and as I'm not a wheelchair user, I cannot comment on the representation.
This started out really cute then went downhill with scenes being cut and abruptly ending. I'm so disappointed with this it had so much potential. A few more rounds of editing and this book would have been amazing.
Wild Bells is an f/f romance with a disabled love interest that takes place over Christmas and New Year. I was so excited to read this from the cover and the description but unfortunately I was underwhelmed.
This was too short the relationship was not developed enough. There would be times where a scene would cut off right when it was getting started then Mia would be talking to her family and it would go back to the scene. It was very jarring, some scenes ended abruptly then were followed by Mia repeating what happened in the scene to her friend. This effectively cut the scene right when it was getting exciting then went into a boring summary of the scene. I love that the love interest is disabled but I'm not sure if this story is own voices and as I'm not a wheelchair user, I cannot comment on the representation.
This started out really cute then went downhill with scenes being cut and abruptly ending. I'm so disappointed with this it had so much potential. A few more rounds of editing and this book would have been amazing.
corrie's review
4.0
Wild Bells (book 3 in A Tinsel and Spruce Needles Romance) by Elna Holst is a sweet, angst free little romance story set in Sweden. Focus now is on Mia Andersson (Sofie’s cool older sister – see book 2) who is lusting after Linda Ling, lead singer of Raven Choir.
Linda is straight, but her twin sister Sandra - who is wheelchair bound - isn’t. Will Sandra be able to snare the ‘dykemaker’?
Reading a Christmas story in June feels a bit off kilter, but Holst’s Wild Bells is a treat no matter what time of year it is.
f/f
Themes: Sweden 1998, I actually know somebody who lived in Lund, available on Scribd.
4 Stars
Linda is straight, but her twin sister Sandra - who is wheelchair bound - isn’t. Will Sandra be able to snare the ‘dykemaker’?
Reading a Christmas story in June feels a bit off kilter, but Holst’s Wild Bells is a treat no matter what time of year it is.
f/f
Themes: Sweden 1998, I actually know somebody who lived in Lund, available on Scribd.
4 Stars
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