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asakiyumeA Christmas story by Aster Glenn Gray that I only got to reading now, in February--but just two days until Valentine's Day, and it's a romance, so that fits! And it's very wintery where I am right now, which fits in with the setting of the story, a snowed-in chateau.
George and Nikolai have been rivals (and secret lovers) in a US-Soviet game of spy-versus-spy for 20 years, but it's December 1991 now, and the jig is about to be up for those sorts of games ... but not before the two find themselves thrown together at a chateau, rented out to a toff Englishman (he goes by the name of Biffy) who's hosting the most massive of Christmas parties there. The chateau was supposed to be abandoned; they've both come looking for compromising letters...
The touch is light and the atmosphere is comfy (so much good food!), but the mood, while never heavy, is nostalgic, with a touch of melancholy. Maybe two or three touches. But there's humor, too, as when they have a race back to the Rudolph Christmas sweater that George has been lent (all houseguests are given a Christmas sweater for the duration), and Nikolai gets there first:
It's a quick read and good fun--and it had a great eleventh-hour plot twist with regard to who-all is after the letters, which I enjoyed.
George and Nikolai have been rivals (and secret lovers) in a US-Soviet game of spy-versus-spy for 20 years, but it's December 1991 now, and the jig is about to be up for those sorts of games ... but not before the two find themselves thrown together at a chateau, rented out to a toff Englishman (he goes by the name of Biffy) who's hosting the most massive of Christmas parties there. The chateau was supposed to be abandoned; they've both come looking for compromising letters...
The touch is light and the atmosphere is comfy (so much good food!), but the mood, while never heavy, is nostalgic, with a touch of melancholy. Maybe two or three touches. But there's humor, too, as when they have a race back to the Rudolph Christmas sweater that George has been lent (all houseguests are given a Christmas sweater for the duration), and Nikolai gets there first:
George chased after [Nikolai] and tackled [him] just a hair too late: Nikolai had already flung himself on top of the sweater. They tussled briefly, George trying to distract Nikolai by kissing the side of his face. But Nikolai, giggling, slipped away like an eel, and he danced away and pulled the sweater over his head before George was back on his feet.
George gave in gracefully. “You look hideous,” he informed Nikolai. Nikolai proudly smoothed the sweater “You are grieving the loss of your pompom,” he replied, giving Rudolph’s [pompom] nose a gentle squeeze.
It's a quick read and good fun--and it had a great eleventh-hour plot twist with regard to who-all is after the letters, which I enjoyed.
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