Christmas Homecoming

The Christmas Angel, Book 4

By: L.A. Witt

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 2 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

August 1939. Roger Miller and Jack O’Brien have been close since childhood. By the time they realize there’s more between them than friendship, Jack is leaving their sleepy Iowa town for college. But they console themselves knowing he’ll be home for Christmas. Right?

It is Christmas before they see each other again, but that Christmas comes six years and a world war later. Aged, beaten, and shaken by combat, they’re not the boys they were back then, but their feelings for each other are stronger than ever.

Neither know the words to say everything they’ve carried since that peacetime summer kiss, though. Even as they stand in the same room, there’s a thousand miles between them. 

But maybe that’s some distance the little angel in Roger’s rucksack can cross.

This 24,000 word novella is part of the multi-author Christmas Angel series and can be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2018 L.A. Witt (P)2018 L.A. Witt

Magical

Once upon a time there were two young men living in a small town in Iowa. They were the best of friends. One August day in 1939 they realise there was something more between them than friendship and they share the sweetest of kisses. Then WWII happens and half a decade of separation without any contact. Fast forward to Christmas in 1945; they are both back in home. Both a bit scarred and tired from war. Old feelings bubble to the surface and this time they decide not to run from them, but embrace what started so long ago.

Part of this story had this bittersweet feel to it. It was heart-breaking to listen to how they struggled with society. How they loved each other, but knew that they couldn't be together. The expectations to marry girls from nice families. Having no hope of a future. Yet at the same time, the love they shared was so magical that they just couldn't walk away, and that sometimes love does conquer all.

Nick J. Russo captured the essence of this book perfectly. The longing, the anticipation and apprehension, but more importantly the love. It was all there in his voice, his narration. He made time fly and before I knew it the book ended, the boys got their happily ever after and I had a smile on my face.

Christmas Homecoming was a sweet addition to the series, and while each book is a standalone, I can't help but wonder what the angel has been up to since Summerfield's Angel. I hope more of this series will be released into audio so that I can experience more of the angel's magic.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes

A wonderful, tender love story!

I'm a big fan of L.A. Witt's writing so I wasn't surprised at all by how much I loved Christmas Homecoming, book 4 of The Christmas Angel series of books that can each be read as standalone stories.

Jack and Roger were best friends growing up. Just before Jack leaves for college they share a kiss, but nothing more and they don't admit their feelings to each other. The war intervenes and they don't see each other for 6 long years.

This story had so much feeling it just poured off of the pages as I read it. I love a well written novella length story and this one is just perfect. There is a wonderful HEA and a perfect epilogue. I can't say enough good things about this book and how ultimately heartwarming it was for me.

I want to hug whoever it was that came up with the idea of this series of standalone stories!

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

I read this book first and then listened to the audio. Nick J. Russo's performance of a story I loved was great!

Felt a bit... Rushed.

When I listen to audio books, I like how the narrator gives pause here and there. But with this one... it all felt rushed. Like... well, first off, while was the same song and dance (a forbidden love between 2 men, a love denied by society) it felt rushed, unimportant. Short.

Maybe it'd be different if one read it, but when listening... I just couldn't get into it like I did with others.

I'm afraid I won't be listening to this one again.

Great holiday sweetness!

This was so sweet! Although this was a bit hard to swallow –I still loved it and was so glad for their HEA. LA Witt really did a nice job imagining the hardship of war for these boys and how it would affect their future decisions. I loved the line “We can be some other town’s ______ bacherlors” – such a lovely outcome for them!

4 of 5 stars

Audio

Nick is a great choice for this sweet Christmas story. A joy to listen to.

5 of 5 stars

Overall 4.5 of 5 stars

Sweet Historical Romance

Honestly this story was just okay for me. The characters were a little underdeveloped and I felt a disconnect between the intimacy of the first half of the story and when they come together again after the war.

I listened to the audio version and Nick J. Russo does a lovely job. His distinct voices fit each of these men to a T and I love his emotion as he performs the memories these men share from their wartime experiences.