Sleigh Ride: 2 (Minnesota Christmas) Paperback – Import, 18 October 2017

good

I must confess I did not care for my first two Heidi Cullinan books which l purchased as paperbacks in 2010. I vowed not to read her again after those two books, then the Tucker Springs series came out, followed by Family Man and Dance with Me, last Christmas it was Let it Snow. Even though I now had a proven track record with her stories l still hesitated before buying Sleigh Ride as I'd done with all of the other Cullinan books.For awhile the Special Delivery series had really turned me off from this author. The content of the series was just too much. Between the too intense bdsm, partner sharing, and humiliation l just felt leery of any book by this author. Each time l read the synopsis of a Cullinan book that I thought would be enjoyable l wouldn't buy it until I was reassured by several reviews that it was not like the Delivery series. This led to some wonderful reading experiences by a great author. I realized that l had been unduly prejudiced by a few books this author, because of their content. When books had other topics and themes l couldn't get enough. Still it's an automatic response to Cullinan's stories to look before I leap. The sample pulled me in...This is a sweet Christmas tale with a little kink. And I loved every moment of it. What l was happy that Ms Cullinan did was to have a lot of the sex scenes off screen. When there were some you paid more attention since you haven't read repeated descriptions of body parts and positions. The MCs are opposites in most ways or seemingly until we begin to see what each man has deeply hidden. They are actually more alike than anyone with the exception of Arthur's mother realized.There is so much going on in this book. Full of unexpected twists and turns. There were so many things to relate to. College as a way to escape, comic books/graphic novels, books and the people who either love them or hate them, being ashamed of your deepest desires, being a afraid others will discover your greatest fear, not being able to shut off your thoughts, feeling so lonely even hanging out at your parents' house is preferable, using other children as a substitute for your own,Why would someone become a librarian? What would make someone return to the same small town environment they had so many unhappy memories about? Why couldn't heThere have been books written about the first two best friends Marcus and Arthur. I look forward to Paul's story. He was so sad despite being the one who initiated the "breakup" with Arthur. Paul had invested many years into his relationship with him.Though the story is more than sufficiently long enough l still couldn't help but feel disappointed that the remaining three hundred locations were not part of the Sleigh Ride story, but were previews of several books by the publisher including excerpts.

Bücher die mir schon auf deutsch gut gefallen haben lese ich dann oft auch noch in der englischen Ausgabe...Eine wunderschöne, gefühlvolle Wintergeschichte. In Band 2 geht es vorwiegend um Arthur, einen der drei Holzfällter aus Band 1, der nach dem Ende seiner 'Freunschaft mit gewissen Extras' mit Paul von seiner Mutter quasi mit dem Bibliothekar Gabriel verkuppelt werden soll. Beide Männer sind davon zuerst einmal wenig begeistert, vor allem da der Plan vorsieht sie als Weihnachtsmann und Elf einzuspannen. Allerdings entwickelt sich die Geschichte zwischen den Beiden anders als sie anfangs wollten, Gefühle kann man nicht unbedingt beeinflussen...Die Story ist schön flüssig, witzig und auch gefühlvoll erzählt, Lesevergnügen für kurzweilige Winterabende. Kann ich absolut weiterempfehlen, etwas für Romantiker.

このシリーズは３作でているのだけど、２作目から読み始めてそれほど問題を感じなかった。高校時代から体の関係を続け同居して１０年のアーサーとポールだったが、アーサーは真剣な交際を求めていなくて、ポールはそれに焦れて出て行ってしまう。一人きりになったアーサーを心配して、母親が誰かとくっつけようと、いろんな策をめぐらす。その中の一人に、図書館員のガブリエルがいた。本嫌い、図書館嫌いのアーサーはガブリエルにいい印象を持っていなかった。それなのに、アーサーはガブリエルがお話会で子どもたちに読んを読んでやる姿を見てすっかり気に入ってしまう。ガブリエルも、男くさいがさつなアーサーにいい印象を持っていなかったのに、案外安心できる、ということを知って、にくからず思う。ガブリエルは自分の性癖を恥ずかしいと思っていて、それをアーサーは大丈夫だよ、大丈夫だよといって暴いていく。アーサーの甥が、人形遊びが好きで、でも母親にそれは恥ずかしいことだから人形は外にもっていくなと言われて、それを知ったガブリエルは、男の子が人形遊びをしてもおかしくない、という趣旨のお話会を持つ。そんなこんなの間に、アーサーとガブリエルの仲は進展していく…。この本では、まじめに、社会との軋轢をとらえていて、それとガブリエルが恥ずかしいと思う性癖がうまく合わさって、私自身も、「こんな本ばっかり読んでていいのかな」とよく後ろめたく思うので、すごく共感できて、自分の恐れを暴かれるようで、怖いくらいだった。

Have to review this second book, too, because the series deserves some good comments. I am addicted to this series and recommend it to anyone who wants a happy ending story with some cliche drama.This second book in the series reminded me of a childhood television series, as well as myself. I can see myself in Gabriel, the librarian, as I, too, am a book lover (comics as well as novels!). His addiction to books and the way he reads to the local children is mirrored in myself. Not sure about the BDSM, though, even though it could be interesting!The part of this book that stuck out ***Spoiler*** is when Gabriel tells the children, specifically the boys, that they will be such good daddies because they take care of the baby dolls so well. I won't go into too much detail about the reason for the dolls and the boys, but when I was reading this part my eyes teared because it reminded me of a scene in Full House when Uncle Jesse wants to keep his boys (Nicky and Alex) from playing with dolls because they are 'girl's toys.' His wife responds with how maybe them playing with dolls will make them good daddies. I remember watching that and wondering why there was such a thing as boys and girls toys since I was allowed to play with whatever I wanted, but then I remember seeing others not so lucky. It's kind of sad that a show that ended in 1994 had such a grand message, but in 2015 the same thing still happens (that whole Target thing a while back!). Gabriel is the type of character I aspire to be since I (as a teacher) attempt to help the students feel comfortable in their skin, whatever said skin may be.The story itself is fun to read and just like the first story ends in a happy little bow. We need more stories like this!