Grace Brewer knows the only way to properly take care of her aging parents is to sell the Wayfarer Inn and purchase a retirement from a nearby abbey. This Christmas might be the last in their home, but thanks to the arrival of a wandering minstrel it might be their most joyous—and profitable—Yule season of all. And while she knows better than to succumb to Alaine’s many charms, Grace finds both the man and his music hard to resist.
Alaine of Darby has played his lute in castles and palaces, sang for nobles and royalty. A spot of misfortune has interrupted his journey home, landed him at a rundown inn where he’ll entertain peasants in a taproom in exchange for his bed and bread. Yet this might be the most important performance of his life, for while Grace seems to ignore his romantic ballads, she might be the one woman to whom he could sing love songs forever.
Warnings: None
Category: M/F
Christmas at Wayfarer Inn is the second book in the Tis the Season Harlequin historical romance collection I read this year. Probably the most generic entry in this collection it is short and sweet silly little romance about a travelling lord masquerading as a minstrel who ends up falling in love with the hotheaded inkeeper’s daughter. It is also the only book in this collection that is available solo, near as I could find.
WRITING
Of the three books in this collection, this is likely the most forgettable in terms of its plot and story. The writing is fine, but its so short that not much can really be developed and the story is simple enough that it doesn’t make a particularly lasting impression. Grace’s family runs the Wayfarer Inn, which is struggling to get by as her parents are aging and the clientele is drying up. Alaine is a lord who likes to play at being a minstrel and is hiding his identity as he stays at the Inn. Their budding relationship takes off as they interact more and more, with Alaine seducing Grace with his music and Grace being oblivious to the fact that the man she’s having a fling with is the answer to all her family’s financial woes.
EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT
The characters in this are pretty cardboard in nature. It’s part of the flaw in such short romance stories that are constrained to a formula- there just isn’t enough space here for interesting character development. The relationship begins somewhat antagonistically, which is common enough for romance novels but in a story this short is difficult to develop as smoothly. They kind of just seem to bicker until they don’t and then suddenly they’re madly in love. It’s fine and it serves its purpose for such a short little popcorn read, so I can’t complain about it too much, but it does end up feeling quite generic.
WORLDBUILDING
I have to admit that I am a sucker for this kind of setting- a medieval inn and tavern with a travelling minstrel definitely has a lot of appeal to me, and I really do like reading stories set to this kind of backdrop. Obviously I can’t speak on how actually historically accurate it is- it feels more like a generic ‘medieval times’ sort of background set rather than any kind of specific time or place, but that’s honestly fine for a short little romance like this that is solely about two people falling in love. The fact it takes place around Christmas time though wasn’t as integral to the plot as I would have liked for a Christmas story. I wanted it to matter more that this was in fact set at Christmas, whereas I feel like the story would have worked at any time so it doesn’t really feel like a Christmas book as such.
STEAMINESS
No sex on scree, which is unfortunate. She does sleep with him though, and I wish it hadn’t faded to black because it could have been some very steamy hookup content since they sleep together before they decide that they are a couple, not to mention how fiery their initial interactions are. I would have liked to see the author really explore the excitement of anonymous sex, and given how bare bones the plot itself of the book is it, it would have really given it at least something to sink one’s teeth into. As it is though its been sort of neutered of any of its potential due to the length hampering its story and the lack of sex hampering its romantic appeal.
Christmas at Wayfarer Inn is a story that should have been more explored and had more engagement. It’s a short and sweet affair that is as forgettable as it is simple, though its ultimately inoffensive and a pleasant enough read to spend an afternoon with if you like these particular tropes.
Have you read Christmas at Wayfarer Inn? Let me know what YOU thought by leaving me a comment!
Roses And Thorns 