Christmas on 4th Street

by Susan Mallery

CHRISTMAS ON 4TH STREET allows us to return to Fool’s Gold for another holiday season filled with family, fun, and festivals.

Gabe Boylan is only in town briefly to spend the holidays with his twin brother and his new family, and their parents. Neither Gabe or his brother, Gideon, have spent a holiday, or any extended time, with their parents in years. There are tensions and poor childhood memories blocking their path to happy family bonding. However, Gideon’s new wife is determined to have a successful family Christmas. While in town Gabe runs into new Christmas store owner Noelle. Noelle is not having much luck with her college-age employees who are much more interested in skiing than working; and it is the store’s busiest season. Luckily, Gabe is looking for something to keep him occupied, and out of the house while his parents are there, so he offers to work at the store. Gabe and Noelle work well together and have fun together and neither can deny the growing attraction between the two of them. But Gabe is not made for small town life and he is counting his days until he can leave Fool’s Gold…

Gabe is fantastic and I love how jaded he is at the beginning of the story. He is preparing to see his tough military father who believed in a strict home, and the mother who was too passive to stand up to him. He is on medical leave from his job, which he’s good at, but it isn’t necessarily what he wants to be doing. He is in pain and not dealing well with that. And then there is the town of Fool’s Gold throwing him completely off balance. People he doesn’t know are overly friendly and know an awful lot about him. There are Christmas decorations and festivals that are not Gabe’s usual scene. And Noelle is so sweet, and honest, and in love with the Christmas holiday that he’s not sure he can manage being with her. And Gabe’s belief that love is dangerous has caused a hard shell to build around his heart. Gabe is so out of his element and so uncomfortable that it was pure pleasure to watch his shell crack. Gabe is given some hope when he sees his brother happy and with a family after being held hostage and tortured in the military. He also can’t help but warm up to Gideon’s wife and son, and the people of Fool’s Gold who keep inserting themselves into his life.

Noelle is just getting settled into Fool’s Gold after leaving everything about her past life behind to start fresh and follow her dreams. After facing a life-threatening illness, Noelle appreciates all life has to offer and understands that it can all be taken away too quickly. Her beliefs on love couldn’t be any further from those of Gabe’s, but that doesn’t mean she finds him any less attractive. And because she knows life can be short, she is willing to risk her heart on a man who has his tightly guarded. She is such a sweet and honest character. While she struggles with some feelings of jealousy regarding her friends’ happiness and love, she is genuinely thrilled that they are getting married and having children. And with Christmas being my favorite holiday, I felt a little extra connected to Noelle!

I enjoyed the characters and the relationship. These two were honest and straightforward and both went into their relationship with open eyes. While they weren’t on the same page as far as long-term goals, they were able to agree to some short-term fun and let fate handle the rest.