Title: Making Christmas
Author: Lizzie T. Leaf
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Publication Date: 2010
ISBN: 978-1-60168-381-6
Genre: historical romance
Length: 99
Heat Level: sensual
Other: mention of m/m, m/f
Reviewer: Brecken Stevens
Callie’s world changes when the War Between the States hits close to home. With her parents dead and her brother missing in action fighting for the south, Callie decides to dress like a boy and go find him. The ones who love her want her to stay home, but she promises to be home by Christmas. While away, she’s captured by Union soldiers. Drunk or not, Dr. Tom Kent is mighty surprised when the ‘boy’ he’s helping turns out to be a young woman. He keeps ‘Cal’s’ identity a secret and keeps her close as an aide. Fair and pretty for a boy, Cal draws the wrong kind of attention from the men at camp, including the commanding officer. Making it home for Christmas turns out to be a bigger challenge, but Callie through her struggles, Callie learns things sometimes happen for a reason.
Making Christmas is a seasonal twist on a classic plot line. I enjoy Civil War stories and many take on the female in uniform aspect. This one adds in a commander with a secret love for men, which was different. At about mid-point in the story the plot does take a distracting twist with more said about the gay commander than the budding romance between Callie and Dr. Kent. Still, the growing relationships and friendships make Making Christmas emotionally satisfying. Readers looking for a different twist on a Civil War era Christmas story will be happy with Making Christmas.
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