Title: Betting on Snow
Author: H. Lewis-Foster
Length: 30 pages
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Genre: m/m contemporary romance
Rating: B+
Blurb:
On the advice of his best friend, recent unemployed graduate Paul bets there’ll be snow in London on Christmas Day. Four months later, he finds work as an au pair for newly widowed Ben and his two-year-old son. But as Christmas approaches, Paul finds himself looking to Ben for more than just a paycheck.
Review:
This cute seasonal story is perfect to get you in the mood this Christmas. It tells of Paul who, in desperation for a job, answers an advert for a male au-pair. When Paul arrives for the interview he feels ashamed to be taking advantage of Ben in offering himself up for the job when he has no experience. Ben employs him and Paul is surprised at how much he enjoys looking after George and fits into their lives.
Ben is still grieving for his previous lover and so it seems only natural that things are taken slowly between them, although the main part of the story does focus on Ben and Paul getting together. I thought that part was handled quite well, with Paul being rather sensible and considerate. It made me like Paul a great deal, not only that he made the best of his new career with George, but that he didn’t allow his feelings for Ben to compromise his work. George is a real cutie, who manages the thin line between adding some comic relief and not being too sickly sweet. I get annoyed when children are to be too cute and it was nice to see that George could be a little devil as well 
. Ben is less well drawn, although I thought the parts which touched on his feelings for his past lover were touchingly shown.
Overall, although this was a short read, it was very heartwarming. The themes were handled well but with a lightness of touch that fitted a seasonal story. This is one I would definitely recommend.
