Do you believe in love at first sight? How about love that lasts fifty years? Better yet, how about love that lasts 700 years? That's the way it is for Heath and Simone: fated to be in love forever, which happens to be a real long time when you're immortal. The only problem is that they're not together.

Heath searched the continents for his beloved without much luck. Sometimes he'd think he spotted her only to have her somehow slip away. Through the years, many people told him to forget her and get on with the business of living. What they couldn't understand was that there was no living without her. One day at an estate auction he found the wedding box he crafted for her with its tiny sapphires, rubies and beaten gold. Perhaps the box would work like a beacon for him and draw his Simone back into his arms.

Simone's existence was a hard one, filled with unending work and misery devoted to capricious, but unfortunately immortal, Stephan--the man who ticked her out of her wedding day, not to mention her wedding night, and all the babies she and Heath might have had. Those days had long passed away, hundreds of years ago with the death of Heath. There was no hope, no reason to live, but on the other hand there was no alternative. She faced each day as a form of unending punishment until she saw the box, her wedding gift. It called to her like sirens of old. Once again she found herself gazing up into those memorable hazel eyes she never thought to see again. Her first instinct was to run, and she did.

All I Want for Christmas sounds like it would be a warm tale about a girl wishing for a puppy instead of a story about star-crossed lovers traveling through centuries and countries to regain their lost love. Throw in a wayward messenger, vengeful Fates, and pillaging Vikings and you have a tender love story. Really, I'm not kidding. The characters are fully human with human flaws despite their immortality. It was a short but fun romp through the years with Simone and Heath and the troublesome Fates, and ever-slimy Stephan. This winter set tale might best be enjoyed near the Christmas holidays, although a day at the beach should suit it too.

Reviewed by Morgan Wyatt
© January 2005