Author: Charlie Cochet
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages/Word Count: 82 Pages
Rating: 5 Stars
Blurb: North Pole City Tales: Book Three
Rein Dear is a prestigious title, accompanied by admiration, devotion, and celebrity status, all of which one saucy Vixen thrives on. Alas, Vixen’s only concerned with having fun, unlike his stuffy and sensible best friend, Rudy Rein Dear, who Vixen has always been jealous of. Aside from being chosen by Mayor Kringle to be captain of the Rein Dear Squadron, Rudy’s managed to snag himself a prince, even if that prince is the dangerous and imposing Jack Frost.
All’s not lost for Vixen though. He discovers Jack’s cousin Vale has a soft spot for him. Vale Frost might not be a dashing prince, but he’s the next best thing: a decorated lieutenant for the Toy Soldier Army, and a member of the Frost monarchy.
Determined to get what Vixen feels he deserves, he sets off on a mission to ensnare the kind-hearted lieutenant. But Vixen’s selfish ways are sure to lead to disaster, and it’ll take more than a little courage to set things right.
Review: One of the things I love about this time of year is all the holiday stories up for grabs. Another of the things I love about this time of year is that I know Charlie Cochet is going to offer up the next installment in her North Pole City Tales, a series that, if you haven’t jumped on the sleigh ride already, I ha-ha-happily recommend you do. Filled with sugar, and spice, and everything nice—or naughty, in Vixen’s case—Vixen’s Valor is a story of jealousy and betrayal and, eventually, of sacrifice in the name of love.
Vixen’s name has been a self-fulfilling prophecy—he’s got a bit of a reputation with the other elves, the little minx, but what’s an elf to do when his best friend is always stealing the limelight? Vixen gives Charlie Cochet the perfect opportunity to give readers a lovely holiday redemption story, and she’s taken full advantage. Rudy is the head flyboy of the Rein Dears, and his significant other just so happens to be the mighty Jack Frost. The Green-Eyed Monster has made it hard for Vixen to live in Rudy’s shadow, so what better way to feed his ego than to welcome all the attention he can get from the handsome and hunky Toy Soldiers? But really, Vixen’s eye has always been on a princely prize, and that’s where Vale Frost enters the picture and sweeps Vixen off his feet, courting the elf in a way no one ever has before–with an extra helping of romance.
With the Rat King imprisoned, Charlie Cochet takes to his minions to cause mischief and mayhem in Vixen’s Valor, which provides for the conflict in this otherwise charming romantic fantasy, and I won’t mince words—I may have shed a tear or three before this story ended, even though I suspected what was coming. When an author can craft an emotional connection between characters and reader, can melt my heart just a wee bit, that’s a true litmus test as far as I’m concerned, and Vixen and Vale passed it with flying colors.
I know what you’re thinking—fun, right? You’re absolutely right. Sweet as can be, with a bit of dramatic tension thrown in to give the story a little bite too, along with loads of imagination to make this such a joyful series to catch up with each December, Vixen’s Valor is a holly, jolly holiday read.
You can buy Vixen’s Valor here:
