A Review of The Christmas Dance, by Goldie Walker

This Christmas novella is a heartwarming western romance with a dash of spice. It is Goldie Walker’s debut book, and it is the first in a series that promises to be a refreshing take on western romances. Walker aims for inclusivity and to “offer an alternative to outdated ideologies” that have been too present in the subgenre in the past. Because it is a debut, it has a few unpolished edges, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to future books in the series. It is always fun to watch a good storyteller grow in their craft.

Setting

New Mexico Territory, 1878

Main Characters

Sarah Fleming is the eldest daughter of the widowed owner of general store in Cottonwood Creek, New Mexico. Her late mother used to chair the town’s Christmas dance each year, and now it is Sarah’s turn to chair the dance alongside the mother of her childhood best friend.

Matthew Whittaker and Sarah were inseparable as children. But before the Christmas dance two years ago, he left with his brother to stake a gold claim in Colorado. He didn’t want to ruin their friendship by confessing his own evolving feelings. Now his father is ill, and the family ranch is in trouble, so Matthew has come home for Christmas.

Romance

They were supposed to have gone to the Christmas dance together, before Matthew rode off to make his fortune, and Sarah was heartbroken. Now he is back, and she won’t let him break her heart again.

Matthew finds Sarah even more lovely than he remembered, and he hates himself for ruining their friendship by running away. He wants her to forgive him, and as his mother tries to throw them together by asking Matthew to help with the dance while his mother takes care of his father, he dares to hope he can win Sarah back.

Plot

The plot is uncomplicated, since this is a novella, not a full-length novel. It is a classic, heartfelt western.

As they rekindle their friendship and explore the idea of perhaps something more than friendship, Sarah fears Matthew won’t stay. Then he asks her to attend this year’s Christmas with him.

But the Whittaker ranch is failing, and he may have to decide between saving the family ranch and staying Sarah.

Historical World Building

Walker does a lovely job of evoking a small western town in the 1870s, from the dust and snow, to the wooden sidewalks, to Sarah’s family’s store. One of my favorite details was the making of a figgy pudding, which is a delightful operation with dried fruits and alcohol, and boiling it wrapped in a tightly bound cloth overnight. Those are the sort of details that bring the setting to life. And true to her word, Walker does a good job of avoiding problematic stereotypes of Native Americans in the story.

Tropes

This is a friends to lovers and a bit of a second chance romance, and of course it is also a holiday romance. The tropes suit the western feel, and the holiday theme is tender and nostalgic. Perfect for spending a cold winter evening cuddled under a blanket with a mug of hot chocolate.

Secondary Characters

This is a novella, so it doesn’t have too much space for secondary characters to grow and shine, but a few stand out nonetheless. Will, Matthew’s gruff-but-kind older brother, feels set up nicely for a book of his own, as do Matthew’s other brothers, each with very distinct temperaments. Sarah’s younger sister, Tori, is clever and sharp-witted, and she absolutely needs a book of her own with a hero equipped with some serious force of will to match her. There are easily enough intriguing characters introduced here to inhabit a robust series set in Cottonwood Creek.

Point of View

This story is written in third person, and it alternates between Sarah’s and Matthew’s points of view, which suits the story well.

In Summary

• This is a heartwarming holiday story set in the west at Christmas time. It has just a little more spice than is common for a historical western, but not too much. Perfect for the season.
• It is set in New Mexico Territory, in 1878.
• The main characters were childhood friends who grow into adults and build something more. They are both likeable, and you can’t help but root for them.
• The historical detail is good (love that figgy pudding!) and sets the scene without overwhelming.
• The tropes are friends to lovers, with a dash of second chance, and of course a Christmas romance. The friends to lovers feels perfect for the holiday trope.
• The heat level is about a 2 out of five. There is sex on the page, but it is more sensual than steamy. It suits the characters and story.

Keep them coming!

Please continue to let me know of historical romances set in the Americas that you enjoy! I am reader, too, and I would love to hear about them and also share them with others!

If you are interested in a steamy romance set in colonial New England, check out my novel Devil in Our Hearts. I am proud to say it has been a finalist for multiple awards this year.

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New Mexico in winter image courtesy of Pixabay.

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