Business has been good at Paul’s Café in Madison, Wisconsin—until a few months before Christmas. When Nick opens Nick’s Restaurant next door, Paul watches his customers leave for cheaper food and an owner who smiles more. With his livelihood at stake, Paul lashes out, trying to drive away Nick’s customers, but Nick won’t go easy, and escalating sabotage threatens to ruin the holidays for both of them.
Paul thinks all he wants for Christmas is to see Nick’s Restaurant go under, but the more he tries to drive Nick away, the less he’s sure he wants him to go. Nick is everything Paul secretly craves, but by the time he realizes Nick is all he really wants for the holidays, he might have ruined any chance for them to get together. And there might not be a present in the world that can fix that.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2017 Advent Calendar collection Stocking Stuffers.
Healthy competetion can be a good thing for competing businesses but when the owners take it too far or fail to let go all bets are off. Paul and Nick realize that they need to end this war but when neither one is willing to do so will it go too far? And what happens when they both realize that perhaps their feelings of competetion is only a cover for something deeper?
Wreck the Halls is a pleasantly entertaining holiday short. There is some that might label it as cliché but sometimes its cliché because it works and when the author does it well, then cliché is exactly whats needed. This is the first time I've read Jessica Payseur and I can safely say it won't be the last. If you are looking for deep and meaningful holiday fare then perhaps Wreck the Halls isn't going to tick your box but if what you want is a well written, fun, romantic comedy then I can safely say that this is exactly what you need. I laughed and shook my head in equal measures at Paul and Nick's antics. When I can say I'm happier at the end than I was when I started, well I can't ask for more. And the fact that's its in Wisconsin is just an added bonus for this Wisconsinite.
RATING:
“HE’S BACK in the kitchen,” said the breathless waitress as she hauled away the mess of plates and napkins at the abandoned table.
Paul thanked her and turned, tugging on the bottom of his sweater. He hadn’t bothered to throw on a coat since Nick’s Restaurant was just next door to his place. He’d had a moment, so he figured he ought to introduce himself to his rival.
It had only been a few months, but Nick’s business was really eating into the profits of Paul’s Café, and Paul was not happy about it. He had been putting off a potential confrontation for weeks now, but as the calendar turned over into December and Christmas was fast approaching, the time had come to take some form of action. The first step was to get a feel for Nick.
The damned kitchen was loud and busy, like the rest of the place, so unlike Paul’s Café next door. Paul narrowed his eyes and scanned the area for anyone who looked to be in charge while workers wove around him.
A man dressed in a button-up shirt peeled away from the other staff and pasted a warm smile on his face as he caught sight of Paul. He was probably about Paul’s age, midthirties, although Paul never had been good at guessing that sort of thing. His hair was brown and long enough to get in his eyes, which were also brown. His white skin was pale, he was clean-shaven, and Paul guessed he was who he’d come to see even as the man motioned to him.
“Hey, I’m Nick. If you’d just return to your table, I’ll make sure you get your order ASAP.”
“I’m not here for food,” Paul said, not caring how much of an asshole he sounded like. How Nick had so much hair still left on his head annoyed him. Paul had started balding before he hit thirty. He grew a short, neatly trimmed beard to try to make up for it, but it figured his rival would have a full head of hair.
“What can I do for you, then?” Nick asked, smile unwavering.
“I’m your neighbor. Paul, Paul’s Café.”
Author Bio:
Jessica Payseur has been cursed with the ability to see a story in anything at all. This is especially useful in the long Wisconsin winter months, when the only inspiration the world gives is endless snow and the lingering promise of frostbite for the unwise.
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