If you follow Barbara’s writing you will know you are heading for a rollercoaster ride of emotions.  She is a master of gutt punches, twists and turns.  Her book will make you laugh and cry.  And even though you know the book will have a happy ending.  You really wonder if and how this is going to happen.

Well let me tell you, Barbara has outdone herself with What If?

Gosh Poor Crispen has lived his life feeling as though he doesn’t belong.  Partly because his mother is so cold, almost out nasty towards him.  His brother is not much better.  The only person he has in his life that matters to him is his father.

Now there is a story all of itself.  Add the fact Crispin is in reprieve of a Tauma in the brain to his life, and yet he still a positive and kind person.

Garrett is a fairy that visits our world once a year in December. Though his life is nowhere near as bad as Crispen’s.  He does have his own battles and an equally nasty brother. Oh and a suitor to be his partner, who he has no intention of dating let alone marrying.

The two first meet outside Kennedy’s Emporium where Garrett and his family work in December.  Only fairies are supposed to see and be able to enter the Emporium, but somehow Crispen enters.

But the two do not meet again for 8 years and Crispen does not recollect any details of what happened while he was in the Emporium.

But by a little luck and magic Crispen manages to find the Emporium and Garrett. They are determined to be together, until Crispen gets some devastating news.

Garrett is determined to fight the odds and is willing to break the fiery rules to take Crispen on a chase into moorlands in a race against time.

As I have mentioned earlier Barbara has turned up the emotions in this story, about halfway through I even found the emotions were getting to me deep in my heart. I even wondered if there was going to be a happy ever after. Yes, I know it is a paranormal romance novel, and should end happy, but I was so involved in the story, I kind of forgot that little rule in writing. Don’t

misunderstand me, the story is not doom and gloom.  Both characters attitudes ensures that there is plenty of love and laughter along the way.

I have never been so emotionally invested in two characters as I was with Crispen and Garrett. Both young men showed grit and determination, even when the odds were stacked against them, they never gave up. I found myself reflecting on this in my own life and it made me feel so privileged and rich in the love I grew up with in my family.

A very well thought out story, with detailed world building and the magic was well just magical (pun intended.)  Seriously though the magic in the story felt real and believable. Sometimes writer twist and turn the magic to suit the plot. Not in this book, there is no sudden changes in how the magic works. I really felt like I was with the guys throughout the story from the busy streets of London, the magical Emporium, to the moors in mid-December, and even in fairyland.

Have your box of tissues at hand It is a Barbara Elsborg story after all. Be prepared for a late night or two, as it is hard to put the book down. And get cuddled up with a hot chocolate, to enjoy Crispen and Garretts story.

I am so asking santa to make Barbara write a sequel to this book!