Rating: 3.5 stars
Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
Length: Novella
Devon is a 27-year-old man whose life as an IT specialist has gone a bit stale. That’s naturally when he’s let go from his job. Mourning the loss of his position, he next learns his boyfriend of several years, Brandon, a successful young lawyer, has been having a relationship with his boss. So, in one weekend, Devon’s out of a job, a boyfriend, and a home.
Moving into a low-rent flat, Devon is grateful of the help of his sexy new neighbor, Johnny. Johnny is Irish and talks Devon into getting drunk on his homemade poteen. They go for a blurry motorcycle ride, and Johnny confesses he’s actually a modern day leprechaun, and even reveals his horde to a bewildered Devon. He offers Devon three wishes, and the time to make good ones. Johnny admits he’d love some sexytimes with Devon, but he’s respectful of Devon’s recently broken heart.
Devon doesn’t necessarily believe that Johnny is a true leprechaun, but a spiteful moment has Devon making his wishes—and that includes misfortune for Brandon. While the wishes take effect, Devon and Johnny build a friendship—and simmering attraction. Johnny encourages Devon to find a lower stress job, and develop his musical interests, which leads to unexpected happiness. But, what about when Brandon’s bad luck picks up? Is Devon okay with being possibly responsible? And, what does it mean that Johnny thinks it’s all okay to enjoy the misery of humanity?
For me this one was okay. There’s a little bit of sexytimes, and a lot of regret—on Devon’s part. He’s definitely struck by guilt thinking that his pettiness may rob Brandon of true love. That was actually okay for me. It made me like Devon more, and he seems like a decent guy. Johnny, as a leprechaun, is fine—but why did he reveal his true nature to a complete stranger? That made little sense, and it undercut what could have been some real mystery to this book.
I also thought the writing was a bit simple and I had no illusions how each beat of the story would play out. As it stood, Devon is just watching and waiting, not immediately recognizing that his wishes are coming true around him, because his ideals of happiness and success have been slanted to the American business ideal. In the end, he does see the good and the bad of his choices, and he and Johnny need to work out how to be a real couple where magic doesn’t interfere. That felt okay to me, and the ending is really charming and happy. Johnny’s penchant for mischief is tamed in the face of an undeniable love, and that was more growth than I expected.
A review copy of this book was provided by Dreamspinner Press.
