And Then They Were Four by Elna Holst is an intimate, sexy, heartfelt holiday romance.
It is the fourth in the Tinsel and Spruce Needles series and the first book of the series that I’ve read. Holst gives the perfect amount of backstory so that you don’t have to have read the series from the start. I enjoyed it so much I’m currently awaiting my copy of the first book so I can take it all in from beginning to end.
And Then They Were Four is set in Sweden at Advent. The book weaves seamlessly through four intertwined lives.
Padma and Rickie are waiting for the birth of their twins.
Helena is considering a new partner or two.
Sophie is contemplating whether to chase love across the ocean or stay put and hope the hurt heals.
Gunilla has been waiting for years to find love again, and it’s come in an unexpected way.
And Then They Were Four is an evocative, erotic, and steamy glimpse into this season of their lives.
The Characters
Padma and Rickie read as one united force in Holst’s story. Padma is lovely, resonating a quiet strength. Rickie is bold and fiercely protective. Their countdown to a major life change is filled with comfort and warmth.
Helena is soft, sensitive, and smart. She’s a great friend, always available for practical advice. Her journey this Advent will take her out of her comfort zone and into an amazingly impractical situation.
Sofie is sweet and supportive. Amidst her own heartbreak, she’s still the cheerleader for her sister and her friends. Sofie’s journey is discernment. She’s deciding whether to hop the ocean and find her love or wait and see if there’s a future without them. The answer comes in a lovely way.
Gunilla just may be my favorite. She’s the pure Mother. Gunilla is an obstetric nurse who works to bring life into the world. Between that and her own two daughters, she’s kept her life full since being widowed young. She’s had short flings, but she’s still waiting for love to find her. This season, it just might.
The Writing Style
And Then They Were Four is beautifully written. Each character has exactly the right amount of page time. The story weaves flawlessly between characters, tying them all together with the thread of time, at the perfect pace.
The language created a tone of calm and serene. The story was tender. It was poignant. It was moving.
My Favourite Parts
I adored the diversity and representation. There were multiple ethnicities, different body types, non-binary people, poly relationships, and a wheelchair-using woman. It’s easy to find a festive story with one diverse character, but there was so much representation here that it no longer read as inclusion for the sake of ticking a box.
The Conclusion
It’s an amazing book. Although it’s short, it’s a short reprieve from the stress and chaos that can be looming in the world. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a heartfelt, transcendent, romance.
Excerpt from And Then They Were Four by Elna Holst
“I prefer Rolling Goddess, if it’s all the same to you.” Sandra pushed her magnifying specs up her forehead and smirked in greeting. She set aside the intricate piece of jewellery she’d been working on and angled her wheelchair out towards Fi. “Scratch that. I smell coffee. You can call me anything your heart desires as long as one of those has got my name on it.”
Fiffi giggled. She could vividly recall how nervous she’d been the first time she was introduced to her older sister’s new (and first ever) girlfriend, but Sandra Ling had been instantly disarming, perfectly charming and with a wicked sense of humour. It was just the way she rolled.
“Oh yeah? Let’s see, I think it says ‘My sister-in-law, the Shrew’ on this one. Remember I’m dyslexic, though, so I might be reading it wrong.”
Sandra reddened around the temples. “I’m… Oh, Fi, you knew?”
Sofie grinned and slid the tray onto Sandra’s workbench, handing her one of the steaming cups. “I may have had one or ten dramatic freak-out phone convos with She Who Shall Not Be Named. I take it her suit was successful?”
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Series
Tinsel and Spruce Needles Series
Candlelight Kisses
Little x
Wild Bells
And Then They Were Four
Bits and Bobs
- ISBN number: 9781648901546
- Publisher: NineStar Press
- Elna Holst Online
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Note: I received a free review copy of And Then They Were Four by Elna Holst. No money was exchanged for this review. When you use our links to buy we get a small commission which supports the running of this site
