With the economy in a slump, Logan Shoemaker finds himself struggling to make ends meet. He never thought his quirky little store – Logan’s Magick Shoppe – would make him rich, but he at least hoped to break even and perhaps be able to buy some groceries. Sales have been abysmal lately, however, and when Logan finds a cutoff notice from the electric company, he knows that he could not possibly sink any lower. He needs help, but he knows that nothing short of magic is going to pull him and his shop out of these financial doldrums. That night, Logan goes to sleep in despair…and wakes up during the night in the arms of a man who says he loves him and wants to help him.

The next morning, he convinces himself that this was only a wonderful dream, but the potions he finds in his kitchen marked “passion” and the note and ring he finds on his office chair indicate otherwise. And so Logan finds himself the beloved of the elf Hallan, who has been watching and loving him from a distance for a long time. Although this may feel like fairy tale and perhaps a wish come true, all is not sunlight and roses. Hallan is in serious danger in his own world, and if he is caught visting Logan’s realm, he may end up forfeiting his life.

M. L. Rhodes’ novella The Elf and Shoemaker is a delightful and grown-up rendition of the classic Grimm’s fairy tale “The Elves and the Shoemaker.” In this version, Shoemaker does not make footwear nor is the elf a cute little naked dwarf. Instead, the elf is tall, blonde, pointy-eared and gorgeous and Shoemaker runs a magic and curiosity shop. This is a very well-crafted and emotional tale of impossible love and political intrigue back in Hallan’s world.

Both Logan and Hallan are vivid and finely-drawn characters who will capture the heart and the imagination of the reader. Logan is lonely and depressed, and he does tend to whimper a little bit, but he has a strength of character that enables him to let his lover go when he feels this is the only way to keep Hallan safe. Hallan refuses to be let go but instead chooses to face danger and possible death in order to be with Logan.

This is a sweet tale, so prepare to sniffle a little bit in the appropriate places. And prepare to enjoy the read, because this is one very fine love story.

Reviewed by: Whitney