This story takes place when Søren is twenty years old and a seminarian.

As is stated in THE MISTRESS, Søren never told Magdalena his real name. Therefore he is referred to as “Marcus” in this story among other less-than-flattering names.

One of the things I love about Tiffany Reisz is her absolute acceptance of all sexual orientation. She’s the only author I have found who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries and have all forms represented in her writing. This isn’t for everyone, but it doesn’t mean you can’t appreciate how smartly she handles each situation with an elegance that is beautiful, especially in a time where most of these things are still considered perverse or taboo.

This holiday short story actually sheds some light into Søren’s time after he and Kingsley called things off for good. As mentioned in the series, Magdalena is a world famous madame who serves as a mentor for Søren as he seeks out a way to sate his dark lust. She’s also one of the few people who is never cowered in his presence. This alone earns her high regards, as most find the beautiful priest to be utterly intimidating. But what we didn’t know until this short story is that Magdalena has her own past. That’s what so beautiful about a short story like this. Reisz can create a single moment in time where you cannot help but love every moment of it. The writing is as clever as ever and though Magdalena’s “voice” and “attitude” reminds me much of Nora’s, it’s a great Christmas tale.

I do not wish to spoil any of the details for those who have yet to read it. But I do hope that if you are a fan of the series, you’ll head over to Reisz’s website and check it out for yourself. I know you’ll love it.

Rating

Read It For Free!

You can read it for free on Tiffany Reisz’s personal site: Poinsettia by Tiffany Reisz