Shakespeare wrote, “Love is Begun by time, And time qualifies the spark and fire of it.”

But what if Fate and Time are engaged in a conspiracy undermining the prospect of love (by creating roadblocks) before a romance can even begin?

Kathryn R. Biel tackles the question of romance in her delightful novella, Completions and Connections: A Romantic Holiday.  In this novella, the reader meets Christine, an event planner and part time dance instructor with a penchant for making lists. As Biel writes, Christine likes to end the day with things finished so she can check things off her list.”

The novella is a chronicle of Christine’s year as she works through her 2014 New Year’s Resolution list which includes such goals as: “try something new, cook a turkey, buy high heels, get a promotion, take a vacation, learn to make frosting, read three books, clean the bathroom, fall in love.”  With the support of her friend Michele, Christine begins her campaign of completing her list. The last item, fall in love, is the most difficult.

When she meets the dashing Patrick following a mishap while skiing (skiing is the try something new on her list), the pheromones are at play and there is an instant attraction between the two.  The handsome, green eyed Patrick is chivalrous and taller than the five foot eleven Christine which she counts as a positive. Still, Christine is hesitant to stick her toe in the romantic waters given a previous failed relationship with a cheater boyfriend. She is reluctant to call Patrick and when the two of them finally come in contact with each other again, a comedy of errors like a domino of disasters hinders their dating possibilities. As Christine notes, “it’s like the universe broke up with me.”

Fate does indeed seem to wield a cruel hand as if it  takes perverse pleasure in creating stumbling blocks in Christine’s path. Even as she appears to succeed in crossing off the other items on her list, her inability to fall in love (or at least to effectively take the steps towards falling in love) is the albatross weighing her down.

Biel does a wonderful job in writing Christine. Christine’s adorable awkwardness establishes an effective connection to the reader; her inner dialogue is often humorous.

The burden a novella faces is for the writer to be able to fully develop both characters and plot within the constraints of fewer pages than a fully grown novel sibling. Fortunately, Biel rises to this challenge. Her novella is a satisfying exploration of character psychology.

I will not spoil the ending for readers, but I was pleased that there was a hopeful reward for our protagonist Christine. When you read it, you may feel a bit envious of Christine because your trips to Walmart don’t mirror hers.

Completions and Connections: A Romantic Holiday is a novella worthy of reader attention and accolades.