Tag Team Review: Kneading You by C.S. Poe

Christopher Hughes is new to the small New England town of Lancaster, New Hampshire. He’s been hired to save an old library from closing, but his obstacles include not only fighting for state funding, but a Selectman who wants to tear the building down in favor of a shopping center. Christopher meets Miles Sakasai, a charming tattooed repairman hired to help restore the historical interior. Working in close proximity has both men falling hard for each other, and also provides Christopher an opportunity to learn about Miles’s passion for baking. As it turns out, Miles’s skills in the kitchen may end up being the key to saving the library—but only if his bread can rise to the occasion.

v. 1.0, previously published by Dreamspinner Press in the Simmer anthology, 2016. No new content added.

We agree on all the things!

* A Reader Obsessed * - 4 Hearts

Co-Review with Ann! Now I’ve yet to read a full length novel from Ms. Poe, but this being my 6th short from her, I can honestly say that none have disappointed and that’s pretty high praise because shorts are fickle and can go either way.

Set in Lancaster, New Hampshire, and having not initially realized that this is also the setting of Joy and Color of You, have no fears regarding continuity sake as this was the first to be published in the Simmer Anthology (but in all honesty I feel these can be read as standalones).

Christopher is new to town, and he desperately needs a job so he can stay. Thus, when he gets the opportunity to revamp the old library, he feels this is his chance to solidify his usefulness to the community. When local handyman Miles, helps him fix up the dilapidated library, Christopher can’t resist being wooed by the reticent man’s steady presence, as well as his phenomenal baking skills. Can you blame him??

This was a quaint look at small town life with great MC’s to root for, and I loved how these two flirted and how easily they came together. When an opportunity arises to help save the library, the win was oh so satisfying!

Overall, as with all good shorts, this wasn’t close to being long enough, leaving me wanting more of Christopher and Miles’s happy ending!


Ann - 4 Hearts


Some authors just know how to pen a short story and C.S. Poe is one of those authors. She can build an entire environment, introduce characters with depth and create a tale that makes me believe two people can fall in love in 40 pages.

I was all for Christopher and his mission to save the small library in the little New England town he relocated to. I had to admire his love for this new place and his desire to belong and make a difference there. Who doesn’t love a man who wants to save a library? But his reasoning was so pure and altruistic I fell for him harder than your average bear.

Miles is a gem and while what I know of him is much less than what I know of Christopher, I enjoyed every bit of page time he got. He’s a strong, quiet man with a serious talent for bread making. When Miles and Christopher had their dinner together it was probably the best first date I’ve read in a long time and it’s what made me believe in the budding relationship between the two.

I absolutely loved the romance in Kneading You, but just as wonderful to me was the link between the library and the locals. The author built a relationship there that was so sweet to read and I wanted to move to a small New England town and champion a library myself.

The story is told from Christopher’s POV and the only thing I would ask for is more Miles. I wanted to know him as much as I knew Christopher and while there was absolutely nothing lacking in the story, I just liked him so much I wanted more.

** a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Audiobook Review: What Happens At Christmas by Jay Northcote

When two friends pose as boyfriends, could what happens at Christmas turn into something more? 

Justin is recently and unhappily single. Christmas is coming, and he doesn’t want to face his ex alone at their office party. So Sean—Justin’s best mate and long-time secret crush—volunteers to go with him and pretend to be his new flame.

Sean has always lusted after Justin from afar, but there’s never been a good opportunity to ask him for more than friendship. Posing as Justin’s boyfriend isn’t a chore, and if Justin wants to rebound onto him, Sean’s more than willing. At the party pretence and reality blur, and a kiss on the dance floor leads to a night of passion.

In the aftermath, they both assume it was a one-time thing until fate intervenes. Stuck together in London over the holidays, they give in to temptation again. But what happens at Christmas stays at Christmas... right?

Narrator: Mark Steadman
Listening Length: 3 hrs 41 mins

I read this one last year, and loved it, so when the request came in to review the audiobook I was all over it. The pretend boyfriend thing is a great trope when done right and I loved how it was done in What Happens at Christmas. Justin and Sean were already best friends so it wasn’t too much of a stretch to believe they’d taken the next step and it was a good excuse for the boys to get handsy, which, they totally wanted to do anyway, so hearing the bits of thrill-y tension they were feeling was so good to listen to. The touchy-feely comfort they got to go with while they were pretending to be BFs helped move the story forward into the friends to lover’s trope, which is quite possibly my favorite. So, overall this one was a big ol’ winner for me.

The narrator, Mark Steadman, was a perfect fit for the story, his Justin fit the personality that was described and Sean was damn swoony with his deeper timbre. The banter between them as they worked toward understanding and pushing the boundaries they wanted to cross had just the right amount of tension and the narrator captured all the subtle nuances so well, I forgot I was even listening to an audiobook.

Jay Northcote’s backlist is chock full of delicious Christmas magic and what I love is that he makes distinct characters and couples with personalities I don’t forget. It should be easy for them to run together after a while, but they don’t so as the stories are starting to be released in audiobook form I’m just so darned tickled. I get to hear their stories all over again and a man with an amazing voice and a dreamy accent is telling me all the beautiful things.

Get yourself a little Justin and Sean in both ebook and audio form, the narrator does the author’s words justice and it’s sweet story that’ll give you warm fuzzies throughout the season and beyond.

For more information about What Happens at Christmas, check it out on Goodreads.

**a copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**

Review: His Fairy Godfather by Cate Ashwood and Nico Jaye

Since the death of his father, Trick Grigsby has fought to keep his head above water. Following in his father’s footsteps as a talented architect, he hopes to work his way up at the firm. Unfortunately, the company’s new owner barely resembles the man who was once Trick’s father’s best friend. Trick’s days are filled with drudgery and cruel remarks from the man who was supposed to be his mentor—along with his two sons, whose only jobs seem to be making Trick’s life miserable.

But all that is about to change.

Edwin Goodmaker struggled through his fairy godparent curriculum, but his mother—the reigning Fairy Queen—has a simple solution: Edwin will go to New York City and get some practical experience. When he meets Trick, Edwin knows he’s found a worthy charge, and he’s sure he can help Trick achieve all of his heart’s desires. Edwin falls for Trick, but with everything standing in their way, a fairy-tale ending might remain nothing more than a dream.

Adorably flufftastic! I wanted something light and fun and that's exactly what was delivered. A cute Cinderfella story, complete with an evil step-dad type figure and a fairy godfather.

Edwin was a fairy godfather in training and is sent to New York to get some hands-on experience. As soon as he ran into Trick, Edwin knew he found his charge.

When he ran into Trick, his new charge was working at a job he hated for a terrible boss and his two sons. I can't believe how badly he was treated at his job. He was barely getting by and was underappreciated. Actually, he wasn't appreciated at all. He was constantly insulted. Trick had his reasons for staying at the firm, but even after his explanation, I still didn't understand why he would stay in such a bad environment. It was a tad far-fetched. But, hey, this is a Cinderella story, after all!

Edwin was pretty much clueless about life in New York. He was adorably naive and so damn endearing. Always smiling and always willing to help. I just wanna squeeze him! Apparently, so did Trick. I loved that their relationship had exactly zero angst. From strangers, to friends, to boyfriends, there wasn't any unnecessary drama. Just adorable dates, a magical Thanksgiving, and Christmas cuteness.

This modern-day Cinderfella story is full of fairy godfather magic with the sweetest HEA. Grab your hot cocoa, a blanket and prepare to snuggle up.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads and Dreamspinner Press.

Review: Not a Game (Friends #1) by Cardeno C.

An accidental meeting and a misunderstanding lead to a life-altering connection.

A new job, a new city, and hopefully a new life. When chubby gamer Oliver Barnaby receives a job offer from the best boutique game developer in the country, he leaves his family and his less than spectacular existence in Oklahoma without a second’s hesitation. Determined to change more than his career and his geography, Oliver implements a plan to finally land a boyfriend. Step one is improving his skills in the bedroom.

A life that looks perfect on paper, but feels empty in reality. Attractive, successful, charismatic Jaime Snow has a life other people envy. His already booming business is growing. He isn’t lacking in friends. And he has no trouble finding a date. But there’s an emptiness in Jaime’s heart and a hole in his life that only the right man can fill.

An accidental meeting, a misunderstanding, and falling in love. When Oliver and Jaime end up at the same bar at the same time, they each see something they want in the other. Going to bed together that first night is easy. Building the lifetime relationship they both desperately crave will require trust, time, and a little misunderstanding.

 I haven't read any Cardeno C. recently and I think I was due for some because I ADORED this story. 

Oliver is new to town with a new job and he's hoping to add a new boyfriend to that list, as well. He doesn't have much experience with relationships and the experience he does have is not positive. He lacks the confidence to not only to start up a conversation and see where things lead, but just going out to meet new people is terrifying for Oliver. So, he hires an escort to show him the ropes - sexually, that is - and build up his confidence before he gets serious about finding his own guy. 

So Jaime and Oliver meet, but Oliver assumes Jaime is the escort... and he's not. Yeah, it's something that's been done before, but I really love how Cardeno C. went about telling Jaime and Oliver's story.

Oliver is overweight and is seriously self-conscious about it. But when Jaime saw him, he wanted Oliver. Wanted him so bad that he went along with the whole "paid escort" deal. I love that the author wrote a character who isn't what is normally considered "beautiful" and gave him a boyfriend who was so totally turned on by him. Oliver was so dorky and unsure and just adorable. I loved their sex scenes. Oliver wanted to get everything right for Jaime, but he failed to realize that he was already everything Jaime wanted. D'awwwww! After years of putting himself down, he found someone who wouldn't change a thing. It gave me all sorts of happy feels.

The entire premise is based on a Big Misunderstanding. You know those. A lot of readers really don't like those. But not to worry, it was handled very well and the men handled it like... well, men.

I was totally in the mood for some sweet M/M contemporary romance and Not a Game delivered. It so delivered. This one is on the top of my Cardeno C. favorites list. If you need an angst-free, loving romance with some hot sex, Not a Game is perfect.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review. 

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: Undercover Boyfriend (One Fine Day #1) by Jacob Z. Flores

Two men, one lie, and a whole bunch of trouble.

Marty Valdez is in serious trouble. His sister’s wedding is around the corner, and everyone expects to meet Marty’s super-successful underwear model boyfriend—whom Marty invented. Now Marty has to produce a half-naked hottie or suffer the worst humiliation of his life.

FBI agent Luke Myers is in serious trouble. He’s been working undercover to take down a dangerous drug cartel, but his cover’s blown and he needs to disappear. Luckily, a geeky yet intriguing comic book artist gives him the perfect opportunity. Luke just has to pretend to be his boyfriend, and pretending is what he does best. But between Marty’s mother and his ex, Luke might’ve bitten off more than he can chew, and Marty’s knack for finding trouble might ruin more than just his sister’s wedding.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

This story is #TotesAdorbz

I legit wanted to hug my kindle at the ending. It's got so many things I enjoy about escapist entertainment. If this were a movie it would be that one you've seen a million times but still it never gets old. It's your comfort watch where you settle in with the good popcorn and the BIG OLE DEW. Seriously, what's the point of that 12 oz can? That's nothing but a waste of my time.

Just look at all that yummy neon goodness. 

Anywhat!

This book is my first experience with this author, this series and by proxy Harlequin. That's right. I've never read a Harlequin but if this is what they're like I need to rectify that travesty with a quickness.

Undercover Boyfriend is the classic fake to real boyfriend trope with a geek and a super hot dude. They seem an unlikely pair but Marty and Luke click from the moment Marty catches Luke trying to steal his Hyundai. It's pretty predictable and maybe a little OTT, but so sweet and romantic with loads of UST and two well developed characters.

Marty is our adorkable geek who's gotten into the habit of making up people to get out of uncomfortable situations. He's a comic book aficionado and homebody. I wouldn't characterize him as an introvert or anything he just isn't into peopleing; peopleing's a hassle. But his big sister's wedding is coming up and everyone is pressuring him to meet his underwear model boyfriend, Tim Drake, so in a desperate attempt to find someone, ANYONE he head's for the local gay bar armed with his lucky coin.

And meets Luke Myers, undercover FBI agent and sex on a stick. Dude is crazy, stupid hot and in a pickle since his cover just got blown on a cartel case he's been working for over a year, so if fake boyfriending it can get him off the grid for a bit so be it.

I don't think he ever imagined becoming so smitten with not only Marty and his extensive collection of superhero garb, but the Valdez family. Nor did I. The mother is larger than life and nothing's getting past her. The sister is brash, nosy in an affectionate way and her brother's biggest cheerleader. The extended family is gossip-y and loud, something I can identify with, but they will close ranks if you fuck with one of them in a heartbeat.

Of course the cartel case gets brought to their doorstep which brings out all the things I like in an MC. Luke is protective and becomes increasingly possessive of Marty. There's also a significant size difference between the two, something that pushes my buttons. The way Flores threaded Luke's backstory into the story kept my attention and I loved that even though this is instalove it worked for me because both of these characters used their words. 

They bond over throwback tunes, superheros and their shared dislike of Marty's ex-boyfriend and royal douchecanoe, Christian. Their first kiss was romance movie epic and swoonworthy. Flores did an amazing job of showing how much they care about each other, how having to work together betters them both and how their feelings expand and develop over the few days they're together.

There's nothing better than a romance wherein the two MCs bond through a harrowing experience and this harrowing experience brought with it sinister baddies and an all around badass partner in Crispy. I'm kind of hoping book two is Crispy's book. Whomever it is I will be there with bells on! 

The sex scene was fade to black, but not before its made imminently clear just how turned on each MC is by the other. Yet another win in a romance read in my book.

Recommend this book highly to people who enjoy romancey romance that is sweet with a side of adventure.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads & Dreamspinner Press.