Delicious

IOU #2.5

by Leslie McAdam

A second chance at a first kiss I kissed Mason during a high school game of spin the bottle ... and then we never spoke again. Until now. Will we have a renewed chance at love in the City of Lights? Delicious is a contemporary M/M short story that takes place during the same time period as Studious and features Alden's best friend, Mason. While it's a stand-alone story, it's probably best read after Studious . Sweet and steamy times and a HEA guaranteed. It was previously available to newsletter subscribers. There have been no changes to the text. the alternate cover paperback edition of Studious also includes Delicious as a bonus .

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Second Chance, Novella, Queer

44 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 16, 2023

About the author

Leslie McAdam is a California girl who loves romance and well-defined abs. She lives in a drafty old farmhouse on a small orange tree farm in Southern California with her husband and two small children. Leslie's first published book, The Sun and the Moon, won a 2015 Watty, which is the world's largest online writing competition. She's gone on to receive additional literary awards and has been featured in multiple publications, including Cosmopolitan.com. Her books have been Top 100 Bestsellers on both Amazon and Apple Books. Leslie is employed by day but spends her nights writing about the men of your fantasies.

USA Today interview: http://happyeverafter.usatoday.com/20...

Cosmopolitan: https://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love...

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delicious is book #2.5 in the IOU series by Leslie McAdam. This is a very short story that takes place about the same time as the previous book, Studious. It can be read as a stand alone. The blurb calls it a second chance at a first kiss which is exactly what it is. So adorable and sweet. I loved it.

Ben Diamond is a travel blogger. As a child, he moved frequently due to his dad’s job. Mason Gray is in Paris taking pastry classes, hoping one day to be a pastry chef. Both men are I believe around twenty five?

These two first met in high school. They shared a kiss that was “the” kiss, the one you never forget. But then it was time for Ben to move again and they haven’t seen each other or been in contact for ten years. Then Ben walks in to the first day of his pastry class and who is sitting there, the man he never forgot.

“Of all the pastry classes in the world, he has to end up in mine.”

These two were both crushing on each other back in those high school days but neither had ever admitted it. Now all these years later, that same connection, that same electric chemistry, is still there. But we’ll just say that their first day together didn’t go exactly as they hoped. Still, they both realize this might be their second chance. Are they willing to take the risk and go for it, or will they once again walk away?

“He’s a cozy blanket in human form.”

[Jessica (Novel Confessions Book Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super cute, quick read

I loved Mason and Ben. This was a short read, but very well written. It allowed the characters to build a bond that shows all the potential to grow into so much more for their relationship down the line. Since it’s a novella we obviously don’t get to “see” where they end up, but it’s inferred and very easy to imagine.

[Monikat · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very short story that literally begins in the prologue of the previous book (Studious).
A smile-inducing story involving serendipity, France, pastry, bad street food, caretaking, second chances, attraction and a romantic blanket that covers Mason and Ben and gives them exactly what they've both been longing for.💖

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable and I would absolutely read a full length version

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was going to wait until I published my Studious review before doing this one, but there was no need. There's only one or two mentions of Alden in this one, though Mason is mentioned quite a bit in that one.

This is a second-chance romance where everything happens at warped speed. There's not enough story to really get a feel for either character.

And while it's listed as HEA, it's a definite HFN. I wouldn't call two days together after not seeing each other since high school enough to call it a HEA.

Didn't love it. Didn't hate it.

[caffeinated.crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

DELICIOUS was a novella, and it was adorable.

Ben and Mason kissed in high school, and then Ben moved away. Ten years later, they meet again in Paris in a patisserie class. They both love to travel and just happened to be in the same place at the same time

They are each other's ✨️one that got away✨️

I loved this. So cute and squishy.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Es poco más que un relato, un capítulo extra del anterior libro con Mason de protagonista. Dulce y sencillo. (Dulce... Chiste accidental).

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is one I wish was longer! Mason and Ben met ten years ago in high school and always had a bit of a crush on each other. And during a party they finally shared a kiss during a game of spin the bottle. But when Mason’s best friend needed helped, he slipped out for the night without getting a chance to say anything more to Ben. And unfortunately for Ben, his family moves a lot. And he was gone the next day. But fate has plans for these two. Because ten years later, they meet by chance at a cooking class in Paris. Time for these too to get their second chance! Very cute short story. Definitely wish there was more!

[fortheloveofmmromancebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mason Grey and Ben Diamond last saw each other ten years ago when they kissed at a game of spin the bottle, while in high school.
Mason is in Paris taking patisserie classes, when who should walk in, but none other than Ben.
After class they grab a bite to eat, and realise they both missed and still think about one another.
Can they get their second chance at love?

This is a short sweet novella from Leslie McAdam which is connected to the IOU series. I just loved this, and could have read more from these two.

[JD Crittendon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Follow-up Side Character Tale!

I love short stories of side characters that I like to get a happy ending, too. This is Mason (Alden’s BFF) and Ben (the high school one who got away) meeting as an adult. Cheers!

[Coralie Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was really good for a short story.

I love a good second chance romance and this was just that. Mason and Ben were so cute and their connection truly felt genuine and real. Now I’m curious to read more from this author.

[Christina Sturgill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 🌟
Spice: 2/5 🌶️
Characters: Mason and Ben

This is a very short, sweet, sort of second chance romance. I liked these two a lot and wish they had a longer story to show more of them traveling together.

[Shawna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very cute, but I really would have liked more.

[Elliott Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little novella about second chances and pastries. They were very cute and I love that it was just a snippet of what could be.

[Joy Hintz · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG WHY IS THIS SO SHORT??!!! I NEED MORE!!!! 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Zane Kage · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[Darryl Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love that this was tied up beautifully, a nice happy ending for them, but I would like a full on book about them

[Helen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Leslie's stories, and this one is a lovely example. My only wish is that it were longer so I could spend more time with Ben and Mason! Travel blogger Ben and pastry chef Mason knew each other briefly in high school, then unexpectedly reconnect in Paris. The story is well-crafted and perfectly paced, and you just know that Ben and Mason will find their HEA. Don't miss it!