Sugar Cookie

by A.E. Madsen

Sugar Cookie

Clark
Forty-years-old, divorced, and cruising dating apps for a hookup. Maybe I'm having a mid-life crisis, but don't I deserve to cut loose a little? How was I supposed to know the guy I matched with was my best friend's son? It's been years since I've seen him. I should tell him it was a one time thing, but it's harder to tell him no than I thought.

Nate
I'm working two jobs and saving up for culinary school. I'm not looking to settle down and have a relationship, but sometimes I need to scratch an itch. When I run into my most recent one-night-stand in my living room, I know once won't be enough. He's only in town for the holidays, so it's the perfect opportunity for us to mess around. No strings attached.

Sugar Cookie is a dad's best friend, age gap, MM romance. This book is part of the Merry Elf-Mas multi-author series. Each story can be read as a standalone, but why not come along for the ride as each of Santa's elves finds love during the holidays.

Genres: M M Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, Romance, LGBT, Novella

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

A. E. Madsen(they/them) is a stay-at-home parent and loving spouse. They live in California with their three children. A. has degrees in culinary arts and business management that have nothing to do with writing gay romance. They started writing gay romance in an attempt to better understand their gender identity and sexual orientation as a teenager, and it grew as a hobby from there. A. spends most of their time writing and reading stories about men falling in love with other men, but they also have ADHD and are easily distracted by social media and various topics of research that often have little relevance.

Reviews

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, fun Holidays story with a big age Gap (~20years) & Dad's best friend 😳. With these tropes, How can I not try this story?! I loved the plot & enjoyed Clark, Nate & others. Devoured my #ARC in 3hrs.

Nate's bold & sunny to Clark's cautious & caring. From their no-names-exhanged one night stand to finding out their surprise connection (aka Nate's dad/ Clark's bestie). Plain temporarily hooking up should have been easy, but feelings get involved. Then again, N+C aren't good at this secrecy thing that much 🙈😂. They're spicy, love me vers couple!

I loved the story, the ending, all characters. But I felt I needed more detailing expression/feelings wise as I couldn't connect as well to their love growth as I normally do 😅. Is it just me? I dunno. And hence it gave me insta love vibes (which is not an issue otherwise). As a novella it worked. Hence I'll be giving 4.5-4.75 ⭐ (not sure yet lol). RTC.

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Dual POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 😜😏😳🥵😘🤨😕😬😂🤓🤭😅☺️
4) Steamy scenes: 3/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4/5
Angst: 2.25/5 (push-pull)
Dark: 1/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Holidays & Forbidden relationship) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.25/5

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded to 5
We are back with Frostdale Mall elf squad, and this time, we get to know Sugar Cookie (nate), a twenty year old who dreams of going to culinary school. A hook up app leads Nate into meeting Clark, an older man whom he has great chemistry with, unknown to him is his dad's best friend. These two take it slow in getting to know one another to realize they have something more between them than just sex. This is a beautiful low angst age gap, fathers best friend romance. While others are weird about them hooking up once they see them together, then they can see the chemistry, which really is all you can ask for in these types of dating situations.
Would have liked to see more interactions with the elf squad, but overall, a fun holiday read

[Guy Venturi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kryptonite Cookies and Strawberries dipped in Chocolate

Nate loves his Christmas Elf job at Santa's Workshop at the mall almost as much as he loves his coworkers and the kids' excitement. With a chance to talk to Santa and a candy cane to eat, the pictures for parents are almost as cute as the kids's faces.

The month with Santa and visitor with long lists from Thanksgiving to Christmas is organized chaos that takes special people as Santa and elves helping bring the Joy of the Season. The close working conditions stress everyone, but the physical contact with coworkers makes working fun and the off hours pleasant if too short.

When Clark comes to town to visit his sister and niece, Nate gets a real opportunity that quickly includes Clark, but not recognizing him and past connections until Clark also visits Sammy, Nate's father and Clark's best friend since college. The interconnections just keep on coming as families and friends celebrate together.

[Brat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute romantic Christmas story

Age gap is huge which I love not to mention dads best friend trope

Wish it was a series

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clark has a hook up with a younger man called "Sugar Cookie" when he goes home to visit his sister. He is in his forties and divorced and when he visits his old friend Sammy, he finds out "Sugar Cookie" is Sammy's son Nate and works at the Frostdale Mall as an elf. Part of a series by different authors, the elves at Santa's Village all have their own stories. Even though the guys had a good time, it's not like it was love at first sight. Nate has plans for culinary school, Clark is starting over, neither wants serious. But then it gets serious. It's an interesting dynamic, man and best friend's son and comes with conflict but not too much angst. It's an enjoyable read. I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.

[Peppa]

Man I really tried but I just couldn’t get into this story nor did I feel any connection to those characters. Around 33% I noticed that I only started to skimp through it and that’s definitely not the point of reading so unfortunately I had to dnf it at 45%.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was okay. I didn't buy the connection between the MCs but the sex scenes were hot 🔥🔥

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay.

I never felt Clark and Nate together. I LOVE substantial age gaps in books, but not if there’s no chemistry between the couple. When they were together, even sexually, I felt… nothing. Okay, that’s not true. I felt like they were taking too many chances if they were so concerned about being caught.

The entire book I was waiting on the other shoe to drop, for Sammy to find out. That took so much away from the story for me.

Nate is a very immature twenty. With Clark, I felt like Nate was nothing more than a rebound fling that wouldn’t last long-term. There were almost no conversations where the two guys got to know each other outside of sex. They’d say they needed to talk but end up not doing it. They literally only knew the bare minimum. Nowhere in the book does Clark even tell Nate why he and Jessica divorced or anything else. I admit to skimming over some of the sex scenes, something I never do. I guess I was so frustrated over it being JUST sex with these two when they were supposed to be getting to know each other as people, not just sex buddies.

With the other books in the series, I’ve liked the secondary characters – parents, siblings, nieces/nephews. Not in this one. I like the guys from the other books but that’s about it. Anna, though not as bad as she could’ve been, was a bit of a busybody. Carmen, her daughter, was just a brat. Sammy was okay, I suppose, but not much of his personality was shown in the book.

Overall, the book was okay, as I said. And, again, I never felt these guys together, and the constant waiting on Sammy to find out the truth went on way too long and definitely took away from the story for me.

Full review - WITH SPOILERS - can be found at -

[Joelle Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎄ARC Review🎄

Sugar Cookie
By @a.e.madsen

This started off as "check my formatting" and became "imma read the whole book."

Let me tell you about Nate and Clark 🥵

Recently divorced, Clark rolls into Frostdale to spend the holidays with his sister and niece. After spending several years unhappy with his now ex-wife, Clark pulls up a dating app and figures that exploring his bisexual side might be what's needed to cheer him up a bit.

Real names aren't exchanged, but when his best friend and his best friends son show up for Thanksgiving dinner, he doesn't expect to see his hookup.

Nate is more than happy to keep hooking up with his dad's older friend, especially since he's in town just for the holidays.

These two get up to a lot and even find some creative uses for frosting before ultimately getting busted by Nate's dad.

Overall this is a fun, low-angst and steamy holiday read. I highly recommend it. This might be my favorite thing that A.E. Madsen has ever written.

[Katriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

Clark is finally going back to his hometown to visit his sister after he moved away to be with his now ex wife. Upon arriving into town he finds someone to hook up with. Little did he know that the stranger he hooks up with was his best friend's son.

Nate is working two jobs to save up to go to Culinary school, he isn't looking for relationships or anything serious just fun.

I thought this story was good, I feel like the premise was there. I loved the scenes that took place in the mall, all the moments that were describing all of the holiday festivities were my favorite. The reason I rated this on the lower side is because this book seemed more focused on the benefits side of the relationship rather than building and developing a connection. I just wish there was more emotion and relationship building rather than just steamy scenes. Other than that though I did enjoy this addition to the Elfmas series! I really enjoyed the scene where Nate was making gingerbread cookies, I wish we got more baking scenes.

[Heather Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

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If you enjoy Dad’s best friend stories with a slightly bratty younger man, then you are bound to enjoy this low-angst holiday novella.

Sugar Cookie is Nate’s elf alter ego when he’s working at Frostdale Mall’s Christmas Village. Know for the treats he’s constantly baking, he’s come by the name naturally. He’s planning to go to culinary school, so he’s not looking to start something serious.

So the feelings he develops with his father’s friend Clark are unexpected. For both of them. Clark is recently divorced and he’s not eager to jump back into a relationship. And the fact that Nate is his best friend's son gives him pause. Especially when they are caught by him. But he’s hard to resist, and suddenly the future looks bright and exciting.

The magic of Frostdale strikes again.

[Mandy (MP Book Reviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bisexual Clark is forty and divorced. On a short holiday visit to his sister, he decides to use a dating app to have a little fun. However, the guy he matched was his best friend's twenty-year-old son. At least it was a one-time thing and no one needs to know anything about it. Nate is working two jobs and saving up to attend culinary school but when he runs into his most recent one-night stand in the living room he knows that once will never be enough but they know there is a time limit as he is only there for the holidays.

This was a sweet story of how one of the mall elves met and found love with his father's best friend. The odds were against them but they were strong enough and it was delightful to experience the start of their relationship and the sneaking around to see each other. I liked the way that the pros and cons were often thought of by Clark even if he didn't discuss them and that Nate knew who he wanted and went for it not taking no for an answer. Easy to read, feel and understand. This is an MM story with mature content.

[Kristy Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what I love best about the Dad’s Best Friend trope? When the son is aggressively pursuing the best friend. All the reasons why they should. 😘

Clark and Nate meet through a hookup app without knowing who the other really is. But, of course they do meet and it is just as awkward as you’d imagine.

Nate, as most 20 something’s do, doesn’t see the harm in continuing while Clark is in town. No one has to know and Clark will be going back home in a few days, so why not 🤷🏽

Clark, as the forty something adult he is, sees all the pitfalls but is having a hard time resisting the temptation that is Nate 🫠

A.E. Madsen weaves a lovely story of fun, mischief, hot, steamy goodness. You can’t help but fall in love with the elf and Superman 🤭

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Claire Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sugar Cookie was an age-gap, best friend's son romance with plenty of spice.

Nate aka Sugar Cookie (another elf from Santa's Village) hooks up with Clark for the night neither realising that Clark is his dad's best friend home for the holidays.

While Clark is initially shocked when he discovers who Nate is, Nate isn't backwards in letting him know he's up for a repeat. And this older man is no match for Nate when he wants something as bad as he wants Clark.

Feelings get involved quickly and any doubts get cast aside as both decide their happiness comes first with or without their family's approval.

Sometimes age really is just a number and Nate and Clark made a sweet couple.

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 40%

I gave this multiple chances but I couldn’t get past the flat writing. The characters had no depth, I couldn’t get invested in them. Scenes and dialogue were rushed giving little substance to the story.

I also couldn’t get past the lack of consistency in one section.

Either way, with Carmen sitting next to Nate, and already completely focused on her phone, there’s few options left. It’d cause more of a scene if we didn’t sit with him. I pull out the chair on Nate’s right. Carmen already snagged the spot across from him.

Did Carmen sit next to Nate or across from him? It’s little things like this that take me out of the story. This is a simple editing oversight that should have been caught.

[10111111111 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 stars (6/10)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes: dad's best friend, hook-up turned date, Christmas novella, sneaking around
Review:
I didn't really feel the vibe with this one. I did enjoy the whole best friend's son/dad's best friend vibe going on, but for some reason, the chemistry between these two just did not shine through. I don't know if it was the rushed smut scenes, or the fact they didn't really talk and didn't seem to enjoy themselves very much with each other, but something just felt off about them for most of the story, and I kept thinking 'do you two actually enjoy having sex, or even like each other'? They obviously did, but I felt like it was not portrayed or communicated to the reader very well at all, and so it made it hard to gauge their dynamic. I don't think I really want to continue with this series, as the first 2 books really were the ones I was most interested in.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

The trope (Dad's best friend) had a couple of extra bits added that I felt would have been better suited elsewhere since this series is low-angst and that stuff should have been further developed instead of getting wrapped up in a quick, neat little bow. Because of this and some of the choices made between Nate/Sugar Cookie and Clark or on their own, I didn't think this earned a higher rating like the previous two books in this cute series did. A shame really. I don't mind age gap. Dad's best friend is not a fave trope but if done well, then I am there for it. Maybe that flavored my rating a bit but I still wouldn't suggest this book to the people I normally do.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute and sexy tale that features one of my favorite plot points - one night stand!. Clark is newly divorced and during the holidays, is visiting the home where he grew up. He spends the first night in a hotel before going to his sisters' home. He is feeling down so decides to order up a little action through an app. Enter a beautiful young man with the whimsical name of Sugar Cookie. They enjoy an jizz-filled evening and part ways. The next day he visits his friend, Sammy whom he hasn't seen in years. In walks Sammy's son, Nate, .... I so enjoyed this. Clark and Nate are cute. I did wonder how this would play out given the age difference and the differing stages of life for each man but it was done well.

[Jeanette Buck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another great addition in the Merry Elf-mas series. This is a low angst father's best friend and age gap story between 40 year old Clark and Nate. Clark is moving back to town and spend the first night in a hotel and is up for a quick hook up and unbeknown to him, it's his best friend that turns up. They have great chemistry and when they meet again, they can't stay away from each other. They have to sneak around but eventually Nate's dad finds out but by that time they have fallen for each other. I enjoyed reading this lovely Christmas story.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for Dad's Best Friend and age gap romance, and Sugar Cookie is a sweet and satisfying read that gives me both... from hookup to love match, add in some baking magic and sweet and supportive friends from the Merry Elf-mas team and you get a lovely and quick holiday read.

I was able to sink into the story and although it left me both hungry for cookies and hungry for more, I definitely recommend checking out Sugar Cookie as part of your holiday book haul.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun age gap story

This was an enjoyable age gap holiday story. Nate, aka Sugar Cookie, and Clark meet through a hookup app for a night of fun. Little did they know that Nate is Clark's best friend's son. But these two can't keep their hands off each other no matter how hard they try. I liked their banter and how they got to know each other. It was fun seeing the mall elves from Nate's perspective. I'm excited to read the next book in the series.

[Belinda Zamora]

Nate and Clark meet through a hookup app.
Both are at a strange place in their lives and aren't looking for anything permanent.
Until things change and suddenly they're always around each other.
Despite the seemingly difficult obstacles in their way both realize they really do want more together.
I really enjoyed how easily their relationship progressed and if course seeing the other elves was awesome as well.

[Latecia Jennings · Rating 4 out of 5]

OMG...I wasn't sure I was going to finish this messy train wreck...LOL...but I had to know how it was gonna end...and surprisingly it ended well...very sweet. This romance put me through changes...not entirely a trope I enjoy due to the messiness but this was a good one. Since it was part of the Merry Elf-Mas series I just had to give it a try and I'm glad I did. NICE!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

If you are looking for a sweet age game Christmas time story then this is the book for you

Clark returns home for the holidays to visit his sister and happens to check out a dating app. Not thinking it will be more than a hook up.

Overall this is sweet, steamy, low angst holiday read.

These are my own options on the book.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sugar cookie is part of the Merry Elf-Mas multi-author series. Each book can be read as a standalone but I love reading all the books in a series. This is Clark an older divorced man and Nate the younger guy who happens to be Clark's best friends son. This holiday story is a low angst fun steamy read. It is just right for some holiday reading. I would definitely recommend this book and series.

[RomanceLand65 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute Christmas story. I really enjoy this collaboration with the authors for this series. I did not think I would enjoy the age gap part along with dad's best friend but truly it was a sweet romance. I mean who does not live a cute Christmas story with low angst and a super sweet hea. Clark and Nate are just cute!

[Thera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I realized that I actually love Dad's best friend and this book did not disappoint. Nate and Clark had chemistry from the very start. Starting as just friends with benefits to more. They weren't very good at hiding their "relationship" though and kept getting caught in hilarious ways.

These two were sweet together and I loved this book. Highly recommend!

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written addition to a very sweet holiday series. The age gap/dad's best friend aren't tropes I would normally choose but this was well written and felt quite realistic. I would have liked to see a little more connection than just the physical.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and am happy to leave a voluntary review.

[Juniper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story offers a charming take on some recognizable tropes: it’s an age gap, best-friend’s-son, holiday romance with plenty of sweetness, heat, and care. Nate and Clark have different personalities, are at different places in their lives, and complement each other in so many ways— their story makes for an enjoyable read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another great addition to this multi author holiday series, this is book three of the series and is Nate and Clark’s story which is an age gap, Dad’s best friend story, it’s a well written sweet enjoyable read the next book up in the series is Holli’s story which I’m really looking forward to reading.