didn't bother reading the first one bcs it was M/F, so had no idea what to expect with this especially bcs i'm just flying through a bunch of MM novellas in the hopes i can hit 500 before the end of the year lol
the only positive i can give this is that i loved the dialogue. there wasn't enough substance to the characters or their relationship to truly enjoy this but it was brief enough that i tolerated it. it's predominantly smut and not even particularly good smut, but i still loved the way Jasper talked to Max. i'm just a sucker for a top calling his bottom "baby" and praising tf out of him. this hovers at 2/2.5 stars but i rounded down anyway cos unfortunately my mood gets a little zesty when i've read too many things all in a row and end up hypersensitive and overly critical.
4 stars 🌟 I love little novellas, but I felt this one jumped in a little too fast however it still was good. I love me a biker romance so this hit the spot for a small read in between series.
It was a good read and I definitely can't wait to read more from Mrs. Ivy Bennet.
Book: Chestnuts 👬 MM 🎄 Christmas Novella By: Ivy Bennet
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Spicy: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Tropes: ❄️ MM ❄️ Fast Burn ❄️ Friends to Lovers ❄️ Tattooed and Pierced MC ❄️ Possessive MC
⚠️ Triggers ⚠️ 🎄 Temperature Play 🎄 Sensory Deprivation 🎄 Impact Play
This novella is set at Christmas time and follows Max and Jasper's story.
They have been gym buddies/friends for over a year. Max is definitely into Jasper, but he's unclear if Jasper feels the same way. Little does Max know, Jasper feels the same way. Once they cross over into more, it happens fast and hard. Their chemistry is off the charts.
"Chestnuts" is my first MM story, and I loved everything about it. This is a short read that leaves you wanting more. Oh boy, is it spicy 🥵!
Jasper is the enforcer for the Mori MC. He is protective, dominant, and possessive! The perfect match for Max. Jasper is also great at gift-giving. 🎁🥵😏
Max is loyal, sensitive, and passionate. He works as a bartender at the restaurant he co-owns with his sister Viv. Family means a lot to him.
I loved how open and honest Jasper was with Max. He didn't hide anything from him and was upfront about his lifestyle, answering all of Max's questions. Jasper went above and beyond to ease Max’s worry and communicate.
I also loved all of the family moments with Viv, Abby, and Kolson. I need more of all of them! ❤️ Can someone get rid of Hazel? 😏 Asking for a friend! 🥷
I can’t wait for more books in this series. You will be left wanting more. No worries, Ivy has confirmed Max and Jasper will be getting a full book. It will be apart of the MC series. (Insert happy dance 💃🏾) I just need to gather the patience to wait. 😩 Go read this book ASAP!
HOT does not do this book justice! It’s a really beautiful take on a MM relationship! I loved the little twists that the author threw in the story line. Will definitely be reading any other books this author publishes!
This was such a good short story! I cannot wait for the rest of Max and Jasper’s story!
Max owns a Restaurant with his sister the he bartends at. Daily he goes to the guy and gets to workout with his crush almost everyday. Then one day it gets steamy at the gym.
Jasper is in a MC and going to the gym and seeing Max is the highlight of his day. After having a crush on Max for so long he just can’t wait another day.
I want more of Jasper and Max! They were so easy to fall in love with! I love me some biker men!
If you are looking for a fast read that jumps right in then you are in the right place! I wish it would have been longer than a novella! I feel like I wanted more back story to Jasper and Max! This would also be great written from both of the characters POVs but overall great read! Ivy you have done it again!
Favorite quote from the book sums it up for me: "Well, f*** me."
As a gay man myself, it's hard to find gay dark romance novels that are relatable and not just fetishizing gay romance. This book is hands down a really relatable gay romance! This is NOT some cliche gay romance you read anywhere else. This really has authenticity to it, including the preparation for the spicy 🍑 scenes! Also, apparently very relatable for gay men of SD as I asked my friend who lives there what the gay scene is and the two main characters fit it perfectly! This author has done the research so it is authentic and really draws you in! Highly recommend!
First of all, Max our main MC is super relatable. He's a hard working man who also works out and is just very loveable.
Jas our other main MC is not relatable to me, but relatable to my partner in a way. He's protective yet elusive at times.
If u want to read a short, quick holiday novella for Christmas then here you go.
This is my thrid MM romance book and i should definitely keep going with it, cuz this is 🔥🔥 AF.
Max is Viv's brother and Abby's best friend and Jasper is the hot, tatted memeber of the Mori MC. They go to the same gym and are workout buddies for over a year. Both realize that they want more from each other and Jasper is the one who takes the first step. The chemistry and tander between Max and Jasper was top-notch. 🥵🥵
I can say i was hooked up with the story and when i was on the last page i was like "Whyyyyy Ivy, whyyyy is this book only a short novellaa?!" i really enjoyed this..
Can't wait to read Viv's story im so curious about her.
*i received an ARC copy of this book and Ivy i appreciate it and can't wait to read more books
I LOVED this!!! This was a crossover from Downfall another one of Ivy Bennetts books. I loved the spice with it ranged at 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. It was very short but very good. I loved how the author also had a small playlist for the book. As well as a section at the beginning for those who just want to jump ahead and read the smutty goodness written.
I wish it lasted longer but I loved every second of it and I cannot wait to read future novels in the future.
Make sure to check the TW ⚠️ before reading. Ivy has the full list on the website
I also received an ARC copy (Advanced Readers Copy) through the author and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Chestnuts left me wanting more about Max and Jasper.
Max is sweet, kind and the co-owner of a bar in downtown San Diego. He and his sister are close and is made family loves him and supports him.
Jasper is a bad boy. He belongs to known biker gang, yet Max does not know what that means exactly.
Their spark happens as soon they touch, even though they've known each other for over a year. They can't keep their hands off each other. While their relationship grows Max learns more about Jasper and his role in the biker gang.
I wish there was more to their story and I am hoping we see them again.
Arc Reader - What a sweet holiday romance with some extra spicy scenes to liven it up! Max and Jasper are the epitome of love at first sight, lust, endless romance.
Max and Jasper have been working out at the same gym for years and always just been workout buddies until one day in the locker room…. And from there it’s history - the romance begins!
Their story is fast moving but given the lust and secret crushes it made sense! And they jump right into the spice for all you spicy lovers!
And the last 10 pages carried a secret I was not imagining we’d fine out… but I will say that’s the one area I wish had been expanded upon more though. It felt a little rushed like they just told us XYZ (no spoilers) about Jasper and then we sort of just moved on. Would have liked more of an evolution there.
But overall the ending was really sweet! And I loved the final last lines.
Ivy gave us Downfall as her debut novel and backed up with this fast paced, binge worthy and steamy novella.
Jasper and Max are my first solely MM book and I loved every minute of it. The attraction, banter and personalities of these MCs were easy to like and knowing we will get more of them throughout the series makes me that much more excited to see how their relationship develops!
This little holiday novella brought the heat. This MM romance was full of spice and longing. Without giving any spoilers I found the variety of characters interesting and I will absolutely want to read books where the characters have crossed over. Read as an arc.
Ivy bennet has done it AGAIN⚠️ This is my kind of Christmas novella😮💨 Jasper is *chefs kiss* 🫠 I wish it wasn’t so short because I was obsessed and wanted it to continue! It was incredible and the kind of book you will devour and not be able to put down. you are the G.O.A.T!🐐🙌🏼 thank you so much for the arc I will continue to be obsessed with every book you create! 🫶🏼
Sexy, short holiday read. Loved the Downfall crossover, with opposites attract, daddy vibes. Spice 4/5. Hope to see more Max and Jasper in your next book.
Looking for a spicy MM Christmas novella? Well look no further! We got to meet Max in Downfall and this time it’s his turn for some sexy man time. We have the Christmas spirit and we get all of our favs back with Abby, Kolson and Viv also. This was a fun quick read and filled with definitely some spicy scenes and gave a great idea for an amazing Christmas surprise 😉
This was one HOT mm novella! OMG! Max is a bar owner and Jasper is and enforcer for a local MC. They meet at the gym and start out as friends. These two so hot together. The gym shower scene! I loved this book and will for sure be reading more Ivy Bennett books.
This was a short MM Christmas novella that I wish was a lot longer. I just want more of Max and Jasper. The narrator was 🥵🥵🥵 and everything I didn’t know I needed. The spice, *chefs kiss* sexy 🥵🫠. There chemistry and overall vibe was everything and left me wishing for more. Will I be listening to this again and again and again? Yes, yes I will. Will I ever tire of this audio? No. Can’t wait for more in this series and hopefully more of Max and Jasper.
Chestnuts was a really well rounded Christmas novella that will captivate you from beginning to end. I really enjoyed how this short story fit in so well with Ivy's first book, Downfall. I enjoyed the fact that many characters from Downfall were in this book as well, but from a different perspective. I also really liked reading about new characters that I imagine I'll enjoy reading about in future books. The thought of these characters stories continuing throughout future books, potentially from different perspectives as well, really draws me in and definitely ready for more! Ivy seems to have the perfect recipe for tying characters together through separate stories, and I can't get enough of it. Give this book a read for sure!!
This was full of Christmas, spice and everything nice!
Max and Jasper are gym buddies for over a year until one day they decide to give in to their feelings. Jasper is everything we want in a biker boyfriend... including piercings. The spice is down and dirty and *chef's kiss*
If you're looking for a fast paced, spicy MM Christmas novella, this is for you!
Thank you Ivy Bennet for sending me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!
This MM Christmas novella was Max’s story. We meet him in Downfall.
Max is co-owner of Samsara and Jasper is the enforcer for the Mori MC. After spending a year working out at the same gym things move onto the next level. This was a quick and spicy read. I loved seeing the others from Max’s life in his story. I hope we see more of Viv in the future. This is a standalone and ends on HEA
I read this as an eARC and I am voluntarily leaving a review. I really, really loved the relationship between Max and Jasper. They were so great together and I wish this was longer than a novella so I could read more about them. It was so nice to see how in love with each other these two were. This is one of my favorite Christmas novellas and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves MM Christmas books.
This was a short, spicy holiday novella that had you sucked in 👀 by chapter 2 if you catch my drift. This packed a good amount of story into the novella and took off running with the story!
I love Ivy’s writing style and this was no exception! I truly cannot wait to read more on Mori MC and get to read Viv’s story too!
And the audiobook? PHEW. I’m going to go turn the AC on!
Story: 💚💚💚💚 Characters:💛💛💛💛💛 World Building: 🧡🧡🧡🧡 Feels: 💙 Spice:🌶🌶🌶 Overall:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So, idk how a k!nky book and be absolutely adorable- but this one was. Don't get me wrong, it's still in the "dark romance " category, but the story in itself was sweet and comforting. The POV is Max’s and he is a precious little cinnamon roll. His love interest, Jasper is a little more rough around the edges but still manages to be loveable. Their chemistry is precious and perfect. This is an easy read to get you into the Holiday Spirit. It has STFUATTDLAGB as a little bow to tie up the whole gift 🎁🎄🥵.
This was so good! For being such a short novella it certainly doesn't skip out on the sex! Max being a brat was great and is not leery about Jasper taking the lead. There is also plenty of storyline and I love how it doesn't go from "hi we just met today" to "I love you" after only a few days. There is a lot of history between the characters even though most of it is not in the book. Overall, super cute with fantastic and mildly kinky sex.
Quick PSA though, please do not use normal candle wax for wax play. Most commercial candles burn way too hot and the wax can burn you. There are candles that are made specifically for wax play.
🎄What to expect🏍️ MM MC Friends to Lovers 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Dominent Posessive
I am embarrassed to admit that this is my first MM with two male leads. I have shyed away simply because I didn't know if I would relate to the characters. I was so wrong and I loved this Novella so much I didn't want it to end!
I always get nervous with character/story development in short stories or novellas but this one has it all! The love interest is perfection. He is a dark romance reader's dream. He loves hard and he 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ hard, if you get my drift.😉
Ivy did a fantastic job mixing the spice in with the plot and I loved the build.
They were gym friends for a year and you quickly figure out what's going to happen, but I still got excited for it! The way thier lives start to intermingle is spot on and, as a reader, I couldn't imagine a world where they aren't together!
Jasper is dominent and controlling but tender and loving, and because "Maxy" was all about it ..... I just couldn't get enough!!!
@authorivybennet the way you do spicy and steam *chefs kiss* The fast burn of your books is amazing.
Jasper & Maxy were my first toe dip into the world of MMC/MMC, and I never would have thought that read would hook me the way this one did. The mouth on Jasper *phew* matched with the sass of Maxy made for a great read and some laughs to. I also loved the cameo of Kolson & Abby. The only downside I had reading it was that I wanted more. I wanted to get into some MC biker drama or something, maybe have Maxy have to step up for Jasp. But overall, a quick, fast-paced steam filled read that has me in love with both Jasper & Maxy 💙
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tropes 🤎MM 🖤Fast Burn 🤎Friends to Lovers 🖤Tattoed & Pierced 🤎 Possessive Biker MC 🖤 Sensory Deprivation 🤎Temperature Play 🖤Impact Play
LOVED THIS! Max and Jasper’s story was short but sweet (well, more like spicy 🥵 🌶️ ). Loved that it seemed OTT and realistic at the same time. Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot: 📑📑📑 Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Darkness: 🖤🖤 Red Flags: 🚩 Kinks: 🫦🫦🫦 Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Range of Emotions: 😂😳🥵🥵😍 Ending: 👨🏻❤️👨🏻 {HEA} POV: 🧔🏻♂️{First Person / Single POV}