(Alec and June's story)Juniper Evergreen is a Strangers to Lovers, Size-difference, 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?
I adored Juniper & Alec so much I couldn't get enough of them inside and outside the bedroom. The spicy scenes between these two are top notch. I loved that our large MC is the more submissive of the two and prefers to bottom while the smaller MC is the more dominant Top . Alec also a natural caretaker and I loved how he found little ways to look after Juniper even before they get together and the way and omg the way he worships Juniper's body and builds his self confidence is *chefs kiss* . A Roommates to lovers romance with a Big MC, Dom/Sub vibes, Smaller top/Larger bottom , all the holiday cheer , and delicious steam .
Qoutes that made me happy :
“It’s okay, darlin’. I’ll say it this time. But next time I give you a command, you’ll listen. Won’t you?”
“You are so fucking beautiful. Your eyes, these lips.” I trace the pad of my thumb over his bottom lip. I slide my hand down his chest and slowly make my way under his shirt. “Your broad chest, this sexy stomach.”
He seems to love relinquishing control, but at this moment I need his consent, his approval, his eagerness. Is he as desperate for our first kiss as I am?
“Please,” I beg again, not knowing if I’m begging to come or begging him to keep me forever.
A totally lovable and sweet MM Holiday romance with ~10 years age gap, a small town, found family. A cute story about care, patience (so much!), Seduction 🥵. Devoured my #ARC in around 3hrs, loved Juniper & Alec!
Alec and Juniper both are back home from holidays, and sorta heartbroken. Alec's 27 & a photographer; flirty, charming, caring (daddy vibes!). Juniper's 36, latest mall elf (as needs a job ASAP), cuddly, shy, adorable! It's also awesome that their positions align 😉.
First as co-workers then also as roommates, Al broke J's walls down. They're so sweet together! It's a novella, low angst, well paced though somewhat slow burn 🤭. I wanted to read a MC who's patient for his love and Alec is. So much. I liked it, plus the resolution with the ex-es too! I love these Mall elves and am glad Alec finally got his HEA (I 1st saw him in Sweetheart Escapes). RTC.
4,5 stars Juniper Evergreen by Kota Quinn is part of the Merry Elf-Mas series by multiple authors. This is the story of Alec and June. I loved their story. It was sweet, sexy, full of feels and very well written.
I liked Juniper and Alec together. Juniper is this big guy, and Alec is much smaller. I think what I enjoyed most about this book is the power exchange between the two. With Juniper’s size and his being the older of the two, he doesn’t exactly come across as the submissive type. But he is. And then there’s Alec, who has some serious hot Daddy vibes going. It worked.
I loved Juniper’s family, especially his younger brother and niece. I also loved catching up with the other mall elves. And I can’t forget Len, Juniper’s bastard ex. He was your classic story villain who got his in the end.
I liked how everything came together with Juniper and Alec, though I did find parts to be cheesy and a little silly. Even so, I enjoyed the story. I don’t think I’ve read this author before. I’ll be checking out more of their books.
It's a sweet and fluffy Christmas gift for you to open, part of a series about Mall workers being elves and each elf has their own story while guesting in other books. Juniper just got out of a bad relationship so he moves home to live with his Mom and gets a job at Santa's Village at the Frostdale Mall as an elf. Alec is a photographer there and they get the feels for each other. June is insecure and in need of love while Alec is a caretaker and dominant. June can't believe a hot guy like Alec could be attracted to him. A fun story, enjoy! I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary opinion.
This story is part of the Merry Elf-Mas multi-author series. Each story can be read as a standalone but I have loved all the stories though.
Juniper Evergreen is a roommates-to-lovers, age gap, MM romance featuring a beautiful photographer with "Big Daddy Energy" and a landscaper trying to find his way in life. Juniper has left a toxic relationship and moves home and stay on his mum's sofa. He gets a job as an elf which is where he meets photographer Alex. June has lost a lot of confidence which gets caring side out of Alex. They have great chemistry and I thought it was a sweet story.
Rating: 4.25 stars (8.5/10) Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Tropes: sunshine x sunshine, care taker, getting over a breakup, Christmas, bigger bottom, age gap Review: I was very excited to have Juniper's and Alec's story after seeing them in Jingle. I enjoyed how they were both recovering from previous heartbreaks, and I loved how so perfect for each other they were. I love the bigger bottom/sub vibe, and Juniper is such a gorgeous bear of a guy who is tall and shy and gentle hearted, and I loved seeing Alec just fall head over heels for him, and absolutely dote on him and take care of him. I was wanting more time with them exploring their sexual chemistry, but it was a novella so it did spend a good amount of time doing other stuff too. These two are definitely soulmates, and I just loved their little group of meddling friends who are all finding their own love at the same time.
Holiday Cheer Meter: 4/5 (Where 1 is as Christmassy as 'Die Hard' and 5 is more like 'Elf')
Book 2 of 5 of the 'Merry Elf-Mas' multi-author series (I read it last).
Juniper (Juni/June) O'Brien - 36 (Juniper Evergreen) is at a pretty low point in his life after his boyfriend of six years dumped him after he lost his job and circumstance forced him to move home to his parents' place in Frostdale, where at least he had a couch to sleep on. Desperate for a job he applied at the mall and was hired as the newest elf for Santa's Village. A he is much older that he co-worker's he's a little more reserved but soon sweetly opens up and truly finds himself and his own happiness. This is as much a story about escaping a toxic relationship (don't worry, nothing too over-the-top triggering) and finding yourself as it is a fluffy romance.
Alec ? - 27? (Photographer) spends several weeks every holiday season visiting his mother in Frostdale and while there acts as the photographer for Santa's Village. He's returned to Maine early to lick his wounds after confessing he had developed feelings for his best friend, Dean, who is straight and is in talks with Grandpa Earl, the town's photographer, to form a professional partnership. It didn't take long for it to be revealed that Alec is a character from Kota's other works, who ordinarily lives in Olivia Cove, CA. Having the context was nice but I didn't feel like I would be missing anything without it and the mentions/cameos of the other characters were not so overwhelming as to overshadow this story or ruin their own books.
The meet-cute, not the mall encounter, the real one, was epic. I gasped and then laughed, a lot. This book is chock full of amazing moments and scenes between the MC's that help build their relationship quickly, but believably. After a bit of a wobbly start, the author was masterful in delivering swoon-worthy moments that make for a great Christmas holiday read; the food court scenes, the heart-felt discussions, the becoming roomies and all the roommate loopholes that were found wove a sigh-inducing story. The instant attraction, but slow, deliberate relationship building made this my favourite Elf-Mas couple. The ending got a little over-the-top but it's Christmas so I'll allow it :)
Kota Quinn is quickly becoming an auto-read author for me.
Juniper Evergreen was a lovely addition to the 'Merry Elf-Mas' multi-author series. Each book truly does standalone and the time overlap does not in any way get repetitive as different events and characters are explored in each book, very few situations even get a second perspective, which is a great way to keep the stories connected but fresh - it is my preferred format in a multi-author offering, though I can see how it could make things immensely complicated for the author's writing the stories. Although they standalone they are all such a treat to read that I'll bet you devour them all.
I was given an ARC and voluntarily wrote an honest review.
My favorite of the series so far. I read my first book by the author last year, in a Christmas special, Mistletoe Wishes & Hookups. I liked it at the time, but it wasn't a big deal. The book was more superficial, the characters' emotions were not developed, the story was a bit convoluted and confusing. And although I liked the plot, I didn't reach the end of the book as satisfied as I was in this book.
I'm happy to see the evolution in the author's writing. This book told the story of two characters, mainly in a light, captivating way and kept me reading from beginning to end. She addressed the subject of psychological abuse in a relationship, she didn't diminish the topic, but she also didn't make an issue that can often be portrayed in such a heavy way softer. It presented the characters' emotions in each line. And despite showing the characters that are recurring and main in the other books in the series, it didn't diminish, but it also didn't focus on them unnecessarily.
Juniper and Alec's romance was well developed. It had passion, chemistry, it didn't seem forced or fake.
I would like to see a book with the story of Leo, June's brother. But I'm not holding my breath since in the previous Christmas special book, there were at least two characters who were prominent and seemed like they would have books and to this day they haven't appeared. A feather.
Such a fantastic Christmas story with a hilarious meet-cute of sorts.
When I read Jingle, the first book in this series, I was super excited to meet Juniper. The soon-to-be elf who was older than most of the others and not your usual elf size.
Along with Alec, our resident photographer who turns heads wherever he goes. I just knew they were going to be perfect together. And I wasn’t wrong!
They both try and fight it, knowing Alec won’t be long. But with chemistry like that, it’s hard to stick to ‘roommate rules’.
I love Kota’s writing, she’s given us such warm and caring men who know how to put the naughty into christmas. She also allows these men to explore their feelings and relationship while also becoming wonderful friends.
A wonderful addition to this Frostdale Mall crew. I’m looking forward to meeting all the others.
Juniper (June) lost his landscaping job and his boyfriend of six years at the same time when he was thirty-six and so he is back home and sleeping on his Mum's old sofa. He looks for a job and ends up as a mall elf in a crazy costume over Christmas trying to avoid the sexy photographer who looks more like a supermodel. Alec and June had one night together but when he realises that June if living on his Mum's sofa and it is giving him a bad back his dominant and protective side flares up and he offers him a place to stay in his spare room. As if June isn’t distracting enough with his larger body, sexy tattoos, and love for Christmas movies, now they're roommates, and he's so freaking tempting.
This was a sweet Christmas tale of two men connecting and falling in love as they started as co-workers who then became roommates as well. I loved the way that Alec was such a great caregiver for June and made sure that he was safe and healthy. I loved how the truth about June's ex was clear once he was out of that relationship and that both Alec and June's family were so entwined already around the holidays. Easy to read, feel and understand. This is an MM story with mature content.
Part of a multi-author series (Merry Elf-Mas) in a shared small town setting but each can be read as a standalone story. Coworkers/roommates to lovers. Dual POV. The holidays are not going as planned for June, he’s broken up with his boyfriend, sleeping on his parents couch, and now has a seasonal job at the mall being an elf in Santa’s Village. Then June finds himself working alongside a beautiful photographer that he has had fantasies about, but Alec is so much more than just a pretty face. As coworkers and then roommates, Alec and June try to downplay their mutual attraction while growing as friends. Alec is caring and protective towards June and he bolsters June’s confidence, supporting his career plans and provides the dominance June craves. They are sweet together and allow time to explore their feelings and learn about each other beyond the steamy chemistry they share. I enjoyed all the interactions between Alec and June, a fun holiday read. 4.5 rounded up
This series is coming along amazingly 🫠 Juniper Evergreen is book 2 in the multi-author Merry Elf-mas series.
Juni is a sweet bear of a man who has lost his job and his boyfriend of 6 years. He reluctantly moves home sleeping on his parent’s couch after his mom turned his room into her craft room 🤭 He is on the hunt for a job. Any job, really. So, Santa’s Village is the last place hiring and Juniper Evergreen the elf is hired 😉
Alec is a “swoon worthy, must be a celebrity” photographer for Santa’s Village. He is from California but comes home every Thanksgiving through New Years. Juni is exactly Alec’s type and even though his future is up in the air, he wants to see where a relationship could go.
These two are so freaking cute!! I’m so in love with Juniper. And their meet cute 🫠🫠🫠 Kota Quinn is a wonderful author of sweet boys with steamy fun times. If you like a little dominance with your instalove, Alec and Juniper are for you 💚
Juniper Evergreen by Kota Quinn is a heartwarming holiday romance. It’s the second book in the multi-author Merry Elf-Mas series. We return to the Frostdale Mall and Santa’s village.
Juniper isn’t in a very good place in his personal life: he was recently dumped by his abusive, cheating boyfriend and moved back in with his mom. Alec is also recovering from embarrassment and heartbreak after falling for his straight best friend.
Juniper Evergreen is a steamy story of two bruised and tender souls helping each other heal and begin to believe in their ability to love and be loved again. I truly enjoyed this book and read it in less than a day. I’m usually a person who waits to watch Christmas movies and listen to Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, but this book is tempting me to break my rule. The remaining books in the series have a lot to live up to!
I received an ARC. The opinions expressed above are mine.
I didn't care for the 2 MCs. The secondary characters were too numerous and too stereotyped to keep me interested. I had to consistently switch between this book and another one to finish reading this one.
The author's idea of Christmas is a mall full of people just before Christmas. Ewww, not for me, thanks.
A lot of very trendy vocabulary seemed to be placed in the book just to check some boxes. No.
But, there were also a few nice sentences (therefore 2 stars).
Juniper has a big round belly but he has two very muscular arms. No intensive training to get there mentioned anywhere in the book. I got the idea that he felt fat and unattractive, not that he was muscular. For me, it sounded much more like he couldn't just have a fat belly to be attractive, he had to have muscular arms to counterbalance. Not acceptable.
The plot : they work together.
So, in overall, close to DNF for me and not worth it.
My opinion is my own, and you may want to give this book a try though.
This was a very low angst, high steam romance and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The MC’s had a sweet meet-cute and it was very satisfying to watch their feelings develop and evolve into something real and lasting. I enjoyed the dynamics between them and watching their romance blossom over time. I liked that this book went against the norm: the gorgeous, physically smaller guy was the dominant top and the big, burly guy was the submissive bottom. I loved how Alec looked right into June’s soul and saw him just as he was, and after a bit of self-doubt, Juniper did the same. The bedroom scenes were pretty spicy and I enjoyed every minute of it. And even though they were complete opposites, they fit perfectly and were truly meant to be.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If I had ovaries, I’m sure they would be melting right now.
That quote right there pretty much sums up my feelings about this book. I do love when burlier guys get to find love and Juniper was perfection. He was sweet and kind, but had pain from his past break up. I loved the power dynamic between Juniper and Alec, even though he was the smaller of the two, Alec was the more dominant. Their “meet cute” was just plain hysterical, especially when Alec realized Juniper was the hot guy with the dildo. 🤣
There were some super spicy scenes, but the solo scene with Juniper early on was fire!!!
This was the perfect blend of sweet and spicy with a Christmas backdrop. I really love all of these characters and can’t wait for more!!
I am truly loving the Frostdale world that this multi-author team has created... and I was very much looking forward to Alec and Juniper's story after getting a hint from the first book... and I wasn't disappointed!
I love that the characters are free to explore their own desires within the relationship and while they are fighting their attraction, the chemistry is certainly pulling them along too! I absolutely love how caring and responsive Alec is and just how much of a sweet cinnamon roll June is.
This was a steamy, sweet and fairly low angst holiday read and the perfect second story in this series! I can't wait to read what comes next!
I just loved Juniper. The poor guy has been through so much, your heart aches for the sweet man. Every year Alex comes home to Frostdale to be the mall Santa's photographer. But this year he came a few weeks earlier to avoid the straight friend he was falling for. When these two meet there is definitely some attraction but June puts up his defenses and doesn't want to let the charismatic Alex in. These two were just adorable as they got to know each other after they cleared the air. I loved that Alec was a natural caregiver and that June was a bear-y bottom. And the spice level was on fire!
I love a good holiday romance. Especially when the characters are part of a Christmas village. This book was part of a Christmas collaboration by a very talented author. I like the short read this was but it packed the story so well. Juniper I think was just so shy and sweet no wonder his man fell for him. The town this story takes place in makes you want to move there, meet Santa's elves and live your best life. I am so happy this author extended the read to me. She's a fantastic writer and tells one amazing Christmas story.
This is a sweet and lovely and lively holiday romance with two likable protagonists who have strong physical and emotional chemistry. It’s part of a series of stories in which mall elves get their respective HEAs, which is a sweet and lovely thought all on its own. June is an easy character to root for— he shines with Alec’s care and their story takes shape through some familiar tropes, skillfully deployed— their relationship moves quickly but organically, and there are lots of satisfying moments along the way.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
This book was so bloody cute! I absolutely loved Alec and Juni! They had amazing chemistry. There were lots of laughs and hot steamy times. This book was a perfect addition to the elf squad! Alec was a massive caretaker and just wanted to make sure Juniper was taken care of. One of my favorite moments of the book was when they ran into Juniper's ex. Juni handled it spectacularly! Alec was awesome too. Overall, just a great, happy, steamy, Christmas time romance with an extremely happy ever after!
I'm loving this series. Getting to know all the mall elves and see them find love and happiness is great. This is Juniper and Alec's book. These two were so sweet and sexy together. Both have been hurt in the past and are leery of trying a new relationship. They've never really had someone actually see them for themselves. With one another there's no expectations or need to pretend because who they are is enough. I love the found family aspect, the elves are the sweetest guys, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Juniper Evergreen 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 story is about Juniper who is working as a seasonal worker in Santa’s Village and Alec who works as the photographer for Santa's Village. I love both of these guys. This is a quick low angst book. I truly enjoyed watching June and Alec become more then just friends and coworkers. I enjoyed the humor in the book also. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
4 stars. This was so sweet and cheesy and adorable. I thoroughly enjoyed it. June and Alec are so cute together and I also loved that this was a size difference romance with a Bigger bottom/Smaller top. LOVE that dynamic. This was full of Holiday cheer and the side characters were lovely as well. The spice was hot and the romance was soft. I adored this and left me smiling by the end. A very fun read.
I love this couple! Each had their own first impression of the other and it wasn't at the same time or even day. Then the unique, not quite meet cute is so memorable. They make such a lovely pair, be it as co-workers, roommates, friends, or more. I'd love to watch this if they can make a hallmark movie out of this, even if it is a PG version. I received an advanced readers copy and am giving my honest review.
This is a sweet and low angst story I read in pretty much one sitting. I really enjoyed the unexpected dynamic between a Alec, a toppy twink with Daddy vibes, and Juniper, a submissive bear. I had issues with some of the writing, but it was an enjoyable read and I loved the characters and dynamic. Recommended.
This story was so sweet it gave me a cavity!! I love Juniper so much. Alec is a gorgeous little cinnamon roll who makes sure Juni knows how beautiful and loved he is. This is part of Merry Elf-Mas series, and let me tell you, you can’t find sweeter Holiday stories than this right here. Kota has once again written a winner that shouldn’t be missed!
I really enjoyed this story. This is part of the Merry Elf-mas series and it can be read as a stand-alone but you pretty much have the same group of characters from the first story so it’s even better as part of a series. I absolutely loved both of these characters and they were so cute together. I can’t wait to read the rest of this series.