Blizzards & Brews

by Alex Danvers

Romance blooms as snowstorms brew. Percy’s coffee stand in the tiny town of Hydrangea Hollow, Idaho never exactly brings in the big bucks. Just enough to float him through. Most of the time. But in the middle of a blizzard, any customer coming by is a shock. Doubly so when he comes up on foot. Triply so when he’s blonde, beefy, and utterly stunning. Since the local motel never has vacancy, it would be irresponsible for Percy not to invite him back home… right?

CJ certainly didn’t plan for his car to break down in a blizzard in the middle of nowhere, Idaho. But the slim, curly-haired barista who brings him in out of the cold is certainly a salve to his frustrations. One he definitely needs. As a public relations expert, he’s on his way across the country to clean up yet another disgusting mess for yet another company with more money than morals. And this job strikes a little too close to home.

The infatuation is undeniable. The lust is omnipresent. The hope is fragile as a snowflake. If Percy and CJ aren’t careful, it could shatter in a breath. But maybe, with enough care, it could carry them away like an avalanche. If you’re looking for a sweet, steamy Christmas read, Blizzards & Brews will do the trick.

95 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2023

Reviews

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

BLIZZARDS & BREWS was a fun and cute novella and I liked both CJ and Percy. They made a good match for each other and while this ends on an HFN, since they've only known each other for a few days, it's obvious how much they want to keep seeing each other. I was a little surprised by the plot surrounding CJ's job since it felt a little heavy for a Christmas novella but I'm glad to see it worked out for the best.

Content Warning: homophobia

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This was a really cute novella!! Really enjoyed the couple together and their 🌶️ scenes together. There were a couple random cringey moments that I didn’t really like but they were in the same scene so it wasn’t that bad… like I hate that he said that man’s asshole was winking at him. So I discovered that I hate that phrase, however I also discovered I love the terms "paramour" and "dalliance" so thank you Alex Danvers for that

I know some people have a problem with the homophobia storyline but I didn't really have a problem with it. I didn't think it killed the mood or anything, I just didn't like that the morals of his job was not explored... at all. I didn't like the sudden and lack of explanation with CJ breaking his promise at the end of the book either

I’m not a picky person about typos and grammar with independently published books--because lets be real if I wrote the book it would be a mess--but there were a couple instances where the wrong characters name was used or when it was confusing who the “he” was supposed to be in a sentence, and I think there was one instance when the POV slipped between first and third person

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.

Blizzards & Brews is a short holiday themed read with some steam. When a blizzard hit Percy invites CJ to spend the night in his house. They're attracted to each another and things heat up quickly. I liked the story continues after that one night and shows the two of them growing closer after that and the hope that this could lead to more.

This is a nice one to pick up if you want a sweet and steamy holiday romance novella. It was long enough to get a feel for the characters, their situations and their romance. I would've liked to spend a bit more time with the characters and get to know them better. I also felt their romance progressed kinda quickly toward the end, but it was clear there was a connection between the two, I just would've liked to see it build a bit more. Besides the romance there is also a pot line about CJ's work and a mess he had to clean up as well as a bit about Percy's job.

To summarize: This was a short holiday themed read with some steam. It's a nice read if you're looking for something sweet and steamy. I went in with those expectations and enjoyed it, although I would've liked to get to know the characters a bit more and see their romance develop.

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Percy and CJ make a lovely couple, and this sweet, sexy Christmas romance was just what I was looking for.

[Night Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was interesting and pretty entertaining. It didn't have a tremendous Christmas vibe, but there was some. I liked both characters. Percy owns a drive-up coffee stand, and CJ's car breaks down while passing through town during a snow storm. CJ is a PR specialist who helps clients recover after getting caught with their pants down (figuratively, sort of). CJ is anxious to get to his client's office, but his ride-share has shut down due to the storm. There are no motel vacancies, so Percy welcomes him to stay at his house. We all know what happens then. They get a chance to spend a few days together and develop an attachment for each other. Neither has had much luck with past relationships and recognizes that what they've shared is worth exploring further. I wasn't too fond of mixing homophobia with a Christmas story. It was a bit of a mood killer, but a very interesting story. It might have been better in a different book. I also didn't like the ending. Christmas is supposed to be a season of hope. I hate when people break promises, regardless of the season. But I guess that's the segue to the next part of the story.

[Elise H · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,85⭐️

Insta love clearly isn’t my favorite, but this was kind of cute.

[Alyssa Acula · Rating 3 out of 5]

the romance wasn't believable and felt more like a fling.