Cabin Fever: New year...New Resolutions...New Lines Crossed

by Colton Drake, Virginia Sabala (Editor), Lustfire

Three best friends. One snowed-in cabin. Zero chance of keeping their hands—or hearts—to themselves.

Freshly divorced and emotionally unraveling, Connor Maddox is done pretending he’s fine. He needs a break—from his small town, the heartbreak, and the haunting silence of his empty bed. His yearly trip to Wildfern Lake Cabin with his two best friends has always been a tradition. But this year? It might be the only thing holding him together.

Dawson Hale is steady, quiet, and hopelessly in love with the two men who’ve never seen him the way he sees them. He’s always been the one to listen, to comfort, to carry the weight—but this year, when the chance presents itself, he’s ready to take a risk, even if it means risking everything.

Aiden Calloway is loud, loyal, and hiding a secret of his own. The golden boy with a laugh that melts snow and a body built for sin, Aiden’s starting to realize the looks he’s giving his best friends aren’t just friendly—and they haven’t been for a while. Every year, they return to the cabin to drink, reminisce, and ring in the New Year with tequila shots, whiskey, old games, and familiar comforts. But this time, the fire burns hotter, the silences last longer, and the air crackles with more than just winter.

As the snow traps them in, truths unravel, touches linger, and their tradition becomes something far more intimate.

Genres: M M M, Romance, Queer, M M Romance, Spicy, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

417 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2025

About the author

Colton Drake writes M/M romance with heat, heart, and enough emotional chaos to keep readers up way past their bedtime. Known for crafting bold, character-driven stories packed with grit, longing, and unapologetic passion—thriving in the space where desire gets messy and love refuses to behave. He's a firm believer that romance should be intense, inclusive, and a little dangerous, building worlds where queer men get the spotlight they deserve—raw, vulnerable, and completely unforgettable. His books are fueled by too much caffeine, not enough sleep, and an obsession with complex men who fall hard, kiss harder, and never take the easy way out.

Currently he resides in the U.S. with his partner and four pups.

Reviews

[Nick Gordon-Clark]

This book was absolutely everything and I fully mean EVERYTHING. This is hands down my favorite MM (I guess MMM) romance that I’ve ever read. A perfect mix of emotion, humor and spice. Connor, Aiden and Dawson all brought something unique to this story and we’re all relatable in their own ways. I really appreciate how the author broached the subject of the throuple aspect of the novel, and also how he dealt with the realization of being attracted to the same sex later in life. Dawson was a top tier character as well, I adore him. Now…I just need a sequel. Extremely well written, exceptional from cover to cover.

[Michael T]

This was my first book by Colton Drake, and it didn’t disappoint. In fact it blew the top off my expectations! From the cover art, which is super steamy, to the very intricate characters, filled with inner struggles, past pains, and hopes and dreams for a future filled with happiness and love, this book delivered. Just the premise of 3 hot men in a cabin in a snowstorm drew me to it, but the multi-angled storyline, the angst, which drove me a little crazy at times (in a good way), and the spice level was just perfect. I truly enjoyed this and can’t wait to see what Colton comes out with in 2026.
Thank you, Colton, for giving me the honor of reading this ARC. And thanks to your team, including Greyson Blackwood who suggested I read this. He hasn’t steered me wrong yet! It was fantastic!

[✭ 𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖞✭ ｡^‿^｡]

Cabin Fever
By: Colton Drake

I’ve waited two days to write this review, and the words just aren’t there.
I want to shout from every entrance of every book store “while you’re in there buy this book!” However, that’s not doable. So I have to figure out how to tell every person on booktok, bookstagram and goodreads, this shit was dope!
How do I say I want to live with Dawson, Aiden and Connor? How do I say I love their love? It would give everyone hope and all the feels if they would just read this book!
How do I thank Colton for giving the Unhinged Book Baddies this magnum opus of his writing? And ask him to continue giving us beautiful stories we talk about long after we finish the read.
I’ll keep thinking on it. In the meantime, please read Cabin Fever. You don’t want FOMO.
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Mother Of Dragons 86]

⭐ 3.75 | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Cabin Fever by Colton Drake drops you into a wintry tangle of emotions, unresolved tension, and three men who have absolutely no business pretending they’re “just best friends” anymore. The setup is irresistible: one divorced and unraveling Connor, one quiet and long suffering Dawson, and one golden hearted Aiden who’s been lying to himself for far too long. Add one snowed in cabin, a tradition built on comfort, and enough unspoken longing to fog every window in the place.

The story definitely leans into its emotional heaviness. At times it felt a bit too wordy, and the misunderstandings between the guys dragged longer than they needed to, especially with two of them still circling around their sexuality like it’s ice on the cabin porch. But when the chemistry hits, it hits. The slow reveals, the vulnerability, the hesitant touches turning into something more… the emotional clarity is where the book shines.

The connection between the trio is believable, magnetic, and hot enough to melt the snow straight off the roof. Once the walls finally crack, the intimacy feels earned. Messy, yes. Complicated, absolutely. But real.

If you want a winter romance with heavy tension, heartfelt confessions, and a trio learning how to choose each other in every sense, Cabin Fever delivers a cozy, spicy escape.



Tropes
💘 Friends to Lovers
🍷 Slow Burn
❤️‍🔥 Love Triange
❤️‍🩹 Unrequited Love
🏠 Forced Proximity

[Leo]

4.5☆
🅢🅟🅘🅒🅔:🌶🌶🌶
🅛🅐🅤🅖🅗🅢:🤣🤣
🅣🅔🅐🅡🅢:🥲🥲
🅜🅒🅢: Connor, Aiden, Dawson
🅟🅞🅥: 1st Person
🅣🅡🅞🅟🅔🅢: Double Bi-awakening, MMM, Best Friends to Lovers

[Connor]

Beta- this was such a good read!! Connor, Aiden, dawson have such a great chemistry together and the way the story was built was truly so beautiful! It had great flow and amazing character development. The forced proximity due to the blizzard really helped build the story in the best way and created a really great setting to build the relationship! Definitely worth the read 10/10 recommend!!!

[Jurnee Mccarty]

THIS WAS AMAZING. Review to come soon 😉

[Taylor Moon]

Omg… The spice. The tension. The chemistry between the three of these characters was palpable.
The lack of communication between the characters left me reeling and uncertain for them at times, But it built up to a spicy, tension filled payoff. 🔥

I loved the way each character had a compelling and engaging backstory that blended into the present at times.

Definitely a 5⭐️ read, and encourage anyone who enjoys MM romance (MMM in this case 🤭) to check this one out!

[Jarrod P]

We’ve got a white out in more ways than one if you know what I mean 😉😉

What starts as a traditional new years trip for three friends quickly becomes a crash course in admitting feelings and coming face to face with truths that have been hidden and buried for years. All amongst the backdrop of a blizzard that traps the boys in.

The premise sounds fun, and in reality was.But where this book really shone for me were the steamy scenes. The bi-awakening scenes. The scenes of exploration. The scene where Connor and Aiden are chopping wood (not a euphemism, but yeah that scene was 🥵🥵).

While I normally get frustrated with miscommunication tropes, and I definitely got frustrated at times, there was something about the way that this was written that made it less frustrating than I normally would have found it? I dunno, maybe it was how it was woven with the characters realisations for how much love they had for each other, or just that it wasn’t the main trope here. Either way, it wasn’t a deal breaker for me. Well, not as much as the third act break up, that was just pure dumbness by the characters rather than a flaw in Drake’s writing 😂

Cabin Fever is out December 13 and would make a steamy stocking stuffer for all 😜

[Esther]

I was waiting and rooting for this book and I am happy to report: It was worth the wait.

Colton Drakes writing oozes tension and longing and unspoken feelings and love. I was captivated from the get go.

I love all the little tender touches in this book. It’s like you can feel them to. They get a bit less soft as the book goes on but not less significant.

Connor, Dawson and Aiden take their time but don’t shy away from the big questions and overcome beautifullly their fear of making a mess of what is to embrace what could be.

But I just resent them taking so much time to include Dawson. Damn I feel for that one.

Also when have you ever heard of book with their own sexy title end card and credit song? You have to finish the book to find out more about it.

[Cassandra]

I got the chance to beta read this and this was everything I wanted it to be!

Spice level = 🌶🌶🌶🌶

Tropes:
-Forced Proximity
-Best Friends to Lovers
-Praise/Degradation
-Bi-awakenings for 2 MCs
-First times
-Teaching how to hunt

Three best friends, Connor, Dawson, and Aiden, take their annual New Years trip to Connor's family cabin in the woods. They end up snowed in and feelings Connor and Aiden have never had before start to come up. Through the forced proximity of being completely isolated, these 3 friends are forced to face their feelings and answer all the hard questions.

Will this trip bring them closer or ruin their relationships for good?

You'll find out soon enough!

[Xavier]

This was my first book by Colton Drake, and it didn't disappoint. This was so messy in the best fucking way! Three best friends stuck a blizzard storm during their annual cabin trip, and feelings start to pop up during the time being stuck together. The spice in this is absolutely delicious and had drooling, kicking my feet in the air and had me blushing!! especially when Conor opens up his dirty and filthy mouth! You should definitely check this book out when it comes out.

[Ananas]

I really enjoyed Cabin Fever. Friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, and bi-awakening kept me completely hooked. I was waiting the whole time for them to finally get together, and when it happened, the chemistry and the sexy moments were totally worth it. Overall, it was a fun, steamy, and satisfying read that left me grinning at the end.

[Maegan Chanthaphone]

I loved this story. Watching old friends discover feelings they didn’t know were there, navigating proper communication in a new relationship and polyamory. I loved the pining and longing. I really devoured this book and wished it was longer to just have more of it!! Get ready to get snowed in with these three steamy men!

[antonia🫧]

they literally were in a cabin, how did they manage to hide from each other for so long??

i think connor was my favourite even though i liked the other guys as well.

they kept getting hurt and they were all a bit dramatic but i overall enjoyed the book!!

the ending was a bit unexpected with all the daddies and sirs but it was a somewhat pleasant surprise.

[Raven]

A warm hug kinda love story!!
Aiden
Dawson
Connor
A trio stuck in a cabin.
Friends to lovers.
My favorite trope.
Especially when you get a stubborn one thrown in.
I was literally giggling and smiling so much the whole time
NYE kiss
Aaaaaa
Spicy too!!!! 🌶️

It was a very sweet love story. Wish it was longer cuz I wanted more of them. I love the way Dawson could read them so well cuz he loved them so much.
I want bonus material.

[jr_hobbs70]

A reunion at a cabin reunites three friends in different stages of life, who discover an undeniable chemistry that they cannot resist. This captivating novel is ideal for readers seeking a sensual and romantic exploration of male friendships.

[Kim Merkenhof]

this is a feel good friends to lovers christmas romance.

The miscommunication between the characters made me pull my hair. Just talk, my god.
But when they finally talked, my my the heat was heating and the spice was spicing.

[Tim Dennis]

this book was fantastic, definitely worthwhile. its the perfect choice for a good winter read. there's definitely some parts that will warm you right up ;)

[FluffyRN]

❄️

☕️

❄️

🥃

❄️

🍾

This is the second MMM book I've read this year and holy hell. 🥵 *fans self*

So, let's go... We have three guys who have been best friends since high school...

Connor Maddox ❄️ Aiden Calloway ❄️ Dawson Hale.

Every year, these three spend the last week of the year at Wildfern Lake Cabin. It always starts the same, catching up, whiskey by the fire, and debating on who gets one of the two bedrooms or the couch. And like every year there’s a “possible blizzard” warning… that they ignore, because there’s never actually been a blizzard.

Until this year.

When the blizzard hits, they’re cut off completely, no communication and no way out. At first, it’s survival mode, then trying not to worry and finally settling in to wait out the storm. But being so close together makes it hard for the three of them to ignore this growing attraction...

Let me tell you, I was on edge in more ways than one. Not only is the sexual tension high, but there are twists and turns I did not see coming!!

Also, I won’t lie, there were quite a few times where I was yelling at my Kindle... "just kiss him already! say something!!” because these three are fantastic at NOT communicating. 😅 But when they finally get it together and start expressing how they feel, it's a wild ride!!

This book may take place in the snow, but you won't be cold. So grab a fan, maybe some whiskey (honestly, I had dr. pepper) and have fun, because I definitely did. 🙌🏽

Started: March 11th, 2026
Finished: March 12th, 2026
Format: Kindle

[HappilyEverReader]

I received an ARC copy of this book at it was my first MMM Romance! I love the friends to lovers trope so I knew this would be right up my alley. Dawson, Aiden, and Connor are lifelong best friends who meet up in Connor’s cabin in Montana every year for a guys trip after Christmas. This year they get snowed in by a blizzard and the simmering feelings they have had for each other start to boil over and turn into something real.

I was frustrated by the miscommunication between the three of them and the love triangle that followed for a bit. They were all on the same page about their feelings and they just needed to TALK TO EACH OTHER!! I also wished that they would have come together earlier (it wasn’t until after 80% that we get to see them all together) in the story so we could get more page time of them as a throuple. BUT- I adored their dynamic once they did get together and the epilogue was EVERYTHING!

[Keia Cotton]

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

I seen this book recommended for awhile and decided to try it out. This story is MMM, best friends to lovers, forced proximity between Connor, Aiden, and Dawson. The three best friends get together at Connor’s inherited cabin in Montana annually during the holidays to catch up on their lives and drink some good whiskey.

This year is a bit different for Connor as he recently got divorced. This was the first instance in the book that irritated me…these three guys have been besties since school and have been going to this cabin for well over a decade and to not mention to them that you not only split from your wife but have gotten a full divorce is wild to me!

Next up is Aiden. Aiden has been experiencing feelings for the same sex for a while and isn’t sure what to do about it. First thing he did though was break up with his girlfriend with the old, “It’s not you, it’s me” bit. He’s catching little looks from Connor that he isn’t sure how to explain but soon they begin sucking each other off behind the third friend, Dawsons back 🤦🏾‍♀️. This is the second instance that got me irritated…how do you begin these shenanigans behind the only out and proud member of the friend groups back?! This is his freaking expertise as he’s been out since school!

Lastly we’ve got Dawson, the nerdy, out and proud since school one. The one that the other two have been protecting from bully’s since school one. Poor Dawson has been crushing on his two besties since school and has sabotaged every relationship since because he wants them and them only. Do you think he may be pissed when he finds out those two besties have been getting it on behind his back while they’re stuck in a cabin in Montana due to a major blizzard?! 🤦🏾‍♀️ Third irritant!!!

This book started out great and I was ready for some MMM action, but I wish it was more actual MMM instead of MM and one being left out! They were all doing shit behind each others back in a cabin and thinking it wouldn’t get back to the other and it was insane! I had to take away at least one star due to the amount of times I put my kindle down because I was so irritated.

[Zachary Taylor]

HOT! HOT! HOT!

[Loves]

I wish the author had more confidence in his characters and his story, then he would not have to spill so much OTT drama over the entire thing. How bad was it? He had the gorgeous jock agonizing about his looks when all the other crises were solved. Less drama would also leave more time for sex scenes - there's a single menage sex scene, which is a pity, because it was hot.

[Dark Romance]

it was fine and a little frustrating 😕

[Therese]

3,5 stars. It’s a solid, good story. And it’s not a love triangle, it’s a throuple. I didn’t really get why we needed the ex wife to be such a bitch, divorces are hard even if it’s done amicably. We have the silent Connor, the golden retriever Aiden and Dawson is meant to be the reasonable one but he got all up in his feelings quite a bit there, poor thing. I liked how they after sneaking around (with eachother) found out that communication is key, maybe even more so in a throuple. The way they love eachother is beautiful and the spice was actually spicing. It did go from like 0-100 from the beginning and seeing how both Connor and Aiden are completely new to pleasuring another male body, it did feel a bit unrealistic. And then we had the three way and that went from 100 to 1000 and kinks came storming out. But it was very entertaining.

As someone who is always prepared I did think that oh boy here we have three lovable idiots who will die in a cabin. Cause why wouldn’t you have atleast a seasons worth of wood to burn, even if you’re only there for a week out of a year? As someone who was brought up with only fire for heat during the winters this oversight was an idiotic move on their part. And why didn’t they pack more food? They even needed to do a grocery run before the storm and it still wasn’t enough. Like why don’t you always have cans of food stocked? That shit stays good for years. And how do they get water inside the house if there is no electricity? And they don’t seem to have very much clothing, how Aiden basically only had shorts and tanktops is beyond me. We’re in the middle of winter, what were you thinking? And with how fierce the storm was Dawson shouldn’t have gotten that far in his little prius, there’s a reason why we plow our roads cause you can’t bloody drive in that deep of snow.

It’s just nagging on my part and I know it’s just a story and not everything is meant to be realistic, but it made me irritated and want to smack them for being dumb dumbs. If it doesn’t bother you then I recommend reading this one.

[Simon Lee (Simon's Bookstagram)]

Where to start. My initial thoughts when I started this book were, this is unrealistic and would never happen BUT it's fiction I'll let it go. The problem was because it was so far fetched I found myself not caring about the characters at all. It then got even more unrealistic and I almost DNF'd but I persevered to see how it ended and if possible the ending was even more bat shit crazy then the rest of the book.
The idea that two men who have been straight all their lives go to a cabin (that they've done for years) with their gay best friend and suddenly have a bi awakening is just preposterous. To then add they all suddenly decide they love each other l, want to become a throuple, two move from the arse end of nowhere to buy a house together and then get engaged to each other is another level nuts. If this was even remotely realistic, neither of the straight turned bi guys have any qualms or worries, it's like "Oh I fancy my mate, yay!" No crisis no questions nothing. The sex scenes are even more mental, like a straight man goes straight into rimming men without batting an eye. The whole thing was daft. And no this isn't about bi erasure or anything like that, I appreciate people have awakenings later in life but not at the same time as your mate in the middle of a fucking forest or without any questioning at all.
Gave 2 stars because the 3 way sex scene at the end was well written and hot as hell.

[Harley Fulghum]

4.5✨ 3🌶️

Connor, Dawson, and Aiden!

Favorite Tropes:
MMM
Best Friends to Lovers
Snowed In
"Fuck it" Moment

Connor is divorced. Dawson is in love with his besties. Aiden broke up with his girlfriend because he has discovered how hot men are. Aiden's newly found attraction to men has got him drooling over his besties! First, Dawson then Connor "Yummy? Pull yourself together, Aiden." Connor doesn't hide his pain or his thoughts well sometimes. Dawson knows somethings going on. Aiden catches Connor being jealous and the consequences are a hot kiss in the kitchen that changes everything. It all builds a storm more intense than the one that has them trapped in the cabin. Connor and Aiden share little intense moments. Then Dawson kisses Connor...Aiden finds out and decides to break down that wall and kiss Dawson himself. Of course, Dawson kisses him back! After Connor gets hurt, they are off their axis and impulsively use each other to ground themselves. 🔥But jealousy collapses the house of cards and it blows up and the secrets between them come out. That scene was intense... All the secrets and miscommunication! Dawson can't handle it all! They talk it out and they realize what they want and could have is special! That New Year's Eve scene!!! 🔥🔥🔥🥵🥵🥵 Hot! I loved this!!!

[AngstLover-Jing]

3.5⭐️ This story has a lot of potential. The strong start and the poetic writing style captivated me immediately.

Three best friends who already have feelings for each other are trapped together in a cabin by the storm.--A closed environment, beautiful memories, emotional turmoil, sensual tension, and imminent danger—this is the perfect stage for an MMM story to unfold.

The first 40%-ish develops pleasantly. But when the push and pull happens till 70%, the dragging is frustrating and doesn't make sense. Aiden and Connor talk about both of them want Dawson already, then why is the fuss and hiding when Dawson is approaching both of them? You just start fucking talking to each other! Besides, Dawson has been longing for his friends since high school, So when Connor and Aiden clearly express their feelings for him and want him, why does he still think they're using him? Why does he run out in anger? It is completely unnecessary drama.

I have a suggestion: the author's writing is really beautiful, but I truly think it would benefit from some restraint. Trying to showcase this in every sentence only adds to the reader's burden and distracts from the real emotional moments.

[Christopher H. Womac]

Dear Author..... You need an editor

Good premise, poor execution. And this is throughout the entire book. Repetitive... Check. Errors in scenes... Check. Absolutely preposterous notions of sex outdoors in a blizzard...oh my god, but...Check. This book starts with a mention from the author about the difficulty of having to part with his longtime editor. Well she couldn't be any worse than what we have ended up with. Snow up to the windows and because you decide to give one of the main characters a hissy fit, they can ALL now get their vehicles out without any clearing?? Sex in a blizzard that has closed all roads and created total loss of power and everyone is happy to get their nutt without frostbite??? The author needs to do some research on his geographical site areas and also realize that when his main character who is a professed man of very few words, needs to be written that way when thinking through his thoughts. All of the main characters have the same words and descriptive thought processes. Very lazy. Just know this had a decent premise, but in the end way to many errors.