Definitely, Maybe, Yours

Sucre Coeur #1

by Lissa Reed

Seattle-based baker Craig Oliver leads a life that is happily routine: baking cupcakes for an enormous family reunion, managing Sucre Coeur for its frequently absent owner, and closing out his day with a pint at the local pub. He has a kind heart, a knack for pastry, and a weakness for damaged people.

Habitual playboy Alex Scheff is looking to drown his sorrows, but instead discovers that he may have a weakness for Englishmen who carry cookies in their pockets. Can a seemingly incompatible pair find the recipe for love in a relationship they claim is casual?

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, LGBT, Contemporary, Queer, Contemporary Romance, Fiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2015

Reviews

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars round up because of the cover.

I was impressed with the writing, but in the end, not with the story.

This is one of those reads that started off really good then went downhill with each page I turned once I got to the 30% mark. I find it hard to enjoy a story when one of the MCs can’t get over a bad break up even while he’s falling in love with someone else.

That was the case with Alex. Alex has been dumped by the man he was having a toxic “friends with benefits” relationship with (toxic because the guy was really a jerk). Alex decides to get drunk at a bar where he happens to meet Craig. What should have been a one nightstand, turns into months of Craig and Alex being together, but they are not labeling what they have as a relationship. This is mostly because of Alex. He still can’t get over being dumped, and he’s also afraid of getting hurt again. Craig is amazing, patient and loving. IMO, too good for Alex.

I was mostly bored and frustrated by the end. The story ends abruptly with a HFN ending. There is more of Alex and Craig in book 3, but I just don’t care.

[Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Le Sigh*

Craig Oliver is amazing. Everything about him is amazing, from his English mannerism, to his simplistic views, to his ability to bake with alcohol when his heart get shatter is amazing. I really like him as a character. I've never read anything by this author before, and it was Black guy on the cover which sold me. I love that he was a English bred and born and living in the States. I didn't know what to expect from this. Reading this I had cringe moments on how things were written, point of view changes, the general tone in the first 40%. It bothered me, I got disappointed. I didn't like the secondary characters having a point of view scene. I strictly wanted Craig and Alex. It was a bit disjointed, and kinda choppy when switching point of views as well. Those were big no no's in my book. Nothing could deter me from the story itself. It's two guys who did not want to date, just casual who realizes that they are in love but it's not easy. While Craig is open, honest, and free; Alex is the complete opposite. It's like pulling teeth with him. The first morning after was difficult.

I loved the meeting of them. I mean who brings out a baked good at a bar? It was completely innocent, original and real sweet moment. I like my heart felt for Craig at that moment. Being in bother of these guys head were an experience. Craig was just being with Alex and it was sweet. I can't get over how good of a character Lissa Reed was able to write, Alex was angsty. He had his reservations but with good cause. Throughout most of the book he did not want to talk of his ex. I kept thinking what happened? Unfortunately he never got to explain to Craig one on one before it blew up in his face. Here's where I really feel in love. Their breakout. Yes I know it sounds callous, but they each had to realize what happened, how it happened, and what the other means to each other. Jeez that moment where strong Craig finally cracks in front of his friends had me in tears, and then closed off Alex breaks down to a 9 month old Kira and I couldn't stop crying. It was sweet. Dude then the Yorkie puppy Fitz, and I was a goober at this point, because Craig gave the most beautiful reasons why he loves Alex. I'm giving this 5 stars because I liked Craig and Alex relationship, it wasn't easy and it's definitely how a relationship goes. I want to see more of them. Maybe a year down the line, when Alex is Alex again, and is learning to love himself.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely, maybe, not my favourite.

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Review also on my blog • Twitter • Bookstagram

Rep: gay Black main character, gay main character, m/m romance

I received a review copy from the publisher via Netgally in exchange for an honest review

I’m not sure how to write this review. This isn’t a book I really have any feelings at all on. So… I’ll do my best.

I’ve said this before but I really don’t like character driven contemporaries. Which was what this was. I always struggle with them. Sure, I liked the characters but the story itself was so dry. The romance happened at the beginning of the novel, so this isn’t technically a ‘getting together’ romance. I find I don’t like it most of the time when the romance begins at the start. The story wasn’t on their romance because of that, and I personally prefer romances like that.

I liked Alex and Craig enough but the story wasn’t at all engaging. I felt a huge disconnect. I can see people like this, but it wasn’t for me.

[Mercedes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have liked this book a lot more if:

1) Alex's Cousin Samantha's POV was complete absent from this book. Honestly, that chapter was the most thoroughly annoying chapter I have read in a very long time. Just why? why include a cousin's POV in this story? Because she's a "firecracker"? IDGAF, this book was about Craig and Alex and I was only interested in hearing their voices not some stupid character that in the end contributes very little to the story.

2) For the level of douchebaggery Alex displays in the end his level of grovelling was not enough. Just not enough! Craig begging him in the end? Just no, you got that wrong. Alex needed to be on his hands and knees kissing Craig's feet and begging for a second chance, not the other way around.

It's a pity. I thought I would like this story more but instead it annoyed me enough to write this review.

[Silvia]

I was sent this book as an advanced copy for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.

DNF around 45%, no rating

I started out really liking this, for a few chapters. Then the book became more about the MCs interacting (and overreacting) with their friends than about the main couple, and I got bored out of my mind. I said overreacting because while some freaking out about having Feelings is normal and expected in romance novels, it got old very quickly and the format was the same: MC interacts with their friend/cousin and they talk and talk and talk (--> telling instead of showing). And if they're not talking about their potential feelings they're talking about a situation/misunderstanding that we, the readers, already know is a much more minor thing than the MC is making it out to be, because it got resolved in the previous chapter (just from the other's POV). So yeah, super weird pacing and story structure that didn't work for me at all.

I also got very uncomfortable when one pretty long chapter was from the POV of one of the MC's cousin. I don't mind random POVs from different characters, in fact I think they can be awesome and add a lot to the book. But this was just her looking at the MCs and stating how *hot* they were together (keep in mind one of them is her cousin!!). Besides the obvious, again, telling-instead-of-showing issues I had with this, one thing we're NOT going to do in M/M romances is give a woman a POV just to have her thirst on them. Moreover, when the POV switched to one of the MCs again, they got into a cab where the female cab driver made creepy comments about them and basically gave them her blessing to *do stuff* in the back of the cab. Just imagine if this was the reverse (two queer girls and a guy telling them he'll be happy to hear them have sex in the back while he's driving), wouldn't it be a Huge Nope??

So yeah, not for me and I won't be reading the rest of the series.

[Rafa Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Reviewed for Just Love: Romance blog.
ARC received from publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t say this lightly, but I might be in love with Craig Oliver, the main character in this book. I mean, look at him there on the cover. Aaaaand he bakes. Plus he’s British. He’s also kind, funny, hot AF and he knows how to make a proper cup of tea.

But enough about the man and on to the book.

Definitely, Maybe, Yours was a truly delightful read from start to finish. The book was not only witty and charming, but it had emotional depth, character growth, a bit of angst, a lot of laughs, incredible sexy times and really, all the things you want to see in a romance.

The book, which is the first in this series is set around Sucre Coeur, an independent Seattle bakery. The author definitely took the “it’s a small world” approach with her cast of interwoven but well-developed characters. A few of these side characters even had dedicated chapters with their own POV, which was a surprising but not unwelcome break from the norm. Two couples in particular were so lovingly written that I had to Google the author just to confirm that those couples hadn’t already appeared in other books. (They hadn’t – this was the author’s debut novel.) Getting to know them was like reconnecting with old friends, and their presence added depth to Craig and Alex’s story.

While Craig was pretty much an open book, Alex was a much more reserved character. On the rebound from a highly toxic relationship, his character was determined to get back to the strict “hookups only” policy of his past. Alex came off as abrasive and aloof at first, his POV offering little hope to a budding romance with Craig. But as much as I loved Craig (yes, he of the British accent and mad baking skills), it was Alex’s storyline that took center stage for me about a third of the way in. Alex proved to be a complex, multidimensional character far beyond my expectations, and I loved how rewarding it was to watch the author peel back his many layers to reveal the man underneath.

Probably my only problem with this book was that it was written in the third person present tense, which I personally found quite awkward, especially when the focus switches back and forth between characters with little distinction. While it didn’t take away my enjoyment of the book, it did slow down my ability to lose myself in the story whenever I picked up the book because I needed extra time to adjust.

I would totally recommend this book with one caveat: Do not read this book on an empty stomach. Take my advice and pick up some decadent treats from your favorite bakery beforehand. As for me, I will be baking up a storm as I await the next book, which will feature Sarita, Craig’s head pastry decorator in a F/F+POC romance.

[Dahlia]

This was super cute, and I bought the next book maybe halfway through. It's not heavy on plot, and it does that series-opener thing of introducing too many characters to wrap your head around, but in the case of the latter, it also made me pretty sure I'm gonna buy every single Sucre Coeur book, because you can already seen a ton of diversity that'll make this really fun for sure. (Among the secondary characters are the Indian lesbian who's the MC of book 2, a poly guy in a M/M/F triad, a trans woman, and a bi guy who's currently with a girl but previously dated one of the MCs of this book.) Plus BAKED GOODS. How can you not.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up

I am trying to read more new-to-me authors every year, and I am glad I finally decided to read this one! I won Reed's second book in this series (which I will also read!) loved Reed's writing style!! And I loved these two, even if Alex tried my patience *laugh*.

+ What I Liked +

+ Craig is like, my dream boyfriend. He's British, he BAKES(!), he makes great tea it seems. And I loved his open and kind heart. He's everything positive about this book!
+ Lissa Reed's writing is WONDERFUL. I loved the poetic sense it to it. It's simply gorgeous.
+ The secondary characters are great too -- although I have note for them below
+ ... and in it's core, it's romantic :)

+ What sometimes a struggle +
+ Like I said, Alex tried my patience. He's a more closed-off character compared to Craig. He pushes people a lot, unwilling to give in just a little bit. I understand that the author is trying to give a complete opposite of Craig who is more open-book. We have to peel the LAYERS of Alex bit by bit. I don't hate him, but still, at times I think Craig is probably worth someone better.

+ What I Disliked +
+ The secondary characters also get their perspectives/chapters ... and I found that a bit annoying. I prefer to focus on Craig and Alex. I don't need to get POVs from Nate, Sammy, or Connor. Even if I liked them as characters.

Now I want to read Sarita's story! I hope there will be glimpses of Craig and Alex in her books ^^

[Les Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 sexy, romantic, sweet stars!

I LOVED this book. The writing is gorgeous, the characters so well developed and real and genuine, the emotions just .... *sigh* add in a SEXY sexy British accent and this book was way WAY more than I expected. I am desperately waiting for the sequel. I NEED more Craig and Alex in my life.

[Annie ~ Queer Books Unbound · Rating 5 out of 5]

How could I give this anything else than 5 stars? Loved it and can't wait to read the sequel. ^_^
Highly recommended!

[Alysia Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, it starts out casual. Craig Oliver, who works as a cookie-hawker and pastry-baker at Sucre Coeur (and if this bakery existed, I would go just for the name) goes to his local pub for a drink and finds a nearly-extinct-with-alcohol lump of barely-person to whom he offers his prized Secret Cookie (squirreled away in a pocket for his own pleasure later, one presumes, and not for the purpose of wooing strange drunks). The conversation progresses as well as it can between a guy who’s bonked out of his mind on booze and a guy who has cookies to offer, but Alex Scheff, once taken home and filled with tea and sobered up, turns out to be a very witty, keen fellow who is attempting to drink himself out of an awful break-up (like when you get the bedraggled street mutt into the bath and, once you clean him up, see that he’s a sparkling little show dog). It’s supposed to be a casual hook-up and nothing more between Craig and Alex, but quickly e/de/volves into something much deeper and more serious. (And how, a non-Englishperson asks, can one expect to keep it a casual, sex-only hookup in the face of tea and sympathy?) The problem comes when Alex’s emotional bruises from a former love start to show, start to make space where neither character wants it. The separation, the longing and pain, come despite the desires of both Alex and Craig—the desire for seamless togetherness of the lovers seems so easily fulfilled, and yet so impossibly remote. It’s so nicely complicated in the way that real human relationships (as opposed to more facile stories that are about easy wish-fulfillment) tend to be. Oh, if only we could all let go our pasts, our training, the things we “know,” and just figure things out fresh as we go. That’s the freezing cold water into which the story wades.

The novel, too, starts out casual, with cookies and sex, but gradually the reader is pulled more and more deeply into the lives of the characters, getting to know the tight web of friends and family who surround these two and make their union nearly inevitable (and pretty hard to give up). What first appears to be a simple will-they-won’t-they problem of a hook-up turns into something much more deliciously complex, with friends and ex-lovers, babies, life passions, baked goods, all mixed together.

The characters—Alex, Craig, and their overlapping circles of friends—are all so clearly-drawn, so real. Nobody’s a flawless protagonist, nor is anyone an unsympathetic villain (even Alex’s ex-boyfrend, whom many of the characters consider a jerk). Everyone gets to be nuanced and complicated. (Give things, a poetry teacher once said, the dignity of their names. This is as true for people as it is for petunias.) The relationships between friends and family are as attended-to here as the “main” relationship between the novel’s two erstwhile lovers—it’s as much about those relationships as it is about the love story (or maybe these stories are an integral part of this love story). There even come to be a baby and a puppy, but neither is there simply for its cuteness. Nobody gets used for this story.

It’s hard to stay uninvested as one reads Definitely, Maybe Yours. Perhaps that’s the point, because the novel, in so many ways, is about investment: in people, in passions, in relationships. It’s about how we invest, and why we do, and why we should.

[Jude Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This book was a pleasure to read. It was the perfect end-of-the-night, curl up in bed companion. The characters drew me in thoroughly. It was so easy to fall in love with Craig, whose kindness, comfort and ease in his life and self radiated through Reed's words. Craig is the friend everyone would want to have, and the lover -- holy moses -- you'll dream of too. Who can resist, or wants to resist, a man who gets off on thoroughly worshiping his lover's body, and from drawing pleasure from him?

Alex is such a tough nut to crack, and my only wish was that we could have had deeper insight into his previous relationship, which we know was damaging but not the details of, sooner. Once we did, Alex's pain and reticence became so much clearer, and my investment in the potential for his happiness and healing deepened exponentially.

But that's the smallest caveat. Because Reed does a marvelous job making us care for a man who in a previous life was difficult to love and sometimes like. I rooted for him so hard. Reed does an excellent job demonstrating how thoroughly an insidious the damage of an emotionally manipulative relationship can be. Alex learning that he's worthy of the kindness, the steadiness, and the love Craig can offer was satisfying and moving.

Also, I really wish I had a baker on staff in my home, because damn the cookies sounded good.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 5 out of 5]

Craig and Alex

Whoa, this is something! What a delightful story, Craig was here the absolute hero, he had a top character. He is kind, funny friendly, sexy, understanding, golden hands with cookies.

When he meets Alex in a bar he knows he will take him home, into his bed and into his heart, even Alex is drunk and sloshed at the moment.

They start something unexpected, it has no name, no strings, but beautiful and lovely.
Alex isn’t telling much and Craig is patient. Alex had a difficult time before he met Craig.

“It’s a kiss with no barriers, no boundaries, infinite possibilities and endless scope”

Alex can’t commit. What started as a warm, delicious relationship turns into something elusive.
Both men are hurt.

Omg, my heart, it shattered more than once. Seeing Craig hurt was painful. To see Alex struggles and stumble was devastating. Thank goodness for friends, deep bow to Connor.
What a precious story this was. An atmosphere like... sun ray through a window shining on a beautiful man, where you can see some delicate hands knead dough and you see the flower coming down as dust. I don’t know how to elaborate this. It was magic.
Stunning plot, stunning personalities, stunningly written.

Kindly received and arc from the publisher through NetGalley

[namericanwordcat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this book is lush and I loved the style. Craig is a simply wonderful, well drawn character and every detail about him and his world captivates.

Alex is emotionially stuffed up and remains that way for too long in the book. We needed much more time to really unpack all his layers to love him like Craig does.

I needed to see his growth and his history. I wanted him to go to therapy.

But Craig and the others and the peek at Alex are good enough to make this a wonderful read.

There is a book in the series that revisits they couple but I would have rather had the work done here.

[Diverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time I am reading a Lissa Reed book. It came highly recommended by a friend. I’m going to shine a light on the best part of this book and that’s the style of the writing. It was poetic and hypnotic. Lissa’s words when describing the senses was lyrical. Truly and utterly brilliant. The tricky part for me was the switching of POV’s. Craig and Alex are the MC’s in this book. But there were secondary characters that had their POV’s smattered through the book. From Alex’s cousin to Alex’s best friend. Connor (Alex’s best friend) his POV was important to the story and I felt when there were other POV’s I was frustrated. But it is seriously just a tiny tiny frustration in comparison to the amazingness that is this book. It’s a lovely story. Craig, the british baker that lives in Seattle. His dreads, his skin, his smile. You just fall right in love with him. I never wanted tea more in my life than I did while reading this book. Alex is the high-strung, kinda neurotic, a little broken man that Craig saves. The characters are entertaining. Craig was so well written, so perfect that I felt like I couldn’t wait to get to his POV in the shuffle.
I really liked this book a lot and if you appreciate great creativity and stunning writing this is a wonderful book for you.

[Earlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for opposite attraction and boy did we get it here.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as a goodreads giveaways for an honest review.

I liked Definitely, Maybe, Yours. Craig is a great character. The 2nd half of the book dragged a bit.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover!

Look at that cover! How could I possibly turn down a book with a cover like that? Look at how gorgeous he is! There's no way a cover as awesome as this could be hiding a complete suck-fest full of racefail.

I needn't have worried.

I've been on a rage-fest about the criminal lack of diversity in LGBTQ fiction. I've called out one publisher and I'm just getting started.

I'm not into unnecessarily angsty novels, especially when said angst could be remedied early on through the characters just *talking* to each other. That's why I couldn't give this the full five stars.

However, the four stars is for everything that was right: a diverse Seattle, and one I recognize. Female characters who are fully actualized and don't exist to serve as stereotypical foils standing in the way of TWU WUV. Healthy male friendships that are supportive and humorous.

And Craig. And the desserts he created. If Craig were real, I'd love for him to bake for me anytime.

I. Loved. Craig. Black, British, a writer and a baker. A romantic. Makes a mean cuppa brown joy (Profess Elemental reference there). His family is intact and supportive, even though they're back in the UK. He's funny. While not necessarily looking for love, it eventually finds him in the guise of a drunk guy at the local pub. He treats said drunk guy to strong coffee, water and baked goods.

Which brings me to Alex...

I hated Alex. Not sorry. For most of the book I kept wanting to grab Alex by his designer duds and shake some fucking sense into him. Actually, a good kick in the butt would have served as well. I got it - ex boyfriend was a dick, treated him like a dick. Is that any reason to think Craig was cut from the same cloth, especially when Craig was going out of his way to show him that there are guys who liked him for him?

Imagine the time spent sharing your fears with Craig rather than playing the martyr and pushing the best thing to happen to you away. So glad you have great friends and family who actually care about your happiness.

Despite this, the novel has its much deserved happy ending featuring badly baked cookies and a cute bit of fluff named Fitz. This was the first novel from Lissa Reed but I'm off to read the next one. With an Indian lesbian. How cool is that?

[Lilyvandersteen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm very late to the game, I know, and I read this book in so many short bits and pieces that it took forever (clearly, I should move further away from work so I get more time to read during my commute), but I'm still going to add my two cents, because oh... I loved this story so much!

I understand so well how a guarded and jaded guy like Alex could fall for Craig at a moment's notice - I was madly in love with Craig myself after reading only a page or two. Who wouldn't? Craig is amazing! Kind, warm-hearted, charming, easy on the eyes and just a tad nerdy. And he bakes the most wonderful stuff - oh, how it made my mouth water! NEVER EVER try to read this book without having something to nibble on. You'll need it!

And Alex... He's a more complicated character, but you grow to love him too. He's been hurt so much, to the point where he no longer dares to dream about happily-ever-afters, if he ever did in the first place, which is doubtful. However, you see him thaw out bit by bit, helplessly drawn to the easy affection and the I-can-feel-in-my-bones-he's-my-soulmate quiet content and domesticity Craig offers him. And it's not going to be easy, this conquering of his self-doubt and self-loathing, but if anyone can help Alex, it's Craig.

Lissa Reed uses such vivid descriptions that it's almost like a film playing in your head. You can picture it all so clearly, and I love that.

The only bad thing about the book is that it ended far too soon for my liking. I could have read a few hundred pages more of this. But hey... There's a second book in the same series coming, isn't there? Something to look forward to!

[Az · Rating 5 out of 5]

You follow the rather frustrating journey of Alex and Craig, two men who are in complete denial about the growing attraction and, dare I say, (I do, I do dare) love between them? Their magnetism hits from their first meeting and grows steadily over the course of the book until every time one of them denies they’re more than just casual, you give the book a side-eye like, y'all are just lying to yourselves. When you’re not telling the boys to get their heads out of their a… bacus’, you’re wondering what the hell happened with Jeff (what an ass). The story is like a trip to the bakery, sweet, crisp, and full of deliciousness. (Seriously, don’t read this on an empty stomach, you WILL regret it.) There’s baking and drinking, baking with the drink, meddling friends, beautiful photography, a slow building relationship that you want to savour as much as the sweets Craig bakes, with plenty of wit and enough tea references to make you want a cup, even though it’s 105 degrees outside. There’s a wide assortment of secondary characters that give the story life and you find yourselves wanting to know more about them. (Thankfully, you will, because there’s more in this series.) The writing keeps you interested and the characters come to life with each new thing you learn about them. I, for one, look forward to more from this author.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Definitely, Maybe, Yours is the title of this book and maybe is the word that gets played up. Maybe these guys can have more than one night. Maybe they can belong to each other. Maybe Alex will let Craig in just a little. Here are two guys who refuse to believe they can be in a relationship although for different reasons.

Craig is the nurturing Englishman and while he has had past relationships, he just hasn’t found the one and he’s really not looking all that hard. Craig is more open to his feelings about Alex but knows there is something going on with Alex that could easily scare him off. Alex is a little more of a mystery at first. Just when you think there is not a lot going on with Alex or with the story in general, there are layers of emotion and hurt just waiting back there behind the scenes.

Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.

[Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

UGH, so conflicted on this one! There were some elements that I ADORED, but I felt like it was much, much too long, and the side characters meddled annoyingly. My main problem with the meddling was that everyone seemed to react to the MCs in pretty much the exact same way, even the straight dude who kept wanting to talk about the notoriously emotionally aloof guy's feelings. I skimmed over large swaths of the pushing and prodding, but the MC alone time and how freaking CUTE they were together...sigh. So. Good.

One last mini gripe: we get it, it's set in Seattle! As someone who lives here, I found myself cringing sometimes when, for instance, whole name places were used unnaturally (like "Puget sound" instead of just "the sound"). Meh, minor gripe though...

[ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet and the sex scenes were minimal and not explicit, but somehow still hot. They were kind of poetic and understated. There were parts (full chapters dedicated to people who were NOT the two MCs) that kind of threw me out of the story but later they helped things come together. Craig Oliver is a very sweet, kind, generous guy and makes a wonderful book boyfriend, especially for a skittish colt like Alex.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

DEFINITELY, MAYBE, YOURS (Sucre Coeur #1)
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• ⭐️: 4,0/5
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💬: Alex is looking for a break after getting dumped so spectacularly by someone he thought he loved, and Craig has a routine that he never skips it. During one of Craig’s dinner in his usual place, he meets Alex and then over a tea time on his apartment that should only to a one night stand...he breaks his routine. He and Alex start a sort of relationship that neither of them wants to admit makes them happy. With many coincidences happening throughout their relationship and many baked goods, both man find love and someone that they feel at home when with.
I personally was a little bit afraid because I hate books with people in the cover but the story is cute and has a good flow so I didn’t care about the cover later on. Alex and Craig are stupidly cute together, and infuriating sometimes by how much they avoid their feelings. You can’t help to root for them to figure things out, and thanks to God they have amazing people around them. They have friends that would move mountains to help them, even call them out on their mess.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute, but also very real

What does black baker with dreadlocks and an English accent have in common with a white, no commitments, playboy and man? Read this and find out. It goes far deeper than you probably expect.

Cakes, cookies, lots of tea, genuine caring friends, phony and callous ex-lovers, closet photographers, and even puppies. What more could you ask for? A happy ending, of course. Read it and see. (Weeping entirely optional.)

[Feliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had so many things going for it; I almost don’t know where to start. First, there was the cast, with Craig leading the way. He’s simply adorable, from his need to care for people to his spiritual wisdom, throwing himself with abandon into anything he enjoys: baking, fucking, looking after people… loving. Loving Alex, to be precise, who started out the prickliest of prickly cactuses but opened up like a flower under Craig’s tender hands, one tiny petal at a time. They were so perfect for each other, a born problem fixer and a guy carrying an almighty pack of these around, a dark-skinned Englishman of Scottish and West Indian heritage and the blond scion of a Russian-American clan. And if these two weren’t diverse enough, there’s a bunch of side characters who are just as colorful. All kinds of races, genders, identities, and orientations coexist cheerfully on the pages of this book, and some of them even get their say for a little while.

Proceeding to the story in and of itself, it was just… sweet in its slow, at times almost gentle pace, filled with treats, edible and otherwise. The sex scenes in particular; I savored each and every one of them. And then there was drama, I mean DRAMA, in sparkling bilious green and hot pink flashing letters six feet high with sprinkles on top. Wow, these guys know how to throw a tantrum, especially Alex. I’m not talking about flying dishes and shouting matches, I’m talking about wallowing in hurt, misery and self-pity to the point of self-denial, even self-destruction. Even though it fit both main characters’ personalities – and their exuberant gaggle of friends—to a T, it was all a bit much, at least for me.

Which brings me to the few niggles I had with this story that kept me from fully enjoying it. And I’ll make a point here that this is my personal opinion, and others might love this book just for the things that bothered me. Anyway, here goes.

For one, it was written in alternating 1st person POV present tense, and while some stories I’ve read recently rocked that kind of narrative, it didn’t sit right with me here. I found it kept me away from the story instead of drawing me in as it was probably supposed to do. And for another, there was the writing in particular. It read almost narcissistic at times, as if it was there as an end in itself at times, forcing the story proper into the backseat. The way the writing pushed itself to the fore jerked me out of the story every time it happened, interrupting the reading flow. The same with the cast of characters; while I appreciated the attempt at diversity, it felt like trying a little too hard.

However, if those things don’t bother you, I can warmly recommend this story of hurt, comfort, healing and second chances. It was warm, beautiful and oh-so romantic, and I closed it with a happy sigh.

Review originally written for www.prismbookalliance.com

[A.M. Leibowitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I picked this up, I thought from the synopsis that it would be a lighthearted, feel-good romance with some humor and fun. That's not what I got, and I admit I'm a bit disappointed.

It starts off with good intentions, and there's definitely some humor at the beginning. But by a few chapters in, it started to feel uninteresting and not terribly original. It ended up being pages and pages of Alex's melodrama and both Craig and Alex becoming romance stereotypes of men who can't even admit their feelings to themselves. They seem to have required an entire cast of characters to clue them in that they were in love, and it didn't seem like it was all because of Alex's previous relationship. The side characters seemed more invested in their relationship than they were.

I liked that the author tried to write some diversity, but for me, even that fell a bit flat. The secondary characters felt like they were only there as props for Craig and Alex's bizarre relationship. It's too bad, because I liked a lot of them. There was a trans woman, several people of color, and a bisexual man in a relationship with a woman (which is more rare than a unicorn in LGBTQ+ books). But we never saw anything of them besides them trying to "fix" Alex and Craig's lives, which was actually the very thing that caused them to have issues in the first place. Mostly, they bordered on tokenism and seemed to be there for the sake of having it be not all white gay men.

The writing itself was good, though there were frequent odd shifts in point of view. It's clear the characters were well-developed in the author's mind, but there was so much missing from a reader perspective. I just wish we could have seen more of them than the soap opera version we ended up with.

In the end, I think this was just not a good fit for me. I'm sure there are lots of people who love this kind of overwrought emotional drama, but I am not one of them.

[Molly Lolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original review on Molly Lolly
Four stars!
This is such a sweet story. Alex has trouble believing he’s worth loving. And Craig loves him deeply but won’t tell for feat of Alex bolting. But together they love each other so deeply it’s as if no one else exists. Alex’s ex shows up to blow everything apart because the two guys haven’t worked it all out yet and they’re still trying to build a solid foundation. But oh my gosh they love each other so hard! My favorite line in the book is while they’re at the club with friends. “We pissed off two twinks, a bear and his cub and a drag queen fixing her falsies searching for you. I wish I had a Gay Bar Bingo Card right now.” I was laughing so hard at the line. The book ran the gamut of emotions and I enjoyed it right from the beginning. Alex’s friend Connor is hysterical and a total force to be reckoned with. He fights in the dirtiest of ways to get these two to stay together. While these two still have some hurdles to overcome, you can tell their love is strong and can get them through many of the challenges ahead. They have an amazing group of friends that support them and you can’t help but cheer for them as well. I can’t wait to read more by Ms. Reed in the future.

[Hanah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely reread books, especially romances, but I've now read this story four times in different iterations. It just gets better each time.

Lissa Reed's characters jump off the page with intriguing personalities. Craig is basically the perfect guy, but in the author's capable hands, he never comes across as boring or implausibly perfect. He's genuine and caring, full of interesting talents and quirks and his own insecurities. The other main character, Alex, is so vulnerable and broken that my heart aches for him. The secondary characters each spring to life as well, in a rainbow of all sorts of diversity.

This is one of my top recommendations for any lover of romance novels. I can't wait for the sequel!

[Amy Stilgenbauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came to this book expecting fluff, but walked away with so much more. I found myself identifying strongly with the characters (as someone who has been in Alex's shoes emotionally in my life, I am ashamed to admit) and Reed's thorough examination of the scars that past relationships can leave so resonated with me that more than once I had to atop and take a step back and acknowledge the closure this book was giving me for long ago damage.

that aside, I would recommend it to even those who don't need that emotional catharsis. the story Itself is well written, full of love and sweetness, and just the right amount of angst. what more could you ask for?