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Snowflakes & Cinnamon Buns
Cameron Pearce loves to work hard and play hard. Living in New York City, means lots of men and lots of variety. He isn’t looking for love. When he goes to his small hometown Dickensville for Christmas, food, friends, family and seeing his best friend Levi are what’s on the agenda. He also hopes for some friends-with-benefits enjoyment. Levi Jones owns and runs his own café in Dickensville. He loves the Christmas season and all that comes with it. Decorating, baking, and snow among other things. Another perk is when Cameron visits home and he gets him all to himself. What will happen when true feelings are revealed and everything is put on the line. Will their friendship survive? Can best friends go from hooking up to a real relationship? Do they even want to? This book contains delicious cinnamon buns, a cute westie and sexy hot men to warm up your holidays.
122 pages, Paperback
First published November 14, 2017
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126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
November 1, 2017
Cameron and Levi have been friends since 8th grade and although Cam now lives in NYC and Levi remains in their home town of Dickensville, they have a long-standing friends-with-benefits relationship:
I was really into this story until Cameron made what I think of as "HUD" - the huge unilateral decision.
Okay, I realize that the HUD is not going to be a make-or-break plot point for everyone, but personnally it didn't work for me. Loved the initial relationship between Levi and Cameron and loved the sexual sizzle, but disliked the HUD and Cameron's frankly asshole-ish ways. I give Snowflakes & Cinnamon Buns 3.5 stars but completely understand that "your mileage may vary."
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
We never had a romantic relationship, so we were not exclusive. Super-hot sex when we met up a few times a year, if we were both single. That was it. It worked for us.Levi and Cameron have great chemistry and the sex is hella hot - Claire Castle knows her way around some very steamy scenes. But when Levi wants more, Cameron can't handle it - he's very "risk adverse." After being abandoned by his father when he was five, Cameron "didn't believe in relationships, or finding ‘the one.’ That experience told me it could never work and I would probably be abandoned in the end. Keeping things easy - feelings and commitment-free - meant less entanglement and problems. At least that’s how I saw it."
I was really into this story until Cameron made what I think of as "HUD" - the huge unilateral decision.
Okay, I realize that the HUD is not going to be a make-or-break plot point for everyone, but personnally it didn't work for me. Loved the initial relationship between Levi and Cameron and loved the sexual sizzle, but disliked the HUD and Cameron's frankly asshole-ish ways. I give Snowflakes & Cinnamon Buns 3.5 stars but completely understand that "your mileage may vary."
I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Review also posted at Gay Book Reviews - check it out!
December 3, 2017
This is a friends with benefits holiday novella. I had high hopes because friends-to-lovers is just a fave of mine. It had potential in the first quarter of the book, but the writing just didn't work for me. It really felt like I was being told things were happening as opposed to experiencing the story. I just didn't feel anything.
The sex had its moments, but most of it was boring.
I know this is a novella, but the characterization was lacking. There was so much potential to play up each guy's strengths with Levi's baking and Cam's great relationship with his mom, but there was barely any expansion on those. The "closeness" between the two friends was mainly demonstrated through sex with only minor details about their friendship and the development of it.
How Cam missed all the signs of where Levi was going is beyond me. Probably just denial...and selfishness. Cam's reaction did not endear me to him AT ALL and by the end, I was hoping Levi found someone who was worthy of him.
Major spoilers
Forget the "more" feelings, Cam was a crappy friend, cowardly and self-serving, and he got off easy in my opinion. I hope Levi made Cam spend the next year making it up to him.
The sex had its moments, but most of it was boring.
I know this is a novella, but the characterization was lacking. There was so much potential to play up each guy's strengths with Levi's baking and Cam's great relationship with his mom, but there was barely any expansion on those. The "closeness" between the two friends was mainly demonstrated through sex with only minor details about their friendship and the development of it.
How Cam missed all the signs of where Levi was going is beyond me. Probably just denial...and selfishness. Cam's reaction did not endear me to him AT ALL and by the end, I was hoping Levi found someone who was worthy of him.
Major spoilers
Forget the "more" feelings, Cam was a crappy friend, cowardly and self-serving, and he got off easy in my opinion. I hope Levi made Cam spend the next year making it up to him.
February 23, 2018
A very short little Christmas read…
Cameron is coming home for the holiday’s and he needs the break from his “work hard, play hard” type of lifestyle… We don’t see that, it’s just kind of self-proclaimed. When he gets back into town, he stops by at his childhood friend Levi’s house first…. They have a kind of FWB relationship when he comes to town…. It’s hot, if a little cheesy…but it seems to work for them. Cameron spends the whole holiday with Levi, doing things together and catching up, like friends do.
However, I’m kind of on the fence about this one because while I do like friends to lovers and second chancers… I thought Cameron was extremely selfish. Nobody is that clueless, he had to have known that Levi had feelings for him, but for a second, lets say he didn’t know... he was possessive and jealous when he thought someone else was flirting with Levi, he was really boyfriend-y, acting as if they were together, even AFTER Levi told him that he loved him. He might’ve been pulling away in his head, but he wasn’t at all while they were together…. Cuddling and kissing him the way it was explained. I mean, all the while, knowing he was going to up and leave. How selfish is that?!!!
Then….he stays away for A YEAR…. Not a couple weeks while he gets himself together, not a couple months, realizing how much he misses and loves Levi back, nope…. A whole entire year!!! And Levi, pshhh. Make him work for it, man… when he does come back ….AFTER A YEAR… he’s all arms wide open and forgiving, like he didn’t just leave you high and dry, no contact for THE LAST YEAR!
Am I the only one with a problem with alla that??? I mean before they were FWB, they were supposed to at least be friends, best friends actually…. But you don’t have any contact with him for a year after he tells you how he feels about you? That’s cool….
Anyway, alls well that ends well I guess… it does have a HEA ending that too, is cheesy but cute. I just can’t get over all the stuff in the middle.
3 stars from me.
Cameron is coming home for the holiday’s and he needs the break from his “work hard, play hard” type of lifestyle… We don’t see that, it’s just kind of self-proclaimed. When he gets back into town, he stops by at his childhood friend Levi’s house first…. They have a kind of FWB relationship when he comes to town…. It’s hot, if a little cheesy…but it seems to work for them. Cameron spends the whole holiday with Levi, doing things together and catching up, like friends do.
However, I’m kind of on the fence about this one because while I do like friends to lovers and second chancers… I thought Cameron was extremely selfish. Nobody is that clueless, he had to have known that Levi had feelings for him, but for a second, lets say he didn’t know... he was possessive and jealous when he thought someone else was flirting with Levi, he was really boyfriend-y, acting as if they were together, even AFTER Levi told him that he loved him. He might’ve been pulling away in his head, but he wasn’t at all while they were together…. Cuddling and kissing him the way it was explained. I mean, all the while, knowing he was going to up and leave. How selfish is that?!!!
Then….he stays away for A YEAR…. Not a couple weeks while he gets himself together, not a couple months, realizing how much he misses and loves Levi back, nope…. A whole entire year!!! And Levi, pshhh. Make him work for it, man… when he does come back ….AFTER A YEAR… he’s all arms wide open and forgiving, like he didn’t just leave you high and dry, no contact for THE LAST YEAR!
Am I the only one with a problem with alla that??? I mean before they were FWB, they were supposed to at least be friends, best friends actually…. But you don’t have any contact with him for a year after he tells you how he feels about you? That’s cool….
Anyway, alls well that ends well I guess… it does have a HEA ending that too, is cheesy but cute. I just can’t get over all the stuff in the middle.
3 stars from me.
December 2, 2017
Although part of me felt like 3/4 of this book was just good friends having hot sex, which was not a bad thing. This book only excelled because of the last quarter once Cameron got past his fear and told Levi that he loved him. Despite me wanting to slap Cameron silly a few times, I really enjoyed this book. It is such a sweeeeeeeeeet story of 2 practically life-long friends with benefits finally moving on to what was meant to be. Overall, it is a deliciously sweet love story and of course got me all tearful by the end. Sometimes I think instead of stars for gay or m/m romance books I should rate them by the number of tissues I go through per book! :o) Anyway... read this book!1
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November 7, 2019DNF 50%
I truly did try to finish this book seeing that it was n short read but, I just couldn't do it!!!! I struggled with the writing style and I just couldn't connect with the characters
I truly did try to finish this book seeing that it was n short read but, I just couldn't do it!!!! I struggled with the writing style and I just couldn't connect with the characters
November 3, 2017
Premise of the book is Cameron loves returning to Dickensville over Christmas – it’s become a holiday tradition to spend time with his best friend Levi and time with his Mom. He and his mother are close, Cameron’s father walked out on them when he was five and she raised him on her own, something he’s never forgotten. Cameron has watched friends break up, get married and divorced, and the sordid love affairs that destroyed relationships. He wants to part of any kind of emotional entanglement. But Levi wants more than friends with benefits status…
Unfortunately, I think I’m going to be in the minority here - I completely bounced off this story. It hit several of my quirks”
Cameron’s an executive of a marketing firm, with a condo, in New York City, at AGE 28. No, he was not born with a silver spoon, he does not come from old or new money, his (non-existent) father did not hand him the family business.
One of my biggest issues with some m/m romances is the unrealistic portrayal of the 20-30 year old age bracket, kids recently graduated from college and they have fully furnished condos and are executives of some company. Mmm…no. Doesn’t work for me.
Cameron’s mother is totally clueless that her son is boinking his best friend. She doesn’t find it odd how many NIGHTS Cameron spends at Levi’s? She doesn’t see the more than casual familiarity between the two young men? She obviously knows they are both gay, they’ve been friends since high school, and she doesn’t put two and two together?
This is going to be an odd one, but I did say these were my quirks. I got tired of the sex. ((GASP!)) Yup. About page 40 I was ready to put the book down and walk away. I could see where the book was going (actually, plot said as much in the first chapter) and it was like watching Otto run Kevin over with the asphalt roller machine in the movie A Fish Called Wanda. Except I could walk away.
But I didn’t. I kept going.
I liked Levi – he was nice, he liked helping people, you could see he adored, no LOVED Cameron. Cameron was a clueless douche. What Cameron did to Levi was just inexcusable and that just didn’t sit well with me. Now, I can see how the author wanted to bring the plot full circle with the Holidays and all, but I’m sorry. If I were Levi, I would have given Cameron the hand. No one deserves that kind of treatment after baring their soul.
So I’m sorry, but this story didn’t work for me. I’m sure other readers will get more out of it than I, cups of tea vs coffee and all that.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Unfortunately, I think I’m going to be in the minority here - I completely bounced off this story. It hit several of my quirks”
Cameron’s an executive of a marketing firm, with a condo, in New York City, at AGE 28. No, he was not born with a silver spoon, he does not come from old or new money, his (non-existent) father did not hand him the family business.
One of my biggest issues with some m/m romances is the unrealistic portrayal of the 20-30 year old age bracket, kids recently graduated from college and they have fully furnished condos and are executives of some company. Mmm…no. Doesn’t work for me.
Cameron’s mother is totally clueless that her son is boinking his best friend. She doesn’t find it odd how many NIGHTS Cameron spends at Levi’s? She doesn’t see the more than casual familiarity between the two young men? She obviously knows they are both gay, they’ve been friends since high school, and she doesn’t put two and two together?
This is going to be an odd one, but I did say these were my quirks. I got tired of the sex. ((GASP!)) Yup. About page 40 I was ready to put the book down and walk away. I could see where the book was going (actually, plot said as much in the first chapter) and it was like watching Otto run Kevin over with the asphalt roller machine in the movie A Fish Called Wanda. Except I could walk away.
But I didn’t. I kept going.
I liked Levi – he was nice, he liked helping people, you could see he adored, no LOVED Cameron. Cameron was a clueless douche. What Cameron did to Levi was just inexcusable and that just didn’t sit well with me. Now, I can see how the author wanted to bring the plot full circle with the Holidays and all, but I’m sorry. If I were Levi, I would have given Cameron the hand. No one deserves that kind of treatment after baring their soul.
So I’m sorry, but this story didn’t work for me. I’m sure other readers will get more out of it than I, cups of tea vs coffee and all that.
Review is cross posted at Gay Book Reviews
A copy of the book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
November 14, 2017
Cameron and Levi had been friends for years. And for year, they had explore each other sexuality and stick to 'only casual, friends with benefits'.
Christmas will always be the best moment for Cameron for years. Every years he'll come to his hometown to spend the Christmas with his mom and seeing his best buddy, Levi for his delicious cinnamon buns and their 'mutual encounter'.
For years, Cameron had shared their bed with Levi with involved no feelings, but not this year. Because he start to feels something more than just a friend with Levi and get jealous when he found out someone flirting with him. When Levi finally show him his feeling, Cameron start to panic. He keep denying what he feels and leave...
Will they found their HEA this Christmas?
🍁🍁🍁
I'm so glad to have the privileged to read this debut Christmas Novella by the new author Claire Castle.
The story is so sweet and very Christmassy about friends-to-lovers that will warm you this Christmas.
*ARC is kindly provided by the Author in exchange of a fair, unbiased and honest review*
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December 2, 2017I usually give Christmas stories a bit more latitude when it comes to schmoopie sticky sweet story lines. I LOVE a good holiday love story. This one however, was filled with too much sex in the short pages, not enough feeling between the Mis (besides sex) as too why they should be together, and Cameron being a really idiot. In the end it turned out okay, even if I think that Cameron should have had to work a little harder for his HEA.
November 17, 2017
2.5 stars
Except for Cameron being an idiot, this was pretty low angst. BUT, I've been reading several holiday stories on a row with low steam level, and this one seemed to have sex in every chapter (including that solo-shower-jerk off ... it's SO YEARS ago!!!), which bored me to death. I know that Cameron said he and Levi were friends with benefits, but I could do LESS sex and more romance.
And Ashton the hired help felt weirdly like a third wheel or something.
Except for Cameron being an idiot, this was pretty low angst. BUT, I've been reading several holiday stories on a row with low steam level, and this one seemed to have sex in every chapter (including that solo-shower-jerk off ... it's SO YEARS ago!!!), which bored me to death. I know that Cameron said he and Levi were friends with benefits, but I could do LESS sex and more romance.
And Ashton the hired help felt weirdly like a third wheel or something.
November 14, 2017
Reviewed by Jenn for Diverse Reader
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I love Christmas romances and I love friends to lovers romances! This book was a double dose of awesome for me!
Cameron and Levi have been best friends since middle school who eventually added benefits to their friendship. This has worked out great for them for years. Cameron lives in NYC, a two hour plane ride from their hometown.the two get together many times through each year and always have hot no strings sex. Throughout this arrangement, the friendship stays intact. What happens though when Christmas loving Levi admits to commitment shy Cameron that he loves him?
Cameron does not react well and it seems as if it will take a Christmas miracle to reunite these two.
With some help from a friend, maybe Cameron can pull it off!
I loved this story so much that I wanted to decorate my house! Cameron and Levi’s love for each other and for Christmas is so obvious and so heartwarming. Saying that, the heat between them is crazy hot! Such a great, sexy holiday read!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I love Christmas romances and I love friends to lovers romances! This book was a double dose of awesome for me!
Cameron and Levi have been best friends since middle school who eventually added benefits to their friendship. This has worked out great for them for years. Cameron lives in NYC, a two hour plane ride from their hometown.the two get together many times through each year and always have hot no strings sex. Throughout this arrangement, the friendship stays intact. What happens though when Christmas loving Levi admits to commitment shy Cameron that he loves him?
Cameron does not react well and it seems as if it will take a Christmas miracle to reunite these two.
With some help from a friend, maybe Cameron can pull it off!
I loved this story so much that I wanted to decorate my house! Cameron and Levi’s love for each other and for Christmas is so obvious and so heartwarming. Saying that, the heat between them is crazy hot! Such a great, sexy holiday read!
December 28, 2017
Another DNF.
I don't know if it's me who's getting impatient or if I've read so many great books that my standards are high.
I felt the writing was telegraphic "he did this, I did that" and then there are a lot of small mistakes that just make me cringe (one of the characters is topless in one moment and bundled up 2 lines below, in the same exact scene).
I could get passed those small discrepancies if the writting was good and I was immersed in the story, but that was not the case.
I don't know if it's me who's getting impatient or if I've read so many great books that my standards are high.
I felt the writing was telegraphic "he did this, I did that" and then there are a lot of small mistakes that just make me cringe (one of the characters is topless in one moment and bundled up 2 lines below, in the same exact scene).
I could get passed those small discrepancies if the writting was good and I was immersed in the story, but that was not the case.
November 24, 2019
An unassuming Christmas story that was high on the romantic scale- as all Christmas bks should be!
I like how the story was in the present but told the back story, then it was the present again. I also liked the mc's, their relationship to each other and Cameron's not being jealous! Priceless! (Extra points for Levi's inventiveness for Cam's fave icing!)
I like how the story was in the present but told the back story, then it was the present again. I also liked the mc's, their relationship to each other and Cameron's not being jealous! Priceless! (Extra points for Levi's inventiveness for Cam's fave icing!)
November 15, 2017
Cameron Pearce and Levi Jones, best friends since they were together on a field trip in 8th grade.
Cam, a marketing executive, enjoys the fast live in New York City and Levi lives in their home town of Dickensville, running his The Drink & Dunk Café. Cam & Levi never had a romantic relationship, so we were not exclusive but they do enjoy their friends-with-benefits relationship Super-hot sex when we met up a few times a year, if we were both single.
Cam & Levi are very attuned to each other, their chemistry works and the sex is scorching hot!
They spend the Christmas holiday together, having fun and a lot of sex.
Cam is has difficulties with having any kind of romantic relationships I had never opened my heart completely to anyone, and that was the way I wanted it to be. That was what worked for me, it had all this time, and I had never second guessed it – never had to. I was never committed and never planned to be. I couldn’t give my heart and soul to someone and risk them crushing it or taking it out from under me.
When Levi pours his heart out to Cam he is baffled and act like a major arsehole and I really think Levi forgave him too easily, especially the WHOLE year, not weeks or even a month, no a WHOLE YEAR to take his head out of his arse!
But this is a short story that needed to be wrapped up, it’s told from Cam’s POV and I would have like to have some things skipped in favor of more groveling and begging in the end.
November 14, 2017
4 Stars!
Cameron is back home in Dickensville for Christmas and he hopes he'll have the chance to hook up with his favorite best friend with benefits, Levi, while he's there. Only this time around, Levi seems different and when Cameron finds out that Levi has deeper feelings for him, Cameron runs away. Later, he realizes he messed up, but will he get his act together before it's too late for them?
I really liked Levi. Even if we didn't get his POV, he seemed like a nice guy, sweet and caring. Cameron, on the other hand, was all about living in the moment and being anti-relationships, yes, he had his reasons, which were somewhat valid, but it was frustrating how he self-sabotaged himself with Levi. It took me a long while to warm up to him, especially since I don't really get why he had to wait so long to realize what his real feelings for Levi were. A year is almost too long for that, no matter how much not in tune with your own feelings you are. It was nice that he put an effort into gaining Levi back, even if I felt Levi forgave him way too quickly. Still, they were smoking hot together and Ms. Castle blew me away with her sex scenes. Damn! I feared my kindle was going to catch on fire at some point! *fans self*
Ashton was a lovely secondary character and I hope this isn't the last we've seen of him and Rory was adorable and stole the scene everytime he was in it.
Overall, this was a solid debut for Ms. Castle. The book is well-written, with just a few minor flow issues that in no way detracted from the enjoyment of the book, and it's a sweet, romantic, hot Christmas story with just a bit of angst and a lovely HEA to balance it all out that was a delight to read. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
Cameron is back home in Dickensville for Christmas and he hopes he'll have the chance to hook up with his favorite best friend with benefits, Levi, while he's there. Only this time around, Levi seems different and when Cameron finds out that Levi has deeper feelings for him, Cameron runs away. Later, he realizes he messed up, but will he get his act together before it's too late for them?
I really liked Levi. Even if we didn't get his POV, he seemed like a nice guy, sweet and caring. Cameron, on the other hand, was all about living in the moment and being anti-relationships, yes, he had his reasons, which were somewhat valid, but it was frustrating how he self-sabotaged himself with Levi. It took me a long while to warm up to him, especially since I don't really get why he had to wait so long to realize what his real feelings for Levi were. A year is almost too long for that, no matter how much not in tune with your own feelings you are. It was nice that he put an effort into gaining Levi back, even if I felt Levi forgave him way too quickly. Still, they were smoking hot together and Ms. Castle blew me away with her sex scenes. Damn! I feared my kindle was going to catch on fire at some point! *fans self*
Ashton was a lovely secondary character and I hope this isn't the last we've seen of him and Rory was adorable and stole the scene everytime he was in it.
Overall, this was a solid debut for Ms. Castle. The book is well-written, with just a few minor flow issues that in no way detracted from the enjoyment of the book, and it's a sweet, romantic, hot Christmas story with just a bit of angst and a lovely HEA to balance it all out that was a delight to read. Very recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
November 20, 2017
I have to say first off I am majorly impressed. The story has a great pace and well developed characters. And this is the author’s first book. Amazing job. It also left me wondering what will happen with Ashton. I’m thinking Steve might be a good place to start. Plus, what’s up with James? See what happens when an author writes good stuff. You get these pesky fans wanting more. Seriously, congrats on a great start.
December 25, 2017
Cute holiday short with a sweet romance at the heart
This is a sweet festive romance which manages to stay cute even with the generous amount of sex which goes on through the first quarter of the story.
Levi was super cute, Cameron needed a bit of warming up to but their friendship was strong, even without all the additional "with benefits" element of the narrative.
Things did feel a bit surface only at times and I wasn't quite sure whether the London trip secondary plotline quite worked for me.
But the ending was cute and I liked the small town setting.
This is a sweet festive romance which manages to stay cute even with the generous amount of sex which goes on through the first quarter of the story.
Levi was super cute, Cameron needed a bit of warming up to but their friendship was strong, even without all the additional "with benefits" element of the narrative.
Things did feel a bit surface only at times and I wasn't quite sure whether the London trip secondary plotline quite worked for me.
But the ending was cute and I liked the small town setting.
October 12, 2017
A hot little seasonal number to get you in the mood. Best friends forever Cameron and Levi get together and come to realise they are more than friends.
Well worth spending a couple of hours snuggling under a blanket with this one!
Well worth spending a couple of hours snuggling under a blanket with this one!
November 16, 2017
Short and sweet. I'm a sucker for best friends to lovers tropes. I can't resist them. It was low angst, and the MCS were not idiots.
December 24, 2017
This was a sweet story about two best friends with benefits. Levi wants more but Cameron isn't ready and hightails it back to New York. However, that backfires and he has to face the truth. I enjoyed this book.
December 29, 2018
Cameron and Levi
I chose this rating because I love the book , there was some angst , but it was just enough . I love that HEA and it is surprisingly good for short read.
I chose this rating because I love the book , there was some angst , but it was just enough . I love that HEA and it is surprisingly good for short read.
January 16, 2019
I really liked the story about Cameron and Levi; most felt it was not a good story. To begin with Cameron and Levi did state they had an agreement that they both could have other lovers and that they were definitely only best friends with benefits. They even discussed and laughed together about other lovers they had been with.
Cameron had always had the mind-set that having a committed relationship would be nothing but heartbreak. He had seen his mother go through heartache when his father left them when he was 5 years old. After seeing his mother crying and falling apart after his father left put this bitter thought about relationships in his mind.
Levi also had his share of lovers, but suddenly his feelings changed. I'm not sure if his feelings changed that Christmas or before it, but it did seem it was during that Christmas. I'm sure Levi, being Cameron's best friend, knew about his friend's feelings about relationships and that was why it was so difficult to tell Cameron he wanted a committed relationship.
Levi had had time to think about them as a permanent couple and come to term with his feelings, but whether Cam knew this deep down inside or not it took him by surprise and like most who fear commitment ran. I believe Levi knew this was a possibility.
After Cam left he suffered emotionally over what had happened to their relationship. It was in the fall that following year, Cam was offered a year contract for a job in London. A huge promotion for him. But when push came to shove he couldn't do it because at that moment he had an epiphany he wanted Levi more than anything.
Of course he immediately got the courage to call Levi, after much sobbing, and got his voicemail and left this message..."Levi, it's me...Cameron. I know I don't deserve you. That I was a complete jerk. A stutter then, I-I love you. Please, please give me another chance. You mean the world to me. Truly. I'm begging, I mean it. You are it for me." It was days later after no response from Levi that Cam texted him again.
Instead of a text Levi called Cam and told him off and said he needed more time after what Cam had done. So, yeah Cam deserved what Levi gave back but there seemed to be a sliver of hope when Levi said he needed more time.
By the beginning of December Cam went into action to get Levi back and it was his good friend, James that gave him that "kick-in-the-butt". And it was the most beautiful ending to their story.
This was beautifully written and I even thought others gave it low stars and didn't like it, I would recommend reading it yourself to find out. I loved it, end of story.
Cameron had always had the mind-set that having a committed relationship would be nothing but heartbreak. He had seen his mother go through heartache when his father left them when he was 5 years old. After seeing his mother crying and falling apart after his father left put this bitter thought about relationships in his mind.
Levi also had his share of lovers, but suddenly his feelings changed. I'm not sure if his feelings changed that Christmas or before it, but it did seem it was during that Christmas. I'm sure Levi, being Cameron's best friend, knew about his friend's feelings about relationships and that was why it was so difficult to tell Cameron he wanted a committed relationship.
Levi had had time to think about them as a permanent couple and come to term with his feelings, but whether Cam knew this deep down inside or not it took him by surprise and like most who fear commitment ran. I believe Levi knew this was a possibility.
After Cam left he suffered emotionally over what had happened to their relationship. It was in the fall that following year, Cam was offered a year contract for a job in London. A huge promotion for him. But when push came to shove he couldn't do it because at that moment he had an epiphany he wanted Levi more than anything.
Of course he immediately got the courage to call Levi, after much sobbing, and got his voicemail and left this message..."Levi, it's me...Cameron. I know I don't deserve you. That I was a complete jerk. A stutter then, I-I love you. Please, please give me another chance. You mean the world to me. Truly. I'm begging, I mean it. You are it for me." It was days later after no response from Levi that Cam texted him again.
Instead of a text Levi called Cam and told him off and said he needed more time after what Cam had done. So, yeah Cam deserved what Levi gave back but there seemed to be a sliver of hope when Levi said he needed more time.
By the beginning of December Cam went into action to get Levi back and it was his good friend, James that gave him that "kick-in-the-butt". And it was the most beautiful ending to their story.
This was beautifully written and I even thought others gave it low stars and didn't like it, I would recommend reading it yourself to find out. I loved it, end of story.
November 20, 2017
It may not be completely fair to this particular book, but this has been building for a while and this one was apparently the last straw. I have to let out my rant now;
I am getting rather tired of guys in books fighting relationships tooth and nail out of principle. If it happens and it feels right, just let it the f... happen! And this idea that just because a guy – in this case Cameron – has seen friends’ relationships crash and burn that automatically means that relationships will always crash and burn is getting annoying. So just because something may perhaps possibly eventually in the future not turn out the way he wants, he will be a miserable bastard and do whatever he can not to fall into happiness in the present. I have no patience for that anymore.
Cameron and Levi have been best friends for many years and whenever Cameron comes home for Christmas, a lot of benefits go along with the friendship. (A lot of ‘benefits’ – it felt like that was all that happened for a large part of the book). Eventually, feelings happen and get in the way and ruin everything and they are both miserable for a long time before things are set to right at the end.
I also had the feeling someone might have dozed off a few times during the editing process. These are little things that I can just skip past if I like a book but not if I’m already unhappy:
He started to say something when I threw a snowball at him.Uh oh, he had no shirt on. That must be cold as fuck.
His nipples looked like they could cut glass. I had no idea what the saying was about the cold and shrinkage or not but I stared at his bulge a his sleep pants tented.
“You will pay for this.” He threw a snowball at me and ran down the front steps. He had been smart and bundled up in a jacket.
Wait, what? What happened to ‘no shirt on’? Is this the magical kind of jacket that just appears out of nowhere?
We had never kissed like this before. Pecks on cheeks or maybe a bit more on the lips, sure, but nothing like this.
Nooo, never. Except maybe for the very first time in the book we saw you together and I let him in and he explored, tangling our tongues. Really, they were kissing every time they had sex (which was pretty much all the time).
I am getting rather tired of guys in books fighting relationships tooth and nail out of principle. If it happens and it feels right, just let it the f... happen! And this idea that just because a guy – in this case Cameron – has seen friends’ relationships crash and burn that automatically means that relationships will always crash and burn is getting annoying. So just because something may perhaps possibly eventually in the future not turn out the way he wants, he will be a miserable bastard and do whatever he can not to fall into happiness in the present. I have no patience for that anymore.
Cameron and Levi have been best friends for many years and whenever Cameron comes home for Christmas, a lot of benefits go along with the friendship. (A lot of ‘benefits’ – it felt like that was all that happened for a large part of the book). Eventually, feelings happen and get in the way and ruin everything and they are both miserable for a long time before things are set to right at the end.
I also had the feeling someone might have dozed off a few times during the editing process. These are little things that I can just skip past if I like a book but not if I’m already unhappy:
He started to say something when I threw a snowball at him.Uh oh, he had no shirt on. That must be cold as fuck.
His nipples looked like they could cut glass. I had no idea what the saying was about the cold and shrinkage or not but I stared at his bulge a his sleep pants tented.
“You will pay for this.” He threw a snowball at me and ran down the front steps. He had been smart and bundled up in a jacket.
Wait, what? What happened to ‘no shirt on’? Is this the magical kind of jacket that just appears out of nowhere?
We had never kissed like this before. Pecks on cheeks or maybe a bit more on the lips, sure, but nothing like this.
Nooo, never. Except maybe for the very first time in the book we saw you together and I let him in and he explored, tangling our tongues. Really, they were kissing every time they had sex (which was pretty much all the time).
November 16, 2017
Cameron Pearce und Levi Jones verbindet eine langjährige Freundschaft, die sich inzwischen zu einer Freundschaft mit besonderen Vorzügen entwickelt hat. Allerdings leben sie in unterschiedlichen Städten und sehen sich unter dem Jahr nur selten. Doch zu Weihnachten kehrt Cameron immer wieder zurück nach Dickensville, wo seine Mutter lebt. Und auch Levi ist dort geblieben; betreibt dort ein sehr erfolgreiches Cafe und kann sich auch nicht vorstellen Dickensville zu verlassen.
New York hingegen ist Camerons Lebensmittelpunkt und dort wo er auch ein erfolgreiches Leben aufgebaut hat. Jedoch ist darin kein Platz für Gefühle oder engere Beziehungen. Die Scheidung seiner Eltern sitzt ihm immer noch in den Knochen und so geht er diesen Verpflichtungen aus dem Weg. Und auch Levi scheint durchaus zufrieden zu sein .....
Die Geschichte ist bittersüss und sehr sexy geschrieben. Die Helden sind sehr liebenswert, jedoch nicht ohne Ballast. Camerons Beweggründe keine Beziehungen einzugehen sind irgendwie verständlich, andererseits auch feige. Und so verhält er sich auch Levi gegenüber, als dieser am Status ihrer Beziehung etwas ändern möchte. Dass sie sich lieben und wie Topf auf Deckel passen, das spürt man von der ersten Sekunde an. Doch es dann auch auszusprechen und zu akzeptieren, ist eine sehr schwierige Angelegenheit.
Aber Cameron ist ein sehr unsicherer und konfliktscheuer Charakter, er in manchen Augenblicken ziemlich feige agiert und den armen Levi sprichwörtlich im Regen stehen lässt. Levi hingegen ist wahnsinnig großzügig, freundlich, liebenswert und einfach ein richtig guter Idiot. Anders kann man sich das Ende dieser Geschichte dann auch nicht erklären. Zuviel spoilern möchte ich nicht. An sich hat mir die Geschichte wirklich sehr gut gefallen und die Autorin hat echt Talent. Da hoffe ich echt auf mehr. Vielleicht auch richtige Romane, damit sich ihre Helden auch richtig gut entwickeln können.
Ach, und man sollte keinen Hunger haben, während man das Buch liest. Mir ist ständig das Wasser im Mund zusammengelaufen, wenn Levi seine Cinnamon Buns gebacken hat. Und Cameron erging es da nicht anders.^^
New York hingegen ist Camerons Lebensmittelpunkt und dort wo er auch ein erfolgreiches Leben aufgebaut hat. Jedoch ist darin kein Platz für Gefühle oder engere Beziehungen. Die Scheidung seiner Eltern sitzt ihm immer noch in den Knochen und so geht er diesen Verpflichtungen aus dem Weg. Und auch Levi scheint durchaus zufrieden zu sein .....
Die Geschichte ist bittersüss und sehr sexy geschrieben. Die Helden sind sehr liebenswert, jedoch nicht ohne Ballast. Camerons Beweggründe keine Beziehungen einzugehen sind irgendwie verständlich, andererseits auch feige. Und so verhält er sich auch Levi gegenüber, als dieser am Status ihrer Beziehung etwas ändern möchte. Dass sie sich lieben und wie Topf auf Deckel passen, das spürt man von der ersten Sekunde an. Doch es dann auch auszusprechen und zu akzeptieren, ist eine sehr schwierige Angelegenheit.
Aber Cameron ist ein sehr unsicherer und konfliktscheuer Charakter, er in manchen Augenblicken ziemlich feige agiert und den armen Levi sprichwörtlich im Regen stehen lässt. Levi hingegen ist wahnsinnig großzügig, freundlich, liebenswert und einfach ein richtig guter Idiot. Anders kann man sich das Ende dieser Geschichte dann auch nicht erklären. Zuviel spoilern möchte ich nicht. An sich hat mir die Geschichte wirklich sehr gut gefallen und die Autorin hat echt Talent. Da hoffe ich echt auf mehr. Vielleicht auch richtige Romane, damit sich ihre Helden auch richtig gut entwickeln können.
Ach, und man sollte keinen Hunger haben, während man das Buch liest. Mir ist ständig das Wasser im Mund zusammengelaufen, wenn Levi seine Cinnamon Buns gebacken hat. Und Cameron erging es da nicht anders.^^
November 10, 2017
Who doesn't like Christmas story? For me, they are like candy canes: no matter my age I can't resist, they're just too cute!
The story starts with a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past, as Cameron remembers colossal mistake he made on the last Christmas and which he is now hoping to fix.
Levi and Cameron are best friends. They are also friends with benefits, when they happen to both be single and in same town. Otherwise they led separate lives but keep in touch.
The story is told in Cameron's POV. His voice has an easy, warm undertone. He is young and carefree and lives his life in the same way. He is easy to connect with and the author gives us his back-story in easy and palatable way.
It's a quick and fast paced story, brimming with cheerfulness and charm.
Levi and Cameron have a semi-established relationship. They spend time together, they joke with each other and they have hot sex. I was rolling my eyes as I read about their antics: come on boys, call spade a spade and admit you're dating.
The story is chock full of Christmas references which was a treat for me. I especially liked Levi's Sweater Party. (You can guess what's about)
Cameron's emotions are all over the place as he tries to sort himself out after Levi's revelation. He makes a jerk move, but it was smoothly written, depicting his emotional turmoil so I could sympathize with him. He is trying his best and Levi has to be patient and forgiving with him.
The resolution was real Hallmark moment. I was like AWW! the whole time I was reading.
It's sweet and lovely Christmas story.
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
The story starts with a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past, as Cameron remembers colossal mistake he made on the last Christmas and which he is now hoping to fix.
Levi and Cameron are best friends. They are also friends with benefits, when they happen to both be single and in same town. Otherwise they led separate lives but keep in touch.
The story is told in Cameron's POV. His voice has an easy, warm undertone. He is young and carefree and lives his life in the same way. He is easy to connect with and the author gives us his back-story in easy and palatable way.
It's a quick and fast paced story, brimming with cheerfulness and charm.
Levi and Cameron have a semi-established relationship. They spend time together, they joke with each other and they have hot sex. I was rolling my eyes as I read about their antics: come on boys, call spade a spade and admit you're dating.
The story is chock full of Christmas references which was a treat for me. I especially liked Levi's Sweater Party. (You can guess what's about)
Cameron's emotions are all over the place as he tries to sort himself out after Levi's revelation. He makes a jerk move, but it was smoothly written, depicting his emotional turmoil so I could sympathize with him. He is trying his best and Levi has to be patient and forgiving with him.
The resolution was real Hallmark moment. I was like AWW! the whole time I was reading.
It's sweet and lovely Christmas story.
I received copy of this book in exchange for review.
The review is also posted on Gay Book Reviews
December 3, 2017
This is a cute friends-to-lovers with a bit of angst thrown in.
Levi and Cameron are best friends - with benefits. Cameron has moved to NY and Levi has stayed in their hometown and runs a cafe. He makes amazing cinnamon buns - which are Cameron's favorites. When Cameron is home for Christmas - a tradition he relishes spending time with him mom and his best friend - Levi ad Cameron spent the majority of their time together. And a lot of time having sex. Personally, I could have lived without all of the sex scenes in the early sections of the book. But that could be just me.
I loved Levi - he's obviously a sweet and kind man. He loves his cafe and takes care of his family and his friends and his employees. Cameron I wasn't so sure of. He comes off a bit selfish and takes Levi a bit for granted. I found it odd that he couldn't really put together his jealousy over Ashton. Maybe he just really isn't very self-aware, although he definitely seems to understand that he doesn't believe in "the one" or relationships.
When Levi reveals his true feelings to Cameron, well of course then things go a bit off the rails. Cameron doesn't handle things well, to say the least. I have to say that if I were Levi, I doubt I'd be quite as forgiving. I'd probably make him sweat it out for a day or two at least ;-)
This is the first book by new author Claire Castle. Overall I enjoyed the story of these friends to lovers who get a second chance to get things right. I'll be interested to see what this writer has in store for us next!
Levi and Cameron are best friends - with benefits. Cameron has moved to NY and Levi has stayed in their hometown and runs a cafe. He makes amazing cinnamon buns - which are Cameron's favorites. When Cameron is home for Christmas - a tradition he relishes spending time with him mom and his best friend - Levi ad Cameron spent the majority of their time together. And a lot of time having sex. Personally, I could have lived without all of the sex scenes in the early sections of the book. But that could be just me.
I loved Levi - he's obviously a sweet and kind man. He loves his cafe and takes care of his family and his friends and his employees. Cameron I wasn't so sure of. He comes off a bit selfish and takes Levi a bit for granted. I found it odd that he couldn't really put together his jealousy over Ashton. Maybe he just really isn't very self-aware, although he definitely seems to understand that he doesn't believe in "the one" or relationships.
When Levi reveals his true feelings to Cameron, well of course then things go a bit off the rails. Cameron doesn't handle things well, to say the least. I have to say that if I were Levi, I doubt I'd be quite as forgiving. I'd probably make him sweat it out for a day or two at least ;-)
This is the first book by new author Claire Castle. Overall I enjoyed the story of these friends to lovers who get a second chance to get things right. I'll be interested to see what this writer has in store for us next!
November 14, 2017
3.5 stars rounded up for this charming and very, very sexy story.
What to say about Snowflakes & Cinnamon Buns? For starters this is a sweet, fast-paced and very easy to read story about two very hot men who are quite incapable of keeping their hands off each other. It is also a story about growing up, about reality checks, and about being brave enough to follow your heart.
Cameron and Levi have enjoyed a friends-with-benefits relationship for years. For so long in fact, that for Cameron it has become a fact of life. He doesn’t question it, nor does he take a close look at any feelings he might have that don’t quite match the arrangement. He made up his mind that he doesn’t believe in happily-ever-afters years ago, and isn’t inclined to revisit that decision.
Levi on the other hand is ready to embrace more than their current set-up. But when he finds the courage to confess his feelings to Cameron, he sends his best friend into a panic and running, possibly meaning the end not only of the benefits but also of the friendship. Cameron needs to figure out what he really wants and feels and this requires a fair amount of soul searching.
I enjoyed this sex-driven story. Cameron and Levi when they get together can’t keep their hands (and other body parts) off each other, have an interesting dynamic going, and most definitely know how to bring each other — and in the process the reader — a lot of pleasure.
Special mention should be made of Rory, Levi’s adorable Westie; the author’s soft spot for this charming breed shines through the story and makes it all the more adorable.
This is a quick read. In fact, at times it was a bit too fast for me. I would have liked a bit more dialogue and interaction between these two men that wasn’t centred on sex. At times the story felt rushed, as if the platonic parts of the story had to be dealt with quickly so that we could get to the next sex scene.
Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by this debut and thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so I spent reading it. I’ve got a feeling this won’t be the last book by Clare Castle. In fact, while it’s quite possible I’m imagining things, I like to think that we’ve been set up to expect a sequel to this charming story, featuring a character named Ashton who is in clear and obvious need of his own, personal, sexy bear. Bring. It. On.
What to say about Snowflakes & Cinnamon Buns? For starters this is a sweet, fast-paced and very easy to read story about two very hot men who are quite incapable of keeping their hands off each other. It is also a story about growing up, about reality checks, and about being brave enough to follow your heart.
Cameron and Levi have enjoyed a friends-with-benefits relationship for years. For so long in fact, that for Cameron it has become a fact of life. He doesn’t question it, nor does he take a close look at any feelings he might have that don’t quite match the arrangement. He made up his mind that he doesn’t believe in happily-ever-afters years ago, and isn’t inclined to revisit that decision.
Levi on the other hand is ready to embrace more than their current set-up. But when he finds the courage to confess his feelings to Cameron, he sends his best friend into a panic and running, possibly meaning the end not only of the benefits but also of the friendship. Cameron needs to figure out what he really wants and feels and this requires a fair amount of soul searching.
I enjoyed this sex-driven story. Cameron and Levi when they get together can’t keep their hands (and other body parts) off each other, have an interesting dynamic going, and most definitely know how to bring each other — and in the process the reader — a lot of pleasure.
Special mention should be made of Rory, Levi’s adorable Westie; the author’s soft spot for this charming breed shines through the story and makes it all the more adorable.
This is a quick read. In fact, at times it was a bit too fast for me. I would have liked a bit more dialogue and interaction between these two men that wasn’t centred on sex. At times the story felt rushed, as if the platonic parts of the story had to be dealt with quickly so that we could get to the next sex scene.
Having said that, I was pleasantly surprised by this debut and thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so I spent reading it. I’ve got a feeling this won’t be the last book by Clare Castle. In fact, while it’s quite possible I’m imagining things, I like to think that we’ve been set up to expect a sequel to this charming story, featuring a character named Ashton who is in clear and obvious need of his own, personal, sexy bear. Bring. It. On.
December 11, 2017
I really enjoyed how this story was laid out. We get a prologue that's in the now. We get to see and feel the angst, anguish, and hope that Cameron has during his trip back home. He's on a quest to fix things with his best friend, his hopefully soon to be boyfriend.
Chapter one then starts a year ago and we get to see how these two childhood friends' went from friends w/benefits to strangers in the night. And each chapter we get closer to the now.
The story has great bones. The delivery was below par. The writing was chopping, blocking off any flow to the story, therefore I didn't feel a connection to the characters. I finished the book to see how Cameron healed the wounds between him and Levi but I did a LOT of skipping after about 2/3 of the way through.
Chapter one then starts a year ago and we get to see how these two childhood friends' went from friends w/benefits to strangers in the night. And each chapter we get closer to the now.
The story has great bones. The delivery was below par. The writing was chopping, blocking off any flow to the story, therefore I didn't feel a connection to the characters. I finished the book to see how Cameron healed the wounds between him and Levi but I did a LOT of skipping after about 2/3 of the way through.
December 1, 2017
3.5 stars.
I also think there were a few instances that people didn’t sound quite real. Just in the way things were said etc, some terms made it feel... ‘old’ I guess? Just didn’t match what I was picturing because they talked in a dated way at times. It also ended a little cheesy and I would have liked it to end with the key and a paragraph to wrap it up. A sex scene could have been cut out and it wouldn’t have affected the story either.
I also think there were a few instances that people didn’t sound quite real. Just in the way things were said etc, some terms made it feel... ‘old’ I guess? Just didn’t match what I was picturing because they talked in a dated way at times. It also ended a little cheesy and I would have liked it to end with the key and a paragraph to wrap it up. A sex scene could have been cut out and it wouldn’t have affected the story either.
October 13, 2017
This is a fun and sexy read to get you into the holiday spirit. Fast paced and well written it tells the story of Levi and Cameron. They are best friends since forever until one Christmas they become more than that. Lovely characters, hot sex, and intense emotions. You can’t ask for more.
This is the perfect story to read bundled up in front of the fire with some hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun.
This is the perfect story to read bundled up in front of the fire with some hot chocolate and a cinnamon bun.
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