Joyful

Leather & Chrome #2.5

by Kiki Clark

Ride hard. Love harder. Celebrate joyfully.

Rooster’s known he was a caretaker his whole life, but finding a boy who needed the same things he wanted to give had been… difficult.

Until sweet Emmett Moore falls back into his life.

Even though he’d practically grown up in the Moore house as Emmett’s brother’s best friend, it was like Rooster had never actually known the quiet young man. But anyone who shows up at a motorcycle club’s clubhouse to decorate Christmas cookies in a Snoopy sweater and superhero apron was someone he definitely wanted to get to know better.

Especially when he realizes the one thing he’s always wanted in a relationship might be the one thing Emmett has never been able to share with someone.

Was it too much to hope for a Christmas miracle?

Joyful features cookie decorating, a motorcycle club that accepts everyone, Snowball the dragon, a ceiling full of glow-in-the-dark stars, more Christmas presents than anyone could ever need, and mild age play (without ABDL). A fluffy, low angst holiday novella set in the world of the bestselling Leather & Chrome series. Each story can be read on its own and guarantees an HEA.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, BDSM, Contemporary, Novella, LGBT, Holiday

100 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2021

Reviews

[BelleLovesRomance · Rating 1 out of 5]

⭐️ 1/5 — Robbed of the romance—the pivotal ones, mind you. 🤬
🌶 2/5 — A tease with no payoff

An MM Daddy/boy age play holiday novella featuring Rooster the dependable Daddy and Emmett, the most precious, shy, giggly little sunshine boy. I mean seriously, Emmett was so freakin' cute I could’ve devoured him with a spoon. And Rooster? Top-tier Daddy energy. Calm, patient, present, protective—he was everything. They had the potential to be one of my fave pairings in this universe. 💕

BUT—

Kiki Clark, WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK were you thinking?! You skipped their first kiss?! Then you fast-forwarded past their first time having sex?! I didn’t even know I missed those moments until a side character casually mentioned it like it was some throwaway detail. Are you kidding me right now?! 😡

FIRST KISS, FIRST SEX, and MARRIAGE SHOULD ALWAYS HAPPEN ON PAGE!!

Look, I get it. It’s a short story—only around 100 pages—but I’ve read novellas half that length that still managed to deliver ALL the pivotal moments. This? This felt like being promised dessert and then just getting a whiff of it before it’s snatched away. 💩

It’s not even just this book. I noticed the same thing in book 1 and 2, both over 200 pages and still skipping emotional milestones like the marriage in book 1?! You just... gloss over them like they don't matter to us. Like we didn’t just emotionally invest in these characters for hours. Like we're not reading romance to feel all the firsts—first kiss, first time, first everything. 👁👄👁

I originally planned to jump into Bull’s Boy first, but then found out it’s set in the Leather & Chrome universe. So of course I backtracked to read this series from the start, hoping to soak in all that context. But after THREE books of being robbed of special moments, I’m throwing in the towel. 🏳️‍ I’m skipping ahead to Bull’s Boy, but I’m going in TERRIFIED that I’ll be robbed again. 😣

Why Kiki? I need those moments. I live for those moments. They’re what make romances unforgettable. 😭

But this? 💔💔💔

-
Quotes:

“I like ’em thick.”
“Frosting?”
“Frosting too.”
-
It felt… inevitable. Comfortable. Like coming home after a long, boring business trip and finally feeling like you can take a deep breath.
-
“Poor, baby. You want Daddy to help you feel better?”
-
“Mm, my sweet little boy has the perfect little cock for me to play with.”
-
"Don't ever make me do that again. Don't ever make me sit there and listen to people be mean to you without saying anything. I won't do it, Emmett. I can't."
-

⚠️ Detailed spoiler below ⛔️

RC and MCs:
🐲 MM, strict roles
🐲 Grayson Bloom aka Gray aka Rooster and Emmett Moore aka Emmie
🐲 Rooster: The Secretary of the Devil's Hands MC in Michigan. He's also an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician).
🐲 Rooster: Top, dom, Daddy, long hair, light brown eyes
🐲 Emmett: Bottom, sub, sweet shy boy, curvy, short, golden brown eyes, dimples

Genre and tropes:
🐲 MM contemporary romance
🐲 Motorcycle club (MC) background
🐲 Age gap (10 years)
🐲 DDlb dynamic
🐲 Mild age play
🐲 Oldest brother's best friend
🐲 Daddy kink
🐲 Fast paced
🐲 Found family
🐲 Size difference
🐲 Biker Daddy
🐲 Caretaker, gentle, protective Daddy
🐲 Body positivity
🐲 Sweet shy curvy sub boy
🐲 Pet names: Baby boy, sweet boy

Safety info:
🐲 Angst: Low
🐲 OW/OM drama: No
🐲 Cheating/sharing: No
🐲 Third act breakup: No
🐲 Ending: HFN
🐲 Epilogue: No
🐲 POV: Dual, 3rd person
🐲 Series structure: Interconnected standalone

Spice and kinks:
DDlb dynamic, daddy kink, mild age play (little, dragon plushie, coloring with crayons, footy PJs, sippy cup), handjob, cum in pants, marking (hickey), bareback

CW/TW:
Insecurity, struggles with self-image/self-confidence, anxiety

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.

Second review -- ALC

As a whole I don't think age play in audio is my favorite, but I thought John Solo did a good job. Obviously he's a very talented narrator overall, but I can imagine daddy kink and age play is challenging to do well. The story is still very cute and I really enjoy the found family and acceptance from everyone.

Thank you to the author for the ALC
_____________________________________

Original review

I was so happy when Kiki announced she was writing a longer version of this book. Thankfully it didn't disappoint. It was so very sweet and heartwarming and all the things I missed the first time around was added. It’s been a long time since I’ve read age play, and while I don’t love it like I used to, there were several cute moments. I will always be weak for any form of caretaking, and Kiki is good at that.

I can definitely recommend this one, even if you read the original version. It felt like a whole new book.

I also always love – spoiler warning – when the shitty family isn’t forgiven. Fuck them fatphobic dudes.


Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Motorcycle club
Daddy/boy
Best friend's little brother
Age play
Dimples
Age gap
Found family
Teenage crush
Size difference
Big-dicked daddy
First times



⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Age regression
Sexual contact during age regression
Fatphobic comments from family (past and present)
MC emotionally neglected and abused by family (past and present)
Themes of domestic violence (club helping victims)
Explicit sexual content



⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 208
Happy ending: Yes


He darted a look at his ice cream. Was it already melting? Why was she making him talk about feelings without his bowl of comfort?

“He’s a little,” Rooster said bluntly, crossing his arms over his chest. He tried not to look smug as Viper gaped at him. “Which means my caretaking, daddy ass might just be the perfect man for the job.”

“Poor thing,” Rooster said softly, reaching over and gently carding his fingers through the short hairs on the back of Emmett’s head. He didn’t push him to sit up or stop being dramatic. Rooster couldn’t give two shits about someone seeing Emmett’s little breakdown. It was more important to him to offer space and comfort.






You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[⛧ cal ⛧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i need to read more age-play romances after this. i enjoyed this but i was shookt as well. a good time overall.

[Mariah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edit// new version: 3.75

2021 Review, of the original, shorter version:
This was sweet but tbh I expected more.

I knew this was only a novella going in so I had that little chat with myself about holding the undeniable fact of page count limitations against it but alas - it also didn't help that the release was pushed back a couple of weeks without even a word about it. I'm a needy reader, what can I say.

Now, cards on the table, this was my first Daddy/Little story, and while I was aware that Age Regression was a thing my line is at ABDL, and sice this story definitely doesn't go there I trusted KC with the burden of popping my Little/AR cherry, as it were.

On that front it was smooth sailing. I enjoyed Emmett and Rooster's relationship, and I loved seeing Emmett settle into the MC family, as well as catching up with everyone. But I felt cheated at having some pretty big milestones not happen on page. Not only were their first kiss and first time off page, but most kink negotiation and discussion was only recapped on during their inner monologues and that left me feeling disconnected from their relationship.

This was sweet but not as steamy as the rest of the series - which I guess is fine given that it's not a full book - but in the end I felt like I waited a long time to be sort of left hanging :(

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rooster siempre ha sabido que es un Daddy "cuidador" y desde que sabe de que se trata la relacion Daddy-Boy, sabe que lo que quiere es un little, lo que no se espera es encontrarlo en el hermano mas pequeño de uno de sus mejores amigos del colegio.
Emmet siempre ha sido timido, sobre todo porque no todo el mundo es capaz de lidiar con su faceta de little, pero cuando su amigo Ollie lo convence de alquilar la habitacion de Viper, se da cuenta que el mundo de los motociclistas es mas inclusivo de lo que esperaba, y mejor aun es darse cuenta que Gary (Rooster), el que fue su crush de adolescente, tambien pertenece al Club y esta interesado en el.
En la epoca navideña, no hay nada como un gran milagro de encontrar a tu otra mitad, y sobre todo cuando esta viene en un paquete tan perfecto.

Una historia corta, navideña, dulce y romantica, donde vemos como Emmet y Rooster se reencuentran y aceptan que, tal vez, realmente uno es definitivamente la pareja del otro.
Ademas, conocemos un poco mas de los otros integrantes del Club y de como pasan sus dias de fiesta, juntos en familia.

[Barbara➰ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mój Emmecik znalazł cudownego Daddy. Słodka, fajna i miła historia.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

JOYFUL was a really tender Christmas novella in the LEATHER & CHROME series. While age play isn't my thing at all, I did love the sweet and gentle way Emmett and Rooster's relationship developed.

Rooster was a natural protector and mother hen and he quickly realized that the shy and quiet Emmett was the one for him. They made a great couple together, though I thought it was weird we didn't get to see their first kiss, it was just referred to after the fact.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Favorite Quotes:

"You went to a cookie-decorating party and got picked up by a hot daddy. Who even does that?"

[25 Readings Or More · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
Despite age play not being my cup of tea, I really enjoyed this story because they were so damn sweet.

[JonathanSamuelReads · Rating 1 out of 5]

BRO SHE SKIPPED THEIR FIRST KISS! STRAIGHT TO JAIL AND DNF

[SJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

First date, first kiss, first discussion about needs and boundaries, were all OFF PAGE. Yes, I raised my voice. And am going to raise it more because Rooster and Emmet got into bed sleeping together for the first time and the scene ends. Next page is the next morning. Off page sex?? WTH? Was the author too busy to write these scenes? 🤦‍♀️

[Caroline Forrester · Rating 2 out of 5]

3 ⭐️
Much better once the author rewrote to add more content, namely, what I commented on missing during my first read.

Original Review:
2 ⭐️
Don’t write a romance and skip over the first kiss and first sex scene! We need to read about the first kiss!

[Vero Exposito · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

This was so cute! This novella was just adorable and I honestly loved it.

I loved Rooster and I Emmett together. Emmett was so freaking adorable. He and Rooster complemented each other so perfectly and this novella just gave me all the feels .

This book made me love Viper even more. I already had a crush on her from previous books but I'm in love with her now. I can be her girlfriend jeje.

I know the book that comes next is Ken's and Houston's and I honestly can’t wait! I want it to come out already.

This novella is so cute and short, and it’s worth reading. If you do decide to read it, I hope you enjoy it. Toodles!

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

I was waiting for this audiobook to come out and it was as cute and sweet as I thought 😊

Can't wait for Thomas and the Boys' books to come out!

Narrator: John Solo

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this novella even though I'm not a fan of Age play romance but this one didn't have Diaper Play so it worked for me. Emmett was the sweetest and Rooster was his perfect match.

Side note : I wish they had used a different cover  model bc I'm assuming it's suppose to be Emmett and one of the things I  loved about him was the fact that he was curvy.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute, sweet holiday novella set in the Leather and Chrome 'verse - and I LOVE this series from Kiki!

Emmett was just the sweetest ever, I adored him. And I love a brother's best friend pairing, always.

My one caveat that kept it from being 5 stars was due to the novella length of the story, I felt like several things were kinda glossed over and summarized as having happened from one chapter to the next, and it's think I would have rather read about than be told it happened. (This is often my hang up with novellas and short stories, so this might be just me. I personally want to read all those firsts, not read about them after the fact)

Still, this was sweet and if you're just dipping your toes into age play, this is a very nice, not too extreme example of that.

[Liz [reads books] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why isn't this book longer? 😭
And what is going on with Knuckles and with Viper too???
I need to know!
4 stars

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 ★
2/5 🌶

This was a cute novella. I actually love Emmett he’s so cute 🥺

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (after update)
1st read: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.5 stars

Joyful is book 2.5 in Kiki Clark’s Leather and Chrome series. It is a novella-length, holiday story that fits within the larger series and features characters that we have met in past books. Rooster is a club member and Emmett is a client of Ollie’s from Temptation and he appears briefly in that story. This story doesn’t really deal as much with the club on a larger level as the full-length books and could be read as a standalone if you’re ok without knowing all the side characters.

This is a shorter story and so things move fairly quickly. I think it works pretty well in the sense that Emmett and Rooster knew each other well years ago, so I could get on board with the quick relationship development. I think enough time passes over the course of the story for their connection to be believable. The guys are sweet together and it is nice to see the acceptance that Rooster gives Emmett, helping him feel more confidence in what he wants. Rooster also sticks up for Emmett with his family and refuses to allow them to treat him badly. There is a light holiday vibe here, though this isn’t a full-on Christmas story.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Natalia Forciniti · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️: 6,5/10 🌶️: 2/5 😭: 1/5 🤣: -/5

Relationship dynamic: Male-Male
Available on Kindle Unlimited
POV: 3rd dual

Tropes:
🏍️ Age gap
❤️ Motorcycle Club
🏍️ Found family
❤️ Daddy Kink (with age play)

“Maybe you weren’t looking,” Emmett finally said, voice soft but he didn’t look away from Rooster’s eyes. Grinning, he ran the back of his fingers down Emmett’s soft cheek and winked. “I’m looking now.”

(ESP) Primera vez que leo un Daddy kink con age play y si bien es el fetiche que menos disfruto de leer me resultó interesante conocer algo nuevo y considero que está bien logrado.
Odie a la familia de Emmett y amé muchísimo todo lo protector que es Rooster. Una pareja muy dulce.

(ENG) I've never read a Daddy kink with age play before, and while it's not my favourite fetish, it was interesting to learn something new and I think it's well done.
I really disliked Emmett's family, but I loved how protective Rooster is. They're a lovely couple.

[Rin (indefinite hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a perfectly sweet little addition to Kiki’s Leather and Chrome series. We get to see our favorite characters from the previous books and a new dynamic to the Daddy kink between Emmet and Rooster. If you are turned off by age play, it really is mild and most of it is hinted at. It’s really just a sweet and sexy little love story. I’m just bummed the only on page “first” we got to see was their first I love you. The other firsts were off page. But that’s a personal preference for me in the books and novellas I read so I can feel like I’ve really been brought along in their story.

Regardless of that, this was the perfect feel good quick holiday read. Can’t wait to see these men pop up again in future books

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and spicy!

This was a really fun addition to the Leather & Chrome series. I absolutely loved Emmett and Rooster together. I have a weakness for caretakers and this totally hit the spot. Rooster is so kind and caring! It’s even more satisfying because of how sweet Emmett is. And then there’s some really great body positivity. Emmett is described as short and chubby, and Rooster is so hot for him and his thick thighs. Emmett is a little and I really liked how seamlessly it was written into the story. It felt like an essential part of Emmett and of their relationship. I definitely recommend this, especially if you’re a fan of the series. And I also really love the series! It’s more than worth a read.

[what_emmareadnext · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this book today! I loved the daddy/little dynamic and I have loved this series so it was the best of both worlds for me! Emmett is just the sweetest man with the shittest family but when he meets Rooster again he learns what it’s like to have someone’s undevoted attention and to be the most important thing to someone. And little Emmie is just the cutest little. Rooster is loving, attentive and kind. I can’t get enough of this series!!!

[Zee]

3.5 ⭐️ I love Rooster, and Emmet is absolutely adorable. Age play is not really my thing, even though my rating is separate from my preferences. I just found the story lacking a bit of depth, even if it’s a novella. I still enjoyed it though. All the characters are great as usual 😍 Side note: the MC lifestyle portrayed in this book is not OTT or overwhelming, which I appreciate greatly!

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book as I was sending a bunch of emails for work and let me tell you, it made a very annoying task so much more fun. I was grinning and kicking my feet the entire time I was listening to this one, I just had the best time.

This was so sweet and tender and full of yearning, which is my favourite combo. This was such a good mix of super sweet scenes that made me smile and super hot scenes and I had such a lovely time with this one.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was ok I guess, but nothing really memorable or different from the other books in the series.
I love a daddy kink and usually don’t mind age play, but Idk if it was because it was overused or what, but the constant use of “little boy” started to give me the ick

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25 stars

[Elin Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

did i read a christmas book in may? yes yes i did. so glad i read it. was just a lovely little pallet cleanser after all the long reads ive been doing. enjoyed. could not put it down. now have finished this whole series. 5⭐️

[Pyro Aleksandr · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4
Daddy/little vibes which I do enjoy. Just wanted more I guess. Love rooster and Emmett.