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Doves of Destiny #1
The Holiday Disaster
What do you call being stranded with your brother’s best friend? A Recipe for disaster? Or a dream come true?
Ethan Wang
College is supposed to be my chance to start over. To leave high school behind and focus on my studies to become a vet. Then, I board a plane on winter break and find myself seated next to my brother’s best friend. The same guy I had a huge crush on even though he always seemed to have it out for me.
It should be a quick flight filled with awkward small talk, but plans change when the plane’s engine fails and we have to land in the middle of nowhere. After a sequence of ill-fated events, we’re forced to share a B&B with only one bed. Trapped in a room with a man I’ve hidden my feelings from for years… What’s the worst that could happen?
Kingsley Sharp
I usually get what I want, thanks to my mastery at charming my way into anyone’s heart. That, however, hasn’t been the case with my best friend’s brother. We got off on the wrong foot, and I want nothing more than to win him over.
Now with us stranded together, my chance has come. Stuck in a small town full of snow drifts and holiday cheer, I’m determined to use this disaster to make this a magical holiday neither of us will forget.
The Holiday Disaster is a standalone MM romance with college-aged characters. It’s a fun blend of sweet and steamy moments featuring brother’s best friend, one bed, first love, slow burn, and opposites attract tropes.
Ethan Wang
College is supposed to be my chance to start over. To leave high school behind and focus on my studies to become a vet. Then, I board a plane on winter break and find myself seated next to my brother’s best friend. The same guy I had a huge crush on even though he always seemed to have it out for me.
It should be a quick flight filled with awkward small talk, but plans change when the plane’s engine fails and we have to land in the middle of nowhere. After a sequence of ill-fated events, we’re forced to share a B&B with only one bed. Trapped in a room with a man I’ve hidden my feelings from for years… What’s the worst that could happen?
Kingsley Sharp
I usually get what I want, thanks to my mastery at charming my way into anyone’s heart. That, however, hasn’t been the case with my best friend’s brother. We got off on the wrong foot, and I want nothing more than to win him over.
Now with us stranded together, my chance has come. Stuck in a small town full of snow drifts and holiday cheer, I’m determined to use this disaster to make this a magical holiday neither of us will forget.
The Holiday Disaster is a standalone MM romance with college-aged characters. It’s a fun blend of sweet and steamy moments featuring brother’s best friend, one bed, first love, slow burn, and opposites attract tropes.
201 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2022
132 people are currently reading
310 people want to read
About the author
Rye Cox
22 books136 followersBe sure to follow to stay updated on latest release: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rye-cox
Rye is an M/M Romance author who is a romantic at heart. She believes that love conquers all, and that's why her stories are guaranteed to always have an HEA. When she's not writing, she escapes to the world of books or daydreams about becoming a future cat lady.
Rye is an M/M Romance author who is a romantic at heart. She believes that love conquers all, and that's why her stories are guaranteed to always have an HEA. When she's not writing, she escapes to the world of books or daydreams about becoming a future cat lady.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
December 5, 2025
Meh 😑 Ethan was way too naive, and Kingsley was kind of a dick
December 14, 2022
Rating: 2.5 stars
I love the premise of this book - Ethan's been crushing on his big brother's BFF, Kingsley, basically forever. They wind up stranded together and oops, there's only one bed. Such mutual pining, such forced proximity.
Sadly, what I did not love was how the book was executed. It feels like it's not polished. THe pacing is off, I got whiplash from the hate him/love him/shouldn't do this/have to do this from both leads but especially Kingsley, and it's rather purple prose-y. Lines like "but I was a young man with high hormones that demanded I get off, and often." What 23-year-old talks like that?! It was like reading 50 Shades of Gray, but make it queer college boys.
I ended up skimming the last 15% of this book because I just wanted it to be OVER. It was really predictable, but if you can get past the overwrought writing it IS a cute story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
I love the premise of this book - Ethan's been crushing on his big brother's BFF, Kingsley, basically forever. They wind up stranded together and oops, there's only one bed. Such mutual pining, such forced proximity.
Sadly, what I did not love was how the book was executed. It feels like it's not polished. THe pacing is off, I got whiplash from the hate him/love him/shouldn't do this/have to do this from both leads but especially Kingsley, and it's rather purple prose-y. Lines like "but I was a young man with high hormones that demanded I get off, and often." What 23-year-old talks like that?! It was like reading 50 Shades of Gray, but make it queer college boys.
I ended up skimming the last 15% of this book because I just wanted it to be OVER. It was really predictable, but if you can get past the overwrought writing it IS a cute story.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are unbiased and my own.
Like this review?
Check out more of my reviews on my blog, Elley the Book Otter
September 4, 2023
3.5 stars
Lovely fluffy romance, with best friend's brother, forced proximity, only one bed, Christmas time, frenemies to lovers tropes.
The MCs are adorable and after some misunderstandings due to their young age, finally got together after an emergency landing of their plane.
This story was very low angst and a little predictable.
I enjoyed, though, and I recommended if you're in need of something cute.
Lovely fluffy romance, with best friend's brother, forced proximity, only one bed, Christmas time, frenemies to lovers tropes.
The MCs are adorable and after some misunderstandings due to their young age, finally got together after an emergency landing of their plane.
This story was very low angst and a little predictable.
I enjoyed, though, and I recommended if you're in need of something cute.
December 13, 2022
This was a new to me writer with a blurb and tropes that called to me. I needed to see how this all resolved.
So in here we have Ethan, an Asian (like me!) mc who was in his first year of college and a virgin and a quiet guy who has had a lifetime crush on Kingsley, the next door neighbor and best friend of Ethan's older brother.
Kingsley is a junior in college, who doesnt know what he wants to do in life. He discovered that he was bi early, but did not get with men until college. Poor Ethan did not know this and thought he was straight.
So this whole story would have been resolved on page one if these two sat down and talked like adults. I mean, the whole conflict was about miscommunication. Ethan though Kingley hated him from first sight, and let me put that quote here because I loved it.
*You are beautiful, are you my princess?*
Kingsley was 10 and already was a charmer.
However, Ethan thought he was being called girly, because he was slight and was mistaken for a girl a lot, he was also 9 so deep thinking was not gonna happen. From that day until many years later, they both thought the other didnt like them.
This story is actually taking place within a couple of days in a town known for being where the doves can lead you to your fated love. I thought that was awesome and will be reading more in the series as I need to know about the original fated pair.
However, and this is a big however, this was a hard to read book. Almost all of the book was in one MC's head or the other. Big, long, and deep thoughts are good and all, but man, you cannot read pages and pages of it without getting taken out of the story.
So in here we have Ethan, an Asian (like me!) mc who was in his first year of college and a virgin and a quiet guy who has had a lifetime crush on Kingsley, the next door neighbor and best friend of Ethan's older brother.
Kingsley is a junior in college, who doesnt know what he wants to do in life. He discovered that he was bi early, but did not get with men until college. Poor Ethan did not know this and thought he was straight.
So this whole story would have been resolved on page one if these two sat down and talked like adults. I mean, the whole conflict was about miscommunication. Ethan though Kingley hated him from first sight, and let me put that quote here because I loved it.
*You are beautiful, are you my princess?*
Kingsley was 10 and already was a charmer.
However, Ethan thought he was being called girly, because he was slight and was mistaken for a girl a lot, he was also 9 so deep thinking was not gonna happen. From that day until many years later, they both thought the other didnt like them.
This story is actually taking place within a couple of days in a town known for being where the doves can lead you to your fated love. I thought that was awesome and will be reading more in the series as I need to know about the original fated pair.
However, and this is a big however, this was a hard to read book. Almost all of the book was in one MC's head or the other. Big, long, and deep thoughts are good and all, but man, you cannot read pages and pages of it without getting taken out of the story.
December 28, 2022
It was like floating on the water.
The story felt dragged, and nothing special or swoon worthy.
I managed to finished it but exhausted.
Sorry, not for me.
The story felt dragged, and nothing special or swoon worthy.
I managed to finished it but exhausted.
Sorry, not for me.
December 18, 2023
3.5 stars.
This is a cute story, though the young ages of the characters – especially Ethan – is really obvious. I get it. He and Kingsley are still in college, but he came across more as a young teenager than a young adult. As for Kingsley, he acted a lot more mature in some ways, but his constant teasing got old quick. Had these guys been older, had Ethan acted older, I’d probably have enjoyed this more.
Ethan and Kingsley basically grew up together, with Kingsley being Ethan’s brother’s best friend. So much was told about their childhoods, but not a whole lot was shown. Also, their constant internal monologues didn’t really do much for the story.
I wish the ‘doves of destiny’ thing had been more than it was. While I wouldn’t want legend overkill, it still would’ve been nice to see a little bit more than what I saw as far as Ethan and Kingsley.
Even so, it was a nice enough read.
This is a cute story, though the young ages of the characters – especially Ethan – is really obvious. I get it. He and Kingsley are still in college, but he came across more as a young teenager than a young adult. As for Kingsley, he acted a lot more mature in some ways, but his constant teasing got old quick. Had these guys been older, had Ethan acted older, I’d probably have enjoyed this more.
Ethan and Kingsley basically grew up together, with Kingsley being Ethan’s brother’s best friend. So much was told about their childhoods, but not a whole lot was shown. Also, their constant internal monologues didn’t really do much for the story.
I wish the ‘doves of destiny’ thing had been more than it was. While I wouldn’t want legend overkill, it still would’ve been nice to see a little bit more than what I saw as far as Ethan and Kingsley.
Even so, it was a nice enough read.
December 15, 2025
This was ok. I just didn’t like either Ethan or Kingsley. I thought Ethan was whiny and obnoxious. Kingsley was such a bully in the beginning. He kept teasing Ethan even when he knew it upset him. The ending was sweet which is why I gave it three stars.
December 22, 2022
A good start as Ethan tries to avoid his brother’s best friend at the airport only to be seated together.
Ethan was on his way home to spend Christmas with his folks but never expected to see Kingsley at the airport. Both attended the same college and both lived in the same hometown.
Both silently wanting each other from their time is youngsters.
Misunderstandings happen but there stranded in a unknown town with the plane having problems.
Ethan doesn’t have the best luck and it seemed to follow him. What turns out to be an routine trip, turns to be nightmare for a grumpy Ethan and his plight to avoid Kingsley. A fast romance with a snow storm and one bedroom. An enjoyable holiday book to read with dual POVs and a HEA.
I received a GRR Advance Reader Copy and this is my honest thoughts.
Ethan was on his way home to spend Christmas with his folks but never expected to see Kingsley at the airport. Both attended the same college and both lived in the same hometown.
Both silently wanting each other from their time is youngsters.
Misunderstandings happen but there stranded in a unknown town with the plane having problems.
Ethan doesn’t have the best luck and it seemed to follow him. What turns out to be an routine trip, turns to be nightmare for a grumpy Ethan and his plight to avoid Kingsley. A fast romance with a snow storm and one bedroom. An enjoyable holiday book to read with dual POVs and a HEA.
I received a GRR Advance Reader Copy and this is my honest thoughts.
December 17, 2022
This is a sweet holiday romance with strong, likable characters in Kingsley and Ethan. It's an entertaining story with the two wanting each other but never moving on it. Now they are forced into close quarters with one bed. It's a cute story, moves fluidly with perfectly painted scenes and is an enjoyable read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
December 10, 2022
DNF 40%
Ethan continuously expressed extreme annoyance and irritation with Kingsley's 'teasing' (it's not teasing, it's straight up bullying when the recipient doesn't enjoy it). Ethan was finally finding some courage around Kingsley, only to lose it again immediately thanks to his insensitive so-called 'teasing'.
Then, when I finally thought they were making some headway, Kingsley said: "Teasing Ethan was becoming one of my favorite things in the world."
Poor Ethan. He should have punched Kingsley like he wanted to.
A real pity, because I was so ready to read all about Kingsley winning Ethan over.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased.
Ethan continuously expressed extreme annoyance and irritation with Kingsley's 'teasing' (it's not teasing, it's straight up bullying when the recipient doesn't enjoy it). Ethan was finally finding some courage around Kingsley, only to lose it again immediately thanks to his insensitive so-called 'teasing'.
Then, when I finally thought they were making some headway, Kingsley said: "Teasing Ethan was becoming one of my favorite things in the world."
Poor Ethan. He should have punched Kingsley like he wanted to.
A real pity, because I was so ready to read all about Kingsley winning Ethan over.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. My review remains honest and unbiased.
December 22, 2022
4.5 Stars
Ethan Wang has had a crush on his best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend, Kingsley, for years. A crush he shows by awkwardness, indifference, blatant annoyance and avoidance. He thinks that Kingsley hates him, so he hides his crush way down. He called Ethan a princess the first time they met, breaking Ethan’s heart.
Kingsley has had a crush on his sister’s best friend/best friend’s brother, Ethan, for years. A crush he shows by teasing, following his sister and Ethan around, charm and misinterpreted flirting. He can’t figure out why Ethan hates him, especially when he’s wanted Ethan to be his princess since they met when Ethan was 9.
When Ethan discovers that he and Kingsley are not only on the same flight home, but seated next to one another, he is dreading the teasing he is about to endure. He turns off his feelings and tries to ignore Kingsley. Turbulence and a wicked snowstorm get the passengers stranded in a middle-of-nowhere town and Ethan & Kingsley wind up forced to share the only bed in the only room available at the last B&B in the town.
Since Wintertown is one of those amazing little towns that feels like it’s full of magic, Christmas, avian or otherwise, Ethan finds himself opening up to Kingsley against his resolve to pass their time trapped together in near-silence whenever possible. However, the sparks that exist between and Ethan & Kingsley are too powerful to ignore. One might even say their connection is destiny. One kiss turns into two kisses turns into doing more than sharing the singular bed for sleeping.
Can Ethan believe that Kingsley is being truthful when he tells him everything he’s ever wanted to hear? Can Kingsley prove to Ethan that he’s not only into him, but in this for the long haul? Will the snow stay cold with all the heat these two throw off once they toss their clothes, too?
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.
The Holiday Disaster
Rye Cox
Ethan Wang has had a crush on his best friend’s brother/brother’s best friend, Kingsley, for years. A crush he shows by awkwardness, indifference, blatant annoyance and avoidance. He thinks that Kingsley hates him, so he hides his crush way down. He called Ethan a princess the first time they met, breaking Ethan’s heart.
Kingsley has had a crush on his sister’s best friend/best friend’s brother, Ethan, for years. A crush he shows by teasing, following his sister and Ethan around, charm and misinterpreted flirting. He can’t figure out why Ethan hates him, especially when he’s wanted Ethan to be his princess since they met when Ethan was 9.
When Ethan discovers that he and Kingsley are not only on the same flight home, but seated next to one another, he is dreading the teasing he is about to endure. He turns off his feelings and tries to ignore Kingsley. Turbulence and a wicked snowstorm get the passengers stranded in a middle-of-nowhere town and Ethan & Kingsley wind up forced to share the only bed in the only room available at the last B&B in the town.
Since Wintertown is one of those amazing little towns that feels like it’s full of magic, Christmas, avian or otherwise, Ethan finds himself opening up to Kingsley against his resolve to pass their time trapped together in near-silence whenever possible. However, the sparks that exist between and Ethan & Kingsley are too powerful to ignore. One might even say their connection is destiny. One kiss turns into two kisses turns into doing more than sharing the singular bed for sleeping.
Can Ethan believe that Kingsley is being truthful when he tells him everything he’s ever wanted to hear? Can Kingsley prove to Ethan that he’s not only into him, but in this for the long haul? Will the snow stay cold with all the heat these two throw off once they toss their clothes, too?
I received a complimentary copy of this book and, as always, my review is unpaid and honest.
The Holiday Disaster
Rye Cox
September 10, 2024
This is only the second book I’ve read by this author but I’ve loved both so much that they could easily become one of my favorite authors.
Ethan was the sweetest thing, he thought bad luck followed him everywhere he went and had kinda come to expect the worst. He had had a crush on his big brother’s hot best friend since he was nine years old but was convinced Kingsley hated him. Now they’re both on the same flight home from college for the Christmas holidays and all he can hope for is that Kingsley doesn’t notice him. Except bad luck strikes and first, their seats are together THEN, their plane has to make an emergency landing causing them to be stuck together in a B&B with only one bed 😲.
I loved Kingsley too, both guys were adorable, there was no bad guy here at all, they both just suffered under some misunderstandings. Kingsley had always had a crush on Ethan as well (they were only a year apart in age) but Ethan seemed to hate him so he never said anything, plus he was best friends with Ethan’s older brother…
This was such a sweet book; no drama, no angst (YAY) and no third quarter breakups (YESSS!!). So, basically the sweetest, most perfect, romantic read possible—for anyone really but especially for college students. A must read!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ethan was the sweetest thing, he thought bad luck followed him everywhere he went and had kinda come to expect the worst. He had had a crush on his big brother’s hot best friend since he was nine years old but was convinced Kingsley hated him. Now they’re both on the same flight home from college for the Christmas holidays and all he can hope for is that Kingsley doesn’t notice him. Except bad luck strikes and first, their seats are together THEN, their plane has to make an emergency landing causing them to be stuck together in a B&B with only one bed 😲.
I loved Kingsley too, both guys were adorable, there was no bad guy here at all, they both just suffered under some misunderstandings. Kingsley had always had a crush on Ethan as well (they were only a year apart in age) but Ethan seemed to hate him so he never said anything, plus he was best friends with Ethan’s older brother…
This was such a sweet book; no drama, no angst (YAY) and no third quarter breakups (YESSS!!). So, basically the sweetest, most perfect, romantic read possible—for anyone really but especially for college students. A must read!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 3, 2024
2.5
Had some promise - I liked the idea and the characters but it just felt rushed and a bit clunky. Skimmed the last bit.
Had some promise - I liked the idea and the characters but it just felt rushed and a bit clunky. Skimmed the last bit.
December 1, 2025
3.25
Sweet, cozy, low stakes. Not too much depth but perfect for a quick comfort read
Sweet, cozy, low stakes. Not too much depth but perfect for a quick comfort read
December 16, 2025
3.75 stars
January 1, 2024
2.5 little too saccharine at times but still enjoyable
January 3, 2024
A fun premise of the book - brothers best friend and the younger brother stranded during a storm (and a myriad of other disasters to boot). Both who have thought the other wasn’t interested.
Sorely lacking in the execution. And one of the characters Kingsley is really just a bit of a bully towards the other, Ethan. The story was clunky, and backwards and forwards between them that was really inconsistent and just took away from the story.
Nearly DNF’d it, but it’s not particularly long so I battled through.
Sorely lacking in the execution. And one of the characters Kingsley is really just a bit of a bully towards the other, Ethan. The story was clunky, and backwards and forwards between them that was really inconsistent and just took away from the story.
Nearly DNF’d it, but it’s not particularly long so I battled through.
January 3, 2024
DNF at 7%
The writing is uninteresting, and I'll take a pass on the bathroom jokes 12 pages into the book (or any amount of pages into the book).
Also the weird stalker vibes I'm getting from Kingsley with sentences like My heart was silently screaming at this uninterrupted chance to get to know him better, without the possibility of him running away like he would have in the past. or I’d let him run away for now, but I was nowhere near done trying to break through his walls.: maybe he wants to run away because you're full of red flags dude?
Pass. Pass. Pass.
The writing is uninteresting, and I'll take a pass on the bathroom jokes 12 pages into the book (or any amount of pages into the book).
Also the weird stalker vibes I'm getting from Kingsley with sentences like My heart was silently screaming at this uninterrupted chance to get to know him better, without the possibility of him running away like he would have in the past. or I’d let him run away for now, but I was nowhere near done trying to break through his walls.: maybe he wants to run away because you're full of red flags dude?
Pass. Pass. Pass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
I'm glad that this was the last holiday book on my list for 2022. Not because I'm burnt out on holiday lists, but because this one was cute and made me smile like a maniac (most of the time) so it meant I was ending the season on a good note.
Ethan is a college freshman coming home from college. He's convinced he has bad luck and most of the early part of the book seems to confirm his belief. Kingsley is a junior and Ethan's brother's best friend. Ethan is also convinced that Kingsley has hated him since they were kids, due to a misunderstanding. Kingsley thinks that Ethan has always just been annoyed with him, and like the golden retriever that he is, it made him want to be friends with him in their youth. In reality, they've both had crushes on one another for as long as either of them could remember. And because this is a book about the Doves of Destiny and fate? Well, of course they're on the same plane which experiences engine trouble and lands them in a small town where there is only one hotel room with one bed in the entire town, thanks to tourism and a bunch of other stranded passengers.
A lot of this book's conflict is built upon the childhood misunderstanding. It is also built around the fact that Kingsley likes to tease Ethan and Ethan, bless him, does not realize that Kingsley is teasing and takes it all VERY personally. There's also slight concern on Kingsley's part on how his best friend will react to him dating his younger brother, but they're only a year apart and honestly? This part of the conflict takes up very little narrative space.
This book is filled with near misses and miscommunications. Miscommunications can be very hit or miss for me, and there were several times where I wanted to wring both of their necks and force them to converse. The only reason this didn't make the story lose a star is because half the time when they'd sit down to have the needed conversation, something or someone would interrupt them and then they'd lose courage in having the conversation. Which goes back to the near misses and causes parts of this book to be a comedy of errors.
All in all, I loved this book. It was a cute romance told in Dual POV with some decent heat and a cute love story. I can't wait to revisit Wintertown and find out even more about the Doves of Destiny, the original couple of legend, and see if two side characters end up getting their ish together.
** DISCLAIMER: I recieved an ARC of this novel from the author and this is my fair and unbiased review. **
Ethan is a college freshman coming home from college. He's convinced he has bad luck and most of the early part of the book seems to confirm his belief. Kingsley is a junior and Ethan's brother's best friend. Ethan is also convinced that Kingsley has hated him since they were kids, due to a misunderstanding. Kingsley thinks that Ethan has always just been annoyed with him, and like the golden retriever that he is, it made him want to be friends with him in their youth. In reality, they've both had crushes on one another for as long as either of them could remember. And because this is a book about the Doves of Destiny and fate? Well, of course they're on the same plane which experiences engine trouble and lands them in a small town where there is only one hotel room with one bed in the entire town, thanks to tourism and a bunch of other stranded passengers.
A lot of this book's conflict is built upon the childhood misunderstanding. It is also built around the fact that Kingsley likes to tease Ethan and Ethan, bless him, does not realize that Kingsley is teasing and takes it all VERY personally. There's also slight concern on Kingsley's part on how his best friend will react to him dating his younger brother, but they're only a year apart and honestly? This part of the conflict takes up very little narrative space.
This book is filled with near misses and miscommunications. Miscommunications can be very hit or miss for me, and there were several times where I wanted to wring both of their necks and force them to converse. The only reason this didn't make the story lose a star is because half the time when they'd sit down to have the needed conversation, something or someone would interrupt them and then they'd lose courage in having the conversation. Which goes back to the near misses and causes parts of this book to be a comedy of errors.
All in all, I loved this book. It was a cute romance told in Dual POV with some decent heat and a cute love story. I can't wait to revisit Wintertown and find out even more about the Doves of Destiny, the original couple of legend, and see if two side characters end up getting their ish together.
** DISCLAIMER: I recieved an ARC of this novel from the author and this is my fair and unbiased review. **
January 3, 2025
(2,5 stars rated down) I started reading this story a year ago as one of the prompts for a challenge I was interested in participating in. Almost immediately, it was clear to me that Ethan and Kingsley’s romance wasn’t really working for me. So, I pretty much abandoned it until recently, when I decided to read a few more pages, expecting to DNF the story. Instead, I ended up keeping going until I reached the end. It wasn’t that my initial opinion of the story suddenly changed or that it got any better. It was just that it was a relatively fast read, and I figured I might as well finish it as the first book in the 2025 Reading Challenge.
Ethan, who had always had eyes only for Kingsley—his older brother’s best friend—growing up, hopes things might change now that he’s in his first semester of college. Fate intervenes when Ethan and Kingsley end up sitting together on the same flight home for the winter holidays—and are then stranded in a random small town, where their plane is forced to make an emergency landing. The two are left with no choice but to share the last available room at a local B&B, which has only one bed. While Ethan is mortified, Kingsley is more than happy to spend some quality time with him, hoping to finally get closer to Ethan. As it turns out, Ethan isn’t the only one with a crush (or something like that—I’m blanking on the finer details, as I couldn’t bring myself to start reading from the beginning again).
Kingsley’s strong feelings toward Ethan seemed to come out of nowhere. Suddenly, he was jealous and possessive when another guy even looked at Ethan. This was something he had never felt before in any of his past relationships because "Ethan was just so special to him." As for Ethan, he went out of his way to misunderstand almost everything Kingsley said or did, instead of just talking to him. The sex scenes made me slightly uncomfortable because Ethan’s character, in particular, came across as incredibly childish.
It’s not even that Ethan and Kingsley acted any more stupidly than characters in similar romance stories. It was just that I found both Ethan’s and Kingsley’s actions and inner thoughts more annoying and grating than I usually would. Everything about this story felt either too schmoopy or too over-the-top, and I’ll certainly think twice before giving this author’s books a chance again. Alas, I still have a few of them on my Kindle, so this probably won’t be the last time I choose to torture myself.
Themes: dual POV, childhood crush, brother's best friend, forced proximity/only one bed, virginity
Ethan, who had always had eyes only for Kingsley—his older brother’s best friend—growing up, hopes things might change now that he’s in his first semester of college. Fate intervenes when Ethan and Kingsley end up sitting together on the same flight home for the winter holidays—and are then stranded in a random small town, where their plane is forced to make an emergency landing. The two are left with no choice but to share the last available room at a local B&B, which has only one bed. While Ethan is mortified, Kingsley is more than happy to spend some quality time with him, hoping to finally get closer to Ethan. As it turns out, Ethan isn’t the only one with a crush (or something like that—I’m blanking on the finer details, as I couldn’t bring myself to start reading from the beginning again).
Kingsley’s strong feelings toward Ethan seemed to come out of nowhere. Suddenly, he was jealous and possessive when another guy even looked at Ethan. This was something he had never felt before in any of his past relationships because "Ethan was just so special to him." As for Ethan, he went out of his way to misunderstand almost everything Kingsley said or did, instead of just talking to him. The sex scenes made me slightly uncomfortable because Ethan’s character, in particular, came across as incredibly childish.
It’s not even that Ethan and Kingsley acted any more stupidly than characters in similar romance stories. It was just that I found both Ethan’s and Kingsley’s actions and inner thoughts more annoying and grating than I usually would. Everything about this story felt either too schmoopy or too over-the-top, and I’ll certainly think twice before giving this author’s books a chance again. Alas, I still have a few of them on my Kindle, so this probably won’t be the last time I choose to torture myself.
Themes: dual POV, childhood crush, brother's best friend, forced proximity/only one bed, virginity
December 28, 2022
Reviewed for Love Bytes – 3 hearts
One was a best friend to an older brother, and the other was a younger brother to his best friend. Kingsley and Ethan grew up believing the other hated him. Regardless, Ethan still held a flame for Kingsley. Yet, whenever possible, he avoided the man. Who knows what Christmas miracles may happen when fate and nature put them in the same disaster?
The Holiday Disaster is a quaint, opposites-attract story where a magical winter facilitates the journey to love.
The tale is told in the first person, present tense, from the viewpoints of Ethan and Kingsley. Technically, it was pretty good. The only aspects that stood out were the unqualified autonomous body parts. When a sentence states ‘my hands did x’ without qualification, such as ‘if they had a mind of their own my hands did x – it should be written ‘I did Xyz with my hands,’. Autonomous body parts are big no no’s for professional editors.
Airplane complications ensure that Ethan and Kingsley end up in Wintertown, which is everything you’d expect of a town with that name. Here, the picture presented is idyllic, including delightful wintry events that are perfect for yuletide.
Kingsley comes over as confident, experienced, and likable, but the man has masks. Ethan is ostensibly shy, and a virgin - but, where necessary, has no problem speaking his mind – usually around Kingsley. The two have known each other most of their lives. However, the majority of their interactions have been a series of misinterpretations. These historic views facilitate premature conclusions, erratic reactions, and occasional unwarranted worry. However, forced proximity and the magic of Wintertown do their thing. Although Ethan is the shy one, he seems to be the one with all the power, and Kingsley seems hell-bent on pleasing him, which at any other time of year, may have come over as a touch saccharine or too eager to apologize/please. After all, some responsibility should go the other way, for Ethan made some cutting remarks for Kingsley to feel like he was hated, too. But, hey, it’s a Christmas story, so it's allowed.
A Holiday Disaster is a sweet mince pie of a story, typical of its genre for this time of year – it even contains a mug of hot chocolate.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
One was a best friend to an older brother, and the other was a younger brother to his best friend. Kingsley and Ethan grew up believing the other hated him. Regardless, Ethan still held a flame for Kingsley. Yet, whenever possible, he avoided the man. Who knows what Christmas miracles may happen when fate and nature put them in the same disaster?
The Holiday Disaster is a quaint, opposites-attract story where a magical winter facilitates the journey to love.
The tale is told in the first person, present tense, from the viewpoints of Ethan and Kingsley. Technically, it was pretty good. The only aspects that stood out were the unqualified autonomous body parts. When a sentence states ‘my hands did x’ without qualification, such as ‘if they had a mind of their own my hands did x – it should be written ‘I did Xyz with my hands,’. Autonomous body parts are big no no’s for professional editors.
Airplane complications ensure that Ethan and Kingsley end up in Wintertown, which is everything you’d expect of a town with that name. Here, the picture presented is idyllic, including delightful wintry events that are perfect for yuletide.
Kingsley comes over as confident, experienced, and likable, but the man has masks. Ethan is ostensibly shy, and a virgin - but, where necessary, has no problem speaking his mind – usually around Kingsley. The two have known each other most of their lives. However, the majority of their interactions have been a series of misinterpretations. These historic views facilitate premature conclusions, erratic reactions, and occasional unwarranted worry. However, forced proximity and the magic of Wintertown do their thing. Although Ethan is the shy one, he seems to be the one with all the power, and Kingsley seems hell-bent on pleasing him, which at any other time of year, may have come over as a touch saccharine or too eager to apologize/please. After all, some responsibility should go the other way, for Ethan made some cutting remarks for Kingsley to feel like he was hated, too. But, hey, it’s a Christmas story, so it's allowed.
A Holiday Disaster is a sweet mince pie of a story, typical of its genre for this time of year – it even contains a mug of hot chocolate.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for
Love Bytes.
June 11, 2024
old post reposted
Who can turn down a cute Holiday series? Certainly not me. Here's Rye Cox's "The Holiday Disaster." It's the first book in her Doves of Destiny series.
["What do you call being stranded with your brother’s best friend? A Recipe for disaster? Or a dream come true?
Ethan Wang
College is supposed to be my chance to start over. To leave high school behind and focus on my studies to become a vet. Then, I board a plane on winter break and find myself seated next to my brother’s best friend. The same guy I had a huge crush on even though he always seemed to have it out for me.
It should be a quick flight filled with awkward small talk, but plans change when the plane’s engine fails and we have to land in the middle of nowhere. After a sequence of ill-fated events, we’re forced to share a B&B with only one bed. Trapped in a room with a man I’ve hidden my feelings from for years… What’s the worst that could happen?
Kingsley Sharp
I usually get what I want, thanks to my mastery at charming my way into anyone’s heart. That, however, hasn’t been the case with my best friend’s brother. We got off on the wrong foot, and I want nothing more than to win him over.
Now with us stranded together, my chance has come. Stuck in a small town full of snow drifts and holiday cheer, I’m determined to use this disaster to make this a magical holiday neither of us will forget."]
I was surprisingly not mad at the slow burn of this novel. There was a push-and-pull and a will-they-won’t-they thing going on, a bunch of innocent misunderstandings and almost kisses and doves of fate.
Even with the misunderstandings, there was very low angst. This novel was one of the sweetest and fluffiest things I’ve read in a while. And that cafe scene with the boyfriend proposal????? Dead. I’m dead.
#theholidaydisaster #theholidayboyfriend #dovesofdestiny #dovesofdestinyseries #ryecox #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
Who can turn down a cute Holiday series? Certainly not me. Here's Rye Cox's "The Holiday Disaster." It's the first book in her Doves of Destiny series.
["What do you call being stranded with your brother’s best friend? A Recipe for disaster? Or a dream come true?
Ethan Wang
College is supposed to be my chance to start over. To leave high school behind and focus on my studies to become a vet. Then, I board a plane on winter break and find myself seated next to my brother’s best friend. The same guy I had a huge crush on even though he always seemed to have it out for me.
It should be a quick flight filled with awkward small talk, but plans change when the plane’s engine fails and we have to land in the middle of nowhere. After a sequence of ill-fated events, we’re forced to share a B&B with only one bed. Trapped in a room with a man I’ve hidden my feelings from for years… What’s the worst that could happen?
Kingsley Sharp
I usually get what I want, thanks to my mastery at charming my way into anyone’s heart. That, however, hasn’t been the case with my best friend’s brother. We got off on the wrong foot, and I want nothing more than to win him over.
Now with us stranded together, my chance has come. Stuck in a small town full of snow drifts and holiday cheer, I’m determined to use this disaster to make this a magical holiday neither of us will forget."]
I was surprisingly not mad at the slow burn of this novel. There was a push-and-pull and a will-they-won’t-they thing going on, a bunch of innocent misunderstandings and almost kisses and doves of fate.
Even with the misunderstandings, there was very low angst. This novel was one of the sweetest and fluffiest things I’ve read in a while. And that cafe scene with the boyfriend proposal????? Dead. I’m dead.
#theholidaydisaster #theholidayboyfriend #dovesofdestiny #dovesofdestinyseries #ryecox #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
September 8, 2024
Super cute read
Ethan is in college and on his way home for winter break. At the airport, he sees his best friends brother Kingsley waiting to board the same plane. Which made sense they both went to the same college. Not that they saw each other. You see Ethan has the biggest crush on Kingsley, but for some reason from the very beginning of his friendship to Kingsley sister. It was obvious that Kingsley hated having him around. Ethan is not impressed to have to sit by him on the plane. Ethan is not happy one bit!
Kingsley had seen Ethan duck into the bathroom while waiting to board the plane. He had a crush on Ethan for many years. But Ethan never gave him a moment of his time and he couldn’t understand why. On the plane, Ethan is sat beside him, and once again, he starts reading a book, so he doesn’t have to talk to Kingsley. But then the captain voice comes over speakers to inform them that they were doing an emergency landing and to put their seatbelt on. Ethan was hyperventilating, so Kingsley hugged him and told him everything would be okay. Thankfully, the captain manages to land the plane safely, but they are going to have to stay over while the plane is repaired. And this is where fate starts playing a hand because there’s only one room left at a B&B. One double bed. So what will happen to these two now while they are stranded in a town they have been to before??
This book is so sweet. Oh my gosh, my heart melted for Ethan and Kingsley. These two are so perfect for one another. The passion that they share is cute and sweet. Once they finally start talking about their feelings. No one is going to get in their way.
the town is beautiful and the people in it are so open to sharing their hopes and dreams their legends with Ethan and Kingsley.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ethan is in college and on his way home for winter break. At the airport, he sees his best friends brother Kingsley waiting to board the same plane. Which made sense they both went to the same college. Not that they saw each other. You see Ethan has the biggest crush on Kingsley, but for some reason from the very beginning of his friendship to Kingsley sister. It was obvious that Kingsley hated having him around. Ethan is not impressed to have to sit by him on the plane. Ethan is not happy one bit!
Kingsley had seen Ethan duck into the bathroom while waiting to board the plane. He had a crush on Ethan for many years. But Ethan never gave him a moment of his time and he couldn’t understand why. On the plane, Ethan is sat beside him, and once again, he starts reading a book, so he doesn’t have to talk to Kingsley. But then the captain voice comes over speakers to inform them that they were doing an emergency landing and to put their seatbelt on. Ethan was hyperventilating, so Kingsley hugged him and told him everything would be okay. Thankfully, the captain manages to land the plane safely, but they are going to have to stay over while the plane is repaired. And this is where fate starts playing a hand because there’s only one room left at a B&B. One double bed. So what will happen to these two now while they are stranded in a town they have been to before??
This book is so sweet. Oh my gosh, my heart melted for Ethan and Kingsley. These two are so perfect for one another. The passion that they share is cute and sweet. Once they finally start talking about their feelings. No one is going to get in their way.
the town is beautiful and the people in it are so open to sharing their hopes and dreams their legends with Ethan and Kingsley.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2024
Christmas in September? Well, that's how I felt reading this book, I really liked the story of Kingsley and Ethan. A bit of enemies to lovers, but only on one side (because of a little thing that happened when they were kids) plus Kingsley is the best friend of Ethan's older brother so for his part he thought there was no chance but they just had to spend one night stranded in a small town to know that all the feelings they had for each other were reciprocated, although I didn't think it was going to be so spicy when I started reading and that it would play an important role in the story it was good to read. The two were good together although there was a bit of push and pull that I found a bit boring, but overall was a good reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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¿Navidad en Septiembre? Bueno, así me sentí leyendo este libro, la verdad que me gusto la historia de Kingsley y Ethan. Un poco de enemigos a amantes, pero solo de un lado (por una cosilla que paso cuando eran niños) además de que Kingsley es el mejor amigo del hermano mayor de Ethan así que por su parte el creía que no había ningún chance pero solo tenían que pasar una noche varados en un pequeño pueblo para saber que todos los sentimientos que sentían entre ellos eran correspondidos, si bien no pensé que fuera a ser tan spicy cuando empecé a leer y que eso jugara un papel importante en la historia fue bueno de leer. Los dos fueron buenos juntos aunque eso si, hubo un poco de tira y afloja que se me hizo un poco aburrido.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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¿Navidad en Septiembre? Bueno, así me sentí leyendo este libro, la verdad que me gusto la historia de Kingsley y Ethan. Un poco de enemigos a amantes, pero solo de un lado (por una cosilla que paso cuando eran niños) además de que Kingsley es el mejor amigo del hermano mayor de Ethan así que por su parte el creía que no había ningún chance pero solo tenían que pasar una noche varados en un pequeño pueblo para saber que todos los sentimientos que sentían entre ellos eran correspondidos, si bien no pensé que fuera a ser tan spicy cuando empecé a leer y que eso jugara un papel importante en la historia fue bueno de leer. Los dos fueron buenos juntos aunque eso si, hubo un poco de tira y afloja que se me hizo un poco aburrido.
December 24, 2025
Once again, I managed to pick up a sweet holiday romance.
Ethan and Kingsley have been avoiding each other for years because of a misunderstanding, even though they both longed for one another the entire time. Kingsley is Ethan’s brother’s best friend, while Ethan is the best friend of Kingsley’s sister.
On their way home, a malfunction on the plane forces an emergency landing, and the boys—along with the other passengers—end up stranded in a small town: the magical Wintertown. Because of the forced proximity, they finally reach the point where they admit that they never hated each other at all—quite the opposite. The few days they spend together completely change their lives.
This book is absolutely wonderful. There’s no unnecessary angst, no big fights—just a little banter and teasing, lots of sweet and romantic moments, and a charming local legend about the town’s founder and the Doves of Destiny—a story no one is quite sure is even real.
I absolutely loved that Elliott (Ethan’s brother) and their entire family knew all along how crazy these two were about each other, yet still waited patiently for them to reach the moment when they could finally admit they were in love. Their support was incredible. Truly. I would have happily read so much more about these two boys—it’s hard to even put into words how much I adored them 🥹
And the bonus epilogue… 😫😫😫
The sweetest thing I have ever read.
Rye Cox, once again I had the pleasure of reading a truly wonderful book by you 🥰
Ethan and Kingsley have been avoiding each other for years because of a misunderstanding, even though they both longed for one another the entire time. Kingsley is Ethan’s brother’s best friend, while Ethan is the best friend of Kingsley’s sister.
On their way home, a malfunction on the plane forces an emergency landing, and the boys—along with the other passengers—end up stranded in a small town: the magical Wintertown. Because of the forced proximity, they finally reach the point where they admit that they never hated each other at all—quite the opposite. The few days they spend together completely change their lives.
This book is absolutely wonderful. There’s no unnecessary angst, no big fights—just a little banter and teasing, lots of sweet and romantic moments, and a charming local legend about the town’s founder and the Doves of Destiny—a story no one is quite sure is even real.
I absolutely loved that Elliott (Ethan’s brother) and their entire family knew all along how crazy these two were about each other, yet still waited patiently for them to reach the moment when they could finally admit they were in love. Their support was incredible. Truly. I would have happily read so much more about these two boys—it’s hard to even put into words how much I adored them 🥹
And the bonus epilogue… 😫😫😫
The sweetest thing I have ever read.
Rye Cox, once again I had the pleasure of reading a truly wonderful book by you 🥰
December 19, 2022
The Holiday Disaster is an overall enjoyable Christmas romance as Ethan and Kingsley are stranded together, in an only one bed situation where they will work out any tension during a slow burn, brother's best friend story.
Ethan may or may not have crushed on Kingsley for several years and is also under the impression he strongly dislikes him. It makes for some entertaining moments but a lot of it is down to misunderstandings, miscommunications or Kingsley's teasing going just a bit too far. Kingsley clearly likes Ethan, more than likes even but doesn't necessarily have the best way of showing it. When they get stranded in Wintertown, it's a chance to start over, reconnect as friends themselves but it quickly evolves as they show their true feelings.
I like that this is a pretty low angst romance, most of the drama happening in the first couple of chapters. I wasn't too sure on how often and how far Kingsley's teasing went as it often had Ethan thinking negatively of himself and occasionally others but it leads to them learning how to better communicate. They are a lovely couple once they decide on what they want and perfectly balance each other. It's a romance in a wonderful setting as well, snow in a small town celebrating winter/Christmas and we also meet a couple of locals who I'm hoping to hear more from soon.
Ethan may or may not have crushed on Kingsley for several years and is also under the impression he strongly dislikes him. It makes for some entertaining moments but a lot of it is down to misunderstandings, miscommunications or Kingsley's teasing going just a bit too far. Kingsley clearly likes Ethan, more than likes even but doesn't necessarily have the best way of showing it. When they get stranded in Wintertown, it's a chance to start over, reconnect as friends themselves but it quickly evolves as they show their true feelings.
I like that this is a pretty low angst romance, most of the drama happening in the first couple of chapters. I wasn't too sure on how often and how far Kingsley's teasing went as it often had Ethan thinking negatively of himself and occasionally others but it leads to them learning how to better communicate. They are a lovely couple once they decide on what they want and perfectly balance each other. It's a romance in a wonderful setting as well, snow in a small town celebrating winter/Christmas and we also meet a couple of locals who I'm hoping to hear more from soon.
December 27, 2022
What starts as a series of uncomfortable moments, mishaps and miscommunication ends in a wonderful holiday romance! Such a fun read with some of my favorite tropes.
Kingsley is the best friend of Ethan’s older brother. They have lived next door to each other forever and now attend the same college. Their relationship over the years has been a series of misunderstandings with Kingsley and Ethan believing that each other dislikes the other when that could not be farther from the truth. Ethan has been harboring a crush on Kingsley for ages and Kingsley has always been fascinated by Ethan. When their trip back home for holiday break turns into a series of travel nightmares, these two are thrown together and land in a adorable holiday town. Their discovery of each others true feelings against the backdrop of holiday fun is positively sweet. Ethan’s character is shy, nervous and unsure of himself which is such a contrast to Kingsley’s teasing and confident nature. I appreciated the dual POV as I think it helped with the storyline. I think I would have gotten a completely different vibe for Kingsley had his POV not been shared.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. This town and its winter magic are the perfect setting for holiday romances. Fingers crossed for John and Austin’s story next!
Kingsley is the best friend of Ethan’s older brother. They have lived next door to each other forever and now attend the same college. Their relationship over the years has been a series of misunderstandings with Kingsley and Ethan believing that each other dislikes the other when that could not be farther from the truth. Ethan has been harboring a crush on Kingsley for ages and Kingsley has always been fascinated by Ethan. When their trip back home for holiday break turns into a series of travel nightmares, these two are thrown together and land in a adorable holiday town. Their discovery of each others true feelings against the backdrop of holiday fun is positively sweet. Ethan’s character is shy, nervous and unsure of himself which is such a contrast to Kingsley’s teasing and confident nature. I appreciated the dual POV as I think it helped with the storyline. I think I would have gotten a completely different vibe for Kingsley had his POV not been shared.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. This town and its winter magic are the perfect setting for holiday romances. Fingers crossed for John and Austin’s story next!
December 29, 2022
This is a fairly new to me author and I am glad that I picked this book up. I really liked it. It was well written and very easy to read. This is the story of Ethan Wang and Kingsley Sharp. Ethan and Kingsley have been neighbors since they were 7 years old. Kingsley and Ethans big brother are best friends. Ethan was the shy younger brother who played with Kingsley's younger sister. Ethan is shy and studying to become a veterinarian. Due to a misunderstanding, he believes that Kingsley does not like him. Of course, because Ethan has had a massive crush on him since he was young, he avoids Kingsley at all costs. So of course when Ethan is flying home for Christmas, Kingsley is on the same flight. Worse, they are sitting side by each for the flight. Kingsley is attracted to Ethan but believes that Ethan doesn't like him. Well throw in engine troubles, an emergency landing and one bed in the B&B; there is lots of excitement ahead. Being trapped for a couple of days while waiting for the plane to be repaired, it gives Ethan and KIngsley a chance to honestly get to know each other and enjoy all the christmas events that the town is hosting. Will the Doves of Destiny bring them together or end their crushes forever. This is their story. I really enjoyed it. I look forward to more by this author.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my honest opinion.
December 23, 2022
Ethan is headed home for Christmas from college when he finds himself seated next to his brother’s best friend. This shouldn’t be a problem, they’ve known each other for years, except Kingsley hates him and Ethan has had a crush on him since they met when he was 9.
Kingsley has known that Ethan hates him because he has always avoided him whenever they are in the same place. That still doesn’t keep Kingsley from wanting to get closer to Ethan, as he has wanted to do for years. He hopes that might happen on the plane as they are stuck side by side for 5 hours, but no such luck.
Things change when the plane develops engine trouble and they are forced to land in a small town. Accommodations are few, and they finally get A room at a B&B where they will need to share a bed. Being thrown together leads to better communication, helping to correct the miscommunication of the last 10 years, and opening a path to maybe getting what both want.
This is a sweet holiday story with one shy young man and another more confident one trying to correct what they thought were truths while on a forced travel layover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Kingsley has known that Ethan hates him because he has always avoided him whenever they are in the same place. That still doesn’t keep Kingsley from wanting to get closer to Ethan, as he has wanted to do for years. He hopes that might happen on the plane as they are stuck side by side for 5 hours, but no such luck.
Things change when the plane develops engine trouble and they are forced to land in a small town. Accommodations are few, and they finally get A room at a B&B where they will need to share a bed. Being thrown together leads to better communication, helping to correct the miscommunication of the last 10 years, and opening a path to maybe getting what both want.
This is a sweet holiday story with one shy young man and another more confident one trying to correct what they thought were truths while on a forced travel layover.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 1, 2025
📚 Review: The Holiday Disaster by Rye Cox
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
This book had all the ingredients for a feel-good winter romance:
✈️ Stranded together
🛏️ Only one bed
💥 Brother’s best friend
🎄 Snowy small town holiday vibes
And to be fair? It delivered on some of those!
💬 What worked:
The setup was super cute; forced proximity with holiday hijinks and awkward tension? Yes please.
Kingsley was charming and earnest, and I loved seeing him try to break down Ethan’s walls.
The brother’s-best-friend trope added some fun moments of inner panic and slow, sweet development.
The small town backdrop gave it a cozy hallmark movie feel.
😬 What didn’t fully click for me:
The pacing sometimes lagged the banter was cute, but I found myself wishing for deeper emotional moments or higher stakes.
The chemistry leaned more soft and hesitant than swoony and electric.
I wanted a bit more from the “disaster” part the tension fizzled out rather than building.
✨ Final Thoughts:
It’s the kind of story that’s perfect for a snowy afternoon read with hot cocoa and no expectations of plot twists. Sweet, low-angst, and light on the drama but not one that totally swept me off my feet. Still, if you’re into soft MM romances with a cozy holiday setting, this might just be your cup of cocoa. ☕❄️💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
This book had all the ingredients for a feel-good winter romance:
✈️ Stranded together
🛏️ Only one bed
💥 Brother’s best friend
🎄 Snowy small town holiday vibes
And to be fair? It delivered on some of those!
💬 What worked:
The setup was super cute; forced proximity with holiday hijinks and awkward tension? Yes please.
Kingsley was charming and earnest, and I loved seeing him try to break down Ethan’s walls.
The brother’s-best-friend trope added some fun moments of inner panic and slow, sweet development.
The small town backdrop gave it a cozy hallmark movie feel.
😬 What didn’t fully click for me:
The pacing sometimes lagged the banter was cute, but I found myself wishing for deeper emotional moments or higher stakes.
The chemistry leaned more soft and hesitant than swoony and electric.
I wanted a bit more from the “disaster” part the tension fizzled out rather than building.
✨ Final Thoughts:
It’s the kind of story that’s perfect for a snowy afternoon read with hot cocoa and no expectations of plot twists. Sweet, low-angst, and light on the drama but not one that totally swept me off my feet. Still, if you’re into soft MM romances with a cozy holiday setting, this might just be your cup of cocoa. ☕❄️💕
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