This was a sweet Hallmark-style romance novel, so if that’s something you are into (like me) then this will be a great fit for you. A delightful holiday season read. Its sweet and also very spicy, with relatively low-angst aside from some minor misunderstandings and miscommunications. This was a very easy novel to read. It wasn’t quite up to hitting my 5-star standards, but if you are like me and love binging on holiday romance at the end of the year then this is well worth it to pad out your reading list.

Highlights:
-Fairytale Hallmark setting. This novel perfectly scratches that itch that I get each year around this time. It was perfectly full of fluffy snow, Christmas decorations, ice skating, and everything else you want to sink into during the holidays.
-Spiiiiicy…. With toys (obviously, although less than I expected considering)!
-Baker and a sex toy shop owner next door to each other? Absolutely delightful premise (even if it isn’t as original as it seems). I was sold on the blurb and the novel didn’t disappoint.
-Solid cast of supporting characters. Its common for novels like this to drop the ball on having secondary characters, but these ones were delightful while actually influencing the plot (instead of just being background scene fillers).
-This novel was simply sweet. At a bunch of different points and for different reasons, it was so sweet! The supportive sex-shop owner helping people to feel comfortable and empowered with themselves? Delightful. Helping old ladies try something new? Awesome.

Nitpicks:
-“Enemies to lovers” over-sells the conflict in this one. There certainly was some animosity between the protagonists at the beginning but it wasn’t anything too big in my opinion and it was resolved relatively quickly and easily. It was fine, but was one point that could have been improved upon.
-I was left with a lot of questions at the end of this novel. They were all unimportant side details, but it still felt like some plot points were left hanging. For example, Casey’s relationship with her parents was discussed a lot and drove a lot of plot but didn’t really go anywhere or get any sort of resolution or progress. There were some reveals near the end that I think warrant some big discussions that we never got to see. I realize that this isn’t directly related to the main point of the novel, but it is something that was brought up and discussed more than a little. Similarly, the protagonists “issues” were essentially handled offscreen which was a little less than satisfying after being the central point of the novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ARC. This review was left voluntarily and my opinions are my own.

LOVED this book!
Bakery and sex shops next door to each other - what a concept! And the meet cute, love story? I am in! Two women struggle with being vulnerable and intimacy - real and charming. Clearly sweet and lovely with steamy scenes though I could do without the third act breakup.
I have recommended this book to no less than 5 of my queer friends.

This book wasn't for me. I found it to be a little boring, and I couldn't make it past the first few chapters. I'll try reading it again in the winter; maybe I just needed more Christmas vibes.

Enjoyable holiday romance book. Extra plus to the sex toy shop addition and the extra fun that gave to the book. Overall a very angst free book and just a minor miscommunication that was solved rather quickly. A good book to read between the really tough ones with a lot of angst. It can heal your heart and you can believe in an easy nice romance again.

Thank you for the ARC! Now, that being said, let me be 100% honest. I’m 56% into this book and just came to write this review because YES, give it a read!! This is a great sapphic holiday read. It’s quirky and something I don’t feel like I had read before.

The reason I came to write this at 56% is because I’m almost tempted to stop here so I can delightfully finish the second half when I have the actual book in my hands!

ALSO- there’s a strap?! EXCUSE ME- I feel like we don’t get enough of those in lesbian novels?! Not to mention we’re talking butch and cute baker?!

This book is like what gay me dreamt of wanting a it’s like a spicy gay hallmark movie!

Excited to be the first review…does that mean I’m the first to read this A R C ? Either way, I was sooo excited to see this pop up and get to read it. A holiday romance??? Sign me the heck up.
This is suuuch a sweet love story between a hot butch sex shop owner and a kind-of-icy cupcake baker. What more could you ask for? Maybe some super hot spice scenes? (Including a strap?) ha! Check! This book had those too!! Maybe some great side characters? Check! Maybe a good plot with a bit of drama to really give the holiday romance some oomph? Check.
This book checked alllll the boxes for me and I am SO happy to report my first holiday romance of the year was a new one by Jaime Clevenger and Aurora Ray.