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jen_and_her_books's review against another edition
5.0
This book will give you all those wonderful warm, cozy feelings about the holidays.
Hint: Spicy Hallmark
Hint: Spicy Hallmark
bookswithjen's review against another edition
5.0
I'm not a seasonal reader because it makes me feel like a walking hallmark movie. However I loved this book just because ONE I am the biggest sucker for a grumpy/sunshine trope add the single parent trope on top of that I'm solved. It also gave a little of a parent trap twist, which I also adored.
I totally understood Baxter with the always being happy and not showing how bad it really it is mentally, but I totally understand Paxton and not wanting to deal with literally anything bright and shiny and happy because I also am a walking Grinch.
I think they were both written as amazing parents, the mental health part was so important. If this was a movie It would be my comfort movie all the time.
Thank you Indie Author Creative for a arc copy of this book for a honest review.
I totally understood Baxter with the always being happy and not showing how bad it really it is mentally, but I totally understand Paxton and not wanting to deal with literally anything bright and shiny and happy because I also am a walking Grinch.
I think they were both written as amazing parents, the mental health part was so important. If this was a movie It would be my comfort movie all the time.
Thank you Indie Author Creative for a arc copy of this book for a honest review.
caitlin_03's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mx_t_books's review against another edition
4.0
Cosy and sweet
The amount of happy crying and feels I had over these two is a testimony to how beautiful this story is. Grumpy Paxton and sunshine Baxter gave me all the feels and I was rooting for them to be the light for eachother. I'm not usually a fan of single dads, but Nathan and Becca were peeerrrrfect.
It gets a star less because I'm not too fond of the 'chicks with dicks' trope and though the author tried to avoid it, it still was there a wee bit.
Still, if you want to crave hot chocolate and sweet love this holiday season, this is your book.
The amount of happy crying and feels I had over these two is a testimony to how beautiful this story is. Grumpy Paxton and sunshine Baxter gave me all the feels and I was rooting for them to be the light for eachother. I'm not usually a fan of single dads, but Nathan and Becca were peeerrrrfect.
It gets a star less because I'm not too fond of the 'chicks with dicks' trope and though the author tried to avoid it, it still was there a wee bit.
Still, if you want to crave hot chocolate and sweet love this holiday season, this is your book.
mamabears_fabulous_book_finds's review against another edition
5.0
Sweet, naught and nice
Perfect grumpy/sunshine story with some hurt/comfort thrown in to make your heart squeeze. Fae is a new author to me, although I am well versed in her gorgeous art. This was my first of hers, but will definitely not be the last. This is a perfect holiday read!!
Perfect grumpy/sunshine story with some hurt/comfort thrown in to make your heart squeeze. Fae is a new author to me, although I am well versed in her gorgeous art. This was my first of hers, but will definitely not be the last. This is a perfect holiday read!!
booksafety's review against another edition
5.0
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
Sometimes growing up meant growing apart and that was the hardest pill to swallow as a father who didn’t know how to be anything but… Dad.
Y’all. I don’t remember the last time I read something this charming and sweet, that still has emotional depth. For a (spicy) Hallmark-y christmas book, the plot was also refreshingly original. The only reason I didn’t read it in one sitting was because I had to sleep.
Jesus. I wondered what he sounded like in bed? All… gruff and… grrrrr. Like a big bear. I bet he had chest hair. Fuck, I loved chest hair.
I’m a bit of a Grinch in real life, but I’m glad I picked this up after hearing about Paxton’s ‘pipe laying’ skills, as it were. Not only was that comment entirely accurate (I might need a cold shower), but it actually gave me a bit of christmas cheer. If christmas happened every four years like the olympics, I would be okay with that, yet this book put me in a really good mood even while I’m anxiously procrastinating everything I’m supposed to be doing, lol.
“Sweet little thing, aren’t you, sugar?” Paxton murmured, one of his hands slipping beneath the hem of my shirt.
The family vibes were immaculate, and made even sweeter because of the overarching themes of loneliness. A fantastic represantion of the grumpy/sunshine trope, with two adorkable teenagers who love their parents unconditionally. I really do love single dad books, but don’t often see teenagers. Fae really pulled this off. The kids were somehow very real and exactly like teenagers, but without being annoying at all. They were just utterly charming and added a wonderful element to the story. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Apparently I’m in a christmas mood.
“I can’t promise everything will go right. That’s not in my power. But I can promise you—whatever happens—I’m gonna be right by your side.”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Single dads
Holiday setting
Hurt/comfort
Small town
Lonely parents
Meddling teens
Grumpy/sunshine
Size difference
Dad jokes
Dirty talk
Eating pie
Sometimes growing up meant growing apart and that was the hardest pill to swallow as a father who didn’t know how to be anything but… Dad.
Y’all. I don’t remember the last time I read something this charming and sweet, that still has emotional depth. For a (spicy) Hallmark-y christmas book, the plot was also refreshingly original. The only reason I didn’t read it in one sitting was because I had to sleep.
Jesus. I wondered what he sounded like in bed? All… gruff and… grrrrr. Like a big bear. I bet he had chest hair. Fuck, I loved chest hair.
I’m a bit of a Grinch in real life, but I’m glad I picked this up after hearing about Paxton’s ‘pipe laying’ skills, as it were. Not only was that comment entirely accurate (I might need a cold shower), but it actually gave me a bit of christmas cheer. If christmas happened every four years like the olympics, I would be okay with that, yet this book put me in a really good mood even while I’m anxiously procrastinating everything I’m supposed to be doing, lol.
“Sweet little thing, aren’t you, sugar?” Paxton murmured, one of his hands slipping beneath the hem of my shirt.
The family vibes were immaculate, and made even sweeter because of the overarching themes of loneliness. A fantastic represantion of the grumpy/sunshine trope, with two adorkable teenagers who love their parents unconditionally. I really do love single dad books, but don’t often see teenagers. Fae really pulled this off. The kids were somehow very real and exactly like teenagers, but without being annoying at all. They were just utterly charming and added a wonderful element to the story. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Apparently I’m in a christmas mood.
“I can’t promise everything will go right. That’s not in my power. But I can promise you—whatever happens—I’m gonna be right by your side.”
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
Single dads
Holiday setting
Hurt/comfort
Small town
Lonely parents
Meddling teens
Grumpy/sunshine
Size difference
Dad jokes
Dirty talk
Eating pie
shinysue's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
It's a cute book, but so far out of reality that entire sections of the book are cringe. I don't even know what kind of universe this would need to be in, for someone to crowd-source funding for someone else's business, and locals would literally just donate money to it. And in what universe would a business owner appreciate being kept out of the decision making? And the decision on which kitchen appliance to buy a baker based on it being "yellow"? What level of naivete does one need to have, to actually read these things and not cringe?
The characters are cute, the relationship angst is practically non-existent. And I like that eventually they did in fact switch places on who takes care of who. There was a bit of balance, even if it was only a TINY bit. Those parts were really fun to read. The book also has a lot of smut in it once it gets going.
The characters are cute, the relationship angst is practically non-existent. And I like that eventually they did in fact switch places on who takes care of who. There was a bit of balance, even if it was only a TINY bit. Those parts were really fun to read. The book also has a lot of smut in it once it gets going.
netslummer's review against another edition
4.0
Baxter Baker is many things: a single father, a gay man doing his best to raise his deceased sister's daughter, unsurprisingly a baker, the friendliest guy in town and secretly hiding his sadness behind his smiles.
When Baxter's daughter Becca signs him up for The Christmas Buddies program at school (a program that pairs single parents to encourage fun mixed family holiday events) of course he is paired with the unfriendly Paxton Montgomery. The one guy in town that always seems to hate Baxter.
Paxton is a grouch. He's grumpy and doesn't much care for people. Especially Baxter Baker with his constant smiles. Ugh. But he would do anything for his son Nathan. When Nathan signs them up for The Christmas Buddies program as a way to get closer to that girl he has a crush on, Becca Baker, Paxton goes along with it purely for his son.
You can see where this is going.
This was a very cute medium burn romance between two single dads. Grumpy x sunshine where sunshine is maybe a mask. It was really cute watching the four interact together and grow closer together as almost a family unit. The sex scenes were almost jarring in comparison to the sweetness of the rest. They felt tonally out of place a bit. I'm ace though so who am I to judge? A very cute holiday romance that I'd definitely recommended.
When Baxter's daughter Becca signs him up for The Christmas Buddies program at school (a program that pairs single parents to encourage fun mixed family holiday events) of course he is paired with the unfriendly Paxton Montgomery. The one guy in town that always seems to hate Baxter.
Paxton is a grouch. He's grumpy and doesn't much care for people. Especially Baxter Baker with his constant smiles. Ugh. But he would do anything for his son Nathan. When Nathan signs them up for The Christmas Buddies program as a way to get closer to that girl he has a crush on, Becca Baker, Paxton goes along with it purely for his son.
You can see where this is going.
This was a very cute medium burn romance between two single dads. Grumpy x sunshine where sunshine is maybe a mask. It was really cute watching the four interact together and grow closer together as almost a family unit. The sex scenes were almost jarring in comparison to the sweetness of the rest. They felt tonally out of place a bit. I'm ace though so who am I to judge? A very cute holiday romance that I'd definitely recommended.