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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Really skillfully written. Didn’t hit me so hard as I like, but I really enjoyed the lil sunshine moments it brought to my reading time
1 star would be unfair because its not bad. its just not a book.
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
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
🎧 Narrated by Victor Quixabás (a.k.a. part of the holy trifecta of male moaning™)
This book? This book is like stumbling upon a hidden forest cabin where the air smells like pine and possibility… and also, sex. So much sex. Cups and Campfires is a sweet and spicy summer romance between two chunky, charming men who know exactly what they want, and aren’t shy about voicing (or moaning) it.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Luca, our main character, is horny on main. His internal monologue is basically a love letter to Artair's everything. And while that could easily tip into eye-roll territory, it doesn’t. Because underneath all the thirst, Luca has depth. He’s an author in a creative slump, doubting his worth, feeling rejected for the kind of stories he writes. That raw vulnerability—his inner spiral of am I enough....Is this enough?—grounds the book beautifully. It’s not just about boning under the stars (though… it really is about boning under the stars), it’s also about self-worth and finding someone who sees you, completely.
And then there’s Artair. Literal bear of a man. Gentle, giving, and—bless his forest-scented heart—completely smitten with Luca. Their connection feels instant but tender. Cosy. A little shy (on the emotional side). A little cheeky. And full of that “we’re in the woods and no one can hear us” energy that keeps the spice factor blazing.
What surprised me most, though, is how tight the story felt. I’ve read my fair share of “rustic romance” that either gets bogged down in National Geographic-style nature rambles or tries to force drama into a plot that doesn’t need it. Cups and Campfires avoids both. It’s simple, sincere, and immersive. Think: a snapshot in time rather than a full epic romance arc—and that totally worked for me. Yes, I wouldn’t have minded a little more relationship development or long-term exploration, but what we do get is emotionally satisfying and full of heart.
Also, let’s talk about the yum. Because the spice in this book is chef’s kiss. Wild, descriptive, unapologetically hot, but never detached from the emotional core. The balance is so well done, it’s not just lust for lust’s sake. It’s connection. Desire. Intimacy with a pulse.
And now for the bonus gold star: Victor Quixabás. His narration? Phenomenal. Honestly, he’s in my holy trinity of narrators who could read the back of a cereal box and still make it sound like seduction. His performance brought the story to life, added extra softness where needed, grit when it mattered, and… yes, moans that deserve their own award. If you’re an audiobook fan, absolutely go that route.
In short: this book is a horny hug in audio form. A little poetic, a lot erotic, and all heart. Cubs and Campfires isn’t trying to be something grandiose. It’s trying to be exactly what it is: a cosy, sexy, emotionally tender moment caught in the woods, with two men learning how to feel safe in a cabin, in bed, and in each other’s arms.
This book? This book is like stumbling upon a hidden forest cabin where the air smells like pine and possibility… and also, sex. So much sex. Cups and Campfires is a sweet and spicy summer romance between two chunky, charming men who know exactly what they want, and aren’t shy about voicing (or moaning) it.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Luca, our main character, is horny on main. His internal monologue is basically a love letter to Artair's everything. And while that could easily tip into eye-roll territory, it doesn’t. Because underneath all the thirst, Luca has depth. He’s an author in a creative slump, doubting his worth, feeling rejected for the kind of stories he writes. That raw vulnerability—his inner spiral of am I enough....Is this enough?—grounds the book beautifully. It’s not just about boning under the stars (though… it really is about boning under the stars), it’s also about self-worth and finding someone who sees you, completely.
And then there’s Artair. Literal bear of a man. Gentle, giving, and—bless his forest-scented heart—completely smitten with Luca. Their connection feels instant but tender. Cosy. A little shy (on the emotional side). A little cheeky. And full of that “we’re in the woods and no one can hear us” energy that keeps the spice factor blazing.
What surprised me most, though, is how tight the story felt. I’ve read my fair share of “rustic romance” that either gets bogged down in National Geographic-style nature rambles or tries to force drama into a plot that doesn’t need it. Cups and Campfires avoids both. It’s simple, sincere, and immersive. Think: a snapshot in time rather than a full epic romance arc—and that totally worked for me. Yes, I wouldn’t have minded a little more relationship development or long-term exploration, but what we do get is emotionally satisfying and full of heart.
Also, let’s talk about the yum. Because the spice in this book is chef’s kiss. Wild, descriptive, unapologetically hot, but never detached from the emotional core. The balance is so well done, it’s not just lust for lust’s sake. It’s connection. Desire. Intimacy with a pulse.
And now for the bonus gold star: Victor Quixabás. His narration? Phenomenal. Honestly, he’s in my holy trinity of narrators who could read the back of a cereal box and still make it sound like seduction. His performance brought the story to life, added extra softness where needed, grit when it mattered, and… yes, moans that deserve their own award. If you’re an audiobook fan, absolutely go that route.
In short: this book is a horny hug in audio form. A little poetic, a lot erotic, and all heart. Cubs and Campfires isn’t trying to be something grandiose. It’s trying to be exactly what it is: a cosy, sexy, emotionally tender moment caught in the woods, with two men learning how to feel safe in a cabin, in bed, and in each other’s arms.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
If you're looking for a book chock full of camping and hot MM sex, this is it 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ A lot of nakedness (the number of times they see each other naked by accident is crazy), a lot of flirty flirting, and a lot of descriptive pounding. 🥵
This is my second book from Dylan Drakes, my first being Bears & Bakeries. And I can definitely see the growth from this book to the next. Cubs & Campfires feels underdeveloped and a little sparse in comparison. 😅
Don't get me wrong, this was a very cosy read. Teeth-rottingly sweet and cute 💗💗💗 while also being very spicy. 🥵 But I wished we got a little more to the plot than just forced proximity, camping and hot sex. 🥲
For example, it was just the 2 of them for most of the book. BARELY any mentions of family, friends or loved ones. It felt like they were disconnected from the outside world and utterly unrelated to anyone. 🤧 Sandy, who is the one person they continuously communicate with, feels distant because we never actually meet her properly. We don't even know what she looks like.
Overall, this book had potential for more and I just felt a little empty when I finished it. 💔 It would have been great if we had gotten a scene where Luca finally met Sandy in person, or where Artair meets Luca's parents, or something like that. It was mentioned but we never actually get to see it. The ending feels unfinished because their future together seems vague. ☹️
This is my second book from Dylan Drakes, my first being Bears & Bakeries. And I can definitely see the growth from this book to the next. Cubs & Campfires feels underdeveloped and a little sparse in comparison. 😅
Don't get me wrong, this was a very cosy read. Teeth-rottingly sweet and cute 💗💗💗 while also being very spicy. 🥵 But I wished we got a little more to the plot than just forced proximity, camping and hot sex. 🥲
For example, it was just the 2 of them for most of the book. BARELY any mentions of family, friends or loved ones. It felt like they were disconnected from the outside world and utterly unrelated to anyone. 🤧 Sandy, who is the one person they continuously communicate with, feels distant because we never actually meet her properly. We don't even know what she looks like.
Overall, this book had potential for more and I just felt a little empty when I finished it. 💔 It would have been great if we had gotten a scene where Luca finally met Sandy in person, or where Artair meets Luca's parents, or something like that. It was mentioned but we never actually get to see it. The ending feels unfinished because their future together seems vague. ☹️
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My Recommendation: Worth the read. I enjoyed it even though I found some things not quite to my taste. The first half/third of the novel when the tension was building was really well done, but the second Luca and Artair started having sex it seemed to lose some of its charm for me. But, that's definitely more a personal preference rather than I think a writing issue. There were a few things Drakes could work on as an author, but overall not bad. I still haven't decided if I'll check out Bears & Bakeries, the second book in the series, but never say never.
My Response: I stumbled across this when someone on my knitting Instagram posted it. I was intrigued because it was a fat positive/plus size/big and tall romance and you don't see those very often in any genre, let alone MM Romance. It was an added bonus that one of the protagonists was BIPOC, making it even more diversely representative than 99% of MM Romance novels. And when you add in it was written by a man it's legit just like "WHOA!" across the board.
Cubs & Campfires is the story of Luca, who for reasons beyond the reader and Luca takes a pledge of celibacy to write a story for a publication. Ultimately, he thinks it'll be his big break, but he almost immediately realizes it's a mistake. He's in his sexual prime, there are men everywhere, and he's gotta get out of the city, so he applies for a SUPER remote job manning a fire watch station in the middle of nowhere. Cue Artair, the renaissance man who usually staffs the station, but doesn't believe in phones or emails so missed out this year and has decided to try and make it off the land for the summer.
My Response: I stumbled across this when someone on my knitting Instagram posted it. I was intrigued because it was a fat positive/plus size/big and tall romance and you don't see those very often in any genre, let alone MM Romance. It was an added bonus that one of the protagonists was BIPOC, making it even more diversely representative than 99% of MM Romance novels. And when you add in it was written by a man it's legit just like "WHOA!" across the board.
Cubs & Campfires is the story of Luca, who for reasons beyond the reader and Luca takes a pledge of celibacy to write a story for a publication. Ultimately, he thinks it'll be his big break, but he almost immediately realizes it's a mistake. He's in his sexual prime, there are men everywhere, and he's gotta get out of the city, so he applies for a SUPER remote job manning a fire watch station in the middle of nowhere. Cue Artair, the renaissance man who usually staffs the station, but doesn't believe in phones or emails so missed out this year and has decided to try and make it off the land for the summer.
funny
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated