Take a photo of a barcode or cover
1.21k reviews by:
velvetwrappedsmut
funny
fast-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:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-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
ARC review. 4.5 stars
Well, spank my buns and call me cooked. This book hit in ALL the right ways. It was sweet, it was sad and holy Moses it was spicy.
We follow Locky, an ex-accountant who spends all his time thinking of others, and Benedict, a business advisor who can't bear the thought of those he has helped failing, as they learn to process their anxieties (and hilarious, spur-of-the-moment boners) and build a late-night bakery. (Also, this is actually a really great idea and I'd love someone to start up a late night pie bakery; we used to have one and it closed 😭)
They both have their own hangups about life, but no body hang ups here. Two chunky bois who very much love chunky bois. And they learn to communicate with each other and navigate challenges together.
If you read Cubs and Camp-fires, the spice level for Bears and Bakeries is a significant step up. It's filthy, dirty, raw and oh so hot. I had to fan my cheeks a few times as I was reading!
My only (minor) annoyance was that the timeline felt a little rushed. There were loads of short scenes that felt they started and ended abruptly. That being said, this was more a personal preference.
Dylan writes in a beautiful and descriptive manner and I feel like I'm right there with the smells and sounds as they're described in the book.
If you're looking for a light hurt/comfort, with some big bois and big laughs, give this one a go!
Well, spank my buns and call me cooked. This book hit in ALL the right ways. It was sweet, it was sad and holy Moses it was spicy.
We follow Locky, an ex-accountant who spends all his time thinking of others, and Benedict, a business advisor who can't bear the thought of those he has helped failing, as they learn to process their anxieties (and hilarious, spur-of-the-moment boners) and build a late-night bakery. (Also, this is actually a really great idea and I'd love someone to start up a late night pie bakery; we used to have one and it closed 😭)
They both have their own hangups about life, but no body hang ups here. Two chunky bois who very much love chunky bois. And they learn to communicate with each other and navigate challenges together.
If you read Cubs and Camp-fires, the spice level for Bears and Bakeries is a significant step up. It's filthy, dirty, raw and oh so hot. I had to fan my cheeks a few times as I was reading!
My only (minor) annoyance was that the timeline felt a little rushed. There were loads of short scenes that felt they started and ended abruptly. That being said, this was more a personal preference.
Dylan writes in a beautiful and descriptive manner and I feel like I'm right there with the smells and sounds as they're described in the book.
If you're looking for a light hurt/comfort, with some big bois and big laughs, give this one a go!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
ARC review
These two broken boys are everything! Oh my God I love both of them and I don't want them to ever leave my head.
Lex has written two men, both dealing with depression in different ways, and learning how important it is to have someone just sit there with you when everything feels super dark. Lex's descriptions of depression and anxiety are so accurate and heck it hits right in the feels. I highlighted so many lines that just nailed it.
Olli is a bubbly boy who battles with depression and anxiety every day, while Nat has been so beaten down that he doesn't even realise his depression is there. The slow burn of them becoming friends and the will they, won't they was delicious.
This was one of those books that focuses on the character development as opposed to the bedroom activities, but I definitely didn't mind that. It showed the growth of these two characters, without the 'magic dick' cure that can sometimes come in mental health books.
Lex has absolutely captured my heart with these two and I cannot wait for the next instalment
These two broken boys are everything! Oh my God I love both of them and I don't want them to ever leave my head.
Lex has written two men, both dealing with depression in different ways, and learning how important it is to have someone just sit there with you when everything feels super dark. Lex's descriptions of depression and anxiety are so accurate and heck it hits right in the feels. I highlighted so many lines that just nailed it.
Olli is a bubbly boy who battles with depression and anxiety every day, while Nat has been so beaten down that he doesn't even realise his depression is there. The slow burn of them becoming friends and the will they, won't they was delicious.
This was one of those books that focuses on the character development as opposed to the bedroom activities, but I definitely didn't mind that. It showed the growth of these two characters, without the 'magic dick' cure that can sometimes come in mental health books.
Lex has absolutely captured my heart with these two and I cannot wait for the next instalment
dark
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC review.
Okay, so I will admit I probably read these in the wrong order. I would recommend starting with Imry, or following the recommended chapter format that Crea outlines in the foreword.
Reading this one first just felt like a lot of 'filler' and then suddenly we were at the climax with no real set up. However, as I read through Imry, I was like 'OHHHHH here's all the context'. This was completely my mistake as I assumed that each book had their own story, but they intertwined and happened simultaneously. Just something to be aware of if you're going to read both.
Now, onto the couple of the moment. Yes, this is taboo but hot damn these two are just so sweet. The explanation of their love, why it's different to their love for Imry and how they have to hide their true selves a lot of the time was beautiful and heartbreaking. I also really appreciated that it started as a fuck you to their mum and then morphed into them understanding that intimacy doesn't have to be sexual. They are a pair of kinky boys, but it's all just an extension of their love and devotion to each other.
I can't wait to see their wedding and the future generation of these two in the coming books.
Okay, so I will admit I probably read these in the wrong order. I would recommend starting with Imry, or following the recommended chapter format that Crea outlines in the foreword.
Reading this one first just felt like a lot of 'filler' and then suddenly we were at the climax with no real set up. However, as I read through Imry, I was like 'OHHHHH here's all the context'. This was completely my mistake as I assumed that each book had their own story, but they intertwined and happened simultaneously. Just something to be aware of if you're going to read both.
Now, onto the couple of the moment. Yes, this is taboo but hot damn these two are just so sweet. The explanation of their love, why it's different to their love for Imry and how they have to hide their true selves a lot of the time was beautiful and heartbreaking. I also really appreciated that it started as a fuck you to their mum and then morphed into them understanding that intimacy doesn't have to be sexual. They are a pair of kinky boys, but it's all just an extension of their love and devotion to each other.
I can't wait to see their wedding and the future generation of these two in the coming books.
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC review.
I feel like as I read each Van Doren book, I love each couple more. I'll admit that I read both Imry after the 2/3 triplets books and everything made so much more sense! If you're planning on reading both (note Avory and Ellory is TABOO) I would recommend reading Imry first, or follow Crea's recommended chapter order in the foreword.
Imry and Haze are a big dose of sweet and I am obsessed with their dynamic. Big, fit boy with body image issues from his awful family with a smaller, powerful boy who had his heart broken epically and still deals with trauma from his mum? Absolute perfection
I love the way Crea crafts relationships. They don't necessarily follow the script of meet, add a label, confess your love, HEA. These two start as friends who flirt over text, sleep together and realise they're too broken for anything more. They become FWBs but this morphs over time. There is no conversation about putting a label on their arrangement, they just start using the label when they're ready. And seeing them support each other to cope with their hurt just gives me the good feels.
This book is spicy, but still had enough of a plot to not just be spice/relationship focused.
I feel like as I read each Van Doren book, I love each couple more. I'll admit that I read both Imry after the 2/3 triplets books and everything made so much more sense! If you're planning on reading both (note Avory and Ellory is TABOO) I would recommend reading Imry first, or follow Crea's recommended chapter order in the foreword.
Imry and Haze are a big dose of sweet and I am obsessed with their dynamic. Big, fit boy with body image issues from his awful family with a smaller, powerful boy who had his heart broken epically and still deals with trauma from his mum? Absolute perfection
I love the way Crea crafts relationships. They don't necessarily follow the script of meet, add a label, confess your love, HEA. These two start as friends who flirt over text, sleep together and realise they're too broken for anything more. They become FWBs but this morphs over time. There is no conversation about putting a label on their arrangement, they just start using the label when they're ready. And seeing them support each other to cope with their hurt just gives me the good feels.
This book is spicy, but still had enough of a plot to not just be spice/relationship focused.
