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Cross My Candy Heart
Love is the last thing on Justin’s mind. Sure, he’s noticed the big, shy guy who comes in for his coffee every morning, but Justin doesn’t have time to indulge in a crush. After his last disastrous breakup, he needs to get his head out of the clouds and focus on climbing out of debt with his pile of part-time jobs. The singing telegram gig is the most embarrassing by far, but at least no one will ever recognize him in his ridiculous costumes. It’s temporary, just through the Valentine season.
Adam is in love. He just needs to drum up the nerve to do something about it. A daily smile from the cute guy behind the coffee counter is the bright spot in his day, keeping him going through the work week in an office filled with jerks. Especially when one of the jerks starts sending him romantic telegrams as a joke. There’s nothing he hates more than public humiliation. If he ever finds out who’s behind it, heads will roll.
Love songs, lies, and an absurd amount of glitter pave the way to a romance neither of them expected. Adam is everything Justin’s ever dreamed of, but he can never discover Justin’s terrible, fuzzy, off-key secret.
This Valentine’s Day, Cupid doesn’t miss, even if he has terrible timing.
Adam is in love. He just needs to drum up the nerve to do something about it. A daily smile from the cute guy behind the coffee counter is the bright spot in his day, keeping him going through the work week in an office filled with jerks. Especially when one of the jerks starts sending him romantic telegrams as a joke. There’s nothing he hates more than public humiliation. If he ever finds out who’s behind it, heads will roll.
Love songs, lies, and an absurd amount of glitter pave the way to a romance neither of them expected. Adam is everything Justin’s ever dreamed of, but he can never discover Justin’s terrible, fuzzy, off-key secret.
This Valentine’s Day, Cupid doesn’t miss, even if he has terrible timing.
95 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 6, 2024
15 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 4, 2024
This novella answers the question: "How do you let someone know you're totally crushing on them when dressed as a slightly mangy teddy bear or in a duck costume with candy-striped tights and big webby feet?"
After his latest bad relationship with a truly horrid ex, Justin is working three jobs to get his head anywhere close to above water. And as an employee of "Season's Greetings," he delivers singing telegrams. AND his latest one is a doozy - Adam Hubert (who I picture as James Garner with a heavier brow and a scowl) is definitely not feeling the Valentine love with this anonymous embarrassing delivery. And to make it worse, Adam is his daily 7:15 am "extra-large Americano with a double shot of espresso" order / crush at the coffee shop where Justin also works.
What follows is a sweet story of two guys who find they may not be perfect, but they are perfect for each other. But along the way, each man spends far too much time bemoaning their unworthiness - way, way too much time, IMHO - plus the requisite miscommunication and some angst. But no worries -a very improbable resolution to who is sending Adam these singing telegrams (plus a pretty darn steamy sex scene) makes for a very satisfying HEA. 4 stars.
I received an ARC from IndiGo Marketing and Design in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
After his latest bad relationship with a truly horrid ex, Justin is working three jobs to get his head anywhere close to above water. And as an employee of "Season's Greetings," he delivers singing telegrams. AND his latest one is a doozy - Adam Hubert (who I picture as James Garner with a heavier brow and a scowl) is definitely not feeling the Valentine love with this anonymous embarrassing delivery. And to make it worse, Adam is his daily 7:15 am "extra-large Americano with a double shot of espresso" order / crush at the coffee shop where Justin also works.
What follows is a sweet story of two guys who find they may not be perfect, but they are perfect for each other. But along the way, each man spends far too much time bemoaning their unworthiness - way, way too much time, IMHO - plus the requisite miscommunication and some angst. But no worries -a very improbable resolution to who is sending Adam these singing telegrams (plus a pretty darn steamy sex scene) makes for a very satisfying HEA. 4 stars.
I received an ARC from IndiGo Marketing and Design in exchange for an honest review.
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
April 5, 2024
While I didn’t think this would be my cuppa, it was cute, unexpectedly funny at times, with a Sad Boy TM down on his luck.
I could have done without the ex drama at the end, and think this could have been perfect without that twist, otherwise it was a really nice, short read.
I could have done without the ex drama at the end, and think this could have been perfect without that twist, otherwise it was a really nice, short read.
February 6, 2024
Cross My Candy Heart is the third book in A.C Thomas’s Belleview Holiday Romance series and it was so nice to return to the familiar town and its loveable array of characters.
This time we meet Justin - barista, pizza delivery boy, singing telegram and total human disaster - and Adam - a taciturn giant of a man hiding a secret nerdy side - and follow them as they stumble toward love.
This A.C Thomas series is the perfect combination of laugh out loud humour, romance and ‘world building’ a community that feels like a warm hug (great to see places from the previous books make a guest appearance!).
Cross My Candy Heart is the perfect addition to the series and I can’t wait to read more of them in future.
Highly recommended read for this most romantic of months!
This time we meet Justin - barista, pizza delivery boy, singing telegram and total human disaster - and Adam - a taciturn giant of a man hiding a secret nerdy side - and follow them as they stumble toward love.
This A.C Thomas series is the perfect combination of laugh out loud humour, romance and ‘world building’ a community that feels like a warm hug (great to see places from the previous books make a guest appearance!).
Cross My Candy Heart is the perfect addition to the series and I can’t wait to read more of them in future.
Highly recommended read for this most romantic of months!
February 13, 2024
This book has all the corn syrupy feels you would expect from a Valentine’s Day novella. Justin and Adam together have that OTT cute & funny thing going on and the meet-cute between the two & the sweet interactions once they start actually talking to each other is just the bestest. There was plenty of awww moments and a quite a few chuckles before the end.
Being a novella, it does’t take long to get to the conflict and their happily ever after but I liked them so much I really wish we’d gotten more. I wanted to know more about why Adam feels the way he does about himself, how he is with his coworkers and others besides Justin. And I wanted more of Justin finally getting a good relationship and getting himself back on his feet. And I really wished I’d gotten a bit of a better conclusion to the “secret admirer”. I guess there’s always some of that with a novella but can we make this into a longer book, please?
But I think the fact that even with all those wants I still finished it with a smile shows that Thomas does a really good job of creating those characters and moving them through well to that HEA ending.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
Being a novella, it does’t take long to get to the conflict and their happily ever after but I liked them so much I really wish we’d gotten more. I wanted to know more about why Adam feels the way he does about himself, how he is with his coworkers and others besides Justin. And I wanted more of Justin finally getting a good relationship and getting himself back on his feet. And I really wished I’d gotten a bit of a better conclusion to the “secret admirer”. I guess there’s always some of that with a novella but can we make this into a longer book, please?
But I think the fact that even with all those wants I still finished it with a smile shows that Thomas does a really good job of creating those characters and moving them through well to that HEA ending.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**
January 29, 2024
What a delicious confection of a novella!
Justin works multiple jobs to make ends meet, one of which is a singing telegram sort. Another of his jobs is as a barista, and he has a crush on a regular, Adam. When Justin has to perform (in a costume that renders him unrecognizable), he finds himself in Adam’s office. Adam eventually asks Justin out, and when Justin realizes how hard he’s fallen, will he able to spill the… conversation heart beans (ha)?
Delightfully sweet and a little spicy, this novella was such a treat to read, and I, a notorious Valentine’s Day hater, *loved* it.
I received an arc for review, this is my own opinion! Thanks to AC Thomas and NineStar Press for the arc!
Justin works multiple jobs to make ends meet, one of which is a singing telegram sort. Another of his jobs is as a barista, and he has a crush on a regular, Adam. When Justin has to perform (in a costume that renders him unrecognizable), he finds himself in Adam’s office. Adam eventually asks Justin out, and when Justin realizes how hard he’s fallen, will he able to spill the… conversation heart beans (ha)?
Delightfully sweet and a little spicy, this novella was such a treat to read, and I, a notorious Valentine’s Day hater, *loved* it.
I received an arc for review, this is my own opinion! Thanks to AC Thomas and NineStar Press for the arc!
February 7, 2024
adorable, fun ride!
Reading this I feel as if I had a smile on my face the whole time! The characters are almost whimsical in their dismay, with interesting backstories and hobbies and Valentines outfits. Lurch (Adam) and Justin are simply perfect for each other, they are each other’s sunshine and moon, I was rooting for them the whole time. Wonderful read I would suggest to anyone who enjoys happiness and love.
Reading this I feel as if I had a smile on my face the whole time! The characters are almost whimsical in their dismay, with interesting backstories and hobbies and Valentines outfits. Lurch (Adam) and Justin are simply perfect for each other, they are each other’s sunshine and moon, I was rooting for them the whole time. Wonderful read I would suggest to anyone who enjoys happiness and love.
February 7, 2024
A sweet story about meeting someone and falling in love in the most awkward and endearing ways possible.
A lovely happily ever after. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Can not say enough good things about how sweet their love is.
A lovely happily ever after. I highly recommend this book to everyone. Can not say enough good things about how sweet their love is.
February 7, 2024
This book is so sweet. It's like climbing under a fluffy blanket on a cold night with a cup of hot cocoa. I love Justin and Adam and how genuine they both are. They're so good together. I love them!
April 3, 2024
I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy for review.
Imagine that you are crushing hard on somebody and are too timid to follow through. Your only armor is a series of progressively ridiculous costumes used in your side hustle as a singing telegram, and your crush is the target. It seems like a cosmic joke, but the premise creates a delightful romance between Justin and Adam.
Cross My Candy Heart is a lovely story, novella length for a nice weekend read and appears to be part of a series - though it stands well alone. I am inspired to read more of Thomas's Bellview books.
*ARC received in advance of release
Imagine that you are crushing hard on somebody and are too timid to follow through. Your only armor is a series of progressively ridiculous costumes used in your side hustle as a singing telegram, and your crush is the target. It seems like a cosmic joke, but the premise creates a delightful romance between Justin and Adam.
Cross My Candy Heart is a lovely story, novella length for a nice weekend read and appears to be part of a series - though it stands well alone. I am inspired to read more of Thomas's Bellview books.
*ARC received in advance of release
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews