Reviewed by Susan
TITLE: Double Scoop
SERIES: With A Kick #8
AUTHOR: Clare London
PUBLISHER: Jocular Press
LENGTH: 170 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 7, 2016
BLURB:
A sudden disaster strikes everyone’s favourite ice cream shop, With A Kick. Not only does it threaten the livelihood of its owner, Patrick, but also his loyal assistant Lee. The last thing in the world Patrick would ever want to do is hurt Lee, either physically or emotionally. Why would he? He’s been falling in love with Lee since the day Lee invited himself into the shop’s business and Patrick’s life. But familiar and deeply-held insecurities hold Patrick back – he’s too gruff for Lee, too old, and his labour-of-love business is never going to make him rich.
Lee is weary of trying to make Patrick see how much he admires and cares for him. To Lee, it’s a very straightforward situation. Patrick is sexy, Patrick is smart, Patrick needs Lee’s help – and Lee needs Patrick in his life as more than a boss. All the characteristics Patrick finds inhibiting, Lee finds attractive. However, if Patrick’s apparently never going to make a move on Lee, how long should Lee wait to make his own move? Maybe Patrick thinks Lee is too clingy, too immature. Maybe Lee should give up his romantic hopes completely. If, that is, he can bear to do it.
The disaster at the shop brings them a whole new opportunity to work – and love – together to make a go of things. They’ve both got to look at each other in a whole new way. With the help of all their With A Kick friends, this could be make or break for the reluctant couple!
REVIEW:
Double Scoop is the 8th book in Clare London’s With a Kick series and all of the favourite characters from the previous series are featured prominently. But this story features With a Kick itself and the owner Patrick and his right hand man, Lee. With a Kick has played such a pivotal role in the series as a gathering place for this group of friends and lovers, it is somewhere they can count on to gather and enjoy each other and Patrick’s amazing creations. But when a freak accident almost destroys the shop and almost costs Lee his life, the group knows that it is time to rally around Patrick and Lee so that they do not lose their dream.
Patrick and Lee have worked side by side to build With a Kick into a successful business. They have coexisted as friends and employer / employee, but have both secretly longed to move their relationship to a new level. Lee is positive that a relationship will work and they can move forward side by side. Patrick is hung up on the age difference between the two. He longs for Lee, but thinks that he is way too old for him and that Lee would be better off with someone his own age.
When an early morning explosion almost destroys everything, Patrick realizes that he almost lost the man that means more to him than anything. Lee decides that life is too short to waste opportunities and he must go after the man that he loves.
This is the area where Patrick and Lee frustrate me to no end – Patrick especially. For two people who are friends and have worked side by side, they just do not communicate with each other. Both are stubborn and let pride get in the way, but the number of times that Patrick hurts Lee with his dismissals regarding his age and life experience made me want to kick him. In order for these two to have their happily ever after, it is going to take some honest conversations, more understanding, and maybe an intervention or two…
I find Clare’s writing flows naturally and is very easy to read and get lost in the story. This is a fun series with a cast of characters that are a pleasure to spend time with.
RATING: 
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