Reviewed by Anna Lynn
TITLE: Candy Hearts
SERIES: So Over the Holidays #2
AUTHOR: Erin McLellan
PUBLISHER: Self-Published
LENGTH: 209 pages
RELEASE DATE: February 3, 2020
BLURB:
Mechanic Benji Holiday is so over Valentine’s Day and men who don’t get him. A weekend getaway with friends to escape the holiday hubbub is exactly what he needs. But William O’Dare—a stern and silent nightclub owner with “Be My Valentine” practically stamped on his forehead—throws a wrench into Benji’s plans.
William has spent years focused on his career, and it has cost him friendships and love. Inexperienced in the business of romance, he’s on the hunt for the perfect partner, and he’s armed with specific criteria to guide him. But William didn’t expect a hunky mechanic wrapped in satin and lace to show up on his doorstep.
Unable to resist their attraction, Benji and William agree to be secret fake valentines for the weekend, but secrets have a way of getting out. William gets struck by Cupid’s arrow, and as the weekend winds down, he doesn’t want fake or secret. He wants Benji to be his valentine for real and for keeps.
Candy Hearts is a male/male Valentine’s Day novella featuring a house party power outage, meddling friends and siblings, naughty lingerie and naughtier toys, homemade Valentine’s Day cards, and a happily ever after.
REVIEW:
Most people would say that Valentine’s Day is a business holiday. In some ways I agree because even before the holiday, the prices of roses, flowers, and chocolates go exorbitantly high, it is unbelievable. Hotels/motels are fully-booked, also restaurants and just about any commodity that are very popular as gifts during this holiday. I guess that is why a lot of people are opting for non-traditional gifts these days in order to save time and money, and to be original.
I think most of all, people just want that special connection with a special someone, not only on Valentine’s Day but every day! If there is a spark (of awareness), it can signify an attraction. I’m not saying that it should happen like this, but sometimes it does. Sometimes it is a slow burn. The important thing is the connection. In our current situation where people are too busy for relationships, finding any connection can be rare.
Benji is having the worst Valentine’s Day! Having just gotten out of a relationship and finding it doubly hard to meet someone who would accept him, all his quirks and sexy lingerie! Someone who does not want to change him.
William owns the house where his group of friends were supposed to have their anti-Valentine’s party. Due to power maintenance though, he had no power when Benji arrived, who also didn’t know about the outage, thus arriving on the day they originally scheduled.
William is older, hot and stern, which are qualities that Benji looks for in a man. It was an instant attraction for William, although looking and listening to him when they first met, others might say it was totally the opposite.
Having nothing to do while they wait for the power to return, they agree to indulge in a “fake Valentine” hook-up. But with these arrangements most times, one or both parties develop feelings. Before long, they started to wish that things were real between them. Especially when the others arrive and they had to keep their arrangement a secret.
I love how fun and spontaneous the characters are. I love how both William and Benji try to be honest with each other as much as they can. I love how accepting William is to Benji’s love for sexy lingerie and actually encourages him and give him praise. They are both scared of being hurt again but still they are willing to put themselves out there. This story is low angst but full of sweetness and smart banter.
RATING: 
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