Reviewed by Valerie

TITLE:  Cookies

AUTHOR:  Teodora Kostova

SERIES:  Cookies #1

PUBLISHER:  Self-published

LENGTH:  276 pages

RELEASE DATE:  April 17, 2016

BLURB:

I went to war, running away from myself. I came back in pieces to find out who I really was…
It took me nearly ten years, two tours in Afghanistan and losing a leg to come to terms with who I really am.
Two years after coming back from war, I can say that I’m finally content. I’m as fit as ever, my prosthetic leg allowing me the freedom to move and exercise as if nothing has changed. I own a small bakery in the centre of Cambridge, and I have a loyal circle of friends that I can always count on.
And yet…
Yet, there’s something missing. A part of me craves the intimacy, the deep connection to another human being. But another – bigger – part of me is terrified of letting anyone in.
My internal conflict doesn’t stand a chance when I meet Jay. He storms through my defence walls like a hurricane, wrapping around me with gentle force until I have no choice but to surrender.
Surrendering has never felt so good.
But will Jay stay when he sees the real me? When he sees the nightmares and insecurities clawing at my soul? When he realises the burden I come with may be heavier than we both can carry?
My name is Amir Gopal and this is my story.

REVIEW:

Author Teodora Kostova sought to write a “curl up on the sofa on a rainy Sunday afternoon kinda book” and that’s precisely what she delivered. Cookies is a low angst, no drama, relationship focused story. At the onset, combat veteran Amir Gopal has already healed physically from his leg amputation and burns suffered during his second tour in Afghanistan.  This is a story of growth and of Amir learning to heal emotionally. He’s grappling with PTSD, also, which sends him into panic attacks at certain triggers. Amir is now enjoying civilian life as the successful owner of the bakery “Cookies”. Jay Brooke is a cookie-loving college student at Cambridge University. He is a sweet, genuine man from a good family with high expectations that don’t match his own dreams and talents.  

The romance begins immediately with flirting over cookie choices at the bakery. I was gripped by the instant chemistry between the two men the moment their eyes meet. (Instant chemistry doesn’t mean insta-love, thank goodness.) The novel proceeds at a leisurely pace as Amir and Jay fall in love. Impeding that process is Amir’s mindset that he isn’t worthy of love – worthy of Jay – because of his burn scars, missing limb, and embarrassing PTSD episodes. Jay is easily accepting of everything that is Amir, though, and deftly learns to navigate Amir’s insecurities and reticence to completely open up emotionally. Also hindering his recovery is emotional scarring from his childhood.  

Both Jay and Amir are likable characters, Jay for his sunny, supportive personality and Amir for his courage in the aftermath of war. Cookies is blessed with a solid cast of characters: Jay’s roommates Freddie and the insufferable Cedric; Amir’s bakery co-worker Chris; Greg, an RAF pilot and Amir’s best friend; Peter, a fellow combat veteran; Shane, who runs a local veteran rehabilitation center; and Flo, Amir’s Labrador retriever. The vet center is featured heavily and is the source of Amir’s physical recovery and much of his emotional healing through rehab and interaction with other vets who are now his closest friends. 

A few notes: 

The sex is both scorching hot and loving. There are just the right number of scenes so that it’s satisfying without being repetitive or excessive.  

There’s a happy cameo from Fenix and Jared of Kostova’s West End series. 

Jay could’ve been given more backstory by exploring his past relationships that left him with some negative thinking regarding sex and his worth as a partner in bed. 

Cookies is a feel-good romance, perfect for a curled-up rainy day read, just as Kostova states. I recommend this sweet book. 

RATING: 

BUY LINK: 

Amazon