Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Stories from Queens Crescent Vol 1
SERIES: Queens Crescent
AUTHOR: Kristian Parker
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 207 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 4, 2024
BLURB:
Queens Parade is a small shopping street just around the corner from Queens Crescent. In one of London’s most exclusive neighbourhoods, these shopkeepers have their own stories to tell. This world was originally a series of short stories for newsletter subscribers.
Grizedale’s – the story of Anthony, a tailor married to his work. That’s until he gets a very strange commission.
Green Glade – Con Scala has taken the plunge and opened a new shop. Yet it’s the tenant in the flat above that’s causing him sleepless nights.
Bluebird Café – a business opportunity comes from out of the blue for waiter Viggo. Now all he has to do is persuade the sexy new chef that it’s a good idea.
The Swan – Damian is bored of London. He’s looking for a diversion and one comes in a very unexpected form.
The collection also has two new stories.
Delmotte’s Chocolates – JJ and Riku find each other. Against all odds, they fight to protect their fragile love. But with Riku due home in Tokyo soon, it appears they are doomed before they’ve begun.
New Year at Queens Crescent – What happened to Jeremy and Stuart from Christmas at Queens Crescent after the happy ever after? Find out one year on where someone has a very important question to ask.
REVIEW:
Grizedale’s – 4 stars
Anthony is a haberdasher in Queens Parade. His very smart shop is handling the wedding for one of the Queens Crescent residents. Said groom arrives with a last minute request for Anthony to make his son, who has suddenly arrived from France, presentable for the wedding. Jonty is a biologist studying a newt in the wine regions of France and he’s not exactly ready for prime time. Anthony takes him to get a hair cut, get some smart clothes and then fit him for a suit for the wedding. Jonty isn’t like the men Anthony usually meets. And they act on the attraction. Anthony tends to let his heart get ahead of his head and well Jonty has to go back to France for newts doesn’t he? So there is an expiration date on their affair. Or is there?
Green Glade – 4 stars
Con has opened a health food store in a former fishmonger shop in Queens Parade. There is a flat above that he really needs to take possession of since he’s stretched thin opening his store. But there is an artist, Dan, already living there. When Con explains that he is going to need the flat, Dan says he needs time to find a new place. But then he offers the second bedroom to Con in the interim. They couldn’t be more different. Con is a guy who focuses on healthy food and fitness. Dan still eats like a college kid and smokes! Things get a bit steamy between them and then they have a bit of a falling out. But Con misses Dan when he’s gone. Can they find a way to make it work together?
Bluebird Café – 3.75 stars
Viggo and Byron both work at the Bluebird Cafe. Viggo is part of the wait staff/front of house and Byron is a new chef who is very good. Viggo assists one of the Queens Crescent residents with something and he mentions needing food/drinks for a party, well Viggo gets the idea that he and Byron can take on the gig. Byron is reluctant at first, but they make a great showing. Things get a bit off track with them personally though. They each think they aren’t enough for the other. Viggo runs scared. But he sees the error of his ways 😉 I would have liked this one to be a bit longer – I didn’t feel like I got to know either of these characters well enough.
The Swan – 3.75 stars
Damian is a bit bored with his barman job at The Swan. Oliver is a photographer in desperate need of a drink and a model for a watch shoot. Oliver offers Damian the gig and he thinks why not? As he and Oliver spend more time together, there is a spark there. Oliver is finding it difficult to really break into the business and he’s giving it everything he has. Damian doesn’t really know what he wants. Can they find a way to fan the sparks into a flame that might last?
Delmotte’s Chocolates – 4 stars
This is a sweet story about a chocolatier (see what I did there 😉 ) and a Japanese PhD student working on this thesis with The Professor who lives in Queens Crescent. JJ has moved to London to start over after his family and business suffered setbacks. Riku is working on his dissertation on Dickens and is excited to see “where it all happened.” He’s only supposed to be there for a very short time and though they have a connection, he’s reluctant to start anything because he will have to go back to Tokyo. But maybe there is a way.
New Year at Queens Crescent – 4.5 stars
This is a delightful story of Stuart and Jeremy and the very surprising New Year’s Eve. They’ve been together a year and and are living together. Things are going ok – but they’ve hit a couple of snags. They get into a huge fight when Stuart makes assumptions about Jeremy making decisions for both of them and well just invading his space a bit much. Jeremy storms out and eventually Stuart goes after him because well, he had a sort of whole thing planned. Jeremy’s stepmother has something to say about that and the whole night ends up quite differently to the original plan. Tue important things still get resolved though 🙂
All in all, this is really lovely collection of short stories that give us glimpses into some of our favorite businesses that keep our friends in Queens Crescent happy they live near Queens Parade. I really like this series and this a great little addition to the main books. I always fancy a visit to Queens Crescent and this is a sweet diversion. Recommended.
RATING: 
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