Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: Don’t Clause a Scene
SERIES: Love in Maplewood
AUTHOR: Lee Blair
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 282 pages
RELEASE DATE: July 18, 2025
BLURB:
The world expects us to hate each other, but fate has other plans.
As a member of a Maplewood founding family, I’ve always known what I’m supposed to do with my life:
Take over Red’s, the diner that’s been in my family for generations.
Support the community, which usually means helping out with the town’s almost-monthly festivals.
Hate everything about, and everyone involved with, Sparky’s Diner.
For the most part, it’s been an easy destiny to fulfill, even if sometimes I wish for something else. Something more. Maybe that’s why I take a chance on Halloween with a costumed guy who shouldn’t look so good in a mullet wig.
I’m stunned when his costume comes off and I see the one man I can’t have anything to do with. The man who’s temporarily back in town and working at his family’s diner. The man I can’t get off my mind.
No worries. It’ll be easy to avoid Amos—I’ve been doing it my entire life. Except Amos and I are voluntold to plan an event for the big Christmas festival. Together.
When others on the planning committee say we couldn’t possibly pull it off, we decide to prove them wrong. It turns out stubbornness is just the beginning of a long list of things we have in common.
The more time we spend together, the more I realize my life is sweeter with Amos in it. I begin to wonder how deep this rivalry goes, how long Amos plans to stay in Maplewood, and what matters more: my destiny or my freedom.
Don’t Clause a Scene is a low-angst, small-town story about an introvert and extrovert finding a groove, secrets—so many secrets—and a well-meaning town that cares maybe a little too much.
With the highest percentage of LGBTQIA+ residents in Vermont, Maplewood is a town where everyone belongs. And with festivals year round, there’s always something fun happening! This multi-author, low-angst queer series features ten standalone romances—each set against the backdrop of a different festival. Come for the celebrations, stay for the happily-ever-afters!
REVIEW:
Amos and Mickey are the sons of the competing diner owners in Maplewood. Everyone in town (with few exceptions) is either Team Red’s or Team Sparky’s. When they meet in costume on Halloween and nearly have a hookup before realizing who they other is, well that could have been a real disaster. Amos is home after getting laid off from his Boston job. He left Maplewood after high school and has rarely been back due to a busy work schedule.
Mickey has been stuck in Maplewood and expected to take over his family business. A job he never wanted and was never asked about. What he really wants to do is make his artisan cheeses. Too bad nobody ever asked him. His dad is not in favor of change and won’t even consider using Mickey’s cheese even after he asks him to just try a few specials 🙁
When Bo, who is the city planner asks Mickey and Amos to work together on a community Christmas Eve dinner, they agree. Mostly because they are stubborn and want to prove everyone else wrong that they can’t work together. The more time they spend together though, the more they WANT to spent together. That spark? It wasn’t a fluke. Neither has connected with anyone like they do with each other. But fraternizing with the enemy??? That just won’t do.
There are more surprises in store for the town as the holiday festival and Christmas Eve dinner approach. Those surprises have some people excited. Others have thrown Mickey especially for a loop. His whole world framing has been knocked off it’s axis. When he finds out everything, what will happen to his family business? How will his dad react? Can Amos and Mickey navigate the pitfalls of the family rivalries and a town that is overly invested in said rivalry???
What a great finish to this series! We get things nicely wrapped up with a holiday happy ending. This story is full of warmth – and secrets! Amos and Mickey were the most affected by the secrets that have been kept for generations. I loved how they managed to find time together despite all the prying eyes. Their friend Bo (who I’m a little sad never got his own HEA) kind of helps things along without even intending too. The Red’s vs. Sparky rivalry was fun for some but caused a lot of issues for the next generation who is getting set to take over the competing diners. It was fun to see all the other couples from the previous books in cameos and supporting roles – even off-page. The whole community atmosphere of small towns was accurately portrayed – as well as the gossip blog and nosy Nellies who always had something to say. Amos and Mickey both had dreams that they couldn’t share with their families due to the expectations of the next generation and the diners in question. I really loved how things ended up getting resolved. And just in time for Christmas! This is definitely a very feel good story where our heroes get their HEAs after having to struggle against the tides of public opinion and their own desires and fears. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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