Candy Hearts by Erin McLellan
Series: So Over the Holidays #2
Publisher: Erin McLellan
Release Date (ebook): Feb. 3, 2020
Length: 50k word
Subgenre: contemporary romance, holiday romance, erotic romance
Warnings: explicit sex and language
Order now: Amazon
Book 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.
Praise for Candy Hearts:
I highlighted the holy heck out of this freaking amazing book.
Eloquent, I know, but damn. Erin McLellan’s Candy Hearts sent me into a sugar high with how much I loved it! My recommendation? Read it. – Michaelene, reviewer
***
I loved everything about this story and can’t wait to read more of this author’s work….although I’m worried nothing will come close to the love I have for Benji and William and all their quirks and kinks. LOVE. – Kate Olson, reviewer
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Erin McLellan keeps delighting me with these queer holiday romance novellas. Candy Hearts is perfect for those who maybe kind of hate to love Valentine’s Day but would absolutely embrace it with their own sexy “fake Valentine”. – B and her books, reviewer
Excerpt
An idea popped into Benji’s head as if it had been placed there by Cupid himself. He imagined pulling one of those arrows with a plunger on the end off his chest.
“I have the best idea.”
“What is it?”
“So you know how Valentine’s Day sucks? Especially when you’re lonely as shit. And I am.”
“Okay.” William frowned.
That was not ideal. Benji wanted that unicorn smile back. He needed to lawyer the hell out of this proposition.
“I’m single. Are you single?”
William nodded. “I wouldn’t hit on you otherwise.”
Benji waved that comment away. He’d had plenty of non-single dudes hit on him. “Well, we’re all alone for a while. It’s Valentine’s Day in two days.”
“Okay.”
“I’ve never had a valentine. Want to be mine?”
William blinked a few times, his face blank.
Mayday. Mayday. Big mistake. Big, even for Benji.
“Fake valentines,” Benji said, in addendum.
“Why do you want to be fake valentines?” William asked, his face still scary neutral.
Well, Benji had been hoping for a “hell yes, let’s bang,” so this was super humiliating.
“Because! You’re hot, and it’ll be fun. We can be romantic and flirty without the pressure. Or, as romantic as is possible during a power outage in the middle of nowhere.”
Benji had never had a valentine. And yes, Sasha had invited him to this weird Valentine’s Day house party so he’d feel better about being single. This idea spit in the face of that, but Benji liked spitting in the face of things.
5 of 5 Stars
Full disclosure time…I signed up to read this book because I wanted a light, fluffy, sexy read after reading something heavy. I’ve never read anything by this author, so I went in a bit blind but figured I was safe with a novella. I didn’t read book one for a couple of reasons: 1) I only read MF books from trusted authors and 2) I’ve had bad luck with stories involving characters who sell sex toys. After reading this book, I’m considering going back to read it as well as the next book when it comes out.
I can’t remember the last time I gave a novella 5 stars…I just can’t justify it because the story feels incomplete or the characters aren’t well developed, or something just feels missing.
I think the single most surprising thing about this book is the complexity of the main characters. Benji seemed OTT at first but it’s more that he’s been stifled, and his previous love interests have tried to change him so he’s showing William who he is without apology. He just wants to be accepted as is not fit into a mold by someone else and he is quite an enigma. William first appears as a gruff, grumpy, unapproachable bear of a man who has no tolerance for silly boys like Benji. However, he is quite enamored with him from the start and he’s hiding his self-inflicted pain well. His suffering is what’s making him appear grumpy, but he really just wants to be loved and live again.
There are a couple of heavy-ish scenes as Benji and William work through their personal issues but overall the book is filled with entertaining banter, charming romance, smoldering sexy times, big gestures and great friendship.
And I only highlighted one thing…but it was one of the most important things I’ve ever highlighted as it solidified Ms. McLellan and me as soulmates. Here it is…
Maybe this was like the bridge of a song, short and special. The best part but over too fast.
For now, this author is on my watch list but understand this is an absolute must-read…and not just for Valentine’s Day.
About the Author
Erin McLellan is the author of several contemporary romances, all of which have characters who are complex, goodhearted, and a little quirky. She likes her stories to have a sexy spark and a happily ever after. Originally from Oklahoma, she currently lives in Alaska and spends her time dreaming up love stories set in the Great Plains. She is a lover of chocolate, college sports, antiquing, Dr Pepper, and binge-worthy TV shows.
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