1.5 out of 5 stars
Ebook. 130 pages.Published December 11th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press
Blurb:
A week before Christmas, Alex Bancroft’s bakery goes up in flames. When he runs back inside after a dog, firefighter Kevin Flint has to rescue Alex—and Quincy—from the smoldering building, endangering them and inflaming Kevin’s resentment.
Now Alex can’t create the elaborate gingerbread house he donates to a foster-kids charity each year. Fire Station 7 again comes to his rescue, offering their kitchen and their manpower.
Everyone but Kevin Flint, that is. A third-generation firefighter, he’s fearful of stepping too far out of the closet. So when his powerful physical attraction for Alex ends in a sizzling secret encounter in the firehouse, Kevin can’t push Alex far enough away, and Alex returns the cold shoulder.
After a change of heart, Kevin risks his life to prove he’s worthy of Alex’s affection, but without a Christmas miracle, their chances at sweet romance might go up in smoke.
Like all Delectable stories, Gingerbread Palace includes recipes used in the book.
Likes:
- Both men seem like interesting individuals.
- How the firefighters offered to let Alex use their bakery.
- The detailed explanation of how firefighters do their work.
Dislikes:
- Alex and Kevin have no chemistry.
- Alex didn’t need to run into the building.
- The beginning lacks impact.
- Alex’s responses to Kevin.
DNF at chapter 3.
I learned my lesson from the last book. When the sex scene happened and I wasn’t invested, I quit. Lynley’s writing style just doesn’t work for me.
Both Alex and Kevin were interesting characters with deep issues that affected their outlook on romance. Sadly, both men came off as assholes more than a few times. Alex knew Kevin was deeply closeted. Alex also knew he didn’t want to get involved with someone closeted. He then warns his employee about not outing Kevin, before apparently forgetting all that and taunting Kevin about being closeted, then sleeping with him.
I could have overlooked that if the men had any chemistry at all. They didn’t. They had lust, which is not the same.
Even their lust didn’t work for me. They acted like teenagers who literally couldn’t control themselves. There’s a line about Kevin’s body taking control. It was a major turn off for me, because the men didn’t like each other at all.
Like the last book, Alex and Kevin felt like they were being pushed hard by the author to get together. It was clunky, and in the race to the romance, what was forgotten was the chance for the reader to get to know and like the men. Preferably before they start acting like assholes to each other.
Alex running back into the building was stupid and unnecessary. The firefighters were there and the fire was mostly out. For Alex to rush in himself felt like nothing but a plot device. Maybe there is an explanation for his actions later in the book. This author does seem to like to hold back information. But that leaves me thinking Alex is an idiot, which is never a good first impression.
Speaking of first impressions, the beginning was underwheling. The story starts from Kevin’s point of view, and progresses without much tension or personal investment on his part. I appreciated the detail of how firefighters do their job, but I think Alex should have started the story, since it was his bakery that was on fire
With this flop, I’m officially giving up on the Delectable series. Many other people seemed to like the books, but a lot of the reviews are from six years ago. I’m going to assume the writing style is the problem for me, but it could be that the quality of gay romance has gone up significantly since 2013.
Be sure to check out the reviews for Brand New Flavor and An Intoxicating Crush.
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