Peppermint Bark, No Bite: Grumpy-sunshine, best friends brother, LGBTQ+ holiday romance (All or Nothing Book 1)

Julian Thorne has spent his entire life keeping his distance, especially when it comes to his best friend’s younger brother. After transitioning and moving to a quiet, snowy town, Julian finally feels like himself, but the festive cheer of the season brings an unexpected complication: Silas. Silas is everything Julian is not—loud, relentlessly optimistic, and completely infatuated with the man he has known for years. When a sudden blizzard traps them together in a cozy, isolated cabin, the professional walls Julian has built start to crumble. Silas is determined to prove that his feelings are far from a childhood crush, offering a warmth that threatens to melt Julian’s icy exterior. As the peppermint scent of the holidays fills the air, they must navigate the delicate line between long-held friendship and a love that feels both terrifying and inevitable. This story is a heartfelt exploration of identity, patience, and the courage it takes to be truly seen by the one person who has always been watching. Set against a backdrop of Regency-inspired charm and modern-day vulnerability, this holiday romance proves that the best gifts are the ones that arrive exactly when you finally open your heart to receive them.