Tinsel & Tools: A Small-Town MM Holiday Romance

RATING 4.5 STARS Tinsel & Tools is a MM, holiday romance by the wonderful co-author team, Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams. Cole Maddox thought he had it all in Boston, a wife he loved, a fancy job as an electrician working on large commercial buildings, and a nice home. Until it all crumbled around him. Boston no longer felt like home so he went back to his small, hometown, Brookhaven, New Hampshire, where his family still lived. He joined his dad in his business, Maddox’s Repair & Restore. Gavin Price lives in New York with his roommate and best friend, Allie. He is an author of gay romance books. But after losing his parents several months ago, the words have left him. He stares at a blank computer day after day. When he receives a call from a lawyer in Brookhaven, letting him know that he has inherited a Bed and Breakfast, Cedar Falls Inn, he thinks this might be what he needs to get his creative side flowing again, a change of scenery. So he and Allie make the trip not knowing what they are in store for. What they find is what was once a beautiful Inn but has not been kept up. Now he has to decide, do I sell, or do I restore it in hopes that this could be a future income. When Cole and his father are recommended for the job, and they all meet, Gavin decides he wants to keep the Inn. As he and Cole get to know each other, they find a comfort between them, someone easy to talk to. Cole is straight, Gavin is not. But when chemistry is involved, none of that…

The cover and title make it look like a Christmas story, but it’s not! While there is a tree and a Christmas festival, this is really a sweet small town romance with plenty of heat. The small town vibe is spot on, complete with nosy old ladies trying to marry off their granddaughters and that cozy, close knit feeling you only get in small towns. Cole and Gavin are complete opposites, yet somehow, they fit together perfectly. After a divorce, Cole moves back to his hometown to work at his father’s construction company. Gavin, a writer struggling with writer’s block, inherits a B&B from his estranged grandfather and comes to town to check it out. When Gavin hires Cole’s company for the remodel, a plumbing issue leaves him with nowhere to stay and Cole offers to let him stay with him. That’s when things start to heat up. Gavin knows he wants Cole, but Cole is straight and not looking for a relationship, especially not with a man. But there’s something about Gavin that pulls him in, and soon Cole can’t deny that maybe he's not as straight as he thought. This story has everything I love about small town romances. Everyone knows everyone else’s business, there’s just the right touch of drama, and the chemistry is off the charts. I loved the moment when Cole realizes he doesn’t hate that Gavin kissed him and wants more. Bi-awakening stories are my favorite, and this one was perfect.

Best day ever!!! I no longer need to turn on my TV for the perfect Christmas romance. I no longer need to wait for the Christmas season to find hope, love and acceptance. I simply have to open Tinsel & Tools and escape into the perfect holiday romance. Gavin has lots his parents. Gavin has lost his ability to write romance novels. When he inherits a Bed & Breakfast in the small town of Brookhaven, from a grandfather he never met, it has possible romance written all over it. Going in search of the possibilbities at Cedar Falls Inn, during the hoiday season, had me wishing for a roaring fire and hot chocolate. He just has to restore everything in the Inn in order to have the fire. I wanted to drool right along with Gavin as he watched Cole, the handyman, repair the Inn. He checks off all of the construction hunkiness desires. When Gavin needs a tour of the town, there is no one better to show him around than Cole. After all he comes from the town of Brookhaven, only returning after catching his wife is a compromising position. His family and friends all say he needs to get out, but I don't think Gavin is who they were thinking of. Tinsel & Tools is a wonderful opposites attract romance that found me giggling and swooning in equal measure. I couldn't wait to see if and when Cole would fall for Gavin's charm. I was thrilled to see what would develop and how Cole would deal with everything. By everything, I mean a same sex romance that would be completed unexpected by everyone…

This book wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t good. There was nothing of any substance in it anywhere, from each main character’s internal dialogue to their interactions with each other and anyone else. Overall this book was just Meh.

Extremely hot! So hot that I had to stop reading and sit a few minutes before getting up and embarrassing myself. It was hot but also very romantic and tugged at my heart. Fit the formula but who cares. Well done! ❤️