It took me a bit to go into the story. I wouldn't qualify it as a slow burn completely but more like two MC's who took some time to get together and a lot of problems in the middle.
The story between Casey and Tara is cute and fun. Some parts made me laugh out loud and that made the read worth. The part I struggled with was miscommunication. The spicy scenes were quiet good and I loved the introduction of toys on that scenes, thought I wanted more scenes of this kind and more toys as one of the mc's owns a sex shop. Said this, the novel was sweet and spicy, a bit slow for me but good to read.
<b>Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for gifting me with a free copy. Opinions are my own and are freely given.</b>

I absolutely loved this book! I loved the relationship that the main characters developed over time. I loved the whole premise of one character moving to a small town and opening a sex shop right next door to the bakery. The only part that I had an issue with was the angst that was built due to miscommunication or lack of communication. It seems to be a standard way to build conflict between characters. I always wish the characters would just talk to each other so there was no conflict. I also with the person who caused so many issues for Casey's sex shop had gotten some sort of retribution. This is a great book for the holidays, especially with the makeup scene near the end. This is definitely one to pick up and enjoy during the holidays.

Thank you to Netgalley, authors, and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good Christmas read without it being overly syrupy sweet. I appreciated that the course of this book took place over Christmas, with of course some good ol' Christmas activities thrown in, but it wasn't over the top CHRISTMAS, if you know what I mean?

What I really appreciated was the character growth Casey went through over the course of the story. It seemed as if she started to get a handle on some Big Feelings she was working though and I thought it was very mature at how she was upfront about how 'messy' her life currently was. Could she have been a better communicator? For sure. But also, if she had been we wouldn't have a book to read, lol. I also think she did a far better job at communicating than Tara. Tbh, I think Tara needs to look herself in the mirror, since I felt she needed to take a lot more accountability for the main conflict. Though, again, people are messy and I appreciated that we didn't have cookie cutter perfect characters flawlessly figuring out this relationship.

I loved the chemistry between our two main characters and their instant attraction. That was heightened with the (while short-lived) enemies portion of the story, as they were at odds as neighbouring shop keepers. I'm so glad to see that there was an inclusion of a sex toy especially since Casey owned a sex shop. The strap-on scene was 🌶 lol. Though, I have one gripe! While we got explicit descriptions of Tara's pleasure, we really didn't get to see a lot of Casey's experience of their intimacy. I'm finding a trend in a lot of sapphic books that even when there is a butch or more masc person, their sexual pleasure with intimate details are often coming second to their femme partners. I'm not quite sure what that's about, but all that's to say I want more details of masc sapphics cuming lol.

In all this was a really good Christmas book that had a lot of heart! It was lighter on the cheesiness which offered some variety especially during this season, as many other Christmas sapphic books are full-blown Hallmark. I love the Hallmark-esk books, but I also loved that this one had a bit more depth to it than you would expect. Read this book if you're looking for a Christmas sapphic story about older (mid-late 30s-early 40s?) business owners who clumsily figure out their instant sexual attraction for one another!

**Book Review: *Frosted by the Girl Next Door* by Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger**

In *Frosted by the Girl Next Door*, Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger deliver another spicy, holiday-themed romance set in the picturesque town of Rocky Springs, Colorado. Casey Stevens arrives in town seeking refuge from the chaos of a public Hollywood divorce, bringing with her a vision to open a classy, sex-positive boutique on the town’s charming main street. Her next-door neighbor, Tara McCoy, is a cupcake maestro who returned home to revitalize her family bakery. While Tara is less than thrilled about a sex shop opening next door, their budding connection soon becomes irresistible as Tara shows Casey the magic of small-town living. Sweet moments like ice skating and the holiday market add a delightful layer of holiday charm to their slow-burn romance.

The story shines in its depiction of Casey and Tara’s chemistry and the festive setting that brings them together. However, the narrative dips slightly when Casey briefly returns to Hollywood, introducing tension that feels less engaging compared to the vibrant Rocky Springs storyline. The drama surrounding Casey’s ex and her complicated family background, while adding depth, feels somewhat drawn out. That said, the novel recovers its momentum when the focus shifts back to the heartwarming holiday atmosphere and Casey and Tara’s blossoming romance. Fans of Rey and Clevenger will also enjoy the parallel storylines between this book and *A New Leash on Love*, which adds a fun, interconnected layer to the experience. Overall, *Frosted by the Girl Next Door* is a sweet and spicy holiday treat, perfect for readers who love small-town charm and second-chance love stories.

Having read quite a few of Aurora Rey’s previous books and enjoyed them, I was interested to see what kind of story a collaboration with Jaime Clevenger would entail. Happily I can say that I enjoyed the story for the most part. Tara and Casey had a good chemistry between them, some amusing banter between them and Tara and her sister made for an entertaining read.

This opposites attract storyline wasn’t without some minor moments that left me distracted. A few times the story was heading one way but then stopped and changed scenes, perhaps this is the drawback of having two writers. Casey’s return to LA was one particular moment. However, overall, it was a well written, thought provoking, romantic story and will definitely put anyone in the mood for Christmas.

I wouldn't exactly recommend this Christmas-themed story. It really felt like it was written by two authors who weren't on the same page, because the plot was a total mess. They tried too hard to blend the holiday theme with the characters' personal problems, and it just didn't work. The chemistry between the main characters was forced, and even the sex scenes were pretty boring and cliché, very butch/femme. The side characters didn't add much either – I think two of them had their own subplot going on. The ending was rushed and confusing, like they were just trying to wrap things up quickly. I didn't even see the point of the epilogue

rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

— cupcake baker x sex shop owner
— small town
— grand gesture
— holiday romance

if you’re looking for a sapphic romance with all the fun holiday elements, this book is for you!

we meet casey stevens who comes to the small town of rocky springs to escape from a messy hollywood divorce. to try and find herself again, she wants to open a sex store where people can feel empowered about their bodies and sex while also providing educational material on healthy relationships.

this is where we que in tara mcoy, who works at the cupcake store right next door. now tara isn’t the happiest person when she finds out that a sex store is opening up next door as she doesn’t want to lose any clientele from the shop.

the attraction between them happens instantly and you’re honestly waiting at the edge of your seat for one of them to finally make a move. their banter and tension keep you so engaged and as you learn more about the insecurities both characters face, you can’t help but root for them to get a happy ending.

it has all your favorite holiday store elements, two amazing characters, the hottest spice and a big romantic gesture for the books. what more could you want?

I got this as an arc on Netgalley and it has since come out just in time for Christmas. Yes lovely little sapphic romantic book that is well written and easy to read. Enjoyed it a lot!

I want to start by saying that from what I read, this book was absolutely charming! The setting—a cozy small-town mountain resort feel—was so well-described and created a perfect atmosphere for the story. It felt like I could almost smell the fresh mountain air and hear the crunch of snow underfoot.

The main characters were another highlight for me. They were fun, cute, and genuinely endearing. I could tell that their relationships were on the cusp of something really beautiful, and I loved the glimpses of the connections forming between them. The author does a wonderful job of making these characters feel warm and real. However, I have to admit that I ultimately had to DNF the book. The third-person point of view, while effective for many readers, just wasn't a style I could connect with. I found it a little challenging to immerse myself in the story through this lens. But that’s a me thing, and I know this writing style works perfectly well for others!

Even though I didn’t finish, I can definitely see why so many readers would love this book. The characters, setting, and relationships were all strong and engaging. If you're a fan of small-town romances with a bit of charm and heart, this is likely a book you’ll enjoy!

While this story felt like it started off quite slow it heated up very quickly in certain parts!!
An unlikely match of cupcakes and sex toys being sold next door to each other. Frosty responses from some townsfolk, a troublesome ex for one of them all rolled up into a cute Christmas romance.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Really cute and enjoyable Hallmark-style holiday read!

I enjoyed the bakery versus sex shop rivalry and their matching names. Can somewhere do this in real life, please? Would visit. This book was spicy but also undeniably sweet. I feel like enemies-to-lovers is a bit oversold in this one because I could feel how much the FMCs liked each other and almost instantaneously.
What didn't work as well for me was the delivery of the plot. Reading through felt a bit disjointed and and a few plot lines seem to just have disappeared. Or maybe not disappeared, but evolved entirely too quickly. I just needed a little more.

Overall, I would recommend as a sweet and spicy LGBTQ+ romance.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review ,

Jaime Clevenger and Aurora Rey pair up again delivering two spicy holiday romances. I still fondly remember reading their last pairings, The Mile High City Romances from 2021. In this book Casey Stevens arrives in Rocky Springs, Colorado to lay low after a very public Hollywood divorce. Her parents are famous directors and producers and her ex hoped to ride that to stardom. It’s never quite explained if she has trust fund money or her parents support but she decides to open a classy and positive sex shop on the small town main street.

Next door Tara McCoy runs her family bakery. She tried making it in NYC but instead returned home and has elevated the business with her famous cupcakes as the draw. She isn’t thrilled with the new shop next door but quickly connects to Casey wanting to show her the charm of Rocky Springs and help her as a new business owner.

The characters are great and there are very sweet moments including ice skating and a holiday market. Where the book gets less interesting is when it drags in the drama of the ex and Tara abruptly returns to Hollywood leaving Tara in the dark. I don’t know why that didn’t work well for me. Maybe it was the continual missing of each other's calls or messages. Or that the ex who was supposed to be so evil but now maybe Casey’s parents were partly to blame. But the story improves as soon as it returns to Colorado.

I love this book and ‘A New Leash on Love’ which features a romance for Casey who runs the bakery with Tara are happening at the same time. And it doesn’t matter which book you read first, it is fun to read the other and see where the characters meet up or have overlapping events.

Another winner by this pair. I was excited for this new collaboration and it did not disappoint.

Tara McCoy has been home for a few years working at the family bakery and trying to take it to the next level. When a hot new butch moves to town, she takes notice, but when Casey buys the storefront next door to Coy Cupcakes, Tara is against it. She thinks a sex shop will drive away customers, even more so with the name The Sweet Spot.

Casey Stevens is hiding away after her divorce to her toxic ex and decides to move to Rocky Springs Colorado after visiting a friend. She decides to take it a step further and open up a sex shop in a conservative town. She's distracted by the hot baker next door and they clash immediately, but sparks still fly.

This was funny, hot and spicy and everything in between. Not a lot of angst, but a lot of miscommunication when it comes to feelings.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book and look forward to seeing Kit and Shawn's relationship unfold. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This collaboration between Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger is seamlessly written and has two likable characters. The story is set in Colorado and features two business owners in a small town who are both wanting to succeed and are too busy to even think about love.

While the story is written seamlessly, there are issues with the storyline. The story gets bogged down by the excessive amount of angst that dominates the story throughout. The angst makes the story saggy and readers may begin skimming the words in order to get beyond the angst, but the angst just never stops. The authors would have been better served by developing their two main characters in a way that makes them more appealing. The authors make the mistake of telling their readers about the characters rather than showing us. Even in the intimate scenes, which are explicit and detailed, the characters are bland.

If you love angst, then this book is for you. If you dislike the overuse of angst and its saggy results, this book may not be for you. If either or both these authors are on your list to read whenever they publish a book, you will undoubtedly ignore the angst and enjoy the story.

My thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for an eARC.

Casey Stevens learned her marriage was failing. Ex-wife Pavia was now making her life a living hell. She takes some time to try to put a little distance between them but as she was to find out some people just didn’t know when to let go. That’s how she now finds herself in Rocky Springs, with nothing to do she decides to open a store, not just any shop but for her shop would be selling everything a person who liked ‘toys’ could think of.
The bakery in the small community sold cupcakes that were to ‘die for’. Mind you she made lots of different sweets but the cupcakes were her best seller. Now she finds out someone was turning the shop beside her shop into a sex-shop. ‘Sweet Spot’ was next door to her ‘Coy Cupcakes'.
Of course they were instantly attracted to each other, so with lots of ‘life getting in the way’, makes this a pretty good read. Very, Very enjoyable Read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

YOU MUST BE JOKING THIS WAS SO GOOD!

RATING 4.2 Stars & rounding up. Tara and Casey <3 Respectfully this was so spicy in the BEST way. I mean how could you not if it is a FREAKING BAKER and a classy sex shop owner?? The best part?? They are right next door to each other.

This book was a freaking blast and wide open door spice. While the majority was light-hearted fun, I also enjoyed how both of them navigated their complicated relationships with their family.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, Aurora Rey, and Jamie Clevenger for this ARC! On my way to literally buy the paperback bc I ate this book up.

""I'm glad we're in agreement. Now, help me get this gingerbread boudoir finished so we can go work on my cupcake orgy."
"It's not an orgy. You have to stop saying that." Casey shook her head, but the smile didn't leave her face."

First and foremost, thanks to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books, Aurora Rey, and Jamie Clevenger for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Casey Stevens is escaping her complicated past by opening a classy sex shop in a small town in Colorado. Her main issue? The very attractive owner of the cupcake shop next-door doesn't seem to like the idea.

I wouldn't necessarily call it a rivals to lovers, considering Tara pretty quickly apologized and came around to the idea of Casey's shop.... and Casey. Regardless, their banter was hilarious and their chemistry was beautiful. There were scenes where I felt the dialogue was teetering on the line between realistic and mechanical, which made certain scenes a little too unserious. I would've liked to see a bit of a deeper connection between the characters.

The pace stagnated a bit at times, to a point that when Pavia got brought up again I had genuinely forgotten about her. I felt like it was a bit too much spice but it's also a spicy Christmas romance so it's not like that wasn't to be expected. But they kind of substituted lot of very necessary talking and processing by, y'know, getting busy. Tara immediately changing her mind when she said she just wanted to talk was kind of annoying, we never really see them fix their issues, just get back in bed. Desperately need both of them to get some therapy.

Regardless, I found the setting of the town charming, the characters sweet and endearing, and the romance cozy and Hallmark-movie-esque. I think the sapphics also deserve silly Hallmark romcoms that'll make you giggle and kick your feet. I'd also love to see more of Shawn, if the authors are interested in continuing to write within that setting—she was my favorite.

I really wanted to like this book. I'm a sucker for a festive romance, and when you make it queer then I am all in. But sadly it really missed the mark for me.

The premise is great. Tara is back home, helping to run the family bakery, and trying to rebuild her life when things didn't work out in New York. Having come out of a bad relationship, she's not really looking for love. But then along comes Casey, new to the small town Tara calls home, having fled from California following a disastrous divorce.

The attraction is immediate, but both hold off for the first half of the book, because of a rocky start and then because of hesitations on both sides. And then just when things seem to be looking up for them, as they tumble into bed with each other, Casey's past comes back to haunt her and Tara does not take it well.

And this is where things really fell apart for me. Without giving too many spoilers, Casey is called back to California for an intervention with her ex who is rapidly spiralling and threatening her parents' business. None of which is Casey's fault. But it is hugely triggering, and in the stress of it all she doesn't tell Tara everything, she just says it's a "family emergency". Which, to me, is fair enough, given they have only known each other a few months and had literally just started dating a couple of days previously.

But Tara gets so upset by this that she essentially ends everything with Casey. Her reasoning is that Casey should have trusted her, if they were going to ever be in a relationship. Yet there is never any concern from Tara about what Casey must have been through. And it is explained as being part of her own trauma, and I get that, trauma makes us act in ways that aren't reasonable. But everyone backs up the idea that Casey should put in the effort to win Tara back, as if it is all her fault.

I'm not against exploring trauma in stories, in fact I welcome it. But it was not handled well in this at all. None of it is properly resolved. One character's trauma is held above the other's, even though hers wasn't even the one which was explored in detail within the story. Yet we're expected to act as if this was the start of a relationship that is going strong a year later, which doesn't feel believable at all.

All in all this isn't the fun and festive story it is promoted as. And that's why I've only given it 2 stars.

Aurora and Jaime didn't disappoint with this one. I mean what could possible go wrong with baking and a sex shop. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute with these characters. Well done!!

Thank You Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for this ARC copy.

This was a really good read! I enjoyed everything about this book from the plot to the amazing characters. This story was well written and very engaging. The main characters were fun to get to know and root for and the secondary characters were written to help move the story along. There's some angst and drama, but just enough to make this story interesting. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family, and I look forward to what's next from this author.