I received an ARC from NetGalley and am sharing my review voluntarily.

Okay, first things first: cupcakes. I don’t think I’ve ever craved cupcakes as much as I did while reading this book. Seriously, Tara’s baking skills are so legendary that they make you believe even the gods would be tempted by her treats. And when Casey, the other main character, stumbles into Tara’s cupcake shop, you just know this is where their story is going to get sweet—pun intended.

Tara, the baker, has returned to her small hometown after a challenging time in the city. She’s determined to breathe new life into her family’s sleepy cafe and transform it into a buzzing hotspot. But while Tara’s passion for baking is undeniable, it’s her charm and down-to-earth, straightforward nature that really shine. She’s also unapologetically herself—case in point, her hilarious (and slightly embarrassing) dance-and-sing routine that happens amidst the baking chaos. I couldn’t help but smile at her endearing clumsiness.

Then there's Casey, who’s dealing with the fallout of a messy divorce, the constant attention of paparazzi, and the pressure of being the child of famous parents. She’s come to this small town hoping to lie low and escape her high-profile life—but her decision to open a shop selling sex toys? Yeah, that’s definitely not the best way to stay under the radar. The shop quickly attracts the attention of the local mayor, the town council, and of course, the more homophobic elements of the community. The tension is palpable as Casey grapples with her own anxiety and the fear of being forced to flee once again.

The clash of these two characters, Tara and Casey, is what really drives the story forward. They start out as business rivals—Tara’s cafe and Casey’s sex shop are neighbors, which sparks some competitive (and occasionally frosty) energy between them. Watching them navigate their growing feelings for each other, especially with their very different life goals, is a delightful mix of humor, tension, and sweetness. Their dynamic is fun to watch, with plenty of playful banter, but also moments of vulnerability as they work through their individual struggles.

What makes the book truly entertaining is the way it balances lighthearted moments with deeper themes. Yes, there’s a lot of humor, especially around the quirky business rivalry and some of the characters' over-the-top reactions to Casey’s shop, but there’s also a lot of heart. Tara and Casey’s personal journeys—learning to overcome their pasts and find a sense of belonging in a small town that isn’t exactly welcoming (in Casey's case)—give the story more depth than you might expect from a romantic comedy.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read—charming, funny, and a bit spicy. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance with great characters, a touch of humor, and plenty of sweet, sweet temptation in the form of cupcakes (and sex toys), this book is for you. I couldn’t help but be drawn into Tara and Casey’s world, and I think you’ll feel the same way. It’s a delightful escape that shows you can find love and laughter even in the most unexpected of places.

Cupcakes, sex toys, two lovely leads, and lots of wintery feels are the main strengths of “Frosted by the Girl Next Door” by Aurora Rey and Jaime Clevenger. If you’re coming for a solid slow-burn holiday-setting romance, look no further—you should enjoy this.

The authors have written a two-book series (so far?) and I wonder if that’s why some of the supporting characters don’t *quite* feature enough background and roles, drifting in and out at time, I felt. Aspen, the initially shy nonbinary, has a real presence, and I wanted to know more about them. Perhaps they’ll feature again. Ditto Casey’s best friend, Natalia.

If the Act 3 reversal is a little “top-heavy” to create the angst and doubt, more diverting than it needs to be, how the resolution plays out is SO sweet and fun that, if you’re like me, you’ll find yourself forgiving any shortcomings.

Enjoy the frosting!

Thanks to the author and the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to eat up this ARC.

A believable sapphic romance with a fun premise and lots of great spicy scenes. Perfect for the holiday season!

3.5 Stars

This was an interesting book, but not one that really stuck with me after I finished it.

It took me a while to get into the story. Casey and Tara, are sweet and likable, but the plot overall felt a bit underwhelming.

The miscommunication driving the conflict was frustrating because it felt like something that could’ve been solved so easily.

I also wish there had been more chemistry between Casey and Tara, though the spicy scenes were a good part at least. On top of that, the drama around Gary Jenkins started strong but was completely dropped halfway through. Personally, I think that subplot had way more potential than the miscommunication trope the story leaned on.

“I respect so much about you — who you are, who you want to be, how you make your way through the world. You’ve been so good for me. I’d like to be good for you, too, and not just a passing thing.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I absolutely devoured this book! I read it within 1 week, which may not sound impressive, but it was exams season, so it is.

The synopsis already had me hooked. A former hollywood a-lister opening a sex shop in a small town? During christmas? And its gay? Amazing.

And I was not disappointed!
The characters felt really thought out and their personalities were showing through the way they acted and talked. Casey and Tara both just felt so real to me.

The small town setting in this book was amazing! The grandfather of one of the main characters is the mayor of the town, so the reader is always shown what is going on in the city. And they had the most christmassy feel i have ever read! From competitions to tons of snow, ice skating and gingerbread houses — this book had it all!

Now on to the important part: the romance.
When I tell you this was so swoonworthy! One of the main characters of the book, Casey, owns a sex shop, with which she is trying to reduce the stigma around sex toys, erotica and so much more. This flusters Tara at first, but she is soon drawn to Casey. These two had me giggling and blushing and kicking my feet! There were so many sweet (and a few spicy 🤭) moments between them and their attraction felt so realistic!

I will definitely be recommending this as a go-to christmas romance!
And by the way: I need Kit and Shawn’s story like yesterday please!

Tropes
🎄small town
☃️rivals/dislike to lovers
🎄butch for femme
☃️holiday setting
🎄strap scene
☃️forced proximity

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I will be posting about this book on my Instagram.

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