Small-town magic might just lead to love in this charming holiday romance. Cole Morrison left the sleepy mountainside town of Jewel ten years ago and hasn’t been back since. But after a disastrous family Thanksgiving, he’s in need of an escape for the holidays, and Jewel–with its snow-blanketed fir trees and lights on every storefront–seems the perfect spot. But when a run-in with a beautiful … beautiful stranger leaves him with an unexpected job and a debt to pay, Cole’s solo getaway turns into a crash course in the holiday spirit.
Jesse Carroway’s been running Carroway Apothecary ever since his grandmother left it to him. When Cole stumbles into his shop and destroys most of the inventory right before the holiday rush, Jesse’s first thought is panic. His second thought is that this stranger’s piercing eyes might be a little bit magical.
Cole’s clumsy with candles and slow with salt scrubs, but soon Jesse gets to know the man behind the bad-boy reputation. And as the chilly California nights lengthen toward the Solstice, Cole slowly falls under Jesse’s spell….
Carina Adores is home to highly romantic contemporary love stories where LGBTQ+ characters find their happily-ever-afters.
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The Hideaway Inn by Philip William Stover
The Girl Next Door by Chelsea M. Cameron
Just Like That by Cole McCade
Hairpin Curves by Elia Winters
Full Moon in Leo by Brooklyn Ray
The Secret Ingredient by KD Fisher
Just Like This by Cole McCade
Teddy Spenser Isn’t Looking for Love by Kim Fielding
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Cole, coming from some major life disappointments, and Jesse, a witch and apothecary owner, cross paths through some friends. The romance is slow and steady, but the awareness and friendship is immediate. Talking and spending time together to find their inner loves of nature and self-picked family. Loved how Cole soaked up the pagan celebrations and more. The author did a wonderful job on that part especially. The stress of what we are afraid of through our peers came through and Cole beat that to go toward his true needs. Wonderful story and wonderful details, especially the yule tree.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Adorable characters, heartwarming story with the right balance of sweetness, and holiday romance.
Cole and Jesse were wonderful together. My first for this author.
**I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.**
Cole has come home to Jewel. He is offered his aunts cabin to lick his wounds from a disastrous family holiday. He feels at home there with her birds. He doesn’t feel so at home though in the town as he was a rebellious teenager. He meets Jesse who is a male with an owner of the apothecary shop in town. This was a sweet love story, loved it! I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received.
Full Moon in Leo is the first book I’ve read from this author but it won’t be the last. I loved reading this book and now I want to dive into more of their books. Cole is in Jewel for the holidays taking care of his Aunt’s birds. While there he reconnects with his friend Tara, who works at a coffee shop. Tara sends Cole to take Jesse his order. Jesse owns an Apothecary and after Cole bumps into a display case, Jesse hires him to help him in the shop to replace what was knocked over. I love these two characters, individually and together. I love watching their journey as they learn about each other and fall in love. I love how they care for each other. Cole was only supposed to stay for the holidays and then go back home but he discovered his home was in Jewel. He took a job at a Wildlife Sanctuary, instead of becoming what his family wanted him to be. I love the end when Jesse goes to get Cole, so sweet. I definitely recommend this book. It has become a new favorite and one I will enjoy reading again and again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
First off, I liked how different the two characters were from each other. Cole is an ex-con who’s finally made his way back to Jewel (his hometown). Jesse is a witch who has his own shop and is doing quite well successfully.
I enjoyed the meet-cute and the forced proximity trope when Cole winds up doing some accidental damage to Jesse’s shop, and works there to pay for what he’s broken. Great idea.
The author also delved deep into Jesse’s lifestyle and culture as a witch. This was very interesting to read, and a part of the novel I really enjoyed. I also liked how the author started off each chapter with something from the character’s beliefs.
Read more here: https://maggieblackbird.com/2020/12/18/brooklyn-ray-full-moon-in-leo/#more-19690
4 Cranky Stars
I don’t usually like love stories but sometimes something in the blurb catches my eye. This is one of those stories. It’s a coming home love story with a twist. The story is well written and the characters seem real. The descriptions of the surrounding mountains and valley jump out at you. The town seems so quaint that even with the threat of snow you want to visit. It takes place the few weeks before Christmas which is always a magical time. Cole needs to get away and his Aunt offers her cabin in Jewel. He can stay and watch her birds while she vacations but she’ll be back two days before Christmas. Once he gets there, he feels at home with the birds as he has stayed with his Aunt many times. However, the rest of Jewel doesn’t make him feel so welcome. He was raised here as a child but he was rebellious. He didn’t fit his father’s mold. When he gets settled, he meets Tara, an old friend from school. She introduces him to Jesse, the owner of an Apothacary and a male witch. Jesse offers him a job and the rest is the story so I won’t go into any more details. It’s a cute, simple love story that shouldn’t make anyone uncomfortable. You can’t control where or with whom you will fall in love.