Christopher Hughes is new to the small New England town of Lancaster, New Hampshire. He’s been hired to save an old library from closing, but his obstacles include not only fighting for state funding, but a Selectman who wants to tear the building down in favor of a shopping center. Christopher is introduced to Miles Sakasai, a charming tattooed repairman on site to restore the historical … interior of the building. Working in close proximity has both men falling hard for each other. It also provides Christopher with an opportunity to learn about Miles’s passion for baking.
And as it turns out, Miles’s skills in the kitchen may end up being the key to saving the library—but only if his bread can rise to the occasion.
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Romantic
Wow. Just… wow. So, this morning, I thought I’d look at the dozen or so stories I have on my slate to review to see which one I wanted to read next. I do this by reading the first few paragraphs or first page of a story and rating it in my mind as to whether I want to go on.
And then I opened this one. The premise: what do you get when you mix an award-winning, shy, carpenter/baker with a broke librarian? You get a short story with a HEA ending that satisfies the soul.
And didn’t close it. Okay, it’s only a short story so it’s not like it took me forever to read (about an hour), but still… I couldn’t put it down. The characters of Miles and Christopher are so well-crafted and the premise so believable that I couldn’t stop reading. I wanted to see what happened. Okay, the bad guy—Sam—really wasn’t necessary, but the rest of the story is really good. And honestly? I’d love to see this developed into a much longer story. I want to see what happens with them. With the library they’re trying to save. With the town. In these few short pages, the author made me care—and that’s what good writing is all about.
Caveat: for those who don’t like their stories hot, there is one steamy scene, but it fits the story well. So…if you like your gay (M/M) stories short, hot, and satisfying, definitely pick this one up.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Veronica –
This is a lovely sweet romance. Christopher and Miles are adorable. I know that probably isn’t the way to describe grown men, but they are. Miles and Christopher fall for each other over in the library and have a fun and cute date scene. I learned that baking can be sexy. It made me want to bake – and I don’t cook.
If you are after a quick pick me up, something to leave you warm and fuzzy, I’d recommend reading Kneading You.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Kneading You is an individual release of a short which previously appeared in an anthology. I’ve come to trust that this author will deliver good characters I’m eager to get to know, and that was certainly true of Christopher and Miles. I only wish I could have spent more time with them. Overall, this short story was very sweet and cute with a low level of angst…the makings of a perfect afternoon read.
I loved the setting of an old small town library in need of some TLC and really liked the way the baking element was worked into the plotline. The ending was adorable as well, and left me happy for the couple and with a smile on my face. My hang-up was simply the pacing. Romantic shorts are tricky to navigate, and while Christopher and Miles were well-flushed out character-wise, their relationship moved ridiculously quickly. It was insta-love to a degree, and I wanted a more believable smattering of emotion. Instead it all seemed heaved upon the characters and I was left with a cute short story starring likable characters, but wanting in the romantic area.
*Reviewed for Alpha Book Club*