Will Johnson is traveling for work the weeks before Christmas and staying in a small hotel in upstate New York. It’s all pretty routine, until he discovers his window overlooks the courtyard patio of one of his favorite up and coming gay singers, Rex Garland. Even further outside of Will’s routine is overhearing Rex’s creative process as the singer struggles to write an original Christmas song. … song.
When Will receives a flash of lyrical inspiration, he decides to share the lyrics with his idol in a secret note left on Rex’s patio table. This sets off a chain of events that include coincidental meetings, more inspired lyrics, and a tiny snowman that just might capture Rex’s heart and make this Christmas one neither of them will ever forget.
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Sometimes all you need to end the week is a feel-good holiday romance, sprinkled with humor, hope, and an everyday guy as the hero who is quite perfect the way he is. In short, Hank Edwards delivers a gay Hallmark movie in a book and it was absolutely everything I hoped it’d be.
Snowflakes and Song Lyrics has a pretty traditional set up as far as super sweet Hallmarks go— Will Johnson is your average guy, a little overweight, working a 9 – 5 office job, sent to upstate New York to help a branch of his company for a few weeks. He’s staying at an inn with a window that overlooks the patio of someone his total opposite (and how I love opposites attract stories!) Rex Garland isn’t just gorgeous and fit, he’s also a hugely popular up-and-coming singer, and an out and proud artist wildly famous in the gay community. And as luck would have it, Rex is also staying in town for a few weeks as a regular performer at a local club.
It’s a charming story of an artist stuck in a creative rut, unable to write an original holiday song that he needs finished ASAP to make deadlines for the next album, and the insecure average guy who has far more to offer than he realizes. Will is too shy and starstruck to speak to Rex outright, but after overhearing the musician’s struggle with lyrics, Will lets his heart guide him in a moment of romantic creativity, and he decides to leave Rex an anonymous note— lyrics that Will wrote. And of course Rex loves them.
Will is someone that every reader can relate to on multiple levels. He’s so devastatingly charming and honest, a true nice guy with no angle to play and nothing to gain. He has body insecurities that are made worse around Rex, who of course Will is not only a huge fan of, but admittedly infatuated with. Those cruel thoughts whisper in the back of his mind: what would someone as handsome as Rex want with you? An overweight guy who sits in a cubicle. Rex can have any hot guy on the dance floor… he’d never look at you.
Edwards handled these moments of self-loathing with care and sincerity. It’s not over-the-top, nor is it done for the drama or angst. It is written very matter-of-fact, and it is through this delivery that readers connect and respond to Will. We see ourselves in him, and God do we want him to believe in himself and talk to Rex! And without tossing in spoilers, I’ll just say that Rex notices Will. And he isn’t ready to let Big Willie go without a fight.
The build-up to their romance is wonderful. It’s sweet and slow and beautiful and ends with a wholly believable HEA. And bonus points for Will’s best friend Carter, who is hilarious. He is everything a friend needs to be for someone like Will— Carter nudges him, consoles him, and supports him. No matter what. One of Edwards’s strongest writing skills is his portrayal of human friendships. They are so intricate and developed that these characters might as well be real people.
I highly recommend this book. Grab a blanket, a hot and tasty beverage, and sink into a story with all of the ‘awwws’ of the holiday!
MM contemporary romance, a low angst, slow burn, easy read, page turner. A fun, sweet story featuring Will Johnson and his crush and favourite Singer/Songwriter Rex Garland. Will is shocked to discover that his hotel room window overlooks Rex Garland’s room and patio area across the courtyard. A nice quick read. HEA.
A wonderful addition for my holiday MM book collection. Will and Rex possessed that undeniable spark. Despite being a work of fiction, their story development is completely relatable.
Definitely recommend this slow burn romance.
**I received this ARC via Gay romance Reviews for my honest feedback.**
This would make a really sweet and sappy Hallmark movie! It was a feel-good romance filled with lots of humor. Will is an average, overweight guy sent upstate to help his company. Rex is gorgeous and fit and a musician who is in a rut to create a holiday song. Their romance was sweet and wonderful, I liked that it wasn’t insta love! Overall I really enjoyed the story, it was really well written, highly recommend. I’m voluntarily reviewing from an advanced copy that I received.
Sweet and delightful. This storyline had substance, loveable relatable characters, a great friend and utterly wonderful. Had all the feels and a slow burn romance between Will and Rex I fell in love with them, had me captivated to the end. Another keeper.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I definitely recommend this book.
Right off the bat I found this book so humorous because I loved the interaction between Will and his friend Carter (and I was hoping that I get to see Carter in his own book and I’m happy to say you do in The Cupid Crawl). This was such a cute book and gave me all the good feels of a Hallmark movie. This is definitely being added to my must read list around the holidays. If you want a sweet, low angst, holiday read (that I think can be read year round) this is for you!
I enjoyed this book. I liked how Will steps out of his comfort zone and takes a chance on love. I liked how Rex wouldn’t give up on Will and getting to know him.
I absolutely loved this story! It is a very sweet Winter romance ,with a HEA .which got me right in the feels. I would recommend it
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When you’re at the fork in the road, what path do you take? Rex Garland, a gay up and coming singer is staying at the Inn. He is struggling with his creative muse, writers block. Will Johnson, TDY notices his favorite singer, Rex staying at the inn. Will/Big Willie, inconvenienced by the broken heat system, opens his window and hears Rex struggling with his music. Rex is one floor down. Will writes song lyrics for Will as a crush hobby, leaving the notes for Rex to find. Rex happily incorporates the lyrics in his music. They casually meet around the area, Will’s secret is safe! Does Rex find out Will’s secret? Does Will take the step and talk to Rex? Does he use the lyrics in the final song? Does their casual talking turn into anything? Nice adorable story! I love Will’s character, very relatable. I received an ARC from Booksprout am am voluntarily leaving a review.
A really sweet holiday romance. I really liked the Hallmark vibe to the storyline, Will and Rex were great characters and enjoyed seeing them make beautiful music together.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this book, especially the Epilogue which put a perfect cherry on top of the romance. I loved both main characters Will and Rex and the two supporting characters Carter and Doreen made the perfect kickass Christmas elves. This is the book to,read,when you want that fairytale romance where everyone gets their wish, all the scenes are warm and cozy and there is a perfect ending. It will be on my stack of books to reread every,Christmas to get in the holiday spirit.
What a sweet magical story!
Snowflakes and Song Lyrics was filled with so much wonderful romance it made my holiday heart happy.
I absolutely adored Will, so shy and unsure of himself but with so much to offer the right man and Rex was the right man once Will got out of his own way.
This was a meet cute if I’ve ever read one, in the best possible way.