Love's Cabers Tossed by Ari McKay at Dreamspinner Press
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Romance |
Reviewed by | Alex on 30-June-2013 |
Genre | Gay / Contemporary / Romance |
Reviewed by | Alex on 30-June-2013 |
At the Coastal Carolina Highland Games, baker Martin Fletcher receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Fergus, Lyall McLannan’s escaped sheltie. When Fergus accidentally causes Martin to sprain his ankle, Lyall comes to the rescue, helping Martin run his booth at the Games. Unfortunately, Lyall doesn’t know a thing about baking, but he manages to avoid both disaster and Martin’s wrath by attracting patrons with his and Fergus’s showmanship.
Martin accepts Lyall’s invitation to stay in his RV during the fair, getting to know the lawyer-turned-Highlander he’s watched from afar. Martin is captivated by Lyall’s charm… and the tantalizing view of him in a kilt. Entranced by Martin’s dedication to his work and love for Fergus, Lyall sets out to woo him with starlight and bagpipe music, because he’s discovered opposites can attract and love can be found in the most unexpected circumstances.
A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Daily Dose package "Make a Play".
Lovers of MM Romance of the saccharine-sweet variety should adore this tiny sweetmeat about two opposites finding each other, with a bit of help from a small dog.
Martin Fletcher sets up his bakery booth at the Highland Games, a sort of Renaissance Faire for the love of all things Scottish. He’s been attending the games for five years, selling shortbread and such to the faire-goers and getting his kicks silently observing the many splendid men in kilts that work the grounds, providing a variety of entertainment at the faire. His bakery keeps him pretty busy and his last companion, his dog, unfortunately died, but being shy, he is content to watch the muscular men at the faire until he meets the owner of a lost dog.
Lyall is a lawyer, so dressing the part of his Scottish ancestors and competing in cabers at the Highland Games each year, gives him a chance to have fun. When his dog, who is part of his act, goes missing, he finds him in the baker’s booth. One look at the sweet shyness that is Martin and he decides he’d like to know him better.
While I found this story predictable, it is cute and worked well as a palate cleanser between my longer reads. I wish that the author had explored the game of caber tossing a bit more, as I had no idea what it entailed, and envisioned a cross between discus throwing and bocce ball. But I am familiar with county faires and kilts, so relied on those aspects to strengthen my images of the setting. Both characters are very well-mannered, and I wouldn’t have said no to a bit more conflict, but other than that the story was nicely penned and the romance sped along smoothly.
If you are in the mood for a short, sweet, insta-love treat, this one’s for you. “Cute.”
DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review.
Format | ebook |
Length | Novella, 64 pages/17693 words |
Heat Level | |
Publication Date | 01-June-2013 |
Price | $3.99 ebook |
Buy Link | https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/loves-cabers-tossed-by-ari-mckay-5422-b |
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