Bowl Full of Cherries

Title:  Bowl Full of Cherries

Author:  Raine O’Tierney

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  214 pages

Rating:  B+

Quad Shot of Love

Blurb:  Porker, Fatty, Tons-of-Fun: Crowley Fredericks has heard it all. He’s dropped a lot of weight since his high school days, but he’s still a big guy, and the painful words and bullying follow him. Rejected—again—because of his size, Crowley is starting to think that maybe love just isn’t meant for huskier men.

Averell Lang and his twin are so different they might as well not even be related. So when Rell’s brother brings his roommate home to snowy Susset for the holidays, Rell expects the worst—another uptight, pretentious hipster. What he discovers instead is Crowley. Nerdy, fascinating, attractive, Crowley. Rell never expected to look at a man this way, and what he sees in Crowley Fredericks is something he didn’t even know he was looking for. If both men can overcome their hang-ups, they might unwrap more than presents this holiday season.

 

Review:  Loved it. This was so much more than a holiday story. Life, growing up, letting go of past pain and hurt, taking control of your life, following your heart, making your dreams come true, family, falling in love, healing, taking chances, acceptance, friendship, and pie.

Crowley has some serious issues going on when he goes to his best friend and roommate, Tyler’s family home for Christmas. Crowley’s mother had told him not to come home for the holiday. That whole situation was heartbreaking and pissed me off. But Crowley responded with love and with Rell and Tyler and their family’s help was able to have a very happy holiday despite her.

Rell is coasting. He doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life or himself. He’s followed his whims and failed at many a harebrained scheme. He’s kind of the family screw up. Then one day he gets sent to pick up his brother’s friend and everything changes.

Crowley and Rell are amazing together. I loved them from their first meeting and every moment that followed as they became instant friends and fell hard and fast into love. They were adorable together, sweet and innocent, funny and dirty, sexy and gentle. They are exactly what the other needs and they make each other so very happy.

I was so glad that Rell was so accepting about his attraction to Crowley. He didn’t angst it to death or freak out. There was no sense of shame or anger. He really liked Crowley as a person and he thought Crowley was very sexy so wanting to make out with him made perfect sense. While things move quickly between them it felt natural and was sweet and worked for them.

If I’m honest I had a very hate (he’s such a pretentious, judgmental asshat and he’s so mean to Rell) and love (he’s Crowley’s BFF and he is so there for him and when he wants to be he’s a good brother) situation with Tyler. And I am ecstatic that we get his story. (Huge grin). It looks like it’s going to be fantastic and we will get to see more of Crowley and Rell then as well.

A wonderful story that runs the gamut of emotions and had me tearing up, chuckling, smiling and fully engaged from beginning to end.

Reviewed by Nina