Tinsel & Tentacles is a super cute little novella if you want something light with no angst. Set in New York City at Christmas, with ice skating, snowball fights, hot chocolate, and bubble baths, this will make you feel warm and cozy.
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Tinsel & Tentacles — A MMF Holiday Novella
🥭🥭🥭🥭
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
(you can find my rating and spice system here)
POV & Tense: Multi POV, first person, present tense
Genre: Contemporary/Paranormal Romance, MMF Romance, RomCom
Tropes/Themes: Rockstar, Bodyguard, Pining (so much pining), Secrets, Ice Skating, Snowball Fights, Xmas in NYC
Location: Set in New York City
Synopsis:
Barney is a world-renowned musician with a heart of gold and an infectious smile. No wonder his bodyguard, Ryder, and manager, Marci, both have a huge crush on him. But acting on their feelings could destroy everything — their friendship and their career. They don’t know the feeling is mutual. Except, Barney has a secret, one with eight suckered appendages, and he’s certain they couldn’t love him if they knew.
I’m mesmerized. Hynotized. Captivated. Whatever. On the other side of the window, Barney Myles, voted sexiest man alive multiple times, is in the giant soaking tub. A set of long, glossy pink and purple marbled tentacles rise up from the mountain of bubbles.
My Review:
Tinsel & Tentacles is super cute. As it’s a novella, there’s not a whole lot of time for backstory, but McDarris has done an excellent job of setting up the circumstances and making it clear they’ve been pining after each other for quite some time.
Rockstar / Manager / Bodyguard
I love that this story is multi-POV, so we get to see and understand each perspective. I also love that none of the chapters repeat events, each keeps the story moving along nicely. The pining (from each perspective) is delicious! And all the covert glances are enticing.
The doors shut and the elevator takes off. It’s the longest ride ever. We’re all on separate walls, and the unresolved sexual tension is positively stifling.
Shenanigans
The shenanigans are so much fun. Although grateful for his success, Barney just wants to enjoy Christmas like a normal person, without being swarmed by fans. But upper management forbids it; the risk is too great. Fortunately, Ryder and Marci have his back. There are snowball fights and ice skating and so much joy.
When we finally get to the confessions and things heat up, it feels very well earned (and the smexytimes are scorching hot).
Tinsel & Tentacles by Kate McDarris
Update: Diamonds & Tentacles!!!
Quick update! There’s a sequel. This is not a drill. There’s a sequel, and it’s everything you’ll want in a sequel. There’s spice. There are swoony moments. We find out more about Barney’s backstory. Did I mention it’s super spicy? Check out my mini review here.
Diamonds & Tentacles by Kate McDarris (A Monster Smash Holiday Story)
Want More from Kate McDarris?
~~ Check out my review for Shot Through the Heart, an MM romance between Love God Carter Eros and mortal investor Preston Milan ~~
Author Stalking (but not in a creepy way):
Kate McDarris is the author of many spicy fantasy romance novels and novellas.
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~~If you like spicy books with tentacles, check out my SPICY TENTACLE REC LIST~~
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