“I gave him my heart, and he took and pinched it to death; and flung it back to me.” ― Emily Brontë
Title: Gingerbread Palace
Author: EM Lynley
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages/Word Count: 130
Rating: 5 Stars
Blurb: A week before Christmas, Alex Bancroft’s bakery goes up in flames. When he runs back inside after a dog, firefighter Kevin Flint has to rescue Alex—and Quincy—from the smoldering building, endangering them and inflaming Kevin’s resentment.
Now Alex can’t create the elaborate gingerbread house he donates to a foster-kids charity each year. Fire Station 7 again comes to his rescue, offering their kitchen and their manpower.
Everyone but Kevin Flint, that is. A third-generation firefighter, he’s fearful of stepping too far out of the closet. So when his powerful physical attraction for Alex ends in a sizzling secret encounter in the firehouse, Kevin can’t push Alex far enough away, and Alex returns the cold shoulder.
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Review: As a 3rd generation firefighter within his family, and on his 3rd transfer to a new fire department, Kevin Flint has a secret he wishes to keep hidden…He’s gay.
So when the call goes out to a burning building, Kevin has the misfortune of meeting Alex Bancroft, owner of Bancroft’s Buns, who runs into the burning building to save his dog, Quincy. After saving both the owner and his dog, Kevin is reprimanded for not following orders, and for calling the owner an idiot.
Kevin comes off as being a rude JERK! I wasn’t quite fond of him for nicknaming Alex “Dumb Ass Bakery Guy”, and for how he treated him when the firehouse crew decided to help Alex with his charity work, baking gingerbread cookies as well as a Gingerbread Palace that would go up for auction to help Home Sweet Home, a charity that helps place foster children in safe homes.
Alex I fell in love with almost immediately, for being someone who survived his childhood and still kept a positive attitude about life. He is what I would call an inspiration to others.
What can I say? I really loved this story! Especially when I came across this quote, “All the apologies in the world didn’t mean anything without action and sincerity.” Not to mention it brought to my attention these charities for foster children. Even though I felt Kevin started off as a JERK! He eventually warmed up to a decent human being. I found myself riveted to the storyline, and had me a couple of belly laughs too. Kevin’s brothers, Nicky and Tommy, were a hoot at the hospital!
For me, this is a 5 Star read and highly recommend even after the holiday season is over. It’s a heartwarming story that I’ll be rereading throughout the year. I’m so impressed with this story I’m looking for more books by EM Lynley.
BTW EM, thanks for the recipes found at the end of the books. They made my mouth water…Yummy!
You can buy Gingerbread Palace here:
