About the Book
Title: Vanilla Clouds
Author: Roe Horvat
Publisher: Beaten Track
Publication Date: July 25, 2018
Word Count: 35k words
Genre: Romance (M/M)
Purchase Links
Synopsis
“I could spend days listening to you talk about chocolate.”
Sex and chocolate are the two pleasures Michał enjoys most in life.
His sex life has been nonexistent for some time, though. After a particularly bad hookup, he keeps mostly to himself. That leaves chocolate. Luckily, he works surrounded by the most delicious, extravagant produce in Gothenburg. Beside his job at the chocolaterie, his main source of excitement is his online friend, Magnus, whom he stubbornly refuses to meet in person.
A customer turns up at the chocolaterie one day—tall, shy, and charming. He could be just the right man. If Michał can step out of his overly safe shell, there might be not only chocolate, but sex, too. Maybe chocolate-flavored sex. And if he’s lucky, maybe even love.
Warning: This book contains explicit scenes, adult language, and obscene amounts of chocolate.
Review
This sweet (in multiple senses), wonderful novella is exactly what pure romance should be. It never pretends to be anything its not. That is to say, yes, it has some classic romance-novel tropes, but it doesn’t hide that or make faltering attempts at subverting them. Instead, the story embraces them and delivers them in a beautifully wrapped chocolate package.
All the right players are there: the unlucky-in-love hero; the helpful best friend; the supportive and loving but concerned family; and, of course, Mr. Right. There’s mistaken/hidden identity, lots of decadent, chocolatey flirting, and some steamy scenes in exactly the right spots. Is it a shade on the predictable side? Yes, but that is one hundred percent what it should be. Anything else would’ve felt forced rather than romantic, annoying rather than sweet.
What sets this story apart is the flowing, beautiful prose and the sensual (and sensory) descriptions. It’s hard to say exactly why it works, but it does. Everything fits into place here without a sour note. It’s mainly fluffy, yes, with just a touch of heartache.
For me, the entire reason to read this is that it is queer joy in all its brilliance. I love a good angsty story, and I don’t mind books that deal with the struggles our community faces. But sometimes, darn it, I just want to sit down and read a romance that leaves me feeling like the world is a good place. This one delivers exactly as promised.
The other thing about this is that I wholeheartedly believe it’s a romance for anyone who simply likes love stories. It doesn’t particularly matter what gender the characters are. That’s not relevant here. This story is about two people finding each other and getting their much-deserved happily ever after. I mean it when I say it could be enjoyed by any fan of the genre, no matter who you are or where in the world you live. And that, to me, is the hallmark of a great romance.
If you’re looking for a near-perfect romantic beach read that can be enjoyed in a single afternoon, this is it.
For a perfectly executed romance, characters who are lovably realistic, and plenty of sweet, chocolatey goodness, this gets 10/10 fountain pens.
About the Author
Queer fiction author Roe Horvat was born in the post-communist wasteland of former Czechoslovakia. Equipped with a dark sense of sarcasm, Roe traveled Europe and finally settled in Sweden. They love Jane Austen, Douglas Adams, and daiquiri, with equal passion. When not hiding in the studio doing graphics, Roe can be found trolling cafés in Gothenburg, writing, and people-watching.
Social Media
Website | Beaten Track Author Page | Facebook | Amazon Author Page
