Pumpkin Spice and Chill: A Sunshine/Grumpy MM Romance (Boyfriend Café) by F.A. Ray

Two guys who both try to help others start out unable to agree on saving a club. Albert, manager, faced with the college wanting to shut down the club but seems too overwhelmed to figure out a solution. David, another student, is a guy that stands up for the underdog and offers to help Albert but is met with resistance. Pumpkin Spice and Chill is part of the Boyfriend Cafe series.

From the blurb:

“Tie me up. Make me yours.”

Albert

Accidents don't happen to me. I eliminate random chance with surgical precision, whether that's in my role as the manager of the Boyfriend Café or my role in the bedroom.

Having an earnest, soft-eyed stranger show up one day is not part of my plans.

The university is sniffing around the café, and David says he wants to help hold them off. But why should I trust someone I've just met, someone who's acting on pure intuition, someone who isn't part of the road map?

David is smart, kind and earnest. When he looks at me with those big, soft eyes, it makes me want to discard all my careful calculations. But I don't do spontaneous. My wealthy parents groomed me to be a perfect CEO, cold and calculating. So why do I want to throw out the rules for him?

David

I've heard rumors of a Boyfriend Café on campus that's staffed by a bunch of queer students. And I've also heard that the university is breathing down their necks, threatening to shut them down.

I know I'm still pursuing my law degree, but I'm sure I can help - if they'll just let me. Unfortunately, Albert literally slams his door in my face when I try.

I can't bring myself to give up, no matter how ardently Albert wants to shut me out. This guy has major control issues, which really shouldn't be a turn on, but here I am trying to get closer to Tall, Dark and Handsome despite every instinct telling me he has a closet full of ropes and handcuffs somewhere.

I'm supposed to be thinking about how to help him save the café, not what kinds of crazy toys he has stashed in his bedroom. Now if I could just stop imagining him in sexy leather gloves and me on my knees...

Pumpkin Spice and Chill is an MM grumpy/sunshine romance with a secret billionaire, a kind-hearted nerd, a closet full of "creative" toys, and spicy open door scenes. You can find a list of CWs at linktr.ee/faraywrites.

Reedkaye's Review:

This is the first I’ve read by this author. I enjoyed the story of a couple guys in college who are both a little lacking in ego meeting.  

Albert, who is the son of one of the richest families, really wants to be someone his family doesn’t want him to be. He has chosen a small college while his family would prefer a Ivy League. His parents are really snobbish. While at college, he gets involved with a group of guys starting a club. He is the manager and has just decided to open it without going through the channels necessary to open a private business. The club is a success, but the college isn’t happy about the whole thing and sends Albert a letter stating all the possible repercussions possible if he continues operating the club. 

David finds out about this and is the type of person to step up and help the underdog. He offers his help to Albert but is met with someone refusing his help. David isn’t one to give up.

The path these two follow is heartwarming. There are plenty of events to keep the story interesting and questionable. The characters from previous books are included and I enjoy series that center on different people within a grouping.  

I really appreciate the author ending the book by letting me know where the characters are later in life. I always hate when I’m left wondering characters' future. I’m going back to catch up with the series and am anxious to read the next.

Rating: 4 Stars

Heather's Review:

I am truly loving the concept of the Boyfriend Cafe and appreciate that we got to see more of the structure and inner workings of the cafe from Albert's perspective.  I had trouble getting to know Albert, but I think everyone will - he's kind of closed off and grumpy compared to David's sunny and optimistic outlook...

This book was a lovely story about the power of building trust and opening yourself to possibilities.  I like how the characters grew and developed over the course of the book.  There was a hint of BDSM and a little light kink as well, but overall it was a sweet new adult romance.

Rating: 4 Stars

Pumpkin Spice and Chill is available to buy as an ebook, paperback, or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.