Don’t Clause a Scene completes the Love in Maplewood series with a beautiful sweet story of two people wanting to be with each other no matter what. Can falling in love with your supposed rival bring a happily ever after?
From the blurb:
As a member of a Maplewood founding family, I’ve always known what I’m supposed to do with my life:Take over Red’s, the diner that’s been in my family for generations.
Support the community, which usually means helping out with the town’s almost-monthly festivals.
Hate everything about, and everyone involved with, Sparky’s Diner.
For the most part, it’s been an easy destiny to fulfill, even if sometimes I wish for something else. Something more. Maybe that’s why I take a chance on Halloween with a costumed guy who shouldn’t look so good in a mullet wig.
I’m stunned when his costume comes off and I see the one man I can’t have anything to do with. The man who’s temporarily back in town and working at his family’s diner. The man I can’t get off my mind.
No worries. It’ll be easy to avoid Amos—I’ve been doing it my entire life. Except Amos and I are voluntold to plan an event for the big Christmas festival. Together.
When others on the planning committee say we couldn’t possibly pull it off, we decide to prove them wrong. It turns out stubbornness is just the beginning of a long list of things we have in common.
The more time we spend together, the more I realize my life is sweeter with Amos in it. I begin to wonder how deep this rivalry goes, how long Amos plans to stay in Maplewood, and what matters more: my destiny or my freedom.
Don’t Clause a Scene is a low-angst, small-town story about an introvert and extrovert finding a groove, secrets—so many secrets—and a well-meaning town that cares maybe a little too much.
With the highest percentage of LGBTQIA+ residents in Vermont, Maplewood is a town where everyone belongs. And with festivals year round, there’s always something fun happening! This multi-author, low-angst queer series features ten standalone romances—each set against the backdrop of a different festival. Come for the celebrations, stay for the happily-ever-afters!
Molly Otto's review:
The town of Maplewood's diners' rivalry has been going on now for generations. Everyone is either team Red's or Team Sparky's. On Halloween in costumes, Amos of Sparky's and Mickey of Red's are drawn to one another, not knowing this is their supposed rival. These two families come from so many secrets. It's a surprise neither have let them slip until these two men can not stop their attraction. Together, they allow themselves to be open and honest for maybe the first time in their lives. I absolutely adored their mutual respect for the other and understanding that not everything goes to plan, but if you stand up for yourself, happiness will come.
From book one of this series, you knew of the rivalry. It has been intertwined throughout so well that you needed to read this story to see how it all played out. What could have been rivals to lovers turned into so much more. These two families are so beautifully interconnected that it was a beautiful thing to see it all unfold. I am so happy that the authors ended with this story. It would have felt like you missed out if it would have been earlier in the series. The cameos from the previous installments were a great addition to see the tie. What a great way to end a fun low angst series.
SNik's review:
Part of a multi-author series (Love in Maplewood), but can be read as a standalone. Small Town. Unwilling rivals to lovers. Slow burn. Dual POV.
Everyone that lives in Maplewood knows about the crosstown diner rivalry, Sparky’s versus Red’s. But when Amos returns to his hometown and inadvertently starts a mutual attraction with Mickey, they both know they can’t disappoint their families or the town by ending the long held feud.
I was excited to get a story that dealt directly with the diner rivalry since it is mentioned throughout this shared world series and to have a Romeo and Juliet-esque set up was fun to read. I really liked the slow build of Amos and Mickey getting acquainted with each other, while struggling under their family expectations, but being unable to stay apart. Both Amos and Mickey were so sweet, had their own ambitions but also shared so much in common even though Amos was an extrovert and Mickey an introvert they certainly complemented each other’s personalities. Thank goodness the secondary characters were all supportive and we got to see some cameos from other books in the series. Overall a really sweet ending to a fun series.
Angel's review:
I've read a few books within this series and have enjoyed every one I've read so far, so when I saw that there was a book featuring the men from the two rival diners, I knew immediately I had to read it. I am so glad that I was able to read this fantastic story.
This series being centered around a Queer friendly town that prides itself on their acceptance of others is such a breath of fresh air to read about, especially right now with how the world is. Maplewood, and it's residents, have such a special charm to them that makes you wish this magical place was real. If it did exist I would be visiting Sam's ice cream shop frequently, and I'd be making visits to the book store too!
This was a really great book because while you would think it would be an enemies to lovers book, it isn't. It's so much more than that, Amos and Mickey are more then their families rivalry. I personally loved how these two took control of their own lives and their own wants and actively worked to be together. They knew they made each other happy and wanted to spend more time together, so they did their best to make that happen, despite what the town and their families might think. And I really loved that tenacity and determination they had for each other. Something else I enjoyed reading about was how supportive and encouraging Amos was of Mickey's cheese brand, he always made sure to show and tell Mickey how good his cheese is and encouraged him to pursue his dreams of expanding his cheese business. That was really beautiful to read about too.
The characters were well written, I LOVE seeing characters from the other books in this series making frequent appearances, it's so fun seeing them again and them being apart of each story. The story itself was well written as well, it flowed really nicely, the pacing was great, and I really liked how it was low-angst. It's a feel good romance story with the holidays mixed in. If you're not a holiday lover, I'm sure you'll still enjoy this book as the holidays aren't the main premise of this story. They are mentioned and talked about, but the main focus is on Amos and Mickey, along with their families diners.
I really hope there will be more stories set in this town at some point as Maplewood is truly magical and I love everything about it! Overall, a terrific book and I really hope you read this yourself!\
Heather's Review:
One of the running themes of the Love in Maplewood series has been the diner rivalry... so it's fitting that the final book in the series gives us the history of the feud and gives us a modern rivalry to lovers scenario...
I absolutely love Amos and Mickey - they are sweet and so adorable together from the beginning - and they work beautifully together. I love that the premise for this festival is a community feast and brings together the history of the town with so many of the current residents - including many of the couples who have been previously featured.
This book was both a celebration of love and also a celebration of what a town could be if everyone banded together and worked for the greater good instead of their own gain...
I really hope there's a second season of Love in Maplewood... or that this group of authors adopt and create new amazing town to populate with fabulous queer characters.
Don’t Clause a Scene is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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