Mini Review: Macarons at Midnight by M.J. O’Shea and Anna Martin
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Where did you get this book: E-Arc from Publisher
Release Date: Out Now
“Tristan Green left his small English town for Manhattan and a job at a high profile ad agency, but can’t seem to find his bearings. He spends a lot of time working late at night, eating and sleeping alone, and even more time meandering around his neighborhood staring into the darkened windows of shops. One night when he’s feeling really low, he wanders by a beautiful little bakery with the lights still on. The baker invites him in, and some time during that night Tristan realizes it’s the first time he’s really smiled in months. Henry Livingston has always been the odd duck, the black sheep, the baker in an old money family where pedigree is everything and quirky personalities are hidden behind dry martinis and thick upper east side townhouse facades. Henry is drawn to Tristan’s easy country charm, dry English wit, and everything that is so different from Henry’s world.
Their new romance is all buttercream frosting and sugared violets until Tristan’s need to fit in at work makes him do something he desperately wishes he could undo. Tristan has to prove to Henry that he can be trusted again before they can indulge in the sweet stuff they’re both craving.”
I don’t want to say this story was too sweet. There was a lovely delicacy to it but I never found it overly saccharine. I love stories where people meet and get to know each other and fall in love. Straight-forward love stories are something that I find very special and gravitate towards. Parts of this read are simple and yes, sweet. I enjoyed the characters and their interactions and how the relationship was slowly built.
Other parts I were a bit drama-llamaish. I could see the issue that was going to become the problem well ahead of when it hit. The obviousness of that didn’t bother me but how it was dealt with did. The complete shut down of communication isn’t a response that I like to see to any kind of drama and it soured this story, the characters and their relationship. This was a toothsome melt in your mouth confection with an unfortunate bitter aftertaste.
I’m giving Macarons at Midnight a C