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A review by fourthleafluck
Cubs & Campfires by Dylan Drakes
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Summary:
Luca, a self-possessed and ambitious sex columnist gets offered a prestigious opportunity to write an article about being abstinent for a summer, and signs up for the isolated job of fire watch for a national park in Washington State to avoid temptation. When Luca gets there, he almost immediately encounters Artair, a hot, funny, and sweet bear who seems to know the woods better than anyone (and has the most adorable fox companion). With the vast expanse of golden summertime forest stretching out before the two of them and their increasingly sensual encounters, Luca must decide between a blossoming connection and the best professional opportunity he's ever encountered.
Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor of the book runs towards tongue-in-cheek, and the overall tone is lighthearted and unashamed in its frequent cheesiness. That being said, the conflicts the characters experience do feel substantive, and the solutions satisfying.
Both Luca and Artair are sexually experienced and have chemistry and insta-lust for each other— which felt believable enough to me. The sexuality is GORGEOUS, largely joyful, and has an undercurrent of play that really feeds into the slightly surreal setting and everything we learn about the characters. The more sensual and smutty scenes really allow Drakes' strengths to shine— and they are frequent.
On a more personal note, as a fat guy who is into bigger guys, this book filled me with a sense of joy I did not think I would ever be able to feel reading a book. I did not think I would ever be able to read about guys like me on the pages of a book— let alone a version of us that is so lovingly and hornily rendered.
Conclusion/TLDR:
This book does precisely what it says on the tin. It is a low-angst, playful, VERY sexy romance between two big guys who are really into each other. The story is cleanly executed, the characters lovable, and the sex scenes frequent. If you're looking for a high steam M/M romance that is sweet, sincere, and celebrates big guys, I can't recommend Cubs and Campfires enough.
Luca, a self-possessed and ambitious sex columnist gets offered a prestigious opportunity to write an article about being abstinent for a summer, and signs up for the isolated job of fire watch for a national park in Washington State to avoid temptation. When Luca gets there, he almost immediately encounters Artair, a hot, funny, and sweet bear who seems to know the woods better than anyone (and has the most adorable fox companion). With the vast expanse of golden summertime forest stretching out before the two of them and their increasingly sensual encounters, Luca must decide between a blossoming connection and the best professional opportunity he's ever encountered.
Thoughts:
I thoroughly enjoyed it. The humor of the book runs towards tongue-in-cheek, and the overall tone is lighthearted and unashamed in its frequent cheesiness. That being said, the conflicts the characters experience do feel substantive, and the solutions satisfying.
Both Luca and Artair are sexually experienced and have chemistry and insta-lust for each other— which felt believable enough to me. The sexuality is GORGEOUS, largely joyful, and has an undercurrent of play that really feeds into the slightly surreal setting and everything we learn about the characters. The more sensual and smutty scenes really allow Drakes' strengths to shine— and they are frequent.
On a more personal note, as a fat guy who is into bigger guys, this book filled me with a sense of joy I did not think I would ever be able to feel reading a book. I did not think I would ever be able to read about guys like me on the pages of a book— let alone a version of us that is so lovingly and hornily rendered.
Conclusion/TLDR:
This book does precisely what it says on the tin. It is a low-angst, playful, VERY sexy romance between two big guys who are really into each other. The story is cleanly executed, the characters lovable, and the sex scenes frequent. If you're looking for a high steam M/M romance that is sweet, sincere, and celebrates big guys, I can't recommend Cubs and Campfires enough.