Bundled Up (Portland Heat #1-3) by Annabeth Albert

This book is a compilation of three novellas in the Portland Heat series. They are each stand alone, yet the characters are all somehow connected.

Really enjoyed this one. Like the name suggests there's quite a lot of HEAT in these ones but I loved that in each and every one of them it was still firstly about friendship and companionship.

Though all three are rather short it felt like we're getting a whole story. There's relationship buildup for sure but also a story (some truly heart breaking) that influenced the characters and the connection they formed together.

My favorite one was the last one "Delivered Fast" (as my longer review bellow shows ;)) but all three were great.

Yep, RECOMMENDED!

I'll be moving on to the next bundle!



Served Hot [Robert "Robby" Edwards & David Gregory] ★★★★

Robby enjoys offering David his usual drink - Vanilla latte every day the exact hour he arrives to get it from Robby's coffee cart. But though he enjoys the little flirty conversation he wishes for more even if he isn't even sure David is gay. Pride weekend is the best excuse and after sharing a smoldering kiss together strolling together on a break from work they form a sweet friendship for a couple more months before anything else happens.

David is dealing with a lot of stuff. His past for sure, but also navigating a new present and a hope for a better future. Robby is everything he wanted and didn't have in his previous relationship but in a way it only makes it more difficult to enjoy what he has now. Robby is confused, he had a horrible ex of his own and his experience with him left him very dubious things could truly work out with David but he hopes.. Hopes they can both put their pasts behind and build a brighter future together.

Though I enjoyed this sweet novella, both Robby and David being simply endearing together, I was a bit frustrated with them as well. They were both reluctant to just TALK to one another and figure things out. I got WHY they kept quiet but somehow I still wanted to throttle them both! Maybe mostly Robby as this novella is told solely from his POV so we get everything he WISHES he would say and yet still doesn't.

99 Pages. Read 2 October 2019.

Baked Fresh [Vic Degrassi & Robin Dawson] ★★★★½

I enjoyed this one as well. It had a different feeling than the previous one as it deals with more intense issues. Vic and Robin have known each other for 2 years now as both volunteer in the same homeless shelter. Vic works at a bakery and so he comes in bringing food from the bakery. He has always admired Robin from afar feeling he is TOTALLY out of his league. But while this year's New Year Resolution was suppose to be about dating (again), when he heard Robin just broke up with his boyfriend it became - winning HIM specifically. The last couple of years have been challenging to Vic, through losing his uncle and father, losing A LOT of weight not to find himself in the same place they did (dying of a heart attack), he is still optimistic and the New Year is the exact day to take charge of his life. I had so much respect for him. He truly WENT after what he wanted and though it was a bit silly thinking he WOULDN'T fall for Robin (he already had the last two years) offering him his friendship and "no strings attached" allowed both of the to explore their true hearts' desire with no real pressure.

Robin comes from money, you wouldn't have thought he lived hardship but he did.. Finding himself on the streets, doing everything he could to buy the drugs he was addicted to. The shelter saved him which is why he is paying it forward trying to help youths in a similar place to where he used to be. Though we only got Vic's POV it's obvious Robin was intrigued (and attracted) to Vic for a while now so when he offers Robin to take the pressure off he accepts thinking it's just going to be friendship but things change very quickly.. Robin isn't ready for a relationship. He has too many things to work through. What Vic offers him allows him to be himself and work on himself at the same time. No pressure. Just the two of them together. While there's a big age difference between the two, and while it WAS obvious at times, I still think they were wonderful together. Everything Robin went through matured him so it's no wonder he was looking for someone who can offer him more.

This book was HOT, be prepared for A LOT of sex! But even though this was a short read and the amount of sex in it, it was still always about the two of them finding solace together, working on their insecurities and fears, finding strengths in themselves and from one another.

I enjoy this story with all the complexities of both of their lives. It wasn't the easiest read at times but even with that I felt so much optimism from both MCs to imagine them having the brightest future together.

131 Pages. Read 2 October 2019.

Delivered Fast [Chris O’Neal & Lance Degrassi] ★★★★★

Loved this one! Chris and Lance were wonderful together. Even though there's a big age gap between these two, I didn't feel it affected the dynamics between them. Yeah, they are at a different stage in life but in the end they were both mature and knew what they wanted, well, sort of :)

Chris own a vegan restaurant. We've met him in the first installment as Robby's friend (also mentioned in the second installment for a bit). It's actually co-owned by him and his ex-boyfriend and though it's not something he wanted when he me Randy 10 years ago and though it's not always an easy job it's his life now. When he meets Lance now working in the bakery his cousin Vic works at he is attracted for sure! But he doesn't feel it would be right to act upon his attraction considering how young Lance is... But when Lance hints at dancing at a club one weekend he finds himself going.

Lance has his mind set about his future. He is working HARD on his degree, wanting to get the best grades to get into a good physiotherapy program. He knows it means he'll probably leave his big warm family but that's what he always wanted and 3 years isn't that long, right? When he meets Chris he knows he wants him as well, but it's not like he has time to invest in a relationship (especially one with an expiration date) but being friends with benefits with Chris is awesome.

Though there's quite a bit of sex in this one, it didn't overpower the buildup of a true friendship and companionship. We only got Chris's POV but it was obvious for both of them, this has turned into a relationship neither wants to break apart once Lance needs to leave. Lance is more confident then can make it work and he is willing to make sacrifices. But Chris on the other hand is in a different place. He remembers what it means to make sacrifices when he was Lance's age and he won't change Lance's life to "suit" his own. He might accept his life but it's not what he envisioned and he doesn't want Lance to feel like he does 10 years from now.

Yet letting go of Lance is also not an easy solution. Looking at what he has with him, the way Lance truly SEES him, understands him, appreciate his fascination of fish in a way his ex never has. For the first time he wonders but not dare dream what they could share together.

This was a BEAUTIFUL read. I understood both Lance and Chris in the place they were in life and loved the way this book was resolved. Lance came into Chris' life at the perfect time to show him optimism is a trait he could have or at least borrow from Lance.

134 Pages. Read 3-4 October 2019.

Rating: ★★★★★

E-Book Edition

362 pages

Read on: 2-4 Oct 2019

ABOUT THIS SERIES

 

Portland Heat is a Contemporary MM Romance series by Annabeth Albert. It contains 6 novellas (and a few short free editions). The books can be bought each on it's own or in two bundles containing the first and second three books in the series. The additional short novellas in between are all free reads.

The stories focus on local businesses in Portland. While some of the characters are connected generally these novellas can be read as a stand alone though I do recommend getting the two bundles and enjoying ALL of them!

* Bryce and Clark from "Waiting for Clark" (not related to Portland Heat) along with Chris and Lance from "Delivered Fast".

Books:
Bundled Up - 1. Served Hot, 2. Baked Fresh & 3. Delivered Fast (Published 19 January 2016)
1. Served Hot [Robert "Robby" Edwards & David Gregory] (Published 3 March 2015) ★★★★
2. Baked Fresh [Vic Degrassi & Robin Dawson] (Published 14 April 2015) ★★★★½
3. Delivered Fast [Chris O’Neal & Lance Degrassi] (Published 26 May 2015) ★★★★★
3.1 Cranky Christmas [Chris O’Neal & Lance Degrassi] (Published 6 December 2015) ★★★★★
Gathered Up - 4. Knit Tight, 5. Wrapped Together & 6. Danced Close (Published 5 December 2017)
4. Knit Tight [Brady & Evren Demir] (Published 12 April 2016) ★★★★★
4.1 Knit Quick [Brady & Evren Demir] (Published 10 February 2017) ★★★★★
5. Wrapped Together [Hollis Alcott & Sawyer Murphy] (Published 6 December 2016) ★★★★★
5.1 Waiting for Candy * [Bryce Weyland & Clark Kenmore] (Published 17 October 2016) ★★★
6. Danced Close [Todd & Kendall Rose] (Published 14 March 2017) ★★★
Review of all three Novellas - 3.1 Cranky Christmas, 4.1 Knit Quick & Waiting for Candy