Fred and Ginger: A Christmas M/M Romantic Comedy Short Story

By: Isobel Starling

Narrated by: Gary Furlong

Length: 1 hr and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

A sexy, funny, stand alone short Christmas story.

Patisserie Chef Christopher Miller works for Big Boy Cupcakes, London’s only gay bakery. His boss had closed the bakery on the 23rd of December, and Chris was looking forward to some well needed time off, and Christmas alone. But then his boss calls him with a last minute order - the order of his dreams - to bake for his movie idol, actor Jason Beck.

Just as he is about to deliver the order, Chris’s dreams are turned upside down by an explosive, fateful meeting with Fred, an errant Chocolate Labrador. The dog’s owner turns out to be Robin Summers, a one night stand from months before...the man that Chris could not forget.

©2017 Isobel Starling (P)2018 Isobel Starling/Decent Fellows Press

Hot pastry man

I enjoyed the banter between the two men. And the sex scene is pretty hot! But, there was something missing or maybe the story had an abrupt ending.

Gary Furlong added greatly to the story making the characters come alive.

I was provided a copy of the audible free at my request and I happy to be able to provide my review

Super cute and sexy

First I will never look at eggs the same way again 😂 this was very cute and hot! As a bakery I almost died when the dog made an appearance but without him they wouldn’t have met again

Great narration over all excellent short loving story:)

pretty good

this story is pretty good but the voice sounds like a robot to a point for me

A Sweet, Funny + Seasonal Second Chance shortstory

I love to bake, especially at Christmas and so listening to Gary Furlong narrate a story that began with baking cupcakes was a sinfully sweet delight. His narration is SO GOOD. I'm sure that man could read out a shopping list and I would be enthralled.

From the start this short story is laugh out loud funny. It's set in London at Christmas and pulled me in at once.
I loved how Chris and Robin met and rekindled their romance. No spoilers, but anyone who has read Isobel Starling books knows she won't let you down.

I would highly recommend this audiobook.

Romance, pastries, and holidays! An Excellent Mix!

While on Christmas Holiday from the bake shop he works for, Chris gets a call from his boss about a special order that needs to be made right away, and it just so happens to be an order from his favorite movie star, Jason Beck. Chris agrees and goes to work to make the tasty treats for Beck's party.

But while taking them out to his car, a Chocolate Labrador takes out the whole order. What is Chris going to do now? The dog's owner turns out to be Chef Robin Summers, a one night stand of Chris' from several months back. Robin offers to help Chris remake the order. Robin happens to be the one night stand that Chris cannot forget. Unfortunately, Robin has forgotten, which makes their evening of pastry making a little tense.....

Isobel Starling has done it once again, creating real, dimensional characters in a brief story. Her characters are always outstanding, and there is always more to them than meets the eye, so to speak.

Pick this one up and enjoy the holidays and maybe a batch of penis cakes!

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Funny

A quick, funny, holiday story starring Christopher Miller, a pastry chef, and Robin Summers, the owner of Fred, a chocolate lab. The book is told in third person from Chris and Robin's pov.

An accidental meeting brings Chris and Robin into contact again after a one-night stand they had many months ago. The meeting also destroys the special cupcakes Chris created for a movie star Chris idolized. Things heat up again as Robin offers to help Chris remake the cupcakes.

I enjoyed the humor of this short fic. The narrator did a good job with the accents, it was easy to tell the characters apart. However, he spoke a little too fast so I had to lower the audio speed.

As to the writing, I noticed instances of head hopping that weren't proceeded by long enough pauses to indicate that the pov was switching. If I was reading the book instead, I'm guessing there weren't any separators or warnings of pov changes, so this would be a head-hopping flaw. I noticed the author tended to use the descriptors, 'older man' and 'younger man', quite often, which I wasn't a fan of. Finally, I picked up the incorrect use of the name, Robin instead of Chris, at the end of the book.

Overall, the humor was good, but the head-hopping was noticeable. The narrator spoke a bit too fast. Still this was a fun story to listen to for the holidays.

I give this an overall rating of 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of 'Fred and Ginger' from the author for an honest and unbiased review.

Sweet and spicy

Patisserie Chef Christopher Miller never expected that a caketastrophe when delivering the most important order of his life could find him find love…
A really sweet short story with just the right amount of spicy in it. It tells us about Christopher and Robin, who meet when Robin’s labrador crashes into Chris and destroy a ready-to-be delivered order of cupcakes. The catastrophe turns into an offer to help made by Robin, who is ashamed both by his dog’s attitude and by the fact that he cannot remember having had a hookup with Chris some time ago. Working side by side in the kitchen, their chemistry is as obvious as what a good team they make
If the story is cute and the characters likeable, the performance by Gary Furlong makes it really memorable, and utterly delightful way of spending an hour of your time
Very recommendable

Such a fun story.

Chris and Robin's story is a fun and cute one. I love the banter between these two and I was laughing so much as I listened to this audiobook. Such a great listen to this short Christmas story. Gary Furlong does another great job in pull me in the story.

Fun and cupcakes

What a cute story done with a cute accent. This is a sweet little tale of a cupcake debacle. It truly was fun. These two guys, Chris and Robin, end up making penis cupcakes for a famous actor. But Fredrick the dog has other ideas. There is romance and a wee bit of kitchen sex. A dog, cupcakes and a holiday afternoon. What more could you ask for.
Well done.
(Given a copy for an honest review)

Christmas

Just when I thought I had the day off plans change and the day comes with ups and downs like a roller coaster ride. I loved the theme of the bakery. I did think the book ended to soon there was potential for the story to be longer but not over the top.
Gary has a wonderful voice to listen too.