Snow Balls is the fourth book in the Balls to the Walls series. It’s set during the winter holidays in Laguna. JJ LaRousse looks like an alpha male but in his own words is a ‘flaming queen,’ something he didn’t want hot cop, Ryan Star to know, since Ryan prefers manly man. This story is told in third person through the eyes of JJ and Ryan.

3.5 Stars



Snow Balls is a story of hiding. Ryan hiding in the closet and JJ, hiding who he truly is in order for Ryan to like him. This hiding leads to difficulties between the two men and to the blow-up at the end.

Some characters return to this story from previous books, like David the gallery owner and Rodney, aka Roman, the artist. It was nice to read about them again. I couldn’t connect that much with JJ and Ryan, I’m not sure why. I did like JJ in that he was very sweet, but the use of 'fluttering hands' over and over to emphasize his flamboyant nature was way overkill to the point of ridiculous. It didn't endear me to JJ at all. JJ still wasn’t sure about himself, because of the derision from his father to be a man, and JJ knew he could never be that kind of manly man and that’s why his fear of rejection from Ryan when he finds out that’s the kind of man Ryan likes. He then pretends to be manly in order for Ryan to like him, but it doesn’t go well.

Ryan had his reasons for being in the closet as we find out later in the story, but until then, he just looks selfish until we find out the reason. The characters I want to know more about are the twins, Bobbie and Robin. I’d like to know if they ever found their guy(s) since they both liked JJ. But I guess since the series is already written there probably won’t be a book about them, even though I have yet to read the last book at the time of this review.

Snow Balls was entertaining and the description of the Winter Festival and Laguna was great. However, I didn’t care for the descriptors like, ‘the big man,’ after Ryan already knew JJ’s name. The book was a quick, pleasant read without much angst, although for some reason I didn’t connect with the characters all that much. I’d like to give this 3.5 Stars but since Goodreads doesn’t give half stars, I’ll give it 3 Stars.


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Snow Balls was a good mix of erotica and romantic comedy; the character of JJ, a flaming queen hiding inside the body of an alpha male, was original and sweet, and he gave a push to the usual scripts. Being big and sturdy doesn't mean you have to be a macho man, and that is exactly how it is for JJ; he fought all his life with the preconception he has to be a dominant top, while instead he would like to find a dominant lover for himself. While Ryan has the attitude of a dominant, he isn't reflecting it on his looks, Ryan is smaller than JJ, so much that, if they want to kiss standing, he has to stretch to reach him. But never once he gave me the impression he wasn't the one in command.

Another original side of this story is that, the romance was almost sweet, as I said, very much romantic comedy, but when we arrive to the intimate moments, the heroes go down to hot and dirty, reaching level of erotica. It was a little disconcerting, unexpected, but a nice surprise, like finding cream inside what you believe was a plain brioche.

Nice addition to a funny series, I'm not reading them in order, but now I really want to go back and read about David and his two young lovers.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1940223571/?tag=elimyrevandra-20