Day: July 31, 2015

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Trapped by Kenzie Cade

GoodReads Presents http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=277502

trappedBlurb

Dear Author,
“That’s me. The one in the hat. Why did I think this weekend away would be such a good idea? Ten of us, all sleeping in one cabin in the middle of winter, freezing our balls off. I must have been crazy, especially as I had to go and wake up [guy on bed] after he drank enough to sink a battleship last night. He was like a man possessed. And now I can’t stop staring at his mouth. What’s wrong with me? I’m not gay, he’s not gay. It’s fucking ridiculous. What am I gonna do?”

Photo Description:
Two men in a cabin room. One is lying on the bed with the other leaning over him. The man lying on the bed is resting with a smile on his face. The other is looking down with a happy smile, seemingly staring at the first man’s lips.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

trapped real

Review

Though the cover makes it seem like the two MCs are stuck in a cabin together – they really aren’t. Gavin and Drew are real life partners – at work. Their boss sends them to a couples retreat to help them get over their “issues” when one of them almost gets the other killed on the job.

Together they go through the excercises – designed for romantic couples – and nobody believes them when they say they aren’t romantically involved. And then they become romantically involved.

It’s a very sweet, short story about two best friends who become lovers.

4 of 5 hearts

4

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By Way of Vegan Donuts by Kay Walker

Dreamspinner Presents http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6668

ByWayofVeganDonutsBlurb

In a tourist town in the Canadian Rockies, Simon is spending the summer working at his sister-in-law’s bookstore. Shy around new people, Simon prefers to keep his nose in a book. When Benji, a local who works at a café down the street, hears Simon is vegan, he figures the best way to welcome him is bake him a vegan donut.

Upon their first meeting, there’s an undeniable burst of chemistry. Simon is drawn to Benji’s outgoing personality and wants to get to know him better. All Simon has to do is figure out a way to get over his nervousness and ask the casually flirty Benji on a date.

Review

Benji has moved to town to help his sister-in-law deal with her grief at losing his (much older) brother who has died from a heart attack at a young age. He is in college and a bookworm, so he spends a lot of time with a nose in a book. He’s a bit shy and a vegan, but enjoys the outdoors.

Simon is a local, very outgoing, very outdoorsy and very attracted to Benji. At first he makes it pretty clear he’s attracted, but his past makes him pull back.

Benji mistakes the inattention for dis-interest and figures the two will be friends. Luckily one of them manages to ask the other out and the two end up with a nice HFN.

**

I enjoyed the writing and the characters in this story very much. I was frustrated by the fact that just as the couple finally gets together, the story ends, and we don’t get much input as to how things will go in the future.

I wish this had been longer, but it was a very nice short story.

3.5 of 5 hearts

3.5

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