Pipe Dreams by J.M. Snyder

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 3 Comments

You know the fantasies people have (and porn lives off) about a hot handyman showing up at your doorstep? In Pipe Dreams by J.M. Snyder that handyman is a plumber LOL.

Paul Jacoby wakes up one morning to a clogged sink and a message his roommate leaves on the answering machine that the sink is blocked because Paul had been right, they didn’t have a garbage disposal.

I have to cut in here – I thought garbage disposals only existed in American horror movies and the occasional drama where the wife drops her wedding ring into those flesh-chopping knives hiding at the bottom of the sink. But, now I’ve googled and became a little wiser. It’s common in the U.S. but not in the rest of the world.

Okay, back to the story before you think Pipe Dreams is a horror story – it’s not! It’s a fun little tale about Paul opening the door for the plumber and come face to face with Ethan Randolph, his high school crush.

He then proceeds to help Ethan find his…ratchet.

Whatever you picture this story to be, you’re probably right LOL. It’s short, it’s fun, it’s hot. It’s just below 3k long, so even if you only have half a cup of coffee at hand, you’ll have time to read it.

books2read.com/PipeDreams

Pipe DreamsWhen Paul Jacoby opens the door to plumber Ethan Randolph, Paul’s memories and libido are instantly reawakened. Paul lusted after the captain of the basketball team in high school, but he was too shy to do anything about his attraction to Ethan back then.

Can he pluck up the courage this time to make his yearnings for the hunky Ethan a reality, or will his pipes — as well as his dreams — remain blocked?

Note: This story appears in the author’s anthology, Flashed!

 

 

I Will Meet You at Asphodel’s Pit by Tinnean

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 19 Comments

Okay, so space bars…what’s not to like? In this month of love, I figured we’d need us some sci-fi. I Will Meet You at Asphodel’s Pit by  Tinnean is a short little story about…well, that’s the thing, I don’t really know LOL.

Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed reading it, but I started out confused, then I became a little more confused before we got to the ending which is very sweet.

Protector and Trey are already in a relationship when the story begins, but Trey’s sister who’s to be married off to a different race due to political reasons betrays them, and Protector has to leave Trey to bring back The Protector – a female protector who was taken during an attack.

Protector tells Trey to meet him at Asphodel’s Pit which is one of the most dangerous bars in the universe.

When Trey gets to Asphodel’s Pit, Protector hasn’t arrived. So he waits, and waits, and waits. While Trey spends his days waiting, we get the story of Sloff and Rinig – bartender and bouncer – who used to be friends. Both have been horribly injured in the line of duty and are now spending their lives working in the bar…but maybe that isn’t too bad.

So we have aliens, many kinds, and we have two pairs – one torn apart due to work, the other tossed together due to no longer being able to do the work they used to do.

If you’re expecting some great big climax in this story, you’ll be disappointed, but I liked the world and the characters. And who doesn’t want to see lovers reunited?

This story is just over 8k (and it’s free), so brew yourself a cup and snuggle up!

books2read.com/AsphodelsPit

I Will Meet You at Asphodel's PitSpace politics sends The Protector on a mission, the failure of which could result in mass destruction. When her mission is sabotaged, the man bred from birth to be a Protector must leave his lover in order to carry out his duty. However, before he leaves, he promises to meet the white-haired H’asean at Asphodel’s Pit, one of the most dangerous dives in all the known universes, sending him off with Protector’s Brachi friend.

Meanwhile, at Asphodel’s Pit, inhabitants of other planets are going about their business. Sloff runs the dive, along with his old friend Rinig sa Bre, who provides security. Both men are unaware all hell in on the verge of breaking loose, as a Protector is about to arrive, looking for his young sir.

 

 

Champagne Kisses by J.R. Loveless

~ Ofelia Gränd ~ 19 Comments

We need a Valentine story for Valentine, do we not? Champagne Kisses by J.R. Loveless is one of those short sweet contemporary stories that are too romantic for my comfort – it’s the big gestures! I’m fine with everyday romance, it’s when it goes beyond that I want to run into hiding LOL. But, it’s Valentine so it’s a day for big gestures.

Sam and Dean have been dating for six months, but Sam still feels like Dean is prioritising his career over their relationship. On Valentine, Dean has to work, and Sam is moping because of it.

When the owner of the bookstore he’s working in tells Sam to close up early, he does, and when he walks outside a limo is waiting for him. It’s a really cute scene when the driver tries to convince Sam to get in.

The night doesn’t turn out at all as Sam first had through – Dean isn’t working, instead, he has prepared a big surprise for him. It’s adorable, so if someone has given you some Valentine chocolate (why don’t I have Valentine chocolate? Or any chocolate) pour yourself a cup of coffee and soak up the sweetness.

Champagne Kisses is a 9k long contemporary story.

books2read.com/ChampagneKisses

Champagne KissesTheir date cancelled on the most romantic day of the year, Sam Evans feels betrayed by Dean, who often puts work before their relationship. Brooding about his lover’s lack of commitment toward him, he leaves work early only to be stunned by what awaits him outside the door.