Aww, I really adore All I See by Nell Iris. Nell has a knack for writing short stories – probably has a knack for writing longer stories too, but I’ve only read short ones so far LOL.

Theo Mower and Kieran O’Riordan have been a couple for five years, but they’ve hidden it for everyone since Kieran’s family isn’t the accepting kind. Theo knew that going into the relationship, and he doesn’t doubt Kieran’s love for him for a second, but attending Kieran’s brother’s wedding makes him realise he wants to be able to stand in front of friends and family with his lover by his side too.

Seeking out a quiet spot to get his emotions in check, Theo is surprised when Kieran comes to find him and stands way too close for being out in public. Turns out Theo isn’t the only one affected by the wedding.

I loved this so much, and not only because Theo bakes when he’s stressed – all sane people do…or at least I do. The connection between Kieran and Theo is strong, the love undeniable, but, sadly, love doesn’t conquer everything no matter how much we wish it would.

Kieran has to make a choice. Will he risk his relationship with his parents and possibly his career to be able to hold his lover’s hand in public? Both of them know the O’Riordans won’t accept Theo into the family.

Openly gay, overly sensitive, cries-too-much-for-his-own-good Theodore Mower, with mannerisms that are too swishy, a voice that’s too soft, and a giggle that’s too loud and bubbly. I’m only tolerated by Mr. and Mrs. O’Riordan because Seamus and I have been best friends since we were kids, and by the time people realized I wasn’t going to outgrow the swish, it was too late to do anything about our friendship. But even if the O’Riordans would be okay with Kieran being gay—which they wouldn’t—they would never accept me as his partner.

Heartbreaking, but full of hope!

books2read.com/AllISee

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Theo and Kieran have been together for five years. They’re very happy … behind closed doors. Theo accepted from the start that Kieran isn’t out to his conservative parents and has a lot to lose if they find out about his sexuality.

But a moment of sadness at a wedding changes things. Theo is faced with a decision: live the rest of his life in secret … or break it off with Kieran.

Or is there a third alternative?

JMS Books has this series called Hot Flash, that’s stories between 2-5k. I found Invisible by Iyana Jenna on my phone and it’s a Hot Flash. It’s not very old, was published in June 2019, so I must’ve grabbed it pretty recently, but I can’t really remember doing so. It doesn’t matter – I had it, and I’ve read it.

It’s my first Iyana Jenna story. She mostly writes sweet romances, so don’t expect a lot of grunting and grinding – don’t expect any, because Invisible isn’t that kind of story.

Daniel Matthews sees a young man approaching a hot dog stand, handing over his last bill with shaking hands. The young man gets his hot dog, but as he walks away, he collides with a group of bullies and falls to the ground. The hot dog is knocked out of his hands and the group laughs as they walk away.

Daniel is furious and rushes over to help the young man and ends up taking him out for some pizza.

This is a cute hurt-comfort story about a man helping the homeless and a young man accepting the help…if a bit reluctantly at first.

It’s short, 3.5k, so there isn’t much room to play on. I liked the story, and I understand the need for a time jump to get to the epilogue, but I wished we could’ve ‘seen’ the development on-page.

books2read.com/InvisibleJenna

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Daniel Matthews lost someone dear in the past. When he sees a young man lose his fast food dinner to a couple of bullies, he ends up buying both of them a meal. To his surprise, Liam reminds Daniel a lot of his brother, gone too soon. But the feelings Liam rouses in Daniel are definitely not the same.

Daniel offers to take him home, but Liam lies about which house is his has no home. He has nothing. Or had … until Daniel.

February might be a short month I’ve dedicated to short fiction, but love can last for a long time. In Words by Paul Alan Fahey, we get to follow Blake and  Stanley for a short 13 pages but over 35 years.

I don’t do well with books with infidelity – yeah, I’m completely stuck in this girly fantasy of monogamy. And to be quite honest, I just don’t understand why people cheat, at all. I know the pro side will say sex is sex and love is love, well I’m this flawed person who’s incapable to see why you would cheat if you’re even remotely fond of your partner. And I’m a vengeful bitch so if hubby ever hinted at having dallied elsewhere, he’d find himself without both wife and balls.

But, I’m not here to preach monogamy – Blake and Stanley had an understanding, I have to accept that even though it makes my skin crawl LOL.

Now, it sounds as if I hated the story, I didn’t. It’s a short story about lasting love, about ups and downs in life, about fear and harmony.

The story begins and ends with the two of them sitting in the orchestra section of a theatre, and the last page had me blinking away tears despite having cursed them just a couple of pages earlier LOL.

It’s a 4k freebie so if you’re looking for life-long love, check it out.

books2read.com/Words

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Blake believes in love at first sight; Stanley isn’t so sure. Their lifelong romance begins with a random meeting in a bar and ends in happily ever after.

As the years pass, Stanley’s struggling literary career takes off, and Blake finds fulfillment as a counselor at a local community college. When the AIDS epidemic strikes their small town in the 1980s, their resolve and relationship are tested. The only way to survive the crisis is to draw strength in the love they share.

Later, as they enter their senior years, they must deal with frightening new issues of infirmity and disability. Yet through it all, the two men share a deep, emotional bond that survives and strengthens their resolve to tackle any and all challenges head on. Together.