Love Has No Boundaries – Fabulous and FREE stories – Part III
What Is Love Has No Boundaries?
The Goodreads M/M Romance group have run a number of events where we are lucky enough to get to read a collection of free m/m short stories, novellas and novels written by the group’s authors. Previous collections include Don’t Read In The Closet, Hot Summer Days (2011) and Love is Always Write (2012). This year’s collection is Love Has No Boundaries.
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.
Stories covered in this review are:
- That Good Earth by S.A. Meade
- Playing the Field by Penny Brandon
- The Song by Eric Alan Westfall
- A Fragile Love by Les Joseph
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The story prompt…
I would love to read a sweet, kisses-only story about two British young men serving together during WW1. Surviving in the trenches, sitting out a long night under fire, etc. I also have a weakness for WW1 pilots, if you decide to go that route. 🙂
So what did I think?
This was a truly lovely story. I was totally transported to the trenches as Arthur and William meet during the heat of battle. I can’t even imagine what it would have been like to be in such a situation but the author did a wonderful job of bringing these two men together in such circumstances.
Theirs is a gentle love, starting from a brief meeting and continuing via letter and postcard until after the war. They both experience tragedy so it is wonderful so see the happy ending.
Playing The Field by Penny Brandon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The photo prompt…
He was the one that finally broke through the walls of one of the most successful young soccer coaches, who was secretive with his personal life. The coach was seen a few times with women in public, but no one really knew about the coach’s secret true desires… until he came along and there was no denying the sexual tension between them.
So what did I think?
Absolutely perfect sports themed contemporary romance – loved it! Just what I was in the mood for so 5 stars!
For me the elements in this story were perfect – the characters, the setting, the plot. It’s only a short story but it packed in quite a bit – the sexual tension, the final giving in to temptation and the perfect happy ending.
Rick is the coach. He is closeted and doesn’t do casual. Danny is out and proud, with a reputation as a bit of player. I am sure you can guess the rest….:)
There is heaps of sexual tension but the relationship between these two men is more emotional and I loved their coming together.
Only a quick story but I was invested in the characters and I ended with a smile on my face (I’m always a sucker for public declarations!).
I will definitely be checking out more books from this author and have bought one already!
The Song by Eric Alan Westfall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
The photo prompt…
Here I was: thirty-six, closeted, virgin, in Berlin for a conference. In what moment of craziness I had booked into the hippest hetero-friendly hotel (as opposed to gay-friendly) I don’t know… but here I was, surrounded by hot men, from the concierge to the hotel guests. But none tempted me as much as this couple: From Paris, they were on a week’s vacation as well, and I would run into them almost every night, at the hotel’s health club. One was shy and spoke little English. The other was a hunky doctor with a deliciously hairy chest and piercing eyes that wouldn’t let you go. Watching them cuddle, nuzzle, exchange loving glances all the time drove me to voyeuristic distraction. His husky voice and flirtatious banter would make me harder than I would have thought possible. And he knew it! His young lover seemed bemused by it all. And then on my last-but-one night, after a frustratingly erotic display of foreplay at the rooftop jacuzzi (all apparently for my benefit) the Hunk beckoned me over and invited me up to their room…
So what did I think?
I think I liked this book. I say ‘think’ because at times I wasn’t really too sure. I spent most of it thinking things like ‘what’s going on?’, ‘what does that mean?’, ‘how does that fit in?’. I kept trying to work out what was going on and pre-empt the paranormal twists, instead of just relaxing into the story. That being said, sometimes it’s good to read something that keeps you on your toes!
The story jumps between POVs, sometimes for only a very short period of time and sometimes longer. There are little hints and clues of the bigger picture but never enough for me to fully understand how everything fit together. And the ending – what just happened?
It’s an interesting story with hints and glimpses of strange things without fully providing the back ground. It is quite unique in what is shown but perhaps not the book for someone who likes a full world building with a clear cut happy ending.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The photo prompt…
I’m so glad we’re finally at this point in our relationship where we are comfortable with each other like this in public; I was an idiot for so long, trying to hide what we had. But after what happened, I’ll never take him for granted again. I’m through hiding. I’m going to make sure that he knows every day just how much I love him.
So what did I think?
This story had an interesting approach. The story started by letting us know there was a big, in the public eye, coming out. However it is not until the end that the details are revealed.
This is a story about a relationship that had the potential to end but tragic circumstances act as the wake up call, making Peter and Adam realise how much they mean to each other and cementing the relationship.
I loved the emotional side to the story slightly more than the sex side as I found the sex talk between the two men felt slightly unnatural – not 100% sure why but this stood out for me. However it is still a 4 star read!
You can check out the full list of stories and download from the M/M Romance Group website.
Related articles
- Love Has No Boundaries – Fabulous & FREE m/m short stories – PART I (someonehastosetabadexample.wordpress.com)
- Love Has No Boundaries – 2013 (leesuilan.wordpress.com)
- Love Has No Boundaries: Short Stories & Short Reviews Part 1 (portiabridget.wordpress.com)