short story

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Lenni Reviews: “Taken by the Hunter” by C. M. Hartley

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I purchased this book for free from All Romance Ebooks and is intended for 18+.

Jasper is a Will-o-Wisp who ran afoul of a warlock named Hendrick and is now cursed to guard Hendrick’s treasure. He can’t leave unless he tricks someone into taking his place and if he doesn’t before Hendrick returns, Jasper will die. When a hunter comes by, Jasper sees his chance to escape but he’s a horny little sprite who has gone way too long without any relief but his own hand. Will Jasper choose to end his 100-year entrapment or give into the temptation and give up this chance at freedom?

This story is the first in a series of trysts Jasper has while he’s trapped guarding that box. It’s not badly written but it is purely a guilty pleasure read. You don’t have a slow build to get to know the characters, just some brief, naughty fluff to take up a few minutes of the day. I’d give it a friendly 2.9 since this is really an excuse for some steamy smexy times but it’s written well enough that I didn’t cringe while reading it.

And obviously only for adults here.

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Lenni Reviews: “A Serious Thing” by Annabelle Jacobs

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I purchased this book for free from All Romance Ebooks and is intended for 18+.

Patrick and Will have been together for awhile and Patrick has decided it’s time to get serious and say those special three words. Finally having some time to themselves over Christmas break, Patrick has big plans to tell Will he loves him on Christmas Day.

Will and Patrick are almost too cute and infatuated with each other. The love between them is sweet and it’s written well. This is a short slice of life story that is perfect to read curled up with some hot cocoa by a fire. I’d give it a 3 since I think this story would have has more of an impact on me if I was familiar with the series these characters are from. Standing alone, I simply thought “Aw, that was cute.” and moved on to the next thing without giving it much more thought.

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Lenni Reviews: “Until We Meet Once More” by Josh Lanyon

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I purchased this book for free from All Romance Ebooks and is intended for 18+.

Vick Black, Army Ranger Captain, is sent on a rescue mission. Known as ‘Stone Man’ for his focus and determination, he is certain he can get in and get out with his rescue without a problem. Then he hears the name of the POW he’s being sent to retrieve; his former lover. Then the Stone Man begins to crack. It’s not just another mission anymore, now it’s personal.

I found it a bit difficult to get into this one. It felt a little distant; almost clinical despite the intriguing premise. I ended up being more interested in the rescue mission itself rather hand the romantic relationship. However, by the end of this short read, I felt satisfied and entertained. I wish there was more to is as I think the reason why it felt distance is because everything was so clipped. More length may have had the story and characters make a bigger impact on me. As is, this story is nothing special but certainly not terrible. A firm 3.5.

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Lenni Reviews “Bag the Beast” by Jane Perky

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I purchased this book for free from All Romance Ebooks and is intended for 18+.

Clement, a werewolf, is in dire need of a pumpkin for a pie he plans to bake for a Thanksgiving baking contest. And only the best pumpkins grow on Dall’s farm; a reclusive bear shifter affectionately nicknamed ‘The Beast.’  Intending to steal it, Clement sneaks on to the farm in wolf form and ends up not only ending up at the wrong end of Dall’s gun but senses the werebear is his mate.

This story is so short (18 pages) it’s hard to really rate it. The conflict – such as it was – could have been developed more so that the ending provided more satisfaction. It felt so fast, I didn’t get enough time to care if these two got together. I’d call it ‘drive by erotica’ with just enough smut to titillate if not completely entertain. Not bad but not really good either. I’d give it a 2 for having potential but being too short to really leave an impression.

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Lenni Reviews: “Hungry For Love” by Louise Lyons

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I purchased this book for free from All Romance Ebooks.

After a bad breakup, Sam Wilkinson turned to food for comfort, eventually landing him in the doctor’s office  because of dizzy spells and breathlessness. When his doctor says he needs to lose weight for his own health, Sam joins the local gym and meets Luke Walker; fitness trainer. The pair are attracted to each other but Sam is convinced no man could ever want him again and Luke has past issues with a cheating ex. Will these two be able to gather enough courage to love again?

I’m not an emotional eater but my own struggles with weight and self-esteem struck a chord with me. I could completely identify with both character’s feelings of “what if my dickwad, cheating ex was right and I’m unworthy of love?” This story manages to convey those feelings without beating the message over your head. Sam and Luke are likable and I found myself disappointed when the story was over. But it’s best to be short and sweet when a story is written well. It doesn’t get super naughty until the end, though so the smexy times are well placed and feel natural. I would give this story a solid 3.5 out of five because things were wrapped up a little too perfectly but I still felt like the characters deserved their happy ending.

And if you think that’s a spoiler, you obviously don’t get the genre.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fireworks: A Sexmas Short Story” by Kate Lowell

 

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I purchased this book for free at All Romance Ebooks.

Carter and Thilo are very different so when the straightlaced and shy Thilo asks to see Carter dance at the strip club where he works, Carter is understandably taken aback. Carter is worried his profession will cause a problem in their new relationship and that the prim accountant wouldn’t be able to handle watching such a spectacle. However, Thilo is determined to show Carter he can look beyond the job and still treat Carter the same. On New Year;s Eve, Carter arranges for Thilo to watch a show. Will the reserved Thilo be able to see Carter at work and stay in the relationship?

This was a short and sweet read with a relatable situation. Carter and Thilo are as fleshed out as characters can be in 23 pages. And it’s honestly not that graphic. Of course, the story takes you to the strip club and describes what happens in one but I’d rate this a PG if I was feeling very judgemental. Out of 5, I would give this a vague 3 because I enjoyed it despite it being really short and it was nice to read something sweet without it being overloaded with smut.

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Lenni Reviews: A Limited Engagement by Josh Lanyon

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I purchased this book for free at All Romance Ebooks.

Adam has been blackmailing Ross Marlowe, threatening to out him as gay to the press unless Ross pays Adam money to keep quiet. But tired of the deception, Adam goes public anyway in order to force Ross to accept who he is and stop playing at being straight. Will this gambit allow Adam to be with Ross the way he wants or will it backfire?

I have to admit, starting the story with one character nearly strangling the other to death made me doubt a happy resolution. I wouldn’t want to stay with someone who tried to kill me but I just rolled with the narrative after that. This story is well written and emotional but really short, wrapped up too well too quickly. I would have liked to see the conflict play out over a longer period of time like they would in real life but… Hey, who reads these things for ‘real life?’

Lanyon’s short story is a quick, sweet, and explicit (one sex scene) read that could be easily finished in an afternoon. I’d give it a 2.7 out of 5 for that scary strangling at the beginning.

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Lenni Reviews: Ridden by the Werestallion by Heather Silver

I purchased this book for free from All Romance Ebooks.

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Ya see the title? Gee, guess what happens in the book?

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Lance Kingley is the new ranch hand at the Lucky Day Ranch. His first task is to breed a high-strung Arabian horse to a thoroughbred mare in heat. During this task, what happens can only be described as surprise butt-sex.

Reading this was like reading a court stenographer’s transcript of a really cheap porn. The setup, the unrealistic boning that isn’t even erotic, then the unrealistic conclusion. It had me questioning what I am doing with my life in reviewing these things but then I remember it’s to warn people against things that waste their time. Like this.

This is the kind of story that makes erotica look bad. I am so glad this story was free as it was barely a story. You don’t learn anything about any of the characters expect for these guys are all horse shifters who fuck and have big dicks. What even happened to the mare? Does she shift too or do they leave the poor thing in the field to suffer in heat alone? And of course, Lance takes all this strange news like it’s Tuesday.

I’d say save your money but since it was free, just save your time and pick something with more story. 1.5 out of 5 is generous since I found it empty but it didn’t incite my rage.

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Lenni Reviews: Hayden’s Law by Hurri Cosmo

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I got this book for free from All Romance Ebooks.

This short story features Graham, an Omega wolf looking for a place to live far away from the Alphas who have used and abused him. Following an ad for an apartment with other Omegas, Graham ends up at the doorstep of Hyden. Believing him to be another Omega, Graham moves in but Hyden is an Alpha and realizes that Graham is is fated mate. As the mating moon approaches, Hyden is having trouble keeping himself under control and must find as way to tell Graham the truth in a way that will keep the younger man from running away in fear.

I really wanted to like this book but even for a short story, things get wrapped up pretty fast. And I don’t mean in terms of Hyden and Graham being attracted to each other; I mean the jump from accepting the attraction to full on spanking and flogging in the S&M dungeon. Instead of Hyden as an Alpha working to earn Graham’s trust, he just bones the guy senseless so by the next scene, Graham is ok with it. It would have been so interesting to see Graham come to terms with Hyden being Alpha, learning to love and trust again despite Hyden initially hiding the fact he was an Alpha all along. Instead, the power of some man lovin and spanking fixes it all? Killed the rest of the book for me.

Yeah, there is smut and S&M smexy times between two men. Dun like? Dun read.

I give this book a barely earned 3 out of 5 because despite getting it for free, I can see paying about $0.99 for this and not feeling like I wasted my money. The writing isn’t bad but it gets points off for not being terrible yet also not impressive.

 

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Lenni Reviews: Cupid’s Time by Jess Buffett

I got this little short read for free on All Romance Ebooks.

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In this short story, concepts in the universe and myths are personified as hot guys: Nate as “Mother” Nature, Nick as Santa, Henry as the Easter Bunny, Thyme as Father Time and Cupid as… Well, Cupid. They call themselves the Keepers. Cupid is at a gay club doing what the personification of love does best; bring people together, when Thyme shows up to needle him about being the youngest of them all. Cupid gets sick of it, tells him off and leaves. It seems Cupid can bring others together but can’t seem to get on the same page as his crush; Thyme.

Here we have the classic couple who love each other, are fates mates (or whatever), but can’t get out of their own way. There is a side plot with Jack Frost causing trouble for the mortal world to throw yet another misunderstanding between the lovers but in general, everything between Thyme and Cupid could be resolved if someone said one simple sentence of explanation. This sort of conflict is so sold hat and very frustrating to read.

Also, smut warning: There is graphic sex and spanking. If that’s not your thing, don’t read this.

Despite that, it’s a cute story with sex scenes that are ok and despite some minor spelling and formatting errors (and the Jack Frost plot being wrapped up behind the scenes instead of writing it out and the fact Thyme is a meh name as an alias instead of Chronos or ANYTHING that didn’t sound like a spice…), the little romance between Cupid and Thyme is a mildly amusing diversion for an afternoon and worth a free read. I’ll give it a 2.9 because when you read as much as I do, the cliche’s bog it down.