Author: JL Merrow
Purchase or read on KU at Amazon
Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs
Genre: short stories, single author anthology
Length: 246 pages
Formats Mobi, print
Together for the first time, twelve short stories of male/male gay erotic romance from award-winning author JL Merrow. Ranging from gritty to giddy, all feature two men finding their happy ever after -- or at least for now -- with a dash of the author’s trademark humour.
Read about boys from the wrong side of town, boys from the right side of town, and boys from a town you really wouldn’t want to live in. Meet a rent boy with a secret, a very earthly version of Cupid, and men with a definite tinge of the supernatural. Opposites attract, wishes come true, and old enemies find forgiveness in this variety pack of eight contemporary stories and four paranormal tales that’s a perfect introduction to the writing of a very British author.
All stories are also available as standalone e-books from JMS Books, or you can buy this collection in Kindle format only and get them all for one low price!
Contains the stories:
* Love Found on Lindisfarne
* Free Ride
* Light the Fire
* Dead Shot
* Stronger Where it Counts
* Jack in the Green
* A Ghoul Like You
* Batteries Not Included
* Making it Pay
* Trick or Treat
* Good Breeding
* A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chip, and Thou
Finding a collection of shorts by an author I enjoy as much as I enjoy JL Merrow was a nice surprise! Turns out the singles are available, but this is a better deal. Some of the stories have appeared elsewhere, and reading them again was like greeting an old friend. So nice that they stood up to the test of time and memory.
So, I should mention that some of these stories were reviewed elsewhere on the blog. Because, old friends.
Some were new to me though, like Love Found on Lindisfarne, which both had the trademark humor and a wonderful twist to the setting and situation. The opening paragraphs set up some expectations, which… Dang, spoilers, can't tell you. It will make you smile.
Another new to me story was a Ghoul Like You, more supernatural and darker, yet with a twist that takes it out of the ordinary. This author can do a lot in a very short word count! Each individual story is probably under 10,000 words (guessing here) but there’s a fully realized story arc in every one.
Each story is a well written gem. Many are light and humorous, which is hard to as well as JL Merrow does it, and a few go somewhere darker. The order mixes them up, so the pacing is good if you read straight through. The very British flavour hasn't been edited out for American sensibilities, and a few situations will be unfamiliar, but stick with it, it all becomes clear.
If you want something to read in small savory, or maybe sweet bites, this collection is a good choice.
4.5 marbles
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