com Best Gay Romance 2014 is a superb collection of fictional short stories about love and romance Characters in this book are all in different places some are single some have just met a special man and some are in a relationship. Each of the 15 stories is exceptionally well written gripping and heart warming Best Gay Romance 2014 has contributions from some of the best gay Writers out there One or two of the stories did lack depth but only because they were too short Three amazing stories in this anthology were Strange Propositions by Eric GoberStrange Propositions is the opening story in Best Gay Romance 2014 The story starts with Kenny ending an unhappy long distance relationship Then he meets Nate through work and they hit it off The ending of this story is funny and leaves the reader with a smile. Sight by Jordan TaylorIn Sight Noah and Archer have been together since their teen years Now in their twenties Archer proposes and Noah says no It s a clever story about insecurity and getting over it It shows the reader what a man will do for someone they really love When life knocks you off your feet a good man will be there to help you up This beautiful story will reignite even the most pessimistic readers hope for love. Shep A Dog by Alex JeffersIsaac has unrequited love for Jackson But he is about to learn that men can come along in the most unexpected of situations Isaac rescues a dog called Shep from drowning in the sea but can t find his owner Unknown to Isaac is that Shep is about to transform into than he could ever have imagined A sweet and imaginative story. If you enjoy romantic tales reads then Best Gay Romance 2014 will delight you Even if you don t Best Gay Romance 2014 will still give you hope that Mr Right out there that is if you haven t already found him Best Gay Romance 2014 I tend to shy from universal absolutes like every fan of gay romance will love this anthology but hold on while I ponder that Still thinking Right I ve got nothing Ergo yes I think every gay romance fan will want to add this to his or her TBR list I discovered new favorite authors and found new facets to authors whose work I ve enjoyed before One complaint often lodged against romance anthologies is how each piece resembles the last Not here and that nice bonus is accentuated by skilled editorial flow The opening story is light and thoroughly charming Strange Propositions by Eric Gober lives up to its name With relationship scenarios such as May I invite you to a movie that I won t be going to myself and Would you like to go to a protest dressed as a chicken Gober has created a tale that will make readers smile while showing the importance of stepping out of one s comfort zone. Speaking of leaving behind what s comfortable sometimes the way to risk the utmost vulnerability is to offer a long overdue heartfelt apology followed by a stammered appeal for a second chance The job Rob Byrnes does showing the complexity of regret apprehension and longing in Carver Comes Home is remarkably moving and vivid to the point of being cinematic Description is again an incredible strength in Sight by Jordan Taylor Here the immense hollow loss that must be experienced by anyone who has gone blind is tempered by a loving partner s exceptional ability to verbally paint a picture Readers will find this deeply poignant but for those who have felt undeserving of someone too good it will resonate even Jameson Currier s My Adventures with Tom Sawyer was written with such sublime grace I kept thinking I hope someone sends this to the O Henry Prize anthology The intricate details were phenomenal and the overarching theme allowing yourself the bliss of the present instead of clouding the moment with the disappointment that it won t last forever felt touching and significant. Thanks to the story Hello Aloha in Foolish Hearts and Dandelions in this volume I m now a fan of Tony Calvert If ever a fictional character needed a reality show it is the busybody mother of Calvert s main character Jim The combination of quirky humor homespun wisdom and the protagonist s introspection make this story a joy Shawn Anniston does a wonderful job with parental assistance in Thanksgiving First he shows how indecision and revisions that a minute can reverse invites less than helpful meddling opinions and analysis Romance can often be toughest for the risk adverse and sometimes only someone who has known you all your life can convince you to make the leap. In Alex Jeffers Shep A Dog it s the apparently meddling friend this time who may be saving the protagonist from misdirected infatuation Rescue is a common theme in romance but I bet you ve never read a rescue story that leads to romance quite like this Readers will find the distilled essence of companionship in pieces from Kevin Langson and Georgina Li Though some may view Li s story as heartbreaking I feel it shows how devotion between two impoverished young men living tragic risk filled lives is still beautiful and worth celebrating Langson s quiet and atmospheric story shows a subtle epiphany where a character realizes that someone who has been a casual friend with benefits has meant and that their bond can only strengthen In the book Quicksilver in the Hand Jamie Freeman mentions how lifelong relationships can often be reduced to sixty moments of bliss Such moments are captured in delightful vignettes by James Booth showing the bloom of new love and N. S Benarek showing its affectionate maintenance It s difficult to discuss the importance and uniqueness of Felice Picano s story The Invincible Theatre without giving too much away With his family like troupe of Shakespearean actors and 17th Century I think language it was a complex read but still fascinating In my opinion Picano gave himself difficult hurdles in writing this story but leapt each one effortlessly In a very different way and in one that is contemporary Lewis DeSimone also shows new definitions of family and acceptance His story Quality Time does an expert job shedding light on annoyances and even hardships when transitioning to a gay relationship from a heterosexual relationship involving shared custody of a young daughter Here self acceptance and shame appear to be obstacles that while realistic are wiped away by a child s lack of prejudice With True in my Fashion by Paul Brownsey I ve discovered another new favorite writer Brownsey masterfully shows his character building and trapping himself in his own web of adorable neurosis We learn here that sometimes a person s flaws are what make him most endearing That and how the main character tries to cover up those flaws are what make True in My Fashion one of the most charming stories I ve read The delightful final story by David Puterbaugh Save the Last Dance for Me shows the beauty of seeing a long time love with brand new adoration Here an individual s reserved nature and apparent discomfort with being gay need to be overcome and once again the protagonist must step out of his comfort zone Luckily the people who surround him both old friends and new acquaintances show him he hasn t been appreciating his good fortune Finally the editors in their commentary bring up concepts that can make romance work First likable protagonists who go out on a limb taking risks that could leave them crushed Second likable contagonists or objects of affection readers will know are worthy of that risk Third devotion understanding or longing that makes the reader comprehend on a gut level that this is right these guys want than anything to spend their lifetimes making each other smile Will you find those elements here in spades Yes yes and yes Best Gay Romance 2014 As with most short story collections there are hits and there are misses but I largely enjoyed this collection Some of the stories that stood out were Save the Last Dance for Me Dandelions Quality Time Carver Comes Home Thanksgiving and Sight Many of the stories above provided an intimate look into mature gay male relationships Best Gay Romance 2014 First off just to get it out of the way I do have a story in this and no I will not be reviewing it myself nor does it color my perception of this anthology The summary also makes it sound much steamier than it actually is it s a YA story about two high school boys who meet at an outdoor party and get to know each other There may be some undressing and getting into water but it s hardly skinny dipping Alright now on to the other stories I m going to do the same thing that I did with the Foolish Hearts review and just focus on the stories I really liked I may not necessarily include every one I enjoyed as there are 15 stories here and that would be a LONG review Again this anthology started off with a really cute story that I loved Strange Propositions by Eric Gober which sounds a little weird but it s a sweet little story There is some drama in there with a long distance lover who s a horrible person but it ends happily Sight by Jordan Taylor almost made me cry at the climax of the story it is really adorable and is just such a beautiful story Spill Your Troubles On Me Love by Georgina Li is a very short story but packs the depth of a loving relationship in it so well I really got a sense of this couple what they ve been through and their strong connection to each other despite their situation It s so good The last three stories in the anthology were so good and such a perfect note to end on Shep A Dog by Alex Jeffers is something I don t want to talk about too much because it has a cool little twist in it but I absolutely loved it just a cute story N. S Beranek s There s No Question It s Love is similar to Li s story very short but it packs a couple s relationship into that little space and the reader gets a real sense of their love for each other Finally David Puterbaugh s Save the Last Dance For Me is a great story about an established couple but there s still room for growth the main character goes through an emotional arc in the story and it ends on a sweet note Overall another really good selection of stories a couple duds in it for me and it makes me want to read the editors first anthology Fool for Love which I do own and actually read one story from recently which was ADORABLE Best Gay Romance 2014 One of the best things about anthologies for me will always be finding authors whether they re new or new to me and this year s Best Gay Romance collection has introduced me to some fantastic writers. The charm of the new to me authors was strong Eric Gober s Strange Propositions had me grinning wincing and left me charged and ready to race out and make noise much like the characters facing Prop 8 in this piece set back when that abysmal turn of events occurred True in My Fashion by Paul Brownsey was a sly and fun tale about a single and mostly harmless little white lie that takes on epic effect between a loving couple Sight by Jordan Taylor had me holding my breath and hoping for the couple in question both of whom were just pig headed enough to potentially ruin something wonderful James Booth s cute YA tale Falling had the perfect mix of awkwardness nerves and risk that I love in young adult tales and left me grinning Spill Your Troubles on Me Love by Georgina Li is frankly brilliant two men on the wrong side of poverty health and safety who have found something to treasure and hold tight Much like Li Kevin Langson s story Brooding Intervals navigates a rougher feel than most of the tales but does so in a way that never strays too far from the romantic destination even as the uncertainty and fragility of two men who have a habit of hooking up for no strings cautiously approach spinning a thread or two There are of course names I know Jameson Currier writes a delightfully romantic story in My Adventure with Tom Sawyer that lets you know that once again Cochrane and Lambert have chosen tales that aren t necessarily what you d expect and yet just as moving Typical boy meets boy isn t the only way to reach a romantic conclusion and My Adventure with Tom Sawyer in which a man recovers from a broken bone and a fractured sense of hope in the company of a young straight man is a perfect example of this The Invincible Theare by Felice Picano is a brilliant period piece and unique romantic tale both the progression revelation and ultimate conclusion are just magical Also Tony Calvert who I first met in Foolish Hearts New Gay Fiction returns with another light and fun story Dandelions that drips with a cute southern charm and a meet cute start that would be perfect on a silver screen And Alex Jeffers who I have long adored brings his trademarked speculative fiction angle to Shep a Dog a story where nothing will be what you expect but that s exactly why you ll love it There s No Question it s Love by N. S Beranek is a short but sweet tale of a couple in love and how important it is especially when you re already together to shore each other up when it matters most Quality Time by Lewis DeSimone goes where few romantic tales go into fatherhood reconstituted families and the damaged foundations that can make so much of the future feel uncertain all while leaving the reader with a moment of beauty just perfect for the tale. Then there are some of my fellow Fools Shawn Anniston who I first met in the table of contents in the very first anthology in which I had a story Fool For Love New Gay Fiction touches on a new romance that might not quite fit what others expect and does so with a gentle grace and a really satisfying ending that had me grinning from ear to ear even if there was only hope Similarly the tale from my hero Rob Byrnes Carver Comes Home is another story that dances on either side of hope and has a great tip of the hat to his story from Men of the Mean Streets Gay Noir And David Puterbaugh brings the collection home with Save the Last Dance for Me a story that frankly left me sniffling as much as grinning. D Cochrane and Timothy J Lambert is on my automatic buy list it s a joy to work with them and always a joy to read anything they ve touched If there s a singular theme to these stories it might be the traces of hope from hopelessness but that might be too tight a straightjacket to force on the table of contents These stories are romantic and fun and lead me to that perfect balance between satisfaction and a desire to know what happened next Best Gay Romance 2014

Best Gay Romance 2014 By R.D. Cochrane

1627780114

9781627780117

English

244

Paperback

This collection of stories was a refreshing read for me after having just gone through a breakup Best Gay Romance 2014 3. 25 out of 5 Best Gay Romance 2014 A few reasonably moving stories only one really awful pretentiously badly written one but in the end nothing particularly remarkable here Best Gay Romance 2014 A very good collection of Romances for a gay audience The different writing styles of the various orders make it an interesting experience and keep you on your toes Best Gay Romance 2014 4. 5 starsI usually find anthologies hard to rate because there s often a wide range in quality of the stories This one was easy though All the stories are at least good and a few are absolutely brilliant Best Gay Romance 2014 Tales of love and lust in contemporary gay culture Best Gay Romance 2014 is a Valentine to readers and a wonderful reminder of how love can begin at the grocery store the gym the library or even on the world wide web Real romances with relatable characters each of the stories in this collection represents a facet of the oh so human heart Best Gay Romance 2014.

, All of these short stories share the theme of vulnerability To be in love and loved back means you sometimes need to be emotionally vulnerable[1]

From AntonySimpson.Anything edited by R