A good collection of gay short stories from Dreamspinner Press. ( )

I am only able to post a partial of this review as it turns out Goodreads can't handle the length of the total. So, I'm posting my introduction and the reviews which I did. The link to the entire review of all the stories is at the bottom. I hope you'll have a look at it!

This anthology is really special for many reasons. Different from many others, it has a purpose that has touched many people’s hearts. Authors Eric Arvin and TJ Klune, both of whom write for Dreamspinner Press, have been through the hell of Eric’s medical condition and its consequences over the past few months, and the sale of this book is intended to help them cope. S.A. McAuley, one of the “crack crew” of friends who came to Eric and TJ’s assistance in the early days and have been there for them throughout, gives some of the background in her well written foreword. I cannot say it better than she does, so please, read her words. They come from the heart and moved me deeply.

The reason this anthology was published is to raise money for Eric and TJ as they work to adjust to a new situation. All royalties and proceeds will go to them, and we, the team that reviewed the book, hope that this review will help you make up your mind to buy a copy. Not just because it will support these two men who are so clearly in love, but because the stories contained within its pages are amazing. All of us who have contributed to the review have struggled to keep our comments short and to the point, but each and every piece deserves your attention. Some are funny, some are deeply emotional, but all of them have a common theme: love is a “grand adventure” likely to lead you to unexpected places, always with the hope for a better future – because it is shared.

So, dive into these reviews, hopefully followed by you buying the book (if you haven’t already) and reading the stories themselves. They are totally worth it.

Let’s go!


Prologue by Brandon Witt
A beautiful introduction to the “worlds” created by the authors donating their stories for this anthology, the prologue gives a unique framework for the varied contributions. I loved the idea of a gardener or caretaker who helps the worlds grow and prosper, weeding out the ones that don’t work, and making room for the ones that will. Like a fairy tale, or a fantasy set in a faraway universe, this short tale took me into a different realm with its almost poetic language, and set the tone for the entire anthology. Well done, Brandon!

An Unexpected Thing by John Amory
Jamie and Ben in this opening story are on a trip, trying to make their way to Seattle by car after unexpectedly landing at a different airport. Jamie is trying to read the map, without much success since he isn’t very familiar with the paper version, and Ben is driving. Without some sort of electronic device to tell them the way, they are completely lost. When they finally resort to asking for directions at a diner it turns out they weren’t as lost as they thought.

Just like some relationships, including theirs, the unexpected can happen but it doesn’t always have to be bad. The two men may be slightly bewildered by their exile “in the wilderness”, but they don’t really mind that much because they are together. And, after all, that’s the only really important thing.

The Twinkie Ignition by J.E. Birk
Benjy is a man afraid of his own birthday party. Huh? The things he does to prepare himself for it and the situations he ends up in may be hilarious, but the reason why he is so upset and panics is really sad. Luckily, his boyfriend Kyle is there to support him, help him deal with his fear, and ultimately makes him see there is nothing they cannot deal with as long as they do it together.

I loved this story of quiet support, the deeply felt emotions of both men, and the way Benjy manages to overcome his fear. A great illustration of how love can make your life worthwhile, this one is likely to make you laugh as much as cry. Simply wonderful!

Simple Desires by Tempeste O’Riley
Even though James, an artist, and Seth, a businessman and his lover/Dom, are characters from ‘Designs of Desire’, this short story stands really well on its own. It is a snapshot of their lives together now that James is a full-time artist, and makes very clear how much they love each other. The heat between these men jumps off the pages, and any excuse to become physical is eagerly taken advantage of.

I loved how the somewhat “revealing” nature of James’s work makes him doubt the priest in the audience will appreciate his style. But the priest is very much in love with his own man, and definitely approves of “love in all its forms”. If you’re looking for a short, hot story about a successful artist and his lovingly dominant boyfriend/partner, this read is right up your alley.

What You Will by Tinnean
Kipp and Hyde are characters from ‘Two Lips, Indifferent Red’, and they are a wonderful example of “older, extremely rich man” falling in love with a much younger guy. As tumultuous as their initial meeting and courtship was, in this short story the focus is on them adopting a baby now that they have settled into a loving relationship. Marriage truly becomes these men, and watching the lifestyle of the rich and famous was a lot of fun.

If you like billionaires and the way they live, and if you want to now what Kipp and Hyde are up to, then you will probably enjoy this short glimpse into their post-wedding life.

Mistaken MD by Phoenix Emrys
Have you ever wondered if a stethoscope can have magical abilities? Neither have I, not until I read this story. And no, the object that quickly becomes the centerpiece in this tale doesn’t really come with an ability to make amazing stuff happen, but it does serve as a very interesting conversation starter. One that Peter, the narrator of this story, sorely needs if he ever wants to get over the devastation the previous owner of this piece of medical equipment has left behind in Peter’s heart.

Within the space of an hour, as Peter sits on the bench near a dog park and gets peed on by not one, but two canines, I found out what is wrong with his life, why he is depressed, only to finally see hope appear on the horizon. What follows is a wonderful, funny, and very encouraging conversation that gives Peter hope for the future, and made me smile. If you’re looking for a fun story with a hopefully-happy ending, give this one a go.

Stalking 101 by Moria McCain
This story had me at the opening sentence: “REGINALD ISAAC Thornton the Third stalked his prey with all the grace of a turtle, or so it felt to him.” Humor: check. A mystery as to who or what is his prey: check. And finally, a man who may be a student but is probably used to getting what he wants, and is now clearly at a disadvantage: check. The way the story is set up is hilarious, and the hunting imagery had me laughing throughout. All the guy really wants is to talk to the object of his admiration/lust/obsession, but he sure doesn’t make it easy for himself. Plan after plan doesn’t work, embarrasses him, or gets commented on by his twin sister, but there is one certainty: Reginald will not give up his quest for the hunky construction worker who has caught his attention.

I loved this story! It is short, funny, and the two men are really hot together once they manage to connect. But the best part is the ending – it had me in stitches!

Last First Kiss by LE Franks
Short, intense, and emotionally draining, this is the story of three men who grow up together only to be torn apart by circumstances and the lack of talking about what’s really important to them. Jeremiah, or J as he prefers to be called, tells the story, and it was fascinating to read about his inner turmoil, pain, and final realization that there is only one thing that’s really important: love. The language is incredibly descriptive, and the author paints a picture with her words that had me moved to tears.

J may be the one who ran away, who calls himself a coward, but it is clear that all three men had issues. Danny’s suicide brings J back to his hometown years after he left, and his emotions are allover the place. Chief among them are anger about Danny leaving them, regret that he didn’t do more to be closer to his best friend, and devastation about Henry, the third man in this triangle of friendship and love. It made me sad to watch J and Henry struggle to get at the truth, but incredibly relieved they managed to carve out a new reality for themselves once all was said and done.



Please find the full review at Rainbow Book Reviews.
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