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Strangers with Candy
Some temptations are too delicious to ignore…
IRS employee Gareth Witherspoon spies a man, alone at a nearby table in a coffee shop on Valentine’s Day. Something about the foreigner calls to him and in an uncharacteristic leap of faith he impulsively slips the man a box of candy.
Urie is new to the United States, but he’s no stranger to heartache. Since arriving in Los Angeles he’s been lonely, isolated, and in desperate need of friendship. Gareth’s gesture touches his heart and Urie finds himself throwing caution to the wind.
All bets are off and anything goes when the two men spontaneously become lovers. Could it be Urie has found his soul mate in the City of Angels?
IRS employee Gareth Witherspoon spies a man, alone at a nearby table in a coffee shop on Valentine’s Day. Something about the foreigner calls to him and in an uncharacteristic leap of faith he impulsively slips the man a box of candy.
Urie is new to the United States, but he’s no stranger to heartache. Since arriving in Los Angeles he’s been lonely, isolated, and in desperate need of friendship. Gareth’s gesture touches his heart and Urie finds himself throwing caution to the wind.
All bets are off and anything goes when the two men spontaneously become lovers. Could it be Urie has found his soul mate in the City of Angels?
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 5, 2001
1 person is currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
G.A. Hauser
267 books515 followersAbout the Author Award-winning author G.A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early 2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over eighty novels, including several best-sellers of gay fiction. GA is also the Executive Producer for her first feature film, CAPITAL GAMES. For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website. www.authorgahauser.com G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2010, 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 5, 2011
It is a sweet story but I didn’t feel the connection between the characters.
It really annoyed me how they kept saying they were complete opposites and that opposites attract. Honestly the only thing different between them was their skin color, other than that they were basically the same character
It really annoyed me how they kept saying they were complete opposites and that opposites attract. Honestly the only thing different between them was their skin color, other than that they were basically the same character
April 17, 2011
Complete instalove, sex between two virgins and an annoying "accent" by Uri that seemed to fade in and out. Cute short.
April 9, 2014
A nice quick and easy read, but this book fails to impress, and yet I still manage to draw inspiration from it.
There is quite a few things to draw from this story. It's a light read (which is good, any more pages would be unforgivable); the storyline is uncommon; and the narrative isn't difficult to follow and you do not get confused between who is who.
However I have to admit it does stumble across the line of inclusion of names. Urie and Gareth's names are used far too often towards the end, and I found myself rereading paragraphs just to understand who was narrating.
Urie's speech was difficult to follow, and I feel more research into both characters backgrounds would've made these characters more identifiable. We know Urie is from the Ukraine... And most people know a bit about the laws over there in regards to homosexuality, and yet I still feel I learned nothing from this, and the author is expecting me to do the research myself.
As for Gareth we know zilch about him, we know his job and that he has foreign parents, as well as a confident action towards Urie. How do we not know he is lying through his teeth, he could well be an unreliable narrator, and just be a man whore.
I will be reading more books from this author, to attempt to understand more about the concept of including two main male characters without confusing the reader, as my writing tends to do that often. But I think this ebook failed to help me much, if at all.
I just felt this was something that would never happen in real life, and it was way too hesitant to keep me entertained.
There is quite a few things to draw from this story. It's a light read (which is good, any more pages would be unforgivable); the storyline is uncommon; and the narrative isn't difficult to follow and you do not get confused between who is who.
However I have to admit it does stumble across the line of inclusion of names. Urie and Gareth's names are used far too often towards the end, and I found myself rereading paragraphs just to understand who was narrating.
Urie's speech was difficult to follow, and I feel more research into both characters backgrounds would've made these characters more identifiable. We know Urie is from the Ukraine... And most people know a bit about the laws over there in regards to homosexuality, and yet I still feel I learned nothing from this, and the author is expecting me to do the research myself.
As for Gareth we know zilch about him, we know his job and that he has foreign parents, as well as a confident action towards Urie. How do we not know he is lying through his teeth, he could well be an unreliable narrator, and just be a man whore.
I will be reading more books from this author, to attempt to understand more about the concept of including two main male characters without confusing the reader, as my writing tends to do that often. But I think this ebook failed to help me much, if at all.
I just felt this was something that would never happen in real life, and it was way too hesitant to keep me entertained.
February 5, 2011
Kalyko’s Review:
Oh I loved this story! I think it was just because Urie and Gareth were so much alike under the skin and that, taking the chances they did, they ended up with their hearts’ desire. A sweet and heartwarming tale that is perfect for the buildup to Valentine’s Day!
Being party to Urie’s thoughts and feelings adds a depth to this story that I hadn’t really expected. We’ve all been lonely, but to feel, as he did, that he didn’t belong and that he would never have what his heart yearned for was so poignant. So when Gareth made the first move, the hope that started to build in Urie was incredibly touching. And to discover that Gareth too had little to no hope for a happy-ever-after, just made the development of what happened between them that much more beautiful.
G.A. Hauser has, once again, taken a fairly simple story-line and added so much emotion and personality to it that you can’t help but be taken in. And if she were ever to write more about these two men, I’d be very happy to indulge myself once again. Strangers with Candy is sweet, but not achingly so…just the right touch with which to celebrate love.
Rated 4½ Ravens by Kalyko!
Oh I loved this story! I think it was just because Urie and Gareth were so much alike under the skin and that, taking the chances they did, they ended up with their hearts’ desire. A sweet and heartwarming tale that is perfect for the buildup to Valentine’s Day!
Being party to Urie’s thoughts and feelings adds a depth to this story that I hadn’t really expected. We’ve all been lonely, but to feel, as he did, that he didn’t belong and that he would never have what his heart yearned for was so poignant. So when Gareth made the first move, the hope that started to build in Urie was incredibly touching. And to discover that Gareth too had little to no hope for a happy-ever-after, just made the development of what happened between them that much more beautiful.
G.A. Hauser has, once again, taken a fairly simple story-line and added so much emotion and personality to it that you can’t help but be taken in. And if she were ever to write more about these two men, I’d be very happy to indulge myself once again. Strangers with Candy is sweet, but not achingly so…just the right touch with which to celebrate love.
Rated 4½ Ravens by Kalyko!
March 30, 2013
I wanted to like this. Urie's accent was well done. The story's HEA (happily ever after) was sweet. But the writing wasn't as good as I expected it to be--likely because both main characters were so bent on fate and soulmates and being kindred spirits that the prose sounded hokey and the story seemed unbelievable/unlikely. Also, there was no conflict. Nothing really drove the story forward.
December 26, 2016
Length doesn’t really factor into my enjoyment of a story because it’s all about what the author does with it, and phenomenal can come in small packages. However, this story lacked the depth and connection I was looking for. The circumstances under which the MC’s met and the speed at which they moved ahead just didn’t resonate, so this one was okay for me, but not great.
February 18, 2011
It's a (really) short story but, that doesn't mean it's not good or lacks plot or character development.‾◊‾
Being the first story of G.A. Hauser that I have read, I liked it very much. ♥ I personally really liked both characters, especially Urie with his "broken" english. ^ω^
Being the first story of G.A. Hauser that I have read, I liked it very much. ♥ I personally really liked both characters, especially Urie with his "broken" english. ^ω^
May 20, 2012
Both Urie and Gareth deal with feeling different and out of place. Their coming together seems to immediately connect them. It's really just a hook up story but you feel the hope of a happy and bright future for both of them.
February 5, 2011
3.5 stars
September 6, 2015
Short story but very cute. Everything happened really fast but as I said it was a short;)
February 15, 2011
3.5 stars
January 21, 2013
as always great.
June 16, 2014
A sweet short insta love story.
Would have been better if it was longer could see where it could b expanded.
Would have been better if it was longer could see where it could b expanded.
May 2, 2015
A short and sweet Valentine's Day story.
November 23, 2011
This short story was pretty good. Actually, emotional real too.
I liked it.
I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews