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Chicago
Part of the First Time For Everything Daily Dose 2011 collection
Darren Lowell and Nathan Thomas are at loose ends in the Windy City. Darren came to visit his boyfriend, but after one too many insults, he dumped the conceited jerk and is taking some time to clear his head. Nathan just left the military and has a few days free before settling down into civilian life and beginning the job-search grind. A chance meeting in a hotel lobby that progresses into a spectacular night will make Chicago a whole lot more interesting for them both. Chicago may not just be a brief stop on their journeys—it could be the starting point for a passionate new future.
Darren Lowell and Nathan Thomas are at loose ends in the Windy City. Darren came to visit his boyfriend, but after one too many insults, he dumped the conceited jerk and is taking some time to clear his head. Nathan just left the military and has a few days free before settling down into civilian life and beginning the job-search grind. A chance meeting in a hotel lobby that progresses into a spectacular night will make Chicago a whole lot more interesting for them both. Chicago may not just be a brief stop on their journeys—it could be the starting point for a passionate new future.
48 pages, ebook
First published June 1, 2011
59 people want to read
About the author
Shae Connor
45 books76 followersShae Connor lives in Atlanta, where she’s a lackadaisical government worker by day and writes sweet-hot romance under the cover of night. She’s been making things up for as long as she can remember, but it took her a while to figure out that maybe she should try writing them down.
Shae is part Jersey, part Irish, and all Southern, which explains why she never shuts up. When she’s not chained to her laptop, she enjoys cooking, traveling, watching baseball, reading voraciously, giving and receiving hugs, and wearing tiaras. In her copious spare time, she volunteers as director and editor of the Dragon Con on-site publication, the Daily Dragon.
Shae is part Jersey, part Irish, and all Southern, which explains why she never shuts up. When she’s not chained to her laptop, she enjoys cooking, traveling, watching baseball, reading voraciously, giving and receiving hugs, and wearing tiaras. In her copious spare time, she volunteers as director and editor of the Dragon Con on-site publication, the Daily Dragon.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 10, 2017
A nice look at a chance meeting between a guy ready to deserve more and another ready to start a new chapter in his life. Things happen fast in this short, but it was sweet and sexy.
June 24, 2011
Chicago is the setting for this sweet, first time story of Darren and Nathan, two young men at loose ends in Chicago for a visit. Darren has come to visit his overbearing, insulting, pretentious lover, Robert. After just one too many verbal slams by Robert, Darren finally realizes how used he has been (and you do have to wonder how an intelligent man like Darren would have put up with that abuse for as long as he did). Darren leaves for another hotel, one less pretentious and more homey.
He makes a visit to the milk and cookies hour at the hotel, where he runs into (literally) Nathan, a just-former military man taking in the sights of Chicago before heading for job interviews. There is an immediate connection between the two, and a soft shyness to both of them that is enchanting.
Shae Connor has written a tender tale of losing your virginity to the right person, with a real-life feel to the scene. The twist at the ending is either too coincidental, or else completely fated, depending on your point of view. The story is angst-free, Robert aside, and flows well. Darren and Nathan are lovely together, and it would be interesting to see how their story pans out. This is not a story for anyone looking for high action and fast plot. Instead, it is more a feel-good story about possibilities.
He makes a visit to the milk and cookies hour at the hotel, where he runs into (literally) Nathan, a just-former military man taking in the sights of Chicago before heading for job interviews. There is an immediate connection between the two, and a soft shyness to both of them that is enchanting.
Shae Connor has written a tender tale of losing your virginity to the right person, with a real-life feel to the scene. The twist at the ending is either too coincidental, or else completely fated, depending on your point of view. The story is angst-free, Robert aside, and flows well. Darren and Nathan are lovely together, and it would be interesting to see how their story pans out. This is not a story for anyone looking for high action and fast plot. Instead, it is more a feel-good story about possibilities.
June 5, 2011
Nice, short read about Darren, who realizes what a crappy relationship he has had when his condescending lover cancels their evening plans for an important business dinner. Not really looking for another relationship straight away, Darren runs into Nathan and they hit it off in more way than one. I liked the slow burn of the story, the unhurried pace and the descriptions.
If you like your short stories 'warm and fuzzy', you will probably like this one.
If you like your short stories 'warm and fuzzy', you will probably like this one.
June 9, 2011
This “first” story, starts with Darren, who has just broken up with his self-absorbed jerk of a boyfriend, wondering what he does now, and why was he so thick he didn’t notice that he was being used? He decides to check out the milk and cookie hour in the lobby of his hotel and literally runs into Nathan. He’s not sure Nathan’s gay, but he’s thinking maybe, and a good hook-up will be just what he needs to get back on track.
Nathan is indeed gay, but having only got out of the military, he’s never been with a man, as he took DADT to heart, even to himself. Although he’s a bit nervous about the whole idea, Darren is kind and gentle and eases him through it. I like both men, they were nice likable young men, there was definitely an attraction between them, however the fact that Darren supposedly cared for, if not loved, his ex and only broke up 2 hours ago seemed a bit fast, but that could be the girl in me talking. I know boys are different.
This ends with a tentative HFN, and even a possibility of more as a rare coincidence occurs, however I really didn’t need that. I would have been happy to see Nathan have his first with someone who cared, and leave it at that, but for the romantic in us, I suppose the possibility of more for two nice guys is always pleasant. There’s not much conflict here for those who seek that, beyond Darren’s confrontation with his ex (twice), but when you’re in the mood for sweet and gentle it’s a good choice.
Nathan is indeed gay, but having only got out of the military, he’s never been with a man, as he took DADT to heart, even to himself. Although he’s a bit nervous about the whole idea, Darren is kind and gentle and eases him through it. I like both men, they were nice likable young men, there was definitely an attraction between them, however the fact that Darren supposedly cared for, if not loved, his ex and only broke up 2 hours ago seemed a bit fast, but that could be the girl in me talking. I know boys are different.
This ends with a tentative HFN, and even a possibility of more as a rare coincidence occurs, however I really didn’t need that. I would have been happy to see Nathan have his first with someone who cared, and leave it at that, but for the romantic in us, I suppose the possibility of more for two nice guys is always pleasant. There’s not much conflict here for those who seek that, beyond Darren’s confrontation with his ex (twice), but when you’re in the mood for sweet and gentle it’s a good choice.
June 6, 2011
Chance encounters and a promise of a "beautiful friendship". The angst is probably set only in the beginning when Darren realizes that his boyfriend is a jerk, and breaks up with him in Chicago. But then he meets the very recently former military young man, Nathan ... and the two of them are definitely attracted to one another. Both characters are likeable, there is innocence in Nathan, being just recently out from the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" community. It's not very complicated and definitely a nice story to read in between heavy novels.
May 7, 2015
I loved every minute of this. There were so many appealing traits in both main characters that I fell in love with them both in pretty short order. Darren found his voice and utilized his power to walk away from an unsatisfying relationship with a pretentious ass. It didn't take him long to pull himself together as he realized he didn't lose much...
Nathan, one day out of the military and finally ready to be true to his nature and have his first gay experience with another man. It's beyond freakin' adorable that they got acquainted over a milk and cookie buffet that was offered at their hotel. These guys were great together in very possible way...
Hot & Sweet! Great character development. I'd recommend this in a heartbeat!
Nathan, one day out of the military and finally ready to be true to his nature and have his first gay experience with another man. It's beyond freakin' adorable that they got acquainted over a milk and cookie buffet that was offered at their hotel. These guys were great together in very possible way...
Hot & Sweet! Great character development. I'd recommend this in a heartbeat!
June 6, 2011
The story was easy and pretty simple. The idea for love at first sight is always enjoyable, but with deeper work on this plot it would be ideal for full-length novel or at list longer novella. In general it was enjoyable short read.
June 7, 2011
3.5 stars if I could rate it that way. I enjoyed this short story, loved both characters, and wish there was more! I would love to read more about Darren and Nathan and what happens next for them both.
August 4, 2011
Ok, so the only problem with this story, I wanted more. Once I started reading I really, really didn't want to stop. Hope to hear more about Darren & Nathan.
June 6, 2011
Cute story that takes place in my kind of town. Would like to see what happens with Darren and Nathan.
February 6, 2012
3.5 stars. Good short m/m romance about a guy who finally realizes that his older, mostly long-distance boyfriend is a jerk and dumps him. And then he meets an absolute sweetheart of a guy...
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews