Blindsided

by Poppy Dennison

Official Description: Known as The Rainmaker, Noah is caught up in the world of illegal boxing. He fights for his life, but a man can only take so many hits before he doesn’t get up again. When a new boxer appears on the scene, Noah wonders if he’s found a spot of hope in his life, or if he’ll be Blindsided again.

Original Prompt:
Dear Author,
Ever since he lost everything he's been wasting away in underground fighting rings, selling his meat in an attempt to pay back a debt greater than his own life. When events lead to his fighting days abruptly ending, what is a broken man to do with nothing left to give? Perhaps a familiar looking someone can save his lost soul.

Please give these sweeties a happy, smexy ending~

Photo Description: Two tattooed, muscular fighters hold each other tightly while kissing. The shorter, in a white tank-top, has his right arm behind his lover's lower back, the left hand, wrapped in white fabric, across his lover's shoulders. The taller is naked, his left hand holding the back of his lover's neck, the right playing with his own rear.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Hot Summer Days" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

Download the story, read it online or find it in Don't Read in the Closet, Volume 4 or Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition.
__________
Genre: contemporary
Tags: gay m/m, boxing, tattoos, athletes, mafia, hurt-comfort
Word Count: 3,600

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Romance, Sports, LGBT, Gay

13 pages, ebook

First published August 5, 2011

About the author

Add two parts sass and one part sweet and you have Poppy Dennison to T—sweet tea that is. Raised by a gaggle of Southern women who love reading and have backbones of steel, Poppy was brought up to see the best in people but always speak her mind. Mix it all together, like Grandma’s famous cobbler, and you get a sassy, Southern lady with a quick wit and loads of charm, who will soften any blow with “Bless your heart.” Her books reflect her small town roots, are filled with all the comforts of home, and come with side dish of spicy, because that’s the way she likes it.

Reviews

[Exina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, that's a couple I'd love to read more about!

Gripping story, great characters, steamy erotica. Recommended.

[Marte - Thunderella · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3,5 sweaty boxers stars ***

Oooh, nice! Two sweaty, testosterone filled boxers getting it on? Hell yeah! With a bit of a surprise coming (thank god). Nice. Me approves.

Too bad it was too short! I would love to have known more about these guys. It ended at a happy for now .

>---------------------
A short story in the collection "Don't Read in the Closet, Volume Four" from the MM Romance Group Hot Summer Event 2011.


Prompt:

Dear Author, 

Ever since he lost everything he's been wasting away in underground fighting rings, selling his meat in an attempt to pay back a debt greater than his own life. When events lead to his fighting days abruptly ending, what is a broken man to do with nothing left to give? Perhaps a familiar looking someone can save his lost soul.



Please give these sweeties a happy, smexy ending~ 

Thank you muchly! 

~ Min 
Genre: contemporary

Tags: boxing, tattoos, athletes, mafia, hurt-comfort

[Trisha Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this and it would have been a favorite... but it was too damn short! I need more!

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 2 out of 5]

This just was not for my tastes. The part I would have liked just started happening at the end… This seemed more like a prologue to a story I would have liked.

It was too short for there to really be any development

[Monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Poppy!!! First you lost a 1/2 star because I hate boxing!*lol* I loved this short, I want more of these two guys they were HOT! I was just getting lost in their story then THE END!! *scream* This is one reason I don't like to read shorts very much. You really need to stop teasing me! I can't wait for Mind Magic April 23rd is just too far away!

[Anke · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5*
Yes, I know it's free, but still for me it felt like the synopsis of a much longer book I really would like to read.

[Nick Pageant · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good short story!

[SueM · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Wow, Poppy! The scene reenacting the photo was beautiful, I could feel the passion between Jax & Noah. I certainly was blindsided by Jax being an FBI agent - a raid was certainly not the direction I thought the story would take. I'm glad Noah was able to escape the fight (retinal detachments are not the easiest things to treat successfully) and any legal repercussions that might have been heaped upon him. That Jax cared enough to hunt him down - well, Noah certainly deserved to finally find some happiness. Thank you for writing this sweet story

[L-D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Free short read. Actually not too bad but too short. I could've read more about this plot and these characters.

Don't Read in the Closet is a collection of short stories published for free for members of the M/M Romance Group. The best part of this series of shorts is that they were based on a photo and a reader request for a story. Here is the photo and reader request that inspired this story (warning contains an M/M situation with graphic nudity):

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/5...

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was my most favorite story of the Hot Summer Days - and not only because the pic to that story is my avatar. I loved the dynamics between Noah and Jax. Jax cared about Noah and the scene where he is following him aroung in the gym is soooooooooooooooo cute!!! I love those two and hope to read more of them. Noah totally deserves his HEA :)

[Sadonna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot and sweet short about a broken boxer and his liberator/lover.

[Heather C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooh, ooh, ooh! This was really good but way too short. Yeah, I'm greedy! The writing was good and I would love to see this expanded to a full length novel. Also, it matched the picture perfectly!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. Just enough information to create a connection to the MC. It was a little short but I liked the idea and the way it ended.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this age of me/too and female empowerment in which women seem determined to invade male only preserves the phenomenon of female authors writing about male on male sexual relations smacks of misappropriation. This story goes a step further and adds the world of boxing to the mix.

This story does not involve more than a brief kiss between two boxers. It does emphasize the importance of treating others with fairness an decency for you may meet an angel unawares.

[Macky · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️2.5⭐️

[Cintia-Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super short one, I wish I could have more of it!

It was so sweet (despite the violent environment), Noah is a young man that has to fight (illegal fights, of course) to paid a debt. In comes Jax, a new fighter that gets interested by Noah and cares for him and his health (Noah is pretty beaten up and getting worse with each passing fight, and is almost blind in one eye, hence the title), giving Noah hope of a better life without fighting that of, course until when he finds out Jax's a fed.

The thing is, could they have a happy ending when everything ends and have to go out and live in the real world?

I wish I could have had pages and pages of this, is was sooo good.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four
Don't Read in the Closet: GayRomLit Retreat 2011 Special Edition

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Bettye Kanady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick read, but that doesn't mean it didn't have any appeal. I was a little excited when I first saw the title. I thought I may be introduced to something new yet again; and I was. This story was about a boxer named Noah and a newbie fighter named Jason "Jax" Jackson. But, in this story, things aren't always what they seem. That's what you should remember. It was a good quick story; it does leave you a bit wanting for more though. I hope to see more.

[Luta Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was too fast but the overall it was really good. I've said it a hundred times that details make a book. You can have the worst plot but if you have really in-depth characters and good details to the point that the reader can visualize then they will stick the book out regardless of plot. However, this was a good plot, detailed, and in-depth characters. A very good read.

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mmm, hot and dirty in the dark corner - yum! I was completely surprised with the turn of events (perhaps the title should have been more of a clue;), but love how it got Noah out of what was sure to be a disastrous boxing match. These guys have barely begun, they definitely need more to their story!! Awesome job, Poppy, thank you:)

[Mandy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really liked this, but it gets three stars because of its length. The characters and situations don't work well for a short story, and as a result the ending was incredibly abrupt and unsatisfying. Five stars for the characters, but negative two stars for the lazy exposition. Don't cram a 200-page novella into 11 pages, yo.

[Jenny Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way too short, I would love to read more about these guys! I know people get offended when people say that; but seriously, you should take it as a compliment... it was that good that people want more! Me, especially LOL
Except maybe being in Indiana and boxing up apples? Corn maybe would be a better Indiana thing... it's everywhere around here!
Very cute! Really liked it.

[Krummi í klettagjá · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first three thoughts after finishing this little nugget:
1. Why isn't this a full novel?
2. Why isn't this a full novel?
3. Why isn't this a full novel?

The characters were amazing, the plot was amazing (especially for a 10 page story) and that twist O.O amazing!

I recommend this to everyone. Everyone .

4.9 stars because nothing's perfect.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored this! It felt a little rushed and it should've been a little longer, but other than that it was great, and I want to read more about Jax and Noah! Where's the sequel???? :)

Btw, this would've made an AMAZING novel-length book!

[jules0623 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why the issue of Noah's sight was included since it had pretty much nothing to do with the rest of the story. This was a nice read but I felt like it was just not long enough and I've been left with more questions than answers.

[Anna Kļaviņa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 = it was OK

I liked this one, quick and cute read. Cute? Yeah, that awesome cover is misleading. Illegal boxing and loan sharks are just a decoration for a cute story.

NSFW

[Britta ★ Nachteule ★]

***Read as part of the free Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four anthology. Story #3***

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was great and I wish it was longer.
Really enjoyed Jax and Noah.
I was hooked from the start!
Had to hunt down the prompt pic and I was blown away. It was perfect!
And...I totally loved the ending.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot & raw

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit rushed and a bit too short but a good read.