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Five all new daring tales of lust, passion and freedom by Lee Brazil, Em Woods, JR Boyd, Havan Fellows and Hank Edwards.Enjoy reading these five fantastic new stories;Harper's Discovery by Em WoodsWhen Harper finally sees the light and dumps his cheating boyfriend, can Pitt convince Harper to trust him enough to let it all go?Wicked Reflection by Hank EdwardsA sexy bad-boy neighbor, a handsome detective investigating an unsolved murder, and ghostly warnings help Kirk uncover the deadly secret within his new house.Harlan's Ryde by Havan FellowsRyder made a mistake Harlan can't forgive. Will Ryder cross a line no man should cross to obtain a second chance?Off The Beaten Path by JR BoydBest friends and landscaping entrepreneurs Mitch Sterling and Colby Merritt enjoy their comradeship. Can scouting country roads for business opportunities unveil a lifetime of passion?The Park At Sunrise by Lee BrazilFirst they were three, now they are two. Can Jason and Morgan make a relationship work without Paul?

243 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2011

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About the author

J.R. Boyd

3 books13 followers
I am a whole lot of nut in one shell *pun intended*. Basically, I am sweet, funny, and adorable until I get pissed off. Then you might as well just walk away or put up your dukes :) I prefer to be a lover, but can be a little rough around the edges (if ya know what I mean).

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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Profile Image for Neko.
400 reviews37 followers
February 27, 2012
Harper’s Discovery by Em Woods
When Harper finally sees the light and dumps his cheating boyfriend, can Pitt convince Harper to trust him enough to let it all go?

★★★★


Wicked Reflection by Hank Edwards
A sexy bad-boy neighbor, a handsome detective investigating an unsolved murder, and ghostly warnings help Kirk uncover the deadly secret within his new house.

★★★★


Harlan’s Ryde by Havan Fellows
Ryder made a mistake Harlan can't forgive. Will Ryder cross a line no man should cross to obtain a second chance?

★★★★★


Off The Beaten Path by JR Boyd
Best friends and landscaping entrepreneurs Mitch Sterling and Colby Merritt enjoy their comradeship. Can scouting country roads for business opportunities unveil a lifetime of passion?

★★★★


The Park At Sunrise by Lee Brazil
First they were three, now they are two. Can Jason and Morgan make a relationship work without Paul?

★★★★★
Profile Image for Ro.
3,124 reviews16 followers
April 15, 2012
Reviewed for www.heartsonfirereviews.com


This is a Story Orgy, a collection of five stories by various authors. The stories are novella length.

Harper's Discovery - Em Woods Rated 4
Pitt is a Dominant who knows who he is, what he likes and what he wants. He is
neither top nor bottom, he is whatever he wants to be. The fact that he is described as small, pet nose, dimpled cheeks and a very pretty face make him even better. He wants his sub, his love, to be comfortable and happy. Harper, his friend and soon to be lover, is more confused. It is Pitt’s challenge to show him how good they can be.

The story veers off a bit with an emergency that turns a bit coincidental but stays sweet. Harper is quick to let everyone know, he isn't weak. Harper has a good heart. This is not a D/s story. It is a love story. I'd have liked to see a little more of Harpers backstory and of them working on what they are together, but it's a cute story nonetheless.

Wicked Reflection - Hank Edwards Rated 3
Kirk has just moved into his house. The movers leave Andre is contemplating how his life will be here. His room is on the third floor and as he goes to clean up, he sees a weird message written in the steam on the mirror. As the doorbell rings, he's a little freaked out. He meets a new neighbor, Alan, who is friendly and apparently attracted to him. There are hints later of a horrific event that occurred in the house, confirmed by the arrival of a private detective, Lance.

Kirk really comes across as careless. He doesn't bother to check to find out if Alan
or Lance are who they claim to be, and he has sex with both of them (separately).
Lance especially seems fishy, yet Kirk sleeps with him anyway. Knowing a man was
horrifically killed in his house, the killers not found, seems like it would make you a little cautious at least.
The story is a thriller and a ghost story, a quick read. I'd like Kirk to have had a little more self preservation instinct.

Harlan's Ryde - Havan Fellows Rated 4
This story begins with Harlan's heartbreak. A heartbreak caused by cheating, which is an absolute no no for me. I cringed and thought, uh oh. Going to hate the one who hurt this man. Just as a college age Harlan professes his love and desire for a future with his boyfriend of six months, Ryder, said boyfriend responds with the news that he has cheated on Harlan. More than once. Ouch. Harlan leaves, changes his number, changes schools and moves on devastated.

"Oh yeah, because I couldn’t satisfy you the way those hard as rock jocks could, and no second best for you…in other words, me". Those are the words Harlan throws back at Ryder seven years later when Ryder comes to find him. Ryder had immediately realized his stupidity in what he had done, but since Harlan had so effectively cut himself off (and Harlan’s family also cold shouldered Ryder) there was no way to find him. Ryder is desperate enough to hire a private detective, who locates Harlan, and Ryder is bound and determined to get Harlan back.

One thing I loved about this was that Harlan didn’t say “yes, you treated me awful but love love love conquers all”. Harlan is HURT. He gave his heart to someone who stomped on it. Ryder, well that man HONESTLY. There were so many times that he had the audacity to act as the one hurt. His reasons for doing what he did may have haunted him but the fact remains, he CHOSE to do that. Harlan won’t listen (I wouldn’t either, I have to say), so Ryder goes the extreme route to make him listen (with his consent, I add). It’s funny, that the closure Harlan needs, the angry sex, Ryder is so amazed that it’s not a tender love fest. Welcome to the world, Ryde.

Ryder is tenacious and Harlan is wounded. This is a more real “second chance” kind of affair than I’ve seen. Both sides have to realize what is at stake, no matter who’s “fault” it was. I still don’t like Ryder very much, but I more than love Harlan, who deserves such an HEA. This is a great story of someone who will do anything to fix the mistakes he made.

Off the Beaten Path - JR Boyd Rated 3.5

This entry is the story of Colby and Mitch, best friends and coworkers who apparently have wanted each other for years but never acted on it. On a day scouting new business for their landscape service, they are bantering and the temperature outside is getting hot. When the spy a pond, they decide to take a break, where things come to a head for the first time.

This is a cute story, though not much to say about it because there isn’t any angst or problem. It’s just the realization and culmination of a friendship turning into more. One thing I did question about it is the fact that they wanted to hide the fact that they were together.

The Park at Sunset – Lee Brazil Rated 5

This is easily the saddest of the anthology, truly tearing at the heart strings for the things that people don’t see. Jason, Paul and Morgan grew up together, best friends and inseparable. As they got older, the friend love turned to true love, and the three were a committed threesome throughout college. On May 26, 2000, they sat together on “their” bench at the park, making plans to meet back on May 26, 2001 to see what had happened during the year. They were deeply in love, all three, but two of them (Paul and Morgan) had job opportunities far away from their home in Colorado. Jason, the artist, was staying, but Paul was heading to New York, Morgan to California. But they would remain close, and meet in a year.

In November of that year, Paul was killed in a subway mugging in New York. Devastated, Morgan shut down his past in Colorado, knowing there was nothing there for him. Even after he received, years later, an invitation to Jason’s gallery opening he turned his back on what was. When he receives a photo from Jason, he finally returns, ten years late. Once there, he sees Jason, to confront him, on their bench, about the photo. There is a time when Jason says “somehow, I never thought it was all about you and Paul. Somehow, I thought it was all about you, me and Paul”. Oh, crusher moment.

Morgan never saw what was left of them, he only saw what was gone. He couldn’t make it work in his head, so he just ignored it all. Oh, Jason, I wanted to just scoop him up and make it better.

This is a story of second chances, but one where the reason behind the problem wasn’t a “fault” of anyone, but just too much pain. Very, very thoughtful.
Profile Image for Sharon.
137 reviews
January 12, 2012
Great stories from 5 favorite authors!
Profile Image for Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews.
5,476 reviews177 followers
May 19, 2012
Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

A LASR Best Book!!

Five wonderfully talented authors prove that rewards come when you lose control, heed timely advice, give second chances, stop for a swim, and keep an overdue promise.

Harper’s Discovery by Em Woods

A sensual dance at a night club is only the beginning of the tango Harper and Pitt are pairing up for. Ms. Wood builds the tempo in this sexually charged short, dials it back down and immediately turns the heat right back up. Not unlike a roller-coaster, you’ll walk away a little breathless. Harper puts up a good front that he doesn’t need a new boyfriend after he tells his ex to hit the bricks. That’s fine because Pitt isn’t looking for a part-time playmate either. I thought Pitt put it succinctly when he said “You are mine. And tonight I’m going to show you why.” Ms. Woods has become one of my favorite M/M writers because of her characterization and clever story lines. Harper’s Discovery is no exception. The story line of Pitt and Harper becoming a couple is hot with some mild BDSM elements but there’s a whole other sub-plot that she sneaks in that gives their novella real substance. Dynamic chemistry is good but it’s how they deal with “life” outside the bedroom that proves their worth.

Wicked Reflection by Hank Edwards

Moving into a house with a history can be an exciting new venture or, in Kirk’s case, a paranormal adventure with potentially deadly consequences. Strange mirror messages are the least of his worries when things that go bump in the night turn out to be flesh and blood who have no qualms with spilling more blood. Who can Kirk trust? The sexy bad boy neighbor, Alan, comes on fast and strong but he clearly has a past. Whereas, Detective Lance is asking a lot of questions but he seems interested in keeping Kirk safe while solving a year old murder case. Someone isn’t telling the whole truth but they both know how best to distract Kirk from digging too deep. Author Hank Edwards doesn’t just tease you with a quick glance into these characters lives even if this is a short story. Wicked Reflection is the longest of the shorts in this collection and the detail is incredible. The minute Kirk receives his first message from beyond I was hooked to see who was communicating with Kirk and why. The story takes several twists and turns but it all comes together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion.

Harlan’s Ryde by Haven Fellows

Who could blame Harlan for wanting to throw Ryder out of his house ASAP when he shows up out the blue seven years after ripping Harlan’s heart into tiny unrecognizable pieces? Too bad it’s that not quite mended organ that also suddenly beats a little stronger when Ryder goes all smirky alpha on him. I had a love/annoyed relationship with Ryder. I couldn’t hate him but I was very upset with the way he stomped all over poor Harlan’s sincere proposal in the beginning. Having said that, they were college kids at the time. They’re expected to do stupid stuff, right? When he puts time, effort and money into finding Harlan, though, I had to give him a pass. Seriously, this guy is so sure (and yet unsure) of himself I couldn’t decide if I wanted to laugh or sock him in the arm on Harlan’s behalf. In the end I decided to simply keep reading and see how Harlan would handle him. I knew it would take a lot more than sweet talk to win Harlan over but as Ryder himself put it “I do love a challenge”. Ms. Fellow’s writing is so fun and vivid it was easy to see that Harlan and Ryder had both matured over the seven year separation. Harlan may be drawn to Ryder like a bee to honey but he didn’t make it easy on him. If you follow Ms. Fellows on the social sites you can hear her vivacious personality come through in her characters dialogue and chemistry. She's mentioned that her first solo project will be out soon. The new story details Harlan's best friend, Ritchie's journey to what's sure to be a snarky but fun HEA. After meeting him here, I can't wait to see how he gets there! You don’t want to miss Harlan and Ryder’s story. It’s clever, heart warming and a delicious sampling of a terrific story teller.

Off The Beaten Path by JR Boyd

Is there a better beginning for a forever relationship than two people who have been best friends since childhood? They know all about one another: The good, the bad and all the reasons to take a chance to see if the feelings are mutual. Mitch and Colby are best buds who have kept their feelings for another a secret far too long. A hot summer day, a dirt road swimmin’ hole and a few beers give them motivation and opportunity to test more than the ponds temperature. Their tentative and teasing touches put me in mind of Robert Frost’s poem The Road Not Taken. The men have come to a point in the relationship where simple friendship isn’t enough anymore but are they willing to take the steps that can never been taken back? Author JR Boyd is unapologetic in his writing M/M stories. When Mitch and Colby mutually decide to pursue the chemistry between them it’s hot, dirty and graphic…with a soundtrack that perfectly sets the mood for this beautiful story. Even before the men act on their sexual chemistry I could feel their bond that began as children. They way they talk to one another, the joking, the impromptu duets; it all gave an honest sense of realism to their story. I could see myself re-reading this later.

The Park at Sunset by Lee Brazil

One of the more solemn stories of this anthology, The Park at Sunset took me back to happier times for three men who loved each other as youth, never considering the future might not hold plans for all three of them together. Morgan had convinced himself that Jason couldn’t want him if Paul wasn’t with them as well. An invitation to a gallery opening and painting that captured a perfect moment in time, serve as the needed catalyst to send Morgan back home to Colorado and a reunion he never imagined would happen. This is a very emotional and vivid story with a happy, healing ending but fans of Lee Brazil’s writing have come to expect that kind of depth in his writing. Mr. Brazil has a talent for digging deep into a characters psyche and pulling their deepest emotions to the surface in a way that’s almost as heart wrenching to the reader as it is to the characters. I know when I read one of his stories I’ll close the last page knowing my heart has been touched, that my soul has been affected. Bottom line: There is no light and fluffy to a Lee Brazil story. But there is poetry between the pages. One of many poignant lines from this short that was a total awe moment for me was “As a kiss melted into a kiss and a caress to culmination, no words were spoken”. The Park at Sunset is a short story that will be with you long after you finish this anthology.

The Story Orgy authors are a wonderful blend of unique writing voices who compliment one another. You’ll be glad you picked up this newest anthology to sample their writing talent. Do yourself a favor and get your copy of Word Play. You’ll laugh, cry and sigh from page one to two-hundred fifty one!
Profile Image for Jan VL.
376 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2013
What to say about this Anthology...it was ok...there were only two stories I really liked, the others were...meh.
Overall rating: 3.2 stars

Harper's Discovery - Em Woods (2 stars)
I donno...this story didn't do it for me. It didn't really have a plot, seemed like it was all just about sex. I also didn't get to connect with the characters this way.

Wicked Reflection - Hank Edwards (3 stars)
This was an ok story. I liked the ghost, liked the (attempted) mystery...I didn't like the MC though. He seemed like a slut for jumping into bed with two different guys (at different times) without actually getting to know them first.

Harlan's Ryde - Haven Fellows (3 stars)
I don't know what to say about this one...too many stubborn people in it? Yeah...

Off the Beaten Path - JR Boyd (4 stars)
This was a nice, sweet little short. Two best friends becoming lovers, plus public sex is always hot for me xD

The Park at Sunset - Lee Brazil (4 stars)
A 3 way suddenly becoming 2. Does it work? Well...read it and find out xD
I liked the story, nothing I've ever read before. Usually the stories go from 2 to 3 but now it was the other way around and I really liked it. The sex was hot!
Profile Image for Ashley E.
610 reviews31 followers
May 3, 2015
Harper's Discovery by Em Woods - 3 stars
Wicked Reflection by Hank Edwards - 4 stars
Harlan's Ryde by Havan Fellows - 3 stars
Off the Beaten Path by JR Boyd - 2 stars
The Park at Sunset by Lee Brazil - 4 stars

Like any anthology, Word Play is a bit of a mixed bag. There's some winners here, and some that I didn't enjoy as much, but overall it's a collection of sweet contemporaries about men getting their chance at love. And I just have to say, Lee Brazil always manages to pack so much emotion into such short stories.
Profile Image for fandomprincess.
249 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2012
Harlan’s Ryde by Havan Fellows - 4 stars wish it was longer

The Park at Sunrise by Lee Brazil - 4 stars loveee her writing style every time I read her it's so pretty
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