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When Love Walked In #1
When Love Walked In
Bruce Shannon is a Private Investigator dealing with case after case of missing persons and infidelity. None of which inspire warm, fuzzy feelings during the week of Valentine’s Day. Then again, Bruce isn’t exactly a fuzzy feelings kind of guy, which suits him just fine. He doesn’t need anyone anyhow, only his cat, Mittens. That is, until the handsome Jace Scarret wanders off the streets and into Bruce’s life. Will Jace end up showing Bruce that maybe Valentine’s Day isn’t so lousy after all?
30 pages, ebook
First published January 31, 2012
3 people are currently reading
208 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Cochet
122 books3,543 followersStep into a world of romance, humor, and heart-pounding action with Charlie Cochet, the international bestselling author behind the captivating THIRDS series. Embrace a fusion of Cuban flair and American charm as you dive into her stories with unforgettable characters and a dash of delightful mayhem.
Fueled by a love for classic rock and Cuban lattes, Charlie resides in Central Florida with her rascally Doxiepoo and a very opinionated German Shepherd. When she isn’t writing, she’s losing herself in a whirlwind of books and movies.
Charlie’s stories will stir your imagination and ignite your passion. So grab your favorite coffee, turn up the music, and prepare for your next adventure.
Website: http://www.charliecochet.com
Patreon: http://www.thirdshq.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet
Join Charlie's FB fan group
Fueled by a love for classic rock and Cuban lattes, Charlie resides in Central Florida with her rascally Doxiepoo and a very opinionated German Shepherd. When she isn’t writing, she’s losing herself in a whirlwind of books and movies.
Charlie’s stories will stir your imagination and ignite your passion. So grab your favorite coffee, turn up the music, and prepare for your next adventure.
Website: http://www.charliecochet.com
Patreon: http://www.thirdshq.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet
Join Charlie's FB fan group
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 26, 2012
Awwwww - this is just a PERFECT and CUTE short story, that hits me in all the right places. I'm not a fan of historical, but I always make an exception when the backdrop is related to the 30s or 40s, especially in detective stories.
Bruce Shannon is grumpy but witty, and OMG he loves cats!! He is so determined to look tough, but actually such a sap, proven by the Valentine card he ends up giving to Jace. Jace might first appears in the story as homeless, but he gets spine, and definitely a perfect fit for the detective. I love their conversation, I love the atmostphere, I love MITTENS (Bruce's cat). The story is pretty 'clean', we have kisses but no sexual encounter yet. However, considering that Charlie Cochet seems to list a sequel of this on her WIP page, I can hope for more development next :).
Oh, I think I'm going to keep an eye on her next story, most definitely. Since it also has the 30s detective theme ...
Bruce Shannon is grumpy but witty, and OMG he loves cats!! He is so determined to look tough, but actually such a sap, proven by the Valentine card he ends up giving to Jace. Jace might first appears in the story as homeless, but he gets spine, and definitely a perfect fit for the detective. I love their conversation, I love the atmostphere, I love MITTENS (Bruce's cat). The story is pretty 'clean', we have kisses but no sexual encounter yet. However, considering that Charlie Cochet seems to list a sequel of this on her WIP page, I can hope for more development next :).
Oh, I think I'm going to keep an eye on her next story, most definitely. Since it also has the 30s detective theme ...
May 10, 2012
4.5 stars
I'm not a big fan of historicals -- I usually have to force myself to start them before I get into the time period and settle into the prose. Knowing that this was short story and hearing so many wonderful things about this author's writing, I decided to give it a try and quickly fell in love with these characters. Though short, the characters (Bruce in particular) were larger than life and I felt like I got much more story from this than typical for this word length. Bruce is such a great character, gruff but lovable and constantly spitting out zingers that had me cracking up. You've got to love a grump that dotes on the cat that rides on his shoulder! The pervasive setting of the Depression had as much character here as New York City. All in all, this is an author that I'll watch out for!
I'm not a big fan of historicals -- I usually have to force myself to start them before I get into the time period and settle into the prose. Knowing that this was short story and hearing so many wonderful things about this author's writing, I decided to give it a try and quickly fell in love with these characters. Though short, the characters (Bruce in particular) were larger than life and I felt like I got much more story from this than typical for this word length. Bruce is such a great character, gruff but lovable and constantly spitting out zingers that had me cracking up. You've got to love a grump that dotes on the cat that rides on his shoulder! The pervasive setting of the Depression had as much character here as New York City. All in all, this is an author that I'll watch out for!
July 1, 2012
Happy smile! Lovely feel good historical romance Bruce and Jace were adorable and mittens was so cute. I look forward to every book from this author perfect era for me she makes the characters and background interesting and uniquely different. A wonderful, sweet story!
November 28, 2012
Set in the 1930's just after the stock market crash.
A charming story about a private detective, his adorable cat Mittens and the down on his luck bank clerk who falls into their lives. Short and very sweet.
A charming story about a private detective, his adorable cat Mittens and the down on his luck bank clerk who falls into their lives. Short and very sweet.
February 2, 2012
This is such a great little gem of a story! Set sometime in the Great Depression (as far as I can determine from the clues given but I am NOT a historian), it describes the life of a grumpy, rough PI who runs into a homeless hobo on the stairs to his apartment. What follows is a very romantic (but never sappy) love story as these two men slowly understand that their attraction is mutual.
Bruce is a typical gruff PI with an untypical soft spot for out-of-luck men with amazing blue eyes. In a sense he is timeless, men like him have been around for a very long time. His language and way of thinking do place him in the 1930s US, but his 'type' still exists today. I loved the opening scene which very quickly establishes what he can be like, and I really liked seeing him develop his 'soft side' without admitting it.
Jace is a great guy with some awful luck, due to an awful ex-lover. He loses his job, as so many did, when the bank he worked for as a clerk kicks him out. He never gives up, though, and does his best to survive by taking odd jobs. The solution Bruce finds for him made me chuckle, and the way Jace deals with Bruce's grumpiness was very funny.
I liked this story from the language to the characters, from the plot with its unexpected twist to the developing relationship between Bruce and Jace. If you like PIs who are nicer than they seem, if a historical setting is your thing, or if you simply want to read a romantic story about two men who have a very different Valentine's Day than they expected, this story is for you.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on QMO Books.
Bruce is a typical gruff PI with an untypical soft spot for out-of-luck men with amazing blue eyes. In a sense he is timeless, men like him have been around for a very long time. His language and way of thinking do place him in the 1930s US, but his 'type' still exists today. I loved the opening scene which very quickly establishes what he can be like, and I really liked seeing him develop his 'soft side' without admitting it.
Jace is a great guy with some awful luck, due to an awful ex-lover. He loses his job, as so many did, when the bank he worked for as a clerk kicks him out. He never gives up, though, and does his best to survive by taking odd jobs. The solution Bruce finds for him made me chuckle, and the way Jace deals with Bruce's grumpiness was very funny.
I liked this story from the language to the characters, from the plot with its unexpected twist to the developing relationship between Bruce and Jace. If you like PIs who are nicer than they seem, if a historical setting is your thing, or if you simply want to read a romantic story about two men who have a very different Valentine's Day than they expected, this story is for you.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on QMO Books.
June 1, 2013
3.5
Historicals are not my main choice of reading, but every now and then I give one a try and so far I’ve not been disappointed. This time was a gamble as no one had recommended this one, but the gamble paid off.
This was a sweet little story, a romantic delight for Valentines.
As a short there was no real background details, but the story itself was a full and complete one.
The cat was the extra sparkle and if I’m honest part of the draw for me lol.
Historicals are not my main choice of reading, but every now and then I give one a try and so far I’ve not been disappointed. This time was a gamble as no one had recommended this one, but the gamble paid off.
This was a sweet little story, a romantic delight for Valentines.
As a short there was no real background details, but the story itself was a full and complete one.
The cat was the extra sparkle and if I’m honest part of the draw for me lol.
February 26, 2012
I'm not usually a fan of historicals, but this one was nice.
This story is set in the 1930's and I would definitly read more about private eye Bruce Shannon and his new secretary/ valentine Jace!
Just had to add I loved Mittens!
This story is set in the 1930's and I would definitly read more about private eye Bruce Shannon and his new secretary/ valentine Jace!
Just had to add I loved Mittens!
February 19, 2012
I really enjoyed this story set in the 1930's depression. Bruce is a typical grumpy detective who finds a young homeless man sleeping outside his door. On a whim he invites him in and even offers him the job of secretary since his own has abandoned him for marriage. The atmosphere was great, with lots of language from the 30's and the feel of the hard-boiled detective. Once the two start flirting it was cute and sweet and Bruce wasn't quite such a hard-ass as he'd lead you to believe. A fun little read.
November 29, 2012
This was:
A light and sweet pick-me-up like sugary coffee
Way too cute to be legal
It's the 1930s and Bruce Shannon is a grumpy private investigator with a heart made of marshmallows. He's got a kitty he loves named Mittens who rides around on his shoulder. This is the story of how Mittens and Bruce find a down-his-luck homeless man named Jace and invite him into their lives.
This was a really adorable little story. By the end of it I wanted more of Bruce, Jace and Mittens. Usually I'm not one for historicals but this one was charming and I recommend it.
A light and sweet pick-me-up like sugary coffee
Way too cute to be legal
It's the 1930s and Bruce Shannon is a grumpy private investigator with a heart made of marshmallows. He's got a kitty he loves named Mittens who rides around on his shoulder. This is the story of how Mittens and Bruce find a down-his-luck homeless man named Jace and invite him into their lives.
This was a really adorable little story. By the end of it I wanted more of Bruce, Jace and Mittens. Usually I'm not one for historicals but this one was charming and I recommend it.
February 26, 2012
Very good short historical m/m romance set in 1934 about a private detective who helps out a homeless man he finds sleeping in the stairwell.
February 13, 2012
I love Noir. The films, the books. Philip Marlowe, Sam Spade, Raymond Chandler and all that. I love the morally ambigious characters, the twisted plots, the fashions, the cars, the settings.
While “When Love Walked In” is almost a vignette from what my mind fills in as a much larger story, it screams through every blue-nosed automatic pore that the author loves the era, loves Noir every bit as much as I do.
We meet our protagonist, who is a cagey, irascible, caffiene driven private dick–Bruce Shannon. He’s recently lost his secretary who was, it seems, a treasure, and he’s absolutely lost without her (so often the way!) We learn about Bruce in these opening sections: we learn he’s untidy, eats unhealthily, works too much, dislikes much of humanity and loves his cat, Mittens. Mittens is the star of this story in my opinion and you’d have to be hard-hearted not to love her too.
While it definitely has a Noir edge, don’t go expecting anything really Chandler-esque about it. For a start it’s told in third person POV whereas many Noir detective books are first person to retain the bafflement of the detective and to portray the voice (think the original Bladerunner with the commentary). While this works for this simple Valentine’s Day tale of new romance blossoming, I think that were the author to do a full-sized detective novel, I’d prefer a first person approach. There’s no real conflict either, which I’m not going to gripe about much seeing as how the story is only 30 or so pages, but I’ve seen it done in books as short as this, so it is possible.
That being said, what is there is good with a capital G. The writing is crisp and immerses you in the period, the characters are distinct and believable (even the off-stage secretary and the one-scene cafe owner burst with life) and the burgeoning romance isn’t too much insta-love to be eye-rolling. Rather the characters are turned on by each other which is much more realistic.
The editing wasn’t bad–it’s been a while since I read a Torquere book, and was surprised only to find one misused homonym. However the price seems pricey for a short story–other publishers sell novellas for that price.
However, as a piece of fiction that will take you 20 minutes or so to read, it’s highly enjoyable, well-grounded in its period, written in a cinematic way that will make you relive the gritty days of the 1930′s depression and a solid little story. As I said above, it seems (and I hope this is the case) that the author has a lot more to tell us about the back story and the continuing story of Bruce–he would do very well, as many Noir detective do–in a series and I for one will be lining up to read it. More please, Ms Cochet.
While “When Love Walked In” is almost a vignette from what my mind fills in as a much larger story, it screams through every blue-nosed automatic pore that the author loves the era, loves Noir every bit as much as I do.
We meet our protagonist, who is a cagey, irascible, caffiene driven private dick–Bruce Shannon. He’s recently lost his secretary who was, it seems, a treasure, and he’s absolutely lost without her (so often the way!) We learn about Bruce in these opening sections: we learn he’s untidy, eats unhealthily, works too much, dislikes much of humanity and loves his cat, Mittens. Mittens is the star of this story in my opinion and you’d have to be hard-hearted not to love her too.
While it definitely has a Noir edge, don’t go expecting anything really Chandler-esque about it. For a start it’s told in third person POV whereas many Noir detective books are first person to retain the bafflement of the detective and to portray the voice (think the original Bladerunner with the commentary). While this works for this simple Valentine’s Day tale of new romance blossoming, I think that were the author to do a full-sized detective novel, I’d prefer a first person approach. There’s no real conflict either, which I’m not going to gripe about much seeing as how the story is only 30 or so pages, but I’ve seen it done in books as short as this, so it is possible.
That being said, what is there is good with a capital G. The writing is crisp and immerses you in the period, the characters are distinct and believable (even the off-stage secretary and the one-scene cafe owner burst with life) and the burgeoning romance isn’t too much insta-love to be eye-rolling. Rather the characters are turned on by each other which is much more realistic.
The editing wasn’t bad–it’s been a while since I read a Torquere book, and was surprised only to find one misused homonym. However the price seems pricey for a short story–other publishers sell novellas for that price.
However, as a piece of fiction that will take you 20 minutes or so to read, it’s highly enjoyable, well-grounded in its period, written in a cinematic way that will make you relive the gritty days of the 1930′s depression and a solid little story. As I said above, it seems (and I hope this is the case) that the author has a lot more to tell us about the back story and the continuing story of Bruce–he would do very well, as many Noir detective do–in a series and I for one will be lining up to read it. More please, Ms Cochet.
March 18, 2012
This review was originally published on my blog Joyfully Jay.
Bruce Shannon is a Depression-era private detective. He is gruff and grumbly, but a guy with a good heart underneath. One night when returning home, he finds a homeless man sleeping on his apartment landing. Although his landlord told Bruce to send the man back onto the streets, Bruce is drawn to the young man and he instead invites him in for food and shelter for the night.
Jace Scarret can't believe his luck when Bruce shows him such kindness, especially when he realizes Bruce wants nothing in return. After Jace's former lover took his money and left him destitute, Jace has been living on the streets and in halfway houses, unable to find a job in the terrible economy. When Bruce not only offers him food and shelter, but also a job at his office, Jace is thrilled at the opportunity. And with a little time, it looks like there might be a chance for even more than friendship between the men.
I haven't read too many Depression-era stories so I really enjoyed the chance to read a historical outside of the typical Regency England. Cochet does a nice job of evoking the atmosphere and the language of the time period. Bruce and Jace were both likable characters and I felt like a got a good sense of them even in such a short story. It is a quick book, however, and we only get a brief glimpse into their lives and a sense that things will come together for them in the future. I will admit to wondering at Bruce's boldness to initiate things romantically with Jace since we didn't see any outwards signs that Jace is interseted in men. I would think during this time period that would be a risky gamble. But overall I enjoyed the story and thought it was a sweet little nibble for Valentine's Day. I will be looking forward to reading more by this author.
Bruce Shannon is a Depression-era private detective. He is gruff and grumbly, but a guy with a good heart underneath. One night when returning home, he finds a homeless man sleeping on his apartment landing. Although his landlord told Bruce to send the man back onto the streets, Bruce is drawn to the young man and he instead invites him in for food and shelter for the night.
Jace Scarret can't believe his luck when Bruce shows him such kindness, especially when he realizes Bruce wants nothing in return. After Jace's former lover took his money and left him destitute, Jace has been living on the streets and in halfway houses, unable to find a job in the terrible economy. When Bruce not only offers him food and shelter, but also a job at his office, Jace is thrilled at the opportunity. And with a little time, it looks like there might be a chance for even more than friendship between the men.
I haven't read too many Depression-era stories so I really enjoyed the chance to read a historical outside of the typical Regency England. Cochet does a nice job of evoking the atmosphere and the language of the time period. Bruce and Jace were both likable characters and I felt like a got a good sense of them even in such a short story. It is a quick book, however, and we only get a brief glimpse into their lives and a sense that things will come together for them in the future. I will admit to wondering at Bruce's boldness to initiate things romantically with Jace since we didn't see any outwards signs that Jace is interseted in men. I would think during this time period that would be a risky gamble. But overall I enjoyed the story and thought it was a sweet little nibble for Valentine's Day. I will be looking forward to reading more by this author.
February 3, 2012
Nice historical about a PI and a younger guy down on his luck in NYC in 1933. I liked both characters and the writing style. As I've said before, historicals are not my favorite - mostly because there are so many that aren't that good! It's hard to get historicals right because of the additional challenge of the period details. I really enjoyed this one. This is a new author and I look forward to reading more.
December 29, 2015
I dunno why I keep on passing this up on my reader but when I started reading this a few months ago, I just can’t seem to stop and I blinked and it’s done. A great read from Charlie Cochet. Very new for me, if I were to compare it from the books that I’ve previously read from her. I’m not exactly sure about the period but I really did enjoy this little novella!
Thank you Charlie!
Thank you Charlie!
November 2, 2012
Sweet Valentines short. Would love to read more about these two.
January 6, 2014
3.75 rounded up. The post-Depression era setting was new for me in m/m romance and I liked this cute sweet story. Suffers a bit from it's short length and was a bit expensive for 23 pages.
October 27, 2012
My only problem is I wish it was longer. Loved it!
November 3, 2012
3,5 stars
October 11, 2015
very sweet short story that was just enough to leave me feeling complete.
September 15, 2017
They don't write them like this anymore... thank goodness, half the time I couldn't understand a thing they were sayin'! ;p
Nah... it was all good! Ran across some interesting phrases and words... and the story was cut too!
Going now to read the "short" follow-up to this!
Nah... it was all good! Ran across some interesting phrases and words... and the story was cut too!
Going now to read the "short" follow-up to this!
July 17, 2017
A Depression Era Valentine's Day romance - gotta love it!
September 29, 2014
Very cool little short story about a Depression-era private investigator and a down-on-his-luck visitor. As always with Cochet, loved the characters and the atmosphere. There wasn't really any plot to speak of. Just a cute short story. I'd love to see it expanded into a novel!
June 29, 2012
3.5 stars
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May 16, 20133.5*
January 5, 2015
2nd time around, comfort read :)
February 17, 2014
short and sweet and yes, cats rocks ( if someone doesn't like Mittens, got issues for sure!!)
March 22, 2015
A charming Aww story.
April 25, 2015
This was so sweet.
September 7, 2015
cute and short
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews