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With This Ring
Dear Author,
Jason looked at the older man standing across from him and wondered how they'd gotten to this moment. He'd grown up immersed in the vitriol his father spat over his ex-business partner, that Jason believed everything his father had said. Until Jason met the man himself, and found out that events weren't quite as his father had made them appear, and his soon to be husband, was nothing like his father had portrayed him to be.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" 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.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 10.
STORY INFO:
genre: contemporary
tags: intergenerational; May/September romance; coming out; familial issues
content warnings: none
words: 24,214
Jason looked at the older man standing across from him and wondered how they'd gotten to this moment. He'd grown up immersed in the vitriol his father spat over his ex-business partner, that Jason believed everything his father had said. Until Jason met the man himself, and found out that events weren't quite as his father had made them appear, and his soon to be husband, was nothing like his father had portrayed him to be.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" 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.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 10.
STORY INFO:
genre: contemporary
tags: intergenerational; May/September romance; coming out; familial issues
content warnings: none
words: 24,214
60 pages, ebook
First published May 14, 2012
2 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Erno
71 books643 followersJeff Erno currently lives in southern Michigan. He holds a bachelor's degree in business management and human resources. Jeff began writing stories in the late 1990's and initially posted them to a free online amateur website. The positive feedback he received from readers encouraged him to continue, and this eventually led to the publication of his first novel, Dumb Jock. Erno has subsequently published several other novels.
His greatest passion in life is writing, and he hopes to be able to continue sharing his work with readers worldwide.
His greatest passion in life is writing, and he hopes to be able to continue sharing his work with readers worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 25, 2016
After references to a "joystick" and "uncut slab of meat," I knew I was in trouble; when you throw in the painfully artificial, awkward dialogue, the one-dimensional characters, and the summarizing of most of the story, the question to "What not to read for $500, Alex" becomes obvious.
May 18, 2013
Rating: 3* of five
The Book Report: Jason Mathers, geek extraordinaire, works for his dad's IT company. During a trade show in their Denver hometown, Jason (all of 24 and barely out of college) sees a hawt DILF cruising him from the aisle (that will resonate later) and, being a sensible DILF hunting lad, cruises him right back. Lust breaks out. But then...ZOMG...it's Jason's dad's ex-business partner, the very mention of whom sets the elder Mathers aflame with hatred and fury.
It's a romance, so everything comes out right. The aisle that the DILF saw him from at first becomes the aisle they walk down to get married. Awwww!
My Review: This is definitely the midnight express to HEA-ville. It's exactly the wrong length, 24,000 words, to be anything like completed. The story's plot points go whipping past without enough set-up or resolution. The arc of the story is exactly right for the genre, so the missing bits aren't to be found there, but rather in the build-up to the crises on the arc and resolution of them. That's purely word count.
The author does something I find infuriating: He euphemizes. Jason goes to the restroom in his own home. No he doesn't. He takes a piss. He has his morning movement. But goes to the restroom? How pursey-mouthed. Either use grown-up words or don't mention the subject at all.
And Jason's mom passed away. Is there a test? Why is it that, after being in failing health, one passes away? She DIED. That sort of stupid circumlocution to do what, exactly, deny death exists? is more annoying to me than almost any other euphemization.
The sex scenes were agreeably hot. The story, if given its full rein in another 40,000 words, is one I'd happily pay $10 for. That HEA on the aisle was somethin' nice.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
The Book Report: Jason Mathers, geek extraordinaire, works for his dad's IT company. During a trade show in their Denver hometown, Jason (all of 24 and barely out of college) sees a hawt DILF cruising him from the aisle (that will resonate later) and, being a sensible DILF hunting lad, cruises him right back. Lust breaks out. But then...ZOMG...it's Jason's dad's ex-business partner, the very mention of whom sets the elder Mathers aflame with hatred and fury.
It's a romance, so everything comes out right. The aisle that the DILF saw him from at first becomes the aisle they walk down to get married. Awwww!
My Review: This is definitely the midnight express to HEA-ville. It's exactly the wrong length, 24,000 words, to be anything like completed. The story's plot points go whipping past without enough set-up or resolution. The arc of the story is exactly right for the genre, so the missing bits aren't to be found there, but rather in the build-up to the crises on the arc and resolution of them. That's purely word count.
The author does something I find infuriating: He euphemizes. Jason goes to the restroom in his own home. No he doesn't. He takes a piss. He has his morning movement. But goes to the restroom? How pursey-mouthed. Either use grown-up words or don't mention the subject at all.
And Jason's mom passed away. Is there a test? Why is it that, after being in failing health, one passes away? She DIED. That sort of stupid circumlocution to do what, exactly, deny death exists? is more annoying to me than almost any other euphemization.
The sex scenes were agreeably hot. The story, if given its full rein in another 40,000 words, is one I'd happily pay $10 for. That HEA on the aisle was somethin' nice.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.
August 4, 2014
The story itself could have been interesting but the execution didn't work for me. I caught myself rolling my eyes way too many times for my comfort. Maybe some people will enjoy this story, I, however, couldn't care less about the characters. To me they just felt artificial and bland. The dialogues, especially that phone sex scene between the MCs seemed kind of unreal. I was like REALLY?? Are these guys REALLY having phone sex or is the younger one, in a clinical way, reading to the older MC a script, explaining what he's going to do to him? Duh, was that supposed to be hot? Sorry, but it didn't work for me. And neither did the writing style.
2 stars, and that's only because it was a freebie.
2 stars, and that's only because it was a freebie.
April 3, 2015
I submitted a prompt to the M/M group for the Love is Always Write 2012 event. My prompt was claimed by the talented Jeff Erno.
STORY PROMPT:
Jason looked at the older man standing across from him and wondered how they'd gotten to this moment. He'd grown up immersed in the vitriol his father spat over his ex-business partner, that Jason believed everything his father had said. Until Jason met the man himself, and found out that events weren't quite as his father had made them appear, and his soon to be husband, was nothing like his father had portrayed him to be.
SUBMITTED BY: Penumbra
STORY INFO:
genre: contemporary
tags: intergenerational; May/September romance; coming out; familial issues
content warnings: none
words: 24,214
This is the review I posted directly at the Love is Always Write - With This Ring thread:
STORY PROMPT:
Jason looked at the older man standing across from him and wondered how they'd gotten to this moment. He'd grown up immersed in the vitriol his father spat over his ex-business partner, that Jason believed everything his father had said. Until Jason met the man himself, and found out that events weren't quite as his father had made them appear, and his soon to be husband, was nothing like his father had portrayed him to be.
SUBMITTED BY: Penumbra
STORY INFO:
genre: contemporary
tags: intergenerational; May/September romance; coming out; familial issues
content warnings: none
words: 24,214
This is the review I posted directly at the Love is Always Write - With This Ring thread:
May 28, 2012
I read chapter one and stopped. It was really dry and boring. the dialogue or writing or something seemed robotic and unnatural. By the end of chapter one i just put the story down and have forgotten about it. I might try another chapter but not yet.
Also on the cover the authors name has the red squiggly line word leaves under misspelled words under 'Erno' I have to say this cover is really poorly done and with the thumbnail view you can barely see what the title even is.
Gonna read some more see if it gets better.
The mc is an idiot. His dad is just flat out an asshole and all he does his keep making excuses for him. That's got old very quick. And then Glenn is looking at him lustfully and saying how charming he is and how hot he is. And then when Glenn says he's gay at dinner the mc asks so shocked and like this was totally unexpected... WTF? How is he surprised? Before dinner he was thinking its just a meeting and he wasn't going to sleep with Glenn, if he didn't think Glenn was gay what was the point of the four dry paragraphs on why he couldn't sleep with Glenn?
I dnf at around 50% the old guy order a limo for their date that's where I stopped. It's just too ficking sappy and boring. The mc has the same boring thoughts over and over again. Basically I don't care about anything that happens with these guys they're so boring. The old guy is old but even the young guy is written like hes 80. The dialogue is like an old and gay version of Leave It To Beaver
I just can't take anymore of it
Also on the cover the authors name has the red squiggly line word leaves under misspelled words under 'Erno' I have to say this cover is really poorly done and with the thumbnail view you can barely see what the title even is.
Gonna read some more see if it gets better.
The mc is an idiot. His dad is just flat out an asshole and all he does his keep making excuses for him. That's got old very quick. And then Glenn is looking at him lustfully and saying how charming he is and how hot he is. And then when Glenn says he's gay at dinner the mc asks so shocked and like this was totally unexpected... WTF? How is he surprised? Before dinner he was thinking its just a meeting and he wasn't going to sleep with Glenn, if he didn't think Glenn was gay what was the point of the four dry paragraphs on why he couldn't sleep with Glenn?
I dnf at around 50% the old guy order a limo for their date that's where I stopped. It's just too ficking sappy and boring. The mc has the same boring thoughts over and over again. Basically I don't care about anything that happens with these guys they're so boring. The old guy is old but even the young guy is written like hes 80. The dialogue is like an old and gay version of Leave It To Beaver
I just can't take anymore of it
February 7, 2014
Absolutely adorable story! <3
Perfect setting for me as I'm a big fan of age gap in a relationship. Loved Glenn, loved Jason and loved Jason's dad - despite it all I believe he's a good person and I'm glad he came to his senses before it was too late.
For me it was beyond awesome! )))
Perfect setting for me as I'm a big fan of age gap in a relationship. Loved Glenn, loved Jason and loved Jason's dad - despite it all I believe he's a good person and I'm glad he came to his senses before it was too late.
For me it was beyond awesome! )))
May 29, 2012
Too cheezy for me.
November 27, 2014
1.5 stars. The story is about Jason (24) and Glenn (41). They are both computer programmers. This far everything works for me. But then the story developed into an instafest of love and sex. It's just too much schmalz and instalove and not enough edges and I was bored. Not my kind of story.
May 14, 2012
Oooo, *hands on cheeks, dreamy eyes glazed over*
I love stories like this. Wonderfully done! 5 stars!
I love stories like this. Wonderfully done! 5 stars!
June 3, 2012
Sweet short story.
April 18, 2015
I didn't want it to end :) Thank you Jeff Erno, for donating your time and talent.
June 6, 2013
Nice enough short story. It could have done with being something more.
December 2, 2017
The blurb was interesting and it pushed me to read the book .... I liked this short read. It was a teary and moving read, with the right amount of passion, love, angst and sentiments ... I loved the interaction between the two leading characters and how the friend and one of the leading male characters, finally manages to speak to the younger male lead's father and helps him understand things ... Over all, a good read!
March 1, 2019
I did know it was going to be too short for my liking, but I did not expect how unhappy I'd be with the story and the characters. Why would you mention a previous man in a book of 60 pages?? Also I know that everything has to happen quite fast to happen (or you could obviously make the book longer) but I felt like the author was pushing the emotions on me too hard and I just could not feel it. It felt too staged and too overdone. I did not enjoy myself.
April 13, 2019
I enjoyed this short Story very much, even though the pace was a Little bit off and I couldn't quite feel the chemistry of the main characters in the beginning. Also, I especially liked the telephone sex Scene.
April 26, 2018
Sweet love story.
September 1, 2023
The dialogue was so very awkward and stilted. It made the characters sound corny and they were already flat and one dimensional.
July 8, 2012
I really enjoyed this. I recently read something by this author that I loved so I was eager to jump right into this one.
I love books where there is a substantial age difference between the two main characters. In this one, Glenn is 41 and Jason is 24. I also love stories that have the enemies-to-lovers theme. Granted, the enemies in this story were Glenn and Jason's dad (former business partners) but Glenn was Jason's enemy by association because he was very close to his father.
I'm not going into a long, drawn-out review of what this is about. But I will say that it was a very, very good story.
Jason's dad was a total bastard. In the beginning he was depicted as a fairly nice guy for the most part but that changed. He hated Glenn for stupid reasons and then went ballistic when he found out that Jason was involved with him.
Overall a very enjoyable read. Another good one by this author.
I love books where there is a substantial age difference between the two main characters. In this one, Glenn is 41 and Jason is 24. I also love stories that have the enemies-to-lovers theme. Granted, the enemies in this story were Glenn and Jason's dad (former business partners) but Glenn was Jason's enemy by association because he was very close to his father.
I'm not going into a long, drawn-out review of what this is about. But I will say that it was a very, very good story.
Jason's dad was a total bastard. In the beginning he was depicted as a fairly nice guy for the most part but that changed. He hated Glenn for stupid reasons and then went ballistic when he found out that Jason was involved with him.
Overall a very enjoyable read. Another good one by this author.
December 5, 2012
Oh Wow! This story touched me on so many levels. Some of the same events happened in my past, so my experiences were brought to mind when reading about Glenn and Jason. The feelings of abandonment though permeated my relationship with my parent. I wasn't as lucky to get the happy family ending either; so to finally see it with this story gave me such a feeling of warmth.
The story revolves around Jason Mathers; he works with his father in the software company he started. Jason lost his mother at the age of 14, and his father was the one who never recovered from the loss (with good reason, she was his world), and never had real quality time to devote to his son. So, instead, he became "Mr. All About The Business and Forget About Personal Stuff". At least that's what I called him. There had been a falling out with a former business partner, and Jason was aware of the business partner's name, but was never given the "ins and outs" as to why they were no longer friendly. As it happens, Jason and his father were showing software at a trade show in which the old business partner, Glenn Braeburn, was putting in an appearance. As Glenn was "checking out the competition" he stumbled across Jason and sparks flew. What happened next is the stuff of romantic dreams. It seems that way to me. The story is like a Disney Movie... with a couple of scenes depicting very hot sex!
The story revolves around Jason Mathers; he works with his father in the software company he started. Jason lost his mother at the age of 14, and his father was the one who never recovered from the loss (with good reason, she was his world), and never had real quality time to devote to his son. So, instead, he became "Mr. All About The Business and Forget About Personal Stuff". At least that's what I called him. There had been a falling out with a former business partner, and Jason was aware of the business partner's name, but was never given the "ins and outs" as to why they were no longer friendly. As it happens, Jason and his father were showing software at a trade show in which the old business partner, Glenn Braeburn, was putting in an appearance. As Glenn was "checking out the competition" he stumbled across Jason and sparks flew. What happened next is the stuff of romantic dreams. It seems that way to me. The story is like a Disney Movie... with a couple of scenes depicting very hot sex!
July 22, 2016
Jason works with his father at his software development company and together they're attending what should be another routine trade show. But when his father's ex-business partner shows up at their booth and draws Jason's interest (and makes it clear the interest is reciprocal), he's not sure what to do. Jason's father doesn't even know he's gay and the former partnership didn't end well at all. But maybe, just maybe, it's worth giving things a shot and seeing where they go.
I know this is a shorter story, but it all seemed a bit rushed to me. The relationship developed ridiculously quickly and the angst that Jason felt at various points struck me as a bit superficial. I would have liked either more development, a bit more story/timeline, or more time at the end to explore Jason's relationship with his father in light of everything that happened.
I know this is a shorter story, but it all seemed a bit rushed to me. The relationship developed ridiculously quickly and the angst that Jason felt at various points struck me as a bit superficial. I would have liked either more development, a bit more story/timeline, or more time at the end to explore Jason's relationship with his father in light of everything that happened.
May 19, 2012
What a wonderful story! I'm a total sucker for romance and this story felt very romantic to me – the courtship and especially the flowers put a grin on my face:) I loved the progression of Jason and Glenn's relationship and was thrilled with the happy ending. I definitely felt the angst associated with Jason being in the closet and yet it was so nice that that didn’t bother his Dad. I was glad that Jason’s Dad recognized the importance of the love he had for his son and valued it more than holding out against his pride before it was too late. Thank you for a wonderful story, Jeff!
August 6, 2013
I love Jeff Erno. He reminds me of F. Scott Fitzgerald a bit. Okay, not that GREAT, but he's good. I loved this May Decembers romance. Many of the women who read these novels seem to take offense to those, but what they don't get is that in the gay world those types of relationships are very common. Deal with it. Maybe a bit sappy, but the characters were real enough you could get beyond that. Perhaps that's why Erno's novels work: he writes sappy but has true life people populating his stories. Other writers of this genre who peddle sap tend to also have shallow characters.
May 15, 2012
4.5 stars. Very full and fleshed out with interesting descriptions of compute-eeze, restaurants, decor, and the mental anguish of both father and son. Ten minutes before Jason walks down the isle was cutting it a bit close for the reconciliation. And the straight father "giving" his son away to an older man, was maybe a stretch for me. Yet tears were streaming down my face at everything coming together. Great story.
Want to read
June 10, 2012[image error]
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Ten.
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Ten.
February 28, 2015
AWWWWWW!!!!!!! So darn adorable! I really liked this story. It was short and sweet, and I would have loved more, but it was truly a complete story. I loved how the story was based off attraction without knowing who the other was, and then blossomed from there. My heart broke a time or two, but I was so glad to see a true HEA for everyone at the end. I also loved how Jason's dad found a love interest. Cute side story that fit very well. Well done!
July 9, 2012
I was impressed by the way this story fit the prompt to a T. Nicely done!
While (pretending) to gag over the sweet/sexy falling in luuuurve stuff, I did kind of fall for Glenn a bit myself... thanks a million Jeff. Turn me into a romantic why don't you? LoL! (No, really, thank you for sharing your talent in this event)
While (pretending) to gag over the sweet/sexy falling in luuuurve stuff, I did kind of fall for Glenn a bit myself... thanks a million Jeff. Turn me into a romantic why don't you? LoL! (No, really, thank you for sharing your talent in this event)
December 14, 2015
Jason and his dad work at an stand for for computer programmer.. Jasons dad used to have an partner but they have there wer reason they dont work together anymore. Years later Glenn who used to be business partner of Jason dad comes across Jason one day. They get together, but jason worried how his dad will react to this all and also him being gay. Sweet story
May 17, 2012
Oh my God!
I'am known to be "built close to the water" (it's a german idiom for a person who easily starts to weep) and this story surely did it for me. Especially the scene at the end, when Jasons father showed up at the wedding made me tear up.
I'am known to be "built close to the water" (it's a german idiom for a person who easily starts to weep) and this story surely did it for me. Especially the scene at the end, when Jasons father showed up at the wedding made me tear up.
September 30, 2014
A marvelous story from start to lip-quivering finish!
May 15, 2012
I don't like the writing nor the characters, it was dry and the dialogue was awkward. at least it's free.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews