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Show Me Yours
Dear Author,
It seems like we've known one another for ever, but he doesn't really know me at all. He doesn't know I'm gay and I'm really scared what will happen when he finds out. Especially when he finds out that I don't want to be just friends anymore.
Josh and Trey have been friends since they were kids, but Josh moved away when they were both seventeen. Their bond has been thinned by distance, by the weight of secrets withheld and a trust betrayed. For years now they've only exchanged short emails and occasional calls, over too many miles to cross. Trey's been willing to live with that, even encouraged it. Because letting Josh get close again might make keeping Trey's secrets impossible.
When Josh shows up on Trey's doorstep with a request for help, it could well be an unmitigated disaster. But Trey finds he can't say no. This is Josh asking Trey to lend a hand. Josh, the guy who still pushes every other man Trey ever looked at to second place. So Trey's going to take the chance and say yes. He's going to grab a few days with the straight guy he never stopped loving, take what crumbs he can get, and damn the consequences. Although those consequences may not turn out to be the ones Trey's expecting.
Photo Description: Two dark-haired young men share a playful moment beside the ocean, framed against a backdrop of waves crashing on a rocky shore. Both men are laughing, wet and tanned, wearing only Speedos. The slimmer man reaches forward to snag the waistband of his friend's swim trunks, pulling them back in a way that exposes part of the other man's taut, rounded ass. The more muscular man reaches back with a hand planted on his friend's close-cropped head, shoving him away.
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 online or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 8.
It seems like we've known one another for ever, but he doesn't really know me at all. He doesn't know I'm gay and I'm really scared what will happen when he finds out. Especially when he finds out that I don't want to be just friends anymore.
Josh and Trey have been friends since they were kids, but Josh moved away when they were both seventeen. Their bond has been thinned by distance, by the weight of secrets withheld and a trust betrayed. For years now they've only exchanged short emails and occasional calls, over too many miles to cross. Trey's been willing to live with that, even encouraged it. Because letting Josh get close again might make keeping Trey's secrets impossible.
When Josh shows up on Trey's doorstep with a request for help, it could well be an unmitigated disaster. But Trey finds he can't say no. This is Josh asking Trey to lend a hand. Josh, the guy who still pushes every other man Trey ever looked at to second place. So Trey's going to take the chance and say yes. He's going to grab a few days with the straight guy he never stopped loving, take what crumbs he can get, and damn the consequences. Although those consequences may not turn out to be the ones Trey's expecting.
Photo Description: Two dark-haired young men share a playful moment beside the ocean, framed against a backdrop of waves crashing on a rocky shore. Both men are laughing, wet and tanned, wearing only Speedos. The slimmer man reaches forward to snag the waistband of his friend's swim trunks, pulling them back in a way that exposes part of the other man's taut, rounded ass. The more muscular man reaches back with a hand planted on his friend's close-cropped head, shoving him away.
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 online or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 8.
116 pages, ebook
First published July 29, 2012
12 people are currently reading
683 people want to read
About the author
Kaje Harper
91 books2,727 followersI get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 147 reviews
January 13, 2019
2.5 Stars
I’ve got mixed feelings regarding this, and I’m not sure how to put my thoughts in order.
Foremost, this is a great friends to lovers story, but note that there is a shit ton of things that Josh and Trey face - issues that are external and internal which involve no less than a bigoted family, a sexually abused brother, and being in the closet on both sides, all of which influence the progression of their many years friendship. This was obviously chock full of obstacles that were reasonable and understandable but all together, was just a lot to handle.
So for me, this was a rollercoaster of swoon, great UST, and angsty turmoil with tough topics and uncomfortable vibes. This novella was jam packed and it was a lot too much, but overall it still wrought a nice HEA.
I’ve got mixed feelings regarding this, and I’m not sure how to put my thoughts in order.
Foremost, this is a great friends to lovers story, but note that there is a shit ton of things that Josh and Trey face - issues that are external and internal which involve no less than a bigoted family, a sexually abused brother, and being in the closet on both sides, all of which influence the progression of their many years friendship. This was obviously chock full of obstacles that were reasonable and understandable but all together, was just a lot to handle.
So for me, this was a rollercoaster of swoon, great UST, and angsty turmoil with tough topics and uncomfortable vibes. This novella was jam packed and it was a lot too much, but overall it still wrought a nice HEA.
July 29, 2012
Trey Halgersen has been keeping a secret from his best friend, Josh Campbell: he is gay and has been having crush on Josh for years. The eight years separated from Josh, living in different coast helps Trey to keep his feeling in check. However, when Josh returns for one week on summer to take care of his Aunt's antique store, Trey wonders how he can still keep his feeling a secret. Only, unbeknownst to Trey, Josh has also been keeping a secret -- he is bi, and he is unsure how to tell Trey that, since Josh thinks that Trey is homophobic ...
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Kaje Harper is one of my favorite authors, and it makes me deliriously happy that she contributed two free stories for Love Is Always Write event: this is her second (and officially ends the event). This story proves that having your favorite authors write, CAN help you get over the reading slump.
It's a really, really, good story about two best friends who reunite to find out that they love each other. The secret that keep from one another, in other stories, can just be easily be resolved by communication. The different in this is, the reason on WHY the men ended up keeping their sexuality preference a secret from one another can be justified. It relates to one horrific event, which has a toll on both men, and definitely adds the needed drama to make this story emotional. Trey has the right reason to be scared -- and Josh has the right reason to feel conflicted. Although, yes, the family drama is quite heavy, but it just feels right for the story.
This story (as my friend, Natalie said in her review) also has a notable element of having one character who doesn't like anal sex (either bottoming or topping). That brings a refreshing take of the two men learn about what could be involved in their sex life. It is something more than just sex, it's love -- and acceptance.
It's beautifully written and it's free -- what more can you ask? And oh, that cover is just GORGEOUS!!!
Favorite scene (because is cute :p)
"Don't look at my dick and say ick."
"What should I say?"
"Come here, you luscious piece of man meat?"
Josh laughed hopelessly. Trey's beautiful cock was hard and close, and Josh reached out and guided it between his lips.
"Ah. The man meat thanks you."
-----------------------
Kaje Harper is one of my favorite authors, and it makes me deliriously happy that she contributed two free stories for Love Is Always Write event: this is her second (and officially ends the event). This story proves that having your favorite authors write, CAN help you get over the reading slump.
It's a really, really, good story about two best friends who reunite to find out that they love each other. The secret that keep from one another, in other stories, can just be easily be resolved by communication. The different in this is, the reason on WHY the men ended up keeping their sexuality preference a secret from one another can be justified. It relates to one horrific event, which has a toll on both men, and definitely adds the needed drama to make this story emotional. Trey has the right reason to be scared -- and Josh has the right reason to feel conflicted. Although, yes, the family drama is quite heavy, but it just feels right for the story.
This story (as my friend, Natalie said in her review) also has a notable element of having one character who doesn't like anal sex (either bottoming or topping). That brings a refreshing take of the two men learn about what could be involved in their sex life. It is something more than just sex, it's love -- and acceptance.
It's beautifully written and it's free -- what more can you ask? And oh, that cover is just GORGEOUS!!!
Favorite scene (because is cute :p)
"Don't look at my dick and say ick."
"What should I say?"
"Come here, you luscious piece of man meat?"
Josh laughed hopelessly. Trey's beautiful cock was hard and close, and Josh reached out and guided it between his lips.
"Ah. The man meat thanks you."
July 30, 2012
Offered FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Eight.
4.5 stars I've read tons of these friends-to-lovers where one guy is gay but the other one doesn't know and they both think the other is straight yada yada yada. But it's all in the execution. I cared about these guys. I understood where they both were coming from. It's been a day already since I finished and I keep thinking about them! That's a good story. I was iffy about the ending at first because I wanted everything to be perfect and I guess I thought like Josh in that something would be missing. I don't know how common this problem is, or if it's a problem at all (since I'm obviously not a gay male) , but obviously Trey was totally sweet and perfect in his response. I think it works because Trey was so insecure and theoretically had more to lose (since he's loved Josh forever) that this was a way of evening the playing field and showing Trey how invested Josh really was. But I can't help but hope they'll give it a try again in the future!
July 31, 2012
*sigh* I just love friends-to-lovers!
This was a really sweet story about two long-lost "best-buds". Due to a tragic event in their past, each man believes the other to be extremely homophobic. Surprisingly, one man is gay, the other is bi.
This story touches on so many dark topics including homophobia and child rape, but over all it turns out to be fairly light and not heavy on the angst. I think this could have reached a higher rating from me if it would have went into more depth with Trey and Josh coming out to everyone in their life and detailing the months following their short week together. All that seemed so rushed to me.
I love how it addressed the fears/turn-offs of anal sex, and how Trey and Josh were able to move past it with their creatively kinky sex act game.
It's a free story and totally worth the read.
This was a really sweet story about two long-lost "best-buds". Due to a tragic event in their past, each man believes the other to be extremely homophobic. Surprisingly, one man is gay, the other is bi.
This story touches on so many dark topics including homophobia and child rape, but over all it turns out to be fairly light and not heavy on the angst. I think this could have reached a higher rating from me if it would have went into more depth with Trey and Josh coming out to everyone in their life and detailing the months following their short week together. All that seemed so rushed to me.
I love how it addressed the fears/turn-offs of anal sex, and how Trey and Josh were able to move past it with their creatively kinky sex act game.
It's a free story and totally worth the read.
June 22, 2017
Loved this friends-to-lovers story! The emotions were extremely strong between the two MCs from the very beginning, even through they had seemingly drifted apart over the years. Circumstances throw them together again for a week where a romance blossoms.
I had thought that I'd give this book 4 stars up until the epilogue. The epilogue deserves a star of its own. HEA with a cherry on top. I love that shit!
Recommended for those that love childhood friends becoming lovers as adults, angst and misunderstanding with resolution, light on the sex, but heavy on the romance and passion.
I had thought that I'd give this book 4 stars up until the epilogue. The epilogue deserves a star of its own. HEA with a cherry on top. I love that shit!
Recommended for those that love childhood friends becoming lovers as adults, angst and misunderstanding with resolution, light on the sex, but heavy on the romance and passion.
August 25, 2015
2.8 stars
:(
I LOVE Kaje Harper! I really love her writing style, and her style in general!
:))
But unfortunately, this one was not up to her standard, IMHO.
It was full of unneeded details, the MCs annoyed me with their some what childish behavior, and their sex problems felt weird.
Everything was legit, but... it felt off.
I did round it up to 3 stars for two main reasons:
1. The "incident" that left the two MCs traumatized, felt real and was 100% reasonable, AND, it was a "refreshing" idea for a story line.
2. When they first get to finally "be together" for the first time? It was HOT!
:(
I LOVE Kaje Harper! I really love her writing style, and her style in general!
:))
But unfortunately, this one was not up to her standard, IMHO.
It was full of unneeded details, the MCs annoyed me with their some what childish behavior, and their sex problems felt weird.
Everything was legit, but... it felt off.
I did round it up to 3 stars for two main reasons:
1. The "incident" that left the two MCs traumatized, felt real and was 100% reasonable, AND, it was a "refreshing" idea for a story line.
2. When they first get to finally "be together" for the first time? It was HOT!
January 13, 2013
Hello, lovelies!
Enjoy reading good m/m stories, do you? Wanna see what happens in one about friends-to-lovers, with a dash of angst, homophobia, rate-the-sexual-kink game, and some elephants tap dancing around? Well, I've got just the thing for you!
Trey and Josh have been friends since they were kids. Best friends ever. But, when they were seventeen, Josh's family moved away because of one event that made both boys think of all gays as pedophiles... or not. Actually, Trey was already sure he's gay, and now he was also sure he'll never get a chance to tell Josh he's in love with him.
Eight years, and a lot of IMing and phone calls, later Josh shows up at Trey's door and asks for help - one week of helping him run his Aunt's store and taking care of animals - especially one man-hating vicious pony!
Well, I don't blame the poor guy! He's convinced his friend is straight and homophobic, and spending a whole week together is not easy, when he's doing his best not to show how he feels. But, Trey being Trey couldn't let Josh feel hurt, so he changed his mind. One week is not that long, is it?
So, there they are. Trying not to be awkward around each other. Trying to bring back that connection they had. Trying so hard to live with the memories, the nightmares... and avoiding those tap-dancing elephants.
But, once the truth comes out, it's gonna shock the hell out of them both...
And, if you, even for a second, thought that was it, and everything is fine and dandy with these two now... you're so wrong! They have a long way to go, families to survive, insecurities to deal with, lives to sort out... There are also some very fine sex games to play, and Josh's elephant is still tap-dancing around the room - but, not for long.
So, there you have it. A wonderful, sweet, realistic story about two amazing guys, and their long journey home - to each other.
I loved it! I loved both Trey and Josh so much! Even the lack of communication and all the misunderstandings and insecurities failed to bother me, because there is (for once) a good reason for it all.
I hope you'll give these boys a chance! They so deserve it!
Enjoy reading good m/m stories, do you? Wanna see what happens in one about friends-to-lovers, with a dash of angst, homophobia, rate-the-sexual-kink game, and some elephants tap dancing around? Well, I've got just the thing for you!
Trey and Josh have been friends since they were kids. Best friends ever. But, when they were seventeen, Josh's family moved away because of one event that made both boys think of all gays as pedophiles... or not. Actually, Trey was already sure he's gay, and now he was also sure he'll never get a chance to tell Josh he's in love with him.
Eight years, and a lot of IMing and phone calls, later Josh shows up at Trey's door and asks for help - one week of helping him run his Aunt's store and taking care of animals - especially one man-hating vicious pony!
Josh had somehow kept this illusion in his brain that things hadn't changed. That Trey was still his best friend, at his back, always there for him, the one guy who would never ask why if he needed help. And now he'd asked, and Trey had said no.
Well, I don't blame the poor guy! He's convinced his friend is straight and homophobic, and spending a whole week together is not easy, when he's doing his best not to show how he feels. But, Trey being Trey couldn't let Josh feel hurt, so he changed his mind. One week is not that long, is it?
Trey sighed theatrically. "What kind of friend would I be if I refused to get kicked in the nuts for you? Bring it on. How bad can one pony be?"
Through the cotton over his face, Josh said, "You'll find out."
So, there they are. Trying not to be awkward around each other. Trying to bring back that connection they had. Trying so hard to live with the memories, the nightmares... and avoiding those tap-dancing elephants.
But, once the truth comes out, it's gonna shock the hell out of them both...
"Trey, if you're trying to weird me out with that shit it won't work. Remember Stef?"
"Your girlfriend Stephanie?"
"My boyfriend Stefan. I'm bi."
And, if you, even for a second, thought that was it, and everything is fine and dandy with these two now... you're so wrong! They have a long way to go, families to survive, insecurities to deal with, lives to sort out... There are also some very fine sex games to play, and Josh's elephant is still tap-dancing around the room - but, not for long.
Trey's laugh was soft and indulgent, not mocking. "Okay, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to talk about sex stuff, things we can do. And you're going to rate it on a scale from zero-I-hate-that to ten-gives-me-a-woody-even-with-my-mother-in-the-room."
"I'm not sure a ten exists."
"Ah, that will be part of the fun. We're going to find your ten."
So, there you have it. A wonderful, sweet, realistic story about two amazing guys, and their long journey home - to each other.
I loved it! I loved both Trey and Josh so much! Even the lack of communication and all the misunderstandings and insecurities failed to bother me, because there is (for once) a good reason for it all.
I hope you'll give these boys a chance! They so deserve it!
Josh sighed and relaxed, spooning in against Trey's side. "With you I can just be me. I'm home." And it felt like truth down to the center of his being. He was finally where he belonged.
July 29, 2012
A very good story about two former best friends who reunite in their mid-twenties after several years apart and eventually learn the truth about each other's sexuality. This story is notable for having a main character who doesn't like anal sex at all (neither giving nor receiving), and instead of being a problem to be solved, it ends up being something that simply is. I found Trey's acceptance and respect for Josh's sexual limits unexpectedly lovely and moving. My only reservation is that some of the family drama is very heavy-handed, but overall I liked this a lot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
didnt-finish
July 12, 2012Kaje said I could read this one *
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At 11%. It's really slow and too wordy. By this point I don't care at all about either character and nothing interesting has happened. They both just over think about nothing so far. And then a flashback to when they fifteen. Boring. And the dream fantasy in the flashback when they 15? What's the point? We already read these type of thoughts with the present day older guy.
Then all these details are so mundane. Like him pouring his drink and what it is. His work out. How he debates what to pack and all of this stuff. I am bored with it and wondering when the story starts. So far of the first 15% I'd say at least 10-12% could be cut. That's my opinion. I know some people don't mind excessive everyday details but for me they are just slow/boring
OMG then we read about him Doing dishes and entering plants and leaning fridge and laying in bed wanting to call Charly and blah blah. Seriously wondering if this picks up at all or if well just follow boring Charlie around for 50 pages and read him doing mundane things and thinking about the samething over and over. Apparently he has low low self esteem and only Charly can validate his existence
18% and I still can't differentiate between trey and josh. Ones secretly gay. Ones secretly bi. But their thoughts boringly the same
Omg a flashback to learning to make coffee? Are you friggin kidding me (this must be the bi one since it's his aunt. I thought I was in the gay ones pov. Can't tell them apart)
I think i made it to like 36% but haven't picked this up in a long time. i have no interest in continuing it. It has been really boring and i have no interest in either character.
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At 11%. It's really slow and too wordy. By this point I don't care at all about either character and nothing interesting has happened. They both just over think about nothing so far. And then a flashback to when they fifteen. Boring. And the dream fantasy in the flashback when they 15? What's the point? We already read these type of thoughts with the present day older guy.
Then all these details are so mundane. Like him pouring his drink and what it is. His work out. How he debates what to pack and all of this stuff. I am bored with it and wondering when the story starts. So far of the first 15% I'd say at least 10-12% could be cut. That's my opinion. I know some people don't mind excessive everyday details but for me they are just slow/boring
OMG then we read about him Doing dishes and entering plants and leaning fridge and laying in bed wanting to call Charly and blah blah. Seriously wondering if this picks up at all or if well just follow boring Charlie around for 50 pages and read him doing mundane things and thinking about the samething over and over. Apparently he has low low self esteem and only Charly can validate his existence
18% and I still can't differentiate between trey and josh. Ones secretly gay. Ones secretly bi. But their thoughts boringly the same
Omg a flashback to learning to make coffee? Are you friggin kidding me (this must be the bi one since it's his aunt. I thought I was in the gay ones pov. Can't tell them apart)
I think i made it to like 36% but haven't picked this up in a long time. i have no interest in continuing it. It has been really boring and i have no interest in either character.
August 26, 2014
I loved these two guys together. I'd like to browse around Aunt Julie's store. I think that Trey and Josh worried too much about sex when it's a lack of communication that breaks a couple up.
April 11, 2015
I love friends-to-lovers stories and I love Kaje Harper's writing!! So this was a winner, no doubt..
Josh and Trey had been drifting apart for years, keeping secrets from each other. Too afraid to come out so they would loose their friendship.
Their bonding was quite emotional and their intimate connection surpised me!!
I loved Trey being okay with it and reasuring Josh that he would always be his love of his life!!
"You're not some kind of get-off-quick one night stand to me. Sex is supposed to be fun for both of us."
This story is a free story from Goodreads M/M Romance Group (Love is Always Right Stories)!!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
August 6, 2012
A really sweet story, but not at the same level of writing of some of Kaje Harper's other works. For one thing, it was a bit too wordy. A number of descriptive passages could have been cut, making this a tighter, more streamlined story. I liked the characters, but the plot was too predictable. Basically, I've read this story before, with different character names and slightly different circumstances.
August 23, 2015
A couple of things about this book stopped it from being a higher rated read for me. The first is that like most people said the first half of the book (especially the first 30%) has excessive detail about the most mundane things. Getting ready to take the trip to help with the farm for instance….do I really need to know that Trey cleaned all the perishables from the fridge? This kind of senseless detail about things went on throughout the story, I got how different the MCs where, how thrifty/cheap Josh was, I did not need to know about the piss pore quality of everything he wore, drove, or his luggage right up until the end.
There was also a very serious event that takes place when the guys are 17 that ultimately affects both their friendship and impacts each of them personally (1 is gay and the other is bi). Josh (bi) little brother is raped when he’s 10 by the boys coach. So the first thing that absolutely pisses me off is there are no tags for this. I just went backed and checked. It impacts both guys because they don’t want the other one to know so there is distance, miscommunication about their feelings and lives, and it impacts Josh sexually. What I’m expecting to be a light heartwarming friends to lover’s story is actually not light-hearted. Josh decides to try and bottom for Trey (for the first time) without letting Trey know it actually is a major turn off for him because of what happened to his brother but that due to a previous lover cheating on him because he couldn’t live without “real sex” Josh figures he’ll just push through it. Yeah not what I signed up for at all when I initially started reading about orange peel chocolate chip cookies and throwing out perishables.
At about 65% I thought about DNF’ing it, but eventually pushed through. While I will say the last part made up for the epically slow start overall I probably wouldn’t have read it with the proper tags.
There was also a very serious event that takes place when the guys are 17 that ultimately affects both their friendship and impacts each of them personally (1 is gay and the other is bi). Josh (bi) little brother is raped when he’s 10 by the boys coach. So the first thing that absolutely pisses me off is there are no tags for this. I just went backed and checked. It impacts both guys because they don’t want the other one to know so there is distance, miscommunication about their feelings and lives, and it impacts Josh sexually. What I’m expecting to be a light heartwarming friends to lover’s story is actually not light-hearted. Josh decides to try and bottom for Trey (for the first time) without letting Trey know it actually is a major turn off for him because of what happened to his brother but that due to a previous lover cheating on him because he couldn’t live without “real sex” Josh figures he’ll just push through it. Yeah not what I signed up for at all when I initially started reading about orange peel chocolate chip cookies and throwing out perishables.
At about 65% I thought about DNF’ing it, but eventually pushed through. While I will say the last part made up for the epically slow start overall I probably wouldn’t have read it with the proper tags.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2013
This was a wonderful story. I can't believe it is free especially considering all the money I have spent buying books that are nowhere near this quality. Thank you Kaje!
Josh and Trey reunite face-to-face after only communicating via email and IM for many years. Once best friends, they each had their own reasons for drifting apart. The story provides insight into the lives the pair have been leading, each questioning their own sexuality, largely impacted by an event in their childhood.
The highlight of the story is the way Trey handles Josh's sexual insecurities/preferences with so much understanding and a touch of humour.
Josh and Trey reunite face-to-face after only communicating via email and IM for many years. Once best friends, they each had their own reasons for drifting apart. The story provides insight into the lives the pair have been leading, each questioning their own sexuality, largely impacted by an event in their childhood.
The highlight of the story is the way Trey handles Josh's sexual insecurities/preferences with so much understanding and a touch of humour.
September 4, 2013
I LOVE Kaje Harper, but this one was a little too...ummm...wordy? I don't know. It also made me very angry. Why? Too many misunderstandings. Trey distancing himself from Josh because Josh is a homophobe and Trey is gay (but Josh doesn't know). Josh all of a sudden becoming bi, but lies to Trey about it since he thinks that Trey is a homophobe. Both of them drifting apart from even being friends because of a horrific incident.
I will say YAY! for Josh to saying eff you
So there are my thoughts. I LOVE friends to lovers, but this one was a little hard to believe, for me.
I will say YAY! for Josh to saying eff you
So there are my thoughts. I LOVE friends to lovers, but this one was a little hard to believe, for me.
January 22, 2013
4.5 stars - There is really a lot to this short novella. Like other reviews I have read of this story, when you read this story, you will really care for these characters and root for them! It's definitely in the friends-to-lovers m/m genre which I like! I really liked both of these characters and liked how the story unfolded. I am definitely going to look into other works by Kaje Harper.
July 21, 2013
Great friends-to-lovers story. I liked all the detailed descriptions in this book....I could vividly picture the antique store, the hay barn and the beach as I was reading. The ending was fantastic and so sweet!
February 15, 2015
The dreaded Big Misunderstanding device that keeps characters apart for years.
I hate that. Authors need to stop using it.
I hate that. Authors need to stop using it.
June 16, 2015
****Reviewed for Prism Book Alliance®****
Show Me Yours was a little angsty to start, with mentions of a secondary characters childhood sexual abuse and general lack of communication between the main characters. However it moved on to sweeter moments and dealt with themes of friends to lovers, bi-sexuality and a sexual hang up that you don’t often see in m/m romance (though it is common in real life, I’ve heard).
This story was created from a prompt provided during the Love is Always Write event in the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads. I loved that the author included the scene in the photo in the story. It was a great scene that showed how the two were friends.
I mourned for the years these two lost together because they couldn’t be themselves, but loved that when they finally came together they dealt with the fact that there were years apart and everything wasn’t easy; new difficulties arose but they faced them.
Overall, a good story with a great epilogue.
Show Me Yours was a little angsty to start, with mentions of a secondary characters childhood sexual abuse and general lack of communication between the main characters. However it moved on to sweeter moments and dealt with themes of friends to lovers, bi-sexuality and a sexual hang up that you don’t often see in m/m romance (though it is common in real life, I’ve heard).
This story was created from a prompt provided during the Love is Always Write event in the M/M Romance Group on Goodreads. I loved that the author included the scene in the photo in the story. It was a great scene that showed how the two were friends.
I mourned for the years these two lost together because they couldn’t be themselves, but loved that when they finally came together they dealt with the fact that there were years apart and everything wasn’t easy; new difficulties arose but they faced them.
Overall, a good story with a great epilogue.
August 1, 2012
(July) Boy, Kaje Harper's books have such a ring of realism about them - perhaps a bit dramatic at times but overall the just seem so true! I didn't love this one quite as much as Into Deep Waters which I thought was beautiful - but I liked it a whole bunch! I'm a sucker for friends-to-lovers, but I just wish there'd been a little less fear-of-talking between them for much of their lives! I liked how it ended as well - again, a touch of realism as you know Josh's parents are never going to come around, and his brother is never going to be 100% comfy with the situation. Definitely worth reading, though.
August 1, 2012
Considering this was a free story I would probably give more than 3 stars but in general I found it to be 3. It started off real strong for me. Lots of tension. Lots of background. Unique setting. There was a big build up to Trey and Josh finding out they were attracted to each other and they were in love. After they discover they come out to each other and start getting it on, however, I felt the story got a little bland. It broke into several smaller issues, none of which I thought was dealt with in detail enough. But again...it was a free short! As such I thought it was pretty damn good!
March 15, 2014
Kaje Harper has a god given gift for capturing the male voice and revealing the psyche. This book is so beautiful and I am so thankful for having stumbled on this author.
I'm currently working my way through the Life Lessons series but wanted a short break before starting on book 3 to prolong the immense enjoyment and somehow ended up embroiled in another Harper affair. This book has beautiful, typical Harper characters fighting through life's issues that we all face.
Thank god for a female author that does this genre justice.
I'm currently working my way through the Life Lessons series but wanted a short break before starting on book 3 to prolong the immense enjoyment and somehow ended up embroiled in another Harper affair. This book has beautiful, typical Harper characters fighting through life's issues that we all face.
Thank god for a female author that does this genre justice.
August 6, 2016
It was okay, I liked that she had a pairing where one of them wasn't keen on anal sex at all but the falling out and not telling each other their feelings and sexuality aspect wasn't anything new.
There were lovely emotional touches on this one as well, romance rather than hot sex and a truly sweet HEA.
Kaje has a nice style of story telling and she's easy to read and this was a pleasant story and as it was a freebie I think it's always a gift to receive an author's time and efforts for nothing.
There were lovely emotional touches on this one as well, romance rather than hot sex and a truly sweet HEA.
Kaje has a nice style of story telling and she's easy to read and this was a pleasant story and as it was a freebie I think it's always a gift to receive an author's time and efforts for nothing.
August 4, 2012
2 stars means it was ok and that sums it up neatly. Most of the story I couldn't really relate to either Trey or Josh. I had the feeling as if the 'problems' of their relationship were blown out of proportion. What saved it for me was the last third after the return of the aunt. It was nice to see them working around Josh's hangups.
November 16, 2014
I'd say Kaje Harper had a goal in mind when she wrote this '.the doors we're afraid to open' would be my guess. Two friends separated by a continent and the trials of life come together to manage an antique shop for a family-friend. There were a lot of painful choices to be made by almost every character but it was handled with that trustworthy style of Harper.
July 12, 2012
I beta'd this, so my rating is based on the penultimate version. The first draft I saw was really good and the most recent draft I saw was wonderful, so I'm looking forward to reading the final version. :)
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August 2, 2012Not the best friends to lovers M/M stories I've read. I didn't think Josh's thought process was all that believable. He went from finding Trey hot to wanting to build a life with him rather quickly. As nice as HEAs are, I like to see them built up with a little more subtly.
August 14, 2021
Beautiful and only slightly heart-breaking.
August 27, 2012
I'm sad to say I'm giving this only 2 stars.
I found it hard to imagine the story line as it was presented but the idea overall was nice and I'm glad the two discussed their misunderstandings and had their happily ever after.
I found it hard to imagine the story line as it was presented but the idea overall was nice and I'm glad the two discussed their misunderstandings and had their happily ever after.
December 7, 2012
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.0
This was a sweet short story. The first half was full of angst while Trey and Josh hid their true natures (gay and bi respectively) and their feelings from one another. Once the cat was out of the bag, things progressed but sex repeatedly became an issue. The first time, Trey stopped because he was unsure of Josh's feelings and didn't want a casual thing. I get that. But then he showed up in Josh's bedroom at 6:00 am the following morning and asked, "do you still want me?" Um, for me that ship had already sailed. Would it have been too much to ask for Trey to put forth a little effort to recreate the moment? Ugh! The next time, Trey didn't want to just fall back into bed and insisted they talk and get to know each other. That's cool so they went for a picnic on the beach. Fine. But afterward, Trey was "too tired to get it up." When Trey is finally ready for some action, Josh reveals that he isn't into anything anal. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh! I like my smut as much as the next M/M reader so this sequence was frustrating. I get the reservations each of the MCs had and the reasons therefor and I respect them. But there's a "dance" - if you will - to a sexual encounter and the cadence here was repeatedly interrupted for various (albeit understandable) reasons. I loved Josh and Trey was likable enough; the sex, however, was lacking. Just my two cents.
Bottom line: short and sweet but angsty; and, the sex was unfulfilling.
This was a sweet short story. The first half was full of angst while Trey and Josh hid their true natures (gay and bi respectively) and their feelings from one another. Once the cat was out of the bag, things progressed but sex repeatedly became an issue. The first time, Trey stopped because he was unsure of Josh's feelings and didn't want a casual thing. I get that. But then he showed up in Josh's bedroom at 6:00 am the following morning and asked, "do you still want me?" Um, for me that ship had already sailed. Would it have been too much to ask for Trey to put forth a little effort to recreate the moment? Ugh! The next time, Trey didn't want to just fall back into bed and insisted they talk and get to know each other. That's cool so they went for a picnic on the beach. Fine. But afterward, Trey was "too tired to get it up." When Trey is finally ready for some action, Josh reveals that he isn't into anything anal. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh! I like my smut as much as the next M/M reader so this sequence was frustrating. I get the reservations each of the MCs had and the reasons therefor and I respect them. But there's a "dance" - if you will - to a sexual encounter and the cadence here was repeatedly interrupted for various (albeit understandable) reasons. I loved Josh and Trey was likable enough; the sex, however, was lacking. Just my two cents.
Bottom line: short and sweet but angsty; and, the sex was unfulfilling.
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