Salvation

by Rob Colton

After two years of writing to his prison pen-pal, Danny finally meets Moose face-to-face.

The burly man is wracked with guilt over the events that landed him in prison. Danny will do anything in his power to make Moose see what a good person he is at heart.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Erotica, Family, Short Stories

120 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Rob Colton is a software developer by day, and avid reader of romance novels at night. A romantic at heart, he loves stories that feature big, burly men who find true love and happy endings.

Stories can be found on Literotica, Nifty and Gay Authors under the username robcub32.

Reviews

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It seemed that in half this book, the MCs were either crying or having sex. Outside of that, it was an interesting story with very likeable MCs.

[Ingie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written June 9, 2014

2.8 Stars - Very nice and cute with a fine topic but it didn't quite make it all the way up

I've peeped at this M/M a few times before and it was for a single dollar now. ~ A nice 140-page M/M romance also felt just right to read a sunny summer day.

I like that it's about two men, thirtysomething, which are neither the most muscular, well-built or best looking guys on Earth.

‘Maybe he's a little soft in the middle and maybe he's a little too hairy, but he's a bear. I love him just the way he is.’

********************************************************

This story is about Danny who finally meets his prison pen-pal, Moose after two years of writing letters. They are two lonely (gay) men and already as pen-pals felt a great friendship and trust to each other. ...And pretty soon starts a grand love tale.

‘I felt his breathing slow down and even out. Then he began snoring lightly behind my head.
It was the first time he ever fell asleep before me.’

They have beards, body hair, a bit soft and slowly growing bellies - and they both like all this with each other. That is so very charming cute, and gives a sense of authenticity. As a great extra spice to that. —They both just had a pretty modest experience of relationships and sex.— One of them had been in prison for ten years. The other one was a cute very nice 'dork'.

********************************************************

Could it be sweeter? ....I liked it although I groaned and rolled my eyes every now and then.

Salvation was a nice comfort reading with a lovely couple of MC's and a interesting topic, but it didn't quite make it. Everything is there; the first time, longing, joking, homophobia, love, family, sex, and slightly funny kink, etc. It might simply be in the book's expressions and text that the flaws are. ~ This read was just nice for me...and sometimes is that good enough.

I more or less enjoyed the whole time and I really think that many good and important questions were raised, but it was still a bit thin and smooth. ~ A chuckling, smiling fluff read!!

I LIKE - cuddly and cute, fluff, fluff, fluff...

[Deeze · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this has the same formula as the other books I've read by this author, it also manages to be better than the others.

Danny is an all round good guy, heart as big as can be.

Moose is the good guy that had a bad start.

The story is sweet, a little simple in places. Certain situations are a little too easily mended and there's no real depth to it, but that said it's still a heart warming read for those looking for a quick HEA fix.

Still not a fan of the sex scenes though, and I could of easily done without Leo in this story. He had no real place in it.

The best I've read by Rob Colton, deserves the full 3 stars.

[Macky · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* rounded up.

I really liked Rob Colton's The Ranch Foreman so thats why I was happy to pick this up and the fact that this little jewel was under a pound ( or a dollar if your from the US ) made this even more of a sweet find. Both emotional and extremely hot I was left thinking " wow what a lovely surprise "

The sex is pretty explicit and in another story could feel too much but somehow it works in this. The MC's feel like real men with flaws, not your usual super gorgeous fantasy hunks so the romance is all the more charming and heartfelt. The writing style is simple, sweet and no frills and I loved that because it made the emotion between Moose and Danny all the more real and touching. I felt everything they did and at times I was really moved.

I even loved the addition of Superbrat Chad who is a little B*****d and will probably put your back up but I also think he brings the story together, wrapping the book up in a very satisfying way.

Yep... I enjoyed this a lot. A very successfull reccomend...thanks M!

[Manfred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, let`s be honest here: this story is complete kitsch,
super sweet, angst free, absolutely predictable including cats, dogs and of course children.
Moose is an Ex Con, Danny his penpal and when Moose is out of prison after 10 years he stops by to visit Danny.
All it takes is 5 minutes together, before those 2 are madly in love, Danny immediately dumps his (shitty) boyfriend for Moose and the rest...
Yeah no surprises here!
But you know, how it is, sometimes, supersweet, kitsch and happy not only ever after but right from the start is just what you need.
If you are looking for one of those books, don`t look any further, Salvation delivers and I enjoyed it while it lasted!
3.5 drama free stars

[Mandy*reads obsessively* · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story.
Danny, who doesn't really date, and Moose who can't, considering he's in prison, strike up a pen-pal friendship.
When Moose is released he looks Danny up and lots of sex, tears, and I love you ensues.
There's a little bit of drama, but it's basically angst free and sweet.
I did wonder if those poor dogs ever got to see anything other than the house and the hard, though.

[Meep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Its okay, almost a three star, just not one I'd read again, so a matter of personal taste.

The main thing with this is its a 'male' book, not your usual written by and for females. Can't say its unemotional because the characters both burst into tears with alarming regularity and yet for a book written in first person theres no real conveyance of feelings.

I like the main characters, they're neither body perfect and there is a genuine apppreciation of chunky hairy guys here.

As a Brit I was confused by 'vehicular homicide' which we don't have here. 10yrs seemed excessive what with the constant, obvious regrets, but according to wiki the sentance can be up to 15yrs so I guess its a cultural difference.

A few things seemed out of place Danny's father's sudden attack and everythings resovled very easily.

Its a long freebie and to me it felt finished at the end of the first part with the second part made up of 'extra bits' For me its a bit eye-roll time with addition of a kid the family have disowned him for ten plus years because of drink-driving then contact him to raise a kid? A kid whose grown up believing him dead?

The crying put me off. I've never met anyone whose eyes so readily fill with tears and one of these has just survived ten years in jail? There's also a lot of 'baby' ;)

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great free story!

I loved how the MCs weren't perfect and ultra-pretty - it was nice and refreshing and their insecurities felt very realistic. There was plenty of sex and it was super hot, but there's been nice character development as well. I liked Danny's dad alot too, he's a great character.

The only thing I 've never warmed up to is Chad, Moose's son. I know the kid's been through rough times and I should cut him some slack, but he's been so obnoxious and horribly rude to Danny at first, that I just couldn't forgave him for that.

Lovely and sweet story overall :)

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the way Rob Colton writes. And I like his characters. This was an enjoyable book. It was really about 3 and 1/2 stars, but I raised it to 4.

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED this! Yes, it was sweet and lovey dovey, but I didn't care one damn bit.

I loved how lonely Danny was and just decided to take a chance with the pen pal thing. My heart broke for Danny in the beginning, talking about how he lived his life :( But, I get it, I am kind of a loner, too.

Then we meet Moose and holy hell. The guilt he carries is understandable and it hurts my heart. I loved him. From the very first time we met him on paper, in a note, I loved Moose. He accepted his life and took the pain that went along with it.

Danny saw that Moose had a good heart and wanted HIM to see it as well. Then they meet in person. Their first meeting was great, minus Leo.

Danny was quiet, in my opinion, probably never causing any trouble or getting loud with anyone. But, when he had to defend Moose, it made me giddy. Loved how he never hesitated to stand by his side.

I can not believe I am going to say this... but I hate a 12 year old. Chad is a douchebag and I can not believe that Danny and Moose put up with his attitude for as long as they did. Who in the hell raised him? Disrespectful and an asshole. I did not like him and his attitude was horrid. He's my reason for the 4 stars instead of 5. Is that bad? Maybe, but the kid was a prick. I don't care if he's "adjusting" or a "teenager", let him know you won't tolerate it. Punk kid.

I would have liked to have seen more of an interaction between Gary and Moose after the whole "ordeal". It kind of happened and then it skipped ahead. Danny's forgiveness happened too quickly, in my opinion, too.

Overall, sweet story about a big burly man and his pen pal :) There are a lot of "ILY's", but I didn't mind. Tears, too, but again, I didn't mind seeing these two showing emotion. Great read for only $.99.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable little freebie, actually turned out longer than I expected. It felt a little bit like two short stories in a series as opposed to the part one-part two it was presented as, but that's fine.

Part I: This is basically the story blurb and I really liked it. My one complaint is that I don't think Leo was at all necessary. He was added to insert some drama into the story but it felt forced and I would have preferred to just have Danny and Moose's story unfold on it's own. Danny starts dating Leo a few months before Moose is released and he's pretty much a dick, it doesn't really make sense and didn't add to the story

Part II: I was fine with this plot twist, but as I said, it felt more like a sequel. The guys get married and right away Moose finds out he has a child he didn't know about and they end up raining him with a little drama and a tearful HEA, it was just a lot to squeeze in.

My only general complaint is that the dialogue is a little juvenile at times and cheesy, but I liked the story enough that I just took it for what it was and it didn't bother me too much.

[Tailtiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5* downgrade for the constantly crying and the unsexy tight pussy remarks.

[Jeff Erno · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book that I purchased several months ago, but somehow it got buried in my TBR pile and forgotten. When I pulled it up on my Kindle this morning, I didn't really even remember buying it. But anyway, I just started reading. And wow, I'm so glad I did.

How absolutely refreshing it was to read a story told in a first person narrative that was not snarky, mean, sarcastic, or judgmental. I absolutely adored this main character. He was sweet, sensitive and a thousand percent sincere.

The writing style itself seemed earnest and utterly unpretentious. I loved the characters and the plot and the ending. All of it.

I'm sure there will be readers who don't relate to Danny. He's compassionate and generous and very trusting. He doesn't have negative thoughts about everyone and everything running through his head in a constant, vicious loop. He donates to charity. He writes letters to a prison pen pal. He doesn't drink alcohol. He's not a slut.

Well, when he begins writing to prison inmate through a pen pal service, he meets Martin (whose nickname is Moose). They become close friends and continue to write to each other for two years. He discovers that Martin was convicted of drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter. Martin's best friend Chad was killed in the accident, and it is his death for which he's held responsible.

Martin is plagued with guilt and low self-esteem, and it is Danny who helps him forgive himself and heal. When Martin gets out of prison, they connect, and Danny helps him get a job. Eventually they become boyfriends and fall in love. It's a very beautiful romance, and it really touched my heart.

The only issue I had with the plot was that I wondered how it was possible for Martin to get a driver's license so soon. Of course, I don't even know how that works, but I would think it might be challenging for someone just released from prison for that type of crime. I wonder if he'd ever actually be allowed behind the wheel again, to be honest.

But overall I really loved this story. I loved the writing style, the characters, the plot. The whole package was spectacular (though could actually have been extended somewhat...or perhaps a sequel--hint, hint).

I highly recommend the book. Five stars.

[Salsera1974 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. It was sweet until it became cloying and cliched, and adults really shouldn't cry so much. I also don't understand why the second half was written like a second book. Was it a compilation? Finally, a man's anus is not a female "p" word. I concede that this might be one of those places where authenticity and preference collide: the author is a gay man, so he knows what terms are used and acceptable within his community, but as a reader, it made me cringe (as did one or two other comments that feminized their sexual activity). Oh well. All of those complaints notwithstanding, I didn't hate it. But it could have been stronger.

[kimberly_rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is something addictive about Colton's stories; they aren't brilliant, they aren't literary masterpieces, they aren't even really good m/m or gay novels. They are a cross between a solid novel and a slutty erotica short. Damn, they are compelling. There is just something so verisimilitude about them, something relatable, something heart-warming and affecting. Salvation is no exception. The story is predictable, overly sweet, generic, but damn is it enjoyable.

[Nile Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read 4/21/18. Review till holds true. Still love.

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Re-read May 29th, 2017. Still love this romance between a prisoner and his prison pen pal. Most of the book takes place post prison, when Moose goes to work for Danny's father's company. Loved the writing. The pacing is perfect. It's very low angst, and a bit saccharine so be warned. May be too sugary for some but I loved it.

[Smith Barney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bearlicious viewpoint..comprising my entire rating..of some ever-hairy man-loving moments..& sweet-ass dialogue.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

SSS - Sweet, Steamy, and Short(ish)

[Elisa Rolle]

I had to think about this story, cause, well, it doesn’t really follow the rules of romance of having everyone perfect hero like material, and even if they have a dark past, they are these brooding heroes who are even more attractive than the lily-white ones. Moose is an ex-con, and he was also guilty of his sin; sure he didn’t kill with the intention of doing it, he was driving under influence, but nevertheless he killed his best friend who was in the car with him, and he got 10 years of prison who he did from beginning to the end, also cause he knows it’s right for him to pay. And no, Moose is not an hunk stud with a stoic attitude, he is more like an overgrown teddy bear, with a lot of muscles, but also with a little bit of fat around the waist. And he tends to get emotional, and to cry when he isn’t able to cope with those emotions.

On the other side we have Danny; Danny is average, he is a good guy, he doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, and rescues pets from the street… he is basically a saint, and to complete the picture he is basically a virgin, he had only one boyfriend, for the length of 2 months and that was 10 years before. When Danny decides to start writing to Moose as a pen-pal, I wondered if he was considering Moose as a prospective partner, cause that is what Moose wrote in his sheet, but then I realize that Danny was basically really alone, and even if he wasn’t in prison like Moose, he was more or less on the same level of isolation. Danny is not an ingénue, but he doesn’t think he deserves much, and so he tends to lower himself and accepts compromises that he shouldn’t.

So no, Moose and Danny aren’t hero material, but I got to feel for them, and to cheer for their joy, simple as it was and sometime even too much mundane (I think it’s the first time in a romance that the reader partakes in what is happening in a bathroom other than sex). I was also glad the author decided to make of what were probably two separate novella, one book, cause we had the chance to know a little better Moose and his past. And a not so small factor is that, the price of the kindle version is really low, less than 2 dollars.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/149292542X/?...

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is hard to rate.

I enjoyed:
A big, hairy guy. We just don't see enough of those in M/M romance. Not a bear per se, I mean a thick, dude.
The one point of view didn't bother me.
I liked the letters they wrote and wanted to read more.
I liked the dad.
I liked the kid.

I wasn't crazy about:

All the crying. I love men who express their emotions but wow, they teared up endlessly.
I can't believe I'm going to say this but there was way too much sex.
I wanted more of all the parents and I wanted Moose & Danny to understand them.
We needed WAY more time to get to know the kid and/or care about him.
And everything was so easy.

I needed a lite tale overall so the timing allowed me to enjoy it more than I would have but I want this writer to get better because there are some real good ideas here.

[S.M. Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Colton – Salvation (Review)

Finished: 01/03/14

5 twinkling stars.

[Liza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a surprising treat. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I was completely entranced by the story of Danny and Moose. From the first letter to the last word, their story was sweet and sexy, filled with redemption and rebirth. My only complaint? It was a little rushed in the beginning and WAY too short! I could have read 100 more pages about them getting to know each other.

[Nicci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adorable, sweet, I love how the relationship develops between Danny and Moose. Moose deserves a second chance at happiness.

Complete review at TWLIB Reviews

[Leaundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was really good and I loved Moose and Danny. Danny's dad, even though it made him a little uncomfortable with his son being gay he still loved him. Moose and Danny were both lucky they found each other. Rob Colton's writing does something for me ;-)

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this, although the three stars is for the predictability and tropeyness.

[Camy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay now I've had my fill.

[Viki Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always lovwd this book and read it numerous times ☺

[Tully Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the promising beginning... a sweet story.

[Kirbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Salvation of Love

Another great loving beautiful book Moose is dealing with the death of best friend and finding out he has a kid hit him like a ton of bricks but with Danny by his side he knows he can get through anything

[🏳️‍🌈🐻🧔‍♂️🐻🏳️‍🌈 B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thirsty

I quite like Rob’s writing but this one felt a bit light. There was lots of great story to dig your teeth into but it felt skimmed over. I’d love to read a bulked out version that delves into more details of their lives out of the bedroom.