My Handyman

by Rob Colton

Cliff begins a relationship with a closeted contractor.

When Cliff's steamy encounter with handyman Kent turns into a relationship, there's no instant happy ending for the men who come from different worlds.

Kent is in deep in the closet and out-and-proud Cliff isn't prepared to be anybody's secret.

Note: Cliff and Kent live in a fantasy world where they don't have to worry about STDs.

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Romance, Short Stories, Gay, LGBT

98 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 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

[~ Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ & semicolons ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Not just Bears, but HANDY BEARS

with beards and cigarettes and tool belts and stuff



Sadly, hot handy bear Kent isn't out. But that doesn't stop him from fucking Cliff against the bathroom counter and shooting his load like a fucking geyser.

He's good for more than just one job, you all.

Kent's friends were homophobic assholes, but Cliff's friends weren't that much better.

There's a separation and really slutty makeup sex.

Be warned that ALL the hot monkey sex is sans condoms (fantasy world, etc.), so don't read if that's a trigger.

This was totally scandalous, sultry, silly, and sexy.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s true as someone else said it’s not The Timbercreek Chronicles, but it’s still a good story. I like Rob Colton’s and I like the way he writes. His prose is simple but descriptive enough. He doesn’t fill his books with meaningless inner monologues, but he gets the story across and I can relate to his characters.

[Emma Sea · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was fine and sweet and all, but lacked the crackfic hypnotic quality of Timber Pack Chronicles. 2.5 rounded up.

[Phaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh. Tried something new.

You see, this is not a professional writer (for all I know) and it’s all about his specific kink, but how can you resist the charm of someone who describes his work thus: “My stories are sappy and romantic fantasies usually involving smaller guys who like bigger guys.”

So yeah, it’s porn. But it’s got its heart in the right place.

We do get the lovely requisite, precise measurements of each cock in sight, of course, but what actually irks me is the lack of condoms. Then again, I suppose this is the author’s unabashed fantasy so I should treat this as a different kind of reality.

Ironically, the writing here is much better than a lot of what the professionals put out. So are the plotting, the development, character consistency and all of that fun stuff.

And, oh my god, there’s actual intelligence. Both protagonists behave like intelligent human beings, even when they make mistakes! And their emotional responses make sense too! Impossible!

And although the thing starts full-out sex-based, it does turn into a genuine romance.

So, in the end, the only thing that truly bothered me was the complete disregard for safety. Because the rest? Was a competent and kind of sweet story that still kept it real.

[Alina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!
I loved how the whole issue with coming out was handled, very realistic, I think. Both guys were great!
Hot and heartwarming story :)

[Meep]

Kindle-Sort-ReRead

Starts with a horrid bunch of friends, was actually trying to figure out who the main character was. Then insta-lust and bear/handyman porn. Meh

[Pixie · Rating 2 out of 5]

(Looks around proudly) I came here for the bear porn….

So sometimes your friends post nice reviews with helpful visuals (please note Dani’s version of Kent) and you one click it without paying any attention to the blurbs or the reviews because in allowing your eyes to skim you see “porn” & that is enough….or so one would think.

This….not bad…but not good. Had potential? Maybe? The thing is well…the sex may have been sexy, had it not been repeated in detail, each time, very similarly. Actually the first scene as it played out during their first meeting, the bathroom counter sex, really was the only unique sex they had. The rest of the sex became formulaic. Lack of condoms, check, rimming, check, pushing foreskin back with lips, check, coming unassisted by running your penis a crossed sweaty fury bears tummy, check.

Add in home maintenance, shitty friends x 2, “I love you” and a lot of cooking Kent breakfast….oh and several trips to Home Depot and I was NOT a fan. Sorry, I know usually porn makes everything better BUT you lost me at the smelling of the sweaty, crusty from dried spunk wife beater Kent left and inhaling that while jerking off in 2.5 seconds (roughly 10% in).

Cliff seemed like a nice guy who meant well though.

[Trisha Harrington · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't really sure about this, but I ended up liking it more than I expected to. Kent and Cliff made a pretty good couple, despite the issue of Kent not being out to his friends or family. The fact he was honest about it made things a little easier, but I still didn't like the way he acted around his "friends".

I didn't really like Cliff's friends either. I got that they were just looking out for him, but there was just something about them that annoyed me.

But the ending was really sweet and I definitely thought it wrapped the story up nicely.

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well now. First and foremost, that was a bit steamy for an at work read. Good thing I am here alone :)

Cute and not so cute. Kept my attention. I didn't like either of their groups of friends, like at all. I was really pissed at Kent, as Dani said, he for sure won asshole of the year for his actions but I was proud of him at the end and really felt for him. I am glad that Cliffy found his big ol' man bear :)

[Doug Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this meager little scrap because I am an addict. A shameless Rob Colton addict at rock bottom.
I don’t need help; I don’t need an intervention.
I’m just jonesin for my next fix.

[Jewel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this story kinda reminded me of a bad porno. Handyman comes over, fixes something simple, and then bow chicka wow wow. And the story started out very much like that.

My Handyman was an ok story. Not great, though. I found the characters a bit cliche and I had trouble warming to them. And their during sex dialog? Bow chicka wow wow. I found that a bit distracting, to tell you the truth.

As much as I really didn't like Kent's friends, I didn't much like Cliff's friends either. They were selfish and petty. While it was a good thing for Cliff to break up with Kent, after the way Kent allowed his friends to treat him and after Kent also wasn't so great, Cliff knew that the idea of coming out scared the bejezuz out of Kent. Cliff's friends really should have been a bit more understanding and supportive of what Cliff wanted, when Kent came back into his life.

Sure caution Cliff to be careful, even the friend threat of ‘hurt him again and answer to us’ would have been great. But they were pretty awful acting like Kent didn't deserve to breathe the same oxygen as them. While, I don't at all agree with the way Kent treated Cliff when Kent's "friends" were around, he certainly did not deserve the scorn he got months down the road, especially considering Cliff’s views on the matter.

The ending was very sweet, though, and I'm glad they found their way.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read on 12-10-13

3.5 Stars

Is the Amazon version different from the Literotica one? Hmm...well, I read the literotica version and I enjoyed it. I was hoping to get inside of Kent's head more, but I really liked their relationship.

I did not, however, like Cliff's friends :( Did he ever make up with them?

Personally, I think that anyone who is out dating a closet case is going to have a hard time, but what do I know? I am not a gay male, so I have no idea, I just think it would be hard. Hiding. I don't think I'd be willing to go back in the closet for anyone and as a bi female I can say that.

My only issue is the use of first names is too much. I don't need their names after every sentence when they are speaking to each other.

I am usually turned off by bareback stories right off the bat, but I was warned and told they live in a fantasy land ;) I could deal with it.

Also, I think this played out pretty realistically minus the living in a world with no STD's. Both of Cliff and Kent's reactions rang true for me.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author's writing confuses the crap out of me. I can't decide what to think. But I guess the fact that I keep coming back to it says a lot. Clearly the first half of this book is an erotic read. It was fine. I read so much, I get desensitized I think. The second half of the book made me want to cry. It moved me. It made me feel for both of them. Still don't know what to do with that. 3.5 confused, but happy stars.

[Ashley♥Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story. my only complaint: too much sex.

[Page Crusherz · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute, hot story.

[Dallison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cliffy and Kent were super cute. I enjoyed this short story.

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cliff, an accountant by day and an MBA student at night, bought a home last year and is struggling to fix up basic things. He finally gives in and calls a contractor to accomplish his goals. Enter Kent, the prototypical bear contractor, who shows up and does a great job... then the two of the have sex. It is amazing sex. Their encounters occur for a several weeks, and Cliff really likes the big guy. Kent then drops a bombshell: he's closeted and has no intentions of coming out. Cliff is torn, but eventually agrees they can still see each other. This goes on for several months, until they introduce each other to their friends. Cliff's friends are barely civil and kind of bitchy about it; Kent's friends are downright hostile and homophobic. Finally Cliff says to Kent "hey, your friends made me feel really bad, I can't let that happen anymore, so we're done." Kent is understandably upset, and leaves. Several months later, the two men meet at a gay bar. Things haven't gone well for the burly man. Kent has come out and lost all his so-called friends, and his family has cut him off. But somehow the two start talking and doing things together until finally after months they have sex again, and then they're back together again.

I'm not really a fan of stories where characters hide themselves from others; the closeted lover and the homophobic friends are usually a no-go for me, but this author goes light with this. I feel like if the characters had been developed more and maybe less sex, (we learn almost nothing about them other than the barebones) that this story could have evolved from a mild bit of erotica to something deeper and more meaningful. The story, as is, is fluffy otherwise. I was just left wanting more.

I rate this 2.5 stars but grudgingly rounded up to 3 stars.

[Men In books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kent et Cliff, une histoire qui ,contre toute attente, a su me garder à son chevet jusqu'au bout avec un récit très classique sur un gay made in "j'm'assume" et un autre "viens dans mon placard on va jouer". Un Cliff sensible,bien dans sa peau, un gars discret et romantique qui mène allègrement sa vie entre soirées avec les amis, boulot et études.

Lorsque sa maison à rénover lui demande de prendre enfin les choses en main, Cliff fait appel à Kent entrepreneur en bâtiment, bear à souhait, homo dans le placard, bourru, confiant et avec une ascendance sensuelle totale sur ce pauvre Cliffy. Kent est séducteur, sûr de lui mais n'affronte toutefois pas son entourage quand à sa sexualité.
Une histoire sans rien de neuf sans magie particulière mais qui, allez savoir pourquoi, fonctionne plutôt bien.
De la virilité, des poils, un gentil garçon complètement subjugué et très vite amoureux qui va rapidement déchanter face à la peur viscérale de Kent d'un éventuel coming out.

Une romance douce entre deux hommes dont l'alchimie est tout de suite évidente avec son lot de déception puis de very happy end. Une nouvelle qui se lit facilement,qui n'est pas parfaite et encore moins innovante mais qui te donne juste l'impression de replonger dans tes vieux cartons de livres et de retrouver un vieux classique, un poil désuet mais qui a su conserver sa petite touche de piquant pour être encore apprécié des années après.

Yop.
http://meninbooks.eklablog.com/

[Kochka94]

Pris par son boulot, ses cours du soir en vue d'obtenir son master et un peu aussi son inaptitude au bricolage, Cliff Lowe décide de faire appel à un ouvrier du bâtiment afin de finir l'aménagement de sa maison.
Recommandé par l'un de ses amis, il engage alors Kent Barnes, presque quarantenaire, grand, baraqué, poilu, viril, barbu, qui arrive avec sa caisse à outils.
Kent va alors s'occuper de la tuyauterie de la maison... et de celle de Cliff. Mais Kent, sensuel et plutôt sauvage en privé, est dans le placard et n'a pas l'intention d'en sortir. Et Cliff, trentenaire et gay assumé, n'a pas envie de devenir le sale petit secret de quelqu'un, même s'il est très attiré par Kent.
Ce roman, assez court, est en fait une succession de scènes hot entre les deux hommes, entre deux bricolages et visites à Home Dépot. Tout le reste, le coming out de Kent, les amis snobs de Cliff et homophobes de Kent, la différence sociale, tout cela est effleuré.
Par contre, les scènes intimes sont intenses, détaillées et non protégées, car comme il est précisé dans la présentation du roman "Cliff et Kent vivent dans un monde imaginaire où les MST n’existent pas".
Bref, un roman plaisant, sans prise de tête et sans doute assez vite oublié.

[Lisa ~ Books Are My Drugs ~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked that Cliff is a very nice person, he's willing to forgive & give someone another chance when there's good reason.


Both Cliff & Kent's friends were awful. And Cliff's friends should have been more understanding since they should have realized how difficult it is to be closeted/come out. I hated the Kent treated Cliff when they were out in public, however he did realize what he did was wrong, apologized & wanted to be in the open with Cliff for a second chance. Insta-love & the first part of the story before Cliff & Kent broke up was pretty much PWP. Also unprotected sex!

[Kirbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where my Handy Man?

Another good book by Rob just love his books Cliff isn't one to hide while Ken is hiding by who he is and Cliff will only go so far before a decision has to be made and for Ken it was now or never and Ken chooses Cliff and I loved that and how Ken isn't going to hide anymore or let any situation tell him he has to hide and I like that Ken made new friends

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

His Handyman was a flat one note story that was incomplete at best. I'm a Bob Colton fan but this was one of his earlier works and I see how far he's grown to the writer who make me chuckle with unapologetic glee while reading his later works. You've got to start somewhere.

[Jeniver Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. They both are so good together and then sex scene was also interesting and not boring. I also like that Ken was a big hairly man and he was redeemed himself when he broke up with his true love. In the end, it was an happy ending

[Jeremy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and enjoyable experience, it's a really thought out book 📖 😀

[Gillian Kevern · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romance! My Handyman was recommended to me by another fan of Happy Endings, and for good reason! It's a fun light read, with easily accessible characters and plot.

Colton's writing style is really clear and minimalist, but he still provides enough detail to hook my imagination. His story is character driven, and the conflict comes from the clash of background and expectations about their relationship. I am a big fan of exploring how these dynamics effect people and loved how Colton let Kent and Cliff's feelings for each other play out. They both grew over the course of the story. There were a lot of well-written sex scenes, but I never felt as though the story was merely a vehicle for sex. Rather it was a best of both worlds deal.

[Spoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this awhile ago and decided to re-read because I never finished it. Once I got to 65%, I remembered why I didn't finish it Kent's friends and his non-response to their gibes irritated me so freakin much. The fact that he said he'd kick Cliff's a** if he hit on him was my breaking point the first time. Ugh.. But I persevered and actually really enjoyed the sweet ending. I don't like time jumps though. I despise them. And I understand that Kent had to go through that but... months. It was MONTHS of no contact.

[Janie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, this book was sexy as hell!! I love me some big hairy bear and twinky type guys, the sex is almost always hot! Now you just know that since Kent is not "out" that he is going to break Cliffs heart, it's just a matter of how he will fix things between them if they get back together. The sex in this book is incredible and right from the start there is lots of it, my kind of book. But aside from the sex, Kent and Cliff are a wonderful couple and I truly enjoyed their story.

[Arch Bala · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tis’ my favorite amongst Rob Colton’s effort. I loved the depth of the story, the angst and the conclusion was perfect. I loved how Kent finally came out and was very repentant towards Cliff. That scene when Kent was asking Cliff’s forgiveness totally broke me. *sniff* Beautiful ending! Beautiful story!

[Emeziel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit I thought it was going to be about sex scenes. And there were many but all so hot and completely part of the story. It was a great read. Much better than many M/M I have read having the same plot line. And though it was nothing new, but it was expertly handled, and I have no complain, at all.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was too short to adequately develop either of the characters, so it ended up being more erotica because of the number of sex scenes than a real story. That's too bad because it has the seeds of a really interesting book.