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Love Is Always Write: Volume Eight
The stories you are about to read celebrate love, sex and romance between men. They are a product of the Love Is Always Write promotion sponsored by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group and are published as a free gift to you.
What Is Love Is Always Write?
The Goodreads M/M Romance Group invited members to choose a photo and pen a letter or story prompt asking for a short M/M romance story inspired by the image; authors from the group were encouraged to select a letter or story prompt and write an original tale. The result was an outpouring of creativity that shone a spotlight on the special bond between M/M romance writers and the people who love what they do.
Nearly 150 stories were submitted and published as a ten volume set – as well as an additional special bonus volume with three novel-length stories – titled Love Is Always Write; this edition is Volume Eight.
Whether you are an avid M/M romance reader or new to the genre, you are in for a delicious treat.
Stories in Volume 8:
RAINBOWS AND PUPPIES – Jonathan Treadway (contemporary/bears)
THE REST OF FOREVER – Kate Aaron (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
THE ROAD TO HELL – Sara York (suspense/private detective)
ROSES IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN – Charlie Cochet (historical (1925)/prohibition
agents)
SAFE – Kim Dare (contemporary/dominance)
SANDS OF THYME – EM Lynley (contemporary/culinary/bartenders)
SEE RIGHT THROUGH – Sara Winters (contemporary/friends to lovers)
SHADOW DANCE – Cherie Noel (contemporary/dancers)
SHOW ME YOURS – Kaje Harper (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
Words of Caution:
The stories in this collection are sexually explicit and intended for adult readers. Some stories may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
What Is Love Is Always Write?
The Goodreads M/M Romance Group invited members to choose a photo and pen a letter or story prompt asking for a short M/M romance story inspired by the image; authors from the group were encouraged to select a letter or story prompt and write an original tale. The result was an outpouring of creativity that shone a spotlight on the special bond between M/M romance writers and the people who love what they do.
Nearly 150 stories were submitted and published as a ten volume set – as well as an additional special bonus volume with three novel-length stories – titled Love Is Always Write; this edition is Volume Eight.
Whether you are an avid M/M romance reader or new to the genre, you are in for a delicious treat.
Stories in Volume 8:
RAINBOWS AND PUPPIES – Jonathan Treadway (contemporary/bears)
THE REST OF FOREVER – Kate Aaron (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
THE ROAD TO HELL – Sara York (suspense/private detective)
ROSES IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN – Charlie Cochet (historical (1925)/prohibition
agents)
SAFE – Kim Dare (contemporary/dominance)
SANDS OF THYME – EM Lynley (contemporary/culinary/bartenders)
SEE RIGHT THROUGH – Sara Winters (contemporary/friends to lovers)
SHADOW DANCE – Cherie Noel (contemporary/dancers)
SHOW ME YOURS – Kaje Harper (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
Words of Caution:
The stories in this collection are sexually explicit and intended for adult readers. Some stories may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
586 pages, ebook
First published December 1, 2012
3 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Kim Dare
160 books1,515 followersKim is a thirty-three year old bisexual submissive from Wales (UK). First published in 2008, she has since released almost 100 BDSM erotic romance titles ranging from short stories to full length novels. Having worked with a host of fantastic e-publishers, she has just moved into self publishing.
While she has occasionally ventured towards other pairings, Kim's first love is still, and probably always will be, Male/Male stories. But, no matter what the pairing, from paranormal to contemporary, and from the sweet to the intense, everything she writes will always feature three things - Kink, Love and a Happy Ending.
While she has occasionally ventured towards other pairings, Kim's first love is still, and probably always will be, Male/Male stories. But, no matter what the pairing, from paranormal to contemporary, and from the sweet to the intense, everything she writes will always feature three things - Kink, Love and a Happy Ending.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 28, 2018
The stories in Love is Always Write anthology celebrate love, sex and romance between men. They are a product of the Love Is Always Write promotion sponsored by the Goodreads M/M Romance Group and they are free.
The Goodreads M/M Romance Group invited members to choose a photo and pen a letter or story prompt asking for a short M/M romance story inspired by the image; authors from the group were encouraged to select a letter or story prompt and write an original tale.
From this volume, I've read three stories:
The Rest of Forever by Kate Aaron - 5 stars
My review.
Sands of Thyme by E.M. Lynley - 2 stars
My review.
See Right Through by Sara Winters - 1 star
My review.
The Goodreads M/M Romance Group invited members to choose a photo and pen a letter or story prompt asking for a short M/M romance story inspired by the image; authors from the group were encouraged to select a letter or story prompt and write an original tale.
From this volume, I've read three stories:
The Rest of Forever by Kate Aaron - 5 stars
My review.
Sands of Thyme by E.M. Lynley - 2 stars
My review.
See Right Through by Sara Winters - 1 star
My review.
March 19, 2013
Rainbows and Puppies
by Jonathan Treadway (contemporary/bears) - 2 stars Hmm... this was totally fine. Has a nice message and is sweet and all... but it's just whatever. The relationship between Jerry and Kevin seemed way too easy all of a sudden. I dunno... it was just like a friend re-telling you their spring break.
The Rest of Forever by Kate Aaron (contemporary/friends-to-lovers) - 3 stars This was sweet, although I would have liked to hear Jack say some of the things he had only thought to Paul. Like I don't think he really explained to Paul that he's been feeling this way ever since they had that fight, not just since he saw him with Curt. And what the hell happened to Paul?! He just disappeared? That's kind of lame, although I get that his feelings were hurt back then. OK so sweet, but I could have used a little lengthier wrap-up at the end.
The Road to Hell by Sara York (suspense/private detective) - 1 star So... I was really excited about this picture/prompt combo. I was interested to see a story about two priests falling in love. The author decided to go a different way with it, which is fine, but so far two guys are undercover as priests looking for two missing children but once they start looking for them Mac decides it's a good time to have a heart to heart with Greyson and then they go back to their room to fuck with some disconnected dialogue that doesn't really mesh and Greyson literally diving in even though he's never been with a guy before and was all weird and hot/cold earlier... not sure but I just don't think this one is for me.
Roses in the Devil's Garden by Charlie Cochet (historical (1925)/prohibition agents) - 4 stars - I'm not sure why, but for some reason I'm always hesitant about historicals. There really wasn't any need. This had just the right amount of '20's slang to make it fun and give you the right vibe, but it's a great story that could have taken place in any era.
They easily could have ended this in a few places earlier and it still would have been good, but I'm glad it was flushed out (I hope this author joins the next event and writes John and Danny's story!)
This was sweet. The sex scenes were hot. And to be honest, the guy in the pic didn'really do it for me, too beefy. But I loved Harley so much and then the perfect explanation/reveal of the tattoo... love it now!
Safe by Kim Dare (contemporary/dominance) - 3.5 stars This is extremely short, but that works for what it it. The first scene comes directly form the prompt where the sub tells the Dom he loves him and the Dom laughs (although not cruelly). It immediately flashed back to when they met. I was annoyed at first cuz I thought it wasn't going to back to the first scene and have emotional resolution, but fear not, it did just that and it was actually pretty sweet. The two middle scenes are their first two times together, both are quick but appropriately hot. I actually appreciate that, while the story is mostly comprised of sex, the sex doesn't drag. Good, short, and hot with a sweet little HFN ending. What more can you ask for?
Sands of Thyme by EM Lynley (contemporary/culinary/bartenders) - 3 stars This was good. Creative idea, and branched out from just a normal two-guys-meet-at-a-resort thing. The sex was steamy but there were a few times they seemed to be in impossible positions (lying face-to-face while Staff is fingering him but then all of a sudden he's licking Staff's dick?) Overall I liked it, but I gotta be honest, Staff's actions on the whole did not endear me to him at all.
See Right Through by Sara Winters (contemporary/friends to lovers) - 2.25 stars Hmm... this wasn't bad per se... I just didn't really like anybody.
1) Their actions didn't fit to character. Dev even says at one point once Sam starts throwing himself at him that he's acting totally different, and that's how I felt. Sam had been too shy to even flirt for two years, and all of a sudden he decides to unabashedly throw himself at Dev? Didn't seem realistic. And then Dev actually wants to have maybe a grown-up relationship and not just jump right into bed and Sam freaks and doesn't even listen to him.
2) Along the same lines as #1, the way Dev feels at the end, doesn't mesh with what he said about Sam at the beginning. I get that you can be in denial about being into someone... but he just didn't seem to think much of Sam at all at first, I didn't even think they were really friends. It was just all over the place and waaaaaaaay too angsty.
3) The way it started with Dev shamelessly hitting on Mike really bothered me. A little harmless flirting is one thing, but to flat out hit on your straight friend constantly is annoying. I find it hard to believe this has been going on since they were in 8th grade and Mike doesn't do more to dissuade it. It's rude and I found it pretty awkward overall.
4) I dunno, I just didn't really feel the connection. I heard it. A lot. Mostly via whining and pseudo-psycho analysis, but I just wasn't really feelin' these guys together (although I wanted to and obviously wanted them to end up together). Even though Dev was kind of a douche initially, it was him I ended up liking a little more. Sam was being very immature not answering Dev's calls and what-not. I get that he thought he was being brushed off and that sucks, but let the guy effen talk!
Shadow Dance by Cherie Noel (contemporary/dancers) - 3 stars I feel like this had the potential to be a 5 star story. I was immediately sucked in by Hinata, and intrigued by Peter (although I was put-off at first by the ridiculously over the top hillbilly stereotype). I kind of liked how very spaced out everything was. They saw each other in high school and had huge crushes, but Hinata knew his mother could ruin Peter's family (since his dad worked for them) so he kept his distance, then they go off to college. As much as I don't mind the time going by, I did feel like it started to drag in the middle. So even though I liked the mutual long-standing crush, I felt their connection more at the beginning than I did by the time they finally came together.
At the end the guys were all treating Hinata a wee-bit... not condescending, but like he was a delicate flower to be carried around and cared for and blah blah blah. Especially given the big misunderstanding, I feel they were almost treating him like a child.
Speaking of the misunderstanding... Peter's friends mentioned Hinata that first day so clearly they knew him, so did everyone else. I find it hard to believe Peter could really go a year and not figure this out. Besides which, what was keeping Peter from ever talking to Hinata? Like at prom, how could he not ask him to dance?
I had a hard time getting a visual of Hinata, and understanding Peter's confusion. Was it a reasonable assumption or was Peter just being a big-ol hick who'd never seen an Asian guy with long hair?
And lastly, although the picture does show an Asian guy doing a dancy-pose, it didn't quite fit the story. Hinata was dancing alone in the beginning (who knows what style), then he seemed to be proficient in ballroom at the prom. The pic is very contemporary, and even if Hinata did teach Peter how to dance they would never be doing that sort of dancing I don't think. Beside the fact that I'm pretty sure the other person in that pic is a girl (side-boob anyone?) Although I'm OK with the prompt picture just creating a feel and not necessarily a specific scene, it had a different vibe to it, and the actual prompt makes it sound like they're both dancers.
I did enjoy this story, but I feel like it could have been cleaned up a little in the middle with more time at the end for Peter and Hinata to build a real connection.
Show Me Yours by Kaje Harper (contemporary/friends-to-lovers) - 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!
The Rest of Forever by Kate Aaron (contemporary/friends-to-lovers) - 3 stars This was sweet, although I would have liked to hear Jack say some of the things he had only thought to Paul. Like I don't think he really explained to Paul that he's been feeling this way ever since they had that fight, not just since he saw him with Curt. And what the hell happened to Paul?! He just disappeared? That's kind of lame, although I get that his feelings were hurt back then. OK so sweet, but I could have used a little lengthier wrap-up at the end.
The Road to Hell by Sara York (suspense/private detective) - 1 star So... I was really excited about this picture/prompt combo. I was interested to see a story about two priests falling in love. The author decided to go a different way with it, which is fine, but so far two guys are undercover as priests looking for two missing children but once they start looking for them Mac decides it's a good time to have a heart to heart with Greyson and then they go back to their room to fuck with some disconnected dialogue that doesn't really mesh and Greyson literally diving in even though he's never been with a guy before and was all weird and hot/cold earlier... not sure but I just don't think this one is for me.
Roses in the Devil's Garden by Charlie Cochet (historical (1925)/prohibition agents) - 4 stars - I'm not sure why, but for some reason I'm always hesitant about historicals. There really wasn't any need. This had just the right amount of '20's slang to make it fun and give you the right vibe, but it's a great story that could have taken place in any era.
They easily could have ended this in a few places earlier and it still would have been good, but I'm glad it was flushed out (I hope this author joins the next event and writes John and Danny's story!)
This was sweet. The sex scenes were hot. And to be honest, the guy in the pic didn'really do it for me, too beefy. But I loved Harley so much and then the perfect explanation/reveal of the tattoo... love it now!
Safe by Kim Dare (contemporary/dominance) - 3.5 stars This is extremely short, but that works for what it it. The first scene comes directly form the prompt where the sub tells the Dom he loves him and the Dom laughs (although not cruelly). It immediately flashed back to when they met. I was annoyed at first cuz I thought it wasn't going to back to the first scene and have emotional resolution, but fear not, it did just that and it was actually pretty sweet. The two middle scenes are their first two times together, both are quick but appropriately hot. I actually appreciate that, while the story is mostly comprised of sex, the sex doesn't drag. Good, short, and hot with a sweet little HFN ending. What more can you ask for?
Sands of Thyme by EM Lynley (contemporary/culinary/bartenders) - 3 stars This was good. Creative idea, and branched out from just a normal two-guys-meet-at-a-resort thing. The sex was steamy but there were a few times they seemed to be in impossible positions (lying face-to-face while Staff is fingering him but then all of a sudden he's licking Staff's dick?) Overall I liked it, but I gotta be honest, Staff's actions on the whole did not endear me to him at all.
See Right Through by Sara Winters (contemporary/friends to lovers) - 2.25 stars Hmm... this wasn't bad per se... I just didn't really like anybody.
1) Their actions didn't fit to character. Dev even says at one point once Sam starts throwing himself at him that he's acting totally different, and that's how I felt. Sam had been too shy to even flirt for two years, and all of a sudden he decides to unabashedly throw himself at Dev? Didn't seem realistic. And then Dev actually wants to have maybe a grown-up relationship and not just jump right into bed and Sam freaks and doesn't even listen to him.
2) Along the same lines as #1, the way Dev feels at the end, doesn't mesh with what he said about Sam at the beginning. I get that you can be in denial about being into someone... but he just didn't seem to think much of Sam at all at first, I didn't even think they were really friends. It was just all over the place and waaaaaaaay too angsty.
3) The way it started with Dev shamelessly hitting on Mike really bothered me. A little harmless flirting is one thing, but to flat out hit on your straight friend constantly is annoying. I find it hard to believe this has been going on since they were in 8th grade and Mike doesn't do more to dissuade it. It's rude and I found it pretty awkward overall.
4) I dunno, I just didn't really feel the connection. I heard it. A lot. Mostly via whining and pseudo-psycho analysis, but I just wasn't really feelin' these guys together (although I wanted to and obviously wanted them to end up together). Even though Dev was kind of a douche initially, it was him I ended up liking a little more. Sam was being very immature not answering Dev's calls and what-not. I get that he thought he was being brushed off and that sucks, but let the guy effen talk!
Shadow Dance by Cherie Noel (contemporary/dancers) - 3 stars I feel like this had the potential to be a 5 star story. I was immediately sucked in by Hinata, and intrigued by Peter (although I was put-off at first by the ridiculously over the top hillbilly stereotype). I kind of liked how very spaced out everything was. They saw each other in high school and had huge crushes, but Hinata knew his mother could ruin Peter's family (since his dad worked for them) so he kept his distance, then they go off to college. As much as I don't mind the time going by, I did feel like it started to drag in the middle. So even though I liked the mutual long-standing crush, I felt their connection more at the beginning than I did by the time they finally came together.
At the end the guys were all treating Hinata a wee-bit... not condescending, but like he was a delicate flower to be carried around and cared for and blah blah blah. Especially given the big misunderstanding, I feel they were almost treating him like a child.
Speaking of the misunderstanding... Peter's friends mentioned Hinata that first day so clearly they knew him, so did everyone else. I find it hard to believe Peter could really go a year and not figure this out. Besides which, what was keeping Peter from ever talking to Hinata? Like at prom, how could he not ask him to dance?
I had a hard time getting a visual of Hinata, and understanding Peter's confusion. Was it a reasonable assumption or was Peter just being a big-ol hick who'd never seen an Asian guy with long hair?
And lastly, although the picture does show an Asian guy doing a dancy-pose, it didn't quite fit the story. Hinata was dancing alone in the beginning (who knows what style), then he seemed to be proficient in ballroom at the prom. The pic is very contemporary, and even if Hinata did teach Peter how to dance they would never be doing that sort of dancing I don't think. Beside the fact that I'm pretty sure the other person in that pic is a girl (side-boob anyone?) Although I'm OK with the prompt picture just creating a feel and not necessarily a specific scene, it had a different vibe to it, and the actual prompt makes it sound like they're both dancers.
I did enjoy this story, but I feel like it could have been cleaned up a little in the middle with more time at the end for Peter and Hinata to build a real connection.
Show Me Yours by Kaje Harper (contemporary/friends-to-lovers) - 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!
February 7, 2019
This Collection was better than the last ones I read. Even though, most of the stories were far from perfect, I liked many of the Friends-to-Lovers stories and I enjoyed reading more Overall.
freebies
July 16, 2017Rainbows and Puppies – Jonathan Treadway
The Rest of Forever – Kate Aaron
The Road to Hell – Sara York
Roses in the Devil's Garden – Charlie Cochet ★★★✩✩
Safe – Kim Dare
Sands of Thyme – EM Lynley
See Right Through – Sara Winters
Shadow Dance – Cherie Noel
Show Me Yours – Kaje Harper ★★★★✩
The Rest of Forever – Kate Aaron
The Road to Hell – Sara York
Roses in the Devil's Garden – Charlie Cochet ★★★✩✩
Safe – Kim Dare
Sands of Thyme – EM Lynley
See Right Through – Sara Winters
Shadow Dance – Cherie Noel
Show Me Yours – Kaje Harper ★★★★✩
August 20, 2013
RAINBOWS AND PUPPIES – Jonathan Treadway (contemporary/bears)
- Read ★★★★
THE REST OF FOREVER – Kate Aaron (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
- Read ★★★★½
THE ROAD TO HELL – Sara York (suspense/private detective)
- DNR
ROSES IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN – Charlie Cochet (historical (1925)/prohibition agents)
- DNR
SAFE – Kim Dare (contemporary/dominance)
- Read ★★★★
SANDS OF THYME – EM Lynley (contemporary/culinary/bartenders)
- Read ★★★½
SEE RIGHT THROUGH – Sara Winters (contemporary/friends to lovers)
- Read ★★★★
SHADOW DANCE – Cherie Noel (contemporary/dancers)
- Read ★★★
SHOW ME YOURS – Kaje Harper (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
- Read ★★★★★
- Read ★★★★
THE REST OF FOREVER – Kate Aaron (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
- Read ★★★★½
THE ROAD TO HELL – Sara York (suspense/private detective)
- DNR
ROSES IN THE DEVIL’S GARDEN – Charlie Cochet (historical (1925)/prohibition agents)
- DNR
SAFE – Kim Dare (contemporary/dominance)
- Read ★★★★
SANDS OF THYME – EM Lynley (contemporary/culinary/bartenders)
- Read ★★★½
SEE RIGHT THROUGH – Sara Winters (contemporary/friends to lovers)
- Read ★★★★
SHADOW DANCE – Cherie Noel (contemporary/dancers)
- Read ★★★
SHOW ME YOURS – Kaje Harper (contemporary/friends-to-lovers)
- Read ★★★★★
December 22, 2012
I think there is something for everyone in this volume, but if by some weird chance there isn't, hold on, there are 11 in total. If you like the m/m genre many of these books will be keepers.
Fair disclosure, as one of the M/M Romance Group moderators, I could be considered biased, however, these stories, as a whole, do rate a 5 star rating in my opinion.
Fair disclosure, as one of the M/M Romance Group moderators, I could be considered biased, however, these stories, as a whole, do rate a 5 star rating in my opinion.
August 25, 2014
Short stories by a number of different m/m authors across a wide range of genres, topics, places and events all based on a photograph and a readers letter - brilliant premise to start a story.
Another set of enjoyable stories - standout reads for me in this bundle are 4 stars for The rest of Forever by Kate Aaron and 4stars for Show me Yours by Kaje Harper.
Another set of enjoyable stories - standout reads for me in this bundle are 4 stars for The rest of Forever by Kate Aaron and 4stars for Show me Yours by Kaje Harper.
December 22, 2012
As one of the group who worked on editing and proofing these stories and helped put the anthologies together I might be considered biased, but these anthologies are definitely worthy of the 5 star rating.
June 5, 2013
This one is my favourite of the lot as one of the stories is to my prompt and I couldn't have asked for a better story than the one Charlie Cochet wrote to it
May 14, 2014
Another great set of stories. Reviews under individual stories.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews