Bone to Pick

Sunday Brothers #3.5

by May Archer

Never fall for your professor…

Especially when that professor is Theo Hancock, the man who failed you in your final semester, causing you to have to repeat a class in your millionth year of college when you’re already twenty-freaking-six years old…

Especially when the professor is the most stunning, eye-popping piece of perfection who ever walked on campus. So brilliant, his voice alone changed the course of your life. So gorgeous, students affectionately call him Dr. Hotco— Well, you get the idea.

And especially don’t fall for him so hard you show up at his house after midnight fueled with tequila and armed with a sense of justice, a frantic-mad sonnet, and a bone to pick with your professor.

Because you might just end up snowed in with him, his tiny cabin might just have one bed, and fate might have a new future in store for both of you.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Enemies To Lovers, College

131 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 17, 2023

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bone to Pick is book #3.5 in the Sunday Brothers series by May Archer. I have adored this series since the first book. My love for the Sunday siblings has no end! I have no idea how this fun novella got by me when it was released a few months ago. Thankfully, I found it and now I can add Porter Sunday to the list of the Sunday’s I love so much.

Porter Sunday is twenty six years old. He feels like he’s been in college all his life. But now, it is going to have to be one more semester because a certain English professor failed him in his class. So after a lot of tequila shots, Porter and his friends decide it’s a good idea to go out to the cabin where his professor lives and recite an angry sonnet to let him know how he feels. But then his friends leave him there, and a freak blizzard traps the two of them together in the tiny cabin, with only one bed! Well, you can probably figure the rest of it out!!



Dr. Theodore “Theo” Hancock is a professor of English at Hannabury College. He is thirty four years old and is living in a small cabin his grandfather built that Theo inherited after his grandfather’s death. Theo has been secretly fighting his attraction to Porter Sunday all semester. And now he is on his doorstop, drunk, wanting to recite a sonnet! This is not good. He can’t stay. Because Theo’s resistance is only so strong.



These two had already had a huge impact on each other’s lives before this fateful weekend. You can always count on a freak blizzard to bring out the truth. And it was the events of this weekend that showed Porter what his future could look like if he wanted it. And want it he did, with Theo at his side. And he would do whatever it took to make that happen.

This was so amazing. How could it not be with the Sundays involved! And now we have something new to look forward to. We’ll get to see the Sunday clan again in a brand new series coming soon called Copper County. The first book will be called The Pretenders of Copper County. I can’t wait!

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

What made this novella work:

~ Grumpy English professor (aka Dr. Hot Cock) + disgruntled former student

~ Tequila-fueled sonnets

~ Forced proximity and, you guessed it, only one bed

~ Cozy cabin in the middle of a snowstorm

~ Uptight professor losing his cool because ...

~ Naked Porter Sunday

Prepare for Insta Love at its finest. The MCs spend but three days together before going all in, but the flip side of hate isn't indifference; it's love.

[Reem · Rating 4 out of 5]

BOOO! Porter deserved a whole book, not just a perfect piece of wonderful novella.
God, I love the Sundays💘💘 I dare you to find a better fictional family. You can't.

PS. the cover is so bad and is NOT how Porter looks in my head!

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun novella this was and a great entry for the Sunday Brothers series.

I loved seeing Porter and Theo fighting their attraction and snarking at each other about English and non-creative fiction.

I'd very much like a little wooden cabin filled with books and a wood burner to get trapped in by a tree fall and loads of snow too!

This still manages to pack a lot of story into fewer pages than the full-length stories and still gives you plenty of humour, sexy times and a lovely Epilogue.

[Sjoukje · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute, way too short but still a full story. I liked this a lot more than expected when I read the blurb. Porter is fun, but also has a lot more depth than I expected from him in seeing him in the previous books.
And Theo is his perfect counterpart.
Both the backstories and their dynamic could have used so much more to make it a full length book. It was a great read though. And deserves 5 stars.

Will reread and definitely recommend

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐︎ 4.5 Stars Rounded Up ⭐︎

Porter Sunday finally gets his time to shine, as he's been mostly absent from this series until now.

Does this do the teacher/student trope in the least interesting, least taboo way possible? Yes. So much so that it isn't really teacher/student at all. Porter is 26, full on adult. Theo is 34, not that much older. Nothing actually happens when he's Theo's student. Even though they have sex holed up in the cabin, they stay away from each other for a further 7 weeks before Porter graduates because ~ethics and all.

But, did I end up caring all that much once we got these two interacting? Nah, not really.

Because I enjoyed Porter and Theo Hancock aka Dr. Hot-Cock so much. Their chemistry was just so on point and perfect. While their sex scene wasn't quite as detailed as I would have liked, what we did get was so good and I loved it.

This was also incredibly well paced for about 90% of this. The build up of their relationship was just done so well. The foundation for them to fall in love was just so good.

I really loved this novella - which, honestly should have been full length. Like show us their pining era when Porter was his student instead of just telling us? It would have been delicious! - and my only real reason for giving it .5 stars off is because I felt the "I love you" stage came too fast.

Which, again, is why this should have been full length. We got such a great start between these two, but they only truly started to get to know each other during their weekend trapped in the cabin. There was attraction before, sure, but they didn't truly know each other until the cabin.

Then aside from seeing each other here or there during the 7 weeks left of the semester, they stay away from each other. So when Porter is finally finished with school, the next day they get together - in yes, a really sweet and romantic and wonderful way - but something along the lines of "i'm falling for you" is said.

After only about 3 days of really knowing each other, it was a tad rushed. At least the more firm "I love you" came later, but still. It got intense fast, and I think more time of them interacting/being together should have happened before any "falling in love/I love you" talk happened.

But anyway, it wasn't too big a deal and this was still, overall, such an enjoyable read and I loved it.

I can't remember if we have any more Sunday brothers left, but if we do, I can't wait for that story! And if not, I just can't wait to see what new town and bunch of great men looking for love May Archer graces us with next.

Onto the next! 😍

My ratings for the Sunday Brothers Series:

🔆 Pick Me: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Pick One: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Hand Picked: 4.5 stars (my review)
🔆 Cherry Picked: 5 Stars (my review)
🔆 Bone To Pick: 4.5 stars

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I forgot how much I loved this series.
It's been a while since I read the first thee, and didn't even know this one existed until this morning.
Read it in one sitting. Thank goodness for lazy Saturdays.

Snowed in
Only one bed
Professor/Student (thankfully only a smallish age-gap, as the student is 26.

Loved it

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a riot!
I had such a fun time with Porter and Theo.
They were a perfectly suited imperfect pair.
Hot professor + sexy ex-student + snowstorm + ONE bed = a good ol' time.
And saucy sonnets will be remembered!!

[Jacqueleen the Reading Queen♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Theo Hancock was fire, and I craved heat enough to enjoy the burn."

I loved this little novella set in the Sunday Brothers' universe. Yes Porter is technically a Sunday brother, but his story takes place at his college, not Lil Pippin Hollow. I was excited to get his story ever since reading Hawk's book and that little teaser Hawk threw out during his temper tantrum about all his brothers getting some. Who doesn't like the student/professor trope?

I couldn't get enough of Theo's grumpiness. But he was also kind and ended up being super sweet by the end. He and Porter may have had an unconventional start to their romance, followed by a bit of a wait, but they held out and got everything they could have wanted in the end. And that's what I'd call a hell of an HEA.

[Renée · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Great filler book.

[Camila T 🍉 · Rating 3 out of 5]

VERY mid. The sonnets were nice, seeing the other characters was so nostalgic. I still love Knox and Cage’s interactions.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm kind of sad because I loved the other books so much, but I had a hard time liking Porter and Theo, so this book ended up being just fine, but not as amazing as the previous books.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Moraa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poetry has never been sexier!!!



I picked this up without having read any of the other entries and it definitely passed the standalone test.

I liked the dynamic between the MCs — the fact that they waited until Porter was done with uni definitely made it a little less risqué but the writing more than made up for it. I actually wasn’t expecting such fleshed out characters / world building for the page count but May Archer delivered.

Audiobook review: 4 stars
Mostly good but sometimes Michael Dean sounded like he had a cold…👀

Expect
- Age gap
- Enemies to lovers
- Forbidden romance
- Student teacher (different classes)
- Forced proximity

Audiobook freebie: 6.9.25

Other reviews
Book 1.5: Pick One

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giorgia Nancy - per RFS
.
Bentornate fenici, per voi oggi ho la recensione della novella Scelgo te, della fantastica May Archer, autrice di romanzi M/M, che rappresentano per la sottoscritta una vera novità, non essendomi mai cimentata nella loro lettura. Sono rimasta piacevolmente stupita dalla bravura della Archer nel descrivere alla perfezione la tensione e le emozioni provate dai protagonisti. Gli ambienti sono ben strutturati nella loro semplicità, capaci di trasportare il lettore nel freddo autunno del Vermont. I personaggi sono autentici e imperfetti, pieni di contraddizioni e sfaccettature. Il “rancore” di Porter e “l’indifferenza” di Hancock accompagneranno il lettore in questo viaggio breve e intrigante .

Un conto in sospeso con il destino, ecco cosa spinge Porter Sunday a presentarsi a casa del professor Theo “Bel culo” Hancock alle due del mattino dopo un bicchiere, o due, di troppo di tequila. Non tutto andrà come previsto, sovvertendo completamente le aspettative di entrambi.

Colui che gli ha rovinato la carriera universitaria meritava una lezione.

“Ricordare le ingiustizie che avevo subito la scorsa primavera mi fece divampare un fuoco nelle viscere… o forse era solo la tequila.”

Colui il quale non avrebbe dovuto sortire effetti provocava squilibri interiori con la sola presenza.

“Strizzai gli occhi contro la luce accecante della cucina, un’autopunizione per aver osato sbirciare.”

La narrazione scorre impetuosa, le situazioni sono in continuo divenire, un breve racconto ben scritto, divertente e spicy, adatto a una serata da passare in casa a causa di condizioni meteorologiche avverse.

L’unica pecca che ho riscontrato è dovuta alla brevità della novella stessa che non ha permesso un maggior approfondimento dei turbamenti e dei cambiamenti intercorsi tra i due protagonisti. Con la convinzione che sia possibile incontrare un Porter Sunday ubriaco che intona un sonetto di Shakespeare o un Theo “bel culo” Hancock accigliato e “indifferente”.

[Tammy Moldovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steamy, hilarious and heartwarming

I loved, loved Theo and Porter’s enemies to lovers, forced proximity, only one bed novella. After drinking copious amounts of tequila, Porter Sunday decides it would be a good idea to recite rage poetry at Professor Theo Hancock’s house after he failed his class. Theo wakes up in his one room remote cabin to a drunk Porter on his lawn. Thus begins the HEA for Theo and Porter assisted by an inpatient Lyft driver, an unexpected blizzard and a fallen tree that conspire to force them into days of close quarters. Despite being short, the story was well written and included witty dialogue, big feels, three dimensional characters and an engaging storyline. As an added bonus, Porter is one of the Sunday brothers from the Sunday Brothers series. I love Little Pippin Hollow.

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about Porter Sunday. I didn’t really like Theo until more than halfway through the story. He was so abrasive and smug. As an educator myself, I struggled with this idea that he failed him and never made a true effort for him to improve or even understand why he was failing. However, by the end, I did like him more. If Porter forgave him, guess I should too 😂

[NitaBee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Theodore Hancock, aka Doctor Hot-Cock, is professor of English at Hannabury College.

Mature aged Student, Porter Sunday, is getting drunk on tequila with his friends, venting that the professor has failed him and ruined his life.

“I was three tequila shots past my limit, otherwise I would have never considered confronting Dr. Hancock at his own home.”

Porter is reciting angry sonnets, which ends with vomit and passing out in Theo’s front lawn.

Ok not passing out but falling drunkenly to the ground and talking about frantic-mad poetry. Theo is telling himself Porter is not adorable.

Theo is definitely sexually attracted much to his displeasure. 🤣

Theo helps Porter inside his house and takes care of him.

Looks like a snow storm is coming … oooh forced proximity.

And only 1 bed.

Porter in only a towel, passes out in Theo’s bed.

The next morning awkwardness endures. Porter apologises for the previous night. He is also definitely attracted to Theo.

They talk and open up to each other … before arguing over Porter, the class and Porter’s writing.

These Sunday brothers and their love of literature- I’m here for it 😍

There’s a fallen tree, a bet and sexy men sweating over said tree.

There’s sexual chemistry and bantering.

“Porter.” Theo crossed his arms like a shield. “While you might not be my student anymore, you’re still a student. And I would not kiss a student if he had lifesaving anti-venom on his lips and I’d been bitten by a snake.”

Famous last words Theo 🤣

Porter knows that professor/student relationships aren’t forbidden at his college, they just need to be disclosed.

They discuss writing for hours.

“I couldn’t help but grin as I looked at Theo across the table. What better way to prove my words had power than to convince Professor Hot-Cock to kiss me against his better judgment? Game. On.”

Porter succeeds. Theo lunges across the table to kiss him.

Ahh Theo’s hesitation is that he is months away from becoming head of the very department Porter is graduating from. So he halts all the kissing.

They talk, they eat dinner - oh look Porter is being all sexy and persuasive again 🤣

Theo is like it’s just this one time.

I think he believes that too.

“This wasn’t one-night-stand sex. This was life-changing. This was incomparable. This was the kind of sex that demanded a future between us.”

The next 48 hours is a full on sexy time marathon.

Porter is determined to get his man once he graduates in seven weeks.

Seven Weeks Later…
Porter and Theo haven’t seen each other since their time together in the cabin.

Porter is offered a full-time position as Director of the Hannabury Youth Hub.

Theo’s brings flowers and a taco truck to Porters work , to ask him to dinner. Talk about a grand gesture!

Epilogue

“I’m madly in love with you,” he’d breathed. I’d closed my eyes to memorize the feeling of being love-drunk with him. “I love you, too. So very much. Stay with me, please. I don’t ever want to let you go.”

[ʟᴀᴜʀᴀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

yesyesyes I need more hot professor x equally hot student tropes. bonus points for angry (or not so angry) sonnets

[Lelyana's Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor and student
Forced proximity
Snowed in
Angry 'drunk' sonet
Potter Sunday and Theo the 'Hot-cock' professor, hands down one of the best Sunday brothers story
Easily become my favorite

[Kaity]

Audio: 4 stars, I enjoy Michael Dean, I know many people don't haha
Book:: no rating...

I zoned out on this short novella after being only 30% in... it was good background noise, but I forgot where in the Sunday brother line up Porter was... so I didn't feel the connection with him or with Theo... so to me this passed the time, but at the moment I remember nothing besides a tree falling down and they are trapped at Theo's lol, after that it's all a blur.

[SJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bring on the tropes! Some of my favorite ones! From A, attraction(and antagonism) to Z,😴, as in they do sleep together, but very little sleep is had! I love a snowed in cabin story and this was so very well done and enjoyable.
A satisfying read.

[Adaline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I probably would have rated this 3 stars if it wasn’t for how much it made me laugh. Especially the first few chapters. Grumpy professor perfection.

[Ed Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love may Archer. Her books are sweet, funny, and totally over the top. They are completely unrealistic, but reading them just makes me feel good. When you get Michael Dean as a narrator it just adds to the fun. There were several times I just burst out laughing reading this book. Like most good novellas I just wish it was longer.

[Tina J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age gap between college student and professor though not actively teacher/student.
Minor love/hate feelings to start out.
Porter Sunday gets his HEA, finally!
Enjoyable shorter story, under 200 pages.
Minor cameos from previous characters.

[Aki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice but short.

[Anto64 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tre stelline e mezzo.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sunday Brothers Series is a fun and humorous read, and this short Novella to round our the final Sunday Brother was a welcome addition to the series. If you looking from a slightly taboo student/professor story, complete with drunken shenanigans, horrible sonnet renditions and weekend of getting snowed in, then this book is for you.

It's a quick read, with a nice HEA. Plus, getting to see (even briefly) the rest of the Sunday Brothers and their husbands, is always welcome.

[Meagan (FranticVampireReads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bone To Pick was the perfect read to kick off the holiday reading season with! It’s got all the Gilmore Girls meets Hallmark Christmas movie vibes you could ever want. I loved that Porter thought they were in an enemies-to-lovers romance and Theo thought they were in a forbidden romance. The mutual pining was astronomical and I loved that they got stuck together in Theo’s one bedroom cabin during a blizzard. It just let all the feelings come to the surface! Bone to Pick was so much fun and is getting four out of five stars.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you listen to audiobooks, please listen to this whole series because the narrator is just fantastic!