Same Time Next Year

by Jenna Bennett

A newlywed receptionist at an upscale hotel reflects on her own marriage as two guests arrive for the night and check into adjoining rooms.


* * * 3,500 word short story * * *


ALSO BY THIS


The Savannah Martin real estate mysteries


A Cutthroat Business (May 2011)
Hot Property (June 2011)
Contract Pending (July 2011)
Close to Home (September 2011)
A Done Deal (December 2011)


The Boddy in the Snowbank (a short whodunit)

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Short Stories, Adult, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit

ebook

First published November 28, 2011

About the author

Jenna Bennett writes the USA Today bestselling Cutthroat Business mysteries featuring Southern Belle and new-minted real estate agent Savannah Martin in Nashville, Tennessee.

As Jennie Bentley, she writes the New York Times bestselling Do-It-Yourself Home Renovation mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime, featuring designer and amateur sleuth Avery Baker and her boyfriend, handyman Derek Ellis, who renovate houses in Waterfield, Maine.

She also writes a variety of romance for a change of pace.

aka Jennie Bentley

The DIY series:

FATAL FIXER-UPPER (November 2008)
SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (August 2009)
PLASTER AND POISON (March 2010)
MORTAR AND MURDER (January 2011)
FLIPPED OUT (October 2011)
WALL TO WALL DEAD (September 2012)
HOME FOR THE HOMICIDE (December 2013)

The Cutthroat Business series:

A CUTTHROAT BUSINESS (May 2011)
HOT PROPERTY (June 2011)
CONTRACT PENDING (July 2011)
CLOSE TO HOME (September 2011)
A DONE DEAL (December 2011)
CONTINGENT ON APPROVAL (November 2012)
CHANGE OF HEART (May 2013)
KICKOUT CLAUSE (October 2013)

Soldiers of Fortune series:

FORTUNE'S HERO (December 2012)

Various:

ISLAND GETAWAY (October 2012)
VIRGINIA CREEPER (October 2013)
BEFORE YOU (March 2014)

Reviews

[Jillyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Every year, Regina White and Tyler Harrison leave their boring home lives behind. Having met at a hotel during a conference some eight years ago, they reserve the same two rooms with an adjoining door on the same day every year. Raising the eyebrow of the hotel staff, no one quite understands the "special" arrangement that the two infamous lovers share...

Because there's only nine or so pages to this short story, there's not really that much to say about it, so this review is quick and to the point.

-The side characters are judgemental and almost rude. It's none of their damn business what goes on.

- The sentences ran on, making me pull away from the intimacy.

- The "twist" is nothing new. It made me think of an episode Modern Family, actually. Take that as you will.

I can't really complain too much, since it was free. However, that would be the only way I'd recommend it. As I say in a lot of other novella/short story reviews: it's not enough to be interesting.

This review can also be found on my new blog, Bitches n Prose.

[bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't read very much romance these days. I more concentrate on mysteries, but after finishing the Savannah Martin series (which had quite a lot of romance, which I enjoyed) I thought I'd try a romantic short story.

SAME TIME NEXT YEAR is about two people that meet at the same hotel, same time every year. For the desk clerk she thinks they are cheating on their spouses, but who are these people and what is their story?

Oh I liked this one! It was such a sweet, romantic story that was a perfect length for me. It was interesting seeing their relationship from different peoples point of views, and how they viewed each other.

I definitely recommend this for fans of romance, and even someone just wanting to dip their toe into the romance genre. A fun short story and definitely worthy of 5 stars.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm actually surprised to say that I did enjoy this little story. I mean, typically I don't like "sexy" romances -- and I can't deny I skimmed a bit at the more intimidate details -- but the ending was a nice surprise and it really redeemed the rest for me!

Basically, this is the (short) story of a man and woman who meet every year at a hotel, in two rooms that adjoin with just a single door. The receptionist watches in awe (and a bit of shame) as year after year, the couple comes in separately for one night in the hotel room -- the same night, every year, to commemorate the day they met.

I think I'd call this a raunchy little fable for grownups -- in the end, there's a nice little lesson. And it's a pretty fun path getting there!

Normally I'd complain that the story was just too short, but I think its length worked in its favor here. It's a quick read, so give it a try! I found it free on Amazon -- score!

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun, sweet, romantic, and quirky. I really liked it and a light bulb has just lit over my head. ;) Although this was really short it was sooo worth the time reading it. (And it was a freebie) This one had me a little confused, then smiling, and laughing at the end. Great ending. I liked knowing stuff other characters don't, makes me feel a little sneaky! Enjoy!

[McKayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this type of story. It shows you how two very distinctive points of view of something without knowing the facts. It is way of keeping the spark alive. Anything else I want to say would just be a spoiler so just read. It is a short read but very satisfying.

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Elizabeth works at a hotel, where the same two people check into the same two adjoining rooms every year. Of course, Elizabeth was no fool! She knew those two were sleeping together.

When you first start reading the pages, you think that this would be a quirky, sweet contemporary romance….until you get to the POV of the two lovers, who are married to each other, by the way. From then on, all you get is a steamy sexual interlude. Some people think it’s romantic for two lovers to return to the scene of the crime on their anniversary, however, I’d say it’s a need for a barf bag.

I would’ve liked it better if there had been interference between the male lover and Elizabeth. I mean, why else would they even mention her?

The story mainly involved the lover’s smoldering night. Any porno could’ve given you that.

[Stephanie Bolen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cute

A romance? The sex wasn't there for smutt. It was well written. But you knew they were the situation without it having to be spelled out for you. Readers aren't dumb unlike the desk clerk.

[colourinne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I sort of liked the way it ended, though parts of the story were definitely a miss for me

[Kay Mcaloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story line with a twist. Short, light read.

[Charlotte Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very exciting book. Predictable story about a married couple who want to relive the past of how they met.

[Kerr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review can also be found on: Paein and Ms4Tune’s Book Blog

Happy Valentines day! For your entertainment, a review of a short little kindle romance I found on my kindle.

And by short, I mean short. Goodreads says 15 pages! Every year Regina White and Tyler Harrison check into the adjoining rooms they met in 8 years ago. This year the new receptionist disapproves. It's pretty obvious what the 'twist' is from the start and it's hilarious that the newly married receptionist doesn't get it. It actually says a lot about her own perceptions of marriage and relationships. But I loved the idea of this one it was cute and so romantic. Well, except for Ty's original assumption he was just going to get her into bed.

I don't get the hand drop/step away at the end though. It didn't make sense to the situation, it's not something to hide and it makes me a little sad that it happened.

It was actually more on the romantic side than the graphic, there's obviously something in there or I'd not be classing it as an adult romance, it's not quite 'closed door' but we don't spend the night with them, which I also like. It's a completely genius idea for keeping the romance alive and no mistake. I'd also consider this myself...

[Anika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, this was a very short story I expected to compact everything in it and it sort of did. It's about a couple that meet every year on the same date with rooms next to each other with connecting doors. The hotel staff have made up secret rumors of what they think is happening mainly that they are both married to different people but come her every year to have an affair. In the last page it is revealed what's really going on and I'm surprised at myself that I didn't guess that it was like that. It isn't a must read but it's cute. But very short and too short for my liking but since it was free I brought it.

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same day next year is short story that left me with a sweet and bitter taste the same time.Sweet because Gina and Ty went at the same rooms at the same hotel they were the first time they met and they are doing this the same day every year for eight years now and you can see that they still love each other as much as the first time,maybe even more,and bitter because they only have that one day.They have to endure 364 days to have 1 for themselves since the other days they have to go to work,take care of the kids and do everything else married couples do.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story started by focusing on two people. They met eight years ago and spend one night a year in the same rooms on the same day as they met. This shows what attraction and lust can do for two people. I loved this story and recommend it for everyone, with huge twist and turns. I think everyone will love it. The author has a great way to tell a story. A great way of showing how two people can love each other so much that they find a way to show each other even if its only for one night a year.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short (very short) quick read. It was a good short story, though I knew where it was going right from the very beginning. Only thing is I think the story had the potential to be a lot more. We could have seen the day to day inter workings of a good marriage with looking forward to that one special time each year. Sometimes stories need to be short and sometimes short stories need to be a little longer.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice romantic/erotic-style short story. I thought it really served to show that the author, Jenna Bennett, could write. Her descriptions and dialog were good.

The story itself was okay. It wasn't exactly something that was in my normal genre, but I enjoyed the author's wordsmithing.

Worth a look.

[Angel **Book Junkie** · Rating 3 out of 5]

So while I liked this book because it was sweet, fun, and cute I also feel like this short story sets the premise for something better. To me it felt like The Notebook but the story behind the characters would have added a whole lot to this. I would like to read more from Jenna Bennett I just hope if she has an idea like this she can write a novel instead of a short story!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a cute concept. I guessed the "twist" based on the blurb, but I still wanted to be told the story. Unfortunately, it felt too obvious, the main characters too perfect, and the side characters kinda unlikeable. Can't recommend.

[Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

8 pages of cute, real cute.

A couple intent on keeping their romance alive.

I loved that the author didn't give a woman who had two kids pert breasts, how silly that I would remember that huh?

[Erin Penn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story of the erotic venue. Fun and easy to read. I liked how the story explored people's assumptions around the main couple. Kind-of weird that you can take away a moral from an erotic story, but I am good with that.
Note: I got it while it was available as a "free kindle book"

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this quick read by a favorite author; love the plot and may activate it!

[Literary Chanteuse · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a rendezvous that takes place every year on the same date and in the same hotel has much of the staff baffled, it creates a wonderful and mysterious story with plenty of romance. Very enjoyable!

[❤️ Dorsey aka Wrath Lover Reviews ❤️]

Kindle Freebie 7/5/12

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my usual style of story to read, but I have to say that I am glad that I got it for free on my Kindle. For a short story, it weaves a good story and the ending is not expected, but refreshing.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story. What a great way for couples to keep the spark.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute and short.

[Melissa Vasel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story, sweet and true.

[Jaimi S · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet short story. The kind that makes you want the book to go on a little longer.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story. Its a great story for those that want to spice up their relationship.

[Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet short read about a couple that returns to the hotel they met at every year. It's a romantic way to keep the love alive.