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Take This Man
Hot Honeymoons and Wild Wedding Nights
Inspired by the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that struck down the restrictive Defense of Marriage Act, award-winning author Neil Plakcy has curated a joyous and romantic celebration of gay love and marriage. While many romance stories focus on the pleasures of the first seduction, Take This Man is thrillingly different--each story spotlights the heightened intimacy of encounters between two devoted men that are crazy for each other. Michael Bracken's confessional "Blue Heart" explores the evolution of love (and sex) with a couple that started out as undergrad lovers. A restaurateur couple's cute new hire goes all the way to please his new bosses in Jameson Dash's romp "Table for Three." Editor Plakcy's contribution is a rapturous story of long-time love and one hot engagement celebration in "A Riviera Wedding." Formalized legally or not, successful long-term relationships share the same secret: knowing what turns your partner on--and vice versa--after years of connection sets the stage for truly making love each time you turn off the lights. Here's to all 50 states!
Inspired by the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that struck down the restrictive Defense of Marriage Act, award-winning author Neil Plakcy has curated a joyous and romantic celebration of gay love and marriage. While many romance stories focus on the pleasures of the first seduction, Take This Man is thrillingly different--each story spotlights the heightened intimacy of encounters between two devoted men that are crazy for each other. Michael Bracken's confessional "Blue Heart" explores the evolution of love (and sex) with a couple that started out as undergrad lovers. A restaurateur couple's cute new hire goes all the way to please his new bosses in Jameson Dash's romp "Table for Three." Editor Plakcy's contribution is a rapturous story of long-time love and one hot engagement celebration in "A Riviera Wedding." Formalized legally or not, successful long-term relationships share the same secret: knowing what turns your partner on--and vice versa--after years of connection sets the stage for truly making love each time you turn off the lights. Here's to all 50 states!
232 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2015
8 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Neil S. Plakcy
238 books650 followersI have been a voracious reader all my life, mostly in mystery, romance, and science fiction/fantasy, though a college degree in English did push a lot of literary works into my list of favorites.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
Quick note: sign up for my newsletter at plakcy.substack.com to get free prologues, epilogues and short stories.
I began writing seriously in high school after an inspiring assignment with A Separate Peace by John Knowles. I didn't know I was gay then, but I knew I was longing for an emotional connection with a best friend. That desire shows up across my writing, from romance to mystery to adventure. I am lucky to have found my special person, and I want to inspire readers to make those connections, to one person or a found family.
It took getting an MFA in creative writing to kick-start my career. That's where I honed my technical skills and began to understand what kind of storyteller I am.
I remember reading Freddie the Detective about a very smart pig inspired by Sherlock Holmes. I’ve always believed that dogs make the best detectives. They notice what humans miss — a faint scent, a subtle shift in body language, the hidden treat in your pocket. That belief inspired my Golden Retriever Mysteries, where Rochester helps his human, Steve Levitan, nose out the truth.
My passion is telling stories where community, loyalty, and sometimes love solve problems just as much as clues do. Whether it’s a cozy mystery in Bucks County, a thriller on the streets of Miami, or a romance unfolding under the Mediterranean sun, I want readers to feel the heartbeat of the place and the people.
I write because stories helped me feel less alone growing up, and now I want to give readers that same feeling: a companion, a puzzle, and maybe a laugh.
When I’m not writing, I’m probably walking one of my own goldens, teaching writing, or daydreaming about my next story.
Since then I've written dozens of books, won a couple of treasured awards, and enjoyed the support of readers.
Every place I’ve lived has made its way into my fiction: the rolling hills of Bucks County, the neon heat of Miami, the beaches of Hawaii, the cobbled streets of Europe. I love exploring how communities work — from a café where dogs guide healing, to a fraternity house in South Beach, to a police unit in Honolulu.
My goal is simple: to write stories that feel grounded in real people and real places, but with enough twists, romance, or danger to keep you turning pages late into the night.
I hope you'll visit my website, where you can sign up for my occasional newsletter, and also follow my author page on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/neil.plakcy.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 28, 2015
Super Sweet! Some great stories about love, commitment and marriage.
Read
October 31, 2017So much of the erotica that I've read relies on the thrill of the new-- meeting someone for the first time, becoming intimate, learning what he likes and what turns him on.
To celebrate the legality of same sex marriage, I came up with this idea-- erotic stories about couples in committed relationships. How could authors heat things up between couples who already knew each other?
I think the authors here were very successful, and I love the couples they came up with!
To celebrate the legality of same sex marriage, I came up with this idea-- erotic stories about couples in committed relationships. How could authors heat things up between couples who already knew each other?
I think the authors here were very successful, and I love the couples they came up with!
July 12, 2015
A great collection of romantic stories--some were very sweet like Jernigan's Into the Dark and Archer's A Ride Home, others had a bit of an edge to it like Ripley's Unwanted Freedom. All had great sex scenes (of course!).
I read this just after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. So reading some of the stories where the characters got married in other states from where they lived or were finally able to be married in their home state because of the state laws, the stories already seemed out of date--and that made me so damn happy!
Looking forward to future stories by these authors.
I read this just after the Supreme Court legalized gay marriage. So reading some of the stories where the characters got married in other states from where they lived or were finally able to be married in their home state because of the state laws, the stories already seemed out of date--and that made me so damn happy!
Looking forward to future stories by these authors.
Read
January 12, 2016My edition has 217 pages plus another 5 advertising other mm books.
Great variety of stories, loved they were all about long term relationships. need to see if the library has more like this.
Great variety of stories, loved they were all about long term relationships. need to see if the library has more like this.
February 27, 2016
A diverse collection of lived experiences that felt appropriately-crafted - doses of pleasure, ecstasy and heartwarming commitment that leaves quite the impression upon the reader.
May 11, 2016
The only problem I had was that some of the stories just were not long enough.
May 3, 2024
Not all short story collections are completely devoid of romance, but the overwhelming majority of them tend to focus on the erotic. The sixteen entries included in the timely, enticing anthology, "Take This Man: Gay Romance Stories," edited by author and contributor Neil Plakcy, feature couples in various relationship stages, and in most cases, there is talk of marriage -- the institution that was once considered beyond the reach of same sex unions.
What makes this group of vignettes especially refreshing is that while these men all uniformly believe in their hearts they have found their soul mate, the physical desire is still very much present, regardless of whether they have been together a few years, several decades, or even completely absent from each other's lives. These writers certainly aren't afraid to remind readers that love and sex essentially go hand in hand between two men.
While marriage is a resounding theme, several stories occur either before, during or after an actual wedding ceremony. In "A Good Heart Is This Day Found" from Rhidian Brenig Jones, Iain and Christian have just said "I do" and are especially eager to escape the crowd and enjoy some private time. Plakcy's "A Riviera Wedding" introduces bodyguards and lovers, Aidan and Liam, who consider tying the knot after attending the wedding of their close friends, Louis and Hassan.
My favorite entry, "Wedding Day Jitters" by Rob Rosen, takes place the night before John and Peter's wedding, an adorable albeit nervously excited couple who decide to go for a late night jog and find creative ways to release tension at a children's playground.
Surprise proposals are aplenty, as well, most notably in Justin Josh's "Homecoming," where Scott returns from active military duty and is welcomed by a plus-size version of his other-half, Todd, whose chiseled, muscular physique is hidden under a fat suit. During a hike in the woods gone wrong, Rick asks Mason to marry him after they stumble upon a cavern seemingly by accident in D.K. Jernigan's "Into the Dark." Oleander Plume reminds us it is "Never Too Late," when the waned passion between long term couple Tony and Braiden is reignited after they make some significant and long overdue changes to their relationship.
As for those who have been married for a while (and together even longer), select authors remind us that there is still plenty of fun to be had after walking down the aisle. Shawn and Brian act out an anonymous encounter role-play fantasy in T.R. Verten's alluring "Strangers for the Night." A couple drives cross country for their five-year anniversary and makes the most of their pit stop at a diner's restroom in "The Road Trip" by Kitten Boheme, while Toby and Azzo invite a young waiter, Mike, to join them in the bedroom at "Table for Three" from Jameson Dash.
"Take This Man" is an engaging, amusing and provocative collection that entertains and arouses while renewing your faith in love and romance.
What makes this group of vignettes especially refreshing is that while these men all uniformly believe in their hearts they have found their soul mate, the physical desire is still very much present, regardless of whether they have been together a few years, several decades, or even completely absent from each other's lives. These writers certainly aren't afraid to remind readers that love and sex essentially go hand in hand between two men.
While marriage is a resounding theme, several stories occur either before, during or after an actual wedding ceremony. In "A Good Heart Is This Day Found" from Rhidian Brenig Jones, Iain and Christian have just said "I do" and are especially eager to escape the crowd and enjoy some private time. Plakcy's "A Riviera Wedding" introduces bodyguards and lovers, Aidan and Liam, who consider tying the knot after attending the wedding of their close friends, Louis and Hassan.
My favorite entry, "Wedding Day Jitters" by Rob Rosen, takes place the night before John and Peter's wedding, an adorable albeit nervously excited couple who decide to go for a late night jog and find creative ways to release tension at a children's playground.
Surprise proposals are aplenty, as well, most notably in Justin Josh's "Homecoming," where Scott returns from active military duty and is welcomed by a plus-size version of his other-half, Todd, whose chiseled, muscular physique is hidden under a fat suit. During a hike in the woods gone wrong, Rick asks Mason to marry him after they stumble upon a cavern seemingly by accident in D.K. Jernigan's "Into the Dark." Oleander Plume reminds us it is "Never Too Late," when the waned passion between long term couple Tony and Braiden is reignited after they make some significant and long overdue changes to their relationship.
As for those who have been married for a while (and together even longer), select authors remind us that there is still plenty of fun to be had after walking down the aisle. Shawn and Brian act out an anonymous encounter role-play fantasy in T.R. Verten's alluring "Strangers for the Night." A couple drives cross country for their five-year anniversary and makes the most of their pit stop at a diner's restroom in "The Road Trip" by Kitten Boheme, while Toby and Azzo invite a young waiter, Mike, to join them in the bedroom at "Table for Three" from Jameson Dash.
"Take This Man" is an engaging, amusing and provocative collection that entertains and arouses while renewing your faith in love and romance.
March 11, 2021
I liked most of the stories.
May 8, 2024
This collection of short fiction has several good stories, a few OK ones and a couple that were skimmed over.
Worth it for the best entries and as an introduction of writers to look out for.
Worth it for the best entries and as an introduction of writers to look out for.
Want to read
November 10, 2014HI MY CP IS IN THIS
Want to read
June 25, 2015recd by Bos guy blog
August 21, 2016
2.5 stars
April 21, 2017
Well this ran from one extreme to the other for me. I actually scored one story at 1 and one at 5.
My faves:
The 5 star read - Ink Stained by Krista Merle. Historical. I could happily read a whole book about these guys. I stalked the author for any more work. There isn't any :(
The 4.5 star read - A Rivera Wedding by Neil Plakcy. It's Aiden and Liam. Love, love, love!
The 4 star read - Table for Three by Jameson Dash. Wow, I'm surprised I enjoyed this so much. A settled and dedicated partnership taking in a much younger third for the night. Normally not my thing. This I really enjoyed.
Honourable mentions: My apologies Sir/Strangers for the Night/The Last Romantic Lover
I don't know that this is worth the £10 price tag but if it comes up for sale, grab it.
My faves:
The 5 star read - Ink Stained by Krista Merle. Historical. I could happily read a whole book about these guys. I stalked the author for any more work. There isn't any :(
The 4.5 star read - A Rivera Wedding by Neil Plakcy. It's Aiden and Liam. Love, love, love!
The 4 star read - Table for Three by Jameson Dash. Wow, I'm surprised I enjoyed this so much. A settled and dedicated partnership taking in a much younger third for the night. Normally not my thing. This I really enjoyed.
Honourable mentions: My apologies Sir/Strangers for the Night/The Last Romantic Lover
I don't know that this is worth the £10 price tag but if it comes up for sale, grab it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews