The Scent of Hope

by Summer Devon

Dear Author,
I am getting really tired of the waiting. No one told me that waiting to die would be quite this boring. So to pass the time, I wrote a letter to my sister, but somehow my letter got to the wrong person. Who do I end up writing? Did I really commit the murder I will hang for? Can whoever my mysterious pen pal is get me out of the mess?

Photo Description:
A man in his early twenties looks scruffy in a bloodstained shirt covered by a dusty leather coat. His handsome face wears a slight smirk, which is odd, considering the very large noose around his neck.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It 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.

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, Romance, Historical Romance, Short Stories, Victorian, Gay

35 pages, ebook

First published July 13, 2014

About the author

Summer Devon is the pen name writer Kate Rothwell often uses. Whether the characters are male or female, human or dragon, her books are always romance.

You can visit her facebook page, where there's a sign up form for a newsletter (she'll only send out newsletters when there's a new Summer Devon or Kate Rothwell release and she will never ever sell your name to anyone).

Her blog is available here.

She also has a blog with Bonnie Dee, a frequent co-author. It's mostly just announcements, but we might do good give-aways on occasion.

Reviews

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the idea, but the execution left something to be desired. Especially the insta-love that didn’t make much sense.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts on a really low note, with one of the main characters about to be hanged. As much as Dez used to be a bit of a carefree guy (as I got to see in the glimpses of his memories), seeing himself about to be executed for murder, even though all he did was defend a woman, puts a damper on his normally sunny disposition. The tension remains until the very last possible moment, and the way he perceives his last few minutes - then seconds - of life grabbed me and touched me deeply.

If you like historicals and a bit of period "gallows humor" (pun intended), if you enjoy your nerves being stretched to their limit as you follow the seemingly unavoidable, and if you're looking for a read that is as fascinating and intense as it is likely to fill you with welcome relief once you make it to the end, the you will probably like this free short story.

[Adrianamae · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 rating

I was interested in this story. I love flawed characters, and our two heroes were certainly flawed. I would have loved if we had gotten to know them better. I would have loved if this story would have been longer. That way I would have had more than a barebone-story with a HFN ending. Regretfully, as a reader I needed more than a case of insta-love without much of a resolution. The insta-love and the too short story are reflected in the rating.

[atmatos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was nice. Historical usually isn't my thing, but I enjoyed this.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be the kind of short stories that I wish would be longer. The set-up was really interesting -- and I loved the characters. But the story was just too short for the characters to really connect with me, and I didn't like the case of the sort-of "insta-love" (for lack of better term, because I thought what Dez was feeling for Carl was probably based on the "knight in shining armor who saved my life from death" kind of syndrome) here, nor the HFN.

I wanted more. Really, it would be a great novella at least!

[Kate]

I had so much fun writing this, I'm didn't want to stop. I'm writing Miss Crimson's story.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for this enjoyable and different short story. I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy this going in, I soon changed my mind. It is short, and yes greedy little me would have loved this to be a full length novel with all the aspects of it made longer, but it really did still work as a short story.

Both Carl and Dez were great characters and I think they would have worked well in a longer version..sorry, I'll stop harking on about this being longer (and I'll ignore the juvenile length joke trying to get into this review) because it honestly does work well as a short story.

I loved the setting, the writing style, the set up and execution. It was all good. I'll definitely be checking out more work by Summer Devon.

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ha!! I just realize what the title of this book was! VERY well titled! This was an okay story that really didn’t have near as much depth as it deserved. I liked the idea, although not very plausible.

There was a REALLY intense scene that I thought was very well written, I just wanted the rest of the story to have that same intensity… except for the ending…because that was sweet and filled with “hope”.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the premise of this, and I'm a huge historical fan, so I was extremely excited when I read prison AND historical. Yay!

I think Summer did a lovely job of the prompt, and while I would've liked to see more of the prison aspect (...because, well, prison, yum... and yes, I do know I'm weird) I thought the characters were intriguing. I'd certainly be interested in more of them.

[Sunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instalove, but I enjoyed this sweet tale of a second chance. Both Carl and Dez were interesting characters. I would love to read more about them :)

[Meep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle-Sort-ReRead

Do not take any heartbeats of time for granted ever again

I really liked this. It's kinda ridiculous, but in a few pages we get a vivid impression of the characters and how great they will be together.

It left me wishing it was a full length story. That there was update from some time later.

[Sandra]

Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!

[Melanie~~]

[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little gem of a story! The description is really riveting, and the characters are sassy and multidimensional.

[Eli Easton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Summer Devon/Kate Rothwell's writing and I enjoyed this historical short! Nicely done.

[Hrtnsoul28 · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a short historical, this was really good. I almost felt like it was 70 pages instead of just 35.

[Walford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed. She doesn't get the period-speak quite right, but I'm tediously relentless on that point.

[Jenn (not Lily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous! So much in just a few pages.

[Reflection · Rating 3 out of 5]

This served it's purpose of being a quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed that is my quibble, and why only three stars...the plot was interesting, and the writing well done, so much so that I would have preferred more. The story was intriguing, and because it was so brief, the motivations of the characters were largely left unexplored and underdeveloped, which was really disappointing. This coupled with the instalove theme whilst charming was without depth. With more length this could have been a really excellent piece. I am glad to learn that a further development explaing the back story of one of the supporting characters Miss Crimson awaits - perhaps that will help me get a little more of the details I crave (:

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could definitely feel the mounting tension in this story as the time drew closer to Dez’s demise – that feeling of desperation and despair, yet trying to maintain a brave front was done very well! The two MC’s meet under unique circumstances, but it felt believable and I loved the chance connection. It was also a great reminder about the power of smells. Great addition to the LLE – thank you!

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.

My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely tale but I want MORE!!!!

Thank you

[Anjali · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a OK story for me, nothing to say any-more in my opinion.
This plot did not keep my mind occupied, can't say I enjoyed to read this story or I can't even say I was totally bored out of it so it was readable for me but only once.

[Tailtiu · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5☆

[Verity · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was written really well and had an interesting premise. It ended way too soon. Maybe a sequel?

[GlamLawyer]

dnf

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 Stars

Pretty damned good for a story that short! I wish we'd been given more background on Carl and would have liked for the romance to develop some...but still, great period piece.

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5 stars

[Reader (Show me, don't tell me) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer did a great job -as usual.