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Bended Knee
When restaurateur Hugh Neumann rebukes Oliver Nicholas’s very public proposal to his boyfriend during a Valentine’s Day dinner, the diverted Cupid’s arrow strikes Hugh not in the heart, but in the ass.
After a media storm of commentary, ironically pro and con, gains national steam, what Hugh begins to refer to as his personal “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” begins to affect home life with his partner, Dominick Brodie.
The unrelenting focus forces Hugh to question whether his overreaction was pandering to his largely heterosexual clientele, or if maybe, just maybe, the incident triggered his own panic about same-sex marriage and his decade-long commitment to Dom.
As they realize their definition of a relationship is no longer the same, fractures form—and the public scrutiny threatens to crack apart the life they’ve built together.
After a media storm of commentary, ironically pro and con, gains national steam, what Hugh begins to refer to as his personal “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” begins to affect home life with his partner, Dominick Brodie.
The unrelenting focus forces Hugh to question whether his overreaction was pandering to his largely heterosexual clientele, or if maybe, just maybe, the incident triggered his own panic about same-sex marriage and his decade-long commitment to Dom.
As they realize their definition of a relationship is no longer the same, fractures form—and the public scrutiny threatens to crack apart the life they’ve built together.
- GenresContemporary
72 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 11, 2014
20 people want to read
About the author
Rodney Ross
14 books50 followersAuthor Rodney Ross lives, writes and sweats in Southern California.
'Things To Aim For', a collection of five short fictions, was published by JMS Books in May, 2024.
His novel 'Diversionary Fires' was a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) competition, in the Literary Fiction category.
His novel 'The Cool Part Of His Pillow', now in its 2nd edition from JMS Books, was the 1st Place Winner in the GLBT Fiction category from both the NIEA and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; Silver Medalist in the 2013 Global EBook Awards; and Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rainbow Book Awards.
Also from JMS Books: 'O, Christmas T(h)ree'; The Old Man At My Door'; 'Smoking With Didi' ; 'Otis' ; 'Bended Knee'; and a non-fiction essay in the 'The Other Man: Twenty-One Top Writers Speak Candidly About Sex, Love, Infidelity, Heartbreak and Moving On'.
Other works include 'Signing Off' in the short story collection' Impact', from Other World Ink.
Past achievements include an optioned screenplay and play, both unproduced. Other screenplays earned Honorable Mentions or runners-up citations in the Monterey County Film Commission, FADE-IN and the LGBT One-In-Ten Screenwriting Competitions. Ross was also cited as 'Most Creative' in the Key West Mystery Fest Writing Competition.
Follow him on Facebook.
'Things To Aim For', a collection of five short fictions, was published by JMS Books in May, 2024.
His novel 'Diversionary Fires' was a Finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards (NIEA) competition, in the Literary Fiction category.
His novel 'The Cool Part Of His Pillow', now in its 2nd edition from JMS Books, was the 1st Place Winner in the GLBT Fiction category from both the NIEA and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards; Silver Medalist in the 2013 Global EBook Awards; and Honorable Mention in the 2012 Rainbow Book Awards.
Also from JMS Books: 'O, Christmas T(h)ree'; The Old Man At My Door'; 'Smoking With Didi' ; 'Otis' ; 'Bended Knee'; and a non-fiction essay in the 'The Other Man: Twenty-One Top Writers Speak Candidly About Sex, Love, Infidelity, Heartbreak and Moving On'.
Other works include 'Signing Off' in the short story collection' Impact', from Other World Ink.
Past achievements include an optioned screenplay and play, both unproduced. Other screenplays earned Honorable Mentions or runners-up citations in the Monterey County Film Commission, FADE-IN and the LGBT One-In-Ten Screenwriting Competitions. Ross was also cited as 'Most Creative' in the Key West Mystery Fest Writing Competition.
Follow him on Facebook.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Did Not Finish
June 13, 2014Ok, my dear friends, I made it up to 25% but enough is enough. This writing style is totally getting on my nerves, I'm that aggravated I'm on the verge of jumping out of my skin. And yes, it's told in first person, would you guess it? Normally no problem for me, but in this case it's information overload, pages after pages, jumping around in present and past and instead of getting the feel for both MCs, it's just like following the storyline presented by someone on speed. And as this is the second DNF for me from this author I'm safe to say, his work is not for me.
June 16, 2014
I really really enjoyed Rodney's first book at DSP - The Cool Part of His Pillow so when I saw he had another story out, I definitely wanted to read it. This story is much shorter, but still has that snappy snarky voice that I liked so much in Barry, the MC of the first book. I though the author was very clever in the way he presented the entire story.
What starts out as a nice Valentine's dinner service at Platte, Hugh's restaurant, ends up in a social media firestorm that has everyone attacking him. So well timed is this story with it's homage to the "scandal de jour" that has taken down a number of celebrities and non-celebrities. In addition to the pressures at the restaurant that suddenly is as quiet as a funeral parlor, there is the impact on Hugh's own relationship with his partner Dominick. While they have taken care of all the paperwork in a pre-marriage equality way that will at least protect their assets, etc. it seems that perhaps they have more to discuss on the status of their relationship.
The secondary characters, particularly Ruby, add some additional comic relief and common sense into the narrative. When we finally get to see the instigator of the "incident" again, it's in quite a surprising way ;)
Well done. I look forward to reading more from this author.
What starts out as a nice Valentine's dinner service at Platte, Hugh's restaurant, ends up in a social media firestorm that has everyone attacking him. So well timed is this story with it's homage to the "scandal de jour" that has taken down a number of celebrities and non-celebrities. In addition to the pressures at the restaurant that suddenly is as quiet as a funeral parlor, there is the impact on Hugh's own relationship with his partner Dominick. While they have taken care of all the paperwork in a pre-marriage equality way that will at least protect their assets, etc. it seems that perhaps they have more to discuss on the status of their relationship.
The secondary characters, particularly Ruby, add some additional comic relief and common sense into the narrative. When we finally get to see the instigator of the "incident" again, it's in quite a surprising way ;)
Well done. I look forward to reading more from this author.
July 30, 2016
Told in first person by Hugh, the owner of the restaurant affected by "the Valentine's Day incident", the story is sort of a warning of miscommunication. At times so realistic I was a little surprised not to be reading about it on Facebook, It is not just the story of what happens when you spout off without knowing the facts, but also why communication in your own relationship is essential. This was my first read by this author and I look forward to more.
July 7, 2014
2.5 rounded up.
The premise was intriguing - gay man makes a seemingly homophobic statement in his restaurant during a Valentine's Day proposal and is confronted with extreme backlash, while trying to rescue his livelihood and his relationship with his long-time partner.
Full review on Booklikes.
** I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
The premise was intriguing - gay man makes a seemingly homophobic statement in his restaurant during a Valentine's Day proposal and is confronted with extreme backlash, while trying to rescue his livelihood and his relationship with his long-time partner.
Full review on Booklikes.
** I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
July 28, 2014
The synopsis intrigued me, it was something new. But the writing style totally ruined for me. The time jumps were hard to follow, switching from past to present in the same paragraph. It also felt as if the author tried to show his intelligence by using big/complex words for simple thing. It felt like a car salesman was giving me a spiel.
The story itself was nice, although I would have liked to see the couple happy at any stage prior to the epilogue. Why is our MC so reticent about why he doesn't want to marry, his explanation was lacking.
I was more interested in our "villain" Oliver and his story. What happens after the Epilogue to him. Why was he so adamant about making a statement.
All I have to say is the reading didn't feel fluent to me and made it a struggle to read.
The story itself was nice, although I would have liked to see the couple happy at any stage prior to the epilogue. Why is our MC so reticent about why he doesn't want to marry, his explanation was lacking.
I was more interested in our "villain" Oliver and his story. What happens after the Epilogue to him. Why was he so adamant about making a statement.
All I have to say is the reading didn't feel fluent to me and made it a struggle to read.
February 9, 2025
This'll get you heartburn going, a beautifully written tale of just how far a simple act can make everything go so very wrong and just how much news reporters, activists and protesters can ramp up a story, stretch the truth and possibly ruin people's lives. BUT, it's a great read.
July 1, 2014
3 star review by Cindy
I read the blurb for this story and I was intrigued with the premise. How can you consider a gay man to be homophobic? I had high hopes for it but I have to admit I feel let down.
My biggest issue was the romance between the two main characters or the severe lack of it. I get that Hugh and Dom are an established couple but in the end, this romance novel just didn’t have enough romance in it. There was so much focus on the situation that Hugh found himself in, that Dom was really a very minor side character and it left us without a couple to focus on.)
I found that I just couldn’t connect to either character very well, although I did sympathize with them in general; Hugh for finding himself in a ridiculous situation over a misunderstanding that puts his livelihood in jeopardy and Dom for being stuck with this partner who seems to be so consumed with the success of his restaurant that he’s forgotten how to show passion in his personal life.
Hugh seems so bent on excusing the lack of romance in his relationship because they have been together for so long and they shouldn’t have to try anymore. It’s a sad way to be and I am glad when he finally realizes his error in his thinking (kind of).
The story is a lesson on how social media and the regular media can take a small issue and blow it up into something over the top within a very short time. And it also drives home peoples determination sometimes, to have their fifteen minutes of fame.
While the writing was technically good, I found the style a little awkward at the beginning although it did smooth out at the story goes. I think with a little more time to grow so that we could know the characters a little better, this story could have been really good.
A copy of this book was provided for reviewing. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, excepts, interviews, and giveaways!
I read the blurb for this story and I was intrigued with the premise. How can you consider a gay man to be homophobic? I had high hopes for it but I have to admit I feel let down.
My biggest issue was the romance between the two main characters or the severe lack of it. I get that Hugh and Dom are an established couple but in the end, this romance novel just didn’t have enough romance in it. There was so much focus on the situation that Hugh found himself in, that Dom was really a very minor side character and it left us without a couple to focus on.)
I found that I just couldn’t connect to either character very well, although I did sympathize with them in general; Hugh for finding himself in a ridiculous situation over a misunderstanding that puts his livelihood in jeopardy and Dom for being stuck with this partner who seems to be so consumed with the success of his restaurant that he’s forgotten how to show passion in his personal life.
Hugh seems so bent on excusing the lack of romance in his relationship because they have been together for so long and they shouldn’t have to try anymore. It’s a sad way to be and I am glad when he finally realizes his error in his thinking (kind of).
The story is a lesson on how social media and the regular media can take a small issue and blow it up into something over the top within a very short time. And it also drives home peoples determination sometimes, to have their fifteen minutes of fame.
While the writing was technically good, I found the style a little awkward at the beginning although it did smooth out at the story goes. I think with a little more time to grow so that we could know the characters a little better, this story could have been really good.
A copy of this book was provided for reviewing. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, excepts, interviews, and giveaways!
November 10, 2015
Enjoyed but didn't love - wanted more.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews