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Seventh Son
Dear Author,
Why do these things always happen to me?
I am the youngest son of an English Lord. All my brothers have always been, well, more manly than me. They think my interest in the arts and music makes me weak. But they don’t.
My eldest brother was betrothed to the daughter of a neighboring Lord; one with more money, more power than my father. I was sent ahead of the wedding party to help to get things in order and what happens? Some barbarian from Scotland has kidnapped me, thinking I am my brother.
What do I do now? (And no, I don’t think he’s the most handsome thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t!)
Photo Description:
Scotsman sitting on a horse, holding a sword.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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.
Why do these things always happen to me?
I am the youngest son of an English Lord. All my brothers have always been, well, more manly than me. They think my interest in the arts and music makes me weak. But they don’t.
My eldest brother was betrothed to the daughter of a neighboring Lord; one with more money, more power than my father. I was sent ahead of the wedding party to help to get things in order and what happens? Some barbarian from Scotland has kidnapped me, thinking I am my brother.
What do I do now? (And no, I don’t think he’s the most handsome thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t!)
Photo Description:
Scotsman sitting on a horse, holding a sword.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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.
33 pages, ebook
First published July 6, 2015
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
July 6, 2015
The picture and prompt both point to a historical story, although the prompt author does state that "if modern day pops into your brain that’s great too."
However, the pseudo contemporary setting didn't work for me here; the story left the spirit of the prompt behind. It was jumpy and odd, a bit of a caper really.
The first person narrator is clueless, and the plot and romance just aren't developed enough to be believable. The ending is also abrupt, not even a HFN.
Bonus star for the mattress-biting scene.
However, the pseudo contemporary setting didn't work for me here; the story left the spirit of the prompt behind. It was jumpy and odd, a bit of a caper really.
The first person narrator is clueless, and the plot and romance just aren't developed enough to be believable. The ending is also abrupt, not even a HFN.
Bonus star for the mattress-biting scene.
July 7, 2015
What an odd little story.
I really liked it, though. It's quirky and weird and the prose is almost word vomit, but I liked it.
I liked it so much that at one point I was trying to stifle my laughter in my office and it started sounding like a weird choke/snort which I'm now going to refer to as CHORTING.
Aerie is an odd little man who thinks odd little things. He's so funny that I'd like to put him in my pocket and carry him around so he can spout off sarcastic epithets at random strangers just for shits and giggles. What can I say? I'm easily entertained.
Plus...
It didn't really follow the prompt for the historical portion and I would've liked a kilt or two, but the prompt did say contemporary if the author was so inclined.
The whole kidnapping thing was weird and the resolution doesn't make sense exactly but I liked the big reveal of why "Scotty" did what he did.
If you like silly reads, this is worth it just don't take it seriously.
Thanks to the author & their team for participating and the chorts!
I really liked it, though. It's quirky and weird and the prose is almost word vomit, but I liked it.
I liked it so much that at one point I was trying to stifle my laughter in my office and it started sounding like a weird choke/snort which I'm now going to refer to as CHORTING.
Aerie is an odd little man who thinks odd little things. He's so funny that I'd like to put him in my pocket and carry him around so he can spout off sarcastic epithets at random strangers just for shits and giggles. What can I say? I'm easily entertained.
Plus...
mean I’m a sarcastic pissant who enjoys fighting with my butler. I was aware that I wasn’t the most cheerful unicorn in the universe, but I’d never realized I was actually unhappy.
It didn't really follow the prompt for the historical portion and I would've liked a kilt or two, but the prompt did say contemporary if the author was so inclined.
The whole kidnapping thing was weird and the resolution doesn't make sense exactly but I liked the big reveal of why "Scotty" did what he did.
If you like silly reads, this is worth it just don't take it seriously.
Thanks to the author & their team for participating and the chorts!
July 7, 2015
Thanks to the author for participating and offering this freebie, regardless of rating it is appreciated
The prompt called for historic but had no objection to modern. I have no idea what the setting was;at half-way I still found it confusing, modern trapping and references, yet the father/sons attempted a feudal lord/king vibe. Despite modern clothing descriptions, my mind was refusing to see this as current time.
A snarky narrator gives it the feel of a caper but the story was jumpy and humour is subjective, for me the jokes fell beyond flat. The writing does have a lot of upbeat character which would be engaging if the story wasn't that step too bizarre.
To quote the narrator:
Um, yeah
I guess so.
--
It's short so I went back and finished it. Humour really is subjective; the whole scenario bemused me, more WTF than funny, and there are some very odd lines:
Huh?!
The prompt called for historic but had no objection to modern. I have no idea what the setting was;
A snarky narrator gives it the feel of a caper but the story was jumpy and humour is subjective, for me the jokes fell beyond flat. The writing does have a lot of upbeat character which would be engaging if the story wasn't that step too bizarre.
To quote the narrator:
Get it? No? Christ, you’re a tough crowd.
Um, yeah
I guess so.--
It's short so I went back and finished it. Humour really is subjective; the whole scenario bemused me, more WTF than funny, and there are some very odd lines:
“Jump,” he commands again. Commands the tiny hair cells in my ear that are congregating there because that’s where they congregate.
Huh?!
July 6, 2015
This was a fun quick read with a snarky narrator and a slightly silly plot. The prompt picture suggested a historical, and I was at first a little taken aback by the modern language, at least until Aerie's father is shown on his computer and I realized this is set in the present. Aerie is a spoiled and yet neglected seventh son, and feels sad and unloved. When he gets kidnapped, of course it's by mistake because nobody would want to kidnap him...however, his kidnapper decides to make the best of the mistake. :)
July 7, 2015
The story was completely silly, yet I enjoyed it a lot! Aerie is a poor little rich boy, living with the World' Worst Father. Instead of being bitter and emotionally scarred, Aerie is funny with a dry sense of humor, making fun of himself. He gets kidnapped by mistake and then the silliness commences. Not really a romance, but the romance that does happens, is ridiculously hot.
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August 10, 2015Contemporary short story, first person present tense narration
I was expecting a historical story from the photo and prompt (though the prompt does say contemporary would be acceptable. Aerie is the 7th son of the head of a "legal empire" and one of his sons is betrothed to the daughter of a Scottish, well I assume Barrister given the name of the "firm". Okay, here is my first problem... English and Scottish law are totally different things... and Barrister's don't set up family firms...
After being summoned by his father Aerie is sent to Scotland to spy on the fiance's father... in the company of his butler/bodyguard Peter (who carries a gun... yeah, in England, no, not happening)... when the car in which they are travelling is held up and Aerie taken hostage he and his captor end up making a sex tape as his father seems uninterested in getting him back.... sorry, but I kind of lost interest by that point and skimmed to the end. Just not one for me I'm afraid.
I was expecting a historical story from the photo and prompt (though the prompt does say contemporary would be acceptable. Aerie is the 7th son of the head of a "legal empire" and one of his sons is betrothed to the daughter of a Scottish, well I assume Barrister given the name of the "firm". Okay, here is my first problem... English and Scottish law are totally different things... and Barrister's don't set up family firms...
After being summoned by his father Aerie is sent to Scotland to spy on the fiance's father... in the company of his butler/bodyguard Peter (who carries a gun... yeah, in England, no, not happening)... when the car in which they are travelling is held up and Aerie taken hostage he and his captor end up making a sex tape as his father seems uninterested in getting him back.... sorry, but I kind of lost interest by that point and skimmed to the end. Just not one for me I'm afraid.
July 6, 2015
Seventh Son is different. It is cute and sweet with a dash of tongue in cheek thrown in for good measure. It is a little story that doesn't try to be overly serious or pretentious. Just thing to read at lunch on a Monday.
July 9, 2015
3.5 stars
Wha? Where's the rest of it?
Despite the fact that there's not a kilt to be seen, and it ended strangely, and far too soon, I actually ended up liking this. I was trucking along, enjoying the whole "I've kidnapped you because " thing, then BAM! it's over. I don't even know if these boys got a HFN.
Sure, the MC was snarky, and a little TSTL, but I liked him. I liked his quirk and his narration. I even liked Scotty and his bumbling attempts to seduce Aerie, though if there's ever an example of how not go about to seducing someone maybe this would be it.
I'm going to rate if for the entertaining and interesting read that it is. Because I was entertained, and I did like what I read. I read it at a time when I needed something silly to perk me up. But if I think about all those kilts I didn't read about, or an ending that didn't come, I'd have one serious sad.
My thanks to the author for their participation and effort in the Love is an Open Road event.
Wha? Where's the rest of it?
Despite the fact that there's not a kilt to be seen, and it ended strangely, and far too soon, I actually ended up liking this. I was trucking along, enjoying the whole "I've kidnapped you because " thing, then BAM! it's over. I don't even know if these boys got a HFN.
Sure, the MC was snarky, and a little TSTL, but I liked him. I liked his quirk and his narration. I even liked Scotty and his bumbling attempts to seduce Aerie, though if there's ever an example of how not go about to seducing someone maybe this would be it.
I'm going to rate if for the entertaining and interesting read that it is. Because I was entertained, and I did like what I read. I read it at a time when I needed something silly to perk me up. But if I think about all those kilts I didn't read about, or an ending that didn't come, I'd have one serious sad.
My thanks to the author for their participation and effort in the Love is an Open Road event.
July 15, 2015
maybe the story didn't fit the picture, still it was very enjoyable quick read. In fact Aerie is very funny, Peter so very sarcastic and the nephew so very sweet. I would like to know more about him. So, Senator, if you develop the story further let me know. ;)
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July 6, 2015Given the prompt photo I expected a historical and was confused when it wasn't. The story itself wasn't for me...
July 14, 2015
So this tickled my funny bone. It made me chuckle from start to finish. Not at all what I was expecting from the prompt, but the kind of quirky that hits the spot! Thanks!
July 6, 2015
Cute and funny story with a delightful twist.
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July 6, 2015Well. Totally not what I expected.
I guess if we overlooked the prompt pic, the story might pan out okay for me.
Only... Not really.
Certainly different, though.
I guess if we overlooked the prompt pic, the story might pan out okay for me.
Only... Not really.
Certainly different, though.
Read
July 25, 2015No rating as for me it wasn't even ok. Sorry.
At least it was really short.
At least it was really short.
July 16, 2015
To borrow words from Stephanie Kuehn, this short story was charm and strange.
At first I was somewhat annoyed that the language was so modern for a historical. Somewhere around the paragraph five I raised the time period to Downton Abbey era, still a bit bewildered. And only when a computer was mentioned did I realize that this was, in fact, contemporary.
In some other book this might be the point where I dnf it, but by then Aerie was already working his charm on me. I couldn't take the story seriously, maybe that's why it worked for me. It's full of silliness and it's wacky as only the debut books can be, usually - where authors don't play by any rules. Often we end up with an unpolished story that means well but comes of rough and amateurish, but sometimes this wackiness is just "charm and strange". And that's exactly how Seventh Son felt to me.
At first I was somewhat annoyed that the language was so modern for a historical. Somewhere around the paragraph five I raised the time period to Downton Abbey era, still a bit bewildered. And only when a computer was mentioned did I realize that this was, in fact, contemporary.
In some other book this might be the point where I dnf it, but by then Aerie was already working his charm on me. I couldn't take the story seriously, maybe that's why it worked for me. It's full of silliness and it's wacky as only the debut books can be, usually - where authors don't play by any rules. Often we end up with an unpolished story that means well but comes of rough and amateurish, but sometimes this wackiness is just "charm and strange". And that's exactly how Seventh Son felt to me.
July 7, 2015
OK, had the letter writer for the prompt photo not specifically mentioned that contemporary would be acceptable, I would have been upset for the prompter not getting the historical that the photo seems to suggest.
As it was, I found the humour to be deliciously off-beat and the story kept my attention throughout. The phraseology was...unusual. At times I had to re-read a sentence for it all to come together but that is totally all right. At least I wasn't rolling my eyes at the overused and trite phrases that seem to be ubiquitous in the m/m genre! :)
As it was, I found the humour to be deliciously off-beat and the story kept my attention throughout. The phraseology was...unusual. At times I had to re-read a sentence for it all to come together but that is totally all right. At least I wasn't rolling my eyes at the overused and trite phrases that seem to be ubiquitous in the m/m genre! :)
July 15, 2015
3.75 Stars. No, it's not historical but it's short, snarky and funny. I enjoyed it.
May 31, 2017
Beautiful round-up short story. Full of ridiculously absurd situations with cute finishing touches. Loved both main characters and though the sex felt a bit rushed, it was perfect to match the time limitations due to the possible rescueing or protagonist's upcoming death. Loooooved Peter, he needs his own story full of action to show how badass he probably is and with a sweetheart trying to win his cold/cinical heart. Awww how romantic.
January 28, 2018
This as 3.5 stars. The kidnapping was over the top for me. Real issues addressed were people who are overlooked by their family or others in their life, and expectations which are note realistic for the person.
February 24, 2019
I wasn't sure if the story was supposed to happen in middle ages or modern times, it was pretty confusing. It's pretty much a bunch of random scenes put together with no real plot to back it up. The ending also didn't make much sense and mostly annoyed me.
April 22, 2020
3.5 Star
This was absolutely ridiculous. But if you just roll with it, you'll have a blast, just like the MC.
This was absolutely ridiculous. But if you just roll with it, you'll have a blast, just like the MC.
July 19, 2015
This was a cute and quick story.
Aerie is the the youngest and seventh son of his prestigious family. Despite his father not really caring or paying him no mind, he lives the high life. His only and closest ‘friend’ is the butler named Peter, an older man who tolerates him the best. He is summoned by his father and is requested(told) he will be infiltrating his older brother’s fiance’s family to check them out. He wanted an ‘inside’ person.
He is kidnapped on the way there. His kidnapper is a hottie Scottish man. “Scotty” isn’t the worse person to be captive of. He actually treats Aerie pretty well and ‘shows’ him a good time. One thing leads to another and the attraction and want is mutual. Finally Aerie finds out a few truths all at once and he has to deal with them.
Aerie is the the youngest and seventh son of his prestigious family. Despite his father not really caring or paying him no mind, he lives the high life. His only and closest ‘friend’ is the butler named Peter, an older man who tolerates him the best. He is summoned by his father and is requested(told) he will be infiltrating his older brother’s fiance’s family to check them out. He wanted an ‘inside’ person.
He is kidnapped on the way there. His kidnapper is a hottie Scottish man. “Scotty” isn’t the worse person to be captive of. He actually treats Aerie pretty well and ‘shows’ him a good time. One thing leads to another and the attraction and want is mutual. Finally Aerie finds out a few truths all at once and he has to deal with them.
July 25, 2019
Such a cheeky little story! Admittedly the author took some liberties with the prompt, but I enjoyed the hell out of their interpretation of it. Quirky, fast, with a hint of tragicomedy and farce - I loved it, and the strong voice made up for the lack of any kilts whatsoever. The resolution is a little jumbled and definitely not watertight, but eh, whatever. I had fun.
Bwahaha. Thanks to the author for this little gem. :)
“Oh, he heard me,” Scottish Rogue is saying. He’s eyeing me very curiously and it makes me want to pass out in hormones. I mean fear. Fear. Fuck.
Bwahaha. Thanks to the author for this little gem. :)
Want to read
July 16, 2015
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love Is An Open Road event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
Two of my friends had very similar reviews saying the it felt erratic and the setting wasn't clear, yet I love this prompt so I'm still tempted...
July 10, 2015
3.5 stars.
Crazy and over the top, LOL moments and some WTFs too. A kidnapping gone wrong, fun turns of phrases, and some fast-paced sex. A cute premise and a twist I didn't see coming, but loved.
Crazy and over the top, LOL moments and some WTFs too. A kidnapping gone wrong, fun turns of phrases, and some fast-paced sex. A cute premise and a twist I didn't see coming, but loved.
July 16, 2015
Thank you SenatorBlitz for donating your story, your time and your talent.
October 11, 2015
This is clever and funny and silly. There is a kidnapping and some violence,, but I never felt someone would actually get hurt. It was very entertaining.
August 23, 2015
What tha!!!????!!
September 6, 2015
Cute but weird and mostly confusing. But cute.
September 15, 2015
Um....no, this was so not worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews