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Conversation Hearts
It’s Valentine’s Day, and grad student—and male escort—Levi Barron expects to spend his evening with a client who’s paying him for his services in bed… not an assassin who needs to borrow the view from his hotel room in the morning.
With nothing to do but endure the company of his unwanted guest, Levi and the assassin, Sinjin, spend some time bonding over HGTV, minibar beverages, Flannery O’Connor short stories, terrible Valentine’s candy, and the necessity of lying about their jobs.
Their evening takes an unexpected turn when they decide to indulge in their mutual attraction, and in the morning Levi doesn’t know if he's spent the night with a hired killer or a hydraulic engineer with a very specific fantasy. Either way, the two have enough chemistry—in and out of bed—that Levi isn’t sure one night with Sinjin will be enough.
And a message left in candy suggests the feeling is mutual.
With nothing to do but endure the company of his unwanted guest, Levi and the assassin, Sinjin, spend some time bonding over HGTV, minibar beverages, Flannery O’Connor short stories, terrible Valentine’s candy, and the necessity of lying about their jobs.
Their evening takes an unexpected turn when they decide to indulge in their mutual attraction, and in the morning Levi doesn’t know if he's spent the night with a hired killer or a hydraulic engineer with a very specific fantasy. Either way, the two have enough chemistry—in and out of bed—that Levi isn’t sure one night with Sinjin will be enough.
And a message left in candy suggests the feeling is mutual.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2016
28 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
Avon Gale
29 books1,343 followersAvon Gale lives in a liberal Midwestern college town, where she spends her days getting heavily invested in everything from craft projects to video games. She likes road trips by car, rock concerts, thunderstorms, IPAs, Kentucky bourbon and tattoos. As a queer author, Avon is committed to providing happy endings for all and loves to tell stories that focus on found families, strong and open communication, and friendship. She loves writing about quirky people who might not be perfect, but always find a place where they belong. In her former life, Avon wrote fanfiction at her desk while ostensibly doing work in non-profit fundraising for public radio and women’s liberal arts education, and worked on her books in between haircuts and highlights as a stylist. Now she’s a full-time writer, delighted to be able to tell stories for a living.
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Enjoy fantasy with a bit of a kinky, darker edge? Check out Avon's fantasy books, co-written with author Fae Loxley, under the pen name Iris Foxglove!
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Enjoy fantasy with a bit of a kinky, darker edge? Check out Avon's fantasy books, co-written with author Fae Loxley, under the pen name Iris Foxglove!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
March 12, 2016
oh, hey, unexpected winner in the winter of my TBR discontent.
dangerously close to perfect, even if the fresca hate was, i felt, a touch too brown.
fresca. it's like angels dancing on your tongue in ok i'll stop now, it's just grapefruit soda.
when i asked my buddy reader how in the hell an assassin is gonna decide outta nowhere to let a witness live, she said:
"twu wuv."
so.
but yeah, this was fun, funny, and unexpectedly touching about as often as it was unsurprisingly disturbing.
can't tell me a guy sticking his dick in your face after giving you a smile that doesn't reach his eyes isn't creepy as fuck—leaving aside the knowledge he fixin to completely fuck up someone's day.
you know. with the assassination part.
but in the way of this story my disquiet was immediately negated by his doofy hair and a good will hunting reference.
avon gale has been added to the List of Approved Vendors.
dangerously close to perfect, even if the fresca hate was, i felt, a touch too brown.
fresca. it's like angels dancing on your tongue in ok i'll stop now, it's just grapefruit soda.
when i asked my buddy reader how in the hell an assassin is gonna decide outta nowhere to let a witness live, she said:
"twu wuv."
so.
but yeah, this was fun, funny, and unexpectedly touching about as often as it was unsurprisingly disturbing.
can't tell me a guy sticking his dick in your face after giving you a smile that doesn't reach his eyes isn't creepy as fuck—leaving aside the knowledge he fixin to completely fuck up someone's day.
you know. with the assassination part.
but in the way of this story my disquiet was immediately negated by his doofy hair and a good will hunting reference.
avon gale has been added to the List of Approved Vendors.
July 8, 2016
Cross-posted at Outlaw Reviews and at Shelf Inflicted
I’m old and haven’t done a good job keeping up with pop culture, so had to look up the following:
- RedTube
- Pete Wentz
- Jason Statham
- Hot Topic
- Property Brothers
- Surface texture paste
That said, my lack of knowledge didn’t at all detract from my enjoyment of this story.
Levi Barron is poor graduate student working for an escort service. While waiting for a client who doesn’t show, Sinjin arrives. Sinjin is as surprised as Levi, because according to the hotel database he hacked into, the room was supposed to be empty. Having Levi around seriously puts a crimp in his assassination plans. Sinjin wasn’t planning to kill Levi, but he can’t very well let him leave, can he?
This is a fun, fast-paced and clever story that is hilarious and also ridiculously hot.
I loved the banter between the guys, the tension, the red boxer briefs with little hearts, and the chalky heart candies with words on them.
I’m thinking I might like to borrow Levi’s Surface texture paste. It may be less goopy than what I’m currently using.
Thanks to Erika for lending this to me.
I’m old and haven’t done a good job keeping up with pop culture, so had to look up the following:
- RedTube
- Pete Wentz
- Jason Statham
- Hot Topic
- Property Brothers
- Surface texture paste
That said, my lack of knowledge didn’t at all detract from my enjoyment of this story.
Levi Barron is poor graduate student working for an escort service. While waiting for a client who doesn’t show, Sinjin arrives. Sinjin is as surprised as Levi, because according to the hotel database he hacked into, the room was supposed to be empty. Having Levi around seriously puts a crimp in his assassination plans. Sinjin wasn’t planning to kill Levi, but he can’t very well let him leave, can he?
This is a fun, fast-paced and clever story that is hilarious and also ridiculously hot.
I loved the banter between the guys, the tension, the red boxer briefs with little hearts, and the chalky heart candies with words on them.
I’m thinking I might like to borrow Levi’s Surface texture paste. It may be less goopy than what I’m currently using.
Thanks to Erika for lending this to me.
February 17, 2016
Know what's better than a Fresca? Oh wait, everything.
I took the wind out of my own opening. Damn.
The blurb says it all but what the blurb does not include is the hotness of a bossy top and assassin who takes the lemon of finding an unexpected rent boy in his designated hotel room to pound the hell out of it into lemonade.
PRAISE JEEZUS!
The minifridge picnic and associated banter are just part of what I've come to expect from this author and what makes this short such an enjoyable little diversion.
For the most part...
The whole "hating the Red Sox" bit was, I feel, a bit heavy handed not to mention harsh, thus I've mobilized all of RSN to come to your house, Avon, for an intervention. We briefly discussed other options but ruled them out since "educating" fictional characters proved to be a problematic sell. However, in the sequel I expect Levi to have seen the error of his ways.
In all seriousness, this story is fun and hot and I loved the ambiguity we're left with regarding Sinjin. I got a kick out of the whole "Ironic" Alanis Morissette schtick and the other pop culture and literature references.
For only thirty some pages it packs a punch and is definitely worth a read.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I took the wind out of my own opening. Damn.
The blurb says it all but what the blurb does not include is the hotness of a bossy top and assassin who takes the lemon of finding an unexpected rent boy in his designated hotel room to pound the hell out of it into lemonade.
He gripped the edges of the blankets in his fingers and held on while Sinjin rode him hard, as hard as Levi wanted, hard like he could never quite manage to convince anyone to give it to him.
PRAISE JEEZUS!
The minifridge picnic and associated banter are just part of what I've come to expect from this author and what makes this short such an enjoyable little diversion.
For the most part...
The whole "hating the Red Sox" bit was, I feel, a bit heavy handed not to mention harsh, thus I've mobilized all of RSN to come to your house, Avon, for an intervention. We briefly discussed other options but ruled them out since "educating" fictional characters proved to be a problematic sell. However, in the sequel I expect Levi to have seen the error of his ways.
In all seriousness, this story is fun and hot and I loved the ambiguity we're left with regarding Sinjin. I got a kick out of the whole "Ironic" Alanis Morissette schtick and the other pop culture and literature references.
For only thirty some pages it packs a punch and is definitely worth a read.
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2016
~3.5~
I prefer stories that have a definitive ending, even better if it's a HEA. Conversation Hearts ends on an ambiguous note. Is Sinjin an assassin or isn't he?
And was the whole night really a coincidence (not an irony; never an irony)?
A rent boy hooks up with an assassin against his better judgement. There is champagne and Fresca and those damn candy hearts. There's sex and banter. Lots of banter.
I had fun with this short story, and I'm still thinking on it.
I would love to read the full-length version!
I prefer stories that have a definitive ending, even better if it's a HEA. Conversation Hearts ends on an ambiguous note. Is Sinjin an assassin or isn't he?
And was the whole night really a coincidence (not an irony; never an irony)?
A rent boy hooks up with an assassin against his better judgement. There is champagne and Fresca and those damn candy hearts. There's sex and banter. Lots of banter.
I had fun with this short story, and I'm still thinking on it.
I would love to read the full-length version!
February 22, 2016
This is exactly why I'm a big fan of Avon Gale's work! Just the right amount of dirty, funny, and sweet all in one little book.
Why, if I didn't have any date during V-Day, I would have dated this book and it would still end up with me having a good time.
Want to read
August 8, 2016I stopped reading the blurb after male escort. I just added.
I'm built that way.
I think I saw assassin in there, so...I'm golden. *nods*
I'm built that way.
I think I saw assassin in there, so...I'm golden. *nods*
February 12, 2018
Reread Feb 2018- grrr I just want more more more!!!!
Review
Loved that!! This was me reading this:
Then
And lastly
Loved it!!!
Review
Loved that!! This was me reading this:
Then
And lastly
Loved it!!!
February 12, 2016
I tend not to read short stories but how can I resist Avon Gale!
This was wonderful. I would hit the one-click button so hard if Avon Gale ever decided to expand on Sinjin and Levi in a full length book *hint*. Full of what I'm beginning to think of as her trademark banter and some great sex, you'll be left wondering "did he or didn't he" and "is he or isn't he" but it really doesn't matter.
This was wonderful. I would hit the one-click button so hard if Avon Gale ever decided to expand on Sinjin and Levi in a full length book *hint*. Full of what I'm beginning to think of as her trademark banter and some great sex, you'll be left wondering "did he or didn't he" and "is he or isn't he" but it really doesn't matter.
April 10, 2021
I don't usually rate short stories, but this was smartly written and I appreciated its oddities and ambiguities. It knew just when to stop, too. Clever.
February 1, 2016
Okay, so...the blurb literally tells you the whole story so you may be thinking - if I know what happens, why should I read this?
In my opinion, you should read this because it's super funny, really sexy and very well done for such a short story. Kudos to you Avon Gale!
My only wish? I really want this turned into a full length novel. I really want to see if Sinjin and Levi can be together. Oh, and I want a HEA, please.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Conversation Hearts provided by the author, via Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
In my opinion, you should read this because it's super funny, really sexy and very well done for such a short story. Kudos to you Avon Gale!
My only wish? I really want this turned into a full length novel. I really want to see if Sinjin and Levi can be together. Oh, and I want a HEA, please.
Advanced Review Galley copy of Conversation Hearts provided by the author, via Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
January 20, 2018
Sweet, witty & hot! Great writing.
November 12, 2023
Really liked!! Assassin and escort accidently ends up sharing a hotel room for the night. And what a night 🔥
October 25, 2023
Wow, Valentine's Day with a rentboy and assassin? Sign me up!
This was....cute, exhilarating, eye-brow raising, and whodunnit that doesn't get answered 😄
I loved it. At 30 pages and free on KU, why not give it a shot? It's an anti-Valentine novella. Cute and Deadly.
Oh, and some oddly hateful Fresca rhetoric. 👀
ETA: Clearly this author is a Yankees fan with all that silly Red Sox shade. Tsk-tsk.
No classic HEA, more like maybe there will be an HFN? 🤔
This was....cute, exhilarating, eye-brow raising, and whodunnit that doesn't get answered 😄
I loved it. At 30 pages and free on KU, why not give it a shot? It's an anti-Valentine novella. Cute and Deadly.
Oh, and some oddly hateful Fresca rhetoric. 👀
ETA: Clearly this author is a Yankees fan with all that silly Red Sox shade. Tsk-tsk.
No classic HEA, more like maybe there will be an HFN? 🤔
March 16, 2016
Completely unbelievable but a fun read nonetheless. Looking forward to reading even more from this author.
March 12, 2017
Avon Gale, you are a dirty girl to the core … and I adore that in someone, especially if that someone is the author of deliciously quirky M/M romances such as Let the Wrong Light In and now “Conversation Hearts.”
This novella is just right at roughly 30 pages. We are introduced to Levi (graduate student / rent boy) and Sinjin (assassin?/ hydraulic engineer?) on a Valentine’s Day eve that is about everything but “the love”, what with an assassination on the schedule for tomorrow. Levi and Sinjin tentatively bond over HGTV (“You know, people wouldn’t want an open concept kitchen if they knew how easy it was to get shot in one”) but since the Property Brothers episode is a rerun, what’s a hot tattooed guy and a dead-eyed assassin supposed to do until morning?
With sizzling sexual chemistry galore (a nice mix of on- and off-the-page) and perfect pacing, the ending is ambiguous and an utter delight.
I received an ARC from the author, via Dreamspinner Press, in exchange for an honest review..
Also posted on:
This novella is just right at roughly 30 pages. We are introduced to Levi (graduate student / rent boy) and Sinjin (assassin?/ hydraulic engineer?) on a Valentine’s Day eve that is about everything but “the love”, what with an assassination on the schedule for tomorrow. Levi and Sinjin tentatively bond over HGTV (“You know, people wouldn’t want an open concept kitchen if they knew how easy it was to get shot in one”) but since the Property Brothers episode is a rerun, what’s a hot tattooed guy and a dead-eyed assassin supposed to do until morning?
With sizzling sexual chemistry galore (a nice mix of on- and off-the-page) and perfect pacing, the ending is ambiguous and an utter delight.
I received an ARC from the author, via Dreamspinner Press, in exchange for an honest review..
Also posted on:
February 19, 2016
This was wicked good.
January 22, 2016
4 Stars ~ An Assassin and A Rent Boy in a motel room...what a coincidence
This was a cute story that was light yet dark at the same time. It sounds like a bad joke, A rent boy waiting for his client only to be held hostage by an assassin who needs his window. What starts out as two guys thrown together turns into a night of hot sex and some shared truths. Will there be more for these two after one night? The answer might be written in conversation hearts!!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews
This was a cute story that was light yet dark at the same time. It sounds like a bad joke, A rent boy waiting for his client only to be held hostage by an assassin who needs his window. What starts out as two guys thrown together turns into a night of hot sex and some shared truths. Will there be more for these two after one night? The answer might be written in conversation hearts!!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Jaime from Alpha Book Club
and Gay Book Reviews
April 11, 2023
The most lighthearted romance short story about a sex worker and an assassin that you'll ever read. (I feel like somebody just went and bought this based on that sentence.) Levi Barron is a literature graduate student who pays for school with sex work. He likes his job! But when his client doesn't show up and scary assassin Sinjin breaks into his room to use his window to shoot someone... they end up sleeping together. Because reasons! The story is so short that I'm not going to tell you anything else, but let's just say that the ending had me smiling with delighted hope.
August 27, 2017
I LOVED this one. It was funny, cute with the best lines and dialogue. For such a short book it was completely engaging. It doesn't surprise me - this is a fave author of mine. She really does not misfire..like..ever.
April 23, 2018
This is a total delight! An assassin and a rent boy. Very wicked...
Review to come.
Review to come.
February 10, 2016
Avon Gale with the unexpected. I love the bleeding heart cover, totally misconception with the story though. Oh my goodness I loved it. If I could describe it in two words, I’ll say “Dark Comedy”. I feel like this is a what not to do situation if someone knocks on your hotel door. I really like the dark satire of the story, and sure I’m a big enough person to admit I don’t who Flannery O’Connor is/was or even if she is real. Sue me. I didn’t even get the itch to google, and I still thought it was a solid story. Such a cute novella, with both intriguing characters.
I wonder if Levi second guesses his job after this Valentine’s Day weekend. Ha! I hope so or no. I really wanted more about these two characters. I loved the smart hitman who wasn’t broody or mean, or silent. Sinjin was epic fun. I loved the conversations between the two. You definitely see the connection, and if either guy was able to meet on “normal” situations we definitely could see easily being together. The bouts of crazy holiday sex, conversation over the hatred of Fresca soda, education and everything Wicked good was a really solid read for me. Avon’s style is really growing on me and I look forward to reading more from her.
Review to come @
I wonder if Levi second guesses his job after this Valentine’s Day weekend. Ha! I hope so or no. I really wanted more about these two characters. I loved the smart hitman who wasn’t broody or mean, or silent. Sinjin was epic fun. I loved the conversations between the two. You definitely see the connection, and if either guy was able to meet on “normal” situations we definitely could see easily being together. The bouts of crazy holiday sex, conversation over the hatred of Fresca soda, education and everything Wicked good was a really solid read for me. Avon’s style is really growing on me and I look forward to reading more from her.
Review to come @
February 23, 2016
This one reads like a prologue or a flashback of a full-length novel. It was cute, though, I did not feel the romance at all. It was like a chance meeting (coincidence lol) and they went with the whole thing – sex and all. As it is with short stories, they tend to want you ask for more. I think I want to read more from these guys.
2.5
2.5
February 16, 2016
This story made my eyes hurt. I mean that in a good way.
I had Lasik awhile back, a procedure which is actually really gross when you think about it, because it's literally having your eyeballs shaved. Anyway, one of the side effects is light sensitivity. My vision could barely be called vision before the procedure, and I experienced this side effect to the extreme. I couldn't use my computer, tablet, phone, or even watch TV without discomfort. I was on the audiobook express train. But then Avon Gale mentioned something about an assassin, a rent boy, and Fresca, and I was intrigued.
I opened the file without really intending to read it right that moment, but I do love me some assassins, the weirder the better, and there it was in all its quirky assassin glory...at any rate, I read the whole damn thing and I commend Ms. Gale for making it short (for my poor pained eyes) while simultaneously shaking my fist at her for making it short.
This is a very fun read, perfect for the morally (and relationship) challenged on this so-called romantic holiday.
I had Lasik awhile back, a procedure which is actually really gross when you think about it, because it's literally having your eyeballs shaved. Anyway, one of the side effects is light sensitivity. My vision could barely be called vision before the procedure, and I experienced this side effect to the extreme. I couldn't use my computer, tablet, phone, or even watch TV without discomfort. I was on the audiobook express train. But then Avon Gale mentioned something about an assassin, a rent boy, and Fresca, and I was intrigued.
I opened the file without really intending to read it right that moment, but I do love me some assassins, the weirder the better, and there it was in all its quirky assassin glory...at any rate, I read the whole damn thing and I commend Ms. Gale for making it short (for my poor pained eyes) while simultaneously shaking my fist at her for making it short.
This is a very fun read, perfect for the morally (and relationship) challenged on this so-called romantic holiday.
February 24, 2016
What a great idea for a story! Of course it has all of the humorous banter and wit I love about Avon Gale's writing, but this one has a thread of darkness that I really enjoyed. Okay, obviously a paid assassin and an escort so yeah - but there was always an edge, something sinister, and that threat of how it might end. I enjoyed the dialog between the two characters. They have great chemistry and realize they have more in common than they would have thought. Great ending.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 29, 2016
Avon Gale managed to do a Valentine's Day story that wasn't totally dopey. Hooyah!
January 9, 2017
How did I miss an Avon Gale book?! This is just something short & fun from my FAVE, short, witty, sexy - nice surprise.
February 15, 2020
"Oh God. Suddenly being a sex slave didn’t sound as appealing as those videos implied it would be. “Are you going to kidnap me and sell me to a sex dungeon?”
Worst. Valentine’s. Day. Ever.
“Are those actually real? I thought they just existed on RedTube.”
I really, really needed something light, funny, and sexy to read today. As soon as I read the description for 'Conversation Hearts' by Avon Gale, I knew I'd found what I was looking for. Just the idea of being an escort trapped in a hotel room with an assassin on Valentine's struck me as hilariously funny, and I was excited to read Levi and Sinjin's story.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Worst. Valentine’s. Day. Ever.
“Are those actually real? I thought they just existed on RedTube.”
I really, really needed something light, funny, and sexy to read today. As soon as I read the description for 'Conversation Hearts' by Avon Gale, I knew I'd found what I was looking for. Just the idea of being an escort trapped in a hotel room with an assassin on Valentine's struck me as hilariously funny, and I was excited to read Levi and Sinjin's story.
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
February 13, 2016
There's a great dynamic that builds between these two lonely hearts. As the story moves on, and the sex gets hotter, there's an expectation that everything will work out. Be explained. Understood. Finished.
Well, that ain't what happens.
I found the resolution inconclusive and ambiguous. I reread the last four or five pages several times. I changed my mind each time.
I quite like a story that can do that.
I still don't know what to think. And you know what else? Sometimes thinking is over-rated.
Well, that ain't what happens.
I found the resolution inconclusive and ambiguous. I reread the last four or five pages several times. I changed my mind each time.
I quite like a story that can do that.
I still don't know what to think. And you know what else? Sometimes thinking is over-rated.
February 12, 2016
3.5 stars
This was pretty funny but I don't think I really felt the "romance". I loved the Alanis Morissette references though.
This was pretty funny but I don't think I really felt the "romance". I loved the Alanis Morissette references though.
February 15, 2016
One of the things I love so much about fan fictions is that the situations where the story happens could be very absurd, but it still works... for example, de-aging trope. Okay, so why do I bring up that? Because that's what I feel about this one.
Imagine a PhD grad student, who teaches English, who writes dissertation on 'avian imagery in Flannery O'Connor novels and how it relates to Catholicism', who also works as a male escort, who ... well, finds himself held hostage when an assassin walks into the hotel room where he is supposed to wait for a client.
Yep. Isn't that absolutely fantastic?
And what follow are conversations, and raiding the mini-bar, and discussing thing like "ironic vs. coincidence", or what hydraulic engineering is all about. I was deliriously happy reading this; it made me smile a lot and I was thoroughly entertained.
Maybe it is not a traditional romance. Heck, I'm not counting this as a romance (though you still have some sexy times) but more like the beginning of one. I mean, the beauty of this short was that it can end (or happen) in anyway you want it. Because the ending is ambiguous; you can make your own ending on what will happen between Levi and Sinjin.
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Imagine a PhD grad student, who teaches English, who writes dissertation on 'avian imagery in Flannery O'Connor novels and how it relates to Catholicism', who also works as a male escort, who ... well, finds himself held hostage when an assassin walks into the hotel room where he is supposed to wait for a client.
Yep. Isn't that absolutely fantastic?
And what follow are conversations, and raiding the mini-bar, and discussing thing like "ironic vs. coincidence", or what hydraulic engineering is all about. I was deliriously happy reading this; it made me smile a lot and I was thoroughly entertained.
Maybe it is not a traditional romance. Heck, I'm not counting this as a romance (though you still have some sexy times) but more like the beginning of one. I mean, the beauty of this short was that it can end (or happen) in anyway you want it. Because the ending is ambiguous; you can make your own ending on what will happen between Levi and Sinjin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews