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Help Me Make It Through the Night
Enjoy and Merry Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, two strangers, fit only for one another's company, meet for the first time at a bar. A chance meeting? Maybe not. But one thing's for certain. They both need someone to help them make it through the night.
21 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 23, 2015
About the author
Kathy Golden
4 books117 followersI have started my own Manuscript Evaluation Service. You can read it about it at this link: http://www.kathysnotes.com/blog/manus...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 19, 2015
There seems to be a common characteristic to every short story I’ve read; they always include a surprise. Help me make it through the night has a really good one. In addition, it represents an honest plea of someone desperately trying to avoid loneliness during this night. You see, it is Christmas Eve, a time that is not good for the soul to be empty of love and cheer. Her ‘present’ did not come wrapped up and with a bright bow on top, but Mystique –that’s her chosen name– was not about to let him go. After all, he was also on the same ‘lonely’ boat; and two lonely hearts on this particular night are unacceptable.
“It seems to me we all suffer silently when maybe we could talk more and help each other out,” she said. As they get to know each other, their conversation deepens; they open their inner-selves wide and reveal intimate feelings. A few moments later, the ‘surprise’ takes place. Obviously, I will not spoil your fun by revealing it.
There is one more thing I would like to say: Help me make it through the night could be a little longer for it is an interesting and charming read. Four stars – Jake Taylor
“It seems to me we all suffer silently when maybe we could talk more and help each other out,” she said. As they get to know each other, their conversation deepens; they open their inner-selves wide and reveal intimate feelings. A few moments later, the ‘surprise’ takes place. Obviously, I will not spoil your fun by revealing it.
There is one more thing I would like to say: Help me make it through the night could be a little longer for it is an interesting and charming read. Four stars – Jake Taylor
December 22, 2015
Two tortured souls meet and help each other make it through what can be one of the loneliest nights of the year when you're alone. I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining Christmas short story that I devoured in one sitting. Great job, Kathy Golden! I look forward to reading more stories by this author.
December 22, 2015
Help Me Make It Through the Night is a short story by Kathy Golden. In these pages, we're introduced to a pair. They both spend several nights in a bar. During this time, the female takes notice of the man's behaviour and feels like she ought to discuss it with him. She goes over to his table and an interesting conversation takes place.
Both main characters, Mistique/ April and Bailey are both reasonably interesting. However, I feel that irrelevant aspects are discussed, considering the short nature of the story. For example, I don't feel like Mistique/ April's fashion sense was completely relevant and it kind of detracted from the atmosphere, especially when she pulled her bra out her shirt and whacked it on the table. I can sort of see what the author was aiming for in those portions, and the intended humour with the bra removal, but I just didn't think it was necessary. The same can sort of be said for the character Bailey; we're introduced to a character that’s on the mysterious side. But, after we get to find out his hidden side, the reveal just doesn't seem to fully convey the secrecy that's intended. It essentially all boils down to the fact that he goes home with a different person each night because he can't get over another.
It's a good story and the author uses their words well, but obviously there are a few aspects that make the story less special. For example, the loss of a former partner is a fairly common reason people use for why their characters sleep around. I also feel like the author is trying too hard to make Mistique/ April an original character; the unusual appearance (violet contacts and black / blonde wig) and the "Mistique" name... Those things aren't necessary. The author character could still use a relatively normal appearance with a normal name and it would seem more natural. I feel like a story of any kind out to be more than just what a character looks like. At the end of the day, who cares if you can point them out in the crowd? The conversation is the real focal point in the book and it really feels like it's not when we have our main female character whipping out her bra and smacking it down on a table. Maybe other people enjoyed that bit, I don't know... I just didn't find it as funny as I think it was meant to be.
The things I do like about the story are that the conversation is interesting and the way the author expresses the scenes. There's a lot of emphasis on the bar they're in and we get some great introductions to the type of people in those bars. It's interesting to read more into each scene and I kind of wish we'd gotten more of it.
Overall, I liked it, but it needs a few improvements here and there. Like many other short stories, I think it definitely would have benefited from a lot more content and a lengthier word count. However, forgiving the problems I've mentioned- which are just my opinion, I think the author has potential and there is promise in their writing. I'll definitely read more of their work if I get the chance.
I got a free copy of this book from Smashwords.
Both main characters, Mistique/ April and Bailey are both reasonably interesting. However, I feel that irrelevant aspects are discussed, considering the short nature of the story. For example, I don't feel like Mistique/ April's fashion sense was completely relevant and it kind of detracted from the atmosphere, especially when she pulled her bra out her shirt and whacked it on the table. I can sort of see what the author was aiming for in those portions, and the intended humour with the bra removal, but I just didn't think it was necessary. The same can sort of be said for the character Bailey; we're introduced to a character that’s on the mysterious side. But, after we get to find out his hidden side, the reveal just doesn't seem to fully convey the secrecy that's intended. It essentially all boils down to the fact that he goes home with a different person each night because he can't get over another.
It's a good story and the author uses their words well, but obviously there are a few aspects that make the story less special. For example, the loss of a former partner is a fairly common reason people use for why their characters sleep around. I also feel like the author is trying too hard to make Mistique/ April an original character; the unusual appearance (violet contacts and black / blonde wig) and the "Mistique" name... Those things aren't necessary. The author character could still use a relatively normal appearance with a normal name and it would seem more natural. I feel like a story of any kind out to be more than just what a character looks like. At the end of the day, who cares if you can point them out in the crowd? The conversation is the real focal point in the book and it really feels like it's not when we have our main female character whipping out her bra and smacking it down on a table. Maybe other people enjoyed that bit, I don't know... I just didn't find it as funny as I think it was meant to be.
The things I do like about the story are that the conversation is interesting and the way the author expresses the scenes. There's a lot of emphasis on the bar they're in and we get some great introductions to the type of people in those bars. It's interesting to read more into each scene and I kind of wish we'd gotten more of it.
Overall, I liked it, but it needs a few improvements here and there. Like many other short stories, I think it definitely would have benefited from a lot more content and a lengthier word count. However, forgiving the problems I've mentioned- which are just my opinion, I think the author has potential and there is promise in their writing. I'll definitely read more of their work if I get the chance.
I got a free copy of this book from Smashwords.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2016
I love this short story so much! I read it in 10 minutes and it has been the best 10 minutes of my Tuesday. Kathy doesn't lie when she calls "Help me make it trough the night" a short story. It is really short but EXCELLENT! You people need to read this story. I didn't know what to expect about this when I opened it. And when I started reading it I was really intrigued cause I had never read something like that before. And it was so good, I kept turning pages until I finished it, and I just feel like crying because I want to know more about April's and Bailey's story. I love the honesty of both of their words. The way they allow themselves to talk about what bothers them and not hide anything from each other without really knowing who the other one is. It is what it is, and with the help of a line in the book, it truly is verbal foreplay. And the best of it!
December 24, 2015
This feels more like the outline of a story than an actual story. I kept expecting there to be more. It's a sad story of two people who've gone through some bad relationships and haven't gotten over them yet, but somehow it feels like this night may be the beginnings of them both healing.
The characters, however, aren't very fleshed out, nor their intent. The only thing that's really vividly described is the background, a dingy bar for hooking up. I think if added to, this could be a really interesting story.
It is also very short, I read it in less than fifteen minutes. A good half of the 25 pages are previews of other books.
This isn't a bad story, there should just be more of it. It's a quick read and free, so there is that.
The characters, however, aren't very fleshed out, nor their intent. The only thing that's really vividly described is the background, a dingy bar for hooking up. I think if added to, this could be a really interesting story.
It is also very short, I read it in less than fifteen minutes. A good half of the 25 pages are previews of other books.
This isn't a bad story, there should just be more of it. It's a quick read and free, so there is that.
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January 10, 2016This is an extremely short, single story, which is the reason I haven't given it a rating, as it was not free on Amazon UK at the time of reading it. However, it is free on Smashwords and also Amazon US, I believe, and it is unusual and thought provoking. It is the story of two lonely, disillusioned people who meet in a singles bar. Neither of them expects any good to come of relationships any more, but maybe, just maybe there is something better for them. If just one of them can respond to a glimmer of hope, who knows what may happen.
We get a little glimpse into their lives, and to see whether they can escape from the downward spiral they have started on.
We get a little glimpse into their lives, and to see whether they can escape from the downward spiral they have started on.
December 21, 2015
This was a lovely festive short story about two lonely people who were desperately seeking someone to ease their pain. The author's descriptions of the setting drew me in and I felt as if I were there with Bailey and Mystique. Despite being a short story, the author packs in the emotion so you feel their loneliness and their regrets from their past. There are some humorous moments and the story ends on a hopeful note. It left me wanting more of these characters. I hope the author considers developing this into a full length novel.
January 19, 2016
I love reading shorts, and this one is not an exception. I decided to take a peek at this short story, and guess what? I couldn’t put it down until I finished it.
It is a beautiful and delicate story.Two lonely souls meeting and bonding. It didn’t matter where this meeting took place. All that mattered was their meeting - initiated by Mystique, that’s what she called herself, but this meeting was destined to take place.
I didn’t find any errors, and I simply enjoyed the story.
It is a beautiful and delicate story.Two lonely souls meeting and bonding. It didn’t matter where this meeting took place. All that mattered was their meeting - initiated by Mystique, that’s what she called herself, but this meeting was destined to take place.
I didn’t find any errors, and I simply enjoyed the story.
December 31, 2015
Two flawed characters find solace one night with a possibility of a blossoming relationship. I would like to have felt the both characters' sense of emotion or turmoil fleshed out more, but it was a quick and interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews