Table for One

by Ava Hayden

Nick DiGiaccomo waits tables at Fortissimo, an exclusive restaurant in Oilton, Alberta. He loathes drama, particularly the kind that makes its appearance on Valentine’s Day.
This Valentine’s Day is especially bitter. Eight months ago Nick’s heart was broken when his lover walked away without a word over a misunderstanding. Too proud to call, Nick’s heard nothing from him since. But on this, the most romantic day of the year, he keeps his feelings well-hidden and his professional smile firmly in place.
That is, until he sees his ex-lover, Mark Mishimoto, at a table for two in his section—and his Valentine’s Day goes from bad to downright horrible.
To make matters worse, a winter storm descends, hours earlier than forecast. When the restaurant closes, Nick finds himself stuck downtown in the middle of a blizzard with no way to get home and nowhere to go. Mark lives conveniently close by, and he’s offering up his couch. Nick could use a place to lay his head—but is it worth risking his heart?

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, Holiday, Short Stories

35 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2016

About the author

Ava Hayden lives and in Canada but grew up in the southern United States.

When not writing, she loves reading yaoi manga and LGBTQ+ romance, taking afternoon tea, baking, seeing plays, hearing live music, and hiking (even though she once came face-to-face with two grizzlies on a trail). Most of the time her life isn’t that exciting (and doesn’t require her to carry bear spray), and she’s okay with that.

Ava Hayden on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/avahayden

Reviews

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, no. Just too sketchy and for a short story, it does go on and on .... until the end which is too hurried. The premise is that Mark took eight months to "find himself" ...... without a word to Nick and then shows up on Valentine's Day evening with a dinner reservation at the restaurant where Nick is a waiter. Um, okay. I liked the author's writing style, however, and would like to read more of her stuff.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

It started good, the blurb sounded very promising but the whole story ended without a real solution... a few more pages would have done the story good.

[Didi · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 Stars

I guess I picked a wrong Valentine's Day read...

The beginning and idea of the story were sweet enough. I just couldn't get my head into the excuses!! Months old excuses and pride of two consenting adults. For an unbelievably shallow cause???

If I were you Nick, I wouldn't be as forgiving and quick to accept the EXCUSE. But then again, you were being a dunderhead yourself with your pride.
*slumps*

[Sylvia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like it .
it was a weird Valentine story

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

A table for one is a little sad at any time – but on Valentine’s Day? It is either outright devastating, totally embarrassing, or utterly mysterious. Due to the kind of man who “suffers” through this affliction in this story, it can’t be reasons one or two, so I concluded there must be some sort of mystery. And based on the main character’s reaction to this guy sitting alone in a high-end restaurant on what most people think is the most romantic night of the year, I was just waiting for the secret to be revealed.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Avid Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Table for One by Ava Hayden
3.5 stars
M/M slight romance
I was given this book for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.

This book just missed the mark for me. Nick is trying to get on with his life, he's working, going through the motions and surviving. In walks his ex, Mark, on what should be the most romantic holiday of the year... Despite that, all Nick's friends know that he doesn't really believe in Valentine's Day - especially since Mark broke his heart.

We are given a few flash backs in order to understand how Nick and Mark were brought together, but really, there was only the scene in the restaurant where Mark spends a ridiculous amount of money on wine, all while waiting for Nick to hear him out. There was no development in this story. It was too one dimensional for me.

Then, to make the lack of dimension worse, the story just ends. There was really nothing Mark needed to do to earn Nick's forgiveness? Really?

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Inked Rainbow Reads Review Team~
3 stars for this M/M
Super short story about a couple who broke up over a misunderstanding. After not seeing each other or talking for eight months they see each other again on Valentine’s Day when Mark reserves a table in Nick’s section at the restaurant he works at. This had the potential to actually be a nice book if it was longer. We heard all about the break up, then about the entire night at the restaurant and then the book was over.

[Wicked Witch of the Words · Rating 2 out of 5]

Um, it was nice & all, but don't you think it kinda wrapped up so... I don't know... not fine?
He comes back after 8 months! Why did he leave ?! "They had one thing in common. Me." What's that supposed to mean? & then he says he's seeing a counselor or something? Weird.

& then Nick is angry with him, obviously, with good reasons. & I enjoyed it until the last part. But then he so suddenly & so fast forgives him?! Um, what the hell?!
Not cool!

[Amneris Cesare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too short! I wish I could read more about these two. Nice story, nice writing but same as for other author's novel, too abrupt ending. Wish there was a sequel. Or a new writing with more.

[Love Bytes Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Heart Review by Kat

A very quick, sweet short story about second chance love. Valentine’s Day can be wonderful if you have that special someone. However, if you are still nursing a broken heart, that you have no clue how/what happen to end everything abruptly, with out a word, then Valentine’s Day is just a bitter thing to endure way too soon. This short tale, that comes complete with flashbacks, is a look into two men and their forced reunion after one of them just walked away with out a word. Now imagine you are the wronged party and forced to serve your ex-lover on Valentine’s Day, at your restaurant that you are head waiter, at your most prominent table-for-two. This may only be a short story but it packed a lot of background and emotions into it. Touching and sweet second-chance love story that will warm your heart.

This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Ro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short story that intrigued me because of the setting. A Table for One? But not really, because Mark Mishimoto has shown up at his ex-boyfriend Nick’s place of business, the upscale restaurant Fortissimo, on Valentine’s Day, no less. At a table for two. Could this day get any worse for Nick?
Told from Nick’s point of view with some flashbacks as to their meeting, we get to see how painful this is for Nick. He loved Mark, who walked away from him without a word and didn’t come back. He broke Nick’s heart.
As Nick waits tables, including Mark’s, he is watching for Mark’s date and watching the storm brewing. Since Mark is the owner of another upscale restaurant, why did he choose to come here for Valentine’s? To torture Nick?
What we get is a bit of their history of meeting, becoming friends and lovers, and the problem that broke them up. I had more respect for Nick than ever for how kind he is, even when a selfish Mark left him broken hearted. I needed more groveling from MIshimoto because that was the lamest excuse for leaving, ever.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was quite giddy with the set-up -- what can I say, I love second-chances trope. I thought the tension was thick enough and I was excited to see how it ended.

Then Mike gave one of the LAMEST EXCUSES ever about him leaving (I want to find myself?!? WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!? That was your excuse to leave for 8 months, Mike??



If I was Nick, I would just kick his sorry ass to the curb *fuming*. Plus the ending was just abrupt. I AM NOT HAPPY.

[blub · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I felt it ended too abruptly. I was kind of expecting a little more. It's pretty much summed up in the blurb and doesn't divert at all from it. We get to know the characters, what went wrong in their relationship and them just talking it out.

It just didn't work for me as a Valentine's read.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars I'm rounding up. I enjoyed this story, but I wished there was more to it than the one little vignette. I could imagine a full story between these two characters. I wish there was more than just the Valentine's night. I wanted to see more work to get forgiveness and move on. But for a holiday short it was cute.

[Dutchgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick easy to read story. Perfect for inbetween or when you have little time.

[jules0623 · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars

[Juxian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice but underdeveloped. The ending is too abrupt. And Mark was unconvincing, what did he do to deserve a second chance, spent a couple hundreds on wine?

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story and the characters. I feel like I wanted more. And there were zero sexy times. Which sometimes doesn't bother me, but I felt like this story needed some sexy times.

[Xan]

Content Warnings References to an ex who talked about suicide when MC refuses his romantic gesture. Ableism. Vague references to mental health issues.

The way this story used mental illness as a plot device felt ableist and just really handwavy. Also it just abruptly ends before issues get resolved. No clear happy ending. Very disappointing.