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Bespoke
Vance is having a terrible day, and the crowning insult is his lost luggage, which contained all the suits he needed for the conference he's attending. An unbending perfectionist, he refuses to settle for some cheap, shoddy substitute.
He is directed to Ethan Adler, a supposedly brilliant tailor who proves to be too brash, proud, presumptuous, and handsome to possibly be any good at his job. When he completely ignores everything Vance says, set on his own design, Vance is determined to teach him a lesson—but it's a lesson that may cost him far more than a perfect suit.
He is directed to Ethan Adler, a supposedly brilliant tailor who proves to be too brash, proud, presumptuous, and handsome to possibly be any good at his job. When he completely ignores everything Vance says, set on his own design, Vance is determined to teach him a lesson—but it's a lesson that may cost him far more than a perfect suit.
- GenresM M Romance
48 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2016
23 people want to read
About the author
Val Prozorova
18 books53 followersVal Prozorova (or Velvl Ryder) is a transgender writer based in New Zealand, who makes a habit of challenging gender stereotypes and bringing queer lives to the forefront of his writing.
Outside of his writing, Vel is studying to be a dog trainer, hoping to work with police canines and promoting animal interaction for those with mental health issues.
You can find Vel on his website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon, and in a number of anthologies and journals. He welcomes all messages and reviews, and loves to connect with his readers. Send along a message; Vel promises not to bite.
Outside of his writing, Vel is studying to be a dog trainer, hoping to work with police canines and promoting animal interaction for those with mental health issues.
You can find Vel on his website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon, and in a number of anthologies and journals. He welcomes all messages and reviews, and loves to connect with his readers. Send along a message; Vel promises not to bite.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 3, 2016
3.25 Hearts--Suit porn.
*mutters filthy things*
*bites lip*
I lost my train of thought. This happens when I see a good looking man in a good looking suit.
So when I read the blurb of this new to me author duo, Megan McFerren and Val Prozorova, I just had to read! Suits, demanding customer paired with a possibly obnoxious tailor? I imagined high tensions and sexy smolders while measurements were taken. After reading, I can say both authors definitely love a good suit. This was the ultimate suit porn (and no I'm not talking sex).
In Bespoke, an arrogant neurosurgeon, Vance, is having a very bad day. He just arrived from London to stay for an extended neurosurgeons' conference in NYC, the airport lost his clothes and he just can't be seen wearing the only two suits he managed to bring as carry-on. Why, he'll be the laughingstock of the conference. While suffering from his very, bad, horrible day, he can't even check into his hotel suite. He needs a suit stat, so why he asks for the best tailor in the city, he's directed to a little shop that doesn't look like it houses the very best tailor.
The arrogant doctor meets super confident tailor: Louisiana bred Ethan Adler.
Ethan doesn't ask he tells. And the British doctor is flabbergasted.
Now this is when the setup climaxes, because the story spends more time describing the color and fabric of the suits and not building the relationship between the two men who got off on the wrong foot. Here was an opportunity to have the doctor cut Ethan down to size, he seems to have a pompous backbone to him. But he was quiet.
And while I love the entire process of creating clothes and had a Project Runway moment while reading and saw the ubiquitous fabric store, Mood mentioned, I didn't read this just for the clothes.
I liked both characters. I especially loved the distinct tone and voices of the main characters, and have to call out when the voice matches the person presented. Vance threw out $20 words like it was nothing to him. It's the little details that I enjoy. Ethan was a dedicated, geeky-ish, confident tailor who knows his skills.
But does one 'me-time' session and a shared passion for clothes really mean these men would hit it off so quickly?
For a time frame as tight as these two were under, I'd buy it more if there was any believable chemistry. The passion is there...for suits.
Ethan and Vance? Not so much.
I think this story should have been longer, I just can't buy someone as uptight as Vance who thinks so highly of himself he had to rush to buy a one of a kind suit, to going there with someone who isn't even on his level. If he had a change of heart, or came off his high horse (especially after his mean trick to Ethan), more time was needed.
For escapism? I guess it could work.
For lovers of crafting clothes? This is porn for your fabric loving selves.
Thank goodness for the epilogue.
A very short story that might work best when you don't want to bust your brain reading a quick romance with likeable characters, nice writing and instalust feels.
A copy provided for an honest review via Netgalley
*mutters filthy things*
*bites lip*
I lost my train of thought. This happens when I see a good looking man in a good looking suit.
So when I read the blurb of this new to me author duo, Megan McFerren and Val Prozorova, I just had to read! Suits, demanding customer paired with a possibly obnoxious tailor? I imagined high tensions and sexy smolders while measurements were taken. After reading, I can say both authors definitely love a good suit. This was the ultimate suit porn (and no I'm not talking sex).
In Bespoke, an arrogant neurosurgeon, Vance, is having a very bad day. He just arrived from London to stay for an extended neurosurgeons' conference in NYC, the airport lost his clothes and he just can't be seen wearing the only two suits he managed to bring as carry-on. Why, he'll be the laughingstock of the conference. While suffering from his very, bad, horrible day, he can't even check into his hotel suite. He needs a suit stat, so why he asks for the best tailor in the city, he's directed to a little shop that doesn't look like it houses the very best tailor.
The arrogant doctor meets super confident tailor: Louisiana bred Ethan Adler.
Ethan doesn't ask he tells. And the British doctor is flabbergasted.
Now this is when the setup climaxes, because the story spends more time describing the color and fabric of the suits and not building the relationship between the two men who got off on the wrong foot. Here was an opportunity to have the doctor cut Ethan down to size, he seems to have a pompous backbone to him. But he was quiet.
And while I love the entire process of creating clothes and had a Project Runway moment while reading and saw the ubiquitous fabric store, Mood mentioned, I didn't read this just for the clothes.
I liked both characters. I especially loved the distinct tone and voices of the main characters, and have to call out when the voice matches the person presented. Vance threw out $20 words like it was nothing to him. It's the little details that I enjoy. Ethan was a dedicated, geeky-ish, confident tailor who knows his skills.
But does one 'me-time' session and a shared passion for clothes really mean these men would hit it off so quickly?
For a time frame as tight as these two were under, I'd buy it more if there was any believable chemistry. The passion is there...for suits.
Ethan and Vance? Not so much.
I think this story should have been longer, I just can't buy someone as uptight as Vance who thinks so highly of himself he had to rush to buy a one of a kind suit, to going there with someone who isn't even on his level. If he had a change of heart, or came off his high horse (especially after his mean trick to Ethan), more time was needed.
For escapism? I guess it could work.
For lovers of crafting clothes? This is porn for your fabric loving selves.
Thank goodness for the epilogue.
A very short story that might work best when you don't want to bust your brain reading a quick romance with likeable characters, nice writing and instalust feels.
A copy provided for an honest review via Netgalley
June 2, 2016
Ok, another short story that I've finished in one sitting.
I sew myself so I very much apperciated all this fabric talk, tailoring etc.
I don't feel like there was enough chemistry between the characters, besides obvious insta-lust. It's a bit too little for me.
Let's be honest Vance acts like an asshole, but Ethan is not better really. I totally get attracion for assholes, but everything has its limits.
I like the ending, though, it was pretty sweet.
~~~~
I received this book form the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I sew myself so I very much apperciated all this fabric talk, tailoring etc.
I don't feel like there was enough chemistry between the characters, besides obvious insta-lust. It's a bit too little for me.
Let's be honest Vance acts like an asshole, but Ethan is not better really. I totally get attracion for assholes, but everything has its limits.
I like the ending, though, it was pretty sweet.
~~~~
I received this book form the publisher in exchange for an honest review
June 27, 2016
This short story was my first introduction to Megan McFerren & Val Prozorova and i am SOLD!
We are first introduced to Vance; portrayed exactly as he is - not-so-likeable, and very exacting towards himself, his environment, and of course, his attire. Clearly less than impressed by his first meeting with bespoke tailor Ethan, he's all set to teach the poor guy a lesson...
The loving attention to detail & description in this short story did not get old. In fact, given the amount of thought and precision required to make a bespoke suit, it suited (pun?) perfectly.
Given that it is (unfortunately) a short story, no real complaints about the relatively abrupt ending and seeming insta-love, but it would've been nice to see more of how it worked out in the end. All in all a great read!
* book provided by NetGalley
We are first introduced to Vance; portrayed exactly as he is - not-so-likeable, and very exacting towards himself, his environment, and of course, his attire. Clearly less than impressed by his first meeting with bespoke tailor Ethan, he's all set to teach the poor guy a lesson...
The loving attention to detail & description in this short story did not get old. In fact, given the amount of thought and precision required to make a bespoke suit, it suited (pun?) perfectly.
Given that it is (unfortunately) a short story, no real complaints about the relatively abrupt ending and seeming insta-love, but it would've been nice to see more of how it worked out in the end. All in all a great read!
* book provided by NetGalley
Read
January 3, 2018Fabulous, which is what I was expecting. Always a good author to read.
June 28, 2020
This was so unexpectedly cute!! ❤️
I was not sure what I was getting into when I started reading it, but I'm so glad I just closed my eyes and jumped right in.
I loved Vance and Ethan together.
I loved how so-not-what-I-had-in-mind Ethan was, and I ended up feeling a tad like Vance in that he just steamrolled right in, swept the rug right from under me while calling me out on my prejudice, then burrowed himself deep, where I couldn't get him out. I like that he got the stick out from Vance's ass which made him more loveable.
It was too short, left me wanting more. 💕💕
I was not sure what I was getting into when I started reading it, but I'm so glad I just closed my eyes and jumped right in.
I loved Vance and Ethan together.
I loved how so-not-what-I-had-in-mind Ethan was, and I ended up feeling a tad like Vance in that he just steamrolled right in, swept the rug right from under me while calling me out on my prejudice, then burrowed himself deep, where I couldn't get him out. I like that he got the stick out from Vance's ass which made him more loveable.
It was too short, left me wanting more. 💕💕
June 28, 2016
Book – Bespoke
Author – Megan McFerren and Val Prozorova
Star rating - ★★☆☆☆
No. of Pages – 46
Cover – Nice but simple
POV – 3rd person, present tense, dual POV
Would I read it again – No.
Genre – LGBT, Contemporary, MM, Insta-Love
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
For me, this story just wasn't my cup of tea. There wasn't enough plot, not enough chemistry and basically not something that tickles my fancy.
The characters were, quite honestly, horrendous. Never in my life have I disliked main characters so quickly. Both Ethan and Vance are egotistical, full of themselves and completely unlikeable in all the ways that matter. Together, they had no chemistry; they simply argued and acted like they hated each other when they were together, but the minute they were alone they began fantasizing about one another. Yet, they'd only met once, for about half an hour, at the most.
Don't even get me started on how unprofessional and rude Ethan was, for a business man. He kept complaining about not being able to make rent, but maybe if he didn't swear every other word right in front of his customers, or treat them like second class citizens, then he'd get more custom and be able to afford his rent.
Not only was there insta-love, which isn't my thing, but the tense was so frustrating. I have never read 3rd person, present tense before, but it is definitely not something that agrees with me. The whole story was confusing to read, with most things in past tense, until it mentioned the characters actions, which completely jarred with the flow. But on top of that, the story read more like story notes than a cohesive story. I just couldn't enjoy the writing style at all; it sounds cruel, but it felt a little lazy. As though the proper care wasn't being taken to make it flow better.
It was a little racist and stereotypical in places, both with the Bengali taxi driver and the way Vance's Britishness was used to somehow justify his arrogant nature. Being Scottish – and British – it's a little insulting to see us all being interpreted as rude, ignorant and thinking ourselves better than everyone else.
Within the story, there was a lack of transition between events or placement of items, while there was a whole lot of fancy-schmancy talk that wasn't necessary and just felt a little forced. Somehow, Ethan knows things about Vance that he shouldn't, with absolutely no explanation of how. There were also places where it read like omni-present, because there were too many “he's” and not enough clarification of who was thinking, feeling or doing what.
I also wasn't sure why the “several months later” epilogue was needed. It didn't add anything to the story, except to show how weird the couple acted together and that they thought arguing was a form of flirtation.
Author – Megan McFerren and Val Prozorova
Star rating - ★★☆☆☆
No. of Pages – 46
Cover – Nice but simple
POV – 3rd person, present tense, dual POV
Would I read it again – No.
Genre – LGBT, Contemporary, MM, Insta-Love
** COPY RECEIVED THROUGH NETGALLEY **
For me, this story just wasn't my cup of tea. There wasn't enough plot, not enough chemistry and basically not something that tickles my fancy.
The characters were, quite honestly, horrendous. Never in my life have I disliked main characters so quickly. Both Ethan and Vance are egotistical, full of themselves and completely unlikeable in all the ways that matter. Together, they had no chemistry; they simply argued and acted like they hated each other when they were together, but the minute they were alone they began fantasizing about one another. Yet, they'd only met once, for about half an hour, at the most.
Don't even get me started on how unprofessional and rude Ethan was, for a business man. He kept complaining about not being able to make rent, but maybe if he didn't swear every other word right in front of his customers, or treat them like second class citizens, then he'd get more custom and be able to afford his rent.
Not only was there insta-love, which isn't my thing, but the tense was so frustrating. I have never read 3rd person, present tense before, but it is definitely not something that agrees with me. The whole story was confusing to read, with most things in past tense, until it mentioned the characters actions, which completely jarred with the flow. But on top of that, the story read more like story notes than a cohesive story. I just couldn't enjoy the writing style at all; it sounds cruel, but it felt a little lazy. As though the proper care wasn't being taken to make it flow better.
It was a little racist and stereotypical in places, both with the Bengali taxi driver and the way Vance's Britishness was used to somehow justify his arrogant nature. Being Scottish – and British – it's a little insulting to see us all being interpreted as rude, ignorant and thinking ourselves better than everyone else.
Within the story, there was a lack of transition between events or placement of items, while there was a whole lot of fancy-schmancy talk that wasn't necessary and just felt a little forced. Somehow, Ethan knows things about Vance that he shouldn't, with absolutely no explanation of how. There were also places where it read like omni-present, because there were too many “he's” and not enough clarification of who was thinking, feeling or doing what.
I also wasn't sure why the “several months later” epilogue was needed. It didn't add anything to the story, except to show how weird the couple acted together and that they thought arguing was a form of flirtation.
June 9, 2016
A very good short story.
I haven’t read any short stories quite like this one. Because it’s a short story there’s really not much time to give any character background or development. However, I thought the authors did a good job of letting us know that Vance was an egotistical a-hole and that Ethan won’t be a doormat.
After Vance thoroughly humiliates Ethan he soon realizes how badly he behaved and becomes quite contrite. Sparks begin to fly and the two finally give in to their lust for each other.
I enjoyed this story for what it was – a rather short vignette about two people who really have nothing at all in common. There were a few pretty hot scenes and over all I found this a quite enjoyable well written short piece.
I haven’t read any short stories quite like this one. Because it’s a short story there’s really not much time to give any character background or development. However, I thought the authors did a good job of letting us know that Vance was an egotistical a-hole and that Ethan won’t be a doormat.
After Vance thoroughly humiliates Ethan he soon realizes how badly he behaved and becomes quite contrite. Sparks begin to fly and the two finally give in to their lust for each other.
I enjoyed this story for what it was – a rather short vignette about two people who really have nothing at all in common. There were a few pretty hot scenes and over all I found this a quite enjoyable well written short piece.
January 30, 2019
Short but edible in one sitting! Probably a 3.5* for me, mainly coz of the short makes character development tricky, but I did enjoy so gets the bump up!
So...prejudice, pride, antagonism, fantasy, fantasy, remorse, sex!!!!
Suit porn at its best, Ethan is def a character into his fabrics and colours. But also very blinkered about ‘he knows best’. Vance is terribly up his own ass arrogant.
There is an instant attraction with the frisson of the antagonism behind it.
It is the time in the ‘several month later’ before the epilogue that would be the story to read!!
So...prejudice, pride, antagonism, fantasy, fantasy, remorse, sex!!!!
Suit porn at its best, Ethan is def a character into his fabrics and colours. But also very blinkered about ‘he knows best’. Vance is terribly up his own ass arrogant.
There is an instant attraction with the frisson of the antagonism behind it.
It is the time in the ‘several month later’ before the epilogue that would be the story to read!!
July 3, 2016
Finally had a chance to read this (I've been saving it to savor). Adored the subject -- as a fashionista, and also as someone whose great-grandfather was a tailor who made bespoke suits --I wallowed in the descriptions of the fabrics and the details of Ethan's labor. The characters remind me of two of my favorites; the similarities and difference added to my enjoyment. Beautifully written, as always.
June 29, 2016
I had a big problem with the present-tense narrative, it didn't feel right at all.
As for the story, there were no surprises, and while I didn't exactly get bored (the basis line for the story was original and enjoyable in itself), it was a bit dull for me. But maybe this perception I have is only because of my recent reading, I just finished something quite long that I really really loved. So it could just be that my expectations were out of proportions :)
As for the story, there were no surprises, and while I didn't exactly get bored (the basis line for the story was original and enjoyable in itself), it was a bit dull for me. But maybe this perception I have is only because of my recent reading, I just finished something quite long that I really really loved. So it could just be that my expectations were out of proportions :)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews