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Dear Stranger
Reggie is a young man in his early twenties, living a quiet life. His blindness makes him over cautious in new situations, at least until one day on his way home when he meets a stranger, a man with a voice smooth as honey and burning hot as the most expensive whiskey, starts flirting with him.
At first, Reggie is scared. The guy seems like a stalker but he soon realizes that the stranger means him no harm. On the contrary, he is attracted to Reggie and invites him home for a hot romp in bed.
With the ball in his court now, Reggie needs to decide what to do. He could turn him down and continue living his life as it is—boring. Or, he could say yes and see where this unexpected ride takes him...
At first, Reggie is scared. The guy seems like a stalker but he soon realizes that the stranger means him no harm. On the contrary, he is attracted to Reggie and invites him home for a hot romp in bed.
With the ball in his court now, Reggie needs to decide what to do. He could turn him down and continue living his life as it is—boring. Or, he could say yes and see where this unexpected ride takes him...
28 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 12, 2016
28 people want to read
About the author
Sid Love
4 books51 followersSid Love grew up in one of busiest cities in the world, Mumbai, listening to the excerpts of Indian epics as told by his father every night. While it served as an inspiration back, he has always had an ambitious mind.
In 2007, when he had just turned sixteen, he decided that he would make his lifelong dream come true—to become a well-known, respected author someday.
Ask him and he would refuse to accept that he is obsessed with books. Or movies. Or TV shows. Addicted may even be the right word.
He is a die-hard fan of Jane Austen’s romance novels and loves to reread them time and again.
In 2007, when he had just turned sixteen, he decided that he would make his lifelong dream come true—to become a well-known, respected author someday.
Ask him and he would refuse to accept that he is obsessed with books. Or movies. Or TV shows. Addicted may even be the right word.
He is a die-hard fan of Jane Austen’s romance novels and loves to reread them time and again.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 11, 2016
3.5 hearts
That was a silly, ridiculous and rather sweet story. If you can read this knowing the situation is going to be completely unbelievable and borderline stalkerish, you'll find it’s pretty cute.
Reg is a blind man who catches the same train home from work everyday. When a man approaches Reg saying he's been admiring him everyday on the train (slightly creepy) and then inadvertently follows Reg home (even more creepy), Reg is slightly scared but mostly flattered. They end up doing the dirty *waggles eyebrows*.
I tried not to think about it, but it's so hard not roll your eyes at Regs stupidity. I mean he goes to a stranger's house, Reg doesn't even know where he lives, what he looks like or his name, then hands over his cane and has sex with this guy. I mean I'm all for not disabling the disabled, but… ‘you're blind!’, don't go to unknown places with strangers!
Okay, had to get that out of my system… moving on. The sex scene was deliciously hot, let's just say this stranger must have a coke can cock, because it took some working to get it in! It's even described as ‘humongous’, which is a pretty hilarious word.
There's not really any back story but it does well to capture a full story into 28 pages. We get to see two men have some hot sex then discover they may mean a bit more to each other than they first thought and there was even a little bit of drama sprinkled in towards the end.
A fun, sexy, silly little read!
That was a silly, ridiculous and rather sweet story. If you can read this knowing the situation is going to be completely unbelievable and borderline stalkerish, you'll find it’s pretty cute.
Reg is a blind man who catches the same train home from work everyday. When a man approaches Reg saying he's been admiring him everyday on the train (slightly creepy) and then inadvertently follows Reg home (even more creepy), Reg is slightly scared but mostly flattered. They end up doing the dirty *waggles eyebrows*.
I tried not to think about it, but it's so hard not roll your eyes at Regs stupidity. I mean he goes to a stranger's house, Reg doesn't even know where he lives, what he looks like or his name, then hands over his cane and has sex with this guy. I mean I'm all for not disabling the disabled, but… ‘you're blind!’, don't go to unknown places with strangers!
Okay, had to get that out of my system… moving on. The sex scene was deliciously hot, let's just say this stranger must have a coke can cock, because it took some working to get it in! It's even described as ‘humongous’, which is a pretty hilarious word.
There's not really any back story but it does well to capture a full story into 28 pages. We get to see two men have some hot sex then discover they may mean a bit more to each other than they first thought and there was even a little bit of drama sprinkled in towards the end.
A fun, sexy, silly little read!
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May 15, 2016Taking a chance on a new author can be hit or miss. With this story it’s a bit dead center for me.
The story has a great premise; a blind man who meets a stranger on the train ride home and they have a one off. I liked that Reggie gets to opportunity for someone to want him regardless of his disability. I have a long-time co-worker who has been blind from the age of 8 years old and being treated as “normal” as possible is what he’s always wanted. So with Reggie, getting this chance to be reckless as any young man would be… I really liked the idea. This short story is a setup we get with a lot in romance; the one night stand with the possibility of it being more.
This is a short story so I will keep the review short. For some reason the dialogue threw me a bit, I am not sure what I was expecting but the men talked young and that isn’t a bad thing, it just gave me a moment to pause and begin the story again in a different frame of mind. I think if I’d known their ages or around how old they were… I don’t know, but once I began again I read them as young, maybe early 20’s with the way they talked and the whole story read in a new way to me.
Dear Stranger is an interesting read about taking a chance on something you’d never thought you’d do. It was a short story that I would have loved to see a few pages longer; maybe getting more of the interaction between Reggie and the stranger on the train rides before the whole deal happens and the end not being so abrupt.
The story has a great premise; a blind man who meets a stranger on the train ride home and they have a one off. I liked that Reggie gets to opportunity for someone to want him regardless of his disability. I have a long-time co-worker who has been blind from the age of 8 years old and being treated as “normal” as possible is what he’s always wanted. So with Reggie, getting this chance to be reckless as any young man would be… I really liked the idea. This short story is a setup we get with a lot in romance; the one night stand with the possibility of it being more.
This is a short story so I will keep the review short. For some reason the dialogue threw me a bit, I am not sure what I was expecting but the men talked young and that isn’t a bad thing, it just gave me a moment to pause and begin the story again in a different frame of mind. I think if I’d known their ages or around how old they were… I don’t know, but once I began again I read them as young, maybe early 20’s with the way they talked and the whole story read in a new way to me.
Was this a mistake? Getting seduced by a total stranger.
Dear Stranger is an interesting read about taking a chance on something you’d never thought you’d do. It was a short story that I would have loved to see a few pages longer; maybe getting more of the interaction between Reggie and the stranger on the train rides before the whole deal happens and the end not being so abrupt.
***Review copy provided for an honest review***
June 10, 2016
Full Review on AAR www.likesbooks.com/blog/?p=19206
Sadly, this is an example where a very brief piece just didn’t work for me. This short story describes the initial meetings and ensuing sex between Reggie, a blind man and a stranger. The setting is contemporary New York and yet the ‘stranger’ ends most sentences with ‘man’, and Reggie with ‘dude’.
I think many of the problems with the writing come from its’ form of Indian English (sometimes called Hindish), which really should have been addressed by the editor. Cheesy dialogue, odd verb usage, missing punctuation and strange phrasing such as –
‘He guffawed…’ or My tender and skinny physique seemed like a stick…’ or again I was indeed desperate to talk about the guy with someone who’d listen and who was better a better listener in my life than Judy? None.
Reggie’s constant referral to his inner conscience when he really meant ‘inner voice’ – or just ‘thoughts’ – I found off-putting as well. The story is meant to be an erotic short I believe. However, I felt uncomfortable reading a story about a blind man being approached on a subway train by a stranger. A stranger who sits next to him and begins to stroke up his thigh? It felt very creepy to me most of the way through. The fact that this first meeting ends up with the blind man’s ‘conscience’ telling him he is being stalked – and yet he accompanies the supposed stalker to his apartment and has penetrative sex – not a good plot move for me.
I had a problem with the sex as well because I’m sorry but –
I hoped it wouldn’t tear my body apart when it went in my ass. or My dick exploded. do not equal eroticism for this reader.
Finally, having his female best friend say – ‘But gay sex is like my Achilles’ heel. It turns me on every time I hear about it…or you know, watch it.’ I cannot begin to say how much I disliked this attitude. For me, the best part was the end and I don’t mean this facetiously. The structure of the story was good and the ending was a nice touch, as it ended with a beginning.
Sadly, this is an example where a very brief piece just didn’t work for me. This short story describes the initial meetings and ensuing sex between Reggie, a blind man and a stranger. The setting is contemporary New York and yet the ‘stranger’ ends most sentences with ‘man’, and Reggie with ‘dude’.
I think many of the problems with the writing come from its’ form of Indian English (sometimes called Hindish), which really should have been addressed by the editor. Cheesy dialogue, odd verb usage, missing punctuation and strange phrasing such as –
‘He guffawed…’ or My tender and skinny physique seemed like a stick…’ or again I was indeed desperate to talk about the guy with someone who’d listen and who was better a better listener in my life than Judy? None.
Reggie’s constant referral to his inner conscience when he really meant ‘inner voice’ – or just ‘thoughts’ – I found off-putting as well. The story is meant to be an erotic short I believe. However, I felt uncomfortable reading a story about a blind man being approached on a subway train by a stranger. A stranger who sits next to him and begins to stroke up his thigh? It felt very creepy to me most of the way through. The fact that this first meeting ends up with the blind man’s ‘conscience’ telling him he is being stalked – and yet he accompanies the supposed stalker to his apartment and has penetrative sex – not a good plot move for me.
I had a problem with the sex as well because I’m sorry but –
I hoped it wouldn’t tear my body apart when it went in my ass. or My dick exploded. do not equal eroticism for this reader.
Finally, having his female best friend say – ‘But gay sex is like my Achilles’ heel. It turns me on every time I hear about it…or you know, watch it.’ I cannot begin to say how much I disliked this attitude. For me, the best part was the end and I don’t mean this facetiously. The structure of the story was good and the ending was a nice touch, as it ended with a beginning.
May 13, 2016
**Disclaimer: I proofread the story for publication (and enjoyed doing it!)
Sid Love is a talented young writer rising on the M/M scene. This was the first of his stories I have read and he has a flair for interesting characters and scenarios that pull you in because you really must know what ends up happening. Not to mention there is juicy M/M eroticism in between. Reggie lives a quiet life in New York, going to his job and riding the subway home after work. Sometimes he hangs out with co-workers for a beer. His life abruptly changes when a stranger (whose masculine scent and alluring voice draw Reggie, who is blind, in) follows Reggie home and charms him into going outside the lines of his strictly proscribed life. A little taste of the wild side and Reggie finds he can't go back, as much as the force of habit tries to get him to return to the quiet loneliness he's used to. Now, Reggie has a choice to make between two paths: One that could lead to happiness and one that will keep him stuck.
The story packs a lot into a short space, which is a challenge for fiction writers and Sid Love does a good job. I would have liked to know more about Reggie than the story gives, specifically to understand what about this stranger is alluring enough to make Reggie take a risk he would otherwise never have taken. However, I told myself that life is mysterious and the laws of attraction are not so cut and dried, so really it didn't matter, and enjoyed reading this little slice of life story in which a brief encounter has the potential to lead to more.
I have read the blurbs of Sid Love's other stories and they are incredibly intriguing. Reading Dear Stranger was a good introduction to his work and makes me want to give his other stories a try. FYI: For MM addicted readers, Dear Stranger is an economical way to get a much needed fix and has a work-safe cover that one could read on the train. :)
Sid Love is a talented young writer rising on the M/M scene. This was the first of his stories I have read and he has a flair for interesting characters and scenarios that pull you in because you really must know what ends up happening. Not to mention there is juicy M/M eroticism in between. Reggie lives a quiet life in New York, going to his job and riding the subway home after work. Sometimes he hangs out with co-workers for a beer. His life abruptly changes when a stranger (whose masculine scent and alluring voice draw Reggie, who is blind, in) follows Reggie home and charms him into going outside the lines of his strictly proscribed life. A little taste of the wild side and Reggie finds he can't go back, as much as the force of habit tries to get him to return to the quiet loneliness he's used to. Now, Reggie has a choice to make between two paths: One that could lead to happiness and one that will keep him stuck.
The story packs a lot into a short space, which is a challenge for fiction writers and Sid Love does a good job. I would have liked to know more about Reggie than the story gives, specifically to understand what about this stranger is alluring enough to make Reggie take a risk he would otherwise never have taken. However, I told myself that life is mysterious and the laws of attraction are not so cut and dried, so really it didn't matter, and enjoyed reading this little slice of life story in which a brief encounter has the potential to lead to more.
I have read the blurbs of Sid Love's other stories and they are incredibly intriguing. Reading Dear Stranger was a good introduction to his work and makes me want to give his other stories a try. FYI: For MM addicted readers, Dear Stranger is an economical way to get a much needed fix and has a work-safe cover that one could read on the train. :)
April 29, 2018
3.5 stars
May 27, 2016
It's easy enough to misread someone's intentions when you are sighted, but Reggie, of Sid Love's 'Dear Stranger', is at a disadvantage because he's blind. When a stranger comes on to him, he's skeptical and scared, but there's something about the man that gives him pause. Whether it's his gentle touch, sexy voice, or flattery, Reggie throws caution to the wind and goes home with him.
Knowing it's going to be a sexual encounter, Reggie's feelings go from excited to nervous and back. Even though he can't see the stranger, he can feel the handsome face and muscular body. The sex is explosive and carnal, but through it all, the stranger is beyond considerate of Reggie's emotional and physical state, checking with him several times to make sure he is doing okay. Afterward, he walks Reggie back home and tells him that he's looking forward to seeing him again.
Reflecting on what took place with the stranger, Reggie, whose self-confidence isn't the greatest, freaks out. A few weeks later Reggie is out with his best friend when he hears a voice that he instantly recognizes, his stranger's voice. The stranger is upset and lets Reggie know that it wasn't a once off, that he really intended to see Reggie again, that he was worried about him when he wasn't on the train. But now that he finds out Reggie is deliberately avoiding him, he's angry and hurt. Reggie tries to apologize but to no avail. Their encounter ends with the stranger telling him: “I'll see you around.”
Reggie's blindness puts a unique and intriguing twist on his sexual encounter. Since he can't read body language, he has to depend on his senses of touch, taste, and smell. By touching the stranger Reggie can tell he's muscular and handsome; can feel the cool sheets, and judge the size of his penis. Reggie can also smell his aftershave and taste his sweat and semen. Sid did a great job of reminding me that Reggie couldn't see without making his lack of sight a complete disadvantage, creating a sensual and sensitive coupling. If you enjoy stories about sex with strangers, blindness, angst, and reconciliation, you may like this story. Thanks, Sid, for a short but entertaining tale.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Knowing it's going to be a sexual encounter, Reggie's feelings go from excited to nervous and back. Even though he can't see the stranger, he can feel the handsome face and muscular body. The sex is explosive and carnal, but through it all, the stranger is beyond considerate of Reggie's emotional and physical state, checking with him several times to make sure he is doing okay. Afterward, he walks Reggie back home and tells him that he's looking forward to seeing him again.
Reflecting on what took place with the stranger, Reggie, whose self-confidence isn't the greatest, freaks out. A few weeks later Reggie is out with his best friend when he hears a voice that he instantly recognizes, his stranger's voice. The stranger is upset and lets Reggie know that it wasn't a once off, that he really intended to see Reggie again, that he was worried about him when he wasn't on the train. But now that he finds out Reggie is deliberately avoiding him, he's angry and hurt. Reggie tries to apologize but to no avail. Their encounter ends with the stranger telling him: “I'll see you around.”
Reggie's blindness puts a unique and intriguing twist on his sexual encounter. Since he can't read body language, he has to depend on his senses of touch, taste, and smell. By touching the stranger Reggie can tell he's muscular and handsome; can feel the cool sheets, and judge the size of his penis. Reggie can also smell his aftershave and taste his sweat and semen. Sid did a great job of reminding me that Reggie couldn't see without making his lack of sight a complete disadvantage, creating a sensual and sensitive coupling. If you enjoy stories about sex with strangers, blindness, angst, and reconciliation, you may like this story. Thanks, Sid, for a short but entertaining tale.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
May 16, 2016
Original Blog Post:Review Request: Dear Stranger by Sid Love
Review by: multitaskingmomma
My Rating: 4 of 4 Stars
(Short&Light Read Category)
Reggie takes the train daily to and from work and gets all sorts of unwanted attention from fellow travelers. One such night he meets a stranger on his way home. Rather, the stranger makes bold moves on him and Reggie's loneliness got the better of him and the stranger took him home.
After that night, Reggie never sought the man out again, though he knew the stranger said he'd be looking out for him. A talk in a cafe with his friend is overheard and the eavesdropper is the stranger. What happens next is two men who try to get over their not knowing who the true man was.
This is a romantic story, but also a bit of a disturbing one. It goes against every sense of logic, getting picked up by a stranger for a one night stand, maybe it's a regular occurrence but Reggie is blind. Him not knowing who he was going with, where they were going...it lends a sense of danger that others may find thrilling or even challenging, but in short, it's a dangerous action.
Reggie knew his actions were spurred on by his need to connect with someone who would look past his blindness. He took a huge, huge risk. Luckily for him, the stranger was not a serial killer, but instead was a man of integrity. How realistic is that? That's for you to think about and for the rest to worry. Reggie, he took a risk, thankfully it paid off for him.
Overall, this was written well and the story has merits. But it does lead me to think...just how much will you risk your heart to overcome the sense of loneliness?
Note: eARC received from author in exchange for an honest review.
Review by: multitaskingmomma
My Rating: 4 of 4 Stars
(Short&Light Read Category)
Reggie takes the train daily to and from work and gets all sorts of unwanted attention from fellow travelers. One such night he meets a stranger on his way home. Rather, the stranger makes bold moves on him and Reggie's loneliness got the better of him and the stranger took him home.
After that night, Reggie never sought the man out again, though he knew the stranger said he'd be looking out for him. A talk in a cafe with his friend is overheard and the eavesdropper is the stranger. What happens next is two men who try to get over their not knowing who the true man was.
This is a romantic story, but also a bit of a disturbing one. It goes against every sense of logic, getting picked up by a stranger for a one night stand, maybe it's a regular occurrence but Reggie is blind. Him not knowing who he was going with, where they were going...it lends a sense of danger that others may find thrilling or even challenging, but in short, it's a dangerous action.
Reggie knew his actions were spurred on by his need to connect with someone who would look past his blindness. He took a huge, huge risk. Luckily for him, the stranger was not a serial killer, but instead was a man of integrity. How realistic is that? That's for you to think about and for the rest to worry. Reggie, he took a risk, thankfully it paid off for him.
Overall, this was written well and the story has merits. But it does lead me to think...just how much will you risk your heart to overcome the sense of loneliness?
Note: eARC received from author in exchange for an honest review.
May 25, 2016
Enjoyed story of a blind man's one night stand
Having one night stand is hard enough when you are sighted. Imagine the perils of being blind and engaging in one? Being blind makes someone so vulnerable to begin with. Add living in a major city, riding subway trains, and navigating oneself by instinct and other clues, solely with a cane. All together this makes the blind man cautious and heightens his sense of awareness.
When our blind MC encounters a man / stranger he feels attracted to puts his radar on high alert when he learns the man and as it turns out, a very large man has been watching (stalking) him for several days before approaching him. Flattered and fearful at the same time the blind man can't help being cautious but intrigued by this cologned stranger who lets his interest be known.
How does the blind man negotiate from a a standing of strength when he realizes that he has lost control of the situation once the sighted person follows him nearly to his home? Why does he feel so lonely that he throws caution to the wind? So many bad things could happen to him. Especially since he doesn't even know where he's been taken to.
No names were exchanged. Just passion. Yet the sighted guy is gentleman enough to assure his blind lover makes it safely home. This dear stranger makes a big impression on the blind man. He wants more, feels disappointed, and upset at the same time. Isn't there some one night stand etiquette? Just get off and forget. Avoid the person. Definitely no sharing of names or personal information. Then why does the blind subway rider feel so bereft?
I enjoyed this short short. It had a good amount of tension, second guessing, and a nice beginning instead of a heart breaking end. I look forward to reading more by this new author, Mr Love. I even hopes he revisits these two MCs sometime in the future.
Having one night stand is hard enough when you are sighted. Imagine the perils of being blind and engaging in one? Being blind makes someone so vulnerable to begin with. Add living in a major city, riding subway trains, and navigating oneself by instinct and other clues, solely with a cane. All together this makes the blind man cautious and heightens his sense of awareness.
When our blind MC encounters a man / stranger he feels attracted to puts his radar on high alert when he learns the man and as it turns out, a very large man has been watching (stalking) him for several days before approaching him. Flattered and fearful at the same time the blind man can't help being cautious but intrigued by this cologned stranger who lets his interest be known.
How does the blind man negotiate from a a standing of strength when he realizes that he has lost control of the situation once the sighted person follows him nearly to his home? Why does he feel so lonely that he throws caution to the wind? So many bad things could happen to him. Especially since he doesn't even know where he's been taken to.
No names were exchanged. Just passion. Yet the sighted guy is gentleman enough to assure his blind lover makes it safely home. This dear stranger makes a big impression on the blind man. He wants more, feels disappointed, and upset at the same time. Isn't there some one night stand etiquette? Just get off and forget. Avoid the person. Definitely no sharing of names or personal information. Then why does the blind subway rider feel so bereft?
I enjoyed this short short. It had a good amount of tension, second guessing, and a nice beginning instead of a heart breaking end. I look forward to reading more by this new author, Mr Love. I even hopes he revisits these two MCs sometime in the future.
May 11, 2016
Title: Dear Stranger
Author: Sid Love
Publisher: Creative Minds
Reviewer: Barb
Release Date: May 12, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Romance, Disability
Page Count: 28
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Review:
****4 Stranger to Lover Stars****
Dear Stranger is a quick short story of 2 men meeting on the subway. One approaches the other and subtlety lets him know he is attracted. Reggie is blind and all of his other senses are acutely attuned to this stranger. He is nervous, but intrigued. A conversation begins and the stranger whispers in Reggie’s ear:
“You're too beautiful to go unnoticed by anyone.”
The stranger follows him towards his home and invites him to his apartment. Que the steamy love scene!
“Let me be your eyes tonight. Let me show you how beautiful you really are.”
The stranger walks Reggie home and says he will see him the next day. But Reggie avoids him for the next week. Is this the end of what could be the beginning of a promising relationship? Does the reader get to know the stranger's name? I really enjoyed this short tale of two strangers coming together in the big city! I think you will too!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Barb from Alpha Book Club
Author: Sid Love
Publisher: Creative Minds
Reviewer: Barb
Release Date: May 12, 2016
Genre(s): M/M Romance, Disability
Page Count: 28
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Review:
****4 Stranger to Lover Stars****
Dear Stranger is a quick short story of 2 men meeting on the subway. One approaches the other and subtlety lets him know he is attracted. Reggie is blind and all of his other senses are acutely attuned to this stranger. He is nervous, but intrigued. A conversation begins and the stranger whispers in Reggie’s ear:
“You're too beautiful to go unnoticed by anyone.”
The stranger follows him towards his home and invites him to his apartment. Que the steamy love scene!
“Let me be your eyes tonight. Let me show you how beautiful you really are.”
The stranger walks Reggie home and says he will see him the next day. But Reggie avoids him for the next week. Is this the end of what could be the beginning of a promising relationship? Does the reader get to know the stranger's name? I really enjoyed this short tale of two strangers coming together in the big city! I think you will too!
ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed by Barb from Alpha Book Club
May 17, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews with a copy provided by the publisher / author for an honest review.)
This story would be great if it was the first couple chapters of a book, but it doesn’t really work for me if this is supposed to be a completed work. It sets us up with some interesting characters, and just as we learn their names….it is over!
I also found the premise to be a little unbelievable if I’m honest. A young independent blind man who travels the subways in New York City by himself and finds his way home through the crowded New York City streets isn’t totally implausible, but it is pretty darned unlikely. When you add in said blind man trusting some random stranger who comes up and starts rubbing his arm and then his leg on a New York subway? Having spent a lot of time on NYC subways…I wasn’t really buying it.
Putting aside the implausibility of their meeting, I did like the characters, or what we got to know of the characters in the short amount of time we had. I think Mr. Love did a good job with setting up the story line, and I enjoyed what I read, but overall I have to say there just wasn’t enough! I’d be interesting in knowing what happens next. Hopefully this is a “testing the waters” prequel, and we will see a real book with these characters down the road.
For now, as it stands…and not knowing if this is ever going anywhere besides here, I’m going to call this one as good/average. It had a lot of potential, but we didn’t see it fulfilled in this very, very short story.
This story would be great if it was the first couple chapters of a book, but it doesn’t really work for me if this is supposed to be a completed work. It sets us up with some interesting characters, and just as we learn their names….it is over!
I also found the premise to be a little unbelievable if I’m honest. A young independent blind man who travels the subways in New York City by himself and finds his way home through the crowded New York City streets isn’t totally implausible, but it is pretty darned unlikely. When you add in said blind man trusting some random stranger who comes up and starts rubbing his arm and then his leg on a New York subway? Having spent a lot of time on NYC subways…I wasn’t really buying it.
Putting aside the implausibility of their meeting, I did like the characters, or what we got to know of the characters in the short amount of time we had. I think Mr. Love did a good job with setting up the story line, and I enjoyed what I read, but overall I have to say there just wasn’t enough! I’d be interesting in knowing what happens next. Hopefully this is a “testing the waters” prequel, and we will see a real book with these characters down the road.
For now, as it stands…and not knowing if this is ever going anywhere besides here, I’m going to call this one as good/average. It had a lot of potential, but we didn’t see it fulfilled in this very, very short story.
May 17, 2016
Although this story is very short, the author does a great job in drawing the reader in. Reggie’s 1st person narrative flows well and is easy to read. I liked how descriptive the writing was, yet didn’t forget that its narrator was blind—something that makes this story a bit different as it relies on the remaining senses of hearing, touch, taste and smell.
Reggie’s personality shines through, and I loved his friend Judy, and would have liked to have seen more of her. Reggie’s ‘suitor’ is perceived from Reggie’s perspective, which uses the literary device of unreliable narrator very well. Does the guy have good intentions, or is he really a stalker? Like Reggie, the reader has to wait and find out.
Dear Stranger is a fun, hot, read, more of a slice of life encounter by a guy who is lonely and wants more. The instant connection between the two men, which starts with what might just be a one night stand works given the length of the story. There’s no time for an in depth exploration of their relationship. My initial reservations about Reggie going with a guy he didn’t know didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story, but rather kept me on the edge of my seat as I kept reading to find out what would happen.
This is the first story I’ve read by Sid Love, but I’d love to read more. I’d recommend this short story to readers who enjoy a fun read with hot sex, and an encounter on a subway that hopefully leads to more.
Reggie’s personality shines through, and I loved his friend Judy, and would have liked to have seen more of her. Reggie’s ‘suitor’ is perceived from Reggie’s perspective, which uses the literary device of unreliable narrator very well. Does the guy have good intentions, or is he really a stalker? Like Reggie, the reader has to wait and find out.
Dear Stranger is a fun, hot, read, more of a slice of life encounter by a guy who is lonely and wants more. The instant connection between the two men, which starts with what might just be a one night stand works given the length of the story. There’s no time for an in depth exploration of their relationship. My initial reservations about Reggie going with a guy he didn’t know didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story, but rather kept me on the edge of my seat as I kept reading to find out what would happen.
This is the first story I’ve read by Sid Love, but I’d love to read more. I’d recommend this short story to readers who enjoy a fun read with hot sex, and an encounter on a subway that hopefully leads to more.
July 10, 2016
Reggie is a blind man who is very independent and takes the subway every day on his own. One day a stranger approaches him and begins chatting with Reggie. Turns out they live near one another and the stranger has been noticing Reggie for awhile.
Reggie, though at first scared, is willing to take a risk and they have a quickie in the the stranger’s apartment. Later, Reggie kicks himself for not getting more information because he just might want something more with the stranger.
**
This story did not work for me at all. I was scared for Reggie for most of the time. I just kept feeling how vulnerable he was and how the stranger – Jack – never did anything to allay this fear.
I didn’t appreciate the fact that in 28 pages there was two separate sex scenes, but virtually no relationship building at all.
The only thing I know about Jack is that Reggie finds him sexually interesting. The sex itself was not erotic to me and felt a bit harsh.
The other aspect of the story was the dialog. There was a lot of wannas and ya knows that didn’t seem to fit with Reggie’s character.
All in all it felt like a fantasy story but one that just made me anxious.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this.
2 of 5 stars
Reggie, though at first scared, is willing to take a risk and they have a quickie in the the stranger’s apartment. Later, Reggie kicks himself for not getting more information because he just might want something more with the stranger.
**
This story did not work for me at all. I was scared for Reggie for most of the time. I just kept feeling how vulnerable he was and how the stranger – Jack – never did anything to allay this fear.
I didn’t appreciate the fact that in 28 pages there was two separate sex scenes, but virtually no relationship building at all.
The only thing I know about Jack is that Reggie finds him sexually interesting. The sex itself was not erotic to me and felt a bit harsh.
The other aspect of the story was the dialog. There was a lot of wannas and ya knows that didn’t seem to fit with Reggie’s character.
All in all it felt like a fantasy story but one that just made me anxious.
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this.
2 of 5 stars
May 13, 2016
Sid Love's Dear stranger is a 7,500 word short story just right for reading on your commute... and wouldn't you know it? That's where the story starts. Two strangers are brought together by a need to make a connection they just couldn't ignore.
One of the best elements of Sid's story is that it's told from Reggie's point of view. He's blind, so we're forced into following the world through his other senses, which allows for a lot of imagination. As an author who's played with that concept myself, it's hard! We are a visual species, and when you take that away, it's harder to connect with the world around you (or the world around the characters).
That's why I enjoyed Dear Stranger so much. I appreciated the skill it took to write from a character different from the norm, and the short length made this a nice evening read that I could enjoy without having to really do more than follow along with the story. Word to the wise, though, if you do read this on your commute... make sure you're not the blushing type because Reggie sees through his hands, and that does mean everything !
May 23, 2016
ndependent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Reggie is blind, but gets himself about on the train. Totally out of character, he picks up/gets picked up by a stranger. A man who does all sort of funny things to his insides, to his heart.
So short! So deliciously short and oh so sexy too!
I loved this little short by Sid Love. 28 pages is not a lot to play with, but I think Love nailed Reggie and his stranger's story perfectly.
I loved their initial interaction, the overheard conversation, their follow up encounter (phew!) and that (in a round about way) first meeting.
It's hot and steamy, and hits the spot that you need for a short and sexy book.
We do only get Reggie though, and that, coupled with its shortness, is why it gets 4 stars and not the full 5.
This is the first book of Love's I've read. I'd like to read a longer, more in depth book. Because if Love can pull this level of character development and story telling in 28 pages, what can he do with 100? or 200?? I wanna see, I really do.
4 stars.
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
Reggie is blind, but gets himself about on the train. Totally out of character, he picks up/gets picked up by a stranger. A man who does all sort of funny things to his insides, to his heart.
So short! So deliciously short and oh so sexy too!
I loved this little short by Sid Love. 28 pages is not a lot to play with, but I think Love nailed Reggie and his stranger's story perfectly.
I loved their initial interaction, the overheard conversation, their follow up encounter (phew!) and that (in a round about way) first meeting.
It's hot and steamy, and hits the spot that you need for a short and sexy book.
We do only get Reggie though, and that, coupled with its shortness, is why it gets 4 stars and not the full 5.
This is the first book of Love's I've read. I'd like to read a longer, more in depth book. Because if Love can pull this level of character development and story telling in 28 pages, what can he do with 100? or 200?? I wanna see, I really do.
4 stars.
**same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
May 14, 2016
**Originally Posted on Kiki's Kinky Picks**
I generally avoid short stories, but when I was given a chance to read Dear Stranger by Sid Love I decided to give it a shot.
For such a quick read, it took me a while to decide how to rate it. There were things that I liked and then there were a few things I wasn’t a fan of.
I liked the characters, though you mostly only get to know Reggie since it’s written in first person from his POV. But his friend Judy was also interesting, even if you don’t get a ton of information about her.
Then there’s Reggie’s stranger. I liked that he was more complex than I originally thought, but some of his dialogue was a little awkward. Plus, his reactions seemed over-the-top at times.
Obviously, with a story this short things progressed quickly and without preamble. While I would have loved just a little bit more between Reggie and his stranger, Dear Stranger was a quick, sexy, PWP story.
Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I generally avoid short stories, but when I was given a chance to read Dear Stranger by Sid Love I decided to give it a shot.
For such a quick read, it took me a while to decide how to rate it. There were things that I liked and then there were a few things I wasn’t a fan of.
I liked the characters, though you mostly only get to know Reggie since it’s written in first person from his POV. But his friend Judy was also interesting, even if you don’t get a ton of information about her.
Then there’s Reggie’s stranger. I liked that he was more complex than I originally thought, but some of his dialogue was a little awkward. Plus, his reactions seemed over-the-top at times.
Obviously, with a story this short things progressed quickly and without preamble. While I would have loved just a little bit more between Reggie and his stranger, Dear Stranger was a quick, sexy, PWP story.
Copy provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.
June 3, 2016
Reg is on the subway on his way home from work when he is hit on by a stranger. He is not used to a man hitting on him and is extremely nervous. After a short conversation and the man following him he goes in with the man for a heated rendezvous and what he is sure is a one-time fling.
What makes this unique is that Reg is blind. I'll admit the story had me biting my nails for Reg's safety. There is quite a bit of sex for this to be such a short story, but we also meet Reg' friend so we get a scene of them out for drink after work discussing Reg's feelings on the stranger as well. I think this scene gave the story some depth. I do wish there had been a bit more sensory description with Reg being blind and I would've liked more on his history as to where he works.
I felt like this is a fun story, a bit intriguing( trying to figure out if Reg is safe and the stranger's intentions) and it's very hot. I think it's worth a read if you're looking for a quick, inexpensive read. I would love to see more of Reg and the Stranger.
* I received a copy for an honest opinion*
What makes this unique is that Reg is blind. I'll admit the story had me biting my nails for Reg's safety. There is quite a bit of sex for this to be such a short story, but we also meet Reg' friend so we get a scene of them out for drink after work discussing Reg's feelings on the stranger as well. I think this scene gave the story some depth. I do wish there had been a bit more sensory description with Reg being blind and I would've liked more on his history as to where he works.
I felt like this is a fun story, a bit intriguing( trying to figure out if Reg is safe and the stranger's intentions) and it's very hot. I think it's worth a read if you're looking for a quick, inexpensive read. I would love to see more of Reg and the Stranger.
* I received a copy for an honest opinion*
May 13, 2016
Dear Stranger was a very quick read, a bit shorter than I think it should have been in order to tell a truly satisfying story. It felt a bit incomplete and the ending a bit rushed. But I did like the characters, even if I didn't agree with Reggie's decision to hook up without even knowing his stranger at all given the fact that Reggie was at a disadvantage being blind.
The heat between the two was searing, and their hookup was one where I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages.
I do think this story could be expanded quite a bit (at the very least to novella length if not longer) to give a better sense of the characters and to let us see where this relationship could go. The story concept is solid, and it does make me want to know more about the characters.
3 stars for Dear Stranger, recommended for 18+ adult language and explicit M/M sexual content.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The heat between the two was searing, and their hookup was one where I couldn't tear my eyes away from the pages.
I do think this story could be expanded quite a bit (at the very least to novella length if not longer) to give a better sense of the characters and to let us see where this relationship could go. The story concept is solid, and it does make me want to know more about the characters.
3 stars for Dear Stranger, recommended for 18+ adult language and explicit M/M sexual content.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 12, 2016
This was a lust at first sense story. Reggie is a blind young guy living in New York City. After a situation of flirty happenstance he has a sexy night with a stranger from the subway.
It’s something out of a dream you or I might have. A fantasy. Normally people don’t do things like this but Reggie plunged right in there.
I loved the way Reggie described things. With his sight gone all the others are heightened so hearing him talk about tastes, sounds, feels was very cool and I thought the author really did a wonderful job with those descriptions.
I knew going in that this was a short story but I was desperate for more. More of a slow burn between Reggie and Subway Stranger. This has the potential to be a longer tale and I really wish it had been.
All in all it was an enjoyable quick read!
It’s something out of a dream you or I might have. A fantasy. Normally people don’t do things like this but Reggie plunged right in there.
I loved the way Reggie described things. With his sight gone all the others are heightened so hearing him talk about tastes, sounds, feels was very cool and I thought the author really did a wonderful job with those descriptions.
I knew going in that this was a short story but I was desperate for more. More of a slow burn between Reggie and Subway Stranger. This has the potential to be a longer tale and I really wish it had been.
All in all it was an enjoyable quick read!
May 16, 2016
*** Book provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***
Reggie, a young blind man has a passionate encounter with a stranger that he meets on the train. This out of character for him, and leaves him in a turmoil. It seems the stranger might want more of him, but is Reggie too scared to actually give him a chance?
This was a cute, very enjoyable read. I really liked Reggie and understood his plight. And I liked his mysterious stranger for the most part, but there was a scene when I just wanted to give him a good shake. For as short as the book is, it had enough substance to leave me satisfied. Yes, I would've liked it to be longer and see how their relationship grew, but it was still a delight to read. Very recommendable!
Rating: 4 Stars!!!
Reggie, a young blind man has a passionate encounter with a stranger that he meets on the train. This out of character for him, and leaves him in a turmoil. It seems the stranger might want more of him, but is Reggie too scared to actually give him a chance?
This was a cute, very enjoyable read. I really liked Reggie and understood his plight. And I liked his mysterious stranger for the most part, but there was a scene when I just wanted to give him a good shake. For as short as the book is, it had enough substance to leave me satisfied. Yes, I would've liked it to be longer and see how their relationship grew, but it was still a delight to read. Very recommendable!
Rating: 4 Stars!!!
February 23, 2024
This is a short story about a blind man taking his usual commute when a stranger talks to him. Things move along and they end up having a one-night stand. It gives you as the reader a new insight into the world of being blind, as it is all written from Reggie's perspective.
The characters are all well written, and the relationships between Reggie and his 'Dear Stranger', plus Reggie and Judy, are very clear and concise.
Very well written, with enough steam between the main two characters to melt your e-reader. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 14, 2016
The characters are all well written, and the relationships between Reggie and his 'Dear Stranger', plus Reggie and Judy, are very clear and concise.
Very well written, with enough steam between the main two characters to melt your e-reader. Definitely recommended.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jul 14, 2016
May 13, 2016
This is a short story which tells the tale of a blind guy who hooks up with someone he meets on the subway. Told from Reggie's POV and in first person, I believe the author captured Reggie's blindness well, focusing on the scents, sounds and touches. The story follows their meeting, their hook up, and Reggie's thoughts and feelings after the event. It ends with a sense that Reggie may well get his happy ending.
Read
May 13, 2016Given how difficult it is to write a short story, and that too one with so much emotion and new information in it, and not make it feel like info-dump, first of all, i would like to give sincere Kudos to Sid!!
Dear Stranger is such a cute little story about serendipity and strangers meeting on the New York Subway. It consists of a cane wielding protagonist, an adorable fag-hag and well... a sex maniac.
Dear Stranger is such a cute little story about serendipity and strangers meeting on the New York Subway. It consists of a cane wielding protagonist, an adorable fag-hag and well... a sex maniac.
October 6, 2016
4.5 stars..I didn't what it too end..
Wow this was a first read for this author and a short story.. this was HOT. Imagine being blind and meeting a stranger on a train late at night would be scary.. Then to find him following you into you street is petrifying. Reggie's first reaction to the stranger sent chills down his spine in a good way as he's flirting with Reggie on the train. What happens next it HOT...A sizzling read that I wanted it to continue after it ended.
Wow this was a first read for this author and a short story.. this was HOT. Imagine being blind and meeting a stranger on a train late at night would be scary.. Then to find him following you into you street is petrifying. Reggie's first reaction to the stranger sent chills down his spine in a good way as he's flirting with Reggie on the train. What happens next it HOT...A sizzling read that I wanted it to continue after it ended.
May 12, 2016
Can you even call this a book
Too short..great idea for a story but just as you are getting into the story it abruptly ends. I find that sad and unappealing especially if someone spends money to read it..you should just say hey I have this great idea for a book you wanna read that for Free!
Too short..great idea for a story but just as you are getting into the story it abruptly ends. I find that sad and unappealing especially if someone spends money to read it..you should just say hey I have this great idea for a book you wanna read that for Free!
May 12, 2016
I love Dear Stranger with a passion. I love Reggie and 'the stranger', the cautiousness of Reggie as they awkwardly flirt, combined with a degree of recklessness as he contemplates a leap into the unknown. I loved the bar scene from start to finish, and the stranger's reactions were just right. 5/5 Sid!
July 15, 2016
A short story and quick read, I enjoyed the premise, but would have really liked a longer read. The language used was possibly not English as a first language but held my interest. I enjoyed the portrayal of Reggie as a blind person being fully independent and the difficulties he meets making contact with someone new! This book could be very good if redone in a longer format.
May 28, 2016
3.5*
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it! The descriptions were so good. Reggie being blind made him rely more on his other senses. A passionate night with a stranger from the train. I liked the stranger so hard! A cute quick read.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it! The descriptions were so good. Reggie being blind made him rely more on his other senses. A passionate night with a stranger from the train. I liked the stranger so hard! A cute quick read.
August 15, 2016
Very Good Read
This story about Reg and Jack had a very good, and a little scary storyline. It was a very good read.
This story about Reg and Jack had a very good, and a little scary storyline. It was a very good read.
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