What do you think?
Rate this book
Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter
To help out his sister, Scott moved to the small town of Montgomery, where there isn’t much to do and no one for him to date. Well, there’s one other openly gay man in town—Henry ‘Cole’ Porter, a widower who runs the school library, but after one drunken night together, Cole has kept his distance. Scott is used to that. He spends a lot of time working out, and from the slow way he talks and the frat house atmosphere at the fire station where he works, it’s easy to assume he’s stupid. Most people are happy to admire his body and assume that’s all he wants from them, and deep down, Scott is too afraid to try asking for more.
Which is why Scott has been secretly pining after Cole for months when some of the town’s nosier residents decide Cole has been single long enough. They have a plan to throw every professional gay man in a thirty-mile radius Cole’s way, whether he likes it or not. Their list of candidates doesn’t include Scott, and Scott’s insecurities prevent him from stepping forward—even when it seems as though Cole is asking him to.
Cole is everything Scott isn’t; highly educated, stylish, with refined tastes. He’s also stubborn and sarcastic, and not nearly as smart about the workings of his own heart as people might think. It might take a lot of the wrong men for him to realize the right one has been in front of him all along.
Which is why Scott has been secretly pining after Cole for months when some of the town’s nosier residents decide Cole has been single long enough. They have a plan to throw every professional gay man in a thirty-mile radius Cole’s way, whether he likes it or not. Their list of candidates doesn’t include Scott, and Scott’s insecurities prevent him from stepping forward—even when it seems as though Cole is asking him to.
Cole is everything Scott isn’t; highly educated, stylish, with refined tastes. He’s also stubborn and sarcastic, and not nearly as smart about the workings of his own heart as people might think. It might take a lot of the wrong men for him to realize the right one has been in front of him all along.
112 pages, ebook
First published June 28, 2016
27 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
R. Cooper
81 books999 followersI'm R. Cooper, a somewhat absentminded, often distracted, writer of queer romance. I'm probably most known for the Being(s) in Love series and The Suitable 'Verse stories. Also the occasional story about witches or firefighters in love.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
Otherwise... have some social media links if you want updates and whatever the hell else I am talking about.
Tumblr
BlueSky
**With Meta's current policies, I do not use FB or Insta or Threads for anything but the bare minimum.**
Facebook
Instagram and Threads
You can also support me on Patreon if you like
If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
You can visit my website for updates or sign up for my newsletter . My newsletter is free! And comes out once a month or once every two months or so.
Otherwise... have some social media links if you want updates and whatever the hell else I am talking about.
Tumblr
BlueSky
**With Meta's current policies, I do not use FB or Insta or Threads for anything but the bare minimum.**
Instagram and Threads
You can also support me on Patreon if you like
If you just want book release updates, I have a BookBub profile.
Also, I now have a Storygraph where I will try to track my reading in an organized fashion.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
January 2, 2026
Just ignore the cover ... Amazon has a newer one, but it's not super brilliant either. Anyway, a nice cozy story.
Scott is a really great character, you have to empathize with him a bit and tune out his babbling about sports and what he has to do to stay fit, or as usual with R. Cooper you have to read between the lines.
Scott is not a superficial character, he's just a little different and comes across that way. Cole also had to learn first.
The two of them together, devilishly hot and what a dynamic.
“He’s bossy,” Scott defended himself in a voice he didn’t even recognize. “And he’s smart, and educated, and his cookies are always perfect, and he kisses like he wants to keep me just to kiss me.” 🥰🫠🥰
Kathy and her friends, oh my God, I would strangle, quarter, tar and feather them all if I came across these people in real life.
Back to Scott and Cole, I also would have liked to shake them a bit for not talking to each other but just assuming from each other that there is no interest. But that rambling when they finally exchange more words was so cute ...
The attraction between them is also just so great, but not just on a sexual level, just the way they connect ... I have no words for it.
Also, did I mention that Scott is a firefighter ...
However, don't expect any smut, even though this book had a little more sexual scenes on the page than others by the author, the real fun is still off page.
“Now yours, Scott.” Sharp, and hungry, and still kissing, panting, sweet kisses like he wasn’t pulling Scott’s hair to get more noises out of him. “Your cock too. Take those big, callused, life-saving hands and use them to get us the fuck off.” 😳🤩😳
Scott is a really great character, you have to empathize with him a bit and tune out his babbling about sports and what he has to do to stay fit, or as usual with R. Cooper you have to read between the lines.
Scott is not a superficial character, he's just a little different and comes across that way. Cole also had to learn first.
The two of them together, devilishly hot and what a dynamic.
“He’s bossy,” Scott defended himself in a voice he didn’t even recognize. “And he’s smart, and educated, and his cookies are always perfect, and he kisses like he wants to keep me just to kiss me.” 🥰🫠🥰
Kathy and her friends, oh my God, I would strangle, quarter, tar and feather them all if I came across these people in real life.
Back to Scott and Cole, I also would have liked to shake them a bit for not talking to each other but just assuming from each other that there is no interest. But that rambling when they finally exchange more words was so cute ...
The attraction between them is also just so great, but not just on a sexual level, just the way they connect ... I have no words for it.
Also, did I mention that Scott is a firefighter ...
However, don't expect any smut, even though this book had a little more sexual scenes on the page than others by the author, the real fun is still off page.
“Now yours, Scott.” Sharp, and hungry, and still kissing, panting, sweet kisses like he wasn’t pulling Scott’s hair to get more noises out of him. “Your cock too. Take those big, callused, life-saving hands and use them to get us the fuck off.” 😳🤩😳
January 27, 2025
Reread 01/2025
Still 4,5 stars, still lovely and heart breaking and heart warming.
I love Scotty so much, and I love Cole for him. Scotty's sister is awesome.
Now I'll jump directly to Javier's story (For Better or Worse).
---------------
Read 07/2024
4,5 stars.
Wow. I'm so happy I found this author.
I'm totally digging (as Scott would say) their writing.
How they showed Scott (it's his pov) pining and longing, then carefully getting closer with Cole, and finally finding acceptance and love for his true self was beautiful to read.
I adored Scott so, so much. I wanted to shake him to stand up for himself. I loved Cole, too, once I saw him clearer, and felt his frustration with the situation he found himself in.
Again, as in other novels by this author, this needs better editing. There are more than a few words missing in the e-book version.
No grammar errors, though.
I enjoyed every minute of the story so much, the lack of editing didn't dampen my enjoyment at all, though.
Still 4,5 stars, still lovely and heart breaking and heart warming.
I love Scotty so much, and I love Cole for him. Scotty's sister is awesome.
Now I'll jump directly to Javier's story (For Better or Worse).
---------------
Read 07/2024
4,5 stars.
Wow. I'm so happy I found this author.
I'm totally digging (as Scott would say) their writing.
How they showed Scott (it's his pov) pining and longing, then carefully getting closer with Cole, and finally finding acceptance and love for his true self was beautiful to read.
I adored Scott so, so much. I wanted to shake him to stand up for himself. I loved Cole, too, once I saw him clearer, and felt his frustration with the situation he found himself in.
Again, as in other novels by this author, this needs better editing. There are more than a few words missing in the e-book version.
No grammar errors, though.
I enjoyed every minute of the story so much, the lack of editing didn't dampen my enjoyment at all, though.
July 4, 2016
This was everything. I adored Scott so much. Bless him. Wish it was longer or that we would get to see them progress further than we did, but it was a quick, sweet read and it left me happy and smiley.
June 17, 2019
Too much dialogue and not enough romance for me. 🤷♀️
2.5 that was a miss for me stars
⭐️⭐️💫
2.5 that was a miss for me stars
⭐️⭐️💫
May 22, 2022
a short and sweet himbo romance with a smattering of soft angst and mucho pining. no surprises here, but of course i -loved- this. 4.25 stars rounded down.
July 14, 2024
This. Was. Adorable. So much pining 🥰
First of all: thank you Angelika for making me pick it up. I had so many stars in my eyes while reading it, and I sighed happily when Scott and Cole got together.
Finally.
It’s a novella (112 pages), but it feels more like a book with how well developed the characters were. It’s told from Scott’s pov. I don’t even want to go into details, because the plot isn’t what this book is about.
What I truly enjoyed, was seeing the world through Scott’s eyes, and falling in love with Cole, it’s so much more obvious for us readers that Cole is into Scott, too, than it is for Scott.
Also: the “showdown” where they put that insufferable meddling woman in her place?
I cheered 🤜🤛
Read it. It’s not on KU, but it’s only around 1€ and well worth it.
First of all: thank you Angelika for making me pick it up. I had so many stars in my eyes while reading it, and I sighed happily when Scott and Cole got together.
Finally.
It’s a novella (112 pages), but it feels more like a book with how well developed the characters were. It’s told from Scott’s pov. I don’t even want to go into details, because the plot isn’t what this book is about.
What I truly enjoyed, was seeing the world through Scott’s eyes, and falling in love with Cole, it’s so much more obvious for us readers that Cole is into Scott, too, than it is for Scott.
Also: the “showdown” where they put that insufferable meddling woman in her place?
I cheered 🤜🤛
Read it. It’s not on KU, but it’s only around 1€ and well worth it.
December 19, 2016
3,5 que no redondeo a 4 porque, Scott, my love, sé que no eres "dumb" (como no paras de decirte a ti mismo una y otra vez), pero hijo mío, te juro que lo pareces 3/4 partes de la novella.
He pasado muy buen rato con estos 2, novella muy dulce y bonita, con un puntito hot, al menos a mi me ha parecido que ciertas conversaciones entre ellos lo son sin ser de contenido sexual, y es que el "inocente" bibliotecario Cole es un badass xD.
Muy recomendable.
He pasado muy buen rato con estos 2, novella muy dulce y bonita, con un puntito hot, al menos a mi me ha parecido que ciertas conversaciones entre ellos lo son sin ser de contenido sexual, y es que el "inocente" bibliotecario Cole es un badass xD.
Muy recomendable.
July 19, 2016
4.5 stars
Just adorable! These guys felt real to me. I had a perfect image in my head of both: Scott the extremely fit, socially awkward Korean firefighter and Cole the older, stylish and a little bit bossy school librarian. I loved seeing an Asian MC (yet another under-represented group in M/M) and a bald MC (also under-represented!!). This was sweet, but not too sweet, and for a short story had a nice slow burn. Lots of yearning here. Very much recommended!
Be forewarned though that there are some editing issues, e.g., missing words. Hopefully these can be corrected in future.
Just adorable! These guys felt real to me. I had a perfect image in my head of both: Scott the extremely fit, socially awkward Korean firefighter and Cole the older, stylish and a little bit bossy school librarian. I loved seeing an Asian MC (yet another under-represented group in M/M) and a bald MC (also under-represented!!). This was sweet, but not too sweet, and for a short story had a nice slow burn. Lots of yearning here. Very much recommended!
Be forewarned though that there are some editing issues, e.g., missing words. Hopefully these can be corrected in future.
July 20, 2016
This was quite awesome!!
The first half of this book was simply perfect. Definitely 5 star material. Except when I was expecting something to happen halfway… it never did. It continued in the same way, and that wasn’t what I was hoping for.
Scott is a 29 year old firefighter, who is really into health and exercising. He gets asked by the small town’s knitting club if the other openly gay man in town is dating someone. Scott is surprised they are asking him about widower Cole. Cole, who he had a crush on for quite a while, especially since their one night stand a year back.
The women in the knitting club want to set Cole up with someone, so he won’t be lonely anymore. It doesn’t even cross their mind that Cole might not even want to date.
The knitting club also emphasizes to Scott that he is definitely not on the list of potential candidates for Cole. Because Scott is nothing but dumb muscle, pretty to look at, but not to talk to…
I loved the pining. Scott was so adorable in his crush. And I absolutely loved his straight friends.
Lewis was touching his back in a sexual way. Scott could not be that drunk yet to be imagining that.
“Yes!” Tiny yelled, as if Lewis had the right idea, and moved his hips against Scott’s with, like, intent. And he shouldn’t, because it felt fucking good and it had been a while since another man had actually, physically touched Scott.
“Thinks Scotty isn’t good enough to suck his dick, huh?” Lewis muttered, right in Scott’s ear, and his breath was hot enough to make Scott shiver. “We’ll show him.”
Scott did not understand straight men, but Lewis had abs to eat off of, and he was pressed tight against Scott’s ass while talking about sucking dick, and Scott had just downed, like, four shots at least.
“This is a bad idea.” Scott exhaled the words, and Tiny laughed in his face before reaching down to tug on his shirt. “He’s not going to be jealous.” Scott had figured it out, but Lewis’s giant hands settled sort of shyly at his sides and then slid up over his chest, so Scott swallowed and didn’t argue.
I have to admit, I wanted some relationship development after the pining, but the pining continues for the first 90% and the relationship only starts happening in the last 10%. So that was a bit of a disappointment.
But other than that, this book was funny and just adorable!
The first half of this book was simply perfect. Definitely 5 star material. Except when I was expecting something to happen halfway… it never did. It continued in the same way, and that wasn’t what I was hoping for.
Scott is a 29 year old firefighter, who is really into health and exercising. He gets asked by the small town’s knitting club if the other openly gay man in town is dating someone. Scott is surprised they are asking him about widower Cole. Cole, who he had a crush on for quite a while, especially since their one night stand a year back.
The women in the knitting club want to set Cole up with someone, so he won’t be lonely anymore. It doesn’t even cross their mind that Cole might not even want to date.
The knitting club also emphasizes to Scott that he is definitely not on the list of potential candidates for Cole. Because Scott is nothing but dumb muscle, pretty to look at, but not to talk to…
I loved the pining. Scott was so adorable in his crush. And I absolutely loved his straight friends.
Lewis was touching his back in a sexual way. Scott could not be that drunk yet to be imagining that.
“Yes!” Tiny yelled, as if Lewis had the right idea, and moved his hips against Scott’s with, like, intent. And he shouldn’t, because it felt fucking good and it had been a while since another man had actually, physically touched Scott.
“Thinks Scotty isn’t good enough to suck his dick, huh?” Lewis muttered, right in Scott’s ear, and his breath was hot enough to make Scott shiver. “We’ll show him.”
Scott did not understand straight men, but Lewis had abs to eat off of, and he was pressed tight against Scott’s ass while talking about sucking dick, and Scott had just downed, like, four shots at least.
“This is a bad idea.” Scott exhaled the words, and Tiny laughed in his face before reaching down to tug on his shirt. “He’s not going to be jealous.” Scott had figured it out, but Lewis’s giant hands settled sort of shyly at his sides and then slid up over his chest, so Scott swallowed and didn’t argue.
I have to admit, I wanted some relationship development after the pining, but the pining continues for the first 90% and the relationship only starts happening in the last 10%. So that was a bit of a disappointment.
But other than that, this book was funny and just adorable!
July 21, 2020
Really sweet adorable character, I loved Scotty - shy and insecure despite his good looks, abs, and friends.
The story was the light sweet (calorie -free) pick-me-up I needed today.
Wish I could give it all the stars!
But.
The knitting group were pure poison. Kept reminding me of the claustrophobic Wolf's Paw from Cooper's Beings series. Kathy went from someone you'd love to smack to a cartoon villain, that step too much to my mind.
And an oft repeated line threw me out of the story every single time it was said. 'look at you'
I kept feeling I was reading a non-magical reinvention of one of Cooper's Fairies, it stopped me fully embracing the characters and their story as much as I wanted to.
Still it was short, sweet and cheap, and I liked meeting Scotty.
The story was the light sweet (calorie -free) pick-me-up I needed today.
Wish I could give it all the stars!
But.
The knitting group were pure poison. Kept reminding me of the claustrophobic Wolf's Paw from Cooper's Beings series. Kathy went from someone you'd love to smack to a cartoon villain, that step too much to my mind.
And an oft repeated line threw me out of the story every single time it was said. 'look at you'
I kept feeling I was reading a non-magical reinvention of one of Cooper's Fairies, it stopped me fully embracing the characters and their story as much as I wanted to.
Still it was short, sweet and cheap, and I liked meeting Scotty.
November 6, 2017
Bueno... Ha sido una lectura dulce, no ha estado mal, pero esperaba algo más y no me ha convencido mucho el momento en el que la historia finaliza.
July 20, 2020
Wow. I am floored by the sneakily subversive messages laid into this very sweet novella or short novel!
I'll be honest, the silly title put me off a bit. But the title's perfect. Scott is very complex. Cole is very complex. We only see things from Scott's (3rd person) perspective. There is a heartbreaking, beautiful delicacy to how the author reveals things that ... I'm just floored. For all its beauty, there are barbs here too, and oh are they deserved, and how that plays out is subtle and delightfully mean.
There is FAR more here than the romance, and I am HERE FOR IT.
EDIT: just discovered 'For Better or Worse' is in the same town/same characters, so that's next. :)
I'll be honest, the silly title put me off a bit. But the title's perfect. Scott is very complex. Cole is very complex. We only see things from Scott's (3rd person) perspective. There is a heartbreaking, beautiful delicacy to how the author reveals things that ... I'm just floored. For all its beauty, there are barbs here too, and oh are they deserved, and how that plays out is subtle and delightfully mean.
There is FAR more here than the romance, and I am HERE FOR IT.
EDIT: just discovered 'For Better or Worse' is in the same town/same characters, so that's next. :)
August 16, 2016
Don't even try to decode my rating system. I like what I like. I found the dynamics between the two with the miscommunication lovely.
February 3, 2025
A completely adorable, sweet novella with lots of delicious pining and a loveable MC hidden behind a truly horrendous bookcover!
I had a really good time with this, even though the atrocious behaviour of the knitting circle sparked a rage in me I could have done without.
Scott was wonderful though 🥹
3,5⭐️
I had a really good time with this, even though the atrocious behaviour of the knitting circle sparked a rage in me I could have done without.
Scott was wonderful though 🥹
3,5⭐️
August 4, 2016
What a sweet story! I wasn't sure what to expect - the title and the cover did not exactly inspire me. But Scott's story involved me emotionally straight away, and my heart kept twinging at his self-deprecating behaviour and his lack of confidence when clearly, he is an incredibly able and likeable guy.
Love it when two such different characters (I have never come across an Asian MC before) find exactly what they need in each other. And they do, although it takes both of them quite a while to realize and act upon it. It was interesting that both guys, but particularly Scott, felt much younger to me than their supposed age.
Rich on some very well executed UST and subtle humour, with a side of heat (even if it isn't too much) I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
My only issue is the editing. With too many words in a sentence on some occasions, then too little on others I had to re-read quite a few passages.
Still, this is perfect if you're after a cute, engaging read.
Love it when two such different characters (I have never come across an Asian MC before) find exactly what they need in each other. And they do, although it takes both of them quite a while to realize and act upon it. It was interesting that both guys, but particularly Scott, felt much younger to me than their supposed age.
Rich on some very well executed UST and subtle humour, with a side of heat (even if it isn't too much) I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
My only issue is the editing. With too many words in a sentence on some occasions, then too little on others I had to re-read quite a few passages.
Still, this is perfect if you're after a cute, engaging read.
November 29, 2020
I... Don't know what to say about this.
Seriously. I have nothing. Nothing. Okay, I have something things to say but I don't know how to say them or where to start... It's just a very bland mess in my head.
I guess I would describe this book as bland. A little boring. I thought I was promised a lovely, cute read based on the blurb. It didn't deliver. Not for me at least.
I hated the noisy ladies of this time. Hated them with passion. Seriously ladies, stay back and let the poor gay guys be.
There's no chapters in this book. Zero. Nada. It annoyed the crap out of me.
At least I liked Scotty. In a kind of "I want to shield you from the world" way.
Seriously. I have nothing. Nothing. Okay, I have something things to say but I don't know how to say them or where to start... It's just a very bland mess in my head.
I guess I would describe this book as bland. A little boring. I thought I was promised a lovely, cute read based on the blurb. It didn't deliver. Not for me at least.
I hated the noisy ladies of this time. Hated them with passion. Seriously ladies, stay back and let the poor gay guys be.
There's no chapters in this book. Zero. Nada. It annoyed the crap out of me.
At least I liked Scotty. In a kind of "I want to shield you from the world" way.
August 7, 2016
It’s a cute, sloooowww-burn romance in a small town full of gossipers between Scott, a kind firefighter taking care of his sister’s children and Cole, a bossy librarian and widower.
Very sweet and funny but Scott’s insecurities as well as the gossipers’ behavior felt too exaggerated for my taste and there were editing issues. Not bad in overall, but not enough to hold my interest and a bit lacking in the steam department.
Very sweet and funny but Scott’s insecurities as well as the gossipers’ behavior felt too exaggerated for my taste and there were editing issues. Not bad in overall, but not enough to hold my interest and a bit lacking in the steam department.
July 14, 2016
This was a really sweet read. I loved the naïveté of Scotty thinking he wasn't good enough for Cole and I loved the vulnerability of Cole thinking he would never be good enough for Scotty. What a confusion of feelings !
Really enjoyable story
Really enjoyable story
August 23, 2019
3.5 stars
I really liked the story but wasn't too fond of the writing style. Especially the beginning. It was one scene, which took up 30 or so pages, but all they did was stand in a grocery store and talk, except between the questions and answers, there was lots of internal monologue in an infodumpish way, but not exactly that. Dunno how to explain it. I needed a little to get into it. But after that it was much smoother.
Scottie is a jock and a fireman. He's all about the healthy lifestyle and it seems that's all he talks about. But that's just when he's nervous and starts rambling, usually in the presence of a certain librarian. He's really shy and self-conscious about how everyone thinks he's stupid. They think he's all looks and no brains. I actually loved his quirkiness, which made for a humorous read.
Cole couldn't be more different. For one, he's around 10 years older than Scottie, he's in his forties. He's also educated, preppy and opinionated. He lost his husband a few years ago and became the town's gay widower.
So the ladies of the knitting circle (all nosy fuckers) decided to hook Cole up on a few dates, they even made a list, and Scottie was the only one who wasn't on it. Because seemingly the two man had nothing in common and they just wouldn't have fit. Somehow Scottie believed those women. He has really low self-esteem.
But Scott and Cole kept bumping into each other and kept talking (brace yourselves for slow-burn). They also had a past encounter, which was a really interesting development.
The whole point of this book is how you shouldn't make assumptions based on looks. And also to not shove people into boxes. Those ladies misconceptions caused a lot of trouble for these two men. Just because Cole looked a little femme, doesn't mean he's a bottom. And just because Scottie is a health-nut doesn't mean he's stupid. Just because 2 people have different interests, doesn't mean they wouldn't fit together.
This was a sweet and adorable read. I enjoyed it.
Note1: low steam
Note2: this book isn't formatted into chapters, at least the version I read (Smashwords)
I really liked the story but wasn't too fond of the writing style. Especially the beginning. It was one scene, which took up 30 or so pages, but all they did was stand in a grocery store and talk, except between the questions and answers, there was lots of internal monologue in an infodumpish way, but not exactly that. Dunno how to explain it. I needed a little to get into it. But after that it was much smoother.
Scottie is a jock and a fireman. He's all about the healthy lifestyle and it seems that's all he talks about. But that's just when he's nervous and starts rambling, usually in the presence of a certain librarian. He's really shy and self-conscious about how everyone thinks he's stupid. They think he's all looks and no brains. I actually loved his quirkiness, which made for a humorous read.
Cole couldn't be more different. For one, he's around 10 years older than Scottie, he's in his forties. He's also educated, preppy and opinionated. He lost his husband a few years ago and became the town's gay widower.
So the ladies of the knitting circle (all nosy fuckers) decided to hook Cole up on a few dates, they even made a list, and Scottie was the only one who wasn't on it. Because seemingly the two man had nothing in common and they just wouldn't have fit. Somehow Scottie believed those women. He has really low self-esteem.
But Scott and Cole kept bumping into each other and kept talking (brace yourselves for slow-burn). They also had a past encounter, which was a really interesting development.
The whole point of this book is how you shouldn't make assumptions based on looks. And also to not shove people into boxes. Those ladies misconceptions caused a lot of trouble for these two men. Just because Cole looked a little femme, doesn't mean he's a bottom. And just because Scottie is a health-nut doesn't mean he's stupid. Just because 2 people have different interests, doesn't mean they wouldn't fit together.
This was a sweet and adorable read. I enjoyed it.
Note1: low steam
Note2: this book isn't formatted into chapters, at least the version I read (Smashwords)
July 14, 2016
Underwhelming and a little haphazard in terms of character interaction. Parts of the dialogue continually made me feel as if I were missing something.
May 28, 2023
OMG, dawno nie spotkałam tak uroczego i kochanego bohatera, jak Scott 💙
Podbił mnie totalnie 💙
Potrzebowałam teraz takiej historii jak powietrza...
A jednocześnie w tej lekkiej i uroczej książce było sporo prawdziwych rzeczy na temat uprzedzeń, osądów i stereotypów.
Podbił mnie totalnie 💙
Potrzebowałam teraz takiej historii jak powietrza...
A jednocześnie w tej lekkiej i uroczej książce było sporo prawdziwych rzeczy na temat uprzedzeń, osądów i stereotypów.
October 21, 2016
I was very curious about this book but it basically ended when the relationship started.
I just needed more interactions, I still don't get why they fell for each other, I needed to see more of their connection.
I just needed more interactions, I still don't get why they fell for each other, I needed to see more of their connection.
July 25, 2020
I almost didn’t buy this book, because Kathy was so horrific and Scotty’s interaction with her comprised the majority of the sample. Fortunately, Cole showed up and Scotty’s appreciation for his red glasses and sometimes sparkly sneakers let me in that there’s more to this story than a cartoonish cruel small-minded bitch. I have a hard time believing that anyone would have just stood there to take her cruelty. Anyway, on to more pleasing topics. Scotty’s pleasure in Cole and what he found attractive about him. All the small details that Scotty noticed about Cole were so sweet and how much he enjoyed Cole’s bossiness. I really like how Cooper played against stereotypes by making Cole dominant and Scotty enjoying his dominance.
My advice: Just skip the pages with Kathy and you’ll enjoy this story a lot.
My advice: Just skip the pages with Kathy and you’ll enjoy this story a lot.
September 5, 2016
Hottie Scotty and Mr. Porter
By R. Cooper
Published June 2016
122 pages
Five stars
As one of R. Cooper’s big fans, I was interested to read a straightforward, small-town romance by her that didn’t involve magic or supernatural beings. What I discovered is that Cooper, denied the use of shimmering wings or werewolf courtship rituals, is a lovely romance writer. She is gentle, insistent, and creates stories with an exquisite sense of subtle detail—both physical and emotional.
Hottie Scotty is Scott Yun, a Korean-American firefighter who moved to a small town in California to help his divorced sister with her two young kids. He, being almost thirty and a certain kind of gay man, is of course obsessed with his body and eating healthy. Unwillingly outed by the town’s gossipy knitting club, he has found his comfortable niche in small town America. His main problem is that he doesn’t see himself the way other see him.
Mr. Porter is Henry “Cole” Porter, the bowtie-wearing librarian at the town’s elementary school. Cole is 42 and widowed—his husband Eric having died suddenly some years after they moved to town.
The town gossips want to get Cole dating again. But Scott is just a party boy, a Grindr kind of guy. He’s not on their list. He is dismissed as beauty and no brains, because Cole is an intellectual, a smart man with sophisticated tastes.
And that’s it really. The whole book takes place through Scott’s eyes, as he interacts with various townspeople and his sister Angie; and, of course, with Cole. There are moments of gentle humor and silliness; and these are balanced with moments of intense, controlled emotion. There is something Jane Austen-like about the delicate, carefully calibrated feelings with which Cooper fills this simple story. It is all about the place and what Scott feels about this town, himself, and the people he has chosen to live with. Nothing much happens, except that two lonely men’s lives change completely in spite of the well-meaning interference of people who pretend to know them, but really just want to push them around. See? Jane Austen all the way.
By R. Cooper
Published June 2016
122 pages
Five stars
As one of R. Cooper’s big fans, I was interested to read a straightforward, small-town romance by her that didn’t involve magic or supernatural beings. What I discovered is that Cooper, denied the use of shimmering wings or werewolf courtship rituals, is a lovely romance writer. She is gentle, insistent, and creates stories with an exquisite sense of subtle detail—both physical and emotional.
Hottie Scotty is Scott Yun, a Korean-American firefighter who moved to a small town in California to help his divorced sister with her two young kids. He, being almost thirty and a certain kind of gay man, is of course obsessed with his body and eating healthy. Unwillingly outed by the town’s gossipy knitting club, he has found his comfortable niche in small town America. His main problem is that he doesn’t see himself the way other see him.
Mr. Porter is Henry “Cole” Porter, the bowtie-wearing librarian at the town’s elementary school. Cole is 42 and widowed—his husband Eric having died suddenly some years after they moved to town.
The town gossips want to get Cole dating again. But Scott is just a party boy, a Grindr kind of guy. He’s not on their list. He is dismissed as beauty and no brains, because Cole is an intellectual, a smart man with sophisticated tastes.
And that’s it really. The whole book takes place through Scott’s eyes, as he interacts with various townspeople and his sister Angie; and, of course, with Cole. There are moments of gentle humor and silliness; and these are balanced with moments of intense, controlled emotion. There is something Jane Austen-like about the delicate, carefully calibrated feelings with which Cooper fills this simple story. It is all about the place and what Scott feels about this town, himself, and the people he has chosen to live with. Nothing much happens, except that two lonely men’s lives change completely in spite of the well-meaning interference of people who pretend to know them, but really just want to push them around. See? Jane Austen all the way.
August 3, 2017
I am, I think you will agree, of the Gradgrind school of reviewing ("Now, what I want is Facts... Facts alone are wanted in life. Plant nothing else, and root out everything else."). I don't DO sentiment, I never simper, and I never say "Awww, that was a lovely book".
Well, hardly ever.
But HS&MP is very sweet, brilliantly written and extremely satisfying.
Fireman Scott - dismissed by most of his small town as little more than 5'9" of well-muscled eye candy - yearns inarticulately for the town's very own Henry 'Cole' Porter. Like his namesake, Cole is a sophisticated soul - at least, according to the matrons of the Small Town Knitting Circle:
"Cole went to college, hon, a lot of college. And he lived in the city.” Scott had gone to college and had lived in the city, but Kathy didn’t allow him to argue. “He didn’t share a dumpy apartment, he lived in style in the city. And he’s been abroad.” She gestured wildly. “He’s a librarian, Scotty! He listens to opera and he reads through the bestseller lists... He loves an occasional bow tie, and his shoes are fancy."
So, clearly out of poor Scott's league. And the whole town seems united in gently (and not-so-gently) depressing Scott's pretensions to the point that he sadly begins to concur in their judgement of him. "Cole likes me... But that doesn’t mean much. Because, yeah, he’s lonely, but this is a very small town and for a while I was the only one here. Now he’s got other options than just me.” My heart kept breaking for Scott - he's not self-pitying, but he can't see the honesty and kindness that so clearly attract Cole to him.
I loved the writing style too - it's very simple, nothing flowery, but it manages to suggest layers of meaning nevertheless - Cole said, “Oh, you are….” in that voice of his that only seemed even when Scott was too far away to hear everything underneath the surface. And it's funny and a bit sepia-wistful, and, y'know, just...lovely.
Well, hardly ever.
But HS&MP is very sweet, brilliantly written and extremely satisfying.
Fireman Scott - dismissed by most of his small town as little more than 5'9" of well-muscled eye candy - yearns inarticulately for the town's very own Henry 'Cole' Porter. Like his namesake, Cole is a sophisticated soul - at least, according to the matrons of the Small Town Knitting Circle:
"Cole went to college, hon, a lot of college. And he lived in the city.” Scott had gone to college and had lived in the city, but Kathy didn’t allow him to argue. “He didn’t share a dumpy apartment, he lived in style in the city. And he’s been abroad.” She gestured wildly. “He’s a librarian, Scotty! He listens to opera and he reads through the bestseller lists... He loves an occasional bow tie, and his shoes are fancy."
So, clearly out of poor Scott's league. And the whole town seems united in gently (and not-so-gently) depressing Scott's pretensions to the point that he sadly begins to concur in their judgement of him. "Cole likes me... But that doesn’t mean much. Because, yeah, he’s lonely, but this is a very small town and for a while I was the only one here. Now he’s got other options than just me.” My heart kept breaking for Scott - he's not self-pitying, but he can't see the honesty and kindness that so clearly attract Cole to him.
I loved the writing style too - it's very simple, nothing flowery, but it manages to suggest layers of meaning nevertheless - Cole said, “Oh, you are….” in that voice of his that only seemed even when Scott was too far away to hear everything underneath the surface. And it's funny and a bit sepia-wistful, and, y'know, just...lovely.
September 20, 2019
***2.5 Stars***
The premise and bones of this story are good, but the writing style just isn't my cup of tea. It's very choppy and rambly. Folks talk around things a lot and there's lots of interruptions in conversation. Whether it's to interrupt someone to speak over them, or it's to ramble through some internal dialogue and go off on a tangent...whatever the reason, it was awkward and not a style I enjoyed reading.
Also, this ENTIRE BOOK is just miscommunication after miscommunication. This has a lot to do with the fact that nobody actually says what they mean or what they're thinking. It's just talking in circles around things. So very frustrating.
And I have ZERO IDEA why the entire town treats Scotty like some dumb, muscled up gay cliche. They talk at him, and not to him. He's an EMT and firefighter...so he's smart enough to know how to save your life but not smart enough to carry on a conversation?
Things that could've added depth to the story were underdeveloped. Cole and Scotty's first hookup. How did Cole's husband die? How long were they together? How long has he been grieving? What was Scotty's life like before he moved to Montgomery to help his sister? Did people belittle him before? Why does he accept people's behavior toward him? Why's he so obsessed with being healthy and working out?
So much of this book felt like the reader should just know the answers to these questions. Like we should be able to decode these rambly conversations and internal monologues that Scotty has.
Basically, this whole book is very awkward.
August 16, 2016
Silly to boot.
Throws ALL the shade towards the popular MM clique (that's my way of reading it & I'm sticking to it). Honestly, I wasn't loving it until the references to the racist, shallow president of the knitting club who only cares about her&her girls' happy really sank in
Then I had a blast.
Throws ALL the shade towards the popular MM clique (that's my way of reading it & I'm sticking to it). Honestly, I wasn't loving it until the references to the racist, shallow president of the knitting club who only cares about her&her girls' happy really sank in
Then I had a blast.
August 17, 2016
This was was great.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
May 16, 2018
So this was a weird mix. There were a number of things I didn't like, but it's also really funny, and on one level is taking a jab at the m/m genre and community. Overall, I'd say I really enjoyed it, though the negatives are going to keep me from giving it a 5 star rating.
What didn't really work for me:
- I didn't like Cole.
- I didn't like the power dynamic of their sexual relationship.
- The mutual X couldn't possibly like unworthy-me trope never fails to annoy.
- Everyone thinks Scott is dumb, but he's not really dumb. Except see previous, which makes him seem really dumb despite all the times he's demonstrably more observant about people than everyone else.
What I liked:
- Asian (Korean) MC, (Though the way this is presented startled me a bit. It could have been made clear earlier.)
- Scott is really sweet.
- The firehouse crew is awesome.
- Cole's takedowns are really funny.
- The meta commentary on m/m.
This was my first try at R. Cooper, and I'll definitely try more after this.
What didn't really work for me:
- I didn't like Cole.
- I didn't like the power dynamic of their sexual relationship.
- The mutual X couldn't possibly like unworthy-me trope never fails to annoy.
- Everyone thinks Scott is dumb, but he's not really dumb. Except see previous, which makes him seem really dumb despite all the times he's demonstrably more observant about people than everyone else.
What I liked:
- Asian (Korean) MC, (Though the way this is presented startled me a bit. It could have been made clear earlier.)
- Scott is really sweet.
- The firehouse crew is awesome.
- Cole's takedowns are really funny.
- The meta commentary on m/m.
This was my first try at R. Cooper, and I'll definitely try more after this.
July 13, 2024
4.5 stars. I loved this story so much and the only reason it's not perfect is that I didn't get more of them. I wasn't ready for the book to end.
I sobbed through this book. Scott pining after Cole while the ladies in the town try to set Cole up with anyone but Scott was heartbreaking.
Thanks, Angelika for another beautiful story! I'm so glad you found this author.
I sobbed through this book. Scott pining after Cole while the ladies in the town try to set Cole up with anyone but Scott was heartbreaking.
Thanks, Angelika for another beautiful story! I'm so glad you found this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews