Old Acquaintance

by Avon Gale

Andrew Starling thought when he sold his medical database software to a national corporation, it would finally give him and his wife the financial security needed to build their dream home in the exclusive, wealthy community of Ponte Vedra, Florida. But Andrew's wife leaves him for another man before the ink dries on the contract, leaving Andrew to enjoy the fruits of his labors-and their sprawling, oceanfront home-all alone. Despite being convinced he has nothing much to celebrate, Andrew goes to the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club's annual New Year's Eve party... and meets Elias Rivas, the young, good-looking server who's always had his eye on Andrew. It might be the new beginning Andrew didn't even know he needed.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2015 Advent Calendar package "Sleigh Ride."

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

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2015

About the author

Avon Gale lives in a liberal Midwestern college town, where she spends her days getting heavily invested in everything from craft projects to video games. She likes road trips by car, rock concerts, thunderstorms, IPAs, Kentucky bourbon and tattoos. As a queer author, Avon is committed to providing happy endings for all and loves to tell stories that focus on found families, strong and open communication, and friendship. She loves writing about quirky people who might not be perfect, but always find a place where they belong. In her former life, Avon wrote fanfiction at her desk while ostensibly doing work in non-profit fundraising for public radio and women’s liberal arts education, and worked on her books in between haircuts and highlights as a stylist. Now she’s a full-time writer, delighted to be able to tell stories for a living.

Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.

Enjoy fantasy with a bit of a kinky, darker edge? Check out Avon's fantasy books, co-written with author Fae Loxley, under the pen name Iris Foxglove!

Reviews

[Rosa, really · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw, this one is great little novella about new beginnings.

Andrew Starling is a 43 year old newly divorced, software, uh...rich dude. Also, he's a *cough* gay virgin (Yes! YES!). Elias is a 22 year old photography student and waiter at Andrew's club. They exchange a New Year's kiss that quickly turns into a New Year's grope that ends with them in Andrew's bed.

I like. *eyebrow waggle*

I also liked that Avon Gale didn't rush the relationship. I'm a romantic, but I find that "I love you's" or sudden commitment between two people who've just met to be off-putting. Promises that come too quickly or too easily make me doubt their sincerity. I'm happy leaving Andrew and Elias in bed together and leaving the rest of their relationship to my imagination.

[Ele · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is part of Sleigh Ride.



This was a lovely New Year's Eve short story. Very light, and really, really steamy. I would have liked it way better, had the ending been less abrupt.

Andrew Starling is overworked, recently devorced, filthy rich and so lonely. He reluctantly decides to go to the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club’s (the wealthy community where he resides) annual New Year’s Eve party.

Elias Rivas, the young and cute waiter has set his eyes on the handsome but lonesome stranger for quite some time now. This is the perfect time for him to make his move. And what better way to do so, than claiming his New Year's kiss at midnight?

What follows is a night of passion. Andrew has never been with a man and Elias is more than willing to show him the ropes. And hot damn...there is something seriously hot about a much younger guy becoming the "teacher" in bed.



But for Andrew, this turns out to be something much more than a simple one night stand. Elias may not know it, but he offered Andrew much more than his body.

"Andrew leaned down and kissed him gently on the forehead. “Thank you,” he whispered, and Elias moved a little beneath the caress but didn’t wake up."

He gave him the chance to see that it's never too late to start building the life he " really wanted, not the one he’d always thought he was supposed to have." Andrew is now more than ready for a few changes.

As for the ending, I don't think I consider it a HFN. More like a Happy For The Next Few Hours, but the possibilities are really endless.

If you 're looking for a holiday shortie, with very well-sketched characters, loads of steam that ends on a very hopefull note, I highly recommend this.

"I love the way you can make something you see every day look like something completely new and different, just by taking the time to look at it from a new angle.

*Also posted on Gay Book Reviews*

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3🌠🌠🌠
This was a great holiday GFY/OFY SHORT with a 19 year age gap. Set in Florida, a software engineer is divorced by his wife right before the holidays. Alone in a 10,000 square foot house, his loneliness leads him to his homeowners association New Year's party.

Enter Elias, hot college student working the party as a server. He asks our divorcee for a New Year's kiss. One thing leads to another and soon we have a new found appreciation for bj's and fingering.

But I SWEAR that if I read any variation of "What he lacked in technique he made up in enthusiasm," in any more GFY books I WILL FUCKING LOSE IT!!

Can we petition authors to BAN THE PHRASE altogether??!! Please!?!?

Cute and sexy, the only thing that made this a 3 star read instead of a 4 was Poe's racial and cultural references to Latinx stereotypes. They felt forced and unnecessary in this context. And I say this as a Latinx woman living in the US. There's no need to preach aboit the wrongness in having entitled idiots make assumptions about you based on the color of your skin in a 36 page short story about a 43 year old man getting it on for the first time with a man.

[Tess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was very steamy! As a holiday romance, it fell a little short for me because it seemed more of an interlude than the basis for a HFN let alone an HEA.

[Long Nguyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to end the year with a book about New Year’s Day. A small story, but I really love it, and its two main characters ❤️

[Denise H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

***** Delightful New Years Eve M/M romance ! Andrew is older, newly divorced, a total geek who wears glasses. He goes to the party at the club and comes across younger Elias, a server working his way through college. He's a photography art major, and really cute. As Andrew sits alone on the beach, Elias gets off work and sees Andrew. They talk a bit, and Elias asks for a midnight New Year kiss. Andrew says yes. New to this M/M activity, Andrew invites Elias home to explore more of his fresh emerging feelings. Cute, sassy, loving, and wonderful, these two get busy. Loved this one, a cute short story !! ENJOY !!!

[CrabbyPatty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A surprisingly hot kiss between newly-divorced millionaire/geek Andrew Starling and Elias Rivas, a 22-year-old photography student / server at the Ponte Verda club is a great way to start off the New Year. Short and oh so sexy.

Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awwww, that was cute! Recently-divorced Andrew discovers he's not quite as straight as he thought. Elias was sweet and charming, with a side of snark. Loved them together!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, I liked this New Years story a lot. Andrew was so awkward in his own head, but his honest and angst-free revelations worked. The dual POV was perfect because what Andrew saw as awkward and blunt, Elias saw as confidence that he found sexy as hell. There's no telling if there is an HEA for these two in the long run, but the way it ended was perfect for the New Years setting and made me happy for them regardless. Anything more would have been unbelievable and the taste of optimism and hope for Andrew was refreshing. I would love to read a full novel about these two.

[Anke · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I found the blurb a bit confusing, but now I'm using this to try out the writing style of this author. If it works for me, then I will get her latest book, Breakaway.

Finished and I have to say, what a nice surprise! A lovely little story and it ended at exactly the right time, although - I wouldn't mind to read more about them.

More like 4.5 stars:)

And I'll get the Breakaway book; for sure!

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

So great! Loved the age gap, that was really well done. Avon Gale's characters are always so interesting, and I really enjoy the relationships they get into together. Super fun story.

[Smutty Sully]

DNF page 6 (14%) of a 36-page book - no rating
I didn't care about this guy's divorce, loveless marriage, wealthy gated Florida community, or his garish but empty mausoleum-style house, so I can't see myself caring about his love life

I think I'm in a reading rut.

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I was intrigued with Avon Gale's sport-themed romance, Breakaway, because a friend seemed to enjoy it so. However, I didn't want to jump immediately into a novel-length story since Gale was a new-to-me author. Luckily, she wrote a short one for DSP's advent calendar 2015 and I thought it would be a good one for a try out.

Well, I really liked this. The writing style was pretty engaging. I liked how Gale described both men's attraction towards one another, despite the age gap (20 years difference), Andrew's lack of experience with men (he was married to a woman for a decade), and of course the very short time span. Usually, the quick turnabout towards the sheet annoyed me but Andrew and Elias had that chemistry. Plus I liked this statement by Andrew ...

“I’m old enough to know what I want, Elias, even if I don’t know what I’m doing.”

... which kinda help me with taking things as they come, because yes, Andrew was 43-years-old and he was definitely old enough to know what he want, or what the consequences that come after.

Unfortunately, the story ended when it was just started. I would count it as HFN (though it fit with the short timeline). I would LOVE to read more about these two, I wanted to see how they fare together further down the road. I liked the idea of the two finding love.

[S. Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful short story about a holiday that I personally don’t see much written for – New year’s eve. The two MC’s are both lovable and believable for their ages, totally different but entirely compatible. I can say after reading Let the Wrong Light in that Avon Gale can write romance, but this confirms that she can also write erotica

My only complaint would be that I wanted more, which is unusual for me with short stories lol - just write a whole book onto the end and I would eagerly read it! We only get to see a taste of what would either end up as a much needed fling or, hopefully, a relationship that’s both spontaneous and satisfying.

Ah well… I’ll just have to settle for the rest of her work :D

[Nicole Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute New Year's story. Short and sweet and hot.

[Sylvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars


A sweet New Year's story.

[BWT · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andrew Starling is forty-three, recently divorced, and living in the dream home it’s taken countless eighty-hour work weeks to afford to build (which his ex-wife decorated) in the exclusive, wealthy community of Ponte Vedra, Florida. Worse, he's at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club’s annual New Year’s Eve party alone, chain smoking on the deck and wondering where the hell it all went wrong.

Elias Rivas is a twenty-two year old college student studying photography and working as a server at the club. Elias has had his eye on Andrew for a while and when he finds Andrew alone on the beach just before midnight Elias boldly asks if he can get a kiss for midnight.

“You mind if I kiss you at midnight? I don’t want to end up cursed or with a streak of bad luck or anything.”

The kiss leads Andrew to invite Elias back to his house where the two connect with some smoking hot sexy times.

That had been the most incredible sexual experience of his entire life, but it was so much more than that. So many questions answered, so many lingering doubts put to rest. And all thanks to an outgoing twenty-two-year-old college photography major who wanted to give Andrew a kiss at midnight.

I definitely enjoyed this short, sexy little story.

Recommended!

Advanced Review Copy generously provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

[The Novel Approach · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a rough few months for Andrew Starling, but things are definitely looking up in the new year. After deciding to get out of the house and attend the New Year’s Eve celebration at his upscale neighborhood’s club, Andrew meets Elias Rivas and gets the surprise of his life. It turns out Andrew isn’t anywhere near as straight as he’s always thought he was.

Avon Gale does a good job of setting up her little NYE snippet. We learn a little bit about each of the guys: Andrew is a brilliant software engineer whose wife left him for another man, and Elias is a photography student whose confident sexiness proves to be too much for Andrew to resist – and see their EXTREMELY steamy night together. I love how Gale doesn’t do any of the clichéd “I’ve never done this before” stuff (and even gives a nod to that point herself in the manuscript), yet still manages to make it known that Andrew is inexperienced and allows him to be sexy as hell also. And, make no mistake, the sex is on fire. I’m still fanning myself.

There is no real complete story arc here. It truly is just a New Year’s Eve one-shot between a man who could really use both the company and the happy ending to his shitty year, and a waiter with nothing better to do, looking for a hookup. It was completely enjoyable, though, and I absolutely love Avon Gale’s writing. Can’t wait for more from this talented author in 2016!

Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...

[Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
Review @Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words


Short and sexy story between two guys. I'll admit the beginning was a little rocky to me. Andrew seemed boring, and a bit dreadful. He didn't seem angry about his divorce at all. He seemed more perplexed by it. I thought that was funny, I can almost picture him face screwed up in frustration trying to figure out why. I liked Elias character, it was very sure of himself and I'm glad to see that for this age-gap story. I liked them together, they were hot. Seems like it's a good HFN. I'd love to see more of them in the future.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A new year, a new beginning" could be the title for this story. And boy, does Andrew need one of those. He is recently rich due to eighteen years of hard work, newly divorced because he couldn’t connect, and the new owner of a beautiful beachfront house that doesn’t feel like a home. He doesn’t think he needs a new beginning or another chance or however you want to put it, but an unexpected encounter on New Year’s Eve may just be what will change his life.


Please find my full review of the second edition on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Sara]

Damn, but this was good.
Really good.
Like, squirmy and gasping at things good.
Damn.
Andrew... boys in glasses are secretively dirty and dirty is sexy.
Elias is fucking funny even if he isn't a foreigner... smh ... and OMG the boy... yeah, he is talented.

Loved this and so happy that this completed my 2015 reading challenge!

[qx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kind of pointless story where nothing really happened & there wasn't any development in anything.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect to be very enthused about a short story that started with plenty of (New Year's Eve) melancholy and had basically a "Gay For You" theme. However, I never became too overwhelmed by Andrew's lonely reflections and, contrariwise, his sentiments actually rolled very nicely for me into a new and tempting attraction. Normally a forty-something man suddenly realizing he likes and enjoys other men would give me pause as a story idea, but I followed Andrew's logic, feelings and desires very naturally. Indeed, the enthusiasm for receiving and giving for the first time was cool.

In addition, the sexual play (which was, perhaps just a little bit different blow jobs followed by "facials") seemed to fit smoothly into place, giving the sheets a nice bit of extra heat for me. (I have found that while they aren't extremely common in real life, they aren't too uncommon, either. They show up often enough in male-written erotica and porn, but I don't remember ever seeing them in m/m romance. I've known some people who find them to basically always feel degrading and/or unpleasant, and I understand and respect the reasons why. However, in this story they worked nicely for me as a [little bit messy] part of the sizzle.)

Maybe it's because I'm also a forty-something guy (like Andrew) and a little, light diversion was right for my mood at the moment, but this short New Year's Eve, "happy for right now" escapade worked for me.

4.5 stars (rounded up for Elias' little bit of snark)

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3 stars

I liked this story okay, but that was just it. It was okay. For one, it’s a little ho-hum in the tone, far sadder than what I look for in a holiday short. I use sad a little liberally because it’s that or depressing, and depressing sounds a bit too strong a term for this one. I like that Andrew is finding himself, even late in life. And a definite plus is the May/December pairing, but I just felt like this story started to slow and ended too early with a lot of just okay in the middle.

Read Crissy’s review in its entirety here.

[Bitchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very short and sexy, with no real talk of the future, beyond maybe more sex the next day. HFN if there ever was one. I don't feel that this took away from the story in any way, sometimes a good hookup is all you need, and the reader can decide for themselves if it becomes more.

[Emily Seelye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this! Sweet, yet hot. Loved how Andrew decided to kiss Elias at last minute and went all in! My only complaint is that the ending is not concrete.

[Blackmermaid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read by Avon Gale! A lot happens in this short story, so it didn't feel like a short story. Of course, I wanted more! I hope we see Andrew and Elias in the future.

[Stella ╰☆╮╰☆╮ · Rating 3 out of 5]

good short, not too much engaging but quite enjoyable. I was hoping in more.

[Serena Yates · Rating 4 out of 5]

"A new year, a new beginning" could be the title for this story. And boy, does Andrew need one of those. He is recently rich due to eighteen years of hard work, newly divorced because he couldn’t connect, and the new owner of a beautiful beachfront house that doesn’t feel like a home. He doesn’t think he needs a new beginning or another chance or however you want to put it, but an unexpected encounter on New Year’s Eve may just be what will change his life.


Please find my full review on Rainbow Book Reviews.

[Laks · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read

Newly divorced Andrew is at a loss on New Year's Eve. He is lonely in his huge beachside mansion and at the local country club, he meets Elias, server/ college student. Andrew is ready to explore intimacy with a man for the first time and Elias is perfectly suited to the occasion.

A short novella. A hopeful connection. Unique cover to the book.