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Avalon
Tony has been taking care of Jake for a year, ever since his partner became sick. It's clear to him that it won't be long, so when Jake asks to go to the ocean, Tony leaps at the chance to do something to make him happy.
But when they get lost in the fog after wandering farther down the beach than Tony has ever gone, a deserted cottage beckons them by the water.
There's magic in the little house by the sea, and it will change them both forever.
Note: This short story first appeared in the MCB Quarterly
But when they get lost in the fog after wandering farther down the beach than Tony has ever gone, a deserted cottage beckons them by the water.
There's magic in the little house by the sea, and it will change them both forever.
Note: This short story first appeared in the MCB Quarterly
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2015
5 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
J. Scott Coatsworth
90 books189 followersScott lives with his husband in a leafy Sacramento, California suburb, in a cute yellow house with a pair of pink flamingoes in the front yard.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
He has always been in the place between the here and now and the what could be. He started reading science fiction and fantasy at the tender age of nine, encouraged by his mother. But as he read the golden age classics and more modern works too, he started to wonder where all the queer people were.
When Scott came out at 23, he decided he wanted to create the kinds of stories he couldn't find at the bookstore. If there weren't gay characters in his favorite genres, he would reimagine them, filling them with a diverse universe of characters. He'd remake them to his own ends, and if he was lucky enough, someone would even want to read them.
Scott's brain works a little differently from most folks - he sees connections where others don't. Born an introvert, he learned how to reach outside himself and connect with other queer folks.
Scott's fiction defies expectations, transforming traditional science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something fresh and surprising. He also created both Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, and is an associate member of the Science Fiction Writer's Association (SFWA).
His writing, both romance and genre fiction, brings a queer energy to his work, infusing them with love, beauty and strength and making them fly. He imagines how the world could be, and maybe changes the world that is, just a little.
Scott was recognized as one of the top new gay authors in the 2017 Rainbow Awards, and his debut novel "Skythane" received two awards and an honorable mention.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 24, 2018
I wish I had figured out how much of a tear-jerker this one was gonna be before I decided to read it at work... at least my boss didn't walk in with me gushing tears. This short story was beyond emotional, it was heart-wrenching and I loved every word of it. The author did an amazing job of with so few words crafting the two main characters in real-feeling flesh and blood people that I cared about deeply. Just an amazing, heart-felt story!
November 9, 2019
Wow! This one tore me up.
January 20, 2020
Heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time!
It's amazing how emotional a few pages can be....
3.5 stars
It's amazing how emotional a few pages can be....
3.5 stars
September 25, 2018
PLEASE READ FIRST MY RATING SYSTEM!!!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit.):
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth King,
'Save that he kids' series from EM Leya or
'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like
an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but
not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
I cried from the first until the last page!!!
At one side it was a pity that it was so short book, at the other side it was good, otherwise I would had cried much longer and harder!
To my ratings (thanks to amazon I had to change it again and 'upgrade' it a little bit.):
5* - very very good and rare (it would be a Blow-
Away-book like 'Liberty' from Seth King,
'Save that he kids' series from EM Leya or
'Jesse's Smile' from Angelique Jurd), it's like
an A+
4* - very good and will be often reread and is a
WOW-book with interesting plot and surprises
(like most of Andrew Grey books) it's like an A
3,5* - a really good book, which will be reread a few
times (most romances where you can enjoy
for relaxing and during waiting times in
hospitals). I can recommend them definitively!
It's like an B+
3* - it could be more then a one-time-reader, but
not really an often reread book
2* - it was ok to read, but it's more a one-time-
reader (i wouldn't recommend it heartily, but
it was ok) It's like a C-, D
1* - sorry, but that isn't really a book for me (too
many mistakes, not nice plot, illogical, so an
absolut NO-GO). It's like failure in the whole
line, dismissed, repeat the class
I cried from the first until the last page!!!
At one side it was a pity that it was so short book, at the other side it was good, otherwise I would had cried much longer and harder!
September 25, 2018
~~~ 3.5 Stars ~~~
~~~ SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!! ~~~
I really like this book and the unconditional love that they had for each other I even cried during it because it got pretty sad but the reason why I gave it a pretty low rating is because the ending just sort of ended abruptly and also I think the Brent Wills character shouldn’t have been in it he was such a horrible person I mean even though he has a problem with gay people I just can’t understand what made him feel it was ok to torture a sick man in a wheelchair who couldn’t move even if it was mostly verbally, at the very end when Jake was reverting back to sickness and couldn’t fight back Brent was beating him up and was totally ok with letting him die and that Brent character is why I am giving this book such a low rating and in the reviews I read they say there was a happily ever after but in my opinion no there was NOT a happily ever after
Jake dies while Tony is tied up and can’t even hold him and even though Jake ends up in Avalon they never get to see each other ever again so while yes it was happy that Jake gets to live in a good place after death this just does not have a romantic happily ever after
~~~ SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!! ~~~
I really like this book and the unconditional love that they had for each other I even cried during it because it got pretty sad but the reason why I gave it a pretty low rating is because the ending just sort of ended abruptly and also I think the Brent Wills character shouldn’t have been in it he was such a horrible person I mean even though he has a problem with gay people I just can’t understand what made him feel it was ok to torture a sick man in a wheelchair who couldn’t move even if it was mostly verbally, at the very end when Jake was reverting back to sickness and couldn’t fight back Brent was beating him up and was totally ok with letting him die and that Brent character is why I am giving this book such a low rating and in the reviews I read they say there was a happily ever after but in my opinion no there was NOT a happily ever after
Jake dies while Tony is tied up and can’t even hold him and even though Jake ends up in Avalon they never get to see each other ever again so while yes it was happy that Jake gets to live in a good place after death this just does not have a romantic happily ever after
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 20, 2019
I just really didn’t feel anything with this one, which is the exact opposite of what other reviews say. It felt too short to really have any connection with the MCs so the emotion fell flat for me
September 9, 2019
Avalon (2018, first published 2015) by J. Scott Coatsworth is an immensely breathtaking romantic short write which also breaks your heart.
The story follows the love story of Tony and Jake. Jake is dying and Tony is caring for him in his final days in the world. But ever the romantic even in his suffering, Jake insists they go to the ocean in honour of their anniversary which they do every year. They get stranded in a fog and end up in an abandoned cottage. Here Tony ensures Jake gets the rest he needs after their detour has put a strain on him. But all is not quite as it seems. This beautiful, scenic area Avalon helps restore Jake to full health but it is on the condition that they can never go back. The way the writer describes the dilemma Tony faces is perfectly written. Tony wants to stay in Avalon with Jake but on the other hand his mother is unwell and he is worried that his family will think he is dead. But ultimately Jake is his main priority and he naturally stays.
I loved this book. It made me go through so many emotions while reading it. Tony and Jake are so in love and their romance is so sweet and beautiful. On the other hand their situation and the struggles they face are heartbreaking. There is also parts of this book which deal with prejudice against LGBTQ+ people and kudos to the author for not shying away from how horrible these situations can be. Even though the scenes were awful to read, it is realistic and it raises awareness of the prejudice LGBTQ+ people face and how awful it can be.
This is a short piece but the author packs so much into the book. The plot moves along at a perfect pace and nothing seems contrived or forced. Tony and Jake are lovely and are an adorable couple who really make the reader care about them and you are swept up in their emotional rollercoaster ride.
Sad and emotional but gorgeously written.
The story follows the love story of Tony and Jake. Jake is dying and Tony is caring for him in his final days in the world. But ever the romantic even in his suffering, Jake insists they go to the ocean in honour of their anniversary which they do every year. They get stranded in a fog and end up in an abandoned cottage. Here Tony ensures Jake gets the rest he needs after their detour has put a strain on him. But all is not quite as it seems. This beautiful, scenic area Avalon helps restore Jake to full health but it is on the condition that they can never go back. The way the writer describes the dilemma Tony faces is perfectly written. Tony wants to stay in Avalon with Jake but on the other hand his mother is unwell and he is worried that his family will think he is dead. But ultimately Jake is his main priority and he naturally stays.
I loved this book. It made me go through so many emotions while reading it. Tony and Jake are so in love and their romance is so sweet and beautiful. On the other hand their situation and the struggles they face are heartbreaking. There is also parts of this book which deal with prejudice against LGBTQ+ people and kudos to the author for not shying away from how horrible these situations can be. Even though the scenes were awful to read, it is realistic and it raises awareness of the prejudice LGBTQ+ people face and how awful it can be.
This is a short piece but the author packs so much into the book. The plot moves along at a perfect pace and nothing seems contrived or forced. Tony and Jake are lovely and are an adorable couple who really make the reader care about them and you are swept up in their emotional rollercoaster ride.
Sad and emotional but gorgeously written.
March 8, 2020
The writing is amazingly well done for such a short story. As Tony cares for his dying lover Jake, you can feel the emotion, the love, the heartbreak. There is a paranormal element to this story as they find “Avalon” late night on the beach. But to be honest, the whole issue with the bully Brett and his goons did nothing to enhance the story. It just left me confused because it made no sense. If it were a metaphor, sorry, but it went right over my head.
September 25, 2018
This was a heart wrenching story. Tony is taking care of his dying lover and for a moment in time they live as if Jake is healthy and whole. There is homophobia and danger in this very short story as well as deep love and compassion. An excellent story.
October 18, 2018
I loved everything about this story. It's not long but so full deep emotion. Tony is devoted to Jake in every sense of the word. He would give him anything he wished for. I loved that Jake asks for their anniversary walk on the beach and the time they got to spend together in Avalon.
September 24, 2018
Unconditional love encapsulated in 33 evocative pages. Beautiful.
September 25, 2018
This is a lovely & dreamlike short but I'm glad I read it, though.
October 2, 2018
Really quick read that made me feel...hopeful. Yes, I cried but then I smiled!
September 2, 2019
Sad, beautiful, and so sweet. A really charming little short. I also liked the forward and hearing about what the original version of the story involved.
December 21, 2019
Wonderful little short
I was tearing up during first chapter. The author brought the characters to life and wrote a lovely, moving short story.
I was tearing up during first chapter. The author brought the characters to life and wrote a lovely, moving short story.
October 23, 2021
Heartbreaking and beautiful my first book by this author
September 28, 2018
good. super short.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews