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July: Vintage
Friends or lovers--or is it possible to be both?
For more than a decade, renowned chef Alain Tiessart has been married to his restaurant, driven to make it one of the finest in Paris. But time is slipping away. Lonely and ready for a change, he packs up his bags on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year and drives into the French countryside.
Retired Brit Simon Hastings is prepared to spend Bastille Day as he always does--quietly and alone. When his oldest friend Alain arrives on his doorstep prepared to spend the next few days together, Simon is surprised but welcomes him in. He's even more surprised when Alain suggests they move their relationship to a deeper one. Unwilling to jeopardize their friendship, Simon turns him down, a decision Alain accepts gracefully...
Until a friendly bet and an eager young man cast Alain in a new light. Now, Simon doesn't know what he wants.
Or who...
Gay / Contemporary / Menage (M/M/M) / Group Sex / Multicultural / Series
For more than a decade, renowned chef Alain Tiessart has been married to his restaurant, driven to make it one of the finest in Paris. But time is slipping away. Lonely and ready for a change, he packs up his bags on one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year and drives into the French countryside.
Retired Brit Simon Hastings is prepared to spend Bastille Day as he always does--quietly and alone. When his oldest friend Alain arrives on his doorstep prepared to spend the next few days together, Simon is surprised but welcomes him in. He's even more surprised when Alain suggests they move their relationship to a deeper one. Unwilling to jeopardize their friendship, Simon turns him down, a decision Alain accepts gracefully...
Until a friendly bet and an eager young man cast Alain in a new light. Now, Simon doesn't know what he wants.
Or who...
Gay / Contemporary / Menage (M/M/M) / Group Sex / Multicultural / Series
109 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2008
About the author
Jamie Craig
113 books171 followersJamie Craig is actually a pen name for the collaboration of authors
Vivien Dean http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... and
Pepper Espinoza http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
ABOUT JAMIE CRAIG
Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza have been writing and publishing together as Jamie Craig since 2006. They have published with Juno Books, Samhain Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, and multiple titles with Amber Quill Press.
Pepper Espinoza has been writing and publishing erotic romance since 2005. She grew up in Utah and lives there now, where the landscape and history provide a great deal of inspiration for her work. Besides writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and going to concerts.
Vivien Dean returned to writing in 2005, and has published with Liquid Silver Books, Samhain Publishing, and Amber Quill Press. She currently resides in northern California with her husband and two children.
Vivien Dean http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/... and
Pepper Espinoza http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
ABOUT JAMIE CRAIG
Vivien Dean and Pepper Espinoza have been writing and publishing together as Jamie Craig since 2006. They have published with Juno Books, Samhain Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, and multiple titles with Amber Quill Press.
Pepper Espinoza has been writing and publishing erotic romance since 2005. She grew up in Utah and lives there now, where the landscape and history provide a great deal of inspiration for her work. Besides writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and going to concerts.
Vivien Dean returned to writing in 2005, and has published with Liquid Silver Books, Samhain Publishing, and Amber Quill Press. She currently resides in northern California with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 23, 2008
Alain Tiessart has been married to his business for the better part of the last ten years. He makes a spur of the moment decision to visit his best friend when he realises that without his business, he has nothing worthwhile in his life, other than his friendship with Simon.
When Alain throws out a bet, Simon feels he is experienced enough to win anything thrown at him. But can he trust in Alain’s sense of fair play, or will he figure out in time that Alain will use everything and anyone to get what he wants?
The summer is upon us, and it’s hotter than ever with VINTAGE. Alain and Simon are two men who have seen and done more in their lives than most people dream of. When Alain decides to make a play for his best friend Simon, it is enjoyable to see the lengths he will go to and the things he will do in order to hold Simon in his arms.
Simon is more pragmatic and clearly states the reason why he has to consider all that he will lose as opposed to what he will gain if their relationship progresses further than friendship. While his reasons are all logical and in some ways selfish, it is a sense of relief when Simon not only makes the first step to a more intimate relationship, but also starts making demands.
Jamie Craig’s CALENDAR BOYS - JULY: VINTAGE is a tale of men who have lived full lives, made mistakes and regrets aplenty, but have the capacity to embrace companionship and love again.
When Alain throws out a bet, Simon feels he is experienced enough to win anything thrown at him. But can he trust in Alain’s sense of fair play, or will he figure out in time that Alain will use everything and anyone to get what he wants?
The summer is upon us, and it’s hotter than ever with VINTAGE. Alain and Simon are two men who have seen and done more in their lives than most people dream of. When Alain decides to make a play for his best friend Simon, it is enjoyable to see the lengths he will go to and the things he will do in order to hold Simon in his arms.
Simon is more pragmatic and clearly states the reason why he has to consider all that he will lose as opposed to what he will gain if their relationship progresses further than friendship. While his reasons are all logical and in some ways selfish, it is a sense of relief when Simon not only makes the first step to a more intimate relationship, but also starts making demands.
Jamie Craig’s CALENDAR BOYS - JULY: VINTAGE is a tale of men who have lived full lives, made mistakes and regrets aplenty, but have the capacity to embrace companionship and love again.
August 2, 2012
Alain and Simon have been good friends for years, visiting one another whenever they get the chance. They are comfortable with each other in a way that neither has been able to find with another. For the first time, Alain refuses to spend the holiday overseeing every aspect of his restaurant Rêver. Instead, he travels to a small French village for a surprise visit to his old friend. Unbeknownst to Simon, Alain has an ulterior motive for his visit. His feelings have changed, and he no longer wants Simon as simply a friend, but as a lover and partner. The only problem is that he must first convince Simon.
When it becomes apparent that Simon isn’t willing to risk their friendship, Alain decides to try a new approach. He constructs a wager to challenge Simon’s self-control. Alain finds a young man he considers to be utterly irresistible, and if Simon can resist him then Alain will cook all the meals during his visit and Simon will never again have to pay for a meal at Rêver. However if Simon succumbs to the temptation, he must share the young man with Alain. What Simon experiences as the bet plays out both surprises and intrigues him. He spends a sleepless night struggling to decide if he and Alain should remain simply friends or pursue something more.
Vintage is a sweetly romantic and sensual story of best friends contemplating a redefinition of their relationship. Both characters are firmly set in their ways, but are also willing to admit that there is something missing in their lives. Simon knows that he has treated people poorly in the past, unable to fully commit to a long-term relationship, and he does not want to hurt Alain in the same way. Up until now, Alain has been too engrossed in building his restaurant to ever give enough attention to a budding relationship. Alain has put his heart on the line, convinced that Simon is what he needs in his life to feel complete.
There is a lot of detail supporting the strength of their relationship, so it is completely understandable why Simon is hesitant to risk it. At the same time, friendship is often the best foundation for an intimate relationship, making the risk worth taking according to Alain. Overall, this is a very enjoyable story, another excellent addition to the Calendar Boys series!
When it becomes apparent that Simon isn’t willing to risk their friendship, Alain decides to try a new approach. He constructs a wager to challenge Simon’s self-control. Alain finds a young man he considers to be utterly irresistible, and if Simon can resist him then Alain will cook all the meals during his visit and Simon will never again have to pay for a meal at Rêver. However if Simon succumbs to the temptation, he must share the young man with Alain. What Simon experiences as the bet plays out both surprises and intrigues him. He spends a sleepless night struggling to decide if he and Alain should remain simply friends or pursue something more.
Vintage is a sweetly romantic and sensual story of best friends contemplating a redefinition of their relationship. Both characters are firmly set in their ways, but are also willing to admit that there is something missing in their lives. Simon knows that he has treated people poorly in the past, unable to fully commit to a long-term relationship, and he does not want to hurt Alain in the same way. Up until now, Alain has been too engrossed in building his restaurant to ever give enough attention to a budding relationship. Alain has put his heart on the line, convinced that Simon is what he needs in his life to feel complete.
There is a lot of detail supporting the strength of their relationship, so it is completely understandable why Simon is hesitant to risk it. At the same time, friendship is often the best foundation for an intimate relationship, making the risk worth taking according to Alain. Overall, this is a very enjoyable story, another excellent addition to the Calendar Boys series!
September 19, 2010
There were several aspects of this story that I found unconventional. I liked the fact that the MCs were mature older men – a rare find. I was torn on the method used to advance their relationship from simply being friends to something more. It begged the question; does the end justify the means? In this case, the “means” came in the form of a delectable morsel of barely legal boy flesh shared between the men as a way to draw out their sexual interest in one another. The scene was hot, don’t get me wrong, but it just didn’t sit quite right for me either. I’d also call the ending more HFN than HEA which seemed appropriate given the length and direction of the story. Definitely something different.
May 23, 2013
kinda slow start but quickly heats up with a sweet ending
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews