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Boys In Blue - San Francisco #1
Benjamin
A blue-blooded police officer by day, and fun seeker by night. Benjamin knows the girls like a man in uniform. But when he’s at the nightclub, Ben wants discretion. When a beautiful and curvy young woman comes to the club to watch the band, Benjamin only has eyes for her. Blog writer and introvert. Sarah agrees to take on a writing gig to review an up and coming band. Little does she know, it isn’t the band that makes an impact on her. She falls for the plain-clothes cop, and she falls hard.
Welcome to San Francisco, home to the Boys In Blue
Benjamin
I love this town, and I love its people. The trouble with loving and being in love—well that’s a different story.
I’m a police officer in the Golden City. I’m a person of flesh and blood and needs when I take off the uniform. I know sometimes it intimidates women. Sometimes they’re attracted, but never long enough to have a relationship.
I wasn’t looking for love the night I went to the nightclub downtown to check out the new band. I didn’t intend anything out of the ordinary.
That’s when I saw her. She wasn’t the typical club girl. She wasn’t interested in finding anyone special. When we met, for the first time in my life, I think San Francisco just got a whole lot more interesting.
Sarah
This isn’t my scene. I’m not interested in the hottest new band.
But a girl has to eat and pay the rent. I’m a freelance writer and I only go to the club that night because the music blog paid for a story.
I must endure; I must carry on, because I know in my heart things will change.
I’m an introvert, and a realist, and the band isn’t terrible. I need a few words—enough to pay the bills until I hear back about my manuscript.
I can’t get the feature story on the band. When I knew things were changing, I didn’t expect Benjamin. He’s a little older, he’s incredibly handsome. And for the first time in my life, I’m at a loss for words.
A Steamy and Sweet short-story insta-love romance with an alpha police hero and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.
Welcome to San Francisco, home to the Boys In Blue
Benjamin
I love this town, and I love its people. The trouble with loving and being in love—well that’s a different story.
I’m a police officer in the Golden City. I’m a person of flesh and blood and needs when I take off the uniform. I know sometimes it intimidates women. Sometimes they’re attracted, but never long enough to have a relationship.
I wasn’t looking for love the night I went to the nightclub downtown to check out the new band. I didn’t intend anything out of the ordinary.
That’s when I saw her. She wasn’t the typical club girl. She wasn’t interested in finding anyone special. When we met, for the first time in my life, I think San Francisco just got a whole lot more interesting.
Sarah
This isn’t my scene. I’m not interested in the hottest new band.
But a girl has to eat and pay the rent. I’m a freelance writer and I only go to the club that night because the music blog paid for a story.
I must endure; I must carry on, because I know in my heart things will change.
I’m an introvert, and a realist, and the band isn’t terrible. I need a few words—enough to pay the bills until I hear back about my manuscript.
I can’t get the feature story on the band. When I knew things were changing, I didn’t expect Benjamin. He’s a little older, he’s incredibly handsome. And for the first time in my life, I’m at a loss for words.
A Steamy and Sweet short-story insta-love romance with an alpha police hero and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.
- GenresRomanceContemporary
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2020
78 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Mary Potter
378 books123 followersI love writing steamy, sexy romance stories about hunky, alpha males (that are sometimes very bad) and curvy, younger women (who are always mischievous) and that always involve a Happily Ever After ending.
When not writing, I am usually traveling the world looking for inspiration.
Thanks for visiting my Author's Page, and thanks for being a loyal, raging fan of fun romance books.
When not writing, I am usually traveling the world looking for inspiration.
Thanks for visiting my Author's Page, and thanks for being a loyal, raging fan of fun romance books.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
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April 18, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/18/2020)! 🎁
April 27, 2020
Benjamin (H) and his partner Jeremy are off-duty cops at a club, there to watch a band perform. Sarah (h) is a writer there to do a quick puff review of the same band. When the concert doesn't go as expected, Benjamin ends up saving Sarah from the resulting brawl, and sparks fly.
As a set-up for a sweet'n'steamy short story, this wasn't a bad set-up. It was all in the writing that made it hard to enjoy. I hate to tear apart someone's writing like this, especially a debut from a self-published author, but this one really needed an editor. A proofreader, at the very least! I was highlighting things that irked or distracted me left and right. For a short story, I had 26 highlights! For someone who doesn't do a lot of Kindle highlighting, that's through the roof! So here we go:
* Overall, the writing is clunky and childish, very simplistic. There's lots and lots of repetition, for example. Sometimes it's just a repeated theme (how many times did they think about 'how long had they lived without the other in their life'?) but sometimes it's right back-to-back ("Benjamin. Lean and tall, the other man, tall and slim, they were matching ages and physical perfection." Just awkward).
* The punctuation is ... problematic. I know it's a personal pet peeve of mine, due to several very grammar-focused English teachers in my school-age past. But still! Commas do not join complete, independent clauses - that's a comma splice and should be two independent sentences. Likewise, commas are needed with introductory clauses and with sentences joined with a conjunction. All these comma issues were liberally scattered throughout. Sometimes I had to read sentences a few times to figure out what was going. Like that "tall and slim" sentence above! And then you have clauses that aren't sentences, but standing alone too. Like I said, problematic. And I'll step off my soapbox now.
* The tense needs work. The writing is in present tense - like things are happening at the moment and we are experiencing them with the characters. It's not a reminiscing character looking back on how they met the love of their life. So sentences foreshadowing their meeting and its significance are really weird, as are sentences referring to something in the past but still using the present tense (a woman at the club "works" on her hair and stumbles on her stilettos.)
* Word choice issues. Quite a number of near-correct word choices, but choosing the wrong of the homophones (or near homophones). Like illusion/allusion, for example. Or it's/its. And then, just a number of odd word choices. His hands are described as "large and healthy"? Her hips are "lofty"? Or they go to the cafe and "take our order from an aspiring actor." They give their order, or the actor takes their order. Unless they're listening to what the actor says and not actually ordering for themselves?
* What is "old-world blue"? Benjamin's eyes are described like that twice. The only connection I have for that phrase is Fallout. And it has nothing to do with color.
I did get a little irritated with Sarah too. Not that she's not a likable character. But she's a little too aggressively body confident for my taste. The type that puts down other body types, you know? I know I'm on the curvy end of things, and am totally in favor of curvy h characters. But to be putting down other builds in bragging about your own usually tends to rub me a little the wrong way.
As I said at the beginning, I like the story. It's instalove, short and fast, but the characters are generally likable, and if the writing issues were addressed, it would have been a good quick escapism sort of read. There's a niche for this sort of quick read, and this would have been a good addition to that realm. With the help of a good editor and/or proofreader, at least.
Alternating 1st person POV. No cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangle nonsense. Two people meet, connect, and have lots of steamy times leading to their HEA. No real drama, just a fast escapism read - under an hour. HEA and no cliffhanger, though plenty of hints that Benjamin's partner Jeremy will be the H in the next story.
Would I read more? I highly doubt it. There are enough other authors writing this sort of story that are smoother reads.
As a set-up for a sweet'n'steamy short story, this wasn't a bad set-up. It was all in the writing that made it hard to enjoy. I hate to tear apart someone's writing like this, especially a debut from a self-published author, but this one really needed an editor. A proofreader, at the very least! I was highlighting things that irked or distracted me left and right. For a short story, I had 26 highlights! For someone who doesn't do a lot of Kindle highlighting, that's through the roof! So here we go:
* Overall, the writing is clunky and childish, very simplistic. There's lots and lots of repetition, for example. Sometimes it's just a repeated theme (how many times did they think about 'how long had they lived without the other in their life'?) but sometimes it's right back-to-back ("Benjamin. Lean and tall, the other man, tall and slim, they were matching ages and physical perfection." Just awkward).
* The punctuation is ... problematic. I know it's a personal pet peeve of mine, due to several very grammar-focused English teachers in my school-age past. But still! Commas do not join complete, independent clauses - that's a comma splice and should be two independent sentences. Likewise, commas are needed with introductory clauses and with sentences joined with a conjunction. All these comma issues were liberally scattered throughout. Sometimes I had to read sentences a few times to figure out what was going. Like that "tall and slim" sentence above! And then you have clauses that aren't sentences, but standing alone too. Like I said, problematic. And I'll step off my soapbox now.
* The tense needs work. The writing is in present tense - like things are happening at the moment and we are experiencing them with the characters. It's not a reminiscing character looking back on how they met the love of their life. So sentences foreshadowing their meeting and its significance are really weird, as are sentences referring to something in the past but still using the present tense (a woman at the club "works" on her hair and stumbles on her stilettos.)
* Word choice issues. Quite a number of near-correct word choices, but choosing the wrong of the homophones (or near homophones). Like illusion/allusion, for example. Or it's/its. And then, just a number of odd word choices. His hands are described as "large and healthy"? Her hips are "lofty"? Or they go to the cafe and "take our order from an aspiring actor." They give their order, or the actor takes their order. Unless they're listening to what the actor says and not actually ordering for themselves?
* What is "old-world blue"? Benjamin's eyes are described like that twice. The only connection I have for that phrase is Fallout. And it has nothing to do with color.
I did get a little irritated with Sarah too. Not that she's not a likable character. But she's a little too aggressively body confident for my taste. The type that puts down other body types, you know? I know I'm on the curvy end of things, and am totally in favor of curvy h characters. But to be putting down other builds in bragging about your own usually tends to rub me a little the wrong way.
As I said at the beginning, I like the story. It's instalove, short and fast, but the characters are generally likable, and if the writing issues were addressed, it would have been a good quick escapism sort of read. There's a niche for this sort of quick read, and this would have been a good addition to that realm. With the help of a good editor and/or proofreader, at least.
Alternating 1st person POV. No cheating, no OW/OM drama, no love triangle nonsense. Two people meet, connect, and have lots of steamy times leading to their HEA. No real drama, just a fast escapism read - under an hour. HEA and no cliffhanger, though plenty of hints that Benjamin's partner Jeremy will be the H in the next story.
Would I read more? I highly doubt it. There are enough other authors writing this sort of story that are smoother reads.
August 16, 2020
This short was a sweet predictable story. Yet, their wanting to find not just great sex, because they’ve been there done that. What they were looking for is the longterm dig in your heels keepers. When Sarah is assigned the puff piece to review this band at the night club she was none too happy. She’s been looking for something to dig her teeth into she didn’t think fluff pieces were her ticket. She felt her story going up in smoke when standing next to the stairs leading to the stage and members are not just disagreeing they are all out angry fighting. When the next thing she knows they’re on stage.
Watching from the balcony bar is Benjamin and his longtime friend Jeremy. Jeremy had Benjamin there to listen to the bands and see if any real women show. The place employed and attracted women who just needed to eat more. Benjamin and Jeremy are large men to begin with and being cops they are fit beyond. So, when Benjamin’s eyes fell on Sarah one true curvy girl he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Until, he and Jeremy saw at the same time the band members take the stage and start throwing down. They automatically spring into action before anyone even knew something had started. Benjamin getting there just as the microphone was going straight for Sarah’s face. He was able to get her and have her move off to the side while the rest of the band was brought under control. Jeremy took it from there with management and he was able to chat with Sarah.
So, it began. Were there smooth transitions, perfect spelling & grammar? No. Was there repeatedly some of the same phrases fed to us? Yes. But, the story itself was sweet and romantic. These were two lonely and family minded souls looking for its partner and they find it in each other. What I found so endearing is that no matter how much they played off that they were self assured they were really both so insecure. Yet, so strong with, to, and for one another.
I give this: 4 stars. Received this during July book giveaway.
Watching from the balcony bar is Benjamin and his longtime friend Jeremy. Jeremy had Benjamin there to listen to the bands and see if any real women show. The place employed and attracted women who just needed to eat more. Benjamin and Jeremy are large men to begin with and being cops they are fit beyond. So, when Benjamin’s eyes fell on Sarah one true curvy girl he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Until, he and Jeremy saw at the same time the band members take the stage and start throwing down. They automatically spring into action before anyone even knew something had started. Benjamin getting there just as the microphone was going straight for Sarah’s face. He was able to get her and have her move off to the side while the rest of the band was brought under control. Jeremy took it from there with management and he was able to chat with Sarah.
So, it began. Were there smooth transitions, perfect spelling & grammar? No. Was there repeatedly some of the same phrases fed to us? Yes. But, the story itself was sweet and romantic. These were two lonely and family minded souls looking for its partner and they find it in each other. What I found so endearing is that no matter how much they played off that they were self assured they were really both so insecure. Yet, so strong with, to, and for one another.
I give this: 4 stars. Received this during July book giveaway.
April 23, 2020
i read this book as part of an arc program. This is the first book in the Boys In Blue - San Francisco series. In this book Benjamin and his partner Jeremy are in a club to listen to a band when they notice the band is going to get into a fight. Benjamin notices a beautiful woman standing on the sidelines and thinks she could get hurt, so he goes to her, letting his partner handle the band. Sarah was attending the concert to write an article about the band for her job at a music blog. When the fight broke out, Sarah was helped by a handsome man who explained he was a cop and his partner was containing the band. Sarah and Benjamin were instantly attracted to one another and when Benjamin asked if she would like to go and get a drink with him somewhere else, she agreed. I really loved this book, I liked Benjamin, he was a little older than Sarah, but he was sure she was the one for him. great one.
May 12, 2020
Benjamin
Mary Potter is a new author to me and Benjamin was a good story that I for the most part enjoyed. Her writing style is a bit different than I am used to, I almost felt like I was an outsider looking in a window instead of being a part of the story.
Benjamin and Sarah met at a nightclub where they were both at to see the newest "it" band. Sparks and microphones flew when the band broke up before the concert ever started. These two are inseparable right from the start. A great short story with a happy for now. Epilogue approx a year and a half out.
I consider Benjamin to be completely. It is completely free of any kind of abuse, cheating and drama. There are no others after meeting and there is no mention of previous relationships/partners other than in an abstract sense that there had been some and neither of them were virgins. Which was a plus in my opinion. Overall a good start to a new series and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Mary Potter is a new author to me and Benjamin was a good story that I for the most part enjoyed. Her writing style is a bit different than I am used to, I almost felt like I was an outsider looking in a window instead of being a part of the story.
Benjamin and Sarah met at a nightclub where they were both at to see the newest "it" band. Sparks and microphones flew when the band broke up before the concert ever started. These two are inseparable right from the start. A great short story with a happy for now. Epilogue approx a year and a half out.
I consider Benjamin to be completely. It is completely free of any kind of abuse, cheating and drama. There are no others after meeting and there is no mention of previous relationships/partners other than in an abstract sense that there had been some and neither of them were virgins. Which was a plus in my opinion. Overall a good start to a new series and I can't wait to read more from this author.
July 21, 2020
There is nothing better than a good love story. This insta-love novella has is just that! Jeremy and Benjamin are off duty at a concert. Sarah is there as a journalist, and when things get out of hand, Benjamin is there to save the day. The sparks fly immediately and the two are inseparable. I will tell you what I truly love about this book. Mary Potter makes curvy woman desirable! I love that Ben is taken with her and that Sarah is a strong, confident woman. This story is sensual, and holds a wonderful message!
D Paul Faulkner is a new narrator for me and I enjoyed his performance. He has good voices, both male and female and has good pacing. I will be watching for more of his narrations in the future.
D Paul Faulkner is a new narrator for me and I enjoyed his performance. He has good voices, both male and female and has good pacing. I will be watching for more of his narrations in the future.
April 21, 2020
I like this book it was an easy to read romance. Benjamin was a police officer for the city of San Francisco and was out at a club with his friend Jeremy who was also a cop. The meeting of the eyes and how Benjamin kept the microphone from hitting Sarah when a fight broke out between members of a band who she was suppose to be blogging about but she was more interested in the man in front of her. She was a confident curvy woman just the type of woman that Benjamin had been waiting for. The relationship goes on from their. it is a nice short story and a good read.
November 11, 2023
Love it
As an aspiring writer, Sarah was working to make ends minds. When she goes to a club to write a review for a new upcoming band, she finds something she is not looking for love. Benjamin sees Sarah in the club, and he is drawn to her. This story is fast love, romantic, steamy with a happily ever after.
As an aspiring writer, Sarah was working to make ends minds. When she goes to a club to write a review for a new upcoming band, she finds something she is not looking for love. Benjamin sees Sarah in the club, and he is drawn to her. This story is fast love, romantic, steamy with a happily ever after.
April 22, 2020
Short Hot Read
This is an Insta attraction/ love story. Benjamin knows what he wants and until he sees Sarah he had not been satisfied. Sarah was there for a job, and Benjamin saved her from an accident.
This is an Insta attraction/ love story. Benjamin knows what he wants and until he sees Sarah he had not been satisfied. Sarah was there for a job, and Benjamin saved her from an accident.
May 23, 2020
Upbeat and refreshing.
What a wonderful, sensual quick getaway! This read is upbeat, sexy, loving, honest, amazing. The feels are refreshing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
What a wonderful, sensual quick getaway! This read is upbeat, sexy, loving, honest, amazing. The feels are refreshing.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
May 28, 2020
Sweet
This is a very sweet and moving story. A police officer finally finds the woman of his dreams after years of waiting. She is a sweet author that knows what she wants when she meets this man in blue. Great before sleep read.
This is a very sweet and moving story. A police officer finally finds the woman of his dreams after years of waiting. She is a sweet author that knows what she wants when she meets this man in blue. Great before sleep read.
June 1, 2020
Didn’t like the characters. The chapters were choppy. Seems like one character’s thought hadn’t finished before that chapter ended and then you were onto the next character. Yet you could skip chapters and it would be the same... too much repetition.
June 22, 2020
Brilliant
Brilliant short fast love at first sight story. Benjamin and Sarah have lots of chemistry as soon as they see each other as Benjamin stops her from getting hurt.
First book I have read from this author definitely will be reading the next one of the series
Brilliant short fast love at first sight story. Benjamin and Sarah have lots of chemistry as soon as they see each other as Benjamin stops her from getting hurt.
First book I have read from this author definitely will be reading the next one of the series
July 21, 2020
This is exactly the type of quickie I enjoy! We have strong character development mixed with a high likability factor and a fast moving plot with just enough spice to keep it all real. My first foray into Potter's writing, but I like her style. Kudos.
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December 10, 2020Another turned out short story.
No background, no plot, no character development and I can't even see if this book could be expanded into a full book. Meet, f*ck, and then fall in love. One note story.
No background, no plot, no character development and I can't even see if this book could be expanded into a full book. Meet, f*ck, and then fall in love. One note story.
September 23, 2021
A quick easy to read insta-love story of a cop and a writer who meet and are attracted to each other. Benjamin likes his women strong, smart and curvy and Sarah foots the bill nicely. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading Book 2.
October 17, 2022
I enjoyed this short and sexy story with Sarah and Benjamin. They meet and have instant attraction. These two primary characters are passionate that lasts no matter what. This is a will written book that has a HEA.
January 10, 2024
Good read!
Ben saved Sarah from getting hit in the head by a flying microphone during a bar fight. She was there to write a cover article on the band. They hit it off. Good quick read and kick off to the series!
Ben saved Sarah from getting hit in the head by a flying microphone during a bar fight. She was there to write a cover article on the band. They hit it off. Good quick read and kick off to the series!
April 17, 2020
Okay story, but the writing is a bit childish.
May 10, 2020
A quick, enjoyable read. There wasn't much to the plot and no depth to the characters. An insta-love story with a happy ending.
May 26, 2020
A short, steamy but also very sweet romance between a budding writer and a policeman. I couldn’t stop until I reached the end!
June 19, 2020
Cute short story
If you are short in time and want a quick read, this is a cute short story and recommend it.
If you are short in time and want a quick read, this is a cute short story and recommend it.
June 24, 2020
Great quick read with a sexy cop and a gorgeous independent curvy girl who meet at the right time and have instant chemistry. New to me author and looking forward to reading more from the series!
July 27, 2020
Hot!
Benjamin and Sarah have a hot, steamy, and sexy relationship. Sweet story with a happily ever after. Looking forward to the rest of the Boys In Blue series.
Benjamin and Sarah have a hot, steamy, and sexy relationship. Sweet story with a happily ever after. Looking forward to the rest of the Boys In Blue series.
August 15, 2020
It’s more sex then romance. The characters are likable.
December 1, 2020
Another variation on the mating dance followed by the mating. Nothing special.
January 17, 2021
Very enjoyable quick read
If you like steamy quick reads that still actually contain a storyline and developed characters, you’ll probably like this one. I did.
If you like steamy quick reads that still actually contain a storyline and developed characters, you’ll probably like this one. I did.
February 22, 2021
Usually like Mary Potter, this one not so much.
March 2, 2021
it was ok, nothing special and if you like the short, instalust, instalove type book you might like this. I wanted more but got less. It was just ok...
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews