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Small Claims
Small claims judge Shawn Rosen is comfortable in his career, but his personal life is another story. His twenty-year relationship ended two years ago, and while he accepts the end, he hasn’t even started to move on. He lives a generic life.
Everything changes when Jody Jacobsen walks into his courtroom and Shawn is attracted to him. Following the case, they have a chance meeting that leads to a wild night. Waking up to cold sheets should have been a sign, but instead, Shawn keeps coming back for more. Eventually, he falls fast and hard—so hard he might be missing the clues that the commitment isn’t mutual.
There’s trouble when the case that brought them together could also tear them apart. Will Jody give in to his tendency to run, or will he finally be the man that Shawn deserves?
Everything changes when Jody Jacobsen walks into his courtroom and Shawn is attracted to him. Following the case, they have a chance meeting that leads to a wild night. Waking up to cold sheets should have been a sign, but instead, Shawn keeps coming back for more. Eventually, he falls fast and hard—so hard he might be missing the clues that the commitment isn’t mutual.
There’s trouble when the case that brought them together could also tear them apart. Will Jody give in to his tendency to run, or will he finally be the man that Shawn deserves?
- GenresM M Romance
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2015
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 2, 2020
This was a sweet read. I enjoyed it and it filled my afternoon.
March 21, 2015
Shawn is a judge in small claims court and while he’s happy with his job, his personal life leaves a lot to be longed for. He had been with his husband, Scott, for twenty years but that relationship ended two years ago and he’s sort of floundered since then.
When he meets Jody in the course of a small claims dispute, he is immediately attracted and a random run-in with him at a club turns into a hook up. Of course, Scott lets Jody know how long it’s been for him and when Jody conveniently takes off with no note and no number the morning after, well, Scott is upset.
This leads to a blind date with a friend of Shawn’s brother that doesn’t work out, followed by the shock of having Jody turn up at the courthouse as a temp worker. And this gives rise to the second chance, although I admit I kept wondering why Shawn was giving him more chances.
Adding to the difficulty, Gabrielle, Scott’s daughter, desperately wants her dads back together again. While it’s a little heartbreaking how badly she wants her family back together, it’s also not something that’s going to happen. This adds additional stress to Shawn and Jody because Jody can’t handle it.
It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on Jody. I rated this story almost exclusively on the writing, the premise and Shawn. Had I rated it on Jody, it would have been significantly lower. Even though he ends up (sort of) redeeming himself, it was too little, too late for me. I understood his reasoning a bit but my immediate thought was that this is one incredibly selfish man. “I only have good memories of lovers”, yet does it even cross his mind that his actions cause heartache, pain and bad memories for those same lovers?
As far as secondary characters, let’s hear it for Shawn’s brother, Frank. He made me laugh and he’s loyal and outrageous. I am so happy Shawn has a brother like that.
The ending is a little bit fairy tale and while I’m hopeful for them, I’m not completely convinced Jody can step up. But let’s be positive about it all!
As a random note, the blind date who is very into paraphilic infantilism was very interesting and a little bit sad. So fearful of losing his job if anyone finds out, yet needing that to be fulfilled. I hope he finds his HEA as well.
When he meets Jody in the course of a small claims dispute, he is immediately attracted and a random run-in with him at a club turns into a hook up. Of course, Scott lets Jody know how long it’s been for him and when Jody conveniently takes off with no note and no number the morning after, well, Scott is upset.
This leads to a blind date with a friend of Shawn’s brother that doesn’t work out, followed by the shock of having Jody turn up at the courthouse as a temp worker. And this gives rise to the second chance, although I admit I kept wondering why Shawn was giving him more chances.
Adding to the difficulty, Gabrielle, Scott’s daughter, desperately wants her dads back together again. While it’s a little heartbreaking how badly she wants her family back together, it’s also not something that’s going to happen. This adds additional stress to Shawn and Jody because Jody can’t handle it.
It’s hard to put into words my thoughts on Jody. I rated this story almost exclusively on the writing, the premise and Shawn. Had I rated it on Jody, it would have been significantly lower. Even though he ends up (sort of) redeeming himself, it was too little, too late for me. I understood his reasoning a bit but my immediate thought was that this is one incredibly selfish man. “I only have good memories of lovers”, yet does it even cross his mind that his actions cause heartache, pain and bad memories for those same lovers?
As far as secondary characters, let’s hear it for Shawn’s brother, Frank. He made me laugh and he’s loyal and outrageous. I am so happy Shawn has a brother like that.
The ending is a little bit fairy tale and while I’m hopeful for them, I’m not completely convinced Jody can step up. But let’s be positive about it all!
As a random note, the blind date who is very into paraphilic infantilism was very interesting and a little bit sad. So fearful of losing his job if anyone finds out, yet needing that to be fulfilled. I hope he finds his HEA as well.
July 13, 2021
The writing is excellent and it holds you throughout the book, it is of a good pace, with twist and turns.
October 1, 2023
I’m not sure why I keep reading Stone’s books. This is fine, I guess, but he keeps trying to build up to these emotional moments that are too stilted to land.
April 27, 2015
4 heart review by Kimberley
I really do like reading TEB’s Sexy Snax novellas. They’re short, sweet and spicy little reads that are just perfect. This sweet little morsel gives us Shawn’s story. Shawn, a small claims court judge, in his early 40s, finds himself single for the first time in twenty years. Single for two years now, he was a bit lonely but not sure how to move back into the dating scene.
Shawn’s interest is piqued by a handsome younger man who’s case he’s presiding over. That’s when he meets Jody, a man who is being sued by his nosy neighbor. The details of the case were hilarious and the testimony even more so. I’m sure we all could relate to Jody. I mean, who hasn’t had a nosy neighbor at one point in time?
There is an attraction but Shawn, not thinking that he’d ever see Jody again, pretty much puts him out of mind. A chance meeting at a bar later that evening, changes that. The two hit it off and things move from there.
There were some really funny situations in this book. Make sure you’re not eating or drinking while reading as the blind date will have you choking from laughing so hard. This is my first time reading anything from this author but it definitely won’t be my last. This Sexy Snax just whetted my appetite for more of his work. I would love to read more stories of men of a particular age who manage to find love. There is a maturity to them that’s often overlooked in this genre and I think one that should be explored. Stone did a great job of portraying his character as this man. He was beautiful but with imperfections that made him relatable. The author packed a lot of punch in this 90 page book.
This is a great little morsel. Not too fluffy with the perfect balance of sweet and hot.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
I really do like reading TEB’s Sexy Snax novellas. They’re short, sweet and spicy little reads that are just perfect. This sweet little morsel gives us Shawn’s story. Shawn, a small claims court judge, in his early 40s, finds himself single for the first time in twenty years. Single for two years now, he was a bit lonely but not sure how to move back into the dating scene.
Shawn’s interest is piqued by a handsome younger man who’s case he’s presiding over. That’s when he meets Jody, a man who is being sued by his nosy neighbor. The details of the case were hilarious and the testimony even more so. I’m sure we all could relate to Jody. I mean, who hasn’t had a nosy neighbor at one point in time?
There is an attraction but Shawn, not thinking that he’d ever see Jody again, pretty much puts him out of mind. A chance meeting at a bar later that evening, changes that. The two hit it off and things move from there.
There were some really funny situations in this book. Make sure you’re not eating or drinking while reading as the blind date will have you choking from laughing so hard. This is my first time reading anything from this author but it definitely won’t be my last. This Sexy Snax just whetted my appetite for more of his work. I would love to read more stories of men of a particular age who manage to find love. There is a maturity to them that’s often overlooked in this genre and I think one that should be explored. Stone did a great job of portraying his character as this man. He was beautiful but with imperfections that made him relatable. The author packed a lot of punch in this 90 page book.
This is a great little morsel. Not too fluffy with the perfect balance of sweet and hot.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
April 13, 2015
ThreeStar
This is a sweet and funny romantic comedy.
When Jody’s neighbour brings him to court, attempting to sue him over his noisy and slightly kinky sex life, judge Shawn is both amused by
and smitten with the young man. When he finds Jody in a bar later, he
summons the courage to approach the younger man.
Shawn spent a lifetime raising a daughter with his ex. Since the split
he has been lonely and celibate. Jody has been anything but celibate,
but after being badly hurt once, he refuses to engage in a committed
relationship.
The relationships between Shawn, his daughter and his ex-husband are
convincingly bitter-sweet and uncomfortably awkward at times. Shawn’s loneliness will resonate with anyone who has ever found themselves emerging involuntarily from a long-term relationship.
This is a simple, quite formulaic rom-com. Barriers between the two men are contrived and then torn down, exposing the characters enough for the men to become likeable. For me though, neither man was developed fully enough for me to become attachment.
By the end of the book, I still wasn’t sure that a much younger man
without a steady job or any direction in his life is the best fit for
Shawn. And I’m still not sure that the quiet, self-contained family man
has actually calmed the club kid in Jody.
This is a happy, funny story which readers will find charming.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Sarah
This is a sweet and funny romantic comedy.
When Jody’s neighbour brings him to court, attempting to sue him over his noisy and slightly kinky sex life, judge Shawn is both amused by
and smitten with the young man. When he finds Jody in a bar later, he
summons the courage to approach the younger man.
Shawn spent a lifetime raising a daughter with his ex. Since the split
he has been lonely and celibate. Jody has been anything but celibate,
but after being badly hurt once, he refuses to engage in a committed
relationship.
The relationships between Shawn, his daughter and his ex-husband are
convincingly bitter-sweet and uncomfortably awkward at times. Shawn’s loneliness will resonate with anyone who has ever found themselves emerging involuntarily from a long-term relationship.
This is a simple, quite formulaic rom-com. Barriers between the two men are contrived and then torn down, exposing the characters enough for the men to become likeable. For me though, neither man was developed fully enough for me to become attachment.
By the end of the book, I still wasn’t sure that a much younger man
without a steady job or any direction in his life is the best fit for
Shawn. And I’m still not sure that the quiet, self-contained family man
has actually calmed the club kid in Jody.
This is a happy, funny story which readers will find charming.
I was given this in return for an honest review by Inked Rainbow Reads.
Sarah
April 3, 2015
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Small Claims is a quick easy, read that’s fairly low on the angst meter. While I did have a few issues with it, it’s a nice story about a man reentering the dating world and finding himself falling for an unlikely prospect. For such a short space, Stone managed to pack a lot of plot into this little novella. And that has both its good and bad points.
I really liked Shawn. He’s kind of an unlikely romance hero: older, a bit of a stomach, and just getting back into the dating pool after a twenty-year relationship with his partner. He’s a kind and fair man who loves his daughter completely and is best friends with his brother and sister-in-law. He had a maturity about him that we don’t always see in romance stories, and his inner monologue and thought processes made a lot of sense. I liked watching him fall in love.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Small Claims is a quick easy, read that’s fairly low on the angst meter. While I did have a few issues with it, it’s a nice story about a man reentering the dating world and finding himself falling for an unlikely prospect. For such a short space, Stone managed to pack a lot of plot into this little novella. And that has both its good and bad points.
I really liked Shawn. He’s kind of an unlikely romance hero: older, a bit of a stomach, and just getting back into the dating pool after a twenty-year relationship with his partner. He’s a kind and fair man who loves his daughter completely and is best friends with his brother and sister-in-law. He had a maturity about him that we don’t always see in romance stories, and his inner monologue and thought processes made a lot of sense. I liked watching him fall in love.
Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.
June 21, 2015
The blind date is very funny that alone is worth reading this story.
It is a quick enjoyable (but forgetable) read perfect for inbetween or for reading in bed.
It is a quick enjoyable (but forgetable) read perfect for inbetween or for reading in bed.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews