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Love in O'Leary #5.6
The Light
When Fran Goode kissed me goodbye four years ago, he took my heart with him.
Sure, there were reasons we broke up, but they all seem silly now. And I know I should have moved on long ago, but the man's burned into my memory: his smile, his kiss, those long, unforgettable nights in his bed.
So instead, I find myself driving up a mountain, on the eve of an O'Leary blizzard, to Fran's remote cabin.
I need to see him again, to look into those gorgeous dark eyes, and to find out, for once and for all, whether the spark that flared between us has gone cold and dark... or has been burning like a beacon for us all along.
Note: The Light is a 16k SHORT STORY that was first available as part of a promotional giveaway. No new content has been added.
Sure, there were reasons we broke up, but they all seem silly now. And I know I should have moved on long ago, but the man's burned into my memory: his smile, his kiss, those long, unforgettable nights in his bed.
So instead, I find myself driving up a mountain, on the eve of an O'Leary blizzard, to Fran's remote cabin.
I need to see him again, to look into those gorgeous dark eyes, and to find out, for once and for all, whether the spark that flared between us has gone cold and dark... or has been burning like a beacon for us all along.
Note: The Light is a 16k SHORT STORY that was first available as part of a promotional giveaway. No new content has been added.
91 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2021
151 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
January 12, 2021
The first chapter is a giant infodump about Fran and Mark's past relationship (they dated for three months before Fran left to take care of his sick grandfather, and then never spoke again).
Mark has been staying in O'Leary working up the nerve to visit Fran at his isolated cabin for six months.
I almost gave up on the story because I loathe being spoonfed emotions. Don't tell me. I want to see and feel it.
Once Mark and Fran reconnect, it's all sweetness and light and everything nice (with a bit of naughty thrown in).
This story is romantic and blissfully happy ... if you can overlook the fact that two grown men, supposedly madly in love, ignored and avoided each other for four damn years for no real reason other than their own insecurities.
Mind you, not four months but four YEARS. And when they see each other again, they immediately go at it with barely a hello. Cute but a little too easy.
Mark has been staying in O'Leary working up the nerve to visit Fran at his isolated cabin for six months.
I almost gave up on the story because I loathe being spoonfed emotions. Don't tell me. I want to see and feel it.
Once Mark and Fran reconnect, it's all sweetness and light and everything nice (with a bit of naughty thrown in).
This story is romantic and blissfully happy ... if you can overlook the fact that two grown men, supposedly madly in love, ignored and avoided each other for four damn years for no real reason other than their own insecurities.
Mind you, not four months but four YEARS. And when they see each other again, they immediately go at it with barely a hello. Cute but a little too easy.
January 14, 2021
This one didn't really work for me.
Too much info the first chapter. Too many people. Too many names.
Too soon for the "baby" the second chapter.
Too much vomit inducing dialogue in the third chapter. "I want to taste every inch of you. Want to write myself into your cells." GAG
Too soon for the "I Love You's" in the fourth chapter. And crying.
Maybe it would've helped if I had read some of the other books in the series. Because I do actually like May Archer's stuff. Usually.
Too much info the first chapter. Too many people. Too many names.
Too soon for the "baby" the second chapter.
Too much vomit inducing dialogue in the third chapter. "I want to taste every inch of you. Want to write myself into your cells." GAG
Too soon for the "I Love You's" in the fourth chapter. And crying.
Maybe it would've helped if I had read some of the other books in the series. Because I do actually like May Archer's stuff. Usually.
January 27, 2021
I keep catching these little novella's but I still need to read the actual books in the series.
I didn't love the beginning, as I was confused and overwhelmed.
However, I did love the reconnection and second chance romance.
They are sweet and I'm happy for them.
Sidenote:
Don't forget to read this series Sheri! ;)
I didn't love the beginning, as I was confused and overwhelmed.
However, I did love the reconnection and second chance romance.
They are sweet and I'm happy for them.
Sidenote:
Don't forget to read this series Sheri! ;)
January 4, 2021
This was an adorable short. It focuses on Mark and Fran, who were together for 3 months four years ago and fell in love. But Mark wanted to travel the world and Fran had obligations to his family and family business in O'Leary, so when Fran's grandfather fell gravely ill, Fran had to leave Mark, and their relationship behind. Mark understood, but was still completely heartbroken anyway.
Now it's 4 years later, Fran is basically a recluse living in the mountains, rarely coming down into to town, and Mark has been living in O'Leary for 6 months since Cal and Ash, his friend, got married. He has just planned to stay a week or two, but ended up staying, and also chickening out on seeing Fran, and just hoping they'd run into each other in town and the choice would be taken out of Mark's hands. Because Mark and Fran haven't talked in 4 years and Mark is scared Fran will be over him.
But now it's the new year and Mark is determined to go up into the mountains and see Fran once and for all, even if it's to get closure and move on...
Of course, the moment they see each other, it's like they were never apart. These two were so sweet together, so perfect together. I loved how Miss Archer was able to establish a good connection between these two in such a short amount of story, and make it believable that they were in love and still are.
This was just the perfect short novella. Sweet, fun, light, entertaining, with a good main couple as the stars.
Two thumbs up from me! ❤️
Now it's 4 years later, Fran is basically a recluse living in the mountains, rarely coming down into to town, and Mark has been living in O'Leary for 6 months since Cal and Ash, his friend, got married. He has just planned to stay a week or two, but ended up staying, and also chickening out on seeing Fran, and just hoping they'd run into each other in town and the choice would be taken out of Mark's hands. Because Mark and Fran haven't talked in 4 years and Mark is scared Fran will be over him.
But now it's the new year and Mark is determined to go up into the mountains and see Fran once and for all, even if it's to get closure and move on...
Of course, the moment they see each other, it's like they were never apart. These two were so sweet together, so perfect together. I loved how Miss Archer was able to establish a good connection between these two in such a short amount of story, and make it believable that they were in love and still are.
This was just the perfect short novella. Sweet, fun, light, entertaining, with a good main couple as the stars.
Two thumbs up from me! ❤️
February 26, 2021
Another lovely short, stand alone tale by May Archer. Mark has decided, after great deliberation, to drive up the mountain and confront his ex, Francis/Fran.
They dated each other back in San Diego after Fran was in the Navy.
Francis is a mountain man, tall, muscled and dark eyed, a loner ( on cover).
Mark is blonde and blue eyed, and has never forgotten Fran.
After friendly discussions, he's headed up to the cabin, while the snowstorm is happening. It lands him in a ditch, with a rescue from Fran and his dog.
This is so wonderful, with a touching past, and a heartwarming love.
The characters are deserving of their second chance.
We get sizzling, explicit hot sexiness and a terrific epilogue!
ENJOY !
=====
They dated each other back in San Diego after Fran was in the Navy.
Francis is a mountain man, tall, muscled and dark eyed, a loner ( on cover).
Mark is blonde and blue eyed, and has never forgotten Fran.
After friendly discussions, he's headed up to the cabin, while the snowstorm is happening. It lands him in a ditch, with a rescue from Fran and his dog.
This is so wonderful, with a touching past, and a heartwarming love.
The characters are deserving of their second chance.
We get sizzling, explicit hot sexiness and a terrific epilogue!
ENJOY !
=====
January 4, 2021
4.5*
I adored this short entry in May's absolutely brilliant O'Leary series.
I'd have loved it to have been a full length novel but only because I fell for Mark and Francis big time and not because this story is missing anything.
In such a limited number of words, we are still given a romance with depth and enough backstory to make the reunion between them all the more sweet.
Loved it!
I adored this short entry in May's absolutely brilliant O'Leary series.
I'd have loved it to have been a full length novel but only because I fell for Mark and Francis big time and not because this story is missing anything.
In such a limited number of words, we are still given a romance with depth and enough backstory to make the reunion between them all the more sweet.
Loved it!
July 1, 2021
I can only think of one way to describe this short story: beautiful. It really was beautiful.
January 9, 2021
Cute read although I couldn't see any solid reason why these two didn't try to contact each other during these four years, considering they were so in love.
January 28, 2021
Only May Archer could make me enjoy this much sugar.
I say this every time, but I probably would've LOVED this if it had been 250-300 pages so I could really connect to the characters, but it still managed quite a bit of feeling for such a short story
I say this every time, but I probably would've LOVED this if it had been 250-300 pages so I could really connect to the characters, but it still managed quite a bit of feeling for such a short story
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June 21, 2021Another lovely short, stand alone tale by May Archer. Mark has decided, after great deliberation, to drive up the mountain and confront his ex, Francis/Fran. They dated each other back in San Diego after Fran was in the Navy. He's a mountain man, tall, muscled and dark eyed, a loner. Mark is blonde and blue eyed, and has never forgotten Fran. After friendly discussions, he's headed up to the cabin, while the snowstorm is happening. It lands him in a ditch, with a rescue from Fran and his dog.
This is so wonderful, with a touching past, and a heartwarming love. The characters are deserving of their second chance. We get sizzling, explicit hot sexiness and a terrific epilogue ! ENJOY !
This is so wonderful, with a touching past, and a heartwarming love. The characters are deserving of their second chance. We get sizzling, explicit hot sexiness and a terrific epilogue ! ENJOY !
January 4, 2021
I'm always up for a trip back to O'Leary, where the townspeople who seemed a bit too interested in everyone's business in the early books have mellowed a bit, and I'm used to them, so their old friends that it's fun to catch up with.
The difficult thing about writing a short is pacing, so when you start with the characters having a history, it eases the pressure for them to get to know each other. May navigates these waters with ease, though you do have to suspend your disbelief when you cross into the O'Leary city limits. Which is fine - it's consistent world-building and no different than suspending disbelief over men getting pregnant or people turning into animals.
This novella is vintage O'Leary, vintage May Archer...sweet, funny, and sexy. My one issue was that I think Mark let Fran off the hook way, way too easily for having ghosted him four years prior. I think the tension could have been drawn a bit tighter there without adding too much to the length, but I did love the visit to one of my favorite fictional places, and hope these two show up in another book in the future.
The difficult thing about writing a short is pacing, so when you start with the characters having a history, it eases the pressure for them to get to know each other. May navigates these waters with ease, though you do have to suspend your disbelief when you cross into the O'Leary city limits. Which is fine - it's consistent world-building and no different than suspending disbelief over men getting pregnant or people turning into animals.
This novella is vintage O'Leary, vintage May Archer...sweet, funny, and sexy. My one issue was that I think Mark let Fran off the hook way, way too easily for having ghosted him four years prior. I think the tension could have been drawn a bit tighter there without adding too much to the length, but I did love the visit to one of my favorite fictional places, and hope these two show up in another book in the future.
January 6, 2021
I’ll never turn down spending time in O’Leary and this was a cute little visit.
March 21, 2021
This book was not as much fun as some of the other books I've read, with too much instalove for my taste, and adult men making stupid illogical decisions. This was not the best book in this series, but I'm still hoping there will be more books to come.
July 22, 2024
This was a sweet story, but it was just too short to have much depth.
April 15, 2021
Taking a Chance!
After receiving advice from well-meaning friends sweet Mark seeks out his ex, recluse Francis to rekindle the romance. A short too sweet fluffy romance. You would have to have read the previous books in this series to understand all the various couples and characters. Still, a fun but quick read.
After receiving advice from well-meaning friends sweet Mark seeks out his ex, recluse Francis to rekindle the romance. A short too sweet fluffy romance. You would have to have read the previous books in this series to understand all the various couples and characters. Still, a fun but quick read.
November 5, 2025
Short, sweet and adorable.
Not much to tell, this is too short!
Not much to tell, this is too short!
January 25, 2021
Awwww very sweet and sizzling. 4.5
January 3, 2021
You only regret the chances you do not take. I love that line in the book because it is so true. This story is told in dual POV.
Mark took a chance and it paid off. Fran had shut himself away for years and Mark came back into his life and changed his lonely existence.
I love the ongoing series of O’Leary. It’s one of my favorite shmoopy series where romance lives. Love that! This can stand alone but you really should do yourself a favor and read the whole series!
Mark took a chance and it paid off. Fran had shut himself away for years and Mark came back into his life and changed his lonely existence.
I love the ongoing series of O’Leary. It’s one of my favorite shmoopy series where romance lives. Love that! This can stand alone but you really should do yourself a favor and read the whole series!
January 30, 2021
Blueberries
Yay for forever love and O’Leary! “You’ve been in my heart since the day I left you.” Mark and Francis will surely warm your heart and make you sigh with happiness. And make you crave cupcakes.
Yay for forever love and O’Leary! “You’ve been in my heart since the day I left you.” Mark and Francis will surely warm your heart and make you sigh with happiness. And make you crave cupcakes.
October 26, 2021
4.5 stars - short but truly sweet.
March 28, 2021
Another O’Leary happily ever after
It’s like I just can’t get enough of this not so sleepy, little town. O’Leary, where making dreams a reality is possible.
It’s like I just can’t get enough of this not so sleepy, little town. O’Leary, where making dreams a reality is possible.
January 19, 2021
Short, sweet second –chances story set in the fictional world of O’Leary.
I love the great world May Archer has created for the town of O'Leary and its crazy bunch of inhabitants.
I love the great world May Archer has created for the town of O'Leary and its crazy bunch of inhabitants.
January 16, 2021
*SIGH* I can't tell you how much I love all things O'Leary...I could read a million stories about the people of this town!! A sweet, second chance, opposites attract, swoony read that had me hooked! BTW Hen is one of my favorite characters!!
January 3, 2021
Alors c’est court, genre ça se lit en une demi trois-quarts d’heure. Mais, on retrouve tout ce qui fait un bon may archer et surtout ce qui caractérise love in o’leary à savoir une grosse bouffée d’amour.
January 4, 2021
4.5
So cute I couldn't stand it at times but then, at the same time, exactly what I needed.
I loved being back in O'Leary again and quite a few of the characters feature without it becoming too messy.
Mark and Fran were adorable in this story of second chances
So cute I couldn't stand it at times but then, at the same time, exactly what I needed.
I loved being back in O'Leary again and quite a few of the characters feature without it becoming too messy.
Mark and Fran were adorable in this story of second chances
January 3, 2021
Loved this short story! Such a perfect addition to the series and though on the shorter side, it still has a lot of interfering O'Leary friends, cuteness, fun and a good dose of heat between the MC's. Definitely ones for fans of the series!
January 3, 2021
This was fluffy precious O'Leary goodness and I loved every second of it 🥰
March 10, 2024
This is a sweet second chance romance. These are two wonderful men that had bad timing. But second chances are great.
Updated Review: This is a short story of taking a chance on one more chance. Mark is headed up the mountain with the backing of the rest of O’Leary. Luckily things go better with Fran than he thought. I listened to this story audio and it was well done.
Updated Review: This is a short story of taking a chance on one more chance. Mark is headed up the mountain with the backing of the rest of O’Leary. Luckily things go better with Fran than he thought. I listened to this story audio and it was well done.
February 15, 2021
Just too short for that much story. Adorable and cute but very rushed.
March 11, 2023
Really short but so sweet
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews