Funnel Cakes & Overly Specific Fortunes

Paranormal Portland

by K.P. Maxwell

Clayton Dean does not believe in magic. But when his bandmates drag him out to the same summer street festival in Portland, Oregon, that they go to every year, they find a handsome fortune teller whose predictions are a little too accurate. Between a plate of funnel cakes and a little bit of charm, will Rowan be able to convince Clay that there’s more than just the magic of the festival in the air?A short and steamy M/M paranormal instalove romance between a grumpy skeptic and a mischievous psychic with an open, HFN ending. Set in the same version of paranormal Portland as KP Maxwell’s Men of Café Seuil series.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Queer, Gay, M M Romance

24 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 15, 2021

About the author

KP Maxwell loves writing sexy, playful, and occasionally absurd stories with a touch of magic. She's currently working on the Men of Café Seuil series. She enjoys reading romances of all kinds, but M/M romances hold a special place in her heart.

For updates, bonus content, and occasional pet photos, join her on her author newsletter at: https://kpmaxwell.com/newsletter/

Reviews

[Meep · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this is a pre-story maybe, there's not much to it and the way the band was described suggested they had books of their own. I struggled to guess the character's ages, it read as very teenage to me with the blown up arguement from nowhere. Clay read like a childish bully showing off for his friends, which is not a great look; while Rowan was a smirking redhead.
Not for me.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

quick steamy short story

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick little short that is about a meeting, not trying to become a full story in this short. There is a bit of magic, some skepticism, snarky flirty banter, and sparks behind it all. It was fun and cute and while these two could have more of a story this is just about their meeting and nothing more.

[DC · Rating 2 out of 5]

This did nothing for me. I didn’t feel any connection with either Clay or Rowan. The story is way too short for any character development but from what little there was, I really didn’t like Clay at all. For at least the first half I thought he was a real a-hole.

[Ken Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set at a Portland summer street festival, Maxwell's short story gives a quick study on Rowan and Clay. More inside the latter's head, the characters fill in nicely as they bat back and forth, before a tumble at the flat.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice short story from this author, a street festival has Clay reluctantly getting his fortune told, by a very cute young man, and so begins a sweet tale and a budding romance, maybe? Short, sweet, and enjoyable.

[Altivo Overo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light hearted teaser for what one at least hopes will be a more expansive story later. Amusing characters are well drawn in this brief sketch.

[Candice · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was just no there, there. I know it's a short story but I expected some semblance of a plot or characterization.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A psychic and a skeptic feel a spark between them….

I thought this was a cute and enjoyable read! You’ve got a music festival, funnel cake, and a psychic fortune teller who’s a total flirt? I will say that Clay’s transformation from suspicious skeptic to totally forgiving in favor of their blatant attraction was a little too quick for me. I know it’s a short story, but I was hoping for a few more pages of conflict or at least some unease. Something that sparks tension between the characters that can be attributed to something more than magical attraction. There’s not a lot of backstory for either character, so this exists simply in the moment. If you’re looking for a short stand alone story with clear buzzing attraction, sugared sweets and a slightly steamy hookup as your new read, I think this checks all the boxes.

[Leslie Zak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect m/m romantic short story

Band mates are visiting a street festival in Portland when they come upon a psychic telling fortunes. Rowan gives a specific fortune to one of them who is convinced he had another way to know the information. He wants to call him out and prove Rowan is a fraud. Enjoy the journey as these two men come together starting with a funnel cake and ending in Rowan's bed. Cute and enjoyable.