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Working Man #12
Closing Time
Mitchell Nolan is a bartender working late on Christmas Eve. As the last patrons leave, he stays behind to clean up. Why hurry home? There's no one waiting for him, and he knows Santa won't bother leaving anything special for him this year.
Then he meets Romy Lariner, who ducks inside the bar when his car won't start. Sparks fly between these two lonely men this Christmas Eve. Maybe Santa has a little something up his sleeve for Mitchell after all ...
Then he meets Romy Lariner, who ducks inside the bar when his car won't start. Sparks fly between these two lonely men this Christmas Eve. Maybe Santa has a little something up his sleeve for Mitchell after all ...
18 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2009
1 person is currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
J.M. Snyder
302 books567 followersAn author of gay erotic/romantic fiction, J.M. Snyder began in self-publishing and worked with Amber Allure, Aspen Mountain, eXcessica, and Torquere Presses.
Snyder's highly erotic short gay fiction has been published online at Amazon Shorts, Eros Monthly, Ruthie's Club, and Tit-Elation, as well as in anthologies by Alyson Books, Aspen Mountain, Cleis Press, eXcessica Publishing, Lethe Press, and Ravenous Romance.
In 2010, Snyder founded JMS Books LLC, a royalty-paying queer small press that publishes in both electronic and print format. For more information on newest releases and submission guidelines, please visit JMS Books LLC online.
Snyder's highly erotic short gay fiction has been published online at Amazon Shorts, Eros Monthly, Ruthie's Club, and Tit-Elation, as well as in anthologies by Alyson Books, Aspen Mountain, Cleis Press, eXcessica Publishing, Lethe Press, and Ravenous Romance.
In 2010, Snyder founded JMS Books LLC, a royalty-paying queer small press that publishes in both electronic and print format. For more information on newest releases and submission guidelines, please visit JMS Books LLC online.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 27, 2011
This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews.
The blurb on this one sums it up pretty well. Mitchell is feeling a bit down this Christmas. He hasn’t dated since his ex Jamal gave him the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech three years ago. He’s pretty sure he’s destined to be alone, and then Romy makes a sudden appearance seeking help. He’s instantly attracted as Romy is also African-American like his ex and he makes no bones about being attracted to men like that.
After a phone call when Mitchell realizes that Romy has no significant other to return to either on Christmas Eve, they both kind of make a move ending up with some very hot smexin’ on the pool table of the bar. As usual, this author gives you very likable characters who seem “normal”. The story is told from Mitchell’s perspective so you don’t really get a feel for Romy beyond a hot guy, nor do you get to know anything about his personal life. The sex when they finally decide to go for it is hot and raunchy with some touches of humour as they have to find some make-shift lube at the bar.
My only niggle, and this is likely 100% me, not the story, is do people just really meet someone and have that overriding attraction you just can’t fight? Maybe it’s a guy thing? A gay thing? Maybe just not my thing? I kept thinking “Really, you just met this man 7 minutes ago and you’re ready to have sex with him? Really?” Maybe because it seemed out of character for Mitchell who was so interested in finding a lover not a one-night-stand – as he’s gone without for nearly 3 years – I didn’t quite get why he suddenly seemed so eager to shed his jeans except because of some urgent attraction he’d never felt before.
However as I said, this my perception and I believe the story was written as an erotica piece and it does serve that purpose well, leaving a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel for the relationship to develop further. So if a little bit of pool table loving is your thing, or stories with an interracial main couple, it’s a cute quick read.
The blurb on this one sums it up pretty well. Mitchell is feeling a bit down this Christmas. He hasn’t dated since his ex Jamal gave him the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech three years ago. He’s pretty sure he’s destined to be alone, and then Romy makes a sudden appearance seeking help. He’s instantly attracted as Romy is also African-American like his ex and he makes no bones about being attracted to men like that.
After a phone call when Mitchell realizes that Romy has no significant other to return to either on Christmas Eve, they both kind of make a move ending up with some very hot smexin’ on the pool table of the bar. As usual, this author gives you very likable characters who seem “normal”. The story is told from Mitchell’s perspective so you don’t really get a feel for Romy beyond a hot guy, nor do you get to know anything about his personal life. The sex when they finally decide to go for it is hot and raunchy with some touches of humour as they have to find some make-shift lube at the bar.
My only niggle, and this is likely 100% me, not the story, is do people just really meet someone and have that overriding attraction you just can’t fight? Maybe it’s a guy thing? A gay thing? Maybe just not my thing? I kept thinking “Really, you just met this man 7 minutes ago and you’re ready to have sex with him? Really?” Maybe because it seemed out of character for Mitchell who was so interested in finding a lover not a one-night-stand – as he’s gone without for nearly 3 years – I didn’t quite get why he suddenly seemed so eager to shed his jeans except because of some urgent attraction he’d never felt before.
However as I said, this my perception and I believe the story was written as an erotica piece and it does serve that purpose well, leaving a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel for the relationship to develop further. So if a little bit of pool table loving is your thing, or stories with an interracial main couple, it’s a cute quick read.
January 24, 2010
More like 3.5 stars; I really enjoy the hotness of the two getting together. But I guess I'm used to reading other J.M. Snyder's stories where there is something build up first before jumping for the sex. BUT, this story is still good read. Love the "messages" that Mitchell sent to Dear Santa in his mind.
August 28, 2012
Sweet and touching short story. Very hot too :) I'd love to read a longer novel/continuation about these characters!
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March 15, 2018Another instant attraction hook up story with a possibility for future development.
And another multicultural pairing. This aspect of the story was handled much better than in the previous story in the anthology (Car Trouble).
Ultimately it's a 'meet and let's have sex' piece but you could feel the connection between the MCs and the promise going forward.
And Mitchell's asides to Santa were brilliant fun.
And another multicultural pairing. This aspect of the story was handled much better than in the previous story in the anthology (Car Trouble).
Ultimately it's a 'meet and let's have sex' piece but you could feel the connection between the MCs and the promise going forward.
And Mitchell's asides to Santa were brilliant fun.
December 30, 2009
Of the two short stories I've ready by Snyder, I think I prefer this one because it creates a better sense of interaction between the characters. Of the three pieces I've read by Snyder, this would fall second, but that could be my preference for character development and plot, which the short stories don't really have much of.
August 24, 2012
3.5 stars
June 24, 2009
This is my book so I'm not going to write a review.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews