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Reckless
Paul wasn't looking for anything special that rainy autumn afternoon when he met Max in a Chicago Starbucks. But Max was-a simple, uncomplicated romp while his boyfriend was out of town on business. And Paul was only too happy to oblige.
There was only one Paul was HIV positive. And just a few weeks after his hot encounter with Max, a letter arrived for him, containing some legalese about HIV infection being a criminal act, with a few chilling
Dear Paul,
You infected me. You didn't tell me. You need to pay.
All the best,
Max
Those words turned Paul's world upside down. He had told Max. Hadn't he? They had used a condom. Hadn't they?
Come along for a heart-pounding ride full of secrets and lies.
There was only one Paul was HIV positive. And just a few weeks after his hot encounter with Max, a letter arrived for him, containing some legalese about HIV infection being a criminal act, with a few chilling
Dear Paul,
You infected me. You didn't tell me. You need to pay.
All the best,
Max
Those words turned Paul's world upside down. He had told Max. Hadn't he? They had used a condom. Hadn't they?
Come along for a heart-pounding ride full of secrets and lies.
15 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 30, 2009
1 person is currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Rick R. Reed
118 books1,046 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 26, 2016
Holy shit for a short story this is intense, not a happy read but dam good
August 11, 2014
I bought this book after reading the synopsis and thought it would be an interesting read. I had just settled into my bath, with my Kindle (in it's waterproof jacket, of course!) and started reading when all of a sudden, it was THE END!!! WTF?! Nowhere on the book description does it say that Reckless is a short story. For £1.94, I would be expecting a novella, at the very least. To say I feel ripped off is putting it mildly.
Okay, so it was a good story but something I would expect to find in a collection of stories, not a standalone.
I'm sorry, but I applied to Amazon for a refund on this book because I felt so cheated.
Okay, so it was a good story but something I would expect to find in a collection of stories, not a standalone.
I'm sorry, but I applied to Amazon for a refund on this book because I felt so cheated.
September 14, 2020
Would have appreciate a warning that it was a dark bittersweet read.
August 21, 2011
Reckless, by Rick Reed, is a dark short story about Paul, an HIV positive man, who receives a letter from a one night stand, Max, making an accusation of having been infected by him. The letter sets Paul on an emotional roller-coaster, forcing him to contemplate the implications of his actions. To make matters worse, Max stated he planned on pressing charges, causing Paul to worry that all he had worked to build in his life could disappear in one fell swoop…in an exposure of his HIV-status, his sexuality, and the possibility of being convicted of a crime of using HIV as a weapon. Given the length of the story, 13 pages, I will leave out the details of the emotions and how the story develops and concludes.
What I enjoyed about this story was how true it rang. While Paul is dealing with HIV and how public exposure of his status might affect his life, we all can think of some secret that would “ruin” us (for those of us prone to melodramatics) or make our lives significantly more complicated for people with level heads. The emotions and Paul’s thought processes are very real and authentic, touching a thread within us that makes him a highly empathetic character.
What surprised me about this book is how much I enjoyed the dark nature of the story. Having read sever of Mr. Reed’s books, I have come to expect a dark element in each of his stories, but this is truly the darkest I have read to date. While I may not agree with Paul’s choices, the story caused me to think deeply about how impactful details of our lives can be and how each day is a delicate balancing act of maintaining our grip on our lives while avoiding the gunshots others aim at us along the way.
A compelling read, Reckless has a well-developed character, a strong plot-line rife with conflict, and is highly thought provoking. I strongly recommend it, but make sure you have ice-cream or some other comforting thing to do afterwards just so you can get back to your happy place. I’m about to eat an Italian ice.
What I enjoyed about this story was how true it rang. While Paul is dealing with HIV and how public exposure of his status might affect his life, we all can think of some secret that would “ruin” us (for those of us prone to melodramatics) or make our lives significantly more complicated for people with level heads. The emotions and Paul’s thought processes are very real and authentic, touching a thread within us that makes him a highly empathetic character.
What surprised me about this book is how much I enjoyed the dark nature of the story. Having read sever of Mr. Reed’s books, I have come to expect a dark element in each of his stories, but this is truly the darkest I have read to date. While I may not agree with Paul’s choices, the story caused me to think deeply about how impactful details of our lives can be and how each day is a delicate balancing act of maintaining our grip on our lives while avoiding the gunshots others aim at us along the way.
A compelling read, Reckless has a well-developed character, a strong plot-line rife with conflict, and is highly thought provoking. I strongly recommend it, but make sure you have ice-cream or some other comforting thing to do afterwards just so you can get back to your happy place. I’m about to eat an Italian ice.
July 1, 2016
Rick R Reed has a way of sucking the reader in before they realize it - with easy, fast prose, believable characters, and a talent for surprising even the most skeptical with an ending I never saw coming. Rick R Reed fans will not be disappointed!!!
June 13, 2011
Wow. Short, but intense.
July 29, 2011
Poor Paul. What a stupid, juvenile POS Max turned out to be - a cheater, a liar and a coward. I really don't like short stories but this one was concise and to the point. Once again - poor Paul.
August 19, 2011
3.5 stars
July 21, 2016
Excellent writing, short but complete...so why the 1 star?....I just found this story really sad and it so disturbed me I cried. So was it a good story...probably...but I didn't like it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews