Unicorn Favourites: Love is an Open Road: Week Six

The M/M Romance Group on Goodreads hosts a Don't Read in the Closet event each year where they invite members to submit a photo with a story prompt. Interested authors then volunteer to write the requested stories, which are published for free for everyone to read. It's a fun/exciting/stressful process, and a great opportunity to read stories from favourite authors. And chances are, you'll also discover some new authors, who hopefully have a back-list of goodies to check out :)

This year's event was named Love is an Open Road and they started releasing the completed stories on June first. Here at BMBR, we've been following along on comment threads, anticipating the stories from our favourite prompts, and now greedily reading the stories as they become available.

SheReadsaLot: The Truth About Forever by Piper Vaughn

Hot cover, great title, sweet story.

"The Truth About Forever" uses one of my favorite plots - 'I'm not good for you, let's break up so I don't drag you down'. It always works for me.

Marco has loved Jonny since they were thirteen. He thinks they're have that forever kinda love. Despite where they live, what they're doing...him and Jonny against the world. All day. Every day. But his world comes crashing to a halt at eighteen when Jonny breaks it off (quite cruelly might I add).

I truly felt Marco's anguish. It fucking hurt. And he didn't think he could live without his other half.

But things look more extreme at eighteen, eh? :)

He picked himself up, he made something of himself without Jonny...on his own. Proud of him. It kinda waned once Jonny returned six years later.

I like more groveling in these types of situations but Marco is a lover, not a fighter. Reading about him, you get he's a passionate type of guy. He loves hard, why wouldn't he accept Jonny just as easily. Better person than I. ;)

What I think I loved more than the romance? The characters and not relying on stereotypes. I'm so happy Marco had the stable background, he might look like a hood but he wasn't. It wasn't all gangsta's paradise just because they didn't come from the 'burbs. (Yes, I'm happy Jonny had the broken background.) 

Great second chance romance: sweet, low angst and very light grit. Wonderful in-between read right here.

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Optimist Kings Wench: Shintarou's way by Eve and Seventh Son by SenatorBlitz

Japanese True Blood!
Shintarou came to be steeped in pain, violence and blood, or so the legend goes. He's been isolated for years following the death of his lover. When he reemerges he finds that vampires are now legal citizens. He's also finds himself feeling lonesome.

Someone needs a puppy.

*makes ridiculous kissing noises*

*insert some super gushy baby talk*

AWWWWWWWW!!!!!!

Akio is a dog shifter who's been expelled from his pack for being gay.

BOOOOOOO!

^^^^Look at those faces. *lip quiver*

Aiko has taken to staying in his dog form, living as a stray and subsisting on scraps. Shin patiently coaxes him into a semblance of trust with an endgame in mind. Every pup needs a loving master.

If the idea of puppy play squicks you, you'll be fine. It's very light and fluffy with beautiful, evocative prose that draws you into the story and makes you root for these two protagonists. It's sweet without being sappy. It's sexy without being porny. It pulls on your heartstrings especially with the hand feeding and cuddles. *swoons* I wish it was longer. Can't tell a lie. I want that punishment scene like nobody's business.

Maybe a follow up?



Thanks to the author and her team for participating in the LOR event.*****

What an odd little story.

I really liked it, though. It's quirky and weird and the prose is almost word vomit, but I liked it.

I liked it so much that at one point I was trying to stifle my laughter in my office and it started sounding like a weird choke/snort which I'm now going to refer to as CHORTING.

Aerie is an odd little man who thinks odd little things. He's so funny that I'd like to put him in my pocket and carry him around so he can spout off sarcastic epithets at random strangers just for shits and giggles. What can I say? I'm easily entertained.

Plus... 

mean I’m a sarcastic pissant who enjoys fighting with my butler. I was aware that I wasn’t the most cheerful unicorn in the universe, but I’d never realized I was actually unhappy.

It didn't really follow the prompt for the historical portion and I would've liked a kilt or two, but the prompt did say contemporary if the author was so inclined.

The whole kidnapping thing was weird and the resolution doesn't make sense exactly but I liked the big reveal of why "Scotty" did what he did.

If you like silly reads, this is worth it just don't take it seriously.

Thanks to the author & their team for participating and the chorts!

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Sunny: In Heaven and Earth by Amy Rae Durreson

I loved this story. The creative elements, the characters, the dialogue. Omg, the dialogue. Loved it. So many grins. They were a nice balance for the serious, nerve wracking parts of the story.

More thoughts for this BMBR post:

This was a fantastic read for me. The well developed characters, the thought provoking quotes, the humor, the emotions, the fascinating world. It all worked together to keep my interest throughout the story, and still makes me smile when I think of it. Will definitely re-read this one :) 

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Lorix: The Truth About Forever by Piper Vaughn and Eagle Man and Mr. Hawk by Dawn Sister

So this right here is exactly why I love Piper Vaughn's words! She always gives me that stomach clenching moment when the two MC's sort out their stuff.

Jonny and Marcus really had a deep, to the bone (HA!! no pun intended) relationship. The kind of love that six years apart doesn't destroy, no matter how much you want it too. The kind of love that bloody hurts - but also feels so damn good.

Piper nails it so well, it's never too much or too little, but just right. Even in a short story she makes me fall in love with the characters and want their HEA more than anything. And she always delivers the perfect HEA. A beautiful story, from prompt to cover to finish. <3 Thanks guys! 

*****

This book made me smile. I loved Ethan with a passion. Seriously, he's quirky, nice, funny & cares about animals. I could read more and more and more about him. I have me a new book boyf!

Alex, I liked him alot - even when he was being annoyingly stubborn and or dense! I think there is a lot more behond Alex's character that we don't actually find out in tbis story.

Despite the fact thee was a bit of miscommunication/jumping to conclusions going on, something I usually hate, I just loved this story. 

Ethan made it for me, though I really care for Alex and want to know more about him. It was humorous and delightful. Thank you so much for this contribution.