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This Hour I Lost
Dear Author,
These two are together against certain odds and chances. The one on the left is the rich, party boy, maybe even a millionaire. Never had to work, never gave much care, felt entitled, likes the finer things, never saw himself mingling with the other people and side of the world. Not terribly friendly, sarcastic, aloof, etc. Beautiful and “ice princess” if you will.
The one on the right has always had to work hard for everything he’s got. I’m not sure I see him as a father, but maybe he’s been left behind to care for his two to three younger brothers. He’s modest, but he definitely has bigger dreams. He works with his hands creating beautiful furniture or homes. He doesn’t put up with people’s shit, least of all from a spoiled guy who knows nothing about his world. Please don’t write him as the typical everyman that is innocent. He’s been around the block and then some. He’s scrappy… rough.
They meet by chance. They fight, but right after the rich guy ends up with amnesia and runs into the other guy whose motives you get to determine decides to convince the other one they are married and takes him back to his place as husbands.
I’d like it if both men were in their late twenties to mid-thirties. These two should fight and have fire, I wouldn’t even mind this to be dark and gritty. Please no super fluff! Make these two guys WORK for their HEA. Please no insta-love. I also don’t want gay-for-you at all. Please make both gay or bisexual. NO family angst due to sexuality, drugs/alcohol issues, or anything else. I want the issues and struggle to come from the two men and them falling in love. I want there to be an awakening of betrayal once it’s revealed. I want ANGRY sex. This should be a complete story from meeting, amnesia, to the adjustments and falling in love, to the reveal, to the HEA. Everyone’s idea of romance is different, but I imagine these two as having atypical ideas and styles to romance. Surprise me with something that makes me melt into a puddle of goo.
This image is perhaps after one of their epic fights. They have come inside after getting dirty or throwing dishes, something. They are at the point where they say fuck it and decide to get naked and drink champagne and start laughing… finally bonding. Or perhaps they are celebrating the rich dude’s birthday that the other has made up a date for. You can tinker with the idea a bit.
Photo Description:
Two men are sharing a bath filled with bubbles. The one on the right fills pours champagne directly into the other’s mouth. They are both laughing, looking elated.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
These two are together against certain odds and chances. The one on the left is the rich, party boy, maybe even a millionaire. Never had to work, never gave much care, felt entitled, likes the finer things, never saw himself mingling with the other people and side of the world. Not terribly friendly, sarcastic, aloof, etc. Beautiful and “ice princess” if you will.
The one on the right has always had to work hard for everything he’s got. I’m not sure I see him as a father, but maybe he’s been left behind to care for his two to three younger brothers. He’s modest, but he definitely has bigger dreams. He works with his hands creating beautiful furniture or homes. He doesn’t put up with people’s shit, least of all from a spoiled guy who knows nothing about his world. Please don’t write him as the typical everyman that is innocent. He’s been around the block and then some. He’s scrappy… rough.
They meet by chance. They fight, but right after the rich guy ends up with amnesia and runs into the other guy whose motives you get to determine decides to convince the other one they are married and takes him back to his place as husbands.
I’d like it if both men were in their late twenties to mid-thirties. These two should fight and have fire, I wouldn’t even mind this to be dark and gritty. Please no super fluff! Make these two guys WORK for their HEA. Please no insta-love. I also don’t want gay-for-you at all. Please make both gay or bisexual. NO family angst due to sexuality, drugs/alcohol issues, or anything else. I want the issues and struggle to come from the two men and them falling in love. I want there to be an awakening of betrayal once it’s revealed. I want ANGRY sex. This should be a complete story from meeting, amnesia, to the adjustments and falling in love, to the reveal, to the HEA. Everyone’s idea of romance is different, but I imagine these two as having atypical ideas and styles to romance. Surprise me with something that makes me melt into a puddle of goo.
This image is perhaps after one of their epic fights. They have come inside after getting dirty or throwing dishes, something. They are at the point where they say fuck it and decide to get naked and drink champagne and start laughing… finally bonding. Or perhaps they are celebrating the rich dude’s birthday that the other has made up a date for. You can tinker with the idea a bit.
Photo Description:
Two men are sharing a bath filled with bubbles. The one on the right fills pours champagne directly into the other’s mouth. They are both laughing, looking elated.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.
69 pages, ebook
First published June 8, 2014
About the author
Indra Vaughn
21 books210 followersAfter living in Michigan, USA for seven wonderful years, Indra Vaughn returned back to her Belgian roots. There she will continue to consume herbal tea, do yoga wherever the mat fits, and devour books while single parenting a little boy and working as a nurse.
The stories of boys and their unrequited love will no doubt keep finding their way onto the page--and hopefully into readers hands--even if it takes a little more time.
And if she gleefully posts pictures of snow-free streets in winter, you'll have to forgive her. Those Michigan blizzards won't be forgotten in a hurry.
The stories of boys and their unrequited love will no doubt keep finding their way onto the page--and hopefully into readers hands--even if it takes a little more time.
And if she gleefully posts pictures of snow-free streets in winter, you'll have to forgive her. Those Michigan blizzards won't be forgotten in a hurry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
August 13, 2016
1.5 stars
I want to be supportive of new authors, I do, but what the hell happened here? Where in the prompt does it say add in espionage, blackmail, beatings, gangs, international wire transfers, and ridiculous amounts of manufactured angst? Oh, right, it DOESN'T. Indeed, the prompt states, no angst due to drugs, etc. OK, no drugs to be found, but the shit bucket was full to the brim.
The relationship got buried under the absurd, nonsensical plot. I couldn't skim fast enough. There were so many dangling modifiers, my head was spinning.
The MCs lie and deceive. There's no connection between them. The entire story fell flat and only served to frustrate and irritate (this reader, at least).
I want to be supportive of new authors, I do, but what the hell happened here? Where in the prompt does it say add in espionage, blackmail, beatings, gangs, international wire transfers, and ridiculous amounts of manufactured angst? Oh, right, it DOESN'T. Indeed, the prompt states, no angst due to drugs, etc. OK, no drugs to be found, but the shit bucket was full to the brim.
The relationship got buried under the absurd, nonsensical plot. I couldn't skim fast enough. There were so many dangling modifiers, my head was spinning.
The MCs lie and deceive. There's no connection between them. The entire story fell flat and only served to frustrate and irritate (this reader, at least).
June 9, 2014
A very challenging prompt developed in a short story (set in Rome, Italy) full of plot inconsistencies and “wtf?” moments.
As an Italian reader, I cannot refrain myself from pointing out that “Rico” and “Malachi” are not Italian names. No. Not at all.
As an Italian reader, I cannot refrain myself from pointing out that “Rico” and “Malachi” are not Italian names. No. Not at all.
December 15, 2015
Add revenge and make up sex, bloodthirsty mafiosos and an angelic younger brother.
November 21, 2015
What begins as a fun trip to Rome ends up being a nightmare before things get better again for Travis, a rich American visiting Rome, Italy. The chain of events he sets in motion just because he wants to spread his late cousin Gino’s ashes somewhere in the city change his life. Malachi, the man who unknowingly steals the camouflaged-as-a-music-box urn because he desperately needs money, may be a thief, but he has his reasons, and I felt for him. It takes Travis a little longer to figure it out (not that I blame him), and that made for an emotional, heartbreaking, and entertaining story full of good and not-so-good intentions.
Travis has it all. He is a rich American, who went to Eton, but he’s lost his parents and younger brother in a yachting accident years ago and has been alone for years. When he runs after the thief of the urn he falls, wakes up with amnesia, and finds Malachi, who says he will help him – without remembering Malachi was the thief.
Malachi desperately needs money to pay his deceased father’s debt and escape the loan shark’s threats to him and his kid brother Rico, so he pretends he and Travis hooked up, returns Travis to his hotel, and once they’ve had sex, robs him blind. What he doesn’t count on is Travis remembering what happened and coming after him the next day. When Travis gives him a choice of reporting the theft to the police or giving Malachi enough money to pay off the debt – in exchange for another night of sex – Malachi has little choice but to accept.
What follows is a lot of anger and pain on both sides as the two men try to work their way through guilt, injured pride, and a passion for each other that clouds their thinking and makes them act worse than hormone-ridden teenagers. But that isn’t all. The thugs who were after Malachi make a reappearance, Travis decides to go up against them, and soon the sh*t hits the fan big-time.
If you like stories about bored rich men who turn into amazing heroes, if you want to now more about an Italian carpenter who fights the mafia as hard as he fights his pride, and if you’re looking for a read that is as exciting and suspenseful as it is hot and sweet, then you will probably like this free novella. It turned out to be a wonderful story with more twists and turns than I expected.
Travis has it all. He is a rich American, who went to Eton, but he’s lost his parents and younger brother in a yachting accident years ago and has been alone for years. When he runs after the thief of the urn he falls, wakes up with amnesia, and finds Malachi, who says he will help him – without remembering Malachi was the thief.
Malachi desperately needs money to pay his deceased father’s debt and escape the loan shark’s threats to him and his kid brother Rico, so he pretends he and Travis hooked up, returns Travis to his hotel, and once they’ve had sex, robs him blind. What he doesn’t count on is Travis remembering what happened and coming after him the next day. When Travis gives him a choice of reporting the theft to the police or giving Malachi enough money to pay off the debt – in exchange for another night of sex – Malachi has little choice but to accept.
What follows is a lot of anger and pain on both sides as the two men try to work their way through guilt, injured pride, and a passion for each other that clouds their thinking and makes them act worse than hormone-ridden teenagers. But that isn’t all. The thugs who were after Malachi make a reappearance, Travis decides to go up against them, and soon the sh*t hits the fan big-time.
If you like stories about bored rich men who turn into amazing heroes, if you want to now more about an Italian carpenter who fights the mafia as hard as he fights his pride, and if you’re looking for a read that is as exciting and suspenseful as it is hot and sweet, then you will probably like this free novella. It turned out to be a wonderful story with more twists and turns than I expected.
December 2, 2014
3 stars because it was well written. But the storyline?
Suspend all disbelief and you'll be fine.
Suspend all disbelief and you'll be fine.
June 10, 2014
If you're fan of dub-con there's a chance you'll find this a hot intense read, but I really didn't like it at all.
The plot is a mess of threats, nasty Mafiosos, amnesia, theft, injury and intrigues; softening at the end for sweet cinder-fella romance. It didn't grip me, but the dub-con made me hate it.
Tags for the story claim 'dub-con due to amnesia' this is inaccurate, its down to revenge:
Malachi (a nice Hebrew name for the good Italian boy) is no prize
But Travis, when they're doing the 'I'm sorry' 'No I did worse' bit at the end I was thinking fuck yeah it was worse!
This isn't the stuff of romance, it's the feeding of hatred that brings expensive therapy bills!
Perhaps the bodyguard guy could shoot them both for being made to work while Travis lounges about complaining he's bored. The kid brother Rico could inherit the money and become fabulous. There, that's my preferred ending!
The plot is a mess of threats, nasty Mafiosos, amnesia, theft, injury and intrigues; softening at the end for sweet cinder-fella romance. It didn't grip me, but the dub-con made me hate it.
Tags for the story claim 'dub-con due to amnesia' this is inaccurate, its down to revenge:
Malachi (a nice Hebrew name for the good Italian boy) is no prize
But Travis, when they're doing the 'I'm sorry' 'No I did worse' bit at the end I was thinking fuck yeah it was worse!
This isn't the stuff of romance, it's the feeding of hatred that brings expensive therapy bills!
Perhaps the bodyguard guy could shoot them both for being made to work while Travis lounges about complaining he's bored. The kid brother Rico could inherit the money and become fabulous. There, that's my preferred ending!
June 9, 2014
Try, try, and try again.
Mixed feelings in this romantic suspense story. I had some misgivings making the initial leap, but when I accepted the questionable decision it became a sweet story with some crazy martyrdom atonement issues for one character and I wished the resolution was more satisfying to me, not that it's invalid--but I had a hard time internalizing it. Anyway, some sexy loving in this transatlantic love affair.
Mixed feelings in this romantic suspense story. I had some misgivings making the initial leap, but when I accepted the questionable decision it became a sweet story with some crazy martyrdom atonement issues for one character and I wished the resolution was more satisfying to me, not that it's invalid--but I had a hard time internalizing it. Anyway, some sexy loving in this transatlantic love affair.
June 8, 2014
A comedy/thriller/action-adventure romance! Complete with Italian thugs and reluctant lovers, oh my god, this is exactly the sort of thing I enjoy. Was it perfectly thought out and completely consistent, no, but that didn't materially lessen my enjoyment of the story. The prompt was challenging, and I thought Indra rose to the task.
June 24, 2014
This one was a bit of a strange one for me personally. I liked parts of it but unfortunately I also think its plot became a little bit too convoluted and ended up just tipping itself over the edge. There's a lot going on in this short story so whereas my normal instinct with short stories is that I generally want extra, in this one I think the adage 'less is more' might have been a better bet. HOWEVER... Despite those niggles, it still kept me engaged till the end, I liked the two main characters together and I actually did come away feeling glad I'd given it a go. One of those books that I know I would have probably loved if it had just been toned down a tad. What I will say though, is that this is not a book that's just been thrown together, considering this is only a short I think Indra has put a lot of time and a hell of of a lot of effort into this freebie and I thank her for that. The prompt asked for quite a few bullet points to be included in the story and you'll see that Ms Vaughn hit every brief that was in there, especially the one that asks for the guys to have to work hard for their HEA, because 'oh boy' they do!
March 5, 2017
This hour I lost, indeed. I wish I had read some reviews first.
June 23, 2014
The following are my comments based directly on reading the story. Only brief but they sum up how I felt after reading the story:
The highlights were the mystery and intrigue, the unique way the characters met and the bravery shown by the MCs - Malachi in raising his brother and Travis when he stands up to tackle the bad guys and not slink back to his rich-boy existence. I liked the Italian setting, the gangster element and the happy ending. The downside? I wanted the MCs to have more on-page interaction and Malachi's actions at the beginning weren't ideal.
I was surprised to glance through other reviews of this story and see the more negative ones. I didn't read the prompt and maybe if I had, I might have responded to the story differently but I don't really think so. I liked it regardless of whether it fully addressed the photo prompt or not.
The highlights were the mystery and intrigue, the unique way the characters met and the bravery shown by the MCs - Malachi in raising his brother and Travis when he stands up to tackle the bad guys and not slink back to his rich-boy existence. I liked the Italian setting, the gangster element and the happy ending. The downside? I wanted the MCs to have more on-page interaction and Malachi's actions at the beginning weren't ideal.
I was surprised to glance through other reviews of this story and see the more negative ones. I didn't read the prompt and maybe if I had, I might have responded to the story differently but I don't really think so. I liked it regardless of whether it fully addressed the photo prompt or not.
June 16, 2014
3,5 stars
Indra’s contribution to the Love’s Landscapes event is a romantic supense story with an interesting storyline. It’s fast paced and entertaining written even when parts of the plot seem to be a little far-fetched (the amnesia and the bad guys criminal energy). The location has been selected interesting, Italy and especially Rome are history-charged, colourful settings.
I think the prompt was really challenging and Indra’s job wasn’t an easy one, I enjoyed reading the story.
Read
June 15, 2014The author did well with a very detailed prompt for this story, but there was just far too much packed into this short story and as a result it didn't really work for me.
June 8, 2014
very well done romance/suspense novella. Free from the M/M Romance group's Love's Landscapes event.
June 19, 2016
This story is full of twists and turns and keeps you drawn in. . Travis grows so much during the course of the story. And Malachi learns that getting help isn't all bad either.
May 30, 2017
The prompt had me look forward for a little or on the mark dark story and late twenties to mid thirties characters thinking but alas, I am so disappointed. The beginning is uninteresting and sounds so lighthearted, even the characters don't sound like the ages mentions but rather young and naive. The rich guy doesn't sound the rich one. The other guy doesn't sound like described in the prompt. And, not to mention the not so clever first meeting. So many flaws already in the beginning. And hello, Malachi and Rico as names? Seriously, in Italy setting?
I wish there were more who wrote for this prompt because it seems so interesting and there might be other authors who can give life and nail it.
I wish there were more who wrote for this prompt because it seems so interesting and there might be other authors who can give life and nail it.
May 4, 2017
the main criticism of this book is that the plot was too ridiculous and required you to suspend your disbelief, but as someone who loves absolutely fucking ridiculous over-the-top plots (and lots of angst) i thought this was pretty good lol.
August 11, 2014
I enjoyed this story to a certain extent and although the amount of Dub-Con was too much for me there were wonderful moments. Like
Sadly this story had many inconsistencies and problems which kept drawing me out of the story.
I read the tag that said - dubious consent due to amnesia, and I thought well that fits the prompt and prepared myself for that but
Sadly this story had many inconsistencies and problems which kept drawing me out of the story.
I read the tag that said - dubious consent due to amnesia, and I thought well that fits the prompt and prepared myself for that but
June 10, 2014
I really wanted to like this, but I found it all a little over the top. There was a lot going on, I mean a lot, and I don't think I was in the frame of mind to enjoy this book. Sometimes it's just not the right time to read a particular genre and this was one for me. I wanted to treat it as a fun, entertaining and completely unbelievable read, but the level of deception just didn't sit well with me. I can't force myself to believe in a relationship that is built on lies and little to no connection. I liked last years story by this author so maybe at some point I'll come back to this when the mood hits me. I hope others will find this story enjoyable.
September 8, 2016
I don't know. Can I say that?
I feel in love with that prompt. Secretly stalking it's progress. So here I am!
It just wasn't what I expected.
All of the middle guts make a good story, I just wanted my guys to get together and love on one another without someone being tricked or forced.
I wanted to know why, what sparked Travis into helping Mal? It wasn't the tricked or forced sex was it? Was it just Rico?
I feel in love with that prompt. Secretly stalking it's progress. So here I am!
It just wasn't what I expected.
All of the middle guts make a good story, I just wanted my guys to get together and love on one another without someone being tricked or forced.
I wanted to know why, what sparked Travis into helping Mal? It wasn't the tricked or forced sex was it? Was it just Rico?
April 2, 2016
I enjoyed the characters, and their world and hope I get the chance to read the story again and/or to read more within the series.
My Rating System:
* couldn't finish, ** wouldn't recommend, *** would recommend, **** would read again, ***** have read again.
Want to read
June 12, 2014
Offered for FREE from the M/M Romance Group's Love's Landscapes event. Thank you too all the amazing authors who participated!
June 28, 2014
This just didn't work for me. I'm not sure what it was really - perhaps it was the American sweeps in to save the day thing - but I just didn't click with the story or the characters. I think it felt a bit cliched or something like that. I'll admit it was a hard prompt to work with - quite demanding - and it's quite well written, just not for me.
July 7, 2014
This was good. It was written well, I liked the characters even though their backgrounds were laid out so quickly, and it had some hot moments. A few things I didn't like. The angry sex was uncomfortable for me and the plot was somewhat unbelievable. Good story nonetheless.
Shelved as 'event-stories-unread'
September 22, 2014[NOTE: I rate most writing event stories (free reads) 4 or 5 stars because of my appreciation of the author's participation and gift.]
June 9, 2014
this is ok if you like over the top stories. I don't so...
June 9, 2014
Thank you Indra Vaughn for this free story and thanks to all the other authors who participated in this event.
September 28, 2014
Not for me.
Shelved as 'just-because'
July 29, 2016STORY INFO:
Genre: contemporary
Tags: action/adventure, suspense, blue collar, rich guy, amnesia, enemies to lovers
Content Warnings: violence, dubious consent due to amnesia
Word Count: 22,946
Genre: contemporary
Tags: action/adventure, suspense, blue collar, rich guy, amnesia, enemies to lovers
Content Warnings: violence, dubious consent due to amnesia
Word Count: 22,946
June 23, 2014
More like a 3.5. There was a part in the middle that I struggled with, but all is redeemed in the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews