Title: Coming Home
Author: L. Picaro
Length: 12 pages, 3k words.
Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
Genre: M/M, contemporary, erotica, romance
Rating: B
Blurb: Robert has lived with college quarterback Jerry Bronson for the better part of three years now. During that time, Jerry has been a rock solid roommate. At his parents’ insistence, Robert is bringing Jerry home for a holiday visit. But who is he bringing home? Roomate? Friend? or Lover?
Review:
This was a very short short! but the pleasant and competent writing style made me wish there was more.
I often read romance short stories that are really only erotica, but this one actually bucked the trend. The blurb says “erotica” but I’d say it has a clear romantic theme as well. It’s what I’d call a “blanket fic”, a story where the main characters are stranded by weather and forced to stay close, which in turn encourages even more intimacy. It was too short for anything other than setting that scene, then encouraging the sex, but it was nicely balanced between plot and hot :).
The author’s style is very enjoyable, and the dialogue is witty and realistic. The characters were quickly established, essential for a short story, and both are sympathetic and sexy. The story starts in Robert’s POV, then swaps to Jerry’s. The two voices didn’t feel substantially different and I had to re-read the changeover to realise what was happening, but then it worked well for the rest of the story.
Robert’s secret longing was well described, and their established friendship evident from their plans together for the holiday. The cold and snowy weather was vividly described and engaged all the senses during their torturous journey. Jerry’s seduction was amusing as well as determined, when he chatted about a fictitious girlfriend to make Robert squirm because, after all, as he reckoned, sex talk usually led to sex!
There were occasional formatting errors and an extra word or two. Plus there seemed to be some inconsistency in the timing – Robert talked about Jerry being his roommate for three years, as per the blurb, whereas Jerry referred to two? But it wasn’t a problem and I may have misunderstood.
I suppose the one eye-roll issue for me was suspending disbelief about two men hot for each other and admittedly gay – even if they didn’t broadcast it publicly – sharing a room for years and never making a move! And when they finally ended up in a motel together, Jerry seemed to throw caution immediately and totally to the wind, deciding that Robert had to know, and never worrying about Robert’s response. Sitting atop Robert’s thighs, he couldn’t hide his own erection. Didn’t want to really. Robert should know he turned Jerry on. The sex scene was standard fare, but the pleasant characters made it very enjoyable.
Both men protested they wanted more than the one-night stand, and at the end of the story were on their way to Robert’s family for the holiday. This devotion seemed to happen a bit too swiftly for me, even if they’d been secretly lusting after each other for all that time. But I found I could believe in a future for them, confirming the romantic theme. The story didn’t have a unique premise or telling, but was a very pleasant read. I rate it a good B.
by pettyprose…my opinion alone.

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