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A Case of Time
Dear Author,
These men seem so comfortable in each other’s company. Is this a new relationship or have they been together for years? How did they meet and find one another? Does the book, the door, or this spot on the sidewalk have special meaning for these men? Are they travelling abroad, or is this setting their home? What sort of experiences and memories have they shared (perhaps including romantic moments and spicy moments along with everyday moments)? Please feel free to use these questions and ideas as jumping-off points for the story you’re inspired to tell!
Photo Description:
In the photo, two older men sit in front of big wooden doors, perhaps in France. They look comfortable together, as if they have experienced life and finally discovered what is most important. They have their arms entwined, and appear to be laughing as they look through a book.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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 men seem so comfortable in each other’s company. Is this a new relationship or have they been together for years? How did they meet and find one another? Does the book, the door, or this spot on the sidewalk have special meaning for these men? Are they travelling abroad, or is this setting their home? What sort of experiences and memories have they shared (perhaps including romantic moments and spicy moments along with everyday moments)? Please feel free to use these questions and ideas as jumping-off points for the story you’re inspired to tell!
Photo Description:
In the photo, two older men sit in front of big wooden doors, perhaps in France. They look comfortable together, as if they have experienced life and finally discovered what is most important. They have their arms entwined, and appear to be laughing as they look through a book.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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.
37 pages, ebook
First published September 3, 2015
5 people are currently reading
189 people want to read
About the author
Al Stewart
27 books154 followersDapper gentleman. Queer as a flying fish but nice.
Is writing.
Is writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
September 4, 2015
Humorous, poignant, tender, clever, romantic ...
CREATIVE.
I'm running out of adjectives.
This story is more sweet than sexy, and the MCs aren't on page simultaneously (save for a couple flashbacks) until the very end.
But their LOVE, their love shines through.
I'm not typically drawn to established couple stories, but Thomas and Pip won me over.
How could I not be charmed, what with Paris, overzealous hotel clerks, flat tires, Inspector Loupe (and his beloved alpha!), and bulldog puppies named Zelna?
Together 25+ years and still having adventures!
Cheers, Al & Noah! Thank you for making me smile.
CREATIVE.
I'm running out of adjectives.
This story is more sweet than sexy, and the MCs aren't on page simultaneously (save for a couple flashbacks) until the very end.
But their LOVE, their love shines through.
I'm not typically drawn to established couple stories, but Thomas and Pip won me over.
How could I not be charmed, what with Paris, overzealous hotel clerks, flat tires, Inspector Loupe (and his beloved alpha!), and bulldog puppies named Zelna?
They had no handcuffs or play toys this time around, no tricks or disguises. Years and years of chasing, and finally they had caught up, and it was just them.
Together 25+ years and still having adventures!
Cheers, Al & Noah! Thank you for making me smile.
June 26, 2016
Adorable, tierna, romántica, inteligente y original. Es genial saber que la vida no termina a los 30, ya me estaba preocupando.
September 5, 2015
Thanks to the authors for pariticipating and offering this freebie
What a delightful spin around Paris, joy bubbles off the pages.
How can that not be a winning line?
Twenty-five years and the love and excitement still crackles between the two men. So much personality. I loved how there were brief moments of doubt and frustration but it never sunk to angst, they know each other so well and take a childish thrill in their game, their love is very evident. Even though they're apart for much of the book that energy and love is very much present.
Glimpses of Paris and memories to colour the cobbles.
Lovely. Though even settled down I imagine these two leading everyone on a merry chase and having a huge amount of fun. Together.
What a delightful spin around Paris, joy bubbles off the pages.
"Yes, pull my hair harder, I'm a perpetrator!"
How can that not be a winning line?
Twenty-five years and the love and excitement still crackles between the two men. So much personality. I loved how there were brief moments of doubt and frustration but it never sunk to angst, they know each other so well and take a childish thrill in their game, their love is very evident. Even though they're apart for much of the book that energy and love is very much present.
Glimpses of Paris and memories to colour the cobbles.
...Years and years of chasing, and finally they had caught up, and it was just them.
Lovely. Though even settled down I imagine these two leading everyone on a merry chase and having a huge amount of fun. Together.
September 3, 2015
4.5 You're the Watson to my Holmes stars
For years Pip and Thomas maintain an intense long distance relationship, sustained through emails, late night phone calls, and holiday vacations spent on one adventure or another. But all of this has left Thomas unsure about his relationship; Pip has never popped the question, never asked him to stay, and even after all these years, they're still living on different continents.
There's a strong foundation and a deep love between the two, and despite Thomas knowing that something needs to happen in order to get them on the same page, he's not about to give up on his Pip. He decides to plan a trip to France for the both of them, and leaves clues throughout the city for Pip to follow.
Even the best laid plans can go awry when a quick thinking Pip's prank on Thomas ends in hurt feelings. What could easily be turned into drama of the hissy-fit variety, is swiftly avoided. These two men know they're it for each other, and there's enough history between them that forgiveness comes easily. Just like their HEA, which is so perfectly them.
I would have loved to spend more time with these men.
A short, sweet adventure through Paris that will leave you daydreaming about sipping coffee by cobbled streets, and the smell of old books behind beautiful, big blue doors.
My thanks to the authors for their love of werewolf smut, and their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
For years Pip and Thomas maintain an intense long distance relationship, sustained through emails, late night phone calls, and holiday vacations spent on one adventure or another. But all of this has left Thomas unsure about his relationship; Pip has never popped the question, never asked him to stay, and even after all these years, they're still living on different continents.
There's a strong foundation and a deep love between the two, and despite Thomas knowing that something needs to happen in order to get them on the same page, he's not about to give up on his Pip. He decides to plan a trip to France for the both of them, and leaves clues throughout the city for Pip to follow.
Even the best laid plans can go awry when a quick thinking Pip's prank on Thomas ends in hurt feelings. What could easily be turned into drama of the hissy-fit variety, is swiftly avoided. These two men know they're it for each other, and there's enough history between them that forgiveness comes easily. Just like their HEA, which is so perfectly them.
I would have loved to spend more time with these men.
A short, sweet adventure through Paris that will leave you daydreaming about sipping coffee by cobbled streets, and the smell of old books behind beautiful, big blue doors.
My thanks to the authors for their love of werewolf smut, and their participation in the Love is an Open Road event.
September 5, 2015
This was a really sweet story! Established couples can be a bit of a hit or miss for me, depending on how their relationship in the book is. Thomas and Pip were just how I like them.
Would have loved more, because I'm greedy and I really liked these two.
Would have loved more, because I'm greedy and I really liked these two.
September 3, 2015
This is such a charming little story from a new writer – Noah Homes, and Al Stewart. How lovely, and special to see two men writing together in this event!
Pip and Tom are retired gents. Tom is starting to feel neglected, so he arranges a holiday in Paris – a chance for them to talk about their future. He leaves clues all over Paris for grumpy Pip to follow, knowing that Pip won’t be able to resist the allure of the chase.
As the story unfolds, we are given glimpses of their cheeky history, and little hints of the strength of the ties that bind these men.
The climax of the story is a fumbled attempt by Pip to secure their future, ending in Tom storming off . Pip goes after him, and this is my favourite line :
Tom was just sitting there, smiling apologetically
There is no need for lengthy explanations or apologies, because these men know each other so well. Of course Tom knows Pip will come for him !
Their love is true and solid and somehow pure. There is no doubt these men will be together until the end. Eating huge grilled cheese sandwiches and writing corny werewolf stories.
For such a short story it has depth, and such warmth and kindness that you cannot help but smile.
It seems to me that this story captures the prompt and the spirit of this event perfectly.
I think this story really was written from love.
My thanks to the authors and the MM group.
Pip and Tom are retired gents. Tom is starting to feel neglected, so he arranges a holiday in Paris – a chance for them to talk about their future. He leaves clues all over Paris for grumpy Pip to follow, knowing that Pip won’t be able to resist the allure of the chase.
As the story unfolds, we are given glimpses of their cheeky history, and little hints of the strength of the ties that bind these men.
The climax of the story is a fumbled attempt by Pip to secure their future, ending in Tom storming off . Pip goes after him, and this is my favourite line :
Tom was just sitting there, smiling apologetically
There is no need for lengthy explanations or apologies, because these men know each other so well. Of course Tom knows Pip will come for him !
Their love is true and solid and somehow pure. There is no doubt these men will be together until the end. Eating huge grilled cheese sandwiches and writing corny werewolf stories.
For such a short story it has depth, and such warmth and kindness that you cannot help but smile.
It seems to me that this story captures the prompt and the spirit of this event perfectly.
I think this story really was written from love.
My thanks to the authors and the MM group.
September 4, 2015
I loved this story for a lot of difference reasons. Here is one of them ...
It was refreshing to read a story about older men in a relationship, still with more adventures to be had.
Mainly you run across stories of twenty or thirty-somethings at the peak of their hotness. It's a nice to think that one of those twenty or thirty-something relationships that began with a month of wild and fantastic fucking could become so much more.
It's what we all want after all, someone we love and who loves us too and that just might not notice the aging in us so well as they do in themselves.
Sweet and fun, and a bit crazy.
Age had crept up on him, and now every morning he was shocked by the visage of the old man who stared back so crossly in the bathroom mirror. It was funny though; he never noticed the ageing so much in Thomas.I loved the flashback to the past and the scatter of clues across Paris and the obvious love Thomas and Pip share. They know each other so very well, but that only strengthens their affection for one another.
It was refreshing to read a story about older men in a relationship, still with more adventures to be had.
Mainly you run across stories of twenty or thirty-somethings at the peak of their hotness. It's a nice to think that one of those twenty or thirty-something relationships that began with a month of wild and fantastic fucking could become so much more.
It's what we all want after all, someone we love and who loves us too and that just might not notice the aging in us so well as they do in themselves.
Sweet and fun, and a bit crazy.
September 10, 2015
I loved this short story. So full of wit and wonderful understanding of relationships. I thought the fact that the MC's were older and the relationship established was a refreshing change (kudos to the prompter), and I adored how the authors made the story fun. It is something I'm appreciating more and more in my reading, the love and excitement in established relationships.
Thanks for this story.
Thanks for this story.
September 4, 2015
*4.5 stars*
Well, you can always count on Al Stewart and in this case his fellow cowriter, Noah Homes for an original, suspensful, sweet and truly romantic story
There is an amazing sense of place in this story. It really took me for an adventure in the street of Paris. There is:
and
And padlocks of love on Pont des Arts, mystery games, two stubborn men crazy in love with each other for over two decades and the sweetest HEA.
This was a breath of fresh air. Thank you to the authors. I'm looking forward to reading more from Mr Homes.
P.S "Yes, pull my hair harder, I'm a perpetrator!"
Bahahahahahahahaha....
Well, you can always count on Al Stewart and in this case his fellow cowriter, Noah Homes for an original, suspensful, sweet and truly romantic story
There is an amazing sense of place in this story. It really took me for an adventure in the street of Paris. There is:
and
And padlocks of love on Pont des Arts, mystery games, two stubborn men crazy in love with each other for over two decades and the sweetest HEA.
This was a breath of fresh air. Thank you to the authors. I'm looking forward to reading more from Mr Homes.
P.S "Yes, pull my hair harder, I'm a perpetrator!"
Bahahahahahahahaha....
September 3, 2015
I briefly interrupted my own vacation to read this absolutely delightful story. Older MCs! Long-term lovers! Paris! So many happy feelings for this short story.
Fantastic prompt and a lovely cover too!
Fantastic prompt and a lovely cover too!
September 3, 2015
Hold on to your berets, boys and girls! And dig in because you’re in for a treat!
This is such a delicious tale. Sweet and heartfelt, with a charming and unique tone that suited this story perfectly. Follow a prickly Pip through the lovely streets of Paris as he is led from clue to clue by long-time friend and mastermind, Tom. This is the story of two retired men who have known each other all their lives. This is the story of them rediscovering one another, as we get to know them, in a fresh, fun, and delightfully unconventional way. Un vrai plaisir!
Thank you to Marie for a super sweet prompt and to Al Stewart and Noah Homes for taking part in this year’s M/M Romance Love is an Open Road Event. And... gorgeous cover, Mr. Homes!
This is such a delicious tale. Sweet and heartfelt, with a charming and unique tone that suited this story perfectly. Follow a prickly Pip through the lovely streets of Paris as he is led from clue to clue by long-time friend and mastermind, Tom. This is the story of two retired men who have known each other all their lives. This is the story of them rediscovering one another, as we get to know them, in a fresh, fun, and delightfully unconventional way. Un vrai plaisir!
Thank you to Marie for a super sweet prompt and to Al Stewart and Noah Homes for taking part in this year’s M/M Romance Love is an Open Road Event. And... gorgeous cover, Mr. Homes!
September 8, 2016
4.5 DELIGHTFULLY DIFFERENT STARS!
Another little gem!
I tend to normally avoid established relationship stories, I'm so very glad I didn't this time as I would of missed out on this totally enjoyable, little treasure of a read!
Another little gem!
I tend to normally avoid established relationship stories, I'm so very glad I didn't this time as I would of missed out on this totally enjoyable, little treasure of a read!
September 4, 2015
I love stories were the MCs aren’t twenty-something hunks. These men have been together for a long time and know each other well—too well sometimes. Tom has Pip running around Paris searching for clues, but things do not always turn out the way you plan. This is a short sweet story, a perfect treat while having or cup of coffee.
September 27, 2015
That was excellent! Sweet and fun! I wish the authors would expand the story. I would love to read more of Pip and Tom :)
May 30, 2017
This was surprisingly sweet!
It's funny and clever and it was refreshing to read about older characters. They've known each other for a long time but that doesn't take away the romance of the story or of the place. It adds to it.
It's funny and clever and it was refreshing to read about older characters. They've known each other for a long time but that doesn't take away the romance of the story or of the place. It adds to it.
March 5, 2016
Aweeeeesome read. Chasing through their lives and Paris.
Im in awe the way this is written. You get to know Tom and Pip. Their lifes the way they are around eachother
It feels as a complete story , the picture is complete but.....
it just left me yearning..... yearning for more.... much more
I looked on G o o g l e-maps to find the places and it was fun.
Im in awe the way this is written. You get to know Tom and Pip. Their lifes the way they are around eachother
It feels as a complete story , the picture is complete but.....
it just left me yearning..... yearning for more.... much more
I looked on G o o g l e-maps to find the places and it was fun.
October 28, 2015
This is such a fascinating short story. I've read a lot (all) of Al Stewart's work, but Noah Homes is a new author, and as a collaborative team, they have an enthralling synergy. The story is unusual, in that the main characters are an older couple, and they know each other well - very well. Yet this story is really the beginning of their relationship.
Or it might be, if they ever catch up with each other. :)
A gentle romance with style. It feels French, by which I don't just mean 'it's set in Paris'.
Très bon.
Thank you to the authors and the Love is an Open Road team for another fabulous free read.
Or it might be, if they ever catch up with each other. :)
A gentle romance with style. It feels French, by which I don't just mean 'it's set in Paris'.
Très bon.
Thank you to the authors and the Love is an Open Road team for another fabulous free read.
September 3, 2015
Wonderful story that is very well written. I don't always like to read stories about old couples. When I see that tag, I immediately assume it means: Beware, snooze-fest ahead! but this was actually really fun!
Thank you Al and Noah.
Thank you Al and Noah.
December 11, 2015
What an awesome story! Would have given five had it been longer!! More please!
April 25, 2017
Charming and sweet short story!
December 26, 2015
Such a shame, I'd have loved this one to have been longer...or maybe even give us another story Mr Author?? I love the idea of running around Paris trying to find the clues your lover of 20+ years has left for you, sooo romantic!! 4 stars from me.
November 5, 2015
Finally got around to reading this, whew!
This was so fun, and very cute. I loved the voices of both the characters. I especially loved the I'm a perpetrator! line. I giggled for a solid minute. I sill giggle every time I think about it :P
The present-flashback switches sometimes were too quick, and I wish it had been a little longer, because I would have liked to see these guys interact more.
The bit at the end was just awesome, though! I'd like to read that story if it gets written.
Cute story, with some nice funny bits. Recommended :)
This was so fun, and very cute. I loved the voices of both the characters. I especially loved the I'm a perpetrator! line. I giggled for a solid minute. I sill giggle every time I think about it :P
The present-flashback switches sometimes were too quick, and I wish it had been a little longer, because I would have liked to see these guys interact more.
The bit at the end was just awesome, though! I'd like to read that story if it gets written.
Cute story, with some nice funny bits. Recommended :)
September 5, 2015
I loved this book! It is set in Paris, and therefore I added a star. Then the MC's are over forty and interesting, adding another star. Then there is plot and romance and enduring love ... And me, reading this with a smile on my face. I think I would love to read one of Thomas's books!
November 10, 2017
A nice, quick read over morning coffee. I appreciated the mature MCs and the lack of ripped abs. A cute, later-in-life chase through the streets of Paris.
January 4, 2017
A warm but quirky short story of two men still in love after 25 years. Since stories of mature love are so rare, I am always happy to find a good one. Love the picture. Love Paris. Love this inscription at the start of the story.
What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with. -- Robert Brualt
What we find in a soulmate is not something wild to tame, but something wild to run with. -- Robert Brualt
September 15, 2015
Olala! Cherchez l'homme a Paris, que belle histoire! Well done Noah and Al, very sweet story. I love the cover,too. I hope you decide to write Thomas Inspector Loupe stories, they have a very good potential and you seem to write so well together... Keep on it;)
September 5, 2015
3.5 stars
How adorable was this? And with older MCs too! A quick, light hearted and sweet read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
How adorable was this? And with older MCs too! A quick, light hearted and sweet read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
February 1, 2016
Creative, romantic, and just plain fun.
January 28, 2016
This was. Lovely!!!!
Just very clever and really sweet :)
Just very clever and really sweet :)
September 30, 2015
This was trying way too hard to be...funny?... Quirky?... Original? It wasn't for me, it just felt weirdly off.
So here we have two 50-year-olds, which I like, because we need more mature MCs! They've had a long-distance relationship for thirty years (!! who would settle for that for a third of a lifetime though?) and only now start thinking of making it permanent. Thomas is a successful writer, based in the US, who isn't tied to any particular city for his livelihood, so he could've relocated at any given time. It made no sense that he didn't. However, that's what the writers chose, so let's not digress.
So Thomas sends Pip (his British love interest) on a clue-filled wild goose chase around Paris to make his romantic point.
Pip is intrigued and goes, but every encounter he has is just riddled with conversations that miss the humor mark. And what is with the mentions of the guys looking younger than they actually are. What is wrong with simply being 50?! Can you only look good when you look young(er)? Let's all get over that in a hurry.
Pip ends up not appreciating the wild goose chase and aborts, which results in them acting like 8-year-olds when they run into each other (after not having seen eachother for a fair while, remember). Because, yes, this makes total sense in Pip's book, let me throw my grand gesture at Thomas:
WTF?
Thomas runs off in a huff because that's what you supposedly do when you're 50 and have half a century of life experience, and then when they meet up again and the story finally gets interesting, we fade to black! Nooooooooo!
After that it just wraps up quickly and unsatisfactorily, without a proper scene with our MCs.
It's a succession of extremely brief, fragmented scenes and flashbacks that don't give the short story any meat, the characters enough character, and the feelings any feeling.
The only things I liked were:
- the way they met
- the ring
- Inspector Loupe
- the Laduree mention, because Laduree = divine.
For this it gets its second star
To sum up: I wasn't feeling it. It reminded me of The Emperor's New Clothes.
Give it a go though, I'm obviously in the minority and you might like it!
Should the writers decide to write an Inspector Loupe series, I might very well be interested.
So here we have two 50-year-olds, which I like, because we need more mature MCs! They've had a long-distance relationship for thirty years (!! who would settle for that for a third of a lifetime though?) and only now start thinking of making it permanent. Thomas is a successful writer, based in the US, who isn't tied to any particular city for his livelihood, so he could've relocated at any given time. It made no sense that he didn't. However, that's what the writers chose, so let's not digress.
So Thomas sends Pip (his British love interest) on a clue-filled wild goose chase around Paris to make his romantic point.
Pip is intrigued and goes, but every encounter he has is just riddled with conversations that miss the humor mark. And what is with the mentions of the guys looking younger than they actually are. What is wrong with simply being 50?! Can you only look good when you look young(er)? Let's all get over that in a hurry.
Pip ends up not appreciating the wild goose chase and aborts, which results in them acting like 8-year-olds when they run into each other (after not having seen eachother for a fair while, remember). Because, yes, this makes total sense in Pip's book, let me throw my grand gesture at Thomas:
WTF?
Thomas runs off in a huff because that's what you supposedly do when you're 50 and have half a century of life experience, and then when they meet up again and the story finally gets interesting, we fade to black! Nooooooooo!
After that it just wraps up quickly and unsatisfactorily, without a proper scene with our MCs.
It's a succession of extremely brief, fragmented scenes and flashbacks that don't give the short story any meat, the characters enough character, and the feelings any feeling.
The only things I liked were:
- the way they met
- the ring
- Inspector Loupe
- the Laduree mention, because Laduree = divine.
For this it gets its second star
To sum up: I wasn't feeling it. It reminded me of The Emperor's New Clothes.
Give it a go though, I'm obviously in the minority and you might like it!
Should the writers decide to write an Inspector Loupe series, I might very well be interested.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews