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Falling Faces
Dear Author,
You were always such a tough guy growing up. Throughout our teenage years, I was pretty much convinced that you were a complete asshole and that you didn’t have a single romantic bone in your body. You’d have laughed in the face of a romantic walk on the beach or a candle-lit dinner. But things change, and when I returned from college it was like meeting a new man. Perhaps that’s what happens when you grow up, or perhaps this was you all along. I’m just surprised – and secretly pleased – that you’re finally noticing me.
I'm looking for an HEA, but with no ménage, no BDSM, and no paranormal elements. Thank you! <3
Photo Description: It is a black and white photo of two men wrapped in a blanket on a rocky beach with only their feet visible.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" 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.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 3.
You were always such a tough guy growing up. Throughout our teenage years, I was pretty much convinced that you were a complete asshole and that you didn’t have a single romantic bone in your body. You’d have laughed in the face of a romantic walk on the beach or a candle-lit dinner. But things change, and when I returned from college it was like meeting a new man. Perhaps that’s what happens when you grow up, or perhaps this was you all along. I’m just surprised – and secretly pleased – that you’re finally noticing me.
I'm looking for an HEA, but with no ménage, no BDSM, and no paranormal elements. Thank you! <3
Photo Description: It is a black and white photo of two men wrapped in a blanket on a rocky beach with only their feet visible.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" 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.
Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 3.
28 pages, ebook
First published July 20, 2012
3 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 28, 2024
Nate is back at his hometown after graduation, and runs into the school’s bully, John Jacobs. Nate was harassed by him for years in school, so now he is utterly surprised by JJ’s unexpected kindness.
Apparently, this JJ is not the one Nate knew back then. Still, it is not easy for Nate to trust his old enemy.
Sweet story, nothing rushed, enjoyable writing style.
"Hey," he said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped.
Apparently, this JJ is not the one Nate knew back then. Still, it is not easy for Nate to trust his old enemy.
He said it kindly, as if trying not to embarrass me. I was seriously beginning to think that JJ had a twin brother and that I was dealing with the good twin.
Sweet story, nothing rushed, enjoyable writing style.
July 12, 2012
3.5 stars.
I really liked it. It was just too short and ended too soon for me.
It mentioned and showed brief glimpses of a lot of back story that was too much for a short story since it never expanded on them IMO. It would have been great as a longer story.
Still a highly enjoyable free story.
I really liked it. It was just too short and ended too soon for me.
It mentioned and showed brief glimpses of a lot of back story that was too much for a short story since it never expanded on them IMO. It would have been great as a longer story.
Still a highly enjoyable free story.
July 20, 2012
Very sweet and characters were great. Only wish it was longer so I could see more of them.
September 7, 2012
3.5*
Sweet free LiaW short.
This was a nice story of how and why some people are they way they are and also why they change!
JJ was a bully and a jerk all through Nate's childhood but the JJ Nate comes home to after graduating college is a different man altogether.
My only niggle was Nate saying he was a jerk all though school and he was so glad that JJ graduated a year before he did so he was able to enjoy his senior year of highschool, but later JJ said that he stopped bullying Nate after adolescence and even avenged him. So, that just left me wondering a bit, but other than that, it was nice.
Sweet free LiaW short.
This was a nice story of how and why some people are they way they are and also why they change!
JJ was a bully and a jerk all through Nate's childhood but the JJ Nate comes home to after graduating college is a different man altogether.
My only niggle was Nate saying he was a jerk all though school and he was so glad that JJ graduated a year before he did so he was able to enjoy his senior year of highschool, but later JJ said that he stopped bullying Nate after adolescence and even avenged him. So, that just left me wondering a bit, but other than that, it was nice.
July 23, 2012
I need more groveling from a former bully before you go kissing them on the beach. Also, I didn't find it so charming that Nate's parents threw him at his bully and just expected him to forgive him. If someone has tormented you for years you don't just forget about it because you're now adults & his parents should not have pushed the issue. This made this story just an OK one for me.
November 3, 2012
Too short, more of a tease than a short story but I really liked this one.
January 9, 2016
This story was so silly and cute. Nate was hilarious, obviously without meaning to be. His cluelessness and denial was so entertaining.
June 20, 2018
Falling Faces has realistic and laugh-out-loud dialogue that makes this crisply written short too damn short! What I secretly love about this story is what is not in it: the never quite acknowledged set-up. Do not miss it!
January 14, 2023
3.5 Some humorous lines and good dialogue.
April 3, 2013
Inconsistent writing. For example, the bully teased the main character by calling him Nate the Nerd. Then when he calls him 'Nate' upon meeting again again after years, Nate wonders how he knows his name?
Besides such, the writing was just very flat.
The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic. The exchange in the restaurant between college-educated mother and son is especially ridiculous. It illustrates this dreamed-up notion that people with a degree speak in paragraph form that seem to paraphrase Sociological texts.
The story is all tell.
There's no tension.
The development is poorly-paced.
I was bored.
Besides such, the writing was just very flat.
The dialogue was stilted and unrealistic. The exchange in the restaurant between college-educated mother and son is especially ridiculous. It illustrates this dreamed-up notion that people with a degree speak in paragraph form that seem to paraphrase Sociological texts.
The story is all tell.
There's no tension.
The development is poorly-paced.
I was bored.
July 21, 2012
Yay! So happy to finally be able to read this, and it was so sweet. Falling Faces was absolutely perfect and exactly what I was looking for when I posted my 'Dear Author' letter. Was happy to see that JJ had turned his life around and although Nate was a bit childish to start, I'm glad he grew up a little like his mother suggested and was able to give JJ a second chance. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this, LD. It was lovely and super cute! :)
Want to read
July 22, 2012
Offered FREE from the M/M Romance Group, Love Is Always Write: Volume Three.
August 6, 2015
As some of the other reviewers said, the writing is inconsistent:
We're told John bullies Nate by calling him Nate the Nerd in school but then Nate is surprised John knows his name when they meet again years later.
Another inconsistency, they have dinner together then go out and they stop to buy fries. Straight after dinner.
Nate's immaturity got on my nerves and John NEVER apologises for the way he behaved.
We're told John bullies Nate by calling him Nate the Nerd in school but then Nate is surprised John knows his name when they meet again years later.
Another inconsistency, they have dinner together then go out and they stop to buy fries. Straight after dinner.
Nate's immaturity got on my nerves and John NEVER apologises for the way he behaved.
December 7, 2013
While a zebra can’t really change its stripes, I think that people can change to some extent – especially as they mature and get out from under the influence of peers and the power trips that are part of growing up. I enjoyed reading this story about JJ’s growth and Nate’s ability to ultimately give him a second chance. Thanks for this LiAW story!
June 7, 2015
Anyone can change and if you can accept that and accept the fact that maybe there was more to the story. When you can deal with the past and move forward you might be able to build a new relationship as adults and have a very special romance.
July 29, 2013
Charming:)
August 6, 2012
Cute and very sweet but too short!
July 20, 2012
I am completely charmed by Nate's parents :D They are a hoots that's for sure.
And a cute story over all too :D
And a cute story over all too :D
July 20, 2012
Cute story, although Nate's childish behavior grated my nerves a bit.
July 21, 2012
Cute story and I liked it, but why did JJ not apologize for having been a bully if he knew and regretted the way he'd been? Wouldn't that be the obvious first thing to do to show Nate he's changed?
April 18, 2015
3.5 - Very cute story. Thank you LdDurham, for donating your story, time and talent.
July 23, 2012
i like this story very much.
September 1, 2012
Great story.
Read
August 3, 20122.5 (would have been 3 if it weren't that Nate got on my nerves.
August 10, 2012
Cute story.
October 21, 2012
too short...would have loved to read more
November 8, 2012
One that left smile on my face :) Read this one, you won't be sorry!
September 11, 2014
Didn't touch. I guess I couldn't get together with ppl who bullied me at school.
August 31, 2015
sweet story nate had it rough in school always picked and bullied by jj. years have passed nate has come back to town and he starts to see an new jj. Not everything is all as it seems.
to-read-ebook
March 30, 2016Love is Always Write - Volume 3
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews