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Zippadacious
Travis Garamond has always been a responsible son; he worked every summer in high school to help his family after his father’s illness and death. Now the hospital bills are paid off and everyone expects him to go to college, find a nice guy, and move on. When does he get to live his own life, his own way?
Taj Djaru is also satisfying family expectations. A mixed-race, Aboriginal Australian, he’s studying linguistics helping preserve indigenous folklore, but his academic career needs a boost. He also has a secret passion that his past boyfriends didn’t understand. After his last relationship blew up, he moved across the globe to San Diego.
When they meet, it’s instant lust and genuine like, but Taj fears Travis won’t accept the real man inside. Travis won’t be sidetracked; he knows Taj is the right man for him. If Taj will give them a chance, Travis is sure they can ride off into the sunset together on his vintage Moto Guzzi. And solve a seventy-year old mystery too.
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.
Dear Author,
It has been one of THOSE days where everything goes wrong from the start of the morning until the end of the day. Besides the alarm clock malfunctioning, my hair has decided to defy gravity in clumps today taking on many intriguing shapes while the rest of my hair lies flat and behaves.
Something clearly has happened to my boss last night. He is so prickly it’s like he has a stick so far up his ass that I can see it in the back of his throat as he yells at me. (My job: up to you but hopefully very dirty and physical)
And while everything is going to shit and I am at my worst who walks in but a virtual GOD of course!
Photo Description:
A ripped, dark-haired young man sprawls against some shelves. Shirtless, his dirt-encrusted abs exposed, with his fly unzipped, his dirty jeans have slipped down to his thighs, revealing white designer briefs and teasing mesh fly. On the shelf behind him, are storage boxes full to capacity, a small portrait of a serene, dark-skinned man rounds out picture frames, loose photographs, and pair of a heavy-duty work gloves.
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.
Taj Djaru is also satisfying family expectations. A mixed-race, Aboriginal Australian, he’s studying linguistics helping preserve indigenous folklore, but his academic career needs a boost. He also has a secret passion that his past boyfriends didn’t understand. After his last relationship blew up, he moved across the globe to San Diego.
When they meet, it’s instant lust and genuine like, but Taj fears Travis won’t accept the real man inside. Travis won’t be sidetracked; he knows Taj is the right man for him. If Taj will give them a chance, Travis is sure they can ride off into the sunset together on his vintage Moto Guzzi. And solve a seventy-year old mystery too.
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.
Dear Author,
It has been one of THOSE days where everything goes wrong from the start of the morning until the end of the day. Besides the alarm clock malfunctioning, my hair has decided to defy gravity in clumps today taking on many intriguing shapes while the rest of my hair lies flat and behaves.
Something clearly has happened to my boss last night. He is so prickly it’s like he has a stick so far up his ass that I can see it in the back of his throat as he yells at me. (My job: up to you but hopefully very dirty and physical)
And while everything is going to shit and I am at my worst who walks in but a virtual GOD of course!
Photo Description:
A ripped, dark-haired young man sprawls against some shelves. Shirtless, his dirt-encrusted abs exposed, with his fly unzipped, his dirty jeans have slipped down to his thighs, revealing white designer briefs and teasing mesh fly. On the shelf behind him, are storage boxes full to capacity, a small portrait of a serene, dark-skinned man rounds out picture frames, loose photographs, and pair of a heavy-duty work gloves.
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.
52 pages, ebook
First published September 15, 2014
46 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 4, 2014
The writing got in the way of the story: overly technical, cumbersome, and awkward, with rambling descriptions of antiques, scenery, and secondary characters that didn't add anything to the story.
There was no chemistry between the two MCs. They didn't get together until halfway through the book, then almost immediately one of them left due to a...well, "misunderstanding" would be way too strong a word; he simply assumed and bailed.
One short, nearly fade-to-black scene didn't cement the sexual connection, and many parts of the story were confusing and unnecessary.
Deep ideas that felt preachy were introduced and scrapped. None of this meshed or made for a successful romance novel.
I do appreciate all the authors who wrote for this event!
~1.5 stars~
There was no chemistry between the two MCs. They didn't get together until halfway through the book, then almost immediately one of them left due to a...well, "misunderstanding" would be way too strong a word; he simply assumed and bailed.
One short, nearly fade-to-black scene didn't cement the sexual connection, and many parts of the story were confusing and unnecessary.
Deep ideas that felt preachy were introduced and scrapped. None of this meshed or made for a successful romance novel.
I do appreciate all the authors who wrote for this event!
~1.5 stars~
November 1, 2014
This story was a bit confusing for me, but I liked it. There were some phrases that I hadn’t seen before, so they put me off. Thus, I have learned a few new phrases. Also the beginning was confusing, because I wasn’t sure what type of place Travis worked. I learned/figured it out later on. He is loyal to his family. He is working full time to help pay off his family’s bills, forfeiting his college education.
It was one of those days, you know where nothing seems to go right? Things happen… he ends up in an embarrassing position, only to open his eyes to the most gorgeous man ever. Of course. He doesn’t have much time to talk to this mystery man and he is gone before Travis can. Taj, was pretty excited about meeting the sexy man he saw on TV. In fact, he ends up going back to Travis’ workplace to see him and the item he is seeking.
They hit it off pretty well and soon. After a wild night, Taj ditches Travis… with no good reason. Travis isn’t having this… and he soons finds out Taj’s secret and confronts him.
I liked this couple, and the flow of this story. The epilogue was great also.
It was one of those days, you know where nothing seems to go right? Things happen… he ends up in an embarrassing position, only to open his eyes to the most gorgeous man ever. Of course. He doesn’t have much time to talk to this mystery man and he is gone before Travis can. Taj, was pretty excited about meeting the sexy man he saw on TV. In fact, he ends up going back to Travis’ workplace to see him and the item he is seeking.
They hit it off pretty well and soon. After a wild night, Taj ditches Travis… with no good reason. Travis isn’t having this… and he soons finds out Taj’s secret and confronts him.
I liked this couple, and the flow of this story. The epilogue was great also.
October 17, 2014
Zippadacious is richly evocative, quite unique, and extraordinarily satisfying. Highly recommended for a thoughtful and rewarding story.
A.R. Nobel is among those who realize that some of the most homophobic people are gay men. There is a feeling among many gay men, especially straight acting gay men that effeminate, flamboyant gay men and men in leather and 'drag queens' who ride in gay pride parades are an embarrassment because they do not conform to society's rules and don't blend in.
Here's news to homophobic gay men, you don't fit in either. And to the extent you do fit in it is due to the gay rights movement started by drag queens at the Stonewall Inn who rather than be tossed out like trash by police one more time, fought the police in the historic Stonewall Riots that are widely accepted as the beginning of the gay rights movement in the Unites States.
In A.R. Noble's story Zippadacious a drag performer who has experienced this discrimination from gay men is one of the two main characters. This is a very refreshing look at a relationship that was written with great love and pride for her characters. Thank you Ms. Nobel.
Zippadacious is Bodacious!
A.R. Nobel is among those who realize that some of the most homophobic people are gay men. There is a feeling among many gay men, especially straight acting gay men that effeminate, flamboyant gay men and men in leather and 'drag queens' who ride in gay pride parades are an embarrassment because they do not conform to society's rules and don't blend in.
Here's news to homophobic gay men, you don't fit in either. And to the extent you do fit in it is due to the gay rights movement started by drag queens at the Stonewall Inn who rather than be tossed out like trash by police one more time, fought the police in the historic Stonewall Riots that are widely accepted as the beginning of the gay rights movement in the Unites States.
In A.R. Noble's story Zippadacious a drag performer who has experienced this discrimination from gay men is one of the two main characters. This is a very refreshing look at a relationship that was written with great love and pride for her characters. Thank you Ms. Nobel.
Zippadacious is Bodacious!
December 27, 2014
Zippadacious is a fun romp into the world of antiques and collectables that brings together two purely delightful gay men from totally different walks of life, each with his own issues, struggles and yet amazingly sexy aura of surviving all challenges to be open, giving and caring men. Travis makes the crazy collectables warehouse of his employers work for them, while Taj finds refuge in a unique performing arts medium. They are two guys who would never likely meet, much less hook up until they do over an accident and a very rare collectable, and in the process solve a decades old mystery involving past gay lovers in a less gay-friendly era. And the sex is hot, sweet and satisfying as it fits perfectly into the efforts of these two very different guys to make it as a couple. It's not urban fantasy, not even close, but it's still magic. It's Zippadacious.
September 18, 2014
Hey, what happened? What's next? Another story leaving me hanging.
Just kidding (sorta).
Just kidding (sorta).
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September 20, 2014My first book thanks to the wonderful Don't Read in the Closet Love's Landscapes crew
September 21, 2014
Cracking and lively story.
When is the sequel???
Thanks to the author and the LL team.
When is the sequel???
Thanks to the author and the LL team.
October 22, 2014
3.5 - Confusing at first but very cute once I figured it out.
December 9, 2014
A wonderful short read for Love's Landscapes. Thank you authors. I really enjoyed it. This could be worked into a full blown novel.
February 12, 2015
I read till I think 37% - I have no clue what I read. I'm totally lost. Sorry I'm obviously very thick in the head but this definitely was not for me.
May 15, 2017
A little uneven, but not bad, better after reading it a second time. Good characters, nice family/work family dynamics.
December 5, 2018
I found myself bored.
March 1, 2017
I found this because I needed a story with a Z-Title for my Alphabet challenge.
What can I say - this didn't work for me at all. There was no rhyme or reason to the whole thing.
1 star for the story, 1 star for being free.
What can I say - this didn't work for me at all. There was no rhyme or reason to the whole thing.
1 star for the story, 1 star for being free.
August 3, 2015
An interesting mix of history, mystery, cultures, and professions make this a unique contribution to the Love’s Landscapes event. This one was a little bit of a challenge to follow at points in the story with a fair amount of detail that made it more cluttered, but I figured I learned something new and had an enjoyable time in the process. Thank you!
September 1, 2015
This was ok. I didn't really feel the connection between the MCs though. Most of the local stuff seemed accurate enough, perhaps not entirely perfect, but not glaringly off - that can really pull you out of the story.
January 31, 2015
Just making three stars
reviewette to follow
reviewette to follow
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.]
November 8, 2014
Review to come
August 9, 2015
This is a fun little story where the star of the show may be the zipper.
October 7, 2014
Thank you to the author for this book.
November 1, 2014
DNF too hard to read. Weird descriptions of stuff that confused the story.
September 8, 2015
This one wasn't bad really but I didn't really care for it all that much either. *shrugs* Just not my cup of tea.
September 19, 2016
2.5 stars
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January 13, 2016dnf
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews