Title: Something Sweet
Author: Megan Derr
Length: 6,000 words (15 pdf pages)
Publisher: Less Than Three Press (Free)
Genre: m/m contemporary
Rating: C
Blurb:
It’s just another day at the candy shop for Sherlock: a quiet afternoon spent more on reading his latest fantasy novel than on selling candy. The kind of day he loves, even if the looming New Year’s Eve leaves him feeling nostalgic and a little lonely. But then the last person he ever expected to see walks through the door of his shop, and Sherlock realizes that some things don’t fade with time, but only grow stronger.
Review:
Thirteen years after graduating high school and a good ten years after inheriting his grandfather’s candy shop, he’s shocked to see his childhood crush, local small-town boy made good as football star Basil show up in his store. After chatting a bit, Basil disappears but leaves his book for Sherlock. It seems he’s given up his football career to write. He returns and after some flirting they agree to date after the holiday. However Sherlock starts to question this when he wonders how a rich popular guy could want him. However an impromptu New Year’s Eve talk reveals more to the man than the celebrity everyone sees.
This is a cute story of reunification and the nerd/jock (although the jock is maybe a bit nerdier than anyone suspected). It’s also a tale of small town politics, which those of us who grew up in that environment can relate to. However despite both of them being nice guys and the rather melancholic feel as Sherlock faces another New Year’s Eve without his grandfather was well done, I just never felt really connected to the characters. Maybe I needed a bit more than where it stopped with them just reconnecting. I’m not sure. There were also several editing errors which are unusual for this publisher. Once Sherlock was referred to as Basil and a couple of times words were missing or I had to reread a sentence. It wasn’t awful, but I was a bit surprised as I’d not experienced it before.
If you’re in the mood for a sweet story (ha!) about two men reconnecting years later, it’s worth picking up and you can’t beat the price. But it’s not one of the author’s best pieces I’ve read.
