Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Hotel Pens

by Geoffrey Knight (Goodreads Author)

3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 · rating details · 63 ratings · 25 reviews

Travel writer Joe Jordan hasn’t been home to New York since his boyfriend broke up with him. Instead he’s hopped from hotel to hotel, collecting pens like a child in a fairytale might leave a trail of breadcrumbs hoping to find his way back.

But now he has an assignment, an article titled “5 Ways to Rediscover New York.” Being back on his home turf is daunting—until he mee...more

ebook, 83 pages

Published October 17th 2012 by Dreamspinner Press

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Curtis Reincarnation by Zathyn Priest

M/M Books Written By Men

483rd out of 570 books — 344 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 203)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 22, 2012 Heller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m

What a beautifully written story. I wasn't quite sure what to think of this one going in but it turned out to be a really unexpected treat.

Joe is a travel writer from New York who has been avoiding coming back to the city since he broke up with his boyfriend. Claude translates gay romance into French. They meet at the hotel they're both staying at when they both steal a hotel pen.

Claude writes on Joe and Joe follows the clues. So begins a cute journey through NYC.

This is a fun story but it als...more

7 likes · like · see review

Dec 12, 2012 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.co...

Geoffrey Knight is a new author for me. I’m always excited to read authors that are new to me, so when I was given the chance to read and review this book, I immediately took it. One thing I really loved about Mr. Knight’s writing was his ability to get into the heart and soul of his characters. Both heroes lived and breathed off of the written page. These men were not one-dimensional characters, but men who were both trying to survive the pain of losing s...more http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.co...

Geoffrey Knight is a new author for me. I’m always excited to read authors that are new to me, so when I was given the chance to read and review this book, I immediately took it. One thing I really loved about Mr. Knight’s writing was his ability to get into the heart and soul of his characters. Both heroes lived and breathed off of the written page. These men were not one-dimensional characters, but men who were both trying to survive the pain of losing someone they once loved.

The blurb does an excellent job at describing the story, so I won’t rehash a lot of it. Joe is a travel writer who collects hotel pens. He’s lonely and still stinging over a breakup with his boyfriend some time ago. As he travels from place to place, he collects these pens as if to find a purpose in life, like a wanderer who is looking for a place and someone to come home too. Once he meets the handsome Claude, Joe is immediately drawn to him. He finds himself letting down the walls that he’s put around his heart and for once in his life, he’s slowly allowing someone in.

Both men are likeable heroes. Both men have their own issues and pain from the past they must deal with before they can hope to allow something truly special to develop between them. I honestly experienced many emotions while I read this book. Although it could easily be extremely angsty and dark, the book also has some light, fun moments in it too. I loved what Claude does to Joe with the pens (Get you mind out of the gutter…LOL…I swear it’s very profound and sweet) and I also liked how this way of communicating together brought them closer together. I admit, I did tear up a few times but the ending left me with a huge smile on my face and with a wish that the story had been longer.

I’m anxious to read more by Mr. Knight. He is definitely an author I’ll seek out when I’m looking for a well-written read with realistically portrayed characters. I loved the romance and the sweet and sexy moments these two men had together and I hope one day Mr. Knight will write more about them. Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi(less)

like · see review

Feb 08, 2013 Cindi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cindi by: Kazza

Shelves: reading-challenge, 2013, m-m, short-story, favorites

This was chosen for me in a Pick-it-for-me challenge in a group I participate in on here. It was chosen by Kazza K, my friend and blog partner. She obviously knows me well because this book was absolutely perfect. :)

Joe is a travel writer who has returned to New York to write an article titled 5 Ways to Rediscover New York. He's a native so how hard can it be? Pretty difficult apparently. Joe has an addiction... an obsession... with hotel pens. He collects them from all over the world.

He meets...more

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 Pete W rated it 4 of 5 stars

One of the most beautifully written story I have ever read.

Everything was precise and to the point without excess. Written in first person POV narrated by Joe who still have lingering regret for being dump because he was practically never home. He regret his action, sure, but he never rectify it even when things came to blow. Then he met a handsome Frenchman at the hotel he stayed in who lead him to a merry chase through New York to rediscover life once again.

(view spoiler)...more

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 29, 2012 Cole Riann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: armchair-reviews, m-m, m-m-contemporary, m-m-short

Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

3.75 stars

This refreshing short romance is from an author that I've liked for years now, but deviates from a certain style I've grown to associate with his work. In the past, the books I've read by Geoff Knight have always had a tendency for campy flair, and while I enjoy that style, this appealed to me as well. It is somewhat more serious in tone overall, yet vacillates between light and poignant, all conveyed by how the characters choose to view the world....more Review posted at The Armchair Reader.

3.75 stars

This refreshing short romance is from an author that I've liked for years now, but deviates from a certain style I've grown to associate with his work. In the past, the books I've read by Geoff Knight have always had a tendency for campy flair, and while I enjoy that style, this appealed to me as well. It is somewhat more serious in tone overall, yet vacillates between light and poignant, all conveyed by how the characters choose to view the world.

Joe Jordan travels extensively, drifting from hotel to hotel all around the world for his job. He once had a home, and a man there, but all of that drifted away as well. The setting was in New York City, a home city if he could ever call it that. He hasn't wanted to return until now, when he's given the assignment to write an article on 5 Ways to Rediscover New York City. His one claim to existence is to compulsively gather pens from every place he visits, which are usually hotels. He has a massive collection of them, like a timestamp on every move in his life to tie him to some sort of permanence. He doesn't see it as anything special, really, until he sees a beautiful french man named Claude in the lobby of The Beacon also stealing a pen…

The story of Hotel Pens is cinematic and certainly not entirely original, but poignant by it's characters ties to the real world and especially New York City. I enjoyed it all the same. I think that the style of writing here might not appeal to some, as it still holds a great deal of flare for melodrama, but that is all in the readers' taste and didn't bother me in any way. In fact, I found it muted compared to some things I've read by this author and enjoyed in the past.

In particular, I found quite a bit to like about the characters, which came through for me quite well in such a short time. The style of the story is a travelogue (like the articles Joe writes) as Claude spirits Joe through a city he knows well to do exactly what he needs to write about -- rediscover the city and through that himself and his connection to his romantic life. It is inherently romantic, from the setting (everything good about the city), to Claude himself (sexy french man? check), to the teasingly erotic writing on bare flesh with stolen pens.

Joe has a host of insecurities that manifest in his life quite symbolically; the vignette style of writing reflects this well, skipping between memories and present in dis-jointed time. It is still orderly, that isn't quite the point. The point really is to emulate the way that Joe tells a story, which like his life refuses to settle down. This was portrayed very well, yet was also one of the reasons I couldn't quite settle into the story myself. Oh, it was very enjoyable, I guarantee you. And while there were one or two points in the story where I felt things start to come together, it never quite did in the end. I needed Joe to expose himself a bit more and then to really look at himself, otherwise there doesn't seem much of a future for him and Claude, only another relationship doomed to fail by his past behaviors. Of course, much of this is in the author's intent and that may not have been it, but that is what would have taken this story to the next level for me to become really wonderful.

This is one I definitely recommend, and I'm always excited when Geoff releases a new story. It is especially a nice little story to read to cheer up your mood. It is cute and totally devoted to romance, and I loved that about it.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Kaetrin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m-romance, short-novella

Very good m/m short about travel writer, Joe Jordan, who broke up with his lover some time ago and has been lonely ever since. Because of his job, he's always in hotels and he's a keen collector of their pens. While in New York for work, he meets Claude, a French ex-pat who is living at the Beacon Hotel and translating m/m romance books into French. Claude courts Joe and teaches him a thing or two about love, himself and New York by writing various messages in pen on Joe's body in a kind of scav...more

like · see review

Dec 12, 2012 Gabbi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: angst, dreamspinner-spotlight-for-top-2-bo, gay-romance, humor, top2bottom-reviews, geoffrey-knight

http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/

Geoffrey Knight is a new author for me. I’m always excited to read authors that are new to me, so when I was given the chance to read and review this book, I immediately took it. One thing I really loved about Mr. Knight’s writing was his ability to get into the heart and soul of his characters. Both heroes lived and breathed off of the written page. These men were not one-dimensional characters, but men who were both trying to survive the pain of losing so...more http://top2bottomreviews.wordpress.com/

Geoffrey Knight is a new author for me. I’m always excited to read authors that are new to me, so when I was given the chance to read and review this book, I immediately took it. One thing I really loved about Mr. Knight’s writing was his ability to get into the heart and soul of his characters. Both heroes lived and breathed off of the written page. These men were not one-dimensional characters, but men who were both trying to survive the pain of losing someone they once loved.

The blurb does an excellent job at describing the story, so I won’t rehash a lot of it. Joe is a travel writer who collects hotel pens. He’s lonely and still stinging over a breakup with his boyfriend some time ago. As he travels from place to place, he collects these pens as if to find a purpose in life, like a wanderer who is looking for a place and someone to come home too. Once he meets the handsome Claude, Joe is immediately drawn to him. He finds himself letting down the walls that he’s put around his heart and for once in his life, he’s slowly allowing someone in.

Both men are likeable heroes. Both men have their own issues and pain from the past they must deal with before they can hope to allow something truly special to develop between them. I honestly experienced many emotions while I read this book. Although it could easily be extremely angsty and dark, the book also has some light, fun moments in it too. I loved what Claude does to Joe with the pens (Get you mind out of the gutter…LOL…I swear it’s very profound and sweet) and I also liked how this way of communicating together brought them closer together. I admit, I did tear up a few times but the ending left me with a huge smile on my face and with a wish that the story had been longer.

I’m anxious to read more by Mr. Knight. He is definitely an author I’ll seek out when I’m looking for a well-written read with realistically portrayed characters. I loved the romance and the sweet and sexy moments these two men had together and I hope one day Mr. Knight will write more about them. Highly Recommended!
(less)

like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 Nina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, romance-adult, novellas-short-stories, 3-star

pretty sweet, very hot and a little bit sad.
some things bugged me though:
- i kinda hate the mc for having sex with claude even though he suspected he already had a boyfriend;
- they know nothing - nothing! - about each other. so the "deep connection" was just stupid, imo;
- the sex was too drawn out for such a short novella;
- guys, seriously. joe goes to sleep in his room bc claude and henri have too much to catch up on? this is a (view spoiler) we're talking about here. i love...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Kazza rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bought-it

What a beautiful, sweet, meaningful, yet subtle little ebook this is. I bought if strictly off the title, nothing else. Wonderful writing, wonderful reading.

For an indepth review see On Top Down Under Book Reviews -
http://bookreviewsandtherapy.blogspot...

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 17, 2012 Stacia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved this story. It's romantic and felt somewhat old fashioned! If this book had a message, to me it would have been to stop and look around you to see and feel what you really have. This story is a must read.It was my first Geoffrey Knight book. I'll have to go find some more now.

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 27, 2012 Suzette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: geoffrey-knight

An absolutely fun and quick read! If you want a light pick me up, heart warming story with a little but of fun and laughter this is truly a little gem by Mr. Knight. I highly recommend it especially if you are having a bad as it will definitely lift your spirits.

like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars

In a word: charming.

This story is sweet and whimsical and completely romantic--everything I want in a m/m novella.

5 likes · like · see review

Oct 22, 2012 Isabel rated it 3 of 5 stars

A nice quick read, where once again there is an overuse if french cliche the story could have done without.

like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Susan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: z-2012, mm-read

This story was gorgeous and sweet and funny. I was hooked from the first page and really didn't want it to end. I loved the thought that taking the time to really look and appreciate the places and things that are all around can make a difference to our happiness. I really enjoyed taking this journey with Joe and Claude.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 18, 2012 Gennie Gee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cute, sweet, short, HFN. I would LOVE to read more about these two :)

like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Emma marked it as maybe-read

“. . . he winked, leaned in close across the bar, and whispered to me that he knew the original recipe of the Zombie, a cocktail first invented in Hollywood in the 1930s.

The secret never left his lips, but later that night my cock entered them.”

Not sure if brilliant or terrible.

4 likes · like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 LisaT - AttentionIsArbitrary M/M Blog LisaT131 marked it as to-read

This looks great, I gotta get it.

1 like · like · see review

Oct 26, 2012 Anke rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a wonderful book! Story set-up, writing style, all together a pleasure to read.

like · see review

Mar 04, 2013 Susinok rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, glbt

Nice short story.

like · see review

Oct 19, 2012 Dan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Geoffrey Knight is a wonderful writer and this story is great.

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 20, 2012 Sadonna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm, pdf

Review to follow

like · see review

Oct 31, 2012 Lily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mm-romance, short-stories

A delightful tease of a short story, but a tease nonetheless... I truly wanted a bit more in terms of romance development.

like · see review

Oct 18, 2012 Fiona rated it 4 of 5 stars

Rating 3.5 to 4

1 like · like · see review

Apr 07, 2013 Veronica / V rated it 1 of 5 stars

Oh dear....I rather be alone than having "Weird Claude" in my life.
And Joe will never have a real relationship if he travel around the world 6 days a week.

1 like · like · see review

Oct 20, 2012 MsMiz (Tina) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: glbt-all, kindle-mobi

Love this book.

like · see review

May 10, 2013 Karin Wollina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Apr 13, 2013 Christina marked it as to-read

Mar 24, 2013 Becca added it

Mar 20, 2013 As rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 17, 2013 Princess Anya marked it as to-read

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Dreamspinner Press: Hotel Pens by Geoffrey Knight	1	13	Oct 17, 2012 11:28am

Genres

Romance > M M Romance

15 users

Contemporary

11 users

Short Stories

3 users

M M Romance > M M Contemporary

3 users

Romance

2 users

Glbt

2 users

Adventure

2 users

See top shelves...

About Geoffrey Knight

From palace-hopping across the Rajasthan Desert to sleeping in train stations in Bulgaria, from spinning prayer-wheels in Kathmandu to exploring the skull-gated graveyards of the indigenous Balinese tribes, Geoffrey Knight has been a traveller ever since he could scrape together enough money to buy a plane ticket. Born in Melbourne but raised and educated in countless cities and towns across Austr...more

More about Geoffrey Knight...

Books by Geoffrey Knight

The Riddle of the Sands (Fathom's Five #2)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Hotel Pens

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Hotel Pens
avg rating	preview: Hotel Pens Goodreads rating: 3.89 (63 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16032547-hotel-pens?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347952413l/16032547.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16032547-hotel-pens?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Hotel Pens by Geoffrey Knight[/url]

Hotel Pens

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

Genres

About Geoffrey Knight

Books by Geoffrey Knight

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Hotel Pens

new topic
Discuss This Book