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Life Lessons #1.5 & 1.8
And to All a Good Night
an alternate cover edition can be found here
Please note: this edition contains 2 short stories.
Re-edit and rerelease of two Life Lessons short stories in a combined edition.
And to All a Good Night
Life Lessons #1.5
In Life Lessons, MPD detective Mac and high school teacher Tony decided that a closeted relationship was worth the risks and difficulties. Now they are briefly separated for the holidays by Tony's trip to visit his family. Tony on a Florida beach contemplates the joys and stresses of their hidden life, while Mac in the Minnesota snow handles a murder case that hits close to home. And in the evening, over the phone, they try to touch each other with words.
Getting It Right
Life Lessons #1.8
This free short story comes between "And to All a Good Night", and "Breaking Cover."
For Mac, noticing Valentine's Day has meant buying his little daughter Anna something pink, and then forgetting about it. So he's blindsided by the thought that maybe Tony feels differently. Maybe Tony thinks they should do something for each other on Valentine's this year. But Mac has no clue what.
Tony is trying to teach Mac about being a couple, one lesson at a time. And for Tony, Valentine's Day may turn out to be an opportunity for another interesting lesson.
Please note: this edition contains 2 short stories.
Re-edit and rerelease of two Life Lessons short stories in a combined edition.
And to All a Good Night
Life Lessons #1.5
In Life Lessons, MPD detective Mac and high school teacher Tony decided that a closeted relationship was worth the risks and difficulties. Now they are briefly separated for the holidays by Tony's trip to visit his family. Tony on a Florida beach contemplates the joys and stresses of their hidden life, while Mac in the Minnesota snow handles a murder case that hits close to home. And in the evening, over the phone, they try to touch each other with words.
Getting It Right
Life Lessons #1.8
This free short story comes between "And to All a Good Night", and "Breaking Cover."
For Mac, noticing Valentine's Day has meant buying his little daughter Anna something pink, and then forgetting about it. So he's blindsided by the thought that maybe Tony feels differently. Maybe Tony thinks they should do something for each other on Valentine's this year. But Mac has no clue what.
Tony is trying to teach Mac about being a couple, one lesson at a time. And for Tony, Valentine's Day may turn out to be an opportunity for another interesting lesson.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2011
80 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Kaje Harper
89 books2,710 followersI get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers.
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
I was born in Montreal but have lived for 30 years in Minnesota, where the two seasons are Snow-removal and Road-repair, where the mosquito is the state bird, and where winter can be breathtakingly beautiful. Minnesota’s a kind, quiet (if sometimes chilly) place and it’s home.
I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – fifty years*), mostly for my own entertainment, usually M/M romance (with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi…) I also have a few Young Adult stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.)
My husband finally convinced me that after all the years of writing for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out from MLR Press in May 2011. I have a weakness for closeted cops with honest hearts, and teachers who speak their minds, and I had fun writing four novels and three freebie short stories in that series. I was delighted and encouraged by the reception Mac and Tony received.
I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published. A complete list with links can be found on my website "Books" page at https://kajeharper.com/.
You can find me and my book reviews on my author page here on Goodreads - I hang out on Goodreads a lot because I moderate the Goodreads YA LGBT Books group. I also post free short YA stories on that group, more than 50 of them so far.
You can also find me on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/KajeHarper
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
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April 19, 2017There are no new Mac and Tony stories here, but the Valentine's story 1.8 hasn't been well known or widely available, and I couldn't resist a spiffy new cover. (I was such a newbie when I put the first edition out that I used a picture of my own snowy back yard for the cover LOL) So this is a minor re-edit, combo, and pretty artwork by Karrie Jax for two older stories.
January 22, 2015
Being a gay man, this story touched me on a very personal level. It is seriously one of the best gay themed short stories I know.
I'd give this one 6 stars if I could.
I'd give this one 6 stars if I could.
November 29, 2015
3,5 Stars - lovely to meet them for a short time again - it's Christmas and it is celebrated in different ways
A perhaps somewhat fragmented short story but a nice update on the state of the Christmas vacant teacher Tony and his dear homicide detective Mac lives. It has been two months since their story ended in the first book (Life Lessons) and life in the closet is partly wracking but they also have some really nice moments together.
Why should it be so difficult? In this shortie there are also some other people's life story that Mac encounter during an anticipated murder investigation. Tearful and memorable. Never wait...
Some nice minutes with these guys.
I LIKE - a bit sad - sob!
~~~~~~~~
A very short novella (28 pages) about Tony & Mac
A perhaps somewhat fragmented short story but a nice update on the state of the Christmas vacant teacher Tony and his dear homicide detective Mac lives. It has been two months since their story ended in the first book (Life Lessons) and life in the closet is partly wracking but they also have some really nice moments together.
”And whoever it is you love, Detective, use your time wisely. I'm at the end of this road, and you're ar the begginning. Doesn't mean you have all the time in the world, though.”
Why should it be so difficult? In this shortie there are also some other people's life story that Mac encounter during an anticipated murder investigation. Tearful and memorable. Never wait...
Some nice minutes with these guys.
I LIKE - a bit sad - sob!
~~~~~~~~
A very short novella (28 pages) about Tony & Mac
March 4, 2022
A very nice snippet into this closeted couple's life. You can start to see being closeted will be a problem for Tony. It felt nice to be with book friends. Mac needs to get a grip and I'm sure he will in the next!
May 27, 2013
A sweet little look into Tony and Mac's life. Would of loved it a little more if they were together, but the ending was so cute I can forgive lol.
August 13, 2011
This free short story is taken place in between Life Lessons and Breaking Cover. A very well-written snapshot on how Tony and Mac were doing two months after the first time they meet. How they have settled into a relationship and they handled being separated on Christmas.
November 25, 2011
short Christmas story about Tony and Mac set about two months following Life Lessons. The mystery was a bit blah and bittersweet but is was nice getting a glimpse of Mac and Tony's current relationship.
April 2, 2017
2,8 stars
I feel me bad to rate it under 3 stars. Because I like the writing style of Kaje Harper, my problems are the main characters. I started not to care about them and it made the reading difficult.
I feel me bad to rate it under 3 stars. Because I like the writing style of Kaje Harper, my problems are the main characters. I started not to care about them and it made the reading difficult.
May 28, 2014
Great to get another glimpse into life with Mac and Tony, although it's sad they couldn't spend Christmas together. I foresee some major drama in their future with the whole "Mac in the closet" issue. Love this series so far!!
November 28, 2022
***3.5 Stars***
August 19, 2017
I have been meaning to try this series for-ev-er. And I still haven't gotten around to Life Lessons, book one, yet. I decided to go ahead and sample this pair of holiday-themed short stories that chronologically fall in the weeks and months after Life Lessons ends. They definitely got me enthused to go back for the first book.
Mac is a deep in the closet police officer who is stumbling his way through a relationship with warm, openly gay Tony. There are hints of that the status quo of hiding a relationship will become critical, but for now, holidays, Mac's work, and family keep them occupied.
I enjoyed the developed characters, slow-burn romance, and plot in this ongoing romantic suspense series.
Mac is a deep in the closet police officer who is stumbling his way through a relationship with warm, openly gay Tony. There are hints of that the status quo of hiding a relationship will become critical, but for now, holidays, Mac's work, and family keep them occupied.
I enjoyed the developed characters, slow-burn romance, and plot in this ongoing romantic suspense series.
October 23, 2019
I was expecting this novella to be focused on Tony and Mac, and was surprised that it actually featured a mystery case for more than half the book.
This story didn't put Tony in a good light for me and I thought he overreacted during a phone call with Mac. I would have given the story three stars but I actually enjoyed the resolution of Mac's mystery case that made me bumped up the rating.
This story didn't put Tony in a good light for me and I thought he overreacted during a phone call with Mac. I would have given the story three stars but I actually enjoyed the resolution of Mac's mystery case that made me bumped up the rating.
January 22, 2012
What a great little story but I wish I had read it between Life Lessons and Breaking Cover. This is a really great series, I highly recommend it!!
January 31, 2022
Sweet, solid holiday short. Fun for fans of the series.
April 19, 2013
A little novella about Mac and Tony and their first Christmas together 4 stars
Mac has moved in with Tony as Mac's place is a complete dump!! Unfortunately as Mac is still trying to stay in the closet as far as work and everyone else is concerned, Tony is going to spend Christmas with his parents in Florida, and leaves Mac doing what he does best...working!! He solves a mysterious death while Tony is away, and leaves Tony lusting (only pretending...why would he need anyone else when he's got hunky Mac??) after the cute guys on the beach. A nice little story to catch up with the guys.
February 22, 2022
This is a free novella that contains 2 short stories about Tony and Mac from the Life Lessons series. The first is a Christmas story and the second is a Valentine’s Day story.
I didn’t like the Christmas story at all. A lot of it was Mac complaining about how his cousin Brenda’s religion doesn’t allow him near his daughter. GET OVER IT MAC AND GO GET YOUR DAUGHTER!!! She’s your daughter, not Brenda’s! I’m sick of this religion stuff! No need to detail it because it comes across as religion bashing. So, zero stars for that part. (Although there was finally some acknowledgment to Marty’s death, his funeral, and Tony’s mourning which was omitted in book one.)
I did like the Valentine’s Day story. It was sweet. And I absolutely LOVE this cover because Mac looks very delicious.😍😍
I didn’t like the Christmas story at all. A lot of it was Mac complaining about how his cousin Brenda’s religion doesn’t allow him near his daughter. GET OVER IT MAC AND GO GET YOUR DAUGHTER!!! She’s your daughter, not Brenda’s! I’m sick of this religion stuff! No need to detail it because it comes across as religion bashing. So, zero stars for that part. (Although there was finally some acknowledgment to Marty’s death, his funeral, and Tony’s mourning which was omitted in book one.)
I did like the Valentine’s Day story. It was sweet. And I absolutely LOVE this cover because Mac looks very delicious.😍😍
June 21, 2011
Really enjoyed this glimpse into the not so distant future. Loved reading this little bit of their lives. You can feel the tension simmering below everything. Tony's thought of Mac getting injured in the line of duty and him not finding out until he saw it on the news hit me. Here's hoping they tackle that issue when we get to read more of them.
March 20, 2012
A nice, free short story to supplement the Life Lessons series. I thought it was interesting and I always sincerely appreciate free reads from the authors. It makes me want to continue buying the rest of the series.
August 4, 2011
It was a nice free short story i liked seeing these guys together after the events of book one
i was a little bored with the investigative details in this one though, they were too detailed and i got bored reading about Mac looking for clues and all that stuff
i was a little bored with the investigative details in this one though, they were too detailed and i got bored reading about Mac looking for clues and all that stuff
April 11, 2013
A nice short story that provides us with a glimpse at Tony's and Mac's life a couple of month after the incidents of 'Life Lessons'. I enjoyed reading the freebie.
April 25, 2013
Short short story after Life Lessons, enjoyable short.
August 11, 2017
4.5 Breve, ma interessante.
May 20, 2025
Great interlude story between books 1 and 2.
October 16, 2015
This was a good little short after reading Life Lessons, definitely not a stand alone though. I liked the relevance of the case to their lives and to make Mac think, it wasn't just useless info or something for Mac to do, it really put things in perspective.
May 27, 2016
ORIGINALLY Read from February 19 to 20, 2012
This book is set 2 months after Life Lesson's just around Christmas, they have been dating for about 3 months. This was sweet a little Christmas tale with the young but still ongoing relationship between Tony & Mac. But I really want to know what Tony got Mac for Christmas.
This book is set 2 months after Life Lesson's just around Christmas, they have been dating for about 3 months. This was sweet a little Christmas tale with the young but still ongoing relationship between Tony & Mac. But I really want to know what Tony got Mac for Christmas.
July 14, 2011
Very good short free holiday-themed m/m mystery that takes place a few months after Life Lessons, right before Christmas, as the out teacher continues to recover from his injuries and learns to deal with dating the deeply closeted cop.
April 11, 2012
I wish there had been more interaction between the couple, but then again this way all that was left unsaid and all that was left undone spoke so much louder than words that as an in-between the two main books in the series this little story serves it purpose well :)
August 20, 2011
Poignant short story of Tony and Mac of their first Christmas together - but apart. They make me want to cry.
August 14, 2011
Wow this short story is really fantastic! I expected it to be something light, like your typical Christmas special, but it had me almost teared up several times. Great work!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews