What do you think?
Rate this book
Papi
Kyle Lang just got out of a marriage that lasted too goddamned long. He knew when he married her that he shouldn't have. For the last few years, he's been haunted by daydreams of the perfect feel of another man's skin. The problem is, the bar scene isn't working so well for him. When Kyle picks up Jesse, an eighteen-year-old illegal who turns tricks for cash, he finally finds something to scratch that desperate itch. For Jesse, who is only gay-for-pay to support his sister, it's the first time he's ever been aroused by another man's touch. The consequences will change his whole world.A Bittersweet Dreams title: It's an unfortunate truth: love doesn't always conquer all. Regardless of its strength, sometimes fate intervenes, tragedy strikes, or forces conspire against it. These stories of romance do not offer a traditional happy ending, but the strong and enduring love will still touch your heart and maybe move you to tears.
27 pages, ebook
First published August 10, 2011
87 people want to read
About the author
J.P. Barnaby
51 books580 followersAn award-winning, best-selling novelist of over a dozen books, J. P. Barnaby is a proud member of the GLBT community both online and in her small town on the outskirts of Chicago. A member of Mensa, she is often described as brilliant but troubled, sweet but introverted and talented but deviant. She spends her days writing software and her nights writing erotica which is, of course, far more interesting. The spare time that she carves out between her career and her novels is spent reading about the concept of love, which, like some of her characters, she has never quite figured out for herself.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 25, 2011
This is short and hot as hell. And the ending made me laugh. :)
June 23, 2013
Super short but super engrossing! It's part of the Bittersweet Dreams series so don't expect a happy ending as there isn't one. This story actually has a surprise twist at the end which definitely left me wanting to know more about these two men and their particular situation.
September 6, 2011
I had real trouble with the editing and the Spanish in this book. I can't say I blame the author completely for it as the editor should have caught these and fixed them but it really detracted from the story. I felt a bit cheated by the ending as well then realized thus was not a romance but straight-up erotica (thus my need to create a new shelf for it). I was disappointed in that I'd hoped for a book that would make Latinos look better than this but it just perpetuates the belief that we're just meant to be whores and criminals.
August 10, 2012
Well written, wish there was more.
February 18, 2018
No romance, no love, no kindness. Just an asshole cop, who uses a down-on-his-luck kid to test his theory about being gay, then arrests him. The end. You have been warned.
July 27, 2019
Je suis puceau
September 19, 2011
Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
Papi is a tale of two men dealing with their own set of obstacles in life. Can one night of shared passion change their outlook on life? Or just prove that there is no such thing as a happy ending?
Kyle is a man in his mid-thirties coming to terms with his homosexuality. His internal thoughts describe his struggles with how he feels and all he has lost due to his inability to be true to himself. He goes looking for a quick easy fix to his problem. Who he meets on his journey to self-discovery is a very sweet and sexy Jesse.
The character of Jesse is a victim of circumstances. He has moved to a new country and has met nothing but hurt and deceit along the way. Prostituting isn’t his ideal goal in life but it’s his only option. This young man is trying to help care for his sister while working the streets. Given his line of work he is an honorable man trying to do right by his family.
The whole idea of this story is ironic when it comes to the characters. Kyle is a man who has lived a straight life style while secretly harboring gay feelings. Then there is Jesse who is only participating in gay acts to help put food on the table for him and his sister. It goes as far as to say Jesse has to think of his ex-girlfriend to get aroused but when he becomes intimate with Kyle everything he thought is thrown into the wind. Kyle shows this young man kindness and caring he has never experienced working the streets.
This story was amazing. Such emotions were triggered for me in such few pages. This story is a steady climb of excitement and hope and ends with such a bang it left me asking myself what the hell just happened? Papi was an entertaining and very arousing read. The author’s descriptions couldn’t have been more lifelike.
On a side note if you’re accustomed to your stories having that happy ever after, feel good love tinged to it, I suggest you read this short story with caution. I don’t want to give the ending away but the ending is unexpected and surprising, hence its inclusion in the publisher's "Bittersweet Dreams" line.
I feel fortunate to have gotten to review Papi. It was like being treated to a guilt free dessert. The cover alone is enough to pull readers in but the story inside is what will have readers mesmerized. It you like your stories bittersweet this is a must read.
Papi is a tale of two men dealing with their own set of obstacles in life. Can one night of shared passion change their outlook on life? Or just prove that there is no such thing as a happy ending?
Kyle is a man in his mid-thirties coming to terms with his homosexuality. His internal thoughts describe his struggles with how he feels and all he has lost due to his inability to be true to himself. He goes looking for a quick easy fix to his problem. Who he meets on his journey to self-discovery is a very sweet and sexy Jesse.
The character of Jesse is a victim of circumstances. He has moved to a new country and has met nothing but hurt and deceit along the way. Prostituting isn’t his ideal goal in life but it’s his only option. This young man is trying to help care for his sister while working the streets. Given his line of work he is an honorable man trying to do right by his family.
The whole idea of this story is ironic when it comes to the characters. Kyle is a man who has lived a straight life style while secretly harboring gay feelings. Then there is Jesse who is only participating in gay acts to help put food on the table for him and his sister. It goes as far as to say Jesse has to think of his ex-girlfriend to get aroused but when he becomes intimate with Kyle everything he thought is thrown into the wind. Kyle shows this young man kindness and caring he has never experienced working the streets.
This story was amazing. Such emotions were triggered for me in such few pages. This story is a steady climb of excitement and hope and ends with such a bang it left me asking myself what the hell just happened? Papi was an entertaining and very arousing read. The author’s descriptions couldn’t have been more lifelike.
On a side note if you’re accustomed to your stories having that happy ever after, feel good love tinged to it, I suggest you read this short story with caution. I don’t want to give the ending away but the ending is unexpected and surprising, hence its inclusion in the publisher's "Bittersweet Dreams" line.
I feel fortunate to have gotten to review Papi. It was like being treated to a guilt free dessert. The cover alone is enough to pull readers in but the story inside is what will have readers mesmerized. It you like your stories bittersweet this is a must read.
October 5, 2011
Reviewed by Joe: Papi by J.P. Barnaby is a short story full of twists, turns, unexpected surprises and likeable characters that will leave the reader wanting more and glued to the page. It’s always nice to read a short story that has as much character development and depth as a full length novel and Ms. Barnaby proves her skill as a writer with each sentence. There is no unnecessary dialogue or description. Everything seems carefully crafted and well executed. The characters and plot are likeable and real and I cared about both Kyle and Jesse; especially Jesse. I really felt for him. Especially at the end.
I won’t spoil the ending for readers but let’s just say it’s a twist that no one will see coming. It made me gasp, giggle and say no way. It’s an ending that sticks with you long after you’re finished reading. You are left wondering if the characters are going to be okay and what’s going to happen. I especially found myself concerned for Jesse’s sister and had to remind myself that they are characters in a book, not real people. This is a sure sign of a great writer and story.
If you want an above average short story with real people and a super hot sex scene that will have you turning the fan on full blast I strongly recommend Papi. And I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles from this author.
A
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.com/2...
I won’t spoil the ending for readers but let’s just say it’s a twist that no one will see coming. It made me gasp, giggle and say no way. It’s an ending that sticks with you long after you’re finished reading. You are left wondering if the characters are going to be okay and what’s going to happen. I especially found myself concerned for Jesse’s sister and had to remind myself that they are characters in a book, not real people. This is a sure sign of a great writer and story.
If you want an above average short story with real people and a super hot sex scene that will have you turning the fan on full blast I strongly recommend Papi. And I will definitely be on the lookout for more titles from this author.
A
http://manohmanreviews.blogspot.com/2...
Read
August 13, 2012Maybe this time I’m not very “concerned” about this Bittersweet Dreams title (they are usually romance without an happily ever after), because, well, I don’t really believe it. Meaning that, I don’t believe there is not a some sort of happily ever after for 35 years old Kyle and his 18 years old hustler Jesse, even if the author wants to surprise the reader.
I will not disclose the “surprise” enough to say that there are various reasons why I think Kyle will not proceed with his intended purposes, also since I believe it’s not really legal, and to Jesse would be enough to have a medium experience lawyer to not only going out from this situation but maybe having Kyle in trouble too. True I’m not really a specialist of immigration law, and Jesse is an illegal immigrant, so maybe for him his different, but again, I really hope Kyle will change his mind.
This is a short story, less than 30 pages, but they are enough to give a background story to both Kyle than Jesse, that is maybe the reason why I hope for both of them to have an happily ever after. Despite the age difference, I think they would be good to each other, and there is really nothing against them, on the contrary, I think Jesse has a good heart, and he has already fallen a little for Kyle.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/16...
I will not disclose the “surprise” enough to say that there are various reasons why I think Kyle will not proceed with his intended purposes, also since I believe it’s not really legal, and to Jesse would be enough to have a medium experience lawyer to not only going out from this situation but maybe having Kyle in trouble too. True I’m not really a specialist of immigration law, and Jesse is an illegal immigrant, so maybe for him his different, but again, I really hope Kyle will change his mind.
This is a short story, less than 30 pages, but they are enough to give a background story to both Kyle than Jesse, that is maybe the reason why I hope for both of them to have an happily ever after. Despite the age difference, I think they would be good to each other, and there is really nothing against them, on the contrary, I think Jesse has a good heart, and he has already fallen a little for Kyle.
http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/16...
April 28, 2014
I'm a bit conflicted about this story. For something short and sexy, it will do. The erotic scene is very hot and the characters well-written enough to make you really get into it. So far so good.
The two things that made me lower my rating drastically was the poorly done code-switching into spanish – if you're going to make your protagonist bilingual, you should do the work and check your grammar – and the ending. The way it ended made me question the worth of the whole story. Why give your character a backstory that will make readers want to root for him only to ruin that with an ending that makes all previous pages completely moot? What was the point? Not to mention that what happens in the end isn't even realistic at all, you can't do that kind of thing in real life. It was poorly researched and infuriating enough to hamper any enjoyment I might have gotten from the interesting premise and erotica.
The two things that made me lower my rating drastically was the poorly done code-switching into spanish – if you're going to make your protagonist bilingual, you should do the work and check your grammar – and the ending. The way it ended made me question the worth of the whole story. Why give your character a backstory that will make readers want to root for him only to ruin that with an ending that makes all previous pages completely moot? What was the point? Not to mention that what happens in the end isn't even realistic at all, you can't do that kind of thing in real life. It was poorly researched and infuriating enough to hamper any enjoyment I might have gotten from the interesting premise and erotica.
September 25, 2011
Hmmmmm. So first, I should have been prepared for a twist at the end since this was a "bittersweet dream" release. However, the ending sort of negated the entire rest of the story - like I wasn't sure what part was supposed to be real and what part was not.
I have heard really great things about this author and I'm going to read the Little Boy Lost series and The Forbidden Room series as well. I'm just going to assume that this was not a story that worked for me.
I have heard really great things about this author and I'm going to read the Little Boy Lost series and The Forbidden Room series as well. I'm just going to assume that this was not a story that worked for me.
Read
July 12, 2016The ending pissed me of big time. I don't even know how to rate it, even though I kinda liked everything but that last line. It changed the whole story and made it sad and ugly, and I was not prepared for that.
Too pissed of to give stars right now, maybe after I sleep on it...
Mind you! She's still a brilliant author!
Too pissed of to give stars right now, maybe after I sleep on it...
Mind you! She's still a brilliant author!
August 13, 2011
Maybe 3 1/2 stars? I'm still debating, though I know this is a really short story with no promise of HEA ending I was still left wanting more. Maybe J.P. will pick up the story line later and answer the question of what happens next and what happens next for the MC.
August 21, 2014
Jesus. lol. the ending slayed me. this story was intriguing ...I could have easily read a full length story about these guys. it isn't a hea but I could easily feel that their story continued off page.
July 26, 2013
Erotic short story with a surprise ending. Sure hope there is a sequel!
August 14, 2011
Too short and extremely abrupt ending. A bit disconcerting.
October 21, 2011
Oooooooh fun.....
October 25, 2011
Very nice, hot GFY kind of story. There is a twist in the end. To be honest it's something so unexpected that I'm not sure what really happened.
October 29, 2011
I generally really like Barnaby's books, but this short story is not one of my favorites.
June 17, 2012
It wasn't the length or the plot, if I can call it that, that disappointed me, it was the ending. I was hoping for something... more.
June 14, 2014
I loved it! But it was so short! It should've been longer.
December 7, 2016
Just was getting into story and it ends. Not a fan of short stories.
January 13, 2017
I don´t get these short stories which ended before they could start...
January 9, 2012
Loved it! Fabulous ending!
Read
November 20, 2012way too short to even think an appropriate rating...
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews