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Life Lessons #1.8
Getting It Right
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.
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.
14 pages, ebook
First published February 10, 2012
5 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Kaje Harper
88 books2,702 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 96 reviews
September 24, 2014
4 Stars - It's Valentine's Day... just love them..
Quick visit with Tony and Mac. ~ What should you buy your lover for a Valentine's Day gift? Or is it just silly and too romantic?
Cute but never ever sticky sugar sweet. As always some memorable about the police everyday reality with the sad life for many people in the cases they are working on.
My heart is with these two guys, wonderfully yummy in just a few pages.
I LIKE - a few nice minutes
~~~~~~~~
A mini shortie (8 pages) about the lovely Tony & Mac
Quick visit with Tony and Mac. ~ What should you buy your lover for a Valentine's Day gift? Or is it just silly and too romantic?
‘He was going to Tony's place. His secret haven. It would be warm, and if he was lucky something good would be cooking in the crock-pot. Even better would be the heat of Tony's arms around him, and that smile as Tony looked up at him. Every damned time, coming home to all that cracked a little more of the ice around his heart.’
‘Tony glided his tongue across his lower lip, slowly. “I might even paint you up too, if you ask nicely. It's hard to get this stuff off. Takes a lot of licking.” Tony rubbed at the smeared paint where his pec was wet from Mac's mouth, and then sucked on his fingertip.’
Cute but never ever sticky sugar sweet. As always some memorable about the police everyday reality with the sad life for many people in the cases they are working on.
My heart is with these two guys, wonderfully yummy in just a few pages.
I LIKE - a few nice minutes
~~~~~~~~
A mini shortie (8 pages) about the lovely Tony & Mac
December 24, 2021
Tony and Mac's first Valentine's Day together. Mac's partner at work is definitely psychic, lol, and Mac is more of a romantic than he gives himself credit for. His gift was so sweet. And Tony's so adventurous, lol. They're really a good balance for each other.
April 23, 2013
A really short and steamy tale featuring Mac and Tony from Life Lessons, and what happens on Valentine's Day
Should Mac buy something for Tony...should he get something for Anna...decisions, decisions!! I'll leave it up to you to discover what happens
May 29, 2025
soo sweet and adorable
January 19, 2015
Aww, how sweet!
October 23, 2019
Short and sweet story in Tony and Mac's own way.
Ending was a little shorter than I would have liked, but it put a smile on my face.
Ending was a little shorter than I would have liked, but it put a smile on my face.
May 27, 2013
Another perfect look into Tony and Mac's growing relationship. A valentines so suited to this couple. I love to think that even if Mac never saw the title, he still knew exactly what the statue meant lol.
December 5, 2017
Leggi qui la mia recensione:
http://bit.ly/2AZgraG
http://bit.ly/2AZgraG
November 4, 2018
3.5 stars
February 14, 2012
While taking "a step back", since this short story about Tony and Mac on Valentine's Day prior to Breaking Cover -- in this story, Mac is still in the closet regarding his relationship with Tony -- but I still find it beautiful.
I love how the two guys are trying to find the "right" present for the other, comes Valentine's Day, and each puts a thought on what the other might like while still having their own characteristic. Mac doesn't want to seem like he's moving to forward by saying I love you or things like that, Tony doesn't want to seem like he's pushing Mac but he still wants to be romantic. So each's present is just perfect.
My favorite paragraph for this short story is this:
But instead it was easier to put his game face on for work, knowing that at the end of the day he could take it off again. With Tony he could just be. No hiding, no masks, no pretending he didn't care and didn't feel. Best of all, no worries about what people might see and what they would think of him. Tonight, that sounded like heaven.
Since I already read Breaking Cover, boy, how far Mac has become :).
I love how the two guys are trying to find the "right" present for the other, comes Valentine's Day, and each puts a thought on what the other might like while still having their own characteristic. Mac doesn't want to seem like he's moving to forward by saying I love you or things like that, Tony doesn't want to seem like he's pushing Mac but he still wants to be romantic. So each's present is just perfect.
My favorite paragraph for this short story is this:
But instead it was easier to put his game face on for work, knowing that at the end of the day he could take it off again. With Tony he could just be. No hiding, no masks, no pretending he didn't care and didn't feel. Best of all, no worries about what people might see and what they would think of him. Tonight, that sounded like heaven.
Since I already read Breaking Cover, boy, how far Mac has become :).
February 11, 2012
This is from chris, i agree 100%
3.5 stars. Sweet short m/m romance about both Mac and Tony agonizing over what to get the other for Valentine’s Day.
it was well written and good, but i read after book two so this was like taking a step backwards and it wasn't as good as it would have been if i'd read it before book two. If you can read this before book two! it'd be awesome if you just finished book one and read it.
3.5 stars. Sweet short m/m romance about both Mac and Tony agonizing over what to get the other for Valentine’s Day.
it was well written and good, but i read after book two so this was like taking a step backwards and it wasn't as good as it would have been if i'd read it before book two. If you can read this before book two! it'd be awesome if you just finished book one and read it.
March 8, 2012
I read this a while ago somehow I forgot to add it to my bookshelves. I love Mac and Tony, so any chance to read about them is great.
This was a great little Valentine story, can't wait for more from these guys!
This was a great little Valentine story, can't wait for more from these guys!
May 27, 2013
Aww... what a cute Valentine's short story. It's heartmelting how the relationship between Mac and Tony grows. I love the presents the guys have for each other, especially Mac's. The wolf guarding his mate. A beautiful metapher! Thanks for this awesome freebie!
December 18, 2012
What a cute story. I really love these guys - and btw. is there a book by this author not wonderful and endearing? Only too short:))
May 20, 2013
Short, sweet and cute. Mac's partner Oliver is getting ideas, he thinks it's a woman. How long can Mac keep up the pretence? Now on to book two.....
December 6, 2014
A delicious Valentine's Day for Tony and Mac!!!
January 13, 2018
Anche se è breve, l’ho trovata piacevole e interessante.
Questa seconda novella, pubblicata dopo quella natalizia, fa da ponte verso il secondo volume e ci offre la possibilità di conoscere nuove sfumature di quest’adorabile, tormentata coppia, tra lavoro e vita privata.
Questa storia è ambientata a San Valentino e parla di come il rapporto segreto di Tony e Mac possa venir influenzato da questa festività.
Uno scorcio brevissimo delle loro vite, ma ugualmente intrigante, perché ogni pezzo aiuta a capirli un po’ di più. Ci sono paure e speranze. Le loro, e quelle altrui. Amori nascosti, amori finiti, amori malati. Un taglio agrodolce della festa più romantica dell’anno. Ma credo che Mac vi stupirà.
Decisamente consigliata agli amanti della serie, in attesa del prossimo volume.
Questa seconda novella, pubblicata dopo quella natalizia, fa da ponte verso il secondo volume e ci offre la possibilità di conoscere nuove sfumature di quest’adorabile, tormentata coppia, tra lavoro e vita privata.
Questa storia è ambientata a San Valentino e parla di come il rapporto segreto di Tony e Mac possa venir influenzato da questa festività.
Uno scorcio brevissimo delle loro vite, ma ugualmente intrigante, perché ogni pezzo aiuta a capirli un po’ di più. Ci sono paure e speranze. Le loro, e quelle altrui. Amori nascosti, amori finiti, amori malati. Un taglio agrodolce della festa più romantica dell’anno. Ma credo che Mac vi stupirà.
Decisamente consigliata agli amanti della serie, in attesa del prossimo volume.
May 9, 2020
Un'altra novella molto carina, un altro episodio della nuova vita di Tony e Mac che ci fa capire ulteriori cose sul loro rapporto 💗
February 25, 2017
3.5 stars
January 17, 2016
Cool in-between book of Life Lessons and Breaking Cover. It is a sweet Valentine's story where both Mac and Tony debate whether they should get something for the other. This takes place shortly after Life Lessons where they are a strong secret to all of the outside world. While I continue to LOVE Kaje's work and love this series, I can't bring myself to give this 5 stars because Breaking Cover is one of my all time favorite books and I don't like . I loved Mac buying a teddy bear thought. :-) Brilliant as always.
February 23, 2012
It's always fun to watch grown up boys try to join in the Valentine's reindeer games. Is this romantic? Too romantic? Not romantic enough? Should I even be trying to go with romantic? What if he's not romantic and thinks I suck? So cute. I wanted to pinch their cheeks. I love visiting these guys, and I'm glad the author does too. A lovely short that just whets my appetite for another main course. MORE!
Thank you, Kaje Harper, for sharing this lovely free read. As a fan of Tony and Mac, I appreciate it very much.
Thank you, Kaje Harper, for sharing this lovely free read. As a fan of Tony and Mac, I appreciate it very much.
March 20, 2012
A nice, free short story to supplement the Life Lessons series. This story takes place over Valentine's Day and I thought it was nice to see Mac and Tony show a little romanticism. I also always sincerely appreciate free reads from the authors. It makes me want to continue buying the rest of the series.
February 9, 2015
I love Tony and Mac.
Having read their entire series, it's interesting to now go this far back into their relationship. The desire, sweetness, and love - Mac, you were slow on the uptake, my friend lol - are all there.
If I couldn't still replay their story in my head, this would make me start a re-read. :D
Having read their entire series, it's interesting to now go this far back into their relationship. The desire, sweetness, and love - Mac, you were slow on the uptake, my friend lol - are all there.
If I couldn't still replay their story in my head, this would make me start a re-read. :D
February 11, 2012
3.5 stars. Sweet short m/m romance about both Mac and Tony agonizing over what to get the other for Valentine’s Day.
March 3, 2012
Awwww! This was sooo sweet!
Sweet Valentines short with Tony and Mac!! I want more!!
I must add that it felt a little weird reading this after I have already read Breaking Cover.
Sweet Valentines short with Tony and Mac!! I want more!!
I must add that it felt a little weird reading this after I have already read Breaking Cover.
February 11, 2012
I haven't read Breaking Cover (yet!) so I really enjoyed being able to see Tony and Mac figure out what to do for Valentine's day!
Now I'll have to move BC up on my TBR list!
Now I'll have to move BC up on my TBR list!
October 20, 2012
"Guarding my mate" Aaawwww, cried again..
November 13, 2012
A super quick, but really sweet read. Tony and Mac celebrated Valentines Day.
April 25, 2013
another short story after Life Lessons, enjoyed this one
January 22, 2015
Very cute, loved it !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews