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The Wish #3
Valentine Wish
Isaac Lewis left the gangs behind to remake himself. He’s a street fighter turned gym rat, a thug turned honest man—only his loneliness hasn’t changed.
Success as a restaurateur hasn't erased Thierry Guillaume’s insecurities. Well-padded in a world where looks matter, he’s been grasping at crumbs of affection. Can Isaac convince him he deserves the whole cake?
Success as a restaurateur hasn't erased Thierry Guillaume’s insecurities. Well-padded in a world where looks matter, he’s been grasping at crumbs of affection. Can Isaac convince him he deserves the whole cake?
36 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2010
40 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Eden Winters
93 books677 followersYou will know Eden Winters by her distinctive white plumage and exuberant cry of “Hey, y’all!” in a Southern US drawl so thick it renders even the simplest of words unrecognizable. Watch out, she hugs!
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures, she has written over thirty gay romance novels, lost count of novellas and short stories, has won Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s cosplaying for children's charities or hanging out at the farm being a mother, grandmother, and vegetarian.
Her natural habitats are hardware stores and on the backs of motorcycles.
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures, she has written over thirty gay romance novels, lost count of novellas and short stories, has won Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s cosplaying for children's charities or hanging out at the farm being a mother, grandmother, and vegetarian.
Her natural habitats are hardware stores and on the backs of motorcycles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
May 23, 2017
A quick sexy read about Isaac and Thierry and how birthday wishes (on Valentine's Day) do come true.
August 13, 2012
This was a freebie from Dreamspinner, and quite enjoyable. I really liked that fact that the hot main character lusted and fell in love with a non perfect guy.
In most if not almost all romance everyone has the perfect body, and if not they have it by the end of the book. The main character in this short is a gym rat but in love with a french chef who GASP has more than a few extra pounds on him.
Say it ain't so!
I loved it, cause I tell you one thing if I could cook as well as the chef in this book I probably would have Green Peace show up every time I went to the beach and try to push me back in.
I also liked the fact that the main character in the face of strong emotion still keeps his head.
So here you have it a nice short with characters that are not your normal everyday romance options.
In most if not almost all romance everyone has the perfect body, and if not they have it by the end of the book. The main character in this short is a gym rat but in love with a french chef who GASP has more than a few extra pounds on him.
Say it ain't so!
I loved it, cause I tell you one thing if I could cook as well as the chef in this book I probably would have Green Peace show up every time I went to the beach and try to push me back in.
I also liked the fact that the main character in the face of strong emotion still keeps his head.
So here you have it a nice short with characters that are not your normal everyday romance options.
September 8, 2017
3.5 stars
November 5, 2012
This title was provided free by the author or publisher for review purposes. Review originally posted at Brief Encounters Reviews.
Rating: B-
When I requested this for review I hadn't realised it was a sequel to a novel, The Wish, nor that it was a re-release of a title originally published with Torquere in 2010. However, since I enjoy Winter's writing I set about reading The Wish so that I could do the sequel justice. I have to admit, I sometimes wonder at the wisdom in rereleasing older titles, as it's clear Winter's writing has improved significantly since she wrote the novel. I'm not about to launch into a review of the novel, but I just wanted to make the point that you don't really need to read it first. Isaac and Thierry are very much minor characters who only make the occasional appearance in the original. While your experience of reading Valentine Wish might be enhanced if you know who Alex and Paul are, I don't think you'll suffer unduly if you don't.
This short is entirely from Isaac's point of view, as he celebrates his Valentine's Day birthday. More accustomed to visiting Berkley's as the chauffeur for his rich employers, Isaac has gotten to know the owner and head chef over time. For a long time Thierry was unavailable but now he's single again, and Isaac is determined to have his birthday wish.
I loved the fact that Winters has made a big bear of a man the object of Isaac's affection. As Isaac himself points out to Thierry, he likes to snuggle and that just wouldn't be possible with another gym rat. Isaac genuinely lusts after Thierry's ample, hairy body and doesn't care about his age. This was a refreshing change in a genre which usually only eroticises the lean, muscular and young.
Another part of the story that worked particularly well for me was the scene where Isaac sees off Thierry's no-good ex, Victor. Isaac calls on his street fighter past to deal with the sleazy thug, rescuing Thierry from the man's clutches. As Isaac observes, the Frenchman is a lover, not a fighter, and can only cower in fear while Victor threatens him. While this didn't make him particularly heroic, it added a note of realism and Thierry certainly stirred up protective feelings in me, just as he did in Isaac.
What didn't work so well for me, though, was the slow start. The first five pages were a mix of exposition to tell us Isaac's past and present, and description of the restaurant. These pages really dragged for me, and even when Isaac begins interacting with the other guests, we still don't see anything of Thierry for a few more pages. They don't spend a great deal of page time together at all, with very little conversation, so although I got a sense that perhaps they could work well as a couple, I didn't really see the connection. The sex between them was both hot and affectionate, however, so lovers of erotic romance should enjoy that part.
I was also puzzled by a minor detail, but enough for it to drag me out of the story. We are told by Isaac that Thierry has only just become single, otherwise he'd have made a move earlier. However, later Paul says that Thierry has been single for six months. I wondered if this was an error that should have been caught in edits, because six months is a pretty long time by most people's standards.
In short, then, this is a pretty well-written story with two appealingly different protagonists, and although it was slow to start, I enjoyed it by the end. The very last paragraph in particular was genius, and left me with a grin on my face.
Rating: B-
When I requested this for review I hadn't realised it was a sequel to a novel, The Wish, nor that it was a re-release of a title originally published with Torquere in 2010. However, since I enjoy Winter's writing I set about reading The Wish so that I could do the sequel justice. I have to admit, I sometimes wonder at the wisdom in rereleasing older titles, as it's clear Winter's writing has improved significantly since she wrote the novel. I'm not about to launch into a review of the novel, but I just wanted to make the point that you don't really need to read it first. Isaac and Thierry are very much minor characters who only make the occasional appearance in the original. While your experience of reading Valentine Wish might be enhanced if you know who Alex and Paul are, I don't think you'll suffer unduly if you don't.
This short is entirely from Isaac's point of view, as he celebrates his Valentine's Day birthday. More accustomed to visiting Berkley's as the chauffeur for his rich employers, Isaac has gotten to know the owner and head chef over time. For a long time Thierry was unavailable but now he's single again, and Isaac is determined to have his birthday wish.
I loved the fact that Winters has made a big bear of a man the object of Isaac's affection. As Isaac himself points out to Thierry, he likes to snuggle and that just wouldn't be possible with another gym rat. Isaac genuinely lusts after Thierry's ample, hairy body and doesn't care about his age. This was a refreshing change in a genre which usually only eroticises the lean, muscular and young.
Another part of the story that worked particularly well for me was the scene where Isaac sees off Thierry's no-good ex, Victor. Isaac calls on his street fighter past to deal with the sleazy thug, rescuing Thierry from the man's clutches. As Isaac observes, the Frenchman is a lover, not a fighter, and can only cower in fear while Victor threatens him. While this didn't make him particularly heroic, it added a note of realism and Thierry certainly stirred up protective feelings in me, just as he did in Isaac.
What didn't work so well for me, though, was the slow start. The first five pages were a mix of exposition to tell us Isaac's past and present, and description of the restaurant. These pages really dragged for me, and even when Isaac begins interacting with the other guests, we still don't see anything of Thierry for a few more pages. They don't spend a great deal of page time together at all, with very little conversation, so although I got a sense that perhaps they could work well as a couple, I didn't really see the connection. The sex between them was both hot and affectionate, however, so lovers of erotic romance should enjoy that part.
I was also puzzled by a minor detail, but enough for it to drag me out of the story. We are told by Isaac that Thierry has only just become single, otherwise he'd have made a move earlier. However, later Paul says that Thierry has been single for six months. I wondered if this was an error that should have been caught in edits, because six months is a pretty long time by most people's standards.
In short, then, this is a pretty well-written story with two appealingly different protagonists, and although it was slow to start, I enjoyed it by the end. The very last paragraph in particular was genius, and left me with a grin on my face.
January 10, 2013
I read this little gem while soaking in the tub after a long day standing at work. Everything on my body hurt. The heat, the bubbles, my wine, and Eden's words made me feel so much better. Eden has a lyrical writing style which is extremely engaging. I found no false notes in this sexy tale, not one. Characters, plot, intensity... all great.
Thanks, Eden, for completing my night.
Thanks, Eden, for completing my night.
August 4, 2012
3.5*
Oh, how I wish you had been longer! I loved reading about Anton again, and his birthday wish!
Thierry a big bear chef is exactly what Anton wants for his birthday and all the birthdays after that, and now he just might have his chance.
Oh, how I wish you had been longer! I loved reading about Anton again, and his birthday wish!
Thierry a big bear chef is exactly what Anton wants for his birthday and all the birthdays after that, and now he just might have his chance.
August 3, 2022
This is a super-short (~30 pages, 7 pages of which is a sex scene) novella I got as a freebie from Dreamspinner Press. Isaac is a super-fit gym rat with a murky past who meets some friends at a fancy restaurant on Valentine's Day (which also happens to be his birthday). He has a crush on the owner/head chef Thierry, who is French and not a gym rat. During the dinner, someone from Thierry's past shows up and then...some stuff that requires high suspension of disbelief happens.
Isaac is Black and used to be in a gang (hmm) and then later the author wrote this:
Hmm.
Beyond that, a key part of this is the size difference (one MC is larger and one MC is stereotypically super fit), and YMMV with the terminology used--"beefy" "massive"--and the villain of the story does use deliberately mean language to describe the larger MC (tub of lard).
Isaac is Black and used to be in a gang (hmm) and then later the author wrote this:
Wishing he’d thought to do so earlier, he reverted back to the guttural dialect he’d used on the streets, hoping to up the intimidation factor, as if a six-foot-six black man holding a ten-inch blade and threatening castration wasn’t intimidating enough. “Ma homies be watching,” “Don’ fuck wit ma prop’ty agin, or I’ll haf to come fuck wit you.”
Hmm.
Beyond that, a key part of this is the size difference (one MC is larger and one MC is stereotypically super fit), and YMMV with the terminology used--"beefy" "massive"--and the villain of the story does use deliberately mean language to describe the larger MC (tub of lard).
July 10, 2017
*free on Amazon *
February 12, 2016
2.5 Stars
Valentine Wish is the third book in the series, The Wish. It’s told in third person through the eyes of Isaac Lewis.
Valentine Wish is the third book in the series, The Wish. It’s told in third person through the eyes of Isaac Lewis.
March 28, 2010
4.5 stars. This is a spinoff tale about two minor characters from The Wish. Anton and Thierry did not show to their best advantage in the novel and it was good to see them in their own story. I should mention that it was nice to have two main characters who weren't model boy perfect - but that wasn't something in the front of my mind as I was reading. Thierry is a chef and enjoys good food which is reflected in his waistline. Anton likes a man who won't be swept away by a light breeze and who he can hug without breaking. Perfect match. The characters were who they were and there wasn't any other agenda visible.
Eden Winters might have wanted to make a point about less-than-perfect people can and do fall in love, but it was done well and without making the reader conscious of it. Some writers cannot manage this as gracefully - don't worry there is no 'preaching' in this story.
Eden Winters might have wanted to make a point about less-than-perfect people can and do fall in love, but it was done well and without making the reader conscious of it. Some writers cannot manage this as gracefully - don't worry there is no 'preaching' in this story.
September 22, 2010
Like
Boy Under The Bridge
, this was another good spinoff from
The Wish
. In this short m/m romance, Anton's out with his friends and employers, celebrating his Valentine's Day birthday. Will he be going home alone again, or will he get his birthday wish?
August 18, 2011
this is Anton's story. It's his birthday and Valentine's Day on the same day. He's not planning on spending it alone. He plans on asking Thierry, the chef/owner at Berkley's, out but Thierry's ex turns up threatening him. I liked how Anton stood up for Thierry. I also enjoyed Anton turning "street" to protect Thierry. Thierry is unsure and uncertain that Anton has feelings for him. It's beautiful how two very different people are compatible with each other.
February 9, 2012
I love this one! Very sweet.
February 5, 2012
should have been a full length book.
February 2, 2012
This is a hot, sweet short story set in The Wish universe. It was nice to see spend some additional time with Thierry and Anton! And a happy Valentine's Day/Birthday to them both.
September 7, 2014
I got this one as a free download thru Dreamspinner. It is a cute little story - it would be fun to read at Valentine's Day. It's short but long enough to be enjoyable.
September 1, 2012
Sweet, short read.
February 15, 2021
Dreams can come true if you only pursue them as Isaac finds out when he follows his dream, Thierry, into the alley behind the restaurant to confront Thierry's ex. When he offers to take him home to protect him from Victor, his wish comes true.
May 23, 2017
3.5~4/5
Sweet short story, like valentine chocolate. :3
Sweet short story, like valentine chocolate. :3
December 4, 2019
3 1/2 stars. A sweet story where not everyone has a perfect body. And that is more than ok.
March 2, 2016
Stars: 2.5/5
Overall
A sweet, short tale that is probably just the treat for the February holiday.
Review
A sweet little short that has a good message, but lacks much depth, both for the characters and the plot. I definitely enjoyed this, and I especially liked how it was both a Valentine's story and not solely focused on Valentine's day.
I would have liked to have seen more of Isaac's backstory. We get the major points that are related to the plot, but in some ways the straightforward provision of this information makes it feel less real and more an element that was added to create the story. A more natural reveal, as well as a few more character-building facts about Isaac's previous situation, would have made everything feel more realistic.
Thierry was just the right mix of uncertain, nonaggressive persona and knowledgeable bed partner. They had a nice dynamic and I was happy when they ended up together, but the story lacked any depth that really would have helped me care about the characters and their relationship.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
Overall
A sweet, short tale that is probably just the treat for the February holiday.
Review
A sweet little short that has a good message, but lacks much depth, both for the characters and the plot. I definitely enjoyed this, and I especially liked how it was both a Valentine's story and not solely focused on Valentine's day.
I would have liked to have seen more of Isaac's backstory. We get the major points that are related to the plot, but in some ways the straightforward provision of this information makes it feel less real and more an element that was added to create the story. A more natural reveal, as well as a few more character-building facts about Isaac's previous situation, would have made everything feel more realistic.
Thierry was just the right mix of uncertain, nonaggressive persona and knowledgeable bed partner. They had a nice dynamic and I was happy when they ended up together, but the story lacked any depth that really would have helped me care about the characters and their relationship.
Be sure to check out my other reviews on my blog.
February 2, 2014
Very sweet, well-written and engaging story about Isaac, the chauffer from The Wish. It's Valentine's Day and his birthday and his one wish is to be with Thierry, the owner of the lavish restaurant where his birthday party is being held. He's had to wait two years for this man to be free from his loser boyfriend so that he can make his move.
Without giving away the plot of this short story, I can say that it was interesting, hot, sweet, with terrific characters and just right for a romantic Valentine's Day story.
Without giving away the plot of this short story, I can say that it was interesting, hot, sweet, with terrific characters and just right for a romantic Valentine's Day story.
August 20, 2018
I picked this up as a free read and it is a short update on minor characters from The Wish. I've not read The Wish and its not really necessary as this is a self contained tale about Isaac's birthday night and his getting his wish - Thierry, slightly cuddly chef at his favourite restaurant. Cute short read
20.8.18 reread - short, smexy, does the job!
20.8.18 reread - short, smexy, does the job!
December 5, 2016
This was a sweet story. I liked how Isaac was secretly passionate about Thierry. Every trip into the restaurant has been one more chance for Isaac to watch Thierry and wish the man was single. Now that he is Isaac is determined not to let his opportunity pass. No ex-boyfriend is going to stop Isaac from getting what he wants. I enjoyed Isaac getting his birthday wish. :)
December 19, 2013
Another nice extension of The Wish. No one should have to go through life in an abusive relationship. Finding that one true love can be difficult but never should you remain in a relationship with someone who is taking advantage of you or physically abusing you.
July 1, 2020
More, please!
I loved everything about this story except that it was so short. I want to know what happens when Isaac and Thierrey take their relationship public? Will Victor be back?
I loved everything about this story except that it was so short. I want to know what happens when Isaac and Thierrey take their relationship public? Will Victor be back?
July 23, 2012
3.5 stars
Want to Read
July 20, 2012Currently free at dreamspinner.
July 24, 2012
Cute freebie short at Dreamspinner.
August 28, 2012
3.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews