Two Men Walk into a Bar

by Katy Regnery

When Asher Lee (from The Vixen & the Vet) and Zach Aubrey (from Playing for Love at Deep Haven) get stranded at the Los Angeles airport on Christmas Eve, an instant friendship is formed. But will bad weather (and bad luck) conspire to keep them from joining their wives, Savannah and Violet, for Christmas?

Find out in this SHORT STORY (8,000 words) that revisits the happily-ever-after of two beloved Katy Regnery couples!

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Short Stories, Contemporary, Christmas, Holiday, Novella, Romance

33 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 22, 2016

About the author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery has a heart for smart romance featuring strong women and decent men. Almost exclusively self-published, Katy claims authorship of over 60 titles, including three RITA® finalists. Translated into French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, and Turkish, Katy has sold over 1.8 million books worldwide.

Reviews

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 "First Christmas for Asher and Savanna" Stars!

Very sweet little slice of life. I haven't read Violet and Zack's full story yet, but now I want to!! Happy reading!

[Jenny - Book Sojourner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story will remain available in its entirety (six parts) on Katy's website until January 14th. At that time, it will only be available for purchase on Amazon.

Short but super sweet! I loved revisiting Asher & Savannah and Zach & Violet. I forgot how much I loved these couples, and loved their stories. It was so wonderful to revisit them, getting a snapshot of their lives after their original HEA, giving us this bonus HEA. What could have been a Christmas failure turned out to be the sweetest Christmas of them all. LOVED it.

Side note: I loved how Katy posted this story in parts on her website. It's short but a special treat. Selfishly, I want her to do it for all her characters in the future. It's just the dose of future follow-up to make me happy.

[Kahea · Rating 4 out of 5]

***Short and Sweet Mini Review***

I haven’t read Playing for Love at Deep Haven, but did read The Vixen and The Vet and adored Asher and Savannah (I do love me a good Beauty and the Beast inspired love story) so getting a little peek at how they were doing was something that I couldn’t pass up and really enjoyed it. I loved seeing how far Asher truly has come since first meeting him in The Vixen and The Vet. This is a short story, but was written very well and has me bumping up Playing for Love at Deep Haven on my TBR list to find out what Zach and Violet went through to get to where they are in this short story.

[Kirsten Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Asher...I need more of your amazing-ness in my life. 4 1/2 stars! Needed to be longer. Like, forever. Also needs to be real life. -Savannah +Me

[Venessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pov: male & female

Main characters: Zach & Violet, Asher & Savannah

Minor characters:

My thoughts:

I loved it but it was too short. I loved catching up with everyone. I loved the smooth natural way the guys met and bonded. It was a little far fetched for the girls to meet, but it was cute that they did.


Synopsis:

Zach and Violet have been married for 2 years. Asher and Savannah have been married for a few months.

The guys are in California trying to fly home to the east coast for Christmas. There's a major storm system on the east coast and all flights are cancelled.

Both guys are in the bar miserable when they bump into each other. They talk about missing Christmas with their wives and can relate to how much the other guy loves his wife.

Asher tries to get a room but everything is booked. Zach tells him he's welcome to stay on his couch, since he and Violet have an apartment in LA.

They go to Zach's and are depressed. Asher suggests they go to the local hospital he works with to visit wounded veterans.

They go and Zach plays Christmas carols for everyone. They both realize how lucky they are to have found their wives.

Savannah and Violet are both sad the guys are going to miss Christmas. Savannah because it's their first Christmas as a married couple, Violet because she's pregnant and wanted to tell Zach.

Savannah knows the storm won't affect the trains and tracks the storm. She gets to Boston and calls Violet. Hey hit it off. Violet gets a musician friend of Zach's to lend them his private plane to get them to California.

Violet tells Savannah she's pregnant and worried Zach won't be thrilled, since they've never really talked about kids.

The girls get to the apartment and find the guys missing. They decide to decorate the house as a surprise.

The guys finish up and head home. They are stunned to see the girls. They introduce them to each other. Violet is extremely emotional and tells Zach she's pregnant. Zach is thrilled.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup. (posting to blog 12/4/18)
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Gpb7g3

A short story and it made me cry. Dammit! lol Yall. Two Men Walk into a Bar (at Christmastime) was so cute! It's a catch up with two previous couples-- Asher/Savannah from The Vet and the Vixen and Zach/Violet from Playing for Love at Deep Haven. Impossible not to love.

The Gist: It's Christmas and two fellas meet at an airport bar after their flights home for Christmas are canceled due to snow. Their women? Well, they're not going to let a little snow get in the way of Christmas with their men. Sure not.

It was sweet and darling and made me love these guys all over again. It was fun seeing the couples randomly meet and become friends and then seeing them make the best of a not so perfect Christmas was just heartwarming. The guys totally made me cry and then the girls totally made me cry. ::snort::

I absolutely love what Regnery did with this short story. It was a wonderful way to catch up with two awesome couples and one of the cleverest 'catch up' stories I've seen. The perfect little Christmas quickie.

[Nubia Souza · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I heard there was a short story out there where I could revisit one of my most favorite couple in romantic novels, a.k.a. Asher and Savannah, I got really excited. I wouldn’t mind revisiting Violet and Zach either. So maybe it was my expectations that were too high, but this story fell short to me. I really wanted to see more of Asher and Savannah but in this story they are barely together. Needless to say I am a little disappointed. The story is just ok.

[Kimme · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two men

This was a perfect short story to compliment The Vixen and the Vet. Love the new characters and love the visit to the VA Hospital on Christmas eve.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww!! <3

[Wendy LeGrand · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet, short story about two of Katy's incredible men and their wives. I've read Asher and Savannah's story but have not read Zach and Violet's yet. Now I need to look up their story so I can get to know them better.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fanfreakingtastic...

A short sweet story. Funny and angst filled. Lovely characters. Heartfelt and full of love. Katy Regnery you are an awesome author. Onto the next book.

[Kim R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A CHRISTMAS BROMANCE GUARANTEED TO MAKE YOU SWOON!

Two epic love stories collide in this utterly delightful holiday short story by USA Today bestselling author Katy Regnery. Full disclosure: I have a hard time letting Katy Regnery's characters go. A really hard time. Her love stories are just so timeless, the romances so achingly beautiful, that I inevitably have book hangovers for weeks. And two of my biggest book hangovers were with The Vixen and the Vet (bk 1 in her A Modern Fairytale series) and Playing For Love at Deep Haven (bk 1 in her Enchanted Places series). Those beloved characters...those storylines...were so visceral and real and intoxicatingly romantic, it makes my heart ache every time I think of them! In my opinion, no one pens breathtaking love stories about forever soul mates better then Regnery. No one! So, yes, I am not ashamed to admit that I was one of those fans who begged and pleaded for more Savannah and Asher.

The mere thought of getting a short story of them would have been heaven and earth. But no...this magnificent author took it a step further and created a bromance featuring two of my favorite Book Boyfriends, Zach and Asher, from the above mentioned titles. The clever and innovative plotting was genius...but my lips are sealed because I don't want to give away any delicious plot spoilers. But I will say this. This is no haphazard story. It is beautiful and heartfelt. Deeply poignant and even LOL funny at times too. She effortlessly breathed life into these characters and they were so authentic. so true to the personas they once were, it was like a day hadn't gone by since we lasted visited them. It was like coming home again. And the fierce devotion that new best buds Zach and Archer unabashedly expressed for their brides as they pined for them, moved mountains to try to return to them in time for Christmas, was so darn sweet and swoony, my heart felt like it would burst out of my chest! And the ending? A four hanky HEA affair for sure!

So thank you, Ms. Regnery, for making this enamored fan's Christmas dreams come true this year. A sweet blessing indeed!!

[UltraMeital · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short novella brings two different characters together - Asher Lee from "The Vixen and the Vet" and Zach Aubrey from "Playing Love at Deep Haven". They are stranded together at the Los Angeles airport at Christmas eve, both wanting to be re-united with their wives - Savannah & Violet. The novella is told from ALL four POVs which was really cool! Though I just put aside Zach and Violet's story it's been a while since I've read of Asher and Savannah so I had a great time re-visiting them.

I don't want to write more about what actually happens but be sure there's a VERY happy ending with the four of them becoming fast friends. While I'm still not a fan of Violet, I really enjoyed this short novella and I do hope we'll get more next year.

I think it's best for whomever read these two books, makes more sense but maybe if you've read just one you'll get a sweet teaser (NOT spoiler free!) for the other. It's a great reminder to the stories (if it's been a while for you as it was for me with "The Vixen and the Vet").

Fun, happy & sweet short read.

More Reviews HERE

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Men Walk into a Bar is a short Novella tended to be a Christmas gift from Katy Regnery to her devoted fans of her two books The Vixen and the Vet (Asher Lee) and Playing for Love at Deep Haven (Zach Aubrey).

This story is the meeting of Asher and Zach, who are stuck at an airport bar at Christmas time. For Asher to miss Christmas and not make it home would be the worst, and maybe that wouldn't matter to another man, but for Asher, who was desperate to get home to his new bride and spend their first Christmas together, it felt pretty damned awful. Zach was missing his wife Violet (like the flower) married going on two years now, but just saying her name was enough to clear a cloudy day.

This is a beautiful story and a continuation of the two love stories, with the guaranteed HEA that only Katy Regnery can deliver.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Men Walk Into A Bar is a short and sweet story that is perfect for getting you in the holiday spirit. This story features fan favorites Asher Lee (from The Vixen and the Vet) and Zach Aubrey (from Playing for Love at Deep Haven). It is not necessary to have read these books but you’ll love these guys so much you’ll want to go back to their books.

The holidays are a hectic time so when Mother Nature spoils Asher and Zach’s plans to get home to their wives it is only natural they bond while waiting in an airport bar. Their story reminds us of the good in people and their willingness to help a stranger out. I loved being able to spend more time with these characters and get a glimpse of their lives since the end of their books.

Two Men Walk Into A Bar is beautifully written and a wonderful gift from author Katy Regnery to her fans. I loved this!

[Michel Reinhard (Saucy Southern Readers) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Katy Regnery! Spending time with Asher and Zach once again was a delightful way to spend my lunch hour.

This short story is delightful slice of life for two of my favorite couples created by Katy Regnery.

Once again she has worked her magic!

[Tami Talbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two Men Walk Into a Bar (At Christmastime) is a fantastic compilation of characters from two tremendous stories from Katy Regnery. This story gives us a little snippet in to the current lives of Zach and Violet (Love at Deep Haven) and Asher and Savannah (The Vixen and the Vet – which to this day still remains my favorite book from Katy). It brings back the memories to me of why I loved these two stories so much and filled my heart with joy and emotion for them all once more. The depth of love these couples share is amazing and even in this novella it is completely apparent how devoted they are to one another. Beautifully written! I loved it!

[Misti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Happy Fuzzy Stars

This book gives us a glimpse into the lives of two of Katy Regnery's most beloved couples AFTER their books are finished. We get a peek at Asher and Savannah, Zach and Violet and their Happy Ever After. Zach and Asher strike up a friendship and show us all, again, why we love these two so. Violet and Savannah move heaven and earth to be with their men on Christmas and find themselves becoming fast friends. Katy knocks it out of the park, as usual, with the meshing of these two couples, and reminding us what Christmas really about.

[Pamela Devereux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun novella

Loved Asher & Savannah story in The Vicente and The Vet. Now they are separated because of the weather. Only Asher has met Zach sitting at the airport bar. They are commiserating because each man is missing their wife. Only these were smart. They wanted their husbands and were willing to go to great lengths to be with them for Christmas. Never underestimate the power of love.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans who didn't get enough of Katy's heroes in her bestsellers The Vixen and The Vet and Playing for Love at Deep Haven, we get a little glimpse into the lives of these couples after their happily ever after. This holiday novelette was completely endearing and sweet, and I actually wouldn't mind seeing WAY MORE episodes of these couples...perhaps next Christmas? Loved it!

[My Own Bookshelves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pending Review
4.5 out of 5 stars

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you ever wondered what it would be like for Asher Lee and Zachary Aubrey to meet face to face, this is that story. It's Christmas time and they are stuck in a blizzard, unable to get to their wives. Will they have to spend the holidays without the women they love the most?

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic mash up in this super short story about two couples coming together through crazy circumstances & forming a bond of friendship. I really hope Katy keeps this up as a Christmas tradition. It's really neat!! Loved catching up with Asher, Savannah, Zach & Violet. :)

[Angie McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little story

What a sweet little novella about characters from 2 of my favorite books. It's nice that they got to meet each other. Zach, Violet, Savannah and Asher together for Christmas. So sweet

[RCA · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sweet little novella where two separate book characters meet in a bar. Asher (and Savannah) I knew from The Vixen and The Vet, Zach Aubrey, no idea. It's a sweet little ditty that goes nowhere. Sadly I wanted a catch up with Asher and Savannah but I didn't get it. :(

[Seanang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! It's like getting a peek into the future of our favourite characters. Seeing the guys visiting the veterans at the hospital was just beautiful.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked catching up with familiar characters and enjoyed this short story very much.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very quick and satisfying read.

[Penni Gelatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet

Loved this super sweet and short story! I also love that two guys walked into a bar and in return ended up turning a crappy Christmas into a very memorable one.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an okay story, but I must be one of the few that didn't think that Asher and Savannah needed more story. I'm trying to find the book about the other couple, maybe I'd like to read more about them.