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Two Shorts and a Snort
This book consists of two short stories and one poem from award-winning author, Jan Sikes, in response to a writing challenge from the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB. How far will one man go to satisfy an obsession? The price could cost him his life. Is it possible to pray up a baby? Frank and Mary Pyburn are convinced that is what they’ve done. Friends Instead of Sometimes it’s better to remain friends, instead of giving in to desires and crossing a line.
47 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2018
About the author
Jan Sikes
32 books257 followersFollow Jan on BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jan-s...
Jan Sikes writes compelling and creative stories from the heart.
She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. The entertaining true story comes to life through fictitious characters in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books.
And now, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published numerous award-winning short stories. She published her debut paranormal romance novel, Ghostly Interference, Book 1 in The White Rune Series, in 2020, which won a bronze medal award from Reader’s Favorite. Jagged Feathers releases January 31, 2022, as Book 2 of that series, and Saddled Hearts will release later in 2022.
She is an active blogger, an avid fan of Texas music, and a grandmother of five. She resides in North Texas.
Jan Sikes writes compelling and creative stories from the heart.
She openly admits that she never set out in life to be an author. But she had a story to tell. Not just any story, but a true story that rivals any fiction creation. The entertaining true story comes to life through fictitious characters in an intricately woven tale that encompasses four books.
And now, this author can’t find a way to put down the pen. She continues to write fiction and has published numerous award-winning short stories. She published her debut paranormal romance novel, Ghostly Interference, Book 1 in The White Rune Series, in 2020, which won a bronze medal award from Reader’s Favorite. Jagged Feathers releases January 31, 2022, as Book 2 of that series, and Saddled Hearts will release later in 2022.
She is an active blogger, an avid fan of Texas music, and a grandmother of five. She resides in North Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
June 24, 2018
Small but mighty stories with a message. Excellent writing. My favorite was "Maggie," a baby in desperate need of someone to care for it. Jan Sikes thrust me into the middle of a winter storm and I could feel the longing of this cowboy and his wife. "Obsessed" showed where greed and obsession would take you and you should never want to go there. Then the poem....often we should stop at friends and not take the next step.
If you only have a few minutes, this one will fill the bill. Good job, Jan Sikes!
If you only have a few minutes, this one will fill the bill. Good job, Jan Sikes!
July 16, 2018
A super quick read that is perfect for a lunch break or anytime you want to kick back and relax with a few story gems. In this book, Jan Sikes provides two entertaining tales and a poem. My favorite was Obsessed. The character voices were authentic and the ending perfect for the way everything unfolded. The writing moves at a fast pace throughout and is crisp and clean. We also get a moral at the end of each story, that makes an idea wrap for each. Short, well done and enjoyable!
June 26, 2018
I’m a huge fan of Jan Sikes! Every book I’ve ever read by her I’ve fallen in love with. Well this short story collection is no different. I really enjoyed how she can draw her readers in and keep us intrigued.
Very well written and entertaining!!!
Very well written and entertaining!!!
January 22, 2022
Two Shorts and a Snort is a quick read that is easily done during a lunch break.
Obsessed is the story of a West Texas oil field worker who comes to a decision regarding a woman in his life.
Maggie is a wonderful story about a couple who longed for a child. The rancher husband finds a special gift in the snow thanks to a wayward longhorn cow.
Friends Instead of Lovers is a poem that reads like a song.
Jan Sikes has mastered the art of short stories, packing powerful messages into these pieces of fiction.
Obsessed is the story of a West Texas oil field worker who comes to a decision regarding a woman in his life.
Maggie is a wonderful story about a couple who longed for a child. The rancher husband finds a special gift in the snow thanks to a wayward longhorn cow.
Friends Instead of Lovers is a poem that reads like a song.
Jan Sikes has mastered the art of short stories, packing powerful messages into these pieces of fiction.
December 5, 2018
Sometimes when you’re gifted an Amazon card, you become like a child of the 1950’s who’s just found a $5.00 bill in the street, and you head over to buy as much candy as you can. [Back then with most candies/gum costing less than a nickel, you got a good-sized bag loaded to the brim with this stuff.] This is how I felt getting a $25.00 card.
Usually, I wouldn’t have bought a short book like this, but like an adult kid, I went on a shopping spree for KINDLE books I wound up buying this book, a purchase which wound up not being a disappointment, but a wonderful find.
Being an author of Flash Fiction, I love being able to read stories which cuts to the chase, and gets the message it’s trying to communicate readers without wasting time with a lot of unnecessary verbiage. And author, Jan Sikes, succeeds in doing this quite well with OBSESSED and MAGGIE.
If you’ve ever been in a relationship with a guy whose got an fixation on having to marry you, and is going to unbelievable lengths in seeing that you’ll say YES to his proposal; then you’re in Nelda Sue’s shoes being confronted with Charlie Riddle being OBESSED with you and you knows precisely how she feels. As I did.
In regards to MAGGIE, anyone who has a child know it’s essentially a God-given gift. But what happens when despite numerous attempts at having one, nothing has resulted. If you can understand how a woman might feel when this happens, then you can step into Mary’s shoes and feel the elation she gets when her husband Jackson finds an abandoned baby and brings it home; if this isn’t a God-given gift for his finding the infant then what is?
For giving her readers these two delightful stories and a bonus poem, I’m glad to give Ms. Sikes, the 5 STARS she’s gotten from this reviewer.
Usually, I wouldn’t have bought a short book like this, but like an adult kid, I went on a shopping spree for KINDLE books I wound up buying this book, a purchase which wound up not being a disappointment, but a wonderful find.
Being an author of Flash Fiction, I love being able to read stories which cuts to the chase, and gets the message it’s trying to communicate readers without wasting time with a lot of unnecessary verbiage. And author, Jan Sikes, succeeds in doing this quite well with OBSESSED and MAGGIE.
If you’ve ever been in a relationship with a guy whose got an fixation on having to marry you, and is going to unbelievable lengths in seeing that you’ll say YES to his proposal; then you’re in Nelda Sue’s shoes being confronted with Charlie Riddle being OBESSED with you and you knows precisely how she feels. As I did.
In regards to MAGGIE, anyone who has a child know it’s essentially a God-given gift. But what happens when despite numerous attempts at having one, nothing has resulted. If you can understand how a woman might feel when this happens, then you can step into Mary’s shoes and feel the elation she gets when her husband Jackson finds an abandoned baby and brings it home; if this isn’t a God-given gift for his finding the infant then what is?
For giving her readers these two delightful stories and a bonus poem, I’m glad to give Ms. Sikes, the 5 STARS she’s gotten from this reviewer.
September 3, 2020
The title of this book made my fingers click Buy Now, and I chuckled. Reading books by Jan Sikes is always an adventure.
The first short, Obsession, is about a roughneck in the West Texas Oilfields who came to the crossroads in his life journey. Charlie had a choice between arguing with a woman he saw on weekends off and just having fun. The options apply to the morale of this tale.
The second story Maggie, has Jackson Durant, a rancher, out hunting his longhorn in a snowstorm. He finds far more than the longhorn. His conflicted thoughts are the morale of this story.
Both short stories are easy, exciting reads. The characters are interesting, and each builds to the conclusion. I like the songs that influenced these stories. This book is an excellent way to sample the writing of Jan Sikes.
The icing on the cake, making this book just a bit sweeter, is the poem (snort) about transitioning a relationship from friends to lovers. Somehow it felt like a song and music in my mind as I read it. Check out Two Shorts and A Snort along with other works by Jan Sikes. I recommend it for adults.
The first short, Obsession, is about a roughneck in the West Texas Oilfields who came to the crossroads in his life journey. Charlie had a choice between arguing with a woman he saw on weekends off and just having fun. The options apply to the morale of this tale.
The second story Maggie, has Jackson Durant, a rancher, out hunting his longhorn in a snowstorm. He finds far more than the longhorn. His conflicted thoughts are the morale of this story.
Both short stories are easy, exciting reads. The characters are interesting, and each builds to the conclusion. I like the songs that influenced these stories. This book is an excellent way to sample the writing of Jan Sikes.
The icing on the cake, making this book just a bit sweeter, is the poem (snort) about transitioning a relationship from friends to lovers. Somehow it felt like a song and music in my mind as I read it. Check out Two Shorts and A Snort along with other works by Jan Sikes. I recommend it for adults.
February 2, 2025
I read this quick 30-minute collection of a short story, flash fiction piece, and a love poem during a brief interlude on a busy day.
“Obsessed” is a short story about Charlie Riddle, a man obsessed with the love of his life Nelda Sue. Only Nelda isn’t going to commit until she sees a big fat diamond ring on her finger. In the meantime, she’s living it up with Charlie’s rival Pete. Charlie, high on coke, will do anything to win Nelda Sue, including getting a ring that he can’t afford. He gets what he wants in addition to a solid helping of karma.
“Maggie” is a flash fiction feel-good short story about Jackson and Mary, a childless couple who finds just what they need when Jackson is looking for a lost longhorn on a snowy afternoon.
“Friends instead of Lovers” is a heartfelt love poem that reads like a tribute to a loving relationship that’s built on a solid foundation of friendship.
This is an entertaining collection of reads I can easily recommend, perfect for filling some free time or for enjoying with a cup of tea right before turning in.
“Obsessed” is a short story about Charlie Riddle, a man obsessed with the love of his life Nelda Sue. Only Nelda isn’t going to commit until she sees a big fat diamond ring on her finger. In the meantime, she’s living it up with Charlie’s rival Pete. Charlie, high on coke, will do anything to win Nelda Sue, including getting a ring that he can’t afford. He gets what he wants in addition to a solid helping of karma.
“Maggie” is a flash fiction feel-good short story about Jackson and Mary, a childless couple who finds just what they need when Jackson is looking for a lost longhorn on a snowy afternoon.
“Friends instead of Lovers” is a heartfelt love poem that reads like a tribute to a loving relationship that’s built on a solid foundation of friendship.
This is an entertaining collection of reads I can easily recommend, perfect for filling some free time or for enjoying with a cup of tea right before turning in.
September 16, 2018
This is a three-piece collection by award-winning author Jan Sikes. The first, Obsession was my favorite. The characters developed quickly, and the tale of obsessive behavior was one to which we could all pay attention. The second was titled Maggie and was a heartwarming description of the longing for a baby that would make the lives of two people complete. The final piece is a poem that strikes to the heart of relationships. As the verse implies sometimes, it is better to be just friends. The collection is a short and rewarding read. Ms. Sikes developed the concepts quickly and served up the resultant stories in a way to be both interesting in thought and satisfying in the ending. I would recommend this collection to anyone who would like a quick read with substance.
November 5, 2018
A quick and enjoyable read made up of two short stories and a poem.
Obsessed – this story had a real feel of the location/people/era – the dialogue and descriptions perfectly illustrate a mans obsession with the woman he wants to marry, and the incredible lengths to which obsession can drive a person.
Maggie – this is a cute, gentle tale of a found baby and the couple who take her in. A good blend of happy and sad round this tale out perfectly.
Friends Instead of Lovers – this short poem sums up the potential peril of turning a friendship into something more, and losing the thing that made the friendship so special in the first place.
All in all this is well worth a read – short and satisfying.
Obsessed – this story had a real feel of the location/people/era – the dialogue and descriptions perfectly illustrate a mans obsession with the woman he wants to marry, and the incredible lengths to which obsession can drive a person.
Maggie – this is a cute, gentle tale of a found baby and the couple who take her in. A good blend of happy and sad round this tale out perfectly.
Friends Instead of Lovers – this short poem sums up the potential peril of turning a friendship into something more, and losing the thing that made the friendship so special in the first place.
All in all this is well worth a read – short and satisfying.
July 25, 2018
There are two short stories and a poem in this collection. My favorite short story was “Obsession”. It takes the reader to a place of greed and lust, and what a dark path they can drag you down. I could sympathize with the characters and at the same time cringe at the things they did. The other short story “Maggie” was a sweet tale when a rancher finds a gift in a snow bank. I left this story wanting to know more, but very glad the couple got what they desired. The poem rang true about relationships that shouldn’t go ‘there’. “Two Shorts and a Snort” is an ideal read before bedtime--or even your lunch break.
September 22, 2018
I do love shorts, especially the shorts that get to the point. These two did and I love and enjoyed them. Both are very well written.
In Obsessed, Charlie Riddle was so obsessed by Nelda Sue he stole and killed. In Maggie, Jackson Durant found an abandoned baby. What a gift from God after years of him and his wife Mary waiting to have one. I will not say too much about these shorts than the stories themselves. I can only say that they were refreshing reads. Lovely stories. I also love the bonus poetry.
In Obsessed, Charlie Riddle was so obsessed by Nelda Sue he stole and killed. In Maggie, Jackson Durant found an abandoned baby. What a gift from God after years of him and his wife Mary waiting to have one. I will not say too much about these shorts than the stories themselves. I can only say that they were refreshing reads. Lovely stories. I also love the bonus poetry.
September 27, 2019
Well Constructed Shorts
I enjoy reading short stories and these three were no exception.
They were written as part of a challenge issued by the Rave Reviews Book Club. As such they are quick reads and took me less than thirty minutes to finish (although I did re-read them).
All three pieces are well constructed and excellent examples of top quality writing. They illustrate the style of Jan Sikes’ longer books, of which I have read one, ‘Home at Last’. I am now encouraged to read more.
I enjoy reading short stories and these three were no exception.
They were written as part of a challenge issued by the Rave Reviews Book Club. As such they are quick reads and took me less than thirty minutes to finish (although I did re-read them).
All three pieces are well constructed and excellent examples of top quality writing. They illustrate the style of Jan Sikes’ longer books, of which I have read one, ‘Home at Last’. I am now encouraged to read more.
July 29, 2018
The story that I appreciated the most was about the baby and how it was saved. Beautiful and touching. Her poem at the end was one that many of us can relate to. Friends are often better than lovers.
Jan Sikes is one of my favorite authors and have loved all her books and poetry.
Jan Sikes is one of my favorite authors and have loved all her books and poetry.
September 8, 2020
Another great short book by Jan Sikes. Jan is my go to author for a great short story and this collection of short stories met my expectations to be a great read. I can always turn to Jan for a quick escape and a great little read!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews