Tough Guy

by Bryl R. Tyne

Paul Kennedy is set on entering and winning this year's Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Days' Tough Guy competition. So why is everyone from Paul's ex to the Cody, Wyoming, postmaster hell-bent on discouraging him from competing? Each of his friends has his reasons. And among those, one is clear—Tony Austin, the Tough Guy champ for three years running, is sure to kick Paul's ass.

But Paul's not worried. He's book smart and determined...he'll win, as sure as there's cowboy in his blood.

Tony Austin, however, has other designs on Paul Kennedy. Designs planned to keep Paul beneath him if only Tony can figure out how to make his desires known. But "Guy Grunt" gets a man only so far, and Tony must rely on the only other language he has a chance of stumbling through...the language of love.

Gay / Contemporary / Western (Modern Day) / BDSM (Light) / Exhibitionism / Public Places

Genres: M M Romance, Westerns, Contemporary, M M Contemporary, Romance, Short Stories

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2010

About the author

BRYL R. TYNE is a wrangler by nature and a writer by choice. Balancing as many pronouns as hats, somewhere between the evil day job, editing, and helping a benevolent Sugar Daddy raise the last of seven kids, Bryl writes. Homoerotic romance is a favorite, but many of Bryl’s stories cross genres. Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-fi, even Westerns, Bryl writes them all.

Reviews

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got frustrated with Paul a couple times but the story was fun and very amusing at times. I want more stories with these guys.

The sex left me shall we say satisfied. I normally skip/skim sex scenes, this book didn’t have a lot of sex but what it did have there was no way I could skip, it was Hot

I might have to go pick me up a cowboy now



or two

[Alyosha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hot, fun and fast(plus sexy cowboys).

[Em Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony and Paul were amazing in this hottie of a short story. Paul is a cowboy looking to make his mark and earn a little respect and Tony can't out run his desire for Paul once Paul signs up for the tough man contest in town. I loved how perceptive Paul was, knowing the truth about Tony, and yet the sensitivity (and plain ol' common sense) to let things lie until the time came. The only downfall for me was that I would have liked to see more of them together. *grin* Great read, hot cowboy lovin'...yum.

[UKSandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, quick and hot read. Paul and Tony has some hot moments and I was laughing out loud several times. I really wish it had been a bit longer, I wanted to hear more about where Tony & Paul's relationship went on.

I was in stiches when Paul fainted at the clown!

[Jaele · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Guy Grunt” is right. Very entertaining, but not very deep. The idea of a Tough Guy competition is pretty cool. I’m not sure if they exist in real life, but it would be kind of neat if they did.

I’m confused why Paul gets a hard time for wanting to participate. It’s never really explained. Everyone he runs across wants him to drop out. I didn’t get it. Suspending disbelief keeps the story flowing but would have liked there to be a more definite reason for the pressure.

The encounters with Tony Austin prior to the competition are no string quickies that hint at more below the surface but the story ends before their relationship can develop further than the “gotta get off rigHT NOW” stage. Not sure how I feel about the first time they have sex. Paul doesn’t even know who is behind him before he’s dropping his pants and letting him in. He eventually reasons it out based on a few clues, but he could have been very wrong. The incident suits what we know of both characters, and the drunken frame of mind Paul was in, but it seems a little icky to me.

Paul does have a few supporters at the competition. That was neat. Turns out Tony had something he was trying to hide. The build up proved much more than the actual secret (if you can even call it that.) Pride is a funny thing.

I liked the overall story, even if a few things felt “off” to me. Would have liked to see Paul and Tony past this stage since the last few lines tease at “more.” If the story was just intended to be cowboy fluff, tough, fun and sex then it succeed.

[Sammy Goode · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bryl Tyne is a new author for me...one that I will enjoy reading again. First off my 4 stars is due solely to length--there was so much more I wanted to read about Tony and Paul, the two cowboys featured in the work, Tough Guy. In fact, the book revolves around the competition that is the title of the book--The Tough Guy competition where cowboys get into a ring and mix it up till the last one with their hat on remains standing and is declared the winner. While there is undeniably hot sex in this short story, it is the funny, quirky characters that hold your interest. You want to learn more about why Paul broke up with Hank...who Tony is and where he has been--and the cast of secondary characters are endlessly intriguing and delightful as well. But oh so short---can you hear me moaning?

SO I find I must race off to read more from this author--in order to get a deeper glimpse into what makes them tick--I do know this--I am intrigued by the author's style of writing and his ability to make characters both approachable and human enough that I am drawn to know more. I will be back--after my next Bryl Tyne novel--lucky me--I get to dive into this author's imagination again!

[Lena Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guy-grunt--the self proclaimed language of tough guys like Tony Austin in Bryl Tyne's book 'Tough Guy'. Austin is audacious, narcissistic, and macho on the outside, but desolate inside and too proud to admit it. He doesn't want to be alone, but is unwilling or unable to show the accessibility essential to developing a relationship.

When unexpected events put Austin into a vulnerable position, he realizes that his tough guy image is merely a way of hiding his true self. This epiphany frees him to reach for something 'more.'

'Tough Guys' is told in Bryl Tyne's distinctive hard hitting, no nonsense, yet incredibly poignant manner. He evokes a range of emotions which seems, at times contradictory, but for his stories coordinate wonderfully. Even if you think you are not into tough guys and cowboys, 'Tough Guy' may change your mind.

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually chuckled out loud at some of the humor in this gem of a story! It was relatively short, but packed a lot of hot m/m action, intrigue, and interesting plot in a small amount of space. I found myself very curious about what this whole "Tough Guy" contest entailed. I was feeling pretty confident that I had it nailed down, but no, that was a twist I didn't anticipate and I was yet again surprised by what was revealed during the final match up! The two main characters did the hot cowboy legacy proud and left me wanting to see their story continued. This was my first book by Bryl R. Tyne, and I hope I can expect more of the same style in additional works. If so, I'll keep coming back for more!!

[Buda · Rating 5 out of 5]

More. I want more.

[Heather C · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I wasn't crazy about this one. Guess I'm not into slutty cowboys!

[⚓Dan⚓ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read any of Bryl Tyne's work until today.
This was story was a pleasure to read. Witty and erotic. Loved it.
I'll be looking for more of his work.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I'll admit the sex was pretty hot, but this left me with a lot of questions so I couldn't rate it higher. I was also confused in places because Paul, as the narrator, doesn't always explain the things that are revealed to us. Like the revelation at the end - I honestly don't understand what the big deal was. So he was bald...umm, and?? There are plenty of young guys who lose their hair early, and it isn't a big deal - they either shave it all off or don't worry about it. I just don't think it was a big enough thing to be so dramatic about (Paul talked about how Tony was ashamed and lost his pride and one of them started to tear up). Honestly, they were making such a big deal about it that I first thought Tony had undergone chemo or something, and I was freaking out.

Also, just a heads-up, the story ends before they even begin a relationship so I wouldn't call this a romance although it does end on hopeful note with an HFN. I liked the guys enough that I would love to see what happens next.

[Honey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve got one word for this story. Whip. Lash. This must be one of the weirder books I’ve read lately. I felt like a spectator at a ping pong game watching the ball ricochet off every damn surface in the room. It was too short, so I found the range of emotions expressed and everything going on in under 70 pages a little hard to believe. One second Paul’s going on about his stalker ex, the next he’s having sex in an alley (which was rather hot), the next Tony’s threatening Paul, the next they’re beating each other up – really roughly – in a competition, the next there’s this BIG revelation. I couldn’t follow at all. I did think the characters were interesting and they were great together, I just feel like I should have a painful crick in my neck as a result. Also, since the whole story is from Paul's POV and Tony isn't a talker, a lot of questions were left unanswered.

[Davina · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice

[Meggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novella was pretty funny. And the end was just perfect. I liked it.

[Captain Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The dynamic between Paul and Tony was so real. Tyne really knows his guys.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can't really say I understood the point of the contest but I did found amusing the lengths some men went for because of it. The romance was also kind of sweet and the sex was very hot.