Bad Behavior

Bad Behavior by SparklingA

When I put the dead fish in Drake Finley's locker, I expected trouble. I expected his fury and his harsh words, I even expected detention. I did not expect falling for him.Banner Credit: Marta

Melissa Thinks: SparklingA has written a few one shots that I've absolutely loved and this one is no different! This short story is about a girl named Haclie who writes a love song for her school's talent show. Though no one was supposed to see it, Drake Finley (kind of a big deal bad boy) gets hold of it and soon the entire school is mocking Halcie's song. Now she's out for revenge; this is where the story starts. I found the story to be incredibly cute. The characters have a surprising amount of depth and voice for a one shot. A great example of the kind of quality FictionPress still has to offer.

I Hope You Are

I Hope You Are by star123

Apparently the cult of Eddie had not lost its appeal, he still seemed to be best friends with everyone. Except me.' At age 8, May Childs and Eddie Kingsley wrote letters to their 25 year old selves detailing their hopes for the future. 17 years later they return to read them and discover that, while some things change over time, others stay exactly the same.
Banner Credit: Atramento

Melissa Thinks: Nothing is more satisfying to me than a simple and terribly cute one shot. As per usual, this is what star123 delivers. “I Hope You Are” is the story of May and Eddie, two 25 year olds who once upon a time were the best of friends. Now they’re brought back together by their 3rd grade teacher to read the letters they wrote to their future selves 17 years prior. As my opening sentence stated, this is quite a cute story. In Jessie’s usual style, there is great dialogue mixed with unique and simplistic writing. It’s not hard to love and root for the characters, even in short one shots like this.

Three Strikes

Three Strikes by Anihyr Moonstar

Derik says Quan would agree to anything. Quan begs to differ, so Derik makes his point. Two teenaged football players' path of self-discovery involving beer, rain, and some degree of exhibitionism.
Banner Credit: MajordlyFantastic

Melissa Thinks: "Three Strikes" is a one shot--first in a series of stories by Anihyr Moonstar about Derik and Quan. The first section of the story (there are three scenes) starts with the pair, both absolutely trashed, beginning to explore their feelings for each other. If you're big into the jock stereotype cliche, then this is the right one shot for you--both of the characters play football.

Though there are often athletic type male characters portrayed as bland ignorant jerks, Derik and Quan are unique in their personalities and development. You get a sense of them pretty quickly. It's this characterization which makes this one shot and its subsequent stories so appealing. Besides the shaky grammar, this story really impressed me. It's a short one shot, but I like how it builds a strong foundation for the two main characters and the rest of the series.Definitely worth a read if you're a m/m romance (and smut) fan!

Couldn't Stand the Weather

Couldn't Stand the Weather by andee lee

Corinne's sworn enemy is still living across the street and is now driving the Mustang she lost her virginity in while his brother, her first love, is busy talking about cold fronts and thundershowers on the local news.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Corrine returns home five years after she left her hometown of Portland, her family, and her high school boyfriend to make an acting career for herself in Hollywood. As the summary states, when she's forced to live with her brother in their childhood home, she's also forced to come face to face with her old boyfriend, Liam (now a weatherman with a baby on the way), and his annoying younger brother, Rhett (Cory's least favorite person, now an amazing mechanic and owner of his own shop).

I don't like love triangles, so I'm glad this turned out to not be one. Liam, the possible third point of the triangle, is one of the worst characters I've had the privilege of reading about. He's whiny, selfish, annoying, and a manipulative liar. His brother Rhett, however, is pretty amazing. He comes across as being very caring and loyal, not only towards his brother but towards Cory as well. He had flaws that made him likable without being too overpowering to the likability of the character, like we see with Liam. Liam definitely provides a great foil to Rhett's character.

"Couldn't Stand the Weather" captures the attention of its audience with a well structured style. The prose, made up of strong description, does an amazing job of showing the author's voice. The POV switches work to the advantage of the author, who is then able to really show us the character development of all three characters. I think the dialogue is funny, especially the Rhett/Cory interactions. You could feel the spark between them and I honestly wondered why Liam was even a choice for her when Rhett was so darn nice and cute.

When Harper Met Jamie

When Harper Met Jamie by bulletproof.cupid

Christian St. John could handle her annoying, scathing comments a lot better than he could ever handle the cold, dead silence... That damn ice cold princess act did not fit her at all. 
Banner Credit: Arden

Melissa Thinks: Harper and Jamie meet in a bar; that is how their story begins. I don't want to give too much away about this story (always something to be cautious of when talking about one shots), so I'll be brief. "When Jamie Met Harper" is about two characters who start an unconventional relationship. Each time they meet, their "story" continues; a story which grows more interesting as each scene rolls by. bulletproof.cupid once again displays a knack for storytelling and crafting stand out characters. I hope more of this author's work gets suggested because so far I am absolutely loving it!

Under the Knife

Under the Knife by Laurin Kelly

Twelve chefs assemble for the new season of TV’s hottest cooking competition, Under the Knife. Among them are Zachary Kasun, an arrogant, classically trained executive chef from one of New York’s finest French restaurants; and Nate Pasternak, a mellow vocational school graduate who gradually worked his way up to sous chef at Chicago’s premier steak house. Under the critical eye of four expert judges, the two hundred and fifty thousand dollar grand prize is each of theirs to lose. But will they both lose their hearts along the way as well?Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Why should you read "Under The Knife"? Orgasmic food descriptions, reality show drama, and intense m/m romance are just a select few traits that make this story one of the best.

Laurin Kelly tells a refreshingly creative tale of two chefs who fall in love in the most unexpected of places: a reality cooking show in which both men are competing. With $250,000 on the line, Zachary and Nate must keep their attraction hidden from the always present cameras in order to stay in the competition.

The characters in this story are unarguably the best part. Zachary starts out coming across as a pretentious, uptight, arrogant pile of garbage, but turns out to be a strong-willed, passionate, intelligent cutie-pie. And Nate? Right from the prologue you can tell he's just big cuddly teddy bear. Immediately I was unsure as to whether or not I would like these two together, but their chemistry builds until it creates an unbearably thick sultry vibe.

The atmosphere of the competition creates a lot of drama and as a reality TV show addict, I was incredibly excited to immerse myself in a story that explored that experience. And while the dialogue seemed a little dated at times, overall I was really impressed by Laurin Kelly's characterization, plot, and voice.

Recommended for fans of: Close Protection, Leviathan!, Quinntessential,

Because I Love You

Because I Love You by nexia

Christian St. John could handle her annoying, scathing comments a lot better than he could ever handle the cold, dead silence... That damn ice cold princess act did not fit her at all. 
Banner Credit: Marta

Melissa Thinks: This is a short romantic tragedy written quite beautifully by author nexia (25 Steps to the Altar). I don't recommend reading this story if you're not ready for the big pile of sad feelings that will inevitably fall all over you by the time you've finished it. Having said that, I do recommend reading "Because I Love You" if you're looking for something that is deep, romantic, and meaningful. Even with its short length, the story manages to show characters that are flawed, but also likable. Definitely a story you'll need a comforting pet to cuddle with after reading!

Ricochet

Ricochet by Carmel March

For Gemma, the hardest part about traveling across southern Africa looking for an infamous criminal wasn't the constant danger, the long days, or even working undercover. It was pretending not to have feelings for her partner, who was not only endearingly complicated and frustrating, but also her new pretend husband. 
Banner Credit: Ali

Melissa Thinks: Unsurprisingly, Carmel March has bestowed upon us another addicting story.
Gemma and Boone are back and better than ever in this sequel to Vertigo. Just as action-packed as it's prequel, Ricochet promises to be a well-developed look into the lives of two CIA agents as they take on their next mission in South Africa. Chapter one starts only a handful of days after the events of Vertigo with the winsome couple once again having to pretend to be married in order to complete their undercover operation. Despite the fact that Vertigo ended with them finally getting together, Gemma and Boone have yet to talk about exactly what happened that night and their feelings for one another. So, once again, we find ourselves waiting patiently for the two to realize they're meant to be together.

I can't say I'm surprised that this story was suggested the second it was posted, because Carmel March is one of the greatest authors on Fictionpress currently. The reason she's so amazing, you may be wondering, is because her stories include everything anyone could ever want: deeply developed characters, thrilling action/adventure, idyllic romance, and earnest dialogue. It's also important to mention that this story is intense in nature; its constructed with long chapters (that I devour so quickly, I have to reread them later to savor the experience) packed with excitement and sexual tension.

Carmel states in an author's note that while Vertigo was about the build up of Gemma and Boone's relationship, Ricochet is the development and strengthening of it. Within the first few chapters we get a strong sense of the story's tone and pacing, which lends to the author's intended focus on her character's relationship.

Recommended for fans of On the Run and Close Protection.

The Other Woman

The Other Woman by Caught In A Simple Game

She knows that there's another woman in his life. She also knows she'll never get rid of the other woman.
Banner Credit: Arden

Melissa Thinks: The Other Woman" is a 3000-ish word one shot that, as the title states, deals with the idea of being the other woman. It's not a happy story, nor is it terribly exciting, and it comes across more like a character study than anything, but there is something psychologically fascinating about the main character and her cheating partner. Also, it's written in an elegant manor; the third person present tense narrative puts a unique spin on the story while also helping to make the reader feel more involved with the story. It's a little different than some of the fluffy stuff we usually review for the site, but still amazingly good.

The Mourning Sword

The Mourning Sword by Fairyfern

Allary, reluctant princess of Orcad and cousin to the King, takes a journey to Almeirím, the city of Elves, in order to honor an ancient tradition that may save her country from a bloody war.
Banner Credit: Arden

Melissa Thinks: It's been awhile since I've found a high fantasy story on Fictionpress that stole me away quite like "The Mourning Sword". Allary is a headstrong girl who lives a life of relative peace beside her cousin, and King of the human kingdom of Orcad, Fenn. With the tension between Orcad and the neighboring Elvenkingdom rising, it seems one little mistake could bring the two species to war; so when Fenn becomes sick and can't journey to the Elven city of Almeirím in accordance with tradition to take part in King's Week, Allary, as princess of Orcad, must take his place.

Don't you just love when you're so emotionally invested in a story that you get those butterflies in your stomach? Your world falls away and you can become completely involved with an amazing story? That's what "The Mourning Sword" was like for me. There were so many memorable components of the story. Most importantly, the world building was incredibly on point. It's easy to drown in endless facts that you don't care about, or even find yourself craving a deeper explanation in fantasy novels, but that is not the case here. There is an immense amount of knowledge thrown at the reader, but it works so well both because we are learning as Allary learns and the content is incredibly interesting to digest.

Read more »

Adam and Evan

Adam and Evan by SenatorBlitz

When you're a 16-year old shut-in with a deadly skin allergy and the communication skills of a rock, things like handsome devils dropping into your bedroom in the middle of the night might take a little bit of getting used to. Okay a lot of getting used to...
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Adam has a condition that makes sure he never sees or feels the sun unless he wants to die, or melt as the characters joke. He's been holed up in his basement playing video games and sitting in the dark for years now. His parents are dealing with their own problems—too selfish or grief-stricken to pay any attention to Adam. One night, however, a stranger tries to break in through his bedroom window. The stranger's name is Evan; this is where the story begins.

I didn't quite know what to think after finishing "Adam and Evan". I was certain that the story was distinct, both in it's plot and characters, but was unsure of how much I liked it. It was only when I gave myself some time to process that I realized just how exceptional Adam and Evan's story is. It's narrated in third person by Adam and let me just say the prose is amazing. Not because of an exuberance of flowery description or elegant diction, but because of the charming voice that the author possesses.

SenatorBlitz writes brilliantly in a style filled with the comical thoughts and interactions Adam has. Not only is "Adam and Evan" funny, but it is also serious at times—exploring Adam and Evan's relationships with their respective parents and tackling the poignant topic of Adam's disability.

Cinder Creek

Cinder Creek by SophieInPink
When the always-responsible, always-practical Sloane Lennox's father dies, the only way to keep her siblings together is to move in with an insufferable new guardian. Soon, Sloane must contend with a growing attraction to him, despite her better judgment. She fights hard not to care for him only to realize he is likewise battling feelings for her.
Banner Credit: Sarah

Melissa Thinks: I have waited a long while for this story to be long enough for me to review; I cannot say I’m disappointed with what I’ve found within “Cinder Creek”. It’s definitely reminiscent of a story I reviewed early on in my ADoR days by this same author, SophieInPink.

When her father dies, seventeen-year-old Sloane is left to care for her three younger siblings. This is nothing new considering she’s been doing it since she was twelve, their alcoholic father not willing to care for them properly. Of course, Sloane is still a minor and by law is not able to gain custody. On top of that, due to debt left behind by her deceased father, the Lennox’s childhood home is about to be repossessed.

Just as Sloane is about to lose all hope, John steps in. John is the stepbrother of Sloane’s long dead mother, Gracie. The only living relative of the children, John must either step up as their guardian or leave them to be split up by the foster system, despite the fact that he’s only twenty-three. The Lennox children weren’t expecting him to say yes, neither were they expecting him to invite them to live with him in his cramped two-bedroom home on the outskirts of town. This is where the story really begins, as Sloane has to learn how to work together with John to raise the kids.

SophieInPink has a way with words; her narration leaves little to be desired and her plot, though cliché, is mended by the reader’s love of her characters. Sloane is a mature and strong character. Both her willingness to do anything for her siblings and her hardened resolve give her substance. Even though the romance between Sloane and John is a slow build, I found each chapter enjoyable – every character interaction worth the time. Not all authors can say this, for I often see novels in which there is nothing natural about the way relationships progress.

Chai and a Pinch of Salt

Chai and a Pinch of Salt by bulletproof.cupid

It's funny the things you learn about a person after they die. I loved him once. Could I love him again? -Young Sofia has just come back to Pakistan, lured by her father's death. Can she overcome her grief? Moreover, can she trust herself not to fall in love with the one person she can never have? Love has never been so tempting. The tale of a girl and her once-upon-a-time servant.
Banner Credit: Atramento

Melissa Thinks: In the ongoing fictional story "Chai and a Pinch of Salt", the reader is immersed in a culture that we don't often read about on FictionPress or even in published novels. Sofia returns to Pakistan after the sudden death of her father. Here she lives with her many cousins, her uncle, the servants, and her childhood best friend Zafar. The theme of family is pervasive throughout the text and, although romance does not play a large part in this story, it does exist within it. Sofia deals with the loss of her father, a man she was just beginning to know, and the grief that comes with his death. She's faced with the aftermath of her departure from Pakistan 15 years earlier; how her father has seemingly moved on, how her childhood friend is very much a different boy, and how life in Pakistan compares to her life in London.

Beautiful flowing descriptions help to reel the reader in. Once you start, it's hard to stop reading as the delicate writing keeps you addicted. I honestly enjoy learning about Pakistani culture, language, and customs from this story and it feels like the author tries hard to teach you about the main character's life without being too invasive. Even though there's a depressive nature to the plot, bulletproof.cupid is adept at slipping in little pieces of humor to amuse her readers. Sofia has a strong voice and is an attractive character, yet is flawed, which is one of the best things about the story. Reading about her emotions - her anger, loss, jealousy, guilt, gives her life and gives the story a defining quality.

I only have one complaint, and it's not really a complaint, but the chapters are about 2k words long each and I just find myself craving more at every end I come to. Although the grammar could use some tweaks, the author is seemingly very open to critique and constructive criticism, so I encourage everyone to help this budding author out.

Once Upon a Nightmare

Once Upon a Nightmare by Mickey John
Nightmares and Dreams are actual creatures who invade human minds as embodied fears and joys. Violet doesn't use the new BlissMax pill designed to give good dreams (or any modern niceties, thanks Dad), and one night, a Nightmare—the fear of hell—enters her enticingly un-medicated mind and gets trapped.
Banner Credit: Arden

Melissa Thinks: Violet Darcey is desperate for an escape. Whether it's through books (gothic literature is her one true love) or through her dreams, she wholeheartedly throws herself into imagining a different reality for herself. Unfortunately, this means she's slowly losing her interest in real life in the process. Then one night everything changes. There's something in her mind - actually inside of her subconscious - and his name is Alexander. Of course, Alexander is not a typical boy, but in fact, a Nightmare. "Once Upon a Nightmare" is a novel in which Dreams and Nightmares are living beings. They have their own world, their own magic system, their own monarchy. Suddenly Violet is sucked into Alexander's strange world. He tells her that not only is he stuck inside of her, but not being able to feed off of her now fearless dreams is slowly killing him. Soon they both learn that setting Alexander free may come at a price.

Anyone in the mood for a good supernatural romance has definitely come to the right place. I remember reading this back before the author revamped the entire thing and I am absolutely thrilled to have been able to reread and review this for ADoR. One of my favorite things about "Once Upon a Nightmare" is the amazing characterization. Immediately the reader is drawn to Violet; her strange passion for reading, her fiery attitude, her indifference towards school, the fact that she wants to spend all her time sleeping - she's someone we can all see ourselves being friends with. Then there's Alexander, who's the perfect balance of an asshole and a nice guy. You can't help but love him, even though some of his actions are pretty questionable.

My favorite scene of the entire story was one in which Violet and Alexander are playing a giant game of Candyland and it's such an amazing and perfect moment it gave me chills. The entire novel was eerie yet light-hearted at the same time, which definitely made it one of my more memorable suggestions. I am smitten with this story; the characters, the setting, the plot, basically everything. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into the sequel.

Glances into the Minds of the Unfortunate

Glances into the Minds of the Unfortunate by DevonnyAuriel
I suddenly developed the ability of telepathy with men. But not charming men. No, I can only communication with nerds. And if that wasn't bad enough they've now deemed me their matchmaker. God, just smite me now.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: Before it's devastatingly long hiatus, Glances Into
the Minds of the Unfortunate was one of my favorite ongoing stories. Now that it's back and better than ever, I'm excited to say I can now throw this recommendation at you without feeling guilty.

Kaylehn Davies is, as she puts it, a bitch. She really only has a few friends, all of which barely can seem to put up with her most of the time, and her reputation with men seems to precedes her. After she passes out from getting her ears pierced, Kaylehn discovers she can hear people's thoughts. Of course, it's not as grand as it seems; she can only hear the thoughts of seemingly nerdy men. Why? She doesn't know. But she'll use her new found gift to help out a potential love interest and maybe fall in love along the way.

I know some people who find this story off-putting simply for the fact that they hate the main character - for me this was not true. I think Kaylehn, although annoying and rude at times, is constantly learning as a character. Through her relationship with Ray and his friends, her preformed "nerd" generalizations are dissolving. While she still isn't exactly a basket of roses, she's a funny character who deep deep deep down has a good heart.

Although, I'm notorious amongst my friends for loathing love triangles, this might be the first instance in which I truly had no preference as to which guy the main character ended up with. Both Ray and Ren compliment Kaylehn's personality in different ways and each interaction with the two brothers constantly challenge Kaylehn to be different.

Marina Guerrero and the Terrible, Horrible Date

Marina Guerrero and the Terrible, Horrible Date by DevonnyAuriel
I give every guy a chance but I knew in the first five minutes that I would never date Owen. I was set to make a clean get-away, he didn't even have my number. Of course, things change when you rear-end his car.
Banner Credit: Marta

Melissa Thinks: Marina takes a chance and agrees to go out with a guy she waited on only to find out that he seems to either have the worst luck ever or he's the biggest asshole she's ever met because, as the title suggests, it's the worst date she's ever been on. And if that isn't enough to put her in a bad mood, as she's making her get-away, she crashes into his car.

I liked this one shot for it's slightly longer length, it's comedic tones, and the cute characters. When the story begins, Marina doesn't feel like Owen and her have any chance of connecting. In fact, I would go as far as to say she finds him annoying. As the story progresses and the two characters are forced to interact more, the chemistry grows and it becomes even more apparent that Marina and Owen are meant to give it another go.

"Marina Guerrero and the Terrible, Horrible Date" was different, but at the same time pretty realistic as far as dialogue and plot. This one shot is a charming version of the "date gone bad" cliche.

In Keeping Secrets

In Keeping Secrets by ThePiracyOfHearts
"If you don't hate me, then what?" She can't quite make eye contact as he moves within inches of her. He speaks softer this time, "If you don't hate me, Abbey, then what do you do?"
Banner Credit: Annie

Melissa Thinks: Abbey doesn't want to admit it, but there's something about her roommate's boyfriend Alex that sits a little too well with her. She likes his sense of humor and his "Italy-shaped nose" and the way he laughs, even though his girlfriend finds these things annoying. So now Abbey must decide whether to honor her friendship with her roommate Morgan, or honor her heart.

I went into this expecting to read something okay at best, but instead I've acquired a new favorite. I loved this story for its simplicity and its charm. There's something about the plot and characters that reminds me of a classic FictionPress story - the kind that we all cherish and enjoy - and that's what really cemented my decision to review.

There's nothing over complicated or heavy about "In Keeping Secrets".
Mostly comprised of dialogue, the prose includes a fair amount of attention grabbing banter between the characters as well as some cutesy fluff bits to balance it out. Plot-wise, I don't think the story was lacking, although some may disagree. I appreciated the relaxing read the the author presented me with and despite my mistake of judging this book by its cover, I really really did have a good time finishing this.

Homewrecker for the Hospitalized

Homewrecker for the Hospitalized by FizzyLizzy
It would have been the most perfect, heart-to-goo-inducing couple had I not butted my sorry ass into it.
Banner Credit: Anita

Melissa Thinks: This quirky story has actually been one of my
favorites for a long time. "Homewrecker for the Hospitalised" is a unique one shot about a girl who volunteers at a hospital and through her work there she meets a rather annoying, but attractive, patient. The story is narrated the main character, Delia, who is honestly one of the strangest characters I've ever encountered (in a good way). All the dialogue is brilliantly funny without being over the top, as is the narration. The plot of the story, while a tiny bit unrealistic, is meant to be lighthearted and comedic - so this won't be something you'll have to become too invested in to enjoy.

breaths

breaths by a headless butterfly
inhaling is easier than exhaling.
Banner Credit: Melissa

Melissa Thinks: There is not a poem on this site that has touched me as deeply as "breaths" has. What the piece lacks in word count, it makes up for in substance. In particular, the first and last lines stand out to me as being the most meaningful - both of them channeling the poem's emotionally charged theme while helping the reader to piece together the significance of the lines caught between.

lost cause

lost cause by citrus scented
you made me believe I could fly just to watch me hit the ground. You are not an excuse, you are just the reason.
Banner Credit: Marta

Melissa Thinks: lost cause starts out very "in your face". Aggressively, we are told a love story - one of friendship turned romance turned heartache. The lack of grammar throughout conveys the urgency and pain the narrator feels.

The clear semi-autobiographical nature of this poem is, to me, the most compelling part because you become aware of just how real the feelings are and that makes it all the more emotionally raw to the reader. Through the author's sorrowful experience, a beautiful piece of prose has been created. The soulful writing, stream of consciousness styled formatting, and the use of figurative language succeeds in drawing you in, so that by the end of the fifth stanza, it's as if you are the narrator.