 
 
From the Publisher:
For him, control is everything…until it shatters, and now he’s come undone.
“Appasionata” by Emma Barry
Piano technician Brennan Connelly lives to control details: the tension on a piano string or the compression of hammer felt. But he’s never faced demands like those heaped on him by Kristy Kwong, the diva who’s haunted his dreams for two decades. Kristy’s got her own secrets–the debilitating stage fright that’s kept her from performing publicly for years to start–and this concert is the last chance to save her career. But can he locate her lost passion without losing his precious control?
“Unraveled” by Olivia Dade
Math teacher Simon Burnham–cool, calm, controlled–can’t abide problems with no good solution. Which makes his current work assignment, mentoring art teacher Poppy Wick, nothing short of torture. She’s warm but sharp. Chaotic but meticulous. Simultaneously the most frustrating and most alluring woman he’s ever known. And in her free time, she makes murder dioramas. Murder dioramas, for heaven’s sake. But the more tightly wound a man is, the faster he unravels–and despite his best efforts, he soon finds himself attempting to solve three separate mysteries: a murder in miniature, the unexplained disappearance of a colleague…and the unexpected theft of his cold, cold heart.
“Caught Looking” by Adriana Herrera
When best friends Yariel and Hatuey’s gaming night turns into an unexpected and intense hook up, Hatuey can’t wait to do it again. Yariel is less certain–the major leaguer might seem to all the world like he has a heart of stone, but he’s been carrying a torch for his friend for years, and worries this will ruin the most important relationship in his life. That means Hatuey has to do all the work, and he’s planning to give it all he’s got. Yariel may be the one hitting home runs on the field…but Hatuey is playing a game of seduction, and he knows exactly how to make Yariel crumble.
“Yes, And…” by Ruby Lang
When rheumatologist Darren Zhang accidentally sits in on acting teacher Joan Lacy’s improv class, he’s unprepared for the attraction that hits him–and he’s a man who likes to be prepared. Joan is caring for her ailing mother and barely has time to keep up her art, let alone date. But as the pair play out an unlikely relationship during stolen moments, they both find themselves wanting to say yes, and… much more.
“Tommy Cabot Was Here” by Cat Sebastian
Massachusetts, 1959: Some people might accuse mathematician Everett Sloane of being stuffy, but really he just prefers things a certain way: predictable, quiet, and far away from Tommy Cabot–his former best friend, chaos incarnate, and the man who broke his heart. The youngest son of a prominent political family, Tommy threw away his future by coming out to his powerful brothers. When he runs into Everett, who fifteen years ago walked away from Tommy without an explanation or a backward glance, his old friend’s chilliness is just another reminder of how bad a mess Tommy has made of his life. When Everett realizes that his polite formality is hurting Tommy, he needs to decide whether he can unbend enough to let Tommy get close but without letting himself get hurt the way he was all those years ago.
Review:
“Appassionata” by Emma Barry (m/f)
Pianist Kristy Kwong is struggling with performance anxiety and it’s hindering her ability to perform. Brennan Connelly is a piano technician who once dreamed of a career as a pianist and has always admired Kristy from afar. Most telling, Kristy cannot perform in front of anyone except Brennan. The writing in this story is gorgeous and the pacing of the story matches the music tempos that title each chapter. The relationship develops sweetly and it’s a thrill to see Brennan slowly let go of his rules. The black moment came out of nowhere but when it does happen, it makes sense in the context of what took place before. One of my favorites of the collection.
“Unraveled” by Olivia Dade (m/f)
Dade is an efficient storyteller and she does the short form very well. I found Poppy to be absolutely quirky and hilarious and Simon is the quintessential, buttoned-up math guy. Being a teacher myself, I got all the references and kept nodding my head, saying, yes, yes, all this! The romance arc was adorable and look, there are murder dioramas, okay? I generally hate misunderstandings as the basis for conflict but Dade wraps it all up very well and you feel good when it’s all over. Excellent read.
Caught Looking by Adriana Herrera (m/m)
I love that Yariel and Hatuey are secondary characters from the American Dreamers series, one of my favorite romance series ever. Friends to lovers has never been so hot, and in fact, this is the steamiest of all the stories. The story begins the morning after Yariel and Hatuey have given in to their ever growing attraction and it’s all an emotional mess-fest from there. Herrera does a wonderful job of showing the relationship between these two best friends evolving into something more. Yariel, in particular, struggles to accept that the friend he thought was straight might actually be in love with him as well. Hatuey, for his part, is patience with Yariel and gets him to accept that his feelings are a natural consequence of who he is, that they are rooted in both his identity and the deep bond he shares with Yariel. Herrera handles issues of the Dominican diaspora, family conflict and homophobia with the respect and sensitivity she brings to all her writing. One of the standouts of the collection.
“Yes, and…” by Ruby Lang (m/f)
Biter sweet and lovely, this story highlights Lang’s delicate and precise writing style. Dr. Darren Zhang accidentally finds himself in the wrong class and finds himself captivated by the instructor, Joan Lacy. Joan cares for her mom who is suffering from dementia. The relationship that blossoms between Darren and Joan is so gentle, it left me thinking about them long after the story was done. I hope she considers extending this story because I would love to read it.
Tommy Cabot was Here by Cat Sebastian (m/m)
Set in the 50s, this second-chance romance follows Tommy Cabot, who’s fallen out of favor with his wealthy and politically powerful family; and Everett who has pined so long for Tommy, it’s like an aching wound in his psyche. So many things just work in this story – the setting, the slow trust that Everett gives Tommy as they rediscover each other, Tommy’s son and ex-wife. Oh, and about the ex – she such a great character, I truly enjoyed her characterization. Without spoiling this story further, it’s just an incredible romance and has turned me on to Sebastian’s other works. One of the wittiest writers in the collection.
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