Bryn Colvin

Russ and Liam were young and full of passion. They loved art and they played together in a band, but really no one of them was very good. And so Liam tried the actor career in the States and Russ became a good radio dj.

Years later Russ has a pretty good but lonely life: his long time fiancee dumped him when she discovered that he was googling gay porn site. Not that Russ has ever had an homosexual experience, but he has fantasized on it. And then suddenly Liam phones him: he is back in show more England and he needs a friend. He can't stand all the media circus and the only person he thinks that knows the real Liam, is Russ. And Russ gladly accepts the role of the old friend, but can't prevent himself to dreaming about Liam in a not very friendly way.

Since Russ thinks that Liam has everything he wants in life, he can't be interesting in an average man like Russ, and then Liam is straight. But maybe Russ is wrong.

The story is not very long, 50 pages, but it's the classical romantic comedy I like. No much drama, it reminds me a bit Notthing Hill with Julia Roberts's role played by a man! Both Russ and Liam are likeable characters, even if maybe I find more involving Russ; Liam is good, but I feel him a bit detached, maybe cause the story is told by Russ' point of view.

I think the plot is rather good, but I'd like for the story to be a little longer: I think the idea deserved a bit more. Maybe the author could consider to write a sequel, and tells us Liam and Russ' life together (and so I made a spoiler, now you know that there is an happily ever after...) show less

This a story of slow seduction.

Fraser is a goth guy disenchanted of world and maybe a little bored. He hangs out with his friends (women) and has brief flings, not very important. Then he meets Darren, a younger and handsome man, who istinctively like him but from the very first time says: I don't touch.

Passing over from what at first seems a refusal, Fraser manages to know better Darren and learns he was traumatized from a bad sexual experience with a girl. So Fraser sets himself to seduce show more Darren, even if he normally doesn't play the dominant role in his relationships.

The story is very brief and has a tinge of normality and sadness in it. The world in where both live Fraser and Darren seems bare and dark, made of dirty club and smell of sweat. But they succeed in built something between them and for them. A recurring situation in the stories I read by Bryn Colvin.

Not bad, only a complaint: it's possible that a traumatic sexual experience with a girl leads Darren toward guys? Is it because he needs to find a dominant figure that almost coaxes him in making sex again? show less

Another very short story. Jack is on the keyboards of a cover band. They are nothing special, never will have an huge success, but they enjoy what they do. But then their guitarist and lead singer leaves and Jack has to find a new guy. Laurie reply to the ads and everything seems perfect: Laurie is handsome and has a beautiful voice and on stage he is perfect.

The first night they sing in public, Laurie spend the night with Jack: Jack is electrified, the next morning he is on heaven, until show more Laurie announces that he is not sure if he can be fathful only to one person, that he is bisexual and doesn't want to give up girls on his life... and Jack, can he accepts that? he will be happy knowing that, even if Laurie wanders around, he will return to him after all?

So the story wins your attention in the end. Before the shocking confession of Laurie, you have only another story of boy meets boy and happily ever after, and then you have a rough awaken and reality filters in the story: how many time is happened that in a male/male pair one of the two has suddenly decided that he prefers to set down with a woman and makes a family? Jack has to learn to live with the fear that Laurie will do exatcly the same, he will not have a loe you forever promise from Laurie... show less

Eliot is a clandestine immigrate who works as porno star for a x-rate website. He is the main character in a photo story where, week by week, he is beaten and abused. Jake is the photographer and writer of the story and he begins to wander about Eliot: he notices that he has a blank expression while working and he is not an exhibisionist like other actors he has worked with.

And one day the fake scenes goes a little to wild and Jake refuses to continue. But he is knocked out and Eliot show more brutally beatens. When Jake awakens he has only one thought in mind, brings Eliot somewhere far and safe.

For a very short tale Bryn Colvin has managed to write a wonderful character: Jake, a very common and simple man, not striking and not daring, who becomes the knight in shining armour for Eliot.

It's a very tender and compelling story, very real and touching show less