Title: Brady’s Choice
Author: Anne Brooke
Publisher: Amber Allure
Buy Link: Buy Link Brady’s Choice
Genre: Contemporary M/M
Length: Amber Kiss (6k words)
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
A Guest Review by Cole
Review Summary: Wow, does this story pack a punch. A wonderful example of Anne Brooke’s writing style and her mastery of the short form.
BLURB
Thirty-six-year-old potter Brady Treherne is shocked to come face-to-face with his ex-lover, Philip, during what appears to be a simple job interview. Philip was both the love of Brady’s life and the man who got away, and seeing him now catapults Brady into revisiting memories he’d hoped he’d left behind.
Later that evening, Philip calls on Brady at home, and Brady finds himself having to make a choice between the man he used to love, and the new relationship he has just begun with another man.
Which man will Brady choose? And will he be able to reconcile his past with his future?
REVIEW
Brady’s Choice starts with our narrator Brady walking into a job interview and seeing his ex-boyfriend across the table. Brady really wants this job, though he thinks that he is probably underqualified, but he’s mortified that he might have to pass up the opportunity if he’s going to have to work with Philip, who is working on the project as a sort of liaison for a partner company. It has only been a short time since their separation, but each has started a new chapter in their lives and changed greatly. They are equally shocked to see one another, and after fumbling through the interview, Brady escapes and slowly starts to tell us the story of the slow decline of their relationship and how they came to be where they are today. The unexpected meeting throws their lives to a halt. Not only does Brady have a choice, but so does Philip — revisit the past to make a new future together, or go their separate ways and explore the relationships they have with other men?
I have long admired Anne Brooke’s stories, because she is a master of the short form. There are typically two types of short stories in the M/M genre (that I have seen), which are the one-scene sexcapade and the novel that got mashed down into one-tenth its size. Anne has a way of writing a short story with the same effect that another author would use 300 pages to tell. They are effective because they’re highly honed and there are no frivolous scenes, and in a medium where every word counts more than a sentence counts in a novel, the effect is that each scene, each bit of dialogue means more to the reader.
The characterizations in this story are what makes the story shine after you’ve considered the concise writing. Brady and Philip are two normal men who are not yet fully matured to handle a heavy relationship. Neither man has found what they need in themselves, and they look for that in their partner, which in turn begins the downfall of their relationship, and in the end, is the impetus for the coup de grace employed by Philip the is the very end of their relationship. Then, after their separation forces that maturity to grow in each character, they meet again and the old attraction takes place. Can they take a second chance? Or will it be futile to believe that those old hurts have fully healed, enough so that they’re willing to break the hearts of the men they’re currently involved with? All of these questions are raised within a 20 page short story, and a mighty fine one it is.
I do want to give a fair warning to those of you who have difficulty with cheating, though you might want to consider this anyway, as it might not be exactly what you expect. Also, I would consider this story to have an HFN, even if at times it doesn’t seem that is going to happen (any more than that and I’ll be giving everything away). This is a story that I will whole-heartedly recommend to anyone and I hope that those of you who buy this story will get as much or more enjoyment out of it than I did.
Definitely Recommended.
Great review. I loved this story – as I love all Anne’s writing – for the very reasons you point out: the fine characterisation, the great style, and the confident way she handles emotionally charged situations. Plenty of value for a short story, you’re right! 🙂
That’s a really smart way of putting it. She write scenes confidently and very deftly. They always read as if they’ve been sifted through with a fine tooth comb, but haven’t lost the rolling gait that comes with a writer emotionally purging the scene out onto the paper.
I’ll always pick up a story from Anne’s, because even though the subject might not be to my personal taste, you’re right Clare, for a short story, you get plenty of value 🙂
I love her writing and your review makes me want to run right out and snatch it up. Thanks Cole!
Hey Lynn 🙂 I love her writing as well. I hope that you like this one as much as I did!
Sounds great. I look forward to reading this. 🙂
I hope you like it Lily 🙂
Thinking about it…
Thank you for your review 🙂
You’re welcome Helena 🙂 If you decide to read it, let me know what you think
Cole, it looks like you and I both got lucky with our books today. 😉 Anne is such a fine writer. I will definitely pick this one up.
I know Val! I saw your review of Faster Than the Speed of Light the other day on GR and I’m really excited to read it. I studied physics and wanted to be a particle physicist for a while, but I wasn’t a genius at math, I never could have made it. I’m more of a theoretical physics geek 🙂
I really hope you like this one of Anne’s. She is an incredible writer, though this one is pretty different from her others, but that’s what I loved about it…
Wow, Cole, this is the perfect background to have to enjoy Faster Than the Speed of Light! 🙂
So true on the short story comment. I’ve also noticed that writing short stories appears to be a gift not possessed by all authors. Always nice to discover a talented short story author, they are rather rare.
You’re right Denny, and short stories are much more difficult to write than a novel for most writers. They require a completely different type of skill, plus you have to understand the art of the short story, and most people love novels more anyway…
I think the short story is very interesting in this genre. In literary fiction, you usually have to prove yourself a proficient short story writer before you can get your novel published, and I think that because of that, many authors of genre fiction think that a short story is kindof like practice for a novel, when in fact it is much easier for most writers to write a novel as practice for a short story, because a short story requires more skill and experience in the craft to do well.. That’s how I see it anyway 🙂
Thanks for commenting Denni, I always get excited when I find an author that writes amazing shorts.
I love a well executed short story, and Anne is so very talented. This sounds so good that I will definitely give it a go. Thanks and great review Cole.
Hi TJ, I’m not sure of course, but I have a feeling that you’ll like this one. Let me know though, if you read it, k? I’d love to hear what you think 🙂
Hey Cole – I bought this last night and read it right away. I really enjoyed the story. I’m amazed at how much Anne did in so few pages. The characters felt real and she surprised me with what they did – in a good way. Thanks for recommending this.
Hey Tj! I’m so happy that you liked it. The same thing you said is what I loved about it, the characters were real and surprising, especially the ending, which wasn’t what I expected, but was what was right for them and the story (IMO, anyway). I think she’s a bit fearless to write a story like this, in such a way. I admire her for it, anyway 🙂
Except for one, I’ve never been disappointed by a book of Anne Brooks. You’re right, she’s very good at characterization. Thanks for the review, it makes me curious.
F.
Hey Feliz,
Yes, I have only read one of her stories as well that I didn’t like very much, but that was because it just wasn’t to my taste. It was still an incredibly written short story, and it continues to be one of her most popular stories, so I know I’m in the minority.
If you read this one, I really hope you enjoy it as much as me. But I have a feeling you will, just from your book choices 🙂
Thank you so much – so glad you enjoyed the story, especially as I didn’t think many people would like it! 🙂
Hugs galore!
Anne
xxx
Anne, that is what I love most about it — it isn’t traditional. But it tells a story about characters who are life-like and deal with similar issues that we deal with in life. It is a nice divergence from typical “romance world” 🙂
Thanks Anne, for a wonderful story 🙂
I usually don’t like short stories because of the minimal character development but your review has made me want to read this one.
Hi Darwina,
In this case I think there is quite a bit of character development, which you’re right, there usually isn’t in a short story (at least one as short as 20 pages). I hope you enjoy Brady’s Choice as much as I did 🙂
Hi Cole
Great review. I was curious to see what you would make of this story since I read it a couple of weeks ago. I did like it but maybe not as much as you. 🙂 However, there’s no doubt that Anne has mastered the art of the short form.
I have to review another ‘short’ of hers soon (a sequel to a book that I had reviewed a few months ago), and I hope I like it as much as you loved Brady’s Choice. 🙂
Wave,
I think I loved that the story meant a lot. It was powerful and I think it’s one of her best stories yet. I think I know which short you’re talking about. I read the first one a few weeks ago after having it in my TBR for a long time, and I have to tell you, it was the only one of her’s that I’ve not liked. But, that was more for a personal preference and didn’t have anything to do with the actual writing, which was really great, as always. Anyway, I hope that you like the second one as well 🙂
Cole,
This sounds like a great read. I’ll definitely put this on my “get now” list. You guys sure are helping my Nook get full these days! You’re all dangerous! LOL
Lol, I’m the little devil on your shoulder tempting you into buying just one more book, brian 😉
I’ve been waiting for this story to show up in my preferred ebook purchase site since its release. Gotta it. Yay! I love Anne’s writing. She doesn’t necessarily concludes her stories to certain expectations one would assume in m/m romance. 🙂 I’m dying to see how this story will end.
Hi Nicci,
Well, the characters in this one are definitely headed for a non-traditional ending, that’s for sure 🙂 I hope you enjoy it!