Author: C.S. Poe
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: 32 Pages
Category: Paranormal Romance, Short Story
At a Glance: This was so cute and the characters so charming that I was racing through it to see what would happen next.
Reviewed By: Sadonna
Blurb: Theodore Reinhart is a young man looking for love. In San Diego. At a convention. For penguin shifters. WaddleCon is the go-to event of the year when looking for your life partner, but Theodore isn’t comfortable with the game they’ve turned dating into, nor does the convention provide for the gay community. A mistake in speed dating table assignments puts Theodore in front of Wesley O’Neill, a handsome and confident model who lets it slip that he’s definitely noticed the spark of attraction between them.
A perfect date ends prematurely when Theodore finds an abandoned egg in a bathroom trash can. Unable to leave it behind, Theodore and Wesley play a mad game of cat and mouse across the resort trying to keep it safe, all while growing closer to one another. Wesley may be the forever partner Theodore came looking for, but their relationship won’t work if they don’t make room for a little addition to the family.
Review: I love it when as short story has me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what happens next. This adorable tale starts off with Theodore going to a convention for penguin shifters—called WaddleCon (see? adorable!)—that is supposed to be the event to find life partners. But, he doesn’t find out until much later that this con is not really set up for gay shifters. :( By then, it’s too late, he’s already there, minus his missing luggage, so he decides to go for it—at least to get a drink and mingle a bit. The speed dating is going badly until his last partner, a gorgeous model named Wesley, seems like he actually might be interested.
When Wesley asks Theodore to go out with him, their date starts off so well. They are getting along great, getting to know each other, and Theo has the feeling this might lead to something more. But after using the restroom, he discovers an abandoned egg in the trash. He can’t just leave it there, so he returns to the table and shows Wesley what he’s found.
While trying to leave the restaurant, they come upon the person who most likely abandoned the egg in the midst of a confrontation. What ensues is a night of hot pursuit as Wesley and Theodore race against time and a bevy of followers as they try to escape and keep the egg safe. Theodore doesn’t know why, but he feels like this egg is his responsibility and that he must keep it safe. He can’t just turn it over, as he feels like this child has already been abandoned once. Wesley and Theodore get very creative in their attempts to elude their pursuers. It takes a while, but they are eventually successful and breathe a sigh of relief.
Well, I just adored this story. Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage is so cute and the characters so charming that I was racing through it to see what would happen next. I’ve only read one other story so far by this author—her story from last year’s Daily Dose—and I found it delightful as well, which is why I chose this one. I cannot wait to read more from this author and am happy to see she has a full length story coming soon!
You can buy Love, Marriage, and a Baby Carriage here:
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