Reviewed by Amber
TITLE: For a Rainy Afternoon
AUTHOR: R.J. Scott
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 66 pages
BLURB:
Robbie MacIntyre manages a small post office in the old Station House on the outskirts of sleepy Barton Hartshourn northwest of London. He’s stunned when the owner, Maggie, a close friend, bequeaths him not only the post office, but also Station House.
The rest of her estate is left to an American writer, Jason Young, and when he moves to the village, Robbie is thrown by the attraction he has for the man who has more of a claim on the Station House than he does.
Then there is a box that holds several rare first editions and a cookbook. Only when the secrets of the ingredients in a particular recipe are finally revealed does everything begin to make sense, and a love cut short seventy years earlier is finally discovered.
REVIEW:
This was such an enjoyable short story. Usually I find with short stories that I don’t get enough information to really sink my teeth into a story. But not with this one, R.J. Scott’s writing style is so beautiful and effortless that it captures everything you need to know even in a short story.
Robbie MacIntyre was back home in his tiny village after recently graduating college. He finds himself adrift with no direction and no plans for the future. Deciding to take a leap of faith he takes up an offer from a local woman, Maggie, to run her future post office/coffee house/bakery.
Flash-forward 10 years and Maggie is recently passed away and Robbie is left with the store he happily ran with a woman that was more like family to him. He’s lonely and tries his hardest to recapture a bit of Maggie’s essence in recreating her delicious cakes and other baking creations.
One night he is on his way out when he’s approached by an American, Jason Young, who is lost. Jason is looking for Maggie’s cottage letting Robbie know he was bequeathed it in Maggie’s will.
Robbie tries to take in all that Jason is telling him but he is struck mute by his intense attraction to the young American. There’s an incredibly spark between these two men. It’s obvious in every simple act and it was delightful to read.
Circumstances throw Jason and Robbie together indefinitely and watching their new friendship blossom into lust then love, was so awesome that I think I smiled to myself throughout most of their interactions. Even though it a pretty quick relationship, every single moment was incredibly real and believable. It didn’t feel rushed or forced which just added to the intenseness of their connection.
This was a completely enjoyable little story and I absolutely recommend!
RATING: 
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