Reviewed by Scotty
TITLE: Love in Mission City: The Shorts Box Set
AUTHOR: Gabbi Grey
NARRATOR: Michael Dean
PUBLISHER: Gabbi Grey
LENGTH: 6hrs and 35mins
RELEASE DATE: Jan 31. 2024
BLURB:
Mission City is tucked in the charming Cedar Valley in southwestern British Columbia. If you love heartwarming, contemporary small-town gay romances, then come home to Mission City and fall in love with the men who live there. Romance blossoms in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them…
Page Against the Machine
Dickens has run his family bookstore for years in the quiet ambiance suitable for literary endeavors. When Spike opens a motorcycle repair shop next door, tempers flare and sparks fly. Will they be able to resolve their differences or are they just too stubborn for compromise?
The Lightkeeper’s Love Affair
Ben’s graduation celebration is disrupted by a winter storm. He and his beagle, Buddy, have the only room left in the hotel. When lightkeeper Isaac needs a bed, though, Ben’s happy to share. Platonically, of course. Except something about Isaac makes Ben want more. Not in it for the Money
August’s beloved sister has passed suddenly and the man finds himself in need of comfort. Turning to his employee feels all kinds of wrong, but Julian’s arms feel too damned right to resist. Come morning, though, they have to look reality in the face. Is there a chance they find a forever love out of the tragedy?
Marcus’s Cadence
Cadence is trying to sell the home that had been his refuge during his tumultuous teen years. When his teenage crush, Marcus, shows up as a potential buyer, sparks fly. Is there just a real estate deal to be done or could his feelings be requited? (You don’t want to imply sex/love is part of a deal)
Ace’s Place
After a fall from grace, Derek has moved to a small town for a fresh start. Harold, the local golden boy made good, catches Derek’s attention. But secrets and omissions cloud what could be the beginning of something special. Can they take a chance on being vulnerable enough to fall in love?
REVIEW:
“Love in Mission City: The Shorts Box Set” by Gabbi Grey is a collection of five heartwarming, contemporary gay romance stories set in and around the town of Mission City, British Columbia. Each story is self-contained, meaning they can be read or listened to individually.
“Page Against the Machine” is the classic ‘clash of opposites’, in where a bookstore owner and a motorcycle mechanic find themselves drawn together despite their differences. Dickens hates the noise that Spike’s new shop brings to town, but can’t resist him. This insta-lust felt a bit to sudden to me though, and I would have preferred a bit more drama between them.
“The Lightkeeper’s Love Affair” is one of my favourite tropes – there’s only one bed! Throw in a cute dog (that seems far too well behaved to be real) and this is a nice cozy short.
“Not in it for the Money” explores the complexities of finding love amidst tragedy. It’s a story of finding love while grieving, and is handled well.
“Marcus’s Cadence” revisits the nostalgia of a teenage crush reignited. It’s fairly short, but very sweet.
The final story, “Ace’s Place,” is your typical bar hookup-gone-right. Another cute dog steals the show.
Overall, “Love in Mission City: The Shorts Box Set” is a nice set of short stories, that could do with being about 25% longer on average. Each story is well written, as per other books I’ve read by this author, but you just don’t get the chance to bond with the characters before it’s all over. Except the pets. I added an extra half star for the pets.
Michael Dean’s narration is good, as always, and is pretty consistent with his other work. Many of the voices were similar, but then there were 10 MCs plus a few secondary characters.
RATING: 
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