When Cole arrives at the scene of a major fire, he finds that his best friend, a paramedic named Finn, has recklessly risked his life by running into the burning building. Finn emerges fine, though singed, but Cole does not take the situation well. Their heated argument sparks a confession from Finn regarding his feelings for Cole, but a night of passion might not survive the light of day.
Some short stories have the right length for the right topic. This one, however, did not.
The idea of best-friends-turn-to-lovers where one of them finally realized his feelings after a ‘life-or-death’ situation, in my humble opinion, was just too big to be covered within 6,000 words. That short length didn’t give enough time and space for readers to build emotional attachment to the characters – especially because the story opened directly on the scene of Cole waiting for Finn who went into the burning building. Then half of the story was about them finally doing the deed.
It just didn’t move me and I ended up not really caring about them. I liked Therese Woodson’s writing but this one was slightly forgettable. I didn’t dislike it but this definitely one for my so-so category.
Title: Sweat and Smoke (Daily Dose 2014)
Author: Therese Woodson
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 27 pages
Release Date: June 1st, 2014
Purchase Links: Dreamspinner Press, ARe, Amazon