REVIEW: When He Beckons by Halli Starling

- December 31, 2022

WHEN HE BECKONS

by Halli Starling

Release Date: December 28, 2022

Review

For all the book lover nerds out that like reading about fellow book-loving nerds…this one is for you.

A heartwarming story between a book publisher and a book printer with a lovely meet cute, and an even better first date!

An instant attraction between two slightly older men (30s/40s) that has the maturity that is owed them. Their witty banter, creative dates, and chance to find a person that actually gets them are all perfect.

“See, I’m not a gentleman. I’m a rogue and a scoundrel”

This was a quick read, but a perfect way to spend an afternoon letting my book-loving heart soar.

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Synopsis

A charming - but slightly strange - accidental first meeting at a skate park. Opposites attract. And technically...one works for the other one.

Zan has a fast mouth and a lot of technical know-how, so dating hasn't always been easy. He'd set aside any notion of a romantic life to work and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Biking, canoeing, skiing, you name it. He's never tried skateboarding, even though he stops by the skate park near the trail where he bikes to watch boards - and sometimes people - flip, or crash hard.

Instead of skater-watching, Zan meets Deacon. Deacon's odd and interesting, and it turns out, the head of the small indie press of which Zan is a huge fan. Rochester Press puts out the weird and erotic, the dark and mischievous, and finally meeting the head of the press is great. Maybe not so great - Deacon has just hired the printing company Zan works for, and now Zan's in charge of all the new jobs.

It'll be fine.

Except Zan (and his big mouth) immediately asks Deacon out on a date. And Deacon accepts. There's no fraternization clause in Zan's contract, or Deacon's. It should be fine.

A high-heat novella about two quirky people who would never seek out a date via online platforms or at speed dating. But their weird seems to compliment each other. Add in a romantic picnic date, a rainstorm, and a love of books and the outdoors, and Zan and Deacon might just carry away your heart.

About Halli Starling

She/they, 30+ 🏳️‍🌈 Writing slow burns and romance with emotional investment, and the occasional vampire or evil fey. Cohost of The Human Exception podcast. Gamer, librarian, reader.

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