Falling Hard by Dale Cameron Lowry

Nine of Dale Cameron Lowry’s best short romance stories, available for the first time in one book. Meet a sign language interpreter who finds unexpected love at middle-age, college students in their first relationships, a vampire who would rather be a vegan, and a proudly gay ex-Mormon atheist who develops Bible-study apps for a living. From sweet to erotic, this collection exhibits the quirkiness, fun, and diversity Dale’s writing is known for.

Reviews of Falling Hard

A damn good collection

This is a damn good collection. I’ve enjoyed very minute of it!!

Sam Thorne

Author

A beautiful story

Just read a divine short story by Dale Cameron Lowry proving the theory that a story can be pure sweetness & still bring tears. …

I loved READING THE SIGNS immediately. Twenty-three-year-old linguist Theo De Jong meets mature Alfonso Grossman while studying for six weeks in New Mexico. The story is a beautiful example of a simple thing done exceptionally. There was a heart-fluttering romance between delightful people and essentially no angst. The bright New Mexico setting, the careful way the men spoke in various languages including ASL and Dutch sign language. It all added layers to the charm and chemistry of the characters. Highly recommended.

I was also caught up in BORN OF FIRE from the first paragraph. The story is both fascinating and fantastic but has this deeply practical voice and is loaded with gloriously level-headed humans. A beautiful story.

Pene Henson

Author of Into the Blue

Well crafted

I enjoyed ‘Born of Fire’ immensely. The characters were well crafted … and I loved the way it combined so many elements from folklore and myth.

Asta Idonea

Author of The House Guest

Christina’s Bookshelf five-star review

… And if you’re going to say, ‘Christina, I really don’t like short stories because they’re short and whatever-whatever’— Honest to God, I’m not a huge fan of the short short stories either. It has to be an author I really like. And I hadn’t read anything of Dale’s before, but I was like, ‘You know, okay, I’m going to give it a try.’ Holy guacamole, Batman! Seriously. Just try it. I tried it before you bought it and I’m telling you it’s awesome.

Christina Johnson

Christina's bookshelf

A superb collection

This is a superb collection of short stories set around the theme of men falling in love. … I particularly liked the diverse range of stories, from contemporary to fantasy, from sci-fi to menage. There’s something for all tastes here and the heat ratings span from fade to black to medium steam to smoking hot and explicit. … Each storyline is different, yet poignant and beautifully written.

Lily G. Blunt

Author of Let Your Heart Decide

Escape into the story

The author has a definite understanding of language and culture that added a wonderful tone to each of the stories. … I was so into the writing I was able to completely escape into almost every story.

Leandra Vane

Author of A Bloom in Cursive and Cast from the Earth

Every story is 5-star quality

Every story is 5-star quality. Perfection. Beautiful. Romantic. All of these stories are those things and more. Some made me cry, some made me laugh and you can bet your bottom that I was smiling through almost every one of them. They may tackle tough issues, real challenges that relationships can face, but they do it in a respectful, compassionate way that draws the reader into the story. Because these are feel-good stories of love and overcoming all the odds.

I’ve fallen in love with Dale Cameron Lowry’s writing and I’ll be reading any and every book they ever write.

Elaine White

Author of The Cellist

Read and savor

Heat to me was a force behind this collection of gay stories. I must say that … Lowry has quite an imagination and a way of weaving his imagination into stunning stories and in a collection one can pick and choose what interests him [sic]. The fact that they aren’t too many stories also helps read and savor.

R. Paez

Reader

Although a writer, I’m not an expert, but I couldn’t tell which stories were written first and that says a considerable amount about Dale’s writing ability and the great editing of the stories. … I do have my preferences and my favorites, but each story gave me a little something, a glimpse into what love can be, and actually taught me some things along the way.

Eddy LeFey

Land of the Book Fairies

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More About Falling Hard

Part 1: Falling Fast

Warm up with whirlwind romances that last.

Mi Alma — Ex-Mormon Alma doesn’t know the first thing about alcohol, so he hires bartender Damian to help out at his office party. Their friendship simmers with sexual tension—and possibly something much deeper.
Loggerhead — Soon after falling in love, Jake makes Eric a promise inspired by an old track shirt. But demanding work schedules prevent them from following through. Six years later, they take the honeymoon they never had, heading to the Florida coast in search of sea turtles—and rekindling their passion for each other in the process.
Reading the Signs — The only thing Theo De Jong expects from his summer linguistics academy is more inspiration for his master’s thesis. Then he meets the American sign language expert Alfonso Grossman, and sparks fly.

Part 2: Falling Fantastically

Born of Fire — The fairies on Ireland’s north coast are notorious for kidnapping, and Aodhán has the scars to prove it. When the fairies abduct the handsome youth Cainnech, Aodhán seeks to free him—but risks losing his health in the process.
Ghost of a Chance — When shy Jeremy meets mysterious Frank at a spooky old library, their connection is instant. Their romance waxes with the full moon—but just as quickly, Frank’s interest seems to wane. He insists he loves being with Jeremy. So why does he keep Jeremy at arm’s length?
Far From Home — Rajiv met his husband, Mateo, while working to transform Mars into a suitable home for humans. Years into their shared mission, Rajiv is ordered back to Earth to restore the barren lands of the American Midwest. With a little help from technology, the two men find innovative ways to nurture their long-distance relationship.
Sweeter Than Blood — Keith was a vegan before a hot encounter with a stranger turned him into a vampire. Though his sire tries to help him rein in his impulses, temptation is strong in the form of Andres, one of Keith’s regular barbershop customers. When Andres finally asks Keith on a date, the real danger begins.

Part 3: Falling Deep

The deeper the love, the hotter the intimacy.

Rough Love — Blake thinks new boyfriend Michael doesn’t like French kissing. Michael thinks Blake doesn’t like rough sex. Neither are virgins, except in the art of conversation. Can they set things straight before the honeymoon’s over?
Pacific Rimming — For Mike’s 40th birthday, husband Ken encourages him to bed a gorgeous 20-something man they encounter in Pacific Rim National Park. A night of no-holds-barred passion among the three men reveals a sizzling chemistry. Can what started as a one-night stand transform into a threesome that lasts?