Discover love blossoming in the small town of Sommerville
in these heart-warming and very short tales, filled with fun and forever
possibilities.
Bug
Stuff ~ An accountant unites with his co-worker to exterminate
a pesky adversary.
Just Desserts ~ A political dinner gone disastrous brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.
With This Ring ~ When a wife forgets the all-important little black dress, the evening turns into something utterly unforgettable.
Good Girls Finish First ~ When men friends are challenged to fix breakfast if they lose a race, one woman leads the pack and discovers finishing first can lead to romance.
Ouch ~ Who knew a yoga class would be so dangerous...and romantic?
Man Theory ~ When a geeky co-worker espouses his theory on love, a friend risks her heart.
Tommy and the Teacher ~ A young boy steals from the school’s book fair causing interesting possibilities to arise.
Absolutely Positively Lost ~ Helping a map-challenged young man find his way is truly serendipitous.
The Little Birdie Who ~ A new town, a new friend, a new beginning. Who would have thought a little bird could bring two people together?
Check Her Out ~ It’s a sticky situation, especially between a store manager and Auntie Caren when her nephew must pay for the gum he stole.
This Is Not Working ~ One of those days at a new job when nothing is going right, and then the new boss steps in.
Just Desserts ~ A political dinner gone disastrous brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.
With This Ring ~ When a wife forgets the all-important little black dress, the evening turns into something utterly unforgettable.
Good Girls Finish First ~ When men friends are challenged to fix breakfast if they lose a race, one woman leads the pack and discovers finishing first can lead to romance.
Ouch ~ Who knew a yoga class would be so dangerous...and romantic?
Man Theory ~ When a geeky co-worker espouses his theory on love, a friend risks her heart.
Tommy and the Teacher ~ A young boy steals from the school’s book fair causing interesting possibilities to arise.
Absolutely Positively Lost ~ Helping a map-challenged young man find his way is truly serendipitous.
The Little Birdie Who ~ A new town, a new friend, a new beginning. Who would have thought a little bird could bring two people together?
Check Her Out ~ It’s a sticky situation, especially between a store manager and Auntie Caren when her nephew must pay for the gum he stole.
This Is Not Working ~ One of those days at a new job when nothing is going right, and then the new boss steps in.
Available on: Amazon B&N Smashwords
Excerpt:
"I have a
theory about love.”
Ethan's
statement knocked me from the proverbial mountain top. Eyeing him, I clapped my
hand across my mouth to stifle a giggle.
From Day One at
our new jobs at Prime Designs, Ethan and I had forged a friendship. I was the
artsy heart-sy, emotional gal. Him--the technical, by-the-book pal. We ate an
occasional dinner, watched a movie, whatever. Traded small gifts like coffee, a
magazine, music. However, Ethan had never made an overture toward me.
Translated:
Nothing intimate.
I'd said to
myself, "Rats."
For work, we'd
traveled to Colorado Springs to attend a workshop on web design innovations.
After check-in, I'd joined him at the bridge crossing the lake to decide about
lunch before the meetings commenced.
My six-one geek
wearing rimless glasses, leaned against the railing and stared into the
sparkling blue waters of the high mountain lake. The feathered fowl paddled by.
Have his
feelings changed?
I asked in
disbelief, "R-really? A theory...about love?
Reviews:
4 stars. What a fun collection of sweet
short stories. Some had me laughing out loud and others had me saying...awww.
Quick little stories and a great way to escape from the stress of the day and
just sit back and enjoy. Each story shows how two people meet. Sunshine, humor
and heart all rolled into one enjoyable book.
5 stars. What a delightful collection of
short stories. Each one sweet with dollops of humor. Cute meets with the
promise of much more. Perfect when you haven't much time but want something
entertaining and delicious.
5 stars. Such a fun book! Love these feel
good short stories. Perfect for a lazy, summer, afternoon at the pool read. I
have also read her two books: Temporarily Employed, and Temporarily Insane, Her
wit, humor, and sense of romance make her books thoroughly enjoyable!
5 stars. These short stories are a good
introduction to this writer. Always well written, funny and leave you wanting
more. The author never recycles scenarios for relationships that can blossom
into more. I always laugh out loud at some of the situations and dialogue
between the characters. Enjoy!
Facebook: Romance happens in the darndest
ways in Just Desserts...and Other Stories by my writer friend, Vicki Batman.
Vicki's newly released collection of 11 sweet short-fiction reads is where
ordinary life takes cute and unexpected turns. Love in the office break room?
Sure-when he's averse to bugs and she becomes his rescuer. ("Bug
Stuff.") A matchmaking goose? How else could a bird bite end in romance?
("Ouch.")
4 stars: Just Desserts was such a quick and
fun read. These cute little short stories will have you smiling and some will
have you laughing out loud. These stories are quick and give you a few minutes
away from reality. Stress relievers. Perfect for a summer beach read. I read
this book all in one sitting. This book is great if you don't have a lot of
time. Vicki has a great sense of wit and humor which is what makes this book so
enjoyable. I would definitely recommend Just Desserts.
4 stars. Fun, sweet, humorous love stories.
Enjoyable little reads.
5 stars. Just Desserts...and Other Stories
is a delightful book of short stories about romance found in so many places!
Ms. Batman is an incredible author, whose stories are always humorous and
believable in that the hero and heroines are not 'perfect', just perfectly
flawed! I love the interactions with all of the characters in every story. You
won't be disappointed!
4 stars. What a fun collection of sweet
short stories.. Some had me laughing out loud and others had me saying
...awwww. Quick little stories and a great way to escape from the stress of the
day and just sit back and enjoy. Each story shows how two people meet .
Sunshine, humor and heart all rolled into one enjoyable book.
"Ouch" - Who knew a yoga class would be so dangerous...and romantic?
"Man Theory" - When a geeky co-worker espouses his theory on love, a friend risks her heart.
"Tommy and the Teacher" - A young boy steals from the school’s book fair causing interesting possibilities to arise.
Find Man Theory & Other Stories at: Amazon
Reviews:
5 stars. Great group of stories. I'm partial to Vicki Batman's
cute fun stories - This grouping of stories makes it all the more fun to take
time to read - well done.
5 stars. Fun, Enjoyable, Sweet Romances. These short stories
are perfect for a coffee break. Kick back and smile with each one. Like a
refreshing stroll on a sunny day through the park, Ms. Batman's stories are
stress free reads oozing with the lighthearted joy of romance. I enjoyed this
collection - just what I needed today.
5 stars. Humor with my romance any day, Batman has delivered
with three hilariously wonderful short stories that will keep you entertained
and thinking about them long after you finish reading. Her snappy dialogue,
spot-on insight into the male brain and just the right amount of humor makes
these stories a must read for lovers of Happily Ever After.
5 stars. Like a Breath of Fresh Air. I thoroughly enjoyed the
three delightful stories in this collection. Vicki Batman's light-hearted brush
strokes made for a refreshing read. I would recommend these selections to any
reader who wants to just kick back for a little while and be entertained by the
author's wit and satisfying story endings.
5 stars. Big tease! Vicki Batman's Man Theory and Other
Stories is a quick, light read. Each about the beginning of romance and each
just enough to leave you hoping she tells us more about these characters.
Here's hoping she brings us sequels to each of these stories!
Ms. Batman's short stories are like a snack size package of
Peanut M&Ms. They are sweet, salty, and addictive. You will love her
characters and enjoy her easy, sassy dialogue. Man Theory and Other Stories are
three of her best!
Fact or Fiction? I have a beloved one who sat on my couch one
day and said, "I have a theory about love." I was really in the
writing groove and didn't want to stop, but being a good ________ (I can't say.
He'd kill me.), I held up my index finger to indicate one minute and typed.
Then I scribbled down what beloved said as it was priceless. When finished, I
set down my pencil and said, "Tell me your theory." Result: "Man
Theory"
"This is NOT Working": One of those days at a new job when nothing is going right until the new boss steps in.
"Check Her Out": Gum: it’s a sticky situation, especially between the store manager and Auntie Caren when her nephew has to pay for the package he stole.
"Little Birdie Who…": A new town, a new friend, a new beginning. Who would have thought a little bird could bring two people together?
Reviews:
5 stars. Sweet,
Funny, and Romantic. Vicki Batman has written three adorable stories with funny
heroines and hunky guys. If you're looking for a quick romantic comedy fix,
this book is perfect!
5 stars. Fun! Fun!
Fun! Fun easy read! I read this on a weekend trip. It was enjoyable. I have
read all of Vicki Batman's books. They get better every time. I'm looking
forward to reading her latest book, San Diego or Bust.
5 stars.
Delightful. As always, Vicki Batman delivers a delightful set of short stories.
These 3 perfect for an afternoon lunch break in the park. Smile and enjoy the
warmth and fun of her short romances. This is the perfect companion for her Man
Theory collection.
5 stars. Fantastic
quick reads. The quirky characters hooked me immediately. Love the tone and the
connection between the characters. Nicely done.
5 stars. Fun in a
small package. Batman has mastered the
challenging format of the short story with birdies, gum and contrary computers
in three tales of love in the most unexpected, yet definitely could happen,
places. Though wonderfully written I gave this book a 4 because the first two
stories both had characters named "Ben" which was confusing and the
collection was too short for its $2.99 price tag, but that aside it's a
wonderful read. BTW, "This is NOT working" was the winner of The Book
Breeze's Short Story Contest in 2011.
5 stars. Short and
sweet Like the other reviewers, I found the two characters named Ben confusing,
but I really enjoyed this short story collection. Vicki Batman is a new author
for me--I love short stories. My favorite in this book was "This is not
Working."
Fact or Fiction?
Handsome adopted two Malti-poos. They were little tykes when we heard them
creating havoc in the garage. We went to investigate and found a birdie stuck
on an insect trap paper. The paper is extremely sticky. He couldn't raise his
feet. I put PAM on a stick and wiggled it under his feet while Handsome cupped
his hands around his body. Once free, we took him outside, away from the four
legged devils. "Little Birdie Who."
I've always been
intrigued about the dome-ish security cameras. Then I heard a story about
someone's computer not working and they couldn't determine why. The surge
switch had been turned off. Put the two together and got "This is NOT
Working."
In "Check Her
Out," I thought about a story of the little next door to my family's home
who got gum stuck in her hair and instead of cutting the wad out, her mom used
peanut butter. I did my version of the story and named the heroine after
someone in my family.
"Bug Stuff" - A co-worker unites with the hunky new accountant to fight a pesky adversary.
"Just Desserts" - A political dinner gone disastrous brings together a reluctant attendee and her handsome seat-mate.
"With this Ring" - The Unimaginable. When Katherine forgets her little black dress for a must-attend event, all turns into something utterly romantic and unforgettable in the end.
Find Bug Stuff...and Other stories at: Amazon
Reviews:
5 stars. Fun, fun, fun and Cute, cute, cute. Ms. Batman can
make me howl like no other writer! She is truly one of the funniest authors I
have ever had the pleasure to meet and read! She is always gracious to her
adoring fans and her books just make me cry tears of pure laughter! If you're a
busy mommy like me and love short stories, you will really love this special
collection that had me laughing so hard I was snorting while waiting in the
doctor's office for my son to get his booster shots for first grade! Sure helped me deal with the stress of
getting shots...lol! I can always count on Ms. Batman to brighten my day! I
Highly recommend!
5 stars. Another Hysterical Waiting-room Read! I've said it
before and I'll say it again--I so admire authors who can tell a complete story
in a short space. I seem to be "constitutionally incapable" of doing
so. In the tiny space of just eighteen pages, Ms. Batman manages to regale us
with not one such gem, but three! The Blurb says it all. With such short
stories, you don't need more than one-line descriptions. I guarantee you'll
laugh, and maybe even get a bit choked up as you breeze through these
short-short-short stories while you're waiting for a bus, in line at the
supermarket, or for the water to boil! What're you waiting for? Download
"Bug Stuff...and Other Stories!" Start laughing.
4.5 stars. Escapism-fast and funny. The stories are
quickies-sweet and sexy rather than hot and steamy. The perfect fast read for when
you need to shut yourself off from the world, and remind yourself that love
never gets tired.
5 stars. I enjoy Ms. Batman's love stories. For me, they are
like taking a stroll in the park, relaxing and uplifting. They are low stress,
easy-going, romances with a cute twist of humor that I can read on my lunch
break.
4 stars. Each story is charming and humorous, with enough
description for the reader to perfectly recreate each scene in their mind's
eye. PS: Cockroaches are my least favourite bug, I loathe them, but the author
actually makes them seem cute in the first story, now that's talent!
4 stars. When time is on limited supply, read a short story.
That’s my mantra and I really enjoyed reading three of them in Bug Stuff and
Other Stories. The first story is Bug Stuff and I loved the opening line in
this one and the fact that the heroine admits she’s never heard a man shout
help ever before. It’s a cute story about two co-workers who deal with a bug
problem in the break room. The dialogue is snappy, the pace fast, and it made
me smile. Second up is Just Desserts which was really well planned out for such
a short read. I thought of it as a mini-me romance story with two characters
you hoped would find some way to get together before the night was over. The
final story is With This Ring and I loved the humor that Ms. Batman injected
into the plot and dialogue. My favorite part was the fact that the heroine
thinks one thing and then something wonderful happens to her. If you’re looking
for a short, fun and romantic read, give this trio a try. -LASR
Fact or Fiction? Handsome took me to a political dinner and
across the table from us sat a man with very bad manners. It truly was
shocking. As I wrote about the incident in my journal, the idea dawned maybe
this could be a story--"Just Desserts."
Handsome attends his university's business school's alumni
dinners and dragged me along for a biggie. We had returned one afternoon from a
trip and had to pack to take off the next morning. When we'd reached our
destination's hotel, I went to unpack and found no little black dress. Totally
unacceptable to not attend; so I went shopping. Then I made up some stuff for
the story, "With This Ring."
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