“5 Stars!...Wow, does this story pack a punch. A wonderful example of Anne Brooke’s writing style and her mastery of the short form. Anne has a way of writing a short story with the same effect that another author would use 300 pages to tell. They are effective because they’re highly honed and there are no frivolous scenes, and in a medium where every word counts more than a sentence counts in a novel, the effect is that each scene, each bit of dialogue means more to the reader. The characterizations in this story are what makes the story shine after you’ve considered the concise writing…This is a story that I will wholeheartedly recommend to anyone and I hope that those of you who buy this story will get as much or more enjoyment out of it than I did. Definitely Recommended.”--Cole, Reviews By Jessewave

“4 Stars!...Packs a punch. Brooke excels in short story format and this offering has all the hallmarks I’ve come to expect: good writing, developed characters, a tense situation, sensuality over explicit sex, and an unusual ending. Basically this short hits all the high points and is very entertaining to read…It’s engaging, interesting, and kept me wondering what would happen. Easily recommended for contemporary romance fans.”--Kassa, Three Dollar Bill Reviews

“...Brooke is a writer that you do not easily forget nor do we often get a chance to read someone who can make us think like she can. She writes with an intensity that I find refreshing and while others write erotica and about sex, Brooke’s writing is sensual which to me is much more interesting. I think what really make me love this story is that it is very easy to take Brady’s place and try to decide what choice to make...could not stop reading once I began and while the past is not fully explained, it adds to the mystery of the present and shows that dealing with a difficult situation is just that, very difficult. This is just another definition of how Anne Brooke makes us think and I love a writer who can do that.”--Amos Lassen, Wordpress

“A ‘B+’ Rating!...The characters in this well-written, thought-provoking story face an emotional crisis which many readers may recognize. The author is excellent at using setting and dialogue to help the reader engage with the characters immediately, an important strategy when word count is limited. Her trademark skill draws us into Brady’s life, warts and all. I really like the author’s style for its delicious and sometimes dark mix of mundane domestic details with harsh emotional impact. The prose is clean and clear, a joy to read. It’s a romance, although a large part of the story looks back over a failed relationship.  There’s sexiness, too, and a genuine feeling of Brady’s passion and capacity for love...A very rewarding read that’s stayed in my mind ever since, I rate it a B+.”--Pettyprose, Brief Encounters Reviews

“5+ Kisses!...I think the reason this short story is so powerful is because it causes the reader to ask questions about him/herself...it is a very powerful and thought-provoking piece, perhaps one of the best I’ve read of 'the one that got away' theme. Anne Brooke did it again...she wowed me!”--Jeff, Michele 'n' Lisa Reviews

“...Although this is only a short it's packed with an emotional intensity and contains a very flawed first person narrator in Brady. My sympathies were with Brady for much of the book but the author was clever in the way that she allowed my sympathies for Philip to shift and change. It's not often in a first person narrative that the other character's POV is portrayed with such dexterity and I was very impressed that Philip came over as just as conflicted and flawed as Brady. The plot is character and emotion based rather than action packed and I was drawn into the story, feeling all of Brady's confusion. There was a 'what the heck are you doing?!' moment during which I thought was going to stop liking the story, but even that was handled with sensitivity. Overall a great read with strong characterisation and fluid writing. Grade: Excellent.”--Jenre, Well Read Reviews

“5 Stars!...I am a fan of Anne Brooke writing in short story form and the novel length.  She has a strong ability to create wonderful characters with flaws and warts that are realistic.  So realistic they drew on you for sympathy, support, laughter, joy, and sadness.  These are people you met in everyday life. In short story format, Anne has created a wonderful story about a man who has yet to resolve the lost of love.  It is told in 1st person, which gives the readers the opportunity to experience the depth of the narrating character’s viewpoint. A marvelous story.”--Niciasus, Book Blog

“...Anne Brooke's ability to pack such a great deal of information in so few words is amazing...A short, but intense, story examining the issue of 'the one that got away' and portrays it in an effective, concise manner.”--Lena Grey, Queer Magazine Online

For about a year after that, I couldn’t get enough of him. I thought about him every minute of every day, the shape of his hands, the particular shade of brown of his hair, the lilting tones of his voice. I could never, to my own satisfaction, describe how beautiful he was, but I knew every inch of him as if he was engraved in my blood and in my memory. In many ways he was...