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A crazy bet has tattoo legend Abel offering his big, hairy ass to the one man he can't get out of his head: newcomer Myron. For a tattoo, though anything else is definitely on the table as well. Half his age and size and bossy as can be, Myron should not be Abel's type, if only because he's a man and Abel has always thought he was straight. Yeah, not so much. Myron has gotten under his skin, and now Abel wants him on his skin as well...and in his life. What starts as a drunken bet becomes a scorching hot encounter. Myron makes it clear that's all he wants, but Abel needs more. He'll do whatever it takes to tame Myron, even if it means letting Myron be on top of things...

69 pages, ebook

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

Nora Phoenix

105 books1,903 followers
Would you like the long or the short version of my bio?

The short? You got it.

I write steamy gay romance books and I love it. I also love reading books. Books are everything.

How was that?

A little more detail? Gotcha.

I started writing my first stories when I was a teen…on a freaking typewriter. I still have these, and they’re adorably romantic. And bad, haha. Fear of failing kept me from following my dream to become a romance author, so you can imagine how proud and ecstatic I am that I finally overcame my fears and self doubt and did it. I adore my genre because I love writing and reading about flawed, strong men who are just a tad broken..but find their happy ever after anyway.

My favorite books to read are pretty much all MM/gay romances as long as it has a happy end. Kink is a plus… Aside from that, I also read a lot of nonfiction and not just books on writing. Popular psychology is a favorite topic of mine and so are self help and sociology.

Hobbies? Ain’t nobody got time for that. Just kidding. I love traveling, spending time near the ocean, and hiking. But I love books more.

Come hang out with me in my Facebook Group Nora’s Nook where I share previews, sneak peeks, freebies, fun stuff, and much more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/noras...

Wanna get first dibs on freebies, updates, sales, and more? Sign up for my newsletter (no spamming your inbox full…promise!) here: http://www.noraphoenix.com/newsletter/

You can also stalk me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NoraFromBHR
On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nora.phoenix/
On Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nora-...

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5 stars
237 (27%)
4 stars
335 (39%)
3 stars
236 (27%)
2 stars
34 (4%)
1 star
5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
Profile Image for Meags.
2,341 reviews609 followers
January 26, 2023
3.5 Stars

As a prequel to The Foster Brothers series, this short story felt only tangentially connected, not featuring any of the “brothers” in question but setting up the first story and first love interest here nicely.

Instead, we follow rival tattoo artists, Myron and Abel, when a drunken bet leads to some hanky-panky after bi-curious Abel shows his ardent interest in exploring his growing crush on moody Myron.

These two were like fire together, burning hot and bright. I particularly loved the smashing of stereotypes here too, with smaller and slender Myron craving dominance in the bedroom over bigger, bear-like Abel… and how willing and eagerly Abel gave himself to Myron’s preferences. Yep, FIRE! 🔥

Although short in length, I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading on with the series, if these are the sorts of delicious characters and tasty dynamics that are to be expected going forward!
Profile Image for Jess Brady.
Author 1 book155 followers
January 26, 2022
This was a wonderful peak into the new Foster Brothers series Nora Phoenix is currently working on.

Myron & Abel's story was a no fuss, no frills jump right into it kind of story while giving us a sneak into what will be coming with book one the series. Seeing Abel being exactly opposite of what you would think a character like him would be was refreshing. Same with Myron, because while he was smaller in stature that attitude was just as big as Abel's.... yeah that!
Profile Image for Andi.
Author 15 books248 followers
January 20, 2022
I really enjoyed this sexy short story. Abel and Myron are both well written, and they are clearly good for one another. Abel's determination and gentleness to have Myron in his life was fun to read.
I definitely will read the next book in the series.
4.25 stars
Profile Image for Rin (semi-hiatus).
596 reviews28 followers
January 12, 2022
Well this was a sexy and sweet little read. It did it’s job in making me look forward to the series it set up. Can’t wait for more.
Profile Image for Cindi.
1,632 reviews84 followers
April 18, 2022
This is a nice prequel to The Foster Brothers series, though it only kind of introduces Reid from Jilted: Jaren, as he's the owner of the tattoo shop Myron works at.

Sexy and sweet with two very different characters. I loved Abel right off. Myron was a bit of a grump, but I liked him too. It was fun watching him try to convince himself he wasn't in a real relationship with Abel.

He was totally in a real relationship with Abel. ;)

Full review can be found at -

 photo Potential-OTDU-Banner-9-Smaller2_zpsf0878d67.png
Profile Image for Love Is All Around.
2,050 reviews65 followers
May 2, 2023
RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Quando Abel DiRossi si ritrova ad entrare nel negozio di tatuaggi Rainbow Ink, rivale del suo, tutto si aspetta meno che doverci entrare per pagare il debito di una scommessa che ha perso con uno dei tatuatori che ci lavora: Myron Larsen. Non tanto per la sfida in sé, quanto piuttosto perché Myron è l’unico che sappia smuovere le corde giuste di Abel, anche con la decina di anni di differenza e il broncio perenne del ragazzo che sembra respingerlo a ogni minimo accenno di conversazione civile.
Tuttavia, quella che doveva rivelarsi solo una scommessa persa da pagare, potrebbe rivelarsi qualcosa di più?
Continua sul nostro blog!
Profile Image for Axalia.
747 reviews65 followers
May 8, 2023
Bon, je n'ai rien à dire de particulier, je résumerai cela à : « Je m'appelle Abel, je suis amoureux depuis 2 ans d'un homme qui s'appelle Myron et je lui propose mon cul vierge à tatouer et à prendre » et c'est ce qu'il fera.

C'est assez mignon et ça inverse les stéréotypes gay de la société !
Ça m'a donné encore plus hâte de lire le tome 4 des Frères Foster 😎
Profile Image for gina .
1,688 reviews9 followers
June 26, 2024
Part way through Jilted Jaren my “These characters have a book” radar went off after a passing comment from Myron. I ran out into the wilds of the internet and behold.

I loved that it was fast, short, spicy and sweet. No unnecessary angst or drama that a full length story tries to pack in. I loved how Abel accepted Myron just how he was. 💙
Profile Image for Smut Librarian.
1,210 reviews46 followers
January 7, 2022
Myron is emotionally delicate but has walls up a mile thick. It's amazing how much depth and complexity Nora can show us in such a short book and this journey is enjoyable and fascinating as well as steamy and emotional. A great read.
Profile Image for 1000storie1000vite.
828 reviews21 followers
May 12, 2023
Una novella molto carina, in cui l'evoluzione della storia è dei sentimenti è ben costruita, anche se le poche pagine non permettono di approfondire.
I due protagonisti sono delineati con coerenza e simpatia fin da subito.
Il gancio alla serie che apre mi ha subito incuriosita.
Scritto e tradotto in modo piacevole e coinvolgente.
Hugs&kisses
Profile Image for Jane aka Coughy019.
566 reviews110 followers
May 31, 2023
Tropes:
Feels: 4.5/5
Steam*: 4/5
Kinks: no
Angst: low
HEA: yes
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks: references to bad parents and scary past hookups

When you get the message that you've taken out the maximum books on Kindle Unlimited and need to return some... So you read a full length book and 2 novellas in a day to clear up some space. lol

Myron is a prickly 26 year old gay tattoo artist. He only does hookups and he needs to be in control. He's been burned before with dangerous hookups.

Abel is 36, a bear of a man, a rival tattoo artist. Only been with women, but he's been fascinated by Myron since he met him 2 years ago. Abel is kind, patient, not aggressive at all, fine with Myron being in control.

A bet turns into hooking up, and Abel wants as many repeats as he can get, permanent if he can swing it.

I'm a hard person to impress with novellas. But this one was really well done. There was great tension from the very beginning, very vivid characterizations, personality coming off the pages. And the author managed to do a realistic development of chemistry and real enduring feelings within the reduced length of the novella. I love how prickly Myron was. I love how much Abel loved him and was whipped for him. I love how Myron got jealous and scared at even the hint of losing Abel. Well done. By the way, I read the entire series before reading this one. I didn't realize it existed!

Some notable moments:

"They stared at each other, eyes burning, and Abel’s gut churning. Then Myron got up, ambled over to the door, kicked it shut, and locked it from the inside. Abel sat frozen to his chair as Myron sauntered over, all limbs and angles, yet as graceful as a panther stalking his prey. “You like me,” he drawled."

"Mari’s eyes softened. “So it wouldn’t bother you if he broke things off and went searching for someone who did want something more serious?” Myron froze. “What do you mean? Did he say anything? Did you see him with someone else?”"


*FYI, I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink."
Profile Image for Naomi (aplace_inthesun).
1,004 reviews29 followers
March 27, 2023
A short novella as a prequel to the Foster Brothers series. It’s loosely connected in that it introduces the first brother who book 1 is about.

I’m this book Myron (employee of the brother in book 1) has a bet with Abel and wins. The prize is tattooing Abel’s derrière (classy). The backstory is bi-curious Abel has been smitten with Myron since laying eyes and he’s been trying to get to know him without success. This book seeks to challenge some stereotypes about looks and personality, as the contribute to roles within a relationship.

A quick read that sets up the series reasonably well I think.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,809 reviews327 followers
Read
May 31, 2022
This is a prequel novella to the Foster Brothers series and I honestly finally started it because I needed a quick easy read I knew that Nora Phoenix would deliver. This one is about two different tattoo artists one is big burly and shy and the other one is a small scrawny and intense.

A lost bat leads to a tattoo of the other's choice and ends up resulting in a friendship between the two that turns into more. This is a short story and yes it could have used more development but it served its purpose and is a cute little story.
July 29, 2022
***spoilers little here and there***

https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2022...

This story was cute and short while reading Jaren book I was curious about Myron and why he was so angry. But reading his story with Abel had me understanding why he was so angry. From what he dealt with when it came to his parents and to guys he had to deal with from him being a smaller guy.

But Abel was definitely the right one for him and actually gave him what he needed and wanted. & vise versa for Abel, Myron was right for him and he got who and what he wanted and that was Myron.
Profile Image for Barb ~rede-2-read~.
3,501 reviews108 followers
March 13, 2022
For a short freebie, this story had a lot of meat and was surprisingly good. I'll definitely read the first book in the series if this one is any indication of what's to come. Thanks for the gift, Nora Phoenix!
#smaller tops #tattoo artists
Profile Image for GrimmKat.
18 reviews
January 11, 2024
Short, cute, hot, low angst.
Big bottom, pretty top, lots of tattoos and a HEA.
Everything I want in a story.

I will be coming back to this as a 'comfort book' for when I need a pick-me-up.

Loved it.
Profile Image for _booklover_mamas_tomgirl_.
198 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2022
Wanderful start to an amazing series..❤️
I love Myron and Abel soo much..😘

Looking forward to the other books in the series 😉
Profile Image for JD Crittendon.
1,170 reviews12 followers
March 15, 2022
Flipping The Script!
Based on a sexy bet, Tattoo Artists Abel and Myron began a not-interested-in-a-relationship, relationship. This is a sweet, quick read with interesting enough MCs and premise. It also introduces us to Rainbow Ink and Reid Welz.
Profile Image for Mazmum.
1,544 reviews14 followers
June 7, 2022
Fun and sexy short read - part of pride month Prolific Works promotion.
Profile Image for Amur Thera.
558 reviews67 followers
January 4, 2022
The good
+ Abel. He's such a sweet teddy bear
+ No professional rivalry, just mutual respect for each other's skills
+ How Abel showed no denial or doubt about his bicuriosity or bisexuality even though Myron was the only guy to ever capture his attention
+ How Abel waited and tamed Myron
+ Abel being completely honest about his intentions for their 'relationship'
+ Myron's declaration of love

The neutral
o Love the casual inclusion of non-binary characters. However, one tiny note for the author: when a non-binary person fans themself, you use 'themself' instead of 'themselves', because they're only one person :)

The bad
- Abel said he'd wait for Myron, but it was a little unclear to me why he would do that. Everything we knew about Myron then was that he was a dick to Abel (unintentionally), that he broke Abel's heart (probably intentionally) and that they were good in bed together. I didn't really understand what made Myron worthy of waiting for in Abel's mind, especially because he hadn't yet told Abel why he felt so strongly about certain things


I liked the story, but I would have liked a little more reason to like Myron. Luckily, Abel was sweet enough for both of them. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I bet it's full of pining by Reid and I can't wait.
Profile Image for Nile Princess.
1,412 reviews170 followers
May 2, 2024
Re-read and still loved.

————

Really liked this one. Concise and to the point and I loved the characters. Myron was cautious and damaged, and benefited from not being the length of a full novel to be an a-hole, and Abel was just perfect. He was almost a little TOO laid back, but it worked. I really, really liked them together. Again, the realization of 'being in love' could do with a bit more of a build up, but I was happy. When Myron said to Abel, 'Can you tell me you love me?' I damn near cried. Poor baby. Really enjoyed

4.5 and will definitely read again!
Profile Image for Abigail Beckwith.
1,209 reviews
June 9, 2024
old post reposted


More knocking authors off my to-binge list (or at least nearing the end of this author's list). Here's Nora Phoenix's The Foster Brothers series. It starts with "Marked: Myron," a prequel.
["A crazy bet has tattoo legend Abel offering his big, hairy butt to the one man he can't get out of his head: newcomer Myron.

For a tattoo, though anything else is definitely on the table as well.

Half his age and size and bossy as can be, Myron should not be Abel's type, if only because he's a man and Abel has always thought he was straight. Yeah, not so much. Myron has gotten under his skin, and now Abel wants him on his skin as well...and in his life.

What starts as a drunken bet becomes a scorching hot encounter. Myron makes it clear that's all he wants, but Abel needs more. He'll do whatever it takes to tame Myron, even if it means letting Myron be on top of things..."]

The blurb is purposely ambiguous. I mean, when they're drunk, they mean a tattoo on his virgin (as in non-tattooed) ass. HOWever! When they sit down and talk about it, when Abel reveals his not-so-straight feelings, the conversations flows towards a different kind of virginity.

This was a very, very cute story. A bear and a twink (don't call Myron a twink to his face) but in a little less than stereotypical roles. Abel is totally and completely smitten and gone over Myron. Myron...takes some convincing. But he gets there! HEA guaranteed.

I kinda wish we met more of the Brothers in this first book (we only met Reid--who's book is the first one). Their connections, their histories. Is Myron part of the brothers or just a friend of the found family? I guess we'll see.

#markedmyron #jiltedjaren #hiredhadley #loathedlagan #nickednordin #thefosterbrothers #thefosterbrothersseries #noraphoenix #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
945 reviews14 followers
June 24, 2023
Recensione a cura del blog Romantic Fairies

«Sono io,» asserì Myron con voce roca.

«Il cavallo selvaggio sono io.»


Ci sono letture che pur constatando di poche pagine sanno come far precipitare il lettore e viverne le emozioni.
Ho letto diversi libri della Phoenix, scrive un genere che non tutti possono prediligere, ma io adoro tutti i suoi personaggi, sono sempre uomini duri, tatuati, sexy e molto molto erotici.

Chi sa di potersi scandalizzare fa bene a non leggerli, perché come accade sempre, scivolare dallo storcere il naso al non essere il genere preferito è un attimo, un attimo in cui autori che s’impegnano nel loro lavoro vengono denigrati e criticati, erroneamente o solo per dare aria alla bocca, pardon, mani.

Myron e Abel sono due protagonisti che fanno da apripista alla nuova serie di Nora che ci delizierà facendoci conoscere i fratelli Foster così da trasportarci nelle loro storie e, forse, darci qualche altro scorcio di vita dei due appena letti.
Sottolineo che il testo è molto sulla scia erotica, ma c'è tanto di più che viene percepito leggendo parola dopo parola, per cui attenzione a chi legge. 😜

Alla prossima
Profile Image for Luisa Diana.
1,006 reviews13 followers
June 24, 2023
«Sono io,» asserì Myron con voce roca.

«Il cavallo selvaggio sono io.»



Ci sono letture che pur constatando di poche pagine sanno come far precipitare il lettore e viverne le emozioni.

Ho letto diversi libri della Phoenix, scrive un genere che non tutti possono prediligere, ma io adoro tutti i suoi personaggi, sono sempre uomini duri, tatuati, sexy e molto molto erotici.

Chi sa di potersi scandalizzare fa bene a non leggerli, perché come accade sempre, scivolare dallo storcere il naso al non essere il genere preferito è un attimo, un attimo in cui autori che s’impegnano nel loro lavoro vengono denigrati e criticati, erroneamente o solo per dare aria alla bocca, pardon, mani.

Myron e Abel sono due protagonisti che fanno da apripista alla nuova serie di Nora che ci delizierà facendoci conoscere i fratelli Foster così da trasportarci nelle loro storie e, forse, darci qualche altro scorcio di vita dei due appena letti.

Sottolineo che il testo è molto sulla scia erotica, ma c'è tanto di più che viene percepito leggendo parola dopo parola, per cui attenzione a chi legge. 😜

Alla prossima
Profile Image for Sakuko.
862 reviews11 followers
February 12, 2022
For the most part it was an enjoyable story, I like bossy twinky guys and bottom bears, though Abel was a bit too mellow. He says (thinks) he's into Myron calling the shots, but in the sex scenes it feels like he just doesn't really care either way. I wanted a bit more passion from him.
I don't think the transition from "I don't do relationships, ever" to "Oh, this is a relationship" worked in this short work. I know very few books that managed to do this well and the whole work needed about 3 times the words to get it done believably. This kinda felt like a silly coop out, because it was basically pressed into 1-2 pages which made Myron seem like an idiot and the declaration as skin-deep.

Luckily the series always end up better than those teaser books. I'm not sure why they are so much of a thing, when they are nearly always just kinda half-baked.
Profile Image for Books and Ko.
483 reviews6 followers
May 14, 2023
Cette nouvelle nous plonge dans l’univers des Frères Foster. Si vous n’avez pas encore découvert cette série, je vous conseille de commencer par ce tome. Il introduit les évènements du tome 1, et notamment Reed. Je trouve d’ailleurs dommage que ce préquel soit traduit et publié maintenant, alors que nous attendons la sortie du tome 4. Cette lecture sert clairement à planter le décor pour le tome suivant.
De part son format court, l’auteur va à l’essentiel. C’est chaud, sexy et intense, comme Nora sait parfaitement le faire.
J’ai aimé l’ambiance générale et les personnages mis à l’honneur. Myron et Abel sont totalement opposés et pourtant, ils correspondent à ce que cherche l’autre. Grâce à l’écoute et la bienveillance de Abel, Myron va évoluer au-delà de ce qu’il se pensait capable.
Une lecture sympa malgré son format.
Profile Image for DC.
966 reviews3 followers
March 6, 2024
Not bad for what we got, but it was too short so a lot felt missing. Abel was dream, an almost perfect man, but he’s a mystery, we get nothing about who he really is, except a short history of his sex life. Myron is even more of an enigma. He’s clearly experienced some major trauma growing up, but even as Abel wondered what happened to him, we’re left wondering as well.
As for this being a “prequel” it is serverely lacking. Reid, the first of the foster brothers, in book #1, is present for all of half a page and mentioned once late in the story regarding his sister and her wedding, thus the supposed set-up for the story. Nah, didn’t really resonate with me.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews

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