1: 99 First Dates (Revised) by Stultus Very different from Stultus' normal stuff - which is always pretty great - this is a humorous (and I hope fictional) account of a hundred ladies he met on a first date. Maybe a little repetitive to make up the numbers, but I had several real belly laughs and more than a few wry chuckles.
2: Across That Line by Longhorn__07 Ashley promises Brad that her swinging days are done now that she's found him. Unfortunately she lets herself be dragged back into the lifestyle, nearly at the cost of her marriage. Brad has to make a decision whether to stay or leave, and comes up with the option of playing the player. Another great story from Longhorn_07 - and, after a few years absence, he's back!
3: Aftermath by Al Steiner This was the second of Al Steiner's stories that I read; I'm still overwhelmed by his ability to imagine a possible event and then put SO much detailed flesh onto the bones of the story. Total respect.
A comet strikes Earth with enough force to cause catastrophic earthquakes and tsunamis, changing the climate for the worse. There aren't too many survivors, and society breaks down completely. This is the story of a cop and his own personal journey to build a new life.
4: Again by Just Plain Bob JPB's ultimate 'burn the cheating bitch and her big-dicked boyfriend' story. Becky wanted to try a really, really big dick, and she finally got her way....
5: All The King's Horses: Adapting by Shrink42 Three wives, close friends who have been together since childhood, cheat on their husbands by attending swingers parties. The men find out, and take action. There are two versions of this story, and although sometimes the 'psychology' content is a little long, the characterisation is superb and detailed. It's not a simple tale, nor an easy read, but I find it very satisfying every time I read it.
6: Betting It All by Gilmore Impecunious student Keri makes sports bets against her landlord Donnie - if he wins she does extra chores, if she wins then she gets credit against her rent money. Except this time, her ass is literally on the line. A technical anal sex story that suddenly turns into a really enjoyable romance; a real heart-warmer.
7: Bill and Amber by nakdsub Despite some slight continuity problems, this is a well-written and enjoyable tale of misunderstanding and love finally conquering all, despite wasting so many years. It's a bit of a rollercoaster, but the main characters are likeable and believeable.
8: Bitter Pills by Argon Love this one - complex, satisfying, well worth reading again and again.
9: The Bought Husband by Just Plain Bob Another great story with twists and a happy ending from JPB. She needs to get married to get her inheritance, and her lover is so NOT husband material. She makes a faithful employee a business offer to play the part of her husband, but miscalculates. He's even brighter and more loyal than she realised.
10: Breaking Point: Rick by Shrink42 Rick's family was absolutely dominated by the women. As a male, he was ignored and despised. His parents didn't attend his graduation, or even realise that he'd won a scholarship to college. His sisters and female cousins were given cars when they reached sixteen, none of the males ever received one. Small wonder that husbands and sons all skipped out just as soon as they could. Rick saw all women as men-haters, it wasn't until he became the study partner of an older widow that he actually first talked to a woman as a friend. This is a heartwarming coming of age tale of recovery from family betrayal and finding a family for the first time.
11: Bright College Days by Allan Joyal Another great Allan Joyal story. Allen is a top student who upsets his professor's underage daughter at a social. She chases him; the day she becomes legal they become lovers. Coming back from a work internship, he discovers that she is unfaithful. Knowing how manic she can be, he leaves his apartment and hides out until he can finish his finals. Much drama, much excitement, much love. I enjoy this anew every time I read it.
12: Cabin Fever: Parting Shot by HeatAndChills I don't know about this one. It's well written, erotic and descriptive. The nice guy gets the girl, but not the one he's loved since junior high. And I can't see it lasting more than a couple of days, so Paul has blown eight years of lusting after Karen, but lost his virginity. I guess the outcome disappointed me more than the well-told story thrilled me.
13: Can You See Me Now? by Lubrican Another brilliant tale from Bob Lubrican; the technical part is entirely believable, and the romance side is something you will WANT to believe.
A government worker operates satellites. Bored one day, he sees something on the image that catches his interest, and investigates. It changes his life.
14: Carry That Weight by Harddaysknight Fast paced well written tale, great ending. His wife and best friend drunkenly hook up; he heads home to get away, and by chance saves his friends family on the way, and the two cheaters have to live with what they've done. Great messing with their minds.
15: Catch 22 Wife by Allan Joyal I love this one; it's about a guy whose wife gives him an ultimatum that he either accepts her screwing other men, or loses his young kids. Of course it's not as simple as that. One of the best elements of this story is the development of the two children, Morgan and Lance, as they fight to stay with their Dad.
16: Conversations 18 by SleeperyJim Mike's wife is a hospital doctor during the Coronavirus pandemic. To prevent her infecting him if she contracts the disease, she moves in with a female colleague and leaves him alone in lockdown. They communicate online, and he worries about how exhausted she seems. One night she shuts off her screen, but not the feed. Mike watches grief-stricken as she throws away their marriage.
This is a tightly written, emotional story of love and loss. I think it's SleeperyJim's best yet. The inevitability of the plot and the many details give it an impressive depth that i wish I could match.
17: A Country Boy Can Survive by JRyter Steve and Dog have done their time, served their country. They just want to be left alone. When a shipment of drug money gets mis-delivered, their solitude is disturbed. A tale of romance, violence, lust and victory, I loved it. Oh, don't try the butt-naked-except-for-camo-paint hunting at home. It sounds like an acquired skill.
18: The Cuisine Club by Joe Mezza These two "Cuisine Club" stories really bug me! I think that they're great, and I desperately want to know what happens next. Does he get to nail his sexy step-mom, foxy mom and three stunning sisters? Sadly, this series has been incomplete for nearly nine years, so I doubt that we will ever find out. Joe Mezza, if you're still around, I'd really appreciate you giving us the sequel!
19: Daughters by Mystic47 Mike goes over the road to borrow some tools from his lifelong friend Andy, only to walk in on Andy pounding into a young girl. Embarrassed, he retreats, assuming that Andy is committing incest with his daughter Sally. Then he sees Sally arrive home - so who was the girl being screwed? An incredibly erotic story that leaves you wanting more - and points the way to a sequel which I hope Mystic47 is going to be kind enough to write for us!
21: Do Dreams Really Cum True? by TheMoose63 Robert's Economics professor asks him to babysit her daughter. Who is fifteen going on thirty. A short and very sweet story of young lust; I'd love to read a sequel!
22: Fighting for Family by Lazlo Zalezac Vicky gets herself a job as a PA to help out the family finances. She's so good at helping her boss that she travels with him. To keep the wolves away, she dresses smart and calls herself Victoria. Trouble is, she can't lose the attitude when she gets home, and the husband and kids learn to live without her. One day the kids' frustration boils over because she's such a stranger. Turns out she's misread everything very badly. Can she win back her family, or has it gone too far?
23: Finding a Place by Don Lockwood Brendan is an insecure brainbox from Chicago; at Stanford he agrees to help a popular swimmer understand maths. Turns out they have a whole lot in common. A great sickly sweet romance where the good guy gets the girl.
24: Finding The Right Woman by DG Hear A romantic roller-coaster with a great ending; improbable but plausible, and as well crafted as always. Jim falls in love with a girl just as he finishes in college and moves home, he misses Marie but doesn't know how to contact her again. By sheer chance, they meet again.
25: The Girl They Called Hot by realoldbill Short, totally unbelievable and hot - loved it! "Hot" goes to college with minimal sexual experience, but she sure makes up for it that first week....
26: Girl, Refurbished by Argon The Clearwater trilogy are three connected and brilliantly written stories, plenty of action and twists, and happy endings. Enjoy!
Joe is a parole agent. He has a homicide prisoner assigned to him, and gets to find the facts behind what she did. He treats her like a human being from the start, and that makes all the difference.
27: Going to War by Lazlo Zalezac Another brilliant Jade Force story, action, humour, few wasted words, great author. Sword Miquel has the job of re-training the Misera parachutists - the Jade Force way. Then he uses them to end the Sumar-Desera war. Two thousand against half a million? Not a problem.
28: Goodbye Melissa by Just Plain Bob An especially good BTB tale with a great back story. Melissa is serial cheating on her husband Frank, confident that he can't afford to divorce her. She and her current lover are shot dead while Frank was at a seminar three hours away. So who killed them?
29: Greenies by Al Steiner This is the story that brought me to SOL. The story of the Martian Revolution and the fight for independence from Earth's corporations. A great science fiction concept, turned into a true epic with many solid and believable characters, incredibly well told. I know that I will never write as well as Mr Steiner does, he has my total respect and admiration.
30: Herman by Just Plain Bob Herman is studying business at college, but money is awful tight. His mother has just been killed and he needs to work in the student cafeteria to afford to live. Samantha makes him an offer to act as her cuckold husband in a porn series she's making to fund her own PhD studies. He can't afford not to take the money. It's a purely business relationship, and then it isn't. I reckon this is one of JPB's finest, even if it is on the unbelievable side. The dialogue is his usual tight style, the understated humour is there, and, unusually, things work out just fine with everybody getting a happy ending.
31: Hildy by the Troubador This is a truly brilliant story. It gets to me every time I re-read it. I love it, and I hate it. I've scored it 4 and I've scored it 10. I still don't know what I really think of it, and I shall read it again, probably many more times.
His wife, drinking too much at a friends wedding, wrongly thinks that he cheated on her with the stripper at the bachelor party. She drugs him and then ties him to a table while she has sex with her informant. They reconcile, which in my view doesn't work, but the description of anguish and betrayal is truly outstanding.
32: Holly Jolley Christmas by RejectReality Another fun story from 'RejectReality'. Due to overcrowding at home, Doug ends up in the spare bed at the place his sister and her girlfriend share. No, that's wrong. He starts off in the spare bed. Damn, I wish MY imagination would get me in situations like this!
33: How High a Price: A Long Ending by BDad Absolutely brilliant ending to a great story; I actually enjoyed it more than the original, and I've re-read the original with pleasure many times.
This sequel has a more satisfactory revenge on Susan's asshole seducer, and more depth to Early himself. Some won't like the reconciliation, but there's a definite hint that while Early may have said that she's forgiven, he's never going to forget Susan's transgression against her marriage vows.
34: How High a Price? by the Troubador This is a good, perhaps great, story in itself, but it's real attraction to me is the loose ends that it leaves and the various other endings that a number of SOL authors have contributed to the theme - I especially like Joesephus' and BDad's sequels - and I strongly recommend that you search for "High A Price" and read them all.
Early Conroy comes back from a trip to find his wife away from home. He calls her, she says she's so lonely for him in their big bed. Only she's not there next to him. She pays a high price for her infidelity.
35: Hunter by Lazlo Zalezac Frightening storyline but brilliantly told. Ex-Marine gets his PhD and joins the CIA to monitor Middle Eastern terrorists - only to discover that they are targeting Langley. Suddenly terrorism gets very personal.
36: I Dreamed by DFWBeast An incredible rollercoaster with a great ending. Zach's wife cheated and left him to bring up their daughter alone. The original love of his life, Bree, cheated on him at college and called off their engagement. Trouble with living in a small town with your Mom trying to run your life, you can't get away from the people you're trying to avoid....
37: I'll Follow the Sun by Harddaysknight Loved this one, great logical progression, simply told and a suitably hopeful ending. Jim Fox notices his wife's car at an airport motel, and when he cuts a valve stem, his own daughter brings out the spare and the lover changes the wheel. Betrayed by both the women in his life, he accepts an offer to move job to Florida, which is a whole lot warmer than Pennsylvania in winter. His location isn't the only thing that changes.
38: Independent Command by Zen Master Utterly brilliant science fiction; I am in total awe of the Swarm Cycle authors and how they keep track of the wonderful universe they have created for us to enjoy. Proof reading 10/10, consistency and continuity 10/10, understated and humorous prose 11/10. Loved it.
39: Island Mine by Refusenik Utterly brilliant science fiction concept, well detailed and great character development, hugely satisfying story. Our hero comes across a crashed alien ship and becomes the home for some Artificial Intelligences. The power they give him makes him the target for various governments, so the only solution is to create an island all of his own and make it an independent nation. The big powers don't like it; he suffers overpowering loss before he gets his revenge.
40: Jack and Diane by torchthebitch Diane witnesses Jack averting a potentially fatal accident and is so impressed that she hooks him for her husband. Fifteen years and two kids later, she decides to trade him in for a younger model and use the divorce settlement to buy a share of a boutique business. Bad miscalculation. Turns out she doesn't know him at all. A long and detailed story, great character development and backstory. One of the stories I enjoy re-reading.
41: Jake and Antonia by Just Plain Bob Another favourite JPB opus - rich bitch and would-be Queen Bee Antonia tries to steamroller Jake on his first day at middle school. It doesn't get any better over the years, and Jake fears the worst when he discovers that Antonia's dad owns the company he is now working for. He gets a measure of revenge for all the high school insults at the office party, but that has its own consequences. Go on, read it for yourself!
42: Jungles of Awanil by Fick Suck This is a little gem of a science fiction story - a war orphan become hard-bitten infantry sergeant, with little expectation of surviving the current conflict, unexpectedly finds himself selected for a special unit, and then a special assignment. Not exactly 'rags to riches', but a highly satisfying tale of the good guy coming out on top.
43: The Lookout by Daghda Jim Jim's married to Reece; her mom Zeena is his secretary. He has to head home for something, and overhears Zeena warning her daughter that he's on his way. He puts a few more clues together and realizes that his 'loyal secretary' is playing lookout for her daughter's infidelity. Naturally, they both have to go. Then he discovers that the guy was the bullying asshole jock from high school days. Time for some long-overdue revenge?
This is a BTB with a vengeance; it's also a great story. I enjoy it every time I read it.
44: Melodic Redemption by oyster50 oyster50 is another brilliant storyteller; this is a feelgood story with the usual happy ever after ending. A wounded engineer officer gets involved with an orchestra, and finds himself a soulmate. They heal each other.
45: My Day At The Mall by Landrious1 The head of security at a mall is attacked by a bully with a PVC-wrapped girl on a chain. He puts the asshole down, finds the girl has been tortured, and then it emerges that the asshole is an extremely well-connected serial killer....
Damn, this is a great story! No wasted time, lots of tension and suspense building up, the good guys up against what seems like an increasingly overwhelming force, and then it stops dead! Unfinished. AAAAAARRRGGHHH!
46: Officer Longdong by cmsix I can't leave a formal review for this story, but this is what I would have said:
I really miss cmsix and his uniquely irreverent stories – his view on the important things in life was very special.
Sheriff Jake Logan serves and protects his Texas County as only a truly dedicated lawman can; he has a paranoid but justified suspicion of out-of-town preachers and anyone from Broward County, and his pastoral care of widows and fatherless girls is truly touching. cmsix has a way with words that you’ll love, his characters are easy to imagine, and the action is non-stop. The negatives? Like most of his stories, cmsix left this incomplete, but as there’s not much space remaining in Widow Kershaw’s big bed, maybe that’s understandable. You’ll just have to imagine how the plot might continue. And, sadly, the time elapsed mean all cmsix’s works are premier members only. Give it a go. I’m sure it’ll make you smile!
47: The Party by Xalir I think this story is sadly under-rated. Okay, some of the premises are a little far-fetched, but it's written extremely well. It's moving and emotionally gripping, and you can feel the extreme pain that the main character goes through. That initial part is pure drama, and it gets me every time I read it.
Again, I've written a review which tells you more.
48: Penny Whimsy by papatoad Understated, unpredictable, a joy! I smiled all the way through this one. His wife of twenty-five years still thought of him as a produce clerk, and left him for a Mercedes-driving developer. To take his mind off the divorce, he went geo-caching and stumbled upon a buried box of old coins - rare ones. He got a satisfying revenge over both his ex and her lover.
49: The Pretend Boyfriend by Just Plain Bob A top-of-the-range JPB with back story, a twist, and a whole lot of fun. Robert Dawson lost his wife to cheating, so he won't touch a married woman. An attractive work colleague, Mrs Constance Frederick, excites his admiration but he keeps well back until she confronts him to ask why he is so distant. He tells her the story, and she asks that as he is 'safe' to be with, he escort her to a charity event when her husband is away, to keep the wolves off her. Naturally, everything is not quite as it seems. If you like this one, I think you'll also enjoy 'The Bought Husband', another JPB classic.
50: Redemption by skibum This is an incredibly well-written story, it is powerful, maybe even visceral in the way it grabs you and makes you want to read on. Loved it.
I've written a review of this which tells you more.
51: Rejuvenated by Gramps David was divorced by his wife Abby because he was spending way too much time at work for her liking. Then his son was injured and his boss fired him for taking time off to help care for him. That - and some weird body chemistry - triggered a whole lot of other life-changing events.
The author writes in an understated and humorous way, giving plenty of background detail to make the story and its characters come alive. It's feel-good story where the decent man comes out in front for once.
52: A Reluctant Hero by Douglas Fox Brilliant piece of fiction, great characters and description, I loved it. Set in Al Steiner's 'A Perfect World' universe, it describes how a young soldier in World War Three finds his way back from behind enemy lines.
53: The Restraining Order by DeYaKen Brilliant, a realrollercoaster with a happy ending. I've read it many times, and I still get a real kick out of it.
Richard's wife Cathy receives photos of her husband with another woman; he soon receives divorce papers and a restraining order so he can't see his kids. But he was plied with drink and set up. The story tells how he gets his revenge.
54: Riley's New Bikini by Lubrican Another classic from Bob Lubricant. Another poor schmuck manipulated by wife and daughter into digging a massive hole for himself - I loved it.
55: Snowplow Extra by Wes Boyd Complicated, technical and utterly brilliant. A saga of heroism and determination that I just couldn't put down. There's three feet of snow around the town of Warsaw, and the paper factory has just caught fire. The whole town will burn down and leave the population without shelter in a blizzard unless someone can get more fire crews to the area.
56: Sod's Law by Always Raining Utterly brilliant roller-coaster love story, I couldn't put it down! David Evans meets Helen Metcalfe when she applies to live in the shared house he manages. It's pretty much love at first sight, but there are a heck of a lot of swings, roundabouts, misunderstandings and unfortunate coincidences to overcome before this story ends. Always Raining is a great author, well worth a look.
57: Sound Business Advice by PostScriptor Audrey is a successful business lawyer; her husband Jim runs a situation past her, saying that his business partner is deceiving him. She advises him to take the hardest line possible. Unfortunately for her, his fictional 'situation' is a variation on her relationship with her boss. Loved this one; humorous and quirky, and the good guy wins.
58: Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace by WTSman A brilliant and heart-warming tale, most enjoyable. George is the unwanted middle child; his older brother can do no wrong, nor can Daddy's Princess. He escapes to college, his father having stolen his chemical Patent. When he graduates there is no place for him either in the family firm or home. His high school science teacher discovers him sitting at the bus station, shocked speechless by his exclusion. He discovers that he does indeed have some real friends, even if his enemies have one last attempt to control him.
59: Stripper's Delight by The Midnight Lurker At the gentleman's club, Michael only has eyes for one of the exotic dancers, Ashley. He's too shy to make a pass at her, but the night he tips her with a hundred-dollar bill, she has to know why he only tips her and none of the others. She comes to his table between sets to talk to him, likes what she hears, and asks him to meet her for a coffee. This story manages to be both erotic and romantic, and you'll find yourself rooting for this couple by the end.
60: Surprise Visit by Agena This one ticks all the boxes, nicely paced, scarcely a wasted word, great character development, clean ending. What's not to like? Jack's wife Anita is on a week's business trip to Denver, Jack picks up a service call in California and decides to stop over in Denver for the night to be with Anita. Jack gets the surprise when he gets a keycard for her room.
61: Surprises by rlfj A high school girl's sleepover gets cancelled, so she goes home, to discover that her parents are hosting a party. Yup, that sort of party. Her bedroom is locked so she can't hide there, and two naked guys excite her interest. The characterisation is brilliant, although the story probably goes on a bit too long for me, and it doesn't re-read as well as it did first time. I wasn't sure from the summary that I would like it, but I was actually hooked from the first page.
rlfj has written several more stories along these lines; I particularly enjoyed "Jennifer" as well.
62: Survivor by Ernest Bywater Pat's family are killed in a horrific car accident, he moves to America to live with his only living relative. Life there isn't a whole lot safer. Ernest Bywater / Ernest Edwards has a very specific writing style in the present tense; he can make it work! All his stories have an edge and some violence, but the good guy always makes good in the end, and the bad guys are out of it. Always enjoyable!
63: Tainted Love by Joe J (This story is a repost of 'Healing Hands'.) Blindsided on his fourth wedding anniversary, betrayed by the wife he'd supported through law school and for whom he'd built a dream home, Joshua works his way back until he is vindicated. A great romance and a decent 'burn the bastard' too!
64: A Totally Unromantic Love Story by D.T. Iverson The first of the Wilson Women series, and I think the best. Utterly brilliant, beautifully written, a real rollercoaster - I keep coming back to re-read it, and am delighted every time. A divorced man attends a Washington party, finds a beautiful woman being gang-banged, and as he's nothing better to do, he sits down and watches. When she's finished and showered, she asks him for a lift as her ride has left, so he takes her home. He has to pick up his son for breakfast; the boy and the woman instantly bond, the three of them go to the zoo, and suddenly he's got a live-in girlfriend.
65: Triple Trouble by curious2c Matt is married to Megan, one of three identical triplets. Her hairstyle is the only thing that enables him to tell them apart. Then Megan gets her hair done the same as her sisters. Impossible to know which is which, something the three women take advantage of.
But Matt is in love with Megan, not Margo or Melissa. Oh, he likes them well enough, but not enough to let them move in on his marriage.
A great idea for a plotline, well told. Just the right length for a pleasant read.
66: An Unexpected Reaction by qhml1 I wish I could write as well as this. Betrayed by wife, business partner and friends, Jace moves several states away. He finds work and discovers another damaged soul. Together, they achieve redemption and rescue her sister. A real roller-coaster and tear-jerker.
67: Was I Man Enough by Andyhm The girl Daniel was intending to marry had betrayed him back in England; he'd come out to the States to start again. A successful author, he bumped into Mia at a friend's book signing event. All was going well, he'd bought another ring, and then he found out what Mia did for a living. So he upped sticks and headed for England again.
A romantic tale with a whole lot of twists and turns, likeable characters, and the usual Andyhm misunderstandings....
68: We Don't Talk Anymore! by dangerouslydead Natalie has always told Roger everything; he's her best friend. Trouble is, she's been married to Mike for the last six years. When it's Roger who first informs Mike that he's going to be a daddy, Mike decides one of them has to go. Tautly written and an interesting concept, the ending is slightly unsatisfactory - but it's still well worth re-reading.
69: What the Future Holds by double_entendre Another one I love and loathe - Jamie Mantle is a straight A student but his teacher loses his final assignment and abusively beats him with a paddle when he still insists that he did submit it. He loses his MIT scholarship as a result, and leaves home to join the Marines. The first part telling of his betrayal by teacher and parents is incredibly well written; it brings the hackles up on the back of my neck. It's THAT good.
The second part, the reconciliation, I'm not so sure. If I'd been betrayed so badly, I wouldn't have been that forgiving. For me, it's forced, and doesn't ring true.
Read this story for the first couple of pages at least.
70: When by RichardGerald Patty-Ann is a very popular cheerleader at college, she's bedded most of the big men on campus. But she chooses to date Greg, and, even though she refuses to go all the way or be exclusive, she expects him to propose when they graduate. Even though she's the girl everyone wants, he has his reasons for not asking her to marry him. She puts on the pressure....
There's also a sequel to this, entitled 'What'. Some readers won't like the way Greg accepts that she does indeed love him, but hey, Patty-Ann is actually one hell of a catch, once you work out how to tame her. In my eyes, RichardGerald is an under-rated author, and his stories are well worth a look. Maybe a little too much female infidelity, but it's believable.
71: Will and Carrie by Rotedrachen Nothing new in a time travel / technology transfer plot, but it is especially well written with humour and technical detail. You'll quickly warm to the characters, and hopefully enjoy the story as much as I did!
72: You Want Me to What? by Thinking Horndog This was the first of Thinking Horndog's stories I ever read, and I thought it was utterly brilliant - and then I started on the Swarm Cycle, some of which is even better! It's about a guy who has no luck with women, so decides to rape one in a restaurant restroom. Then he discovers that she's returning to the scene of her rape in the hope of seeing him again. Kinda kooky, but a whole lot of fun.
