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Counting Down Kindle Edition

3.8 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

It’s been a week since a Christmas Eve blizzard changed the course of Marcus Winnamore’s life. Plan A is now Plan B, and the first item on his new agenda is taking Henry Auttenberg on a date. They’ve been invited to a New Year’s Eve party, and Marc is counting down the hours until midnight… until he can kiss Henry in front of his colleagues and friends.

Things don’t quite work out to plan. Finding the elevator out of service, Marc and Henry check the stairs, only to choose the wrong door and become locked in the basement. Close quarters once again make for close conversation, and as they explore every avenue of escape, they also explore the deepening attraction between them. For Marc, this isn’t an experiment. Will he still feel that way when he has to admit to someone other than Henry that he’s gay?
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Kelly Jensen rocks writing the short story. Seriously, she packs so much depth into such a small word count." -- Smitten with Reading
​"I liked this one even better than the first! I could read more of these two just being trapped/locked in various places."--Bree, Goodreads​
​"I really liked this because it was a different refreshing change of pace from what we usually get with our romances. The storytelling format is basically a glimpse at significant moments in Marc and Henry's burgeoning relationship." --A Reader Obsessed​

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07V4FL9BV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kelly Jensen
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 9, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 63 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 2 of 3 ‏ : ‎ Counting
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Kelly Jensen
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If aliens ever land on Earth, Kelly Jensen will not be prepared, despite having read over a hundred stories of the apocalypse. Still, she will pack her precious books into a box and carry them as she strives to survive. It’s what bibliophiles do.

Kelly is the author of over twenty-five novels, novellas, and short stories, including the Chaos Station series, co-written with Jenn Burke. Some of what she writes is speculative, but mostly it’s just about a guy losing his socks and/or burning dinner. Because life isn’t all conquering aliens and mountain peaks. Sometimes finding a happy ever after is all the adventure we need.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017
    I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

    Counting Down was an enjoyable follow-up to Counting Fence Posts. Picking up a week after the events in book one, we join Marc and Henry as they’re on their way to a company New Year’s Eve party. Marc is still coming to terms with the fact that he’s gay and that the object of his newly discovered affection, Henry, is actually interested in him. Marc envisions The Kiss at midnight to be the best way to announce to his colleagues that he’s gay and to prove to Henry that he’s all in. However, disaster seems to be a close companion for this new couple as Marc and Henry find themselves locked in the building’s basement instead of upstairs for the party.

    I thought Jensen did a fantastic job of capturing Marc’s character and the change in personal attitudes he’s dealing with. Marc is trying to find a balance between his heterosexual upbringing and thought patterns and how he thinks he now needs to approach dating men, specifically Henry. He doesn’t want to offend Henry by treating him as he would a female partner, but Marc also doesn’t want to not give Henry the attention and concern he should simply because “guys don’t talk about their feelings.” Because the story is told from Marc’s point of view, we don’t get a lot of insight into what Henry is thinking. However, Henry is a good communicator – when he can get Marc to shut up – and it’s easy to see that while Henry wants things to work out between him and Marc, he’s willing to do what he can to make this transition for Marc easier. Obviously, the date did not go quite as planned, but Jensen does manage to include a steamy and well-timed scene in which the guys get all hot and bothered, ringing in the New Year in their own way. If you’ve read Counting Fence Posts – and I strongly suggest you do that first so you have the background on how these two came to be – don’t pick this up expecting to find the happy ending of Marc and Henry’s story. Counting Down is more of the next chapter in their blossoming relationship and it left me hoping that Jensen will be inspired to continue to move their story forward as this is a couple I would definitely like to read more about.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2017
    My Review:
    This is a continuation of the story that started in Counting Fence Posts. In fact, this story takes place just a week after the other one ended...on New Years Eve. But instead of being trapped inside a car during a blizzard, this time the guys are trapped in the basement of the building where they planned to attend a new year's eve party. (Seriously...these guys are kind of jinxed.)

    But that's also kind of good because all of these hours together are really turning into quality time between the two of them that they really need. While they are fairly secure in what is happening between the two of them...because Marc has never considered himself to be gay...there are all kinds of questions that still remain out there about how all this will work. He'd planned on this party being his big "coming out" moment, but he may not really have thought through exactly what that meant to the TWO of them.

    Kelly Jensen rocks writing the short story. Seriously, she packs so much depth into such a small word count. Every time I read one of her novellas, I'm blown away by her ability to tell her story in that limited space.

    This story cracked me up...just because...omg, even the guys talk about what rotten luck this is and that takes them into discussions of 'worst dates ever'. Since this was supposed to be their 'official' first date, I feel so awful for them, but thought that it really turned out to be such a better 'quality' date for the two of them and where they are in their relationship.

    I don't think their story is done, and I sincerely hope that Kelly will bring us back to Marc and Henry when they are actually settled in their relationship. I love them so much...even more now...and I'm ready to see them really in a good place....because while their story was amazing, I'm not sure I trust the HEA yet. Although it's a great HFN.

    I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2019
    Marc and Henry decide to have their first "date" be a work event counting down to the new year. Of course, this being Henry and Marc, they manage to get locked in a basement where they have some uncomfortable conversations and take more steps towards couplehood, as they did in the blizzard of the first story.

    Jensen, as usual, manages to pack a lot into a shorter story, moving Henry and Marc a bit further along. One thing I like about these stories is that the dialogue is interesting and quite realistic given the situations the characters find themselves in. What starts as a physical attraction for the two starts to subtly change into something more substantive, making the two vulnerable to one another and exposing emotions. Their relationship in a sense becomes another character on its own, with Jensen examining the first bloom in the previous story and charting its growth in this one.

    A lot of fun, with some wry humor thrown in. Another winner from Jensen.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2017
    I received an ARC of this from the author. I have already read 'Counting Fence Posts' (Counting, #1) which was wonderful. I would totally recommend you read them in order.

    Marc is entering his first relationship with a man and Henry is cautiously guiding him. Since they work in the same firm their dating will be new for everyone. They are headed to a New Year's Eve party when they find themselves locked in the basement. 3 hours later they're finally free but have had some meaningful discussions and have reached some momentous conclusions.

    A low angst story with lots of topics covered that few couples engage in this early in a romance. Beautifully written.

Top reviews from other countries

  • iris
    5.0 out of 5 stars Review on „Counting Down“ by Kelly Jensen
    Reviewed in Germany on May 7, 2017
    Yiiiiiiieks !!!! Thanks so much Mrs Jensen for continuing Henry and Marc's story!!! I dropped everything when I discovered this short story. Don't ever doubt we readers won't be interested, well, I only can speak for myself : I am a biiiiig fan of those two young men and their blooming relationship!

    This time it is Marc's turn with counting, not fence posts but the final hours and minutes of New Year's Eve. It is almost comical how awkward situations easily seem to find them. After being snowed in their car, now they are locked into the basement of a highrise. Their try to crawl through the ventilation shaft is hilarious, trying to still make it to the big party on the top floor. Finally they are rescued by a co-worker, who gets to see a little bit more than expected.I must confess, I had liked Henry in book one a lot already. Since this book I have downright fallen in love with him. Henry may be quiet most of the time, but he really is a great guy with deep feelings, and when poked his comebacks are sharp witted. I loved how he calmly guides Marc through his inner turmoil of emotions and softly reminds him, that a relationship involves two. Marc, who thought he had it all planned, has to rethink a lot about loving Henry and coming out officially. But with Henry at his side, there is no need to worry.

    What a sweet follow-up story! I am stunned how Kelly Jensen manages to pack so much atmosphere and development of her MC s into such a short word count and still makes the story just flowing by! Ahhh....already over again. Now I am living in hope that we will meet Marc&Henry again on their next step in becoming a couple * big smile *.

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