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Dapper Gentlemen
Delaney Bixby owns and runs his own barber shop, The Dapper Gentleman, which prides itself on offering an upscale grooming experience to a very select clientele in New York City. When Delaney is closing up shop one night, a special customer drops in for an after-hours shave that leads to slow dancing and professions of love.
13 pages, ebook
First published September 11, 2012
About the author
J. Rocci
35 books40 followersSince 2006, J. Rocci has published LGBT romance stories, ranging from contemporary to steampunk to fantasy. Rocci currently lives near Washington D.C. with the love of her life and their furry children, and loves giving her characters happy endings.
You can find Rocci on the web at:
http://www.jrocci.com
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You can find Rocci on the web at:
http://www.jrocci.com
Monthly newsletter
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 24, 2014
Charming, a light flirty story of an established couple, full of enchantingly simple pleasures. Little traditions and personal knowledge that allow them to shake off the grime of the day and rejuvenate, together.
There's an old world feel with the vintage set-up and fashion and I liked that the age of the couple isn't given, it adds to the timeless appeal.
The story is smut free but there's a lot of feeling. You can tell how much in love the two men are and that it's comfortable, familiar and alive. I bet they burn up the sheets after their most civilised evening!
A lovely glimpse into their life. The last lines are completely heart-warming.
There's an old world feel with the vintage set-up and fashion and I liked that the age of the couple isn't given, it adds to the timeless appeal.
The story is smut free but there's a lot of feeling. You can tell how much in love the two men are and that it's comfortable, familiar and alive. I bet they burn up the sheets after their most civilised evening!
A lovely glimpse into their life. The last lines are completely heart-warming.
June 5, 2017
Cute and sweet short story perfect for inbetween reading.
February 25, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Delaney Bixby owns an old-style barber’s shop named the Dapper Gentlemen as a nod to its 1900s feel. Singing while he cleans up after a long day, he’s looking forwards to his final appointment. When Richard turns up, both men enjoy the enticing game of sexual innuendo back and forth which they always start with when together. A touch here, a grin there. Something as simple and common as a shave turns delightfully sensual between the lovers.
This is a smoking hot short story, filled with sexual tension and the mystery of surprise. I really enjoyed how the author flirted with the details of what the relationship was between Richard and Delaney and also hinted at an olden day style barber shop set up in contemporary New York. It gave the piece a more elegant, older style feel to it that was wonderfully refreshing to read. While there is no explicit sex, this is heavy with the underlying sexual tension, and highlights the sensuality of foreplay and what trust and decadence can be involved in every day actions. A sexy, good read.
Delaney Bixby owns an old-style barber’s shop named the Dapper Gentlemen as a nod to its 1900s feel. Singing while he cleans up after a long day, he’s looking forwards to his final appointment. When Richard turns up, both men enjoy the enticing game of sexual innuendo back and forth which they always start with when together. A touch here, a grin there. Something as simple and common as a shave turns delightfully sensual between the lovers.
This is a smoking hot short story, filled with sexual tension and the mystery of surprise. I really enjoyed how the author flirted with the details of what the relationship was between Richard and Delaney and also hinted at an olden day style barber shop set up in contemporary New York. It gave the piece a more elegant, older style feel to it that was wonderfully refreshing to read. While there is no explicit sex, this is heavy with the underlying sexual tension, and highlights the sensuality of foreplay and what trust and decadence can be involved in every day actions. A sexy, good read.
December 27, 2012
Review: A charming short story about a special evening for a wonderful couple. I loved the rituals and traditions these guys had, as a couple and individually. It gave a strong sense of history and continuity, even in so few words. It was also wonderfully romantic.
J. Rocci has a real talent for introducing an established couple and making me feel like I’ve known them a lot longer than a few paragraphs. She conveys a lot of information with few words, so even though the story was very short it was very satisfying. Highly recommended.
This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
J. Rocci has a real talent for introducing an established couple and making me feel like I’ve known them a lot longer than a few paragraphs. She conveys a lot of information with few words, so even though the story was very short it was very satisfying. Highly recommended.
This review was originally posted at Reviews by Jessewave, where I received the book for free in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2012
This very short story is just endearing and romantic. It made me smile with the love that poured from it, constant and sure. Set in Delany’s barber shop, there is a feeling of history, in the shop, in the instruments and with the couple. This isn’t a high action, hot sex kind of story. Rather, it is a flowing chapter in the lives of these two, and it was heartwarming.
June 12, 2017
I have fond memories watching my granddad shave himself with a straight razor. He was always so elegant,smooth and dapper even while using... to me a scary sharpe blade against a strip of leather and then his delicate face. This elegant story took shaving to a whole different level. This was romantic,loving and intimate. Dapper Gentlemen was just lovely.
September 28, 2012
Experts are always giving couples advice about how to maintain a successful relationship. It seems to me that the most important thing in any relationship is to not take your partner for granted. No matter how long you are together, how well you think you know someone, there are always surprises. Keeping your relationship vital is different for every couple because we are all different. In 'Dapper Gentlemen' by J. Rocci, Delaney Bixby and his husband, Richard, have perfected a method which, for them, works like a charm and they're not likely to abandon it.
'Dapper Gentlemen' is a delightful love story in which we follow the couple, Delaney and Richard, as they teach us what it means to be a devoted, successful couple. Delaney and Richard seem to be very different; Delaney, a high class barber and Richard, a stock broker on Wall Street, but one thing they have very much in common is their devotion to each other. The romantic ambiance of this story is further enhanced by the descriptions of Delaney's old fashioned barbershop and visions of straight razors, 'shave and a haircut, two bits', and a red and white revolving pole.
J. has written a very heartfelt, endearing story, with wonderful characters, conveying the best advice anyone in a relationship could receive. In a mere thirteen pages, she's given us a meaningful portrayal of a couple who truly appreciate each other. I'd recommend this story to anyone who enjoys romance displayed in a succinct, yet endearing way. Thanks, J. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
'Dapper Gentlemen' is a delightful love story in which we follow the couple, Delaney and Richard, as they teach us what it means to be a devoted, successful couple. Delaney and Richard seem to be very different; Delaney, a high class barber and Richard, a stock broker on Wall Street, but one thing they have very much in common is their devotion to each other. The romantic ambiance of this story is further enhanced by the descriptions of Delaney's old fashioned barbershop and visions of straight razors, 'shave and a haircut, two bits', and a red and white revolving pole.
J. has written a very heartfelt, endearing story, with wonderful characters, conveying the best advice anyone in a relationship could receive. In a mere thirteen pages, she's given us a meaningful portrayal of a couple who truly appreciate each other. I'd recommend this story to anyone who enjoys romance displayed in a succinct, yet endearing way. Thanks, J. As always, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
February 21, 2013
This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews.
This is a little slice of life of an established couple. Delaney loves his barber shop. He caters to a very elite clientele and ensures that it has an authentic old world feel. Shaves with straight razors, special attention and pampering, old-style music on a phonograph, and even Delaney dresses the part in a pin-striped suit. He’s in a particularly good mood and has sent his staff home, knowing he’s got a special client coming.
The client comes in very stressed and Delaney makes it his job to get the man to relax. You soon realize that Delaney and the client are very much together. Both receiving special leather gifts on their anniversary that day. Delaney doesn’t get his type A driven financier man, but he takes great pride in being able to get the man to relax and rid himself of the stress.
This has a very playful and romantic tone. Even after all the years together they are still in love and Delaney wants to take care of his man. They pretend a bit while it’s happening that they are merely barber and client, but you can sense the whole time they are smiling and just having fun with it. I did learn a great deal about the process of a traditional shave though, it actually sounded quite decadent and certainly in the style of male pampering.
The leather is not a main feature, just a briefcase for Richard and a new strop for his straight razor for Delaney, but it was a fun romantic piece that is short enough to just take a few moments to be left with a nice feeling at the end. However don’t expect great insight into their relationship, how they got together or any other details, simply an hour or so in their life.
This is a little slice of life of an established couple. Delaney loves his barber shop. He caters to a very elite clientele and ensures that it has an authentic old world feel. Shaves with straight razors, special attention and pampering, old-style music on a phonograph, and even Delaney dresses the part in a pin-striped suit. He’s in a particularly good mood and has sent his staff home, knowing he’s got a special client coming.
The client comes in very stressed and Delaney makes it his job to get the man to relax. You soon realize that Delaney and the client are very much together. Both receiving special leather gifts on their anniversary that day. Delaney doesn’t get his type A driven financier man, but he takes great pride in being able to get the man to relax and rid himself of the stress.
This has a very playful and romantic tone. Even after all the years together they are still in love and Delaney wants to take care of his man. They pretend a bit while it’s happening that they are merely barber and client, but you can sense the whole time they are smiling and just having fun with it. I did learn a great deal about the process of a traditional shave though, it actually sounded quite decadent and certainly in the style of male pampering.
The leather is not a main feature, just a briefcase for Richard and a new strop for his straight razor for Delaney, but it was a fun romantic piece that is short enough to just take a few moments to be left with a nice feeling at the end. However don’t expect great insight into their relationship, how they got together or any other details, simply an hour or so in their life.
March 22, 2015
Review can be found at The Armchair Reader
This site is down. Here is the review.
This is another short story from the Torquere Charity Sips collection benefiting NOH8.
What a lovely story! This is truly a romantic story set in the unlikeliest places – a barbershop. Delaney is a barber who does things the old-fashioned way and loves it. His shop is well appointed with period details and décor that show his appreciation for the art and craft of gentleman’s barbering. He uses tools that are of the highest quality and keeps his place immaculate.
On the evening in question, Delaney is alone in the shop awaiting his final customer of the day while he’s listening to lovely music on his restored gramophone. Richard arrives and is obviously a bit worn out after his long day on Wall Street but he relents and lets Delaney pamper him with a shave. Their gently flirting banter continues as Delaney gets Richard settled in his chair and then he gives him a thorough but gentle and relaxing shave.
When the shave is finished, Richard tells Delaney he has an important date and their conversation takes an interesting, intimate and lovely turn that includes some dancing!
I don’t want to spoil the story by saying anything else about it, but I will say that it is sweet and terribly romantic. I felt transported to this place given the vivid description of the barbershop and it’s owner. I just really enjoyed the entire story and the perfect ending. If you’ve got just a few a few minutes to read something, I think you’ll like this.
This site is down. Here is the review.
This is another short story from the Torquere Charity Sips collection benefiting NOH8.
What a lovely story! This is truly a romantic story set in the unlikeliest places – a barbershop. Delaney is a barber who does things the old-fashioned way and loves it. His shop is well appointed with period details and décor that show his appreciation for the art and craft of gentleman’s barbering. He uses tools that are of the highest quality and keeps his place immaculate.
On the evening in question, Delaney is alone in the shop awaiting his final customer of the day while he’s listening to lovely music on his restored gramophone. Richard arrives and is obviously a bit worn out after his long day on Wall Street but he relents and lets Delaney pamper him with a shave. Their gently flirting banter continues as Delaney gets Richard settled in his chair and then he gives him a thorough but gentle and relaxing shave.
When the shave is finished, Richard tells Delaney he has an important date and their conversation takes an interesting, intimate and lovely turn that includes some dancing!
I don’t want to spoil the story by saying anything else about it, but I will say that it is sweet and terribly romantic. I felt transported to this place given the vivid description of the barbershop and it’s owner. I just really enjoyed the entire story and the perfect ending. If you’ve got just a few a few minutes to read something, I think you’ll like this.
September 18, 2012
Rituals can be very important; they remind us of who we are, why we do certain things, and, through their monotone sameness, allow us to relax after a long day's work. Even something as habitual as shaving can mean a lot more, if given the right context. And for Delaney, the barber, and Richard, the stressed stockbroker, this end of day scene definitely has more than enough context.
Delaney is an old school barber, and he has used his skills to build a loyal clientele of men who appreciate the finer things in life. They also need to be able to afford the more expensive products Delaney sues, and they have to be patient. Shaving the old way takes time, but the benefit at the end is that they are relaxed as well as groomed. Delaney is proud of what he does, and makes sure they get good value.
Richard, as we find out, appreciates what Delaney does, even more so now that he receives the extra-special after-hours treatment. He clearly trusts Delaney and enjoys the ritual from the other end, relaxing into the chair and then easing into a joint evening.
If you like stories with lots of ambiance and meticulous descriptions of the almost-forgotten craft of barbering, if the quiet, relaxing care of one man for another appeals to you, and if the twist as to who these two men are to each other sounds promising, then you will probably enjoy this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.
Delaney is an old school barber, and he has used his skills to build a loyal clientele of men who appreciate the finer things in life. They also need to be able to afford the more expensive products Delaney sues, and they have to be patient. Shaving the old way takes time, but the benefit at the end is that they are relaxed as well as groomed. Delaney is proud of what he does, and makes sure they get good value.
Richard, as we find out, appreciates what Delaney does, even more so now that he receives the extra-special after-hours treatment. He clearly trusts Delaney and enjoys the ritual from the other end, relaxing into the chair and then easing into a joint evening.
If you like stories with lots of ambiance and meticulous descriptions of the almost-forgotten craft of barbering, if the quiet, relaxing care of one man for another appeals to you, and if the twist as to who these two men are to each other sounds promising, then you will probably enjoy this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review.
September 15, 2012
3.5 stars, a lovely little read :)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews