When He Beckons

Written by Halli Starling

Narrated by Mick Janek

A charming - but slightly strange - accidental first meeting at a skate park. Opposites attract. And technically...one works for the other one.

Zan has a fast mouth and a lot of technical know-how, so dating hasn't always been easy. He'd set aside any notion of a romantic life to work and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Biking, canoeing, skiing, you name it. He's never tried skateboarding, even though he stops by the skate park near the trail where he bikes to watch boards - and sometimes people - flip, or crash hard.

Instead of skater-watching, Zan meets Deacon. Deacon's odd and interesting, and it turns out, the head of the small indie press of which Zan is a huge fan. Rochester Press puts out the weird and erotic, the dark and mischievous, and finally meeting the head of the press is great. Maybe not so great - Deacon has just hired the printing company Zan works for, and now Zan's in charge of all the new jobs.

It'll be fine.

Except Zan (and his big mouth) immediately asks Deacon out on a date. And Deacon accepts. There's no fraternization clause in Zan's contract, or Deacon's. It should be fine.

A high-heat novella about two quirky people who would never seek out a date via online platforms or at speed dating. But their weird seems to compliment each other. Add in a romantic picnic date, a rainstorm, and a love of books and the outdoors, and Zan and Deacon might just carry away your heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Halli Starling Books
• Release date: Mar 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987004814

Halli Starling

I've always been involved with books, and my love of the written word inspired me to get my MLIS and continue my book career outside of public libraries. When not writing, I co-host The Human Exception podcast, play D&D, and spend time in the beautiful outdoors of Michigan. I'm available for podcasts, interviews, panels, and book signings and enjoy talking to other authors and readers.

Reviews for When He Beckons

[William Stephens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved every second. It made me laugh and smile. Never a dull moment.