About The Five O'Clock Bar

Written by Sean Michael, Chris Owen, Julia Talbot, and BA Tortuga
143 pages / 48000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-548-6, 1-60370-548-1
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, paperback

The Five O'Clock is a gay bar on the road between Denver and Cheyenne, a lonely stretch of road just perfect for owner Craig. Craig loves his bar, his life and his man, trucker Barney. But Craig and Barney are just two of the men who haunt the Five O'Clock.

From Craig and Barney to bargoers who include cowboys, plumbers and musicians, the Five O'Clock Bar gives the boys a safe place to play, and a place to meet the man of their dreams. Blue collar or white, first-timers or regulars, all of them have one thing in common. They need someone to love.

Sean Michael gives us the bar owner and his man, along with a down on his luck musician. Chris Owen presents jilted cowboys and pool hustlers. Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga serve up a healthy serving of working-class men and cowboys, all of them hunting the one thing money can't buy.

Join some of Torquere Press' favorite authors as they explore the world of midnight pancakes, good beer, hot men, and the Five O'Clock Bar!

Review

Jane Davitt, author of Drawing Closer and Wild Raspberries, writes: The Five O'Clock is a bar, and not just any bar; it's a gay bar run by Craig, all red hair, green eyes, good heart, and the ability to spot trouble from a long way off. This book is a collection of stories of very different couples whose stories begin at the bar on a Thursday night and take them straight to a happy ending.

The collection begins and ends with a story from Sean Michael about Craig himself and his partner Barney. They've been together for years, but Barney's job as a long-distance driver means that they don't see much of each other, so when they do the sex is sweet and hot and their time together is never quite long enough. Sean Michael captures the frustration of being parted and the compensation of the pleasure of reuniting.

Julia Talbot's first story, 'Hector and Wally' is the story of a gentle, patient courtship between two men who've been burned by unfaithful lovers. Watching Hector realize that Wally can offer him a lot more than a ride home and a shoulder to cry on, the reader just knows that these two are going to be good to and for each other.

Her second story, 'Fighting and Fucking' starts on a far less friendly note as Sam and Mac fight in the bar and end up tossed out in the cold. But as foreplay goes, a few punches thrown can work as well as kisses for some men and it's certainly true for these two. Snappy dialog and sass spice the story up beautifully.

B. A. Tortuga brings us two linked tales of rodeo cowboys. In Rodeo Man, an injured Pistol meets Dave at the bar. Dave's a big man, with a knack for turning his hand to most things and he and Pistol get along fine, but rodeo men don't stay in one place for long and Dave's got to find a way to deal with that. The story also introduces us to one of Pistol's friends, Crazy, and we find out more about him in 'Crazy'. Tim -- Crazy -- has never forgotten Buck, but when the man left him for someone younger and hotter, Crazy did his best to put him out of his head. Now, Buck's back, hurt and minus more than his pride, and Tim's got to decide if it's worth taking a chance on an old lover. These stories bring home the danger and the thrills of rodeo and the men who take their chances to provide them.

Chris Owen always makes a story work with interesting characters and scorchingly hot sex. In 'Trouble Left Him, a cowboy walks into a bar with a surfer -- but it's not the set-up for a joke. When Chet's left high and dry, Kyle steps in, intrigued by Chet's description of what he used to do in bed and wanting some of that for himself after a long dry spell. The story ends with Kyle (and the reader!) wanting more.

In Owens' second story, Leo's watching Zane hustle pool, knowing that Craig's going to spot what he's doing and kick him out. But there's a hunger in Zane that Leo wants to feed, physical and emotional and even if it's going to take Zane a while to realize he owes Leo a thank you, the wait's worth it for the payoff.

Sean Michael's final two stories showcase what the Five o'Clock is all about. In the first, 'Thursday Night Regulars' Jason's in a gay bar for the first time; but his friends have abandoned him. Enter Jameson, a teacher, who loves books as much as Jason. These two have a lot of sparks flying but there's an instant friendship there to keep the fire burning steadily.

Jeff in 'No Longer in the Band' is at rock-bottom when he walks into he bar. Hungry, broke, no job, no boyfriend. But Parker's a sucker for a
guitar-playing man with good hands and Jeff finds out just how easy it is to bounce back up.

I love stories set in bars and in this collection, I felt that I got to know the owner, Craig and his customers very well. The happy, safe environment and the people passing through made for a book as bright and varied -- and as warm -- as a patchwork quilt.

Definitely one to read settled back with a cold longneck in your hand, and a bowl of pretzels in reach.

Sample

From Owner of the Five O’Clock
By Sean Michael

"Last call! Last call for alcohol!" Craig reached up, rang the big brass bell under the old clock above the bar, the sound cutting through the music from the jukebox, the laughter over by the pool tables and the fight that was trying to start at the edge of the dance floor. Twinks. Fucking save him.

"Bob, honey? Go break that shit up for me? Hank and Lew are going kill each other over that slimy little whore. Kid was fucking Jimmy not four hours ago in the men's room."

The big, beautiful cop nodded, flexed for him and waded in, the crowd breaking up just like that.

Man, that was too damn cool.

He poured out beers and whiskey, three vodka and tonics, four margaritas and a salty dog, whistling happily. Had to love a busy Thursday night. It boded well for the weekend take.

"Hey barkeep, am I too late to get a whiskey shooter and a beer?"

He turned at the question, Barney sitting there, large as life, looking tired, but happy.

"Almost, luckily I know the owner." He leaned over the bar for a quick kiss hello, Frankie and Oliver hooting and clapping for them. Then he pulled a Bud for Barney, poured two fingers of Jack.

Barney's smile was warm, the look in those eyes even warmer as they slid over him in a way he'd been missing the last six days.

Bad weather had extended Barney's latest run by over two days.

"Good to be home?" He started packing up the garnishes. The snacks were already squared away and the crowds were slowly heading out.

"Shit, yes. That snow storm up north nearly killed me. Bumper to fucking bumper for nearly two days straight."

Barney shot back the whiskey, throat working, the shot glass tiny in that beefy hand.

"You home for the holidays?" He stacked shotglasses, got them in the little Hobart to wash, even as he nodded to a couple of leather daddies who dumped money in the tip jar.

"I am. Got a little tree in the cab." Barney tilted his head side to side, cracking his neck. "A thing or two in a box, too."

"Good." Craig pushed his ponytail back over his shoulder, the whole thing wrapped in a leather sheath while he was working. "All I have to do is close up and count money and we can head to the house."

"You want me to hurry the stragglers on out, babe?" Barney drained his beer mug and stood, broad shoulders and thick chest testament to his lover's strength.

"Between you and Bob, you could clear it out..." His prick jumped a little.