#oneanddone

[chocsbookblog]

Book review: One and Done

Title: One and Done

Author: Frederick Smith

Rating: 4/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books, Inc. for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Two professional, gay, Black men meet one Sunday afternoon in a bar. They banter, and have a couple of drinks; one, Taylor, is not impressed by the other, Dustin. They go their separate ways, or so they think. It turns out Dustin is in San Francisco to assess the accreditation of Taylor's university. Forced to work together, they find that initial impressions may be worth a second look.

What I liked: While this was a very tropey book, it hit each trope in such a way that I had a big, stupid grin on my face for much of it. The social justice issues around being Black and queer in a professional occupation were well presented, and were further examined with the two main characters coming from different social backgrounds. I found the age of the characters particularly refreshing; I'm not sure I've read many romances where the main characters were in their 40s without a significant age gap or a child or two being central to the plot.

What didn't work for me: Parts of the plot didn't flow very well, including the timing towards the end, which felt rushed and patchy.

Final thoughts: An entertaining romance that shines a light on queer, Black people in America.

I'd happily recommend this to anyone who enjoys modern romances.

[rillphilmusic]

Posted @withregram • @oneanddoneapparel #OneLife #MakeItCount #OneAndDone https://www.instagram.com/p/CnlEp-rrCX7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[charmainessecretjewelspaparazzi]

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[mayangnr]

One And Done

Satu anak cukup? 

Dulu, sejak sebelum nikah aku selalu punya impian punya anak 1 aja. Cowok. Kayanya punya anak cowo lebih asik aja gitu diajak jalan jalan. Hehe. Padahal dulu ga kebayang sih, ngurus bayi, ngurus anak tuh kaya gimana sih? harus bagaimana? Sebagai anak bungsu aku ga pernah punya pengalaman di rumah ada adik bayi itu seperti apa.

Setelah sekarang merasakan sendiri, wow. Mengurus bayi ternyata membutuhkan fisik yang kuat. Aku yang badannya kecil kaya gini merasa ga capable untuk nambah anak lagi. Boleh ga sih aku ngomong gini? Katanya, semua wanita diciptakan kodratnya untuk mengandung, melahirkan, menyusui dan membesarkan anak. Jadi harusnya ga perlu ada ragu atau mempertanyakan kapabilitas diri untuk punya anak.

Tapi sumpah, ngurus anak itu capek. Aku sendiri juga masih butuh waktu untuk diri sendiri. Kesenangan dan mengejar ambisi diri sendiri. Jadi ga tau bagi waktu gimana kalau harus nambah anak. Boleh ga sih? Egois ga sih? Entahlah. Aku pikir ini hanya salah satu cara supaya aku bertahan waras di tengah kelelahan dan tuntutan kesempurnaan setelah menjadi ibu.

“Kalo anak cuma 1, nanti rumahnya sepi”

yeah, that’s the point! Aku suka rumah yang tenang :D

Yang aku utamakan adalah kualitas bukan kuantitas. Aku tau kapasitas diri sendiri. Aku ga akan kuat ngurus anak lebih dari 1. Fisik dan emosi. 

Cukup. Satu.

Kenapa sih banyak yang nyinyirin keluarga dengan anak 1? Seolah keluarga dengan anak 1, kita menjadi keluarga yang menyedihkan. Rejekinya sedikit katanya. Apa sih? Kita happy kok! Aku dan suamiku jadi punya banyak waktu untuk berdua, untuk ngobrol, dan untuk yang lain lain, ehm :p hidup kaya gini siapa yg ga happy? 

Dan aku ngerasa kualitas parenting juga lebih baik. Waktu dan tenaga hanya untuk 1 anak. Ga kebagi. Sering ga sih liat emak emak yang setiap hari ngomeeeeel mulu gara gara kelakuan anak anaknya? yah emang jadi orang tua itu stressful. Aku pun pasti sering ngomel dan mudah emosi kalau punya anak lebih dari 1. Makanya. Udah. Satu. Cukup.

Diulang ulang melulu ya? hehe. Yaudah. Segini aja dulu malam ini ketik ketiknya. See you in my next postingan! Kiss Bye

[the-resurrection-3d]

You know, I thought of kids as being a happy ending for Alberto, but I ended up thinking that Luca would have been just as happy without them. He's a bit like his dad, not uncaring but happy to metaphorically dote on his crabs to the exclusion of other things.

I definitely think both could be fine without kids, although honestly Luca is probably a #OneandDone because he knows himself and knows he couldn't handle more than one. I know I explored Alberto's trauma a little bit in "father of mine," but I think deep down he'd be disappointed fatherhood isn't magically healing like he'd hoped it would be, while still finding the experience really fulfilling overall.

That part is really what I was thinking about with that post. How many of your favorite characters would actually find the experience of parenthood fulfilling?

Then again, OnlyFans!AU Nick would say he's finding fatherhood very rewarding...

[fashion-post]

🌸🐟📑 _ ` . •

[sjerzgirl]

Humor

[primerjohn]

A work in progress shot for Zevanna Agha. Working in shading, highlights, and detail. Moving along for the #oneanddone #pointaday challenge.

[thisisawkwardnyc]

I got my shot from an exhausted med student who told me they routinely had to stay past shift, because well, "whatever it takes, right?" He asked where I was going after all dressed up like that. I said nowhere man, this here's for me, for you, for this. Cheers to everyone else muddling through and sincere love to the many who could not. . . . #vaccine #johnsonandjohnson #oneanddone #washingtondc #dclife #pandemicfashion #coronadiaries #vaccinated #naptime (at Howard University) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNa3xGpMCJg/?igshid=vvdvv08njnku

[zomacolor]

Still one of my all time favorite rings. Green zoisite (more commonly known as tanzanite when its purplish blue) in a simple setting. Talk about one of a kind. #zomacolor #green #zoisite #greenzoisite #tanzanite #greentanzanite #gemstones #rings #gemstonerings #livelifecolorfully #unique #oneofakind #wedontrepeat #oneanddone #simple #beauty #style #fancy #unusual #jewelry #uniquejewelry #finejewelry https://www.instagram.com/p/CLKO6PGB-3_/?igshid=idjokhiw7rpp

[daseahag]

Funday Sunday #oneanddone #greymorning #northside #hbsurfclub #hbsurfteam (at Northside HB Pier) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKa5dHHnsTEdDJJokoQjEDjM1nhtKFuAdKd5Y0/?igshid=xb8tfnba5bc5

[azws]

Civil Defense 223 Rem! Who else is running them? Weight: 55gr Velocity: 3000 FPS Kinetic Energy: 1100 FPE 📷: @miaaz13 #LibertyAmmo #CivilDefense #223rem #OneAndDone #GotAmmo #DefensiveAmmo #AZWS https://www.instagram.com/p/CCpBEHuhHDy/ https://www.instagram.com/p/CCpBEHuhHDy/?igshid=1qkj085o1ej6t

[erockcle]

BROWNS 2020--Postscript: So apparently the Rustbelt Wars have a sequel this year. Let's see what happens tonight. #NFL🏈 #YaySports #GoTeamGo #OneAndDone #WinOrGoHome (at Cleveland, Ohio) https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ4rjDNJG0jnE-fcMFBc3oumVA4K-Wf_sbV7wk0/?igshid=n561391jfdxz

[copperboompaparazzijewelry]

Beautiful brown/bronze colored beads flow in between silver beads and a multi layer of chains, all connected by a nice brown colored adjustable ribbon. We only have one of these beautiful sets left! Order now and claim yours. One and done. Message us!

[omnomsauruswrites]

Wide Open Spaces (One and Done Part 2)

Pairing: Bucky x You

Summary: The ultimate misunderstanding.

Word prompt: This is for @teamcap4bucky‘s challenge. Congrats, love! My prompt was Does he have to walk around shirtless all the time?

You twirled the spoon between your fingers as you walked down the hallway to the kitchen. You had been keeping to yourself the past few days- running on your own, taking your sparring to the local boxing gym, and avoiding the communal rooms.

You knew that word had spread around the Compound, especially since it was a close knit organization, and from the texts from other agents. It wasn’t that you were embarrassed. It was that you didn’t want to see anyone, didn’t want Wanda’s sympathy or Nat’s anger. You didn’t want to feel the eyes tracking you around the room. Plus, you didn’t want to accidentally run into Bucky. Couldn’t take seeing him.

“Oooooh look who’s finally decided to grace us with her presence,” Clint teased the moment you walked into the communal kitchen. You rolled your eyes, as you placed your plastic container in the trash and your spoon in the dishwasher, but didn’t engage.

“Cat got your tongue, y/n?” Sam asked from the dining table.

You shook your head, as you picked up the bag next to counter. “What’s that?” Steve inquired in a Captain like tone.

“I’m … uhhh… taking a sabbatical,” you swallowed your uneasiness of the situation, swallowed the apprehension. You hadn’t been expecting everyone at breakfast. You had hoped for minimal or no contact with the team before you left. “Taking some time away.”

There was a choruses of whats and you shook your head, shouldering the bag. “Need some air,” you explained, eyes falling on the team. Most looked confused though Nat looked angry, Wanda looked hurt, Bucky… You didn’t linger on him, as you readjusted the bag. “Fury knows how to get in contact with me if it’s DEFCON 1.”

“Y/n….” Nat began.

“Need wide open spaces. Need to be able to get lost in wide open spaces. It’ll be fine,” you assured. “It’s just a break. I’m not quitting. Just need some time.”

Wanda pushed her chair back, rushing to you and you enveloped her in a hug. “Don’t go,” she whispered. You kissed her temple, holding her tightly. “You’ll be fine. But you say the word and I’m home, promise,” you consoled.

She nodded against your collarbone. “Be safe.”

“Where I’m going, only worries I have is cacti and rattlesnakes.”

You stepped back and she let go, but you could see the tears in her eyes. She was reluctant to leave you. You smiled softly, before looking at Nat, arching an eyebrow. “I don’t like this,” she confessed.

“Didn’t expect you to like it,” you replied, as she moved towards you.

“Where are you going?” she inquired, standing before you.

“Where’s there wide open spaces and nature is my only peril.”

“That could be anywhere. Desert takes up a third of the Earth,” she recounted.

You shook your head and enveloped her in a hug. “I’ll be fine,” you reassured her.

“I don’t like it,” she repeated.

You chuckled, “I’ll check in, I promise. Part of the deal with Fury.” You stepped back, taking in the rest with a nod. You adjusted the backpack again, eyes landing on Bucky. He looked like he had words on the tip of his tongue, looked like a man about to confess his deepest, darkest sins to a preacher.

“Come on, Tex,” Tony called from the door way.

You nodded, breaking eye contact with the former assassin. “Bye guys,” you said, walking towards Tony.

You didn’t look back. If you did, you’d see too much heartbreak and you’d stay, so you kept your head forward, kept it high. You needed this. You needed wide open spaces.

-------------

The dirt beneath your feet crunched with every step, the crest steep as you ran. You were surrounded by beige and green. There were hills and mountains ahead of you. Cliffs for you to climb and canyons to run through.

Sweat dripped from your brow, the winter sun strong and blazing despite it being February. Your muscles ached and yet you felt alive for the first time in months. You could feel your blood pump through your veins; you heard your harsh breath in your ears. You put one foot in front of the other in a rhythmic pattern that was comforting.

You had long memorized Old Maverick Road long ago. Memorized it on your winter breaks when visiting your grandparents. Memorized it again on breaks from the Army. The mountains, the canyons, the wide open spaces where you could see for miles, where you’d be the only one for miles and miles. It was you and what some called God’s country. It was your constant when life threw you a curveball and boy was Bucky, a curveball. One that you had been avoiding for weeks. One that you didn’t know what to deal with.

So you ran wide open spaces, searching for solace and solution.

----------------

“Come on, doll,” he encouraged next to you. “Talk to me.”

“I am talking to you,” you responded, leaning against the brick wall in your floral bikini and your white cover-up. “This is me talking, Buck.”

He shook his head in mild frustration. “You know what I’m talking about.” You hummed. His metal hand gently swiped the flesh of your cheek. You closed your eyes at the softness and the feeling of butterflies in your stomach. “You’ve stepped away from everyone.”

“Buck…” you began, crossing your arms over your chest. “It’s fine.”

“Don’t lie to me, doll. Not me,” he begged, eyes tender. “We maybe doing this covert thing, where no one knows we are, what we are but that doesn’t mean I don’t take notice. You’re running and I wanna know why.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” you argued, eyes flashing with hurt and anger. “I snuck off with you in front of all our friends.”

He wiped a hand over his face in frustration. “It’s the first time in a week that I could convince you to sneak away,” he disputed, hands going to your waist, looking you straight in the eyes. “What did I do?”

“You didn’t do anything.”

“Do you run from everything, then?” he asked.

“That’s not fair!” you exclaimed, pushing his chest but he wouldn’t budge. He stood strong in front of you, blue eyes full of hurt and confusion.

“All I said is that I’d like to make us known and I don’t hear from you for a week.”

“That’s not….”

“Don’t!” he hissed. “You avoided me until this party.”

His eyes searched yours trying to find the answer to why you had been dodging him. Why you had ghosted him, a term Peter had taught him. “What’s so bad about us being public, huh?” he questioned, hands gripping you tightly. “Are you embarrassed to be dating the Winter Soldier? Is that it? Worried about what they will say?”  

“You know that’s not it!” you denied. “You know, I love you!”

His blue eyes went wide at your admission before his lips crashed with yours. It was desperate and yet sentimental, as if he was pouring everything into that kiss. Your teeth clashed with his, tongues dueled and he pushed you into the wall. “Baby doll,” he whispered against your lips. “Sweetheart.”

You hissed as the brick cut into your back. “I’m sorry,” he muttered against your skin, as he picked you up, taking you inside. “I’m sorry, doll.”

He took you to his apartment and memorized every inch of you. He committed to memory every gasp, every moan, the look of you cumming around him. And in the morning you were gone.  

@scuzmunkie​ @cari105​ @soldierplum​ @valkyrieofsmut​ @coal000​ @xxashy999xx​ @baebeepeach​ @dottirose​ @xxloki81xx​ @keldachick​ @mypage-myfandoms​ @jamiedr​ @strangersstranger​ @thefridgeismybestie​ @stanclub​ @mrsmookie​ @winchesterswantmypie​ @hufflebucky @daughterofthenight117 @marveliz @buckyohh @lokissoul @infinitycaprogers @verygraphicink @gaiatheroyalrabbit @mizzzpink @marveling-avengers @marvelousmeggi @bonky-bornes @misplacedorphan @al-the-memes @california-grown @gaiatheroyalrabbit @nerdy-bookworm-1998 @boo-ven9eance

[danhugo]

Economy is fine, pandemic is no big deal, despots are his friends and allies are his enemies, but THIS is the thing he figured out.