{"product_id":"2940015488937","title":"The Makeout Machine","description":"It was the start of summer vacation, in the last summer of my childhood. The lifeguard at the neighborhood pool that year was a hippie named Cartwheel. We called the van he drove \"The Makeout Machine\" and we thought he was so cool. When one of my friends had a serious accident and he came to the rescue, I learned that grownups can't always fix everything. I discovered that things aren't always as they appear. I also learned where heroes come from. After that summer, I looked at life differently.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShort Story - 8,300 words\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhile J. Strickland is well known for writing erotic romance, this was his first attempt at mainstream fiction. He went on from here to write Tears Reflected, and then to writing mainstream fiction under his real name.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhat readers are saying about The Makeout Machine:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eStories of this calibre don't need sex to make a good read. Well done, more of the same please. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ---\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGreat story\u003cbr\u003eThis is a fantastic story. I have read most if not all of your stories, and this one could well be the best of the bunch.\u003cbr\u003eI do like the plot more than the sex. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ---\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs usual, you deliver excellent reading. I always check your bio for something new when i log on. Your stories are full and fulfilling, please do write more \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ---\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eExcellent vignette about growing up,\u003cbr\u003elife and relationships\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ---\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Touch Of A Story Teller\u003cbr\u003eIn several words - moving, superb, entertaining! There are a few here that are very good and there are none better. I'm impressed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ---\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview by Stormy Weather -\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the note at the end of this story the author say, \"This story is an experiment, an attempt at a mainstream story.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn my opinion it was a successful attempt of the highest degree. The depth of the characters and the plot of this story are incredible and believable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI got so involved with everything, that I had tears in my eyes during portions of the story. There have been very few times that I can recall crying while reading.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA coming of age story, which I'm a sucker for, that doesn't involve sex, (hands on anyway), but focuses on the relationships between Dave, his three friends, and Cartwheel, the new life guard at the swimming pool. The two most fascinating things about Cartwheel is that he's a hippie and he has a van, which Dave and his three best friends call \"The Makeout Machine.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen a bad accident happens, David's hero worship of Cartwheel gets shattered; and the change this brings about in Dave and the strength it adds to his relationship with Cartwheel is beautifully done.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI rank this story with Stephen King's \"The Body.\"","brand":"J. Strickland","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47070924505328,"sku":"2940015488937","price":2.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940015488937_p0.jpg?v=1763620358","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940015488937","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}