Books Tagged With who - occupation - gardener

Word Count: Click here to reveal33680 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Hateful words and eight years separated Joey from his family, but a shocking discovery changes everything. After avoiding his hometown for years, Joey Waters reluctantly returns for his parents’ anniversary. Within moments of his arrival, he’s confronted with the ghost of his past: Patrick “Trick” Harrison, the man who’d shattered his heart with just a few cruel words. Joey believed he’d left those painful years behind, but seeing Trick again ignites a whirlwind of emotions he thought he’d buried. As old wounds break open, Joey is determined to ignore the man who’d caused him so much pain and sent him on a downward spiral in his college years. However, a staggering revelation about Trick forces Joey to reconsider everything he thought he knew. Can the two men overcome their troubled history, or will the scars of the past keep them apart forever? Tags: enemies to lovers, brother's best friend, Trick's secret, mm romance, gay romance, Joey's first love, jealous ex-lover / stalker, off page unalive reference, anxiety and depression, tattoos, family reunion Joey's Trick is a brother's best friend / enemies to lovers 33k word novella. There is, as always, a HEA in the cards for my two characters.

Word Count: Click here to reveal56000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: What happens when a cruise ship romance crashes on the rocky shores of reality? Jonathan Vallen, a gentle musician who loves to garden, is failing miserably at running his father’s Boston company. When hotshot executive Marco Pellegrini takes over, a humiliated Jonathan moves to Cape Cod and spends a year transforming from an insecure duckling into a sexy swan. They meet again on an LGBTQ Caribbean cruise and when Marco doesn’t recognize him, Jonathan pretends to be someone else for the week—Jonah Rutledge—someone good enough to be loved. Intrigued by Jonah, Marco lets down his defenses and their shipboard fling deepens into something special. Back on land, the romance crashes when Marco discovers who Jonah really is. While Marco struggles to understand the deception, Jonathan resolves to win back Marco’s trust. But Jonathan’s father takes vindictive action against Marco for daring to get involved with his son. Will Marco and Jonathan defeat their own fears as well as the challenge from Jonathan’s father? If you like swoony romances in tropical paradises, hidden identity, and the courage to love in the face of adversity, then you’ll love All the Way to Shore.

Word Count: Click here to reveal41,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: What if you fell in love with your best friend? Ben Cooper has spent his life trying to make others happy and sacrificing his own dreams. When one fateful night with his best friend gives him a glimpse of what the future could be, he needs to find the courage to follow his heart. One night gives Spencer Henderson a tantalising taste of the man he loves. But he doesn't fit into Ben's future plans--Spence is a complication. Running may be the only option to protect his heart. With trouble escalating at home and Spence out of reach, Ben's life will finally spiral out of control. Always Been You is a standalone M/M romance between best friends who fear taking the next step in their relationship and need to find the courage to risk it all for their HEA. It features an emotional hurt/comfort theme. Note: This story has been previously published (as It's Not Easy). This edition has been revised, expanded, and re-edited, adding approximately 9k words, but the story largely remains unchanged. It is approximately 41k words.

Word Count: Click here to reveal84000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Karl Vinter joins the staff at Crofton Hall as the new under butler. He's too busy to bother with relationships, but he's more than happy to explore a friends with benefits arrangement with gardener, Val Blake. He couldn't imagine a more perfect way to settle into is his new life at Crofton Hall. Pity pesky things like feelings start to get in the way. Meanwhile, Ben Redbourn, 16th Earl of Crofton, is trying to find the perfect way to propose to Ashley, his boyfriend. He's going to need all the help he can get, especially after at least one misstep and that he's never given Ashley any indication he wants to get married. This is the third Modern Crofton novel, featuring Benjamin Redbourn, the 16th Earl of Crofton and descendant of Anthony Redbourn, 1st Earl of Crofton from my historical series, The Crofton Chronicles.

Word Count: Click here to reveal31000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: Four years ago, Ryan and John decided they'd wait to get married until it came with full legal equality. Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, that historic moment has finally arrived. But two hundred miles separate Ryan's hectic residency from John's busy campus job. With a son in college, a daughter choosing her future, and a rambunctious Irish Setter needing attention, planning a wedding isn't simple. Of course, even the most perfect ceremony can't solve all their problems. What does it take to build forever? (The Rebuilding Year series book 2.5)

Word Count: Click here to reveal102065 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary:

Word Count: Click here to reveal85700 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealAromantic, Gay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Welcome, Traveler, to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries!  What you see before you is no mere vagabond circus. Indeed, our show is full of wonders and delights that will leave you breathless, but whether that is with amazement or dread depends entirely upon you. We are unlike any other band of creatures you have ever encountered -- and you few brave souls who choose to step beyond your mundane expectations and join us may witness sights beyond your wildest imaginings.  So sit back, relax, and let us entertain you. For time and worlds are fleeting, but each soul has a tale to tell.  Male dryad, Professor Julian Scarlett lands a protected position at the Lunore Academy of the Arcane. Caretaker of his grove, he senses trouble brewing underneath his oak and grove. A mysterious traveling carnival offers distraction and fun. For Julian, a tarot card reading sparks off fears and heightens hopes.   Brought in mid-semester to replace an ailing Professor of Botany, Emrys Cadogan tries to prevent a potential disaster. A druid, he gets lost in the overwhelming work. Until the carnival offers him a brief distraction and pause. Sparks strike away from the midway lights. Dark magic flickers and threatens. From games and shows, to life and survival, a druid and a dryad need to survive and fight together to save more than trees. Dryad on Fire is part of the multi-author Carnival of Mysteries Series. Each book stands alone, but each one includes at least one visit to Errante Ame’s Carnival of Mysteries, a magical, multiverse traveling show full of unusual acts, games, and rides. The Carnival changes to suit the world it’s on, so each visit is unique and special. This book contains a pair of reluctant heroes, a trio of cards, a plucky group of young helpers, a mysterious set of vines, and the beginnings of a guaranteed HEA.

Word Count: Click here to reveal58000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: A former blood slave. A talkative vampire. Dreams about canned goods.     Chaton Roux was rescued from a blood bar and taken to a gated community of supernaturals. For two years, he’s kept his head down and done his best to avoid people. The only time he finds peace is when he’s in the garden he shares with his best friend. They’re doing their best to grow as many vegetables as possible since the community is on the verge of starving.     Asher Blackmore knows he should keep his distance, but there is something about Chaton that always makes him want to push for more. Things would’ve been easier if he’d been a mayfly shifter, then he wouldn’t have a mouth and wouldn’t say stupid things all the time.     When the community’s business goes up in flames, the threat of starvation becomes all the more real, and Chaton does his best to come up with ways to preserve food to last them through winter. It’s hard labor, but what better way to deal with a chatty vampire than to drag him into the kitchen and put him to work?

Word Count: Click here to reveal59470 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: A warlock’s blood gives him life. It can also bring his death. It’s no wonder Evrain Brookes, newly fledged warlock, is feeling the strain. A coven of power-hungry witches is after his blood. Literally. A psychotic warlock wants him dead. His godfather’s training regime is about as much fun as chewing on nettles and an overweight, scarily perceptive cat has moved into his house. His boyfriend Dominic yearns for a normal life, or at least a safer one. He accepts his role both as Evrain’s submissive partner and as the conduit through which he channels his gift – but he’s afraid for his lover and the lengths Evrain’s enemies might go to in order to fulfil their lust for power. When Evrain falls victim to a plot between the Octis Coven and malevolent warlock Symeon Malus, it’s up to Dominic to rescue him. With the help of the two other North American warlocks, a mysterious cat and an old enemy, Dominic takes steps to get his lover back. There’s a high price to pay and no guarantee that the risks he must take will pay off but Evrain is worth going through hell for, even if it costs Dominic his life.  

Word Count: Click here to reveal59472 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: An untrained warlock is a dangerous man to love. On his twenty-first birthday, Evrain Brookes discovers he is an elemental warlock. The spell suppressing his talent lifts and he has to get used to a whole new existence. The protection that kept him safe during his childhood is gone, his skills are wild and uncontrolled and there are those that seek to use him for their own gain. Evrain’s grandmother is a witch, his godfather another warlock. Between them they do their best to keep Evrain on the right path. He learns that in order to gain control of his formidable powers, he will need to ‘channel’ through a life partner, a process that happens only with consent and through love. But how will he ever find a man prepared to put up with a Dominant warlock for a boyfriend? Dominic Castine has no idea that Evrain’s grandmother sees him as a prospective partner for Evrain. He tends her garden and she teaches him about herbs—a trade-off they both enjoy. He is drawn to Evrain’s charismatic presence but doesn’t understand why he wants to drop to his knees and submit to him. When Agatha is murdered, Evrain and Dominic are thrown together as she manipulates them from beyond the grave. Dominic becomes the pawn in a terrifying game between warlocks whose powers he barely comprehends. In the end, lives will depend on his courage, his willingness to grant Evrain control and the power of love. Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of kidnap and a reference to attempted sexual assault.

Word Count: Click here to reveal59668 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Sometimes, using a safe word gets you exactly what you want. Canadian Zac Denman is young, rich and submissive. He’s also a kidnap risk who’s grown up in the shadow of bodyguards and security precautions. All he wants is to work out what kind of submissive he is in a safe environment and thanks to his very understanding father, he’s getting the chance to do exactly that. The Retreat in England is safe, discreet and willing to provide a selection of Doms for Zac to play with—a great way of discovering what he is, and isn’t, into. Dale Gastrell is a friend of The Retreat’s owner, a member of The Underground BDSM club and a soldier turned landscape gardener thanks to an inconvenient bullet. Two weeks providing covert protection to a wealthy client who won’t even know he’s there seems like a perfect break from city life. But life is never simple, and when Dale and Zac are thrown together, Dale has to fight his attraction. Zac is from a whole different world of wealth and privilege. He’s not for the likes of Dale who has to watch as Doms arrive at The Retreat to give Zac a taste of submission.

Word Count: Click here to reveal14,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Two young gay men find romance in a Regency garden. What's not to Love?!?! ------------------- Driven from his childhood home due to his heritage, Florian finds solace on the Melcombe estate, tending to park grounds and his own secret garden. But the arrival of a new groom, Everett, stirs feelings Florian never anticipated, disrupting his peaceful existence. Everett, intrigued by the elusive Florian, is determined to break through his solitude. He embarks on a mission to invite Florian to the summer fair. But in the world of Melcombe Estate, things rarely go as planned, especially when a forbidden connection sparks… Dive into the world of Regency Lords and experience a romance that will leave you breathless. Grab your copy of the standalone story, Florian's Garden today! “Bold, sensual historical settings that immerse you in the experience and characters that bring the past startlingly to life.” – Amy Lane, award-winning author of Fish out of Water series.

Word Count: Click here to reveal62000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary:

Word Count: Click here to reveal110000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: Finding love in the ashes was easy. Building a life together? Not so much. After spending the first part of his life chasing pretty girls, love has finally come to Ryan in the form of John, a tall, lanky, red-headed landscape architect with wide shoulders and a five-o’clock shadow. For the first time in Ryan's life, love feels easy. Hell, he even ran into a burning building for John and his son, and he’d do it again if he had to. But telling his father and brothers and classmates “I’m gay. I’ve met a man”? That’s going to take nerve of a different kind. For John, loving Ryan is as natural as breathing. Now if only the rest of his life would fall into place. Dealing with his teen son is complicated enough, but with his ex-wife causing trouble and his daughter wanting to move in, John’s house— and his relationship with Ryan— threaten to split at the seams. Is one month without a new surprise knocking him upside the heart really too much to ask? Unfortunately, the answer seems to be Yes. (This is a re-release of the 2015 Samhain novel, with only minor editing.)

Word Count: Click here to reveal100000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay, Genderqueer, Non Binary (Click here to hide)

Summary: For two years Nicky has wandered the dark empty corridors of the overgrown Thorn Hall, unseen and untouched, feeling like a ghost. His only company, the cold man who promised to keep him safe from harm, Lance. But when Lance dies, Nicky’s assurance of safety disintegrates and his world suddenly becomes a lot more real and a lot more dangerous. Scared to leave the house, Nicky longs for daylight. He employs a gardener to clear the over-grown bushes and vines that have nearly swallowed Thorn Hall whole. The last thing Nicky expects a little light to do is show him something to fight for. Eighteen months in a young offenders’ institute has taught Cai two things: he occupies the playful puppy end of the How Dangerous Are You? spectrum, and he has an unfortunate knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Desperate for a job, he takes the first offer he gets. Even though Thorn Hall creeps the hell out of him and he barely knows one end of a pair of garden shears from the other. Things start to fall apart when Cai is drawn into Nicky’s strange world of sticky notes and secrets. Cai finds he is now a target, blamed for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate not to go back to prison, he digs deep and risks all the good things in life to help Nicky run. But now Nicky has someone he wants to protect, he knows he can’t run any more.

Word Count: Click here to reveal51000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealLesbian, Non Binary, Pansexual, Straight (Click here to hide)

Summary: The world was whole before the war. But war is a terrible thing, and terrible things are done in the name of defense and protection. And this war tore the world apart, fractured it, separated families and lives and dreams. The reasons why no longer matter, but the effects still linger. They cause pain, though the war is over. But despite the monsters and the poisons and the despair, there is a glimmer of light. And hope and love are not gone from the world. These four stories, set in the Fractured World, explore how light can make it through the darkness. How hope can conquer fear. And most of all, how love can still flourish, even when the world is bleak. A young woman braves monsters to see the sky. A reluctant man chooses forgiveness over suffering. Lovers reunite to save a child and their community. Best friends risk everything for each other. Come see the light for yourselves.

Word Count: Click here to reveal35000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Lesbian (Click here to hide)

Summary: Jane always thought she'd live a fairly ordinary life. Then the world broke and changed everything. Jane never expected to be the one running the local unofficial orphanage. But while it wasn't what she had planned, she wouldn't trade it for anything. She loves her kids and the life they've all built. She's happy just trying to stay under the radar while keeping them all fed and out of the clutches of the local militia. Things are going well until her kids surprise her with an unconscious woman on the kitchen table, not even an hour after the militia was in the front yard looking for the same woman. Jane has no issue hiding someone from the militia as long as they aren't an actual criminal, so together the household nurses Livy back to health. It doesn't take long for Livy's bright smile to start chipping away at Jane's short but sturdy walls. Can Jane let down her guard enough for Livy to slip through? And what will Livy do if she does? She wasn't ready for her world to change again…but love has a mind of its own.

Word Count: Click here to reveal80000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Print-maker Peter Marsham can’t believe he owns a house of his own on Campion Square, and all from the sale of his artwork. Youngest son of an earl Cecil Montague has been banished to a boarding house on Campion Square by his father. They meet when Peter finds Cecil digging through a rubbish heap to rescue the remains of a pineapple, thinking he’s in need of help, and ends up offering to let Cecil attempt to grow the pineapple in his spare room. Just as Peter and Cecil are beginning to sort out their feelings for each other, a series of thefts are reported in the square, and Cecil becomes a suspect. Now they must find a way to clear Cecil while keeping their secrets. a gay - M/M romance set in Regency England approx 80,000 words print version 312 pages

Word Count: Click here to reveal64843 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay (Click here to hide)

Summary: Music speaks directly to the heart. Joel is a music teacher who knows it’s time to forget his ex and move on, while Marcus runs a lawn-mowing business and has come to Wellington to escape the reminders of a recent breakup. Although they’re opposites, when Joel and Marcus connect, their romance has the potential to hit all the right notes. Too bad neither of them feels ready for new love. With family and friends in common, dating is risky and things could get messy if it doesn’t work out. When the sweet song of possibility draws them towards romance, a Chopin prelude ends in a seductive kiss.  But it will take some practice and perseverance to find their perfect harmony… Author’s note: This is the second edition of Prelude to Love. The first edition was released by another publishing house. This edition has some added content, and has been revised and re-edited with the end result being a better, stronger story. It uses New Zealand spelling to reflect its setting.

Word Count: Click here to reveal38000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealAce, Aromantic, Bisexual, Demigender, Demisexual (Click here to hide)

Summary: RISE (noun / verb) Eight definitions to inspire writers around the world, and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell: 1) An upward slope or movement 2) A beginning or origin 3) An increase in amount or number 4) An angry reaction 5) To take up arms 6) To return from death 7) To become heartened or elated 8) To exert oneself to meet a challenge Rise features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.