Books Tagged With format - paperback

Word Count: Click here to reveal48,175 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Is any case too cold to crack? Book 8 in the Lessons in Murder series, by award-winning, best-selling author Edale Lane. Jenna’s gaze lingers over the diamond rings in the showcase. She wants to pop the question to her partner Randi if she can only arrange the perfect proposal. Per usual, her work as Roanoke PD’s leading homicide detective gets in the way, not to mention the inconveniences of an early winter storm. Randi, who knows Jenna isn’t ready for marriage, has a surprise planned for their first anniversary. She’s also crafting a strategy to visit both their families for Christmas while preparing for the end of the semester. When a dying mother asks Jenna to investigate her daughter’s unsolved murder from thirty years ago, she can’t refuse. Despite the unlikelihood of success, she digs into the past and interviews whoever is still alive. But will buried concerns unearthed by the investigation give Jenna cold feet?

Word Count: Click here to reveal40671 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Nick Fabian has settled into life in the small Maine town of Point Clear with his boyfriend Roy Constas, but work in the P.I. business is slow. Struggling for money and a sense of purpose, he considers working at the local laundry with Emily, but the news that his old crush Lieutenant Scott Mordis has been murdered in Philadelphia ignites a deep yearning he'd been trying to snuff out. With their last parting a bitter one, Nick is conflicted about returning to Philly, but is driven by the force of his emotions to obtain justice for Scott. Roy insists on tagging along for the ride, refusing to be left behind. He's jealous of Nick's affection for his former mentor and boss, and the two men face their first major hurdle as a couple. Nick's journey will plunge him back into a cold case—that of Aiden Winters, the murder that drove a wedge between him and Scott in the first place—and he'll unearth connections between the two cases better left buried in the past…

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

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

Summary: Parker This pro hockey thing is amazing! I’m playing in the big leagues. I have money for a change. And suddenly all the men who wouldn’t give me the time of day are falling all over themselves to hook up with me. The only problem is that I’ve never been with anyone. That’s just what I need—some random hookup leaking it to the press that I’m a virgin who’s lousy in bed. Maybe what I need is a little help from a professional. Cole Clients who want to lose their virginity are a dime a dozen. There’s something about Parker, though. Something that makes my heart go a little wild every time he books me, and it isn’t the money. He’s better in bed than he thinks. He needs confidence, not guidance, and I’m happy to give him both. But is it wrong to wish he’ll never stop coming back? Gentlemen of the Emerald City Cole is Book 2 of Gentlemen of the Emerald City, a sexy series centered around the high class, high-dollar Gentlemen of Seattle’s most exclusive escort service. Each book is full of snark, sass, and sweetness, and like any Emerald City client, you’re guaranteed a happy ending. Content warning: Moderate on-page struggles with disordered eating.

Word Count: Click here to reveal33125 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Even after years, Seth is still in love with his best friend, and just as invisible as he’s always been. Or so he thinks. Carter Heath has a lot of responsibility. The farm. His daughter. It all adds up. He hasn’t thought about dating in years. Not since Izzy was born. He thinks he might be ready for a little romance, but is bringing someone around his daughter a good idea? Too bad it takes the near death of Seth Murray’s father to bring him back home again. Carter is still glad to see him. They’d been best friends once after all. He’s surprised by the punch of attraction upon reuniting. As much as Carter wants to turn friends to lovers, he’s not sure he can trust Seth with his heart. After all, Seth had disappeared from his life once already. Does Seth have the staying power to make love last?

Word Count: Click here to reveal67000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Murder, betrayal, love… ​Moving home after his father’s death effectively forced Sheriff Mat Dempsey back into the closet, but he’s happy enough. Right? Bitter and dispirited after years investigating homicides, Niall Hamarsson heads for the only place he’s ever called home. A body is discovered in the waters off Piedras Island and Mat’s first priority is investigating the murder. He doesn’t need the help of the ex-detective, what he wants from the man is entirely different. Detective Niall Hamarsson remembers Mat Dempsey, but he’d prefer to avoid him. Too bad Mat is one piece of his past Niall can’t escape… Their chemistry is electric, and two heads are better than one, but will Mat’s pride get in the way? Conspiracy Theory is a dual POV about a broody introvert and a somewhat patient Sheriff. It’s hard to come in from the cold when that’s all you know. Hamarsson and Dempsey is a series following the same couple as they find their way to their happily ever after.

Word Count: Click here to reveal71800 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It's home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice. Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband. On the cusp of the greatest announcement humankind has ever witnessed, Todd’s personal world is thrown into turmoil when his estranged brother shows up on his front porch with news of ships heading for Earth’s orbit. The ships are holding the Nentraee, a humanoid race who have come to Earth in need of help after fleeing the destruction of their homeworld. How will one man bridge the gap for both the Humans and Nentraee, amongst mistrust, terrorist attacks and personal loss? Will this be the start of a new age of man or will bigotry and miscommunication bring this small world to its knees and final end?

Word Count: Click here to reveal64548 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: What if cyborgs suffered body dysphoria? In his mid-forties, former cop turned career bureaucrat Nolan Rogers is diagnosed with terminal cancer. His best friend Elly Takahara convinces him to undergo the process of body conversion, where his brain is transplanted into a robotic body. The operation is successful, but Nolan quickly finds himself adrift in a body that doesn't eat or physically react to emotion. For the first time in years, he's suffering from a new kind of body dysphoria, a sensation he hoped to have left behind when he transitioned to male decades ago. During this crisis, he meets Tallis, a proud nonbinary body convert who sued his parents for the right to give up his flesh and blood body. Tallis is fire to Nolan's water, and whereas Nolan just wants to fit in, Tallis is determined to stand out in a world where being a cyborg marks one for discrimination and worse. Despite hitting it off poorly, an undeniable attraction blossoms between the pair, and they become entwined in a complicated relationship. Nolan can't understand Tallis, but he wants to. Trapped in his own narrow confines of what he believes the world to be, Tallis challenges everything he thought he knew. Can Nolan learn to love who he is now, or will he find himself drawn into the ranks of the Regretters, an organization of cyborgs campaigning to outlaw body conversion altogether?

Word Count: Click here to reveal103900 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A little blue world, the third planet from the sun. It’s home to 7 billion people with all manner of faiths, beliefs and customs, divided by bigotry and misunderstanding, who will soon be told they are not alone in the universe. Anyone watching from the outside would pass by this fractured and tumultuous world, unless they had no other choice. Todd Landon is one of these people, living and working in a section of the world called the United States of America. His life is similar to those around him: home, family, work, friends and a husband. After the attack on San Jose, Todd is appointed to Special Envoy for Terran Affairs by the nentraee, a position many world leaders question. Undeterred Todd wants to build bridges between both people. However, this new position brings with it a new set of problems that not only he, but his new allies Mi’ko and Mirtoff must overcome. Will the humans and nentraee learn to work together despite mistrust and threats of more attacks by a new global terrorist group, or will the terrorists win? Will this bring an end to an already shaky alliance between nentraee and humans?

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: “I would never hurt you… Please don’t flinch like that. You need to come with me, that’s all, and for that I need to touch you.” Hellhound Faron wasn’t expecting anything when he went to his local diner for a meal before heading home. He might have privately hoped that he could catch sight of his favorite chef, Patrick, but the food was worth eating anyway. What he doesn’t expect, when he’s finished his meal, was to find Patrick sitting in a rusty truck at the back of the diner parking lot, with tears and bruises covering his face. Faron had to do something. “…when I went to get out of the truck, the coma kicked in. This is all a coma-induced dream. It’s amazing.” Patrick Duncan didn’t expect his favorite hottie from the diner to find him crying in a rusty truck, and he definitely didn’t expect to collapse in a coma-dream straight afterward. But that had to have been what had happened to him. How else could he find himself in Scotland, having a wonderful meal and being taken on a walk to find a magical tree. Dreams quickly became reality and Patrick has a lot of adjustments to make finding out he’s the mate of a hellhound. Shadow puppies aside, Faron still wants to deal with the man responsible for Patrick’s bruises. Unfortunately, that wasn’t as easy as it sounded. And what was the message Patrick’s dead Mom trying to send Patrick in relation to his magic? Magic Patrick didn’t think he even had. As with all of my stories, your HEA is guaranteed. It’s not imperative to read the other books in this series before this one, but it helps to get a handle on the secondary characters that populate these pages.

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: Detective Kurt O’Donnell is used to digging up other people’s secrets, but when he discovers his slain partner was married to another man, it shakes him. Determined to do the right thing, Kurt offers the mourning Davy his assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps Kurt deal with the guilt that his partner didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, and somewhere along the way Davy stops being an obligation and becomes a friend, the closest friend Kurt has ever had. His growing attraction to Davy complicates matters, leaving Kurt struggling to reevaluate his sexuality. Then a sensual encounter neither man is ready for confuses them further. To be with Davy, Kurt must face the prospect of coming out, but his job and his relationship with his Catholic family are on the line. Can he risk destroying his life for the uncertain possibility of a relationship with a newly widowed man?

Word Count: Click here to reveal67000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Wherever August Morrison and Ricardo Torralba go, chaos is sure to follow. The authors certainly know this, since their “standalone book” has now turned into a series with no end in sight, because…UGH. These two. We give up. Anyway. Detective David Chandler had no clue what he was getting into when he and his partner decided they were going to nail August for murder. They didn’t realize it was one of the few murders August didn’t commit, or that their homicide investigation would lead them into the middle of a mob war. Cavalcante underboss Pedro Silva knew asking August and Ricardo for help was a terrible idea. Just mentioning their names is bad for Pedro’s blood pressure. Owing them a favor? Oh Lord. He still asked, though, because he was out of options, but he can’t say he didn’t know he’d regret it. Neither man expected things to blow up this badly. Now they’re both on the run from the mafia, the cops, and everyone in between… except for August and Ricardo. On one hand, that means they have two expert assassins in their corner. On the other, it means they have the biggest troll on the planet heckling them at every turn. And sticking them in a safehouse together. With only one bed. And if August or Ricardo make one more comment about how Dave and Pedro should just hook up already… Cop vs. Capo is 67,500 words long, and is book 4 of the Hitman vs. Hitman series. CW: combat PTSD, alcoholism, on-page violence, discussion of abuse of a sex worker

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: Detective Ivan Bekker has hit rock bottom. Not only is he recovering from a bad breakup with a cheating boyfriend, he’s also involved in a drug bust gone bad. Ivan had to kill a man, and his friend was shot and is now fighting for his life. Though Ivan is under investigation for his part in the shooting, his boss sends him on an off-the-books undercover operation to close the case. The timing is critical—this could be their chance to plug a leak in the department. Off-balance and without backup, Ivan finds himself playing a recent divorcé and becoming Parker Wakefield’s roommate. He finds it hard to believe that sweet Parker could possibly be a criminal, much less have ties to a Russian mafia drug-trafficking operation, and Ivan lets down his guard. His affection is unprofessional, but Parker is irresistible. When Ivan comes across clear evidence of Parker’s criminal involvement, he has to choose: protect their relationship, regardless of the consequences, or save his career and arrest the man he loves.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Maverick “Mackey” Keyes keeps the rodeo cowboys safe on his watch and he knows how to make his bullfighting team walk the line. He might be starting to feel his years, but he’s a pro, and he’s not afraid of anything that might happen on the arena floor. Sidney Scott knows how to go with the flow, so when his dream job passes him by, he grabs the chance to work the bull riding circuit as a TV producer. He’s going to do the job right, traveling with the show, even if he hears some rumbling from the riders. Mackey and Sid butt heads more than once, but when it really counts, they manage to get on the same page. When Mackey is injured, Sid steps up to help, and things take a far more personal turn. They might have been able to ignore the growing attraction between them at work, but a long road trip over the Christmas holiday and time away from the other cowboys lets them find something together that neither of them expect, but both of them need. Cowboy Protection is an opposites attract, rodeo romance featuring a bullfighter and a corporate suit, with a side of holiday magic.

Word Count: Click here to reveal50,100 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A small Western town quietly invaded, the residents bitten and turned in the night. A young man finally coming to terms with the immense and unusual power he wields. A friendship tested and evolving into something deeper. Vampires are taking over the frontier town of Belkin’s Pass, led by an ancient and evil vampire named Balthazar. No one has recognized the evil taking root… until tonight. Josh Stanton is a wanted man. He’s lived on the outskirts of the town’s social circles all his life, and, after a tragedy caused by his own hand, flees into Venom Valley, feeling he has no one to turn to for help. Not even Dex, his best friend and a man he secretly loves. Dex Wells has loved Josh for longer than he can remember. But as a town deputy, he’s torn between his feelings for Josh and his duty to the town. When Josh is in trouble, Dex races to Josh’s aid ahead of the Sheriff, needing to hear the truth about his situation… and perhaps confess the depth of his feelings. Glory, a half White, half Apache saloon girl, and the only survivor from the nighttime attack on the One-Eyed Rooster, strikes out on her own. She has no plan, yet, but vows to avenge those she’s left behind. Together, these three unlikely heroes must come together to fight back against the vampire Balthazar. If they fail, his evil will spread across the West and, eventually, the rest of the country.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Welcome to Brawlers Bar… A quick pit stop for a comfortable bed to sleep turned into an eight-year stay. Vincent “Crave” Butler hit the road the day after college graduation and hadn’t looked behind him since. He’d swore to never stop moving, but the night he drove into Powers, Georgia changed the course of his life. He’d hit a bar called Brawlers with its rundown exterior and pride flag beside the door, the next day he had a job. Second in command to the Head of Brawler security, Crave found the place he didn’t have to run from. No one would call Crave sane. He lived to make people as uncomfortable as possible just for his own twisted amusement. That all changed when a certain cute as fuck bartender walked in for an interview. No one wanted Twitch Harrison around. He was small, femme and annoying on his best days, downright abhorrent on his bad ones. When college turned out to be a no-go, and the parents canceled his credit cards he’d needed a job. Walking into Brawlers, the roughest gay bar in his hometown, was like a game of pick the thing that didn’t belong—him. The two owners, Scary and Tank, hired him on and four years later he was still that thing that didn’t belong. No one made it more apparent than bouncer Crave Butler who didn’t hide the fact he barely tolerated Twitch’s presence. Crave threatened every man who thought they’d get the pretty Twitch but would Twitch rather be in their beds than his? Only one way to find out and he hoped Twitch was ready for forever because that’s what Crave was determined to have.

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: Years ago, Brandon Ellison and Oliver Cardoso were MIA partners and lovers. When a mishap on a mission tracking down werewolves renders Brandon unfit for field duty, their professional and personal relationships implode, leaving them shattered and alone. Unable to process his losses, Brandon moves away and cuts off all contact with Oliver. When Brandon returns as head of MIA’s Research and Development team, the smart thing for his heart is to avoid Oliver at all costs. But he hasn’t been able to forget or move on. When an unapproved prototype nearly kills Oliver, Brandon suspects it was no accident. Determined to ferret out the truth, he knows the time for avoidance is over. Oliver is tired. He’s never found another lover like Brandon, he’s lost his regular partner to reassignment, and he’s back out in the field with a poorly healed injury and a painfully green new partner. The last thing he needs is Brandon showing up, mid-mission, to cause trouble. But he can’t convince Brandon to leave. Without any real closure the last time they spoke, the hurt and guilt have festered, making for a tense, antagonistic working environment. With an elusive portal and the Umbrae creating a previously unknown creature, hundreds of lives, including Oliver’s, are at stake, and they have no choice but to put their differences aside. But their unresolved feelings and an attraction that hasn’t waned creates a potentially fatal distraction. Falling in love again might destroy them both.

Word Count: Click here to reveal51400 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A Camp Bay Christmas Novel In the wake of his husband's recent passing, nightclub owner Bryan Nantel feels smothered by sympathy from his well-meaning friends. Tired of being seen only as a grieving widower, Bryan decides to spend the holiday with his father in Houston, even though he fears it will be the end of his hard-fought sobriety. But a chance encounter at the airport changes everything. Noah Porter is a former baseball player whose career was cut short by a devastating injury. He’s not quite ready to come out of the closet, but he has every intention of losing his virginity ASAP. On a whim, he invites Bryan to spend the weekend with him at Camp Bay Chalet, a secluded B&B tucked away in the panhandle of Northern Idaho. Bryan knows running away with a man he just met is crazy and reckless. Maybe even dangerous. But it sure beats his other options. He figures what happens at Camp Bay can stay at Camp Bay. And a bit of Christmas craziness may be exactly what he and Noah both need.

Word Count: Click here to reveal65953 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Best-selling thriller author Reese Kelsey knows his career isn’t conducive to romance. He doesn’t work the normal nine-to-five, and sometimes his characters take hold and demand all his attention, causing him to neglect important appointments… and lovers. Rather than go through another heartbreak, Reese contents himself with his small circle of friends—fellow gay New York City artists—and his dedicated publicist, Chad. Until he sees Owen Mercado lugging his cello toward the subway and impulsively offers him a ride. Owen has worked long and hard for a career in the symphony, and success comes with a demanding schedule—something Reese understands. Their desires and lifestyles are surprisingly compatible, and Reese and Owen certainly set the bedroom on fire. They’re both carrying baggage, but they fit, and it’s hard not to hope for a future that once seemed impossible. But when Reese’s work inevitably pulls him into its dark world and refuses to let go, Owen draws a hard line, and Reese discovers he can't rely on good intentions alone. He will have to control the obsession that drove his other lovers away or risk losing Owen as well.

Word Count: Click here to reveal68000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: James Morgan, lead guitarist for the rock band Eden, seems to have it all. That is, until Theo, Eden’s lead singer and James’s secret lover, violently betrays him, sending James into a deep depression and cutting their current tour and the band’s life short. Kieran Jackson, the lead vocalist for the less successful band Lost and Found, is at his wits’ end. At thirty-three, he never dreamed he’d still be opening for bands comprised of twentysomethings. When Eden pulls out of the last few shows of their summer tour, Kieran returns home burned out and heartbroken. Over a year later, James, Phil, and David of Eden decide to reform under a different name with Kieran as their new vocalist. James, never having forgotten his single interaction with Kieran, nor the only time he ever listened to him perform, knows Kieran’s the best choice. James is still closeted—and skittish after his last relationship—and one fumbling, drunken kiss threatens to undo everything he’s worked so hard to rebuild, as well as the cover he’s fought to maintain. Can James overcome his past, confront his demons, and reclaim his former fame? Or will he and the newly formed True North remain in Eden’s shadow forever? Can he finally find comfort in who he is, accept his past, and reopen his heart? Or will the memories of Theo’s betrayal and the subsequent fallout dash any hope of finding—and trusting—love again? Trigger warning: this book contains explicit rape, as well as one failed suicide attempt by a main character.

Word Count: Click here to reveal38172 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The Knights are collecting blood types, and they have Jay in their crosshairs. Diego is a coyote shifter living in Mexico City. He co-owns a tourist business with his best friend and enjoys his independence. Unfortunately, his parents are unable to look beyond his deafness and are convinced he is in need of care, regardless of his many achievements. And when his pack receives a special assignment from their master shifter, one concerning the Knights of the Dawn—an organization bent on the eradication of shifters—he’s determined to stand on his own and help, rather than let his parents hide him away. Jay is an army veteran, and after reacclimating to civilian life, he takes his family’s advice and travels for a vacation. Hoping to hook up with someone to break his celibacy, he meets a beautiful man in a bar named Diego. Having two deaf sisters makes communication between them easy since Diego also knows ASL. Their chemistry is explosive, and Jay can’t believe his luck. But their mutual bliss is shattered when Jay is hunted and attacked by knights. They don’t appear to want to kill him… they just want his blood. Diego must put everything on the line to keep Jay, and his pack, safe, and hope that their burgeoning relationship can hold strong in the face of the coming storm.