Books Tagged With potential trigger - traumatic past

Word Count: Click here to reveal45000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: There’s no glory in custodial work. That never bothered campus janitor Carl Gibson any. He worked hard—had to. His love life was a tragedy best not reopened and his only hope for the happiness he broadcast to the world was in two things: Halloween and the shrill, ever-demanding bark of his darling Lilah. But Halloween decorations were being displaced by Christmas already, and his precious pug? He could only hope she’d hold on a bit longer. Austin Edwards had failed his little boy. The most junior dining manager at the college, when everyone called out on Halloween, he got called in. The house lights were all dark. except one. A sparkling hope of legend at the college. For his boy’s sake, he hoped Carl was as crazy about Halloween as the stories said. When Carl filled his son’s empty bag with candy, Austin couldn’t help but wonder why such a wonderful man was so alone. He had to find out. With Christmas fast approaching, Carl and Austin tip-toe into dating. But they both have ghosts and memories to contend with. Can Austin be Carl’s Christmas vision? Or will Carl retreat, as he always has?

Word Count: Click here to reveal24000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A HISTORY OF TROUBLE A Beacon Hill Sorcerer Collection A collection of brand-new short stories, featuring characters from The Beacon Hill Sorcerer Series by bestselling author SJ Himes. Red Wine and Blood The Blood Wars raged for centuries across Boston. Witness a brief glimpse into the brutal history of the Wars with Ignacio Salvatore and the vampire he loves, Ashwin Metcalfe, in 1897. A History of Trouble Angel was joking when he asked O'Malley if someone resurrected a mammoth. Little did he know that was exactly what someone did. Experience the untold story of what happened that unfortunate night at the Boston Public Museum. A Dragon in the City What happens when Eroch goes adventuring in Beacon Hill without Angel? Chaos, pure chaos. Fae's Gold Daniel is helping the newly-resurrected fae Ruairi Brennan become accustomed to modern-day living. A boring trip to the bank quickly escalates, and Daniel calls Angel for help. The day goes downhill from there but ends in a comfy meal in a pub for an ancient fae warrior and a necromancer's apprentice. This is an collection, featuring vignettes and short stories from the universe of The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series. For full enjoyment, the Beacon Hill Sorcerer Series Books 1 through 3 should be read before reading this collection.

Word Count: Click here to reveal37,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Sheriff Avery O’Rourke has tried to obey his strict Christian faith and lead a “normal” life. In 1923 in a rural East Texas town, “normal” means heterosexual. A cholera outbreak has made Avery a young widower, so he is married to his job. When a murder investigation forces him to confront his truth, will he finally be able to accept being gay? Veterinarian Garland Sands has returned from Europe to take over his father’s practice. Struggling with shellshock (PTSD) and heartbroken by the suicide of his French lover, he resigns himself to a quiet, solitary life as a country vet. But the murder of the town doctor brings the sheriff to Garland’s doorstep looking for help with the investigation. Seeing Avery awakens dormant feelings. Can he love a man who hates what he is? This isn’t the lavish 1920s of The Great Gatsby. This is the flip side of that coin—rural East Texas. No electricity. No indoor plumbing. No flappers. In 1923, the timber barons have left and racism, homophobia, and sexism thrive. A Little Sin is a realistic mystery with unlikely heroes and a timeless romance between lovers caught in a world where their love is forbidden. This book contains steamy sex scenes and is intended for adults only.

Word Count: Click here to reveal49000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The visceral conclusion to the Fatal Fidelity series. After Justine and Campbell’s beachside vacation is interrupted by the FBI, Campbell is arrested for murder and arson. The evidence leaves them in an impossible position: either take the fall for an assassination they didn’t commit or confess to a killing they already got away with. When an aggressive federal agent starts uncovering Campbell’s secrets, it’s only a matter of time before the other bodies they’ve buried come back to the surface. With Campbell behind bars, Justine can’t prove their innocence, but she can take matters into her own hands. She just has to commit the perfect crime—before they both lose everything.

Word Count: Click here to reveal20043 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A New F/F Fantasy Romance from the author of Cynthia and Eve. Book 1 of 'The Fae Souls'. When I first arrived at the mansion, I couldn't remember anything. My name, how I'd got there or who the people were around me. I knew I was a woman, and the pink dress and brown ankle boots I wore felt vaguely familiar, but nothing more. It wasn't long before I was told my name was Celina. I was given a suite to stay in and encouraged to prepare for the mysterious Prince Eldran's masquerade party. I found everything I needed in my suite, other than the answers I sought. Fragments of memory hinted at dark experiences, at love and loss, but there was no context and I was uncertain about my history and what the future might hold for me. A stranger at the time, Sorcha found me alone as I sought solace in an empty room. I discovered she too had missing memories, and in her I found a person to talk to. A friend and more, but did we have a chance? A Masquerade in Time is a romantic novella of just over 20,000 words, which contains strong steamy content and language.  

Word Count: Click here to reveal145000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A story of healing and confronting demons… Detective Aidan Calloway is rock-solid strong. He's a man of justice—loyal to his friends, family, and job—even if it requires bending a law…or two. He shields himself behind an abrasive, fearless facade, until a phone call one night chips his armor and throws his perfectly planned, hollow life into a tailspin. Jessie Vega is the epitome of optimism. His carefully crafted attitude of hope and positivity protects him from a past filled with too much pain. When a ghost from a dark time resurfaces and nearly breaks him, he must tap into his inner strength or risk losing everything he's worked so hard to build. But Jessie can't do it alone. He must fight to break through Aidan's ironclad defenses to reveal the heart of the man hiding beneath the tough surface and mend his damaged spirit. Only then can they truly heal and become strong enough to battle the demons that haunt them and threaten their chance to finally be together. ---------- ***This book contains scenes and subject matter some readers may find distressing. It is only intended for adult readers.*** Word count: 145K Although part of a series and events from prior stories are referenced, this book can be read as a stand-alone.

Word Count: Click here to reveal73001 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Light cannot always illuminate— sometimes the truth lies in Darkness... Prince Theryn and his loyal knight, Sir Atrum, are both bound by duty: Theryn serves the kingdom of Glinden, and Atrum serves his prince. Although they harbor a secret love, a relationship between a prince and his servant is forbidden. Things change when the king promises Theryn’s hand in an arranged marriage to the volatile Prince Lyar of the Soltaran Empire, who needs Theryn’s Light magic for some sinister religious rite. Theryn and Atrum's struggle to discover Lyar’s scheme brings them together at last, but there is more at stake than their happiness. Atrum discovers Dark magic of his own, but neither his love nor his power may be enough to save Theryn from Lyar's dangerously seductive pull. And if Atrum loses Theryn, the world as they know it may be lost as well.

Word Count: Click here to reveal45,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: A Dom learns to love while Scotland Yard claims his time and a sociopath lays a trap for his sub. This is book 2 Vasquez Inc, a spinoff series from the popular Vasquez and James series. Jackie Vasquez knows he needs to submit to a Dom he can trust—just as much as he needs to manage his own life. He found the right Dom in Brian Harrison, and then romance beckoned them both beyond bindings and safewords. They take the first steps toward a life together in London, where Brian is pursuing his dream career at Scotland Yard, and Jackie is working toward a master’s degree. Their private hours deep in the night brim with both heat and beauty as Brian’s artful vision for bondage makes a masterwork out of Jackie, body and soul. But time together becomes scarce as a series of horrific gaslight crimes keeps Brian at work and out of reach for Jackie much of the time. Though Jackie is faithful, he isn’t the type to sit and wait for his lover’s attentions. His self-assured ways and his geocaching hobby lead him to a dangerous discovery—all is not as it seems at the University. Trapped in the Gaslighter’s web, he’ll need to use every trick he knows to stay calm and buy time. But will Brian unravel the knot of mystery in time to save the man he loves?

Word Count: Click here to reveal89,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: On the dangerous high seas, there is nothing more precious than trust…   Billy loves the freedom he has as a pirate, where no man is his master. But when his captain tasks him with guarding an abducted naval officer, he starts questioning everything he thought he ever needed… Crispin Merrick wants nothing more than to command a ship in the Royal Navy. Even though the war has ended and he’s been stripped of his duties, he still dreams of naval glory. But being kidnapped and held captive by a pirate with the face of an angel and the soul of a scoundrel makes him wonder if it’s finally time for some new dreams. Can these polar opposites overcome their differences in time to survive what their enemies (and the treacherous seas) have in store for them? Only if they can trust in each other—and in love—when the time comes… A Star to Sail By is an emotional, standalone, enemies to lovers, forced proximity M/M historical romance. Download today and get ready to set sail for adventure and romance on the high seas.      The book contains material some readers may find upsetting. Full details are given on the contents warning page of the author's website, linked to at the beginning of the book (visible on Amazon's 'Look Inside' feature).

Word Count: Click here to reveal123,974 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Breakups are hard, and Luc's immortal ex allows no lifetime to pass without trying to win him back. That's not happening, but despite Pietas being the jealous sort and manipulative, he's also the king. As his General, Luc can't simply walk away. So when summoned for a "simple mission" of finding a lost child, he suspects it covers some hidden agenda or lurking secret. The mission goes off with surprising ease, and when an alien toddler needing rescue falls into Luc's lap, worry about Pietas takes a backseat. While attempting to care for the boy, a late-night visit from the immortal king reveals Luc's easy solution screwed up everything Pietas was planning. Now Luc's slap in the middle of a dubious fix that endangers not just himself and his king, it also threatens the adorable tot Luc has decided to foster, along with all the other mortals he's come to love. Because at the center of the Thieves' Guild Academy lies a lifetime of dark secrets, and Luc has just ripped off the veil and exposed its sinister heart... When your king is immortal—and your ex—how do you guard your heart?

Word Count: Click here to reveal17081 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: In a world where magic is hated and feared, sometimes the bravest thing a man can do is trust. Daymon is the second prince of a kingdom in which Evokers—those who possess intuitive magical abilities—have long since been treated with fear and mistrust. Marked as an Evoker himself, Daymon is captured by those who wish to take advantage of these powers. Now, the prince must put his faith in Rhyder, the captain of his guards—and the man Daymon has claimed as his own—to free him.

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

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

Summary: Devin Jace lives in a huge mansion together with six other people, five of them turn furry, and one needs to drink blood to survive. Sometimes, he suspects it's all a dream. Four years ago, he had no idea supernatural beings existed. It wasn’t until he was snatched off the street and forced to live as a blood slave he realized vampires are real and don’t sparkle. Three years ago, Mars O’Ceallaigh was part of the team who saved a badly scarred and severely traumatized Devin. As the only vampire on the team, he got to work undercover. To keep up the facade, he tasted Devin's blood. Not a day has gone by since without him thinking about it, both the taste of the blood and Devin. But he wants Devin to be happy, and since he knows vampires are his worst nightmare, he does his best to keep out of his way. When the team learns Devin's captor has escaped prison, Mars is convinced he will come for Devin. Devin might fear Mars, but there is someone he fears more, so when Mars swears to keep him safe, Devin trusts him. Mars more than enjoys being by Devin's side at all times, but will spending every minute of every day with him be enough to keep him safe?

Word Count: Click here to reveal32000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Having survived one nightmare of a relationship, Justin Tesh thought he'd left the worst behind when he put his ex Peter behind bars. But when his new lover, Russell Pine, explodes in a fit of alcohol-fueled rage, Justin finds himself frozen with a fear he thought he’d long since worked through. While older, more experienced Russ is anxious to put the incident behind them, avoiding personal issues never works, and for Justin, his fear is an open doorway to demons both he and Russ need to confront. Despite their histories of loss and pain, Russ has faith in the promise of their relationship. But if he can't heal the wound he's inflicted on his lover’s heart, he risks losing Justin forever to Peter’s legacy of brutality.

Word Count: Click here to reveal82000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The would-be highwayman killer’s case is closed, and Luis has been cleared to return to work.  He and Donovan are starting their new life together, and while they’re both a little new at this whole “stable relationship” thing they’re determined to make things work.  When people start dying at Assonet Ledge, it seems like a typical case for Donovan until one of the victims turns out to be a missing person from out of state, bringing the FBI into one of Donovan’s cases yet again.   The park ranger at the site is everything Donovan isn’t, and Donovan finds himself wondering if his partner isn’t falling into old habits.  Luis struggles to understand Donovan’s jealousy, which puts a strain on their relationship and the case.  To top things off, there may be forces at work here that go back long before humans showed their faces, forces Luis can’t hope to understand. Will those forces propel the case, and Luis and Donovan’s rekindled romance, off a cliff?

Word Count: Click here to reveal7,000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay, Genderfluid, Genderqueer, Non Binary (Click here to hide)

Summary: What would the Earth look like if the very atoms that compose the planet were suffused with magical aether? How would our lives in the modern world be different if this aether was discovered last year, or last decade, or last century, or last millennia? How might the people who inhabit this oh-so-different but still modern Earth explore their gender identities? These are the questions we posed to the 17 authors chosen to contribute to Duck Prints Press's newest anthology Aether Beyond the Binary. Their diverse answers are bound together in this must-not-miss collection of stories about magical worlds, adventures and mysteries, new chances and well-earned endings, and characters as gender-diverse as the worlds they inhabit.

Word Count: Click here to reveal73,141 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Time travel. For mages, it violates their number one rule: what the Mother has written, let no one unwrite. The Mother writes the destinies of the creatures on the world of Karishian. If her writings were undone, it is feared that Creation itself could be undone. The dark mage Morgorth takes this rule to heart, but there are others who do not. Morgorth is about to claim a stone of power when it is stolen from him by a female mage he hasn't seen in decades. As they struggle for the stone, she activates it, and Morgorth is unwillingly plunged into another time and another place. It isn't long before he realizes what time he's found himself in and there are a few familiar faces. Most notable is a much younger version of Aishe. His mate. Living with a tribe who will be massacred, caring for a young lad who will become his mate, and fighting a battle against a mage who can travel from past to future at a whim—Morgorth's life has never been easy but now he must contend with the will of the Mother. Unable to change the future and the tragedies of Aishe's life, he must decide what his role in his mate's past will be, and ask himself one vital question: how does one defeat time?

Word Count: Click here to reveal88084 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary:

Introduction to the set

Word Count: Click here to reveal39,062 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: How is this ever going to work... Ordered by the Empress to find out if the lover of a friend is having an affair, Alitus investigates. As Minister of Imperial Intelligence, Alitus has access to every camera and remote in the empire. Which is a problem, because Wulf's affair is with Alitus. As a Better, an enhanced human, Alitus can touch no one -- his pheromones are addictive. Isolated and under scrutiny, he keeps his affair with Wulf secret, because Wulf belongs to another, a powerful man allied with the empress. When the man asks the empress to investigate, Wulf's relationship with Alitus could be exposed. Complicating matters, the empress reveals her immortality, and requires Alitus to prove his loyalty. Her test throws him straight into Wulf's arms, right in front of the empress and Wulf's lover. Hiding what he and Wulf are to each other has taken discipline and denial. Now, it will take a miracle...

Word Count: Click here to reveal35640 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Can a straightlaced FBI agent fake a relationship with a mob rat long enough to close the case? There's only one way out of this family, but Tanner thinks he's found another one. He's going to fake a relationship with a straightlaced undercover FBI agent and help him take the organization down from within. That is, if the two of them don't strangle each other first. Maddox hates the Mob. He doesn't have a lot of respect for mob rats either. He knows why he was stuck with this case, and he's not thrilled about it. He wants the win, but having to play nice with gorgeous criminal Tanner might be more than he can take. When secrets come out, Tanner and Maddox will have to trust each other with everything they have. They may be opposites, but they're exactly what each other will need to get through this job with their bodies and souls together.

Word Count: Click here to reveal97000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Can acting out the American dream with his dad’s best friend change an unyielding fantasy into reality? Eddie Brownlee’s Hollywood dreams turn to nightmare when his safety is threatened. Ex cop Lee Everett steps in as his reluctant bodyguard. Stuffed together in hotel rooms with only one bed and navigating the vast desert landscape for their location filming, Eddie’s long-standing crush on his dad’s best friend complicates things. Especially when Eddie ignites something in Lee he’d thought he’d left at the top of a mountain. Struggling between desire and duty once again, Lee faces a whirlwind of emotions that could threaten everything he holds dear. This time it's not his career on the line, though. It's Eddie’s life. And his heart. American Dream is an age gap, dad’s best friend, forced proximity, bi awakening standalone MM romance novel in the steamy Flying into Love series featuring a lawyer’s son determined to make it big and an ex-firearms cop on a late path to self-discovery.