Books Tagged With what - emotion - anxiety

Word Count: Click here to reveal22000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Javier Fernandez is a climate scientist living in a research station near the South Pole. Since his husband was killed in a car crash, he’s preferred to be alone, and is less than thrilled to have a junior scientist thrust upon him by his rich patron. Col Steele is a trans man fleeing a bad break-up. He is ready for the next step in his career, and eager to spend Christmas anywhere but at home. When a crack in the ice separates the two men from safety, they are forced to come to terms with their own losses and each other. About the Escape From the Holidays series: For the second year in a row, Mischief Corner Books is putting out a winter holiday collection – ten stories revolving around various December holidays: The end of year holidays can get overwhelming for anyone. Things to do. People to see. Last minute work obligations to take care of. Sometimes it’s just easier to escape from it all, running away from the responsibilities and expectations, or ignore the underlying disappointment from relatives who don’t see eye-to-eye with you. Because escaping the holiday grind can lead to new, unexpected paths, and breathe new life into one that’s been stuck in a rut. Giving something to run to instead. Sometimes, getting away from it all lets you know what you really have. Sometimes, taking a chance on the unknown leads to what you really want.

Word Count: Click here to reveal44920 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Whatever your romance reading preference -- gay virgin, opposites attract, friends to lovers, or simply fun how-they-met stories -- this collection contains a variety of sweet, contemporary, short gay romances, sure to make you smile. Rewritten and re-edited, these stories were previously published singly and are available now in one collection! Contains the stories: King Kong vs. The Skinny Pirate Born to Be Wild The Straggler Now and Forever Moving On Moving Along Dropping Quarters Nevermore Photo Shoot Okay, Then Preface I love short stories. Sometimes a brief “snapshot” taken from a couple’s larger story is all that’s wanted. The narrative of “how they met” is the focus of six of the shorts in this set—quirky tales ranging from meeting at a charity fundraiser, to college kids pranking each other, to a mishap at a XXX adult video arcade. Also included is a story featuring a well-established couple’s wedding dilemma, a friends-to-lovers tale, a coming-out-of-the-closet drama, and a continuation short that follows one of those how-we-mets. Rounding out this collection is an account revisiting the main characters from my full-length novel, ’Til Death Do Us Part. All of these stories are contemporary, although one has a bit of paranormal flavor to it. Heat ratings range from “fairly sweet” to “rather steamy.” Excepting the final story, all were originally written in 2008 and early 2009. One (“Photo Shoot”) started out as a prompt word ficlet that I later fleshed out to a more complete story. Each has received a thorough overhaul, some more extensive than others. I hope you’ll enjoy reading them as much as I did writing them. Keywords: short story, short stories, collection, meet cute, slice of life, kindle unlimited, ebook, print, paperback

Word Count: Click here to reveal41861 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Alone in Japan, Finni is struggling against the constant distrust, avoidance, and xenophobia he experiences every day. He misses home. He misses his family. Nightmares come all too frequently because of the stress, and well, Christmas is just not Christmas in Japan. Not how he understands it. Distressed by how miserable Finni is, his roommate, Mamoru, offers to be Finni's family for Christmas. Little does he know how much one agreement would change everything between them, because both of them kept secrets neither ever dreamed were true. 2015 Rainbow Awards, Honorable Mention & Finalist - Best Gay Fantasy

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Fans of the iconic Deviations series will fondly recall Bradford as the beloved owner and Master of the elite and exclusively male BDSM club that anchors the series, and also as the wise man who introduced Tobias and Noah. Dominant Bradford’s story is one defined by sudden opportunity, unimaginable heartbreak, and new-found purpose. His calling is to provide a safe and supportive environment for men in the lifestyle. Bringing Doms and subs together is his superpower, yet he feels fated to be alone himself. In this prequel to the series, you’ll not only discover Bradford's own history, but also how Bradford is first drawn to Nikki, a beautiful and hungry young man living on the streets, and the unexpected ways Bradford grows and changes while helping Nikki understand a world of strange, new desires. Deviations readers already know outcome of Bradford and Nikki’s journey together. Soft Limits is a deep-dive into Bradford’s story, into what makes the Dom tick, and how he ended up with ownership of the club. It also introduces Nikki, the sub that tests Bradford’s patience, steals his heart, and soothes his soul.

Word Count: Click here to reveal70000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Gallery owner Jace Townsend loves his tiny hometown of Pineapple Grove, deep in South Florida. His life is filled with sunshine, blue skies, jogging on the beach with his dog, and the greatest friends a guy could want. What more could he ask for? Love would be a great start. After his last relationship fell apart, Jace has begun to wonder if he’s ever going to find someone who would fit into his quiet life. Of course, the last person who would fit into his life is a major movie star. Trent Elrige is drowning. He’s constantly on the go from one movie obligation to the next. And after the last stalker got a little too close for comfort, Trent decides it’s time to take a step back and figure out what he’s doing with his life. Pineapple Grove seemed the perfect spot to hide for six months and figure out his future. He just wasn’t expecting to be tackled by love so quickly. But now that he’s found Jace, is he willing to risk everything he’s worked so hard for? And is Jace willing to walk away from his precious Pineapple Grove to be with Trent?

Word Count: Click here to reveal136000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: In a relationship that violates rules and expectations, Mayr and Tash have found their perfect match in each other. Despite their fears and difficult pasts, they hope for a shared future with security and a family. When Mayr's secret first love, Arieve, proposes they create that family with her, it seems dreams could become reality. But life is complicated, and so is the delicate balance between duty and love. While Mayr protects the Dahe family at all costs, Tash is determined to succeed as a priest. Both positions require sacrifice, forcing their relationship into painful choices. To make matters worse, criminals lurk in the shadows, seeking revenge on them and those they guard. The life they want risks losing everything—including Arieve and each other. Even if they can have it all, keeping it may take more than they can give.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Asher Strigodeus was tricked into vampiric immortality with the promise of saving his soulmate, Akakios. As he turned, his creator brutally murdered Akakios in front of him. After slaying his creator in retaliation, he took over the coven as their new leader and built it into the strongest and largest coven in the world for over twenty-five hundred years while he waited for his soulmate to be reborn. Cato Axton is a history professor who has suffered from night terrors his entire life. His dreams always consist of a past version of himself throughout history being brutally slain over the last twenty-five hundred years. Having always hoped his dreams are only dreams, he is forced to face the reality they were all past lives when he finds himself being rescued from a deadly situation by Asher. Before Asher can celebrate being reunited with his love, he learns the events of the past weren’t what they seemed, and he hadn’t destroyed the forces that separated them as thoroughly as he thought. Now they are caught between rejoicing in having found each other again, and a race against the enemies that are lurking in the shadows. Can they unravel the mysteries from the last twenty-five hundred years and uncover the real villain before history repeats itself? Or will their enemies manage to rip them apart again? This is the first of a two-novel MM HEA that originally started out as a campy vampire novel and turned into a soulmate journey that spans over twenty-five hundred years. There is sizzling heat, a completely besotted vampire, and an extremely strong human who is so much more than what meets the eye. These two novels are heavy angst/heavy fluff, hurt/comfort, validation/affirmation. Along with harrowing monsters full of violence, blood, torture, and devastating heartbreak.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Asher Strigodeus was tricked into vampiric immortality with the promise of saving his soulmate, Akakios. As he turned, his creator brutally murdered Akakios in front of him. After slaying his creator in retaliation, he took over the coven as their new leader and built it into the strongest and largest coven in the world for over twenty-five hundred years while he waited for his soulmate to be reborn. Cato Axton is a history professor who has suffered from night terrors his entire life. His dreams always consist of a past version of himself throughout history being brutally slain over the last twenty-five hundred years. Having always hoped his dreams are only dreams, he is forced to face the reality they were all past lives when he finds himself being rescued from a deadly situation by Asher. Before Asher can celebrate being reunited with his love, he learns the events of the past weren’t what they seemed, and he hadn’t destroyed the forces that separated them as thoroughly as he thought. Now they are caught between rejoicing in having found each other again, and a race against the enemies that are lurking in the shadows. Can they unravel the mysteries from the last twenty-five hundred years and uncover the real villain before history repeats itself? Or will their enemies manage to rip them apart again? This is the second of a two-novel MM HEA that originally started out as a campy vampire novel and turned into a soulmate journey that spans over twenty-five hundred years. There is sizzling heat, a completely besotted vampire, and an extremely strong human who is so much more than what meets the eye. These two novels are heavy angst/heavy fluff, hurt/comfort, validation/affirmation. Along with harrowing monsters full of violence, blood, torture, and devastating heartbreak. ***Disclaimer: This is not a standalone. It is a continuation from the first book and picks up exactly where the first book left off***

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: A broken heart can mend with time but the scars of a past relationship can leave insecurity. Neither of them wanted to fall in love, but when they meet something special grows between them. It starts as a one-night stand but where will it end? David is a sweet, loveable guy. The last thing he was looking for is a relationship after the way his previous boyfriend treated him. He didn’t think he could trust anyone ever again. Bradley is a work focussed wealthy businessman who gets anything he wants. With his wealth, he could have anyone but nobody in his world grabs his attention. Then he met David. As David falls head over hills in love with Bradley, he wants to take the relationship to the next level and move in with him. But the lingering memories of his last relationship are still holding him back. With Bradley’s support, David overcomes his fears of living with him. However, whilst unpacking David finds something that turns his world upside down. Is Bradley the man David thought he was? When you have been hurt by love you can build a wall around your heart to protect yourself. It takes a special love to break down those walls and enter your heart. Will Bradley be the one to take David’s heart and heal his scars forevermore?

Word Count: Click here to reveal4364 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Despite having known each other for half their lives, it took years of heartache before Carter Hamilton and Riley Porter-Wright could admit they were perfect for each other. They’re in a great place now, and neither wants to rock the boat, but that hasn’t stopped Carter from thinking it’s time to ask Riley a certain question that’s been on his mind. Publisher's Note: This free story is linked to The Speakeasy series, and features Carter and Riley from Calm and Wake

Word Count: Click here to reveal36879 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The day Marty met the Defense Troopers is the day his life had changed forever. Men that could shift into machines…insane, but true. After fixing their device that allowed them to fully shift into bigger and better weapons, Marty was a wanted man…by the enemy. If he could fix the Defense Troopers battle capacitator then the enemy knew he could fix theirs. Faruke is a Defense Trooper and second in command, it was his job to make people fear him…well that is until he met Marty. The other half to his soul. Now for the first time he was afraid. One of the most evil of his planet was after his mate and Faruke would do anything to keep his mate alive and safe from harm…even if it meant his own death.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Ben and Alex have been happily married for six years, living in the beach house left to them by Ben’s mother Allie. Their two daughters, Ally and Lucy, help Ben’s grandmother Polly keep both men on their toes. Life seems perfect. When Alex’s mother turns up, however, she opens old wounds and reveals things Alex never wanted Ben to know. Can their relationship – and their family – survive Janice’s hatred of her son? Can Alex?

Word Count: Click here to reveal94,010 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Love, served straight up. Malcolm Elliott has been keeping secrets. Helping his mom through a financial crisis has nearly emptied his bank account and his kitchen cupboards, despite his thriving career with Corporate Equality Campaign. Malcolm is also bothered by his inability to tell the most important people in his life that he identifies as gray ace. Stuart Morgan has a secret of his own. Though years have passed since the tattooed chef fled the Mormon church in Utah for New York, he's never truly come to terms with the fetish that ruined that rigid but outwardly perfect life. Experience has also taught Stuart that keeping his love of lacy things under wraps is safer than telling the truth. After Malcom's boss, Carter, hires Stuart's restaurant to cater a gala fundraising event, the strait-laced Malcolm is thrown together with badass biker Stuart. Despite their differences and a couple of false starts, the men discover they work well together and a friendship quickly forms. As Malcolm's feelings for Stuart deepen, his sexuality awakens, but he remains tight-lipped about his problems. And though Stuart grows more and more attached to Malcolm, he remains fearful of confessing his fetish. When both of their secrets are finally exposed, they find themselves at a crossroads in which they must choose between playing it safe or finally coming clean to the person they love.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: The stakes are high and the heat is on. Beau Walker, owner of the Barbecue Shack, needs the help of Jake Parnell, his one-time rival and secret crush, in a televised barbecue competition. Beau is a proud man, but the stakes are high, and smart, sexy Jake is his only hope, even if being around Jake reawakens the attraction he’s fought for years. Jake left his hometown, determined to build a life somewhere his sexuality wouldn’t hurt his family’s restaurant business—and far away from hunky, obstinate Beau Walker. Then his twin, Josh, is killed, and Jake returns to support his brother’s wife and children. Despite his reservations, he agrees to go head-to-head against Beau on national television. Between stress and grief, as well as pride and determination, only one thing is certain—the heat between Beau and Jake extends well beyond the kitchen.

Word Count: Click here to reveal63000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: In the covert world of espionage, trust is a precious commodity with deadly consequences. Leading the Infiltration Tactical Unit, I’ve always relied on my instincts, careful planning, and my team. Now, hunted by the very agency I once served, I’m reluctantly forging an alliance with Ethan Wilder, a bear shifter whose gruff exterior belies a sharp intellect and unwavering loyalty. No matter where I turn, Wilder is there—infuriatingly competent, irresistibly attractive. Despite my reservations, I can’t ignore the undeniable connection between us. Nor the fact that we’re trapped in a cabin with just one bed. With the SICB tightening its grip, Ethan becomes not just an asset, but integral to helping me keep everything from falling apart; he’s also possibly our only hope of bringing down Hornell, our elusive nemesis. As our mission escalates, Ethan’s steadfast support stops me from imploding as the secrets of my past start to unravel, threatening everything I've fought to protect. Amidst looming danger, with my team beside me and Ethan at my back, I must confront the shadows before they consume us all. “Stronger Than Fate,” the fourth instalment of the Fangs & Felons series, delivers heart-pounding action, unexpected alliances, and a romance that defies the odds in a world where danger lurks at every turn. Trigger Warnings: scenes of torture, mention of past emotional abuse, discussion of mental illness

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

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

Summary: A soul hangs in the balance! The only one of his kind, Deacon recalls thousands of years existing yet he has no memory of why. He can’t profess to living in seclusion because he greedily pursues pleasure in arms of so many men, he never lacks companionship. None feed his true desire. Deacon yearns for someone to make in his own image by introducing them to a hunger so vile, they will detest him forever. Father Merck Hallowell stands at a crossroad of conscience and faith. His convictions, no longer satisfying, leave him searching for reasons to persevere. Befriending a handsome but strange parishioner opens a doorway Merck longs to enter and explore. Discovering Deacon’s secret, he realizes not only his life hangs in balance—so does his soul! ReligErotica

Word Count: Click here to reveal71000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary:

Lonely billionaire, Samuel Barron, has finally met someone he finds himself falling for, but can he handle a romance for a gentleman whose entire world is surrounded by silence?

Word Count: Click here to reveal31262 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Imagination is our fantasies come to life within our minds. What would you do if your fantasies could come true? Foster has dreamed of swimming with sharks. When he gets tossed overboard, he finds himself saved and taken to Atlantis of all things by Jabari, demon of the Atlantic who calls him mate. He wishes things could be as Jabari says, but they can’t because Foster only has six months to live.

Word Count: Click here to reveal98000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A werewolf pack reels from the loss of five members, including the Alpha and Beta, at the teeth and claws of Canadian werewolves. Summoned by a frantic call from a young werewolf who survived the massacre, Anax Tobias Rogan, the highest-ranked wolf in the United States, heads to North Dakota. Tobias is able to stabilize the pack, but his trip takes a toll on his relationship with his mate, Kyle Slidell. When the Canadian Anax, Silas Creighton, requests a meeting, Tobias seizes the opportunity for a trip with Kyle to restore their connection. With an international conflict to resolve and a traumatized young werewolf in tow, Tobias and Kyle struggle to find time for each other. And then assassins try to take Tobias’s life… This book includes discussions of past sexual assault and physical child abuse, homophobia including a French Canadian homophobic slur, a child character living with cancer, and depictions of grief and mourning.

Word Count: Click here to reveal92000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Love: Not as easy as ABC. They were supposed to keep things casual. Who’d expect they’d be schooled in love? Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win. Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide. Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right? As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated. Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process? With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love. Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?