contemporary

Word Count: Click here to reveal67k (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: One corpse, two corpse, old corpse, new corpse. Summer is crashing into fall, Mat and Niall have a wedding to overthink. A body is discovered floating in the harbor and this time it's the missing ex-Piedras Marine officer Duane Copper. Who, aside from Niall, wanted Duane dead? He's been on the run for months, why would he turn up dead now? Black Moon, third in the Hamarsson and Dempsey series, is a dual POV following Sheriff Mat Dempsey and now Private Investigator Niall Hamarsson as they grope their way to a happily ever after.

Word Count: Click here to reveal12,381 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: English writing tutor Steve Smith only has two more semesters to graduate from Vermillion College in California. Then he hopes to get a top-paying job writing copy for a tech firm. Until he reaches his self-fulfilled dreams, however, he’s working his way through school without borrowing from his successful Chinese-American parents. Vermillion football star Jason Woodard, on the other hand, grew up in a state-run home and is struggling to make his athletic scholarship and all that goes with it mesh with his academic requirements. He too is about to finish but, having put off first year English composition, has to rely on the writing lab where Steve works for help with an essay about love. Since Jase says he’s never encountered love, he can’t figure out how to write his essay. As they talk about love, they discover two things: falling in love is easier than talking about it and nobody in the school’s athletic program wants two guys to fall in love. When the abuse of athletes across the country comes to light, Steve realizes Jase too has been abused and needs more help than a tutor can give.

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

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

Summary: The last thing Jeff wants is to spend time with the man who totaled his car—the one he spent years restoring with his late father. But if he wants to resurrect his childhood town’s annual outdoor hockey tournament, he’s got no choice. The last thing Mika wants is to work with the guy who took off right after the accident, without ensuring he was okay. And working together on organizing Jeff’s proposed tournament sounds like a complete nightmare. He’s got enough on his plate after surviving cancer. Sparks fly as they’re forced to work together, but is that enough for them to set their differences aside and pull off the tournament in only two weeks? Or will they prove to be immune to the magic of Christmas?

Word Count: Click here to reveal18241 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Hiding in plain sight is a risky business—in more ways than one. Jamie is hiding from the past and sacrificing a lot to do so. After witnessing a murder, he’s on the run from powerful enemies. Taking a job at a rough leather bar, Spikes, is a way to survive off-grid. Bubba is the bouncer at Spikes who takes a personal interest in protecting Jamie’s very cute behind, but when Jamie runs from the club in panic straight into the path of a van, there’s nothing Bubba can do. Amnesia puts Jamie at risk, but his returning memories are even more dangerous. Desperate to protect his friends, he puts his life on the line for Bubba—the only person he can rely on to save his neck. Reader advisory: This book contains a scene of attempted rape. There are also scenes involving abduction, violence, and the forcible administration of drugs. Publisher's Note: This book was previously released in the Hard Evidence anthology.

Word Count: Click here to reveal60000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: It’s been fourteen years since Kent and Dylan were friends in grade school - a friendship that crossed the line into something more before disappearing as quickly as it began. Now, they’ve reconnected. They’re grown up now, and out and proud, and they’re both fully capable of saying what, and who, they want — each other. Can they put their past behind them and start over?

Word Count: Click here to reveal40926 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Nick Fabian never made it as a CSI. His idealistic vision of the police as an institution dedicated to serving justice died in the harsh light of day, and he quit to become a freelance private investigator, taking on cases nobody else wanted to touch. Enter Emily Bright, a woman with a score to settle. Her best friend Sabrina was murdered, but local law enforcement is dead-set on ruling it a suicide. Determined to get justice, she turns to Nick. Nick feels the pain of one of his own and takes on the mantle of finding Sabrina's killer.But Point Clear has skeletons in its closet. A married local school teacher, Connor Long, had an affair with the victim and isn't above threatening Nick to keep his secret safe. Local man Roy Constas took Sabrina home that night, but he swears nothing happened between them. Emily herself raises suspicions when she reveals she was in love with Sabrina, a sentiment that was not returned. If Nick wants to get to the truth, he'll have to cut through the small-town prejudice and lies surrounding Sabrina's death, but that's not easy when the entire system is determined to bury the case and chase Nick out of town...

Word Count: Click here to reveal23,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Paul Xiao considered himself lucky. He'd lost his husband after a grueling battle with cancer, but they'd had twenty-two years together. After six months, he started to live his life again, the parts of it he'd lost touch with during that five-year battle, the parts he could carry on with alone. Then he went to a fine-art miniatures show and met the painter Kevin Park. Before he knew what he was doing, Paul had invited Kevin to join him and his friend Patrick for dinner. And Kevin, who'd been so strongly attracted to Paul that he'd held those two paintings, hoping he would come back around and they could talk, said he would. Three months of cautious dates later, Paul asked Kevin for help with his home yoga practice. It was logical; that was Kevin's profession. But he was hoping that opening the door to his home would mean opening other doors too. After a lifetime of compromised relationships, Kevin was almost afraid to hope. There was just so much between them that was right. If they could find the right balance and breathe into this, maybe they'd both find space in their lives for love.

Word Count: Click here to reveal25000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A witch in the broom closet probably shouldn't be so interested in a ghost hunter, right? That Basil is a librarian comes as no surprise to his Mt Eden community. That he's a witch? Yeah. That might raise more than a few eyebrows. When Sebastian, a paranormal investigator filming a web series starts snooping around Basil's library, he stirs up more than just Basil's heart. Between Basil's own self-doubt, a ghost who steals books and Sebastian, an enthusiastic extrovert bent on uncovering secrets, Basil's life is about to get a lot more complicated. ---- Overdues and Occultism is a novella-length story featuring ghosts, witches and a sweet gay romance. It's part of the Witchy Fiction project of New Zealand authors. You can read more about Sebastian and Basil in Jingle Spells: Witchy Christmas Stories

Word Count: Click here to reveal6,609 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When former tagger Eric hears a cute fellow student named Joel protesting to a woman that he's gay, Eric goes to his rescue and gives him a big kiss and hug in a City College hallway. Even though sparks fly between them, Eric doesn't expect any reward for saving the guy from being hit on in public, so he's surprised when undercover cop Joel asks him to become his pseudo-boyfriend. How bad can it be for a former high school dropout, who's been to juvie more times than class, to pretend he's a cop's lover?

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

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

Summary: Roque “Ro” Celdran moves to San Francisco to study Landscape Design and his dreams of a better life seem about to come true, except that he's strapped for cash. His identical twin suggests a unique way to make ends meet: a job as a sub-for-hire. But a case of mistaken identity lands Ro at the dentist with a mouthful of broken teeth. On the surface, Lance Roberts, DDS, seems to have it all—brains, body, classic good looks, and determination. Underneath the flawless exterior lies a frustrated Dom in search of a sub who can handle his obsessive behavior and debilitating need for control. The sexy young man in his chair pushes all of Lance's buttons but he's a patient and off limits for the moment. When Ro offers plant maintenance to repay Lance for his dental services, Lance welcomes the chance to get to know Ro better. Close proximity brings their physical attraction to a boil, but Ro is convinced he's not good enough for the learned doctor, and Lance is certain his need for domination will drive his proud and somewhat prickly love interest away. Can two head strong alphas find a way to satisfy both of their desires or will their relationship wind up fractured?

Word Count: Click here to reveal38,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When love comes knocking, check who’s there before you open the door. Tyrone Johnson is looking for The One. But what if the two applicants are his straight ex-best friend and the man who messed with Tyrone’s teenaged heart? His best friend Nat was always there for him until he dropped Tyrone in high school to run with the jocks and date the prom queen. Now he’s back and wants Tyrone’s forgiveness—and his heart. Arnaud, the French choreographer who swept eighteen-year-old Tyrone off his feet, is also back. He’s eager to reignite their hot affair after leaving it in the dust four years ago. Which one can Tyrone trust not to abandon him again? And can he trust himself to make the right choice? If you like second chance stories and sexy dancing, you’ll love The Dancer’s Dilemma.

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

Summary: What happens when the No. 1 college hockey star in the country falls in love with a man? Nick Johnson, a top prospect for a pro hockey team, has a secret: he’s gay. Tired of living in the closet for the sport he loves, he sees no way out. Jacob Meyer’s string of bad boyfriends left him cynical about love. Instead, he focuses on his studies as a third-year law student. With a new job waiting for him, he’s eager to graduate and move on. On a school-sponsored trip, Nick and Jacob meet in a most unexpected way. When Nick tells Jacob his secret, they decide to hang out, just as friends. But their attraction is too strong to ignore, and they soon begin dating. Since Nick is a big man on campus, it doesn’t take long for people to notice his attachment to Jacob. All hell breaks loose when the relationship gets out. As the national media descends, university officials try to figure out how to solve their “problem.” Their efforts divide Nick’s team, inflame fans, and put Nick and Jacob’s futures in jeopardy. Will the men be able to survive a plot to destroy them without derailing both their careers? Nice Catching You is an out-for-you romance featuring a lot of love, exciting hockey, and a beautiful holiday. There’s also plenty of steam and a very happy ending.

Word Count: Click here to reveal53000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Hollywood soundstage tutor Otto Brennington has always felt invisible. Then he meets super hunk Shawn Slate. Hot sex on their first date leads to a marriage proposal. With their whole lives ahead of them, they wed in Hawaii, then celebrate with a skydive, where death does them part. Otto is in for the shock of his afterlife upon discovering where he’ll now spend eternity. Once there, a series of sweet yet unexplainable visions lead him to believe the life just lost wasn’t his first. Was it also possibly not his last? With the aid of several paranormal beings, Otto learns the ins and outs of his new existence, one he plans on making temporary. Will he make it back to the land of the living and the man of his dreams? Is that man Shawn? Or will Otto decide his newest acquaintances make the place he’s in not so bad after all?

Word Count: Click here to reveal72000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Their plan was perfect…until the world stopped. After the Navy boots him out, Tristan is screwed. Without an honorable discharge or a college degree, his job prospects are grim. If only he knew a service member who was willing to get married, make Tristan a dependent, and transfer his GI Bill. Such as, say, a former coworker who’s single, gay, and wants his family off his back about his refusal to settle down…and who maybe feels guilty for his role in Tristan losing his career. Casey has never liked Tristan, but the plan is irresistible. In fact, it’s perfect. Now Tristan has health insurance and a place to live, and he’s going to school. Meanwhile, Casey’s conscience is assuaged, and he’s still sleeping his way through town while his family is none the wiser. The guys stay out of each other’s way, and it’s all good. Right up until a pandemic locks everything down. Suddenly it’s just Casey and Tristan…and maybe that’s not such a bad thing. In a time when they’re both desperate for strength, support, and human contact, they find them in the most unexpected place: each other. But when feelings come into play, is it something real? Or just two lonely men making the best of terrifying times? And how in the world do Casey and Tristan tell the difference? Until the World Stops is a 72,000-word standalone gay romance. CW: COVID-19 A note from the author: As the events of 2020 have unfolded, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve debated when and how to incorporate that reality into my work. It’s not something I want to make light of or capitalize on, but it has become a part of our lives, and one that doesn’t look to be going anywhere any time soon. There comes a point when—if I’m to write about life—I need to write about the ugly parts too. For that matter, writing is how I process the world around me, and as time has gone on, I’ve found myself needing the catharsis of looking this reality in the eye and putting it into words as best I can. Most importantly, however, this is a time when we all need hope and even moments of peace. While pure escapism is important to me, so too is finding that hope and peace when everything feels so bleak. So it’s with that in mind that I give you a couple of guys finding a little bit of light when all the world feels dark.

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

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

Summary: Vivian Chastain is an adrenaline addicted veteran, transitioning to civilian life in Sacramento, California. She settles into a new routine while she finishes up college and works as a bartender, covering up her intense anxiety with fake bravado and swagger. All Vivian wants is peace and quiet, but her whole trajectory changes when she stumbles upon a heinous crime in progress and has to fight for her life to get away. While recovering from the fight, she falls in love with someone who is tall in stature but short on emotional intelligence, and this toxic union provides Vivian the relationship that she thinks she needs. Given Vivian’s insecurities and traumatic past, she clings to the relationship even while it destroys her. Vivian’s relationships are strained to their breaking points as she continues to seek balance. She turns to her best friend for support, only to be left empty handed and alone until she finds comradery and care from the last person she would have thought.

Word Count: Click here to reveal60000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A sleepy little town doesn’t know what, or whom, is about to hit it when Ked, Kaden Edmond Donegal, comes to live. Hyper and determined, Ked longs to be a great forest ranger, taking care of the land, watching over it like its protector. What he didn’t count on is falling in love with the people there nearly as much as the land, and one in particular that doesn’t give him the time of day. Sean Ashby moved to Bear Lake to hide away from the world after he nearly died while serving in the army. A local artist, he makes his living bringing pieces of wood to life with stories of their own. When he sees Ked, he sees someone who needs tamed, but he doesn’t feel as if he’s up to the job. Not giving up on the bearded ginger bear, Ked does everything he can to get in the way of the man, and he finally gets what he wants. Or, at least, what he thought he wanted. Sean is a dominant who needs a submissive, and Ked never thought of himself that way. With Ked’s rambling voice hushed and his hyper movements slowed, Sean leads him into a new life he didn’t realize he needs so badly. The townspeople take him in as family, a man loves him unconditionally, and poachers are in need of catching. Is Ked up for his new life? Can he be a part of a community that is quirky and quiet, or will his own quirks and rarely silent voice make him permanently an outsider? Contains BDSM and consensual sex between two men. Trigger warnings: abuse, violence and PTSD flashbacks.

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

Summary: Simon Williams spends his lunch periods drawing his geek and trying not to think about the terrors waiting for him at home. He needs to get away from his abusive father before he suffers the same grisly fate as his mother. Because he's learned the hard way running away doesn’t work, he’s counting the days until his eighteenth birthday. Jimmy Bennet should be spending his lunch studying so his senior GPA is good enough to get him into college, but he can't seem to focus thanks to his distracting artist. When he’s given the opportunity to tutor Simon in Trig and discovers Simon’s home-life nightmare, he wants nothing more than to get Simon out of danger. This need becomes more urgent when Simon comes to school the Monday after their first date with bruises, but it takes a broken leg before Jimmy can convince his boyfriend the Bennets really want him. But the danger Simon thought was past shows up at the most unexpected time, and he must stand up to the fears he’s held so long to protect not only himself, but the man he wants to spend his life with.

Word Count: Click here to reveal49,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Hitting the big time in Australia isn’t enough. Making it overseas, now that’s on a whole other level. Rafe Moreno, lead singer of HyperOctane, is on the brink of achieving everything he’s set out to do before his thirtieth birthday. Ten years of hard work and focus is finally paying off. Not that he doesn’t enjoy the rock and roll lifestyle—adoration, parties, men. What’s not to like? Including a hot hook-up with his bandmate’s younger brother. But the most important thing is keeping his eye on the prize at any cost. Parker Shaw is nothing like his outgoing, super-talented rock star brother, so finding himself on a plane heading to the other side of the world to play guitar with HyperOctane is insane. Who in their right mind would want an ordinary, skinny, red-haired analyst to perform with one of the top bands from Australia? Rafe’s dream is the big time, not a relationship. The furthest thing from Parker’s mind is trusting his broken heart to anyone again. But what happens on the road, stays on the road, right? Rafe and Parker embark on the rock tour of a lifetime, a tour that will bring a lot more than they expected, because love is a wild card, not something you can plan for. Wild Card is an opposites attract, forced proximity, rock star romance.

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

Summary: Can a city boy survive exile to a small town? Will falling for a hot, older country boy make the situation better or worse? Marc Kingsley is the best in his big-city family business. When a medical issue gets Marc temporarily banished to a tiny country town, he’s certain the experience will be a nightmare. Jordan Moore is living the dream on his farm. When his best friend’s grandson begrudgingly comes to town, Jordan’s simple life gets turned upside down. Can Marc and Jordan find a brief, shared happiness even when they’ve accepted they’ll eventually have to walk away? Or will both men end up nursing broken hearts? Take Me Home is a male/male age-gap, opposites-attract romance with plenty of steam and a scene that will make you appreciate camouflage and work boots.

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

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

Summary: There's nothing scarier than the truth... Noel's got issues. Like, he doesn't know what to call his lover. Are they boyfriends? A fling that got out of control? Something more? Even worse, he may sometimes get waylaid by a random ghost or two. Or else he's losing his mind. Now Adam? He's stable and solid and warm; the kind of guy Noel never knew he wanted. He's also the historian on Haunts and Hoaxes, which gives him a professional interest in Noel's "special talent". When the ghosthunting crew turns up something weirder than normal at a Louisiana plantation, Adam convinces Noel to check it out. Instead of finding a haunt, they uncover a mystery. Noel used to be a cop and he grabs the chance to investigate something real. DNA is evidence. No matter what Adam says, the ghosts don't prove anything. But the past is done hiding and the spirits are going to have their say. Noel better figure out how to listen, because Adam's job, their relationship, and even his sanity are at risk.