Contemporary Genre

Word Count: Click here to reveal138,550 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Sidebars are stories set in the Spy vs. Spook/Mann of My Dreams universe. The stories in this book are told from three different points of view: William Matheson’s, covering the majority of the events from 2002 to 2009, including his work at the WBIS and his relationship with Theo Bascopolis, a former rent boy. A Christmas story, told from Patrick (the Antichrist) Mulcahy’s POV, takes place in 2004. Two other stories are future fic and are from Mark Vincent’s POV, one about his anniversary and the other about his birthday. An additional story is included, the missing epilogue from Complications, featuring Rebecca Goddard, Matheson’s onetime secretary, who’s actually not the dumb blonde she appeared. Is It You? – Wills meets Theo Bascopolis and wonders if he could be the one. Sway – Wills goes along with Theo’s assumption that he can’t dance. This Simple Phrase – Wills and Theo spend their first Christmas together. Goodbye to Love – Wills returns home to the apartment he shares with Theo to find his lover has left him. Wills intends to discover why. To Be Loved – Wills has asked Theo to marry him, and they celebrate their first Easter as engaged men in Cambridge with Wills’s family P.S. I Love You – Wills and Theo get married and welcome a new addition to their little family. Dedicated to the One I Love – In 2004, same-sex marriage becomes legal in Massachusetts. For their first anniversary, Wills decides to take advantage of that and takes Theo to Cambridge so they can be legally married. Happy Anniversary, Baby redux – It’s Mark and Quinn’s anniversary, and Mark muses about how they got there. The Very Best Christmas Ever (So Far) – Pat Mulcahy, aka the Antichrist, has turned his life around and now lives with the Mathesons. On the trip to Washington, he meets someone who just might make this the best Christmas ever for him. When Complications Arrive at Your Door – This is the missing epilogue from Complications. Rebecca Goddard, daughter of the former WBIS doctor, has decided making herself scarce after Mark Vincent discovered her part in the events that went down in 2004 is a good idea. Five years later, she’s no longer looking over her shoulder, but maybe she should be. Trick or Treat – It’s Halloween, and Wills and Theo take their children trick or treating. Happy Birthday, Baby Redux – Mark Vincent has a birthday coming up, but his husband is out of town and won’t be there to celebrate with him. In addition, it’s snowing.

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Summary: THE MEN OF LONDON From Charing Cross to Waterloo, there’s no escaping love. SEEING THROUGH… 28-year-old Draven Samuels has a tragic past, but as an investigator with a high-profile London company he now gets what he wants. Tough, sarcastic, and sceptical, he has no patience for lies and even less for people who waste his time. Even if they’re as beautiful as the wild and dark-haired Taylor Abelard. Especially when they’re talking over the body of a murder victim. THE DARKNESS Psychic Taylor Abelard is used to people calling him a freak. He can see past events and feel the ghostly vibrations of people close to him who've passed on. It’s why he doesn't get too close to the living. But this time, against his better judgment, despite Draven’s mocking rejoinders, Taylor will get closer than ever before. The mystery surrounding a dead friend will lead the two men down a dark and seedy trail of blackmail and lies. Add in the heartbreak of a family tragedy, and events lead them straight into each other’s arms. By the end of this night, all their demons will have risen—and been banished with the dawn.

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Summary: Tragedy brings together a reserved but brilliant sculptor and an outgoing gallery owner, friends whose love was sidetracked—but was always meant to be deeper. BLINDSIDED SoCal natives, Nate and Cody have been friends since childhood. Both knew they were different—and the same. At seventeen, a stolen weekend in the Florida Keys drove their connection deeper and hotter than either could imagine. They were meant to be together. Then, for reasons only Nate knows, suddenly they weren’t. They’re still friends. Best friends. But they’ve moved on and found other partners. The yearning remains, however, despite the long-ago secret that drove them apart, and when tragedy strikes, both men find themselves in the dark. They must grope their way back to who and what they are...which they will find in each other’s arms. Sometimes, losing one’s sight can open one’s eyes—and heart.

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

Summary: He went into the woods…and never came out. In 1986, thirteen-year-old Jeb Kleber vanished during his small town’s Fourth of July fireworks. His mysterious disappearance left his first love, Sammy Blake, grieving for years. Flash forward to present day. A now middle-aged Sam Blake has a comfortable and predictable life with his husband Marc in Chicago. All that changes when a stranger arrives at Sam’s door, claiming to be the missing Jeb Kleber. The stranger knows things he couldn’t possibly know—including the hidden love the boys shared during the summer of ’86. He also wears an amethyst pendant Sam gave him shortly before he disappeared. Could this be the real Jeb Kleber, missing for thirty-seven years? If not, who is this mysterious stranger? And what does he want after all this time? His appearance plunges Sam’s life into a nightmare of questionable identity, long-buried secrets, and perhaps even murder.

Word Count: Click here to reveal19656 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Max Futé and Avery “Smitty” Schmidt are both doctors who work for the Washington Bureau of Intelligence and Security. They’ve settled into a comfortable relationship, and although Max assures him otherwise, Smitty is waiting for the other shoe to drop. That will be when Charles Browne, Max’s former lover, realizes what he’s let slip through his fingers and comes to take Max back. Although Charles had enjoyed having Max in his bed, he’s always declared he wasn’t gay. And finding solace with other men after Max left him had nothing to do with ... anything. Now, however, he’s found a woman who ticks all his boxes in spite of her somewhat kinky tastes. Will Santa give them each what they want most this Christmas?

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

Summary: All three Silver in the City books in one box set! Silver & Sage Bode Silver doesn’t have time for feelings or a relationship. Then Sage shows up. Sage is Silver’s exact opposite, his renter, and his new employee. The kid is much too young and much too innocent. There are a million reasons why Silver and Sage should never get together. And Silver plans to keep it that way. Until all of those reasons go up in flames with one kiss. Silver & Sage is a steamy, slow burn M/M age gap, opposites-attract romance between a shy, inexperienced nerd and an outgoing grump of a bar owner. Silver & Gold Just as Benji Silver begins to wonder if his casual relationship with Gold might turn into more, the two men are thrown into a position that has the lovers quickly turning into enemies. With no way to escape each other, Silver and Gold begrudgingly agree to make the best of an impossible situation. Will Gold’s search for perfection drive them apart or can Silver show Gold that imperfection can be beautiful? Silver & Gold is a steamy, slow burn M/M enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity romance between two slightly self-absorbed artists. Silver & Spice When Spice asks Kyson Silver to fake a relationship with him, Silver agrees. He knows pretending to be involved with the older man will likely come back to bite him in the ass, but if the farce will help Spice and his young son, Silver is totally on board. All too soon, the consequences of the fake relationship weigh on both Silver and Spice. Will a meddling grandmother, an adorable little boy, and a team of friends be enough to convince Silver and Spice to give a real relationship a shot? Silver & Spice is a steamy, slow burn M/M age gap, fake relationship, forced proximity romance with a silver fox, single daddy and a younger man ready for a family.

Word Count: Click here to reveal42000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: This Christmas they'll get the most precious gift of all... Cam The holiday season is my favorite time of the year, but this year feels different. Greg and I have built a life together and now we’re ready for the next step—a family of our own. But when our plans for a surrogate seem unattainable, I start to wonder if the universe is telling us it’s not meant to be. It breaks my heart to think we might not have the child of our dreams. Still, when the snow starts to fall and Christmas comes to Collier’s Creek, I can't shake the feeling that something wonderful is just around the corner. Greg I’ve always been the realist in our relationship. After everything we've been through—my accident, Cam’s mom’s illness, the way life seems to keep throwing curveballs—maybe it’s a sign that we’re not supposed to have kids. But seeing the look in Cam’s eyes, his unshakable belief that we’ll be fathers one way or another, gives me hope. I’m not going to give up. I’m going to keep believing that having a family is just a matter of time. Silver Linings, a heartwarming holiday romance, filled with love and hope and the sweetest gift of all. Celebrate the holidays with the men of Collier’s Creek, where magic fills the air and irresistible romances are the highlight of the festive season. Six low-angst romances, each filled with heartwarming moments and swoon-worthy romance.

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

Summary: A bomb destroyed high-powered lawyer Gil Lemieux’s seemingly perfect life, and PTSD has ruled every decision since the explosion that left him scarred inside and outside. Moving home with his mom is meant to be a temporary measure, just like proofreading for a medical editorial firm is meant to be a stopgap. But two years after taking on the wrong court case, he’s still living in fear. Keith Kramer might be based 1,500 miles away from Gil, but their shared work brings them together—a chance meeting that’s life-changing. Gil is drawn to Keith’s good looks and intelligence, but it’s his innate understanding that Gil is more than the scars on his skin that is truly attractive. He’s everything Gil used to be and more. It blows Gil’s mind that his attraction might be returned. Only doubt could widen the distance between them. Keith’s hopefulness, borne out of surviving some tough challenges of his own, isn’t enough to bridge the distance alone. Gil will need to believe he has as much to offer as Keith if they’re to build a life together. 87,000 words, 275 pages

Word Count: Click here to reveal25,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A recent graduate of the NYPD’s cadet academy, Jimmy McSwain dreams of anything except being a cop. He’s got bad history with them, and it’s not a rap sheet. Years ago, his police officer father was gunned down during an off-duty incident, leaving Jimmy bitter that his killer was never found. Now, grown-up, trained in the art of law, Jimmy decides to embark on a new career: that of private detective. But you just can’t get your own license, you need experience. What happens will lead Jimmy into a part of New York he doesn’t know, realizing he’s the stranger in a neighborhood that lives by its own rules. Skeptical about his job is his mother, Maggie McSwain, but there’s nothing she can do to stop her headstrong son from entering this shadowy new world. As a warm May settles over the city, a twist of fate has Jimmy taking on his first case, one that is a time bomb ready to explode. What he can’t leave behind is the memory of his father, and the silver shield which he earned only out of respect. Can he live with his decision?

Word Count: Click here to reveal44000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Eric and Ellison Gant, better known as Sin and Saint, were opposite sides of the same coin. They epitomized the nicknames given to them by their friends in the band Executioners. One thing Sin and Saint did well was fight, and being inseparable meant they had a lot of disagreements, but one thing they agreed on was that Sheriff Camden Pelter was theirs. The older, stoic man didn’t agree, yet they were determined to change his mind. jCamden Pelter had the daunting job of turning the Powers Sheriff Department around. The residents of the Georgia town didn’t have much faith or respect in the deputies serving them. That’s where he came in, and he was determined to do his job. That was easier said than done with two annoying brothers, Sin and Saint, who dogged his every step. No way in hell was he getting mixed up in the chaos that were the Gant Twins. Now if only if he could get them to listen and realize they didn’t have a chance of changing his mind.

Word Count: Click here to reveal54,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Reeling from the painful rejection of a man he thought he loved, Asher is left holding the baby. Ash wants a family, and is determined to continue with a surrogacy he’d begun with his ex. Bringing baby Mia home, he vows that he will be the best father he can be. Nothing in this world matters more to him than caring for his daughter, not even accidentally falling in lust with the doctor next door. Challenged by his growing attraction to Sean, and confronted by painful memories of his family, Ash has to learn that love is all that matters. When ER doctor Sean moves in with his friends next door to sexy single father Ash, he falls so quickly it takes his breath away. The sex they have is hot, but Ash is adamant his heart is too full with love for his daughter to let anyone else in. Why is Sean the only one who sees how scared Ash is, and how can he prove to his new lover that he desperately wants the three of them to become a family?

Word Count: Click here to reveal90,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When need meets fear, can two very different men find common ground? Alhazar Bukhari spent his Navy career in the closet. Now he’s retired, divorced, and hungry for the love he’s never had a chance to experience. He tries to put his faith in Allah to bring the right man into his life, but it’s hard to be patient after all this time. Chaplain Dylan Pedersen spends his days counseling Sailors, and his nights with men he doesn’t know. Months after finally escaping an abusive relationship, he’s terrified of anything more than a physical connection. Maybe it’s a sin, but he’s too lonely to not let men into his bed, and too scared to let them into his heart. When Alhazar’s civilian job brings him aboard the USS Fort Stevens, and his daily prayers bring him into Dylan’s chapel, the chemistry is instantaneous.  Sex and friendship quickly evolve into more, but Dylan’s too haunted by his recent past to be the man Alhazar wants. Alhazar needs love, Dylan needs time, and if they can’t find some sort of balance, they’ll sink before they ever have a chance to swim.

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

Summary: Seamus McCord is a man of the cloth who has convinced himself he can ignore the pestering qualms he’s had for years regarding his choice to become a priest and take his final vows, solidifying his devotion to his vocation. He’s justified in his mind that he can wall off his doubts and ignore the dark secret he’s keeping buried deep in his heart. Meeting a handsome man at a laundromat one night further complicates his situation, bringing more problems he doesn’t need. All the old concerns push their way to the surface with only one look into the man’s blue-green eyes. As Seamus falls into a spiral of lust and desire, he realizes the time for prayers of guidance has long passed. ## Carter Lee Riggs has made mistakes—one of which changed the course of his life forever. After he’s paid his debt, he faces the challenge of controlling the rage inside him when faced with life’s injustices. He saved a life once, but in the process, he nearly took another. One night, a man comes into his workplace, and it almost feels as if Carter’s being given another chance at happiness. It’s only a brief encounter, but if Carter has the opportunity to find the man again, might they have a chance at something neither ever expected to find? For Seamus and Carter, if there’s a way to atone for being less than perfect while seeking their hearts desires, will they take it? Can two sinners be redeemed by love?

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

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

Summary: Quinton Thorn has always wanted to own a bakery and share his love of food with as many people as possible. His passion for taking regular recipes and turning them into something special is what makes his food unique. When he meets Enzo Reid the first day of culinary school, he has no reason to question why he’s there. He accepts that Enzo is just as passionate about baking as he is. He soon realizes he has feelings for Enzo that go beyond friendship, but for the sake of their business, he keeps his feelings to himself.Enzo Reid started culinary school, hoping for a second chance. He’d already had one career, and when it disintegrated, he wanted a new start. He never meant to deceive Quinton, but he was never totally honest with him either, and now his actions will force him to choose between keeping their friendship or continuing their business. He has six months to decide what he’ll do, then he’ll need to live with his decision, and the choices he’s made in the past. A friends to enemies to lovers romance.

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

Summary: Prince Orion of Tyrion built a life based on hard work and honest principles. Busy working on a mine project that could seriously benefit the people of Tyrion, Orion's world was turned upside down when he learned he was to be married in just two days, to a man he'd never spoken to. A man who would expect Prince Orion to travel with him, seriously hampering his chances of getting his mine project underway.   Crown Prince Vincent of Faast led a charmed life. Everywhere he went, people clamored to attract and hold his attention, always agreeing with him no matter what he said. So, in keeping with Crown Prince Vincent's personality, when he decided to get married, it would be to the one man who barely glanced in his direction.   The problem was that old habits are often so ingrained a person can make a mistake without realizing it until it was too late. When Vincent does that, and Orion leaves, Vincent has to consider if his marriage was a huge mistake. When tragedy strikes those tenuous bonds are tested even further. Will these two princes finally get their Happy Ever After, or are there times when it's easier to say goodbye.   Six Types of Apology is an MM romance based in Lisa Oliver's fantasy world. It can be read as a standalone, although if you want to read about other couples mentioned briefly in this story, you can find their stories below.   The Infidelity Clause – Nikolas and Caspian Don’t Judge A Prince by his Undergarments – Mintyn and Syrius An Article of Lies – Xavier and Remy The Pirate’s Treasure – Rojan and Petrov A Marriage of Necessity – Jasper and Avalon

Word Count: Click here to reveal46809 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When a ferocious book attacks Carrington at his own birthday party, he believes it's an isolated incident. But similar books soon pop up all over town, menacing innocent people with harsh bits of poetry and blank verse that deliver damaging physical blows. It's a frustrating case with too many variables and not enough answers, and the stakes go up with each attack. With the help of his misfit squad mates at the 77th and the public library's rare book department, the missing pieces decrease but not Carrington's vexations. His commanding officer rakes him over the coals at the beginning of every shift. His police partner has lost patience with what she sees as his delusional relationship choices and his inability to pick the right man in a vast field of two. City Hall demands that the books be stopped immediately. It's enough to put a nutritionally-challenged vampire off his skim blood.

Word Count: Click here to reveal14000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A science experiment gone wrong gives Justin the body of his dreams. For his best friend Leo it’s the start of a nightmare as he watches the man of his dreams turn from a shy nerd to a party animal. His best bet is to reverse the effects of the lab explosion, but how can he do that when he doesn’t know what caused it in the first place? In the meantime Justin is gathering notches on his bedpost at an alarming rate. Will he learn that beauty is only skin deep before it’s too late?

Word Count: Click here to reveal65000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: What if your first love was abducted and presumed dead—but then returned twenty years later? That’s the dilemma Cole Weston faces. Now happily married to Tommy D’Amico, he’s suddenly thrown into a surreal world when his first love, Rory Schneidmiller, unexpectedly reappears. Rory has no memory of those years. For him, it’s as though only a day or two has passed. He still loves Cole with the passion unique to young first love. But Cole has so many questions: where has Rory been and what happened to him two decades ago when he disappeared without a trace? He has never forgotten Rory, but Tommy has been his rock, by his side since Rory disappeared. Cole is forced to choose between an idealized and passionate first love and the comfort of a long-term marriage. How does one make a decision like that? The answers might lie among the stars…

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 reveal20000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: It Takes Two to Write a Love Story A writing retreat brings Caitlin and Iris together at a secluded cabin in the mountains. Caitlin is a successful romance novelist and Iris is a struggling veterinary nurse who seeks solace in her diary. They're both deeply romantic souls who share a love of writing. Soon, they realise their paths have crossed before. It has been eight years since they met at a friend's wedding. They spent the night talking and dancing, followed by an unforgettable night of passion. The memory had woven itself into their souls; a bittersweet reminder of what could have been. Although life led them in separate directions, neither of them has forgotten that night. Then and now, destiny has brought them together. Will they repeat the past? Or will they finally surrender to their feelings and transform them into something more powerful?