Search

You are cordially invited to view one of a triptych of stories involving the lives and loves of gay men who work or volunteer at the Sunrise Arts Center in Stafford, North Carolina.The three stories in this box set revolve around three men -- one a high school senior, one thirty-something, and one recently retired -- as each looks for companionship and love. Contains the stories:Whitney: Becoming the director of an arts center close to where he grew up seems like the perfect opportunity for a fresh start for Whitney Pell. He enjoys playing the field... for a while. Then he begins to miss being part of a couple. The wedding band on Stuart Blount's finger means he's straight, or does it? Will Whitney's present cause the picture of domestic bliss they're painting to be torn apart?Jonathan: Retired English prof Jonathan Baker joins a men's book group and meets high school English teacher Frank Cummings. The men have several things in common. Both teachers, both belong to the same church, and both are of a similar age. Jonathan has previously lost a lover to illness and fears history repeating itself. Should people their age enter into relationships or just stay friends?Louis: Louis LeFevre doesn't fit in. He's Haitian, gay, and is a photography nerd. Judd Thomas is a soccer jock and needs help with an art term paper. Louis helps him get the terms and concepts right. They make for unlikely study buddies, much less lovers. Will their relationship develop into something beautiful or will they be forced to blow the whistle and walk away?

Michael and Sarah are a normal married couple. Or are they? What happens when fantasy and reality cross?This couple finds out that pleasing each other with different scenarios might not be what they are really yearning for. Michael puts pen to paper and gets more than he bargained for when Sarah finds his hidden manuscript...

You are cordially invited to view another of a triptych of stories involving the lives and loves of gay men who work or volunteer at the Sunrise Arts Center in Stafford, North Carolina.High school senior Louis LeFevre feels he doesn't fit in. He's Haitian by birth and doesn't resemble the African-American students. His French-sounding name doesn't help him fit in either. Although he does phys ed -- he's gay and wants to look good -- he prefers arts, particularly photography. He spends much of his free time at the Sunrise Arts Center, whose new and incredibly sexy director helps Louis put together a portfolio of his work for his college applications.The quintessential soccer jock, Judd Thomas, is keeping a secret. He's gay. He struggles to write a term paper on the sculptor Bernini and his art teacher is little help so he's introduced to Louis to help him get the art terms and concepts right. Judd and Louis make for unlikely study buddies, much less lovers, but they say opposites attract, and Judd and Louis are definitely attracted to each other.Some members of the soccer team object to their star striker associating with someone they perceive as gay, and try to ruin Judd's chances of getting a soccer scholarship to college. Judd and Louis are still young, and their lives are bound to go in different directions after graduation. Will their relationship develop into something beautiful, or will they be forced to call it quits and walk away?

Grocery owner Griffin Reed is a little hesitant about renting the apartment next to his to a nineteen-year-old young man with a two-year-old son. But from the moment he sees this blue-eyed, blond-haired angel standing outside his screened-door, Griffin feels maybe he should put his doubt aside and give Charles Martin and his equally angelic son Charlie a chance at a stable home.Charles Martin never knew his parents and grew up in foster care. So when he accidently gets a young woman pregnant, Charles makes a promise to himself to not let his son share his fate of getting passed from one foster family to another because Charlie's mother thinks they're too young to be parents. With the help of a social service worker, his best friend's family, and a kindly landlord, Charles gets the chance to prove he is a responsible human-being.A few months after Charles settles into his new apartment, a devastating epidemic hits the world, forcing Charles and Charlie to hunker down with his landlord, a man he barely knows who has gone out of his way to prove love can conquer all.

Finn Riordan's life is upended when he discovers his boyfriend having sex with Hector Lange, the legendary local playboy. Five years later, Hector appears in Finn's life once again, this time to cheat Finn out of the painting he's bidding on at an art auction.Hector Lange has no complaints about his life. He has a good career, plenty of friends, and while he doesn't believe in true love, he never lacks for companionship. Everyone loves the easygoing and gregarious Hector. Which is why it's so startling when he finds himself assaulted by a furious and beautiful man.When Hector realizes he inadvertently outbid Finn for a painting intended for Finn's brother, a recovering veteran, he wants to make amends. Hector's latest ex had backed out of a vacation they planned to take together, so Hector invites Finn instead as something of an apology. A win for all involved, right?The trip will do more than merely reconcile the two, opening both Finn's and Hector's eyes in unexpected ways. But will those newfound discoveries and feelings follow them home?

Blake Thornton -- or, as rumor likes to call him, the Earl of Thorns -- has a secret. Or two.London society knows Blake as an adventurer and traveler. His tales and memoirs have made him a celebrity. But when Blake thinks of home, he thinks of his best friend Ashley Linden, brilliant Oxford scholar of classical poetry -- and the man Blake's been silently in love with for years.But Blake's discovered feelings for someone else as well: Cameron Fraser, the handsome Scottish doctor he's met on his travels, who knows him like no one ever has. Blake doesn't expect to see Cam again, despite how much he'd like to.But when he returns home to find Ashley ill, Blake has a reason to send for Cam, and together, Blake, Ash, and Cam will discover a new adventure.

Serd is known as an honorable and conscientious man. He was, however, not suited to the family trade, and with his father's blessing, leave his childhood home to join the Legion. Mastering combat skills, he enlisted in the elite Imperial Guard. After a cruel twist of fate, his life changes dramatically.Prince Calelaine is the bastard son of the heir to the throne. He leads a quiet and studious life, uninterested in either men or women, in his grandfather, the Emperor's, palace. When a miscarriage of justice is brought to his attention, he intervenes and saves the life of a man he's still to meet. Shortly after, the Emperor unexpectedly dies, and Calelaine's life is threatened when three possible successors to the throne engage in a bloodthirsty battle.Serd rescues Calelaine from a massacre at the palace, and they are forced to flee the city. During a harrowing experience, Calelaine uncovers his inherent wizardry talents. In their attempts to escape their pursuers and reach safety, will Calelaine and Serd learn to combine their skills, wizardry and warfare, to survive? Will Serd's care for Calelaine awaken feelings he's never had before and let them act on mutual feelings of attraction and find love?

JMS Books'Trios are themed collections of three gay romance stories by a trio of authors. Each story is available separately, but readers can get all three for a discounted bundle price.Regency Lovers contains three historical M/M/M romances. Contains the stories:An Unlikely Alliance by Ellie Thomas: In Regency London, private secretary Clem encounters shy gentleman Humphrey with satisfying results. From then on, it seems natural to include Abe, Clem's regular lover, in their frolics. Apart from willing bedfellows, Clem is used to being alone and unsupported. But will the alliance between the three men prove more substantial than mere passing pleasure?As Many Stars by K.L. Noone: Society knows Blake as an adventurer and traveler. But when Blake thinks of home, he thinks of his best friend Ashley, Oxford scholar -- the man Blake secretly, silently, loves. He's discovered feelings for someone else too: a Scottish doctor he's met while traveling. And when he returns to find Ash ill, Blake has a reason to send for Cam... and together, they'll discover a new adventure.The Hunting Box by Alexandra Caluen: When Nicholas, an earl's heir, invites his two dearest friends to spend three weeks at his country lodge, he hopes to set the terms for the next chapter in their lives. The time has come for Nick to marry, but he doesn't want to lose Charlie or Stephen. Much to his relief, they want to keep him too. Can they negotiate the inevitable changes of adulthood, and move forward as even closer friends?

Harmony only wanted to survive. When the new gods defeat the Titans, Harmony is forced into a world of the gods. Three ambitious brothers seek to discover the most powerful mortals. The ones they love will join their ranks as immortals. The Academy of the Gods is filled with the wealthy and powerful.An orphan sent as one of the few survivors of his village, Harmony is an immediate outcast. Hated by Zeus and abandoned by most of the other students, Harmony is only protected by Hades. The god of the underworld is a mysterious and reclusive god. Harmony finds himself falling in love with Hades while detested by Zeus. Can Harmony survive the new gods and find love?

Can you chase away imaginary monsters with real life monsters?Dillon Ross lives in a huge mansion together with six other people. Four of them turn furry, one drinks blood regularly, and one is a former blood slave, just like him. Seven months ago, he was rescued from a fate worse than death, and he's been doing his best to avoid people ever since. Which is hard when you have well-meaning but nosy roommates.Lee Dowell is a vampire working in a shifter bar. One day, he hears something he wasn't meant to hear, and while his first reaction is to ignore it, he reaches out to the supernatural version of the police. It might not have been his smartest move, since he now has a target on his back.Dillon isn't pleased to realize he is sharing a floor with a vampire. There are enough monsters in his head, he doesn't need one in his space too. But Lee has put himself in danger by trying to help some people held captive, and his roommates are trying to keep him safe. Lee doesn't do humans, but when Dillon's nightmares wake him time and time again, he wants nothing more than to gather him in his arms and chase away his fears. But can you chase away imaginary monsters with real life monsters?

It's 2016, a trepidatious election year, and choices have to be made about the direction of the nation and in our personal lives. Caught in this political and cultural tug of war are Jamie Drexler, an apolitical nationally syndicated cartoonist, and Ben Montgomery, a paid political operative. From the moment they first meet on a frosty afternoon in Charlottesville, Virginia, their relationship roars from a one-night stand into an example that politics makes strange bedfellows.Their personal-is-the-political revolution emerges the first night they sleep together in which their prior top/bottom roles are reversed and, much to each other's surprise, welcomed and enjoyed. Then, alone in his condo, Jamie takes the risk of a lifetime and sets aside an unfinished cartoon to draw, ink, and frame a very special Christmas gift for Ben. As the primary season continues from Iowa to New Hampshire and eventually into Virginia, they celebrate by sharing and reciprocating the results by stuffing their own ballot boxes.When their relationship intensifies, will Jamie and Ben grow more comfortable in their own skins and allow their vulnerabilities to ignite a revolution of the heart?

Sheila Donaldson is bored. No, not bored -- frustrated. She's spent years married to the same wonderful man, and now she's ready to live out some of her naughtiest fantasies through her own personal bucket list. Number one on her list: making her best friend Melissa orgasm while her husband watches.Once Sheila admits to Richard that she has always wondered what it would be like to pleasure another woman, it isn't difficult to get him on board with her plan to spice up their sex life with a little girl-on-girl action, especially once they both realize how much they've been missing.Now the hard part... asking Melissa to play along.

Sequel to Aidan's JourneyShy guy Jed Carter has always felt invisible next to his charismatic older brother Kent. After trying to fit in with Kent and his fraternity friends his first year at UVA, Jed braves coming out as a sophomore. He's hopeful when he starts seeing Pete, an attractive junior. But Pete is only interested in using him for sex and videogames. Jed wants more, in life and in love, and first on the list is getting to know Charlie, the handsome guy working at the local videogame arcade.Charlie Ambrose has always felt like an oddball, and not just for his tendency to stutter. Being gay sets him apart from his African-American community, and as a “townie,” he isn't part of the college crowd. Charlie's inspiration is his transgender cousin Morocco, who doesn't give a fig about being different. Art is Charlie's passion, and when a local videogame designer discovers him, Charlie's living a dream. The only thing he's missing is love. But the last person Charlie expects to find it with is a cute, white UVA rugby player named Jed.

One evening Deputy Rob Davenport pulls over a car for speeding. While his patience is tested by a condescending driver, his heart is captured by the passenger in the car, Max Winters. They're mutually attracted to one another but fail to connect due to the driver being arrested for a warrant. The next day, a chance encounter at their favorite restaurant gives Max and Rob a chance to shoot their shot and leads to Rob asking Max on a date. Weeks of dating blossom into a loving relationship.But two people are unhappy with this coupledom, including Randall Wilson, the car's driver who has crushed on Max since their freshman year of college, and Bryce Turner, who's been in love with Rob since middle school. Both men join forces to see if they can end Max and Rob's relationship by any means necessary. Will they accomplish their goal of getting the man they love? Or are Max and Rob simply meant to be?

During the final week of February in 1808, Clement Metcalfe has a brief and heated encounter in the back room of a busy London coffee house with bashful gentleman Humphrey Atkinson. Clem, a private secretary, is accustomed to grabbing random interludes to brighten his tedious and underpaid working days following a professional fall from grace. But Humphrey seems to hanker after more than one taste.So Clem introduces Humphrey to Abe Pengelly, the other semi-regular man in his life. Imposingly dark and dangerous, Abe is an enigmatic figure, with his operations based at the decaying and infamous Old Red Lion Tavern. His endeavours, if not blatantly lawless and criminal, are definitely murky.There's an undeniable attraction between the three men that promises passion. However, Clem discovers his lovers are also willing to exert themselves on his behalf to right past wrongs. Might this be a case where three is not a crowd but the perfect number?

When Hayden comes to visit his shy, hardworking cousin Jason, all Jason has in mind is a few days off to enjoy his cousin's company. To welcome Hayden, Jason decides to take him to Warm Glow and sample their signature liqueur, Shimmer. He'd heard the rumors that Shimmer can be anything and everything in your drink, but Jason isn't convinced.However, when he meets high-flying barrister Daniel at a casino in Skycity, Jason finds himself acting out of character. Outgoing and flirtatious, he captures Daniel's attention, and more besides. But there's a darker side to this new Jason.Will Jason's lies ruin his chances of happiness with Daniel, or can the truth save him?

Sequel to Shooting StarsJasper Reid has everything. Fame beyond what he'd ever imagined. The man he never knew he needed. And a career full of fun with his best friend and band mates. For once in his life, he's actually fine.Ryan Kurtis has everything. A promising career on Broadway. The love of his life by his side. The dreams he never thought would come true are all within reach. For once in his life, he's not worried about the future.But maintaining the perfect life becomes impossible when the famous couple are faced with shattering devastation. When The Obsolete falls apart, Jasper breaks piece by delicately held-together piece, leaving Ryan desperately trying to catch Jasper on the star's self-destructive fall from fame.After losing everything and finally facing the parts of himself he's been afraid to confront, Jasper must find a way to overcome his worst self, accept a heartbreaking loss, let love back in, and reclaim the life he's worked so hard for.Can Jasper and Ryan make it through their battles to their happily ever after? Or will this be the end of the RySper ship?NOTE: This book references trauma, death, grief, alcohol and drug abuse/dependence, panic attacks, and off-page sexual coercion.

Nick, Charlie, and Stephen, sons of an earl, a baronet, and a freshly knighted barrister, met at school and became fast friends. The young noblemen went on to university while Stephen read law in London. All three exchange letters and visits, even spending holidays together for the next thirteen years. Their terms of intimacy, while close, have been undefined: Nick and Charlie have a separate relationship, Charlie and Stephen another.In November 1819, Nick invites his two friends for three weeks at his country lodge. He worries their bonds may be sundered by circumstance: he is to be married. While this was always inevitable, they must all now face up to the changes it will bring.Mere days into their country retreat, all three have confirmed their desire for more, not less, intimacy. Ideas are exchanged, affections shared, wishes expressed. Their days together strengthen the mortar of their new connection, giving it time to set.Along the way, they indulge in every kind of intimacy, safe in the privacy of the hunting box. Will their plans and promises hold once they must part?

Cassandra Durand is an up-and-coming professor at a Toronto university about to give a very important talk in her research field. While practicing one night, she runs into Grady, a custodian, whom she instantly recognizes as a former porn star. Can Cassandra maintain her professional distance while also indulging in her ultimate fantasy and dream man?When her relationship becomes threatened by her once loved research field, will she and Grady be able to have a future in spite of his past? As Cassandra deals with her new label of provocateur, she turns to Grady for help navigating public life when everyone only wants to see the darker side of her private desires.

In the gripping tale of D.B. and Me, the enigmatic hijacker D.B. Cooper parachutes into the unknown with $200,000 in ransom money, but little does he know that his daring escape is just the beginning of an unforeseen journey filled with mystery, suspense, and steamy romance.D.B., now Tim, finds himself along the banks of the Columbia River attempting to fade into the shadows. However, fate has other plans when he encounters Adam, a charismatic stranger who's also in hiding. The air becomes charged with anticipation as the two men become entangled in a mysterious dance, each harboring secrets that could shatter the fragile equilibrium they've quickly established.Tim's initial plans to vanish into the vast expanse of Canada are abruptly put on hold as the magnetic pull of Adam draws him into a world where passion and danger collide. As their connection deepens while they wander through the snow-covered forests of the Pacific Northwest, so does the labyrinth of una...ffair shadowed by the lingering echoes of several daring crimes, all against the backdrop of the Vietnam War.As the story unfolds, readers are taken on a heart-pounding journey through a landscape of intrigue, where the line between right and wrong blurs, and the boundaries of love are tested. Will Tim's past catch up with him, will Adam's, or will they find a way to rewrite the narrative that destiny has penned for them?D.B. and Me is a riveting exploration of love in the face of danger, a tale where passion and suspense interweave, leaving readers breathless and eagerly turning each page to unravel the secrets hidden within the folds of this captivating romance. Will Tim find redemption or be swallowed by the sadness of his past? And what about Adam and his troubled family and the ever-nagging reminders of a horrible war that still plague him? Dive into the depths of mystery and desire in this thrilling novel that will keep you on the edge until the very end.

All three novellas in Ellie Thomas'Regency Town Bronze series are gathered together in this box set. A trio of young gentlemen, former university friends, Jasper, Barney and Julian, are set loose in Regency London to pursue carefree pleasure. Instead, they find unexpected romance and follow their individual paths to true love.Contains the stories:Town Bronze: In 1812, Jasper Goodhew departs from sleepy Somerset for his first London season, anticipating fun, frolics and drunken debauchery. But to his consternation, he finds that a spanking from the firm hand of a particular older man sets him ablaze. Can Jasper and Sir Mortimer Cleverly overlook their unorthodox introduction to become friends? Or is Jasper unable to resist his deepest instincts?Pantaloons and Petticoats: In the autumn of 1812, Barney Marshall is a carefree young man, able to afford every variety of entertainment in Regency London while remaining heart-whole and fancy-free. All that changes after a passionate encounter with Rose, who by day is Ross, a clerk at Coutts Bank. Can Barney persuade Rose to trust him? And might their connection blossom into love?Impeccable Credentials: In the autumn of 1812, aristocrat Julian Buchanan faces a crisis. He must choose between the trappings of his privileged life or the man he loves. Will Julian submit to his father's decree and marry to further the family name? Or can he find the strength to break free?A Dash of Town Bronze: In both these short stories, two of the three couples in the Town Bronze series have a chance to shine and show their devotion to their newfound love. Barney and Ross/Rose from Pantaloons and Petticoats and Jasper and Mortimer from Town Bronze take centre stage in these bonus chapters.

A Character Bleed Spin-OffLeo Whyte knows he's lucky. He's a successful working actor. He's had celebrity girlfriends. And he's great at supporting roles. The comic relief. The best friend. The loyal lieutenant in Colby Kent and Jason Mirelli's groundbreaking historical epic Steadfast. Leo is used to being everyone's friend... and never anyone's leading man. But a chance encounter with an attractive photographer will make Leo see himself through a different lens... and realize what he truly wants.Sam Hernandez-Blake hates his job. But he's a good photographer, and celebrity pictures pay the bills, helping him support his younger siblings. But when he captures Leo Whyte out celebrating with friends, he sees someone more lonely than he ever expected. And he can't walk away.Sam might be the first person to really see Leo... but falling in love will change both their lives.

Flint Kirkland: A nature photographer who lives in the mountain community of Belden. He is very reclusive, due to the deep scar running from his temple to his nose which resulted in the loss his eye -- the empty socket covered by an eye patch. He has no friends, preferring his own company and that of his dog, Tank, to having to deal with people he believes either pity him or look at him with disgust.Ryan Hartman: He left Belden to seek'fame and fortune'as a costume designer. It didn't work out so, ten years later, he's returned to town to work at the family restaurant.The two men meet during Oktoberfest. There is a mutual attraction which Flint fights, not believing Ryan can be interested in him, as damaged as he is. Ryan prevails; inviting Flint to go out for coffee one evening after the festival closes for the day.As they begin to learn more about each other, can Flint trust him when Ryan says his outer appearance doesn't matter to him? It's the man behind it he cares about. Very slowly, Flint begins to, because he's fallen for Ryan, as much as he knows he shouldn't have.All Flint has to do to start believing in his own worth as a man -- and in the possibility of love with all it entails.

Since being offered a position as manager, Troy Ramirez's life has revolved around the BDSM club Tied Up. He couldn't have asked for anything better, yet a persistent thought gnaws at him, and it has the smiling freckled face of Tied Up's receptionist.Every Tuesday, Chris Brewster takes advantage of his free night to let off some steam, and always puts on a show in the common playroom at the club, letting the harshest Doms do anything to him. He likes to be used and manhandled and watched, and it doesn't go unnoticed that Master Troy's gaze is focused on him and filling with rage -- and maybe jealousy, too -- every time a Dom touches his body.Troy wonders why the redhead spitfire agrees on those rough scenes every Tuesday and asks for all that pain to be inflicted on him. He shouldn't even feel attracted to such a loose-mouthed sub, but somehow he's drawn to Chris and suffers for him whenever a Dom puts his paws on that perfect body. Is there something nagging Chris and making him seek pain? There's no way Chris will confide in him, since the boy is as tight-lipped about his personal stuff as he's uninhibited when it comes to be used in the club. But there's clearly something going on, and Troy has to find out before Chris sinks into the pain inside his soul.

Jake Patt, bar manager of Smooth, is looking for the guy of his dreams this steamy-hot July, minus the local drunks and bad boys. So far he hasn't had much luck. Maybe Pittsburgh just is too small and he needs to think bigger.To Jake's surprise, a handsome man walks into Smooth. Doing his job, Jake serves him his beer and learns his name and what he does for a living: Kailin Boost, a visiting bridge inspector. The two hit off well and spend the evening together. Kailin is worth some good laughs and has a lot of charm, and there's nothing at all boring about the man. Before Jake realizes it, the bridge inspector spends more evenings at the bar, and Jake feels he might just have gained a boyfriend. When Kailin invites him to a Fourth of July party, fireworks begin to happen and he starts falling for Kailin.With good things come the bad -- at least this is what Jake has learned in life. Enter Kailin's problematic baggage, Michael Benz. Michael's a world-traveling model with lots of muscle and money and a hardcore case of lust for Kailin. Which man will end up with Kailin, the average guy running a gay bar or a good-looking model with loads of money?

Jay Turner is a helper by nature. So when his best friend ropes him into helping Leith Porter finish repairs on his house, Jay is happy to lend a hand. It doesn't hurt that Leith is easy on the eyes and injured to boot. Everything about Lieth brings out the caretaker in Jay. And when one moment between them sparks Jay's inner Daddy Dom, things shift between them.With only two weeks to get the repairs done, the men spend a lot of time together. Jay didn't expect to find a perfect submissive in Leith. But the man pushes all the right buttons, and their kinks align. The closer they get, the more they want to explore the dynamic between them. The easy way they fall into their roles and the connection between them, only spurs them on. It might be fast, but they both want more.But they've been living in a bit of a bubble, together all the time, and it's only a matter of time before that bubble will burst. Fourteen days is too fast to fall in love. To want to build a future. Except both men know they've found their forever and maybe a fortnight is exactly the right length of time.

Sequel to An Unlikely AllianceIn Regency London, during the Season, after a brief and steamy courtship, the relationship between threesome Clem, Abe and Humphrey holds much promise.But their busy routines and different lifestyles, as a professional secretary, society gentleman and an official informant to the military, interfere with their burgeoning romance.Then sinister forces reappear to threaten their connection and even the life of one of the trio.Can these three band together to save the day and keep each other from peril? And given the chance, might they forge lasting happiness together?

RILEY -- Shane has been my favorite person for my entire life. I've always loved him, and now I'm in love with him. I know he cares about me, too, but I'm sure he just thinks of me as his best friend's kid. Now that he's finished with active duty, he'll probably start dating, and I'll have to pretend to be happy for him. At least I'll have this Christmas vacation with him and my family to look back on. I wasn't planning to ever tell him how I felt, but now we're snowed in together and I'm not sure I can hide my feelings. Especially when he holds me and tells me everything will be okay.SHANE -- I devoted my life to the military. The closest thing I have to a family is my best friend and his wife and kids. I would never risk damaging that relationship by making a move on Riley, even though I realized last year that I'm in love with him. He should have someone better, anyway; someone smart and young and happy, like him. I don't deserve him, especially now that my secrets have put his life in danger. I'll do anything to keep Riley from being hurt, especially by me. But when he asks me for something I so badly want to give him, can I find the strength to say no?

When a plague ravages his village, the shaman Cian sails to the land of the dwarves for a cure. During the voyage, he meets and allies with Thanyan, a beautiful male elf who is a bard. Upon reaching the dwarven cleric whom Cian has been tasked with consulting, they uncover a dangerous secret: the plague resulted from blood magic. To undo this forbidden magic, they must travel to the island nation of the centaurs and visit The Amphitheater of Souls, the ancient temple where the blood magic was cast.Cian and Thanyan hire a female dwarven warrior, Loquin, as a bodyguard for protection against the instigator of the plague. However, they still find themselves stalked, assaulted with magic, and tangled in secrets. On the voyage to the island, a sea serpent attacks, nearly destroying their ship, and when they arrive at the island, the spellcaster launches further attempts to kill them so they can't lift the blood curse causing the plague. With the help of centaur priestesses, the group fights to untangle a dark affair that is revealed to span decades.As Cian and Thanyan become embroiled in this dangerous mission to capture the rogue spellcaster, they grow to love each other. But with their lives at risk, can they save the village and live out their lives together in love?

Sometimes heroic swordsmen need money. So Aric and his half-fairy partner Emrys have accepted a job protecting a wealthy cloth merchant's caravan. But the job's more complicated than it seems.Em's fairy father is hunting them, and Em's trying not to draw attention by using magic. Their client, Lady Caris, has demanded that Em stay in a simple single-gendered human form and not shapeshift -- and Aric can see his partner growing more uncomfortable day by day.On top of that, their client's hiding a magical secret... and a dangerous enemy.

Neither Troy Nakamura nor Laszlo Jovanovic expect anything after their one-night stand. Troy is bound for college and Laszlo is heading to graduate school on the other side of the continent.They don't see each other again for five years, when Troy's former competition dance partner invites him to her wedding, where he can't resist another encounter with Laszlo. Then he says more than he should. While Laszlo lets him down easy, the fact is Troy's still in law school and the other man's work is taking him to Europe. Their first parting wasn't easy, but this one really hurts.As Laszlo winds up his final European contract seven years later, a traumatic incident disrupts his intention to stay with his parents for a while. Troy, now living near their families again, offers a place to live while Laszlo sorts himself out.Both of them had always thought what if. With privacy, peace, and the opportunity to learn just how they've both changed since that first momentous night, is the time finally right for love?

The year is 3550.Fifteen hundred years ago, Earth became a very dark place to live. A cabal of evil men was attempting to make the population into Serfs ruled over by the cabal.Five families decided to leave Earth and find a distant planet to begin again. A group of pioneers traveled to Pleione in the Pleiades star cluster, but the original intention of a utopia soon disintegrated into a world not much better than Earth. The basis of the new system is run like the ancient Roman Republic with a strict caste system. Fifteen hundred years later, the pioneering five families rule the planet with an iron grip.This is the world in which Jericho Goldsmith, a man from one of the five elite families, and Tenzin Fenn, a Serf sold into slavery by his family, meet and fall in love. But can the two men forge a loving relationship and remain together when they come from such disparate backgrounds and everyone is against them?

Not everything is always as meets the eye. Sometimes that older man you see might not be a man, at all. And his actions and reactions may differ from what you would expect.Alan Twiling isn't the man he appears to be. Nor is he the kidnapper or pervert the crowd thought he might be when he grabs a child to save her. Who is he, exactly?

Hank Donner-Varian yearns for something beyond his perfect, but routine marriage. Forbidden fantasy beckons until a chance encounter with the enigmatic and devastatingly sexy Abbott Lowery turns curiosity into a dangerous obsession.Hank's unaware of the sinister depths beneath Lowery's facade. When Hank's flirtation spirals into nightmare, he's thrust into a world of horror orchestrated by a man who once embodied his deepest desires.In a heart-pounding race against time, Beautiful Monster immerses readers in a gripping tale of passion, deception, and survival. Can Hank navigate the treacherous maze of obsession and deceit before it's too late? Or will the irresistible stranger prove to be Hank's downfall, plunging him into a nightmare from which escape is impossible?

Sasha, a closeted British celebrity, seeks out the help of a detective named Kiran who is known for discretion in order to find his missing ex-boyfriend, Oliver. Sasha is forced to share very personal information that reveals more about himself than he would have ever admitted to under any other circumstance, and despite rocky introductions, Sasha and Kiran become friends. Fortunately, Kiran is not only understanding of Sasha's sexual preferences but encourages him to keep doing what he loves... perhaps with Kiran himself.The complicated nature of their relationship prevents them from being together until Kiran is able to complete the job he was hired for, but their patience wears thin and they grow close as the search for Oliver continues. The police get involved when Oliver is found, upending a secret that might ruin Kiran and Sasha's new-found relationship. Will they stay together in spite of their formidable circumstances?

As a rising freshman at an out-of-state college, Beau Watkins is determined to find out who he really is behind the fake it'til you make it attitude. He joins Rainbow Connection, the gay student alliance, hoping to find himself. Instead, he meets Vin Reyes.All three books in Lynn Townsend's best-selling Rainbow Connection series are collected together into a box set for the first time! Contains the stories:On a Roll: College is all about finding yourself, but nobody told Beau it was also about losing your heart. Can a farm kid from Tennessee make it work with a flamboyant rich man with a hidden past?Got the Blues: Beau gave up everything to be with his boyfriend Vin. But Vin turns to alcohol to drown his pain, and worse, a handsome transfer student is a little too interested in Beau. Vin throws away everything that's made him happy with both hands, terrified of his own feelings of inadequacy. Will they be able to find their place together in the world?A Classic Blunder: Beau and Vin have mended their differences, but that doesn't mean everything is back the way it was. Vin's relationship with Beau has never been stronger... until an unexpected email threatens to topple everything they've build together.

Jorgi Williams hopes starting graduate school will go smoothly. He needs a break from his clingy and transphobic mother Kat, who still insists on calling him by his deadname. Moving into a duplex with a male roommate only sparks a fresh tirade from Kat, and Jorgi is sick of this treatment.Thane Miller, Jorgi's roommate, is a fellow graduate student. Handsome in a skinny, alterna way, Thane is laidback and kind, and seems to accept Jorgi exactly as he is. Jorgi can't help developing a crush, despite his fear about whether Thane would date a transman.

A legendary horse, magic, and a man shrouded in mystery. Who can he trust? Caolan risks both his heart and his life to uncover the truth.When his life is saved by a stranger, Prince Caolan feels an immediate connection to the man, and promises to meet him again. Forced to break that promise to protect his brother Donal, Caolan waits for the day he can return to the forest.On their trip home, almost a year later, he and Donal are tricked by their stepmother into attempting to steal the legendary Horse of Bells from the infamous Dark Prince Tuathal. Honor-bound to accept the geis she set them, the brothers leave their castle to complete the quest.During their journey, they meet the enigmatic Traveler. Caolan is confused and troubled by his reaction to the man. Is he a friend, or are his intentions darker and more deadly?

Haruto Tanaka has been crushing on his boss, Genkei Concord, for many years, but doesn't have the courage to do anything about it. Haruto is also often nervous around Genkei because the man can be cold at times. Hence, he's apprehensive about the Japan trip with Genkei because he's worried his crush will be discovered. Later on, he finds out Genkei also has feelings for him. The two start dating.About halfway through the trip, Genkei's biological mother, who abandoned him as a baby, gets in touch with him. She lives in Japan and wants to meet him. He is simultaneously angry and sad about the situation. When the three of them meet up, the situation goes from bad to worse when Genkei's mother mentions something that triggers painful childhood memories and he snaps.Can Haruto and Genkei salvage whatever remains of their trip while working on their relationship?

Sequel to The Dead Don't DreamIan and Adam find themselves thrust into an new world of danger and deceit as enemies, old and new, threaten their fragile bond. As they travel from the desolate deserts of the American Southwest to the vibrant chaos of Mexico City, their relationship is pushed to the breaking point by dark forces as they desperately try to outrun their tortured pasts in pursuit of a happiness that seems just out of reach.Together they must rely on each other in ways they never thought possible. Amidst heated and complicated emotions, they grapple with the stark contrast of light and darkness within themselves and each other. To survive, they must do more than simply trust; they must surrender their deepest fears and embrace the vulnerability that love demands. However, the path to true love has scars that run deep and secrets that threaten to shatter everything.In this thrilling continuation of love and sacrifice, Ian and Adam learn the strength of their love may be the key to overcoming the perilous obstacles they face. As they embark on a journey where betrayal lurks around every corner and sacrifices are inevitable, they come to realize that some loves are worth risking everything for. Can their love be enough to overcome the menacing shadows threatening to tear them apart forever? Or does fate have other plans for them?Note: This book includes scenes of violence and mentions of suicidal ideation, alcohol abuse, physical and emotional trauma, and other dark and potentially disturbing themes, including a character dealing with past sexual trauma.

It may be a brand new year, but Jace Carrollton is still in the same, boring slump: he's dropped out of college and as the Strolling Snowman, walks around the mall all day wearing a musty snowman costume for a living. The only highlight of the job is Cory, the sexy owner of Vintage Vinyl, where Jace shops just for an excuse to flirt.Cory Fairfield can't believe it's the last night of the mall's Winter Wonderland promotion and, as such, the last time Jace will wear his furry snowman costume and walk in his store. Somehow Cory finds the courage to make his move: by hanging a faded sprig of mistletoe over Jace's locker and offering to unzip his snowman costume, once and for all.He's finally shot his shot, but will Jace fall for it? And if so, what can an old grump do to melt his sexy snowman's heart, one mistletoe kiss at a time?

Scott Riley has lived his whole life in the Town of Sunridge but spent most of his childhood certain that the first thing he would do when he got old enough was leave. That was until Sid's Tavern came up for sale, though. With a little bit of money and a lot of hard work, he is confident that he will be able to refresh the bar and add a little bit of life to the town. He also knows that's going to be hard to do all alone. So, when a slightly disheveled but desperate and willing to work young man shows up asking for a job, it seems as though fate has intervened.Lee Warner brings a dark past with him, but he's sober, hungry, and willing to try just about anything if it will bring him a sense of purpose and renew his energy. Walking into that tavern was meant to be nothing more than a chance for opportunity, but that was before Lee got a good look at Scott. With hair the color of a sunset and a nervous energy to match it, Scott is revitalizing Lee in ways Lee never expected.That seems to be contagious energy, however, and as Scott is as straight as they come, he can't understand why Lee is awakening feelings in him. Or how to turn those feelings off.

Ben Harper can't understand why his best friend and roommate for the past five years always gets involved with the wrong men. Feeling protective, Ben is seriously concerned about his friend's latest date, which leads to an ugly confrontation.Sammy Matthews thinks he needs love more than he needs saving. He has known rejection and abuse since he was a child, and has been looking for love in all the wrong places. Sammy still has to realize he needs to deal with his past before he'll find acceptance, and then love.When Ben and Sammy confess their true feelings to each other, their lives change irrevocably. But will Sammy heal from his past wounds? How will Ben deal with the demons from Sammy's past and the unexpected chemistry between them? Will the two men enjoy and cherish their natural fit?

Like iced tea, love is a perfect blending of the bitter and sweet to have something worth savoring.The women in these six stories ignore religious and racial difference to find someone who serves as the perfect balance. They know and prove flavors that are perfect on their own can come together to create something that requires celebrating.From mixed up place settings at a wedding reception to forgoing an elaborate ceremony for exchanging vows in front of a magistrate after a night of civil disobedience, the women in these stories pursue their passions on their way to wedded bliss, joining in the joy at those crossing that threshold and on the other side of the broom where the savory and the sweet can be so satisfying.Contains the stories:Challah and Callaloo: Leah had no way of knowing the informational interview she had with shapely marketing manager Patricia would lead to their planning a same-sex Southern wedding complete with a rabbi and rum cake seven years later. They come from different faiths but their love knows no bounds and, with the permission of the United States Supreme Court, they plan to make their love legal.Ghosted: Kathleen planned to spend her Halloween doling out candy and reminiscing about an ex-lover. But when a slinky character from her black and white TV-watching past shimmies down her driveway, she realizes the trick of living life after death can be the treat she has been missing. This year's Halloween proves to be the right occasion to bring Kathleen's love life back to life.Heat Wave Southport: An encounter at a Fourth of July food truck brings together two elementary school classmates for an afternoon delight that takes eating cotton candy in a totally different direction. Zora and Sarah spent twenty years on opposite side of the state but reconnecting during the Fourth of July inspires them use their town library in a totally different way that doesn't require a library card.Icing on the Cake: Octavia Banfield has a lot on her plate. Still, she is willing to shed all the hats she wears to put on her baker cap to make her lady lover Audra her favorite cake. The sweetest revenge is to enjoy each other and some sweet adult time together. Red velvet cake may be just a mixture of eggs, butter, and milk, but the icing on the cake is the love two Southern women have for each other.Married to the Struggle: Sedalia and Charlotte meet standing up for what they believe is right. But is their love enough to sustain when Charlotte is arrested for protesting in the early morning hours of their wedding day? Sedalia believes in social justice but will she allow it to prevent her from enjoying her special day?Sometimes She Gets Lucky: Nona Essex had no idea she'd find the woman to ignite the embers of her heart after a break-up at her sorority sister's wedding reception. But a chance encounter with a lawyer named after a jazz singer and a late night dinner featuring a Southern staple on whole wheat bread inspires her to reconsider opening herself up to the possibilities.

Sequel to Petticoats and PantaloonsOutwardly, twenty-one-year-old Julian Buchanan is the epitome of wealth, breeding and good looks. He's a pink of the ton in Regency London, and his position in society is assured. But beneath his impeccable surface, Julian is riddled with doubt.Matters come to a head in the autumn of 1812 when his autocratic father, Sir Roger Buchanan, orders Julian to court an heiress and propose marriage. Finally, Julian must acknowledge that he has no interest in women. At the same time, he becomes involved with Rafe Ingles, a radical intellectual whose beliefs concur with Julian's inward convictions.With pressure building and so much at stake, can Julian find the courage to break the habit of a lifetime and choose love and freedom over duty?

Sequel to Throne of WavesCalix knows he is dying. He has been since birth. His brother has always taken care of him. When Perseus announces he is marrying a god, Calix is thrust into the world of immortals. Forced to live on Olympus with Zeus, he must battle his nemesis at the academy to earn immortality.The only problem is, that as much as Calix hates Zeus, he also can't ignore their attraction. Can Calix survive and handle the most burdensome god?

Jack leaves his unhappy home in the countryside for New York and the local art scene. One day he lingers in a jazz café and is entranced by a theremin performance. Soon he meets the artist, a raven-haired man named Tegan.Their friendship soon deepens into something more, but in the process Jack's repressed memories begin to surface. His family is a ghost that continues to haunt him. He has to go back home to face his past, but how will these painful events affect his relationship with Tegan?

Jordan Major is a hit man, an assassin. Call him what you will, he kills people for pay. Soon after his most recent foray, he comes downstairs one morning to find a man he vaguely recognizes in the main room of his virtually impenetrable house. A man, he quickly learns, he killed two years previously.Craig, now a ghost, wants to know who hired Jordan to murder him.What they find out and how they deal with the information will, potentially, set Jordan on a new course. One where he's willing to take out people who deserve his attention, not innocents he's been hired to kill.At least that's what Craig hopes as he tries to persuade Jordan there are worse things in life than giving up his very lucrative, if highly illegal, occupation. After all, he has his antique store, which brings in more money than he really needs, given what he's stashed in an off-shore bank account.Then NOPD detective Kirk Ireland enters the picture and Jordan's life changes again.

Once a beautiful sunflower pageant queen, Jenny Parks now suffers from Alzheimer's in her early fifties. She gardens and reads, but struggles with the piano. Some days are good. More days are bad.Of course, her three adult children are of no help regarding her condition. Her oldest son Keaton is retired from professional football and spends all his time being immature. He carelessly spends his hard-earned money and has a playful time with his friends. Then there's Steven, Jenny's middle son, who chooses to live in a bizarre cult in Idaho and wears a black bonnet. And Jenny's youngest son, Benson... well, she hasn't seen him in decades, and for good reason.Thank goodness she has her best friend and lover, Cara Dixon, to care for her. Sweet, charming, and vampire/mystery writer Cara. What would Jenny do without her? Cara is her life, soul, and mind. She's Jenny's lifeline these days, and her heart.When Jenny requests a short visit to her family's cabin north of Pittsburgh, Cara agrees to take her. There some of Jenny's memories return, but emotional breakdowns occur, and Miss Sunflower might just lose her crown -- and mind -- for good. Can Cara help now?

Lucas, a video game designer fresh out of college, never expected his presumably straight roommate Alexander to be such a kind and considerate person. Or so attractive. With each passing day, he finds himself falling head-over-heels for Alexander, both physically and emotionally. If he doesn't get his head out of the clouds, he might never finish his first assignment at work, designing characters for the new release of Battle Mages. He could even lose his job and have to move out.At home, Alexander surprises Lucas day after day. He cooks him breakfast and makes him popcorn for movie nights at home. He invites him out in his new SUV for a fancy dinner. He even walks around the house shirtless, showing off his muscular physique. However, Alexander seems oblivious to Lucas's desires. This just makes Lucas even more obsessed with his new roommate.To distract from his crush, Lucas turns to the dating apps. The grid is dead, except for a mysterious account, GloryHole85, who speaks as if he were a character in a medieval fantasy. He lures Lucas toward a series of mystical, glowing glory holes with the promise of fulfilling his every fantasy. Lucas will have to choose whether to enter the port-hole and explore his wildest fantasies, or return to his unrequited love for Alexander in the real world. Will a simple fantasy allow him to get it out of his system and go back to work, or prevent him from engaging with real life?