- Table View
- List View
Smoked Gin
by J. V. SpeyerTwo heroes. One has made his name in the cold, while the other has spent a lifetime twisting unseen forces. They want the same thing, but they’re on opposite sides. Can a teleportation accident help them find what they’ve each been missing all along?Gin got his code name because his namesake liquor lives in the freezer, just like him. He can control ice to an extent never seen before, and he uses that power to help keep the world safe from those who would use their power for evil. He knows he’s got a tremendous ability to destroy, and it’s important to keep himself rigidly under control at all times. His work in Alter Enforcement brings him into direct conflict with vigilante alters, who may want to help people but refuse to be accountable in how they go about it.Smoke doesn’t trust “authority figures” and he definitely doesn’t trust the government. He didn’t trust them before the terrorist attacks that created Alters in the first place, and he sure doesn’t trust them now. He’s not going to let government Alters stop him from taking out dangerous super-villains in the name of procedure. Sometimes that means he has to fight people who should be on his side, but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.When Gin’s team and Smoke’s team trip over each other trying to take out a notorious super villain, disaster follows. A teleportation accident strands Gin and Smoke together far away from each of their teams. They have to rely on each other for safety ... and maybe more.
Call Me Church (Finding Home Ser. #1)
by TinneanChurch Chetwood, renowned motion picture director, is given an ultimatum by his studio: film a movie with romance or else. Since this is the height of the Depression, and since Church enjoys eating, he reluctantly agrees. He finds a beautiful woman who’s willing to sail on the August Moon to the uncharted island of Iwi Po’o. While there, he makes the discovery of a lifetime, guaranteed to make them all millionaires ...Only it doesn’t exactly turn out like that. The “discovery of a lifetime,” a saber-toothed tiger the press dubs Chetwood’s Kitty, breaks free and runs amok in Manhattan, causing death and mayhem. Months later, Church is facing indictment and a long stretch up the river and has no choice but to lie low until he can get out of town. While nursing his troubles in a saloon, he spots a young man who’s even more down on his luck than Church.Johnny Smith has been on his own since Black Tuesday, four years earlier, and he does what he has to in order to keep body and soul -- what’s left of it -- together, even if it isn’t what he ever expected to do. He enters the saloon, hoping for a little warmth and perhaps a meal. What he finds is Church Chetwood, the director whose documentaries have fascinated him for years. Mr. Chetwood buys him that meal, and Johnny willingly goes with him to his rooming house, ready to do whatever Mr. Chetwood wants, even if Mr. Chetwood claims he isn’t “like that.” Is Johnny’s luck about to take a turn for the better? After all, Mr. Chetwood has a plan to get out of town, and if Johnny’s really lucky, maybe Church will let him come along.
Lonely Mountain
by K. A. FoxAva thought she wanted to be alone. As a romance writer, she needs the quiet of the mountains to let her muse roam free. At least that’s what she thought. Until writer’s block hit her like a brick wall.When Freddie and Enzo move in next door, she quickly realizes it isn’t quiet she needs but excitement. Both guys are insanely hot, down to earth, and remind her of what she’s been missing. There’s only one problem. They’re gay.Or so Ava thinks until her dog Hero goes missing during the year’s first big snowstorm.
Music and Magic
by Foster Bridget CassidyMarkle Vanrick is cursed by the gods. Nothing in his life has ever worked out. So, when he works up the courage to leave home with only his lute, it’s only natural his money is stolen and he’s stuck without a way to get to his cousin’s farm.Enter Frye Indori, a mischievous man who lives life to the fullest -- only because he’s a few steps away from being caught and killed. Blessed with magic from the goddess Magana, Frye fled his hometown to escape the clutches of the corrupt priestess performing evils in the goddess’s name. When he runs into helpless Markle, he feels obligated to show Markle there is some good in the world.Like it or not, Markle gets caught up in Frye’s game of fox and hare. When the priestess finally catches them, Markle may have a few surprises of his own.
Cadence and the Pearl
by K. L. NooneOnce upon a time, on a rocky island with enchantment under the ocean ...Cadence Bell left the windswept Northern Isles and his parents’ inn for the theaters and royal masques and glitter of Londre, swearing he’d make his fortune as a playwright and poet, trading fish stew and rain for fame and adoration and a place at the Queen’s Court. Now his parents are gone and Cade’s inheritance brings him back home, where he’d never wanted to return. But magic lurks beneath the waves, a stray pearl might be a key to another world, and even the quiet local schoolteacher has secrets of his own.Jeremiah Carver never meant to hide secrets. But he promised to tell no one about the other world he’s seen, and he keeps his word. Even if that means concealing magic from Cadence Bell. Which is difficult, since Cade’s not only a dazzling literary success, but also the person Jeremiah’s loved from afar since their years-ago childhood. And he’s afraid he’s falling for Cade all over again now.When Cadence falls under the siren spell of the ocean’s magic, Jeremiah has to make a choice and return to a world he’s left behind once before to rescue his heart from the sea.
Girl in Tux
by Marion NowLove has never mattered to Morgan. A musician with a burgeoning career, she’s never found the time for relationships. But she starts feeling lonely, so despite being busy with her latest film-scoring job, she joins a community choir in the hopes of meeting someone special.Enter Lane, the mysterious butch in the alto section who scandalizes her first performance by showing up in a tuxedo. Lane is the talk of the choir, and her bold statement leads more LGBTQ people to join.Morgan finds herself spending a lot of time with Lane and her friends ... and falling for Lane. Is Morgan brave enough to go after what she truly wants?
Home Again
by W. S. LongDavid Peterson had his whole life charted out for him by his parents. An athletic scholarship to a prestigious college in California and a future in major league baseball were almost certain. But his high school love affair with quarterback Kaden Morris almost changed his predetermined path. When Kaden eventually rejected him, David swore he would never return to Orlando. Fifteen years later and divorced with a child, David returns home to find a newly divorced Kaden seeking forgiveness. Old feelings resurface, but can the pain of the past be forgotten and a new future together forged?
Love and the Living Tree
by Emily CarringtonWhen Rose has to find a place to volunteer to satisfy an academy requirement, she never dreams she’d find a fellow werewolf running a soup kitchen that also features live music. Rose is a violinist and drummer trained in the Irish tradition and she longs to use her skills. It doesn’t hurt that the first picture she sees of Ama makes her go weak at the knees.Ama, the werewolf who runs the soup kitchen, is suppressed and ruled by her parents. Due to several childhood struggles, she is seen by her family as weak. She tries to overcome this by running her own charity and helping people she considers less fortunate.Their attraction is strong and instantaneous but is complicated when the two discover vampires are feeding from their customers. Rose wants to see vampires as a discriminated species; Ama views them as parasites. Neither assumption is quite accurate. Can Rose and Ama look past their differences and work together? Can they band together to protect not only the people they care about, but one another?
The Girl in the Slayer Jacket
by Courtney MilnesteinChristmas and New Year in North London. Disgruntled coffee shop worker Madeline Calohan is between relationships, dealing with the fallout of the end of one romance whilst pining for a girl she professes to not even like. Agatha wears a Slayer jacket; colours her hair in wild, bright colours; and is very tall, for a girl.Madeline is uncertain about what the year beyond might hold and uncomfortable about the prospect of being alone. Can she put her past behind and let the girl in the Slayer jacket know how she feels?
Bloodlust and Bylines
by Jl MerrowInvestigative journalist Frank would do anything for the next big scoop, and a chance to break the news to the world that vampires really exist is too good to pass up. But his fact-finding mission to an undead hangout takes a terrifying turn when he’s locked in a cellar with a starving -- if sexy -- bloodsucker and no escape in sight.Forlorn vampire Viktor hasn’t had a bite in months, ever since falling foul of über-vamp The Mistress and being imprisoned for his sins. Delivered to his cell like Meals on Wheels, Frank’s the tastiest morsel he’s seen in a long time. Viktor can’t wait to get his fangs into him -- and there’s something about Frank that makes Viktor lust for more than just his blood.To escape the mysterious Mistress’s prison, predator and prey will have to work together -- if, that is, they can manage to rein in their baser appetites for long enough!Note: this short story was previously published under the title Becoming the Spoils.
Family Obligations
by Vivien Dean Rick R. ReedTate D’Angelo always thought he knew who his father was: beloved doctor, devoted husband and father ... Everyone at the funeral shared the same glowing stories of a kind soul. So when his father’s old college buddy, Randy, approaches him after the service, Tate expects to hear echoes of the same.Instead, he gets a lifetime’s worth of letters that tell a different tale and cause him to view his father -- and his family -- in a whole new light.The truth, about a secret romance kept buried for decades, astonishes him. Overwhelmed by grief and confusion, Tate’s unsure if he can bear learning how the lives of two men entwined over the years, but he reads on anyway, discovering more to value, more to respect, and most importantly, more to love about the man who raised him.
Lace Lovers
by L. J. HamlinBrenton is a famous rock start. He’s also bisexual and closeted, despite the band’s very open nature. When Zeke comes to work for them, Brenton can’t help but be tempted by him. However, he has far bigger problems when he finds a picture that’s been shoved under his door. The band has dealt with stalkers before, but this time Brenton seems to be the focus.Zeke has a hidden life that’s also captured the stalker’s interest. Can Brenton put his baggage aside to win over Zeke and survive the stalker who wants to do them harm?
Persimmon Kiss
by Mel BossaA year has passed since Derek's motorcycle accident, but he still battles with brain injury symptoms. Forced to take a sick leave from work, Derek picks up painting to occupy his time. Through his art, he begins to rediscover his imagination and turns to his journal again.Meanwhile, a new business venture is on the horizon for Nick and he can't postpone his trip to Norway any longer. Concerned for Derek's safety, Nick convinces Derek that he needs someone to watch over him while he's away.Myles has just returned from Japan, where he spent time mending his heart after another disappointment. He's longing for a break, so when Nick and Derek reach out to him, he can't refuse.Each man wants what's best for Derek, but soon, Nick and Myles discover that they're not rivals, because what's there between them is echoed in Derek's heart.Can all three men let go of their fear and allow this new love to unfold?
Shane's Ride
by Emery C. WaltersTwo brothers, one popular with the girls and one not. One gay, and one straight. Of course, it was Wade, the older gay brother, who was chased by girls and poor straight Shane who was unlucky and alone.Forced by their father to be dude ranch tour guides, Wade and Shane endure an unending stream of male and female tourists with no action. That is, until the latest group arrives and the barn promptly burns down, creating a mixed bag of instant heroes -- straight, gay, lesbian, transgender.After the horses are saved and the fire burns itself out, everyone -- gay and straight -- pair off for the night, leaving a very frustrated and drunk Shane alone in his car. A drunken night ride may change his life forever. Love or death? What lies along those old dirt roads? Love or death?
Stones in the Road (The\sugar Tree Ser. #2)
by Nick WilgusWhen his snobbish future in-laws travel all the way from Boston to visit, wise-cracking Southerner Wiley Cantrell learns gay marriage is not without its disadvantages. He’s preoccupied by concerns over the health of his special needs son Noah, a meth baby who was not expected to live yet is now on the cusp of puberty, and the antics of Wiley's outrageous would-be mother-in-law and severely conservative father-in-law strain his relationship with Jackson Ledbetter, a pediatric nurse who poses problems of his own. As their respective families meet and greet, each just as meddlesome and inflexible as the other, North meets South and the fireworks and cultural misunderstandings are plenty.Then a tornado blows through the small Mississippi town where Wiley's mother lives, wrecking his mother's house and leaving their lives in disarray. And Jackson's secret drug addiction comes to light, devastating Wiley and Noah. With so many stones in the road, Wiley and Jackson find their dream of becoming a real family falling apart. Though Wiley relies on humor to cope, he'll need something more to keep his happily ever after from slipping away.
21 Smiles
by David Connor E. F. MulderSpring has sprung, and with it, smiley faces. When yellow crocuses bloom all over town in the shape of an emoji during April’s first warm days, reporter Nero Storm is sent out to discover their meaning and origin.Nero has little to smile about himself, what with dysfunctional family drama and a tragic love life. The previous fall, it seemed as if he might have finally met the man of his dreams in dog daddy, ride share operator, and charity organizer Z. Though the two spent but ten morning and evening car rides together, sparks flew. Unfortunately, at the end of that time, Nero witnessed a crime, and Z disappeared.Now, as the rest of the world looks forward to a new beginning promised by spring, Nero is left to wonder. Are the smiley face flowers a message for him, and will he ever see Z’s smile again for real?
A Chance Encounter
by Casper GrahamWerewolf Darby Sharp on pack land with his family and fellow werewolves and owns a successful bookshop that caters to both supernatural and non-supernatural readers. He’s quite content with his lot in life. But on a trip to the farmers’ market, he detects enticing scents in the air that lead him toward his soul mates.Dillon Lynx is a powerful witch and Riordan Bloodworth, an ancient vampire. The two have been dating for nearly two years and have tried to mate with each other, but the bond fails. They realize they have another soul mate out there, and the bond can’t form if the three of them don’t get together. But the farmers’ market is the last place they’d expect to meet their soul mate.Unfortunately, a serial killer is targeting the supernatural community. Dillon worries about his safety when an elderly gentleman, who carries the stench of something rotten in his blood, appears to be fixated on him. Naturally, Riordan and Darby are less than pleased about the new stalker in Dillon’s life.Can the three men keep one another safe while they work on their blossoming relationship?
After the Incident at Dead Man's Corner
by Pepper EspinozaLife goes on after the shootout at Dead Man's Corner, and Paul Whitaker is left behind to pick up the pieces. Given the title of mayor and the responsibility of burying the dead, Paul is left to nothing but drudgery when the woman he loves rides off with another man. Now that he's alone with the dead, a wedding is the farthest thing from his mind.Until the town's most popular whore surprises him with a marriage proposal.Martha is beautiful and determined. Paul has always liked her from afar, but is completely dumbfounded when she announces her intention to be his bride. Is love still possible in Dead Man's Corner? Or will Paul lose another woman?
Bridge Over Troubled Water
by Vivien DeanDetective Brady Lindstrom deals in death, and not just because he's a homicide cop with the slaughter of a century to solve. Ten years ago, vampires murdered his lover. Ever since, he's looked over his shoulder, ready for vampires to strike again. Or maybe just the one he loved.Exhausted and angry about the needless deaths he has to investigate, Brady worries the killers he's looking for aren't even human. Those fears are compounded by an unexpected visitor, the battered and nearly broken Cole Singer, the lover he'd long ago given up for dead.When Cole offers to trade information on the killers in exchange for sanctuary, Brady realizes he doesn't have a choice. It isn't about justice. He simply can't turn his back on the face of the only man he's ever loved. Even if he's a vampire.
Midnight Cowboys
by Deirdre O'DareTwo young men from very different backgrounds end up roommates at a state college in west Texas in the latter part of the turbulent sixties.Riki is the black sheep of a wealthy family, on his third and final chance to avoid the draft or disinheritance. His big dream is to be a hot guitarist with a rock band, and he has a weakness for recreational drugs that make him feel better about himself.Jerry is a true son of Bible Belt America, happy to be able to go to college and perhaps rise above the lower middle class level of his family. The two form an unlikely friendship that develops into a deeper bond as they experience drugs, sex, and rock n' roll in their heyday.
Rockabye
by A. F. HenleyMalcolm didn’t have a lot going for him. He wasn’t one of the blessed, or one of the beautiful. He didn’t have many talents. He was, however, a damn good chef. He worked hard and he insisted on perfection -- not just from himself but also from everyone else in his kitchen. And if that made others miserable, that was just too damn bad. If one couldn’t live up to expectations then one didn’t belong at Burgeon Manor.Darien on the other hand, was everything Malcolm envied, hated, and secretly fantasized over. Lean, slim, with a smile that could melt ice and enough charm to woo demons, Darien surprised Malcolm by showing not only interest but also attraction. Which only meant one thing as far as Malcolm was concerned: Darien had to be playing some kind of game. There was no way that a rock god like Darien Flint could have honest feelings for someone like him.Yet the more Darien tries to know him, the more Malcolm feels himself being drawn into the lie.
Snow White and Sleeping Beauty
by Kathleen MurpheyWhen Snow White flees into the dangerous woods to escape the bloodlust of her murderous queen, she has no idea how much her life will change. Her flight ends when she stumbles upon a cottage deep in the heart of the woods, never suspecting the door to love and freedom will soon open to her.Aurora -- nicknamed Sleeping Beauty -- has escaped marriage to the man she's betrothed to, with the help of her aunts. Having only the aunts for company, she soon starts feeling lonely, and longs for company her own age.When the two girls meet and fall in love, will their tender relationship bloom and last, or will it fade under the constant threat of the queen's dark magic? If they make a final stand against the queen, will they live to tell their tale?
A Second Chance
by Edward KendrickBen Mercer is an ex-cop, lamed, framed, and thrown off the force for a crime his partner committed. Now homeless, he has no expectations for a better life until he's recruited by Durand, head of Vanguard Security, to join a team that deals with problems the police can't or won't touch. All Ben needs is the approval of the team leader, Zach Turner.To get it, Ben has to prove to Zach that he still retains his skills as a sniper, and that he can handle any job thrown at him, despite the still painful damage to his knee. He does, and is immediately pulled into a job with the team, rescuing a kidnap victim.Ben had one big secret, or did have until Durand drew it out of him. Before his life was drastically changed he had denied, even to himself, that he was gay. Now that he's accepted it, and learned that Zach is as well, can the two men forge a bond beyond that of being teammates and friends? It will take several more jobs before Ben gets his answer.
Miss Baxter's Girls: Hilary the Au Pair
by Davina LeeThe year is 1982. Duran Duran tops the charts, the internet isn't a thing yet, and young Hilary Baxter is employed as an au pair halfway around the world. Her charge Hasiba happens to be a beautiful, exotic woman nearly her own age, and heir to the throne of her tiny island nation. Hilary's only job is to keep her out of trouble.After some time on the local party circuit, Hilary discovers keeping Hasiba out of trouble may not be as easy as it first seemed. To make matters worse, Hilary finds herself falling in love with her charge, while all Hasiba seems to be interested is flirting with the eligible bachelors on the island.Things come to a head one night when Hasiba's partying takes her too far. Hilary steps in with her own special set of rules -- and punishments -- to correct a situation that's gotten out of hand. But will Hasiba accept Hilary's new, sterner stance? How will an heir to the throne take to being disciplined? And will Hilary's feelings for Hasiba allow her to do what needs to be done?
Stealing West
by Jamie CraigLean Stroud is wanted for robbery and a murder he didn't commit. On the run to California with his partner-in-crime, Kenneth, he spots the relentless bounty hunter, Thomas Grady, on the train. The only way to protect Kenneth is to create a distraction, and that's what he does when he flees the train at the top of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He forces Thomas to chase him, but nothing can prepare him for what it means to be caught.Thomas Grady always gets his man, and Leon Stroud is no exception to that rule. But almost from the moment Thomas touches Leon, he wants the outlaw for something besides his bounty. Driven by desire he doesn't understand, he repeatedly claims Leon's body on the long journey from Soda Springs to San Francisco -- and Leon only begs for more. An even bigger threat, with a larger bounty, could be the very thing they need to drive them together. Or tear them apart.