Books Tagged With potential trigger - abuse - past

Word Count: Click here to reveal93409 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When Lucky moved to the Outer Banks to work in Thorn and Cain’s surf shop and eventually fell in love with them, Cody lost himself in gambling to dull the ache of missing his best friend. The flashing lights of the casino, the feel of cards beneath his fingers, and the rough-smooth texture of poker chips all served to drag him deeper into an addiction he was slowly giving himself over to. It helps that he works security there, easy access, and an increasing reason not to go back home. The Rollin’ Jokers are family, always would be, but there’s an ache Cody can’t fill with the roar of his machine and the wind in his hair. The best he can hope for is to dull it one bet at a time. Wreck owes a lot to the Rollin’ Jokers MC, after all, his old man was a founding member. So, when the Joker’s president asked for a favor, no way would he turn him down. Even if the favor meant playing babysitter to Mark’s out-of-control son, Cody, who seemed to get a kick out of pushing buttons Wreck didn’t know he had. Still, he has no intention of letting Mark down, and if that means teaching Cody some discipline, well then, there are plenty of ways he could make it fun…for them both. Only…Cody’s got different ideas, and issues that are only just being brought to light. Add in bad boy Bellamy, the wandering nomad biker who happens to land on the same road Cody’s cruising down, and Wreck finds his carefully ordered world turned upside-down. Now he’s wrangling kittens, including a human-sized one hell-bent on making a home in Wreck’s lap when he’s not looking to scratch his eyes out…and Bellamy? Let’s just say that’s the mystery element in an equation Wreck’s not certain he can solve. With the past closing in and the future uncertain, Wreck’s desperate to find a way to protect Cody….from himself, from his demons, and from a past that’s come back to haunt him.

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Summary: Detective Kurt O’Donnell is used to digging up other people’s secrets, but when he discovers his slain partner was married to another man, it shakes him. Determined to do the right thing, Kurt offers the mourning Davy his assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps Kurt deal with the guilt that his partner didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, and somewhere along the way Davy stops being an obligation and becomes a friend, the closest friend Kurt has ever had. His growing attraction to Davy complicates matters, leaving Kurt struggling to reevaluate his sexuality. Then a sensual encounter neither man is ready for confuses them further. To be with Davy, Kurt must face the prospect of coming out, but his job and his relationship with his Catholic family are on the line. Can he risk destroying his life for the uncertain possibility of a relationship with a newly widowed man?

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

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

Summary: Wherever August Morrison and Ricardo Torralba go, chaos is sure to follow. The authors certainly know this, since their “standalone book” has now turned into a series with no end in sight, because…UGH. These two. We give up. Anyway. Detective David Chandler had no clue what he was getting into when he and his partner decided they were going to nail August for murder. They didn’t realize it was one of the few murders August didn’t commit, or that their homicide investigation would lead them into the middle of a mob war. Cavalcante underboss Pedro Silva knew asking August and Ricardo for help was a terrible idea. Just mentioning their names is bad for Pedro’s blood pressure. Owing them a favor? Oh Lord. He still asked, though, because he was out of options, but he can’t say he didn’t know he’d regret it. Neither man expected things to blow up this badly. Now they’re both on the run from the mafia, the cops, and everyone in between… except for August and Ricardo. On one hand, that means they have two expert assassins in their corner. On the other, it means they have the biggest troll on the planet heckling them at every turn. And sticking them in a safehouse together. With only one bed. And if August or Ricardo make one more comment about how Dave and Pedro should just hook up already… Cop vs. Capo is 67,500 words long, and is book 4 of the Hitman vs. Hitman series. CW: combat PTSD, alcoholism, on-page violence, discussion of abuse of a sex worker

Word Count: Click here to reveal82000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Christine is on the hunt to find out more about her great aunt, Rose, hoping to decipher their severed relationship and the murder Rose committed, for which June is in prison. With a stroke leaving Rose incapacitated, it’s a rush against time to find the truth. Things are doubly complicated when Christine’s girlfriend Terrie is accused of assaulting someone. Nervous about what she might do next, Christine and her friends avoid Terrie. With everything at stake, Christine must stick to the cold hard facts, reminding herself not to let her emotions get in the way. Christine must evaluate everything happening in her life. The weight of the events buried by her aunt so many years before and the shame of the actions of the love of her life rest squarely on her. If the eyes of the law are always 20/20, how do love, emotion, and insecurities distort fact?

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Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Gay, Non Binary, Pansexual, Polyamorous, Transgender (Click here to hide)

Summary: Kerry Graham surprises his father by coming out as a gay cross-dresser and non-binary. Then again, when he performs in drag at a local cabaret named The Red, where his cousin works as a tailor. Despite being treated as an outcast, he now feels liberated and accepted in a world where he can truly be himself. He’s among people that understand him, and he can finally relax. At least, that’s what he believes. Then, a dress arrives, seemingly an apology for a bit of bigotry from a shop clerk. No one thinks a dress will cause any harm, so he wears it under the stage lights. Things go awry, though, and Kerry wonders what could possibly be happening. A bounty hunter named Martin swoops in, convinced that he can be of aid in the situation. Along with Martin, there’s an intrepid FBI agent named Zak on the trail of a pair of sadistic serial killers who target and manipulate young, attractive, feminine men like Kerry. Kerry doesn’t believe it at first. Could these people be targeting him? Then, things happen, and his phone and email fill with messages of horrible images of what these people plan to do to him. He’s frightened but staunch about living his life. He is adamant that he won’t let them win, no matter what they do to him. Still, as the manipulation and gaslighting continue from afar, he starts to doubt everything he’s ever known. He loses his purchase on reality but finds that Martin and Zak ground him. He refuses to give in to their sadistic games, but in the end, he wonders if his willpower is enough to keep these people away from him.

Word Count: Click here to reveal80000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Note: These erotic novels were originally published with Samhain Publishing through my pen name, Dani Worth. Only the cover has changed. The content is the same. (Compilation of two books. Book one is MMF.) AFTER THE CRUX (Book One) Seventeen years after the Crux Virus wiped out most of the world’s population, Ross is doing what he can to keep his small community in what was once New Mexico safe. He’s made a habit of collecting survivors. They’re all family, especially Jenna and Dorian. Now, at thirty, Ross hopes to find a love of his own on supply runs, but his heart has long been snagged by his two best friends. Alone with his tangled emotions, Ross is about to discover that his friends have their own ideas about their relationship…and everything is about to change. SOLE SURVIVORS (Book Two) Chase Hawthorne is on the run from a ghost. The shooting that took his little sister and scarred him left far deeper scars on his brother Tripp’s soul. Driven to pull up stakes and head for the most haunted place in Louisiana, Chase hopes to prove to Tripp there is no ghost of their sister beckoning from the afterlife. When they come upon upon a young woman fighting off raiders, the Hawthornes don’t hesitate to help the first female they’ve seen in years. Chase tries to ignore his instant attraction, hoping Tripp will feel something, too—and emerge from his frightening depression. Keera has been alone too long, and scarred, difficult Chase makes her feel things she never thought she’d feel again. Tripp may be the needier brother, but it’s Chase she wants. Letting people too close comes with risks. Both Keera and Chase must accept the possibility that there’s more to life—and love—than simple survival.

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

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

Summary: It takes a hacker to catch a hacker. But that’s just the day job. At night, this “reformed” hacker has set his sights on catching a certain PI with a love of cowboy boots and no-strings hook-ups. >On loan from Ward Security, IT specialist Quinn Lake must work with detective Shane Stephens on a high-profile case. While Quinn might look like the perfect nerdy cliché against Shane’s sexy confidence, Quinn knows how to push all Shane’s buttons in the bedroom. The real trick will be getting Shane to stick around for more than one night before the hacker can end their snooping…permanently. Dantès Unglued is a standalone, opposites attract MM romance with sneaking, spying, a meddling silver fox father, a nosy ex-boyfriend, sexy times in an office chair, and all the feels.

Word Count: Click here to reveal109959 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Pansexual, Polyamorous (Click here to hide)

Summary: Book one in The Rhythm of His Blood series When inspiration shows up in person, can it only end in blood, sweat and fear? When British rock  latest release, there’s time for a little fun. During a visit to a strip club with a friend, he hears one of his songs being played, and he can’t resist a chance to meet the sexy dancer performing on stage. El Molino’s star performer, Xavier Gavrilov, is so much more than a pretty face and what starts off as a night of passion soon turns into something deeper as Xavier begins to fall for Rayne, and to care for his oddball bunch of aging porn-star friends. But Rayne has a dangerous secret, a craving for blood, a need that Xavier is more than happy to fulfill. The singer must soon go home to England, though, and things take a darker turn when he and Xavier come to the attention of Frisco’s vampire elite. When Rayne departs for London, Xavier tries to return to his normal life but is snatched by vampires working for the Master of San Francisco and plunged into a violent world he never knew existed. To save him, Rayne must return to the city, but he will have to call in favors from old friends if they are to safely navigate the dangers of vampire politics and maintain the powerful bond that is growing between them.    

Word Count: Click here to reveal82000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Will the truth bring them together, or tear them apart? When a battered shifter rescued from a lifetime of trauma ends up as the top tiger’s mate, Declan is faced with possible war. With his nephew safe, and a new mate to secure, he should be focused on them. Instead he’s facing a challenge that will end up changing everything, or his death. Sean grew up in a cage never dreaming of freedom, until the chance to save another brings him into the light. Now he’s met a man he can’t imagine living without. Only they both face a trial neither of them may survive. Can love give them the strength to win? This is Book One in the series and while the MCs do receive their happy ending, there is an overall story arc which must be read in order to enjoy the story. Each book will feature its own main couple. Content advisory warning: off page non-con, violence, child abuse, and PTSD.

Word Count: Click here to reveal95,502 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Sometimes when you don’t know what you want, life gives you what you need. When Neil Markovic witnesses the murder of his mother by Bone Men, his world is thrown into turmoil. On the run from the assassins that killed her, his sorcerer father and the police, Neil finds help in the form of a tall half-fae alchemist named Malachai. Mal seems more accepting than most of Neil’s demon bloodline but curiously immune to his charms. Malachai Valentine, disgraced scion of a noble leprechaun clan, back in the Old Country, is happy living as an anonymous scrap dealer. Using his talent for alchemy to make fuel and potions, most days he doesn’t even think of his ruinous past. When a scared young man with a fancy car crashes into his life, at first, Mal thinks he can do without the hassle. But as Neil begins to get under his skin, Mal reassesses his hopes and ambitions. Harassed by megalomaniac fae and stalked by sorcerous killers at every turn, Malachai and Neil must fight to be free, and to find what they both always wanted.

Word Count: Click here to reveal26900 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary:

Lord Marcus is on a quest to slay the dragon, rescue the princess, and live happily ever after. Falling for the dragon was never part of the plan.

When Lord Marcus set out on his quest, it seemed a simple enough task to accomplish. Slay the dragon and rescue the princess, securing his father's approval and earning his happily ever after--only the princess is a witch and the dragon is nowhere to be seen. Instead he finds a young man who has a very big secret and is in far greater need of rescuing. Marcus's well planned quest might have taken an unexpected turn, but his happy ending could still be within his grasp, if he can earn the trust of a dragon who has been betrayed and hurt by everyone he has ever known.

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

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

Summary: Ian Pierce is the chef and part owner of the hottest restaurant in Cincinnati, his chosen family is full of happy relationships, and the scruffy, snarky cop who has been haunting his dreams is one step closer to being in his bed. But everything comes crashing down when the past he narrowly escaped nine years ago comes to a deadly head. Hollis Banner was enamored of Ian at first sight. He’s kept his distance, knowing the gorgeous, self-confident man is out of his league. Yet there’s no standing aside when Boris Jagger escapes a raid. Jagger’s world has been nearly destroyed and this time, the crime boss is coming after Ian and his friends personally. Hollis will do whatever it takes to keep Ian safe as they escape to a safe house with a couple of Ian’s overprotective friends. And Ian finds himself in a race to unlock painful memories—memories containing information that could take down the very last of Jagger’s illegal operations forever.

Word Count: Click here to reveal84000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: There’s a lot in life that comes hella easy for me. Turning heads with my stellar looks, strutting like a peacock with my smooth moves and adorable charm. Heck, need ideas for party shots or fresh recipes to make your friends jealous? I’m your guy. It’s not even a front—my epic modesty—but that doesn’t mean I’m not a lying liar who lies. What is definitely not easy is holding so much of myself back from my friends. Or from myself. It’s a truth that sucks. But I can’t do that anymore, and it’s absolutely 100 percent my best friend’s fault. Since our first college basketball practice, Bentley’s been by my side. He’s sweet, understanding, supersmart, and absolutely smoking hot. What’s more, he’s too good for me. What I should do is keep our friendship platonic, but apparently patience isn’t my strong suit. Go figure. Cue me starting something with him that I find impossible to stop, walk away from, or admit aloud. But loving him… heck if that doesn’t become the easiest thing I’ve ever done. I just need to find a way to be worthy of his love and for him to stay patient as I pull my head out of my ass and give him the world he deserves.

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

Summary: Only weeks after witnessing the massacre of nearly half his pack, Quinn Boucher is finding his footing as a guard to the U.S. Anax, ruler of all werewolves in the country. But flashbacks to the killings, and to the extreme abuse he suffered before joining the pack, plague Quinn. And a vital piece of his life is missing: his mate Malachi. From the moment they met in Nova Scotia, Quinn knew he and the older man were destined for each other. But Malachi is unwilling to accept Quinn as his, and his rejection cuts Quinn deeply. At 130 years old, Malachi Powers has spent decades grieving the two human men who shared their lives with him and each other. The last thing he wants is a mate, especially one over a century younger than him. But Malachi can't deny the attraction he feels to Quinn, a pull that isn't merely fate. When Quinn returns to Nova Scotia at the request of the Canadian Anax, Malachi, against his human side's better judgment, gives in to desire and claims Quinn as his mate and, at Quinn's request, his to command. As the walls between Malachi and Quinn crumble and their connection deepens, they're caught in the crossfire of a conspiracy against the Canadian Anax. As a guard, Quinn has pledged to protect the Anax. As Quinn's mate and the one to whom Quinn chooses to belong, Malachi has sworn to protect Quinn at any cost. With threats coming at them from all sides, will their chance at forever end before it truly begins? This book includes discussions of past sexual assault and depictions of grief and mourning. There is a large age gap between the main characters (over 100 years...werewolves live a long time!) It also includes consensual commanding of a character and an adult character being called "boy." This book is set in the Real Werewolves Don’t Eat Meat universe but is not a direct part of that series.

Word Count: Click here to reveal113,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary:

ελπίδα. Elpída. Greek. Meaning hope Hope. v. /ˈhōp/ to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true

Michael and Christy attended prom, graduated high school, and Michael leads the USATF tryouts. With Oxford University on the horizon, his future looks bright, and he believes life has returned to normal after Christy’s rescue. He couldn’t be more wrong.

Word Count: Click here to reveal120000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealGay, Non Binary (Click here to hide)

Summary: Once upon a time, there was a stunningly gorgeous mage named Nikki. They were trapped by evil, horrible Jaeggi mages for ten long years until they were rescued by the brave dragon named Gunter. The grumpy red knight swept in, carrying them off to a fair castle, where they lived happily ever after. That’s how the story’s supposed to go, anyway. Nikki would really like to have that fairytale ending, please and thank you. It’s too bad Gunter is oblivious and the Jaeggi are interfering. Nikki may just have to cook up some explosions to help both situations along, because they’re determined to get their happily ever after. Is there a magic how-to guide on things that go boom? Tags: non-binary MC, Grumpy and Sunshine, it’s basically the air we breathe, Gunter needs a hug, Nikki likes to give them, crippling crush at first sight, Nikki has trust issues, for good reason, Nikki’s determined, Gunter is oblivious, mis-used poetry, Alric and Gunter are once again banned from drinking together, ever, schmoop, wall sex, the tongue thing is awesome, all hail Gunter’s tongue, violence, because bad guys, Nikki feels that explosions are an appropriate response to everything, Cameron and Nikki are explosion buddies, Nikki has mixed feelings on high heels, fairytales do come true

Word Count: Click here to reveal87000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealAce, Lesbian, Transgender (Click here to hide)

Summary: Penny Hartwell’s dreams of being a celebrated artist have been reduced to sketching between shifts at a Boston gas station. Rent is overdue, inspiration has dried up, and her once-bright future feels like it’s slipping further out of reach. Anthea Corey has spent centuries guiding artists to greatness, but after too many betrayals she vanished from the world. Now, reluctantly back from a decade-long retreat, this weary muse is determined to keep things simple—and her heart well-guarded. Neither expects to collide in the hushed halls of the Boston Public Library on a bitter winter’s day. But when Penny and Anthea meet, something stirs—something neither talent nor time can deny. For Penny, it’s the return of inspiration. For Anthea, it’s the dangerous pull of hope. And for both, it could be the beginning of something that blurs the line between art and love.

Word Count: Click here to reveal94,290 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Sometimes, the best way to overcome differences — is to embrace them. Quinn: Nothing is more important than family. Someday I’ll have my own, if I can ever find the right guy. For now, I'm concentrating on my career and a promotion. That is, until my company hires a hot-shot with the right credentials to snag the position. I should resent him, but Tadhg Byrne is talented. And gorgeous. And though my ASL is pitiful, it means I’m the most “qualified” colleague to partner with him. Or so my boss says. So I guess I’m about to do myself out of a job. Tadhg:  After a nasty breakup with my manipulative ex, I returned home to Seattle to lick my wounds. I’m done with relationships. From now on I’m focusing on my career. There are just a few issues with that. It’s not that easy for a deaf man to succeed in a hearing world, even with the right degree and experience. Quinn MacDougall—my good-natured coworker. He’s incredibly talented, driven, and distractingly handsome. Quinn’s hearing, which is the biggest problem of all. How can someone who isn’t deaf ever truly understand and accept me?   Embrace Me is a low-medium angst, contemporary MM romance about language barriers, loving but demanding families, crappy bosses, and sexy guys in speedos. It contains no cheating, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After.

Word Count: Click here to reveal76,715 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Home. Family. Those words often invoke a sense of love and comfort. But for the dark mage Morgorth, they mean hate and pain. As the seventh son of a seventh son, many believe Morgorth's destiny is to become the Destroyer. His father embraced such a future and trained Morgorth through torture and fear to become his weapon. Morgorth managed to escape his father's cruelty, but not the nightmares that still haunt him. For many years he's lived with the stain of his father's savagery, but now he must confront his nightmares head-on. His father has found a stone of power. Morgorth must return to his land of birth, to the memories he's tried his entire life to suppress. Aishe is determined to help Morgorth defeat his inner demons, but he knows he might not be enough to save Morgorth from embracing his darkness. They know it will be a fight to the death and that Morgorth won't be the same if he survives. With Aishe by his side, Morgorth hunts for his father, and finds answers to questions he never dared to ask—and must live with the truths they reveal.

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Summary: “He’s a bad boy—cocky and damaged. So, why can’t I stop thinking about him?”  Broken Dreams Sociable and unselfish, eighteen-year-old Tucker Graves loves two things—his darling little sister and the thrill of playing baseball. He never dreamed that he’d be homeless, but after a series of misfortunes, his life is nothing like he could have possibly imagined. Shocked and shattered, Tucker, his mother, and his baby sister now must brave the dangers of a dilapidated homeless encampment called Camp Roosevelt.   A Wounded Heart Homeless since the age of fourteen, Dancer has mastered the tricks of living on the streets as a sex worker. The quiet, reclusive, and calculating ways of this twenty-year-old, green-eyed Adonis help him to survive. He hides his emotional scars from the world by interacting only with his clients, whose occasional bizarre requests he reluctantly fulfills. Dancer’s past has taught him to trust no one.   A Second Chance When Tucker and Dancer come face to face on a stormy night, having been thrown together under the same roof, Tucker brings out a feeling in Dancer that he didn’t know still existed in him—desire. Neither man can deny the attraction he feels for the other. But some scars run deep, causing both Tucker and Dancer to question whether falling in love is even possible, especially when survival is on the line.   Bryan T. Clark is a multi-published, Rainbow Award-winning author and LAMBDA finalist.   *** One hundred percent of the royalties from the first year of this novel’s publication is being donated to the Larkin Street Youth Services/Castro Youth Housing Initiative.  The CYHI provides transitional housing in the city of San Francisco, California, for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. Fear of being raped, abused, or murdered should not be a part of anyone’s youth.