Books Tagged With potential trigger - grief; past loss

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

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

Summary: Jimmy McSwain is enjoying a relaxing holiday at his grandmother’s cottage, but it turns out to be a set-up. Hester Bryne has a favor to ask: to meet with her old friends, Franklin and Carolyn Hardy, who wish to hire the young private-eye-in-training to find their son. Seems he’s been gone for forty years. Jimmy, taken with the idea of reuniting a father with his son, wants to take the case. But he must get the all-clear from his new boss, Finn, the ex-cop who has taken Jimmy under his wing. A visit to Finn’s home proves to be yet another set-up, one that takes an unexpected twist in the name of a newcomer to the city, Aiden Garvey. As Jimmy immerses himself in the case of the missing son, his attention keeps getting distracted by the newfound presence of a man who makes his heart skip a beat. Juggling the promise of a new relationship with the complexities presented by this puzzling case, Jimmy realizes that he’s getting too close to one of them, and it could end with more broken hearts than lives. Can a remembrance of his father be both his motivation and the cause for the destruction lying in wait?  

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Can a house with a secret bring two grieving men together? After losing his bandmates in an accident, songwriter Zach Hellig looks for a place to hide and a distraction from his grief. He finds both in a dilapidated Pele tower in a corner of Northumberland and in a sexy neighbour, whose smooth facade hides an old, painful secret that appears to be tied to Zach’s new home. Are the rumours of an unsolved murder the reason for Robert Ludlow’s reluctance to sell Charnbarrow Pele? Should Zach try to find answers to a thirty-seven-year-old mystery? And having just experienced the pain of loss, should he risk his heart for a man who struggles to come to terms with his past? A 45k mm mystery romance, featuring a neglected old house in need of TLC, an unsolved murder, a grieving musician looking for a distraction, and his stern, intense neighbour who really should smile more. Available from my store, all retailers, Kobo Plus, and libraries. Also available as part of a bundle. Please check my store for additional links.

Word Count: Click here to reveal34000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: In 1920, a werewolf attack changed Malachi Powers’s life forever. Now, a decade later, Malachi lives near Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, as a lone wolf, avoiding humans and other werewolves alike. Two young men, Roger and Jonathan, arrive on the beach below Malachi’s cottage with a boat full of illegal hooch. Captivated by his unexpected visitors, Malachi wants them to stay. But bringing the men into his life would mean letting them in on his secret—and endangering his heart. Once again, Malachi’s life is changing. Forever. This book includes a scene in which the main character spies, without consent, on two people having sex. It also contains references to past sexual assault and underage male prostitution.

Word Count: Click here to reveal85,100 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Some hearts are made to be hopeful. Ian Byrne is done with love. Or so he’s been telling himself since his life crashed and burned. Ian got through his depression with help from friends and his career as an orthopedic nurse, as well as a big shaggy dog that’s not really his. And if most days Ian feels just all right, he thinks that’s fine. He never expected to meet a guy on the train. Especially not a robot-building whiz kid like Tris Santos, fifteen years younger than Ian and in so many ways his opposite. But they agree that epic love is a myth and strike up an effortless friendship, the spark of attraction between them quickly igniting and burning hot over chat screens when Tris moves away. Now, Ian can’t imagine his life without Tris. Can’t believe that what started as a fling became so much more and how deeply he feels for a man he doesn’t even see in person. Ian thinks Tris might be the right guy; that he might be ready to risk his heart one more time. But … is it too much to hope that Tris might feel the same? Hopeful Hearts is an 85.1 K age gap sex-buddies-to-lovers novel. In it you’ll meet a grumpy nurse practitioner recovering from heartbreak, a bright-eyed robotics genius who thinks epic romance is epically dumb, a huge wily dog in need of an owner, a 400-mile LDR, and a deliciously satisfying happily ever after. Content Advisory: This book contains a character coping with serious depression and contains references to homophobia and disownment. Happy ending absolutely guaranteed.

Word Count: Click here to reveal100000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: Dawson Wozniak has lost both parents and a relationship in the same year. After working remotely in Mexico as an editor for a West Coast publisher during the Covid pandemic, he makes the big move to stay in the seaside town known for its beauty and festivities and pursue his goal of reinventing himself. He purchases a condo on the edge of the jungle and makes new friends. One night during a raging thunderstorm, he has an encounter with an iguana, engages in a stolen kiss, and witnesses a tragic death. The events are forever stuck in his head. Everyone around him wants to move on from that night, including Ivan, the divorced father with whom he shared the kiss. Dawson makes decisions that complicate his life and Ivan’s who finds himself in web of psychological and moral dilemmas. Despite the complications, Dawson believes there was something in that night that drew him to Mexico in the first place and he refuses to let it go. The enigmatic attraction between the two men finds its own tempo and they keep coming back to each other against all odds. In the quiet times they discover a refuge from the turmoil of their lives.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: In one day, Dylan’s whole life was destroyed. In one night, he may have found the beginnings of a new one. Still grappling with the loss of his home, Dylan has no choice but to head for Wintervale. His one solace is in travelling the same direction taken by the enemy. But the truth behind the attack on the spellster tower suggests things aren’t as clear-cut and the enemy may well be closer than they thought. Crossing the kingdom also means remaining in the presence of Tracker, the King’s Hound who Dylan’s repressed desire refuses to let out of his head. The man’s gentle protectiveness, coupled with his flirting, certainly doesn’t help. It taunts him with ideas of the night they shared in the tower becoming something more, a thought that is no less ridiculous than remaining unleashed. After all, it’s a hound’s job to escort or kill spellsters. They do not disobey orders. They do not falter. And they do not fall. Especially not in love.

Word Count: Click here to reveal81544 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Infected series #10 – Roan and Dylan’s life has changed since harboring a runaway infected, and weathering Roan’s notoriety from the Profeta case. Still, it’s not all bad news – a mid tier celebrity wants to hire Roan for an unusual case. Only it takes a dark turn, and while trying to deal with it, Roan also has to deal with a medical issue. It falls to Roan’s family – including reckless Holden and imposing teddy bear Grey – to figure things out, and find a killer before he kills again.

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

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

Summary: Morgorth and Aishe must contend with a deadly threat that could spell disaster for their world. Payshthas were the first of the Mother’s intelligent children. It is rare for true friendship to form between them and another species—which makes Morgorth’s bond with Enfernlo unique. And it is due to their friendship that Morgorth doesn’t hesitate to answer Enfernlo’s plea for help. A thief has stolen something vital from Enfernlo’s colony—a stone of power. Their hunt for the stone leads them to a war torn kingdom, and Aishe can hardly stomach what he sees. The devastation urges him to assist however he can, no matter the risk. Meanwhile, Morgorth is faced with reminders of the monster he used to be, and contemplates how far he’s come, and yet how far he still has to go. And when his estranged mentor joins them on their search, Morgorth is forced to confront his resentment and sense of betrayal, and use Master Ulezander as a tool to save the payshthas. Forced into a deadly quest where trust is in short supply, and faced with challengers for the stone, Morgorth must put his faith in those he loves and in himself... and become a champion not just of the Mother but for Karishian itself.

Word Count: Click here to reveal469500 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When tragedy steals away a partner, it's hard to imagine ever finding -- or wanting to find -- love again. But even after loss, love finds a way. After December - Tim didn't come to the retreat for widowers looking for love and neither did Alex. But maybe, just maybe, love has found them. From Out in the Cold - Neil's parents know he's gay, but they refuse to let him talk about it. They have no idea he can't tell them about the man he lost to a senseless act of violence... or the connection he's rekindled with his first love. For the Living - After Jay's wife dies suddenly, he's overcome with guilt. He never had the chance to be honest with her. Or with anyone... except the sweet, compassionate funeral director. New Hand - Garrett always thought he'd outlive his younger husband. Fate had other plans, though, and now he's starting over. (This book is part of the Bluewater Bay series but can be read as a standalone) The Walls Between Hearts - Sixty-one and single again, Gene is done with love. So is twice-widowed Terry. The spark between them, though, has other plans. (This book is the sequel to The Master Will Appear, but can be read as a standalone)

Word Count: Click here to reveal59,570 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A Realm falls to the darkness. An outcast because of his mixed heritage, Braedyn of the Dark, Captain of the Royal Shields and protector of the Prince of the Southern Woodland Realm, maintains his position through sheer grit and skill. Connected to a hawk familiar, Cerin, his magic is a mixture of Arcane and wielding. At the High King’s orders, he remains by his Prince’s side through a treacherous journey through the Lands to discover answers and a new home. Losing his Realm, his parents, and his position in one-night, High Prince Conchobar Ó Díomasaigh is completely out of his familiarity. Running for his life, relying only on his protector and Captain, he digs deep to survive their trials, the growing darkness, and go wherever they must to save their Realm. At the same time, he sees his Captain in a different light and the deepening connection between them. Strange adventures. New allies. Growing connections. Can they survive this wild journey to save the elves, the Realm, and their lives?

Word Count: Click here to reveal45000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A forbidden fated mate. A string of murders. And a town that hides more than just magic. All Riley wants is a fresh start. After the unexpected death of his mother, all he wants is to move to Fortune Falls, attend college, and get to know his estranged father. But Fortune Falls is more than it seems. It’s filled with secrets and a sexy sheriff’s deputy. Who knew magic existed? Not Riley. But there it is at his fingertips. Cass’s pack alpha wants him to mate with another wolf shifter. Not his best friend’s sweet, funny warlock of a son. He doesn’t expect his murder investigation to be tied to his pack or for their lives to be at stake. It’s not just Riley’s dad who can’t know Cass is his fated mate. Cass’s pack can’t either. Midnight Whispers is the first book in the MM Paranormal Mystery Romance Forbidden Entanglements series. It features a college student who’s never truly known why he doesn’t fit in and a wolf shifter deputy who loves his uncomplicated life in Fortune Falls until he meets a warlock he can’t let go of. If you like love with an age gap, forbidden love, knotting, a small town filled with secrets, and a murder mystery where falling for your fated mate could make you the next victim, you’ll love this sensual romance. This is a Fortune Falls Novel. Buy Midnight Whispers and find out how Riley and Cass undo their tangles.

Word Count: Click here to reveal93000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Griffin Music's a harsh mistress, if you want to make a living by her. Years ago, when I was on my way up, I met a man. Sparks flew, hearts leaped, you know the song. But I was chasing my dream all across America, and Lee was tied to our hometown. Hell, I was too old for him anyway, even then. So I left, and the connection we'd had withered and died, except sometimes in the lyrics I wrote. Now I'm back home and I've met him again at the lowest point in my life. He's still gorgeous and kind, but I'm battered and faded, and he can do way better. Lee When I was twenty, I thought the hardest thing I'd ever do was watch Griffin walk out of my life. Well, newsflash, fate always has more crap waiting for you. I've spent more nights than I want to remember furious that he left, yet wishing I could've gone with him, but life went on with the good, the bad, and the ugly. Now Griffin's back and he's a silver fox, still unfairly hot and talented. We'd be a better fit. I'm not an idealistic young student anymore. But he'll be heading off soon to concerts like Rocktoberfest and no doubt touring the world. Letting myself fall for him again would mean another round of being left behind. I'm not going to do that to myself, no matter how much I want to erase the shadows from Griffin's eyes. A second-chances, age gap, hurt-comfort musician romance. Missing Chord is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see what antics our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for. Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!

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

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

Summary: Vegan werewolf Kyle Slidell didn’t sign up to be the mate of the most powerful werewolf in the United States, the Anax Tobias Rogan. But fate had other plans after Kyle was changed from human to werewolf, and now he and Tobias are building a life together. And planning a wedding, if Tobias will get with the program. Since taking the rank of Anax, though, Tobias has changed. While at times he’s the Tobias Kyle knows and loves, more and more often, it seems as if the power Tobias holds is trying to take control of him. And when a werewolf confronts Tobias about a crime committed by someone Tobias once loved, it pushes Tobias over the edge. Now Kyle must help Tobias overcome and integrate the Anax power and protect his mate from those who believe Tobias should be removed from the rank—which would end Tobias’s life. Kyle has fought many threats to defend Tobias, but what can he do when the biggest threat is Tobias himself? This book includes discussion of past sexual assault, depictions of PTSD, violence between werewolves, and a very temporary breakup between the main characters.

Word Count: Click here to reveal130000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Author’s Note: Next Man Up was written before the tragic and senseless deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. Out of respect for their memory and for the family, publication was delayed, and the book was revised to minimize some unfortunate and highly coincidental similarities to reality. 30% of the author’s royalties will be donated to the John and Matthew Gaudreau Foundation, an organization started by the brothers’ family to support causes that were near and dear to their hearts. ---------- When tragedy strikes the Pittsburgh Whiskey Rebels, winger Avery Caldwell loses more than his longtime linemate. Without warning, his best friend in the world is just… gone. There’s no time for grief, though. The season is starting, and now Avery is captain of his devastated team. He’s determined to be strong for them and lead them by example—putting aside his emotions and focusing on hockey. But he can only pretend he’s okay for so long. Peyton Hall was looking forward to a new start on a new team. He’d expected to land a place on the second line and play among men he’s been admiring for years… including a winger he’s been crushing on since forever. Now he’s suddenly centering the top line and trying to fill the skates of a beloved star who’s gone too soon. Avery is determined to ignore his heartache and carry his devastated team. Peyton is determined to find his place among grieving teammates. But can the new guy stop Avery from self-destructing beneath his grief and the pressure of the captaincy? And is there any room for the crackling chemistry they’re both trying desperately to ignore? Next Man Up is a standalone M/M hockey romance. TW: Off-page death, grief, self-medicating, self-destructive behavior, addiction. Also mentions of pregnancy loss/infertility. If you have questions or would like clarification about any of the potential triggers in this book, please contact the author

Word Count: Click here to reveal63,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: My name is Chrissy Wychling. I’m a divorced clothes designer and tailor in my mid-thirties. I've recently made a momentous decision and moved from Kent to the Yorkshire Dales to start a new business selling wedding dresses for larger brides. I didn't come to this new place looking for love, or even a relationship, but then I met Beth, and a whole new world of possibilities beckoned. My name is Beth Nethering. My family has farmed this land for hundreds of years. As a child, I dreamed of getting away, and I did. I went to university, found a great job, got married, and had a child. I had my life mapped out then, ten years ago, everything changed. I made some tough decisions. I moved back to the family farm with my daughter then I set about rescuing the place. Now, we milk sheep not cows, we have glamping pods for tourists, and I've just rented the barn to Chrissy who sells wedding dresses. Me, I'm more used to wearing dungarees and wellies. I’m surprised but strangely flattered when Chrissy flirts with me. It's only a bit of fun, isn't it?

Word Count: Click here to reveal45000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Can I be both Alpha and the man Rob needs me to be? I spent nineteen years rebuilding the pack I took from our abusive Alpha, with my bondmate Melody as my wife, and my best friend Rob at my side as Second. Then I lost Melody and the child we hoped to have, and my world crashed down on me. I holed up, grieving and fighting conflicting impulses, until my Third, Sherman, got tired of my apathy and Challenged me for pack Alpha. I could've taken Sherman down, no sweat. Rob could've wiped the dirt with him. What held us back was the memory of one night when we were both seventeen, and three decades of not giving in to impossible dreams. If we were free, away from the violent homophobia of the packs, maybe we could finally be more than Alpha and Second. So I suppressed my Alpha instincts and walked away. Rob, as always, came with me. Now we're in my truck, heading west into the mountains. Just David and Rob, two men trying to figure out what we can be to each other. Until we stop in a small town for a meal, and someone who smells like a wolf steals my truck. Trouble's afoot, the local lone wolves need help, and I'm discovering that once an Alpha, always an Alpha. But if we get entangled with a new pack, does that mean any relationship Rob and I might've found has to be lost again to werewolf laws? Set in 2010, a year before Unacceptable Risk in the bad old days of the packs, this is a Hidden Wolves universe standalone 45,000 word novella with new characters. Content warnings for grief, past pregnancy loss, past abuse, past captivity, and violence. Contains the added bonus 5K short story Toby, Doyle, and the Cats.

Word Count: Click here to reveal113803 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Tragedy struck one night, leaving Nathan with a permanent limp and a curse—the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. For six years, Nathan’s done everything he can to avoid them. But a persistent ghost, Alan, haunts Nathan every chance he gets until Nathan reluctantly agrees to reunite him with his fiancé for a chance to find peace. A turn of fate and a stolen CD brings Erik into Nathan’s life. Erik is everything Nathan believes he doesn’t deserve. But Erik is Alan’s lost love. Now he must untangle the threads of Alan’s death while hoping to keep the newfound love of his life. Will Nathan decide to expose his supernatural burden, or let Alan wander without rest forever? Love and trust hang in the balance as Nathan confronts the ghosts of his past and the man who threatens to shatter the wall guarding his heart.

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

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

Summary: With vampires on the rise and the city under threat, who would have thought love – and a long lost recipe for pesto - could bring everything undead to a head? Lola Morelli enjoys her life in Sacramento - jumping over walls with her parkour team during the day and climbing the kitchen ladder to be head chef at the hottest restaurant at night. Even her love life is going great. She doesn't have one special woman in her life, she has several. Sure, she’s concerned about all the stories of the Disappeared, but the rise of missing people isn't enough for her to change her ways. Charlie Ryan has a lot on her shoulders - dancing as a professional ballerina, grieving the loss of her grandparents, and facing pressure from her fellow witches to help with the growing vampire menace. It's a lot for one woman to handle. But life starts looking up when she meets the attractive chef at her new favorite restaurant, and not just because she can make an amazing vegan dish or keep up with Charlie at a Pilates class. With the number of Disappeared growing, Charlie’s coven is desperate to protect the people of Sacramento. It isn't until Charlie meets Lola that the witches find a delicious secret weapon that could tip the balance against the bloodsuckers. But will Lola understand that Charlie’s not just into her because of her pesto recipe? Can Lola and Charlie's new spark of romance withstand the secrets and lies needed to keep everyone safe?

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

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

Summary: Left alone after a tsunami destroyed eir village, Lefeng would have walked into the mountains and not looked back. But a child lost on the trails redirected eir course and another survivor planted the seed of an idea – a new family. Lefeng's commitment to those ey comes to love will take em to the hated city and a new way of life. But in a slowly dying city, Lefeng's determination can only carry them so far. Set in a genderless world of polyamorous marriage, communal care work and multi-generational families, this queernormative tale abounds with details ranging from trauma recovery and neurodivergence to winter romance and city politics. Lovers of cozy narratives can soak in the story of long, steady, unsung work in these pages, the effort and joys of building lives together and building each other up. It's an experience that will stay with you for a while. If you can't get enough of found family and queer fiction in fantasy, you'll love Planting Life in a Dying City.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: As the only child of the Raven Kingand grandson of the Morrigan, Lorcan has known his entire life that he will someday inherit his father’s place and his title. But the Raven King had an heir before Lorcan’s birth, and Lorcan’s cousin will not relinquish the title without a fight, especially not to a raven shifter with white feathers. Kidnapped from his home and sold into slavery to fight in the gladiatorial arenas of Rome, Lorcan must learn quickly how to survive in a world where entertainment is murder, diplomacy is betrayal, and love is a commodity. And where a raven who is only supposed to ever have one mate will somehow find two–the daughter of the man who owns him… and the grandson of the Roman Emperor himself.