Books Tagged With potential trigger - traumatic past

Word Count: Click here to reveal45056 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Can a new beginning be found in leather and chains? Kai Smithson’s life changes dramatically with his first glimpse into the world of BDSM. Completely innocent, Kai can hardly believe his eyes, but he knows what he likes and apparently that’s hot, dominant men in leather. He isn’t sure if he’s a submissive because he doesn’t really know what that means, but the feelings he is experiencing are exciting and new. Harry Croft, bar manager at The Underground BDSM Club, believes in insta-lust rather than love at first sight. And when he agrees to train Kai, the contract between them has one condition—no sex. But Kai has some very definite plans about losing his virginity and a piece of paper is not going to stand in his way. In his new friends at the club and at The Edge, Kai has a ready-made support group of subs that show him that the only rules in a D/s relationship are those he wants to make for himself. The old saying that you can choose your friends but not your family is proved horribly true for Kai, as the mysteries of his past are revealed. As he and Harry start out on their journey together, they must contend with bullets as well as bondage, danger alongside domination, and it’s not easy to establish trust when the whole world is going to hell. Reader Advisory: This book contains characters who have extremely prejudiced views and scenes referencing physical abuse. Publisher's Note: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series.

Word Count: Click here to reveal49,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Despised by his family for being a living reminder of his father’s infidelity, Rudy never expected that a blind date mix up would change his life. Meeting Clay, an engineer fresh out of the military, is the answer to Rudy’s dreams, becoming Rudy’s co-worker, protector and lover all rolled into one gorgeous package. But filled with hate, Donny, Rudy’s older half-brother, tries to destroy him and stop Rudy from saving his grandfather’s toy factory. Only Clay can save Rudy’s life and the toy factory, if he’s not too late.  

Word Count: Click here to reveal57,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Rudy and Clay are deeply in love and expecting the birth of their boys thanks to Clay’s twin sister, Clarice. Tragedy strikes, and Rudy and Clay become parents to not just their twins, but Clarice and Patrick’s three little girls as well. They desperately need help with the five kids so Rudy hires a ‘manny’, Jackson Frost. But Frost comes with a horrible past. Guilty of betrayal, and for almost killing Clay while they were in the military, he is freshly released from prison and desperate for work. The man is definitely not Clay’s first choice as a caregiver for his children. Strange things begin to happen, leading them to think that Patrick and Clarice were not just a random attack. Then Rudy is suddenly kidnapped. The clock is ticking and despite their past, Jackson and Clay must join forces to find Rudy before he is killed, or worse…  

Word Count: Click here to reveal47000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Betrayal, heartbreak, and financial ruin are only the beginning. The last few months have been tough on Grant Parnell. He discovered his boyfriend was having an affair and it’s taken its toll, both emotionally and financially. With his business facing ruin, Grant could lose everything. Dave Monroe is excited to start a new phase of his life. He’s following his dream and pursuing an exciting career opportunity. When Grant visits his friends in the country and finds out Dave might be moving to Melbourne, he offers him a place to stay. For Dave, life’s looking good. Dave had only met Grant a couple of times before moving in with him, but the simmering sexual attraction is undeniable. As he settles into Grant’s home, deeper feelings develop. It’s hard not to fall for Grant’s gorgeous exterior, but it’s the strong man underneath who captures Dave’s heart. Grant always craved success. His business and his home are testament to just how far he’s come, proving his family wrong and making something of himself—or he had. Now everything is falling apart. As Grant’s world spirals out of control, Dave is the one sure thing in his life. But if they are to have any chance at happiness, Dave will need to teach Grant what’s really important.

Word Count: Click here to reveal74271 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: AURA’s offices have been quiet since the mage tower incident—as quiet as they can be for an agency dedicated to policing holes in reality—and the department heads have been free to turn their attention back to mundane matters. The return to quiet bureaucracy gives AURA’s Director of Research, Kai Hiltas, the time to turn his energy to a new issue—a young drow with unusual and dangerous powers named Ryld. Though his shadows always lurk at the edges of his vision, Ryld does his best to live peacefully and not let them hurt anyone. He has his work, his apartment and a succession of minders assigned by AURA who are, ostensibly, there to keep him safe in his new world and to prevent him from causing any scenes with his shadows. Most of the time, the arrangement works. But one disastrous incident causes Ryld’s minder to leave him unattended and lost—the precise thing he was hired to prevent. To replace the faithless minder, Kai suggests Hank, a half-goblin accountant recently in the middle of a string of terrible luck, while Kai works out how best to get Ryld the magical training he so desperately needs. For his part, Hank truly likes Ryld and insists he would be happier working as Ryld’s companion rather than as a controlling minder. As Hank and Ryld slowly come to terms with sharing space—and eventually more—Kai’s search for a teacher for Ryld takes them out west on the invitation of the Elvenhome’s aelfe queen and right into the lap of inter-elven feuds, ancient prejudice, conspiracies and trafficking rings. What should have been a pleasant visit soon turns into more than even forever-scheming Kai can handle.  

Word Count: Click here to reveal70000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Ten years ago, Dominic Walsh faked his own death. With no true identity, it wasn’t hard. But if he’d stayed, he would have been drawn further into a life he’d never chosen. He has friends and family at Ward Security now and has managed to escape his dark past. There is only one thing he truly wants. Abraham Stephens. When Dom was first tasked with watching over his friend’s father, he didn’t expect to fall so hard for the gorgeous silver fox. But Abe is interested in friendship only. He’s at a point in his life where he wants something permanent, not a romp with the sexy redhead who happens to be the same age as his son. But Abe finds himself drawn deeper into Dom’s life when cryptic messages start appearing—ones that frighten the skilled security specialist. The more Dom tries to hide what’s happening, the more Abe wants to help him. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll find a way to trust the strength of the bond Dom understood from the start.

Word Count: Click here to reveal60000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Nothing in Phoenix’s life ever went right. He never knew where his next meal would come from or if he would be safe going home at night. Desperate to escape, he trusts the wrong person. A different kind of evil wrapped in hope led him into the claws of a prison he might not survive. Gryphon took a chance on a new life and ended up a captive. To his shock, he wasn’t alone. Twenty boys experimented on physically and mentally, few would ever see the light of day again. A family forged in the fires of hell. Escape came, but at the price of losing more of themselves than they realized. They must depend on each other and new friends. No-one is expecting to find love, but love may find them anyway. Their mission is clear: Find the people who did this to them and destroy them. But some missions aren't always so cut and dry...

Word Count: Click here to reveal85000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: NOTE: The following blurb contains spoilers for the Deviations series. If that matters to you, stop here and read the series first, beginning with Deviations: Submission. Safe Words picks up where the Deviations series left off. Tobias, Noah and Phan are all working on finding their place, both at Bradford's club and in their personal lives. They're all living together too, and Tobias has taken on the role of full-time Dom to both men, which he loves but finds incredibly challenging. While Noah finds comfort in their new arrangement and is looking forward to deeper submission, Phan has a harder time finding balance and peace. There are many changes happening too fast and making Phan act out, and neither Tobias nor Noah are sure how to deal with it. Life is not perfect for Bradford, either, as he finally confronts his feelings for his sub, Nikki. How will Tobias help his closest friend, manage his job training other Doms at the club, and juggle his relationship with Noah and Phan without allowing the house that he's built for himself fall down around their ears?

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: “Bros stick together no matter what.” When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold on to. “No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on.” When Billy and Owen made that promise, they knew exactly how dangerous the world could be. They survived prison by protecting each other and they survived freedom by holding that promise sacred. Now they want more than just to survive and they want it from the brothers whose bond is as strong as their own. “We are stronger together than we’ll ever be apart.” When Owen reaches his breaking point, Chris jumps at the chance to make things right for all of them. With the future in their grasp, will they realize their strength is in their numbers and finally become the family they crave? Author’s Note: This is NOT a foursome, but the story of two couples that needed to be told together.  This book is also NOT a standalone, these MC’s have been regular and, at times, significant characters in past books since For a Reason. Kindle Unlimited: Safety in Numbers' enrollment in KU will expire February 6, 2017

Word Count: Click here to reveal76100 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Heavily crushing on his attractive neighbor Tobias,  Boston newcomer and vegan Kyle Slidell is thrilled when Tobias agrees to a dinner date. But while picking strawberries in the community garden for their dessert, Kyle comes face to face with something he couldn’t anticipate: A wolf. In East Boston. Who attacks him. Kyle awakens in Tobias’s living room in a world he barely understands, but he learns three things: He is now a werewolf, Tobias is the Alpha of the pack Kyle’s attacker belongs to…and Kyle is still damned if he’ll eat meat. And soon he discovers that he is fated to be Tobias’s mate. Good thing he already likes the guy. Adjusting to being a werewolf is far from easy,  never mind adjusting to having a predestined mate and the disapproval of his packmates. And it’s even more complicated when a wolf from a neighboring pack, determined to destroy Tobias, kidnaps the pack’s healer. Immune to the power Tobias holds to command his pack, Kyle disobeys his mate and goes to the rescue–and to  lengths he never imagined possible. This book was originally published in 2011. The current version has been revised and re-edited with some content added. The story contains discussion of past sexual trauma (the trauma does not occur on-page, the conversation does), physical violence between werewolves, abduction, and a werewolf Alpha living with PTSD.

Word Count: Click here to reveal63000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Odin has no luck in life. Recruited at a young age to an illegal testing facility left crater-sized wounds, both physically and emotionally. His only solace has been his makeshift family, other boys who escaped the facility with him. Only they can understand and share in his need for revenge. Kylen Hagrin had a nearly perfect childhood growing up. He never lacked for love or affection. While home in between assignments as an investigative reporter, he discovers the story and the love of a lifetime. Odin and his band of brothers need help if they want to shut down the testing site once and for all. They will do anything to rescue any children still being harmed there. Sometimes the truths that haunt us and the truths we live are polar opposites. Before they can find common ground, a road must be paved. Some hearts need to open up to pain before love can find its way in. Odin will have to decide to love or lose the man that holds the key to his heart.

Word Count: Click here to reveal64,390 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The time has come. The Dark Mage, Lord Morgorth, and Aishe of the Ravena Tribe, are to become bondmates. Morgorth is equal parts nervous and excited. He wants to unite with Aishe in the sacred dialen ceremony, to proclaim their devotion to the world, to show everyone that Aishe is his equal and deserving of respect. After all they’ve survived together, why shouldn’t they make the cosmic promise before friends and family? But duty must often come before pleasure. When Morgorth’s estranged mentor, Master Ulezander, comes to him with a time-sensitive mission involving a major stone of power, Morgorth has little choice but to acquiesce. Aishe knows his mate struggles with the revelation of his true destiny, after a lifetime of defining himself as the future Destroyer of Karishian. All he can do is reassure Morgorth that being the Savior is a far better fate for both of them. But as Morgorth and Aishe leap through worlds and dimensions in pursuit of a stone of power, more pieces to the puzzle of Morgorth’s destiny are revealed. And they form an image of sacrifice and tragedy. The dark cloud of an ancient enemy looms ever closer, and the path to becoming the Savior might prove more monstrous than that of the Destroyer.

Word Count: Click here to reveal62000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: James Vicksburg should be happy that he's finally achieved acting success on Broadway, but his conservative senator father controls what he can do and who he can love. When James's baseball idol, Mike Cooper, meets him backstage after his show, the mutual attraction is palpable. The two begin what they think is a secret affair, but James quickly learns that nothing stays hidden from his vindictive father for long. James is torn between his growing love for Mike and his desire to protect him from his father. What he doesn't realize is that Mike has his own plan to fight for James's happiness, even if it means losing each other.

Word Count: Click here to reveal89539 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Parker Rice breaks into handsome attorney Anthony Swifson’s estate expecting an easy take. When he finds the attorney behind him while his fingers clutch a set of rings in a jewelry box, he fully expects to go to jail. The abusive home Parker returns to late each night to hide from his mother’s boyfriend, Earl Primack, offers no sanctuary from the train wreck of his life. At twenty, he has no future. The deal he’s been forced to accept from the attorney turns out to be the turnaround he never conceived he could hope for. Unfortunately, Earl comes calling to the Swifson home. Anthony Swifson has a mountain on his plate. His ex-wife Claire leaves for a visit to her sister and cancer testing, taking their young son Gray with her. Expecting a couple months of quiet, Anthony’s world is turned upside down with the arrival of his new project – the thief in the night, Parker Rice. Both men must confront the pain of their past and give their unexpected attraction a chance to develop.

Word Count: Click here to reveal32000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Haunted by his years at war, Boston paramedic Gael Dominic spends his time saving other people’s lives. An empty house, a single friend, and living at work, Gael is not content with his existence, but he’s close. Gael was expecting his overnight shift on Thanksgiving to be the same as always—manic crowds, heart attacks...until catastrophe strikes, and Boston’s streets run with blood. On the run from an abusive and politically powerful father, Silas has been on the cold, mean streets of Boston for days, injured, hungry and alone. When he wakes up in the middle of a nightmare, he expects to die in the same alley he was calling home. Brought together by tragedy, Silas and Gael can’t resist their attraction. Gael may have saved Silas, but it’s his alleyway angel who brings Gael back to life. As Christmas approaches, Silas and Gael learn how to love, despite their pasts. And as Silas' past closes in, Gael learns the greatest gift he could ever give isn't something bought in a store, but freely given from the heart.

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

Summary: The court case is over. Alex and Ben can concentrate on healing the wounds inflicted by Alex's mother, Janice. As they find their way back to a normal family life Alex begins to experience life in ways he never has before.  When he takes up a role in a local free clinic, he encounters a teenage boy who has been neglected and rejected by his parents. Will Alex be able to cope when he and Ben decide to take the boy in? Will the new family member help him take the last steps into the lightness of being loved?

Word Count: Click here to reveal16277 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Sequel to Season of Joy By the beginning of 1944, Walter Webb and Stanley Gardner have been together for twenty years. They live quietly above the grocer’s shop on Cheltenham’s Lower High Street, outwardly two middle-aged bachelors sharing a home. Cheltenham might have escaped the worst of the bombing raids, but the privations and dangers of the second war have put a strain on the whole community. This includes ongoing concern about loved ones on active duty. Stanley’s beloved nephew, Jack, is serving in Italy, while engaged in the fiercely fought Battle for Rome. Walter worries about the strain on Stanley’s health, never robust after the Great War, as they both deal with family issues and direct threats from the enemy. As St. Valentine’s Day approaches, can Walter and Stanley find solace in the hope of a peaceful shared future after the war?

Word Count: Click here to reveal61,526 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Max Cooke, a sweet lonely man who writes romance stories, is the only witness to the murder of a police detective. Struggling with the aftermath of the killing, Max never dreamed that the dead detective’s ghost would appear at the foot of his bed two days later. Nick Horvath must learn what being a ghost means, sometimes with hilarious results. The two men discover that they are somehow tied together as they explore the feelings developing between them. When the murderer comes looking for Max, however, it’s up to Nick to find a way to stop him. But if he succeeds in stopping the killer, will he be forced to leave the man he’s come to love? After a couple of near misses, Nick no longer has a choice because if he fails, Max will become the killer’s next victim.

Word Count: Click here to reveal55880 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: An M/M Science Fiction Romance Disaster novel with a happy ending! As children, Mick and Adrian forged a promise as they looked up at the stars. Time and money pulled them apart with harsh words and bitter regrets, and their wish was cast aside. Now, space is a haven for the wealthy, who flaunt their riches aboard the opulent Empyrean Station, dining on crab with a spectacular view of Earth and enjoying a permanent vacation in one of Empyrean's many temperate biospheres. The stars are a long-forgotten dream to starship mechanic Mick, who lives in the Old New York shanty town swallowing his remorse as he struggles to meet his basic needs. Until Adrian returns to him with heart-rending news—he's terminally ill with Miasma, a pollutant-driven, degenerative illness. With Adrian only having months to live, Mick realizes nothing matters except loving him and reaching for their dream together. Stealing a spaceship, they launch into space to see the stars with their own eyes. Mick and Adrian end up embroiled in miracles and tragedies as they fathom Empyrean's true nature and face down those who would do anything to survive the coming apocalypse—except solve the problem.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Sen is the oldest son to the Four Horseman known as Death. He’s inherited all of his father’s powers, is half shifter, and is set to take over the name Death if his father retires. Being young, he thinks it’ll be years before he finds his fated mate. That is, until fate decides otherwise. Narvi is a vampire bat shifter. A rare breed among rare breeds. His family is well off and in order to form an alliance of peace with a rival clan they decide to marry him off to the highest bidder so to speak. Only, the groom isn’t exactly nice and Narvi pays the price when he walks away from his impending nuptials. Sen is out for blood. Narvi’s family will do anything to get him back and have him marry. Will Sen be able to protect Narvi or will his need for vengeance scare the poor man back to his family? (Warning: Contains sexual content, Minor referrals to past rape traumas, Mpreg, Man on Man action, and explicit language. Not recommended for those under the age of 18.)