Books Tagged With format - short story <15K

Word Count: Click here to reveal8285 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Christmas joy is a matter of perspective. For some, it’s the happiest time of the year. For others, not so much. Twenty-nine-year-old Mick, the son of crack addicts, isn’t exactly a dyed-in-the-wool Scrooge. Mick’s been on his own from childhood. As a teen, he lived in a shelter, where for a short time he had a boyfriend. After the boyfriend left, Mick moved to the Orpheum Theater. While squatting there and taking care of the grand old building, Mick watched others celebrate the holidays from a distance, never able to share in their merriment. Only his Technicolor dreams liven his dull, mechanical life until one day the world around him begins to change. Mick is surprised when a man named Jim buys the vintage Orpheum and plans to restore it. Something about Jim makes Mick think they’ve met before. In fact, Jim rekindles Mick’s longing for a better life and a little holiday magic for himself.

Rainbow Award Honorable Mention book 2017.

Word Count: Click here to reveal15000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The most famous astronaut on earth discovers hyperspace has interesting consequences when he is marooned with his alien shipmate. When Earth joins forces with the friendly Teneran aliens to gain access to their hyperspace drive, Josh is the first human to copilot with a Teneran commander. On the Marco Polo, a Terran ship equipped with the alien drive, he and the enigmatic Teneran Paris explore distant worlds no astronaut from earth could have visited without help from the aliens. Not until a blinding sandstorm maroons Josh and Paris on a desolate planet does Josh realize the implications of the Teneran drive. He finds himself unaccountably attracted to Paris. Will his travels through the portals of space change his life forever?

Word Count: Click here to reveal12981 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: When software engineer Keith Trainor decides to start his own company, he knows exactly who he wants as his partner: Parker Mulvaney, his best friend from high school. But in the ten years since graduation, their contact has dwindled to nothing, and it’s all Keith’s fault. If he hadn’t tried to kiss Parker under the mistletoe at the winter formal their senior year, Parker wouldn’t have bolted. At their ten-year reunion, Keith intends to do everything in his geeky power to make amends. Parker should have known that scheduling the reunion the day before Christmas Eve was a recipe for a headache of monster proportions. But when Keith sends a text that he’ll be attending, the evening doesn’t look so bleak. Can an unnecessary makeover, a nostalgic breakfast, an abortive shopping trip, and dance invitations with only a 50 percent success rate culminate in a long-overdue first kiss? The Probability of Mistletoe is a short and sweet opposites-attract, friends-to-lovers, second-chance rom-com featuring an awkward geek on a mission, a determined extrovert with a plan, interfering female relatives of various sizes, and a statistically improbable amount of mistletoe.

Word Count: Click here to reveal13816 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: I have a Santa emergency and I desperately need your help. Sigge isn’t exactly a grinch when it comes to Christmas, but he’s not a fan of the holiday either. So when his new neighbor Kristian shows up in a panic, begging him to help by donning a Santa suit, Sigge’s gut reaction is to say no. But Kristian is cute and funny, rendering Sigge powerless against his heartfelt plea—especially after a promise of spending more time together—so he agrees. The instant connection deepens as they share mulled wine and conversation as easy as breathing. But is it just holiday magic swirling in the air, or is it something real? Something that will last into the new year and beyond?

Word Count: Click here to reveal14500 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: After Doomsday, there wasn’t much left—a world that had fallen apart. It hadn’t been enough to boil the oceans and raze the surface with fire. With that scorched earth had come a final solution, the contagion. In a world where every breath was ash and disease, few survived. The Imperium hunted them, extracting healthy flesh to extend the life of the powerful. All the while, soaring unseen, the tools of an old order search. Hidden far from the sight of the ruthless Imperium, deep beneath the earth, the DIRE stations offer renewal—an exit from the destruction of the world. Those ships, like a phoenix, rise with the last refugees to bring them to DIRE, hoping that a keeper yet lives to hold open the only chance of escape.

Word Count: Click here to reveal15,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Take one fabulous hair stylist. Add a chicken, a robbery, duct tape, and a stripper. What do you get? Most likely, it’s a day with the Unbreakable Boys. B has been cutting Lucas Vallois’ hair for nearly eight years and he finally get his hands on all of Lucas’s friends as they prepare for Ian’s wedding. It was just supposed to be a day spent with a bunch of sexy men. How could things go so wrong? The Unbreakable B is a 15,000-word short story set between Fracture and Ignite that gives a fun glimpse into the lives of all the couples as they prepare for Ian’s wedding. Get ready for one crazy afternoon!

Word Count: Click here to reveal6400 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: As an empath, Alek is ironically used to shutting people out—until, several days before Christmas, a one-night stand forces him to let someone in. Being an empath is a lonely business, and Alek’s one-night stands do little to ease that feeling, even if he isn’t looking for anything more. He prefers to bury himself in his artwork anyway, or so he tells himself. That is until a young man named Jasper appears on his doorstep one December evening, threatening Alek’s careful control and making him want more than he’s ever dared ask for. Meanwhile, Jasper’s only two previous sexual encounters have made him more wary than hopeful—but tonight, he, too, may be getting more than he bargained for.

Word Count: Click here to reveal10000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Every time a shooting star is scheduled, Arthur, Carol and Tim choose a house with the best vantage point to haunt, carefully making sure its residents are not home. But this time Arthur recognises the decor. The furnishings belong to his ex-boyfriend, Alexander, a man he never got over. And judging by the happy snaps in the photo frames, Alexander lives with a new lover. Just as the ghosts settle in to watch the celestial event, the occupants return home early.

Word Count: Click here to reveal18000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: “Welcome, Mr Reese and Mr Connor... I trust your special day was all that it was cracked up to be? And what better way to compliment your union than with a honeymoon across time, eh? We here at TimeLabs are the premier time travel company and our guides are highly trained. Anything you want, anywhere you want to go... The possibilities are very nearly endless...” Sam and Zak take a Time Tour for their honeymoon, visiting some of the events through time which have captured their interest, including the very first Olympics. A five-star time machine for transport, luxury meals, fine wines—what could be more perfect? TimeLabs Inc. Tom loved his master, his job and the wonderful society he lived in—until one day, somebody hacked his tattoo and his world changed forever. Tattoo Kel meets his first alien and falls in love with her. Except... Alien Love Story Evan and Joey step through a door and find themselves in a whole new world where mythical creatures are as real as they are. Love Spider General Parker Rodriguez didn't believe for one second in the existence of flying saucers with little green men conducting random probes, but he still knew that Aliens were out there. And when they came, he would be ready. E-Contact And a dystopian short, My Day At The Beach TimeLabs Inc is a collection of six science fiction short stories, all with a romantic theme.  Not explicit. Suitable for both teens and adults.

Word Count: Click here to reveal12,022 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Sequel to Watch with Glittering Eyes Life has been going well for Travis Grayweaver recently. The Grand Council of High Magick hasn’t summoned him for anything. For a witch without a Guild, he’s still getting plenty of work. And best of all, he’s spent the last six months falling more and more in love with his best friend Niko, a rambunctious and playful cat familiar, who happens to love him back. Tonight, they’ll be celebrating the Yule with lots of candlelight and a feast for two and a festival in town as they honor the start of winter and wait for the sun’s return. Only Niko’s been acting a bit off lately, obviously keeping something from Travis. Travis is trying to be patient with him, but this thing from Niko’s past might be more than he can handle. Old demons and long-kept secrets will be revealed, but can the love they have for one another endure these revelations during the longest night of the year?

Word Count: Click here to reveal14,907 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Connor Murphy, the CFO of the family business, has given up his dream of becoming a chef in order to help the company. After all, family means the world to him, something his boyfriend learned at Christmas, much to his displeasure. This is why six months after that disastrous Christmas, Connor is sans boyfriend and buries himself in work to take his mind off his single status. Still, he enjoys baking desserts and bringing them to his beloved nanny. He also enjoys going to the Coffee Shoppe, exchanging glances with the man behind the counter. Until the man is suddenly gone. While Murphy Doyle waits for a job in his preferred field, he helps out behind the counter at his family’s coffee shop. He might be a physical therapist, but he also loves to bake, especially desserts, which are a big hit at work. He’s been intrigued by the businessman who frequently comes into the shop, wearing a three-piece suit and always ordering the same thing. Murph would have loved to ask him out, but it’s against company policy, so they never speak, just gaze silently at each other, everything but their eyes hidden by the masks they wear due to the pandemic. And then he gets his dream job, and he’s afraid the opportunity is lost. Are these two men destined to be ships passing in the night, or will family meddling somehow bring them together?

Word Count: Click here to reveal13084 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The most wonderful time of the year is about to get even better. On a cold, rainy December morning, Finn’s beloved Grampa, his best friend and rock, makes a friend outside their home who he invites in for coffee. The last thing Finn expects is Nelson, a man with a painful past, who is beautiful and generous and turns Finn’s knees into jelly. What starts out as a chance to get out of the rain, soon becomes more as Nelson helps Finn get ready for the Christmas market. They bond over coffee and fabric and Mariah Carey. Can handmade Christmas ornaments and an understanding heart give Nelson the love he’s been denied?

Word Count: Information not available

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: *This story is included in the new 2021 edition of Unacceptable Risk but kept available for those who have the old edition A free short-story epilogue that contains spoilers for Unacceptable Risk - Hidden Wolves book 1 Paul Hunter just spent two days as a captive to werewolves, his life hanging in the balance, a witness to crimes and craziness. Now he's back in his regular life, and living with Simon, the man he's been falling for. And he's part of a werewolf pack. He needs his brain to somehow catch up with all of that. Simon thought saving his human mate from his own pack would be the hardest thing he'd face with Paul, but he's beginning to realize that was just the beginning. He has to figure out how their future will work, and convince his skittish lover that staying with the pack is better than leaving it, while hints of threats to Paul's safety keep him awake at night. Fortunately Simon is up for the challenge.

Word Count: Click here to reveal9511 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Will a late-night phone call lead to a second chance at love? When Alex gets a call in the middle of the night, telling him is ex-boyfriend is in the hospital, he only hesitates for a second before rushing to Sammy’s side. But the Sammy in the hospital bed is fragile, and not the same man who told Alex to leave seven months ago. Alex wants to help Sammy get better and is desperate to find out what went wrong between them. Maybe even get a second chance with the man Alex hasn’t been able to get over. But will Sammy let him back into his life?

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: A later-in-life M/M holiday romance short story. As he waits in the bar of a San Francisco restaurant for the rest of his work group to arrive, ex-Navy JAG counsel Ren Itano sees someone arrive. At the end of the evening, Ren gives ex-Navy Legalman Jimmy Rubio a ride home. Jimmy invites Ren in for a cup of tea. After a night together, they begin a conversation about meeting again. By Christmas day, both men suspect they're on the brink of being boyfriends. Can a chance meeting lead to the gift of a future together? Adult situations, themes, and language.

Word Count: Click here to reveal10000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: What happens when your long-buried crush can't stay hidden any longer? Cassie is home from college for the holidays, and with a big family, she's not in the mood to crash at home. Being single after two years of accepting her boyfriend's proposal, she didn't want to deal with all the questions. When Neilie offers her guest room, she jumps at the offer. She hadn't spent enough time with her brother's best friend while away, and she's missed the older woman. The only problem is being in close quarters with Neilie showed her that her teenage crush wasn't a thing of the past. Could Neilie see her as more than the annoying girl she once was and accept her as the woman she'd grown to be?

Word Count: Click here to reveal5600 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Desperate to find a new squash partner, I never imagined meeting someone like Simon. With his striking good looks and unmatched skill on the court, Simon captivates me from the start. But it was off the court where he truly stole my heart and when we finally shared a kiss, it was electrifying—and utterly terrifying. Overwhelmed and confused by this new side of myself, I panicked and withdrew, unsure what sure what this meant. Instead of walking away, Simon keeps calling, and every part of me is caught between hope and fear. Can I trust him with my heart? Or will fear keep me from experiencing the love I’ve always longed for? “Where I Belong” is part of the Love in Terengia series. Each book in the series tells a sweet & spicy story with lots of heart, heat, and a guaranteed happy ending.

Word Count: Click here to reveal8260 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Stuck in a snowstorm with a hot daddy. Where’s the downside? Josh Ainsley is one of those teachers who go above and beyond. When he agrees to deliver a day’s worth of homework to a student’s house, it’s not exactly out of character or out of his way. So what if the student’s father is a hottie? Operation homework drop turns into a rescue mission when he gets caught in a snowstorm and subsequently snowed in with one sexy dad. Who says good deeds go unrewarded?

Word Count: Click here to reveal5920 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Eric hates the cold weather and his broken down car, which means venturing out on foot into the sub-zero temperatures. Navigating the icy sidewalks, he runs into Omar, literally. An impromptu hot coffee on the cold day finds that tattooed and pierced Eric, and government IT guy Omar might have more in common than they expected. When Omar is called away, before he can get the guy's number, Eric believes it may only have been a pleasant winterlude to temporarily distract him from the cold, or is there a possibility his winter will get a lot warmer?

Word Count: Click here to reveal9000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Cory is pursuing a life of fun, no stress, and taking chances. All three are put to the test when out paddleboarding with the Outback Boys activity group. His chilled morning takes a twist when he loses the battle with jellyfish. In need of rescue, Cory is more than okay with lifeguard Eric being the man to save him. Between drug-induced verbiage and overly helpful friends, it’s clear Cory wants more than mouth-to-mouth with the delicious lifeguard. It’s up to him to risk the sting of rejection in the hope that Eric sees him as more than just a guy he saved. Outback Boys is a sweet and sexy M/M romance series complete with bruised butts, rope burn, and overworked muscles... all in the pursuit of adventure, of course!