Books Tagged With what - emotion - angst

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

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

Summary: The would-be highwayman killer’s case is closed, and Luis has been cleared to return to work.  He and Donovan are starting their new life together, and while they’re both a little new at this whole “stable relationship” thing they’re determined to make things work.  When people start dying at Assonet Ledge, it seems like a typical case for Donovan until one of the victims turns out to be a missing person from out of state, bringing the FBI into one of Donovan’s cases yet again.   The park ranger at the site is everything Donovan isn’t, and Donovan finds himself wondering if his partner isn’t falling into old habits.  Luis struggles to understand Donovan’s jealousy, which puts a strain on their relationship and the case.  To top things off, there may be forces at work here that go back long before humans showed their faces, forces Luis can’t hope to understand. Will those forces propel the case, and Luis and Donovan’s rekindled romance, off a cliff?

Word Count: Click here to reveal76071 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: As construction on the Charm wraps up, multi-media artist Wyatt McBride creates special metal and glass designs to add the finishing touch. When his brother accepts an overseas military duty, he takes in his teenage nephew, Collin. Things go upside down when loses a dear friend to AIDS, has to deal with teenage angst, and loses his heart to a brilliant but shy teacher. To keep his mind out of the past, Keegan Donaghue comes to Shore Breeze to take a position as a high school science teacher and part-time forensics detective for the sheriff’s department. A special student connects him to the local artist, but he’s still running from his past. Addiction and abuse remain there, lurking in his mind, along with mild PTSD panic attacks. Cryptic troubling emails from his ex don’t help the situation. Shy of relationships and opening their hearts to trust, these two men learn to weave their lives together amidst the turmoil of their daily lives. Neither one expects everything to go according to fate.

Word Count: Click here to reveal73,141 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Time travel. For mages, it violates their number one rule: what the Mother has written, let no one unwrite. The Mother writes the destinies of the creatures on the world of Karishian. If her writings were undone, it is feared that Creation itself could be undone. The dark mage Morgorth takes this rule to heart, but there are others who do not. Morgorth is about to claim a stone of power when it is stolen from him by a female mage he hasn't seen in decades. As they struggle for the stone, she activates it, and Morgorth is unwillingly plunged into another time and another place. It isn't long before he realizes what time he's found himself in and there are a few familiar faces. Most notable is a much younger version of Aishe. His mate. Living with a tribe who will be massacred, caring for a young lad who will become his mate, and fighting a battle against a mage who can travel from past to future at a whim—Morgorth's life has never been easy but now he must contend with the will of the Mother. Unable to change the future and the tragedies of Aishe's life, he must decide what his role in his mate's past will be, and ask himself one vital question: how does one defeat time?

Word Count: Click here to reveal45,277 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Joe Markarian was sick of every decision being made for him, so he got out from under his father's thumb by joining the Air Force right after college. He’s just five years from making his twenty when he gets word that his estranged father is in the hospital and needs his help. Riley McCoy is a genius – just ask him – who’s been looking for love in all the wrong people. He has good friends, a niece he dotes on, and a sister who has the happy family he dreams of, but he yearns for a love of his own. If only he didn’t keep moving too fast and scaring his partners off. Joe and Riley are surprised to see each other at Markarian Scientific the morning after their unconventional meeting the night before. Joe’s taking care of his dad’s business, and Riley is the chief scientist in charge of the project. Will they be able to keep things professional, or will a snarky AI change their lives forever? AI Think I Love You is the first full-length book in Walter Hopgood and Lisa Witte's Hart's Square series. Come find romance in our Portland Business Park.

Word Count: Click here to reveal149,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The star of the University of Virginia theater department, Aidan Emery is lusted after and admired for living out and proud. He uses his talent and good looks to his advantage and never sleeps with the same guy twice. But his glamorous patina has been carefully honed to hide the pain he carries inside. Aidan wasn't always such a player. He starts college naively romantic, hungry for the attention he can’t get from his workaholic father and mentally ill mother. Unfortunately, that leaves him ripe pickings for predatory professor Rodney Montgomery. Rodney’s flattering regard seduces Aidan into a dysfunctional relationship that destroys his innocence. Life looks up for Aidan when he finally breaks free of Rodney’s pull and moves to New York City to make it as an actor. Meeting sweet fellow actor Patrick Jaymes seems like the start of a fairy tale. But before Aidan can rebuild his life into happily ever after, family secrets rip him wide open, leaving him easy prey when Rodney decides he’s not willing to let Aidan go.

Word Count: Click here to reveal76,189 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Aiden’s art is his passion, but he’s lost inspiration. When he meets the gruff but sexy rancher Devin, his life is changed forever. Aiden Fisher does well as a New York artist. In fact, he’s known among the art elite for being the man to watch. That doesn’t keep his critics from arguing that his work lacks personality or emotion. Of course, his life doesn’t have much of that either. While perusing a dating site that connects urban gay men to their rural counterparts, Aiden comes across a profile of a Washington state rancher. The silhouetted picture and matter-of-fact language trigger his inspiration and spin him into a creative journey that ends with a collection that surpasses perfection. After his collection sells to a prestigious buyer, Aiden feels he has no choice but to meet and thank his muse. Little does he know the journey to the rugged mountains of Southeast Washington could change his life forever. Devin Pearce is tall, built and remarkably handsome, all of which is accentuated with the personality of an angry bear. When he first comes upon Aiden, he can’t see past his anger -- this stranger is here because his nosy housekeeper set up that damned profile. But Aiden isn’t a typical stranger, not only does this man have the looks but he has a work ethic Devin has seldom seen in another man. Sure, Devin wants love, but experience has taught him to be leery. Can he trust his instinct that Aiden is an extraordinary person, or will he let the tragedy of past relationships get in his way? The fire between them burns hot, but they are truly opposites. Only the fates know if they are brave enough to overcome their differences and build the relationship they both dream of.

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

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

Summary: A B&B owner takes on a posh hotel developer in this enemies-to-lovers story with plenty of South Florida heat. The grudge match is set to get nasty. Wesley and Nathan are willing to pull out all the stops to achieve their dreams. They just never expected the heat between them to carry over to the bedroom. After one reckless night burning up the sheets, Wes and Nathan can’t stay away from each other. But is there any hope of them having their happily ever after when it means someone has to give up his dream?  All For Wesley is a standalone enemies-to-lovers MM romance with sneaking, spying, family troubles, helpful movie stars, one poorly timed hurricane, and all the feels.

Word Count: Click here to reveal56000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: What happens when a cruise ship romance crashes on the rocky shores of reality? Jonathan Vallen, a gentle musician who loves to garden, is failing miserably at running his father’s Boston company. When hotshot executive Marco Pellegrini takes over, a humiliated Jonathan moves to Cape Cod and spends a year transforming from an insecure duckling into a sexy swan. They meet again on an LGBTQ Caribbean cruise and when Marco doesn’t recognize him, Jonathan pretends to be someone else for the week—Jonah Rutledge—someone good enough to be loved. Intrigued by Jonah, Marco lets down his defenses and their shipboard fling deepens into something special. Back on land, the romance crashes when Marco discovers who Jonah really is. While Marco struggles to understand the deception, Jonathan resolves to win back Marco’s trust. But Jonathan’s father takes vindictive action against Marco for daring to get involved with his son. Will Marco and Jonathan defeat their own fears as well as the challenge from Jonathan’s father? If you like swoony romances in tropical paradises, hidden identity, and the courage to love in the face of adversity, then you’ll love All the Way to Shore.

Word Count: Click here to reveal68,500 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Three cheating girlfriends in a row have given skateboarder Brennan Cross the same excuse: he wasn’t meeting their needs. Desperate and humiliated, he goes to the professionals at the local sex shop for advice. Zafir Hamady, a sales clerk at Red Hot Bluewater, has an unusual theory: he doesn’t think Brennan is a bad lover. In fact, he doesn’t think Brennan is heterosexual. Or sexual at all, for that matter. He also can’t stop thinking about Brennan. But even if he’s right and Brennan really is asexual, that doesn’t mean Zafir has a chance. Brennan’s never dated a man, and Zafir’s never met anyone who’s game for a Muslim single father with a smart mouth and a GED. Brennan’s always thought of himself as straight. But when sex is explicitly out of the mix, he finds himself drawn to Zafir for the qualities and interests they share. And Zafir can’t help enjoying Brennan’s company and the growing bond between Brennan and his son. They work well together, but with so many issues between them, doubts creep in, and Brennan’s struggle with his identity could push away the one person he didn’t know he could love. * * * * * * * The BLUEWATER BAY stories can be read in any order - jump in wherever you'd like!

Word Count: Click here to reveal35640 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Can a straightlaced FBI agent fake a relationship with a mob rat long enough to close the case? There's only one way out of this family, but Tanner thinks he's found another one. He's going to fake a relationship with a straightlaced undercover FBI agent and help him take the organization down from within. That is, if the two of them don't strangle each other first. Maddox hates the Mob. He doesn't have a lot of respect for mob rats either. He knows why he was stuck with this case, and he's not thrilled about it. He wants the win, but having to play nice with gorgeous criminal Tanner might be more than he can take. When secrets come out, Tanner and Maddox will have to trust each other with everything they have. They may be opposites, but they're exactly what each other will need to get through this job with their bodies and souls together.

Word Count: Click here to reveal41,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: What if you fell in love with your best friend? Ben Cooper has spent his life trying to make others happy and sacrificing his own dreams. When one fateful night with his best friend gives him a glimpse of what the future could be, he needs to find the courage to follow his heart. One night gives Spencer Henderson a tantalising taste of the man he loves. But he doesn't fit into Ben's future plans--Spence is a complication. Running may be the only option to protect his heart. With trouble escalating at home and Spence out of reach, Ben's life will finally spiral out of control. Always Been You is a standalone M/M romance between best friends who fear taking the next step in their relationship and need to find the courage to risk it all for their HEA. It features an emotional hurt/comfort theme. Note: This story has been previously published (as It's Not Easy). This edition has been revised, expanded, and re-edited, adding approximately 9k words, but the story largely remains unchanged. It is approximately 41k words.

Word Count: Click here to reveal12900 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: As a soldier, Dustin Cooper survived his unit being blown up. His twin brother didn’t survive the blast, and Dusty knows he’s lucky just to be alive. He doesn’t feel lucky. Crippled and scarred in the explosion, Dusty can’t even go to the local grocery store without being called a monster by any kid who gets a good look at what’s left of him. When Dusty collapses in the aisle, he wakes to an angel looking down on him. Benjamin Newell offers hope, offers help. That he’s gorgeous only makes the whole situation more tense. But Dusty is determined to overcome his injuries and the trauma of the past without any charity from a stranger. There’s only one thing he wants from his grocery store savior—a date.

Word Count: Click here to reveal76000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: For Andrew Tuttleman, sex is a means to an end. With a mother too sick to pay the bills on her own and college bills to pay, Drew has spent years resorting to sex with strangers to keep a roof over his mother's head and keep himself at school, far away from the hell where he grew up. This summer, his usual tricks are still paying the bills. But there's a new one, Grant, who never got the memo that a trick is a no-strings deal. Convinced that Drew is the answer to a hopeless prayer, Grant seems ready to pursue Drew to the ends of the earth. Drew, on the other hand, isn't so convinced. Grant comes with trouble in the form of a wife and three kids, not to mention a single and unwavering requirement: that Drew give up his livelihood. Grant's kiss makes Drew ache for more, a romance that he never dreamed possible. He finds himself unexpectedly willing to try. Can Drew weather Grant's angry father, wife, and a daughter determined to kick him in the shins so hard that he'll leave Grant's life forever? It all relies on Grant's faith in an impossible prayer.

Word Count: Click here to reveal44945 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Eos is after her wings and Kenner’s mate, Como, holds the key to finding them. Como brings his dreams to life on canvas. His art has mentally protected him most of his life and now Kenner wants to take over that job. How can Como open up and explain everything to his mate when he doesn’t understand most of it himself? Como knows he must try, but fear has always ruled him and right now he's fearing he might lose Kenner before he could even claim him. Kenner knew Como was a gifted artist. However, he also knew he had hidden secrets that if not told could mean both their lives. Kenner needed to gain Como’s trust before it was too late because if Eos got her hands on those wings it would mean the lives of all Shifters on Haven and around the world.

Word Count: Click here to reveal117000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A rookie, his teammate, and his best friend from a rival team. What could possibly go wrong? Seattle Snowhawks rookie Justin Reid has it bad for his teammate Shawn Kelleher. It’s just his luck that Shawn’s got a crush too… on Justin’s best friend, Vancouver Narwhal center Keith Adams. When Shawn lets it slip at the worst possible moment that he wants Keith, Justin is hurt, but what can he do? He steers Keith in Shawn’s direction and lets chemistry do the rest. What Justin doesn’t know is that while Keith is into Shawn, he’s also secretly wanted Justin since forever. After some stumbling, they realize there’s something very hot and very mutual going on between all three of them. It’s fantasies coming true left, right, and center, and it just doesn’t get any better than this. Except this scorching hot triad is anything but simple. Not while the closeted son of a hockey legend is fighting to make his own name in the shadow of his deeply homophobic father’s legacy. Not in the midst of grueling schedules and a team’s fraternization rules. Throw in pesky emotions showing up where they aren’t wanted, and it’s a play that’s doomed from the start. Shawn, Keith, and Justin all fought their way into professional hockey. Is what they have together worth fighting for too? Or will fear let heartache win this game? ASSIST is approximately 117,500 words. It's book 2 of the Pucks & Rainbows series, and can be read as a standalone.

Word Count: Click here to reveal22300 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Adam Whitaker keeps seeing one particular soldier nearby. No one else seems to notice. Since Afghanistan is a hot zone, there's no avoiding a certain amount of death so Adam sees the mysterious unidentified soldier multiple times. Then, while in the field, Adam's vehicle gets hit. Everyone but Adam dies. The unknown soldier rescues Adam from certain death. Sig isn't what he looks like, hot as that is,--or maybe it's that he's more than he seems. Can an immortal Valkyrie and an all too human military doctor find some way to overcome impossible obstacles to find happiness together? What price will Sig have to pay? It's not going to be that easy to walk away from being an angel of death.

Word Count: Click here to reveal72579 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: A Dark Steamy Superhero Yaoi Romance ❤️former super-powered hotties returning to action! ❤️ second chance at love for a Hero and a Villain  ❤️ amazing secondary cast with their own love stories COMPLETE SERIES NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON & KU Several years past 50, Matt thought that his days as a Villain in the staged Chosen fights were long over. But then his powers returned in the wake of a devastating attack that took the powers of all the active Chosen, perpetrated by a young Hero. With no other choice, Matt goes to the one man who might understand what is happening to him - Colton. The man who was Matt's main rival back in the days of his fighting career. A man Matt hasn't seen since the day he burned out and walked away from the fights. That would be complicated enough. But back then, they were also secret lovers. Matt walked away from that as well without a goodbye. Now after nearly twenty five years, these two men are coming face to face for the first time. Can they handle their personal issues while trying to save the world from a Hero gone bad? Trigger warnings for dub/noncon, super tragic backstories, explicit on page sex, angsty gay dudes, and cliffhangers.

Word Count: Click here to reveal26,550 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: How can they get together with a monster in their way? The warrior-priest. Gossamer wants true love. But his faery godmonster, a gigantic, winged, two-headed beast named Puff-puff, is determined to keep him "safe"--even from a broken heart. The necromancer. Pox is a sexy fugitive. An exiled aristocrat, his ego is as big as a dragon's maw. He has no time for love. Still, that brawny Gossamer might make a fine manservant. **This gay romantic comedy contains four graphic, sexually explicit scenes and is intended for adults only. (It also contains crude humor, a love story, and a big scary monster.) This collector's edition features a brand new cover, improved formatting, and the first chapter of the second book in the Chainmail and Velvet series!

Word Count: Click here to reveal75000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Rory Graeble returns to college determined to reinvent himself. Too many years have been wasted with masks, but becoming a student leader is a step Rory isn’t sure he’s ready for. A new identity takes more than just a new nickname, and Rory knows he has to take the chances that his old self would never risk. When that chance is a party that ends with an anonymous hot skater’s tongue down his throat and a phone number in his pocket, Rory knows what he has to do. Danny Smits never expected to see stuffy lit geek Rory Graeble trying to be out, trying to be proud, trying to be… Rory. It’s damned sexy, and too much for the entrepreneurial skater to resist. When Rory calls him back the day after the party, Danny knows Rory has changed. But will Danny’s haunted past deter Rory? Or will Rory embrace the chance to experience everything the closet had stolen away? Danny believes in keeping things real, in a brutal honesty he knows means Rory will run screaming. But this time Rory isn’t running.

Word Count: Click here to reveal97,046 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Love, served behind the stick. Kyle McKee lives a charmed life. He co-owns Under, an uptown speakeasy, where he is chief mixologist. Friends poke fun at Kyle’s tiny one-bed apartment in Chelsea, but they’re the best support system a man could ask for. Unfortunately, Kyle’s lackluster love life has led him to take a break from dating. Harlem resident Luka Clarke is a lieutenant with Engine 47, the Pride of Morningside, where he carries on his father’s legacy with the FDNY. Luka, who is mixed race and bisexual, has his eye on Kyle, whom he met at a local burger joint and he just needs to make time to visit Kyle’s bar. Before work one evening, Kyle is trapped inside the luncheonette when a fire breaks out. Luka’s firehouse answers the call and he connects with Kyle again under the most unexpected of circumstances. When Kyle gratefully invites Luka and the firehouse squad to Under, the flirting between the two men leads to a date. Kyle and Luka quickly grow close, but Luka’s mother and sister distrust Kyle for being both white and gay. Luka believes his family will come around and accept Kyle in the end, but Kyle is not optimistic and hides his disquiet as attraction blossoms into love. Kyle and Luka’s near-idyllic bubble is shattered one evening after a hate crime leaves them scarred, inside and out. Shaken, they put on a strong front but struggle inwardly against fear and personal demons. As the emotions seething beneath the surface finally come to a head, both men must decide if they have the strength to find love enough to conquer hate.