Books Tagged With what - emotion - hope

Word Count: Click here to reveal42,845 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: He was raised to believe he was unclean, but the beast inside refused to die. Jesse’s past is carved into his soul—a memory of a life he's been trying to outrun. As a bear shifter raised in a cult that forbade him from shifting, he was taught to abhor his own nature. When his parents sent him to a gay conversion therapy camp after finding male-on-male porn in his browser history, it broke what was left of his spirit. He learned early that love could wound deeper than any claw. Now free but fractured, Jesse numbs the pain with booze, drugs, and selling himself to stay alive. When he moves to Creekside with his best friends, he hopes for peace—quiet nights, clean air, and no memories. But peace doesn’t last long when his addictions catch up to him. Then Lucas enters the picture after a wild night in Metro City. A wolf shifter with an easy smile, Lucas is everything Jesse wants to avoid—kind, curious, dangerously sincere, and innocent. But in a town where the forest hums peacefully and calmly, with Lucas at the helm, even a broken bear might learn what it means to be loved—if he’s brave enough to stop running. Gritty, emotional, and intimate, Undesirable is a shifter romance about survival, the anguish of addiction, and the quiet strength it takes to let someone love you.

Word Count: Click here to reveal43,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: From the moment he entered the dark taproom, Caleb Hunt found himself drawn to the handsome man who sat alone at the end of the bar, away from the crowd. His interest in the dark-haired, muscled adonis took him by surprise, not remembering when he’d felt such hunger from a simple glimpse. Unable to stay away, he quickly found an open seat next to him and slid into it. When Ronan turned his ice-blue eyes to Caleb and introduced himself, his warm hand sent shivers of desire through his body and he was enthralled. Ronan Scott’s boring Friday night had taken a turn for the better when Caleb took the seat next to him. Over the next few hours, he found Caleb easy to talk to and at the same time, he found that he couldn’t tear his gaze away from the beautiful man. Caleb captured his attention in a way that no other had for as long as he could remember. Taking a chance, he leaned forward and captured Caleb’s lips with his. And with the simple kiss, Ronan understood that Caleb would become an essential part of his life. As Ronan and Caleb explore their new relationship and integrate their lives together, they realize that not everything will be so seamless… Unexpected is the first in a gay romance series, but each book can be read as a stand-alone. Each new novel will feature a new couple. The novel contains explicit sex between two men who fall in love. There is no cheating or cliffhangers and ends with a HEA.

Word Count: Click here to reveal100K (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: I fled Boston and my cheating jerk of an ex with three hundred dollars and a lip gloss in my pocket. Waking up the next day in Burlington, Vermont, with a crick in my back and a frozen ass wasn’t exactly in the plan. If there was one. Which there wasn’t. Story of my life. Three hours later and I’ve been hired as temporary help in the local veterinary and grooming clinic, which is kind of impressive since I know zip about animals and even less about grooming. But one thing I do know—I’m crushing hard on the sexy, absent-minded vet I work for. My life is a hot mess. The last thing I need is another relationship. Emmett pushes all my buttons, but he isn’t out. He's overwhelmed with a business to run and a son to look after and the kind of domestic life I never thought I wanted. I should walk away. But Emmett believes in me, and I might just be starting to believe in myself. As different as we are, is it possible we're exactly what the other needs?      

Word Count: Click here to reveal39525 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Some might think attorney Elijah Cummings has everything—a loving family, supportive friends, great looks and respect in the community. But Elijah’s problems are mounting—a suit filed against him, a financially dependent son, and an ailing mother who relies on him for care. His new gay law partner, Riley Hansen, might be what the business needs. But the younger, fresher version of himself reminds Elijah of what pains him most—the difficulty of coming out and finding love at the age of forty-two in a youth-obsessed culture. Riley Hansen has ideas on how to attract more business, but whatever he does seems to annoy his new law partner Elijah Cummings. Having invested his savings in the firm, Riley needs to make things work with Elijah—and that starts by banishing the unprofessional thoughts he’s been having about his handsome new partner.

Word Count: Click here to reveal54,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: He never thought he deserved forgiveness. He certainly never expected love. Carter has been running from the wreckage of his past for years. A bear shifter haunted by a drunken car crash that claimed the lives of his brother, cousin, and stepsister-girlfriend, he’s learned to survive by disappearing—into the shadows, into the streets of Metro City, and into the arms of strangers. With a shattered body and scarred face, he’s convinced himself he’s unredeemable. He's a killer, and killers don't deserve happy endings. But when he escapes from the city with his two best friends and lands in the quiet town of Creekside, everything begins to change. There, he meets Shaun—a bold, unapologetically flamboyant cougar shifter who sees Carter's pain… and sees through it. Carter doesn’t know if he’s ready for love, or if he even deserves it. But Shaun isn’t the type to let fear win. As Carter confronts his past, heals old wounds, and reclaims parts of himself he thought were lost forever, he discovers that sometimes, the fiercest kind of love is the one that finds you when you’re broken. Raw, tender, and ultimately hopeful, Unredeemable is a shifter romance about redemption, the power of love, and the courage to heal and find peace.

Word Count: Click here to reveal72000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Their plan was perfect…until the world stopped. After the Navy boots him out, Tristan is screwed. Without an honorable discharge or a college degree, his job prospects are grim. If only he knew a service member who was willing to get married, make Tristan a dependent, and transfer his GI Bill. Such as, say, a former coworker who’s single, gay, and wants his family off his back about his refusal to settle down…and who maybe feels guilty for his role in Tristan losing his career. Casey has never liked Tristan, but the plan is irresistible. In fact, it’s perfect. Now Tristan has health insurance and a place to live, and he’s going to school. Meanwhile, Casey’s conscience is assuaged, and he’s still sleeping his way through town while his family is none the wiser. The guys stay out of each other’s way, and it’s all good. Right up until a pandemic locks everything down. Suddenly it’s just Casey and Tristan…and maybe that’s not such a bad thing. In a time when they’re both desperate for strength, support, and human contact, they find them in the most unexpected place: each other. But when feelings come into play, is it something real? Or just two lonely men making the best of terrifying times? And how in the world do Casey and Tristan tell the difference? Until the World Stops is a 72,000-word standalone gay romance. CW: COVID-19 A note from the author: As the events of 2020 have unfolded, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic, I’ve debated when and how to incorporate that reality into my work. It’s not something I want to make light of or capitalize on, but it has become a part of our lives, and one that doesn’t look to be going anywhere any time soon. There comes a point when—if I’m to write about life—I need to write about the ugly parts too. For that matter, writing is how I process the world around me, and as time has gone on, I’ve found myself needing the catharsis of looking this reality in the eye and putting it into words as best I can. Most importantly, however, this is a time when we all need hope and even moments of peace. While pure escapism is important to me, so too is finding that hope and peace when everything feels so bleak. So it’s with that in mind that I give you a couple of guys finding a little bit of light when all the world feels dark.

Word Count: Click here to reveal45,060 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Some scars are too deep for the eye to see—but not for the heart to feel. Trauma runs deep in Rory's bones—deeper than even the powerful bear spirit that stirs beneath his skin. Abused and broken as a child, he’s grown into an omega who trusts no one and recoils from the gentlest touch. Solitude is his armor. Silence, his only companion. Until Denver walks into his life. Denver has formed a rare connection with him—he can walk through Rory's sleeping mind. The first time he slips into Rory's nightmares by accident, he doesn’t expect to find such raw pain behind the fortress walls. But instead of turning away, he stays … and comforts Rory in the only place he allows anyone close. Night after night, a fragile bond forms between them in the dreamworld—one that begins to bleed into waking life. But Rory's past isn’t done with him, and trust is harder to build than bone. Poignant, powerful, and deeply intimate, Untouchable is a shifter romance about trauma, healing, and the transformative power of connection—both in dreams and in the light of day.

Word Count: Click here to reveal22000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary:

Friends to lovers.

Jack had done what he’d always done to protect himself.  He allowed fear to take over and as a result, he pushed Adam away.  When Adam finally left, Jack understood that if he loved Adam as much as he claimed, he needed to change before Adam could risk his heart again.

Lovers to forever.

Adam understood why Jack kept his feelings secret, but after being ignored one too many times, he left.  But Jack won’t give up and when he proves to Adam how much he wants their relationship to work, can Adam risk his heart to the one man he’s loved all over again?

Will Jack and Adam find their happily-ever-after during the season of miracles?

Word Count: Click here to reveal103,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: DETECTIVE MARK KNIGHT has a serious problem—one that comes in the form of Auckland Med’s brand-new forensic pathologist. Six feet of delicious blond-haired, scary smart, stern and disapproving hotness—DR EDWARD R NEWTON. The man is miles out of Mark’s league; completely opposite in almost every way, and shockingly immune to Mark’s flirtations. Mark should just let him go. But the alluring doctor has taken residence in Mark’s brain and is messing with his life’s plan—in particular Mark’s determination to skirt attachments and all the self-absorbed drama that goes with them. Mark has spent two years watching his friends drop like flies to the white picket virus, only to suddenly find himself hankering for a hammer and some white paint. Edward, however, doesn’t want a bar of Mark’s roguish charm. But it’s not like Mark can avoid the sexy pathologist—death brings them together on a regular basis. So when a string of murders threatens both their lives and sends them into hiding, something has to give.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: Three book volume, books 4, 5, and 6 of the Vasquez and James series. Together, badass Luki and artist Sonny survive chilling trials. Romance sizzles, love endures, and a family is made. Saving Sonny James: The events of the last couple of years have begun to catch up with Luki -- loving Sonny James and letting Sonny love him back have left gaps in his emotional armor. Sonny says yes to a European tour with Harold Breslin, a dangerously intelligent promoter whose obsessive desire for Sonny is exceeded only by his narcissism. When Harold's plan for Sonny turns poisonous, Luki must break free of PTSD and get to France, fit and ready in time to save his husband's life. Yes: Professional badass Luki Vasquez and textile artist Sonny James have been married for five years, and despite the sometimes volatile mix, they're happy. From their first days together, they stood united against deadly enemies and prevailed. But now the deadly enemy they face is the cancer consuming Luki's lungs. Sonny tries to control every thread just as he does when he weaves, but still Luki dances with cancer alone—until he gets a startling reminder of the miracle of life. Because of Jade: Still cancer free after five years, Luki finds out his nephew Josh and wife Ruthie have met a tragic death. Luki and Sonny must help each other learn to parent an unexpected child, Jade, and still nourish the love that has kept them whole for the past ten years. A relative's claim to Jade threatens the new family, and even if they prevail in court, they could lose their little girl unless they can rescue Jade from evil hands and true peril.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: After three months, vegan Kyle Slidell is getting the hang of being a werewolf, and of being the predestined mate of the pack Alpha, Tobias Rogan. Now Tobias is bringing Kyle to a gathering of alphas at the home of the regional leader,  where their pack will receive full recognition and Tobias will formally declare Kyle his mate, cementing their bond permanently. But their happiness is dampened by conflict with Alpha Saul Hughes, who has the power to control all other werewolves–and a grudge against Tobias. Working with the wolf who changed Kyle, Saul sets his sights on taking over both Boston packs and removing Tobias permanently. On the night of the full moon, as the werewolves hunt, tragedy strikes at Saul’s command. In the aftermath, Kyle is left to fight for his pack and mate while Tobias fights for his life. This book was originally published in 2012. The current version has been revised and re-edited, with some content added. The book also includes the Christmas-themed short story “Tofurkey and Yams,” originally published as a separate short story in 2011. This book includes on-page discussion of off-page abuse and sexual assault; depictions of PTSD; gun violence; and a main character losing his temper with his mate and coming far too close to crossing the line between consensual and coercion.

Word Count: Click here to reveal70,741 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: They say the Shabah doesn’t exist. They’re wrong. ​ I know because I was one of them—an assassin trained to kill without question and then vanish without a trace. Five years ago, on a mission with my closest friend, Kas, the unthinkable happened. We were ambushed by one of our own. I still see Kas’s blood on my hands and the confusion in his eyes as he died. Like a coward, I ran. ​ Now I’m back. ​ Amagi hasn’t changed. Same powerful Guilds, same rot beneath the surface. But I’m not the same man who fled. I’ve spent five years planning—waiting for the right moment to strike. I’ll figure out who was responsible, and every name on that list will pay. Slowly. Painfully. They took my brother-in-arms. They took my peace. I’ll take everything from them in return. ​ The Shabah think they buried their secret. They believe I’m gone. They’re about to learn that ghosts don’t always stay dead. ​ Vengeance is an LGBTQ+ fantasy romance featuring a morally gray assassin sworn to avenge the past, a charming merchant unaware of the secrets in his own, and the dangerous connection that binds them. It's a standalone introduction to the Amagi Chronicles universe.

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

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

Summary: Every assassin has an exit strategy – their ultimate plan for leaving that dangerous life and disappearing. They just never expect to live long enough to enact it. Gabriel Prescott was no different. But everything changed when he met fellow mercenary Justin Mallory. Now he’s racing across Europe with Justin to put to rest old threats before they can end both their lives. Of course, it will also mean coming clean to Justin about exactly who he is and who wants him dead. Gabriel can only hope that Justin will still want him when the truth comes out.

Word Count: Click here to reveal50000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: It’s time to visit the Varik Clan. While everyone has found their happily ever after, the four brothers and their loving father are still finding mischief and tender moments. This collection of EIGHT stories touches on each of the Variks and includes a never-before-release novella, Gideon’s Ghost Story. Fall in love with Aiden, Marcus, Rafe, Bel, and Winter all over again. Visiting the Variks is a 50,000-word collection of stories for the Lords of Discord series that contains silliness, surprises, sexy times, and one brand-new happily ever after.

Word Count: Click here to reveal89599 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealAce, Bisexual, Gay, Genderfluid, Lesbian, Non Binary, Pansexual, Straight, Transgender (Click here to hide)

Summary: In a world where monsters and mortals live side by side, Aiden has always felt he belonged to neither. His origins a mystery shrouded in shadows as dark as the ones he should be able to control but can't. Raised by a loving adoptive family, Aiden never wanted for anything, but the question of who—or more-so what—he is has always been at the back of his minds. When unregistered rifts in reality start appearing at random across Havenwood, unleashing creatures not meant for this world, Aiden can no longer ignore the truth clawing at the edges of his life. There’s something potentially dangerous about him, and it was becoming obvious he was somehow tied to these events. With the world unraveling, the darkness within him is waking up and he must learn to control it. With the help of his best friend, a steadfast Lycan named Kai, and his fiery cousin Lani, Aiden embarks on a journey of self-discovery, where uncovering his past could be the key to saving the future—or the thing that destroys him. Because some doors, once opened, can never be closed. Book 1 is an emotional cliffhanger. Book 2 will be a happy for now, happily ever after. Book 3 will bring things around to a full conclusion.

Word Count: Click here to reveal25967 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Two hearts entwined in one hot night A chronic gambler, down on his luck, Austin must fight for more than his life. A premiere Jazz musician has been imprisoned. It's been a century since Luc was free to play the streets of New Orleans. When the mafia catches up to Austin and threatens his life, he discovers Luc, cursed by a voodoo witch long ago. Both are caught in a nefarious trap, linked together by a mysterious ring. They need to work together to make it out of the Big Easy alive.

Word Count: Click here to reveal52000 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Click here to revealBisexual, Demisexual, Lesbian, Non Binary, Polyamorous, Transgender (Click here to hide)

Summary: One young man desperate to make things right for the monks who raised him. Another looking to escape the limelight. The two best friends stuck in time because of promises. A couple looking to make a bigger unconventional family—one young woman who wants to help the world become a more beautiful place, one transwoman looking to put down roots for the both of them. Love isn’t always easy, but the good kind is worth fighting for, even when others don’t understand it. The story of what becomes of their love is what will be passed down into legend. Because stories like this, people remember. When Jira, Boon, Areeya and Fon come together to celebrate Yee Peng and Loy Krathong, sparks fly and dreams coalesce. But that’s only the beginning…

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: A love worth the wait Carter Hamilton and Riley Porter-Wright room together as Harvard undergraduates. An immediate friendship forms, but as the years pass it deepens into something neither man understands. As attraction simmers under the surface, lines begin to blur. When they move back to Manhattan, they gradually slip into the lives their families have envisioned for them. Both men marry, but in time, Riley realizes he’s ended up in a passionless relationship like his parents’ while his career takes center stage. Although he loves his wife, Carter misses the emotional and physical connection he shared with Riley. The weight of Riley’s feelings and his growing discontentment with his life eventually push him to tell Carter the truth about how he feels. Shocked and unable to face his own feelings, Carter rejects Riley. As each man comes to terms with the lies they’ve told themselves, each other and the people around them, they find their lives changing in ways they never imagined. They soon discover that the truths they’ve been longing to tell shake the foundations of their friendship.

Word Count: Click here to reveal105000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary:

Word Count: Click here to reveal53500 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Desperate to escape the pain of his brother’s death, Jesse Melnik ran—but he couldn’t outrun the grief, no matter how much distance he put between himself and his past. Now, after fifteen years of trying, he’s finally ready to face his hometown of Charlottetown again. He expects the memories of his brother to hover in every corner of his family’s sailboat and whisper in every sea-tinged breeze. What he doesn’t expect is Parker Willis, the best friend he left behind without a word the day he fled. And he certainly doesn’t expect old feelings to resurface. Parker’s been stuck in a rut since his father died three months ago. Every day is the same: try to keep his father’s dinner cruise business afloat so he can chip away at Dad’s debts, one bill at a time, all while working a job that leaves him more frustrated than satisfied. Then Parker’s routine shatters in the best way possible: Jesse Melnik arrives on Prince Edward Island for the summer, all six feet three inches of gorgeous hockey player. Now, that’s different. Jesse kickstarts Parker’s heart. Parker makes Jesse feel again And although both men are a little bit damaged from struggling down the broken path of loss, maybe—just maybe—if they can lean on each other, they’ll learn to move forward at last. Content warnings: themes of grief, discussions of a parent’s death from cancer, descriptions/discussions of a sibling’s death by suicide.