Books Tagged With when - season - fall

Word Count: Click here to reveal110,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: At Scotland Yard, DI Timothy Stoker is no better than a ghost. A master of arcane documents and niggling details who, unlike his celebrity-chasing colleagues, prefers hard work to headlines. But an invisible man is needed to unmask the city’s newest amateur detective, Hieronymus Bash. A bon vivant long on flash and style but short on personal history, Bash just may be a Cheapside rogue in Savile Row finery. When the four fangs of the Demon Cats of Scavo—trophies that protect the hunters who killed the two vicious beasts—disappear one by one, Stoker's forced to team with the very man he was sent to investigate to maintain his cover. He finds himself thrust into a world of wailing mediums, spiritualist societies, man-eating lions, and a consulting detective with more ambition than sense. Will this case be the end of his career, or the start of an unexpected liaison? Or will the mysterious forces at play be the death of them both? And just who is Hieronymus Bash?

Word Count: Click here to reveal86000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Face to face with an old grudge. Riley Chase escaped the drama of Five Foxes High School when he went away to pursue his dreams of Broadway. After returning home to help a friend in need, now the only drama Riley can handle comes from his students on stage. But to keep drama club funds, Riley is forced to work with his old nemesis—the guy he’s hated since senior year. Colton Effing Landry. That old grudge is also smoking hot… Since his senior year a decade ago, Colton has tried to make amends for his past mistakes—lying for a homophobic bully first and foremost. He never thought he’d be back at the school with so many bad memories. Still, he needs the job. But Colton’s first day as Five Foxes High’s new girls’ JV coach hits him with bad news. Two of his athletic teams are on the chopping block due to budget cuts. And that’s where he finds Riley Chase. Riley Chase, the guy he had a crush on back during high school. The same Riley Chase whose last words to him during their senior year were I hate you. Not the way to kick off a new job. A stormy past could lead to a nightmare of a fall semester. Now they have to work together to raise the money to save their programs. It’s either that or let their kids down. Can Riley really trust the guy who betrayed him all those years ago? And can Colton prove to Riley he’s not the same dumb kid he was back in high school? Can hate really turn to love? Stupid Love is an enemies-to-lovers, contemporary gay romance novel featuring a nerdy English teacher and a hot jock coach with a little angst, some sensual heat, an HEA, and no cliff-hangers. It can be read as a stand-alone novel. Trigger warning: This book deals with the aftermath of a rape that happened ten years prior. No non-consensual sex happens during the story, and the previous rape is never described in any detail.

Word Count: Click here to reveal64000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Dev has pined for his cousin's best friend for years, but no matter how hard he wishes, Clark sees him as nothing but a friend. And it's as a friend that Clark comes to him for help. Clark’s father is on the brink of losing his house and the fastest way to make a quick buck is to win the $10,000 prize in the inaugural Sweet to the Core apple baking contest. Only problem? He's never baked anything that hasn’t come out of a box. But Dev has. As a baker, he’s Clark’s best chance. For the first time, Dev has something Clark wants. Only problem? Dev needs the prize for himself. The only thing he wants—besides Clark—is to buy the local lighthouse where he last spent time with his parents before they died. Working together means opening a lot more than a barrel of apples, though. They may have found the recipe to love. But will Dev have to give up the only connection he has left to his parents in order to have it? Or will Clark let his father down? They can't both have everything. Or can they?

Word Count: Click here to reveal90,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: CASSIDY MARTIN is a country boy through and through. He loves his horses, his Lord of the Rings tourist business, and his isolated paradise at the foot of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Not that everyone appreciates the seclusion he craves. Take his ex-wife for example. The sexy-as-hell guy on his latest tour might be whip-smart and push all of Cass’s buttons, but he’s about as country as a pair of Louboutins, and Cass has been there and done that. Broken heart with the T-shirt. STEFAN HAMILTON doesn’t do ‘outdoorsy’, he’s a city boy, born and bred. The closest Stef gets to the country is ‘Cowboy Night’ at his favourite Auckland gay bar even if the music makes Stef want to rip his hair out by the roots. But Stef is also a hardcore Lord of the Rings fanboy. So, when he gets the chance to go on a horse trek to the iconic film locations in the Southern Alps, he sucks up his fear of the gigantic animals and his allergy to camping for the chance to let his nerd flag fly. But when his mate pulls out at the last minute, Stef is left to negotiate the horses, the wrath of mother nature, and an inconvenient crush on the cowboy leading the tour. City meets country and the sparks fly.

Word Count: Click here to reveal61450 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Choices have consequences. Sixteen-year-old TJ Shaw had to grow up fast as he is juggling the responsibilities of fatherhood, school, and being the top athlete while trying to maintain an active social life. Even though the relationship with his son’s mother is on shaky ground, other factors in his life are triggering him to make poor decisions. As TJ’s friendship with Seven Richardson blossoms, it has the potential to disrupt TJ’s world as he knows it. While TJ is dealing with his own horrible circumstances, his best friend, Elijah, is on the brink of disaster. Elijah McDaniel is going through a lot emotionally. Although his sexuality is no secret to those closest to him, it is his secret life that could potentially cause him great harm – mentally, physically, and socially. While he’s alienating the people who care for him, it is possible that a chance encounter could thrust Elijah into unfamiliar and very dangerous territory. What will cause TJ and Elijah’s relationship to be pushed to the point of no return? Will their friendship still stand once the dust settles? Join our friends in the first book of this spinoff series from Jaxon Grant’s Life of a College Bandsman, as our favorite sons, TJ and Elijah, come together to reveal their truths. And one thing to be true in this story – the truth will not be pretty.

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

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

Summary: In 1860, four brothers on a mission from God tunneled beneath the surface in Nevada territory, looking to find the next Comstock Lode. Legend has it they went down into the Earth as honorable Christian men but returned as something more sinister, their good intentions abandoned. There they became possessed and altered by an evil force, and their hold on the residents of what was known then as Lake’s Crossing allowed them to gain unfathomable wealth and power. Youngest brother Jonah ran from that evil and has been in exile under an alias for nearly 70 years. He spends his existence as Jimmy Manwaring, playing piano nightly to the rough-and-tumble saloon crowd in Fort Bragg, California, with the final words of his beloved deceased wife constantly on his mind. “When hope comes, you must protect them.” An act of violence thrusts barmaid Hope Johnson, her unborn twins, and her lover, Bonnie, into his world, and he swears to protect them, but not even one with the power of Sight could predict the series of events that threaten their safety. Will Jonah receive the absolution he seeks, or will his new family suffer for the sins of the Bane brothers?

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

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

Summary: Two men haunted by more than the past. Painter Stefan Cobbe was homeless and debt-ridden after the death of his wealthy partner, but the worst loss of all was his artistic inspiration. After two years of nothing, he’s offered patronage by an eccentric gallery owner and starts to produce again, canvas after canvas. The only problem? He can’t remember painting any of them—not one single brushstroke. Luke Morganstern’s reputation as an art-fraud investigator is in tatters. He can’t afford to turn down any job, even a lousy one for an anonymous client who sends him after an unidentified forger in a remote cabin in Oregon. When the alleged forger turns out to be Stefan, the man he never stopped loving, Luke’s professional ethics are stretched beyond the breaking point. As the two men take tentative steps toward reconciliation, evidence begins to mount that they’re not alone in the woods. Someone—or something—is watching. Something with sinister plans for them both. To escape, Luke must overcome his suspicions and Stefan must trust Luke with his deepest fears. Otherwise they could forfeit their relationship, their sanity—and their lives. Publisher’s note: Publisher’s note: This is a heavily revised and significantly expanded reprint of Northern Light. The second book in the Art Medium series, Tested In Fire, is a first edition. Both are sold together in both ebook and print collections.

Word Count: Click here to reveal18,700 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Fenris Svensen Ever since childhood, embarrassing blunder after awkward goof up was the way of life for me. But on a hot, humid summer day in 2017, one of my faux pas led me to the man of my dreams. To celebrate our fourth anniversary as a committed couple, I took my Swarthy Prince camping to the place where we had our first date. A freak storm ruins my plans, and we must cut our getaway short. Avoiding the huge mud puddles and navigating the slippery ground in our SUV made fleeing the campsite difficult. A sudden lightning strike blinds us, and a swirling vortex sucks us down into the ground. Jaxon Balfour Having countless nicknames dumped on me throughout my life because of my scrawny build and my interracial parents molded me into a very sensitive individual. My former boyfriends left me with the “it’s not you, it’s me” cliché. The day Fenris Svensen spilled a smoothie on my shirt, I knew he was the perfect man for me. His apology and embarrassment couldn’t have been more adorable. Four short months after our meeting, my gorgeous Norseman and I shared a home. Now we’re preparing to celebrate our fourth anniversary together. I loved the creative ways my lover’s mind worked, and our fourth anniversary was no different. But when our romantic getaway became more of a nightmare, we had to put our love to the ultimate test. When we woke from our hazardous ordeal, we found ourselves in a lavish hotel suite Fen didn’t recall booking. What’s more, I was topping Fen; something I never did before with much proficiency. Questions arise in our minds when several oddities — the excessive pink color scheme, our peculiar host, the lack of other guests — appear. By pure chance, Fen and I discover the truth of our surroundings and instead of enjoying our camping trip and our love, we’re stuck seeking ways to outwit an alien race set on conquering Earth. Unsure if we’ll survive to celebrate our fifth anniversary, I pray victory will be on our side and none of Fen’s endearing fumbles occur to make a mess of things. Can we escape this horrendous hell, or will we perish in our brave attempt? WARNING: This book contains thoughts of suicide, which may trigger some readers.

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

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

Summary: "Let us go then you and I, to the place where the wild thyme grows." An inheritance, a ring and a church organ; three clues to the Blake family mystery. Twenty-five and fleeing a stale relationship, Ryan Blake returns home to find some answers. What he discovers is the impish twenty-two-year-old, Charlie Hatch, a homeless scamp who has a way with words, a love of mysteries, and a very cute arse. As the two set about unlocking the Blake family secrets, Ryan finds himself falling for the younger guy. But is he ready to commit again? And can Charlie learn to accept that someone loves him?

Word Count: Click here to reveal61660 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: The Cold Fingers Collection: the complete Christopher Minnick trilogy Love. Death. And everything in between. Ten years ago, Cold Fingers introduced readers to Christopher Minnick—a reluctant hero with a sarcastic tongue, an oddly endearing circle of friends, and his fair share of hang-ups. Now, in celebration of its 10th anniversary, the complete trilogy is collected in one delightfully macabre box set. Christopher's life may not have been perfect, but his death is a pain in the ass. Cold Fingers (book 1) Christopher Minnick is at a bad place in his life. Turning thirty and newly out of the hospital, the last thing he wants to do is attend a birthday dinner, even one thrown in his honor. When he is introduced to a friend's godson, things just might be starting to look up. Or are they? Victor Polidori seems like the perfect man. He's clever, attractive and interested. But, even as Christopher finds himself falling in love, there are some things that just don't add up. And when bodies start disappearing, Christopher knows he needs to get to the bottom of it. Will Christopher find his happily ever after or is it true what they say? All the good ones are either married or straight. Or they're necrophiliacs. Body of Work (book 2) Life with Vic isn't exactly what Christopher Minnick was expecting. His boyfriend has given him a new lease on life—literally—but he doesn't have a job, Jessie thinks he's a ghost, and there are only so many closets on hand for shoving Jonathan into. Now, with Lee back in the limelight, things just might become more than Christopher can handle. Lee Hellstrom is hitting the big screen after more than three decades and, with the much younger Grant Cooper at his side on the red carpet, he plans to make a lasting impression. The only problem is that not all the attention Lee has drawn is good. When Lee goes missing, it's up to Christopher, Vic, and Grant to save the old man from a most horrible of fates. Pretty Plastic (book 3) Christopher Minnick is still not a zombie. Three months after his run-in with the vampire Marcus Gråsson, Christopher's ankle has healed but his life is anything but perfect. There are people watching the house. Flora's worried about the scarecrow. And after an unexpected tragedy strikes, Christopher will need to figure out how to deal with the loss without tearing a rift between his brother and himself. When Victor accepts a job with Pretty, a prestigious private hospital, to work alongside the handsome Austen Poole, Christopher ends up with one more thing to worry about. While it might seem like a dream job, there's something not quite right in paradise, and when Vic starts acting strangely, Christopher will stop at nothing to get his man back. When striving for perfection, you sometimes need to get your hands a little dirty.

Word Count: Information not available

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

Summary: An old friendship shifting to a new romance. An ex-boyfriend extending an invitation. An urban legend in the flesh. Critter Catchers and amateur monster hunters Cody and Demetrius are building their friendship into something hotter and deeper. Both are way out of their comfort zones, but willing to work at things. It will just take a little time until Cody feels comfortable “coming out” to their friends, family, and the rest of Parson’s Hollow. Demetrius is trying to be patient and understanding about Cody’s position, and focuses on their business. Or, rather, the lack thereof. When Demetrius’s ex, Oliver Berridge, invites him to come to Pinesville, New Jersey for a case that might be right up their alley, Demetrius is intrigued. Sensing not just physical but romantic danger as well, Cody makes certain to accompany Demmy on the trip. Things in Pinesville are quickly complicated by a competing animal control company and a group of monster trackers from a low-budget TV show. The case quickly intensifies, leading to short tempers and tested loyalties, and forcing Demmy and Cody to decide if they're willing to save their business, their friendship, or their romance.

Word Count: Click here to reveal108100 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Corentin is a scholar with a secret—his magical Talent allows him to turn into a dragon, and he isn’t alone in that ability. Long ago, dragons were hunted fiercely, until they went into hiding, becoming things of legend. Corentin has traveled the world with one aim—to protect his people and keep their secret safe. Drawn to the principality of Tournai by news of someone close to discovering that secret, he hopes to avert suspicion. His attraction to the too-serious Bastien isn’t convenient for his purpose, but it isn’t something he can ignore either. Lord Bastien, Earl of Ardesia, inherited his title unexpectedly when his parents were killed in a sailing accident along with the parents of his cousin, Prince Philip. Since then, Bastien has devoted his life to the obligations of his family and estate—so much so, that it has caused tension between him and his siblings. His world is further shaken when he receives an anonymous letter informing him that the tragic boating accident may, in fact, have been murder. Bastien throws himself into investigating whether the allegations are true and finding out who killed his parents. As Corentin and Bastien become closer, the mystery of Bastien’s parents’ death draws him further into danger. Corentin feels compelled to protect Bastien, but the threat is closer than they know. Now, Corentin must decide whether preserving his secret—and potentially his people’s safety—is more important than saving the man he loves.

Word Count: Click here to reveal13,300 (Click here to hide)

Character Identities: Information not available

Summary: England, 1834. On the night of a harvest moon, in the shadows of late autumn, Malcolm comes across a quaint village tucked away in the forest. It seems the perfect spot for a weary traveller to lay his head, and maybe find a little company. But there is dark magic afoot, and lots of local gossip swirls around the seductive titian-haired weaver, Daniel. All Malcolm seeks is a night's pleasure. He never suspected he would have to worry about losing his life. Or his heart. This novelette is about 13,000 words in length and the first entry in the Darkly Enchanted Romance Series.

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

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

Summary: Twenty-one years ago, a four-year old child was kidnapped from his front yard. He was never found. Until now. All Nat Walker wants is to make his late father’s dream of running a father/son woodworking shop come true. And he had the perfect building in mind—until the new guy in town came in and bought the place right out from under him. The fact that the new guy is adorable means nothing. For all Nat cares, he can take his new dance studio and waltz back to New York City. Professional dancer Quinn Carroll couldn’t be happier that he made the move to the small town of Lakeshore, Oregon. Sure, it’s not New York, but now he’ll be living closer to his adoptive brother. And since his studio will be the only one in the area, he should get enough business to keep him busy. Besides, there’s something about this place that seems familiar... He doesn’t expect to fall hard for the local, grumpy woodworker who won’t even smile at him. Or find out that his entire life is a lie.

Word Count: Click here to reveal55000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: This case is really going to the dogs… After I try a little off-the-books interrogation to locate my selkie almost-boyfriend’s nearly-ex-husband (don’t ask, it’s complicated), I’m in the doghouse again with my bosses, who bust me back to surveillance. Ugh. So when another human inexplicably storms into Quest Investigations—something our security spells ought to prevent since I’m supposed to be the only human admitted to our offices—I’m reduced to staking out local fast food restaurants to check out the guy’s alleged sighting of a giant, glowing-eyed, dumpster-diving spectral hound. Ridiculous, right? Humiliating, too, not to mention boring. But at least they didn’t fire me. Imagine my surprise when there actually is a giant, glowing-eyed, dumpster-diving spectral hound—one of the Cwn Annwn, Herne the Hunter’s traitor-tracking dog pack, to be exact. Jeez, who let this dog out? It’s my case, though, so it’s up to me—Matt Steinitz, aka Hugh Mann—to return him to Faerie. But while Herne’s normally hopping kennels are inexplicably unpopulated by pups, they’re playing host to one extremely dead body. Uh oh. Looks like someone’s bite was a lot worse than their bark. Guess my love life will have to take a back seat again while we nose out the truth. Dammit.   The Hound of the Burgervilles is the second in the Quest Investigations M/M mystery series, a spinoff of E.J. Russell’s Mythmatched paranormal rom-com story world. It contains no on-page sex or violence, and although there is a romantic subplot, it is not a romance. The series is best read in order.

Word Count: Click here to reveal21,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Forced roommates, fake boyfriends, fiery attraction, and a secret or two… are they fooling themselves or falling in love? Life is good for Eric Brown, a happily single theater major with a great group of friends. But then Will Butler—fellow senior, co-RA, and the cutest guy Eric’s ever seen—becomes his roommate. Will seems very straight and has an off-campus sweetheart. That doesn’t keep Eric from growing closer to him every day. Will has never believed in himself. But meeting Eric changes everything. Eric believes in his talent and is fast becoming Will’s best friend. Soon Will wishes he had been honest with Eric from the start. The secrets start to grow. To protect himself from Will’s hotness, Eric persuades his ex to pretend they’re still together. And Will is also hiding some big things, not only from Eric, but from himself. Will they be able to get through the lies to the love that awaits them? If you love college guys, friends to the rescue, and music and drama geeks, you’ll love this feel-good friends to lovers romance. Second Edition, no major changes

Word Count: Click here to reveal48000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: This client is all wet... After receiving a hot tip on the whereabouts of my almost-boyfriend’s nearly-ex-husband (hey, I told you—it’s complicated!), I thought my love life was finally coming up for air. But when we stake out the remote lake, it’s not the ex who surfaces. It’s the Faerie King’s long-missing mother (and I mean really long, as in double-digit centuries), and she wants to hire Quest Investigations. Since one of my bosses is the king’s brother, he has a tsunami of…feelings about her as a potential client, and refuses to take the case. Instead, he passes it to me. Yes! However… Should I be thrilled at the vote of confidence or suspicious that he’s tossing me in the deep end without a life preserver, the better to punish the woman who abandoned her kid all those years ago? You know what? It doesn’t matter. I may be Quest’s token human, but I’ve proven I can get the job done, so I dive right in. Then the lady explains what she wants me to do: find her missing child. Seriously? I expected more of a challenge. All I have to do is introduce her to the king and bingo, case closed. But when she says, "Not that one," this little family drama threatens to send ripples throughout the supernatural community—especially with my boss in over his head as the prime suspect in a fae kidnapping. As if things weren’t complicated enough… Remember that nearly-ex? When he shows up and muddies the waters, I’m faced with a choice: I can solve this case or I can finally hook my almost-boyfriend. Dammit.   The Lady Under the Lake is the third in the Quest Investigations M/M mystery series, a spinoff of E.J. Russell’s Mythmatched paranormal rom-com story world. It contains no on-page sex or violence, and although there is a romantic subplot, it is not a romance. The series is best read in order.

Word Count: Click here to reveal97,000 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Nathan doesn’t know how to stop dwelling on the failures and tragedies that have plagued him since the last time we saw him at the end of The Mayor of Oak Street, a twenty-one-year-old happily in the arms of the handsome young doctor he had pined for since he was twelve. Many years later, what could mend Nathan’s heart after the latest tragedy and stop his deep dives into the past? Another handsome young doctor? Or would someone in the medical field do? After a chance meeting with ER nurse, Mateo, a lot of Nathan’s reminiscing is now devoted to that encounter and how it made him feel. Will he seize the day or continue wallowing in the past, having lunch with his best girlfriend from high school, and writing poetry? Nathan has lived through and had a personal connection to many of the crises that have plagued the LBGTQ+ community in the last forty years: the Up Stairs Lounge fire in New Orleans, the assassination of Harvey Milk, and the AIDS epidemic. He has lived in foreign countries, traveled the globe, and had lovers on every continent, all the while with a disease that people once thought was a death sentence. There are moments he is convinced that Mateo is the reward to all his suffering and loss, that his whole life led him to this great love. At other times, he’s so frustrated with Mateo, he’s ready to run as far away as he can get. Mateo, for his part, must take care of his ailing mother while he works full time in the emergency room. The practical aspects of starting a new relationship are challenging to say the least. The Long Journey to You is both a moving romance and a lesson in survival.

Word Count: Click here to reveal95500 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Magic is real. So are the Fae. And they swear I'm their queen. I’m just a misfit college student with pointed ears who ruins technology with a touch. Until my twenty-first birthday, when three seductive Fae warriors kidnap me from my party to tell me I’m so much more. The attraction between me and my newfound royal guards is undeniable... yet also unattainable. You see, their first priority is to protect me, but they have their own secrets. To top it off, they weren’t the only ones searching for me. I'm being hunted by an enemy who already killed the other heirs to the throne. They have different plans for me, though, and somehow, that’s worse. With my powerful guards by my side, it's time for me to unravel the mysteries of my past and the Fae's future... If I survive. ----- Note: 18+ only. The Lost Queen contains scenes of trauma dealt by the baddies, but no sexual violence. All intimate encounters with Glori’s consorts are consensual.

• • A steamy story with substance!
  • Full-length novel (95,500 words / 368 pages)
  • New adult romantic fantasy
  • Slow-burn / slow-build (5 consorts gathered over 6 books)
  • Later books include steamy M/M and group scenes that always involve Glori
  • Poly themes

Word Count: Click here to reveal106100 (Click here to hide)

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

Summary: Faelen, cousin to the prince and son of a diplomat, has finally come home to Tournai after years away. The pull to return was almost tangible, and the sense of rightness at being back is absolute. He wants nothing more than to put down roots and build a life among family while pursuing his linguistic studies. Becoming involved in magic meant to protect Tournai isn’t part of his plans…and falling in love is even more unexpected and unfamiliar, but he finds himself doing just that as his friendship with Maxen deepens into something more. Maxen, second son of a wealthy merchant family, longs to leave Tournai and visit everywhere he can. All his life, he’s found places on maps and dreamed, planning out routes to get to them. For now, he’s tied to Tournai’s capital city by family obligations and his position in their shipping business. Someday, though, he’ll be able to travel. His sudden attraction to Faelen shocks him, but their friendship soon becomes a necessary part of his life. Love, however, has no place in his plans, especially not love for a royal cousin with secrets who wants nothing more than to stay in one place. For Faelen and Maxen to build something real between them, they must resolve their differences, but when magic goes awry and all Faelen’s secrets are revealed, will Maxen remain at his side?