Contemporary Romance books

Terrell Washington’s childhood was a trifecta of suck: being black, gay, and poor in America has no upside. Terrell climbed his way out of the hood only to hit a glass ceiling and stop, frozen, a chain restaurant bartender with a journalism degree. His one bright spot is Colby Meyers, a coworker who has no fear, no inhibitions, and sees no boundaries. Terrell and Colby spend their summers at the river and their breaks on the back dock of Papiano’s. As terrified as Terrell is of coming out, he’s helpless to stay away from Colby's magnetic smile and contagious laughter.

But Colby is out of college now, and he has grand plans for the future—plans Terrell is sure will leave his scrawny black ass in the Sacramento dust until a breathless moment stolen from the chaos of the restaurant tells Terrell he might be wrong. When the moment is shattered by a mystery and an act of violence, Terrell and Colby are left with two puzzles: who killed their scumbag manager, and how to fit their own lives—the black and the white of them—into a single shining tomorrow.

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A By Fire Spinoff

Justin Briggs can shout out directions all day on his job as a traffic cop, but put him in front of a hot guy, specifically firefighter Rock Sparks, and he clams up.

Rock finds Justin confusing. While saving a busload of children hanging off the edge of a highway overpass, the cute rookie is cool and confident. But when Rock tries to chat him up, he stutters and chokes. Frustrated, Rock teases Justin, and boy, is his temper hot.

Though Rock and Justin share a steamy kiss, Justin keeps his distance, still tongue-tied. Then, when Justin is injured on the job, Rock takes him to the hospital, and some of the barriers start to crumble. But getting his enigmatic boyfriend to open up brings up more questions about Justin’s past.

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An Opposites Attract novel

Swathed in chiffon and lace, Steven Stanhope owns the stage as Stevie Tricks, lip-synching the songs of the famous gypsy queen. But after he escapes an abusive Master/slave relationship, the only collar he'll allow around his neck is black velvet.

After a four-year absence, Steve is ready to reclaim his life and the property he left behind. But is it safe? Definitely not if his ex is still into leather. To find out, Steve appears at a charity night for the local BDSM community, using the anonymity of his stage persona to mask his identity.

Instead of his ex-Master, Julius, Steve finds a tangled mess centered around another Master of Leather, Donato Rossi. In order to unravel their ties to the past, Steve and Don must find common ground and work together. In the process, they learn that when it comes to love, sometimes you have to make your own rules.

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Learning to Love: Book Two

Evan Wainwright’s good relationship karma is paying off. After helping his friends, Sean and Michael, discover their sexuality—and each other—Evan meets the love of his life. Their new housemate, Daniel Collier, is everything Evan could want in a boyfriend. Now if Evan can just work out why Daniel panics whenever Evan tries to get close.

Daniel has finally met his soul mate. Evan is perfect for him—at least, he would be, if Daniel could find the courage to overcome his demons and leave the past behind. But his mental scars prove difficult to heal, and Daniel struggles with his heart, even though it tells him Evan is the one.

Life in the student house goes on despite the usual interruptions: a wedding, a trial for a hate crime, a gay couple with exhibitionist tendencies. Through it all, Evan and Daniel remind themselves they are meant to be together. But until Daniel trusts Evan with the secret that’s tearing his family apart, “meant to be” is on hold.

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Sequel to Beggars and Choosers

After struggling through dishonesty, betrayal, and the kind of pasts they’d like to leave behind them, Brett Taylor and Cory Butana are back together and starting to build a new life. Brett has a good job. Cory has started college. But not everything goes the way they planned.

Still recovering from the emotional and physical repercussions of a brutal assault, Cory finds himself trapped by his own insecurity and fear, unable to believe that his heart is safe with Brett or that his body is safe without him. On the other hand, Brett has total faith in Cory’s love and commitment, even though he still struggles with his own ghosts.

With girls flocking to Brett’s side and a wannabe-lover lab partner feeding his doubts, Cory can’t find a way to tell Brett about the unfinished business that haunts him. If Brett wants to save him, he’ll have to see through Cory’s deception in time.

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An ex-soldier and an urban Goth walk into a desert. It sounds like the start of a joke, but for Sam Collins and Daniel Evans, it is the beginning of their story. Daniel walks to shed his drug-filled past and make himself whole. But Sam, who hides the demons of war behind a smile, needs Daniel more than either man knows. An old stockman’s wisdom sends them on their journey together, a long hard road to find Australia’s sacred Red Heart and—perhaps—each other.

Part of the Under the Southern Cross anthology.

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Serie Il fuoco, Libro 1

Dirk Krause è un bastardo di prima classe. Può solo prendersela con se stesso se la sua vita è un disastro, e invece non perde occasione di rendere l’esistenza degli altri un inferno. Il suo caratteraccio lo rende odioso persino ai medici e alle infermiere dell’ospedale dove viene ricoverato in seguito a un incidente durante una missione anti-incendio e, naturalmente, nessuno dei suoi colleghi si prende la briga di andarlo a trovare.

Lee Stockton è l’ultimo arrivato alla stazione dei vigili del fuoco e gli viene affidato l’incarico di visitare Dirk in ospedale e portargli dei fiori a nome della squadra. Lee capisce subito che tipo è Dirk e che il suo atteggiamento è un modo per tenere lontani gli altri, e fa di tutto per spingerlo a cambiare. Quando i due passano dalle liti al sesso, la loro relazione farà scintille, o si lascerà dietro solo un pugno di cenere?

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Un libro della serie Orizzonti

Quello che sarebbe dovuto essere un breve interludio diventa qualcosa di più profondo quando Lil Lampert incontra Grier Dilorio alla Degustazione di Chicago. Lil è in città a far visita ai suoi buoni amici Jody Williams e Clark Stevens, e non aveva intenzione di rimorchiare un uomo più giovane e scoprire un reciproco interesse per l’architettura, il design d’interni, e una perversione sessuale unica che fa tornare Lil per saperne di più.

In apparenza, Grier è la quintessenza del “bad boy” che ama la velocità, i tatuaggi e la pelle; ma Lil scopre lentamente un altro lato della sua personalità: altruista, responsabile e tenero, soprattutto con Luca, il figlio che ha dovuto rinnegare. Con l’amore e il sostegno di Lil, Grier prenderà una decisione chiave per aprire la porta a un possibile futuro insieme, un futuro che include la paternità, qualcosa che Lil ha sognato ma non ha mai osato esplorare.

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Kieran Appleby can't wait until graduation to escape his life in the Keys. His only friend is the school janitor, his father doesn’t talk to him, and Kieran doesn’t know how to mention he’s gay. No wonder he daydreams about college anywhere but Florida.

High school baseball star Drew Anderson has only one wish in life: to be able to care for those he loves. With an absent father, an agoraphobic mother, and a closet he's not ready to come out of, he can barely stand under the pressure. No one knows how alone he feels.

When Drew finally notices Kieran's long-time crush, it jumpstarts a relationship that introduces them to sex, intimacy, and love. Neither has ever been this happy. But lasting happiness is evasive, and Kieran’s desperation to get out of Florida and Drew’s desire to stay and care for his family cannot be reconciled.

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Amour…, numéro hors série

Au début des années 80, Len Parker perd son emploi pendant la récession et décide de reprendre ses études dans sa ville natale du Michigan, où il renoue des liens avec Ruby, sa meilleure amie durant ses années de lycée. Len est fou de joie en apprenant que Ruby convole en justes noces avec Cliff Laughton mais sera bientôt profondément bouleversé lorsqu’elle décèdera prématurément, laissant derrière elle son mari et son fils de deux ans.

Après s’être retrouvé une nouvelle fois sans emploi, Len est embauché dans la ferme cruellement négligée des Laughton. Cliff pleure toujours sa femme et a toutes les peines du monde à élever son fils et n’a que très peu d’enthousiasme et d’énergie à consacrer au travail de la terre. Len remettra rapidement la ferme sur pied, Cliff et son fils avec. En travaillant main dans la main, Len et Cliff se rapprocheront. Mais aimer un autre homme demande énormément de courage. Ensemble, ils devront remettre sur pied une ferme en déliquescence et faire face à une sécheresse menaçante, à des parents indiscrets et aux préjugés des fermiers de cette petite ville du centre des Etats-Unis, pour protéger ce qui pourrait bien être un amour éternel.

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Serie Promesse, Libro 1

Carrick Francis ha passato la maggior parte della sua vita a cacciarsi in un guaio dopo l’altro. L’unica cosa che l’ha salvato dal finire in prigione, o peggio, è stata la sua devozione assoluta a Deacon Winters. Deacon è stata l’ancora di salvezza di Crick durante la sua infanzia triste e fatta di abusi, e Crick vorrebbe stare con lui per sempre. Così, alla morte del padre di Deacon, Crick mette da parte i suoi piani per il college per aiutare Deacon, come Deacon ha fatto per lui.

Il più grande desiderio di Deacon è vedere Crick liberarsi dai suoi brutti ricordi e andarsene dalla città in cui sono cresciuti per godersi un futuro scintillante. Ma dopo due anni di tentazioni e di sentimenti sempre più forti, alla fine il timido Deacon soccombe alle avances determinate di Crick e ammette di voler far parte della sua vita.

Deacon è quasi distrutto dal dolore quando scopre che Crick si era sempre aspettato che lui lo cacciasse via, proprio come già aveva fatto la sua famiglia. Quando la capacità di Crick di prendere decisioni avventate lo fa finire molto lontano da casa, Deacon rimane solo, sotto shock, lottando per rimettere insieme il suo cuore in un mondo dove l’amore di Crick è una promessa, ma di certo non una certezza.

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Aaron Bancroft is an out-and-proud law professor, and there’s nothing wrong with his libido. After getting back in shape following the breakup with his partner of twenty-three years, Aaron is ready to make new connections. But he isn’t prepared to fall for a man more than two decades his junior. How can Aaron have anything more than a fling with someone as young and closeted as Rafael?

Rafael Gomez has a thing for older men. Meeting Aaron at a gay bar is the best thing that’s happened to him in a while, and after a night of passion, Rafael wants more. But he needs it to be a secret, fearing his family will reject him once they discover he likes men. If only Aaron didn’t insist on Rafael coming out….

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Cuando David Carmichael sufre una migraña y se rompe el hombro, Trace Jackson, su mejor amigo, se va a vivir temporalmente con él para cuidarle. Su camaradería peligra cuando David descubre la encubierta pasión y la atracción que surge entre ellos. Aún sabiendo que su mejor amigo es heterosexual, David no tarda en enamorarse de él.

Trace nunca ha deseado a otro hombre. Con reputación de mujeriego, es considerado un premio gordo en la ciudad. Pero su entrañable amistad con David se intensifica por la emoción y la excitación que siente nacer en él. La tentación de tenerle tan cerca es irresistible. Pronto le deja claro que quiere ver si las cosas pueden funcionar entre ellos. Está convencido de que nunca deseará a nadie más porque ya le ama.

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Sequel to An Unconventional Courtship

Kincaid International Corporation’s CEO, Webber Kincaid, and his executive assistant, Tristan Moreau, have just returned from a Caribbean business trip gone horribly right. After years of hiding their love for each other, they finally came clean—and discovered KIC’s chief financial officer has been up to some shady business transactions. Now that they’re back, Tristan and Webber must expose the CFO’s indiscretions—and save Webber’s reputation, since he’s ultimately responsible for his CFO’s actions. With Tristan by his side, Webber faces KIC’s board of directors and a looming investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice.

With all the uncertainty surrounding them, Webber and Tristan rely on the strength of their connection. Together, they plan an intimate wedding on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. But despite their love for one another, Webber and Tristan quickly realize they have some hurdles to cross before they can start their unexpected new life.

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Chip Arnold, entraîneur apprécié de l’équipe de football américain d’une petite université d’arts libéraux, est loin d’avoir une vie rangée. Il sort boire avec ses collègues, s’entend bien avec ses joueurs et fréquente les plus jolies filles de la ville. En somme, il mène la vie que la plupart des hommes rêveraient d’avoir. Mais, dernièrement, aucune des femmes qu’il rencontre ne semble déclencher la moindre passion en lui. Tout bascule lorsqu’il rencontre le nouvel aumônier du campus, Foster Lewis.

Tomber amoureux d’un autre homme est totalement nouveau et peut s’avérer terrifiant. Sans que Chip puisse mettre le doigt sur ce qui l’attire tant chez Foster, le sentiment est plus fort que tout ce qu’il a pu ressentir auparavant. N’hésitant jamais à relever un défi, Chip se jette à l’eau, mais… l’amour n’est jamais simple, et parfois les choses tournent au véritable bordel.

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Un libro della Serie Assaggio d'amore

Sebastian Franklin ha atteso molto tempo per diventare responsabile di sala del Café Belgie, ma il primo giorno del suo incarico, quando Darryl, il suo capo, è in vacanza, si rivela un fallimento. Il ristorante viene rapinato prima della chiusura e il buon samaritano che ferma il ladro porta con sé qualche complicazione.

Robert Fortier è il nuovo giudice della contea ed è un po’ restio alla nuova carica. Sa che la vita pubblica non è sempre facile, soprattutto quando la vita privata ti rende bersaglio dei media. Eppure a Robert piace la compagnia di Sebastian e Sebastian non nega mai una porzione di felicità e fascino al suo personaggio pubblico preferito. Neanche Sebastian, però, è senza problemi e un ex in difficoltà li metterà sottopressione, mentre lotteranno per il loro diritto a questa nuova storia d’amore.

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On the cusp of his twenty-fifth birthday, Bo Sanford grows frustrated with his directionless life. Slaving away at his father’s construction company all week and partying every weekend leaves him little time for introspection, but he knows it’s time for a change. When his best friend, Mac, drags him to a college party, Bo catches sight of a girl. But not just any girl—the girl of his dreams: a delicate blonde-haired beauty with a pink scarf and a smile that promises warmth and humor. There’s just one problem: she isn’t a girl.

Even after Bo discovers the truth, he keeps seeing Erick, and the choice to follow his heart despite the obstacles has profound repercussions on not only his sense of self but his relationship with his family and even his job. Being with Erick makes him all the more determined to be his own man and claw his way out from under his father’s thumb.

But Erick faces choices of his own: the choice to get involved with someone redefining his sexuality, the choice to trust again, and even the choice to believe love can last beyond the temporary.

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Sequel to Just Like a Date
Just Life: Book Three

Mark Mendelson’s life is close to perfect: he has good friends, a successful business, and a solid reputation in the jewelry industry. He fought hard to get what he has after nearly losing it all fifteen years ago, when his then boyfriend, Cole Porter, stole his designs.

When a handsome man enters Mark’s store to request a commitment ring—a design Mark made specifically for Cole—Mark wants nothing to do with him. All he can think about is his rage at Cole’s betrayal, something he thought he’d dealt with long ago. But Mark’s would-be customer, Dr. Liam Watson, returns to the shop, thinking Mark might provide some answers. For years Liam has tried to convince his cousin Jon to leave Cole, who abuses him. As the relationship between Jon and Cole disintegrates, a fragile new one forms between Liam and Mark—but Mark can’t move on until he confronts Cole once and for all.

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