Novellas

A Love You So Story

Can a man’s secret yearnings be revealed in a tank full of fish?

Artie Haynes knows he’s nothing special, with just-your-regular-brown hair, a solid plumber’s job, not much education, and a family that can barely get off the couch. But Artie has quirks—like his love of tropical fish, a landlord who’s a professor of existentialism, a passion for the amazing piano music he hears at a concert hall while he’s fixing the bathrooms—and the fact that he’s never come out as gay and probably never will. But when he’s hired to build a guesthouse for the pianist whose music enchanted him, Artie is swept up into an unimaginable world.

François Desmarais may be famous, rich, and revered as one of the world’s great classical composers and pianists, but he’s soothed and challenged by the inquisitive, stalwart, protective man in his back yard. When François’s terrible fear of crowds turns into a dangerous plot, Artie can stay in the closet or prove just how special he is.

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Cameron Dunlop has lived in the Lowcountry town of Summer Corners, South Carolina, his whole life. He loves his home, but his little town in the Deep South doesn’t offer much in the way of dating options.

Chef Gray Callahan has enjoyed success in the kitchen, but his last relationship sunk like a bad soufflé. When plans for his sister’s wedding go awry, it provides the perfect excuse to pack up and go home, where he can help out as he decides how to start his life over.

Gray’s path crosses Cameron’s, and he realizes together they might have all the ingredients to save the day—with maybe enough left over for something sweet just for the two of them.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

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La balle au bond, numéro hors série

Rodney Mansfield est un artiste renommé et un homme d’un mètre soixante-sept, ceinture noire de karaté, qui affiche des cheveux roses, six boucles d’oreilles, et cache un désir inavoué pour Hunter Fallon, un pompier local. Cependant, le Nain de jardin, comme on l’appelle, sait que jamais il ne parviendrait à charmer cet homme gay aux allures d’hétéro, alors il rassemble tout son altruisme et aide Jerry, son ami plus viril, à l’attirer. Comme si son cœur brisé ne suffisait pas, il sauve Hunter d’un homophobe de sa caserne, l’humiliant ainsi devant son père !

Hunter vit une vie de rêve – celui de son père, justement. Alors qu’il aimerait enseigner la littérature à la faculté, lire des poèmes sous le soleil ou se trouver un homme fort pour le dominer, il lutte contre les incendies pour faire plaisir à son géniteur. Hunter déteste les hommes extravagants comme Rodney. Pourtant, pourquoi n’arrive-t-il pas à lui résister ? Peut-être est-il temps d’avouer que cette flamme-là, il ne souhaite pas l’éteindre.

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A Harmony Ink Press Title

Seventeen-year-old orphan Jayla lives in NORCC, or the New Orleans Rehabilitation Center for Children, where all the children of morphoid-addicted Addis go to wait for a clean family to adopt them. When Jayla’s long-lost sister, Jo, arrives from the dome where the Addis are kept and tells her about the Authority’s plan to gas all the domes across the country, Jayla decides that she’s been in NORCC long enough.

With the help of her NORCC crew of girls, including her almost-girlfriend, Arla, and a new love interest, Riley, Jayla must take down the Authority while discovering powers she never knew she had. Unfortunately, the plot to kill the Addis is not the only secret their leaders are keeping. Jayla must fight both the Authority and her own demons in order to stop the annihilation of her people. 

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Kelly Seaton conduce una bella vita. Ha un’impresa di giardinaggio, una bella casetta e un migliore amico, Cosimo Renaldi, con una famiglia eccentrica che lo ha adottato trattandolo come se fosse uno di loro. Certo, la notte si sente un po’ solo ma è un buon compromesso, e Kelly non può rischiare di rovinare tutto lasciando trasparire di volere di più, di aver sempre voluto di più, da parte di Coz.

Poi il passato di Kelly arriva in città, portando con sé brutti ricordi e sentimenti feriti che iniziano a trascinarlo a fondo, e Coz non capisce perché l’amico non gli permetta di donargli sostegno e forza, come Kelly ha sempre fatto per lui. Hanno già affrontato una guerra, il terribile incidente di Coz e il doversi reinventare una vita a Mangrove, in Florida. Perché non dovrebbero finalmente affrontare i loro trascorsi tormentati per costruire un futuro fatto di notti tranquille… insieme?

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A Series of Fates: Book Three

He is a fearless protector by nature and in his heart. But nothing’s ever simple with love… or fate. 

At nearly seven feet tall, Zeus’s role had always been to protect the pack—but his newest charges need him more than most. Kimber and Kron are transplants from another pack, and they have a dangerous stranger on their tails. Zeus is determined to do his duty and drive the human out of town. But when he confronts Toren, his wolf has other ideas…. 

Something isn’t right, but should a huge, tattooed wolf with a secret soft heart fear his fate—to love a man with secrets of his own?

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Bobby and Paolo’s Holiday Stories: Book Three

Each Christmas has marked a milestone in Bobby and Paolo’s love story. But will this year be their last noel?

It’s no surprise Bobby isn’t feeling much holiday spirit—not when he suspects his husband, Paolo, might be interested in his new business associate, the incredibly handsome Noel. On top of that, Bobby’s father is hanging up his Santa suit at the department store due to health issues; and worst of all, Geoffrey’s birth mother, funded by antigay extremists, is threatening their family. She’s trying to take away Bobby and Paolo’s adopted son, but she’ll have to face their supportive friends, family, and pastor before she can tear Geoffrey from the only real home he’s ever known.

With so many challenges in their path, the December grooms will need an extra helping of holiday magic this year. Rumor has it Santa’s on his way to spread some holiday cheer.

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Lord protector of whores, thieves, sorcerers, and deviants.

Owning a parcel of land the railroad needs to cross means Edward gets to run the border town around the station as he sees fit. What starts as a place to indulge his varied appetites becomes a haven to society’s castoffs, and if Edward encourages legends about its founder to flourish, well, he’s not so much a liar as a man who wants to protect all the cultures living in peace. Being mayor means folks might ignore his vices, but they also expect him to fix what goes wrong.

When a crushing heat wave and drought threaten not only the town’s diverse holiday celebrations but its very existence, Edward must turn to the one man he’d rather french kiss a timber rattler than face—the icily elegant Cantonese mage Edward walked out on but never stopped loving.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar "Warmest Wishes."

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After Andrew’s boyfriend dumps him just before Christmas, he decides to take a job far, far away from city life. It’s a dishwashing job on a remote island off the coast of Georgia. Expecting sunshine, palm trees, and some quality alone time, Andrew is surprised to find alligators, mosquitoes, rattlesnakes, and Garrett—a devilishly handsome naturalist. Andrew desperately tries to resist Garrett’s charm, because a twice-broken heart before Christmas is just not an option. Besides Andrew’s new friend Anna might already have a thing for Garrett.

But where do Garrett’s interests lie, and will Andrew find out before he’s surprised by a visit from his ex?

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar "Warmest Wishes."

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The festival of Tulsi Vivah ushers in the Hindu wedding season and tears away the love of Kristopher’s life. Three years of passion and tenderness are reduced to a shameful skeleton in the closet as Arjuna submits to the marriage his parents have arranged for him. His family has never even heard Kristopher’s name. 

The festival, a ritualistic wedding between the holy basil plant, Tulsi, and her eternal lover, Vishnu, is as much of a play-act as Arjuna’s upcoming nuptials, but he believes the wedding will honor his parents and please Vishnu. So why is his Tulsi plant—whose leaves heal and bless the devout, who is Vishnu's representative on earth—dying? Arjuna tends to her with all the care of a concerned parent, but it might take more than his devotion to save her. She might need Kris, with his clever green-fingers—and maybe a revived Tulsi can heal two hearts.

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar "Warmest Wishes."

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The holidays are a time for second chances. 

Warren Blessing lost his wife (two years ago), and his kids decide he’s been alone too long. They send him on a holiday singles cruise so he can meet someone new. On the flight from Chicago to Miami, he sits next to an attractive man, but when the flight’s over, he doesn’t think he'll see him again. 

Fletcher Hammond is a professional mystery shopper for vacation destinations and travel. After a split from his unfaithful fiancé, he’s embarking on a singles cruise. He meets a lovely gentleman on the flight, whose conversation and cocktails help Fletcher through his fear of takeoffs, but he doesn’t expect to see him again. 

As if by fate, a meeting in the ship’s dining room renews their mutual attraction. But can they build a relationship with distance and baggage working against them? Or will they part ways when they return to port?

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar "Warmest Wishes."

Second Edition
First Edition published by Torquere Press, June 2016.

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Forty-six-year-old Eddie Hightower has a problem. He’s all alone. The only thing that saves him from facing that stark reality is the fact that he isn’t really alone at all. He has a house full of pets and a refuge full of stray unwanted animals he spends every waking hour trying to place in homes. While he loves what he does with all the joy in his heart, that same poor aging heart is still missing something. And Eddie knows exactly what it is. Romance.

But wait. Cue the music. Suddenly, beyond all hope, it happens. In the small desert town of Spangle, California, where Eddie lives, comes a sad young stranger with piercing gray eyes. They are the palest, most stunningly beautiful eyes Eddie has ever seen. Poor Eddie Hightower is swallowed up in their silver depths and disappears without a gurgle. The stranger’s name is Gray Grissom. Gray, like his eyes. Without hesitation Eddie opens his doors—and his heart—to the lost young man. After all, that’s what Eddie does. He finds homes for strays. But this is one stray Eddie intends to keep for himself.

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A Series of Fates: Book Two

Sometimes you just have to embrace your fate. 

Seth has a secret: he has a crush on the human next door. His brilliant plan to meet Jack, the man of his dreams who happens to be an animal trainer? Take wolf form and ask his best friend, Max, to take him next door for training. Seth is the only one surprised when things go horribly awry.

Still, can this shy wolf and a human meet their fate as mates?

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Suite de Des fraises en dessert
Coda, numéro hors série

Les familles devraient grandir, pas rétrécir. Jon Kechter y pense depuis qu’il a épousé son amant millionnaire, Cole Fenton. Dans l’espoir d’adopter, Jon et Cole cherchent une future mère qui leur confierait son bébé, mais l’interminable attente leur pèse à tous les deux.

Jon est proche de son père, George, mais avant Cole, il n’avait personne d’autre. Désormais, George pousse Cole à se réconcilier avec sa mère. Lorsque tous les trois passent Noël avec elle à Munich, les conséquences sont désastreuses. Jon et Cole décident de rester optimistes, mais il n’y a pas d’espoir sans un peu de peur. Jon et Cole ne peuvent pas s’empêcher de se demander si leur rêve d’être parents se réalisera un jour.

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Le giornate di Gibson Keller sono piuttosto monotone: si sveglia presto, fa qualche lavoretto, beve litri di caffè, e si prende cura del fratello maggiore Ellis, intrappolato nella sua forma di lupo da quando è tornato dalla guerra. È una vita semplice, fatta di lunghe corse su due gambe – o quattro – e serate tranquille… finché Ellis non insegue un bell’uomo giù da un dirupo, facendolo cadere nelle acque gelate vicino alla loro baita, e la vita di Gibson cambia per sempre. 

Per Zach Thomas, comprare un vecchio B&B è un nuovo inizio. Dopo essersi lasciato alle spalle la vita di città, desidera trovare solo pace e tranquillità, e fare delle escursioni lungo i sentieri dietro la sua proprietà sembra abbastanza sicuro; almeno finché un enorme lupo nero non lo insegue fino al lago, dove rischia quasi di affogare. Scoprire che i licantropi esistono davvero lo sconvolge, ma non quanto l’uomo che lo salva dalle acque gelide per poi accomodarsi nel suo cuore come se fosse casa propria. 

Amare un licantropo – amare Gibson con tutti i suoi segreti – presenta delle difficoltà, ma Zach è convinto che valga la pena lottare per il loro amore, soprattutto perché il suo cuore sa che sotto la maschera del grande lupo cattivo si nasconde un principe. 

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A Balls to the Wall Romance

Renowned artist Rodney Mansfield stands five foot six, has pink hair, six earrings, a black belt in karate—and a desperate yearning for firefighter Hunter Fallon. But Rod, the Runtback of Notre Dame, knows he’ll never land the beautiful “straight gay” guy, so Rod musters his altruism and helps his more masculine friend Jerry attract Hunter. As if a broken heart wasn’t enough, Rod saves Hunter from a firehouse homophobe—humiliating Hunter in front of his dad!

Hunter lives a dream life—his father’s dream. While he’d like to teach literature in college, read poetry in the sun, and find a strong guy to top him, he fights fires for his dad. Hunter hates flamboyant guys like Rodney. So why can’t he resist him? Maybe it’s time to admit this is one flame he has no desire to put out.

2nd Edition
First Edition published by Etopia Press, 2012.

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La balle au bond, numéro hors série

Une double dose de mâles alpha vaut mieux qu’une.

Bien que sortant d’une relation abusive avec une ordure d’alpha, David Underwood pose son regard sur deux superbes membres d’une équipe australienne de volley-ball et se fait à nouveau harceler sur la plage de Laguna Beach. Pourtant, lorsque le délicieux Gareth Marshall lui prouve son intérêt en faisant son coming out devant ses collègues, David succombe à ses charmes. Néanmoins, Edge, le partenaire de jeu de Gareth et son égal en matière de sex-appeal, rend la vie dure aux deux amants.

Gareth, qui a passé sa vie à cacher son orientation et son attirance à ses proches ainsi qu’à son meilleur ami, le fameux Edge, s’en trouve d’autant plus blessé et frustré. David est le premier homme, en dehors de Edge, à s’attirer ses faveurs. Mais Edge aussi possède ses propres secrets, et l’ex de David compte revenir à l’assaut. Quand tout semble se liguer contre lui, un homme gay à Laguna peut-il encore trouver le bonheur avec un beau mâle… ou deux ?

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Political journalist Aiden McCabe is used to interviewing presidents and world leaders. On a night out with friends, Aiden has a chance encounter with a handsome, enigmatic young man who leaves a lasting impression. Soon after, Aiden is assigned to travel to Utah, where he’ll interview Orson Jensen, a prominent Mormon politician and Republican presidential hopeful. While the Jensens’ faith and values couldn’t be more opposite to Aiden’s urbane, Manhattan disposition, he can’t help but be charmed by the friendly clan… until the stranger Aiden met in the club reappears, and this time with a startling revelation—one that could tear the Jensen family apart, destroy Orson’s political career, and change Aiden’s world forever.

States of Love: Stories of romance that span every corner of the United States.

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