Books by "Xavier Mayne" (15)

A GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION

Black & white interior illustrations with a color paperback cover.

State trooper Brandt’s new assignment to infiltrate a sex-cam operation puts him in a very uncomfortable position, especially since he’ll have to perform naked on camera for his audition. Fortunately his partner and best friend, Donnelly, has his back—whether that means helping Brandt shop gay boutiques for sexy underwear or offering Jäger and encouragement while he researches porn.

Despite his mortification, Brandt gives the audition his best “shot”—and becomes an overnight sensation. But to meet the man behind the operation, he'll have to give a repeat performance, this time live on webcam opposite the highest bidder. Donnelly makes sure to win that auction for his partner’s sake, but their plan has a flaw: faking it is not an option.

In the aftermath, Brandt is a humiliated mess trying desperately to come to terms with what he’s had to do for the job and his own mixed feelings. But Donnelly has been on a journey of discovery of his own. Suddenly everything the two men thought they knew about themselves and each other gets turned inside out. Meanwhile, they still have a case to solve… but it may not be the case they thought it was.

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Sein neuester Auftrag bringt den Kriminalbeamten Brandt in eine unangenehme Lage: Er soll Undercover bei einer Organisation vorsprechen, die Online-Sexfilme produziert und dafür muss er nackt vor der Kamera posieren. Glücklicherweise steht ihm sein Partner und bester Freund Donnelly immer treu zur Seite – ob es darum geht, in Schwulenboutiquen Reizwäsche zu shoppen oder ihn während seiner Recherchen auf Pornowebsites zu ermutigen und mit Jägermeister zu versorgen.

Aller Demütigung zum Trotz liefert Brandt bei dem Vorsprechen seinen besten „Schuss“ ab – und wird über Nacht zur Sensation. Aber um den Mann hinter der Organisation zu treffen, muss er noch eine weitere Vorstellung geben – dieses Mal für den Höchstbietenden live vor der Webcam. Um seinen Partner zu schützen, gewinnt Donnelly die Auktion, aber ihr Plan hat einen Haken: Sie müssen die Nummer bis zum bitteren Ende durchziehen.

Danach fühlt sich Brandt zutiefst erniedrigt. Er versucht, damit ins Reine zu kommen, was er für seinen Job tun musste und Ruhe in sein Gefühlschaos zu bringen. Aber auch für Donnelly war diese Ermittlung die reinste Entdeckungsreise. Plötzlich wird alles, was die beiden Männer über sich und den anderen zu wissen glaubten, über den Haufen geworfen. Dabei haben sie doch eigentlich noch einen Fall zu lösen – aber der sieht möglicherweise ganz anders aus, als sie dachten.

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Can a computer program understand love better than the human heart?

Archer, the AI at the dating service Q*pid, realizes humans don’t always make the best choices, so it begins making some unconventional choices for them.

Fox Kincade is the last of his group of friends to be single, so he’s delighted when he discovers a new match in his Q*pid app—one that, according to the new AI wizardry, should be the love of his life. Instead of the woman he’s expecting, he’s paired with Drew Larsen, a shy, somewhat nerdy PhD student who has also grown discouraged with romance.

Drew and Fox have little in common—aside from the fact that they’re both straight. Or so they thought. But as the guys get to know each other, they realize Archer might have the right idea. Their path isn’t smooth, because both need to overcome every idea they have about themselves and what true love might look like. But with the help of Archer—and some friends who have stuck with Fox and Drew through the thick and thin of their relationship trials—they might find their way into each other’s hearts.

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Kann es sein, dass ein Computerprogramm mehr von der Liebe versteht als das menschliche Herz?

Archer, die künstliche Intelligenz hinter der Partnervermittlung Q*pid, stellt fest, dass Menschen nicht immer die besten Entscheidungen treffen. Deshalb mischt er sich ein und übernimmt es für sie, einige wirklich unkonventionelle Entscheidungen zu treffen.

Fox Kincade ist der letzte Single in seinem Freundeskreis. Deshalb freut er sich besonders, als seine Q*pid-App ihm einen Vorschlag präsentiert, mit dem er – wenn man den Hexenkünsten der AI glauben darf – die Liebe seines Lebens finden wird. Doch zu Fox’ Überraschung handelt es sich bei diesem Idealpartner nicht um eine Frau, sondern um Drew Larsen, einen schüchternen und manchmal sonderlichen Doktoranden, der ebenfalls nicht an die wahre Liebe glaubt.

Drew und Fox haben wenig gemeinsam – wenn man von der Tatsache absieht, dass sie beide nicht schwul sind. Jedenfalls dachten sie das bisher. Aber je besser sie sich kennenlernen, umso mehr dämmert ihnen, dass Archer vielleicht gar nicht so falsch lag mit seinem Vorschlag. Es ist kein leichter Weg, denn sie müssen beide ihr althergebrachtes Selbstverständnis aufgeben und sich mit einem neuen Konzept von Liebe vertraut machen. Mit Archers Hilfe und der Unterstützung einiger Freunde, die Fox und Drew durch dick und dünn zur Seite stehen, gelingt es ihnen schließlich, alle Hindernisse aus dem Weg zu räumen.

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Il programma di un computer può comprendere l’amore meglio del cuore umano?

Archer, l’intelligenza artificiale del servizio di incontri online Q*pid, è consapevole che gli esseri umani non prendono sempre le decisioni migliori, e per questo motivo comincia a prenderne di bizzarre al posto loro. 

Fox Kincade è l’ultimo scapolo superstite nel suo gruppo di amici ed è al settimo cielo quando scopre di avere un nuovo match sulla sua app di incontri Q*pid: quel match, secondo l’avanzata stregoneria di Archer, dovrebbe essere l’amore della sua vita. Si aspettava una donna, ma si ritrova abbinato a Drew Larsen, un timido dottorando dall’aria un po’ nerd, che come lui ha cominciato a perdere le speranze in amore. 

Drew e Fox hanno poco in comune, a parte il fatto di essere entrambi etero. O così hanno sempre creduto. Tuttavia, mentre imparano a conoscersi, si rendono conto che Archer potrebbe aver avuto l’idea giusta. Il loro percorso non è facile: hanno bisogno di lasciarsi alle spalle l’immagine che hanno sempre avuto di loro stessi e del vero amore, ma con l’aiuto di Archer – e di alcuni amici che sono rimasti loro fedeli durante gli alti e bassi di quella nuova relazione – forse troveranno il modo di intrufolarsi l’uno nel cuore dell’altro. 

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Un logiciel peut-il mieux comprendre l’amour que le cœur humain ?

Archer, l’intelligence artificielle du site de rencontre Q*pidon, sait que les humains ne prennent pas toujours les meilleures décisions. Il commence alors à en prendre à leur place, même si elles ne sont pas très conventionnelles.

Fox Kincade est le dernier célibataire de son groupe d’amis. Il est ravi de découvrir que l’application Q*pidon a trouvé une personne qui lui correspond – une personne qui, selon la magie de cette nouvelle intelligence artificielle, serait son âme sœur. Quelle n’est pas sa surprise lorsqu’il découvre qu’au lieu de la femme qu’il attendait, il est associé avec Drew Larsen, un doctorant timide et assez geek qui ne croit plus en la romance.

Drew et Fox ont peu de choses en commun – si ce n’est le fait d’être hétérosexuel. Du moins, c’est ce qu’ils ont toujours cru. En apprenant à se connaître, ils se rendent compte qu’Archer ne les a peut-être pas associés par hasard. Le chemin ne sera pas sans embûches puisqu’ils devront dépasser l’image qu’ils se sont construite d’eux-mêmes et de ce que doit être le véritable amour. Mais avec l’aide d’Archer – et de quelques amis qui encourageront Fox et Drew à travers les hauts et les bas de leur relation –, ils pourraient trouver leur chemin vers le cœur de l’autre. 

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Newly turned thirty, Cameron North is preparing himself to spend his life alone. When he inherits his great-aunt's teashop on the remote island of Farlough, he returns for the first time in more than a dozen years to a place where memories—and demons—flit close to the surface of his mind. There he meets Gwyneth, a sassy barista who becomes his instant best friend—until Cam discovers she’s the wife of his first love, Matthias. She has only the best of intentions when she arranges a reunion between the two men, and it forces them to finally discuss why Cam left the island so long ago.

With his heart broken anew, Cam retreats to his great-aunt’s house—where he learns he is not alone. Someone—or something—has pledged an oath to look out for Cam, and as he investigates the presence, he uncovers wounds that both he and his mysterious guardian sought to escape by coming to Farlough. Now Cam must figure out how to heal them—and himself.

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A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File Six

State troopers Ethan Brandt and Gabriel Donnelly are finally going to get their storybook wedding—sailing on an ocean liner to a castle in the English countryside! But when an Icelandic volcano scrambles flights all over the world, they must find alternate routes to the altar—separately.

Donnelly meets Sandler Birkin, a globetrotting courier who specializes in carrying rare artifacts and diplomatic pouches. He pulls a few strings to get Donnelly to the ship on time and then accompanies him across the Atlantic. Donnelly returns the favor by helping to find Sandler’s long-lost first love, Trevor Hendricks. Trevor's controlling, homophobic parents have brought him to Europe for a radical treatment to cure him of his homosexuality—and his love for Sandler.

Brandt, meanwhile, finagles his way around the globe with the help of Kerry Mercer, a sales executive whose spirit of adventure leads her to accompany him on his improvised journey. However, sharing hotel rooms with her presents a problem for Brandt who, despite being about to marry a man, still finds her attractive.

Once Brandt and Donnelly are reunited, they band together with Kerry and Sandler to plot Trevor’s rescue. But doing so might mean missing their own wedding.

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A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File Five

Med student Oliver Mitchell has discovered a way to make more tips as a bartender—put on ripped workout gear and serve drinks at the hip new gay club, Burn. The only catch is Oliver is straight. The staff and patrons don’t mind, though, and Oliver fits in well—until he meets James Buchanan Whitford, a local politician with a secret: he’s married. When James’s scheming wife attempts to catch him in flagrante with Oliver, they flee the city for the refuge of James’s cabin in the woods. There, Oliver faces a new challenge—he's starting to feel more for James than friendship. Their new relationship must survive political intrigue and small-town politics before they can be together.

With their wedding two months away, it's time for Troopers Ethan Brandt and Gabriel Donnelly to have a bachelor party. Ethan's older brothers are excited, but Ethan is not. As a straight guy who fell in love with another man, the whole ritual is fraught with complications, and he struggles to reconcile newly granted marriage equality with old traditions. Brandt and Donnelly work to help James and Oliver find their way to happiness while pulling off the bachelor party of the year.

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A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File Four

Troopers Ethan Brandt and Gabriel Donnelly celebrate the one-year anniversary of their engagement by flying south for a week of calm relaxation at the Villa Hermes, a gay boutique hotel on the beach. But when the rest of the guests turn out to be college guys on spring break (unwittingly booked into a gay hotel by a passive-aggressive travel agent), their week turns out to be anything but calm.

Ted, one of the spring breakers, has harbored a crush on his roommate and best friend, Bark, since they met freshman year. Now, on their fourth and final spring break, Ted knows they must soon say good-bye. A lacrosse star and ladies’ man, Bark has no idea Ted has fallen for him—until a storm forces the entire group underground for twenty-four hours of stress and truth-telling. Bark doesn't want to say good-bye to Ted at graduation either. He just didn't know how to put his feelings into words or if he could face the consequences of speaking them. Brandt and Donnelly help the college guys through their crisis by showing them what love between best friends can grow into.

But Ted and Bark aren’t the only spring-breakers with secrets.

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A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File Three

When a high-profile gay celebrity couple asks two of the city’s most established vendors to provide cake and flowers for their wedding and they refuse, a resulting boycott threatens to shut them down. It’s up to the next generation in the family-owned businesses to save them from ruin. Justin Capella, baker's son, and Roman Montgomery, floral scion, work together to plan the gay wedding of the year.

Justin and Roman haven’t seen each other since that fateful day in third grade when a single kiss shocked Justin and sent Roman to boarding school. As fate would have it, Justin and Roman rediscover love while working on the wedding. But disaster might pry them apart again.

Troopers Brandt and Donnelly are working with a statewide task force for the rights of LGBT citizens—all while searching for a killer wedding planner. As guests at the “wedding of the year,” they are the first responders when all hell breaks loose. In investigating, the troopers are led to a shadowy figure they believe seduced Roman into doing his bidding. But the real murderer will cover his tracks at all costs, including Roman and Justin’s lives.

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A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File Two

Jonah Fischer’s high school wrestling career has been stellar, but now he’s the unwilling star of a series of videos that have hit the web. The whole world may have seen the evidence that his best friend turns him on. Jonah’s conservative family wants him cured, and his conventional town and school want him normal. The only person who still wants him just the way he is is Casey Melville, the same best friend who turned him on for all the world to see. Meanwhile, Casey begins to wonder if there’s more to his feelings for Jonah than he thought.

Officers Brandt and Donnelly—lovers as well as partners on the job—have been assigned to find the culprit who posted the video. While investigating the case, they also help Jonah and Casey find their way through their feelings, and steer them toward refuge when Jonah’s family turns against him. But the mystery remains: who wants to hurt Jonah badly enough to post those videos, and why? Thank goodness Jonah and Casey have found friends—they’re going to need all the help and support they can get.

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While performing as Cupid on Valentine’s Day, Josh has the unpleasant task of delivering a break-up message to Dallas from his girlfriend, Jess. Jess is convinced Dallas is gay, and when Josh tries to comfort him, he finds she may very well be right. When Dallas’s best friend Austin arrives, it’s up to Josh to show both young men the love and acceptance they’ve always had in each other.

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Husband Material is a long-running reality show, where eighteen lucky guys compete for the hand of one lucky lady. Meet contestant number one, Riley. Since being left at the altar, he’s hit the gym to get into the best shape of his life. Now he’s in it to win it. Contestant number two, Asher, doesn’t really want the bachelorette; he needs the prize money for his sister’s cancer treatment. Asher's upbeat personality brings Riley out of the funk he's been in since his breakup. They make a formidable team, with one complication: Asher’s falling for Riley.

Producer Kaitlyn has her hands full when two bachelors are found in the shower soaping up inappropriately, then another live-tweets the entire debacle. If another scandal erupts, the network will cancel the show.

The two bachelors are on a collision course under the watchful eye of a producer torn between wanting them to find true love and trying to keep her show going. In the end, Riley must choose the bachelorette or the bachelor.

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A Brandt and Donnelly Caper: Case File One

State trooper Brandt’s new assignment to infiltrate a sex-cam operation puts him in a very uncomfortable position, especially since he’ll have to perform naked on camera for his audition. Fortunately his partner and best friend, Donnelly, has his back—whether that means helping Brandt shop gay boutiques for sexy underwear or offering Jäger and encouragement while he researches porn.

Despite his mortification, Brandt gives the audition his best “shot”—and becomes an overnight sensation. But to meet the man behind the operation, he'll have to give a repeat performance, this time live on webcam opposite the highest bidder. Donnelly makes sure to win that auction for his partner’s sake, but their plan has a flaw: faking it is not an option.

In the aftermath, Brandt is a humiliated mess trying desperately to come to terms with what he’s had to do for the job and his own mixed feelings. But Donnelly has been on a journey of discovery of his own. Suddenly everything the two men thought they knew about themselves and each other gets turned inside out. Meanwhile, they still have a case to solve… but it may not be the case they thought it was.

Read more...