Book picks similar to
Outside by Lucy Kemnitzer


sci-fi
science-fiction
sci-fi-alt-universe
standalone-novels

Blue on Black


Carole Cummings - 2015
    Instead, he ended up dead.Directorate Tracker Bas Eisen has finally found a way to run Kimolijah’s killer to ground. It’s taken him nearly three years of played-out leads, and it means he has to go deep undercover as a hired gun, in an isolated desert barony run by a madman. A small price to pay—or so Bas thinks. But even the twisty, malicious path that has brought him to Stanslo’s Bridge is no preparation for what—and whom—he finds there.

The Astral Mage


Hurri Cosmo - 2013
    He's an Astral Mage, better known as a "Soul Giver", a race of people who can reattach life force energy back to its source. In other words, he brings the dead back to life.For years the Confederated Authority, the governing body for planets, has been methodically hunting Astral Mages down and Kyrus is as pure as they've seen. So it becomes a huge risk when Tilbarr, the captain of the Wolf, brings Kyrus on board his ship.Not that Tilbarr is afraid of the ConFed. Far from it. But the threat to Kyrus doesn't come from outside the Wolf and it isn't long before Tilbarr realizes he just may have to give up everything in order to save Kyrus: his ship, his crew, and even his life. All in all, not a bad trade off.CONTENT ADVISORY: This is a re-edited, expanded re-release title.

Puss in Prada


Marie Jacquelyn - 2017
    Now a wise-cracking cat with a taste for expensive clothes, he is forced to live with the ex he can't get over and help the man find someone who will finally make him happy

Uninvited Guest


Brian Lancaster - 2015
    First his grandmother dies, then he hits the worst traffic of his life on the way home from her funeral, keeping him from friends in London—and possibly a much longed-for sighting of his ex. And finally the detour he thought would save him time ends with the electrics failing on his car, leaving Anton to trudge through heavy rain back to an old cottage he’d passed along the way, hoping to find help.What he finds instead is the mysterious Dr. Stephen Miller, a man fighting his own battles. Anton is invited inside to join the tail end of an all-male dinner party, but this is no chance encounter. What Anton thought was fate is actually a spirit at work making sure he ends up at the cottage—and stays there until unfinished business is resolved for both Anton and Stephen.

Desert World Allegiances


Lyn Gala - 2011
    Temar Grazer was sentenced for what amounted to a criminal prank—but Shan soon finds that the dangers extend far beyond Temar’s crime.Caught between guilt and hope, Shan must find his true path in either the priesthood or in a man whose strength and survival defies the odds. Can the two men unravel a plot that threatens the entire world before Temar is broken by a system of slavery that has twisted out of control?

The End Game


Lisa Marie Davis - 2011
    Thirteen years later, the memories still haunt him, leading him to keep everyone at anemotional distance, so it takes him some time to warm up to the idea of getting cozy with his boss, Harrison Harper. Just when Harrison thinks he has a chance at earning Micah's trust, Micah's past returns with a vengeance, bringing his worst nightmares to life... but Harrison won't give him up easily."

Going for Gold: M/M Olympic Anthology


E.M. LynleyMichael P. Thomas - 2012
    Voyeurism aside, there's nothing sexier than a beautiful body running, jumping, swimming, rowing, and a couple dozen other activities. Who wouldn't take the chance to enjoy the spectacle?But the Olympics are more than just a chance to watch athletes at the peak of physical perfection. Every competitor at the Games has a story behind why they run or jump or swim, and why they compete. How they got to the Games, and what they sacrificed along the way to make the cut. To spectators, they may perform superhuman feats, but each and every one is human in the same way we all are.In this collection of stories, you'll find there's a lot more to competing at Olympic level than being the best in one's field. Expectations and pressures from family, friends, coaches and country add up, and sometimes it's only the love of the right man who can make the effort worth it. And sometimes, love is more important than going for gold.Including: Hot Shots by Michael P. ThomasInto the Deep by Nico JayeThe Quad by Kelly RandLightning in a Bottle by Sarah MadisonSwimming the Distance by Annabeth AlbertShoot for the Gold by Whitley GrayAn Olympic Goal by K-lee KleinTumbling Dreams by Kaje HarperWord count: 117,000

They Come By Night


Tinnean - 2015
    It may be 2014, but in this world, normals unknowingly share the planet with vampyrs. Most vampyrs rely on bagged blood, supplemented by the blood of sabors—valued individuals whose blood contains an element needed for the survival of the species. Tyrell Small has always felt different. He doesn’t know he is a sabor, but he has the birthmark to prove it. When his father reveals that he’ll be required to feed vampyrs, Ty decides to run away. Slipping out of his bedroom window, he finds the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen sitting on his roof. Adam Dasani is a vampyr, equerry to the vampyr king, who has given Adam the task of guarding Ty. The blood of the two most powerful saborese families in the shared history of vampyrs and sabors runs through Ty’s veins. And some vampyrs intend to use him to gain power, something Adam isn’t about to allow. Adam insists that Ty can’t escape his destiny, but they both find that destiny can take unexpected turns… and following those turns may put those Ty loves—including Adam—in danger.

Nature of the Beast


Amylea Lyn - 2011
    What lies Outside it?Raine O'Kelly has a gift. The very power of nature is his to command. When his gift lands him in trouble with the government, Raine find himself thrown into The Prison; one of the most feared punishments for those citizens who won't conform to The City's ideals.Abused, scared, and slowly dying of deprivation from the one thing his body truly needs, an accident lands him in the infirmary, which leads him to be given to The Prison’s most feared inmate… The Beast.When The Beast defends him from the guards, Raine finds himself inexplicably drawn to the misunderstood man. A man with unique abilities of his own, the Beast’s animalistic desires form a connection between them that cannot be denied. When he learns The Beast comes from Outside the City, is Raine willing to take the chance on escape with the mysterious man?Escape won't be easy, and there are dangers waiting for them on The Outside, ready to strike at the fragile relationship between the two men. When The Beast’s past comes to light, will Raine be able to put aside his own fears in order to fight for the life the two of them could have together? Or will he fold under the pressure?Will he get his happily ever after?Or will he become just another victim of the Nature of the Beast?

Amaranth & Ash


Jessica Freely - 2010
    But a vasai’s services are only for the Elai, and they demand sexual satisfaction as well as healing from their beautiful servants. Frustrated with these constraints, Amaranth wants to use his talent to help those who really need it.Ash is a chel. Considered devoid of souls, chel are the lowest of the low. Not content with his lot, Ash steals from the middle class pel. One night he’s caught and brutally punished.A soul in agony calls out to Amaranth from across the city. When he discovers that it belongs to a chel, it only confirms his worst suspicions about the lies of the Elai. Amaranth takes Ash home and heals him, an act of rebellion that could cost both their lives.Amaranth's compassion for Ash soon turns to passion. Ash treats him like a person, not an instrument of sexual gratification. Neither of them have much experience with mutual pleasure but together they embark on an exploration of intimacy and desire that carries them to the heights of passion and love -- and shakes the very foundation of their world. Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations some readers may find objectionable: Intersex relationships, violence.

The Gumshoe, the Witch, and the Virtual Corpse


Keith Hartman - 1999
    During your stay, depending on your tastes, you can cruise gay midtown (I hear that the Inquisition Health Club has introduced manacles and chains to the aerobics class) or check out the Reverend-Senator Stonewall's headquarters at Freedom Plaza (watch out for the Christian Militia guarding it, though) or attend a sky-clad Wiccan sabbat (by invitation only). Avoid the courthouse, where the Cherokee have turned out in full war-paint to renegotiate a nineteenth-century land deal. Also stay away from all cemeteries, at least until the police find out why someone is disinterring and crucifying corpses. As you can tell, this is a lively novel, full of intricate plotting and engaging off-beat characters. Among the latter are a gay detective, a Wiccan family, an ambitious televangelist with an eye on the White House, an artist whose medium is flesh and blood, a Cherokee drag queen--and then there's poor Benji, who would just like to make it to his fifteenth birthday, assuming the MIBS don't get him first or his Baptist parents don't ground him for life because his new girlfriend is a witch.

Interstellar Alpha


Kellan Larkin - 2016
    But when he meets Omega wolf Isaac, Zax feels the spark of something that could be called hope. As Isaac shows him what Earth is like, he realizes he just might be able to carve out a new life here. But he didn't count on finding a potential mate as well. "I’m glad I met you, Isaac." Isaac never thought he'd be one of the first people to meet aliens. He definitely didn't think they could be so sexy, either. And he never imagined that the kind, mysterious Alpha could be his fated mate and the key to making him a stronger, better person. When Isaac gets pregnant and an enemy ship appears on the horizon, the pair find that they have to help each other protect their new family and their pack. Will this Alpha find he has something to fight for again, and will this Omega discover inner strength he never knew he had? Find out in Interstellar Alpha. This standalone novella has a HEA. No cheating, no cliffhangers. Isaac needed to give himself to someone on this level, and he’d never had a chance to explore how exhilarating it could be before he met Zax.

Wand-Losing & Other Things You Shouldn't Be Doing


Gabbo De La Parra - 2014
    It’s up to Max Maitheas, governor of the city-state of Anatolia to embark on a diplomat journey to find out the alien's intentions.Captain Rezzu Ki Muselet leads the first Colviri-Human mission since Nova Gaia (a human planet) became part of the Colviri system— a recognizance mission to a remote planet where they hope to discover signs of life. What Rezzu wasn’t prepared to discover was a thriving civilization and to become mesmerized by the eyes of the head diplomat in charge of receiving them: green and wonderful like the sky of his home planet.Both Max and Rezzu have secrets, but if they’re able to surpass their own deceptions, they might also find love.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love’s Landscapes" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story. Photo Description: A painting of a handsome man in semi profile, part human part machine, looking at one of his hands. His machine parts and clothes are done in gold, copper and brass tones with clouds resembling cogs in different sizes surrounding him. He wears a top hat adorned with goggles and two feathers, one of a pheasant and the other of a peacock. He’s the embodiment of Steampunk imagery.This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

To Take a King


Stormy Glenn - 2015
    Vampires come from Saturn, humans live on Earth…and one man is king of them all…he just doesn't know it yet.Nicolas Callon had no idea that his life was going to change the day he turned twenty five. He had simply been hoping to spend a little time with his best friend and secret crush Cooper Walsh. But nothing turns out like he had hoped. From interfering ex-girlfriends to aliens from outer-space, Nicky’s day just goes to hell.The one bright spot is Cooper and the passionate interlude they share mere moments before Nicky’s life turns upside down. As he whisked away to parts unknown, it might be all Nicky has to keep himself sane, because being told he’s king of the galaxy pales in comparison to watching the man he loves get shot before his very eyes.If Nicky can find a way back to earth, he might have a chance of making his birthday wish come true. If not, then everything he has gained as king will be meaningless.http://www.bookstrand.com/to-take-a-king

Dreamers' Destiny


Tempeste O'Riley - 2016
    His last relationship failed almost a year ago, and he’s not had the interest or nerve to pursue anyone he’s met since.Cameron Danu is a tattoo artist from rural Georgia. Cameron is left without a job after his boss, Jose, is forced to close the shop after a heart attack. When Cameron learns Jose has set up an interview for him at a small tattoo parlor in Asheville, he hopes for a fresh start in a new town.Fate brings Cameron and Liam together, and they realize they’ve met before—in their dreams. A chance encounter and a winged tattoo might lead them to their destiny—if fear doesn’t turn their dreams into a nightmare.