Book picks similar to
The Awakening: Book One by J.R. Hastey


college
paranormal
lgbt
theme-coming_of_age

Protecting the Runaway Omega


Lydia Thorn - 2020
     Elijah wants a fresh life for himself and the babe he’s carrying. His predatory ex-mate has other ideas. Elijah's one hope for safety and happiness is to sign up with the Alpha Protection Service of Miami until the bond with his abuser is broken. The Alpha protecting him is his new drop-dead gorgeous neighbor Liam. A far cry from the small and petty man Elijah escaped, Liam is kind, sweet, and everything he could ever want in an alpha. To keep the deadly predator at bay, Liam agrees to temporarily mark Elijah to force-break the bond. With the two now living together, Elijah must remind himself that Liam is only doing him a favor, and this mark isn’t real… he wishes it was. Protecting the Runaway Omega is the first book in the Alpha Protection Service of Miami series. There is a bit of angst but ultimately a brave Omega, rowdy and protective friends, and a gentle alpha and his curious son who’s in love with a pug named Sam. HEA guaranteed! No cheating! No cliffhangers! This story contains some foul language and Mpreg. This is a 33,000 word novella and can be read as a standalone.

Children of the Knight


Michael J. Bowler - 2013
    A mysterious stranger. A city in crisis.When 14-year-old Lance is saved from death, his life is forever changed. For starters, his savior claims to be King Arthur, the once and future ruler of ancient Britain. Lance has met lots of weirdos on the streets of L.A., and they claim to be many things. But this “king” not only reeks of sincerity, he wears armor, rides a gorgeous white horse, and lives in the storm drains underneath the city! Arthur has a throne, old-school clothes, and weapons up the wazoo. Swords, daggers, bows and arrows—the kind Lance has only seen in movies.Turns out this Arthur guy wants to start some kind of revolution. He plans to collect other cast-off kids like Lance—even teen gang members—and create a New Camelot of Knights to gain more rights for youth and shake up the out-of-touch politicians who run Los Angeles.Lance is all for helping kids like him. He’s spent his entire life in and out of the system, and it sucks. And he wants to believe in Arthur, but doubts even a king can accomplish such lofty goals. Despite these uncertainties, Lance readily accepts the position of First Knight—youth leader of Arthur’s new army—thereby setting in motion a crusade of tsunami proportions. When the children rise, will the city fall?The Lance Chronicles begin…

Immortal Merlin, Books 1-4: Ignition, Winded, Floodgates, Buried


Emma Shelford - 2020
    Read the first four Musings of Merlin books here! "A marvelous modern take on the legendary Merlin... A definite must-read!" - Readers' Favorite "Ignition is... a unique take on [Merlin's] life without Arthur." - Bibliophilic Book Blog "Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy and the Merlin legends." - Amazon Reviewer Ignition, Book 1: Merlin, the legendary King Arthur’s mysterious magician, is immortal. As Arthur lay dying he promised to return. Merlin is holding him to his word. Forever young, forever waiting, Merlin lives an unassuming life in the city, keeping his identity and abilities secret from his friends. It's a long and lonely road, but Merlin is a patient man. It's now the 21st century and when the earth begins to groan with earthquakes, Merlin knows the situation is anything but natural. An eruption is imminent, but something—or someone—is forcing this volcano to erupt. Merlin must use his concealed talents and practiced charisma to save a town of innocent people before disaster strikes. He has the power to thwart a catastrophe—if time doesn’t run out first. Winded, Book 2: Merry Lytton, or Merlin as he was once known, has been waiting for the return of his friend King Arthur for centuries. It's an eventful wait: only weeks ago, he stopped a wicked plot to magically erupt a nearby volcano. Merry's latest worry is the revelation of his immortality—his modern-day friends are a little too curious. They do not need to know he has a history that could fill a library. Unknown to Merlin, the organization Potestas is furious at his geologic meddling, and an enraged member of the group is determined to wreak vengeance. For the first time in Merlin's ancient life, he must confront an enemy vastly more powerful than himself. Battling high in the skies and over mountain peaks, will Merlin's foe leave him breathless—forever? Floodgates, Book 3: Merlin the magician from centuries past now lives in Vancouver as an unremarkable young professor known as Merry Lytton. Merry keeps his secrets from friends and foes alike while infiltrating the nefarious organization known as Potestas, whose goal is to gain unimaginable power. Potestas' charismatic leader has welcomed Merry into the group, but for what purpose? Merry soon discovers that Potestas must recover King Arthur's holy grail to complete its plans, but the grail is firmly fused to the seafloor by magical means. As Merry is threatened by hostile spirits and hallucinations, will he succeed in stopping Potestas before they unleash the full fury of the ocean's power? Buried, Book 4: Immortal Merlin, known as Merry Lytton to his twenty-first century friends, is in a battle of wits with the powerful Potestas organization. Potestas is determined to gain unimaginable powers for its members, and Merry holds the key to unlocking this ambition. In exchange, Potestas promises to reveal crucial information on Merry’s heritage and answer questions he’s had for centuries. But when Merry learns that Potestas plans a human sacrifice, he is in a race against evil. Can he save an innocent life before a destructive new reality is thrust upon an unsuspecting world?

Little Daddy


A. Little - 2021
    Companionship these days is easier to get, thanks to the internet. Hookups, too, thanks to the mini-computers everyone carries around in their pockets to talk to each other. Want a quickie? Just open your chosen app and slide right. What’s harder is getting someone you can genuinely connect to, not only through a screen but in person.Step one: Create a profile online that generates trust. Step two: Convince them to meet you and charm the pants off of them. And I mean that literally. That’s not proven to be too hard, given I own a large condo complex in the ritzy part of downtown.Step three: Shower them with gifts, so the good times keep on rolling.Step four: Once a few weeks have passed, make them mine. I have the fangs and supernatural mojo to do that just fine.Now, if I can only get them to want to remain as my companion and not move on. My complex is full of vamps who started off as conquests and now are mated to another while remaining part of my coven. Maybe my luck’s about to change, though. There’s a human in the building opposite, and he’s been watching me with my latest hookup. He doesn’t know it yet, but my preternatural vision shows me the yearning in his eyes quite clearly. Oh, come to Daddy, baby. An eternity of delights awaits you…Little Daddy is a paranormal Daddy/Little age play romance. All characters are over the age of 18 and are consenting adults.

Lovers, Dreamers and Me


Willa Okati - 2009
    That doesn't leave much time for romance or fun. Sarah, his sister, thinks he's getting hidebound and decides to do a little matchmaking. Only the first problem with which is that her choice is another man, and Tolliver's not gay! It turns out, Noble's not either. But he is attracted to Tolliver, deeply, and as a seer, he knows they can be together, if they can just figure this out. He's not above using his psychic gifts to draw them together on a sexual journey to self-discovery, but the road has more twists and turns--and toys--than even he ever dreamed. Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices.

The Surgeon's Instant Family


Ezra Dawn - 2019
    Since this book isn’t an integral part of either series, it can be read as a standalone. If you’d like to get to know some of the characters mentioned in this story, then you’ll want to read the Asphalt Bay and Venetian Hills books. Reading order for those can be found inside this book) Bruno Marrz -no not the singer- is a wolf shifter and single father to three boys. After separating from his cheating ex-wife and gaining custody, Bruno took his three boys and moved cross country, returning to the pack he was born in. Bruno does his best, but he’s struggling to make ends meet and now, a year after leaving, his ex-wife wants custody of their boys. Unsure if he can afford to fight, Bruno seeks the help of the pack’s lawyer. Idris Vaughn is the top trauma surgeon at Venetian Hills Medical and a dragon shifter originally from Wales. He’s also the youngest surgeon to reach his level. Idris has a big house and lots of money, but those things don’t keep him warm at night. Idris longs for the love of a fated mate and the joy of a family but, he hasn’t had any luck finding the one person destined to be his. Neither man expected to meet their fated mate at the scene of an accident, but that’s what happens. Between the custody battle, navigating a new relationship, and trying to figure out Bruno’s ex-wife’s motives, these two men will have their work cut out for them when it comes to their happily ever after. Can they achieve it, or will they fail? (Warning: Contains sexual content, Mpreg elements, and explicit language. Not recommended for those under the age of 18.)

Spring Fling


Sean Ashcroft - 2017
    Sexy, funny, and as much of a nerd as he is, Jesse is perfect, and the prospect of getting to know him better after their amazing night together is the best thing that’s happened to him in years. That is, until he turns up in Spencer’s office as the new visiting professor. All of Jesse’s wishes have come true at once--a new job, new town, and new romantic interest who’s cute, smart, and really, really good in bed. Except it turns out that he’s about to share an office with him, and that means they’re both stuck with the college’s fraternization policy. Neither of them can afford to risk their jobs, so they’ll just have to wonder what might have been if they’d met some other time. But Spencer looks really good when he bends over. And Jesse’s habit of sucking on pens is really distracting. And it’s not as if anyone would ever have to know… But secrets have a way of getting out. Star-crossed lovers have a way of getting caught. What happens when you meet the right man at the wrong time? Spring Fling is a standalone gay romance with a HEA, and does not end on a cliffhanger. However, it does contain astrophysics lectures, forbidden love, explicit sex scenes, and a carnivorous plant.

Into You


Jay Northcote - 2016
    They grew up on the same street, went to the same school, and did everything together. But one hot summer night, teenage experimentation caused hurt feelings and confusion, and their friendship was destroyed.Four years later they’re both eighteen years old and in their final term at school. Scott is a football star and Olly’s preparing for a main role in the school play. After a heated argument in the street—witnessed by their mysterious, elderly neighbour—they wake up the next morning stuck in each other’s bodies.With no idea how to get back to normal, they have to co-operate in order to hide their secret. Spending time together rekindles their friendship, yet feelings run deeper for both of them. With the end of school fast approaching, the clock is ticking. Unless they discover how to change back, they could be stuck in the wrong bodies forever.

Pain


Adrienne Wilder - 2011
    But Pete has this dream of becoming a metaphysical scientist and that means all his time—his attention—is taken up by college and studying. So in order to deal with the pain of watching Peter and never having him I spend most of my time in the Gray Zone, the no-man’s-land between the city of Atlanta and the Dens. There I’m free to drown myself; with drugs, with booze…With the inhuman.Lesser-Breds. Kin hybrids. The offspring of Humans and Dragons.But then an act of revenge led to a stupid college prank, which put Peter right into my arms.A better man would make the right decision and tell Pete no.I am so not that man.

Roommates


Ann-Katrin Byrde - 2018
    He wants to graduate, go to law-school and become an advocate for omega rights. To accomplish all that, though, there's a secret he needs to keep—no one can ever discover that he’s omega. So far, everything’s gone to plan, until he finds himself rooming with the hottest alpha on campus. At first glance, Adam seems to have it all. He's an alpha, a star player on the college football team and heir to his parents' extremely successful business. His future is secure--except it's not the future he wants. He's not interested in their money or the willing omegas his mother would love to set him up with. What he is interested in is his new roommate, though he knows his chances are slim. Lucas is a beta after all, and beta males are rarely interested in other men. Still, he has to try his luck, even if it means disappointing his parents. A drink too many at a frat party leads to a night of passion—and unexpected consequences for both young men. While Lucas fights to save the career he’s always dreamed of, Adam fights to save the family he never knew he wanted. And they learn that, together, all battles can be won. While this book is set in the same universe as the Oceanport Omegas series, knowledge of that series is not necessary to enjoy this story.

Downpour


R.M. Grace - 2016
    . . Ash Greene has nothing left to lose when he stands on the curb, ready to lose his dignity. The rain is relentless and has been for days—the story of his life. With nowhere to go and no one to turn to, he only has one option if he wants to earn enough money to survive. Yet, when a chance encounter with a stranger spares him from making the terrible decision, he believes things may be about to change. Cole Harris is getting by, living his life from day to day. He's not looking for love because people like him are incapable of love. All people like him do are push others away. He has too many demons haunting his past to let anybody step foot into his despair. Yet, when he stumbles upon a guy soaking in the rain, only fate can be at work. Letting Ash into his life, Cole soon discovers a devastating reason he should treat him as he does everyone else. The only trouble is, for the first time in his life, he has met a guy worth keeping. Desperate to hold onto him, he will face the tough decision to tell Ash the truth of who he is, or hope he can keep his past buried.

Silence of Winter


Avery Blake - 2018
    At least that's what Oliver Cromwell tells himself when he's being bullied for being different. He's a lover of all things paranormal, and when his nose isn't shoved into his sketchpad, drawing haunted houses and monsters, he and his best friend Bailey hang out in abandoned buildings and take long—very non-romantic—walks through graveyards looking for ghosts.Everything changes when they actually find one.Freaked out because he seems to be a sudden ghost magnet, Oliver befriends Mrs. Glass, a psychic who lives in the Victorian manor at the end of his street. With her help, he discovers his special bloodline and uncovers abilities that allow him to begin helping the ghosts move on. As if being sixteen wasn't already complicated.When Oliver meets Victor, the charming and mysterious boy who lives with Mrs. Glass, he finds himself falling and falling hard. Chasing ghosts is a lot less nerve-wracking than falling in love, though, especially when the person you fall for has secrets of their own.The sleepy town of Iris Hollow has plenty of spooky legends and history that entices tourists from all over. And Oliver is about to find himself in the center of it all.This is a young adult paranormal LGBT story with magic, ghosts, and heartwarming romance. Guaranteed to make you smile, laugh, and maybe sleep with the light on.Trigger Warning: this story contains material that may be sensitive to some readers, including bullying and self harm.

Life, Over Easy


K.A. Mitchell - 2010
    It could turn your life upside down. Until a fall ended his Olympic diving career, John Andrews lived for the seconds he spent in the air. Now he's adrift on a college campus, grounded by paralyzing vertigo and double vision. Worse, he sees shimmering colors over everyone's heads.The last is hardest to ignore, and impossible when it comes to Mason. While sex with the hot, moody computer major gives John a rush as heady as diving, Mason's the only person John's ever seen surrounded by two distinct colors.Mason feels like a stranger in his own life. His lover is dead, and he drowns his guilt in bourbon and sex-until John's innocence reawakens the man he used to be. After Mason gives the young virgin a proper introduction to sex, he plans to send him on his way. But John sees too much to make things that easy.For John, their connection is more than just sizzling sex, it's something worth fighting for. The more he learns about the colors, though, the more he realizes the free-spirited Mason isn't free at all. John doesn't take second place to anyone-even the dead.Warning: Anyone wishing to read this title should be an adult, free from any condition that might be aggravated by the presence of a not-too-scary haunting, sizzling sexual chemistry, and angsty young men having mildly kinky sex. Other restrictions may apply. No additional equipment needed-unless you like that sort of thing.

King Perry


Edmond Manning - 2012
     Despite intense reservations, Perry agrees, setting in motion a chain of events that will test the limits of his body, seduce his senses, and fray his every nerve, (perhaps occasionally breaking the law) while Vin guides him toward his destiny as 'the one true king.' Even as Perry rediscovers old grief and new joys within himself, Vin and his shadowy motivations remain enigmas: who is this off-beat stranger guiding them from danger to hilarity to danger? To emerge triumphant, Perry must overcome the greatest challenge alone: embracing his devastating past. But can he succeed by Sunday's sunrise deadline? How can he possibly evolve from an ordinary investment banker into King Perry?

The Lion Tamer Who Lost


Louise Beech - 2018
    One he has always kept in a silver box with a too-big lid that falls off. When it finally comes true, he wishes it hadn't...Long ago Ben dreamed of going to Africa to volunteer at a lion reserve. When he finally goes there, it isn't for the reasons he imagined...Ben and Andrew keep meeting where they least expect. Some collisions are by design, but are they for a reason? Ben's father would disown him for his relationship with Andrew, so they must hide their love. Andrew is determined to make it work, but secrets from his past threaten to ruin everything.Ben escapes to Zimbabwe to finally fulfil his lifelong ambition. But will he ever return to England? To Andrew? To the truth? A dark and poignant drama, The Lion Tamer Who Lost is also a mesmerisingly beautiful love story, with a tragic heart.