Book picks similar to
Invincible Summer by Seth King
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The Shattered Door
Brandon Witt - 2011
While his sexuality prohibits him from practicing his degree in youth ministry in a church setting, he’s found a fulfilling job as a youth counselor at a residential treatment facility in Colorado. He falls in love, marries the man of his dreams, and makes peace with God. He’s happy.Then his buried past drags him back to the Ozarks.The life Brooke has worked so hard to build is crumbling in his hands in the face of painful memories and past abuse, and his confidence is withering. In El Dorado Springs, where his nightmares come to life, Brooke desperately seeks closure life doesn’t offer. Brooke must find value in himself, in his marriage, and in the world around him—and create the hope and perseverance to keep his past from swallowing him whole.
Brothers
Ralph Josiah Bardsley - 2015
But those plans change when his parents are suddenly killed and he finds himself the guardian of his little brother, Nick. Jamus ends up back in the Boston neighborhood where he grew up, with a crying toddler on his knee and the challenge of building a new life for himself and the boy. Jamus somehow finds a way to navigate the ups and downs of single parenting, but over a decade of raising Nick, Jamus never truly overcomes his struggles with loneliness and the guilt he feels as the sole survivor of the crash that killed his parents. That changes when he meets bookishly handsome Sean Malloy. There’s a spark between the two men, but both must face down their own private demons to find love in the Irish enclave of South Boston.For a more in-depth look at "Brothers," check out www.ralphjosiahbardsley.com.
Something Like a Love Song
Becca Burton - 2015
Forced to overcome physical and emotional trauma, the young lovers turn to a network of family and friends as they attempt to rebuild their lives. But can their one constant—their love—survive the changes both undergo on the road to recovery?
A Horse Named Sorrow
Trebor Healey - 2012
But the ensuing romance proves short-lived as Jimmy dies of an AIDS-related illness. The grieving Seamus is obliged to keep a promise to Jimmy: “Take me back the way I came.” And so Seamus sets out by bicycle on a picaresque journey with the ashes, hoping to bring them back to Buffalo. He meets truck drivers, waitresses, college kids, farmers, ranchers, Marines, and other travelers—each one giving him a new perspective on his own life and on Jimmy’s death. When he meets and becomes involved with a young Native American man whose mother has recently died, Seamus’s grief and his story become universal and redemptive.
Gilded Ambition
Jason Collins - 2018
But I can’t help myself, even if he’s straight. Noah is the first thing I see as I walk through the doors of the historic Gilded Fox, and just one glance is enough to set my body on fire. The exclusive club offers power and luxury, but all I can think about is Noah. I never in a million years thought I’d find something worth giving up all my money for. But I have to stop letting my fantasies run wild. I need to focus. I’ve just been inducted into a secretive circle I never knew existed. The men at the club show restraint, but I can sense the tinge of sexual energy hidden behind closed doors. Still, not everything is as it seems. There are power dynamics at play within the club, and the other members have heard that I’m gunning for a position of authority. The problem? Some of them don’t want me to take control. On top of that, I can’t stop thinking about Noah. I don’t want to fall for a guy who says he’s straight. But judging from the way his body responds to mine, he’s not so sure. NOAH: I’ve never been with a guy, and I sure as hell have never been with a billionaire. One minute I’m enjoying my job as one of the few straight men working in an exclusive social club for gay men, the Gilded Fox. The next minute my ordinary life is turned upside down. We come from two totally different worlds, and to make matters worse, employees are strictly forbidden from fraternizing with club members. I don’t want to risk everything by breaking the rules, but I’m wrestling with feelings I’ve never felt before. But Ben won’t back down. Everyone in the club is vying for a powerful position, while I’m angling for a different position entirely: preferably whichever one gets him alone. I try to keep my feelings under control, but I find myself swept up in a fantasy life where men don’t hold back from expressing their attraction to other men. I’ve always thought of myself as straight, and being surrounded by gay men all day, you’d think I’d know for sure. But Ben isn’t like the others. He’s something dangerously different. This is the first book in Jason Collins’ debut series. Readers can expect an extra spicy MM romance. Fair warning, this book has a heat level of 100.
This Regret
Victoria Ashley - 2014
That's how long it's been since my brother's been gone and not a day goes by that it doesn't kill me, knowing that I'll never see Adric again. It's been a rough journey, one I've barely survived, but with the help of my childhood friend Kade Haze, I'm finally learning to piece what remains back together. Or so I thought... Just when life is beginning to make sense again and a feeling of normalcy is on the horizon, my carefully constructed walls come crashing down, making it hard to breathe once again. When walking into the tattoo shop one day, the last thing I'm expecting to see is Kellan Haze, Adric's best friend who no one has seen or heard from since the day they found my brother's body. He's nothing like I remember him as a child, with his wild messy hair, tattoos that cover most of his undeniably sexy body, and eyes so intense they make my legs quiver with one look. The one thing even I can't deny is the instant rush I feel just by being in his presence. But how can I choose between love and lust when one of these holds a dark secret, one that can crush my world to pieces and leave me gasping for air. Who can I trust when my mind is pulling me in two different directions and my heart has to choose for me? The Haze brothers are sexy, daring, and possibly . . . dangerous. This Regret is a story of love, lust, betrayal, and danger with an ending no one will see coming.
The Anatomy of Perception
A.J. Rose - 2015
Dane Perry’s mother was dead, and the father who always said he’d amount to nothing blamed him. Dane swore he’d become something. He would be someone.In the middle, there was escape. Rebuilding his life from the ashes of his mother’s memory, Dane found success as a respected surgeon, and love in the form of Craig Dahl, a talented artist who became his everything. But there was also darkness, lies, and a crumbling foundation just waiting for the ground to shift.In the end, there was a spectacular fall, illusions shattered, and for Dane, nothing more to lose. He was broken, damaged, and left with fierce demons. But from the bottom, the only way left is up. Dane renewed friendships and salvaged his career. The only thing he cannot replace is Craig. But Dane has a plan. Brick by brick, his foundation is rebuilt, and all he needs is for Craig to listen one last time.In the beginning again, there’s hope and tatters of love. Can Dane repair the damage with Craig? Can he rescue the only thing he amounted to that ever truly mattered?This book contains vivid descriptions of symptoms of PTSD and events that can cause anxiety. Reader discretion advised.http://youtu.be/rng3S3MYe3I
Stealing Harper
Molly McAdams - 2013
But then he stumbles into a gray-eyed girl whose innocence pours off her, and everything changes. From the minute Harper opens her mouth to let him know just how much he disgusts her, he's hooked.But a princess deserves a Prince Charming who can make her dreams come true. Not a guy who can turn her life into a nightmare.All good intentions go out the window when Harper starts to fall for the guy Chase has come to view as a brother. He wanted to protect her by keeping her away, but he can't stand to see her with anyone else, and he'll do anything to make her his. But when it comes down to Harper choosing between the two, will Chase have the strength to step back from the girl who has become his whole world if it means she's happy?Lines will be crossed. Friendships will be put to the test. And hearts will be shattered.CAUTION: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ TAKING CHANCES
Cupid Hates Me
Romeo Alexander - 2020
Brendan: Romance isn’t my thing, and I hate Valentine’s Day. All that matters is I’ll be working that day at the restaurant…or so I thought. I wasn’t expecting the crazy guy in the alley to try to kill me, or the hot paramedic who showed up to start flirting with me. Now the red-headed medic wants a date, but given my cursed love life, of course, I turned him down…for now. Ryan: Okay, so maybe hitting on an injured guy in a dirty alley, no matter how cute, wasn’t the smoothest move. But sometimes my mouth gets the better of me, so after they stitched him up, I asked him for a date. Well, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! He turned me down, but I made sure he has my number… Brendan and Ryan have very different views of romance and, in particular, Valentine’s Day. Can the romantic spirit of the holiday work it’s magic to bring these two hot men together?
Nirvana Is Here
Aaron Hamburger - 2019
After 20 years, the trauma from a childhood assault resurfaces as he grapples with the fate of his ex-husband, a colleague accused of sexually harassing a student. To gain perspective, Ari arranges to reconnect with his high school crush, Justin Jackson, a bold step which forces him to reflect on their relationship in the segregated suburbs of Detroit during the 1990s and the secrets they still share. An honest story about recovery and coping with both past and present, framed by the meteoric rise and fall of the band Nirvana and the wide-reaching scope of the #metoo movement, Nirvana Is Here, explores issues of identity, race, sex, and family with both poignancy and unexpected humor. Deftly told intertwining stories with rich, real characters are reminiscent of the sensuality and haunting nostalgia of André Aciman’s Call Me by Your Name blended with the raw emotion of Kurt Cobain’s lyrics. Written by award-winning writer Aaron Hamburger, Nirvana Is Here is “a wonder of a book,” according to acclaimed novelist Lauren Grodstein (Our Short History). “As a Jewish Gen-Xer, the novel reminded me exactly of who I once was—and all that I still want to be. A brilliant accomplishment.”
Relinquishing Liberty
Maureen Mayer - 2013
Everything was perfect. That is until her brother tragically took his own life, turning her whole world upside down. Left to pick up the pieces of her broken family, Liberty is faced with focusing all of her attention on helping her parents cope with the loss of their son, while putting her own life on the back burner. But what no one seems to realize is that she is just as broken inside.Now, four years later, twenty year old Liberty is taking back the reins of her life. She leaves behind everything she’s ever known, hoping to make a fresh start…one where she isn’t faced with the constant reminder that her brother is nothing more than faded memory. What she didn’t expect to find along the way was Shayne.Tall, dark and tattooed, Shayne Thompson has developed quite a reputation for being a player. Despite everyone’s negative perception, Liberty still finds herself drawn to him. When she learns that Shayne knows all too well what it feels like to lose someone you love, she finds that they have a lot more in common than just a physical attraction.When Liberty discovers a secret from Shayne’s past that threatens to tear them apart, she begins to question everything she’s ever felt for him. Will Liberty choose to follow her heart or will she give up the one person who finally made her feel whole again?**This story contains language and sexual scenes, some of which may be unsuitable for younger readers.**
One Night In Whisper...
K. Sterling - 2018
Population: 2. At least, that’s how it feels after Beck Night’s mother, Maggie, passes away. Despite his best efforts, he can’t seem to escape and disentangle his life from Magnus Deacon, his mother’s sexy former boss. Beck isn’t a fan of the bachelor billionaire extraordinaire, unlike the rest of Whisper. After a lifetime of being forgotten and lost in the shuffle as Deacon and Maggie achieved greatness, Beck just wants to get on with his life and save the town’s dying library. Fate and his best friend, Delilah, seem to have other plans for Beck and he’s coerced into working for a man he can’t stand. Or keep his hands off of. Deacon would have been a wealthy and powerful man even if he hadn’t been born a billionaire and blessed with every possible advantage. Fortunately for Deacon, he was born with every advantage and knows he was extremely blessed. He’s never lost sight of that fact or that he wouldn’t be the man he was if it weren’t for the town of Whisper and Maggie Night. After Deacon loses Maggie to cancer, he turns to Whisper and her adorably cranky son, Beck, for help picking up the pieces. Determined to win Beck's forgiveness and trust, Deacon finds he won’t be satisfied until he’s got Beck’s body and his heart too.Whisper’s just like any other small town in America. There’s a story behind every smile and secrets are hard to come by. How about a story that starts with two lost, heartbroken men with almost nothing in common, except loving the same woman? Can they find their way to each other and a lifetime of love? In a small town like Whisper, chances are very good.
Beau Tyed
Isabelle Peterson - 2019
Beau Tyed was an absolute page turner with a great storyline and amazing characters. ~ K & R’s Dark Angels Book Blog To secure the job of his dreams, photographer Ty York tells his new boss he’s gay. Now Ty has to play the part. The plot thickens when Ty is asked to bring his “boyfriend” to a company event. Beau Thompson is a struggling actor waiting for his big break. To make things worse, his fiancée isn’t exactly thrilled with his chosen profession. When his best friend, Ty, needs someone to pretend to be his gay boyfriend for a party, of course Beau will help Ty out. What could possibly go wrong? One-click this friends to lovers, fake boyfriend romance for friendship, feels and steamy scenes.
The Center of Earth and Sky
Sean Michael - 2003
Meeting one night under the dim lights of a neighborhood bar, Whit becomes drawn into a sensual world where passion overcomes panic, where a simple meal can become an erotic feast, where love is the paramount rule. Graphic homoerotic sex.
I Love You to Death
Natalie Ward - 2012
Refusing to let anyone in for fear of losing them too, she becomes withdrawn, spending her days reliving the nightmares from her past. Until she meets Luke. Initially scared by his intensity and interest in her, Ash tries to push him away. But as Luke slowly starts to chip away at the walls she’s built, Ash finds herself doing the one thing she swore she’d never do again — falling in love. When the familiar feelings Ash had hoped were long buried with her past begin to resurface, she is forced to ask herself if falling in love again is really worth the risk.