. . Performances!Jet Mykles, J.P. Bowie and Kimberly Gardner entertain us with the magic and mystique of the theatre. From Shakespeare's gender-bending comedies to the glamour of a Musical Revue, we're whisked backstage for an intimate glimpse of the drama, romance and rumors (and maybe even a little mystery) behind the curtain. Find out what it takes for a man to carry off a skirt and heels. Follow the men who wait in the wings for those behind the fake breasts and makeup. BRAVO! BRAVA!stories include:About Something by Jet MyklesSometimes Life's a Drag by J.P. BowieWoman's Weeds by Kimberly Gardner

    Maxfield, and Josh Lanyon's Until We Meet Once More make up this contemporary anthology. Fifteen percent of the sales of Because of the Brave sold at the Aspen Mountain Press website will be donated to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network between release and September 11th!  Perrenial favorites, Laura Baumbach, Josh Lanyon and Z.A. Maxfield contributed to the anthology Because of the Brave.  This collection honors the men who've served in the military and labored with the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  In Laura Baumbach's Designated Target a soldier returns to his commander's hometown to tell his brother the truth about what happened in the field.  Josh Lanyon's Until We Meet Once More pits a Naval Academy graduate against the Taliban and his own repressed past.  Finally in Z.A. Maxfield's Jumping Off Places a soldier returns home to be with his dying mother and finds more than he bargained for in the place he'd hoped to never see again.

    It can bring love, luck, madness, misfortune, pleasure, and pain. Of all the myths and legends, superstitions and old wives tales, no lunar legend is as well known as those surrounding the wolves...Moon Dogs by Erica Kealey—FBI Agent Grant has had enough of his partner Cary's running and hiding. He knows what he saw, he's okay with what he saw. Now all he has to do is convince Cary of that.The Wolf and the Moon by Kayla Bain-Vrba—Dag's life is an endless series of battles, as he fights Game after Game for the amusement of others, his interest in life lost when he killed his own lover. But then, in the middle of a Game, he encounters a familiar face …A Kind of Remedy by Ashley Shaw—Enticed by gold to participate in an experiment, Nicolaus finds himself regretting it almost immediately. When he comes out of it unscathed, he considers himself lucky. Then the headaches begin …The Were Curse by Sasha L. Miller—When Innot is abruptly escorted to the royal palace he expects nothing good to come of it. But even his worst imaginings did not involve a journal stolen from him years ago, and incomplete spell cast upon the crown prince.Runaway Prince by May Ridge—On the run from his family and a life he hates, Astin reluctantly stops to rest at a trashy motel for the night. The very last thing he expects is Delaney, a bold, beautiful rentboy—and Astin's mate.The Wolf's Moor by Lupin Drake—Seamus enjoys his life as a bartender in a Scottish town; it's a far better life than the one he led two hundred years ago. The only shadows in his life are the curse that afflicts him and a handsome, determined investigator.Moonwitch by M.J. Willow—Prince Athanes arrives in Kamare to solve the mystery of several soldiers attacked by wolves. But the more he learns of the attacks, the more he realizes there is far more going on than a simple matter of hunger and sickness …Coming Home by Elizah J. Davis—With his parents dead, Caleb is alone in the world. Having no reason to stay, and nowhere to go, he wanders aimlessly around the country. Then, one night, he turns into a wolf, and the most frightening thing about it is that it doesn't feel strange at all …The Werewolf of Grey Lake Inn by Megan Derr—Astor is good at telling it like it is, a trait that annoys everyone who knows him, but makes his ghost debunking books a raging success. But even he isn't right about everything, a fact made clear when a simple research trip proves to be anything but.

    Go skinny-dipping in a disused quarry. Hang out with the boys in the band. Meet a bad boy made good, and one with a shy smile that hides a dark secret. Or maybe get your heart pillaged by a Viking re-enactor. With gentle humour, hot sauce and a hefty scoop of romance, enjoy a quintet of sultry stories of men loving men from Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, and Lou Harper. The mercury's not the only thing that's rising! Summer Hire by Chrissy MunderLost and Found on Lindisfarne by JL MerrowSalt 'n' Vinegar by Clare LondonWerewolves of Venice Beach by Lou HarperBy Quarry Lake by Josephine Myles

    Randy Hersch and Les Hardin throw a party to celebrate their families and give each other their most important present: their hearts.

    Since he's in unrequited lust with his boss, Keane thinks a clandestine tryst might just take his mind off his gorgeous colleague.Rayche Marquette has wanted Keane since hiring him, but being his boss means Keane's off limits...until Rayche decides he can wait no longer and reserves the Wet Area of the spa so the two of them can spend a Naughty Nooner together.Rayche and Keane meet in the elegant shower area, but when Keane discovers the sender of the note is his boss, his reaction is not what Rayche expects. Keane rebuffs him, thinking the lunch hour adventure is a lark for Rayche, a meaningless liaison. For Keane, that can never be enough with this man. How can he convince Rayche to turn their Naughty Nooner into a lifetime commitment?Dalton's Awakening by Carol LynneAfter weathering a bitter divorce amongst rumours of his sexual preference, Dalton Montgomery finds solace at his favourite new restaurant Bella Lucina's. His lunches spent talking to the restaurant's bartender, Sal, get him through the lonely days and nights. When Dalton begins to feel attracted to the hunky bartender, his world spins out of control. Had his ex-wife been right?Lunches in Laguna by J.P. BowieScott is intrigued by an art collection in a Laguna gallery, but it's the gallery manager, Michael, who gets his full attention!By his own admission, Scott Stevenson is a rough and ready kind of guy, but even he can appreciate art on occasion, especially when it comes in the form of Michael Taylor, the manager of a Laguna Beach art gallery. Invited to spend a lunch hour with Michael, Scott doesn't hesitate to let his new friend know he considers him a perfect work of art.The attraction is mutual and the two men start seeing each other regularly for 'lunch'. But when Michael fails to show up at the gallery one day Scott discovers that his perfect man may have an imperfect past, and if Scott wants lunch to progress to dinner he'd better ensure that those who are threatening Michael aren't around for dessert!Raven by Dakota RebelIn a club owned by vampires that feed on lust, it may end up being more than your neck on the line.Raven is the hottest gay club in Detroit. It is owned by Patrick and Kennedy, two vampires who emit so much sexual energy the club could run itself for days on it. They had always enjoyed smoking, drinking, and grabbing as much action as they could from their patrons so they could brag to each other about their conquests.But lately, Patrick has had enough. And when a young, hot blond shows up vying for Kennedy's attention, it's time for Patrick to teach him a lesson, and take his rightful place at his partner's side.Lust in the Afternoon by Cian FeySometimes all it takes is one afternoon.Ted Wayne is the IT manager at a gay online magazine and bookstore that also provides live streaming peep shows. During a fierce snowstorm, the on-air talent can't make it in for the "Lust in the Afternoon" show, and only Ted is around to fill the void.Art director Grayson Jeffries talks Ted into fifteen minutes in front of the camera, Ted agrees partly because he thinks Gray is the hottest thing going. He's reluctant to masturbate in front of Gray, but at least with Gray in the room, he has no worries about getting it up.Gray has wanted Ted for months - now he has this one chance to make all his fantasies come true.Lunch is Served by Jude MasonAdmitting you're gay is difficult enough. Can Philip Sands go even farther and admit he wants to be dominated?Philip Sands needs a job. When he finds one at The Gate Room, a gay BDSM club owned and run by the sexy Mark Freeman, he's faced with a dilemma. He'd admitted to being gay years ago, but had hidden his submissive side, even from himself. Dressed in the sexy leather gear required for his new job, Philip finds himself drawn into the lifestyle and lusting after Mark. Constantly aroused by the scenes taking place in the club, the duties he's asked to perform are more than a little frustrating.An evening meeting, which turns out to be so much more, only adds to his torment. When Mark invites him to come in for lunch the following day, Philip jumps at the chance. Will their meeting turn into more? Will he finally find the courage to tell Mark his feelings? And what does the handsome Mark have in mind?

    All these stories reflect the iconic sights and national character of the British Isles: a taste of our idiosyncrasies and eccentricities, but also an unashamed representation of the love, loyalty and laughter of our people. Follow the British way of life from historic villages to modern cities, from the countryside to the sea, through history and with a fantasy twist, in gardens, shops, campus and the familiar, much-loved local pub. The stories cover universal themes of romance, desire, remembrance and reconciliation. The authors range from multi-published to up-and-coming, and they all share a passion for their characters, whether through great drama, erotic excitement, humour—or a combination of all three! Contents: The worst pub in London / JL Merrow — Our place / Clare London — We’ll always have Brighton / Zahra Owens — Commission and omission / Charlie Cochrane — Paint / Stevie Carroll — Ben’s new colleague / Serena Yates — Giving it up / Josephine Myles — Thoughts in spring / Mara Ismine — Mouth Almighty / Victoria Blisse — Reunion / Lisa Worrall — While the boys are away / Lucy Felthouse — Nessie / Caroline Stephens — Slap and Motley / Sandra Lindsey — Like a girl / JL Merrow — Last client / Jay Rookwood — Sunshine Superman / Elin Gregory — Escape to the country / Stevie Woods — Prince Charming’s Buttons / Stevie Carroll — Yesterday upon the stairs / Erastes — Benefits of peace / Alex Beecroft — They who come after the stories end / Sophia Deri-Bowen A revealing collection of short LGBT fiction, available free of charge from Smashwords; edited by: Josephine Myles, Alex Beecroft, Charlie Cochrane, Clare London and JL Merrow. This anthology is a souvenir of the 2011 UK Meet, an occasion for GLBTQ supporters to get together in a relaxed setting to celebrate and chat about the fiction community they love.

    Whatever the reason, a designated bottom is someone who's happy to surrender, to submit, or just catch instead of pitch! In Czech Me Out, by BA Tortuga, Korde discovers what it's like to fall for someone when food truck owner Josh takes on the cowboy virgin. Katey Hawthorne's gamer grad student Paul doesn't date. He keeps things strictly physical. So why is Sammy so important to him in The Mistell? Kitty shifter and stripper Aleks doesn't mix business with pleasure, but he thinks Rafe might just be the master for him in Julia Talbot's Faster Bobcat. Sean Michael's Peter isn't sure about the club his friend takes him to, especially when Doms start hitting on him. Experienced Dom Rupert is happy to help, explaining about that Little Square of Cloth. In Sgt. Hardass, by Shannon West, recent ex-Army man Jake meets up with a man he has history with, and Chad isn't sure he can explain himself and defuse Jake's anger. In the Prince of Paupers by Kiernan Kelly, Prince Liam and longtime friend Deacon have to go back to Deacon's Appalachian home, much to the prince's dismay. And in Switching It Up by KC Wells, Jay knows he looks like a twink, but only hunky Dean understands that looks can be seriously deceptive.

    P. Barnaby – END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (First Love )*Sarah Black – SUCKER-PUNCH (Athlete/Hurt-Comfort )Scarlet Blackwell – BREAKING WAVES (Surfing/Angst )Penny Brandon – FINDING JACK (Cowboys/Mild BDSM )Lee Brazil – BE A BAD BOY (First-Time/Family Drama )Cardeno C. – WOMAN WITH A DILDO (Friends to Lovers )L.C. Chase – OPEN TACKLE (Friends to Lovers )*Kim Dare – MASOCHISM 101 (BDSM/Friends to Lovers )S.J. Frost – A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY (Musicians/Rivals to Lovers )Jeanette Grey – HEART AND SOUL (Friends to Lovers )Jambrea Jo Jones – WILD BLUE YONDER (Military )*Pender Mackie by DOG DAYS OF SUMMER (Blue Collar/First Date )JL Merrow – BEAR NAKED (First-time/Bears )M.J. O'Shea – BRIDGES (First Love )*Neil S. Plakcy – PHOTO BOOTH (Cowboys/FBI )Dustin Adrian Rhodes – STORM OF PASSION (Friends to Lovers )Jaime Samms – MOURNING (Hurt/Comfort )*Justin South – REFLECTIONS (First Love/Hurt-Comfort )Zach Sweets – LUSCIOUS LOVE (Coming out/Food Kinky )Piper Vaughn – WANTING (First Love )*Silvia Violet – TIME TO TELL (Military/Friends to Lover)Deanna Wadsworth – UNSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (Office Sex )Stuart Wakefield – THE ELEMENTS OF LOVE (Sci-Fi/Ménage )Alex Whitehall – HOLD ME TIGHT (Hurt-Comfort/BDSM Light )Lisa Worrall – JUST ONE KISS (Gay-for-You/Cops )Connor Wright – GONE TO PIECES (Sci-Fi/Mild BDSM )

    As Wyatt tries to sneak out the next morning, he receives a call from his frantic, very pregnant best friend Raven—she needs him immediately. With no other way to get from New York City to the Pennsylvania town where Raven and her husband live, Wyatt accepts Benji’s offer to drive him there. Wary and unsure of each other, they start the trip at odds, but as time goes on, the barriers that usually keep people at a distance fail. And what started out as “just a drive” becomes a step toward romance.Just a Stranger by Elle BrownleeThe excitement of meeting a stranger in a club can’t be beat. Loud bass sets the rhythm to Michael Wiercinski’s primal urges as he flirts with Andrew, a cute guy offering the promise of a hot night with no strings, no complications. Still, when their night is done, Michael admits there was something about Andrew that left him wanting more. Months go by with no sign of Andrew until Michael moves back home to help after his father’s heart attack. Once there, Michael is completely amazed to find Andrew Lucas living in his hometown. Despite surprising “complications” in Andrew’s life, Michael vows to take advantage of this second chance to make Andrew more than just a stranger.Just a Weekend by Elizah J. DavisJames is a homebody in a predictable, if not altogether comfortable, rut. He’d rather stay in with a book than brave the Seattle bar scene. One night, after allowing his friend Kara to coax him out for drinks, he meets Devin—charming, gorgeous, and way out of his league. With a little bit of help from Kara, James leaves with Devin to indulge in a night together, which is as much time as he’s bound to get with a guy as hot as Devin. He doesn't expect the easy rapport that quickly develops between them, and when the weather conspires to keep them together, James wonders if this could be more than just a weekend fling.

    Returning to his college town to be in a frat buddy's wedding, he discovers he still has feelings for his old college lover, Daniel James Delout. Too bad he's still in the closet and DJ most definitely is not, the main reason why they broke up in the first place. To complicate matters further, DJ is now blind, and is, somehow, almost maddeningly Zen about the blindness, Ryan, everything.Can Ryan ignore his stronger-than-ever attraction to DJ and just get through the wedding rehearsal, ceremony, and reception? Does he even want to? And what happens if he and DJ do reconnect? After all, he’s still in the closet...right?

    Firestarter. When the two come together, their world ignites!Pete Santori is a New York City fireman who is committed to his job and doesn’t take any time for personal relationships. That all changes one night when he saves a man from a fire that the victim appears to have started. As the man in his arms makes a confession, a strange connection passes between them.Alan Delaine is a firestarter, not an arsonist. He manifests powerful energy when he experiences strong emotion and things in his vicinity ignite. He’s been held captive in an unidentified facility, where he was tested physically and psychologically. When he meets Pete, he’s been living on the run after escaping the lab.As the two men come together, each has qualities the other needs. Physical attraction grows into something deeper. When the pair is kidnapped, can they make it out alive and build a future in which Alan can live a normal life?Contains: M/M, GLBT"Where The Devil Dances" – By T.A. ChaseScars aren't always on the outside. Architect Eric Sandel is living proof. He moves to Morley after surviving a terrible fire in order to rebuild his life and hopes designing the new Opera House will help him bury the past.Firefighter David Browdie hasn't had time for serious relationships; his “on call” status tends to leave relationships in the dust. When he meets Eric at the neighborhood dog park, sparks fly and he thinks maybe this time, serious will win after all.But a demon from Eric's past haunts him. David and Eric must work together to find a way to stop the madman before they all go up in flames.Contains: m/m love, dangerous obsessions and cute dogs

    They are heavenly beings who grant courage, unknown benefactors who offer help, best friends who lend their strength, and celestial beings who embody inspiration. You might not recognize these everyday angels or messengers of mercy, but the men in this anthology are touched by their purity and light and sometimes blessed by love.Morning Glow by Taylor Lochland Benjamin and Alan have been friends since high school. Though they often drift apart, Alan always seems to come back when Benjamin needs him the most—like when Ben is grieving over a bad breakup. As always, Ben feels better just from spending time with Alan, but then he realizes he’s in love with Alan. This time when Alan takes off again, Ben isn’t going to let him go without a fight. A Trail of Feathers by Sarah Ann Watts Alone on New Year’s Day, Daniel is more aware than ever of the self-destructive despair consuming him since his lover’s death. Then he meets a stranger shedding feathers in the street, and despite the risk, he takes Leo home with him. But Leo is not the hustler or drug addict Daniel suspected him to be. He’s there to give Daniel a gift—a gift Daniel might not know how to accept. Heart's Salvation by Réve Garrison After losing his wife and daughter in a car accident, a distraught Nathaniel approaches the church for comfort, seeking the statue that is said to heal emotional distress. When the angel embodied in statue feels the depth of Nathaniel's pain, he makes the unusual decision to assume human form and comfort the grieving widower. But soon the angel must decide between returning to the statue to comfort others and retaining his humanity for the hope of love. In the Hands of the Gods by Jana Denardo The only business that concerns Tiberius Aelius Rufus is how to extend his olive oil trade from Pompeii to Rome and how to sort out a family when his tastes do not run to taking a wife. Expanding his oil trade is easy enough, but a man of his station can’t exactly dally with another man. But when he meets Marcus Lartius Priscus at a party, Tiberius is enchanted and falls hard, hard enough to consider risking his business and his reputation to follow Priscus to Rome. A Voice in the Darkness by Patric Michael Landon Hargrove wakes in darkness and pain to find he and his unconscious husband Bryce are trapped in their car after a landslide. With no help but the moral support of a man named Dan who can speak to him but not reach him, Landon must find a way to rescue them both before the rest of the mountainside breaks free and crushes them… along with their dream of adopting a son. Some Comfort by S. Blaise Dale is having a hard time adjusting to everyday reality after returning from combat when he runs into Mal, a fellow soldier who’d saved his life during a missile attack. Mal seems determined to continue to watch over him even though Dale knows very little about the other man. Why does Mal have such faith in him? And will it be enough to drive the darkness inside Dale away? Ascension by RJ Scott When Sabrael visits Adam Riley, the last remaining descendant of the family under his protection, the angel finds a man consumed with grief after the death of his father and the decision to sell the family bookstore. Sabrael is surprised by a connection to Adam strong enough to redefine his entire purpose, something Sabrael has never felt for any mortal in his charge. Now he wonders if it is part of the Divine plan—if his time to live a mortal life has come. A mortal life with Adam. Sariel by Mary Calmes Jacob Gray is on the trip of a lifetime with his employer only to have it turn into a nightmare. Drugged and taken to an underground catacomb, Jake is forced to make a life or death decision: face torture by the men who kidnapped him or confront a ferocious beast. Much to his captors’ surprise, Jacob casts his fate into the hands of an unknown creature instead of surrendering himself to sure death, with only hope as his salvation. The Platypus Learns Astrophysics by Matthew Vandrew Hardworking businessman Jonas Mason is the last person expecting a visit from an angel. Yet Micah, angel of the Divine Plan, shows up in his office, absolutely certain of his mission: to enlighten Jonas’s days and fill his heart with love… all by simply touching him. And when nothing happens? Micah will have to wing it: act human, rein in the grumpy and generally unpleasant Jonas, and figure out how to bring Jonas—and himself—lives full of joy. The Angel Blues by Cornelia Grey It’s a nondescript, depressing night when Morgan, a seasoned cop, finds a witty stranger perched on his windowsill who shares his appreciation for the blues. Worried for his own sanity, Morgan mostly ignores the man who insists on materializing at the most inappropriate of times… until a life-threatening experience forces Morgan to see just how much the stranger who claims to be an angel means to him.Redemption by Clare London Ziba is a fallen angel, working as a sponsor of lost men, helping them find genuine repentance after a life of sin. Banished to the Arrivals Hall between worlds, he offers them work during their journey to a better afterlife. But for him, personally, that option is closed. His position was so exalted, and his sin so great, that he is imprisoned in Arrivals forever. Until he meets Abdiel, an angel who also fell from grace - but whose love and self-sacrifice offers both of them a new hope of redemption. Herbal Tea by H.J. Brues Douglas, a world-weary, cynical agent of a very special kind of law enforcement, is sent to recruit Justin, a young herbalist, for a unique assignment. Considering the lies and betrayal in his past, Douglas can’t help but look for hidden intentions behind every selfless act, and he doesn’t trust easily. But Justin will show him that a simple man can have the courage to offer his protection, his love and even his life for those he cares about, because it’s not the wings that make the angel, but the readiness to reach out to others with your whole heart in the tips of your fingers. The Tenth Avatar by Roland Graeme When a relative dies and bequeaths to Arun a family heirloom—an old bronze statue of Kalki, the tenth avatar, or incarnation, of the Hindu god Vishnu—the delivery of the statue coincides with the arrival of a new man in Arun’s life. Jack is everything Arun has ever desired in a lover, and Arun will have to face his parents’ pressure for marriage and Jack’s unknown opinion on commitment to move forward to a loving future. Santangelo by Zahra Owens Michael isn’t the type of man who needs rescuing, but after he’s attacked by a group of skinheads, he’s glad Gabriel Santangelo is there to help. Four stitches in his forehead later, Michael is introduced to Gabriel’s severely disabled baby daughter and jumps at the chance to get to know Gabriel better. But Gabe has more issues than he's willing to share and when he keeps Michael at a distance, Michael starts wondering who is rescuing who. The Archangel of Castro by Diana Copland What do you get when you mix a former real-estate agent turned diner owner; a sweet, unassuming, movie-star handsome runaway; selfless generosity; and unrequited love? You get Nick at Nick’s on Ninth; his live-in friend Brian; a treasured friendship; and two very nearly broken hearts… until the unlikeliest Archangel ever notices the need for a bit of divine intervention.

    Everyone but Colin, that is. Colin's live-in boyfriend Rand is creative, gorgeous, and entirely too self-sufficient. Colin can hardly remember the last time they did anything fun together, let alone got down and dirty before his daily commute. Colin is sure he's about to face another morning brag session when he gets to the office, but instead he finds the building eerily deserted. The radio has been taken over by the Emergency Broadcast System, and Colin must rush back to make sure nothing's happened to Rand. Luckily, Rand is okay. Even better than okay. And he's been dying for Colin to get home.

    Alerted by a yell of pain, he’s mortified to find that Kevin has shot a tall, handsome stranger in the rear end. Especially when Kevin suggests Peter should kiss it better!Cultured lawyer Edward doesn’t seem to mind. An embarrassing encounter leads to a hot date -- but Peter's guilty secret about Kevin’s father could undo all Cupid’s good work, and Edward’s flair for the dramatic isn’t exactly helping!Previously published in the Shot Through the Heart Taste Test.