Book picks similar to
Epiphany by J.L. Merrow


m-m
romance
contemporary
jl-merrow

Inspiration


Henrietta Clarke - 2012
    Unfortunately, that means spending Christmas without his temperamental partner, Benji, an author who prefers to stay home in Scotland, where his muse never lets him down. But before leaving, Nolan prepares a rather unusual Advent calendar for Benji. As Benji unlocks each little gift, he realizes that it’s hard to be creative, even in Scotland, when his heart has jumped the pond and taken his inspiration with it.

Wild Turkey


Rhys Ford - 2014
    It features Miki and Damie… a short piece about Thanksgiving, family and what it’s like being with the Morgans on the Day of Feasting and Family.

If I Must


Amy Lane - 2009
    When Joel uneasily leaves Ian for the holidays, he ends up telling stories to his sister and discovers he feels much more for Ian than he thought. So when Ian calls, distraught because the only other thing in his life that loves him (a half-feral cat named Manky Bastard) is going to have to be put down, Joel hurries back home hoping that opposites really do attract.

Life Drawing


Jane Davitt - 2013
    But I wanted to be true to my desires at last, and yeah, impress this guy I met. In my street clothes, most people wouldn't even guess I am gay and those who know assume I am a top, but I am not. This guy, he is really cute and kind of flamboyant, but he has a core of steel. Perhaps he is the one who will see me as I am and complete me.Photo Description: The man in the photograph wears black stockings and lace suspenders, and his back is to the camera. He also wears leather: gloves, a belt cinched around his arm, and a double strapped harness over his shoulder and looping around his waist. Under the ankh tattoo in the small of his back, his ass is bare, and a faint blush of pink from a spanking is barely visible…This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" 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.

Mark and Tony


L.B. Gregg - 2009
    Discovering Jamie had also cleaned out my bank accounts made it officially the worst day of my life. I think I can be forgiven for wanting revenge, even if a few little laws (and possibly Jamie's nose) got bent in the process.Fortunately, the law is on my side in the form of my oldest friend, Tony Gervase. I've tried to deny my attraction to the sexy trooper for years. After all, he made it clear long ago that he wasn't interested in me that way. But if the hot encounter in his kitchen is any indication, he is now. At least the day is ending a whole lot better than it began...But the morning after, the Jamie situation goes from bad to seriously messed up. The jerk's in more trouble than I could have imagined. And as it turns out, I don't know Tony as well as I thought I did either...

Winner Takes All


R. Cooper - 2011
    He just wants peace, and to be left alone with the desires he’s pushed down for most of his life. For the most part, he is content, but he is never so aware of his loneliness as when a certain professional gambler strolls into town.Matt Dixon is a charming city boy who has no apparent concern for the danger he often finds himself in—and then talks himself out of. He might be all flashy suits and lavender-water, or he might be more than he seems on the surface: patient, dangerous, and sharp enough to know exactly what Morgan really wants from him. He might even want it, too.Jim isn’t going to risk everything on a careless gambler. But it’s been a long game between them, and when Matt catches him at a weak moment, he starts to suspect Matt isn’t bluffing—and wonders what Matt would do if he called.

Breakfast at Tiffany's


Lynn Lorenz - 2010
    Tony was born and raised in the City that Care Forgot and lost everything in Hurricane Katrina. Now, Scott lives in a homeless shelter and has a job at Tiffany’s Waffles ’n’ Wings, a 24-hour restaurant on the edge of the French Quarter, while Tony is squatting in an abandoned house.When Tony, desperate for cash, decides to rob someone, along comes Scott. But in the dark alleyway, the younger man stirs something long dormant in Tony. He rescues Scott from being beaten by another thief, then grabs the money for himself and runs. Ashamed of his actions, however, Tony decides to return the money. He follows Scott to work, and the two fragile souls begin a tenuous relationship.The men fill in what each is missing and what each desires in the other. Scott leaves the shelter to try living with Tony, finding a place to belong and someone who cares for him, and Tony, who has something to prove to himself, longs to be a better man for Scott.Together, the two kindred spirits try to create a life together in a city on the edge of a comeback...Genres: Gay / Contemporary / Interracial / Multicultural

Sexy Spring Surprise


Jet Mykles - 2007
    Now, he can't wait for Luc to come back.Reese always wants Luc, but tonight, he's got something special planned. And when Luc gets home, he's going to get a sexy little surprise.

Caged


Tam Ames - 2010
    His frustration at the situation is palpable, but when he's taken home by good-looking Hamilton, his plan is to win over his new owner and make his escape? However, after a few weeks with Hamilton, does he want to make a complete escape, or just stop being caged? If you like foul-mouthed tiny shifters whose surly attitudes are many times bigger than their physical presence, then this may be the book for you.

Talk To Me


K.C. Beaumont - 2011
    Instead of hitting the bar, he decides to give anonymous phone sex a try, thinking nothing of envisioning Carter, the smooth talker on the other end of the line, as the new HR guy. It’s all fun and games until it starts affecting his work. Finding himself drifting off in sexy fantasies at the office is bad enough. It’s downright crazy when he learns that the hot new HR rep’s name is Robert Carter. When Patrick finally invites Robert out to a hockey game, the similarities start stacking up—and their fledgling relationship may flounder when the coincidences become too numerous to ignore.

A Touch of Color


Sloane Kennedy - 2018
    Please make sure you haven't already purchased this story as part of that anthology unless your intent is to own two copies of the story. There is no new content. When Nate signs up with a matchmaking app, the sparkly, colorful, always-fashionable florist is hoping to find the guy who will finally see him as more than just a one-night stand. In fact, he’s hoping he’ll find “the one” who wants the same things he does – white picket fence, kids, minivan, dog – and doesn’t mind having them with a man others might think shines just a little too bright sometimes. Enter Harrison Garrison. The uptight lawyer is all wrong for Nate. He’s rigid, distant, controlling, emotionally closed off, and content to live his life in black and white…with maybe a little gray thrown in here and there. But when a misunderstanding leads to an encounter that is all kinds of white-hot, Nate starts to think maybe the matchmaking app got it right after all. Until he finds out the real reason Harrison signed up for the app… Will Nate be the one to finally add a touch of color to the staid Harrison’s life, or did the app completely miss the mark? Please note that this story was previously part of an anthology so it was intended (and required) to be a certain length. Although it is a complete story with an HEA, if you don’t care for short stories, Nate and Harrison’s tale may not be for you. This story was formerly titled “The Florist and the Lawyer” and was part of the Heart 2 Heart Charity Anthology. There have been no changes to the content of the story.

Chances Are


Lee Brazil - 2012
    Chances Are, she's right.Meet Aaron "Chance" Dumont:"I'm Chance, this is my place. You want me; this is where you can find me."The problem with that, of course, was that it wasn't my name. My name was actually Aaron Dumont.I picked up the name Chance as a kid when my grandma kept telling me "Chances are you'll come to no good, just like your pa." She had said it so often, it just kind of stuck. I've been Chance ever since. When she passed away and left me the remains of her estate, I sold everything but a few special items then invested it all in a nest egg for a rainy day.I figured that's what she'd intended it for anyway. She'd said as soon as I joined the police force back in the eighties. "Chances are you'll come to no good there. It's a dangerous job and you're an accident waiting to happen."She was right too.

Take My Picture


Giselle Ellis - 2007
    He certainly doesn't expect to end up working as Jake's assistant for five frustrating, thrilling, and crazy years instead of in front of the camera.It all works until Jake realizes Aaron has become the focus of his life, a life that's threatened when Aaron actually leaves him to start a relationship with someone else. Though it breaks his heart, Jake realizes he has to set his beloved muse free to have any chance of winning Aaron back.Reprint: This short story was originally published in the Dreamspinner Press anthology Size Still Matters.

Left of Centre


Zathyn Priest - 2010
    Enigma isn't like anyone Brandon's met before. He's unpredictable, volatile and... well, downright weird! To make matters worse, the gorgeous Enigma isn't at all impressed with Brandon and is unafraid to crush the man's ego at every opportunity. For the first time in his life, Brandon has to work hard to win the guy. Will Brandon agree to Enigma's left of center, bizarre requests, or is the player about to get played?

A Magnetic Couple Dilemma


Naaju Rorrete - 2012
    The real trigger for his decision is losing his best friend, Mauricio, who died of AIDS, and whose last letter stirs forbidden desires, besides asking Esteban to look out for Mauricio’s widower, Javier Lozano.Without Mauricio's love Javier collapses, and the only thing which keeps him going on is to fulfill Mauricio's last wish. Javier has to personally return twenty years of letters to Mauricio's pen pal and best friend, Esteban. Someone Javier hasn’t meet, but whose voice over the phone, helps Javier cope with his ignorant family that doesn’t even understand the difference between being HIV positive and having AIDS. The meeting between Javier and Esteban changes their lives, but standing between them is a lethal virus, Esteban family’ prejudice, an age gap, and the memories of the man—both once loved.Original PromptDear Author,I gave you years of my life, my love, and my trust. All you gave me was "I'm sorry" before you died and left me with a crumbling house, a failing business, and your STD. Is there any hope that there is someone out there who will truly love me and take the mess that I have become?Obviously an HEA is required here :)Photo Description: A black and white photo depicts a lonely man sitting with his knees drawn to his chest on a desolated area of shoreline. He sits a few feet away from a leafless tree which is bending in the wind. This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is Always Write" 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.Read the story here or find it in Love Is Always Write: Volume 6.