Fishing, swimming, golf, tennis. Seems like the ideal location for a former secret agent posing as a retired police officer and part-time private investigator. Until people start disappearing. Suggested reading order for the Nicholas Colt series: COLT LADY 52 POCKET-47 CROSSCUT SNUFF TAG 9 KEY DEATH BLOOD TATTOO SYCAMORE BLUFF THE JACK REACHER FILES: FUGITIVE THE JACK REACHER FILES: VELOCITY (Novella) THE BLOOD NOTEBOOKS Note: Although published at a later date, the events in COLT and LADY 52 precede those in Jude Hardin's debut thriller POCKET-47. All of the books listed work as stand-alone thrillers, depending on reader preference. Nicholas Colt also appears in several short stories, including the one titled RATTLED and the one titled RACKED. Praise for Jude Hardin’s Thrillers: POCKET-47 sucked me in and held me enthralled. Author Jude Hardin keeps the pace frantic, the thrills non-stop, but best of all is his hero, the wonderfully ironic Nicholas Colt. This is a character I'm eager to follow through many adventures to come. —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of ICE COLD. The best PI debut I've read in years, fit to share shelf space with the best of Ross Macdonald, Sue Grafton, and Robert B. Parker. POCKET-47 is so hot you may burn your hands reading. Highly recommended. —J.A. Konrath, author of the Jack Daniels mysteries Hardin gets everything right in his powerhouse thriller debut, which introduces rock star–turned–PI Nicholas Colt. —Publishers Weekly on POCKET-47 KEY DEATH is an exhilarating thriller that punches way above its weight. It hits you hard and fast with crackling suspense, hair-raising twists and stunning revelations. Word of advice: don't start on this one unless you're prepared to stay up all night. —John Ling, author of THE BLASPHEMER Colt is a physical, no-holds-barred PI, reminiscent of Robert B. Parker's Spenser and Lee Child's Jack Reacher, and his debut is action-packed. With a hefty toll of dead bodies, some described in cringe-inducing detail, this is crime fiction at its rawest. Hard-boiled connoisseurs should make Colt's acquaintance now. —Booklist on POCKET-47 With CROSSCUT, Jude Hardin takes the PI novel and psychological suspense to a new, unrestrained level. Fast, fierce, and relentless. —David Morrell, New York Times bestselling creator of Rambo

    When one murder becomes two, he can't help but start connecting the dots, putting cases and clues together. He's not the only one, though. John Benchley, director of Special Investigative Services, a tiny government agency attached to Homeland Security which deals with darker realities, and his team are soon on the case, and they bring Evan and his special skills on board. Both bisexual, Evan and John find they are attracted to each other, even as they work together to solve this string of murders which keeps growing in scope. Their serial killer seems to be moving toward darker and darker deeds with every murder and ritual performed. Can John and Evan find solace in each other, even as murderous men and demonic forces threaten not only their own team, but the city as well?

    One bored and restless, the other broken and traumatised. How will a chance meeting in a crowded café change both their lives forever?With looks, money, and a high-flying career, to the outside world Josh Cooper has it all. But looks can be deceiving. Trapped in a claustrophobic relationship, he seeks escape in a series of meaningless and anonymous sexual encounters.A violent and abusive past has left Alex Fulbright wary of getting involved with another man. All he wants is to live a quiet life as he learns to put his painful history behind him. From tentative beginnings, Josh and Alex eventually come to find the love with each other that neither thought they would ever have. But life isn’t perfect, and neither man is quite who he seems. Both have secrets and when these are dragged into the open, the life they had planned to build together is blown apart, leaving their happy ever after no longer the certainty it was.

    He's steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to care about him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far gone he already is. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who’s broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.

    Mason Briggs doesn't quite know what to do with the persistent submissive. Kit looks at Mase like he s everything good and right in the world. After a murder accusation and trial, Mase just wants to protect his heart. What is he going to do about the sweet submissive who keeps walking through all of Mase's boundaries as if they aren't even there? When someone tries to tear the couple apart and threatens Kit's safety, Mase has to decide if he wants to go back to a life alone or fight for the man he's falling in love with."

    He’s got a long habit of thinking with the wrong head, as his desire for a spot of fun is all he really cares about. Luckily, he’s a hard worker, too, and lands a job at the Triple M ranch in the next county alongside three of the toughest ranch hands around.Jensen James has been in a three-way with ranch hands Owen and Davis for years. They’d worked well together and loved hard all night, but Jensen couldn’t stop feeling like the odd man out. When ranch owner, Mack Maitland, announces he’s bought the ranch next door and wants to increase his herd—and bring in new hands—Owen and Davis see it as the end to their fun. Jensen sees it as an opportunity, especially after he meets hot-bodied new hand Austin.The two of them combust when they’re around one another, but soon learn they just might not suit. Jensen refuses to give up, though, and quickly wears Austin down.

    Zane McDonnell is a chiropractor who has made the closet into a comfortable home. They meet in a dark back room one night and part just as quickly, never to see each other again--Until Ace shows up at the door of Zane’s brother to work on his house. Now the guy who has sworn off closet cases can’t escape the man who is afraid to show the world who he is. When one tends to run and the other always hides, can they build any kind of future together?

    When seventeen-year old high school newspaper editor Jake Powell, fresh from Alabama, lands in New York City to attend Columbia University's prestigious summer journalism program, it's a dream come true. But his father, a fundamentalist Christian preacher, smells trouble. And his father is rarely wrong.Jake navigates new and unfamiliar ways "up North." Starting with his feelings for a handsome Jewish classmate named Sam. What Jake could keep hidden back home is now pushed to the surface in the Big Apple.Standing by his side are a gorgeous brunette with a Park Avenue attitude and the designer bags to match, a high school friend who has watched Jake grow up and isn't sure she's ready to let him go, and an outrageously flamboyant aunt who's determined to help Jake find the courage to accept love and avoid the pain that she has experienced. Provocative and moving, Playing by The Book is a feel-good novel about the pain and joy we encounter in the search for our own truth."In Playing by the Book, S. Chris Shirley tells a story I loved curling up with, featuring one of the most endearing teen protagonists I've read in years." --Alex Sanchez, author of The God Box and Boyfriends with Girlfriends "There's so much to admire in Chris Shirley's debut novel, but the most remarkable thing may be its voice. Jake is both earnest and skeptical, curious and guarded, and he tells his story with an endearing humility that-somehow-avoids the sarcasm that has become the norm. Playing by the Book reminds us of how rewarding it can be to climb into someone else's head."--Patrick Ryan, author of Send Me and Saints of Augustine

    With determination and perseverance, Ben has risen to the top of his class, both academically and athletically. And with careful planning, he has secured scholarships which ensure he has a real chance to see through his goal of becoming a doctor. But beyond that dream, Benjamin also wants a place where he can live freely and openly as the young gay man he is without shame, persecution, or fear. Cord Robinson also has a dream which he has held close to his heart for years, while he patiently waited for Benjamin to grow up and leave home – for Ben to be his. Cord has already gone through the steps of coming to terms with his sexuality and then coming out to his family and friends. And now that college is over for him and his best friend Branden, who is also Benjamin’s brother, Cord is ready to let Ben know that he is interested in a real future with the beautiful young man. But as Ben prepares for his graduation, the violence at home reaches a breaking point and he flees. When Cord realizes what has been going on behind the Alcott’s doors, it’s a race against time for him to find Ben and then open his heart to the one other man he wants to build a life and solid foundation with as Benjamin prepares to finally spread his wings and fly. CONTENT WARNING: Explicit Sex, References to Childhood Physical Abuse (No Sexual Abuse)

    What he doesn’t know is that while he made puppy dog eyes at her, her younger brother Jay spent time looking at him the same way.Now, years later, he considers the two Reid siblings as close friends, nothing more. Little does he know Jay is still in love with him, always has been, always will be, but he’s about to find out. When he does, it not only throws his sexuality into question, it shines an ugly light in his direction.Reacting as he often does, on impulse, he’s about to make an understandable but life-altering mistake ... and then he makes another one. Dean has to take a long look at himself and he isn’t sure he likes what he sees. He can’t remember being this arrogant, not to mention a control freak, and that’s only a few of the nicer things April Reid has taken to calling him in defence of her brother. Can he change? Does he want to? Does he even need to, or is it really just a question of making the right choice?It’s winter and snow is falling, but he doesn’t yet know which of them might yet be left out in the cold. If Dean isn’t careful, he might lose the one person who can take him just as he is, ego included.

    Every breath, every action, it's all fresh and new and charged with emotion...like lust.PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Two men are sharing a moment of domesticity, standing side by side, brushing their teeth together. 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 3.

    Upon returning to his family horse farm in Kentucky, he faces a father who condemns him, a mother who’s in denial about his homosexuality, and an uncertain future. The one thing he is certain about is his feelings for his best friend, Cooper Brown, who Sam has secretly been attracted to since high school.For years, Cooper has harbored his own secret attraction toward Sam and is finally ready to tell him. During a camping trip to their childhood stomping grounds, all their secrets are revealed and their bonds of friendship are expanded in ways neither thought possible. Love is finally within reach. When Sam’s father catches them together, an explosive confrontation results, and Sam’s and Cooper’s fates are decided in one harsh moment of truth.

    Period. If that’s not bad enough, I’m currently unemployed and sleeping on my brother’s couch. When I finally land a job interview at the city’s best marketing firm, I don’t realize that the rugged and handsome man who helped me earlier is actually the CEO of the company...Remember when I said I've lost faith in men? Well...one thing leads to another and I’m crushing hard on my boss. But I’m still struggling to let go of my past. Can I finally overcome what's holding me back and go for the man in the pinstriped suit who’s way out of my league? Hunter: I’ve built my company from the ground up and I’m not going to let a one-night stand ruin everything.My life revolves around my multi-million dollar empire. That’s until I hire Blue. I know I am straight. But Blue somehow steals away all my attention and makes me question everything I know about myself, especially my sexuality. I’ve always been a private man who’s strictly business. But keeping this secret relationship with Blue is not only killing me inside but my business as well. How much of my company am I willing to put on the line to explore this forbidden love affair?Warning: Blue's Boss contains explicit sexual content not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.The Everett Bros focuses on three brothers who go on their own journeys to find love. Each novel in The Everette Bros series can be read on its own or as part of the series.

    Young is a recurring theme, he thinks, when he meets the considerably younger-than-him AUSA Derek Moore. For the first time in years, James finds himself subject to the whims of his heart. The path to love between a hotshot lawyer and a veteran cop was never going to be smooth, not in the real world. Criminals, misunderstandings and a complete lack of communication stand in their way too. Both too stubborn to budge, and utterly convinced that their feelings aren’t reciprocated, James and Derek themselves are the biggest obstacles to their own happiness. A murder case might be just enough to force them to get their act together. Previously published by Dreamspinner Press in the 2015 Daily Dose Anthology. This is a second edition with a new cover, significant expansion and revision.