Book picks similar to
Striking Sparks by Ari McKay
m-m
mm
contemporary
romance
Weekend Boyfriend
Dillon Hunter - 2019
Newly single and with a class reunion just a couple of weeks away, all of his old high school friends are about to find out that his picture perfect life is actually falling apart. Except maybe nobody has to know. Maybe Trevor can still have his cake and eat it, too.
“Pretending to be gay to score a free trip home? Nothing to worry about, right?”
Wyatt Hayes never expected that his life would be this hard. The modeling contract he’d scored was supposed to have been his ticket to the good life. Waiting tables and sharing a walk-up studio the size of a shoe box was never supposed to be part of the deal, but even those things are easier to stomach than constantly having to make excuses to his family to hide the fact that he’s too broke to visit.
“One weekend, no strings attached.”
But sometimes even the best laid plans can get a little tangled when faking it starts to feel a little too real…
Weekend Boyfriend is a steamy standalone featuring a hopeless romantic whose life isn’t nearly as perfect as he would like everyone to believe, a waiter who isn’t quite as straight as he thinks, and a class reunion where anything might happen. No cliffhangers and a guaranteed happily-ever-after ending.
Too Many Chances
Lavinia Lewis - 2012
First his boiler breaks down in the middle of his shower then he learns his beloved cat would rather live with his crotchety old neighbor. But while he’s in work, at a job he hates, a phone call from the hospital gives Matt the worst news of all—his father has just passed away. When the man he’s been ‘dating’ for the past five months tells him he’s getting married to a woman, Matt doesn’t know if he can take any more bad news. Thoroughly dejected and sick with grief, he packs a bag and makes the six-hour drive home to Missouri to arrange his father’s funeral. While out near his childhood home, Matt runs into James, his ex-best friend and the last person on earth he wants to see. James was Matt’s first crush and the person who hurt him more than any other when they were just eighteen. However, James has an apology for Matt and a confession that could tilt Matt’s world on its axis. Can Matt forgive the person who broke his heart ten years ago and learn to trust him again or has he already given him too many chances?
Because You Came Back
Ian Finn - 2018
And then I about faint when I see that the delicious-looking man inside it is Ashton Falls, my old high school classmate, and the object of my obsession ever since.Back then, I wanted him bad, but never let on. I was the popular football jock, and he was the nerd who tutored me. I had a reputation to uphold, which included staying closeted.After graduation, Ashtown moved away and became a Silicon Valley tech billionaire. He's back in Baytown for our ten-year high school reunion. Meanwhile, I stayed here to take care of my mom, and opened a mechanic's shop. And I'm still in that damn closet, because there's a stigma around these parts against gay men.Our worlds are about as night and day as they could get. But soon they collide with a night of passion in which I discover that Ashton is as attracted to me as I was to him, and that he always has been. He can teach me more than just math now, and he's as athletic in the bedroom as I was on the field. I want him to stay with me, and in me, for good. But will both of us be willing and able to change our lives enough for that to happen? And, first things first, after hiding my true identity from fellow Baytown residents for my entire life, will I have the courage to show up at our high school reunion with Ashton on my arm?Because You Came Back is a full-length standalone coming out, small town, second chance, rags to riches, opposites attract, billionaire/blue collar gay romance novel that combines humor, heat and heart. It has no cheating, no cliffhangers, and a very happy after ever. It's Book 1 in the Baytown Boys series. It can be read alone but, due to related characters and settings, is best read with others in the series... and a tall glass of water to cool you off after so much steam.
The Deal
Mackenzie Gray - 2020
The guy struts around campus like he's God's gift to man. And who gets the unfortunate job of tutoring him? Me. I'm counting down the days until I'm finally free of him. Sebastian Aidan is... awkward. I feel bad for the guy. Aside from his brain, he doesn't have much going for him. He's about as sexually appealing as a toothpick. What Aidan needs is a crash course in seduction. How to dress, how to flirt, how to seduce a man. Figure it's the least I can do. Sebastian Dumont: Good Samaritan. Truth is, I never expected anyone to fall for him. I never expected that person to be me. The Deal is the first book in the Rules of Play series, a steamy m/m contemporary romance series about four brothers finding love on and off the field. Contains failed under-the-table-dealings, bar trivia, a Jude Law look-alike, and a happy ending for our two heroes. It was formerly published as Sebastian. For those who purchased it under the previous title, please update your Kindle for the most recent version.
Blaze
Avery Ford - 2018
Mastering the seductive, deadly dance of the flames helps him save people and animals. He’s not afraid to put his muscular body and life on the line to do some good in the world. All that’s missing is someone special to share his life with. Freddie Masterson never dreamed that he’d wind up decorating cakes for a living. He was going to be a lawyer, or maybe a physical therapist. But when his daughter came along, unplanned and unexpected, Freddie stepped up to the plate, determined to give her the best life he could. With his marriage in tatters, Freddie moved back to his home town of Prescott to start again. When Freddie’s house burns down, taking all of the supplies he needs for his business with it, he doesn’t have time to panic. He has to hustle. But being asked out by the attractive fireman who saved his cat - if not the building - is too much to resist. The two men find a spark between them strong enough to burn down a thousand houses. But Freddie can’t just pick up and go on with his life after he learns that his house was deliberately targeted by an arsonist. And the culprit? Much closer than anyone would have guessed. Will revealing the culprit quench the heat between them, or will the fire of justice drive the men apart for good? This is a full length MM romance novel, with plenty of heat, heart...and some very wise comments from a cheeky five year old!
My Theory for Love
Ashlynn Mills - 2020
Working at the coffee shop barely pays the bills as it is, but when all my life savings is stolen from me leaving me floundering about, I have no choice but to take on a second job.I never expect to see the guy I locked eyes with at the coffee shop again, but not only do I keep running into him everywhere I go, he also ends up hiring me to tutor his son. The lines between casual and professional begin to blur. How can I focus on my job when the gorgeous straight older man has me losing not only my train of thought but my heart as well.
Heart Trouble
D.J. Jamison - 2016
Too bad he's given the nurse the impression he's some kind of daredevil. It couldn't be further from the truth. Gage is a college journalism instructor writing a series of guest columns that require him to jump into new experiences -- a fun bucket list, but one that does nothing to convince Ben he's not an adrenaline junkie. Fresh off his latest heartbreak, nurse Ben Griggs is wary when one of his patients shows an interest in him -- especially when that patient showed up in the ER after a motorcycle accident. Ben's ex was a biker, a friend with benefits, and he dropped Ben cold when someone more interesting came along. Ben isn't the kind of guy who can hold the interest of an adrenaline junkie like Gage Evans for long. The last thing he wants is to lose his heart to the wrong man again. The more Ben gets to know Gage, the harder he is to resist. He can only hold on for the ride and keep his guard up as much as he can. But Ben's lack of trust seriously gets in the way of building a relationship, and Gage will only be patient so long. Can he trust Gage enough to give his heart, or are they destined to have a fling that goes nowhere? This is a spin-off from the Ashe Sentinel Connections series, where Ben appears briefly in the book "Hard Press." It can be read as a standalone. A previously published alternate cover version of ASIN B01M0DE5N4 can be found here.
He's Mine
Claire Thompson - 2018
An ex with revenge on his mind...
Ben’s not in any hurry to fall in love. Sure…he misses the passion and the sweet caress of someone special in his life, but after freeing himself from his last mistake of a boyfriend, it’s time to reevaluate his choices. Until a gorgeous, fascinating guy slips into the seat beside him at a mutual friend’s wedding…then all thoughts of going slow vanish.Adrian keeps the men in his life at arm’s length…it’s safer for everyone. Casual hookups without emotional entanglements are his specialty, and the guy sitting next to him looks to be perfect for the job. But as the evening progresses, a hot, steady flame of desire flares within him, and Adrian has to tamp down the sparks. Because Ben has the potential to become something different…something more. When old secrets are revealed, Adrian and Ben must come together to heal past wounds, and that includes dealing with a dangerous ex who won’t take no for an answer. When threats to their personal and professional lives escalate into violence, they will have no choice but to take action to protect their newfound love.
Boyfriend or Bust
Claire Castle - 2018
That's what happens when your greatest flaw seems to be to talk first and think later. How can Sam Bixton say no to his little sister's request for him to go to Greece with her best friend, who he's only admired from afar? Who would turn down fun in the sun with the one guy that's always been off-limits? Carson and Sam have a lot to learn about each other, and very little time to do it. Will they succeed in convincing Carson's ex that they're devoted boyfriends, or is it all about to go bust?
The You I Knew
L.L. Dahlin - 2017
The accident spared his husband's identical twin, Smith McKnight. When an unsuspecting Smith comes to check up on Jeremy, things happen that probably shouldn't have, causing Jeremy to decide that he has to put the past in the past and move on. Smith McKnight is trying to put his life back together after the horrific accident that left him lost and confused, living with amnesia is like a blank slate with flashes from the past thrown in. With his soon to be ex-wife and family saying he's Smith, he tries to live up to the name. When his brother's husband, Jeremy touches him the future and the past become crystal clear. With the anniversary of the accident approaching he can't bear to tell his family, who have been working their way through the stages of grief, that something is off. While keeping certain facts to themselves, it's hard not to notice how much this dilemma is hurting the ever-honest Jeremy, truly the deception is breaking them both down. At the end of the day are you going to be who people tell you to be, or are you going to be the person you know you are? The fate of his love and his life depends on the answer.
Charming Him
Louisa Masters - 2017
Hardworking Australian nurse Ben Adams inherits a substantial sum and decides to tour Europe. In Monaco, the home of glamour and the idle rich, he meets French billionaire playboy Léo Artois. After getting off on the wrong foot—as happens when one accuses a stranger of being part of the Albanian mafia—their attraction blazes. Léo, born to the top tier of society, has never known limits, and Ben, used to budgeting every cent, finds it difficult to adjust to not only Léo's world, but also the changes wealth brings to his own life. As they make allowances for each other's foibles, Ben gradually appreciates the finer things, and Léo widens his perspective. They both know one thing: this is not a typical holiday romance and they're not ready to say goodbye. This second edition was previously published as The Bunny and the Billionaire. No substantial changes have been made.
The Boy From Brighton
Geoffrey Knight - 2012
He is convinced he has a clock for a heart, which makes it impossible for him to die or feel the sort of heartache his mother always feels every time she and Charlie must flee another abusive loser who doesn’t deserve a woman like Charlie’s mum. So yet again Charlie and his mum find themselves at Aunty June’s in Brighton on the south coast of England. But while Charlie’s mum seeks refuge, Charlie himself lets his curiosity get the better of him in his latest attempt to prove his own immortality. That’s when he meets him.The boy who saves Charlie’s life.The boy from Brighton.
The James Dean Vintage
Jess Whitecroft - 2018
Driven by social embarrassment and the anxiety that the messy truth might kill off his ninety-nine year old grandmother, Oliver finds himself ‘married’ to one James Dean Jackson. Hustler, card-counter, lapdancer, drifter – Dean is seemingly a chronic liar, a human tumbleweed incapable of putting down roots. By contrast, Oliver is as deeply rooted as the grape vines that are his livelihood. Oliver’s idea of heaven is a 1945 Chateau d’Yquem, while Dean thinks veraison is a cellphone provider and once almost did the Pinot Noir monologue from Sideways over a Laurent-Perrier Rosé. As the season unfolds and the grapes ripen, the mismatched pair begin to discover that playing the perfect husband isn’t so hard after all, especially when the other person might just have the thing you were missing all along.
Before There Were Three: Ethan & Rhett
L.A. Witt - 2016
Seattle, 2000 - Ethan Mallory is counting down the days until he moves back to Toronto. He loves Seattle, but it's time to go home. So it's just his luck that, with a month to go, he meets Rhett Solomon. Their chemistry is off the charts, and in bed, Rhett is everything Ethan's been craving. He's witty and charming outside the bedroom too. Ethan's not about to change his plans for a man he's just met, but... what could this become if they had a little more time? Is this just a sizzling hot last hurrah before he returns to Canada? Or is leaving Rhett behind a huge mistake? Before There Were Three is a series of prequels to menage stories written by L.A. Witt or Lauren Gallagher. Ethan & Rhett is the prequel to The Distance Between Us."
Always the Groomsman
Raleigh Ruebins - 2018
So... why do I keep wanting to kiss him?
Weddings used to be fun... but then I had to be a groomsman in one. Then two. And now ten. The last place I want to be right now is in this Nowhereville, Idaho small town for my friend’s wedding, still single, and still a groomsman, yet again. And even worse: the best man, Sebastian, makes my blood run hot. Sebastian is a charming, energetic social butterfly--in other words, he’s exactly the opposite of me. I just got dumped by my ex-boyfriend, and right now what I want is time alone. The last thing I need is some over-eager small-town guy to be constantly flitting around me, trying to get me to participate in bachelor party festivities. But Sebastian isn’t afraid to challenge me. And some primal part of me loves every minute of it. When he shows up at my hotel room on the night of the bachelor party, hot and desperate, I can’t say no to him. Suddenly, it’s like fire when we’re together, and I can’t keep my hands off of him. But I can’t ever be with him. The other groomsmen don’t know we’ve been ending up in each other’s beds. And besides, he’s a small-town guy, and I live and breathe the city. I can’t commit to anything, and Sebastian could have any other guy he wanted. Am I destined to forever be just a groomsman, never the star of my own show? Always the Groomsman is a 78,000-word gay romance novel, complete with a jaded city slicker, a small-town guy with a heart of gold, and a friendly little pug named Jelly. There’s plenty of steam, sleeping-bag cuddling on camping trips, small-town charm in the middle of nowhere, and a happily-ever-after ending.