Book picks similar to
Strawberries and Thunderstorms by L. Luther
m-m
mm
contemporary
fake-boyfriend
Born for Leaving
Jude Munro - 2020
Too bad distractions, like the hot little convertible he has his eye on, cost megabucks. And Oliver is flat broke. Renting the spare bedroom in his rundown beachfront cottage is his only option to pick up the cash he needs--a risky proposition, as Oliver is the polar opposite of a people-person. When he responds to a bizarre ad in the Waterfront Gazette seeking summer housing, he gets more than he bargained for. But Oliver can cope... After all, how much harm can a single quirky tenant do to his tightly guarded life in three short months?Where Oliver is a loner by design, urban cowboy Bodie is a loner by necessity. A family dispute long ago dropkicked him onto the path of a lifelong wanderer. This changes when Bodie moves into the tiny beachfront cottage and starts working the door at Oliver's bar.Despite Oliver and Bodie's nearly paralyzing instinct to avoid commitment, they fall into a wary romance. And to their surprise, life as a couple is sweetly satisfying; that is, until their jealous boss devises a cruel plan to destroy the tentative bond they've built. True to form, Bodie hits the road, leaving Oliver to lick his wounds alone.Can these wounded souls defy their urge to flee and fight for love?**Trigger Warning: discussion of childhood sexual molestation of adult character, graphic physical violence, off-page coerced sexual relationship
Surprise Groom
D.J. Jamison - 2019
Sofia Chastain is more like a sister than a love interest, and Caleb isn’t ready to sign over his future. But Sofia has a brother, and Caleb has a plan ... Julien Chastain was disowned at fifteen and has made a life as a go-go dancer in Miami, but he lives paycheck to paycheck. When his childhood friend proposes an outlandish marriage contract, he thinks he’s crazy. But it’s a chance at a future that’s tough to pass up. Caleb and Julien must present themselves as an authentic couple for the legal loophole to work, but the lines between “fake” and “real” keep shifting as they navigate intimacy, public scrutiny, and sabotage. Love isn't part of the plan, but plans change. If they can outsmart Julien's father and prove their love is worth more than a transaction, they just might find a true happily-ever-after.
The Faker Rulebook
Baylin Crow - 2021
He offered to be my first. Straight or not, that kiss had burned with nearly tangible fire and tattooed the moment on my heart.I've spent the last four years trying to forget it.Now we're seniors in college, and I've learned why secret relationships are a bad idea.My brother is getting married, and my cheating ex is the best man. Honestly, Rook is more upset about it than I am. He comes up with this crazy plan to be my fake boyfriend for the week of the wedding.If we're doing this, then we need to set some rules. Between fake kisses and sharing a bed, things could get messy. Because I'm in love with my best friend—and he has no idea.The rules are simple. I never expected Rook to be the one that started breaking them.The Faker Rulebook is a high steam, low angst standalone novel.
Party Nuts
Dani Gray - 2021
He was a squirrel shifter from a large family and loved life with his three best friends. He loved being able to dress people up and make them feel their absolute best. He felt it was his calling in life to show people how to be true to themselves, no matter what others told them they had to be.Quentin Everett was a cougar shifter who’d been kicked out of his home at a young age by an uncaring mother. He had been raised by an older brother, until that brother was kicked out, then he became the oldest, raising his younger sibling until it was his turn to be banished. He never knew his father, just like the rest of his siblings. When he got older, he managed to put himself through school on scholarships and became a park ranger. He loved the freedom it gave his cougar, and himself.Getting tickets to the event of the year at The Underground, a costume party was something that everyone wanted. Sammy was dressed as a bandit, and even though he’d helped his besties with their costumes (much to their annoyance) everyone was dressed fabulous, when some skanky fairy came along and tried to steal his booty of nuts! Mayhem ensued as Sammy tried to collect his lost booty of nuts from the floor, as chaos with mates began.
Honeymoon Hoax
Devyn Morgan - 2016
He’d take the honeymoon alone, but his non-refundable tickets are for a newlyweds-only cruise. Brad needs a spouse to get on that ship, so he asks his best man (and best friend) for a quickie Vegas wedding. Now they both can have the time of their lives in the Caribbean. Best man Cameron Hines has never been able to say no to Brad’s hare-brained schemes, but this one takes the cake! The truth is, Cameron would be happy to be Brad’s husband - for a lifetime. But pining after a straight man is the road to heartbreak. Better to go play in the sun with his best friend and resign himself to ending the charade once they return to their regularly scheduled lives. Brad knows he’s not gay, but he’s not entirely straight either. Playing the happy honeymooning couple with another man is the perfect opportunity for some sexual experimentation. It’s just a shipboard fling—it won’t wreck a friendship as strong as theirs. Or will it? Can the salt sea air and island cruise magic transform this sham marriage into the type of happily-ever-after that comes with knowing that “Today I married my best friend”? Honeymoon Hoax is a standalone gay romance with a HEA ending.
Island Doctor
Sue Brown - 2016
Jeff Martin has spent five years as a rural general practitioner on the Isle of Wight hiding the fact he’s gay. He travels in secret to see his partner, Tris, but when he discovers Tris has been cheating on him, he ends their relationship. Then Jeff meets island native Cameron Gillard. Cameron is down to earth, lively, and treats Jeff like he’s the most important person in Cameron’s life. Jeff blooms under Cameron’s attention, and he decides to come out to his colleagues and friends.Just when things are going well, Tris reappears out of the blue. Jeff is no longer interested in Tris, but it seems he has two men to convince. Tris, who can’t believe Jeff is serious about wanting to end their relationship, and Cameron, who can’t hide his jealousy of Tris. Jeff is certain about one thing—the only man he wants in his life is Cameron. Now he just needs to prove it to Cameron.
Blow Me Away
Billie Bloom - 2022
Thankfully, his bestie has a brilliant plan: Take her straight as an arrow brother Nick as his fake boyfriend instead.Nick is happy to pretend—a free trip to Hawaii is hard to pass up—but apparently it will cost him exactly one existential crisis when sharing a hotel room with the charming and funny Noah turns unexpectedly...complicated. Their flirting is starting to feel pretty real and when the suddenly curious hockey jock Nick wants to experiment? Hold on to your lei, honey, because things are about to get spicy!What to Expect: Fake boyfriends, guy talk, secret experiments, hot as heck first times, a bi-awakening and of course a heaping dose of swoon!
Racing into Love
Noah Steele - 2021
Falling for him is a risk. I just have to be willing to take it.My relationship rut ends when pro racer Derrek Luna speeds into my cozy bookstore and crashes the end of a disastrous date. He's way too risky to fall for, but I can't ignore the sudden sparks between us. It doesn't take long before we're head over heels for each other, and we'll need that love to cross the finish line.Lap 1: Derrek wants to settle down and stop racing. The woman who runs his life on the track refuses to lose her star without a fight.Lap 2: The closer I get to Derrek, the angrier my ex-turned-best-friend gets. Is he...jealous?Lap 3: Someone broke into my bookstore. I'm starting to wonder if Derrek's exes ghosted, or if someone convinced them to disappear.But I'm tired of playing it safe, even if being with Derrek is risky for more than just my heart.Racing into Love is a low-angst contemporary M/M instalove romance. Opposites attract in swoony, steamy ways before a guaranteed HEA. It is suggested this series be read in order. Content warnings include: on-page panic attacks.
#20DaysToLA
Tanya Chris - 2020
To fly out to LA where he has an apartment and a coveted entry level job waiting for him. To build a life filled with the security and stability he never had as a kid. To find a husband who’s a lot like him: steady, smart, responsible, and capable of making good choices. To leave Connecticut and everything in it behind him, including his mother, her revolving door of suitors, and his straight ex-stepbrother.Craig has a plan. To convince Braxton to drive out to LA with him. To see every last sight along the way, no matter how weird or expensive or out of the way. To have one last hurrah before embarking on the adult life he’s in no way ready for. And maybe to act on the bisexuality he’s kept to himself so far.Whose plan wins? Is twenty days enough to make it from Connecticut to LA and from ex-stepbrothers to friends to happily-ever-after? Will Braxton’s stuffed bear, Mr. Lovey, find a real-life bear friend? Find out in this slow burn, friends to lovers, opposites attract, bi awakening, road trip romance in which there’s ONLY ONE BED.
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.
The Happy List
Briar Prescott - 2020
GrayThere are some things I excel at:- Exercising rigid control over every aspect of my life- Making sensible decisions at every turn- Being organized, predictable and responsible to an abnormal degreeIn short, I’m boring as hell and in desperate need of a change.Luckily I have my best friend by my side and a newly written to-do list to guide my way through the murky waters of finding happiness.It’s all very promising at first, but as weeks pass, I start to realize that the best part of my day has always been Kai.And when I see him out on a date with some guy?Let’s just say I’m definitely not happy about it.KaiI’m back in Boston after ten years of traveling, and I’ve fulfilled all my goals:- See the world- Figure out what to do with my life- Get over my impossible crush on GrayCheck, check and check.Life’s good until I accidentally find Gray’s happy list, which contains some very interesting things that friends never ever do with each other.And as weeks pass, it becomes clear those not-so-innocent parts are the ones Gray is determined to explore with me.In short, I’m screwed because no matter how hard I try, I can’t resist him, and pretty soon I'm forced to admit that I’m not as done with my crush as I thought I was...
Forget Me Not
V.L. Locey - 2021
Alone. So when his shop gets a frantic call from a harried guy from the Albany Beavers hockey team, looking for flowers for the annual Mother’s Trip wrap-up dinner, he’s stunned and thrilled. Working like a madman, Hadley and his lone employee burn the midnight oil and arrive at the arena just in time to place the centerpieces and meet a few of the players.Thinking that this business boon was the best thing that could happen to him, he’s not at all ready to run into Bailey Rust, the considerably younger phenom forward of the Beavers. Nor is he prepared to discover that Bailey is a huge gamer and is the prettiest thing he has seen in years. After an hour spent talking gaming, the two go their separate ways. Until Bailey shows up at the flower shop the next day. And the day after that. And the day after that…
Winter Wonders
Leighton Greene - 2019
This holiday season, Cooper Kincaid finds his perfect Christmas gift on the side of the road: Jonathan Ashe. So perfect, in fact, that he can't resist unwrapping the gorgeous present and playing with him a little early, after taking Jon back to his cabin to recover from a minor car accident. Jon seems to bring out something deep inside Cooper...something he's tried to keep hidden from previous boyfriends. But their merrymaking is complicated when Cooper lies to his meddling mother, and tells her he's dating Jon. Jon has no interest in a new relationship after getting his heart broken. Definitely no interest in the heir to the Kincaid estate, where Jon is working for the holidays. And especially no interest in a guy who's so new to finding his bossy side in bed. Still, maybe a fake relationship could be fun, just for the holidays? But Cooper has made up his mind: it's his Christmas mission to heal Jon's heart. He's determined to work out exactly what Jon wants, and give it to him. Meanwhile, Cooper's disapproving mother not only invites his ex to their Christmas Eve event, she digs into Jon's past to prove to Cooper that they're totally unsuited. Can Cooper and Jon admit that they might be each other's winter wonderful, or will their differences and outside interference prove too much? Winter Wonders is a standalone holiday romance novel with humor, just a dash of angst, and west-coast cool versus east-coast class. HFN/HEA guaranteed, and no cliffhangers. Featuring: Snowed In, There's Only One Bed, Hurt/Comfort, Fake Dating, Mistletoe Kisses and (naturally!) some naughty fun. MM Holiday Romance
With a Pinch of Love
Hayden Hall - 2021
DALTON I have it all figured out. I’m going to marry the woman I love and I’m going to put in the work for that promotion. Life can only get better from here on out. Or so I thought. My blushing bride elopes minutes before the ceremony and turns my life upside down. I’m now heading to Vermont with Marshmallow to seal the deal on his soon to be Bed and Breakfast. After a series of unfortunate coincidences, Marshal and I are fake-dating, but my long repressed desire starts lurking from deep within. Impossible. I’m not bi, right? I can’t discover that at twenty-nine, can I? It must be the breakup trauma; nothing more. It’s got nothing to do with my homophobic upbringing, surely. But my broken heart flutters more every time I see him. MARSHAL My best friend stole my first kiss and I’ve loved him ever since. Dalton doesn’t know it, though. Nobody knows. It’s only written in dozens of unsent letters I can’t bring myself to destroy and finally move on. I can’t stand pretending to be his boyfriend when pining after him is all I’ve ever known. And I can’t let us fool around even when he kisses me again. He’s heartbroken and lonely – that’s a far cry from being in love. I will not be his rebound. The charming small town of Rocky Springs quickly gets under our skin and it doesn’t take much to make me fantasize about our future here. Except it’s all fake. Dalton has a career to go back to once his heart is healed and I am building my future here. We’re a lost cause. With a Pinch of Love is a slow-burn, fake boyfriends, best friends to lovers, bisexual awakening, close proximity, standalone romance. It’s a heart-wrenching story with a healthy dose of angst and a grand, hard-earned happily ever after. Lose yourself in the sleepy town of Rocky Springs as Marshal and Dalton fall in love against all odds.
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.