Book picks similar to
The End of Darkness by Shea Balik
m-m
fantasy
mm
magic
Angel Undone
Leta Blake - 2016
He fought wars and shoved his brother Lucifer out of heaven all before the Dark Ages rolled around. His role as protector of Israel now encompasses all of humanity, and while he performs his job perfectly, there's little personal joy in it.Until one night in a bar when he meets Asher. Michael isn’t sure what it is about the vulnerable, self-deprecating Asher that calls to him, but something about his restrained depths, gentle smiles, and encyclopedic knowledge of flowers tugs at Michael in a way that can’t be denied. Too bad romance isn’t part of his mission.Facing an eternity of perfect submission to God’s authority, rebellion stirs in Michael. Questions of free will, angelic vocation, and the role of love and lust demand answers that just might cost Michael his place in heaven. Warnings: this novella contains urban fantasy, wings, angels doing unangelic things, erotic content, and playful blasphemy.Word Count: 25,000
Quinn's Gambit
Bellora Quinn - 2015
As New York explodes with dangerous creatures, their passion goes nuclear.After a terrible magical accident at Berkeley created unpredictable holes between realities—all manner of non-human creatures started popping into our world. These displacements, called RARE—Random Anomalous Reality Events—have taken magic out of fiction and relocated it firmly in reality, resulting in a great deal of chaos and confusion. Displaced elf Valerian works with AURA—the Agency of Unnatural Resettlement and Assimilation—to intercept these beings as they appear in the human world, helping the peaceful ones and subduing the violent, malevolent ones. It’s good, satisfying work, and Val would be happy if he wasn’t so lonely.Quinten is a young mage just trying to get by, but New York isn't the easiest city to make a living. If his methods are sometimes morally dubious, his heart is still in the right place. Of course for Quinn, the right place means firmly locked away, protected at all costs. Living by his wits and sometimes magically-induced luck, he works as a ‘free-lance magic user’, or unregistered mage and small time con—according to the authorities. The last thing Quinn wants is to draw the cops’ attention, but when an Event happens right on top of him, he’s forced to turn to AURA for help. Valerian isn’t at all what he’d expected in an AURA cop, and he certainly wasn't expecting to join forces with the sexy elf, a snarky drow and a bitter incubus when certain individuals in power try to stop the RARE by any means necessary.Things are not all what they seem at AURA headquarters, and a greater evil lurks at the top than anyone could have imagined.
Bound
Rhys Ford - 2020
San Francisco is supposed to be a new start but his old ghosts haunt him, beckoning him back into his self-destructive bad habits. Bad habits that include contemplating doing dirty things with the wrong kind of guy and this time, it’s a sleek, cold-tempered medical examiner named Xian Carter with a complicated reputation.For a century-old demon, Xian Carter is content with his secretive life. Hiding his nature from the mundane world, he blends in with the city’s inhabitants as best he can but even the best of predators make mistakes. Delving into the mysteries of the dead provide a welcome distraction from endless nights and hiding in plain sight amuses him, until something supernaturally wicked comes knocking on his door with an extremely hot, broody Inspector close behind.Murder makes for strange bedfellows and this one is no exception. The twists and turns of the case leaves Xian and Spencer on a wild goose chase after clues but Xian can only hope there’s a human at the end of the trail—because the last thing San Francisco needs is another predator.
Beneath the Neon Moon
Theda Black - 2010
The moon's rising high and full in the sky when Zach notices something's changing in Mal, growing volatile and wild. And no matter how quickly the bond between them grows, Zach's afraid he won't survive the night.
The Given & The Taken
L.A. Witt - 2012
The catch? They have to spend a year apart after the bonding ritual. Then Ian must—using only their newly-forged spiritual connection—seek Levi out, proving the bond actually worked despite Ian being human. Now the year is over, and Levi is desperate to have Ian back in his arms, but there’s one problem—Ian’s changed. In a moment of weakness during that agonizing year apart, Ian cheated… with a vampire. Now Ian himself is a vampire, and a devastated, furious Levi wants nothing to do with him. That is until he learns his clan wants Ian brought to justice for desecrating their most sacred ritual. If they find him, they’ll learn he’s a vampire, and kill him. Afraid for Ian’s safety, Levi rushes to find him. Darius, the vampire who converted Ian, tries to take him someplace safe, but when Levi catches up, all hell breaks loose. Now Ian’s on the run with a dead wolf’s blood on his hands, and the only way Levi or Darius are going to get near him is to work together. They need to get to him before the rest of the clan… assuming they don’t kill each other first. This 118,000 word novel was previously published.
Fractured Truth
Ashe Winters - 2018
Fit only for consumption. That's my motto in life and why I avoid everything to do with them beyond an evening meal. Then he shows up with his delicious scent, and I can't seem to resist hunting him down. But when my hunt gets interrupted by a spray of bullets and I become the prey, I find myself falling into some strange rabbit hole where I have to rely on this incredible smelling human with strange powers to stay alive. How freakin' peachy is that? Ryker Being left on the doorstep of a church when I was infant meant my life began shrouded in questions. And that's how it has remained. Question after question. For a human, I have magical powers I don't understand. After all, magic went extinct a few hundred years ago. I shouldn't exist the way I do. Spending my life in the shadows has always been the safest place. Then a snarky wildcat of a vampire literally passes out in my lap, and my instincts kick into overdrive. Protect him at all costs. Even if I want to strangle him half the time. Fractured Truth is the first book in the Consequences of a Sin series which follows Avery and Ryker as they try to find the truth behind a Sin that altered the history of their world. Each book will end with a HFN (or close to it) while the overarching plot continues into the next book. Some cliffhangers are likely.
Laying a Ghost
Jane Davitt - 2006
When John McIntyre sees Nick Kelley step off the island ferry, he's instantly attracted, and fairly certain that he knows what Nick is keeping secret, because he's been doing it himself for years. When he discovers Nick's real secret he's drawn into a world he never knew existed, one haunted by grief and guilt and ghosts. In the shadowed world of the spirits, Nick's power is all that the ghosts have to help them. But Nick is still mourning the death of his lover in an accident he believes he caused, and John's determined to keep their relationship secret.It's going to take a lot more than attraction and really good sex to solve their problems but will they be lucky? Or will one week be all they have before they're left alone again?
Purrfect Protector
S.A. Welsh - 2015
office by his brother when he gets disturbing mail from an obsessed fan. He reluctantly agrees to have a bodyguard but when a the tall muscular blond walks in to the office emanating power and a sexy dose of danger Kale's doubts about needing the man with him twenty four hours a day quickly disappear. The easy babysitting job Aleksi was promised quickly changes from strange mail to threatening deliveries and Aleksi has to get creative to get his protectee out of the line of fire. Everyone knows models are self-centred and shallow, so why does being with Kale make him feel like he finally has a home? Being a saber-tooth tiger means that most people aren’t strong enough to be with him in a relationship or even as friends, he's too naturally dominant. Yet Kale seems to calm his beast at the same time as exciting the man in him.Neither men expected nor wanted a relationship with strings, but as they grow closer Aleksi realizes that Kale might just be his mate. With the obsessed fan escalating to murder, Aleksi isn’t sure even his tiger can keep his mate safe.
The Alpha Vampire's Proposal
Colbie Dunbar - 2019
But Declan, the omega he’s guarding, is human, and the alpha is undead. Declan wants nothing to do with the vampire, but Alexander is present for major changes in his life, and the omega can’t ignore him. While the alpha mourns his lost humanity, the omega also grieves for something he can’t get back, and they form an unlikely friendship. After a catastrophic event, the pair are forced together, emotionally wounded and unsure of their feelings. And when Alexander proposes a solution, his brother, Ambrose, a rich and powerful vampire and head of their coven, pushes Declan to make a decision. Deceiving the rest of the world, they struggle with their past and avoid thinking about the future, until the omega learns the truth and fears losing what he already has. Craving emotional and physical intimacy, the changes allow both human and vampire to explore new possibilities. Against the backdrop of a society where vampires administer the law are unexplained disappearances and kidnappings, missed opportunities, a troubled teen and a baby. But when Alexander and Declan witness something they weren’t supposed to, it threatens the life they’d hoped for. This is a 35,000-word, mpreg novel, and it’s the first of three books in the Flickering Shadows Series.
Dark Side of the Veil
Stormy Glenn - 2010
The version now available is published under the title "Beyond the Darkness."Zack Banning hasn't had an easy time of it recently. After spending more than fifteen years in the Marines, he's discharged due to a head injury received in combat. With no missions to run or people to save, it's all he can do to get out of bed in the mornings. The pills the doctors have him on to keep his injury-induced delusions at bay don't help the situation. When he discovers a young man being accosted outside of a bar one night he sees it as a chance to feel the satisfaction of saving someone once again. He just doesn't realize until it's over that the young man came to the bar to warn him that someone is out to kill him. What Eljin tells him is a story so outlandish, Zack begins to wonder if he's having one of his delusions. Because if Eljin's story is true, the entire foundation of everything Zack believes just flew out the window. Fleeing through the countryside with Eljin, Zack tries to understand everything without telling the man he's nuttier than a fruitcake. But the more time Zack spend with Eljin, the more he wants him until he can't think of ever being separated from the little elf. The only way to save Eljin is to take him back home-through the veil between the two worlds. Arrival on the elf's side of the veil isn't perfect, however. They encounter a war between the elf worlds, the threat of human invasion, and a bias against humans. Zack and Eljin have to keep their wits about them as they try to save their home, their family, and themselves. Special Content Alert: M/M
Jamie
Catherine Lievens - 2014
Jamie is a normal guy with a normal, if not boring, life. Everything changes when he goes camping and stumbles on a well-guarded secret in the woods: shifters exists! It opens a whole new world to him, a world he wouldn’t have thought possible outside a novel, and he has to decide if Ward is worth the changes that are turning his life upside down. Ward has searched for his mate for a long time, and now that he has found Jamie, he will do everything he can to keep his gorgeous human, even face jealous exes or try to convince Jamie to get over his fear of relationships. He needs a chance, just one, but just as Jamie begins to trust him, things starts to crumble. When Jamie disappears, Ward looks for him, but without clues, how can he find his mate? Will he find Jamie in time to save him from a horrible future?
Stealing His Heart
Connor Crowe - 2019
The reward? Freedom at last from the criminal syndicate that raised him and other orphaned omegas. When he stops to save a man in peril, the guards close in. Getting captured wasn't part of the plan. Neither was meeting the intimidatingly sexy Pack Alpha. Soon, he finds himself questioning if he really wants to leave... As the Alpha of Nox Bay, Markus is bound by duty to protect his land and his people. So when a thieving fox appears in their territory, it's his job to punish him. Except...this fox is different than the others. He smells suspiciously like Markus's fated mate. But can true love blossom between sworn enemies? When Felix's crime family come to reclaim their 'investment', both men must make a choice. A choice that will set both their futures in motion—and the future of the little one growing inside Felix. Stealing His Heart is the first book in the Nox Bay Pack series. Readers should be advised for mentions of attempted assault and trafficking, but don't worry—you'll find mpreg elements, found family, low angst, no cheating, and always a happily ever after! Welcome to the pack <3
Rueberry Orchard
Michele Notaro - 2020
Remember Rueberry Orchard.”A beautiful man in strange clothing starts invading my dreams, and even though I know he isn’t real, the dreams—mind-links, according to him—are so vivid it’s hard to imagine this man doesn’t exist. After a few of these nightly visits, I start looking forward to meeting him and listening to his smooth voice as he tries to convince me to go to Rueberry Orchard.To my surprise, the place really exists, but I know it would be crazy to go there when it’s ten hours away… right?When the visits don’t stop, some deep desire inside me knows I have to listen to this dream man, even if it’s absolutely insane. I follow his instructions to Rueberry Orchard, and nothing in this world could’ve prepared me for what I find. Or for the wild adventure I’m about to embark on.Rueberry Orchard is the first book in the multi-author series, Beyond the Realm: Remember. Each book is set in its own world and can be read as a standalone novel. Join eight authors on eight very different, romantic, and magical stories as each one writes their own take on the same concept.
Alpha's Heart
Susi Hawke - 2017
His unique appearance caused his best friend's mate to nickname him The Peacock. Always ready for new adventures, Taylor agrees to take part in a cross community exchange program between his new pack and the neighboring den of bears – a planned effort to help single shifters find their fated mates. The fact that he gets to stay with the sexy den Alpha has nothing at all to do with his decision to go. Nope...nothing at all! Mikael is lonely. And bored. Now in his mid-30's, he'd been leading his den for over a decade with only his trusted beta assistant at his side. When he spots the wild young wolf omega that will be coming to stay as his guest during the exchange program, his bear is intrigued. The tiny, colorful omega would either breathe new life into their stilted bear community, or cause an outrage. Either way, Mikael knows already that it won't be boring to have him around. This is the first book of the new Northern Pines Den series. Every book is around 30k and guaranteed to have an HEA, but it's advised to read them in order for maximum appreciation. 18+ readers only please! And yes, this book contains M/PREG, knotting, adults adulting in sexy naughty ways, and way more than the occasional use of potty mouth language! Caution: may contain violent scenes as the pack is at war.Note: this series is a spinoff from Northern Lodge Pack from the same author.
Kelpie Blue
Mell Eight - 2018
Blue is unlike anyone else Rin has ever met, and the magic of the fae, and of this particular kelpie, is wondrous, but deadly. Rin learns too late he might be in for a swim he won't survive.