Book picks similar to
Cure by Brenda Zalegowski


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Saving Noah


T.S. McKinney - 2018
    But instead of saving the world, he loses himself. After testifying against one of the biggest crime bosses in the country, Noah’s fear of retribution leads to a serious case of agoraphobia. There isn’t much in Noah’s safe zone that calms his nerves… well, except for his short interactions with his surly but hot new neighbor. Life crushed Dr. Zachary Meadows’s rose-colored glasses years ago. He makes amends for the deeds of others—and for his failure to protect those in need—by saving as many lives as he can as an ER physician. After early betrayals, he purposefully keeps his circle small. Until he meets his odd new neighbor and unwanted desires cause him to act like a jerk. When two survivors collide—one desperate for love and one afraid of it—sparks fly. But just as Zachary and Noah begin to heal one another, the past returns…with a vengeance. One. Two. I’ve decided to come for you. Three. Four. It won’t help Scaredy Cat to lock his door. Five. Six. You committed a sin you can’t fix. Seven. Eight. I’ve picked the date. Nine. Ten. No one will ever see you again.

Finding Aaron


Gigi Kern - 2015
    Between his severe Learning Disabilities, ADHD and past trauma, every day is a struggle. Three years ago, Aaron's world got a whole lot brighter thanks to his new best friend, Ryan Foster and his family. The Fosters have taken him into the fold. That is, everyone except for Ryan's Uncle TJ. When Aaron and TJ meet, sparks fly. TJ, 31, can't stand his nephew's flamboyant, in your face, blue-haired, rainbow loving, best friend. He knows he shouldn't be so judgmental but after spending five years in Iraq and Afghanistan, his patience is buried under a mountain of guilt and loss. TJ's animosity toward Aaron always stresses Aaron out going home to the Foster's for the holidays but they are the only family he has. He just needs to put up with TJ. He can do that, right? When something happens that neither one wants to acknowledge, it may just be the catalyst needed for the sparks to explode. What happens when TJ lets himself see the real Aaron? And, can Aaron let TJ past his defenses, when he's barely holding on. ~ 33,000 words – gay romance, heat level low.

Collateral Damage


J.T. Cheyanne - 2016
    Plagued by anxiety attacks and an abhorrence to being touched, Trevor rebuffs his best friend’s attempts to set him up. He has no desire for any type of relationship; until the local golden boy strolls into his line of sight at the neighborhood dive…Logan Andrews just wants to take care of his mama. After years of serving his country in the Army Special Forces, Logan resigns when he learns his mother is suffering from advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A night out with old friends turns heated when the newest deputy in town catches his attention…When a sexually deviant killer sets his sights on the gay men in the area, Trevor is assigned the case. In a wicked twist, all evidence points to Logan. Can Trevor’s past be repeating itself? In a race against a killer, Trevor struggles to overcome his own insecurities and clear the man whose touch sets him on fire. Will he succeed or will their budding relationship become Collateral Damage?

Lawnboy


Paul Lisicky - 1998
    Estranged from his parents and his older brother, he moves in with forty-one-year-old William and begins a disastrous series of attempts to make a new home. Must he make a choice between his family and desire? First published to wide acclaim in 1999, Lawnboy by Paul Lisicky wanders the lush and tumultuous landscape of the early 1990s, its south Florida setting as fertile and troubling as Evan's inner life.

Husband Hunters


Rick R. Reed - 2014
    What they don't know is that the show, modeled after HGTV's House Hunters, will open doors of longing neither expected. For Matt, the secret love he has long harbored for Cody might be thrust into the spotlight. Cody might realize his search for his perfect-forever-man extends no farther than the man who's always been at his side.Husband Hunters promises laughter, tears, and, just maybe, a happy ever after. Will Cody and Matt's story be one of best-friends-to-lovers—or an outright disaster?

Heavyweight


M.B. Mulhall - 2014
    Their weight can be crushing, but their release can change everything—and not necessarily for the better. Ian is no stranger to secrets. Being a gay teen in a backwater southern town, Ian must keep his orientation under wraps, especially since he spends a lot of time with his hands all over members of the same sex, pinning their sweaty, hard bodies to the wrestling mat. When he’s trying not to stare at teammates in the locker room, he’s busy hiding another secret—that he starves himself so he doesn’t get bumped to the next weight class. Enter Julian Yang, an Adonis with mesmerizing looks and punk rocker style. Befriending the flirtatious artist not only raises suspicion among his classmates, but leaves Ian terrified he’ll give in to the desires he’s fought to ignore. As secrets come to light, Ian’s world crumbles. Disowned, de-friended, and deserted by nearly everyone, Ian’s one-way ticket out of town is revoked, leaving him trapped in a world he hates—and one that hates him back.

Wrapped


Rachel Kane - 2018
     I didn't mean to lose my virginity to a sexy mall Christmas elf...but hey, 'tis the season. Val: A month ago, I was a powerful CEO at the head of my family's fortune. All I cared about was money. Now that my company is destroyed, I've got millions of dollars in the bank and nothing but free time ahead of me. There's a whole world outside the boardroom that I've never experienced, but I don't know what to do with myself, other than spend money on things I don't need. I'm not looking for love, I'm definitely not looking for sex, I'm just want something meaningful back in my life...and then I meet Charlie, an elf at Santa's Village at the mall. He's so laid back, more relaxed than I've ever been, and there's something about him--his body, his self-assurance, his heart--that keeps me coming back for more. Charlie: When everybody's got high expectations for you, sometimes you have to escape. That's why I'm a pool boy during the summer, a Christmas elf during the winter, and not interested in anything more complicated than that. But this Christmas, I need something to care about. That something might just be Val. He's the first person I've ever met who doesn't demand anything from me, who lets me be in control. But when he finds out why I need that control, why I'm so afraid to let him give me anything, will my secrets push him away? Will he truly accept me? Can this be more than just a Christmas fling? WRAPPED is a 70,000-word emotional snowstorm of first-time gay romantic comedy, with big feels, steamy angst, letters to Santa, a stolen bicycle, and a holiday HEA!

Five Ways a Boy Can Break Your Heart


Cate Ashwood - 2014
    Liam is a classical violinist with a scholarship, and Trey is a punk rocker with famous parents. Despite their conflicting backgrounds, they hit it off and bond over their love of music. But after spending every waking hour together, Liam is devastated when Trey leaves school without an explanation. Worse yet, Trey capitalizes on a song they wrote together.Seven years later, they bump into each other at a charity benefit in New York. Old sparks fly, but Liam hasn’t quite recovered from the pain Trey caused. Liam doesn’t know if any explanation Trey can offer will be enough, or if he can find it in his heart to forgive the only man he’s ever really loved.

First Touch


April Anderson - 2020
    Only there's one problem—Jamie is twenty years old and he's never kissed anyone, and he doesn't want to fumble his way through a first attempt with Lucas. He needs some experience. Needs a teacher. Someone who can show him how to be intimate and not make it weird.Noah Brady, a grumpy friend of a friend, doesn't even like him. He's spent a year ignoring Jamie's existence. And yet somehow he's the one who ends up giving the lessons, teaching Jamie how to touch another man, until the line between lessons and reality begins to blur, and Jamie—well, sometimes it's hard to remember Lucas Black at all.FIRST TOUCH is a 50,000-word tropey gay romance with steamy scenes and a happy ending.

Redeeming Hope


Shell Taylor - 2015
    He keeps his past—and his sexual orientation—hidden until he attends a fundraiser for The Center for HOPE, an LGBT youth center, where he meets Adam Lancaster, HOPE’s infuriatingly stubborn and sexy founder.A survivor of a turbulent childhood, Adam understands better than most the challenges his youth face. He’s drawn to Elijah’s baby blues and devilish smile but refuses to compromise his values and climb back into the closet for anyone—not even the man showering time and money on HOPE. Months of constant flirting wear down Adam’s resolve until he surrenders to his desires, but Elijah can’t shake his demons.When a youth from the center is brutally assaulted, Elijah must find a way to confront the fears and memories that are starting to ruin his life, so he can stand strong for those he loves.

Last Chance in Vegas


Isabelle Arran - 2016
    A suitable one of course, and his father has provided a list. All he has to do is choose – after all, any of the prospective brides would jump at the chance to snag the eligible bachelor, he’s wealthy and comes from the right kind of family.So why is he finding it so hard? He shouldn’t care – after all, it’s just a society marriage. Right?“How soon?”Shy songwriter Nial is reeling over the news. Jake has been his best friend since forever, and his roommate for years. The fact that he’s secretly in love with the man doesn’t help either. Now his life is being ripped to shreds, not to mention his heart.“I want to have one last crazy weekend.”When Jake suggests a pre-bachelor party in Las Vegas, can Nial make it through the trip without breaking? But when Jake insists on being Nial’s “wingman” on the search for hot, available guys…can Nial finally let go and succumb to the moment?Last Chance in Vegas is a steamy, stand-alone MM romance novella of 22000 words with no cheating, a HEA ending, and no cliffhanger.

Painting with Fire


Lissa Kasey - 2016
    Since Bastian is Charlie’s best friend’s nephew, Charlie hesitates to get involved, but can’t help but be drawn to the young artist.Bastian has created a sanctuary for himself on San Juan Island’s Friday Harbor to avoid his dysfunctional family. When a death in the family drags his aunt back home to stay with him, he never expects to meet a man like Charlie.Will the flame between them ignite a real bond or fizzle out?Note: This MM romance features a Native American firefighter, a spicy redhead with a passion for painting dolls, and a lot of family drama which ends up in a best friend's brother, hurt/comfort romance.

The Brick Yard


Carol Lynne - 2014
    He hadn’t expected the owner, Tony Brick, to welcome him with a job and a place to sleep when Lucky’s abusive and drug addicted mother made it too dangerous to return home.Dray was a gay man living in a world of straight fighters. When his secret was exposed to the media, he dropped out, giving Lucky a piece of advice, if you want to make it as a MMA fighter, bury the part of yourself that won’t be accepted.Lucky discovered the cage was the perfect place to keep his demons at bay, but when he learns his trainer and mentor, Brick, is suffering from end-stage cancer, he begins to spiral out of control. After eight years, Dray returns to help Lucky and Brick deal with the devastating news.With Dray so close, Lucky’s old desires return, and Dray teaches him more than how to fight. Torn between his career and the passion he feels for Dray, Lucky finds that his past demons resurface in full force, threatening his sanity and his budding relationship with Dray.Despite leaving the cage years earlier, Dray finds himself in the battle of his life with the only man he’s ever loved. Will he stand and fight or walk away like he did years earlier?

366 Days


Kiyoshi Tanaka - 2012
    Ryan Thompson, the new kid, just wants to be his friend and then-hopefully-something more. Kellie Powell wants her big brother back. And Erin Donaldson is just, well, Erin. Not for readers under sixteen. Warnings for strong language.

Being Wrong


R.A. Armstrong - 2021
    Charlie's broken. He's not sure he ever wasn't broken. When things get unbearable, the only thing that helps Charlie feel grounded is music. What can he do when he runs out of batteries for his old Walkman?At school crowds of people gather to watch Travis perform, but when he goes home his only company is his cat. He escaped his abusive parents, but now he lives with his older brother who is usually away working. Will the strange, quiet boy he finds sitting on his porch trying to listen in on his music put an end to his loneliness?