Book picks similar to
Roots Before Branches by Abigail Tyrrell


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Into the Skid


J.H. Trumble - 2016
    But they weren’t Patrick’s family. Over the years, as the boys grew close, then closer, Patrick’s longing for a family to call his own grew too. It was a different time, though, and he couldn’t see a future with Isaiah. On the cusp of adulthood, in the dark of night, fueled by a desperate need, Patrick fled. Now, fifteen years later, Patrick’s carefully constructed life is falling apart. His company is under investigation, his marriage to Liz is becoming increasingly strained, and his son Wes is struggling with depression. When back-to-back tragedies draw him back into Isaiah’s world, he finds himself torn between the life he thought he wanted and the happiness he was willing to sacrifice to get it.

Clay


D. Alex - 2021
    I love coffee and watching reruns in my just-right-for-me sized apartment.I loved my ex-boyfriend until he went off the deep end and started to stalk me.When things turned sour, an unlikely savior came stumbling into the hallway.His name was Dax. I’d been searching for a way to talk to him. Having him rescue me from my ex was never the plan. But neither was falling in love with him. If you love: next door neighbor romances, Schitt's Creek references, adorable grannies, hot sex scenes, jealous exes, low angst, and happy endings without cliffhangers, then you'll love this book!

Male Model


Dave Benbow - 2004
    Reprint.

Bromosexual


Daryl Banner - 2017
    And he's about to ruin my life. With his backwards cap, lopsided grin, and ripped bod gifted from the gods, he struts around town like he owns it.But I won’t let him own me, no matter how hot he's gotten over the past eight years since he went off to become a pro baseball player in the major leagues - and since we had our brutal falling out and everything fell apart.When a hard night lands him at my front doorstep - desperately in need of a place to stay - I get one look into those fierce blue eyes of his ... and realize our story is far from over.My former "bro" and I are about to define a whole new term for the steamy, beautiful mess that's destined to happen between the two of us.* This is a stand-alone, angsty, slow-burn M/M romance with a guaranteed HEA and no cheating.BONUS CONTENT: Your special Kindle edition also comes with TWO complimentary male/male novellas! After you read Bromosexual, you can enjoy two books from the Brazen Boys series: "All Yours Tonight" and "On The Edge"

Blackmailed by the Billionaire: Passionate Contemporary Romance


Lucy Monroe - 2022
    Worse, he expects her to be something she's not. He doesn't just want a wife, he wants a society hostess and for this introvert, that sounds more like torture than wedded bliss.Alastair doesn't understand why Charlotte called off the wedding and he's still smarting from the humiliation of being the center of the media frenzy and the butt of his family's jokes. A powerful billionaire tycoon, he isn't used to anyone laughing at him. He's determined to marry the woman that got away and just like any good takeover, he's stacked the deck in his favor.The intense passion between these two adds spice to marriage that is far more than a business contract, but it will take love and honesty to make it last.

A Song for Noah


Declan Rhodes - 2020
    He's about to have his younger brother’s wedding, the 10th anniversary of his parents’ tragic death, and the return to town of his first love, Callum, collide in what feels like a terrifying recipe for disaster. All Noah wants to do is keep a low profile, but all three events carry hidden opportunities and secret traps. One of the most compelling is the possibility of a second chance for romance.Callum McCrea was Noah’s high school sweetheart in private, and the best friend of Noah’s brother, Ike, in public. Callum and Noah kept their relationship discreet even when Callum’s farewell in pursuit of a professional music career broke Noah’s heart. Now, Ike is getting married, and Callum can’t say no to the wedding invitation. He returns to the Midwestern town of Lincolnport as a hometown hero with a desire to bridge an eight-year gap by offering Noah friendship and a hug.A Song for Noah is a 59,000-word gay second chance romance with strong family relationship themes. This is the first book in the Sanderson Brothers series. It features four brothers: high school art teacher, Noah, the oldest, businessman, Ike, the acknowledged leader of the family, police officer, Jared, and Ivy League college student, Matthew. The tragic loss of their parents brought the four boys close together and forged an unbreakable bond.All of the books can be read as standalone stories, but they are best read as a continuing series about the Sanderson family including all four brothers as characters in each novel.

The Nightmare Ex-Boyfriend Before Christmas: A modern day Christmas Carol


Devon Hartford - 2019
    It’s also the epicenter of our past scandal that nearly killed me and my parents when it broke.Trust me, it made the local TV news every night for two weeks. One night, it went national.Guess who never left King City?Channing.The curb turd.As relentless as he was on the field, I would’ve thought he’d go on to play in the NFL. He never did. Knee injury. Oh, the cliche.Small pond, meet big fish.Only this fish has grown bigger than anyone ever expected, built up his own business empire. Turns out he’s better at business than he ever was at football, and that’s saying something. Despite his knee injury, he managed to keep his college football body, abs and all. Wherever he goes, it’s raining money and marriage proposals.When he finds out I’m home for the holidays, he just has to come knocking at my parents’ house bearing meaningless gifts.News flash, unless he’s hoping for an immaculate conception, he has another thing coming, and it definitely won’t be me.

In His Secret Life


Mel Bossa - 2013
    So when his sister Elsie became pregnant eight years ago and then ditched by her boyfriend, he stepped up to the plate. Since then, he's been his sister's support system and father figure to his niece. Allan's world is turned upside down when Elsie becomes engaged, and he meets her fiancé's older brother, Davinder -- a beautiful, brooding artist with a thousand secrets breathing in his eyes. But Davinder is a married man and father of two young boys. From the moment they meet, and for over four decades, Allan and Davinder will walk along the edge of their secret lives, never allowed to push open the gates. And though their love is a head-on collision, a meeting of the minds, a fusing of two lost souls, both men know that it is also, and above all ... impossible.

Ever After


Riley Hart - 2018
    But he’s long been tormented by desires that are far from princely. Especially when the beautiful Cassius is promoted to be his new valet, and Merrick is struck by a longing like never before—a longing to know him far beyond royal and servant. After his father’s passing, Cassius Havendale’s sole duty is to provide for his family. A promotion to serve a pampered prince is something he endures only for their sake. Surely Prince Merrick has no understanding of the true suffering of the common people, nor could he possibly understand what it’s like to desperately desire something he cannot have. Except the prince is not at all what Cassius imagined. Kind, humorous, and caring to those in need, he also shares Cassius’s affinity for the arts. In fact, Merrick understands his deepest vulnerabilities in a most remarkable way. As their affection deepens, the underlying tension between them becomes unbearable and they’re unable to ignore it any longer. But when the queen prepares a lavish ball with all the eligible ladies in the land in attendance, Merrick must fulfill his obligations to his country, and Cassius has the needs of his family to consider. They’ve long known their stolen moments would have to come to an end, but are they ready to give up one another and the idea of a happily-ever-after? ***PLEASE NOTE: EVER AFTER is a romantic fairy tale—minus the magic—that features one compassionate prince, one brooding valet, and plenty of angsty, forbidden love. It’s loosely based on a certain treasured fairy tale in a wintery make-believe setting that wouldn’t be considered contemporary but also isn’t based on any specific time period and doesn’t play by any traditional rules.

The Bookish Omega


Kellan Larkin - 2018
    Omega Nathan is the anonymous writer behind the popular book review blog, The Bookish Omega. When he gets hired as the assistant to the famous dragon shifter author author Davy Vaughn, he can't believe the opportunity he has for juicy gossip. But when he meets Davy, he realizes the opportunity isn't what he thought it was. Davy Vaughn is an alpha in need of a mate. An assistant, too, sure, but mostly a mate. No omega has caught his attention until the human Nathan walks through his door. Davy can't resist. But Nathan is hiding secrets from Davy, one after the other. First it's the existence of his daughter, Sammi. Then it's the blog. And when Nathan's kooky, shifter-worshiping family spills the beans, the couple is tested. After a night of passion, the couple realizes that they've mated. For life. But how can Davy trust an omega with so many secrets? And will Nathan's family ruin everything? The Bookish Omega is a 40k standalone mpreg romance novel.

Ready For Love


Van Cole - 2019
     Tormented by memories of the past I wonder if I’ll ever be able to become the man I used to be. There seems to be little hope for improvement until I receive a surprising call from my old best friend, Clint. We lost touch a while ago as life took its hold on us, but as we reconnect, I start to remember why he was such a good friend. He’s the only one who can get me to talk about my emotions, and as I open up to him, I start to feel something else. Something unfamiliar…something a little scary, but very exciting. Maybe, just maybe, we can save each other? Ready For Love is a standalone gay army romance with a HEA and NO cheating! Gay First Time Army Romance

Vespertine


Leta Blake - 2015
    They spent several idyllic months together until Jasper's calling to the Catholic priesthood became impossible to ignore. Left floundering, Nicky followed his own trajectory into rock stardom, but he never stopped looking back.Today, Jasper pushes boundaries as an out, gay priest, working hard to help vulnerable LGBTQ youth. He's determined to bring change to the church and the world. Respected, admired, and settled in his skin, Jasper has long ignored his loneliness.As Nico Blue, guitarist and songwriter for the band Vespertine, Nicky owns the hearts of millions. He and his bandmates have toured the world, lighting their fans on fire with their music. Numbed by drugs and fueled by simmering anger, Nicky feels completely alone. When Vespertine is forced to get sober, Nicky returns home to where it all started.Jasper and Nicky's careers have ruled their lives since they parted as teens. When they come face to face again, they must choose between the past's lingering ghosts or the promise of a new future.

Without Sin


J. Tomas - 2008
    He's picked on because he likes boys, and fighting gets him kicked out of public school. As a last resort, his parents place him in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Boarding School for Boys.At his first mass at St. Thomas he sees Avery Dendritch, a senior who serves as altar boy during the service. When they meet, the attraction between them is hard to deny. The two become fast friends, and as the school year progresses, their friendship deepens until Jacob feels he's found a place where he belongs.But the other students gossip about their growing relationship. Avery can ignore them; Jacob can't. As the rumors and slurs start up again, can he curb his temper, or will his fighting get him expelled from St. Thomas, too?

Rock


Anyta Sunday - 2014
    There’s Lila, too: The other woman, the one who stole the rock-solid foundation of his life. And then . . . There’s Jace. Lila’s son. Lila’s smug, regurgitated-fish-scale-blue eyed son. All Cooper wants is to have his family back the way it once was, but there’s something about this boy that promises things will never be the same again. Sedimentary. Resisting the realities of his new life, Cooper and Jace get off to a rocky start. But rocky start or not, after hundreds of shared memories together, they forge something new. A close . . . friendship. Because friendship is all they can have. Although it’s not like they are real brothers. Technically, they’re not even stepbrothers . . . Metamorphic. But how does that friendship evolve under the pressures of life? Under pressures of the heart?

Blow Me


Mari Thorne - 2020
    That was, until he kissed me at my graduation party and I freaked out, ran away, and didn’t come back for three years. Now I’m home, conflicted about my future, and determined to repair our broken friendship, though it seems he’ll never forgive me for hurting him.Aaron: Three years ago, I made a huge mistake. I kissed my friend at his graduation party. My very straight friend that I had a huge crush on. Because I couldn’t keep my lips to myself, he ran away and ghosted me. Oh well, his loss, right? Since then, I’ve moved on with my life, or so I thought.Brady’s back in town, and I don't want anything to do with him. Then, he kisses me, leaving me reeling once again. But that doesn’t mean I plan on forgiving him. I didn’t think I’d find myself in a position to need his help, though. When he steps up to help my brass band out, he’s in my life again whether I want him there or not.Blow Me is a 55,000 word friends-to-lovers novel about finding your soulmate through music, the unbreakable bond of high school band, forgiveness, and choosing what makes you happy. It features a bisexual awakening, humorous moments, steamy scenes, a small-town brass band, a pug named Petunia, and trumpets.