The time of the ton came to an end and rakes gave way to new, more modern heroes. What if there were still some rakes left in the world? What if they were every bit as devastating and irresistible as the rakes we’ve loved and longed for but modern? K. Sterling believes there are still some rakes out there and their time has come. The rakes have returned. Gideon Drake is not a rake. He’s a journalist. He’s covered every modern battlefield over the last decade because war scares him less than the pain of his past. An impossible lead, a myth and an assassination attempt introduces Gideon to an Israeli Butcher who isn’t Israeli or a butcher. Rami Ali is a rake. His story is very different. He is as mysterious as he is sensual and irresistible and he’s not what Gideon expected to find when he set out to uncover the elusive arms dealer. He wasn’t expecting the passion or the reckoning with his past and being in the middle of the ocean can’t save him from the heat.

    Rough carpet. Burned dinner. Awkward silence. Bitten lips. Startling length. Spilled wax. Pinched fingers. Shattered wineglass. Closet quickie. Flat souffle. Broken bedframe. Shower sex. Overzealous spanking. Embarrassing ex. Lost wallet. Terrible taste. Sore shoulders. Noxious odor. Absent date. Unbelievable girth. Kitchen canoodling. New toy. Stained sheets. Backward compliment. Stifling pillow. Locked handcuffs. Aching ass. Missing keys. Torn seams. Wrenched back. Angry cat. Overeager pass. Uncooperative zipper.Something always goes wrong in real life. Fortunately, in these stories love blunts the edges so that romance always triumphs over adversity.Stories included are:Midnight Caller by Anna BirminghamSnapshots by Rena ButlerBasil's Luck by Henrietta ClarkeBoys, Toys, and Carpet Fitters by Taylin ClavelliOutbursts by Bell EllisTyler Wang Has a Ball by Kim FieldingBoy Next Door by Ellee HillGremlins in the Works by Kiernan KellyGood Food Gone Bad by Venona KeyesAttack of the Hedgehogs by Kate PavelleIt's Not What You Think by Teegan LoySlippery When Wet by K. LynnDesperate Measures by E.T. MalinowskiGordon's Cat by Aundrea SingerPhoto Finish by AC Valentine

    a long break. He'd rather be alone than have his heart broken again. So, he keeps the crush he has on his sexy neighbor Matt a secret and spends his nights alone. But soon Matt discovers Leo's feelings and they begin a relationship that quickly grows too intense for both of them. To make it work, they'll both have to risk heartbreak and learn to trust.

    Driven to be worthy of the second chance he’s been afforded, Ash built a life centered around giving back to his community, all while maintaining a low profile. When he finds himself thrust into the spotlight of a bachelor auction to help one of his favorite causes, he never expects to come face-to-face with the sexy man who’s career he destroyed.Isaiah Blake has spent a lifetime proving he’s deserving of what he has. After a hit on the ice prematurely ended his NHL career, he committed to becoming a better version of himself. Now, he’s living an open and honest life. So, when he has an opportunity to interview bachelors participating in the Hockey Allies auction for the Hockey Network, the only thing he’s hoping to gain is exposure for his non-profit. That is, until his former rival Ash, steps onto the auction block. Isaiah sees an opportunity to make amends for the suffering he caused ten years ago. Unfortunately, Ash is wary of Isaiah’s motives, and soon Isaiah realizes there is more to Ash’s cautiousness than the history that binds them.Attraction takes hold as Ash and Isaiah begin to build a new professional alliance and friendship. They must learn to forgive each other, and most importantly, themselves. With outside forces and public opinion hawking, will their relationship be over before it begins? Or will they discover joy and redemption in each other, and find their happily ever after?

    There’s always one constant in Gabe’s dreams: a nameless man whose love completes Gabe’s soul. Gabe is waiting for someone special in his “real” life as well, and his best friend Phil is determined to find Gabe his elusive knight in shining armor.Nick Jackson, a university alum and Olympic swimming champion, immediately recognizes the quiet young man from the swim team and convinces Gabe to give them a chance at building something special. Considering the palpable attraction between them, Nick surprises himself by quickly agreeing to take their budding relationship slow. Unfortunately, real life is not a fantasy, and Nick’s demanding schedule as a professional athlete and Gabe’s obligations to the swim team and his degree make finding time to spend together difficult.Have the two men found everlasting love, or will it all prove to be just another dream?

    They attend the same university, and it was a no-brainer to live together. Yet, Mason crossed the country to choose this school over a more prestigious grad program. He always told Darcy it was because of the extracurricular opportunities. Darcy wonders: did Mason move for him? They cuddle now and then... but Darcy's always assumed his best friend was straight. Darcy isn't looking forward to a lonely Christmas. His parents won a Christmas cruise they've been looking forward to forever, but it's for two people. Meanwhile, Mason's flying thousands of miles across the country on Christmas Eve to be with his family. That leaves him alone for ten days. The news of a freak storm sweeping in off the Atlantic shouldn't excite Darcy as much as it does... When the planes are grounded, the roads are a mess, and the airports close down, Darcy and Mason are snowed in together. Now, with the magic of Christmas in the air, they can connect on another level. But can their relationship as best friends withstand the drastic change as sparks fly? Dream by the Fire is a standalone story with a HFN ending.

    He has a decent job at a bank, a good place to live and a nice boyfriend. Or at least, that’s what he likes to fool himself into believing. In reality, his job is full of backstabbing pit vipers, the roof of his apartment leaks and his boyfriend left him two weeks ago for the mailman. So the last thing he wants or needs is yet another complication in his life. Then one day as he’s working his teller window, in walks a huge complication in the form of a dark-haired stranger named Drake. Before he knows it, Trevor’s life is anything but simple as he finds himself falling hard for the man. But can Trevor let go of simple long enough to learn to embrace extraordinary or will he be forever destined to be alone?

    He doesn't want an alpha to control him but to be his life partner in every way. He's a hardworking English teacher at the local high school who hears the ticking of his biological clock...and worries time is running out. Alex is a Science teacher, an alpha new to the local high school. He's not looking for an omega, he'd rather be a free spirit than settle down with a clingy omega. Harry is shocked and furious, when the hot new teacher turns out to be the bully that made his life hell in middle school. After an explosive reunion, the principal realizes he's got a problem on his hands, and comes up with a way to solve it. They've got one weekend to learn how to get along...or someone is out of a job. This is a 33,000 word story of male pregnancy with a HEA. This is book 3 in the Baby Makes Three series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

    Career-focused Jason Tant has given up on love to play football at the highest level: his team is in the Premiership, and Jason also plays for the English national team. He doesn’t want to be the poster boy for LGBT people in sport—and his advisors have told him that coming out will ruin his career. It’s not an issue until Scott captures Jason’s heart and turns his world around. Out and proud... With a carefree, live-for-today attitude, Scott Cole was never in the closet. Funny, clever, and a terrific dancer, the science student has many talents but the man he loves requires something else—discretion. They seem an unlikely couple but neither can resist the chemistry that draws them together. Under scrutiny... Prying paparazzi are everywhere, determined to out gay footballers. Scott questions whether he and Jason need to keep their love a secret when professional British sportsmen in other fields are coming out. Will Jason have to choose between love and his career? Or will the tabloids destroy them both? An MM romance novel with a happy ever after. The story spans 2012-2015. Set in England where fans would die for their football team and football is not called soccer. It is 51,000 words. The book was inspired by the news story in October 2015 that British gay footballers are preparing to come out in public.

    As a twenty year old omega who had never experienced a heat, he assumed he was just a late bloomer. When a visit to his doctor revealed something more serious, he was forced to rethink his life's ambitions. Garrett was never a typical alpha... As a bookish English professor, it wasn't often that he even bothered giving omegas a second glance. They all seemed so bland and predictable - until he met Trey. A red hot fire ignites inside whenever he gets near the young, innocent omega. Garrett knows he wants to claim the young omega forever, but will Trey give love a chance, even if it wasn't what he always thought it would be? Sometimes it takes true love to make miracles happen... The Omega's Miracle Baby is a 18,000 novella featuring unlikely mates, sexy times in the library, and a happily ever after!

     As alpha of his pack, Liam strives to exercise complete control in all things. When a human is unwittingly turned into a werewolf without Liam’s knowledge, all hell breaks loose. Liam must track the new shifter down and convince him to bond to the pack or risk insanity as a lone wolf. Liam meets Ash, a scorching hot flirt who is more interested in charming Liam than joining the pack. Oh, and Ash doesn’t even know he’s a werewolf. To make matters worse, a betrayal in the pack puts Ash’s life in danger. Liam must set aside his instant attraction to Ash in order to save his life. That is, if he can find him first. The Alpha’s Call is a hot and steamy standalone romance story.

    He can use some help especially with his little boy, Scotty. Gary doesn't want him to be cooped up when there might be snow out there any day now. He hires Wayne to help him give his kid a happy Christmas. Wayne has worked as a health aid before but never as a manny. He takes his work seriously, but it turns out that working for Gary and Scotty is more fun than work. Right away, he fits in with those two. He also finds himself incredibly drawn to Gary. Unaware that Gary feels the same way, Wayne thinks it's hopeless. If only Wayne can be brave enough to speak up, their attraction might turn into so much more. It doesn't take much to ignite their desire, but will demands of real life get in the way of their happy life?

    He also loves that the X-treme Games blow into the area for a month every year, bringing with them hundreds of athletes. Ecco Rasmussen loves boarding; he needs it in fact. He knows he'll never make it to the big times but as long as he can get on his board and go he doesn't care. The only fly in the ointment is his manager Blake Dobbs. The man is possessive and mean and believes he owns Ecco. Given the way he's isolated Ecco and holds all the money, not to mention the way he treats the boarder, Ecco figures maybe he does. When Henry and Ecco meet at the Branchberry Games, it's lust at first sight. An injury on Ecco's qualifying run gives them the opportunity to spend some quality time alone together at Henry's home, away from the crowds and out from under Blake's thumb. Will lust have the opportunity to turn into love? More importantly, what will Blake do when he finds out?

    Touched by Caleb's story, Charlie agrees to help. When Charlie manages to track down Junior, he discovers the man has long since changed his name to James Marshall and wants absolutely nothing to do with his father. Charlie understands James's anger; Charlie spent most of his adolescence trying to convince his own incarcerated father to see him, but his father always pushed him away. Now, Charlie has nothing but regret for the past and the lost opportunities, and he wants to spare James the same fate. But Charlie's attempts to help James forgive and forget become complicated by feelings he hasn't experienced since the death of his husband. For them to have any chance at finding happiness, James will have to end his self-imposed emotional isolation, but will Charlie's efforts bring James closer or push him further away?

    It happened. But even he couldn't predict that he'd be going from Seattle to their biggest rival, the Sioux Falls Martens. It didn't keep him from happily packing his bags and moved to a team that, hopefully, wanted him there.With plans to keep his head down and to prove to the Marten's organization and his new teammates that he was a worthwhile trade, Henny thought he was ready.Until he met Matt.Matt Doherty, the captain of the Martens, had Henny throwing any plans he'd made out the window. Their chemistry was instantaneous, on the ice and off it. Getting his mind off the captain and on the game was near impossible. There was something about how Matt treated Henny that made it too easy for him to think there could be something more than friendship between them.As the season progresses, the temptation becomes harder to resist. For the first time, Henny started to think that he could have both hockey, and love.