Paul is all man. And boy, do I regret what I put him through. I was in love with my friend and couldn't deal with my parents finding out I was gay. Being a teenager in the closet, it was all too much, and I just left. I'm not proud of it; I thought I'd eventually get over him. But I could never forget Paul. I've been back in Snow Lake awhile, and we've just been ignoring each other, pretending those passionate nights never happened, pretending that I never broke his heart. Even pretending I've stopped thinking about him. The reality is, he's never entirely left my mind since. Sure, he's gotten over me. He had a serious relationship with a man who passed away. But it took my own parents passing away before I could come to terms with being my own man and knowing what I really want in life. I've made my bed and now I have to lie in it. But every night, I long to have Paul back in that bed—even if I don't deserve him. Paul: Being a twin means you're never alone. But there's one thing that even a twin can't provide: true, romantic, head-over-heels love. If I'm honest, I only felt that way once, and who knows if it was real. I was just a teenager, and everything seemed so new, so beautiful with Alton. But when he left me, I knew I'd been living in a fantasy world. When Alton drifted away, or should I just say it...? When Alton left me without saying goodbye, I cried in my twin's arms. Sure, I eventually moved on to a more mature relationship with another man. But life has no guarantees, and that ended too. Now that we're stuck in Marty the Party Planner's inescapable holiday web, I can't get away from Alton. And it seems he can't stay away from me. Should I be grateful that he's back in my life? Or careful to protect my heart? Gravy and Gratitude is a special holiday novella in the Hearts of Snow Lake series. It can be read as a standalone. Happy Thanksgiving from Ashton Cade and the town of Snow Lake!

    Beware of dirty sex and dark hallways.Two Strangers...One night...An undeniable attraction...Holidays always bring out the best in us, don't they?When Dash meets Cain at a bar one cold December night, Cain's smart mouth and cocky attitude brings Dash to his knees...In more ways than one.** Originally published as part of the What Happens During The Holidays Anthology. This snarky, funny, and steamy mm story/hot mm short is for 18 + readers only.**

    Not enough time.Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it’s just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that’s a survival tactic.But now he’s got problems even his brothers can’t help him survive.His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn’s dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.He can feel it—the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

    Albans and Alex Benedict celebrate the Solstice with a visit to the wish tree, and a holiday party at their flat. A little holiday gift to the readers of my Consulting Magic series!This story comes after the events in the second book, The Apprenticeship of Julian St. Albans.

    Bumbling drug dealers. A kidnapped cat. Starting a romance among all this chaos might be the death of them.Michael Fleishman is excited to meet his favorite mystery writer, Russell Withingham, at Lacetown’s Literary Fest. He is not expecting to cross paths with sexy hairdresser Jasper “Jazz” Dilworth—or become embroiled in a real-life mystery. As Lacetown’s only mortician and the county coroner, Michael is called to his first murder scene and is shocked to recognize the victim—Russell’s young lover.Jazz only wanted to confront his ex, Russell, over his cheating. Instead, he meets the adorably awkward Michael and becomes a murder suspect. Soon Jazz is teaming up with Michael to clear his name. Along the way, they are helped and hindered by Michael’s sassy assistant, Kitty, the grumpy Sheriff Musgrave, Russell’s creepy PR rep, Norbert, and Michael’s lothario grandfather, who likes his manhattans strong and his women saucy. And of course, Mr. Pickles Furryton the Third….

    Perhaps a little holiday cheer is just the thing to help the three of them find common ground again.

    But ten years after high school, he’s still just as miserable and just as in love with the boy who lived down the street as he ever was. Now on a trip home for Christmas he finds out that running away from your problems isn’t always the best way to deal with them, and that for mending a broken heart, sometimes there’s no place like home.

    He wasn't expecting his best friend, Claire Olivia, to kidnap him. And he definitely wasn't expecting what she has planned to cheer him up...Ben Carver was honestly planning to spend winter break at home in New Hampshire not thinking about Rafe. But he wasn't expecting to run into his ex-girlfriend, who's still interested in him. And he wasn't expecting to find himself still attracted to her...Openly, Honestly tells two funny, sad, beautiful stories that were made for anyone who has longed for one person to see you, to understand you, and to love you exactly as you are.

    A Christmas with friends. A chance to mend a broken heart. Steve Hayes is spending Christmas break away with a group of friends. He's determined to put his two-timing ex-boyfriend in the past and enjoy his week away. Steve is equally terrified and happily surprised to find that Corey Oh, the guy he’s been admiring from afar, has been invited along too. But Steve knows there's no way someone as wonderful as Corey, who could have any man he wanted, would be interested in him. Can a misadventure with a Christmas pudding help Steve's dreams come true?

    More than two million books sold worldwide in seven different languages! Description: After one hellish year in which their lives nearly were claimed by a madman—and with a new baby on the way in just a matter of weeks—Jennifer and Alex decide to spend this particular holiday season in Manhattan with their extended family of friends, if only so Jennifer can be close to her doctor. With that decision made and no travel plans on the horizon, one would think that this holiday should be a breeze, right? Not even close. First, Blackwell and Lisa butt heads over who’s the best choice to throw Jennifer’s baby shower. As infamously strong-willed as Blackwell is, she’s soon rattled to find out that Lisa is no pushover. In fact, she’s hellbent on proving that she can stand up to Blackwell with ideas of her own…in ways that might leave the reader howling. Second, there’s Cutter and Daniella, who are headed straight for a break-up due to Daniella’s insistence that they move in together Will they be kissing under the mistletoe after weeks of not speaking? After Blackwell has a heart-to-heart talk with her daughter, readers might be surprised by the outcome… Third—and perhaps most dire in this book—is the appearance of Ava Kent, Jennifer’s abusive and cunning drunk of a mother, who suddenly crashes back into Jennifer’s life in ways that are so corrosive and toxic, it sends an already fragile Jennifer literally to her breaking point. In “Annihilate Them: Holiday,” expect all the romance, love, sexy times and laughs that you’ve enjoyed in the previous Holiday books, but also expect much more drama, especially when it comes to Ava. When she dares to threaten Jennifer with one mother of a deception that sheds new insight into Jennifer’s past, she does so with a fierceness that darkens these holidays in the coldest of ways. Note: Make sure to read “Annihilate Them” before you read “Annihilate Them: Holiday.”

    He has a new career that doesn’t feel like his, and parents who would just love to see him settled down. All he needs is a temporary buffer for the parties he has to attend, and for his parents to leave him alone. Enter, Luke.Luke is twenty-thousand dollars short for the renovations on Halligans; his family’s bar in New York’s Financial District. A favor for a buddy has him agreeing to play the part of boyfriend to a guy with more money than sense.But when the spirit of Christmas works its magic on the two men, and they begin to fall for each other, Derek runs scared, and Luke needs space. It doesn’t matter what obstacles you throw in the way of love, or how much you run in the other direction, because, when you’re least expecting it, whether you want it or not, love happens anyway.

    Greg's nights are silent and his bells don't jingle. This time last year his boyfriend broke up with him, and he's determined to get through these holidays with only minor bruising. So what if he lives with a cat and his best friend is his mother? Peace and quiet: that's life how he likes it. Nothing is going to blindside him this year, no sir. Especially not a rogue secret Santa.

    That doesn’t stop me from flirting back when he makes a play for me at my family’s pumpkin patch. But when he lays on the charm so thick that it leaves me gasping for air, I don’t know whether to lean into my feelings or ghost the divine devil.CruzFrom the moment I set eyes on the curvy girl in overalls, my heart belongs to her. Now I just have to convince her that despite our differences, we’re a perfect fit. A costume party at the small-town tequila bar will give us the opportunity to be whoever we want for a night. But will she still want me in the morning?This October, twenty-four of your favorite contemporary romance authors are bringing you a month filled with sexy-spooky Halloween steam. Get ready for over-the-top love stories sure to set your spine — and other parts *wink* — tingling. Brew some cider, grab your favorite blanket, and snuggle up with these hot shorts. The Halloween Steam series is sure keep you warm and cozy all autumn long.

    He's determined to make this Valentine's Day special, but nothing is going to turn out the way Matt plans.

    Please make sure you haven't already purchased this story as part of that anthology unless your intent is to own two copies of the story. There is no new content. When Nate signs up with a matchmaking app, the sparkly, colorful, always-fashionable florist is hoping to find the guy who will finally see him as more than just a one-night stand. In fact, he’s hoping he’ll find “the one” who wants the same things he does – white picket fence, kids, minivan, dog – and doesn’t mind having them with a man others might think shines just a little too bright sometimes. Enter Harrison Garrison. The uptight lawyer is all wrong for Nate. He’s rigid, distant, controlling, emotionally closed off, and content to live his life in black and white…with maybe a little gray thrown in here and there. But when a misunderstanding leads to an encounter that is all kinds of white-hot, Nate starts to think maybe the matchmaking app got it right after all. Until he finds out the real reason Harrison signed up for the app… Will Nate be the one to finally add a touch of color to the staid Harrison’s life, or did the app completely miss the mark? Please note that this story was previously part of an anthology so it was intended (and required) to be a certain length. Although it is a complete story with an HEA, if you don’t care for short stories, Nate and Harrison’s tale may not be for you. This story was formerly titled “The Florist and the Lawyer” and was part of the Heart 2 Heart Charity Anthology. There have been no changes to the content of the story.