Book picks similar to
Ghosts Among Us by Jacey Mills


genre-romance
m-m-contemporary
mlr-press
reconnecting-with-old-lovers

The Summer of Going Topless


Liz Davies - 2019
    No one seems to notice her - not really. Heck, she often doesn’t notice herself, except for her monthly scrutiny in the mirror to check on her body’s steady slide towards middle age.But when her ancient, practical estate car is consigned to the scrap heap, Candice falls in love with a cute, purple convertible, and from that moment on her life begins to take on a whole new meaning. Strangers wave at her and people stop to talk, and suddenly she isn’t invisible any longer.Life seems to be looking up, especially when she meets silver fox and handy-man, Paul. There’s just one fly in the ointment, one thing that has her second-guessing herself.Is it the car that Paul sees - or is it her?

Albert's Christmas Mail Order Bride: Holiday Mail Order Bride


Mercy Levy - 2019
    Though her father had become a mean alcoholic since her mother passed when she was very little, Jasmine loves him and does her best to take care of him. But when money becomes more important to him than anything, Jasmine knows she has to get out of the house, and as quickly as possible. Her desperation causes her to turn to becoming a mail order bride, and before she knows it, she’s on a train heading to the Wild West. Albert is a kind man, very different from her father, and Jasmine settles into married life. But before long, she realizes that Albert, too, has his problems, and secrets that threaten to tear them apart. When danger strikes, Jasmine is pushed to her very limit. Will she ever break through to Albert? Will she find true love? Is she destined to live a life of loneliness forever?

True Calling


Tallulah Scott - 2016
     Part of the elite Mountain Ranger Rescue Corps, he was one of the best the Corps had ever seen. High altitude; rough, rugged terrain; heavily-forested mountains – it didn’t matter, Daniel was quickly becoming a legend in the Rangers. Tragedy struck. He was a hero, decorated for saving that family, but the rescue had been costly, more than he could bear. His partner died on that cold mountainside five years ago, his life literally slipping through Daniel’s fingers. Physically, Daniel made it back okay, but inside, he's carried emotional scars too deep to overcome. Trey Obenshain is young, fiery and impulsive, determined he’s not just going to become a member of the Mountain Rangers, but be one of the best. Marginalized by his family for his sexuality and his failure to live up to their expectations, Trey is driven to excel in his rough and rowdy career. Sparks soon fly when the two cross paths. For Daniel, long-dead emotions begin to surface, feelings he’s not ready for. Trey finds himself in awe of the legendary Daniel McGregor, but he soon discovers Daniel is much more than his legend – a tortured soul, with a soft, lonely tenderness inside, buried away from the world. Trey’s growing affection is battered when he learns a dark secret from his hero’s past, and Daniel struggles to overcome the one fear that he’s never been able to conquer – the fear of loss. Both are soon tested in ways they hadn’t expected, forced into an emergency rescue operation together, a mission that may claim not only their trust in one another, but their very lives.

Terrible Twos


Megs Pritchard - 2017
    When he eventually found work in a call centre, he was ecstatic. But from day one he had a problem. After an accidental run-in with the manager, John, Zach was under no illusions that his days were numbered. While dealing with his work issues, Zach is left devastated when his sister dies. Now, struggling at work with a boss who may or may not like him, Zach is now raising his two young nephews alone. One night, a chance encounter with John changes everything. But, when a problem occurs in work, is John willing to stand by Zach or will he walk away?

His Big Secret


Austin Bates - 2019
    Maybe you wanted to play football. Maybe you wanted to be an artist. Or maybe you just wanted a family of your own. He’d do anything for a baby. Timothy knows he’s worth every bit of time and effort he puts in front of the mirror every morning. Now in remission from leukemia, he remembers days he didn’t have the energy to brush his hair. With those days far behind him, he’s ready for a new challenge—raising a family of his own. But without a lover, he’s left with just one choice; the local IVF clinic that’s making waves all over the news. Inteus was raised in a traditional community, but it’s not where his heart lies. Dedicated to making dreams come true, he’s made a fortune on giving people the children they desire. Yet he still finds himself going home, alone. But that changes when his system identifies the perfect candidate for a newcomer: himself. When Timothy finds himself connected with the AI clinic’s owner, he can’t believe it’s a long-lost friend. The technology says they’re a perfect match but Inteus owns the company. What could go wrong? His Big Secret is a gay mpreg romance intended for adults only.

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Jade Jones - 2013
    Sweater Robinson moved to Atlanta with nothing but $300, a dream, and a dark past she wanted nothing more than to forget about. Just when things are starting to look up, someone from her past returns, forcing her to choose between love and loyalty.Royalty Jackson is often hot and cold due to his abrasive personality, but one thing that’s certain is his love for making convenient cash. Getting money by any means necessary is the motto he stands firmly by, and he’ll do whatever to get it even if it means turning on his friends and loved ones.Lady Carter has a lackadaisical attitude when it comes to most things until a life changing event forces her to make a difficult decision. Will her outcome be the happy ending she always envisioned?Capricorn “Cap” Daniels is usually a man of very few words. However, he has no choice but to finally speak up for what he wants. After all, closed mouths don’t get fed…but falling in love brings consequences and conflict.Deception and betrayal are at an all-time high, and ‘loyalty’ is simply a word. Will these four friends be consumed by jealousy, distrust, and greed or will they make it out unscathed?

The Second Mrs Thistlewood


Dionne Haynes - 2020
    A land of oppression and social discontent.Arthur Thistlewood is fighting for a revolution. Susan Thistlewood is fighting for freedom. From Arthur.Battered and bruised by her violent husband, Susan finds comfort in food and books. As Arthur’s legal property, leaving the marriage seems an impossible dream — until a chance encounter with a charismatic Bow Street Runner. In the sanctuary of an inconspicuous London bookshop, the Runner’s easy manner and unexpected generosity compel Susan to pursue a life without her husband.But will the Bow Street officer provide a key to Susan’s freedom? Or will he place her in the greatest danger of all?Inspired by true events from the Cato Street Conspiracy of 1820, this is a tale of courage, determination, and love.

The Goalie's Secret


Riley Knight - 2016
    He’s always found the starting goalie Dante to be incredibly attractive, had a bit of a hero worship thing for him, and in person, he’s just as devastatingly handsome as ever. Immediately, Cody finds himself wanting things that he thinks he can’t have. Dante, too, is immediately drawn to the beautiful young man, but Cody has been taught from a young age that he can’t be who he is, not if he wants to succeed in hockey. And Dante, too, is too cautious to be open about his own attraction to other men. Maybe friendship is all that the two can expect to have. Still, they’re drawn together irresistibly, and while the hockey world starts to speculate about whether or not they’re competing for the starting goalie position, they’re actually just busy trying to hide what they are both coming to feel for each other … The Goalie’s Secret is a gay hockey romance featuring explicit scenes. There is guaranteed no cheating, no cliffhangers, and an HEA ending. Enjoy!

Hanging Loose


Lou Harper - 2011
    After graduating from art school Nate left the Midwest for sunny Southern California, not quite sure what he hoped to find. It was almost certainly not falling in love with another man. His whole world and assumptions about himself begin to slowly turn upside down on one hot summer day. Seeking respite from the heat and his loneliness at Venice Beach he has a chance encounter with a handsome blond surfer. Jez is friendly, easygoing, and just a little bit mysterious. Openly gay, Jez offers Nate a place to stay, and the two men become fast friends. Nate makes new friends, adjusts to his new life, but his unbidden attraction to Jez keeps growing. In their moments of closeness Nate realizes that he wants Jez more than just a friend, but it might be too late. To make Jez his, Nate has to face not only his own fears and insecurities, but his mysterious mate has secrets of his own. Warning: Al fresco man-love, a scene-stealing old coot, and a relentless California sun.

A Lesson in Pride


Jordan Chambers - 2015
    After the closeted college student has a drunken meltdown at his well-to-do family's Christmas party (involving a few bombshell confessions and some not-so-polite uses for the angel tree topper) he suddenly finds himself disowned and cut off from the family funds. Back in New York, Josh tries to put the hangover behind him as he prepares for a swanky art competition. Of course fate has other plans, and after crossing paths with a mysterious bad-boy named Luke, Josh begins to question everything he thought he knew about himself. Josh can't help but think that this unrefined biker (dreamy as he is) is the last thing his reputation needs right now. But when Luke drops a few bombshell confessions of his own and Josh is left to find out who his true friends are, the artist might just find that opposites attract. "A Lesson in Pride" is a steamy standalone novel with HEA and no cliffhanger.

The Last Crossing (Finger Lakes Mystery #4)


Elizabeth Meyette - 2018
    But try as she might, she can’t escape the spirits who haunt her. This time the ghost is Timmy, whose disappearance ten years earlier coincided with the abduction of several boys. His family is convinced he drowned, but Jesse suspects something more sinister. Until Timmy appeared, Jesse’s biggest problem was that her best friend, Maggie Keegan, aka Sister Angelina the Catholic nun, might not be allowed to be her maid of honor. But that pales in comparison to what Jesse faces now: Timmy was Maggie’s little brother. And Jesse knows that if Timmy is ever to find peace, he needs to reveal the mystery of his disappearance—which could subject Maggie and her family to some painful secrets and truths. As for Maggie? Well, she’s been navigating her own crisis of the heart and soul, as she tries to deal with—and resist—her deepening feelings for local cop Marty D’Amato. Learning about Timmy’s appearances only drives her further into confusion and anguish, but pray as she might, she’s finding no answers.To complicate things even more, Jesse’s investigation into the ten-year-old cold case has tapped into someone’s fear of being caught. She receives anonymous threatening notes, followed by a destructive attack on Bert, her beloved Volkswagen Beetle. And now, the mysterious assailant has escalated his attacks, putting Jesse in mortal danger. It looks like this time her spectral encounter is too personal, and it may cost her a friendship. It may cost Jesse her life—unless the ghost of a seven-year-old boy can keep her safe.

First Person Plural


Andrew W.M. Beierle - 2007
    Beierle brings to life characters at once unthinkably foreign and utterly real. Frank and fearless, sexy and witty, First Person Plural is a masterfully rendered, powerfully imaginative work, as complex and as extraordinary as the bonds of love. Owen and Porter Jamison are conjoined twins inhabiting one body with two heads, one torso, and two very different hearts. As children, they're seen as a single entity--Owenandporter, or more often, Porterandowen. As they grow to adulthood, their differences become more pronounced: Porter is outgoing and charismatic while Owen is cerebral and artistic. When Porter becomes a high school jock hero, complete with cheerleader girlfriend, a greater distinction emerges, as Owen gradually comes to realize that he's gay.Owen, a reluctant romantic, is content at first to settle for unrequited crushes. Porter's unease with his brother's sexuality leaves Owen feeling increasingly alienated from his twin, especially when Porter falls in love with Faith, and Owen becomes the unwilling third side of a complicated love triangle. When Owen finally begins to explore his own desires, the rift grows deeper.As Porter and Owen's carefully balanced arrangement of give-and-take, sacrifice and selfishness, is irrevocably shattered, each twin is left fighting for his relationship--and his future--in a battle of wills where winning seems impossible, and losing unthinkable. . .Andrew W. M. Beierle has been a journalist for more than thirty years. He has studied at the Bread Loaf, Sewanee, Napa Valley, and Kenyon Review writers' workshops.

Always a Will and a Way


Barbara Gee - 2014
    Their comfortable routine is interrupted when her late husband’s parents contact her out of the blue, after nine years of total silence. Promising to explain everything, they request that Kelly bring James to visit them at their Texas ranch. It’s the last thing Kelly wants to do, yet she feels an unexplainable prompting to go. With the fervent hope that the visit will be good for James, she books the plane tickets and prepares herself for a very uncomfortable week. Heading into “enemy territory", the last thing Kelly expects is to meet a man who leaves her breathless, the first man to turn her head since she lost her husband. A relationship with Will Connor seems totally out of reach, but the handsome young cowboy refuses to let Kelly’s fears keep them from exploring what God might have in store for them. As they overcome obstacles and start to see a future together, one final snag causes Kelly to question their happy ending. Is Will actually better off without her? Is she strong enough to give him up?

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.

Commitment Issues


Bradley Brady - 2017
    Is it really possible to fast track a relationship to the commitment stage? Avoid all the drama of dating? There's only one way to find out. And what will their friends and family think of this instant romance? Mel, the happy matchmaker with a marriage gone stale? Sally, Evan's younger sister, whose long engagement shows no signs of ending? Will Evan and Scott live happily ever after, or is love at first sight only a fairy tale...