Book picks similar to
Bringing Back the Light by Ariana May


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The Trouble with Trevor


Cin Forrester - 2016
    It’s not his fault his parents are freaked out because his older brother went to college and binge drank himself to death. Trevor’s not going to do that, but they won’t let him go unless he stays with his godfather, Marine vet Grady McKinnon. Grady’s come to appreciate a quiet life in Boston since an IED tore off his foot and forced his discharge, but he owes his oldest friend a lot. He agrees to the babysitting, provided Trevor sticks to a few basic rules. It’s been five years since Trevor’s seen Grady, a long time in a teen’s life. Now Trevor is stunned to find out his muscled temporary guardian is a walking wet dream. Trevor has a new plan: get Grady’s attention, no matter how many rules he has to break to do it. Warning: This book contains a pushy brat, a loner learning to like company, lots of spanking, and some desperate longing.

The Arms of Winter


Donya Lynne - 2012
    Upon returning to his family horse farm in Kentucky, he faces a father who condemns him, a mother who’s in denial about his homosexuality, and an uncertain future. The one thing he is certain about is his feelings for his best friend, Cooper Brown, who Sam has secretly been attracted to since high school.For years, Cooper has harbored his own secret attraction toward Sam and is finally ready to tell him. During a camping trip to their childhood stomping grounds, all their secrets are revealed and their bonds of friendship are expanded in ways neither thought possible. Love is finally within reach. When Sam’s father catches them together, an explosive confrontation results, and Sam’s and Cooper’s fates are decided in one harsh moment of truth.

Timeless


Patric Michael - 2009
    They're best friends through thick and thin until a practical joke leads Nate to a surprise revelation: If I had known just how thoroughly it would turn my world upside down, I would never have kissed Andy in that damned banquet room. I would have kissed him a hell of a lot sooner. Part of the Dreamspinner Press 'To Have and To Hold' daily romance series

Uninvited Guest


Brian Lancaster - 2015
    First his grandmother dies, then he hits the worst traffic of his life on the way home from her funeral, keeping him from friends in London—and possibly a much longed-for sighting of his ex. And finally the detour he thought would save him time ends with the electrics failing on his car, leaving Anton to trudge through heavy rain back to an old cottage he’d passed along the way, hoping to find help.What he finds instead is the mysterious Dr. Stephen Miller, a man fighting his own battles. Anton is invited inside to join the tail end of an all-male dinner party, but this is no chance encounter. What Anton thought was fate is actually a spirit at work making sure he ends up at the cottage—and stays there until unfinished business is resolved for both Anton and Stephen.

The Difference Between


Blake Moreno - 2017
    After a year of passion and happiness, they’re buying a home and moving in together. Everything is rosy for them—until a jealous and insane ex from Wade’s past puts all of that to the test. "I need to figure out if there’s a way to move past this. For both of us.” After being kidnapped and tortured by his deranged former lover, Wade loses his ability to engage with his own sexuality or with Russ. With the help of a psychologist, EMDR therapy, and a sex plan, they work together to overcome the damage inflicted. In the process, they discover wells of love they’ve never known before. “You never deserved what happened to you. No matter what you’ve told yourself. You only deserved love.” As passion is reborn and their sex life reignited, Wade realizes a need to re-experience certain events in Russ’s loving arms. For Wade, the difference between pain and pleasure is love, and the difference between rape and rough sex is consent. Dark, and yet ultimately hopeful, this story of true love and rape recovery contains many emotional and graphic scenes of two men making love, as well as some intense scenes of torture. Proceed with care. The Difference Between is a 78,000 word steamy, graphic, intensely emotional novel with a strong happy ending. No cheating and no cliffhangers, just two men who fight for their love. STAND-ALONE

Tied


E. Davies - 2015
    Billionaire CEO Geoff discovers and fulfills Ryan's desires, but it's obvious they crave more than physical connection. He lets Geoff “punish” him as they try to scratch the itch for each other without admitting to their feelings. After Ryan becomes Geoff's new personal assistant, he decides to give Geoff an ultimatum... but first, he gets an opportunity he can't turn down. Self-made billionaire Geoff Parker never dreamed that he'd find that special someone in one of his employees. He has wounds to hide and a reputation to maintain, but he's desperate to know if Ryan feels the same pull towards him. He's happy to have Ryan over his knee, but even his staff see that he's happier even when Ryan's nearby. It's worth the risk; he gives Ryan the chance after a hot encounter to take their relationship from professional and physical to deeply personal. Their first steamy explorations give way to their growing passion, but a man Ryan suspects is Geoff's ex and the eyes of the office stand in their way. Can they forge through the rocky terrain between hookup and happily dating, or will scandal and fear hold them back from their potential? Tied is the first book in the Secret Love duo. The second book, Bound, will be released on July 17th, 2015.

What We Do Is Secret


Thorn Kief Hillsbery - 2005
    And now it’s like I’m different, but with a vengeance.” It’s been months since the suicide of Darby Crash, L.A. punk rock icon and lead singer of the Germs. He checked out on the same day John Lennon was shot: December 8, 1980. But for Rockets Redglare, it feels like yesterday. Darby was the hot-as-sun center of Rockets’s world. Part ringleader, part god, and all charismatic manipulator, Darby was as close to family as a hustler and street kid like Rockets might ever get.Now, as Rockets amps up for another night looking for tricks and scrounging a meal, Sex Pistols and X lyrics on repeat in his head, he knows he’s come to a turning point–the scene is changing, and nothing’s as easy as it was when Darby brought him into the fold. From the underground clubs to the back of the giant “H” in the Hollywood sign, Rockets and his crew of friends spend the night burning bridges, building new ones, tripping and talking and searching for answers. As the dark gives way to early morning, the punks and the cops engage in their ritual standoff–and Rockets faces the ultimate choice: Should he stay or should he go?

Firewall


Sierra Riley - 2016
    His skills as a network penetrator are renowned, but in meatspace he's seen as cold and awkward. His Asperger's makes it hard to be a team player and in a cutthroat industry, enemies abound. Justin is framed for a massive security breach and soon it's not just his job on the line; his very life is in danger."If I can't keep you safe, what good am I?"Bodyguard Calder Lesley takes pride in his career protecting others. In contrast to his geeky hotshot best friend, Calder uses body language and psychology to excel at his job. He only ignores his instincts when it comes to Justin. Even though their friendship has been long distance for eight years, Justin's feelings for him are obvious. Calder's afraid of nothing... except losing a friend to pursue a new kind of love."We're both in danger unless we act now."When a rival hacker threatens Justin's career, he's going to need the help of the person he trusts most, but Calder can't protect him from a distance. Forced into Calder's orbit for protection, the sparks begin to fly as Justin's career falls apart. Opposites might attract, but can they last?Firewall is a steamy, standalone gay romance novel with a HEA and no cliffhangers.

David's Dilemma


Lynn Lorenz - 2009
    He loses his life. His father has Alzheimer's and each day is a struggle for both of them. His father's blunt, bigoted attitudes about David's lifestyle, friends and neighbors pushes David out of his circle of support and into a world of loneliness, repeated conversations, and the fear that his father will wander off or burn down the house while David's at work. With David's life in turmoil, now is not the right time to meet a man. And definitely not the time to try to have a romantic relationship. But when his father does wander off, David turns to the local police for help, and he meets Detective Travis Hart. Travis's life is not much better. Just coming off a nasty break up with his much younger lover, Travis struggles with his attraction to David. A rebound romance is not what Travis is looking for; he wants commitment and forever. Both men realize what they really need at this point in their lives is not a lover, but a best friend. Through phone calls, they begin a friendship and share the moments in their days, David's coping with his father and Travis's struggle with his job as a cop. But as their friendship and attraction turns into the love, David's father spirals deeper into a disease that robs him of memory and replaces it with fear and delusions, until the situation becomes something that neither David or Travis ever expected... Genres: Gay / Contemporary

Falling into Love


S.C. Wynne - 2014
    He's lost his job and his boyfriend and is feeling depressed. His best friend Jenny tells him about an ad she's noticed where The Muddy Mountain Ski Resort is looking for waiters. Chris has restaurant experience and since his New Years Resolution is to learn to ski it seems like a nice opportunity to jump start his life.Trevor Brown is a ski instructor at the resort. He befriends Chris right away and the have undeniable chemistry. But Trevor has guilt over the death of his lover, Lane two years earlier. Can the two of them learn to trust each other and move forward and forget the past?

That One Kid Who Freaked Out, Or Whatever


A.J.J. Bourque - 2016
    But all is not lost. Helping Nick remember how to breathe and navigate the choppy waters of dating, surviving senior year, and even learning how to drive are fouled-mouthed lady-in-disguise, Carmen; always-sweaty yet fiercely loyal Connor; and, of course, the guiding hand of Sydney Walker, Nick’s longtime crush and first ever boyfriend. Yet when Nick starts having increasingly petrifying panic attacks, he soon realizes the vast difference between admiring someone from afar and falling under the pressures of their influence.

When I Saw You


Alicia Nordwell - 2013
    Can you?Photo Description: He stands there, sleek, muscles rounded with that perfect, pale ass shining like a beacon, rubbing his hands together. I love his tan, taut body but especially those curves that can’t be hidden. Not when he’s wearing shorts or pants and certainly not when he’s wearing that tiny Speedo. Best of all is when he’s not wearing anything at all, and he’s eager for everything I plan to do to him.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love Has No Boundaries" event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

My Busboy


John Inman - 2016
    His writing career is on the skids. His love life is nonexistent. A stalker is driving him crazy. And his cat is a pain in the ass.Then Robert orders a chimichanga platter at a neighborhood restaurant, and his life changes—just like that.Dario Martinez isn’t having such a great existence either. He needs money for college. His shoes are falling apart. His boyfriend’s a dick. And he has a crap job as a busboy.Then a stranger orders a chimichanga platter, and suddenly life isn’t quite as depressing. But it’s the book in the busboy’s back pocket that really gets the ball rolling. For both our heroes. That and the black eye and the forgotten bowl of guacamole. Who knew true love could be so easily ignited or that the flames would spread so quickly?But when Robert’s stalker gets dangerous, our two heroes find a lot more to occupy their time than falling in love. Staying alive might become the new game plan.

Ace in the Hole


Ava Drake - 2016
    A huge one. The US senator he works for has run away with his latest mistress on the eve of a make-or-break fund-raising event, and it’s up to him to cover his boss’s irresponsible tracks.Stone Jackson, the senator’s new bodyguard, looks enough like the senator that, with some extensive grooming, he might pass for Senator Lacey. Christian and Stone hatch a plan to fool everyone by substituting Stone for the senator, but Miami madness and the incendiary heat between them are throwing obstacles in their way. It’s a race to find the senator and pull off the con of the century before the attraction between them spins completely out of control.

Ripped


Van Barrett - 2016
    But can it bring two unlikely lovers together? Heading into his ten year high school reunion, Erik Severyn knows he should be proud -- after all, the former valedictorian has lived up to lofty expectations. So why does he still feel like something's missing? Leave it to his old rival, Hunter Cole, to zero in on his weakness. Cole, a bright but rebellious mind, might as well be the patron saint of wasted potential. Too damn handsome for his own good, Cole left a grim trail of broken hearts in his wake -- girls' hearts, mind you, 'cause Cole never went for boys. Just one more reason to be disappointed in the rock-hard stud. Erik is sure the bad-boy has an ulterior motive -- if only he could figure it out. Amid the testosterone-fueled tension, the two boys sneak off together to drink and argue and reminisce about all the times they spent at other's throats ... until the night abruptly ends with an ill-fated kiss. Could Cole actually be curious? Or is Erik falling for a straight boy that thinks with his crotch and can't keep his head out of trouble? Hunter Cole's devastating good looks and don't-give-a-damn demeanor had hearts throbbing in high school. But high school's just another bad memory now. And while everyone else moved on with their lives, Cole kept stumbling backwards ... until he fell into the seedy underworld of crime. At least, that's what you'd think if you believed the gossip. But no one ever bothered to get to know the real Hunter Cole. The man so obsessed with the truth, he'd lurk in the shadows and bear the brunt of everyone's disappointment like a badge of honor. Cole knows he sticks out at the reunion like a sore thumb. But he manages to get Erik alone, just like he'd planned. But what happens next -- when alcohol flows and inhibitions flee -- surprises him. Troubles him, even. All Cole knows is that he has to get closer to Erik. No matter what. Can Cole set aside his confusion, his feelings, and focus on his mysterious one-man mission? *** Ripped is a 55,000 word dark romance with crime thriller and suspense elements! Stand-alone novel with a HEA, no cliffhangers.