Book picks similar to
Waking up Dead by E.M. Leya


contemporary
tbr
male-male
m-m-read

Island Pleasures


Noah Harris - 2017
    He’d give anything to return to the safety of his conventional life. He spends the first moments of his isolation longing for the comforts of his one-bedroom apartment in Florida and the love of his severe, but well-meaning parents. Instead, life has other, much more seductive plans for the young Coast Guard pilot. As the weeks pass, Barry realizes he isn’t alone in this remote paradise. A mysterious stranger has been seeing to his most basic survival needs. Are his host’s attentions well-intentioned or does the alluring Xanathen see Barry as an unwelcome intruder? In this erotic gay romance, human desires are boiled down to their most primal and transformation is inescapable. A haunting tale of finding passion in unexpected places; not only does this novel deliver hot sex scenes, but when everything else is stripped away it appears that love becomes the only rule between two strangers stranded in paradise.

Bearing My Boss's Baby


Pernilla Oswick - 2017
     Claude never meant to admit he had a crush on his boss, let alone sleep with him at an office party! Everything seems to be going back to normal, right up until the pregnancy test shows positive. Kevin seems to want to forget anything ever happened, but that's impossible with a baby on the way. Followed by another... Moving into Kevin's penthouse seemed better than trying to bring up a baby in his tiny apartment, but Claude's going crazy being this close to the man of his dreams. Kevin seems like he's going to be the best dad ever, which is only making Claude's hopeless love worse. And then a third... The two of them seem to be getting closer and closer, but Claude doesn't know what it means? Can he stand having his heart rebroken every day? Or will he push their status quo to the breaking point and lose his chance to make this family a reality? ***Bearing My Boss's Baby is a 30K romance novella with mpreg, no cliffhangers and a HEA.***

Lich Hollow


Jessamyn Kingley - 2020
    Plucking inspiration from the D’Vaires, he corrals his family for a meeting to assign tasks: There are spooky decorations to design, eerie foods to bake, pumpkins to carve, and ghastly music must be selected.Determined to win a contest of their own invention, the sentinels will stop at nothing to create the best gathering. Although many of the Daray sentinels are reluctant to don a costume, the Arch Lich Chander decrees it a necessity. When the big day arrives, everyone—even the family dog—is in disguise.In the end, while ensuring a family bond for eternity might require a bit of magic, they are reminded that the only prerequisite to enjoying themselves is togetherness.

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.

The Manny: Gay Romance


Beau Brown - 2021
    He’s done his time and has worked hard to keep his nose clean ever since. He keeps out of other people’s business and he expects the same in return.When a family tragedy strikes, he’s forced to take in his late, estranged, sister’s five-year-old daughter. Jack doesn’t know the first thing about kids. He’s never even met his niece until now because she was raised in another state. His future plans didn’t include children, but now he’s stuck with a kid.For the first time in a long time, he has to ask for help. Even if he could connect with his grieving niece, Mia, he lacks the desire. However, whether he wants to be close to the child or not, he’s legally responsible for her safekeeping. Since he can’t emotionally give Mia what she needs, he decides to hire a professional.Thomas Andrews is a carefree soul who adores children and believes in helping others. He loves his job as a manny and is thrilled to help bring happiness to Mia’s world. What he doesn’t expect is to butt heads with Jack as often as he does. Jack’s cold hands-off approach to caring for Mia irks Thomas more than he can say.But Thomas being Thomas, he can’t hold his tongue, and his criticisms don’t go over well with his new employer. What really has Thomas mystified is why he cares so much what Jack thinks, or why he feels attracted to the surly man. He knows he should just collect his generous paycheck and keep his mouth shut.With someone as opinionated as Thomas, that’s easier said than done.

Swallowed in the Sea


K. Sterling - 2018
    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.

The Firebird and the Wolf (The Ostentation Book 2)


Harrison J. Phillips - 2021
    But then the old phrase 'seek and ye shall find' came true, but not in the way he expected. On a mission to rescue a kidnapped pup from traffickers, Vuk found his mate and was happy to take the little peacock home as well. Now that he found him, Vuk wasn't giving up on his mate even if some of his pack members found a peacock Alpha Mate a good reason to challenge him.Adrian had been thrown out of the ostentation for being unsuitable but regarded it as a gift. The only person he missed was the King's son, his best friend, but they had plans and he prayed they'd come true. He should've been praying for himself. No sooner was he free from the ostentation, Adrian was captured and given the stark choice of living in servitude, or dying painfully. Being rescued by his mate was more than he could ever hope for, even if it was five years later. But those five years had left their scars.Demons lurking, humans with a sick agenda, and a peacock who kept screaming about 'becoming' (whatever that meant) are just a few of the issues the pair have to face. When the Peacock King suddenly jumps into the mix and declares Adrian rogue, wanting him back at the ostentation to face punishment, Vuk is ready to pull on his fur and go hunting peacock. Can the peacock 'become'? Will love save the day?

Falling Back


Mercy Celeste - 2019
    With few options in his field, he returns to the diner he’d worked at as a teenager. Waiting tables again was like rubbing salt in an open wound. Resigned to his fate, Chase puts on a smile to greet his very first customer. Divorced, children’s book author, Gavin Hayes was looking for a quiet place to write. The corner table at the diner down the street had the best afternoon light. He could grab a bite to eat and work on his manuscript in peace while he tried to salvage what was left of his life. He never expected the friendly smile of the new blue-haired waiter to spark something inside him that had grown cold. While Chase has no plans to stay. Gavin has no plans to leave. Can love at first sight, bring them together?

Tearing Down His Omega Walls


Ava Beringer - 2020
    I just might kiss your infuriating mouth. All Alex Kugelschrieber wants is a safe, quiet bedroom free of germs. Is that too much to ask? Sure, Alex can be a little uptight. He knows he’s…intense. So is his desire for Beckett Bradley. Beckett drives him crazy. Alex doesn’t know if he should kiss him or douse him in lysol. Beckett Bradley’s a surfer dude with a knack for fixing wires. He’s happy and chill all the time—except when he’s around Alex. Beckett doesn’t know if he should claim Alex or give him a chill pill. All he knows is Alex won’t let him in, and is keeping a secret from him. What happens when the wall between their rooms comes down? Will the wall between their hearts come down, too? Will Alex solve the mystery of the killer medical corporation? Will oil and water finally mix? Will they finally see what’s been in front of them all along? This is the first book in The Omega Mansion series. I recommend reading the prequel. This book is about 58,000 words and has a HEA. 18+ readers only please! This book contains occasional strong language, MPREG, and hot, spicy grownup stuff. The omegas are heating up and the alphas are very knotty boys. Get a FREE short story when you join the newsletter family!

It's Always Been You


Max Hudson - 2020
    He spent more time at the Hayne’s household than he did his own. Which means it shouldn’t have been a surprise when he realized that he was gay. It had been Conner’s older brother, Owen, who starred in Benji’s fantasies. Benji thought he was doing a good job at keeping his crush a secret until one day Benji walks in on Owen in all his naked glory. He knew he should turn away, but Owen spots him. Things take a turn that Benji never expected. When the night ends, Owen makes Benji promise to never tell Connor. The next day Owen left for college. Owen knew it was a mistake, but he couldn’t help the way he felt for Benji. He’d always had a thing for his little brother’s best friend. However, he knew nothing could come of it. Connor loved Benji like a brother. If Owen broke his heart, he and Connor would never be the same. So he ran. Now, he’s back, and his feelings haven’t changed. He wants Benji Cole, and he’s not letting anyone or anything get in his way. Please Note: This book contains adult language and steamy adult activities, it is intended for 18+ Adults Only. Novel, approximately 30,000 words in length. HEA (happy ever after ending). Does not end with a "cliffhanger." Themes includes: Unrequited love, friends to lovers, college, first time, coming out of the closet.

The Alpha's Winged Omega


Lorelei M. Hart - 2018
    But the Native American tribe his birth mother left behind offers this lost teenager sanctuary in his ancestral lands. Unfortunately, as he reaches adulthood, an evil force casts a shadow over his people and he must for their safety leave. He becomes one more resident of Haven with secrets to keep. Falcon’s loss is of another kind. His alpha has died in a tragic accident, leaving him and their young alone. In a desperate attempt to give that young a good life, Falcon also travels to Haven where he receives the gift of another alpha. But his guilt for his part in the accident that stole Rage, his first alpha’s life casts a shadow of its own and leaves him unsure of his right to a future. Two shifters named after their birds of prey, both with painful pasts and secrets, who feel a bond unlike any other. A draw to one another, a desire to take to the skies together and soar. Maybe they can work through Falcon’s grief, but when Hawk’s people are once again in danger, he must choose. Will that choice destroy yet another life, this one with Falcon, his young, and another on the way? The Alpha’s Winged Omega is a super sweet with knotty heat mm mpreg shifter romance featuring a valiant hawk, an intense falcon, and their adorable chick. It takes place in the town of Haven as well as the deserts of Nevada and can be read as a standalone

Just Say Yes: The Vampire Fae of Acadia


B.A. Stretke - 2022
    In fact, he loves the Acadia National Park. What he can’t stand is Oren. Oren is the boyfriend of his best friend and the bane of his existence. As much as Michelle tries to force them to be friends, Oren is not someone Alden wants to spend any time with. So when he finds himself tricked into a hiking trip in Acadia with Oren, he knows he is not going to have a great time. When Oren fucks off and abandons him, that guess is proven correct. Alden finds himself lost in the dense woods and soon he has no idea where he is and his surroundings just get stranger and stranger...Tiernan Byrne is the First, the leader of the DeDanann tribe, a group of vampiric dark fae. He feels the disruption in the magics of his realm before he lays eyes on the beautiful human creature who has stumbled unknowingly into his world. Humans don’t come to the Fae realm, so he is mystified by Alden’s presence. Soon he realizes why fate has allowed this human to come here, he is Tirenan’s fated mate. The Dark Fae vampires of Tiernan’s tribe are wary of humans, and there are mysteries to this new world Alden doesn’t even know the first thing about. Can Tiernan convince Alden that he is safe and this is his rightful home? Will Alden say, yes?

Akasha Sanatorium


K.M. Neuhold - 2018
    We see ghosts. Well, I see ghosts, he only hears them. Our mother told me when I was young that I had a gift and that it was my duty to use that gift to help others. So that’s what I’ve done. I’ve dedicated my life to helping spirits find their way to the other side. But between meeting a really cute guy who happens to be a ghost, and heading to a haunted sanatorium for a week, I’m starting to think I may be in a little over my head. Something isn’t right at Akasha Sanatorium and for the first time, I’m actually kind of terrified. Leo~ Being able to hear ghosts sounds cool, but the reality of it is that there's constant whispers. Everywhere I go there are voices, and all I want is to have some peace and quiet. My brother has no idea that I've been haunted by a ghost every day for the last three years. He's always there, always talking, always following me around. He hides from Xander and drives me crazy. My brother convinced me to film some stupid paranormal investigations show. I hate it, but he loves it, so I go along with his harebrained plan. Of course, he picks a creepy sanatorium this time. And as expected, it’s awful... but at least while we're here, I can take advantage of the hot guy with the scar that I bump into. Unfortunately, everything here is so messed up, I'm not sure we're getting out of it alive. Akasha Sanatorium is book one in the Malachai Brothers: Beyond The Veil series and should be read in order. This is a paranormal series with a sprinkle of romance and a small number of explicit M/M scenes.

Triumph


Avery Ford - 2018
    In the ten years since he’s graduated, he’s opened a bookstore and made it his mission to bring diversity and inclusion to Silver Lake while working hard to maintain the small town charm that he loves so much. The only thing missing is someone to share his dreams - his once best friend, who left Calvin behind with a broken heart.   Jack Roberts has the life he’s always wanted. He left Silver Lake ten years ago for college in Boston and hasn’t looked back since. If it wasn’t for the occasional holiday trip to visit his parents, he’d happily forget all about that town and all the memories it holds, especially Calvin Berry, who despite trying, Jack’s never forgotten.   When Calvin and the other business owners in Silver Lake are on the verge of getting pushed out in favor of nameless corporations, Calvin knows he has to do something. He wants to turn Silver Lake around, and he needs as much help as he can get—even if that means asking for it from the man he used to call his best friend. Can Calvin and Jack get over the hurt from their past and take a second chance on each other? Will they be able to move forward and discover that despite the distance between them, their feelings for each other only grew stronger?

Timberwood Cove Books 6-10


Liam Kingsley - 2020
    And now my mission is to deliver his dog tags to his brother. Jahiah doesn’t seem anything like Jesse. He’s struggling to raise his son alone and hanging on by a thread. But there’s a core of steel to the man that I can’t resist. It feels wrong to fall so fast when we’re both supposed to be grieving, but when Jahiah’s in my arms, it couldn’t be more right.But Jahiah’s been on his own for so long that he doesn’t know how to lean on someone else. And he seems to think that an alpha like me couldn’t want an omega like him. I want to give him the world, but how can I protect my mate when he won’t ask for help?We will need to confront our entrenched issues if we’re ever going to survive as a family, but will a fated bond be enough to hold us together? Or will our invisible wounds destroy the foundations of the new life we’re trying to build?