Originally published to critical acclaim in 1995, The Rain Ascends has been revisited by the author, with substantive additions to the end of the narrative that bring to fruition the heroine's struggle for forgiveness and redemption.As a middle-aged mother, Millicent is confronted with the secrets of her father's past as she recalls certain events in her childhood-a childhood that, on the surface, was a blissful one. Disbelief turns to confusion as she faces up to the sins of her father and wrestles with a legacy of lies, silence and her own embattled conscience.In The Rain Ascends, Joy Kogawa beautifully sifts the truth from the past and the sinner from the perceived saint. The result is a sensitive, poetic, yet searing depiction of the wounds left by abuse and the redemption brought by truth.

    One day he rides his bike home after school, finds his mother in the kitchen making dinner, and speaks aloud the secret he's been keeping for a year, "Jerry Houseman's been touching me." Robbie has been molested and the Young family will never be the same. From that moment on, the novel unfolds with inexorable power. The story is narrated in four parts: first by Robbie's mother, then by Jerry Houseman himself, then by Houseman's wife Linda, and concluded by Robbie himself fifteen years later, when he has returned to town for a high school reunion. Each voice is remarkably persuasive and utterly convincing, and the result is a novel that is impossible to put down as it is impossible to forget.

    yet. He's just a lowly paralegal on an unexpected flight to Wyoming. Oil has been discovered in the wild, beautiful country out near the Bighorns, and Elliot's bosses desperately need him to close the billion-dollar deal on its sale—a task that should be as simple as collecting a signature. Or it would be if it weren’t for Jared Carter, the stubborn, ruggedly handsome cowboy who refuses to sign away his land. Tensions run high as Elliot tries to convince Jared to sell. The rancher is more than his ultra-masculine exterior led Elliot to believe at first glance, sensitive and beautiful in the most unexpected of ways—and undeniably attracted to Elliot. Elliot struggles to ignore the building heat between them, the strange pull that keeps drawing them together despite mounting pressures. When they give in to their deepest temptations and embark on a passionate, physical affair, will oil and money drive them apart?

    He's out of work, he's been through a breakup, and now his friends are kicking him out of the house. Little does he expect how much his life will change when he answers an ad in the newspaper for a position as a caretaker to a cantankerous, neurotic writer. This book contains sexually explicit content not suited for those under the age of 18. The book is approximately 35,000 words, has a happy ending and does not end in a cliffhanger. There is a free bonus chapter that can be obtained at the end of the book. However, the bonus chapter is not required to finish the book.

    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.

    Plagued by anxiety attacks and an abhorrence to being touched, Trevor rebuffs his best friend’s attempts to set him up. He has no desire for any type of relationship; until the local golden boy strolls into his line of sight at the neighborhood dive…Logan Andrews just wants to take care of his mama. After years of serving his country in the Army Special Forces, Logan resigns when he learns his mother is suffering from advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease. A night out with old friends turns heated when the newest deputy in town catches his attention…When a sexually deviant killer sets his sights on the gay men in the area, Trevor is assigned the case. In a wicked twist, all evidence points to Logan. Can Trevor’s past be repeating itself? In a race against a killer, Trevor struggles to overcome his own insecurities and clear the man whose touch sets him on fire. Will he succeed or will their budding relationship become Collateral Damage?

    For most of them, the torment they received at those schools and at the hands of their own families was enough to make living on the street seem like a better proposition. Enter Camp Pride and its devoted staff of volunteers and backers. For college students Kory Maguire and Will Cooper, the camp was a way for them to help abandoned and confused gay kids find their way in life. And it didn't hurt that the incredible hunks - ex-Navy SEALs Jacob Steele and Seth Ralston - were working there, too. Straight Kory ran into Jacob in Seattle several times and found himself having lots of definitely un-straight thoughts about him. Will had been abused by his ex-boyfriend and was skittish of all men now - especially if they were twice his size, like Seth. Werewolves Jacob and Seth have found their mates in Kory and Will. But have the fates gotten it wrong? What if Kory can't commit to a relationship with a man? Is Will too skittish to trust and give himself to someone so much more powerful than he? And can everyone put their own problems aside so that the campers can feel safe and find strength in being loved? INTO THE LYONS DEN: FBI Special Agent Devin Lyons and Russian mob boss/FBI ally Andrei Panchenko have been at each others' throats for years. Literally. They've had their hands around the other's throat lots of times. When Andrei barely escapes a bold attempt on his life, government big shot James Jacobs decides to put Devin in charge of Andrei's safety. After all, who better to keep the Russian alive than the man who wants to do the killing himself? Andrei Panchenko knows two things as fact: Devin Lyons hates him. And the FBI agent is the sexiest man he's ever seen. Forced into cohabitation, Andrei tries to figure out why the agent wants him dead. He has been nothing but honest in owning up to his crimes and kills only the vilest men who manage to escape justice. But still Lyons (who has his own violent record) treats him with contempt. In the meantime, Andrei notices a touching side to the man that he's never seen before. And THAT scares him more than any gun. Devin Lyons hates Andrei Panchenko. It's one of the things in his life that he can count on. Until he's forced to spend time with the ridiculously beautiful and sexy man. Seeing the "real" Andrei turns Devin's world upside down until he's not sure whether he wants to kill Andrei or make love to him. A common enemy of both men is determined that neither will have the chance to do anything except die. When a life-changing secret is revealed, will the resulting fallout bring the two men together or separate them forever? THE NIK OF TIME: Colin Greystone has loved one man since he understood what love was: Nikolai Markov. But Nikolai is too young and Colin makes himself stay away. By the time he decides to declare his feelings, Nikolai has earned quite the reputation as a playboy and a badass. Colin spends years trying to forget the younger man, only to have his world flipped upside down when Nikolai Markov barrels back into his life. Colin is in danger and his fathers have asked Nik to protect him. Colin is less than thrilled to be forced into spending so much time --in such close contact -- with the man he swore he'd stopped loving. At 20 years old, Nikolai Markov is well known as a hired gun with a hot body. But now he only wants one thing : For Colin Greystone to give him a chance. Thrust into Colin's college life -- and dorm room -- Nikolai unloads his charms on a resistant and unbending Colin. When the two of them are in harm's way, Nikolai will kill anyone who threatens his man. His other mission? Making Colin fall for him.THE LITTLEST ASSASSIN SHIFTERS: It's baby time! The men of the Skull Blaster unit have spent most of their lives fighting together for a safer world, first in the military and now as an elite team supervised by Homeland Security. Now they have an even more pressing reason to make the world a better place.Their children are about to be born.Mateo Esposito grew up in foster homes, alone and cynical, grateful for the day he could be on his own. When fate upset his ordered life with innocent Riley Flynn, he didn't stand a chance against love. Now the soulmates are expecting two bundles of joy.Sam Waters found new life when he married Dakota Cadotte, the man with eyes like stars. Unaware Dakota was a werewolf when they met, Sam has now embraced the life he's been given with the man he loves. They also are expecting a baby any day now.When the time comes, the babies enter the world with a roar! Tears and hugs are shared, and life's road takes a definite twist as secrets and surprises are revealed. But chaos is nothing new for these men, is it?

    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?

    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.

    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.

    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.

    When things seem dire, a man comes into their lives and offers them a deal they can’t pass up. Gay porn was something Joshua had never even thought of doing, but he knows he has to take care of Max. Joshua fears having sex with Max will complicate their best friend status. With no other options they accept the offer. Joshua and Max’s videos are some of the top sellers at the site and while Joshua enjoys sex with Max his feelings become more confusing as the man that hired them has a pull on Joshua that he’s never felt before. Joshua knows one thing, he can’t lose Max.

    Living in the awesome gay candy store called South Beach, Brian Cohen laments his inability to score a great job or a sexy boyfriend--until he lands at the website GayLife.com, where his hunky boss may want more from him than just his management skills.

    Becoming a rock star with his band Shattered Glass was a dream come true. Finally lovers with Liam, the friend he’d desired since childhood, Milo worries about his image and keeping their relationship a secret.Liam knew he loved Milo, even as a kid. But their fame and fortune can’t buy him the happiness of talking Milo out of the closet, able to freely express their love. Unfortunately, a fellow band-mate with vengeance on his mind conspires to break the lovers up in the most vicious way possible, destroying the couple’s relationship and shredding Liam’s peace of mind.Six years later, Liam is older, wiser, and has rebuilt his life after the devastating loss of Milo and the band. Forced into a tenuous working reunion, Liam knows his heart still belongs to Milo. Working together to uncover the web of lies that pulled them apart, now all they have to do is survive the psychopath intent on silencing Liam and his music forever.Contains hot rock star manlove, mysterious motives, and a brotherhood of friends strong enough to forgive.Content Warning: Graphic language, violence, sensual and explicit scenes of m/m sexuality including oral sex, anal sex/play, sex toys, forced seduction.

    After all, he's happy with just his sweet greyhound Bella for company. But when a stray dog attacks his faithful companion, all Ollie can think about is getting her help when he rushes to Lane Estates Animal Clinic. The last thing on his mind is the thought of meeting the man who can save his dog and his heart.A warm heart and an open door...After a series of failed relationships, veterinarian Harry Knowles has nearly given up on finding his soulmate. When Ollie runs into his clinic with a severely injured greyhound, Harry can't resist the aloof, tattooed man. After hiring Ollie to redo his clinic's logo, he discovers that he's falling for the lonely designer.Helping each other blossom...The only problem is that, despite their sizzling chemistry, Ollie doesn't seem to know that he's gay. Can Harry help him figure it out before he walks out of the clinic—and his life—for good? And will Bella and Harry's Shih Tzu mix, Betsy, ever get along?Head Over Paws is a steamy gay romance novel with a HEA and no cliffhangers.