Book picks similar to
A Personal Statement by Ansley Vaughan


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Raising Seth


Eden Cole - 2011
    Seth is angry, rude, and just not what Cray wants to deal with right now. His software business is just taking off, and he needs to spend all of his time working. But when the two feel an undeniable attraction for one another, Cray can't ignore the pull Seth has on him. He's never wanted another man like he wants Seth, never even considered being gay, but he can't deny how his body comes alive every time Seth gets close.Seth is angry with the world, pissed at his dad, pissed at Suzie who was nice enough to take him in even though she's not his mother and she's not married to his father anymore. But she too dumped him on a man he doesn't know. What's worse is he can't stop looking at Seth, can't stop wanting him. He's young, but he's had plenty of sexual experience with women. Men never even entered the picture. One accidental kiss is all it takes to make him rethink what he desires most.The two men are stuck in the house together, alone. How can the inevitable not happen? But Cray's not ready to jeopardize what he's gained after growing up in a foster home. When the time comes for Seth to leave, will Cray ask him to stay and risk it all by revealing their little secret?

There Was a Time


Frank White - 2017
    A Lincolnshire village on a glorious summer's morning in 1940, the countryside as still as a painting. In the blue sky above, the fate of the whole war will soon rest with the RAF and their desperate effort to win the Battle of Britain. If they fail, Hitler's next step will be invasion. And as the scene comes to life before us over the next six months, this shadow of war will not disappear - the conflict will take husbands and sons away, bring in evacuees from the city and soldiers to defend the coast. There will be more money from war work, but less to spend it on - legitimately at least. Everywhere, the feeling of change is in the air. From the pub to the church, the humblest cottage to the biggest farm, from a struggling single mother to the lady of the manor, the paper boy to a traumatised bomb disposal volunteer, this superb jewel of a novel portrays a community of people and weaves together their stories with passion, betrayal, intrigue and suspense.

Chasing Death Metal Dreams


Kaje Harper - 2015
    He writes original songs, plays lead guitar, and wears his death metal front-man persona like armor. With an excellent drummer and a talented bassist, his band, KnifeSwitch, has what it takes to succeed, if they can just catch a break. But it’s been a long road already, and there’s still a mountain left to climb. Carlos isn’t looking for anything more in his personal life than an occasional hook-up with a hot guy, preferably outside the less-than-gay-friendly metal scene.Nate Goldstein has no intention of dating a musician. His twin brother fronts a band, and he knows band guys are all busy, broke, and obsessed with their music. But Carlos catches his artist’s eye. Nate is wary - he has a history of picking the wrong guys. Still, he might be willing to break some personal rules to find out what’s behind Carlos’s dark gaze and imaginative lyrics.Getting together the first time is easy and fun. The second time is more complicated. And when music, ambition, and personalities clash, the guys will have to decide if they have a future worth fighting for.This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group's "Love is an Open Road" 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. Dear Author,I was sent to the US at the age of 10 by my father who could not accept me. You see I was misgendered at birth and I started fighting against my body at a young age. My father sent me to live with my cousin’s family along with enough money to pay my way for a few years. Little does he know he helped to fund the many surgeries and hormones to fulfill my dream of having my outside gender match the gender my brain has always known myself to be.What do you think Author? Not many know of his secret. He is a gay man. Is he in a gang? Is he in a band? How will he find love? How will he be accepted?Photo Description: A young bare-chested man stands staring boldly outward from below his raised arms, hands pressed together in his black hair, elbows winged out, colorful dagger tattoos on his forearms. Another tattoo near his neck forms swirl of dark curves with “Boy” over his left collarbone. His biceps are strong, his stomach and pecs flat, his nipples small, above a thin treasure trail leading downward. Below each nipple is the unmistakable, long-healed scar of top surgery.This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

Loose Cannon


Sidney Bell - 2017
    In need of a place to crash, he's leaning on Miller Quinn. A patient, solidly masculine pillar of strength and support, Miller has always been there for him—except in the one way Church has wanted the most.With his staunchly conservative upbringing, Miller has been playing it straight his whole life. Now with Church so close again, it's getting harder to keep his denial intact. As they fumble their way back to friendship after so many years apart, Miller struggles to find the courage to accept who he really is. What he has with Church could be more than desire—it could be love. But it could also mean trouble.Church's criminal connections are closing in on the both of them, and more than their hearts are at risk. This time, their very lives are on the line.

The Salisbury Key


Harper Fox - 2011
    The answer the elusive key for which Jason was desperately searching lies somewhere on a dangerous and deadly section of Salisbury Plain.The only way to gain access, though, is to allow an army explosives expert to help him navigate the bomb-riddled military zone. A man he met once more than three years ago, who is even more serious and enigmatic than before.Lieutenant Rayne has better things to do than risk his life protecting a scientist on an apparent suicide mission. Like get back to Iraq and prove he will never again miss another roadside bomb. Yet as he helps Dan uncover the truth, an attraction neither man is in the mood for springs up against their will. And stirs up the nervous attention of powerfully placed people military and academic alike.First in conflict, then in passion, Rayne and Dan are drawn together in a relationship as rocky and complicated as the ancient land they search. Where every step leads them closer to a terrible legacy written in death Warning: Contains bombs, archaeology and explicit M/M sex, not necessarily in that order."

New Beginnings


Kyle Adams - 2014
    An amazing life, a nice house he shares with Tyson, his boyfriend of eight years. Urban learns the hard way that life is full of unexpected surprises and people aren’t always as happy as he thinks. Unexpectedly single and heartbroken, Urban knows he can only take it one day at a time. A daunting endeavor while he still shares a house with the man responsible for shattering his heart.Before Urban can even begin grieving, let alone moving on, Tyson makes a shocking revelation that spins his world around for an extra loop. Can this new surprise show Urban that life isn’t about endings but about making memories and sharing limitless new beginnings?

The Perfect Cover


Claire Thompson - 2007
    Eager for what he sees as an easy job in an exotic locale, Ryan fails to mention he’s straight.As a year-round employee on the island, Sean dreads the peak season when horny young studs looking for casual sex or hoping to land a sugar daddy are hired to round out the staff. But when Ryan is assigned as Sean’s roommate, all those thoughts drop away as Sean falls head over heels for the man, completely unaware Ryan considers himself straight.Friendship blossoms, leading to curiosity and affection, then to confusion and pain. Both Ryan and Sean face tough questions as they confront passions and fears against the backdrop of a lush tropical paradise.

Chulito


Charles Rice-González - 2010
    Chulito, which means "cutie," is one of the boys, and everyone in his neighborhood has seen him grow up—the owner of the local bodega, the Lees from the Chinese restaurant, his buddies from the corner, and all of his neighbors and friends, including Carlos, who was Chulito's best friend until they hit puberty and people started calling Carlos a pato . . . a faggot.Chulito rejects Carlos, buries his feelings for him, and becomes best friends with Kamikaze, a local drug dealer. When Carlos comes home from his first year away at college and they share a secret kiss, Chulito's worlds collide as his ideas of being a man, being macho, and being in love are challenged. Vivid, sexy, funny, heartbreaking, and fearless, this brilliant work is destined to become a queer classic.

A Love Story


Peter Styles - 2015
    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.

Kissing the Best Man


Elaine Ashford - 2016
    Now he's getting married, and Seth wants to make amends with the brother he hasn't spoken to since then. Turning up unexpectedly on the doorstep of your estranged, gay brother isn't the greatest plan in the world, but Seth's determined not to let their years of separation make him miss his brother's wedding. He's not expecting to get swept up in wedding planning immediately, like they've never been apart. Kent's just trying to write a best man speech for his best friend's wedding. But he can't seem to stay on track when he's talking to his best friend's younger brother, no matter how hard he tries. When Seth finds himself falling, what can Kent do but catch him? As the wedding looms closer, so does the spectre of the home Seth's been trying to escape. Will he have to give up Kent to please his parents, or can he keep this man who's come to mean so much to him? ***Kissing the Best Man is a 34k word Gay Contemporary Romance with a HEA and no cliffhangers or infidelity.***

A New Normal


Carol Lynne - 2012
    He thought getting away from New York for a few days would be good for him, but he didn’t expect to see the first person he’d ever fallen in love with.Jake Pierson gave his heart to Charlie when he was barely fifteen years old. As best friends, Jake believed he and Charlie would be together forever, but when Charlie took the easier path in life, Jake was left to deal with a future without the man he loved.Jake knew tricking Charlie into performing at a conference he’d helped organise was low-handed, but he had a promise to keep and a future to build.Reader Advisory: This story has been previously released as part of the Unconventional At Best anthology by Total-E-Bound

Be My Best Man


Con Riley - 2017
    At least visiting the Bond Street store where his roommate works lets him practice his English, but as Vanya's vocabulary expands, so does his isolation, especially when he sees happy couples planning their perfect weddings. According to Jason Balfour, weddings are a waste of time and money. After all, he’s been best man for his brother twice already. Saying that a third marriage will end in divorce too leads to an angry ultimatum: to save his relationship with his brother, Jason must meet his fiancée, at last, and make a good first impression. Jason’s need to dress to impress brings him and Vanya together. Language is no barrier to falling in love with the young and fragile Russian, and neither is their age difference. But Vanya’s bruised soul carries secrets that could rip them apart. As the wedding draws near, Vanya must confess, and soon, or risk losing Jason—his own best man in Britain.

Heart's Truth


Tamsin Baker - 2013
    He wants someone to love and knows the right man will turn up when he least expects it. That moment arrives at his friend’s party. He sees Danny for only a moment, yet his interest is piqued. What could be more irresistible than a blue-eyed beauty who is completely untouched?Danny knows he doesn’t find women attractive, but how is he going to find out if he’s gay? His sister’s party answers his prayers and the most gorgeous guy he has ever seen asks him out. But can their love survive when Marcus wants more than a closeted partner and Danny wants nothing more than to hide forever?http://steamereads.com.au/product/hea...

Loving Joshua


Grein Murray - 2015
    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.

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.