Book picks similar to
The Tenth Muse by Belinda McBride
m-m
romance
fantasy
mm
Black Sheep
Kay Simone - 2019
After relapses, detoxes, and even jail time, Otto found the stability and sobriety he was looking for halfway across the country with a new identity.But when Otto gets word that his father is terminally ill and his mother and brother are struggling to keep the family inn afloat, he knows that it’s time to swallow his pride and go home.Even if he hasn’t talked to his family in almost two decades. *** When Cheshire-native Reese left his foster family to find his passion in New York City, he imagined he was saying goodbye to Cheshire forever. But Reese was never cut out for New York. The city chewed him up and spat him out, and Reese was forced to return home where his best friend still resented Reese for leaving.
“You left me just like Otto. Everyone leaves...”
Now it’s been two years since he’s been back, and Reese runs Cheshire’s only general store. He’s painstakingly mended his friendship with his best friend, and even after the recent death of his foster father, Reese almost feels like part of a family again. Reese feels like he’s finally got his life under control. Then his best friend’s brother walks into Reese’s bar. *** Nineteen years ago, Reese and Otto were as good as brothers. But now, they have more catching up to do than either of them realized. After a chance encounter in which neither man recognizes the other, the two must navigate the wreckage of a struggling family, a brother who can’t forgive, and the reality of life in an isolated town in the mountains.
Black Sheep is the first book in the three-book series, My Best Friend’s Brother. It has a happy-for-now ending, but is NOT self-contained. This slow burn starts out with a bang and delivers content meant for adult audiences. Black Sheep contains frank discussions about drug use and recovery.
Measure of Devotion
C. Faron - 2012
Leaving behind his father's cattle ranch in favor of the posh, gaslit streets of Perdana, Jason is determined to climb the social ladder and forget his country roots. If only his father had gifted him with a more upscale slave.Kale's been a country slave his whole life. All he wants is to keep his head down and live as comfortable an existence as possible. Unfortunately, his dramatic master despises him and makes life difficult at every turn.Humbled by his first breakup, Jason grows to appreciate his ever-faithful slave and soon discovers that Kale is everything he's ever wanted. Now he needs to prove to Kale that his love is genuine.Kale, meanwhile, tries to convince himself that he simply feels the devotion of a slave to his master, but his actions prove what his mind is unwilling to accept: he's falling in love. When Jason's future happiness is in jeopardy, Kale sets himself on a course to make Jason's dreams come true, even if it means facing up to the fact that, for the first time in his life, he loves someone else more than he loves himself.Measure of Devotion is a bittersweet love story set in an alternate world and contains sexual content and adult language.
All Hallows' Eve
Annabelle Jacobs - 2016
Forever connected to a dark history, the house he grew up in remained in the Ashworth family for generations until his estranged father sold it. On a mission to check out the new owners, Dominic runs into Caleb Jones and gives the gorgeous man his phone number—but getting a date should be the last thing on Dominic’s agenda.Caleb and his best friend, Zach Briceworth, are oblivious to the heartache and magic tied to the foundations of their new home. When strange things start to happen, the truth emerges and surprises them both, especially as everything revolves around Caleb’s new love interest.After a shaky start, Caleb and Dominic settle into an easy relationship, falling faster than either of them expected. But with Halloween approaching, the possibility of danger increases. The past is not always as it seems, and the ripples of a tragic event threaten to put an end to everything between them.
Submerging Inferno
Brandon Witt - 2011
Disowned by his family for being gay, Brett builds both a life on his own terms and walls around his heart. But nothing can prepare him for the evil that stalks him in the night or from discovering the dark secrets of his heritage. The youngest of a doting family, Finn lives a sheltered life that allows him to trust easily and makes him quick to jump to the rescue. While using his knowledge of the supernatural world to help Brett uncover the truth of his ancestry, Finn learns neither his magical life nor falling in love is as simple and risk-free as he believed. New knowledge comes with a price—one that may prove too high for them to pay.
Finding His Eden
Mandy Greenwood - 2019
Maybe it wasn't the smartest idea to turn up at the bar, alone and without informing anyone, but Eden needed know who the man was. What he hadn't expected was the man who sat down next to him; devilishly handsome and claiming to be the richest man in Silverdale City, Alric Drayton. And that was only the beginning of the man's ludicrous claims that Eden was only too happy to dismiss, at first. Alric Drayton has waited twenty-five years for this night; the chance to finally reveal himself to Eden Haversham and make the man his. Two-thousand years of living might have taught Alric patience, but his was slowly wearing thin and now that he'd found his Eden Alric had no intention of letting him go.Except there's more to Alric's world than what is written in fairy tales.Non-omegaverse Mpreg Paranormal Romance. Approx 30k length
In Vogue
Lucia Laurent - 2016
Deeply involved in the magazine’s content and culture, Miles doesn’t have the time or the desire for a relationship.Alexander Mackenzie is a former model turned magazine editor who is just learning about the politics that exist at the intersection of high fashion and publishing. He’s always dreamt of turning Miles’ head and one night, at a glamorous party, his fantasy becomes reality. But Miles’ workaholic nature conflicts with Alexander’s belief that “there’s more to life than what’s printed on the pages of a magazine.”Despite their fundamental differences, Alexander can’t help but follow Miles back to New York, and once there it becomes clear their association could be addicting--and possibly life-changing.Set in a world where the beauty of art and the written word collide, Miles is confronted by a fundamental question: is someone ever worth slowing down for?
Uncommon Ground
Kelly Jensen - 2017
Every summer he’d take Dillon on a tour of New York City while entertaining him with tales of aliens. Fifteen years later, after a phone call from a lawyer, Dillon is carrying his grandfather’s ashes from landmark to landmark, paying a sort of tribute, and trying to figure out what to do with his unexpected legacy. When someone tries to steal the ashes, a guy Dillon has barely met leaps to the rescue, saving the urn and the day.Steilang Skovgaard is a reclusive billionaire—and not human. He’s been living in Manhattan for over twenty years, working on a long-term plan to establish a safe haven for his people. For seven years, his reports have gone unanswered, however, and he is the only surviving member of his interstellar team. The connection he forms with Dillon soon after meeting him is something he’s missed, something he craves.But after someone keeps trying to steal the ashes, it looks as though Dillon’s grandfather was involved in more than theories—and might not have been exactly who everyone thought he was. Steilang doesn’t know how close he can get to the truth without revealing himself, and Dillon is running out of people to trust. Can these two work out what’s going on before the thieves set their sights higher?
Wight Mischief
J.L. Merrow - 2011
But the trip turns into a rollercoaster ride as he meets author Marcus - and Marcus' mysterious guardian Leif.Journalist Baz is supposed to be researching a book on ghosts, yet he seems curiously interested in secrets lying in the reclusive Marcus' past. But these are secrets that someone's determined they should let lie - and if they're not careful, Will and Baz could end up adding to the Island's ghostly population...
Alpha Bound
Claire Cullen - 2017
So when he goes to confront a trespasser on his land, he's surprised to discover an Omega wolf covered in Wiccan symbols and barely clinging to life. He's even more shocked when he realizes this pitiful creature is his mate. Fionn, rejected by his first mate for failing to conceive a child, is barely tolerated by his family. After a local Coven curses him, he escapes death at the hands of his Pack and flees across the river. He wakes in the company of a gruff bear shifter who declares Fionn to be his mate despite the curse that's slowly killing him. As Thane cares for him, Fionn gradually begins to trust his intentions. When Thane comes up with a plan to save Fionn, with the help of another Coven, it leads them on a path neither had expected but that they seem fated to follow. But both Fionn and Thane are hiding secrets from one another, secrets that threaten the fragile relationship they've begun to build. Alpha Bound is 43,000-word paranormal romance with a happy ending and no major cliffhangers. It contains some language and scenes not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen. It contains mpreg.
Burn
T.J. Klune - 2012
Since then, he has hidden from forces bent on exploiting him and his fire and wind Elemental abilities. But Felix's world is about to change, because he is Findo Unum-the Split One-and his coming has been foretold for generations. Though Felix's arrival brings great joy to the Elemental world, it also heralds a coming darkness. No one knows this better than Seven.-Seven, the mysterious man who rescued Felix from that horrible fire years ago and then disappeared; Seven, who has returned to claim what's rightfully his: Felix's heart. But even as Felix begins to trust Seven and his feelings about his place in the world, the darkness reveals itself, bringing consequences no one could have predicted.
Queen Takes Knights
Joely Sue Burkhart - 2017
Two vampire knights sworn to protect her.It's about to get very hot... and bloody...Ever since her mother was murdered by monsters five years ago, Shara Isador has been on the run. Alone, scared, and exhausted, she's finally cornered in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Out of hope with nowhere else to turn, she's ready to end it all when two men come to her rescue.They say she's a lost queen descended from Isis, and they're her Blood, vampire knights sworn to protect her. It all seems like a crazy nightmare, until the alpha offers his blood. Then she realizes she's never wanted anything more. Except maybe his body... and his friend's, too.But they're not the only ones searching for a lost queen. Shara must learn how to wield her new powers quickly and conquer her fears if she intends to keep them all alive.This is a MMFFM+ polyam series and Shara will never be forced to choose just one. #whychoose
The Werewolf's Nymph Neighbor
Riley Rivers - 2018
Specifically, as a nymph, he loves the garden. And while he doesn't love the two curious and talkative kids next door at first, he's not so much of an unsociable hermit that he won't answer their questions. As for their father, well, Eric won't deny that he finds him incredibly attractive, and finding out that he's single only makes him more irresistible. But Eric's a nymph; sex is always on his mind. He's perfectly capable of ignoring his impulses.Single dad Leon is taken with his new neighbor at first glance. He's beautiful, ridiculously competent, and he smells fantastic which, for a werewolf, means a lot to Leon. The fact that he's good with Leon's kids, even when it's clear he doesn't know how to react to their affection, is what tips the balance from "curious" to "altogether too interested." He can't deny the pull he feels toward Eric, but he's willing to take things slow.When hunters threaten Leon's family, Eric steps in to help, and the aftermath of adrenaline leads him straight to Leon's bed. But while it makes Leon realize just how important Eric really is... Eric is convinced Leon could never want something more. Before either of them can deal with their own feelings, the hunters return; more dangerous, more determined, and this time Eric is a target too.Can Leon save his family? Can Eric allow himself to become a part of it?
To Summon Nightmares
J.K. Pendragon - 2014
But ever since he came out as trans, public opinion has been less than golden, and these days he wants nothing more than to escape the big city and find somewhere quiet to work on his next book.When he inherits an old house in the Irish countryside, Cohen sees it as a perfect opportunity to get away from it all. What he doesn’t count on is becoming embroiled in a paranormal murder mystery, and falling for the primary suspect, a handsome but mysterious self-proclaimed witch, whose reality makes Cohen’s fantasy books seem like child’s play…
Azaran
Jacki James - 2019
A member of the Brotherhood of Ormarr, son of Cadmar, and the eldest of four sons. I was raised to defend the innocent and protect the secret of the dragons, but when I was eighteen, my parents were brutally murdered and the training and care of my brothers fell to me. My entire adult life has been spent helping my brothers grow into the strong, brave dragon riders they were born to be. Now that the youngest of my brothers is close to adulthood, the last thing I need is someone else to worry about—someone else to be responsible for. If only the handsome doctor fate had chosen for my mate wasn’t so perfect for me. Toby~ AlI I ever wanted was to help people, that’s why I became a doctor, but I quickly learned that modern medicine was more about the all-mighty dollar and less about saving lives. It wasn’t long before I was doubting my life choices. A vacation to the ocean was supposed to leave me refreshed and ready to get back to work, but instead, I found myself pulled into a world I never knew existed. A world where dragons are real, men fight like medieval warriors, and my soulmate has his very own bat cave. Azaran thinks the last thing he needs is a mate to worry about. Good thing I don’t need anyone to take care of me. My sexy dragon rider, on the other hand, needs someone to take care of him, and I think I’m just the man to do it. Azaran is the first book in The Brotherhood of Ormarr series. While each book focuses on a different couple, the overall story arc continues in the next installment. For maximum enjoyment, we suggest reading in order. Azaran is a m/m romance, and is recommended for adults 18 years and older.
Psync
Zile Elliven - 2021
A source of comfort, companionship, and desire.For Eli, it's a source of terror.Branded by the trauma of his past, Eli is struggling in his freshman year of college. He might be afraid of just about everything, but in his heart of hearts, he's nobody's bitch.Yet it's at his lowest point, that he first hears it. HimThe voice.Wet feet, a frozen ass - this guy likes to complain, but why would Eli care about any of that, when he's got his own problems? The bigger question is what, or rather who, the voice is.Afraid it's a sign of his fragile psyche's demise, Eli is torn between hunting down the source to prove it's real, and ignoring it in case it isn't.His eventual quest will see him grappling with geese, battling burritos, and dodging deities - all in the search for his sanity.And maybe, just maybe, finding love.Psync is a steamy, 18+ 94,000 word MM romance with the following tropes: Fated mates, touch aversion turned to bliss when touching your mate, hurt/comfort, yandere main character, and meddling gods.Content warning: Trauma-related mental illness, mentions of past childhood trauma.