Book picks similar to
Shafted by David Keane


lgbt
fiction
gay
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Bullied Boy


Daring Diane - 2018
    Self-image, body changes, and social changes chip away at individual’s self-confidence. Withdrawal and hiding can often seem like the easiest escape. You cannot escape from life. An excellent student, our hero is ripped from his friends and everything he knows when his father is moved across the country for his job. Intent on re-establishing the mother’s employment, the parents appear to withdraw from their high school student as he is dropped into a situation where he knows no one. Everyone experiences physical and emotional problems but our protagonist is ashamed of his body and won’t even talk to his parents who seem oblivious. Wearing baggy clothes, coats and hoods, it is easy to hide his body and isolate himself since he knows no one. Others assume he is overweight, shy or has acne problems. The strangely dressed student is a magnet for bullies and everyone else ignores him. Teachers might have gotten involved or pushed him to participate in class, but as an excellent student, grades are not an issue. Life evolves into a strategy to be left alone and survive another day. Because of this, attacks are not reported. An accident at school will expose our protagonist’s secrets to a classmate. How that classmate responds will change our protagonist’s life. There are still bullying and attacks, but with newfound confidence, our hero will deal with things differently. Can this quiet, isolated person evolve into an example and build real friendships while accepting life’s little hurdles? This series of books contain examples of high school life that help the reader to identify and deal with bullying behavior in a high school setting. The books in this series are intended to be safe reading for teens and tweens. Thank you for reading on Daring Diane Disclaimer This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Pennsylvania Station


Patrick E. Horrigan - 2018
    Frederick Bailey is a quiet, cultured, closeted architect reluctantly drawn into the effort to save Pennsylvania Station from being demolished. But when he meets Curt, a vibrant, immature gay activist more than half his age, he is overtaken by passions he hasn't felt in years, putting everything he cares about--his friends, his family, his career and reputation--at risk. As the elegant old train station is dismantled piece by piece to make way for the crass new Madison Square Garden sports arena, Frederick must undergo a reckoning he has dreaded all his life. Award-winning author Patrick E. Horrigan delves into the fractured psyches of mid-twentieth-century gay men, conjuring a picture of New York City and the nation on the brink of explosive cultural change.

Social Disease


Paul Rudnick - 1986
    . . . "Social Disease" . . . is really about the three major issues of our time: sex, hair, and the telephone" (Paul Rudnick, "New York Magazine").

Uncle Rudolf: A Novel


Paul Bailey - 2003
    Andre's father, in a desperate effort to save him from the coming holocaust, hands him over to his captivating uncle Rudolf, an internationally famous singer of popular operettas. Rudolf is a sublimely gifted lyric tenor, a dashing leading man who is the object of many women's affections-but also an artist who lives in the shadow of his own unachieved potential as an opera star. Rudolf takes the boy to back to London, renames him Andrew, turns all his attention and sardonic humor upon him, and gradually sculpts him into a gentleman.Vivid, often lighthearted scenes of Andrew's worldly life with Rudolf are intertwined with the unfolding secrets of his forgotten past as Andre, which have shadowed his otherwise happy life. Told in matchless prose, Uncle Rudolf captures in fine detail the mood of 1940s Europe--and reveals the emotions of a man whose achievement falls short of his brilliant promise. It is a wise, knowing, elegant story about the sacrifices we make for those we love.

A Much Anticipated Bride: Country Brides & Cowboy Boots (Lime Peak Ranch, #2)


Lucy McConnell - 2017
      Lime Peak Ranch is home to the Dumont and Ruggles families who raise cattle, train horses, and compete in PRCA rodeos. Life down the dirt road isn’t as perfect as it seems and secrets have roots deeper than the maple trees.   Ellie Dumont isn’t ready to face the music and return home to Lime Peak Ranch. She’s done the unthinkable and put a fence right down the middle of the family. To overcome her betrayal, the family will have to forgive thirty years’ of wrongs and look beyond her new last name. Dr. Robert Canton is falling in love with Olivia Dumont. After an electric kiss, he knows she’s aware of what’s happening between them. That’s why he has to tell her why he really came to the ranch. If Olivia understands, then they have a future together. If not, then he’ll have to pack his things and go because the Lime Peak Ranch isn’t home without Olivia’s hand in his. Carol Dumont agreed to move to the ranch so her son, Levi, could be closer to his father. In subtle ways, George has changed, he’s softer, more considerate of her feelings. And in other ways he’s still the same. He can melt her knees with a look and make her heart pound like a queen’s horse circling the arena. She’s fallen for his charms before and ended up alone and lonely. She’ll have to work extra hard to keep her heart safe with this cowboy living down the lane. Bonnie Ruggles is on the move. She has the money she needs to make one of her lost dreams come true and she’s feeling crazy enough to follow through even though. This leap may mean the end of her marriage—or it could save her soul from withering away.    Follow this family full of heart and love and loyalty as they work to navigate the revelation of long-buried secrets, bitter rivalries, and love in the second book in the Lime Peak Ranch series.

High Plains Ambush


John D. Fie Jr. - 2017
    Thomas, WL Cox, and Duane Boehm filled with action, adventure and plot twists such as C. K. Crigger, Robert Vaughan, and C.M. Curtis! This is a book that is filled with the bodies of those who stand again law, order and patriotism! Matt Hutchins, the lone survivor of a wagon train massacre takes on the world to do what is right, and must use guts, guns and glory to bring peace to his people. Found and raised by the Sioux, Matt not only learns the ways of the Sioux, but his survival skills are keenly honed with his tracking abilities used by both the Army and later by the sheriff of a town named Buffalo Flats Matt lives alone on the open plains with his trusted friend and horse ‘Ole Friend, a gift given to him by the Chief Buffalo Robes, the one who taught him how to survive. If you love great Western writing—and you love classic Western movies—you will LOVE “High Plains Ambush.”

Sarah & Zoey


Linda Watkins - 2017
    Trapped in a marriage to an abusive alcoholic, her only pleasure was in tossing a ball to a skinny dog she’d adopted from the local shelter.Sarah & Zoey is the tale of these two women and the one remarkable dog who saved them both.It is a story of the power of unconditional love.

Lovina's Choice


Hannah Schrock - 2019
    Heartbroken and mistrusting of love Lovina vowed never to fall in love again. Her parents want nothing more than to see their daughter happily married and arranges a courtship between her and Stephen Ropp. When she becomes friends with quiet and shy Aaron Graber, Lovina is surprised to find how much she enjoys spending time with Aaron. As their friendship grows, so does her feelings for Aaron. Until the day of the barn raising when Noah returns after two years. Confused and surprised Lovina is faced with Noah for the first time again. He declares he never stopped loving her, but can Lovina believe him after he let her down once before. As she tries to shy away from her parents arranged courtship with Stephen, trying to decide how she feels about Noah, Lovina spends more and more time with Aaron. When disaster strikes a second time, Lovina is forced to face her feelings and make a decision that would determine the rest of her life. Enjoy this heartwarming sweet Amish romance as Lovina Raber learns to love and trust again. Will she fall for the boy her parents have arranged, or will she rekindle her feelings with Noah? Can her friendship with Aaron possibly turn into something more? Find out now and enjoy the ups and downs of falling in love in Lancaster County.

Storm Warrior Vol 19: Priceless


W.L. Cox - 2015
    Marshal headquarters in Chicago and meets U.S. Marshal Bekins.

Witness Protection Collection: Books 1 – 3


H.L. Wegley - 2019
     Book 1 - No Safe Place When Randi, a world-class, middle-distance runner, literally runs into Matt on an Olympic National Park trail, she believes she's found someone who can help heal her heart. But she learns Matt has secrets that threaten both her heart and her life. Matt is a prodigal trying to come home from the far country, but how much is he willing to give to restore his honor? No Safe Place is a clean, action-filled, romantic-suspense story that races from the scenic beaches of the Olympic National Park to the beauty of Lake Chelan in Central Washington State, a story of courage, honor, faith, forgiveness, and love. Book 2 - No True Justice They forced Gemma Saint into witness protection, not to protect her, but to silence her. After testifying in a high-profile case, Gemma, a young intern at an influential media outlet, is forced into WITSEC by corrupt DOJ officials hoping to silence her. When Gemma’s testimony at a retrial threatens their elaborate conspiracy to control the upcoming presidential election. Gemma learns from her WITSEC Inspector her identity was compromised and someone in the DOJ has sent a team to kill her. Gemma seeks help from Lex James, a young investigative journalist and offers him the biggest story of his career. But Lex was recently given custody of his deceased sister’s four-year-old twins, Josh and Caleb. Sparks fly when Lex and Gemma meet, and the boys see their mother in her. But can she endanger this fragile family? Should she run away, sacrificing her life and the course of her beloved country? Lex has difficult choices, too. But the highly gifted boys, Josh and Caleb, have their own opinion about what should happen, and it is not wise to underestimate four-year-old boys with 200 IQs. No True Justice is a clean, high-action, romantic-suspense story set among the breathtaking canyons and rivers around Lake Billy Chinook in Eastern Oregon. Book 3 - No Turning Back When, Drew West, a young man much like her dead father, offers Beth Sanchez protection, will trusting him bring another massacre, one that takes her life too? How can a young cowboy from Central Oregon protect her from the vengeful leader of a Drug Cartel who wants her dead? Drew has reasons for wanting to protect Beth, reasons that run deep, all the way to his heart and even deeper yet, to his soul. No one in his charge will ever be hurt again, no matter the cost. But can he convince Beth of that or will she opt for witness protection? Set near Big Bend National Park and in Central Oregon, near the Deschutes River, No Turning Back is a clean, high-action, romantic-suspense story about love, courage, and the futility of human vengeance.

UNEARTHLY


Stephen R. King - 2018
    Sometimes it feels like we are all on a different planet earth. Sometimes we are!

Walk With Me


Emily Fern - 2021
    

SPQR: The Roman Empire has just discovered a terrifying new world


Richard Blade - 2019
    In 55 B.C. the Roman Senate orders their most honored general, Demetrius Varinica, to cease mourning his wife and return to Rome to lead a fleet on an ill-fated invasion. The general and a handful of survivors from the devastated Fifteenth Legion wash up on an unknown shore and find themselves in a terrifying new world where every moment is a battle to stay alive. Befriended by a peaceful tribe, these hardened warriors learn a different way of life, existing with nature, without war, without fighting. But even as a new day dawns, a terrifying evil falls upon the land and confronts Demetrius with an unthinkable choice, honor his oath and return with his men to Rome or remain in this strange country and pick up his sword once again to face impossible odds in a desperate attempt to save the lives of these gentle people and the woman who has won his heart.

The Apartment


Sweta Kondavalasa - 2017
    Amaya Sharma, a girl from a mediocre family in Luckhnow but there is nothing mediocre about her. She had big dreams which came crashing down when her father announced her wedding on her 18th birthday. Shocked but determined she ran away from home at 18 and landed in Mumbai with an internship in a PR agency. 5 years of hard work, blood and sweat she was now the leading PR agent of Bollywood hot shot. She was a girl for whom her dreams were the only purpose in life until she moved into Casa Paradiso the most expensive address in Mumbai and met Vivan Malhotra. Vivan Malhotra, a typical rich kid whose parents had money but no time but he wasn't a miserable and sulking guy. In fact he made the most of this situation and used this to his benefit. A typical street smart guy who grew up Swiss boarding school and wine and now back to Mumbai to pursue his dream of being a musician. He has his two best friends Aman and Karan who mean the world to him. He is blessed with drop dead good looks and even deadlier voice which reaches the heart and melts the soul. He lives in Casa Paradiso, a property owned by his dad and one fine day Amaya moves in as his neighbour and soon appointed as his PR agent to launch him. What follows is a blazing and passionate romance between them. [About Author] Sweta is a Business Analyst by day and writer by night. Writing has always been her passion and that's something which people said she is good at. It all started with writing short snippets and fan fictions before this book idea came into her mind.

The New Kid 2: In the Dog House


Maureen Straka - 2018
    He also has to deal with an awful substitute teacher, his know-it-all cousin, and a cheating scandal at school. Can he help to figure out who cheated on the test before the whole class is punished?