Book picks similar to
Rocked Hard by Morticia Knight


romance
m-m
contemporary
pride-publishing

Cool Cats


Harper Logan - 2016
    After dropping out of the prestigious Beasley University, he's hung around as a townie, gradually drifting away from the student life he once knew. When he's roped into helping a PR firm promote the gallery's show, he comes face to face with the last person he expected to see: his old friend Grant Kennedy. "I never had the courage to be like you." Grant always envied Dylan for his effortless "coolness." Always following in his best friend's footsteps, whether it was playing in a band or aspiring to artistic greatness, he never could keep up. When he rekindles his friendship with Dylan, he sees an opportunity to become the person he never thought he could be—if only he can get over his fear of standing out. "It's never too late to discover who you really are." As the two men navigate their friendship, they rediscover what pushed them apart and what brought them together. When Dylan's cat breaks his leg, throwing him further into debt, and Grant finds himself straying from the path his parents set out for him, the two men find they need to lean on each other like they used to... And see what more can blossom from their connection. Cool Cats is a 30,000-word standalone contemporary gay romance, complete with lots of heat and a happily ever after ending.

Dangerously Happy


Varian Krylov - 2014
    Instead of pursuing his dream of creating innovative music that makes his soul sing, he settled for a degree in software, a job in a cubicle, and a spot in a generic band with his buddies.And he's always been straight. But when he's seduced by magnetic local literary luminary Dario, Aidan must decide whether to keep playing it safe, or succumb to a ravenous passion and a nourishing love unlike anything he's experienced before. Will he find the courage to go after real happiness if it means admitting he's in love with a man? Their journey together isn't easy. Sometimes it isn't safe. Even if Aidan has the courage to admit he's in love with Dario, can he endure the repercussions of the traumatic event in Dario's past?This novel has mature content and is intended for readers over the age of eighteen. Although this is a story about two men falling in love, there are extended, explicit sex scenes, including some BDSM, m/m/m and m/m/f scenes. There are references to sexual violence which may be a trigger for some readers, although there is no graphic depiction of rape in the book.

Broken Strings


Casey Carson - 2018
    But as much as I’d like to, I can’t put him in that position…or any other positions, for that matter. I’m just here to do a job. It’s not my fault that he looks like an innocent angel and a broken boy all at the same time. That’s why he needs someone like me looking out for him, protecting him, keeping him safe. But can I keep things professional between us? Corey: I’ve been performing on stage in front of thousands of people almost every night of my life since I was nineteen. Living in the public eye means I get hounded everywhere I go. I have zero privacy. I’m exhausted, but my greedy manager and loser bandmates rely on me to keep cranking out hits. To keep going full throttle—and keep everyone happy—I turned to the rock & roll cliché of nonstop booze and drugs. I’m being pulled in every direction. I feel like I’m falling apart. I’m ready for a change. I want something real. After getting stabbed by a random psycho and almost dying, my manager wants to hire a bodyguard for me. I don’t care if he’s big and strong and sexy as hell—I don’t want some meathead with an earpiece following me everywhere I go. I already have no privacy as it is! But maybe…just maybe…Max is different? All I know is that the thought of dealing with everything in my life while trying to stay sober terrifies me. I can’t do it alone. Broken Strings is a 60,000+ word gay romance about finding happiness amidst a lifestyle filled with sex, drugs, and rock & roll. This book contains sexually explicit material and colorful language intended for adults 18 and older. Each book in the Chords of Chaos series can be read as a standalone novel, but they’re better if you read them in order.

A Way with Words


Lane Hayes - 2017
    He works for his uncle’s Brooklyn-based construction firm. And he knows from experience that keeping his head down and doing his job is the best way to deal with the meddlesome family members he sees daily. They think he’s quiet and maybe a little awkward but the truth is more complicated. Tony has a secret he isn’t ready or willing to share. He’s an expert at avoiding familial scrutiny. At least he was until the sexy guitar player showed up. Remy Nelson is a small-town, free-spirited guy looking for a new life in the big city. He stays busy playing his instrument on a busy Manhattan street corner during the day and bartending at night. Remy is more interested in finding steady employment than a mate, but he can’t deny his attraction to the dreamy construction worker with soulful eyes, a kind heart, and a unique way with words. Falling for Remy wasn’t what Tony expected, but keeping him will require courage. And an end to keeping secrets.

Unlovable Bastard


K.A. Merikan - 2017
    All he has to show for it is a bag of money and a lifetime of regrets. There’s no other way out of his line of work than in a body bag.So Robert decides to die.But on the night he chooses to seal his own fate, destiny offers him a chance at redemption. When Robert saves a handsome young escort from a terrible death, he has no idea he is setting in motion much more than one last attempt at proving that inside the hardened shell, he is a decent human being. Charming, quick-witted, and full of smiles, Nathan is all Robert could dream of. He’s also ready to fall into the arms of his gruff protector. Robert, on the other hand, has never been with a man and will first need to fight his own demons if he is to accept that his whole being wants to make Nathan his.With his former boss hunting them both, time is ticking, and Robert might just not get the chance to decide before it’s too late. More importantly though, Robert will stop at nothing to protect the man who’s made him feel alive again, the man who is the only thing between him and the abyss.*“I never had to think much about death before, but I did yesterday. I thought I would die. In a hole. Covered with dirt. Suffocate underground. But then you saved me.”POSSIBLE SPOILERS:Themes: enemies to lovers, protector, cruelty, homophobia, crime, self-discovery, family conflict, age gap, escort, self-hate, first time, revenge, on the runGenre: Dark, gritty, contemporary M/M romance Erotic content: Scorching hot, emotional, explicit scenesLength: ~90,000 words (Standalone novel, HEA)WARNING: This story contains scenes of violence, torture, mentions of suicide, offensive language, morally ambiguous characters, homophobia and homophobic language