Landon Griffin has everything going for him. He’s a high school senior on the brink of receiving a football scholarship, his dad is running for mayor of Madison, Texas, and his future with his girlfriend looks bright. But his simple life shatters when feelings spark for a guy he’s never met. Giving the stranger the codename Mystery Boy, Landon hesitates to step out of his comfort zone to solve the mystery. Living in a conservative town, he struggles to hide his new obsession while trying to figure out where he fits within the spectrum of sexuality. Can he dodge the constant questions from his friends and find answers before the escalating anxiety becomes too much to handle? Land On Me is Matthew R. Corr’s debut novel akin to the drama of Christopher Rice and the coming-of-age brilliance of Alex Sanchez.
Excerpt
OPENING HOOK
My ears rang. I’d heard gunshots in movies, but in real life, they are louder than you’d expect. My elbows locked and my arms shook. I wanted to drop the gun, but my entire body was frozen in place. All I could smell was the scent of hot metal emanating from the barrel of the weapon. My mouth was too dry to speak, and I could hardly swallow. I desperately wanted to reach out to make sure he was okay, but there was so much blood. It was so red, and it was coming out so quickly. I didn’t want to shoot him but he wouldn’t have stopped otherwise. Tears welled in my eyes. His blood was on my hands now.
About the Author
Matthew Corr was born and raised in beautiful New England. Coming out as a gay man in high school in his small town fueled his big city dreams. Matthew moved to New York City, where he gained a degree in musical theater. After countless performances on stages across the country, his passion for writing finally stepped into the spotlight. Matthew is a huge nerd for film and everything Marvel-related. He currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. Land On Me is his debut novel. To learn more about Matthew, and the release of his next book, please visit http://www.matthewrcorr.com
To save the one he
loves, he must face the beast within.
Blurb
Alex isn’t a traditional alpha—he’s gentle, awkward, and
caring. He also has no desire to assume leadership of the Black Moon Pack once his father
steps down.
Talen is an omega stray, taken in by Alex’s parents and
raised as his brother. He’s also straight, emotionally damaged, and the love of Alex’s
life.
Now of age, Talen is forced into the role of an
omega—those treated little better than slaves. Worse yet, the monster inside of Alex has
awoken and set its sights on Talen. The beast will stop at nothing to get what it wants, even
if it takes the whole world down to do it.
Alex must face his worst nightmares if he ever has a chance
at protecting Talen. Is he strong enough to bring them together, or will he lose Talen along
with the pack?
This three-book series tells a continuous story with a
resolution at the end of book three.
Excerpt
Alex couldn’t believe they were going to flog Talen. Eben
stood to the side of the pillar with his back to Alex. He had been able to get Alex out of
doing the whipping.
Etched into the pillar were symbols from the old language.
A loop made of rope was attached to a minor ledge higher up in the stone. Its purpose was
for this very thing. The shaman placed a large wooden block at Talen’s feet and had him step
up onto it. Even elevated, he still wasn’t tall enough to fit his wrists through the loop, so
they told him to hang onto it instead.
Talen wasn’t wearing a shirt. His arms above his head
stretched his torso and made visible the taunt muscles of his abdomen and chest. Tiny
beads of sweat gathered on his collarbone before they rolled down his back. Whether
caused by anticipation or the blistering heat, Alex didn’t know. Talen’s left arm was no
longer hidden by his sleeve, making the slight bow in his wrist apparent for anyone who
knew where to look. A nearly unnoticeable tremble shook his shoulders. He looked so small
then, fragile, even though Talen was anything but.
One of the shamans began making a speech. Her loud voice
carried on the wind. “To speak out against your betters is the greatest disrespect you can
show to your pack.” She was lecturing Talen, but she also looked around as if talking to the
crowd, making an example out of him. A wave of nausea washed over Alex as his anger rose.
“When you disrespect your pack, you’re disrespecting yourself.”
“Stupid bitch,” Alex grumbled. “Get off your high horse.”
Even though he hadn’t wanted to watch the whipping, his feet moved on their own until he
was close enough to see Talen’s face clearly.
“Talen, for your disobedience, you will be punished by
thirty slashes to your back to be carried out by the pack leader.”
Eben held a medium-sized bullwhip.
“Do you have anything to say for yourself?” the shaman
continued. “To say to Roman, who you have disrespected by your behavior?”
For one moment, Talen looked like he would say
something, and it wouldn’t be nice. That fire burned behind his dark-hazel eyes.
Alex remembered his father’s words at dinner. If Talen doesn’t go through with this, he might
have to find himself another pack.
As cowardly as it seemed, Alex prayed that Talen would
keep his mouth shut. Please, don’t say anything.
Please, Talen. Please don’t say anything.
Talen closed his eyes, and the tension left his body.
“Only to apologize for my insolence.” His words carried on
the mild breeze that made standing outside on this humid hot day bearable. But Alex
couldn’t care less about the wind or how good it felt against his skin. Instead, his attention
focused only on Talen. Even though Talen bowed his head, and his words sounded a bit
hollow, there was a fire to them—Talen’s voice, his spark. His energy. His will to fight. Talen
amazed him. His ability to stay himself, to not give into fear, regardless of the hell he had
been through. Alex envied him. Talen might have been an omega, whereas he was an alpha,
but there was no doubt that Talen was the stronger of the two of them.
His father got in position and raised the whip. With a loud
crack, it singed between Talen’s shoulder blades, leaving an ugly red gash. Talen’s breath
hitched. He clenched the rope, baring his teeth. Every taunt muscle on his body writhed
with each slash that marred his back. He wasn’t crying out, though. Talen was a proud
one.
Another crack.
Alex tightened his fists.
Each crack grew louder and louder. Alex’s claws dug into his
fists until tiny droplets of blood trailed down his palms.
Ten slashes into the punishment, Talen’s visible ribs heaved
with each breath. His lithe frame trembled. Then his wolf surged, forming a white aura. It
didn’t stretch out into a shadow—mostly that was an alpha thing—rather, it surrounded him
like a sphere as it had done before with Roman—a white wolf seemingly chasing its tail in an
endless figure eight. Its hazy white color made Talen appear blurry. It wasn’t large enough to
affect Eben, only a whip length away.
It reeked of agony, hurt, anger, but mostly
pain—Talen’s.
Alex turned away. His stomach clenched in knots.
Something dark grew inside of him. Blacker, thicker. As he looked back at Talen, all Alex felt
was rage.
Talen let out a scream before he bit his lip and a trail of
blood spilled down his chin. Finally, he lost the battle, and he started crying out with each
lash.
Alex’s fangs elongated. He wanted to kill them. All of them.
His dad included. How fucking dare they lay one hand on Talen? On his Talen.
About the Author
Melissa writes
character-driven fiction, and any genre is fair game. When she’s not writing, she enjoys
reading, anime, manga, and gaming. Living by the motto of trying all things twice, Melissa
has jumped out of a perfectly good plane, swum with manatees, dived headfirst into Alice’s
rabbit hole, and seduced classy ladies in 6-inch heels. A free-spirited bohemian, she
currently lives in artsy St. Petersburg, Florida, with her soulmate and their two adorably
needy cats.
Private investigator Sloane Beaumont should be enjoying his recent engagement to eldritch god Azaethoth the Lesser, AKA Loch. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have time for a pre-honeymoon period.
The trouble starts with a deceptively simple missing persons case. That leads to the discovery of mass kidnappings, nefarious secret experiments, and the revelation that another ancient god is trying to bring about the end of the world by twisting humans into an evil army.
Just another day at the office.
Sloane does his best to juggle wedding planning, stopping his fiancé from turning the mailman inside out, and meeting his future godly in-laws while working the case, but they’re also being hunted by a strange young man with incredible abilities. With the wedding date looming closer, Sloane and Loch must combine their powers to discover the truth—because it’s not just their own happy-ever-after at stake, but the fate of the world….
Excerpt
“Hi!” the young man said. “It’s okay! You can just call me Jay.” He smiled down at the carrier. “This is Mr. Twigs!”
“Please, come in,” Sloane said, trying to fix his hair as he opened the office door. He ushered Jay in, saying politely, “So, your roommate is missing?”
“Yes,” Jay said, setting the carrier on Sloane’s desk and opening it up. “Everyone at the department thinks I’m going nuts, and Milo said you would be able to help me.”
“I’ll definitely do my best!”
“My roommate has been missing for almost two days now, and this is not like him at all. He hasn’t been to work, he hasn’t been home, but his car is still in the parking lot. The detectives wanted me to wait before filing a missing persons report, and nobody is listening to me.”
“And you think that Mr. Twigs here might be responsible?”
“I’m Silenced, so you know, no magic for me, but I know the sound portals make. I’ve heard it on a ton of documentaries. I know I heard one right before he vanished, and no one else was home except Mr. Twigs.”
The cat slinked out of the carrier and perched right on the corner of Sloane’s desk, its tail swishing. It was fluffy, black, and it was wearing small round sunglasses.
Loch kneeled down, eyeing the cat suspiciously. They were nearly nose to nose, locked in an intense stare.
“Huh,” Sloane said, blinking slowly. “The cat… wears sunglasses?”
“Oh!” Jay blushed. “I know it sounds crazy, but his eyes are really sensitive to light. So yeah. I tried to take them off and he got really upset.”
“Wait, you didn’t buy them?”
“Oh no!” Jay laughed. “He had them on when I found him. He’s a rescue, and he’s, like, literally the sweetest—”
“He is a foul and wretched creature!” Loch suddenly shouted, spinning wildly and promptly smacking the cat across the room. “Go back to the depths of Xenon, you disgusting fiend!”
“Mr. Twigs!” Jay screamed in horror.
“Azaethoth!” Sloane roared, shocked and furious. “How could you? It’s just a cat!”
“That is not a cat!” Loch argued, his tentacles beginning to unfurl. “It’s a monstrous fiend that just looks like a cat!”
“Owww,” a new voice complained, the fluffy black cat picking himself up from the floor and yowling in complaint. He hopped back up on the desk, his tail lashing as he hissed, “That was super rude!”
“Mr. Twigs…?” Jay stared in awe. He started to reach for the cat but drew back. “You’re… you’re talking?”
“Duh,” the cat replied sweetly. “Now, Jay, why don’t you forget all about this and go to sleep?”
Jay’s eyes rolled back, and he immediately dropped on the carpet face-first.
“What the fuck are you?” Sloane demanded, his hands moving to summon a shield of bright starlight. Loch stood in front of him protectively, his thick tentacles writhing around him and poised to strike at any second.
The cat laughed, transforming into a very thin and very naked young man. He tilted his sunglasses down, grinning slyly to reveal a mouthful of pointed teeth as he teased, “Meow, motherfuckers. Name’s Asta. I’m here to save the world.”
About the Author
K.L. “Kat” Hiers is an embalmer, restorative artist, and queer writer. Licensed in both funeral directing and funeral service, she worked in the death industry for nearly a decade. Her first love was always telling stories, and she has been writing for over twenty years, penning her very first book at just eight years old. Publishers generally do not accept manuscripts in Hello Kitty notebooks, however, but she never gave up.
Following the success of her first novel, Cold Hard Cash, she now enjoys writing professionally, focusing on spinning tales of sultry passion, exotic worlds, and emotional journeys. She loves attending horror movie conventions and indulging in cosplay of her favorite characters. She lives in Zebulon, NC, with her husband and their children, some of whom have paws and a few that only pretend to because they think it’s cute.
In his monotonous life as a drug lord, Gustavo has seen and done it all and has long forgotten the taste of excitement.
Things change when he watches a man murder and take the victim’s heart.
Leaving behind a bloody crime scene, the killer flees and makes Gustavo a dangerous witness and the sole holder of all the evidence.
Drunk on a toxic mix of fascination and morbid curiosity, Gustavo places his life at stake and enters the murderer’s twisted world to play a game of dare for the thrill of it. But the more he plays with Seth, the deeper he sinks into a web of attraction.
How far can he tempt Death before Death strikes back?
Welcome to the dark world of Malicious Gods: Egypt. A collection of standalone modern tales, both magical and non-magical, featuring deities from Ancient Egypt. You’ll find reincarnated Gods, assassins, gangs, madness, and different realities. Expect high heat and morally ambiguous themes. Seductive and often twisted, they are not for the fainthearted.
POSSIBLE SPOILERS/WARNINGS:
NOT a romance (at least not a traditional one), Zero redeeming qualities, Serial killer, Drug lord, Obsession, Fire play, BDSM, Severe depression, Asexual character, Blood art, Blood, gore, God complex, Mass murder, Graphic murder, Dark humor, The Three Kings’ World. Yep, this is Gustavo’s story.
Excerpt
Gustavo’s muscles trembled as the heel of his shoe lost contact with the ground. His head hovered over the molten glass as Seth’s hips rammed against his own. His awareness shifted to the lower part of his body. Confusion washed over, as he wasn’t sure if the source of the heat was the molten glass or Seth’s thrusting against him. He could even feel the softness of Seth’s cock brushing against his thigh. He swallowed hard. Catching Seth’s glare, he said, “A fair warning: if you keep rubbing against me like this, I’ll get a hard-on.”
Seth’s face contorted in distaste. Fire dancing in his eyes, he leaned against Gustavo with all his weight, chest to chest. “You should have pulled the gun when you had a chance.”
With a roar, Gustavo hurled forward, winning back an inch of lost space. Seth’s teeth bared, and a low, barely audible growl broke from his throat. His neck corded, muscles bulged, and even the veins under his eyes strained with pressure. Gustavo thought that any moment now, his eyeballs would pop out of their sockets. He shook his head, unable to believe how someone like Seth could possess such strength. Gustavo was taller, bulkier, had more mass, but still, inch by inch, his back bent over the rim of the charger. His skin felt like it would start sizzling at any moment; hot sweat rolled down his temples and spine.
“I warned you it’s not a blade that kills but arrogance,” Seth rustled.
The edge of the furnace scraped the small of Gustavo’s back. Seth’s face inched closer, and his right hand abandoned Gustavo’s chest to grab the side of the shutter before he thrust himself forward. The tiny blood vessels in his right eye burst, staining the sclera red.
Does he hate me this much? Gustavo thought, stunned.
“I do enjoy this intimacy, but you are aware that in this position, it’s nearly impossible to throw me down without falling with me, right? Not that I mind. It would be sort of romantic. And they died on the same day, just like Romeo and Juliet.”
Seth laughed; his left palm slapped against the inner wall of the furnace, giving him a fulcrum. “We shall see about that.”
He shoved forward with renewed force. The stench of burned meat filled Gustavo’s lungs. He looked at Seth’s hand and the steam rising from it. “What the fuck are you doing? Are you insane?”
“Insanity is a tasteless word humanity forever uses to taint what they can’t understand.” Seth stared at Gustavo with the unblinking eyes of a snake. His expression didn’t display any pain or discomfort.
Gustavo should have struggled for his life; he knew it. Instead, he grabbed Seth’s wrist and yanked it away from the scorching metal. “You are insane if you think killing me is worth mutilating your hand. How are you going to work with such burns?”
Seth froze. Confusion pooled behind his dilated pupils. He looked at Gustavo as if seeing him for the first time. His onslaught weakened.
It was a perfect moment to pull the gun, but the expression of ultimate loneliness, bleeding through Seth’s unsettled emotions, overruled Gustavo’s sanity. The sole of his foot found the wall behind him; he thrust his chest forward and brushed his lips against Seth’s mouth, pushing him away from the scorching heat.
About the Author
Journalist, poker player, casino events manager, designer, and SEO specialist, Nero Seal tried it all before committing to the idea of being an M/M fiction writer. Living in one of the most homophobic countries in the world, he has a lot to say. Being an avid traveler, he creates his imaginary worlds from the places he’s been and the people he’s met. Characters always talk in his head, forcing him to write their stories, using his 49 kinks as the ultimate weapon of allure. When the voices in his head aren’t slaving him around, he is drawing, hiking, and procrastinating important things in favor of momentary gratification.
Can a singles’ holiday in Crete give two men who’ve never met, and only spoken via a hook-up app, what they both crave—love?
Blurb
Apollo
A year of messaging on the Cuffd app has led me to understand one thing: Troy is the one meaningful relationship I’ve ever had. Two things are stopping it from being more, I’m an adult film star and there’s also an ocean between us. To claim my geek boy, I’m going to have to pull out all the stops and lay my heart on the line as I’ve never done before.
Troy
Apollo, my online friend gives me the confidence to take a trip to a place I dream of. Myths and legends are worth a little fear of flying, right? With the incentive of finding a Daddy who’s as caring as Apollo, what do I have to lose?
Greeking Out is a long-distance-friends-to-lovers story with a geeky boy who hasn’t been little in too long, a confident, caring Daddy who wants to give his boy the holiday of a lifetime, and a well-loved teddy bear. It’s part of the Destination Daddies multi-author series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but there are so many destinations and Daddies to discover, why not grab them all?
Excerpt
GeekBoy: What if I’ve forgotten something?
HungLikeAGreekGod: I’m sure you haven’t, but if it helps, you can tell me everything you’ve got packed.
GeekBoy: Really?
HungLikeAGreekGod: Of course. I wouldn’t have offered if I hadn’t meant it.
GeekBoy: Everything?
HungLikeAGreekGod: Everything, geek boy. Before you do, take a deep breath and a moment to calm down.
GeekBoy: Okay.
The urge to reply with “yes, Daddy” was overwhelming. Apollo wasn’t my Daddy and never would be, but it made me smile whenever he acted that way. Taking care of other people was probably as natural for him as breathing. Speaking of which… I took a couple of deep breaths. Once my mind was less of a whirlwind of panic, I opened my suitcase and carefully took everything out. I repacked everything meticulously, pausing between items to tell Apollo what I was putting into the case.
GeekBoy: Flip-flops and slip-on shoes.
HungLikeAGreekGod: They’ll come in handy. Do you have something more rugged for visiting Knossos and walking up to Zeus’s birthplace?
GeekBoy: My boots, but I’ll be wearing those on the flight.
HungLikeAGreekGod: I think that’s all the footwear you’ll need. What’s next?
GeekBoy: Five pairs of socks. To wear with the boots, not the flip-flops or slip-on shoes.
HungLikeAGreekGod: I’m glad that fashion crisis has been averted.
GeekBoy: Please. As if I would wear socks and sandals. Seven pairs of underwear.
HungLikeAGreekGod: That’s plenty.
I was almost disappointed that he hadn’t asked for more details. Why would he? We were friends, nothing more. Friends didn’t ask each other about their underwear.
GeekBoy: Seven T-shirts, four pairs of shorts, two pairs of jeans, plus the pair I’ll be wearing on the plane. Some little clothing in case I get the chance to be little. Two pairs of swimming trunks. A hat, sun cream, my toiletries bag, which has toothpaste, a toothbrush, and stuff to shave with. Lube and condoms just in case.
HungLikeAGreekGod: I told you. You have everything you need.
GeekBoy: Deodorant will be in my carry-on.
HungLikeAGreekGod: Good plan. What else do you have in your carry-on?
I added my favourite dildo to my suitcase and zipped it back up. Then I unpacked the small rucksack I was taking as hand luggage.
GeekBoy: Sunglasses, the aforementioned deodorant, currency, my wallet, a spare change of clothes just in case my luggage goes missing, my passport, and last but not least, batteries for my B.O.B.
HungLikeAGreekGod: What’s a B.O.B?
I snort-laughed at the thought that a porn star didn’t know what B.O.B stands for.
GeekBoy: Battery-operated boyfriend.
HungLikeAGreekGod: Why didn’t you just say dildo?
GeekBoy: B.O.B is more discreet.
HungLikeAGreekGod: You don’t need to be discreet with me.
About the Author
Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.
A bloody past haunts him.
A devastating present lures him back…
Blurb
Nao hides from his violent past in the Japanese mob by
opening a teahouse in Japan’s cultural center, Kyoto. His past comes flooding back when he
discovers a gravely injured man with a tattooed chest, a bloody knife, and a Korean business
card.
Saehyun would’ve died if not for Nao’s help. He knows
nothing of his savior’s connection with the local mafia, but Saehyun has his own secrets. He
commands the Korean mafia, the mortal enemy of Nao’s former syndicate.
As Nao and Saehyun grow closer, so does the strength of
the Korean mob. A shocking murder pulls Nao back into a past he’d all but abandoned. War
is looming, and Nao must choose between protecting Saehyun or avenging the honor of his
old mafia family.
Blood Stained Tea is the first book in the The Yakuza Path series. If you like complex characters,
blood-soaked violence, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s
gritty crime masterpiece.
The Yakuza Path Series
BOOK 1 – Blood Stained Tea
BOOK 2 – Better Than Suicide
BOOK 3 – One Thousand Cranes
BOOK 4 – The Deafening Silence
BOOK 5 – Flowers of Flesh and Blood
BOOK 6 – Releasing in November
Excerpt
It was no collection of branches, but a human body
slumped against the tree roots.
“Are you all right?” Nao yelled over the cracking
thunder.
No answer came.
Nao dropped his umbrella and crossed the footbridge in a
single stride. The rain trickled down his back, plastering his hair to his neck. As he groped for
a cherry-tree branch to steady himself on the embankment, his clog sank into the mud,
which slathered between his toes. He pulled one foot up, but the shoe stuck, and he tipped
forward. The cold river stung his face, and he spat out the water that had flooded his
mouth.
Nao crawled to the body and came face-to-face with the
unconscious young man. He had to be a few years younger than Nao. Lightning flashed,
exposing the man’s bushy eyebrows and sloping nose. An eye was swollen shut, and blood
dripped from his open mouth. Nao grabbed the arm of the man, who hissed in pain. Blood
poured out from underneath his cut sleeve. Nao swallowed. He hadn’t seen such flowing
blood since that night. The cut was sliced clean and couldn’t have been from the stranger’s
fall in the canal.
Nao pulled at the sleeve and held it against the wound.
“Can you get up?”
Nao received no reply, but he waited, hoping the minute or
two of pressure would close the cut. The warm fluid flowed out between Nao’s fingers.
“Your arm’s in rough shape. I’ll take you to a hospital.”
“No. No hospital,” the injured man said, and then he
muttered something in Korean, but the Korean sounded like the cawing of crows to
Nao.
“Someone there should be able to speak Korean. You need
to get your arm looked at. Come on!”
Nao reached for the man’s uninjured arm, but the stranger
pushed him away with such force Nao fell back into the mud. He curled his fingers into a fist,
and mud oozed out. No matter how much the stranger struggled, Nao wouldn’t leave
him.
The rain drowned out the man’s continued mumbling. He
was probably telling Nao why he couldn’t go to the hospital. Expired visa or lack of
insurance, Nao didn’t need to know.
With an uneven step toward the stranger, Nao realized his
right shoe had stayed in the muck. His bare foot slid through the sludge, and he grimaced.
Lightning flashed, and the stranger’s mouth no longer moved. Nao’s eyes widened. He
couldn’t let another person die in front of him.
“Wake up.”
No reply or movement from the stranger.
Nao clenched his teeth. He grabbed the injured arm,
pressing his thumb into the cut. The man hissed in pain and then spat out more Korean. Nao
backed away. He had deepened the injury, but the cruelty woke the guy up, so it was worth
it.
“Let’s go.”
“No hospitals.”
“We need to get out of the rain before we both get
sick.”
Nao tugged the good arm over his shoulder. The man
moaned as Nao hoisted him up. The stranger was considerably taller, built larger in all
aspects, and he weighed down on Nao’s shoulder. Yet the drive to do something right for
once carried him on.
About the Author
International best-selling
author Amy Tasukada writes thrilling times of crime, love, and gore. Readers who crave
diverse characters, unique settings, and edge-of-your-seat action will devour her Yakuza Path series. Readers who seek less blood and more love will swoon
over the Yakuza Path
Romance and Would it Be Okay to Love You? Series. Amy is an atheist, queer author who enjoys drinking tea,
Japanese street fashion and visual kei music. Her calico cat, O’Hara, is never far from her
side. Amy lives in North Texas, but is always planning her next trip to Japan.
The Midwest Series by Brigham Vaughn (Books 1 and 2)
Publisher: Two Peninsulas Press (self-published)
Cover Artist: Brigham Vaughn
Series Tagline
It was more than a decision, it was serendipity.
Series Blurb
A former college hockey star’s decision to come out of the closet and reunite with his high school boyfriend does more than change the direction of their lives.
It sets into motion events that will lead to their respective best friends, a former hockey player and a psychology major, being stuck on a summer road trip together.
They cross paths with another old friend, an injured pro baseball player who’s been forced to move in with his physical therapist. Old hurts are healed and the six become close friends.
When a night out for the guys leads to their meeting an Olympic hopeful swimmer who is fascinated by a drag queen it’s clear that none of their lives will ever be the same.
They are standalone stories featuring four different couples. Reading in order is helpful but not required.
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 4 flames
BOOK 1
Book Title: Bully & Exit
Narrator: James Edward Jones
Length: 78 986 words/ 264 pages
Release Date: First edition – July 9, 2015 Second edition – June 30, 2020
Nathan Rhodes has put hockey first for most of his life, but as graduation looms, he has a different goal in mind. He needs to come out and reclaim his first love. If only Caleb will believe him…
Theater geek Caleb Stockwell gave up on love when his boyfriend chose the closet over being with an openly bisexual guy. Now, he hides his heartbreak behind a string of casual hookups. He loves the drama on stage, but he’s done with the drama of Nathan Rhodes. For good.
Nathan is determined to right the wrongs of four years ago, but the clock is ticking.
One month until he and Caleb go their separate ways. One month to take a final shot at winning Caleb’s heart back.
Former hockey player Brent Cameron has a plan now that he’s out of the closet. He’ll take a summer road trip, find a job, and settle down with a fellow jock. Lowell Prescott is not part of that plan, but when Brent’s travel companion bails, he’s the only option.
Out and proud, Lowell has a love of sports, a flair of fashion, and a disdain for anything conventional. Burned by past relationships, he’s wary of jocks who want to change him—and that includes Brent Cameron.
Tempers flare and sparks fly as the miles disappear behind them. Just as it seems they might be on a journey to something more than Lake Superior, Brent receives a phone call that could change everything.
Will Brent stay with Lowell and ignore a friend in need, or go sit by the bedside of the man who broke Lowell’s heart?
Micah Warner spent his whole life dreaming of pitching in the big leagues. Signing with a minor-league team near Chicago puts him one step closer to making that a reality. But there are no out players in pro ball, so any involvement with a man must be discreet.
Physical therapist Justin Lamb loves his job with the Cougars. A romantic at heart, he wants to find lasting love—with a man or woman—but traveling with the team makes it difficult to maintain a long-term relationship.
Micah offers Justin a no-strings-attached way to blow off some steam, and Justin reluctantly agrees. It doesn’t take long before they’re both in over their heads but falling in love will risk everything.
With their careers and relationship hanging in the balance, they have one last play to make.
It’s time to take a swing for real and lasting love.
Openly gay college swimmer Ian Harrington feels like he’s fighting against a current of tragedy. He’s grieving the loss of his parents and best friend, and now he’s dealing with a toxic coach and judgmental brother. But he won’t let that stop him from chasing his dream: Olympic gold.
Ricky Chavez has just about everything he wants in life: a great career, a supportive family, and a side gig as drag queen Rosie Riveting. The only thing he’s missing is a partner to share it all with.
When the two men connect after Rosie’s performance, they’re immediately drawn to one another. But it’s never that simple. Ricky isn’t the type of man to hide, and with Ian’s coach breathing down his neck, he can’t openly love a drag queen without making waves.
They’ll have to brave deep waters to make it to the finish line.
About the Author
Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
Her books range from short stories to novellas to novels. They explore gay, bisexual, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.
The books in the Pizza
Chronicles series follow the main character, RV, through his high school years, as he tries to
answer his many questions about life, God, prayer, sexuality, being the son of immigrants,
and staying loyal to his heritage while carving out his own life and relationships.
The stories should
be read in order.
Book #1: Why Can’t Life Be
Like Pizza?
Book #2: Why Can’t
Freshman Summer Be Like Pizza?
Book #3: Why Can’t
Relationships Be Like Pizza?
Book #4: Why Can’t Sophomore Summer Be Like
Pizza?
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 1 flame
NEW RELEASE
BOOK 4
Book Title: Why
Can’t Sophomore Summer Be Like Pizza?
Author: Andy V.
Roamer
Publisher: Nine Star
Press
Length: 52 000
words
Release Date: August
2, 2021
Genre: Young Adult LGBT
Tropes: Summer vacation between freshman & sophomore
years of high school
Themes: Teenage steps toward maturity: ups & downs of
romance, driving lessons, coming out to family
It is a standalone story, with the same characters from books
1-3.
The books have frequent references to previous titles in the
series, so better if they are read in order.
RV’s summer after sophomore year of high school
isn’t all fun and games as he navigates a budding new relationship, struggles with driving
lessons, copes with the ups and downs of his summer job in a movie theatre, and tries to be
patient with his traditional family that doesn’t want to deal with his sexuality.
Blurb
It’s the summer after sophomore year and RV enjoys new
adventures and faces new challenges having finished two years of high school. Since he
loves movies, he’s happy to get a job as an usher at a movie multiplex, but learns the
realities of dealing with job stresses and unruly customers. It’s time for him to start learning
how to drive, and his father is eager to give him lessons. But he’s not the most patient of
teachers and RV is not the most capable of drivers. Bobby is still around, but he’s doing the
hard job of recovering from his injury so doesn’t have time for much else. RV tries to open
himself up to a new relationship and is happy when he meets Matteo, who works at the
multiplex also. It looks like the start of a budding romance – until it isn’t. And then there is
RV’s family, loving but traditional, not ready or willing to discuss issues of sexuality. Luckily,
as always, there is Mr. Aniso, RV’s freshmen-year teacher, who has become a friend and is
always there to talk over anything that might be bothering RV. But he’s away for the
summer, helping his partner’s family, so there’s only so much time and attention he can give
RV.
In Why Can’t Life Be Like Pizza? RV begins freshman year at demanding Boston Latin School, doing his best to keep
up and fit in while wrestling with his immigrant heritage and his sexuality.
Blurb
Wrestling with his sexuality, along with a lot of other
things, RV thinks all is okay when he starts going
out with Carole. But things get more complicated when RV develops a crush on Bobby, a
football player in his class, who admits he may have gay feelings, too. Bobby is African
American and facing his own pressures. Luckily, RV develops a friendship with Mr. Aniso, his
Latin teacher, who is gay and always there to talk to when the pressure becomes
overwhelming.
BOOK 2
Book Title: Why Can’t
Freshman Summer Be Like Pizza?
Author: Andy V. Roamer
Publisher: Nine Star Press
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Length: 50 200 words/196
pages
Release Date: June 1,
2020
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Trope: Summer Vacation
Themes: Obstacles to exploring sexuality and enjoying summer
This story is a continuation of
Book #1 with the same characters
Tagline In Why Can’t Freshman Summer Be Like
Pizza? RV and Bobby have survived freshman
year and are looking forward to spending a wonderful summer together. But life has other
plans.
Blurb
RV and Bobby’s summer is not what they wish for. They
hardly have time to spend with each other.Bobby is busy at football camp and working at a job his father has pressured him into
taking. RV is busy with a summer job, too, and also has to help his parents pass their U.S.
citizenship test. His friend Carole jumps at the chance to spend her summer in Paris. As
always, Mr. Aniso, RV’s Latin teacher is there to talk to when RV gets too lonely. He’s also
there when RV inadvertently spills one of Bobby’s secrets, and Bobby is so angry at him RV is
afraid he’s ready to cut off the friendship.
BOOK 3
Book Title: Why Can’t
Relationships Be Like Pizza?
Author: Andy V. Roamer
Publisher: Nine Star Press
Length: 58 000 words/ 272
pages
Release Date: March 15,
2021
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Trope: Forming relationships
Themes: Maintaining relationships through difficulties/helping friend
through tragedy
In Why Can’t Relationships Be Like Pizza?, Book #3, RV begins sophomore year in high school, though his
relationships create more questions than answers.
Blurb
RV is trying to maintain his newfound friendship with
Bobby, but it’s becoming harder and harder. Bobby
seems a different, more distant, person. RV’s friend Carole is distracted with the ups and
downs in her relationships with the French boyfriends she met during her summer in Paris.
RV’s new friend Mark is focused on his family’s troubles. School is a mixed bag. But Mr.
Aniso, RV’s former teacher and mentor, is there to lean on, especially when near tragedy
strikes and RV needs Mr. Aniso’s counsel to stay strong and provide help where it’s needed
most.
About the Author
Andy V. Roamer grew up in the Boston area and moved to
New York City after college. He worked in book publishing for many years, starting out in the
children’s and YA books division and then wearing many other hats. This is his first novel
about RV, the teenage son of immigrants from Lithuania in Eastern Europe, as RV tries to
negotiate his demanding high school, his budding sexuality, and new relationships. He has
written an adult novel,Confessions of a
Gay Curmudgeon, under the pen name Andy V. Ambrose. To relax, Andy loves to ride his
bike, read, watch foreign and independent movies, and travel.
