SERIES TOUR: “The Christopher Books” by Stephen Hardy
SERIES TOUR
THE CHRISTOPHER BOOKS
by
Stephen G Hardy
Follow Christopher as he explores various types of
relationships and the impact he has on the lives of others.
The books need to be read in order.
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 1 flame
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 1
Book Title: Search for Complete
Cover Artist: Ryan Mulford
Length: 80 127 words /335 pages
Release Date: June 4, 2023
Genres: Contemporary LGBTQ+ Fiction with speculative
elements.
Tropes: Friends to Platonic lovers
Themes: Interpersonal relationships, Conversations as Catalyst
for Change
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle
Unlimited
Blurb
“Why do I get the feeling that Christopher is the type of man that would make the
perfect husband for any woman and, at the same time, the perfect wife for any man?”
Laura says shortly after Christopher begins his new job at the TV station. Laura’s
statement would turn out to hold more truth than she could imagine. No one who meets
Christopher, especially not Laura, as well as David, a gay man he meets at a party,
understands what it is about him that draws them to him. They also don’t realize that
Christopher is searching for something, a search complicated by their desires for him.
BOOK 2
Book Title: The Price of Happiness
Length: 84 447words/330 pages
Release Date: November 24, 2023
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Literary Fiction
Tropes: Love and loss
Themes: Parenthood, interpersonal relationships, finding
oneself.
It is not a standalone story and end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle
Unlimited
Blurb
As Search for Complete left off, the birth of his twins had just completed
Christopher. However, though he has what he had searched so long for, he now must deal
with the associated costs, namely the unraveling of his relationship with Laura, the mother
of his twins. The birth of the twins should have brought Laura joy, yet, instead, she finds
herself on an intense emotional rollercoaster. Laura resents Christopher’s
happiness—resents that he is a better mother than she is. But most of all, Laura
resents that the twins are Christopher’s spitting image—nowhere does she see herself in
them. Christopher fears his happiness in becoming a father has become Laura’s undoing. As
he tries to help her adjust to the reality of their situation, Laura struggles to find herself in
the tangled mess of their relationship.
In The Price of Happiness, Stephen Hardy has created a profound and moving
novel on the themes of parenthood, identity, love and loss—and the cost of getting what we
want.
BOOK 3
Book Title: When the Sun and Moon Touch
Length: 87 639 words/353 Pages
Release Date: March 29, 2024
Genres: LGBTQ+ Contemporary Literary Fiction
Tropes: M2M relationships
Themes: Finding oneself, forgiveness, love
The stories need to be read in order. This book does not end
on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle
Unlimited
Blurb
Christopher has settled into life as a single father to his twins, Loren and Christine. Content
with his life, he is contemplating the imminent return of their mother Laura, who has been
traveling through Europe for nearly a year, when he meets Benjamin, a direct descendant of
the sun. Suddenly, his contentment is upended as he tries to understand the reason for their
meeting. Despite what Benjamin says, that they are meant to be together, Christopher
initially tries to hold
Benjamin at arm’s length, believing that he is only to be for Benjamin what Joseph was to
him—a friend and mentor.
Excerpt from Book 1
I began to question accepting Laura’s invitation when I
heard the noise coming from the backyard as we approached the house. I disliked crowds,
and it sounded like an immense crowd was on the other side of the gate.
People were everywhere—seated on lounge chairs
scattered around the patio or at the rectangular dining table or milling about in various
groups—talking loudly over the blaring music. Laura’s voice broke through the noise.
“I don’t see Peter anywhere. He might be inside. Shall we
find him?”
“By all means. I would feel uncomfortable attending his
party without meeting him.”
I followed Laura into the house. As we passed through the
living room, my eyes fell on a few framed photos of a handsome couple on the wall.
In the kitchen, a solitary male figure was removing a tray of
croissants from the oven.
“Hello, Peter.”
As he turned around, I recognized Peter as one of the men
in the photos. Tall and slender, with dark hair and a mustache waxed into handlebars, there
was a dapperness to him that I found pleasing.
“Hey, Laura. Lovely to see you!”
After setting the hot tray down, Peter hugged her.
“Peter, I want you to meet Christopher. He just moved here
from Seattle and works with me at the station.”
“How do you do, Peter?“
Having grown used to the reaction my presence caused, I
smiled patiently as Peter, unable to speak right away, shook my offered hand.
“I hope you do not mind my crashing your party. Laura
assured me that you would not object to her bringing me.”
“No, of course, I don’t mind.”
The words tumbled out one on top of the other.
“Is there anything we can do to assist you?”
“No, I have it all under control, thanks. Please help yourself
to the food and drinks out on the patio.”
“We will. Thanks,” Laura said, taking my arm and steering
me back through the living room.
“Peter is very nice,” I commented as we stepped through
the doors and headed towards the drinks table. “Can I make you something?”
“A mimosa, thanks. Yes, Peter’s a sweetie.”
We stood sipping our drinks as I scanned the crowd of
mostly men, a mix of young and old, before Laura took me around, introducing me to the
people she knew.
I instinctively searched their eyes for the essence of
another while ignoring Laura’s scrutinizing gaze.
Laura needed to use the bathroom, so she left me standing
under the large Ficus tree where we had sought shade from the sun. Within minutes of her
departure, I was surrounded by a large group of people vying for my attention. Carrying on
multiple conversations was challenging, but I did my best to make each person feel they had
my full attention.
He caught my attention on the periphery of my vision: tall
and well-built, resembling the small statue of the god Mars that sat on the table in Joseph’s
shop. Our eyes met, and I felt my heart skip a beat, seeing something flash in his eyes.
Smiling hopefully, I extended my hand to him.
“Hello, my name is Christopher Dunn.”
As he shook my hand, I took the opportunity to search his
golden-brown eyes. My initial hope turned to disappointment, for while something was
there, it was not another’s essence. Though disappointed, I was intrigued.
“Davidmartelli.”
He slurred the two names into one in his haste to get the
words out.
As I gazed into his eyes, the feeling of a purpose to our
meeting appeared—first Laura and now David.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, David Martelli,” I said, saying
his name distinctly.
David blushed attractively, causing a twinge in my
heart.
“Can I get you a drink?”
He looked so crestfallen when I held up my cup that I was
tempted to down my drink and ask him for another.
“Oh, you have one.”
“I do, but I appreciate you asking.”
I gave him a smile to back up my words. It was apparent
that David was struggling to find something to say, the frustration evident in his handsome
features. I wanted to get him away from the people surrounding us and talk to him alone,
but I did not see how I could do so without offending everyone else.
Conscious of the eyes watching us, David blushed again and
backed away.
For some reason, I knew that this behavior was out of
character for him. Watching him walk away, I hoped we would meet again as I wanted to
discover what I saw in his eyes.
About the Author
Stephen Hardy was born in
the San Francisco Bay Area but grew up in the Pacific Northwest. His career as a fashion
designer took him back to San Francisco before he headed to New York City, where he met
his husband of twenty years. Tiring of the hectic pace of the fashion industry, Stephen gave
up his career to become a stay-at-home dad for his and his husband’s two adopted sons and
a quiet life in Connecticut. Now residing in Phoenix, Arizona, and with the kids grown,
Stephen returned to university, where he rediscovered his love for writing. His focus is on
contemporary fiction, examining social issues regarding gender, sexuality, and relationships.
Search for Complete is his first novel.
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