New Release

NEW RELEASE: “The Teacher Inside Me” by Anthony Auswat.

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Teacher Inside Me

Author and Publisher: Anthony Auswat

Cover Artist: Anne Channarong

Release Date: June 11, 2025

Tense/POV: first person, present tense, single POV

Genres: MM Dark Romance, Mystery/Suspense, Queer Psychological Thriller, Taboo, Coming-of-Age

Tropes: Student/teacher, forbidden love, power imbalance, age gap, first love, coming out

Themes: Obsession, power and control, desire vs. morality, reputation and ruin, queer identity, boundaries, masculinity

Heat Rating: 4 flames     

Length: 71 000 words/322 pages

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

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A forbidden student-teacher obsession. 

A queer coming-of-age thriller. 

A story that lingers like a bruise you can’t stop touching.

Blurb

Liam is just trying to finish high school and keep his secrets to himself. Mr. Hilton, his English teacher, is everything Liam shouldn’t want—straight, married, and way off-limits—but possibly…interested. What starts as an innocent crush blurs into something more real, more intense, and more dangerous than either of them can control.

Because some lines should not be crossed. Some lessons can’t be unlearned. And some desires come at a terrible price.

The Teacher Inside Me is an emotionally charged LGBTQ+ psychological thriller about longing, power, and the darkness within us all.

Originally racking up 2.6 million reads by a global audience on Wattpad before it was banned, this newly revised and completely uncensored edition invites you back into the shadows—rawer, deeper, and more haunting than ever.

This is the book they tried to bury—but The Teacher Inside Me is too disruptive to ever disappear.

Excerpt 

I can’t believe he’s wearing that cologne again. Today of all days. A test day. A day when we get handed an exam with a series of questions about the Anton Chekhov play, The Seagull. A day when we have to scribble answers in the form of short essays to prove not only that we read the play from beginning to end but also that we thought about it deeply. First line: “Why do you always wear black?” Last line: “The fact is, he’s shot himself.” And everything in between.

I’m sitting in the front of the classroom, dead center, because we all were randomly assigned seats at the beginning of the school year and I guess I happened to be unlucky. Never before have I willingly chosen to be this far up front, an open target for questions posed, stripped of the privilege of blending in. But in this class, I don’t mind all that much because it means I get to be close to Mr. Hilton, closer than any other student.

I can smell him from here, and it’s making me swoon. I know it’s an old-fashioned word, “swoon,” but that’s the best way to describe how I’m feeling. How am I going to make it through this test? The scent—his scent—has managed to crawl far up my nose. And that may sound like a complaint. But it’s not.

I’ve always been sensitive to smells. And when the smell is wafting from a man I find extremely attractive, a man in his early thirties who seems simultaneously young and mature, a man whose rugged stubble covers a boyish face, a man whose wavy dark brown hair is short enough to be considered clean-cut but long enough for someone like his wife to run her fingers through, a man whose slim blue jeans and red dress shirt reveal the contours of his fit body, a man who doesn’t belong in a quiet suburb of Los Angeles teaching English but does belong in between the pages of a men’s fashion magazine . . . well . . .

The room is spinning a little, the way it does when I sometimes get up out of bed too fast. A comforting warmth fills my entire head and melts down onto my shoulders and the rest of my body. My heart: is it beating faster? My stomach: is it tightening up? Down further: what?

To put it simply: his cologne is driving me crazy. Like I want to leap out of my chair, pin him against the chalkboard, and ram my tongue down his mouth so deep and so long that I could tell exactly what he had for breakfast. Gross, I know. But these are my thoughts. And if I can’t be honest in my thoughts, then life would suck even more than it does now. I mean, I can’t be honest in my words and actions. And that’s one of the reasons I can’t wait to graduate. To get out of this city, Point Liberty, where I was born and where I don’t want to die. I want to move to a place where nobody knows me and I can finally be myself.

About the Author 

Anthony Auswat is the author of hot and dangerous gay thrillers, including The Teacher Inside Me and Hunter’s Hidden Camera—which collectively racked up more than three million reads on Wattpad before being banned. He lives in Los Angeles, where he writes under a pen name to protect the guilty, hide from his bosses, and get away with murder.

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NEW RELEASE: “Forbidden Lust” by Oliver Takely. Rafflecopter Giveaway Included!

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Forbidden Lust

Author: Oliver Takely

Cover Artist: Emily’s World of Design

Release Date: June 6, 2025

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance

Tropes: Forbidden love, age gap

Themes: Insta love

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 33 000 words

Each book in the Sinful Knights series is a standalone and can be read in any order.

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

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Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

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Two hearts, one secret connection: will lust turn to love?

Blurbette

Josh meets Daniel, a successful lawyer twenty years his senior. Their passionate weekend blurs the line between lust and love. When it is revealed Daniel’s best friend is Josh’s secret father, he must choose between financial security and the chance for a future with the man of his dreams. Will this forbidden love conquer the odds? 

Full blurb

In the City of London, Josh works tirelessly to provide financial security for his younger sister, following the tragic deaths of his parents. He longs for a connection with his birth father who doesn’t want Josh to wreck his perfect life. Mature beyond his years, Josh craves the love and stability of an older man to anchor him.

Daniel, a wildly successful lawyer, works hard and plays even harder. His heart is closed to love after the betrayal of his ex-husband, until he meets Josh, twenty years his junior, and the executive assistant of one of his clients. Their chemistry ignites during a passionate weekend, initially driven by lust, awakening feelings Daniel never thought he’d experience again.

But fate has a cruel twist in store: Daniel’s best friend is also Josh’s birth father, making their love utterly forbidden. With a tempting offer on the table from his father to walk away, will Josh choose financial security or take a chance on love? And can Daniel convince Josh that the only choice he needs to make is to follow his heart?

Excerpt 

The warmth of the coffee shop was a welcome relief from the biting cold of January. The UK weather was always unpredictable, but it was guaranteed January and February would be ball-freezing cold.

“Good morning, Daniel,” said Jakub, the owner.

Daniel had moved to Hampstead three years ago after selling the marital home and finalising his divorce. He’d been coming to this independent coffee shop ever since. Jakub knew him well, and he raised a questioning brow when Josh was looking the other way. All Daniel could do was smile and act like it was nothing. The fact was, in all the time he’d lived in this area, he’d never brought another man to his favourite little coffee haunt.

“Morning, Jakub. My usual please. Josh, what would you like?”

Josh was in his own world, looking at the eclectic décor of the coffee shop. If you knew Jakub, it was very him – chaotic yet calm. A mishmash of different chairs and tables packed in, with nothing matching. Calm pastel colours on the walls, with a variety of art from local queer talent.

“Josh.”

Daniel put his hand on Josh’s shoulder, causing him to startle a little. He turned and smiled, looking a bit embarrassed. Daniel loved how much he blushed, because it made him look even more adorably cute. 

“What would you like to drink?”

“Oh, erm . . .” 

Josh looked up at the menu board, looking uncertain about what to choose. Jakub had a great place here, but the choices were limited to the staples. Daniel was getting irritated – not at Josh’s indecisiveness, but at what had happened to the assertive, needy boy who’d begged for his cock earlier.

“You can’t go wrong with one of my cappuccinos,” said Jakub, picking up on the awkwardness.

Josh let out an audible sigh of relief and nodded at Jakub. He shot a “what the fuck” look at Daniel as he steered Josh to a table. The coffee shop wasn’t too busy; it was past the lunch rush. After their breakfast, and morning fuck, they’d had another nap before showering together. Then he’d dropped to his knees and sucked another load out of Josh. Oh, to be twenty-five again.

“Are you okay, Josh?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Tell me if I’m overstepping here, but you seemed overwhelmed when you were ordering your coffee.”

“Oh, that’s just how I am.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m indecisive when there are lots of choices. That’s why I love my job with Oscar. He’s very clear in what he wants. No room for ambiguity. Life’s easier that way, don’t you think?”

It was hard to argue with his logic, but life just wasn’t like that. It was constant ambiguousness and second-guessing. Intuition was essential for survival, and he wasn’t sure if Josh went with his gut very often.

“Is there anything you’ve got going on now that you’re struggling to decide about? Maybe I can help, as a neutral observer,” he smiled.

“Spoken like a true lawyer.”

Daniel chuckled. He wasn’t wrong there, but what he really wanted was for Josh to open up to him and share what was bothering him, because something was.

“I guess . . . well . . . please don’t take this the wrong way . . .”

About the Author  

Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in both 2023 and 2024. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.

Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?

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NEW RELEASE: The Way Alex Sees Me. By Dann Hazel

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Way Alex Sees Me:

Book Two in the Aphrodite in Disguise Gay Romance Series

Author: Dann Hazel

Publisher: The Original Press

Cover Artist: Josh Fippen 

Release Date: May 27, 2025

Tense/POV: Past tense (except for Chapter One), first person POV

Genres: Dark MM Romance, Historical, Paranormal

Tropes: Love and loss, coming out, like father like son, young gay love, identity and self-discovery, second chance

Themes: Coming out, forgiveness, gay empowerment

Heat Rating: 3 flames  

Length:  94 600 words/332  pages

It is part of a series, but can easily be read as a standalone.

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US   |  Amazon UK

Running away from those we love is seldom a good idea. Still, it’s what we often do.

Blurb

High school senior Rusty Finch is in a pickle.

His grades are plummeting even though everyone says he’s got a good head on his shoulders. He and his mother Gloria are not getting along. Neither of them knows why.

He’s convinced that his mom lied to him when she said his father died when he was two. But if her story is true, why can’t she show him his father’s grave?

And now, to top it all off, he’s pretty sure he’s gay. But Bill, campus jerk and all-around bully, is absolutely certain on that point. He takes perverse pleasure in tormenting Rusty on a daily basis.

What’s a confused and impetuous boy to do?

Destroy the enemy, of course!

But for Rusty, an unintentional detour from a lonely road and into a ditch thwarts that ill-fated plan. Rusty finds himself in the hospital.

A stranger appears at his bedside. “Rusty? I’m your father.”

With those four words, his life begins to come into focus…

…only to get really blurry again when Frank comes along and sparks feelings that Rusty’s not equipped to handle.

If you like your gay romance spiced with a touch of suspense and plenty of youthful angst, you’ll love The Way Alex Sees Me.

This novel, the second book in the Aphrodite in Disguise series, is a Dark Gay Romance with elements of recent history, the supernatural, young love, family strife, and dark hidden secrets. Though embedded in the not-so-distant past, this novel speaks to timeless experience.

Excerpt 

I nodded, but kept silent. How could I tell Frank anything? The more of my father’s story I discovered, the more complicated it became. Even Frank might balk at the complex nuances. Or, worse, he might milk the story for everything it was worth, just for its theatrical qualities, demeaning their importance to me.

“Well, my little stud muffins, here are your drinks—one with fortification and one—ahem—virgin.” He stood tall above us after placing our drinks on the table. “What else can I get for you?”

“I think we’re good for right now.” I glanced at him and smiled. “Thanks.”

He leaned toward us confidentially. “Look, boys. Since you’re new in town, I want to give you a heads-up about some trouble we’ve been having. Lately, a few dickheads have been getting their jollies by harassing our customers. We keep reporting them to the cops, but these boys are smart and quick. Besides, I’m not sure we’re high on the police force’s list of priorities. I’m telling you this because you need to watch your cute little asses when you leave. Couples really set their panties on fire. Just last month, they beat two of our customers with a chain. Then, while the lankier one was getting his ass beat, his partner pulled a gun on the assailants, and off they ran, like the pussies they are. Still, boys, they’ll hurt you bad, if you’re not prepared.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Frank said. “We’ll be careful.”

Then, our waiter whirled away to retrieve a round of drinks for another table.

Frank grabbed my arm. “Okay, buddy. Tell me. What the hell is going on?”

I bristled. “What are you talking about?”

“You think I’m blind? Fuck that. I can see just how preoccupied you are. What’s the deal with that table over there?” Frank glanced toward the restroom. “Besides, I saw the guy who was with your father at the fair. It’s Ben, right?”

I jerked my arm from Frank’s grasp, not fully understanding why he upset me so. “Just drop it, Frank. It doesn’t matter.”

Frank rested his arms on the table. “Like hell it doesn’t. I’ve been watching you, Rusty. You’re as preoccupied as a horny bitch in a dog show. What really happened between you and your father tonight?”

I scowled. “Jesus, Frank. Everything that happens in the world is not high drama.”

“Are you sure about that?” I could tell from his voice how determined he was to get me to talk. “Something’s going on with you, and I want to know about it.” Frank took a sip from his cocktail. Now, I’d begun to wish I’d ordered one. “You might as well tell me, Rusty. You know damn well I’m not giving up until you do. We can’t be real friends if we don’t help each other out.”

I turned my head toward the dance floor, where two middle-aged men, their arms wrapped tightly around one another, swayed gently to a slow tune. One whispered something in the other’s ear. Both men laughed softly. Theirs was a romance I envied.

“Does it have anything to do with the fight with your father?”

Pressure mounted inside my heart and head, even as my stomach churned. Frank was not going to give up. Not tonight. Not with the vodka on board.

“Tell me, damn it! Don’t keep secrets from your best friend.”

“Okay!” I shouted. Several startled men looked our way. Embarrassed, I lowered my voice. “The man you mentioned. Ben. Remember? He and those other guys were talking about Dad. Apparently, Ben wants more from my father than he seems willing to give.”

Confused, Frank stared at me, obviously confused. “What do you mean? More from your father. Why the fuck would Ben be interested in a straight man?”

I looked steadily into Frank’s face. “Who said he was straight?”

For an unusual moment, Frank was both stunned—and speechless. “No way! Really? Your old man is gay? I mean, Rusty, really. That is so fucking awesome.”

About the Author 

As a Florida-based author of both fiction and nonfiction, Dann worked as an educator on both the secondary and post-secondary levels. But since high school, when he served as a reporter for the school newspaper, he’s always had a passion for both reading and writing. Dann lives in Lake Wales, FL, with his husband, Josh (also a writer) and their adorable Eskie (American Eskimo), Flurry. She’s definitely part of the family, with boundless energy and appetite! Dann is passionate about scenic walks and jogs around a local lake, enjoying Walt Disney World, staying healthy, reading, streaming movies and provocative TV series (especially those based on novels!) and current events. His pronouns are he/him/his.

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NEW RELEASE: “The 39 Steps: A Contemporary Reimagining” by L M Somerton

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The 39 Steps: A Contemporary Reimagining

Author: L M Somerton

Publisher: Totally Entwined

Release Date: May 20, 2025

Cover Artist: Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Tense/POV: third person, present tense

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Tropes: Peril, self-sacrifice, accidental hero 

Themes: Saving the world

Heat Rating:  4 flames     

Length: 50 955 words

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

First for Romance   |  Pride Publishing

Uncover the conspiracy, outrun the enemy, and trust no one—survival is the ultimate test.

Blurb

Oberon Wycherley never thought his dull London life could take a deadly turn—until a frantic neighbour, American journalist Art Carew, claims to have uncovered an international conspiracy. A Greek industrialist is marked for assassination by a shadowy cabal called the Black Stone and that’s only the beginning.

When Carew is found dead in his flat, Oberon finds himself the prime suspect—and the only one who can stop the plot. Fleeing to the rugged Scottish Highlands, Oberon must decipher Carew’s cryptic notebook while dodging assassins and evading the police. Along the way, he forms an unlikely partnership with the enigmatic Syd Whatten, a man whose charm is matched only by his secrets.

As the Black Stone’s sinister plan accelerates, Oberon and Syd race against time to unmask the conspirators. From explosive escapes to a high-stakes standoff on a storm-battered coastline, every step brings them closer to the truth—and deeper into danger.

Will they foil the plot in time? Or will Oberon become another casualty of a deadly game?

A gripping blend of espionage, danger, and unexpected alliances, The 39 Steps will leave you breathless to the last page.

Excerpt 

“I’m gonna go sit in the corner and browse my phone like a normal human.” Oberon paid for his drinks and the wine he’d be taking home with him then took his glass and snagged a table in the corner next to the window. His job meant keeping an eye on the news so he could justify a bit of doom-scrolling as work. The media sites were full of the usual rubbish about the royals, D-list celebrities and the cost of living. Oberon browsed anything he could find that was remotely related to mining and mining companies. There was a particularly interesting piece about deep seabed mining for polymetallic nodules. Potato-sized lumps containing copper, cobalt, nickel and manganese…hmm, all crucial to battery manufacture. The mention of potato was enough to make his stomach rumble. He took his glass back to the bar, said goodbye to Marley, who handed him a bag containing his bottles of wine, then headed for home.

The rain had stopped, leaving a fine, clear evening. Everything smelled freshly washed. As Oberon walked back to his flat near Portland Place, the crowds surged around him, busy and chattering, snapping pictures of anything and everything. He envied their easy-going camaraderie and excitement even if he didn’t understand the attraction of countless selfies. The shop assistants, office workers in sharp suits, street cleaners and buskers all had things to do and places to be. He gave a few pound coins to a homeless guy hunched in a tatty sleeping bag in a closed-down shop doorway because he saw him yawn; he was a fellow-sufferer. At Oxford Circus, Oberon looked up at the sky and made a vow. I’ll give this place another week and if nothing exciting happens, I’ll stick a pin in a map and buy a one-way flight.

His short-term home was on the first floor of a newish block behind Langham Place. He was flat-sitting for a friend who’d taken a six-month engineering contract in Brazil and the rent he was charging Oberon was peanuts compared to the going rate in the area. The building was upmarket enough to merit a security desk in the entrance hall, along with mailboxes and a well-maintained noticeboard. The lobby smelled of lemons.

His friend had a cleaner who came in three times a week and though Oberon didn’t make enough mess to justify it, he didn’t want to take the woman’s income. Magdalena traded light duties for baking, leaving him Polish sweets and pastries that did nothing for his waistline. There was a lift, which Oberon rejected in favour of the stairs, thinking of those pastries.

He was fitting his key into the lock when another man made his way up the stairs. He moved quietly and his sudden appearance made Oberon start. He was slim, with a short reddish-brown beard, orange-streaked hair and washed-out grey eyes. He was half a head shorter than Oberon’s six feet one.

“You’re my upstairs neighbour, aren’t you?” Oberon recognised him as the occupant of a flat on the next floor. They’d exchanged hellos once or twice in passing but nothing more.

“I am, Mr. Wycherley. I’ve been hanging around waiting for you,” the man said. “Can I come in for a minute?” He seemed to be making an effort to steady his voice, and he reached for Oberon’s arm but didn’t touch him. “My name is Art Carew. I won’t take up much of your time.”

Oberon didn’t feel he could refuse. He got his door open and motioned Art in. No sooner was Art over the threshold than he made a dash for the kitchen, where he peered out of the window before coming back.

“Is the door locked?” he asked, not waiting for a response before fastening the security chain in place himself. “I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m taking advantage, but you look like the kind of man who might understand. I’m in trouble and I need a favour. It won’t cost you anything.”

Oberon debated throwing him out there and then but he was bored and the man was intriguing, if a bit odd. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll listen. Can I get you a drink?” He looks like he needs one.

“That would be kind and very welcome.”

There was a tray of decanters and glasses on a table next to the couch. Oberon poured his visitor a generous neat whisky. Art downed it in one. “Another?”

“Thank you but no. I should keep a clear head, but that one helped steady the nerves.”

“My landlord appreciates a single malt. Take a seat. I’ll just be a minute.” Oberon carried his wine through to the kitchen then took off his jacket before returning to the living room. “So, tell me what’s going on.”

“Yeah, I should, shouldn’t I?” Art said. “I’m a bit shaken up and not thinking straight. You see, I’m dead.”

About the Author 

Lucinda lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.

She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She’s fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and some not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.

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NEW RELEASE: “Charmed by Destiny” by Jessamyn Kingley.

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Charmed by Destiny (Arcane Havoc, Book 2)

Author and Publisher: Jessamyn Kingley

Cover Artist: LJ Anderson of Mayhem Cover Creations

Release Date: May 15, 2025

Genre: MM Fantasy/Paranormal Romance

Trope: Fated mates

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length:  87 435 words

It is not a standalone story, but does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited

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Neither Richard nor Lucas want a relationship despite their attraction, 

but destiny already has them in her sights.

Blurb

Richard Marwood has no interest in relationships. After a few awful brushes with intimacy, he refuses to try again. Sex is required for a necromancer to find their soulmate, but Richard doesn’t care. He won’t be disappointed by one more handsome creep. 

In the ten years since Lucas Wynnter was summoned from the dead as an inspirit, he has aided his necromancer. Together, they have traveled across the country and stayed in countless rundown motels. But they are out of money. Lucas’s summoner learns that the Marwoods assist abandoned inspirits, and he convinces Lucas to apply for a job.

Although Lucas doesn’t want to be discarded, he does want to help. He shows up at a Marwood casino and, on his first day, meets Richard. Lucas is attracted to Richard, but he works for him. Plus, Lucas won’t be staying. He is building his savings and plans to reunite with his necromancer.

Richard shouldn’t be fascinated by Lucas, but he can’t stop thinking about him. For months they ignore the electricity arcing between them—until Richard’s cousin dares him to take another chance. Should Richard risk humiliation and ask Lucas to spend the night with him? 

Lucas is charmed by the awkward invitation, but neither man is prepared for destiny to intervene. Once their souls touch, nothing in their lives will ever be the same.

Excerpt 

Richard straightened, and with his pulse pounding in his ears, he headed for Lucas. 

Am I really doing this?

Richard swallowed thickly as Lucas turned and smiled at him. How embarrassing would it be if Lucas told him no?

“Hey,” Richard said in an attempt at casualness when he was a few feet from Lucas.

“Hey, are you okay?” Lucas asked, his eyebrows furrowing with concern.

“Yeah, why?”

“I don’t know, your eyes look a little wild and your face is flushed.”

“Oh, how weird,” Richard managed and tried not to wince at how his voice cracked on the words. “So, I…um, well, I had a question.”

Richard had never propositioned anyone, and he was apparently abysmal at it. Lucas’s expression was a mixture of concern and bemusement. The stupid card was still in Richard’s hand, and he wasn’t sure if he should give it to Lucas or run for his life.

“What do you need help with?”

“I don’t need help. Okay, maybe that’s not correct. It’s sort of helping, but more like a team thing. I don’t know how to explain it without making it creepy, really. At least not without everyone around us figuring it out, and I’d like to keep things private.”

“Okay,” Lucas replied slowly.

Richard’s face was on fire, but he’d made it this far. He wasn’t being smooth, and it was definitely awkward. Score two points for my lack of game, he mused distractedly. 

“I have a card. Um. It’s to my room. Here at the hotel. I was thinking maybe you could use it. I can’t leave yet, but I could meet you up there later.”

“Meet you later? I don’t understand.”

Humiliation filled Richard, and he shook his head. “Sorry, I should go.”

He turned on his heel, and his jaw flexed. But before he could take a step, Lucas said his name.

“Richard, please don’t leave.”

Forcing himself to face Lucas, Richard looked up at the inspirit. “It’s okay, I was asking you to do something highly inappropriate for two coworkers anyway.”

Lucas’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes widened painfully. To Richard’s shock, he tugged the key from the necromancer’s fingers and quickly pocketed it. “No, I’m a fucking idiot. How the hell didn’t I figure out what you were…anyway, yeah. I’d love to meet you later.”

Richard grinned like a fool, and Lucas returned his smile. His dimple deepened, and Richard nearly swooned. It was either because of Lucas’s attractiveness—which was growing with every second—or the adrenalize zipping through Richard at lightning speed.

“Okay. I guess I’ll see you then.”

“Yeah, I can leave like whenever, right?”

“Sure. I have to do some family stuff or whatever, but um, yeah, whatever. It shouldn’t be too messy. You could watch TV. Maybe play on your phone. There’s a bathroom. Well, of course there’s a fucking bathroom. I’m babbling, so I’m gonna go.”

Lucas winked. “Okay.”

“Okay,” Richard replied. He raced away from the inspirit as if his ass were on fire. Now he had to figure out how to calm down enough to have a normal conversation so no one was clued in to the fact that he’d invited a sexy inspirit to his hotel room. And survive whatever awaited him with Lucas upstairs later. Richard didn’t know if he’d made a smart decision, but it was far from his normal controlled evenings at home.

Would he survive his recklessness with his heart and dignity intact?

About the Author

Jessamyn Kingley has published over forty titles and refuses to pick a favorite among them. With an extraordinary passion for her characters, Jessamyn eagerly crafts new tales and avidly re-reads them whenever her schedule allows. Jessamyn shares a home in Nevada with her husband and their three spoiled cats. When she is not writing or adding new ideas to her thick stack of beloved notebooks, she is gaming with family and friends.

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COMING SOON-PRE ORDER NOW: “The Party Plot” by Emily Spady.

COMING SOON – PRE-ORDER NOW!

Book Title: The Party Plot

Author and Publisher: Emily Spady

Cover Artist: Morganically_Sourced

Release Date: May 7, 2025

Tense/POV: third person past tense, alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance

Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers, small town romance, forced proximity, second chance, no third-act breakup

Themes: Self-acceptance, friendship, party planning

Heat Rating: 3-4 flames

Length: 75 569 words/323 pages

It is a standalone story, but takes place in the same universe as my other books. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links – Available for Pre-Order

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

A chaotic good boy and a sexy con man clash in this m/m romantic comedy about small-town drama, Southern manners, and being true to oneself. 

Blurb

When Laurel Van Marcke comes home for the summer, he’s immediately thrown back into all the scandals, grudges, and petty gossip he wanted to avoid. But he was expecting that. What he wasn’t expecting was Casey Bright, his mom’s new party planner, who also happens to be the mystery man he spent an unforgettable night with three months ago. But something about Casey, and the whole situation, seems off, and Laurel needs this party to go off without a hitch.

Casey has his own agenda for the upcoming Halloween ball, one that doesn’t include Laurel.  He wants nothing to do with the spoiled little rich boy, and definitely doesn’t want to get entangled with him again. But Laurel is persistent, and soon, he’s involved himself not only in the party planning, but in all the most intimate aspects of Casey’s life. And Casey absolutely despises him for it… right?

One thing is for sure, the first annual Halloween Ball will be the event of the year—one way or another. 

The Party Plot is an m/m enemies-to-lovers romance featuring elaborate schemes, a few raccoons, several cheesy Halloween props, and a HEA.

Excerpt 

They were passing the Belmont Hotel now, and Mr. Petrowski was telling them about its resident ghost, a phantom dog that would press up against the legs of people it liked. Pretty adorable as far as hauntings went. Laurel tried again to get Casey’s attention.

“Do you like dogs, Casey?”

  Casey shrugged, an irritated frown on his face. “They’re fine, I guess.”

“Wow, what an enthusiastic endorsement. Not exactly what a dog lover would say.”

“My grandmother had birds when I was a kid.”

“Birds?” Laurel hadn’t been expecting that. He sat up, curious about what else Casey might reveal.

“Parakeets. And love birds. They were—” Laurel might have been mistaken, but his face seemed to soften for a moment. Then the frown was back. “Loud. They were really loud.”

“God. I don’t know how I feel about you being a bird person.”

“Says the guy who gives off big Horse Girl Energy.” Casey crossed his arms. “And it was my grandma, not me. I just had to put up with them. Like I’m having to put up with you. Why are you so obsessed with me, anyway?”

Because it was hard not to be. Because Casey had been starring in his dreams for the last three months, had been a constant in the back of his mind. Every shock of bleach-blond hair he’d seen across the room, in clubs, in airport lounges, had made his stomach drop and his skin feel hot all over. Every time he put on a tie, he could feel it wrapped around his wrists, could close his eyes and inhale Casey’s scent, the salty, intimate scent of his skin beneath the cologne.

Laurel swallowed, feeling desperate and pathetic, feeling like a dog ghost plastering itself to Casey’s leg. “I just want to get to know you.”

“Well, I don’t.” Casey looked at him for a long moment. Outside were the footsteps of the horse, slow and deliberate. The sounds of the city waking up. Mr. Petrowski was telling another story, but all Laurel could hear was static, his heart pounding, his tongue heavy in his mouth. Casey held his gaze as he slid across the seat toward him, and then his hand was on Laurel’s thigh, his breath against Laurel’s ear, and Laurel barely kept himself from gasping. His skin was on fire, his scalp tingling and his dick stirring to life as Casey whispered, “I already know everything I want to know about you, Laurel Van Marcke. I know that you’re spoiled, and useless, and not as smart as you think you are. I know that you’re used to getting what you want. But this time, you’re not going to, because it’s run its course. I’m not interested. And when this party is over, I’m looking forward to never having to think of you again.”

“Ouch,” Laurel said, not sure why excitement was bubbling in his chest, not sure why—God—he was still hard. Somehow his hand had found its way onto Casey’s collar, and he could smell the coffee on him, feel the quickness of his breath.

“Are we clear?” Casey asked.

“Sure.” Laurel struggled out. “So clear. Crystal.” Casey’s lips were so close, and he knew how he would taste. Bitter, then sweet and familiar. 

“Good,” said Casey, and moved away, going back to looking out the window.

Laurel’s ears were ringing, moths fluttering in his stomach, his thigh throbbing where Casey’s hand had been. So this was it, then. Casey wasn’t interested in playing nice; he’d said it himself. If there was no hope of being friends (or more, so much more), then there was no reason not to go scorched earth. Figure out what he was hiding once and for all. Laurel cleared his throat. He could still feel the roughness of Casey’s collar between his fingers. “I actually am very smart, you know. Despite evidence to the contrary.”

“Could you stop talking?” Casey pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Ooh, I’m not good at that. Not good at stopping in general.” He felt a smile sliding across his face.

“You’re going to have to be.”

“We’ll see,” Laurel said, tapping his fingers on the seat. “We’ll see.”

About the Author 

When she is not writing, Emily Spady likes to paint, hike, and, of course, read books. This is her third full-length novel. She lives in the Pacific Northwest of the United States with her husband and cat.

Social Media Links

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RECENT RELEASE: “Force Majeure: A Pain and Pleasure Story” by Elizabeth Noble. $10.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway Included!

RECENT RELEASE

Book Title: Force Majeure: A Pain and Pleasure Story

Author: Elizabeth Noble

Publisher: Howling Corgi Press

Cover Artist: TL Bland

Release Date: March 18, 2025

Pairing: MM and MMM

Tense/POV: third person, past tense, alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, BDSM, Menage, Mystery/suspense

Tropes: Established couple, threesome, lover turned stalker, D/s lifestyle, kidnapped, protector

Themes: Forgiveness and redemption, spicy marriage, loyalty, perseverance 

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 26 000 words/110 pages

It is a standalone story. 

It is a continuation of a series of shorter stories, the Pain and Pleasure series. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads 

Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited  

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |   Amazon  UK 

One simple act could change your life.

Blurb

One simple act could change your life.

Ian Groden and Taren Murdoch have a good life. Their marriage is solid, and their Dom/sub lifestyle makes for an amazing and extra spicy sex life. Meeting with another man, Kevin, on occasion adds another level of excitement to their marriage.

For Ian, the only thing better than one Dom is two!

Taren loves watching Ian being dominated by Kevin. Ian craves complete submission to Taren when they’re alone again.

Problems arise when Kevin decides he doesn’t want to remain the casual third man. He puts in motion a plan to drive a wedge through Taren and Ian’s relationship, forcing them to fight for each other and their marriage. Can they put their life back together and regain what could be lost?

Excerpt 

Taren Murdoch was kind, soft-spoken, and incredibly capable, with broad shoulders and a quick smile. He’d stayed with Ian until his parents arrived, despite Ian’s protests that it wasn’t necessary. Not wanting to let on how frightened he’d been waiting in the cold and dark for help to arrive, Ian tried to brush off the experience. Taren would have none of it and stayed with Ian for the hours it took his parents to make their way to the hospital.

Taren made Ian feel safe. He was darn nice on the eyes, too. They’d started dating not long after and had been married for nearly eight years. Ian loved Taren, heart and soul. Never once did Ian doubt Taren felt the same way.

“You know it’s your choice. You’re in control of this situation. I’m happy either way. Kevin is…a nice distraction from reality. But I love you. I married you. No one, and I mean no one, comes before that.” Taren swept up both cards and tore them up. “It’s great to help you experience something I was able to, but Christ, Ian, if this is going to cause you so much anxiety, I’ll tell him never to contact us again.”

“It’s not making me anxious,” Ian retorted. 

Taren laughed and cocked his head to one side. “Boy, please!”

As when he was on the phone, Taren uttering the word, boy, immediately sent Ian into sub role.

Ian’s gaze dropped to the floor, and he studied his toes. “I’ve laid out some choices for you, Sir.”

“Do you want dinner first?”

Ian shook his head. “No, Sir.” 

If Taren wanted to eat first, Ian was obligated by their Dom/sub agreement to accommodate his wishes. For Taren, Ian’s needs always came first. Ian had such admiration and respect for Taren in part because he was an amazing protector. Taren always seemed to know exactly what to do for Ian in any circumstance.

“Did you prep, or should I do that?”

“I prepped, Sir, but if you want to inspect for yourself,” Ian offered.

Taren smiled softly. “No need. I was simply checking, boy. Go wait for me at the cross.”

Ian nodded. He wouldn’t speak unless asked a question. Hurrying to their bedroom, Ian stood on the low platform holding the cross. He hung his wrists over the ‘arms’ of the cross and leaned his forehead against the longer vertical piece.

A few minutes later he heard Taren enter the bedroom. Ian turned his head far enough to watch as Taren shed his work clothes and pulled on a pair of lightweight, black linen pants.

Taren sat on the bed and sorted through the toys and equipment Ian had laid out. Ian had to shift his weight and turn his head the other way when Taren moved to their storage area. Taren added a wooden paddle, wrist and ankle restraints, and plastic nipple clamps. All those items joined Ian’s picks on the bed. Taren cleared his throat, and Ian turned back to the cross, leaning his forehead against it and standing straighter.

The first thing Taren did was fit the hood over Ian’s head, sinking him into darkness. The hood was made of thick rubber with openings for his mouth and nostrils. Ian’s sight was completely blacked out, and his hearing was dampened, everything but the loudest noises were muffled. He’d have little or no warning for Taren’s actions. 

Taren pulled gently on the rubber, making sure it was positioned properly. He used two fingers under the hood to make sure Ian’s skin wasn’t pinched or his hair pulled. The purpose of the hood was sensory deprivation, not discomfort or pain.

Ian shuddered and gasped when the nipple clamps were snapped into place. Next, Taren crisscrossed the leather straps of Ian’s harness across his chest and back and buckled it securely. The wide, leather wrist and ankle cuffs were positioned and tightened into place. 

The only way Ian knew Taren had moved away was the loss of heat from his body against Ian’s back. He felt Taren return, then jumped when Taren used his hands over Ian’s to have him curl his fingers around the cross and hold on. The vibration against Ian’s back when Taren chuckled added to his overall mood of expectation. Taren ran one hand over Ian’s back before reaching around to put pressure on his belly, getting him to take a step back and extend his arms. He gripped Ian’s hips and pulled back, positioning him, so Ian’s legs were slightly spread, and his ass jutted out.

Ian took a few deep breaths, bracing himself for what he knew was coming next.

About the Author

Mystery, action, chills, and thrills spiced with romance and desire. ELIZABETH NOBLE lives by the adage “I can’t not write.” She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t make up stories and eventually she learned how to put words on a page. Those words turned into books and fan fiction that turned into a genuine love of M/M fiction. A part of every day is spent living in worlds she created that are filled with intrigue and espionage. She has a real love for a good mystery complete with murder and twisty plots as well as all things sci-fi, futuristic, and supernatural.

When she’s not chronicling the adventures of her many characters, Elizabeth is a veterinary nurse living in her native Cleveland, Ohio. She has three grown children and now happily shares her little, brick house with two spunky Cardigan Welsh Corgis and their feline sidekicks. Elizabeth is a fan of baseball, basketball (go Cavs and Guardians) and gardening. She can often be found working in her ‘outside office’ listening to classic rock and plotting her next novel waiting for it to be dark enough to gaze at the stars.

 Elizabeth has received a number of amateur writing awards. Since being published, several of her novels have received Honorable Mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Jewel Cave was a runner-up in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category in the 2015 Rainbow Awards. Ringed Love was a winner in the Gay Fantasy Romance category of the 2016 Rainbow Awards. Code Name Jack Rabbit and The Vampire Guard series placed third in The Paranormal Romance Guild 2022 Reviewer Awards in the LGBT/ROMANCE/ACTION ADVENTURE/MILITARY individual book and series categories.

Author Links

Blog/Website  | QueeRomance Ink  | Liminal Fiction

Facebook  |   Facebook Author page  |  BlueSky 

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BookBub  |  JMS page  |  Amazon

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NEW RELEASE: “Nothing but the Night” by Thom Collins. Rafflecopter Giveaway Included!

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Nothing but the Night (Basic Instincts Book 2)

Author: Thom Collins

Publisher: Entwined Publishing

Cover Artist: Kelly Martin

Release Date: April 8, 2025

POV/Tense: third person/past tense

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, mystery/suspense/thriller

Tropes: detective, murder mystery, crime, erotic romance, suspense 

Themes: family, secrets, sex work

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length: 64 958 words/253 pages

It is a standalone story that is part of a wider series. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

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Be careful what you look for in the night.

Blurb

Three months after the death of his brother, Marc Glass faces a whole new dilemma. A tabloid journalist has made a connection between Theo and a prominent politician. Theo’s death might not be all it seems. Marc knew all about his brother’s secret sex work, but it’s a scandal that would destroy his family, who have already suffered enough.

Private Detective Jason Durham might be the answer. Marc enlists Jason’s agency to look into Theo’s unsolved murder. The police investigation is dead, but if they can solve the case on their own, they could head off the potentially damaging story. Marc isn’t sure who he can trust with the details of Theo’s life, but Jason seems like the man.

As secrets are uncovered, Marc and Jason must fight their attraction to each other, but when their prime witness is murdered, they are suddenly caught in a web of mystery and increasing danger.

As the nights grow darker, will either of them make it until morning?

Excerpt

Marc saw him fully for the first time and was startled. At forty-four, it had been a long time since he’d been instantly affected by the physical appearance of a man, but Jason was stunning. It was his large, expressive eyes that first drew him in. They were a pale shade, somewhere between green and blue, and they gave a boyish quality to his masculine face. His dark-blond hair was swept to the right, short at the back and sides with a little length on top. He had a well-trimmed beard, brown and seasoned with flecks of grey. His mouth was wide. Marc had the most insane urge to kiss it. When he smiled, he revealed a small gap between his two front teeth, which only made him even sexier.

The body beneath his clothes was fit. More athletic than muscled, and there was an almost military bearing about his posture, with his shoulders back and his chest held proudly.

Jason sat and leaned across the file on his desk, looking at the notes, granting Marc a peek down the open neck of his shirt, and a tantalising hint of chest hair.

Get hold of yourself. Remember the reason you are here.

“So, this is about your brother?” Jason said, reading the file. Marc had given the briefest summary of his case to Olivia when he’d called to make the appointment yesterday.

“Yes, but it’s probably not what you’re thinking. My brother isn’t missing or anything like what you’re used to dealing with.”

Jason looked at him with wide, reassuring eyes. “There’s no such thing as a usual case in this business. Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell me what the problem is.”

Marc sighed. The beginning. He didn’t even know where that was. “Theo died in December. Down on the waterfront by the Vermont Hotel? You probably heard about it. He was killed by a car as he crossed the road in front of the hotel. Some of the witnesses say the car drove straight at him, but the police were never convinced.”

Jason pushed the file to one side. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Yes, I remember it. There must have been CCTV coverage. There are cameras all along the waterfront. And at the hotel too.”

“There are, but it’s inconclusive whether the car changed course to hit him or not. The resolution of the images isn’t great. I must have watched it a million times and even I can’t decide on what I’m seeing.”

“I take it the driver was never caught. Do you want me to investigate further? See if I can track them down?”

Marc shook his head. “That’s not why I’m here. It’s more…complicated than that. The car was discovered burned out a few miles away. It was stolen and they never found the driver. Have you heard of Nadine Smythe? The journalist.”

Was that a tiny twitch at the corner of Jason’s mouth?

Jason nodded. “Of course. Blyham’s finest.” There was no mistaking the sarcasm in his tone.

“She came to visit me yesterday. She’s conducting her own investigation into Theo’s death… Theo’s murder.”

About the Author 

Thom Collins is the author of the Jagged Shores series and the Anthem Trilogy as well as numerous standalone novels and novellas. 

His new series Basic Instincts launches in spring 2025 with the novel Now Comes the Dark.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night.

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one of 5 ebook copies of the series so far:

Now Comes the Dark

Nothing But the Night

Night Crimes (a standalone short story prequel)

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Continue ReadingNEW RELEASE: “Nothing but the Night” by Thom Collins. Rafflecopter Giveaway Included!