The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna

“This is a nice, quiet town. Things like that don’t happen around here.” But they do. In THE TARNISHED SON, a tourist’s death, an alluring young teacher, a father’s carnal desires, and a stepdaughter’s vendetta ultimately destroy a village dynasty. The respected Clark family has governed Williams Bay since 1837. On a hot August day, seventeen-year-old Liam causes a tragic boating accident. What happens next—infidelity, drugs, theft, and more—deepens long-hidden cracks in the family’s façade, exposing their secrets and tarnishing their golden image. Meet the family: * William Sr., the grandfather who rules the family and the village with an iron fist * Hank, the father who lets temptations lead him on a path of self-destruction * Liam, the shining son who gets away with everything * Rose, the stepdaughter who has had enough and pushes the whole house down Grab some popcorn and watch the destruction unfold in Elizabeth McKenna's unpredictable family drama!

Riyati Rivals by Kai Zeal

What would you sacrifice to alter an already guaranteed future? The new school year has begun in the quiet town of Opal Pines, and with it, new problems for Kylie and Jordan: Kylie’s mother barely lets her out of sight, and Jordan’s new friend makes it clear he’s no fan of Kylie. Even their older selves are at odds with each other: Siani refuses to intervene in the events to come; meanwhile, Rotanu is not sure the ends justify the means needed to get there. To make matters even worse, a familiar woman from the June kidnapping is back and wants Kylie’s head. What happens when the past is painful and still seeks vengeance, the present is lonely, and the future uncertain? Riyati Rivals is the second book of a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, the greater good, and finding your own path in life. The Riyati series includes multiple first person perspectives and multiple queer characters (currently including demisexual/romantic and lesbian representation with more to come in future books), set in the modern day United States.

It’s Not A Secret by Max Turner

Transgender Londoner Adam keeps running into an infuriatingly rude Danish migrant Elias at different points during his transition. Elias is very confused by Adam, the easy friendship they develop and how attractive he starts to find the curious self-made man.

Dancing With The Count by Max Turner

Neither seasoned dance pro Tommy Miller or celebrity chef Count Christian De Clare want to be the first same-sex pairing on Celebrity Ballroom, but it’s happening. The pressure is on to not get eliminated or become the season’s novelty act… which would be a lot easier if they actually liked each other. This sweet, tropey Christmas-time romance is a short read chock full of intimacy, sweetness, and of course, dancing! The quick plot and medium heat level are just right for a cozy night in.

Public Enemy by Simon Brading

On 1st October 2017 the Catalans went to the poles to vote on independence from Spain. The Spanish government didn’t like that very much and tried everything they could to stop it. Among other things, they sent thousands of police officers who attacked voters and broke down doors in an attempt to take the ballot boxes and close the polling stations. The Catalans didn’t like that very much and tried everything they could to go ahead, like peacefully resisting and hiding ballot boxes. 2 million people ended up being able to vote and the result was overwhelmingly in favour of independence. Which the Spanish government didn’t like. In the weeks and months that followed there were strikes and demonstrations on a daily basis in Catalunya and for a long time it seemed that all that was needed to set off an actual revolution was for a leader to emerge. Peter Brown was a loser and couldn’t lead a conga line, let alone a revolution. However, after he gets caught up in a riot in Barcelona, shortly after the referendum, that’s exactly what the whole world seems to think he’s doing.

The Baron by H. A, Ferdinand

Wanted for quiet end-of-summer period: one housekeeper and two general staff to help run this charming Kentish manor house. Must be prepared to cook, clean, see to guests' needs...oh and help bring about popular revolution. A decadent and bourgeois comedy from the author of Mrs Tempest's Marriage Bureau.

Intelligent People by H. A. Ferdinand

“I know we can do this. I believe in us. We are intelligent people. Between us, we can put together an issue that’s so hot that you’ll need asbestos gloves to turn the pages.” Once they were the thoroughbreds of Fleet Street, a close-knit gang of young investigative reporters at the sharp end of their profession. Twenty-five years later, single and burnt out, they come together for one last glorious stand on the local paper of a bustling Yorkshire seaside town. At their heart is Vita, newly abandoned by her husband, eternally wrong-footed by her teenage children. She thought she’d left it all behind her but here she is, sparring with the police again and finding herself the office object of desire. Just when she thinks she’s back in her stride, a suspected attempted murder in a local tourist spot drags her into a plot that is too close to home for comfort. Suddenly Vita and her lovelorn band of colleagues risk ending up on the front page themselves. A warm-hearted, fast-paced, comic, seaside romp from the writer of Mrs Tempest’s Marriage Bureau.

An Evening with the Dymond Sisters by H. A. Ferdinand

It's the summer of 1933 and four English college girls, who have formed their own cabaret act and who should have known better, are about to release their puerile humour on the genteel German spa town of Baden-Baden. Before long, Glossie, Cressida, Josefa and Amy have acquired a following, including ageing British screen legend Gareth Palamon who promises them a future of fame and glamour and handsome charlatan Hector Bedingfield who dabbles in psychoanalysis and financial advice. But it soon becomes clear that there are other shadowy forces guiding the fate of the Dymond Sisters and they find themselves knee-deep in the kind of trouble that threatens to unravel their showbusiness ambitions and, worse still, a friendship that they assumed would last for ever. Comedy, romance and mystery come together in this endearing story set in a pre-war world of nightclubs and casinos and starring a cast of four heroines who stumble well-meaningly from one misadventure to another.

Mrs Tempest's Marriage Bureau by H. A. Ferdinand

Just when she thought there was nothing left to live for, middle-aged underachiever Phyl is handed £65,000 and told to go out and turn her life around. Inspired by a 1920s book on relationships by the bewitching Mrs Natalia Tempest, she sets her heart on opening an old-fashioned marriage bureau and bringing together lost souls just like herself. But the lost souls who come to her door are about to embroil her in the strangest adventure of her life. Comic, heart-warming and as eccentric as its heroine, Mrs Tempest’s Marriage Bureau is part romantic comedy, part mystery and a big part farce. For fans of PG Wodehouse and Helen Fielding, HA Ferdinand’s books combine sharp wit with a fondness for the oddballs, misfits and cynics of this world.

Legacy by Brendan Halpin

It's understood that Colin will go to Harvard, like his brother Jake and many generations of his family before him. But Colin has other plans: sailing, getting high, and hooking up with girls.  Until a forbidden love changes his life and sets him on a new path. Or so he thinks. Colin is about to discover that the truth about the life he's preparing for is darker and more twisted than he ever imagined.

Standstill by A. R. Longo

After winning her first championship belt, emerging wrestling superstar Cara is forced to return home after the sudden death of her parent and see her estranged older disabled sister for the first time in over a decade. Standstill is a character study between an able person and a disabled person.

The Nights are Alive! by Renuka Nair

NextStep Consultants, a recruitment process outsourcing company in Amanshahr, has carved a niche for itself, serving the needs of top-notch companies in North America. Professional and personal disturbances force 42-year-old Urvashi to quit her high profile FMCG marketing job and brings her to NextStep. Though she enjoys her newfound independence, this small town is a far cry from her past life. Urvashi struggles to navigate the undercurrents of gossip and politics at NextStep, trying to rebuild her world bit-by-bit and find peace. An unfortunate turn of events also brings in 43-year-old Carina, a Chartered Accountant, into NextStep. While she loves her new night-shift job, the cocoon she had painstakingly built for herself is crumbling. Drawn into a carefree existence by her new colleagues, Carina must find a way to hold on to her job amid the ever-intensifying competition. The nights come alive for Carina and Urvashi as their friendship blossoms. They get drawn into a world of quick money, substance abuse, and uninhibited sex, featuring Vikrant – the debonair, cool boss, Alex – an aspiring chef turned recruiter, and Manav – a manager who believes life is one big party! Grappling with king-sized egos and trust deficits, Carina and Urvashi must determine what is real and what runs only skindeep. After all, this is their life, and they have to take a call soon!.

The Vulnerables by Tapan Patel

Following a freak hailstorm in the middle of the night, three relief aid workers- Anurag, Deven, and Divya are lost in a valley near Pokheri village located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas in Nepal. The trio has been working for a relief operation after the massive earthquake of 2015. In Kathmandu, Kashyap, heading the relief operation for an international NGO, mobilizes the rescue team to find them. However, the event takes a sweeping turn when the rescue chopper crashes in the mountains, stranding the rescue team in a small hamlet near Pokheri. As Kashyap gears up for the second rescue operation within 48 hours, he has also to deal with his past relation with Sukanya, who is now the wife of Anurag. As Anurag and Deven struggle to find their way, a second major earthquake jeopardizes the rescue operation in the mountains. This second tremor scatters the team members, leaving them battling with their own fears and insecurities from the past and the present. Interaction and engagement of the team members with survivors and co-workers shape their psych to open up to their own vulnerabilities. Knitted in the backdrop of various disaster events at different places over the span of 15 years, the story reveals the turbulent yet evolving relationships of team members, going through love, longing, adventure, courage, misery, and triumph. This chronicle takes the reader through the enchanting journey of ever-changing landscapes of arid Kachchh, lush green Andaman Nicobar Island, mountains of Nepal and the flooded plains of Bihar.

The Things We Lose in the Dark by Sayword B. Eller

Sexual abuse survivor Zedwynne doesn't need anyone. Except when she wakes up from a failed suicide attempt with nowhere else to go but back into the loving arms of an overbearing mother and overprotective sister, and back to the town that almost destroyed her. Despite best efforts to keep her head down and avoid people, Zedwynne becomes invested in the lives of many through work at a local diner, and her therapy group of fellow second chancers. As these relationships grow and become more complicated, Zed begins to realize life isn't about what happens to you, but what you do with what's left. As she starts to figure out how to handle what she’s been left with, Zedwynne learns the man who abused her is dying, and she must decide if she'll let him die without facing what he's done, or confront him and risk upending her precarious progress.

Our Darkest Summer by Hanga E. Pavel

A cold case is what brought Thomas Rhodes back to the lakeside town. His mother’s case, to be certain.It had been almost twelve years since Elizabeth Rhodes disappeared, and Thomas was finally back to prove the police wrong. There was just one error in his plan: he didn’t arrive alone. Kinsley Green was coaxed into going to the lake house for the summer, but she still had some doubts. Doubts because of a certain dark-haired boy she was supposed to hate. However, as soon as she got a glimpse of the sunny lake town, the doubts faded into the back of her mind…until that night in the woods. Was this vacation really about partying and relaxing, like she had been promised, or was there something more going on here? Something dark? One thing was clear: Thomas and Kinsley had to put aside their history and work together if Thomas had any hope of finally getting to the bottom of his mother’s disappearance. But as they dig deeper, it’s not just their relationship changing but the case around them too. The question is, will they solve it before they become the next case to be solved?

The Other Side of the Looking-Glass by Dakota Jackson

Fifteen-year-old Naomi Nakano craves love and acceptance. She never knew her mother, her birth father is neglectful to say the least, and her guardian Matt isn’t exactly the traditional parent. So when she moves to a new town and finally makes a real friend, she can’t help but feel good about the attention her friend’s older brother, Wren, immediately gives her. He lavishes her with compliments and attention — and so what if he’s 25-years-old and she can’t tell anyone about him? At least she’s no longer an outsider. But as Naomi gets lulled into the intoxication of Wren’s attention, she fails to see how easy it is to lose her newfound sense of normalcy in all the lies. Now she must fight to maintain her secret at the same time she juggles hardship after hardship before she loses not only Wren, but herself, too. If you're a fan of compelling young adult fiction like Amber Smith's The Way I Used to Be, or thought-provoking literary fiction that dives deep into the complexities of love and identity like Kate Elizabeth Russell's My Dark Vanessa, then The Other Side of the Looking-Glass is a must-read for you.

The Truths We Make by Samantha Jon

EVANGELINE PIERCE knew falling in love with a Poe boy was a mistake. She knew it when she was seven and at twenty-seven, she knows it still. After eight years on her own, trying to leave behind the emotional wounds that just won’t heal, she’s called back to Dellbrook to mourn the death of PAXTON POE. In the halls of her childhood home lay memories she’d rather forget, and her ghosts aren’t the only ones demanding to be heard; Paxton has left a letter. One that his brother, OLIVER, insists reveals he didn’t just die. He was murdered. And Oliver can’t solve the riddle without her. As they delve deeper through clues, what happened to Paxton gets ever closer to being unveiled. But so do Oliver and Eve, bringing their history sharply into focus. For Eve to get closure, she must confront the past and the scandal that tore them all apart—no matter the cost. And to have any hope of solving the mystery of Paxton’s death, she must ask herself if generational chains can be broken and if love will ever be enough. But it’s a truth universally acknowledged, that you should believe nothing you hear, and only one half that you see, especially when dealing with a Poe…

Even If We're Broken by A.M. Weald

Still reeling from being ghosted by her girlfriend, bioarchaeologist Kate Roth agrees to join an estranged colleague to teach at his field school at a Viking-age archaeology site in the wilds of Newfoundland. While welcoming the escape from Colorado where she’s been medicating resurfaced anxieties with wine and angry rock music, she’s wary of three important facts: 1) she’s had a crush on Viking Cowboy Ben for half her life, 2) Ben is a family man who lives in Norway, and 3) all her romantic relationships, and most friendships, seem to have an expiration date. For archaeologist Esben “Ben” Veholt, inviting the woman he’s been in love with since digging alongside her 23 years ago was, of course, the worst possible thing he could have done for himself. This summer was supposed to be his escape from reality: a love life in ruins, worsening body image issues, and a teenage daughter who suddenly wants nothing to do with him. When Kate accepts his offer, he intends to retain a professional relationship with her. A woman like Kate could never love him anyway—not with how much he’s changed inside and out. All seems fine on the surface as Kate and Esben’s friendship rebuilds, but as they dig deeper, they realize just how broken they both are. To heal from their painful pasts and reclaim their crumbling presents, they each need a friend who accepts them, mess and all. But summer won’t last forever, and a third chance at romance threatens to drift across the ocean yet again.

The Lion Communique by Jim Cherry

The Lion Communique are thirteen darkly wound stories that examine the struggle between good and evil from multiple perspectives. Jim Morrison in the wilderness of Shamans and psychedelics, capturing the soul of General William Tecumseh Sherman, mysterious forces at play in the trenches of WWI, southern gothic/noir, families at war, and the ghosts of our pasts that we carry with us, and the hope of redemption.

Cheese Crackers and Constellations by Stephanie Kast

When the sun goes to bed and the stars come out to play, when you're not tired enough to sleep but your dreams are not far away. You find yourself rummaging through the kitchen in need of something to warm your heart. Cheese, Crackers and Constellations is a short story collection. These twelve stories are about growing up and growing old, life and death and everything in between. Cheese, Crackers and Constellations is comfort food for your soul.

Little Joe by Stephanie Kast

At the age of seven, Joe was a part of a cruise ship disaster that resulted in the death of his parents and the separation from him and his three older siblings. After fourteen years of a different life, Joe opens his mail to see an invitation to his sister's wedding. Before he knows it, Joe begins to struggle finding a balance between his old and new life. With constant night terrors and the inability to move on from the loss of his parents, Joe's troubles start to consume him. Joe must find a way to incorporate his old life into his new life, and accept the things he cannot control. We have all grown up with tales of survival, but the question Little Joe answers "What happens after the island?"

Till the Wishes Bloom by Montaha Nasr

In this homage to Arabic web novels, a dying wish results in an arranged marriage between a pharmacist and a man with whom she shares a complicated past. Eight years. That was how long Jihan Khalili spent under the umbrella of Al-Saif family, a product of her mother's marriage to the family's second-born heir. It was within those eight years, within that household, that Jihan experienced fleeting daydreams and inevitable heartbreak. Those days are long behind her, memories to collect dust. Now a pharmacist, Jihan spends her time navigating around curious neighbors, dismissing pointless proposals, and mulling over her workplace's status of paranormal activity. But then arrives Nadir, Al-Saif family's youngest heir, obliging her mother's dying wish by asking for Jihan's hand in marriage. He is insistent despite her warnings, and far too accommodating to her requests and terms. Is it all out of sense of duty, or is there another motive behind his pursuit? Perhaps this is the chance to mend an old heartbreak, to turn a daydream into a reality.

Winter Nights & Christmas Lights by Sofia Rose

When Charlotte moves to Ireland, she has no idea that Aoife will sweep her off her feet just in time for Christmas. Charlotte has just moved to Dublin for Grad School, hoping for a fresh start in a new city. It's certainly not like the home in Florida that she's left behind. While it's exciting to be in a new city, Dublin is gloomy and rainy in the late fall. That is until Charlotte meets Aoife on a dating app. Will Aoife be the spark that lights up Charlotte's Irish experience?

The Burden of Us by Alexandra Orchard

Ella Webb was never destined to be free. When she turned sixteen, Ella's only present was an arranged marriage to Dean, her ex-friend. Desperate for time, she bargained for a three-year reprieve to get an education and graduate before she was forced to marry. Falling in love with someone else was never Ella's intention. Yet she allowed herself to fall deep into the rabbit hole of forbidden love and hidden family secrets that Ella wished had stayed buried... but it all might be the key to setting herself free.

For the Rest of Forever by Becca Neil

No matter what mountains we face, we’ll climb them together. Greg Westin’s thriving career as a landscape photographer is a passion he’s built and cultivated for decades. Although he’s now well into his mid-fifties, Greg is always looking forward, eager for the next mountain to climb, the next trail to hike, the next photo to capture. His love of nature and photography is second only to his love for his husband, Allen—a man with a heart of gold and more kindness and compassionate that anyone he’s ever known. Allen Westin has worked hard to build a life he loves—a life that is not defined by the trauma he suffered in his childhood, but by the community and people he’s surrounded himself with. His career at the public library in the small town of North Bend, Washington has given him a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and his marriage to his best friend and husband, Greg, has filled his life with joy, love, and adventure. But when an incident at the library sets off Allen’s deeply rooted anxiety and depression, he and Greg have to face a new challenge—one where the next mountain to be conquered isn’t out on the trail at all. They must trust in the depth of their love to help them find their footing as they forge ahead into the next phase of their journey toward their forever, together. For the Rest of Forever is an emotional, angsty MM contemporary romance that tells the unhurried story of two older men in a long-term, committed relationship and how their deep love helps them overcome some of life’s darkest moments. It features heavy mental health issues, hurt/comfort, past trauma, an established relationship (thirty-plus years), a silly but stubbornly protective terrier named Beans, and a sweet happily ever after. Trigger warnings: references to past trauma, including parental neglect and physical/emotional abuse; instances of panic attacks and moderate to severe anxiety; brief instances of suicidal thoughts/ideation; brief mentions of homophobia; food aversion/eating disorder.

Tell Me Again by Becca Neil

very minute away from you is a minute too long. Coop It’s been ten years since he kissed me, and I can still feel it—his warm lips, his soft touch. He was my best friend, but then he abandoned me just before my entire life fell apart. When he shows up at the diner where I work, with his fancy job, new car, and beautiful fiancée, my heart feels like it’s being ripped in two. Should I bury my feelings, forget the past, and give him a second chance at rebuilding our friendship, even though I know it can never be anything more than that? Josh Ten years ago, I made the worst decision of my life in the aftermath of the only kiss that ever meant something to me. I never stopped loving him, even if I didn’t get to tell him that. When I run into Coop at a small diner in rural Nebraska, all those feelings I suppressed for years are back, threatening to upend the perfect life I’d built. I’ve got two weeks to convince him I’m sorry. But can I keep my other feelings locked away, or will that sexy baseball cap of his be my undoing? Tell Me Again is a high-emotion, slow-burn(ish), second-chance(ish) MM contemporary romance set in a small town in rural Nebraska. It’s a story of best friends to strangers to lovers, featuring past emotional trauma, found family, virgin MCs, and a guaranteed happily-ever-after. Trigger warnings: references to alcoholism and an abusive parent with an alcohol use disorder, references to and brief instances of parental homophobia, mention of a parent who passed away from cancer, mention of past homelessness.

More Than Words by Becca Neil

I love you, Sam. Just four simple words. Easy, right? Oliver Ellison’s heart knows the words are true. Sam Reynolds is the love of his life, and Ollie wants nothing more than to tell his boyfriend how he feels. But trauma and pain from a brutal assault nearly two years ago have kept Ollie from being free to say the words out loud—or to express his love through physical intimacy. Sam understands. He was there at the beginning, after all. He was the one who took care of Ollie during the aftermath, and he’s been there ever since, with his sunshine-filled smile and endless support. Healing is a long road, and Sam is committed. However long it takes. But when a family emergency on the opposite side of the country forces them apart, Sam and Ollie might need all the strength of their love, and much more than just words, to help them get through. More Than Words is an emotional, angsty MM contemporary hurt/comfort romance that tells a story of deep love, living with PTSD from past trauma, and building a forever through life's ups and downs. It features PTSD/trauma and healing, an established relationship, found family, virgin MCs, and a guaranteed (and very sweet!) happily ever after. Trigger warnings: references to off-page assault, PTSD with flashbacks, implied homophobia, food aversion/eating disorder; see inside preview for additional content warnings.

There Ought To Be Shadows by Krissie K. Williams

Moonstone, South Carolina. A town where nothing is what it seems. Marilyn Maxwell is an accomplished woman in all areas. But what people don’t know is she has struggled with the demon of death since she was a child. After a personal crisis forces her to re-evaluate her life, she reluctantly decides to relocate to her hometown of Moonstone, South Carolina. This decision sends her spiraling into a world full of conjure, celestial wonder, and the murky unknown. An insidious force has crippled the town she once left behind, and she must rush against time to stop it. Guided by Great Grandmother, her beloved spirit from the other side, she embarks on the most difficult journey she has ever undertaken. Marilyn uncovers Moonstone’s dark history—one filled with horror, deceit, and dread. In the end, she questions what is fantasy, what is reality, and who she really is.

The Bone Key by Mary Rajotte

Centuries ago, the First Witch of the Aquelarre Buho coven conjured the ability to transform into an owl. Since then, a faction of hunters known as Los Cazadores has been intent on stealing that magic for their own. As Valeria hones her craft, her hopes of being granted the power to shape-shift are disrupted by a terrifying vision. A haunting woman appears in the shadows as she did when Valeria was a child, a foreboding omen that culminates in the murder of her best friend, Gwen. Seeking solace, Valeria flees south to reconnect to her roots. Still, her journey turns bittersweet when painful memories of her father’s death resurface and fuel her determination to protect those she loves. As Valeria delves into darker magic, she discovers her abilities are stronger than anyone knew. But just as her confidence soars, the hunters return intent on stealing the Elixir the witches rely upon for their transformative powers. Can Valeria conjure the bravery needed to protect her coven’s legacy for future generations of owl witches? Or will Los Cazadores finally take the very thing they’ve spent centuries pursuing.

Perdition Street by Leona O'Neill

Murdered spirits find Atlas Bishop wherever he is. By day, he works the streets of Dublin as a Private Detective plagued with anxiety and anger issues, living with his dead mother. By night, he works on behalf of the “Sacred”—angels, saints, and God Himself—binding murdered souls to those who stole their lives so Hell can claim its dues. But an ancient pact between Heaven and Hell implodes when Hell’s representative on Earth decides he wants to swell their ranks and take over the world, using dark magic to turn innocents into murderers on an epic scale. Atlas must save Dublin first and then the world, all while trying to bind lost souls, keep Heaven in business, track down his killer father, pine for his married ex-lover, escape various murderous scum…and avoid Satan’s manicured talons.

Fear of Flying by KC Elle

Love is in the air. Probably. Most likely. But will a bit of turbulence get in the way of their love taking flight? Drew Parker knows he’s never going to get married. Fall in love. Have a family. But that’s okay, really. It’s safer that way—living life out to his family but otherwise in the closet—just as his parents have always told him. Besides, though he’s attracted to men, he’s never felt the urge to actually be intimate with anyone. So, really, it doesn’t matter. Until Drew meets Zach. Zach Harrison’s anxiety doesn’t rule his entire life, just mostly his social life. And undeniably his love life. According to his best friend, Jen, it’s the sole reason why he’s never had a date or even been kissed. He’s hoping someday he’ll just run into his Prince Charming and they’ll live happily ever after. But real life’s not that simple. When Tired-of-Lawyering-All-Weekend Drew meets Absolutely-Terrified-of-Flying Zach, Drew comes to Zach’s rescue, and sparks seem to fly. And when a snowstorm grounds their connecting flight—and every flight in the city—their instant love connection starts to soar. After spending almost two blissfully perfect days in the same hotel room being in love, it’s clear they’re made for each other. But is “meant to be” enough to help Drew finally get over his fear of flying? Fear of Flying is a steamy, strangers-to-lovers, instalove, snowbound, one-night-stand (okay, it was two nights) gay romance novel, featuring virgin MCs and only one bed—a story about finding love and self-acceptance in the most unexpected places. Content warning for homophobia, toxic parenting, and depictions of moderate-to-severe anxiety, including aerophobia.

An Appreciation of Cats by Des DeVivo

How do we know if it’s too late? Dr. Ian Devonshire, the beloved veterinarian of Holly Grove, is sixty-eight with no plans to retire—until a skin exam ends with an unexpected biopsy. Ian tells no one, privately worrying about what a worst-case scenario would mean for his practice and, more importantly, his assistant, Dr. Alec Tarley. Ian isn’t sure if Alec’s friendliness means what he hopes it does, though it wouldn’t matter if it did; Ian is old enough to be Alec’s father, and as his boss, Ian doesn’t want the small-town scandal of becoming involved. So even as Ian wonders what it might be like to have their afternoon tea somewhere other than behind closed doors, he convinces himself the risks far outweigh the gains. Especially now, as the pending results strand him like Schrödinger's Cat. In an attempt to protect them both from the heartache of a malignant prognosis, Ian makes the abrupt decision to retire. But when Alec refuses to take over the clinic without an explanation for the sudden change of heart, Ian must decide between what’ll hurt more: revealing his secrets or walking away.

Time to Remember by Janna Ruth

When the Canterbury Earthquakes destroyed their city, Natalie and her friends were only ten years old. Too old to forget, but too young to be heard, they have never told their stories. Until now. Ten years after the earthquakes, Natalie returns to her home town with a plan. To show how the earthquakes shaped her generation, she wants to curate her fellow students' stories into a special edition of the student magazine. Her project is well-received by all, but one: her self-proclaimed nemesis Josh. From the start, Josh goes out of his way to get the project cancelled. Natalie is determined to see her vision through, yet when she finally uncovers the reason behind Josh's actions, she finds herself questioning everything she's been working towards.

The Good Little Catholic Gay Boy by Sam Carnes

The Good Little Catholic Gay Boy is a poignant coming-of-age story that follows the life of Ryan, a 15-year-old boy who grapples with his identity in the confines of a strict Catholic household. Raised to believe that being gay is inherently wrong, Ryan battles with his innermost feelings that persist despite relentless prayers and punishments. The age of eighteen promises freedom, but can he find happiness? This heartfelt tale will resonate with the experiences of many LGBTQ+ individuals who have faced the challenges of self-acceptance, coming out, finding love, and navigating the hurdles of societal judgment. Ryan's journey, set against the backdrop of a fervently religious home, speaks to the common struggles of those who have had to confront rejection, pain, and the misguided efforts of others to “pray away the gay.”

Psychostorm by Moira Baird

In a world intent on suppressing your true self, would you fade into obscurity or become uncontainable? Rose felt destined to fade, until a chance encounter thrusts her into the world of the supernatural, where she faces an entirely new set of trials. Rose must work with Rift, a young man who conjures portals and clashes with her at every turn. She must also work with Echo, a mute telepath kept in containment for most of her life. Will they survive and defeat the shadow organization known as ORDER, whose mission is to eliminate all supernatural beings, or will they be swallowed up?

The Fragile by Mitra De Souza

Seventeen-year-old Maya is a Fragile. She’s spent the last decade locked in a rehabilitation center with other sensitive kids deemed too weak to function in society. Tired of experiencing the pain and emotions of others, she wants nothing more than to be cured of her debilitating empathy. But instead of getting better, she begins to sense the pain of a young girl she has never met. Desperate to escape the pain, she finally learns to empty it. Into other people. When Maya discovers the girl is part of the rehabilitation center founder’s plot to destroy the empathy centers in children’s brains, she knows she must use her newfound power to act. But when fighting back against a man bent on destroying anyone like her threatens the lives of those she loves most, she must decide if the fight is worth the risk. Especially when surviving the procedure might free her from the burden of empathy. Permanently.

Lovehurts by Genalea Barker

★★★★★ “Even as our hearts are breaking we are falling in love.” J.D. Spero, author of Boy on Hold Being a chubby girl in a society that values skinny isn’t just painful. Sometimes, it’s downright dangerous. Eighteen-year-old Lena learns this all too well when a tactless remark from her boyfriend triggers her descent into anorexia and depression. Repeatedly congratulated for her weight loss, Lena’s disordered eating escalates. It isn’t until she hits rock bottom that Lena admits her reckless pursuit of “skinny” might actually be ruining her life. Determined to break free from the suffocating grip of her disorder and an abusive relationship, Lena embarks on a courageous journey of self-discovery and healing. But the road to recovery is rife with inner demons and past wreckage. To reclaim her identity, Lena must repair a fractured friendship, embrace the support of unexpected allies, and relearn how to trust herself.

Cat’s Got Your Heart by Jem Zero

Who knew two men could form such a bitter rivalry over adopting a cat? Jericho Adams is in need of a cat. Doesn’t sound too difficult, even for a reclusive artist like him. People adopt cats all the time. Those people clearly never met Harlan Vardanyan, the world’s surliest pet shop employee. Harlan’s love for animals is matched only by his disdain for customers. Too much experience tells him they can’t be trusted. When Jericho sets his sights on Dumpling, an aloof-but-lovely young cat, Harlan vows the man will never have her. However, he can’t outright refuse without risking his job. What he can do is fabricate a series of absurd adoption requirements that Jericho can’t possibly meet. Unfortunately for Harlan, the more his demands escalate, the more determined Jericho becomes to free Dumpling from her short, fire-breathing gatekeeper. Then Harlan is unexpectedly evicted from his apartment, and Jericho ends up rescuing him instead. Now Jericho and Harlan are forced to continue their battle of wills in tight quarters. Except living together unveils vulnerability on both sides, and soon trading verbal jabs begins to feel… wrong. The weeks-long rivalry sputters, and in its place, a fragile intimacy begins to grow. But the secret deadline for Jericho’s cat acquisition is rapidly approaching. He can’t let his feelings for Harlan get in the way of his ultimate goal, even if the betrayal will destroy whatever they’ve been building.

Book of You & I: When Two Souls Collide by G Severino

OLIVIA WOODS IS CONVENTIONAL, DOWN-TO-EARTH, AND COMPOSED. She's the kind of girl who goes out of her way to do the right things for others but forgets about herself. BRANDON COLLINS IS UNCONVENTIONAL, A CREATIVE SOUL, AND PRONE TO ECCENTRICITY. He values facts over feelings, and his ability to detach from emotions can sometimes make him lonely. When the universe pushes them together under unfavorable circumstances, like lovers from the past and secret relationships, they try to stay apart. But their feelings are too strong to ignore, and they become swept up in a love like they've never felt before...until their true colors start to show. Even after their first kiss, their first touch, the first time they ever laid eyes on each other; were they destined to meet and fall in love, or was their relationship doomed from the start? *Inspired by true events*

The Dictionary of Disillusionment by Kristen Gregg

A piece of experimental fiction, The Dictionary of Disillusionment follows the writings of a nameless protagonist’s memories and rambles in an attempt to understand herself better through entries written on post-it notes and index cards. All she ever wanted was control; control over her feelings, control over her life. In her senior year of college, she attempts to categorize her thoughts by ascribing them labels from the dictionary and then from vocabulary in her psychology textbook. But the more she writes, trying to control her feelings and pinpoint all of the underlying stress that comes with fast-approaching graduation and the subtle changes in her relationship dynamics, the less control she finds she has. Soon, all of the small tensions build until they boil over, and she's forced to reconsider what she should focus on in her life.

Sentence for Life by Maxime Jaz

“Sometimes, we are in a place where we don’t want to be. And maybe, that place is the only place we should be after all.” Theo knows he will become a star lawyer, like the one his Dad paid to keep him out of prison... he's wrong on both counts. He thinks the first day of jail is brutal; meeting his new cellmate redefines the word. Theo's world not only falls apart; it shrinks to the size smaller than a dorm bathroom he has to share with a man who doesn’t belong in his world. Ryker is as strong as a fortress, one that he had to rebuild from the ruins of his own self. Serving the last year of his long sentence, he is terrified of having his freedom at arm's reach. Ryker is everything Theo fears; Theo is everything Ryker loathes. But being locked up together in a tiny space is a powerful force sparking the fires of love, and neither of the men are prepared for the turmoil this raging inferno will unleash. Are Ryker and Theo who they think they are? Or will new lives be born, like the phoenix etched in Ryker's skin, out of the fire of their love?

Earth to Alis by Lex Carlow

Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, he’s isolated himself by letting his classmates believe he’s a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs. But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isn’t so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to him—namely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition don’t irritate Alis nearly as much as they should. Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows how: drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental health—even if it means letting someone in. Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

The House For Lost Things by C.G. Drews

Stealing houses should be a thing of the past now that Sam and Avery Lou finally have their perfect home. But the De Laineys are being forced to sell the butter-yellow house and their family is crumbling. Sam is haunted by his time at juvie and he feels lost now that Avery doesn’t depend solely on him. All he can do is focus on his builder apprenticeship and hurl himself into an extravagant sewing project lead by Moxie to raise money to save the house—only Sam’s past has come knocking and it’s about to tear apart everything he loves. Learning how to build new houses is one thing, but maybe broken boys can’t be rebuilt.

Black Cloud by Magnus Thorne

Aden suspects his dealer Gage is involved in something dangerous and deadly, but so long as their unique arrangement continues, he’s fine with not asking any questions. Then, when a routine hookup turns out to be their last, Aden impulsively decides to go on the run with a man he barely knows. BLACK CLOUD is a 13k m/m dark erotic novelette with a transmasc main character. Please review author's note and content warnings in the front matter before engaging with this work.

Pretty Dogs by Riley Nash

It’s hard to imagine dating when I secretly share a bed with my best friend every night. When we can barely spend an hour apart. When he’ll kill anyone who tries to touch me. We finally escaped the trailer park, but maybe we weren’t ready for freedom. My best friend Beck doesn’t know how to leave the gang he’s always known, even if it costs him his life. And I don’t know how to find my purpose and confidence as a trans man. We’re too lost in our fears to see what’s right in front of us. But when I almost lose him, it only takes five words for us to fall: I heard about a game. I run. He hunts me. And if he catches me… there are no limits in the dark. Daylight is a different matter, full of the ghosts of everything we’ve lost. Until we stumble across someone who needs us, who forces us to take the broken pieces of our pasts and put them together into something strong. The courage it takes to become who we were all along.

Canceled by Tim Cann

If it feels good to be bad, then these ladies are in ecstasy! Meet Lane Bryantt, shameless debutante and mother to a pair of lusty blonde alt-right social media influencers. Follow them to contemporary left-coast Los Angeles as they become trapped on a dystopian reality television show of their own making. Will they escape the clutches of their evil producer, or will they be doomed to evolve into a life forever lived on the screen? Follow Lane and her family’s misadventures in this satiric, humorous take on social media and reality television until they finally find that rarest of commodities in modern-day society—privacy! Praise for Canceled: "...for fans of satire, flawed characters, anti-heroes, and witnessing unlikeable characters become the victims of their own ambitions.." - Independent Book Review "...scores big laughs and some insights about privacy and consent.." - BookLife Canceled offers a humorous and cathartic happy ending to life in the age of social media and reality television.

Well, Well, Well by Jody Wenner

No one wants to hear about another person’s dream—unless they’re in it. Bren Wendell, a Midwestern journalist, is compelled to write a column about a seemingly benign dream but worries it will be a career breaker; instead, it spreads like a virus. Letters start pouring in, and to the entire newsroom’s shock, they are not all written by angry boomers. Thousands of readers claim they’ve had the same dream. And somehow Bren has been deemed head weaver. As the country slips into hysterics over its meaning, Bren and her co-worker Zack head out to tackle several of the wackier stories for the newspaper. Feeling pressure to find solid answers, Bren sets aside her own personal problems and digs deep into the investigation. When someone leaks private information about her to the press, the masses deify her on a whole new level, making the work more difficult. A strange conversation she has with a retired psychology professor leads her to wonder if she alone could be responsible for all of the madness she’s witnessed. In order to right the wrong and get things back to normal, Bren has to switch gears and prove the dream wasn’t real.

Old Palmetto Drive by S.E. Reed

Teen socialite Rian Callusa knows her privileged New York life is over as they drive down a backwoods road toward her new home. But instead of pulling up to a dusty shack, her jaw drops when her Mom parks in front of a stylish mansion. Maybe she doesn't know as much about her Mom as she thought. While Rian spends time in the Everglades with her cousins, Travis and Sam, and falls head over heels for vintage-loving Justine, she learns it isn't just her Mom keeping secrets. They've all got secrets too. Until one fateful night, the dark, murky waters of the swamp decide to tell the story about what really happened on Old Palmetto Drive.

Pillow Forts and Hurricanes by Margherita Scialla

Emma has an unbreakable bond with her roommates and lifelong best friends, yet struggles to create a romantic connection that comes even close to their friendship. That’s why Emma accepts her stoic boyfriend keeping her at a distance. All of her fantasies about romance and relationships, however, come tumbling down when she witnesses said boyfriend cheating on her. Following her recent breakup and her evolving bond with her best friend, Noah, Emma begins to question everything she ever knew about relationships, romantic and platonic. When Emma suggests the possibility of a queerplatonic relationship to Noah, the two must navigate their feelings, unveiling secrets they’ve kept from each other… but as confusing it can be, at least they’re doing it together.

The Christmas Gift by Melina Druga

Set during the events of Family Upheaval, the last holiday novella in The Rock Star’s Wife series follows the Economos siblings and their mother as they try to find something to celebrate during the most wonderful time of the year. Now that her lousy husband is out of the picture, Daria Economos is facing a wide-open future. This hardly feels like a new beginning, however. She never expected to be starting over in her twilight years; she’s a grandmother for heaven’s sake, an old fogy! Even with the holidays right around the corner, Daria just can’t seem to drum up anything to feel thankful for. She’s not the only one struggling. Her adult children are still reckoning with the revelation that they have four half-siblings out there in the world — newfound family members they’ve come to love, for better or worse. And for Daria’s oldest son, the fear that the sins of the father might be genetic is very real… The Economoses’ first Christmas as a broken family is fast approaching. Can this once-close clan make peace with their own hurt feelings, or is the holiday cheer gone for good?