Strength Within
Samantha Wilson is an award-winning freelance writer with a passion for being the voice of others. Despite vowing never to go back, she returns to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for an assignment. Her return awakens memories that force her to confront her sad and lonely childhood, including the violent attack she'd rather forget. Moving away and making a quiet, successful solo life for herself, leaving the life she knew behind cannot keep Sammie from facing her past.The assignment takes her on a journey, helping her find a purpose, friendships, and a community that embraces her passion. Unfortunately, she still struggles to free herself from the things holding her back, keeping her from seeing the love right in front of her.Fortunately, her best friend, Zo禱, flies in from New Mexico to be by her side while she confronts the demons of her past. Sammie has a knack for helping others find their happy endings. Will she finally let Zo禱 help her become whole again and maybe discover her happy ending in the process?
TnT Ready to Explode
The 1980s was a simpler time before the Internet and social media, but it was also a decade of decadence, materialism, and consumerism. This was the birth of MTV and video games. It was a time of kick ass music and carefree sex, before AIDS became an epidemic. It was also a time of the blatant sexual abuse of women. Consent was a joke, where no meant yes. For women, sex was complicated or a commodity. This story tells how one woman's sexuality was complicated and how she used sex to drown out her pain. Toni lived life on the edge. She succumbed to her every desire, hiding her pain by overindulging in drugs, sex, and rock and roll, using them to fill the void inside her. Known as a "Party Girl" to most, Toni's outlandish behavior hid a secret. She lived her life in the shadows, hiding who and what she was, always concealing her truth from the world. She even hid her secret from those closest to her, knowing they would not understand. Seeking self-destruction, Toni lived like there was no tomorrow. But rolling though life as if there were no consequences lead to strange bedfellows. Follow her through her sexscapades to her eventual enlightenment as a strong woman forced to hide her true self-until love touched her dark soul.
TnT Ready to Explode
The 1980s was a simpler time before the Internet and social media, but it was also a decade of decadence, materialism, and consumerism. This was the birth of MTV and video games. It was a time of kick ass music and carefree sex, before AIDS became an epidemic. It was also a time of the blatant sexual abuse of women. Consent was a joke, where no meant yes. For women, sex was complicated or a commodity. This story tells how one woman's sexuality was complicated and how she used sex to drown out her pain. Toni lived life on the edge. She succumbed to her every desire, hiding her pain by overindulging in drugs, sex, and rock and roll, using them to fill the void inside her. Known as a "Party Girl" to most, Toni's outlandish behavior hid a secret. She lived her life in the shadows, hiding who and what she was, always concealing her truth from the world. She even hid her secret from those closest to her, knowing they would not understand. Seeking self-destruction, Toni lived like there was no tomorrow. But rolling though life as if there were no consequences lead to strange bedfellows. Follow her through her sexscapades to her eventual enlightenment as a strong woman forced to hide her true self-until love touched her dark soul.
Karma Train from Kansas
When Bryan Bauer left home in Prairie Village, Kansas at age 17 to escape from his homophobic parents, he intended to leave Kansas behind forever. He changed his name to Ryan Robertson, created a new life for himself as an independent and proud gay man, and vowed to look only forward, never backward.A scandal in Kansas sets in motion a sequence of events that reunites Ryan with several people from his former life - some welcome, some not - forcing them to re-examine their pasts, confront their failures, and try to rebuild their lives and their relationships.None of this upheaval will stop Ryan and his partner Aaron from building their relationship. Aaron takes Ryan to Ohio at Christmas to meet his parents, and Ryan surprises Aaron with a gift he'll never forget.Content Advisory: This book contains adult language and references to pornography, same-sex sexual activities, religious bigotry, and recreational drug abuse. It does not contain explicit sex scenes. If it were a movie, it would be rated R. This book may not be suitable for readers under 18.
Hide n' Seek
From Ashley Pines and Eden Emory comes a queer dark, smutty thriller set in world where the rich pay handsomely to watch the live-streaming event of the year. The desperate sign-up to play a game with life-changing rewards and life-ending consequences.VictoriaI have nothing left. No family. No money. No future.So when the games begin I have no choice but to enter.I know I could die. But without the prize money I'm a goner anyway, the medical debt from my father's accident will eat me alive.Years of cheer and track had prepared me for this. I was born to win this game.It didn't matter what it took. Blood. Sweat. Tears. My soul.Nothing would stop me from getting that money.KohlShe would have been fine if I had never been born.But he took it all from her.I would do anything to repay her for what my father had stolen.Sell my soul. My body.Kill someone.Hide n' seek. That's all it was supposed to be. Play the game, get the money.But then I was handed a gun and a mask.She wasn't part of the plan.So why the hell is she here?Will you be watching or playing?This will be the first book in a series with interconnected standalones. While they can be read out of order, it is recommended to start from Hide n' Seek. This is a dark book with many triggers, please see the TW on the authors' website before continuing.
The Education of Joshua Chastain
The Education of Joshua Chastain is a fictional memoir about a gay boy who grows up in a small Mormon community in northern Arizona, a kind of Mormon shtetl. The novel describes Josh's journey of self-discovery as he explores his sexuality, engages in various sexual relationships during his teenage years (including one with a Roman Catholic priest), and endures verbal and sometimes physical abuse from teachers and classmates. After a high school bully outs him, his parents send him to a clinic in Phoenix run by a Mormon psychologist who specializes in "curing" homosexuals. He escapes from the clinic and flees to Los Angeles, where he lives for a time with a deeply closeted Vietnam veteran who can be both loving and abusive. After their relationship ends, he supports himself briefly as a prostitute. Permeating Joshua's story is his desire to remain a person of faith while overcoming the homophobia of his Mormon background. Musically and academically gifted, Joshua eventually finds deliverance through higher education and involvement with more inclusive religious communities. During his adventure, he meets an array of fascinating individuals, including kind supporters as well as dangerous predators. "The Education of Joshua Chastain" is ultimately about authenticity, courage, faith, and love as seen in the life of a uniquely fascinating individual.
Normal Functioning Adult
The only way to find herself is to lose herselfA year ago, Amy Campbell's life was perfect. She had a beautiful wife, her career was on an upward trajectory, and her friendship circle was uncomplicated. Now she's a thirty-five-year-old widow who relies on wine and a dysfunctional situationship to cope. Aware her life is hanging together by a thread, Amy reluctantly returns to therapy. As she works through her grief and opens up to others in her group therapy program, she forms an unexpected bond that gives her life renewed purpose. But as she strives to become a normal functioning adult again, strains on her new relationship, conflict with her best friend, and the pressures of everyday life throw her into turmoil.The more Amy tries to redefine herself, the more her old self surfaces until the two collide and she's forced to confront her reality and make a decision about her future. Can Amy find the courage to say goodbye to her late wife and allow herself to love again? Or is the risk too great?Normal Functioning Adult is a story of grief, friendship and love told with heart and humour.
Women
NATIONAL BESTSELLERA Most Anticipated Pride Read by Autostraddle, Electric Literature, and GO Magazine - One of Cosmopolitan UK's Best Erotic Novels of All Time "Brief, sharp, and utterly consuming. . . Like your first love, it lingers long after the final chapter." - Tegan QuinA "delightfully frenetic cult classic" (The Atlantic) that intimately explores one young writer's whirlwind and whiplash affair as she falls deeply in love with a woman for the first time.Sometimes I wonder what it is I could tell you about her for my job here to be done. I am looking for a short-cut. . . .But that would be asking too much from you. It wasn't you who loved her.A young writer moves from the country to the city and falls in love with another woman for the very first time. From the start, the relationship is doomed; Finn is nineteen years older, wears men's clothes, has a cocky smirk of a smile . . . and a long-term girlfriend.With startling clarity and breathtaking tenderness, Chlo矇 Caldwell writes the story of a love in reverse: of nights spent drunkenly hurling a phone against a brick wall; of early mornings hungover in bed, curled up together; of emails and poems exchanged at breakneck speed. In Women, Caldwell lays bare the fierce obsession of addictive love, and asks the question: what, if anything, can who we love teach us about who we are?In this beautiful, transcendent, bracingly sexy novella, Caldwell tells a lust-love story that will bring you to your knees. Capturing the feverish heartbreak of Sapphic romance, painting a stark picture of an identity in crisis, and illuminating the exploratory possibilities of queer life, Women brands the heart and sears the soul.
Finist癡re
"An undiscovered LGBTQ classic" - Matt Donnelly, Variety"A remarkable novel... almost as if two of those idealized youths in Plato's 'Symposium' had for one brilliant moment come alive again in a sunlit beach near the land's end of Europe" - Gore Vidal, author of The City and the PillarThe 1920s. When wealthy American adolescent Matthew Cameron moves to France following his parents' divorce, he struggles to assimilate to his new surroundings. But when a new tennis instructor - Michel Garnier - arrives at Matthew's boarding school, a forbidden relationship develops that will have unforeseen consequences.Originally published in 1951, Finist癡re is a trailblazing LGBTQ+ novel. It locates tragedy not in the same-sex nature of the relationship between Matthew and Michel, but rather in the failure of their family, and wider society, to accept their relationship. Having sold over 350,000 copies, Fritz Peters' most successful novel kicked off the explosion of unapologetically gay literature in the United States and Britain. Through its sensitively rendered characters, Peters illuminates culture clash, class conflict, divorce, child-rearing, and the gaps in empathy that provoke life's greatest pains. Includes an introduction by Christopher Adams and Jack Parlett. Adams is an accomplished playwright and screenwriter for the film adaptation of Finist癡re. He holds a PhD in mid-twentieth century queer publishing history from the University of London and is a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Jack Parlett is a writer, poet, and literary scholar specializing in queer studies and American literature with a PhD from Cambridge University. He is the author of Fire Island: Love, Loss and Liberation in an American Paradise.
Twisted Rivalry
JONAS 10K if I sleep with this guy's brother.His twin brother, Ryan Hawthorne.I've never messed around with a guy, but for that much money, I'll figure it out.A descendant of American royalty, Ryan was born into money, status, and privilege. He spent his life in his family's cushy mansion while my family struggled to get by.Shortly after we meet, I discover an important detail about why his twin hired me for this gig.I'm the spitting image of someone from Ryan's past, someone he loved deeply.I also discover that, despite my preconceptions, there's more to Ryan than some snotty rich guy with the world at his fingertips.He intrigues me, and after the hottest night of my life, I realize something about myself.Something he's brought out of me.Now his brother has a new offer on the table.But it means participating in a disturbing mind game with one object: screw with Ryan's head.I have to do this, but what's happening between us isn't a game.The spark of that first night becomes a raging wildfire, and I allow the lines between real and fake to blur, losing myself in a chaotic mix of blood, lust, secrets, and lies, all tying back to this man from Ryan's past.The man I remind him of.There's a connection between us, yes. But what hope is there for a future with Ryan when his brother's twisted rivalry keeps him trapped in the past?
Sex Goblin
A weird, wild ride across non-narrative vignettes and dryly funny aphorisms exploring the shared intensity of violence and the erotic. As if hauled up squirming from the bowels of the internet, Sex Goblin metabolizes sex writing, popular culture, and autofiction to present the real and the imagined as equally surreal possibilities. In the narrator's childlike voice, all things become both mundane and strange--a child and their dog fused after a car accident, moments of tenderness amidst frat hazing, witches, and hiking accidents. At turns charming and bizarre, Sex Goblin channels sexual violence through the lens of the absurd to alchemize shame and abuse into something that registers differently than trauma. Sex Goblin is a barely factual but deeply felt field guide to relationships and relatability.
Rain
The third in H.N. Hirsch's "Bob & Marcus Mystery" series, RAIN follows defense attorney Bob Abramson as he defends Kenny Glick, a graduate student of Professor Marcus George's at the University of California-San Diego, against a murder charge. A former ADA now in private practice, Bob is determined to give Kenny the best possible defense-no matter the odds against him-and despite the case's effect on Marcus as he learns more than he bargained for about UCSD.
Family Secrets
Determined to live her life despite being a person of interest in a murder, Annie Velasquez decides to rebuild her father's bicycle shop, which was burned in an arson fire eighteen months earlier. That fire took her father's life, so she and her adopted brother, Joe, decide to rebuild in his honor. While running an errand for the bike shop, Annie comes face to face with Nicky Fleming, the woman Annie allegedly murdered. In shock, Annie reports the encounter to Beth O'Brien, the Portland detective in charge of the homicide investigation. Beth listens to her story and promises to look into it. Despite Beth's reassurances, Annie decides that she must look for Nicky herself. After all, if the police don't believe Nicky is alive, she will never be free of suspicion.
Love Next Door
A sweet toaster-oven lesbian romance that asks whether the one we're meant to be with might be right under our nose.Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can't take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door. Riley is trying very hard not to succumb to the clich矇 of falling for the straight girl as she gets to know Kim Jackson, an outgoing baker with an adorable nine-year-old son.A friendship forms and Riley even finds herself roped into playing Kim's fake girlfriend to get her meddling family off her back.What could go wrong...except for Kim suddenly questioning whether she's not as straight as she thought! As the sexual tension slowly builds, it's hard not to wonder whether they'd be good together for real. But is it worth risking a great friendship if Riley doesn't feel the same way?
Bridge at the Beach
Clyde's idyllic afternoon in the surf with his mates is interrupted by the news that there's been a quadruple suicide in an apartment overlooking the beach.Two of the deceased are the parents of Barry Wilkinson, one of Clyde's childhood friends, a man he hasn't seen since Clyde donned the khaki and left for war. Wilkinson engages Clyde to discover the identity of a mysterious woman who has been left a huge sum of money in his father's will. On the surface, what appears to be a straightforward case evolves into a complex story of deception, lies, violence and murder. Relationships are tested and new ones formed, and Clyde discovers that those connections that seem unrelated are closely linked behind a veil of secrecy.The early summer of 1957 is a time in which Clyde nearly loses everything he holds dear-his own life included-all because of two couples who died while playing bridge at the beach.
Bridge at the Beach
Clyde's idyllic afternoon in the surf with his mates is interrupted by the news that there's been a quadruple suicide in an apartment overlooking the beach.Two of the deceased are the parents of Barry Wilkinson, one of Clyde's childhood friends, a man he hasn't seen since Clyde donned the khaki and left for war. Wilkinson engages Clyde to discover the identity of a mysterious woman who has been left a huge sum of money in his father's will. On the surface, what appears to be a straightforward case evolves into a complex story of deception, lies, violence and murder. Relationships are tested and new ones formed, and Clyde discovers that those connections that seem unrelated are closely linked behind a veil of secrecy.The early summer of 1957 is a time in which Clyde nearly loses everything he holds dear-his own life included-all because of two couples who died while playing bridge at the beach.
SOS Hotel
It's been two weeks since the SOS Hotel opened, and everything is going great . . .Apart from the detective who's dead set on accusing Zee of murder, the leaking pipes, a psycho sorcerer stalker, a shadowbeast in the attic, and . . . did I mention Lord Reynard has a wife? Yeah, he didn't mention it either. I could have done with knowing that before, you know, kinda falling for the suave, sexy Vampire Daddy.He also neglected to mention that his wife wants my head on a plate. Literally.This is not the love triangle I was expecting.If Reynard lied about that, what else is a lie? Is Zee right, and Lord Reynard wants our hotel? Or is it something more personal he desires, such as my heart?My name is Adam Vex. I'm totally, one hundred percent human.Welcome to the SOS Hotel.Where it's about to get weird-er.
SOS Hotel
Guaranteed a supernaturally safe stay! (*Definitely no murders)A scandalous ex-porn-star demon, and a morally shady billionaire vampire walk into a bar . . .But this is no joke. It's opening day at the SOS Hotel, and that lust demon? He's my business partner. I know. What was I thinking? The suave, billionaire vampire however? He's something else . . . Creating a sanctuary for the supernaturals left here when the tear in the veil sealed was always going to be difficult, but it's all I have, and I'm going to make it work. Despite the murders, the missing humans, and the psychotic real estate mogul who wants to bulldoze the hotel . . .The SOS Hotel must thrive, whatever the cost. Because if it fails, I'll lose everything. Including my life. My name is Adam. I'm just the boring human who works here, and I absolutely, definitely, do not have any secrets. Welcome to the SOS Hotel. What can possibly go wrong?
Desert Haven
Women Empowered, Enlightened and TransformedStep back in time to the revolutionary 1970s with Desert Haven, a compelling exploration of a hidden facet of history. Born at the crossroads of feminism, sexual liberation, lesbian separatism, and a return to nature, this novel breathes life into the movement that sought to forge self-governed women-centered societies within intentional communities. Across a span of forty years, Desert Haven meticulously weaves the political, social, and spiritual tapestry of a marginalized subgroup within the queer community. Through nuanced storytelling, the women grapple with the challenges of preserving their vision, offering tales of grief and hope, loss and celebration, passion, and solitude.Against the evocative backdrop of women's land, where cactus and creosote stand beneath expansive skies and monsoon rains paint the landscape, Desert Haven unfolds through fifteen interconnected characters over four decades. Each character, a chapter in this rich narrative, contributes to a chorus of diverse voices that resonate with the intricacies of the broader community. As women seamlessly flow in and out of each other's stories, Desert Haven reveals a network of evolving relationships, creating a captivating portrayal of resilience and the enduring bonds that shape our collective history.
On Love and Death and Belonging
On Love and Death and Belonging is a fresh, light-hearted, yet profound look at the intersection of the lives of three later-middle-aged people-a group often othered in today's society and not always included in the lexicon of contemporary novels except as bit players. Fiona, a burned-out nurse, still needing a pay cheque, counting the days to retirement. Brice, a gay man coming to terms with a diagnosis of ALS and the need for care. Adelina, marginalized and living with domestic abuse, her belief in God guides her. The impacts of aging, loneliness, isolation, invisibility, and illness leading to medical assistance in dying unite these three characters as they search for belonging. On Love and Death and Belonging gives voice to the realization that life, by its very design, doesn't always get easier. Sometimes, it's just plain hard.
Everything's Better With You
Retired quarterback and "nicest guy in the NFL" Leslie Payton met former college cheerleader-turned-reality-show darling Joe Judd fifteen years ago. They spent one magical night...talking. They've been pining for each other via text and phone calls ever since while their careers kept them geographically apart. When their alma mater recruits them to reinvigorate a flagging athletic program, Leslie is thrilled to finally have Joe close enough to see if their "what if" can become a reality. And the sooner the better before Leslie's history of Traumatic Brain Injury catches up to him and he's unable to be a true partner.Joe has spent their years apart dancing on reality TV, Broadway, and concert tours, knowing full well the clock is ticking on his body's ability to continue taking the abuse. Leslie wants forever to start now, and Joe doesn't have that luxury, though Leslie makes him want things he's never allowed himself to dream of with anyone else. But a lifetime of only feeling worthwhile for his performance ability makes him doubt whether he could ever be a good coach or enough of a partner for the best man he's ever known.As football and cheer coaches, they're forced to be rivals in public, but behind closed doors, their chemistry is unstoppable. A wager triggers their competitive sides, but the secrets they keep come to light and present them with a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. Can they finally meet on the relationship 50-yard line and move forward as a team?Recommended for readers 18 and up who love open and honest dialogue about sex, and challenges to toxic masculinity. Also included: mesh crop tops, gratuitous shirtless car wash scenes, phone sex therapy, and all the pining.
Geezer Dyke and Other Stories of Bad Behavior
Thacker skillfully intertwines wit and sensitivity in her collection of quirky stories that traverse the realms of nostalgia and an ever-changing world. In a futuristic tale, an elderly protagonist embarks on a profound journey with their mute partner, contemplating their nomadic existence and the abandoned landscapes now transformed into national parks. An aging woman in Mexico grapples with poignant memories of lost love and past relationships, particularly her poignant experience with a loved one who fought against cancer. An inebriated man finds his specially modified hunting cart pilfered by two adventurous women, who take it on a thrilling joyride across a golf course, leading to encounters and revelations that defy expectations. A woman wakes up to a bewildering reality, trapped in the body of a teenage girl, while the teenager inhabits the woman's body. Both characters are left horrified and perplexed by this surreal situation, and they must navigate their newfound identities while seeking to adapt to this extraordinary predicament. Thacker's stories artfully capture the essence of human experiences through heartfelt emotions.
Time Remaining
"Well, it just sings." -Susan Sontag"'Drugs, dick, disco, and dish-remember?' That's how the drag queen Miss Mae Mae describes the good times in James McCourt's 1993 novel, Time Remaining. She is on her deathbed, clutching a stuffed bear, and she marvels at how suddenly those words have been replaced by 'dysentery, dementia, despair, and death.' Miss Mae Mae's final quip is relayed by Odette O'Doyle, a 'polymath drag-queen diva, ' to Daniel Delancey, an orphaned performance artist, as they ride the midnight train to Montauk. Odette and Delancey are the sole survivors of a raucous group of drag queens called the Eleven Against Heaven, which AIDS has decimated. Odette has just returned from depositing the ashes of the Eleven in various European bodies of water: Miss Mae Mae in the Rhine, Miss Faith Healy in the Liffey, Miss Charity Ward 'upon still waters in the fjord at ?lesund." As she recounts the rites for Delancey, she immerses us in stories of the Eleven, and surfaces a singular history of mid-century queer New York." -The New Yorker"McCourt is that rarest of contemporary American authors-a true iconoclast, a devoted high stylist, and a holder of the unfashionable opinion that prose is a natural extrovert and beauty that deserves the brightest polish, the best accessories, the most extravagant costumes." -Dennis Cooper, author of Closer and Frisk"What makes Time Remaining an extraordinary animal among so many, varied gay books that came to life in the 1970s, 80s and 90s? It's a celebration of the survival instincts that define gay life. The use of dark humor is the building and defense of our semantic canon which results in an aggressively earned comfort with the world." -Tim Young, from his introduction to the new edition James McCourt is the author of multiple works of fiction and nonfiction. He is best known for his acclaimed 1971 debut novel Mawrdew Czgowchwz (pronounced Mardu Gorgeous) which is currently available with the New York Review Books Classics imprint. Queer Street: The Rise and Fall of an American Culture, 1947-85, published in 2003, was identified by The New York Times as an "heroically imaginative account of gay metropolitan culture, an elegy and an apologia for a generation." Tim Young has been thinking and writing about the role of literature and music in the narrative of life for many decades. In addition to a series of essays on popular culture for Design Observer, he has contributed work for The Yale Review.
Corpus Memoria
What does your hair say about you?Exhumed from that shadowy place between dark and dawn, this connected story collection takes us on a stumbling scavenger hunt to examine fragmented memory and embodied artifacts of identity - like hair - to re-member the inner and outer self into wholeness.
A Cat in the Act
Who wouldn't want sage yet sassy advice from the ghost of their dead cat? It's 1987 and New York actor/singer/waiter Matthew is struggling to restart his career, regain a sense of optimism, and open himself up to dating in the aftermath of his lover's death from AIDS-all with the spiritual guidance of his recently deceased cat, Hobo. Life is uncertain in this turbulent era of the '80s, as the gay community is reeling from the onslaught of AIDS and struggling with the government's lack of support. After some missteps seeking love in all the wrong places, will Hobo's lessons for Matt on how to believe in himself and in his ability to find love lead to romance once again? Will his ability to find love, lead to romance once again? Can he get his career back on track if he auditions for a new and timely show? Will he find his voice on the grand stage and realize his dream of making it to Broadway? Find out in this journey of discovery- a sweet and entertaining valentine of a yarn.
Should Our Hearts Catch Fire
Ellis has been looking for something for as long as he can remember. It was never important, though. There've been expectations and rules laid out for him since he was born. It doesn't matter his dad isn't here anymore to remind him how inadequate he is compared to his big brother; not as smart, not as driven, not as successful. Never good enough. The only thing he's good for is being a cash-cow and ironing out other people's messes-like having to take over the family business because brother dear somehow managed to lose all his memories. Just great. But that's his life. At least until the day he wanders into a local caf矇 with a stupid name and the world's strangest barista. Gabriel is a force of nature, confusing as hell and, worst of all, makes Ellis feel things he has no business feeling. Ellis swears to never go back, but something about that place keeps drawing him in. Every time he steps in there, he feels more like himself. A little more alive and far less lost. He has no idea what he's looking for, but sometimes, when he's in Gabriel's shop, it feels like he might have found it.
For Loving Differently
There are many novels with gay protagonists, homogeneous poems only one, FOR LOVING DIFFERENTLY! In this life not all of us drink coffee, only us who like it drink it and those who don't is because they don't like it or because their religion prohibits it... This book doesn't need a major presentation The title and the cover tells everything Here there are only poems full of pain, impotence, sadness, anger, and love... But all of them with a common denominator, that are poems of man to man... And it's that the love consists of that, to love, even though not many people understand everything that one suffers, FOR LOVING DIFFERENTLY
LGBT
Hey, you want something completely effed up? Well, here it is! LUST: Lavelle, the lesbian porno actress whose dead lover comes back as a ghost to haunt her. GORE: Greg, the elderly gay man who decides to butcher his young, unfaithful husband and his husband's boyfriend. BLOODSHED: Bryn, the bisexual vampire endlessly seeking her soulmate, but who, somehow, always ends up killing her lovers. TERROR: Tammi, the disgraced transgender influencer who, unable to afford the cost of her Gender Affirmation Surgery, decides to become a 'complete woman' by magical means. These four people meet and interact at the Bonner's Corner nightclub, where their intersecting schemes and dreams will place them on a series of collision courses with each other that will lead to weird consequences for some and horrifying ends for others. Oh, and the witch named Rainbow. Why is Rainbow called 'Rainbow' anyway?
Getting Over Homer
Getting Over Homer, a "coming of middle age" novel, takes a look at heartbreak, aging, the search for home, and the madness of love - in a story that follows the rise and fall and rise and fall of its hope-stricken narrator's two heart-bending love affairs. Our hero is Blue Monahan, who with his fiery twin brother, Red, arrives from the Midwest to try his luck in the Big Apple. Straight Red drifts rapidly into sitcom stardom and marriage, while gay Blue struggles to make it as a songwriter (you probably missed his musical, Odyssey) and to find True Love. First it's Homer, who introduces him to chic New York at the fashionable parties it is his job to throw for the superrich (his motto: "It's a business doing pleasure with you!") and at lush Fire Island retreats. Then, on the rebound, it is sweet, virginal Teddy, who likes to cuddle but is terrified of sex... As Blue labors to recover from these confusing entanglements, he must navigate the seas of family, friendship, career, and masculinity - whatever that is - before finding a safe haven, or at least getting over that seasick feeling.
Biting Silence
I'm Going To Kill MyselfAnd in a way he did, again and again. Each missed message and each skipped meal drove Aften ever closer to the act. When that very act fails, the last thing he expected was to be invited to a party, but truly...what else was there to do? Like Bret Easton Ellis' rampant apathy and Dennis Cooper's social cynicism colliding, Biting Silence explores the partygoers' tenuous relationship as it worsens and worsens. Neither drinks nor sex nor questioning what's real can hinder the insatiable negligence that inevitably tears them apart.
One Saved to the Sea
Winner of the 2012 Rainbow Award for Lesbian Paranormal In the Orkney Islands, mothers tell their children of the selkies, seals who can shed their skins and dance on land. They also tell that whoever holds a selkie girl's skin can trap her for a wife. From the lighthouse where she was raised, Mairead has watched the selkie girls secretly since she was small. She longs to leave the home that has never really been hers and join them. She could never have guessed that a limping selkie girl has been watching her, too. Their paths collide when most of the men of the island, including Mairead's brothers, have been called to war, When the village idiot decides to catch himself a wife, Mairead is the only one who can stop him. Drawing on myth and history, Catt Kingsgrave writes a tale of the clash of the modern age with magic, of loss and searching, a tale that will sweep you away to a past that never was, and into a sapphic love story just this side of impossible.
The Witch
Marisa is a powerful witch returning to the home she grew up in upon her mother's tragically sudden death. Upon her return The Witch is greeted by Kendall, a local detective looking into mysterious deaths that seem to coincide with the arrival of the mysterious Marisa.Kylee is a young woman who joined The Group at her local church as a way to spend more time with her boyfriend, but she got much more than she bargained for when a new and frightening world is opened up to her.As Marisa tries to find the cause of her mother's suspicious death, Kylee searches for answers to what has happened to her during her time with The Group. Kendall's suspicions of Marisa only deepen as he gets to know her, but his feelings for her get in the way of his judgment.Kylee and Marisa begin to form a bond that brings them closer together, but threatens The Group and gives Kendall reason to suspect that both Marisa and Kylee might be more dangerous than he ever thought possible.The is the first novel in a four part series of The Witch.
Incubus Tales
Welcome to the intriguing city of dreams, Noctemberg, where it is always night, and to Phantasies, a very special shop run by Dhiar, proprietor and gay incubus. Sensuality is more than just Dhiar's stock in trade, it is his raison d'etre. In Incubus Tales: A Thousand Words, Dhiar meets new loves, rekindles relationships, and bring his special brand of sexual healing to lovers and readers alike. Featuring the same main character as the popular Incubus Tales webcomic, Incubus Tales: A Thousand Words ran as a fiction serial on the Circlet Press website in 2012. Now collecting all 50 "nights" into a single volume, "A Thousand Words" is a sweet, sensuous journey through the heart and soul of Dhiar. Dhiar loves all and judges none, whether they are jaded vampires, questioning angels, or even naive humans. His adventures are literary erotic iyashikei--arousing to the flesh, but soothing to the soul. Includes five original illustrations by Hushicho.
The Golem of Rabbi Loew
Jacob and Esau Cohen are the closest of brothers. In fact, they're lovers. A doctor tries to combine canine genes with those of Jews, to improve their chances of surviving a hostile world. A Talmudic scholar dates an escort. A scientist tries to develop the "God spot" in the brains of his patients in hopes of creating a messiah.A Jew-by-Choice navigates Jewish/Muslim relations during Pesach. A gay Lubavitcher dating a Catholic is attacked and left for dead but becomes a police officer in response. The Golem of Prague is really Rabbi Loew's secret lover. While some of the Jews in Townsend's book are Orthodox, this collection of Jewish stories most certainly is not.
A Plague of Grackles
Amidst a violent storm of hate, she fights for justice and her community's survival.Avery Byrne, a tattoo artist and trans youth group chair, suspects a connection between a series of seemingly random attacks on her community.Frustrated by the police's inaction, she and her girlfriend, Roz, unravel the conspiracy targeting her community. But their pursuit of truth soon turns perilous, spiraling into a maelstrom of violence that strikes Avery at her core.Surviving an attack meant to silence her, Avery emerges scarred but undaunted, diving deeper into the abyss to confront a nemesis entwined with her own dark past.A Plague of Grackles, book three in the Avery Byrne Goth Vigilante series, weaves a tale of action, suspense, and profound courage. Dharma Kelleher delivers a heart-pounding thriller that not only entertains but also challenges the reader to confront the complexities of justice, trauma, and solidarity.Dive into Avery Byrne's world-where the fight for justice is personal, the risks are monumental, and the quest for truth knows no limits.
Higher Demon
No matter the demon, the hunter's role is clear... A thousand years ago, my great-something uncle founded the Collective, a secret organization dedicated to protecting humanity from demons. The hunter tradition has been passed down over the generations, from parent to child, secure in the knowledge that the Collective is a community of safety and knowledge. But betrayal sucks, and six years ago, it turned my world-and the Collective-upside down. After generations of deception, the hunters left behind are picking up the pieces and trying something we've never done before-working side by side with our enemy.Demons, just to be clear. They're apparently "misunderstood," but the jury is still out on that. And I-a twentysomething archivist with an addiction to hoodies-somehow ended up as liaison to the demon ambassador. If it sounds like a nightmare, that's because it is. The demon ambassador is a stuck-up, pretentious twat... not to mention he could kill me with a thought. Worst of all, he's getting under my skin in ways I never expected. But I'm the only hunter who doesn't actively want to kill him, so... tag, I'm it.I've already been betrayed by those I should have been able to trust the most. How hard can hanging out with a higher demon be?
Lone Star on a Cowboy Heart
When Montgomery Clarke saves Deputy Sam Roswell's life during an armed robbery, both men go home thinking they'll never cross paths again. Instead, a friendship blossoms between them as they work together to track down a wanted man: the surviving robber who escaped the scene of the crime with a sack of cash.Drawn to each other despite their starkly different personalities, Montgomery and Sam quickly bond in a way neither man has with anyone else in years. Their friendship awakens Sam's long-buried and unexplored romantic feelings for men, while reviving Montgomery's deepest longing: for a platonic life partner. Sparked by violence, Sam and Montgomery's connection becomes cemented in yet another dangerous confrontation when they finally catch up to Joel Troutman, the robber on the run.A year later, Montgomery and Sam are best friends with an exceptionally intimate relationship. What should be their first happy Christmas season together, however, suddenly turns sour when Montgomery gives Sam the cold shoulder without explanation. Brought together once again by crime-this time, one involving a teenage girl-Sam and Montgomery reckon with their feelings for each other. Will they remain friends or become partners?
Return to Sender
A son who loves his dad in his youth discovers through his adult life, a long lost secret story about his father, his father's murder and through his probing investigations, he relives his many wonderful childhood memories, enjoys his visiting friends and with their help, he finds the perpetrators and develops an even stronger reason for the powerful love and bond he long held for his dad.
Something Happened
Family vacations can be a killer.Jayson wants nothing but a good relationship with his family. He longs for fun family time and bonding with those he grew up with, but all he has is one big dysfunctional mess. After experiencing one of the worst nights of his life, he spends the next few years wanting out, but how do you walk away from your family?This year another family vacation rolls around, and he decides that this is the last one he will go on but, will this be the last one for all of them?One night in the woods leads to one bloody mess.
If I Fall
When Noah meets Bennett, he thinks he's found it all: A job at a prestigious publishing company, the best friends he could ever ask for, and the city's most eligible bachelor on his arm. But when the chance for a promotion to editor falls into Noah's lap, it quickly turns into a war between friends.As Noah begins to realize that life in the Big Apple won't be quite like his favorite T.V. shows, he starts to question whether the life he's chosen to build for himself is the life he really wants.
Lone Wolf
I never thought my life would turn out like this. I left Creekside Township at the age of sixteen full of hope, heading to Metro City to pursue my dream of chasing down murderers and thieves.Instead, my innocence was stolen.Now, I can't sleep or relax without distractions. My life and desires are messed up.I'm broken.I'm a lone wolf that seeks pleasure for pleasure's sake. I'm also the youngest detective the Metro City police department has ever promoted to head a murder investigation.I prefer to work alone, but the sergeant has other ideas, forcing me to work with a human partner. Even when my new partner sees my dark side, my life in the shadows, he doesn't run.For the first time in a long time, I feel it ... hope.Lone Wolf is a spin-off from the Creekside Township Rivals series. One of the main characters, Mason Black, is the son of Lucas and Adam Black, the fated mates in Book 1 - Lucas' Omega.This story is a mix of murder mystery and wolf shifter mpreg romance.
Moon Rite
Two rites stand before him. Fail one and he will be powerless, fail the other and he will likely be dead.Falric Mislan is torn. Born of a magical Voce and a mundane Dracan, he stands at a crossroads. One direction leads him to the magic he craves, the other to a warriors recognition and status. Stung by his first abortive attempt at awakening his power, Falric throws himself into Dracan life, and inadvertently unearths a perilous talisman.Watching slip away the last chance of his mother aiding his ambition, Falric accepts that his father's people, and his passing of their Moon Rite, are his only path. But in the aftermath of his find, Falric now faces a bitter enemy who is determined to see him fail.Spending a month alone in the southern desert for his 'Moon of Solitude' is dangerous enough, but can he survive his own doubts, his unrequited desire for the magic that alludes him...and a man who dreams of deadly vengeance?Moon Rite is the exhilarating first book in the LGBTQ+ Legend of the Ancients, Books of Locurnia Fantasy series. If you like deep friendship, dangerous trials, and lethal enemies, all with a touch of heated passion, then you'll love Deonne Dane's gripping adventure.(approximately 80k words)
Save Me
Vitari Angelini knows selling a cache of Battaglia guns to a drug lord is not what Francis would call legal, but he'll never find out. Besides, it's for a good cause: Francis's happy ever after. Happy endings aren't for the likes of Vitari, and with his fake death recently exposed, it's a matter of time before his father sends assassins.But when the gun deal goes wrong, blowing their cover, all thoughts of a happy ending turn to dust in a desperate dash for the Colombian border.The net is closing, there's nowhere left to run, Colombia is not the place to hide when you're the son of the notorious mafia don, and on top of everything... Francis has a secret.A secret that will change their futures.A secret that has Vitari wondering... whose side is Francis on?*Francis hoped Panama would be a fresh start. Again. But Vitari's not interested in settling down or trying to blend in. Whatever he's doing that keeps him away most nights, it's definitely illegal.Then there's the issue of the phone call ... Francis should tell Vitari, but a confession like his might end them.Thoughts of a future soon take a back seat when they're hunted out of Panama and Vitari is taken for ransom. The mafia life they've tried to run from refuses to let them go.If ever there was a time to fight for love, it's now. But to save Vitari, Francis is going to have to be everything he fears, and secretly desires. There are few men more dangerous than one in love, and on the road to Hell.Giancarlo and the Battaglia, Sasha and the DeSica... They're about to wish they'd never met a once-naive English priest.Because Father Francis Scott will go to Hell to save his angel.
Fresh Kill
Staked through the heart and you're to blame.Still overworked-a little less underappreciated-Eric Marcelino stumbles through an Ironport he doesn't recognize. The city has gone eerily quiet. There hasn't been a vampire attack in weeks and Eric is starting to wonder what the vampires are planning.Tony McMahon's boyfriend is perfect. Kind. Caring. Hot. Except his sister hates him, and well . . . he might be a vampire. But that's okay, because Tony has a plan. Sort of.Change is good, or that's what Hunter Delacroix has always heard anyway. So then why does moving into the dorms on Moondale University campus feel like a surrender? And why does every glance from Eric feel like a betrayal?Ironport is quiet, but maybe it's just the calm before the storm. With broken hearts, grief, and a little existential dread hanging over all of their heads Eric's team might find themselves six feet under instead of the vampires. This is gonna suck.Overkill is a mm paranormal romance perfect for fans of Buffy.TW: Mentions of past abuse, mentions of past transphobia, recreational drinking & drug use, blood (this is a vampire book), decapitation, gore, profanity, mentions of PTSD, sexually explicit scenes, gaslighting, and tortureThe Hunters of Ironport is a series set in the same universe as Witches of Moondale (just a town over), and thus will have crossover characters from time to time. That being said, it can be read separately if you so choose. If you would like to read it in order with the Witches of Moondale timeline please read The Hex Next Door, The Ghost of Hexes Past first, and Overkill.To read The Bay of the Dead 'verse in order: The Hex Next DoorThe Ghost of Hexes PastOverkillFresh KillHome is Where the Hex is
Summer Kitchen
The foolproof recipe for personal redemption and perfect love... Take: One former rock musicianOne almost-MBA turned cooking school studentAdd two heaping spoonfuls (each) of: responsibilityfamilial obligationregretAnd a dash of: misunderstanding (optional)Stir together in: one small Vermont townSeason with: friendsfamilyfoesand one large ginger catGarnish with: validationlaughterjust deserts (also desserts) Simmer for one entire summer before serving up a delicious (well-deserved) HEA. Bon Appetit!
Beautiful and Terrible Things
"Brilliantly relatable...a compelling exploration of friendship, individuality, and the shared struggles that make us who we are." -Booklife Editor's Pick"Much like finding love when you're least expecting it, sometimes a book comes along and literally takes your breath away." -Reader ViewsCharley Byrne isn't really living. At age 29, she hunkers down in her apartment above the bookstore she manages, afraid of a 7-year curse. Then quirky activist Xander Wallace lures her out of social exile with the prospect of friendship and romance. Charley joins Xander's circle of friends diverse in their heritage, race, gender and sexual orientation. She thrives, even leaving her comfort zone to join protests in a city struggling with social justice ills.But the new friendships bring back-to-back betrayals that threaten the bookstore-Charley's haven-and propel her into a dangerous depression. Can her friends save the store? And Charley?Beautiful and Terrible Things offers a compelling portrait of modern American life in a major city with its vibrant culture and rampant social issues. At once enlightening and entertaining, it reminds us that friendship has the power to validate, destroy, transform, and save lives.2024 Indies Today Best Literary Book of the Year Winner2024 Gold Winner, Reader Views Reviewer's Choice Awards - LGBTQIA+2024 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Finalist2024 Sarton Award Finalist2024 American Fiction Awards Finalist - General Fiction2024 American Writing Awards Finalist - LGBTQ2024 Readers' Favorite Awards Honorable Mention - Fiction-Social Issues
Prophet's Death
Death-cult leader Joseph Proffit has met his end! along with him perishes the secret method for manufacturing indigo, the substance that imbued him with godlike abilities.To the dismay of Naomi's family, she succumbed to the injuries Joseph dealt her during their final battle atop the abandoned Coast Guard station, Frying Pan Tower, thirty miles off the North Carolina coast.Both of their bodies were lost at sea when the one-hundred-foot-tall structure crumbled during Tropical Storm Gabriel.Naomi's beloved companions escaped aboard her dive boat, along with Joseph's final victim, who is on the verge of death.In the aftermath, Naomi's family has no choice but to rebuild their lives in hiding, fearing reprisal from the handful of remaining Apostle loyalists.Soon, their secret, dormant conflict will be thrust onto the world stage by a wealthy benefactor who funnels his personal hatred and unfounded grievances into throngs of ignorant followers.Is this the end of Naomi's family? Without her, how will they survive?
