Burnout
Bright eyed and pink haired Natalie was supposed to be excited for her college graduation, ready to get her degree and move on to a career. Instead, she feels like she's drowning. Her friends have their futures all lined up and are ecstatic to move on, but Natalie's discontent. A biology major sounded good four years ago when she started college, but she doesn't want to be a doctor-like her mother's pushing-and lab work is boring and lame. What other option does she have, though? Graduation is in a few months, and she needs a job. Desperate to escape her mother's nagging, she flees to an amusement park over spring break for a solo vacation. The break is nice, but she can't escape the worry in her mind. Luckily, Natalie runs into five high school teachers at the park who give her a much-needed distraction. And thanks to their newfound friendship and different perspectives in life, Natalie starts to realize she's been missing out on a lot. Will her new friends give Natalie the guidance she needs to find her passion in life, or will she end up never using her biology degree?
Corpus Calvin
Jason Dekker doesn't believe in ghosts but is haunted by memories of Amsterdam. A move to the White Mountains of New Hampshire with his dog, Calvin, promises a fresh start. College friend Tessa Bernstein enlists his help at Cloverkist Inn, where strange occurrences are scaring off customers and staff. Is someone trying to drive Tessa out of business, or are darker forces at work? Does an enigmatic boy who bonds with Calvin hold the key to a secret dating back to the Civil War? The unsolicited arrival of psychic medium Valraven creates further turmoil when his investigation into paranormal activity clashes with Dekker's skepticism. Loyalties shift and deep emotional wounds resurface as past and present converge with far-reaching consequences. Ghosts of memory may prove more difficult to exorcise than any phantom at Cloverkist.
Sweet Dreams / Golden Years
The Alex Kane Missions, Books 1 & 2 - Meet Alex Kane. In Vietnam, the only lover he had known had been killed by a homophobic coward. With his physical prowess and the financial backing of his former lover's family Kane's sorrow turned to action, and he is resolved to fight back against anyone, anywhere who dares to challenge the dreams of gay men.In Sweet Dreams, someone was daring to mess with young gay men in Boston. Danny Fortelli, a high school senior and superb gymnast, gets caught up in a drugs-and-prostitution ring exploiting gay youth. Boston's South End had become the epicenter of violence driven by a corrupt elite. Enter Alex Kane to alter their plans forever.In Golden Years, Joe Talbot, long retired and now widowed, dreams of an easier life in a gay retirement community that sounds too good to be true. But when his young friend Sam, left behind in New York, begins to suspect the "golden agers" are being mistreated, the news reaches Alex Kane's financier. Kane jumps into action, gaining the support of a local cowboy plucked right out of the Old West. These evil doers won't know what hit them when Alex Kane and his Cowboy ride into town!A celebrated series of superhero adventure stories written for a general audience by bad boy John Preston whose journalism and fictional writings brought leather and bondage scene mainstream. This new edition includes a foreword by Philip Gambone (As Far As I Can Tell: Finding My Father In World War II).
Gretel
Once in a while love gives us a fairy tale..."a truly imaginative, inventive, and ingenious re-telling of such a beloved classic." - ★★★★★ "it's a beautiful variation on the timeless fairy tale" - ★★★★★"Beautifully imagined" - ★★★★★Tormented by a pack of bloodthirsty wolves, Hans and his sister Gretel, run for their lives.Desperation leads them into the comforting arms of a beautiful woman who asks for nothing in return for her kindness. While Gretel finds herself drawn to the seductress, Hans grows suspicious of her motives. Torn between a brother she adores and a woman she can't help but admire, Gretel is forced to make a choice.Will sibling bonds override the lure of a newfound love? Find out in this exciting adult fairy tale full of action, adventure, and romance.'Gretel: A Fairytale Retold' is a thrilling adaptation of a classic fairytale for fans of Angela Carter's 'Bloody Chamber' and Malinda Lo's modern classic, 'Ash'. It is a six-chapter short story of just over 12,400 words and contains some explicit passages.This book is for anyone who loves: Lesbian Fairy TalesLesbian RomanceYoung Adult and New Adult FictionAction Adventure StoriesExciting stories with Strong Female Lead CharactersHistorical FictionFantasy FictionRollicking Adventures with Sapphic Romance
Survivors
It's Jennifer's 24th birthday and she planned to spend it having fun with her friends. Instead, she ends up running for her life through the dark streets of London.Her world is torn apart by a new disease, the likes of which have never been seen before. The government's decision to conceal its deadly nature exacerbates the panic, and in all the confusion Jennifer is bitten by an infected person.That's it, right? Her life over.Wrong.Immune to the virus's ravaging effects, Jennifer finds herself with a small group of survivors. Together they must fight to stay alive long enough for a cure to be found. Humanity won't be beaten so easily.But madness looms large, and safety seems forever out of reach.
Wild Ash
Cordell Wilder agreed to be legal guardian for his nephew Bowie as a "just in case" because that's what big brothers do. His brother Jesse wasn't actually supposed to die. He thinks it's his lucky day when he learns he's not the only guardian. Maybe he can be the fun Uncle instead? Y'know, like a part-time gig. Marley Ashley is the younger brother of Jesse's wife or as Cordell knows him, huge pain in the ass. Marley is Cordell's polar opposite, and now they've got to raise a kid together? How is Cord supposed to co-parent with someone who can't even show up to an appointment on time?They need to come up with a way to co-exist and get their nonsense together or it'll be Bowie who suffers. Wild Ash is the first novella in a special MM verse from S. Legend, bestselling author. It's a captivating series about the families we're born into, and those that we make for ourselves. It features snarky men, hot southern buttery cowboys, and plenty of fun-loving antics.
Kyn
THE UNITY HAS EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL... Kyn is an Envoy, an elite assassin and messenger of the Unity. Trapped by a life of endless servitude and death, existentially lost and stuck in a self-destructive loop, Kyn is forced to confront his assumed place in the world when a routine assignment pulls back the curtain on Unity lies, exposing ancient enemies and raising new hopes while challenging everything he thought to be real. And threatening everyone he cares about. Now, with hacker boy-toy Alec in tow, and aided by fellow Envoys - the will-bending Ashe, and indestructible Runa - Kyn is in a race against time, his masters, and the mysterious Dividers, as he blazes a violent path through the neon lit stacks of Earth's last city on his quest to find answers. Answers that will ultimately bring him face-to-face with humanity's glittering future. Or cost him everything. He just has to decide how far he's willing to go for the truth. And if he can trust the AI.
Forever Home
Nat, Marissa and Maggie survived their first winter by the ocean. Spring brings new growth, friends and unwelcome visitors to the homestead. Find out how Nat and Marissa's tiny community deal with the hazards and rewards before them, as their homestead continues to grow and prosper. Expect romance, adventure, danger, good fortune, and the odd meal or two, in this sequel to The Bee Charmer.
The Raven and the Banshee
It's the early 1700's and sixteen-year-old Julia Farrow, spirited daughter of a shipping company owner, lives and loves on her own terms. With a sharp mind and sharper tongue, she constantly defies family and society expectations with no regard for the consequences.Branna Kelly, only child of an Irish immigrant sailor, is hopelessly in love with Julia and imagines their life together as captains of their own fate. Left brokenhearted after Julia's rejection, she embarks on a journey to chart a new shipping route to the Caribbean. Before Julia can explain her decision, Branna's ship is overrun by merciless pirates. All hands are presumed lost.Fifteen years later, Julia is running the Farrow Company and sailing with the crew on her newest ship when an encounter with pirates leaves her the lone survivor to be rescued by the infamous Raven, hard-hearted captain of the mercenary ship, Banshee. Julia is shocked to discover her rescuer wears a familiar face.The Raven and the Banshee is a passionate tale of vengeance, forgiveness and second chance love in a swashbuckling adventure on the high seas.Content note: the book contains one brief scene of sexual assault and one mention of rape.
unraveled
What happens when you take care of everyone else, and neglect to care for yourself?When Ruth Penn's carefully crafted stability comes crashing down around her, she doesn't just find herself at rock bottom; she's checked into a locked psychiatric hospital. Here among the rubble she meets a colorful cast of patients, from middle aged mothers to teenage drug addicts, including fiery frequent-flier, Noah Matthews.She's everything Ruth's not; obstinate, disconnected, and incredibly certain of her path in life-that is, to end it. Everybody knows that the psychiatric hospital is no place to find love, and neither women are certain of their permanence, but that doesn't stop Ruth and Noah from diving in.What has been unraveled can't always be woven back together, but through trial and error, Ruth and Noah try to craft something new from the wreckage they found themselves in. But with a complicated cocktail of medicine, social workers, other patients, and trauma history, finding your place in yourself and in the world is never as easy as it seems.
Circling Toward Home
Described as "brave," "powerful," and "simultaneously personal and political," Circling Toward Home stretches from the Civil Rights-era Mississippi home of an F.B.I. family from Minnesota and tumbles across state lines and social boundaries to the present day as a woman breaks with expectations to locate herself in a world of conflicting messages. Part coming-of-age tale, part lesbian love story, part family drama, this personal account reveals how the narrator's innate curiosity and sense of alienation usher her onto the path of her awakening.
By That Sin Fell the Angels
It begins with a 3:00 a.m. telephone call. On one end is Terry Bachelder, a closeted teacher. On the other, the suicidal teenage son of the local preacher. When Terry fails to prevent disaster, grief rips the small town of Crystal Falls apart.At the epicenter of the tragedy, seventeen-year-old Jonah Riverside tries to make sense of it all. Finding Daniel's body leaves him struggling to balance his sexual identity with his faith, while his church, led by the Reverend Isaac Thompson, mounts a crusade to destroy Terry, whom Isaac believes corrupted his son and caused the boy to take his own life.Having quietly crushed on his teacher for years, Jonah is determined to clear Terry's name. That quest leads him to Eric Jacobs, Daniel's true secret lover, and to get involved in Eric's plan to shake up their small-minded town. Meanwhile, Rev. Thompson struggles to make peace between his religious convictions and the revelation of his son's homosexuality. If he can't, he leaves the door open to eternal damnation--and for a second tragedy to follow.
Murderous Requiem
A Brethren NovelJeremy Spencer never imagined the occult order he and his boyfriend, Bowyn, started as a joke in college would become an international organization with hundreds of followers. Now a professor with expertise in Renaissance music, Jeremy is drawn back into the world of free love and ceremonial magick. The old jealousies and hurt that separated him from Bowyn eight years ago no longer seem significant. Then Jeremy begins to wonder if the centuries-old score he's been asked to transcribe hides something sinister. With each stanza, local birds flock to the old mansion, a mysterious fog descends upon the grounds, and bats swarm the temple dome. During a s矇ance, the group receives a cryptic warning from the spirit realm. And as the music's performance draws nearer, Jeremy realizes it may hold the key to incredible power--power somebody is willing to kill for.
Code of the Nightbird
When Julien Grant walks into the dentist's office one warm summer day, he expects the worst--cavities, a root canal, even oral surgery. But the doctor's orders are far more terrifying: in order to have the surgery he needs, Julien will have to attend a two-month-long conversion therapy program. His insurance provider, like most in 2040s America, allows for carriers to pull coverage from those whose "lifestyle" goes against their religious beliefs. Faced with a ticking clock and no alternative, Julien finds himself at Galilee Baptist Church, an ostensibly beautiful property with more than a few sinister secrets hidden below its pews.Galilee's director, known only as The Major, rules over the program with an iron fist; something that eventually pushed Julien to the limits of his sanity. At first, Julien wishes only to survive the program so his desperately-needed procedure can go forward, but when he develops feelings for Finn, another young man in the program, Julien must reevaluate everything.
The Absence of Wrath
The whole thing screamed danger.Manu knew he should keep walking despite the rain, despite the lack of coat or umbrella or anything, but with his roommate Kapua wanted by the police and nowhere safe to go, the offer of a ride wherever he wanted to go was too good to pass up. Probably too good to be true, actually. But Ekene didn't give of creeper vibes. Despite everything, he seemed like an honestly nice guy doing a good turn. If only the little things weren't weird enough to make the hair stand up on the back of Manu's neck, Manu might, possibly, want to stick around Ekene for a lot longer than just one night.
Hugs and Cuddles
After abandoning his traditional life in a deteriorating Porto Alegre, the narrator of Hugs and Cuddles zealously recommits himself to a man he calls "the engineer", a childhood friend with whom he shared a pivotal sexual encounter. Many years have passed since their prepubescent wrestling; everywhere around them is a nation in decline. Representatives of the Brazilian state--everyone from government officials to the impoverished--endlessly harass passers-by for donations to "the cause," even as a mysterious plague rages. Never mind that. Our insatiable narrator, driven to discover his true self through increasingly transgressive sexual urges, is on an epic journey through the shadows of this dysfunctional yet polite society.The resulting novel is the late Jo瓊o Gilberto Noll's most radical statement: A Book of Revelations-grade voyage to the end of gender and the outermost reaches of sexual and artistic expression. Nimbly translated from Portuguese by Edgar Garbelotto, Hugs and Cuddles is an unapologetically explicit fable of fluidity that takes readers from decaying city centers to the dark corridors of a mysterious submarine to a miserable hovel in the rainforest, where, at long last, our narrator finds peace.
Always
Born to a prestigious political family, Avery Adams plays as hard as he works. The gorgeous, charismatic attorney is used to getting what he wants, even the frequent one-night stands that earn him his well-deserved playboy reputation. When some of the most prominent men in politics suggest he run for senate, Avery decides the time has come to follow in his grandfather's footsteps. With a strategy in place and the campaign wheels rolling, Avery is ready to jump on the legislative fast track, full steam ahead. But no amount of planning prepares him for the handsome, uptight restaurateur who might derail his political future.Easy isn't even in the top thousand words to describe Kane Dalton's life after his father, a devout Southern Baptist minister, kicks him out of the family home for questioning his sexual orientation. Despite all the rotten tomatoes life throws his way, Kane makes something of himself. Between owning a thriving upscale Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Minneapolis and managing his long-term boyfriend, his plate is full. He struggles to get past the teachings of his childhood to fully accept his sexuality and rid himself of the doubts brought on by his religious upbringing. The last thing he needs is the yummy, sophisticated, blond-haired distraction sitting at table thirty-four.Always is an award winning, contemporary MM Romance with strong male leads. A standalone story that spans forty years. If you enjoy what you read, email me your thoughts.
Flirting with the Lavender Lane
Tyler grew up in a Christian household. From the onset of memory, Tyler has been attracted to males over females. However, he fought to be heterosexual. Tyler acquires work and must move to Aurora, Illinois. He meets Andrew on the bus and becomes his roommate. There is an instant attraction between them. Tyler is sexually naive and in danger because of it. Andrew was born gay. During childhood, he was totally abused. Andrew's experiences as a gay waiter/prostitute in The Flamingo Lounge are rough. Andrew's life is wild and dangerous, full of sex. Follow the lives of Tyler and Andrew as they fall in love and develop a relationship. They discuss their relationship, love, the correctness of same-sex love, religious views on same-sex love, and societal discrimination against LGBT persons. Despite this anguished battle of morals, Tyler falls deeper in love with Andrew. Andrew is in deep love already and pursues Tyler. This is their evolution.
New Men
Filled with abundant idealism and hope, Kevin, Miguel, and Anthony are thrust into a world of deception and political intrigue. In a Roman seminary, dreams crumble under the weight of corruption and sexual tension. Faith is eclipsed by ecclesial power, and friendships are tossed into a rollercoaster of romance and guilt. Independent spirits conflict with the time-honored traditions of the Vatican. New Men is a story of disillusionment, sexual awakening, and self-discovery. Journey with the New Men as they explore their true desires. Journey with the New Men as they are tested by passion, prejudice, and ambition.
99 Miles From L.A.
Frank, a frustrated singer-turned-music professor finds himself entangled in a love affair with Shelley, a highly-educated, unhappily married woman.Jonesing to quit his teaching gig, Frank jumps at the chance to implement his new girlfriend's scheme to steal the skimmed-cash treasure from her marijuana business tycoon husband. Feeling they need a third, she introduces him to Ramon, her go-to bartender, armed with a nomadic upbringing and a gun from behind the register, who likewise is all in. But Shelley's well-thought-out heist gets more complicated when the two men find themselves impossibly drawn to one another. Hiding out in Palm Springs-99 miles from L.A.-Frank and Ramon team up in more ways than one, breaking promises not to reunite before Shelley can escape the watchful eye of her husband's colleagues after the brutal crime succeeds. With a trunk full of money and the aphrodisiac of lawlessness urging them on, was lust morphing towards love? Or was there a deeper plan in place between these three desperate partners, each of them scratching at their last chance for freedom from a failing American dream?
PhotoPlay
1939, New York City and Hollywood, the modern world is emerging. Herb, A talented young photographer, discovers the power of the image... as well as himself and his bisexuality. How can he find his place in this tumultuous world of artists, Nazis, mobsters and movie stars-- where mass media and politics collide with sex of all kinds with all kinds of people? Discover Herb's immersive odyssey in this delightfully vivid time-machine of a novel.
Disconnected
Vanna has always felt like something was off with her parents, leaving her feeling oddly disconnected. She decides to move across the country and establish a new and independent life after college. On the way to her new position in Flagstaff, Arizona, Vanna meets out and proud Trey, who loves to flirt.Trey has never forgotten the beautiful young woman she met briefly and is determined to ensure their paths cross again.Thousands of miles from home, Vanna finds out more about herself, but not her feeling of being disconnected from her parents. Will Vanna ever form the connection she desperately seeks? Does Trey's determination work out?
Quarantino in Berlino
Written by a slave, during lockdown in 2020 and 2021, this is a fictional story based around a fourteen-day quarantine in Berlin, interwoven with real factual elements. Set in The Black Dungeon, which are two adjoining industrial style apartments with a large fully equipped cellar underneath, it serves as a backdrop to educate, inform, and entertain the reader about the realities and truths of the nature of Mastery and slavery. As its Master says, this is a community service to those who want to understand and live their lives as either a Master or slave. This is a story of everyday service, commitment, obedience, and submission of a slave to its Master.
The Last G.I. Bride Wore Tartan
Fred Urquhart's lively collection of stories deals with life in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War and demonstrates his fascination with American culture and its effect on Britain. The title story - a highly amusing satirical novella - presents a young Scotswoman who is desperate to cross the Atlantic as a war bride in order to get to Hollywood, armed with a tartan skirt and a copy of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Other stories portray an eccentric woman who has watched too many films, an American musician who has been luckless in his marriages, and an Edinburgh office where the typists have to cope with a predator. Urquhart takes us to London with a tale of an Aberdeenshire farmer's wife in search of fancy shoes and to occupied Germany, where a horse-loving soldier acquires a wife. In the final piece, two sophisticated women from London find life in the country too much for them. Throughout, Urquhart employs his sharp wit and his unique way with dialogue, creating a gallery of memorable characters.
The Dahran Way
Life is never what it seems. Sir Jonathan Martin holds down an outwardly humdrum banking job in the Sheikdom of Dahra. From day one, his other work and lifestyle have been shrouded in secrecy and not at all, as it seems on the surface. This is part of his story, a narration of significant events as they happened to him. In a word, Jonathan Martin's story is a series of adventures in the ownership of slaves, about which the world is not supposed to know. Many of these events are metaphors for the twists and turns of modern life. At one and the same time, Jonathan Martin can be regarded as both a hero and a villain. The choice lies in the eye of the discerning reader.
Southern Trees
Southern Trees shines light to the lives of four very different men, growing up in the Mississippi South. This tale gives the reader a front seat into the minds of each character by offering first person details of each series of events. A story of love, hate, identity and ambivalence, is shared as these men learn the many complexities of the word"manhood". Be prepared to embark upon a journey filled with youth and innocence, as we explore family dynamics, drugs, sexuality, and stigma and observe each character navigate life their own special way; hoping to discover true understanding and acceptance.
Love is Love
Love is Love, is a beautiful heart-wrenching book with three short stories included. Love is Love, The Hidden Boy, and Forever and Ever. Follow Fern and Elsie, Alec and charlie, and Mike and Jack as they navigate love, loss, and relationships in the most unusual ways. Being a teenager is hard and love is love gives an in-depth look into the struggles of LGBTQ+ teens and their struggles as well as triumphs. Things never come easy and for these few individuals, life just seems to have it out for them. Luckily, through finding love, they figure it out together, but will it last? Read Love is Love to find out.
Shortcomings
It's easy to get distracted on the journey to self-discovery. We all come with our own baggage and it's impossible to predict how other people's damage will affect our story. Darryl Stephens' first novel follows a group of young men whose lives intersect around the notion that sex is just another means to an end in the ultimate quest for love and companionship. They turn to dive bars, drug habits, pop music and pornography to cope with the loneliness they suffer when they find their emotional well-being dependent on the support and understanding of other men. SHORTCOMINGS is a provocative and compelling glimpse into those intensely personal moments when men come together and allow fear to finally give way to love.
The Trenches- Grave Desperation
Through the death of her brother, Reece has come to a grim conclusion. With the threat of Leifle, the Targoo from planet Resin, creating clay monsters from Earth's cosmically rare resources, she knows the world needs a new hope. With her innovative mind and help from extraterrestrial friends, Reece alters the world's power technology, and battles with malevolent forces against Leifle's team of nonconformists. With love on her mind, Reece finds herself caught in a web between her alien friend, Victoria, and the somewhat common healer, Jamie Strieff. But there is more to mastering self-realization than libido. Reece must learn to believe in her blossoming unworldly abilities. All the while, Leifle loses something far more precious than galactic leadership...
Female Nude Seated
Two Irish art students, Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone, meet in a student rooming house in London, late one night in 1917. Both of them are at dramatic turning points in their lives and on the brink of making disastrous choices.
Tales for the 21st Century volume 2
When spring comes and the tuned spires of every church in Prahak sing with the High Winds, you could be attacked by monsters as soon as darkness falls. Only one librarian seems to be safe. From one Reality to the next, the last one left travelling keeps on travelling. These and other stories are the second volume of TALES FOR THE 21st CENTURY where humans -alive and dead, try to survive. Meet Rayan, meet Kajdar, meet a Ray-Nor, and more.
The Lost Letters of Star-Crossed Lovers
The Lost Letters of Star-Crossed Lovers Thought lost to time, here are five remaining letters from a different historical viewpoint betwixt Alexander and Hephaestion. The Lost Letters of Star-Crossed Lovers: Alexander and the Great Affair If you enjoyed this piece of short fiction, please look out for the wider novel framework of: Alexander and the Great Affair and... Achilles and the Lover's Lyre Apollo and the Arrow
Let’s Get Back to the Party
"A gorgeously written meditation on being a gay man in America now . . . A raw and captivating debut." --BookPage Recommended by: O, the Oprah Magazine * BuzzFeed * The Millions * Cosmopolitan * Electric Literature * Literary Hub * Harper's Bazaar * Lambda Literary * LGBTQ Reads * Passport magazine * Paperback Paris * Debutiful * Book Riot * The Bay Area Reporter * The Advocate It is 2015, weeks after the Supreme Court marriage equality ruling. A high school art history teacher, Sebastian Mote envies his queer students and their freedom to live openly the youth he lost to fear and shame. When he runs into his childhood friend Oscar Burnham at a wedding in Washington, DC, he can't help but see it as a second chance. Now thirty-five, the men haven't seen each other in more than a decade. But Oscar has no interest in their shared history, nor in the sense of belonging Sebastian craves. Instead, he's outraged by what he sees as the death of gay culture: bars overrun with bachelorette parties, friends coupling off and having babies. For Oscar, conformity isn't peace, it's surrender. While Oscar and Sebastian struggle to find their place in a rapidly changing world, each is drawn into a cross-generational friendship that treads the line be­tween envy and obsession: Sebastian with one of his students, Oscar with an older icon of the AIDS era. And as they collide again and again, both men must reckon not just with each other but with themselves. Provocative, moving, and rich with sharply drawn characters, Let's Get Back to the Party introduces an exciting and contemporary new talent.
Xenocultivars
This collection of speculative short fiction is about all kinds of queer growth, from emerging and developing to flourishing and cultivating. Whether they're tender sprouts just beginning to discover themselves or deeply-rooted leaders fiercely defending those they love, the people in these stories have this in common: you can't tell them what to do. They grow as they please.
Hestia's Healer
We first meet them in Artemisian Artist--Liz, Gerry, Melissa, and Terri, four extraordinary women and their lives and loves. We continue our journey with them in Gaia's Guardian, when disaster strikes and death draws near to them. We follow the twists and turns of their lives in Demeter's Daughter, when birth and death begin to intersect, and life goes on for them all. In this fourth volume, we pick up the thread of the story, overlapping with the relationship maelstrom at the end of the third book, observing the way Terri and Melissa's life together has fallen apart and what happens next with the hope of a baby and a new opportunity. New relationships are forged in this furnace of life and death and love. Set in the mid-1990s, on the cusp of the internet revolution, we meet four women whose lives intertwine in unexpected ways. In the the first book, we see their lives through the eyes of Liz Higgins, an artist who is just beginning to achieve success in her chosen field of work. In the second book, we pick up the thread of the story from the perspective of Gerry Pearcy, a Lakeland police officer, who has sworn to serve and protect her community, even if it costs her life. In the third book, we continue the narrative with Melissa Higgins, a student at the University of Central Florida and Liz's younger sister. While attending college, Melissa deals with strong maternal urges and a confusing love life. Melissa's life takes a puzzling metaphysical turn while she grapples with the sudden return of her mother, who vanished when Melissa was a toddler. The series reaches an exciting climax in book four, which is told by Dr. Terri Jackson, a woman who is a healer in more than one sense of the word. She is the fourth woman in this extraordinary quartet of friends. Each of the books focuses on the lives of one of the women and is narrated by that character. Together they weave a tapestry of women's empowerment through self-growth and strong relationships. Hestia's Healer is the fourth book in this series by Beth Mitchum. Each book is dedicated to a different Greek Goddess. Although the Goddesses are all ancient Greek Goddesses, there is no correlation between the books and the land of Greece, except in the metaphorical sense. The books are dedicated to the spiritual energy these Goddesses can bring to our lives by helping us to become all we are meant to be.
Heights of Green
Torrin Ivanov's homecoming wasn't the smooth, triumphant process she'd imagined. She almost killed her girlfriend Jak Stowell in their escape and now that they're planetside, the intrigue of her business occupies all of her time. Jak believed all of the lies that Torrin told her--that things would be better when they got home. But then she walked in to find Torrin in a lip-lock with one of her exes, and that was more than she could stand. Shocked and betrayed, Jak dedicates herself to training militia-women, spending her days as far away from Torrin as possible. But Jak's new friends have their own agendas and now her internal compass has gone haywire, severely compromising her safety in the field. When a militia member dies and Jak disappears, Torrin begins a desperate race against time. This time around, Jak's life depends on her.
Sweet
Candy is Ruby Fontaine's life. Sure, she has friends, but her daily connection is to her shop--the Magic Bean--and all the ways she can make decadent and irresistible confections for her customers. She's used to women lusting after her ganache and spun sugar delights. But lusting after her? Not so much. The news that an exclusive island resort wants to feature her candies could be life-changing. But it's marred by the news that her friend, reporter Bee Brooks, has dropped out of sight. Adding to her confusion is the surprising interest she's feeling from the investigating detective on the case, Frances Orsini. But it's the delectable Delilah Kerrigan from the St. Clare Hotel and Resort who proves the greatest distraction of all. It seems that a request to spend time on the island might prove as delicious as any treat Ruby has ever imagined...
Guardian
Every Guardian was born a warrior with powerful magic and a soulmate to complete her. All except for Luna, it seemed, who despite having mastered her craft, continued her fight in solitude. She was an enigma in their society--alone for far longer than any Guardian before her. Still, Luna remained hopeful that one day her soulmate would find her, and all the tender yearning would have been worth it. Then Gia stumbles into her life. Gia--who lives a Human life, in Human glamour, with a Human fianc矇. Now Luna finds herself questioning everything that she--and the Guardians--have believed in for millennia. "Love isn't always enough." Luna had always understood the words, but she had never actually believed them.
Nether Regions
Delora November is a survivor--ask anyone in Redstar, Alabama, and they will tell you that. Her ex-husband put her in a burn ward and she came fighting back. She works three jobs and on the surface she's keeping it together. Redstar itself works its own magic. When the thought of yet another hospital is too much, Delora turns to healer women she's heard might help. In the quiet, breathing depths of Bayou Lisse she meets Sophie Cofe. It seems like magic indeed when Delora finds answers to questions she had yet to ask and cures for ills she had thought beyond fixing. But underneath her happiness there is still a lurking evil that can take away everything Delora--and Sophie--hold dear.
Serendipity
Much to her surprise, Olivia Langley falls into bed with Bri Killington on the last day of vacation in Costa Rica. This unexpected turn of events changes Olivia's busy and mundane life into one that is demanding but exciting. Finding time in her crazy work hours for her two daughters and her mother and Bri proves to be almost impossible. But her passionate encounters with Bri are the bright spot in Olivia's otherwise stressed-out existence. However, life keeps throwing coincidences at Olivia, including a new perspective on an old friend...
Shaun's Salvation
Romance is the last thing Shaun wants, but what if it's exactly what he needs - and deserves?A selfless son barely holding onShaun doesn't have much of a life. When he's not working in the restaurant in Portland, Maine, he's home looking after his dad, who has dementia. The only people he sees on a regular basis are his coworkers, and Nathan, his dad's in-home nurse, except he and Shaun are like ships that pass in the night. And on those dark nights when Shaun feels so alone, thoughts of Nathan are all he has to cling to.A caring nurseIt didn't take Nathan five minutes to know Shaun is a special guy. He's dealt with enough indifferent families to recognize Shaun has and will always put his dad first. That's why Nathan is willing to go above and beyond - Shaun is worth it. Nathan's attraction to him has to go on the back burner, not that Shaun has noticed: Shaun's focus is all on his dad.Maybe it's time for Nathan to convince Shaun he can keep that focus and still have a life - a life that includes love.
Rebel Sweetheart
When a headstrong, country music superstar starts getting threatening letters while on tour, her manager has no other choice but to hire someone to investigate the threats, and keep her safe. Haley Nielsen is as stubborn as it gets. She does things her way, and her way only. The last thing she needs or wants is a babysitter following her every move and controlling everything she does. Shane Crowley isn't your typical private investigator, or bodyguard, for that matter. She's a former U.S. Deputy Marshal with a lot of experience, and an all or nothing attitude. Tempers flare and the energy burns red hot between the two women as they spend weeks together cooped up on Haley's tour bus, traveling the country. Will they stop resisting each other long enough to see eye to eye? Or will the letter writer make good on his threats?
Endless as the Stars
Tia Benson is living her best life until one night takes away the only brother she ever knew. Now without a paramedic partner, Tia must learn how to navigate life on and off duty. Life doesn't get much easier when she is forced to work with medics who only remind her of what she lost. After losing her husband on the job, Carina Simpson's life suddenly spirals out of control. The last thing she expected was to become a single mother overnight to three kids. Broken and alone, Carina takes a risk reaching out to the one person who could possibly understand her pain. A friendship that begins through loss, gradually develops into something beautiful and unexpected, finding love as Endless as the Stars.
Crossed Reins
Barrel racing is Carly Rae Walsh's life, until it's ripped out from under her. With nothing to do and nothing to lose, she uses her years of horse whispering skills and intuition to train a troubled thoroughbred race horse.Allison McKinley is a world class dressage rider who has stepped back from the spotlight to mourn the sudden death of her mother. The last thing she needs when she decides to start training again for competition, is her father's impulsive desire to own a race horse, and his bizarre decision to choose a rodeo barrel racer as the trainer.The two women have nothing in common except horses, and even that's a stretch. Can they uncross the reins long enough to see what's happening between them?
