"Don't come crying to me if he somehow manages to actually kill you!"
Twenty-one-year-old Jesse leads a pretty ordinary life until he encounters
Jamie, who, covered in soot and ash, can't even remember where the blood on
his hands came from.
Aware of the risk, Jesse offers him a place for the night, and what starts as
simple act of kindness quickly deepens into a profound connection. Jamie
explores the world anew, curious and with an endearing innocence, but things
change rapidly when their first intimate moment nearly ends in tragedy. Even
worse, Jamie begins to experience vivid nightmares; and discovering mysterious
powers inside of him, the question of who he really is becomes all the more
pressing. What did he do before he met Jesse? Is Jamie truly the harmless
person he seems to be?
Son of the Moon Serendipity is the first in a series of seven books, where MM
Romance collides with Contemporary Fantasy in a gripping tale for everyone who
loves Hurt/Comfort and Found Family.
About the Author
Janelle Cressida loves to take her readers on highly emotional
rollercoasters where every victory, however small, has its own price.
When my quiet life fell apart, he turned up the music in my soul. How do I pretend we never happened?
Blurb
Johnny
I did everything my parents wanted: got a respectable job, married my childhood sweetheart, and pushed my rock star dreams into the background. It was enough for me… until my divorce cracked open the cage.
Now old cravings rush to the surface, and I ache to satisfy each one. Starting with the gorgeous man I lock eyes with at a musical festival. Calum is all kinds of perfect. As a manager, he could accelerate my music career. As a man, he reignites the fire in my soul. I can’t have him both ways.
When my band signs with Calum’s company, we agree to keep our distance. No one can know we’ve met before. How far we’ve gone. How deeply we’ve tasted. Our futures depend on the secrets we must keep.
Calum
If I’d known who Johnny was the night we met, this never would have happened. Getting involved with a client is forbidden, and I can’t risk my job—or my sister’s security—for some lust-fuelled romance.
Working together doesn’t have to be complicated. That’s what I tell myself every time we avoid touching. When his eyes tease, and his lyrics seduce. As our professional successes mount, the connection between us only grows stronger.
There are lines we can’t cross. Boundaries we can’t break. But when Johnny is all I want, all I think about… how do I stay away?
Excerpt
Johnny ambles over to invade my personal space. The warm, freshly showered scent of him creeps into my nostrils, causing me to inhale, but I don’t shy away from his closeness. He’s in a dangerous mood. If I show weakness, he may pounce.
“Would you like a drink?” he asks, gesturing with the tumbler that dangles from the fingers of his right hand.
“Sure.” It’s a terrible idea, but at the moment I’ll say yes to anything that will put some distance between us. He withdraws to the kitchen, and I suck in a lungful of oxygen. It doesn’t help. His presence lingers in every square inch of air. It strokes my insides, burrowing into my cells and setting them on fire.
This is not the meeting I expected. We’re supposed to talk about Ned and how we can be allies in my bid to win him over. This isn’t supposed to be a seduction, and I am definitely not supposed to be gagging for it.
Stalking after him, I plant myself in the entrance to the kitchen and glare at the lines of his muscular back. “Why am I here, Johnny?” The clipped words imply irritation, though the truth is probably closer to lustful vexation.
He turns, smirking as he delivers the generous glass of scotch to my hand. “Because you can’t stop thinking about me.”
My spine stiffens at his knowing drawl. I snatch the drink before escaping back to the living room. It has more room for pacing and I’m unsure what he’ll do if I stay still. “I mean, why did you ask me to come here tonight?”
He drains his glass as he returns. Dumping it on the coffee table, he steps into the path I’m wearing through his carpet. I come to an abrupt halt to prevent a head-on collision. His hands lift to cup my face, the calloused fingertips dragging over my cheekbones. The deep brown of his eyes drink me in, and his mouth is a breath away from mine. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says in a rough whisper.
There’s no smirk this time. Only need and heat and passion. “I wonder where you are, constantly. What you’re doing. How you taste.” His body crowds mine. Our hips brush together and, holy fuck, we’re both hard as nails. This man is lightning in my veins. The way I want him hurts, and I glory in the sharpness of the need. “I imagine you masturbating to the thought of me,” he whispers, “every time I masturbate to the thought of you.”
“Johnny.” The name is a groan, pulled all the way from my throbbing cock and up through my vocal cords. “We can’t do this.”
“Sure we can.” His head dips, and I shiver as his lips brush my throat. “I’ll show you.” His hands are on my hips now, tugging me more firmly against him. His mouth chases mine but I turn my head, my eyes drifting closed.
“I need…” My words falter as he rocks his hips, rubbing his erection against mine.
One hand threads through my hair. Taking it in a firm grip, he angles my face back towards his. His panting breath fills my open mouth. “I need you, too.” And then he’s kissing me. His tongue in my mouth. His body flush against mine.
God help me, I kiss him back. Even as I force my arms to stay at my sides and my body to remain still, I can’t resist losing myself for precious moments in his kiss, in the scotch and temptation of him.
When a needful moan reverberates from my throat to his lips, he pulls back long enough to smile at me. It’s the smile that shocks me back to my senses. Lifting one hand to his chest, I force myself to push him away.
“No, Johnny.” We stand there staring at each other, our chests heaving. “I need Fifth Circle. I need to sign a band and my boss has decided it has to be your band.” His smile dies and he straightens away from my touch. “If I don’t sign you to Rush, I lose my job. If my boss finds out what’s going on between us, I lose my job.” The ramifications of my actions slam into me and I drain the glass of scotch I’m still holding before putting it beside his. “I can’t risk my job. Not for anything.”
Not for you. The unspoken words hang between us.
His gaze hardens and a bitter grimace curls his lips. “In that case, we’re both shit out of luck.” Picking up the empty glasses, he storms back towards the kitchen. “There may not even be a band anymore.”
About the Author
Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.
When my quiet life fell apart, he turned up the music in my soul. How do I pretend we never happened?
Blurb
Johnny
I did everything my parents wanted: got a respectable job, married my childhood sweetheart, and pushed my rock star dreams into the background. It was enough for me… until my divorce cracked open the cage.
Now old cravings rush to the surface, and I ache to satisfy each one. Starting with the gorgeous man I lock eyes with at a musical festival. Calum is all kinds of perfect. As a manager, he could accelerate my music career. As a man, he reignites the fire in my soul. I can’t have him both ways.
When my band signs with Calum’s company, we agree to keep our distance. No one can know we’ve met before. How far we’ve gone. How deeply we’ve tasted. Our futures depend on the secrets we must keep.
Calum
If I’d known who Johnny was the night we met, this never would have happened. Getting involved with a client is forbidden, and I can’t risk my job—or my sister’s security—for some lust-fuelled romance.
Working together doesn’t have to be complicated. That’s what I tell myself every time we avoid touching. When his eyes tease, and his lyrics seduce. As our professional successes mount, the connection between us only grows stronger.
There are lines we can’t cross. Boundaries we can’t break. But when Johnny is all I want, all I think about… how do I stay away?
The following excerpt contains material suitable only for readers 18+.
Excerpt
Johnny ambles over to invade my personal space. The warm, freshly showered scent of him creeps into my nostrils, causing me to inhale, but I don’t shy away from his closeness. He’s in a dangerous mood. If I show weakness, he may pounce.
“Would you like a drink?” he asks, gesturing with the tumbler that dangles from the fingers of his right hand.
“Sure.” It’s a terrible idea, but at the moment I’ll say yes to anything that will put some distance between us. He withdraws to the kitchen, and I suck in a lungful of oxygen. It doesn’t help. His presence lingers in every square inch of air. It strokes my insides, burrowing into my cells and setting them on fire.
This is not the meeting I expected. We’re supposed to talk about Ned and how we can be allies in my bid to win him over. This isn’t supposed to be a seduction, and I am definitely not supposed to be gagging for it.
Stalking after him, I plant myself in the entrance to the kitchen and glare at the lines of his muscular back. “Why am I here, Johnny?” The clipped words imply irritation, though the truth is probably closer to lustful vexation.
He turns, smirking as he delivers the generous glass of scotch to my hand. “Because you can’t stop thinking about me.”
My spine stiffens at his knowing drawl. I snatch the drink before escaping back to the living room. It has more room for pacing and I’m unsure what he’ll do if I stay still. “I mean, why did you ask me to come here tonight?”
He drains his glass as he returns. Dumping it on the coffee table, he steps into the path I’m wearing through his carpet. I come to an abrupt halt to prevent a head-on collision. His hands lift to cup my face, the calloused fingertips dragging over my cheekbones. The deep brown of his eyes drink me in, and his mouth is a breath away from mine. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says in a rough whisper.
There’s no smirk this time. Only need and heat and passion. “I wonder where you are, constantly. What you’re doing. How you taste.” His body crowds mine. Our hips brush together and, holy fuck, we’re both hard as nails. This man is lightning in my veins. The way I want him hurts, and I glory in the sharpness of the need. “I imagine you masturbating to the thought of me,” he whispers, “every time I masturbate to the thought of you.”
“Johnny.” The name is a groan, pulled all the way from my throbbing cock and up through my vocal cords. “We can’t do this.”
“Sure we can.” His head dips, and I shiver as his lips brush my throat. “I’ll show you.” His hands are on my hips now, tugging me more firmly against him. His mouth chases mine but I turn my head, my eyes drifting closed.
“I need…” My words falter as he rocks his hips, rubbing his erection against mine.
One hand threads through my hair. Taking it in a firm grip, he angles my face back towards his. His panting breath fills my open mouth. “I need you, too.” And then he’s kissing me. His tongue in my mouth. His body flush against mine.
God help me, I kiss him back. Even as I force my arms to stay at my sides and my body to remain still, I can’t resist losing myself for precious moments in his kiss, in the scotch and temptation of him.
When a needful moan reverberates from my throat to his lips, he pulls back long enough to smile at me. It’s the smile that shocks me back to my senses. Lifting one hand to his chest, I force myself to push him away.
“No, Johnny.” We stand there staring at each other, our chests heaving. “I need Fifth Circle. I need to sign a band and my boss has decided it has to be your band.” His smile dies and he straightens away from my touch. “If I don’t sign you to Rush, I lose my job. If my boss finds out what’s going on between us, I lose my job.” The ramifications of my actions slam into me and I drain the glass of scotch I’m still holding before putting it beside his. “I can’t risk my job. Not for anything.”
Not for you. The unspoken words hang between us.
His gaze hardens and a bitter grimace curls his lips. “In that case, we’re both shit out of luck.” Picking up the empty glasses, he storms back towards the kitchen. “There may not even be a band anymore.”
About the Author
Rebecca is a long-time lover of all things romance. Whether it’s a book, movie, or real life, she will always have more fun if there’s a love interest thrown into the mix. She lives in Queensland, Australia with her very own hero husband, two quirky kids and one big, black dog. Other than reading and writing books, her favourite things include loud music, enjoying a glass of wine on the patio, organising everything in existence, and spending too much time on the Internet.
Cupid trades arrows for scones in a magical screwball comedy
Romantic Comedy, Humor Novel, Light Fantasy
Tropes: Valentine’s Day romance, Small Town Romance Slow Burn Romance,
Found Family, Forbidden Romance, Meddling Family
Publisher: Making Hay Press
Date Published: 12-09-2025
“The Valentine Lines” reimagines Cupid—aka Bart
McGee—as an underdog ditching the corporate grind of Mt. Olympus, Inc.,
for small-town life in quaint Mineral Point, Wisconsin. When Bart launches a
matchmaking business and falls in love with a local baker, chaos ensues as his
meddling Olympus relatives crash the scene. It’s packed with snappy
banter, slapstick escapades, mythological mishaps, and thoughtful explorations
of love, trust, and self-discovery.
It’s a modern “Bell, Book, and Candle.” A light,
literary escape for readers craving whimsy with emotional resonance.
No sex, politics, foul language. Manuscript winner/finalist in CIBA (humor)
and Southwest Writers.
Ellis Isaacs falls in love with his new boss, silver fox Richard Quillen, but worries Richard will find him inaccessible or cold. Will the older man see Ellis’s true heart and return his feelings?
Longer Blurb
At the Kissinger-Mann detective agency, the mystery of love is solved just as often as crimes. When detective Ellis Isaacs joins the agency, he falls in love with his silver fox of a boss, Richard Quillen. However, Ellis faces two big problems: He tends to fall for straight men, and even when he doesn’t, Ellis’s ex-boyfriends claim he is inaccessible or even cold. Also, he has no idea how Richard will react to the age gap between them.
As Ellis works hard to spend time with Richard outside of work, problem after problem unfolds. Is Richard straight, or is he already dating a male co-worker? Is the age gap a problem, or is the issue Ellis’s reputation for being cold? Will this older, wiser man see Ellis’s true heart and return his feelings, or will Ellis’s heart remain hidden?
Excerpt
Ellis steeled himself and headed across the hallway to Richard’s office. On the strength of the single donut he had eaten on the way there and half a cappuccino, Ellis paused in the doorway and gathered his nerve. It was time to ask the man out for coffee.
Richard was already seated at his desk, wearing a dark gray suit and a maroon bowtie. He read over papers that filled a manila folder. As expected, he was breathtakingly handsome.
Ellis took another sip of cappuccino for courage and then spoke. “Sorry to interrupt you, but I have a question.”
Richard glanced up. “Hm?” He met Ellis’s gaze and gave him a smile. “Not at all. What is it? I’m always here to help.”
If only you could help in the way that I wish you would. “I’d like to get coffee with you sometime this week. At lunch, maybe? Or tomorrow morning? We could even go after work, if that’s better timing.” Ellis’s heart pounded. He always hated this part: setting himself up for rejection.
“Lunch is perfect,” Ellis said. “Let’s shoot for noon today.” This was the closest he had ever gotten to asking an older man out on a date. Despite his miserable track record with men in general, he’d managed to go on dates with men his own age. That was how he knew he wasn’t interested in getting serious with any of them. At securing a lunch with Richard, Ellis felt a smile threatening to overtake his face, and his heart still raced. “We can always leave a couple of minutes early or late depending on how our mornings go.”
“True,” Richard said. “All right. As soon as you’re ready for lunch, stop by. I’m just doing paperwork today.” There was a kind twinkle in his eyes.
“Great!” Ellis headed up to the third floor to his office, his dour Monday morning officially turned around. I asked a silver fox out for coffee, and he actually said yes.
About the Author
I’m a quirky English professor with tattoos, piercings, and an addiction to supernatural thriller, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. I'm proudly neurodivergent, third gender, and a trauma survivor, all things often reflected in my novels. I have degrees in both English and psychology, both of which inform my writing. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, off-road biking, and pyrography.
When his people are attacked by other villages, Rodney Knight uses his ability to interact with dead people’s spirits to help his community survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
Blurb
Rodney suffers through his earliest years in angst and rebellion when his father constantly rejects him. He enters young adulthood still bitter over how his father has treated him. Even so, his tribe needs the intervention of their only shaman in the Other Worlds for their very survival. As he acts out his anger, he accepts his duties and learns how to master them from a trusted mentor. Then he discovers that family isn’t limited to the blood ties, but can be so much more.
The San Francisco Book Review gave a nice summary:
“After the Great Quake of 2040, the forested lands and the lives of those in the Pacific Northwest are shaken. With both civil and social unrest still prevailing from the ideas of the 47th president, much of southwestern Oregon has been divided into tribal communities. Rodney Knight, the son of the founder of the Elk Creek Tribe, comes to age and into his own powers during this tumultuous time. At seven, he recognized his first spirits. First, a childhood friend was slain in an attack, and next, a beloved mentor lost during a battle. At seventeen, while on patrol with his unit, Rodney once again encounters a spirit that warns him of an ambush. Knowing that war is inevitable, the Elk Creek Tribe recognizes Rodney as their first Shaman. With advice from his Spirit Guide, Rodney helps lead his community through troubled times and towards the ideals that the founder had envisioned.”
BOOK 2
Book Title: The Second Book of the Knight Shamans
Part Two of the Apocrypha of the Knight Shamans Series
Peter Williams faces a deadly world where the Trumpian government has abandoned the west after a series of massive earthquakes has devastated the land.
Blurb
The great quakes of 2040 led to the downfall of civilization in the Pacific Northwest. Here is a tale of the days of destruction and the survival of one small family that then shaped the future for a thousand years after.
Peter is just one year old when his family is stranded in the wilderness after the quakes destroyed roads, bridges, buildings, and civility. His father and mother struggle to bring him home to their city of Sutherlin through a nine-year odyssey.
Then, at the very gates of their home, they find themselves under attack by the townsmen they counted on for refuge.
Follow Peter, and Wayne and Carrie Williams as they struggle for survival in a post-apocalyptic world, meeting friends and foes all of whom set the path ahead for young Peter to either survive or perish.
The Apocrypha of the Knight Shamans is an entire series devoted to explore methods to break people out of the deep programming that civilization and culture impose on them. In short, when nearly half the people in the United States have been convinced that “Woke” is evil and anyone who is “Woke” should be severely dealt with, this series will not only show how to escape the mind-prison of our culture, but will also offer some ideas of what the human spirit gains in being truly “Woke” as opposed to what the ignorant masses have been indoctrinated to believe.
The works of Don Miguel Ruiz, Elaine Pagels, and references to the Gnostic Gospels are intertwined in this work of fiction to create a new culture, with new values, and new paradigms, thus leaving the old views of the far right behind them and becoming Paradigm Lost.
To be even more clear: MAGA's this stuff ain’t for you!
Do you dare to look at the alternatives a new paradigm can bring into existence?
Excerpt
The Second Knight Shaman
“The President of the United States,” the announcer read in a somber tone, “has said that the West is on their own. Here’s a recording of his statement.”
“We don’t have any resources to bail out the blue states over there,” the Trump Heir said. “If they had any sense and were willing to support my rule, I’m sure we could come up with some support, but knowing how opposed they are to my rule, there’s just no point. God speed and thoughts and prayers to those godless heathens.”
“And that’s the position of the United States government on the western states,” the announcer said. “We’ll pause now for station identification.”
“Be sure to stop by your local Toyota dealer for the extended and extended again Toyotathon event!” an enthusiastic spokesman said as Wayne shut down the auxiliary power.
“What are we going to do?” his wife Carrie asked him while rocking their one-year-old son Peter.
“I don’t know, honey,” Wayne said. “We’ll have to figure out what’s next when we get more information. For now, I think we should get clear of the Jeep in case another round of quakes hits. We don’t want to be in here if it sinks any further.
Ornery Owl's Review
Five out of Five Stars
I read the second book in the series. It gives a good introduction to the story, explaining the events of the first book, so make sure not to miss that part if you haven't already read the first book.
While I enjoy fantasy based on English mythology, it was a welcome change of pace to read a fantasy story rooted in American Indian stories. This post-apocalyptic tale doesn't linger too long in explaining the world's technology. Instead, it focuses more on how people survive in a world that has been so changed by devastating natural disasters.
I couldn't help chuckling at the dig at #45/47's overt desire to become some sort of dynastic emperor. Citizens of what remains of the United States can only expect help if they bow down to the heir of 45/47. However, not too much time is spent talking about that unpleasant subject.
The relationship between Peter and Rodney develops in a way that makes sense. However, the aspect of the story I enjoyed most was the relationship Peter develops with nature and his ability to communicate with animal spirits.
The story ends on something of a cliffhanger. I don't have a problem with cliffhangers. This one provides a good segue for a forthcoming third book in the series.
This book is suitable for older teens and for adults. There are no overt descriptions of sex acts, but the potential for sexual and romantic entanglements between adult characters is not glossed over.
About the Author
Roderick Rowe studied writing in college for several years, working as assistant editor and then editor for his school’s literary magazine. He also spent a term as copy editor for the campus newspaper. He is a gay man and uses this “affliction” to build characters and situations in his fictional work. Rowe has published several short stories and an occasional poem. After ending a twenty-year career unexpectedly in 2015, Rowe decided to write his first novel. “Jamari and the Manhood Rites, Part I” was completed in two months, then he settled in to conduct editing – complete new landscape design with a new Koi pond, a new library built into the spare room in his home, the cleanest his house had ever been – but the editing eventually got completed.
In a world that tried to change them, love becomes their greatest rebellion.
Blurb
At just eighteen, Paolo and Max meet at a conversion therapy camp. Abandoned by their families. left to endure literal hell on earth, their love is forbidden. Their secret romance grows and as they make plans to escape, they are brutally torn apart.
They both spend the next twelve years building lives in different worlds. Paolo in the vibrant heart of Soho, London, surrounded by his found family, and Max thriving as a successful criminal lawyer in the bustling streets of New York. Both of them believing they’ve lost the love of their life forever.
Max finds himself in London after defending a mobster, which leads to an offer he literally can’t refuse. Needing thinking time before his fate is sealed, he unexpectedly crosses paths with Paolo again. The spark between them reignites, yet their reunion is fraught with challenges, and even the magical backdrop of the holidays may not be enough for them to get their second chance at love. With Paolo's sister at risk of suffering the same fate they endured, the stakes are even higher.
Stolen Dream is a tale of resilience, forbidden love, and the fight for a future that embraces who they truly are. Will they save Paolo's sister in time, and can they find a way to be together, against all odds? Join them on this emotional journey of hope and redemption, where stolen dreams may just lead to a love worth fighting for.
Excerpt
KC greeted Paolo with a big hug when he arrived. She was such a wonderful woman, who had been through more than all his brothers put together. The bravery it took for her to transition in the nineties had Paolo in awe of her.
“What are you doing here on a Saturday?”
“I’m meeting an . . . an old friend.”
“Old boyfriend?” She smiled.
Paolo felt his face heating. She leant forward and whispered to him.
“Well, if it’s the guy who just walked in who looks like he wants to eat you, then I think I’ve got my answer.”
Paolo spun around and there was Max. He hadn’t gotten a proper look last night with the shock. Max had always had a broad build, but now he was built like a rugby player, with wide shoulders and a tapered waist. His hazel eyes were as captivating as they had been twelve years ago. Max smiled at him, showing those perfect dimples in his pinchable cheeks. He was clean-shaven, unlike Paolo who’d had a short beard for the last five years. His face was too babyish when he was clean-shaven.
“Can I give you a hug?” asked Max.
Paolo was too choked up, so he just nodded, and Max wrapped his big, muscular arms around him. They were the same height, but even though Paolo had packed on the muscle over the last few years, Max almost smothered him – albeit in a good way. He was wearing a citrusy aftershave, and he could happily stay like this in Max’s arms forever.
When the hug was bordering on being far too long for a public setting, they pulled apart and both smiled. Paolo gestured to a nearby table he’d claimed when he arrived. He made eye contact with KC, who gave him a warm smile and touched her heart. Paolo rolled his eyes, but he was smiling.
“Thank you for seeing me,” said Max.
Was he nervous? This wasn’t how he remembered him. Max had been the strong one when they’d been in the camp. It wasn’t just Paolo who looked up to him; it was everyone. Paolo wasn’t sure what to say. He felt tongue tied, so he grabbed a menu, passing one to Max. He knew the menu by heart, but Max didn’t need to know that.
“Did you want to get something to eat?” asked Paolo. That was a safe conversation starter.
“I am always hungry.”
He smiled, and then a dark shadow appeared in his eyes. It was clear a memory had hit him. One they shared. Paolo needed to get things back on track. Today was not a day to go down memory lane.
“Everything’s amazing here. KC is the best cook in the world.”
“That’s a bold claim. I’ll have to let Mason know.”
“Mason?”
“He’s a Michelin starred chef in New York.”
“How do you know him?”
Max took hold of Paolo’s hand. It felt strange, yet familiar.
“Mason’s just a friend. I’m not with anyone.”
“That’s not . . . I didn’t mean . . .” Ugh, why couldn’t he get his words out?
Perhaps sensing his struggle, Max suggested they order. He let go of Paolo’s hand and Paolo missed the touch instantly. How could this be happening? He’d not had butterflies or any of these feelings for twelve years.
About the Author
Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in both 2023 and 2024. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.
Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?
This is an intense story that discusses conversion therapy, an abusive practice intended to make a homosexual person heterosexual. The protagonists, Max and Paolo, meet in a conversion therapy camp run by the creepy, sadistic Father Moretti. I quickly clocked Father Moretti as a self-righteous, closeted homosexual. As the story progresses, he's revealed to be even worse than I initially thought.
The concept is compelling, the storytelling is engaging, and the author creates characters the reader cares about. The story contains several wonderful "Oh, my heart!" moments and intense surprises.
My reasons for giving the story four stars rather than five are subjective rather than objective. I would have liked more non-sexual interaction between Max and Paolo. While the author made it clear that there was a strong emotional bond between them rather than a strictly sexual attraction, I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the non-steamy side of their relationship.
While I understand Paolo's obsession with his physique, his discussions about diet and exercise were a little overwhelming for someone who struggles with body image and an eating disorder.
I recommend Stolen Dream for readers who like an intense contemporary romance that tackles real-world issues and don't mind when things get dark. Because of adult themes and explicit sexual content, the book is not suitable for readers younger than eighteen.
What if Fatal Attraction was gay and Glenn Close was a sassy twink?
Blurb
In the dark streets of Soho, London, where the nightlife pulses with energy and hidden dangers, Langdon is striving to carve out a life of his own. Having endured a tough childhood, marked by a mother who never valued him, he has found solace in the company of his four best friends, who feel like brothers. Although he thrives working in a bar, Langdon is haunted by his past, feeling like a dirty secret to the men he dates.
When Eric's world crumbles after a disastrous wedding, he loses both his home and job, forcing him to seek refuge with his brother. It’s here that he encounters Langdon, and an undeniable connection sparks between them. As their chemistry ignites, they begin to explore a love that feels both thrilling and terrifying.
But their growing bond faces a sinister threat. Someone is determined to tear them apart, willing to go to any lengths, including violence, to ensure they never find happiness together. As Langdon and Eric navigate the complexities of their relationship and confront the demons of their pasts, they must also fight to protect one another from a force that seeks to destroy them.
In “Dangerous Attraction,” love becomes a battleground where trust is tested, and survival is at stake. Will Langdon and Eric find the strength to overcome the shadows that haunt them, or will they pay the ultimate price for their desire to be together?
Excerpt
Langdon was putting the bottles into a case when he heard a loud crash. It made him jump, causing him to smash his head on the low ceiling of the room. He was dazed for a second before he turned and headed toward the commotion, worried he’d stacked the crates wrong and they’d fallen. What he found was the hottest guy he’d ever seen in his life, sprawled on his back with bottles rolling around him. The guy had bright ginger hair, dazzling blue eyes, and a beard which was just long enough for Langdon to run his fingers through as he rocked him to sleep after fucking the guy into oblivion. Okay, maybe it had been too long since he’d had a redhead: Langdon’s kryptonite.
“Are you okay?”
“I think so.” The guy groaned and made to get up. Langdon held out his hand, which the redhead took. He was wearing a tight T-shirt. There was nothing larger than a medium here – deliberately, knowing Joey. Langdon was the exception, as a medium wouldn’t cover one bicep. It was snug on the guy and hugged his belly. Another big turn on for Langdon. He might have a muscular physique himself, but he liked his men to have proper bodies. Langdon imagined running his tongue all over the guy’s soft belly, then snapped out of it when he realised he was still holding the stranger’s hand. Stranger? What was a stranger doing in their cellar? Then it dawned on Langdon; he was fantasising about his boss’s younger brother. Well, that was inappropriate.
Langdon yanked Eric up, a bit too hard. He crashed into Langdon and then didn’t move. In fact, Langdon felt Eric’s hands gently caress his pecs. He raised an eyebrow and Eric stepped back, going bright red. On his pale skin, it was a beautiful flush. Langdon wondered what else he could do to make Eric turn that colour, and how far down it went. Langdon needed to stop those thoughts. He was aware Eric was bisexual because Joey had mentioned it before, but he’d just been about to get married. The last thing he needed was Langdon creeping on him. Given there was now a sensible distance between them, Langdon offered his hand again.
“I’m Langdon. You must be Eric? Your brother asked me to sort you out.”
“What?” spluttered Eric.
Langdon’s face felt like he’d just looked into an active volcano, but then he couldn’t help but laugh.
“Sorry, what I mean is . . .” He doubled over, laughing again.
Eric smiled, looking mildly amused, but didn’t seem to find the faux pas as funny as Langdon did.
“Joey asked me to help you get settled, so you’ll be working with me tonight.”
“Lucky me!”
Langdon flushed again. Was Eric flirting with him? He shook that thought out of his head. Eric was Joey’s brother, so he was family, and therefore off limits.
About the Author
Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in 2023. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.
Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?
