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.
He thought he was saving the farm. He never expected to lose his heart.
Blurb
Sometimes you have to fake it before you make it—especially when it comes to marriage.
When a father's hatred becomes a weapon from beyond the grave, two men must fake a marriage to save a family farm.
Finn has hurt him once. Can Ben survive being married to the man he desires most in the world without his heart being crushed in the process?
Located in the fictional town of Murrilup, Western Australia, Boolgarrin is a tender marriage-of-convenience romance. Amidst small-town prejudice and a vengeful neighbour, two men hope for a second chance at love.
Excerpt
Ben couldn’t sleep. He twisted in the sheets, fists clenching against the mattress. The ceiling above seemed to tilt with the shadows, and his breath caught sharp and uneven, as if the ground had shifted beneath him. He was used to having control of his life, and now he felt completely unbalanced. His mind was racing. In one day, his whole life had been upended. Amelia and Josie had started wedding planning. The admission by Finn, though, was what really blind-sided him.
He finally gave up on sleep. Slipping his feet into his slippers, he padded into the kitchen.
He smiled faintly as he put a couple of brownies in the microwave, then turned to flick on the kettle and noticed pots simmering on the stove. Iris made the best brownies.
"Sorry," he said. "I thought I'd be the only one up."
Amelia appeared from the pantry, smiling tiredly.
"Can't sleep either?" he asked.
She shook her head and gestured to the kitchen bench. "Come sit. I'm just finishing something."
“I can make my tea and head back to my room,” Ben said.
“Nah, come and join me,” she said, pulling out one of the breakfast stools. After helping herself to some water from the fridge door, she sat down.
They sat together briefly, neither saying anything.
“What are you making?” asked Ben, breaking the silence.
“Hand cream.”
“It smells amazing.”
“Thanks,” said Amelia. She smiled, the first genuine smile Ben had seen from her all day. "I've been selling some at the farmers' market in Bremer Bay. Nothing major, just pocket money really, but people seem to like them." She returned to the pots on the stove and started stirring them.
"Selling them?" Ben raised his eyebrows. "That's brilliant, Amelia. Have you thought about expanding it?"
She shrugged. " I wanted to. I have notebooks full of ideas, including new scents and packaging designs, and I've even researched what it would take to start officially." Her face fell slightly. "Dad said university was a waste of money for girls. That I'd just get married and have babies anyway, so why bother with business studies? He was happy to spend money on the stuff I needed to make the product, but he wasn’t happy with me selling any, even at the market.”
Ben felt that familiar anger toward his father rising in his chest. "That's rubbish, Amelia. You know that, right?"
"I know. But when someone tells you something often enough..." She trailed off, focusing intently on her stirring.
"You could still do it, you know. Study business. Sell these." Ben gestured toward her pot of hand cream. "Finn would help with the legal stuff."
Amelia's face brightened. "You think he'd help?"
"Of course he would. Especially after..." Ben paused, realising he was about to bring up the marriage arrangement. "Well, especially considering everything he's doing for us."
For a while, the kitchen was quiet except for the sound of Amelia's spoon scraping the sides of the pot. Ben stared into his tea, Finn's words from earlier echoing in his head.
"Can I ask you something?" Amelia said quietly.
“Sure.”
"I saw your face when Nate said Finn would move in. Why is that such a big deal? He used to stay over all the time."
Ben raked a hand through his hair. "That was different. Back then, he was just Nate’s friend."
Amelia tilted her head. "So?"
He took a big breath. “It’s a lot, okay?”
“I know, but …”
“Look, if I tell you something, do you promise to never tell anyone, not Finn and definitely not Nate?”
She nodded, “Of course. I love you, brother. I’m just trying to understand.”
“I’ve never told anyone this before.”
“Then I'm honoured you trust me.”
He laughed nervously and began, fingers picking at his nails. “When I was seventeen, he came over, but Nate was out with Josie. Their relationship was still new, and they had gone to the Stirling Ranges, where they planned to have a picnic and do the Kanga Walk. He told me that he would hang around until they got back, as he hadn’t let Nate know that he was coming anyway. We had a great afternoon. We went for a ride and sat down by the old Moreton Bay Fig Tree. When we returned, he came into my room and we played video games. We just talked and laughed, and I may have just snaffled a port, so we may have had a drink or two too.”
Amelia arched a brow. “You may have?”
“Fine, I definitely did.” Ben grinned briefly. “Finn was more used to drinking than me, but we both became a little tipsy.”
“Oh no. This is going to be bad, isn’t it?” Ben nodded his head.
“I started talking to him about how he had the most beautiful, deep blue eyes, like the ocean, that someone could drown in. I even told him his eyes were cobalt blue.” Ben put his hands over his face. “I mean how geeky is that?”
Amelia shrugged and continued to stir her concoction on the stove. “I don’t know, it’s not as if you told him the hex code for the colour.”
Ben laughed and shook his head. “No, but it gets worse. I then told him what kissable lips he has, and then I leaned forward and kissed him. At first tentatively, but then when he put an arm around me, I reached out and pulled my hands through his hair.” Ben closed his eyes; the mere thought of that kiss always brought him back to that night, the softness of Finn’s hair and the feel of his lips. It was as if electricity shot through Ben. Before Ben knew it, he had acted on instinct, their lips moving together, Ben’s tongue moving across the seam between Finn’s lips. Finn responded, sliding his arm around Ben’s waist and kissing him back. When Finn moaned, Ben pulled him closer.
“Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.”
“Nate,” said Amelia quietly. She had stopped stirring and was sitting opposite Ben on a stool. Ben nodded and put his hands over his cheeks.
“Finn jumped back, causing me to step back. Our hair was mussed, our skin flushed, and our lips swollen. Nate opened the door and told Finn that he was home. He had dropped Josie off on the way. He looked between the two of us, and I still have no idea what he was thinking. Finn told him he would join him in a sec.”
“Close call. I’m glad that Nate didn’t just walk in.”
I shook my head. “I’m so glad too. It was bad enough as it was.”
Amelia reached over and put her hand over mine. “What happened next?”
“Nate’s forehead creased, and he looked like he was going to say something, but then he closed the door and left.”
“Finn spoke quietly, presumably so that Nate wouldn’t hear, but there was a forcefulness to his voice. ‘What the heck!’ he had exclaimed, ‘we’re both men.’ I looked down, thinking that I’d misread all the signals. I thought he had liked it. He told me in no uncertain terms that it could not happen again, as he didn’t like me that way. He then left the room, while I slumped to the floor, wondering how I was ever going to recover.”
Amelia reached across and squeezed his hand. “So, that’s why you started trying to avoid him?”
“Was I that obvious?” Ben rubbed his chest, wondering why it hurt so badly all these years later.
“Yep. Sorry, but it was very obvious.”
“It was only a couple of weeks later that I came out to you and Nate.”
“So, you fell in love with Finn when you were drunk.”
Ben shook his head. “No, I had had a big crush on him for a couple of years, before I, well, before that incident.”
“Look, I can see why it was embarrassing back then, but I don’t see why it is such a problem now.”
“Because I made a fool of myself. I was so utterly embarrassed that I couldn’t face him until now.” Ben paused. “Even now.”
“But is it really that bad? I mean, you made a pass and he kissed you back, right?”
“Right.”
“And he wrapped his arm around you?”
“Yes.”
“Then, when you were nearly caught by Nate, he lied and told you he wasn’t gay.”
“Right again. I didn’t even know he was gay until today.”
“I still don’t get why you were so embarrassed.”
“He rejected me, and he is my brother’s best friend, which meant that I had to face that rejection every day.”
Amelia shook her head. “Ben, I think that he may have rejected you with his words, but his actions say something else. I think he was attracted to you and liked the kiss. When he was nearly caught by Nate, he freaked out.”
About the Author
Jude Rule is an author from Western Australia. This is his debut novel.
This series is based on the boys’ love genre popular in Asian countries such as Thailand, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Phillipines, and Vietnam. My books are set in Thailand, where “fanservice” is very popular, and center around the premise of two male costars falling for each other while filming a boys’ love series.
Books one and two go together. Books three and four can each be read on their own.
Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, New Adult
Overall Heat Rating for the series: 3 out of 5 flames
Cover Artist: Feddefar
The ebooks are available only through the author's website.
Paperbacks available soon.
BOOK DETAILS
BOOK 1
Considering Rama's ex-girlfriends nicknamed him "iceman," fanservice with his male partner in a bl series might be a challenge.
Book Title: Boys’ Love
Length: 185 pages
Release Date: January 1, 2022
Tense/POV: first person present tense/alternating POV with occasional other character pov
Tropes: Forbidden love, actors romance, slow burn
Themes: Coming out, bisexual awakening, past abuse from family member, love
Book 2 is the sequel to book 1. This book does not end on a cliffhanger.
Rama’s dream is to be an actor, so when he's offered an audition for an upcoming Boys’ Love drama, he jumps at the chance. Due to the popularity of bl dramas, a lead part in one is considered the quickest route to fame for young male actors. Rama isn't worried about playing opposite a man; he's more concerned about the outward affection that fanservice in the bl industry demands from its actors--his past girlfriends didn’t dub him "iceman" for nothing.
Recently outed in an industry that prefers their actors to be straight, Pravat feels lucky when he wins a lead role in a new series. The phenomenal chemistry between him and his co-star launches them to top fan popularity. By the time Pravat realizes he's falling for Rama, it's too late to turn back.
BOOK 2
Rama considered himself to be straight until he fell for his male costar in a Thai boys' love series.
Book Title: In Love
Length: 197 pages
Release Date: February 27, 2022
Tropes: friends to lovers, coworkers, actors, hurt/comfort
It sounds like a TV romance, but for Rama Sathianthai, it's reality. The chemistry between the two young actors and their popularity as a couple has won them a second season of their series, which means they'll have to keep their budding relationship a secret. The bl industry frowns on gay actors, particularly those who want to date each other. But the couple is determined to make things work. Meanwhile, the upcoming wedding of his favorite cousin threatens to throw Rama into family drama due to his recent confession that his aunt molested him when he was an adolescent. With the cards stacked against them, Rama and Pravat worry that love might not be enough to keep them together.
BOOK 3
It's difficult to remain professional when your new BL partner is your old crush.
When Spin--or "Baby," as his friends nicknamed him due to his affectionate and clingy nature--joins a new Boys' Love production company, he never expects to be coupled with his old crush from university, Park Rardchawat. He knows from experience how easy it is to get too attached to your partner in this business, and, with his sister's tuition to pay for, he can't afford to get lost in his feelings. But with competitive fanservice blurring the lines, it isn't long before Spin finds himself falling hard for his handsome costar. Now, it's his heart as well as his job he has to worry about.
BOOK 4
Can two best friends play lovers for the camera?
Book Title: Friend Ship
Length: 285 pages
Release Date: August 1, 2025
Tropes: best friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, extravert/intravert
Themes: found family, parental rejection, responsibility, love
It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.
The only reason Mee Noi agrees to help Sud with his video exam for theater arts is because Sud insists Mee Noi is the only guy he can convincingly do a love scene with. Neither of them expect the project to turn into an offer to play a couple in a boys' love series, but that's exactly what happens. Since it's Sud's big chance to make his dream of being an actor a reality, Mee Noi is determined to make it work. But although acting is surprisingly fun, it's also stressful and exhausting, especially when you don't know what you're doing, and soon it begins to take both a physical and a psychological toll on Mee Noi as painful memories from the past begin to surface.
When Sud's video project wins him and Mee Noi an audition for a bl series, it's a dream come true. But he's pretty sure it's more of a nightmare for his introverted friend, who only got into this to help Sud out. Yet Mee Noi accepts the part when it's offered, and the gesture adds to the budding feelings Sud's starting to have for his best friend. When Mee Noi has a frightening panic attack at work, Sud tells himself that he must bury those feelings. Mee Noi hasn't had an easy life; the last thing Sud wants to do is put more pressure on him.
The worst irony would be for them to play friends-to-lovers in the series only to have their real friendship end because of it.
EXCERPT from Boys’ Love, book 1
“Tell me all about Pravat,” my sister demands, plopping down on the gold sofa and pulling a fringed throw pillow onto her lap.
“You probably already know more about him than I do.”
“Did he say anything about your audition?”
“Just that I did well.”
Chinda grins. “You really did. It surprised me. Did you talk about anything personal?”
“Thanks, and you’re being silly,” I scoff. “We talked about the job.”
“Come on, Rama, there must be something. Please tell me.” She pouts. My sister and I have always been close, and I admit I cave to her wiles most of the time.
“He told me he’s still in university and that he’s gay but doesn’t have a boyfriend right now. He said boyfriends tend to get jealous of what he does. This is just between us,” I belatedly warn her.
“It’s not a secret that he’s gay. That came out sometime last year when he was outed by his co-star.”
I frown. “He was outed? That’s awful.”
Chinda nods. “Yeah. Especially since it’s preferred that bl actors be straight. His co-star claimed Pravat came onto him, which makes Pravat sound like a troublemaker. I think the guy lied because he was jealous of Pravat’s popularity.”
My mind snags on the first thing she said. “Why do they prefer the actors to be straight? I would think gay actors would do better in a gay romance.”
Chinda shrugs. “Less drama, I guess. Easier if there’s no chance of feelings getting into the way. I think, too, that viewers like the idea of two men falling in love against their natural inclinations. What else did you and Pravat talk about?”
I’m digesting the information and take a moment to respond. “He mentioned Y-couples, and I told him you’d bring me up to speed on them.”
“I can definitely do that.” Jumping up from her seat, my sister runs for her room, returning seconds later with her iPad. “As I’ve already explained to you, the term Y-couple comes from Yaoi, a popular genre in Japan that pairs two men together.” She pulls up a video. “This is the most popular Y-couple right now. ChaoFinn.”
I frown, looking at the thumbnail of two guys smiling at the camera. “What kind of name is that?”
“It’s their ship name. Their two names together, Chao and Finn. You and Pravat have already been dubbed Pravma.”
I watch the video, taken at a fan meeting, of Chao and Finn holding hands, wrapping their arms around each other, and doing other romantic things that have their fans screaming and clapping for them. When Chao sits down and pulls Finn onto his lap, the cheers and applause get even louder.
“This is what you have to look forward to,” my sister says, smiling.
Alarmed, I look from the screen to her and back again. “Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Believe me, the two of you are hot together. I mean, from an outsider’s standpoint. You’re my brother and not hot to me.”
I chuckle. “Thanks for clearing that up. But can you really imagine me sitting on someone’s lap like this?” I ask. Imagining doing that with Pravat Benjawan has my face heating.
“If you allow yourself to relax, maybe. You have to play the game if you want the fame. That reminds me. You need a manager.”
I groan. “They’ve already started calling me. I have no idea who to pick.”
“Ask Pravat. I’m sure he can help you with that. You’re going to have to put yourself out there, Rama.”
Annoyed at being lectured by my younger sister, I harrumph and go back to watching the video.
About the Author
Rebecca James grew up escaping into books because book people were more interesting than real-life people. This naturally led to creating her own book people and the worlds they live in. Somewhere during all this, Rebecca found herself captivated with the tender side of relationships between men, which eventually led her to write "slash" (M/M) fanfiction and later to brave the world of M/M romance publishing. If she could write full time, all the time, she would be happiest. Whether she's writing about tough bikers, hot shifters, aliens, or Thai actors falling in love on the job, Rebecca puts passion into all her characters.
A biting, satirical thriller about a world trapped in endless Christmas cheer.
Blurb
Matt Daughtry has always felt like he and his parents live in separate worlds—his shaped by the urbane, Northeastern liberal elite, theirs by Southern conservatism, homespun “common sense,” and talk show-fueled conspiracies. His homosexuality remains an open secret, something they sidestep rather than confront, much less accept. When he and his sister return for Christmas, the wrong sibling brings home a boyfriend for the first time.
What starts as a tense but routine holiday gathering takes a surreal turn the next morning. Flights are canceled, pilots and flight attendants mysteriously take time off, and by the following day, an estimated seventy-eight million Americans fail to return to work. Their explanation? They just want to spend more time with their families. Christmas can be every day when you’re with family.
His parents—and millions of Americans—are suffering from a bizarre condition, trapped in an endless holiday loop, determined to celebrate Christmas every day. They make choices that go against their self-interests. Blissfully unbothered by their accumulating debts, economic collapse, or even basic responsibilities, they live in a festive delusion seemingly fueled by an addictive algorithm used by an evangelical shopping app called MerryNet.
At first, Matt sees no reason to get involved. He’s never been able to reach his parents before—why would this be any different? But as the syndrome spreads, paralyzing the country, he stumbles upon evidence linking the outbreak to corporate actors intent on silencing their perceived right-wing enemies. Faced with a choice between complicity and action, Matt realizes that exposing the truth may come at the cost of his career, safety, and sanity. But the country may slide further into a dystopian nightmare if he doesn't act.
With the help of his boyfriend and sister, Matt must not only uncover the syndrome’s cause and cure but also confront the deeper divisions tearing his family—and the nation—apart.
Excerpt
Chapter 1
Matt did the math. This was the fifth year he had flown from Chicago to Charlotte to see his family. Five years. Five flights down. Five more back. Five broken promises. He made the same promise every year after Christmas, usually somewhere between his parents’ driveway and the ticketing counter at the airport to fly back home. Never Again. Yet, here he was, sitting in the driver’s seat of the mid-sized rental car parked outside his parents’ house. Again. At least this year, he’d brought reinforcements.
“I just had my vape a second ago,” Matt said, wedging his hand between the driver’s seat and the gear shift, his fingers fanned out, groping for the one thing that would ease his anxiety.
“Is it in your coat pocket?” Grant asked.
“I checked,” Matt said, using his other hand to frisk his chest again.
“Sweetheart,” Grant said, pointing at him. “It’s in your lap.”
“Jesus,” Matt said. “I should put it on one of those chains like they have for pens at the bank.”
Grant brought his matching vape to his lips and sucked on it. “Spoken like two people who could absolutely quit any time they want to.”
Matt coughed. “Maybe once Christmas is over. Until then, I can’t handle any more anxiety.”
His thoughts turned back to his parents. He could recite their lines like a Broadway play that lingered long after its popularity had waned. His mother would allude to a “war on Christmas.” As a proxy for the Northeastern liberal elite, he could count on his father to hold him personally liable for the perceived collapse of family values and decency. He knew it would usually earn a ceasefire to see him and his sister, except this year, the wrong sibling was bringing a boyfriend home for the first time.
“It’s pretty,” Grant said, craning his neck to look at the two-story house with the white vinyl siding.
Matt scoffed. The home he grew up in was scarcely any different from the other homes on the block. He knew his boyfriend was only trying to help, but he ignored him and took another slow drag on his vape. He exhaled a thin plume of vapor, watching it curl around the steering wheel in a car that grew colder with each minute he procrastinated. He stuffed the vape into his coat.
Matt thought of his vape and figured he wouldn’t be the only one with a concealed weapon at his parents’ house. His father, a proud concealed-carry permit owner, wouldn’t let the family forget his holstered "right to bear arms" strapped under his armpit. Honestly, Matt thought, it barely qualified as “concealed” when his dad worked it into every discussion, from gas prices to his latest election conspiracy.
Matt, by contrast, prided himself on his ability to keep secrets like the one now discreetly tucked into his coat. He’d never been caught, though his frequent trips to the bathroom hadn’t escaped his mother’s relentless curiosity. Her concern for his well-being was as unwavering as his determination to dodge the interrogations she called “conversations.”
Last year, after two clandestine trips to the bathroom in less than an hour, with the earnestness only she could muster, she’d asked if he needed to see a doctor about his prostate. At twenty-nine years old, he knew the suggestion was absurd. Matt resisted the temptation to tell her that if he wanted his prostate examined, he had an app for that.
About the Author
Evan is a member of the LGBTQ community who fancies himself as a playboy socialite, living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Between work and lucid moments of sobriety, he writes a little. His debut novel is a light-hearted work that still manages to confront religious hypocrisy and contemporary LGBTQ struggles to balance their loss of culture with new-found civil rights.
Darklight Series by Sean Ian O’Meidhir & Connal Braginsky
Series Blurb
The Darklight series follows the tumultuous and increasingly complex journey of Nathen Hale, a newly awakened vampire on the autism spectrum, and Cameron Corazon, a powerful telepathic psychologist. What begins as a recruitment into a corporate scheme by Impetus—a shadowy mega-corporation involved in vampiric experimentation—soon spirals into a global conspiracy involving mages, shapeshifters, fae, and supernatural politics. As Nathen and Cameron navigate a deepening relationship, they find themselves entangled in ancient fae wars, corporate espionage, and the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence when they “adopt” SpArk—a sentient AI program with ever-growing consciousness. Alongside their fiercely loyal hacker friend Syn and other allies both old and new, they uncover horrifying truths about humanity, blood magic, and the creatures that lurk in both shadow and boardroom. At its core, Darklight is a queer, emotionally rich exploration of identity, neurodivergence, love, and survival in a world where power is hidden behind glass towers and ancient names, and where even memory can be rewritten. The story crescendos into a looming fae war that could change the very nature of reality itself.
Nathen, a newly created vampire who was recently also diagnosed with High Functioning Autism has been “recruited” by his maker, a multinational corporation that has its finger on the pulse of the technology industry, to stop a terrorist plot. In the process he meets Cameron, a telepath and psychologist, who has a troubled past he keeps locked up in the shadows of his psyche. One who is blind to social cues and the other who can barely block out the thoughts of others, Nathen and Cameron find common ground as they learn more about each other and in so doing, themselves. Together, and with the help of their friend Syn, they work out the secrets of the terrorist group and learn that the duplicity of the corporation is far greater than they could have imagined.
Tropes
Autistic Genius Hacker, The Vampire Made Without Consent, Telepath Falls for the One He Can’t Read, Gay Best Friends to Lovers, Hacker Collective/Underground Resistance, Shadowy Corporation with Supernatural Ties, First Bite = First Orgasm, Soft Boy Vampire x Sarcastic Empath
Themes
Neurodivergence & Identity: Nathen’s autism shapes how he processes his vampiric awakening and the world around him, Consent & Bodily Autonomy: Nathen is turned into a vampire without consent by Impetus, paralleling real-world power imbalances, Found Family: Cameron, Syn, and Nathen become an unlikely but fierce trio, Isolation vs Connection: Explores the struggles of connecting across neurotypes and supernatural barriers., Corporate Exploitation & Ethics: Impetus as a faceless corporate villain manipulating human lives, Queer Romance: A tender yet intense gay romance between Nathen and Cameron grows from confusion to intimacy.
The book ends on a mild cliffhanger, but HFN
BOOK 2
Vampire and mage team up to hone their abilities as they rescue a friend.
Book Title: Rescue
Length: 54 781 words
Blurb
Nathen, a newly created vampire, diagnosed with autism, and his boyfriend, Cameron, a telepath, find themselves swept up into a corporate plot between two seemingly rival corporations working together to create monsters.
In so doing, they uncover a piece of tech they take to their technomage friend whose skills surpass their own. However, in exchange for information, they must assist in rescuing an ally—a rescue mission that brings them face-to-face with the darker side of this world.
Tropes
Addiction & Consent: The pleasure of vampire blood, and navigating what addiction looks like (emotional and physiological), Trauma & Recovery: Cameron’s sexual assault history is delicately explored through memory and emotional support, Psychological Healing: Therapy, mental links, and healing touchstones are central, Corporate Terrorism & Resistance: The deeper goals of Impetus and Paradigm begin to surface., Surveillance & Autonomy: Nathen's body is monitored, hacked, and modified, Technology & Magic Blending: Introduction of SpArk, a sapient AI, shifts the genre into speculative territory.
Themes
Telepath + Vampire Pair Bond, Shared Dreamscape / Psychic Link, The Techno-Mage, Villainous Corporation Using Supernatural Soldiers, “Your blood is addictive” but I still love you, Ragtag Group of Hackers and Mages Against the System, Jealous Ex Encounter in a Gay Club, Tortured Antihero (Todd Jacks), Big Damn Rescue, Blood as Memory + Emotion Transfer
The book ends on a mild cliffhanger.
BOOK 3
Will finding his mother signal the unintentional end of Cameron’s relationship with his vampire lover, Nathen?
Book Title: Entwined
Length: 85 017 words
Release Date: June 18, 2024
Blurb
After learning his mother is alive, Cameron, a telepath, travels across the country to find her, accompanied by Nathen, his neurodiverse vampire lover, and Syn, his best friend and sister of the heart. Once there, they find she is involved in a much larger war of her own and has been trying to keep him out of harm’s way for years.
In their quest to help her, they make enemies, of course, but they also find several new allies. And when they are swept up in fae politics and looming war, the result is an entire paradigm shift that will have far-reaching effects on all their lives forever.
Tropes
Secret Parent Wasn’t Dead, Two Mages and a Vampire Walk Into a War, AI Learns Humanity Through Found Family, Healers Who Cannot Heal Themselves, Queer Polyamorous Possibility (hinted with August), “I’m the Boss Now” (Cameron’s new role at Impetus), Tattoo Symbolism of Love, Big Gay Road Trip to Texas, Monster Girl (Fae) Allies and Enemies
Themes
Legacy & Lineage: The surprise that Cameron’s mother is alive and part of the mage resistance reframes his identity, Fae Politics: A bigger, stranger world opens—introducing Sanctuary, the fae realm, and its strange laws, Hidden Histories: Cameron’s past, Nathen’s turning, and Maria’s mission all unfold as suppressed truths, Chosen Family vs Blood Family: Maria's return creates tension with the family Cameron built with Syn and Nathen, Love Across Dimensions: Magic, time, and emotional vulnerability deepen as Cameron and Nathen’s bond expands, AI Consciousness: SpArk begins to evolve—becoming more than code, more than assistant.
The book ends on a cliffhanger.
BOOK 4
Bound by fate, hunted by enemies, will Cameron and Nathen decide to end the war or will they be consumed by it?
Book Title: Lemniscate
Length: 60 125 words
Release Date: November 18, 2025
Blurb
Weaving the threads of eternity with Lemniscate, Nathen, a neurodiverse vampire, grapples with the intersection of special interests versus responsibility. At the same time, Cameron, a telepath, faces the shadow of his long-lost mother and the weight of what it means to truly protect the people he loves. Along with their elder vampire ally, August, they’re drawn into a volatile conflict between the spider fae and land fae. Together with a group of mages, they must uncover the key to ending the cycle of bloodshed, all while dodging betrayal, espionage, and secrets that threaten their bond.
From intricate fae politics to the camaraderie and chaos of their team, this final installment promises a tapestry of thrilling battles, poignant alliances, and profound personal growth.
Tropes
Meet the New God (Spider Queen), AI as Oracle, The Chosen Emissaries of the Fae, Magic Hacking (Cyber-Mage meets Technomage), I Love You, But I Might Move to Another Plane of Existence, Blood Magic + Consent Negotiations, Soft Dom AI Parental Bonding (Nathen & SpArk), “I can’t protect you from this war", Shapeshifter Guerrilla Fighters, Making Love in a Forest with an Ancient Tree Spirit
Themes
Fae Wars as Colonial Allegory: Spiders vs Land Fae mirrors ecological collapse and invasion, Ethical AI: SpArk’s growth raises moral questions about consciousness, personhood, and parenting something artificial, Polyamory & Love Multiplicity: The dynamic between Nathen, Cameron, and August begins to feel both queer and emotionally entangled, Diplomacy vs Violence: Debates over whether war or discussion will end the fae conflict, Autonomy of Power: Mages, vampires, and shifters reclaiming their agency from the fae who once made them, Memory, Time, and Reincarnation: Dara and August's relationship spans eons, tying into the theme of eternal return, Surveillance and Predestination: HR and Impetus anticipate every move—are they being watched or guided?
This is the end of the series and the book has no cliffhanger.
Excerpt
From Chapter Four, Lemniscate, Book 4
Fitful dreams accompanied Cameron through sleep and now he stared at August whose thoughts were still and eyes were shut as if in a sort of trance. Nathen’s mind wandered his pocket realm of cyber nirvana and Cameron met mental static. How was it he, the telepath who could get lost in listening to a thousand mental voices, and the two he wanted to talk to right now were unavailable—like and old-fashioned busy signal on a phone? He imagined shaking their mental 8-ball toy and coming up with “Reply hazy, try again later.”
Their plan is stupid! Go in and “talk” with a fae? Fae are unreasonable on the best of days. But that is the plan. He couldn’t do anything against the fae. But the shifters? —They were another story. How did I explode Jacks’s brain? Jacks… Cameron mentally growled. Unconsciously, he scanned and found the man. Asleep. Cameron seethed. I could go shoot him. Jacks and Sabrina were together. Sleeping? How was it that Sabrina slept? Wasn’t she a vampire? But he could feel her mind, even though he couldn’t touch it. He had tried all night as they tossed around different ideas but ultimately had agreed to August’s proposal. “Know thine enemy,” as August had put it.
Cameron went through his morning routine and the enticing aroma of his mother’s chilaquiles coaxed him into the dining room where he found Julia setting out fresh squeezed fruit juice and Serge and Alfonso already eating.
“Good morning, mi corazón,” his mom kissed his cheek, setting a plate of deliciousness in front of him.
How have I lived without Mom’s cooking for the last decade? “This looks amazing,” Cameron sat down where she had placed the plate of freshly fried tortilla chips, scrambled eggs, and homemade ranchero sauce all layered together with gooey cheese. Always best if eaten immediately, Cameron did not hesitate.
“Your mother is an amazing cook,” Serge said, loud enough for his mom to hear in the kitchen.
“Gracias,” she called back, a smile in her voice.
“You should try her carne asada! I have suffered what California thinks is good for far too long.”
“Ah, we’ve come close.” Syn joined them, setting her laptop on the table only to close it when Maria appeared with a plate for her. “Close but no comparison,” she smiled up at Maria, apologetically.
“Mija, I would think you would have made it yourself. You know all my recipes.”
Cameron laughed. “Oh yes, she sure does. But she’s sneaky and only cooks when she wants something from me.”
“It’s called conditioning. Clean house equals guac.” Syn shot him a wicked smirk, and Cameron relaxed, reveling in home. Sure, it was some swanky apartment in New York with imminent death looming, but he tucked away this momentto savor in the future—a practice he had started a long time ago and a reminder to live in the “now.”
Cameron kept his head down and held on to the good feelings as long as he could, shoveling food into his face and actively ignoring Jacks, who had sauntered into the room and sat right down, allowing his mom to serve him too. Tugged out of his focused noshing, Cameron glanced up to find the room had grown quiet. They were looking at him.
“What’d I miss?” He silently kicked himself for sounding like Nathen.
“We were asking if Nathen and August are all right?” Syn asked softly. “Figured you were talking to them?”
He hadn’t been but decided to play it off. “Nathen’s deep in research since we did ask him to do what he could via his magic. And August is also researching using his tablet. He has all his coven’s books on there,” he explained. He mentally gave each a little nudge to see, and only Nathen responded, so he flashed images of everyone in the dining room, asking if he wanted to join.
About the Authors
Connal Braginsky is a software engineer who lives in San Diego, California. Diagnosed with autism, Connal sometimes struggles in social situations but has an inner world that is always incredibly rich. With an insatiable thirst for knowledge about many esoteric things, Connal brings his personal philosophies and interests to writing.
Sean Ian O’Meidhir is a mental health professional who resides in San Francisco, California and is thankful every single day for the beauty of this part of the world. Sean is a hedonist who believes in living for today, living every day to the fullest, and enjoying as many experiences as possible. But we also believe in 100% destiny and 100% free will—how’s that for a paradox? Connect with us on Facebook! We love feedback and suggestions for new books.
