Kirjahaku

A bored man walks into a bar and strikes up a conversation with a stranger only to discover an attraction to an unlikely person.Keith Ryzor had intended to meet Madeline for their third date, but at the last second, she cancels. Already at the restaurant, he decides to head in and eat at the bar. He spots a man alone with a beer and a plate of hot wings. Noticing the bit of hot sauce reddening the black man's closely-cropped goatee, Keith sits down next to him and tells him about it. While he knows it's not the most standard way to strike up a conversation, the guy doesn't seem to mind. Keith finds himself sharing a surprisingly enjoyable meal with a man named Oliver Kostroma. Even though Keith normally dates women, he's been with men, too, so he decides to ask him out. To his disappointment, Oliver turns him down.Over the next week, Keith can't get the sexy electrician out of his mind. When Keith spots Oliver again in an unlikely place-at a barbeque of a co-worker's friend's house-he takes it as a sign. It's his second chance. Being a smart man, Keith learns from his mistakes. He doesn't ask Oliver out. Instead, he goes the friends route, which quickly adds in benefits. Knowing he's falling fast for Oliver, Keith enlists the aid of friends. Even as Keith works hard to win not only Oliver's trust, but his heart, there are also those working against him. Can Keith prove to the skittish man that he's worth the risk?

Just a little Love Bite: An angel's assignment places him in the path of his hurting stella guida, leaving him wondering if he has the skills to help.When Nester joined Murdoch's coven a couple of years back, Murdoch knew they weren't beloveds. That didn't stop him from falling hard and fast for the hazel-eyed vampire, who seems to return his affection. Bringing in a donor for threesomes happens often and keeps the spice in their relationship. Murdoch is ready for the next step-family-and Nester claims to be, too. They agree to a surrogate and artificial insemination. Except, then Murdoch ends up running late to an appointment to meet the surrogate at the facility and walks in on Nester banging the woman. His lover claims it's no big deal, but it is to Murdoch. If Nester was willing to do that with their surrogate, who else had he been involved with behind his back? Murdoch takes a step back from Nester, trying to get some perspective, angering the other vampire. A guest at the dude ranch-Malakai-offers to listen to Murdoch and offer advice. Murdoch finds himself extremely attracted to the gorgeous male, although his lack of scent confuses him. An unexpected accident allows Murdoch to taste Malakai's blood, revealing that not only is the male his beloved, but Malakai is also an angel. Can Murdoch come to grips with the revelation-and why Malakai had hidden their connection from him-before Nester figures out a way to sabotage any hope for their future?

Rusty Peruke works as a mechanic and is close with his family. His wheelchair bound brother, Korvyn, lives with him, and he sends extra cash home to his parents on a regular basis. When he meets Acheron while the man is at the shop buying a set of fast wheels, Rusty is both excited and concerned-and it's not because he's never been with a guy. Acheron is a loner scorpion shifter who hasn't stayed in one place since he left his family home over eight decades before. Rusty has no intention of running out on his family. To him, their needs come first. Can two polar opposites find enough common ground to build a future? Or will assumptions and miscommunications create a wall between them that's impossible to scale?

After being woken by a phone call in the middle of the night by his alpha, Leopold Caldwell heads to San Francisco. Alpha Declan requests his services in creating an identity for a rescued human whore. What Leo finds when he gets there is a scared young human who is completely overwhelmed by his new reality. Oh, and he happens to be Leo's mate. Even as he's ecstatic to meet Jerry, the other half of his soul, Leo recognizes the hurdles they're facing. Not only is Jerry struggling to accept the existence of shifters, but there are also still people after him...people who seem bent on establishing possession of Jerry. After a close call where Jerry is nearly kidnapped, Leo decides it's time for a change of scenery. He takes him back to Stone Ridge and a secluded cabin owned by his family line. Unfortunately, trouble follows. Can Leo use his quick wit swiftly enough to save not only Jerry but his own future as well?

Captain John Casinov has two loves in his life-his family and his work. When his son, Jonathan, and the man's family visits from Santa Cruz-primarily to try to convince him to retire and move south-John takes advantage of one of his detective's offer. He accepts a bunch of free passes to the marine park, World of Aquatica. While there, he finds his interest snagged by a big, friendly, black-haired man. The handsome man brazenly introduces himself as William Roush...then he asks John on a date. While he's flattered, John laughs it off while declining. Undeterred, William approaches John a second time later that day, so he accepts. Imagine his surprise when John discovers who William actually is-the partial owner of the marine park. John doesn't understand why a man who's young, confident, and rich-who could have anyone he wants-would pursue him. When William shares that shifters are real, John wonders at the man's sanity...until William actually proves it. Can John come to grips with his newfound knowledge and accept William into his life? Or will retiring and running be the decision of the day?

Seever Kerns has spent the last fifty plus years as his best friend's subordinate, even though his lion is far more powerful. When he meets Reese Nelson, he realizes the human is his mate and thinks Fate is rewarding his patience. Unfortunately, even though Seever can scent that Reese is attracted to him, the human resists, hiding behind a belligerent fa ade. Trouble with a rogue shifter soon interrupts his attempts to woo his standoffish mate, and Seever makes a grave mistake. He had assumed that Reese-who was there visiting his cousin, Rocky, a human bonded to a shifter-was aware of shifters and the paranormal world. Reese freaks out, refusing to believe what is right before his eyes. Even Rocky's influence does little to calm him. Can Seever convince Reese that they belong together, or will Reese cut his losses and flee, which would put his human in even more danger?

Spieron Virche has served his coven as an enforcer for less than a decade when he's given the honorable task of helping a gargoyle elder. To his surprise, erasing the memory of the man threatening the other paranormal gives him an outsider's glimpse into a human who piques his interest-Albert Lindson. When Spieron is asked to lead the way to Albert, he's more than eager to do so. As soon as he meets the man, Spieron suspects the reason for his interest. He takes advantage of the man's shock at his son's unexpected arrival to taste the human's blood, and his world is turned upside down. Albert is Spieron's beloved, the other half of his soul. Too bad the aging mountain man is settled in his solitary life and expects to die alone within a few years. Can Spieron find a way not only to draw Albert back into the world but convince him that his life is far from over...in fact, could it be just beginning?

Patrick Dolcet is hired by a friend of an ex-boyfriend to represent him when he enters a custody battle. While stopping at the client's place for a consultation, he comes across a man who pushes every last one of his buttons. Brand Erdogan is big, brawny, and has a friendly smile. Patrick isn't certain if the attraction is mutual, and Brand seems reluctant to start anything...for a few reasons. The man doesn't consider himself gay, or even bisexual. On top of that, Brand thinks Patrick-a successful custody lawyer-is way out of his league. With a little help from a friend, Brand agrees to join Patrick for dinner...and then another. Even though their actions are discrete, someone has it in for Patrick. When pictures of Patrick and Brand in a compromising position threaten not only his job, but his relationship with Brand, Patrick has to rely on the trust they've built. Will the chance at love be enough to keep Brand at Patrick's side? Or will one too many obstacles tear their possible future apart?

Colton Martinez is a seahorse shifter and lives a comfortable life at World of Aquatica, a shifter owned and operated marine park. When a number of others find their Fate-given mates, he doesn't give finding his own much thought-until he scents the most alluring aroma in a big, handsome human named Waylon Davison. Discovering his mate has a boyfriend doesn't deter Colton. Instead, he lifts Waylon's wallet and, with the help of friends, plans his strategy for wooing the man. After learning his human is disturbingly cowed by his boyfriend, Colton realizes Waylon has more to overcome than the shock of discovering that shifters exist. Even if Colton can convince Waylon to dump his jerk of a boyfriend, can he convince his human that entering a pairing with a man chosen by Fate isn't a new prison?

At five-foot-two and skinny to boot, Maximus Bonner has always been a little sensitive about his size. When he's forced by his job to attend a team-building activity at Rolling Meadows Ranch and Resort, his worst fears are realized-outdoor activities. On top of that, he overhears the hottest cowboy at the place making fun of the little stringbean. His anger getting the best of him, Max lodges a complaint against the sexy man.As a vampire, Rhyme Mythstone has been waiting for his beloved for over a century. Imagine his surprise when he comes in the form of a tiny slip of a redhead with a fiery temper. With one teasing comment, his chance at wooing the human goes up in flames. Max wants nothing to do with him. Can Rhyme figure out a way to prove that he loves his beloved's size and can make him happy?

Pierce Rinkon lives a simple life. Having been born with a learning disorder as well as a disability, he knew he was considered by most to be a little on the dim side. That doesn't stop him from enjoying his life, though. His work as a receptionist for his small town's sheriff's office allows him plenty of interaction with others. For fun, Pierce runs, boxes, and finds men interested in a quick romp. After all, he doesn't expect anyone to be interested in him long-term. While out on a morning run deep in the woods, he spots an old acquaintance-retired deputy Mac. When Pierce heads over to say hi, he watches something crazy happen...an animal changes into a man. As he's struggling to process what he's seen, a good-looking dark-haired guy named Daevon makes it plain he's interested in him. Except, Daevon isn't human, and he turns into a scary-looking wolverine. On top of that, Pierce discovers Daevon is smart, educated, and is a retired college professor. How could Daevon possibly be interested in a dumb, small-town hick like Pierce?

Stanton Thundler has been looking forward to the haunted hay maze ever since his coworker's boyfriend promised everyone tickets. When he gets there, the place doesn't disappoint. He laughs, screams, and hollers with the rest of his buddies...until he lingers over a display too long, takes a wrong turn, and ends up separated from his friends. Stanton doesn't mean to bump into the slender hottie and knock him into a puddle of mud.Francois Toulouse is irritated when he's ordered to go to a coven near Amarillo and inspect their beef. The only thing he knows about cows is how to cook them so they taste amazing. Then he learns a seer has foreseen that he'll meet his beloved there. The human Fate chooses for him is not what he expects. Stanton is big, brawny, dirty, and a polar opposite to Francois's fastidious tidiness and sophistication. Still, Stanton was his beloved...To Stanton's surprise, Francois asks him out. While he's flattered, he declines. What would be the point when even Stanton can see they have nothing in common?

Attain Walsh knew something was odd at Nicholas Lindson's ranch. Ever since his best friend married Sandra, things have turned...strange. Wanting to get to the bottom of things, Attain begins to show up unexpectedly. He's shocked to stumble across Nicholas making out with someone other than his wife. The idea that his buddy was a cheat had never crossed his mind. Unable to help himself, Attain confronts Nicholas...and learns that the marriage is a sham. Both Nicholas and Sandra have separate partners. Not only that, but his friend's partner-Bodb-isn't human. He's a gargoyle. When Attain meets more of them, he's shocked to find himself attracted to one of the huge beasts-a dark-blue gargoyle named Ssimeas. Then he learns about mates-someone the gargoyle considers the other half of their soul-and Ssimeas claims that Attain is his. But Attain is a confirmed bachelor. He has no desire to be anyone's soul mate. Can Attain convince the gargoyle to leave him alone? Or will the male's flattering pursuit sway him into turning his life upside down?

Sheridan Andorran would never be considered a good man-not even a decent one. He's done far too many questionable things in the name of self-preservation. When his brother orders him to kidnap his niece, Sheridan intends to do it. Except, outside the home where Kendra is staying, he runs across a man charged with stopping him-Rory MacDougal-and the man awakens every hidden desire he's ever felt. One kiss from Rory and Sheridan knows he'll never be able to hide his desires from his homophobic brother again. He does the only thing he can think of to save his own skin. Sheridan flees. A day later, stranded on the side of the road, he starts hitchhiking...only to be picked up by Rory. Sheridan learns his brother is dead, his sister is in jail, and the only family he has left-his niece and her father-want nothing to do with him. Rory asks Sheridan to stay. Can he learn how to become a different person, a better man, and make amends to those he owes before his checkered past catches up with him?Reader Advisory: This story is best read after finishing The Crystal Connoisseur.

Ronald Oleander, Ronnie to his friends, has been looking forward to this road trip for months, ever since he'd aced the test for his motorcycle license. With the wind on his face, he follows Noah and Adam-his older brother and his brother's mate-through winding back roads. Their destination is a small town in Wisconsin where they're meeting up with Adam's old biker gang. Ronnie has been warned the place is homophobic and never to go anywhere alone. Except, when he arrives, the first thing he notices is an enticing smell. Ronnie wanders around the back of the diner to investigate and finds a pair of humans pounding on a smaller guy. Breaking up the fight, he sends the jerks packing. When he focuses on the beaten man, he discovers he's the source of the smell-and is also not only a shifter, but his mate-Hector Ramirez, an armadillo shifter. At barely twenty-one, Ronnie didn't expect to find the other half of his soul so soon, and he doesn't feel ready. Still, he can't deny his instincts. For better or worse, can Ronnie accept not only a mate but figure out a way to stop the people after him?