Carol Lynne

FROM INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR CAROL LYNNEBook one in The Brick Yard seriesFor Lucky Gunn, the hardest fight of his life happens outside the cage.On the South Side of Chicago sits an old gym called The Brick Yard.Ten years ago, on a bitterly cold day, Lucky Gunn wandered into The Brick Yard dressed in a threadbare jacket, looking for refuge. He hadn't expected the owner, Tony Brick, to welcome him with a job and a place to sleep when Lucky's abusive and drug-addicted mother made it too dangerous to return home.Dray was a gay man living in a world of straight fighters. When his secret was exposed to the media, he dropped out, giving Lucky a piece of advice-if you want to make it as a MMA fighter, bury the part of yourself that won't be accepted.Lucky discovered the cage was the perfect place to keep his demons at bay, but when he learns his trainer and mentor, Brick, is suffering from end-stage cancer, he begins to spiral out of control. After eight years, Dray returns to help Lucky and Brick deal with the devastating news.With Dray so close, Lucky's old desires return, and Dray teaches him more than how to fight. Torn between his career and the passion he feels for Dray, Lucky's past demons resurface in full force, threatening his sanity and his budding relationship with Dray.Despite leaving the cage years earlier, Dray finds himself in the battle of his life with the only man he's ever loved. Will he stand and fight or walk away like he did years earlier?

Snake Charmer Sometimes it takes finding an opposite to show us the beauty within ourselves. When security consultant and ex-mercenary, Gabrielo 'Snake' Barbas, thwarts an attack of one of his co-workers, Riley Banks, he takes it upon himself to keep the smaller man safe. His job is made harder when he discovers the attacker is actually Riley's ex-boyfriend, a ruthless man from a very wealthy and powerful family. After a night of passion, Snake decides to take Riley far away from Richmond, Virginia to a town in Wyoming for the annual Cattle Valley Days celebration. He should have known that sex with Riley wouldn't be enough, but he feels he has nothing else to give such a nice guy. Riley is the sexiest man Snake's ever taken to his bed despite Riley's claim otherwise. Riley knows he's average-looking at best, so why does Snake continue to flatter him? It's obvious he's not going to kick Snake out of bed, even after Snake informs him that sex is all he has to give. Why does Snake see him so differently than the rest of the world? While Riley is busy trying to figure out the man who touches him like no other has before, Snake is busy trying to protect him from a monster in a business suit. Journey to Lobster Cover Spreading acceptance one town at a time. When the town of Cattle Valley runs out of room for new construction, Asa Montgomery begins to look into alternative locations. He discovers a picturesque fishing village in Maine for sale and begins to make plans to purchase Lobster Cove. Unfortunately, setting up a new community takes him away from his partner, Mario, who isn't pleased about being left behind. Meanwhile, after years of dancing around their mutual attraction, Cullen Bryant decides the time has come to lay his feelings for Joseph Allenbrand on the line. Unfortunately, his plan is cut short when Joseph sends him away with no other explanation than he should move on. Joseph knows sending Cullen away is the kindest thing to do for the younger man, but when he hears Cullen truly may be moving on, he realizes it's time to reevaluate his life. Will he work out his issues in time to save what he's spent years denying?

Watch Me As an eight year old, Zeke Straus couldn't help his big brother Kade when their father kicked him out, but he vowed to find him no matter what it took. At the age of eighteen, Zeke struck out on his own to fulfil that promise. Now, after ten years of fruitless searching and living in rundown motel rooms, he lands yet another bartender job. The last thing Zeke expects is the attraction he feels for the club's owner. When Fallon's on Fifth closes after its owner's conviction, Reid Jackson and his best friend Alec Demakis decide to buy the bar and turn it into Clean Slate. When a sexy as sin bartender walks through the door to apply for a position, Reid finds he has several in mind he'd like to try with Zeke. Coming Clean First loves are often the hardest to leave behind. For months, college student Chase Hughes has known he owes his high school sweetheart the truth about his feelings. He still loves Benny, but he has grown to realize he's ready to move on. The problem is, he knows Benny will be crushed by the breakup, and hurting the sweetest man he's ever known weighs on Chase's soul. While working as a server at Clean Slate, Chase meets the man of his fantasies. Mac Evans pushes all of Chase's sexual buttons, and after having uninspiring sex with Benny for two years, Chase is ready to explore more than the tattoos on Mac's muscular body.

Finding Absolution: Van Duggins makes the trip from Oahu to Wyoming for the annual Cattle Valley Days celebration. He expects to be bored out of his mind without an ocean in sight. What he didn't expect was to meet a man who would change his life forever. Jon Porter returned home after college to help his ailing grandpa take care of the family farm. He doesn't begrudge giving up his chosen career to help the man who raised him, but his situation has been hard on his love life. How can two men find common ground when one makes a living in the soil and the other in the surf? Fingerprints & Muddy Feet: At the age of eighteen, Nate Gills was forced out of his family for being gay. With hush money in his pocket and anger in his heart, Nate fled Washington DC for Chicago to start a new life. Although he eventually found love with two wonderful men, he buried his feelings of abandonment behind a facade of confidence. When a horrific accident takes the lives of his younger brother and sister-in-law, Nate is forced to revisit the emotions he'd worked so hard to bury. In a twist of fate, Nate is named guardian of a niece and nephew he's never met, putting him into direct conflict with the father who shunned him so many years earlier."

Crimson Moon After his capture by a rogue vampire coven, Gunnar, alpha werewolf and head of Neo's Realm security, was viciously turned into a vampire. Although Gunnar was eventually rescued, he refuses to accept the vampiric side of himself. Centuries earlier, Ramiro was also changed against his will, but he's learned to accept himself and make the best of his new life. He knows he has his hands full with Gunnar, but there is something about the confused werevamp that pulls at his once-human side. As head of security for the vampire king, Ramiro has the reputation of being a cold-hearted warrior, but he wasn't always that way. As he continues to coach Gunnar through the transition, he begins to yearn for things he hasn't wanted in centuries. Love. Royal Blood Spiro Manos ruled over the Realm of Blessed Creatures for centuries in his brother's stead. Time spent solving everyone else's problems helped divert his mind from his own. Bound to a powerful but lost god, Spiro has spent a lifetime alone. Although sexual diversions have kept his body satisfied, his soul has never known the touch of the one lover he was born to satisfy.Betrayed and hunted by his brother, Nialo fought valiantly until his mother, Gaia, hid him away. Forced to live life as a jaguar, Nialo's found it easier to forget he was ever anything but an animal. One bite from a friendly vampire and Nialo begins to remember who he is and why he was hidden away. His anger and need for revenge are matched only by the desire he feels for the man constantly at his side.

Seeing Him: Physical and emotional scars drove Jonah to a life in the shadows, but Trevor is determined to draw him out of the dark and into his arms. Blown Away: Sometimes love finds you before you think you're ready. Will two men from separate walks of life be able to find a common ground where they can be together? His Last Client: What happens when an occasional prostitute meets a client he can't help but fall in love with? They both risk their hearts, and together, they have to decide if the reward is worth the risk. Where Tomorrow ShineS: Kasey Adams will show Quinn Nelson just what kind of man he is. After a couple of dates it's been radio silence and Kasey wants to know why. He's ready to settle down with just one guy and start his life. Slippery When WeT: Ever since Reno started working as the head coordinator for the kids' centre at the hotel, he'd been harbouring a not-so-secret crush on a lifeguard named Bruce. When he finally has a chance to talk to Bruce and Bruce doesn't even know Reno's name, Reno is heartbroken. Out of Service: Esteban Parks is used to being the go-to-guy at the Melia.As the front desk manager, he's in a position to see everything that goes on-front and back of the house. Nothing fazes him, until he's confronted with an appealing guest and instinctively goes into rescue mode.

I'll Stand By You Sometimes, the best thing you can do for a friend is love them. Trying to get away from a man he loves but can't have, Mike Shriver takes a temporary assignment in Kansas City. When the construction company he owns with his brothers is contracted to build an exclusive athletic club in the gay-friendly neighbourhood of Brookside, Mike has no idea his life is about to get more complicated. Mike knew he liked Ray DeMonico after their initial meeting. Unfortunately, like the man Mike had left behind, Ray was already in love, with long-term partner Brent Atwood. Lonely, Mike decides to check out one of the local gay bars. While having a drink and enjoying the view, he spots Brent in the crowd. With one look, he becomes aware of Brent's dark secret. Suddenly, Mike is caught between trying to protect Ray and telling him the truth. In a matter of weeks, Ray's world begins to crumble. Mike stands by Ray, determined to fight for the man he loves, but Brent's continued threats throw both men into a situation they're not sure they can win. Soul Restoration Restoring the past isn't always possible, even with the most qualified craftsman at your disposal.After he was disowned by his family, Pete Braxton worked years to build a life without his family's fortune. It wasn't easy, but he learned the importance of a hard day's work and living within his means. When his brother dies unexpectedly, Pete is left a multi-million dollar fortune and the family home he grew up in. Refusing to let his newfound wealth change the man he has become, he decides to use it to repair the family home his brother destroyed and calls in a master woodcraftsman. Dylan Oliver relocated to Kansas City to work on Pete's family mansion in what should have simply been a six-month project. He never expected to fall in love with the home's owner. When the job is finished and Pete isn't satisfied with the outcome, will Dylan be sent packing?

Alone in a Crowd For years, Ryan Blackfeather prided himself on maintaining his composure no matter the situation. He has built a life around his desire to be needed, to feel important to those around him. His job as sheriff and the love of his partners, Nate and Rio, not only fulfil him they give him purpose. So why when he receives a phone call with tragic news does their love and support not comfort him? The more Rio and Nate pressured him to talk about his sudden surly mood, the more Ryan began to resent them. The answer came at the height of a heated argument, it was time to return to the place and the people who first made him feel like he had nothing to offer. Only then would he figure out why he'd spent a lifetime searching for the acceptance of those around him. Insisting he tackle his past on his own terms, Ryan returns to Oklahoma to face the demon, the one man in the world he could never please. Second Chances With the new dormitory on the Second Chance Ranch nearing completion, Drake Smith butts heads once again with ranch owner, Robert "Oggie" Ogden.After a shotgun blast ends his career, ex-Chicago Police Officer, Robert "Oggie" Ogden, cashed in and headed for a new life in Cattle Valley. In search of a second chance, the last thing he wanted was pity, especially when it stared back at him through whisky-coloured eyes. Drake Smith learned at an early age to carry a bigger stick than the bullies who tormented him, and although he's grown into a highly skilled fighter, he still guards himself against those with the potential to hurt him. Compassion doesn't come easily to Drake, so when he reaches out to help Oggie, he finds his surprising efforts rebuffed, making him angry at himself and the object of his unwanted affections. When a showdown between them turns into a heated sexual encounter, Drake wonders if he'll ever feel safe again.

Locky in Love Born into an affluent family, Locky never faced a problem his family money couldn't fix. Everything changed the night he stumbled upon a young gay man beaten to death and left in the parking lot beside his car. Unable to get the image of the boy out of his head, Locky quit his father's law practice and took a job at BK House. Adapting to a new way of life is difficult, and it's made even more so by a raven-haired hottie who pushes every one of Locky's buttons...The Injustice of Being After a hung jury results in a mistrial for alleged rapist, Paul "Jigger" Robinson, victim Eric Kloiber and Will James, the detective in charge of the case, must come to terms with the possibility that Jigger may well get away with his crimes. When Will sees the despair plaguing Eric, he becomes determined to leave no stone unturned in his search for more evidence against Jigger. In the midst of his ongoing investigation, Will begins to feel protective towards Eric and soon the two embark on a risky affair...

Cattle Valley Volume 13 Confessions Government contracted mercenary, James 'Priest' Evans, slides back into town after a mission gone very wrong. Haunted by his latest kill, Priest's job is weighing heavily on his mind for the first time in memory. In Cattle Valley to heal and re-evaluate his life, Priest didn't expect love but that's exactly where's he's headed. After a devastating and very public breakup, Luke Hatcher has given up on love. He's more than happy to enjoy hot and heavy sex, but that's as far as he's willing to go. When he runs into Priest, Luke believes their mutual lack of trust is perfect for a short-term holiday affair. Their steamy affair takes an unexpected turn when Priest makes a bedroom confession that will forever change the way he views life and love. Will the confession bring them closer together, or will it send Luke packing? Shadow Soldier Deacon McConnell spends his days as a woodcarver and his nights as head of one of the most secretive government agencies in the United States. When he meets a man troubled by his time spent in the Middle East, Deacon feels drawn to the pain in the handsome man's eyes.He makes the decision to help Aaron Ellis any way he can. Dishonourably discharged from the Army, it takes everything Aaron has to get out of bed each morning. He's become used to faking his way through life, putting on a happy face when the situation calls for it is a lot easier than dealing with his buried memories. The day Aaron wanders into Deacon's store for the first time, the last thing he expects is an immediate connection with the shop owner. For the first time since leaving the service, Aaron begins to believe there may be light at the end of the dark tunnel. The nights he spends in Deacon's arms slowly begin to drive the shadows from his heart. After years spent serving his country, Deacon yearns for a normal life. The move to Cattle Valley is the first step, opening up to Aaron the second. When duty calls Deacon out of town, he begins to wonder how much more he'll be forced to give up for his country.

Seasons of Love Volume Three Winter Book four in the Seasons of Love Series Just as the seasons change, so do people. After eighteen years together, Sidney Wilks and Grady Nash thought their bond was unbreakable, but they are about to discover it takes a lot of work to make a relationship last. The death of his surrogate father followed by an irreparable fight with his long-time friend threatens to pull Sidney down into an abyss of depression. When Nash suggests getting away for a much-needed vacation, Sidney eventually agrees, believing it will give him time to heal. Unfortunately, the sun-filled cruise only serves to drive a wedge between him and the man he loves. Back to their daily lives, Sidney buries himself in work, eventually accepting a partnership at Creative Solutions. As rewarding as his new position is, it further drives Sidney and Nash apart. Although his love for Nash never wavers, Sidney begins to wonder if Nash is tiring of him. Faced with a life-altering decision, it will take the friend he thought he'd lost to make Sidney realise his future was written years earlier when a man named Nash befriended him.

Campus Cravings Volume Six Incoming Freshman Three years ago, Chet Sloan left a promising job as Offensive Line Coach at the University of Arizona in an effort to put distance between himself and an Incoming Freshman. Bobby Ray Sikes first came to Chet's attention as a high school sophomore when he took his small Arkansas town's football team to a state championship. For two years Chet watched Bobby Ray Sikes play, knowing the boy was meant for greatness. When he recognized his feelings had grown from adoration to something more, Chet ran. In an effort to save his career and Bobby Ray Sikes's chance to one day go professional, Chet took a job at North Central Idaho University. For three years, Bobby Ray Sikes played for a team he hated. Not only was he expected to act like the rest of the guys on the team, but the one man he'd agreed to play for had left him high and dry. After reading an article on BK House, a privately funded all-gay dormitory, in OUT magazine, he decides to do the unthinkable and transfer colleges his senior year.Most coaches would be thrilled to learn a two time All American was transferring in to play ball for their team, but Chet's feelings for Bobby Ray Sikes haven't changed. Will he be forced to run again or can he coach the man he loves? A Lesson Learned Graduate student, Dane Jefferson, believes the sun rises with Magnus Sofokleous. He would do anything for the chance to get closer to the sexy professor. Unfortunately, Magnus is so busy researching the past, he doesn't take the time to live in the present. One week before winter break, Magnus gratefully accepts a grant to further his research at Barrett House, a small plantation in Louisiana. With extenuating circumstances surrounding the grant, Magnus is forced to ask his assistant, Dane, to accompany him. Although Dane is qualified, the attraction Magnus feels for the younger man makes him uncomfortable. Away from the rigors of academia, Magnus lets down his guard and quickly becomes sexually involved with Dane. In the past, Magnus used domination to protect himself against the weakness of love.When Dane doesn't accept the Dominate/submissive relationship Magnus has used as a shield for years, he is forced to decide which is more important, the lifestyle or the man in his arms.

Summer As Spring gives way to the heat of Summer, Sidney Wilks and Grady Nash settle into their new lives in a Chicago suburb. Trying to fit in to his new surroundings, Nash becomes friends with his co-workers at the garage. The only hitch is he has to go back into the closet he'd finally escaped. With Sidney working long hours, Nash doesn't feel the need to expose his relationship to guys who wouldn't understand. The dual-life leads to misunderstandings and hurt feelings, forcing Nash to make a life changing decisions. With Nash battling to find a purpose away from the ranch he loved, Sidney's busy enduring long hours in an office he hates. With his prize-winning building completed, Sidney's creativity is put to use designing buildings that don't inspire him. When an opportunity to design the building of his dreams presents itself, Sidney's loyalties are put to the ultimate test. Will he reach for his dream and uproot Nash from a life he's finally settling into, or will he sacrifice his personal goals for the good of the man he loves? Fall For over ten years, Sidney Wilks and Grady Nash have devoted their lives to each other.With their relationship solid and thriving, they each turn their attention to their careers. Nash loves his job as a day trader but hates what it's doing to his body. The hours of sitting in front of a computer combined with his love of beer begin to take a toll on his aging body. Worried that he'll lose Sidney to the hot muscled construction worker his partner works closely with, Nash decides to get his body back into shape, no matter the cost to his overall health. After the death of his father, Sidney is so busy dealing with the years of hurt and betrayal at the hands of Jackson Wilks that he doesn't notice the warning signs of Nash's dangerous new lifestyle. When Nash's sex drive falters, Sidney turns the rebuffs inward instead of looking at the bigger picture. It will take the counsel of a close friend to open Sidney's eyes to what is really going on, but will it be too late?

Hawk's Landing Born a man, Kit always felt cheated out of the life he was meant to live. Growing up in Arkansas, Kit was forced to hide behind the masculine clothes and haircuts favoured by the other boys in the small community. The minute Kit graduated high school, he pushed away the male way of life then reached for her dream of living as a woman. With newly augmented breasts, Kit arrives in Cattle Valley in hopes of gaining acceptance. Gabe "Hawk" Hawkins is in search of more than a place to lay his head when he too comes to Cattle Valley. He's on the hunt for his son. When he meets Kit at the local gym, he's knocked sideways by her incredible body and big smile. It soon becomes clear that there's more to Kit than meets the eye. Luckily for Hawk, he's an equal opportunity lover and won't let the sassy blonde push him away no matter what others say about him. People may not trust Hawk's motives for being in town, but he hopes Kit will look past his mistakes to see the man he longs to be. Reader Advisory: This book contains a transgender storyline.Shooting Star Fleeing Hollywood from damaging and false tabloid reports, Brac Riesling hides out with his friends Kit and Hawk in Cattle Valley. Although he believes he's simply evading intrusive paparazzi, danger lurks just around the corner. After years spent as a secret soldier for the United States government, new Cattle Valley deputy, Al Jessup believes shielding the television heartthrob from nosy reporters will be an easy assignment. Becoming infatuated with Brac isn't part of the plan, and Jessup struggles to remain professional despite the temptation Brac provides. When Jessup gives in to his desire and Brac nearly pays for the moment of passion with his life, Jessup vows not to make the same mistake twice. He calls in a favour from the only man he trusts with Brac's life, James "Priest" Evans. Priest agrees to guard Brac at a secret location while Jessup searches for the unknown gunman. Jessup's resolve to put a halt to the budding relationship with Brac is tested when he witnesses the easy-going relationship Brac and Priest have formed after only a few days.