Susan Laine

While on vacation in the south of France, aspiring chef Oliver Reed unwittingly thwarts an assassination attempt on the mysterious Max--and finds himself embroiled in courtly intrigue, stately theft, and a whirlwind romance. A brief holiday fling with the sweet young American isn't enough for Maximilian IX Lukas, crown prince of the Kingdom of Noricia. He whisks Oliver--and the entire Reed-Ruíz family--to a castle in the Alps. But picking up where they left off won't be easy while contending with Max's elitist relatives, dealing with the lady he's supposed to marry, and staying one step ahead of the killers still pursuing him. Add to that Max's flexible relationship with the truth, and Oliver isn't so sure being with a real-life prince is a dream come true.

Mystery. Murder. Men in silk stockings. Hollywood nights are heating up. Hardboiled Los Angeles PI Cain Noble is hired by wealthy and gorgeous Camille Astor to find her husband and a priceless work of art, both of which have disappeared.At the nightclub owned by Mr. Astor, Cain encounters the mesmerizing Lily Lavender, who has the body of a goddess and the sultry voice of an angel—but is really a young man named Riley who attracts trouble like a magnet.What's a private dick in the vein of LA's bygone era and a cross-dressing burlesque starlet to do when faced with the hidden decadence and lethal dangers of the Hollywood Hills? They have their work cut out for them because they haven't even scratched the surface of an elaborate scheme more twisted than anyone could ever have imagined.

Sam, a geeky college freshman, has bigger problems than lusting after Marcus, sexy jock, college junior, and his big brother's best friend. Chasing after a beanie caught in the winter wind turns into a tumble down the rabbit hole for them both—science fiction style. Sam and Marcus find themselves trapped on a tropical island in the middle of a strange ocean on an alien moon. The sole structure is a ruined temple devoted to the art of love. Flustered, confused, and unable to return home, they need to figure out a means of escape from a hostile jungle teeming with dangerous life-forms. In this tale where opposites attract and secret crushes are revealed, two very dissimilar young men discover they actually have a lot in common after all, but it will take their differences as much as their points of connection to survive on an island in the stars.

Sequel to Fireworks & Wild CardsThe Wheel Mysteries: Book Four Gus Goodwin witnesses a young man acting strangely at his occult shop—and a day later the same youth is found brutally murdered at a secluded Radical Faerie sanctuary in the mountains. Gus and his private detective boyfriend, Niall Valentine, once again find themselves in the middle of a murder mystery. First to cross their path is Professor Alex Kittridge, Gus's ex-boyfriend. Then into the picture stumbles Autumnsong, the biggest enigma they've ever encountered, to complicate the already confusing case. As Gus and Niall try to decipher the meaning of the cryptic poems left at the murder scenes, their pasts not yet laid to rest put a strain on their relationship. Gus and Niall must uncover a slew of secrets within a spiritual group of queer social rebels before the vile killer strikes again—or the investigation could very well end up being their last.

Twenty winters have passed since the Cataclysm brought down society and robbed people of their memories. Humanity, vastly reduced in numbers since the initial chaos, has started anew in Canal City with the aid of library books and steam technology. The Scout and Ranger Corps was established to search for possible survivors and to replenish dwindling resources. Dev is the captain of the scout airship Smoke Sparrow, and Shay is the scholar of their newest expedition. Their destination is Innsmouth, Massachusetts, a small fishing town that is mentioned in obscure books but shows up on no maps. Might its secrets offer answers? But within the fog-covered, ruined hillside town by the bay lurk unspeakable dangers and horrors beyond imagining. The expedition team soon learns that Innsmouth is one town that should have been left forgotten.

A Lifting the Veil Story Notorious master thief Finn Grayson is hired to break into a high-class skyscraper in New Shanghai and steal a priceless artifact known as the Shard. But someone's gotten to the Shard first—and the penthouse suite turns out to be a dragon's lair. Cameron Feilong, Guardian of the Earth Shard, is ancient enough to realize that he and his unbidden guest are being used like puppets on a string. Forming a shaky alliance is the only way for them to survive and to stop their ruthless foes. Unfortunately, Finn and Cam seem to be forever one step behind. To learn more about their clandestine enemy, they travel together from walled Asian cities, barren tundras, and underwater temples to secret paranormal clubs and legendary elvish cities rising high in the trees or buried deep under glaciers. Finn and Cam must learn to trust each other before it's too late, for bringing together the five Elemental Shards will spell the end of the world.

Sequel to Devil's OwnThe Wheel Mysteries: Book Three When Gus Goodwin's friend and mentor, Juliette Hayes, asks him to find out who's stealing small sums from the cashbox of her Moonlight Haven Coven, Gus agrees. What's the worst that could happen? They catch a small-time thief and, with any luck, retrieve a few bucks. Gus enlists the help of his boyfriend, PI Niall Valentine, and Niall's retired police officer father, Owain, to go undercover and solve the mystery. On the night of the next full moon ritual, however, the coven is struck with a fatal blow. Now Gus and Niall face more than a murder mystery. The coven is torn apart, and along comes an eccentric psychic and Tarot master—plus a familiar face both Gus and Niall had hoped was long gone. As fireworks ignite and wild cards are spread, Gus and Niall have their work cut out for them.

The Wheel MysteriesBooks 1 & 2 Sparks & Drops Magic is in the air when Gus Goodwin, a pagan shopkeeper, meets a Niall Valentine, a mysterious PI investigating the disappearance of a local witch. What starts out as harmless flirting and information gathering soon turns into a partnership, with both men determined to solve the case. Bodies pile up as someone uses fire and water to kill witches, and it is up to Niall and Gus to find out what's going on. But when their friendship blossoms into something else, the unknown dangers ahead become even more frightening. If they can't solve the murders soon, they're going to get themselves killed. Devil's Own PI Niall Valentine and his occult shopkeeper boyfriend, Gus Goodwin, are thrown into another murder mystery. Niall's client, Angelina Talbot, believes her husband attempted to kill her. Terrified, Angelina hit him with a lamp and ran. Florian Talbot lies dead in their bedroom, his head smashed in—but the door is locked from the inside. Is Angelina an unwitting murderer, or are more sinister forces at play? With a family of eccentrics, borderline criminals, and Satanists, the killer could be any number of people wandering the mansion that night. The Talbot clan thrives in secrecy, and Niall and Gus must shed some light on the shadowy case.

Being over thirty is not an issue for Corey Paige. Being frigid and a virgin, however, is a huge problem for the only son of a newspaper magnate. No matter the risk, Corey's intent on resolving both problems in one go. Enter Lucian Allard, a wealthy hedonist with a notorious reputation at club Boudoir—and an unconventional sexual mentoring program for those who suffer from dysfunctions. As the two men begin a sensual journey to awaken Corey's libido, Corey's frigid body isn't all that begins to melt. His untouched feelings also spark to life. Though a family emergency puts a halt to awakening Corey's senses and desires, Corey and Lucian grow closer as friends. Then an unexpected kiss from Lucian in Corey's most desperate hour changes everything. Now Corey must decide if the program is still an aid or an obstacle to two lonely men trying to maintain a professional detachment but falling hopelessly in love.

A Senses and Sensations Story Football player Bro Sumner and genderqueer Lacey Adair are an exclusive item. Though their high school years have been mostly happy, they continually face dangerous opposition—including a bully on Bro's team and Lacey's violent alcoholic father—because Lacey won't live the traditional gender role she was born to. She chooses to wear dresses and makeup and appear female; underneath the wrappings, she's content with physically being a male in a gay relationship with Bro, and she doesn't want that to change. Their differing plans for the future after graduation, however, may create changes they can't weather. A compromise with the help of relatives and friends means Bro and Lacey can go to school only an hour apart, but they still miss each other. It's not long before they make new friendships and discover new romantic possibilities. Temptations, jealousies, distance, and expanding horizons could sever their relationship forever unless they can keep their dream of a life together alive in their hearts.

Matt Wetherton is just an average-looking tax attorney until he breaks up a gay bashing and unwittingly becomes a hero. He isn't looking for a date, but when he meets the man he rescued, he finds himself longing for one anyway. Rain Deveraux is a beautiful, effeminate lounge singer—and utterly unwilling to be Matt's damsel in distress, even if he does wear women's clothing for his performances. When common courtesy prompts Rain to pay Matt a thank-you call, it's the beginning of the romance of their lives. Before long, Matt and Rain fall for each other hard and fast, but both men are stubborn: Rain clings to his right to express himself even though Matt worries for his safety. Despite their occasional clashes, the passion between them is undeniable. When an accident compromises Rain's independence as well as his singing voice, it tests the strength of their newfound relationship. It is up to Matt to help Rain find his music again before depression sullies the brightness in Rain's soul.

A Lifting the Veil Story Ten years ago, the Great Unveiling revealed the presence of supernatural beings living on Earth. But the residents of the ruined city discovered in Majlis al-Jinn are long dead—or so junior archaeologist Pip Butler thought until he accidentally unleashed a very naked genie named Jinn. Even though he's been shyly pining for his charismatic supervisor, Val Velde, Pip has a hard time refusing Jinn's flirtatious advances. He barely has time to even consider the fact that he has an all-powerful genie and three glorious wishes at his fingertips when ruthless mercenaries sweep down on the dig to collect the most valuable artifact of all—Jinn's lamp. So Pip, Val, and Jinn have to work together in a race against the clock to discover the secrets of the ancient city, free their captive colleagues, and keep Jinn from the mercenaries' clutches—all while trying to sort out their romantic tangle.

A Senses and Sensations Story What does love sound like? If you hear it, will you heed its call? Police officer Jordan Waters is recovering from a shooting by moving to a new apartment in a new town and taking a new job. In other words, he's lonely. His first instinct is to relieve his anxiety through uncomplicated sex—until he meets a man so far out of his league and experience that he stumbles for the first time. Police volunteer Sebastian Sumner may be deaf, but his spirit, openness, and sense of humor give him the strength to get through anything—even the emotional defenses of Jordan Waters. But it's his own family history that poses the biggest challenge. Can he learn to trust Jordan with his heart, or will his upbringing blind him to the sounds of love?