Maddox I’m not a fan of Christmas. I’m happy to stay up in my mountain cabin and let the silly season pass me by. But when a friend asks for a favor, I can’t say no. Now I’m stuck in my cabin during a snowstorm, trapped with the most beautiful man I’ve ever met—who can’t wait to get away. He just might break my heart when he goes. Ravi I’m racing to get home for the birth of my goddaughter when mechanical troubles force my plane’s emergency landing. There are no beds at the inn due to a horrendous storm, but a friend says she knows a guy who won’t mind putting me up until the bad weather passes. Now I’m trapped with that man, and I must decide if I stay, hiding from the rest of the world, or go and face my past to earn a shot at my happily ever after. This is a 72k word, hurt/comfort, lumberjack/nurse, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity MM romance novel with a moderate amount of angst.

Stanley I have life figured out—a good job, a nice car, and an ex-boyfriend whose heart I broke. But then my half-brother dies unexpectedly, and I go back to our hometown to settle his affairs. A quick trip before Christmas. Instead, I get the shock of my life. Do I face this new challenge or do what I’ve always done—run? Or will I stay and get to know the most amazing man I’ve ever met and take on a responsibility I've never dreamed of facing? This will be a holiday season like no other. Justin I’m a therapist who helps people deal with grief. My life is fulfilling. So what if I’ve been single for years? I have the kids I counsel and co-workers I adore. Maybe I’m tired of going home to an empty house and not looking forward to another Christmas alone. But I’m not going to be taken in by some slick city guy who can’t wait to leave town. I’m not going to upend my life just because I’ve met the man of my dreams. Right? This is an 85K, opposites-attract, instalove, mid-angst gay romance novel. Previously published in the charity anthology Secret Santa: A Romance Collection, the story has quadrupled in size with more love, laughs, and a touch of Christmas magic.

What happens when your biggest crush turns up on your doorstep after twelve years? Cadence Crawford has a good thing going. He’s making waves as a realtor in Mission City, British Columbia. Yes, he’s recently suffered a personal loss, but he’s moving on, and his path forward includes selling the only true home he’s ever known. Marcus Brannigan is doing fine. He has his physiotherapy practice, he watches over his younger twin sisters, and he’s happy. When he unexpectedly runs into Cadence, who is selling the home he’s always coveted, he’s prepared to do some negotiating. Neither knew they were seriously crushing on each other. Now they’ve admitted the truth, is happily ever after in the cards? Marcus’s Cadence is a 7k second-chance gay romance instalove short story with a very happy ending and a malti-poo named Kiki.

Ryan The moment I landed in that war zone, I knew I'd made a big mistake. I wasn't a soldier, and my good intentions almost got me killed. Being wounded and shipped back home to Canada was both a blessing and a curse. I’m safe now, but I can’t stop thinking of the men I left behind. My therapist claims Healing Horses Ranch will help heal my wounds—physical and mental—but I'm not sure how much tranquility and wholesome fresh air I can take. Until I meet a beautiful, shy man who makes moving forward seem almost possible. Can I let go of the past and reach for a future with Simeon? Simeon I've made peace with being different from the folks around me. I love my home in Mission City, and if anyone needs something fixed, I’m the guy they call. When the owner of the therapy ranch hires me for a big project, I’m excited to get started. I always work alone, but one of the patients keeps hanging around, and I can't bear to send him on his way. I can see how much he's hurting. If helping me helps him, that's a win for us both. As we share the work, something about that wounded man draws me deeper and deeper in. I'm no therapist, and I have my own issues, so am I a fool to be thinking about a future with a guy who's likely to leave once he's healed? Sleigh Bells and Second Chances is a slow-burn, age-gap,hurt/comfort, mid-angst, gay romance novel with a shy handyman, a reckless former gamer, a precocious borrowed kid, and a therapy dog named Tiffany.

Ben I just graduated. I should be out celebrating. Instead, a storm's coming and I've got no place sleep except the backseat of my car. At least I have my beloved beagle with me, but seriously, how is this my life? Isaac After a horrific week, I hate being unable to retreat to my island sanctuary. Perhaps sharing my hotel room with a stranger in distress and his dog will take my mind off things. Afterward, we'll separate and never meet again. Right? \*A 10k lighthearted gay romance with forced proximity, a loner, a future school-teacher, and Buddy, the adorable beagle. This short story was originally published in the anthology Seeds of Love: A Romance Charity Anthology to Benefit Ukraine .

Everett After my infamous half-a-night stand with the mysterious Rayne, I moved on with my life. Success as a lawyer demands long hours and giving a hundred and ten percent to the job. I do carve out enough time to hang out with friends some weekends, but it's depressing to watch them pairing up while I'm relentlessly single. Then, one morning, the man I can't forget shows up bruised and bedraggled at my office door. Rayne has a whopper of a story to go with the bruises, and seeing him again strikes wild sparks I can't deny, but can I trust a man who ditched me without a word? Or will he be gone again by morning light? Rayne As a private investigator, I've done some dubious jobs for some very questionable people. The assignment that brought me into Everett's world was one of the worst. Now, someone's trying to kill me, and until I figure out who and why, I need a safe place to hide. All I can think of is Everett. The hot, by-the-book lawyer I hooked up with once doesn't owe me a thing, but he's the only person I trust. I'll do my damnedest to keep danger from reaching him, and hope like hell I can walk away with my heart intact. Rayne’s Return is a gay romantic suspense novel with an uptight, by-the-book lawyer and a PI who never manages to stay out of trouble. This age-gap, opposites attract novel is the fourth in the Love in Mission City series.

Gideon When my marriage fell apart, and I lost custody of my kids, my world shattered. My own fault, all of it, from the pills I was taking to how badly I handled the court case. I retreated to my grandparents’ old home, shut the door, and hunkered down with my Labrador Retriever, Lucky. Life is rough, and the constant construction noise from the mansion going up next door will truly be the end of me. Archer I've never met the man living next door until a storm forces me to take refuge with him. Gideon's skittish, generous, and oddly endearing. I’m dismayed the construction of my post-divorce home has been so upsetting for him, but there’s little I can do to ease that distress. What I can do, though, is use my skills as a talented divorce attorney to help with the most painful part of his life, the unfair custody arrangement that keeps him from being with his kids. Gideon’s Gratitude is an small-town, opposites attract, hurt-comfort gay romance about a former longshoreman who believes he’s broken and the lawyer who believes there’s life after divorce.

Quinton After the best one-night stand ever, I discover the man I thought was perfect is anything but. Leo Rodgers is an arrogant surgeon who lords his expertise and experience over everyone. Well, not me. I’m a competent nurse who refuses to be pushed around. By anyone. So I flirt with him to annoy him, but there are more fish in the sea than Leo. I have no problem getting a date with a man or a woman when I want one. The problem? I find myself increasingly hung up on a cranky surgeon, whose soft moments with his two children give me hope there's a good man under the arrogance. Leo Quinton Li is a pain in my ass. After our disastrous but oh-so-memorable one-night stand, I find myself having to work with him. His flirting is driving me nuts, so I can't be blamed for snapping at him. What part of one night doesn't he understand? My ex-husband once tried to tell me that I was a pompous asshat. On the contrary—I just have no time for trivia. I need to be skilled and focused so my patients have the best chance of survival. One devastating loss, though, sends me spiraling. Suddenly, I’m realizing how fallible I am. And that by rejecting Quinton, I might’ve lost my best chance at finding happiness again. Quinton’s Quest is an enemies-to-lovers, interracial, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine, single father, small-town gay romance novel. This story has a grumpy, egotistical surgeon and a sunshine, sassy nurse who might just give him his comeuppance.

Dickens My tranquility is shattered when a motorcycle repair shop moves in next to my bookstore. All I want is peace and quiet. What I get is gunning engines and eighties rock music. One of us has got to go, and since I was here first, it’s the hot mechanic. Spike I chose Mission City to set up shop because of the weekend-enthusiast riders. I’ve dreamed of owning my own shop for years, and no one is going to run me out of town. Least of all the adorable geek Bookstore Dude. This 25k gay romance novella is a true instalove, enemies to lovers, opposites attract story with a cuddly cat named Aristotle. The story first appeared in the anthology [Love Is All: Volume 5](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61291781.LoveIsAllVolume5 "Love Is All: Volume 5")._

Julian I’m just hanging out on a Friday night, and my boss drops by for comforting. He’s mourning his tragic loss, and I’m happy to offer a shoulder to lean on. When the man I’ve been crushing on for years wants to move things to my bedroom, how can I say no? August After the devastating loss of my sister, I turn to the one man who I know will be there for me. I’ve been in love with my employee for years. Now, as I face the greatest loss of my life, can I find the courage to be my authentic self? Not in it for the Money is a 5k scorching short story about a boss, his employee, and the inheritance of a lifetime.

Everett I meet an intriguing man at Quinton’s annual Halloween Extravaganza. That wicked smile and the tawny-brown eyes behind his mask hold my gaze. Under his costume, the restless energy of his body promises to do explosive, unexpected things to me. So we indulge in a little fun, but when the clock strikes midnight, the man I know only as Rayne disappears into the crowd. My straitlaced Mission City friends tell me to chalk it up to experience, but I can't get that man off my mind, or stop hoping we'll meet again one day. Rayne Check is a smoking-hot 7k word short story about a buttoned-up lawyer who lets go of his iron control for one night, the man he can’t forget, and the friends who have his back. The story is set in the Love in Mission City world.

Love in Mission City: The Boyfriends Duet includes two novellas Mission City is tucked in the charming Cedar Valley in southwestern British Columbia. If you love heartwarming, contemporary small-town gay romances, then come home to Mission City and fall in love with the men who live there. Romance blossoms in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them... Blue Sky Boyfriend Wyatt and Tate were high school sweethearts. After graduation, Tate left Wyatt for the big city and university while Wyatt took over his family’s farm. Fifteen years later, Tate’s come home in disgrace. Can Wyatt forgive the man who broke his heart? This is a 24k gay romance second-chance novella with a small-town farm boy, a big-city fancy boy, and a puppy named Winnie. The novella previously appeared in [Love is All Volume 6](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/162424498). Fly Guy Boyfriend When Tex is tasked with piloting the shy and nervous Davey in his helicopter, he sees an opportunity to bring the younger man out of his shell. With Tex’s friendship, Davey finds the courage to be his true self. But when things go south with his family, Davey turns to Tex. Will the budding friendship turn into more or are rough skies ahead? This is a 37k gay instalove romance novella with a daredevil pilot, a nerd in search of the answer to the universe, and what happens when those forces collide in a single bed. If you were an HEA Collective Patreon last year, you might already own this novella.

Finn I'm not the kind of guy who lusts after strangers, but the man pulling up next to me on his bike is muscular and hot as hell. I let myself look, and he gives me a scorching grin in return. Then the light turns green, he peels away, and I figure I'll never see him again. Except he almost gets hit by a minivan, and I stop to make sure he's okay. Inviting him back to my place to make sure he has no lasting damage is just professional care, but damn, Ulysses can kiss. Pretty soon, we're burning up the sheets together. Sadly, when I wake up, I find myself alone. Do I have to chalk this up to a one-night stand, or might I find the mysterious Ulysses again if I try? Finn’s Find is a scorching 6k gay romance short story with a bad boy on a bike, a by-the-book firefighter, and the one night they find their own passion.

Love in Mission City: The Four Seasons includes five short stories Mission City is tucked in the charming Cedar Valley in southwestern British Columbia. If you love heartwarming, contemporary small-town gay romances, then come home to Mission City and fall in love with the men who live there. Romance shows up in the unlikeliest places. And trouble has a way of finding them... Christmas Courtship Johnson takes great pride in his homemade apple cider, and the Christmas market is the perfect place to find new customers. As he scans the holiday craft booths, his eye is caught by some exquisite fairy figurines and he's intrigued. But Henry, the artist, is excruciatingly shy. It will take all of Johnson's charm, and a little holiday magic, to make this more than one fleeting encounter. Christmas Courtship is a 12k gay holiday romance short story with a quiet artist, a boisterous cider-maker, some nosy matchmakers, the magic of Christmas, and a zany border collie named Zeus. The story previously appeared in the anthology [Mistletoe and Markets](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201487663). Anything’s Pawsible Carter can't resist saying hi to every cute dog he sees, but his neighbor's two, Sheffield and Rosebud? Totally adorable. So's their grouchy owner, even if Byron seems to avoid human contact. Carter will just keep on being himself, and maybe even a man who has given up on love will find he has space in his life for some sunshine. Anything’s Pawsible is a 15k instalove age-gap, opposites-attract, grumpy/sunshine gay interracial romance short story with a curmudgeon accountant, a Gen Z writer, and two of the cutest dogs ever. The story first appeared in the anthology [Just Add Love](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220304754). The Office Hotshot Successful architect Knight assumed he could trust his sister-in-law to complete the interior decoration on his latest project, as she always has. Instead, in walks a flamboyant, cheerful stranger who announces he's her maternity leave replacement. Orlando's just out of school, and he wants to make a good impression in this dream job, but something about uptight Knight pushes all his buttons. Seducing the boss definitely isn’t a great idea, but he just can’t help himself. The Office Hotshot is a 15k word gay romance short story with a successful architect, a quirky younger interior designer, and a cantankerous photocopier. This story first appeared in the anthology [Love on the Clock](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217222817). Pumpkin Spicy Clay is at the Fall Market selling his super-secret pumpkin spice. When a handsome man keeps coming around to chat, he’s intrigued. Ashton is a mystery Clay definitely wants to solve before he sells his last jar. Pumpkin Spicy is an 8k sweet gay romance short story with a shy stranger, nosy friends, and a chance meeting that might just lead to a happily ever after. This story first appeared in the anthology [Light My Fire](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220913526). Returning to You Cullen walked away from Gil to marry the woman he'd gotten pregnant, and Gil encouraged him to do the right thing. Now, years later, Gil answers the door and finds Cullen on his doorstep. The man Gil once loved is now widowed, a single dad, and ready to beg him for a second chance. Is it too late, or does Gil have the courage to risk his heart again? Returning to You is a 5k gay second-chance romance short story with a single dad and a successful-but-lonely lawyer who find their way home. This story first appeared in the anthology [Second Time’s A Charm](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204403618).