Soldier is a loner, scarred, damaged and aimless when he discovers someone is using the house on the property he has come to town to investigate. Staying to look into the situation adds more to his life than he ever dreamed possible, leaving him championing seven boys whose lives had been as ravaged as his. Suddenly his life has purpose, meaning. The other unexpected development is Dillon. Resigned to a life spent alone, it's hard for him to wrap his mind around the fact that Dillon returns his feelings. Every minute spent counseling and protecting the boys makes Soldier’s life richer, but it makes it hard to spend time with Dillon. Can he find a way to take his new life and make it everything he wants it to be?

Tommy Marsh lives a good life. His first twelve years were hell on earth, but the last nine have more than made up for it. He's living alone, mostly, in an apartment that was part of the Scarcity Sanctuary, built and run by Soldier Marsh and Dillon Kramer. In the years since he was adopted by Soldier, he's gone to school to become a counselor. He's worked with abused children, just like he once was, and he's proud of his work. There's something missing, though. Tommy wants a relationship like Soldier's. He wants to be part of a loving couple, sharing life and love. And he wants it with Daniel Anderson. Tommy has learned to love Daniel over the last few years, working closely with him in their shared profession. But Tommy is afraid his past will interfere. A traumatic event sets things in motion, and he’s forced to admit his feelings and face his fears. Will Daniel’s love be enough to get him through?

Gom Marsh is all grown up, but he looks years younger than he is. A police officer, he works undercover as a high school student to help fight the extreme bullying cases that school staffs can't solve. The work is heartbreaking and wearing, but lucky for Gom, there's a new man in his life. Casey Tanner, though, doesn't like to be touched. That could be a problem. Gom's still at Scarcity Sanctuary to keep up his cover, so Soldier and Dillon are always there to help. Can Casey redeem himself after a bad first impression? Hopefully so, Gom needs him.

Everyone is looking forward to Christmas at Scarcity Sanctuary, especially Soldier and Dillon, as they remember Christmases past. What happens when it's Christmas Eve and everyone is there but Dillon? Dillon is the one who always has everything in perfect order for each event. Where could he be? Dillon is only ten minutes late and Soldier is freaking out because Dillon doesn't answer his cell. Gom and Soldier have to go find him, and boy, do they? It's not a simple situation. As a matter of fact, it's a crime! In the end, it's a beautiful Scarcity holiday.

Trick's settling in at Scarcity: new life, new love, new kid to save. Huh? All Trick Davis' needs are being met. He's settled in comfortably at Scarcity Sanctuary and loves working at the shelter with Daniel. He's working through his past trauma with Tommy and has met a wonderful man, Dante Farrell, the cook at the shelter. And one of the best things—Dante and Dillon keep trying new chocolate recipes. Just because he loves, no /really/ loves chocolate. Along comes a kid named Mike and all their lives are thrown into chaos. Who threw this kid away, literally? How will they be able to learn anything when Mike can't hear or speak?

Gom finds that just because it's summer break doesn't mean that his services aren't needed in a very disturbing case involving a tortured young artist. Gom Marsh is happy that it's summer break and he can spend some time with Casey. But no, along comes Laurie with one of the most disturbing cases so far. This time a young artist in a summer school program is producing some extremely tortured drawings. Gom has to get in there to find out what is going on with Kade Godwin. If that's not enough, there's a teacher who is being cyber-bullied and has no idea who is doing it, and it's got to be kept on the down-low to protect his reputation. But there' a really good ending.

How was Ben to know when he went in for his first day of internship at the Showhouse Theater the unbelievable things that would happen next: unbelievable danger, unbelievable pain, and unbelievable love? When Ben called Soldier that morning, his first day at the theater, he had very strange things to request. When he called the second time, things were even more bizarre. From there things went downhill pretty quickly. He had found someone to love, finally, but would they both live long enough to act upon their feelings? Chip Carver was just what Ben wanted, but between crazy people trying to kill Ben, an evil pimp out to get Chip, the man watching the house, and adorable twins, would they ever be able to connect? Oh, come on, this is Scarcity, people.

Without Soldier and Dillon, there would /be /no Scarcity Sanctuary, so what happens when Soldier is missing? Soldier is the head of the household, the provider, along with Dillon. But, Soldier is so much more. He's the one who makes all the troubled boys who come through Scarcity feel safe, like they can take on a world that has treated them so badly. He gives everyone strength, love, and support. And if you think the boys from Scarcity are losing their minds over his absence, what about Dillon? Soldier is the other half of his soul. Where is Soldier?

Can you say Halloween shocker? Dillon is almost afraid for Soldier to get home on Halloween and see the surprise waiting for him. Like, really, afraid. It's going to be a wild holiday for the Scarcity crew. And poor Bart. Yeah, he's got heartache written all over him and Soldier and Dillon don't know if they can help with his problem, which, of course, tears them apart, too. All in all, it's going to be very eventful, to say the least. And, who gets the best quote of the book? Officer Jansen.

Bart is put through the wringer trying to find a donor for little Mark and take care of Eric, who's fighting his own battles, and losing. At Scarcity, when there's a problem, usually Soldier and Dillon can make things better. Not this time. They can't just produce someone who will be a match for Bart's little friend, Mark, who desperately needs a bone marrow donor. And then there's Eric, Mark's older brother. Bart has feelings for him, too. But then Eric gets beat up, bad, and then they might have found a donor, but then someone breaks into Scarcity and hurts a lot of people, especially Eric, again. Officer Jansen swears being around them is like being in an action movie. There's a lot of action, all right, and a race against time.