Böcker utgivna av Riptide Publishing

Customer service has never been this personal. Robin Christopher, beleaguered retail worker, isn't having an easy November. His boss is raising stress levels planning a Black Friday to end all Black Fridays, his family doesn't understand him, and his best friend thinks his new crush is a hallucination brought on by watching too many episodesof Doctor Who. Archie Levine dresses in Victorian style and divides his time between caring for his young son and creating weird and wacky steampunk gadgets from bits of old junk-when he's not looking after his mum and trying to keep on good terms with his ex. The last thing he's got time for is a relationship, but the flustered young man he met while disembowelling a fridge is proving very tempting. When his mum's social conscience is roused by a local store with a cavalier attitude to the homeless, former rough sleeper Archie shares her anger. Little does he know that Robin works for that same store. When Archie finds out he's sleeping with the enemy, things could cut up very rough indeed.

They'll do anything to save their children's lives, even if it means working together. Kera Montgomery is still mourning the sudden death of her husband, Morpheus, when her youngest son falls victim to a mysterious plague. With no medicinal cure, Kera must travel to the Long Lakes, where magical griffons capable of healing any ailment reside. As an heiress unused to grueling travel, Kera struggles with the immense emotional and physical strain of her journey-one made more complex when she crosses paths with her husband's former mistress, Aurora. Aurora's daughter is afflicted with the same plague as Kera's son, so despite their incendiary history, the two women agree to set aside their differences and travel together. The road is fraught with dangers, both living and dead. Each night, old battlegrounds reanimate with ghosts who don't know they've died, and murderous wraiths hunt for stray travelers caught out after dark. If Kera, Aurora, and their children are going to survive, they'll need to confront the past that's been haunting them since their journey began. And perhaps in the process, discover that old friends may not be as trustworthy as they once thought-and old enemies may become so much more.

Hatred is a spell only true love can break. Ángel Cruz is a dedicated session musician, until loyalty to his estranged family forces him to work for Oberon: the feared and hated envoy from the Otherworld. Overnight, Ángel is taken from his life, his friends, his work, and trapped in a hideous mansion in the middle of nowhere, under constant surveillance, and with only the frightening fae for company. Oberon's poor understanding of humans combined with Ángel's resentment and loneliness threaten to cause real harm to the pair. Then a long winter together in the mansion unites them in their love of music. Slowly, Ángel's anger thaws, and he begins to realize that Oberon feels alone too. Gradually, these two souls from different worlds form a connection like none other. But hate and prejudice are powerful things, and it'll take all the magic of their love to stop the wider world from forcing them apart.

Detective Levi Abrams and PI Dominic Russo are reunited and more committed to each other than ever, but they can't truly move forward with their lives until the serial killer who's been tormenting them is behind bars. When a secret burial site is discovered in the desert with the remains of the Seven of Spades's earliest victims, that goal finally seems within reach. But just as the net is tightening, the neo-Nazi militia Utopia launches their master plan with a devastating act of terror that changes the landscape of Las Vegas forever. As Levi and Dominic scramble to prevent the city's destruction, they're opposed by treacherous forces that propel them toward catastrophe. In the end, Levi's fate may rest in the hands of the very killer he's been hunting. The race to save Sin City is on, and these players are going for broke. No matter how hopeless things seem, as long as they're together and they've got a chip to play and a chair to sit in, they're still in the game.

It's not always possible to meet in the middle. Registered nurse Evan Doyle doesn't consider himself fit for more than occasional hookups. He has a good life, but the emotional aftermath of a horrific crime makes him feel too damaged to date. So when his sister's hot bestie, Malcolm Umbertini, comes on to him, he turns him down flat. Mal is Relationship Material: the kind who thinks in the long term. What would Evan do with a man like that? As a prosecuting attorney, Mal's learned how to read people, and he knows there's more to Evan than meets the eye. Mal has faced his own hardships since his family kicked him out as a teen, and he respects Evan's courage and emotional resilience. More than that, he wants Evan-in his bed and in his life. But can he weather another rejection? Both wary, they agree to a no-strings fling. Mal knows that Evan wants things to stay casual, but he's falling in love a little more with each encounter. With health, happiness, and bruised hearts on the line, Mal and Evan must risk everything for love.

After years of running wild, Linc might've finally run out of road. After a brutal capture at the hands of the Heathens Motorcycle Club, Linc is just trying to heal, mentally and physically. But he's got men in his life who are complicating everything. There's Mercy-a Havoc MC biker and the man he is falling fast for-plus an undercover ATF agent and a rogue Havoc member. But Mercy's keeping him at arm's length, and Linc is spinning. In an attempt to regain his equilibrium, he heads to the bar where he first met Mercy. Night after night, he escapes Havoc bonds and continues down his merry path of mayhem . . . mainly in the hopes that Mercy will give chase. Since Linc's capture by his old MC, Mercy's been dealing with the fallout of his guilt. He's trying to give Linc space and still watch over him-all without Linc's knowledge. But with Linc's old job calling and a threat to Havoc MC heating up, can they make their way back together?

Malcolm Montgomery was a history teacher and track coach until an accident left him with two broken legs. He'll recover, but life has knocked his feet out twice now. He's not sure if he's ready to try again, especially when it comes to love-and slick guys like Brian Kenway. Still, he needs help mentoring the school's LGBTQ society, so he asks Brian to take some responsibility. Brian has been hiding behind his reputation as a liar and a cheat for so long that he actually believes he's that guy-until his nephew, Josh, turns up on his couch, tossed out for being gay. Brian has never considered being a father, but he knows all about being rejected by loved ones. Now Brian wants to be more: a partner for Mal and a role model for Josh. But when Mal's recovery is set back and the sad truth of Brian's past is revealed, the forever they've been chasing seems even further from their grasps. It'll take a rescue effort to revive their sense of worth and make Brian, Mal, and Josh into a family of their own.

After being attacked by a drug addict, Dr. Josh Parker fled New York, his career as an ER doctor, and a failed relationship. Determined to start fresh, he takes a job as a concierge doctor to the wealthy older population of sunny Naples, Florida. Nothing to fear there. No trauma. No stress. It's a good idea that doesn't last long. Traveling to his new home, he discovers a car accident and is forced to make a detour to render aid. There he meets sexy paramedic Ian Manolas. Since Ian returned from the Army, every day has been a struggle to atone for past mistakes. The Glades Free Clinic is his chosen path to redemption. The people Ian helps are a world away from Josh's wealthy clients though. Addicts, prostitutes, gang members: they all come to Ian's clinic for help, not judgment. He'll do almost anything to keep the clinic going, including roping in one reluctant-and hot-ex-ER doctor. The attraction is immediate, but Josh wants nothing to do with Ian's clinic. For them to have a future, both men must work together to find a path to love, while helping those who need them most.

Some ghosts refuse to stay buried . . . Prophet and Tom have been through the ringer more times than they can count, both as partners in the field and in life. Yet despite it all, they've built something great together. But now they need to protect it again: Prophet's old nemesis, John Morse, is back and threatening everything he loves. Prophet is driven enough to take John down alone, and with a chance to do exactly that on the table, he runs with it, risking himself in the process. But trusting Tom to help him is so much more than mission critical. It's the final stand, and with Tom and his team behind him, Prophet's in for the fight of his life. Then a figure from his past goes missing, and the consequence of an old mission rears its head. As complications and destruction mount all around them, getting out alive becomes the most important mission of their lives.

Sparks aren't just flying . . . they're catching. Eli Johnson is not a hero. He's just a guy who's doing his best. His mother was a hero, though, and when she died, he dropped out of college to become a firefighter-a vocation she would have been proud of. He might not be able to save everyone, but he can do what she taught him: put more good out than bad. Charlie Kinnear is definitely not a hero. When he ran into a burning building to save a trapped child, he was acting on instinct. He's not expecting a medal, or for a handsome firefighter with a stunning smile to give him his oxygen mask. Charlie's light-headed, and not from smoke inhalation. Right as their romance begins, a serial arsonist terrorizes the city. As if that weren't bad enough, Charlie appearsat the scene of every fire. Eli hates to think it, but if someone wanted to get a firefighter's attention-say, a certain sexy someone who coincidentally wandered into Eli's life-what better way than by starting fires? Sparks are flying all right, and things may get too hot for Eli and Charlie to handle.

Shattered by their devastating breakup, Detective Levi Abrams and PI Dominic Russo find them-selves at war right when they need each other most. While Dominic is trapped in a vicious cycle of addiction, Levi despairs of ever catching the Seven of Spades. The ruthless vigilante's body count continues to climb, and it's all Levi can do to keep up with the carnage. When Levi's and Dominic's paths keep crossing in the investigation of a kidnapping ring with a taste for mutilation, it feels like history repeating itself. Thrown together by fate once again, they reluctantly join forces in their hunt for the mastermind behind the abductions. But the Seven of Spades hates sharing the spotlight, and they have an ace in the hole: a new batch of victims with a special connection to Levi. Their murders send shockwaves through Las Vegas and change the rules of the game forever. The Seven of Spades has upped the ante. If Levi and Dominic don't play their cards right, they'll end up losing everything.

Nick Steele just wants a normal life, cliché or not. He had one once, back in Chicago. Before his father died and he took a year off from college to grieve. Now, he's starting fresh at a prestigious-but tiny-Catholic university. Adjusting to small-town life will be a challenge, along with making friends and keeping his scholarship. All he wants to do is blend in, get his diploma, and go back home. But Sebastian Prinsen-campus heartthrob and a notorious player-has other plans. He notices Nick right away and makes a bet with his two best friends: Who can kiss the new kid first? Nick seems immune to Sebastian's charms, and yet genuine chemistry sparks between them. Even worse, real feelings do too. Sebastian falls more and more every time Nick blows him off, but if he comes clean about the bet, Nick will hate him forever. The last thing Nick wants is to fall in love while he's still grieving, but Sebastian feels like home to him. Nick wants that so badly he may ignore the warning signs and risk his fragile heart once more.

An ATF agent who lives for danger finds what he craves from an outlaw biker. It's impossible for a one-percenter motorcycle club member to simply walk away-and no one knows that better than undercover agent Bram, who's almost killed for trying. His cover isn't blown-yet-but it's only a matter of time. The Heathens won't be satisfied until he's dead, so he decides to lay low and heal. But when his younger brother's disappearance throws a wrench into his plan, Bram ends up in Shades Run, a town ruled by the notorious Havoc MC. In less than twenty-four hours, Bram finds himself at the mercy of Sweet, Havoc's president, as he throws himself into the undercover role of a lifetime: himself. A man who's never belonged anywhere, and who will do anything to protect his younger brother. When finding Linc seems impossible, Bram is torn between Sweet, Linc, and revealing his true identities . . . and there appears to be no way out. Once again, he risks it all tryingto save it all. Only this time he's got no backup to save him if he falls.

What he wanted was a music career. What he needed was love. When Kris Golding leaves his dusty Kansas hometown for a fresh start in New York, he thinks an apartment and a job are waiting for him. But when he finds neither, rather than admit defeat, he takes his chances busking-and meets Rayne Bakshi of international rock band The Chokecherries. Rayne needs a new guitarist, and gives Kris his first break since leaving home. Rayne wears makeup and glitter and thinks nothing of kissing Kris in front of twenty thousand screaming fans for the attention. Instantly infatuated, Kris begins to question whether he might have a crush on Rayne-could he be bisexual? But since Kris claimed to be straight, Rayne's wary of getting involved offstage. As the tour gains momentum, Kris's sexuality becomes the least of his troubles. Between his conservative brother hell bent on "rescuing" him from his life of debauchery, a peacock that may or may not be the avatar of a cult god, and a publicity stunt that threatens to upend his routine with the band, Kris is definitely not in Kansas anymore.

Charlie King is doing fine. Sure, he's a widower raising a teenage daughter who just got her first boyfriend, his book series isn't writing itself, and he has a crush on his new neighbor-the guy next door. But everything's just fine. Simon Lynley is doing better. He moved to Bethlehem to fall out of love and rebuild his career. An affair with his neighbor isn't part of the plan, but the attraction between them is too hard to ignore. But when Simon's ex follows him to Pennsylvania seeking reconciliation, and Charlie's life starts to feel like a video on repeat, everything comes apart. Charlie worries that he's failing as a father, and Simon is a distraction he can't afford. Meanwhile Simon doesn't know if he could survive being left again, and he hasn't come all this way to make the same mistakes. But despite their fears, it's only together that they'll find the strength to slay old foes and build the forever they've been waiting for.

A wrong turn could lead to Mr. Right. Sam Cooper is the definition of an introvert: shy, bookish, and the sort to think a wild Friday night involves ordering takeout. He enjoys his quiet life, but after a bad breakup, he's been yearning for a change of scenery. Luckily, his best friend and former college roommate has the solution. Wesley Reed-a jokester and expert Sam-handler-proposes an epic road trip to a wedding across the country. They're both between jobs and boyfriends. Why not hit the open road and make some memories? Stuck in close quarters for the first time since their dorm days, they're both surprised at the heat that springs up between them. As best friends, they've shared so much over the years, so why does sharing a hotel room-and occasionally a bed-make them want more? Chemistry this smoldering is hard to ignore, but there are road blocks to their romance. Wesley's keeping a secret, and Sam can't rely on Wesley to drag him out of his comfort zone forever. If they're not careful, their relationship may take the ultimate wrong turn.

JT was a perfectly happy orc building cars in the Arizona desert until his old friend and sometimes lover Austin showed up and talked him into one last crime. Now "one last crime" has snowballed. With a new team of thieves-a supersoldier, a hacker, a driver, a graffiti artist, and a seafaring wizard-JT and Austin are determined to free an artificial intelligence from the dungeon of the Burning Magus. For JT, this job is more than a prison break; it's a do-over of The Job That Went Bad two years ago, the catastrophe in which JT lost his closest friend and then chose to abandon everything, even Austin. Maybe this time no one will die. Maybe this time JT can return to Arizona and bury his old life for good. Except Austin won't be buried. After two years alone, Austin knows he wants JT-not just as a partner in crime, but as the lover he always should have been. Maybe this time they won't make the same mistakes, especially when it comes to each other.

Alhazar Bukhari spent his Navy career in the closet. Now he's retired, divorced, and hungry for the love he's never had a chance to experience. He tries to put his faith in Allah to bring the right man into his life, but it's hard to be patient after all this time. Chaplain Dylan Pedersen spends his days counseling Sailors, and his nights with men he doesn't know. Months after finally escaping an abusive relationship, he's terrified of anything more than a physical connection. Maybe it's a sin, but he's too lonely to not let men into his bed, and too scared to let them into his heart. When Alhazar's civilian job brings him aboard the USS Fort Stevens, and his daily prayers bring him into Dylan's chapel, the chemistry is instantaneous. Sex and friendship quickly evolve into more, but Dylan's too haunted by his recent past to be the man Alhazar wants. Alhazar needs love, Dylan needs time, and if they can't find some sort of balance, they'll sink before they ever have a chance to swim.

For the last five years, Veier has been chained to a king's throne in his bear form. When a neighboring kingdom overthrows the crown, Veier's imprisonment ends, but true freedom is not so easily earned. With blood on his hands, he needs someone with patience, strength, and trust to help him become the person he was before and prove to the invaders that he isn't the monstrous king's loyal pet. Elrid, the invading king's brother and a powerful mage, is everything Veier despises. He's also the only thing between Veier and execution, because he thinks he can help Veier change from an aggressive bear shifter into a reasonable man. While the pair have a rough start, with long talks and mutual leaps of faith, they begin to care for each other. However, the closer Veier gets to his freedom, the closer he is to losing Elrid. He must find balance in his heart and his life if he wishes to truly claim the freedom he's been given-and the man he loves.

Tom Paretski, plumber with a talent for finding hidden things, and his private investigator fiancé Phil Morrison have been hired to locate a runaway husband, Jonathan Parrot. The job seems simple enough-until their quarry turns up dead in a canal, and a photofit of Tom's face is splashed all over the news, making him chief suspect. The widow, petite ex-porn star Lilah Lovett, is convinced her husband was killed by his gay lover, but Tom and Phil aren't so sure. Worried they may have precipitated Jonathan's death, they're determined to find the real killer. But with a web of incestuous ties linking the suspects, it's hard to know who to trust. Especially when a second victim dies a gruesome death. Meanwhile, with their wedding looming and them sharing a house now, Tom's worried it may all be too much, too fast. The last thing he needs are the mixed messages Phil seems to be sending out. They'll need to get back on the same track if they want to make it to their honeymoon together-and alive.

Old flames can leave a nasty burn. It's been six months since plumber Tom Paretski was hit by a shocking revelation about his family, and he's been avoiding dealing with it ever since. His lover, PI Phil Morrison, wants Tom to dig deeper into his history and try to develop his psychic talent for finding things, but Tom's not nearly so keen. Just as he decides to bite the bullet, though, worse problems crawl out of the woodwork. Young Devil's Dyke barmaid Marianne has an ex, Grant Carey, who won't accept that things are over between them, and he's ruthless in dealing with anyone who gets in his way. When Carey threatens an old friend of theirs, Phil and Tom step in to help-but that makes them targets themselves. What with his uncertainty about Phil's motives, Tom's family doing their best to drive a wedge between them, and the uncovering of an ugly incident in Phil's past, Tom's not sure who he can trust-and the body he finds in the pub cellar isn't the only thing that stinks. Publisher's note: This is a lightly edited reprint of a previously published novel.

London Underground worker Mal Thomas is staying in Porthkennack to recover from a traumatic experience. Getting more bad news from home is the last straw-until big, blond museum curator Jory Roscarrock steps up to offer some comfort. As a doctor of English literature, Jory should be in a prestigious post at a top university. But a youthful indiscretion led him to abandon academia to come back to his hometown, Porthkennack, and the controlling family he's never really felt a part of. He's delighted to find a kindred spirit in Mal. But Jory's family hurt Mal's best friend deeply, and while Jory is desperate to repair the damage, his own mistakes threaten to keep him and Mal apart. Meanwhile, Mal is torn between his feelings for Jory and his duty to his friend-and his fears that a failed relationship could be more than his shattered confidence can take. Jory must convince Mal it's worth risking everything for their love.

The Seven of Spades is back with a vengeance-the vigilante serial killer has resumed their murderous crusade, eluding the police at every turn. But a bloodthirsty killer isn't the only threat facing Sin City. A devious saboteur is wreaking havoc in Las Vegas's criminal underworld, and the entire city seems to be barreling toward an all-out gang war. As Detective Levi Abrams is pushed ever closer to his breaking point, his control over his dangerous rage slips further every day. His relationship with PI Dominic Russo should be a source of comfort, but Dominic is secretly locked in his own downward spiral, confronting a nightmare he can't bear to reveal. Las Vegas is floundering. Levi and Dominic's bond is cracking along the seams. And the Seven of Spades is still playing to win. How many bad hands can Levi and Dominic survive before it's game over?