Books like 'After the Fire'
Readers who enjoyed After the Fire by Felice Stevens also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance tortured hero angst queer hurt-comfort height-difference from hate to love
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The Queen & the Homo Jock King by T.J. Klune
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 30 ratingsDo you believe in love at first sight?Sanford Stewart sure doesn't. In fact, he pretty much believes in the exact opposite, thanks to the Homo Jock King. It seems Darren Mayne lives for nothing more than to create chaos in Sandy's perfectly ordered life, just for the hell of it. Sandy despises him, and nothing will ever change his mind.Or so he tells himself... -
Wayward by Gregory Ashe
Emery Hazard is trying to plan his wedding, even though his fiancé, John-Henry Somerset, isn’t exactly making things easy for him. To be fair, Somers has been distracted lately; his father is running for mayor in a hotly contested election, and their hometown is splintering under the weight of divisive politics... -
Dirty Laundry by Rhys Ford
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsFor ex-cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis, each day brings a new challenge. Too bad most of them involve pain and death. Claudia, his office manager and surrogate mother, is still recovering from a gunshot, and Cole’s closeted boyfriend, Kim Jae-Min, suddenly finds his teenaged sister dumped in his lap... -
Still Beating by Jessie Walker
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsTHE END WAS JUST THE BEGINNING... I thought I was strong enough to say goodbye.I thought I was ready to leave him.It doesn't matter that I'll be seeing him in three days.I just have to get through three more nights.I'm dying now. Shattering. Breaking.I'm determined to show him I can manage on my own.What if he needs me?I need him...What if he doesn't?...but I want to be better for him...Categorized as:
angst from hate to love hurt-comfort queer m-m new adult friends to lovers contemporary -
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Sworn Enemy by Kelly Fox
Hating Justin Jennings should be a lot easier than this. He nearly ruined my life, and I swore when I left town that I’d become the opposite of him in every possible way. I’ve kept that promise, traveling the world to save the people who cannot save themselves. The lost, the trafficked, the stolen. This work is my life’s mission, and now my father has given me the land to expand my operations... -
Breaking Cover by Kaje Harper
For homicide detective Mac, it's been a good year. Having Tony to go home to makes him a better cop and a better person. For Tony, it's been hard being in love with a man he can't touch in public. Evasions and outright lying to friends and family take a little of the shine off his relationship with Mac, but Tony is determined to make it work... -
Semantic Error, Vol.2 by Soori Jeo
Rated: 4.41 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsComputer science major Chu Sangwoo is the epitome of an inflexible and strict rule-abiding person. While working on a liberal arts group project with freeloaders who don’t put in any effort, Sangwoo reasonably decides to remove their names from the final presentation.But he didn’t imagine how involved he would become with the person whose study-abroad plans were messed up because of that project... -
Music of the Soul by Annabella Michaels
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsBesides his family, music had always been the most important thing in Carter Greene’s life. Having a career in music was everything he had ever dreamed of. That was until the terrible night when he nearly lost everything. Carter can’t get the image of one particular man out of his mind; the man who found him in his darkest moment... -
Instant Regret by E.M. Lindsey
There’s nothing like having your sanctuary destroyed.My life has been a series of carefully cultivated, strategic moves to ensure peace and quiet. I’m generally a happy guy but there’s one thing I can’t stand: having my space invaded. After all, that's why I chose this run-down building that no one wants to live in.And then he moved in...Categorized as:
from hate to love angst hurt-comfort queer m-m christmas contemporary disabilities and marks -
Alone On the Water by MadLori
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsSherlock Holmes never expected to live a long life, but he never imagined that it would end like this. - 7725 WordsSorrow’s my body on the wavesSorrow’s a girl inside my caveI live in a city sorrow builtIt’s in my honey, it’s in my milkDon’t leave my half a heart alone on the waterCover me in rag and bone sympathyCause I don’t want to get over you... -
Inked Temptation by Carrie Ann Ryan
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsThis Montgomery finds his match in this touching second chance romance from NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan.I thought I was moving on from my divorce, but now my ex is marrying someone else. I shouldn’t be this broken up, but it’s hard to put on a brave face when my family is basically an inked up Hallmark movie... -
Forgiven: Con by Sloane Kennedy
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsCon I have everything I’ve ever wanted… so why do I still feel like the kid who came from nothing?Please help him …Three little words that have haunted me for years.Three little words that I know I’ll take to my grave.It was supposed to be just another fight... -
Old-Fashioned Cupcake with Cappuccino by Sagan Sagan
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsThirty-nine-year-old Nozue went from living a routine, melancholic life of sleep and work to spending his days in bliss with Togawa, his younger subordinate. Now six months into their relationship, the two have graduated from dates at a pancake shop to spending their nights together... -
Sass by Jay Hogan
For two years I’ve kept Leon Steadman at a safe distance, ever since the night he turned me down flatter than a pancake with a side order of syrupy disapproval. His loss. The world is full of sexy men. One and done is simply good math and efficient use of my time. Or it would be if I hadn’t been lusting after the irritating, judgemental, gorgeous, mountain of a man, ever since...Categorized as:
from hate to love height-difference hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary forced proximity abuse -
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Malicious Compliance by E.M. Lindsey
My life is good. I work from home, I answer to no one, and I pay my rent on time. In short, things are peaceful and solitary—exactly the way I like them. Yes, my apartment might be a dump with paper-thin walls and plumbing issues, but it’s mine all the same. And then he moves in... -
Shameless by Kelly Fox
Two things I know for sure:1. Cheerleading absolutely prepared me to become a US Navy SEAL2. Heath Treadway hates my guts Let’s just say that this beautiful bear’s hatred for me involves a high school nickname and possibly a limerick. #badtwinkNow, he's back in my life. And all I wanna do is show him that I’ve changed...Categorized as:
from hate to love height-difference queer military m-m contemporary single-father length-short -
Family First by RJ Scott, VL Locey
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn injury threatens to end Stan's career. Will he choose to fight for his beloved hockey, or put his family first? Few goalies are as dedicated as Stan Lyamin, known for his resilience on the ice, talking to his pipes, and his love of Elvis. Add in his adoration of his family and his life has been filled with all the things that bring him joy... -
King's Gambit by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsOld crimes never wash away…I can never make up for the things I did while deep in the gang life. It doesn’t matter how much I've changed. Rory will never see past it.Things burn hot between us, but he's far too good for a bad guy like me.I don't date, and Rory is the kind of guy that deserves more than one night. But for him I might be ready to change my rules. If he can ever accept my past... -
Beautiful Mistakes by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsThe other side of loathing might be lust ...Or love ...WolfDesire: What Wolf struggles with from the moment he sees Spencer Hawkins the first day of college.Fear: Not a word in Wolf’s vocabulary except when it comes to facing his feelings for Spencer.Lust: What he gives in to that changes everything between them. And his life forever... -
Rough by Reese Knightley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAfter circling around each other for so long, are they ready to take it to the next level? Mason can admit that he’s had the hots for rough and gruff Gage Hillcrest for well over a year now. Only Gage is bossy and overbearing as all hell. Not to mention that Gage is a closed book and Mason doesn’t know anything about the man... -
Heartstring by Ana Ashley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMikIf I had a dollar for every mistake I made… But there’s only one mistake I regret.Breaking my promise to the only person who ever understood my need to get away from a future I didn’t want…Tyler.I’ve reached many hearts through my music, but the only one I’ve ever wanted might be lost to me forever.TylerFool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…Mik broke a promise a long time ago...Categorized as:
angst hurt-comfort queer second chances m-m contemporary friends to lovers single-father -
FOG[电竞] by Man Man He Qi Duo, 漫漫何其多
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratings现代电竞+男神VS男神医疗师攻X突击手受【主角配角均无原型,谢谢大家】---Yu Sui and Shi Luo met each other when they were much younger. One was a pro-gamer, a widely-renowned, best of the best, in-game medic. The other was an e-sports newcomer who was just starting out. The two originally played for the same team, during which their relationship became increasingly deep.But things did not go as expected... -
Only the Flower Knows 2 by Rihito Takarai
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsZwischen Misaki und Arikawa scheint nach dem verhängnisvollen Kuss alles wieder normal zu sein, aber es macht Arikawa fertig, dass er ständig an seinen Kommilitonen denken muss. Denn er weiß einfach nicht, wie er sich Misaki gegenüber verhalten soll. Als dieser sein Handy im Labor vergisst und es klingelt, geht Arikawa aus Neugier ran... -
Performance in a Leading Role by MadLori
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSherlock/Watson FanficSherlock Holmes is an Oscar winner in the midst of a career slump. John Watson is an Everyman actor trapped in the rom-com ghetto... -
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Another Day With Jory by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsJory holiday ficlet from Mary Calmes...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort from hate to love m-m contemporary christmas humor length-novella -
Only the Flower Knows 3 by Rihito Takarai
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsZwischen Misaki und Arikawa hat es endlich richtig gefunkt und sie haben sich am Bahnhof geküsst! Als Arikawa ihm daraufhin anbietet, bei ihm zu übernachten, willigt Misaki zwar ein, doch er ist richtig nervös und dabei so süß, dass Arikawa seine Finger nicht von ihm lassen kann. Nach dieser ersten gemeinsamen Nacht sucht Misaki ein letztes klärendes Gespräch mit Kawabata... -
Spring Rains by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhen love is on the line, the only way to move forward is to challenge ghosts of the past and find a place to belong.High School Teacher Chris, an amputee since his teens, has wrestled with darkness and emerged victorious. He’s a pillar of strength in the classroom, deflecting his overbearing family by day and yearning for love by night... -
Above and Beyond by Lucy Lennox, Sloane Kennedy
Lucky Two years ago I humiliated myself by declaring my love to an older man who clearly didn’t share my feelings. And that’s fine. One day Zach will come around. Meanwhile, I’ve built a life for myself in northern Montana, pursuing my college degree while working hard toward certification in high-risk alpine search and rescue on the side... -
Messy Ink by Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.23 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDane Chris is a great doctor, but he can’t heal me… I learned to look out for myself on the streets and in juvie. I’ve cleaned up my act, but it doesn’t mean that I’m about to start trusting a guy to stick around. Especially not a clean cut doctor like Chris. No wonder I ended things between us the first time around. I’m sure it’s for the best... -
Change of Heart by K.M. Neuhold
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsDoes my husband's heart still miss me now that it beats in the chest of another man? Lub-dub A heartbeat more familiar than Easton’s own Lub-dub He vowed to love his husband until death do they part. And then the worst happened. Lub-dub His heart kept another man alive. River. A stranger in the world with Easton's husband's heart pumping the blood that warms his skin... -
Hannah's Big Night by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA Jory and Sam Thanksgiving... -
Charisma Check by Charlie Novak
Hatred is complicated, clothing is simple—Edward doesn’t need a man, and he certainly doesn’t need cosplayer and tattoo artist, Izzy Montes, AKA The Masked Gentleman, Edward’s ultimate nemesis.Edward and Izzy have been antagonising each other for over three years. Their rivalry is fierce, and Edward is determined to keep Izzy at arm’s length. Which would be all well and good.. -
The Christmas Summons (Wild Heart Ranch) by Kelly Fox
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Kelly Fox comes a Wild Heart Ranch Christmas novella. I’ve loved Gael Hernandez from the moment I laid eyes on him. We had a moment back in the summer, but he needed time to recover from the traumatic events that reshaped his family.It’s now Christmas, and I think my talented shoemaker is finally ready to let me love him for the rest of his life... -
I'm Not Your Enemy by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFamily | Book 2 of 2 | Lovers to Enemies | Enemies to… The line between love and hate has never been so thin, and Blake and Sebastianreturn in this sequel with bottled-up hurt that somehow just brings them evencloser. Sebastian was right. I was a coward. I ran my closeted tail all the way back toGeorgia. Once I got there, I had no place left to hide. My life imploded... -
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Summer Kisses by Charlie Novak
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTwo chefs. Two summers. One shot at a second chance.Aaron’s PlanThen:1. Get a better job2. Learn more skills3. Get money for restaurant4. Don’t fall in love with JoshNow:1. Finesse menu2. Stop being angry at Josh3. Swear less (Ben’s idea)4. Stop wanting to kiss Josh5. Get Michelin stars6. Stop being in love with JoshJosh’s PlanThen:1. Start new job2. Try not to burn out3... -
The Ghosts Between Us by Brigham Vaughn
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsDr. Christopher Allen knows how to deal with death. He’s a psychiatrist who works with hospice patients and their families, helping them cope with grief and letting go. But Chris’s job doesn’t prepare him for the sudden death of his devil-may-care brother Cal. At Cal’s funeral, Chris is completely thrown when he meets Elliot Rawlings, an artist Cal has been dating... -
Perfect by Jenny Wood
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAdoption is hard. Paperwork and more paperwork, lawyers and more lawyers and it seems like begging and choosing....all to get your heart broken when the expectant mother backs out. Not wanting to go through that again, or put Morgan through it again; they opted out. Unfortunately, the new guy didn't get the memo and they were chosen by expectant young mother, Haley... -
Cherry on Top by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Enzo Moretti's mom lures him home to paint one of his famous murals in Indigo Bay, he expects an awkward family reunion.Not an awkward matchmaking attempt.And not Will Johnson, the new owner of Cherry’s Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor and it turns out, also who she’s been boasting to about all Enzo's perfect qualities.He's perfectly embarrassed, all right... -
Until Jude by Briar Prescott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsI'm the first one to tell you doing the right thing has never been high on my list of priorities.Same goes for respecting the law. And ethics in general.It's more like guidelines anyway.Until him.Jude Riley.I invite myself into his life and refuse to leave. I know it's wrong. I know I shouldn't.I do anyway.It's never meant to turn into anything serious.It's never supposed to matter.Until it does... -
Beauty and the Beard by R.M. Neill
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLeafGrief is a complex thing to experience. Since losing my husband, I’ve let it call the shots. It’s been in control so long that I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to have someone hold me tight at night or share a secret smile with.But a beautiful young model shows up at my lodge. He’s eager to learn about the outdoors and experience life outside the city... -
Suited For You by Aiden Bates, Ali Lyda
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsHe’s smug, conceited … and hot as hell … Becoming a partner at Caldwell and Holton will be the crowning achievement in my hard fought career. There’s just one problem. One arrogant, materialistic, flashy problem: Saint Caldwell. Unlike me, he’s never had to struggle for anything a day in his life … or so I think. But there’s more to the man than a showy Porsche and killer smile... -
Breakneck Hockey by S. Legend
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsI don’t want Casey Alderchuck, but I don’t want anyone else to have him either.My hook-up for the night wasn’t supposed to be my long-time hockey rival, but here he is. I’m too worked up to let him go home without having a taste. One little bite of that smart mouth is mine for the taking after how many times he’s broken my nose... -
Digging Deep by Jay Hogan
A Digging Deep Story Drake Park has a complicated life. As a gay male midwife, he’s used to raising eyebrows. Add Crohn’s disease and things get interesting—or not, considering the sad state of his love life. Experience has taught Drake that most men are fair-weather sailors when it comes to handling his condition—gone for dust when things get rough... -
Lethal by Reese Knightley
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA traitor with stolen information.Adam Campbell, 33, blacklisted CIA agent, needs to get covert information into the right hands. Alone and on the run, his world suddenly stops when he discovers the identity of the Pegasus operative who is on his tail. Arranging a meeting just to gaze into the eyes of the man he’s always loved, Adam is set up and almost killed... -
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Sweet as Pie by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsLuca Moretti is grumpy—and he wouldn't have it any other way.Wrangling six—Italian—siblings and the family's restaurants would make anyone cranky. But when his mother requests that he save his aunt’s struggling Italian deli in charming, picturesque Indigo Bay, he has no idea that he's about to get an overdose of sweetness...Categorized as:
height-difference hurt-comfort queer grumpy sunshine m-m insta-love contemporary length-medium -
Black by Quin, Perin.
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 13 ratings“Meow!”There it was.The sound that made my knees buckle.He purred, neck stretched, eyes half-lidded.With those cat ears, in his hair.And the tail, that he flicked.A ray of sun in the drizzling rain. I’d been a traveler, floating adrift, while he’d stayed in one place. How was I supposed to know he’d become my anchor? My light. My everything... -
Savage Grace by Spencer Spears
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsMy ex in my bed is a bad idea. But consequences are for when the sun comes up…Connor: If there’s such a thing as a soul, Julian Jackson owns mine.But that doesn’t mean I want to see him.I left Summersea Island 10 years ago, nursing wounds from a past I’d rather forget.Julian was my first love and my first heart-break...Categorized as:
queer from hate to love hurt-comfort angst m-m second chances contemporary lgbtqia hate -
After Ben by Con Riley
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 27 ratings"Seattle Stories: Book One" A year after the sudden death of his longtime partner, Ben, Theo Anderson is still grieving. The last thing he's looking for is a new lover. But as Theo soon discovers, sometimes life has other plans... -
Fly Away Home by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.26 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMaybe Colson Delacourt teasing those nosy ladies in the coffeeshop with the plot of his next murder mystery was a bad idea. But does that mean he deserves to be arrested for attempting to kill his elderly neighbor? Why won’t the police believe he has nothing to do with her getting hurt? That detective Harper Rose won’t listen to him—he’s so annoying and arrogant. And sexy and gorgeous...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort from hate to love m-m contemporary humor forced proximity dual-pov -
Summer Drifter by R.J. Scott
One man craves family, the other isolation; neither of them was searching for forever love. Experienced and much-in-demand horse trainer Levi doesn't need or want people. With his horse and dog at his side, he lives out of his trailer and trains horses in the summer to earn just enough to head south for winter...
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