Books like 'Shades of Darkness'
Readers who enjoyed Shades of Darkness by Nicky James also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance virgin hero shy-hero disabilities and marks tortured hero queer college angst class difference
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Love Me Whole by Nicky James
Twenty-eight-year-old Oryn Patterson isn’t like other people. Being an extremely shy, social introvert is only part of the problem. Oryn has dissociative identity disorder. He may look like a normal man on the outside, but spend five minutes with him, and his daily struggles begin to show. Oryn shares his life and headspace with five distinctively different alters...Categorized as:
angst disabilities and marks shy-hero hurt-comfort college virgin hero tortured hero queer -
Dirty Laundry by Rhys Ford
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 28 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... -
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Jonty in Russia by Barbara Elsborg
Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars · 19 ratingsWhen Devan, Best Boyfriend in the Entire World, books them a trip to Russia in February, Jonty’s excitement knows no bounds. There’s packing to do, plans to be made, and places to see. Armed with his smile and a handful of dubious Russian Phrases, Jonty is ready for the delights Vladivostok has to offer—the famous glass beach he’s dreamed about, ice skating on a frozen sea, and snow... -
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... -
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Alfie: Part II by Cara Dee
Rated: 4.60 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsMM Romance • Part 2 of 2 • Second Chances • Irish Mafia • Family • Hurt/Comfort • Age Gap • Revenge • Opposites Attract. When two broken hearts have reached their limits, it’s time for a mobster to play dirty in order to let the healing begin. Don’t worry, Alfie has a plan. That very second, the moment West said those words…I almost shattered. Again. I’d put myself out there... -
Wheels Down by Beth Bolden
Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsShaw isn’t his friend—until Ross discovers he’s so much more. Ross Stanton is having a bad week—a bad month—really, a bad year . But the last thing he wants, after the betrayal of his friend and business partner, is for anyone else to know just how much he’s fighting for survival...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort queer m-m friends to lovers forced proximity contemporary length-medium -
Golden Boy and the Two Bears by Nash Summers
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsAsher Williams is obsessed with love. His column is thriving, fellow students trust him with their relationship woes, and he’s on his A-game when it comes to matchmaking. At least, matchmaking other than his own. After a heartfelt letter written to his column, Asher is set on aiding the two love-struck heroes who desperately need his help... -
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 Words. Sorrow’s my body on the waves. Sorrow’s a girl inside my cave. I live in a city sorrow built. It’s in my honey, it’s in my milk. Don’t leave my half a heart alone on the water. Cover me in rag and bone sympathy. Cause I don’t want to get over you. -The National. -
Keeping Secrets by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThe truth can cost you everything. Twenty-six-year-old Beck Medina is convinced of that. He’s been abandoned by so many people over the course of his life, including most of his adopted family. Now he’s created a new family for himself at the resort he manages on Catalina Island. But they don’t know the whole truth about him... -
Valentine's Hearts by R.J. Scott, V.L. Locey
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWill broken hearts replace the wedding they dreamed of? Ryker's heart has space for three things—his family, hockey, and Jacob. As their wedding grows closer, it seems that nothing can stand in the way of an idyllic celebration, surrounded by friends and loved ones... -
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... -
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:
angst disabilities and marks hurt-comfort queer m-m from hate to love christmas contemporary -
Hannah's Big Night by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.27 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsA Jory and Sam Thanksgiving Ficlet. -
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Resonance by Lily James
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo addicts meet in rehab, finding friendship, connection, and something dangerously close to hope, only to part ways in the end. Fate had other ideas. Bodhi Hart has everything he once dreamed sold-out arenas, worldwide fame, and a voice that moves millions. Somewhere along the way, though, the music stopped feeling like his... -
Heartstring by Ana Ashley
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMik. If 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. Tyler. Fool 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... -
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...Categorized as:
angst tortured hero disabilities and marks hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary military -
Only the Flower Knows 3 by Rihito Takarai
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 17 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... -
To Take a Quiet Breath by Fearne Hill
This isn’t a romance about chiseled, lantern-jawed college kids boasting V-cut abs. There are no marathon steamy sex sessions, not without having at least one nebulizer on standby anyway. Marcel Giresse, the thirty-six-year-old Director of Finance at the French Ministry of Justice, is happy to leave all that nonsense to his oldest friend Lucien, the sixteenth Earl of Rossingley...Categorized as:
queer virgin hero hurt-comfort contemporary m-m length-medium grumpy sunshine friends to lovers -
Only the Flower Knows 2 by Rihito Takarai
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 20 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... -
After the Fire by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 21 ratingsA single bullet destroyed the dreams of Dr. Jordan Peterson. With his lover dead, Jordan descends into an endless spiral of self-destruction that nearly costs him his friends, his career and his life... -
A Taste of Christmas: An M/M Holiday Romance by Jaclyn Quinn
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsMitch Jensen has just missed the most important interview of his career. An outrageous suggestion to meet Everett Remington at his family’s home in upstate New York irrevocably changes Mitch’s life... -
The Miracle by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAsh and Drew are back in a heart warming holiday story! With both Chanukah and Grandmother Esther’s ninety-fifth birthday approaching, the latkes are ready, the presents are wrapped, and bring on the delicious dinner. Ash Davis has a gift for Esther, and he hasn’t even told Drew what it is... -
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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...Categorized as:
angst hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary age difference length-long first-in-series -
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... -
Intimation by Vee Hoffman
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBook 3 in the Acclamation series, Intimation chronicles the months following the end of Lent and Easter holiday and the increasing and intensifying intimacy between Michael and Dominic. Moments stolen away from public sight, even when foreshadowed by Dominic’s approaching graduation and Michael’s intentions for the future, only serve to strengthen their feelings for each other... -
Fake & Bake by Romeo Alexander
Nothing says home quite like the smell of baking. The quiet, small town of Higbee is set in the perfect place for the upcoming northern lights. People from different parts of the country are flocking in droves to see the brilliant cosmic show as the town celebrates this unusual event. Anthony Clarence has spent his entire life not only in Higbee but in the small bakery he runs from his home...Categorized as:
tortured hero virgin hero disabilities and marks hurt-comfort queer m-m contemporary small town -
Rotgut Gin by Rhys Ford
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsThis is a freebie Sinners series short written for Hop Against Homophobia, Bi- and Transphobia. -
Black by Quin, Perin.
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 14 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... -
Blindside by N.R. Walker
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 28 ratingsMark Gattison has avoided love and commitment his entire adult life. Not interested in more than a one night stand or a brief encounter in a bathroom stall, he is the epitome of a good time. Will Parkinson is the guy who defends him, the guy who puts up with him, the guy Mark calls his best friend...Categorized as:
queer angst disabilities and marks hurt-comfort m-m contemporary friends to lovers humor -
Leaning Into the Look by Lane Hayes
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsGrant Kostas made a career based on his looks before joining his family’s real estate firm. He may not love his job but he’s better at sales than he thought. And when he’s poised to bring in the biggest account of the company’s history, even his father is impressed. Unfortunately, the extra attention highlights Grant’s personal life. His parents accept that he’s gay... -
Cort—Unbreakable by Felice Stevens
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCort. I spent years waiting for someone who never put me first. He took my love, took me for granted. Took my heart. Now I’m on my own. Living life my way. The crowd only sees my smile. Never my loneliness and pain. I need someone to need me. When I meet another lost soul my friends try to warn me. He’s a liar. A user. Homeless. Heartbroken. He’s all that and more... -
Unconditional Love by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratings"A Seven Days Story". Can a person's life change in just one day? How about seven? Donald Pottier and Jason Greene are barely more than boys when they meet on Chincoteague Island, Virginia. A day of crabbing soon turns them from strangers to friends, then to something more, but the boys' time is limited: at the end of the summer, Jay will leave Don and the island behind... -
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Adore by E. Davies
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratings“I’m gonna go from twink to twunk. ” Tired of hookups, Caspian Grey is hitting the gym, though he can’t decide who he’s trying to impress—the sexy gym owner, or his dating app buddy, Bi Unicorn. If he can pack on some muscles, maybe a man will finally overlook his quirks and hold onto him. Matt Rowan owns a safe, welcoming gym, but his bank account and love life are equally empty... -
Impact Zone Special Edition by Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSpecial Edition Book Art - Paperback only. Two desperate encounters led to a dating arrangement. One for money. The other for sexual exploration. Kel. I tried to save Ohana Surfing Club, a surf shop my father and I owned... -
Once Broken, Twice Loved by Romeo Alexander
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen the man who left you broken-hearted reappears with a child in tow, do you slam the door or let the past come flooding back? He left me broken . He walked out of my life ten years ago with no explanation, and I fell apart. Ian, the only man I’ve ever loved just walked back into my life…with his sassy, eleven-year-old daughter, Ayla, who’s deaf. Yes, I can do the math...Categorized as:
angst hurt-comfort queer single-father second chances m-m contemporary from hate to love -
Worlds Away by Alexa Land
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsDoes love stand a chance between two men from different worlds, when they’re both being pulled in opposite directions? Sawyer MacNeil is looking for answers. His time in the Army didn’t go as planned, and he’s still reeling from the end of a relationship that never should have happened in the first place... -
Wonderland by Jude Ouvrard
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsLucas Colton is far too young to go through all this pain but meeting poetry teacher, Preston Davidson, changed everything. His life went from heartbreak to joyful and then, from friendship to love. The impact Preston had on Lucas’ life was mesmerising. What would you do if you knew you may not have a tomorrow? -
Before I Fall by Joelle Lynne, Courtney W. Dixon
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWho’s going to catch me when I fall? Evan. Everything has been taken from me. My home, my family, and the love of my life. Raising a child on my own isn’t how I envisioned my young life full of hopes and dreams. Now, my youth is gone, too. I had been drowning with no way out until him. The one man I didn’t expect to hold my head above water... -
Ice Rivals by Christie Gordon
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsI should hate him. But after learning the truth, how could I not fall for him? Mason. My rookie season in the NHL started with a gut punch. There he was, standing in my locker room. Jett Jarvis, a player hated by his former teammates. He has an arrogant smirk, intense eyes, and a birthmark that looks…too familiar. I’m sure I saw it on the dude who dumped me in my hookup app... -
Flare by Posy Roberts
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSequel to "Fusion". Hugo Thorson and Kevin Magnus are learning to live again after the death of Kevin's wife, Erin. They're doing everything they can to make a stable home for Kevin’s kids, but that stability is threatened when Kevin is served legal documents: Erin's parents want custody of Brooke and Finn... -
There's Only After by Julie Anne Addicott
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTHERE’S ONLY AFTER. A Hurricane Hearts Novel. BOOK 1. Two lives shattered by suicide. Two men searching for hope. Jackson. Andrew was my life. My husband. My reason for breathing. “Time of death eleven-forty-nine p. m. ”. I will never be whole again. Andrew doesn’t wake up. And I can’t let him go. A past filled with secrets, lies, and unimaginable trauma. Lawson... -
페이백 by SAMK
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings -
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Til Death Do Us Part by Jenny Wood
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsTwo weddings and a new guy! Kayson and Conner finally tie the knot! Because Kayson popped the question a whole ten minutes before Jody got the chance, his wedding is up first. It’s everything they both deserve; complete with Kingsley shenanigans! Jody and Cameron also get hitched in a much more Jody and Cameron kind of way... -
Finn by Jenny Wood
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsMoving to a new town with his daughter had opened a lot of doors for Felix Finnley, aka, Finn. A new shop and great friends can really go a long way! Imagine his surprise when a late night trip to the ER, lands him in front of the most gorgeous pair of white-blue eyes, that he's ever seen... -
Surviving the Break by C.P. Harris
Max doesn’t do repeats, and he definitely doesn’t do commitments. Months after a hot encounter with a smooth-talking stranger in a bar room bathroom, Max comes face to face with the same sexy doctor during the unveiling of the community center’s dance studio. And the man is just as pushy and perceptive as Max remembers. Because of their mutual friendships, Max now has to work overtime to keep Dr... -
Spring Rains by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 9 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... -
Behind the Curtain by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsDawson Barnes recognizes his world is very small and very charmed. Running his community college theater like a petty god, he and his best friend, Benji know they'll succeed as stage techs after graduation. His father adores him, Benji would die for him, and Dawson never doubted the safety net of his family, even when life hit him below the belt... -
Junkyard Heart by Garrett Leigh
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsTired of the London rat race and the heartbreak that comes with it, photographer Jas Manning returns to Porthkennack, the Cornish seaside town where he spent every childhood summer on his father’s farm. Resigned to year-round rain, wind, and homemade jam, he’s sorely unprepared for the impact that artsy carpenter Kim Penrose has on his heart...
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