Books like 'The Mayor and the Mystery Man'
Readers who enjoyed The Mayor and the Mystery Man by A.J. Truman also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance funny friends to lovers single-father queer found-family queer-awakening bisexual fake relationship
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You & Me by Tal Bauer
A single dads, friends-to-lovers, bi awakening MM Romance.We're a puzzle made of two pieces.Landon Larsen is the envy of all the dads in Last Waters, Texas. He's cool, confident, and put together. He and his son—the high school's all-star quarterback—have the perfect father-son relationship. He’s such a Super Dad, it's almost sickening...Categorized as:
bisexual friends to lovers angst mature couple anal sex single-father hurt-comfort small town -
![The Long and Winding Road by T.J. Klune]()
The Long and Winding Road by T.J. Klune
Sequel to The Art of Breathing Family is not always defined by blood. It’s defined by those who make us whole—those who make us who we are. And here, at the end, Bear and Otter will be tested like they’ve never been before. There’s a knock at the door from a little girl who has nowhere else to go. There’s a phone ringing, bringing news they do not expect...Categorized as:
angst queer found-family friends to lovers hurt-comfort m-m contemporary age difference -
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![10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love by Emmy Sanders]()
10 Ways to Accidentally Fall in Love by Emmy Sanders
Wingman 101: Make him fall head over heels in love. BradWhat’s a straight guy to do when he accidentally goes on a date with his brand new gym-bro? Offer to be the best wingman ever, of course! It’s foolproof.Joey needs a man? I’ll find him one.He wants someone who looks, well, kind of like me? No problem!Not into watersports? I’ve got him covered...Categorized as:
queer-awakening friends to lovers queer found-family bisexual sweet-hero anal sex sunny hero -
![Until You by Briar Prescott]()
Until You by Briar Prescott
I’m the first one to tell you I have issues.Trust issues.Family issues.Probably a few others I haven’t discovered yet.Which is why I prefer to keep my life as simple and uncomplicated as possible.Until him.Blake McAdams barrels into my life and refuses to leave...Categorized as:
friends to lovers angst nerdy-hero sunny hero sweet-hero queer hurt-comfort possessive hero -
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![The End Zone by Riley Hart]()
The End Zone by Riley Hart
JeremySeeing my best friend West, happy with his fiancé opened my eyes to things I’ve been missing in my own marriage. My divorce, which was amicable, followed. Strangely, at West’s wedding, I find myself confiding in Darren, the straight, confirmed bachelor and star quarterback of the Atlanta Lightning...Categorized as:
friends to lovers bisexual queer queer-awakening angst mature couple caretaking hurt-comfort -
![Marrying Mr. Majestic by Lucy Lennox]()
Marrying Mr. Majestic by Lucy Lennox
I’ve made myself into many things over the years. A Yale graduate. A brilliant corporate strategist. A city boy. And, though no one outside my inner circle knows it, a billionaire. One thing I never expected to be? Accidentally married to a straight, small-town cowboy named Waylon, the pride and joy of… *checks notes*... Majestic, Wyoming...Categorized as:
queer fake relationship queer-awakening small town sunny hero cold hero possessive hero bisexual -
![Davo by N.R. Walker]()
Davo by N.R. Walker
When Fergus Galloway takes on a research trip to a tiny mining town in the far Western Australian outback, he’s as far from Sydney as he can get. Which is entirely the point. He arrives in Pannalego totally unprepared for the baking heat, unprepared for the people who call it home, unprepared for the craziness and the laughs... -
![Sem by Cora Rose]()
Sem by Cora Rose
Sometimes your dream guy isn’t who you think he is. Sem has been stalking me for months. He shows up everywhere I am and lurks in the background, his eyes always on me. I don’t understand his fascination with me, but he won’t leave me alone. He’s definitely not my type. He’s too big, too reckless, and too feral... -
![Bear, Otter, and the Kid by T.J. Klune]()
Bear, Otter, and the Kid by T.J. Klune
Three years ago, Bear McKenna’s mother took off for parts unknown with her new boyfriend, leaving Bear to raise his six-year-old brother Tyson, aka the Kid. Somehow they’ve muddled through, but since he’s totally devoted to the Kid, Bear isn’t actually doing much living—with a few exceptions, he’s retreated from the world, and he’s mostly okay with that. Until Otter comes home... -
![Until I Saw You by Dianna Roman]()
Until I Saw You by Dianna Roman
An MM romance story of survival, healing, and finding the courage to love.Harper Reid has no money and nowhere to go, but he can't spend one more day under the same roof as his abusive boyfriend. Desperate to start fresh, he takes on a special case through the caregiver agency that contracts him...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort friends to lovers angst forced proximity caretaking sweet-hero sunny hero queer -
![Drilled by K.M. Neuhold]()
Drilled by K.M. Neuhold
A month in a remote cabin with the last man I ever expected to see again? I can’t decide if I should punch him or drill him. It might end up being both.After more than a decade, the last person I expected to see walk into the Four Bears Construction offices as a new hire was Ridge.He was my first crush, and my first heartbreak when he started dating my sister...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity queer found-family small town anal sex possessive hero cold hero -
![How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune]()
How to Be a Movie Star by T.J. Klune
Sequel to How to Be a Normal PersonA How to Be Novel Josiah Erickson wants to be a movie star. The problem with that is so does half of Los Angeles. But he’s on his way, what with memorable roles as a TV show background cadaver and a guy in a commercial for herpes medication. All he needs is his big break...Categorized as:
friends to lovers sunny hero forced proximity queer found-family m-m contemporary humor -
![Nailed by K.M. Neuhold]()
Nailed by K.M. Neuhold
My new neighbor is a total tool.He hated me from the second he laid eyes on me, and I don’t have the first clue why… But, if he wants to hate me, I’m happy to give him a few reasons: mowing the lawn at dawn on the weekend, leaving garbage cans in front of his driveway, renting a petting zoo for my backyard...making a list of ways to drive him crazy is half the fun...Categorized as:
working class hero forced proximity queer found-family sunny hero cold hero small town anal sex -
![Holiday Heart Strings by N.R. Walker]()
Holiday Heart Strings by N.R. Walker
Hartbridge Christmas Series - Book FourEnglishman Braithe Branson arrives in Hartbridge, Montana, to take on a brief substitute kindergarten teacher position. His introduction to the sleepy town is being pulled over for speeding. Not an ideal start, but at least the deputy was cute.Colson Price takes being a deputy very seriously. After all, his job is all he has...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort queer caretaking anal sex found-family small town sweet-hero sunny hero -
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![Liars by Lucy Lennox, May Archer]()
Liars by Lucy Lennox, May Archer
Parrish Partridge’s True Facts:There’s nothing hotter than a tall, gruff, bewildered, tattooed mountain of a man cuddling a sweet, orphaned baby, so you can tell yourself that you’ll resist him...But that’s a lie...Categorized as:
friends to lovers nerdy-hero single-father small town queer found-family angst caretaking -
![Fools by Lucy Lennox, May Archer]()
Fools by Lucy Lennox, May Archer
Tucker Wright’s Clues for Life:What’s a 4-letter word for an utterly oblivious, totally commitment-phobic, heartbreakingly gorgeous man with a pet pig named Bernadette? That’d be D-U-N-N, as in Dunn Johnson, my very best pal and fishing buddy since I moved to Licking Thicket... -
![Here Comes My Man by Lauren Blakely, Teddy Hamilton]()
Here Comes My Man by Lauren Blakely, Teddy Hamilton
Rated: 4.32 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsListening Length 9 hours and 57 minutesA red-hot, enemies-to-lovers, fake boyfriend, second chance romance, and the conclusion to the Hopelessly Bromantic Duet!Let me just say this -- fake dating the cocky movie star was not my idea. Especially since he’s my former roomie and, gulp, my secret ex...Categorized as:
queer angst forced proximity friends to lovers m-m contemporary from hate to love second chances -
![The Unlikely Heir by Jax Calder]()
The Unlikely Heir by Jax Calder
What happens when the Prince of Wales falls in love with the Prime Minister?My boring life working in an insurance call center in sunny California just took an unexpected turn. Thanks to my misbehaving relatives, I’ve leapt from obscurity to royalty as the new heir to the British throne.But my welcome in England is about as warm as the weather...Categorized as:
politician bisexual hurt-comfort queer queer-awakening friends to lovers nerdy-hero sunny hero -
![A Ginger for Kinkmas by Chara Croft]()
A Ginger for Kinkmas by Chara Croft
Flynn Morris needs a Daddy.At least, that’s what his flamboyant and highly opinionated best friend, Tate, has decided. Flynn himself isn’t so sure. He’s never had a boyfriend, much less considered something as kinky as having a Daddy. In fact, he’s been perfectly happy with his life exactly as it is...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer queer-awakening sweet-hero bisexual caretaking anal sex found-family -
![You Can Count On Me by Fae Quin]()
You Can Count On Me by Fae Quin
They say you should love thy neighbor, but I don’t think they meant it the way I want to love mine.Miles “Rooster” Johnson: As a young single-dad with a teaching job, I haven’t had much opportunity to date. My son is my entire world, and though I would love to have a partner and someone to count on, the passing years have shown that it’s just not in the cards for me... -
![Between the Pipes by J.J. Mulder, Ivanna Nashkolna]()
Between the Pipes by J.J. Mulder, Ivanna Nashkolna
Nico Mackenzie is angry and argumentative— in every way, he is the exact opposite of NHL goaltender Anthony Lawson. Thrown together for a summer of coaching college hockey at South Carolina University, Anthony makes every effort to be friendly; Nico, on the other hand, seems intent on being infuriating and keeping the other man at arm’s length...Categorized as:
queer forced proximity sunny hero cold hero queer-awakening angst friends to lovers anal sex -
![On Board by Jay Hogan]()
On Board by Jay Hogan
Leroy Madden is in trouble. Big, handsome, Fox Carmody trouble.Leroy has buried his attraction to the enigmatic fisherman in irritation and pointless bickering, keeping Fox at a safe distance. But with the troublesome man now living in Leroy’s house, it’s becoming impossible for Leroy to keep his true feelings hidden, or the fact that Leroy maybe isn’t so straight, after all...Categorized as:
forced proximity bisexual cold hero working class hero angst small town queer queer-awakening -
![Dear Mr. Brody by A.M. Johnson]()
Dear Mr. Brody by A.M. Johnson
Parker,I never meant for any of this to happen, to fall for you. It doesn't matter that we're both adults, or how much we want this to work. The college policy is clear. I can't see a way around this without one of us getting hurt. If I would’ve known who you were when we met online, I would have never pursued a relationship...Categorized as:
bisexual single-father queer found-family queer-awakening angst small town working class hero -
![Not That Complicated by Isabel Murray]()
Not That Complicated by Isabel Murray
If this was your classic Cotswolds murder mystery (it’s not) and Ray was an amateur detective (he isn’t) then when he stumbles across something unexpected under his bedroom floor, he’d investigate the hell out of it.Hard pass.Ray’s just a thirtysomething graphic designer with a broken heart who doesn’t much like his life right now.And he’s already having nightmares about the whole thing, come on...Categorized as:
small town cold hero queer forced proximity hurt-comfort caretaking nerdy-hero sunny hero -
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![The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert]()
The Geek Who Saved Christmas by Annabeth Albert
His grumpy neighbor needs some holiday sunshine…Gideon Holiday is the perfect neighbor. Need a cup of sugar? Spare folding chair? Extra batteries? He’s always ready to help. And he’s waited years for his hot, grumpy, silver fox neighbor, Paul, to need him. For anything...Categorized as:
friends to lovers anal sex small town queer found-family silver-fox nerdy-hero cold hero -
![Stroker by K.M. Neuhold]()
Stroker by K.M. Neuhold
Is there an easy way to tell your lifelong best friend that you secretly married his brother eight years ago? Asking for a friend…When Gates shows up needing a place to crash, I offer him my spare room. Whatever happened between us nearly two decades ago is water under the bridge. I don’t lie awake at night wondering what could have been. Nope, definitely not... -
![Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold]()
Stick Shift by K.M. Neuhold
Is it possible my straight best friend had a sudden stick shift?I made peace with my hopeless crush on my straight best friend, Journey, years ago. It helps that he’s never in the country long and our relationship consists of sporadic texts and video chats at odd hours.Now Journey is back. Back in the country, in my space, sharing my bed, and something is changing between us...Categorized as:
friends to lovers forced proximity queer queer-awakening bisexual anal sex small town sunny hero -
![The Remarkable Lover by Maya Jean]()
The Remarkable Lover by Maya Jean
JacksonDreams collapse in the blink of an eye, I know that better than anyone after losing my career as an athlete. Now I spend my days giving people pleasure for pay and playing with stocks. Most of my friends have settled in Clay Springs, Florida. A sleepy little town that moves slower than molasses...Categorized as:
found-family hurt-comfort friends to lovers queer small town sunny hero nerdy-hero caretaking -
![The Legend Next Door by Jesse H. Reign]()
The Legend Next Door by Jesse H. Reign
I didn’t think hockey was the game for me…now I’m obsessed. My new neighbor, Ben Stirling, is a beautiful, famous ex-player. A living NHL legend. A single dad with sad eyes and a smile I feel in my knees.I’ve never met anyone like him. He’s what would you’d get if you squeezed masculinity through a sieve. He’s the grit. The pulp. The hard stuff that leaves a sweet taste in your mouth... -
![Until Jude by Briar Prescott]()
Until Jude by Briar Prescott
I'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... -
![Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg]()
Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg
Fate is not always written in the stars…Being headhunted by NASA might be his ultimate dream, but Cato’s life still sucks. He’s tired of anonymous one-night stands. He’s tired of being lonely. And, frankly, he’s tired of himself. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, he realises the only thing to do if he wants to be happy is to reinvent himself... -
![Method Acting by N.R. Walker]()
Method Acting by N.R. Walker
Chase SoriaEvery budding actor knows acting is a difficult gig. There will be grueling auditions and punishing rejections. If you’re lucky, there’ll be roles that pay the bills and even roles that won’t.Roles we don’t believe in.But that’s what acting is—acting as if we do believe in them.So when the semester’s production project is announced and I’m cast as one of the leads, I’m ecstatic...Categorized as:
found-family forced proximity queer bisexual sunny hero cold hero fake relationship anal sex -
![Dealing Him In by Charlie Cochet]()
Dealing Him In by Charlie Cochet
Play with fire, and you’ll get burned. Santos “Saint” Cavallero had his life all figured out when he married his high school sweetheart, joined the Navy, and became a SEAL. After years of being deployed, Saint comes home for good, only to discover his wife has fallen for another man. Now divorced and a bodyguard for Four Kings Security, Saint loves his job and his found family...Categorized as:
friends to lovers queer found-family queer-awakening suspense military m-m contemporary -
![Handy by K.M. Neuhold]()
Handy by K.M. Neuhold
My new neighbor may be grumpy but he's also hot, and very good with his hands…I definitely overestimated my own handyman skills when I bought this fixer-upper. I have to say, the view from my new place is worth it though. Especially around seven o'clock every morning when my big, furry bear of a neighbor drinks his coffee shirtless on his back porch.He's dedicated to the bear thing too...Categorized as:
queer small town anal sex forced proximity sunny hero curvy-hero working class hero cold hero -
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![The Head Game by Brigham Vaughn]()
The Head Game by Brigham Vaughn
Fisher Cats Defenseman Rushed to Hospital After In-Game Fall—Mystery Beau Revealed? The Fisher Cats defenseman is conscious and in stable condition following a seizure that occurred during the recent game against Buffalo. Updates indicate that while still hospitalized, he’s hopeful for a quick return to the ice...Categorized as:
hurt-comfort angst queer sunny hero anal sex fake relationship forced proximity sweet-hero -
![In Step by Jay Hogan]()
In Step by Jay Hogan
Karma. You reap what you sow, and KANE MARTIN isn’t looking for forgiveness. But the arrival of ABE TYLER in Painted Bay has Kane dreaming of the impossible. The sexy, silver fox choreographer is determined to pull Kane out from the shadows, but Kane’s life is in neat little boxes for a reason.A past he isn’t proud of.A family he’s walked away from.A job he doesn’t deserve...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers small town queer found-family silver-fox hurt-comfort anal sex -
![Blitzed by S.E. Harmon]()
Blitzed by S.E. Harmon
NFL tight end Andrew McAdams isn’t thrilled to be sidelined with an injury. He’s even less thrilled about his legal troubles. Community service is the only thing standing between him and jail so...yeah. That’s a no-brainer. It's not all bad news, though. He gets to work with Jesse Fox, who is as gorgeous as he is guarded. And there's no rule saying he can't do his hours and have a little fun...Categorized as:
bisexual friends to lovers forced proximity hurt-comfort queer found-family m-m sports -
![About Last Night by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
About Last Night by Aimee Nicole Walker
The bicurious cop and his sharp-dressed man… Detective Christopher “Topher” Carnegie is unlucky in love. He either tries too hard, doesn’t try hard enough, or hasn’t found the right person yet. But recently, he’s started seeing Julian Fine, his sister’s best friend, in a new light. If there’s one thing a fabulous tailor knows, it’s how to take a person’s measure... -
![Aaron's Awakening by K.C. Wells, Meredith Russell]()
Aaron's Awakening by K.C. Wells, Meredith Russell
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAaron isn’t looking for love, but it finds him – and it has a few surprises in store…A laidback man who goes with the flowAaron is happy for his friends who’ve found love, but he’s starting to feel as if he’s an endangered species – a single guy. Not that he’s looking for anyone...Categorized as:
friends to lovers bisexual queer queer-awakening m-m humor contemporary length-medium -
![Jingle Bells & Mistletoe by Sammi Cee]()
Jingle Bells & Mistletoe by Sammi Cee
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJonathan watched all of his friends fall in love, get married, and grow their families. All he’s ever wanted is a relationship as wonderful as the one his parents have always had... -
![Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
Starts With a Bang by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe best way to get over a cheating jerk is to get under someone new. Dominic isn’t looking for love or salvation at the Thirsty Cowboy. He needs a temporary escape from the drudgery his life has become, and the universe provides him with the sexiest distraction he’s ever seen. Sven is a sucker for sad eyes, thick thighs, and a Royal Cosmopolitan...Categorized as:
friends to lovers hurt-comfort found-family queer m-m age difference contemporary humor -
![Except You by Cora Rose]()
Except You by Cora Rose
A straight man walks into a gay bar searching for meaning…It sounds like the start of a lousy joke. And honestly, that’s what my life is beginning to feel like. I look back at all the hateful things I’ve said and done—so many things I can’t take back—and I’m not proud. I let my ignorance steal my relationship with my youngest brother, Magnus...Categorized as:
queer friends to lovers queer-awakening bisexual angst anal sex sunny hero sweet-hero -
![The Flirty Vet by Casey Cox]()
The Flirty Vet by Casey Cox
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWilby Linfox is the world's biggest flirt…From the moment he stumbles into my life—drunk, singing, and shirtless—I knew he'd be trouble… But I had no idea just how much trouble he'd be.But I'm in Australia to do exactly three things: work, check out some touristy hotspots, and scatter my mother's ashes...Categorized as:
queer hurt-comfort friends to lovers forced proximity queer-awakening bisexual contemporary m-m -
![Spotlight by Eden Finley]()
Spotlight by Eden Finley
RyderWhen I quit the biggest boy band on the planet, I was supposed to get my life back.It’s not that I wanted to leave the spotlight. I felt like I had to for my daughter. Her picture shouldn’t be splashed all over the tabloids.I thought I could do this parenting thing on my own, but it’s obvious I need help. I just didn’t expect to find it in the form of a gorgeous guy I meet by chance...Categorized as:
friends to lovers single-father queer cold hero bisexual angst working class hero sunny hero -
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![The Fireman and the Flirt by A.J. Truman]()
The Fireman and the Flirt by A.J. Truman
Is it in bad taste to sleep with a client? Asking for a friend…In high school, Derek ruled the school with his fellow hockey players, while I fantasized from afar. He only knew me as his little brother’s shy friend who, thanks to one vicious rumor from a former flame, had garnered a reputation as the school freak...Categorized as:
single-father found-family exhibitionism queer curvy-hero bisexual anal sex forced proximity -
![Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart]()
Boyfriend Goals by Riley Hart
MiloUnusual. Quirky. Different. I’ve heard it all. I’ve accepted I’m not for everyone. Maybe not anyone.When I find out I inherited a bookstore and apartment on a small East Coast island, I jump at the chance for a new life.Turns out, I’ve also inherited a sexy, tattooed guy who not only rents the space next to my store for his tattoo parlor but my apartment too... -
![Uncomplicated Choices by Cara Dee]()
Uncomplicated Choices by Cara Dee
When life gave you lemons, you learned who stayed and made lemonade with you. Or something to that effect. And the day Ellis Hayes kidnapped me—or, he borrowed a yacht and didn’t know I was on board—he'd definitely been handed too many lemons. We faced a dilemma when I woke up hungover in the middle of the ocean...Categorized as:
friends to lovers single-father queer queer-awakening humor m-m age difference contemporary -
![Hopelessly Bromantic by Lauren Blakely, Shane East]()
Hopelessly Bromantic by Lauren Blakely, Shane East
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 27 ratingsListening Length 8 hours and 37 minutesAn irresistibly sexy, emotionally charged, forbidden MM romance between a broody American and a charming Brit! My first day in London feels ripped from the pages of a rom com when I meet a charming, witty guy in a quaint bookshop. We vibe like crazy, and our chemistry is almost too good to be true because...It is. Turns out he’s my new roommate... -
![The Barkeep and the Bro by A.J. Truman]()
The Barkeep and the Bro by A.J. Truman
I’m his boss. He’s my daughter’s ex-boyfriend. This has nope written all over it.For twenty-five years, I’ve been in an exclusive, all-consuming relationship with Stone’s Throw Tavern, my family’s local bar.I don’t need a boyfriend. What I need is a new bartender.And what I get is Charlie, my daughter’s old college boyfriend, a guy who still acts like he’s chillin’ at the frat house...Categorized as:
forced proximity single-father queer found-family queer-awakening curvy-hero bisexual anal sex -
![Winging It with You by Chip Pons]()
Winging It with You by Chip Pons
Popular bookstagrammer Chip Pons's gay rom-com about two men who impulsively pose as a couple to compete in a reality show contest just minutes after meeting at an airport, and their run-in with the very real feelings that start to simmer between them.Catching flights . . . and feelingsAsher Bennett thought his relationship was just fine...Categorized as:
queer fake relationship nerdy-hero sunny hero forced proximity friends to lovers m-m humor
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