Books like 'Ascendent'
Readers who enjoyed Ascendent by Tal Bauer also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
contemporary gay romance fantasy paranormal suspense mystery magic angst age difference forbidden love
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Dead Serious Case #1: Miz Dusty Le Frey by Vawn Cassidy
In the business of unfinished business...Tristan Everett had always preferred the company of the dead because they were quiet and didn’t talk back. As a slightly awkward introvert working as a pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary suited him just fine. That is, until a freak accident with a rogue ice cube and suddenly he can see ghosts... -
Of Sunlight and Stardust by Riley Hart, Christina Lee
After the death of his wife, Tanner Rowe takes a step toward making her dying wish come true and buys the house with the dilapidated barn she’d been inexplicably drawn to in the picturesque Upper Peninsula. But after a year, he still can’t get past his grief long enough to make the repairs he’d promised. Recently out of prison, Cole Lachlan has little to his name... -
Dead Serious Case #5 Madame Vivienne by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsFor one brief shining moment, the utter insanity that is Tristan Everett’s world makes sense.He’s marrying the man he loves, has a dead drag queen for a bestie and is surrounded by an amazing found family. Okay, so his life isn’t exactly what you’d call normal. By day, he’s a quiet, mild-mannered forensic pathologist, but the rest of the time, he guides lost souls into the light... -
City Wolf by S.P. Wayne
The much anticipated sequel to Winter Wolf ! After almost a decade of self imposed solitude, Axton has a boyfriend. Leander might be a thousand miles away, but that still counts, right? Sure, maybe they haven't actually talked about their relationship status yet, and Axton might be a gay werewolf and Leander might be a human, but Ax is pretty sure things are going well...Categorized as:
angst suspense bisexual friends to lovers third-person-pov dual-pov tortured hero forbidden love -
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Vortex Conundrum by Louisa Masters
Wanted: one demon hunter. Beware the matchmaking ghosts. After years managing a haunted hotel and estate, I thought things were good. Sure, the ghosts can be a handful—nosy, opinionated, interfering—but they’re also friendly and fun. We have a system. Everything was under control. Cue hysterical laughter... -
Traitor's Moon by Lynn Flewelling
The war between Pleminar and Skala continues. There are growing rumors that Skala's ancient ally, Mycena, is about to join with the wealthier Pleminar, cutting Skala off from all trade routes. Now Alec and Seregil are sent on their most daring mission yet: convince the people of Aurenen, who exiled Seregil years ago, to join Skala and end the war... -
Dead Man's Chest by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOne phone call can change everything.Sick of snow and ice, psychic Tennyson Grimm jumps at the chance to head to Florida for a little fun in the sun. While sitting on the beach, his phone rings with a call from prison inmate River Ramsey who has a startling “You don’t know me, but I’m your brother... -
Ghost in the Box by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA killer is on the loose in Salem who not only wants to take your life, but your soul as well…Psychic Copeland Forbes anonymously receives a locked wooden box with an unknown spirit trapped inside. Attached to the chest is a cryptic May you get what you truly deserve... -
At Year's End by Sandrine Gasq-Dion, Jennifer 'Jenjo' Jacobson
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsBook 2 (This book contains characters from the Assassin-shifter books and is not meant to be read as a standalone) Warning: This book contains scenes of homosexuality, crude language and violence. Ever since he set eyes on Jaxon Salvatore at Camp Pride, 16-year-old Elijah Newman knew who he'd be spending the rest of his life with. The tough guy, on the other hand, was not getting that message... -
Eternal Luck (Ghostly Guardians) by Louisa Masters
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsLuck brought us together… but can it last forever?I was working a dead-end job and living with too many roommates when I met Carlos. That meeting was our first stroke of luck, changing both our lives and tying us together. I’ll never regret it, but after eight amazing years, I’m starting to think he does... -
The Haunted Hotel by Vawn Cassidy
Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsHave a frightfully good stay… Morgan Ashton-Drake hasn’t given his ancestral family home in Yorkshire a second thought in decades, even if it is technically part of his hotel empire. He has a great life in the States, so what if he works eighteen hour days seven days a week? you don’t get and keep a place on the Forbes 500 list unless you’re prepared to sweat blood... -
Forbidden by Sandrine Gasq-Dion
Rated: 4.24 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJesse Salvatore has had it. He's the youngest of three brothers -- and the only one born without the werewolf gene. Because he's human, his brothers, Jaxon and Justice, treat him like he's helpless. They constantly battle deadly rogue wolves and won't let him anywhere near the fight. When he meets Noah King, he knows he's found his soulmate in the werewolf and soldier...Categorized as:
friends to lovers magic military queer contemporary werewolves shapeshifters paranormal -
Dead Wood by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAfter the harrowing events aboard the ghost train, Detective Ronan O’Mara is excited to reach the Double D Ranch in Deadwood, South Dakota. He plans to immerse himself in the old west by learning to ride horses, panning for gold and attending a rodeo. It’s the perfect mix of rest and relaxation he so desperately needs... -
Dead For Teacher by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsIn 1968, three school children were allegedly poisoned to death by their teacher, Marie Fairbanks. A week later, Ms. Fairbanks was murdered, and the cops marked it off as a justifiable homicide. Case closed. No further investigation needed.Now, Detective Ronan O’Mara’s daughter has encountered the spirits of those dead children and Everly’s determined to help them rest in peace... -
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Operation Magma by Annabella Stone
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsTaylor *Trace* Reeves has served in various branches of the military, and in multiple human wars over his life time which spans millennia. Once the faithful hound of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, Trace continues to protect the innocent and fight the wars of man. He will continue to keep his presence a secret from humans, even the ones he calls brothers... -
Ghostly Dilemma by E.M. Leya
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsSometimes it's the little cases.Not every minute of being a detective is spent solving huge murder cases. Sometimes it's the little ones that take up Detective Young's life, like the seventy-year-old cold case that suddenly fell into his lap or figuring out if a death was suicide or murder.Lance spends most of his time working cases that no one hears about... -
Blaze by Wolf Specter, Angel Knots
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsA dragon who doesn’t know how to love…. Fate hasn't been kind to Ivan, but he doesn’t blame her. He's spent the last couple of centuries doing terrible things to the humans who live in the Eastern European territory once claimed by his sire, Nikolai... which makes him the last person with any right to expect kindness from something as fickle as fate... -
Ghostly Death by E.M. Leya
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsWhen teenagers start dying around town, it's up to Detective Angus Young to figure out if the cases are connected and who would want them dead.Lance is one of the city's medical examiners and has a talent he doesn't share with many people — he sees ghosts.Helping his boyfriend figure out who wants these kids dead just became his number one job... -
The White Road by Lynn Flewelling
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 36 ratingsDissolute nobles, master spies, and the unlikeliest of heroes, Alec and Seregil have survived exile, treachery, and black magic. But the road that lies ahead is the most hazardous they’ve ever traveled. For with enemies on all sides, they must walk a narrow path between good and evil where one misstep might be their last...Categorized as:
magic political-intrigue queer mystery age difference contemporary fantasy paranormal -
Equinox by Eli Easton, R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThe tranquility of Prophet is shattered when a local trail rider is killed and whispers of wolf packs and murder spread like wildfire.Three months after the murder of Mike Bressett, the sleepy town of Prophet faces another tragedy—the death of Billy Odette, a well-liked Makah man who ran trail rides for the tourists... -
Beneath the Indigo Sky by Rayne Hawthorne, D.W. Michaels
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsNamidI may not know where I come from, or who I am, but I’ve done my best to build a life for myself. I know a handful of people in town, I have a nice place to live, and I enjoy my job. I look just like everyone else. But I don’t feel like everyone else, because I feel…everything.The emotions of others get tangled with my own as they race through my heart and sink into my soul...Categorized as:
angst friends to lovers queer found-family age difference magic disabilities and marks sweet-hero -
Don't Let Go by Harper Fox
What’s haunting Lee Tyack? He’s moved in with Gideon Frayne, and they’re both loving their new lives. But the shadow is still there – a voice from hell that torments clairvoyant Lee, and which even the pragmatic copper Gideon can hear. Gideon’s determined to protect his lover. But after a serious injury on duty, Gideon finds out the hard way that he needs protection too...Categorized as:
suspense mystery queer anal sex male-pov third-person-pov found-family disabilities and marks -
Ghostly Hostage by E.M. Leya
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsBack from vacation, Lance is ready to dive back into work—that is, until the morgue employees are taken hostage on his first day back. Held at gunpoint was not how he thought he'd spend his day. With their lives on the line, Lance and the others have no choice but to follow orders and perform the autopsy that's been demanded.Angus never dreamed he'd be the one worrying about Lance being killed... -
Bound by Megan Derr
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIngolf von Dirchs is all that remains of the royal house of Kria. The bastard son of the dead Kaiser, he barely escapes the winter palace before it is overtaken by the armies of Salhara, Kria's oldest and bitterest enemy... -
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Chaos by Megan Derr
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNine gods ruled the world, until the ultimate betrayal resulted in their destruction. Now, the world is dying and only by restoring the Lost Gods can it be saved. Sealed off from the world for nine hundred years, Schatten is a country of darkness and mystery. The power of Teufel, Shadow of the Lost Licht, keeps the rest of the world out, and his deadly Sentinels keep the people of Schatten in... -
Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton
Jason Walker is a child star turned teen heartthrob turned reluctant B-movie regular who’s sick of his failing career. So he gives up Hollywood for northern Idaho, far away from the press, the drama of L.A., and the best friend he’s secretly been in love with for years.There’s only one problem with his new life: a strange young man only he can see is haunting his guesthouse... -
Burning Bright by Megan Derr
Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsNine gods ruled the world until the ultimate betrayal resulted in their destruction. Now, the world is dying, and only by restoring the Lost Gods can it be saved. In the land of Pozhar, the people fear the return of Zhar Ptitsa, the god of souls and rebirth who nearly destroyed them nine hundred years ago in a terrible rage... -
The Cat Returns to Adderly by Sam Burns
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsOrphaned, Luke Miller is left alone and homeless with only his cat for company. But Wentworth is more than an average feline, and when Luke makes a set of leather boots to keep his paws safe, it might help them both find the path to where they belong. Previously published in Fables Retold under the same title... -
To Find Him and Love Him Again, Volume 1 by Harper Fox
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings(Author’s note and warning: this is Volume One of Two in this tenth Tyack & Frayne story, and does have a cliffhanger end! Volume Two is available to pre-order from Amazon now with a release date of August 2020... -
The Archer's Heart Book One by Astrid Amara
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsIn the ancient kingdom of Marhavad, noblemen dominate the lower castes, wielding mystic weapons, known as shartas, against any who oppose them. For generations the rule of Marhavad’s kings has been absolute. But now the line of succession is divided, and whispers of revolution are heard in even the royal palace. Keshan Adaru, an outspoken man of unearthly charms, welcomes these changes... -
Santa's Secrets by K.C. Wells, Meredith Russell
Rated: 4.12 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAnthony has a secret.One Christmas Eve when he was twelve, he found Santa laying presents under the tree.He never told a soul. And the following year he snuck out of bed to see if he could repeat the event.Every Christmas Eve for more than forty years, he and Santa have met, only now, they’re friends. But although Anthony is ageing, Santa hasn’t changed since that first night...Categorized as:
age difference friends to lovers secret-relationship magic queer christmas m-m fantasy -
Cards on the Table by Josh Lanyon
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 22 ratingsan alternate cover edition can be found hereYou're future lies in the Cards...Fifty years ago, a glamorous Hollywood party ended in murder—the only clue a bloody Tarot card. Timothy McShay is not the first journalist to dig into the details of what really happened that long-ago summer's night, and he's not deterred by the grim fate of his predecessor. Tim has a book to write... -
Downtime by Tamara Allen
Rated: 4.05 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsOn assignment in London, FBI Agent Morgan Nash finds himself moments away from a bullet through the heart when the case he's working goes awry. But fate has other plans, he discovers when he wakes in a world far removed from his own... -
Poison by Megan Derr
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsNine gods ruled the world until the ultimate betrayal resulted in their destruction. Now, the world is dying and only by restoring the Lost Gods can it be saved. Verde is ruled by the mortal reincarnations of their Lost Gods: the Faerie Queen, the Pegasus, and the Unicorn, slain nine centuries ago at the base of their Sacred Oak... -
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Relic by Mia Monroe
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsRunning from my past led me straight into the arms of my future. That is, if evil doesn’t catch me first.New Orleans felt like the right place for me to disappear, but I walked right into trouble... -
No Friends in Abergwyn by Ripley Hayes
Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAbergwyn seemed a lot more exciting with Lorne. And that was before the camper van convoy arrived.Peter Tudor was coming to terms with his quiet life as a district nurse when a bunch of strangers turn up to visit his maybe-boyfriend Lorne Stewart. They bring a mysterious package, secrets and jealousy from the past, and magic that even sceptical Peter can't ignore... -
The Ghost on My Couch by L.A. Gilbert
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 29 ratingsAlex Tanner is a male nurse who divides his time between his job and his television schedule. His idea of the perfect partner, like so many other people’s, is a tall, dark, and handsome man. Preferably alive and breathing...Categorized as:
mystery friends to lovers queer sweet-hero third-person-pov contemporary paranormal m-m -
The Haunting of Lockton by Jaclyn Osborn
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsIvy Grove was a ghost hunter gold mine.At least, that’s what Skyler and his twin brother believe when traveling to the sleepy little town for their ghost hunting web series. Their goal? Investigate the notoriously haunted Lockton Asylum.Paxton doesn’t like people. Well, living ones. His ghost best friend—and housemate—is the only one he lets down his guard with... -
In the Nick of Time by Elle Keaton
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsHave you always thought you were special?Perennially unemployed loner Nick Sedgewick applies to an online job opening with that exact phrase and expects nothing to come of it. It was likely a no-so-funny prank after all.If Doug 'Deadeye' Swanson wanted a new work partner he'd hire one himself. He's perfectly happy on his own and if he plays his cards right he might retire in a few years... -
Just Desserts by Mary Calmes
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 25 ratingsBoone Walton has tried hard to create some distance between himself and his past. He's invested in his new life, his New Orleans art gallery, and his friendship with Scott Wren. Things finally seem to be settling down to normal, and Boone couldn't be happier.Chef Scott Wren wants much more than normal with Boone... -
Coming Up for Air by Amanda Meuwissen
Rated: 4.03 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsIt’s not easy being someone’s fairy tale.Leigh Hurley is making a name for himself among thieves and criminals, even if it isn’t the life he would’ve chosen. He shouldn’t have screwed over the Moretti brothers, though. It landed him in the river with weights on his feet. But somehow he’s escaped certain death... -
Love, Like Ghosts by Ally Blue
Rated: 3.99 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsTruth. Lies. A century-old mystery. What a tangled web… A Bay City Paranormal Investigations story. At age eleven, Adrian Broussard accidentally used his mind to open a portal to another dimension. Now, ten years later, he’s successfully harnessed his strong psychokinetic abilities. In the process, he’s learned the lessons which have become the guiding principles of his life. Absolute truth... -
Hiding the Moon by Amy Lane
A Fish Out of Water/Racing for the Sun Crossover Can a hitman and a psychic negotiate a relationship while all hell breaks loose? The world might not know who Lee Burton is, but it needs his black ops division and the work they do to keep it safe. Lee’s spent his life following orders—until he sees a kill jacket on Ernie Caulfield... -
Dead and Lost by Lou Harper
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsNot all bodies want to remain buried. Leander Thorne makes his living as a psychic pet detective and moonlights as an unofficial police consultant. In his latter role he has agreed to help Detective Cora Bennet from the LAPD with a decades-old murder. Unfortunately, the victims bones refuse to talk to him... -
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Where Foxes Say Goodnight by Sam Burns
It should have been the start of something wonderful . . .Max is living the screenwriter dream. He’s not even thirty, he’s just won an Oscar, and he’s dating the gorgeous star of his movie. But after that one magical night, everything crumbles. The movie star dumps him, and his latest screenplay is a blank document that stubbornly refuses to write itself... -
Hidden: Dating a Demigod Novella (Dating a Demigod Novella Series) by Jayda Marx
Rated: 4.00 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAmbrose is the demigod son of Hades, the ruler of the underworld. He is in charge of punishing those who were wicked in their lifetime, as well as housing lost souls, but there's only one soul Ambrose truly cares about; his mate's... -
Finder Tolan by Megan Derr
Rated: 3.95 of 5 stars · 16 ratingsBorn and raised in nowhere villages, having moved to more of the same, and with a worthless drunk for a master, all Tolan really wants out of life is his own shop and a steady income. Given he's usually left to train himself in Finding magic and do his master's job, that's probably not happening anytime soon... -
Third Solstice by Harper Fox
Rated: 3.94 of 5 stars · 12 ratings(Book 6 in the Tyack & Frayne Mystery Series) Gideon’s managed to swing a few festive days off, and he and Lee are looking forward to celebrating their little girl’s first birthday. But duty calls, and Gideon is too good an officer to ignore the summons. He finds himself on the streets of Penzance, helping police the midwinter Montol celebrations... -
Lord of the White Hell, Book One by Ginn Hale
Kiram Kir-Zaki may be considered a mechanist prodigy among his own people, but when he becomes the first Haldiim ever admitted to the prestigious Sagrada Academy, he is thrown into a world where power, superstition and swordplay outweigh even the most scholarly of achievements...Categorized as:
magic friends to lovers suspense mystery secret-relationship queer political-intrigue fantasy -
Dead in the Desert by Lou Harper
Rated: 3.89 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsJon Cooper used to think he wanted a life free of complications, but that was before he got involved with his roommate, Leander. Jon knows that the only thing he can't lose is what he doesn't have, but where does that leave him? Leander Thorne, on the other hand, is an easygoing bookworm, with an addiction to books and cooking shows, and a soft spot for Jon, despite Jon's grumpiness...
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