Books like 'Putting Down Roots'

Readers who enjoyed Putting Down Roots by Jem Wendel also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.

contemporary  gay romance  small town  hurt-comfort  queer  queer-awakening

  • #Fate by Cambria Hebert

    #Fate by Cambria Hebert

    Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    What’s meant to be will always find a way. Perfection isn’t an illusion. I met it, held it in my hands. But then it slipped right through. Perfection isn’t an illusion. It’s elusive, cleverly evasive, and, in many ways, a horrible tease. I’m not a man to be toyed with. Quiet, thoughtful, and even sometimes careful, but never someone to taunt...
  • Dirty Laundry by Rhys Ford

    Dirty Laundry by Rhys Ford

    Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars
    · 26 ratings
    For 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

    Jonty in Russia by Barbara Elsborg

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 16 ratings
    When 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...
  • Positive Raleigh by Sam E. Kraemer

    Positive Raleigh by Sam E. Kraemer

    Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Raleigh ‘Nemo’ Wallis Positive. One word with a lot of meanings—but not all of them are good.When I remember my time in the Navy as a SEAL, I know one word will define me and shape the course of my life until I die...
  • Wheels Down by Beth Bolden

    Wheels Down by Beth Bolden

    Rated: 4.56 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Shaw 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...
  • Keeping Secrets by Alexa Land

    Keeping Secrets by Alexa Land

    Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    The 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...
  • Alone On the Water by MadLori

    Alone On the Water by MadLori

    Rated: 4.45 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    Sherlock 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...
  • Winning the Dad by Nora Phoenix

    Winning the Dad by Nora Phoenix

    Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 5 of 5
    Explicit and plentiful [?] · 13 ratings
    Vegas isn't my scene, but I might as well have some fun while I'm here for my son's wedding.I've always considered myself straight...until I meet Sawyer at the blackjack table.He's my age, super hot, and funny, and the sparks between us could power the entire casino. When he asks me up to his room, I happily accept.But one night isn't enough for either of us. We want more...
  • Everyday History by Alice Archer

    Everyday History by Alice Archer

    Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Headstrong Ruben Harper has yet to meet an obstacle he can’t convert into a speed bump. He’s used to getting what he wants from girls, but when he develops a fascination for a man, his wooing skills require an upgrade. After months of persuasion, he scores a dinner date with Henry Normand that morphs into an intense weekend. The unexpected depth of their connection scares Ruben into fleeing...
  • Free Me by Mia Monroe

    Free Me by Mia Monroe

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 15 ratings
    Only his ropes can unravel the past. I never thought I’d see him again, but when my former best friend shows up ready to make amends, it becomes clear just how tied to the past I am. He disappeared when I needed him the most, leaving me to navigate my truth alone. Now he’s back.Nixon’s art leaves me vulnerable, defenseless, and I like it...
  • 'Nother Sip of Gin by Rhys Ford

    'Nother Sip of Gin by Rhys Ford

    Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    A Sinners Gin Anthology For Crossroads Gin rock stars Miki, Damien, Rafe, and Forest, life is a Möbius strip of music, mayhem, and murder. Through it all, the sweet, hot moments between tours with lovers, friends, and family keep them sane, healthy, and happy. This Sinners collection features short stories spanning the entire series, from before the first note to after the lights go out...
  • King's Criminals by Ki Brightly, M.D. Gregory

    King's Criminals by Ki Brightly, M.D. Gregory

    Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Fresh Meat In Prison Charley Hughes never imagined he would find himself in lockup, but when King promises that his brothers-in-arms will protect him, Charley expects his time on the inside to be easy. He doesn't factor in Scar, his mean as hell—and handsome—cellmate. Scar seems to have one goal only, to get into Charley’s pants. Charley has never been with a man before and doesn’t plan to start...
  • Friends Like Them by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Friends Like Them by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 11 ratings
    Owen Doyle’s rough beginnings taught him not to form attachments, yet he’s drawn to Tyler Booth like a magnet. Their relationship has blossomed from strangers to the best friends, with each twist in the journey weaving their connection tighter. But Owen has a six-year secret that’s become unbearably painful to keep...
  • Rhythm of Us by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Rhythm of Us by Aimee Nicole Walker

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 24 ratings
    Xavier Cruz has come home after touring with his band for eight years, a life his family and friends would never envy if they knew the truth. Haunted by past decisions, he’s lost himself and his music. Every day is a struggle to recapture them both and forgive the mistakes he’s made. Can Xavier push past his nightmares and hear the melodies all around him again?Ben St...
  • Extended Stay by Mia Monroe

    Extended Stay by Mia Monroe

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    I’ve never been interested in a man before. So why do I want to kiss this one?Promising my sick uncle I’d help fix his rundown hotel in San Diego was just the beginning of my problems. I plan to do what I can, convince him to sell, and then take off, returning to my calm and structured existence back east. I double down on that plan when I arrive to find it in worse shape than I expected...
  • Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand

    Amid Our Lines by Zarah Detand

    Rated: 4.36 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Realising your new boss is the adult star you fancied as a teenager? Awkward.In the snow-kissed Swiss Alps, Adrian’s world is a high-wire act of old-world charm and new-world problems at the Gletscherhaus Hotel. Enter Eric, an undercover London songwriter, seeking a mental break in a place where the Wi-Fi is as patchy as his past relationships...
  • A Foreign Love Affair by Ayano Yamane

    A Foreign Love Affair by Ayano Yamane

    Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars
    · 25 ratings
    Japanese yakuza clan heir Ranmaru just got married on a lavish cruise ship, but things aren't as they seem. The marriage is just for the appearances, and he ends up getting drunk and spending the night... not with his bride, but with the sexy ship captain! When the two men meet again in Italy, it is the start of a spectacular love story...
  • A Healing Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

    A Healing Man by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 17 ratings
    Dario Ramos thought he’d left the fighting behind in the war zone when a life-threatening injury sent him home. But a certain Irishman crossing his path everywhere he went convinced him that his biggest battle might be ahead. Tiernan Callahan is a bigoted jerk. Ramos finds himself constantly in the man’s orbit, even in a city as big as New York...
  • Hannah's Big Night by Mary Calmes

    Hannah's Big Night by Mary Calmes

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    A Jory and Sam Thanksgiving...
  • Jinxed by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

    Jinxed by Sandrine Gasq-Dion

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 15 ratings
    This book is the second in the series and is preceded by FRET. It can be read as a standalone. It contains homosexual relations and harsh language. A sneak peek to book 3 follows the ending. Jinx Jett is a rock superstar. As such, the hunky Skull Blasters drummer thoroughly enjoys the many perks of willing groupies, earning him a reputation as the band slut...
  • Wonderland by Jude Ouvrard

    Wonderland by Jude Ouvrard

    Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars
    · 7 ratings
    Lucas 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...
    Categorized as:
    hurt-comfort  queer  m-m  contemporary  death  angst  christmas
  • Love Means... Endurance by Andrew Grey

    Love Means... Endurance by Andrew Grey

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    A Love Means... Story Together for over ten years, Geoff and Eli built a fulfilling life. Their love and support helped raise their adopted son. Their hard work and dedication grew their farm from raising cattle and boarding horses to expanding into therapy riding sessions. Surrounded by a loving circle of friends, Geoff and Eli couldn’t ask for more...
  • One by E.S. Carter

    One by E.S. Carter

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    One click. One perfect frame. That's all it takes to capture an eternal moment; although most people let them pass by without acknowledgement. I don't waste any. Not a single one. If I see something of beauty, I want to experience it, feel it and immortalise it. If I see someone of beauty, I want to taste them, worship them and memorise them...
  • Seeking Freedom: Interlocking Fragments IV by Michele Notaro, Sammi Cee

    Seeking Freedom: Interlocking Fragments IV by Michele Notaro, Sammi Cee

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Is it close proximity that has Jovany noticing Seth, or for the first time in his life, does he want a man? Jovany~When I check on the guy that helped with my case and realize he’s in a bad spot, I know I need to help him out. That’s how I find myself with two new roommates—Seth and the baby he’s in charge of...
  • Battle It Out by Reese Knightley

    Battle It Out by Reese Knightley

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Master Sergeant Zane Gannon loves nothing more than being a part of his Special Forces unit and kicking ass, but above everything, he values his friendship with Isaac. Sure, they argue and snipe at each other, but it’s all in good fun. Until it isn’t. Now, Isaac is pulling away and something Zane has buried for two decades is resurfacing...
  • Fancy Free by Mia Monroe

    Fancy Free by Mia Monroe

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    The last thing I need is a curious straight guy sniffing around me. So why is he so hard to resist?My life is everything I ever wanted - by design. Being one of the nation’s most sought after wedding planners has led to a life of traveling to glamorous locations, bumping elbows with the rich and famous, and sampling every handsome hunk the world has to offer...
  • The Ghosts Between Us by Brigham Vaughn

    The Ghosts Between Us by Brigham Vaughn

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Dr. 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

    Perfect by Jenny Wood

    Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Adoption 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...
  • The Jock by E.M. Denning

    The Jock by E.M. Denning

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Colby Bennett is straight.At twenty-five, he’s the middle of three boys raised by a single father. He’s always been a jock, so managing a gym feels like his calling. If only being a big brother were as easy. When Colby stumbles on his younger brother trying on feminine clothing, Taylor is angry and embarrassed...
  • Baby Queen by Charlie Novak

    Baby Queen by Charlie Novak

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 9 ratings
    Note to self: falling for the new queen you're mentoring will only lead to trouble.Being broke, single, and homeless after winning the UK's biggest drag show wasn't how my life was supposed to go. I’m meant to be the one with everything, but thanks to an unscrupulous tour company I've got nothing but my image and a mountain of debt...
  • The Outcast by E.M. Denning

    The Outcast by E.M. Denning

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Ethan Bennett is too old for Mickey.Ethan Bennett plays guitar, barbecues as often as possible, and owns a diner. He’s a widower whose life still revolves around his sons, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. When Mickey, a younger man his son Taylor had been helping shows up at the diner, cold to the bone, thin as a rail, Ethan knows he can’t send him away...
  • Something New by Harper Logan

    Something New by Harper Logan

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    A marriage of convenience is one thing. But married to a straight guy? That’s a whole different story… Brooklyn Blackwell’s got a dissertation to finish and tenure to secure - the last thing he’s looking for is romance. But with his advisor’s charity on the brink of losing funding, Brooklyn’s got one shot at saving it...
  • Dear Mona Lisa... by Claire Davis, Al Stewart

    Dear Mona Lisa... by Claire Davis, Al Stewart

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Tom; shy office clerk by day and drawer of foxes by night, wakes up one Monday knowing the most extraordinary week of his life is about to begin. In five days, a lifelong ‘secret’ will be made gloriously public—but will it mean losing the person he loves most?Getting married… It seems only yesterday Tom changed nappies and sang nursery rhymes to a laughing baby...
  • Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott

    Definitely Not Meant to Be by A.W. Scott

    Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    “How long have you been in love with your best friend?” Godric I accepted long ago that I couldn’t have all of the things I wanted in life. Growing up in the way I did, I would be a fool to get my hopes up. But even with that knowledge, I couldn’t resist. I was helpless not to fall into the orbit that was my best friend...
  • War Torn by Andria Large

    War Torn by Andria Large

    Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    My life has been completely turned around with the help of my boyfriend and best friend, Tucker. My depression is under control. I’m not having nightmares or flashbacks anymore. My sister is having a baby. Life with Tucker is great… Or is it? Everything seems to be going so well, almost too well...
  • The Only Thing I Need by Jenny Wood

    The Only Thing I Need by Jenny Wood

    Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars
    · 10 ratings
    Jordan is a new member of "The House"; the transitional housing unit where our previous hero's, Alvin and Josh work. Once a housemate and now an employee; Jordan still suffers from PTSD, nightmares and flashbacks from being held captive and tortured oversea's. He thinks he's beating them back and getting better, until one thing after another proves they're getting worse...
  • Delicious by Sierra Riley

    Delicious by Sierra Riley

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · 17 ratings
    “You’re exactly what I never knew I needed.” “I don’t have time for love.” Gavin Campbell has poured everything he has into starting up his bakery, Delicious...
  • Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins

    Frat Bro by Raleigh Ruebins

    Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars
    · 14 ratings
    This fall, I have one simple rule: don't fall in love with my fake boyfriend.I’m awful at following the rules.One minute I was a nobody in a small Colorado town, getting by on contract work, home renovations, and a dumpster fire of a dating life—and then suddenly, my life was on TV...
  • Truth Or Dare by Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine

    Truth Or Dare by Ella Frank, Brooke Blaine

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 4 of 5
    Explicit open door [?] · 32 ratings
    Truth or Dare is the final book in the Dare to Try trilogy and should only be read after Dare You and Dare Me. Lieutenant Kieran Bailey never saw his life anywhere but the bustling streets of Chicago—but then again, he never saw his life with a boyfriend, either. That all changed when he fell in love with bombshell CEO Sebastian “Bash” Vogel. But it’s one thing to fall in love...
  • Building Forever by Kaje Harper

    Building Forever by Kaje Harper

    Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 3 of 5
    Open door [?] · 7 ratings
    Four years ago, Ryan and John decided they'd wait to get married until it came with full legal equality. Now, thanks to the Supreme Court, that historic moment has finally arrived. But two hundred miles separate Ryan's hectic residency from John's busy campus job...
  • Alex by S.M. Shade

    Alex by S.M. Shade

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 13 ratings
    Ninety- two days. Thirteen weeks. That’s how long it’s been since I lost my love, my best friend. It’s been everything I can do to drag myself out of bed and get back to work, but I know Cooper would want me to move on. I think he’d even be happy if he knew who I want to move on with. The target of my affection, though, may not be so thrilled about my choice. He’s straight. Or he thinks he is...
  • The Baller by August Jones

    The Baller by August Jones

    Rated: 4.14 of 5 stars
    · Steam rating: 5 of 5
    Explicit and plentiful [?] · 14 ratings
    I am not a famous person, but I have been called a king maker. I own the most important talent agency in the world. Music is my life, and no one knows the industry better than I do.But I’m also a Townsend and the Townsends made their money off of the city of Los Angeles itself, which is why I’ve also inherited the ownership of a Major League Baseball team—The L.A. Flames...
  • Foolish Me by Tinnean

    Foolish Me by Tinnean

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    The Light in your Eyes: Book Two A Spy vs Spook Novel Giving up a life as rent boy Sweetcheeks for his lover, William Matheson, was an easy decision for Theo Bascopolis. But years of selling his body and the lingering pain from being thrown out by his father leave Theo worried that Wills, who’s always had his family’s acceptance, can’t truly love him...
  • Restitution: A Love Story by Aubrey Cullens

    Restitution: A Love Story by Aubrey Cullens

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Nate Parker has spent the last few years imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit. His wrongful conviction cost him his job, his fiancée, his reputation, and his hope for the future. His name has been cleared, but after everything he’s lost, he doesn’t know how to find his way back to the life that was taken from him. Parker Campbell is raising his 9-year-old niece, Emma, on his own...
  • Ache by Alison Hendricks

    Ache by Alison Hendricks

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    "You're what makes me whole." Doctor Wes Monroe is just looking for another one-night stand. When he takes a stranger home from the bar, he never expects to see the man again--and definitely not at the hospital he calls home. Kyle Harris is ready for a change. New town. New job. New person to mend his broken heart...
  • Cort—Unbreakable by Felice Stevens

    Cort—Unbreakable by Felice Stevens

    Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Cort 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...
  • Fixer Upper by Jason Collins

    Fixer Upper by Jason Collins

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    KIP: Rule one of hiring a handyman: don’t fall in love with him. My new house needs some renovations, and I’ve got my eye on Ted. He’s a contractor from my support group with a hands-on approach and a million-dollar smile, and I’m thrilled when he agrees to help. As it turns out, this renovation isn’t the only thing he’s got in hand. Every time he’s around, I go weak in the knees...
  • Mettle by Max Hawthorn

    Mettle by Max Hawthorn

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    “You’re safe with me.” Officer Steve Marcus never felt ‘gay enough’ to come out of the closet, throwing himself into his police work rather than dwell on his loneliness. When he finds himself falling for fabulous Angel Valdez, he doesn’t think he can fight his true feelings anymore...
  • Fem by Seth King

    Fem by Seth King

    Rated: 4.13 of 5 stars
    · 8 ratings
    Peter Martin is living two lives inside one body. Although he is openly gay, a lifetime of taunting from his family and community for being “too feminine” has still left him clad in false armor, portraying a character that is entirely fake, but keeps him safe from ridicule all the same. Stand tall, speak deeply, keep a strong handshake, never draw attention, never be “too gay...
  • Into the Light by Carter Quinn

    Into the Light by Carter Quinn

    Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars
    · 9 ratings
    Avery spent years in the blackness, fighting memories of abuse and feelings of self-loathing. His only sanctuary used to be his brother Sam, but after two years of intensive therapy and a long-term relationship with Noah, his world is a much brighter place. Things have changed in the year and a half since Avery and Noah confessed their love for each other...
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