The Art of Love Series by Merry Farmer

The art of love is falling for your enemy without ruining everything… Ceramic artist Robbie Hawthorne is dedicated not only to his art, but to keeping the arts center and school housed at his family’s ancestral estate vibrant and flourishing. But when the family runs into financial trouble and a heartless corporation offers to buy the estate to turn it into an amusement park, Robbie has to get creative to try to stop them... moreThe art of love is falling for your enemy without ruining everything… Ceramic artist Robbie Hawthorne is dedicated not only to his art, but to keeping the arts center and school housed at his family’s ancestral estate vibrant and flourishing. But when the family runs into financial trouble and a heartless corporation offers to buy the estate to turn it into an amusement park, Robbie has to get creative to try to stop them. That includes working together with a man he has nothing in common with and who instantly irritates him… Toby Tillman has fought to overcome his working-class roots and to make a name for himself in the financial world. Now he finds himself pitted against his old mentor in the quest to save the Hawthorne House Arts Center, which is run by exactly the kind of entitled nobs he’s always hated. Worse still, he finds himself constantly hot for Robbie, a man he should utterly despise. And then comes the road trip and a stay at a hotel with only one bed… Can two men from opposite sides of the tracks find enough common ground to rescue a family’s heritage? And can enemies end up becoming each other’s salvation?Thrown is an enemies-to-lovers gay romance that includes one tight-knit family and one family disaster, a Renaissance faire, a reality competition, a road trip, only one bed, constantly being mistaken for boyfriends, an unlikely rescue in a moment of humiliation, a familiar scene involving a pottery wheel, and a few things that would get this blurb flagged for naughtiness if I included them in the description. Oh! And a cameo by The Brotherhood! less

The art of love is listening to your heart when your head tells you what you’re doing is so, so wrong…... moreThe art of love is listening to your heart when your head tells you what you’re doing is so, so wrong….Painter Rhys Hawthorne is a rising star in the art world and a favorite teacher at the Hawthorne Community Arts Center, but his inspiration has been stuck for weeks, he’s still grieving for his sister, who lost her life in a car crash, and his personal life is a mess…because he can’t stop thinking about younger, vulnerable Early Stevens, who is not only confused about their life, they’re an employee of the family.Getting tangled in a forbidden infatuation is the last thing Rhys needs…Early is still coming to grips with being nonbinary and figuring out what they want in their life, and now their parents have kicked them out of the house. The only light in their life is the Hawthorne family, who have taken them in. But living at Hawthorne House only puts Early into forced proximity with his crush, Rhys. They might not know what they want or how to navigate the pitfalls in front of them, but they know they want Rhys.But will one night of accidental passion between Rhys and Early help both of them get unstuck and find their path, or will their scandalous feelings for each other put the entire Hawthorne family in jeopardy? less

Can a campy train wreck make a strait-laced grinch love Christmas?RAF officer Alfie Spears isn’t crazy about spearheading his unit’s Christmas charity drive, which is taking place at the Hawthorne Community Arts Center. Christmas is definitely not his favorite time of year, but since his father was once a student at the school that occupied Hawthorne House before the arts center, he’s willing to give it a go... moreCan a campy train wreck make a strait-laced grinch love Christmas?RAF officer Alfie Spears isn’t crazy about spearheading his unit’s Christmas charity drive, which is taking place at the Hawthorne Community Arts Center. Christmas is definitely not his favorite time of year, but since his father was once a student at the school that occupied Hawthorne House before the arts center, he’s willing to give it a go. Stepping away from his usual duties might be just what he needs to decide whether to continue on in the military or join civilian life.It was all supposed to be calm and low-key, but then Blaine Hawthorne happened….Blaine Hawthorne has really stuffed it all up. One outstandingly horrific mistake in the interior design business he ran with a friend caused the entire company to tank. Now he’s hiding out at Hawthorne House for the holidays because he’s convinced his ex-business partner is out for revenge.The last thing he expected was to jump enthusiastically into the new project of assisting Alfie and jingling his bells….Blaine is as determined to get Alfie to like Christmas as Alfie is to get Blaine to face his problems. But will their holiday fling be over once the presents are unwrapped or will they ring in a new year and a new life together? less

The Art of Love is awakening to things you never knew about yourself with someone you thought was just a friend….Nick Turner has always been the big, shy, silent type. He’s always let his metalwork and blacksmithing skills speak for him. But now, as a widower with two small children to raise in the midst of the eccentric Hawthorne family and a sculpture that needs completing to make the deadline for a national competition, he knows he’s in over his head... moreThe Art of Love is awakening to things you never knew about yourself with someone you thought was just a friend….Nick Turner has always been the big, shy, silent type. He’s always let his metalwork and blacksmithing skills speak for him. But now, as a widower with two small children to raise in the midst of the eccentric Hawthorne family and a sculpture that needs completing to make the deadline for a national competition, he knows he’s in over his head. Thank God for Baxter Hawthorne dropping into his life… Bax Hawthorne is the black sheep of his family. He’s an accountant in a sea of artists. But that doesn’t mean he’s not just as free-spirited and ambitious as his kin. The one thing he never thought he’d be, however, was a father. But when he’s thrown into proximity with Nick and ends up helping to take care of his kids in a pinch, all that might change.Nick could have sworn he was straight, but the closer he gets to Bax, the more he questions that. Could one night of sparks between them end up forging a bond that brings the whole family together?Forged is a low-angst, single father, bi-awakening, friends-to-lovers story filled with heart…and a lot of meddling by the eccentric Hawthorne family. Look for a cameo by The Brotherhood as well! less

The Art of Love is risking your career for a fake engagement that could unravel your web of lies… Rafe Hawthorne is a master glassblower with a commitment problem. He loves his life of artistic and romantic freedom, but the older he gets, the more he realizes he needs help to reach the heights of the glass world. As much as he hates to admit it, his old rival, Jake Mathers, might be the only person who can help him level up his career.And Rafe has something Jake desperately needs, too... moreThe Art of Love is risking your career for a fake engagement that could unravel your web of lies… Rafe Hawthorne is a master glassblower with a commitment problem. He loves his life of artistic and romantic freedom, but the older he gets, the more he realizes he needs help to reach the heights of the glass world. As much as he hates to admit it, his old rival, Jake Mathers, might be the only person who can help him level up his career.And Rafe has something Jake desperately needs, too.Jake has always been the charming sweet-talker with more talent than anyone else in the room. He has the connections, the know-how, and the ambition to take the glass world by storm. At least, everyone thinks he does. In reality, Jake has built his career on a mountain of lies. The only true things about him are his desire to move to the UK and his feelings for Rafe.When all those lies suddenly unfurl, will the fallout take Rafe down, too, or will the two men come together to save each other and make the lies true?Blown is a fake engagement, rivals to lovers romance with enough heat to melt glass! less

The Art of Love is having the wrong numbers, but being in the right place at the right time…Leland Page counts himself lucky to have been given the job of running Hawthorne House’s increasingly busy kitchen and teaching cooking and baking courses at the arts center. He feels like he has to prove himself to Robert Hawthorne to keep his place, so when he finds his former best friend’s brother in severe distress and brings him home, he isn’t sure whether Ean Jones will make him or break him... moreThe Art of Love is having the wrong numbers, but being in the right place at the right time…Leland Page counts himself lucky to have been given the job of running Hawthorne House’s increasingly busy kitchen and teaching cooking and baking courses at the arts center. He feels like he has to prove himself to Robert Hawthorne to keep his place, so when he finds his former best friend’s brother in severe distress and brings him home, he isn’t sure whether Ean Jones will make him or break him.Kicked out of his parents’ house for being gay, Ean knows he’s in trouble. All he has to his name is a lottery ticket and hope. So when Leland comes to his rescue, he’s ready and willing to do anything for his new hero. But he didn’t imagine that would mean helping Leland create the most magnificent Valentine’s Day feast Hawthorne House has ever seen!Sugared is a low-angst, brother’s best friend, unlikely rescue story that involves lots of cake and a hope for a better life. This short novella originally appeared in the Candy Volume 2 - Wrong Number Valentine's Day anthology. less