George Hunt can think of nothing he’d like more than to skip the high-society fundraiser where he has to guard a precocious seventeen-year-old girl and her judgmental therapist, but there’s no way out of it. If anything bad were to happen and he wasn’t there to stop it, he’d never forgive himself. So even though she’s grilling him about his dating life and the good doctor is psychoanalyzing him, he’s going to soldier on, because protecting his charges is what a knight does.

Chris Gardner has a good life in New Orleans. He owns a club in the French Quarter, has a wonderful crew of people who call it home, loyal, caring friends, and even gets his kid fix by helping to take care of his chef’s daughter. What he doesn’t have is that special someone to share his days and nights with. He thought he did, once upon a time, but that man left to find fame and fortune, became a rockstar, and never returned. And that’s fine. Life isn’t a fairy tale. Now if only he could find a band to play music in his club at night, that would be a Christmas miracle.

What’s a loyal son worth? Jasha Kozlov is apparently worth two hundred thousand dollars, both to his father, who is deeply in debt to ruthless businessman Kaleb Bronson and to Bronson himself. When Valentin Kozlov can’t come up with the cash to pay his debt to real estate magnate Kaleb Bronson, Kaleb offers to accept Jasha in lieu of the cash. Jasha is stunned but agrees to the deal in order to save his father’s life.

Jacob hoped there was more to life than money and was about to find out the hard way. Richard Worthington longs for a boy of his own. One to nurture and care for, pamper and spoil. His friends in the lifestyle found their forever partners, so why’s it so difficult for him to find the same? Sugar baby after sugar baby leaves Richard wondering if it’s worth it. Their paths cross in a chance meeting, though it’s a life-or-death decision that ultimately brings them together.

Socially prominent and media darlings, the world thinks their lives are a fairytale. It is, but not the way people think. Larry is used to hiding the cruel way he’s treated, blamed for any and every thing that doesn’t go the way his mother and three older siblings want them too. His sole comfort is his stuffed dog, Mr. Bingles, his collection of vintage sci fi toys, and the imaginary daddy he pretends cares and loves him.

Joey thinks he's broken. I think he's beautiful. Joey's body began betraying him years ago. With his world in chaos, his new friends search for a Daddy to cherish him. When his ex-boss volunteers for the position, Joey panics. Can Daddy Tucker's gentle touch and soothing presence reassure Joey that he can trust him with all his pain, or will fear of being broken beyond repair keep him from the man he's wanted for years? Welcome to The Tap Tavern where this chosen family of boys are braver than they think, and their Daddies are ready to be what they want and so much more.

Forget the jelly doughnuts. Hanukkah's about to get spicy.... Benji Roth couldn't be happier. His bakery in the small town of Serenity, Pennsylvania is thriving, and he doesn’t even mind being the only Jewish person in town. Except when his cousin, Issac, comes to visit, of course. Everyone is friendly—well, almost everyone. Gorgeous Gil Navarro, the owner of the spice shop across the street, comes in every morning for a muffin but barely looks at him and never says a word.

Maybe I have an overactive imagination, but the hot guy next door totally gives off serial killer vibes. Why else would he know how long it takes to bleed out from a wound? Yeah, ok, so I asked, but it was research. Being an author definitely makes for some odd questions (someone had better clear my browser history when I die, that's all I'm saying). It's not like I'm stalking my hot neighbor or anything—there's nothing wrong with watching him out my window. Although I might have my own stalker (and not the cute harmless kind), which is kind of terrifying.

I’ve never been attracted to guys. I definitely would never be attracted to a privileged, cocky bastard like Brad Henning. Even though I’ve only been at St. Lawrence University for a few weeks, this prick and his friends are on a mission to mess with me—a scholarship kid who I guess they don’t think belongs at a prestigious school intended for the nation’s elite.

Brighton Stanley lived under the control of his strict parents until he finished college. After toughing it out another year and saving every dime he made, he was all too happy to be in his first apartment away from their meddling. But that didn’t matter to them, and they kept his room just as he’d left it, awaiting his return. But Brighton knew there was nothing that would make him ever go back.

When I lost my partner of eight years, I felt like my world was crashing down around me. In order to feel some relief from the overwhelming emptiness, I’ve found myself sending him texts every year on his birthday, even though I know he will never answer. That is, until someone responds to my text. Jace is charming, sweet, and everything I could ever want. But how can I accept someone new in my life when Daniel’s only been gone two years? Even so, Jace rewrites my entire world with every word and smile he gives me, and it’s becoming harder to not give in and hand him my heart.

Being traded to the Seattle Vipers has left me with mixed feelings. On the one hand, they’re my team, the team I’ve loved and supported since I was a kid, but on the other hand, he’s here. Him. Ant Decker. Infamous NHL bad boy. Right wing to my left. A man who’s made it his sole purpose in life to be better than me.

Sometimes, Rory Rutherford smells like candy. Usually, he smells like freshly baked bread, but such is the life of a baker. It was no accident Rory was in the park that day, but he couldn’t have foreseen what would transpire by the fountain.

This year is my last chance to take the Titans to victory. I cost us the cup last year, but I'm not making the same mistake again. And I'm determined to get drafted by the end of this season. The success I anticipate is built on three years of razor-sharp focus and hard-earned respect. Not to mention how much of my personal life I sacrificed for hockey. The Titans trust me to lead them and I won't betray that. Nothing could possibly go wrong. Until the former love of my life and current arch nemesis, Cameron Martinez, skates back into my life.

Weirdly, people don’t react overly well when you’re caught standing over the dead body of a murderer who’d walked free. It’s not that I thought my fellow homicide detective would rejoice when he saw what I’d done, but is a pat on the back too much to ask for? Maybe a gold star at the very least? The problem is that the person who caught me is Gabriel, the only person I care for and adore… and he’s prepared to look the other way if I leave homicide and promise to never kill again.