Bøger udgivet af Riptide Publishing

Lots of people have demons, but they're not usually literal.Heaven and Hell are warring on Earth, and Ander Castillo is stuck in the middle. Ever since demons broke through the gates of Hell and decimated humanity, Ander, along with other "blends"-humans with angelic blood-has been hiding in Gardners, one of the few remaining sanctuaries. The decrepit city is watched over by strange, distant angels, who protect its residents but offer no advice or comfort.Leaving Gardners is a death sentence, but love drives Ander to attempt the impossible and set out beyond the walls to find the foster brother he lost long ago. Yet Ander's no true angel, and a few feathers on his neck can't save him from the monsters running wild over Earth. Soon enough he faces an impossible choice: a vicious death or making a deal that will tie him to a bloodthirsty demon. Forever.Everything is not as it seems, though. Ander's left wondering if evil can wear an angel's face or love can hide in a demon's luminous eyes. As he and his new deal-bound "partner" are drawn into the affairs of entities far beyond them, Ander's strength and resolve are tested, and only love and loyalty will give him a chance at a future worth living.

A path through hell is their only way toward a future together.Star leads a dangerous life. Beneath the brutal sun, he helps his father, Ty, guide settlers through the harshest lands. Those who survive the monsters, bandits, and other omnipresent threats often succumb to the elements. Star has his own demons to worry about-ones from his past that he's never been able to outride-but so long as he has Ty and the wind at his back, he's content.Damien Sole is a wanted man. His ragtag family of outlaws is on the run from bounty hunters who would as happily kill them as arrest them, and they're in need of a guide. Star doesn't look like much-with his slim build and cat-like features-but there's ferocity in his sharp green eyes that Damien can't resist. What starts as a spark of lust between the two men flares into an inferno.As ancient secrets surface, they bring new enemies with them. Men like Damien and Star don't die old in their beds, and they don't get a happy ever after. With everything against them, nothing will come easy. Especially not love.

When the war is lost, what else is worth winning?Lt. Francis Ransome is newly promoted and completely miserable. After a year and a half of fighting in Russia's revolutionary fallout, his regiment is retreating across the bitter Siberian wilderness, the war lost. Home has never been so close and yet so far, and any breath could be their last. When they stumble upon the remains of a Czech evacuation, they offer what help they can, but out here, it's every man for himself.Francis is instantly drawn to Sasha Jandá¿ek, a handsome but withdrawn young soldier. The attraction is mutual-and enthralling-but it could spell the end for them both. Despite their best efforts, hesitance grows into friendship, and friendship blossoms into something else. Together, they struggle to conceal both feelings and fear in a world that won't accept either.As war stalks their footsteps and relentless winter gnaws on their morale, the journey home becomes a fight for survival. Francis and Sasha face the threat of discovery, death, and one burning question: even if they make it home, what future can they possibly have together?

Love is the ultimate game changer, and this time it's winner takes all.Now that Vasily is back in his arms, Belphagor's in no hurry to say the words they both long to hear: You're my boy. He's savoring the sweet torture of driving Vasily into a frenzy of unfulfilled need-and seeing just how much both of them can take.Vasily secretly enjoys their increasingly edgy play, until Belphagor auctions him off for a night to the seductive Silk, setting in motion a chain of events that neither could have anticipated. Tight-lipped about the abrupt end of his relationship with the sweet submissive Phaleg, Silk may be at the heart of a conspiracy against the pregnant queen of Heaven-and Phaleg is the angel investigating it.Though Belphagor couldn't be less interested in the games angels play, angelic and demonic intrigues soon overlap, drawing him in against his will until he's forced to break his one inviolable rule: never gamble what you can't afford to lose.

Without heart, there is no art.Cameron has been running for years-from responsibility, disappointment, war, and loss. Despite his fatigue, his body and mind refuse to rest. Returning home and supporting his younger brother helped, until Nick proved he no longer needed Cam's care. But before Cam can decide to move on again, he meets someone else who could use a little help.Victor is done with love. He's done with men. He's also done, apparently, with being a brilliant, if temperamental, artist. Now he's just temperamental and would rather watch his gorgeous handyman dig in the garden than paint. It doesn't take long, however, before Cam's face-replete with stories-has Victor itching to pick up a brush again. If only painting people wasn't fraught with sad memories.Neither plans for more than friendship, but it quickly turns to sex, and then feelings intense enough to send them both running. Only by risking their hearts and sharing the pain of the past can they turn this love into the staying kind.This is part of the Hearts & Crafts series and can be read on its own but is best enjoyed as part of the series.

Some truths can't be left buried.The second world war may be over, but for Leslie Cadmore the scars remain. His beloved dog died, there's a rift between him and his lover Patrick, and his father inexplicably abandoned the family for life in a monastery. Fate's been cruel.A chance meeting with Patrick's sister stirs old memories, and Leslie starts to dig into both his father's motives and long-unanswered questions around the death of Fergus Jackson. The worst of a group of disreputable pre-war friends, Fergus was a manipulative rake who allegedly fell on his own knife in a training accident. An accident for which Patrick was apparently the only witness.Leslie's persuaded to meet Patrick again, and the pair easily fall back into their old dynamic. They uncover connection after surprising connection between their hedonistic old friends and not only Fergus's murder, but Mr. Cadmore's abrupt departure. As their investigation deepens, Leslie and Patrick's bond deepens too. But no reconciliation can occur until Leslie knows for sure that his erstwhile lover wasn't Fergus's killer.

A first shot at love and a last chance at living.Ever since the Loveborne virus wiped out half of humanity decades ago, people steer clear of each other. Twenty-four-year-old Alias Novar is no exception. He lives alone in a windowless apartment with a robot he fixed himself, working two remote jobs and barely earning enough to eat, let alone take care of his sick mother. He's a great runner, but he can't outrun the half-life he leads, enslaved to fear.He also can't keep paying hospital bills on his meager salary. When a lucrative but risky job opportunity presents itself, he's desperate enough to apply-even if his prospective employer is none other than Deon Dehive. Everyone knows Mr. Dehive. He's the business mogul whose mysterious offices lie in the woods outside of New York. And unlike most, he encourages social interactions, claiming that people have gained security with antivirals but haven't regained what they need most: each other.Miraculously, Alias gets hired as Mr. Dehive's personal assistant. From a technical standpoint, the job's easy enough. It's the constant interactions that keep him on edge. Deon's teasing smiles and challenging questions reveal kindness and a keen interest that Alias shouldn't return but is helpless to deny. And therein lies danger. Medicine may have come a long way, but love still kills.

Good things come to those who bake.Grayson used to love baking, but the recipe for running his parents' café changes every day. His dad, overwhelmed by grief, is no help. They can't even talk about Gray's mom, let alone the failing business. Of less help is the crush Gray has on Sporty-a trainer from the local gym. Gray barely has time for his friends, let alone scratching the itch Sporty inspires.Aaron suspects he's not Gray's type, meaning Gray probably isn't into fitness, board games, or redheads. Still, that doesn't stop Aaron visiting the café twice a week. The day Gray finally speaks to him personally could have been the start of something-if Gray hadn't immediately suffered a heart attack.The prescription for Gray's recovery includes exercise, but when Aaron steps in to help, Gray is dubious. He's never been fond of working out. The more he gets to know Aaron, though, the more they seem to have in common, especially when it comes to games. Aaron has been quietly designing his own, and when Gray shows interest, they embark on a quest to complete it together: a hero's journey complicated by family, the demands of their careers, their fledgling relationship, and learning to be honest about what they want out of life.

Free to Good Home: two sweet males, need lots of love!Shane Maguire is over-stressed and under-loved. He's finally landed a respectable job at an upscale restaurant, but the brutal hours have butchered his chances at romance. When his dad suggests he fill the void with a pet, Shane agrees and falls head-over-heels for a gorgeous shelter kitten. There's only one problem: the handsome stranger who claims he saw her first. They can't both adopt her, so Shane proposes they share custody . . . of a cat. What could go wrong?Damian Murphy used to love working from home, but prolonged isolation has made the passing days a blur. He hopes his adorable new tabby will shake things up. Now if only Shane would stop insisting she's their cat and disappear already, same as all the other men in his life. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to deny their smoldering chemistry.Meatball is a kitten. She is very cute, which is important because of reasons. For such a little cat, Meatball has big problems. Her dads are in denial, and as much as she enjoys watching them dance around each other, they need a claw in the right direction. If the three of them are going to be a real family, someone will have to play matchmaker. And Meatball is just the intrepid kitty for the job.

As the competition heats up, these men need a recipe for romance.Tristan Delgado has talent. How else could he have landed a job working as a pastry chef for one of the most sought-after caterers in Seattle? What he doesn't have is money. He's barely making ends meet as it is, and when his sister escapes an abusive husband, he doesn't hesitate to take her in. Twice the people means twice the mouths to feed, and Tristan is running out of options.Henry Isaacson is cocky, and he's okay with that. He has a job he loves, a successful pastry shop, and he's been chosen to appear on Get Baked, an elite baking competition. This is his chance to prove he's a cut above the very best and get the recognition he deserves. But his excitement soon deflates like a poorly timed soufflé when he encounters the last person he expects: his old rival, Tristan.The prize money is just what Tristan needs, but once he realizes he'll be competing against Henry, everything changes. Henry's always been smug, annoyingly handsome, and even more annoyingly talented. Tristan can't afford distractions, but the heat between them is undeniable. Someone will win, and someone will lose, but one thing's for sure: they're in for more than a dash of romance.

When supernatural secrets collide, it'll take more than coffee to brew the perfect love.When Ky Hernández bonded with his familiar, Zuri, his life changed forever. Their connection turned him into a practicing witch and led him to his calling as a medimagical professional. However, it totally tanked his love life-what guy would settle for eternal second place behind a parrot? So Ky keeps his witchy nature under wraps and sticks to hookups with humans, which can never go anywhere. But the mouthwatering barista at the coffee shop next door makes him thirst for more than a caffeine fix.The charms Ewan Jones uses to appear human are inconvenient, disorienting, and . . . necessary. Ewan and his siblings are achubyddion, metaphysical healers whose powers are coveted by unscrupulous supernatural beings. And let's face it: all supes are unscrupulous, given the right incentive. He's grateful for the protections that hide his little family, and for the barista job that keeps them housed and fed. He's just so lonely. And his regular, Ky, the super-hot, commitment-averse EMT, seems like the perfect candidate for a one-night shot at intimacy. After all, humans are no threat.It takes a clumsy coffee shop intern, a mysterious werewolf epidemic, and one snarky parrot to unravel their pasts-and give them a chance at a future.

Love doesn't keep business hours. Ronnie Kent has been an executive escort for a long time. She knows the lines, the moves, and she definitely knows better than to fall for a client. But when she's hired for a night with the gorgeous, mysterious Diana Silver, her professionalism can't hold a candle to the heat between them. Diana Silver is already overworked and undervalued by her wealthy parents, and now they're pressuring her to date a "suitable" colleague. Hiring an escort would never have occurred to her, but when her best friend treats her to a relaxing night with Ronnie, sparks fly. Diana hires Ronnie again. And again. Soon, the women don't have an arrangement so much as a full-blown affair. But money can't buy everything, and Ronnie can't risk blurring the lines between personal and professional, no matter the reward. It'll take more than a healthy paycheck to turn their steamy nights into a life together--and if they try, it could cost them everything.

Customer service has never been this personal. Robin Christopher, beleaguered retail worker, isn't having an easy November. His boss is raising stress levels planning a Black Friday to end all Black Fridays, his family doesn't understand him, and his best friend thinks his new crush is a hallucination brought on by watching too many episodesof Doctor Who. Archie Levine dresses in Victorian style and divides his time between caring for his young son and creating weird and wacky steampunk gadgets from bits of old junk-when he's not looking after his mum and trying to keep on good terms with his ex. The last thing he's got time for is a relationship, but the flustered young man he met while disembowelling a fridge is proving very tempting. When his mum's social conscience is roused by a local store with a cavalier attitude to the homeless, former rough sleeper Archie shares her anger. Little does he know that Robin works for that same store. When Archie finds out he's sleeping with the enemy, things could cut up very rough indeed.

They'll do anything to save their children's lives, even if it means working together. Kera Montgomery is still mourning the sudden death of her husband, Morpheus, when her youngest son falls victim to a mysterious plague. With no medicinal cure, Kera must travel to the Long Lakes, where magical griffons capable of healing any ailment reside. As an heiress unused to grueling travel, Kera struggles with the immense emotional and physical strain of her journey-one made more complex when she crosses paths with her husband's former mistress, Aurora. Aurora's daughter is afflicted with the same plague as Kera's son, so despite their incendiary history, the two women agree to set aside their differences and travel together. The road is fraught with dangers, both living and dead. Each night, old battlegrounds reanimate with ghosts who don't know they've died, and murderous wraiths hunt for stray travelers caught out after dark. If Kera, Aurora, and their children are going to survive, they'll need to confront the past that's been haunting them since their journey began. And perhaps in the process, discover that old friends may not be as trustworthy as they once thought-and old enemies may become so much more.