Simon Peters and his partner Mark Smith face a number of challenging life events in the fourth and final volume of this heart-warming saga. Because of his time working on the streets after being kicked out of home by his father, Mark worries he may have contracted HIV. Despite knowing the lack of treatment options if he were to test positive -- this is the late 1980’s before the age of retro-viral drugs -- Mark is determined to know his fate. Things become complicated when Mark receives a letter from his father wanting to re-establish contact. Roy entering their lives presents further challenges, ones which ultimately threaten Simon and Mark’s continued happiness. Gay teens Sam and Billy play an increasingly important part in Simon and Mark’s lives, often regarding the older men as surrogate fathers/big brothers. Can this unconventional family pull together and become stronger, despite all the world has thrown at them?

Fireside Romance Book 4: Glowing Embers

“What time did Tom and Cliff say they were coming?” Mark asked, releasing me and sitting on the edge of the bed.


“Sometime after lunch I think. Why?” I hoped he wasn’t creasing the duvet cover.


“I want to go down to the pet shop and buy Noel some toys, proper feeding bowls and the like.”


“Okay.” I readily agreed because the supermarket was just down the street from the pet shop and I’d be able to get more bacon. I should probably pick up another packet of sausages, too. Does Tom prefer pork or beef? Should I ring them up and ask?


“Stop it,” Mark said, reaching out to take my hand.


I smiled and let out a breath. “Sorry.”


As the weather was still quite mild, we decided to walk. It would help to burn off some of the calories we’d been piling on over Christmas, too. 


“Aw, isn’t that cute?” Mark pointed to a furry, igloo-type bed. “That would keep him nice and snug.”


Chapter 5