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

“We ought to get a set. I could keep an eye on you while you're on your round,” Cliff said, no doubt remembering the time Tom had been stabbed and almost died.


“The range isn’t all that good. It’s all right between Sam’s and my house, but you cover a wide area on your route don’t you?” Billy asked.


Billy’s parent’s had agreed he could stop at Sam’s for New Year’s Eve. Helen also had said Sam could have a small glass of wine or something at midnight. This came as a surprise to us, because Helen had always been opposed to Sam drinking alcohol. Though Paul had been a little more liberal, especially if Sam was having a meal, too.


Mark and I had gone out and bought a bottle of champagne from the supermarket when we knew Tom and Cliff would be spending New Year’s Eve with us. So, once Big Ben struck twelve, we all clinked our glasses and wished each other a happy 1988.


Chapter 10