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

“I’d forgotten Valentine’s Day was so close. Hang on. I’ll get Mark for you.”


Mark must have heard some of the conversation, because he’d come into the living room and was standing next to me. I handed him the phone.


“It’s on Sunday, isn’t it? Thanks for reminding me, I’d have a pretty sulky Simon on my hands if I’d forgotten.”


“Yeah, you’ve got a point. But so long as we can put in some romantic numbers, too. The crowd will expect it.”


The two kept talking. It seemed Tim wanted us to go over to his house Saturday afternoon so he and Mark could practise. I had no problem with that. I loved hearing my man sing but knew he wouldn’t be comfortable doing it if he hadn’t had time to go over a few songs with Tim before the performance. 


When Mark hung up I gave him a hug and asked, “What was all that about the crowd would expect it?”


Chapter 14