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’ll be back just after eleven, but Cliff has written the number of the pub on the pad next to the phone if you need us for anything.”


“Thanks,” Sam said. “Now go. You don’t want to be late.” He practically pushed Cliff, Tom, and me out of the door.


Despite Sam’s worrying, we arrived at the pub in plenty of time to get decent seats. Tom started to tell me about a Jack Russell Terrier he’d befriended on his post round the previous week when I heard someone say, “Room for another?”


I turned in my seat and was surprised to see Steve behind me. Getting to my feet, I shook his hand. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here…not that you aren’t welcome.”


“Paul and Helen decided not to go out so they didn’t need me to baby-sit. And Paul told me Mark was due to sing here tonight. So I thought I’d come listen.”


Chapter 18