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 wasn’t finished however. “Unless Sam and Billy discovered it, that is.”


“It’s okay, love.” Cliff rested a hand on his partner’s belly. “I’m sure there’ll be some trifle left.”


It soon grew time for Mark and Tim to retake the stage for the second half of their performance. 


By changing the gender references in some of the lyrics, their next number, “A Fellow Needs a Girl” from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Allegro, became “A Fellow Needs a Guy.”


They continued with other romantic songs, a highlight for me being “Friendly Persuasion,” which was one of Gran’s favourites. I made a mental note to tell her Mark had sung it.


Mark and Tim’s treatment of “The Man I Love” drew perhaps the most fervent applause of the evening. I clapped along with them, but had to confess to misty eyes, too. 


They ended their concert with a rousing version of “Can’t Help Loving That Man of Mine,” the audience joining in on the chorus.


Chapter 19