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

“Did you have a good journey down?” 


“There was a bit of a hold up on the motorway coming into Liverpool, but I’d left plenty of time so it wasn’t a problem.”


I nodded, even though I knew Mark couldn’t see it.


“Okay, I’ve just heard the shower water stop, so I’ll give you a ring this evening.”


I was disturbed by Mark’s unenthusiastic sign off. If Vernon was gay, why wouldn’t Mark want the man to know he was taken? Surely Mark didn’t mind some people knowing he was mine? I was so distracted by this, it wasn’t until later that I realised Mark had used the phone in the room rather than the phone card.


As I busied myself scrubbing the cupboard under the sink I gave myself a severe talking to. Mark wore my ring. He’d kissed me goodbye in the street earlier. 


I got on with preparing dinner, not that I had much of an appetite. Cooking for one reminded me too much of my life before Mark had come into it. 


Chapter 31