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

“Dad, could you pack up all my clothes and donate them to charity or something?” Mark asked when we’d made our way back downstairs.


Roy echoed my question about Mark keeping something.


Mark smiled at me and said again that I was all he needed. 


It seemed darker in the living room than earlier. I glanced at my watch and saw it wasn’t quite 2 P.M. A quick look out of the window showed the cause. The sky was filled with dark and angry-looking rain clouds.


I shivered, knowing we were in for a storm. “I think we need to be heading back to the cottage.”


Roy asked if we wanted to sit out the storm with him but Mark explained the boys would worry.


We went into the hallway and Roy got us our coats. Handing mine to me, he said, “Sorry again…for earlier, when…” 


I nodded. “You were protecting your son. That’s understandable.” Silently I added, Better late than never. 


“Drive safely,” Roy said, opening the front door.


“I will,” Mark said, holding out his hand. 


Chapter 40