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

“Thanks for…being there today,” he said quietly.


I kissed the top of his head. “Always.”


He snuggled in closer. “Despite today, I like coming away on holiday. Makes the work days worthwhile.”


“Uh huh.” I’d started playing with his hair; I always found it distracting. “Looking forward to France?”


“Yeah.” Mark sighed and leant into my impromptu scalp massage. “I wonder if Cliff will be able to order the meals in French.” 


During our holiday to Menorca, Cliff had shown off by ordering meals in Spanish. He’d come unstuck though when one of our waiters turned out to be English and couldn’t understand him.


Chapter 41