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

Helen and Paul decided to host a barbecue in their backyard on Sunday afternoon. It was something of a combined Father’s Day and my and Mark’s birthday celebration.


Tom and Cliff drove over, bringing Steve with them. Later, Billy’s mum and dad showed up, too. We rarely got to see the Tranters. As we ate, I discovered that Charles did something in insurance and Fiona was a teaching assistant. 


Roy sat to the side of the main group and said little unless he was directly addressed. I noticed with concern how Roy favoured his left hand when eating, not that it took much manual dexterity to eat the food Paul and Helen provided. 


“Lager anyone?” Paul asked, holding up a few bottles.


Tom, Roy and I declined. I went on to explain that I wasn’t much of a drinker but given a choice I preferred bitter.


“By gum, you can tell he’s from Yorkshire,” Mark said, affecting a Yorkshire accent.


Chapter 46