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

Mark stood bravely at the open graveside, his eyes fixed on a piece of paper as he stoically read “Stop All the Clocks” by WH Auden.


Roy had also asked me to read something, but left the choice to me. I’d pored over many poetry anthologies and finally came up with “Autumn Rain” The poem talked about how the mourners shouldn’t weep because the deceased isn’t there, he’s various elements of nature, including the eponymous autumn rain. 


Finished reading, I folded the piece of paper and slipped it back in my pocket. Mark and I joined hands as the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground.


Chapter 57