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

“Yes,” Mark said, shooting Billy a look of understanding.


Charles, who’d stood in front of the gas fire while delivering his speech, continued. “This is rather awkward.” He emphasised this by tugging on one of the buttons on his cardigan. “We know Billy and Sam are…close friends and—”


“He’s my boyfriend. I love him,” Billy spoke up, his voice cracking with barely suppressed emotion. 


“Yes, sorry.” Charles held up a placating hand before going back to twisting the same cardigan button. “I didn’t mean to belittle your feelings for Sam.” Turning back to us, he continued, “Now obviously we want Billy to move with us. I’m told they have some excellent schools down there and he’d get a good education, probably better than the one he’s getting here.” 


“No,” Billy protested and Charles held up his hand again.


“But we realise Billy is settled in at his current school. The academic year is fully underway.”


Chapter 60