M. Tasia – författare

HEART MURMURFleeing from his existence as an outcast child in a fanatic cult, Finn Masterson makes his way to Los Angeles, only to find an unforgiving city with little prospects for a teenager with few life skills. After years of living on the streets in DTLA, doing anything and everything required to survive, Finn finds a home, a job, and kindness with Saint Jeffrey, who is renovating a grand old building mere blocks from Skid Row. Finn knows better than to trust a good thing, so when harassing texts and calls culminate in threats to the people he has come to care about—especially a former Marine, Miguel Fernandez—Finn returns to the streets to keep those he loves safe. But one single-minded, stubborn warrior brings Finn back into the fold, and they defeat his last remaining enemy giving them the freedom to pursue their forever.

GOING IT ALONEToo many ghosts live inside James Masterson's head, and they weren't the company he sought. Actually, he prefers no one's company, but he finds himself surrounded by overly friendly, meddlesome types while visiting his brother at The Gates in DTLA. Somehow, James becomes the unwelcome subject of Detective Richard Ross's attention, and, before he knows how it happened, James is caught up in Ross's family drama. When a madman tries to kill Ross's sister and her daughter, James's special ops Army training kicks in, and he becomes their hero, something he knows down to his core, he is not. The thing about crazy killers is they never give up, and when the final showdown comes to a head, James knows he'll do anything to keep the family he has found, especially the love of a sexy detective.

COURTING DISASTERNothing in Joey Tall's life is for real. Not his name, the background he supplied to his bosses at The Gates, or the energy and good health he exudes. None of it is true. And no one can ever know what's really going on. Ever. Unpacking his secrets would truly end his life. Insult to injury, the incredibly handsome LAPD officer who's been hitting on Joey is a dream come true. But no way in hell is he letting a cop into his life. He doesn't have a death wish, and tempting fate is the last thing Joey's going to do, no matter how much he yearns for a man he can't have.

STRADDLING THE LAWIn the not what he expected column, Brad Williams is shocked when LAPD Captain Eric Meyers shows an interest. Tempting…but, no. While Brad might be working at The Gates, and seems all law-abiding, in his former life he was a cat-burglar, and Eric knows it. There's no point in starting something that won't go anywhere, especially since Brad's sure all the captain's feeling is residual gratitude that Brad took a bullet for him. Yet, what they learn about each other becomes deeper and more meaningful than either of them expects.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLEWhen Sawyer Hudson has a run-in with the mercurial executive chef at The Gates where Sawyer works as a dishwasher, he's certain he's going to lose his job. For anyone that would be horrible. For Sawyer it's a death sentence for the person he loves most in the world: his disabled brother.Award-winning world-renowned executive chef, Alexander Larsen, has time for his kitchen, his culinary creations, and little else. As a member of a family known for its wealth and philanthropy, Alexander enjoys privilege few can imagine.Living at the extremes of the life situation spectrum, Sawyer and Alexander find themselves thrown together in a series of events that bring the men closer in unexpected ways, and opposites attract becomes the understatement of the year.Not everyone is happy about the burgeoning love affair, but these two men have found something neither ever expected, and to hell with anyone who tries to keep them apart.

BONUS FEATURENORSE CODETalk about preconceived notions. NYPD Detective Anders Nilsen is sure Trey Stoneham is the scum of the earth: a tell-all journalist with a sketchy PI background. But truth is stranger than fiction, and it turns out Trey is a hero twice over.When a serial killer Trey helped put away escapes prison, Anders has to stick to Trey like glue, which happens to be a job he'd gladly take on for a lifetime.The road to falling in love is fraught with emotional and perilous landmines, and Trey is fine facing danger – he's dodged a bullet before. Well, not really, but it didn't kill him. Falling for a real-life Viking might do him in, and what a way to go.Unless Trey's able to face down the demon from his past and put him away for good, happily-ever-after will remain the stuff of novels.

A YOUNG MAN'S FANCYDavid – M. TasiaDumped and depressed, David flees town to work on remodeling a lake house for the summer without telling his best friend, Jacob. But best friends don't leave each other hanging, and Jacob's been missing David. Uninvited, but welcome at the lake house, Jacob engineers a hat-trick of surprises that just might change both their futures.No Bunny Like You – Susan Mac NicolColin's neighbor is so freakin' delicious, he positions himself on his balcony to get a glimpse of Dashiell dancing in his room, his sexy body twisting and turning to the music. Which would've made Dash saving Colin from nearly drowning in a bunny suit mortifying in the extreme, except Dash seems to have been spying on Colin as much as he's been checking out Dash.Homecoming – Emily MimsThe new guy in Clay's acting class had way more going from him than swoony singing techniques. Justin clocked Clay the minute he walked into the practice room, and knew they were going to be more than friends. Complicated family dynamics almost scuttle their plans to go to Homecoming, but both guys man up and learn whose people will stand by them no matter what.Hold The Line - Kitty BardotA big defensive lineman in a town where high school football is everything, Terry is harboring a secret that'd ostracize him even more than he already is. His best friend Chris is his saving grace in all the ways that matter, and in ways Terry can't share with anyone. But when push comes to more than a shove, Chris gives Terry the greatest gift of all.Shake Me Down – Elle WrightEverett's senior year in a new school yields more than he could've ever expected. The nerdy genius he's been secretly crushing on asks him out and their chemistry is so combustible, they have to slow things down or they'll never get to know each other. And Everett wants to know Zach, inside and out, like no one else ever will.

ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTEDAhhh, the good life. Goodbye Navy SEALs, hello rehabbing a rundown lake house he inherited. Being a former Lieutenant Commander will come in handy for Brick Matthews. He gets to boss himself around while tearing down a dilapidated shed and re-roofing his new home, among a hundred other things.First he has to get rid of the smarmy real estate agent who's been trying to buy the property for years. Sounds easy, until Brick uncovers layers of secrets, including attempted murder.In the middle of the intrigue is a buttoned-down CEO with amazing blue eyes.Roman Furrow is so far from the type of man who hits Brick's radar, he doesn't see what's coming until it's almost too late.Having never given away his heart before, Brick is damn sure not going to let anyone or anything hurt the man he's fallen for. He's been trained for this – he'll protect him with his life.

WINTER BREAKOliver – M. TasiaWill doesn't want to be tutored, even though he knows he needs it. He has to maintain his grades to keep his scholarship to USC. He's so not feeling the condescension coming from his tutor, Oliver, but he has to admit, the dude's into what he's doing and he's smart. What Will didn't expect was to be into Oliver.Family Ties – Emily MimsTexas A&M is huge and the chance Brody would run into Lemar next semester are slim to none. They share burritos before Brody has to hit the road to get home for the holidays. Texts, phone calls, and family drama make being apart worse, especially since they barely know each other. But it seems what they started has more promise than either of them anticipated.Slipping – Elle WrightAn unexpected matchmaking attempt by a member of his study group has Rad reeling. Sky is too handsome, too self-assured, and too much of a distraction. Their start holds promise, but dark twists and turns, and a fair amount of heartbreak, scuttles what Rad thought would be something with staying power.Unplugged – Kitty BardotAfter an amazing kiss, Liam and Brady plan to spend a whole day together before they head home for winter break. But bad weather has Brady leaving sooner than expected, and when Liam gets home, he learns the fam is going to their cabin – no phone, no electronics. Brady's sure one kiss isn't enough to bridge the unexplained silence, but Liam surprises him in more ways than one.Study Buddy – Michael BuzzelliRyan's unrequited crush is the only reason he goes to film class. The dude looks like he's the next cover model for Surf Magazine. He's also a serious film maker, and Ryan's worse than an amateur film buff. They seem to find common ground, but everything that could interfere does and days later Ry's pining on the other side of the country while visiting his family for the holidays. Of all people, William Shakespeare gives Ry hope by making a serendipitous appearance in Kyle's room.