L M Somerton

Unlocking long-buried secrets could save lives...or cost them. In the heart of London's labyrinthine streets, Landry Carran, sub and antique store owner, becomes embroiled in the pursuit of a missing treasure. Along with his Dom, Detective Gage Roskam, Landry is brought to London through the machinations of James Ellery, a British rogue who has involved the pair in several dangerous adventures in the past. With Ellery missing, Landry joins forces with Ellery's sub, and together they navigate a series of complex clues. Pursued by a relentless, powerful enemy and guided by a trail of enigmatic clues, Landry finds his wit and resilience become his greatest assets. The clues unravel against a backdrop of danger, romance and the ever-present threat of betrayal, dating back to the Russian Revolution. In a race against time, Landry and his friends must outsmart ruthless adversaries hell-bent on claiming the treasure for their own. The stakes are high, and Landry's journey becomes a thrilling adventure where the true worth of friendship is revealed.

Sooner or later, something, or someone, has to break. Tyr Blackstone is a bodyguard for hire assigned to protect the nephew of a wealthy businessman. He's prepared to babysit a spoiled rich kid but instead finds himself guarding a young man held virtual prisoner. Milo Forbes wants nothing more than to escape his brutal uncle's clutches but is trapped. If he runs, his uncle will withdraw funding for his brother Matthew's care. On his twenty-third birthday, Milo will inherit a vast fortune, but his uncle has been plotting for years to prevent that happening. As the date approaches, his uncle sets in motion a set of plans designed to destroy Milo's mental stability. Tyr, tasked by his mysterious employer with keeping an eye on Milo's uncle as well as his charge, soon realises that Warren Forbes is evil, concealing his greed for wealth beneath a veneer of concern for Milo's wellbeing. Forced proximity with a fragile young man means Tyr's growing feelings for Milo are tempered by guilt. His need for control and Milo's willingness to submit are thrown into stark relief by their circumstances. Can Milo survive the trauma his uncle has subjected him to, accept his found family and find his happily ever after?

There's no antidote to the malignant craving for power and wealth. Landry Carran should know better than to get involved in yet another murder mystery, but it was hardly his fault that someone dumped a dead body on the doorstep of Treasure Trove Antiques. He can't resist recruiting his friends to help him play detective. Meanwhile, Landry's partner and Dom, Gage Roskam, is doing real detective work that proves hazardous to his health and brings with it the assistance of an annoying Englishman who Gage believes should be behind bars. The case twists and turns across Seattle's antique trade, and the bodies multiply. As clues are solved, it becomes apparent that those closest to Gage are in grave danger. He'll need to control his errant sub, deal with the most irritating Brit ever born and solve the case if he wants to prevent more death.

Sometimes, using a safe word gets you exactly what you want. Canadian Zac Denman is young, rich and submissive. He's also a kidnap risk who's grown up in the shadow of bodyguards and security precautions. All he wants is to work out what kind of submissive he is in a safe environment and thanks to his very understanding father, he's getting the chance to do exactly that. The Retreat in England is safe, discreet and willing to provide a selection of Doms for Zac to play with-a great way of discovering what he is, and isn't, into. Dale Gastrell is a friend of The Retreat's owner, a member of The Underground BDSM club and a soldier turned landscape gardener thanks to an inconvenient bullet. Two weeks providing covert protection to a wealthy client who won't even know he's there seems like a perfect break from city life. But life is never simple, and when Dale and Zac are thrown together, Dale has to fight his attraction. Zac is from a whole different world of wealth and privilege. He's not for the likes of Dale who has to watch as Doms arrive at The Retreat to give Zac a taste of submission.

Life would be simpler if X marked the spot. When Landry Carran buys an antique mirror from a pop-up flea market, he doesn't expect it to set him on a treasure hunt originating in the Second World War. He can't resist tracking down the clues even knowing that every step brings him closer to danger. Landry's partner and Dom, Detective Gage Roskam, has his own problems handling a money laundering case that twists and turns as much as Landry's treasure trail. As a decades-old mystery collides with modern-day crime, Landry and Roskam must juggle work, friendships and their relationship to solve both puzzles. It'll be a miracle if nothing gets broken along the way.

'Secret's Hold' by L. M. SomertonHiding in plain sight is a risky business--in more ways than one. Jamie is hiding from the past and sacrificing a lot to do so. After witnessing a murder, he's on the run from powerful enemies. Taking a job at a rough leather bar, Spikes, is a way to survive off-grid. Bubba is the bouncer at Spikes who takes a personal interest in protecting Jamie's very cute behind, but when Jamie runs from the club in panic straight into the path of a van, there's nothing Bubba can do. Amnesia puts Jamie at risk, but his returning memories are even more dangerous. Desperate to protect his friends, he puts his life on the line for Bubba--the only person he can rely on to save his neck. Reader advisory: This book contains a scene of attempted rape. There are also scenes involving abduction, violence, and the forcible administration of drugs. 'Under His Protection' by Cheryl DragonA cop protecting his witness... It's all business until desire becomes stronger than rules or self-control. Detective Matt Blackburn and addiction counselor Josh Braidshaw first crossed paths at the LGBTQ+ youth shelter where they both volunteered. There was mutual attraction and plenty of flirtation, but Josh's relationship kept anything from happening beyond that. The duo is again thrown together when Josh is attacked while witnessing a young boy from the shelter being kidnapped. Matt puts Josh under his personal protection and things heat up, now that both men are free. Josh wants his normal life back and Matt isn't keen to lose his career by crossing a professional line, but their close quarters and the heat that simmers between them might cause them both to change their priorities. Reader advisory: This book includes references to drug addiction, kidnapping and violence. 'Ticket to Freedom' by Elizabeth HollowsWhen Calvin wishes for a knight in shining armor to save him from the criminals he works for, the last thing he expects is Felix. Calvin Hughes works in a bar run by a criminal empire. He hates his life and desperately wants to escape, but he is afraid of reprisal if he does. No one who stands up to the criminals walks away alive. It's too risky. Who would do it? Someone like Felix. Felix crashes into Calvin's life and immediately throws him into danger. Felix has done the unthinkable and stolen important information from the criminals. They want him dead and, after being in the wrong place at the wrong time, they want Calvin dead too. It sounds like a disaster--but it might be everything Calvin's ever wanted.

When you're a warlock, proving your worth can be fatal. Evrain Brookes had thought that being a warlock was about genetics--a freak offshoot of evolution that somehow allowed him to manipulate the elements. So when his godfather explains there's a deeper purpose for warlocks being around, one that stretches back into the reaches of time, Evrain is intrigued. Warlocks have been using their abilities to tweak the course of history for the better since records began but before Evrain can be allowed to fulfill his destiny, he has to pass a test. This challenge takes him and his life partner, Dominic Castine, back to Scotland, to the Isle of Skye. What they both face there will determine the course of their future. Evrain has no way of knowing if he will prevail, but both their lives depend on it.

An escape from the real world can only ever be temporary. Rowan Stanton knows he is submissive. He loves to look after people but the country hotel he works at can't quite fulfill his need to serve. When he succeeds at getting a new role as houseboy at The Retreat, an exclusive BDSM hideaway in the New Forest, he believes it's his dream job. Inexperienced in many ways, he soon realizes he's not as prepared as he thought for the demands placed upon him. Lorcan Wilder is young, rich and successful. He's also haunted by nightmares and has sacrificed a decade to his business. Selling it gives him the freedom to explore his Dominant side and four weeks at The Retreat are the start of a new life. He doesn't expect the young submissive employed to serve him will have such a profound effect on him. Exploring and pushing Rowan's boundaries is exactly what Lorcan needs to separate himself from his past. Lorcan makes full use of The Retreat's facilities, from the genuine dungeon to the secret toys concealed in every room. He rediscovers his energy for life and gradually re-engages with the world. However, his efforts to compartmentalize the past ultimately fail and he comes to realize what he's always known--that true submissives have an inner strength he can only envy. By the end of his stay, Lorcan can't let Rowan go, though he thinks he must. What will convince him that he's allowed a happy ever after, and will he find the courage to accept it?

Feel the fear and do it anyway. Extreme photographer Lysander Brock is accustomed to challenging places and situations but nothing can prepare him for the journey that his dominant lover, Kyle Dawson, takes him on. A commission to photograph the cloud forests of the Colombian Andes becomes the cover for a dangerous mission to expose a terrorist group. Brock and Lysander must negotiate treacherous terrain, a hazardous climb and unexplored caves to achieve their goal. When Lysander is captured and tortured, he has no expectations of rescue. He understands that his life comes second to the mission but Kyle has no intention of leaving his beautiful, submissive lover in the hands of a madman. Kyle can deal with the intense pressure of fighting lethal enemies but the guilt of pushing Lysander into a life he never asked for is much harder to accept. Lysander and Kyle journey together into a life of adventure, dominance and submission, and an uncertain future.

Storms pass and, in their wake, new beginnings can be found. Talented young artist Jonty Trelawn paints the sea as self-inflicted punishment. For almost a year he has hidden away from life, survivor's guilt consuming him, but the time has come to move on. He conceives the idea of a charity art auction in support of the local lifeboat station and the men and women who saved his life. He hopes the tribute to his family will release him from the sea's invisible chains. Carpenter Jed Curnow is bound to the water in a different way. As deputy coxswain of the Govenek, the local lifeboat, his world revolves around the close-knit crew. He thinks nothing of risking his life to save others. Saving Jonty is less dangerous but just as important to him. He wants nothing more than to give Jonty the love and security he needs. Jed's dominant personality calls to Jonty's more submissive nature but will he ever allow himself to be happy? It's up to Jed and his best friend Marmite to help Jonty put his tragic past behind him and live for the future.

A warlock's blood gives him life. It can also bring his death. It's no wonder Evrain Brookes, newly fledged warlock, is feeling the strain. A coven of power-hungry witches is after his blood. Literally. A psychotic warlock wants him dead. His godfather's training regime is about as much fun as chewing on nettles and an overweight, scarily perceptive cat has moved into his house. His boyfriend Dominic yearns for a normal life, or at least a safer one. He accepts his role both as Evrain's submissive partner and as the conduit through which he channels his gift--but he's afraid for his lover, and the lengths Evrain's enemies might go to in order to fulfill their lust for power. When Evrain falls victim to a plot between the Octis Coven and malevolent warlock Symeon Malus, it's up to Dominic to rescue him. With the help of the two other North American warlocks, Shadow the cat and an old enemy, Dominic takes steps to get his lover back. There's a high price to pay and no guarantee that the risks he must take will work out but Evrain is worth going through hell for, even if it costs Dominic his life.

Driven to The Edge Not all limits can be negotiated. The Edge is reaching a major milestone. After ten years in business together, Doms Joe Dexter and Heath Anders are planning a celebration and new beginnings. But even the best-laid plans can be thrown off course. When Olly, Joe's beloved sub, gets caught up in a hostage situation involving Special Forces soldiers, PTSD and blood diamonds, a party is the last thing on Joe's mind. He hates the lack of control, and the thought of losing Olly takes him close to the edge. Joe is not the only one reassessing his priorities. Olly needs Joe's strength more than ever. He feels safe only in Joe's arms or in his bondage. Can Joe and Olly find sanctuary in each other or will their latest adventure drive them apart? Binding the Edges Never let go of the one you love. After recent traumatic events, Olly is finding it hard to get his head around what happened. While he tries to deal with a maelstrom of emotions, renovations at The Edge are in full flow, alongside preparations for tenth anniversary celebrations. Joe, his Dom, recognizes Olly's delicate state of mind and does his best to reassure him. A trip to the New Forest with their friends, Aiden and Heath, helps the healing process. Returning home, Olly and Aiden focus on preparations for the party. When Aiden is called away, Olly takes a walk to clear his head, keeping his eye on a brewing storm. To his horror, he discovers Mark Vickery, an old enemy, has landed on the island by boat and is out for revenge. With Olly missing and the storm raging, Joe, Heath and Aiden set out on a rescue mission that unfolds in a way none of them expected. Can the storm wash away the past or will Olly and Joe's future be destroyed by a twist of fate?