Books in the Speakeasy series

The novella is centered on Charlie Rant, a law student who''s forced into being a rum runner to save his brother''s life.When Charlie visits his brother in the hospital, he''s confronted with an ugly truth: his brother has been rum running for the Caprice family, and someone has been stealing the shipments, leaving the crew for dead. With one delivery left to make, it''s now up to Charlie to make things right. However, when a mysterious woman tracks him down, he learns of a rivalry that was supposed to have ended two years ago in a speakeasy, when the Durante family was killed off by the Caprices. Someone has resurrected the Durante name, and with the Caprice shipments being stolen and their rum runners being murdered, the clash of the mobsters has started all over again. Caught between an old feud, Charlie has to put aside his morals in order to be a rum runner for a night so that he can save his brother and, inevitably, himself.Drenched in action and twisted in suspense, this sequel to Speakeasy: A Novella steps outside of the glittery jazz world and into the dangerous voyage that made rum row notorious during the Prohibition Era.

The novella is centered on Eddie Durante, owner of a speakeasy who's supported by his mobster uncle—the boss of the Durante family. Eddie is a young widower after his family's rival, the Caprice family, murdered his wife over a territory dispute. After devising a plan that retaliated against four of the rivaling capos, Eddie is left with the daunting task to try and move on. That is, until he's notified that the Caprices have put a hit man in the speakeasy—and Eddie's name is on the list. But things take an unexpected turn when Eddie instead starts to find the dead bodies of his relatives, the ones who had helped in the retaliation. Behind the backdrop of jazz music and glistening flappers, murder after murder begins to unravel as revenge takes center stage, and Eddie soon learns that some secrets can’t be taken to the grave.

Love, served straight up.Malcolm Elliott has been keeping secrets. Helping his mom through a financial crisis has nearly emptied both his bank account and his kitchen cupboards, despite his thriving career with Corporate Equality Campaign. Malcolm is also bothered by his inability to tell the most important people in his life that he identifies as gray ace.Stuart Morgan has a secret of his own. Though years have passed since the tattooed chef fled the Mormon Church in Utah for New York, he’s never truly come to terms with the kink that ruined that rigid but outwardly perfect life. Experience has also taught Stuart that keeping his love of lacy things under wraps is safer than telling the truth.After Malcom’s boss, Carter, hires Stuart’s restaurant to cater a gala fundraising event, the strait-laced Malcolm is thrown together with badass biker Stuart. Despite their differences and a couple of false starts, the men discover they work well together and a friendship quickly forms.As Malcolm’s feelings for Stuart deepen, his sexuality awakens, but he remains tight-lipped about his problems. And though Stuart grows more and more attached to Malcolm, he remains fearful of confessing his kink.When both of their secrets are finally exposed, they find themselves at a crossroads in which they must choose between playing it safe or finally coming clean to the person they love.

Love, served behind the stick.Kyle McKee lives a charmed life. He co-owns Under, an uptown speakeasy, where he is chief mixologist. Friends poke fun at Kyle's tiny one-bed apartment in Chelsea, but they're the best support system a man could ask for. Unfortunately, Kyle's lackluster love life has led him to take a break from dating.Harlem resident Luka Clarke is a lieutenant with Engine 47, the Pride of Morningside, where he carries on his father's legacy with the FDNY. Luka, who is mixed race and bisexual, has his eye on Kyle, whom he met at a local burger joint and he just needs to make time to visit Kyle's bar.Before work one evening, Kyle is trapped inside the luncheonette when a fire breaks out. Luka's firehouse answers the call and he connects with Kyle again under the most unexpected of circumstances. When Kyle gratefully invites Luka and the firehouse squad to Under, the flirting between the two men leads to a date.Kyle and Luka quickly grow close, but Luka's mother and sister distrust Kyle for being both white and gay. Luka believes his family will come around and accept Kyle in the end, but Kyle is not optimistic and hides his disquiet as attraction blossoms into love.Kyle and Luka's near-idyllic bubble is shattered one evening after a hate crime leaves them scarred, inside and out. Shaken, they put on a strong front but struggle inwardly against fear and personal demons. As the emotions seething beneath the surface finally come to a head, both men must decide if they have the strength to find love enough to conquer hate.

Love, served extra dirty.Jesse Murtagh loves his life as a wealthy bisexual businessman dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure. With a circle of friends he trusts implicitly, he enjoys a successful career in his family's business and as co-owner of Under, an uptown speakeasy, with his friend with benefits, Kyle McKee.Music teacher and part-time DJ Cameron Lewis lives modestly in a DUMBO loft and isn't interested in serious relationships. However, he's always up for some casual fun.Doing a favor for his friend Carter Hamilton, Jesse meets Cam and is immediately charmed. When Jesse discovers Cam's other life as a DJ, he is further intrigued. Viewing Cam as a challenge, Jesse pulls out all the stops, but his usual methods to avoid serious relationships fail. Though Cam has no intention of becoming attached, he begins to fall for Jesse, unaware that Jesse's feelings are changing.Afraid of heartbreak, Cam pulls away, leaving Jesse bewildered and hurt. They remain friends until a series of misunderstandings widens the rift to breaking point. When Cam steps in to help Jesse through a family crisis, they realize they care for each other more than they've been willing to admit. Jesse and Cam don't want a traditional relationship, but can they build a future that makes them both happy?

Love, served with a twist.Nursing a broken heart when his ex-boyfriend, Riley, leaves him for the love of his life, Carter, Will Martin throws himself into teaching at NYU and writing. An invite from Riley to a speakeasy called Under helps Will begin to heal, and he finds himself enjoying both the drinks and the company.Soon after, he's shaken by news of his father's cancer diagnosis and Will reluctantly returns to Long Island to see the man who disowned him after he was outed.Sparks fly when Will meets his father's mentee, Republican Senator David Mori, who is both mixed race and openly gay. Will is looking for a no-strings-attached fling and David is leery of getting involved with his mentor's son, so they keep their affair a secret.As his father's health worsens, Will elects to remain in Garden City and his relationship with David grows beyond casual sex. Now, both men must decide how to bridge the divide between them.