Hiding Out


Book Description

If any adult was going to get the chicken pox, it would be Sean Tierney. That alone would be bad enough, but his illness means friend and colleague, Josh Sandison-Morley, has to step in and face his fears: guest-speaking at a university in Norwich. As Josh gathers his husband and his foster daughter for the trip, he is unaware that their world is about to collide with that of another makeshift family: Noah and Matty's. Matty is agonising over his impending dance show. Sure, talent scouts will be in the audience, but there's an even bigger problem. Noah - Matty's on-again, off-again boyfriend - has promised to be there, too. And Matty's dance? It has a secret meaning he's not sure he's ready to reveal to Noah. Can Josh and Matty face their fears and perform for their respective crowds? More importantly, will the Sandison-Morleys' influence be enough to get the young men to express their feelings to each other before it's too late? This novella continues the stories of Josh and George from the Hiding Behind the Couch Series and Matty and Noah from the Checking Him Out Series.




Beginnings


Book Description

Journey back to childhood, where the buds of friendship blossom; take a peek into the lives of the primary schoolchildren who would become...The Circle. A prequel to the Hiding Behind The Couch books. As the title suggests, this short story focuses on the early school days, long before the birth of the full 'Circle' - a series of sectors, if you will. Contains no real spoilers, so can be read independently of the rest of the series and in any order. "A very sweet short story of blossoming friendships and childhood traumas." "...a wonderful, engaging story that made me feel good inside.... Highly recommended for readers who love richly written characters and clever dialogue." * * * * * WARNING: this story deals with themes of child sexual abuse, sudden infant death, and parents' marriage breakdown due to infidelity. All issues are written about sensitively and in a way that is intended to be accessible for children aged ten and above.




The Making Of Us


Book Description

When English Lit. student Jesse Thomas meets Leigh Hunter, he has to reconsider a few assumptions he's made about himself. Two years ago, Jesse joined Pride—the uni’s LGBT+ society—to support best friend Noah, and Noah’s boyfriend, Matty. As a straight, cismale ally, Jesse keeps a low profile—not difficult for someone as shy and body-conscious as he is. Leigh Hunter is Noah and Matty’s new housemate. Born with a life-threatening congenital condition, Leigh is intersex and identifies as queer—none of which alters Jesse’s conviction that they are the most beautiful person in the world. While Jesse and Leigh get to know each other, a new academic year begins in earnest, bringing with it the usual challenge of balancing work and play. Add in a week’s holiday in Cornwall that Jesse and Leigh half-wish they hadn’t agreed to, Jesse’s unplanned involvement in the election of Pride’s new officers, and some big decisions for Noah and Matty, it’s going to be an interesting semester all round. NOTE: this is a stand-alone novel, but you might wish to read the series in order. *** In the Checking Him Out Series Checking Him Out (Book One - Sol and Adam) Checking Him Out For The Holidays (Novella - Sol and Adam) Hiding Out (Novella - A crossover featuring Matty and Noah, and Josh, George and Libby from Hiding Behind The Couch) Taking Him On (Book Two - Noah and Matty) Checking In (Book Three - Sol and Adam) The Making of Us (Book Four - Jesse and Leigh)




No Time Like The Present


Book Description

Sometimes a murder mystery is the least of life's challenges... This sequel to Hiding Behind The Couch finds Josh and The Circle fighting to prove the innocence of one James Brown, a well-liked and respected MD of a pizza restaurant chain. But his past is far from helpful in freeing him of suspicion, and Eleanor is all set to call it a day. It's the perfect time to make new friends, make amends...and solve a murder case. * * * * * "...a beautiful tapestry which is a story encompassing so many lives and their interconnections." "I wanted more just so I could find out what the future held for my newfound 'friends'." "All I can hope is for the possibility that Debbie McGowan might like to make this into a trilogy, or even a series that I can keep indulging in for either the rest of my own or the characters' lives!!" NOTE: contains Hiding Behind The Couch plot spoilers - it is therefore recommended that these novels are read in order. * * * * * No Time Like The Present is season two in the Hiding Behind The Couch series. The story follows chronologically from Hiding Behind The Couch (Season One) and continues in The Harder They Fall (Season Three).




Two By Two


Book Description

Two pregnancies, two babies, two troubled teens. Two psychologists hunting down the leader of a deadly cult. When Libby takes a stand against her abusive parents, Josh and George readily make her a part of their family. However, her parents may have been involved in something altogether more sinister, and now The Circle must draw together to protect both Libby and her friend Adam. Meanwhile, two unexpected guests seek sanctuary in Shaunna and Andy’s new home, but that’s only a part of it, and they soon realise something is very wrong. Someone is watching them… All this and more in Two By Two: Season Six of Hiding Behind The Couch. * * * * * This instalment follows chronologically from the Christmas novellas A Midnight Clear and Red Hot Christmas. The story continues in Those Jeffries Boys. * * * * * WARNING: this story includes themes of child abuse, ritual child abuse, domestic violence, drug dependency, suicide, suicide ideation, dissociative PTSD and an instance of animal abuse. While these are not gratuitously depicted, some scenes include moderately graphic detail.




Of The Bauble


Book Description

When nineteen-year-old Kieran O’Sullivan takes a trip to the attic for the Christmas decorations, it proves to be an illuminating experience. Box includes: - a hapless but not altogether helpless student - a pedantic supernatural being (or two, or…well, quite a few) - a funky older sister - the coolest mum in the world - a naughty rescue bunny and her easily led feline sidekick - an insightful ex-girlfriend - twinkle lights - tinsel - baubles * Warning – may contain traces of magic and a smidgeon of social commentary (hey, it's a book by Debbie McGowan – did you expect anything else?) * Of the Bauble is a young adult, biromantic/non-binary fantasy romance.




When Skies Have Fallen


Book Description

Winner of the 28th Lambda Literary Award (Gay Romance). For many in war-torn 1944, love blossoms in the dance hall, and airman Arty Clarke is no exception. He's a thinker and a dreamer; however, it's not the beautiful, talented dancer in his arms - his best friend Jean - who inspires his dreams. For when his gaze meets that of Technical Sergeant Jim Johnson, Arty dares to imagine a different dance. Their love is forbidden, by both the armed forces and the law, but with Jean's cunning and support, Arty and Jim try to bridge the distance between them and find true love despite the danger and a life-threatening disaster that could destroy Arty's dreams for good. Can the pair stand strong together, no matter how many skies have fallen? ---- Part of Love is an Open Road (Don't Read in the Closet 2015) MM Romance Group




The Advent of Reason


Book Description

A weekend in an ancient castle and a murder-mystery game that becomes all too real. It's safe to say Josh's plans for a romantic anniversary with George are not turning out the way he'd hoped. In spite of his cynicism, and his promise not to embark on any more life-threatening pursuits for answers, when one of the guests turns up dead, Josh can't help but put his talents to use to solve the murder. The Advent of Reason is a (more or less) stand-alone novella-length character special in the Hiding Behind The Couch series.




Meredith's Dagger


Book Description

Huddled in a doorway, unseen by the men passing on great horses, Meredith watched from within the hood of her cloak. The pain of the cold, wet morning impaled her, rooting her in place, even as the cat rubbed against her shins with a force that should have felled her. She shooed him away. Go home. But he would not. She wished she had died that night. She wished she had died, for to live like this was not to live at all. * * * When Richie Moorcroft takes a housekeeping position to finance his studies, it means moving back to his childhood home: an ancient, almost-derelict cottage locals claim is haunted. But he never believed those stories; he knows where they came from, and in any case, he has a job to do: keeping nineteen-year-old Julian Denby on the straight and narrow without Julian realising his wealthy parents are paying Richie to do so. Luckily, Julian’s not very astute, although the same can’t be said for their newest housemates: Richie’s bestie, Anneke, and Julian’s older sister, Tamara. Add in George, the cat who appeared from nowhere and is in no hurry to leave, and that makes five…about to uncover the sinister history of their new home.




Seasons of Love


Book Description

Love follows no rules. Like sun in winter and rain in summer, love can blossom in the most unexpected places. This richly diverse collection of stories proves that love is as universal and as varied as the seasons. THE STORIES: Tourist Season - Deven Balsam Machete Betty and the Office Sharks - Neptune Flowers Once Around Seven - Ofelia Gränd Winter Blossoms - Paul Iasevoli Year of the Guilty Soul - A.M. Leibowitz The Great Village Bun Fight - Debbie McGowan A Springful of Winters - Dawn Sister Out of Season - Bob Stone Seashell Voices - Alexis Woods Courting Light - A. Zukowski