Shazam! Who better to safeguard a man’s heart than a hero? Mr. Fantastic may be out there on a wing and a prayer, playing a Longshot, but a handsome He-Man has the power, courage, and derring-do to see his quest for true love through to the happy ending. For romance of superhero...  more

Shazam! Who better to safeguard a man’s heart than a hero? Mr. Fantastic may be out there on a wing and a prayer, playing a Longshot, but a handsome He-Man has the power, courage, and derring-do to see his quest for true love through to the happy ending. For romance of superhero proportions, check out these Men of Steel. Stories include: A Raven’s Ruse by Eon de Beaumont: Along with his dream of being a professional comic book artist, graphic designer Jack Bremstone has a huge crush on Kris, one of the IT guys at work. Last year, Jack found out that Kris is sweet on the city’s masked vigilante, the Raven, and a Halloween party gives Jack the opportunity to impress him by constructing an authentic costume to win Kris’s affection. On his way to the party, Jack stumbles across a young hooligan trying to steal a woman’s purse. Emboldened by alcohol and anonymity, he intervenes -- and after witnessing the courageous act, Kris very much wants to express his gratitude to the Raven in a personal, private way. Administrative Leave by Ryan Loveless: For young superhero Keen Haabe enthusiasm trumps strategy. When his save-everything exuberance results in an explosion and the bad guys getting away, the big boss forbids him from using his powers and slaps him with a desk job. While he’s hobbled, Keen meets Robbie, a normal man with a protective nature who has no inkling Keen is a superhero. For the first time, Keen is the one saved from danger, and he likes it enough to want that feeling again -- regardless of the risks. Collision Vector by Liam Grey: When he’s rescued from the rubble of a fallen building, Captain Vector receives a kiss to build a lawsuit on: his relieved boyfriend, Lockdown, plants one on him in front of the news cameras. But Vector’s Secret Identity Agreement has a “present to public as straight” clause, and his employer is furious. Somehow he has to appease his boss, distract the reporters, and maintain the illusion of his public persona -- all while he deals with a very upset lover. And if that wasn’t enough to spin a genius superhero’s head, he’s got to fix it all before Locke’s mother, the most powerful telepath on the planet, gets involved and decides to fry his brain. Captain Vector’s on a collision course with trouble, and the odds are not in his favor. Behind the Mask by Jeanette Grey: For Mack, invisibility is more a curse than a blessing. He’s used his power for good, but he can’t help hoping that someone will see him -- someone like the Neutralizer, Metropolis’s only openly gay superhero and the only man in the world who can counteract others’ powers. Life as the Neutralizer brings Jeff plenty of visibility but very little real connection. Everyone is too dazzled by his mask and cape to get to know the real him. Everyone, that is, except the mysterious man he discovers lurking at a crime scene one day. Little does he know the man he’ll meet is not only invisible, but also extraordinary. Meant to Fly by B. G. Thomas: Daniel, a huge fan of the superhero Paragon, is beside himself with excitement when he gets a chance to meet his hero. The problem is that Daniel’s dream only comes true when he’s thrown out a skyscraper window by the super-villain Tyrant -- Paragon saves Daniel but then disappears into the night. Months later, Daniel makes a trip to New York City to meet his hero again, but just when everything seems to be working out perfectly, Tyrant attacks again. Is it the end of the world or will Daniel find a different destiny in Paragon’s powerful embrace? That Which Doesn’t Kill You by Pearl Love: Steve Johnson and Victor Ramirez are the best reporting team on cable news, and they don’t just have each others’ backs while in the field. They’re madly in love, but there’s a problem: Victor is the invincible superhero El Magnifico, and through a cruel twist of fate, contact of the naughty kind renders him powerless. Steve would do anything to get into the hunky champion’s spandex pants, but for the good of the populace, he and his would-be lover are resigned to a celibate relationship. When a menace from beyond the stars threatens Earth’s very survival, Steve and Victor discover that touchy-feeling fun isn’t the only thing that robs El Magnifico of his ability to save the planet. But will this unstoppable hero’s weakness turn out to be his greatest strength? Act One by Kim Fielding: Garret Souders came to Hollywood a nobody from a backwater town intending to amaze the studios with his imagination and wit -- and maybe find a movie star boyfriend. Instead he works at a shoe store and a parking garage, and turns out scripts nobody wants to buy. One of the few bright spots in Garret’s life is a man who dresses as Nourish-Man, a third-rate superhero from an eighties cartoon, to pose for photos with tourists on Hollywood Boulevard. Then one evening disaster strikes and Nourish-Man comes to the rescue -- in more ways than one. Bulldog and Smash by David Connor: They each earned the title “hero” in totally different ways. Smash is a gorgeous TV personality with a bit more brawn than brain. Bulldog is young, inexperienced, and, despite an incredibly difficult life, happy-go-lucky, friendly, and hopeful when it comes to people -- and to love. When Smash’s archnemesis -- an irate ex-politician going by the name of Blast -- leaves the superhero scarred and blinded, their mentor pairs Smash with his “seeing-eye Bulldog” as a crime-fighting team. The dynamic duo heads to Hollywood’s Academy Awards on guard duty, little knowing that Blast has some dramatic plans of her own. Right Hand Man by Elinor Gray: Simon McFarlane is Sparks, the heat-impervious and super-fast sidekick to the local superhero Aero. Together they fight crime and save lives, but their main focus is a rival they call Blackout, who shrouds the scenes of his crimes in impenetrable darkness. Simon’s been enamored of Aero since he was a teenager, so keeping his crush in check while they work together is extra difficult now that he knows the man behind the mask. Simon’s attempt to get Aero to see him as an equal backfires when he’s kidnapped and wakes up in Blackout’s lair. Like so many other sidekicks, Sparks is being used as the bait to get Aero where Blackout wants him. Will Aero finally be able to see what’s right in front of him? First Timers by Michael G. Cornelius: A powerful newbie and a handsome veteran hero meet when the fumbling Stingray helps Poltergeist foil a bank robbery -- though in the process, Stingray manages to tear off his entire costume. Poltergeist helps him obtain a new one, and the two meet for a friendly dinner... friendly until Stingray presumes more between them than just dining, including taking off their masks. The resulting confrontation with the angry Poltergeist sparks something deeper, but being a superhero is never easy, as Stingray is finding out. Sometimes having superpowers detracts, rather than adds, to intimacy -- in more ways than one. Prototype by Claire Russett: The Augment Initiative genetically enhances embryos to produce people with advanced physical and cognitive capabilities who are intended to render humanitarian aid to victims of natural disasters. But Initiative scientist Robert Taunton has doubts about the weapons developed for the augments. His concerns aren’t purely scientific; his close friends, augments Zach and Allison, are testing the new energy-pulse weapon. After a cataclysmic test, Zach stops by Robert’s lab to see if he can assist with what the scientist is working on -- something to help defuse rather than exacerbate armed conflicts -- and the results are incendiary, both in and out of the lab.

Ahoy, me proud beauty, shiver me timbers! I ask ye to sail me jollyboat on the high seas, lubber, but will ye dare to accept? On offer be a pirate's life full of danger and risk, and not just to yer neck, but to yer very virgin heart! There's many a bodice to be ripped -- or perhaps I...  more

Ahoy, me proud beauty, shiver me timbers! I ask ye to sail me jollyboat on the high seas, lubber, but will ye dare to accept? On offer be a pirate's life full of danger and risk, and not just to yer neck, but to yer very virgin heart! There's many a bodice to be ripped -- or perhaps I should say many a codpiece to be snapped -- and should ye be graced enough to cross bones with a corsair, don't be an addlepate! Heave ho, lad, handsomely, and show him how ye bury yer treasure! Pirates didn't only sail the high seas in historical times. Modern-day renegades and futuristic rebels are just as ripe for adventure and plunder. No matter the time, place, or circumstances, bad boys steal affection as often as they salvage treasure, and in these stories of romance, a rogue's black heart always conceals a center of gold. Stories include: Captain Merric by Rebecca Cohen: When British Navy Captain Daniel Horton, set adrift by mutineers, is rescued by a pirate vessel, the most he hopes for is a quicker end than dying of thirst -- especially when he learns the ship belongs to the infamous Captain Merric. The last thing he expects is to recognize the pirate as a face from his past -- a man he's spent his career trying to forget. Daniel needs to get back to a British port to regain his command and salvage his reputation, but Captain Merric is not about to let him go again without a fight. Touched by the West Wind by Ellen Holiday: Aboard the pirate ship Bandit, Thomas Bay and the orphan known only as Bren share an unlikely friendship. Bren was raised a sea rat from the moment he was old enough to hoist a rigging, while Thomas ran off to sea to escape his overprotective mother. Thomas loves to lose himself in books, while words to Bren are only so many impractical scratchings. But when Bren is injured during a raid, they both discover that just because something can't be seen doesn't mean it isn't real. The Golden Galleon by K. R. Foster: Lovers Jason Lane and Flynn Olson run The Golden Galleon, a successful pirate-themed restaurant. As much as he loves his job, Flynn is looking forward to a relaxing Sunday off and the chance to read a new novel he's been anticipating. But that's before "Captain" Jason summons "First Mate" Flynn back to the restaurant, where Flynn is about to discover that work is the last thing on Jason's mind. My Hand in Yours by Emily Moreton: Peacekeeper Jack Tanner doesn't ask too many questions when a stranger introducing himself only as Captain Roberts offers him a tumble. Though he suspects the man is a pirate, it's been so long since he's felt such attraction that Jack prefers not to inquire too closely. Everyone knows the tales of pirates, of how they take to sea and never return to stay on land, and only a fool would try to keep them. As long as Roberts doesn't try raiding his town, Jack can live with the situation... though that’s about to change. Ghost of Jupiter by Jana Denardo: Privateer Alessandro Bellimo raids unlicensed cargo vessels under the authority of the Confederation military-until he captures a ship filled with cryo-units containing chimerae. The transgenic beings, created to fight for the enjoyment of the rich and depraved, are illegal, and Al has no idea what the military might do with his purloined cargo. But once Al gets to know Telek, one of the engineered beings, he isn't about to give Telek up to either the military or to his creators. Officer and a Gentleman Pirate by E. S. Douglas: Rheinallt Jones may be a successful pirate, but his luck seems to run out when he's captured after literally stumbling over a British Navy lieutenant when leaving a dockside tavern. While not above taking advantage of the chance to arrest the blackguard, the lieutenant finds himself in danger of falling under the influence of Jones's silver tongue and not inconsiderable charm. At least, until he hears the sound of gunfire outside the prison... Objectivity by K. J. Johnson: American reporter Matthew has traveled to Africa to write a feature about modern piracy. There he meets the handsome pirate leader Achmed, who seems to enjoy putting him on the wrong foot at every opportunity. In the space of twenty-four hours, Matthew discovers there's more to Achmed than meets the eye, and that the world may not be as black and white as he assumed. Worth the Price by Cornelia Grey: Lieutenant Edward Moon has been chasing the infamous Captain O'Shea for longer than he can remember. When he falls into the pirate's hands, however, things take a turn he'd never imagined. Edward finds himself torn between his duty and a dangerous loyalty to O'Shea. When the captain faces the gallows, Edward must take the hardest decision of his life -- but will it be worth the price? Peter and the Lost Boys by Juan Kenobi: Peter's thinking of leaving his job working for a non-profit independent filmmaker when he runs into a colorful stranger named Kap at a local bar. As luck would have it, Kap runs a film company himself, and offers Peter a job -- though he warns him the duties may be different than he's used to. Once Peter sees the houseboat that doubles as Kap's home and office, he's sure this is the beginning of a whole new adventure for both of them. Rough Trade by Cooper West: Audacity Gunner isn't officially captain of the pirate vessel Carthage. As a fully-AI ship, Carthage doesn't actually need a captain, but her human complement looks to Audacity's leadership in their raids against the Colonial Federation. After a shore leave gone bad leaves a crewman locked up without bail, Audacity's ready to take help wherever he can get it, even from a handsome but desperate-looking stranger who claims he can get their engineer out of the brig in exchange for passage off the spaceport. Dr. Sagittarius Diefenbaker 's credentials are far too impressive for a ship as disreputable as Carthage, but Sag will prove to have a surprising affinity for rough trade. Irish Red by M. J. O'Shea: Christopher, the barkeep at The Dagger, has always been wary of storms. Storms always bring trouble, washed in from the sea, right to his door. That night was no different. The rain and the wind brought with them Irish Red O’Malley -- pirate king of the seas, captain of the famed Sargasso, a ruthless, cunning killer... and the love of Christopher’s life. Black John by Piper Vaughn: Former pirate Juan “Black John” de Avila has found a home on Isla Sagrario, a safe haven for men who desire the touch of a man rather than a pretty woman. When Jacob, the lover he thought had died, washes ashore after a shipwreck, Juan believes he’s been given a second chance at love. But Jacob Bellamy thinks the safety of Sagrario is an illusion, one that will come to a brutal end should their enemies ever catch wind of their whereabouts. From a Simmer to a Burn by B. Snow: “We want something, we take it!” -- That’s what pirates do, but even five years of getting what he wants hasn’t extinguished the spark of anger that constantly simmers in Sule, a former slave who escaped from a Dutch plantation. That anger threatens to burn out of control when Olaf, a Dutch-speaking carpenter, joins the crew. Olaf, used to coldness, finds himself drawn to Sule’s heat, but the fire that rages in Sule may end up destroying them both. On the Wings of Lir by Riley Shane: In the time of Queen Victoria, the invention of airships has brought about a resurgence in piracy. Of all the buccaneers who sail the skies pillaging merchant airships, the worst is Patrick Kelly, captain of the Wings of Lir. When fate lands Captain Kelly in Hugh Edwards’s path, the young lieutenant can’t believe his luck. He’s determined to capture the pirate... but finds himself caught instead. The Winds of Change by Maggie Lee: After weeks stuck in Nassau, watching their meager resources dwindle away, Theo Cook and Sebastiano Cortez are glad to sign on with the pirate captain Edward Teach, whose growing reputation seems to ensure a lucrative voyage.  But sailing with the increasingly erratic Teach comes with a price, and the attentions of the Revenge's master gunner, Philip Morton, challenge the assumptions Theo has always made about Seb. Their world is changing, and Seb and Theo will need to adapt or be swept under.

With the holidays nearing, Brantley Walker and Reese Tavoularis are getting settled, both personally and professionally. For Reese, dealing with Brantley’s about-face regarding the size of the task force is easy. It’s meeting the parents that he’s worried about. On the work...  more

With the holidays nearing, Brantley Walker and Reese Tavoularis are getting settled, both personally and professionally. For Reese, dealing with Brantley’s about-face regarding the size of the task force is easy. It’s meeting the parents that he’s worried about. On the work front, the Off the Books task force has a stack of cold cases that need to be tackled, but two new cases keep them moving across the great state of Texas. One of which turns into a dangerous game of hide and seek.