Troubled Hearts Series by Savannah Brooks

Growing up in Texas, Blake Stevens’ childhood held few happy memories. His dad drank and his mom worked double shifts. Things were okay, to say the least, but everything changed for the worse when the few friends he thought he had outed him to the whole school at sixteen and his boyfriend turned against him. A couple years later, his parents abandoned him after his dad caught him kissing another boy. He thought things might turn around when he enlisted in the Marines... moreGrowing up in Texas, Blake Stevens’ childhood held few happy memories. His dad drank and his mom worked double shifts. Things were okay, to say the least, but everything changed for the worse when the few friends he thought he had outed him to the whole school at sixteen and his boyfriend turned against him. A couple years later, his parents abandoned him after his dad caught him kissing another boy. He thought things might turn around when he enlisted in the Marines. He met a guy who quickly became his best friend, someone Blake thought might actually stick around. But apparently one caring person in his life was too much to ask for. His best and only true friend left him, leaving Blake to once again, face the world alone. Asher Collins grew up surrounded by a loving, supportive family and is beyond grateful for them. He cares about everyone he meets, sometimes too much. Losing a friend is hard. Losing a boyfriend is debilitating. Ash doesn’t like being alone. He wants to find and fall in love with that one person he knows is out there somewhere, but after his last breakup, he’s hesitant to go looking. He figures, if it’s meant to be, the right guy will eventually come along. Until then, he’s content in helping to manage his family’s ranch and summer camp. Their paths cross when Blake comes looking for work and Ash hires him to help with the busy summer season. Within hours, Ash sees past the mask Blake is trying to hide behind and Ash's caring nature takes over. He breaks down the first of Blake’s walls before the day is out, offering to help Blake in any way he can. For Blake, it’s too much too soon and he panics. He’s conflicted and scared. He’s drawn to Ash, but is certain that the moment he lets him in, Ash will abandon him too. Blake’s heart is closed off and broken. Ash’s heart was invested the moment they met. If Ash can find his way in, both might find exactly what they’ve been looking for. less

Lucas Dougherty pretty much has everything money can buy, including all the one-night stands a guy in his mid twenties could ever want, but it’s not what he wants, at least, not anymore. On his birthday, Lucas reflects on his past and realizes he wants more. He wants someone to see him, not his money. He wants a guy to share his life with. He wants a family. He wants love. Only he’s never been good with relationships. As a matter of fact, he destroys them. All the men in his family do... moreLucas Dougherty pretty much has everything money can buy, including all the one-night stands a guy in his mid twenties could ever want, but it’s not what he wants, at least, not anymore. On his birthday, Lucas reflects on his past and realizes he wants more. He wants someone to see him, not his money. He wants a guy to share his life with. He wants a family. He wants love. Only he’s never been good with relationships. As a matter of fact, he destroys them. All the men in his family do. Jordan Quinn knew he liked boys from a young age. He was fortunate that his parents loved him for who he was and were in fact very supportive of him, but that didn’t alleviate the hidden fear that settled deep within him as he grew older. Being gay was hard enough at times, but knowing he was different from the other boys, Jordan chose to keep his distance in order to protect himself. Born with a rare, intersex condition that left him scarred physically and emotionally, Jordan’s spent the last nine years avoiding romantic relationships while focusing on his career and helping foster kids in order to bury his personal issues. That includes never even allowing himself a single date, because he’s convinced no man will ever be able to love and accept him as he is. A change in routine lands Lucas and Jordan in the same café at the same time and leads to a subsequent “non-date” where they both find themselves drawn to each other in ways neither imagined. They both laugh off Jordan’s refusal to give in to Lucas’ ongoing requests for a date until an unexpected, ill-timed kiss threatens to end their relationship before it’s even started. Lucas breaks every relationship he touches. Jordan is broken in ways no one can ever fix. Perhaps, with patience, love, and a significant amount of trust, they can repair the damaged pieces in each other and come out whole on the other side. Broken is the second book in the Troubled Hearts Series. While it does feature minor references to the first book, Stay, it can be read as a stand-alone novel or part of the series. less

Zach Rivas is a family man, or at least, he wants to be. It’s what he’s wanted for years, and it was within his grasp until a couple months ago, when his fiancé broke their engagement. Now, Zach is more lost and alone than ever before, because he’s started to believe that what he wants is out of reach or perhaps, simply not meant to be. Cael Manning didn’t mean to fall in love with his best friend. It just sort of happened. No big deal, right? Wrong... moreZach Rivas is a family man, or at least, he wants to be. It’s what he’s wanted for years, and it was within his grasp until a couple months ago, when his fiancé broke their engagement. Now, Zach is more lost and alone than ever before, because he’s started to believe that what he wants is out of reach or perhaps, simply not meant to be. Cael Manning didn’t mean to fall in love with his best friend. It just sort of happened. No big deal, right? Wrong. Zach isn’t gay, and Cael isn’t foolish enough to hope that the closeness they share as friends could ever be anything more. When a tragic car accident leaves Zach’s sister in the hospital indefinitely, Zach is faced with having to care for his sixteen-month old niece, Taylor. Cael, of course, is right there to help without a second thought. Spending quality time with Taylor and Cael gives Zach a glimpse of the family life he’s wanted for so long. For Cael, unexpected, intimate moments tempt him to reveal how he really feels, but Zach and Taylor are his priority, and he can’t burden Zach anymore than he already is right now with the truth. Emotionally stressed, Zach leans on Cael more and more, and slowly comes to realize that his best friend may be the person he’s been looking for all along. Even that realization hurts, however, because Cael has always made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want a relationship with anyone, ever. Everyone else can see that Zach and Cael's happiness is with each other. If they could only see it for themselves, they each might just get everything they've always wanted. less