Love ​Letters: Vita and Virginia

Jay Northcote - A ​Family for Christmas
Zac ​never had a family of his own, but Rudy has enough to share. Shy, inexperienced Rudy has a crush on Zac from the moment his new colleague walks through the door. On an office night out before Christmas, Rudy finds the courage to make a move, and they form a tentative bond. When he discovers Zac will be alone at Christmas, he invites Zac to come home with him. Zac prefers to keep people at arm's length. Yet when Rudy offers him a family Christmas it's impossible to resist. With no parents of his own, Zac is pleasantly surprised to be welcomed by Rudy's. The only drawback is that everyone assumes they're a couple. Unwilling to disappoint Rudy's mum and make Christmas awkward, they decide not to deny it. It's not a chore for Zac to pose as Rudy's boyfriend, but the pretence makes him want things that scare him-things like a real relationship with Rudy. Zac's suffered enough rejection in his life already and is afraid to risk his heart. If he can get over his past rejection and let Rudy inside his armour, he might get more for Christmas than he ever imagined.

Alice Oseman - Heartstopper ​3.
Boy ​meets boy. Boys become friends. Boys fall in love. An LGBTQ+ graphic novel about life, love, and everything that happens in between: this is the third volume of HEARTSTOPPER, for fans of The Art of Being Normal, Holly Bourne and Love, Simon. Charlie didn't think Nick could ever like him back, but now they're officially boyfriends. Nick's even found the courage to come out to his mum. But coming out isn't just something that happens once - there's Nick's older brother, and a school trip to Paris, not to mention all the other friends and family - and life can be hard, even with someone who loves you by your side. As their feelings for each other get more serious, Charlie and Nick will need each other more than ever before.

Claire LaZebnik - Things ​I Should Have Known
Things ​Chloe knew: Her sister, Ivy, was lonely. Ethan was a perfect match. Ethan’s brother, David, was an arrogant jerk. Things Chloe should have known: Setups are complicated. Ivy can make her own decisions. David may be the only person who really gets Chloe. Meet Chloe Mitchell, a popular Los Angeles girl who’s decided that her older sister, Ivy, who’s on the autism spectrum, could use a boyfriend. Chloe already has someone in mind: Ethan Fields, a sweet, movie-obsessed boy from Ivy’s special needs class. Chloe would like to ignore Ethan’s brother, David, but she can’t—Ivy and Ethan aren’t comfortable going out on their own, so Chloe and David have to tag along. Soon Chloe, Ivy, David, and Ethan form a quirky and wholly lovable circle. And as the group bonds over frozen-yogurt dates and movie nights, Chloe is forced to confront her own romantic choices—and the realization that it’s okay to be a different kind of normal.

Marie Rutkoski - The ​Midnight Lie
Set ​in the world of the New York Times–bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, Marie Rutkoski's The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us—and the lies we tell ourselves. Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colors. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences. Nirrim keeps her head down, and a dangerous secret close to her chest. But then she encounters Sid, a rakish traveler from far away, who whispers rumors that the High Kith possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

Taylor Jenkins Reid - The ​Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
From ​Taylor Jenkins Reid, “a genius when it comes to stories about life and love” (_Redbook_), comes an unforgettable and sweeping novel about one classic film actress’s relentless rise to the top—the risks she took, the loves she lost, and the long-held secrets the public could never imagine. Aging and reclusive Hollywood movie icon Evelyn Hugo is finally ready to tell the truth about her glamorous and scandalous life. But when she chooses unknown magazine reporter Monique Grant for the job, no one in the journalism community is more astounded than Monique herself. Why her? Why now? Monique is not exactly on top of the world. Her husband, David, has left her, and her career has stagnated. Regardless of why Evelyn has chosen her to write her biography, Monique is determined to use this opportunity to jumpstart her career. Summoned to Evelyn’s Upper East Side apartment, Monique listens as Evelyn unfurls her story: from making her way to Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to leave show business in the late 80s, and, of course, the seven husbands along the way. As Evelyn’s life unfolds—revealing a ruthless ambition, an unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love—Monique begins to feel a very a real connection to the actress. But as Evelyn’s story catches up with the present, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways. Written with Reid’s signature talent for “creating complex, likable characters” (_Real Simple_), this is a fascinating journey through the splendor of Old Hollywood into the harsh realities of the present day as two women struggle with what it means—and what it takes—to face the truth.

Naomi Alderman - Disobedience
By ​the age of 32, Ronit has left London and transformed her life. She has become a cigarette-smoking, wise-cracking, New York career woman, who is in love with a married man. But when Ronit's father dies she is called back into the very different world of her childhood, a world she thought she had left far behind. The orthodox Jewish suburb of Hendon, north London is outraged by Ronit and her provocative ways. But Ronit is shocked too by the confrontation with her past. And when she meets up with her childhood girlfriend Esti, she is forced to think again about what she has left behind.

Hitoma Iruma - Nakatani Nio - Bloom ​Into You: Regarding Saeki Sayaka 3.
THIRD ​TIME’S THE CHARM Saeki Sayaka is no stranger to unrequited love. What she’s not used to is having someone confess their feelings for her—until Edamoto Haru, an underclassman, does exactly that in Sayaka’s second year of college. Haru is forward and unhesitating in her affections, the opposite of cautious, reserved Sayaka—but if she can find the courage to reach back, this time, she might find what she’s been waiting for all along.

Kim Dare - Gay ​Until Graduation
A ​gay man should know better than to get involved with a guy who is only gay until graduation, but Baxter's never been very good at saying no to Spencer... Stunning, dominant and cheerfully bi-sexual, Spenser's been screwing his way through both the male and female student population since he arrived at the university. Baxter is entirely gay, completely submissive and, by his own estimation at least, thoroughly average. He knows that being more than friend's with Spencer would be more trouble than it's worth. When a drunken Spencer decides that he's going to be gay until graduation Baxter doesn't pay much attention. But when his friend's attention suddenly focuses in on him, the guy he's had a crush on for months soon becomes far more dangerous to his peace of mind. Baxter knows he should say no to a relationship that will break his heart when they graduate, but he's never been very good at saying no to his friend - especially not when Spencer is offering him everything he's ever wanted.

Kim Dare - Gay ​Best Friend
What's ​a straight man to do when he can't stop fantasising about dominating his gay best friend? Should he resist temptation or simply give in and enjoy? Carlton's not gay. He knows that, because he's checked. Internet gay porn does nothing for him. Checking out guys who he's pretty sure any genuinely gay man would find hot as hell doesn't even raise a flicker of interest inside him. He wouldn't mind being gay, but all the available evidence says he's as straight as they come. So why the hell can't he stop imagining himself tying up his gay best friend? Carlton knows Bryce better than he's ever known any other man. He's all hard edges and even harder attitude, all sarcastic quips and uncertain temper. He might be gay, but he's not the kind of guy who'd let another man push him around. He's not the sort of man who'd humour someone who can't even decide which way he swings either. And he's sure as hell not the type to submit to anyone. Or is he? Carlton's got lots of questions. It's time for him to find some answers...

Kim Dare - Duck!
Raised ​among humans, Ori Jones only discovered he was an avian shifter six months ago. Unable to complete a full shift until he reaches his avian maturity, he still can’t be sure of his exact species. But with species comes rank, and rank is everything to the avians. When a partial shift allows the elders to announce that they believe Ori to be a rather ugly little duckling, he drops straight to the bottom rung of their hierarchy. Life isn’t easy for Ori until he comes to the attention of a high ranking hawk shifter. Then the only question is, is Ori really a duck—and what will his new master think when the truth eventually comes out?

Kim Dare - The ​Love of a Mate
Alfred’s ​always been the pack’s trouble maker. He’s given up hope of ever being anything else. But, could that change when he suddenly receives the love of a mate? Caden’s never had any trouble convincing other wolves to do what he wants. He might not have his brother’s status, size or grumpy personality, but that doesn’t matter. He’s always found smiles and flirtations to be far more effective than any of those things anyway. When Caden sets his sights on Alfred, he knows he’ll need every trick he’s ever acquired if he’s to have any chance of reforming the pack trouble maker into a good wolf and a first-rate potential mate. However, that might not be the only obstacle they face—the rest of the pack might yet prove to be their biggest challenge of all.

Kim Dare - The ​Mark of an Alpha
Dominance ​and submission mean different things to werewolves than to humans. Once Marsdon and Bennett try things the human way nothing can ever be the same for them again. Werewolf tradition is very clear. The alpha pair is the corner stone of the pack. Equality between the alphas is everything. Alphas mate with alphas. Human leather clubs work to different rules. Dominants mate with submissives. Power is exchanged freely and for the ultimate pleasure of all. Sometimes the most alpha men in the club find happiness with the most omega men. And sometimes the omegas are more than they first appear to be. A wolf might be able to hide his identity and play anonymously in those clubs for a little while, but he can't ignore reality forever. Marsdon and Bennett have lives to get back to, they have packs to return to...they have wolfen traditions to follow. They have just one more night together before they have to lose each other forever. All they can do now, is make the most of it.

Kim Dare - Gay ​Like You
Cody's ​more than happy to have sex, he may even be willing to offer his submission, but experience has taught him that's as far as he can go as a gay man. Tristan disagrees Tristan has being gay all worked out rather nicely. His biggest problem with his sexuality is his mother's persistent attempts to find a nice young man to marry him off to. And even that doesn't seem like such a terrible thing when he arrives to have dinner with his parents and finds Cody sitting at the table. Homosexuality isn't working out quite so well for Cody. As far as he can see, Tristan's appearance in his life is unlikely to make things any better. Nice guys rarely stay nice for long and dominants have a way of turning into complete psychos if he lets his guard down. Cody needs to walk away before Tristan tempts him into wanting the sort of happiness he knows he can't have. Tristan needs to stop him.

Kim Dare - Magpie
Everet ​has found his perfect place in the nest. As a raven, he’s ideally suited to his new role in the nest’s security flock. Some of the jobs it entails have been far more enjoyable than others, but when he’s called to retrieve a magpie, whose got himself into trouble in a local human club, it becomes a truly life changing experience. Magpie shifters have always been looked down on by other avians. Just as attracted to shiny things in their human bodies as they are in their avian forms, everyone knows they’ll do anything for money—and they’re not above stealing what they can’t get by more honest means. Kane knows what being a magpie means, and he’s got the bruises to show for it. When Everet rescues him from his latest scrape, Kane knows better than to believe the raven will actually take an interest in him and his welfare, but it’s just possible that Everet is different to any other man Kane has ever met.

Kim Dare - Ellery's ​Duty
As ​a well respected dominant, Ellery has been watching the subs from the local leather bars disappear into the lions’ den for far too long, and he’s not convinced that everything is as fine as they all claim it is. He’s determined to find out what really happens in there. If the only way he can do that is to volunteer to be thrown to the lions himself, so be it. Kefir’s never worked out what the other lions find so interesting about the human sacrifices who visit their den, but this new man is unlike any other human he’s ever met, and Kefir’s captivated. Can the smallest lion in the pride claim a man like Ellery as his pet—is that even the way Kefir wants to think of his human mate?

Kim Dare - Cameron's ​Pride
Franklin ​knows the way the game is played. It’s the man with the money who calls the shots, and Franklin has plenty of money. When he sees a beautiful lion shifter called Caramel dancing on the stage at his favourite club, he doesn’t hesitate to reach for his wallet. And, when Caramel disappears before he can even open negotiations, he’s quick to pay a fortune in order to be thrown to the only pride of werelions in the area. Cameron’s been living without a pride for years, doing whatever it takes to survive. Dancing in clubs, and doing whatever the guys who throw money at him want him to do in the alleyways behind those clubs, hasn’t given him the best opinion of human men. All he knows for sure is that the rich ones are the worst. The pride are determined to track down the lone lion that’s living in their territory and bring him safely under their care, but is it too late for Cameron to find a sense of pride—and if he does, will he be too proud to.

Tara Lain - The ​Scientist and the Supermodel
Geneticist ​Jake Martin has brilliant scientific vision, but he’s blind to his own nature. Despite his flagging interest in women and his past experience with a man, he’s convinced himself he’d be happy if he could just have his older boss, Emmaline Silvay, as his lover. Living in his closeted dream world, he’s unprepared for the powerful attraction he experiences to supermodel Roan Black, “the most beautiful man in the world.” Jake can’t resist the gorgeous, androgynous creature. Who could? he thinks. But Roan refuses to accept him until Jake admits that it’s a man he wants and this man in particular. Jake tells himself it’s just sex, but his refusal to understand what he really needs threatens the best chance at happiness he’s ever had. Is there a future for a PhD scientist who refuses to see and a high school dropout supermodel who understands all too clearly?

Jodi Ellen Malpas - This ​Man
Young ​interior designer Ava O’Shea has an appointment for a first consultation at The Manor with the owner, Mr Jesse Ward. She is expecting nothing more than an overweight, cravat wearing, well-to-do countryman, and on arrival, nothing would suggest otherwise. How wrong could she be? This Man is devastatingly handsome, charming and confident. He is also a conceited, hedonistic playboy, who knows no boundaries. Ava desperately does not want to be attracted to him, but she can’t control the overwhelming affect he has on her. Every instinct is telling her to run, so she does, but Jesse Ward is not so willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her. She knows she is heading for heartbreak, but how can she run when he won’t let her?

tMnR - If ​I Could Reach You 5.
MOMENT ​OF TRUTH Uta has been trying to move on from her crush on Kaoru, but it hasn’t been easy. Things only get more complicated when, acting on some advice from a friend, Kaoru decides to have a heart-to-heart with Uta… Meanwhile, Chloe finds she’s thinking harder than ever about what Miyabi means to her, and what she wants the two of them to be.

Jodi Ellen Malpas - Unveiled
Only ​their love can fight the darkness away… They made their choice. And now Livy and Miller must fight for a life without secrets—and a passion without end . . . Livy has never known pure desire like this. The gorgeous and mysterious Miller Hart captivates her, seduces her, and worships her in deliciously sinful ways. He knows her innermost thoughts, drawing her ever deeper into his dangerous world. Miller will do anything to keep Livy safe, even if it means risking his own life – something he is more than prepared to do. But his dark history isn’t the only thing that threatens their future together. As the truth of Livy’s family legacy unravels, an unsettling parallel between past and present comes to light. Her world spinning out of control, Livy finds herself caught between the rapture of an all-consuming love—and a deadly obsession that could destroy them both . . .