Books like 'The Way Things Are'
Readers who enjoyed The Way Things Are by A.J. Thomas also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
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Fatal Invasion by Marie Force
Rated: 4.65 of 5 stars · 17 ratingsFirst the fire, then the heat…A brutal home invasion. Two small traumatized survivors who may have witnessed the horror. Lieutenant Sam Holland has never worked a case quite like this one, in which her eyewitnesses are five-year-old twins. But when Sam steps up in a big way for them, she risks her heart as much as her career... -
![Unstable Connections by Nicky James, Nick J. Russo]()
Unstable Connections by Nicky James, Nick J. Russo
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsMissing children are reappearing, and ties to a thirty-year-old cold case can’t be ignored.Between his shaky, brand-new relationship with reformed office playboy Detective Aslan Doyle, his sister’s case going from cold to hot overnight, his father insisting on being involved, and his boss breathing down his neck, Detective Quaid Valor is on edge... -
![Ride or Dye by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
Ride or Dye by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.58 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGabe and Josh Roman-Wyatt have been living life in the fast lane. Demanding jobs, precocious twin toddlers, an ever-growing circle of friends, and a menagerie of pets means their home is filled with love and laughter but very few quiet moments for the happy couple. Gabe’s solution is to plan a surprise vacation at a perfect hideaway where the two of them can slow things down and reconnect... -
![Final Orders by Gregory Ashe]()
Final Orders by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.75 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsAn embattled author. Fanatical parents. A son who can’t stay out of trouble. It’s the last one that’ll probably kill him.When Emery Hazard gets drawn into a brawl at a monthly school board meeting, he knows he’s in trouble; his husband, John-Henry Somerset, is chief of police, and they’re already under enough scrutiny as they try to finalize their foster son’s permanency plan... -
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![A Dye Hard Holiday by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
A Dye Hard Holiday by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsIt’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of year for Gabe and Josh Roman-Wyatt as they celebrate their first holidays as fathers, but someone’s war on St. Nick threatens to ruin their holly jolly Christmas... -
![I Do, or Dye Trying by Aimee Nicole Walker]()
I Do, or Dye Trying by Aimee Nicole Walker
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsNewly engaged Josh Roman and Gabe Wyatt know the road to happily ever after won’t be easy, but the two men are certain their biggest challenges are in the rearview mirror. However, life in Blissville is never what it seems and all signs point to dangerous curves ahead... -
![Domestic Animals by Gregory Ashe]()
Domestic Animals by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSometimes, the most dangerous animals are the ones you let inside.When a man hires Emery Hazard to track down a teenager who, he claims, robbed him, Hazard isn’t convinced. The story has holes in it, and the client seems eager—too eager—to keep the authorities from getting involved. But Hazard is willing to play along; he suspects something much darker is going on, and he wants to know what it is... -
![Rialto by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott]()
Rialto by Jocelynn Drake, Rinda Elliott
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsSomeone has it out for Rialto. Ian Banner is loving his hectic life. He’s newly married, ready to start a family, and opening a new restaurant. All his dreams are coming true. The last thing he needs is a problem with his restaurant. But when one attack after another comes, he grows convinced he has another enemy... -
![Wintering with George by Mary Calmes]()
Wintering with George by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.42 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsGeorge Hunt is certain that spending time with his boyfriend’s family over the holidays will be a disaster. How can it not? For starters, he knows nothing about families, never having had one, as for the rest…talk about pressure. What if he messes up, says the wrong thing, and ends up losing the most important person in his life? Dr. Kurt Butler is his miracle; George can’t afford any missteps... -
![A Scarcity of Condors by Suanne Laqueur]()
A Scarcity of Condors by Suanne Laqueur
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJuleón "Jude" Tholet has survival in his DNA. His father, Cleón, lived through imprisonment and torture during Pinochet's military coup in Chile. His mother, Penny, risked everything to gain her husband's freedom and flee the country with their newborn son... -
![The Evening Wolves by Gregory Ashe]()
The Evening Wolves by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEvery victory comes at a cost. The trail has gone cold. For months now, Emery Hazard and John-Henry Somerset have been trying to find something—anything—that might help them uncover the truth about the criminal organization operating out of the Cottonmouth Club. But every lead has turned out to be a dead end, and every step forward has cost them two steps back... -
![Good Vibes Only by Gregory Ashe]()
Good Vibes Only by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsJust vibing. Good Vibes Only is a collection of short stories from Iron on Iron. It includes the “All the Feels” Jem and Tean get settled in their temporary new home. This story is set after The Face in the Water . “Add Me Back” Theo and Auggie (especially Auggie) spend time with their new friends. This story is set before The Girl in the Wind . “Adulting is Hard” North and Shaw are.. -
![Crocus by Amy Lane]()
Crocus by Amy Lane
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsSaying “I love you” doesn’t guarantee peace or a happy ending. High School Principal “Larx” Larkin was pretty sure he'd hit the jackpot when Deputy Sherriff Aaron George moved in with him, merging their two families as seamlessly as the chaos around them could possibly allow... -
![Suspicion by Eden Winters]()
Suspicion by Eden Winters
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLucky “Simon Harrison” Lucklighter left behind his criminal past to become one of the best agents in the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. He’s found a committed partner in fellow agent Bo Schollenberger and built a life. Now, enemies within the SNB and a friend’s betrayal leave him nowhere to turn—not even to his mentor. His boss’s life, the future of the SNB, and Lucky’s career depend on him... -
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![Hot Mess 6 by Stormy Glenn]()
Hot Mess 6 by Stormy Glenn
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsLany: I just wanted to help my Mom out with the Children's Fall Festival. I had no idea I'd be dragged into a mess that would change my entire world. Learning that children in foster care were being abused, and determined to stop it, I jumped in feet first. I just had to stay alive long enough for Sal to rescue me... -
![Justice by Kindle Alexander]()
Justice by Kindle Alexander
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe toughest journeys lead to the most amazing adventures… Let’s ride. Special Agent Cash Ryan broke the cardinal rule of undercover work: he fell hard for his federal informant. The sexy, hardheaded, foul-mouthed outlaw biker who regularly takes matters into his own hands, leaving Cash scrambling to pick up the pieces. Anarchy is more than a way of life for Devin Fox, it’s fused into his DNA... -
![Pain by E.M. Leya]()
Pain by E.M. Leya
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen his daughter is kidnapped, Matt’s life screeches to a halt. He would do anything to get his daughter back, but first he needs to find her. When the police exhaust all possible leads, Matt does the only thing he can do — he uses his hacking skills to infiltrate the dark web... -
![Redemption by Eden Winters]()
Redemption by Eden Winters
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsLiving is the easy part.Agent Lucky Lucklighter and his partner escaped Mexico alive, only to plunge into bureaucratic fallout from their mission. Hell, maybe Lucky should have stayed south of the border. Especially when the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau places Bo into rehab, and Lucky’s facing both therapy and an inquiry into a fatal shooting... -
![Blue on Blue by Dal Maclean]()
Blue on Blue by Dal Maclean
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFrom Lambda Literary Award Finalist Dal Maclean After three years working as a private investigator, newly reinstated Detective Inspector Will Foster still holds himself responsible for the death of an officer under his command. But he’s returned to the Met bent on redeeming himself and that means bringing down gangland boss Joey Clarkson... -
![Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg]()
Reinventing Cato by Barbara Elsborg
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFate is not always written in the stars…Being headhunted by NASA might be his ultimate dream, but Cato’s life still sucks. He’s tired of anonymous one-night stands. He’s tired of being lonely. And, frankly, he’s tired of himself. As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, he realises the only thing to do if he wants to be happy is to reinvent himself... -
![Piece of Cake by Mary Calmes]()
Piece of Cake by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsA Matter of Time Story After years of domestic partnership, Jory Harcourt and Sam Kage are finally going to make it official in their home state of Illinois... -
![Reunion by Eden Winters]()
Reunion by Eden Winters
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsReunions can be murder. A dial tone instead of a human voice announced Lucky’s ousting from the Lucklighter clan over twelve years ago. After living a life of crime. After testifying against his drug lord lover. After receiving a ten-year sentence. Ah, hell. Lucky would’ve disowned himself too. Now life’s better... -
![Disarming My Destiny by Taylor Rylan]()
Disarming My Destiny by Taylor Rylan
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsUS Marshal Bishop Jones has known heartache unlike someone his age should. After losing his only parent, he’s found himself completely and utterly alone with only his dog for company. Working long hours and being new to the area doesn’t give many opportunities for him to get out and meet someone. Veterinarian Xander Garrison has devoted his life to four-legged critters... -
!['Nother Sip of Gin: A Sinners Gin Anthology by Rhys Ford]()
'Nother Sip of Gin: A Sinners Gin Anthology by Rhys Ford
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsFor Crossroads Gin rock stars Miki, Damien, Rafe, and Forest, life is a Möbius strip of music, mayhem, and murder. Through it all, the sweet, hot moments between tours with lovers, friends, and family keep them sane, healthy, and happy. This Sinners collection features short stories spanning the entire series, from before the first note to after the lights go out... -
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![Fire and Obsidian by Andrew Grey]()
Fire and Obsidian by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Carlisle Deputies Novel Can a couple be more opposite than a thief and a cop? Or do they have more in common than they think? Mattias stole to survive. He was damn good at it. But there’s no such thing as a victimless crime, and when he saw how his theft hurt people, he resolved to change... -
![Hennessey's Handler by Pandora Pine]()
Hennessey's Handler by Pandora Pine
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsBar owner Hennessey McCoy finally has his life on track after being discharged from the U.S. Coast Guard under mysterious circumstances. He’s rebuilt his life piece by piece and Hennessey is the right place to open his heart to the right man. When his three-year-old niece goes missing at a party, Hennessey is paired with an annoyingly handsome search and rescue dog handler to help find the child... -
![Find and Keep by K. Sterling]()
Find and Keep by K. Sterling
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsAiden and Lane return with Lavender and Sage in another Boys Of Lake Cliff book. A baby can cause quite a stir in a town like Lake Cliff. Sometimes, in ways you wouldn't expect. Mr. Lavender reminds us that he'll only be predictable when it suits him and changing one's stripes can be tricky. Big changes are coming to Lake Cliff and a baby's just the beginning... -
![Dirty Bites by Rhys Ford]()
Dirty Bites by Rhys Ford
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratings**FREE HOLIDAY DOWNLOAD FROM RHYS FORD, GREG TREMBLAY AND DREAMSPINNER PRESS**Danger. Desire. Loss. Love.In every story, there are a thousand more bound up and waiting to be told; here are just a few from the Cole McGinnis Mysteries... -
![Follows with Intent by Gregory Ashe]()
Follows with Intent by Gregory Ashe
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKeeping your eye on the prize isn’t always a good thing.Nico knows he’s difficult; he has the string of exes to prove it. But staying sharp was the only way to stay safe in the cutthroat world of modeling, and it turns out, graduate school isn’t any gentler. Career first. Boys…later.Jadon knows he’s burning out; his partner at the Metropolitan Police is more than happy to remind him of that fact... -
![Lies by C.A. Harms]()
Lies by C.A. Harms
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsFBI Agent Joshua Phoenix goes undercover…Deep. Thrust into a world of drugs and criminal activity, integrating himself into the Russian Mafia turned out to be much more than Josh bargained for. It’s dark and it’s dangerous. The lives they destroy along the way will never be the same. The things he is forced to do will haunt him forever... -
![Honor And Pride by Ann Lister]()
Honor And Pride by Ann Lister
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratings* * * TRIGGER WARNING * * * The story line within this book deals with the topic of college hazing, which could be a trigger for some readers. Please consider this a warning as this may not be a book you’d be comfortable reading. * * * Fizzbo is used to taking care of people... -
![Ghost by R.J. Scott]()
Ghost by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsCan you ever hold on to a ghost?Elliot is tracking an elusive killer, codenamed Ghost, with ties to organized crime. Every time the Sanctuary team gets close, Ghost slips their grasp.Cole has nowhere left to turn. With his father dying and his sister in danger, he turns for help to the very people trying to track him down... -
![All That Remains by R.J. Scott]()
All That Remains by R.J. Scott
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsFederal Agent Lucas Beaumont has an agenda—get himself assigned to the case of the apparent serial murders at Lancaster Falls, find out who the murderer is, and then lay the ghosts that haunt his grandfather to rest. In the midst of a horrific murder investigation, the only peace he gets is from simple moments in a warm kitchen, talking to hotel owner, Josh... -
![Steele My Heart by Tatum West]()
Steele My Heart by Tatum West
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsI swore I'd never set foot in this town again. But Abingdon needs me. And Kendall Vincent might just get me to stay for good. Gil: I was tired of working the police beat in Northern Cali. Exhausted--my whole body was yearning for a place I hadn't been in years, my old home. When my mama died, I knew I had to come back, and my new job as police chief sealed the deal... -
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![Dirty Day by Rhys Ford]()
Dirty Day by Rhys Ford
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThis is a free short story featuring Cole and Jae. It is available on Dreamspinner Press' Blog... -
![Hannah's Big Night by Mary Calmes]()
Hannah's Big Night by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.20 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsA Jory and Sam Thanksgiving... -
![Out Of A Fix by Mary Calmes]()
Out Of A Fix by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsThrough the years, Nash Miller has watched all his buddies fall in love and get married. It was romantic, and he’d wondered when he himself would find the one. Now, older, wiser, he realizes that what he’s always wanted—a husband and a family—just isn’t in the cards for him. And that’s all right... -
![Ears, Eggs and Bunnies by Mary Calmes]()
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![The Current Between Us by Kindle Alexander]()
The Current Between Us by Kindle Alexander
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsGage Synclair, international, hard-hitting investigative photojournalist, is preparing for the final special report of his career…a story of deception and murder six long years in the making. And after ten years in some of the worst parts of the world, he’s ready to settle life down and open an art gallery in his hometown of Chicago... -
![A Matter of Time Book II by Mary Calmes]()
A Matter of Time Book II by Mary Calmes
Rated: 4.11 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsJory Keyes is doing his best to get over Detective Sam Kage, who broke his heart. Fearful of coming out of the closet, Sam intended to marry and uphold the status quo. After testifying against the man he saw commit cold-blooded murder, Jory is sure he and the detective will never cross paths again. But fate has other plans... -
![River Home by Elle Keaton]()
River Home by Elle Keaton
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIf you don’t know what you want, would you recognize it if you found it? Miguel Ramirez is the definition of pochos; a half-breed-white-washed Mexican–American who doesn’t speak Spanish (also unapologetically bisexual). Three years ago he arrived in Skagit a broken man having barely managed to escape an abusive relationship. Slowly, he’s rebuilt his life... -
![Moving Mountains by Laura Harner]()
Moving Mountains by Laura Harner
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt’s easier to move a mountain than escape the past. After the ultimate betrayal results in the death of his lover, Jamie Mainwaring looks to the past for answers, and discovers his entire life is a lie. When uncovering the truth leads to a more devastating loss, there’s only one place he can turn for understanding... -
![Mahu Fire by Neil S. Plakcy]()
Mahu Fire by Neil S. Plakcy
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsEvil moves to paradise, as openly gay police detective Kimo Kanapa’aka battles an extreme religious group that opposes the idea of same-sex marriage. It begins with a simple shooting, but the danger intensifi es as Kimo strives to unmask a killer.Neil S. Plakcy is the author of Mahu Surfer... -
![Mahu Vice by Neil S. Plakcy]()
Mahu Vice by Neil S. Plakcy
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsMonths have passed since Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka walked away from the blaze at Wa’ahila State Park—and from his partner Mike.Now, Kimo and Mike must work together to solve an arson-homicide while attempting to mend their relationship.Neil S. Plakcy is the author of the Mahu series... -
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![The Art of Dying by Josh Lanyon, Jordan Castillo Price]()
The Art of Dying by Josh Lanyon, Jordan Castillo Price
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratings#4 in the PARTNERS IN CRIME SERIES! Lovers and Other Strangers by Josh Lanyon Recovering from a near fatal accident, artist Finn Barret returns to Seal Island in Maine to rest and recuperate. But Seal Island is haunted with memories, some sweet, some sad; three years ago Finn found his lover in the arms of Fitch, Finn's twin brother. Since that day, Finn has seen neither Conlan nor Fitch... -
![Gold Star Heart by Stormy Glenn]()
Gold Star Heart by Stormy Glenn
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCary James came to Cade Creek to find his twin brother and escape a killer, but trouble followed him, putting both his life and his younger brother's life in danger. In an unfamiliar place with no idea where to turn, Cary does the only thing he can think of. He turns to a gorgeous deputy with a heart of gold... -
![Prevailing Winds by Laura Harner]()
Prevailing Winds by Laura Harner
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo years ago, Jamie Mainwaring and Remy Remington had nothing in common except missing boys and a blazing hot mutual distraction. When the case was over, so were they. Although they went their separate ways, life—and death—keep the men connected... -
![Zero Break by Neil S. Plakcy]()
Zero Break by Neil S. Plakcy
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsOpenly gay Honolulu homicide detective and surfer Kimo Kanapa'aka investigates the murder of a young lesbian mother at the same time he and his partner consider having children themselves. Zero break refers to the deep-water location where waves first begin, often far offshore. For Honolulu homicide detective and surfer Kimo Kanapa'aka, it means his most dangerous case yet... -
![Goodnight My Angel by Sue Brown]()
Goodnight My Angel by Sue Brown
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsCallum Ross has a tough decision to make. After years of working for the covert ops agency in the UK and owning his own security firm in the US, he’s forced to choose between the business he loves, and the new relationship with his partner, Josh Cooper... -
![Fire and Agate by Andrew Grey]()
Fire and Agate by Andrew Grey
Rated: 4.17 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsA Carlisle Deputies Novel When Chris Anducci is moved off jail duty and into the sheriff’s office, he doesn’t expect his first assignment to be protecting a witness against a human trafficking ring. Knowing the new sheriff doesn’t abide screwups, Chris reluctantly agrees to work the case. Pavle Kasun has spent the last four years of his life at the mercy of others...
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