Irons and Works Series by E.M. Lindsey

Derek Osbourne’s life is mostly quiet. A routine that keeps him functioning, a job as a tattoo artist that keeps his rent paid and food in his belly, and if he’s alone through it well, there are worse things to be. With his complicated past, Derek is sure no one would ever want to deal with the struggle that comes along with loving someone who has severe PTSD. Especially since the man who spent years abusing him is now in hospice, and Derek has taken over his end-of-life care... moreDerek Osbourne’s life is mostly quiet. A routine that keeps him functioning, a job as a tattoo artist that keeps his rent paid and food in his belly, and if he’s alone through it well, there are worse things to be. With his complicated past, Derek is sure no one would ever want to deal with the struggle that comes along with loving someone who has severe PTSD. Especially since the man who spent years abusing him is now in hospice, and Derek has taken over his end-of-life care. Derek’s resigned himself to living and dying alone, and maybe that’s okay. Then one night, during a raging storm, Derek finds himself stuck in an ATM vestibule with a quiet stranger, and it’s in that moment his world begins to change. Basil Shevach is new to Fairfield, taking over his dead aunt’s florist shop. He’s also Deaf in a small town, where he and his sister are the only ones not hearing. It’s not to say he hates it there, but he’s not sure Fairfield is the place for him. At least, not until one night, when a storm leaves him trapped inside the bank with a man quietly panicking against the glass door. He’s immediately intrigued by this unbelievably attractive stranger with bright tattoos covering his arms and haunted eyes, but he’s also bitter because he’s dated a hearing man before and it ended as badly as it could go for him. He had resolved years ago to never make that mistake again, but somehow, the frightened man trapped with him in that little room, crawls under his skin and no matter what he tries, he can’t seem to shake him. Will the two of them be able to find their way together, or will their pasts prevent them from being able to find happiness and contentment when they need it most? Free Hand is the first book in the Irons and Works series. Each book contains an individual storyline with no cheating and HEA. an alternate cover edition can be found here less

When a car accident changed the trajectory of his life at fifteen, Sam Braga set out to find his own way in the world. It never occurred to him he’d find home in Fairfield, Colorado, working with a childhood friend at a tattoo shop, and the legal guardian of a gorgeous little girl who was abandoned by her mother at birth. Sam has his life organized exactly the way he needs it. Maisy, work, and his found-family. There isn’t room for anything else... moreWhen a car accident changed the trajectory of his life at fifteen, Sam Braga set out to find his own way in the world. It never occurred to him he’d find home in Fairfield, Colorado, working with a childhood friend at a tattoo shop, and the legal guardian of a gorgeous little girl who was abandoned by her mother at birth. Sam has his life organized exactly the way he needs it. Maisy, work, and his found-family. There isn’t room for anything else. Especially when DCS gets involved and tells him that his disability might interfere with his petition to finally adopt the little girl he’s been raising. Sam might be lonely, but he just doesn’t have room for love. Niko Pagonis tells himself he’s not using the small town of Fairfield as an escape, but who is he kidding. When his NHL career ends two minutes after it begins, Niko flees the East Coast in search of somewhere to settle. He finds home in the form of his accounting firm and his gym buddies who never abandon him on leg-day. Eventually, however, it’s not enough. Niko craves connection, and above all, he wants to feel like he belongs. He stumbles onto the unlikely family at Irons and Works, and more than that, he finds himself in the path of the gorgeous single-dad who has made it clear he has no plans to fit Niko into his routine. But things aren’t always that simple, even when both men try to make them that way. A misguided offer of friends with benefits turns into something else, and both Sam and Niko know they’re flirting with disaster. Still, neither one of them can seem to stay away from the other. Will they find their way through the mess before someone gets hurt? Or will it all come crashing to the ground. Blank Canvas is the second book in the Irons and Works series. Each book contains an individual storyline with no cheating and HEA. less

Traumatized by a complicated childhood and losing the love of his life, Sage Osbourne pours everything he’s got into keeping his routine, and trying to avoid the not-dates he keeps getting set up on, content to be single and determined to keep it that way. He attempts to maintain that decision when a gorgeous newcomer opens up a new café just doors down from the tattoo shop... moreTraumatized by a complicated childhood and losing the love of his life, Sage Osbourne pours everything he’s got into keeping his routine, and trying to avoid the not-dates he keeps getting set up on, content to be single and determined to keep it that way. He attempts to maintain that decision when a gorgeous newcomer opens up a new café just doors down from the tattoo shop. It doesn’t help that Will is not only perfect for him, but seems to be interested in taking their relationship further than just friends. Prior to opening up Masala, Will Rahman’s life had been carefully plotted out by his overbearing parents. He was to graduate medical school, become a doctor, and make everyone proud. Will threw a wrench in those plans when he dropped out and took what little he had across the country to start a café. Disinherited and attempting to escape a toxic relationship, Will’s determined to live life his own way: without the influence of anyone else. However, things don’t ever happen the way Will plans them. A phone call one night, just hours before Masala opens its doors, changes Will’s life forever. Now the guardian of his seven-year-old sister, Molly, Will tries to keep his head above water, all the while navigating his blossoming feelings for the tattooed man next door. Will anything go to plan, and will both men find a way to be happy together, or will the trauma of their recent past keep them apart? American Traditional is third in the series of Irons and Works. Each book is a stand-alone novel with guaranteed HEA. less

Having grown up the son of a Southern Baptist preacher, James Gossett was expected to be one thing, and one thing only—a God-fearing, straight, Christian man. It didn’t help that from a young age, James knew he was different. He hid the truth about who he was from himself, and from his family, until a freak accident during a routine simulation right after basic training cost him both legs, and nearly his life... moreHaving grown up the son of a Southern Baptist preacher, James Gossett was expected to be one thing, and one thing only—a God-fearing, straight, Christian man. It didn’t help that from a young age, James knew he was different. He hid the truth about who he was from himself, and from his family, until a freak accident during a routine simulation right after basic training cost him both legs, and nearly his life. Knowing what he almost lost, James decided to come out—and with that, lost the rest of the blood kin he had left alive. Settling in Fairfield, James rediscovered what it meant to be part of a family who loved him for who he was—but he still had one big secret kept close to his heart. In spite of his promiscuous reputation, James was a virgin, in every sense of the word, and he wasn’t sure that would ever change. Rowan Balk was dedicated to one thing, and one thing alone—ensuring that no child would ever suffer what he did at the hands of a prejudiced system. Having been torn from his disabled adoptive mother shortly after her MS diagnosis, Rowan grew up with a fire in him to make sure no one ever felt his pain. But his determination came at the expense of ever finding love, and until he set foot in Fairfield, he was okay with that. Then he set eyes on the quiet, southern tattoo artist with secrets in his eyes and a mouth he could get lost in for days. But Rowan wasn’t the sort of person who was willing to turn his life upside down for one man, even if he knew deep down, James Gossett was probably the one. When it’s obvious James wants Rowan just as much, Rowan realizes he can’t say no. So he makes James a proposition—he’ll help James discover himself in the bedroom, no strings attached, until Rowan leaves the state. But will that be enough for both lonely men? Or will they somehow find a way to come together, in spite of the distance between them? Bio-Mechanical is the fourth book in the Irons and Works series. It contains no cheating and a HEA. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, though reading the previous books will help with some background context of other characters. less

Mat Harlow had his life figured out. He married his college sweetheart, and his residency at the hospital was showing a promising career ahead. Then, at the hands of a reckless driver, all of it changed. A traumatic brain injury derails his life, and Mat finds himself dumped by his wife, out of a job, and rejected by his family. He escapes into the world of tattooing, settling in Fairfield, Colorado, surrounded by the only people who had ever offered him unconditional support... moreMat Harlow had his life figured out. He married his college sweetheart, and his residency at the hospital was showing a promising career ahead. Then, at the hands of a reckless driver, all of it changed. A traumatic brain injury derails his life, and Mat finds himself dumped by his wife, out of a job, and rejected by his family. He escapes into the world of tattooing, settling in Fairfield, Colorado, surrounded by the only people who had ever offered him unconditional support. But as comforting as the guys at Irons and Works are, he can’t deny that he’s lonely. His inability to read, aphasia, and stammer make it difficult for him to maintain any semblance of normal when it comes to relationships. Wyatt Adley has dealt with his fair share of disaster when it comes to marriage. When his husband is involved in a scandal with a student, Wyatt spends all of his energy to clear his name, then quickly escapes Canada for the US. He settles in a sleepy little town just outside of Denver, renting a small house from the local mechanic, and trying to lay low until he figures out what he wants to do with his life. But it’s not that easy to start over, and his ability to keep himself isolated is strained when he meets the young tattoo artist recovering from a head injury. Wyatt falls quickly and deeply, but there’s one problem—as far as he knows, Mat is straight. Except, that might not be entirely true. Mat’s been holding tight to a secret, afraid to take up space in a lane that never belonged to him. But with every French pick-up line Wyatt teases him with, every second he spends in the other man’s company, Mat starts to realize he can’t hide that part of himself anymore. He’s enamored with the other man—from Wyatt’s love of old westerns and Tombstone, to the way he lives his life unapologetically. Once Mat leaps, he knows there’s no going back. If only it were so easy. Wyatt is afraid that his past ruined him for any future, and Mat’s afraid that his inabilities make him impossible to love, but with the support of their friends and family, they just might find their way to their happily ever after. Stick and Poke is the fifth book in the Irons and Works series. The book contains no cheating, and guaranteed HEA. Stick and Poke can be read as a stand-alone novel, but is best understood in the context of the previous books in Irons and Works. less

Missing his dominant hand and half his face covered in scars, Miguel Ruiz can kiss his dreams of a happy future goodbye. He resigns himself to a life of servitude in a badly run club until one day, a tattoo artist in a random bar sees both talent and a future in the scarred artist. He makes an offer Miguel would be a fool to turn down, and Miguel decides it’s finally time to start living for himself, even with the ten tons of baggage he’s carrying on his shoulders... moreMissing his dominant hand and half his face covered in scars, Miguel Ruiz can kiss his dreams of a happy future goodbye. He resigns himself to a life of servitude in a badly run club until one day, a tattoo artist in a random bar sees both talent and a future in the scarred artist. He makes an offer Miguel would be a fool to turn down, and Miguel decides it’s finally time to start living for himself, even with the ten tons of baggage he’s carrying on his shoulders. If anyone in the world can understand secrets, it’s Amit Baqri. Growing up bisexual, Deaf, and femme in a conservative Muslim family, Amit keeps his true self close to his chest. He’s spent most of his life conforming to others from the way he communicates to the way he presents himself to others, but the weight of it all is starting to crush him. He understands his familial obligations—taking care of his mother is his top priority, and his sisters are second. But when Amit sets eyes on the gorgeous tattoo artist with one hand and a waterfall of scars, his life is suddenly turned upside down. Will Amit and Miguel find a way to shed the weight of their pasts to be happy together, or will assumptions and expectations leave them forever trapped in a closet of their own making? Scarification is the sixth and final book of the Irons and Works series, and contains no cheating with an HEA. less

“I see them…In you, I see them.” Estranged from his family and locked in a demanding job which monopolizes all of his time, Head Chef, Mario Garcia, doesn’t exactly have holiday spirit. He spends all season creating magic for others, and for himself, he’s resigned to another lonely winter. There’s a reason he’s known as the Devil in Fairfield Resort’s high-end kitchen, and he has no plans to change that... more“I see them…In you, I see them.” Estranged from his family and locked in a demanding job which monopolizes all of his time, Head Chef, Mario Garcia, doesn’t exactly have holiday spirit. He spends all season creating magic for others, and for himself, he’s resigned to another lonely winter. There’s a reason he’s known as the Devil in Fairfield Resort’s high-end kitchen, and he has no plans to change that. What most people don’t realize, however, is that Chef Garcia has a soft spot for one man—a half-blind, Russian dishwasher who is the first person in years to make Mario feel. Viktor Popov's life is full of secrets and lies. He showed up in Fairfield with a handful of suspicious papers, no past, and secured a job in the bowels of a resort kitchen. He spends his waking hours washing dishes and trying his best to manage his failing eyesight without anyone taking notice. Once upon a time, he was a man of wealth and reputation, and now he’s living day-to-day, hoping no one will ever take notice. It's been forever since Vitya believed in anything, and these long years of loneliness only proved to him that miracles didn’t exist. At least, until the night when warm hands pulled him out of the cold, and a soft voice whispered in his ear that he mattered. Life isn’t easy, and both men have never expected any different. But maybe, by the soft light of the menorah, both men will finally be able to see that for each other, they’re exactly what they need. To Touch the Light is a 43,000 word holiday novel set in the Irons and Works Universe. This book contains no cheating and an HEA. less

To Touch the Light Bonus Content:A few months after Mario and Vitya have made a home together, they have an...interesting day.

“I meant it when I said I love you. I was afraid I wouldn’t know it when I finally felt it, but I do.” No last names. No second dates. No staying over. Those three hook-up rules are only things keeping new tattoo artist, Micah, afloat in his love life, because without them, he’ll spiral. His BPD doesn’t define who he is, but it makes him love hard, and love fast. It makes him burn bright, until everything around him is consumed... more“I meant it when I said I love you. I was afraid I wouldn’t know it when I finally felt it, but I do.” No last names. No second dates. No staying over. Those three hook-up rules are only things keeping new tattoo artist, Micah, afloat in his love life, because without them, he’ll spiral. His BPD doesn’t define who he is, but it makes him love hard, and love fast. It makes him burn bright, until everything around him is consumed. He has his job at Irons and Works and his friendship with the other artists to keep him centered, and the rest is just… details. But when a gorgeous man in a rumpled polo with the weight of the world on his shoulders walks into a bar one Thursday night, everything that holds Micah’s routine together is tested. Because the moment Ryan opens his mouth, Micah wants. But Ryan’s life is just as complicated, if not more so. Micah’s willing to bend the rules for him, but Ryan isn’t able to offer more than their Thursday night hook-ups, and he has no plans to tell Micah why. For the first time in his life, Micah wants to fight to keep what he has, he just needs to know that Ryan is willing to give him something worth fighting for. Scratcher is the seventh book in the Irons and Works series which are best read in order. It contains no cheating and a happily ever after. less

It wasn’t that Luke was unhappy at Irons and Works. After all, that was his home, his family, his safety.But watching everyone around him fall in love was a bit much when every single relationship he’d tried to maintain fell to pieces. Was he just unlucky, or was there something about him that was just fundamentally unlovable?What Luke doesn’t expect in answer is an older man with greying hair and eyes that look like they’ve seen into the core of the earth... moreIt wasn’t that Luke was unhappy at Irons and Works. After all, that was his home, his family, his safety.But watching everyone around him fall in love was a bit much when every single relationship he’d tried to maintain fell to pieces. Was he just unlucky, or was there something about him that was just fundamentally unlovable?What Luke doesn’t expect in answer is an older man with greying hair and eyes that look like they’ve seen into the core of the earth.What he doesn’t expect is for Tony to introduce everyone to his half-brother.And what he most definitely doesn’t expect is for that man to zero in on Luke, and decide—whether Luke likes it or not—that he’s the only thing in the shop he actually wants.Ornamental is the eighth book in the Irons and Works series which are best read in order. It contains no cheating and a happily ever after. less

Fairfield, Colorado saved Ryder’s life once, and seven years later, he’s back to consider a job at the halfway house that gave him hope.A lot has changed, including the town, and Ryder’s about to find out just how much when he steps into the Irons and Works tattoo shop and meets their new punk piercer who can’t take his eyes off the new art therapist... moreFairfield, Colorado saved Ryder’s life once, and seven years later, he’s back to consider a job at the halfway house that gave him hope.A lot has changed, including the town, and Ryder’s about to find out just how much when he steps into the Irons and Works tattoo shop and meets their new punk piercer who can’t take his eyes off the new art therapist.Linc is a wandering soul with four fingers between both hands, and a chip on his shoulder, but something tells him he can’t leave that small mountain town.At least, not yet.And when a nervous man with eyes as bright as the sun wanders into the shop one afternoon, he immediately knows why his feet have stayed put.Now all he has to do is convince Ryder that taking a chance on a washed-up, metal-loving drummer like him is worth it. And that there’s more to love and life beyond the present.Snakebites is a 20k word Irons and Works novella featuring a nervous new therapist, a pierced up punk band drummer, loud voices, quiet kisses, and a wild happily ever after. less

Visit old friends and a few side characters with over a hundred-thousand words of short stories from the original Irons and Works series. From weddings to vacations, from bad days to the best ones, from weeks later to years in the future, Fresh Ink tells what happens to the tattoo artists at Irons and Works as they lived past their happily ever afters.