Awakening Series by Jaclyn Osborn

One moment. That's all it takes for life as you once knew it to change irrevocably. For Michael Kingston, that moment was when he first laid eyes on Gabriel. In his life, Michael had only known darkness, leaving behind a broken shell of a man. No one had ever shown him love; therefore, he believed he was unworthy of it.And then everything changed.Gabriel Greyson had always been different... moreOne moment. That's all it takes for life as you once knew it to change irrevocably. For Michael Kingston, that moment was when he first laid eyes on Gabriel. In his life, Michael had only known darkness, leaving behind a broken shell of a man. No one had ever shown him love; therefore, he believed he was unworthy of it.And then everything changed.Gabriel Greyson had always been different. Growing up in a small, Bible thumping town, his preferences for men, make-up, and fashion made him an outcast. But with the support and love of his family, he overcame obstacles that were thrown his way and rose above the intolerance. Working as a beautician, he had a job he adored and felt everything was perfect in his life.Everything except for true love.When these two unlikely men meet, sparks fly. For the first time in Michael's life, he feels he can overcome the darkness. Gabriel gives him hope and slowly brings him out of the shadows, showing him that even the darkest of souls can be redeemed.But there are secrets Michael keeps locked away. His fear is that Gabriel will turn away from him when he discovers the truth. After all, who could ever love a beast?*Trigger warning: this book discusses past trauma and abuse.* less

Benji Decker was one step away from the edge. He fought to hold on, but as each day passed, his resolve weakened and letting go seemed easier. Better than living a lie. Life at home sucked, and school wasn't much better. His dad wanted him to be the hotshot athlete who got all the girls, but Benji could never be that. No one understood him, and no one even tried. Then, Nick Asher came along. Meeting Nick changed something inside of Benji... moreBenji Decker was one step away from the edge. He fought to hold on, but as each day passed, his resolve weakened and letting go seemed easier. Better than living a lie. Life at home sucked, and school wasn't much better. His dad wanted him to be the hotshot athlete who got all the girls, but Benji could never be that. No one understood him, and no one even tried. Then, Nick Asher came along. Meeting Nick changed something inside of Benji. For the first time, he felt like he belonged, and the question that used to haunt him suddenly didn't seem as scary. He was excited for the new direction his life had taken, but he feared it wouldn't last. Nothing good ever happened to him, so why should it now? *This companion novella is 21k words and follows Benji and Nick, who were first introduced in Book 2 of the Awakening series as an established couple, and shows how they met in high school.* less

Fear. Zack Greyson had never known the true meaning of the word until he suspected he might be gay—which wasn’t an option for the personal trainer and ex-football star. He’s tried to convince himself that his attraction to men is nothing more than just a mere curiosity, but when Jackson Parker walks into his life, that façade comes shattering down. Jackson Parker is used to rejection because secrets never stay hidden forever... moreFear. Zack Greyson had never known the true meaning of the word until he suspected he might be gay—which wasn’t an option for the personal trainer and ex-football star. He’s tried to convince himself that his attraction to men is nothing more than just a mere curiosity, but when Jackson Parker walks into his life, that façade comes shattering down. Jackson Parker is used to rejection because secrets never stay hidden forever. Left slightly broken and with no sense of belonging after his family’s rejection, he’s sought love in all the wrong places before. But meeting Zack, the hazel-eyed jock with killer dimples, Jackson steps out of his comfort zone and fights one last time for the happiness he knows he deserves. Falling for a supposed straight guy was crazy, but for once, Jackson feels like his luck has changed, and he’s finally found someone who won’t throw him away. However, Zack struggles to discover who he is and who he wants to be. When his fear of coming out drives a wedge between him and Jackson, only one question remains: Which is stronger: love or fear? less

“I built a wall around my heart and refuse to let anyone in.”Rookie cop Kane Matthews doesn’t believe in love and is only interested in random hookups. It’s easier that way. Less complicated. He learned years before that opening up to people would only cause pain when they screwed him over. At twenty-four, he has no desire to settle down.“I want someone who will stay by my side. Someone to love and grow old with.”Defense attorney Ryker Carson is a romantic at heart and is looking for his Mr... more“I built a wall around my heart and refuse to let anyone in.”Rookie cop Kane Matthews doesn’t believe in love and is only interested in random hookups. It’s easier that way. Less complicated. He learned years before that opening up to people would only cause pain when they screwed him over. At twenty-four, he has no desire to settle down.“I want someone who will stay by my side. Someone to love and grow old with.”Defense attorney Ryker Carson is a romantic at heart and is looking for his Mr. Right, but after several failed relationships, he doubts he’ll ever find true love. But that doesn’t stop him from trying. At thirty-one, he’s the father of eight-year old twins, and he needs a man who will accept not only him, but his family as well.Kane and Ryker couldn’t have been more different, and yet, when they randomly meet in a club one night, their attraction is undeniable. Hot sex in the club soon turns into more, and Kane is faced with one of his biggest fears: commitment. Ryker is drawn to the sexy, arrogant, and unfiltered Kane, even though he suspects only heartache can come from it.When an incident at Kane’s work leaves him emotionally vulnerable, the two men grow closer and sparks fly. However, Kane’s fears and troubled past catch up to him, threatening to push away the one man who’s ever captured his heart.*This is Book 3 in the Awakening series and can be read as a standalone. There are trigger warnings for this story, and a list of them can be found using the Look Inside feature on the book.* less