The Books and Badges Series

Theodore Eckart’s whole life has been flipped upside down. After a night gone incredibly wrong, he’s finally worked himself out of an abusive marriage. He’s living on his own, raising his daughter alone, and working on figuring out life alone. It isn’t east, and finding ways to trust people again — especially men — isn’t exactly written anywhere in a manual for him.

Russell Steele is a homicide detective in Illinois. Shortly after Theodore’s night gone wrong, Russell was the one who found and arrested the man’s abusive husband. Russell’s recently come out as bisexual, and dating life hasn’t been kind to him since. Those who want long term relationships aren’t ‘into’ the bisexual deal, and those who are fine with it aren’t looking for long term.

But after a chance meeting at a bookstore where Theodore works, the two quickly hit it off. Trust isn’t easy for Theodore, but Russell sure as hell makes it seem like it, and Theodore offers the benefit of not caring who Russell’s interested in. They like each other, so what the hell does the rest matter for?

Can a new relationship thrive when one man is still recovering from an abusive relationship and all the mental and physical scars? When one man has a child to raise? When the other has a job that could call him out of the house at any time of the night? A job that he could walk into alive and never come back out again?

Theodore Eckart’s working his way through the second relationship he’s ever had. Not associating his boyfriend with the behaviors and acts of his abusive ex-husband is a challenge, but he’s doing his best. He wants to give this relationship the best chance he can. He deserves it, and so does Russell.

Russell Steele is a recently out bisexual working to balance a real romantic relationship with his work as a homicide detective. Some days are easier than others, but things in the department have been quiet since the last homicide he worked.

The new year for the couple starts with kisses and promises. Russell plans to help Theodore find a therapist that works best for him, and Theodore plans to spend their upcoming Valentine’s Day as a belated Christmas, making up for the big extravagant meal Russell hasn’t had for a holiday in so long.

Of course, it isn’t long before Russell’s assigned to a new homicide case. He’ll do everything he can to find out who pushed the dead girl from a balcony, but he has every intention of dedicating February fourteenth to the man he loves.