Love Can't Conquer
(Love Can't series, Bk #1)
by Kim Fielding
Blurb:
Bullied as a child in small-town Kansas, Jeremy Cox ultimately escaped to Portland, Oregon. Now in his forties, he’s an urban park ranger who does his best to rescue runaways and other street people. His ex-boyfriend, Donny—lost to drinking and drugs six years earlier—appears on his doorstep and inadvertently drags Jeremy into danger. As if dealing with Donny’s issues doesn’t cause enough turmoil, Jeremy meets a fascinating but enigmatic man who carries more than his fair share of problems.
Qayin Hill has almost nothing but skeletons in his closet and demons in his head. A former addict who struggles with anxiety and depression, Qay doesn’t know which of his secrets to reveal to Jeremy—or how to react when Jeremy wants to save him from himself.
Despite the pasts that continue to haunt them, Jeremy and Qay find passion, friendship, and a tentative hope for the future. Now they need to decide whether love is truly a powerful thing or if, despite the old adage, love can’t conquer all.
Release Date:
June 3, 2016
Pre-order available at
Pre-order paperback here
Excerpt
The café was open late on Saturdays, and from the looks
of things through the big front windows, it was a hot spot tonight. Ptolemy had
help from two other baristas, but still Rhoda said, “I think I’ll see if they
could use a hand. Thanks for dinner, Jer. Think about what I said. And Qay, I’m
really glad you went with us. I hope you come around often.” She hugged Jeremy
and patted Qay’s shoulder before heading inside.
Qay and Jeremy remained outside, Qay gripping the strap
of his backpack and shuffling a foot on the sidewalk. “Thanks for inviting me,”
he said quietly.
“I’m glad I did. But I’m sorry you got subjected to the
Pathetic Jeremy Cox Show.”
A smile curled the corner of Qay’s mouth. “I’m just
relieved to learn you’re mortal.”
Standing there, Jeremy felt not just mortal but big and
dumb and clumsy. He scratched his head. “Um, do you think…. After what Rhoda
said, you probably think I’m going to chain you up in my closet or something. I
promise, I am not as needy as she made me sound. But I’d like to get to know
you better. Another dinner, maybe? Without Rhoda and her attempts to fix my
head.”
Qay didn’t immediately refuse or run screaming down the
street. Instead, he looked conflicted. Then he squinted at Jeremy. “You want to
go on a date with a junkie after what you went through with Donny?”
“I want to go on a date with you.” It was an honest answer. If Qay was telling the truth, he
hadn’t used for years. In any case, there was clearly a lot more to him than a
history of addiction. Something about the guy made Jeremy’s heart beat a little
faster, made him want to find a way to peel away the grief and wariness so
evident on Qay’s face and reveal the man inside.
“A date.” Qay gave a small laugh. “I’m not sure I’ve ever
been on one. I sort of skipped that developmental phase.” He briefly chewed on
a hangnail. “The thing is, I’m not just a junkie. I’m also an ex-con. Nothing
earth-shattering. Just got caught holding a couple of times over the years. And
that’s not the worst of it. I’m crazy too. Spent time in more than one mental
hospital. I’m just bad news, Jeremy Cox. You ought to walk away. Fast.”
Taking a gamble, Jeremy instead took a step closer to
Qay, then another. “Don’t want to.” He pushed the hair away from Qay’s face,
leaned in, and brushed their lips together. Not a passionate kiss by any means.
It was more of a nibble, a little taste to see if they suited each other. Which
maybe they did, because Qay rested a hand on Jeremy’s shoulder and squeezed.
Then the kiss was over. Qay dropped his hand, Jeremy took
a step back, and they looked at each other solemnly. “Fine,” Qay said. “A date.
But I pay, all right?”
“Deal,” Jeremy said. He wanted to do a celebratory lap
around the block but stood his ground. “When? I’m free every evening.”
“Saturday. That’ll give you a week to change your mind.
We can meet here at seven, all right? And if you want to back out, that’s cool.
I’ll understand.”
“I won’t want to.”
Qay didn’t look convinced, but he nodded slightly.
“Saturday at seven, then.”
“Good luck on the test.”
That made Qay shoot him a quick, surprised grin. “Thanks,
man. I’ll need it.” He tapped his head. “It’s all up here, but getting it back
out again onto paper, that’s a struggle.” He strolled away in the direction
opposite Jeremy’s loft, his lanky frame throwing shadows in the pools of light
from lamps and shops.
Rhoda was watching from inside the café, a mug in one
hand. She waved at Jeremy with the other, and he waved back. Thought about
going inside but decided not to. A walk, he concluded. That was what he needed.
He’d strolled all the way to the curve near Mt. Tabor
when his phone rang. He fished it from his pocket hesitantly, knowing
late-night calls were never good news.
“Chief Cox?” said the gruff voice on the other end.
“Captain Frankl here.”
Jeremy knew Frankl from his time at the bureau, and
they’d interacted numerous times since Jeremy joined the park department. They
were hardly best buddies, but they got along. “What’s up, Captain?”
“I need to see you. Got a body for you to ID.”
About The Author
Kim Fielding is the bestselling, award-winning author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.
After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.
You can follow Kim at
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