Title: Lonely Hearts
Author: Posy Roberts
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: October 19, 2018
Summary:Stoic men, who believe they’re happy alone, find the world turned upside down when their perfect someone stumbles across their path. In four novellas, eight men encounter unique struggles on their way to their well-deserved happily ever after.
Marc joins the Lonely Hearts chat room where men support men on their way to finding true love. He wants to believe that kind of love is possible for him, but his once-burned heart stops him from going all-in with anyone.
The chat group’s philosophy is, “Figure out how you keep screwing up your happily ever after. Once you know, you’re more likely to find the true thing.”
Skeptical as he is, Marc logs in and meets men in various degrees of getting there. At least he’s not alone. Luther truly loves his single life on the Bakken oil fields. William’s not sure he’ll ever measure up, let alone find someone he can be himself around. And Andrew still pines for a guy he hooked up with on a reenactment battlefield before he got blown up on a real one.
One by one they start dropping like flies. Flies drunk on love. And sooner than he expects, Marc’s luck starts changing thanks to these new friends.
Walk alongside these men as they find the men of their dreams and discover their happily ever afters.
blue-collar | reluctant lovers | rural | bisexual | gay | meet-cute | fated lovers | love triangle | Halloween | white-collar | opposites attract | multicultural | coming out | second chance | first time | disability romance | meant to be | military | artist | world traveler | coming of age | long distance | pen pals | gay romance | contemporary | MM romance | lone wolf | alpha male
Stories included: Bent Arrow, Stroke of Luck, Momo, My Everything, and Love on a Battlefield.
Marc logged into the chat room, unsure what he was getting into, but he’d been reassured by a friend (who was friends with the moderator) that this was a good group of guys. If nothing else, he’d get to know other queer men. If he was lucky, maybe they’d help him find a way to open up his heart to fall in love again. At least that’s how the group was described to him.
5 Members in Chat Room
Marc: Hey, I’m Marc. I’m new here, and the rules said I had to introduce myself. I’m bisexual but haven’t dated much since my ex-girlfriend cheated on me. Work has been my focus, but after three years, I’m lonely. It’s as plain as that. I’m just not sure how to trust someone again.
Hugo: Hi, Marc. I’m Hugo, the moderator. If I disappear all of a sudden, it’s because I’m waiting to chauffeur kids between gymnastics and yoga.
Marc: You have kids?
Hugo: They’re Kevin’s, my boyfriend’s kids. But who knows what the future holds. Anyway, I was in the same place as you not so long ago, with a cheating cheater who cheats. I had a string of shitty boyfriends, but cheating messed me up. Bad. I swore off men for a solid year, and it eventually paid off.
Marc: How did the time off help?
Hugo: I fixed my shit. Figured out what I kept doing wrong. Worked out my patterns.
Luther: Oh no, here he goes! Haha. Love you, H! Marc, H is all about fixing shit so you’re ready for love when it stumbles in your path.
Marc: Makes sense.
Luther: If you have a path filled with potential partners, I supposed it does. H is all about twuuuu wuv cuz he has it. All I can find out here on the oil fields is a hookup. Nothing else. Can’t be out.
Marc: That sucks.
Luther: It’s not all bad. I have a lot of sex and very few awkward conversations. Few conversations at all, to be honest.
William: So, Luth, do you save all the awkward conversations for when you come in here to chat? Stop scaring Marc off.
Luther: Ha. Ha. Okay, Mr. Serious, what have you done lately to make yourself available to the hot dudes who run around on the beaches half naked?
William: I bought a guy a drink at the club last weekend. Spent most of the night with him.
Luther: Before you went home alone?
William: Well, yes, but I had to work the next day.
Luther: LOL.
Andrew: Hi, Marc. Welcome. I’m pretty new here too. New to being fully out despite knowing I liked men for years. I’m still trying to figure out how all this works. Gay clubs are about all I’m capable of yet. If I go to a club, there’s no chance I’ll hit on a straight guy, at least. I’m a vet, and my PTSD and injuries make taking that risk of hitting on the wrong guy anxiety inducing. I distrust everyone, including my own brain and injured body.
Luther: And I’m the sole closet case here.
William: Not entirely. I’m not out at work. No one there has earned the right to know that about me yet. But my family knows.
Hugo: I’ve been out for ages, but I’m still not entirely open about my drag persona. That’s still need to know.
Marc: You do drag? What’s your drag name.
Hugo: Yep. Miss Cherri Pop! ;)
Marc: Where does everyone live? Or should I not ask that?
Luther: On the dusty oil fields of North Dakota, but there are tons of men to hook-up with here. No questions asked. No demands to kiss. Just how I like it!
William: Sunny California, though right now, I’d prefer rain.
Andrew: I’m in Texas, happy to be home after four years in the army.
Hugo: Minneapolis.
Marc: Me too! Minneapolis, that is. I gotta say, it’s nice chatting with some queer men. Everyone around me assumes I’m straight. And since I haven’t dated a man in ages, it’s like all my friends forgot I’m bi. But I’d really like to date a man again. I think if I date a woman, I’m bound to . . . What’s the word? Put all my shit on her?
Hugo: Project?
Marc: Yeah. I’m gonna project my hurt on her cuz of my ex. So I’d really like to try something serious with a guy.
William: So, what are your greatest fears when thinking about falling in love?
Luther: Coming out. I know, I know. It won’t be as bad as I think it will be. But what if it is? I’ll lose everyone around me.
William: But you prefer being alone. Or so you’ve claimed, Luth.
Luther: Right. I push people away. Easier that way.
Marc: I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to trust again. And if I do, what if the guy I end up with assumes I’m cheating on him only because I’m bi?
Hugo: My Kevin is bisexual, and I never made those assumptions. We’re not all neanderthals who can’t appreciate subtlety.
Marc: True. There’s that lack of trust thing again.
William: I’m worried I’ll never measure up.
Luther: Says the man who probably has a dick the size of an eggplant.
William: . . .
William: I might. ;)
Luther: LOL. I knew it!
Hugo: If W & L weren’t thousands of miles away, I’d suggest you guys get a room and fuck to work out your sexual tension.
William: Not going to happen.
Luther: He’d probably want to marry me. ;) I’m not settling down. I just want to fall in love. Big difference.
Andrew: I already know who I want to be in a relationship with. But I’m too boring for him.
William: You’re far from boring, Andrew.
Hugo: The only way you’ll know is if you take a chance. But get into a good headspace before that. Yes, I know, Luther, you’re sick of me saying that, but if I hadn’t fixed my shit before running into Kevin again seventeen years after our last kiss, I would’ve fucked it up that first night.
Marc: Thanks for this, guys. I’m glad I found you.
5 Members in Chat Room
Marc: Hey, I’m Marc. I’m new here, and the rules said I had to introduce myself. I’m bisexual but haven’t dated much since my ex-girlfriend cheated on me. Work has been my focus, but after three years, I’m lonely. It’s as plain as that. I’m just not sure how to trust someone again.
Hugo: Hi, Marc. I’m Hugo, the moderator. If I disappear all of a sudden, it’s because I’m waiting to chauffeur kids between gymnastics and yoga.
Marc: You have kids?
Hugo: They’re Kevin’s, my boyfriend’s kids. But who knows what the future holds. Anyway, I was in the same place as you not so long ago, with a cheating cheater who cheats. I had a string of shitty boyfriends, but cheating messed me up. Bad. I swore off men for a solid year, and it eventually paid off.
Marc: How did the time off help?
Hugo: I fixed my shit. Figured out what I kept doing wrong. Worked out my patterns.
Luther: Oh no, here he goes! Haha. Love you, H! Marc, H is all about fixing shit so you’re ready for love when it stumbles in your path.
Marc: Makes sense.
Marc: That sucks.
Luther: It’s not all bad. I have a lot of sex and very few awkward conversations. Few conversations at all, to be honest.
William: So, Luth, do you save all the awkward conversations for when you come in here to chat? Stop scaring Marc off.
Luther: Ha. Ha. Okay, Mr. Serious, what have you done lately to make yourself available to the hot dudes who run around on the beaches half naked?
William: I bought a guy a drink at the club last weekend. Spent most of the night with him.
Luther: Before you went home alone?
William: Well, yes, but I had to work the next day.
Luther: LOL.
Andrew: Hi, Marc. Welcome. I’m pretty new here too. New to being fully out despite knowing I liked men for years. I’m still trying to figure out how all this works. Gay clubs are about all I’m capable of yet. If I go to a club, there’s no chance I’ll hit on a straight guy, at least. I’m a vet, and my PTSD and injuries make taking that risk of hitting on the wrong guy anxiety inducing. I distrust everyone, including my own brain and injured body.
Luther: And I’m the sole closet case here.
William: Not entirely. I’m not out at work. No one there has earned the right to know that about me yet. But my family knows.
Hugo: I’ve been out for ages, but I’m still not entirely open about my drag persona. That’s still need to know.
Marc: You do drag? What’s your drag name.
Hugo: Yep. Miss Cherri Pop! ;)
Marc: Where does everyone live? Or should I not ask that?
Luther: On the dusty oil fields of North Dakota, but there are tons of men to hook-up with here. No questions asked. No demands to kiss. Just how I like it!
William: Sunny California, though right now, I’d prefer rain.
Andrew: I’m in Texas, happy to be home after four years in the army.
Hugo: Minneapolis.
Marc: Me too! Minneapolis, that is. I gotta say, it’s nice chatting with some queer men. Everyone around me assumes I’m straight. And since I haven’t dated a man in ages, it’s like all my friends forgot I’m bi. But I’d really like to date a man again. I think if I date a woman, I’m bound to . . . What’s the word? Put all my shit on her?
Hugo: Project?
Marc: Yeah. I’m gonna project my hurt on her cuz of my ex. So I’d really like to try something serious with a guy.
William: So, what are your greatest fears when thinking about falling in love?
Luther: Coming out. I know, I know. It won’t be as bad as I think it will be. But what if it is? I’ll lose everyone around me.
William: But you prefer being alone. Or so you’ve claimed, Luth.
Luther: Right. I push people away. Easier that way.
Marc: I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to trust again. And if I do, what if the guy I end up with assumes I’m cheating on him only because I’m bi?
Hugo: My Kevin is bisexual, and I never made those assumptions. We’re not all neanderthals who can’t appreciate subtlety.
Marc: True. There’s that lack of trust thing again.
William: I’m worried I’ll never measure up.
Luther: Says the man who probably has a dick the size of an eggplant.
William: . . .
William: I might. ;)
Luther: LOL. I knew it!
Hugo: If W & L weren’t thousands of miles away, I’d suggest you guys get a room and fuck to work out your sexual tension.
William: Not going to happen.
Luther: He’d probably want to marry me. ;) I’m not settling down. I just want to fall in love. Big difference.
Andrew: I already know who I want to be in a relationship with. But I’m too boring for him.
William: You’re far from boring, Andrew.
Hugo: The only way you’ll know is if you take a chance. But get into a good headspace before that. Yes, I know, Luther, you’re sick of me saying that, but if I hadn’t fixed my shit before running into Kevin again seventeen years after our last kiss, I would’ve fucked it up that first night.
Marc: Thanks for this, guys. I’m glad I found you.
What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
I came to the MM Romance genre as a reader nearly a decade ago because I wasn’t finding what I wanted in MF Romance. I wanted the happily ever after, the love, and all the feels, but in MF I found women being “rescued” by alpha males whether the women wanted “saving” or not. Consent was either implied or ignored, and women were often taken. As a sexual abuse survivor, the stories I enjoyed were limited.
When I stumbled upon MM Romance, I found exactly what I’d been missing in mainstream MF. Consent was discussed openly, beta males (my fave) were not only written but revered, and the stories went deeper. Social issues, politics, and real-life struggles weren’t swept under the rug or glossed over. They were overt and, at times, in your face. I discovered a genre that fulfilled most of what I craved and finally addressed some of the realities I encountered as a queer woman.
And when I couldn’t find certain types of stories, I picked up the pen and started writing them. I’m a student of human nature, literally, so my previous work as a family therapist comes through in my writing. I write about families, family of origin, and mental and physical health issues, all through the lens of MM Romance. I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to MF Romance, though I know it’s changed a lot in recent years. I found my home here, and it’s a very comfy home.
When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process (outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
I enjoy the editing process more than anything else, at least the editing I do before I send everything to my copy editor. Drafting can be fun when things are cooking, but when they aren’t, it’s like getting dental work without Novocain. Haha. I tend to have a rough outline/sketch of what I want to write, draft as fast as I can, and then the real work starts. I go through each story numerous times, and it’s through those edits that I flesh out the connections and discover threads I didn’t realize existed when drafting. The story takes on a life of its own, and editing allows me the distance I need to let this happen. And I love the technical part of editing as well, massaging words, crafting better sentences. And only after I’ve worked the story to death, according to some, do I send it off to my editor. I still tweak, and I joke that I’ll be perpetually editing until my days run out.
When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I love MM romance, memoires, new adult, and a lot of non-fiction. Lately, I’ve been reading writing craft books, and I’m a sucker for reference books. How-to’s and stuff like that.
If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
I’d love to write with J.K. Rowling just to see how her mind works, to see her process. She created such a vivid world with Harry Potter that it’s simply part of my life now. I’d love to see how she works.
Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
I’ve always wanted to write, but I also came to it later in life. I wrote really bad, angsty poetry and song lyrics as a teen. In my twenties, all my writing was academic. Most of my reading was as well. But that happens when you go to college and grad school for a decade. Haha. Then in my 30s, I started blogging, at first to keep family members up to date on my baby’s health (she required several reconstructive surgeries in her first year and spent time in and out of the hospital). This was at the inception of blogs, and once my babe’s health improved, I shifted it over to a “mommy blog” before mommy blogs were a thing. A few years later, I got very ill and was confined to my bed for months. I read every MM Romance I could get my hands on, and eventually started to write when I wanted different story lines represented. On my 38th birthday, I posted my very first chapter online, and my life was forever changed. A few weeks after I turned 41, Dreamspinner Press published my first novel, and a few years after that, I quit my day job and decided to write full time. Today I write and run my own freelance editing service as well.
I came to the MM Romance genre as a reader nearly a decade ago because I wasn’t finding what I wanted in MF Romance. I wanted the happily ever after, the love, and all the feels, but in MF I found women being “rescued” by alpha males whether the women wanted “saving” or not. Consent was either implied or ignored, and women were often taken. As a sexual abuse survivor, the stories I enjoyed were limited.
When I stumbled upon MM Romance, I found exactly what I’d been missing in mainstream MF. Consent was discussed openly, beta males (my fave) were not only written but revered, and the stories went deeper. Social issues, politics, and real-life struggles weren’t swept under the rug or glossed over. They were overt and, at times, in your face. I discovered a genre that fulfilled most of what I craved and finally addressed some of the realities I encountered as a queer woman.
And when I couldn’t find certain types of stories, I picked up the pen and started writing them. I’m a student of human nature, literally, so my previous work as a family therapist comes through in my writing. I write about families, family of origin, and mental and physical health issues, all through the lens of MM Romance. I’m not sure I’ll ever go back to MF Romance, though I know it’s changed a lot in recent years. I found my home here, and it’s a very comfy home.
When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process (outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
I enjoy the editing process more than anything else, at least the editing I do before I send everything to my copy editor. Drafting can be fun when things are cooking, but when they aren’t, it’s like getting dental work without Novocain. Haha. I tend to have a rough outline/sketch of what I want to write, draft as fast as I can, and then the real work starts. I go through each story numerous times, and it’s through those edits that I flesh out the connections and discover threads I didn’t realize existed when drafting. The story takes on a life of its own, and editing allows me the distance I need to let this happen. And I love the technical part of editing as well, massaging words, crafting better sentences. And only after I’ve worked the story to death, according to some, do I send it off to my editor. I still tweak, and I joke that I’ll be perpetually editing until my days run out.
When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I love MM romance, memoires, new adult, and a lot of non-fiction. Lately, I’ve been reading writing craft books, and I’m a sucker for reference books. How-to’s and stuff like that.
If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
I’d love to write with J.K. Rowling just to see how her mind works, to see her process. She created such a vivid world with Harry Potter that it’s simply part of my life now. I’d love to see how she works.
Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
I’ve always wanted to write, but I also came to it later in life. I wrote really bad, angsty poetry and song lyrics as a teen. In my twenties, all my writing was academic. Most of my reading was as well. But that happens when you go to college and grad school for a decade. Haha. Then in my 30s, I started blogging, at first to keep family members up to date on my baby’s health (she required several reconstructive surgeries in her first year and spent time in and out of the hospital). This was at the inception of blogs, and once my babe’s health improved, I shifted it over to a “mommy blog” before mommy blogs were a thing. A few years later, I got very ill and was confined to my bed for months. I read every MM Romance I could get my hands on, and eventually started to write when I wanted different story lines represented. On my 38th birthday, I posted my very first chapter online, and my life was forever changed. A few weeks after I turned 41, Dreamspinner Press published my first novel, and a few years after that, I quit my day job and decided to write full time. Today I write and run my own freelance editing service as well.
Posy Roberts started reading romance when she was young, sneaking peeks at adult books long before she should’ve. Textbooks eventually replaced the novels, and for years she existed without reading for fun. When she finally picked up a romance two decades later, it was like slipping on a soft hoodie . . . that didn’t quite fit like it used to. She wanted something more.
She wanted to read about men falling in love with each other. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and see characters navigate the unpredictability of life. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.
Her stories have been USA Today’s Happily Ever After Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her family and friends and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.
EMAIL: posywrites@gmail.com
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