The Velvet Rides
£3.59
Leo Sterling is London’s most discreet chauffeur, a silent witness to the secrets of the rich and powerful from behind his limousine’s partition. His rule is simple: see everything, acknowledge nothing.
That rule shatters when Alexander “Xan” Thorne, a formidable and intensely private tech billionaire, gets into his car. Their connection is immediate and electric, evolving from charged professional exchanges to a potent, forbidden attraction. Within the private sanctuary of the car and Xan’s lonely penthouse, they find a raw, passionate love that threatens the carefully constructed walls around their lives.
But their hidden world collapses when a tabloid exposes their affair, splashing Leo’s face across the media as a scandalous “distraction.” Overnight, Leo goes from invisible observer to public enemy number one, a liability to Xan’s empire. As the board demands a denial and the press circles, Xan must choose between the empire he built and the man he loves. Leo must decide if he can step out of the shadows and fight for a life in the blinding, brutal light.
The Velvet Rides is a steamy, suspenseful gay romance about love across class divides, the price of authenticity, and the courage it takes to choose your own destination.
Behind the tinted glass, every journey is a secret. But one passenger will change the destination forever.
Leo Sterling is the invisible man. As a discreet chauffeur for London’s elite, he navigates the city’s glittering veins from behind the wheel of his Mercedes S-Class. The partition is his shield, allowing him to observe the raw, unfiltered lives of the wealthy—their clandestine affairs, desperate deals, and hollow performances—all while remaining a ghost. It’s a lucrative life that pays for his own controlled world, but one that demands emotional detachment.
Alexander “Xan” Thorne is a problem that won’t be compartmentalized. A brilliant, reserved tech billionaire, he enters Leo’s car not with performative drama, but with a quiet intensity that pierces Leo’s professional facade. Their first encounters are a dance of charged glances and lowered partitions, where business talk gives way to startling vulnerability. Xan, the master of every room, finds himself confessing his doubts and defeats to the one man paid to listen and forget.
What begins as a professional courtesy spirals into a dangerous, irresistible attraction. In the silent sanctuary of the car and the stark loneliness of Xan’s penthouse, they forge a connection that explodes the boundaries between driver and client, observer and participant. It is a deep, erotic love that feels like the first real thing in either of their meticulously managed lives.
But the world they inhabit has no tolerance for secrets that turn into love stories. When a vicious gossip columnist exposes their affair, Leo is thrust from the shadows into a brutal media spotlight. His name, face, and past are splashed across tabloids, painting him as a gold-digger and a scandal. Overnight, he becomes a liability to the empire Xan has built.
Faced with a boardroom revolt and a public feeding frenzy, Xan must choose: sacrifice the man he loves to save his legacy, or wage war on a system that wants to destroy them both. Leo, meanwhile, must decide if he can survive the glare of a world that only ever saw him as part of the scenery.
The Velvet Rides is a sultry, suspenseful, and deeply romantic novel about the lines we cross for love and the cages we break to be free. Set against the backdrop of exclusive London venues and private limousines, it explores the intoxicating thrill of forbidden desire, the crushing weight of scandal, and the fierce power of choosing your true self over a safe, secret life. This is a story for anyone who has ever wondered what happens when the partition comes down—and there’s no going back.
3 reviews for The Velvet Rides
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
-
The Aestheticist
£3.59Add to cartA killer is curating a gallery of the dead. Can a haunted detective stop him before he adds the final piece?
Detective Kaelen Rossi tracks a pattern of vanishing young men to the door of Dr. Alistair Finch, a brilliant surgeon with a chilling philosophy: true beauty must be preserved from decay. Finch is “The Aestheticist,” an artist who murders his handsome, gay victims and poses them as serene sculptures in a hidden studio. For him, it’s not murder—it’s an act of eternal preservation.
Rossi’s pursuit becomes a personal war against Finch’s twisted genius, a battle that nearly costs him his life and sanity. He survives to see Finch imprisoned, but the victory is hollow. Finch’s dark art has inspired a fanatical online following. A copycat emerges, and Rossi uncovers a devastating betrayal: Finch’s accomplice was a trusted insider, a medical examiner who helped him from within the investigation.
Now, a new, more dangerous disciple—”The Steward”—plans to scale up Finch’s vision into an act of mass terror, viewing a public festival as a canvas to be “cleansed.” With time running out and the people he cares about in the crosshairs, Rossi must confront a legacy of murder that refuses to die. He must stop a fanatic, outsmart a master manipulator from his prison cell, and reclaim his own soul from the killer’s seductive, monstrous logic.
A intense, psychological thriller, The Aestheticist explores obsession, beauty, and the terrifying power of a dangerous idea.
-
The Last True Bake-Off
£3.59Add to cartArthur, a traditional baker from Iowa, and Mateo, a modernist pastry star from NYC, are culinary rivals thrown together as finalists on a elite baking show in Italy. Their very public feud—butter vs. liquid nitrogen, heart vs. intellect—is catnip for the cameras. Forced into proximity in a secluded villa, their bitter clashes slowly give way to grudging respect, then into something far more dangerous and delicious.
As they face challenges that test their souls as much as their skills, they discover the vulnerable person behind the other’s professional armor. A stolen kiss amidst a cloud of spilled flour changes everything, but when a scandalous photo leaks, threatening Mateo’s carefully constructed brand, he must choose between protecting his empire or embracing the real, messy connection he’s found with Arthur.
The Last True Bake-Off is a warm, witty, and heartfelt enemies-to-lovers rom-com. It’s a story about embracing the unexpected, finding your perfect blend, and discovering that the greatest creations often come from the most explosive collaborations. Perfect for fans of heartfelt banter, foodie backdrops, and stories where love is the ultimate showstopper.
-
Add to cartA lonely student. A weary farmer. One Christmas that changes everything.
Leo, a broke art student in New York, can’t afford the perfect Christmas tree, but he can’t stop visiting the handsome farmer who sells it. Elias, struggling to keep his family farm alive, is drawn to the sad-eyed young man who admires his trees but never buys.
When the market closes, Elias offers Leo an invitation that will alter both their lives: don’t spend Christmas alone. Come to the farm.
Amidst the snow-blanketed fields and warm firelight of Hawk’s Peak Farm, a tentative friendship blossoms into a deep, emotional, and passionate romance. Leo discovers a sense of home he never knew, while Elias finds in Leo the strength and hope to fight for his legacy.
But after the holiday magic fades, real-world challenges await. Distance, financial strain, and family prejudice test their fledgling relationship. A fierce winter storm will force them to rely on each other, proving that their love must be as strong and resilient as the spruce trees Elias nurtures.
The Spruce and the Student is a heartfelt MM romance about finding love in the most unexpected place, and having the courage to build a future together. It’s a story of miracles, hope, and the enduring power of coming home.
-
Where Shadows Love
£3.59Add to cartIn the final, desperate days of World War II, two men find a love worth risking everything for. Janusz is a Polish prisoner, broken by a brutal work camp. Luc is a French conscript, forced to wear a German uniform he despises. In the ruins of Berlin, a silent act of compassion sparks a forbidden connection.
Theirs is a love built in shadows—a language of stolen glances, hidden notes, and coded messages. It is a dangerous secret that could get them both executed. As the city falls around them, they must flee, embarking on an epic journey across a shattered continent. They will face the chaos of war, the suspicion of post-war authorities, and a world that refuses to understand the bond between them.
From the rubble of Berlin to the promise of a new world, “Where Shadows Love” is a sweeping, intense, and profoundly moving saga about the power of love to become the ultimate act of defiance. This is a story for anyone who believes that even in the darkest times, humanity—and love—can find a way.
-
The Campaign for Us
£3.99Add to cartThe Campaign for Us: A Gay Contemporary Romance
Read with pride. Love without apology.
A powerful creative director. A brilliant new designer. A secret that could destroy them both.
Andrey Volkov’s world is perfectly controlled—until Sam Garcia arrives. Their professional clashes are explosive, their attraction undeniable. After a drunk confession and a desperate kiss, they begin a secret affair that risks everything.
When their relationship is exposed, the fallout is brutal. Sam is exiled. Andrey is ordered to keep his distance. Their love survives only in stolen moments and digital whispers.
They have two choices: stay apart or risk it all.
They choose each other. Leaving the agency behind, they launch their own firm—Volkov & Garcia—and build a life on their own terms. But building a business while fighting for their love is harder than either imagined.
From glamorous industry parties to quiet mornings in their shared home, this is a sweeping 41-chapter gay contemporary romance about two men who refuse to hide.
Perfect for fans of:
-
Forbidden workplace romance
-
Enemies to lovers
-
Emotional, steamy MM romance books
-
Characters who fight for their happy ending
If you love gay romance books with heart, heat, and a hard-won read with pride message, “The Campaign for Us” is for you.
*18+ for mature themes and explicit romantic content.*
-
-
Add to cart“The Unadorned Self” is the definitive guide to nudism and naturism for the modern seeker. This comprehensive 49-chapter book moves beyond myth to explore the philosophy of body acceptance, freedom, and respect. A practical manual for beginners, it details everything from your first social experience and proper etiquette to navigating relationships and communicating your lifestyle.
Delve into the psychology of body image, learning how social nudity dismantles shame and fosters profound self-acceptance. Discover how to find your community, engage in nude recreation, and integrate this authentic mindset into your daily life. This is a journey of healing, connection, and liberation, offering a powerful antidote to the pressures of a performance-driven world.
Whether you are curious, a newcomer, or a seasoned practitioner, this book provides the wisdom and courage to embrace your most authentic self. Your path to a freer, more connected life starts here.
Related products
-
Add to cartCrushing on My Father’s Best Friend: A Forbidden MM Romance
Leo’s lifelong crush on his father’s charismatic best friend, Gabriel, ignites into a forbidden passion when he moves to San Francisco. For Gabriel, the attraction he’s fought for years is a betrayal of his deepest friendship, but the pull toward Leo is a force he can no longer resist.
Their secret affair is a sanctuary of intense intimacy, but it’s built on a foundation of lies. When a devastating family secret from the past is revealed—a secret connecting Gabriel, Leo’s father, and Leo’s late mother—their hidden world shatters. The confrontation exiles them from the family they cherish, forcing them to face the brutal cost of their love.
This is a sweeping MM romance about the courage to be honest, the long road to forgiveness, and the fight to build a new family from the broken pieces of the old. “Crushing on My Father’s Best Friend” is a deeply emotional story for anyone who believes that the most powerful love is often the one that is hardest to win.
-
Add to cartHow to Come Out with Your Book to an Audience (free after payment options under attachment section )
You’ve written a gay romance, a lesbian love story, or a groundbreaking piece of queer fiction. Now you need a publicist who actually understands your work.
readwithpride.comis the first portal dedicated to connecting LGBTQ+ authors with specialized publicists – but using it effectively requires insider knowledge.This 35‑chapter guide walks you through every step: creating a profile that attracts publicists, mining your manuscript for marketing gold, writing targeted pitches that get responses, and negotiating fair rates. You will learn to leverage beta readers, community forums, and live Pitch Parties to get noticed. Real case studies show how romance, memoir, and YA fantasy authors succeeded.
Beyond launch, you will discover how to handle negative reviews, collaborate with BookTokers, manage a crisis, and build a sustainable writing career. The book includes templates, checklists, and a 100‑day action plan.
Whether you write MM romance, WW contemporary, gay historical fiction, or queer thrillers, this guide gives you the tools to come out with your book to an audience that is ready to embrace it. No more generic marketing advice – only strategies tailored for LGBTQ+ authors on the portal that was built for you.
Read with pride. Publish with purpose.
-
Add to cartEvan Reed, St. Clare University’s 23-year-old president, has it all: looks, charm, and a brilliant future. He effortlessly charms everyone, especially women, whom he gently rejects with a vow of chastity until marriage. But his perfect facade hides a devastating secret: he is deeply in love with his best friend, Liam Walsh, the school’s star baseball captain.
Trapped by the expectations of his devout family and a conservative town, Evan believes he must choose between his heart and his entire world. Liam, who shares Evan’s secret but not his patience, yearns for a truth they can never speak aloud. Their forbidden connection plays out in stolen glances and secret meetings, a love so powerful it threatens to destroy everything they’ve worked for—Evan’s presidency, Liam’s athletic career, and their reputations.
From the pressures of a glittering gala to the threat of blackmail, The President’s Secret is a sweeping, emotional saga of sacrifice and resilience. This 55-chapter journey follows two men across five years as they navigate family rejection, public scrutiny, and the agonizing distance between the lives they have and the life they desperately want. It’s a story about the cost of living a lie and the fierce, painful fight to build an authentic life together. A heartfelt, angsty MM romance about finding the courage to choose love, no matter the consequence.
-
Add to cartThe Silent Language of Us: A Novel of Unspoken Bonds
In a world of noise, they built a quiet world for two.
Arthur, a reclusive cartographer, and Leo, a soulful carpenter, form an unexpected friendship in the silence of the British Library. Their connection, built through shared glances, cups of tea, and a deep understanding of each other’s broken pieces, slowly transforms into a profound and abiding love. But this love has its own rules—it is a chaste, sexless bond, a fortress for two in a world desperate to label them.
Together, they navigate personal crises and societal pressure, their partnership becoming a silent language only they speak. Arthur helps Leo find his voice, while Leo teaches Arthur how to rebuild. They restore broken artifacts and, in doing so, learn to restore each other, discovering that the cracks in their pasts are what make them strong.
This 49-chapter journey is a testament to a love that exists beyond romance and physicality. It’s a story for anyone who has ever found a soulmate in a friend, proving that the most powerful connections are those built on the bedrock of unwavering presence, not passion. Discover the quiet, revolutionary love story of Arthur and Leo.
admin –
Name: Marcus Thorne (no relation, just a great name!)
Email: marcus.reads@mailbox.com
Rating: ★★★★★
Title: “More Than Just Steam – A Story That Stays With You”
Review:
“I picked this up expecting a well-written, steamy romance, and it absolutely delivers on that front—the chemistry between Leo and Xan is off-the-charts hot and feels earned. But what surprised and utterly captivated me was the depth of the storytelling. The author uses the limousine as a brilliant metaphor for class, observation, and isolation. Leo’s journey from being a ‘ghost’ to becoming a man fighting for his visibility is profoundly moving. The depiction of the media scandal was terrifyingly accurate, not just melodrama. This isn’t just a love story; it’s about the cost of integrity and the terrifying, beautiful risk of being truly seen. The supporting cast, like Elara, is perfectly drawn. I finished it in two sittings and have been thinking about it for days. Highly, highly recommend.”
admin –
Name: Sophie Chen
Email: s.chen.books@gmail.com
Rating: ★★★★★
Title: “Atmospheric, Intelligent, and Deeply Romantic”
Review:
“The atmosphere in The Velvet Rides is a character itself. You can feel the chill of the rain on the windows, the plush quiet of the car, the stark loneliness of the penthouse, and then the claustrophobic terror of the safe house. The slow burn between Leo and Xan is masterfully done; every glance through the rearview mirror, every small lowering of the partition, crackles with tension. When they finally come together, it’s explosive and deeply emotional. I appreciated that their relationship faced real, high-stakes consequences from the outside world—it made their eventual stand feel triumphant, not just romantic. Leo’s final decision about his career was the perfect, empowering end to his arc. This is a smart, sexy, and satisfying read for anyone who loves romance with heft and a brilliant sense of place.”
admin –
Name: Thomas “Tom” Rigby
Email: tom.rigby@post.com
Rating: ★★★★★
Title: “A Masterclass in Forbidden Romance”
Review:
“As a longtime fan of romance that explores power dynamics and social barriers, The Velvet Rides hit every note perfectly. The driver-client setup is a classic for a reason, but here it feels fresh and urgent. Xan could have been a stereotypical cold billionaire, but his vulnerability and weariness make him irresistible. Leo is a fantastic protagonist—competent, observant, and strong in a quiet way that makes you root for him completely. The erotic scenes are beautifully written, integral to character development, and seriously passionate. What truly elevates the book is the second half, dealing with the scandal. It’s a gripping, nerve-wracking portrayal of modern fame and privacy that adds immense stakes. The ending was perfect and felt true to both characters. This is a top-tier LGBTQ+ romance. More from this author, please!”