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
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Add to cartThe Greenwood and the Flame completely redefines the legend of Robin Hood. This is a sizzling, epic historical fantasy romance where the famous outlaw’s greatest rebellion is the love he finds in the heart of Sherwood.
Disgraced and hunted, Robin of Locksley is saved by John Scathlock, a formidable hunter whose silent strength and hidden sanctuary offer a new beginning—and a dangerous, undeniable attraction. As Robin learns to fight as an outlaw under John’s guidance, their budding rebellion is joined by the brilliant, sharp-tongued rogue Will Scarlet. His arrival creates a volatile triangle of desire, strategy, and competition that will forge the legend of The Hood in fire and passion.
Together, this triad must outwit the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham, build a sanctuary for the oppressed, and defend the community they found in the hidden valley of Clun. But their most perilous battle is for their own hearts, as they navigate a love that defies all laws—a deep, polyamorous bond that becomes their greatest strength and most vulnerable secret.
Blending high-stakes adventure with scorching emotional and physical romance, The Greenwood and the Flame is a story of found family, radical justice, and a love so powerful it can build a new world. It’s perfect for readers who crave the rich historical setting of a classic Robin Hood tale, reinvented with the complex character dynamics and intense romance of series like Captive Prince and The Nightingale and the Falcon. Discover the legend you never knew, where the truest aim is for the heart.
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Add to cartThe Granite Creek Vet: A Story of Heart, Home, and Second Chances
An American veterinarian seeking escape finds more than he bargained for in a remote Canadian village. Dr. Tom McCarthney’s arrival in Granite Creek is met with cold resistance, especially from Jacob Miller, a handsome, stoic dairy farmer who sees him as an unwanted outsider.
Their frosty beginning is shattered when a devastating illness threatens to destroy Jacob’s herd and his family’s legacy. Forced into a desperate, round-the-clock battle to save the farm, the two men discover an unexpected connection in the sweat and straw of the barn. A tentative, secret romance blossoms between the city-educated vet and the rugged farmer, challenging their deepest insecurities and transforming their lives.
But building a future together means facing external pressures from a skeptical community, confronting painful ghosts from Jacob’s past, and deciding if their love is strong enough to overcome any storm. The Granite Creek Vet is a heartfelt, emotional MM romance about finding home, healing old wounds, and the transformative power of a love that is hard-won and worth every fight.
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Add to cartAladin isn’t dreaming of a princess—he’s dreaming of him. Kaelen, the lethally handsome son of Agrabah’s Grand Vizier, is a fantasy out of reach for a penniless street thief. Desperate for a chance, Aladin uses a magic lamp to transform himself into the radiant Prince Ali and walks into the palace’s viper pit.
What begins as a dangerous deception becomes a passionate, forbidden romance. Kaelen, isolated and shrewd, finds in the mysterious prince a kindred spirit and a heat he cannot deny. But their love is a threat to the most powerful man in the kingdom. Hunted and exposed, they are forced to flee, trading gilded lies for the raw struggle of survival across deserts and stormy seas.
The Gilded Prince of Agrabah is a sweeping, 40-chapter LGBTQ+ retelling of a classic tale. It’s an epic adventure of magic, political intrigue, and survival, but at its core, it’s an intimate love story between two men learning to shed their disguises and build something real. Follow Aladin and Kaelen from the opulent halls of a palace to the edge of the world, as they discover that the most powerful magic isn’t in a wish, but in choosing each other, again and again.
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The Silence of the Sun
£3.59Add to cartA love so profound, its silence speaks volumes.
When shy, introspective Mateo spends the summer at his father’s villa in Andalusia, he expects another season of lonely solitude. His world is irrevocably turned upside down by the arrival of Leo Valdez, a charismatic and brooding young pianist from Madrid.
Under the relentless Spanish sun, a tentative friendship ignites into a passionate, forbidden love affair—a whirlwind of stolen moments and whispered confessions that transforms them both. But summer must end, and their separation is a devastating blow that sends them on separate paths, Mateo to Barcelona and Leo to a stifling music conservatory.
Sustained only by heartfelt letters, they must navigate grief, family pressure, and the daunting pursuit of their dreams—Mateo as a writer and Leo as a composer. Their love is tested by distance, silence, and the terrifying prospect of outgrowing the memory of their perfect summer.
The Silence of the Sun is a sweeping, emotional gay romance about the love that defines you. It’s a story of first love, heartbreak, and the courage it takes to fight for a future together. For fans of poignant, character-driven love stories, this novel will capture your heart and linger long after the final page.
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Noah, a small-town artist, and Leo, a corporate lawyer escaping his gilded cage, meet by chance at a snowy Christmas market. An instant connection leads to tree lightings, cozy coffees, and a glimpse into each other’s opposite worlds: one of chaotic farmhouse love, the other of cold, polished expectations.
Drawn together by a powerful attraction and a shared longing for authenticity, they embark on a transformative journey. Leo must find the courage to choose a real life over a performative one, even if it means walking away from everything he knows. Noah must believe he is worthy of a love that promises both incredible joy and daunting challenges.
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A Family for Christmas is a sweeping, emotional MM romance about the courage to be true to yourself and the incredible family you can build when you find the person who feels like home. It’s a heartwarming story of found family, resilient love, and the everyday magic that happens when two hearts decide to build a life together, not just for the holidays, but for every day that follows.
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Add to cartJulian Thorne has perfected love—for other people. As the genius behind the exclusive Soulmate Architect agency, he uses algorithms to build flawless relationships. But his own heart is locked away, safe in a fortress of discipline and control.
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A heartfelt, slow-burn LGBTQ+ romance about vulnerability, courage, and finding love where you least expect it.
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Add to cartHe was a billionaire heir trapped by duty. He was a butler bound by tradition. Their forbidden love was a paradise they were never meant to keep.
Alexander Vanderbilt escaped his gilded cage for a holiday in Sharm El-Sheikh, seeking anonymity. What he found was Karim, a young Egyptian butler whose genuine warmth and perceptive beauty saw through his lonely facade. A single, caring touch in a private steam room ignited a passionate, secret affair, offering Alex a taste of a life he never thought possible.
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Add to cartLiam is the perfect golden boy. Caleb is the all-star baseball captain. Their love is the town’s best-kept secret—and its greatest threat.
In Oak Creek, a town where reputation is everything, Liam Hayes and Caleb Miller have mastered the art of performance. Liam, the school president, uses his charm and a promise of piety to hide his truth. Caleb, the team captain, uses his athletic prowess to mask his own. Their only real moments are stolen—in a secret treehouse, in whispered notes, in the life-saving touch of a hand in the dark.
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Single Dads LGBTQ+ Club: Love, Hugs, & Second Chances: Book 1 of the Single Dads Club Romance Series
£3.59Add to cartSingle Dads LGBTQ+ Club: Love, Hugs, & Second Chances
Architect Marcus’s life is orderly, quiet, and lonely. Teacher Leo’s life is chaotic, warm, and on pause. Their worlds collide in the one place designed for them: the Single Dads LGBTQ+ Club.
Marcus, a single father to Lily, is intrigued by Leo’s genuine profile—a fellow dad to Sofia who admits to failing at French braids. What begins with hesitant texts about parenting fails blossoms into a powerful connection over pancakes, pillow forts, and shared fears.
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This is a heartfelt, steamy romance about second chances, blended families, and the beautiful, messy work of building a home and a love that lasts. It’s a story that proves family isn’t just who you’re born to, but who you choose, and that the bravest thing a person can do is open their heart to love again.
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!”