The Pepperverse - Home of Author Pepper Espinoza

My Gay Books

I try not to limit myself to any one genre or length. I write full length novels, novellas, and shorter stories. I mainly write contemporaries, and I especially love gay romance and menage romance. Follow the "More Information" links to read excerpts and order the books.

 

 

 

Hearts Afire: To Heaven Resembled

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Firefighter Lance Stuart is minding his own business when a man on the street stops him with a simple expression of gratitude. He falls into the conversation with the man, and learns that Jakob is far more than what one might expect from a busker. For starters, he’s gorgeous. He’s also funny, charming, and flirty. Lance immediately wants to get to know him better.

Jakob Fox spends his days performing on the sidewalk and his evenings in various coffee shops and clubs, reading his poetry. But he always takes the time to thank firefighters when he sees them. He knows first-hand how much firefighters risk and what they sacrifice. His father was a New York firefighter, until he died in the line of duty. As a result, Jakob can show his appreciation, but he always keeps his emotional distance--from everybody. He also suffers from almost debilitating anxiety.

He wants to be with Lance, but he can’t handle the emotional stress of being with a firefighter. Jakob needs to decide if they have a future, or if he should just walk away.

 

 

The Devil Went Down to Georgia

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Hell has no limits, but neither does a friend’s love...

Actor Simon Kidd can’t believe his ears when he learns that his former costar, Alan Ricks, is part of a traveling theater company in Georgia. Just a year before, Alan had been one of the hottest names in Hollywood. What was he doing performing Doctor Faustus in a tent?

Simon decides to investigate, but when he finally tracks down Alan, he learns that hell is breaking loose in Georgia, and the Devil deals it hard. What’s the true value of a soul? And how much is Simon willing to risk in order to win Alan’s freedom?

 

 

 

On a Bruised Road

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Edwin Masters isn’t a big gearhead, but he has spent his entire life lusting after one particular car—a 1962 Alfa Romeo Spider 2600. It’s not the flashiest car, it’s not the fastest car, and it’s not the most collectible car, but he loves it. Edwin knows he’ll pay any price for it. When he buys it, it changes the entire shape and meaning of his world, but not in the ways he might have predicted.

Cooper James, the young man who died behind the wheel forty-seven years earlier, haunts the Spider and he wants a life. He wants Edwin. So he reaches out, sucking Edwin into a deepening abyss by exploiting demons from a past Edwin can’t break from. Edwin resists, struggling against the phantom in favor of an attractive, exciting young man who wants to be with him, Carson Heston.

Carson holds the key to Edwin's salvation, but every time he gets close, Cooper terrorizes him. Edwin knows he’ll be lost forever if he submits to Cooper’s dark promise of release and relief, but that might be the only way to save Carson’s life.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, dubious consent, ménage (m/m/m), voyeurism.

 

 

A Busted Afternoon

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It's June, 1972, and the Viet Nam war overshadows Ed Sorenson's life. Barely out of high school, and there's nothing ahead of him except war and death. On a whim, he packs up his old station wagon with California in mind. He invites his friend, Sammy, to join him on his journey, never expecting the other man to jump at the chance.

The station wagon barely makes it as far as Nevada. It dies on the shoulder during a freak summer thunder storm, trapping the two young men, and giving them no choice but to face the secrets they've been hiding, the fears they've been harboring, and the desire they can barely keep at bay.

 


 

To Bend

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Frazier Lee has only been in Chris Leeves' wolf pack for three weeks, but he's already rubbing everybody the wrong way. Even the person who made him a wolf wants him gone. Frazier finally goes too far when he tries to convince Chris's wife, Rose, to sneak away with him while at a pack party.

Frazier thinks Chris is going to kick him out, leaving him homeless and friendless. But Chris has other plans. The first? Make Frazier submit to his will.

 

 




 

The Obsolete Man

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James Duran no longer fits in the world. At forty-five years old, his wife has left him, and his job as a pre-press technician was not just downsized, it was completely eliminated. With no reason to stay in the world, James makes plans to jump in front of the train that took him to work every day for twenty-five years. But before he does, he's finally going to introduce himself to the stranger who takes the same train. The stranger who has gorgeous eyes and a wonderful smile.

A stranger who can make the world fit James Duran again.


 

 

 

 

Making Waves

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Andy Smith is just trying to do a good deed when he takes his sister's fiancé home from a bar. After all, Scott Huxley is a major Hollywood star, and one drunken picture two nights before his wedding could be a huge embarrassment. The two men have nothing in common except an intense attraction. An attraction neither want to acknowledge. Andy doesn't want to betray his own sister, and Scott's secret runs so deep he can't even be honest with himself.

But it doesn't take Andy long to learn that he doesn't have to acknowledge an attraction to be completely overwhelmed by it.




 

 

The Prince Who Never Smiled

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Many years ago, in a kingdom far away, there lived a young prince. This prince was very handsome, and everybody in the kingdom loved him. His father, the king, doted on the young man, and did everything he could to make the boy happy. His mother, the queen, adored her prince, and devised new and special gifts for him every day. The subjects of the kingdom brought offerings to the prince, and served at his pleasure, without a single complaint. The prince, being a good man, responded in kind and treated everybody fairly and with respect. But, much to his father's confusion and his mother's disappointment, there was one thing the prince never did.

He never smiled.

Finally, unable to tolerate his son's dour expression any longer, the king sent out a decree. He sent messengers to every corner of his country, and runners to all the neighboring kingdoms. The first person to make his hard-faced child smile would earn the right to marry him.

Unfortunately for the king, things did not go as planned.

 

 

Quarterback Sneak

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The headline "Quarterbacks Garnett, Patton, Rumored to be Gay" greets Cache Garnett the morning after he wins the football championship, and defeats his biggest rival, Eric Patton. Facing a potentially career-ending knee injury, the last thing Cache wants to deal with is speculation about his personal life. If the injury doesn't end his career, the swirling rumors could.

Especially since all the speculation and rumors are true.

 

 

 

 

Elected

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Owen Horn, former Democratic strategist, is more than a little invested in the current presidential election. But on the night of the election, he has other things on his mind. On the surface, Sam Delgado, key Republican strategist, is everything that Owen detests. He's on the wrong side of the conservative spectrum. He takes his marching orders from a man Owen disagrees with on every single policy. But Sam is friendly, smart, and gorgeous. Owen has a tendency to forget their enemies.

While the country holds its collective breath waiting for the presidential results, Owen holds his own election.

 

 

 

Falling In Controlled Circumstances

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For four years, Gregory Jackson and his partner, Cambridge police chief Phillip Baker, have enjoyed a committed relationship. Neither suspect there’s something missing in their lives. Until one fateful day when Phillip has a close call while on duty…and Gregory’s flat tire puts him squarely in the glide path of dangerously charming American pilot Jim Tennant.

While Jim’s in town to fly prototypes at the local air force base, Greg struggles to keep their relationship platonic, but Jim is an irresistible force. At the moment a transgression seems inevitable, Phillip surprises Gregory by encouraging him to take exactly what he wants. That night, all three of them really learn what it means to fly.

Gregory’s pleasure is tempered by two serious concerns. Why is Jim interested in a relationship with a couple? And why is Phillip suddenly willing—even eager—to invite another man into their bed?

 

If All the Sand Were Pearl

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As a youngest son, Jag Martin has eagerly walked a life-long path toward the priesthood. Then his once-great family falters under a mountain of debt. Their only hope—marry Jag off to an appropriately wealthy suitor.

Brace Rivers desperately wants more than just a short fling. However, his economic and political reality makes finding an appropriate male partner next to impossible. When the Martin family offers Jag’s hand, it’s a dream come true. But his suspicions mount that the young man is being forced into an unwanted marriage. Compassion wins out over loneliness, and Brace offers Jag a pearl ring valuable enough to both save his family’s fortunes and give him freedom. There’s just one thing Brace wants in return—twenty-four hours together.

Brace can only pray it’s long enough to convince Jag that a life together is worth more than all the pearls in the sea.

 

 

Peanut Butter Kisses

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Josh Boothe is one of the best pastry chefs in the nation, but he chooses to work as Peter Summers’ assistant, creating elaborate and beautiful pieces of art from sugar. He knows Peter is the best, and he wants to do everything possible to ensure Peter earns the gold medal at the California Confectioners Pastry Competition he deserves. Unfortunately, they’ve placed second three years in a row, and Josh fears Peter will find a new assistant.

But Peter has no interest in getting rid of Josh. In fact, he wants to find a way to make their partnership permanent.


 

(Just Like) Starting Over

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After a horrible car accident, Guillermo "Guy" Rivera doesn't even remember who he is. Suffering from amnesia, bound to a wheelchair with a broken arm and a broken leg, he relies on his in-home caregiver, Dane Mathis, to help him with everything from bathing to eating. Guy wants Dane to be more than just a caregiver, but Dane keeps his distance.

Six months after their relationship ends, Dane Mathis dropped everything to help Guy put his life back together. It is difficult to treat Guy like a stranger, but he knows he must not give in to his deep desires. He won't risk Guy's anger by revealing the true nature of their relationship. Or the reality of their past together.

Even so, Dane can't help but hope that this is the second chance they have both longed for.

 


 

My Only Home

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The night before Noah Hill left his hometown of Mountain View, he had a drunken sexual tryst with his best friend, Lucas Wesson. Deeply in the closet, Noah is horrified at his behavior, and terrified of what Lucas would think of him. He left the next morning without saying goodbye, and effectively cut off all ties. He returns five years later to help his father, and runs into his old best friend almost as soon as he reaches town. And nothing has changed. He still loves Lucas, and he still can’t stand to meet the other man’s eyes.

Lucas has been through a lot in the past five years without his best friend’s support. A marriage. A divorce. A child. Running his own business. He also remembers his one night with Noah with perfect clarity. For five years, he only wanted Noah to come home. But now that Noah is back, things have changed too much to ever be the same between them...

 


The Zebra Wore Black Leather/The Zebra Wore Blue Jeans

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Kevin needs a nude, male model to finish an art project. Aden is the last person he expects to knock on his door. Handsome, charming, and a little dangerous, it's lust at first sight for Kevin. But this lust has the potential to grow into something much more powerful.