J.E. Birk

Two guys meet over a stack of romance novels. Soon they're turning pages late into the night... Jamie Morin’s college GPA drops every time a cow breaks through a fence, but he’s determined to get his degree and keep his parents’ Vermont dairy farm afloat. He’d rather be reading than milking, but he can’t let his family down…not the way his brother did. So the last thing he needs is distraction in the form of an irresistible bookseller with a mysterious backstory. Briar Nord has a lifetime of experience proving that happily-ever-afters only happen in his favorite books. But his luck might be changing. He’s got a great job at a bookstore, and he lives in a city that puts maple syrup on everything. But Briar knows not to trust anything or anyone. And that includes a gorgeous farm boy with soulful eyes and too many obligations. When Jamie joins Briar’s romance novel book club, they both feel an instant connection. Soon they’re turning pages long into the night. But Briar’s past was bound to catch up with him. Sometimes, though, it takes two heroes to write a new ending . . .

One playboy. One perfectionist. So many secrets. I’m considered the biggest playboy in Burlington, Vermont. The party boy. The guy who lives in the moment and makes decisions with no thought for the future. But people don’t know my past. They don’t know why I make the choices I do. Even my best friend doesn’t know the truth about me. Actually, there are a lot of things he doesn’t know…like the fact that I had a one night stand with his brother last year. Did I mean to hook up with Aaron? Um, no. Mistakes were made, okay? But unlike most of my mistakes, this one has lasting consequences. Aaron works at the law firm where circumstances are forcing me to be their errand boy. Now we see each other every day. Aaron’s such a nervous wreck he keeps tripping over the copy machine. I’m surprised he hasn’t ended up in traction yet. He and I are opposites in almost every way. He’s got a GPA higher than Mount Mansfield, and I’m barely going to graduate college. He grocery shops with a spreadsheet, and I’ve got YOLO tattooed on my body. But Aaron sees things in me that no one else does, and I see things in him he doesn’t see in himself. Before I know it, we’re sharing late-night office picnics, evenings out at the bar, and long, hot afternoons on my boat. I’m having the best summer of my life, but there’s no way this can end well. My bff will kill me if he ever finds out how thoroughly I’ve corrupted his brother… Counterpoint is an opposites-attract forbidden romance featuring an incense-filled law firm, meddling friends, and angst and humor in (mostly) equal parts. It stars Jeremy Everett and Aaron Morin, who first appeared in the Vino and Veritas story Booklover, but Counterpoint is a standalone novel.

Two firefighters. One twink. Can an evil twin, a small-town holiday competition, and revealed secrets bring them together? I returned to Vermont to write an article about Mayor Doug McEmbirk and his town’s battle to win their local Holiday-Off. Even before I knew him, I had a crush on him. Because have you seen the man? OMG. With his big biceps and easy charm, Doug’s straight out of my firefighter fantasies. But I wasn’t planning on my inconvenient attraction to his scowly, grumpy roommate, Zeke, who’s the identical twin of my high school bully. That’s… messy. Life gets even messier when Zeke confesses to the entire town that he’s bisexual—and that he’s been in love with Doug for years. Problem is, Doug’s straight. Or is he? Now, I’m on a mission to bring these two hot men together. I volunteer my services as a love coach, because these burly guys can’t even kiss without my assistance. Except both men seem to be into me as well. This is one confusing holiday season. Things only get more complicated when meddling newspaper editors and kidnapped cows become involved. Not to mention some accidental texts and eggnog-fueled confessions. Will Zeke, Doug, and I be able to navigate our newfound feelings? Or is this relationship as doomed as the Holiday-Off competition appears to be? TMI is a holiday m/m/m romance that includes a grandma-chic house, lots of cheer, and many OTT fantasies. It stars Max, a journalist without a filter, Zeke, a grumbly Viking pirate, and Doug, a himbo mayor who makes excellent cinnamon rolls. Cameos from Sherbert and the guys from ILYBSM included. HEA guaranteed.

A Holiday M/M/M Romance Everyone has secrets. I’ve kept some big ones from my two best friends, and I know they’ve got a few of their own. After all, Embry and Adam never told me why they stopped talking to each other the night we graduated college. For my part, I’ve never told them that I’m bi—or that I’ve been in love with both of them for years. I’m also definitely not telling them I’ve mismanaged my family’s tree farm so badly that it’s about to go out of business right before Christmas. But when I crash off a ladder hanging up holiday lights and break my wrist, they come running like Santa’s elves. They’re both very grumpy about seeing each other again, but I can’t be sorry to finally have an excuse to get them in the same place. Wait until they find out we’re all sleeping in one bed… At least their feud is put on hold when they discover what a mess I’ve made of my business. Soon the three of us are scrambling to pull off a Christmas miracle and save the farm. And maybe it’s the magic of the holidays, but a whole lot of feelings and long-buried truths are coming to the surface—and our friendship is starting to become something much bigger. Will we survive the season? Or are all my dreams about to be crushed this Christmas? ILYBSM is a sweet and steamy contemporary holiday m/m/m polyamorous romance about three former best friends. It stars Jeb, a sweetly oblivious farmer who’s the hottest mess to ever grow trees in Vermont; Embry, a mechanic who can fix any engine but not a relationship; and Adam, a graphic designer and organizational whiz who irons his sheets. It features truths that slip out thanks to homemade eggnog, a demon goat who looks fabulous in a Santa hat, and an unconventional happy ever after.