The Meet-Cute Collection

A Collection of Four Novellas

Releasing September 5

About the book

Escape into a collection of four low-angst, queer romance novellas—each featuring a memorable meet-cute full of fun and feels.

Each story is a complete and standalone romance. This bundle comes in at 70,000 words, which equals a full novel. The first three stories are set in Lee Blair’s Dahlia Springs universe.

The novellas included in this bundle:

It Must Be Fate: The last thing Garrison expects is a knock on his door by someone wearing a broken heart costume who begins belting a break-up song—on Valentine’s Day of all days—in front of his coworkers. He’s not even dating anyone, so who supposedly got dumped? He can’t get the cutie with the beautiful pipes out of his mind, and like Garrison conjured him, he keeps showing up in the most awkward places making Garrison’s heart beat faster.

Pipe Dreams: Myles expects a fun night hosting a Dungeons and Dragons game night with his friends, but a plumbing emergency and unresponsive landlord have the night tanking fast. One of his friends suggests searching for a plumber on a dating app, and among a sea of unsolicited dick pics, Myles finds a man with a charming smile and the tools to save the day and steal his heart.

Under My Skein: When Heath learns of an organization that pairs skilled crafters with people needing help completing their deceased loved ones unfinished projects, he signs up hoping to get his late uncle’s crocheted afghan finished. He gets matched with a local guy who knows how to hook some yarn and a willingness to finish the project. And in the process, he gives Heath a glimpse at a wonderful future he never dared to envision.

The Roommate Mix-Up: When the bubbly server at brunch flirts with Pablo, he flirts right back—and why not? It’s Pride! He leaves his number on the receipt, and witty texts lead to a case of mistaken identity. It all works out, but not at all in the way Pablo expected.

These novellas previously appeared in charity anthologies.

More about It Must Be Fate

When fate keeps throwing someone in your path, at some point you have to pay attention.

Usually, the most thrilling part of my day as a project manager is when I’m elbow-deep in a spreadsheet trying to make magic with budget numbers. The last thing I expect is getting interrupted by a singing telegram crooning a break-up song at me. I don’t even have a boyfriend.

It was hard to forget the adorable man with a killer voice who made wearing a giant foam heart almost appealing, but it becomes impossible when I keep running into him. Either Cupid’s aim is off, or it’s serendipity. I’ve never been one to believe in abstract ideas like fate, but I can’t deny the hard facts of how I feel each time we meet.

And with my best friend’s Valentine’s Day wedding coming up, I might just make the next meeting with my singer a planned one.

—

This story originally appeared in Candy Hearts, volume 2.

More about Pipe Dreams

It was supposed to be a normal D&D night with my friends, but a plumbing emergency has my bestie convincing me to swipe on a dating app in search of someone to clean my pipes. The literal ones, unfortunately.

Among a sea of unsolicited dick pics, SumsOfAnarchy (a.k.a. Brandon) answers my distress call. My friends are pushing me at the gorgeous and charming guy who showed up with a smile and a toolbox. But I know as much about flirting as I do about plumbing, so as a thank you, I give Brandon some cookies. Just the cookies. No phone number, no IG handle, nothing. Did I mention I was bad at flirting?

Luckily, I see him again. Joke’s on me though, because plumbing isn’t Brandon’s day job, and he witnesses my internet-viral embarrassing moment up close and in person. Good thing he’s got a great sense of humor and a soft spot for geeks whose only “game” involves dice.

Pipe Dreams is a low-angst MM novella with a gaggle of queerdo geeks, environmental activism, and finding love how you least expect it.

Pipe Dreams originally appeared in Love is All, volume 7.

More about Under My Skein

Under My Skein originally appeared in the 2024 World Aids Day anthology.

Content information

This is a heartwarming story with no relationship angst but some non-relationship emotional challenges are present.

AIDS-related death in the distant past: a main character lost his uncle from AIDS when he was a child. That loss is still felt and is a central part of the story.

Parent death from cancer in the recent past: a main character lost his dad from cancer two years prior to the story’s beginning. The grief and loss are still fresh and prominent, but you will find the uplifting side of grief and how it can bring people together.

Discussion of cancer treatment: a main character is an oncology nurse, and there’s a scene set at his work, discussing chemo treatment. There’s also a brief mention of losing one of his patients.

More about The Roommate Mix-Up

Sometimes your best friends are the ones who get you in the best worst kind of trouble.

Pablo

While at brunch during Pride with my lovebird best friends, the flirty server seems into me, and not just for a big tip. With encouragement from my friends, I take the chance and leave him my number. To my surprise, he texts! He’s witty, and our banter is on fire. Not only does he get my references to an obscure TV show I love, he tosses more back. He couldn’t be more perfect. Could love finally be in the cards for me?

Sean

My roommate turned to me when his latest hookup prospect texted references about a show he’s never seen, but one I’m obsessed with. I help by feeding him lines, and start falling for the charming guy at the other end of the chat. When my roommate announces he mistook Pablo for his friend and—record scratch—asks for the friend’s number, I nearly expire from second-hand embarrassment. Not ready to lose the awesome connection I feel and hoping to prove that not all guys are jerks, I text Pablo from my roommate’s phone and introduce myself.

I’m thrilled when Pablo agrees to meet me, but now I’m nervous. This is practically a blind date, and what if the easy back-and-forth we had over texts isn’t there in person? Let’s hope this hookup mixup ends up with a happy ever after.

This story originally appeared in Love is All, volume 8.

Why buy directly from Lee?

You can buy this ebook directly from Lee. The links will take you to a Shopify page to purchase. Once you complete the purchase, you will immediately receive an email from BookFunnel with a personalized link to download the ebook to whatever kind of e-reader you use.

Why consider this option? It functions the same as buying the ebook from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc., but the author makes more royalties from the sale since there isn’t a retailer taking a percentage.