Interlude: First Noel by Tal Bauer (Paperback)

A festive MM political romance novella from Tal Bauer, part of The Executive Office series — a tender interlude that steps back to Jack and Ethan’s very first Christmas together. Before Ethan returns to DC. Before he becomes Jack’s First Gentleman. This is where it all began.

Three months into Ethan’s transfer-in-exile in Des Moines, Iowa, the strain of dating Jack — the president of the United States — is beginning to wear him down. His weeks are measured out between the days he works in Iowa, chasing counterfeiters and financial crimes, and the precious weekends he manages to steal with Jack back in Washington. The media stalks his every move, his colleagues keep him at arm’s length, and loneliness hammers steadily at his heart.

In DC, Jack is trying to piece together a fragile global alliance to take down the Caliphate, even as the world seems far more interested in tearing his personal life apart. Hostility surrounds him from every corner of the globe — but a surprise offer from Russian president Sergey Puchkov may pave the way for a tentative alliance, and perhaps the beginnings of an unlikely friendship. As Ethan finds himself drawn into an investigation that cuts too close to his soul, and Jack struggles to balance leading the free world with holding their relationship together, the two men must face what their love has become, and where they’re heading next.

This is an MM political romance for mature readers; please check any content warnings before reading.

Perfect for readers who love a tender MM holiday romance, an early-days look at a beloved couple, political intrigue with real heart — and anyone who wants to step back into the world of The Executive Office at Christmas.