[Note from Frolic: We are so excited to have author Jenn Burke guest post on the site today. Take it away Jenn!]
Canadians have a bit of complex when it comes to our national identity. We love it—hockey, wilderness, poutine, Mounties, snow and all. (Okay, maybe not the snow so much. Especially when it falls in May.) We want people to know we’re not just North-North America! It’s why I’ve set all of my paranormal books in some of my favorite places in my native land and why, when I come across other books set in Canada, I do a little squee. Not loudly, though, because that would be impolite.
Here are a few recent Canadian-set LGBTQ+ romances, along with some fun facts about their locations. My to-be-read list is exploding with the ones I haven’t yet read (and yes, I’m squeeing quietly). Come join me on a virtual tour of the true north!
Banff, Alberta
Arrows Through Archer by Nash Summers
Relationship: M/M
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun fact about Banff: The town exists within Banff National Park and was intended to be a tourist attraction from its creation. (Also, it has great skiing. I speak from experience.)
Vancouver, British Columbia
Moon Illusion by Michelle Osgood
Relationship: M/M (this is book three in the Better to Kiss You With series, which features other LGBTQ+ pairings as well)
Subgenre: Paranormal
Fun fact about Vancouver: Vancouver wasn’t always called Vancouver. Before it was incorporated in 1886, it was known as Granville. Before Granville was incorporated in 1870, it was known as Gastown. And where did the name Gastown come from? Gassy Jack, the owner of a popular saloon. I can see why they changed the name.
Moncton, New Brunswick
Traded Out by Samantha Wayland
Relationship: M/M
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun fact about Moncton: At Magnetic Hill, you can drive down the hill, put your car in neutral…and it’ll roll back up the hill. Why? Magic? Aliens? Who knows!
Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Thrown to the Wolves by Charlie Adhara
Relationship: M/M (this is book three in the Big Bad Wolf series)
Subgenre: Paranormal
Fun fact about Cape Breton: At the Fortress of Louisbourg, you can see what life was like for French soldiers in the 18th century. Be prepared to say a few words in French to the guards at the gate, however—they’re constantly on the lookout for English spies!
Toronto, Ontario
(I could easily list a dozen or more LGBTQ+ romances set in Toronto, but here are a few to whet your appetite!)
The Wrong Woman by Cass Lennox
Relationship: F/F
Subgenre: Contemporary
My Fake Canadian Wife by M. Hollis
Relationship: F/F
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fly With Me by Hudson Lin
Relationship: F/M (bisexual hero)
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun facts about Toronto:
- With a population of 2.7 million, Toronto is Canada’s largest city. The Greater Toronto Area (GTA) has a population of 6.3 million.
- Highway 401 runs through Toronto, and it’s North America’s busiest highway. Also the setting of one of my favorite reality TV shows, Heavy Rescue 401.
- Despite being one of the most iconic teams in the National Hockey League, the Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t won a Stanley Cup since 1967. (Okay, so that’s a not-so-fun fact for Leafs fans.)
Ottawa, Ontario
Triad Soul by Nathan Burgoine
Relationship: M/M/M (this is book two in the Triad Blood series)
Subgenre: Paranormal
Full Mountie by Ainsley Booth and Sadie Haller
Relationship: F/M/M
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun facts about Ottawa:
- As the capital of Canada, Ottawa has a ton of festivals. One of my favorites is the Canadian Tulip Festival, because it has an awesome history. During World War II, Dutch royalty fled to Canada to escape the Nazis. While living in Ottawa, Princess Juliana gave birth, and to ensure the little princess was born a Dutch citizen, the Canadian government temporarily declared the maternity ward to be part of the Netherlands. After Canadian forces helped to liberate the Netherlands, Princess Juliana gifted Canada with 100,000 tulip bulbs, and the Netherlands has continued to give Canada 20,000 tulip bulbs every year since.
- There’s a working farm in the middle of Ottawa. The Central Experimental Farm was created in 1886 and was originally outside of Ottawa, but with city growth being what it is, it’s now centrally located (and conveniently named!). This is where Canada’s ministry of agriculture researches and develops new crops better suited to Canada’s climate, and it also houses a number of reference collections. One of my favorite spots is the Lilac Rows with multiple varieties of lilacs.
The Thousand Islands, Ontario
Lost in Indigo by V.L. Locey
Relationship: M/M
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun fact about the Thousand Islands: There aren’t actually 1000 islands in the Thousand Islands—there are more than 1800! To be considered an island, it has to stay above water all year and support at least one living tree.
Saskatchewan
Wheat Kings and Pretty Things by G.S. Wiley
Relationship: M/M
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun fact about Saskatchewan: Hooded sweatshirts are called “bunny hugs” in Saskatchewan. Petition to adopt this term across Canada!
The Yukon
Arctic Fire by Keira Andrews
Relationship: M/M
Subgenre: Contemporary
Fun fact about the Yukon: The Yukon is the smallest of all of Canada’s and territories, with a population of about 40,000. Approximately 30,000 live in the territory’s one city, Whitehorse. I guess you could say it’s a…one-horse territory. (I’ll see myself out.)
If you’re looking for more LGBTQ+ romance set in Canada, check out this list on Goodreads. And I’d love to learn about other titles, so please share your favorites!
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
About the Author:
Jenn Burke has loved out-of-this-world romance since she first read about heroes and heroines kicking butt and falling in love as a preteen. Now that she’s an author, she couldn’t be happier to bring adventure, romance, and sexy times to her readers.
Jenn is the author of a number of paranormal and science fiction romance titles, including the critically acclaimed Chaos Station science fiction romance series (authored with Kelly Jensen) from Carina Press.
She’s been called a pocket-sized and puntastic Canadian on social media, and she’ll happily own that label. Jenn lives just outside of Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband and two kids, plus two dogs named after video game characters…because her geekiness knows no bounds.
Author links:
Website: http://www.jennburke.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeralibu
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jeralibu/
Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/295814398039168/ (Jenn Burke’s Epic Adventurers)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeralibu/
Newsletter sign-up: http://bit.ly/jennburkenewsletter
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9869819.Jenn_Burke
Give Up the Ghost by Jenn Burke, out now!
The bigger they are, the harder they maul.
Immortal not-ghost Wes Cooper and his vampire partner, Hudson Rojas, have it all—rewarding private investigation work, great friends and, most important, a love that’s endured. But ever since Wes sent a demon screaming back to the beyond, his abilities have grown overpowering and overwhelming. He’s hiding the fact that he’s losing control the best he can, but it’s hard to keep anything a secret for long when your partner’s a former cop…and especially when your partner’s a former cop who wants to move in together.
When all hell literally breaks loose in Toronto and superstrength ghosts are unleashed on Wes and his friends, he and Hudson are thrown into a case unlike any they’ve seen before. To save the city, Wes needs to harness his new power…and find some answers. But when he gets them, the solution to fix it all could mean losing everything.
