Killing is easy. Love is... The Hardest Thing Once a major in the U.S. Army Dan Stagg fell afoul of "Don't Ask Don't Tell". In his late 30s tall and muscular Dan is prone to violence always upholding what he views as justice. He's offered a great deal of money to protect the young male "secretary" of a powerful real estate broker. The vain shallow--but most of all hot--young man's idea of protection includes sex. Dan quickly realizes something strange is going on: he's being used as a shield for a much more sinister operation and must chose between easy money and sex or the ideals that he embodied in the Army. Why should he do the right thing--particularly when the army betrayed him? The Hardest Thing is a sexy gay mystery as only James Lear can write it: filled with lots of gay sexual encounters romance sweat violence and conspiracy. "as an erotic novel with romantic elements this book deserves five stars" - Dear Author "This might make a nice change-of-pace for erotica fans and mystery lovers alike, so if you want a book that packs heat, grab this one." — Dallas Voice "James Lear’s sexy gay mystery pays homage to classic pulp fiction as a former U.S. Army major must guard a beautiful young man. When Army vet Dan Stagg falls afoul of DADT he becomes entangled in a web of conspiracy." — Publishers Weekly "Although packed with a plethora of hardcore sex scenes, James Lear’s The Hardest Thing contains, at its core, a fine private detective mystery novel in this seventh in a growing list of similar works by the author. Any reader skimming it for the sexy parts will miss out on what is actually quite a good story." – Foreword Magazine "The writing is captivating and the suspense plot is thrilling. If you're looking for a book that travels at a breakneck pace, one which contains a flawed but loveable hero, then I would highly recommend The Hardest Thing with a grade of 'Excellent'." — Well Read "But for all the loose zipper, tough talking, heavy handed bravado, Stagg is a very likeable protagonist, one that reminded this reader on more than one occasion of more mainstream hetero heroes like Lee Child’s “Jack Reacher”, Barry Eisler’s “John Rain”, or David Baldacci’s “Lee Adams”. One thing is sure, this reader is eagerly awaiting the next Dan Stagg mystery." — Gay/Lesbian Fiction Book Reviews "It's exciting, compelling and a rip roaring read of a story. I'll definitely be reading more Dan Stagg mysteries." — The Romance Reviews "This dazzling, fast-paced, roller coaster of an adventure story does not disappoint. With plenty of scintillating twists and turns, smoldering sexcapades, and the provocative, darkly-humorous narrative of Dan Stagg at its wheel, this is action/adventure that takes you places. Deep into the dark, seedy underbelly of the human mind and then deeper, into the vulnerable, soft places of the human heart. Top all this off with a visceral and tender ending and you’ve got what I would call a hole-in-one winner, one that I can’t wait to read again and again." — Rainbow Book Reviews "James manages to convey action without having to go on and on about it – a few closely written pages and I was in the scene." — Jeannie Zelos "If you’re looking for a great mystery, with a lot of action and suspense, together with graphic and unrestrained sex, then I highly recommend you read Lear’s, The Hardest Thing !" — Risque Reviews "A new erotic spin on an old mystery trope." — Books on Silver Wings "For what is essentially a good summer read, The Hardest Thing will have you pondering as ex-marine Dan Stagg, whose grittier methods could be considered unacceptable by some, sets out to prove his worth. There's plenty of wit and humour and Lear's prose is concise, descriptive and, in using Dan Stagg as first person narrator, insightful of the man's rather complex relationship with himself." —Cathode Ray Tube "One of the best gay erotic fiction stories I’ve read in a long time." —Antony Simpson "A great romp of a thriller with quite a lot of sex!" — Lesbians North London "The Hardest Thing about this book is putting the thing down!" — Airen Wolf Reviews "Plenty of action and second-guessing to keep us reading." — Fresh Fiction "An entertaining and sexy story." — Night Owl Reviews "Intriguing gay erotica/mystery hybrid novel — and it's love, in case you were wondering." — Erotic Trade Only "Red hot, filled with lots of sex, action, and romance." —Quixotic Orchid " The Hardest Thing has all the bad-ass swagger of a really good noir but also a soft romantic underbelly that was lovely and very well written. A tremendously fun read--a great escape--with mystery, bad guys and have I mentioned a little (tons of) sex?" —Sommer Marsden "A great mystery with some of the hottest erotic fiction I’ve ever read." —Cameron D James "Dan Stagg, the narrator of James Lear’s seventh novel, The Hardest Thing , is a hot-tempered ex-marine with a bad attitude and a limitless libido." — ED