Indulge in a heart-warming love story so captivating you can’t put it down.
Join thousands of fans of the “Like Rain” novel series with a fast-moving pace, and memorable characters. This gripping series will be your new obsession. So why wait? Treat yourself now!
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Amazing characters and storyline!
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I was totally captivated!
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An Amazing read!
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I can’t recommend it enough!
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Fantastic job!
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I love it and can’t wait for more!
— LIKE RAIN —
“Love, like rain, does not choose the grass on which it falls.” – African proverb
Book 1:
Substitute For Love
Book 2:
Bound To No Man
Book 3-4:
– in progress –
5 Reasons Why You Should Read “LIKE RAIN”
1. Diversity is the star
In the romance genre, men of color frequently face marginalization. In LIKE RAIN, they take center stage, win love, and break free from racial stereotypes.
2. Keeping it real
Written by a gay male author, LIKE RAIN reflects real-world gay issues such as coming out, discrimination, social stress, and self-acceptance.
3. A page-turner
The fast-moving pace and engaging plots will keep you hooked. LIKE RAIN wastes no time with overburdening descriptions and boring proses.
4. Alternating POVs
The main characters take turns driving their unique narrative, keeping things fresh, and propelling the story forward in an exciting momentum.
5. Labor of love
LIKE RAIN is created wholeheartedly by a passionate author. Every written word, every brushstroke, from the cover art to the last page, is a work of human endeavor. No AI is involved.
Meet the Author
Name: Bayne Han
Age: 43
Ethnicity: Chinese-Thai
Gender Identity: Gay male (He/Him)
Education: Master’s degree (Art and Education)
Moment of truth… Would you believe me when I say I haven’t made a single dime doing this? That’s right, I haven’t! Not yet, anyway.
I’ve invested in tools, software, test readers, professional editors, platforms, and marketing. I never take shortcuts because I strive to deliver the best products to you. As a result, after four years in the business, I’m still in the red!
I keep a boring day job to pay bills and put food on the table, but my true calling is art and writing. I want to become a full-time author, so I can write stories for you all day, instead of an hour or two before bedtime.
Perhaps you can send a little love my way. Buy my books, review and recommend them. It will make a difference in my life.
What is LIKE RAIN about?
LIKE RAIN is about gay men from different cultures finding love in America. Heroes of LIKE RAIN are ordinary people like blue-collar workers, immigrants, and drifters who struggle with day-to-day life and finding their place in the world.
My biggest inspirations come from the TV series like QUEER AS FOLKS, LOOKING, and the musical RENT, as well as the erotica anthologies by Bob Vickery.
FAQs
I am a woman. Will I enjoy LIKE RAIN?
Although the intended audience is gay men, this series is popular among female readers. LIKE RAIN appeals to mature readers with an open mind, as it is a love story above all else.
Did you really paint all the covers and the artworks yourself?
Why, yes! I’m an artist first and foremost. I have a bachelor’s degree in illustration. I paint with stylus on digital softwares using 3D modeling and lighting integration.
What is the spice level?
A typical contemporary romance novel features 2-3 intimate scenes. LIKE RAIN falls within this range. Be prepared for explicit detail and coarse language.
What can you tell us about the upcoming books?
Book 3 and 4 contain a wide story arc that spans the length of two books, and feature points of view from multiple characters, old and new. I will release both books around the same time in 2025.
Substitute For Love (Book 1)
SUBSTITUTE FOR LOVE is an age-gap love story about two men from vastly different backgrounds who find comfort in each other as they overcome their personal crises.
Kai Shen (38) gets laid off from his construction job. His boyfriend dumps him and steals his apartment deposit, leaving him with little money and no roof over his head.
Fortunately, Kai finds a place to live, but he has to make money quickly to pay rent. He desperately takes random jobs from the classified ads. One of them is life-modeling at a night school where he has to pose naked in a room full of art students.
Kai meets Mikolaj Starzynski (18), an artistic high-schooler in need of an inspiration. Mikolaj sketches a picture of Kai in a pornographic way. Kai demands the young man to hand over the filthy drawing, but the young man refuses.
Mikolaj came from Poland to study at a New York boarding school. He hides his homosexuality and has a toxic crush on Jayden, a school athlete.
When the school urgently needs a substitute gym teacher, Kai applies for the job. Kai and Mikolaj meet once again at the school gymnasium, and both are equally shocked that their lives will become intertwined.
– Kai –
Name: Kai Shen
Age: 38
Nationality: Taiwanese American
Height: 6 feet (183 cm)
Weight: 200 lbs (90 kg)
Interests: construction, outdoors, and automobile
Traits: Caring and realistic
– Mikolaj –
Name: Mikolaj Starzynski
Age: 18
Nationality: Polish
Height: 5.7 feet (174 cm)
Weight: 160 lbs (72 kg)
Interests: Art, documentary, and museums
Traits: Sensitive and rebellious
But, But, But…
20-year age gap?
Why not? Older/younger male coupling is one of the most beloved relationship paradigm in gay fiction (not to mention gay porn!) But I understand it may not be everyone’s cup of tea.
Mikolaj is only 18!
It’d be reverse-ageism to assume all 18-year-olds are naïve, gullible, and powerless.
In the United States, 18-year-olds can work full-time, vote, fulfill jury duty, open credit cards, buy cars and properties, fight wars, get married, and even buy firearms!
Mikolaj is not an innocent budding flower, but a fiery young man who has a mind of his own and knows exactly what he wants.
Isn’t teacher/student coupling problematic?
Rest assured, there is no immoral teacher/student relationship in the book.
{Spoiler}
Kai and Mikolaj don’t spark a romance until after Mikolaj graduates.
Bound To No Man (Book 2)
BOUND TO NO MAN is about two men who run away from their previous lives to start anew. They meet each other by chance and forge an unlikely friendship that turns into a romance.
The story follows Rico Cortez (25) after leaving his boyfriend, Kai, in book 1.
Rico leaves the Big Apple to become an ad agent in Illinois. But his dream job is nothing like he imagined. He finds himself neck-deep in workplace politics and cutthroat rivalry.
Rico wants to rent a chic apartment to complete his dashing lifestyle, but can’t afford it on his own. When Noman Haji (35) seeks a new roommate to share his picture-perfect suite, Rico jumps at the opportunity.
Noman is a sensitive and geeky beefcake who escapes his tragic life in Brunei where he is prosecuted from being gay. He pursues his doctorate studies and enjoys his new found freedom in America.
Noman and Rico moves in together. Right off the bat, Noman declares that even though they’re both gay, they should remain platonic.
This presumption rubs Rico the wrong way, because he would never fall for a bookish nerd like Noman. Not in a million years!
– Rico –
Name: Federico “Rico” Cortez
Age: 25
Nationality: Mexican American
Height: 5.10 feet (178 cm)
Weight: 180 lbs (82 kg)
Interests: Fashion, thrillers, and cooking
Traits: Clever, arrogant, and high-achieving
– Noman –
Name: Noman Haji
Age: 35
Nationality: Bruneian
Height: 5.6 feet (170 cm)
Weight: 187 lbs (85 kg)
Interests: Computer, gadgets, and miniature models
Traits: Kind-hearted, introverted, and melancholic
Yeah, but…
Rico is a self-serving asshole in book 1. Why should he get a happy ending?
Because we all make mistakes. I hope you will give Rico a chance at redemption. It’s a long journey, but with Noman’s help, Rico will transform into a better man.
Where did Noman come from again?
Noman came from Brunei. The first chapter takes place in there, so it might be useful to know…
Brunei is a small country in South East Asia. It’s a little smaller than Delaware in size. 80% of its population are Muslims. And homosexuality is outlawed.
Praises for LIKE RAIN
“I really enjoyed this book. Good world-building and realistic characters. I liked both Kai and Mikolaj. The dynamic between them was interesting and, along with their personalities, felt believable.”
– Nina D.
“With the character development and the shifting from one character to the other in each chapter, the book had a great flow. I very much enjoyed it and recommend it to others.”
– Nickolas
“I totally loved the first book and so I was so excited to read the second one. It did not disappoint! It kept me entertained throughout and I thought some of the larger lessons in this book made it even more relatable.”
– Mark
“The story is pretty steamy and definitely a slow-burn romance that develops naturally. It was refreshing to read, since the majority of KU romances are insta-love or borderline erotica.”
– Twentytoo
“The [second] book kept me entertained throughout and I enjoyed it very much. I would recommend it.”
– Brenda H.
“Kai and Mikolaj had to work for their HEA, but they did get one. I look forward to reading more books by this author.”
– Amber
“I will watch for more from this author. I find the varied cultural backgrounds of his characters to be interesting and I have learned things I didn’t know about these cultures.“
– Donna D.
Don’t judge LIKE RAIN by their fabulous covers!
