title: Without Paradise
author: Campbell, Kenneth Sean
description: In a gay twist on Brief Encounter, Charlie Morgan and Ben McSwain meet on a train and are instantly drawn to each other. Charlie is a gay writer and atheist. Ben is an evangelical Christian, widowed with two children, who has never even thought about a relationship with another man. While it appears that these two have nothing in common, they find that they are "soulmates." It's a surprising and joyous discovery for Charlie and a confusing one for Ben as they try to bridge their vastly different lives. Ben has a full life with his work as a nurse, his family and his devotion to his church. His love for Charlie and a personal tragedy will test all of those commitments and make him question everything in his life. Charlie's work takes him to Texas to write a Broadway-bound show in collaboration with his old college roommate, Lee, and sexy, young country and western star, Luke Beecham. It looks like a smash hit until a secret from Lee's past shatters everyone's chances for happiness and brings Charlie to the loneliest place in his life.