Thom Collins's Blog, page 2
August 21, 2023
Cold Day Dawning - Out Now
Cold Day Dawning, the fourth book in my Jagged Shoresseries is out now. I love this book and am so happy it’s out in the world. Theearly reviews are all great and I’m sure readers are going to love it as muchas the other novels in the series. The timing couldn’t be better because in thesame week book 4 is published, I’m doing my final edit on book 5 before sendingit off to my publisher. Like the books that have gone before, you can expectdrama, danger, romance, suspense and hot sex. I love returning Nyemouth for eachinstalment: breathing in the sea air, walking along the cliff tops, enjoying allthe great food in the bars and restaurants along the harbour. It will be abittersweet moment when I leave the town and series behind, but I’m not quitethere yet.
Cold Day Dawning is available in ebook and paperback andthere are signed available in the online store.
It should be the perfect weekend away.Dalton Caine makes the long journey to Nyemouth to attend a party hosted by hissister. Catherine is estranged from most of the family, but Dalton feels thetime has come to build bridges between them. Things don’t turn out how he wantswhen Catherine gives him a cold reception at the party, but the evening is nota complete waste of time when he meets local photographer Antoni.
Following a near fatal attack sixmonths earlier, Antoni has struggled with his physical and mental recovery.Catherine’s party is the first time he had been out at night since and he’sready for an early exit when he meets Dalton. The stranger is warm, friendlyand incredibly handsome. When Antoni overcomes his reservations and accepts adrink at Dalton’s hotel, it could be the start of something new for both ofthem.
Despite the joy of fresh romance,things soon take a darker turn. The morning after the party, Catherine’sboyfriend reports her missing. Dalton isn’t initially concerned. Catherine hasdisappeared of her own will before and he’s more interested in getting to knowAntoni, but the men soon find themselves at the centre of a twisted mystery,one that puts both of their lives in danger.
Cold Day Dawning is the fourth book in the JaggedShores series and is set six months after book three Deep Waters.Although this can be read as a standalone romance, there are some characterswho carry through and the books are best enjoyed in order.
July 28, 2023
COLD DAY DAWNING Jagged Shores Book 4. Available to Pre Order
Hello
Justa quick update as we approach the end of July. I hope everyone has enjoyed agreat summer. Depending on where you are in the world that might not be so goodif you’re enduring the terrible heat waves. Where I live in the UK is quite theopposite and I can’t remember the last day that didn’t rain.
On a brighter note, I enjoyed an amazing cruise to Iceland earlier in the year. The scenery was the most stunning I've ever seen and will surely inspire some future books.
And after the holidays, back to work. My next book Cold Day Dawning will be released by PridePublishing on 22nd August. It’s the fourth book in my JaggedShores series. Like the previous novels this can be read as a standalone storyor as part of the loosely linked on-going series. I always try to avoidspoilers for the previous books, but as this entry features a returningcharacter from Deep Waters, there are a few minor spoilers involved, thoughnothing major.
Theearly reviews that I’ve read are wonderful, which is always a relief. I tend toget a little nervous as I approach release date and worry about what readerswill think, but so far, it’s look good. I really hope readers will connect withthis novel as it as it was such a personal one to write.
So,what can I say about it? Like the previous books, it’s set in the coastal townof Nyemouth. Dalton Caine is visiting in order to build bridges with hisestranged sister Catherine. Catherine hosts a party and though it doesn’t workout for her and Dalton, he makes a connection with local photographer Antoni.Antoni has had a tough time and is slowly rebuilding is life. When the guys hitit off, it seems like a sweet weekend romance could be in the offing, butthings take a complicated turn when Catherine goes missing the following day.
Theearly reviews that I’ve read are wonderful, which is always a relief. I tend toget a little nervous as I approach release date and worry about what readerswill think, but so far, it’s look good. I really hope readers will connect withthis novel as it as it was such a personal one to write.So,what can I say about it? Like the previous books, it’s set in the coastal townof Nyemouth. Dalton Caine is visiting in order to build bridges with hisestranged sister Catherine. Catherine hosts a party and though it doesn’t workout for her and Dalton, he makes a connection with local photographer Antoni.Antoni has had a tough time and is slowly rebuilding is life. When the guys hitit off, it seems like a sweet weekend romance could be in the offing, butthings take a complicated turn when Catherine goes missing the following day.
ColdDay Dawning features the same elements of romance, suspense, danger and mysterythat are integral to the Jagged Shores series. I’ve mixed them up to dosomething different this time and I can’t wait to share the results. The ebookis available to pre-order right now and the paperback version will be availablesoon.
February 3, 2023
DEEP WATERS - Dive Deeper
Deep Waters has been out a few weeks now and the response and five star reviews have been overwhelming. This has been the best received of the Jagged Shores books so far.
Writing a series of books is always a challenge. I want to give the readers all the familiar elements they enjoy while still doing something different each time. With the Jagged Shores series I try to do that by using the same location, my fictional coastal town of Nyemouth and a handful of recurring characters, while introducing new characters, relationships and themes with each story. Deep Waters is murder mystery from the opening chapter while exploring secrets and prejudices of the small town. In the first town novels Nyemouth is presented as a picture perfect seaside town, but in Deep Waters we get to see some of the dark undercurrents that run beneath the surface.In this book we get to meet our main characters right at the start. Christian Coster is 42 years old. He’s a journalists and novelist from Manchester. Christian is friends with Dominic, the hero of North Point, and is visiting Nyemouth on Dominic’s recommendation. He’s seeking inspiration for his next book and hires a local boatman and tour guide to give him a flavour of the area. Harry Renner is 29, a local boy who runs his own boat out of Nyemouth harbour. Harry is hardworking, independent and single. Though both men are attracted to each other, the difference in their ages stops them from taking the issue seriously. However, they are quickly united in a common cause when they attempt to rescue an injured young man from the sea and become embroiled in a murder mystery.
For anyone who is interested in the process of creating a novel, here’s a peak at my note book for Deep Waters and some of the images I used to inspire the characters. I also found it necessary to draw a map of Nyemouth to keep the geography clear in my head. This is something I should have done before book one and I’ll definitely be more organised when it’s time to start a new series.
I’m delighted to say book four is already written and has a publication date of August 2023. The fourth entry is different again in tone and theme, through it retains the thriller elements of the series and a supporting character from Deep Waters returns for a lead role. At the minute my plan is to end the series on book five and move onto something new, but I don’t want to tie myself in just yet. I love writing the Jagged Shores series and as long as the ideas keep coming, I’ll continue.
PS. I'll be adding a few extra features to this site in the coming weeks including signed paperback editions for those readers who like to hold something in their hands.
December 26, 2022
OUT NOW: DEEP WATERS
Festive greeting to all. I’m right in the thick of it with family and friends but wanted to take a few minutes out for a quick update and to say Deep Waters, the third book in my Jagged Shores series is released today. The book is available as an ebook and also a stunning paperback edition.
I loved writing this book. From my point of view, it’s the most thrilling and exciting of the series so far. I’ll post more info and updates in the coming weeks, as well as posting details on where you can buy signed editions, but I just wanted to spread the work of the books release today.
I can also reveal that book 4 will be published next August. In fact, I got my line edits back from the publisher just before Christmas and will be returning them in the new year. It’s taking all my concentration to remember which storyline I’m working on and which one I’m promoting. The jumble of Christmas isn’t making that any easier. 😵💫
GET IT HERE
Very best wishes for the new year, whatever you have planned. It’s going to be a great one.
Love Thom
September 29, 2022
DEEP WATERS - Jagged Shores 3 - Available to pre-order Now
I'm so excited to reveal that the pre-order links for Deep Waters the third novel in the Jagged Shores series has gone live.
PRE ORDER PIC
The book will be published on December 27th. As if that wasn't exciting enough, I've just completed book 4 in the series. The manuscript needs a final proofread and will be off to my publisher sometime in October for publication next year.
Deep Waters - where love, passion and hate, simmer beneath the surface.
Author Christian Costner is researching material for one of his dark thrillers, and Nyemouth seems like the perfect setting for his next book. The small seaside town has witnessed plenty of trouble over the years, and Christian thinks it will provide him with the inspiration he needs.
He hires local tour guide and fisherman Harry Renner to help him explore the coastline for a couple of days. Harry is knowledgeable and mature beyond his twenty-eight years. Handsome, too, though Christian thinks Harry is far too young for him.
As the weather worsens, Harry cuts short their first sightseeing trip. Heading back to shore, they spot a figure in distress in the water. A difficult rescue is made far worse when they discover that the casualty has a knife wound to his abdomen and dies before they reach the safety of the harbour.
United by the trauma, Christian and Harry find comfort in each other, but when another murder comes to light, they find themselves at the heart of a dangerous mystery and the target of a killer more ruthless than they could ever imagine.
Like the previous books in the series this can be read as a standalone, but with recuring characters throughout, the books will be best enjoyed in order.
Pre-Order HERE
August 31, 2022
COVER REVEAL: DEEP WATERS - JAGGED SHORES Book 3
I’m delighted to share with you the cover for book 3 in the Jagged Shores Series: Deep Waters. It’s another smart and sexy cover which fits perfectly with the first two books. In the latest instalment we return to Nyemouth, that beautiful town on the north east coast of England for another thrilling story of love, passion and murder. I must admit, while I adore writing about Nyemouth, there’s no way I would want to live there. It’s far too dangerous.
This is possibly the darkest of the series with a plot involving deep secrets, rage and murder. There are some great new characters to fall in love along the way too. Christian is a handsome writer and journalist, who comes to Nyemouth seeking inspiration for a new book. Harry is a hot local tour guide and charter fisherman. Christian hires Harry to show him the rugged coastline. The guys are attracted to each other from the start but maintain a professional distance. Things get dramatic while out on Harry’s boat as the weather takes a sudden turn for the worst. As they return to shore, Christian spots a figure in the water, propelling them headlong into a deadly tale of secrets and tragedy.
It was a joy to write the developing romance between these guys amid the chaos they find themselves in, as well reconnecting with some of my favourite characters from the series such as Dominic, Arnie, Josh and Jacob. I love this one and hope you do too. It can be read as standalone but any readers who have read the first two books will find more to enjoy.
And a quick bit of other news, I’m in the last stage of finishing Jagged Shores 4. It’s too early to reveal anything about this one, other than to say it’s another great thriller. I’ll soon be writing a Jagged Shores short story which will be available free to readers direct from Pride Publishing.
BLURBIn search of a story, he found murder and romance. Author Christian Costner is researching material for one of his dark thrillers, and Nyemouth seems like the perfect setting for his next book. The small seaside town has witnessed plenty of trouble over the years, and Christian thinks it will provide him with the inspiration he needs.
He hires local tour guide and fisherman Harry Renner to help him explore the coastline for a couple of days. Harry is knowledgeable and mature beyond his twenty-eight years. Handsome, too, though Christian thinks Harry is far too young for him.
As the weather worsens, Harry cuts short their first sightseeing trip. Heading back to shore, they spot a figure in distress in the water. A difficult rescue is made far worse when they discover that the casualty has a knife wound to his abdomen and dies before they reach the safety of the harbour.
United by the trauma, Christian and Harry find comfort in each other, but when another murder comes to light, they find themselves at the heart of a dangerous mystery and the target of a killer more ruthless than they could ever imagine.
PRE ORDERS COMING SOONApril 14, 2022
OUT NOW: STORM WARNING Second edition only $0.99 for limited period
My 2020 novel Storm Warning is now available in a revised edition from Amazon in ebook, paperback and KU. If you have already purchased the previous version, then the new edition should automatically update in your Kindle library.
So, what’s new and why?
Well, to make a long story short, the original version did not go down quite how I planned. My intention was that Storm Warningwould be the first novel in a series set onboard the cruise ship Atlantic Star. The first few books would be a set of loosely linked standalone romances that would conclude in a final novel which would tie everything together. As the first story, Storm Warning set up the format –a standalone love story between two men, Jamie and Dexter, who meet on the ship. It’s pretty self-contained delivering the happy ending the guys deserve. A short epilogue at the end of the book set up the premise for the series and ended on a cliff-hanger.
And there lies the problem. To say the epilogue didn’t go down well is putting it mildly. It was trashed. Reviewers who admitted they liked the book, marked it down for those last few pages. It seemed like everyone hated it. I should have made it clearer in the marketing that Storm Warning was the first of series, but by then the damage was done. Though I loved the book, the setting and the characters, the backlash cut deep, and I lost all heart for the series.
So now, this second edition revises the book into a complete standalone. The controversial cliff-hanger now appears as a deleted scene with author notes explaining my intention for the series and how it might have developed. Hopefully, fresh readers will be able to enjoy Jamie and Dexter’s story, without wondering WTF when they reach the end. I love Storm Warning. I knew soon after publication, when I abandoned my plans for the series, that I would rework it into a single title, but it’s taken a little time and distance before I felt able to look at it again. Now that the disappointment of the original release has subsided, I’m delighted to present it again in this new version.
For a limited time the ebook is available for just $0.99
January 27, 2022
OUT NOW: THE RUNNER
The Runner. Book 3 in the Success Series is available in ebook now.
An Olympic hero faces his longest run – to make up for the past.
Alex Schaefer is a sports journalist and commentator at the top of his game. He hosts a successful weekly podcast has just written the biography of a world class football player. With his career on an upward trajectory, Alex has never been busier. There is no time in his life for love or romance.
Ethan Bower was used to success. As a British sprinter, he won a host of silver and gold medals at the Olympics, European and Commonwealth championships, and spent over a decade at the top. Persistent injuries brought Ethan’s career to an abrupt halt in his mid-thirties. Now he has to start over again. Trying to get his foot in the door of athletics commentary and presenting isn’t easy.
Ethan and Alex have history. Eight years ago, at the height of Ethan’s success, Alex was chosen to ghost write his autobiography. An experience they would both rather forget. Ethan hated what Alex wrote about him; a fact he’s made very public. When Ethan attends the launch of Alex’s latest book, they meet again for the first time in years and something becomes apparent to both of them – they have each improved with age. Now in their thirties, they are older and more mature.
Can they put the past behind them and their ambitions for the future to take a chance on each other now?
121 pages
Publisher: Pride Publishing
UNIVERSAL LINK:
November 8, 2021
OUT NOW: SAFE HARBOUR
Safe Harbour, book 2 in the Jagged Shores series is out today.
Two lovers seek shelter in a storm of jealousy and passion.
Matt arrives in the seaside town of Nyemouth for a much-needed vacation. As a successful lawyer, Matt has a hectic career, and with an ex-husband still pestering him for money, he is long overdue a break. A holiday home perched above the town and its breath-taking harbour seems like the perfect place to unwind. Matt can’t wait to explore the beautiful, jagged shorelines and lose himself for a couple of weeks.
Jake has made a home in Nyemouth. After growing up in the city, living on the coast is everything to him. Running a business with his sister and volunteering on the crew of the local lifeboat, he is exactly where he wants to be. But Jake’s life is far from peaceful. Though he left his domineering husband Vince a year ago, Vince refuses to consent to a divorce or loosen his controlling hold on Jake.
On Matt’s first night in town, he encounters the couple having a blazing row. When Vince turns violent, Matt intervenes and takes Jake inside to escape his angry ex. Despite what happened, Matt feels a powerful attraction to the younger man. Jake is bright, endearing and unbelievably attractive, but the young man’s life is complicated. Matt already has enough problems of his own. He came away looking for an escape, not a starry-eyed distraction. As Matt and Jake get to know each other better, the gamble on a holiday romance becomes hard for either of them to resist. They have both been unlucky in love before. Maybe this time will be different.
Vince will not be shaken off so easily. He has no intention of letting Jake go…ever. As Matt’s and Jake’s emotions deepen, they do not understand how far Vince will take things to keep his husband. As far as Vince is concerned, they made a vow to each other… “till death do us part.”
October 1, 2021
SAFE HARBOUR: JAGGED SHORES Book 2
Well hello. It feels like forever since I last wrote an update for the blog. I’ve never been very good at this and prefer to write about fictional characters than myself. I’ve been hard at work on several projects, including a huge novel of 130,000 words. I’m currently working on the second draft of that so it’s a long was from being ready. It hasn’t been all work. I fit in a couple of lovely breaks away, including a fabulous nine-night cruise along the west and southern coast of England.
Next up is the second novel in the Jagged Shores series. North Point is one of my favourite books, so it was a pleasure to return to the seaside town of Nyemouth for another exciting tale. Safe Harbour will be published on 9th November 2021 by Pride Publishing and is available to pre-order right night.
Two lovers seek shelter in a storm of jealousy and passion.
Matt arrives in the seaside town of Nyemouth for a much-needed vacation. As a successful lawyer, Matt has a hectic career, and with an ex-husband still pestering him for money, he is long overdue a break. A holiday home perched above the town and its breath-taking harbour seems like the perfect place to unwind. Matt can’t wait to explore the beautiful, jagged shorelines and lose himself for a couple of weeks.
Jake has made a home in Nyemouth. After growing up in the city, living on the coast is everything to him. Running a business with his sister and volunteering on the crew of the local lifeboat, he is exactly where he wants to be. But Jake’s life is far from peaceful. Though he left his domineering husband Vince a year ago, Vince refuses to consent to a divorce or loosen his controlling hold on Jake.
On Matt’s first night in town, he encounters the couple having a blazing row. When Vince turns violent, Matt intervenes and takes Jake inside to escape his angry ex. Despite what happened, Matt feels a powerful attraction to the younger man. Jake is bright, endearing and unbelievably attractive, but the young man’s life is complicated. Matt already has enough problems of his own. He came away looking for an escape, not a starry-eyed distraction. As Matt and Jake get to know each other better, the gamble on a holiday romance becomes hard for either of them to resist. They have both been unlucky in love before. Maybe this time will be different.
Vince will not be shaken off so easily. He has no intention of letting Jake go…ever. As Matt’s and Jake’s emotions deepen, they do not understand how far Vince will take things to keep his husband. As far as Vince is concerned, they made a vow to each other… “till death do us part.”
Safe Harbourhas all the ingredients that made North Point such a hit. Handsome men, sizzling sex, danger, intrigue, jealousy and lots of romance. It’s also got a stunning cover designed by Kelly Martin. I can’t wait until the book is out there.
The second book in the Success series Tomorrow’s Herofinally came out in August. The book was delayed due to circumstances beyond my control, but I’m happy to say book 3 is all set to go with a publication date of 18th January 2022. In the meantime, check out book 2.
Stay safe, take care and keep reading
Love Thom
