Thom Collins's Blog, page 8
February 8, 2019
FREE from 5th-12th February! - Our Options Have Changed by Julia Kent & Elisa Reed
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance
Description:
Having it all is a fantasy, right?
Chloe Browne knows all about fantasy. Fantasy is her job.
And she’s very, very good at what she does.
As director of design for the O Spa chain, a sophisticated women’s club that is trending its way into being the Next Big Thing, Chloe’s ready to take on the world.
One baby at a time.
Her home study’s done, and she’s about to adopt, a thirty-something single mother by choice. Who needs to put her life on hold for the right guy when the right baby is waiting for her?
Besides, talk about fantasy.
The right guy?
Pfft. Right.
And then in walks Nick Grafton, with those commanding sapphire eyes and wavy blonde hair and a sophisticated mouth that only smiles for her.
He’s perfect.
But the last thing Nick wants is to start fresh with a new baby as his college-age kids fly the coop. A single father for more than fifteen years after his wife walked out on her family, Nick finally tastes freedom.
But he likes the taste of Chloe more.
* * *
Our Options Have Changed is a full-length standalone contemporary romance, the first in the On Hold series by New York Times and USA Todaybestselling author Julia Kent and journalist-turned-fiction-writer Elisa Reed. It is a loose spinoff from Julia Kent’s Shopping for a Billionaire series, with cameo appearances from favorite characters.
Buy links:
Apple Books: http://apple.co/2b0fHR6Kobo: http://bit.ly/2bnRf1KNook: http://bit.ly/2b24Ol8Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2b5n785Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2bjzV9CAmazon Canada: http://amzn.to/2bnRU3dAmazon Australia: http://amzn.to/2aWxoGeGoogle Play: http://bit.ly/2nK6QfY
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2byDbyX
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2FwF6po
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire). She lives in New England with her husband and three sons in a household where the toilet seat is never, ever, down
Website: http://jkentauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkentauthor
Elisa Reed is a journalist-turned-fiction-writer whose snappy, irreverent prose combines with an irrepressible zest for the simpler, and often intimate, pleasures of life to produce fun(ny) contemporary romance with a focus on second chances. New England born and bred, Elisa Reed now lives, writes, and plays in New Orleans and along the sugar sands of the Gulf Coast.
You can find her on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/elisareedauthor
Excerpt:
O is a twenty-first century club for sophisticated women. A fourth space for women of a discerning taste.
Home is the first space. Work is the second space. Third spaces are locations like coffee shops and malls.
O is the fourth space. The space where you can arrive. Rest. Relax. Indulge. Be someone you can’t be in the other three spaces.
Based on our membership rates, we’re onto something. Our investors are, shall we say, pleased.
O does have a public presence, thanks to our retail environments. In Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and soon in New Orleans, sophisticated consumers can spend hours—and hundreds of dollars—browsing our selection of “elegant accessories for intimate pleasure.”
That’s right—sex toys. That’s what the masses call them. Except at O, we cater to a clientele that doesn’t want to be one of the hoi polloi. They want to be unique. In the know. Enlightened and cosmopolitan on the surface.
But a wildcat down…below.
Which makes a Grade C unacceptable. No one wants to be average.
Especially down below.
Freebie blitz organized by Writer Marketing Services.
February 6, 2019
Cover Reveal—Fluffy by Julia Kent (@jkentauthor)
Release date: April 30, 2019
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Contemporary Romance
Description:
An all-new STANDALONE from New York Times bestselling author Julia Kent
It all started with the wrong Help Wanted ad. Of course it did.
I’m a professional fluffer. It’s NOT what you think. I stage homes for a living. Real estate agents love me, and my work stands on its own merits.
Sigh. Get your mind out of the gutter. Go ahead. Laugh. I’ll wait.
See? That’s the problem. My career has used the term “fluffer” for decades. I didn’t even know there was a more… lascivious definition of the term.
Until it was too late.
The ad for a “professional fluffer” on Craigslist seemed like divine intervention. My last unemployment check was in the bank. I was desperate. Rent was due. The ad said cash paid at the end of the day.
The perfect job!
Staging homes means showing your best angle. The same principle applies in making a certain kind of movie. Turns out a “fluffer” doesn’t arrange decorative pillows on a couch.
They arrange other soft, round-ish objects.
The job isn’t hard. Er, I mean, it is — it’s about being hard. Or, well… helping other people to be hard.
Oh, man…
And that’s the other problem. A man. No, not one of the stars on the movie set. Will Lotham – my high school crush. The owner of the house where we’re filming. Illegally. In a vacation rental.
By the time the cops show up, what I thought was just a great house staging gig turned into a nightmare involving pictures of me with an undressed naked star, Will rescuing me from an arrest, and a humiliating lesson in my own naivete.
My job turned out to be so much harder than I expected. But you know what’s easier than I ever imagined?
Having all my dreams come true.
Pre-order:
AmazonUS: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZus
AmazonUK: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZuk
AmazonCA: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZca
AmazonAU: smarturl.it/fluffyAMZau
Nook/BN: smarturl.it/fluffyBN
Apple Books: https://apple.co/2RmE159
Kobo: smarturl.it/fluffyKobo
Google Play: smarturl.it/fluffyGP
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2TjDjqS
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/2ThoLrZ
Excerpt:
“It is time to DANCE! Find a partner and hold each other’s hands, facing one another.”
Five women start walking toward Will.
“Mal?” Shyness infuses his question, sending chills up and down my arms and legs. They settle at the base of my neck, riding shotgun next to the arousal centers of my nervous system. He’s adorable, one hand out to me, eyebrows slightly up, blue-green eyes asking to dance with me but hinting at more.
Or... am I inventing that part?
“Sure,” I say, instantly regretting my answer. Does it sound grudging? He doesn’t seem to think so as I take his hand and stand before him, tall in my high heels but he’s even taller. Looking at him from this height makes him even more human, more masculine, more real.
My heart skips a beat.
But the music sure doesn't.
“Now, the ‘man,’” Philippe starts, using finger quotes because there are several female-only couples in the class, “puts one hand on the woman’s waist. The right hand.”
Will complies.
It’s like sticking my finger in a light socket and orgasming at the same time.
His left hand takes my right hand and he holds it, strong and firm, smiling at me with a boyish grin that makes me feel instant remorse for hurting him today.
“I’m sorry I bashed your head in,” I whisper, moving near his ear, our mouths inches apart.
There is a gap between us. My lungs live there, in that space. They breathe. I don’t make a move. My autonomic nervous system works without intention. If it didn’t, I’d die.
Because I would hold my breath forever in Will’s arms.
Philippe is moving from couple to couple, adjusting positions, commenting and correcting.
“Closer,” Philippe says right behind me, the press of his firm palm against my lower back a shock as he pushes me into Will, closing that gap.
My autonomic nervous system gives up entirely.
“Look into each other’s eyes,” Philippe commands, his accent making this even sexier. “When you dance, you show your love with your hips, your eyes, your languid grace. You are making love in public with your bodies, fully clothed.”
Is Will holding his breath, too?
“Your hand goes here, Mallory,” the teacher says, taking my left hand and putting it on Will’s shoulder. My breasts brush against his chest, our breathing ragged. I try to look away, but we’re too close. All I can do is look at his eyes or his mouth, and right now, both are so, so dangerous.
No one else in the room exists. The light that bounces off the polished floors is ours. The murmurs and giggles in the background are ours. The way he breathes my air and I inhale him is ours, too. We’re touching, my thigh against his, and every warm part of Will Lotham’s front half that is decent to display in public is rubbing against me.
Except his lips.
“Now, take one step forward,” Philippe says. “Together.”
Will steps on my foot. Hard.
I make a very unfeminine sound and start to pitch backwards. Tightening his grip on my waist, his hand sliding, open and splayed, across the small of my back, he saves me from a complete wipeout.
But that save has its costs.
In an instant, all traces of that teenage girl in me are gone, disintegrating, turned to stardust that sweeps off me like a fine spring breeze. I am all woman now, mature and wanting.
All I want is this. Now. The man before me, his arms warm and assured, grasp confident and bold.
And very much wanting me back.
Author Bio:
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julia Kent writes romantic comedy with an edge. From billionaires to BBWs to new adult rock stars, Julia finds a sensual, goofy joy in every contemporary romance she writes. Unlike Shannon from Shopping for a Billionaire, she did not meet her husband after dropping her phone in a men's room toilet (and he isn't a billionaire). She lives in New England with her husband and three sons in a household where the toilet seat is never, ever, down
Social Media Links:
Website: http://jkentauthor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jkentauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jkentauthor
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/2PIBi9n
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jkentauthor/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julia-kent
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3238619.Julia_Kent
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Julia-Kent/e/B00A99V268/
Cover reveal organized by Writer Marketing Services.
February 4, 2019
Out Now—I’m the One You Need by Rob Matthews (@robandtina1) #cuckold #erotica #BDSM
Check out this erotic new release from Rob Matthews
Blurb
‘That hurt. I didn’t know if I could take it. But, at the same time, it was reassuring to be in your arms. You helped me get through the pain, even though you were the one causing it.’
Cuckold and hot wife couple, Rob and Tina, are back together, but they have a rough path in front of them. Rob knows Tina will never be satisfied with him and will soon be on the hunt for another man. But now her interest in sadomasochism has been awoken, is she looking for a stud or a master?
Fortunately, sexy young goth Charlotte is on hand to be their guide into the world of erotic pain and humiliation. Will Rob and Tina’s marriage survive beyond this latest stop on their Cuckold Odyssey?
A Cuckold Odyssey, book 4.
Buy links
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2WrLO5c
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Sko6Jf
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/919554?ref=cw1985
Excerpt
Her mouth was wide open and her breathing was getting faster. I knew what that meant, and I’m fairly sure he did too. His expression was one I’d seen on other men’s faces while they were with my wife. He was trying to keep going until she came. Tina’s body tensed. She was very close. ‘Dirty little slut,’ he said, fiercely. This was enough to push her over the edge. She came with a shout. On hearing that, he relaxed and groaned as he came inside her.
‘Let me feel it pumping into me,’ she said. After a moment, he pulled out and sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t speak immediately. Raising her head to look at him, she said, ‘That was fucking intense.’ He didn’t answer, so she turned to me. ‘What do you say to Nathan?’
This was one of the moments when I regretted doing this with a friend. Nathan and I had played pool together. We’d chatted many times in bars, restaurants, and at barbecues. We’d always interacted as equals. And now I had to look him in the eye and say, ‘Thank you for fucking my wife.’
‘And?’ prompted Tina.
‘And for doing it better than I ever could.’
Author bio
Rob Matthews was born in London. He divides his time between Britain and the United States. He's the author of the Cuckold Odyssey series: Come Home With Us, I Can Do It Better, We Make Our Own Rules, and I'm the One You Need. He's also written the stand-alone book, Black and Blue - An Interracial Cuckold Tale. Rob is currently working on two more interracial cuckold tales, Talking Bull and Black Friday. Both are coming soon from Fanny Press, an imprint of Epicenter Press.
Links
http://www.facebook.com/robertpatrickmatthews
http://www.twitter.com/robandtina1
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580846.Rob_Matthews
https://www.amazon.com/Rob-Matthews/e/B01K53HJ0K/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B01K53HJ0K
Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.
Blurb
‘That hurt. I didn’t know if I could take it. But, at the same time, it was reassuring to be in your arms. You helped me get through the pain, even though you were the one causing it.’
Cuckold and hot wife couple, Rob and Tina, are back together, but they have a rough path in front of them. Rob knows Tina will never be satisfied with him and will soon be on the hunt for another man. But now her interest in sadomasochism has been awoken, is she looking for a stud or a master?
Fortunately, sexy young goth Charlotte is on hand to be their guide into the world of erotic pain and humiliation. Will Rob and Tina’s marriage survive beyond this latest stop on their Cuckold Odyssey?
A Cuckold Odyssey, book 4.
Buy links
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2WrLO5c
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2Sko6Jf
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/919554?ref=cw1985
Excerpt
Her mouth was wide open and her breathing was getting faster. I knew what that meant, and I’m fairly sure he did too. His expression was one I’d seen on other men’s faces while they were with my wife. He was trying to keep going until she came. Tina’s body tensed. She was very close. ‘Dirty little slut,’ he said, fiercely. This was enough to push her over the edge. She came with a shout. On hearing that, he relaxed and groaned as he came inside her.
‘Let me feel it pumping into me,’ she said. After a moment, he pulled out and sat on the edge of the bed. She couldn’t speak immediately. Raising her head to look at him, she said, ‘That was fucking intense.’ He didn’t answer, so she turned to me. ‘What do you say to Nathan?’
This was one of the moments when I regretted doing this with a friend. Nathan and I had played pool together. We’d chatted many times in bars, restaurants, and at barbecues. We’d always interacted as equals. And now I had to look him in the eye and say, ‘Thank you for fucking my wife.’
‘And?’ prompted Tina.
‘And for doing it better than I ever could.’
Author bio
Rob Matthews was born in London. He divides his time between Britain and the United States. He's the author of the Cuckold Odyssey series: Come Home With Us, I Can Do It Better, We Make Our Own Rules, and I'm the One You Need. He's also written the stand-alone book, Black and Blue - An Interracial Cuckold Tale. Rob is currently working on two more interracial cuckold tales, Talking Bull and Black Friday. Both are coming soon from Fanny Press, an imprint of Epicenter Press.
Links
http://www.facebook.com/robertpatrickmatthews
http://www.twitter.com/robandtina1
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/580846.Rob_Matthews
https://www.amazon.com/Rob-Matthews/e/B01K53HJ0K/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/l/B01K53HJ0K
Release blitz organised by Writer Marketing Services.
January 25, 2019
2019 and beyond
It’s been a long time since I properly updated this blog. For that I apologise. Last year didn’t go exactly to plan with my writing. I took a break from writing romance in order to focus on a ghost story I’d wanted to write for a long time. I love horror stories and movies and I have a head full of great ideas for horror fiction. At the start of 2018 I decided to set some time aside to write one of these stories. I planned a novel of around 100 thousand words. I had a very detailed outline and well-developed characters notes and was really excited about this change in direction. And what I wrote is pretty good. Looking back on the work I like it a lot, which is not always the case with first drafts. But I didn’t count on one thing: writing horror is hard. Really.
All writing it hard. It should be and I expect it, but this was difficult in a way I hadn’t foreseen. It takes around six to nine months to write a one hundred thousand-word first draft. That’s a lot of time to spend in a dark headspace and I didn’t realise that until a few weeks into project. I only ever focus on one book at a time. I admire authors who have several projects on the go at once, but that’s never worked for me. I have to give my stories one hundred percent attention. And this story took me to places I wasn’t prepared for. It was mentally gruelling to spend all that time dwelling on such dark matters. Though I knew what I was writing was good there was a massive problem with it: I wasn’t enjoying myself.
Like I said above, all writing is hard, but it should also be enjoyable, and this wasn’t. It made me moody and gave me nightmares. Hell, I might as well say it, what I was writing frightened me. I began to jump at shadows and noises in the dark. I knew halfway through that I needed to take a break, which I did. I wrote a 30K word romance to lighten my mood. I intended to go back to the horror story straight after, but I didn’t want to. I still don’t. I hate quitting and it’s not in my nature to abandon stories. I don’t have a drawer full of half complete drafts, because I want to finish everything. But for now, this one will remain half done.
So, what I’m saying in a rambling way, is that I didn’t produce as much in 2018 as I wanted to. Though I’m disappointed, I don’t consider the time I spent on my ghost story to be wasted, because I learned from the experience. I might not have a book to show for it, but it’s helped me to realise what I can and can’t do, what I enjoy and what I don’t.
Moving on.
The novella I mentioned has gone through two drafts. I intend to give it another going over before deciding what to do with it. I’m probably going to submit to a traditional publisher, but I haven’t ruled out going down the indie route, like I did with Written in Scars. It’s a contemporary story about two very different reality TV stars. It’s fun and sexy with a couple of smoking hot MC’s. I love it and hope readers will too.
So, in 2019, I’m back into romance with a renewed focus. I’m currently developing the story and characters for a standalone novel. Later in the year, I have a couple of ideas for what could be the beginning of a new trilogy/series, but for now I’ll take one thing at a time and work on the standalone. I’ve got some great characters bugging me to tell their stories. I can’t wait to develop them.
The best thing to happened in 2018 was the release of books two and three in the Anthem Trilogy. All three books are now out in eBook and paperback. Don’t they look great.
LINKS:PRIDE PUBLISHINGAMAZON UKAMAZON USA
January 4, 2019
New Release: ANTHEM OF SURVIVAL
The Anthem Trilogy is finally complete with the release of Anthem of Survival.
Will they ever escape the past?
Revenge casts a long shadow.
Following two prior attempts on their lives, Daniel and Elijah are together and stronger than ever. Their relationship has weathered the toughest elements and survived. Physically and emotionally scarred, the bond between them can’t be broken. One year on from the devastating events in Anthem of the Dark they have reassessed their priorities and want to spend time out of the spotlight.
Elijah has quit his stand-up career to focus on his new passion: training to be a chef. But for Daniel, there are too many questions he desperately needs answers to. Like who orchestrated the violence in Blackpool a year ago? Whose hatred of him runs so deep they’re ruthlessly prepared to hurt innocent by-standers? He teams up with journalist Keeley Rank to uncover the facts.
Though the truth is well hidden, it is closer than anyone thinks. Someone wants revenge. Someone intent on destroying Daniel anyway she can. When Daniel and Elijah attend a fundraising gala for a victim support charity they are unaware they are about to face their most perilous situation yet. Vengeance is a deadly game and not everyone will survive.
Available in ebook and Paperback
BUY LINKS:
Pride Publishing: http://ow.ly/2EIj30myQPQ
Amazon USA: http://ow.ly/J2nk30mTNMC
Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/iXQc30mTNIb
Excerpt:
Daniel Blake, sitting on a shaded terrace in a pair of sun-bleached shorts, strummed a melody on his guitar. The afternoon sun blazed in a cloudless sky and, despite the protective canopy above him, the heat was intense. Beads of sweat ran down his neck, tracking over bronzed skin to the dark mass of chest hair. It glistened on his top lip as he gently chewed the bottom. With his eyes closed, he progressed through the strings. A moment later, he smiled, finally satisfied, and put down the guitar. He reached for the weathered notebook that had been his constant companion all summer and wrote in an eager, untidy hand.
Daniel had been working on the song for two days, both music and lyrics, and, at last, it was done. He had nothing left to add.
He lifted his gaze to the sky and inhaled full into his lungs. Across the terrace, the blue water of the Ionian Sea reflected the white light of the sun, its expanse an ever-changing collage of sapphire and diamond colors. Down the coast, the outline of Corfu Island was a hazy mirage in the heat. This perfect view had been his for six amazing weeks. The idyll would soon be over, but not yet.
Daniel lay back on the lounger and lengthened his arms above his head, stretching the stiffness in his neck. He’d been so absorbed in the song, ensuring every chord and every word were right, he’d ignored his own comfort and now his body ached. A few weeks earlier, he’d made the mistake of writing beside the pool, in the direct glare of the sun, and paid the price. Two painful days in bed with sunburn. Since then, he’d stuck to the shade while working on his music. He lost himself so much in the process it was easy to burn.
Daniel studied his body as he lay there. He’d never looked so good or been this tan before. There’d been no time to sunbathe in the past, he’d always thought it a waste of time. He had had too much to do, too much to achieve, to spend his days lying around a pool. But he’d realized this summer that a tan didn’t just suit him, it helped him feel better.
It wasn’t just the sun. Daily sessions in the pool and long walks on the beach kept him in shape. Coming off Lady Lynda, he’d had every intention of letting his fitness routine go a little, if only for the summer, but it hadn’t worked out that way. He was in better condition now than when he arrived, in mind as well as body.
His legs were strong, muscular and tan. He hardly recognized his own body. He inched down the top of his shorts to admire the contrast in color between the creamy skin below his waist and the coppery tones above. The villa was private and he could have bathed naked if he’d wanted to, except he wasn’t that kind of guy. Besides, tan lines were sexy. He’d always thought so. Who needed to risk a burnt butt and balls?
The one thing that marred the bronze color of his torso was the scars between his hip bones and ribcage, sustained the night Oliver Gill had stabbed him, and from the lifesaving surgery he’d gone through afterward. Before coming to Corfu, the pale scars had been almost unnoticeable on his white skin. His dark body hair just about concealed them. But as his tan deepened, the scars stayed white, becoming more pronounced, forcing him to look at them, to acknowledge them.
Daniel traced his fingers along the lines and indentations. Had he made peace with the disfigurement? No. But as the summer came to an end, he’d learned to accept them.
Daniel sighed and basked in the heat. Life was not so bad, considering what the last two years had thrown at him. Better than that, things were good. Not perfect, too many questions remained unanswered for that, but his optimism grew every day.
The glass doors of the terrace opened behind him and Elijah Mann stepped out, offering him a cold bottle of water.
“It’s hotter than hell out here,” Elijah remarked, shielding his eyes against the sun to gaze across the sea.
Daniel swung his legs over the side of the sunbed and sat up. He drank the chilled, sparkling water and looked with admiration at Elijah’s chunky thighs. While the sun had turned Daniel’s white-boy skin an appealing shade of bronze, Elijah, with his Greek heritage, had gone nut-brown. The beige shorts and blue open-neck shirt he wore today complemented his tan. God, he’s gorgeous. Daniel never had to remind himself what a lucky guy he was.
Elijah dropped onto the other sunbed, knees spread wide, and looked straight at him with soulful brown eyes. His thick blue-black hair fell in an untidy wave across his brow and a three-day beard darkened his jaw. With his natural Greek coloring, Daniel wondered if Elijah had ever looked more handsome. Even more important, he looked happier and healthier than he had in a long time. Less than a year ago he’d been in hospital, fighting for his life. Daniel wouldn’t ever forget how close he’d come to losing him. Those long, terrible hours beside his bed, praying he would recover. Hoping for the best, afraid of the worst.
“How’s it going?” Elijah asked, nodding at his guitar.
“I’m finished,” he answered, smiling.
Elijah’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense. Let me hear it.”
“What’s for lunch?” Daniel asked, feigning indifference.
Elijah leapt forward, grabbing Daniel’s bare waist, tickling the sensitive flesh around his middle. Daniel yelped and fell backward, giggling. Elijah followed through, lying on top of him, fingers still working his waist. Daniel laughed, squirming against his hard body.
“No lunch today,” Elijah said, his face on top of Daniel’s. “Not until you play me your song.”
Will they ever escape the past?
Revenge casts a long shadow.
Following two prior attempts on their lives, Daniel and Elijah are together and stronger than ever. Their relationship has weathered the toughest elements and survived. Physically and emotionally scarred, the bond between them can’t be broken. One year on from the devastating events in Anthem of the Dark they have reassessed their priorities and want to spend time out of the spotlight.
Elijah has quit his stand-up career to focus on his new passion: training to be a chef. But for Daniel, there are too many questions he desperately needs answers to. Like who orchestrated the violence in Blackpool a year ago? Whose hatred of him runs so deep they’re ruthlessly prepared to hurt innocent by-standers? He teams up with journalist Keeley Rank to uncover the facts.
Though the truth is well hidden, it is closer than anyone thinks. Someone wants revenge. Someone intent on destroying Daniel anyway she can. When Daniel and Elijah attend a fundraising gala for a victim support charity they are unaware they are about to face their most perilous situation yet. Vengeance is a deadly game and not everyone will survive.
Available in ebook and Paperback
BUY LINKS:
Pride Publishing: http://ow.ly/2EIj30myQPQ
Amazon USA: http://ow.ly/J2nk30mTNMC
Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/iXQc30mTNIb
Excerpt:
Daniel Blake, sitting on a shaded terrace in a pair of sun-bleached shorts, strummed a melody on his guitar. The afternoon sun blazed in a cloudless sky and, despite the protective canopy above him, the heat was intense. Beads of sweat ran down his neck, tracking over bronzed skin to the dark mass of chest hair. It glistened on his top lip as he gently chewed the bottom. With his eyes closed, he progressed through the strings. A moment later, he smiled, finally satisfied, and put down the guitar. He reached for the weathered notebook that had been his constant companion all summer and wrote in an eager, untidy hand.
Daniel had been working on the song for two days, both music and lyrics, and, at last, it was done. He had nothing left to add.
He lifted his gaze to the sky and inhaled full into his lungs. Across the terrace, the blue water of the Ionian Sea reflected the white light of the sun, its expanse an ever-changing collage of sapphire and diamond colors. Down the coast, the outline of Corfu Island was a hazy mirage in the heat. This perfect view had been his for six amazing weeks. The idyll would soon be over, but not yet.
Daniel lay back on the lounger and lengthened his arms above his head, stretching the stiffness in his neck. He’d been so absorbed in the song, ensuring every chord and every word were right, he’d ignored his own comfort and now his body ached. A few weeks earlier, he’d made the mistake of writing beside the pool, in the direct glare of the sun, and paid the price. Two painful days in bed with sunburn. Since then, he’d stuck to the shade while working on his music. He lost himself so much in the process it was easy to burn.
Daniel studied his body as he lay there. He’d never looked so good or been this tan before. There’d been no time to sunbathe in the past, he’d always thought it a waste of time. He had had too much to do, too much to achieve, to spend his days lying around a pool. But he’d realized this summer that a tan didn’t just suit him, it helped him feel better.
It wasn’t just the sun. Daily sessions in the pool and long walks on the beach kept him in shape. Coming off Lady Lynda, he’d had every intention of letting his fitness routine go a little, if only for the summer, but it hadn’t worked out that way. He was in better condition now than when he arrived, in mind as well as body.
His legs were strong, muscular and tan. He hardly recognized his own body. He inched down the top of his shorts to admire the contrast in color between the creamy skin below his waist and the coppery tones above. The villa was private and he could have bathed naked if he’d wanted to, except he wasn’t that kind of guy. Besides, tan lines were sexy. He’d always thought so. Who needed to risk a burnt butt and balls?
The one thing that marred the bronze color of his torso was the scars between his hip bones and ribcage, sustained the night Oliver Gill had stabbed him, and from the lifesaving surgery he’d gone through afterward. Before coming to Corfu, the pale scars had been almost unnoticeable on his white skin. His dark body hair just about concealed them. But as his tan deepened, the scars stayed white, becoming more pronounced, forcing him to look at them, to acknowledge them.
Daniel traced his fingers along the lines and indentations. Had he made peace with the disfigurement? No. But as the summer came to an end, he’d learned to accept them.
Daniel sighed and basked in the heat. Life was not so bad, considering what the last two years had thrown at him. Better than that, things were good. Not perfect, too many questions remained unanswered for that, but his optimism grew every day.
The glass doors of the terrace opened behind him and Elijah Mann stepped out, offering him a cold bottle of water.
“It’s hotter than hell out here,” Elijah remarked, shielding his eyes against the sun to gaze across the sea.
Daniel swung his legs over the side of the sunbed and sat up. He drank the chilled, sparkling water and looked with admiration at Elijah’s chunky thighs. While the sun had turned Daniel’s white-boy skin an appealing shade of bronze, Elijah, with his Greek heritage, had gone nut-brown. The beige shorts and blue open-neck shirt he wore today complemented his tan. God, he’s gorgeous. Daniel never had to remind himself what a lucky guy he was.
Elijah dropped onto the other sunbed, knees spread wide, and looked straight at him with soulful brown eyes. His thick blue-black hair fell in an untidy wave across his brow and a three-day beard darkened his jaw. With his natural Greek coloring, Daniel wondered if Elijah had ever looked more handsome. Even more important, he looked happier and healthier than he had in a long time. Less than a year ago he’d been in hospital, fighting for his life. Daniel wouldn’t ever forget how close he’d come to losing him. Those long, terrible hours beside his bed, praying he would recover. Hoping for the best, afraid of the worst.
“How’s it going?” Elijah asked, nodding at his guitar.
“I’m finished,” he answered, smiling.
Elijah’s eyebrows raised. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Don’t keep me in suspense. Let me hear it.”
“What’s for lunch?” Daniel asked, feigning indifference.
Elijah leapt forward, grabbing Daniel’s bare waist, tickling the sensitive flesh around his middle. Daniel yelped and fell backward, giggling. Elijah followed through, lying on top of him, fingers still working his waist. Daniel laughed, squirming against his hard body.
“No lunch today,” Elijah said, his face on top of Daniel’s. “Not until you play me your song.”
November 8, 2018
Cover Reveal: Anthem of Survival
I’m delighted to finally reveal the cover art for Anthem of Survival, the third and final book in the Anthem Trilogy.
Blurb: Will they ever escape the past? Revenge casts a long shadow.
Following two prior attempts on their lives, Daniel and Elijah are together and stronger than ever. Their relationship has weathered the toughest elements and survived. Physically and emotionally scarred, the bond between them can’t be broken. One year on from the devastating events in Anthem of the Dark they have reassessed their priorities and want to spend time out of the spotlight.
Elijah has quit his stand-up career to focus on his new passion: training to be a chef. But for Daniel, there are too many questions he desperately needs answers to. Like who orchestrated the violence in Blackpool a year ago? Whose hatred of him runs so deep they’re ruthlessly prepared to hurt innocent by-standers? He teams up with journalist Keeley Rank to uncover the facts.
Though the truth is well hidden, it is closer than anyone thinks. Someone wants revenge. Someone intent on destroying Daniel anyway she can. When Daniel and Elijah attend a fundraising gala for a victim support charity they are unaware they are about to face their most perilous situation yet. Vengeance is a deadly game and not everyone will survive.
BUY LINK
I love this artwork. I think it sums up the dark, tumultuous tone of the last book so well. The team at Pride Publishing have done a terrific job with all three covers for this trilogy.
Anthem of Survival will be released in December but book 2, Anthem of the Dark is available right now.
BUY LINKS: Pride Publishing: http://ow.ly/wPtQ30lru0X Amazon: http://ow.ly/qaYM30lru2S Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/p5nu30lru6D
In other news. What have I been up to? Well, I mentioned earlier in the year I was taking a short break from MM fiction and romance to try my hand at something new. That something new was a much darker novel, a scary novel. As of now I’m about 50k words in and halfway through, but it’s sooooo dark. Probably the hardest, most challenging and difficult thing I’ve ever written. It’s taking me places I’m not sure I want to go. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not, but I do know I need to take a break from it. So, I’ve started writing a new MM romance. This will likely be a novella length story, but I’ve already had the spark of an idea for a new novel, with the potential to develop into another trilogy. I learned a few valuable lessons writing the Anthem Trilogy and there are somethings I would do differently next time. Who knows? I’d also like to write some MF romance in the next year, but that would probably require a new pen name and starting all over again. I’m not sure about that, but for now I’ll focus on one project at a time and making the MM novella the best story I can.
In among all this writing I took a two-week cruise vacation with my husband. We visited Spain, Portugal, Madeira and the Canary Island. All stunningly beautiful places. We had an amazing time with one tiny grumble: it was far too hot for me, even in October. I like cooler temperatures and don’t function well in excessive heat. For next year I’ve talked my husband is visiting somewhere more appropriate: Iceland.
Love Thom xxx
September 20, 2018
OUT NOW: Anthem of the Dark
Anthem of the Dark is out now. Yes, I’m thrilled to be able to say that book two in the Anthem trilogy was released earlier this week. It’s been a long journey to get to this stage but I’m delighted we’re finally there and readers can continue the story with Daniel and Elijah. I don’t want to give away anything more of the story than has been revealed in the blurb. There’s a lot going on in this second book. You’ll meet some great new characters along the way, including Max and Ben; I loved writing those two and hope everyone else loves them too. Anthem of the Dark was a challenge to write. As the title suggests things get pretty twisted at times, but it’s a blast. I remember my hands shaking as I tried to write the final few chapters. It was so exciting.
Check out this interview I did about the book: HERE
Anthem of the Dark is available in ebook and paperback from all the usual places.
Eleven months later ... the time for revenge has come. Eleven months after his attack on board the Atlantic Anthem, Daniel Blake has made a full recovery. Physically at least. The mental scars from what Oliver Gill did to him have been harder to deal with. But Daniel’s a survivor, and determined to move forward with his life. A life that includes Elijah Mann. Elijah has been a constant source of support throughout Daniel’s recovery. His love and encouragement have brought Daniel through the darkest days. Living together and deeply in love, they are stronger than ever.
Daniel has returned to work and is doing what he does best – entertaining the crowds in a smash hit summer show at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, while Elijah has triumphed in a celebrity TV cookery show. On a personal and professional level, life is finally getting back to normal.
Or so it seems. A murderer is at large, a killer with a unique purpose, and when the first two victims are identified, a terrifying link is established. The dead men began their careers in the boy band Overload with Daniel and Oliver Gill. Someone is out to avenge Oliver’s death. Someone who won’t stop until all members of the band are dead. And for a relentless killer, Daniel Blake is the ultimate prize.
BUY LINKS: Pride Publishing: http://ow.ly/wPtQ30lru0X Amazon: http://ow.ly/qaYM30lru2S Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/p5nu30lru6D
August 31, 2018
ANTHEM OF THE DARK: Available to Pre Order Now
Eleven months later ... the time for revenge has come.
Eleven months after his attack on board the Atlantic Anthem, Daniel Blake has made a full recovery. Physically at least. The mental scars from what Oliver Gill did to him have been harder to deal with. But Daniel’s a survivor, and determined to move forward with his life. A life that includes Elijah Mann. Elijah has been a constant source of support throughout Daniel’s recovery. His love and encouragement have brought Daniel through the darkest days. Living together and deeply in love, they are stronger than ever.
Daniel has returned to work and is doing what he does best – entertaining the crowds in a smash hit summer show at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, while Elijah has triumphed in a celebrity TV cookery show. On a personal and professional level, life is finally getting back to normal.
Or so it seems. A murderer is at larger, a killer with a unique purpose, and when the first two victims are identified, a terrifying link is established. The dead men began their careers in the boy band Overload with Daniel and Oliver Gill. Someone is out to avenge Oliver’s death. Someone who won’t stop until all members of the band are dead. And for a relentless killer, Daniel Blake is the ultimate prize.
Release date: September 18th 2018 by Pride Publishing
PRE ORDER NOW
PRIDE PUBLISHING
AMAZON
AMAZON UK
August 2, 2018
ANTHEM 2: ANTHEM OF THE DARK Cover Reveal
It’s been a bit slow on news lately but I’m delighted that I can finally reveal the fantastic cover art for Anthem of the Dark, due for release on 25th September.
Eleven months later ... the time for revenge has come.
Eleven months after his attack on board the Atlantic Anthem, Daniel Blake has made a full recovery. Physically at least. The mental scars from what Oliver Gill did to him have been harder to deal with. But Daniel’s a survivor, and determined to move forward with his life. A life that includes Elijah Mann. Elijah has been a constant source of support throughout Daniel’s recovery. His love and encouragement have brought Daniel through the darkest days. Living together and deeply in love, they are stronger than ever.
Daniel has returned to work and is doing what he does best – entertaining the crowds in a smash hit summer show at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens, while Elijah has triumphed in a celebrity TV cookery show. On a personal and professional level, life is finally getting back to normal.
Or so it seems. A murderer is at larger, a killer with a unique purpose, and when the first two victims are identified, a terrifying link is established. The dead men began their careers in the boy band Overload with Daniel and Oliver Gill. Someone is out to avenge Oliver’s death. Someone who won’t stop until all members of the band are dead. And for a relentless killer, Daniel Blake is the ultimate prize.
Anthem of the Dark is the second book in the Anthem Trilogy and continues Daniel and Elijah’s story one year after events in Anthem of the Sea. I’m so happy this book is about to drop. Due to circumstances beyond my control it’s been a long time coming, And I’m happy to say it won’t be long until the trilogy is complete with the release of book three scheduled for December. I’ll have more news, information and extracts in the coming weeks.
GET ANTHEM OF THE SEA NOW
BUY LINKS:
PRIDE PUBLISHING
AMAZON UK
AMAZON USA
KOBO
BARNES AND NOBLE
April 27, 2018
REVIEW ROUND UP: WRITTEN IN SCARS
Written in Scars launched earlier this week and I’ve been overwhelmed by the response. I want to send a massive thank you to everyone who read the book ahead of release.
Check out a round-up the reviews.
SINFULLY MM BOOK REVIEWS
4 Stars
The novella is a snapshot in time, taking place over a 24-hour period where Sam is finally shaken enough to make some serious decisions about how his life has been going. Sam needs to change his way of thinking about things. Logan has had to do that in the past and is supportive of Sam, but wonders if he should even contemplate being involved in such a messy situation.
The story was engaging – I read it in one sitting. It’s completely focused on the characters with both of their pasts fleshed out. It's told in alternating points of view that also includes Johan's. There are some serious issues addressed, with some tense moments and thoughtful consideration given to the current situation, the past and what the future may hold. Sam and Logan communicate well and are honest about their lives and I was rooting for them from the start. There were times I wasn’t sure what would occur and the story didn't always go where I thought it would on its way to a hopeful and appropriate HFN.
READ THE FULL REVIEW
DIVERSE READERThom Collins writes a remarkable story that touches on more than just one traumatic event for one of his main characters. Yet, instead of the character being shown as a victim he is portrayed as a survivor from his past events as well as for preceding events. This is an amazing story, filled with hard truths, despair, compassion, and most of all the will to survive. READ THE FULL REVIEW
MM MIDNIGHT CAFÉ
4 stars
The characters feel real as does their emotions. I cannot imagine how poor Sam must have felt all those years of abuse, but I felt his pain and struggle to find some self-worth. Though the book is short, it does not feel too rushed, yes ideally, I wish the book was longer, but I love stories that develop slowly.
READ THE FULL REVIEW
THE NOVEL APPROACH REVIEWS
The story is focused on how Logan, Sam, and even Johan, look at the importance of commitment. Each character also has to make choices in order to better their life, or not. The story is well written, intriguing, has passion and drama, and addresses mental abuse through some tense moments between Sam and Johan. I’ve read many of Mr. Collins’ books, but Written in Scars is somewhat different as it deals with serious issues.READ THE FULL REVIEW
BUY LINKS:
Amazon UK: http://amzn.eu/4qdbcXE
Amazon USA: http://a.co/2kp5vJv
Amazon CA: http://a.co/7NqPMMB
