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Haunted Heart
Duncan Kerr is the art director of Enamored Press, an erotic romance publisher based in Seattle. An open submissions call for new artists yields an imaginative book cover with rich details and bold colors that catches his interest. After a few more samples of work and some e-mails, Duncan is determined to hire the talented young artist on a permanent basis.
But Ruben Winterbottom isn’t an average freelance artist. His agoraphobia leaves him terrified to set foot outside his secluded house in the woods by the Olympic National Park. Living alone, fear is Ruben’s sole companion.
When the two men meet, Ruben has a panic attack and hides away. Although confused, Duncan sees past Ruben’s anxiety to his artistic gifts and beautiful soul. So he sets out to coax the young man out of his shy shell.
Falling in love with a broken boy, however, might be the first draft of heartbreak.
But Ruben Winterbottom isn’t an average freelance artist. His agoraphobia leaves him terrified to set foot outside his secluded house in the woods by the Olympic National Park. Living alone, fear is Ruben’s sole companion.
When the two men meet, Ruben has a panic attack and hides away. Although confused, Duncan sees past Ruben’s anxiety to his artistic gifts and beautiful soul. So he sets out to coax the young man out of his shy shell.
Falling in love with a broken boy, however, might be the first draft of heartbreak.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2014
3 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Susan Laine
91 books220 followersSusan is an award-winning author of LGBTQ erotic romance. She writes for Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications, Siren BookStrand, Evernight Publishing, and Less Than Three Press. Susan is a Finn writing in English. She likes action flicks, pop music, saunas, and the seasons in Finland. Join Susan's newsletter HERE.
Coming soon new M/M and F/F erotic romances....
Sorry but... I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from writing at the moment. Will keep you apprised of any changes. Huge thanks to anyone who has read my stories and, hopefully, liked them <3
Merry Christmas!
Coming soon new M/M and F/F erotic romances....
Sorry but... I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from writing at the moment. Will keep you apprised of any changes. Huge thanks to anyone who has read my stories and, hopefully, liked them <3
Merry Christmas!
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 11, 2014
I don't normally rate a book I don't finish, but I'm going to rate this one anyway. The disparaging treatment of a sexual assault victim in this book could not to be overlooked. At the 50% mark in the book, as the two MCs (one a mentally ill, virginal, not yet recovered victim of a sexual assault when he was 17) were getting to know one another, the more experienced man, who made no secret of his lust for the other, actually said:
Wow. Way to bring your "A" game to the table and not give the kid any reason to feel shame. Yuck. No more for me.
“How did Ben react when… you know, what happened to you?”The "what happened to you" being the anal rape and brutal beating he suffered when he was a minor.
Wow. Way to bring your "A" game to the table and not give the kid any reason to feel shame. Yuck. No more for me.
August 23, 2014
Duncan, the successful art director for a romance novel publishing house, receives an evocative cover submission from a young artist with seemingly no prior design experience.
The artist, Ruben, is 22 and an agoraphobic recluse. Duncan (whose age is not revealed, but who seemed to be in his mid-30s) becomes fascinated with Ruben and slowly draws the young man out. This isn't easy, as Ruben is ruled by panic and fear.
Duncan falls in love with Ruben despite Ruben's many insecurities and limitations, and Ruben begins to overcome some of his fears with Duncan's guidance.
Ruben has a mental illness (a severe phobia brought on by a horrifying incident in his past and clinical depression that was there before the incident), yet getting some kind of professional help, including medication, is not mentioned. The MCs acknowledge that Ruben may never get better, and everyone is fine with that.
I appreciate that Duncan was so patient and sweet with Ruben, but I couldn't see what truly drew him to the younger man. He wanted to comfort Ruben, but what did they have in common? Were they always going to live a shut-in life, completely isolated from society?
There was some sensual touching and play, but there was most definitely a boundary that Ruben drew, and we never see the resolution to this. Duncan as a character didn't feel three dimensional. We know next to nothing about his background, and his love for Ruben is immediate and unearned
Likewise, I wanted to know more about Ruben as a teenager, more about his relationship with his brother and grandmother. Considering Ruben's story, this should have been an emotional read, but I never connected with the characters. There is a tenuous HEA (if incurable agoraphobia is conducive to a HEA), but many issues are left unresolved.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The artist, Ruben, is 22 and an agoraphobic recluse. Duncan (whose age is not revealed, but who seemed to be in his mid-30s) becomes fascinated with Ruben and slowly draws the young man out. This isn't easy, as Ruben is ruled by panic and fear.
Duncan falls in love with Ruben despite Ruben's many insecurities and limitations, and Ruben begins to overcome some of his fears with Duncan's guidance.
Ruben has a mental illness (a severe phobia brought on by a horrifying incident in his past and clinical depression that was there before the incident), yet getting some kind of professional help, including medication, is not mentioned. The MCs acknowledge that Ruben may never get better, and everyone is fine with that.
I appreciate that Duncan was so patient and sweet with Ruben, but I couldn't see what truly drew him to the younger man. He wanted to comfort Ruben, but what did they have in common? Were they always going to live a shut-in life, completely isolated from society?
There was some sensual touching and play, but there was most definitely a boundary that Ruben drew, and we never see the resolution to this. Duncan as a character didn't feel three dimensional. We know next to nothing about his background, and his love for Ruben is immediate and unearned
Likewise, I wanted to know more about Ruben as a teenager, more about his relationship with his brother and grandmother. Considering Ruben's story, this should have been an emotional read, but I never connected with the characters. There is a tenuous HEA (if incurable agoraphobia is conducive to a HEA), but many issues are left unresolved.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
April 20, 2015
Ruben submits a gorgeous book cover photo to a moderate sized romance publishing house in response to an open call for new artists. The art director for the publishing house, Duncan, loves it, and so goes the beginning of a "relationship". The problem is that Ruben is an introvert with a whole host of phobias who has a whole host of emotional damage.
Ruben is terrified to meet Duncan in person, but an arrangement is reached for Ruben to paint cover art for new books based upon email submissions. Finally, there is a face-to-face meeting between our two main characters, and Ruben is filled with anxiety and the first time Duncan makes a comment about Ruben's life, he is asked to leave. (It seems like Ruben's mental problems overcome everything else.).
For unknown reasons, Duncan continues to "court" this mental case, and we learn that Ruben had been a rape victim five years earlier. The courtship between these two main characters is painfully slow and is like watching grass grow: we don't need to see what they did every consecutive day. Maybe a quick summary was all that was needed ... "For the first two weeks of our relationship, I would go to Ruben's house and we would talk a lot and kiss a little, nothing more." That one sentence sums up three unnecessary chapters in this book! So my major complaint is that this story needed a good editing.
After going on and on, Duncan finally gives Ruben a blow job and then they have a masturbation session. Overall, however, I just say "and?" Besides the editing issues (that could have transformed this into a 40 page short story), here is the problem for me . . . I found the story absolutely unbelievable when it came to Duncan's overwhelming desire for Ruben. The author does not develop the chemistry between these two main characters, and that is why having Duncan cow-tow to Ruben's scared animal routine, just doesn't make any sense to me. There is so much time on useless plot exposition in this story, how about showing that there is real heat between these two characters.
I suppose when all is said and done, I just didn't like this book, and I didn't believe the heat between the two main characters. So with that, I give the book two stars.
This is the fourth book that I have read from his author, and I just looked over the prior reviews (the other reviews are 2 stars, 1.5 stars, and 2 stars), every single one mentions the author's poor development of chemistry between the main characters and the need for better editing, I suppose this author is just not for me.
Ruben is terrified to meet Duncan in person, but an arrangement is reached for Ruben to paint cover art for new books based upon email submissions. Finally, there is a face-to-face meeting between our two main characters, and Ruben is filled with anxiety and the first time Duncan makes a comment about Ruben's life, he is asked to leave. (It seems like Ruben's mental problems overcome everything else.).
For unknown reasons, Duncan continues to "court" this mental case, and we learn that Ruben had been a rape victim five years earlier. The courtship between these two main characters is painfully slow and is like watching grass grow: we don't need to see what they did every consecutive day. Maybe a quick summary was all that was needed ... "For the first two weeks of our relationship, I would go to Ruben's house and we would talk a lot and kiss a little, nothing more." That one sentence sums up three unnecessary chapters in this book! So my major complaint is that this story needed a good editing.
After going on and on, Duncan finally gives Ruben a blow job and then they have a masturbation session. Overall, however, I just say "and?" Besides the editing issues (that could have transformed this into a 40 page short story), here is the problem for me . . . I found the story absolutely unbelievable when it came to Duncan's overwhelming desire for Ruben. The author does not develop the chemistry between these two main characters, and that is why having Duncan cow-tow to Ruben's scared animal routine, just doesn't make any sense to me. There is so much time on useless plot exposition in this story, how about showing that there is real heat between these two characters.
I suppose when all is said and done, I just didn't like this book, and I didn't believe the heat between the two main characters. So with that, I give the book two stars.
This is the fourth book that I have read from his author, and I just looked over the prior reviews (the other reviews are 2 stars, 1.5 stars, and 2 stars), every single one mentions the author's poor development of chemistry between the main characters and the need for better editing, I suppose this author is just not for me.
dnf
April 28, 2018Stopped at 48%.
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January 3, 2015
When Ruben smiled, downright euphoric, Duncan knew without a shadow of a doubt he wanted and needed to see this young man’s happiness for the rest of his life. And to be the cause of it, well, that was even better.Everything about this story was incredibly cute and so so sweet and absolutely endearing. The characters were great, the side characters made me smile, the writing flowed beautifully, the setting was lovely (especially with my personal love of all things publishing), and I really just have no faults with it at all.
The way Duncan and Ruben’s relationship progressed felt real, never too slow and most importantly never too fast. While the characters feel an instant attraction to each other, the connection they feel allows them to go with the flow at an easy pace that is never rushed; something which is perfect since with Ruben’s phobia, Duncan’s constant understanding and unwavering support is exactly what Ruben needs. The sex was incredibly hot, but I loved how it wasn’t just sex but instead a strengthening of the connection between Duncan and Ruben and their deepening trust in each other as Ruben allows himself to steadily become more confident with Duncan ready to catch him at any moment, always thinking of his lover and his needs, placing Ruben’s wellbeing first and foremost at all times.
I especially liked how Laine was realistic about Ruben’s condition: how despite the positivity, there is always the possibility of regression and negativity and that a building confidence and trusty support system does not equal a cure for the problem or promise that everything will be perfect, strictly positive, or without fault or incapable of failure from that point onward. Laine is definitely an author I will be checking out in the future and her story Haunted Heart in particular is one I highly recommend.
January 15, 2016
I love the way the author captures the innocence and sensualities of the characters. I'm not disappointed in not knowing how far the relationship goes, or the slow progress of it. The journey is beautiful. The characters capture your interest in every way sort of nerve wracking but worth the anxiety lol!! The author writes better with full length novels, I don't get invested in the novellas I don't get a connection. Great read!!
April 16, 2014
This was a little too neat for me, with Ruben overcoming his issues and Duncan being so very understanding. It ends on a hopeful note, and I liked that, but the intense connection these two men form in a very short time period was a little unbelievable.
Full review will be on Booklikes and the blog.
Full review will be on Booklikes and the blog.
November 15, 2015
Sweet and touching all the way. I like that Duncan cares so much and isn't afraid to try to get closer to sweet Ruben. And Ruben, oh my, he is so strong and fighting his way back up to the light. But I won't say if or if not they will fight this battle together and will have their HEA, see yourself. It's soooooo worth it, really recommended!
April 21, 2014
Beautiful hurt/comfort story!
My heart broke for poor Ruben and I adored Duncan for his endless patience and how slowly he coaxed Ruben out of his lonely shell. The story isn't long, just the way I like, but the ending was very thorough and satisfying.
Loved this book!
My heart broke for poor Ruben and I adored Duncan for his endless patience and how slowly he coaxed Ruben out of his lonely shell. The story isn't long, just the way I like, but the ending was very thorough and satisfying.
Loved this book!
April 17, 2014
I loved it
April 18, 2014
So much wasted potential. It could've been really great read, but as it is it's only average.
July 4, 2014
Amazingly sweet and awesome. I just wish the author had kept writing about these two:(. Didn't want if to end.
April 23, 2020
Lo que me gustó:
* Es una historia tierna.
* A pesar del tema psicológico del protagonista la historia avanza sin muchas complicaciones.
* Se le rápido y es agradable para pasar un buen rato.
Lo que no me gustó:
* La forma de escribir de la autora es predecible, no es que este mal pero le hace falta un poco más de edición.
Conclusión
Es buena para pasar el rato.
* Es una historia tierna.
* A pesar del tema psicológico del protagonista la historia avanza sin muchas complicaciones.
* Se le rápido y es agradable para pasar un buen rato.
Lo que no me gustó:
* La forma de escribir de la autora es predecible, no es que este mal pero le hace falta un poco más de edición.
Conclusión
Es buena para pasar el rato.
May 1, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
3.75 Stars
This was a really difficult one for me to rate. I feel like I have read a beautiful story. I absolutely fell in love with Ruben. I didn’t connect with Duncan so much but his heart was definitely in the right place. It just felt a little rushed, perhaps a little contrived in places and we were left with a lot of loose ends.
Ruben lives his life in fear, sometimes paralysing, after a trauma suffered as a teenager. Five years on and his agoraphobia rules his life and he never leaves his house. The artwork he produces is stunning and probably one of the things that keeps him sane. After submitting a piece to an erotic romance publisher for use as a book cover he is left in panic. Yes, they want to use it but they also want to meet with him face to face. The sheer thought of having anyone in his home is enough to induce a panic attack but he invites the man for coffee anyway.
Duncan heads up the art department at Enamoured Press and is floored when he first sees Rubens work. When he heads to Rubens home for a chat about a contract he is left on the doorstep with only a glimpse of a pale, shaking and obviously panicked young man. The door is very firmly shut in Duncans face.
Following weeks of emails between the two men Ruben finally agrees to try and meet Duncan again. There is a lot of talking and touch in this book which is guided totally by Ruben and the parameters he sets. Duncan is totally taken by the young man and after learning about his past begins to feel protective and vows to help.
There is no quick fix for Ruben and the writer does a great job at making you feel his pain and panic in life. Ruben is a complete novice at so many things after dropping out of society for five years that it will leave you heartbroken but Duncan slowly helps him where he will allow.
I would have like to know a little more about his previous lifestyle and had more resolution at the end. I found myself wondering, in reality, whether Duncan would have been able to stay for the long haul with such confines placed on their relationship or whether Ruben would have made more progress than before now that he had love and support.
3.75 Stars
This was a really difficult one for me to rate. I feel like I have read a beautiful story. I absolutely fell in love with Ruben. I didn’t connect with Duncan so much but his heart was definitely in the right place. It just felt a little rushed, perhaps a little contrived in places and we were left with a lot of loose ends.
Ruben lives his life in fear, sometimes paralysing, after a trauma suffered as a teenager. Five years on and his agoraphobia rules his life and he never leaves his house. The artwork he produces is stunning and probably one of the things that keeps him sane. After submitting a piece to an erotic romance publisher for use as a book cover he is left in panic. Yes, they want to use it but they also want to meet with him face to face. The sheer thought of having anyone in his home is enough to induce a panic attack but he invites the man for coffee anyway.
Duncan heads up the art department at Enamoured Press and is floored when he first sees Rubens work. When he heads to Rubens home for a chat about a contract he is left on the doorstep with only a glimpse of a pale, shaking and obviously panicked young man. The door is very firmly shut in Duncans face.
Following weeks of emails between the two men Ruben finally agrees to try and meet Duncan again. There is a lot of talking and touch in this book which is guided totally by Ruben and the parameters he sets. Duncan is totally taken by the young man and after learning about his past begins to feel protective and vows to help.
There is no quick fix for Ruben and the writer does a great job at making you feel his pain and panic in life. Ruben is a complete novice at so many things after dropping out of society for five years that it will leave you heartbroken but Duncan slowly helps him where he will allow.
I would have like to know a little more about his previous lifestyle and had more resolution at the end. I found myself wondering, in reality, whether Duncan would have been able to stay for the long haul with such confines placed on their relationship or whether Ruben would have made more progress than before now that he had love and support.
June 17, 2014
Original Blog Post: http://www.multitaskingmommas.com/201...
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
This is a story about an older erotic hero and a young agoraphobic man who meet in the most unusual of ways: online work.
Duncan Kerr takes one look at a cover art submission for an ebook and fell in love. The artists' rendition to the blurb sent over was spot on and the artistry was beautiful. Two combinations he now found to be rare in the book art cover world for ebook publications. (I wonder what Reese Dante says about this?)
The artist in question is Ruben Winterbottom, an unfortunate name for a highly talented artist. Agoraphobic due to some traumatic events, he is not having the best chances for online work when his clients insist on seeing him in person. When Duncan Kerr sends over an email to request for a meet up, he had no choice but to refuse. When the man insists, he finally allows, but has to go through a whole lot of courage-building exercises.
Agoraphobia is a debilitating psychological problem that can be very unpredictable. This is what Ruben suffers from so it was sort of problematic for me to see that the relationship between both men started out as easy as this book implies. I know, I know, this is fiction so I have to give it some space for the sake of artistic licence but the psychologist in me protests and overrides the romantic in me.
For the romantic at heart, this is a really heartwarming little story and even if it ends the way it does. It gives the reader that satisfaction for a romance gone right. This is not overly erotic either so that was good. If it had gone overly erotic it would have sent me to the 'upset room' in my mind. This ends on a very good note but an iffy road to recovery for Ruben and that is good as well. For that ending alone, I raised the rating for it was more real for me rather than it going completely HEA fairytale style.
My Rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
This is a story about an older erotic hero and a young agoraphobic man who meet in the most unusual of ways: online work.
Duncan Kerr takes one look at a cover art submission for an ebook and fell in love. The artists' rendition to the blurb sent over was spot on and the artistry was beautiful. Two combinations he now found to be rare in the book art cover world for ebook publications. (I wonder what Reese Dante says about this?)
The artist in question is Ruben Winterbottom, an unfortunate name for a highly talented artist. Agoraphobic due to some traumatic events, he is not having the best chances for online work when his clients insist on seeing him in person. When Duncan Kerr sends over an email to request for a meet up, he had no choice but to refuse. When the man insists, he finally allows, but has to go through a whole lot of courage-building exercises.
Agoraphobia is a debilitating psychological problem that can be very unpredictable. This is what Ruben suffers from so it was sort of problematic for me to see that the relationship between both men started out as easy as this book implies. I know, I know, this is fiction so I have to give it some space for the sake of artistic licence but the psychologist in me protests and overrides the romantic in me.
For the romantic at heart, this is a really heartwarming little story and even if it ends the way it does. It gives the reader that satisfaction for a romance gone right. This is not overly erotic either so that was good. If it had gone overly erotic it would have sent me to the 'upset room' in my mind. This ends on a very good note but an iffy road to recovery for Ruben and that is good as well. For that ending alone, I raised the rating for it was more real for me rather than it going completely HEA fairytale style.
August 9, 2016
It was a sweet comfort/hurt read.
On the reality side; their relationship does seem to develop pretty fast, especially for someone who is agoraphobic to that extent.
I'm agoraphobic myself, and so I get all things that come with it. Things that Ms. Laine pointed out in the book. I know what it is to go through life like that. I didn't have anything taumatic happen to me to cause it. I've had it since anyone can remember. So if you're thinking that you need some type of trauma to get a mental illness, think again. I know if I had someone that was a sweet as Duncan, it would still take me a lot longer than it did for Ruben to come around. Maybe he's braver than I am. Who knows? Thanks to Ms. Laine for bringing to light that mental illnesses won't change just because someone says you should get over it.
On the reality side; their relationship does seem to develop pretty fast, especially for someone who is agoraphobic to that extent.
I'm agoraphobic myself, and so I get all things that come with it. Things that Ms. Laine pointed out in the book. I know what it is to go through life like that. I didn't have anything taumatic happen to me to cause it. I've had it since anyone can remember. So if you're thinking that you need some type of trauma to get a mental illness, think again. I know if I had someone that was a sweet as Duncan, it would still take me a lot longer than it did for Ruben to come around. Maybe he's braver than I am. Who knows? Thanks to Ms. Laine for bringing to light that mental illnesses won't change just because someone says you should get over it.
June 9, 2014
The book was good, I liked the characters, but what I didn't like was the writing style. People don't talk like that. The language was too proper. I wanted more if the epilogue. I wanted to know how certain things were resolved. Some of the make-out scenes were kind of glossed over. They would start to kiss & the the author would jump ahead to something else.
I did love the relationship and how supportive Duncan was. He was very patient and understanding.
I did love the relationship and how supportive Duncan was. He was very patient and understanding.
February 14, 2016
Cute, light read. I have to say though that it wasn't well developed. I didn't get a lot of connection to the the characters. The fears that interfered with the two men's relationship were overcome too easily. I did appreciate that the author didn't make the relationship the cure all for the anxiety and fears. That would have made this a BAD read. Still I didn't think the way they overcame some issues very realistic or believable. Still it wasn't a horrible read just not for me.
May 3, 2014
3.5 stars
A sweet story with some dark overtones what happened to Ruben was unfortunate and I thought it was awesome that he magically stumbled across Duncan's path. Loved that Duncan was understanding and considerate of Ruben.
A sweet story with some dark overtones what happened to Ruben was unfortunate and I thought it was awesome that he magically stumbled across Duncan's path. Loved that Duncan was understanding and considerate of Ruben.
October 5, 2014
3.5, a really sweet story.
August 30, 2014
It's not that bad but just soooo sappy( and not in a good way) that I lost my patience reading it.
February 28, 2015
3.5 stars
February 11, 2016
A very heartwarming story.
The first time I read this author and I will be looking for more!
The first time I read this author and I will be looking for more!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews