Beyond The Darkness by Thom Collins

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Beyond The Darkness (Basic Instincts Book 3)

Author: Thom Collins

Publisher: Entwined Publishing

Cover Artist: Kelly Martin

Release Date: October 7, 2025

Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, Crime and thriller

Tropes: Celebrity, murder mystery, Erotic romance, Suspense 

Themes: Theatre, stalking 

Length: 64 453 words/259 pages

It is a standalone story that is part of a wider series (Basic Instincts)

It does not end on a cliffhanger

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A starring role in a new show could give Hudson the career boost he needs…

if he lives that long.

Blurb

American actor Hudson Rhodes enjoys working in the UK. After a successful career in film and TV in his twenties, he’s established himself as a bankable star in the theatre world. A month-long run in a new play at Blyham’s Empire Theatre has the potential to lead to a West End transfer and Hudson is ready for it. The only thing threatening to spoil it is a series of sinister letters that point to a role he would rather forget.

Rehearsals for the show are going smoothly until a local journalist, Luke Kamal, arrives to write a piece about the production. Luke is handsome and smart and highly regarded in his field, but Hudson hates reporters. He’s learnt the hard way that the press cannot be trusted.

When a member of the cast is murdered, the show is thrown into greater jeopardy. The victim is someone close to Hudson. As he struggles with his attraction to Luke, the menacing letters continue to arrive. The killer has Hudson in their sights, and he might not make it to opening night.

Excerpt 

The handsome man was still at the end of the bar. Their eyes locked once more as Hudson stood. Hudson gave him a friendly smile of acknowledgement and his cock stirred as he walked out of the door. Maybe another time, when he had less on his mind.

The sun was hidden behind the high buildings when he stepped out, but it was still a fine and clement evening. He decided to take the long way back. He would go down to the river and follow the waterfront for a while, before heading up into the city.

“Excuse me,” a voice called from behind. “Mr Rhodes.”

He turned, stunned to find the hot guy from the bar following him. The warm sensation returned to Hudson’s neck, climbing over his face. His balls tightened.

As the man approached, the dazzling smile was at full voltage. He was even more attractive than he had appeared from a distance.

And he already knew who Hudson was.

“Hi,” he said, coming closer. Was that a flush of red in his cheeks and neck? “Sorry to bother you. I didn’t like to disturb you earlier, I just wanted to say hello.” He had a strong accent that Hudson had come to recognise as being unique to this city. He was familiar with Geordie, and this was similar, but softer, sexier.

Hudson returned the smile, full on. This guy was not like the typical fans who approached him for selfies. On the whole, he mostly got recognised for a handful of cheesy romcoms he’d made in his late twenties and early thirties, and it was often women who flagged him down. 

Through the open neck of the man’s shirt, he caught a teasing glimpse of dark chest hair. Hudson’s dick swelled to a semi state.

“Luke Kamal,” the man said, thrusting his hand forward.

Hudson took it welcomingly, noting the firm, dry grip. “Hi, Luke. I guess you know who I am.”

Luke’s dark eyes focused directly on him, and it was quite disarming. Hudson had worked with some world-famous actors and heartthrobs and very few of them possessed the raw magnetism of this stranger.

“You’re quite a big deal around here. Everyone is excited about the play launching in Blyham.”

Luke was an apparent flatterer, but he was so good-looking Hudson took his comment as a compliment rather than pure bullshit. “You’re coming to see the show then?”

That smile again, then Luke broke eye contact, seemingly shy. It was quite endearing. “You could say that. Actually, I’ll be there tomorrow. That’s why I wanted to say hello when I spotted you. It seemed rude not to.”

For a second, Hudson wondered if he was so hypnotised by this hot man that he’d misheard what he’d said. And damn, he smells great too. “Oh, we don’t actually open for a couple more weeks. The first preview is early next month, I think.”

“I’ll be there for that too, but I’ll be there tomorrow for the rehearsals.” The blank expression on Hudson’s face seemed to confuse him too. He continued. “Luke Kamal, from The Blyham Chronicle. I’m the arts and culture editor. Well, editor is putting it grandly, but I cover all the major arts, music and theatre events for the paper. We’re going to run a major feature on Darkest Blue over the next few weeks—that’s why I’m sitting in on rehearsals for a few days.”

Again, Luke’s words were not computing with Hudson. “Wait, you’re a journalist…? You’re going to watch us put the show together?”

The smile wavered then disappeared. “It’s been arranged for weeks. I thought you knew.”

Hudson withdrew into himself, trying to make sense of what he’d heard. What the actual fuck? How the hell were they supposed to dig deep into themselves, to make themselves vulnerable in search of the characters and stories, with a reporter watching and taking note of every fuck-up, every misstep?

“That can’t be right,” he managed. “You’ve got it wrong.”

Luke fumbled in his trousers, pulled out a leather wallet and produced his press card. “It’s all legit. I’m due there at ten tomorrow and then in and out all the way to opening night.”

“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Hudson muttered.

“I’m sorry. I thought they would have told you. Hasn’t it been cleared with the cast?”

“No, it fucking well hasn’t.” Hudson’s lust for Luke was on the verge of turning into anger. Not just at him but at Rav and Andie and this whole damn shit-show of a production.

About the Author 

Thom Collins is the author of the Jagged Shores series and the Anthem Trilogy as well as numerous standalone novels and novellas. 

His new series Basic Instincts launches in spring 2025 with the novel Now Comes the Dark.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night.

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Giveaway 

Comment on this blog post for a chance to win

one of five ebooks of the novel.

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The Sins of the Righteous by Colin Smith

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: The Sins of the Righteous

Author and Publisher: Colin Smith 

Release Date: July 27, 2025

Genres: Contemporary LGBT fiction, Murder/mystery/suspense

Tropes: Forbidden love

Themes:  Coming out, forgiveness, historical elements

Heat Rating: 1 out of 5 flames

Length: 17 675 words/71 pages

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Blurb

In this riveting mystery steeped in compassion and conviction, a former pastor—cast out by his church for being gay—finds himself drawn back into the community that rejected him when a beloved elderly congregant is found murdered. Bound by loyalty and grace, he refuses to turn away. As he hunts for the truth, his identity becomes both a source of scrutiny and strength.The Sins of the Righteous is more than a murder mystery—it’s a powerful reflection on redemption, injustice, and the courage it takes to embrace authenticity in the face of rejection. With surprising twists and an emotionally resonant journey, this story offers a gripping exploration of faith, identity, and the secrets that bind us. Ideal for readers who love character-driven suspense with spiritual depth and social nuance.

Excerpt 

Chapter 1

The call came at 11:17 PM, the same time Pastor Thomas Reed had received all emergency calls during his fifteen years of ministry. Something about that hour—late enough for trouble but before the true darkness of midnight—seemed to draw out crisis like a splinter.

"Pastor Tom? It's Betty Jenkins. Something's wrong with my television again."

Thomas closed his eyes and pressed the phone to his ear. Eight months after they'd forced him out, Betty and Margaret had gone to the District Superintendent with their "concerns," and she still called him for help. Still, he answered.

"Mrs. Jenkins, it's rather late." He glanced at the half-empty bourbon tumbler on his desk and at the open laptop with the paused video he'd been watching. Men who looked nothing like the congregation who had abandoned him, men who looked everything like the truth he'd hidden for decades.

"Please, Pastor. You know how I depend on my nighttime programs to sleep."

The resignation came like muscle memory. "I'll be there in twenty minutes."

Thomas closed the laptop, hiding away temptation as he had for so many years. He slipped on his jacket with patches at the elbows that made him look scholarly and trustworthy—the costume he'd worn for as long as he could remember.

As he drove through the quiet streets toward Betty's modest home, his mind drifted to the day everything changed. Not when they forced him out—that was merely the culmination. No, he thought of that winter night when he'd found young Jamie Tucker shivering in his underwear on the sidewalk, bruises forming on his thin arms, teeth chattering in the bitter cold. The night Thomas did the Christian thing, the human thing, he opened his door to someone in need.

The night that, ironically, had condemned him.

Thomas parked in Betty's driveway, noting that her porch light was out, unusual for a woman so afraid of the dark. As he approached the door, a movement in the shadows caught his eye—something familiar in the silhouette that disappeared around the side of the house.

"Betty?" he called, knocking firmly. "It's Pastor Tom."

Only silence answered.

Another oddity was that the door was unlocked. Betty Jenkins, who checked her locks three times before bed and called him monthly to change her security system batteries, had left her door open to the night.

"Mrs. Jenkins?"

The house was dark except for the flickering blue glow of the television. Thomas moved carefully through the familiar layout, toward the living room where Betty would be waiting in her floral armchair, remote in hand, complaints at the ready.

The remote was there, on the carpet. Betty was in her chair, but she wouldn't be complaining anymore.

Blood had pooled and darkened on her pale pink housecoat. Her eyes, which had narrowed in judgment so many times at church board meetings, stared blankly at the ceiling.

Thomas reached for her wrist automatically, pastoral instincts overriding shock. No pulse. Her skin was still warm.

His phone was in his hand, 9-1-1 already dialed, when he noticed the photograph on the side table. It had been turned to face the chair deliberately—Betty and Margaret standing proudly outside the District Superintendent's office the day of his hearing. Someone had drawn a red X across Margaret's face.

As the dispatcher answered, Thomas realized three things simultaneously: his fingerprints were throughout this house, the murderer couldn't have gone far, and the shadow he'd seen had reminded him of David—the man no one in his congregation had ever known existed.

"9-1-1, what's your emergency?"

Thomas stared at Betty's body, at the evidence of violence that part of him had imagined in his darkest moments of resentment. "I need to report a murder," he said, his voice steadier than it had any right to be.

The pastor who'd counseled countless grieving families now stood over a dead woman who'd helped destroy his life, in a house where he shouldn't have been, connected to secrets that could never come to light.

And somewhere in the darkness outside, someone who knew those secrets was watching.

About the Author 

Colin Smith is a freelance writer and historian, and is known for his clear narrative, historical accuracy, and ability to tell a great story. 

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Our Uncle’s Promise by Ruta Levu

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Book Title:  Our Uncle’s Promise

Author and Cover Artist:  Ruta Levu

Publisher: Book Writing Maestros

Release Date: July 31, 2025

Genre: LGBT Non-fiction

Themes: Family love, loss, two straight older people, two gay men, coming out and learning to smile again

Heat Rating: No sexual content  

Length: 367 pages

It is a standalone book  

Goodreads

Buy Links - Hardback, Paperback, and ebook

Barnes & Noble  |  Amazon US  |   Amazon UK 

Pierre was the turkey demon from hell.  

Sina was demoted from she-demon status to rabid squirrel with active rabies status.

Ruta was the unicorn that farts rainbows and saw the evilness of Sina, the rabid squirrel with active rabies.

Blurb 

This is a story about two grandparents, two gay uncles and four little girls growing up in the 1970s and 1980s.  The girls’ mother had passed away and their father was transferred by the military so the maternal grandparents and uncle raised the girls.  The book is about learning to smile and laugh after loss. Also, this story includes a mean turkey named Pierre and a sassy adorable diva.

This story is about loss but also about unconditional love and the adventures with fun loving uncles around the San Francisco Bay Area.

The story goes through the heart break that the little girls should not have had to face so young, but they were rescued by their grandparents and their loving uncles.  The four little girls learned that there is a rainbow after the rain and that you can laugh and smile after loss.  In our lifetime a door may have closed but a window opened for unconditional love and an occasional disco dance with the uncles.

Excerpt 

Chapter 10

It was Halloween of 1974, and I have to admit, my costume was awesome. Sina, though, looked like a boring farmer’s wife or whatever lives on a farm.

“You girls look so adorable! Aww…” Uncle Rueben praised, reaching out to hug us close.

“No, Uncle Rueben, don’t hug us yet,” I warned. “I don’t want my red cape to get all wrinkled and smashed.” I held up my hands to ward off the hug coming our way.

On Halloween night in 1974, Sina was dressed like Dorothy from the movie The Wizard of Oz. I was dressed as Red Riding Hood with a kick-butt red cape. Oli wore a Casper the Friendly Ghost costume and mask.

I have to admit, I was A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E with a capital A, but I knew I had to stay humble. Sina looked like a boring farmer’s wife in a blue checkered dress and red shoes. My red cape, on the other hand, made me feel like I could save the world—or at least that’s how I felt wearing it.

Rueben drove us to a swanky part of San Francisco, known for giving out full-size candy bars.

“All you girls stay by my side. No running ahead, and always hold each other’s hands when going up to a door. Never leave my side unless I give you permission, okay?” With the safety instructions given, Rueben led the way with a nod of his head.

Back in the 1970s, everyone seemed to give out candy, and all the kids dressed up for Halloween.

As we made our way from house to house, Uncle Rueben could be heard shouting, “Oli, don’t let go of my hand yet!” or “Sina, Ruta, don’t run too far ahead of me!”

“Hold Oli’s hand now and go up to the door. Be nice and say thank you when they give you candy,” Uncle Rueben called as we hurried toward a house with its porch light on.

Ring. Ring. Sina usually pressed the doorbell. We waited in excitement. A few moments passed. No one answered. We were the only kids at that door. Ring. Ring.

“I don’t think anyone’s giving out candy at this house,” Sina said with a sigh.

We had almost turned around when the door creaked open, and a strange fog rolled out from within. Suddenly, a lady in ragged white clothes appeared, arms raised, screaming in our faces!

“Aah! Aah! Aah!” The three of us screamed right back at the scary ghost lady! I dropped Oli’s hand like a hot rock and bolted from the porch. I thought we had all run, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. In that moment, I didn’t care if Sina or Oli made it out—I was in danger of being killed!

I figured I just needed to be faster than Oli, and I’d be safe. “You only have to outrun the slowest person,” was something Grandma and Pop used to say when watching TV shows. Plus, I wasn’t that attached to Oli. She could always flash her dimpled smile, and maybe the killer scary ghost lady would spare her. Honestly, I didn’t care if either of them was left behind—all I knew was it was every girl for herself. And I should add: not only did I save myself, but I also made sure to save my candy bag. Apparently, danger didn’t mean leaving behind my hard-earned candy stash.

“Run, Uncle Rueben! Let’s go!” I screamed, racing toward where the car was parked. We were going to make it! I didn’t care who else survived.

Uncle Rueben, however, didn’t seem to grasp the gravity of our situation. He was doubled over, laughing hysterically. Fine—let the killer scary ghost lady get him. Then I stopped in my tracks. NO! Uncle Rueben had to survive—he was our ride home!

Little did I know that Sina was right behind me until I turned to look for Uncle Rueben. Of course, she hadn’t warned him to run like I had. She only cared about herself. Big question—who was going to drive us home? I couldn’t drive. Sina couldn’t drive. Uncle Rueben had to survive. Unlike me, Sina had no long-term vision.

Uncle Rueben was still bent over, laughing. Oli was hugging his legs. How could he laugh? Did he not realize we were all in mortal danger?

Uncle Rueben walked confidently towards the danger, and I saw him pick up Oli’s shoe that she lost trying to run or whatever she did, away from the killer scary ghost lady. 

“Run, Uncle Rueben! Come on, you’re in danger!” I shouted.

Sina and myself were breathing like we had just ran a few miles when we had only run a half block. I started noticing other kids staring at us, and parents chuckling. Did I mention that adults sometimes have no sense of urgency? What was wrong with them? Did they not realize there was a killer scary ghost lady in that house?

Finally, Uncle Rueben reached us and the car. It took him forever, but at least he was still alive.

About the Author  

Ruta Levu, the unicorn that farts rainbows., is currently married and lives in the Pacific Northwest.  Ruta has a daughter and five fur babies.  I am the crazy cat lady on the block and proud of it.  I speak with and see my sisters often.  I still bring my glittery joy and happiness to my sisters’ lives to this day.

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99c/99p Book Blast - Now Comes the Dark by Thom Collins

99c/99p Book Blast

Book Title: Now Comes the Dark

Author: Thom Collins

Publisher: Pride Publishing / Entwined Publishing

Cover Artist: Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Release Date: February 11, 2025

Pairing: Contemporary Dark MM Romance

Tense/POV: Third person

Genres: Thriller/Mystery/Suspense

Tropes: Instant lust, serial killer, community

Themes: Erotic thriller

Heat Rating:  4 flames  

Length: 63 000 words

It is the first book in a new series, but works as a complete standalone

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links 

Currently available for 99c/99p

Universal Link |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Two strangers fuelled by desire, and a killer consumed with lust.

Blurb

Roman Ballentyne is forced to make some changes. The city he loves is no longer safe. Tensions are high as a psychotic killer preys upon the LGBTQ community. Five men have been murdered in the last year. Every encounter is a risk. Anyone could be next. The Viaduct was once the shame of Blyham, an illicit club filled with private booths and dark rooms, sleazy in the extreme. Now it offers a secure space to hook up when it’s too dangerous to take a stranger home.

Mallon Garnier catches Roman’s eye. He’s moody and mature and the hottest man in the club, but as Mallon pairs up with someone else, Roman thinks he’s missed his chance. When Roman is the victim of a hate crime at the end of the night, Mallon is his saviour, taking on his attackers with savage efficiency. Their attraction is immediate and intense. Roman knows it’s wrong to go home with a stranger, but what harm can there be from the man who saved him?

The encounter is the start of an intense and passionate affair. But as the murders continue, Roman learns Mallon is keeping a deep secret, and the killer is closer than he thinks.

Excerpt

The Vermont Hotel had been a part of Roman’s life for as long as he had lived in Blyham. As a student, he used to work seasonal shifts in their Michelin-starred restaurant and had covered tables at one of their many corporate events. These days, he could see it’s majestic ten story structure from the other side of the river on his journey to and from work. But in all those years, he had not set foot inside one of the bedrooms…until tonight.

He had been surprised when Mallon told him where he was staying. From his laid-back attitude and street-fighting ways, he’d expected him to have a room in one of the budget chain hotels, of which Blyham had six, situated in all areas of the city. He should have known better than to judge a man by his appearance.

The Vermont stood out among the crowd of high-end bars, restaurants, shops and hotels that dominated Blyham’s chic waterfront district. It was the jewel in a gentrified crown.

They arrived by Uber. No more taking chances on the dangerous streets. Mallon showed his room card to the twenty-four-hour concierge, and they crossed the marbled floor of the reception. There were still people drinking in the hotel’s foyer bar. He knew there was another bar, on the roof terrace, though Roman doubted that would be serving at this hour.

They entered the lift alone, and Mallen pressed the button for the seventh floor.

As soon as the doors closed, he was on Roman. He grasped his head in both hands and kissed him. Roman was a few inches taller than Mallon, but the older man dominated him in every way, pushing him against the wall of the elevator and shoving his tongue into his mouth. Roman gripped his shoulders, surrendering as Mallon ground his bulge against his hips.

The passion of the kiss disarmed him. Roman’s legs trembled as he thrust his tongue against Mallon’s, experiencing the heat of his breath, the raspy contact of their stubbled skin. Few of the men he had met on a casual basis were into kissing. Many of them refused to do it, and those who did were often terrible. Not Mallon. This guy knew how to kiss and make it count.

Roman squirmed, grinding his hips against his cock, discerning its size and girth. It had been completely concealed by Cameron’s greedy mouth in the club, and he had no idea what to expect, but from the way Mallon pressed it onto him, he would not be disappointed.

The doors open. Mallon slid a hand around Roman’s waist and shoved it down the back of his jeans, cupping his arse. His fingers slithered into the sweaty crack. Roman caught a quick breath. This man was bold. He knew what he wanted and went for it. As they walked along the corridor, Mallon’s fingertip found the hot opening, and traced the rim.

“Tonight, your ass is mine.”

Roman nodded and licked his lips. His mouth was dry. “Yes. It’s all yours.”

“To do what I want with?”

“Anything.” His insides tightened, and a fire of need burned in his butt like nothing he’d known.

They reached the door of his room. Mallon swiped the card, and they went inside.

It was more than a hotel room. There was a large seating area with a sofa, armchair and coffee table, and the bedroom was around an L-shaped bend. This had to be one of the junior suites. Roman had heard of them but didn’t know what to expect. The décor was all cream, beige and gold, illuminated by multiple side lights strategically placed around the room. Whatever Mallon did for a living, whatever had brought him to Blyham, had to be worth a lot of money.

About the Author 

Thom Collins is the author of the Jagged Shores series and the Anthem Trilogy as well as numerous standalone novels and novellas. 

His new series Basic Instincts launches in spring 2025 with the novel Now Comes the Dark.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night

Social Media Links

Website  |    BlueSky

Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |   Newsletter Sign-up   

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Into the Gray Scale by Oge Mobuogwu

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Book Title: Into the Gray Scale

Author: Oge Mobuogwu

Publisher: Reboshke Publishing

Cover Artist: Rafael Andres of CoveKitchen

Release Date: November 6, 2024

Pairing: MM, MMF

Genres: Dark Fantasy, Mystery/Suspense, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

A sleuth crime dark fantasy based on folklore and physics

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 305 pages

Is it a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

Barnes & Noble  |   Audible

Dead men can’t catch killers. But maybe with the right help, they can bend the rules from the afterlife.

Blurb
Dead men can’t catch killers. But maybe with the right help, they can bend the rules from the afterlife.

Drug dealer AJ has just discovered he’s been murdered. Trapped in the surreal complexities of the afterlife, he realizes he’s still bound in service to his killer, the ruthless drug kingpin Governor Tyson. Meanwhile, homicide detective Maleek Shapiro is closing in on "skooches", an enigmatic and dangerous drug at the heart of the case.

As Shapiro edges closer to proving the case against the governor, the investigation throws him into a maze of mystical experiences, unsettling encounters, and nightmarish realms where the boundaries between life and death—and dreams and reality—blur. Dead bodies begin to pile up as the untouchable governor storms towards his sinister goals without regard for consequences.

Can Shapiro, with AJ’s help from beyond the grave, stop the governor or will they all be sacrificed at the altar of his personal ambitions?

A poetic, spiritual and gripping exploration of the human psyche and the thin line between life and death, INTO THE GRAY SCALE blends dark fantasy with crime drama, unraveling raw emotions and surreal twists that challenge the boundaries of reality itself!

Excerpt 

His space had become a numbing static, like the sound that came out of old television sets when the networks closed out for the day. It was like a sad score one heard whenever his mess of a life played out. The muffled sounds coming from the TV in the living room, the loud clicking of the old grandpa clock that hung in the kitchen for no justifiable reason, as if taunting him on how much of a waste of time his existence was, and of course the humming of the microwave, the only source of comfort in his life presently.

Beep. His meal was ready.

At the dining, he knew Michelle made every effort to ignore him. Her aloofness, in her nightgown, legs folded up on the sofa, playing with her hair while staring at the TV, had become a constant image for him. He knew exactly what he would find her doing every night, no matter what time he came home. He knew the posture and particular positions she took. He wondered if he would ever ask why she watched Jerry Springer every night, however perfectly the chaos from the show mirrored their life. He wondered how surprised he would be coming home one day to find her doing something else or better still, dead. It gave him comfort, thinking about finding her dead, maybe from a heart attack or a razor to the wrist or some freak accident. Who cared? He usually thought about her when he watched “A Thousand Ways to Die.”

He finished cleaning the countertop and used area, then took the food take out pack to the trash. Very conspicuously placed in the open bin was an unwrapped used tampon. It was red and gorged with blood, sitting in the middle and on top on the trash. Clearly, she dropped them just when he was about to get in. He should have gotten used to it already but still, he allowed himself to get shocked every time. It was going to be throughout the current period. From his mental count she had a day or two to go.

He was still visibly upset when he got outside with the trash, a lot with Michelle for being such a psychopath but also with himself and the situation he’d allowed himself to get into.

As he smoked later that night in a private make-shift man cave behind the house, he let his thoughts travel far still. He thought about Tana and chastised himself for being so callous earlier that day. He thought about his eight-year-old marriage and how quickly it had deteriorated, about Michelle and her lack of forgiveness, and the tampon tantrum she threw every month. He still wished her dead, though. He needed to escape. Sometimes he envied those in prison for being so far away from it all. He wondered why it never occurred to him to take his own life, if he would ever get to that point or if he’d have the guts if he ever did but, in that moment, he hoped he would have the guts to shoot Michelle instead.

*

It had stopped being because he was horny, the frequency didn’t even allow him to get horny anymore. It was more a routine, an establishment of comfortable familiarity and most importantly, an exit point for stress. It wasn’t necessarily pleasure either. Okay, of course it was a bit of pleasure, but it was an important hand-picked routine to end the day. The last time he didn’t masturbate before bed, he did not sleep throughout the night and had a messy day afterward. As he stroked, he focused his mind on his wife, her nonchalance ever so defiant, on ASCHA and its deadness, his chaotic life that managed to stay uneventful at the same time, his disapproving father, Angela Blaine and her smirk-laced stupid face that seemed to say, “I’d have fucked you but you’re way below the pay grade,” and instead resorted to mocking him with her every gaze; on the ASCHA co-workers and their scheming, the inmates that bored him with their constant meaningless chatter, his dead neighborhood and the prison he found his life in. Eyes tightly closed; he ran these thoughts in his mind like a slide show, as his stroking became more vigorous. In his mind, the images and people stopped swirling and finally gathered into a pile, like rubbish, his own failures at the top on that pile. He spread his legs as if in a real simulation, stroking and breathing harder and ejaculated on top all the pile, letting out a deep muffled groan. As he steadied his breathing under the running shower, he allowed himself wonder if he wasn’t a psychopath himself, just like his wife. Maybe they were meant for each other after all. Was he the only one who got off on such images? But his was a ritual, a coping mechanism, and a way to say “fuck you” to it all. It was better than taking an assault rifle to Angela’s office. That thought only crossed his mind once.

In the bedroom, Michelle lay backing his side of the bed, awake but pretending to sleep, deliberately leaving him little space as if she wanted to be asked to move. Standing by and staring at her, he in turn wondered if it wasn’t her deliberate attempt to initiate communication. Was she tired of her tampon tantrums? They actually hadn’t had a single conversation in two years. Not one. The house routine was so set they didn’t even need to discuss food or bills. They simply found their place and moved on. He took a pillow and walked out the door. After he left, she opened her eyes and raised her head to glance at the shut door..

About the Author 

Oge Mobuogwu is a graduate of the University of Benin, Nigeria, where he earned a degree in computer science. Oge is both a novelist and screenwriter, and currently resides in Houston, Texas.

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One Year Anniversary Celebration and Free Read - Soho Knights - Oliver Takely

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION and FREE READ

The Soho Knights Series by Oliver Takely

Welcome to the Soho Knights series, where friendship and love intertwine in the heart of London. Meet Charlie, Langdon, Paolo, Gregory, and Jason, five best friends who became brothers during their university days, each carrying their own scars and dreams.

Now, six years later, they share an incredible flat in vibrant Soho, but one thing still eludes them: their true loves and HEA. Each book in the series follows one of these remarkable men on his journey to find love, while their unbreakable bond of friendship remains the cornerstone of their lives. Join them as they discover that while love may be complicated, true friendship is forever.

All the books can be read as standalone, but book five crosses the timeline with the others, so that is best read after the others, but can still be enjoyed by itself.

Genre: Contemporary MM Romance

Themes: Found family

Tense/POV: third person, alternating POV

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 4 flames  

Publisher: MM Romance Press

Cover Artist: Emily’s World of Design 

Goodreads Series Link

Amazon UK Series Link

Amazon US Series Link

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK 1 - Free from September 22 - 26

Book Title: Perfect Night

Length: 65 000 words

Release Date: September 23, 2024

Tropes: Age gap, long distance, billionaire/hustler, instalove

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Free from September 22 - 26

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

The gay version of Pretty Woman you’ve all been waiting for.

Blurb 

In the vibrant streets of London, Charlie is struggling to make ends meet. To afford his mother’s care facility, he’s taken on a risky side job that forces him to sell his body. Life is tough, but Charlie remains resilient, finding solace in the camaraderie of his four best friends.

When a chance encounter brings him face-to-face with Sebastian, a wealthy businessman from New York fifteen years his senior, their connection ignites a passion that neither can ignore. After a perfect night together, they are drawn back into each other’s lives, their chemistry undeniable.

But as they navigate their growing feelings, Charlie’s desire for independence clashes with Sebastian’s longing for someone to nurture and care for. Just as they begin to explore their connection, Charlie’s life implodes, and Sebastian's past trauma resurfaces, threatening to tear them apart.

Can they find a way to overcome the dangers from their pasts and embrace the love that’s blossoming between them, or will their tumultuous histories destroy their chance at happiness? Perfect Night is a gripping tale of love, desire, and the high stakes of opening your heart.

BOOK 2

Book Title: Dangerous Attraction

Length: 60 000 words

Release Date: November 20, 2024

Tropes: Bisexual rep, second chances, workplace romance, stalker

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

What if Fatal Attraction was gay, and Glenn Close was played by a sassy twink?

Blurb 

In the dark streets of Soho, London, where the nightlife pulses with energy and hidden dangers, Langdon is striving to carve out a life of his own. Having endured a tough childhood, marked by a mother who never valued him, he has found solace in the company of his four best friends, who feel like brothers. Although he thrives working in a bar, Langdon is haunted by his past, feeling like a dirty secret to the men he dates.

When Eric's world crumbles after a disastrous wedding, he loses both his home and job, forcing him to seek refuge with his brother. It’s here that he encounters Langdon, and an undeniable connection sparks between them. As their chemistry ignites, they begin to explore a love that feels both thrilling and terrifying.

But their growing bond faces a sinister threat. Someone is determined to tear them apart, willing to go to any lengths, including violence, to ensure they never find happiness together. As Langdon and Eric navigate the complexities of their relationship and confront the demons of their pasts, they must also fight to protect one another from a force that seeks to destroy them.

In “Dangerous Attraction,” love becomes a battleground where trust is tested, and survival is at stake. Will Langdon and Eric find the strength to overcome the shadows that haunt them, or will they pay the ultimate price for their desire to be together?

BOOK 3

Book Title: Stolen Dream

Length: 60 000 words

Release Date: March 5, 2025

Tropes: First love, forbidden love, second chance, demisexual rep

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

 In a world that tried to change them, love becomes their greatest rebellion

Blurb 

At just eighteen, Paolo and Max meet at a conversion therapy camp. Abandoned by their families. left to endure literal hell on earth, their love is forbidden. Their secret romance grows and as they make plans to escape, they are brutally torn apart.

They both spend the next twelve years building lives in different worlds. Paolo in the vibrant heart of Soho, London, surrounded by his found family, and Max thriving as a successful criminal lawyer in the bustling streets of New York. Both of them believing they’ve lost the love of their life forever.

Max finds himself in London after defending a mobster, which leads to an offer he literally can’t refuse. Needing thinking time before his fate is sealed, he unexpectedly crosses paths with Paolo again. The spark between them reignites, yet their reunion is fraught with challenges, and even the magical backdrop of the holidays may not be enough for them to get their second chance at love. With Paolo's sister at risk of suffering the same fate they endured, the stakes are even higher.

Stolen Dream is a tale of resilience, forbidden love, and the fight for a future that embraces who they truly are. Will they save Paolo's sister in time, and can they find a way to be together, against all odds? Join them on this emotional journey of hope and redemption, where stolen dreams may just lead to a love worth fighting for.

BOOK 4

Book Title: Convenient Rivals

Length: 60 000 words

Release Date: April 30, 2025

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, class privilege, nerd top/jock bottom, mild kink, fake relationship

Goodreads  

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Can love blossom from the ashes of rivalry, or will family ties tear them apart?

Blurb

In the heart of London, where privilege and ambition collide, Gregory and Oscar's tumultuous past threatens to resurface in unexpected ways. Once childhood friends, their relationship took a dark turn when Oscar became Gregory's high school bully. Now successful in their own right, their paths continue to intertwine due to the dysfunctional bond between their mothers. While Oscar seeks to atone for his past, Gregory remains trapped in a cycle of hurt and betrayal.

After being abandoned by his family when they discovered he was gay, Gregory yearns for their acceptance, but only on their terms. As he struggles to support his financially reckless brother, entangled with the mob, the stability of his Soho home with his chosen family of true brothers hangs by a thread. With desperation setting in, a glimmer of hope emerges when Oscar proposes a marriage of convenience, which could solve both of their problems.

Oscar’s mother has her own agenda, threatening to upend everything he believes about love and loyalty. Can the reserved tech genius and the charming former athlete put aside their painful history to forge a new beginning? As the tension between them sizzles and threatens to ignite into something undeniably passionate, they must confront their pasts and decide how much they are willing to sacrifice. In a world of titles and privilege, family ties threaten to strangle the love which is building between them. Will they find the courage to defy their legacies for a chance at happiness, even if it means risking everything they’ve ever known?

BOOK 5

Book Title: Broken Promises

Length: 65 000 words

Release Date: August 5, 2025

Tropes: Hurt comfort, Age gap, Second chances, Neurodivergent rep, Daddy kink

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Jason’s love life: a rom-com, a tragedy, and a crime thriller all in one.

 Blurb 

Jason is successful, confident, and unlovable. Living in the heart of Soho with his found family brothers, he masks his trauma with more sass than you can throw glitter at. After love burned him once, he vowed never to let it happen again. One night, one time, no attachments. That’s how he survives and protects his heart.

Patrick knows loss too well. His husband’s sudden death shattered his world, and he believes he’ll never feel that kind of connection again. Then Jason storms into his life. A pint-sized spitfire with haunted eyes. Fifteen years younger than him, a boy who he shouldn’t want but can’t resist. Patrick’s daddy instincts are to hold, to heal, to care, but Jason refuses to be saved.

Their undeniable attraction spans a year of push and pull, as all of Jason’s brothers find their happy endings around him, leaving him with the possibility of being alone, as he has been all his life. When Jason gives into his desire for Patrick, his past mistakes come back to bite him. His ex-husband, a ruthless mob boss, wants him back. And he doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process.

In the explosive final chapter of the Soho Knights series, all the questions will finally be answered. Will everyone’s baby brother, Jason, finally get the happily ever after he truly deserves, or will it come at the price of another devastating loss?

Excerpt From Perfect Night

The guy he’d crashed into was sex on a stick. A big, tall, muscular stick. He was another one wearing a suit and had to be six foot five. He towered over Charlie’s respectable five foot eleven. The black hair, slate-blue eyes and five o’clock shadow were checking more of Charlie’s boxes. After a few seconds of literally drooling, Charlie realised the guy had hold of his arms as he’d steadied him.

“Sorry,” he spluttered.

“No problem at all. Are you okay?”

He had a strange accent, a blend of American and British.

“Was that guy giving you trouble?”

Oh God, he’s nice as well. There had to be something wrong with him. Nobody was this perfect. He felt like a horny teenager again, wanting to get his hands and tongue all over that body. It took all his restraint to not start humping Spartacus’s leg. Until he had a name, ‘Spartacus’ was what he was going with. He had a gladiator vibe about him. Woof!

“It’s fine. He did me a favour by sending me your way.”

Oh my God, did I just say that? Kill me now!

“I’m Sebastian.” He smiled, holding out his hand.

Sebastian was an even hotter name than Spartacus. Charlie wasn’t sure why; it was just a fact. There was also something about Sebastian. He shook Charlie’s hand, which was formal, but didn’t seem out of place. The guy just oozed confidence. Charlie wondered if that confidence transferred to the bedroom. He needed to stop with those thoughts, or the leg-humping would be an embarrassing reality.

“Charlie,” he said, introducing himself.

“Are you here with anyone?”

“Just my flatmate, who was humping the leg of some bear when I left him.”

Sebastian laughed. It changed his face completely. This was a guy who was confident and controlled, yet when he let go, Charlie could see there was a fun side. Charlie wanted to know it all.

“Can I buy you a drink?” Sebastian asked.

Charlie would be stupid to say no. He didn’t know why a guy like this was giving him the time of day, but he’d had a shit week, so he was just going to go with it. Charlie agreed. Sebastian took his hand, which was sweet and possessive at the same time.

The crowd seemed to part, probably because of Sebastian’s size. A few twinks spotted their joined hands and glared with jealousy. It was a heady feeling, and Charlie was enjoying it while it lasted.

About the Author  

Oliver Takely is a passionate MM romance author who revels in dark, edgy stories featuring complex, flawed characters. With years of writing experience and a creative day job, Oliver Takely is also an avid reader of MM romance, consuming 300 books in both 2023 and 2024. His favourite trope is enemies to lovers, but is also a sucker for a feel-good Christmas romance.

Originally from the north, Oliver now resides in the south of England with his husband and their beloved fur baby, who is treated like a princess, living their own happily-ever-after straight out of a romance novel. When not writing or reading, he enjoys holidays and indulging in lots of good food, because who doesn’t love a delicious combination?

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