Day: June 23, 2021

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The Ruiner

by Nem Rowan

           

Release Date: June 21, 2021

Publisher: Gurt Dog Press
 Genre: LGBTQIA+ Thriller Romance
Content Warnings: Violence, transphobia, stalking, sexual language, graphic sex, harrassment

 

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Synopsis:

The night Tenny first meets shy, socially awkward David at the Oubliette Club is when it all begins: the feeling of being watched and followed, the lewd adverts posted by an imposter, the random phone-calls, strangers turning up at his house… The tirade against him seems never-ending. He has no idea why it began, and living alone makes it difficult for him to cope, forcing him to rely on his best friends for protection. Someone is out to ruin him, targetting his home, his car, his job, his life…

Despite what his friends say, Tenny is nevertheless drawn to David, who is timid, inexperienced when it comes to BDSM, and reminds Tenny somewhat of his former self. There’s no way he can believe that David is responsible for the frightening goings-on when he’s so sweet and willing to do whatever Tenny wants; it doesn’t matter that troubling evidence points to him as the source.

After all, why would David try to ruin his life when Tenny is so happy to be in his?

THE RUINER is an updated and revised version of Nem Rowan’s previously published novel, ‘The Things We Hide At Home’, only this time, there’s as much terror as there is romance.

 

 

EXCERPTS (please only use one in your post):

Excerpt #1:

Shortly after I pulled up, I checked my phone and found that I had numerous notifications from ChainLink. CordialSin had gone through all of my photo albums and—it seemed—favourited every single image with me in it. Even as I sat there swiping every notification away, more kept appearing. He—or at least I thought they were a he—was currently online somewhere, favouriting and favouriting and favouriting… He had even favourited pictures of me that I had been tagged in by other people. It felt as if he was trying to send me a message that he was interested in me, but couldn’t find the words to send a message. It seemed kind of weird, but also flattering.

 

Excerpt #2:

“Can I help you?” I asked with some trepidation as I approached the gate.

The figure turned around and I saw that it was a man; he was wearing a sporty raincoat over jeans and had a cap on his head. He was perhaps about my age. When he saw me, he smiled.

“Hi there. I guess I’m a little early. We arranged for me to arrive at eight?” he spoke, seeming friendly enough. “I brought the things you asked for.” He gestured to the bag on his back.

“What?” My frown wrinkled my nose. “What are you talking about?”

“Your ad on SXChat. You asked me to come at eight, so here I am,” he explained, seeming confused by my reaction.

“I didn’t make an ad. I don’t even know what SXChat is. Who are you?” I questioned, beginning to feel unnerved by what I was hearing.

“We literally had a conversation about this. You’re Tristen, right? Tristen Fleetwood?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t make an ad and I haven’t spoken to you before; I don’t even know who you are or why you’re here,” I insisted, my whole body beginning to tremble.

“Is… Is this part of the role-play or something?” He cocked a brow and squinted an eye at me.

“I’m not role-playing; this isn’t a game. Please leave, right now, or I’ll call the police,” I threatened, and his smile soon faded.

He came down the steps and I stood aside to let him pass. As he did so, he turned to me and said: “Guess you changed your mind at the last minute, huh? Fucking cock-tease, wasting my time.”

I didn’t answer, instead scowling and watching as he stalked off along the road with his hands in his pockets.

 

Excerpt #3:

I looked through the windscreen to find him standing in the doorway, another baseball bat in hand. He must have grabbed it during his hunt. In a moment of panic, I shut the driver-side door and slammed my hand on the lock. The car made a series of clunks as the locks turned, securing every door.

“If you want me, you’re gonna have to get your keys!” I shouted in defiance. It wasn’t much of a plan, but it wasall I had at this point. At least if he went to fetch the key, he’d give me chance to find a way out of the garage, and if he returned with the key before I got outside, I could fight him for it and I’d have a solid method of escape.

“As if I’d leave you on your own long enough to get them.” Even in the car’s interior, where sounds were muffled, I heard him clearly. He strolled along the width of the garage and stopped before the car, his gaze penetrating me through the window as he raised the baseball bat.

“No! No!” I shrieked as he swung, the end of the bat creating a spider-web crack in the windscreen right before my eyes. I clambered into the back seat, watching helplessly as he swung until the window finally caved in. He brushed aside shards of glass so that he could climb onto the bonnet after me.

“Come here, Tenny! I won’t play cat and mouse with you forever. Stop playing hard to get,” he cried as he struggled through the hole.

My hands were shaking so badly, I had to fight to unlock the car door. Thankfully, he was only halfway through the hole, moving slowly because of all the chunks of broken glass.

I threw open the rear door, fleeing before he had a chance to grab me. I heard him cursing as he tried to climb out of the car. The bloody footprints he’d made showed me the pathways he’d walked as he’d scoured the house for me, so I followed them, zigzagging from room to room until I heard his voice again. I darted through the nearest doorway and hid again, this time in an office.

 

Excerpt #4:

“I understand that you want this,” I spoke as I gazed towards David. I threw aside the box and held the collar by its tips in either hand, ready to be put on.

“I do, Sir.”

The excitement that had been growing inside of me this whole time began to surge, spreading into my fingers and causing a slight tremble as I placed the leather strap over the back of David’s neck. He remained perfectly still, his wide eyes staring up at me, a muted smile on his face as he allowed me to buckle the collar. I had the feeling that, despite its ease in being undone, the collar would remain on him until I chose to take it off by hand.

Even after the deed was done, neither of us moved; we just gazed into each other’s eyes, each acknowledging the importance of this moment. Despite the many times I had done this, this time was different. David’s overwhelming yearning to be mine had created a nebulous emotion in my heart that I couldn’t name; like a rolling thundercloud, it gave off little flashes of light, illuminating emotions that I recognised, such as determination, joy, and empathy, but its overall density swelled and blocked it all out. This love was growing faster than I could keep check on.

 

 

 

Notes from author:

BDSM is practiced between consensual adults, but the same activities when not consented to are abuse. It’s important to communicate with your partner.

If you are ever stalked, you should stay in contact with friends and family, and report everything to the police.

 

            About the Author:

Nem Rowan is originally from the UK, but despite Brexit, he still considers himself to be European. He was born in the West Country of England, but later moved to Wales, where he lived for almost a decade before deciding to move to Sweden in the summer of 2019. He shares his home with his wife, his girlfriend, their rapidly-growing triplets, one cat and a demon.

Nem started writing when he was very young. He always loved Horror stories and has an undying fascination with the creepy, the bizarre, the shocking and the unusual. Coupled with his enjoyment of love stories, his writing became a fusion of Horror and Romance, often with characters that have been through terrible hardships but who eventually reach the happy ending they deserve.

Nem’s books were originally published by the now defunct Less Than Three Press, and also by JMS Books for awhile. He is the owner of Gurt Dog Press, where he hopes to bring fresh, new LGBTQ+ fiction into the world.

 

Author links:
Website: https://nemrowan.com

            Instagram: https://instagram.com/nemrowan
            Publisher: https://gurtdogpress.com/nem-rowan/

 

Instagram Giveaway:

Win one of two prizes! One winner will get a signed paperback copy and one winner will win one e-book copy of THE RUINER by Nem Rowan. The giveaway is international.

To enter, follow @gurtdogpress & @nemrowan on Instagram, tag 3 friends under one of the tour-hosts’ posts. Extra entry by posting a picture with the book in your feed or stories and tagging the author and publisher.

And I’m a cop. One of the good guys.

Theo Fox:

I’m on the verge of taking down the largest mafia family. Until, Aria Rossi. She’s equal parts sexy and sassy. I want to hate her. Yet, she consumes me, drawing me into her world. She blurs the lines of right and wrong, twisting my moral compass each time we meet. She’s become a distraction that will get me killed. When I’m forced to choose between the job I love and the girl I need to hate, will I choose right? Is there even a choice?

Aria Rossi:

He’s the one cop who can’t be bought, making us enemies. I want him, I hate him. He should be off-limits and yet when he puts his hands on my body I can’t say no. War is at my family’s doorstep and Theo Fox wants to be the victor by eliminating the Rossi last name. I never asked for him to steal my heart but it never stood a chance. The world is all ablaze. Will my heart survive or turn to ash in my desperate attempt to save my family? Will either of us be standing when the smoke clears?

She married her high school sweetheart and they have two amazing children. 

She is the author to the Bennett Brothers Series. 

Recklessly Mine, Recklessly Forbidden, & Recklessly Devoted. 

When she is not writing she can be found reading a good book, making digital scrapbooks and being physically active—whether it is at the gym, going for a walk, or playing /keep up with her children.

I swore I’d cut Harrison King out of my life, and my bed, forever.

The second my contract with the ruthless billionaire who owned me was up…

I ran.

Not knowing that decision would only twist the web around us tighter.

Now, he’s back, and the sins of his past threaten to destroy us both.

He still thirsts for power and vengeance. But his secrets run deeper than I knew.

This time, he wants me to stand by his side.

This time, he’s asking.

BEAUTIFUL SINS is the steamy, enthralling continuation of Harrison and Reagan’s romance that begins in BEAUTIFUL ENEMY!

They say the best way to get over someone is to get under someone else. But shagging a guy with a “Bad Decision” tattoo is never a good idea. It’s a warning label. Trust me.

So when a friend coerces me into taking part in a charity dating auction, I jump at the chance to leave London – and my bad decisions – behind for a weekend.

But Max Foster is there and he’s bidding on me like it’s his job. Max isn’t just a guy. He’s THE GUY – my first love who I haven’t seen since the day he left high school to go play professional football in Spain.

I shouldn’t see him again, never mind want to. Because letting him find out about the secret I’ve kept from him these past twelve years? That has “bad decision” written all over it.

**This book contains content that readers who have experienced loss of pregnancy may find upsetting.**

Thank God.

The realization buoys me enough to slow my heart rate down to this side of frantic and I manage a nod, saying, “I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.”

“Are you going to introduce us to your friend, Tara?” Scarlett asks.

It’s a testament to Max Foster’s force field that I’ve completely forgotten Scarlett and what’s-her-name.

It’s also a testament to Max Foster’s force field that he extends his hand before I get a chance to speak and introduces himself to both Scarlett and Tilly, whose name comes back to me the minute she says it.

“You look familiar?” Scarlett says. “Do we know each other somehow?”

“I don’t think so,” Max says, though he peers at Scarlett more closely, like he’s trying to make sure. “Tara and I went to high school together back in the day.”

“Hmmm.” Scarlett’s brow furrows. “Well, Tara and I were in sixth form together back in the day. Were you…?”

“Max got recruited to play professional football in Spain right out of high school.” My words come out fast and flat.

“And Tara never forgave me for actually going.” Max’s smile is easy, but I know his deep brown eyes don’t miss my flinch at his words. Him going to Spain is the least of what I’ve held against him.

“Who do you play for now?” asks Tilly.

“I’m at Norcastle,” Max says.

“Oooh. Impressive, but that Champions League title is useless here. You’re in Manchester territory now,” Tilly says.

Max laughs and they joke back and forth, giving me a chance to observe him on the down low. Or at least I think it’s on the down low until he turns to me and says, “I can’t believe you’re here. We need to catch up. Are you free for dinner tonight?”

No. I definitely am not free. Even if I had an empty diary from now until 2050, I’m not free for dinner with Max Foster. But before I can reply, Scarlett interjects, “Tara’s actually one of the dates in today’s auction, so she’s probably booked tonight unless you want to pay to play.”

I turn to Scarlett, eyes wide. “I don’t think Max is here to bid.”

“On the contrary. I think I just became a lot more likely to bid,” Max says with a grin. “It’s all for a good cause, right?”

“Well, there you go. A little motivation is good for everyone.” Scarlett gives a little grin. “It is for a very good cause. Save the Family provides accommodations to families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. They also provide counseling and mentoring services. A lot of the families involved would either have their children taken into care or be living on the street full stop.”

I steal a glance at Max and he’s nodding in agreement as he asks, “Is it a local organization? Or do they work nationally, as well?”

“It’s based in Windermere. My mum has been involved with them for ages, which is why we’re hosting the auction.” Scarlett looks around, holding her hands out like Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music. “You’ve got to admit, it’s an ace venue.”

“It is, indeed.” Max smiles back at Scarlett and then nods. “I should probably go check on Harris to make sure he’s not got cold feet. I’ll see you out there, T.”

Then he walks away like the last time we saw each other wasn’t twelve years ago.

I turn to Scarlett and hiss, “What are you doing? I don’t want him to bid on me.”

“Uh, no kidding?” says Scarlett, her voice low. “But based on the way your tongue was hanging out of your mouth when you looked at him, that’s exactly why he should.”

“My tongue was not hanging out of my mouth.” Was it? Fucking hell, it could have been. It always did where Max was concerned.

“What’s the deal with you two, anyway?” Scarlett says as she waves at Bradley and turns toward our front-row seats.

“Right?” adds Tilly. “The way you were looking at him…”

“You dated Tom for over a year and I never saw you look at him that way,” Scarlett says, raising an eyebrow. “Just saying.”

That’s because I never looked at Tom that way. I’ve never looked at anyone that way except Max Foster.

If I can help it, I’ll never look at anyone that way again.

Especially Max Foster.

Brenda writes contemporary romance to make you giggle and swoon. When she’s not writing, she enjoys hiking, running and reading. In theory, she also enjoys cooking, but it’s more that she enjoys eating and, try as she might, she can’t live on Doritos alone.

For more information or to connect with Brenda visit http://brendastjohnbrown.com