How Not to Break
A LOVESTRONG NOVEL
Susan Hawke
M/M Romance
Release Date: 03.09.19
Blurb
Take one former SEAL with a healthy dose of regret…
Nick St. Cloud is living with shame from the one time he let his lust override his sense of honor. He’s haunted by the memory of when he made love to his best friend’s eighteen-year-old son. The tragic accident that happened that same night has only compounded his guilt. A decade later, he’s doing his best to be there for Charlie’s son, but anything more than that just wouldn’t be right… would it?
Plus the younger guy who he’s tried to forget…
It’s been ten years. Ten long years. Does Shaw Michaelson feel bad about having seduced his dad’s best friend? Umm, maybe? Although he could’ve done things differently, Shaw can’t find it within himself to be sorry for the hottest night of his life with the one man he’s never been able to forget. The man he’s patterned every subsequent relationship after… yeah, Shaw totally has a type.
Equals a pair of men who deserve a second chance at a first time.
The two men are living in an uneasy peace within the same small town and circle of friends, being careful not to let the other get close enough to open old wounds. All their walls fall when a stalker begins terrorizing Shaw, sending him running to the one man he knows will keep him safe.
This is the fourth book in the LOVESTRONG series about finding love and being yourself in a small town. Intended only for 18+ readers, this is an mm romance full of all the fun, fluff, and feels you’d want from an S. Hawke book.
Note: Possible trigger warning for the mention of an animal being harmed off-page and the psychological trauma of being stalked.
EXCERPT
I saw my phone peeking out from under the pillow and snatched at it eagerly. Rick… I needed Rick. My phone had less than five percent battery, but that was more than enough to place the call.
Rick answered on the first ring. “You’re up early. I’m just pulling up to the store now, I should be there in about an hour with all the fixings for breakfast. Everything okay?”
I shook my head wildly, whimpering as I tried to speak. Rick went on high alert, his voice practically barking into the phone. “Shaw! Talk to me, what’s going on? Did you get another text?”
This time, I managed to gasp out a few words. “H-he w-was in… in my house. In my bedroom. T-there’s pictures and stuff.” I started whimpering again, hearing Rick’s voice at a distance.
“Where are you now?” His stern tone got me answering quickly.
“My b-bedroom. I c-can’t move. My legs won’t work.” I sniffled, trying to ignore the buzzing in my head. “I’m so scared.”
Rick made a shushing noise. “You’ll be okay. I have my spare key and the code to your alarm if it’s still armed. Lock yourself in your bathroom until I can get there. Do not open the door unless you hear the word pigeon.” He was all business now with any thoughts of breakfast forgotten.
Blinking back tears, I shook my head hopelessly. “What’s the use? He got around my security system, I’m not safe anywhere. Besides, it’s not like you’ll need the code if he bypassed it. Apparently I’ve been a sitting duck—or a sleeping one.”
My phone started to beep a low battery warning, so I spoke a little faster as I began to panic, knowing that I’d lose this lifeline to Rick any second. “My phone is dying, you won’t be able to get in touch with me. I know you’re the police, but can you call the rest of the police? Please. Call all of the police. And I’ll just… I’ll just… I don’t know. What do I do now?”
Rick’s voice was firm but gentle. “You’re going to get up and walk into your bathroom, then lock the door behind you. You are not going to open the door until I knock and use the code word pigeon. And yes, I will be calling the station and getting more cops on this shit. Expect to find your place swarming with boys in blue within the next ten minutes or so.”
Before I could answer, the phone beeped again and went dead. I whimpered and took one last look around my room before lurching to my feet and stumbling into the bathroom. It took a few seconds of fumbling to make the lock work with my shaky hands, but it finally clicked in place.
Once that was done, I looked around frantically for a weapon and gratefully grabbed at the plunger and a can of air freshener. They weren’t much as weapons went, but it made me feel better to hold on to something. Maybe I could blind an intruder with the spray and then smother them with the nasty end of the plunger. Then… I could flip it around and smack them with the handle?
Hmm. It might work. I looked down at the spray with relief, then yowled as my finger hit the trigger and I took a face full of Ocean Breeze. Coughing and choking, I gagged as I fumbled my way for the sink to splash water on my burning eyes.
Shit.
As I bent gagging over the sink, the spray and plunger forgotten at my feet, I couldn’t help but wish that Nick were here. Not because of that kiss or even because he would tear the stalker limb from limb if he tried to get to me. No, I wanted Nick because as much as he pissed me off, I always felt safe when he was around.
Shit. Shit. Double-fucking shit.
As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I’d care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I’ve found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that’s what I try to bring to every tale I tell.
I’m a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown “kids of my heart.” I’m more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.
Amazon Author: https://amzn.to/2Hdgwvl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSusanHawke/
Congrats on your most recent release!