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
Order here:
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.
“You want to know about my hands?” he assumed before I was able to ask the question.
“Well… yeah. Without putting it too bluntly.” I felt myself blushing and I bit my bottom lip in embarrassment. “I guess there wasn’t any good way for me to go around bringing it up. I didn’t wanna point it out before because I didn’t want to be rude.”
“That’s okay. I’m not offended,” he murmured, looking at his hands as he carefully pulled back his sleeves. “I don’t mind if you see them. You seem like you wouldn’t judge me so I don’t feel so uncomfortable about it.”
“I’m glad.” I smiled. His words reassured me and I silently promised that I wouldn’t let him down.
“I was born with ectrodactyly, so… my hands have always been like this. I get problems with my teeth, and my feet have clefts in them, too. I got bullied at school because of the way my hands look and… I’m just embarrassed about people seeing them because they stare. They act like it’s contagious and they might get a disease if they come near me.” He clasped his hands together. “It’s always been really hard for me to make friends, even when people are kind to me. I always want to hide my hands. Please don’t take it personally.”
“I didn’t take it personally, not at all,” I told him gently. It was interesting to hear him speak so much after the brief and monosyllabic responses I had received before when we were face-to-face. He also seemed to open up a bit more when we talked on the phone.
Unable to hold myself back, I cautiously placed my hand atop his. His eyes widened yet he couldn’t bring himself to look at me. His hands were so soft and warm, and I could feel the strength in them. It didn’t matter that parts of them were missing. There was something special about touching another person’s hands, something that made me feel we were connecting. That something that makes two men flinch sheepishly when their hands accidentally touch while walking. That something that happens when you grasp hands with someone who cares about you and you feel their power and their resolution flow into you, giving you confident determination. David, although shy, allowed me to take one of his hands in mine and he looked on as I turned it, my fingertips caringly touching the shapes of his bones, the thick knuckles, and raised veins. The knots of muscle in them were as thick as my own.
“I like your hands. They’re different and they’re so masculine.” I smiled at him. “I like that.”
“You’re the first person who’s ever said such a thing,” he replied, and though I thought I saw a flash of doubt in his eyes, he smiled back at me.
“I don’t believe you.” I started to grin as I squeezed his hands.
“It’s true.”
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.
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/
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.
