Book Title: Safe Harbour (Jagged Shores Book 2)
Author: Thom Collins
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Release Date: November 9, 2021
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, Thriller and suspense
Tropes. Small town, holiday/coastal romance
Themes: Divorce, fresh starts, jealousy
Length: 58 382 words/ 229 pages
It is the second book in a linked series (Jagged Shores) but can be read alone.
It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links
Universal Sales Link | Publisher | First For Romance
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AUS
Two lovers seek shelter in a storm of jealousy and passion
Blurb
Matt arrives in the seaside town of Nyemouth for a much-needed vacation. As a successful lawyer, Matt has a hectic career, and with an ex-husband still pestering him for money, he is long overdue a break. A holiday home perched above the town and its breath-taking harbour seems like the perfect place to unwind. Matt can’t wait to explore the beautiful, jagged shorelines and lose himself for a couple of weeks.
Jake has made a home in Nyemouth. After growing up in the city, living on the coast is everything to him. Running a business with his sister and volunteering on the crew of the local lifeboat, he is exactly where he wants to be. But Jake’s life is far from peaceful. Though he left his domineering husband Vince a year ago, Vince refuses to consent to a divorce or loosen his controlling hold on Jake.
On Matt’s first night in town, he encounters the couple having a blazing row. When Vince turns violent, Matt intervenes and takes Jake inside to escape his angry ex. Despite what happened, Matt feels a powerful attraction to the younger man. Jake is bright, endearing and unbelievably attractive, but the young man’s life is complicated. Matt already has enough problems of his own. He came away looking for an escape, not a starry-eyed distraction. As Matt and Jake get to know each other better, the gamble on a holiday romance becomes hard for either of them to resist. They have both been unlucky in love before. Maybe this time will be different.
Vince will not be shaken off so easily. He has no intention of letting Jake go…ever. As Matt’s and Jake’s emotions deepen, they do not understand how far Vince will take things to keep his husband. As far as Vince is concerned, they made a vow to each other… “till death do us part.”
Around three o’clock, he found himself back in the marina, looking at The Seagull Café.
He’d discovered it on his walkabout the previous afternoon, but something had kept him from going inside. Maybe it had been the text from Clinton, but Matt hadn’t been in the mood for company or conversation yesterday. Today he was in a much better frame of mind and eager to check in with Jake again.
The young man had never been far from his thoughts. The events of Friday night still bothered him, and though he was determined not to get involved in young Jake’s marital problems, it would settle his mind to know he was okay.
There were tables on the street outside, and it looked like The Seagull was a popular choice this Sunday afternoon. Matt’s innards knotted as he stood there, unable to see inside because of the sun reflecting on the window.
It’s too busy. Jake won’t have time for an idle chat.
He wavered, unable to decide whether or not to go in, and was confused about his unease. Why should it bother him so much? Jake had told him to drop by.
He’d been walking for hours and hadn’t eaten since that morning. He could do with a drink and some refreshment.
Before he had time to change his mind, Matt strode inside.
The interior was cool—air-conditioned—and after the glaring sun in the marina, it took a few moments for his eyes to adjust to the gloom. There were plenty of empty tables. It appeared everyone else wanted to eat in the direct heat of the sun.
As Matt’s vision came into focus, he looked to the counter.
And there he was.
Jake.
Something inside Matt lurched at the sight of him.
Jake, busy ringing something into the till, didn’t look up. “Take a seat,” he said, cheerfully. “Someone will be over in a minute.”
He came out from behind the counter with someone’s bill and the change on a metal tray. He wore black trousers and a dark T-shirt with a navy apron tied around his tight waist. He looked gorgeous and kind of harassed. A lock of hair had fallen out of place and hung over his forehead, reinforcing one of the first impressions Matt had had of him—Clark Kent. There was a pink flush of exertion to his face and a light sheen to his skin. Matt had forgotten how strong his arms and biceps were, the suntanned muscles working perfectly with the dark colours of his uniform.
Jake was much sexier than he remembered—and his memories were hot.
“Oh, it’s you,” Jake said, looking up as he headed for the door. He stopped where he was. “Matt, so good to see you. Thanks for dropping by.” His smile illuminated the entire room.
“Hey,” Matt said, feeling shy and unsure of himself—more like a skittish teenager than a thirty-nine-year-old lawyer. “I just wanted to see how you were doing. I was passing, so thought I’d call in.”
“I’m glad you did. Listen… I’ve almost finished my shift. Have a seat. Just let me take this change out and I’ll be right with you.” Jake carried the plate to one of the tables outside.
Matt exhaled in relief. He’d broken the ice. Why did that seem like such a big deal? It isn’t. He’d only met Jake once before, for less than half an hour on Friday night. He had no expectations of him. This was a friendly catch-up, checking in with the stranger he’d helped out of a sticky situation. Nothing more.
Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, North Point and the Anthem Trilogy. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.
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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