Book Title: Cold Day Dawning (Jagged Shores #4)
Author: Thom Collins
Publisher: Pride Publishing
Release Date: August 22, 2023
Genres: Contemporary MM romance, thriller, suspense
Tropes: Small town romance
Themes: Family, rivalry, revenge, overcoming PTSD
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 63 223 words
Although it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is best read as part of a series.
It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links
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Available from Amazon Kindle Unlimited, Pride Publishing,
First For Romance, B&N, and Kobo
Danger comes in the cold of morning
Blurb
It should be the perfect weekend away. Dalton Caine makes the long journey to Nyemouth to attend a party hosted by his sister. Catherine is estranged from most of the family, but Dalton feels the time has come to build bridges between them. Things don’t turn out how he wants, however, when Catherine gives him a cold reception at the party. But the evening is not a complete waste of time when he meets local photographer Antoni.
Following a near-fatal attack six months earlier, Antoni has struggled with his physical and mental recovery. Catherine’s party is the first time he has been out at night since then, and he’s ready for an early exit when he meets Dalton. The stranger is warm, friendly and incredibly handsome. When Antoni overcomes his reservations and accepts a drink at Dalton’s hotel, it could be the start of something new for them both.
Despite the joy of fresh romance, things soon take a darker turn. The morning after the party, Catherine’s boyfriend reports her missing. Dalton isn’t initially concerned. Catherine has disappeared of her own will before, and he’s more interested in getting to know Antoni, but the men soon find themselves at the centre of a twisted mystery, one that puts both of their lives at risk.
Reader advisory: This book contains violence, murder, PTSD, memories of a child in danger and mental illness. Although it can be read as a stand-alone, this book is best read as part of a series.
When they left the restaurant, it was raining with such force the water bounced from the pavement a foot in the air. Dalton grabbed Antoni’s hand, and they raced across the bridge, dodging puddles and laughing all the way. They were like kids, free of any care and worry and were soaked when they reached the entrance to Quay House. They hurried up the stairs to the room rather than wait for the elevator. Dalton took the lead and was thrilled when Antoni made a playful grab for his bum.
“Sorry,” Antoni said from behind. “That was just too good to resist.”
Dalton flashed a look over his shoulder. “You’ll get no resistance from me.”
He opened the door to his room, and they tumbled inside.
Dalton turned and grabbed Antoni as soon as they entered, pushing his mouth against his. Their lips yielded and they thrust their tongues against one another. Rainwater dripped from their brows and over their faces. Neither of them seemed to care.
“I’ve been wanting to kiss you like that all night,” Dalton gasped, pushing his fingers through Antoni’s soaking hair.
Antoni rubbed his thumbs across the rivulets that ran down Dalton’s brow, keeping his eyes clear. “So have I. All day, in fact. I’ve been wanting to kiss you since you left this morning.”
Dalton pulled him in for another lingering exchange.
“We should get out of these wet clothes,” he said at last.
Antoni grinned. His breath was hot and heavily against his face. “We should.”
Dalton went into the bathroom and returned with two fresh towels. He rubbed one over his hair before drying the water that poured down his neck and beneath his shirt. He moved the chair from the desk and set it in front of the radiator. “Hang your things over here. They should dry soon enough.”
He took off his own shirt and threw it on the bathroom floor before unfastening his trousers and shrugging them off. The rain hadn’t managed to soak as far as his underwear, though his erection tented the front of them and had created a damp patch of its own.
Antoni removed his shirt and placed it over the back of the chair. He wobbled as he tried to take off his trousers, laughing as he grabbed the wall for support. “I think all the wine has gone to my head,” he said.
His body was beautiful in the soft light of the room. His pale skin took on a golden hue.
Dalton hurried to the bathroom and retrieved the box of condoms and bottle of lube he had picked up that afternoon.
Antoni sat on the bottom of the bed when he returned. He looked excited and more than a little nervous.
“How about some music?” Dalton asked, setting the condoms and lube on the bedside table.
“Good idea.”
He grabbed his phone and activated his Bluetooth travel speakers. “It can’t compete with your vintage record collection, but it’s a lot handier when travelling.” He brought up the playlist he used for relaxing on Sunday mornings, a mixture of easy listening tunes and classic stuff from the 1960s and 70s. The smooth sound of Otis Redding came through the small but effective speakers.
Antoni smiled, seemingly pleased with the choice.
Dalton sat beside him on the bed. He put an arm around his shoulders, pulling him close and savouring the heat of his body.
“We can do as much or as little as you’d like,” he said. “I know last night was a breakthrough, but I don’t want to rush you.” He pressed his lips against Antoni’s neck and tasted his skin. Antoni shuddered.
“I didn’t think I was ready. When we went to bed yesterday, I wasn’t sure what I would be capable of. I’m still not, if I’m honest. My body… It’s been through so much. I don’t know how far I can go.”
Dalton held him tighter and nuzzled his neck. “You mean fucking?”
Antoni nodded.
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’m going to take it all. I want you to enjoy my body and do whatever you want to…whatever feels good.”
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.
Other links
Twitter: @thomwolf | Instagram: thomcollinsauthor | Newsletter Sign-up
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