New Release: NOW COMES THE DARK

 My new novel Now Comes the Dark is out now. I’m so excited about this one. It’s the first book in my new series Basic Instincts. This is my most personal work yet. Not that it’s autobiographical, but it’s the kind of book I’ve always wanted to write. I’ve always loved the erotic thriller genre. The movie Basic Instinct had an incredible impact on me when it came out. I think I saw it 6 times at the cinema on that original release and it’s still my all time favourite movie. Body Heat, Sea of Love, Fatal Attraction are all favourites too. There’s something about those neo noir sexually charged murder mysteries of the 1980s and 90s that I can’t get enough of.

Most of my previous books give a nod in that direction, but I’ve always wanted to write an erotic thriller with a gay/queer slant. And now I have. Not just one, but a whole series of them.

Are you ready to step into the dark?

Two strangers fuelled by desire, and a killer consumed with lust.

Roman Ballentyne is forced to make some changes. The city he loves in no longer safe. Tensions are high as a psychotic killer preys upon the LGBTQ community. Five men have been murdered in the last year. Every encounter is a risk. Anyone could be next. The Viaduct was once the shame of Blyham, an illicit club filled with private booths and dark rooms. Sleazy in the extreme. Now it offers a secure space to hook up when it’s too dangerous to take a stranger home.

Mallon Garnier catches Roman’s eye. He’s moody and mature and the hottest man in the club but as Mallon pairs up with someone else, Roman thinks he’s missed his chance. When Roman is the victim of a hate crime at the end of the night, Mallon is his saviour, taking on his attackers with savage efficiency. Their attraction is immediate and intense. Roman knows it’s wrong to go home with a stranger but what harm can there be from the man who saved him?

The encounter is the start of an intense and passionate affair. But as the murders continue, Roman learns Mallon is keeping a deep secret and the killer is closer than he thinks.

 GET IT HERE

BASIC INSTINCTS SERIES.

 

Discover the murky streets and hidden corners of Blyham, a city of sin, violence and dark romance. This is a series of mm erotic thrillers featuring dangerous men, murder, mystery, and hardcore thrills. Each book is a standalone story in the neo noir setting of Blyham. If you want romance with a tougher edge then indulge your basic instincts.

Out Now: SHOW NO MERCY

 My new novella is out now. Show No Mercy is standalone MM romance thriller. I wrote it this summer in-between books for my upcoming Basic Instincts series. I love creating the series ideas, but there's something about a single story lines that allows me to run while.

Early reviews have been fantastic too. The book is available in ebook, paperback and Kindle Unlimited.

A chance encounter brings them together, but in a world of danger, it might not be for long.

When a blind date ends in disaster, Hector is about to swear off dating for good, until he sees a handsome face across a bar and changes his mind. A drink with a troubled man called Callum leads to something far more meaningful. After an instant connection, Hector offers Callum the chance to off load his problems.

But the night soon takes a turn for the worse. When they’re attacked by two men carrying knives, Hector is plunged into a dangerous world of vengeance and retaliation. His decision to stand by Callum puts his life at risk in ways he could never have imagined. Is he prepared to lose everything for a man he barely knows?

GET IT HERE

Anthem Sale and Jagged Shores Behind the Scenes Part 2

 

Dear reader

I hope this finds you enjoying the warm summer days. I didn’t think we were going to get they there in the UK this year, but we’ve had a few nice days lately. Best make the most of it while we can. It’s been quiet a busy summer for me. Owing to a restructure at Pride Publishing, my next releases have been pushed back to early next year. The first two books in the new series are already complete, so rather than rush headfirst into book three, I’ve spend the summer writing a MM suspense novella. I’m working on the second draft right now before it goes off to the editor. All going to plan, I hope to put this out for my birthday at the end of October – Halloween to precise.

More news on that soon once I know we can definitely hit the release date, but you can expect a contemporary MM thriller with hot guys, mega suspense and plenty of spice.

In the meantime, Pride Publishing are running a special offer on Anthem of the Seas, the first book in the Anthem Trilogy. If you missed this first time around, you can get book one for just 99c/99p. Don’t miss out on a bargain just in time for summer.

GET IT HERE



JAGGED SHORES – BEHIND THE SCENES – SAFE HARBOUR

It’s always a challenge when starting a romance book to deliver what the readers expect of the genre, without repeating yourself and Safe Harbour was no exception. As Dominic and Arnie got their happy ending in North Point, the first idea I had was to use Dominic’s old house as the setting for the second book. With the property now being used as a holiday let, it was the perfect opportunity to bring a stranger to the town.


When Matt and Jake meet, they both have a history of bad marriages behind them. Matt’s marriage is far in the past, though Jake’s ex-husband is very much a present problem. Vince, who became the villain of the story, was based on some I used to know, but to be fair, the Safe Harbour version of Vince is much worse than the real person. Matt and Jake are mainly fictional, though my husband is a lawyer so that must have filtered through into this great guy. I also wanted to continue the lifeboat theme from the first book, so it made sense that local boy Jake would be a volunteer hero.

I decided early on that the big, suspenseful climax would take place on a boat, but it couldn’t be too similar to the finale of North Point. Add in a jealous ex and a gun and the stage was set for a nail-biting end. I’ve mentioned before that North Point was intended as a standalone so I wasn’t sure if I could pull off a second book, but I was delighted with the way Safe Harbour turned out. The mix of romance, tension, sexy and danger were so much fun to write. Together with North Point, this second book set the template for what the Jagged Shores series would be.

GET IT HERE


 

Happy reading

Thom X

JAGGED SHORES Behind the Scenes Part 1

 Dear reader

With the series now at an end, I thought it would be fun to share a few behind the scenes moments with you on the creation of Jagged shores.

First up – it was never intended to be a series. The first book, North Point, started life as a standalone. I wanted to write a story set on the north east coast of England which would feature a life boat volunteer as one of the heroes. I grew up in Northumberland and am familiar with the coastline but there wasn’t one specific town that I thought would be best suited as a location, so I created Nyemouth, which was an amalgam of several different places.

   

I plan all of my novels in advance using a student project book. I usually start with a bit of a mood board, collecting images of the kinds of people and locations I want to feature.

 

From there it’s a case of creating a cast list, building the characters and then the story outline. Only when that is all in place, do I start writing.

It was when I turned the book in to the publisher that they came back and asked if I could develop it into an ongoing series. My initial reaction was – not really. Dominic and Arnie had their happy ending, and I didn’t want to mess with that. But I quickly realised that Nyemouth itself could be the basis for a series of loosely connected standalone thrillers. There were supporting characters like Jacob who could return again and again. Once I hit on that idea, everything fell into place.

  

GET IT HERE

I hope you’ve enjoyed this behind the scenes look at my creative process. Look out for more details in the coming weeks.

Happy reading

Thom X

JAGGED SHORES 75% off Books 1-4

 

Dear readers

If you have missed any of the previous Jagged Shores books, First for Romance have a great deal on at the minute with a massive 75% off the first four books – North Point, Safe Harbour, Deep Waters and Cold Day Dawning. They also have Jagged Ends for Just £3.99 – considerably less than other retailers. At the time of writing this, Jagged Ends is also the number 1 book across all romance genres at the site.

Get them here: Jagged Shores Series (firstforromance.com)

It’s been just over a week since the release of Jagged Ends and there have been some fantastic early reviews.

“The climax is so suspenseful I couldn’t put the book down. It is not often the suspense side of the story captivates me so much more than the romance but for me, JAGGED ENDS is all about the suspense and I loved it.”

“I’ve read every book in this series and each one was a 5-Star read for me and Jagged Ends is no exception. This gripping story had me hooked right from the start and for much of it I was on the edge of my seat. Thom Collins really knocked it out of the park with this one.”

I love that readers are appreciating the thriller aspects of the book as much as the hot romance. I put so much effort into building suspense that it’s a huge reward to hear it paid off.

That’s all for now but if you’re a Jagged Shores fan look out for upcoming posts where I’ll let you into the development of the series and some of the guys who inspired all those hot characters.

 Happy reading

Thom X

JAGGED ENDS Out Now

 Dear reader

 I’m delighted to be celebrating the release of Jagged Ends, the fifth and final novel in my Jagged Shores series. I can’t quite believe we’re here. When I wrote North Point, I intended it would be a standalone, but my editor at the time asked if there was any chance of turning it into an on-going series. Five books later and here we are.

Are you ready to return to Nyemouth for one last time? If you do you can expect hot guys, passion, romance and a very twisted villain. In Jagged Ends we meet Andy, manager of a local hotel. Andy’s quiet life is turned upside down with the arrival of Jerico, a celebrity chef, who is about to open a restaurant in the town. Jerico also happens to be Andy’s ex. Their reunion gets off to an explosive start when someone attempts to sabotage Jerico’s new business  and as the two men reconnect, they find themselves in increasing danger.

As it’s the last book, you can also expect appearances from some old favourites to ensure the series goes out on a high.

GET IT HERE: 

JAGGED ENDS

 Jagged Shores may have reached an end but I’m currently putting the finishing touches to the second book in a brand-new series. Stay tuned for more information when an introductory story drops later this summer followed by the first book in October. Expect the same thriller and suspense elements that make Jagged Shores so much fun, only things are about to get a lot sexier and darker.

Have a great time and happy reading.

Thom X

DEEP WATERS - only 99c

 In the run up to the release of JAGGED ENDS on 30th April, you can get the ebook of Deep Waters for just 99c for a limited time. 

Don't miss out and take advantage of this great offer

GET IT HERE

The previous titles in the series are all also available at a discounted price in the lead up to the release of the new book.

NORTH POINT

SAFE HARBOUR

COLD DAY DAWNING

JAGGED ENDS the final book in the series is available to pre-order now.

JAGGED ENDS