Roses & Thorns by Sage Marlowe
Add to Goodreads | BookLikes
Adult, M/M, Romance
When bestselling author Chester Banning requires inside information on the life of a forensic pathologist, he comes across an enticing, yet unwilling study subject in the shape of sinfully attractive Dr Nicolas Sheridan. After a hot and slightly unsettling one-night stand, Sheridan turns out to be as inapproachable as he is intriguing and clearly not interested in intensifying their liaison. Chester, however, is already falling head over heels in love and doesn’t rest until he’s succeeded in cracking Sheridan’s icy shell. What he discovers underneath is a man well capable of love and affection but caught up in a web of lies and domestic abuse that makes him seek punishment in self-harm. Refusing to watch Sheridan go farther down the road to self-destruction, Chester gives him all the love and support he is capable of—but then he discovers the horrifying truth about Sheridan’s past. Reader advisory: Suitable for adult readers only. Contains scenes of and references to domestic violence / abuse, self-harm and dubious consent in a non-erotic context. This book was previously published with the title Knives & Feathers. This edition has been re-edited and extended.
4 out of 5 (very good)
This is definitely a darker story than some I have read recently. Roses and Thorns tells the story of Chester, a writer who shadows a forensic pathologist, Sheridan. They have a one night stand before they know who each other is, and the sparks continue to fly at work. However, there is one fly in the mix - that of Jake, Sheridan's partner. Now, they do not have a 'loving' relationship and the scenes with them in it are justifiably 'wrong'.
This is a well written story, showing the actions of a man obsessed, and how living with abuse can seriously mess with your mind. The only negative thing I would say, is that the amount of stuff that goes on, a whole lot of therapy would be needed. A step in the right direction is made in the book, but that is only the start.
If you are looking for a dark M/M romance with stalker issues then I would definitely recommend this book. Not for the faint of heart or for any with triggers though.
* Verified Purchase - June 2015 *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Sage is a multi-published author of MM erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction. A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.