Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Book Blast ~ Torn and Frayed by Rodd Clark ~ (Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)

Book Blast ~ Torn and Frayed by Rodd Clark ~ (Review, Excerpt + Giveaway)

Author Name: Rodd Clark
Book Name: Torn and Frayed
Series: Gabriel Church Tales
Book: Two
Can be read as a standalone, but better read as a series
Release Date: E-Book: January 9, 2016/Paperback: February 9, 2016



Blurb: 

“Conscience isn’t something all people are born with...” 
Gabriel Church is a portrait in contrast. It would be easy to get lost in his pale-blue eyes, ache with the need to feel the strength of his masculine frame. He appears to be nothing but animal and instinct. The only people who know the full depth of that truth are dead, murdered, or two thousand miles away.
Gabe is a serial killer. For the first time in his life, he has more on his mind than his own survival. This time he is running from Seattle to protect the only person he thinks innocent in his laundry list of crime and murder: Christian Maxwell, his biographer and unexpected lover. Drawn to a place he never thought to return, Gabe finds new and different realities. Realities that insist he let go of his tragic past, those incredible perceptions of God, and his own divinity. He must open his eyes to what the love of a good man can do to heal a broken soul.
But when the killer is confronted by his own willingness to love and sacrifice, he is forced to ultimately ask the question: Just how far will he go to save a life . . . when all he’s ever done is take them?
Pages or Words: 100,000 words
Categories: Bisexual, Crime Fiction, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Thriller
Excerpt:

The relationship that Gabriel Church and Christian Maxwell shared was based on a period that overshadowed any real emotional bond. If the situation had been normal, Christian might’ve learned that Gabriel used gallows humor far too frequently, or that he had a cruel streak buried under his handsome exterior. As much as they thought they cared for each other, neither looked closely enough at the reasons and the whys regarding the draw each one felt for the other. Gabriel was a serial killer running on an uneasy apprehension of arrest, and he’d never allowed himself to get closer to anyone, particularly a stranger like Maxwell. But paramount to that, he was a man who hadn’t had a friend in nearly more years than he could count. They’d somehow formed a connection, and the end result had been greater than Gabriel could’ve ever thought he’d achieve. Their friendship had turned sexual, but it had more to do with the evolution of simple human contact and a desire to have something neither man could have guessed would become their future.

The allure that bound them had been based on something bent and unconventional. It was this distinction that outshone all else, and was the only thing that might’ve remained standing. It was a Romeo and Juliet tragedy in the making; two souls who’d shared a single foxhole, yet neither could see that clearly enough in those earlier days.

Christian had all the “tells” of someone who was distrustful of Gabe from the beginning. Maybe it was his bent smile and the shadow of a killer underneath such an attractive façade. Or maybe it was the blossoming of the writer’s sexuality and the heat that was generating between them, unbeknownst to him. Theirs had been a strange relationship, more parasitical than not. Chris wanted to learn all he could about the mind of a serial murderer, and Gabe hungrily fed off the man’s undeniable devotion. Even before they’d fucked the first time, Gabe had felt the odd stirrings in his jeans. He’d disregarded the titillation at the time, and later he wrote it off as some type of control, knowing that whatever he had the writer wanted in spades. Christian’s eyes had told the truth, his crystal gaze lapping up the image of the man across the room. It was in some twisted satisfaction that Gabe likened the writer to a puppy, trying desperately to please a stern owner and the clearly visible desire to lick at the stubble on his cheeks.

Buy the book: 
Driven Bookshop: http://ow.ly/W8HWs
Amazon US: http://ow.ly/W8IcF
Amazon UK: http://ow.ly/W8Irn


4.5 Stars 

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***


After Christian's feelings for Gabe become too serious, he does something that puts them both at risk. Gabe is left to clean up the mess with a murder. Gabe has to take care of a witness that Christian created in a state of jealousy. Gabe is now traveling across the U.S., but still can't get Chris out of his mind. As much as Gabe would like to deny it, when it comes to Chris he has fallen in love. Not that he'll ever admit that, but his actions show it. 

This definitely isn't your mushy romance, but it's as sweet as a serial killer can be I guess. While I loved the storyline and enjoyed visiting these characters again, I wish the author's writing wasn't too "wordy". I find, as I did in book one, that things are explained to the finest detail, and it makes for a tedious read. I found myself wanting to skim ahead and get to the action. I'm not removing any stars for this, because it's just me. Some people love extremely detailed reads, I don't. 

All in all this was an enjoyable read. It had a little bit of romance and it made me want to root for Gabe and Chris to get away with murder. So in that respect, Rodd accomplished something astounding. The story is well thought out and well written. Highly recommended!!

Meet the author:
Rodd lives in Dallas, TX at the moment but hails from the sticks of Oklahoma. Check out his web presence at RODDCLARK.COM. Interested in the M/M Mystery, Romance and Thriller genres but has a varied interest in many books. It has been written that his writing has a very dark and distinctive voice with a need for deep exploration and analysis.  “Torn and Frayed” is the sequel to his popular romantic thriller, "Rubble and the Wreckage." The third chapter of the series should be released later in the year and give readers a chance to see how their wicked story is resolved
Where to find the author:

Rafflecopter Prize: Paperback copy of ‘Torn and Frayed’ by Rodd Clark

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1 comment:

  1. UnknownFebruary 9, 2016 at 9:56 PM

    Thanks Bayou Book Junkie and thanks to my publishers Driven Press and Pride Promotions for this book blast

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