I’m so excited because my #OppositesAttract #HurtComfort contemporary MM romance novel rereleases TODAY!

So here’s a little story about my MC Liam:

My first beta reader simply detested Liam, which is not a great omen for a successful romance novel. And so, in my rewrites (there have been many) I allowed Liam’s thoughts to flow more freely—his regrets and hopes, desires and goals—so the reader can better understand his motivations. 

Because, um, Liam is not exactly a perfect romantic hero for a large portion of the book.

What did Liam do to make him so, you know, not perfect?

Well, you asked…

*he cares WAY TOO MUCH about what others think of him- particularly his perfect father

*he hides his sexuality, even when he falls hard for Dimmy 

*he hides Dimmy because of how he looks and talks and where he works

*he judges people and jobs and places because…well, Liam’s something of a snob

Letting you know WHY Liam does what he does will (hopefully) humanize him.

Liam shares a personality trait (curse) with me: he’s a truly compelled people-pleaser. But it’s even bigger than that: As a child of wealthy, notable parents, he feels unworthy of the McAllister name. And although he has had everything he could possibly want in a material sense, he was a neglected child. Liam was raised by teachers and coaches and nannies and drivers because his parents were busy striving to build their business and give to the community. 

*ss-kisser, brownie, brown-nose…there are so many names for those who live to please

And so, Liam’s priorities in life are skewed. As he works to fit seamlessly into his family, he plays the role of the perfect (middle) child. Liam never makes waves; he always strives to bring peace and smiles and pride to his parents. This “perfect person” role comes crashing down around him when he falls in love with Dimmy. 

Too bad it takes Liam a little bit too much time to sort things out. Time that is dangerous for Dimmy’s physical wellbeing and potentially disastrous for Liam’s heart.

Dimmy is the single motivation necessary for Liam to set his priorities and do things the right way. Will he do it before it’s too late?

Let’s talk about Dimmy…

He is pretty much the opposite of Liam.

Dimmy’s family isn’t wealthy, educated, or particularly successful but he also lives to please his father. Still, one thing Dimmy does for himself is create a unique personal style.

 Yeah, Dimmy decorates himself… 

*with plenty of bird tattoos 

“Birds have got it good. They can fly away when it all gets to be too much.”

*with lip and septum piercings 

His father yells at him, “First the piercings, and then all the tattoos, and now this!”

*by dying his hair purple 

“Right now, it’s the exact color of a Purple Martin.”

Let’s check out the blurb:

When both lovers have daddy issues, it gets complicated.    

Heir to the McAllister Construction fortune, Liam is focused on maintaining the myth that he is exactly the son his father wants. When he falls for Dimmy, a heavily inked go-go dancer, he fears revealing the romance, certain it won’t go over well with his upper-crust family—especially his father, who seems obsessed with building a family legacy.

Dimmy’s father, Gregory, is bent on making Dimmy earn his keep by any means, no matter how unsavory. He puts his barely legal son to work dancing provocatively at the seedy bar he runs and finds Dimmy work on the side providing masseuse services—and more—to club clientele. Gregory has Dimmy twisted into believing he can do no better, and Dimmy does it all in hopes of a pat on the back from dad.

Though Liam is but a few years older, Dimmy sees him as a man who might take care of him as his callous father never has, and reluctantly lets his guard down. But Liam, though he’s falling hard and fast for Dimmy, still hides his blossoming relationship from his family. A crisis ensues when a clash between the two fathers’ business interests puts Dimmy at serious risk.

When the right side of the tracks meets the oh-so-very wrong side, will Liam set his priorities straight in time to keep Dimmy from harm, or will fear shatter their lives? 

Trigger warning: Whatever He Needs includes instances of physical and emotional abuse, sexual assault, and kidnapping.