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Two Marlboros
"Kiss him, a voice in my head suggested."
Alan Scottfield, a young police officer, is barely twenty-five years old when life decides to play a cruel trick on him. The pain of loss drags him into a flat and monotonous existence, making him a prisoner of a loneliness that is now his only companion.
The same could be said for Nathan Hayworth, a third-year architecture student accustomed to playing the role of the beautiful and damned, but torn between being true to himself and pleasing those he loves – but who do not love him back.
A robbery in the heart of Manhattan causes their worlds to collide, but it will be the ensuing investigation (and a nudge from an unlikely Cupid) that will ensure their paths cross again.
With two personalities so at odds, mutual irritation is inevitable. But amidst unexpected feelings, investigations, surprising revelations, and guilty consciences, they might just have a change of heart…
Pick up your copy of Two Marlboros now and journey with Alan and Nathan through the vibrant streets of New York City in a romance/crime novel that’s anything but predictable.
Alan Scottfield, a young police officer, is barely twenty-five years old when life decides to play a cruel trick on him. The pain of loss drags him into a flat and monotonous existence, making him a prisoner of a loneliness that is now his only companion.
The same could be said for Nathan Hayworth, a third-year architecture student accustomed to playing the role of the beautiful and damned, but torn between being true to himself and pleasing those he loves – but who do not love him back.
A robbery in the heart of Manhattan causes their worlds to collide, but it will be the ensuing investigation (and a nudge from an unlikely Cupid) that will ensure their paths cross again.
With two personalities so at odds, mutual irritation is inevitable. But amidst unexpected feelings, investigations, surprising revelations, and guilty consciences, they might just have a change of heart…
Pick up your copy of Two Marlboros now and journey with Alan and Nathan through the vibrant streets of New York City in a romance/crime novel that’s anything but predictable.
- GenresM M Romance
608 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 16, 2024
255 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 30, 2025
Opposites attract
This is a very Slow-Burn romance. Alan is a quiet thoughtful New York detective. His boyfriend Oliver had died six months previously. With his partner, Ash, he investigates a post office robbery. One of the witnesses is a young man called Nathan, who comes out as gay. Ash knows that Alan is gay too and contrives to set them up on a date. A spark occurs between the two of them and the novel explores the connections between the robbery and Nathan's friends as well as the romantic connection growing between Alan and Nathan. Alan has to sort out his grief at losing Oliver and his guilt that he might be falling in love with Nathan. At the same time, Nathan has to discover what kind of relationship he wants, especially as his first boyfriend comes back onto the scene. The detective case and the romantic relationship dovetail and our interest and concern are involved with both.
This is a confident and assured exploration of a relationship between an older detective and a younger student where it is not about power but friendship . Will that friendship turn to love? I liked this novel very much.
This is a very Slow-Burn romance. Alan is a quiet thoughtful New York detective. His boyfriend Oliver had died six months previously. With his partner, Ash, he investigates a post office robbery. One of the witnesses is a young man called Nathan, who comes out as gay. Ash knows that Alan is gay too and contrives to set them up on a date. A spark occurs between the two of them and the novel explores the connections between the robbery and Nathan's friends as well as the romantic connection growing between Alan and Nathan. Alan has to sort out his grief at losing Oliver and his guilt that he might be falling in love with Nathan. At the same time, Nathan has to discover what kind of relationship he wants, especially as his first boyfriend comes back onto the scene. The detective case and the romantic relationship dovetail and our interest and concern are involved with both.
This is a confident and assured exploration of a relationship between an older detective and a younger student where it is not about power but friendship . Will that friendship turn to love? I liked this novel very much.
January 27, 2025
I used to read a lot of m/m romance, but this is my first in a long time.
The premise is reasonably interesting-a recently bereaved New York detective in his mid-twenties meets an attractive twenty-year-old and eventually they discover that:-”Behaving like a couple had just come naturally to both of us.” The key word there is “eventually”,as one of the major faults in the construction of this novel is its length.Although the main characters, Alan and Nathan, held my attention, the banality and mundanity of the writing made the novel, at times, tedious and irritating.
The other construction problem is in the author’s adoption of the idea of alternating chapters between Nathan and Alan. This is tricky to bring off and here it meant it was often unclear which character was speaking.
Since they meet during a “case” there is quite a lot of minor-scale detection and a lot of backstory is needed to explain why they are what they are and why they are where they are. There is no real resolution to the “case” and a lot of the minor characters fade out without explanation Harvey-Nathan’s first “love”-disappears to Mexico for instance, rather too conveniently.
The sex-scenes are,of course, bad and stereotypical, as is often the case in m/m but fortunately there are not many of them.
There were things to like. I empathised with Nathan ,who reminded me of what it was like to be gay and twenty,and with Alan since my partner too died six months ago. I did want to share their happy-ending which came all-too abruptly and oddly.If there were a sequel I would read it as in a sense the most important part of the story is where the relationship went from there.
A mixed bag, but recommendable.
3.5 stars.
The premise is reasonably interesting-a recently bereaved New York detective in his mid-twenties meets an attractive twenty-year-old and eventually they discover that:-”Behaving like a couple had just come naturally to both of us.” The key word there is “eventually”,as one of the major faults in the construction of this novel is its length.Although the main characters, Alan and Nathan, held my attention, the banality and mundanity of the writing made the novel, at times, tedious and irritating.
The other construction problem is in the author’s adoption of the idea of alternating chapters between Nathan and Alan. This is tricky to bring off and here it meant it was often unclear which character was speaking.
Since they meet during a “case” there is quite a lot of minor-scale detection and a lot of backstory is needed to explain why they are what they are and why they are where they are. There is no real resolution to the “case” and a lot of the minor characters fade out without explanation Harvey-Nathan’s first “love”-disappears to Mexico for instance, rather too conveniently.
The sex-scenes are,of course, bad and stereotypical, as is often the case in m/m but fortunately there are not many of them.
There were things to like. I empathised with Nathan ,who reminded me of what it was like to be gay and twenty,and with Alan since my partner too died six months ago. I did want to share their happy-ending which came all-too abruptly and oddly.If there were a sequel I would read it as in a sense the most important part of the story is where the relationship went from there.
A mixed bag, but recommendable.
3.5 stars.
March 30, 2025
I won't deny that I picked this book up for the cover. It's so gorgeous, and elicits emotions that I yearn to feel as a reader. And it didn't disappoint.
There's a lot going on in this book. It's a love story, of course, but also a crime investigation. Sometimes I forgot it was both. On top of that, there's the character development of both of these young men—Alan and Nathan. They each bring their own baggage (some of it heartbreaking), and some chapters focus on that backstory entirely. But the way it's woven into the overall plot was really well done. The only thing I wonder about is what happened to Harvey.
In summary, it's a bit overwritten, but I still enjoyed this story so much. Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it. How these two young men healed each other and grew to love each other was so real and beautiful. If you like romances, definitely check this out.
(Also, I enjoyed the song references at the beginning of each chapter. I grew up listening to all of those songs in high school, and couldn't help feeling a bit of nostalgia each time I saw the title. Well done!)
There's a lot going on in this book. It's a love story, of course, but also a crime investigation. Sometimes I forgot it was both. On top of that, there's the character development of both of these young men—Alan and Nathan. They each bring their own baggage (some of it heartbreaking), and some chapters focus on that backstory entirely. But the way it's woven into the overall plot was really well done. The only thing I wonder about is what happened to Harvey.
In summary, it's a bit overwritten, but I still enjoyed this story so much. Every time I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it. How these two young men healed each other and grew to love each other was so real and beautiful. If you like romances, definitely check this out.
(Also, I enjoyed the song references at the beginning of each chapter. I grew up listening to all of those songs in high school, and couldn't help feeling a bit of nostalgia each time I saw the title. Well done!)
December 13, 2024
DNF at 35%. I really wanted to like this book. The cover is beautiful and from the summary it seemed like something I would really enjoy. I spent all of my time trying to figure out who was who. It's written in first person perspective but the chapters don't tell you which character you're reading about so you spend so much time trying to figure out who is even talking. The book start's out reading from Alan's co-workers perspective (the nice cop) so I thought he was one of the MC's then it turned out to be Alan. So for a couple of the chapter's I didn't know if it was nice cop, Alan, or the other MC talking (I don't even remember his name.) I swear I have good reading comprehension but this book made me feel really dumb. I don't have the heart to give it one star because it really is a beautiful cover. Lol
October 24, 2024
Ok…
I was pretty unimpressed for a long time with this story, but call me a sentimental fool because that ending (hard as heck earned HEA, to be sure) was magnificent.
While I loathed the internal battles and completely understand, most the time, Alan’s struggles, Nathan annoyed me immensely. Then, again, I tend to forget what it feels like to be in my early twenties and feeling as he did (I’m sure, nay, I know I was a spoiled brat), so perhaps I wasn’t giving him a fair shot.
Overall, I may not turn to reread again so soon, but I’m very glad I did.
Probably didn’t need to be 600 pages, but hey, I love a long read.
I was pretty unimpressed for a long time with this story, but call me a sentimental fool because that ending (hard as heck earned HEA, to be sure) was magnificent.
While I loathed the internal battles and completely understand, most the time, Alan’s struggles, Nathan annoyed me immensely. Then, again, I tend to forget what it feels like to be in my early twenties and feeling as he did (I’m sure, nay, I know I was a spoiled brat), so perhaps I wasn’t giving him a fair shot.
Overall, I may not turn to reread again so soon, but I’m very glad I did.
Probably didn’t need to be 600 pages, but hey, I love a long read.
February 9, 2025
Relatively good story, but can tell that it's been translated with some of the clunky sentence constructions and word choices. Slow-burn is an extreme understatement, pace of the story sometimes moves very slowly. There are some confusing parts as well, especially with respect to whoae POV the chapter is from and the fact that the narrators switch after the first few chapters (the police officers switch around narration responsibilities - very confusing). And the shared friend was weirdly constructed/introduced.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
Where There is Smoke, There is Fire of Love
Alan and Nathan are more opposites than similar guys with lots of history of family and love problems that are brought together by friends. But it is the circumstances of drug crime and robberies among Nathan's friends that initially interests Alan and his partner in a Post Office robbery that Nathan saw the robbers up close as they escaped. Investigation leads to friendship and more.
Alan and Nathan are more opposites than similar guys with lots of history of family and love problems that are brought together by friends. But it is the circumstances of drug crime and robberies among Nathan's friends that initially interests Alan and his partner in a Post Office robbery that Nathan saw the robbers up close as they escaped. Investigation leads to friendship and more.
September 19, 2024
This book had so much potential for me but the ending just fell so flat. I loved the slow burn and character development of both Nathan and Alan but the third act breakup (which we all saw coming) and the very anticlimactic ending were such a disappointment for me. I wanted to know so much more from their reunion and see them as a couple.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2025
Excellent book, the more I read the more I couldn't put it down.
Fantastic mistery/investigation plot, amazing slow burn romance, perfectly accurate representation of grief, in depth accuracy of mental health state of both MCs, in particular the sense of dissociation.
Two amazingly well-written characters, with thorough interior monologues, long and accurate descriptions of feelings, people, places and moments and I loved every word.
I will really miss Alan and Nathan.
Fantastic mistery/investigation plot, amazing slow burn romance, perfectly accurate representation of grief, in depth accuracy of mental health state of both MCs, in particular the sense of dissociation.
Two amazingly well-written characters, with thorough interior monologues, long and accurate descriptions of feelings, people, places and moments and I loved every word.
I will really miss Alan and Nathan.
September 9, 2024
Absolutely Amazing
I lost 2 days to this book. I couldn't put it down! It was beautifully written. Simply the best romance story I have read in a long time. I hope this turns into a movie someday.
I lost 2 days to this book. I couldn't put it down! It was beautifully written. Simply the best romance story I have read in a long time. I hope this turns into a movie someday.
January 15, 2025
I think I share another reviewer’s view, that I wanted to like it. The story started well, but just couldn’t hold my attention. I started skimming and finally skipped to the end. It’s rare for me not to finish a book. Maybe I will return another time, and be in another frame of mind to read it.
October 26, 2024
DNF
I just couldn't keep on reading. It was so slow. I really wanted to see Nathan and Alan together, but it was not too be!!
I just couldn't keep on reading. It was so slow. I really wanted to see Nathan and Alan together, but it was not too be!!
February 3, 2025
over
overwrought. over the top. waay overly long. Could easily be 200 pp shorter. Hire an editor next time. This is just self-indulgent writing.
overwrought. over the top. waay overly long. Could easily be 200 pp shorter. Hire an editor next time. This is just self-indulgent writing.
April 26, 2025
A really enjoyable and interesting experience, but it's a bit too long, but still brilliant and I couldn't put it down until I finished it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2025
A judicious pruning of 15-20 percent would have made the plot flow better - reducing quite a few 'repetitive'-like segments where I felt we were retreading same ground over again. And I had no reader issues with this being a translated book. The final few chapters ramped up nicely towards a moving HEA ending.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews