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Splinters
Waking up in a strange place isn't a first for model and actor Allan Seville, but discovering himself alone and bound to a rough plank in the middle of an open Texas range certainly is. With no memory of who did this to him or why, panic sets in, until rescue comes riding up on a big, brown horse.
There’s more to Duke Walters than a handsome face and sexy drawl. In the arms of this rugged cowboy, Al discovers a peace and safety he never knew he needed, and now doesn't want to be without.
But someone wants Al out of the way and drugging him during a movie junket in Houston is only the beginning. A world of differences may separate this cowboy and diva, but when danger strikes again, Duke might be the only one who can get them out alive.
There’s more to Duke Walters than a handsome face and sexy drawl. In the arms of this rugged cowboy, Al discovers a peace and safety he never knew he needed, and now doesn't want to be without.
But someone wants Al out of the way and drugging him during a movie junket in Houston is only the beginning. A world of differences may separate this cowboy and diva, but when danger strikes again, Duke might be the only one who can get them out alive.
168 pages, ebook
First published July 12, 2014
3 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Thorny Sterling
2 books78 followersIt all started with a blog, a lunch receipt, and the hope of true love.
In 2010, with the encouragement of his blog followers, Thorny Sterling wrote his email address on the back of a receipt and gave it to a returning customer who’d caught his eye. One email and a four-hour phone call later, their fates were sealed. Thorny and his husband Jazz have been together ever since.
On his blog, Thorny writes about daily life as a twenty-something gay genderfluid who attends college in Ohio. In his free time, Thorny paints both digitally and in acrylics and writes gay (M/M) romantic fiction. In the summer of 2014, Thorny published his first novel while also taking steps to sell his artwork online. He often donates a portion of his profits from art sales to various LGBT equality and military support charities.
Someday soon, Thorny hopes to become a teacher and legally marry his husband.
Visit Thorny Online
Blog (http://thornysterling.com)
Facebook (http://bit.ly/sunshineTonFB)
Twitter (http://bit.ly/sunshineTweet)
In 2010, with the encouragement of his blog followers, Thorny Sterling wrote his email address on the back of a receipt and gave it to a returning customer who’d caught his eye. One email and a four-hour phone call later, their fates were sealed. Thorny and his husband Jazz have been together ever since.
On his blog, Thorny writes about daily life as a twenty-something gay genderfluid who attends college in Ohio. In his free time, Thorny paints both digitally and in acrylics and writes gay (M/M) romantic fiction. In the summer of 2014, Thorny published his first novel while also taking steps to sell his artwork online. He often donates a portion of his profits from art sales to various LGBT equality and military support charities.
Someday soon, Thorny hopes to become a teacher and legally marry his husband.
Visit Thorny Online
Blog (http://thornysterling.com)
Facebook (http://bit.ly/sunshineTonFB)
Twitter (http://bit.ly/sunshineTweet)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
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November 24, 2015EDITED 11/24/2015
Deplorable behavior deserves no review, thus I am deleting my review and rating. Morally bankrupt. There is no excuse.
Deplorable behavior deserves no review, thus I am deleting my review and rating. Morally bankrupt. There is no excuse.
August 18, 2015
BR with Mish!
3.5 stars. I liked the romance a lot, but the mystery not so much.
First, let me confess that I have a serious thing for American cowboys.
So any MM with a cowboy in it is sure to ping a lot of my buttons. 'Splinters' totally delivers in that department. Duke Walters is the rugged, handsome, swaggering kind of Texan that I plan to nab for myself one day. You know, if I can ever convince myself to move to the South.
Al, the androgynous model from the city, and Duke made for a great opposites-attract romance. Yes, it's borderline insta-love, but I thought it was sweet. If a hot cowboy came riding a horse to my rescue, I'd probably fall head-over-heels pretty fast too. The two are cute, funny, and sexy. That unexpected manties kink was a nice surprise.
What didn't work for me was the mystery. It was obvious who was behind the mess, but the motive was completely out of left field. It reminded me a lot of the drama in the Texas series (which also has a really hot cowboy, I should note), which is entertaining for the first few books, but then gets old. So maybe if I hadn't already read that series, I wouldn't have minded the silly plot as much.
Even so, Splinters makes for a pretty good weekend read. There's humour, kink, and just some good-old country feels. If it wasn't for the mystery, it would have been 4 stars for sure.
Also, did I mention the hot cowboy? I think I might have. Here's a couple more:
3.5 stars. I liked the romance a lot, but the mystery not so much.
First, let me confess that I have a serious thing for American cowboys.
So any MM with a cowboy in it is sure to ping a lot of my buttons. 'Splinters' totally delivers in that department. Duke Walters is the rugged, handsome, swaggering kind of Texan that I plan to nab for myself one day. You know, if I can ever convince myself to move to the South.
Al, the androgynous model from the city, and Duke made for a great opposites-attract romance. Yes, it's borderline insta-love, but I thought it was sweet. If a hot cowboy came riding a horse to my rescue, I'd probably fall head-over-heels pretty fast too. The two are cute, funny, and sexy. That unexpected manties kink was a nice surprise.
What didn't work for me was the mystery. It was obvious who was behind the mess, but the motive was completely out of left field. It reminded me a lot of the drama in the Texas series (which also has a really hot cowboy, I should note), which is entertaining for the first few books, but then gets old. So maybe if I hadn't already read that series, I wouldn't have minded the silly plot as much.
Even so, Splinters makes for a pretty good weekend read. There's humour, kink, and just some good-old country feels. If it wasn't for the mystery, it would have been 4 stars for sure.
Also, did I mention the hot cowboy? I think I might have. Here's a couple more:
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August 19, 2017*** I've removed my rating...thought I already had actually. No room for charlatans on my shelves!! Well, what can I say?? Yet another deception perpetrated by a middle of the road female author pretending to be a young gay guy...how many more must we put up with?? I actually read Missy Welsh's stories too, WTF!! Thorny Sterling does NOT exist, BUT Missy Welsh does and I certainly won't be buying any more of her stories. Do I bear grudges?? You betcha.... All of this is giving young gay MALE [for real] authors a very bad name, and needs to stop. Facebook, you have a helluva lot to answer for...***
This was an absolute delight to read. So sweet and romantic. I loved the 2 MC's... Allan (Al) who is out and proud, and a well known underwear model and aspiring actor from New York. This story is told from his POV, and the big hunk of Texan cowboy (Duke) he meets under frightening circumstances at the start of the story.
I'm not going to say any more, you all really need to read this story. It's the first one I've read by this author...and it certainly WON'T be the last!! As my friend Tina Marie recommended it, that's good enough for me, I'll definitely be looking out for more of Thorny's work in the future. ^_^
This was an absolute delight to read. So sweet and romantic. I loved the 2 MC's... Allan (Al) who is out and proud, and a well known underwear model and aspiring actor from New York. This story is told from his POV, and the big hunk of Texan cowboy (Duke) he meets under frightening circumstances at the start of the story.
I'm not going to say any more, you all really need to read this story. It's the first one I've read by this author...and it certainly WON'T be the last!! As my friend Tina Marie recommended it, that's good enough for me, I'll definitely be looking out for more of Thorny's work in the future. ^_^
February 29, 2016
I am so sad about this. But Thorny Sterling is a poseur, a liar, and I am not going to support his (or HER, since this is actually Missy Welsh) work.
September 28, 2014
If you want to read a parody, er, comedy full of stereotyped Texans, with an appalling, ignorant accent thicker than molasses, then partner, head to this book. Well Bless their little hearts, they can't help that they're ignorant and bigots, but when our couple gets together all is forgotten.
This one definitely was not for me. After a while, the snarky humor and what passed as a mystery left me cold because I could see it a mile away. DNF for me.
Edited to say: I hate stereotyped characters. I have lived in Texas for more than 20 years, and I have not met a single person like the ones in this book -and I did date cowboys. I went through a phase...hm, never mind -the point is stereotypes are a pet peeve particularly of mine, but combined with the headache of hell that I've had today, makes me even more sensitive. Parodies and comedies are subjective. Not everyone shares the same sense of humor or sense of the ridiculous, and in this case, this one, for me, was a miss.
This one definitely was not for me. After a while, the snarky humor and what passed as a mystery left me cold because I could see it a mile away. DNF for me.
Edited to say: I hate stereotyped characters. I have lived in Texas for more than 20 years, and I have not met a single person like the ones in this book -and I did date cowboys. I went through a phase...hm, never mind -the point is stereotypes are a pet peeve particularly of mine, but combined with the headache of hell that I've had today, makes me even more sensitive. Parodies and comedies are subjective. Not everyone shares the same sense of humor or sense of the ridiculous, and in this case, this one, for me, was a miss.
December 19, 2014
Yup-I’m gunna do it, I’m gunna mention gender. A new m/m MALE author, how wonderful.
4*s for this delightfully awesome book and 1* because it’s a male author. Oh shit I did it again, I’m prolly headin for trouble.
4*s for this delightfully awesome book and 1* because it’s a male author. Oh shit I did it again, I’m prolly headin for trouble.
August 8, 2014
4,5 stars
Oh, this one was unusual...'different’ but in a good way. Thorny Sterling’s debut novel felt like a refreshing breeze blowing through the world of M/M romance. Splinters (LOL I love the title!) is sexy, witty, funny and really really entertaining, but there's far more to it than that. It has an undercurrent of seriousness that I didn’t expect at first and that for me was the ticket to seeing much more in the book than a funny opposites attract story. But let’s start from the beginning.
Right from the start, the first chapter had me laughing out loud. Imagine Allen, a popular model, waking up naked and tied to a rough wooden plank somewhere in the Texan wilderness. Shocked and confused he tries to remember what has happened the night before in his hotel in Houston but he comes up blank.
Nothing. Nada. Niente. Nichts.
He can’t remember anything but is nearly paralysed with shock when he realises he’s not only restrained and his clothes are missing but...his waist-long hair, his signature feature, his pride and joy—OMG, someone cut it! Then, on top of that he's been shaved. Everywhere! Still trembling in shock and catching his breath Al suddenly sees a man on a horse staring at him, a dust-covered pretty good looking cowboy, in that ‘sweaty rough, bite-this-leather-strap-so-you-don’t-scream-to loud’ kind of way, a man ‘who makes old John Wayne look like a sissy’.
It doesn't help that Duke, said butch, hot cowboy in heels with the big-ass belt buckle on his well worn jeans, has to cut the robe knot that is strategically placed behind Al’s balls, if he wants to free him. Well, shit happens, right? And there are still those nasty wooden splinters sticking in Al’s poor butt. Just saying… I’m sure, Al wasn't as entertained as me… :) Of course that particularly funny beginning sucked me right into the story and it was hard to put the book down. I just couldn’t stop reading.
Anyway, what will be, will be, and the two of them can’t take their eyes off each other. Everything that happens after that is just like their secret dreams. Finally come true.
Oh, damn it. He’s being a knight in…well-worn leather… I stare into those dark amber eyes and want to run away with him until the world makes sense again.
They are drawn to each other like moths to a flame and it doesn’t even take 24 hours for their attraction to become more—much more. *Deep sigh.* Those two are so cute together. The sex is intense, tender and passionate and the emotion between Al and Duke is electric. But the passion between them is so much more than just sex… and the love they have for each other truly touched me and left me speechless.
I fell instantly for androgynous, flamboyant Al. His love for camisoles and hot pink panties with a lace waistband had me allured right from the start. And of course I loved rugged, hairy but oh so sweet Duke. The very model of a cowboy, he even wears a moustache! Okay, I have to admit, the moustache is rather a turn off for me… *shudders*... but as long Al is happy with his hairy, bearded guy on dusty heels then that's alright by me!
His calloused fingers lightly scrape along my cheek before he’s cupping my jaw in his warm, earthy-scented hand. I lean my head into the hold and close my eyes as he dips down to kiss me. Bristly mustache, soft lips, and all the smells of hard working man, and the crisp heat of earth and sun. There’s something so honest about his kiss here and near the end of the day. Him coming home, me meeting him, and the two of us going inside for dinner. Simple domestication. I'd had no idea I wanted this.
The mystery part of the book is nicely done as well. Okay, a certain corpus delicti, a video the guys watch with the sheriff (I liked that man a lot!) shocked the hell out of me. Although this shock only lasted for a blink of an eye, my heart stood still for a moment. Well, I can’t go into more details without giving away too much but at the end of the book I felt bad for the attacker. I even understood the reasons for acting the way he did, and I wished all the best for him.
By the way, I love how the title, the cover and the storyline are intertwined. My first impression of the cover was like…
"Yes. Nice. A tree. The title ‘Splinters’ and the tree on the cover, okay I get it…"
But somehow it seemed like I'd missed something essential. A few pages later the connection finally fell into place.
Before now, cowboys were just sexy like denim and strength. This man beside me is so much more than any of that. I’m staring at the land, but I’m seeing him. All my life, I’ve been the leaves on this tree, shaking in the wind, trying to hold on.
Duke is the roots.
He moves in front of me, a soft expression on his rugged face, and wipes his thumb under my eye. I’ve cried. Seeing this place made me cry.
“Happens for some,” he whispers. “Gets us right in the soul.”
Us. I nod.
“Yeah,” I quietly croak. “Got me.”
After reading this I was in awe. I sat there for a few seconds with goosebumps all over my body, and I had to re-read that quote more than a few times.
Overall, Splinters is a brilliantly written story about a love that conquers tons of difficulties...even life-threatening aggressions. It’s a prime example of an opposites attract story and it's definitely one of the best I’ve read in a while. Hopefully it strikes a blow for guys like Al.
Femme men like myself catch hell all the time for being ourselves, even from within the gay community. Perhaps this was an opportunity to shine a light on our struggles and also our resilience.
So swish, sparkle and wiggle your hips, sweet Al. Just shine your light! :) Highly recommended!
dnf
August 21, 2014I tried again this morning, which makes it three times I started this book and sadly, I just can't get into it. Looks like I'm again in the minority, with all that 5 star ratings around me, but really, I don't get the humor, I don't find it funny and I was eye rolling and head shaking the whole time. Sorry, book!
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March 10, 2018Review removed.
January 11, 2015
I would like to start by saying that the reason I wanted to read this book is because I've been following Thorny's blog for a while now and I am absolutely charmed by this man! Reading about his daily shenanigans and following the love story between him and his husband (Jazz) developing has been really, really amazing! It's like reading small chapters of a book that is Thorny's life! I think he's wonderful!
That being said, I quite enjoyed this funny and sweet book. There are a lot of instances where I feel Al was shaped in Thorny's image (see womens lingerie :P) and Duke in Jazz's and I really liked this :D I'm a sucker for fem characters and Al is one through and through. Duke is a very charming, gentle cowboy who rescued Al from a sticky situation.
Though I'm not crazy about insta-love, the connection between the MC was sweet and I really enjoyed their lovemaking scenes *sly look*
What I didn't particularly like was the whole situation with Duke's family. It was a bit far-fetched even though I understood the "whys" and whatnot.
This was Thorny's first and only book so far, so I'm keeping my eye open for more to come :D
p.s. The beautiful cover art is made by Thorny himself! He's a very talented painter :D
That being said, I quite enjoyed this funny and sweet book. There are a lot of instances where I feel Al was shaped in Thorny's image (see womens lingerie :P) and Duke in Jazz's and I really liked this :D I'm a sucker for fem characters and Al is one through and through. Duke is a very charming, gentle cowboy who rescued Al from a sticky situation.
Though I'm not crazy about insta-love, the connection between the MC was sweet and I really enjoyed their lovemaking scenes *sly look*
What I didn't particularly like was the whole situation with Duke's family. It was a bit far-fetched even though I understood the "whys" and whatnot.
This was Thorny's first and only book so far, so I'm keeping my eye open for more to come :D
p.s. The beautiful cover art is made by Thorny himself! He's a very talented painter :D
August 1, 2014
I read this one on the way home from the summer vacation road trip. I did NOT want to come home and I'm so glad I was reading this because it kept me completely entertained and amused. I fell in love with both Al and Duke and the way the two of them connected and pushed every single one of the others buttons was sweet as all hell. The author managed to insert the mystery and drama into the story without killing the spirit of the romance or taking over the love with a bunch of unnecessary angst.
Fave scene? The dressing room - hands down!
Fave scene? The dressing room - hands down!
August 3, 2014
Started off strong, funny and intriguing. Settled into predictable and forgettable. At least for me it did.
It's probably a case of timing/mood and me not you because this has plenty elements to love and is a well written book. I'll definitely be looking for the next book by this author.
It's probably a case of timing/mood and me not you because this has plenty elements to love and is a well written book. I'll definitely be looking for the next book by this author.
August 3, 2014
This book packs a punch from the first sentence to the last, with characterization that grabs you, a storyline that will keep you guessing, and human nuance that takes your heart out, massages it a little, squeezes it, sometimes too hard, pets it, then puts it back in your chest. Thorny Sterling is talented, of that there is absolutely no doubt. I adored Al, became smitten with Duke, and believed in their connection. Some might call it insta-love, but because we get to see the incremental steps taken for that head-over-heels fall, it isn't. Some people just get zapped from the first minute. The one thing I wished when reading was more of the fallout about Duke's feelings concerning his family's role in the entire plot, especially his sister. Given the book is in 1st person, I understand we got to see what Al saw, but that I want to know more about Duke in any fashion is the mark of a compelling character, not in any way because the story lacked something. I sincerely hope we see more from the mind of Thorny Sterling, and that this is the first in a long line of books to come from such talent.
August 26, 2014
Edit 082614:
Damn am I glad that this book was recommended to me (Thanks Mary!)! I hadn't heard a thing about it until yesterday, which is pretty sad. Well I am happy to report that it was good as hell, and also sexy as hell and I loved the two main characters. In fact, I fell asleep with my iPad in my hands trying to read the whole thing last night. The only thing I found to be iffy about this book was the way Alan initially reacted to his situation in the first chapter, but the rest was so enjoyable that I overlooked it. Other than that, think Thorny did a fabulous job with his first book.
If you haven't read it then I'm going to need to asap so we can discuss it.
Original review 082514:
I'm about to pay $4.99 for 144 pages, only because it's Thorny and the sample is good.
Damn am I glad that this book was recommended to me (Thanks Mary!)! I hadn't heard a thing about it until yesterday, which is pretty sad. Well I am happy to report that it was good as hell, and also sexy as hell and I loved the two main characters. In fact, I fell asleep with my iPad in my hands trying to read the whole thing last night. The only thing I found to be iffy about this book was the way Alan initially reacted to his situation in the first chapter, but the rest was so enjoyable that I overlooked it. Other than that, think Thorny did a fabulous job with his first book.
If you haven't read it then I'm going to need to asap so we can discuss it.
Original review 082514:
I'm about to pay $4.99 for 144 pages, only because it's Thorny and the sample is good.
October 18, 2015
Al is an underwear model and actor. His pictures are plastered everywhere and a certain cowboy in Texas has taken notice. The surprise way our cowboy Duke first meets Al has to be one of the most creative character introductions I've read. Loved it!
Duke is a sweetheart kind of guy and he wants to protect Al. Al is all in for that and taunts his cowboy with a bit of satin and lace. Yum! Both characters were easy for me to fall in love with and I enjoyed their story with a bit of mystery providing the angst. Look forward to more from this author.
Duke is a sweetheart kind of guy and he wants to protect Al. Al is all in for that and taunts his cowboy with a bit of satin and lace. Yum! Both characters were easy for me to fall in love with and I enjoyed their story with a bit of mystery providing the angst. Look forward to more from this author.
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December 2, 2015This is one of these books that have started my huge backlog in reviews. I've read it some time early this year and just didn't even know how to review it - because it was so not what I expected from "Thorny" - I've read "his" blog sometimes and in comparison the book was a huge dissapointment. So I didn't do anything with it all these months.
In the meantime it turned out that Thorny isn't a guy either...so I'm actually getting some kind of "explanation" why this book never even remotely felt like it's been written by a young man.
I'm still not going to rate it because a 2 stars rating now would look like I'd be adding the catfishing to the rating - but this would have been it if I had rated it these months ago. 2 stars....
In the meantime it turned out that Thorny isn't a guy either...so I'm actually getting some kind of "explanation" why this book never even remotely felt like it's been written by a young man.
I'm still not going to rate it because a 2 stars rating now would look like I'd be adding the catfishing to the rating - but this would have been it if I had rated it these months ago. 2 stars....
July 18, 2014
I often wish I could write really good reviews and that I knew how to get what is in my head on to the screen. I'll have to leave the really good writing to people like Thorny and settle for saying how much I enjoyed this book. Al and Duke made a great couple - a perfect match for each other and I loved the way they seemed to completely complement each other. True love can triumph over everything and this story shows that perfectly. I hope it won't be too long before I can read another book by this author.
July 16, 2014
This was really good. It had a great love story and a great mystery on how they ended up meeting. Allan and Duke were so sweet and hot together. One thing I loved about the book was when they met they just let their love develop and there wasn't no big drama about whether they could or should be together. I thought Duke was so sweet and loving and he was a true blue cowboy! I really enjoy Thorny Sterling's writing style and I'm hoping to be able to read another book by him!
April 19, 2015
More like 3,75
the book has three things I love to read about: age-gap, cowboys and lingerie. So of course it was a winner to me. Really well done considering it is a debut book by the author, I can't wait for more by Thorny.
the book has three things I love to read about: age-gap, cowboys and lingerie. So of course it was a winner to me. Really well done considering it is a debut book by the author, I can't wait for more by Thorny.
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December 29, 2015I meant to do this last month, but this doesn't deserve a review
August 4, 2014
Great debut. Really enjoyed it.
August 14, 2017
Splinters was a big case of not enough.
Not enough cowboy time, so I didn't get a sense of place of the farm or the ranch or whatever.
Not enough character development so who cares about any of these people.
Not enough time was given to develop the mystery and suspense.
Just not enough time was put into deciding if this would be a light little romp or a heavy, deep mystery.
It just wasn't enough of anything.
Why 3 stars, because I could finish it.
Not enough cowboy time, so I didn't get a sense of place of the farm or the ranch or whatever.
Not enough character development so who cares about any of these people.
Not enough time was given to develop the mystery and suspense.
Just not enough time was put into deciding if this would be a light little romp or a heavy, deep mystery.
It just wasn't enough of anything.
Why 3 stars, because I could finish it.
July 29, 2014
The story starts off with Allan, an androgynous big-city model, finding himself in an intense situation, and Duke, a hunky handsome Texan cowboy coming to his rescue. Right away, you get a sense of Allan’s witty, snarky personality, and Duke’s sincere, easygoing kindness.
Other characters in the book include Duke’s siblings, Mia and Dean, and his ranch hands Toby and Ray, as well as Al’s agent and BFF, Elsie. In doing some research on this book in preparation for writing my review, I came across a blog post by the author, Thorny Sterling, which indicates that Al’s Elsie is a very special character created by Thorny, in honor of two wonderful inspirational people in his life. I just loved reading that and knowing that about the sweet Elsie character in the book.
Right away, within the first chapter of the book, you discover that Duke sees something appealing in Al, and similarly, Al is intrigued with the rugged, mustachioed Duke, despite the awkward situation:
“And there I go getting harder. For God’s sake… I just melt for nice guys normally, so of course Mr . Happy wants to be nice back. I’m nothing if not consistently inappropriate. Just ask the last straight guy I hit on. Accidentally. Sort of.
Duke doesn’t seem to mind. Again. My budding erection’s feeling way more obvious now than before, but he’s just going on about his business. He’s gentle and not shy about handling what he needs to. Or does he really need to handle that much? Is he smiling?
“There we go.” He straightens up and nods at his work.
I sigh with the lessening pressure down there. “Oh, thank you. Damn, that’s better.” He gives me a couple pats, making my nuts bounce. “Hey!” I do my best to give him a stink eye. “Glad you’re enjoying this.”
“Could say the same, honey.”
Honey? And a wink? Well, alrighty then.
It’s not what I would describe as “insta-love,” but rather an acknowledgement by each man that this new person they have just encountered could be someone special.
After Duke rescues Al and they return to Duke’s ranch to recover and deal with the local law enforcement team, questions arise. What exactly happened to Al, how did he end up in Duke’s field and who and where exactly is his attacker? The mystery surrounding Al’s attack, and the intense situations that Al and Duke find themselves in following the attack, make this a very entertaining, angsty and exciting story.
Al is from a different world than Duke. He’s a sassy city-boy who loves to wear make-up and lingerie; he is the furthest thing from a rancher. If he wears boots, they would be Manolo Blahnik’s, not Tony Lama’s. Duke lives on an isolated ranch in the middle of nowhere in Texas. How can they make it work? You must read the story and find out.
I really enjoyed everything about this book. These two main characters pushed all my buttons. I don’t want to get too deep into describing the plot in this review and give away the secrets of the book… suffice it to say, it is a romantic, clever, sexy, mysterious and witty love-story. Highly recommended!!
This book was given to Rainbow Gold Reviews free of charge for the purpose of an honest review. As a follower of Thorny’s blog, I was excited about the opportunity to read his debut novel, Splinters. Also it’s my understanding that Thorny made the book cover; gorgeous, isn’t it?
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Other characters in the book include Duke’s siblings, Mia and Dean, and his ranch hands Toby and Ray, as well as Al’s agent and BFF, Elsie. In doing some research on this book in preparation for writing my review, I came across a blog post by the author, Thorny Sterling, which indicates that Al’s Elsie is a very special character created by Thorny, in honor of two wonderful inspirational people in his life. I just loved reading that and knowing that about the sweet Elsie character in the book.
Right away, within the first chapter of the book, you discover that Duke sees something appealing in Al, and similarly, Al is intrigued with the rugged, mustachioed Duke, despite the awkward situation:
“And there I go getting harder. For God’s sake… I just melt for nice guys normally, so of course Mr . Happy wants to be nice back. I’m nothing if not consistently inappropriate. Just ask the last straight guy I hit on. Accidentally. Sort of.
Duke doesn’t seem to mind. Again. My budding erection’s feeling way more obvious now than before, but he’s just going on about his business. He’s gentle and not shy about handling what he needs to. Or does he really need to handle that much? Is he smiling?
“There we go.” He straightens up and nods at his work.
I sigh with the lessening pressure down there. “Oh, thank you. Damn, that’s better.” He gives me a couple pats, making my nuts bounce. “Hey!” I do my best to give him a stink eye. “Glad you’re enjoying this.”
“Could say the same, honey.”
Honey? And a wink? Well, alrighty then.
It’s not what I would describe as “insta-love,” but rather an acknowledgement by each man that this new person they have just encountered could be someone special.
After Duke rescues Al and they return to Duke’s ranch to recover and deal with the local law enforcement team, questions arise. What exactly happened to Al, how did he end up in Duke’s field and who and where exactly is his attacker? The mystery surrounding Al’s attack, and the intense situations that Al and Duke find themselves in following the attack, make this a very entertaining, angsty and exciting story.
Al is from a different world than Duke. He’s a sassy city-boy who loves to wear make-up and lingerie; he is the furthest thing from a rancher. If he wears boots, they would be Manolo Blahnik’s, not Tony Lama’s. Duke lives on an isolated ranch in the middle of nowhere in Texas. How can they make it work? You must read the story and find out.
I really enjoyed everything about this book. These two main characters pushed all my buttons. I don’t want to get too deep into describing the plot in this review and give away the secrets of the book… suffice it to say, it is a romantic, clever, sexy, mysterious and witty love-story. Highly recommended!!
This book was given to Rainbow Gold Reviews free of charge for the purpose of an honest review. As a follower of Thorny’s blog, I was excited about the opportunity to read his debut novel, Splinters. Also it’s my understanding that Thorny made the book cover; gorgeous, isn’t it?
http://rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress.c...
August 5, 2014
I’ll be honest. I’d never heard of Thorny Sterling before. I’m not sure exactly how I’d managed to not run into him or stumble across his blog, since we have 50 gazillion Facebook friends in common, but I didn’t. All of a sudden, a week or so ago, his name was everywhere and everyone in the M/M world was talking about his debut novel, Splinters. Matt & Brad from my favorite blog (2 Boys In Love) were reading it and dedicating an entire week to blogging about it! I’ll admit, that was a tad disappointing – you know how it is when everyone is talking about something you know nothing about? I looked up this Thorny person and… hey! He lives very near me! I friended him – we chatted a time or two - to be nice, I bought his book.
I started it yesterday. I can honestly say, it grabbed me right from the very first page. I had to know why this guy, Al, would find himself naked and tied to a plank in the middle of Texas ranchland. Enter Duke, the cowboy and knight in shining armor! (Okay…leather…even better.) To quote Allen, “He can save me, protect me, mother and smother me. I hope he’s one of those armed-to-the-teeth, don’t-you-worry-‘bout-a-thing-little-darlin’ Texans who’s a light sleeper, prays to the NRA, and has a hair trigger.”
When Duke takes Allen back to his ranch, Duke’s sister Mia prepares them a farm-style breakfast. The description of Allen eating breakfast had me giggling for hours. I would love to actually see that scene played out on the screen.
“My God, this food is good. My tongue is having an orgasm, it’s that happy to taste all this. I put another bit in my mouth, all buttery and sticky sweet, and just hold it there. I close my eyes and sigh, managing to not moan, but just barely. It’s like that commercial where taste buds are microscopic people. I think mine are f*cking each other senseless.”
“I reach over and pat the back of her hand since my mouth’s full again. I need more butter. Actually, I need more things to put butter on. Muffins! Perfect.”
I adored Allen. He is a gender fluid male model who looks good and knows how to use it. He is funny and sweet, yet heartbreakingly vulnerable and longing for love. He is immediately drawn to bear-like Duke and teases him with glimpses of lacy underthings and his androgynous sensuality. Their chemistry is instant and hot. Their first sexual encounter was steamy, but written so well you will not skim it – even if you are a skimmer. Trust me - you don’t want to miss lines like this:
“…my whole body goes still from pointed toes to arched neck. My yell is lodged in my throat, mouth open but silent and then I fall like my strings were cut…”
Is that not the most perfect description ever?
You will no doubt find it hard to believe this is a debut novel. It’s well written, the main characters are so well developed you will fall instantly in love with both of them, and even the cover art (which Thorny painted himself) is carried through as chapter icons and scene separators. I never noticed any typos or formatting issues – a rare pleasure these days. I’m so glad Thorny is such a young guy. That means we have many years ahead to enjoy more of his work.
I started it yesterday. I can honestly say, it grabbed me right from the very first page. I had to know why this guy, Al, would find himself naked and tied to a plank in the middle of Texas ranchland. Enter Duke, the cowboy and knight in shining armor! (Okay…leather…even better.) To quote Allen, “He can save me, protect me, mother and smother me. I hope he’s one of those armed-to-the-teeth, don’t-you-worry-‘bout-a-thing-little-darlin’ Texans who’s a light sleeper, prays to the NRA, and has a hair trigger.”
When Duke takes Allen back to his ranch, Duke’s sister Mia prepares them a farm-style breakfast. The description of Allen eating breakfast had me giggling for hours. I would love to actually see that scene played out on the screen.
“My God, this food is good. My tongue is having an orgasm, it’s that happy to taste all this. I put another bit in my mouth, all buttery and sticky sweet, and just hold it there. I close my eyes and sigh, managing to not moan, but just barely. It’s like that commercial where taste buds are microscopic people. I think mine are f*cking each other senseless.”
“I reach over and pat the back of her hand since my mouth’s full again. I need more butter. Actually, I need more things to put butter on. Muffins! Perfect.”
I adored Allen. He is a gender fluid male model who looks good and knows how to use it. He is funny and sweet, yet heartbreakingly vulnerable and longing for love. He is immediately drawn to bear-like Duke and teases him with glimpses of lacy underthings and his androgynous sensuality. Their chemistry is instant and hot. Their first sexual encounter was steamy, but written so well you will not skim it – even if you are a skimmer. Trust me - you don’t want to miss lines like this:
“…my whole body goes still from pointed toes to arched neck. My yell is lodged in my throat, mouth open but silent and then I fall like my strings were cut…”
Is that not the most perfect description ever?
You will no doubt find it hard to believe this is a debut novel. It’s well written, the main characters are so well developed you will fall instantly in love with both of them, and even the cover art (which Thorny painted himself) is carried through as chapter icons and scene separators. I never noticed any typos or formatting issues – a rare pleasure these days. I’m so glad Thorny is such a young guy. That means we have many years ahead to enjoy more of his work.
June 15, 2015
ANG:
I heard about Splinters from my friends over at The Literary Gossip. I’m a big fan of the m/m genre and the synopsis and beautiful cover sold me immediately. I was completely blown away by this book. The narrator is the delightfully witty, sexy and sweet Al. He finds himself in a terrifying situation but his good humor saves the day as does Mr. Hot Cowboy Man, Duke. You could feel their chemistry from that very first scene.
What follows is a really refreshing story as their romance blossoms amidst a mysterious who done it. Al and Duke definitely fit the “opposites attract” mode. What could a gender-fluid model / actor from Manhattan have in common with a manly man cowboy from Texas? A whole lot, as it turns out. I think the characters’ reactions to certain events in the book rang true. I truly enjoyed all aspects of this story.
The sex scenes were really well written. So fucking hot. And they fit well with the overall tone of the book. Sometimes there is a lot of gratuitous sex in m/m books (not that I’m complaining) but the sex in this book progressed the story line forward. There was a direct correlation with their “getting to know you” phase as it spurred on more intense and intimate sex scenes. It’s like you could see their relationship building in and out of the bedroom.
This was just a really terrific read, and I loved it. You should go one-click now. I look forward to more books from Thorny Sterling.
P.S. I have long hair too, and I had so much empathy for Al during that one scene. And the Twitter bit. That was spot on, Thorny! Bravo.
P.S.S. Thorny Sterling seems like an all around terrific person. After I read and loved Splinters, I did the requisite stalking of his blog, Facebook, and Twitter. I highly recommend that you check out all of the above. You’ll find a delightful person with a sunny disposition and a great outlook on life. Not to mention his beautiful art work.
TARAH:
Which came first: the book or the blog?
I devoured Thorny’s blog before I read Splinters. (Am I alone in doing this? I always look into the author first…) Let me tell you, it is worth the read. I went back as far as the blog would allow. Years. I read every single post. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t get enough. Definitely check it out, guise.
I read a lot of m/m books. I adore me some Ella Frank, Riley Hart, Kindle Alexander… I could go on. I now lovingly add Thorny Sterling to my list. Splinters stood out to me. It read and felt different than most. That made me love it more. I had such high hopes after seeing what an amazing artist and person was behind the story. I wasn’t let down.
This beautiful story is both heartbreaking and uplifting. It is full of warmth and wit. The love in this book is brilliant. Al and Duke. So hot. So sweet. You need to give Splinters a read. Really.
Make sure you note the cover as well. Did you know it was done by Thorny? Every painting Thorny has shared, leaves me impressed. Check out Art Equals and The Sunshine Shop.
http://www.dirtylaundryreview.com/spl...
I heard about Splinters from my friends over at The Literary Gossip. I’m a big fan of the m/m genre and the synopsis and beautiful cover sold me immediately. I was completely blown away by this book. The narrator is the delightfully witty, sexy and sweet Al. He finds himself in a terrifying situation but his good humor saves the day as does Mr. Hot Cowboy Man, Duke. You could feel their chemistry from that very first scene.
What follows is a really refreshing story as their romance blossoms amidst a mysterious who done it. Al and Duke definitely fit the “opposites attract” mode. What could a gender-fluid model / actor from Manhattan have in common with a manly man cowboy from Texas? A whole lot, as it turns out. I think the characters’ reactions to certain events in the book rang true. I truly enjoyed all aspects of this story.
The sex scenes were really well written. So fucking hot. And they fit well with the overall tone of the book. Sometimes there is a lot of gratuitous sex in m/m books (not that I’m complaining) but the sex in this book progressed the story line forward. There was a direct correlation with their “getting to know you” phase as it spurred on more intense and intimate sex scenes. It’s like you could see their relationship building in and out of the bedroom.
This was just a really terrific read, and I loved it. You should go one-click now. I look forward to more books from Thorny Sterling.
P.S. I have long hair too, and I had so much empathy for Al during that one scene. And the Twitter bit. That was spot on, Thorny! Bravo.
P.S.S. Thorny Sterling seems like an all around terrific person. After I read and loved Splinters, I did the requisite stalking of his blog, Facebook, and Twitter. I highly recommend that you check out all of the above. You’ll find a delightful person with a sunny disposition and a great outlook on life. Not to mention his beautiful art work.
TARAH:
Which came first: the book or the blog?
I devoured Thorny’s blog before I read Splinters. (Am I alone in doing this? I always look into the author first…) Let me tell you, it is worth the read. I went back as far as the blog would allow. Years. I read every single post. I laughed, I cried, I couldn’t get enough. Definitely check it out, guise.
I read a lot of m/m books. I adore me some Ella Frank, Riley Hart, Kindle Alexander… I could go on. I now lovingly add Thorny Sterling to my list. Splinters stood out to me. It read and felt different than most. That made me love it more. I had such high hopes after seeing what an amazing artist and person was behind the story. I wasn’t let down.
This beautiful story is both heartbreaking and uplifting. It is full of warmth and wit. The love in this book is brilliant. Al and Duke. So hot. So sweet. You need to give Splinters a read. Really.
Make sure you note the cover as well. Did you know it was done by Thorny? Every painting Thorny has shared, leaves me impressed. Check out Art Equals and The Sunshine Shop.
http://www.dirtylaundryreview.com/spl...
October 29, 2014
I want to start by saying that I knew about this book before I read Thorny's blog, but didn't read it until after I read the blog. Being allowed in to view his process really helped me to be hyped for this book. I felt his blog was well done, and I was hopeful the book would be just as well written.
He didn't disappoint me, but I had a few issues. Not because of the writing but because of my own unfair expectations. I am used to reading more BDSM slanted books, as well as books with a little bit more violence and assholes for characters, so it took me a little while to adjust my thinking when reading. Once I got past my preconceived notions, I enjoyed this book.
This is an actual love story. Yes there are some sex scenes, but they aren't the main meat of the story, pun intended. It's mostly about these two men who meet under somewhat traumatic and unusual circumstances, and they realize they like each other and jump right into that attraction. I liked that there was a happy ending, and I liked that the characters were mature adults about their situation. Overall, this is a nice, sweet story. For a first novel, I think Thornton did alright, and I'm looking forward to reading his next book. And of course, I intend to continue reading his blog. It totally kills.
For those of you who dont typically indulge in this genre, as in romance, specifically with Gay men as the couple, then this isnt a bad way to start. However, if gender fluidity or androgony make you uncomfortable, this may not be for you. As for me, I love it, and I'm hoping that Mr. Sterling continues to write more gender fluid characters. Men in lingerie turns me way up. #JustSaying. #TurnDownForWhat #LaceAndLeather (yes I use hashtags inappropriately. so?)
He didn't disappoint me, but I had a few issues. Not because of the writing but because of my own unfair expectations. I am used to reading more BDSM slanted books, as well as books with a little bit more violence and assholes for characters, so it took me a little while to adjust my thinking when reading. Once I got past my preconceived notions, I enjoyed this book.
This is an actual love story. Yes there are some sex scenes, but they aren't the main meat of the story, pun intended. It's mostly about these two men who meet under somewhat traumatic and unusual circumstances, and they realize they like each other and jump right into that attraction. I liked that there was a happy ending, and I liked that the characters were mature adults about their situation. Overall, this is a nice, sweet story. For a first novel, I think Thornton did alright, and I'm looking forward to reading his next book. And of course, I intend to continue reading his blog. It totally kills.
For those of you who dont typically indulge in this genre, as in romance, specifically with Gay men as the couple, then this isnt a bad way to start. However, if gender fluidity or androgony make you uncomfortable, this may not be for you. As for me, I love it, and I'm hoping that Mr. Sterling continues to write more gender fluid characters. Men in lingerie turns me way up. #JustSaying. #TurnDownForWhat #LaceAndLeather (yes I use hashtags inappropriately. so?)
July 17, 2014
Splinters is a debut novel by a seasoned blogger, Thorny Sterling. Because I follow his blog, I knew he could be funny and thought-provoking.
The story grabbed me from the opening page as we are introduced to Al who is tied naked on a wooden plank in an open Texas ranch land, not remembering how he came to this predicament. He is quickly rescued by Duke, a sexy cowboy who owns the ranch. There is an instant connection between the two and we follow their romance and eventually the mystery is solved.
I loved Al and Duke. They are so different but the chemistry between them is undeniable. Al is constantly surrounded by people but is lonely. His modeling and acting career keep him busy. Duke, who recently came out to his family has a ranch to run. In a short span of time, they form a strong bond. Another incident and finding a suspect forces them apart but they can't stop thinking about each other. Having that time apart, they realize that the connection they had wasn't a fluke, that they are in love. When they reunite, their love is undeniable. The perpetrator is caught and I can't describe more without giving the story away. The mystery has an interesting angle and I thought it was handled well.
The writing is full of imagery and it felt as though Al was speaking directly to me. Al's internal dialog is humorous and revealing. I highly recommend Splinters and look forward to more books by Thorny. In the meantime, I get to enjoy his blog!
The story grabbed me from the opening page as we are introduced to Al who is tied naked on a wooden plank in an open Texas ranch land, not remembering how he came to this predicament. He is quickly rescued by Duke, a sexy cowboy who owns the ranch. There is an instant connection between the two and we follow their romance and eventually the mystery is solved.
I loved Al and Duke. They are so different but the chemistry between them is undeniable. Al is constantly surrounded by people but is lonely. His modeling and acting career keep him busy. Duke, who recently came out to his family has a ranch to run. In a short span of time, they form a strong bond. Another incident and finding a suspect forces them apart but they can't stop thinking about each other. Having that time apart, they realize that the connection they had wasn't a fluke, that they are in love. When they reunite, their love is undeniable. The perpetrator is caught and I can't describe more without giving the story away. The mystery has an interesting angle and I thought it was handled well.
The writing is full of imagery and it felt as though Al was speaking directly to me. Al's internal dialog is humorous and revealing. I highly recommend Splinters and look forward to more books by Thorny. In the meantime, I get to enjoy his blog!
July 17, 2014
What a delightful little mm goodie!! You just sort of jump into the action with Al strapped to a plank in the middle of a field in Texas and Duke just sort of rolls up on him on a horse and saves him. And then you fall down this crazy rabbit hole with Duke's friends and family and Al's rather femme tendencies and you get this enjoyable humorous romance/suspense shortie. The author's voice is wonderful. Immediate, engaging, funny wry and just all around terrific. I was struck dumb that this is the author's debut! What!!?? Knocked it out of the park. Duke is all kinds of wonderful - sexy yummy cowboy. Allan is more of a stretch for me - I don't usually go for femme guys - not usually my thing but grew to really like Al. Looking for love in all his outrageous pink panty wearing nuttiness. And the secondary characters - blew me away - I was prepared to dislike Sheriff Smoot - yeah, he will probably be this homophobic Texan damning all gays to hell - but what a surprise - he wasn't. And that's just what this book was - a surprise! Will definitely read more from this author.
November 23, 2015
While I do understand that authors have the right to privacy, I am getting a little tired of authors who create blogs with a life story that is not real. If you are writing under a pseudonym and want to keep your life private then do so, do not keep a blog / facebook page full of fake people and fake lives.
This author has a wonderful way with words and created a clever and sometimes downright funny story. Allen (Al) and Duke are endearing characters and I loved them together. There is a very sweet romance that underlies the mystery of how Al ended up tied up on Duke's ranch. A little heavy on the insta-love for my tastes, but still sweet.
This author has a wonderful way with words and created a clever and sometimes downright funny story. Allen (Al) and Duke are endearing characters and I loved them together. There is a very sweet romance that underlies the mystery of how Al ended up tied up on Duke's ranch. A little heavy on the insta-love for my tastes, but still sweet.
August 4, 2014
I remember when the opening paragraphs appeared in a critique group Thorny Sterling and I both once belonged to, and Allan's surreal awakening captured my imagination—inventive, disturbing, intriguing. I always wondered how the meat of the story would develop, and I can now say: brilliantly.
Since—with the odd exception—this heartwarming debut has received top marks from many reviewers, there's not much for me to add, except to say Thorny has a great career ahead as a writer. Not a half-bad painter either :-))
Since—with the odd exception—this heartwarming debut has received top marks from many reviewers, there's not much for me to add, except to say Thorny has a great career ahead as a writer. Not a half-bad painter either :-))
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