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Rowan
Rowan
When you’ve been to hell and back ─ and I don’t just mean the outer rings of hell, I mean the ring right at the centre of Hades, where gladiators like me fight for the entertainment of today’s Caesars and Caesarias ─ you come back a monster or a broken man. If you come back at all.
I’m neither.
I don’t know what I am.
I know I’m an addict.
I know I’m killer.
I know I’ve been running from myself since I was twelve years old and that at every turn since I’ve made lousy decisions.
Time to face myself in the mirror.
So I’m taking a trip to the peninsula of Purbeck, a beautiful nature reserve on the south coast of England, to enter rehab.
Can you rehabilitate a killer? Can you rehabilitate a broken beast?
I doubt it, but at least I’m willing to try.
The last thing I expected was to meet a soul as tortured as me, a woman whose eyes tell me she’s seen it, the ugliness of life.
And she can deal.
She won’t look away.
She is competence in a fifties retro package with fishnets and combat boots.
She’s my nurse.
And totally off limits.
Raven
I came out to meet the guy because he took longer than is normal. I thought he might have gotten lost. Though that’s pretty hard when going in a straight line down what was once the only road in a village. But it’s a rehab clinic. Folk are kinda lost by definition when they get here.
So I came to see what was taking him so long and found him going down on the water fountain.
I mean, seriously, the way he hulked over it, half his face under the stream, his tongue lapping at the water, was obscene, feral. So my smart mouth decided to make a comment. A wholly unprofessional comment, and now I’m standing here, mesmerised. Like Mowgli meeting Kaa.
‘Cause he’s staring me down like a pro.
I can’t look away from his eyes. They are huge, a deep, warm brown and they tell me stories too close for comfort. This is a guy who gets it. Life. The ugliness. The bits where other people play three monkeys. He sees them.
He sees me.
And I see him.
But he’s a client and that’s where the story ends.
It’s my last intake of guests.
In a month from now my year in the British Isles is over, I’ll hand over my job to a local, and I’ll be going home to America.
And I’m not getting fired in the meantime because of a ‘connection’ to some sexy giant with muscle for miles.
‘Connections’ are a myth.
And a myth is not worth getting fired over.
But what if there is more than a connection? What if there is actual healing?
Rowan is the second volume in the Brighton Bad Boys series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. You'll get a fuller picture and more of the nuances if you read 'Silas' first but it's not a necessity.
The Brighton Bad Boys Series is intended for mature readers over 18 years of age only.
When you’ve been to hell and back ─ and I don’t just mean the outer rings of hell, I mean the ring right at the centre of Hades, where gladiators like me fight for the entertainment of today’s Caesars and Caesarias ─ you come back a monster or a broken man. If you come back at all.
I’m neither.
I don’t know what I am.
I know I’m an addict.
I know I’m killer.
I know I’ve been running from myself since I was twelve years old and that at every turn since I’ve made lousy decisions.
Time to face myself in the mirror.
So I’m taking a trip to the peninsula of Purbeck, a beautiful nature reserve on the south coast of England, to enter rehab.
Can you rehabilitate a killer? Can you rehabilitate a broken beast?
I doubt it, but at least I’m willing to try.
The last thing I expected was to meet a soul as tortured as me, a woman whose eyes tell me she’s seen it, the ugliness of life.
And she can deal.
She won’t look away.
She is competence in a fifties retro package with fishnets and combat boots.
She’s my nurse.
And totally off limits.
Raven
I came out to meet the guy because he took longer than is normal. I thought he might have gotten lost. Though that’s pretty hard when going in a straight line down what was once the only road in a village. But it’s a rehab clinic. Folk are kinda lost by definition when they get here.
So I came to see what was taking him so long and found him going down on the water fountain.
I mean, seriously, the way he hulked over it, half his face under the stream, his tongue lapping at the water, was obscene, feral. So my smart mouth decided to make a comment. A wholly unprofessional comment, and now I’m standing here, mesmerised. Like Mowgli meeting Kaa.
‘Cause he’s staring me down like a pro.
I can’t look away from his eyes. They are huge, a deep, warm brown and they tell me stories too close for comfort. This is a guy who gets it. Life. The ugliness. The bits where other people play three monkeys. He sees them.
He sees me.
And I see him.
But he’s a client and that’s where the story ends.
It’s my last intake of guests.
In a month from now my year in the British Isles is over, I’ll hand over my job to a local, and I’ll be going home to America.
And I’m not getting fired in the meantime because of a ‘connection’ to some sexy giant with muscle for miles.
‘Connections’ are a myth.
And a myth is not worth getting fired over.
But what if there is more than a connection? What if there is actual healing?
Rowan is the second volume in the Brighton Bad Boys series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. You'll get a fuller picture and more of the nuances if you read 'Silas' first but it's not a necessity.
The Brighton Bad Boys Series is intended for mature readers over 18 years of age only.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2020
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Tilly Delane
5 books11 followersTilly Delane is the pen name for the grown up version of, well, me - an already established author of clean(ish), wholesome(ish) YA literature, who fancied a stint away from the straight and narrow.
It started with Silas and then I became addicted and carried on working, until I had a whole trilogy of awesome, rock hard but human heroes, each of whom has his own freaking brilliant leading lady who takes no shit from anyone.
I love Silas, Rowan and Diego and their kickass women as much as I loved all my previous creations and I wish I could tell you who I really am, but there are innocents to protect here, so for now I am Tilly and proud.
Tilly, incidentally, was the name of a character in a romance short that I published under yet another pen name some years ago.
You can get that one free for your kindle, or as a pdf, if you email me at tillydelaneauthor@gmail.com
Tilly and I (schizophrenia here I come) live in the real Brighton, UK, with two young daughters and a stupidly large collection of big and small animals. They all need feeding (me not so much, I could do with losing a few pounds), so please buy my books, rate, review, recommend them.
Oh, and if by complete chance you've read any of my other books (stranger things have happened) and you think you've figured it out, please just smile knowingly - and don't let the cat out of the bag.
Much obliged.
It started with Silas and then I became addicted and carried on working, until I had a whole trilogy of awesome, rock hard but human heroes, each of whom has his own freaking brilliant leading lady who takes no shit from anyone.
I love Silas, Rowan and Diego and their kickass women as much as I loved all my previous creations and I wish I could tell you who I really am, but there are innocents to protect here, so for now I am Tilly and proud.
Tilly, incidentally, was the name of a character in a romance short that I published under yet another pen name some years ago.
You can get that one free for your kindle, or as a pdf, if you email me at tillydelaneauthor@gmail.com
Tilly and I (schizophrenia here I come) live in the real Brighton, UK, with two young daughters and a stupidly large collection of big and small animals. They all need feeding (me not so much, I could do with losing a few pounds), so please buy my books, rate, review, recommend them.
Oh, and if by complete chance you've read any of my other books (stranger things have happened) and you think you've figured it out, please just smile knowingly - and don't let the cat out of the bag.
Much obliged.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 17, 2020
Tough love on the edge of danger
If you like your characters genuine, rough-edged and coarse-tongued, tough but vulnerable; if you like a really gripping story with high-tension suspense with your lovers; if you like your literary sex on the rough side of tender - get this book, and this series. Tilly Delane can write.
This thriller/romance will grip you painfully by the [insert appropriate body part according to gender]. The threads of damaged backgrounds for both Rowan and Raven are interwoven with their present situation and roles, and with the mystery and murder that unravels with perfect logic. This is a great suspense novel, quite apart from the romance (which remains central). The characters are both engaging and memorable. The graphic and original sex scenes do not overwhelm the story. There is a sprinkling of humour (British, and dry). The pace is brisk; perfect for the gripping, dark tale of tough love on the edge of danger. Read and enjoy!
If you like your characters genuine, rough-edged and coarse-tongued, tough but vulnerable; if you like a really gripping story with high-tension suspense with your lovers; if you like your literary sex on the rough side of tender - get this book, and this series. Tilly Delane can write.
This thriller/romance will grip you painfully by the [insert appropriate body part according to gender]. The threads of damaged backgrounds for both Rowan and Raven are interwoven with their present situation and roles, and with the mystery and murder that unravels with perfect logic. This is a great suspense novel, quite apart from the romance (which remains central). The characters are both engaging and memorable. The graphic and original sex scenes do not overwhelm the story. There is a sprinkling of humour (British, and dry). The pace is brisk; perfect for the gripping, dark tale of tough love on the edge of danger. Read and enjoy!
August 8, 2020
I loved Silas but this is by far the superior book. It’s hard going at times because Rowan and Raven are seriously damaged people but they are also absolutely perfect for one another because of their damage. It’s hard to review this without giving too much away but suffice to sat that, just like in the first in the series, there is a whole story here that goes way beyond boy meets girl and seriously hot sex scenes.
October 15, 2021
Initially I wasn’t sure I’d like this, because I loved Silas from book 1 so much BUT … I’m now a huge Roman fan! Such a good book, great characters again and super steamy with a saucy slow burn at the start. Really enjoyed the way it flowed from the first book and am excited for the next instalment. Hello Diego!
July 11, 2021
I loved Silas, this author's first book - Rowan just blew me away! Rowan and Raven are two characters who absolutely crash into your heart and you know you are going to carry them there forever. Another emotional roller coaster of a story - a page-turner that kept me kept me wanting just one more chapter before I put it down. Addiction must be catching - I am now addicted to Tilly Delane.
September 2, 2020
Brilliant
Loved the rawness of this book and the gentleman giant who for once give more than he takes. They're a perfect contradiction but an amazing couple. Loved this story, can't wait for the next.
Loved the rawness of this book and the gentleman giant who for once give more than he takes. They're a perfect contradiction but an amazing couple. Loved this story, can't wait for the next.
September 4, 2020
Just when I thought it couldn't get better...
I loved Silas & Grace. I didn't think I'd love Rowan. I was proven wrong. Rowan is my kind of man. Tortured, sexy, experienced. But he's so incredibly sweet with Raven. Can't wait to check out Diego!
I loved Silas & Grace. I didn't think I'd love Rowan. I was proven wrong. Rowan is my kind of man. Tortured, sexy, experienced. But he's so incredibly sweet with Raven. Can't wait to check out Diego!
December 19, 2023
Just as steamy and fun as the first! Good smut with a plot. The best of both worlds.
Read
November 5, 2021Tilly! Where have you been hiding for so long? Delicious writing. Utterly mouth-watering. At the expense of repeating myself, why has it taken so long for a writer to bring literary level prose to bad boy romance fiction? Book three... gimme!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews