by
Typhoon Toby: Forces of Nature Book Two Blurb
On the surface, Toby Griffiths appears to have it all: talent, money, a brilliant mind, and model good looks. With his best friend Reese, he’s built an empire as a singer/songwriter.
But beneath that glittering exterior, Toby suffers the lasting effects of betrayal (or abuse?). To keep his tempestuous past where it belongs, he insists on anonymity with lovers—no names, no personal information. A vacation fling in Bali changes all that, and he can’t get his recent playmate out of his mind.
Therapist Spencer Hart left Bali with a bad case of pneumonia and a broken heart. While recovering, he's shocked to find his secretive partner on TV—and he's determined to see him again. Spencer arranges to attend one ofToby’s fundraising galas, and their reunion is tense.
Toby tries to stick to his rules… until a New Year’s kiss with Spencer washes away the last of his resistance. ButToby is a man with secrets, and when the storm that’s been holding comes ashore, it could devastate not just his professional life, but his fledgling love affair and long-time partnership with his best friend.
Will Spencer stand by his side and help him weather the storm as Toby faces his worst fears?
- 1 To Be Read list
Publisher: Celie Bay Publications LLC
Cover Artists:
Genres:
Pairings: M-M
Heat Level: 4
Romantic Content: 5
Ending: Click here to reveal
Character Identities: Gay
Protagonist 1 Age: 26-35
Protagonist 2 Age: 26-35
Tropes: Beach Romance, Famous / Not Famous, Second Chances
Word Count: 74000
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Same Universe / Various Characters
Merrill follows Hurricane Reese with a gritty contemporary that examines the horrific aftereffects of sexual abuse and the possibility of healing through love. After a no-strings, no-names affair in Bali, musician Toby Griffiths and therapist Spencer Hart return stateside, and their paths soon cross again at a Los Angeles fund-raiser. Toby was sexually abused while a college undergraduate, and he’s spent his adult life trying to avoid intimate relationships. Spencer, a psychotherapist, has his own demons, among them severe social anxiety and serious asthma. After they reconnect, Toby works through deep-seated issues and Spencer becomes the rock Toby so desperately needs. When one of Spencer’s clients attempts suicide, Toby finds healing in being able to share stories of his own suicide attempt. Slowly, both men begin to believe in a future together. While handled with exceptional sensitivity, the discussion of sexual assault and suicide may distress readers who have undergone similar ordeals—or may show them they’re not alone. With a strong plot, an expertly crafted cast of supporting characters, and deep empathy, Merrill’s novel will keep readers hooked. (Jan.)