Crucify my Love: Gay Book Reviews: [162-ENG] Review: North Point

Series: Jagged Shores

Volume: 1/?
Publisher: Pride Publishing

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance, Thriller and Suspense

Length: 61 000 words

Pages: 241

Read in: English
Review copy format: epub

Rate:✮✮✮✮✮✮

Young actor, Arnie Walker and his nine-year-old son AJ spend their holidays in Nyemouth, Arnie's hometown. It was supposed to be a time of fun, joy and strengthening the family ties. Unfortunately, a lot changes when Arnie and AJ witness a murder attempt and only thanks to the man's quick reaction the victim of the attack survives. This dramatic event leads to a meeting of Arnie and attractive Dominic Melton, who works as a lifeboat helmsman in his free time. Their mutual attraction can't be denied, but for Arnie his son and his safety are the priorities. So is it really okay to date when the criminal is still at large?

"North Point" is the first volume of Thom Collins' "Jagged Shores" series and the first book by this author I've had the pleasure of reading. I want to be honest with you, so I will say it right away, this book is amazing. The story the author tells us is built in a way that allows the characters to have a fairly normal life, so we can get to know them as they get to know each other. I think it's very important that although in the novel we can see some crimes, the whole story doesn't revolve around them, as "North Point" is not a crime story, but rather a thriller. However, I must mention the fact that although the mystery isn't the most important part of this novel's plot, it doesn't affect the quality of this story. "North Point" is a very interesting and suspenseful book that raises many deep and moving problems, but doesn't develop all of them. Thanks to this fact, the story makes the readers think those issues through, but doesn't give them any ready-made solutions. There is also one more thing really worth mentioning, namely "North Point" is quite a surprising book.

If you asked me who my favourite character in "North Point" was, I wouldn't have problems with the answer, although it might surprise you, as my favourite character and at the same time one of the greatest advantages of this novel was Gabriel – Arnie's childhood friend and Dominic's friend with benefits. I think that the author built and presented him in a really fantastic way, thanks to which Gabriel was really interesting and caught my eye. To be honest, I think I have never seen a side character with such a huge impact on the story building. The character of Gabriel in general tells us a lot about the main characters, emphasises Arnie's and Dominic's good and bad qualities through the dynamics of his relationship with them and through him being who he is. What's more, it is he who introduces many serious problems for us to think about when reading "North Point". There are many fantastic characters in this novel, including the main ones, but Gabriel was the best of them.

In "North Point", I also liked the fact that the novel shows the topic of home in a really beautiful way. First of all, Arnie doesn't exaggerates as in an almost touching but natural, balanced way characterises home as a place where he grew up, which is close to his heart, in which people closest to him still live and which is linked to thousands of his happy memories. At the same time, he juxtaposes his home with the city where he lives but which is only a workplace to him. It really touched me and spoke to me. However, this is not all, as showing us Arnie's home, the author also managed to "sketch" using words a beautiful picture of Nyemouth. It is worth noting that Thom Collins doesn't focus on unnecessary, long, detailed descriptions. Instead, he briefly but concisely shows the most important to the main character and the most beautiful places in Nyemouth, and does it in such an efficient way that the reader is able to imagine every detail and really loves that place.

I think that "North Point" also presents the theme of strength and weakness in an extremely interesting and diverse way. On the one hand, we see it in the form of the "stay or leave" dilemma, which appears in the context of the threat resulting from being a witness of an attempted murder and thus being chased out of one's own home. In "North Point" we also see a more conventional representation of this motif, which refers to physical and mental strength and weakness, and let's add that in this novel these two aspects of strength and weakness intertwine with each other. Finally, this motif also refers to the topic of heroic rescue of another person, showing us a direct way of rescuing someone like pulling someone out of the water, not letting them drown, etc. and to some extent an indirect way, staying put at the helm even when the situation is dramatic, so that everyone, both the rescue team and the injured person could return safely ashore. I am really impressed with how the author managed to show all this in his novel.

In summary, "North Point" is a really well written, incredibly interesting, sometimes surprising novel that instantly engrosses the reader. Well-built and likeable characters conquer our hearts, while our minds focus on all the problems shown in this story and our souls admire the beauty of Nyemouth. We fall in love with this novel and become addicted to it from the very first page.

Headcanon: FDominic notices that AJ always behaves well because he understands that his dad raises him alone and he doesn't want to cause him any problems. That's why Dominic is sometimes the naughty one and asks AJ to be his partner in crime.

Fanfiction idea: Arnie has some very important things to do, so he leaves for the day. AJ stays at home with Dominic, who takes him horseback riding and they spend an exciting day together.

AU idea: Superhero!AU, A great villain is attacking the city and Arnie and AJ are in trouble. A masked superhero, Dominic, comes to their aid.

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Here's some more about:

Book Title: North Point

Author: Thom Collins

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Trope/s: Going home, murder mystery

Themes: Fatherhood, survival

Heat Rating: 4 flames

It is a standalone story.

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Will an idyllic summer holiday lead Arnie to the love of his life, or the end of it?

Blurb

It should be the start of a perfect vacation. After a period of stress, Arnie Walker takes his nine-year-old son AJ home for the holidays. Arnie grew up in Nyemouth, a picturesque fishing town on the North-East coast of England, and he wants AJ to experience the kind of carefree, endless summer he enjoyed as a boy. It’s a short-lived dream. While taking an evening walk along the North Point cliff, Arnie and AJ witness a murder attempt.
For the volunteer crew of Nyemouth Lifeboat Station, it’s a rescue mission like none before, Helmsman Dominic Melton is part of the team who rescue the victim from the deadly North Sea. When Arnie and Dominic come together in the aftermath of the attack, the attraction is instant. Arnie isn’t looking for a relationship. He’s committed to his son’s well-being and has no time for a distraction like Dominic, even though the handsome ex-naval officer is hard to dismiss. Is it possible for Arnie to fulfill his promises to AJ while falling for Dominic?
Despite the distraction, a fledgling killer remains at large. As feelings between Arnie and Dominic develop, so does the danger they are in. North Point may be a beautiful place to fall in love, but it could also be the most dangerous.

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Excerpt

“The police are outside,” Dominic said. “They want statements from all of us.” He had large and very expressive brown eyes. Within them, Arnie saw flecks of amber and gold. With his dark hair and muscular build, Dominic looked every inch a hero.
No, Arnie corrected himself. This guy doesn’t look like a hero. He is a hero. The entire crew are. It was more than the way he looked. There was an aura about Dominic, an undefined energy that made him incredibly attractive. Arnie had worked with some exceptionally good-looking men in his career, bona fide Hollywood heartthrobs, and none of them had Dominic’s naturally sexy quality. Everything about him—his face, his hair, his build—appealed. He was a knockout.
Come on, Arnie thought, pulling himself up. You’ve just witnessed a horrendous crime. A woman is fighting for her life this very minute and you’ve taken a fancy to the local hot guy. Get a grip.
He dunked a biscuit into the tea and ate it. His father was right—the sugar seemed to have an instant effect and his senses became clearer.
“How rough were things out there?” Martin asked.
“The sea’s getting up,” Dominic answered. “The wind too. Another half hour and we might not have got in there. It wouldn’t have mattered if we did. The tide would have taken her by then. It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
“You’re amazing,” Arnie said, and meant it. Dominic and the crew of volunteers had risked their lives for the safety of a complete stranger. They might all have died trying to rescue her.
“I just drove the boat,” he said. “My colleagues— Joanne and Minty—they did the hard work. They transferred the woman from the rock to the boat and kept her stable the whole way back. That’s no easy job in those swells.”
“Does anyone know who she is?” Martin asked.
“Minty thought he recognized her from around town but couldn’t be sure. It’s for the police to find out now.”
“It’s hard to believe something like this could happen here in Nyemouth,” Martin said. “Something so cruel. Who do you think did it? An ex-boyfriend?” Martin and Dominic looked at Arnie expectantly.
“I’ve no idea,” he said at last, avoiding the intense scrutiny of Dominic’s eyes. “Whoever it was, they kept their face hidden. It could be anyone. And they came from behind. So, even if it was someone she knows, I doubt she’d have recognized them.”
“Bastard,” Dominic said. He had a slight accent Arnie couldn’t place. Northern. Maybe Yorkshire. Nothing definite. The accent of someone who moved around a lot, losing all but a trace of their regional twang. A bit like his own. It was hard not to look at him. He was stunning. That hair, the glossy sheen of his beard, the moody furrow between his eyebrows. Wow. Despite everything that had happened, Dominic aroused something in Arnie. It should have been the last thing on his mind, but Arnie couldn’t stop the desire he felt for him. He imagined holding him and kissing that mouth, thinking about the body beneath those clothes.
Stop it.
Arnie finished his tea. “I should speak to the police. The sooner they know who they’re looking for, the sooner they’ll find him.”
“Are you feeling better?” Martin asked.
“Much,” he assured his father. “Thanks to you.”
“Take care of yourself,” Dominic said. “I wish we’d met under better circumstances. Hopefully I’ll see you around some time.”

About the Author

Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, Gods of Vengeance, Silent Voices and the Anthem Trilogy. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

He is currently working on a new series.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night.