A passionate MM romance murder mystery thriller set in Sydney.
19-years-old Paul lives a lonely, tormented existence. One night he meets Sam in extraordinary circumstances. He discovers Sam hero-worships him for saving his cousin’s life after a cowardly beach incident two years earlier.
Blinded by infatuation for his hero and devastated by the recent death of Tim, his twin brother, Sam passionately pleads to Paul to become his partner. While deciding, Paul is drawn into Tim’s psychic maze of cryptic messages. What is Tim’s influence? Does Tim empower Paul to identify the culprit who caused his cousin’s near-death? Can Paul decipher Tim’s cryptograms to solve the mystery surrounding his passing?
Follow Paul’s journey to love and happiness. Share the passion as two young men overcome insecurities and develop their innate strengths. Admire the kindness and generosity of Sam’s family as it assists others less fortunate. Deliberate the madness of revenge leading to the exposure of evil judicial corruption and a suspenseful court case.
Excerpt
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Professional Reviews
Beautifully written story of young love, first love with an element of mystery
By Mel Leach, Amazon/Smashwords Nov 2013 5 stars
Paul & Sam is a YA romance about young love, first love, coming of age and self-discovery. It’s a story about acceptance, the importance of friendship and loyalty and overcoming obstacles to find one’s place in this world. It is written with a classical beauty; a poetic quality, that at times is almost lyrical. The story has a sweetness and innocence that immediately draws you to the main characters. Paul, having been kicked out of his home at the age of 16 for being gay, has become experienced in the ways of sexual encounters as a way of quelling the loneliness of life on the street; yet is inexperienced in the ways of love even though he longs to meet that special someone. Sam, withdrawing into himself after the assault on his cousin and the murder of his twin brother, is gay and a virgin, but yearns to meet the hero he has long held in his heart and mind; the boy who saved his cousin after a horrendous assault. The assault and the murder, brushed off by the authorities as accidents and misadventures, provide an element of mystery to their story. Both boys are very different, yet both so vulnerable and both exhibit the passion of virginal innocence, yet in different ways. Paul with a street-sense tough exterior yet vulnerable heart; Sam a more “heart-on-his-sleeve” type of guy.
I am actually glad that this book was self-published(via Smashwords). Had it gone the traditional publisher route, particularly with an American publisher, I fear much of the Aussie English terminology would have been edited from the text, to the detriment of the tone and feel of the book. The phraseology added so much to the mood of the moments. The sexual encounters in this book were love scenes in the truest sense. “His golden skin glowed in the soft incandescent lighting, which glistened his eyes in rapturous adventure. His swoony face signified a tapestry of emotions, of pleasurable discovery, fascination, excitement and contentment. His presence stole my heart.” Instead of utterances of expletives and clenching channels, Mr. South delivers the “opium of romance” with passages such as, “’I want to hear the mounting body noises and the blasts of canons and roars of comets and the fanfares of trumpets. I want to see the white lights and flashing stars and feel the uncontrollable shudders, the electric bolts and jolts and spasms. Then I want to experience the afterglow and twilight pleasures…’” The poetic writing style places you right in the emotional intensity of the moment.
In addition to the beautiful love story there is a paranormal element as well as an element of mystery, as we follow the main characters in their pursuit of justice in a case involving persons of power and privilege and a corrupted justice system. The story contains a cast of characters that warm your heart with their fierce dedication and loyalty to one another and show us what being a family is all about. A beautifully written story delivered with a writing style that you just don’t see too much anymore.
Beautiful story and very well written
By Benedicte Girault, Amazon/Smashwords Nov 2013 5 stars
The whole book is only poetry, softness, tenderness, restraint and very well written. It is far from words that mean nothing or novels riding the wave of unbridled eroticism. Everything has its importance; the words used or the characters involved who have a role to play in the outcome of this fascinating investigation.
A MUST READ!
By Anne B. Amazon March 2014 5 stars
The writing is easy and a smooth reading. It's hard to stop once you are in the flow.
When you first met Paul and Sam, you have to fall in love with them. Each boy/man for himself is an eye-catcher and heartbreaker from the bottom of his heart. As couple they're heartwarming and catchy. You nearly feel the bonding and their strong feelings for one another while reading. Both fitting perfect in this story full of passion, romance, drama and lots of love, that gets you caught from the first page. Once you're finished, you just want to hold them close to your heart and sigh deeply with a little tear in your eye and a smile on your face.
Justin South, you did a great job writing the story of Paul and Sam!
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