ROUGH CANVAS (Nature of Desire #6) by JOEY HILL

SYNOPSIS

When his father dies, Thomas is forced to abandon a burgeoning art career in New York. As difficult as it was to give up his lifelong dream, it’s nothing next to walking away from the man he loves. Marcus taught him to embrace who he is, a sexual submissive who responds to the touch of only one Master. But why would the sophisticated Marcus need some farm kid from the South?

Then Marcus shows up and offers him a way to continue his art career and help his family. There’s only one hitch-he asks Thomas to spend a week with him in the Berkshires. Thomas knows he should refuse. But he’s never been able to say no to his Master.

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Reviewed by Gitte

Gitte:  ✯✯✯✯✯ Stars

“Accepting what people are, what they can’t change and loving them with every part of yourself anyway. That’s what love is about.”

So I had a blind date with a book. A book chosen for me by my book soul mate, Jenny. I had no idea where she would go but I LOVED where she went; because Rough Canvas wowed me in every way possible. Jenny did GOOD!!!

‘…moments too powerful to be contained by the human heart and therefore having a peculiar way of making the soul hurt, as if there was something to mourn in the midst of happiness. As if happiness itself couldn’t exist without shadows to define it.’

This story had so much emotion I think my heart hurt the whole way through. I didn’t just highlight a few sentences here and there; I actually highlighted whole pages and had to ring Jenny and read them out to her as the beauty of this Author’s writing stole my heart. Without question this is one of the most passionate, vivid and heartfelt stories I’ve read this year. Joey Hill put her heart into every word chosen; every sentence written. I felt incredibly involved and lived this story alongside Thomas and Marcus; our heroes. And that is quite simply what they were; heroes albeit emotionally damaged in many respects. So different, yet made for each other in every way. One complimented the other and brought their own uniqueness to heal and love the other.

“You see into the souls of others more easily. It should make me want to close all doors against you, because my soul is the last thing I want anyone to see. But—“

Now, if you’re not sure BDSM – Master/Sub is for you, be warned, this story has quite graphic scenes at times and even though nothing really shocks me these days even I winced a time or two. I may even have closed my eyes once. Not sure why as the words aren’t going anywhere so yeah that didn’t make much sense. But; I will say the intense emotions threaded through these scenes were simply stunning and extremely haunting. A love story ‘extraordinaire’ with humour and sarcasm breaking up the sombre undertones. Imagery through art.

“I wanted everything for him. I wanted to see him achieve every dream, embrace every desire. I wanted to protect him from anyone who would cause him harm or a moment’s pain, tear them apart with my bare hands….Do nothing but simply love him for everything he is, a creation to perfect to be anything but God’s gift to the rest of us.”

At times I ‘hiccupped’ my way through tears whilst having chills from the poetic and utterly heartfelt emotion. It took my breath away. I wish I could show you all through some of the passages that had me on my knees but I’d rather you pick up this book and see for yourselves.

“You’ve got to get him back, okay? Because you’re only going to be half of you without him.”

Marcus and Thomas both have an emotional story to tell. Whilst country boy Thomas wears his heart of gold on his sleeve, Marcus our city boy hides his behind an arrogant and aloof façade. The second chance they get comes with a complete baring of souls and hidden secrets.

‘What he did know was that Marcus’ way of taking him over fed his soul the same way his painting did. It fulfilled a yearning inside him that had no names. No form, only a dense substance that could choke him with feeling, like now.’

Their story is a beautiful journey of despair, love, family loyalty and second chances. It’s a story of when you find that one person who unlocks your heart and makes you truly feel and trust you can show them your soul and it will be embraced and loved for its very being. Pain and love intermingles to free these two beautiful souls to send them soaring together and it was quite simply stunning. This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone.

“You’re grace, faith. Hopelessness, despair. Violence and anger. Beauty.”

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Purchase your copy of ROUGH CANVAS here
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