[ { ROUGH CANVAS - GREENLIGHT [ ROUGH CANVAS - GREENLIGHT BY HILL, JOEY W ( AUTHOR ) JAN-01-2009[ ROUGH CANVAS - GREENLIGHT [ ROUGH CANVAS - GREENLIGHT BY HILL, JOEY W ( AUTHOR ) JAN-01-2009 ] BY HILL, JOEY W ( AUTHOR )JAN-01-2009 PAPERBACK } ] by Hill...

Nature of Desire #6

by Joey W. Hill

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.

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Romance, Erotica, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, LGBT

Paperback

First published September 12, 2007

About the author

"BDSM Romance for the Heart & Soul"

A submissive herself, Hill brings authenticity to her intensely emotional BDSM love stories. With over fifty titles and seven series, her contemporary and paranormal romances feature everything from billionaires, bikers, SEALs, firefighters, cops and housemaids, to vampires, mermaids, witches and angels.

"Joey translates the world of BDSM with such intense power and exquisite beauty. LOVE is the most powerful element entwined through the Dominance and submission.” –Goodreads, Pink Lady

Joey is the recipient of the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Erotic Romance, and she loves to hear from her readers!

If you're on Bookbub, she'd love for you to follow her:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/joey-...

You can also find her here:
Website: storywitch.com
Facebook: @JoeyWHillAuthor
MeWe: mewe.com/i/joeywhill
Twitter: @JoeyWHill

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+++++ intense and evocative stars.*****Re-read June 2013. Review edited June 9, 2013



Don't flag my spoiler. The sexy gif has been approved by Goodreads. I have the e-mail to prove it. Thank you.



Marcus said to Thomas' mother:
"Accepting what people are, what they can't change and loving them with every part of yourself anyway. That's what love is about." He glared at Elaine. "You take that away from him, you make him believe that kind of love doesn't exist…It would be better for you to shoot him rather than destroy him inch by inch, year after year. If you do that, you're not saving his soul, you're killing it. If you'd look into his eyes for once, you'll see it. How we love is our soul."

Raw and rough. Intense. Evocative. Thoughtful. Emotional. Beautiful.

Holy freakin' hotness! What a fabulous read! Rough Canvas is food for thought. Bloody brilliant.

I am so glad I did a re-read of my all-time favorite M/M book because there's no getting round it to state a simple fact. This book was even better the second time around and I will be re-reading it again and again. *Deep breath, Baba.* *swoon* *Be still my little heart.* Rough Canvas is a book meant to last forever. It's simply f@@@ing perfect, and there are no words that could do this story and Joey's writing justice. Rough Canvas is an amazing and unforgettable love story that provides a severe dose of darkness and sadness, however, the dark parts have been easily outweighed by a lot of light, beauty, love and happiness. Maybe you have noticed the book characters I added to my GR name. Among all those names two stand out. Marcus and Tyler. It goes without saying that these two men are Joey's brand of magic. In fact, reading this book shows more than one master at work, and I'm sure you can guess what I mean.

On a personal note
I was incredibly happy to see Tyler and Marguerite again. Granted, it was a short appearance, and yet Tyler succeeded to make my knees weak. Again. *swoon*

**********

Thomas left Marcus when his father had a heart attack and later on once again when his brother Rory had a bad accident. Thomas is a very dutiful and loyal son and therefore he went back to help his family and never returned to New York. Though one day Marcus comes to North Carolina to deliver Thomas his earnings from the work he left with him. When Thomas left Marcus it almost destroyed him. Coming back to Thomas was not only about art and fees. Marcus wants Thomas back and he's got a specific plan on his mind. Marcus wants Thomas to paint again and to reawaken Thomas' muse, Marcus takes him to the Berkshires for a week.

Marcus Aurelius Stanton. The Dom. New Yorker gallery owner. Foul mouthed. Thomas is sure that Lucifer would have looked like that. Temptation, a hundred percent Grade A, tightly packaged in a hard-muscled six-foot frame. Marcus is a very complex character. He can be gentle and his generosity is limitless and he shows a nurturing nature. All of that, however, was twined by a ferocious darkness. There is a reckless side to his personality, odd moments of melancholy that you will witness and unravel while reading Rough Canvas.







Thomas Wilder. Incredibly talented yet non-established erotic artist. After he lost his father and his brother had been crippled due to an accident, he had to deal with a lot of responsibility. On top of that, his family doesn't accept him the way he is. Gay. Thomas leaving Marcus was not only about his father and brother, he was afraid of his feelings. Thomas did accept that a man can want to have sex with another man, but he couldn't accept that they could love each other. He got too scared of where he was going with Marcus. Moreover, Thomas is not only gay, he is a sexual submissive. Thomas is concerned that his sexual preferences would send his mother over the deep end. Eventually though, Thomas has to face who he is and what he wants out of life.



Marcus and Thomas were arguing. Marcus said:

"At least she (Thomas' mom) knows what she wants is dead. What I want just refuses to be with me. Maybe I should compare notes with her on what's worse, for I swear to God sometimes I think if you were dead this would hurt less.

Thomas is insecure and misses the most important things because he's looking at some twisted image he's created in his head, full of faults and shortcomings. Marcus said:

"See yourself the way I see you. Feel the way my hands touch you, think about the way I look at you. I see all of you, Thomas. You think I don't, but I do. Hide it, don't hide it, I know all of it, feel all of it. You're mine. Just let go. Let go and see it. I always have."

Marcus is the man to give Thomas' mom a piece of his mind.

"Oh, for Christ's sake. Nothing is going to make your boy straight, Elaine. I didn't drag him into anything. But you're absolutely right. This is a battle for his soul, and while you may think I'm Lucifer, you sure as hell aren't God. This isn't about you or me. It's about the gift that defines his soul more than you or I will ever hope to do. If he doesn't have that for himself, neither of us will have anything."

"And while we're on the whole God thing, would you like to know what an ignored ulcer is? It's a suicide."

Loved their interaction.

"You're what my art's all about, Marcus. We see something and think we know it, understand it, but really we're lucky if we ever understand any more than a small piece about anything. The infinite of the universe is in each one of us. You're grace, faith. Hopelessness, despair. Violence and anger. Beauty."

"Pain. You overwhelm me," he said quietly. "And every time I see you or think of you, I can't grab a brush fast enough. I thought I couldn't paint you, but it turns out I've been painting you all along, from the beginning, before I even knew you."

"That's when I got it. The rough canvas. God paints our bodies over that, over our heart and soul. It's the eyes that tell us what we're really seeing, what's underneath. So all I painted in the picture were greens. Patterns, random slashes, shapes over shapes, shadows, emotions, it's all there."

The writing is outstanding and when it comes to Thomas' art the prose is just so beautiful. Joey always evokes so much depth and raw emotions in her stories. Gawd, Gawd, Gawd, I wanted to crawl into this book! Rough Canvas is utterly beautiful in its intensity and rawness and it grabbed me from the first page and never let go. I just didn't want it to end. With that said, I loved the evocative and thoughtful dialogue and you'll even find a light touch of banter as well. I totally enjoyed the interaction between Marcus and Julie. She is hilarious and a wonderful woman with a kind heart. Hence, I am incredibly pleased that Joey will tell her story eventually.

Also, I loved the way Joey showed us Thomas, the man behind the extraordinary artist. What did he need to be happy? His man, Marcus, love and acceptance, his art, his family and peace of mind. The author did a mighty fine job at defining every complex layer of Marcus and Thomas. Well, I already mentioned Marcus' multi-layered character. His beauty is not who he is. It's his armor and his way of coping with some very dark memories. In the end it was heart-rending to witness how the beautiful man came undone. It's difficult for a strong man and Dom to let go who is usually so in control of anything and everything. So, his meltdown in front of Thomas as well as Marcus' sexual surrender to Thomas was proof that he trusted Thomas to take care of him. Rough Canvas provides not many tender aspects, and I think that's the reason I cherished those rare moments all the more. This book has it all. Excellent writing, great plot, fabulous and well-developed characters, mesmerizing dialogue and an important message perfectly wrapped up in s-s-s-s-mokin' hot and very erotic sex scenes. Friendly advice, keep the fire extinguisher at the ready. On second thought, don't put the Kleenex box too far away either, coz I'm pretty sure you'll need more than a couple tissues.



Warning
Chapter eight and nine are not for the faint of heart. Rough Canvas contains very explicit sex and language, toys and bondage. Especially chapter eight and nine are not for everyone. Marcus and Thomas are visiting a BDSM club and the play is public.

Marcus, that's for you...



…and this…



…to pieces.

I truly regret that Marcus does not play for the other team.

Highly recommended if you love to read about a profound, rough, and multi-layered M/M story.


P.S. Rough Canvas gets the Babalicious Stamp of Approval.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+ Utterly Brilliant Stars

No matter what happens, I can tell you this. I will always love you. No matter what you feel you need to be, where you need to go, I’ll always know you’re mine. I understand that now.


How do you go about reviewing a book that touched you on such an emotional level, you're still trying to work through it?

Captivating

Riveting

Emotional

Erotic

Beautiful

Hands down one of THE best MM Romances I have had the pleasure of reading to date

In a word...

INCREDIBLE

Having read a few books by Joey Hill in the past, I knew going into this to expect a book that was as intense as it was well written. What I truly was not expecting was the range of emotions that this story would bring out in me.

Joey took 2 characters and painted an emotionally gripping story that will keep you reading from beginning to end completely unable to set it down.

I fell in love with Marcus in Holding The Cards. I couldn't get enough of him; the dry wit, the potent sexuality, everything about him...just GAH


Thomas was by far one of the most endearing characters I've read. The way that he came off both strong and vulnerable is no small feat for an author to show.


I'm in complete awe of this book. No amount of words from me will ever do it justice. I can sit here and regurgitate the plot for you, but I won't. I can sit here and attempt to write a lengthy review that this book deserves, but I won't. Because this is a book that you need to experience for yourself to even begin to come close to understand why I felt about it the way that I did.

When I’ve come inside you, lain on you, felt you tremble, felt that silence between us that has everything…you don’t think God is there? If there is a God, I’ve felt It then, and I know you have too.

I was a highlight slut through the whole book. There is not one chapter that I didn't highlight in this book. Not.A.One.

I knew that when I finally got Marcus's full past it would break my heart. And my GOD. It did and then some. I was an emotional, hysterically sobbing mess for a large part of the book (mainly the last 15%).

Sometimes when you lose everything, the last thing you want to do is remember. And telling is remembering.

This is no light read, and it's certainly not for the faint of heart or those never having read BDSM before. What it is, is a poignant, emotional, brilliantly written love story between 2 people that that are broken in their own way but learn to heal one another. Just beautiful.

All I can tell you is read it, read it, READ it.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to deal with what will most likely be a book hangover from hell after finishing this. And I thank you



For more reviews visit

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book is......AMAZING, WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, EROTIC, INTENSE, FABULOUS and so much more.......This is an excellent read, please don't be like me and wait to discover the awe inspiring Author that is Joey W Hill.



I started reading this book and was immediately drawn into the pages by the excellent writing of JWH, her prose flows beautifully, painting a vivid picture, immersing you into the book, grabbing tight and not letting go. Even when you have read the very last word and closed your Kindle, these characters are still with you.

Initially, I thought this would be a BDSM novel that revolves around the club scene and although we do have a glimpse of this, in the sexually intense scenes in chapter 8 and 9 (be warned, not for the feint hearted) this book is so much more than that.

This is the the story of Marcus, Master and Gallery Owner and Thomas, Slave and Aspiring Artist.

In brief, Thomas leaves New York, his life with Marcus and his life's passion of becoming an acclaimed artist behind, to return home to North Carolina when his Father falls ill. His Father dies then his brother has an accident with a tractor and is left crippled and in a wheelchair. This leaves Thomas no other alternative. As the eldest brother he is honour bound by his sense of duty and responsibility to those he loves to stay home and endure his new role as the Head of the family, taking control and running the Hardware Store, trying to live up to their expectations, not wanting to disappoint.

Without Marcus his Master, Thomas is a lost soul, existing rather than living, conforming, doing what is deemed to be right by his family and society.....but inside Thomas is drowning in his misery for what he really wants and needs. His submissive nature is taken advantage of by his bible thumping, religious, bigoted Mother and his bitter and broken Brother, who wallows in his own self pity. These two seriously had me considering anger management classes I was so cross!!!

12 months later Marcus walks into the store.....And. onto. the. page. of. my. Kindle......a vision of beauty, perfect in every way, he demands attention with a look alone, the culture and elegance of a GQ model and an arrogant confidence of knowing he gets what he wants!!...The epitome of a dominant, oozing sexuality from every pore and what he wants is......Thomas. At this point a very sexy Mr Gandy popped into my head.....Fan!!! Mister!!! Cold shower!!!...OK, I'm good.




Thomas is in awe of Marcus (still drooling!!) This modest farm boy who is quite and shy and ill at ease with strangers, puts his Master on a pedestal to be worshipped, happy to be a slave at his perfect feet. He wants to be consumed by him, Marcus completes him, he wants nothing more than to serve him....desperate to obey his Master's will.

But....his sense of duty to the family that depends on him alone stops him from realising his own passions and dreams of becoming an accomplished artist in his own right, holding onto his heart, trying to protect himself from the pain and the deep ache inside he has had since leaving New York. Knowing if he lets down his guard, he will be lost to all that is....Marcus.

Marcus needs Thomas, just as much as Thomas needs Marcus. Thomas's artistic talent leaves him breathless, his survival is dependent on Thomas...he needs him, loves him, wants him in his life. But, succumbing to this and sharing his vulnerability would destabilise him. He needs to use all his strength and control to try to keep Thomas......the man that holds his heart and life in his hands.

As a reader, we have an insight to both characters POV, giving us a window in which to gaze at their inner most thoughts, fears and delights, with neither of them aware of the complexities, deep emotion and the darkness buried deep within, that they are trying to keep hidden from each other. They cannot however, hide the emotional connection and the sexual tension that jumps off the pages and into your heart. They are lost souls needing each other, fitting together perfectly, their souls so intertwined that without each other they will never be whole. There is such a tenderness and beauty between them that it often brought me to tears, ripped me up and tore me apart.....my own heart breaking seeing the overwhelming love and devotion they have for each other.

This book is not all intense and dramatic, the Master/Slave relationship is in the bedroom, out of it there is a lot of humour between the two MC and the amazing cast of secondary characters. Kathy and Walter Briggs, I want them as my Grandparents...I just fell in love with them and Julie well, she has a wicked sense of humour and I want her as my new bestie.

Authors Note.....Yes, I had to read it right to the very end!!!! Joey W Hill in her Authors Note, describers her writing as giving the reader a moment of magic through written words. Ms Hill, truer words have never been said.......Thank you for my moment of magic, it was truly AMAZING.

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

FLAGGED FOR A WORK OF ART... SOME RIGHT DICKHEADS OUT THERE


Well this was going to be a 2 or 3 star read for me when I was about 40% in. Then it all sort of changed and I fell in love with the whole story. I did already love the characters a little bit but the writing became more poetic, the scenes became more special, the characters became more real.

The writing was truly beautiful.

Wheat colored grass, flowing, rippling like a lover’s muscles. Green flowing into the gold like interlocking fingers. Every part different, but all part of the whole. Birds spiraling and speaking in musical tongues, warbling, chirping, trebling the piercing shriek of a hawk. The occasional rasping calls of the crows, or the surprise of an owl’s hoot as the sun rose, giving warmth, a dying god’s gift, the promise of renewal as it moved inexorably toward the autumn cycle

I just don’t get the whole pleasure from pain thing so when that was going on I just wanted to leave it and read another book. But the five star reviews are all over the place so I knew there was something more.

I highlighted a lot of the second half of the book but am not going to leave quote after quote here, much as I would like to.


Families are funny really. You have a sort of love/hate relationship with them. I am a Catholic and I sort of thought the Bible tells us to be tolerant, to accept people for what they are. Gay, Straight, Rich, Poor, we are all the same in God’s eyes. Thomas’ mother is Catholic but I suppose she would be of the “old school” where Gay people were seen as evil. Actually she was a right fucking bitch for most of the book. I seriously would like to think if either of my sons came home and told me they were Gay that I would hug them and tell them that I had no problem with that.

SOMETIMES WHEN YOU LOSE EVERYTHING, THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS REMEMBER. AND TELLING IS REMEMBERING

Then we have the whole rural/urban setting. I am from a small village in the West of Ireland. Himself is from a city. He cannot understand how I could stand to grow up in a place like that.


Now I can understand his logic. I could not live there at this stage of my life. But when I was younger, I knew no different. It was home, it was family, it was friendship, it was my soul.



This is one book that I could just go on and on and on and on about but I won’t. Thanks to Irene and the gang for encouraging making me read it. It truly was a beautiful love story.




Of course I would love an epilogue a few years down the road, just to see where they all are. I even wanted to see if Rory got his head out of his fucking ass and redeemed himself. Silly boy

He only knew at one time he’d been able to translate all athe raw emotion of life to a canvas. Despite how close that emotion cut to his own life, his soul had somehow found a safe haven from which to observe without becoming a paralyzed part of it

He had a bashful tendency to look away when he smiled, but the smile was sexy, black Irish

Yeah, yeah, have to get an Irish bit in there!!

YIN HAD TO HAVE A YANG

[Dd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rough Canvas


"What therefore God hath joined together,let no one put asunder."

"It was easy when I thought it was sinful,something to do with the flesh.But what I'm seeing is more than that.It's love,and love isn't a sin.So how can God be so cruel as to give that feeling to two men or two women if it's a sin?"

Thomas is working in his family's hardware store in a part of rural North Carolina.It's of course very far away from New York City where he,a God gifted rising artist had resided for the last few years.But he had to come back when twin calamities struck his family—First when his father died and second when his younger brother Rory had a tractor accident and thus ended up in a wheelchair.

So leaden with responsibilities and guilt,he came home and took over as the head of the family.

But tearing him apart is the truth that when he left New York,he also left the other half of him.His best friend,his lover,his Master,his life...Marcus Aurelius.

Marcus,hard muscled six-foot of pure temptation,never opens himself to any kind of vulnerability.He owns galleries in NY and has a special talent of ferreting out true talent(which obviously made him so rich).The first time he saw Thomas,he was captivated not only by the artist's talent but also by the artist himself.And from the first time he claimed Thomas,he had known Thomas was his....

But he lost him.He lost Thomas to fate,when Thomas left New York and him.But now,he wants him back.So as the first step,he offers Thomas the deal that he can paint while remaining in North Carolina and Marcus will take care of selling his paintings in NY.

But Thomas had also lost his muse when he left Marcus.For him,Marcus was everything.But he couldn't have him.His family,especially his mother,a strict Catholic, can never accept their relationship...

"He was the prince of every fairy tale that had ever been written."

Not willing to give up,Marcus asks Thomas for one week.One week with him...

Do Thomas and Marcus finally realize that they can never live without each other?Do they accept their love for each other and realize that it is far greater than any religion?Do they finally surrender their souls to each other???

---Well you'll have to read the book to find out.


And readers I vow when Marcus will lay his heart bare,all of your hearts will break---

(to Thomas's mom)

"When he was living with me,there was one night...I couldn't sleep.I got some wine,came back and leaned against the bedroom door.There he was,asleep,the moonlight on every inch of him."

"Those incredibly talented fingers were on my pillow.He did that whenever I got up at night,to know when I came back.I looked at him and I couldn't speak,couldn't swallow.Couldn't even move."

He made a fist,pressed it against his chest."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.Never let him out of my sight even as I wanted him to stretch out his wings as far as they could go and soar.And at the bottom,top and middle of it all,I just wanted to stand there,just that way forever.Not disturb him.Just look at him and love him.Do nothing but simply love him for everything he is,a creation too perfect to be anything but God's gift to the rest of us."


I am declaring and I do not care what anyone says, that I am in love with these two amazing men!!!

[Rosalinda *KRASNORADA* · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rough Canvas is one of the best books I’ve ever read and it’s also my first M/M read. I am going to try my best to make justice to this AH-MAZING book with my review…



This is the story of Marcus & Thomas. They had been together in the past but they took different paths about a year ago.

Marcus is the Dom but he is also my favourite character in the book. You think he is strong, he knows how to control every situation but he is NOT. He’s got a heart too and you will end up loving him. He is also a smart ass and I have bookmarked most of the book with his sentences…



“What you want is for me to bend you over this fence and fuck you hard, fill you where you’ve been empty for far too long

Thomas is the farm sweet boy. He loves Marcus but he also loves his family so he is trying to keep them happy hiding his feelings.



“It doesn’t always get to be about what you want. Life sometimes is making the best of what you’re given

***May contain spoilers***

Elaine, Thomas mother, does not accept Thomas sexuality and she wants Thomas to marry a woman, Daralyn.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. Nothing is going to make your boy straight, Elaine. I didn’t drag him into anything. But you’re absolutely right. This is a battle for his soul, and while you may think I’m Lucifer, you sure as hell aren’t God. This isn’t about you or me. It’s about the gift that defines his soul more than you or I will ever hope to do. If he doesn’t have that for himself, neither of us will have anything”

I need to say that I loved the way Marcus always tried to convince Elaine about how amazing her son was. He got so passionate about Thomas and he always protected the artist in Thomas.

Marcus offers Thomas a way to continue his art career and help his family. But the deal is Thomas has to spend a week with him in the Berkshires.

"One week when you'll try to get me back in your bed"
"Oh, there won't be any trying on that one, Thomas. We both know that's not what's in question. You'll be in my bed "



Thomas obviously accepts Marcus’ deal…

If you only had one week to have something you always wanted that you could never have again, would you take it?
Yes. He would. Even knowing that walking away from it at the end of the week was more than he could bear.

Thomas has to fight his demons because in my opinion he doesn’t even accepts himself so there is no way he is gonna make his family accept him for who he is, an extraordinary person.

“Fuck you.”
“You do that well enough on your goddamned own. Run. Run from it all you want. Go home to your little farm and pretend there are all these noble reasons to be there rather than the truth, which is you’re a coward. Afraid to face who you are and what you want”

It’s a hard book, specially chapters 8 & 9 as Baba told me, I am not going to deny it, but it was also very FUNNY…

“How do you go about it with your little fiancée your mother wants to chain you to?”
“You leave her out of it”
“Your mother I will gladly leave out of any discussion involving sex. However, with respect to this girl… have you made out? How did you get it up? Who would you fantasize about to make her think it was all about her?”
“You arrogant son of a –“
“That’s what I thought”

”If I wanted to be psychoanalized every time I made a nasty comment, I’d go straight and find myself a girl”

“Remember, shampoo followed by conditioner. Use the ones in the black bottles.”
“God, I forget sometimes how gay you are”

As the week goes by their feelings get more and more intense…

”No matter what happens, Marcus. With Daralyn, with any of it, you’re the only man I want. Now or forever. The only man I’ll ever let inside me again”



“Then give me your pain Master. I can bear it as long as I know your lips will touch every mark when you’re done, signing it as your work”



Marcus is always proving his love for Thomas, in every single way, even if Thomas is not ready to fight the whole world to protect their love.

I loved when they met Cathy & Walter, God, I loved Cathy!

”Does your family live in the area, Mr…?”
“Just Marcus will do, ma’am. My family’s in this room.”
“When you know you’re worth loving, you can be a little imperfect”



And what about Julie Ramirez ? What a great character!!!

“I keep hoping you’ll come up to my place and just stand next to my bed naked and hold the vibrator. Now if you and Thomas did it… hmmm…like Thomas would hold me on his lap…he’d be naked too, of course, and you’d do the vibrator thing, and it would be like a real fantasy.”

I don’t blame you Julie, I’ve been dreaming the same since I started the book! ;)

I loved when Julie and Marcus were talking about Thomas and Marcus told her there was no way in hell he was going to give up on them. Aretha Franklin’s Ain’t no Way opening line was helping…

Ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
Ain't no way for me to give you all you need
If you won't let me give all of me

I loved Marcus sooo much, I know I have already said that but I can’t help it, he is a perfect hero.

"Years from now, when you've done what you think they wanted you to do and you're coming home every night to sit in your recliner with your beer gut and your passive aggression drowning in cable, you'll be hating that girl you married. The family you thought you loved. And you still won't be enough, because what they want is for you to be truly happy BEING SOMEONE YOU WERE FUCKING NEVER MEANT TO BE! "

And Thomas finally told Marcus about his feelings, aloud…

”I love you, Master. Love you… Come for me. Please.”
Love you… God, finally accepting it was as bad as dying



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

As their story comes to an end we get to know more about Marcus life and that was a hard part, I loved him more if possible after knowing about his past…



”If you stop loving someone, it’s easier to forget them.”

“It’s hard, especially for a Dom, to realize that to get what you really want you have to give up control completely, just hoping to hell that Fate doesn’t kick your balls into the back of your throat.”

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”You’re mine pet. Mine to protect and love”
“Same goes. I’m yours Master”

What a beautiful LOVE story, if you haven’t read it yet, go enjoy it NOW!

***Thanks Haven ladies, I loved reading this with Sammy & Laci!. Thanks Baba & Blacky for your support while reading this PERFECT BOOK***

[Blacky *Romance Addict* · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read this year! The quality of the writing and the depth of emotion got me by surprise, I really didn't expect it to be this good. But WOW!


If I had to describe this book with one word, it would be - EMOTION

It's there. All the time. In every sentence, in every scene. When they are together. When they are apart. Even with other characters. Just simply amazing.

I was hooked just with that first chapter. Thomas is dealing with his melancholy and memories of the one man he can't ever forget, and that man, Marcus, has just walked in his store offering a business deal. One week with Marcus doing a big order of paintings. After some reluctance, he accepts and their affair coininues for that week alone. I won't go more into the story, if any of you decide to read it, it should be new and amazing and unexpected :)

I'll just say - Marcus and Thomas had the most amazing chemistry, it was full of passion and love , and so beautiful it shocked me because it doesn't happen very often that you can FEEL their love through the pages. In here, you can feel it all the freaking time! While reading the book, half of the time I wanted to cry (and I did a couple of times), the other half was fanning myself for all the hot sex scenes and clutching my stomach when it was too emotionally intense. There were some very sweet times, and I don't know why but I wanted to cry at those too It's just that you know that they are going to go their own way once he finishes the paintings, so all the stuff they go through makes you sad.

Best scenes:
- when Thomas first sees Marcus in the store
- Marcus in the car after their first meeting
- their picnic, oh that was beautiful
- Thomas takes care of Marcus after the beating
- Thomas making the big painting that represents Marcus and him
- this one isn't my best, it was actually the most horrible scene in the book, but I have to put it here because it made me cry like a baby ( Thomas's stupid mother ruining that painting, that was just so fucking sad to read. Heartbreaking. )
- Marcus losing it, and Thomas bringing him back after his father died
- although the ending was just a teeny weeny bit too sweet for my taste, it didn't do anything to rock my adoration for this book. Loved it all the same :)

So, I'll ve looking for some other works from this author, this book is written in such a beautiful way, I want to read more like it

[Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please pardon me while I have a "moment"...

HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK IS EXQUISITE!

Joey W. Hill, new to me author, writes like an artist. This book felt like I closed my eyes and was listening to a masterpiece composition...music that rolled over me, harshly grabbed me and pulled me under as I was drowning, and then gently brought me back up for air.

The emotions in this book were felt so acutely in my heart, in my gut, in my fingertips, in my...ummmm...well, you know...

The first half of the book I felt so much loss and pain and protectiveness towards Thomas. And because of it, I became obsessed with how Marcus loved him and took care of him. But, very abruptly, not subtle at all, I found myself fiercely aligned with Marcus...even to the point of getting angry at times with Thomas for hurting him.

The most intense and ridiculously-well-written scenes (the BDSM club, the hospital, every interaction between Marcus and Thomas' mom) continue to haunt me.

And I loved the comic relief that the character of Julie brought to the book. I'm obsessed with her.

The book has BDSM in it, but not in a way that is in your face. I felt BDSM was used as a way to shine light into who our characters are in their core and why. For those who are not "fans" of BDSM, don't let that push you away from this book at all...you'll be missing out on a BEAUTIFUL love story.

READ THIS BOOK!

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tried not to spoil this book for anyone, but sorry if I did. My review consist of my opinion and feelings on this book. NOT the story line...that's what the book is for and also most of the awesome reviews featured on GR :D



Where do I begin with my feeling and thoughts on this book. . .this story that pushed me out of a safe place. Protecting myself from words written in books that can tear my heart, instill feelings within me for characters that may seem fiction to others, but oh so real to me. A book that can force tears . . . tears from eyes unwilling to shed.



A story that showed me love that strips you down till you’re vulnerable, love that holds the power to expose you to unbearable pain. A love you’re willing to beg for, even when it hurts. This is Marcus and Thomas' love.

"That's when I decided not to be afraid of anything. Then you came and I remembered true fear is knowing you have something you can't bear losing."

I don’t think, even with my feeble attempts, that I could express the depth and beauty of Marcus and Thomas’ story. Their beautiful story that’s so dark, but yet filled with light.



Together these two beautiful men were beyond intense, overwhelming in their passion and complete in their need for each other. It was amazing when they were together. And heartbreaking when I felt their pain and suffering, when torn apart.

I don't understand what it's like to lose someone when I'm not expecting it. Have my heart torn from me and be told it's something I just have to accept it."



At times I didn't think I could handle the intensity of Marcus and Thomas’ intimacy, or the depths they took it too, if I wasn't so prepared and eased in to it by the author’s talented words. Every word, every harsh scene added in was a necessity that built this story.



Even when I’m against having such a strong dominant and a submissive in stories (personal choice), I felt the importance of it being featured here between Marcus and Thomas. The role they played is a major one in helping them cope and survive the life their given and the past they've endured. But at the same time I didn't feel these roles were over used or forced on us readers.



There was still a lightness to their relationship when it was just Marcus and Thomas. Then when it changed to Master and slave I understand the need for it, Thomas’ need to submit to Marcus as part of his nature, the person he truly is, even when he himself held back.

Ssshh...See yourself the way I see you. Feel the way my hands touch you, think about the way I look at you. I see all of you, Thomas. You think I don't, but I do..."
"You're mine. Just let go and see it."

For Marcus’ the importance of being the Master was built from past experiences that pushed him to stay in control, when this was previously not an option when fighting for his survival. But even with this need, Marcus had to submit to Thomas, give his all, expose his darkest secrets, to truly commit to their relationship.

Marcus needed it, needed it like air, needed some outlet for the emotion that clogged in his throat and made his heart want to explode every time he touched Thomas.



Parabelle~ Hold On For Me
If you just stop to wind me up
I'll race on my way

And I will run as fast as I can
Just to see you safe
Just to see you open your eyes
And see how far you could go
If you just hold on for me

Time will overcome it always does but now
Am I the only one who sees the sad die young

And I will run as fast as I can
Just to see you safe
Just to see you open your eyes
And see how far you could go
If you just hold on for me.
From Thomas to Marcus when he needed him.

Marcus and Thomas' story will stay with me for years to come. Its perfect, amazing and beyond any ordinary love story.

A special thanks to Baba, for your support while reading this awesome book xx

"You're mine, pet. Mine to protect and love."

"Same goes. I'm yours, Master."

[Vishous · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have heard so much about this book and I always put it aside for one fine day, but that day came early because I was "molested" by several GR friends to finally read it :D
I never read the blurb, but I read lots of reviews of my GR friends and all of them were high rated (mostly 5 stars).

The reason I was "afraid" to read it was one character - Thomas - because I was afraid he would remind me of one other character which I seriously didn't like and annoyed me.

You know that "pressure" when you know you have to read something and immediately backs you of the book... well I think that was the reason why I had a rocky start with it. I seriously thought about not finishing it, but I decided to take a break and catch up later. Honestly I am glad I didn't give up.
At first I did like it, especially when I read Marcus POV, but later it all went down for me. The reason it all went down for me were the club scenes. Don't get me wrong, I was not disturbed or anything by reading it, not even happy or aroused or some other emotion, I was simply indifferent and actually didn't have the joy of turning and reading next pages. Maybe that sounds a little weird but that was how I really felt.
Everything except that part I really enjoyed, the rest of the book I really loved.

I thought I would love Marcus POV more but it turned up that the only reason I finished this book was actually Thomas - the character I was dreading to read about. Funny, I know :D

I won't write about the story because there are dozens of reviews that will make you read the book as soon as possible, so I will only write how I felt about it in the end.

The whole idea of the story was really excellent, I think that is one of the most beautiful love stories I ever read. I always love to read about that struggle with feelings, with decisions you make, with fears of your actions and in this story you have it on basicly every page.
The writing was simply amazing! I think that I never read so many breathtaking sentences in one book ever! I was literally mesmerized how beautiful it was written.

But through the first half of the book I had some issues. At first I didn't like Thomas that much, then I loved Marcus, then I loved Marcus with his POV, then I hated Marcus in Thomas POV, then I loved Thomas, then I hated Marcus in his POV etc. etc. etc.
It was pretty frustrated for me to read it, but then at the second half of the book it all changed. I believe the moment where it all changed for me was the moment when Thomas beat those assholes for hurting Marcus.

So here is what I think why was that moment essential for me to really start devouring the book - because I have mental issues and have to read about ALPHA gays, and even though Thomas was a submissive I kinda couldn't help but feel that deep down he has that beautiful, little, possessive, alpha feature even if it shows up only when protecting Marcus.

When it comes to characters I loved them and hated them, it really depended upon the chapter. I loved Thomas but hated his constant analyzing. I loved how he saw the things around him, and the things he valued. When it comes to Marcus I hated how he didn't want to say anything about him. And I usually hate that in any book... But I loved how he surrendered to Thomas in the end, and with him being a dom, made it more beautiful.

So when it comes to the story I would have rated it 4 stars, but in the end when I reread some of the quotes I highlighted I will give it a 5 star just because the writing was seriously amazing.

The quotes that I loved the most were this:

“I’ve never gotten in, so how the hell can I get out?” Thomas snarled. “You want me to be your family? You let family in. Knowing they’ll hurt you, you do it anyway, because that’s what love is. You let them in to hurt you, love you—”
“Leave you?”

“But what I’ve realized is that you’re the true problem. What you feel you deserve, the faith you have in us. The question isn’t do I belong in this world of yours, but do you want me to belong in it?”

“That’s when I decided not to be afraid of anything. Then you came and I remembered that true fear is knowing you have something you can’t bear losing.”

“You understand the darkness without ever having been in it. You see the world as it is, all its misery and pain, all the beauty that somehow rises above it, and you accept all of it. You accept me.”

So there Blacky and Shelly B, I told you not to be afraid of my review :D

[Shannon The Co-Captain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I don't even know where to start with this book. I don't think I could ever come up with words to do this book justice...If I could, I'd be a writer....It's just that good. So should I try to be serious?



It dawned on me while reading this at some point...



Now let's be clear so you're not confused...



Yeah this book really had me all tore up in about a million different ways. My emotions were running as high as my libido. This was a first for me where if you'd taken away the sex, the book would still have been good. Ok, if you think I'm suggesting you take out the sex....Well



I'm just merely pointing out the fact there is a whole lot more to the story than the nookie. Now if you were to take everything out but the sex, you would still be left with a good read ;-D Although I would suggest in investing in spare batteries.

This book seriously has it ALL!.

-Excellent writing : I was blown away by the quality
-Complex characters
-Hot Men
-Even hotter sex
-Mystery & Intrigue
As two added bonuses it has had some authentic Southern characters and my own personal top fantasy.

All I can say is you should read Rough Canvas. You're missing out if don't.

My final thoughts...

[Gigi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going right on my favorites shelf. Fantastic book. Heart wrenching, loving, spectacular. I can't say enough good things about this. MC Thomas is a sexual sadist, so if that isn't your cup of tea, you may want to skip this one, but the author does a great job of showcasing Thomas and his Master Marcus in a loving, concentual, committed relationship.

If you like high drama, deeply felt family issues, secrets waiting to be revealed, and a soul shattering passionate love between two men, I can highly recommend Rough Canvas.

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was emotionally raw and completely mind-blowing story... Complex, beautiful, artistic...

About

Love...



Pain...



Art...



Restrain...




Intensity...



Joy...




So too much and So not enough...

Insanely good!

[Vanessa Booked Up · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 Rough Stars!!!

Wow! Amazing. Intense. Erotic. Deep. Profound. Emotional. Hot!!!

Spoiler free Review

This book blew me away. Hands down the best M/M book that I have ever read AND an important one! Every ignorant pigheaded asshole who likes to throw the Bible at love needs to read this book!

Marcus and Thomas are one of the best love stories I have ever read. Joey W. Hill is a genius!!!

"“Sometimes when you lose everything, the last thing you want to do is remember. And telling is remembering”

“Accepting what people are, what they can’t change and loving them with every part of yourself anyway. That’s what love is about. You take that away from him, you make him believe that kind of love doesn’t exist… It would be better for you to shoot him rather than destroy him inch by inch, year after year. If you do that, you’re not saving his soul, you’re killing it. If you’d look into his eyes for once, you’ll see it. How we love is our soul.” - Marcus

^^^ One of my very fave scenes here.



If you have not yet ventured into the delicious world that is M/M romantic fiction - erotic or not - I urge you to have this book be your first! It's brilliant. It will break your heart and put it back together again.

Marcus and Thomas were together once, but family obligations and responsibility separated them. When we meet them, it's at this point and while they are functioning apart, they are barely surviving. They are totally two halves of a whole. Thomas is a promising but undiscovered erotic artist. Marcus is his manager.

Thomas is a North Carolina native and comes from a devout Catholic family. I loved how completely accurate this book was. I live in North Carolina and I am also Catholic. The difference between Thomas and I is that I have just lived here for ten years, and am from a much more liberal area where homosexuality is not nearly as frowned upon. Unfortunately, the way that the family and societal views about being gay are depicted in this book are pretty much how it is and worst. People tend to not understand what it is to be gay so, instead of seeking to learn what they do not understand, they judge and say things like That boy needs some Jesus in his life. It makes me SICK!! I think that being gay in today's society is what is was to be black in America in 1961.

OK, rant over and I do not want to go all political and religious but it needed to be said. ;)

All in all, this is a completely beautiful story about eternal love, sacrifice and healing. The fierce connection that these two men have for eachother is so strong, that it grabbed me from the first page. And I totally did not see some of the plot twits at the end regarding Marcus's past!! Just know that these are not two feminine guys in the least! They are two alpha MEN, each in their own way, that I would not want to wrong.

And OMG, the eroticism of this book?! Gahhh!!! This book is HOT SCORCHING!!!!! It's one of these where the sex scenes had symbolism to what was going on in the relationship at the moment. Very intense. Chapters 8 and 9?! Panties will go POOF!!!!

I seriously think I am a gay man trapped in a woman's body!! As spoken by the great Robert Downey Jr.



Yep! Pretty much! ;)

“Marcus knew how to make it stop hurting, and yet was the source of all pain, good and bad. Thomas didn’t care. He wanted it all.”

This was my second read by Joey W. Hill and both books that I have read of hers, I have LOVED!! She tells, what I consider, a FULL story. Her writing has so much depth and emotion that she pulls you into the fiber of these characters' beings to where they become a part of you. These definitely aren't quick, light reads. Her writing is beautiful and extremely character driven. She doesn't leave any part of her characters or her story unexplored. You get it all and I love that.

Highly, highly recommend this one!

“The art was the dot of darkness in Thomas’ life and the dot of light in Marcus’ that made them a part of each other, connected them.”

“I will take a lifetime of you, good, bad, terrible, to anything without you. I love you. And as much as you’re mine, I’m just as much yours.”

This is how I felt at the end...

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Ten stars!



Oh my goodness. Such a compelling, intense, emotional, carnal, hot crazy ride! The love story of Marcus and Thomas. Marcus, the dominant rich, scarred soul in love with the simple artistic farm boy unwilling to own up to his feelings or commit to his love of another man. The writing was exquisite. It brought out the feelings and raw emotions between these two men. The sexual tension and scenes were scorching hot. This is my first read for this author but definitely not my last . I'm amazed a woman can so thoroughly capture the feelings these men encompassed for each other, the tug of war Thomas felt between his love of Marcus and his commitment to his family in North Carolina and, most importantly, the carnal need to completely dominate the soul of his submissive. It was so raw at times, then other times the heart wrenching love the men felt for each other was captivating. Such a great book. I'm amazed at the author's flawless ability to incorporate such strong romance, eroticism and dominance all rolled into one book. It seems these days a book weighs heavily in one area. Or if an author tries to venture into both romance and eroticism or BDSM, one comes up way short. Not in this book. Flawless. It will be a re-read for me for years to come.



6 5 13 re-read

[Eda** · Rating 5 out of 5]

** 5+ “hold me together” STARS **

“But…who takes care of you?”

“YOU take care of me, pet. Just by breathing and existing, you take care of me in ways you can’t imagine.”

Oh wow... No words, man.

This was such an emotional rollercoaster for me. I am exhausted and suffering from a massive headache right now, but it was so worth it!

Marcus Stanton, you sexy, affectionate, broken beast!



** FULL REVIEW TO COME!! **

[Sammy Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was blown away by the intensity of these characters. I felt a myriad of emotion along this journey of love and discovery with Marcus and Thomas. Joey Hill's writing is BEAUTIFUL and RAW!!

Thomas


Thomas, the beautiful soulfull artist, raised on a farm in North Carolina. Thomas' outward beauty is just a reflection of his inner soul. He's respectful, kind, loyal, and unbelievably talented. He values family and is willing to sacrifice his own needs and desires, to ensure their happiness. Thomas is unaware of how beautiful he is and feels unworthy of Marcus' affection.

Thomas- "You’re a masterpiece, Marcus. You never imagine going to the Louvre and getting to take something home like that. Not a kid from a small rural town that doesn’t even register on cosmic radar."

Marcus is an enigma. He has the face of an angel and the body of a demi god. His beauty is his armor, but Thomas has cracked his shell and now owns his heart.

Marcus

Marcus- "What I have is surface. Grooming, good genetics, whatever. Whether you’ve rolled out of bed an hour ago without having had a shower for three days, or you’re wearing a designer suit, there is a deep perfect beauty to you that takes my breath away."

Marcus is also the art dealer that discovered Thomas in a back alley warehouse in New York. He knew immediately that he had to have him. Marcus is a Fierce, Erotic, Sexual Dominant and on that night, Thomas became his willing submissive.

Marcus - "I don’t want any other man to fuck you. Ever. The idea of it makes me physically sick, and so furious I can’t...”He stopped, shook his head.

Thomas - ”...you’re the only man I want. Now and forever. The only man I’ll ever let inside me again.”

This book is Raw and Raunchy. Brutal yet Beautiful in it's intensity. Marcus has a wicked tongue and holds nothing back as he confronts Thomas’ mother and brother on their selfishness and fights for what’s his. Fights for his heart.

“Oh, for Christ’s sake. Nothing is going to make you boy straight, Elaine. I didn’t drag him into anything. But you’re absolutely right. This is a battle for his soul, and while you may think I’m Lucifer, you sure as hell aren’t God.”

The secondary characters are rich and vibrant. From the old farm couple, that explains the irony of Thomas situation. He is giving up Marcus to make his family happy, yet he is the only “family” Marcus has. Then there is Julie. She’s that special friend that we all need in life. She’s honest, supportive and tells it to you straight.

Julie- “ You fucking Dumbass. Why aren’t you going after him, hauling his butt back here? He’s the one for you, Marcus. He was it. You’ve got to get him back, okay? Because you’re only going to be half of you without him.”

Marcus and Thomas are one of those couples that will set up a permanent home in your heart. They not only love, but are in awe of each other. A soul wrenching, magical love that will not be denied.

“ I can imagine you and us a million ways here, Thomas. I will make my home where you are, because you are my home.”

Read this Book! It is a part of a series but Can Be Read As A Stand Alone, which is how I read it. Even if you have never read M/M, make this one your first! You won't regret it!

Follow my reviews at www.readinghaven.me

[Richa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our love is a rough canvas
With jagged ends and rugged depths
So let's paint a picture together
Paint me in,
Paint you in
Paint the first time we met in
Paint the intensity, the fierceness that pulled me in
Paint the love, the lust, the passion that burned as bright as a fire in
Paint the fears, the pain, the vulnerabilities that tore us apart and brought us closer than ever in
Paint the time we were together in,
Paint the time we were apart in
Paint that sexy smile, that beautiful laugh in
Paint the precious tears you trusted me with in
Paint the times we fought in
Paint the times we made love in
Paint the things that tore us apart in
Paint the things that kept us together in
Paint the anguish in
Paint the joy in
And when it's done, put it on display
Let them look and let them judge
Let them call it a beautiful painting or a terrible joke
Let them cover it with splashes of white till everything bleeds out....
Let them obliterate all the colours....the swirls...the strokes...everything....
But it won't matter and it won't end....
Because our love is a rough canvas...
It's in you...it's in me
It's in us
And it's here to stay.....
Mine and Yours
Yours and Mine ~ R.S.



Alright, now that all that corny stuff is out of my system ( or may be not ;) ) I have to say this HOLY. FREAKING. SMOKES. !!!!

I loved, loved, loooooved it! The story, the characters, the horrors, the love, the emotions, everything....I loved it all!



The story in a nutshell : There's Marcus, a rich, polished, smoking hot, droolicious art dealer who loves Thomas, a quiet Southern farm boy, an artist who is equally drool worthy but in a more earthy and rugged way. When a series of disasters strike his family, Thomas leaves Marcus, his Master, his other half to go and shoulder responsibilities as the head of his family. Citing reasons such as guilt and the fact that his family needed him, he goes away...But is it truly the only reason or is it just a smoke screen for the real reason behind his leaving? Will Marcus see through it? They want to be together but to do that they'll have to fight for each other, have faith in each other...overcome obstacles like Thomas' family and Marcus' past, his personal demons. Will Marcus let Thomas in all the way? Will he trust him with everything? Will they be together again? and this time forever? This is just the bare skeleton....the story is so much more than just this.....just read it to find out the essence of it...the true story behind this inadequate description...



Read to find out more...


Marcus.....here's something for you....

You're sexy and you're strong
You're fragile and you're wrong
You're right and you belong (oh boy, oops, I mean man, you definitely belong)
You're are tortured and you're pure
You're innocent in ways you don't know....
I wish so much that you were real but I'm kinda glad that you're not because if you were listening to this song I know you would just run away....
I won't blame you if you did! :D



Thomas for you......

You're like the gentle breeze in the summer
Your strength, your resilience so hard to resist
You're like the calming, soothing balm to the wound
The gentleman in whose arms I would love to swoon(never done that before but there's always a first time, right? ;) )
But there's a side to you...dangerous and unexpected
The gentle breeze can turn into a storm....
With blazing eyes and powerful arms he will carry you along...
A man as irresistible as a hearth fire in winter. His proximity was heat and comfort at once.

[image error]

Some of my favourite excerpts:

Marcus: "....there was one night… I couldn’t sleep. I got some wine, came back and leaned against the bedroom door. There he was, asleep, the moonlight on every inch of him.....Those incredibly talented fingers were on my pillow. He did that whenever I got up at night, to know when I came back. I looked at him and I couldn’t speak, couldn’t swallow. Couldn’t even move." He made a fist, pressed it against his chest. “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. Never let him out of my sight, even as I wanted him to stretch out his wings as far as they could go and soar. And at the bottom, top and middle of it all, I just wanted to stand there, just that way forever. Not disturb him. Just look at him and love him. Do nothing but simply love him for everything he is, a creation too perfect to be anything but God’s gift to the rest of us.” (Ah Marcus....you make me speechless...)



Walter Briggs: “When you know you’re worth loving, you can be a little imperfect.....It makes all the difference in the world when you believe someone loves you enough that they don’t overlook the spot and the messed up hair. They just add it to the things about you that make them love you all the more." (You couldn't be more right, Mr. Briggs!)

[image error]


And Julie...you lucky, lovely woman....

Julie: “Jesus. Someone who can be that filthy and look that pretty needs to be beaten with a stick. Can I buy you dinner for helping me? Offer you sex? Dinner and sex?”
Marcus grinned, leaned back on his elbows next to her, his shoulder brushing hers companionably. “I’ll take you up on dinner, but I’m afraid I’m going to pass on the sex. I’d be a disappointment.”
“Oh.” She digested that.
He was prepared to add more clarification if needed, something to salve the ego, but then she brightened. “Oh, for Christ’s sake, you’re a man. It’s sex. Can’t you close your eyes and pretend I’m a guy? We can turn off the lights and I’ll talk deep, like this.” She mimicked what he thought sounded like a frog with a bad cold.( :D Lol!)



Marcus: “Accepting what people are, what they can’t change and loving them with every part of yourself anyway. That’s what love is about.....How we love is our soul.” (Could I love this guy more than I already do? Hell, yes!)

For Marcus and Thomas! :


They all deserve a big round of applause!!!



And there are so many other moments that just made me go all dreamy eyed and teary....may be I should just copy-paste the whole book here :D .....but I won't spoil it any more....ok, maybe a little bit more.....

It made me laugh. It made me cry. It moved me. It shocked me. It horrified me. It delighted me. I loved it all. And sometimes my heart just about broke for those two.....



Elaine said it all so eloquently: "The way you look at each other, even in the most casual moments. The way the air around you just seems right when your loved one’s in the room, in the house.” Her eyes were distant, soft. Sad. “The way you finish each other’s sentences, think of thoughts the other one has a moment earlier. The way you laugh and smile easily with each other, at jokes that if other people said them, it wouldn’t be the same. And still, none of that comes close to describing it, you know? It’s this feeling so much a part of you that you don’t have to feel it.”

“I thought…it was easy when I thought it was sinful, something to do with the flesh. But what I’m seeing is more than that. It’s love, and love isn’t a sin. So how can God be so cruel as to give that feeling to two men or two women if it’s a sin? I’ve always believed God to be compassionate. Loving."

And in the end.... What therefore God hath joined together, let no one put asunder.



My first M/M romance and now I'm a complete goner....

Give yourself a pat on the back if you've read the review till here... ;). I did. :D



I'll go now before I embarrass myself any more by being my version of poetic and corny....but I have to say this one more time HOLY FREAKING SMOKES!!!!(Don't know what it means but it just keeps popping in my head :D )

Love doesn't care about boundaries, it doesn't care about religion, race, gender, position, looks....nothing....love only cares for the heart....it looks only at the heart....and there are no boundaries or barriers if two people are destined to be together....if they are connected at the heart...

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book in one word: Passionate
From Merriam Webster's dictionary:
Passionate
1
a : easily aroused to anger
b : filled with anger : angry
2
a :capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling
b : enthusiastic, ardent
3:
swayed by or affected with sexual desire

Talk about running the gamut of emotions...Marcus and Thomas pulled them all out of me, whether I liked it or not. I can't say that I enjoyed every aspect of this story, but I CAN say that each scene, each word, seems calculated in such a way as to place the reader within the story, to not only observe from the pages but to be present for this journey. Just as a submissive like Thomas is led to accept things that he normally wouldn't because he places himself in the hands of his Master, I felt like I was made to accept things that I normally shy away from. Joey W. Hill writes a very powerful story, and it's not very pretty at times. This is a messy love story, one built on love but then broken. My thoughts are a bit messy as well, but let's face it: some stories just can't be explained. A reader has to take the journey to fully understand this kind of intensity.

MY LITTLE BITTY SYNOPSIS: (more of a breakdown, really)
Thomas is a simple farmboy, but not simply a farmboy. His passion is painting...and Marcus.

Marcus is an art dealer with a discerning eye...both for art, and for men. Over a year ago, he set his eyes on a simple farmboy and his remarkable talent in painting.

Thomas and Marcus began an intense and passionate affair in which Thomas realized his desire...no, his need for domination. Those simple midwestern roots can't hold up against the force that is Marcus. In Thomas, Marcus found a man who may seem naïve, but in reality is simply innocent and modest. Their affair is blazing hot, and they find in each other a comfort that neither has known. One man with a past that seems to not even exist, and the other with a past that will ultimately drag him away...and it finally does, when Thomas' conservative roots and family tragedy take him back to his simple life. A life that is now simply existing without Marcus in it.

Until, over a year later, Marcus shows up at his door, and Thomas' world comes crashing in on itself. The offer: One week with Marcus, one week of painting, one week that will ultimately pay the multitude of debts that his family has accrued. He can't resist, and they both realize that they simply can't be apart any more.

”One week when you'll try to get me back in your bed.”
“Oh, there won't be an y trying on that one, Thomas. We both know that's not what's in question.” Marcus' lips curved. Thomas felt his cock respond as if on a chain that Marcus could jerk to atteniton whenever he wished. “You'll be in my bed...”

MY THOUGHTS:
Let me say: I'm not a hard core reader of BDSM novels. I actually prefer more slap and tickle type stuff than true BDSM with whips and pain...humiliation seems to be my hard limit, and that was in this book in my opinion. I have a feeling that may be arguable for some lovers of this subgenre but it was there for me, and the scene that it is in is the reason I took off a half star. Not necessarily because of the humiliation, but because I felt that there was a broken trust there, and it horrified me, simply horrified me. Plus...maybe it's just because the club was for gay men, but it was so much about the act of sex, the humiliation and titillation, the raunch and loss of sensuality and trust, that it became all about what the Master wants, not what they thrived on as a couple. I don't understand that mentality, AT ALL. I don't see sex as a sport, and that's what the club was about...not to mention what happened in it. This twenty page scene was the only part about this book that I didn't LOVE.

That being said, after that scene, after this ultimate breakdown of emotions that I couldn't understand, Marcus and Thomas had this odd sense of peace. It totally boggled my mind. In the few books of this subgenre that I've read, the Master is always right. The Master can do no wrong. The Master doesn't apologize. It's the submissive's heart that is laid bare, the submissive's soul that is flayed, over and over again. SUBMIT to your Master! Give him everything! And I never truly feel as if I connect with the Master at all. I admire from outside the pages of the book, for sure. But that's all I do. Within THIS book, however, Marcus reveals just as much, if not more of himself than Thomas does. In fact, although for most of the book, Thomas' family, their prejudices, his responsibilities, his homosexual hangups, and such take front and center stage, it is Marcus who really and truly has great epiphanies. And that was remarkable to watch.

”A true submissive wasn't forced to submit. He was simply shown the right room in his soul. Sometimes when he stepped into it, he wrapped his way around his Master's heart and tugged him in right after him.”

For the first time, I truly felt as if there were a M/S relationship that felt balanced. Thomas and Marcus balance each other out, and they understand each other like none other.

THIS MAY BE SLIGHTLY SPOILERISH...but I think it could very well convince some hesitant readers to give this a shot.
One thing that I loved about this author and this story is how even those “judgmental Christians” weren't constantly viewed as villains. Thomas' Mother in particular says and does some awful things during the course of this story. Being a Christian myself, I get tired of being painted in that light. Every religion has it's good and bad. And I loved that Thomas' family is shown to have true love for him, despite their prejudices. They were raised to believe something one way. How are they at fault for having a hard time changing a belief? That's not wrong. That's character development, that's learning and growing as a person. What they learned, and what I thought Miss Hill was trying to convey here, is that it's not for people to judge. Whether or not Thomas' family wholeheartedly accepted Thomas' homosexuality, whether or not anyone does, it's ultimately between that person and God...not that person and his fellow man. God. I was so, so glad to see God, of whatever religion, painted as a reality and not made out to be some fairy tale. Too many non-believers out there who ridicule my beliefs, and I tend to stop reading if someone preaches tolerance but doesn't practice it. So a big thank you to the author for that one.

I was absolutely taken in by the consuming passion that Thomas and Marcus feel for each other. I felt like they were both in this constant state of awe, each time they touched or looked at one another...

”You're a masterpiece, Marcus. You never imagine going to the Louvre and getting to take something home like that. Not a kid from a small rural town tat doesn't even register on cosmic radar. ”

The thing about these two is that they know that the love that they feel for each other is there...they sort of work backwards on their emotions for the entire book. Through sex, through pain, through devotion and the slow trust that builds, they realize that they really can't live without each other, that theirs is a love so rare, a passion so intimate, that they have to find a way to make it work.

”Thomas stood in the manacles, vibrating , overwhelmed with words he couldn't say. Didn't know if he knew how to say them, because they contained all the heartbreak of the world mixed with it's ephemeral joy. Waking to the aroma of breakfast when he was eight. Feeling the heat of the setting sun on his skin while falling asleep on Kate's back at ten. Turning and seeing Marcus for the very first time. 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 the happiness. As if happiness itself couldn't exist without shadows to define it... ”

And I cried...what utter trust and devotion that Thomas showed Marcus! What pain Marcus had that he kept withholding, and what a miracle that they found each other. If this is how Joey W. Hill writes, I will do my best to harden myself against the crazy and just roll with it, because I can drink her words like wine.

”Then give me your pain, Master. I can bear it as long as I know your lips will touch every mark when you're done, signing it as your work. ”

[DKristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first and certainly not my last Joey W. Hill read. I hope that I can do the beauty of this book some justice with this review; but I am already prepared to fall short - because you don't come across a story with this kind of intensity, love and depth every day.

Rough Canvas tells a story of deep love. It is erotic at its core but if you want a story that is going to touch you physically alone this is not that kind of book.

Thomas



The artist... the farmers son... the lover... the fighter... Thomas is an artist with a deep soul. He tries his best to take care of his family to protect those that he loves and to be there for them putting his wants dreams and needs on the back burner for those he holds closest to his heart. Thomas grew up in the country of North Carolina and has a great deal of trouble accepting his sexuality. A sexuality that was not accepted by his family but one that drives his erotic art, his inner muse, and brought his reason for living into his life...





Marcus



The businessman... the hustler... the charasmatic... the truth... Marcus on the outside is gorgeous. He's perfect in every way imaginable. Refined like a fine wine he only gets better with age. Those deep green eyes however hide behind them a broken man. A man whose life taught him not to want, or need anyone or anything. A man whose life made it necessary for him to only trust himself and no one else. From the outside looking in he is dominant, selfish, crass at times, demanding, and not forthcoming. That is until he finds something that he thought he never would have. The thought of having it, of losing it, of allowing himself to let go of his need for control - is one that drives him to possess it wholly while pushing it away entirely...





"I never got past your eyes. Couldn't sketch you. I look at you in my mind, in person, it doesn't matter...it's like an angel escaped from heaven and gave you his face. But that day I stretched the canvas, the way I felt about you had gotten so huge inside of me that I knew I was going to do something. Had to do something."



"That's when I got it. The rough canvas. God paints our bodies over that, over our heart and soul. It's the eyes that tell us what we're really seeing what's underneath. So all I painted in the picture were greens. Patterns, random slashes, shapes over shapes, shadows, emotions, it's all there."



PASSION



LOYALTY



CONTROL/SUBMISSION


FAMILY


LOSS


LOVE




Rough Canvas is a story rich in themes that we all encounter in life. It is a love story, a true romance, that will move you. You may shed tears, smile, laugh, hurt, and fear. Will Marcus and Thomas navigate their complex lives and their inner demons; the barriers that life puts in their way? Will love win out over everything else? Is it enough? Well you'll have to read it to find out...

[Rach · Rating 5 out of 5]

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!! I love you Marcus and Thomas.

This book was an emotional journey. It made me feel

THEN

WITH A BIT OF

AND A BIT OF ANGER (with the prejudice)

BUT I FINALLY FELT


Marcus is domineering, protective, cultured, loving, determined to have his own way and guarded

Thomas is committed, loyal, loving, caring, creative and was able to see people's hidden depths

Together their love grew and their commitment to each other broke down the barrier which existed in their relationship.

FAVOURITE QUOTES-
"A man looks at the person he loves, and sees his compass. A man can command all the physical aspects of his world but if his soul is lost, well...it doesn't mean much"

'He'd been a talented artist. But Marcus had opened the well inside Thomas to connect to a muse whose inspiration was pure magic, drawn from what the heart of love and life was all about

'A mans soul was a fragile thing when this close to the surface, very much like a butterfly'

[Awilk -never sleeps- · Rating 5 out of 5]

I only have a few things to say about this book that I just could not put down.
1. Wish I was a male.
2. Wish I was gay.
3.Wish I was submissive.
If these wishes could come true, all I would need to die of happiness is a Marcus of my own.

Now my thoughts on this book. I liked what I saw of Marcus in the first book of this series, Holding the Cards(?). Lot's of my friends said this one was brilliant. Turns out I have very clever friends. I locked myself away from a houseful of teenagers, started to read this thinking I would give myself an hour of peace, and ended up coming out of my room with the whole damn book finished.

Marcus is delightful to read about. This man has a heartbreaking story, and you only get little bits of information as you get into the story.

Thomas annoyed me a little. I can understand why he did the things he did, but I don't believe in turning my back on love. It is a precious gift, and not all of us get a chance at it. Thankfully he came to his senses, but he took his damn sweet time.

I enjoyed all the other characters, even though some of them only had tiny parts. Joey W Hill has a voice in her writing that I love to listen to. She paints such vivid pictures, that I want to stay in her world. Will keep on reading her wonderful stories, but I don't think she can do better than this one.

[Renée · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread. I can't believe how I could forget the power of this book. Especially the second half. So, so good.

Original review:
Wow! Let me start by saying that BDSM isn't really my "thing" to read, but I saw so many compliments about this book, so I decided to take the dive. I'm so glad I did. The BDSM starts fairly strong at the beginning, which explains why Marcus and Thomas are in lust with each other, each giving the other what they crave with their intimacy.

However, the BDSM begins to take a backseat as we see the evolution into love, or rather, the acceptance of their love for each other. It's a smooth transition, and it was eloquently written. They still keep the D/s relationship in the bedroom - it's just that this book isn't about BDSM, it's about their relationship, and that's what draws me into this story!

This is my first Joey Hill book, and I will definitely search other titles after this one.

Marcus and Thomas were in a relationship for over 2 years, until Thomas had to return home to North Carolina to help run the family business after his father's death. After over a year apart, Marcus comes to him, and then we see the past, the present, and then the unfolding of their future.

This story was gripping, raw, emotion-stirring, and gut-clenching. There were some amazing quotes in this book:

"You don't change people by living up to what they think you are."

"If I could stay, if it was only about what I wanted, I'd stay until you got tired of me and kicked me out. I swear it."

"I don't mean look at his hair when he's brushing it, or his jaw for a shave. He never looks at himself. It's his face that got him out. But it's his face that lost him his soul. The way he looks at you, son....he thinks you're holding it for him."

"You know you're every fucking miracle in my life, right? Everything that's told me I ever did anything right?"

Please read this book. If you like BDSM, if you don't. If you love to read about two broken men who mend each other, they just don't realize it, this is the book for you. It's not light or fluffy. But it's perfect!

[BevS · Rating 5 out of 5]

2024 Re-read. OMG...12 years since I originally read this masterpiece. Sublime, just sublime.

Re-read May 2017. This is my absolute favourite love story ever with BDSM, and yes, I have got that the right way around. The BDSM is not the be all and end all of the story, it's a LOVE story first and foremost. The writing is truly beautiful, and chock-full of feels. It's almost poetic and flows so smoothly, the MC's Thomas and Marcus are to die for and the secondary characters make you want to shout at them and then hug them. It's a very tasty piece of erotic literature indeed, and deserves all the plaudits it's had over the years. There is also a free little Christmas vignette that the author did as a sequel First Christmas. Puddle of goo big-time.


***2012 Review*** Love, love, LOVE this book. I love Joey Hill's books, she's such a wonderful writer. This one was obviously different because she doesn't normally do M/M stories, but what a book! Thomas' character was wonderful - strong when needed, intuitive at times, full of love for his family (even when they didn't deserve it!) AND for Marcus (even though he couldn't admit to it). Marcus was extremely dominant but underneath he'd been hurt badly by his own family, and had needed to distance himself to survive. Of course, it had my pre-requisite Happy Ending, thank goodness, and is definitely my favourite of hers.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense, Ruthless, Relentless, fucking Fantastic….

My first read of Joey W. Hill work, and what I felt while reading it and when I think of it, is like walking in a museum of erotic art and admiring every single piece, and become with a sense of wonder and beauty, and a breathless excitement!!! Truly a love masterpiece story, a moment of magic through those written words…



The “Art Pieces”

Thomas
“Strong, sexy exterior and a steel core, with a generous, shy heart “
“A man as irresistible as a hearth fire in winter”


Marcus
“One in the world with a drop-your-pants-because-I’m-going-to-fuck-you-now voice.Temptation, a hundred percent Grade A, tightly packaged in a hard-muscled six-foot frame. Overpowering Marcus’ green eyes. So green. Peaceful, turbulent, beautiful. “


The club (that my kinky side ADORES)



Marcus past / Thomas loyalty to his family



Their soul shattering passionate



Go “Visit” … 100% recommend!

[It's just me Shelly B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about Love and Acceptance.......

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

If I had to describe this book in one word it would be.....DELICIOUS! It was simply beautiful from start to finish. Even through their struggles and hard times, I was still so in love with these two characters.

This book is about Marcus and Thomas' and their journey to find love, trust and acceptance. Acceptance not only with each other but with their families and their past as well.

The Characters

Marcus he was rich, powerful, sexy, an alpha male, gorgeous from head to toe, stubborn and had a mean temper. But his love for Thomas was so beautiful!

Thomas....oh Thomas he was my favorite. He was good looking, a southern boy, an artist, a submissive and completely unaware of his appeal. I fell in love him more and more after every page I turned!!! This is what Thomas thought of Marcus,

"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."

I absolutely loved this book. It portrays everyone's need to be loved and accepted by someone no matter their differences in life. It was poetic and filled with so much emotion, from sadness to happiness and everything in the middle. I'm not very good at writing reviews and I will never be able to give this book the review it deserves but if you haven't read it you should start it......SOON!

Oh yea, by the way, this book was HOT too, on FIRE!!!!

"Then give me your pain, Master. I can bear it as long as I know your lips will touch every mark when you're done, signing it as your work."

Happy reading!!!!!

[Isabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was intensely mind-blowed by this book! It was written by Joey W. Hill’s artistic hand! It is unforgettable, intense, and it’s absolutely beautiful! It’s about much more than sex, than dominance/submission, much more than passion or friendship… It is about devotion and love, between two men, Marcus and Thomas, destined to be together!

This book is a real piece of art, it is so well written! I was inside the book, experiencing such intense feelings! Every time that Marcus said to Thomas “breathe”, I was making the same exercise breathe Isabel, breathe… everything will be ok… Thomas will stay, he loves Marcus, Marcus loves him… they will be together…, because I got so attached to these characters that I found myself on an emotional roller coaster!




"The infinite of the universe is in each one of us. You’re grace, faith. Hopelessness, despair. Violence and anger. Beauty."


I can’t say that I prefer a scene rather than another, but when they were dancing Aretha Franklin’ “Ain't No Way”, it was amazing…

"Ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
Ain't no way for me to give you all you need
If you won't let me give all of me

I know that a woman's duty
Is to help and love a man
And that's the way it was planned

Oh but how can I, how can I, how can I
Give you all the things I can
If you're tying both of my hands?

Oh, it ain't no way
(Ain't no way)
It ain't no way
(Ain't no way)
It just ain't no way, baby
(Ain't no way)
Ain't no way, baby
(Ain't no way)
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me

Stop trying to be someone you're not
How cold and cruel is a man
Who paid too much for what he got?
And if you need me like you say, say you do
Oh then please, please
Please don't you know that I need you?

Oh, it ain't no way
I tell you that it ain't no way
It ain't no way, it ain't no way, baby, no
It just ain't no way
It sure ain't no way
It ain't no way for me to love you
If you won't let me
No way
If you won't let me
Ain't no way"

[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio 4 stars. I was hesitant about getting the audio because it’s an M/M narrated by a woman. Turns out the narrator did a pretty damn good job. She nailed Marcus’ arrogant and sarcastic tone. If she had given Thomas the southern accent that his character called for, I would have rated the audio 5 stars.

Story – 4 stars. I can’t give 5 stars to a book that gave me a headache from the amount of times I banged my head from wanting to choke the MCs and certain members of Thomas’ family.
This book right here was all about the angst and the feels!! Damn.

There is a lot of back and forth between Marcus (Dom) and Thomas (Sub). It gets frustrating, but there is no doubt these guys love each other. And they are possessive and protective of one another. I think that’s why I couldn’t give up on this book.

I’m not a fan of bdsm, and this book had some cringeworthy sex scenes. But that didn’t distract me from the actually love story.

That’s it because this book left me all kinds of exhausted.

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was high-grade combustible, so insanely erotic, I wouldn't recommend anyone reading it in public. If you want lots of kink and smexy scenes and intense screwing, look no further. If you like angst and drama and emotional rollercoasters, this one's a keeper. But it drained me. There was so much emotional baggage and so much back and forth, back and forth, and arguments and not feeling worthy that I need a few shots just to settle my nerves.

[*J* Too Many Books Too Little Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I stumbled upon this one looking at some lists on Goodreads. Clearly I am late to the game. I tend to shy away from books with BDSM elements but so many recommended this one, depsite having those same feelings.

At first I wasn't sure this one was going to be for me. All the way up to the scene at the club, honestly. But then everything sort of changed. And I ended up really loving this.

The writing was great - and only got better as the story went a long.
Thomas was frustrating at times. Maybe it was the constant push and pull. It was exhausting. And heart breaking. Guess that's not just on Thomas.
The book was a bit long and wordy.

BUT. The rawness. The intensity. The emotions. The love between Marcus and Thomas. It was gripping. It was everthing.