Book Reviews, Rants, & Raves!: One Thing Leads by Jude Dunn

That Lightbulb Moment - Where did Jude Dunn get the inspiration for such a dark story?

Ah, inspiration. The Greeks said it came from the Muses, the nine goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. The Ancient Hebrews understood it as the breath of God. Even if you take the more mundane definition from the Old French of “a breathing in,” it almost always means something good, a divine spark that results in wonder and perhaps majesty—if the humble artist that receives it is up to the task of handling the gift.

But One Thing Leads is anything but divine. It’s a dark, dark tale of lovers split apart by a devious, power-hungry playboy intent on snaring beautiful men to use as playthings in his sex ring of forced prostitution. So where did I get the idea?

It began in an innocent-enough way. I had an argument with a relative. Our relationship had been more than tense for a while, and all of a sudden I was hit with a realization. I found myself looking up and saying, “How did we get to this point?”

I thought about that and how one thing leads to another. What makes us take that first step down an uncertain path that might take us where we’d never want to wind up? In One Thing Leads Dion and Kenji fight—thanks to Grayson, the oversexed playboy—and Dion finds himself at sea. Grayson swoops in and becomes his “friend,” then gradually leads him into a life of debauchery until Dion suddenly wakes up to find himself faced with blackmail. Grayson will post online video of Dion blowing several men in a sex club—after he’s been drugged—unless he signs a contract to work as a prostitute for Grayson.

How does Kenji fight his way back to Dion? How do they overcome the incredible change in their relationship? One Thing Leads is my attempt to answer these questions. Below you’ll find a synopsis, a short bio of yours truly, and the requisite excerpt, freebies, and “buy me!” linkage. Click and enjoy. Who knows how far you’ll go?

Synopsis

What makes a young man go further than he ever thought he would?

Dion Bellamy is twenty-seven and studying social work at the University of Chicago. He has lived with Kenji Okamura, a construction worker, for a year and a half. Dion loves Kenji and passionately hopes Kenji feels the same, but he has never said the three big words. Then Grayson Sinclair, Dion’s schoolmate and a vivacious, oversexed playboy, comes between them.

One step at a time, barely aware where his steps are leading, Dion descends the slippery slope into a life of depravity. First, Grayson ensures Kenji is out of the way. Then he entices Dion to go clubbing with him, gets Dion drunk and high, and then takes him to a sex club, where he films Dion giving blow jobs to multiple men. He threatens to put the video online unless Dion signs a contract to work as a prostitute. Though he hardly understands how he reached this point, Dion must now figure out how to escape his fate and save himself.

About Jude

I’m a southern boy who lives in Chicago and enjoys fine wine, dark chocolate, and plays jazz piano from time to time. Most of all, I love writing gay romance and erotica that will touch your heart and make you laugh.

Links

Buy One Thing Leads < http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5545>

More info about One Thing Leads <http://www.onethingleads.com>

Read a chapter for free < http://www.onethingleads.com/s/otl-excerpt.pdf>

Site: http://www.judedunn.com/

Twitter: @jude_dunn

Pick up a free PDF or two of my unpublished stories: http://www.judedunn.com/stories

Tell me what you like, don’t like, and wish gay authors wrote about: http://www.judedunn.com/contact/

Excerpt:

“God,” Dion screamed, throwing his hands in the air in disgust. He and Kenji glared like dogs circling each other before attacking. Finally Dion broke the tension. “I need some air,” he said, then spun on a heel and strode to the bedroom. Kenji sat still as stone, listening to Dion slamming drawers as he found clothes suitable for going out.

How did this happen? I wanted to come clean. I thought if we talked about it—

After quickly dressing, Dion stormed to the front door.

“Where are you going?”

“Out,” Dion said without looking at Kenji. “Does that meet with your approval?”

“Dion, don’t be—”

The sound of the door slamming rang in Kenji’s ears. Footsteps fell hard and fast down the stairs. When they stopped, he looked away from the door. He closed his eyes at the muffled sound of another door slamming hard two floors below. When he opened his eyes a few minutes later, he looked down, surprised to see dots of blood on the seat of the recliner. He opened his hands and saw that his fingernails had broken the skin of his palms.

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Tour Dates/Tour Stops:

October 20: Parker Williams

October 21: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

October 22: Sinfully Sexy

October 23: Cate Ashwood

October 24: Jade Crystal

October 27: Inked Rainbow Reads

October 28: Velvet Panic

October 29: Amanda C. Stone

October 30: Kimi-Chan

October 31: Fallen Angel Reviews