Cover Reveal! The German Cover for “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold!”

So here it is! I am so excited. This is the German cover of The Boy Who Came In From the Cold.

According to Julia Schwenk from Cursed Verlag, the German publisher, the new title will ber Alles Mit Ihm, which means roughly Everything with Him.

Julia explained that the reason the title had to be changed was, The Boy Who Came In From the Cold “…would be ‘Der Junge, der aus der Kälte Hereinkam,’ but that sounds just awful in German.” *laughs* “In English it has such a nice melody but in German none at all…”

Well, melodic or not (you decide) I like Everything with Him. It fits the theme and ideas and mood perfectly. I’m quite happy with it!

And get this! Also according to Julia that book could very well be in print as early as a few weeks from now! I could be holding a paperback of one of my books in German in less than month. I can hardly wait.

And I will post a picture!

Remember always!
Leap and the net will appear!
BG Thomas

“The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” is Going to Germany!

I am very excited to announce that my novel, “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold,” will be translated into German!

Cursed Velag, the publishing company that bought the rights to translate my holiday novella, “Bianca’s Plan,” will be releasing the book—possibly as early as December of this year. I can hardly believe it. Apparently Julia Schwenk, from Cursed Velag, was dying to tell me, but of course had to wait until contracts were signed and Elizabeth North—owner and publisher of Dreamspinner Press—could tell me first. Contracts were signed at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany this week. According to Elizabeth 250,000 people attend this event every year, with over 20,000 vendors in eleven buildings! I can scarcely imagine and imagining is my job!

Some of you may remember that I announced earlier this year that “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” is also being translated into Korean. I guess that is a considerably more difficult undertaking.

According to Ms. Schwenk, “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” will be getting a new title. A close to literal translation of said title would be “Der Junge, der aus der Kalte Hereinkam.” In her words, “…but that sounds just awful in German. In English it has such a nice melody but in German none at all…so we will change the title.” She will let me know. Or Elizabeth North will, I’m sure.

Sometime in the next year I will be holding in my hands hard copies of my “Boy” in both Korean and German! Of course I won’t be able to read a word of either but—Korean and German! I’m just saying.

Who knew five years ago (not quite that) that a guy who had never had the nerve to send in a manuscript to a legitimate and respected publishing company would have just recently signed his 26th contract, most with that selfsame publisher? It hardly seems possible and much more the stuff of—dare I say it—dreams?

So I have said it before and I will say it again and again. It is never too late! Pursue your dreams! Believe in them.

Leap and the net will appear!
BG Thomas

Book Review: The Boy Who Came In From the Cold by B.G. Thomas

It was quite a thrill to be contacted by author Jamie Deacon and have her tell me that she loved my novel, “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold.” I get so busy writing, writing, writing, yes, and writing that next project, novella, novel, that I tend to forget people are just now discovering a book I wrote what feels like a century ago! LOL! However, on top of her wonderful email, she wrote a review for her website and it brought happy tears to my eyes! The original posting can be found RIGHT HERE Check out her site RIGHT HERE. Is really quite lovely!

GayListBookReviews 2

Many consider the concept of love at first sight to be little more than make-believe, the stuff of fairy tales and ancient myths. However, those who have experienced it, that immediate flash of recognition inspired by a single glance, will swear to its existence. Wherever you stand on the issue, there can be no denying the instant and powerful affinity that sparks between the heroes in this sweetly sensual novel by B.G. Thomas.

Desperate to escape the small town where he lived with his abusive stepfather and cowardly mother, Todd Burton fled to Kansas City with only a few possessions and his dreams. Six months later, these dreams are in ruins. He has no job, no real friends, and insufficient funds to pay the rent on his squalid apartment. Evicted by his landlord in the midst of a blizzard, Todd is sheltering in the lobby of an apartment building when a handsome man offers him a place to stay. Confused as to the stranger’s motives, as well as the fact that he is openly gay, something Todd has been brought up to despise, he must either put his faith in him or trust his fate to the snow.

It’s been a couple of years since Gabe Richards last let a man into his heart, and the emotional scars of the break-up have yet to fully heal. He has a successful career, a stunning apartment, and plenty of good friends. If he’s conscious of the void in his life where a partner should be, he chooses not to dwell on it. When he persuades Todd in from the cold, those closest to him warn him against being taken for a ride. Yet, something about the younger man—his dark beauty mixed with a touching vulnerability—renders him irresistible. All Gabe can do is follow his instincts, and hope that his generosity won’t get him hurt a second time.

The Boy Who Came In From the Cold is a story of coming out and falling in love, and is every bit as tender as it is sexy. Though there is little in the way of real conflict, the author’s warm style and obvious sympathy with the characters made this a true delight to read. He also does a wonderful job of portraying Todd’s turmoil as he wrestles with his sexuality. The reader is privy to his every doubt, his every blinding realization, and his struggle will surely resonate with anyone who has ever undergone any crisis with their identity.

Buy Links:
Dreamspinner
Amazon
Amazon UK
B&N
Kobo

~~~~~~~~

Jamie Deacon lives alone in a peaceful spot close to the River Thames in Berkshire, England, and has always been just a little out of place—the only redhead in a family of brunettes; an introvert far more at ease with dogs than with people; a connoisseur of simple pleasures in a society intent on the quest for wealth and fame. Despite an outward cynicism, Jamie is a romantic at heart, and, when not immersed in a book, can mostly be found writing emotionally-charged stories where beautiful young men clash, bare their souls, and ultimately fall in love.

https://www.facebook.com/JamieDeaconAuthor

Top 2 Bottom Reviews: The Boy Who Came In From the Cold

How fun to see this review of my second novel, “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold.” I loved writing this book and it has been wonderful to see reviews like the one below. That you Jerry! You have made my day. And you all can find not only the original review by clicking RIGHT HERE, you will also find the wonderful review website Top 2 Bottom Reviews. I love this site! Miss it not!

Top to Bottom Reviews 2

Title: The Boy Who Came in From the Cold
Author: B.G. Thomas
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Pages: 284
Characters: Todd Burton and Gabe Richards
Sub-Genre: Romance
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm.
Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.
To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

Review:

The Boy Who Came in From the Cold by BG Thomas is a wonderful story of two men with so much baggage they hardly know what to do with it, yet somehow find each other and make it work.

Todd Burton has had enough pain in his short life. He moves to the big city looking for a dream and to search for a brighter future. But it quickly turns out to be much harder than he thought. When he finds himself homeless in the middle of a blizzard he is totally unsure what to do with himself.

Gabe has had horrible luck with men. When he found his partner in bed with his friend, he has stayed away from love ever since. But when he sees the young man in front of his building, he cannot help but to try to help the guy. What starts as “paying it forward” turns into looking forward to the future, and what it can do for both men.

The Boy Who Came in From the Cold is easy to read with very strong characters. I liked how these two characters found love and the journey they had to get there.

Recommended!

Reviewed By: Jerry

Buy Links:
Dreamspinner
Amazon
Amazon UK
B&N
Kobo

“The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” is a Rainbow Award Finalist!

“The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” is a Rainbow Award Finalist!

Okay… I am sitting here, tears ready to roll, trembling with excitement and so stunned I can hardly find words…

My novel, “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold,” is a Finalist in the prestigious Rainbow Awards! It is in the category of “Best Contemporary Romance.”

I never thought I had a chance during the nomination period and here I am in the company with such writers as Amy Lane. Andrew Grey, Feliz Faber, Shira Anthony, Venona Keyes, Pd Singer, Sue Brown, Tj Klune, Heidi Cullinan, Marie Sexton, and Zahra Owens!

I don’t even know how to wrap my mind around it!

I know this much. Being a finalist with such writers makes me a winner already. I am so happy and so honored. OMGosh!

Thank you to the amazing Elisa of Eliza Reviews!

Thank you to all the judges!

Congratulations to all the writers, everyone, in every category!

(((HUGS))) and Namasté,
BG Thomas

Review of “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” From Mrs. Condit & Friends

Review of “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” From Mrs. Condit & Friends

Posted by Josie Goodreads on July 17, 2013

“Todd! Are you okay?” Gabe asked, alarm capturing his features. I don’t know, Todd thought. I have no fucking idea. Because as wrong as he’d always been told such feelings should be, his heart was telling him-singing to him-that nothing have ever been so right.

GENRE: M/M
RATING: 4 Sweet Peas!

Todd Buckman came to the Big City full of dreams and aspirations. Escaping from his indifferent mother and abusive step father he wants to make something of his life, become a chef, like all the chefs he’s watched on TV, but he soon he finds nothing but a pile of ash in place of his dreams. Homeless and destitute in the middle of a snow storm, with nothing more than the clothes in his back Todd has no idea which way to turn when Gabe Richards, offering kindness and his sofa for the night, takes pity of the young man he spots sheltering from the weather in his building’s lobby.

Gabe Richards is a lonely workaholic who just can’t walk away from the young man he sees in need, so he offers a roof over his head and friendship, as well as a shoulder to cry on. Initially attracted to the young man, who he at first mistakes for a gay hustler, Gabe sees in Todd a chance to repay kindness he once experienced. Soon the two men slot into an easy camaraderie. But can they have more?

As both men fight their attraction to each other can Todd accept that he might be gay, and that Gabe might be more to him than just a friend? And can Gabe trust again, trust Todd with his heart as well as his possessions?

I enjoyed this book, it had a quirky gentle rhythm to it that kept me hooked, and I kept sneaking it out when I shouldn’t, just to read a few more pages. It’s written from alternate POVs and I’ve never read a book with so much internal monologue, although at times it seemed a bit too much, it was lovely to follow Todd as he comes to the realisation that’s he’s not quite as straight as he thought he was. Gabe was so sweet and trusting; through his own internal musings we got to know so much about him, why he thought nothing of helping Todd, a stranger, and why he was reluctant to take it any further than friendship.

The story is full of richly detailed secondary characters, Tracey, Gabe’s fiercely protective friend and colleague, Cody, Todd’s unexpected confidant are just two, and Peter, Gabe’s boss who warrants a special mention, he was flamboyant, witty and charming and just perfect, especially when he regales a starry eyed Todd with how he met Gabe.

This book is just delicious; it’s humorous and funny, quirky and charming, an all-round fabulous read. It’s a perfect way to spend a few hours, and recommended for anyone who wants a Cinderella type story full of angst, heartbreak, surprising twists and a happy ending.

http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index.php/?p=13190

The Boy Who Came In From the Cold by BG Thomas: Review at Mrs Condit’s

CONDIT

“Todd! Are you okay?” Gabe asked, alarm capturing his features. I don’t know, Todd thought. I have no fucking idea. Because as wrong as he’d always been told such feelings should be, his heart was telling him-singing to him-that nothing have ever been so right.

GENRE: M/M
RATING: 4 Sweet Peas!

Title: The Boy Who Came In From the Cold
Author: BG Thomas
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Publication Date: May 29, 2013
Length: 284 pages

BLURB: Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm.

Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.

To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

JOSIE’S OPINION: Todd Buckman came to the Big City full of dreams and aspirations. Escaping from his indifferent mother and abusive step father he wants to make something of his life, become a chef, like all the chefs he’s watched on TV, but he soon he finds nothing but a pile of ash in place of his dreams. Homeless and destitute in the middle of a snow storm, with nothing more than the clothes in his back Todd has no idea which way to turn when Gabe Richards, offering kindness and his sofa for the night, takes pity of the young man he spots sheltering from the weather in his building’s lobby.

Gabe Richards is a lonely workaholic who just can’t walk away from the young man he sees in need, so he offers a roof over his head and friendship, as well as a shoulder to cry on. Initially attracted to the young man, who he at first mistakes for a gay hustler, Gabe sees in Todd a chance to repay kindness he once experienced. Soon the two men slot into an easy camaraderie. But can they have more?

As both men fight their attraction to each other can Todd accept that he might be gay, and that Gabe might be more to him than just a friend? And can Gabe trust again, trust Todd with his heart as well as his possessions?

I enjoyed this book, it had a quirky gentle rhythm to it that kept me hooked, and I kept sneaking it out when I shouldn’t, just to read a few more pages. It’s written from alternate POVs and I’ve never read a book with so much internal monologue, although at times it seemed a bit too much, it was lovely to follow Todd as he comes to the realisation that’s he’s not quite as straight as he thought he was. Gabe was so sweet and trusting; through his own internal musings we got to know so much about him, why he thought nothing of helping Todd, a stranger, and why he was reluctant to take it any further than friendship.

The story is full of richly detailed secondary characters, Tracey, Gabe’s fiercely protective friend and colleague, Cody, Todd’s unexpected confidant are just two, and Peter, Gabe’s boss who warrants a special mention, he was flamboyant, witty and charming and just perfect, especially when he regales a starry eyed Todd with how he met Gabe.

This book is just delicious; it’s humorous and funny, quirky and charming, an all-round fabulous read. It’s a perfect way to spend a few hours, and recommended for anyone who wants a Cinderella type story full of angst, heartbreak, surprising twists and a happy ending.

JosieSignature_zpsca0ff49b

The Boy Who Came In From The Cold — Review At Jessewave

cropped-headerImage31

Title: The Boy Who Came In From The Cold
Author: B.G. Thomas
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Buy Link: The Boy Who Came in from the Cold, Dreamspinner
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: Novel
Rating: 5 stars

A Guest Review by Sammy

Review Summary: A novel that travels beyond the idea of a “good samaritan” and revels in the idea that to “pay it forward” is much more than a quaint cliche.

Blurb: Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm.

Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.

To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

Review: “But please remember this also, if nothing else. Remember the words of Albert Einstein: ‘There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.’”

I will admit that I did not set out thinking this novel was going to be a five star read. I was worried, you see, worried that it might be a story based on some old tired cliche. You know, we’ve all read them: abused small town boy comes to the city with big dreams only to have them dashed…homeless, he finds a truer than life good samaritan and they fall hopelessly in love.

So, you see, I was totally unprepared for this novel, The Boy Who Came In From The Cold by B.G. Thomas. It was far from tired, and certainly no fulfilled cliche. Instead, it was poetry. A lyrical dance that carried me far beyond the story into the heart and mind of its heroes.

Yes, this novel was, at its heart, a lesson in how when a person decides to give back–to “pay forward” some of the charity that had been shown to them in their past, they will actually reap more. And, yes, at its core, it held the hint of a good samaritan parable; one man reaching out to help a stranger, to lighten his load and care for him in his need. But, you see, this story was so much more than that.

B. G. Thomas takes us on a journey. He goes inside the mind of a young man who has denied who he is for most of his life. Fighting back years of abusive behavior from his stepfather and the heartbreak of a weak and uncaring mother, Todd Burton has more, much more to fight than the cold and his poverty. He has to fight the man within who cannot allow himself to be what he is…a man who is attracted to other men…a boy who has repeatedly fought off the the idea that he could be gay.

However, that is not what made this story uniquely different. Please, I do not mean for this to sound unkind or cast aspersions on other stories that may have a similar themes, but what sets this author’s novel apart is how very intelligently it is written. B.G. Thomas takes what is an admittedly tried and oft told story line and infuses it with provocative language and characters that push against the stereotype.

Todd and Gabe don’t “fall in love”. Instead, they fight against it with almost every breath. One because he must deny who he truly is and the other because he has made the mistake of “saving” someone before and painfully lost his heart in the process. The author keeps us on the edge of our seat waiting for Todd to run away again, for Gabe to place yet another brick in the wall he has built around himself. Along the way, he tosses in quotes from notable sources juxtaposed against his own clever prose to remind us of our own frail humanity.

The Boy Who Came In From The Cold does not just encourage us to keep an eye out for the one who is in need, it reminds us that we all will at one time or another be that man in need. This story makes the bold move to believe there is hope in a jaded world of where men and women fight for basic rights; that there is within us the ability to be a “good samaritan”, if we only take the risk.

I highly recommend The Boy Who Came In From The Cold by B.G. Thomas. It is a five star read!

Original Link: http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2013/07/14/the-boy-who-came-in-from-the-cold/

Review of “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” from Jessiewave Reviews

Review of “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” from Jessiewave Reviews

Rating: 5 stars

A Guest Review by Sammy

Review Summary: A novel that travels beyond the idea of a “good samaritan” and revels in the idea that to “pay it forward” is much more than a quaint cliche.

Blurb: Todd Burton has had enough of small-town Buckman. His abusive stepfather calls him a fag; his friend Austin makes him realize he may be gay, but Todd doesn’t want to admit his stepfather is right; and he dreams of being a chef. Three good reasons to flee his hometown and pursue greener pastures. But when Todd reaches the big city, his luck runs dry. Soon he can’t pay his rent and gets evicted. In the middle of a snowstorm.

Gabe Richards is a wealthy businessman with enough wounds of his own to make him afraid of ever being intimate again. But when he sees Todd outside his building, freezing to death, he takes pity on him and takes him in from the cold.

To their mutual surprise, Todd and Gabe find themselves drawn to each other. “One night” turns into a week. Maybe letting a man in from the cold can melt the ice around Gabe’s heart—and maybe getting evicted will turn Todd’s luck around.

Review: “But please remember this also, if nothing else. Remember the words of Albert Einstein: ‘There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.’”

I will admit that I did not set out thinking this novel was going to be a five star read. I was worried, you see, worried that it might be a story based on some old tired cliche. You know, we’ve all read them: abused small town boy comes to the city with big dreams only to have them dashed…homeless, he finds a truer than life good samaritan and they fall hopelessly in love.

So, you see, I was totally unprepared for this novel, The Boy Who Came In From The Cold by B.G. Thomas. It was far from tired, and certainly no fulfilled cliche. Instead, it was poetry. A lyrical dance that carried me far beyond the story into the heart and mind of its heroes.

Yes, this novel was, at its heart, a lesson in how when a person decides to give back–to “pay forward” some of the charity that had been shown to them in their past, they will actually reap more. And, yes, at its core, it held the hint of a good samaritan parable; one man reaching out to help a stranger, to lighten his load and care for him in his need. But, you see, this story was so much more than that.

B. G. Thomas takes us on a journey. He goes inside the mind of a young man who has denied who he is for most of his life. Fighting back years of abusive behavior from his stepfather and the heartbreak of a weak and uncaring mother, Todd Burton has more, much more to fight than the cold and his poverty. He has to fight the man within who cannot allow himself to be what he is…a man who is attracted to other men…a boy who has repeatedly fought off the the idea that he could be gay.

However, that is not what made this story uniquely different. Please, I do not mean for this to sound unkind or cast aspersions on other stories that may have a similar themes, but what sets this author’s novel apart is how very intelligently it is written. B.G. Thomas takes what is an admittedly tried and oft told story line and infuses it with provocative language and characters that push against the stereotype.

Todd and Gabe don’t “fall in love”. Instead, they fight against it with almost every breath. One because he must deny who he truly is and the other because he has made the mistake of “saving” someone before and painfully lost his heart in the process. The author keeps us on the edge of our seat waiting for Todd to run away again, for Gabe to place yet another brick in the wall he has built around himself. Along the way, he tosses in quotes from notable sources juxtaposed against his own clever prose to remind us of our own frail humanity.

The Boy Who Came In From The Cold does not just encourage us to keep an eye out for the one who is in need, it reminds us that we all will at one time or another be that man in need. This story makes the bold move to believe there is hope in a jaded world of where men and women fight for basic rights; that there is within us the ability to be a “good samaritan”, if we only take the risk.

I highly recommend The Boy Who Came In From The Cold by B.G. Thomas. It is a five star read!

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2013/07/14/the-boy-who-came-in-from-the-cold/

Review of “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” by World of Diversity Fiction

Review of “The Boy Who Came In From the Cold” by World of Diversity Fiction
Reviewer: Lynn
Four Stars

This was the perfect read to brighten my rainy day mood. I was swept off my feet with this sweet, feel good read.

In this novel, we find Todd Burton watching the snow start to pile as he worries where he is going to go. He snuck into an apartment building for shelter. The thin coat he was wearing couldn’t fight against the elements of the blizzard forming outside. The man who let Todd in the building comes down to check on him.

Gabe Richards knows the man downstairs is lying. He has seen the type before. He knows he stay away, but he can’t. Gabe goes downstairs to talk to the young man he let into the lobby. He believes the man is a hustler. After being burned when his heart was in the http://sean-norris.com/?p=1123right place, Gabe still offers food and sex for money.

Todd can’t believe the large, sexy man thinks he’s a hustler. Being from a small town and having a bigot for a step father, Todd is more than offended. Insulting the man, so he would go away was easy. After getting caught, Todd has to eat crow or be kicked out in the cold.

Gabe knows what it’s like to need a hand up. He’s been in similar shoes as Todd. Allowing him to stay in his apartment and sleep on the couch, Gabe sets out to show the young man that bad things happen, but you have to dust yourself off.

I loved the in depth background we got to see with these characters. I was so glad to see Gabe and Todd finally take that leap and trust one another.

The side character, Peter was amazing. I hope we get to see him again really soon. I need more of him!!

I give The Boy Who Came From the Cold, 4 stars. B.G. Thomas is going on my Must Have shelf from now on. I love a well written, sweet story.

http://sean-norris.com/?p=1123