theaverdone writer

Stories

Never meet your hero, don't tattoo his art all over your body, and definitely don't fall in love with him. When up-and-coming artist, Asher Blakely, is invited to compete for a prestigious art mentorship hosted by his hero, the reclusive celebrity artist Leviathan Marks, he’ll do whatever it takes to win. Because Asher isn’t just any fan. He’s spent hours of pain and thousands of dollars turning Leviathan’s art into tattoos on his skin. But the more Asher gets to know the mercurial Leviathan, the more he starts to fear that maybe he never should have met his hero, that maybe Leviathan is no hero at all. Lev Marks collects people like paintings and he’ll stop at nothing to add Asher Blakely to his halls. But after luring Asher to his ancestral castle perched atop a tidal island, Lev starts to have second thoughts. Because Asher’s art is a mirror showing Lev all the worst parts of himself, and he can’t risk his secrets getting out. What Death Forgets is an MM modern gothic romance featuring -master painter x art prodigy protégé -hurt/comfort -anxiety and ADHD rep  -touch-starved MC -angst -age gap  -forced proximity -creepy castle -limerence to insta-love -mutual obsession -spicy Perfect for fans of Saltburn, Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, Sierra Simone's Thornchapel series, and A Picture of Dorian Gray.

Never Leave, Never Lie by Thea Verdone

The lies that brought them together will tear them apart. Alek and Ian’s relationship is built on lies and the cracks are starting to show. A pianist gifted with synesthesia, Alek sees sounds and hears colors and transforms all of his emotions into music. But no matter how hard he tries to hide behind a facade of apathy and seduction, he can’t escape the dark past that haunts him. Contractor Ian sees the beauty in something destroyed by neglect and his obsession with fixing extends beyond historical buildings. But when Alek’s self-destructive tendencies turn their relationship to ruins, Ian fears Alek is the first project he’ll have no choice but to abandon. Now the Gothic Victorian mansion they’re renovating is the only thing connecting them. Alek will do anything to keep Ian with him. Except tell the truth. Because Alek is lying about everything, starting with his name, and when Ian learns the truth, their house of cards will collapse. Never Leave, Never Lie is an angsty MM modern gothic romance that will appeal to fans of mental health representation, relationships in crisis, hurt/comfort, and a hard-fought happily ever after.