PRESSKIT: Hot Head by Damon Suede

Named by Goodreads as one of the "Top 100 Romance Novels of All Time" on a 2014 list that included Gone with the Wind, Outlander, Jane Eyre, and Sense & Sensibility.

Named in Bustle's "13 Romance Novels That Should be On Every Woman's Bucket List" in Fall 2015.

Picked by Romantic Times as one of their Favorite Firefighters in romance on 9/11/2012.

“Hot Head starts with a slow, yearning, pining build, and ends in a conflagration. This was everything I wanted a romance to be: sweet, sexy, touching, angsty, and about best friends who are deeply committed to each other as friends on so many levels before they ever touch each other.” (Courtney Milan, NY Times and USA Today Bestselling author of the Brothers Sinister series)

"5+ stars… Desert Island Keeper... Hot Head is a book you will want to savour...a plot that grips you and makes your stomach ache... an unforgettable story... gritty... raw... delicious... I felt as if I was living this story rather than reading it. The city was alive and the atmosphere sparkled underneath the mosaic that made up the Big Apple… Hot Head is more than a romance… Everything in the book is on a grand scale with no apologies. Entertaining, vibrant and original, the writing is fresh, the protagonists kick butt, and oh! Before I forget, the sex is off the chart. Hot Head kept me on the brink and will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended." (reviews at jessewave)

"Up front, this is one of the best M/M romances I have read lately... The story is simple but hot as hell, the sex is so good I probably for the first time in a long, long period, read it all instead of “mentally” skimming it... It had that level of romanticism that makes your heart ache good... What I really loved of this novel is that both Griffin and  Dante are men in one piece, there are no half measures, either you totally love or you don’t love, and when they make a decision, their love is full and complete, without exceptions. I strongly recommend this novel to all romance lovers, I’m sure you will love it as much as I did." (Elisa’s Reviews and Ramblings)

“Awarded the Golden Nib: for books that knock our socks off!

I had high hopes going into this read… and I was not disappointed. It's magical and beautiful even when it gets down and dirty and completely gutter-talk raunchy. Or maybe especially then, because that's who these guys are. Not only is there hot sex, but it is hot, emotional sex, just what we female readers love, and I'd dare say one or two guys reading this story will put it on their one-hand-read shelf. I rate the first kiss in this book as the hottest, sweetest, best first kisses I've ever had the pleasure to read… The one thing this book has that no other does is Mr. Damon Suede and his unique and authentic voice… I will definitely recommend this read as a raw, emotional, very hot, worth-every-penny read. I've re-read it three times now, and reading it over so close together, it should get old, but it hasn't. That's Golden Nib worthy!" (Miss Love Loves Books)

"Hot Head by Damon Suede Gets You Hot Under the Collar!

Hot Head is Suede’s first incursion into the gay romance genre and what an incursion it is... This is not your run-of-the-mill gay romance. All of the usual formulas apply: friends-to-lovers, gay-for-you, out-for-you, gay-for-money, all of this with the hottest, most steamy homoerotic sex scenes I’ve read, and yet…the story is about none of that and so much more than that... All of this takes place in a New York described so vividly that it took this reader away from the real world for hours at a time. That, my fellow readers, doesn’t happen to me very often, and I cherish it. This book completely fulfilled all of my requirements for a 5-star romance read… If you are ready to be scorched, read it!"  (Viv Santos at Queer’d Magazine)

"Five stars! This is not just a love story, but the author also observes tough topics like gay bashing and New York fire fighters experiences from 9/11. I loved so many quotes from this book; Mr. Suede has such an ability to paint a picture. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel; the storyline was compelling, the sex scenes hot and emotionally driven. But, what made this book even better than just a love story was its realistic look at living in New York as gay firefighters. The author dealt with serious issues like gay bashing and 9/11 without getting maudlin or overbearing. This is a must read book." (Bea’s Hive)

“Rated 5 Gold Crowns and a Recommended Read!

By a third of the way into this book I already had that love/hate thing going on that I relish. I loved the emotional content, the grip-you-by-the-gut angst, and the very real and difficult aftermath of being one who survived a terrible ordeal when others, friends, didn’t…  Every trope was wrapped up in Griff’s gruff longing, and Mr. Suede’s unique, fascinating voice and made, if not new, at least wildly entertaining and fresh…. Add to all this the zingingly fast prose, the raunchy voice, the down and dirty need oozing out of every thought Griff has, and smeared all over the page in gritty dialogue and plain, no-muss language, and all the way through this, I knew I should have been getting on with my own business, but I just could not put this book down.” (Laurel at Readers’ Roundtable)

“Talk about steamy hot men and lots of emotion! You've got it and more in Hot Head. This story revolves a great deal around 9-11 and I've got to say it really adds to the story. The work is written in an exuberant, fast-paced manner. I couldn't put it down once I picked it up. Damon Suede writes a great mix of comedy and heart. I felt like I was right there, practically inside Griff's skin as he dealt with his life and feelings. And sex? Oh my...I had to find a fan and a cool drink... It was so worth it. Damon Suede's writing really shines when Griff and Dante get horizontal. If you want a heartwarming story, filled with lots of heat in all sorts of ways, grab a copy of Hot Head.” (Nymphaea for Whipped Cream Reviews)

"5 out of 5 Delightful Divas!

Damon Suede’s first novel, Hot Head is one of those books you will either love or hate… Why did I love the book? Two words: Griff Muir. He’s a fascinating, complex character… one of those characters that you empathize with from the first page… by page 320, he was my hero…. New York City shines, as do Griff and Dante – they are real guys, act like jerks, curse, make mistakes – and the sex between the two? Whoa. Mr. Suede takes their lovemaking to a new level of hotness… I loved Hot Head and recommend it highly. The two main protagonists leap off the page and every aspect of their characterizations felt authentic. Damon Suede has delivered a page turner of a freshman novel and if Hot Head was amazing, then I eagerly await his second book." (Lasha at Dark Divas)

"FIVE STARS! A coming-out m/m romance whose heroes are truly straight, not merely rugged and closeted… I would guess that the emotional content is more than enough to melt the hearts of female readers; as a male, I can state with certainty that the graphic sex scenes are enough to arouse all but the most doggedly straight men. … I can recommend this book without hesitation to both one- and two-handed readers. Couples will enjoy it, too." (Stanley Ridge for Wilde Oats)

"96/100 points (highest rating ever on the site), Five stars and recommended read