TWO CROCODILE TEARS GIVEAWAYS!
Goodreads – 100 free Crocodile Tears ebooks to be won in the US – ends June 3rd.
Walter’s World – 30 free Crocodile Tears ebooks to be won WORLDWIDE! Get an early copy before everyone else! Ends May 27th. Subscribe to Walter’s World newsletter for entry
Dark Water Book 1 arriving in
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False Tears Start Falling Soon — Crocodile Tears Arrives June 3rd, 2025
Dark Water Book 1 Crocodile Tears
Heart-pounding MM romantic suspense thriller set in a dystopian near future where love and loss collide.
Dark water. Deadly secrets. Dangerous love.
Top homicide detective Josiah Raine hasn’t touched another man since his husband’s brutal murder seven years ago. Notorious bad boy Alexander Lytton hasn’t known peace since he destroyed his privileged life to become Britain’s most hated man. When Josiah arrests Alex for murder, the last thing he expects is to fall in love…
‘A masterpiece of romantic suspense that will leave you breathless’ – Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Dark Water series is a must-read for fans of MM romance, dystopian fiction, and riveting mysteries alike.
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London, 2095. Sixty years after rising seas drowned the old world, a corrupt system of servitude keeps the new one afloat.
Josiah leads a double life. At work, he tracks down killers with ruthless efficiency. At home, he’s falling apart as he talks to his dead husband’s ghost.
His frozen existence is turned upside down when a celebrity holophotographer is murdered, and all evidence points to the victim’s servant—the beautiful but enigmatic Alexander Lytton.
Everyone is convinced of Alex’s guilt except Josiah, who finds himself drawn to the sharp-witted young man. He knows Alex is hiding something, but is it murder or an even darker secret?
Haunted by memories of his husband’s last moments, Josiah is running on empty as he tries to solve the case. As he slowly unravels, he finds an unlikely source of comfort—in the arms of his prime suspect.
But in a drowned world where servants are property, falling for Alex could cost him everything. Can he trust instincts numbed by grief, or is he being seduced by a master manipulator?
Immerse yourself in Crocodile Tears, the enthralling first novel in the Dark Water series by MM romantic suspense author Xanthe Walter.
Book 1 of the Dark Water Series arrives in
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Tropes:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Slow Burn
- Hurt/Comfort
- Forced Proximity
- Touch-Starved/Emotional Awakening
- Damaged/Traumatized Hero
- Forbidden Romance
- Second Chance
- Detective and Suspect Romance
- Murder Mystery/Criminal Investigation
- Dystopian/Climate Fiction
“Dark Water is a masterful blend of rich world-building, a captivating mystery, and deeply compelling characterisation. Set in a vividly imagined near-future, Walter crafts a world that feels both familiar and hauntingly plausible. The intricate plot keeps readers guessing, while the characters—complex, flawed, and achingly real—drive the story’s emotional heart. With its gripping narrative and immersive setting, Dark Water is a must-read for fans of MM romance, dystopian fiction, and riveting mysteries alike.”
Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ricochet
When the right one is all wrong!
Matt is a sub who longs to submit but can’t give up control. Rick is a dom who longs for love but won’t bed the same sub twice. There’s no way these two belong together – is there?
Matt and Rick are big stars on the hit TV show Collar Crime. As two of the most successful young actors in LA, they seem to have everything. Except love.
Their fiery love-hate relationship sends sparks flying on set, but neither of them is prepared to budge an inch in matters of the heart.
To uptight perfectionist Matt, chaotic bad boy Rick is the opposite of what a good dom should be. Drop-dead gorgeous Rick knows he can have any sub in town–why would he choose an obsessive control freak like Matt?
Haunted by past mistakes, Rick has sworn never to collar a sub of his own. But everything changes when Matt falls under the spell of a manipulative billionaire.
With time running out and a collaring ceremony looming, Rick faces an impossible choice: let Matt fall into the hands of a cruel master or finally confront the feelings he’s been running from all along.
In this steamy BDSM romance set in a world where everyone identifies as dom or sub, two stubborn hearts grapple with an unavoidable truth – that the right person might be one who is all wrong!
Click to read a preview
Read Ricochet today – a sizzling MM romance from Xanthe Walter.
Now available in Kindle Unlimited

A Willing Lad
A lusty pirate ship captain, a mysterious stranger, and the start of a steamy adventure…
Ruthless pirate captain Luke Jenkins has claimed countless treasures, but none quite like the mysterious man he pulls from the ocean. Sebastian is beautiful, beguiling, and definitely not what he seems.
The strange young man takes him on an exciting journey into his own dominance, but who – or what? – is he, and will he break Luke’s heart?
A WILLING LAD: Mystery, magic, and dark desires merge in this steamy gay romantasy novella that will leave you breathless.
Claim your FREE copy of A Willing Lad, by subscribing to Xanthe’s newsletter now! You’ll receive priority updates on all the latest releases, news from Xanthe’s world, and bonus booty exclusive only to mailing list members.

About Xanthe
Xanthe is an award-winning novelist who has been writing MM romances for decades. She crafts genre-defying gay romances, skilfully weaving murder mysteries, sci-fi, and fantasy into compelling love stories. Her books often contain plenty of spice, as well as a pinch of kink. Join Xanthe’s newsletter to step into her world.



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