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Cross to Bare (Men of London) Paperback – November 10, 2015

by Susan Mac Nicol (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
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Tough in business but romantic at heart, fashion designer Lenny James isn’t hiding his masculinity behind his super successful female alter ego, but a vulnerability that only handsome financier Brook Hunter will be man enough to reveal…and worship. TWO OF A KIND It’s amazing what a little mascara and lipstick, a blonde wig, false boobs, and top-notch female fashion can hide. Not that Lenny James is hiding his masculinity. He uses his normal voice when he’s Laverne, and he’s not particularly camp as a man. His reasons for creating his alter ego are locked deep in his past. He is who he is: tough in business, and a romantic at heart. What he’s hiding is vulnerability. He wants a man to accept both sides of him. Gorgeous, commanding, and dark as sin, Brook Hunter meets Lenny and knows nothing about Laverne until fate pushes her into his path. Cross-dressing is as far from Brook’s reality as fashion is from his world of diplomacy and high finance. Understanding and truth take time, and trust doesn’t come easy. But Brook is about to show Lenny that there are no sides to true love, just the place where they meet in the middle.
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  1. Book 5 of 10
    Men of London
  2. Print length
    184 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    November 10, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.42 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1519276478
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1519276476
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 10, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 184 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1519276478
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1519276476
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.42 x 9 inches
  • Book 5 of 10 ‏ : ‎ Men of London
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

About the author

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Susan Mac Nicol

Susan Mac Nicol

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Susan writes steamy, sexy, often dark and occasionally witty contemporary romance books. She’s dabbled in varied genres, both MF and MM, and has written paranormal, urban fantasy and romantic suspense stories.

Whether you’re looking for a heart-pounding romantic suspense or a deeply emotional love story, Susan’s portfolio has something for everyone.

Screenplay Success and Hidden Talents

Susan doesn’t just stop at novels. She’s an award-winning screenplay writer, with several scripts based on her published works. Her screenplay ‘Sight Unseen’ has garnered no less than ten awards, and her TV pilot ‘Reel Life,’ based on her debut novel ‘Cassandra by Starlight,’ was a winner at the Oaxaca Film Fest. Talent and passion together have propelled her into the spotlight of multiple creative fields.

Personal Touch: Fun Facts About Susan

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Susan is a person of diverse interests and experiences. She loves attending live music concerts, especially if her man-crushes Adam Lambert or Sam Smith is performing. Her leisure activities include lazing with a good book, enjoying a fine gin and tonic, and watching reruns of ‘Silent Witness.’

Her colourful past includes being chased by a rhino in Kenya, mistaken for a prostitute in Johannesburg, and being kicked out of a youth club for encouraging free thinking. With such a vibrant background, it’s no wonder her stories are packed with excitement and life.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
109 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers love the story, particularly the Lenny and Brook narrative, and find the book amazingly wonderful. They appreciate the humor throughout the book.

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5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers love the story, particularly Lenny and Brook's narrative.

"I truly enjoyed this story. Lenny/Laverne was a delight...." Read more

"Another amazingly wonderful and beautiful story! Lenny/Laverne and Brook have to find a way to work through Brook accepting Laverne as part of Lenny...." Read more

"Loved this story of Brook and Lenny/Laverne...." Read more

"Loved this story! Lenny/Laverne stole my heart for personal reasons, and I was so glad to see this story come to life...." Read more

3 customers mention "Enjoyment"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book amazingly wonderful, with one mentioning it provides a satisfying happy ending.

"...Every book is a great read! It can be read alone though.... Laverne Debussy Smith is Lenny James' business persona...." Read more

"Another amazingly wonderful and beautiful story! Lenny/Laverne and Brook have to find a way to work through Brook accepting Laverne as part of Lenny...." Read more

"...I was completely interested, though, and liked reading it." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book.

"...espionage, misunderstandings, incredibly hot sex and lots of laugh out loud moments. Cross to Bare is Susan Mac Nicol at her very best...." Read more

"...Was such a great story. The right amount of emotion, angst, humor and ultimately love! An amazing series not one to be missed!!!" Read more

"...It's fun, whimsical, sad, and sexy as hell." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Janice
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fabulous, funny, hot and heartwarming addition to The Men of London series.
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Cross to Bare is the fifth book in the Men of London series and can easily be read as a stand alone. When you meet the fabulous Leslie from Suit Yourself, however you are definitely going to want to read his story, then characters from the other books in the series pop up and... Do yourself a favour and read the whole series! Every book is a great read! It can be read alone though....

    Laverne Debussy Smith is Lenny James' business persona. She runs a highly successful fashion house by day and is a sizzling hot gay man out of hours. Laverne is an integral part of Lenny's psych and was created in defence of his controlling, bigoted fathers aversion to Lenny's sexuality and any feminine traits he observed in his son. At fashion school Laverne emerged and became Lenny's alter ego, running the highly successful Debussy empire. Finding a man who is willing to love Lenny/Laverne as the package deal they are has so far proven problematic. Lenny wants a HEA but is beginning to wonder if any man will truly accept both sides of his persona.

    Enter Brook Hunter, a sizzling hot "dark as sin" financial broker. Lenny dated Brook for a short period of time but a careless remark about cross dressing left Lenny running for the hills before Brook found out about Laverne. Brook was left confused and unable to understand what he's done wrong, and why Lenny still refuses to answer his calls.

    Brook has an unexpected, by either men, meeting with Laverne to discuss a loan for her business. What happens next is hysterically funny as Laverne tries to hide who she is by talking to Brook with a very poor attempt at a woman's voice. Ultimately Lenny's piercing blue eyes peering out from Laverne give the game away and Brook discovers Lenny's secret.

    Finding out if Brook can accept Lenny/Laverne and whether these two gorgeous men can find a HEA together will keep you riveted to the pages of this book. The answer is forthcoming amid fashion espionage, misunderstandings, incredibly hot sex and lots of laugh out loud moments.

    Cross to Bare is Susan Mac Nicol at her very best. A cast of characters that will have you in stitches, lots of twists and turns, sizzling sex and a very satisfying HEA. I absolutely loved it.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Tk Paige
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I truly enjoyed this story. Lenny/Laverne was a delight. The ins and outs of his mind and the reasons he had for embracing his Laverne side were handled very well. His vulnerability over Brooks acceptance was very poignant in places.

    Brook was just as wonderful as he tried to learn about something that was out of his comfort zone because he cared for Lenny. His character underscored how somebody who is accepting and open minded can still struggle when confronted with an issue when it is somebody close to them
    One person found this helpful
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  • Maggie LuskJohnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Another amazingly wonderful and beautiful story! Lenny/Laverne and Brook have to find a way to work through Brook accepting Laverne as part of Lenny. Through trial and error, being in Laverne's presence and seeing the impact she makes on her business and friends, can Brook openly and fully love Lenny heart and soul. Was such a great story. The right amount of emotion, angst, humor and ultimately love!

    An amazing series not one to be missed!!!
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  • Beach Bum Books
    3.0 out of 5 stars Still a solid read but not my favorite in the series
    Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2015
    I have been a huge fan of The Men of London series from the outset. The characters, their journeys, the angst and stumbling blocks before finally reaching their HEA… all ring true and reflect a level of understanding and respect for those whose struggles reflect the human condition.

    What Susan Mac Nicol always does is provide us with truly unique and engaging characters. Lenny is certainly one-of-a-kind, a cross-dressing business person who took a giant leap of faith to cement the branding required in the admittedly quixotic fashion industry. Brook is the antithesis of everything Lenny-as-Laverne represents, yet he is no less a savvy businessman in his own right.

    We meet Lenny/Laverne in between relationships—Brook is but a recent memory that still stings, but events soon conspire to bring them together once more, though this time on opposite sides of a conference table. What Brook doesn’t know, and suddenly realizes, is the setup for what follows—semi-comedic and often angst-filled parry and riposte set pieces with lots of opportunities for misunderstandings and their attendant fallout.

    The first half of the book is filled with a number of funny and endearing scenes with the irrepressible Lesley who was the main character in Book 4, Suit Yourself. But here is where Cross to Bare goes off the rails and into the plight of many long-running series where minor characters, or those from earlier books in a series, highjack the current novel to the detriment of the main characters’ journey and the overall narrative flow.

    A little Leslie goes a long way, and his dominating presence becomes an irritation that invites skipping. An additional issue is the closeness of Lenny and Leslie’s names. It’s not always readily apparent whose viewpoint is taking center stage—those two characters are far too alike for comfort’s sake.

    And it hasn’t gone beyond notice that with each new release and “pairing,” there is a tendency to try to create an ensemble cast by bringing back old characters, old locales and continuing story lines that seem to feature excessive emphasis on others’ HEAs rather than concentrating on Lenny and Brook resolving their issues. Brook actually gets short shrift in the book, making the plot and narrative relatively unbalanced.

    And one final complaint/disappointment is that in the second half of the book, instead of scenes displaying how and why each man learns to accommodate the other, their interactions are relegated to one sex scene after another, with little variation or advancement of emotional growth to justify such concentration.

    While I did enjoy Cross to Bare, it’s definitely not my favorite of the series. I give this one 3.5 Stars.
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  • Christine M
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read it
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this story of Brook and Lenny/Laverne. All you've come to expect from a great Susan Mac Nicol read bit of mystery, quirk, hot sex, super hot possessive men. So looking forward to the next installment of Men of London series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved this story
    Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this story! Lenny/Laverne stole my heart for personal reasons, and I was so glad to see this story come to life. It's fun, whimsical, sad, and sexy as hell.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Joanne
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lenny is super hot and stylish
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Introducing Mr & Ms L, A.K.A Lenny and Laverne, one person two identities. Lenny is super hot and stylish, he dresses to impress. He's a man with a big heart but frighten to love because of Laverne. Laverne is feisty and has great humor, the woman knows her fashion.

    I never really understood why people choose to cross dress but that's okay it's not for me to understand, just respect that it's their decision to do so. It's their life after all. I suppose after reading this book, I have a better grasp of what it entails and obviously in Laverne case, she has her reasons for doing what she does. Laverne is part of Lenny, it's another side to love and if you love Lenny then Laverne is equally lovable.

    Laverne will always have the haters but she handles them so well, you can't help but be impressed. It's a shame that people feel the need to voice their hateful opinions. My mother always taught me that if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. Wise words that a few people should learn.

    Time to introduce, Brook. Oh may the lord have mercy on my filthy thoughts right now. Yeah he's hot- a-licious, if that's not a word well tough it is now. Brook was dating Lenny and he can't seem to get the guy out of his mind BUT he doesn't know about Laverne. Ahhh!! yes Lenny has been keeping Laverne a secret. Well actually only from Brook.
    Brook doesn't know why Lenny is choosing to ignore his calls, he thought they were good together.

    Relationships are never easy no matter what the gender. It's hard to reveal all about yourself, that part I completely understood but Laverne is about to get the shock of her life just when she was going to reveal all to Brook, she doesn't get the chance.

    I loved this story, it was filled with humor. I do love a good giggle while reading. The romance just melts your heart. The drama is as always a great read. The Men of London have always kept me entertained. The sex is lip licking awesome. All round fabulous story my darlings. LOL!! Laverne kind of rubs off on you.

    I one hundred million percent recommend this book to all lovers of M/M. Susan Mac Nicol is an exceptional writer and if you haven't yet been introduced to the Men of London Series you are missing out.
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  • Gillinoz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cross to Bare....what's not to love!!
    Reviewed in Australia on November 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I feel by now, there is nothing I won't read by Susan Mac Nichol. This is the 5th book in Men of London series, and does not disappoint. You don't need to read them all prior to reading this book, but I would advise it, purely because they are all awesome books. This book brings us to Lenny/Laverne, how I loved him in Suit Yourself, and I'm pleased to say, there's quite a lot of Leslie in this book, who I absolutely adore. I don't really want to give any of the storyline away, so what I will say is, if you like M/M and a giggle too, give this book a go, you won't regret it.
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  • FIFI
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lenny/Laverne and Brook and a fab new combo to the MOL family...
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Love the Men of London series - all the characters have been fantastic so far. They all have such unique and interesting personalities and now we find out more about Lenny/Laverne in Cross to Bare. Lenny hasn't had an easy life and developing his Laverne persona has been cathartic for him, but he has reached a point in his life when true love has come calling and for the first time he is considering what it might be like to put Laverne to one side. His love interest Brook, is not altogether sure about Laverne and some compromises are in order, but who, how and when is how the story unfolds. It is a wonderfully romantic and sexy read with a compelling sub-story. It is witty, downright hilarious in parts mostly due to my fave MOL character, Leslie (could wax lyrical about his fabulousness forever!), and also extremely heart wrenching too. The sex is off the charts hot and the fact that there is a distinctive British feel to the book appeals to me greatly. Can't wait for the next one - well done Susan MacNicol.
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  • Edga
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good addition to the series.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    A good addition to the series. Unlike the previous books, this one was very low on angst, which was no bad thing. It's about two people who have both faced bigotry, for different reasons, coming together. Lenny/Laverne was in the previous book as Leslie's boss, I liked his character then and was keen to read his story. His love interest, Brook, is an interesting character who initially struggles with Lenny being a transvestite. I was pleased that this side of Lenny's character wasn't immediately accepted by Brook. He had doubts about whether or not he could accept Lenny's female persona, and the author handled his coming to terms with this very smoothly. The book was certainly big on pizzazz, and I definitely enjoyed it. Even though it isn't my favourite in the series, it's a strong, if different addition, and I liked that the characters stayed true to themselves.

    So a sweet contemporary romance, with hardly any angst, full of hot sex scenes. It was obviously very well researched by the author, I felt that she dealt with the subject of transvestitism very thoroughly and with a great deal of sensitivity and pragmatism.

    I enjoyed catching up with some of the couples from the earlier books, and the hints as to who might star in the next book. Certainly a recommended read. I look forward to the next in the series.
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  • Debbie Attenborough
    3.0 out of 5 stars not my favourite one.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 31, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Lenny let Brook go, after he said something that Lenny thought might mean Brook would not accept Laverne, Lenny's female form. But both Lenny and Brook have feelings for each other that cannot be denied. Question is, will Brook take it that Lenny AND Laverne come as a package deal??

    Book 5 in the Men of London series. It helps to have read the other four, not necessary, just helps.

    *insert big sigh*

    For me, the weakest of the five and I have no idea why. I'm just left with that 'it was good, but not brilliant' feeling.

    Maybe it was Lenny, maybe it was Laverne, maybe it was Brook or any combination of the three, or maybe it was just their story. I frustrates me when I can't say, especially after reading previous books in the series that hit 5 stars, why I can't say a book doesn't work for me, it really does. This review has been edited (on paper) so many times since the middle of November last year, and I'm only now happy that I'm NOT slating the book.

    It is well written, with no editing or spelling errors that I saw. Its written from both Lenny and Brook's point of view. It has a steam and passion level that is right for this book.

    3 stars

    **sorry!**

    **same worded review will appear on Goodreads, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and Kobo**
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