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Shuggie Bain

Baine Family Love and War Book 1: She Belongs to Us!!

Liza is a human female that has no knowledge of the dragons and wolves. She happens to be the mate to both the Dragon King and Wolf king. There was a great war between the shifters with many casualties on both sides. Both sides kept the war hidden from humans and decided it was best to never show their animal side to humans. Dragons are powerful and protected by magic. The King is a powerful CEO. Wolves are strong in numbers but since they aren’t protected by magic they won’t fight a dragon alone. Since the wolves animal forms can go undetected they’ve become the perfect assassin so they run the Underworld Mafia. Liza must decide if she wants to be the wife of a powerful dragon. Or Luna of the underground Mafia. She could also choose both. Will she be able to end the centuries long war and bring peace to the shifter community or cause another war? Who will she choose?

9.6

68 Chapters

Baine Family: Love and War Book 2: Finally My Own Love

For centuries, Dominic has had to share his mate. To make it worse, he has to share her with his brother, Alaric. Their first mate, Elizabeth, was kidnapped by a witch named Morgana. She turned out to be the mother of their second chance mate, Liza. Morgana made it appear as if Dominic had kidnapped Elizabeth. This caused a huge strain in the brother’s Once they found their second mate, Morgana gave them back their first mate. She awakened her from the sleep spell she was under. Liza, dethroned the Dragon Council in the hopes to provide a better future between all the shifters, night creatures, hunters, and the humans. In this new world will Dominic finally find love in his first mate Elizabeth? Or will he be destined to live with his curse, always sharing a mate with Alaric? Will Elizabeth finally choose Dominic, or try to come between Alaric and Liza? What other truths will be revealed?

20 Chapters

His Luna

Maeve was your typical girl, the perfect life with the perfect family. That was until her summoning day changed everything. Will Theo keep her safe from Alpha Bain or has she put her faith into the wrong Alpha?

24 Chapters

Girlfriend for Hire

Bain and Gia met in Sizzling Strip, a pub along Times Square where Gia works. Bain is hunting for the perfect woman to propose a deal to—be his girlfriend and convince his mother he is in love with another woman so she will help extricate him from an arranged engagement with a socialite he wanted to back out of. Gia can’t believe the exorbitant fee she is going to get paid with, until he informed her there will be—possibly—a marriage contract should it come to it. And the reason she was qualified for the job? Not only did he like her, he feels she is attracted to him, too. But Gia has important reasons to accept the proposal--her mother has cancer and needed money for treatment, they're going to lose their house and her nanny, and she is a semester away from graduating college. It isn't like it’s going to be hard pretending to be the girlfriend of a wealthy, hot and sexy businessman. So the contract is signed and all and she is set to follow her boyfriend to Texas to start the game and meet with his mother. Whatever else could go wrong?

Not enough ratings

16 Chapters

The mafia’s captive

When Cassiopeia Thompson is sold to the billionaire mafia, Bain Blackwood, she must navigate a world of darkness and deception. Forced to marry Bain in a sham ceremony, Cassie becomes his captive, but as she uncovers the secrets of the Blackwood mafia, she must decide whether to submit or fight back. Will she find love and redemption, or will the darkness consume her?

Not enough ratings

183 Chapters

One Night Stand

Mia's wedding to the big boss, Riley Osborne was cancelled on her wedding day. There was a rumor that she cheated on Riley and ended up getting married to a low life pauper, but no one knew who her husband is and they keep mocking her because of her breakup with the boss. The war between Riley and Drake caused everyone to know that Mia is loved by two billionaire brothers, but her heart belongs to only one person... "I'll marry you Drake, not because I get weak in the knees and cream my panties whenever I see you, but because my family needs your protection and I want Riley to suffer for hurting me." "I don't care what your reasons are, my love. Just say yes to me, and I'll worship your sweet curvy body for the rest of my life, and I'll make you the envy of every woman on earth. Just say yes, Mia,"

8.7

88 Chapters

What Is The Significance Of Agnes In 'Shuggie Bain'?

4 Answers2025-06-27 10:02:59

Agnes Bain in 'Shuggie Bain' is the tragic heart of the novel, a character whose struggles with addiction and poverty shape the entire narrative. Her relationship with her son Shuggie is both heartbreaking and deeply human—she loves him fiercely but is often too consumed by her own demons to show it consistently. Agnes represents the cyclical nature of addiction, where moments of hope are crushed by relapse, leaving Shuggie to navigate the chaos alone.

Her character also reflects the harsh socioeconomic realities of 1980s Glasgow, where systemic neglect and limited opportunities trap people in despair. Agnes isn’t just a victim; she’s a flawed, vibrant woman who craves beauty and love but is undone by her circumstances. Through her, the novel explores how addiction isn’t just personal but societal, a wound passed down through generations. Her significance lies in how she embodies both the fragility and resilience of the human spirit, even in its darkest moments.

Does 'Shuggie Bain' Have A Sequel Or Follow-Up?

4 Answers2025-06-27 09:17:37

Douglas Stuart’s 'Shuggie Bain' is a standalone masterpiece, a raw and tender portrait of addiction and love in 1980s Glasgow. While there’s no direct sequel, Stuart’s second novel, 'Young Mungo,' echoes similar themes—working-class struggles, queer identity, and familial bonds—but with a fresh cast and setting. Fans of 'Shuggie' will recognize Stuart’s signature empathy and grit, though 'Mungo' carves its own path.

The emotional landscape of 'Shuggie Bain' feels complete; a sequel might dilute its impact. Stuart seems more interested in exploring new stories within the same harsh, beautiful world. His works are siblings, not sequels—each a unique heartbeat in the same bruised universe.

How Does 'Young Mungo' Compare To 'Shuggie Bain'?

4 Answers2025-06-25 04:58:37

Douglas Stuart’s 'Young Mungo' and 'Shuggie Bain' are both raw, heart-wrenching portraits of working-class Glasgow, but they carve distinct emotional landscapes. 'Shuggie Bain' zeroes in on a boy’s relentless love for his alcoholic mother, weaving a tapestry of hope and devastation with almost clinical precision. The prose is tender yet unflinching, like a surgeon’s scalpel exposing fragile veins of resilience.

'Young Mungo', meanwhile, is wilder, more volatile—a story of queer first love amid sectarian violence. The danger here feels visceral, a knife’s edge pressed to the throat. Mungo’s tenderness clashes violently with his environment, creating a tension 'Shuggie Bain' doesn’t explore. Both novels ache with loneliness, but 'Young Mungo' thrums with the electric terror of forbidden desire, while 'Shuggie Bain' drowns in the quiet tragedy of addiction. Stuart’s genius lies in how each book’s structure mirrors its soul: one a slow bleed, the other a powder keg.

How Does 'Shuggie Bain' Depict Glasgow In The 1980s?

4 Answers2025-06-27 11:11:04

'Shuggie Bain' paints Glasgow in the 1980s as a city of stark contrasts—grime and resilience, despair and fleeting hope. The tenements are alive with damp and decay, their walls echoing with the shouts of drunk men and the sobs of neglected children. Yet amid the poverty, there's a raw beauty in how the community clings together, sharing fags and stories to stave off the cold. The pubs are both sanctuaries and traps, where Shuggie's mother Agnes seeks solace in vodka while the world outside crumbles. The city feels like a character itself, its industrial scars mirroring the emotional wounds of its inhabitants.

The novel doesn’t shy from the brutality of Thatcher-era unemployment, with boarded-up shops and men loitering at job centers, dignity stripped away. But it also captures Glasgow’s dark humor—the way insults are wielded like endearments, and how laughter erupts even in the direst moments. The dialect wraps around you, thick and musical, making the setting unbearably real. Douglas Stuart doesn’t just describe Glasgow; he makes you taste the stale beer, feel the biting wind, and ache for its people.

Is 'Shuggie Bain' Based On A True Story?

4 Answers2025-06-27 09:10:55

Douglas Stuart’s 'Shuggie Bain' isn’t a true story in the strictest sense, but it’s steeped in raw, autobiographical echoes. The novel mirrors Stuart’s own childhood in 1980s Glasgow, where poverty, addiction, and resilience shaped his world. Shuggie’s struggle with his mother’s alcoholism mirrors Stuart’s experiences, though the characters are fictionalized. The book’s gritty realism—the damp council flats, the ache of unfulfilled love—feels so vivid because it’s drawn from life.

Stuart has called it a 'love letter' to his mother, blending personal pain with universal themes. The emotional truth hits harder than any fact-checked biography could. It’s fiction that carries the weight of memory, a story that feels true even when it isn’t literal.

Why Did 'Shuggie Bain' Win The Booker Prize?

4 Answers2025-06-27 12:41:40

'Shuggie Bain' won the Booker Prize because it captures the raw, unflinching reality of poverty and addiction through the eyes of a vulnerable child. Douglas Stuart’s prose is both tender and brutal, painting Glasgow’s working-class struggles with such vividness that you feel the damp walls and smell the stale beer. The book’s heart lies in Shuggie’s unwavering love for his mother, Agnes, whose battle with alcoholism is tragic yet deeply human. Stuart doesn’t shy away from the grit, but he balances it with moments of unexpected warmth, like Shuggie’s fleeting joys or his fierce loyalty.

The Booker judges likely recognized how the novel transforms personal pain into universal empathy. It’s not just a story about addiction; it’s about resilience, queer identity, and the fragile bonds that hold families together. The writing is lyrical without being pretentious, and the characters linger long after the last page. In a literary landscape often dominated by grand historical epics, 'Shuggie Bain' stands out for its intimate, gut-punch honesty.

Where Can I Buy 'Shuggie Bain' With A Signed Copy?

4 Answers2025-06-27 13:51:06

Finding a signed copy of 'Shuggie Bain' feels like hunting for a rare treasure. Your best bet is checking specialized signed book stores like Goldsboro Books in London—they often stock signed editions of award-winning novels. Book fairs and author events are another hotspot; Douglas Stuart occasionally does signings, especially after his Booker Prize win. Online platforms like AbeBooks or eBay sometimes list signed copies, but authenticity can be hit or miss. Persistence pays off—I snagged mine after stalking Waterstones' signed section for weeks.

Independent bookshops occasionally get surprise signed stock, so calling around local stores might yield results. Some publishers release limited signed runs, so following Douglas Stuart or his publisher on social media for announcements helps. Signed copies often pop up around literary festivals—Edinburgh’s Book Festival was where a friend scored theirs. Rarity drives the price up, but the thrill of owning a piece of literary history makes it worth the chase.