It is the year 2051 and the International Space
Institute has just sent two rival astrobiologists to search for
extraterrestrial life on Europa, the mysterious ice moon of Jupiter. What they
encounter could not only revolutionize science, it might make one of them the
most famous person on Earth. Or does the Universe have other plans?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Charlie was right, the phenomenon was curious. If these
holes had been created by gas bubbles, why were they uniform and spaced so
evenly? Dismissing the peculiarity, she began a photographic assessment of the
tunnel wall.
At one point, she discovered a fissure wide enough to
squeeze through and marked her location on MySpeak’s guidance system so she
could retrace her steps. Then she crawled into the fissure on her hands and
knees. As her light relaxed the shadows’ grip, she stared in amazement at the
spacious chamber before her. Her headlamp revealed a domed ceiling interlaced
with natural archways reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Shimmering
bulbs of water the size of walnuts hung from the arches like crystal ornaments.
One by one they broke loose and fell in a reluctant rain, delicately splashing
into a shallow pool cradled on the rocky floor.
A translucent brilliance caught her eye, and she centered
her light on a glimmering mineral cluster that resembled a cache of rare
gemstones. Pale green crystals seemed to come alive as her light danced across
their facets. This is what he saw, it must be. Now she was grateful for her
hammer. Striking the crystal as hard as she could multiple times, she finally
broke off a small sample.
The raw beauty of this chamber invoked an overwhelming sense
of awe as well as a realization that nothing could live on this barren moon;
her mother had nothing to fear. Ming Yue conceded that she was relieved as
well.
She took one final picture, then closed her eyes and spoke a
silent prayer. Please let Pleiades find us so my brother can see these. A
sobering possibility crept over her: She was the first human to see this fantastic grotto, and
she might also be the last.
The
family that writes together stays together, so siblings Marlene Fabian Stiles
and Hank Fabian co-authored a science fiction adventure that explores Jupiter’s
moon Europa as two rival astrobiologists race to be the first to find
extraterrestrial life. This discovery should ensure the winner fame and
fortune, but the Universe has other plans.
Hank
is the guy walking around with a long lens camera and binoculars, a tourist of
the world fascinated by every creature that moves and every plant that grows.
He teaches biology and helped devise a college genetics program. As a scientist
he likes to work with facts, so there's a possibility that the creatures he’s created
actually exist!
Marlene
is the president of a nonprofit, The I Will Projects, dedicated to advancing
educational venues that include a middle school aquaponics program in
partnership with the Boys and Girls Club which received a NASA grant. She writes
in multiple genres and also has published “Elderchild,” an Alzheimer’s
narrative written in the first person. She shares Hank’s love of the natural
world and is dazzled by the interconnectivity of all living things.
One castle, five authors, five love stories, all at the same holiday event!
Blurb
Racing Toward Love
by Jeanne Adams
Dr. Oriela Deschamps was overjoyed to get a job appraising an estate for the Wellington family in the small English town of Caynham-On-Ledwyche. From the first meeting with the Byron "Bo" Wellington, Ori knows the job is going to be a challenge. First, there's Bo himself - the sexy, grumpy heir to Ribald Racing Stables. Then, there's the exceedingly dangerous artifact that's the centerpiece of her appraisal. That artifact, a set of riding silks from 1947, carry a curse and someone wants them for dark and desperate reasons. Can Ori's magic save them, or will the would-be thief kill both Ori and Bo, just as they find their special Valentines?
Fae-ted Mates by Morgan Brice
Dawson and Grady King are honeymooning at Caynham Castle, hoping to take a break from monster hunting. They have one piece of family business to handle, involving a generations-long agreement with the Welsh Fae. When things go wrong, will Dawson and Grady survive, or will they be trapped in the Faerie realm forever?
Romance Sells Records by Caren Crane
After watching her mother’s hope for a grand romance get dashed time after time, Hannah Evans grew into someone with no tolerance for romance. Callum Hughes’ parents had an enviable relationship, and he wanted the same for himself: if only he could convince Hannah to trust what they could build together.
Cupid Comes to Caynham by Seressia Glass
In Cupid Comes to Caynham, Oliver Jones' family has run the Boar and Knight off and on for centuries. After his father's death, it is now Oliver's responsibility to manage the ancient pub, a duty that leaves him no time or desire for love--until professional tourist Shayla Munroe literally falls at his feet. With Valentine's and Shayla's departure date fast approaching, does love have time to bloom or will it die on the vine? Not if Venus and Cupid have anything to say about it.
The One Who Got Away by Nancy Northcott
Hastings Whitney grew up driven not only to succeed but to be seen to succeed. His focus on success cost him two marriages and any number of relationships. Now he has a second chance with the woman he never forgot, jewelry designer Corinne Lanier. Has he changed enough to balance work with a relationship? Or will a business crisis bring old habits back to the fore? And is there a sinister side to his problem?
****************
Excerpt from Fae-ted Mates by Morgan Brice
CHAPTER 1
GRADY
“I can’t believe we’re really here.” Grady King pulled Dawson along by the wrist to the check-in desk. “It’s a real castle!”
“It’s called Caynham Castle. Not exactly a surprise—it sort of looks like one,” Dawson teased fondly.
“Yeah, but ‘Magic Kingdom’ isn’t a real kingdom,” Grady retorted. “Truth in advertising is rare.”
The lobby was in one of several buildings along the wall of the outer bailey. Dark wood wainscoting covered the lower half of the hewn stone wall, matching the counter. A large oil painting of a man in the opulent clothing of another century hung behind the check-in desk. Grady assumed it was one of the many Earls of Caynham whose most recent descendant still owned the castle and ran it as a hotel and event destination.
The woman behind the counter watched their banter with a bemused look. “Welcome to Caynham Castle. I’m Constance. Could I have your last names, please?”
Grady plunked their joined hands onto the counter so that the matching rings showed. “King. My husband and I have the honeymoon suite.”
“Theatrical much?” Dawson joked. “She’s seen married folks before, I’d wager.”
“We’ve never been here before or been married before. Don’t dim my joy.” Grady knew he was being over the top, but everything about the trip had his excitement cranked up to the max. Honeymoon. England. Castle—and our own suite. Vacation. And no monsters for two whole weeks.
“He had a lot of coffee on the flight,” Dawson told the woman in a faux-apologetic tone. His grin made it clear that he enjoyed Grady’s enthusiasm.
“You have to understand,” Grady confided in Constance, “we’ve had several friends who absolutely loved their stay here. They told us plenty about the castle. I want to find all the gargoyles.”
“Let’s get you checked in so you can deposit your luggage and go hunting,” Constance said with a smile.
Grady’s eyes widened. “I didn’t mean hunting them—” He snapped his mouth shut, realizing that she hadn’t meant their kind of monster hunting. Dawson subtly elbowed him in the ribs, but his unspoken message was clear.
Don’t freak the mundanes.
“Grady and Dawson King.” Grady tugged a bit on their joined hands, loving how the matching gold bands caught the light.
“Ah yes, here’s the reservation. And it seems as if your friends have sent some welcome gifts. There’s a package from Teag Logan and Anthony Benson, one from Erik Mitchell and Ben Nolan, and another from Simon Kincaide and Vic D’Amato.”
Her tone shifted as she read the names, and her eyes widened. “Oh. Oh, my. Are you all in the same business?” She dropped her voice. “Do we have a ghost problem again?”
Each of these stories is set at the picturesque Caynham
Castle and its environs, and features a different aspect of the location around
Valentine’s Day, with its attendant celebration Valentine Dance.
“Fae-ted Mates” by Morgan Brice follows honeymooning Grady
and Dawson King, whose delightful vacation is temporarily interrupted by Dawson’s
commitment to reaffirm his family’s accords with the fae…who aren’t all so sanguine
about the arrangement.
This adult gay paranormal romance novella artfully combines
romance, danger, and fantastical creatures in an exciting tale. The devotion
between the main characters, the glimpse of fae politics and machinations, and
the practical importance of maintaining both major and minor agreements is
underscored. I love the alluring glimpses of Caynham Castle and its inhabitants
(both visible and invisible), and I was caught up in the struggle the pair
inadvertently became victims of. I learned about a new creature and a different
way of affirming their connection, and both snickered at the reminder that one
should heed the advice of those who come before us and sighed at the romance
inherent in the story. Another great addition to a lovely collection of
stories.
Each of these stories celebrates romance, and they all were
entertaining, with vivid characters and descriptions, and I’ll be looking for
other titles by the authors who were new to me.
I'm delighted to share a guest post by the prolific Morgan Brice/Gail Z. Martin, who discusses...
What’s in a character’s name?
by
Morgan Brice
I use baby name directories so much that even though my children are now adults, I still get social media ads for diapers.
Naming book characters is fun, but it’s also a commitment, especially for main or recurring characters. An advantage an author has over a parent is that since I’m naming an adult character I already know their personality, so I can pick a name that fits them. Parents pick up a name that sounds good and initials that don’t spell anything weird, and hope that little Wolfe or Adrianna grow into their names.
When I’m naming a character, I start by considering the time period of the story, the ethnicity of the character, and the location. Census records provide data on the most popular names for over a century, which is a good way to pick one that matches a character’s age. Ethnicity helps match a name to a character’s heritage and family history. Since naming trends differ by state, region and country, it can be worth a look to see what might link a character more closely to where they grew up.
Then I think about the kind of image a name brings up in my mind. Right or wrong, we all have opinions about who someone with a certain name might be like—jock, nerd, pretty, shy, popular, awkward, etc. Unless there’s a reason for the name to be a mismatch, I try to pick names that line up with those expectations. I choose names with harder consonants for action characters, softer sounds for support characters or characters who are healers/helpers.
I also check to make sure a name doesn’t already belong to a well-known person, or look or sound too much like another character’s name. (This is especially important with audiobooks!)
Beyond that, it’s just fun to pick out names for a character I’m going to bring to life and get to know. I only had three kids, but I’ve got hundreds of characters!
*********************************
Light My Way Home
A Treasure Trail Novella
Adult title
by
Morgan Brice
Publisher: Darkwind Press
Cover Artist: Adrijus Guscia
Release Date: January 25, 2023
Genres: Paranormal MM romance, urban fantasy
Tropes: Hurt/comfort, second chance, age gap, friends-to-lovers, misunderstood ghost, lonely lighthouse keeper
Themes: Working up the courage to love, getting over old betrayals, fighting the odds to stay together, forbidden love (medium and ghost)
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 22 000 words/ 74 pages
It is a standalone book and is the prequel to the series.
A shy lighthouse keeper who can talk to ghosts. A lonely ghost mourning the losses of the past and hoping for justice. A love strong enough to transcend death.
Monty Clark is the new park ranger for the Cape May Light. He hoped to find someone to love who can accept his ability as a psychic medium.
Jon Richards was a movie stuntman murdered on the beach in the 1950s. When the new lighthouse keeper strikes up a conversation and invites him in to watch TV, Jon discovers that a beating heart isn’t required to fall in love.
Light My Way Home is an MM paranormal romance with a shy park ranger, a protective ghost, unsolved murders, a dangerous shipwreck, supernatural ninja nuns, vintage movies, old secrets, and love bigger than life or death.
Excerpt
"And that concludes today’s tour of the Cape May Lighthouse. Don’t forget to stop by our gift shop and tell your friends if you had fun today.” Lighthouse keeper Montana “Monty” Clark watched his guests troop toward the shop and followed close behind so he could ring up their snacks and souvenirs.
“What is that big thing out on the beach?” a lady who reminded Monty of his grandmother asked as he ran her credit card for a lighthouse Christmas ornament, some post‐ cards, bottled water, and a bag of gummy worms.
“That’s Battery 223, built to survive an air strike, and back during the Second World War, it protected the coast with guns that could fire shells miles out to sea,” Monty said with a smile as he carefully wrapped the ornament and bagged her purchases. “Of course, the guns have been gone for a long time. It’s part of the park now, but it’s closed up, so unfortunately, no one can go inside.”
“I bet it would be a popular tour if you could get that changed,” she replied. “Is it haunted? Seems like everything in Cape May has ghosts running around, or at least that’s what our last guide said.”
Even more than you know, Monty thought, although his grin never wavered. “People claim to have spotted some ghosts nearby, but I don’t think any of them were soldiers. The bunker’s guns never fired, and it didn’t come under attack.”
“You did a nice job with the tour,” the lady said. “Tonight we’re taking a ghost tour. Maybe we’ll get lucky and see some spooky stuff.”
“Good luck,” he answered and hoped he sounded sincere. Monty had been able to see and talk with ghosts all his life, and he knew that most people had no idea what they were asking for by seeking out restless spirits.
She gave him a cheery wave as she left, and several more customers kept him busy until the last of the cars drove away, and the lighthouse was peaceful again.
Monty liked the quiet. He enjoyed spending time with close friends, but being alone didn’t bother him. When he had read a book about a lighthouse keeper as a kid, he’d known right then what he wanted to do.
Unlike the lighthouse in that book, the Cape May Light wasn’t on a desolate, windswept rocky island accessible only by boat. As part of a state park in a touristy beach town, it had plenty of visitors in summer and lots of walkers and birdwatchers strolling the grounds off-season. School groups and tours came to learn about the town’s seafaring history, and Monty loved showing them around the building, answering questions, and tossing in unusual facts.
But at the end of the day, the quiet grounds and empty beach soothed Monty’s soul. He bustled around the public areas of the building, making a quick check for trash or lost items. Then he locked the doors and headed for a stroll on the sand to enjoy the sunset.
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.
On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.
Series include Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!
“Light My Way Home” by Morgan Brice is a novella in the ‘Treasure
Trail’ series and features Monty, a lighthouse keeper who has the ability to
see ghosts. This is an unexpected benefit for Jon Richards, a ghost who is
shocked that someone can actually communicate with him. The connection between
the men deepens, and Monty becomes invested in finding justice for Jon, and
searches for a way for them to be together.
This adult gay paranormal romance story is engaging and fun
to read, even if you’re new to the series. Even though this is a fairly short tale,
each man became distinct in my mind, and I was anxious to see how they could
find a way to be together. I was impressed by the excitement generated by Jon’s
selfless actions, and loved the twists and turns of the story. I enjoy this
author’s interconnected series, and I am always delighted to find out there’s a
new story to savor, and this one whetted my appetite for even more adventures.
An epic journey of adventure, heroism, and self-exploration
through the eyes of a teenage boy named Siba.
Siba’s
life takes an exciting turn when his pet parrot takes him to a magical forest.
He explores the mysterious forest-dwellers and the precious ancient wisdoms of
the fantasy world when a sudden tragedy jeopardizes life on earth. To save the
world, he must embark on a legendary journey to the Pole Star.
Siba
encounters many mythical creatures and numerous thrilling challenges that jolt
him to his core. They leave burning questions in his mind about the world and
his own existence. He must dive into the dark labyrinths of his mind, for the
last hope of saving humanity seems to be hidden there.
Can
he solve the mysteries of the mystical world and his inner world? Can he
complete his journey to the Pole Star and save the world?
A
perfect blend of fantasy, mysticism, and spirituality that explores the answer
to the eternal question – Who Am I?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Chapter 19 – Fire & Fury
After hiding Celine, as Siba moved out of the crack, he saw
the dragons were attacking his friends. They swooped and snatched the snow
leopards with their steel-like claws. Streams of fire turned the ice into
clouds of steam. Watching the snow leopards slaughtered and torn into pieces,
Siba ran toward them to help. As he reached there, one dragon blocked his way
and spewed fire at him. Siba ducked. The stream of fire hit the black armor but
didn’t burn it. Siba was surprised to find himself unscathed. He remembered the
armor was made from the dragon’s skin.
He got up at once and climbed the glacier. But his leather
slippers slipped on the molten ice, and he fell inside a shallow crevasse. He
felt a sharp pain in his right arm. He looked at it. His arm was injured and
bleeding. He took his feathers out but couldn’t flutter with his right arm. He
struggled with one hand but couldn’t balance to fly out of the hole.
After a long struggle and several attempts, Siba emerged out
of the crevasse. But by that time, the dragons had already left, and their
dance of death was over. Many snow leopards died. Many more were injured. Ajax
emerged from one crevasse with one leg badly injured.
Musa shouted, “They are gone.” Several other snow leopards
emerged out of the glacier from all directions. Holding his bleeding arm, Siba
arrived there in tears.
B. Singh grew
up in a small city, Chandigarh, located near the foothills of the mighty
Himalayas in northwest India. Since his childhood, he has always had an
inquisitive mindset. He doesn’t settle for the pre-existing answers if they
don’t make sense to him. Instead, he explores, experiments, and finds the
answer himself. He has traveled across India from north to south not only for
his education but also to explore different cultures and values. To continue
his journey of exploration, he moved from India to Canada. After graduating
from the University of Windsor, Canada, he conceived the idea of compiling his
learnings in the form of a spiritual fantasy book. This well-crafted and
awe-inspiring adventurous journey into a fantasy world is full of chiseled gems
of wisdom that will enrich the lives of every human being on earth.
“Siba: The Eternal Quest” by B. Singh features Siba, a boy
on the verge of becoming a teen, whose life is full of challenges and obstacles
to overcome. Accompanied by Rouble, a scarlet macaw, he embarks on a journey of
discovery that leads him to many different types of animals and situations and
encourages him to learn from them and other mentors. The more he learns, the
more he realizes how much more he needs to discover.
This young-adult fantasy story is full of remarkable adventures
that will stimulate the imagination and teach essential lessons about emotions,
interpersonal relations, and perception. I feel that some of the language is
aimed more toward an adult audience and will be a bit too philosophical and abstract
for young adults to comprehend, but the lessons being imparted to Siba are well
worth learning. His propensity to curse is a little disturbing, some of the language
is a little stilted, and readers should be warned that there is a lot of death
in the story, but overall this is a creative way to impart valuable lessons
about life and obtaining emotional balance. There are a few dangling threads to
encourage the reader to look for the sequel, but no major cliffhanger.
Recommended for mature teens.
The company controls his life, but not his destiny.
Blurb
Working for ARC in the depths of space, 17-year-old Julian Sastre has struggled in the mines for two years to make the family name mean something again. He is a Pathfinder - the most dangerous and elite job in the mines, seeking out the richest growths of C6.
When he is blamed for an explosion that causes a collapse, he flees into the ruins of Old Easton, the city his father’s mistake destroyed a decade ago. The only ally Julian has there is Garret, a charming thief with secrets of his own.
ARC is determined to capture him, and the Wasters who live in what's left of the city are more than they appear. Will Julian decide to protect what he truly cares about and find his own path?
Get the first book in the Kessler Effect series, Fall of the Pathfinder, and find out today!
Fall of the Pathfinder is a slow burn queer science fiction romance.
Excerpt
“I don’t—” Another crack. The window made a sound like breaking stone. Kernels of clear plastic pelted Julian’s right side. His HUD flashed a bright red damage warning.
“Big guy?”
“I’m all right!” Julian said.
Something hit Julian’s back. Hard. He couldn’t swallow down the grunt of pain. Another warning flashed across his HUD. He ignored it and kept his eyes focused on the map. “Left again. One de— Half of the last turn.”
The driver’s eyebrows slashed downward, but the smile didn’t quite leave the man’s face.
They flew over the sand and the rover spent at least as much time in the air as it did on the ground, leaving Julian’s stomach behind each time it rose.
More debris clanged against them. The rear window cracked. It pelted his back. The debris overwhelmed the map with flashing red warning messages, but it didn’t matter. He was past the point of being helpful. If he’d let his teeth open, the only thing that would come out would be a scream.
The driver’s eyes never flicked away from the windshield, and his fingers never left the wheel. Not even to wipe away the blood rolling down his cheek.
Everything in Julian’s HUD lit up bright red, then it went dark. He looked down.
A rod of rusted metal was jutting through his side, just to the left of his belly button.
The pain hit him like it was waiting for him to notice it.
He ground his teeth together. The scream scorched his tongue. His arms shook. Sand streamed past his shoulders and into the rover. Julian pressed hard against the space of the window. It was the only way to keep himself from dropping forward into the seat with each bump. The pressure shoved the metal rod deeper, and spots of color danced across his vision.
The driver’s grip on the wheel was so tight that it made his knuckles white, but the guy was still smiling.
The roar of the storm was everywhere. It was filling up the world, and there was no room left for any other sounds.
The darkness was thick enough to feel. It pressed against Julian’s skin and sucked up the warmth. There was nothing but the dark, the scream, the pain, and the driver’s tight expression lit by the displays on the dashboard.
“Hold on!”
Laughter bubbled out of Julian. Holding on was the only thing he could do.
The rover hit a bump, and he flew. His head hit the roof. The world started spinning and flickering.
Julian bit the end of his tongue to keep the sounds locked inside. Another bump made him bite too hard, and his mouth filled with the metallic taste of his own blood.
They stopped.
His hand slipped, and he smacked the front window hard enough to make his vision flare red and then black. For a second, Julian was sure that he was going to pass out. He wanted to pass out.
Julian’s eyes cleared, and he got a look at the spot his rescuer chose to get them through the storm. It was a stretch of desert locked away inside a blacked-out Wall. The darkness of the storm had been bad, but the shadows that had pooled where they were now were something else. They were the thick, living kind that he’d only ever seen inside the mine.
The rover entered the space at an angle and the headlights caught on strange shapes and crumbled walls. It was impossible to see anything beyond the cones of light they cast in the heavy darkness, but Julian didn’t need to see to know where they were.
They were in Easton. The town his father destroyed.
L. C. Lowe lives in Kansas City, where she spends most of her time trying to convince a very needy dog to let her pay attention to anything but him. She loves stories in all forms, be it books, movies, video games, or a car commercial that may or may not have made her tear up one (ok, maybe more than one) time.
“Fall of the Pathfinder” by L.C. Lowe is an intriguing and
complex science fiction story that features Julian Sastre , a young miner who
is struggling to overcome the stigma of his name, dig out from crushing debt,
and give his mother a decent life. Being punished and ostracized yet again for
something beyond his control results in him taking a path he never would have
considered before and exposes him to truths that make him doubt everything and
everyone he’s ever known.
This is ostensibly a gay science fiction story, but there is
no overt relationship in this first book of the ‘Kessler Effect’ series. The
world-building is complex and intriguing, and the gradual revelations and
twists keep one invested in the story, even though some of the events are harsh
and shocking. As the warnings indicate, there is only a partial resolution at
the end, so one definitely wants the sequel, to learn what is actually the
truth and to follow these characters on their adventures. I definitely want to
find out what happens next and will be on the lookout for the second book in
the series.
I had the opportunity to try Litehouse Spinach Parmesan Dip
& Spread. I love the idea of that combination of flavors, so I was anxious to
try this product. Visually, it looked very appetizing, with a smooth texture
and bits of spinach distributed throughout. The consistency was a bit thin to
be a spread, and it was a bit salty, but it was tasty. It paired well with
small snack crackers that were thick enough to mitigate the saltiness, but tortilla and potato chips were overpowered by the salty taste. I liked the flavor, but I would
probably try another variety of Litehouse dip in the future.
Reckoning with the past just might destroy Grady and Dawson’s plans for the future
Blurb
Three deadly accidents that might have been magical murder. A dark witch with a grudge against the King family. Federal agents with supernatural abilities. And, as usual, Dawson and Grady are smack dab in the crosshairs of trouble even they can’t outrun.
When Grady King’s brother Knox is targeted by shady characters, old secrets, coverups, and lies come to light. Grady and his boyfriend Dawson begin to question what really happened when Grady’s grandparents and Dawson’s parents died. Then agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Supernatural Investigation show up pursuing a different case, only to discover that the crimes appear to be connected, with a vengeful dark witch at the center of the plot. And since monsters never sleep, Grady and Dawson are still carrying out their duty to hunt dangerous paranormal creatures, restless spirits, nefarious faeries, Civil War ghosts, creepy cryptids, and things that go bump in the night. It’s all part of the centuries-old King family mandate to protect the people of Cunanoon Mountain and Transylvania County, a mission Grady and Dawson are sworn to fulfill.
But when it looks like something is hunting the people Grady loves, it’s time to dig into the family’s painful past, uncovering dangerous details of long-ago hunts against immortal creatures who never forget—or forgive.
Can they solve the mystery and figure out who’s behind the deaths, or will they bear the deadly consequences of their hidden history? Reckoning with the past just might destroy Grady and Dawson’s plans for the future and set loose a tide of malicious magic that could sweep them all away.
Sins of the Fathers is a thrill-packed MM romance adventure full of fast cars, outlaw country boys, snarky werewolves, vengeful ghosts, menacing monsters, and a love that can’t be denied.
“Sins of the Fathers” by Morgan Brice is the second book of
the ‘Kings of the Mountain’ series, and features Grady King and his lover,
Dawson, who are trying to find out who is responsible for putting Grady’s
brother Knox in the hospital. An unexpected encounter with Bartlett Gibson and
RJ Tucker, from the Tennessee Bureau of Supernatural Investigation, leads to
discoveries that threaten to overturn all the beliefs about the tragic losses
in the King family. Unfortunately, there may be even more deaths if they can’t
pinpoint who’s attacking them and why.
This adult gay paranormal story is filled with mystical occurrences
and plenty of exciting adventures, but I felt a little out of sync with it,
maybe because I don’t think I’ve read the first book in this series. I was
fascinated by some of the interactions with the ghosts, and I enjoyed the
expertise displayed by the main characters, and it was fun learning about the
backstory of the TBSI pair, but I still prefer the Badlands and Witchbane
series.
A copy of this title was provided for review
***********************************
BOOK 2
No Surrender
An MM Psychic Detective Romance Adventure
Release Date: April 20, 2022
Genres: Urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, psychic detective
Tropes: Hurt/comfort, established relationship, learning to trust, grumpy-sunshine, cold case, ghosts helping/interfering, lots of magic, wedding planning
Themes: Found family, loyalty, dealing with unresolved issues, putting the past to rest
Length: 224 pages
It is Book 5 in the Badlands series but can be read as a standalone.
Cold cases, hot leads, a psychic psychopath, a copycat killer, cursed objects, the trial of the century--and wedding plans.
Blurb
Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and sexy homicide detective Vic D'Amato met hunting a supernatural serial killer. Since then, Simon has become a police consultant on cases involving the paranormal, and Vic has gotten over his doubts about Simon's abilities being real. Along the way, they fell in love and got engaged. But it seems like the danger never ends.
Now, the first case Simon and Vic worked together comes back to haunt them as the killer goes to court and all hell breaks loose. The killer has a crazy fan setting curses on key players in the upcoming trial. Ghosts from an old cold case suggest that someone got away with murder. And a supernatural creature attracted to fear and death is using the Grand Strand as its feeding ground. Simon and Vic feel like they’re waging a war on all fronts, but with the stakes so high, there can be No Surrender!
No Surrender is a fast-paced thrill ride MM paranormal romance packed with supernatural suspense, haunted tourist attractions, monsters, visions, hot sex, hurt/comfort, loyal friends, wedding planning, found family, ghosts galore, dark magic, and an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.
The fast, furry, and furious! A lynx shifter, pursued by a cryptid trophy hunter. A wolf shifter desperate to rescue a lover who's not just his fated mate—but his one true pairing across past lives. And a love that transcends time.
Blurb
The fast, furry, and furious! A lynx shifter, pursued by a cryptid trophy hunter. A wolf shifter desperate to rescue a lover who's not just his fated mate—but his one true pairing across past lives. And a love that transcends time.
Lynx shifter Noah Wilson narrowly escaped being captured by the Huntsman. While recuperating in Fox Hollow, he meets his fated mate, wolf shifter Drew Lowe.
Noah has to return to Canada to finish filming his TV projects, so he and Drew visit when they can and come up with creative solutions to their long-distance relationship. Noah and Drew are sure they're meant for each other and start making plans.
Drew's dreams make him wonder if he and Noah are more than fated mates—could they be a true pairing, destined to find each other lifetime after lifetime?
Then Noah accidentally records a murder, and the killer is on his trail. Can he elude a master tracker and reach the safety of Fox Hollow, or will he and Drew have to wait to find happiness in another life?
Again is a thrill-packed MM shifter romance adventure full of sexy shifters, hurt/comfort, one true pairing, reincarnation, sincere psychics, hunky mechanics, first responders, a sexy wildlife photographer, found family, and fated mates.
Seth and Evan met “on the job” when Evan was the intended sacrifice of a dark coven, and Seth came to the rescue. Now, they’ve teamed up to stop a century of ritual murders and get justice for Seth’s brother Jesse and the other victims.
Seth and Evan have a plan to stop the next witch disciple, plus new allies and magic. But this time, the warlock knows they're coming, and he has plans of his own. When Seth disappears and is trapped in a spell that gives him his heart’s desire, can he free himself in time to help Evan?
And when Evan’s younger brother shows up unexpectedly, can Evan trust Parker to have his back? It all comes down to trusting the devil you know!
The Devil You Know is a thrill-packed urban fantasy MM paranormal romance with plenty of supernatural suspense, hurt/comfort, hot sex, found family, and dark magic and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels.
“The Devil You Know” by Morgan Brice is part of the ‘Witchbane’
series that chronicles the adventures of Seth Tanner and his partner, Evan
Malone, as they try to destroy the witch disciples of the dark witch Rhyfel
Gremory. In this installment, forewarned is forearmed, as their target strives
to eliminate them before they can disrupt his ritual. The pair will have to
learn to trust new allies, even if the guy they’re trying to save is determined
to disrupt their efforts, and also make heartwrenching choices that will mean
the difference between life and death.
This adult gay paranormal romance is both exciting and
poignant, as Seth is forced to make a painful choice. I love watching the
relationship between these main characters mature and deepen, and there is a
great balance between the emotional challenges and growth and the hair-raising
adventures that accompany the quest to destroy the witch who wants to gain the
power of his former mentor. I think this story is best appreciated if one has
read the previous stories, but there is enough backstory provided if one is new
to the series. I think it’s great that there is a new asset being added to the
team, and I look forward to the new adventures.
A copy was provided for review
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BOOK 5 - audio book release
Blink: MM Supernatural Suspense
Narrator: John Solo
Release Date: April 19, 2022 (audio release)
Genres: Paranormal/urban fantasy M/M Romance, action/adventure, romantic suspense
Tropes: Second chance love, hurt/comfort, true soulmates, psychic, witches, ghosts, mobsters, resort town
Themes: Learning to trust, hurt/comfort, second chance love, established relationship
It is part of series but could stand alone. It does not end on a cliffhanger.
Erik Mitchell helped Interpol bust cartels, oligarchs, and spoiled billionaires for art fraud. As an undercover cop, Ben Nolan helped bring down a Newark crime family. Now Erik and Ben have started over in Cape May, leaving their danger-filled jobs behind them, excited about a fresh start and their new relationship.
Plans to renovate a historic old theater stir up dangerous ghosts and revive interest in unsolved Mob hits. The curse of a murdered witch strikes a close friend, old movie props reveal clues to long-ago crimes, and a shakedown scheme sends Ben’s cousin running for cover.
Time is running out to lift the curse. The Russian Mob wants revenge on Erik, and the Newark Mob is gunning for Ben. A grieving ghost seeks justice. Secrets, lies, and deception unravel in the blink of an eye.
Erik and Ben were planning for happily ever after. But unless they can outwit witches, wraiths, and wise guys, they could go down in a hail of gunfire and a blast of dark magic—and see their plans go up in smoke.
Blink is a suspenseful MM paranormal romance mystery-adventure filled with second chance love, hurt/comfort, true soulmates, awesome food trucks, dangerous secrets, restless ghosts, psychic visions, powerful witches, angry mobsters, and a very haunted theater.
Huntsman is full of sexy shifters, hurt/comfort, second chance love, sincere psychics, hot first responders, found family and fated mates.
Blurb
A grieving wolf. A hunted fox. Fated mates, thrown together by chance, and the looming threat of a fabled Huntsman who might tear them apart forever.
Fox shifter Liam Reynard is running from a killer. He uproots his life to find sanctuary in Fox Hollow, deep in the Adirondack Forest in New York.
When his car breaks down, sexy wolf shifter Russ Lowe comes to the rescue, and one touch makes it clear they’re fated mates. Neither man was looking for love, and both are still mending from past heartbreak. When mysterious fires and disappearances threaten Fox Hollow, Liam fears the killer is hot on his trail. Can he protect the town and his fated mate from the evil hunting him, or will an ex-lover’s betrayal cost Liam everything he loves?
Huntsman is full of sexy shifters, hurt/comfort, second chance love, sincere psychics, hot first responders, found family and fated mates.
“Christmas at Caynham Castle: Crewel Fate” by Gail Z. Martin
is related to the ‘A Deadly Curiosities’ series, and features Teag Logan and
his partner Anthony Benton as they spend Christmas in England at a very special
castle. In addition to enjoying the holiday festivities, they discover an
age-old rivalry flaring up that has something to do with the exquisite
needlework being displayed. Teag’s special abilities will be required to
unravel the mystery before someone is significantly injured.
This adult gay paranormal novella evokes the sentiments of
the holiday season with vivid descriptions, and I felt like I was actually
visiting the castle. The romance and pageantry of the celebration were artfully
evoked, and the underlying mystery and tragedy of the sisters was a great
counterpoint. I love the sweet gestures that make this such a special trip for
the engaged couple even as I was saddened by the ill-fated love affair they
uncover. I’m already a fan of this series, but this story reminded me of why I
like this couple so much, and put me in a better holiday spirit.
A copy was provided for review
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BOOK 8
Bring in the New at Caynham Castle
Memory and Malice
A Badlands MM Psychic Detective Romance
Morgan Brice
Publisher: Rickety Bookshelf Press
Release Date: December 21, 2021
Genre: Romance. Note - the Morgan Brice novella is MM paranormal romance. The rest are MF romance/romantic suspense
Tropes: Friends to lovers, established relationship, enemies to lovers, second chance at love, paranormal romance, psychic, ghosts, historical mystery, gargoyles, witches, magic
Themes: Learning to trust, found family, hurt/comfort, family secrets,
What better way to celebrate the new year than by partying in an ancient castle, now a hotel, in a small English town? Join us in lifting a glass to the holiday with these festive novellas:
Memory and Malice: A Badlands MM Psychic Detective Romance by Morgan Brice
“Ring in the New Year at Caynham Castle: Memory and Malice”
by Morgan Brice is a novella featuring Simon Kincaide and his partner Vic D’Amato
as their sightseeing trip to England is enlivened by a frantic hunt for a
haunted item that may endanger those who are participating in an antique
treasure show. Determined to protect the Earl of Caynham himself, the pair must
use all of the skills in their arsenal to defeat a determined foe.
This adult paranormal novella connects to the ‘Badlands’
series and features one of my favorite couples from this author. I love the way
Vic has learned to accept the psychic abilities of his fiance and this story
was a fun blend of the excitement of celebrating the upcoming new year and the
star-struck experience of being able to participate in something like the
Antique Roadshow where it’s possible to discover one owns a very valuable
heirloom. I enjoyed getting to know the earl better, and this whets my appetite
for a trip to Europe.
A copy of this title was provided for review
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