Showing posts with label Badlands series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Badlands series. Show all posts

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Loose Ends by Morgan Brice (Spotlight, excerpt, and review) GBP ADULT title




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Loose Ends 
Badlands Book 4
ADULT title
by
Morgan Brice


Cover Artist: Natania Barron

Release Date: December 30, 2019 

Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance

Trope/s: Spooky supernatural suspense, hurt/comfort, dark magic.

Themes: Trust, loyalty, commitment, partnership

Heat Rating: 4 flames



Part of a series but can be read as a standalone and 

features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels. 

Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.

Length: 62 000 words/ 220 pages


 


As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand? 



Blurb

Cold cases, old enemies, ex-lovers, and vengeful spirits are making life dangerous for psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato.

The ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless, trapped by love, secrets, scandals, and spells, keeping Simon busy protecting the living from the unhappy dead. Someone from Vic’s past is out to destroy him and everyone he holds dear, and the high-profile trial of the first case Simon and Vic worked together puts them in the spotlight—and put a target on their backs. As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?

Loose Ends is an urban fantasy MM paranormal romance with spooky supernatural suspense, hot sex, hurt/comfort, feisty friends, found family, ghosts galore, and dark magic. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels. 

Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.




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Excerpt

“I’ve been poking around on the Buccaneer story since the place shut down,” Josh said. “My team’s visited probably a dozen times. Plus, I knew people who worked on the construction and dismantling, and who ran the rides when it was open.” He leaned forward, dropping his voice. “They won’t talk on the record, or to the police, but I’ve heard all their stories. And the rumors that got out? They’re just a fraction of how fucked up that place was.”


Simon sat back in his chair, settling his lanky body and long legs as best he could. He warmed his hands on the hot paper cup and tucked a strand of long chestnut hair behind one ear. “Tell me.”

“One of my sources was a crane operator when they were installing the Riptide Roll steel coaster,” Josh confided. “He saw one of the workmen fall from the top of the first hill when they were assembling the ride. Says the guy died on impact. The company paid to hush it up. Same thing happened when another worker was crushed to death. A load of steel pipe shifted, and he ended up underneath it.”

“Jesus.”

“That’s not all of it. The place was only open for barely two seasons, but the ride operators had stories that would curl your hair. Riders got whiplash, one girl lost a couple of fingers, and a kid died from head injuries when his ride car came loose and crashed. Not to mention the operator who got electrocuted when he had to run his ride in the rain.”

“If the owners had to cover all that up, no wonder they went bankrupt,” Simon said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe they didn’t get shut down.”

“Their rides continued to pass inspections from the state office—or maybe someone got paid off. Still, they closed suddenly before the end of their last season,” Josh said. “Whistleblowers went to the media. The situation was going to be ugly. But then it turned out to be even worse.”

Simon remembered the end of the story. Investors clamored for their money back when the park abruptly shut down, only to find out that the accounts were empty, the books had been cooked, and the profits were never real. Before it could turn into a media circus and authorities asked for serious jail time, Ellington killed himself, and Stevens skipped town.

“Any clue about who’s haunting the place?”

Josh chewed on his lip and looked at Simon. “I was hoping you’d come over with us this afternoon and help me figure that out. I’m doing my best to learn, but my skills aren’t as powerful as yours, and I don’t know how to really use them. I can sense when spirits are nearby, and I see them better than the average person, but having a conversation is beyond what I can do.”



Buy Links




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About the Author 

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, and Treasure Trail. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!



 



Social Media Links 




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Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

one of three ebook copies of any book in the Badlands series







 

 




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My review:





4.5 out of 5 stars



Loose Ends by Morgan Brice continues to detail the adventures of Simon Kincaide, who is getting more comfortable in using his psychic powers, and his boyfriend, Detective Vic D’Amato, who has become a believer and ardent supporter of Simon. There are restless spirits centering around a cursed amusement park, Vic is also having a string of negative experiences, and each has to deal with an unwelcome visitor from his past. Tensions and danger mount and the question arises…will there be two (or more) new ghosts haunting Myrtle Beach?





I have always been fascinated by the idea of having psychic powers, and I enjoy reading about the men who populate this series and the connecting ones written under the Gail Z. Martin name. The details are rich enough that I almost feel like I have visited the city and gotten its ambience, and the affection and loyalty that the main characters share make me wish I could know them in real life. Now, I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of ghosts and interacting with them, so I could never display the panache that Simon has, but I am enthralled by his adventures.



The title was very apropos, since there are several loose ends that are dealt with, and the combination of danger, passion, romance, and family connections make this one of my favorites of the series. I have had the fortune to have read many of the books of the series but I think it would be possible to read this story as a stand-alone without being too lost. I love the connection between these two men and I look forward to reading about more of their adventures.





A copy of this title was provided for review


Friday, March 8, 2019

The Rising by Morgan Brice (Spotlight, guest post, and review) GBP ADULT title





It is definitely my pleasure to share a guest post by author Morgan Brice (Gail Z. Martin). I have had the wonderful opportunity to read several of her books and I am always delighted to see she has published a new story!



The Long and Winding Road...to Publication



by 
Morgan Brice



Under my Morgan Brice name, I’m new to publishing urban fantasy MM paranormal romance. But under my Gail Z. Martin name, I’ve been published in urban fantasy, epic fantasy, steampunk, comedic horror and nonfiction for twelve years. What a long, strange trip it’s been!



My first-ever book (under my Gail name) was The Summoner, the first in my Chronicles of the Necromancer epic fantasy series. That book took twenty years to write. I came up with the characters when I was in college, wrote drafts all the way through graduate school and my early married years, and came back to it on and off in between having three children, multiple moves, and various job changes.



My first publisher was a medium-sized British press, and I did eight books with them. Later on, I also published with a Top 5 New York/London press, with whom I did six books. Along the way, I had short stories in more than 40 anthologies in the US/UK, mostly with small presses. Then in 2018, we made a big shift. We stopped working with the big publishers, took back a couple of contracts, added the Morgan Brice UF/MM/PNR books, and went mostly indie.



I say ‘mostly indie’ because we’re still doing three series with Falstaff Books, a NC-based small publisher, and we have contracts with Recorded Books/Tantor for the audio books of the new indie novels we’re releasing. And when I say ‘we’, it’s because my husband, business partner and frequent co-author, Larry N. Martin, is in the business full-time with me, and we collaborate on everything.



Writing/publishing has become a cottage industry at the Martin house. Our adult kids often beta read for us and help spread the word. At this point, most of our friends are authors, the ones we hit the road with when we go to conventions. Larry handles a lot of the important back-end stuff and the first round of editing, which is how we’re able to do as many books a year as we do. Vacations tend to include book location scouting and research. Dinner conversation usually revolves around plot twists and edits. We have learned, when eating in restaurants, to watch our volume when discussing how to kill someone.



I’m still writing under the Gail name, with a slate of upcoming epic and urban fantasy releases this year, as well as planning to have quite a few new books under the Morgan name. The decision to use the pen name for the romance came about because my Gail books have no explicit sex and the Morgan books do, and I didn’t want to give anyone a heart attack if they picked up something they weren’t expecting! We also publish some series as co-authors under both the Gail and Larry names, and some books just come out under Larry’s name.



I often get asked for advice for aspiring authors. The first thing is to learn your craft. I steer people to the books on writing and publishing by Writers’ Digest Books. They’re good, solid fundamentals. Next, keep writing. The more you write, the better you get at it. Ask for feedback, and look for ways to do better each time. But most importantly, never give up. This is a tough business, and it can take a while to break in. Don’t ever give up. Believe in yourself and your stories, and hang in there. After all, it took me twenty years to become an ‘overnight’ success!



Thank you for having me as a guest! I hope folks will check out The Rising and the whole Badlands series, as well as my Witchbane books. 

You can also stay in touch by joining my Facebook Group


Or following me on Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail)  where I post photos of places and people who inspire my books. I’m also on Twitter: @MorganBriceBook and you can get a free Badlands short story (Restless Nights)  and sign up for my newsletter here.



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 (Badlands, Book 2)

by
Morgan Brice
ADULT title


Cover Artist: Natania Barron
Genre/s: Urban Fantasy, MM paranormal romance
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Release Date: February 13, 2019

Can be read as a standalone










Blurb

A big storm is brewing, there’s a killer on the loose, and the ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless. Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his sexy cop boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato have their hands full helping the Grand Strand brace for rough surf, driving rain and high winds as a winter storm roars toward shore.

Everyone’s on edge, and rumors are rampant about sightings of Blackcoat Benny, a ghostly omen of danger, and worse, the Gallows Nine, the spirits of nine infamous criminals hanged back in the 1700s, a harbinger of disaster. Rough tides wash the wreck of an old pirate ship into shallow waters, high winds threaten to damage an old mansion with a dark past, and the citizens of the beach town hunker down to ride out the storm.

As the skies grow dark and the sea turns wild, several men from prominent local families end up dead under suspicious circumstances. Simon’s premonition confirms Vic’s gut feeling—the killing is just getting started. As Simon tries to reach out to the spirits of the murdered men to help the investigation, he’s attacked by malicious ghosts that don’t want anyone getting in the way of their long-overdue vengeance.

With the storm hammering the coast, and new victims piling up, Simon is certain that the sins and secrets of the past are coming due, and that the murders have a supernatural link. Vic and Simon race to stop the murders against an unholy deadline, but as they battle rising tides and risen ghosts, can they save the intended victims without getting trapped themselves.

Trigger Warning: Mentions of suicide (not main characters)


Excerpt

Grand Strand Ghost Tours didn’t just arise from Simon’s passion for myth, legend, and folklore; it was rooted in his abilities as a psychic medium. Sure, the ghost tours were largely entertainment, but Simon also gave private psychic readings and conducted séances by appointment. Along with the books he wrote about ghosts and the speaking engagements he provided for local organizations, Simon had managed to create a thriving business. He leaned against the railing, enjoying a moment of contentment.

Or maybe, the calm before the storm, a little voice in the back of his mind warned.

His phone buzzed, and Simon pulled it from his pocket and smiled. “Hey. Miss me?”

“Always.” Homicide lieutenant Vic D’Amato’s voice was a husky rumble. “I just wanted to check what time you finish up tonight. Figured it was my turn to pick up dinner.” The tone in Vic’s voice promised far more than food, and Simon felt the anticipation go right to his dick.

“I should be finished around seven. It’s off-season, so no tours on Mondays. You have a busy day lined up?” Simon asked as he started walking toward his favorite coffee shop.

“Not yet, and I’m hoping it stays that way,” Vic replied. “It’s never a good thing when we’re busy.”

“Let me know if you hear anything official about the storm. I’ve heard six different forecasts, and I haven’t even gotten coffee yet.”

“Sure thing—but don’t expect anything dependable yet. We’re too far out.”

Simon knew how changeable forecasts could be so close to the ocean. Still, Myrtle Beach had barely gotten back on its feet after the last hurricane, so the news of another severe winter storm—hurricane or not—had everyone on edge.

“Be careful out there,” Simon said, letting his voice drop to a growl. “I love you.”

“Love you, too. Stay out of trouble.”

Despite the forecasts, Simon couldn’t help feeling a spring in his step after talking with Vic. They’d been together for less than a year, but Simon was finding it more and more difficult to remember what life was like before meeting his handsome homicide cop. Vic had officially moved into Simon’s retro blue bungalow after the holidays, and while they were still working out their new living situation, Simon had never been happier.”

“The boardwalk might not be busy, but Le Mizzenmast, Simon’s favorite coffee shop, was always bustling. The locals called it Le Miz, not to be confused with the musical. The building had previously been a pirate-themed attraction, and when Tracey Cullen took over, she couldn’t afford to remodel, so she just incorporated the pirate decor into her theme and went with it.

“Hi, Simon!” Tracey called with a wave from behind the register. “You want the usual?” When Simon nodded, Tracey turned to her barista. “One Dread Pirate Roberts and a mocha please!”

Simon took his place in line, remembering how he and Vic had met right here, waiting for coffee. Simon had taken one look at Vic’s muscled body, his dark brown eyes, and the ink on his arms and felt an instant attraction. After all these months and several hair-raising adventures, the magnetism had only gotten stronger. Being in love felt wonderful, and Simon resolved to enjoy every minute of it.”

Excerpt from:  The Rising: A Badlands Novel.




Buy Links



About the Author


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.

Other books include Witchbane, Burn, Dark Rivers, and Badlands. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!




Author Links



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Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of 3 $10 Amazon Gift Cards




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My review:


4 stars


The Rising by Morgan Brice follows detective Vic D’Amato and psychic medium Simon Kincaide as they deal with a series of mysterious crimes plaguing Myrtle Beach. Danger escalates as both the weather deteriorates and the death count rises and both men struggle to find a solution that doesn’t require paying the ultimate price.

This gay urban fantasy thriller is part of the ‘Badlands’ series and provides chills and heat as the main characters continue to explore their intense connection and cope with the inimical spirits that are plaguing the town. I’m delighted that these two are adjusting to each other and deepening their relationship but for some reason I felt there was too much repetition as they came to terms with the fact that each has a dangerous profession, and for me, a couple of the intimate encounters, while sizzling, seemed almost gratuitous. Despite that, the mysterious deaths, hostile work environment, troubling visions, and gradual unfolding of the history behind the shipwrecks and the events on land all combine to provide a shivery and fascinating story that also provided cameos by the striking Gabriella and Miss Eppie as well as folks from one of the author’s other series.

These stories provide both an intriguing look at a picturesque and historical town and a believable foray into the world of the paranormal. I think those who enjoy exploring the possibilities of using psychic powers to assist in police detective work with the added bonus of following a couple of charismatic guys should definitely give this tale a try.


A copy of this title was provided to me for review