An Echo in the Sorrow by Hailey Turner (Spotlight, excerpt, review) IM ADULT title

 

 

 

An Echo in the Sorrow

 Soulbound series, Book 6

ADULT title

by

Hailey Turner  

 

 

 

 

Publisher: Self-published

Release Date (Print & Ebook/Audio): March 1, 2021

Length (Print & Ebook/Audio):  117,943 words

Subgenre: LGBTQ Urban Fantasy

Warnings: Non

Cover artist: AngstyG LLC

 

 

Book blurb:

 

Forgiveness is a hollow prayer you only hear in your dreams.

 

Patrick Collins has spent years handling cases as a special agent for the Supernatural Operations Agency, even as his secret standing in the preternatural world has changed. He should have confessed to his role as co-leader of the New York City god pack when he and Jonothon de Vere took up the mantle months ago, but he didn’t. Now that split loyalty will cost him at a time when he can least afford it.

 

Outmaneuvered, framed for murder, and targeted by the Dominion Sect, Patrick has to face a past full of lies to regain his freedom. Revealing the truth means he’ll need to give up the life that has defined him. Everything he’s fought to build with his pack is at stake, and losing them isn’t a price Patrick is willing to pay, but some choices aren’t his to make.

 

Jono knows they can’t cede any more territory if they want to win the god pack civil war spilling into the streets of New York City. But the souls of werecreatures are free for the taking when demons come to town and angels sing a warning no one can ignore. When Jono’s worst fear comes to life, and he loses the one person he can’t live without, the only option left is to fight.

 

Facing down the demons of their past and the ones in their present, Patrick and Jono will learn the hard way that some sins never wash away clean.

 

An Echo in the Sorrow is a 118k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot. It is a direct sequel to On the Wings of War. Reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one.

 

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Blog Tour - Teaser

“The only way to win is to take them out completely. That’s going to be a costly fight in terms of blood and territory,” Jono said.

“What about our alliances?” Wade asked.

Jono shook his head. “Their assistance in maintaining our borders is helpful, but we need to be the ones to push Estelle and Youssef out. This is our fight.”

“What about going the direct route and meeting them in the challenge ring?” Marek asked.

“I wouldn’t trust any fight that happens in that place,” Amelia said flatly.

Other people in the crowd echoed her statement. Patrick had never been to the challenge ring located beneath the god pack home in Hamilton Heights. The underground space was familiar to everyone else from the times all the alphas had been summoned to meetings. He’d seen the aftermath of fights held in other challenge rings to know they were bloody spaces. He agreed with Amelia though—no fight held in a space controlled by Estelle and Youssef could be handled fairly.

“I’m not sure how much help the fae will be able to provide right now. Tiarnán was summoned to Tír na nÓg today on an emergency basis. He’s been our liaison for the fae, and I don’t know when he’ll return,” Sage said.

Patrick shrugged. “His absence shouldn’t affect the alliance. We—”

A loud explosion in the bar above cut him off, magic crashing against the wards embedded in Tempest’s walls. They flashed fire bright for a split second, nearly blinding Patrick. Before the glow faded, Patrick was on his feet and racing for the stairs, Jono right on his heels. The crowd of alphas peeled away from his headlong rush forward, giving them both space.

 

 

Amazon buy link

 

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About the Author: Hailey Turner is a big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She's been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story.

 

 

Connect with Hailey Turner:

 

Newsletter:  You can keep up with Hailey's future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download several free short stories.

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 My review:

4.5 stars

 

An Echo in the Sorrow by Hailey Turner is Book 6 in the ‘Soulbond’ series that features god pack alpha werewolf Jonothan de Vere and his lover and co-pack leader, mage and Special Agent Patrick Collins. The pair continue to deal with the threats to their leadership as violence escalates in New York City, but the pack dire, Sage, is determined that nothing is going to ruin her wedding…not even the gods’ pesky machinations.

 

This gay paranormal romance series continues to enthrall, with its fantastical adventures and deft blending of various pantheons that continue to complicate the lives of the main characters. The tale picks up after the momentous struggles in the previous story and its surprising revelation at the end. More gods and demigods are drawn into the struggle that is taking place on a couple of levels, and the city is unwittingly drawn into the civil war that has erupted as Jon and Patrick try to cement their pack’s hold. I love that Wade the dragon is continuing to evolve in his position as part of the family and pack although I can’t quite understand his fascination with pop tarts, lol.

 

As always, this story is exciting and immediately draws the reader in to cheer for the main characters, has plenty of secondary characters who are intriguing enough to hopefully get their own storylines occasionally, and provides a unique look at a familiar city through a paranormal lens. Those who have not read the other books in the series should probably start at the beginning in order to better appreciate some of the events and revelations in this story. The tension continues to rise, and I can’t wait to find out which new pantheons get involved in the mix as the quest continues.

 

 

A copy was provided for review

 

Huntsman by Morgan Brice (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GBP ADULT title

Huntsman
Fox Hollow Zodiac Book 1

ADULT title

by

 Morgan Brice

Cover Artist: Adrijus Guscia and Melissa Gilbert

Release Date: July 20, 2020

Genre/s: Urban fantasy MM paranormal romance

Trope/s: sexy shifters, hurt/comfort, second chance love, sincere psychics, hot first responders, found family, and fated mates

Themes: learning to trust again, taking a chance on love, leaving the past behind, moving past grief and loss, starting over, embracing your whole self
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 60 000 words/205 pages

It is the first book in the series

Goodreads

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.

 

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. Intended for readers 18 years of age or older.



Excerpt

Chapter One

Flashing lights broke Liam out of his gloomy thoughts. The tow truck headed toward him, then did a U-turn and pulled in front of Liam’s car, backing up until it was close enough to hook up the Honda.

The truck driver got out and walked toward Liam, who reluctantly got out of the car. Even though he had called for assistance and it was clear the stranger was a legitimate responder, Liam couldn’t help feeling jittery, with his hands sweating, and heart thumping.

Those reactions doubled when he got a good look at the driver.

Oh, just shoot me now. Fuck my life. Why did he have to be so fine?

In the glare of the truck’s spotlights, Liam made out all the important details. The man had broad shoulders, strong arms, powerful legs, and a solid chest, standing a good five inches or more over Liam’s five-foot-seven frame. Liam had thought he might be saved if the driver was ugly as sin, but he was out of luck. His face was as utterly lickable as the rest of him.

“You called for a tow? Mr. Reynard?”

Liam nodded.

“I’m Russell Lowe—everyone calls me Russ. I own Lowe’s Auto Shop in Fox Hollow, and tonight I’m your personal tow truck driver,” he said with a broad smile and dimples. The man’s sharp cheekbones, full lips, and strong chin were highlighted by dark brown scruff. Liam’s gaze traveled upward, surprised at gray hair flecked with brown framing a face that couldn’t be older than thirty-five. Green eyes made Liam wonder what kind of shifter Russ might be.

He swallowed hard and might have blushed when he realized Russ seemed to be checking him out too. No matter how attractive his roadside savior might be, Liam’d had enough man trouble to last an eternity, and he sure didn’t need more in a new town.

“Yes, I’m Liam Reynard. Just Liam,” he said, wishing he could conjure up the natural charm that had always served him well in community theater performances. His fox could be quite dramatic. But now, on the run, scared for his life, and in the dark with a stranger in the middle of nowhere, he couldn’t muster his usual flair.

“The engine started making strange noises, and I pulled off. I didn’t want to break anything.” Liam cringed because heknew next to nothing about cars. Admitting that takes points off my “man score,” doesn’t it? Then again, so does being a sports-hating, gay fox shifter twink. 

Well, at thirty, I’d thought my twink days were behind me. But when he compared his own shorter, lithe, dancer build to the solid man-mountain in front of him? Yeah, twink still fits.

“I’m glad you stopped the car without waiting for the car to stop you.” Russ finally shifted his attention away from Liam and focused on the Civic. “Let’s get the tow set up, and then you can ride in the cab with me to Fox Hollow.”

Buy Links 

Available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and paperback

Amazon US | Amazon UK 

 

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, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!

 

 

Author Links

Facebook Group | Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail) | Twitter: @MorganBriceBook

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Read a copy of my Badlands short story Restless Nights here for free

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GIVEAWAY

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win

3 ebooks of Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail

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Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts, interview, guest posts and reviews here

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My review:

4 stars

Huntsman by Morgan Brice is the first book in the ‘Fox Hollow Zodiac’ series and features Liam Reynard, a fox shifter, who flees for his life to a unique hamlet called Fox Hollow and meets Russell Lowe, a wolf shifter who isn’t sure he can believe that he’s met his fated mate. Unfortunately, danger has come to Fox Hollow, and these two are in the eye of the storm.

This adult paranormal gay romance introduces a shifter society that has formed an enclave that is a sanctuary. Liam arrives there under less than auspicious circumstances and is reluctant to trust, so it’s heartwarming to watch his gradual acceptance into the close-knit society. Russell’s tragic backstory and caring interactions with the others in his live made him such an attractive character and I enjoyed the interactions between these two. I always like learning something new, and a skulk of foxes has now been added to my mental files, and I will have to look into key-finders, since I tend to lose several items regularly, lol.

It was fun watching each man argue with his respective animal, especially Liam’s “divafox” persona. I thought this was an entertaining introduction to a new series and I look forward to seeing some of the characters from this author’s other series make cameos in future stories.

As is always the case with this author’s works, this story is a lovely blend of fantasy, suspense, and romance, and I can’t wait to read more in this series.

A copy of this title was provided for review

All Souls Near & Nigh by Hailey Turner (Spotlight, Q&A, excerpt, and review) ANT ADULT title

All Souls Near & Nigh 

by 

Hailey Turner

Series: Soulbound 2

 ADULT title

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 19, 2019

Length (Print & Ebook): 104,100

Subgenre:  LGBTQ Urban Fantasy

Reader Warning:  This book contains on page sexual assault.

Book synopsis:

You can’t bargain with death if you’ve already sold your soul.

Special Agent Patrick Collins has been reassigned by the Supernatural Operations Agency to New York City. Learning to navigate his new relationship with Jonothon de Vere, the werewolf he’s now soulbound to, is nothing compared to dealing with territorial disputes between the vampires and werecreatures who call the five boroughs home. But the delicate treaties that have kept the preternatural world in check are fraying at the edges, and the fallout is spilling into the mundane world.

Manhattan’s club scene is overrun with the vampire drug known as shine and the subways have become a dumping ground for bodies. When the dead are revealed as missing werecreatures, Patrick and Jono find themselves entangled in pack politics twisted by vampire machinations.

Learning to trust each other comes with problems for both of them, and the gods with a stake in Patrick’s soul debt aren’t finished with him yet. Bound by promises they can’t break, Patrick and Jono must find a way to survive a threat that takes no prisoners and is stalking them relentlessly through the city streets.

Old and new betrayals are coming home to roost but the truth—buried in blood—is more poisonous than the lies being spun. Trying to outrun death is a nightmare—one Patrick may never wake up from.

All Souls Near & Nigh is a 104k word m/m urban fantasy with a gay romantic subplot and a HFN ending. It is a direct sequel to A Ferry of Bones & Gold, and reading the first book in the series would be helpful in enjoying this one. Please see the disclaimer in the Look Inside for content some readers may find triggering.

Author Hailey Turner says All Souls Nigh &Near is: An exciting sequel that builds on the series plot and will keep readers wanting more!

The action, mystery, and heat are kicked-up another gear in this second installment of Turner's addictive, original and immersive Soulbound series.

— Layla Reyne, author of the Agents Irish and Whiskey and Trouble Brewing series

Nobody writes like Hailey Turner. Her world building is extraordinary, as are her edgy action scenes. However, she never loses sight of her central relationship, or her razor sharp and witty characters.

This series is amazing. 

— Bestselling author,  Lily Morton

Q&A with Hailey Turner:

What comes first, the plot or characters?

This is like the chicken or the egg question. For me, it’s a mixture of both. I feel my characters play off the plot, but I need the outline of the book and series to really create a character and their motives. Characters and plot are pretty intertwined when I create a book, so I can’t say one comes first above the other.

Describe a typical writing day.

I usually write in the morning and evenings around work on weekdays, and for a block of hours on the weekend around errands and time spent with friends and family. On weekdays, I get up early in the morning (I’m talking 5:00am here) to get some writing in before work. I try to make time to write every day otherwise it would be difficult to finish a book if I didn’t.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

I like to have themes with my titles and they tend to have the same sort of word structure for the entire series. For my Metahuman Files series, the titles spoke to the missions in each book. For Soulbound, every title has a hint of the mythology I’ve incorporated into that particular book. It varies with every series but I honestly can’t start a book without a title.

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Excerpt

“Bloody hell, mate,” Jono swore, reaching for Patrick. “What happened?”

Patrick kicked the door shut behind him, which was fine with Jono because it gave him something sturdy to shove the other man up against. Gently, though, because Jono didn’t know what other injuries Patrick sported besides the ones on his face. Jono framed Patrick’s face with his hands, staring at the slightly swollen nose with a strip of medical tape arching over the freckled bridge and faded bruises around bloodshot, tired green eyes.

“I took a potion. I’m fine,” Patrick said, blinking at him.

Jono rolled his eyes before sliding his right hand down to Patrick’s throat, discreetly scent-marking him. The stench of travel, of too many bodies packed too closely together, clung to him. Beneath that was a hint of forest and blood, neither of which stopped Jono from worrying. Beneath all that was the familiar, bitter scent that was Patrick’s alone, and it felt like coming home to Jono.

“Fine doesn’t look like you took several punches to the face.”

Patrick’s mouth quirked at the corners. “Gonna kiss it better?”

“Cheeky. Could’ve just asked rather than go out looking for a fight.”

“Hazard of the job.”

“Bollocks.”

Jono shook his head before leaning down to gently press his mouth to Patrick’s. Those familiar plush lips immediately parted, letting Jono in. The quiet sigh he drank down told him more than words how tired Patrick must be. The mage wasn’t one to show weakness, even amongst friends, but Jono had started to learn the little quirks and half-hidden actions that spoke of Patrick’s true feelings.

Patrick was still a hard read on the best of days, soulbond or not, but Jono was figuring him out.

Buy link

Amazon

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About Hailey Turner:

Hailey Turner is big city girl who spoils her cats rotten and has a demanding day job that she loves, but not as much as she loves writing. She’s been writing since she was a young child and enjoys reading almost as much as creating a new story. Hailey loves stories with lots of action, gritty relationships, and an eventual HEA that satisfies the heart.

Newsletter link:  You can keep up with Hailey's future projects by joining her newsletter, where you can instantly download two free Metahuman Files short stories and the Soulbound short story Down A Twisted Path 

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Website

 

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My review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

All Souls Near & Nigh by Hailey Turner is the second book in the ‘Soulbound’ series and continues to follow the adventures of federal agent Patrick Collins and werewolf Johnothon de Vere. Their lives continue to be complicated by the gods meddling in politics and territory disputes and there is still a possibility that Patrick will have his typical effect on his new home city—chaos and destruction—but this time he has backup.  

This gay urban fantasy story is a nonstop adventure and kept me mesmerized by the believable conflict, engaging characters, and amazing combination of pantheons who meddle in the lives of their followers. I think it’s better to have read the first book in the series, A Ferry of Bones & Gold, in order to get to know some of the major characters, but the action will probably draw you in even if you don’t know all of the backstory. There is a list of the cast of characters in the back of each book that will come in handy but I think it is just as fun to jump right into the story and get to know all of these engaging characters, including the gods masquerading as federal agents! Those with triggers should read the introductory warning very closely and those who are squeamish are advised that there are plenty of gory scenes since the were-creatures, vampires, various allies, gods, and, of course, the two main characters, are not shy about fighting their way through whatever obstacles are impeding their progress.

This series evokes the feelings of glee I get from reading Jim Butcher’s and Faith Hunter’s books and I found myself cheering for the good guys and groaning at the capriciousness of the gods involved while booing at the machinations of the villains. I am still a little puzzled about the hierarchy of the paranormal creatures within New York City and bemused at the turf wars between the various human factions even as I slowly absorb the complicated rules governing Patrick’s use of magic. I love books that are multi-layered and unpredictable and this one definitely has some nice surprises, including a understandably sullen teen who threatens to eat his hosts out of house and home plus the lovely romance that is continuing to unfold between Patrick and Johnothon who are learning to trust one another even as the heat between them continues to be incandescent.

I am so thankful I got a chance to read and review this series because I have found a new favorite author to follow and I look forward to reading more of her imaginative and exciting stories (and seeing how the “kid” progresses)!

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

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(1st book in the series)