A Father for Her Child by Laurel Greer (spotlight and review)

A Father for Her Child

(Sutter Creek, Montana Book 2705)

by

Laurel Greer

Blurb:

She was always his best friend’s girl…

But then their whole lives changed

Widow Cadence Grigg is slowly putting her life back together—and raising her infant son. By her side is her late husband’s best friend, Zach Cardenas, who can’t help his burgeoning feelings for Cadie and her baby boy. Though determined not to fall in love again, Cadie might find that Cupid has other plans for her happily-ever-after…

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Cadie jabbed her sister with an elbow. “I need to say goodnight to my baby before he falls asleep. Is he with Zach? Where are they?”

They. It fit, the unity. The only person more bonded to Ben than Zach was Cadie herself.           

“Upstairs.”

The second floor of the house was quiet, so she tiptoed down the hall in case Ben was already sleeping.

She peeked into his room. The lamp on the changing table cast gentle light across the pair dozing in the padded rocking chair. 

Her heart melted.     

Zach’s hands cradled Ben’s back. The baby must have been fussing at some point, because Zach’s hair looked like he’d just run through a windstorm. 

Lines of exhaustion marked his eyes but his mouth was relaxed. And Ben lay on Zach’s mouthwatering chest like he hadn’t a care in the world.

Smart baby, picking that particular spot to nap.         

And stupid me, for wishing I could take Ben’s place.           

Shaking her head at herself, she snuck into the room and arranged Ben’s sleep sack in the crib. Her baby was going to complain when she moved him. He was completely at peace in the arms of the man who’d never once hesitated to step up. Had never stated he didn’t think he could be a parent.

Zach is not Ben’s father.

How many times was she going to need to remind herself of that? Probably until she stopped wishing it was the truth and stopped comparing Zach and Sam.

Because Sam came up short, every time.

Guilt pressed her insides. For thinking such terrible thoughts about her husband, and for letting Zach save her ass, over and over.

He made too many sacrifices for her. Tonight, even. He should be at home resting after a hard day of therapy, not pitching in with Ben. Pragmatically, she knew that as a single parent she was only hurting herself if she didn’t lean on the people who loved her. But she’d leaned so much in the year and a half since Sam died that she’d developed a permanent tilt.

Zach let out a sleepy snort, and she glanced at him. He had the thickest eyelashes, and—crap, it was totally crossing a line to sneak peeks of him while he slept.

She ripped her gaze away from his beautiful face, knelt on the rug and started cleaning up blocks and cars and stuffies as quietly as possible. But her gaze kept drifting back to the rocking chair. Last summer she’d made a study of watching him. Sitting at his desk with his hands tunneled into his hair. Taking kids tandem across the Wild Life Adventures zip line course. And more recently, dripping with sweat as he worked his tail off in rehab. The slow shift from objective appreciation to actually wanting to jump his bones risked toppling the scaffold she’d erected around her life.

It’s just physical. I can control that.

Her stomach growled, as if mocking her confidence as well as reminding her she’d skipped lunch and had only managed to finish half her toast this morning because Ben had refused to eat anything except the food off her plate.

“Yikes, I’d better make double the schnitzel.” The low rumble of Zach’s voice hooked deep in her core and she bit her lip.

He smiled drowsily, another hook anchoring into her soul. Yeah, she was never getting those out.

 Amazon link

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My review:

3.75 out of 5 stars

A Father for Her Child by Laurel Greer is part of the ‘Sutter Creek, Montana’ series and features widowed Cadence (Cadie) Grigg, her young son Ben, and her late husband’s best friend, Zach Cardenas. The adults are tied together by friendship, their love of Ben, and their mutual unacknowledged attraction. Mired in the past, they have to get past their emotional burdens and deal with Zach’s injuries before they can figure out their future together.

This contemporary romance connects with the book From Exes to Expecting and it was lovely to revisit the folks who were spotlighted in that book and get a glimpse of how their lives are going. The main couple in this story are tied together by tragedy and by their feelings of guilt but they are also connected by their years of friendship and their devotion to the young toddler, Ben. I love the emotionalism that is beautifully portrayed even as the reasons each is consumed by guilt are gradually revealed. The devotion Zach has for Cadence and Ben is heartwarming and the angst caused by the ethical concerns that arise when the relationship starts evolving is understandable although frustrating.

A surprise revelation that occurs while they’re viewing outtakes was a bit awkward for me as I didn’t understand why that would have been recorded, let alone aired for the grieving widow, but I understand that it was needed for the story to progress.

I think this is a touching story about second chances and the importance of forgiveness, both of oneself and of others. There is a great combination of family time and growing passion and I thought the relationship evolution was believable. I enjoyed seeing the tenderness and affection that is displayed between the central characters as well as the extended family and I finished with a warm fuzzy feeling and a sense of satisfaction. What else could a romantic ask for?

Of Sound Mind and Someone Else's Body by William Quincy Belle (VBB, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

Of Sound Mind and Someone Else's Body

by

William Quincy Belle

ADULT title

Science Fiction with (gasp) sex!

Blurb:

Alan Maitland is a successful businessman on his way up the corporate ladder. Life is good, but life is also full of the unexpected. A scientific experiment goes awry, and Alan’s mind is transferred to the body of Hana Toussaint, a high-class escort. Suddenly, he must not only contend with a new identity, but with the eye-opening experience of living as a female: how to walk in high heels without falling; how to put on a bra without dislocating a shoulder; how to deal with makeup without poking out an eye; and how to get along in a society which in many ways is still male-dominated.

When Alan discovers that Hana has taken over his body, the two of them must work together to find the scientist who can reverse the experiment and give them back their respective lives. Along the way, they must cope with living as each other and learn what it's like to be a member of the opposite sex. And as their adventure goes on, Alan the woman must figure out his growing feelings for Hana the man.

Alan faces the biggest challenge of his life which Hana sums up with one decisive question:

“Are you man enough to be a woman?”

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Excerpt

After their small breakfast, Alan and Hana set about getting ready, selecting clothes for one another.

“I start with moisturizer,” he said examining the various items laid out on the bathroom counter.

She stood behind him, looking at herself in the mirror and adjusting her collar. “That’s right.”

He picked up the bottle of moisturizer and unscrewed the top. “This hadn’t been on my list of required life skills, but I’ll be able to say I’m a truly well-rounded man.”

“Well-rounded? You missed me having my period last week!”

He stopped and wrinkled his brow.

She half smiled. “Are you man enough to be a woman?”

He gave his head a shake then continued his morning ritual.

Hana pulled the looped tie over her head and mimicked Alan’s earlier movements by tightening the loop and getting the tie in place. “I’m getting the hang of this.” She pulled her collar down and raised her chin to give the knot a final adjustment. “All set.”

She watched him go through the steps of getting ready for another day as a woman. “You’re doing fine.”

Before going out the door, Alan paused in front of a mirror. He smoothed out his skirt and leaned closer to check his makeup. He looked himself in the eye. What am I doing? Am I getting womanlier?

Hana held open the door, and the two of them left to meet their fate.



Amazon buy link

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About the Author:

William Quincy Belle is just a guy. Nobody famous; nobody rich; just some guy who likes to periodically add his two cents worth with the hope, accounting for inflation, that $0.02 is not over evaluating his contribution. He claims that at the heart of the writing process is some sort of (psychotic) urge to put it down on paper and likes to recite the following, which so far he hasn't been able to attribute to anyone: "A writer is an egomaniac with low self-esteem." You will find Mr. Belle's unbridled stream of consciousness floating around in cyberspace.







Website
Facebook
Twitter



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 GIVEAWAY

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. William Quincy Belle will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.



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Scandal's Bride by Pamela Gibson (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

It is my pleasure to share a guest post by author Pamela Gibson, who shares...



ELF: What was the most difficult thing to overcome on your path to becoming a published author and how did you conquer it?

OVERCOMING SELF DOUBT
by
Pamela Gibson

I wanted to be a writer since the fourth grade, but I didn’t define “writing.” I wrote poems, then newspaper columns in high school, then news and feature stories as a journalist. My next career in city government gave me opportunities to write thousands of reports, and as a hobby, I wrote history books.

My fiction writing efforts filled a plastic container which I kept under my bed. Fiction was hard and I couldn’t possibly do it, could I?

Self-doubt has been the most difficult trait I’ve had to overcome. It poisons good efforts and tramples on genuine successes. When I get a good review there’s always that voice in the back of my head saying, “Oh, it must be a fluke.”

There’s actually a psychological term for this. It’s called imposter syndrome and it affects a lot of writers, especially those who grew up shy with feelings of inferiority. Many of us went on to be high achievers with embarrassing little secrets: we’re imposters, right. We don’t deserve our successes and when we have them, we get nervous and tense, and we downplay them, because we’re sure they won’t be repeated.

I first learned about this syndrome at a Romance Writers of America conference where a featured speaker addressed a room full of authors—current and aspiring. Dr. Valerie Young was explicit in her examples and sadly, I fit the bill. Imposter syndrome, she said, is when you make excuses in your head in advance why something isn’t good enough, why you aren’t good enough, why you’re going to fail anyway so why try.

What can be done to overcome it? According to Dr. Young, you must first recognize the moment those feelings are at the forefront.  For me, negative voices in my head tell me I’m not good enough, I’ll never be a success, I should have started sooner, I should quit.

Next, learn to protect yourself. Ask yourself questions. What would happen if I never changed this pattern? What price would I pay, what opportunities and experiences would I miss? And the big question: what is this pattern of negative thought protecting me from or helping me avoid?  If I weren’t getting something out of it, I wouldn’t do it. So what is it?

Then set a new course. What would you rather feel, what would positive voices say? What would you like to do differently?  For example, when you get a compliment, say, “Thank you. I worked very hard on it.” Don’t say, “Thank you, I know it’s not perfect…”

Share positive thoughts that normalize self-doubt. Reframe what competence, failure, mistakes, and critical feedback look like. Acknowledge that you don’t always have to feel confident to move ahead.

To be honest, I’m still working on this. A lifetime of self-doubt has undoubtedly allowed me to push myself harder and that in itself has led to the successes I’ve had. But sometimes I still get that little voice in my head telling me I’m not good enough and I have to shout back.

Yes, I am.

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Scandal's Bride

by 
Pamela Gibson

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GENRE: Historical (Regency)

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BLURB:

Marry in haste…

Lady Gwendolyn Pettigrew longs to be a mother, but refuses to marry the lecherous old fool her father has found for her. When her best friend convinces her to consider her husband’s younger brother as a suitable candidate, Gwen agrees to a marriage of convenience, hoping against hope that her dream of becoming a mother will have a chance.

The Hon. John Montague, a penniless younger son, is handsome, witty, and thrilled that a woman with a dowry has agreed to wed him. Best of all she’s a fiercely independent bluestocking, a woman who won’t want to bother with a family. Because John has a shocking secret. He’s vowed never to bring a child into the world, a child who, like his own mother, might carry the strain of madness.

As secrets unfold, tension grows, threatening the fragile bonds they’ve forged.  Worse, someone wants them to abandon their home and leave Yorkshire, and they’ll stop at nothing to make it happen.

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EXCERPT

“May I come in?”

A frisson of excitement made every nerve ending tingle in anticipation. Did he want to consummate their marriage tonight? She looked down at her serviceable white cotton nightgown with its high neck and long sleeves. She’d put it on because it was heavy and warm. If she’d known John would be joining her in her bed, she would have left her hair loose and worn the pretty gown Miranda had given her as a wedding gift.

Oh Lord, oh Lord.

She let out the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. Pulling the covers up to her chin, she called out, “Come in.”

He poked his head through the door. His coat and waistcoat were off, and his cravat was in his hand. He looked mussed and adorable.

“I want to apologize for my behavior. I shouldn’t have run off like I did. I was feeling . . . ill-tempered . . . and didn’t want to subject you to my mood. I promise not to do it again.”

She peeked over the top of her covers. “You are forgiven. But I must say I was worried about you. Where did you go?”

“I rode toward the village, turned around, and came back. I gave my horse a good gallop and then a rub down in the stable.”

“I see.” She paused, not knowing what else to say.

He smiled. “We’ll play whist tomorrow night. I know you enjoy the game.”

“I shall look forward to it.”

“Good night, Gwen.” He closed the door firmly, and his footsteps echoed down the hall.

Why were her eyes filling with tears?

Buy link

Amazon

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Author of eight books on California history and twelve romance novels, Pamela Gibson is a former City Manager who lives in the Nevada desert. Having spent the last three years messing about in boats, a hobby that included a five-thousand-mile trip in a 32-foot Nordic Tug, she now spends most of her time indoors happily reading, writing, cooking and keeping up with the antics of her gran-cats, gran-dog, and gran-fish. Sadly, the gran-lizard went to his final reward. 






If you want to learn more about her activities go to https://www.pamelagibsonwrites.com and sign up for her blog and quarterly newsletter. Or follow her in these places:

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Facebook

Twitter

Website

Goodreads

Amazon author page

 

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Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice (Spotlight, guest post, review, and GIVEAWAY) GBP ADULT title

I have the pleasure of sharing a guest post by author Morgan Brice/Gail Z. Martin, who talks about...

 

Sand, Sun and Spooks

by

 Morgan Brice

Sand and sun make for a great beach vacation. If you’re a beach fan, you’ve probably noticed that each beach has its own vibe.

I spent a lot of time at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina and at Virginia Beach in Virginia, and while they’re both great places with fantastic boardwalks and lots of things to do, they don’t feel at all alike. Virginia Beach is near military bases, so the beach is full of muscular, ripped twenty-somethings, and the town has more than its share of places to get a drink, a tattoo and an exotic dance. Myrtle Beach draws a Spring Break crowd and has its famous motorcycle rallies, but otherwise it’s very much a family beach, filled with kids, guys with dad bods and moms who look like moms.

So when I had the opportunity to go to Cape May, New Jersey, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s not far from Wildwood, but it’s posher by far than the stereotype for the Jersey Shore. In fact, the hotel which inspired the fictional, cursed, hotel in Treasure Trail was built to lure the parasol and top hat crowd away from Newport and Marblehead back at the turn of the last century.

Cape May has great beaches, lovely beach cabanas, and amazing food. Beautiful Victorian houses face the ocean, and there’s a lighthouse at the far end of town. It’s more polo shirt and khakis than tank top and board shorts, the place for people who want to kick back without letting it all hang out.

The perfect place for Erik and Ben, the main characters in Treasure Trail, the first in a new series set in Cape May! Erik Mitchell used to track art fraud and bust up forgery rings, but after a close call, he moves to Cape May to make a fresh start. Ex-cop Ben Nolan is also starting over, and sparks fly when the two men meet. But when old scandals and murders come to light, they’re going to need each other and every bit of luck to get their happy ending.

A cursed hotel, a missing clock, and an old skeleton add up to trouble for Erik and Ben. As they’re navigating a new town, a budding relationship and the scars of old betrayals, they’ve got to decide who to trust, because someone wants to turn Erik and Ben into Cape May’s newest ghosts!

If you’ve read my Badlands and Witchbane books, you’ll spot some familiar names, since all my series have cross-overs and cameo appearances. The same is true for characters from the non-romance urban fantasy I write as Gail Z. Martin. That makes for a spooktacular expanded universe!

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Treasure Trail

by
Morgan Brice

ADULT title

Cover Artist: Lou Harper

Genre/s: Urban Fantasy MM paranormal romance

Trope/s: Second chance, friends to lovers, starting over, psychic/medium and a cop, mystery, action/adventure, 

Themes: Taking a chance on love, running from your past, trust, friendship, found family

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Add on Goodreads 

When a missing antique shows up under mysterious circumstances, Ben and Erik are plunged into danger as a cursed hotel’s long-ago scandals resurface. Someone wants those secrets to stay buried—and is willing to add Ben and Erik to the death toll to keep the past hidden.

Blurb

Erik Mitchell traveled the world uncovering art fraud and relic theft, which pitted him against spoiled billionaires, unscrupulous collectors, mobsters and cartels. He worked with law enforcement across the US and Europe, but a sting goes wrong and Erik ends up injured, then returns to find his partner cheating. Erik decides to stop globe trotting and buy an antique shop in scenic Cape May, NJ, rebuild his life, and nurse his broken heart.

Undercover Newark cop Ben Nolan went down in a hail of bullets when a bust went sideways, after a tip-off from a traitor inside the department. After he recovers, he spends a couple of years as a private investigator, only to tire of seeing the worst of human nature. So when his aunt offers him the chance to take over her rental real estate business in Cape May, it seems too good to be true. Now if he could just believe he could ever be lucky again in love.

When a missing antique shows up under mysterious circumstances, Ben and Erik are plunged into danger as a cursed hotel’s long-ago scandals resurface. Someone wants those secrets to stay buried—and is willing to add Ben and Erik to the death toll to keep the past hidden.

Excerpt

“What the hell did you pack in these boxes? Rocks?” Sean Meirlach shifted the heavy moving box on his shoulder. Sean looked and sounded like the Jersey Shore guy he was, brawny and blunt.

“Books,” Ben replied. “You know, those rectangular paper things? Ever read one?” The teasing was good-natured. Ben Nolan had spent most of his summers working for his cousin’s mom, and they were thick as thieves. Which, Ben reflected, was a poor analogy for an ex-cop-turned-former-private-investigator. And now, at least for this summer, a vacation rental manager in beautiful Cape May, New Jersey.

“Yes, dumbass. I’ve read lots of books. And not just the ones with pictures in them,” Sean said with a smirk. Sean played up his bad boy persona, but Ben knew his cousin had plenty of brains, hustle, and street smarts.

“Good to know. I’d hate to have to break it to Aunt Meg that her favorite son was illiterate.”

Sean snorted. “Favorite son? I’m her onlyson, asshole. And she’s already pissed at me because I just want to run my food truck in Wildwood. Which is why you’re doing me a huge solid, taking over the family business.”

“Whoa, there! Hold up. I’m here for the summer. Justthe summer. I said I’d see how it went. No promises.”

“Just the summer? You sure brought a lot of shit with you if it’s just for the summer.” Sean set the box down a little harder than necessary on a table in the upstairs apartment over the rental office, which would be Ben’s home for the next few months. Ben dumped the tangle of odds and ends he had carried up from the rented van and flopped onto the couch. He had put most of his things in storage when he left Newark and brought what he didn’t want to do without, or what the apartment didn’t have. Sean had driven the truck up to Cape May, while Ben drove his black Mustang, packed to the roof.

He owed Sean a lot for helping him move—and, if truth be told, for pushing him as the perfect candidate for the job to Aunt Meg.

“Don’t screw up the master plan, dude!” Sean chided. “You’re sick of the big city and getting shot. And I need a little of that good life, somewhere not quite as buttoned-down.” He reached for a bottle of water and took a swig. “I love this town, but I need to stretch my wings. And the vibe in Wildwood is different. People come for the Pier and the Boardwalk and the rides. More singles, not just families. And they all have to eat!”

Sean’s truck, Put A Ring On It, specialized in kickass onion rings, which went on everything—burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, even chili. The combination of great food, a catchy name, and Sean’s outgoing personality had made for a very successful launch.

Buy Links

Amazon US

Amazon UK

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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.

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

Join my Worlds of Morgan Brice Facebook Group! Get the early scoop on upcoming books and new series, see new covers first, enjoy insider news and special contests and giveaways! Plus it’s where I get my beta readers and launch team! 

Author Links

Amazon

Facebook Group

Pinterest (for Morgan and Gail)

Twitter: @MorganBriceBook

Website

BookBub

Sign up for my newsletter and never miss a new release

 

 

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Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win 

your choice of ebook from Morgan's backlist and a $10 Amazon gift card.

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Check out the Treasure Trail Blog Tour Guest Posts, Interviews, and Reviews here

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My review:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice introduces Erik Mitchell, who is the new owner of a unique antique shop, and Ben Nolan, who is temporarily managing his relatives’ real estate rental business. Each man has had experiences with the paranormal world, which means they’ll fit right in to their new town. However, neither expects to become embroiled in several cold cases that may be life-threatening to solve.

This adult gay paranormal mystery story is the first book in a new series and definitely starts things off with plenty of eerie elements to pique one’s interest. The small-town feel juxtaposed with the casual acceptance of ghosts and “other” is vividly depicted and convinced me that this is NOT somewhere I want to visit, lol. I love this author’s world-building and ability to create realistic, likable characters who accept their abilities with equanimity and a sense of responsibility.

I was drawn in to the story immediately and sympathetic to each of the main characters as their pasts are gradually revealed. I love that this is a mystery story with that unique twist of the paranormal (including ghosts demanding justice) that enhances the mystery and investigation. The tension mounts even as the two guys gradually accept their burgeoning relationship and reveal their respective painful pasts and dangerous past professions.

It was even better to have several cameos by folks from the other series penned by this prolific and talented author. I delight in the opportunity to get a glimpse of them and look forward to some of them getting their time in the spotlight again. Those in search of an exciting mystery story with a paranormal twist will enjoy this tale—but beware, once captivated, nothing else will get done!

A copy of this title was provided for review

Bro by Kayelle Allen (Spotlight, excerpt, and review)

Bro: Antonello Brothers prequel

by

Kayelle Allen

Blurb:

The tech Senth is about to claim will make him invisible. Finally, the young halfbreed thief will be out of sight, shielded from the taunts humans fire at him. But when that tech reveals he has a human half-brother who's bound by a cruel slaver, Senth must find a way to save his brother from abuse and win his freedom -- even though Senth is a slave himself.

There's just one problem. The new Thieves' Guild tech might make him invisible, but it can't shield him from the truth...


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Excerpt: Message Deleted

A buzz at Senth's wrist alerted him to a message. He withdrew his mobile and set the device to read-only mode, rather than bring it up on holovid.

The message required a password, which told Senth who had sent it. His Sen'dai--guild master--and father, Luc Saint-Cyr.

The Guild didn't accept non-humans, unless they were enslaved to a human member. No one could rise past level ten, unless related to a human member. Guild-arranged marriages and adoptions happened regularly. To keep the Guild happy, Saint-Cyr was Senth's lord and master and his adoptive father.

Could his Sen'dai send a note the way anyone else would? Of course not. No, the Man had to do it with mystery and ceremony.

Folks in this town never referred to Saint-Cyr by name. You could hear the capital letters when they called him the Man, or referred to him as the Harbinger. His father was the crime lord all the other crime lords wanted to be when they grew up.

"Ooh, big scary Man." He thumbed off the device. "Please let this be a job and not him thinking I screwed up." Senth ducked into a coffee shop and made his father's handsign to the worker behind the counter, then slipped into a back room to access the password function in private. That he had no idea what the password might be did not deter him. It took seconds to break in.

"This is prolly some test to see how fast I can break these suckers." He opened the message, and then brought the device to his ear.

"A worker at the Guild says he's met a man who claims you're family. Come home and we'll discuss it. Now." The message ended.

Senth jerked the device from his ear. "No way I heard that right." He pressed play and brought it to his ear.

"The idBot messaging system regrets that your message has been deleted. Would you like to access another message at this time?"

"No, I wouldn't like to access another message. I want to hear this message." He poked at the screen. None of the usual options showed. After several fruitless minutes, he resorted to asking for help. "IdBot, how do I replay the message?"

"Message has been deleted."

"I know that, you stupid machine. Undelete it."

"IdBot is unable to comply."

Senth swore under his breath. "Why?"

"Message was delivered as hear-once-and-delete. Would you like to access another message at this time?"

"No, I wouldn't, idiotBot. Thank you not very much." Senth turned off the device and put it in his pocket. "Why is Dad sending me encrypted hear-once messages? What in the worlds is going on?"

Buy link

 Amazon


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4 stars

Bro: Antonello Brothers 0 by Kayelle Allen introduces the two males who are living very different lives and who have significantly opposing goals for their futures. Senth has had to deal with the prejudice against half-Kin, but at least has a powerful bulwark to fall back on whereas his half-brother Khyff is fueled by hatred to help him survive as a pleasure slave. Their meeting may be explosive…or fatal.

This adult science fiction novella establishes an intriguing society with nice twists and turns. I was immediately drawn to the main character (and the fascinating tech) and the unique elements that have shaped his development. The multi-level challenges such as needing an injection to keep his feral side at bay, lacking claws, and the drawback of a youthful appearance piqued my interest but the sharp contrast with Khyff’s horrific circumstances made me even more curious about these two. I love the emotion that is evoked when actions speak louder than words between Senth and his adoptive father. This is a great story to whet one’s appetite about the rest of the series and I look forward to reading more about these delicious characters.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

The brothers have individual stories in the following books: