Category: M/M Supernatural Fiction

An Alisa Review: Date from Hell by Gareth Vaughn

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

In his desperation to find a date in time for the annual Helloween bash, minor-rank demon Kev summons a coworker he once hooked up with. But when the smoke and sulfur clears, it isn’t demon Ira standing in the ring, but a very perplexed, very human mortal named Archer.

Archer is cute, confused, and willing to consider going as Kev’s date … for a price. Turns out this isn’t the first time Archer’s met a demon, and he wants his soul back.

So, Kev is not your standard demon; he more just seems resigned to his fate.  Archer is not happy about being summoned but decides to make the best of a bad situation.

This is kinkier that I had thought, not crazy but just wasn’t what I was expecting or looking for at the time.  I liked Archer’s dedication to his brother and felt bad for Kev since he is stuck in Hell due to an ex-girlfriend.  I didn’t really feel the connection between the characters but it works out for them in the end.

The cover art by Written Ink Designs is okay but works for the series.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 73 pages

Published: October 13, 2018 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634867535

Edition Language: English

A MelanieM Review: Lucky Town: A Badlands Novella (Badlands #1.5) by Morgan Brice

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

 

Psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, Myrtle Beach homicide detective Vic D’Amato, find that the only thing more frightening than murder might be navigating their first holiday season as a couple.

A trip back to Pittsburgh to spend Thanksgiving with Vic’s large, exuberant family means dodging old frenemies and a bitter ex-boyfriend. A cold case comes back to haunt Vic when a murdered woman’s ghost begs Simon for justice. Then a new murder back in Myrtle Beach looks suspiciously familiar, and the dead man’s ghost isn’t playing nice. When Simon gets a vision of the next victim before the crime occurs, he realizes that all the murders are supernaturally linked. Catching the murderer will take his psychic sleuthing skills along with Vic’s street smarts to avert a tragedy. Can they do right by ghosts past, present and yet-to-come without ending up in the crosshairs of a killer for Christmas?

I very much enjoyed Lucky Town by Morgan Brice after some introductory confusion over the characters, their past history and current situation.  It wasn’t until midway through the story that I went searching at Goodreads and found that Lucky Town is  a sequel to Badlands, something I wasn’t aware of when I started this novel.  I need to go  back now and pick up all the past history I missed that’s hinted at here from that  original story.  Yes, that means I don’t consider Lucky Town a stand alone.

A somewhat confusing introduction to this already established couple opens the story.  We find Simon and  Vic have moved together into Simon’s bungalow in Myrtle Beach, they are still adjusting to that fact, and making it their “home” together.  The author feeds us details of a past case where Simon was hospitalized due to a gunshot wound, a case that was both magical in nature and not only brought these two together but was the primary factor behind Vic moving to North Carolina with Simon.  So much missed past history there.  And its referenced (the case and the aftermath) repeatedly throughout this story.

Luckily, you’re told that Simon sees dead people, ghosts to be exact.  And they tell him things.

Vic knows and believes him.  Which is all good because the paranormal and supernatural is about to land on their doorstep once again.  As in multiple bodies worth.

Now I actually thought the case, the mystery surrounding it, the secondary cast brought in because of it, and the resolution the best part of this story.  I wanted  far more of this, root magic, everything then I actually did of Vic, Pittsburgh, and his family.  They just weren’t as interesting as Simon and the supernatural goings on in Myrtle Beach.

Plus this story is only 116 pages so that’s a lot to cram into a shorter novella.

Still I thought Morgan Brice did a terrific job with the supernatural mystery and cast of characters there.  Loved that element.  In some ways the sex here in parts overwhelmed the story and  relationship development as the book was so short.  I think that could have been balanced a little better.  However, I’m so intrigued by everything that I have read here that I’m not only going to seek out that first novel but read any further stories coming  out for release in this series as well.

If romance, a bit of the scary  paranormal and supernatural is your thing, this might be the series for you.  But definitely read the first story, Badlands, before reading Lucky Town, to get the foundation I needed and clearly missed.

Cover by Natania Barron.  That’s a good representation of the characters, but sort of a typical cover these days.

Sales LInk:   http://a.co/d/8FuMNP7

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 116 pages
Published October 29th 2018 by Darkwind Press
ASINB07K1PW522
Edition Language English
Series Badlands #1.5

Badlands

Lucky Town: A Badlands Novella

Restless Nights

An Ali Release Day Review: Blood Red Roulette by Jana Denardo

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars 

Arrigo Giancarlo’s friends think he’s a rich young man with the unusual job of paranormal investigator, working with his psychic assistant in Las Vegas. In truth he’s a two-thousand-year-old vampire and member of the Chiaroscuro, a group of Supernaturals dedicated to keeping humanity safe from the more dangerous of their kind. He’s also openly bisexual… but alone.

When he spots Luc St. John in a bar, Arrigo is intrigued. What begins as an effort to repay the kindness shown to him in the past quickly turns into much deeper feelings for the suffering and displaced Cajun. For Luc’s part, he feels too poor, too uneducated, and too bound to his hateful family to ever be worthy of elegant and cultured Arrigo.

An old enemy, Eleni, blames Arrigo for murdering her true love. On the anniversary of that death, she’s back to take revenge. As Arrigo’s closest friends fall victim to savage attacks, he fears nothing will keep Luc safe. Should he break both their hearts and let Luc go, or is it too late? If Luc’s already in Eleni’s sights, Arrigo knows that like most things in Vegas, the odds are against him.

This was an entertaining paranormal romantic suspense.  The majority of the book was about Eleni’s attacks and Arrigo’s effort to catch her.  There is a side plot of Arrigo meeting Luc and falling with him.
I liked the mystery part better than the romance. I never felt a connection between Arrigo & Luc.  The romance wasn’t believable for me is the reason I didn’t rate the book higher.
The writing itself was pretty good but there were a lot of necessary details & it weighed the book down in places. A lot of it could have been cut out & wouldn’t have effected the overall story.
I liked this but didn’t love it. I didn’t really click with the author’s writing style.  I think others may enjoy the story more than I did since that’s a personal preference kind of thing.
Cover: This cover was designed by Tiferet Design. I love the cover.  It’s what made me want to read the book.  I think it’s fantastic.
Sales Links:  DSP Publications  |  Amazon
Book Details:
ebook, 1st edition, 350 pages
Published November 13th 2018 by DSP Publications
ISBN 139781640807587
Edition Language English

Release Blitz and Giveaway for A Vampire’s Heart (Ellowyn Found #1) by Kayleigh Sky

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK – Available exclusive to Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited
 
Length: 98,551 words
 
Publisher: Kiss Drunk Books
Blurb
 

Vampires live.


And they hunger…


Otto Jones, a cop assigned to the seemingly random murder of a vampire, would rather hide out in the nearest bar than waste his time on a dead vamp. He hates the bloodthirsty demons. But when the king of the vampires commands him to work with one of the lesser princes and find the killer, he has no choice.


Prince Jessamine Senera is ready to sacrifice his happiness in a loveless marriage for his family’s benefit… but not yet. He dreams of adventure, excitement, and true love. He lives on romance novels and detective stories and wishes he could drink synthetic blood like every other vampire. But he can’t. He needs human blood to survive and is hated by vampires and humans alike.


As Otto and Jessa draw closer to an entity that doesn’t want to be discovered, Otto finds the heart he thought long dead opening to the romance-loving Jessa. No good can possibly come from falling in love with a vampire, but when a shadowy assailant attacks Jessa, Otto will descend into the darkest pit of the earth to rescue him.


If you like vampires, mythical and urban settings, intense suspense, and happy ever after, then you’ll love this first book in the dark and mysterious Ellowyn Found trilogy!


A Vampire’s Heart is a stand-alone paranormal dystopian noir romance with a satisfying conclusion to the love story and a central mystery that weaves the trilogy together.

A
So… About me. I’ve never run a marathon or scaled Mt. Everest. I’ve never scuba dived or sky dived. I’ve surfed though. That was fun. I have six tattoos, and I really love ink. I also love all plants. Zinnias are one of my favorite flowers. If you’ve never see a zinnia, look it up. Very pretty. It’s an old-timey plant but super easy to grow. Anyway, the big thing I do is write m/m erotic romance. But as much as I love romance and sex, I really love going deep into the dark with my characters. What are their wounds? How can I peel them raw and drag them into the light? This leads to some fairly dark stories sometimes, but even the dark ones come with humor. I think the contradictions in people are ripe for hilarious scene setups. I need humor and light in my life—otherwise, I go into some pretty dark places myself. I live with only one cat now—I once had thirteen. That was crazy. I take up most of the things I research for my characters—photography, tarot, and jewelry making for example. I even bought a recorder once because Ori from Jesus Kid played one. I love that part of my job. I also love to walk and lift weights. I’m not a big fan of yoga—just throwing that out there. So far, all of my characters embody something of me, and all of my characters have given me something of them. But no matter what the struggle is from book to book, love always wins out. I’m strong on plot, strong on character, stronger on love. You can count on happily ever after from me every time. I write my stories to open hearts and uplift spirits. Love matters. It counts. And it’s for everyone.


Peace.


Website: http://www.kayleighsky.com
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/kayleigh.sky.writer
Kayleigh’s Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1770182486372453/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/kayleighsky/766385570110391
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skyboundlove
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/kayleighsky/
Kayleigh’s Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cmLIpP
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kayleigh.sky.writer
Bookbub: http://www.bookbub.com/author/kayleighsky
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/kayleigh-sky

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A Free Dreamer Review: A Vampire’s Heart (Ellowyn Found #1) by Kayleigh Sky

Rating: 4 stars out 5

Vampires live.

And they hunger…

Otto Jones, a cop assigned to the seemingly random murder of a vampire, would rather hide out in the nearest bar than waste his time on a dead vamp. He hates the bloodthirsty demons. But when the king of the vampires commands him to work with one of the lesser princes and find the killer, he has no choice.

Prince Jessamine Senera is ready to sacrifice his happiness in a loveless marriage for his family’s benefit… but not yet. He dreams of adventure, excitement, and true love. He lives on romance novels and detective stories and wishes he could drink synthetic blood like every other vampire. But he can’t. He needs human blood to survive and is hated by vampires and humans alike.

As Otto and Jessa draw closer to an entity that doesn’t want to be discovered, Otto finds the heart he thought long dead opening to the romance-loving Jessa. No good can possibly come from falling in love with a vampire, but when a shadowy assailant attacks Jessa, Otto will descend into the darkest pit of the earth to rescue him.

If you like vampires, mythical and urban settings, intense suspense, and happy ever after, then you’ll love this first book in the dark and mysterious Ellowyn Found trilogy!

A Vampire’s Heart is a stand-alone paranormal dystopian noir romance with a satisfying conclusion to the love story and a central mystery that weaves the trilogy together.

I’ve read a lot of vampire books but never one quite like “A Vampire’s Heart”. It’s definitely a very unique setting and one that I enjoyed a lot.

It’s not a romance in the traditional sense of the word, though we do get a HEA for the our two protagonists. It just takes them a long time to get together and it’s not really the main focus of the book. I loved that slow build at first, but when they finally did get together and managed to admit their feelings, it still find kind of abrupt. I’m not much of a mystery reader usually, but this got me really invested and I certainly did not expect the reveal of the bad guy.

The world building was truly excellent. As I said before, the setting in and of itself is pretty unique. Vampires have lived underground for millennia, but they had to leave their home because humans a few years before, after humans finally managed to screw up the environment enough. The earth is constantly moving, minor earthquakes are now an everyday occurrence. Life isn’t easy, the peace is very much a tentative things and many lives were lost in the war between humans and vampires.

Otto Jones is not a happy man. He’s an alcoholic and very much obsessed with the death of his sister. He is a haunted man, who can’t seem to find peace. I still liked him but I thought he want through a rather sudden chance of personality in the epilogue.

Jessa is really sweet. Being a drainer isn’t easy, humans and vampires alike are quick to hate you for it. I loved how pragmatic he was about his engagement, even if he was actually a real romantic.

The side characters had depth as well. I especially liked Isaac and I hope he’ll get his own book.

The tone of the book is rather dark and a little bit creepy. A perfect autumn read, for those foggy days and nights, where you never know what’s really lurking in the shadows. But the epilogue felt out of tune with the tone of the rest of the story. It actually quite bothered me, which is the main reason why I gave this “only” four stars and not five.

“A Vampire’s Heart” was an interesting break from the endless sugary-sweet romances out there. The mystery is really the main focus of the book. Even though I’m usually not a reader of mysteries, it made for an intriguing mix of genres.

If you’re looking for gorgeously sparking vampires and a sweet romance, you’ll probably want to keep looking, though.

Personally, I’m already looking forward to the next part in the series.

I’m a bit torn on what to think about the cover. I can’t quite make up my mind if I like it or if I think it’s kind of generic…

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book details: Kindle Edition, 399 pages

Expected publication: November 13th 2018 by Kiss Drunk Books

A Lila Review: Death Benefits by William Holden

Rating: 2 stars out of 5

Victor Kane isn’t an ordinary funeral director. He’s a vampire, and not an ordinary one, either. He doesn’t drink fresh blood, but rather the lifeless blood from corpses that come into his family-run business. Despite the benefits of dead blood, there’s one side effect he hasn’t come to terms with — dead blood caused erectile dysfunction.

Cliff a handsome young man who loses his husband unexpectedly in the heat of passion and calls After Care Funeral Home to help with the arrangements. When Victor and Cliff meet, though, it’s anything but business.

Cliff wants to feel again, and sex is his answer. Victor knows from experience that sex with a vampire is a powerful aphrodisiac and tries to keep Cliff at bay. Can Victor confess his identity to Cliff without ruining his chance for love?

Death Benefits is not what I expected after reading the blurb. It’s listed as an erotic romance, but even as a short erotica it didn’t work for me. It has s great premise and Victor is an interesting character but it’s not enough to carry the story.

I’m fine with the instant attraction between Victor and Cliff but I wanted a reason behind it. Even if it was momentary or an effect from Victor being a vampire. Also, Cliff detachment felt a bit out of place. Even if he was grieving from his loss, I needed more to believe he would jump into Victor’s bed mere hours after his husband’s death.

There’s no lack of lust and connection between the main characters. That part went well. I love the way Victor interacted with the dead bodies and the stories about his life before turning into a vampire. I like the ending too, it was fun and not as predictable as many other paranormal stories.

The only relevant part of the cover by Written Ink Designs is the vampire. It’s definitely too generic for the story.

Sale Links: Amazon | Nook | JMS

Book Details:
ebook, 100 pages
Published: October 13, 2018, by JMS Books
Edition Language: English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Loving Loch by Kris Jacen

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

David Rowan finally gets a break at the end of tax season when his assistant arranges a vacation for him that was on his bucket list from his college days. The accountant is going to go to Scotland to hunt for the Loch Ness Monster, aka Nessie. But really, he just wants a rest and time to enjoy the gorgeous scenery of the beautiful, very green countryside. He ends up at a Bed and Breakfast run by a lovely busybody, with the help of her large family that includes her son, Loch, a talented artist.

The family is keeping a very big secret—they are shifters and are the infamous Loch Ness monsters captured on camera by tourists and hunters. The reason they’ve never been found? They shift back and come ashore as people. One night, David spots Loch leaving the lake, but not in his monster form—in his very naked, bubble-butt form—and it intrigues the young man to learn more about the handsome artist.

I enjoyed this story—from the MCs to the family members including the nephews—little monsters—to Isla, the mom, and to G-pa, who strips off his clothes and jumps overboard on a scenic tour Loch is doing for David. It’s a sweet tale, with humor and great characters—two sweet men who find a way to be together, and of course, a HEA.

The cover picture by Kris Jacen is of a beautiful, crystal blue lake in the Highlands is perfect for this story.

Sales Links:  MLR Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 50 pages
Published October 15th 2018 by MLR Press
ASIN B07JGM237V
Edition Language English

Love a Bit of Fun and the Unexpected? Check out ‘do you think we should’ve glued it first?: The Crazy Adventures of Cass & Star Episode I’ by Bobbie Rayne (excerpt)

do you think we should’ve glued it first?: The Crazy Adventures of Cass & Star Episode I

by 

 

 

 

 

Blurb:

Cassius is the new kid in town, so when trouble shows up at his door, and his father is kidnapped, he has no one to turn to. Luckily for him, Sterling steps up and offers to help, and before they know it, they’re both thrown into a world they don’t understand with some very dangerous enemies.

The worst part is they can’t figure out what’s going on with Cassius. Soon after his dad goes missing, Cassius begins to change; he starts having weird cravings and odd behaviors. Cass and Star are unsure of the cause, but they think it’s somehow related to the guys that are after them. Things keep getting stranger and stranger with no answers anywhere in sight.

Will they be able to set their differences aside and work together to figure out what’s going on with Cassius? Will they be able to find Cassius’s father in time? What do you think Cass could be? A vampire? Werewolf? Zombie?

Join Cass and Star on their crazy adventure in Episode I: do you think we should’ve glued it first?4

Excerpt:

Title: do you think we should’ve glued it first?
Series: The Crazy Adventures of Cass & Star Episode I
(unedited, subject to change, copyright © Bobbie Rayne)

Cassius~

He gave me a lingering look before scanning the mess I’d made. “Everything you tried tasted bad?”

I cringed. “Well, no.”

He waved his hand for me to continue.

I stifled a sigh. “The steak tasted good.”

“You cooked a steak?”

I hesitated for a few seconds before admitting to my crime. “Um… I didn’t cook it.”

He stared at me for a long time, just blinking away. “You… you ate it raw?”

I nodded.

“You ate an entire steak… raw?”

I winced a little at his tone. “Um… no.”

“So what? A few bites? Don’t you think that’s going to make you sick?”

“Actually, I ate all three steaks… raw.” I cringed and looked at him through squinted eyes, almost afraid of his reaction to my disgusting admission.

He just stood there doing that blinking thing.

After a few minutes, I whispered, “I’m sorry, Star. I couldn’t help it. I don’t know what came over me. I was just so hungry and my stomach was cramping and… I dunno. But I’ll pay you back. I’ll buy your mom new steaks tomorrow, okay? I’m really sorry, and I know it’s gross, but I couldn’t hel—”

“Cassius.” He said my name quietly, but his voice caused me to pause.

“I’m sorry.”

He lifted his hand and went to speak, but hesitated again. Finally, he took a deep breath and spoke, “You don’t need to apologize. And you don’t need to buy more steak, it’s fine. I’m just trying to… process it, and honestly, I’m trying not to puke from the thought of eating that.”

I wrinkled my nose. “I even drained the blood on the little trays.”

“Ulhhlh… come on, man.”

I lifted a shoulder. “Sorry. I think it’s gross too. I normally eat my steaks well, well done. Crispy or burnt, even.”

 

About the Author

Bobbie Rayne grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and still lives there today. She’s married to her very patient husband, and they have two amazing sons together, as well as two crazy dogs. She spends her time writing, driving her kids all over town, and helping run the PTA.
Her children are one of the reasons she loves YA so much, and one reason why she thinks it’s important to bring LGBTQ+ main characters into fiction. Writing YA has always been a dream of hers, and she truly believes that writing it is good for her soul. Her family means the world to her, but coffee might be high up on that list, too, so if you bring her some, you just might end up with a new best friend.

Social Media Links:

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