A Paul B Review: The Werewolf Tutor (Shreds #1) by Jade Astor

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The Werewolf Tutor Garth Merrick and his two brothers are opening a new shifter friendly bar in Maine. To say that Garth is not made to be a bartender is an understatement. The number of broken glasses is a testament to that. One day their family attorney shows up with a proposition. One of his friends, a wolf shifter, has a son who is having a difficult time shifting. Would one of the brothers be willing to tutor the young shifter the proper techniques to shifting? Garth sees this as an opportunity to avoid broken glass and spend some time in rural Maine where his cougar can roam the country estate.

Braiden Hemmings is a young werewolf shifter who is used to getting his own way. His father does not like the fact that he is hanging out with members of the other pack that lives in town, as the two packs have had bad blood for years. Having to go away for business, Braiden’s father decides to hire someone to supposedly help him learn to shift. Braiden knows the real reason is that his father just wants someone to keep an eye on him with he’s out of town. Braiden decides to act like the brat that his father thinks he is and seduce the babysitter and run him out of town. When he catches sight of the gorgeous man brought in, Braiden decides that maybe he shouldn’t run him off so fast.

While the attraction between the two is obvious, Garth resists temptation because he Is being paid to teach this young man. However, the young men of the rival pack decide to make Braden do their bidding, ordering him to meet them. Garth warns Braiden about possible trouble. When Braiden does not show, the pack comes searching for them. The tutor and student must defend themselves against the invaders if they want to continue their new romance.

This is the first book in the new Shreds series. I wanted to like the book more but something seemed to fall short for me. I am not sure if it is the fact that Garth up and leaves his brothers behind as they start a new business or the romance between the two main characters did not click as I thought it should have. Despite this, I do look forward to the stories of Garth’s brothers. The idea of a shifter bar provides a good setting for future stories.

The cover by E Connors has our two men in front of a forest setting. One is shirtless while the other has a zipper cropped sweatshirt on. It is a decent if generic cover for the book.

Sales Links

Book Details

EBook, 66 pages
Edition Language: English
Published: April 26, 2016 by Dark Hallows Press
ISBN: 978-1530302451

Series: Shreds

The Werewolf Tutor (Shreds #1)

A BJ Review: Deductions (Aberrant Magic #1) by Lyn Gala

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Deductions Darren is proud of his work on the FBI’s magical Talent unit. However, his own lack of magic means he can never be with Supervisory Special Agent and Shaman Kavon Boucher. The shamanic magic poses a real danger to any mundane who gets too close, so Darren tries to hide his attraction and keep a professional relationship at work. That resolve begins to crumble when a new man sets his sights on Kavon and Darren can’t control his resentment.

Now they have a brutal new case of a suspect targeting magical adepts. Darren tries to keep focused on that crime, but when he starts to show signs of his own magic, he hopes that maybe he can not only be a more effective part of the team but also a real partner to Kavon. He might have a second chance at love if only Kavon can learn to trust his new and unpredictable magic that has changed the rules of the magical game.

Interesting urban fantasy/paranormal world that the author has created here, but then I know she has mad skills in that area from reading and thoroughly enjoying her Assimilations series. Speaking of that series, there’s an analogy that one of the characters uses in this story that related to aliens that I not only liked, but it made me smile because it seemed so very apt.

Well-drawn and likable characters that hooked me early on, which made me extremely joyous to see that a certain annoying little squirrel get moved along as early as he did. I was quickly beginning to want to drop kick him myself. I felt the tension and later the heat between Darren and Kavon perfectly. Intriguing and enjoyable secondary characters of both sexes with much left to explore.

Other than a few areas where I felt a slight drag into too much detail, this is a fast-paced story full of magic, action, tension, and heat with a small helping of fun dialogue and banter thrown in. While the romance arc was tied up and the mystery of who did the kidnapping is solved, although I have a feeling there is far more to it than was revealed. The story is far from wrapped up in this volume, but I would not call it a cliffhanger. Rather an ending to a story that has me eager to read the next book and see what happens to Boucher and his team next as far as the case goes, as well as to see the two men deepen and work out their new relationship.

The cover by Mina Carter is great because it clearly shows the magic, location, and interracial plus both of the guys are hot.

Sales Links: Loose id LLC | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 225 pages
Published June 21st 2016 by Loose Id
ISBN139781682521595
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesAberrant Magic #1

A Free Dreamer Review: Native Wind (Native Ingenuity: First Chronicle) by A.M. Burns

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Native Wind After his family is killed by thieves, sole survivor Trey McAlister is taken in by a nearby Comanche clan. Trey has a gift for magic and the clan’s shaman, Singing Crow, makes him an apprentice. While learning to control his powers, Trey bonds with a young warrior and shape shifter, Grey Talon. When they are sent out on a quest to find the missing daughter of a dragon, they encounter the same bandits who murdered Trey’s family, as well as a man made of copper who drives Trey to dig deeper into the magics that created him.

It doesn’t take them long to discover a rancher near Cheyenne, Wyoming is plotting to build a workforce of copper men—and has captured the dragon’s daughter they’ve been searching for. Trey and Grey Talon must draw on all their knowledge and skills to complete their quest—one that grows more complicated, and more dangerous, with each passing day.

“Native Wind” is an interesting mix of Western, Steampunk and Native American mythology. That’s definitely not a mix I’ve come across before, so I was hopeful.

Grey Talon is a very unusual shifter with his ability to turn into any animal he’s ever laid eyes on. Trey’s shaman magic was also very interesting and I loved the time Trey spent practicing it.

Both MCs were very likeable and their bond was obvious. I liked that they were a couple from the start of the book, which left more room for plot outside the romance. There was no need for explanations and flashbacks, their love for each other felt completely natural.

There were a couple of unique minor characters as well, like Copperpot, the metal construct, or Singing Crow, Trey’s shaman teacher.

The great villain, however, was needlessly evil. I don’t like it when the villains only ever do evil things and the MCs only ever do good things. I like my shades of grey. At times, it was also hard to understand certain actions of Grey Talon and Trey. They didn’t always make all that much sense.

The world building was a little lacking. While there were a lot of scenes of Trey talking about and practicing his magic, little things were left unexplained. I’m still uncertain just how Grey Talon communicated in animal form.

I would have also enjoyed a bit more Steampunk. Sure, there was Copperpot, who became a loyal companion of the two, but that’s about it. The world itself didn’t have many steam powered machines.

I’m not sure I entirely understood the part dragons play in this world. They’re definitely nothing like any dragons I’ve come across in literature before.

Overall, “Native Wind” had promise but didn’t quite live up to it. The plot didn’t really grip me. I wasn’t exactly bored, but I never quite felt the urge that I absolutely had to know what happened next. I probably won’t read the sequel.

The cover by Stef Masciandaro shows a drawing of our four heroes, with Trey shifted into a dog and a dragon looming in the background.

Sales Links: DSP Publications | Amazon

Book details:

ebook, 216 pages
Expected publication: July 19th 2016 by DSP Publications
ISBN 1634765532 (ISBN13: 9781634765534)
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Review: Code Name Jack Rabbit (The Vampire Guard #1) by Elizabeth Noble

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Code Name- Jack Rabbit Meet the newest members of the Vampire Guard, where legend and myth meet science and technology.

Jonas Forge, vampire. Once a spy and soldier, now a cop, Forge enjoys the life he’s built with his friends in Flint, Ohio.

Blair Turner, PhD. Blair, a vampire and computer hacker with exceptional skills, shares a powerful empathic bond with Forge, his soul mate.

Declan, vampire, ex-pirate, ex-fur trapper, thief, and con man. Declan is Forge’s former lover and soul mate to Lucas Coate.

Lucas Coate, MD, Flint’s medical examiner. A werewolf living among vampires, Lucas is also one of Forge’s best friends.

Their lives become complicated when an impending Presidential visit throws them headlong into a world of high-tech vampire spies and espionage. Recruited into the Vampire Guard by the secret society of the Akhkharu Nasaru, they uncover a werewolf terrorist organization known as the Qiguan.

Together they must thwart a murder attempt on the open waters of Lake Superior while tracking a previously unknown biological weapon controlled by the Qiquan—a weapon which may very well mean death for one of them.

This was the first book by Elizabeth Noble that I have read and it was very enjoyable. The book had a bit of a different look at vampires than I have read before. They weren’t affected by sunlight and they ate regular meals most of the time.

Jonas, Lucas and Declan have been connected to each other for years, Blair is a newer addition to their “family” but no less important than the others. They all care deeply for each other and even with their complicated pasts will do anything for the others. The soul mates are the perfect complement to the other but sometimes they just need one of their friends to pull them back from the edge.

I loved reading about them all working together to solve the mystery, each using their own strengths. However, many times through the book there were a lot of references to things that have happened before the book and I would have loved to learn more about those experiences. At the end of the book there is a preview for the next book in the series and I can’t wait to read it and see more of these characters.

Cover art is nice and gives a visual for the mysterious creature they find.

Sales Links: DSP Publications | Amazon | OmniLit

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: July 12, 2016 by DSP Publications

ISBN-13: 9781634768948

Edition Language: English

Series: The Vampire Guard #1

A BJ Review: Kestrel’s Talon (The Stonewatchers #1) by Bey Deckard

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Kestral's Talon Following the Prentish/Nemarri war, Kes is rejected by his homeland under the guise of religious purity laws. Though he’s spared execution, the proud Nemarri’s fate is only marginally more merciful than death when he is sold into sexual slavery at a prosperous pleasure house.

Despite his stoic endurance, Kes knows he’s reaching his breaking point, but there is nothing he can do—there is no path to freedom in the Holy Prentish Empire, only a lifetime of humiliating servitude.

That is, until a beautiful young slave and his formidable master approach Kes in the marketplace and make an astonishing offer to take him home with them. The only problem: “home” is the accursed Horthmont Castle from the scare-stories of Kes’s childhood.

Thrown into a world of living myth, powerful magic, and ancient gods, Kes learns the secrets kept hidden by Horthmont’s thick blackstone walls. There he discovers something he thought he’d never know again: hope for the future.

What stood out to me in this fantasy story was the excellent world-building, from the history, to the land (even with maps in the back), to the people, traditions, and clothing, it was detailed, fleshed out, and very real for me. Full of slaves and magic, soldiers and war, and so much more. The story grabbed me in the beginning scene in the market where even people (slaves) are traded, and the three main characters, all introduced in the same scene, were intriguing to me.

Unfortunately, after a very promising beginning, the pace of the book really slowed down for me. More than once I encountered parts of the story that really seemed to drag and which made me feel every one of the four hundred plus pages.

As for the characters, while I didn’t feel as strong a connection to them as I would have liked, I did find all three of them nuanced and interesting. I enjoyed Talon’s innocence, something he’d kept despite the world he’d lived in; loved his dedication to Grimma and his attitude on life/sex which seemed reasonable from his given past, but his jealousy and manipulations did often annoy me. But his bravery and selflessness later in the story made up for it. Kestrel, who I liked for the most part even though I didn’t feel the closeness I hoped for, threw me off a couple of times with his harsh actions towards Talon. I did feel and understand his anger over what had happened to him, and enjoyed watching him slowly overcome that, but still there were a few times his reactions didn’t sit well with me at all. And then there was Grimma, who I really did enjoy the most and found myself wishing for more time in his head than we were given. The story is from all three main character’s pov, but his is the least used of the three.

I felt that the author did an excellent job of bringing together three very diverse backstories. The secondary characters were well-formed and integral to the story. And I adored Pants (and the name, too) the dog. Loved how he was woven into the story and often made a difference, not just there as a prop. Kestrel’s connection with him fascinated me, and makes me want to red more of the series just to see how that goes and if the theory proposed about that tie (but then negated by another) is actually true or not.

There are many things to love about this story. The triad in this story was quite interesting, especially given that we have a hypersexual who still manages to seem innocent, a man reeling from previous sexual abuse, and an asexual character. But I felt that they worked well together, and although I’m not big on threesomes, I was pretty well sold on them. I could have done without Talon’s jealousy and manipulations though… that was the one sour note for me in their relationship.

I don’t want to say more about the story as I think some things are best discovered as you go along. Overall, I really liked this story. I just wish the pacing had worked better for me. There were places that felt slow enough that they made me want to skim, and long and detailed flashback sections that rather drew me from the main story. And then when we get to the last 10% or so, the story suddenly felt rushed to me. I wanted way more detail of… well, a lot of stuff.

Finally, there is the matter of this guy near the end that I just wanted to kick in the nuts myself because after doing something that made me livid, he just gets away with it and well… grrr. That part annoyed me. A lot.

The red-haired freckled boy on the cover is perfect, and to be honest, I didn’t pay attention to the amulet he held or the subtle outline of the castle in the background until after I’d finished reading, but that is cool as well. Wish the castle had been more noticeable as it would lend more of the fantasy theme.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 426 pages
Published May 23rd 2016
ASINB01FLG3C0M
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Stonewatchers #1

A Lila Review: Last Mechanic Standing (Wrench Wars #1) by L.A. Witt

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Last Mechanic Standing Everyone at Jim Irving’s garage is gung ho about Wrench Wars, a new reality show featuring mechanics. Everyone, that is, except talented mechanic Chandler Scott, the sole employee who has refused to sign the contract. The rest of the mechanics are pressuring him too, because without Chandler—and his volatile interactions with his boss—no one’s getting on the show.

Chandler’s one ally is Jim’s son, Mark, who’s being forced to work for his dad until he pays down his student loans or finds a better job—and who’s been Chandler’s secret lover for a while.

Then a playful tryst in the garage blows up in their faces, giving the network ammo to blackmail Chandler by threatening to out Mark to his father. Now Chandler is backed into a corner, and Mark needs to decide how far he’s willing to go to protect the man who’s been sharing his bed… and may have stolen his heart.

Last Mechanic Standing is an introductory novella. It’s the first of four tight together by the reality tv show, Wrench Wars. Marie Sexton will be joining in with a re-release and a new novella. The concept is promising; it just didn’t work for me in this particular installment.

Chandler Scott is the only mechanic in Jim Irving’s garage that hasn’t sign the consent form to be part of the reality show by the time the story starts. He’s also the one the production company is counting on to bring up the ratings due to his explosive altercations with Jim. Chandler doesn’t want to have his life on TV, but especially not his relationship with Jim’s son.

After finishing college, Mark Irving came home to work on his father garage. Unable to find a job in his field, he’s stuck living with his parents and having a mountain of student loans to pay. The only good thing in his life is Chandler. They have been together for about two years, and their relationship keeps them both afloat.

The stress of having the cameras around and their need for each other caught them unaware, and the network gets the opportunity they were looking for to get Chandler to sign the contract. He does, and the reality show goes into production, wrecking havoc in Chandler’s and Mark’s life.

The reader passes the majority fo the time in Chandler’s and Mark’s heads. There isn’t much happening with the show itself. The primary focus of the story is how the show affects the MCs’ relationship. We get many pages of characters’ introspects and musings about their past, their present, and the future they think they couldn’t have. It’s almost like reading their diaries.

The interactions with other characters were limited to short bursts to bring the point home about Chandler worriedness about signing the contract. We do see Mark’s growth and how he steps up to his dad, perhaps too late, to put his relationship with Chandler first. They’re a lovely couple when they have time to be together, but their story wasn’t convincing enough.

Overall, this novella is a nice short read that promises a brighter set of stories. I’m counting on the four of them to work well as a set. Most likely, in the end, we would have a better picture of all the relationships.

I like the cover by Garrett Leigh, but it seems a little generic for the story. The lettering job is very well done, though.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 80 pages
Published: July 6, 2016, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1634773802 (ISBN13: 9781634773805)
Edition Language: English

Series: Wrench Wars
Book #1: Last Mechanic Standing

A Stella Review: Succumbing to His Fear by River Mitchell

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

After a life changing event makes Alfie the legal guardian of his estranged step-siblings, as well as a chance meeting one drunken night, he finds his world turned upside down when he discovers that everything he thought he knew about himself was catastrophically wrong.

Before meeting Alfie and his family, Fear was content with his casual hookups and one-night stands, purposefully keeping everyone at an arm’s length. As Alfie comes into his burgeoning feelings, a curveball shakes the two men, threatening to destroy Fear and his new found chance at happiness with Alfie.

With everything thrown into turmoil, Fear decides to fight for those he loves, Alfie and his family included. Will they be able to survive the collateral damage around them, or will they lose everything?

Alfie is 24 years old when he gets the news his father, unseen for about two decades, is killed in a car accident. The same dad who built a whole new family which Alfie knew nothing about. His two siblings are now waiting for him to take care of them. Moreover they are in the States, not in London where Alfie lives and to look after them, he needs to move to Pennsylvania. Of course he can’t abandon them and there will begin a new life to Alfie and his new big family.

I admit I’m a sucker for those kind of stories, I adore reading about children and the first meeting with Griffin and Lily left me with puffy eyes. I loved the nuggets.The book caught my attention from the start. It was hard to put my kindle down and deal with my RL. I liked the characters, all of them, especially cause I usually enjoy a large support cast and here we had so many great second characters I’d love to read more of. One more thing I loved was how easily Alfie accepted his desire for Fear, no second thoughts, no issues to solve, he just followed his heart and body.

The only reason why I’m giving Succumbing To His Fear “only” 4 stars is due to the mystery part, so unreal, it simply didn’t convince me. But if you can overcome the trite ending, you will find the novel by River Mitchell a pleasure to read. I surely will read the next book in the series about Tate and Talon. Can’t wait!

The beautiful cover by Jay Aheer is a winner to me.

Sale link: Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 185 pages

Published February 26th 2016 by Via Star Wings Books

ASIN B01AVVS3JM

Edition Language English

A MelanieM Review: Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards #1) by Ava Drake

Rating: 3.75 Stars out of 5

perf4.250x7.000.indd Christian Chatsworth-Brandeis has a problem. A huge one. The US senator he works for has run away with his latest mistress on the eve of a make-or-break fund-raising event, and it’s up to him to cover his boss’s irresponsible tracks.

Stone Jackson, the senator’s new bodyguard, looks enough like the senator that, with some extensive grooming, he might pass for Senator Lacey. Christian and Stone hatch a plan to fool everyone by substituting Stone for the senator, but Miami madness and the incendiary heat between them are throwing obstacles in their way. It’s a race to find the senator and pull off the con of the century before the attraction between them spins completely out of control.

Ace in the Hole by Ava Drake is another winner in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press. A hot, sexy tale of politicians behaving badly, mystery, and romance, this story kept me entertained from beginning to end.

I always sort of dread political stories as I reside near Washington, DC but this one was more of a romp with a misbehaving Senator (not the first one) and two staff members scrambling to cover for him, in a way. Christian and Stone both meet first in a bar, their attraction to each other hot and instantaneous. Drake does an excellent job of portraying these men so we can see them in every detail. And that encounter? Very, very hot!

Things get even better once Drake brings them together in the Senator’s office, working to protect a Senator who’s nigh near un-protectable in his arrogance, stupidity and shear un-likeability. Adding to their stress is the attraction to each other, their backgrounds which are so at odds with with each, and their determination to keep each other at arms length. Its also provides some of the wonderful moments in the story. But this is also where I wanted something more from the author and the characters. Drake starts to provide both men with great back histories but only fills us in so much. Christian’s tony family and iron grandmother? Would love to know more about her. Stone’s employer? Yes, I want to know more there too. There are just enough holes here to make me stop and think about them instead of letting me flow effortlessly through the story as I should.

I did like some of the side characters, the Senator’s wife included. The mystery was fun, the danger…well if not high and thrilling it was well meshed into the storyline. All in all, I throughly enjoyed Ace in the Hole and the couple involved. And that’s a great thing apparently, because this is becoming a series. I can’t wait to see how Ava Drake handles the next story. I will be eagerly awaiting its release.

Cover art by Paul Richmond is again wonderful. I just adore these covers.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Desires #13, 216 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleAce in the Hole
ISBN 1634773101 (ISBN13: 9781634773102)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series Wild Cards #1

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: A Second Harvest (Men of Lancaster County #1) by Eli Easton

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

A Second Harvest by Eli Easton When Christie Landon, a thirty-year-old graphic designer from Manhattan, arrives at the Lancaster County farm he inherited from his aunt, all he wants is to find peace after a near tragedy involving partying with alcohol and pills. Though it was his best friend and roommate who nearly lost his life, Christie’s life has been irrevocably changed—for the better, he hopes. When he meets his neighbor, Mennonite farmer and forty-something widower, David Fisher, he’s struck by the man’s masculinity, his quiet nature, and his simple lifestyle, and he wants to learn so much more.

The two become friends as Christie’s initial idea of sharing a meal together becomes the reality of Christie enjoying his favorite pastime of cooking, with David contributing to the costs, and the two often eating, talking, and spending quiet moments together. Christie also offers to help around the farm as he sees it’s more cost- and time-effective than going to a gym. Slowly, over the course of a few months, David comes out of his self-imposed shell, a shell he’s hidden behind since he assumed the positions of head of the family and farm owner when he was still a teen. Married for twenty years and the father of two children, his wife died two years before, and he’s only now allowing for the possibility of having the life of a gay man that he had previously dreamed of when he indulged in fantasies behind closed doors.

The course of love can’t possibly run smoothly, however, certainly not when there are such vast differences between the two men’s lifestyles, and when David’s family finds out that his relationship with Christie is more than mere friendship, a near disaster nearly destroys the couple before they can begin.

Oh, how I love Eli Easton’s writing! I don’t even know where to start my list of kudos for this story. The character development was outstanding—both men endearing and engaging. The background information about the Mennonite religious sect in the Lancaster County area was just perfect—not an overdose of religion, just the right amount to explain the teachings and philosophy of thinking in the Mennonite community. Secondary characters were believable and people like David’s son were irksome enough to be the type of character I love to hate. David’s need to be allowed to live his life as a gay man, his love for Christie, and his traumatic discovery of his father’s secrets, all made me want to reach out and hug the man to my heart. Christie, though starting out as a carefree young gay man in Manhattan, became so much more than just a cute blond looking for a good time. His character showed depth, with intelligence, a carefree spirit, and a loving heart. The two men were there for each other. They were solid. And I truly appreciated every moment I spent with them. I literally devoured this story, and I think I’m going to go back and re-read it again—just because I can. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Kudos, Eli Easton!

~~~~

Cover art by Bree Archer shows a lone farmer working in his field of wheat. Bright and colorful, it’s exactly what I would picture as the setting of this story

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 206 pages
Expected publication: July 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleA Second Harvest
ISBN 1634774043 (ISBN13: 9781634774048)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesMen of Lancaster County #1

Love Some Hurt/Comfort with Your Romance? Check out Valor (Vigilance #1) by K. Laché (excerpt and giveaway)

Author: K. Laché

Title: Valor

Series Title and Number: Vigilance 1

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 7/6/16

Heat Level: 3

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 90K

Genre:Erotic Romance, Gay Romance, Hurt/Comfort, Drama

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Synopsis

It takes valor to support and love those who need it the most and never expected to receive it.

For Rivet Scalzo, returning to his childhood home after a decade was not on his list of places to go while recuperating. After nearly being blown up on a mission, Rivet is forced to deal with his PTSD and sudden deafness without help from Vigilance, the secret governmental agency he works for. He resigned himself to a lonely recovery, but, perhaps by chance, he met Blare Chaplynn, a model whose caring nature helps ease the horror of Rivet’s home life. As they grow closer, Rivet is burdened by the secrets he can’t share with the one man he grows to love.

If Blare knew a mild concussion was all he needed to meet the man of his dreams, he would have gladly accepted it long ago. He knew there was something special about Rivet when he first saw him at the park, but never guessed this man of mystery would be hiding so many secrets. Blare is forced to confront the fact that Rivet may never tell him everything, but is trust the reason Rivet is so close-lipped or is it something more?

Excerpt

“I told him it was a bad idea to start you so young.” She turned away from him and muttered under breath, “It’ll only cause more problems for us when he gets older, I said.”

Rivet slammed his hand down on the counter and snarled, “What problems, June, huh? What problems have I caused?” He pointed his finger at her and said through his teeth, “I have done nothing save for following the orders I’ve been given. I was told to come to this shit town and stay with my shit family until they deem me fit enough to return.” He opened his arms wide. “And here I am. So I want you to tell me what problems I’ve been causing, June.”

Her eyes narrowed to slits, and her lips pressed into a thin line. “Remember just who you’re talking to, Rookie. A buster like you needs to have respect for his superiors.”

“You were making rookie mistakes, June. They forced you to retire.”

Lightning fast, she swung her hand out to smack him across the face. He was faster. His hand tightened around her slim wrist, stopping it inches from his face. He roughly shoved her hand away and tsked. “You were always slower than me.” He turned his back on her and walked through the door to the back room marked Employees Only.

The back room was full of buckets of flowers, scraps of ribbon, and other odds and ends left over from arrangements. He paused in the room, looking for the door he knew led to the basement. He saw the door to the industrial-sized refrigerator and continued roaming the room. He skillfully weaved around vases of carnations, roses, and other flowers he didn’t know the names of. A soft smile sprung to his lips when he spotted a pot of daisies sitting happily on the counter. Gentle fingers caressed the stark-white petals before dropping away. Rivet eyed the bright yellow disk florets nestled in pure white petals. The glossy green leaves completed the innocent picture. He shook his head, battling against the memories pushing from the back of his mind.

Continuing to the door, he pushed it open and gently shut it behind him. He flicked on the light switch and descended the stairs. The basement was bare save for miscellaneous ladders and stepping stools. He walked to the nearest wall and placed a hand on it at chest height. He closed his eyes and slowly walked the perimeter of the basement, fingers trailing along the cool bricks. A few paces later, he paused and opened his eyes. He ran a finger down the left side of the brick. There was a faint click and he placed his fingers on the faux concrete face and slid them toward the right, revealing a keypad in the hollow. He reached his hand in and pressed a nine-digit code into the keypad before turning his hand palm-up and pressing his hand flat against the top of the hollowed brick. A soft blue glow pulsated before something clicked open behind him. He glanced back to see a trapdoor had opened under the stairs, a sliver of light appeared through the crack between the door and the floor. Rivet grabbed a nearby rag and wiped the fingerprint scanner and the keypad before sliding the panel shut and running his finger up the left side, locking the faux brick.

He stepped over to the trapdoor, feet making no noise as they gracefully moved around furniture. Rivet reached down and lifted the door. The hinges squeaked in protest, and he let it rest open so he could climb into the opening, dropping his bag to the tile first. He secured the door and jumped the rest of the way to the floor. The room was brightly lit by the fluorescent lights in the flooring shining off the dark walls. The subbasement was split into two sections. To one side was a dark armoire built into the wall. The doors were shut and locked; a fingerprint scanner and keypad were just to the side of it. The other section was an enclosed area that took up most of the floor, also secured by a scanner and keypad.

Rivet walked over to the armoire and typed his nine-digit code into the keypad with the knuckle of his finger. The light to the scanner flickered on. He placed his hand flat and watched the beam of light move up and down his hand. The doors of the armoire clicked and opened. There was a small flat-screen monitor on each door and one monitor settled in the middle. A small metal stool raised from the floor. Rivet sat, dropping his bag by his feet, and pulled the keyboard from under the monitor. He held down the Escape key while typing a four-character password. All three monitors flickered to life showing a plain command box with Passcode at the top and the cursor blinking below it. His fingers easily typed in a twelve-digit code.

When the computer loaded, a new message window popped up. He clicked the mouse to view it and quickly read the message:

Contact me when you get this.
—Commander D.

Rivet sighed and clicked on the contact’s name. It brought up a live video feed of a man sitting in a nondescript office, bookshelf behind him.

“Agent Scalzo,” the man’s voice was commanding and firm.

Rivet was used to the no-nonsense voice and gave him a nod. “Commander.”

“Have you settled?”

He paused a moment before answering. “Sir, civilian life and I do not agree.”

“You need to make it work.”

Rivet shook his head. “All due respect, sir, couldn’t I have been stationed elsewhere? I have told you about my family. I could have been anybody, anywhere else.”

“You are on leave and need to be who you really are, not another persona. The Council and I believed this was the best option.”

Rivet snorted bitterly and fought not to glare at his superior.

Commander Donovan narrowed his eyes. “What was that, Agent?”

He clenched his teeth. “Nothing, sir.”

He watched the commander pause a moment. “You are to pick up a package at the post office. The clerk will ask you how you are doing and tell whomever it is that you’re glad to be away from the rain in London. The package contains a secure laptop and cell phone, understood?”

“Affirmative, sir.”

Purchase

Torquere Press

Meet the Author

A third grade writing project started it. It was the key that unleashed a passion to create and tell fantastical stories. K. Laché felt as if she were made to tread the path of authorial conquest and never once looked back. She entered a world where anything could be created. She was hooked.

She has fan fiction to blame (or thank, depending on how you look at it) for introducing her into the world of slash fiction. What’s better than one hot guy in a book? Two hot guys in a book! After an epiphany in college, K. Laché decided to try her hand at getting published. For years she struggled but never gave up. Now she debuts with her first published work, Valor—the first, but sure to be not her last

K. Laché can be found here:

https://www.klachewrites.com

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