BLURB: Hitoshi Ren has a pretty good lifeâa great education, friends he considers family, a crush on one of the worldâs biggest crooners, and a secret he believes has died. But when that secret walks back into his life in the form of late-night phone calls, he has to put his life aside and hop on a plane to face his past demons. To make matters worseâRixton Corrigan seems quite determined on turning Hitoshiâs head.
Rixton Corrigan has been on a nonstop ride and he wishes to get off. The exhaustion of touring the world in support of his latest album and his brotherâs disapproval of his carefree lifestyle has taken its toll. Since heâs doing a video and a couple of shows in Japan, he decides itâs a good time to unwind and cut himself off from the western world. Time thatâs best spent alone until he can get his head on straight.
However, those plans are tested when Hitoshi Ren shows up at his hotel, looking sexy and irresistible. His brother tells him to stay away, but how can he when heâs always been attracted to Dustinâs best friend?
REVIEW: Every book I read from these authorsâregardless if they writing individually or together âkeeps getting better and better. Their characters are beautifully diverse and rich with each personality shining through each page.
Rix and Hitoshi are as opposite as opposite can possibly be. Their personalities clashes were horribly hilarious. You know you have damn good story on your hands when you, the reader, want to Gibbs smack both MCs on the backs of their heads. You become immersed into the lives of and interested in the happiness of the characters.
These two authors took what could have been a run of the mill, basic enemies to lovers story and too it to the next level. There were outside forces determined to keep them apart but these men fought through them all for their HEA.
This book was filled with passion, heartache and humor. You go from laughing your ass of one minute to wanting to toss these men into the sea the next.
This book went way beyond a good read. It was a great experience. This book took me on a journey of emotions. It was one I thoroughly enjoyed traveling. This is the first book. Iâm looking forward to the next trip.
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 familyâs 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 canât. He needs human blood to survive and is hated by vampires and humans alike.
As Otto and Jessa draw closer to an entity that doesnât 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.
REVIEW: This is a new to me author and was absolutely blown away by this story. This book was very well written. The storyline, dialogue and characters were wonderfully fleshed out.
Ottoâs character is a flawed hero. Heâs has his demons and has not moved past the grief over losing his sister. Itâs this grief, anger and distain towards vampires drives virtually every decisionâgood and badâthat he makes.
Jessaâs character is a complete opposite of what you would think a vampireâs personality would be. Heâs gentle, kind and soft spoken. He was more human by way of personality and temperament.
These characters are so well written, you end up caring for them. The storyline moved among smoothly, the plot was well thought out and the dialogue is superb. This book held my attention from the first page to the last and Iâm really looking forward to seeing more from this author and this series.
Centuries ago Lucien’s family and pack were slaughtered and betrayed by family. Lucien was then enslaved for five hundred years by the demon who killed his succubus mother.
One thousand years later his powers as Alpha and Incubus are growing. He is now ready to take his rightful place as Alpha Supreme, but first, he must claim a reluctant mate and escape from under the heel of his possessive Vampire master Sargon.
Lucien is a hybrid shifter in a world where being unpure is not tolerated. Lucien should have never been born. Enter a dark and savage paranormal world, where being weak is stamped out and exploited. Being dominant and unapologetic is key to survival.
Follow Lucien as he seeks vengeance against the uncle that betrayed him and the demon who enslaved him and murdered his mom. Where secrets, allies with hidden agendas, and political jousting determine the fates of many.
A dark, sensual, and paranormal fantasy series by new author Dora Esquivel.
Kimi’s thoughts:
As debut novels go, this was one offering I am glad I didn’t pass up. I picked this up via KindleUnlimited, which has been a fab way for me to try new authors (and to sate my hefty reading appetite without bankrupting us, haha).
This was definitely not your run of the mill shifter story. Esquivel took many of the tropes and stood them on their head, breathing new life into this popular genre. It’s not a light and fluffy romance, so if you need that, this is not going to be your cup of tea. Her characters were engaging and her prose sucked me in from the very first page. I ended up reading this in one sitting, luckily it’s a fairly fast read. Be warned though, there is a cliffhanger.
You can get it on Amazon, where it is in KindleUnlimited for those who read using the subscription service.
Vincent Hudson is a vampire hunter and his life is about to be ruined.
When a hunting trip ends in tragedy, he is forced to do the unthinkableâseek refuge in Sanctuary Hope, where each family must nominate a member to the city council. It is seemingly a minor price to pay in exchange for medical aid and refuge. But it is a dangerous trap, and unaware of the gut-wrenching reality, Vincent nominates himself.
Now a life of war awaits him. . . and captivity to a vampire master known as Maddox Caine.
This trilogy is for mature audiences only (18+) and contains scenes of graphic violence and high heat that will have you flustered and swiftly turning the pages. These books are dark, raw, gritty, and not for the faint-hearted. Please read with caution.
If you loved Dark Silence, you will adore this. It’s not a simple re-release with a new title and a new gorgeous cover (Jay Aheer’s art, is as always, stunning), but a complete re-write. All of the basic premises of the original release are here, but it is a new book with more scenes added. The writing was good to begin with, but with experience comes maturation and Katze’s writing in this has definitely done so. It’s grittier, with some scenes that made even me catch my breath and sent delicious chills down my arms.
I can’t wait to read book 2 and will be reviewing it here, so watch this space!
BLURB: The rings have been selected. The champagne placed on ice. The cake decorated.
And the pre-wedding sex is off the charts…
Lucas Vallois and Andrei Hadeon are finally ready to walk down the aisle. Thereâs just one small problem.
A ghost from Lucasâs past shows up days before the wedding, desperate for help. Against his better judgement, Lucas and his best friend, Ashton Frost, plan a fast trip back to the one place they swore theyâd never go: their hometown in Oklahoma. But the danger is worse than they expected.
Now, theyâre in a race to track down a killer, keep a young girl safe, and get Lucas back in time to say, âI do.â
REVIEW: WOW! What else can I say? When I heard that book 5 was about Lucas and Andrei’s wedding I couldn’t wait to read it. I knew that meant all the guys would be together again and wherever they were, trouble would not be far behind. Well that was an understatement. Lol! I enjoyed this book so much I didn’t want it to end. It easily earned a 5star rating from me. Lucas and Andrei’s love for each other is just as fierce and hot as it was when they first met and we see that from the beginning of this book, (lol) all the way to the end. We get my control freak Lucas with the arrogance of a billionaire, Ashton Snow Frost and his wicked sense of humor, sweet Ian (who’s high on wedding fumes). I died laughing at that comment, and Rowe with his devil may care attitude “the embodiment of chaos”. I want a Rowe in my life!
We get to know more about Lucas and Snow’s past. The unbearable childhood they each had to endure that later forged their friendship and brotherhood. We meet some of Lucas’ family members like Nicole and Taylor along with his despicable parents. My heart broke for the anguish so much intolerance had caused. We also meet some new members of Ward security Seth and Cole. We were briefly introduced to a friend of Taylor’s, by the name of Bran with pink hair. I can’t wait to get his story as I’m sure there is one.
Finally, you will love this page turner. It will have you crying at times and laughing out loud at others. The action ad suspense will have you on the edge of your seat and the sex will make you blush.
1 wedding, 2 best men, one hell of a love story!
Declan Ramsay was to be best man at his brother’s wedding in Scotland, sharing best man duties with the bride’s gay kid brother Sam. The best men wouldn’t meet for the first time until a few days before the wedding, so communicated by email for more than a year.
But on meeting Sam Aiken, Declan is surprised to see he isn’t a kid at all, but a striking, athletic blond man with a wicked sense of humor. Declan is alarmed by the ferocious attraction he feels for Sam. And as the attraction is reciprocated, the events at Dunloch Castle change everything Declan has ever believed about himself.
But is Sam Aiken all he appears to be?
ILLUMINATE THE SHADOW (Book #2)
The thrilling, funny sequel to ‘As You Wish’.
âA Scotsman and an Englishman fall in love⌠After the most amazing week of his life, at Dunloch Castle on the banks of Loch Ness, in Scotland. The charming, mysterious Samuel Aiken has turned Declan Ramsayâs life upside down. Declan has experienced a remarkable change. He has come to terms with the fact he is bisexual, and he has fallen head-over-heels in love with his bossâs son Sam.
However, falling for his bossâs son was never going to be an easy path to happiness, mainly because the boss in question is multi-millionaire property tycoon and former MI5 operative, Sir James Aiken.
Sir James is repulsed by his sonâs homosexuality, and so discovering that his employee Declan Ramsay- the man he installed to run his luxury property rental empire- is in a relationship with Sam, does not go down well.
The lovers cannot hide from the looming presence of Sir James Aiken for long! Soon enough James makes his move, and Declan finds out what he will have to endure to stay with Sam, and what he will have to give to feel worthy of Sam’s love.â
RETURN TO ZERO (Book #3)
The thrilling sequel to “As You Wish” and “Illuminate the Shadows”.
Pulled into a world of secrets and lies for the man he loves, Declan Ramsayâs life has changed immeasurably in the eight months since meeting, and falling for his bossâs son, Sam Aiken. Declan journey of personal discovery is about to take a darker turn, and for Sam, the world becomes more treacherous than he could ever have imagined.
Two agents are missing — presumed dead, while on a reconnaissance mission at an outdoor adventure centre in the Scottish Highlands. Sir James Aiken sends his son and Declan to follow the trail, and discover the fate of the agents.
As the mission offers his first chance to use the skills he learned on the MI6 training course in Morocco, Declan is keen to get started. However, Sir James sees to it that the seeds of doubt and discord have been sewn between the couple, as they begin their mission.
The journey to their Highland location, and the discoveries they make when they reach the Gâwan Adventures centre, prove that Sir James Aiken has been less than honest with his son. Events in the Highlands force Sam and Declan to face their greatest fears, and understand what they both really want from life — and from each other.
Excerpt from âReturn to Zeroâ (Shatterproof Bond #3)
âSAM! Are ye home?â Declan hollered as he opened the front door. âSam?â
âIn here.â Samâs distant voice filtered from the spare bedroom. Declan was in a buoyant mood, at last, after weeks of waiting, heâd received a call from his boss. He sauntered confidently towards the bedroom and knocked once before walking in.
âWhy dâye noâ pick up? Iâve called ye, like, six times already! James wants us in fera meet ââ Declan stopped, and in the way,only Sam Aiken could do, the breath was stolenfrom his lungs.
Declanâs yoga mat was laid out in the centerof the large bedroom floor, and upon it, a shamelessly nude Sam Aiken was facing the tall antique mirror that rested against the wall. He was on his belly, his back bowed, and his palmspushing against the floor as his shoulders rose in the midst of the cobra pose.
Declan slumped to sit silently on the king-size bed and watch. He stared, bug-eyed and slack-jawedat all of that flawless pale skin, wrapped around an athletic, slim frame. Declan adored how pliant and supple Sam was. He reveledin the sight of corded muscles moving beneath the taut surface of the younger manâs skin, like the workings of a well-honedmachine.
Ignoring his voyeur, Sam pushed himself up from the cobra pose, so he sat back on his calves. He closed his eyes and focused on his breath, and then, when he was ready, placed his palms flat on the mat, level with his knees. Then, putting all of his weight on his hands, Sam drew his legs out to either side of his body, doing the splits, balancing solely on his hands.
Declanâs bearded jaw dropped open, and his heart skipped a beat at the impressive sight. The mirror allowed Declan to observe Sam from many angles, and the view was exquisite. He knew there was a reason he was home early, but, whatever the hell it was, it could wait.
Sam aligned his legs and boughtthem up above his head, so he was in a handstand position, and there he stayed for a minute, his breath shallow and barely audible. There was not one tremble in any of Samâs muscles. It was awe inspiring. Sam was the very picture of onenessâstrength, control, balance, and agility. The lines of Samâs form were sinuous and erotic, and there was no stopping the hot, hot hunger that made Declanâs whole being shudder with need.
Samâs spine arched back and with incredible discipline, his body bowed slowly, until the soles of his feet were placed firmly on the yoga mat, and Sam was in the crab position. He was trying so desperately to focus on his ownbreath and to remain centered, but Declan was breathing heavily through his nose, like a stag readying for the rut, and even though Sam could not actuallysee him, Declanâs presence always came with the prickle of otherworldly electricity. It reallywas like they were magnetized.
The sound of heavy breathing was doing things to Samâs body that he just could not control. His heart beat faster, beads of sweat littered his brow and formed on his chest, and his pale cock reddened, filled and rose majestically, providing an extra spectacle for his handsome observer. Sam arched his spine to its capacityand inched to his toes and fingertips. He stayed like that, his muscles clenched tight and his cockstanding straight as a flagpole awaiting its flag. After a minute, he slowly unclenched his muscles and allowed his body to ease its way gently back to the mat. Each movement still effortlessly controlled.
This naked yoga routine was on the list of the most erotic things that Declan had ever seen in his life. And now that Sam was on his back, his eyes closed, with arms stretched above his head. Declan decided that this was his opportunity to pounce.
Š Isobel Starling 2016
COUNTERBLOW (Book #4)
After the devastating events in the Scottish Highlands, Sam and Declan have moved on to a new, deeper level in their romance. Their commitment to each other is unquestionable; however, there are plenty of questions that need answering about other aspects of their lives, and those who sought to end them.
Sam is trying his best to deal with the day to day frustrations of his injuries. Heâs completely dependent on Declan for everything and hates the way the scales have tipped in their relationship. Although heâs officially on leave, Samâs mind cannot stop replaying all that happened to him and questioning why, and who is behind it all.
Declanâs relief at having Sam home throws him into house-husband mode. Heâs happy to take the reins and care for his partner, however, beneath the surface Declan cannot help but be drawn back to how he felt in the Highlands, and how they were betrayed by a man who was supposed to have their back. Declan had promised Sir James Aiken that he would pay if he hurt Sam, and now Declan has to decide how he can deliver his payback and put his and Samâs world back on an even keel.
Catch up with the Shatterproof Bond series in Kindle Unlimited before
book #5 “Powder Burns” is released in the spring.
Series Buy Links
Available on Kindle Unlimited, in Paperback, and on Audible.
Isobelâs novel “As You Wish” (Shatterproof Bond #1) is an Amazon Best Seller on Amazon.com and Amazon France. Nine novels into her writing career Isobel has just released The Shatterproof Bond box set which contains all three novels in the series, and the first book in the M/M Romantic Comedy mystery series “Dick and the Sidekick” -“Detective Fox and the Christmas Caper”.
“As You Wish” has been translated into French under the title “Comme Vous Voudrez”
The rest of the Shatterproof Bond novels will soon be available in French and German.
BLURB: Men found him attractive, interesting even. He was like a fascinating experiment gone wrong that men liked to investigate. Heâd get a date – or two, if he was lucky – but it wasnât long before Brianâs darkness showed, and the men were running from him.
Brian King was honorably discharged from the United States Navy five years ago. Heâd left with the highest honors a man can receive in his country, but heâd paid the ultimate price to earn them. He was considered one of the best; an Intelligence Officer in a Joint Special Operations Delta team thatâd been a twelve-man wrecking crew. Theyâd thought they were invincible⌠until they werenât. Brian was the only member that survived the ambush. He survived ten months of pain, of torture, only to emerge on the other side a warrior. A POW survivor. Heâd returned home with all his limbs, his right mind, and with his only brother Ford, at his side. But, one thing had been lost, maybe for good⌠his voice.
Now, being a bounty hunter is Brianâs only means to satisfy his need to calculate, track, and capture. His only outlet to the stress caused by his silence. He was good at what he did. But, all work and no play for a forty-four year old man was taking its toll. Brian wasnât a faulty experiment. He missed companionship, he missed communicating. So, when he met Sway Hamilton â in the most unconventional means â heâd been surprised at his special way of understanding Brianâs every look⌠and touch.
Sway grew up in the rough part of ATL, trailing behind his twin brother Stanton and his best friend, Dana. He and his brother had a bond only twins could understand. So when Stantonâs life was taken during their sophomore year in college, Sway didnât think heâd ever recover. He finally finished school, got his masters in nursing, worked hard, and focused on taking care of his mother. However, Sway knew there was more to life than heartache, and caring for others. There had to be. But he didnât know what any of those things were until he met a dark hunter that blew his mind⌠and the intense man had never uttered a single word.
Brian and Sway can feel the powerful connection between them. It was there from the startâbut both of them have battled with loss and anguish for so long, neither understand that love can ease all of it. Do they have the courage to battle through it together? Sway has to learn to trust in love, and Brian has to believe that Sway will always understand him even if he never speaks again.
Sway held him tight around his neck, âI donât need you to talk, Brian. I can hear you just fine,â Sway whispered softly, kissing his throat.
This novel is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers.
Trigger Warning: This story contains acts of bond recovery agent violence. Mention of war zones and descriptions of war prisoners. This story DOES NOT contain overly-described acts of torture.
REVIEW: As usual, this author has truly outdone herself. Just when I think her books couldnât get any more exciting, any more perfect, she surpasses everything and brings another amazing creation. So, this is the fourth book in this wonderful series and gives us Brian and Swayâs story. Brian is a big, sweet, tough teddy bear of a man. A gentle giant to Sway, his friends and family but to everyone else, a tough ex-Navy SEAL and highly skilled bounty hunter who can kick some serious ass. He was captured and tortured by terrorists which rendered Brian unable to speak. Brianâs PTSD is heartbreaking to read and the author was able to capture the daily struggles service-members face when they return home. She did it with respect and sensitivity. She didnât embellish, romanticize or glorify it. Also, I liked how she didnât give super descriptive details of the torture Brian endured while captured.
Sway is a hard working and dedicated nurse practitioner. He works hard to provide a good life for him and his mother. Sway is a good man, he takes care of everyone but himself.
These two men absolutely belong together. The author did an exceptional job of writing their emotional responses to each other. You felt that simmering, intense…thing between them; it leapt out at your from the pages. You not only read them falling for each other, you also feel their emotions; the sadness, the loneliness, the joy, the pain. Every emotion in this book was intense and it was written just so. To write a characterâs emotions to the point where itâs felt by the reader, I feel is not something thatâs easily accomplished yet this author does it all the time, in all of her creations. Thatâs how you know that you have an author who masters their craft. Itâs not an easy feat to accomplish yet she does it with ease. It was absolutely amazing.
I also love how her characters are more mature in age. These are gentlemen of a particular age and as a reader of the same age, I can really dig it. She shows that these men are still strong, sexy, and virile. Theyâre fabulous in their 40s and I am here for all of it!
This book, like all of her work is simply amazing. This author is truly a master of her craft. Her writing style, the way she uses her words is like an elegant work of art. Sheâs an artist who comes up with these beautiful creations which are her books.
BLURB: Tai wishes Master Lucas wasnât such an adamant Top, but heâs also crushing on the sweetly submissive Elliot. Could he have it both ways?
Tai has hit a wall in life. From all outward appearances, heâs the guy who has everythingâlooks, personality and money. But the modeling gigs are drying up and he still hasnât found that special someone to call his own. The part-time work at Kiss of Leather is quickly becoming full-time to prevent the drain on his dream-business savings.
Elliot fell for the stunning Tai from almost the moment he met him. If he wasnât so self-conscious about the weight heâs recently put on, maybe he could work up the nerve to make a move. However, not only is he a virgin whoâs never done a scene before working in a BDSM club, but heâs also sure that Tai has a thing for Master Lucas. Thereâs no way he could ever compete with the handsome silver fox.
When Master Lucas confesses to Tai that he doesnât only see him as a hookup and offers him a contract, there are a ton of considerations. They both realize that serious compromises would have to be made for them to have a relationship. But what if they found a third, a sub who could bottom for Tai and also do TPE with Master Lucas? Once the idea takes hold, Tai knows just the perfect boy for them both. Even better? Heâs right there at Kiss of Leather, and Tai canât wait for Elliot to turn them all into a throuple.
Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of assault, and attempted sexual assault.
REVIEW: This book along with this series is so good with each book getting better and better. Book # 8 gave us a little something more in terms of the mĂŠnage but with Taiâs character, it made total sense to me.
Tai is not a total Sub and I see how that wouldâve strained the relationship between him and Lucas who is a total Dom. Lucas was aware of this and I think that was one of the factors of him being agreeable to bringing Elliot into the fold. Elliot is a complete sub and is the perfect man for them. I truly feel that heâs the important link that holds them all together.
These characters, as the case with all of her characters are so well and clearly written; the contrasts between them is always a pleasure to read. I love that she makes the reader see more to Taiâs character than just him being a brainless, rich, pretty boy, part time submissive. Elliot is sweet and shy but he has a strength to him that he doesnât realize he has and Lucas is a Dom but heâs not hard or heartless or perfect. Thatâs also whatâs great about this series: she doesnât make her Doms these hard, heartless men who never makes mistakes. These men are Doms but they are loving and caring and far from perfect. What I also love about this author is that her characters are from all racial, ethnic, orientation, socioeconomic groups. Her books are wonderfully diverse and she writes them all respectfully pretty much dispelling the myth that itâs impossible to write diverse characters without stereotyping them.
Now, as with all of her characters, these men are themselves flawed and you see them deal with issues of physical, mental and sexual abuse. I like how she writes how these men get through those issues with help and with men who help them heal. And what I love about all of her books in general, this series, this books in particular, she doesnât make these men superheroes, meaning, she doesnât have the Doms heal their subs in one book. Itâs an ongoing and long process that she shows spanning several books with the timeline being years.
This book was wonderful and I look forward to reading more.
BLURB: When private investigator, Shane Stephens, is hired by the mayor of Cincinnati to track down the hacker who has been threatening him, Shane is sure this is the opportunity to launch the Merleau Detection Agency into the big time. He even convinces Rowe Ward of Ward Security to loan him one of his best IT specialists, Quinn Lake.
Shane, a man who prefers casual intimacy, is surprised by his attraction to the moody computer geek, but when Quinn suggests they have fun for the month heâs on loan, Shane happily agrees. Both men are expecting nothing more than a good time.
But the investigation takes an unexpected turn and they quickly discover they are facing more than a hacker out to ruin the mayorâs re-election chances. And as they spend more time together, they realize their relationship may be a lot more than just a good time.
With only weeks until the election, Shane and Quinn race to gather the proof they need while dodging bullets and possiblyâŚfalling in love.
REVIEW: This is the second book in the fantastic spinoff from the Unbreakable Bonds series. A friend of my turned me on to these authors and I am so very glad that she did. These two authors are a dynamic duo; their characters, settings, storyline and plots are absolutely fabulous.
I became obsessed with their books starting with the Unbreakable Bonds series, the series that started it all. I was literally addicted with the first page of Shiver to the first page in this current book.
As with the rest of their series, their writing style is perfectly matched. There have been times when Iâve read books written by two authors and it didnât seem like a cohesive story. This is not the case with these authors. Their writing style and transition from one book to the other is seamless, almost as if itâs written by one person instead of two. The editing is spot on perfect, no plot holes, gaps in storyline, nothing. Itâs wonderful.
Quinn and Shane are great together. The chemistry these two men have leaps off the page. The recipe of mystery action and suspense, infused with just a touch of humor grabs and keeps your attention. You lose yourself into this world and the lives of these characters from the very first word to the very last. I absolutely adore these authorsâ work and I highly recommend this series. I am anxiously awaiting the next book.
In the sequel to the Rainbow-Award-winning Skythane, Xander and Jameson thought theyâd fulfilled their destiny when they brought the worlds of Oberon and Titania back together, but their short-lived moment of triumph is over.
Reunification has thrown the world into chaos. A great storm ravaged Xander’s kingdom of Gaelan, leaving the winged skythane people struggling to survive. Their old enemy, Obercorp, is biding its time, waiting to strike. And to the north, a dangerous new adversary gathers strength, while an unexpected ally awaits them.
In the midst of it all, Xanderâs ex Alix returns, and Xander and Jameson discover that their love for each other may have been drug-induced.
Are they truly destined for each other, or is what they feel concocted? And can they face an even greater challenge when their world needs them most?
The Oberon Cycle: Book Two
About the Oberon Cycle:
Xander is a skythane man whose wings have always been a liability on the lander-dominated half world of Oberon.
Jameson is a lander who has been sent to Oberon to find out why the supply of the psycho-amoratic drug pith has dropped off.
What neither knows is that they have a shared destiny that will change the two of them – and all of Oberon – forever.
This is my first time writing a series â at least, the first time one has ever been accepted for publication.
To make things a little more crazy, Iâm actually writing two.
The first is the Oberon Cycle, a sci fi trilogy with a heavy dose of MM romance that started with âSkythaneâ. The second, âLiminal Skyâ, is a queer sci fi series that doesnât really have any romance, and is a little more epic-long-term in scale.
âLanderâ is book two in the Oberon Cycle, and as I write this, I find myself in a weird place, stretched a bit thin across the whole trilogy.
I am re-reading âSkythaneâ to make sure I donât miss anything while writing the third and final book, âIthani.â I have just finished edits recently for book two, âLander.â And of course, I am writing âIthani.â Itâs a bit like being trapped in three different times at once. Events that happen over a stretch of time are compressed and mixed together, and Iâm having a hard time remembering the proper order.
In short, I am swimming in the depths of Oberon.
Itâs actually kind pf fun though, as itâs giving me the opportunity to make connections between books one and three that I might have missed otherwise. Like, why does Alix have long hair in book one and short hair in two and three? And how does he feel about it?
Itâs a small example, sure, but itâs indicative of the kind of things that come up when you try to ensure consistency across a number of books. Sometimes itâs too late, so as a writer you have to come up with the reasons why.
Next time I write a series, Iâll probably do things a little differently. Outline a little better? Track character traits more closely? I have gotten better over the course of the three books, but my track record in book one is looking a little dismal LOL.
Anyhow, once itâs done, all the seams should be cleaned up and the holes plugged, so that you the reader wonât notice them. And if I do my job right, some of the errors might even turn into some of the storyâs best twists and turns.
A writer can hope, right?
Giveaway
Scott is giving away a $25 Amazon gift certificate and three copies of his queer sci fi eBook “The Stark Divide.”
Xander stared at the torrent of water pouring over the cavern entrance. Somewhere out there, Quince and the others were lost in the storm.
âWhat happened to everyone else?â Jameson shouted, putting his hand on Xanderâs shoulder.
âI donât know. Last I saw them was before the lightning strike.â How had things changed so quickly?
Jameson started toward the exit. âWe have to look for them!â
Xander pulled him back.
Jamesonâs eyes were wild.
He squeezed Jamesonâs hands, trying to reassure him. âHey, calm down. Thereâs nothing we can do right now.â
âWe already lost Morgan.â Jamesonâs eyes pleaded with him. âI canât lose the rest of them.â
Xander shook his head. âItâs no use. Weâll never find them in this tempest. Theyâre seasoned veterans. They can take care of themselves. Weâll go looking after the storm passes.â The loss of Morgan weighed on him too, though he was less and less certain that Morgan had been a human boy at all.
Jameson looked doubtful.
Xander felt it too, but there really was nothing they could do. âHey, itâs gonna be all right.â He pulled Jameson to him, enfolding the two of them with his wings. Jameson was soaked, but Xander didnât care.
Jameson nodded against his chest. âYouâre right. Gods, I know youâre right. Iâm sorry. I thought we were done with all this.â
Xander held him out at armâs length. âGods, huh? Weâre doing the plural thing now?â
Jameson gave him a half smile. âTrying it out? When in RomeâŚ.â
âHowâs your hearing?â
Jameson cocked his head. âItâs better. But everything sounds muffled.â
Xander nodded. âI can tell.â
Jameson blushed. âAm I talking too loud?â
âJust a little.â
Jameson smiled sheepishly. âItâs weird. It feels like my ears are full of water.â
Xander kissed him gently. âItâll pass.â He looked around the cavern at last, his eyes gradually adjusting to the dim blue light.
The place was a faeryland, filled with rows of golden stalactites and stalagmites, like the bulwarks of an eldritch castle. Each one was a miracle of minute detail, like candle wax dripped from above. The whole cavern was lit by a turquoise-blue glow.
Xander looked around for the source. It came from pools of water on either side of the cavern. The scintillating light shimmered along the walls, creating complex, ever-changing patterns.
âLook, Jameson⌠itâs beautiful.â They were both a muddy mess. âWeâre stuck here until the storm blows itself out. Why donât we get cleaned up and try to rest? Then we can figure out what to do next. We have a long flight to Gaelan.â He was still shivering from the rain.
âA bath sounds like heaven.â Jameson let Xander lead him to one of the glowing ponds.
âDo you think itâs safe to go in?â Xander asked, pulling off his boots and testing the water with his toes. It was warm.
Jameson looked queasy, but then he smiled. âThey called them faery ponds. Thereâs a microscopic organism that makes the light. Itâs harmless, but beautiful.â He grinned. âRomantic, even.â
Ah, thatâs how you knew this place. âYouâve been here before, havenât you?â he said, slowly and clearly, gesturing to indicate Jameson and the cavern. His own generational memories were still fleeting, occasional things.
Jamesonâs smile fled. He shrugged. âNot me personallyâŚ.â
âShhh. I know.â If he closed his eyes and focused, he could see this place too, but he seemed to be able to block them out when they were inconvenient. âToo many memories.â Xander pointed at his head.
Jameson nodded. He looked relieved. He reached out and pulled Xander close, his hands warm on Xanderâs waist.
Xander slipped his arms around Jameson and kissed him once, twice. He wrinkled his nose. âYouâre filthy and you stink! So do I.â He held up his shirt as proof. It was covered in mud stains.
Jameson laughed. âWe can fix that.â
He helped Jameson unlace the sides of his shirt, pulling it off to reveal the naked skin underneath. Jameson returned the favor, his hands lingering for a moment before withdrawing to pull down his own pants.
They shucked their wet and dirty clothes and descended into the water. It was surprisingly warm, silky and smooth around Xanderâs waist.
The pool was about three meters across and sloped down to about a meter deep at the far end. There was a warm, gentle current drifting past Xanderâs legs, and the stone beneath his feet had been worn smooth by water and time.
Xander washed the grime off his skin, and it drifted off into the water around him.
Jameson pulled him in deeper and gestured for him to lower his head.
Xander lay in Jamesonâs arms, and warm water washed over him, carrying the mud and dirt out of his hair. Jameson massaged his scalp, pulling away the twigs and bits of gunk heâd accumulated on the mad run through the forest in the storm.
Xanderâs desire threatened to overwhelm him at Jamesonâs gentle touch. He dipped his face into the water and rinsed off. It was so fucking good to get clean.
He shook his head, splashing Jameson, who shot him an aggrieved look.
The look turned into a wicked grin, and Jameson splashed him back. Then they were going after each other and laughing, a fine mist of water flying through the air.
Damn, itâs good to hear you laugh again. Xander grabbed Jameson and kissed him, harder this time, and Jamesonâs body responded. They fell back into the water, and Jameson was hard against him, his own need naked before Xanderâs desire.
After all that had happened, Xander needed to feel human and alive again. He tugged Jameson back to the shallow part of the pool and pulled his skythane down on top of him, Jamesonâs skin warm against his own.
He kissed Jamesonâs neck and nibbled on his ear, eliciting a low moan.
Jameson wanted this as much as he did. He could tell.
For a long, slow, ecstatic hour, Xander forgot all about the storm.
Author Bio
Scott lives between the here and now and the what could be. Indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine, he devoured her library. But as he grew up, he wondered where the people like him were.
He decided it was time to create the kinds of stories he couldnât find at Waldenbooks. If there werenât gay characters in his favorite genres, he would remake them to his own ends.
His friends say Scottâs brain works a little differently â he sees relationships between things that others miss, and gets more done in a day than most folks manage in a week. He seeks to transform traditional sci fi, fantasy, and contemporary worlds into something unexpected.
He runs Queer Sci Fi and QueeRomance Ink with his husband Mark, sites that bring queer people together to promote and celebrate fiction that reflects their own reality.
Scott lives between the here and now and the what could be. Indoctrinated into fantasy and sci fi by his mother at the tender age of nine, he devoured her library. But as he grew up, he wondered where the people like him were.