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 unthinkable—seek 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: Maxim Hagan’s father taught him one valuable lesson:
Life is like a game of baseball—three strikes and he’s out.
And to make matters worse, Maxim was already born with two strikes against him and has has spent his entire life trying not to swing for strike three. Running from his demons worked until a roadside bomb sends him hurtling back home. When he’s forced to come face to face with the one demon he could never outrun, Maxim has a decision to make.
Ethan Garrick’s life has descended into a world of loneliness after the death of his mother. Meeting new friends is never easy but, he’s managed to fall into a lovable group of brothers. When he meets his new friends’ best friend, Ethan knows one thing for certain:
He can try outrunning his desires for Maxim, but the end of the earth wouldn’t be far enough.
REVIEW: I can’t even begin to tell y’all how much I enjoyed reading this book. Where do I start? Let’s start with the cover. This cover is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. The fact that two gorgeous black men grace the cover of this book is in itself amazing. The next amazing this about this book is that black love is front and center in this book. Not just black love, but BLACK MEN in love. This story and these characters were beautifully written. Maxim and Ethan…both of these men are battling demons: loneliness, heartache, pain, disappointment and loss.
These two men deserve happiness, and they find it with each other. This isn’t a book where the men fall into bed without getting to know each other. These guys take the time to build something permanent.
I really enjoy this author’s work. I absolutely love how she portrays her characters of color in general, black men in particular. She shows that black men are capable of love and tenderness. These characters experience the loneliness, heartbreak and pain but was able to find solace and love within and can heal each other. And it was a beautiful thing to read.
Take a bow, Remmy. You’ve done an excellent job with this.
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. There’s just one small problem.
A ghost from Lucas’s 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 they’d never go: their hometown in Oklahoma. But the danger is worse than they expected.
Now, they’re in a race to track down a killer, keep a young girl safe, and get Lucas back in time to say, “I do.”
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.
For
centuries Gabriel, Michael and Lucifer have worked together, coexisting in the
same universe. Gabriel chooses to remain silent and secluded, preferring the
garden in the Hall of Souls. He dances beneath the Tree of Life, barefoot and
with reckless abandon…until the day he looks into the eyes of another angel and
sees the dreams he’s kept silent mirrored there.
Eons
have passed since the moment Michael came to be the general of the All Father’s
army in heaven, the protector of mankind. Michael has been in love with Lucifer
for as long as he can remember, their relationship second only to his bond with
the All Father. But lately, Michael has begun to notice cracks in the surface
of their love, sensing that his lover is not as angelic as he seems.
Lucifer
was the All Father’s first creation, the bringer of light, his Morning Star. He
has sat to the right of the throne every day since the dawn of time. Two things
were tasked to the Archangels from the start: put no other before the All
Father, and protect the humans he cherishes. Lucifer challenges both sacred
rules. He puts his love for Michael before his love for his creator, and he
questions his creator’s wisdom when it comes to the atrocities he has seen
committed by mankind.
One
will fall while two remain and grow stronger. A battle of wills is on the
horizon, and not only mankind, but the fate of all beings will hang in the
balance.
NOTE: this is an excerpt from a book that is still in the writing process and has yet to be edited.
Prologue…
“Lu,
please, don’t do this.” Michael begged. Collapsing to his knees, he reached for
Lucifer’s face, only to have his hand knocked away. The look of love and
tenderness he’d once seen in the darker Angels silver eyes was gone, replaced
with anger and hatred, the normally shining orbs bleeding into a dull gray with
pulsing coal black slits.
“You
made your choice Michael.” Lucifer hissed, venom wrapped around each word he
growled between clenched teeth.
Standing,
the pissed off Angel shoved Michael aside, advancing on Gabriel. “You did
this!” Lucifer let his wings unfurl and the All Father gasped. An Angels wings
were liken to their limbs, an extension of their soul as much as bones and
skin. Lucifer’s normally black and silver marbled feathers loomed over him,
awash in a darkness that resembled brimstone and ash, the tips a dull, lifeless
gray that matched his now dead, slitted eyes.
In
a blur of movement that none of them expected, the dark Angel flew into the
air, spinning and knocking Gabriel off his feet with the suddenly massive
appendages jutting out of his shoulder blades. “I will destroy you Messenger.
Much like you’ve done to the love he once felt for me, only for me!”
“Enough!”
The All Father’s voice boomed, the heavens shaking, a brilliant white light
momentarily blinding all his Angels. Blinking, Gabriel stood and moved over to
where Michael sat crouched, staring up at Lucifer, confusion and pain dotting
his vibrant blue eyes. “Angel of light, my son and most trusted advisor, I beg
you to stop this madness. You know what the consequence will be.”
Lucifer
glared at the All Father, chest heaving, breathing labored, senselessly
fighting against the band of light wrapped around his middle like the sheath of
a knife. “Father, please don’t…” God raised his hand silencing Michael.
“I
am sorry, Michael, but he has made his choice which leaves me no alternative.”
The band around Lucifer tightened, the floor beneath him opening up, exposing
clouds of thunder and rain. “Star of the Morning, bringer of light, you are
stripped of your titles, your wings forfeit. You shall now be known as Satan,
the serpent, the prince of darkness.” Lucifer howled in agony as the strong
coal-black feathers were stripped away from his being. “I cast you out of
heaven and forbade your return.” The iridescent tears cascading down the All
Father’s cheeks formed a river beneath the writhing Angel.
Michael
cried out, turning and burying his face in Gabriel’s bronze robe, the silky
fabric soon soaked through with fresh, warm tears. He wrapped his arms around
Michael, shielding him from Lucifer’s violent, turbulent eyes. In the eons to
come, the slow passage of time he and Michael would face together, Gabriel
would always question his role in the events of that day. Could it have been
avoided? Of course it could have, but that would have meant walking away from
the Angel that he loved second only to the All Father.
He
asked himself for the millionth time as he held Michael’s head so he wouldn’t
see the clouds open up and swallow Lucifer, dragging him down to bowels of the
earth, face a mask of agony and pain, forever exiled to the pit and doomed to
watch over and judge only the evil of mankind… what have I done?
A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning
Georgia; TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant,
she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good
book, or ticking away on her next novel.
Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly
outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her
writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because,
seriously people, Love is Love!
A percentage of the earth’s population has transformed into surprisingly functional zombies who returned to work the next morning as if they weren’t undead monstrosities. Justice Kinkead, officer in an elite zombie fighting force, gets called out when good zombies go bad, putting down the brain cravers and safeguarding the new economy. After several of his partners succumb to unfortunate deaths, Justice figures he’ll go it alone…until he’s assigned a mysterious and sexy new partner, Merlin Pride, who seems to know more about the zombies’ origins than he’s letting on.
Merlin also seems to sense that Justice needs a good fucking, but it’s complicated: Justice still lives with his undead ex-boyfriend. Can Justice make peace with his past? And if he does, should he take a chance on a man who may have something to do with destroying civilization as they knew it?
Crack, parody, camp counselor levels of camp, dad jokes, and enemies to lovers
55k words
Kimi’s thoughts:
Lots and lots of Dad jokes, puns, and a slaptick sitcom plot featuring zombies and wizards- that’s the recipe that makes up this book. Was it funny? yes, it was and like all good sitcom material, underneath the format was a very good story.being a romance, the story, of course, was a love story with a dash of mystery. Who or what caused the zombies to happen to begin with? Why are the zombies now acting different? If you like dry humour and zombies (there’s next to no gore in this, by the way), this is a great read to sit to down to chase the blahs away. This seems to be a stand alone, but it would be fun to see these two in a series, encountering magical mishaps, more scheming politicians, and saving the world, one disaster at a time.
Author Katze Snow has re-released Sinister Hunger with new content and a brand-new cover by talented cover artist, Jay Aheer. To celebrate, it’s 99 cents US/99 pence UK until Monday, the 23rd of April. It’s also available via KindleUnlimited. Available only via Amazon (universal link).
A world of intrigue. A life of lies. A future of sacrifice.
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 unthinkable—seek refuge in Sanctuary Hope, where each family must nominate a member to the city council. But there is a catch.
In exchange for refuge, the nominees are turned into bloodslaves for an elite chain of vampires, and unaware of the gut-wrenching reality, Vincent nominates himself. He only wanted to save his group.
Josh is a family man, a good doctor and a man in love… with his best friend. All is well until Greg discovers how he feels. Sadly, he doesn’t feel the same way.
Heartbroken, Josh finds love elsewhere, with Glenn, a much younger man. They have a whirlwind romance, until one flawed decision threatens to tear them apart forever.
With all the complications in his love life, will this doctor find a cure to mend his broken heart?
Excerpt:
June, 1999
Dr. Josh Adams and his best friend of ten years, Dr. Greg Marshall, walked side-by-side down the long corridor. Their steps were synced as much as their heights and appearance. Both men were six-foot-three, and sported dark brown hair and full beards. Even their eyes were the same dark espresso brown.
The scent of fresh paint and new carpet radiated from every direction. The new Doctors’ building was nearly complete; only a few finishing details remained. The large brushed nickel halogen sconces lit up the hallway so brightly you could see every detail of the décor without straining. The carpet was an impressive medium shag, done in a plaid pattern of maroon and navy, while the walls were bordered in the same hues along the ceiling line, with a shade of ecru in-between. It was a clean look, tastefully balanced been efficiency and luxury.
Greg touched the new wall, his fingers exploring the texture of it. “Nice place! When will it be finished?”
“Supposedly next week sometime,” Josh answered. “Ah, here we are, number 437.” He produced a set of keys and jutted a bright silver one into the lock of the suite to their left. “Come on; let me show you where I’ll be working, and hopefully you too.”
Greg glared at him. “I told you I don’t want to leave the hospital. How many times must I tell you that?”
Josh shushed him. “You say that now, but you’ll change your mind once you see this place.”
They walked inside the expansive waiting room. There were no chairs as of yet, but a large, circular reception area lay before them. The same colors that decorated the hallway were reflected here, the largest suite on the floor. Josh pulled at Greg’s arm and tugged him along.
“Come back here, the exam rooms are great. I watched them put in some of this stuff myself.”
Greg groaned and followed his friend. How could he not? He’d been best friends with Josh for the past decade and they did everything together. Their lives were almost parallel: same age, both married, two kids each. Even the same concentration in medicine—both general practitioners.
He remembered back to when they weren’t the best of friends. They’d both been assigned to the same hospital out of residency. At that time, Greg found himself sickened by the mere sight of Josh anywhere near him. He found Josh to be overbearing and thought he had a huge ego. Greg vividly recalled how they’d argue constantly and schemed of ways to avoid each other at all costs. They’d fought over every diagnosis until their teaching physician made them draw up a truce between them.
That was over a decade ago. Since then, the two had become practically inseparable and spent many hours together, as did their families. Their wives were good friends as were their children. Josh looked at the new offices and practically drooled. “This place is top-of-the-line everything. Look at this–a lab, right in-house!” He walked into the mid-sized room and saw new microscopes, centrifuges, refrigerators, everything a thriving practice needed to get faster results. “I’m going to love this.” He brushed Greg’s arm. “I’d love it more if you were in on this with me.”
There was more than a hint of sadness to Josh’s voice. For months, he’d been badgering his friend to join him at his new practice. It’d be three doctors: himself, Greg hopefully, and Dr. Bill Snyder. Snyder was a specialist in hematology, hence, the need for such a well-stocked lab.
“How many times do I need to tell you…?”
“And how many times has your lovely wife chastised you for the hours you keep? Even your children are against your hours, isn’t that what you told me just last week?” Josh stated matter-of-factly.
Greg nodded and walked around to the lobby again. He looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows into the large parking lot, at the pond with the walking trail just beyond it. “This place…it’s too much like a park for me. It’s not me.”
Josh groaned. “What is you? All work, no play, and a pissed off family? Do you really want to keep doing that?” He took his friend’s arm sharply. “Listen, if you say no for real, I’ll drop it, but I’ll have to find a third pretty quickly. I want you with me. More important, I think Amber would want you with me.”
Greg looked into his friend’s mutually dark eyes and attempted to gauge his emotions. Ten years of knowing the man had taught him a lot, but especially how to hold onto a dear friend he had no desire to lose. “Josh…I want to, but something just keeps telling me I’d be more useful at the hospital. I love the building, these offices are gorgeous. It’d be ideal for me if that’s what I was after, but I can’t. I’m sorry.”
Josh stared at him for a long moment and even opened his mouth, but no sound or words escaped. He closed it and nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure. Swear on your life sure?”
A laugh escaped Greg’s lips. “Swear on my life sure. I love you for thinking of me like this, to join you in your practice, but I can’t…maybe in a few years I will.”
“Is that a promise?” Josh brushed his friend’s beard with a quick swipe of his thumb. “Look me in the eye and promise me.”
It was like looking into a mirror for both of them. Greg smiled and nodded. “I promise.”
Josh pulled him in for a short hug. “Sorry I pressured you. If you’re not ready, you’re not ready. Let’s go out for lunch.”
This seemed a bit quick for Josh to let go of the subject, but Greg didn’t question it anymore. “Absolutely, how about we get the families together and all hit that Mexican place?”
“Mmm, sounds good! Need to find a phone, call the wife.”
Greg glanced over at the receptionist area. There were several phones in strategic spots. He picked up the handset on one but heard nothing but silence. “Don’t these work yet?”
“No, not until tomorrow. Come on, there’s a phone in the lounge. Let’s go.”
“Wait, you sure you’re alright with me saying no to this?” Greg asked quickly.
Josh nodded. “If you’re not ready, I won’t push. I won’t have to. I think Amber’ll do that for me, or your darling kids will. How are they anyway?”
“Doing alright. They hate my hours, but I just won’t budge right now. I’ve worked it down to fifty hours a week and that’s pretty decent to me.”
“Aren’t you tempting fate by pushing her buttons? She’s got a temper.”
Greg laughed as they turned out the lights and locked the door. They started their trek to the hospital lobby next door. “Ah, refresh my memory? Kim could about rip you to shreds sometimes with her temper.”
“Very true. Our kids have seen some battles. Ben especially, since he’s the eldest. Damn! My kid’s a teenager! Where’d the time go?”
Greg pushed the button for the elevator. “Same place it always goes, right down the drain.”
The doors opened, and they stepped inside and pushed “L” for lobby. “Amen to that, my friend.”
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’.
“A 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 Ramsay’s 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 boss’s son Sam.
However, falling for his boss’s 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 son’s 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.”
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 Ramsay’s life has changed immeasurably in the eight months since meeting, and falling for his boss’s 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 G’wan 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 “Return to Zero” (Shatterproof Bond #3)
“SAM! Are ye home?” Declan hollered as he opened the front door. “Sam?”
“In here.” Sam’s distant voice filtered from the spare bedroom. Declan was in a buoyant mood, at last, after weeks of waiting, he’d received a call from his boss. He sauntered confidently towards the bedroom and knocked once before walking in.
“Why d’ye no’ pick up? I’ve called ye, like, six times already! James wants us in fera meet —” Declan stopped, and in the way,only Sam Aiken could do, the breath was stolenfrom his lungs.
Declan’s 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 man’s 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.
Declan’s 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 Sam’s muscles. It was awe inspiring. Sam was the very picture of oneness—strength, control, balance, and agility. The lines of Sam’s form were sinuous and erotic, and there was no stopping the hot, hot hunger that made Declan’s whole being shudder with need.
Sam’s 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, Declan’s presence always came with the prickle of otherworldly electricity. It reallywas like they were magnetized.
The sound of heavy breathing was doing things to Sam’s 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.
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. He’s completely dependent on Declan for everything and hates the way the scales have tipped in their relationship. Although he’s officially on leave, Sam’s mind cannot stop replaying all that happened to him and questioning why, and who is behind it all.
Declan’s relief at having Sam home throws him into house-husband mode. He’s 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 Sam’s 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.
Isobel’s 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: One can’t walk the path of darkness and expect to escape unscathed. At eighteen, Foster Erickson stepped out of the closet into a world of homelessness, prostitution, and drugs. Years later, he’s pulled it together and is ready to rebuild. Determined not to let the demons win, Foster starts university with a plan to keep others from making the same mistakes he did. The last thing he expects is Sylvester Roberts. After years of working with his father, Sylvester decides to step out on his own. University at his age is strange, but for him, failure isn’t an option. After flunking a few tests, Sylvester’s professor assigns him a tutor—Foster Erickson. The moment they meet, Sylvester knows Foster isn’t like other guy
As the darkness hovers and Sylvester begins falling, he will have to decide if helping Foster fight his demons will be worth it in the end
REVIEW: Foster’s character intrigued me from the first page. His past was really heartbreaking but not uncommon, which is even more heartbreaking. Here was a young man who fell into homelessness, sexual assault, drugs and forced into prostitution to survive and to feed his drug habit, which I suspect he fell into as a way to cope with his situation. Reading about his painful past will have your heart in your throat, it was just so sad to read. With the help of a cop who befriended him, Foster was able to escape his circumstances and get himself together. Understandably, there were some residual effects from his past which he is getting help for. Foster’s life is going well and he’s starting college. This is where he meets Sylvester.
Sylvester is a successful older student who is striking out on his own after years of working for his father. He needed a tutor Foster was recommended to him. Sylvester was intrigued by the beautiful man but he sensed Foster’s general uneasiness at being touched, of getting close to anyone, both emotionally and physically.
This story flows so well. At first I thought that I would’ve liked to have had more information on Foster’s past but now that I think about it, I’m glad the author chose to place more emphasis on his present and future, the happiness he finds and the relationship (first friendship, then romantic) he’s building with Sylvester. I love how she gave both MCs equal amounts of attention. I also loved how she wrote Sylvester’s character. This man was beautiful, intelligent, compassionate and passionate, loving, patient, tender and kind yet tough. He understood that he needed to proceed with a great deal of caution and patience in pursuing Foster because of his past. I adored these men individually but together as well.
Foster’s painful past made me cheer that much harder for him to find peace and happiness with Sylvester. And Foster’s friend Jason is an absolute sweetheart who was always there to with a shoulder to lean on, cry on and advise to help him along.
I enjoyed everything about this book. The characters, storyline and flow were well executed. I loved that it’s interracial and there were no ridiculous stereotypes in neither them or the storyline. Really, if it wasn’t mentioned purely for the character’s physical appearances you would never have known the race or ethnicity of the characters as the author wrote them all the same. The two MCs were simply two men who meet, fall in love and work through some issues to make their relationship work.
I also loved the cover. It was strikingly beautiful and is what initially draws your attention to the book.
I will definitely recommend this book as well as this author.
