Guest Review: Lochlann (Order of the Black Knights #6) by Andrea Speed

Violence has been Lochlann O’Connor’s companion since he was born into a family of old-school Irish terrorists. From there he is recruited into Alpha, a secret government agency dedicated to fighting terrorism—with extreme prejudice. Lochlann’s bravery, efficiency, ruthlessness, and the natural dead eye that lets him hit anything that moves, quickly make him one of the shadowy organization’s most valued operatives.

Cas Vega joins Alpha because it’s marginally better than a prison sentence. He’s a former drug cartel assassin—or at least that’s his story. But Lochlann is suspicious. Despite an irrational and overwhelming attraction to Cas, Lochlann has questions, and they soon lead to a deeper and deadlier mystery. What is Alpha’s true purpose, and why does it seem they want to eliminate Lochlann?

Lochlann and Cas must work together to get to the bottom of Alpha’s scheme and escape it—and all while Cas keeps secrets that could cost him his life if they’re revealed. But it’s not an alliance that can last. Duty turns the men into enemies, even while fate compels them into each other’s arms. Before they can contemplate which will prevail, they must figure out how to survive.

Reviewer: R *A Reader Obsessed*


I want to preface this with saying I don’t lightly jump into the middle of a series willy nilly, but I did some investigation and truly believe that each book is a standalone story. Various reviews reassured me that there was no connection between books except a shared origin, and thus I took the plunge.

Soooo… the theme of this series is that long ago, warriors bent on hell and destruction and revenge, sold their souls to a powerful wizard to do what they do best - kill. Reincarnated over and over again, the only way out of the contract is to take a different path and spare an enemy - that special someone unbeknownst to them - who's needed to break the curse to gain freedom from the endless violence and death that plagues them.

Hence, we have Lochlann. He’s one of the best covert operatives of Alpha - a top secret government agency created to fight terrorism. The harsh life of eliminating threats is justified by knowing it’s for the greater good. However, Lochlann has seen some things recently that make him question his loyalty.

Enter Cas. He’s a hitman for a notorious cartel, and when he’s captured and forcibly conscripted for his talents to join Alpha, he has no choice but to comply if he wants to live. Or does he? The people he’s really working for have been looking for the notorious Lochlann for years, and Cas finally has a chance to apprehend him. What he doesn't expect to find is a man with vulnerabilities and hints of conscience under the impenetrable exterior that Lochlann has perfected. Cas’s mission just got a whole lot more complicated.

I’m a huge fan of Andrea Speed who wrote the awesome Infected series, so I was looking forward to seeing what she could bring to this genre, and for the most part I wasn’t disappointed. Overall, I enjoyed this, but I think mainly that’s because I love me a military, assassin, spy book, and this did not skimp on the missions nor the action. The writing was excellent and the plot plausible, but the romance aspect fell a bit short (and I know she can write romance. Hi Roan!). Make no mistake, these guys are intrigued and attracted to each other, and the UST was palpable, but as far as I know, Speed doesn’t write on page smex, and though I was hoping I was wrong, unfortunately it fell true for this book as well. And... that’s where I think it could’ve helped solidify in my mind, the love these two supposedly had for the other. Granted, I want all the smex an author can give me but here, I really do think its presence would’ve further strengthened the reader’s belief in Lochlann and Cas’s feelings and thus their subsequent motivations. I just didn’t quite believe the intensity between these two.

Having said that, the rating is for the writing, keeping my interest the entire time, and of course, the happy ending. By no means am I deterred from reading Speed again!

Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Review: Hearts of Darkness by Andrea Speed

Kaede Hiyashi is sick and tired of living in the shadow of his father, supervillain Doctor Terror. Brilliant but crazy, Doctor Terror sends his son to Corwyn, California, for reasons Kaede can’t imagine. Sent to accompany and protect him is Ash, a genetically modified supersoldier raised and trained by an infamous death cult.

Corwyn is lousy with superheroes, led by the obnoxious Dark Justice. Kaede finds himself dancing around Dark Justice as he digs into his father’s mysterious business and teaches his socially awkward—but physically lethal—bodyguard to acclimate to “normal” life. Can these two wacky supervillains figure out what Doctor Terror wants them to do, solve the riddle of the villain known as Black Hand, and keep Dark Justice from raining on their bloody parade? The course of love—and world domination—never did run smooth.

Action. Humor. Supervillians. And snuggling. Oh, the snuggles! I'm such a sucker for the cuteness.

Kaede's the son of the Supervillain, Doctor Terror. Doctor Terror sent Kaede a bodyguard, Ash, when he sent Kaede off to Corwyn. All for his super secret master plan, of course. *insert Supervillian laugh*

Corwyn was full of Heroes and Villians. They're all ridiculous. And what I loved most is that Kaede knew exactly how ridiculous they all really were. He loathed them. Kaede was tired of being compared to his father and people assuming that he was as evil as Doctor Terror. When the Heroes and Villains confronted Kaede, he didn't take them seriously and laughed in their faces, while simultaneously kicking all their asses. He was completely awesome. He came off as very "whatever" about everything, but was brilliant at the same time. He toyed with them, made them think he was clueless... little did they know he had a secret weapon. Ash.

"For a killing machine, Ash was goddamn cute."

Yes. He absolutely was. I love an adorably clueless virgin, and Ash was exactly that. Plus, he was totally badass. He was genetically engineered by Doctor Terror to be practically invincible. Because of all the training growing up, he had no social skills. He's a little on the awkward side and it was adorable. I'm not sure how a killing machine can be so endearing, but Andrea Speed has made it so. 

Ash was curious about Kaede and all the things he made Ash feel. The feelings in his pants, if we're going to be specific. Being the generous soul that he is, Kaede helped him explore all things physical. The sex scenes were not explicit at all. They were mostly fade-to-black, but they were so damn cute that I didn't even care. I was in it for the sweetness and the cuddling because it gave me all the mushy feels.

I really liked the whole vibe of this story. Kaede was immersed in the Superhero and Supervillian drama, even though he didn't want to be. He basically thought they were a bunch of dumbasses. I kind of felt the same way. It's like I knew everything was ridiculous, but at the same time it wasn't because I was so into the plot. The story made fun of itself and I liked that.

I loved, loved the ending. Kaede being a brilliant Supervillian mastermind and Ash kicking asses everywhere he turned. I hope there's a sequel. I have to know what happens next.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads and DSP Publications.

Review: Infected: Holden (Mean Streets #1) by Andrea Speed

With his friend lion shifter Roan McKichan no longer in the picture, former sex worker Holden Krause is now working as a detective investigating cases in Seattle. When he receives a request to investigate a rather unusual case for Big Mike, a local drug dealer, he ignores the potential hazards in working for such a client and takes it on.

But Holden hasn’t given up his vigilante ways, occasionally seeking violent retribution for those ignored by the justice system. There’s a man stalking the streets, assaulting anyone he perceives to be trans or gender nonconforming in any way. When the brutality escalates, the case becomes personal for Holden.

If he cannot juggle being both a detective and a vigilante, his taste for blood and danger might finally catch up with him.

I think this is the hardest review I’ve ever had to write.  I started and stopped so many times that I lost my train of thought and had to think about what I was trying to say.  I also scrapped so many paragraphs because they just weren’t conveying what I was really feeling.  I thought about it,  I slept on it, I argued with myself, I discussed it with friends and I think I finally understand what it is about this book that has me so jumbled up in my heart. While I love this world that Speed has created and I gobbled up Roan’s series (except book 2, of course.  You couldn’t get me to read that heart shredding story if you set me on fire), I was disappointed and, to be honest, a bit offended by this book.  Please bear with me while I try and explain to you why this book affected me the way it did.  I have the utmost respect for the author and this is extremely hard for me.

We first met Holden Krause in the Infected series.  He quickly became a favorite of mine and I was so happy to see he was going to get his own series.  I mean, who wouldn’t love a snarky, overconfident ex-hooker (kinda) with psychopathic tendencies?  He was strong and fearless and always looking out for those who were more vulnerable.  I looked forward to the parts where we got his POV even if they were dark and a bit scary.  He took no shit from anyone and he wasn’t afraid to get the job done, even if it resulted in murder.  I adore an antihero and Holden was the epitome of an antihero.  So when this book was offered for review I jumped on it, just knowing I was going to love it.  It was going to be more of everyone’s favorite snarky ex-hooker (kinda), more shenanigans, more adventure.  What’s not to love?

But, I did not love it.  Sure, Holden’s still snarky and protective and a psychopath but something wasn’t right.  It felt a bit… off.  I didn’t adore him like I did before.  He wasn’t lovable any more.  He wasn’t mean or anything and he still has his vulnerability peeking out from time to time but I never engaged with him like I did in the past.  He felt cold to me.  I didn’t like it at all.  I found myself wanting to skip ahead to the parts where we got Scott’s POV.  Scott I loved.  Holden, not so much.

In Infected:  Holden, Roan has moved away and left his PI business to Holden.  Holden is unsure of his ability to be a private eye but, because Roan wants him to continue as his legacy he starts taking cases.  Of course he’s hired by a drug lord for his first case, because that is his life.  We meet Chai, a former coworker of Holden’s from the escort service where he used to be employed.  He left town a few years ago but, after a traumatic life event, is back, looking a little worse for the wear.  Chai slowly wiggled his way into the case, into Holden’s life and into my heart.  I really liked his character and he balanced out Holden’s aloofness well.  There’s a second storyline in this book too.  Someone is preying on the transgender and gender non-conforming population of the city and Holden feels like it is up to him to avenge those he considers ‘his’ people.  

I liked both storylines.  Yeah, they weren’t as action packed or adventurous as the storylines in the Infected series but what was there was good.  I liked that we got to see a lot of Scott and Grey and we even got a bit of Tank and Fiona.  Kevin and Dee also made appearances.  And the side story with Gareth was enjoyable too.  It wasn’t the story that disappointed me.  I’m actually looking forward to reading book two whenever it comes out.  I have in no way given up on this author.  I’m hoping this book was just a fluke and it will be better in book two.

*deep breath*

Now for the hard part.  I have a few issues.  The first is this book is rife with political agenda.  I felt like I was being lectured for the most part.  Now, I’m all for equal rights and everyone should be able to express themselves however they choose.  I myself am a proud parent of the most wonderful son who just happens to have been born a girl.  But don’t shove it down my throat.  Really, you’re preaching to the choir here.  There’s no need to school me.  I promise I’m smart enough to decide on my own how to feel.

My second issue is with the writing.  There were way too many words for a 200 page book.  It was all too talky, too thinky, too explainy.  The backstories were so in depth that it read more like a biography than fiction.  Nothing was organic.  When I meet someone new I don’t want to know every little thing about their past up front.  I want to be able to learn about them as I go along and decide for myself if I like them or not.  It takes the intrigue out of it if you tell me how I’m supposed to feel about them from the get-go.  And whenever something happened or someone was acting a certain way it was explained, again in depth, exactly why it happened or why they were acting that way.  It kept me from getting to actually know the characters and relating to them.  It made the book become boring and made me feel like I was studying for a test rather than reading a story.

Now for my biggest issue.  This book offended me.  I hate saying that word.  The first thing that comes to mind when I say that is ‘butt-hurt’.  No one wants to be labeled as person who gets ‘butt-hurt’ over a fictional story but I can’t think of a better word than offended.  There is a lot of het-hate in this book.  Nothing overt, but as I was reading along a comment would be made here and there that made me pause.  The more I read, the more upset I got until by the end I was quite pissed off.  Comments like “Shh. The hets continue to think they made this for them.”  or “...he was a bit tired of reading about hets.  Hets were everywhere, and he was getting weary of them.”  It felt to me like heterosexuals were portrayed as cheaters, liars,naive, stupid and foolish people who were too self centered and flaky to have happy, healthy relationships.  And not just some, but ALL heterosexuals.  I am a heterosexual woman who has been happily married for 20 years.  I didn’t marry for money and I’ve never cheated.  I am a strong, independent woman who has a successful career.  I felt discriminated against, like I wasn’t supposed to be reading this book.  Like it wasn’t written for someone like me.  Who wants to spend time and money to read something that makes them feel bad about themselves?

So, it is with great sadness that I give Infected:  Holden only two and a half hearts.  I just cannot abide by some of the things that were written in this book.  But, I want to reiterate that I will continue to read this series and any other of Speed’s books that catch my fancy.  I think Speed is a great storyteller.  I have high hopes that the next book will have less hate and political agenda and more action and adventure.  I wouldn’t say no to a little bit of romance thrown in too.

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more at DSP Publications and on Goodreads. 

Blog Tour: Infected: Holden (Mean Streets #1) by Andrea Speed

Holden has taken over the clubhouse today. We're swimming in his snark infested waters.

Speed Dating With Holden

As part of the pre-launch for Infected: Holden, I thought I’d subject Holden to a battery of common speed dating questions to see how he does. You’d think he’d be a natural.


What are you looking for in a relationship?

Holden: A hit and run. No attachments whatsoever, maybe an exchange of insurance information. And a pizza would be nice.


What’s the one thing about yourself you’d like me to know?

Holden: I don’t want to have to kill you, but I will if I have to.


What do you think is the most important value in a relationship?

Holden: Separate bathrooms.


Do you believe in love at first sight?

Holden: If everybody’s on club drugs, yes.


Do you want to get married?

Holden: Only if I stand to inherit a fuckton of money.


What do you do for fun?

Holden: I’d tell you, but then I really would have to kill you. It’s all illegal.


What are you most proud about?

Holden: I haven’t been arrested for my genuine crimes.


What’s your favorite movie?

Holden: Aliens.


Where do you see yourself in five years?

Holden: Six feet under. Hopefully dead too, but we’ll see.


What adjective would a close friend use to describe you?

Holden: Lethal.


If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Holden: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Or a World of Leather outlet store. Both if possible.


What’s the last book you read?

Holden: You Will Know Me by Megan Abbott. Straight people are so weird.


What’s your favorite sporting activity?

Holden: Does fucking count? If not, punching.


What’s your greatest weakness?

Holden: Answering deeply stupid questions.

Blurb

With his friend lion shifter Roan McKichan no longer in the picture, former sex worker Holden Krause is now working as a detective investigating cases in Seattle. When he receives a request to investigate a rather unusual case for Big Mike, a local drug dealer, he ignores the potential hazards in working for such a client and takes it on.

But Holden hasn’t given up his vigilante ways, occasionally seeking violent retribution for those ignored by the justice system. There’s a man stalking the streets, assaulting anyone he perceives to be trans or gender-nonconforming in any way. When the brutality escalates, the case becomes personal for Holden.

If he cannot juggle being both a detective and a vigilante, his taste for blood and danger might finally catch up with him.

Buy link: https://www.dsppublications.com/books/infected-holden-by-andrea-speed-310-b

Excerpt

     His cell phone hummed in his pocket, and Holden answered it without looking. It could only be Otter. “It’s him,” he said and hung up. Holden pocketed his phone and pulled the black leather gimp mask over his face. He unzipped the mouth so he could talk to the fuckhole on his way in.

     Holden stripped off his T-shirt and tossed it aside, although he kept his jeans and boots on. He had to. He had to preserve the surprise.

     There was a knock on the door before it opened, and by that time Holden was lounging on the bed in his best porn-movie-bottom pose, like he was patiently waiting to be pounded by the pizza delivery boy. The man who came in smelled of cigarettes and was wearing basically anonymous blue jeans, white sneakers, and a blue polo shirt. He had thinning brown hair shaved down to a fuzz, perhaps trying to imply his baldness was a choice, and pale blue eyes that seemed to betray nothing but a kind of dull emptiness. He was pudgy, with a bit of a gut, but at least some of it was hard fat. He gazed at Holden, checking him out before bothering to look at his face. “Take that off. I wanna see your face.”

     Holden slowly pushed up from the bed, and stood beside it, keeping his posture and body language as casual as possible. “Maybe you should take it off, Master.”

     Something sparked briefly in his eyes. He liked being called “Master.” “I told you to do it, slave. So do it.”

     Holden played around with the zipper as he slunk closer, giving him his best sexy eyes, and as soon as he was able, he grabbed the waistband of the man’s jeans and ran his thumb over the top button. The man grabbed his wrist, a little too hard as expected, and while he was asserting his dominance, Holden slipped his Taser out of his jeans and jabbed him with it. Right in the dick.

     The asshole tried to scream, but he couldn’t manage much more than a squeak. He collapsed to the floor, and as soon as he was down, Holden straddled him and pulled out his butterfly knife. He opened it with a sharp flick of his wrist, exposing the blade, and pressed it against his throat before he stopped spasming. “Shouldn’t have used the same online handle, DomNick101. Did you think just ’cause you rented a boy from Backpage that gave you license to do whatever you wanted with him?”

     DomNick couldn’t yet speak, although the way his eyes bulged and mouth twitched, he wanted to say something. “You think you could just beat the shit out of Otter, and there’d be no repercussions at all? ’Cause he’d never go to the cops? Did you ever think that maybe there were worse things than cops, fuckhead?”

About the Author

Andrea Speed probably exists, although that might be objectively hard to prove. Do any of us exist? Is it a truly quantifiable state, or do we simply think we exist? And will this pay my utility bills if I deny my existence to the power company? Questions upon questions.


IN ABSTENTIA BY ANDREA SPEED: http://andreaspeed.com/
WRITER OF STUFF (TUMBLR): http://notmanos.tumblr.com/
8TRACKS: http://8tracks.com/notmanos
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Andreaspeedwriter
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/aspeed

Review: Charmed and Dangerous Anthology: Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy

Magic takes many forms. From malignant hexes to love charms gone amok, you’ll find a vast array of spells and curses, creatures and conjurings in this massive collection—not to mention a steamy dose of man-on-man action. Charmed and Dangerous features all-new stories of gay paranormal romance, supernatural fiction and urban fantasy by ten top m/m paranormal authors.



3.8 stars average, rounded up to 4.

Rhys Ford, Ginn Hale, KJ Charles, Nicole Kimberling, Jordan Castillo Price, Jordan L. Hawk, Charlie Cochet, Lou Harper, Andrea Speed and Astrid Amara.

Wow!! What an author line up! It reads like a who's who of MM paranormal authors. I was privileged to be able to read and review this book. Each story will have the blurb pasted below and I'll add my rating. I'll add reviews for my favourites. I have to say, this book is absolutely worth reading - such a selection of authors and stories.

Rhys Ford - Dim Sum Asylum  

For Detective Roku MacCormick, working Arcane Crimes is his passion. Now cleared of any wrongdoing for shooting his last partner, MacCormick is given back his badge… as well as a new case and partner. Trent Leonard isn’t exactly what he’d expected, but then nothing in San Francisco’s Chinatown ever is.

Ginn Hale - Swift and the Black Dog
When Jack Swift killed a tyrant and won the revolution he became a national hero. But someone in the new government prefers dead heroes to living, swearing, cynical wizards. Caught between bullets, revenge and desire, Jack had better be swift indeed.

KJ Charles - A Queer Trade

Apprentice magician Crispin Tredarloe returns to London to find his master dead, and his papers sold. Papers with secrets that could spell death. Waste paper seller Ned Hall can’t resist Crispin’s pleading—and appealing—looks. But can the wasteman and the magician prevent a disaster and save Crispin’s skin?
This story drew me into the strange world of Crispin's London. Old time London with a magical twist that  owned me and left me dazed when I returned to 21st century Norfolk. such talent to create a world like this in a short story. I understood it, I became part of it and I wanted to know everything about Crispin and Ned. I loved that this was an interracial relationship. I loved that the world of magicians apprentice and waste paper seller were so different - and yet so connected in this story. I'd definitely read more about these two characters. 

Nicole Kimberling - Magically Delicious 

Occult attacks against NIAD agents aren’t remotely Keith Curry’s department. But when his lover, Gunther, is assaulted, Keith refuses to just sit back and fill out paperwork. He’s on the case—even if that means enraging powerful mages, crossing leprechaun picket lines, or braving dinner with Gunther’s goblin parents.

Jordan Castillo Price - Everyone's Afraid of Clowns 

Psychic medium Victor Bayne can spot a ghost any day of the year, but Halloween holds some special surprises. His psych-groupie boyfriend Jacob coaxes him to the location of an old spirit sighting, but they can’t ghosthunt without enduring a cheesy “haunted house” that’s even more disturbing than they realize.
It's Vic and Jake. If I need to say any more than that then you're reading the wrong books. Okay? 

Jordan L. Hawk - The Thirteenth Hex 
Hexman Dominic Kopecky doesn’t understand why dashing crow familiar Rook wants his help investigating murder by patent hex. For one thing, Dominic isn’t a witch. For another, the case is already closed—and someone is willing to kill to keep it that way.
As with KJ Charles, Jordan L. Hawk made me love a world, and characters, in just a few short pages. Dominic - a hexman who is good at what he does but manages to somehow undervalue himself, let himself settle - is drawn into the hunt for criminals by familiar, Rook. I adored both Rook and Dominic. They sold this story to me, and the setting and mystery were the icing on the cake.

Charlie Cochet - The Soldati Prince

Riley Murrough goes from serving lattes to being chased by demons. If that wasn’t bad enough, he bears the mark of a shapeshifter king from a magical realm. Riley’s determined to get answers, but if the demons out for his blood don’t kill him, the urge to strangle the arrogant king might.

Lou Harper - One Hex Too Many

Veteran detective Mike Mulligan is an expert on violent crimes—of the occult variety. He might even be cursed. Detective Hugh Fox is eager to partner up and prove himself, but Mulligan is accustomed to flying solo. Can they trust each other enough to track a killer who’ll stop at nothing, not even summoning a demon?
Lou Harper - an author I've not read before, but I definitely will be again. I loved this story and the world and characters created. Throughout this story there were touches of humour that tickled me, it was well paced and well written.

Andrea Speed - Josh of the Damned vs. the Bathroom of Doom

It's a boring night at the Quik-Mart for Josh and his friend Doug. Until a vampire with a grudge—and the most adorable backup ever—crashes the store. Can Josh survive the Bathroom of Doom?

Astrid Amara - The Trouble With Hexes 

P.I. Tim Keller has a problem. And the only person who can solve it is his ex-boyfriend, Vincent, whose job as a hexbreaker was the reason they broke up. It’s hard admitting he was wrong, especially when coughing up organs. But there’s a missing person to find, a hexmaker to hunt down, and a romance to repair before Tim breathes his last.
Trust and romance is what this story was about. I loved the relationship between Tim and Vincent - again I could read more about them quite happily. The benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing. The love between these two was tangible, and like so many relationship,s it wasn't that the love waned but more that the problems suddenly seemed too big. The lack of communication, the attempt to save oneself from pain - it all added up to a failed relationship, until Tim needed Vincent more than fear of hurt. A twisting turning tale of love I adored from beginning to end.

A copy of this anthology was given in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more at Goodreads.

Cover Reveal and Teasers: Charmed and Dangerous Anthology

When Boy Meets Boy Reviews was contacted and asked if we would like to be involved in the cover reveal of a soon-to-be-published anthology, one look at the line up of authors had us drooling like bull mastiffs. I mean, c'mon, take a peek - it's a line up of who's who in fantasy MM fiction today. I am pretty sure this is one anthology that want be sitting around on metaphorical ebook shelves getting dusty.

Rhys Ford - Dim Sum Asylum

Ginn Hale - Swift and the Black Dog

KJ Charles - A Queer Trade

Nicole Kimberling - Magically Delicious

Jordan Castillo Price - Everyone's Afraid of Clowns

Jordan L. Hawk - The Thirteenth Hex

Charlie Cochet - The Soldati Prince

Lou Harper - One Hex Too Many

Andrea Speed - Josh of the Damned vs. the Bathroom of Doom

Astrid Amara - The Trouble With Hexes

Charmed and Dangerous
Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy 

Take a cauldron full of magic, add a pinch of humour, a dash of snark and a huge dollop of m/m goodness, and what do you get? Charmed and Dangerous: Ten Tales of Gay Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy. This all-new collection is packed with arcane action and intrigue, and every story will whisk you away to a fantastical world where the hero finds his prince and the paranormal investigator always gets his man.
Release date: August 25, 2015
Edited by Jordan Castillo Price
ISBN 978-1-935540-80-9

Magic takes many forms. From malignant hexes to love charms gone amok, you’ll find a vast array of spells and curses, creatures and conjurings in this massive collection—not to mention a steamy dose of man-on-man action. Charmed and Dangerous features all-new stories of gay paranormal romance, supernatural fiction and urban fantasy by ten top m/m paranormal authors.

Amazon Pre-order Link

Need more convincing? How about some tasty teasers to whet your appetite?

Teasers-Swift and the Black Dog by Ginn Hale

We were just kids,” Jack muttered.

Shafts of afternoon light speared through the blinds, illuminating the hard angles of his lean face. He exhaled a cloud of pale blue smoke and ignored the glare of the well-dressed diners seated at other tables. In a moment a maitre’d would appear and smoothly suggest that he remove himself from the building.

Then, inevitably, David would intervene, flashing his ministry badge and pronouncing Jack’s full name a little too loudly, a little too officiously. A halting apology would be offered and followed by requests for autographs and photos. Behind it all Jack would hear the whispers.

That’s Jack Swift?

God, did you see his hand?

He looks like some ragman from the Bone Ledges.

I’ve heard he’s a queer.

Lifting his scarred hand, Jack drew the smoke down to ring his fingers. Let the surrounding diners see that the ragman in their midst was a wizard. They didn’t need to know which one. Any wizard was too much trouble for most decent folk.

-Dim Sum Asylum by Rhys Ford
From his square jaw and beefy build down to his dirty blond fade haircut, everything about the guy screamed ex-hardcore military. He moved as if expecting a riot to break out on the upper loft, icy blue eyes scanning each of us, stopping only long enough to mark our presence before moving on to the next cop.

He found me first and then again, last. His gaze pierced through me, assessing and judging in a way that did not say cop. I wasn’t sure what was found wanting, my shaggy mane or my odd ommatidia-faceted pupils, but something made his nostrils flare. I definitely spotted the moment he saw my pupils’ copper-green sheen. His head jerked back a few millimeters and his chin jutted out.

If my new partner had a thing against fae or fae-bred, we were assuredly going to have a problem.

-The Thirteenth Hex by Jordan L Hawk
“Mr. Kopecky?”

“Yes, that’s….” Dominic began as he lifted his gaze from the paper. Then his tongue tangled, and he forgot how to speak.

The man standing in front of his desk was…well, he’d never thought of a man as beautiful before, but it was the only word that came to mind now. The white of his shirt collar contrasted with rich, brown skin. Silky black locks brushed his shoulders, and wide lips shaped into a rather cheeky grin.

“…You?” the man prompted, when Dominic only stared.

God! He dropped his eyes quickly, willing his reaction under control. He couldn’t forget himself at work, in full view of everyone. As he glanced down, his eye snagged on the badge pinned to the man’s vest.

A familiar? Here?