Boy Meets Boy Reviews: Jordan Castillo Price

Showing posts with label Jordan Castillo Price. Show all posts

Audiobook Review: Devil Take Me by Various Authors

Temptation lurks around every corner in worlds sometimes dark, sometimes lurid. Giving in is both dangerous and satisfying, though never in the ways one expects. While these enticements offer a vast range of benefits and boons, the cost is a soul and the devil expects his due. Sometimes suave and charming or calculating and cruel, these devils have schemes and desires of their own. They can be creatures to run away from… or toward.

Join the most unique and celebrated authors of LGBT urban fantasy and paranormal fiction for a fast-paced and unpredictable ride, from a city on the other side of reality, to a world suspended in dusk, to a twisted version of the 1960s and 70s.

Meet devils in top hats and waistcoats, a defrocked motorcycle-riding priest, and a genderfluid antihero—among many more. Full of humor, romance, horror, action, intrigue, and magic, these stories have one common element….

They’re one hell of a good time.

Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Listening Length: 18 hours and 21 minutes

4.5 Enthusiastic Hearts

Admittedly, I’m not a ready and willing reader of stories involving the devil because of the doom and gloom themes that are typically pervasive. However, since this is narrated by Greg Tremblay, I took a chance because sometimes I’m all about broadening my horizons right? Well, I came out the winner for this is probably the most consistent anthology I’ve ever read as it provides compelling stories about those trying to do the impossible for a second chance.

I started out a huge fan of four of these authors, and I am now officially a fan of the other two! Not one of these six gals drops the ball, each presenting their unique brand of creativity!

Again, I thought Greg Tremblay was fabulous to begin with, but he really showcases his talent for accents here, just further solidifying himself as one of the top narrators around!

Internal Affairs - Jordan L. Hawk - 4 Hearts

A sassy, quasi-rom/com look at the underworld and the crossroads demons who serve to capture souls.

Newbie demon Ralgath, makes the rookie mistake of giving a contract that’s too good to be true. He’s a lot blinded by lust and allows Chess to become a powerful paranormal slayer to fight evil. Such perks aren’t supposed to be given, and poor Ralgath’s relegated back to hell to serve all of eternity in the torturous department known as Administrative Intake. When the opportunity to redeem his reputation is offered, Ralgath must ask for help from the very person who made him stray.

Fun and funny, the attraction between Ralgath and Chess hasn’t dimmed. A fast paced adventure to solve a mystery and bonus points where they end up saving each other!

Collared - TA Moore - 4.5 Hearts

My first Moore and certainly not my last!

Gritty, brutal, this is a world where hell never rests at trying to corrupt, slowly and insidiously spreading its darkness.

Jack is a condemned priest who’s been serving the demon Math, for years. Understandably, he regrets his past decisions but can’t help being enamored by Math who basically holds him prisoner. When given the chance to get his soul back, it’s not a difficult decision to make - a decision he can’t say no to nor does he want to.

This was dark and violent and disturbing but not short on the eroticism as the moral compass is tested over and over again. Bittersweet, not quite a romance, this surprised me in a good way as a twisted reveal shows the potential of what could be unraveled should Moore choose to continue with this unconventional storyline.

The Counterfeit Viscount - Ginn Hale - 4.5 Hearts

My debut read with this author and I’m impressed!

Bridging historical and fantasy, this is a world where descendants of demons perpetrate the human world, always deemed less but always wanted and used for their extra abilities and magic. Here we meet Archibald, a human bastard who sells his soul to the charming Nimble, to enact revenge on an evil uncle. What slowly unravels is a plot that has far reaching repercussions, not just for Archibald but for the underprivileged and many more innocents caught in the crosshairs.

Full of mystery and intrigue, this smartly shows class and species divide and the carefully laid out plans that can all go awry. Effectively complex, along with an equally swoony sweeping romance (with nice smexy) and an ending that brought a huge smile to my face.

11:59 - CS Poe - 4 Hearts

Brilliant in execution, I’ve not read anything other than short stories from this author, but the lady sure can create quite the gripping tale, and this was no different.

On the cusp of death, Asuka agrees to sell his soul in exchange to battle a terrible foe and to never dream again. Reality is slowly being overtaken by an unrelenting force, killing those brave enough to sleep and succumb to their nightmares. For five years, Asuka’s been going through the motions of fighting an unwinnable war, slowly losing ground as the human world is being methodically destroyed.

When Asuka’s interest is sparked for the first time in a long time by an tenacious young man, he feels a tug that might compel him to care once more. Thus, when the devil asks for his help in return for a chance to desire and want again, Asuka has no choice but to take up the dangerous challenge.

Full of action with vivid imagery and an interesting take on time and realms, this makes a very ingenious, satisfying full circle.

Wonderland City - Rhys Ford - 4 Hearts

An extended look at the wonderful world of Wonderland, where Alice is long gone and the fate of the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts takes a different turn towards something so much worse.

Here, Wonderland houses those who trade their souls for a chance at a different life, and Xander has carved out a very very hard fought existence. Though he would love to be with the prince Jean Michel, too many extenuating circumstances (not to mention his own stubborn independent self) keep them apart.

However, danger threatens Wonderland's very existence when a devil makes a terrible mistake, and Xander must ask for Jean Michel’s aid to prevent the unthinkable. If he wins, he just might lose the very thing he wants the most.

This was classic Ford, who never fails for me when she writes fantasy with a grumpy antihero to root for. Action filled, high stake consequences but always with a rewarding win!

Dark Favors - JCP - 4 Hearts

No doubt JCP is original, as this envisioned world shows the many many people who have gotten ahead by owing and asking for favors - a form of currency to get what they want in exchange for their eternal soul.

After years of not playing the game, Johnny accepts the rare favor from the devil himself, longing to be blissfully ignorant again. What he doesn’t expect is the surprising high stakes task he’s agreed to do. When Johnny hesitates, it’s just the opening for someone to throw a wrench into his well laid plans… a very sexy wrench at that.

JCP does not fail on the eroticism here and definitely brings about an unusual conclusion to Johnny’s dilemma but one that is no less satisfying.

Thank you to the authors/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Tag Team Review: Devil Take Me Anthology by Various Authors

Infernal Affairs by Jordan L. Hawk

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ - 4 Hearts

Cheeky Fun!

My first experience with this author and I snortled my way through it, but before I knew it I had invested in Ralgath and Chess, too. The author's voice shined through especially with Fluffpaw. Fluffpaw kinda stole the show for me. Cute widdle pooch.

The suspense element held my interest and kept me rooting for them to find a loophole so they could be together. There was quite a bit of action but the overall theme was lighthearted and fun or maybe tongue in cheek is a better descriptor. There were genuine feelings that were developed between these characters along with mounting chemistry as the story evolved. The ending was super sweet and I *may* have even aww'd aloud.

Peachy - 4 Hearts

This one was a pretty fun read and the “lightest” of the collection. The author knows how to make characters come to life by showing them rather than just describing them and that was pretty important for this story. Ralgath and Chess are very unique and their distinctive voices made their banter fun to read. Ralgath’s demotion to “customer service” and his descriptions of his underworld workplace, as comparable to top side, were pretty amusing. Chess is a treat, they are badass and sentimental at the same time.

I really wanted these two to end up together and find a loophole somehow to make it be a thing. It’s a pretty romantic story actually. The two MC’s are obviously in love and even though they haven’t completely figured it out, it’s obvious to the reader. Fluffpaw is truly the standout here though, I have to say, that hellhound was the absolute best and I was just as invested in her as I was Chess and Ralgath.

Collared by T.A. Moore

Peachy - 5 Hearts

Collared is fascinatingly dark and and takes the reader on one hell of a ride. It’s the kind of story where you know there isn’t going to be any kind of traditional HEA, happiness is relative here, so the scale of satisfaction for the MC’s is completely skewed.

The backstory of Jack, the ex-priest, and Math, his personal demon is doled out in small bits throughout the story, so if you pick this one up and put it down more than a couple of times you’re going to get lost. It’s definitely one to read in one sitting so that you can follow and appreciate the flow of the story and the language.

The world building is top notch and is reminiscent of Derry, Maine where everyone’s favorite clown resides. Everything about the town is just “off” and while an outsider might see the obvious strangeness, the evil itself is able to mask it to the residents, so no one questions why the neighbors have disappeared or why entire blocks of businesses are now shuttered. They just are and people go on with their lives. Questioning things takes its toll, mostly on law enforcement and that’s where Jack comes in. He helps with the cases that don’t have logical answers and takes the burden off those who still have souls.

I was totally sucked into this story and I love when an author can make me care about a character who is completely flawed or born from evil. This is a true halloween story that will make you uncomfortably committed to its outcome.

Counterfeit Viscount by Ginn Hale

Peachy - 4.5 Hearts

I would categorize Counterfeit Viscount as a character driven romance above the plot based action/adventure that took center stage in the first two stories of the anthology. Nimble and Archie are so well crafted and even though the story is told through Archie’s POV, I felt like I knew Nimble just as well as I read him through Archie’s eyes. I was enamored of Nimble as much as Archie was. And even though I didn’t have Nimble’s POV I could see his affections for Archie clear as day (even if Archie couldn’t).

The world building is great and this could be an amazing series if the author ever decided to go that direction. There’s so much to work with as the Prodigal devils venture away from Hell’s Below and begin to live alongside the natural borns. It was a pretty fascinating setup and I would love to read more about it all.

The ending was perfect and gave me some much needed traditional romance after reading Collared, so the balance was perfect.

11:59 by C.S. Poe

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ - 4 Hearts

The start of this story drew me in immediately what with Asuka falling to his death at 11:59. Asuka is an enforcer in this dystopia (possibly post-apocalyptic?) world that's plagued by nightmares. I don't really understand how this came about but the more the story evolved the less I cared. It's about the journey and the destination rather than the genesis.

The world building was top-notch and I believe heavily influenced by Dante's Inferno, though I've never read it so I couldn't say with certainty. What I liked about it, besides the sumptuous visuals, was that even though Asuka has to go it alone Merrick, through his dedicated bookishness, lent his knowledge to Asuka which played a pivotal role in his successfully navigating the underworld.

The romance between them could've been stronger but it had a lot of ingredients that I liked: age and size difference, ginger protag who is very persistent, a grump and opposites attract. Side note: I loved that Merrick, though totally impractical, totes around a stack of books. So cute.

Peachy - 4 Hearts

I feel like I keep saying this, and I’m not even sorry a little, but this is another story where the world building is aces. All of these authors are so strong in that regards and it makes for some great atmosphere when the devil is the theme you’re working with.

11:59 brings in some Greek mythology alongside the devil and also makes the city a character in its own right. Dreams can be deadly here as a nightmare can follow its dreamer to the conscious world and turn into a monster of apocalyptic proportions. Asuka sold his soul years ago to save his life so that he could continue to help others. Selling his soul had more consequences than he realized though, he literally couldn’t dream but he also couldn’t dream conceptually and I loved how the author worked that into the story and his character.

Asuka became a shell of a hero, going through the motions of slaughtering monsters but with zero hopes for the future. Until he meets Merrick. Merrick was a delightful bit of sunshine in all the doom and gloom. Asuka didn’t have to have a soul to recognize that and for the first time in a long time, he wants to dream again.

The resolution is very Greco in it’s stylings and I had flashbacks to Clash of the Titans with Asuka as Perseus battling demons to save his world from Hades. The twist is that by slaying the demon Asuka not only saves the mortal world, he saves the underworld as well and restores balance to both. I would have loved more between Asuka and Merrick, but what I did get actually balanced well with the story overall so I have enough to know they are together and in my head got their HEA.

Wonderland City by Rhys Ford

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ - 5 Hearts

A feast for the imagination!

If you thought Tim Burton's telling of the classic Alice in Wonderland was freaky, try this on for size. It's really just set in Wonderland rather than a retelling. Ford took liberties to create this lush and vivid landscape to make it uniquely hers. And wonderful. I cannot overstate how incredible the world building is; everything from the pawns uniforms to the usage of magic by the Red Queen was vibrant and folded seamlessly into the narrative rather than being info-dumpy.

Another girl (Naomi) has made her way into Wonderland City accidentally and the devil strikes a bargain with Xander: find her and he'll return his soul. I loved how this world was woven together to include the devil and the soul selling aspect that pervades this anthology as well as his limitations within this Wonderland City. However, retrieving Naomi proves to be a tall order that requires the aid of Xander's trusty pooch, Blue, as well as his ex, Jean Michel.

It's focused primarily on the adventure but the romance snuck up on me and punched me right in the feels. I'm a sucker for second chances and it seems Jean Michel has been biding his time waiting for a chance at not only reconciliation but redemption. Nonetheless, the action sequence at the end was a battle royale! Literally. Somewhat gruesome but so worth it. Every time I turned the page something more awesome was happening!

There wasn't anything I didn't like about this story other than when it ended. If there were to be a continuation, I would be over the moon about that.

Dark Favors by Jordan Castillo Price

Optimist ♰King's Wench♰ - 4.5 Stars

One of my mom's favorite movies is The Big Chill. If you've never seen it, it's worth a watch if for no other reason than to get some insight into the 60s, 70s and 80s as college friends reunite for a friend's funeral via suicide. Had my mom not ~~made me watch this repeatedly~~ introduced me to this film I probably would never have known what a quaalude was. But she did so when this story started off in 1961 then jumped to 1979 and JCP threw in a quaalude reference I was feeling smug. Thanks mom! The usage of flashbacks to 1961 did their job in developing Johnny and fleshing him out.

I loved this story not just because of the quaaludes and associated smugness, but because it really built something between Adam and Johnny. I could wax on and on about them but the bottom line is I liked all the intricacies of these two characters and how their differences draw them together and forge a bond against all odds. This was also the sexiest of the stories I read; their chemistry was off the charts!

The concept of the favors and how those affect the Chosen I found very interesting especially when it cropped up at the end, an end which I found not just heartwarming but honest. Were there to be a follow up I would be all over it.

ARCs were provided by the publisher in exchange for honest reviews.

Audiobook Review: Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price

Mark Hansen thought working as artist’s assistant would be glamorous, especially if that artist was a vampire. Black tie events, witty repartee, gracing the pages of the local style section…. Didn’t happen. Not even once.

Jonathan Varga is an enigma. True, he’s quiet, generous, and scrupulously polite. But he has zero social life, refuses to be interviewed or photographed, and insists he can only consume feline blood.

Why supermarket blood won't suffice, Mark hasn’t asked. He’s rarely at a loss for words—he can dish an insult and follow it with a snap as quick as you can say “Miss Thang.” But one look at Jonathan’s black-as-sin gypsy eyes, and Mark’s objections drain away.

So he endures the perpetual grind of their routine: Jonathan hiding in his studio, swiping black paint onto black canvases. Mark hurling insults while he buffs the office to a shine with antiviral wipes. Each of them avoiding the other in a careful choreography…until a blurb in Art in America unleashes a chain of harrowing events.

As secrets from Jonathan’s past are brought to light, it becomes clear that all his precautions weren’t nearly enough.

Second expanded edition includes bonus novelette Sweet

Narrated by Joel Leslie
Listening Length 10 hrs 25 mins

For a book that started off with me making a face (not a good one) to end up...

Surprised no one more than I. Talk about finishing strong.

What I had trouble with initially was Leslie's interpretation of Mark and Mark tells the whole story. Mark's a bitchy smartass. Leslie clearly knows this but the problem was I didn't, so I kept thinking, 'why's he so bitchy?'. This is simultaneously the pro and con of an audiobook. Had I read it I would've come to this realization on my own, but having it read to me in that tone had me thinking after 10.5 hours someone might get stabbed. I should've known better. Leslie, once again, does a magnificent job distinguishing and bringing to life all of these characters. Seriously, how many accents can he do?

Once the lightbulb moment occurred Mark began to charm me with his wit, snark and dandyism. He and Jonathan are one of those rare couples that belong together, like, if they're not together the world doesn't make sense and I fell for them. Hard.

As Mark and Jonathan traverse crazed vampire ex-lovers, poverty, grand theft auto, tunnels, underwear in a bag and water of dubious origins there's never any doubt how much they mean to each other. Even when they fight, because they have very little in common, the tension builds and builds.

Hemovore is briskly paced with impressive and creative world building. It's quirky in it's delivery and leaves an indelible mark with its eccentricities especially in its deviation from your average vamp story. Make no mistake, through all the snark and banter there is a poignancy and heartache in this world JCP has created with a divide between V+s and V-s that's chilling in its similarity to the inception of HIV and its similarly polarizing effects.

That measly little symbol is the only thing keeping them apart. Honestly, I was just hoping that they'd at least be able to hold hands at some point! Instead I got a kiss that was truly epic. I know that word may seem trite and overused but in this case it's absolutely true. I think I maybe "accidentally" freebased some of the love heroin they produced.

I was sitting firmly on 4 Hearts until the Sweet novelette happened and I found myself Pretty Woman duck face clapping in my car. Don't worry there were only a couple people around. It's one of the few advantages of living in the sticks. So I figured, if that doesn't merit an extra heart what does?

Recommend to everyone. I think pretty much anyone would find this enjoyable.

A review copy was provided.

Tag Team Review: Skin After Skin (PsyCop #8) by Jordan Castillo Price

A Crash Prequel

Fierce. Audacious. Independent. Curtis Ash can’t be bothered to settle down. He’s too busy enjoying his cushy job as a high-paid stylist, caught in a whirlwind of hookups, parties, and obscenely priced cocktails.

The only snarl in an otherwise charmed life is the salon’s hotshot colorist, Red Turner. Not only does Red put the whammy on customers and rake in all the big tips, he’s oblivious to Crash’s flirtation. But there will be plenty of time to win him over…so Crash thinks.

Thanks to his refusal to trust his gut, Crash not only tanks his career—he allows the one man who truly holds his interest to slip away. While he insists he doesn’t need a relationship to complete him, would sharing his life with someone really be so bad?

Skin After Skin is a sweeping saga that begins two years before "Among the Living" and ends just after "Spook Squad". Experience PsyCop like you’ve never seen it before, through Crash’s eyes. Discover new facets of characters and events from the span of the entire series and beyond, all from the viewpoint of an extroverted empath.

R *A Reader Obsessed* - 3.5 Hearts! - Tag team review with Lori!

I really didn't know what to expect from an almost 400 page book about crazy Crash, because as a character who often stole the scenes throughout the Psycop series, I prepared myself for a bunch of excitement, and emotion, and him causing chaos and trouble with all his snark and psychic powers. Maybe a bit disappointingly, that didn’t really happen, but what was given made me appreciate him as a man who does have faults and feelings, and underneath his many layers there’s something more vulnerable and significant than what’s initially presented, and that’s something worth getting to know.

Without going into too much detail, this begins a few years before the Psycop series starts, and the reader’s first glimpse of Crash is him living the life as a stylist at a very high end salon. He’s got seniority, he’s got the boss’s eye, and he’s confidant that he can woo the mysterious new colorist, Red. He’s just a little bit too self involved, but suddenly, his axis is turned upside down one day in a sudden explosion of drama, and Crash finds himself jobless, pretty much broke, and without the intriguing Red.

Through a series of events, one gets to see how Crash goes from rock bottom to the ever brash store owner we know and love, selling psychic wares and offering empathic advice on all things mystical. I loved seeing how each of the original cast members make their entrance into his life. Witness how Crash and Caroline become besties, how he’s slowly made aware of the psychic world around him, how he and Jacob become involved and the whys of how their union fell apart (which I’m still confused about). Lisa also makes her appearance, and I was tickled by Con’s involvement too. Of course, there’s Vic, the titillating attraction between him and Crash, and the huge awkward when they and Jacob all converge.

As I might've mentioned already, this book is long and at times, also quite slow. However, there were some really lovely moments of self reflection and epiphanies and surviving when life shits on you and then shits on you some more and what you do with that shit and turn it around to something viable only to live another day to do it all over again. Crash’s life isn’t easy, but he is a warrior in his own right, and I enjoyed the complexity of his journey and the new insight to his background and motivation.

So, though this was not what I expected, this is still a necessary read for all fans of Psycop. It will definitely enrich your understanding and color your experience. Most importantly, witnessing Crash’s grudging acceptance of all these people in his life and how they’ve become important to him and to each other, forming their own special family of sorts. Surely, this will be significant as the portent of what’s to come is just now rearing it’s most likely ugly head. This was far from flash and bang, but I’m grateful, and I eagerly look forward to this gang’s future adventures.

Lorix - 3.5 Hearts

Before I write anything else I need to state for the record that I am a HUGE JCP fangirl. I adore her writing style, love her characters. I mean I LOVE her characters, no run-of-the-mill hot 'n heavy, muscled cowboys for this writer. Victor Bayne is in my top three book crushes, I adore him, and the Psycops series is one of my favourite series of all time.

Because of this, I feel almost guilty giving this book anything less than 5 hearts. It took me lot of pondering to work out why I didn't want to automatically 5 heart it. I mean, the flawlessly flawed great characters are still there, as is the wonderful Psycop world. Crash is one of my favourite characters in the series, second only to Vic really. The writing is as good as ever, no over-used tropes to prop up a storyline. So why, why did I only give it 3.5 hearts?

Well I came to two conclusions. Firstly, the book isn't Vic-centric. Yeah, I know, kind of obvious seeing as the book is about Crash (who I love, I really do). What can I say, my crush on Vic knows no bounds and I found I wasn't liking not being in his head.There is truly not a lot anyone can do about that. I mean seriously, I fancy the fuck outta Vic and I missed him being front and centre.

The second conclusion I came to was that I wished it were longer. It felt like too much story for the length of the book. We go back to Crash before he met Jacob and followed him through to events in the other Psycop books - peripherally at least, as Crash isn't an MC in the other books. So I basically wanted, either a spin-off of books about Crash or one LOOOOOOONG tome. I'm rather partial to long books anyway (which is why I often binge read series, I love getting swallowed by an epic story). Again, this is perhaps a me thing. No, scrub that - it is a me thing; I'm greedy and wanted more.

I think basically others will love this addition to the series, but I wanted something more. I loved seeing Crash from the perspective of Crash. He felt different than from Vic's perspective. Funnily enough, I wasn't keen on Jacob through Crash's eyes. Why? Maybe it's my Vic prejudice coming into play. I did love the character of Red and would have happily devoured more about him and Crash.

My rating doesn't reflect JCP's awesomeness as an author but it does reflect my eccentricities as a reader. Readers are often selfish beasts, well this one is, and that is the fault of nobody at all. I say if you're a Psycop fan, go ahead and read this book, even just having that little more insight to the wonderful Crash is worth it.

Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see Goodreads.

Review: Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price

And there goes my JCP fangirl heart! This author has a writing style that I just love. I don't think she's written a story or character that I haven't drooled all over, and Hemovore is no exception. This is vampires done brilliantly. BRILLIANTLY.

I love how talented JCP is; I can fall into her dystopian worlds so easily. True, they're not all that different from ours on the surface, but there are nuances and differences. They're easily understandable though. Huge parts of the text aren't given away to explanations of this altered world, but I understand it perfectly.

Mark and Jonathan. Jonathan and Mark. How much do I love these two? A lot, that's how much. A whole damn lot. Jonathan is V positive and Mark V negative, so it doesn't matter how much Mark wants Jonathan, he can't have him. Hell, he can't even touch the same surface without gloves on, so there is no way that anything more is going to happen, and Mark resigns himself to the same old, same old. Except of course life always has a curve ball to throw.

Written with care and attention to detail, this novel is gritty and gripping and I love the relationship development as much as the dystopian world it is set in.

Go and read it.

Find on Goodreads!

Review: Psycops Briefs (Volume 1) by Jordan Castillo Price

Victor Bayne sees dead people for a living…and he sees them off the clock, too. After all, ghosts don’t confine their appearances to a psychic medium’s work hours.

From the macabre to the mundane, from titillating to tender, these PsyCop shorts feature stolen moments between the novels. Get a glimpse of Vic’s life with Jacob between cases, from both men’s viewpoints. Gain new insight on their psychic talents by accompanying them on odd jobs, shopping runs and family visits, or simply enjoy some downtime in the cannery.

The twenty short works range in length from flash fiction to novelettes, woven together to create a novel-length narrative of Vic and Jacob’s relationship from a fresh perspective. The stories are gleaned from various sources: anthologies, newsletters, and web, with four all-new pieces to tie the collection together and delve deeper into your favorite PsyCops' domestic life.

I was super excited when I heard that Jordan Castillo Price had put together a collection of Psycops short stories, because I love the Psycops world. Or to be more precise, I love Victor Bayne. Completely and utterly, I love him - and I don't even care that he's a fictional character! Any glimpse into this world therefore is a joy to me.

This collection of short stories - some of which I've read before and some which are completely new - offer an insight to the 'real' Vic. The Vic in between the big stories, the small interactions that make him him! Some of these stories are shown to us from Vic's perspective and others from that of Jacob, and I love both types. I love the contradiction of how Vic views himself compared to how Jacob sees him.

I also love the way other ways in which these stories vary; length, style, subject. I couldn't - and wouldn't want to - pick a favourite, but all are written with JCP's excellent eye for detail and humour. I suppose I ought to acknowledge the fact that these stories also offer an insight into JAcob, but frankly. for me, it is all about Vic. I don't think I can ever tire of reading stories with him in. We also meet some other favourites from the series, like Crash.

For anyone who loves the Psycops world I really HIGHLY recommend this collection, it really is an enjoyable read. A great place to get a quick Vic fix!

NB: This works as a companion to the Psycops stories, not as a standalone novel. Let's face it though, reading the Psycops books is not a hardship!

For more information see Goodreads.

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

Audiobook Review: The Starving Years by Jordan Castillo Price, Narrated by Gomez Pugh

Imagine a world without hunger. In 1960, a superfood was invented that made starvation a thing of the past. Manna, the cheaply manufactured staple food, is now as ubiquitous as salt in the world’s cupboards, pantries and larders.

Nelson Oliver knows plenty about manna. He’s a food scientist—according to his diploma, that is. Lately, he’s been running the register at the local video rental dive to scrape together the cash for his exorbitantly priced migraine medication.

In a job fair gone bad, Nelson hooks up with copywriter Javier and his computer-geek pal Tim, who whisks them away from the worst of the fiasco in his repurposed moving truck. At least, Nelson thinks those two are acquainted, but they’re acting so evasive about it, he’s not sure how they know each other, exactly. Javier is impervious to Nelson’s flirting, and Tim’s name could appear in the dictionary under the entry for “awkward.” And with a riot raging through Manhattan and yet another headache coming on, it doesn’t seem like Nelson will get an answer anytime soon. One thing’s for sure, the tension between the three of them is thick enough to cut with a knife...even one of those dull plastic dealies that come in the package with Mannariffic EZ-Mealz.

Some things just go together - ice cream and jelly, gin and juice, Derek and Stiles, and Jordan Castillo Price and Gomez Pugh. Her words and his narration are magical together. MAGICAL. And there is nothing more that this unicorn likes more than magic. Gomez Pugh is definitely one of my favourite narrators. He doesn't just read the book he becomes the characters. So, so, good.

I'm a verified JCP fangirl - which makes me oddly nervous when I pick up a new (to me) story of hers. I mean what if this is the one I don't like???

Yeah. Like that's going to happen.

I mean the five big blue hearts at the top of the review kinda gives it away that I loved this story, so I'm not surprising anyone by proclaiming the love I have for it. Right???

With JCP's trademark intriguing characters, sharp humour and well written plot I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved how Nelson, Tim and Javier were so different and how they gelled so well together. Nelson was perhaps my favourite. Perhaps. I loved his observations, his sarcastic good guy persona and the hero he denies he is. He's a genuine good guy who does the right thing precisely because it is the right thing. He does it without turning into an obnoxious twat though, laid back and cool precisely because he doesn't try to be. I loved him. To me he was the main character, with Javier and Tim close seconds.

Javier's suspicious nature and Tim's almost naivety were perfect counterbalances to Nelson. The plot unraveled well in a world that is close to ours but not quite the one we know. In a riot stricken city where lives are in danger these three, and the two others who ends up in the chaos with them, work so well together. I liked the familiarity of the world and the way JCP twists it just a little.

Then there's the relationship(s). Menage doesn't always work. Or it becomes a three way mess of sex, sex, sex. JCP does so much better than turning their relationship into a just there for the shagging thing. There is mistrust - genuine, not manufactured for the state of it - lust, feels, uncertainty and raw emotion. Simply put, for me she nails it completely. My only complaint is that I could read (or listen to, as the case was here) so much more about these guys.

A great story from a great author.

A copy of this audiobook was given in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see Goodreads.

Review: GhosTV (PsyCop, #6) by Jordan Castillo Price, narrated by Gomez Pugh

For the past dozen years, Victor Bayne has solved numerous murders by interrogating witnesses only he can see—dead witnesses. But when his best friend Lisa goes missing from the sunny California campus of PsyTrain, the last thing he wants to find there is her spirit.

Disappearing without a trace in a school full of psychics? That’s some trick. But somehow both Lisa and her roommate have vanished into thin air. A group of fanatics called Five Faith has been sniffing around, and Lisa’s email is compromised.

Time is running out, and with no ghosts to cross-examine, Vic can’t afford to turn down any offers of help. An old enemy can provide an innovative way to track Vic’s missing friend, and he enters into an uneasy alliance—even though its ultimate cost will ensnare him in a debt he may never manage to settle.

Narrator: Gomez Pugh
Listening Length: 12 hrs 6 mins

Audiobooks - they have their pros and their cons as far as I'm concerned. They're in that strange middle ground between reading books and watching TV. I have to admit, an avid reader, I was slow to see the plus sides to audio stories. My children are HUGE audiobook fans but it was Stephen Fry and his wonderful narration of the Harry Potter stories that convinced me sometimes an author and narrator just go beautifully together.

For this to happen (particularly if I've already read the book) - and it's a damn tricky line - the narrator needs to match the images I have already created in my head of the characters. Not an easy task, because I am infinitely certain that no two readers perceive characters and their nuances in the same way, in the same vein I imagine each reader reads each character differently from the author's own vision. For a narrator to capture the character I hear/see/read is a marvelous thing, and like Stephen fry, Gomez Pugh does it perfectly. To me his voice is Vic's, and that made listening to this fabulous story a wonderful experience.

This series is one of my favourites. I am especially drawn to Vic, he is so...normal. Well, for someone who sees ghosts. He has this strange mix of confidence and self deprecation that just wins me over. He's not pretentious, he's not a big buff *insert hero stereotype here*, he is just Vic. A man made up of his experiences, completely fallible, stupidly brave at times and - well just wonderful. I have a huge not-so-secret crush on him.

In GhosTV, we see this strangely mixed up, yet utterly normal, bag of character traits at its finest. Although I love his relationship with Jake, it is his interactions with the secondary characters that perhaps interest me the most. Crash is another favourite, and though he doesn't feature for the main of this story, the way he and Vic interact is so different from the dynamics of Vic and Jake (because Vic has Jake on a bit of a pedestal) that it helps fully round out Vic. Gives him more depth and dimension and let's us, the reader/listener, see more of him.

One character who is in this book a lot, who truly gives Vic another edge, is Dreyfus. I, like Vic, do not know whether to trust him or not. Vic blatantly doesn't - yet there is something there. The man spies on Vic, for his greater good. It creeps me out as much as it does Vic... yet his reasoning does make sense. UGH. Dreyfus just adds another layer to the whole psycop story, and his importance in this book is significant. Jordan Castillo Price knows how to write characters and a great storyline and Gomez Pugh delivers it seemingly effortlessly.

I have to mention, hopefully without spoiling the storyline, a particular scene at the airport. I won't go into details, but I absolutely felt for Vic. His fear. his panic. I felt it when I read the story, when I listened to it though, Gomez Pugh made it even more real, I could feel my heart beating faster and Vic's fear lodged in my throat. THAT'S how you narrate a story.

I can't believe there are many people out there who've not tried this series; it is firmly one of my favourites and one I would highly recommend. I can say without hesitation as well, that this audio version is well worth listening too. Price and Pugh are like peanut butter and chocolate spread, they go amazingly well together. (Okay, I know over the pond the classic is peanut butter and ~~jam~~ jelly, but really I can't even stomach the thought of that combination. Sorry. PB with chocolate spread though... it's like melted Peanut Butter Cups on toast or in a sarnie. Heavenly.)

Completely and utterly recommended.

For more information see Goodreads.

Review and Excerpt: Wood (Psycop #3.2) by Jordan Castillo Price

Victor Bayne might not be handy when it comes to carpentry, but if there’s one tool he does know how to wield, it’s the tiny metal doohickey that comes with ready-to-assemble furniture from SaverPlus.

The shelves aren’t for the cannery—Vic would never manage to sneak cheap pressboard and veneer past Jacob’s watchful eyes. Jacob’s Uncle Leon, however, is nowhere near as fussy. And since he’s only got one arm, he’ll need help putting together his new treasure.

It’s no surprise to find the instructions baffling and convoluted…but were they always so disturbingly dirty?

This PsyCop interlude is a cute, sexy romp that will delight readers who’ve enjoyed the series through PsyCop #3, Body and Soul.

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday dear Vic...

Happy Birthday to you.

That's right, today is my favourite PsyCop's birthday and ~~he's~~ we're celebrating with Wood, a new short from PsyCop author, Jordan Castillo Price.

Vic is actually putting up furniture of the flat pack variety, it's the kind of furniture making that is right up his street (the only kind he knows how to assemble, he can wield that doohickey like a pro!) No problemo dude... well, it wouldn't be if he wasn't getting distracted by the filthy instructions.

The furniture may be made of pressboard and veneer, but Vic's still contending with wood.

This short is laugh out loud funny, it really is. Vic is so...Vic, and I couldn't love him more. Putting up furniture is supposed to be awkward, but not in this way. To make matters worse, Jacob's uncle is there, ghostly hand and all. What's a psych to do? The dynamics between Jacob and Vic are perfect and I'd absolutely recommend this to all PsyCops fans. And everyone with a filthy sense of humour.

Excerpt:
Here’s the thing about being in a long term relationship. There’s more involved than just inside jokes and shared mortgages, objectionably healthy things in the fridge, or discarded socks that never find the laundry hamper. Back when a horny, shape-shifting, mirror-shattering entity exploded in Jacob’s apartment and left him with nowhere to sleep that night, I’d suggested he stay at my place. And when we outgrew that place, we found a new one. Together.

That fateful decision didn’t just score me a boyfriend. It earned me a family.

It’s not too big, as families go. Jacob has one sister, and she’s always pissed off about something. Her kid is no gem, either. Both parents are still alive, and grandma too, though I think she’s pushing a hundred fifty. But Jacob’s uncle Leon is the one who shared a special bond with him. He’d taken Jacob to his first concert at age twelve: Weird Al Yankovic. He bought Jacob his first soldering gun. Apparently this was a big thing in late 1970’s Wisconsin. He probably would’ve been the one to teach Jacob to drive stick, too, if his right arm hadn’t been torn off in an industrial accident years before.

I like the guy. I may not have the history Jacob’s got with him, but he’s easy to talk to, and he always acts excited to see me. Missing arm or not, he could count on our help to put together his new furniture. No doubt Jacob’s dad could’ve handled it, but it gave us an excuse to drive up for the weekend without centering our trip around seeing Clayton play soccer or looking at Clayton’s latest science diorama or sitting there uncomfortably while Clayton looks daggers at us. Okay, he only does that to me, not his beloved uncle Jacob—but the point is, I was kinda looking forward to being the youngest guy there in the male bonding session for a change.

Leon greeted us at the door with the standard greeting, asking us how the drive was. The missing arm greeted me with a wave. I nodded at them both while Jacob handled the amicable banalities.

I eased past into the living room while Leon launched into a tale about a certain legendary local speed trap. Even though I’d only seen Leon’s place a few times before, the new remodel startled me with its striking difference. Nothing structural had been changed, but the mishmash of furniture styles was gone. Now there was a theme of sorts. Big, inviting leather couch and chairs, and walls painted various coffee colors, and a sleek flatscreen mounted above the mantel. I thought I’d miss the white walls, but with the monochrome muted palette and lack of clutter, there was a warmth and simplicity to the new setup that I liked. Plus, you gotta hand it to someone willing to remodel at his age. It’s pretty optimistic if you ask me.

The only thing left to handle was putting together the bookshelves. My fingers were itching to tackle the massive stack of cardboard boxes marring the interior wall of the living room and get those cluttery books they contained in some kind of order. My actual preference would be to drop them off at the local Goodwill, but I’ve learned to pick my battles.

To Buy Links:
Amazon
ITunes
Barnes and Noble
Kobo

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

Review and Teaser: Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary by Jordan Castillo Price. Audio Version: Narrated by Gomez Pugh

Michael is a waif in eyeliner who's determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth. Wild Bill's got the hots for Michael and will stop at nothing to go home with him. Forget about moonlit castles and windswept moors. These bad boys haunt all-night diners and cheap motels, cut-rate department stores and long, lonely stretches of the interstate. Ride along with Wild Bill and Michael as the twists and turns of Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary unfold in America's heartland.

Channeling Morpheus Teaser:
I slid my tongue over his and caught it on his fang, and the taste of my blood mixed with the taste of Bill’s mouth. He made a small sound that could have been pleasure or pain.

He flicked his half-smoked cigarette out the window with stunning accuracy. His fingertips brushed my face, gentle touches I could hardly feel. I slipped my arms around him and pulled him closer. I was tough. He didn’t have to worry about breaking me.

He pressed his body against mine, and he kissed me. He threaded his fingers through my wet hair and explored my coppery mouth. My tongue bled.

We both gasped for air when he finally broke the kiss.

“Just a little taste,” he said. “That’s what I keep telling myself. I can stop any time.” He pressed his forehead into mine and breathed carefully. “Any time.”

“Drink,” I said. “I can spare it. She didn’t take much.”

He smiled, I think. He was hard to read in the near-dark, and so close. “I’m not talking about blood.”

Review:
Everyone has a go-to, auto-buy author, and Jordan Castillo Price is one of mine. And her audio-books are one of my favourites because I REALLY love Gomez Pugh's narration. Even with that in mind I was a tad unsure about this one, it's not that I don't like vampires, I do, even the sparkly ones but they felt so done. I didn't want to listen to something that I've heard before or read before. I should have learnt my lesson with Magic Mansion, I think I've got to accept that if Jordan Castillo Price writes it, I'm going to love it.

This book (or these books, as this audio is actually a collection of the first five stories in the Channeling Morpheus series) are sexy. They are gritty, interesting, funny at times, and (I have to mention it again) sexy as hell.

I'm not sure if I liked Michael or Wild Bill best. I think probably Michael, he is very determined, I loved his spirit, his fight. He had an edge to him but also a naivety. He wasn't the seasoned vamp hunter who knew it all. He wasn't so fixed minded that he couldn't alter his thoughts and opinions but he also wasn't completely wet behind the ears. He could think on his feet, he didn't let himself get thrown by changes to situations he couldn't alter.

Wild Bill is almost his opposite. He seemed to be surviving, rather than living, to me. Something about Michael changed him though, brought out his protective side. It was kinda like trying to protect a hedgehog. I liked it though, I liked the dynamics between these two.

The story(ies) twists and turns. It manages to keep the physical storyline and the emotional one equal in importance. Both played an important part in what made this story great. Some of the scenes were strangely erotic - even when they weren't supposed to be. Well they probably were supposed to be, but not for the characters, just us readers. I mean, I should find Michael chained to the bath tub and - well read it, you'll see - it should be scary and I should be wanting him to escape (and I did), but it was also pretty damn erotic. Well, I thought so at least.

JCP has a way of writing characters that manage to be deadly romantic - without being at all romantic. I would much rather read these characters than a thousand super sickly sweet heart throbs stories, or a thousand sex-every-two-pages stories. To my mind the grittyness, the realness (yep, I know one's a vamp) of the characters is so much more...everything. Maybe I just even like my fantasy real? I cannot wait to read the rest of this series!! If you've not read this author yet, you really, really need to. She's amazing.

For more information, see Goodreads.

Want to know more?
gritty, urban vampire tales
These novelette-length stories are scary as hell and packed with freaky sex. Michael is a waif in eyeliner who's determined to wipe vampires off the face of the earth. Wild Bill's got his eye on Michael, and he's willing to do anything to go home with him. If the romance between Gomez & Morticia gives you goosebumps of delight, if you look forward to Halloween movie marathons all year long, if you've got a soft spot for fake fog and black lights, then Channeling Morpheus is the series for you!

On March 24, 2015 I’ll be releasing Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary Ebook Box Set, which includes novelettes 1-5 and correlates to the first paperback. A Bitter Taste of Sweet Oblivion Ebook Box Set will release later in 2015.

Book Info:
Title:Channeling Morpheus for Scary Mary Ebook Box Set
Author: Jordan Castillo Price
Length: 72,000 words
ISBN: 978-1-935540- 74-8
Publisher: JCP Books
Cover Artist: Jordan Castillo Price
Buy Links: Amazon - Amazon UK - BN - iTunes - Smashwords - Kobo
Official Website: channelingmorpheus.com

Pssst... like a discount?

The hunt is on.

Pretty young men and women like Michael's best friend, Scary Mary, are disappearing from underground goth clubs all over Detroit. For over two years, Michael has been scouring the midwest for buried newspaper articles and obscure medical reports, and now he's finally pinpointed the source of the problem. Too bad he can't exactly go to the cops and tell them his friend was murdered by vampires. Since it's his duty to start wiping out the scourge, he's posing as bait—and he's got a bag of sharpened hickory stakes to do the job.

Everything should go smoothly, given the amount of preparation that Michael has put into the hunt. He's got a practiced repertoire of come-hither eyeliner looks and a full blister-pack of the date rape drug Rohypnol. But he didn't count on Wild Bill showing up.

Wild Bill is a vision in spiked hair and scuffed black leather—exactly the type of guy Michael would have fallen for…if he'd ever had the chance. Unfortunately, with a vampire in his sights, Michael has no time for an actual date. Despite his best efforts, it seems there's nothing Michael can do to shake Bill loose. Looks like they're in for a wild, wild ride.

Just an FYI folks...

Payback, the first in the Channelling Morpheus series by Jordan Castillo Price, is reduced to as low as 99c at Amazon, Smashwords, B&N and ARe until the 5th February inclusive. Not sure about vampire stories? At this price you've not got a lot to lose (and I can say I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book. Not a sparkle in sight!)

Go on... give it a go!

Review & Giveaway: Magic Mansion by Jordan Castillo Price

Professor Topaz is tired of fending off advice that he should retire in Vegas where magicians his age have an easier time finding work.

Ricardo Hart's career has sunk so low, he's resorted to shaking his moneymaker at bachelorette parties.

But there's a casting call for a new reality show called Magic Mansion that could change everything for these two gay stage magicians, one recovering from the loss of his partner, the other awe-struck by the presence of his idol. Each is poised for a critical second chance: at fame, and at love.

Who will win? Step into the Mansion, and find out....

Jordan Castillo Price is putting the spotlight on her backlist; choosing to feature one of her back list each month. January kicks off with Magic Mansion.

I am having so much trouble writing a review for this book, Not because I didn't like it, as you can see I gave it five hearts and I read it twice within about ten days, but because I want to write an essay on everything I loved about it, which would be impractical and pretty spoilerish! I've highlighted the hell out of it as well, something I rarely do.

On the surface I shouldn't like this book. I read the blurb and it is about two things I'm pretty unfond of - magic and reality TV (with one I HATE not knowing how it's done and with the other I hate watching desperate people be humiliated for money) In fact, it is fair to say I only read this because it was written by Jordan Castillo Price and she is one of my go-to authors. I am SO glad I did.

"John was stunning in an Edwardian cutaway coat and deep burgundy ascot. In his top hat (silk, not satin) and his striped trousers, he looked like he was seven feet tall. But it wasn't just height he possessed. It was presence. His audience approached him in awe, and when he greeted them, gravely, in his deep and profoundly serious voice, Ricardo could practically see them all break out in goosebumps.

In fact, he did, himself. "

There is one reason that this book resounded with me so much and that is because I fell utterly in love with Professor Topaz. I think (I hope) readaholics will understand this, that feeling of a character being more real than actual real life people, to the point where you can't get them out of your head. I guess it's why fandoms are so big, the interweb has given us obsessives a place to meet and share our passions.

Unlike TV programmes though, with a book there is no actor to put a visual to the name, no visual to blur the lines between character and actor (does that make sense). With a book it is literally all in your head. or my head in this case. Professor Topaz, John, got in my head so much that I started rereading pretty much straight away. One particular scene near the end is so imprinted on my brain that it's what I've been thinking of before I fall to sleep each night. It's not even the scene so much as John on the scene. It's stuck in my brain like some kind of visual earworm. A mindworm?

Why? I don't know. I've tried to put into words what it is about this character that has me so stupid, and all I come up with is a rambling paragraph of nonsense. He's far from your typical 'hero' - for a start he's 63. He's not an alpha male in the typical body-builder, muscles of steel, bad boy kinda way. Nor is he a geeky nerd. He's just him...

Enigmatic.

Solid.

Un-fazed.

A gentleman.

Kind.

Cool.

Clever.

Athletic.

Generous.

Wise.

Solemn.

Charming in a quiet way.

Sincere.

A showman.

Sexy.

True.

A friend.

Loving.

Strong.

He got inside my head and I couldn't stop thinking about him. I loved it. I love being consumed by a book, love that feeling of falling onto it, of living it.

For those of you who have yet to try work by this author, i would really, really encourage you to do so. Especially if you're fed up of reading the same stories again and again. I love her characters and settings.

Magic Mansion was an interactive book as it was being written. It is set around a group of magicians competing in a kind of Big Brother environment. during the writing process, the contestants of the 'show' were voted off by her readers. Castillo-Price didn't know who would get voted off - and from what I've read, was often surprised by the result - which made the story writing fairly spontaneous. It's difficult to plan if you don't know which character is going to be still in the book. What a skilled writer, I'm very much in awe.

We are with the magicians as they experience life in the mansion and as they find out which tasks they are to compete in. Though it is mainly written from John and Ricardo's POV (I also love Ricardo, by the way, he just didn't side-swipe me quite as much as the Professor, I totally get how he fell for the man), we do have some 'video diary' thoughts of other contestants and some introductions as if we were watching the show itself. It sounds like it shouldn't work... but it does.

The cast of characters and crew are fantastic. The tasks and eliminations; amazing. The hints of true magic in a world of show magicians and illusionists are perfect. It really is a fantastic book that I'm beyond glad I read.

For more information see Goodreads.

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

To buy links:
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Smashwords (variety of file types available)
iTunes

Excerpt from Chapter 1:

The stairs to John’s apartment seemed narrower than they had on his way to the hospital. The overhead lights, dimmer. The smell of cigarettes and sweat and cooking grease, more pervasive. Sorrow made the world a darker place.

Music throbbed from the apartment beneath his. He could knock and tell them to turn down the TV set…but what difference did it make? In the scheme of things, how much did the annoyance of a soundtrack blasting through the floorboards really matter? Besides, perhaps it was a comfort to know he wasn’t entirely alone—even if those other persons dwelled below him, and referred to him as “that asshole who should just turn up his own TV.”

He let himself in and hung his suit coat carefully in the closet, then slid the knot of his tie all the way down and stepped into the apartment’s living room. Framed posters in lavish colors filled the room—mere inches apart—so the slivers of wall that showed between them seemed more like an accent, disguising the fact that the rest of the place was painfully austere. Ringleaders. Clowns. Acrobats. But mostly, magicians.

Friends.

Most of those from his mother’s generation, great showmen from the sixties and seventies, had passed. And most of those from John’s generation had retired. They encouraged him to do the same—and so he was unlikely to call any of them for moral support over the incident at the hospital. They’d tell him he was wasting his time, and that it was too expensive to live in California, and that if he moved to Florida he’d be deluged by wealthy widows who’d be so grateful for a private performance that he could start living the high life again.

He might remind them that while he had nothing against the company of ladies, he’d never been inclined to get romantically involved with them. And depending on which one-time illusionist or retired emcee he was speaking to, they would encourage him to stop being so picky—because at our age it’s more about the companionship than the sex, anyway—or they would drop the subject entirely and find a quick reason to get off the phone.

Even though he didn’t expect to hear anything that would lift his spirits, John considered who he might call and glanced at the phone.

It rang.

Providence? John crossed the room and looked down at his caller ID. No, not providence…his agent. He picked up the phone.

“Hello, Dick.”

“Guess who I just got off the line with,” Dick Golding said. John sighed, quietly, to himself. Dick didn’t wait for an answer. “Saint Mary’s. You know what they told me?”

“I’ve already spoken with—”

“They said you showed up today and talked the nurse on duty into letting you perform. Gratis.”

“I did.”

“Hell, John. Not only is this hospital circuit the kiss of death, but now you’re doing it for free?”

John considered the question, then said, “Apparently, not anymore.” A commercial, much louder than the TV program itself, blasted through the floor. Windows, siding. Tax incentive. Free installation.

“Look, popular magic, these days—it’s all about the young kids. The Criss Angels. The David Blaines. What you need is a steady gig with a more mature clientele. I’m not saying you’ve got to move to Vegas, but a long-term gig there, four months, might change your mind—”

“I’ve lived here all my life. I have no desire to move to Las Vegas.”

“The cost of living there, compared to L.A.—”

“No desire whatsoever.”

Dick sighed, then. And not to himself. “I’m not gonna lie to you, John. We’re pals, and I keep you on for old time sake, but you need to start living in the present. If you won’t take a gig in Vegas, and you won’t consider the cruise line I pitched last week, then you might need to look into something…edgier.”

“Edgier.”

“You and Casey—maybe it’s time for a book. A memoir. Casey Cornish and Professor Topaz: Behind the Curtain.”

John glanced at Casey’s last promo shot. Rakish, blond, sparkling eyes and a broad smile. He’d been sixty-two at the time—but he looked as dazzling as he had in his late forties.

“You two could be the next Siegfried and Roy,” Dick suggested.

“We never performed together.”

“So it’ll be a big revelation that the two of you were an item.”

“Roy Horn was mauled by his own tiger onstage. Casey was hit by a car on the way to the post office. I doubt that will sell nearly as many copies.”

“Focus on your love life. Cater to the gay crowd. I know you’re capable of stringing a few sentences together. Open up your word processor and just start anywhere—we’ll hire an editor to clean it up later. Easy peasy.”

The thought of parading his relationship with Casey in front of the world in print, especially for the sake of money, made John ill—even when he realized that Casey himself might have encouraged him to do it. Casey had been the affable half of the couple, and he’d always said that any publicity was good publicity.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of Casey and John being the next Siegfried and Roy was minuscule. Siegfried and Roy were stunningly popular; they’d been top-ten in the highest paid performers in the United States when Roy had his accident. Casey had been unemployed and up to his neck in credit card debt when he was killed.

The downstairs TV noise grew even louder.

“Once that book comes out,” Dick said, “think of all the doors of opportunity that’ll open up to you. Piano bars. Gay cruises. You can make double, triple rates if you specialize—you’re still a good-looking guy, you’ll get top dollar.”

As distinctly as if the set had been playing in his own living room, John heard the words, “Lights…camera…magic.” He lowered the handset from his ear, with Dick still going on about how he should cash in on his homosexuality while gays were “hot,” and focused instead on the commercial downstairs. The voicework was hastily produced, a local spot with too much audio high-end and no background music, which made the words carry right through the floor. “Do you live in the L.A. area? Are you a professional magician? If so, Magic Mansion is looking for you. Call 888—”

The channel changed. An inane laugh track swelled, then fizzled. Theme music piped in. John could hardly pound on the floor and tell the neighbors to change the channel back. Not only would they misinterpret the knocking as a complaint about the noise level—the number would be long gone. John raised the phone to his ear again, and found Dick saying, “…you never know. If you start getting out more, maybe you’ll meet someone.”

“Dick,” John cut in. His agent fell silent. “What do you know about Magic Mansion?”

Jordan Castillo Price is kindly offering up an ebook copy of Magic Mansion to one lucky person. To be in with a chance comment below with your favourite magic act - or, if you're not a magic fan, tell us why. Don't forget to leave a way to contact you - email, twitter, facebook etc! A winner will be chosen at random sometime Friday 5th February (it'll be in the afternoon, GMT!!) and notified as soon as possible.

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