Summary:
THIRDS #3
Action. Comedy. Romance. And that one weird guy.
New York City’s streets are more dangerous than ever with the leaderless Order of Adrasteia and the Ikelos Coalition, a newly immerged Therian group, at war. Innocent civilians are caught in the crossfire and although the THIRDS round up more and more members of the Order in the hopes of keeping the volatile group from reorganizing, the members of the Coalition continue to escape and wreak havoc in the name of vigilante justice.
I can't believe it's been 2 years since I listened to books 1 & 2(or 4 years since originally reading the series) and yet it was like I never left. As the author has recently released the next stage of Dex, Sloane, and all the yumminess that follows them and their friends' journeys in TINS, I thought what better time to relive THIRDS? The action, the humor, the heat, the mystery, the friendships they all play such a huge part in this incredibly entertaining paranormal universe that Charlie Cochet has created there is just no way I can single out any one aspect. So as not to give anything away for any newcomers as well as rewrite anything from my original review, I'll just say this: The combination of Charlie Cochet's words and Mark Westfield's narration makes for one helluva ride and I look forward to reliving the whole THIRDS(and now TINS) universe for years to come.
Original Overall ebook Review for Books #1-4 October 2017:
I'm going to start by saying that some of my most trusted book lover BFFs have been singing the praises of Charlie Cochet's THIRDS for ages now, I've even had the first two in the series on my Kindle for nearly three years. With it coming up on October, I decided it was a perfect time to give it a read for my paranormal posts. Simply put: THIRDS is BRILLIANT!
When I started Hell & High Water I thought, hmmm Dex is interesting. Talk about an understatement. As a high school graduate of the Class of '91, I grew up with the music of the 80's, now I can't say they ever filled me with the "drop everything, sing, & dance" adrenaline rush that Dex brings to the team, but it made me smile every time he starts singing. As a life-long devoted Star Wars geek, I really loved Sloane's closeted geek side that he shares with Dex.
As for the mystery side of the series, to say it had me on the edge of my seat from cover to cover may sound cliche but its no less true. I won't touch on the plot as I don't do spoilers but let me say I could not put it down, when I finished one I immediately started the next. The characters just blend together so well, even when they are at odds, as in Dex and Ash, he is not a fan of Dex's fire or his love of everything 80s. As for the romance, well lets just say that its off the charts and the chemistry between Dex and Sloane is what we all hope to find.
Dex, Sloane, and Destructive Delta is the paranormal equivalent of Abigail Roux's Ty, Zane, and Sidewinder. Now, I am not saying its a copy, far from it! No, what I mean is the passion, anticipation, intrigue, excitement it sparks in me is similar to how I felt with the Cut & Run series. THIRDS is most definitely an incredible, emotional roller coaster all on its own and I can't believe it took me so long to check it out because now I'm waiting on tender hooks waiting for more of Delta's adventures.
RATING:
Claw of Exile by JK Jones
Summary:Exiled #1
He kills to survive
Exiled.
Cursed. Abandoned. Ryu Suzuki is no stranger to these things.
For years he wandered the Outlands with nothing but his Katana to keep him safe. Kuroi kage—Black Shadow is what they call him. A phantom Omega. He belongs nowhere. He is no-one. Until a vicious disease spreading like wildfire threatens everyone he loves.
After a series of unfortunate events, the game changes. Now he’s forced to go back to his long-forgotten pack, the Silvercrest Howlers. Suddenly, he’s staring at the man who ruined everything in the first place.
The Alpha that betrayed him. The White Lotus.
Micah McCorbyn.
He also happens to be his mate.
Claw of Exile is a dark MM romance series. Each book is a whirlwind experience, high octane and will have you at the edge of your seat. Enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, hurt comfort, gay paranormal romance, gay betrayal romance and so much more. Follow Ryu into the Exiled series and strap yourself in for a wild ride.
Vacation Tails by Deanna Wadsworth
Summary:Pride of the Caribbean #2
When the full moon rises, your soul will become complete…
Those are the words ominously whispered to Jeremiah Singleton his first day aboard the Pride of the Caribbean—an enchanted cruise ship where paranormals hide in plain sight.
Jeremiah leads a quiet life running an aquarium store. Stepping out of his shell to attend his sister’s wedding aboard the Pride, Jeremiah is delightfully surprised to find himself in a whirlwind romance with a handsome blue-eyed school teacher.
Skip Weaver has always been lucky, so it was no shock when he won a cruise. The one thing Skip hasn't had any luck with though is love. But his streak of bad luck with love could finally be over when he meets Jeremiah.
However, nothing aboard the Pride is ever that simple.
Ancient legends, untapped magic, secrets from the past, and dangerous stalkers are on the itinerary for this tropical getaway. Both men are about to get the surprise of their lives, and all of it might be too much for their shipboard romance to survive.
Summary:
Critter Catchers #1
A charming serial dater. A serious-minded entrepreneur. A bloody start to their new business venture.
All it will ever be is a close friendship. That’s been Demetrius Singleton’s mantra for as long as he’s known his best friend, Cody Bower. It’s helped through the years as he’s watched Cody date practically every girl in town. Now several years out of college, Demetrius manages the business side of their brand new animal control service, Critter Catchers, while Cody acts as the idea man and finesses potential clients.
When their first client is brutally murdered by a large unidentified animal, they have to act quickly to save their business reputation and stay out of jail. Demetrius is distracted by a handsome new town reporter, but Cody is wary of this new arrival’s intentions. And, quite possibly, a little bit jealous. But he doesn’t feel that way for Demmy… does he?
No matter how they feel about each other, they will need to work together to uncover the truth about the gruesome murders in their small town of Parson’s Hollow before they end up victims of the beast themselves!
Deep Magic by Gillian St. Kevern
Summary:
Deep Magic #1
Where does magic end and love begin?
Oliver Evans spent his youth spinning one tall tale after another until it got him over his head in trouble. Returning as an adult to his grandmother's cottage in Aberdaron, Olly is determined to put his past behind him and settle down. But the misty Llŷn Peninsula hides dangerous secrets. Olly is torn between the Longing, a powerful force driving him away from the only home he has ever known, and the growing conviction that the merman prince of his childhood make-believe is real--and in desperate need of Olly's help.
There is more truth in Olly's stories than he realises. If he is to have any chance of righting past wrongs and rescuing his prince, Olly must navigate the truth in his old stories and discover the magic right in front of him. But Olly has a powerful enemy on the Llŷn, an ancient king who would like to end Olly's story-telling permanently.
Written for the M/M Romance Groups 2015 Don't Read in the Closet event, Deep Magic is a gay romance novel produced with the support and effort of members of the M/M Romance Group. A fantasy romance with a gothic bent, Deep Magic will take you deep into Welsh mythology and folklore, featuring the morgen, Welsh mermen, and the notorious water-horse, the Ceffyl Dwr. Deep Magic contains adult situations and should be read with discretion. The story began in Deep Magic continues in Morgen Curse and Morgen Song.
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Random Paranormal Tales of 2021
Rack & Ruin by Charlie Cochet
Fuck—the man licks down the pale column of his neck, lapping at the skin, tonguing his glans, causing passion to tear through him.
“You got a mate?” The Alpha asks.
Skip actually laughed, making Jeremiah eye him nervously. Skip quickly placed a hand on his shoulder, over the mermaid a merman had tattooed on his arm. “I am in no way shape or form grossed out. Shocked, yes. Flabbergasted, sure. Curious as the proverbial cat, hell yes. Turned on a little?” His cheeks warmed. “Yeah, I’m some of that too. But no, not grossed out.”
A hot spike of arousal went through Skip at the thought of no one ever touching Jeremiah in this way. He felt a surge of possessiveness too, knowing he was the first.
Skip jerked his hand back. “What?”
Chapter One
“HE’S GONNA run.”
Dex took his partner’s tech vest from him and handed it to his brother in the BearCat. “You think?” He peered out one of the BearCat’s ballistic windows but couldn’t see jack this time of night, especially since their little friend was well camouflaged among the Central Park greenery. It didn’t help that Hobbs had somehow managed to park their black tactical vehicle in a thicket of trees shrouded in enough darkness to make Dex feel as if a black hole had sucked him up. He had to give his Therian teammate credit. Hobbs could park the BearCat up a freakin’ flagpole if he had to. Maybe being a huge-ass Therian made it easy for him to maneuver huge-ass vehicles. Parks and Recreation was going to be so pissed if they found out they’d been driving off the roads.
“He always runs.” Sloane removed his thigh rig next and handed it over. Dex promptly passed it off to Cael. His brother huffed but took it without question, undoubtedly knowing Dex was doing it to annoy him. Ah, the perks of working with family. Rosa sat on the bench, looking on in amusement and checking her Postshift Trauma Care (PSTC) kit, while Hobbs sat in the driver’s seat inside the front cabin bugging his spiky blond-haired partner. Calvin was in the passenger seat, being a grump as he cleaned the scope of his sniper tranq rifle.
Dex had no idea what had Calvin sporting the pouty face. He wouldn’t be surprised if it had something to do with his best bud sitting across from him. Either Hobbs was oblivious to Calvin’s mood, or he was purposefully ignoring it. Considering he was sitting inches away from the nozzle of his partner’s tranq gun, it would probably be in Hobbs’s best interest to play nice. Dex had walked in on the pair sucking face back at the hospital after Hobbs had been hurt in the Therian Youth Center bombing. It had been one hell of a surprise and explained the pair’s off behavior leading up to the incident. Things quickly returned to normal between the two afterward. Somewhat. If Dex were a betting man, he’d say that was the problem. Hobbs was carrying on as if nothing had happened, and Calvin had been hoping something had changed. He’d confided as much to Dex back at the hospital. Whatever was going on, Dex hoped the two managed to work it out soon.
Letty was checking the magazines of her various guns. And Ash… Dex didn’t know where the hell Ash was. Just another shift for Destructive Delta.
Sloane pulled off his boots, and when he stood to remove his uniform shirt, Dex couldn’t help but try again. “As much as we all love seeing you get nekkid, partner, I wish you’d at least reconsider—”
“Nope.”
“Dude, the rest of your shit is heavy enough,” Dex whined, lifting his arms to show the various pieces of tactical equipment hanging off them, the heaviest being the PSTC kit he carried to aid his partner postshift.
“I’m not getting rid of my sneakers.”
Dex let his arms fall back to his sides. “They’re not even government issued!”
Sloane shrugged. “Don’t care.”
“You’ve had to replace two pairs in the last four months.”
Sloane paused in the middle of unbuttoning his shirt to arch an eyebrow at him. “And whose fault is that?”
“It was an accident.” Dex blinked innocently. The look on Sloane’s face told him his partner wasn’t buying it. Damn it. One would think being the Team Leader’s secret boyfriend at the very least would earn him the right to get away with things others couldn’t. But in Dex’s case, it meant he got away with less because Sloane knew him far better than anyone—with the exception of his family—and loved to burst his bubble.
“As in you accidentally dropped my sneakers off the Brooklyn Bridge?”
Dex did his best to look affronted. “What are you suggesting? It was a windy day.”
“Funny how nothing else got blown away,” Sloane grumbled, pulling off his shirt and tossing it over Dex’s head. He felt like a coatrack. The rest of the team didn’t help at all with their snickering. A loud thunk sounded at his feet, and Dex pulled the shirt off his head to swipe up a boot.
“Size fourteen, man!” Dex waved Sloane’s huge black boot at him. “Somewhere on the Hudson, a duck’s using your sneaker as a flotation device.”
“Ducks already float.”
“Yeah, but their little legs must get tired of moving them about.” Dex wiggled his index and middle fingers to simulate duck feet. His half-naked, sexy-as-sin boyfriend held a hand up to stop any further protest. Dex wished the truck were empty so he could do some of his own pouncing on his jaguar Therian partner.
“Do you mind if I pause this incongruous exchange on water fowl to catch our guy?”
Dex held back a smile. “Ooh, someone’s been playing online Scrabble with Cael again. How many points did incongruous get you?”
When Sloane didn’t reply, Dex turned to his brother.
“Fourteen,” Cael offered cheerfully, earning himself a scowl from Sloane.
Dex shook his head. “Could have gotten twenty on Words With Friends.”
“How—”
Rosa cut Sloane off, motioning to the large console’s surveillance monitor, which had been keeping an eye out for their target via infrared video. “Looks like Sloane’s right. Cabron’s in his Therian form.”
“Striptease is over,” Sloane informed them, hitting the large button on the BearCat’s side panel, causing the screen to drop from the truck’s roof so he could finish undressing and shift in private. Without his favorite peepshow, Dex turned to his brother who was looking somewhat spaced out. It started a few weeks ago, and it was beginning to worry Dex.
“What kind of Therian is our friend?” Dex asked. When his brother didn’t reply, Dex gave him a nudge. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Austen Payne is a cheetah Therian.”
So his brother had heard him? And what? Chose to ignore him? “Cael—”
Cael shook his head, his stern expression telling Dex his brother wasn’t in a sharing mood. Dex had considered pushing the matter but conceded now was not the time. Something was up with Cael and had been since he’d been in the hospital along with Hobbs after the bombing. Whatever was going on, it had to do with Ash. The guy had called in sick this morning, which was apparently like the second time he’d done so in the twenty-something years since joining the THIRDS. Lately Cael was easily distracted, his head elsewhere, which was dangerous not only for him but the rest of the team. Yeah, Dex would definitely be having a talk with his little brother. For now, he turned his attention to Rosa.
“So tell me something about this Austen guy.”
“He’s a slippery little shit,” Rosa said, though she was smiling affectionately when she said it. “Fast as fuck too.”
“Is that your professional opinion?” Dex teased, receiving a couple of loving expletives in Spanish. “How the hell is Sloane going to catch him?” If a cheetah Therian didn’t want to get caught, he didn’t get caught. Unless he made a stupid mistake. Rosa was right about how fast they were, whether in their Human or Therian forms. Dex remembered all the times he’d attempted to outrun his brother when they were kids. He never even came close to catching up with him despite being older and having longer legs—at least in his Human form. The only problem for cheetah Therians was the distance. They could only handle high speeds in short bursts. If Austen ran, Sloane could still catch up once the guy tired out. ’Course, who the hell knew where he’d run to by then.
“Sloane’s not going to chase him,” Rosa said, a wicked gleam in her eye. “He’s going to hunt him. No one stalks like our Team Leader.”
“Tell me about it,” Dex muttered. The guy had a bad habit of walking in a room and scaring the ever-living fuck out of Dex. It wasn’t right that a guy of Sloane’s size made no sound when he walked in his Human form. He was like a sexy ninja.
Speaking of his sexy ninja partner, the screen rose, and Dex crouched down in front of the huge black jaguar, talking quietly. “You be careful.” Sloane’s glowing amber eyes stared at him, and Dex eyed him warily. He was familiar with that look. “Don’t do it. Don’t—” A broad, sandpaper tongue licked him from his chin to his ear. “Damn it! Right in the ear! Every freakin’ time.” One would think he’d have learned after the first few dozen times his partner had licked him to annoy him. “That was—as usual—extremely unpleasant. Thank you. I appreciate it.”
Dex stood and wiped at his face and ear with his sleeve, ignoring his teammates chortling behind him. Letty opened one of the BearCat’s backdoors, but Sloane had to quickly rub up against Dex’s legs to leave his mark—as if it wasn’t all over Dex already—before leaping out of the truck. That done, Dex went to the console where his brother was tracking Sloane. He watched his Therian partner pad silently toward some bushes before he disappeared into the shadows. Dex could have sworn there had been something stuck on his partner’s back paw. Well, there was no way to know until Sloane returned. “You sure Sloane will be able to catch him?”
“Always does,” Cael murmured.
“So why does Austen run?”
Cael shrugged. “I think he likes it.”
“What do you mean ‘he likes it’?”
His brother’s cheeks flushed. Uh-oh. Dex knew that look. Cael worried his bottom lip and Dex waited while his brother racked his sweet little head trying to figure out whether he should spill or not. “Austen’s got a crush on Sloane.”
Dex eyed his brother, a silent conversation going on between them in which Cael gave him a shrug and apologetic smile. Interesting. Dex pursed his lips but said nothing. He sidled up to the bench before squeezing himself in between Rosa and Letty. There wasn’t much to do now other than wait and tease a little information out of his teammates.
“Is this Austen guy reliable?” Dex asked. “And how come this is the first I’m hearing of him?”
Letty looped her arm around Dex’s, and he smiled. He could always count on Rosa and Letty to bring him down to earth. They were both brutally honest and straightforward, but always with the best intentions at heart. Sometimes it felt like they were the only two with functioning relationships. Rosa was happily attached to her long-time girlfriend, and Letty was happily attached to whichever hottie made her toes curl that month. This month it was a firefighter from Brooklyn with dimples in all the right places.
“Austen’s good,” Letty offered. “Practically grew up working for us thanks to Sloane. He found the guy years ago when he was just a kid, got him a job. I don’t remember the story, but I’m sure Sloane’ll tell you if you ask. Austen’s a THIRDS SSA—Squadron Specialist Agent. You haven’t heard of him because, technically, he doesn’t exist. Those guys don’t work out of the office. You have to have high-level clearance just to access a file with his name on it. Every squad has their own specialist agent. Since they also function as confidential informants, they have to keep a low profile. Austen’s been off on some job for Lieutenant Sparks. He’s got mad skills. If you see him or talk to him, it’s because he wants you to.”
“Sloane’s coming back. And he’s got Austen,” Cael called out over his shoulder.
“That was quick.” Dex sprang to his feet and decided he’d meet his partner outside in case Austen decided he didn’t fancy getting in the truck. Having had no experience with the agent, Dex had no clue how Austen would react. Sometimes Therians were cooperative until they neared the big, scary black vehicle. The idea of being caged didn’t appeal, and Dex couldn’t blame them.
Dex jumped down and started for his partner when he noticed Sloane was walking funny. It was only until Sloane got close that Dex could see the reason why.
“Oh shit!” Dex doubled over laughing as Sloane hobbled over like he was drunk, the ferocity of having Austen in his jaws offset by the sheer hilarity of his partner trying to shake a black sock off his back paw. “Oh my God, I can’t breathe,” Dex wheezed, tears in his eyes.
Sloane huffed and continued to shake at his back paw, at one point skipping on his other three. Dex thought he was going to need Rosa to bring him oxygen. He’d been right. There had been something stuck on his partner’s paw when he left the truck. How Sloane had missed a sock was beyond him, but it was the funniest shit Dex had ever seen. “Hold up!” Dex managed to get himself together long enough to jog after his partner who stopped and stuck his back leg out. With a grin, Dex tugged the sock off. “Okay.” He received a huff in thanks.
Dex couldn’t help but feel somewhat bad for the cheetah Therian dangling from Sloane’s lethal jaws. The cheetah reminded him too much of Cael. Austen was small, lean, and clearly used to being dragged away by Sloane, judging by the way he hung in there looking almost bored by the whole thing. He didn’t attempt to get away even once. His front paws were crossed as if he were chilling. It became obvious to Dex that Austen trusted Sloane. Any other Therian would be shitting himself.
As soon as his partner reached the truck, he released Austen and hissed. Austen chirped and pushed his nose against Sloane’s, which made his partner’s ears flatten against his head before he let out a roar. Not surprising it startled Austen so bad; had he been a cartoon, his spots would have fallen off. A bristled Austen promptly jumped up into the BearCat with Sloane on his tail. Dex followed and closed the doors behind them. The privacy screen dropped, and Austen shifted first while Sloane sat patiently beside Dex, waiting his turn. Since Rosa had experience working with cheetah Therians—considering her partner was one—she provided Austen with Postshift Trauma Care, along with a THIRDS supplied disposable set of clothes, which she handed to him once he was strong enough to stick an arm out from behind the screen. A low grumble later, and Rosa disappeared behind the screen.
While Rosa helped their SSA regain Human functionality, Dex took a seat on the small single bench beside the weapons’ cage. Sloane immediately dropped his head on Dex’s lap, looking for an ear scratch, and Dex obliged, smiling when he heard the deep chainsaw-like purr and felt it vibrating against his leg.
“At least when he sheds all over you, you can’t see it.” Calvin cast his tiger Therian partner an accusing glare. Hobbs sat up with a frown. He reached over and gave a light tug on Calvin’s blond hair. “I don’t shed,” Calvin protested. Hobbs nodded. Clearly he disagreed. Dex watched the two in amusement as they argued, despite Calvin being the only vocal one. It was amazing how much Hobbs could say with his expressions and hand movements alone.
A slender, sinewy young Therian who seemed to be in his midtwenties stepped out from behind the screen with a fierce yawn. He ruffled his dark hair and strutted over to the bench where he dropped down beside Letty with a wide grin. The guy looked like he’d just rolled out of bed after performing at some rock gig, despite the out-of-place outfit he sported.
Dex didn’t have time to further study the agent before Sloane disappeared behind the screen. By now no one thought twice about Dex following his partner in. They figured after nearly a year of working closely together, Sloane no longer cared if his partner saw him naked postshift. Of course, they had no idea Dex and Sloane did a lot more than work together, and seeing his partner naked usually led to naughtier things in private.
As soon as Sloane had shifted, Dex began the Postshift Trauma Care. He hoped whatever information Sloane was looking to get from Austen, he’d be able to get it quickly. Sloane needed to eat a hefty meal filled with meat and carbs if he was going to regain his full strength. With the power bars and Gatorade finished, Dex helped Sloane back into his uniform. Not long after, Sloane was on his feet. He gave Dex a wink and a playful smack on the ass before hitting the button for the screen.
“Why did you run, Austen?” Sloane asked as he took the seat Dex had vacated earlier. “Again.”
Across from him, Austen blinked at Sloane. “What do you mean, why? Because you guys are fucking scary, that’s why. I never know who’s gonna come after me. There are all these big dudes with guns running around these days and even bigger Therians with sharp teeth that could crush my tiny bones. Also, we cheetah Therians are skittish by nature, you know.” He looked up at Cael and held his fist out for a bump. “Am I right, bro?”
Cael scowled at him.
“Dude,” Austen whispered hoarsely. “You’re gonna leave me hanging in front of the fit jaguar Therian? Not cool.”
With a grunt, Cael bumped his fist against Austen’s, drawing a big grin from him.
“We small Felids gotta stick together.”
“You done socializing?” Sloane asked.
“Yep. What can I do for you, Agent Broody?”
Dex bit his bottom lip to keep himself from laughing at the nickname. Sounded like something he would come up with. It certainly described his sexy partner to a T.
“Don’t suppose you’re going to reconsider my offer for a private workout session?”
Cael hadn’t been kidding. Austen did have a crush on Sloane. Dex was still trying to get a read on the guy. Part of him wanted to like the cheeky cheetah; the other part wanted to dislike him for the sheer fact he wanted to get his grubby little paws on Sloane. The guy made no attempt to hide his attraction to the larger Felid. Then again, Austen wasn’t the first to have a crush on Destructive Delta’s Team Leader. Dex had heard plenty of talk around the office from both male and female agents attracted to his partner, though no one ever approached Sloane. Hell, if Dex hadn’t been partnered with him, he would have chalked Sloane up as being out of his league. There was also something about his sexy partner that screamed, “Approach with caution”.
Austen turned toward Dex, seeming to notice him for the first time. He opened his mouth to say something, then paused before leaning in Dex’s direction. “Damn. Look at those baby blues. Aren’t you going to introduce me to your new pouty-lipped partner, Broody Bear?”
“That’s Agent Daley. I told you if you called me that again I was going to kick your ass. You wanna pay attention even a little?” It was as if Sloane hadn’t even spoken.
“Well hello, Agent Daley. You are one lucky dude. Destructive Delta has fine agents.” He lolled his head back to grin widely at Hobbs. “And I do mean fine.”
My God, it was like the guy was in heat. Hobbs smiled shyly before noticing his partner’s subtle glare, prompting him to drop his gaze to his tac pants and brush off some dust Dex doubted was even there.
Sloane sat back and laced his fingers over his stomach. He stretched his long legs out in front of him and crossed them at the ankles. “Am I going to have to get you neutered?”
Austen gave such a start that he nearly fell off the bench. “That ain’t funny, man. You shouldn’t joke about shit like that.”
A wicked grin came onto Sloane’s face. “Who said I was joking?”
“I see. It’s business as usual, then. Fine. It’s getting ugly out there. I’ve got no sympathy for those bastards from the Order, but it’s pretty messed up the way the Coalition’s dealing with them. These dudes don’t fuck around. I mean, they hunt the Humans down, catch them, beat the tar out of them, then leave them somewhere visible to warn the others. That’s usually when someone calls you guys.”
“Any luck tracking the Coalition?” Sloane asked.
Austen shook his head. “I haven’t been able to get close enough. These guys aren’t like the Order. They’ve got training. Not official government training, but like they’ve been shown the basics by someone who’s trained. They know how to stay hidden. Wherever they go, they have two members in their Therian forms to sniff out anyone who might be stupid enough to follow them. And before you ask, it’s never the same two Therians. So cross-referencing their classification through your fancy computer will probably give you a hit on every Therian agent in your organization.”
“Great.”
“Sorry. I know it’s a big load of nada. But I can confirm you do have a traitor in your midst.”
Crap. Not that they hadn’t known, but having someone else confirm it made it doubly fucked up. “How do you know?” Dex asked.
“Like I said. These guys haven’t been officially trained. They’ve been shown the ropes by someone who has. An agent. There are two male Therians leading the Coalition. One of them communicates with someone several times a day and usually gives orders based on whatever he’s been told. I’ve seen him answer his phone several times and right after, tell his team to retreat. Seconds later, THIRDS agents show up.”
Sloane nodded his acknowledgment. “Are you able to identify any of them?”
“No. They wear black masks that cover their heads and necks. The kind tactical teams wear under their helmets. Makes it so you can’t see any distinctive features. The main guy I’ve seen only once. Well, all I saw was his figure. He’s fucking huge. He was wearing one of those black masks, a black long sleeve shirt with bulletproof vest, and black-and-gray camouflage pants. It’s no wonder the press keeps thinking they’re THIRDS agents the way they’re geared up. For all we know, your rat might be in there, but there’s no way to tell. They don’t let their guard down for a moment. I get the feeling they don’t reveal their identities to anyone, not even each other.”
“What about names?” Dex asked. “They have to call each other something, don’t they?”
Austen’s frown didn’t bode well. “They use numbered codes, like one-eleven and twenty-three twenty-six. Have fun trying to figure out what the hell they represent.”
Sloane nodded to Cael who added the numbers to the notes he was taking on his tablet. Cael would undoubtedly be adding an algorithm to Themis to find out what the numbers could pertain to. They’d be looking into that later, though Austen had a point. The possibilities were staggering.
“Any idea how many there are?”
Again Austen shook his head to Sloane’s question. “I can’t imagine there are many. Whenever I’ve seen them, they’ve been in groups of five or six at most. Couldn’t say how many groups there are, but maybe if you cross-reference incident times with locations across the boroughs, you might get a rough idea. Can’t be two places at once right?” Sloane gave Austen a nod of approval, which made Austen grin widely. “See. I’m not just a pretty face.”
“All right,” Sloane replied with a smirk before continuing with his questioning. “Anything on the Order?”
“I’ve thrown a few hooks out on that one. I’ll let you know if anyone bites.”
Sloane stood and held his hand out to Austen. “Good work. Contact me if you get anything.”
“You bet.”
“And next time,” Sloane warned, though there was a hint of teasing in his voice, “try not to run.”
Austen strode over to the end of the BearCat and turned to give Sloane a wink. “Now why would I give up the chance to be chased by a hot agent?” He saluted Sloane before opening up one of the doors and hopping out. He disappeared into the trees before Dex blinked. Rosa wasn’t kidding. The guy was fast, even in Human form.
“All right, team. It’s been a long day. Let’s head back to HQ. Hobbs, get us out of here and stop by a drive-thru on the way. I’m starving.” Sloane took a seat on the bench next to Rosa, and Dex dropped down beside him. They buckled up as Hobbs drove them out of the park.
Dex noticed his partner lean back against the truck’s padded wall, then abruptly sit forward. Rosa and Letty didn’t notice as they were chatting away, and Cael was secured behind the console, though he was staring off into space. Now that Dex thought about it, he never saw Sloane sit back against the wall like everyone else did. Dex leaned into his partner, his voice low.
“Hey you okay?”
Sloane’s smile went straight to Dex’s groin. “Yeah, why?”
“The way you pulled away from the wall all of a sudden.”
“You noticed that, huh?”
“Yep.” There wasn’t much Dex didn’t notice about his partner, whether on the job or off. They might not have been officially dating for long, but they’d been seeing each other for nearly eight months. In that time they’d been through a hell of a lot together.
Sloane seemed to think about Dex’s observation before answering. “It makes me feel sick.”
“Motion sickness?” That couldn’t be right. Surely if his partner felt motion sickness, Dex would have figured it out long before now.
Sloane shook his head and leaned into Dex. “It feels too much like that chair.”
Chair? What chair would make Sloane feel sick? An image flashed through Dex’s mind, and he winced. Right. That chair. For years Sloane had been strapped down into a padded chair at the First Gen Research Facility while scientists did God only knew what to him and countless other Therian children in order to learn more about Therians. Dex could only imagine what the government had put Sloane through, and he saw enough pain in his partner’s eyes to know it was horrifying.
Dex’s experience with that damnable chair had come only recently, and although he was certain it couldn’t compare to what Sloane had suffered, Dex was still finding it difficult to forget. His ankles, wrists, and head had been strapped down to the padded medical chair. It was the last thing he remembered from that day at the facility before Isaac Pearce plunged a needle into his neck and pulled his strings like a puppet, with Dex eager to please.
Instinctively, Dex rubbed the small, newly healed scar on his leg. If Sloane hadn’t shot him and taken him down, Dex would have done exactly what that bastard Isaac had asked him to do. He would have killed an innocent man and then himself. Months later he still couldn’t remember anything no matter how hard he tried. All he knew was what Sloane had told him. It frustrated the hell out of Dex.
“Dex?”
Dex snapped out of it to find Sloane watching him worriedly. “Are you okay?”
“Sorry. Just thinking. My next dentist appointment should prove interesting.”
Sloane’s expression softened, and he gave Dex’s leg a pat, allowing his hand to linger a few seconds longer than necessary. “It’ll get easier.”
“Thanks.”
Five minutes later they’d pulled up at a fast-food drive-thru, and Dex said a silent thanks to Austen for forcing Sloane to shift. The only time his partner indulged in anything remotely unhealthy was postshift when his Therian body demanded meat and lots of calories. Hobbs waited patiently while Dex sat on his lap, facing the drive-thru speaker, putting in the team’s order. This particular fast-food chain offered Postshift meals that had enough double quarter pounders to send a Human heart screaming for the hills. Dex put in everyone’s order, then turned to Hobbs.
“What do you want, big guy?”
Hobbs pointed to the Therian specials and a meal with an Angus beef burger that looked like it was the size of Dex’s head.
“You got it. Cal?”
“I’m not hungry,” Calvin muttered. Dex twisted to look at Calvin who was staring moodily out his window. Turning back to Hobbs, Dex arched an eyebrow at him, and Hobbs shook his head. He pointed to the regular Human sized menu and held up four fingers.
“Number four it is.” Dex put in the order, Calvin protesting behind him.
“Damn it, Ethan. I said I wasn’t hungry.”
From the corner of his eye, Dex saw Hobbs give Calvin a pointed, no-nonsense look. Come to think of it, Dex couldn’t remember Calvin having had anything when they’d stopped for lunch earlier that day. They’d been called out on a Coalition sighting, but as Austen had remarked, by the time they got there the group was long gone.
“Fine,” Calvin grumbled, then pulled out his iPhone from one of his pockets along with his in-ear headphones and stuck them in his ears. Dex got off Hobbs so the guy could drive up to the next window.
“What’s eating him?” Dex asked Hobbs, his voice lowered. “You two still haven’t worked things out?”
Hobbs shook his head, his expression troubled but he didn’t “say” anything else. He simply pointed forward to let Dex know the line was moving. He clearly wasn’t ready to share.
“Okay, but if you want someone to talk to, you just come find me.” “Talk” being a relative term where Hobbs was concerned, though by now Dex had learned Hobbs could communicate just as easily with little to no words than most people did with whole conversations. Dex enjoyed Hobbs’s company. The silence was never uncomfortable, and although Dex knew he fell into the category of people who talked too much, he appreciated Hobbs’s sedate nature.
After they picked up their food, Hobbs parked the BearCat across a row of empty parking spaces, and they all got busy eating. Dex noticed how Hobbs reached over and plucked the closest ear bud out of Calvin’s ear. That earned him a scowl, but Hobbs smiled widely. It was a sort of crooked schoolboy smile that was hard to stay mad at. Dex was glad Calvin wasn’t immune either, and the blond agent’s frown faltered before he laughed. He affectionately called his friend an asshole before stealing some of his fries.
“So how long has your brother had pre-birthday-party parties?” Sloane asked Cael.
“Since he was a kid.”
“And Maddock went with it?”
“This is Dex we’re talking about. It’s better to surrender and go along for the ride than try and fight him on something he wants. Am I wrong?” Cael gave him a knowing smile.
Sloane hung his head as if in shame. “You’re not wrong.”
“You’re so screwed,” Rosa said, letting out an evil cackle.
“Thank you, Rosa. I appreciate that.”
“Welcome to my world,” Cael added.
Dex waved a hand at them. “You guys realize I’m sitting right here. Still, I enjoy listening to how fabulous you all think I am.”
“More like what a pain in the ass you are,” Cael said with a snort.
“But I’m a cute pain in the ass. Admit it. Look at these dimples.” Dex pointed to his cheeks and grinned.
Sloane laughed before catching himself. “Crap. I am screwed.”
Rosa, Cael, and Letty laughed over Dex’s antics, and Dex leaned over Sloane to defend his honor when he felt Sloane’s hand slip under his ass cheek and squeeze. Dex gave a start and blinked at his partner. With a wicked grin, Sloane leaned over to whisper at him.
“I might be screwed, but tonight you’re going to be fucked.”
Dex sat back and did his best to fight the hard-on Sloane’s growly threat was giving him. The bastard. He knew they still had to get back to HQ, shower, and change before heading home. It’d be at least another couple of hours before Sloane could make good on his threat. Dex told himself that was okay. He’d have two hours to devise a way to get back at his lover. The thought alone had Dex grinning. Yep, Sloane was most certainly screwed.
Claw of Exile by JK Jones
Chapter 1
The Outlands
Yokohama Japan 21’
Ryu Suzuki is rotten.
Like all forbidden fruit, they say, he appears lush with deliciousness, but his insides are the color brown, sodden with the foul stench of bacteria. They are black and blue they say, slimy green, covered with rot and deterioration. It’s disgusting to look at.
The fruit is shriveled up, with pus oozing through the thick skin. On the outside he looks perfectly normal, shining—shimmering in the light, deceiving everyone.
Ryu is the picture of ripening fruit, ample with flavor, ready to be tasted and explored by anyone who dared. Conversely, among other fruits, he would never let on his infectious disease until it was too late, and it spread.
They say Ryu Suzuki is indeed rotten to the core.
His bitter hands grip the headboard as the man above moves forcefully. The durable bend and twists of his hips make him choke violently, back arching off the bed, pale skin shining in the moonlight.
His hair sprawls like a black curtain, long and silky in the sheets. Earlier that day, it had been upon him, the slick and fever of desire, so ripe and deep it made him wrench in anguish.
Ryu found the closest Alpha, decent size, large and empowering, and released his intoxicating scent. No Alpha could ever resist. Ryu lured him into his tiny apartment, no more the size of a small box, with the bathroom and kitchen all being in one spot.
The Alpha didn’t ask questions, he tossed Ryu onto the bed, tearing off his clothes in a deep rage that would later consume him in his rut.
No kisses. No words of any kind.
Just lips, teeth, and skin.
He comes again for the fifth time that evening, soaking the Alpha and the sheets. This goes on for several more hours. When it’s over, they are both covered in sweat, the stench of sex and freesia filling the room.
The Alphas knot dies down.
And Ryu knows what’s coming next. The Alpha stands, barely letting the air cool around them, throwing on his tight white t-shirt and jeans, his physique muscular, arms rippling and straining against the fabric.
He isn’t bad looking.
Just not at all Ryu’s type.
“You got a mate?” The Alpha asks.
They all did. Ryu ignores the question, lazily stroking his flat stomach, noting the sharp arch of his hip bones. He hasn’t eaten in days.
“Silent type eh?” The Alpha probes. “Look…. I only did this because you seemed desperate.”
That’s what they all say. Ryu wants to crackle in maniacal laughter. He doesn’t though, his eyes watch coolly, like a feline.
“You have a mate,” he continues. “I can tell. Your Māku is strong, very strong. He must be a powerful Alpha. You shouldn’t be wandering around here without him. Whatever happened between you two… it doesn’t matter…the stench of another Alpha on his Omega is enough to drive one mad…”
Isn’t that what Ryu wants? To drive his Alpha mad? He turns his head away dismissively. This conversation is over.
Vacation Tails by Deanna Wadsworth
“Can I touch it?” Skip whispered, feeling like a virgin all of a sudden, innocent and unsure. But he desperately wanted to feel Jeremiah’s green iridescent tail.
Jeremiah ran his hands down what would’ve been his lap. “You’ve touched me already. You don’t have to ask.”
“Yeah, but this is… different.”
“Looks like you’re gonna have to add, are you a merman, to your first date questionnaire,” Jeremiah joked.
“I don’t need to add anything anymore,” he said seriously. As far as Skip was concerned, the search was over, and the answers to what he’d been looking for were right here in the pool beside him.
But Jeremiah looked uneasy.
Skip brushed a hand over his cheek. “What is it, hon?”
“You’re sure it doesn’t bother you? That I’m not… I’m not human?” he whispered, gaze cast down. “You don’t think it’s… gross?”
“Turned on, eh?” Jeremiah said, lowering his face to hide a pleased but shy smile. “Good to know.”
Tentatively Skip trailed the hand on Jeremiah’s shoulder down his side to where his very human flesh faded into scales.
Jeremiah sucked in a breath as goosebumps prickled his upper body.
Skip grinned at his reaction. “It’s sensitive there.”
“I think it’s sensitive everywhere,” Jeremiah admitted sheepishly. “It’s never been touched before.”
And if Skip had anything to say about it, he would be the last.
He ran his fingers down the scallop shaped scales, each one smaller than his pinky nail. It wasn’t very bumpy. Jeremiah’s tail felt nothing like a slimy catfish, or rough like a bass or bluegill. It was entirely unique, yet very piscean. He traced each scale, noting that in the faint light each one shimmered with different colors, making a fingerprint uniquely Jeremiah. When they’d swum, Skip noticed that Jeremiah’s tail seemed darker than Aleek’s too.
He worked his hand down and across the front, marveling how the scales captured the light. Not just good camouflage, but beautiful. Nature and magic’s kaleidoscope.
Suddenly Jeremiah hissed and flinched.
“You do know what you’re touching right now, don’t you?” Jeremiah asked, with a breathless gasp.
So enraptured with studying his tail, Skip didn’t realize his hand had been toying with the scales directly where Jeremiah’s dick should be.
“Oh, I’m sorry!”
Jeremiah let out an airy chuckle. “You don’t have to be sorry. I like it when you touch me.”
Skip desperately wanted to know where his penis was, what it looked like now, but wasn’t quite sure how to ask. Did Jeremiah even know? Perhaps they could learn those things together. “Um… so it’s sensitive?”
“It’s my dick, of course it’s sensitive.” Jeremiah reached down to his groin area and gently pressed along a vertical seam Skip hadn’t noticed in his exploring. “If I push a little here and you keep touching me like that, it’ll come out.”
Terror by Moonlight by Hank Edwards
Several hours later, Demetrius’s legs had fallen asleep. He shifted position again and winced at the pins and needles that prickled up his legs as the blood started flowing through them once again.
“I’m hungry.” Cody’s voice floated out from the other side of the tree in the darkness.
“Me too,” Demetrius replied with a sigh. “Shouldn’t be much longer now. Raccoons forage at night, so it should be coming back home soon, right?”
“Whatever you say, Ranger Rick,” Cody said. He yawned, and Demetrius could just imagine him opening his mouth wide, showing off rows of glistening teeth.
“Keep it down,” Demetrius whispered. “You’ll scare the damn thing off before it gets to the trap.”
“Fuck that,” Cody grumbled. “It probably found someplace new to live. Stupid rodent.”
“Raccoons aren’t rodents. They’re mammals.”
Cody snorted. “Strike two against them. And strike two against old man McLeod for being such a crabby old fuck.”
“You pitching a no hitter tonight or something?” Demetrius asked. “That’s a lot of strikes.”
“Look at you with the sports reference,” Cody said with a chuckle.
“I’ve picked up a few things from you over the years,” Demetrius said.
They waited silent and surprisingly alert for spending hours sitting in a tree in the woods outside old man McLeod’s house. They had arrived later than expected after getting a flat tire on the truck, then finding the spare flat as well. By the time they’d arrived at the house, it was already late afternoon and Demetrius had to spend some time smoothing over any hard feelings Ian McLeod had from hearing Cody’s unprofessional message as well as their tardiness. They’d climbed a ladder and shined a flashlight into the section of the house’s eaves where the raccoon had jimmied open an entrance, finding it empty. They’d assured Ian McLeod no other raccoons were inside, but he’d protested, not believing them until Cody had climbed the ladder and snapped a picture on his phone.
After McLeod had agreed the nest did, indeed, appear to be empty, Demetrius had secured the opening and set a live trap on the ground beneath the spot. McLeod wanted the raccoon gone as soon as it was trapped because he didn’t want “to be kept awake by the fucking thing’s scratchings and scrabblings all fucking night long.” To appease their first customer, Demetrius had agreed and convinced Cody they needed to wait to see the animal caught. Demetrius figured it would come back sometime after midnight, nothing too late. It had been Cody’s idea to climb into the tree, his reasons muddled between “hunters do it all the time” and “I like trees.”
That had been at sunset almost three hours ago. Now, they were tired, damp with dew, and hungry.
A muffled shout came from the direction of the house, and Demetrius felt a chill go through him. He closed his eyes to listen harder, then asked, “Cody, did you hear a shout from the house?”
Cody snorted. “Probably old man McLeod reliving the terrors of World War I.”
Demetrius smiled, then stiffened as something trundled through the underbrush to their right.
“Is that it?” Cody whispered.
“I think so.”
“Sounds like a big fucker, doesn’t he?”
“Yeah. Bigger than that running back from Harriettville that got past you to run forty yards and score the winning touchdown the last football game of your senior year.”
Incredulous silence followed Demetrius’s comment. Then, “Really, Demmy? You gotta just keep shoveling that back in my face, don’t you?”
“Shh, it’s coming,” Demetrius said with a grin.
Suddenly, a deep, vicious growl rumbled through the mist-shrouded trees. Moments later, something even bigger than what had been trundling through the woods pounced out of the underbrush a dozen yards away, and Demetrius could have sworn he felt a gentle ground tremor that made the tree sway.
“What the fucking hell was that?” Cody whispered, and Demetrius heard his own fear reflected in Cody’s voice.
“Bigger than a raccoon,” Demetrius whispered back.
Something squealed in terror and pain, and then a few seconds of silence followed. Complete silence. No insects buzzed, no frogs croaked, no night birds sang, nothing rustled. Demetrius slowly, quietly, let out the breath he’d been holding. The branch he sat on seemed to dig hard into his buttocks, and his bladder suddenly felt very full, but he was too scared to move. He felt the light touch of Cody’s arm against his own where they each gripped the trunk of the tree, and that helped to reassure him a bit.
With a heavy huff of breath, the large, unseen creature tromped off deeper into the woods. In a few moments, the insects, frogs, and birds started up again, as if someone had thrown their “on” switch.
“Christ, that was scary,” Cody said and pushed to his feet, standing on a thick branch.
“That was no raccoon,” Demetrius added, as he stood up as well.
They climbed down from the tree and both squinted across the moonlit yard toward old man McLeod’s house. Even in the deep shadows on the back porch, Demetrius could see the back door stood open, and the screen was shredded.
“What the fuck?” Cody stepped from the trees onto the dew-soaked lawn.
Demetrius followed, casting his gaze right and left until he saw something near the edge of the woods. “Wait, look.”
They approached the twisted, bloody, furry lump, and Demetrius felt bile rise in the back of his throat. “Oh my God.”
The front half of a fat raccoon lay at their feet in a tangled mess. Blood had splashed over ferns and bracken for at least a foot all the way around. Its eyes were wide, and its mouth gaped open, tongue lolling out the side. It had been bitten in half just behind its front legs, the sleek, nimble fingers spread wide as if reaching for escape.
“What the fucking hell?” Cody said. He turned to look at the back of old man McLeod’s house. “Shit, Demmy. I think we’re in a heap of trouble.”
Deep Magic by Gillian St. Kevern
And that’s the story of how I ended up sitting in a tub in my grandmother’s kitchen, knees up around my chin, hoping that the rest of Nan’s cronies would wait until I was done scrubbing my back before visiting.
Luck was with me. Either the Aberdaron village grapevine had taken the night off, or Mrs Griffith had gone easy on me and held off sharing the news of my arrival. The screech that had me leaping out of the tub, scattering water across the kitchen floor wasn’t that of an outraged pensioner, but the kettle reaching the boil.
“Hot! Hot! Hot!”
The emptied kettle did not make much of an impact on my bathwater. I refilled it and set it to boil. “Nan chose to do this?”
Maybe she’d got religious in her old age. Making things harder than they needed to be was a common tenet, right? Discomfort brought you closer to God, which also explained the size of the tub. If I wedged myself back as far as I could fit, I could get both feet in the tub, but my arms hung over the side. Still, that last jug of water had raised the temperature of my bath to ‘tolerable’, and I settled back with a sigh.
My eyes shut on their own accord. All at once, my long journey had caught up to me. The sound of the kettle mixed with the rise and fall of the waves. Lulled by their even rhythm, I let myself drift.
“But though they sang their hardest, and used all their most cunning songs, the wrath of King Gurcant was too powerful. One by one, their voices failed, but still the waves came. On and on until the entire land was taken under the sea.” The voice came directly into my ear, so close it tickled my skin. “And the morgenau grieved, that they might no longer live upon the land, and the city was lost to men, and none dared challenge the King beneath the Cliffs who rules all within the Deep and on and on, until the city and the morgenau and even the King were all forgotten.”
Much like the waves, the voice had a hypnotic quality to it that filled me with lazy satisfaction. The sun was warm on my skin, but the arms draped around my shoulders were pleasantly cool. High overhead gulls rode the headwinds. There was not a cloud in the sky, nothing to break this endless contentment. “I’d like to hear you sing.”
The arms tightened around me. “You would like to be driven mad! If a man were to hear our song without the cliffs to carry it, it would break him.”
“A knight is no ordinary man—”
“But he is yet a man! Do not ask me this. You must not, even in jest.” His fingers were uncomfortably tight. “You understand? Promise me that you will not ask me again.”
“All right, all right! I get it.” I swatted at him. “Get off, you big lump.”
“Say that you promise.” His hold did not budge.
Cold fingers closed around my throat, pulling me down. My nose and mouth filled with water. I choked, throwing out my arms in panic. My foot connected with the side of the tub, bringing me back to reality. I sat up, coughing hard. It took a moment for my mind to understand the kitchen chair, my towel hanging over it, or the kettle, hissing and spitting on the bench.
I took a deep breath before levering myself up out of the bath. “A dream. That’s all it was. A dream.” A combination of my vivid imagination and the cooling bathwater. “Get a grip, Olly.” I turned the kettle off, leaving the tub for the morning. Wrapping myself in the towel, I made my way upstairs to the bedroom that had always been mine. Best cure for an over-wrought mind was sleep, and if my first night back in Aberdaron had been any indication, I was well in need of some shut-eye.
But as I pulled the blankets over me, it wasn’t the waves I heard, but the fading ripples of that voice.
God, that voice.
I’d always had a soft spot for arrogance. The voice checked that box, and more besides, boxes I didn’t know I had. It got me intimately, but as I settled back, I found myself puzzled. If the voice was so familiar, why couldn’t I place it?
Charlie Cochet is the international bestselling author of the THIRDS series. Born in Cuba and raised in the US, Charlie enjoys the best of both worlds, from her daily Cuban latte to her passion for classic rock.
Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found devouring a book, releasing her creativity through art, or binge watching a new TV series. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
Heaven and hell, demons and angels. J.K Jones has always had an affinity for otherworldly things. From her debut novel, it’s easy to see she loves all things crawling in the shadows. As it so happens, J.K Jones is the author of a gritty, fun, action-packed, soul-rending novel. Her characters are so dark and twisted they defy the dimensions of this world. She does not believe in HEA, she does believe in writing a suitable ending for her characters. Never will you read any of her works where the characters ride off into the sunset together. Not going to happen. There is nothing J.K. Jones loves more than a tragic ending. She is an avid reader, poet, and LGBTQ activist. She is a University graduate with a BA in Sociology, also has a TESOL certificate for teaching English as a Second Language.
Deanna Wadsworth might be a bestselling erotica author, but she leads a pretty vanilla life in Ohio with her wonderful husband and a couple adorable cocker spaniels. She has been spinning tales and penning stories since childhood, and her first erotic novella was published in 2010. She has served multiple board positions for different RWA chapters, including President of the Rainbow Romance Writers in 2017. When she isn’t writing books or brainstorming with friends, you can find her making people gorgeous in a beauty salon. An avid reader, she also loves gardening, cooking, music, and dancing. Often she can be seen hanging out on the sandbar in the muddy Maumee River or chilling with her hubby and a cocktail in their basement bar. In between all that fun, Deanna cherishes the quiet times when she can let her wildly active imagination have the full run of her mind. Her fascination with people and the interworkings of their relationships have always inspired her to write romance with spice and love without boundaries.
Hank Edwards has been writing gay fiction for more than twenty years. He has published over thirty novels and dozens of short stories. His writing crosses many sub-genres, including romance, rom-com, contemporary, paranormal, suspense, mystery, and wacky comedy. He has written a number of series such as the suspenseful Up to Trouble, funny and spooky Critter Catchers, Old West historical horror of Venom Valley, and erotic and funny Fluffers, Inc. No matter what genre he writes, Hank likes to keep things steamy and heartfelt. He was born and still lives in a northwest suburb of the Motor City, Detroit, Michigan, where he shares a home with his partner of over 20 years and their two cats.
Gillian St. Kevern is the author of the Deep Magic series, the Thorns and Fangs series, the For the Love of Christmas series, and standalone novels, The Biggest Scoop and The Wing Commander's Curse. Gillian currently lives in her native New Zealand, but spent eleven years in Japan and has visited over twenty different countries.
As a chronic traveller, Gillian is more interested in journeys than endings, with characters that grow and change to achieve their happy ending. She's not afraid to let her characters make mistakes or take the story in an unexpected direction. Her stories cross genres, time-periods and continents, taking readers along for an unforgettable ride. Both Deep Magic and The Biggest Scoop were nominated for Best LOR story in the 2015 M/M Romance Groups Member's Choice awards. Deep Magic also received nominations in Best Cover, Best Main Character and Best Paranormal, while The Biggest Scoop was nominated for Best Coming of Age.
Charlie Cochet
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Rack & Ruin by Charlie Cochet
Claw of Exile by JK Jones
Vacation Tails by Deanna Wadsworth
Terror by Moonlight by Hank Edwards
Deep Magic by Gillian St. Kevern
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