A Frost of Cares | A Ghost Story

Sometimes all you want is a good ghost story, and A Frost of Cares is that. I’ve read about 70%, and I really like where Amy Rae Durreson is going.  A little while ago I read Spindrift * and I enjoyed it plenty, but this is better.

Usually, a story is told as if the MCs are unaware of there being a reader. Here you are addressed at times, and Luke (the narrator) talks to his husband through the text. I haven’t really made up my mind about what I think about it, if you’re a romantic you’ll probably think it’s a nice touch.

Luke is a military historian, which normally would have scared me off—I usually stay away from military dudes, I’m married to one that’s enough—but here it’s perfect. Just thinking about empty halls in old military buildings has me trembling.

In RL I’m a teacher and staying late at work always scare the crap out of me. Mind you, schools can be scary too. There is something about the dark study halls, the automatic light coming on as I walk by, my steps echoing in the empty corridors that send shivers down my spine. You never think of it during the days when there are students everywhere but once the dark creeps in and the rooms turn quiet *shudder*.

Anyway, A Frost of Cares is definitely the best purchase I’ve made this week, and if you like ghosts you should check it out!

books2read.com/AFrost *


Military historian Luke Alcott leaps at the chance to live in the seventeenth-century country mansion of Eelmoor Hall, home of the Royal Military School of Medicine, after being offered a job cataloging the school’s archives. Luke believes he chose the perfect place to start a new life and put his broken past behind him. But soon after settling into the old house, he hears strange noises—like footsteps—and he begins to suffer from terrible nightmares.

The only person Luke can turn to for help is the taciturn caretaker, Jay, a veteran of the Afghanistan war who carries an old battle wound. Together they try to understand Eelmoor Hall’s history and decipher what could be causing the haunting. As the weather grows colder and snow dusts the countryside, a child goes missing. Luke needs to deal with his own demons and learn to trust in love again if he hopes to face down the angry spirit and find the missing girl.


* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Friday Reads | Soulless

I’ll be brief today. I’m on my way to pick up a new kitty, but it’s Friday and we all have to read, right?

I’m reading Soulless by T. Baggins. I’ve read T. Baggins before both as T. Baggins and S.A. Reid. The first story I read was Thirst and, while maybe not the most logical story out there, it sure made an impression. There is so much blood dripping evil in just a few short pages that T. Baggins was endeared to me forever.

Soulless, like Thirst, is a creepy vampire story. I like evil vampires, I like reading about the dark and gritty. I’m not usually into historicals, though, but I’m enjoying this one. T. Baggins language is enthralling, the worldbuilding is great, and if you fear the creature in the shadows, know that there is something far worse in the basement. It’s a long read and I’m pretty sure some will hate it—torture, rape, and lots of blood. This is not a time for sparkly vamps!

books2read.com/Soulless *


Book cover Soulless by T. Bagginds S.A. ReidA Man of Science

Nicholas Robinson is a chemist decades ahead of his time. Crippled by a riding accident and embittered by his injuries, he shuns the world, focusing on his laboratory and experiments. But when the sale of his country estate, Grantley, leads to an encounter with a vampire, Nicholas realizes there is more in heaven and earth than he ever dreamed possible.

A Creature of Darkness

Although three hundred years old, Bancroft Ulwin is young by supernatural standards. Enslaved by his cruel, deformed maker, Ban is forbidden from relations with mortal men unless it ends in death. But his liaison with Nicholas, expressly against his master’s wishes, soon expands beyond mere lust to something more.

A Love Predestined

Long ago while still mortal, Ban met Serafino, the only true love of his life. When death separated them, Ban accepted his role as an enemy of human kind. But as he comes to suspect Nicholas is Serafino reincarnated, Ban begins to question everything he once believed. Including his own damnation.


* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

 

Friday Reads | Unexpected Homecoming

In the mode for some fluff? Unexpected Homecoming by A.J. Henderson is a cute short story about Ben who gets thrown out by his boyfriend and has to go back home to live with his dad.

Matt is the local veterinarian and Ben’s high school crush. When they meet after all these years sparks are flying but Ben is being careful, not sure he wants to date again. This is a story filled with small-town charm, nosy relatives, and dogs.

Unexpected Homecoming was written for last year’s Don’t Read in the Closet event, Love is an Open Road. If you’re a member of Goodreads M/M Romance Group you know what it is, if not it’s a yearly event put together by the group where 200 authors donate one story each (or in some cases more than one). Readers send in a prompt including a photo and text about what kind of story they want and an author writes it. This means that there are hundred upon hundred of free M/M stories out there. They vary from sweet-no-sex to tentacle smut or graphic violence, all depending on what the readers have suggested. I have written in the event twice and it’s really fun.


Dear Author,
After being dumped by his boss-lover and losing his job, Ben is forced to pack his stuff and his beloved dog and return home to stay with his Dad and grandmother. Ben is not too happy going back to the small-town since it has been his dream to get out of there.
Until Ben finds out that his high-school crush, Matt, is still around, now working as a town veterinarian. And to his surprise Matt is out and currently single. Now it seems that his own dog, his supporting Dad, and the rest of the nosy town residents, especially the elderly bingo-gang lead by his own grandma, are playing matchmaker for Ben and Matt. Guess going back to his home town might be the best decision for Ben after all.

Photo Description:
Two men in a pool, one man sitting on the other’s shoulders. A golden retriever stands in the water next to them. A house and trees are visible in the background.

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’sLove is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.