Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

paranormal

What If? (Lost and Found) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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When 16-year-old Crispin stumbles across Kennedy’s Emporium, he’s transported into a magical world of the impossible. Unicorns, snow globes where the snow never stops falling, bubbles that never pop, paper fireworks that explode and refill, and most magical of all—Garrett Kennedy, youngest son of the owner, who makes Crispin’s heart leap in new and exciting ways. Crispin promises he’ll never forget Garrett, but when he loses Garrett’s gift of a jewelled bee, he also loses his memories of the time he spent with him.

Eight years later, the bee is returned to Crispin, along with memories of Garrett and his amazing world. But how can any of what Crispin now recalls be possible?
And yet…

What if it wasn’t a dream?
What if Kennedy’s Emporium exists?
What if magic is real?
What if Garrett’s been waiting, wondering why Crispin never came back?

And what if Crispin takes a chance on the best thing that’s ever happened to him, assuming he can find Kennedy’s Emporium again?

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Book 2 in this new magical/paranormal romance series. You don’t have to read book 1 as this stands alone.

I had just come off of reading two highly emotional, angsty reads. So I say to myself, yes this one will be good. It’ll probably make me giggle a bit like Jonty did. It’s Christmas-y, it won’t be sad. FALSE! Sigh.

Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t ALL sad and there is definitely a happily ever after but getting there led to tears. Many tears.

The book is set in modern day London, but faeries, shapeshifters, werewolves, etc are all real. But regular people don’t know they are real. A human, Crispin, stumbles across a shop he shouldn’t have been able to see but he did. And he spent 24 hours immersed with Garrett in that world. When he left, the shop disappeared, everyone thought Crispin had disappeared and he was left with no recollection of what had happened.

Crispin’s life isn’t fabulous. His family is wealthy, but his mother is very cold and his older brother tortures him, even as adults. The only family member he is close to is his father. And his father tends to hover because he had a brain tumor as a child and he is always worried that it will come back.

Through a series of events, Crispin gets his memory of those lost 24 hours back and is determined to find Garrett again. A little magic helps him find his way back.

Garrett is ready to leave the fae world behind to stay with Crispin. But Garrett believes that Crispin must have some fae in him that let him see the shop all those years ago.

While Crispin and Garrett unravel a mystery with many connected threads, they are inseparable. Love at first sight, soul mates, whatever you want to call it. It is so sweet how Garrett wants to figure out a way to be together but Crispin wants Garrett to go back to Fairyland and forget him. I won’t say why. But remember all the crying I did? Uhuh

I want to hug Crispin’s dad and smack his mother and brother. As well as Garrett’s brother. We did get to check in with characters from the first book which was fun. And at least that part made me giggle.

All of the tears were redeemed although there were quite a few twists that I didn’t expect. What started as a sob fest ended up being a feel good Christmas story. Mostly.

4 pieces of eye candy

Dead Serious Case #1 Miz Dusty Le Frey: (MM Paranormal Romance) (Crawshanks Guide to the Recently Departed) by Vawn Cassidy: RB, Excerpt, Release Day Review, and Giveaway

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In the business of unfinished business…

Tristan Everett had always preferred the company of the dead because they were quiet and didn’t talk back. As a slightly awkward introvert working as a pathologist at the Hackney Public Mortuary suited him just fine. That is, until a freak accident with a rogue ice cube and suddenly he can see ghosts. No longer content to just lie on the table and let him figure out how they died, they’re now peering over his shoulder critiquing his work and confessing their most lascivious sins before skipping off merrily into the afterlife.

Just when he thought his life couldn’t get any weirder, London’s most infamous drag queen, Miz Dusty Le Frey, is wheeled in with a toe tag and she’s not prepared to go quietly into the light. Not only is she furious at the prospect of spending eternity in last season’s gold lamé, she’s determined that he help her solve her murder.

Suddenly Tristan finds himself thrown into a world of sequins and fake eyelashes, and worse still, he may have developed a bit of a crush on Scotland Yard’s brand new drool-worthy detective, Inspector Danny Hayes, who’s been assigned to Dusty’s murder. Oh, and as the icing on top of a really crappy cake, the killer now wants him dead too…

All he ever wanted was a simple life but suddenly he’s juggling work, a deliciously sexy detective, a stubborn ghost and a relentless murderer… and things have just gotten dead serious….

From author Wendy Saunders writing as Vawn Cassidy comes this hot and funny, slow burn, opposites attract paranormal mm romance.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

He’s wearing another suit that, god help me, clings to every inch of a six three body, which has clearly been hand carved by the gods while angels harmonised in the background. His suit jacket is unbuttoned, his white shirt stretched across a broad and obviously well-toned chest, his tie is loosened, and his top button undone.

Jesus holy moly Christ, the man is nothing short of temptation incarnate. All he needs is a trench coat and I’d have my very own spank bank version of Constantine. He lifts his hand, raking it through his dark blonde hair, and I swear it looks like he is in slow motion. I almost reach up to check my chin in case I’m accidentally drooling.

He turns, his gaze sweeping the room, and as his piercing blue gaze lands on me, his mouth breaks into a smile, causing his eyes to crinkle slightly and revealing, not dimples exactly, but fascinating creases either side of his mouth that I find myself desperately wanting to trace with the pads of my fingers.

He crosses the room in smooth confident strides until he’s standing on the opposite side of the table to me, with Dusty’s body between us.

Great, I realise with a sinking feeling. I’ve now added my hot crush to my rapidly expanding list of hallucinations. There is no way he’s really the guy from last night. He didn’t even know my name let alone how to find me. At this rate, I’m going to have to check myself into a mental hospital.

‘Tristan Everett?’ He smiles as he holds out his hand.

Without thinking, I reach out and grasp his hand, ignoring the little zip of electricity and letting out a startled gasp. When I’d tried to touch Dusty, my hand had passed straight through as if she weren’t there, but Mr Blue Eyes’ hand is warm and his grip firm.

‘You’re real,’ I whisper as he studies me, slightly puzzled by my response. ‘Uh, I mean.’ I clear my throat and offer him a polite, professional smile. He really doesn’t need to know how much I’d like to lean forward and press my mouth to those soft looking lips of his, especially considering I’d missed out last night as I was unconscious when he had his mouth on mine, while he was busy saving my life. ‘How did you find me?’ I ask curiously, momentarily forgetting everything in the room but him.

‘Serendipity,’ he replies softly, his mouth curving as he watches me.

‘I’m sorry?’ I blink owlishly in confusion.

‘Inspector Danny Hayes, Scotland Yard,’ he introduces himself, as his gaze flickers momentarily down at Dusty’s body. ‘That’s my case you’re about to post-mortem.’

‘Ohhh,’ I reply slowly as his words sink in. My mouth forms a small, silent ‘o’ as I stare at him, lost in his denim blue gaze, only marginally aware of the soft smile playing on my lips.

‘Oh my God, are you two seriously eye fucking each other over my dead body?’ a dry voice interrupts. ‘Er…rude…’

I haven’t read this author’s other books, including the other MM, Suddenly Beck. However, after reading this book, I did go grab it on KU, so that I could read it when I get a chance.

This book was funny, sometimes laugh out loud hilarious. I highlighted several portions of the book, because I laughed so much. This book also broke my heart so many times! Dusty was a force to be reckoned with in death, so you can imagine in life, she was just a wrecking ball (look for this in the book 😉 ). She was loved by so many in her life, and found a few more devotees upon her death. What a fantastic character! I’m going to need more of her in what I hope is the beginning of a series.

Meanwhile, Tristan and Danny were very much lust/love at first sight, and it was super cute, and oftentimes quite awkward. Exactly how I would have wanted it to be. They definitely would need to work on their trust of each other, but that comes with time, right?

All the side characters were fantastic as well. Chan, Benny, even a certain Madam with a crystal ball. Dusty had a lot of people trying to find her murderer, as it should be for such a great character.

My one issue with the arc, which I almost never mention, because as an arc, it is expected to have some errors. However, because I received the arc less than a week before publishing, I have to assume it had already been through editing, but there were many glaring errors that should have been caught with a thorough editing. Sometimes, these can even be attributed to American English versus UK English, but this was not the case.

All in all, a book I would highly recommend if you like some mystery with your romance, and if you love drag queens, this is even more for you.

4 pieces of eye candy

Vawn Cassidy is the MM pen name of author Wendy Saunders. She lives in Hampshire in the UK with her husband and three children. She writes Supernatural and Contemporary Fantasy Fiction as Wendy Saunders and Romantic Suspense as WJ Saunders.
Suddenly Beck is her debut MM novel and was borne of her love and enjoyment of MM Romance. During the lockdown, she wanted to write something fun and light-hearted, and as a quirky and unapologetic Brit herself, she wanted to set a story back home in the UK as opposed to her other fiction which is primarily set in the states.

Connect with Allison:
www.vawncassidy.com
www.facebook.com/vawncassidyauthor
www.instagram.com/vawncassidyauthor

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Double Trouble (Lost and Found, Book 1) by Barbara Elsborg: New Release Review

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Seven years ago
Fifteen-year-old Raffety’s freaked out from the moment he arrives at summer camp. Something isn’t right about the place, parents, kids and the counsellors. The only good thing is Jonah—and their first kiss.
Trouble is Jonah’s middle name. He can’t just ignore that Raffety clearly doesn’t belong at the camp, and risks everything to help him escape, even their budding friendship.
Jonah’s actions have damaging repercussions for both boys. Raffety returns to a very different world than the one he left, one where his mum is terrified of strangers who insist they’re pack. As for Jonah, his father decrees he’s gone too far. His memories of Raffety are wiped and Jonah’s exiled to Faerieland.

Present Day
Breaking cover for his mum’s funeral lands Raffety back in the claws of a pack that never stopped searching for him. The alpha is claiming Raffety’s an omega, and prime breeding material. Erm, no way. Raffety would rather eat his own eyeballs. He needs to figure out a way to escape—and quick.
Indentured to Paranormal Resolutions for his sins, which are many, Jonah’s ordered to extract a mark from the clutches of a pack of werewolves. The mission fills him with dread: the wolves know he stole their gold and if they catch him, they’ll eat his guts, with or without ketchup―gulp! But defying his boss isn’t an option. Not if Jonah wants to live.

Is it chance that Jonah and Raffety end up in the same trap, or is it more? Could fate be giving them both a helping hand, or have they just landed in the worst trouble of their lives?

NOTE FROM AUTHOR
A few scenes in this story appeared in a book that is no longer in publication.
In addition, it is not an Omegaverse story but the possibility of a male shifter getting pregnant is part of the plot. No on-page detail is given.

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

I only started reading Barbara Elsborg a year or two ago. Her books just weren’t on my radar. But now that they are- I want them all! Everything I have read so far from her has been contemporary romance. But this one is very different. This one explores paranormal beings- werewolves, vampires, fairies, shapeshifters, some without even an identity that we know. I don’t normally gravitate to that trope, but since I am a fan of her work, I decided to give this a try. Glad I did!

Starting when they are teenagers and meet at a summer camp that Raffety thought was for music but is really for paranormals to learn about each other and get along. Raffety has an instant connection with Jonah who befriends him, kisses him and then helps him escape.

There are a couple of time jumps. One going 5 years in the future and then 7 years. Raffety escaped the summer camp, but not the werewolf pack that wants him. Until his mother helps him escape again.

He lives in anonymity until news from home brings him back. But he gets the attention of his old pack, and some vampires. Jonah is also tasked with getting Raffety back to London. Jonah’s memory of Raffety at summer camp was wiped from his mind by his father. So Raffety remembers him, but he doesn’t remember Raffety.

Turns out Raffety and Jonah are both then on the run together. The pack wants them both- but for very different reasons. But they stick together, mostly because the chemistry they had as teens hasn’t waned at all and they can’t keep their hands off of each other.

The various inventive ways they get into and out of trouble is fun to read. There is definitely some excitement involved as well as danger. They also learn a lot about each other and Raffety learns more about other paranormal beings.

There was great world building in this book and it just makes me want more. It seems most of the different species aren’t necessarily friendly with each other, several wanting to claim control. It was fun to read about them all.

Even if paranormal/supernatural whatever isn’t necessarily your jam, I think you will still enjoy this if you are a fan of the author.

4 pieces of eye candy

Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune; Narration Kirt Graves: New Release Review/Audiobook Review

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Welcome to Charon’s Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

Amazon

Audible

Okay, full disclosure…I received an arc (thank you!) from the publisher for an honest review. HOWEVER, when I saw that Kirt Graves was doing the audiobook narration, I decided to wait for the audio. It’s actually the first time I’ve preordered an audiobook. I knew that I would enjoy TJ Klune’s book, but I knew I would love it even more, with Kirt’s narration. And thanks to these two men, I spent the better part of 3 hours crying…all in the name of a true HAPPILY EVER AFTER.

I’m not even sure where to start with this book. The author’s world building is so incredible, bringing life to what should be a dead place. All of the characters were rich and nuanced, not only the main characters. In fact, there really weren’t two main characters in this romance, but five total, and we learn so much about them throughout the book. Meanwhile, Wallace learns a lot about himself, who he was before he died, and who he really wanted to become. And in the end, he did all he could to redeem the wrongs that he did in life, as well as the ones that he saw after his death.

I loved that Hugo couldn’t touch Wallace…it was such a small thing, but it really spoke to what these two men were dealing with as they fell in love. Their lives were going in separate directions, they couldn’t touch, only see and talk, so Mei had to be the one to make any contact…well unless you could Nelson’s cane (haha). On top of it all, this book was hilarious. I’m still working from home, and was super glad that I was not at work listening to this book, for all the laugh out loud moments…as well as the bawling I did for the previously mentioned 3 hours.

There were so many little scenes in the book that moved it from an average book to amazing. Wallace playing with Apollo out back, or hanging out with Nelson and just talking all night. Even how much he clearly grew to respect Mei and all she did for her found family. Seeing Cameron’s life, and doing what he could to help in the tea shop. Every small step Wallace made brought him from a man everyone hated in the first chapter, to someone who you rooted to find his happy ending. Wallace built himself a family simply by being the man he wanted to be.

The narration by Kirt Graves was spot on once again. I enjoy the little inflections he adds to each and every book he narrates. He takes something mildly funny, and with just a simple pause, or a tiny gasp he turns it into a laugh out loud moment. His vocal range always allows me to know which character is speaking, even if the words don’t, something that is much appreciated. Kirt is definitely my top 3 narrators in this genre, and I’m always happy to spend a few hours in the world that he works so hard to recreate from the author’s vision.

In the end, you could not have asked for a happier ending, or a more fulfilling ride along the way. Full of humor, joy at the little things (like tea!) and so uplifting. I may have had puffy eyes for a full day after, but it was all well worth it.

Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 4.5 pieces of eye candy

Tangled Warriors by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott: RB, Excerpt and New Release Review

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Lucien Cummings

The pestilents are trying to kill him.

He’s pretty sure the Water Weaver wants to kill him as well.

But after two months of fighting an attraction for a man who couldn’t possibly be his mate, Lucien cracks when he’s pulled into an impulsive threesome with Calder and a sexy man they picked up in a bar.

That night was earth shattering.

And now he needs to figure out how to keep both men safe and his.

Calder Saito

Calder doesn’t want to fight his attraction for the Fire Weaver any longer, but they can’t really be soul mates, right?

And what about Gio? The sexy man gives him such a feeling of completeness and peace.

Could one man really have two soul mates?

Gio Russo

Can’t he just have them both?

Tangled Warriors is the fourth book in the Weavers Circle series. This MMM paranormal romance includes fast-paced action, running through Savannah, secrets, shapeshifting, kidnapping, deadly Girl Scouts, sexy times, insecurity, three crazy old ladies, soul mates, and magic!

Title:  Tangled Warriors

Series: Weavers Circle #4

Author: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott

Publisher: Drake & Elliott Publishing LLC

Release Date: September 24, 2021

Heat Level: 4 – Lots of Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 85k

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Thriller/Suspense

Amazon – Kindle Unlimited

Goodreads

“Shots!” Gio suddenly proclaimed. “I think we could all use a round of shots. What do you say?” He looked up at Lucien and smiled. “Join me in a round of shots. Break the ice.”

“Nothing feels icy to me,” Lucien murmured, while the fingers on Calder’s waist tightened.

He suddenly felt bad. He was intruding like an annoying little brother. Yes, his intention had been to stop Lucien from hitting on this guy, but now that he was standing there, he felt how wrong it was. What Lucien did and who he slept with was none of his business. He was supposed to be working on getting rid of the bad blood between him and Lucien, not making matters worse.

“None for me,” Calder said softly. “I’ll grab the drinks and get out of your way.”

Gio surprised him by cupping the side of his face with a warm calloused hand. “Oh no, sweetness. We don’t want you going anywhere. You’ve got to stay.” Gio looked over Calder’s shoulder at Lucien. “We want him to stay, right?”

Calder tensed, waiting for the rejection, but Lucien shocked him even more by pulling him in tighter so that he could feel Lucien’s groin against the small of his back. Those long fingers slipped down from his waist to caress his hip bone, sending the most delicious tingles all over his body. “Stay. Have a shot with us,” Lucian pressed. His voice was warm and so very tempting. Calder couldn’t remember ever hearing Lucien talk to him like that. He wanted to live in that voice. Just curl up in it like a warm, handmade quilt.

Releasing him, Gio turned to the bartender as she delivered Lucien’s and Calder’s mix of drinks and ordered a round of shots. Calder didn’t hear what he’d ordered exactly because Gio had also slotted himself better against Calder, causing his brain to short out. He was now in the one place he’d never thought he’d be—a Gio-Lucien sammich. Even with all their clothes on, it was now his favorite kind of sandwich. He would happily eat it every day for the rest of his life.

Calder was too tongue-tied to manage words. He nodded. At least he thought he nodded. He must have done something, because Gio’s smile grew wider. A second hand landed on his hip right where Lucien’s

The shots arrived, and Gio slid one over to Lucien before physically placing one in Calder’s hand as if he knew that his brain wasn’t in control of his body any longer. He watched as Gio clicked his shot glass on Lucien’s and then Calder’s. Tipping his head back, he sent the amber liquid down his long, sexy throat. Calder did the same without a thought. The burn was enough to wake him out of his stupor.

Sucking in a harsh breath, he coughed several times while slamming his shot glass on the bar. Gio grabbed his hand again and shoved a drink into it. Without thinking, Calder sipped it, relieved that it was his gin and tonic. The addition of more alcohol to his system probably wasn’t the smartest, but at least it had gotten rid of his coughing.

When he could breathe, he took a deep drink and set the glass on the bar to find Gio smiling at him while Lucien’s hand continued to dig possessively into his hip.

You okay?” Lucien inquired. For once, the question didn’t sound spiteful or mean. There was genuine concern in his tone.

Calder managed a small nod and Gio laughed.

Of course he’s okay. What are you drinking, sweetness?” Before Calder could answer, Gio leaned in and licked his bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth for a second, then releasing it with a wet pop. “Mmm…gin and tonic. Not bad.”

Calder barely heard the words. It was just a rush of blood past his ears as it raced to his steadily hardening dick.

As Gio moved away, he reached past Calder and pulled Lucien close. “And what are you drinking?” Calder watched as Gio licked his way into Lucien’s slack, welcoming mouth. He didn’t know what turned him on more—actually kissing Gio or watching Gio kiss Lucien. It defied all logic, but it was clear that his libido had zero interest in logic. He only wanted to know all the wonderful things Gio could do with his mouth.

Gio released Lucien and licked his own lips slowly. His dark eyes had turned black as his pupils dilated with desire. “I can tell this is going to be a fun night already. I suggest we head to my place so we can get more comfortable and less likely to be arrested.”

We? Calder croaked out.

If you’ve been reading these books, I am sure you suspected Lucian and Calder having a connection. I mean the water weaver and the fire weaver had to be connected. What we didn’t know was that they weren’t complete as a couple. Then they met Gio.

So two guys who sniped at each other constantly were suddenly in bed together. With Gio literally and figuratively in between them. Cozy.

They figured one and done, right? Gotta love the whole “just have sex and get it out of your systems”. Does that ever work? Nope. Then Gio shows up at their house because he is the antique furniture restoration specialist that was hired. Oh boy sexual tension is a cracklin!

But Gio is immediately brought in on what is going on when the house is attacked and magic is revealed. Lucian and Calder don’t want Gio’s memory erased. Gio doesn’t want his memory erased. Grey knows that they are soul mates so he is against it as well.

Even though Gio has been burned by a triad before, he does come around kind of quickly to the idea of a soulmate trio. Especially when they need help locating the final weaver.

There is a GREAT scene with the three of them, Gio’s entire family and pestilents that was awesome. The big Italian family is so familiar to me and what I grew up around that they way they reacted to everything was pretty believable.

This book wasn’t nearly as nail biting as the others, but it was really fun and enjoyable. I’m not really looking forward to the next book because I assume it will be the last. Better be epic is all I’m saying.

4 pieces of eye candy

Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.

Author Links

Website: http://drakeandelliott.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drakeandelliott/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrakeandElliott

Email: drakeandelliott@gmail.com

Seducing the Sorcerer by Lee Welch: Exclusive Author Interview and Excerpt, Release Day Review and Giveaway

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Homeless and jobless, Fenn Todd has nearly run out of hope. All he has left is his longing for horses and the strength of his own two hands. But when he’s cheated into accepting a very ugly sackcloth horse, he’s catapulted into a world of magic, politics and desire.

Fenn’s invited to stay at the black tower, home of the most terrifying man in the realm: Morgrim, the court sorcerer. Morgrim has a reputation as a scheming villain, but he seems surprisingly charming—and sexy—and Fenn falls hard for him.

However, nothing is as it seems and everyone at the tower is lying about something. Beset by evil hexes, violent political intrigue and a horse that eats eiderdowns, Fenn must make the hardest choices of his life.

Can a plain man like Fenn ever find true love with a scheming sorcerer?

Release date: 23 September 2021

Length: 100,000 words

Genre: fantasy m/m romance

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Goodreads

Two Chicks Obsessed: At the end of Seducing the Sorcerer, I felt everything was primed for a book 2. When’s it going to happen?

Lee Welch: Never say never, but I wrote Seducing the Sorcerer as a standalone, so there’s nothing planned. But I love that you feel there could be a second book because I hope that means the characters are living on in your imagination, having more adventures and a future together. So, it makes me very happy you would ask that question!

TCO: Are there plans to expand the world or write another book in that world but with different main characters?

LW: I’m not sure, because I created the world specifically for the story I wanted to tell about Fenn and Morgrim. Everything about the world—from the history to the geography to the politics—serves the themes of their story.

For example, one of the themes of the book is hope: hope lost and found, false hopes and real ones. Therefore, at the beginning of the book, Fenn is weary, middle-aged and nearly out of hope. He’s homeless and jobless and in many ways he’s been done out of these things by magic, because that’s the recent history in this particular world. That bit of history heightens Fenn’s particular situation. And it means he has a jaded view of magicians, so when he stumbles across some magic himself and is catapulted into Morgrim the court sorcerer’s world of magic and power—that means the situation is particularly interesting for Fenn. Because of the history.

And Fenn’s particular history makes things tense for Morgrim too, because Fenn’s from a place Morgrim failed to defend years ago. So, there’s already tension between them.

I feel other stories and other characters might need different worlds?

Mind you, I have wondered about the magician who developed crystal magic. Because while that whole discipline is almost a side detail in Seducing the Sorcerer, there’s a strong hint that it’s not as safe and convenient as everyone thinks. And if there are side-effects, I suspect the magician who developed it might one day feel he has to redeem himself. And since I’m a romance author, I’d need to discover who could fall for a man who’s regretting his whole life’s work…so now you’ve got me thinking!

TCO: I’d love to know the story behind the worple horse. Was it a complete figment of your imagination, or something else? I ask because Worple was the name of an Australian thoroughbred racehorse so I’d be fascinated to know.

LW: OMG was there really a racehorse named Worple?! *laughs*

But no, there’s no connection. The worple horse in my book was a figment of my imagination, inspired by a very bad sketch of a horse as drawn by my daughter.

The name was inspired by our cat, whose name is Turple (itself a corruption of Turtle) and who is also sometimes called ‘Wurple’. He’s a very worple-ish kind of cat; always following you about, getting in your way, staring at you in the bath, having inconvenient ideas about things. He’s a bit of a derp, but we love him and he makes us laugh. So, when I was looking for a name for a ridiculous kind of horse, ‘worple’ sprang to mind. It feels right to me.

TCO: What dialect was Fenn’s accent based on? Because you’re a New Zealander, but I looked it up and I’d swear it was Northern Brit.

LW: Yes, I’m a New Zealander, but my mother and grandmother were from County Durham in the north of England, and my husband and his family are from North Yorkshire. I know people who talk a tiny bit like Fenn—saying ‘give over’ instead of ‘stop that’ for example, ‘grand’ to mean ‘good’, and ‘right’ as an intensifier (as in ‘it’s right cold today’). But don’t go to the north of England and expect to hear people talking like Fenn! Because I played around and mixed it up and added some Victorian era slang to his vocabulary because I love old-fashioned slang.

But that’s one of the joys of fantasy worlds for an author like me. I can play with language and nobody can tell me I’m wrong, because I can assure you that all working-class people from the Essurean Isle of Mandillo speak like Fenn. Although he’s got a particular gift for metaphor, I think.

Seducing the Sorcerer is out on 23 September.

The sorcerer gave his staff a vicious twirl and pointed it at Fenn’s chest, clearly ready to destroy an army. Fenn gritted his teeth against whatever hideous hex was about to kill him. How much would it hurt? How unnatural would it be? He ought to run, but he could barely move. He hunched, eyes closing of their own accord, and clutched the horse’s sacking mane as if the coarse twine could help him keep a grip on life.

At least he’d die astride a horse.

But nothing happened. The rain pattered cool on his head and hands. He opened one eye, then the other, and risked a glance at Morgrim. A shadow of doubt passed over the sorcerer’s narrow face. It was almost confusion, if a hunting hawk can ever be said to look confused.

“Well?” Morgrim said.

His tone said “and how dare you keep me waiting”. It was clear Fenn was expected to make the next move.

“Er, evening, sir. My lord.” Fenn ducked his head. “I’m right sorry for the intrusion.”

“You’re sorry?”

There was such vicious scorn in the sorcerer’s voice that Fenn flinched. Morgrim cocked his head to one side, raptorlike. He hadn’t lowered his staff. “Who are you?”

“Fenn Todd. Er…your grace. Sir.” Gods, what were you supposed to call a court sorcerer? “Um…your honour.”

“Fenn Todd.” Morgrim sounded as if he were sizing it up to put in a spell.

Fenn shivered. Should have given a false name. Why hadn’t he thought to give a false one? Now Morgrim would be able to find out that Fenn had a criminal record and all. Oh Gods, this was going to be bad.

“And what is your purpose here?” Morgrim snapped.

“There ain’t one, your worship. It was a mistake. The horse brought me. I didn’t mean to trespass. I’ll go, eh? Quick as you like.”

Morgrim frowned as if Fenn’s answer hadn’t made sense.

“Who sent you?”

“No one. Honest. I came by the horse sort of…accidental. Tried riding it, only it took off in the air and…well, then it came down here.” Fenn had never felt more stupid or incompetent in his life. The whole thing was a ludicrous humiliating nightmare. “But I don’t want no trouble. I’ll be off, eh? Sorry to disturb you…er…sir.”

“You came to the Unket Tower by accident? You expect me to believe that?”

The name made Fenn shiver. He’d heard of it, of course, because court sorcerers had lived here for over a thousand years. The name was synonymous with magic. The place was reputed to be haunted. It was a giant trap.

He glanced about the courtyard again. There were several doors but they were all closed fast. The stone walls were five yards high and slimy with wet that flickered red in the torchlight. And there was that young bloke with the sword to think of, let alone the angry sorcerer. If the horse wouldn’t fly there’d be no escape. Why in blazes had the creature brought him here?

“Aye, by accident. Gods’ truth,” Fenn said grimly.

“And what magic did you use?” Morgrim still hadn’t moved from the top step. The tower door stood open to the dark behind him.

“Magic?” Fenn shook his head. “No. No, no. I know what it looks like, but I ain’t a magician.”

“You’re lying. Worple horses can’t fly. Don’t antagonise me, Mr. Todd. You’ll regret it.” Morgrim’s glare intensified. “I repeat: What magic did you use?”

“A worple horse?” It was Fenn’s turn to frown. “Wait. Is that a thing? What is that?”

“I’m asking the questions.”

There was an edge to the sorcerer’s tone, like anger and yet not quite. Fenn found he’d raised his hand in a reassuring gesture.

“All right, sir. I meant no disrespect.”

“What. Magic. Did. You. Use?” Morgrim demanded.

“None. Honest. I know the horse has a rune on its chest but that weren’t me. That just appeared. I can’t do magic.”

“Liar.”

“You think I’d come here if I could?”

“You are trespassing in my courtyard in the middle of the night. Are you now also being insolent?” Morgrim sounded as if he couldn’t believe his ears, but he lowered his staff.

Some of the tension went out of Fenn. It seemed Morgrim wasn’t going to do anything unnatural to him just yet.

“No, sir. It was an honest question. If I could do magic, why would I come here? Wouldn’t I be lying on silk sheets somewhere with a glass of wine and a valet peeling me a grape?”

Morgrim gave him one of those quelling looks that folks who liked to be in charge often gave. Fenn had weathered plenty in his time, though never one from the most powerful sorcerer in living memory. It made his blood run cold, but he kept his face plain. It didn’t do to be too easily cowed. It could make these domineering types worse. No, Fenn must strike the right balance between deference and dignity, and never mind that he felt too rattled to be up to the task.

It wasn’t helping that it was still raining. Even though the moon was right there, clearly visible over the yard wall to the east. It was raining only on the tower. Fenn shivered.

That was right uncanny. It certainly looked as though Morgrim had stolen all the rain clouds like people said.

This whole situation was unimaginable. Perhaps Fenn was dead after all.

There was a change in the solid body of the horse beneath him. It was sinking, deflating like a pricked balloon. Its legs bowed and then slid outwards. Its body grew thin and its head nodded towards the ground. Fenn jumped off with a muttered curse and it sank into a sad pool of sacking on the wet cobbles at his feet.

Fenn scratched his beard. “Blame thing.”

There’d be no flying out of here on it now. Not that it had seemed inclined previously, but now he was definitely stuck. Perhaps that quelling look of Morgrim’s had been more than just a look. Perhaps it had been some sort of evil eye.

Fenn glanced up. “You do that? Sir.”

Morgrim made a scoffing noise that said, “of course I did, but your question is beneath me”. He was glaring at the horse with a sort of outraged curiosity. He looked like a bloke who did a lot of glaring. His eyebrows were two perfect curves, positively made for the job.

Fenn nudged the horse with the toe of his boot and it gave a plaintive whinny. So, it hadn’t gone lifeless. It just wasn’t standing up any more.

In a way, Fenn sympathised. His knees felt right shaky. But Morgrim didn’t seem about to strike him down with a bolt of lightning just yet. And if Fenn was flung in a dungeon for a few nights, well, it wouldn’t be pleasant, but it wouldn’t be the first time. Who knew what would happen to the horse, but he himself would at least be fed and watered. Probably. Regular prisons had to feed you these days, though it was quite possible that Morgrim was a law unto himself.

“Well. I know it’s an ugly great thing to have littering up your courtyard,” Fenn said, wiping a raindrop off the end of his nose. “And I’m right sorry to have bothered you, and I hope you’ll be a gentleman and forgive the nuisance. I’ll be off now, eh? I won’t trouble you again. I promise.”

“All in good time.”

Morgrim came down the stairs in a ripple of black silk. He moved like a snake and in spite of himself Fenn was impressed. The man’s grace was mesmerising. It was hard to look away. And not just because Morgrim was so bloody terrifying.

“I have questions for you, Fenn Todd.”

Fenn was hardly in a position to refuse. “Aye, sir. Ask away.”

“You, Mr. Todd”–the sorcerer gave a graceful inclination of his head towards Fern–“are dealing with wild magic.”
I’ve read fantasy books for at least twenty years and it takes a lot for one to take me by surprise with such a unique twist.
Fenn Todd is desperate. He’s been betrayed, cheated, lost his home and countless jobs and the only work he can find that might keep him from starvation is digging a cesspit for a local farmer. Fearing he is being cheated and ridiculed because he is promised a horse for his labors when all he expected was water and a couple of coppers. He knows it can’t be true, a valuable horse for poor labor? But horses are his real love, and the thought of even touching one again makes him agree.
All I will say not to spoil the plot, is that the horse isn’t anything you would expect, but it sets off with Fenn and eventually takes him to an enchanted tower where where Morgrim, the court sorcerer rules.
Nothing is as it seems.
I love the plot and I adore the characters. Both older men that expect no kindness or hope from the world but find it in each other. The love story is adorable. The action fabulous, and the twists very satisfying.
The real star of the show is Squab. Just don’t let him anywhere near your clothes, or your bedding, or your curtains.
Five pink silk stars! (You’ll have to read it to understand)

Lee Welch lives in a house on a hill in the windiest city in the world, Wellington, New Zealand. She shares the house with her partner, two kids, two cats, a dog and quite a lot of spiders. Lee studied ancient history at Auckland University and creative writing at Birkbeck, University of London. By day, she works as an editor and business communications adviser for a large government department. By night, she writes escapist romances, usually with magic in them.

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