So far, I’ve lived up to it; or rather, down to it.
Too pretty, too unfocused, too easy a target.
My father even tried to sacrifice me.
And then I was saved by a beautiful, haunted man.
Mac is a reaper; he delivers lost souls.
But when he came for mine, I wouldn’t let go.
And now I can hear other souls too.
I can help him. Love him, if he’ll let me.
Assuming we survive a conspiracy to bring Chaos through the veil.
Mac says souls get what they deserve.
If I do enough good, then maybe I can be worthy of his.
Maybe I can hold on to him and our bond—forever.
Paris and the Reaper is a soft, swoony, and suspenseful M/M urban fantasy romance. It features a grumpy raven shifter afraid to love and lose again and the sweet, cursed human who makes him want to risk it all.
First off, I would strongly recommend you read the first book in this series, Icarus and the Devil, and the short story, Jason and the Storm, before you read Paris and the Reaper. This world the author has created is unique and complex so having those stories under your belt before diving in will give you a better sense of the overall world and the place of all the other characters in it. You won’t find much backstory in this book, so reading the others first will keep you on more solid footing.
Both Paris and Mac were introduced in Icarus and the Devil, and now here they take center stage. Paris is compassionate and caring, though can seem impulsive when trying to prove himself. Mac is the consummate protector, though innocent in his own way and with heartache in his past. They match well together, and while the two are linked things between them are actually a slower burn than you may expect.
My one nit pick with this story is that the details are more surface-level. Part of this I think is due to there being an assumption that you would have already read the other books in the series, so would understand what is going on (hence my advice to read those first before this one). I really would have liked to have had things explained more in-depth than they were, particularly regarding the origin of the giants.
Even so, I was still entranced by the story and am looking forward to the next installment in the series. Paris and the Reaper was a solid 4-star read for me, and I’d recommend to to M/M urban fantasy fans in particular…just please read the other stories first, trust me!
About the Author
Layla Reyne is the author of What We May Be and the Agents Irish and Whiskey, Fog City, and Perfect Play series. She writes sexy, intense LGBTQIA+ romance featuring competent adults in kitchens, sports arenas, car chases, and other high-stakes situations. Whether it's adrenaline-fueled suspense, rival athletes, vampires and shifters in alt-realms, or love mixed with mouth-watering foodie goodness, queer folks finding happily-ever-afters is guaranteed.
Keywords/Categories: MM, MMM, gay romance, mm romance, paranormal, paranormal romance, PNR, vampires, gay, lesbian, reunited with mother, menage sex scene, fae, witches, war, spiders, voyeurism, public sex, telepathy, psychic ability, psychologist, autism
Blurb
After learning his mother is alive, Cameron, a telepath, travels across the country to find her, accompanied by Nathen, his neurodiverse vampire lover, and Syn, his best friend and sister of the heart. Once there, they find she is involved in a much larger war of her own and has been trying to keep him out of harm’s way for years.
In their quest to help her, they make enemies, of course, but they also find several new allies. And when they are swept up in fae politics and looming war, the result is an entire paradigm shift that will have far-reaching effects on all their lives forever.
Warnings: Trauma, death violence, sex assault, miscarriage, HFN, depression, grief
Then Nathen sensed it before he was there. A man standing casually against the railing. Not a man. A vampire. He could see the blood flow like an electrical current through him, so very different than humans or even mages. His tall frame was silhouetted against the city backdrop so he could not quite make out his features except for the piercing luminescent blue eyes that bore into him. He wore a T-shirt, the pattern of which Nathen couldn’t make out, and leather pants that may have been painted on. His biker boots with silver buckles were distracting to Nathen for a moment as one was poised across the other, tip to the ground. He leaned on his elbows, which rested on the railing behind him as if the man didn’t have a care in the world.
Nathen interrupted Cameron from his midway point into unconscious sleep. “Babe, don’t freak out, and stay still. There’s another vampire in the room. I’m going to see what’s up. Pretend you’re sleeping in case he does something bad. That way maybe you can surprise him.”
Nathen kept a mental hand on Cameron, trying to keep him calm though he saw the spike of adrenaline through Cameron, blood activating and moving through him quickly, swept with fear and concern. Cameron said, “Gorgeous, no! How am I supposed to surprise him?”
He could see Cameron’s mind working through various scenarios, though he complied with Nathen’s request and didn’t make a move to get up
Nathen turned his attention to the vampire. “May I help you, sir? It is awfully late…or early. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting? My name is Nathen.”
“Nice show.” The man’s velvety voice had a smile to it. “Caught the end. You boys interested in an encore with a new actor? It’s Augustus, or just August, by the way.” He made no move from his position, as if he were a marble statue. Looking closer, Nathen could make out the pronounced bulge tightening August’s pants.
Nathen drew a blank on how he was supposed to act in this situation. He’d never experienced anything like this, so had no script to follow. Morally this was a gray area, not wrong, but not usual either. He had never had a threesome, and that could be interesting, especially with two vampires. Though it could be too much for Cameron. Would Nathen feel the same way being bitten by another vampire as Cameron did? His mind was going through many probabilities trying to pick one choice. All he could manage to say was “Um…”
Feeling incredibly exposed, Cameron opened his eyes and pulled the blanket over him and Nathen. “Hey,” he managed, his fair skin mottled with embarrassment. Nathen could tell his thoughts were along the same lines of surprise and confusion which dripped with interest when he saw August. He could also feel Cameron delving into his desires, trying to read his preferences and though he knew Cameron preferred monogamy, the thought of being with both of them tickled through Cameron, alighting his already spent core.
“Hey yourself,” August said. “You probably need a minute to recover…for that was—” He traced his tongue over his extended fangs and lips before finishing. “—delicious. Was it you who had affected all the humans in the area? It had to be. I haven’t met a thaumaturge in town for quite a while.”
“I…” Cameron’s mind scrambled.
“I’ll tell you what, gentlemen. Why don’t Nathen and I give you some of our blood to help you recover faster? Then we can all have a little fun?” August asked.
About the Authors
Connal Braginsky is a software engineer who lives in San Diego, California. Diagnosed with autism, Connal sometimes struggles in social situations, but has an inner world that is always incredibly rich. With an insatiable thirst for knowledge about many esoteric things, Connal brings his personal philosophies and interests to writing.
Sean Ian O’Meidhir is a psychologist who lives in San Francisco, California. Sean is a hedonist who believes in living for today, living every day to the fullest, and enjoying as many experiences as possible. They have been gaming since adolescence and have written about and played hundreds of lives, reveling in the chance to take on new personalities, dramas, even disorders.
Hunting killers is Mason’s job. But falling for a vampire is the scariest thing he’s ever done.
Blurb
Detective Inspector Mason Walker is good at his job. He has never focused on much else in his life. Women come and go. Friends take time he doesn’t have to spare. The job is constant. He works hard and has built a reputation for determination and integrity.
Now his skills are needed more than ever. The level of violence in York has risen, involving both the haemophile and human communities. These are unexplored waters for Mason, with both political and professional implications, and Mason is afraid to lose his way.
But there’s been a murder—a haemophile—and Mason’s facing the question of not only who committed the dreadful crime but how? Nothing seems to be adding up. And being assigned a haemophile partner, Special Officer Cai Bracken, a freelance detective working for the Met Police, only increases his tension.
What’s really unnerving is that Cai is not only making Mason question his professional convictions, but his personal preferences, too…his most personal preferences.
With so much at stake, can Mason really cope with overhauling his police work and his personal life all at once?
Excerpt
Sunset was still an hour away when Mason pulled in at Oswald House, but the day already felt like it had lasted twice as long as any other he had lived through. Fatigue from the sleepless night was like an undertow tugging at his brain. But his heart was skipping about when he pressed the doorbell.
Jesse Truelove opened the door. He blinked when he recognized Mason.
“Any news?” he asked as he stepped back to allow Mason inside.
“Not yet I’m afraid,” he said, glancing up the stairs. “I’m here to see SO Bracken.”
Truelove raised his eyebrows. “No one’s supposed to know he’s here…not even you.”
“I am a detective, you know. And I have a matter of some urgency to discuss with him.”
“Well, you’re a little early, mate,” Truelove drawled, glancing at his watch.
“I know,” Mason said awkwardly. “If there’s just somewhere I could maybe wait? I don’t want to be in the way.”
“Detective Inspector Walker?”
Mason turned. Tom Addams was there. His face was strained. There were shadows under his eyes. “Anything?”
“I’m sorry…no, not yet,” Mason said with sincere regret.
“He’s here to see Cai,” Truelove said.
“There is one thing I wanted to ask you about, actually, Mr. Truelove.”
“Mate, please,” Truelove said, opening the door to the same sitting room as before. “Call me Jesse. I’m changing my name soon anyway.”
“Jesse,” Mason said, taking a seat on the sofa as Tom took the armchair and Jesse perched on the sofa arm. “It was that that I wanted to talk to you about. I don’t want to sound insensitive, but have you and the Baron considered postponing your wedding?”
Jesse exchanged glances with Tom. “Yes. We considered it. I did more than consider it, if I’m honest.”
“I heard their shouting match from the other end of the house,” Tom said with a smile.
Jesse made a noisy sigh. “We’re not postponing.”
“Jesse,” Mason started, but Tom interrupted him.
“Darragh fought very long and hard for Emory and Jesse’s wedding to be allowed to happen,” he said. “He would want it to go ahead. Otherwise, there’s no point to any of it.”
“Okay,” Mason said. “I understand. I just wanted to make sure someone had mentioned the idea.”
“They’ve both mentioned it,” Tom said. “And I told them the same thing I told you. The wedding is going ahead.”
“You’re a stubborn asshole, you know that?” Jesse said to Tom, but he was smiling.
“Darragh would never forgive me if we just gave up.”
“It’s not giving up,” Jesse argued. “It’s just looking at the bigger picture.”
“And what did Emory say when you said that to him?”
Jesse rolled his eyes. “Let’s not have this argument again.”
“Okay, we won’t,” Tom said with a shaky smile and stood. “Now, if you don’t need anything else, I have a security sweep to run.”
Tom left and Jesse stared after him with a haunted expression.
“I’m very sorry you’re having to go through all this.”
“Not your fault,” Jesse murmured. “Just catch the bastard. That’s all we want.” Mason nodded, even though Jesse wasn’t looking at him. Jesse stood. “You can wait here if you want. Get you anything? Coffee? Something stronger?”
“I’m fine, thank you,” Mason said. “I’ll just wait here, if that’s okay.”
“Knock yourself out,” Jesse said, and left.
The room was warm. The sofa was comfortable. The light grew dimmer, and Mason’s eyes began to droop.
A touch on Mason’s hand brought him out of a soft, pleasant dream. He blinked groggily. Bracken was sitting in the armchair.
“You should get some proper sleep.”
Mason sat up, rubbing his eyes. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have nodded off.” He blinked at Bracken, all the feelings he’d told himself he’d keep suppressed rushing to the surface. “You didn’t call back.”
Bracken’s expression closed. He stood. “Not here.”
Mason followed Bracken along a corridor, down some stairs and through a series of locked doors to a comfortably furnished room. There was a wardrobe, a sofa, a desk covered in papers and an open laptop. There were minimalist paintings on the walls, several shelves of books and a large TV. It was airy and comfortable, but with no windows. No bed.
“This is where you sleep?”
Bracken indicated an inner door locked with a numbered keypad. “I have a secure sleeping cell through there, completely up to grade.” Bracken gave him a pained look. “Walker, no one’s supposed to know I’m here.”
“Why not?”
“It’s not exactly neutral ground, is it? But it’s not like I can check into the nearest hotel, either.”
“I think you’re capable of keeping your sleeping arrangements separate from your professional duties.”
Bracken lifted an eyebrow. “Well, that’s loaded.”
Mason sank onto the sofa. “I’m sorry. I…I didn’t sleep last night.”
About the Author
S.J. Coles is a Romance writer originally from Shropshire, UK. She has been writing stories for as long as she has been able to read them. Her biggest passion is exploring narratives through character relationships.
She finds writing LGBT/paranormal romance provides many unique and fulfilling opportunities to explore many (often neglected or under-represented) aspects of human experience, expectation, emotion and sexuality.
Among her biggest influences are LGBT Romance authors K J Charles and Josh Lanyon and Vampire Chronicles author Anne Rice.
