Making it Happen: New Release-Review & Excerpt: DAY OF JUDGMENT by Aurora Crane & Briar Kearney (Virtuous Sinners)

Day of Judgment

Authors and Publishers: Aurora Crane & Briar Kearney

Cover Artist: Cormar Covers

Release Date: September 1, 2022

Genre: Dark Contemporary MMM Romance

Tropes: Forbidden love, polyamory romance (MMM), established couple

Themes: Good men doing bad things, brutal side of justice, love and duty

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 98 000 words

It is a standalone story for now as it is part of a collaboration with several other authors called “Virtuous Sinners.” It will become part of a trilogy to be released next year once the collection has ended in three months.

The book does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link | Amazon US | Amazon UK

A federal prosecutor with a three-digit body count, his clever and adoring husband, and the FBI Special Agent who got too close.

Blurb

A federal prosecutor with a three-digit body count, his clever and adoring husband, and the FBI Special Agent who got too close.

Led by Lady Justice, Justin Reynolds spills the blood of the unworthy with his husband Ace at his side. Together, they’re a well-honed symbiote with the potential to bring the world to its knees. Neither of them are prepared for the man who brings them to theirs.

FBI Agent Maddox Doherty has dedicated himself to getting the job done, sacrificing everything else, especially his personal life. Sent to investigate a string of murders, he’s prepared for anything… except the sparks that fly between him and the married couple.

An undeniable chemistry draws Maddox deeper into Justin and Ace’s web, and soon he finds himself losing sight of the line he’s built his life and career around. But how far is too far and what happens when the darkness swallows him whole?

Day of Judgment is an 80, 000-word dark MMM romance featuring morally grey characters and violence. It also includes voyeurism, wax play, edging, bondage and mild BDSM themes. Reader’s discretion is advised.

Virtuous Sinners is a collection of gay romance stories that center on killers who are guided by a virtuous code. These dark novels are connected only by theme and can be read standalone.

The killer’s virtue in Day of Judgment: Justice

Excerpt

“He’s beautiful,” Ace murmured.

“He is,” Justin agreed. He gave Ace’s thumb one last lick before releasing him. Ace’s small smile as he picked his pastry up again made light swell in Justin’s heart. He would never be able to express how much he adored his husband, how much of the world he would be willing to burn down to keep him safe. Justin would move heaven and earth to keep that smile with him even if it cost the world.

“Imagine him on our sheets,” Ace said, leaning forward, his eyes deep and bright in the sunlight. “With ropes around his wrists. With wax across his chest, across his back, on his ass. Eyes closed, head back, mouth open.”

Justin shifted in his seat, his body responding to Ace’s sensual words. He rarely cared about who Ace chose to join them. They were there to get him off, a tool for Ace to use to give Justin the release, the peace he sought. They never took them into their private bedroom, never let them into their inner sanctum. This was the first time Ace had ever even mentioned it. Most surprising of all, Justin could see it. If he closed his eyes, he could almost smell it.

“He watched and he wanted, Justin. It wouldn’t take much.” Ace’s voice got lower. “A simple invitation even.”

Justin shifted his gaze, finding Maddox watching them from the passenger seat of the car. He sipped his latte, maintaining eye contact. Maddox didn’t blink, didn’t look away. Ace was right. He would be glorious to play with, be absolutely magnificent spread out on their sheets with his dark hair against the white and those amber eyes lined with thick lashes.

Too bad he was a Fed. Justin was surprised by the pang of regret that vibrated in his chest. They could have had fun. “You know we can’t.”

Ace let out an annoyed breath. “Yeah. Should we go somewhere else, or are you done for the day?” he asked, tilting his head just a fraction, some of his hair falling into his face.

Justin licked his bottom lip, watching Maddox track it. He wished he were closer so he could see the way it changed the color of his eyes, see that amber melt with lust.

“I’m done,” he said to Ace. They’d toyed with the agents enough for one day. Tomorrow was a new day, with new possibilities. Ethan and Kit were still scouring names and records and information. Until they had some concrete targets for him—which he hoped was soon—he had nothing but time on his hands. And he intended to stick close to Ace. He dared anyone to try and get to him while Justin was with him. He would relish it, would enjoy removing them from the land of the living.

Ace stood and pulled his jacket from the back of his chair, draping it over his arm. “Well?”

Justin took his time rising from his own seat. “Fix my tie.”

“Your tie is fine,” Ace said, a smile playing on his lips.

“Is it? Are you sure?”

Ace laughed as he moved forward, taking hold of the perfectly done accessory. He flicked the clip that stopped the tie from moving and then ran his fingers down the silky material. There were multiple layers between those fingers and Justin’s skin, and he still responded like they were naked. His body knew what they felt like over every inch of him, and his response was pure instinct, anticipation of more, of the highest level of pleasure. It knew what came next.

Justin splayed his hand across Ace’s jaw, lifted his chin with a thumb. He looked straight at Maddox as he leaned down and pressed his lips against Ace’s. Ace opened beneath him with a moan, and Justin tightened his grip as he explored the sweet nectar within.

Maddox didn’t look away.

Carra's Review

I don’t usually read darker stories with “morally grey” characters, but something about the blurb for this one just reached out and grabbed my attention. I was just a teensy bit leery of the married couple aspect, but I can easily say that I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked the story. Though there is definitely insta-lust that eventually turns into something more, given the intensity of the events in the story I was actually able to look past the “at first sight” connection and it didn’t wind up affecting my enjoyment of the book.

Once Maddox finally decides to take the plunge with Justin and Ace, their physical scenes are deeply erotic and insanely hot, and written as if their sole intent is to arouse. The story is heavy on the physical, and while the transition to love felt like a slight stretch given that the three of them hadn’t seemed to have had enough non-sexual interaction to develop that emotional connection, it somehow still works. I’ve chalked that up to the persistent intensity between the characters not just in their physical interactions with each other, but also the ongoing skirmishes with Justin and Ace’s rivals.

Justin and Ace are completely devoted to each other, almost to the edge of obsession. But this does make them a force to be reckoned with, especially Justin in his role taking down those who deserve it. When Maddox enters the equation, he is quickly integrated into their lives, and it feels seamless and natural. It complicates things for everyone, but never feels like it’s wrong.

Things are in a constant state of alert, and that made for a riveting read. There are a couple of things that niggled at me, but by and large I found this story to be an intriguing one, and have given it 4.5 stars. It’s definitely one meant strictly for readers 18+ for adult language, erotic sexual content, and violence. If that’s your cuppa, you’ll want to head off to one-click.

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Aurora Crane