Last Resort
(Treasure Trail Book 3)
by Morgan Brice
Publisher: Darkwind Press
Cover Artist: Lou Harper
Release Date: March 6, 2024
Genres: MM paranormal romance & supernatural suspense
Tropes: moving in together, second chance at love, healing from the past, dealing with past issues, hurt/comfort
Themes: evolving relationship, learning to trust, forgiving yourself, letting go of the past
Heat Rating: 4 flames
Length: 216 pages
It’s the third book in the series, but can be read as a standalone It does not end on a cliffhanger
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Can Ben and Erik put the pieces together to solve the case, or when the cards are dealt, will they be left holding the dead man's hand
Blurb
Weird things are happening again in Cape May and the ghosts of old mobsters never rest easy.
Erik Mitchell gets a strange delivery of antique poker chips with odd markings tied to a casino that burned a century ago. Ben Nolan finds a dead guy in one of his rental units—turns out the guy's been missing for twenty years and is linked to a long-lost treasure.
The ghostly energy of the old Commodore Wilson hotel juices up all the town's spirits, and a stranger shows up with an unhealthy interest in both cases. Ben and Erik have just moved in together, and they're still navigating the next step as partners and blending their lives.
Murder, missing persons, hidden treasure, and haunted poker chips. Can Ben and Erik put the pieces together to solve the case, or when the cards are dealt, will they be left holding the dead man's hand?
Last Resort is a suspenseful MM paranormal romance mystery-adventure filled with second chance love, hurt/comfort, true soulmates, old curses, hidden treasure, dangerous secrets, restless ghosts, psychic visions, powerful witches, angry mobsters, and a very haunted hotel.
Excerpt
“This brings back memories.” Ben Nolan and his partner carried the last boxes up the stairs. “I spent too many Saturdays in my twenties helping my friends move in and out of apartments for free pizza and beer.”
“Look at it as a built-in fitness workout,” Erik Mitchell, his boyfriend, replied. “The good thing is that most days, you don’t need to go up and down more than once.”
“I’m sure I can come up with reasons to stay in.” Ben dripped his voice to a sexy growl and gave Erik a knowing look.
Erik shook his head fondly. “Sounds good—but we still need to go to work sometime.”
Erik owned Trinkets, the antique shop in the first floor of the old Victorian house where their apartment took up the second level. “Can’t beat the commute,” he added.”
“True—and mine’s still totally walkable unless the weather is foul.” Ben managed Nolan Resort Real Estate, owned by his aunt and uncle. Until recently, he had stayed in one of the company’s rentals. Ben had moved in with Erik a few months ago, but forgotten about a stack of boxes that were still stored in Trinkets’ back room.
The important stuff had already found a place in the apartment. Now Ben needed to figure out what in these last boxes to keep or toss. He’d packed long enough ago that he had forgotten what remained.
“Actually, I was surprised how fast I got used to the stairs,” Erik told him. “My place in Atlanta had an elevator, but nowhere near the charm.”
Both Ben and Erik had recently moved to Cape May, New Jersey to make a fresh start after their old lives went off the rails. Ben stepped away from being a Newark cop after a betrayal and a near-fatal shooting, and becoming a private investigator had left him burned out and bitter. Erik left his high-profile work stopping art fraud and antiquities smugglers when a bust gone wrong nearly got him killed—and his boyfriend cheated. Differing circumstances led them to Cape May and chance brought them together, but Ben thanked his lucky stars every day for how things had turned out.
“Now we just have to figure out what’s worth keeping.” Ben surveyed the stacks of boxes in the living room. “We already have an interesting decorating style.”
They had found a quirky way to blend his statues of Spider-Man and Optimus Prime and wall art of some of his favorite comics and sci-fi movies with Erik’s more traditional taste, honed by his work for art museums.
“Bring it on,” Erik said with a laugh. “It’s good to shake things up.”
Ben reeled him in for a kiss. “I can think of ways to get a whole lotta shakin’ going on,” he growled.
Erik kissed him and stepped away. “Hold that thought. We need to be able to navigate through the living room, so the boxes can’t stay—which means unpacking.”
“Spoil sport,” Ben grumbled good-naturedly.
Carra's Review
One thing I know I can count on with this author’s series—each book is better than the last, and that holds true here with Last Resort. There’s the continuing evolution of Ben and Erik’s relationship, mystery, suspense, and it’s all wrapped up in a paranormal bow just the way I like it.
The mob connections just keep on turning up, and the past just cannot be put to rest. With murder on their doorstep and the Commodore Wilson hotel again playing a part, Ben and Erik once again get tied up in sorting things out while trying to keep each other safe.
I always enjoy returning to an ongoing series from this author, and the connections to their other series are always a plus for me (don’t worry, you don’t have to have read any of the other series to enjoy this one, though I do recommend those as well). The story here is solid and the suspense and mystery aspects make for intriguing reading that holds your attention.
This story was a 4.5-star read for me, and I hope to see more in this series, with hopefully some additional attention to certain supporting characters like Ben’s cousin Sean. Note that while you could read this on its own, I’d highly recommend reading this series in order so you get the background between Ben and Erik, as well as the full details regarding the Commodore Wilson hotel and the mob aspects/history.
About the Author
Morgan Brice is the romance pen name of bestselling author Gail Z. Martin. Morgan writes urban fantasy male/male paranormal romance, with plenty of action, adventure and supernatural thrills to go with the happily ever after. Gail writes epic fantasy and urban fantasy, and together with co-author hubby Larry N. Martin, steampunk and comedic horror, all of which have less romance, more explosions. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.
On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.
Series include Witchbane, Badlands, Treasure Trail, Kings of the Mountain and Fox Hollow. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!
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