 My snippet this week is from Shifting Chaos, book 4 of The Sleepless City. Series cowritten with Anne Barwell.  “Of course. Now, Forge, it’s time for you to go blend in with the people outside and spin a tale of how you failed to find this one. Another fugitive on the loose who will never be found,” Marion said. She held out a bucket and rags. “Use this to clean up and leave it. We’ll dispose of it.” Her companions were already hard at work on their task of covering up the fact Forge had murdered another vampire. “That lovely human of Simon’s is waiting for you.” He did as she said, collected his helmet and rifle and went outside, blending in with the rest of the people. Ben was leaning against the corner of the building, talking on his phone.  Find more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. Shifting Chaos is available in eBook, paperback
and through Kindle Unlimited.
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 James Siewert has a new MM sci-fantasy romance coming out on November 9th, Oarthecan Star Saga book 3: Captains of Oartheca - and we have the cover reveal.
Welcome to Oartheca—a world of shattered beauty and stolen futures. Where noble Barons rule with ironclad grace, and loyal drones unquestionably obey. A wounded world, rich with history and pride, struggling to heal... while war still smoulders at its edges. Hoping to change the fate of all Oarthecans, Captain Rowland Hale II and Toar Grithrawrscion embark on a mission as herculean as it is perilous: to bring Oartheca under the aegis of the Coalition of Allied Planets, and in doing so, usher in a new era of strength, stability, and peace. But nothing on Oartheca is so easily won. Not peace. Not unity. And certainly not the truth. In Captains of Oartheca, James Siewert sees our heroes challenge empires, defy impossible odds, and confront the terrible cost of hope. But when victory demands everything they are—and all they have—can they pay the price? Warnings: Explicit sex scenes between consenting adult males About the Series An action-oriented, sci-fi extravaganza staring heroes who battle vicious foes, overcome galactic obstacles, find true love, all while just happening to be men-who-love-men. For adults only, the Oarthecan Star Saga will thrill readers with cinematic battles, daring romances and authentic, one-of-a-kind characters that rise to face challenges through bravery, courage and loyalty. Preorder on Amazon | Universal Buy LinkExcerpt
Get the hell off me!’ I shout angrily, futilely pushing at the rhino of a man smothering me. Goddamn he’s heavy but I’m giving it everything I’ve got, trying to wriggle free. I manage to get my head out from under the behemoth and turn to try and see what the hell is going on. ‘Stay down, Baron!’ the security guard overtop of me orders, his voice hard and urgent. There’s another bright green flash, and this time I see a plasma shot streak harmlessly into the skies, followed soon by more yelling and the sounds of intense struggle. Annoyingly, cyan telemetry floods my cybernetic ocular display—suit’s integrity is down to ninety-two percent, but no injuries, and my shields are regenerating. That shot was a point-blank, direct hit. Thank God for top-tier CAPS engineering—anything less, and I’d be dead. ‘No!’ I hear a man yell. ‘No, he killed my brother!’ What? ‘Evacuate, evacuate!’ a stronger voice booms, and the man over top of me begins to ease up slightly; I immediately scoot out from under him and try to get a decent look around. There’s a pile of security guards clustered together—it looks like there are three of them surrounding a fourth, having driven him to his knees. One is wrenching the kneeling man’s rifle from his hands, but the man is not letting go anytime soon. It takes the butt of another security guard’s rifle being driven into the side of his head before his grip finally weakens, and the gun is wrenched free. The rhino then steps in front of me, blocking my view of the struggling men. I scowl and try to push him out of the way, but this guy’s a stormcoat, maybe a snowcoat, and I don’t even budge him a centimetre. ‘This way, Baron. Now,’ He pushes into me, using his superior bulk to knock me back. With one hand on my shoulder, he spins me around so that I’m facing away from the scene. ‘Where is Ton?’ I demand, trying to slip this guy’s grasp but his grip on my shoulder is firm—not painful, thanks to my exosuit’s kinetic absorption—but I’m not getting free unless I put up a serious struggle, which I don’t think is the wisest of things to do right now. ‘We’ll meet at the safe-point. Hurry, Baron, straight ahead,’ the rhino orders, and I follow as he steers me deeper into the docking bay. He sets a brisk pace—nearly a jog—we’re moving fast. A tug on my shoulder turns me left toward an open corridor, where two guards stand ready, rifles raised and scanning. ‘Inside, Baron.’ I’m not used to being manhandled like this, but I know if this dude wanted to, he could pick me up like an infant. He’s at least letting me move under my own power, so I do as I’m told, and head into the corridor. We head down a gently sloping, well-lit cement tunnel—hopefully toward the safe-point rhino-guy mentioned. He’s stopped steering me, but with only one path ahead, we keep moving. After about thirty seconds, a circular portal sealed by sliding doors appears and opens as we approach. ‘Through the doors, Baron,’ my escort says. I step into the next tunnel, and he follows, tapping commands into a wall-mounted keypad. The doors slide shut behind us, leaving me to figure out what comes next. The security guard then turns to face me, placing his hand over his heart, his fingers splayed, and gives me a deep bow. ‘We are secured now, Baron. The safe-point is just down this hall.’ ‘Thank you,’ I reply genuinely. ‘I prefer Captain Hale, however. What’s your name, officer?’ ‘Second Lieutenant Crahlstran Grithrawrclan, OSS Navy, Captain Hale,’ the man answers. ‘I’ve been assigned to you as your personal security representative. Are you injured?’ I immediately shake my head. ‘No, my suit took the damage. I’m fine. Where is m’Ton? Or the High Baron Grithrawr?’ ‘At or en route to the safe-point. Please, if you will follow me, Captain,’ Crahl offers, extending his hand down the new corridor. With him leading the way, I follow as we descend further, until we reach another set of closed sliding doors. Crahl enters a command on the keypad, and they open. He stands aside to allow me to enter first. Author Bio
James and his husband live in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. Part-time office drone, part-time storyteller, full-time sci-fi and fantasy enthusiast (and some spooky ghost tales), James couldn't find enough stories involving guys like him and his hubby are: big men with big hearts, full of big ideas! Taking matters into his own hand, James seeks to share high adventure, low-angst stories where the heroes are solid blokes who take centre stage. Come join the adventure and explore bold new worlds full of authentic characters, gripping scenes, lush imagination and a touch of mushy stuff - there's a whole galaxy waiting for you to discover! Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21531168.James_Siewert Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/james-siewert/ Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/James-Siewert/author/B095T25ZSB 
 Daniel stopped short and squared his shoulders. “You?” “It was you?” Pierre sidestepped until he was closing in on the man from the other side. Kyle caught a glimpse of the other Militia people; he was able to count three more besides Daniel and Pierre now. They had his assailants face down in a row, heads pressed against the wall perpendicular to the door. “Get them out of here,” Pierre snapped, waving one arm. The sound of bodies being moved filled the room for a short time; then it was just the four of them. In motion, going so fast he was hard for Kyle to keep track of, Daniel covered the last few feet to the person holding a gun on Kyle. Before the agent could react, Daniel had his wrist in a grip Kyle knew from their sparring as an iron-like vise. He twisted with enough force, Kyle heard bone snap. The man screamed when Daniel yanked him closer, flipped him around, and held him against his chest. The gun clattered to the ground, kicked away by Pierre. Daniel used his free hand, reached to the man’s riot visor, and tugged it off his head. “You set them up!” he growled. “Set them up and killed them the same as if you’d pulled the trigger yourself.” Kyle saw the man’s face when the helmet was removed. He lifted his gaze to look into first Pierre’s and then Daniel’s face. “We all trusted you.” Pierre’s voice was harsh and raw. “Keller, an entire barracks trusted and followed you. This is how you repay all of us?” Keller laughed. It was a sick, hollow sound. “You of all people should know, trust no one.” He twisted against Daniel, elbowing him in under the ribs. Daniel growled low and menacing, letting go of Keller long enough to grip his chin in one hand. His other hand came up and took hold of the top of Keller’s head. Hands went in opposite directions in a move Kyle recognized would snap Keller’s neck. Letting go, Daniel stepped back as Keller’s body crumpled to the floor. Stepping over the body, Daniel closed the space between them, dropping to his knees at Kyle’s side. Pulling a knife from his belt, Daniel gently turned Kyle to his stomach and sliced through the ropes. Gasping and shuddering, Kyle’s arms fell free and dropped to his sides. Tingling, like thousands of needles slicing up the flesh and muscle of his arms at once, coursed from shoulders to fingertips. “It’s okay, I gotcha. You’re safe now. God, Kyle, I’m so sorry, this is my fault, I should have known. I’m sorry.” Daniel eased him onto his back and pulled him against his chest, cradling him gently. The same hands that seconds ago had snapped a neck stroked over Kyle’s forehead and through his hair. His throat too raw to form words, he melted against Daniel, pressed closer to his body, and let himself sink into the oblivion that would take away his pain and chill. Kyle had the odd feeling of being moved, picked up, and carried between Daniel and Pierre. Details of his surroundings swirled in and out of focus. One minute he was being moved, the next he heard the distinctive whir of helicopter blades. There were voices all around, all familiar and comforting. A straw was put to his lips and water drizzled over his tongue.  Until October 22 Strays is only 99c on Amazon.      Cleveland, Ohio—Present Day Wyatt watched as Val crawled on hands and knees away from the storage unit and to the middle of the road. He could see Val’s entire torso move up and down and knew his coughing wasn’t an exaggeration. A minute later Val collapsed onto the ground and rolled to his back, arms flopping at his sides. Kevin did exactly as Wyatt had hoped. He appeared from a vehicle parked alongside the far row of storage units and crept toward Val. A nudge against Val’s arm with one foot got no response, and Wyatt said a silent prayer that Val was faking. Smoke billowed around him, and when Kevin neared the door, Wyatt had to hold his breath and bite his lip to keep quiet. Kevin inched close enough to the unbalanced door to hear Wyatt if he coughed, but not close enough to look through the space created. Kevin reached inside his jacket, turned, and stepped toward Val again. “Shit,” Wyatt hissed. He waited for Kevin to take a few more steps before shimmying through the door. Rolling to his feet, he yanked his jacket off as he ran. Kevin’s handgun was trained on Val’s forehead. He turned around when Wyatt’s shoes crunched over the gravel drive. Wyatt swung his jacket and flung it at Kevin, hitting him across the face. Wyatt launched himself at Kevin, tackling him to the ground. The gun discharged as Val rolled away with a yelp. As he and Kevin struggled, Wyatt saw Val grab his jacket and retrieve the phone pieces with shaking hands. Grabbing Kevin’s wrist, Wyatt slammed it against the ground until he let go of the gun. Through the ringing in Wyatt’s ears, he heard Val shouting into the phone, “I don’t know the address! How many damned storage places are there on this road?” Kevin tossed Wyatt with a heave of his body, leapt to his feet, and immediately charged Wyatt, who was still on his knees. The punch Kevin threw knocked Wyatt backward, stunning him. Kevin dropped on top of Wyatt, hands reaching for Wyatt’s throat. He managed to block Kevin’s grab and retaliated with his own punch to Kevin’s jaw. Using that momentum to flip them, he proceeded to pummel Kevin’s face. Val was yelling, “You’re killing him!” Wyatt couldn’t help thinking, good! Kevin’s legs locked around Wyatt’s waist, and he twisted. Wyatt slammed into the ground on his back so hard all the air left his lungs in a loud whoosh. Kevin’s hands targeted Wyatt’s neck, his fingers closing around his throat, squeezing. Within seconds, Wyatt’s lungs were screaming for air and his ears were ringing. His hands scrabbled uselessly at Kevin’s fingers. Through darkening vision, Wyatt saw Val loom behind Kevin. There was a dull thunk, and Kevin pitched sideways, falling into a heap. “What the hell did you do?” Wyatt wheezed. “And thanks for doing it.” Clutching his throat, coughing, Wyatt let Val help him sit up. Val shrugged and held the gun up. “Looks like I can kick ass after all. I just needed proper motivation.” Sirens were wailing around them, and flames were pouring out of the storage unit. The place went from mostly deserted to surrounded by uniformed men and women, barking orders and pointing guns at Val.     AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT and BACKLIST PROMOTIONMAX VOS
BOOK 1 Book Title: Going Home (Book is also available in French and Italian) Cover Artist: A. J. Corza Length: 47 021 words/ 122 pages Release Date: February 14, 2016 Pairing: MMM Genres: Menage Tropes: Forbidden Love Heat Rating: 5 flames It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links Author's Website | B&N | OverDrive 
Is Love truly ‘Love is Love’? Blurb Journalist Carter Roberts was required to interview Carl Foltz and Matt Evans for an article on their lives. It was not an assignment he relished: he just wanted to get there, get it done and get out. Thinking about the subject matter made his stomach churn. The interview reveals as much about himself as about the two men, and for the first time, Carter learns what a real home feels like. He never would have expected that meeting the two men would change his way of thinking - and his life - forever. BOOK 2 Book Title: Play Chopin for Me Cover Artist: A. J. Corza Length: 222 pages Release Date: May 2017 Genres: M/M Fairy Tale Themes: Music, Cuisine Heat Rating: Three flames It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links Amazon | Everand | Smashwords 
Fire ignites love with music and food. Blurb After a devastating fire, Dale Lusk shows up at his sister’s door in nothing but his boxers and a raincoat, desperately needing her help. Losing both his restaurant and home has left Dale without direction or a place to live. While pushing her handsome brother into a new wardrobe to match his model looks, Chrissie introduces Dale to Al Borkowski. Al is in desperate need of a roommate before his grandmother takes more control of his life. Little did Chrissie know when she pushed the two men together the sparks that would fly and the changes that would happen in all of their lives. BOOK 3 Book Title: The V Unit Length: 83 866 words/290 pages Release Date: July, 2014 Genres: M/M Romance Themes: Military, Paranormal Heat Rating: 5 flames It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Content Warning: This books contains a scene of sexual assault. Buy Links Amazon US | B&N | Smashwords 
Blurb Only a select few in the human world knew of the existence of the V-Unit, a small group of highly trained Marines - who happened to be vampires. BOOK 4 Book Title: Life After Living Length: 96 350 / 300 pages Release Date: June, 2016 Genres: MM, Romance, Military, Fiction, Contemporary, Drama, Disability Themes: PTSD, Male Bonding Heat Rating: 5 flames It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger. Buy Links Amazon US | Amazon UK | Smashwords 
Blurb Two men: each trying to cope with PTSD. Vance Spence is suffering from yet another loss. The episodes are becoming more and more frequent. Only time will tell if he will be able to cope with yet another person leaving him. Wade Farmer recently returned from Afghanistan only to have his family disown him for loving another man. He also is suffering from loss. When the two are put together, neither are comfortable with the situation, but agree to give it a try. Two different lives. Two different men. Two different experiences, but common ground gives each of them understanding. Are they strong enough to battle their own demons as well as the others? Only time will tell. BOOK 5 Book Title: A Christmas Memory Length: 22 293 words/ 55 pages Release Date: November 2013 Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, Christmas, Holiday Romance, Short Story Tropes: Teacher falls for the football coach. Heat Rating: 5 flames Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 
Santa Claus Delivers Blurb J.J. has always hated the holidays. Presents, decorations, the traditional family Christmas…It’s all his colleagues in the staffroom can talk about. J.J. avoids these conversations like the plague. He’d do anything to keep his co-workers from seeing the real J.J, the gay man who doesn’t want to be noticed. When he slips up and reveals that he is all alone with no plans for Christmas, the well-meaning ladies of his high school want to take him in for the holidays. About the Author 
Max Vos is best known for his ‘inappropriate’ side. Bringing readers a range of stories with an unexpected edge. His bestselling novel My Hero is a hot and steamy romance, while his banned book Going Home questions what you know of love. With something for everyone, there is a Max Vos book for you. Creativity has been a lifelong passion for Max, who retired from being a chef in 2011 and turned to writing. His strong relationships with the women in his life influence his stories and Max’s Southern charm shines through. Each new book will give you something to explore and love. Author Links Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram Giveaway Comment on this blog post to win your choice of ebook by Max Vos. Say which book you would choose and why. 
 In one swift, somewhat uncoordinated move Jonas and Kai tossed the vampire inside. Declan yanked the door closed, hearing the lock click into place. All three backed up and waited, looking at one another. Jonas gripped the sleeve of Declan’s hazmat suit. “Someone talk,” Ori said in their earbuds. “What’s going on?” “He’s contained,” Kai said. “We didn’t see anyone else. Give us five minutes to return to the airlock and be sure it’s all still clear.” “I’m coming down to help secure that level,” Sophia told them via the earbuds. “The rest of us will be ready to transfer down as soon as you give the all-clear,” Porter ordered. Declan easily heard the others moving, suiting up and picking up their equipment to transfer it all to the TACG facility. “Why do I get the feeling this was the easy part?” Declan said as they hurried along the passageway to the airlock. Read more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group!  Endosymbiont is available in eBook, through Kindle Unlimited
and your library digital catalog by request. 
Mark David Campbell has a new queer YA sci-fantasy book out (gay, lesbian, homonormative) Gear Box book 1: Gear Child. From our beloved teddy bear to our cherished first car, we form deep emotional bonds with inanimate objects. Will AI machines inevitably develop the capacity to love us in return? In a post-apocalyptic world that survives on garbage left over from the Gawd Wars eight generations ago, Sunny Boy, a semi-organic machine initially made to emulate a thirteen-year-old, and later modified as an eighteen-year-old, longs to be loved. His quest to find a family takes him from a farm in Winnipeg to the far reaches of the known galaxy. When Sunny Boy becomes embroiled in an ancient battle between a collective intelligence and a parasitic alien crystal, the boundaries between organic and inorganic life are called into question. Warnings: Very low sex and violence (no gun play) Series Blurb The Gear Box Trilogy, which includes: Gear Child, The Arena of Mayhem, and The Wayward Star, is a journey of the heart that takes you from a devastated post-Gawd Wars Earth, across the Solar System to the far reaches of the galaxy, and explores the line between inanimate machine and animate life form. Told from the perspectives of Sunny Boy, Fancy Larry, and Loofah—three AI machines—who understand the world around them through symbols, metaphors, and allegories. Along with their capacity for creative thought, empathy, and growth, they likewise struggle with issues of self-identity and self-esteem. Most of all, Sunny Boy, Fancy Larry, and Loofah, like any intelligent being, crave acceptance and long to be loved.
Buy Links: Gear Child: Universal Buy Link | Goodreads The Arena of Mayhem: The Arena of Mayhem | Goodreads The Wayward Star: The Wayward Star | Goodreads Find All Three Books Here (Click on the Cover for More Details) Excerpt
From Chapter Thirteen I unlatched the glass, and a salty, humid breeze blew into the cabin like it was saying welcome. In no time, the burnt land below us gave way to water, and the Captain veered the airship southward. In the distance, I made out the silhouettes of broken and battered glass and steel towers all jutting out of the ocean like fingers of drowning men reaching up to be saved. I watched as the shadow of our airship glided along the surface of the water, silently sliding over the towers. “Is that a city?” “Once was.” The Captain nodded. “Greatest in the world. But that’s all that’s left of it.” “Why is it underwater?” “Ha!” the Captain snorted. “It happened a long time ago, during the Gawd Wars and the Great Flood, when my great-great-great-granddaddy was a boy.” The Captain scratched his head. “See, way back then, everybody had their own books full of old stories about Gawd. Most of the stories were the same, but everybody told them in a different way.” He furrowed his brow. “People started fighting and killing one another to prove their way of telling the stories was right, and the way other people told the stories was wrong.” I looked at him with my mouth hanging open, trying hard to understand why people wanted to kill each other over a bunch of old stories. “Was Gawd bad?” “No, I don’t think so.” He shook his head. “But by the time everybody got tired of killing one another and blaming it on Gawd…” The Captain cleared his throat. “They’d already blown up all the big cities and poisoned the land. And as if that weren’t enough, they’d also melted the polar ice caps and flooded everything remaining along the coast.” Taking his beard in his hand, he stroked it a couple of times. “People don’t talk much about Gawd anymore.” “Is that the hand of Gawd?” I pointed to a giant green hand sticking up above the surface of the water, holding what looked like a torch. “No. That’s the hand of a giant woman. She was one of the idols they used to worship a long time ago.” He eased the throttle and floated the ship in closer so I could get a better look. “What happened to her?” I tried to make out her body and head below the surface of the water, but all I saw was a cluster of barnacles and algae. “I guess she got old and tired, and people had no use for her anymore.” The Captain veered the ship southward and pulled on the big wheel. Leaving the city of dead fingers behind, we continued on down the coast, rising slowly toward the jet stream, again. “Oh, please! Who do you think designed robos in the first place—the military! And it wasn’t only for cleaning and sex.” “Only those who get caught are sorry.” I thought about all the people who had died, and I felt sad, but mostly I felt sad because my name would never be recorded there or anywhere else. “Hey, kid, don’t feel bad. It’s not about you. That boy’s head’s so full of crap, he wouldn’t know a ray of sunshine even if it was beaming up his butt hole.” He swept the scanner across the pilot’s groin, looked at it, and laughed. “You've got nothing to worry about. Your sperm look like a bowl full of goldfish somebody forgot to feed.” “I thought I was dead.” He grasped both my hands. “Who are you? Some kind of a superhero?” I felt my face flush. “No, I’m only a robo.” He took my hand and kissed it. “Not to me.” “Something tells me we’ve just met the resistance.” Spinner frowned. “Beyond those doors, there’s nothing for me. I’m not like you.” “I’m a robo, like you.” “No, you’re not!” Spinner practically spat out the words. “You can grow, adapt, and evolve. I can’t. This is all I can ever be.” “We’ll go to the opera and art galleries. You’ll learn about second-hand stores and how to shop for bargains, we’ll create and redecorate, dance the night away, and sit in cafes trashing the latest clothing trends until the sun comes up.” Author Bio
I have a passion for science/speculative fiction that is socially and culturally driven. Maybe that’s why I studied anthropology and archaeology. My recent publications include: Eating the Moon (NineStar Press, 2021), a dystopic story of an elderly anthropologist who stumbles across a hidden society where homosexuality is the norm and heterosexuals are marginalized. Secrets of Ishtabay (Ninestar Press, 2023) is the story of a Maya village in Belize, which struggles with its transition to globalization after the completion of a highway linking it to the outside world. The Homework Assignment (Polar Borealis Magazine of Canadian Speculative Fiction, March 2025) is a short story about an anthropology professor who asks his students to imagine first contact with an alien intelligence with whom they share only one sense. Currently, I live in Milan, Italy, with my husband. When I’m not writing, I work with Italian sociologists, biologists, and psychoanalysts, assisting them with their English academic publications. I enjoy reading both classic and newer books, immersing myself in steampunk and futurism. I love adventure stories, and most of all, I want to fall in love with a great MC. I am dyslexic, which means I can’t spell, and I have a love/hate relationship with computers and the internet.
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdavid.campbell.9 Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/14116939.Mark_David_Campbell Author Liminal Fiction: https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/mark-david-campbell/
NEW RELEASE 
Book Title: Beyond The Darkness (Basic Instincts Book 3) Author: Thom Collins Publisher: Entwined Publishing Cover Artist: Kelly Martin Release Date: October 7, 2025 Genres: Contemporary MM Romance, Crime and thriller Tropes: Celebrity, murder mystery, Erotic romance, Suspense Themes: Theatre, stalking Length: 64 453 words/259 pages It is a standalone story that is part of a wider series (Basic Instincts) It does not end on a cliffhanger 
A starring role in a new show could give Hudson the career boost he needs… if he lives that long. Blurb American actor Hudson Rhodes enjoys working in the UK. After a successful career in film and TV in his twenties, he’s established himself as a bankable star in the theatre world. A month-long run in a new play at Blyham’s Empire Theatre has the potential to lead to a West End transfer and Hudson is ready for it. The only thing threatening to spoil it is a series of sinister letters that point to a role he would rather forget. Rehearsals for the show are going smoothly until a local journalist, Luke Kamal, arrives to write a piece about the production. Luke is handsome and smart and highly regarded in his field, but Hudson hates reporters. He’s learnt the hard way that the press cannot be trusted. When a member of the cast is murdered, the show is thrown into greater jeopardy. The victim is someone close to Hudson. As he struggles with his attraction to Luke, the menacing letters continue to arrive. The killer has Hudson in their sights, and he might not make it to opening night. Excerpt The handsome man was still at the end of the bar. Their eyes locked once more as Hudson stood. Hudson gave him a friendly smile of acknowledgement and his cock stirred as he walked out of the door. Maybe another time, when he had less on his mind. The sun was hidden behind the high buildings when he stepped out, but it was still a fine and clement evening. He decided to take the long way back. He would go down to the river and follow the waterfront for a while, before heading up into the city. “Excuse me,” a voice called from behind. “Mr Rhodes.” He turned, stunned to find the hot guy from the bar following him. The warm sensation returned to Hudson’s neck, climbing over his face. His balls tightened. As the man approached, the dazzling smile was at full voltage. He was even more attractive than he had appeared from a distance. And he already knew who Hudson was. “Hi,” he said, coming closer. Was that a flush of red in his cheeks and neck? “Sorry to bother you. I didn’t like to disturb you earlier, I just wanted to say hello.” He had a strong accent that Hudson had come to recognise as being unique to this city. He was familiar with Geordie, and this was similar, but softer, sexier. Hudson returned the smile, full on. This guy was not like the typical fans who approached him for selfies. On the whole, he mostly got recognised for a handful of cheesy romcoms he’d made in his late twenties and early thirties, and it was often women who flagged him down. Through the open neck of the man’s shirt, he caught a teasing glimpse of dark chest hair. Hudson’s dick swelled to a semi state. “Luke Kamal,” the man said, thrusting his hand forward. Hudson took it welcomingly, noting the firm, dry grip. “Hi, Luke. I guess you know who I am.” Luke’s dark eyes focused directly on him, and it was quite disarming. Hudson had worked with some world-famous actors and heartthrobs and very few of them possessed the raw magnetism of this stranger. “You’re quite a big deal around here. Everyone is excited about the play launching in Blyham.” Luke was an apparent flatterer, but he was so good-looking Hudson took his comment as a compliment rather than pure bullshit. “You’re coming to see the show then?” That smile again, then Luke broke eye contact, seemingly shy. It was quite endearing. “You could say that. Actually, I’ll be there tomorrow. That’s why I wanted to say hello when I spotted you. It seemed rude not to.” For a second, Hudson wondered if he was so hypnotised by this hot man that he’d misheard what he’d said. And damn, he smells great too. “Oh, we don’t actually open for a couple more weeks. The first preview is early next month, I think.” “I’ll be there for that too, but I’ll be there tomorrow for the rehearsals.” The blank expression on Hudson’s face seemed to confuse him too. He continued. “Luke Kamal, from The Blyham Chronicle. I’m the arts and culture editor. Well, editor is putting it grandly, but I cover all the major arts, music and theatre events for the paper. We’re going to run a major feature on Darkest Blue over the next few weeks—that’s why I’m sitting in on rehearsals for a few days.” Again, Luke’s words were not computing with Hudson. “Wait, you’re a journalist…? You’re going to watch us put the show together?” The smile wavered then disappeared. “It’s been arranged for weeks. I thought you knew.” Hudson withdrew into himself, trying to make sense of what he’d heard. What the actual fuck? How the hell were they supposed to dig deep into themselves, to make themselves vulnerable in search of the characters and stories, with a reporter watching and taking note of every fuck-up, every misstep? “That can’t be right,” he managed. “You’ve got it wrong.” Luke fumbled in his trousers, pulled out a leather wallet and produced his press card. “It’s all legit. I’m due there at ten tomorrow and then in and out all the way to opening night.” “Not if I have anything to do with it,” Hudson muttered. “I’m sorry. I thought they would have told you. Hasn’t it been cleared with the cast?” “No, it fucking well hasn’t.” Hudson’s lust for Luke was on the verge of turning into anger. Not just at him but at Rav and Andie and this whole damn shit-show of a production. 
About the Author Thom Collins is the author of the Jagged Shores series and the Anthem Trilogy as well as numerous standalone novels and novellas. His new series Basic Instincts launches in spring 2025 with the novel Now Comes the Dark. Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world. Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night. Social Media Links Threads | Instagram | Newsletter Sign-up 
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Tyler laughed and spread his arms wide. “No. Sorry. Just a teacher turned inn worker who really hates the cold. I can shoot that gun, however.” “Fuck me, that’s it!” “What? That I can aim a shotgun and squeeze a trigger?” “No.” Linden set the shotgun on the counter and motioned for Tyler to follow him. “Come here.” He pulled his laptop case up and set it on the table, took out a pad of paper and a pen. “Let’s go over what we know.” As he spoke, he wrote names on the paper. “There is a group that consists of Dimas, you, Julius, Jeremy, and an unnamed girl. You’re all connected through a school and a role-playing-game contest.” Linden drew a line through Julius and Jeremy. “These two people are now dead, and from what we know, died fairly closely together in the timeline. People here can vouch for your whereabouts for the last month?” He really wanted Tyler to be off that suspect list. Tyler nodded. “Yes. Absolutely. And the delivery truck has a GPS monitor in case of it being robbed, so everywhere I went in it is recorded.” “Good. I think I can safely say you might’ve been able to commit one murder, but not two and get back here before you were missed.” He stopped and watched Tyler intently. “I’ll need a list of those names.” Tyler nodded. “What are the odds of their killers being two different people?” he asked. “I think low. Even though both these men died in a different way, there is now a pattern,” Linden explained. “A pattern?” “Yeah. Julius was afraid of drowning. Bet you Jeremy had some fear of burning. Both these murders were set up to appear as if they were suicides, and there is now an established link between the victims when they were juveniles. That sort of information is hard to get unless someone specifically looks for it.” He turned and faced Tyler, looking him directly in the eye. “What’s your fear?” “Freezing. Which is laughable because that’s a pretty painless way to die. You get cold, then warm, then fall asleep. I might live here, but during the colder months, I don’t go hiking or do much in the way of outdoor activities. I do love it here during three of the seasons, though.” Linden tapped the yearbook. “Would playing these mystery-solving games give someone that sort of information about someone else?” “Yes, it’s very possible.” Tyler shrugged. “But in my case I don’t think it’s ever been a secret I’m not fond of the cold.” Linden snorted. “Sort of ironic you wanted to live here.” “Not really. I was only thinking of when it was nice and sunny, with flowers blooming and leaves on the trees. My coming here was more of an emotional decision because I needed to get away than anything else. Wyoming is a good place to get away to.” Tyler glanced down at the floor again, then turned to look out the window. Linden followed his gaze and sucked in a breath at the sight of Devils Tower rising up in the distance, white against the gray sky. Tyler turned back to Linden. “Whoever is here is probably after me.” He took another deep breath. “So let’s trap that person. I’ll be the bait.” “No.” Linden held up one finger. “That’s a bad, bad idea.” “But you did that when you were here before—set a trap.” “With a half-dozen other FBI agents hanging around for backup and one of the two men helping to set that trap a trained park ranger, also a federal agent. They were wearing wires too. That was a completely different situation.” “So, we, uh, improvise.” “Improvise?” “Do you have any of that listening equipment?”      “In that part of the city I’ll admit it’s a very good place for someone to wait for and find prosperous victims. There was a lot of water and ice chunks in the street near your sister that may have had something to do with the attack. There’s also a bar two doors down and the ice and water could’ve come from there.” DC Swift paused for a few seconds. “I’m not sure since the crime scene wasn’t well preserved before we arrived. People came from several of the shops when they heard a woman scream. Your sister was stabbed and her fiancé was struck with a blunt object in the head, as well as stabbed.” She stopped again. This time her face and posture relaxed slightly and she leaned back in her chair. “This case won’t be closed, but I’ll be honest with you, I think whoever did this planned it out well and knew the best when and where. They covered their tracks, and I haven’t got a damn thing to go on.” Brett frowned and Rylan saw how he clutched the arms of the chair until his knuckles turned white. “Someone was hired to kill her?” “Her, or them, I’m not sure, but yes, that’s what I believe. Proving it is a different story.” “Was anything taken…stolen?” Rylan asked. “That is information we’re not releasing. Along with other details of hers and Mr. Sebastian’s injuries.” She looked pointedly from Brett to Rylan and back again. “To anyone.” Brett opened his mouth, Rylan was sure it was to voice some argument but Swift cut him off. “That decision is final.” “What about her…their hotel room? The hotel has asked that their belongings be removed. Is it okay for me to do that?” Swift nodded. “Yes.” Brett stood up and held out his hand to DC Swift. “Thankyou for seeing us.” She stood, shook Brett’s hand, and nodded to each of them. “I’ll be in touch if I have any news.” On their return trip to their car Brett’s face was closed off and his shoulders rigid. When they reached the car, Brett hit the hood with the heels of both hands. “That bitch thinks I’m responsible for Celia dying!” “I think if she really thought that she’d have arrested you,” Rylan pointed out. He held out his hand. “Give me the keys.” “Huh?” “You’re pissed off and I don’t want to die trapped in a mangled car. Give me the keys and let me drive,” Rylan insisted. Brett glared for a minute and Rylan thought he’d refuse so added, “I’m not getting into a car with you behind the wheel like this.”   JMS Books     |
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