REVIEW
Book Title: Badlands
Author: Morgan Brice
Cover Artist: Natania Barron
Publisher: Darkwind Press
Release Date: June 26, 2018
Genre/s: urban fantasy, MM paranormal romance
Buy Links
Blurb
Simon Kincaide owns a boardwalk shop in Myrtle Beach where he runs ghost tours & does seances and private psychic readings, a fresh start after his abilities cost him his lover and his job as a folklore professor. Jaded cop Vic D’Amato saw something supernatural he couldn’t explain during a shootout several years ago in Pittsburgh and relocated to Myrtle Beach to leave the past behind, still skeptical about the paranormal. But when the search for a serial killer hits a dead end, Vic battles his skepticism to ask Simon for help. As the body count rises, Simon’s involvement makes him a target, and a suspect. But Simon can't say no, even if it costs him his life and heart.
My Two Pennies Worth
This is a good paranormal suspense/police procedural with a gay romance thrown in.
The plot/story line is excellent, with an interesting paranormal world that could well be our own and based on a lot of existing folklore and superstitions. The similarities and differences between the investigation carried out by the psychic and the police were interesting. I don’t want to say too much as I’d rather not spoil this side of things for readers, but this really was the best crafted part of the story.
Simon, the psychic, was an engaging character from the very beginning. I liked him and the life he’d made for himself in Myrtle Beach. His gifts were interesting and well explored, and fitted well into the story. Towards the end he veered into TSTL territory, and I wasn’t convinced by his reason for this, but as a character trait it’s one I’ve forgiven on more than one occasion (once, repeatedly by the same character over an entire series) so this didn’t bother me too much.
Vic, the cop, on the other hand was harder to like and I don’t necessarily think that was the character’s fault. I couldn’t understand why a man who had been transferred from his previous precinct because he’d shot a victim who’d been possessed by an evil supernatural entity, would be so opposed to believing in the things that Simon saw/experienced. Surely Simon’s experiences/knowledge would be something Vic would embrace because it proved he wasn’t crazy. But, no, Vic spends almost the entire book questioning that part of Simon’s character. Also, and this has only just occurred to me as I’m typing this review, but Vic’s past experience with the supernatural isn’t mentioned again (apart from by other cops in a derogatory way as a reason why he should throw Simon to the lions to save himself). He and Simon don’t address it all in the story, not even in the epilogue.
I didn’t feel the romance subplot was as strong as the mystery/PP side, and think the story would have worked just as well without it. It’s a shame because the romance is part of the reason I read these sort of books rather than plain urban fantasy. And for me the connection just wasn’t strong enough. But don't let that put you off, I'll certainly be looking out for more books by this author.
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
Morgan Brice will be a Supporting Author at Gay Romantic Lit convention and a Hosting Author at RomCon in October.
Social Media Links
No comments:
Post a Comment