QSFer Edward Kendrick has a new paranormal detective story out:
Young adults are missing. Something socialite and red wolf shifter Allyn Warwick and his sister are unaware of until Allyn’s ex-lover, police detective Ransom Carlyle, interviews them because they were at one of the social gatherings when a young man disappeared.
Will Allyn and Ransom–who is an alpha gray wolf shifter–be able to put aside past differences to solve the case, and can they do so without letting the world know they are both shifters? Or will trying to work together–if they survive their hunt to begin with–destroy their slowly reawakening feelings for each other?
The first book in the To Catch a Kidnapper series.
Excerpt
“Are you as bored at you seem?” Miranda asked her brother.
“And then some,” Allyn replied with a yawn, while he watched the creme-de-la-creme of New Orleans society dancing and drinking as if the masked ball was the foremost event of the season. Of course for most of them it was–being high society’s late summer version of Mardi Gras excesses. Therefore, they spent lavish amounts of money on their costumes, trying to outshine everyone else in attendance.
Although, to be honest, Miranda and Allyn didn’t scrimp on their costumes either.
Miranda was dressed in shades of lavender, the high collar of her gown trimmed in gold and deep red to match her headdress, with its flowers and butterflies. If her decolletage had been any deeper, there would have been nothing left to the imagination. The amount of fabric in the belled skirt made up for that, the hem sweeping the floor for several feet around her.
Allyn, on the other hand, was somewhat less risque. Also in shades of lavender, his full-sleeved, knee-length coat was accented with gold and red, flaring out from his trim waist. His deep red britches however, fit like a second skin, with dark lavender hose and matching shoes completing the outfit. He carried a gold staff, the companion piece to Miranda’s wand. Their masks–reversing the colors of their costumes–were gold, heavily decorated with lavender and red gems.
“Madame, would you do the honor of dancing with me?”
Miranda fluttered her fingers against her collarbone as she studied the man who had asked. Then, with a curtsy, she allowed as how she would love to. He held out his arm, she placed her hand on it, and they melded into the throng of dancers in the center of the ballroom.
If he only knew… Allyn smiled with wry amusement, taking a sip from the champagne flute he was holding. Emptying it, he looked for the nearest server and saw a young woman with a tray of drinks a few feet away. Crossing to meet her, he set his empty glass down, taking a full one to replace it.
“Planning on getting drunk?”
Allyn turned to smile as his most recent lover joined him. “It’s that or die of boredom, Liam.”
“We could escape upstairs to one of the bedrooms and do something about that,” Liam replied impudently.
“Perhaps later, once I know Miranda’s in good hands.”
Liam looked where Allyn pointed. “Unless I’m mistaken, that’s Jacob Paget, so she’s quite safe. His only interest in her would be as a dancing companion.”
“For sure–if it is him. Where’s Martin?”
“On a business trip, from what I heard. Probably planned so he wouldn’t have to endure this”–Liam shuddered–“this soiree.”
“I think this is a bit more than a soiree,” Allyn commented. “More like a dissipated distracting divertissement.”
“How alliterative. Although I think divertissement has more to do with theatrical entertainment than a grand ball.”
“Come now,” Allyn retorted sardonically. “You don’t think this is pure theater? Everyone dressed in costume, doing their best to enthrall the masses with their splendor?”
“Good point, and you’re right.” Liam slipped his hand under the slit at the back of Allyn’s coat, squeezing his ass. “Now that we have that settled, let’s see if we can find somewhere more private so we can explore what’s underneath our costumes.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Allyn replied with a laugh, lust replacing boredom. He checked on Miranda, glad to see she was still dancing with Jacob. Feeling it was safe to leave for a little while, he took Liam’s hand and they exited the ballroom via the curving staircase leading to the upper floors of the mansion–and with luck, an empty bedroom.
Buy Links
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Author Bio
Born and bred Cleveland, I earned a degree in technical theater, later switched to costuming, and headed to NYC. Finally seeing the futility of trying to become rich and famous in the Big Apple, I joined VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America), ending up in Chicago for three years. Then it was on to Denver where I put down roots and worked as a costume designer until just recently.
I began writing a few years ago after joining an on-line fanfic group. Two friends and I then started a group for writers where they may post any story they wish no matter the genre or content. Since then, for the last four years, I’ve been writing for publication. Most, but not all, of my work is m/m, either mildly erotic or purely ‘romantic’, and more often than not it involves a mystery or action/adventure.
‘Shared pain is lessened,shared joy is increased, thus do we refute entropy.’ Spider Robinson
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