Genre: Paranormal, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay, Bi
Reviewer: Maryann
Universal Buy Link | Amazon
About The Book
Is Sandy Bottom Bay truly full of ghosts?
Wendell Weston is in a slump. Paranormal stories are his life. His income. His sole focus for as long as he can remember, not that he actually believes any of it is real. His obsession has complicated his love life, but for the most part, he hasn’t minded. But now his muse has gone quiet. In search of inspiration, he flies across the country to the purportedly haunted bed and breakfast, just before Haunt Fest. Soured on romance by the cynicism and superficiality of the Hollywood actors he works with, he’s not expecting a chance encounter with an attractive man to go anywhere.
But Kyle Grainger isn’t just a pretty face. He also hosts local ghost walks. The closest thing to an expert Wendell has encountered, and with any luck, Kyle will lead him to a spectral encounter. Before long, Wendell realizes he wants to follow Kyle anywhere, ghost or not. As a true skeptic, Wendell doesn’t believe he’ll see a ghost for real, but he’s going to have fun trying. Especially with Kyle. One of the many local legends will surely trigger his muse, but in the meantime, getting to know a sweet, mesmerizing man would make the trip worthwhile.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to encounter a ghost?
That’s what Kyle thinks every time he hosts another ghost walk in Sandy Bottom Bay. Not once in hundreds of tours has he seen one, but he remains hopeful. Kyle hasn’t had a lot of amazing in his life. After an injury in college, he had to pivot on his life’s dream. He’s content, more or less, professionally. His romantic dry spell, on the other hand, could turn the Everglades into the Sahara. Wendell is an unexpected pleasure, one Kyle hopes is more than a Haunt Fest hookup.
What if the ghost isn’t harmless?
After one of the other guests at the local bed and breakfast dies suddenly, Wendell and Kyle experience a number of odd occurrences that suggest Kyle might be more sensitive to spirits than either of them imagined. If Wendell can’t shake his skepticism about the paranormal, Kyle’s sanity and even his life could be the price they pay.
Content Warning: self harm (does not appear on page)
The Review
It’s two years after the events of book one. North on Drummond, and the small town of Sandy Bottom Bay is still known for being the second most haunted town in Florida, and the annual big tourist draw is the upcoming Haunt Fest.
The first book in the series focused on Cliff Garcia coming home to Sandy Bottom Bay and meeting Drew Drummond, a psychic. This second novel focuses on Kyle Grainger, Drew’s best friend and Wendell Weston, someone new in Sandy Bottom Bay.
Wendell Weston, thirty-two, has come to town and taken a voluntary job at the Orange Lady Inn, which has the reputation of being haunted. It’s owned by Sandra and Bill – Bill is recovering from health issues and Sandra needs to take him away and to concentrate on his health.
For Wendell, this turns out to be a great opportunity. Having some experience in the hospitality business and needing a place to research and write some horror scripts, the Orange Lady is the perfect place for him. He will learn about the Inns business with Jackson, who has experience running the place.
After his TV show “Phantoms” failed, Wendell decided to come to Sandy Bottom Bay, and the town may just give him the boost he needs to get back into writing. Even though he’s not a believer in ghosts or the supernatural, he’s hoping to find something worth writing about. He’s part owner of the Lucky Weston Studios, along with his siblings Lucinda, Felicity and Byron. They only make horror movies and are quite successful at it.
Kyle Grainger, twenty-four, is taking care of Drew Drummond’s tarot business, “Malachi’s Tarot,” while he and his husband, police officer Cliff Garcia are on their honeymoon. Kyle doesn’t mind, since he is sort of invested in the little shop that Drew inherited from his Grandmother. Even with his bad knee, Kyle still loves and teaches dance and has his “Ghost Walks” that he conducts. He’s feeling lonely and a little jealous, because he really wants what Drew has – someone to love.
While out and about, Wendell visits the Mysteriously Good Confections, owned by Lisa Watson. As he’s leaving, he runs into a gorgeous blond, who he’s sure would reject him. Plus he doesn’t want just a hook-up – he’s looking for that special someone.
Kyle notices Wendell too, and Lisa teases him about it and has some gossip to share too – Wendell is at the Inn for three months. Sandra always came out to greet his ghost walk tours, and he hopes Wendell will continue the tradition. Still, Kyle doesn’t know what he will do if Wendell appears.
After a powerful downpour, Wendell notices a group gathering on the steps. There aren’t any new customers scheduled for the night, so he goes out to check. He sees the gorgeous blond, who beckons him back inside the Inn. Kyle works up the courage to invite Wendell on one of the ghost tours. They start to spend time together, and then things get very eerie, especially in the Inn’s library. What will Wendell and Kyle uncover? And why is Kyle changing?
The intense plot focuses on ghosts, possession and a possible serial killer. For Kyle the danger of possession is real, and Wendell with will have to seek help from the most unlikely person – Eddie Price.
The story has both new and returning characters: Jackson, who comes to help at Orange Lady Inn,; Wyatt Drummond, who really changes his ways when he starts helping out; Chester, an older vacationer at the Inn; Officer Scott Hunter; Eddie Price an apparent medium; Lisa Watson and Tony of the Mysteriously Good Confections, which does have some very unique baked goods; and the Weston siblings. who make an appearance too.
I enjoyed how the author did a play on words with the title. The story flowed well, especially as the pace picked up. The slow burn of the romance between Kyle and Wendell was sweet and steamy. I was very entertained by West on Grainger, and loved that it was more overtly paranormal, with a solid mystery to go along with it.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.