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Book Title: Badlands
Author: Morgan Brice
Cover Artist: Natania Barron
Genre/s: urban fantasy, MM paranormal romance
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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.
What Amazon reviewers are saying about Badlands:
“…steamy, complicated and totally engaging.”
“Highly recommend this one.”
“An excellent well written book…”
“A brilliant story that has you invested in the characters and guessing what will happen next.”
“Can’t say enough good things about this book!”
Magic, Mayhem and Romance
By Morgan Brice
I love sexy, sassy, supernatural suspense series. In other words, I love when action, magic, danger and two hot, sexy guys are all part of the story, and the story expands over time.
As a reader, my favorite stories have an underlying element of danger—a crime to solve, a mystery to unravel, a killer to stop. Add a paranormal/occult aspect—ghosts, monsters, magic, hauntings, curses—some or all are fine with me. Throw in two soulful, sexy guys who have their own hurts and hang-ups to get over as they try to step up to be heroes. Mix it all together, and it’s the kind of book I adore. Keeping bringing out additional adventures the let me get to know the characters, the world and the magic more in each book, and I’m a happy camper.
So as an author, I naturally gravitate toward writing the kind of book I love to read. Badlands, my newest release and the first in a new series, checks off all the boxes. Medium and clairvoyant Simon Kincaide owns a Myrtle Beach boardwalk shop where he runs ghost tours, holds seances, and offers private psychic readings, making 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
In Badlands, Simon has an inborn gift to hear ghosts and get glimpses of the future. Those are his most powerful abilities. One of his friends, Miss Eppie, is a ‘root woman’, a powerful Hoodoo practitioner, drawing her magic from ancient African traditions. Another friend, Gabriella, is a bruja, a very capable witch. Some of Simon’s acquaintances have abilities that are less powerful and more difficult to control—for example, seeing auras, reading other people’s thoughts. Those gifts can be harnessed more effectively with practice and study, but they spring from natural-born talent.
But there’s also what I call ‘rote magic’, meaning small magical workings—like lighting a candle without a match, or making a lock open without a key—that can be learned by practice and determination even without the person being a true witch. Rote magic can be used to help or hurt, depending on the intentions of the person using it.
Vic is a cop. His job requires him to be skeptical of things he can’t see and can’t prove. But more than that, he’s encountered the supernatural before and it nearly cost him everything. He’s still not entirely sure he believes in ‘this woo-woo stuff’, which means he’s trying to figure out whether or not Simon is the real deal, on a personal and professional level. Because people are getting killed, and Simon’s abilities might hold the key to stopping the murderer, but only if Vic can believe that the supernatural is real.
Can Vic ever believe in Simon’s abilities? Can Simon trust Vic to believe in the supernatural after what it cost him the last time? Will they be able to set their differences aside in order to stop a killer? And more importantly—can they find the courage to take a risk and fall in love, when there are no guarantees in love or magic?
Badlands is the first of the series. A Christmas novella, Lucky Town, will be out in late fall. And if you share my love of sexy sassy supernatural suspense series, check out Witchbane, the first in a different urban fantasy MM paranormal romance series!
I’ll be a Hosting Author at RomCon and a Supporting Author at Gay Romantic Lit Retreat in October, so please look me up and say hello!
Badlands is available in ebook on Kindle, Kobo and Nook and in print. We’re working on audiobook. Please also check out Witchbane, the first in my other urban fantasy MM paranormal romance series!
“Bikes are a big deal here,” Simon said to fill the pause. “I’m always amazed at how many come through for Bike Week.” Several major motorcycle events each summer turned the Grand Strand into a cavalcade of the hottest cycles on the coast.
Cop Dude shrugged. “I always liked Born to Run. Springsteen fan. What can I say?”
“Sir?” the voice called from the counter, making Simon turn away. “You’re next.” Simon had never been less happy to get to the front of the line.
“I’ll have a Dread Pirate Roberts,” he mumbled, not wanting to look like an idiot to the guy he was trying to impress. He handed over the money, took his change as she rang him up, dropped a one dollar bill in the tip jar, and moved down the counter to wait for his drink.
“I’ll try that, too,” the cop said, flashing him a grin. “What the hell? Live life on the edge.”
Le Miz baristas were fast. Simon knew he needed to come up with a way to extend the conversation without looking like a creeper or lose the connection, maybe forever. Just as the barista handed both of them their drinks, a deafening thunderclap sounded, rattling the windows, and the rain came pouring down.
“Want to grab a table?” Simon asked, nervous enough that his throat felt tight. “We’ll drown if we go out there now.”
“Sure. Why not.”
Simon led the way through the crowded outer room where the tables were all taken to the back room where there was once a display of pirate doubloons and recovered sunken treasures. The room kept its murals of sailing ships and scruffy pirates, along with the odds and ends left behind by the previous owners—a beat-up old chest, a pirate mannequin everyone called “Mo” and a bedraggled stuffed parrot on a perch, dubbed “Percy” by Le Miz regulars.
“You must come here a lot to know there’s a second room.”
“Told you, I take my coffee very seriously,” Simon teased as he sat down. “I’m Simon, by the way.”
“Vic,” the man replied. “So what’s in this mystery drink?”
“Do you like the smell?” Simon asked.
Vic leaned over his cup, took a deep breath, and his eyes fluttered almost closed. Simon’s heart did a little samba, instantly imagining what Vic would look like blissed out and debauched after sweaty sex. Simon’s erection strained at the fly of his jeans, and he was insanely glad they were seated at a table where Vic couldn’t see how aroused he was.
“Good?” Simon asked, hating that he sounded a little breathless.
“Yeah,” Vic replied, with a little moan that made Simon painfully hard.
“Glad I could turn you on to a good thing,” Simon replied, hoping he hadn’t read the signals wrong since he was blatantly flirting.
“Much obliged,” Vic replied, and maybe it was Simon’s imagination that the man’s voice dropped a little lower, a bit huskier, than before.
“You’ve been here before, you said?” Simon asked, finding that his pick-up skills were as woefully rusty as his ability to make polite chit-chat.
“A few times,” Vic replied. “I haven’t gotten to the boardwalk as much as I’d like.”
“I try not to overdo the special coffees,” Simon said with a self-conscious smile. “I know the sugar adds up. But you’ve got to do something to make yourself feel good now and then, right?” Oh lord, that sounded really bad. I can’t believe I said that.
A wicked twinkle came into Vic’s eyes. “I’m all for feeling good,” he replied, and his foot bumped into Simon’s beneath the table.
It’s just his foot. Doesn’t mean anything. Could have been an accident,Simon told himself, but Vic didn’t move away, and Simon hoped his smile looked encouraging instead of merely nervous.
“So are you in town for business or pleasure?” Simon asked, and cringed internally. What’s wrong with me? I’m never smooth, but I didn’t used to be this awful at picking up a date.“I mean, are you a local or just visiting?”
Vic’s full, sensuous lips quirked in a smile. “Neither,” he replied.
Simon tried and failed at not staring at his lips and imagining them around his cock. Get a grip!Shit, that only changed the mental image to a hand job. So not working! Don’t fuck this up.That didn’t help at all.
“Moved here not too long ago, so I don’t feel quite like a local, but definitely not a tourist,” Vic added.
“You can still take in the sights, even if you live here. Most people don’t take time to enjoy what’s in their backyards. I’d love to show you some of my favorite spots.” Oh, just shoot me now. That sounded like the worst line from a cheap porno. I totally suck at this. No, don’t think about sucking…
“Sounds fun,” Vic said, and Simon was so lost in his embarrassment that he almost missed it.
“You would?” he asked, then cleared his throat. “I mean, that’s great,” he failed miserably to cover his awkward reply. Simon was just about to ask for Vic’s number when Vic’s phone went off.
The ringtone sounded odd, and Vic’s manner shifted in the blink of an eye, going from casual and relaxed to tense and alert. “I’ve got to take this,” he said, without even glancing at the number. “I’m sorry. It’s work. Confidential—need to step away.” With that, he got up and headed toward the service corridor that went toward the men’s room, taking his coffee with him.
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.
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