Reviewed by Kat

TITLE: Dearly & Deviant Daniel

SERIES: Dearly and The Departed (Book 1)

AUTHOR: L. A. Kaye

PUBLISHER: Kaye Klub Publishing

LENGTH: 307 pages

RELEASE DATE: October 19, 2022

BLURB:

When the family business is death, what does it take to feel alive?

Maybe a gorgeous motorcycle mechanic with a dark past has a few ideas?

Mortician Keir Dearly has a secret he plans to take to his grave. If he tells anyone he speaks with the dead who come through his funeral home, who will believe him? Keeping the secret prevents Keir from pursuing a love life because how would a lover react to such news?

Mechanic Dashiell Clegg owns Clegg Cycles, the family business his father left to him and his estranged brother Daniel. Dash has only seen Daniel twice since Dash was released from prison, and that’s perfectly fine with both of them. The brothers stay out of each other’s lives until one day, Dash gets a call that changes everything.

When Dash’s brother, deviant Daniel Clegg, shows up on Keir’s table with a final request: Keep my brother from being blamed for my murder, the temptation to jump into the mix is too much for Keir to resist. Can Keir save Dashiell Clegg without telling anyone about his conversations with the dead?

After being warned about communing with the Departed, will Dearly have to pay a price for assisting them in finding their final peace?

L.A. Kaye’s debut novel, Dearly & Deviant Daniel, is the first tale in the Dearly & the Departed M/M paranormal romance series.It’s a little mysterious, a little creepy, and a lotta sexy, so be sure to check it out! It’s approximately 90,000 words in length and ends happily for now.

REVIEW:

You know when you find an author and they become a 1-click author because everything they write is gold and speaks directly to you? Well Sam is one of those authors for me. And you know when an author you love decides to go a whole different route with their writing? Well Sam did that with her new alter-ego L. A. Now I find that, contrary to what I believed I didn’t like before, I am liking suspense and danger…and talking to spirits/ghosts! 😱

Keir Dearly has taken over the family business, Dearly & Son Funeral Home, after the passing of his father and retirement of his mother. At least being there all alone (his home is on the top floor of the building) he doesn’t have to hide his secret…that he can see and talk with the guests that come to be prepared for their final resting. When Daniel Clegg is murdered and shows up at Keir’s mortuary he immediately requests that Keir save his little brother from being convicted of his murder…a murder Dashiell “Dash” Clegg didn’t commit. But Dash is an ex-con and the police are looking for an easy wrap up for the framed man. When Keir and Dash have chemistry, even though Dash is going through his painful loss, Keir knows he has to protect and save the innocent man!

This book had me in sleuth mode from the moment I started reading it. It was a case of who done it and how they made the little brother, an ex-con, the perfect patsy and easy to frame..too easy. I really liked both men and wanted it to work out. I wasn’t sure I was happy about Detective Jay Frick going after Keir. The fact that Keir and Jay are becoming friends was okay but it’s blatantly obvious that Jay has eyes for Keir. But I want Keir and Dash to have a good chance and he seems a stumbling block to their HEA! I know that Dash and Keir aren’t a committed couple but Dash made it known that he didn’t like having to compete or share. I know Keir says that Jay and him are only friends but going to dinner seemed a bit chummy after Dash and him spent Christmas together. I need someone to introduce Jay to his true match and leave being friends only to him with the guys. Period! And I need Dash and Keir to man up and make theirs a committed relationship! Jay makes me nervous and I don’t condone cheating.

I know this book is a suspenseful “who done it” but, in typical Sam style, there are some pretty hilarious scenes to make you laugh and super sexy scenes to keep you on your toes and hope for them to eventually get their HEA I need. This is the first of three books planned in this series and I can’t wait to find out what is the evil that’s coming and how his new employee Scott and his dead Dad are suppose to keep Keir safe.

I know I stated it before but I guess authors know what I want more than I do and keep making me push against my nicely formed “box” I have constructed to get me to try new things I never dreamt I would like. Touché L. A./Sam for making this skeptic a believer!

RATING:

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