Tying Up Loose Ends
by Morgan Brice
Loose Ends is the fourth novel in my ongoing Badlands series, with a sexy psychic medium and a hot homicide detective who hunt down supernatural killers in Myrtle Beach. All the book titles in the series are also titles of songs by Bruce Springsteen, since Vic, the detective, is a huge fan of The Boss. But as the title suggests, unfinished business—both personal and ghostly—plays a big part in the plot.
One of the things I love about writing a couple in an evolving, established relationship is that over the course of a series we get to delve much deeper into the characters and see them struggle and grow. We also can explore their back stories to find out where they’ve been hurt, what lessons they’ve learned the hard way, and which experiences shaped them for better or worse.
In this book, Simon Kincaide, the psychic medium, is confronted by an ex-boyfriend who turns up without warning four years after their break-up. Simon’s estranged mother also tries to barge into his life and break up his established relationship with Vic D’Amato, the cop. Vic’s past successes as a detective come back to haunt him when someone with a grudge decides to destroy his life. The high-profile upcoming trial of a killer Simon and Vic nabbed puts both men in danger. Meanwhile, Simon’s skills as a medium are put to the test dealing with vengeful and restless ghosts. Cold case murders and unsolved disappearances play a role as well, and nothing is as it seems.
I love being able to dig into the pasts of characters we’ve gotten to know and see glimpses of who they were at other times in their lives, or better understand the events that shaped their choices. Often in the course of having to deal with an ugly element from their past, characters are able to leave behind old baggage and truly grasp how far they’ve come. I also really enjoy weaving that personal growth with their evolution as a couple, learning to work with each other and healing old hurts.
Ghosts and unsolved mysteries are always favorites for me, and in Loose Ends, they play an important role, leading to insights that are essential to unraveling the secrets at the heart of the plot. Throw in a beautiful beach location, feisty friends and steamy sex, and the book is an adventure you won’t want to miss!
About Loose Ends
Cold cases, old enemies, ex-lovers, and vengeful spirits are making life dangerous for psychic medium Simon Kincaide and his boyfriend, homicide detective Vic D’Amato.
The ghosts of Myrtle Beach are restless, trapped by love, secrets, scandals, and spells, keeping Simon busy protecting the living from the unhappy dead. Someone from Vic’s past is out to destroy him and everyone he holds dear, and the high-profile trial of the first case Simon and Vic worked together puts them in the spotlight—and put a target on their backs. As a deadly trap closes around them, can Simon and Vic tie up the loose ends to stop the threat, or will they become the newest ghosts of the Grand Strand?
Loose Ends is an urban fantasy MM paranormal romance with spooky supernatural suspense, hot sex, hurt/comfort, feisty friends, found family, ghosts galore, and dark magic. It is part of a series but can be read as a standalone and features an evolving, established romantic relationship with all the feels. Intended for readers 18 years of age and older.
Available at: Amazon
An Excerpt from Loose Ends
“I’ve been poking around on the Buccaneer story since the place shut down,” Josh said. “My team’s visited probably a dozen times. Plus, I knew people who worked on the construction and dismantling, and who ran the rides when it was open.” He leaned forward, dropping his voice. “They won’t talk on the record, or to the police, but I’ve heard all their stories. And the rumors that got out? They’re just a fraction of how fucked up that place was.”
Simon sat back in his chair, settling his lanky body and long legs as best he could. He warmed his hands on the hot paper cup and tucked a strand of long chestnut hair behind one ear. “Tell me.”
“One of my sources was a crane operator when they were installing the Riptide Roll steel coaster,” Josh confided. “He saw one of the workmen fall from the top of the first hill when they were assembling the ride. Says the guy died on impact. The company paid to hush it up. Same thing happened when another worker was crushed to death. A load of steel pipe shifted, and he ended up underneath it.”
“Jesus.”
“That’s not all of it. The place was only open for barely two seasons, but the ride operators had stories that would curl your hair. Riders got whiplash, one girl lost a couple of fingers, and a kid died from head injuries when his ride car came loose and crashed. Not to mention the operator who got electrocuted when he had to run his ride in the rain.”
“If the owners had to cover all that up, no wonder they went bankrupt,” Simon said, shaking his head. “I can’t believe they didn’t get shut down.”
“Their rides continued to pass inspections from the state office—or maybe someone got paid off. Still, they closed suddenly before the end of their last season,” Josh said. “Whistleblowers went to the media. The situation was going to be ugly. But then it turned out to be even worse.”
Simon remembered the end of the story. Investors clamored for their money back when the park abruptly shut down, only to find out that the accounts were empty, the books had been cooked, and the profits were never real. Before it could turn into a media circus and authorities asked for serious jail time, Ellington killed himself, and Stevens skipped town.
“Any clue about who’s haunting the place?”
Josh chewed on his lip and looked at Simon. “I was hoping you’d come over with us this afternoon and help me figure that out. I’m doing my best to learn, but my skills aren’t as powerful as yours, and I don’t know how to really use them. I can sense when spirits are nearby, and I see them better than the average person, but having a conversation is beyond what I can do.”
About Morgan Brice
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. Characters from her Gail books make frequent appearances in secondary roles in her Morgan books, and vice versa.
On the rare occasions Morgan isn’t writing, she’s either reading, cooking, or spoiling two very pampered dogs.
Series include Witchbane, Badlands, and Treasure Trail. Watch for more in these series, plus new series coming soon!
Read a copy of my Badlands short story Restless Nights here for free
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