The Mystery of Ruby Lode

by Scotty Cade

After six long months of research, adventure seekers Bowen McAlister, Cyrus Curran, Duff Gentry, and Lockhart Dawson are on their way to Boulder, Colorado to explore Ruby Lode, an abandoned gold mine. Duff, a born psychic, senses something isn't quite right, and the closer they get, the more his unease grows. Something left behind long ago in the deep shafts and drifts of Ruby Lode makes its presence known by exposing dark, heavily guarded secrets. Preying on each of their weaknesses and insecurities, Ruby Lode's own destructive secret threatens their sanity, friendship, and ultimately their lives. CONTENT ADVISORY: This story contains elements of rape/near rape.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Historical, Contemporary, Mystery, Fantasy, Romance

200 pages, ebook

First published May 26, 2012

About the author

Scotty Cade left Corporate America and twenty-five years of Marketing and Public Relations behind to buy an Inn & Restaurant on the island of Martha’s Vineyard with his partner of over twenty years. He started writing stories as soon as he could read, but just five years ago for publication. When not at the Inn, you can find him on the bow of his boat writing gay romance novels with his Shetland sheepdog Mavis at his side. Being from the south and a lover of commitment and fidelity, most of his characters find their way to long healthy relationships, however long it takes them to get there. He believes that in the end, the boy should always get the boy.

Reviews

[Carol]

I believe I have read and enjoyed everything that Scotty Cade has ever written, and this one, even though it was different from his usual stories, was not in any way disappointing. The history of the mine and the history of the first two couples to explore it in 1914, is told in the first two chapters and then in the remainder we meet the two couples in present time. It has adventure, romance, and spookiness in spades...what more could you ask for? The past and the present come together when their lives collide with one couple from the past. A large part of the book shows how we sometimes allow other people's prejudices and past circumstances to affect us so deeply that we lose our self-worth and often our entire beings, but if we allow it, love, compassion and understanding can heal. As I said in the beginning, this story is different in some ways from Scotty Cade's usual but in some ways, it contains what makes his books so compelling. He takes the reader through difficult and emotionally draining truths with each of the main characters, but I have never seen his characters not come out with a happy ending.

[Melanie]

Rating: 4.75

Bowen McAlister and his partner Cyrus Curran, along with their friends Duff Gentry and Lockhart Dawson, are headed out to Boulder, Colorado to research and explore the abandoned gold mine Ruby Lode for Bowen’s outdoor adventure company. But even before they take off, Duff gets a premonition that makes him uneasy. When Duff tells the others, they listen out of respect for their friend’s psychic abilities, but continue on even as Duff’s fears grow.

They should have listened. Because Duff is right. Lurking deep in the mine shafts of Ruby Lode, something dark and dangerous awaits the four men, determined to protect its secrets at all costs, including death. It preys on each man’s insecurities; it visits them in their dreams, turning them into nightmares. For each man to survive, he will have to look deep within himself for the truth about each other and secrets long hidden must come to the surface if all are to remain sane and survive the mystery of Ruby Lode.

This novel was such a cornucopia of wonderful elements that it is hard to know where to begin. Usually I start with the characterizations and with the four men mentioned above Cade has done a great job of bringing together diverse personas with some truly heartbreaking backgrounds and meshing them together as a close knit group of friends the reader loves spending time with. Bowen and Cyrus have been together for 10 years when the story opens and their easy dialog with each other, along with other touches, makes that relationship very believable. Bo and Cy have the authenticity of a long term couple still very much in love. After reading the author’s bio, I could almost feel Cade bringing experiences from his own long term relationship into the portrait he paints here of Bo and Cy, so grounded and real do they feel. Next to them are their two friends, Lockhart, who seems shallow and commitment phobic, and Duff, who is psychic, shy, and hiding many secrets behind his insecurities. Both men have background and secrets that will come out over the course of the story that will bring the reader much closer to Duff and Lockey. Cade’s characterizations are terrific, but the ones I truly loved are the ones that will surprise you. I won’t go into them here as I feel that is spoiler territory, but let’s just say that other characters will hook you in from the beginning and, like the mournful refrain from a mountain folksong, will haunt the pages and the reader from then on. Bravos all around for the author on characterization and character development.

The characters are thrown into the middle of a heartbreaking and deeply dangerous mystery located in the depths of Ruby Lode, an abandoned gold mine. Cade skillfully builds the atmosphere in spine tingling detail, amping up the anxiety and dread for the characters we have come to love until it explodes in a gut wrenching finale. Parts of this story are not for the fainthearted so please take the warnings at the end of the review to heart. At first, I was tempted to think it was emotional overload on the author’s part but as the story continued I could see that Cade had a justification for its inclusion, and it all made sense in the end. Again I am being obtuse to reduce any chance for a spoiler here.

While my expertise in gold mines is limited to Maryland’s (yes, we had a few), I can tell Cade did his research and the settings seem very authentic right down to the equipment and mine layouts. The supernatural elements explored here are accomplished with the same expertise and deft touches displayed throughout the novel. I loved how these elements were woven into the stories, starting with mere threads in the beginning, adding one here and there until Cade has fashioned a old time storytelling quilt, colorful with basic patterns turned into designs of complexity. Parts of this book will have you in tears so have the tissues handy as you will need them.

So why not five stars? It all comes down to one character who I absolutely disliked right to the end. I understood him and his actions but that never translated into anything even remotely approaching “like,” especially his actions at the end. I am sure others will not agree with me and for you this is a solid 5 stars. So 4.75 stars from me for just an outstanding read from Scotty Cade. You will love it as I am just quibbling over another one well done character. Grab this one up.

Note: This story contains rape, mention of past sexual abuse, attempted rape, and child abuse

Cover: Another favorite cover of the month for me. Artist is Reese Dante whose work I love and this is another example. Beautiful haunting painting of the insides of an abandoned mine. Perfection in tone and coloring. I love it.

First reviewed for Joyfully Jay and my blog Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

[Pixie Mmgoodbookreviews]

4 Hearts

Review written for MM Good Book Reviews

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/

Warning: Some scenes may upset readers - Near rape and a flash back to child abuse.

Frink, Counter, Hepp and Shull buy a mine together in 1914 but something happens to destroy all their dreams and they mysteriously disappear. 2011 four friends Bowen, Cyrus, Duff and Lockhart love to explore abandoned gold mines, but even before they set off for Ruby Lode mine Duff, a psychic, has a sense of foreboding about the trip. Arriving at Rudy Lode his disquiet deepens as insecurities, fears and hidden secrets are dragged out in the four friends, something doesn’t want them at the Ruby Lode and is trying to drive them away. Duff, Bo, Cy and Lockey must band together to discover the mystery of Ruby Lode and lay the past to rest.

Scotty Cade delivers a wonderful slightly spooky story that has a wonderful mix of past and present. The story starts in 1914 with Frink and Counter biding on Rudy Lode, when they are successful in their bid they are approached by the other bidders Hepp and Shull and agree to buy into the mine together as Hepp and Shull have the equipment needed, but things go drastically wrong. Flash forwards to 2011 and we have Cy, Bo, Duff and Lockey about to embark on exploring the Ruby Lode gold mine, but something in the Ruby Lode doesn’t want them there and it delves into each man dragging out secrets and fears. The men have a choice: confront their pasts or be driven from the mine by a spirit that doesn’t want his secret found.

Well, this is the second edition of this story and the original was reviewed by ‘da boss’ Portia, I never even got a sniff in the first time round but now is my chance ;-). The storyline and plot are brilliant, past and present collide when four friends explore Ruby Lode, but that isn’t all this story is about, each friend also has to face their own pasts and are basically psychologically tortured by a nasty spirit who doesn’t want its own past revealed. Friendship comes in many forms and depths and before their journey is over each friend discovers that no matter how close they thought they were or how much they thought they dealt with the past, the truth is harder to bear.

There are several relationships in this story, each beautiful in its own way… well except one where all the trouble stems from. Long-term relationships still going strong and their love unbreakable, still beautiful and passionate. Discovering new love that has been right in front of you, digging beneath the surface and finally laying to rest an old fantasy. All the love scenes are just that love making, sweet, passionate and loving… well nearly all of them are anyway, I will give a warning that there is near rape scene as well.

The characters are very well written and each deals with their past with regret, anger, shock and fear, there are tears shed as they come to terms with what their friends share and there is great support and love. The flashbacks throughout the story are nicely done, but be prepared to be horrified as we have kidnapping, child abuse, bullying and abandonment. Bo, Cy, Duff and Lockey are great friends, but at times I got annoyed with how they seemed to interact, un-needed and unmindful comments and flippancy at friends requests, and they all seemed to do it at one time of another.

I will recommend this to those who love history and the present meeting, a spirit who has a secret to hide, four friends becoming strong, a new found love, a long lasting love, hot sex and a very happy ending.

[Sucajo]

I'm always on the look out for m/m horror books and although this wasn't all-out in-your-face horror, it did have some creepy paranormal elements to it. On reading the blurb, four MCs at first seem a lot to get know in one story but it is actually handled very well and each man came over as an individual with an interesting and relevant back-story and a vital role to play in the story. This story kept me hooked and I was captured not only by the four men in the contemporary story but also by those in the historical one. There was some difficult reading in the flashback scenes, especially Duff's, but this was well-handled and appropriate to the story. Scotty Cade was a new author for me and I was definitely impressed with this first read.

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time)]

Bought for "Project Read GRL Authors"

[Lada]

DNF

[Dena]

3.5*

[GayListBookReviews]

This story is actually a story within a story. The first is of Frink and Counter and Hepp and Shull. They bought the mine 1914 and started working it together. Theirs is a bittersweet story full of love, hate, despair, fear and self-hatred that will break your heart. It sucks you in and keeps you reading even when it switches to the second story which begins with the Cy, Bo, Duff, and Lockey and eventually brings the two stories together. This story belongs to all of these men, they all tell parts of it and we feel what they go through.

The beginning is so sweet and sad. You can’t help but love Frink, he’s sweet, naive and so very young. I hoped alongside him that things would all work out and he’d get his happy ending. The relationship between Hepp and Shull is lovely to see. It was a shock to have that part end and suddenly find myself in the present meeting Cy and Bo. But I quickly became invested in each of the men and enjoyed the dynamics between the long time friends and couple. They each had a part to play and a turn at being the focus of the story and I found myself engaged in their drama.

As ghost stories go this one was great. While a very familiar trope I felt that it has enough of a spin as to seem new and interesting. With not only the typical haunting but a psychological aspect that is frankly disturbing, as well. Secrets begin to come out and each man finds himself facing not only the specter in the Ruby Lode mine but also those of their pasts. It was well done, in my opinion, and I really liked it.

While there are a lot of characters involved in the story it isn’t told in the first person so it is more a matter of shifting focus, which kept it coherent and flowing. By the end I felt attached to all of the men.

Time for my warning to my sensitive friends. This story contains references and recountings of emotional, sexual, mental and physical abuse as well as neglect and bullying. It is treated with respect and while not gratuitous it is graphic. As always only you know your triggers and limits.

This is a great read. I appreciated the relationships between the men and how they grew even stronger. Felt the author’s ghost story was refreshingly different and it’s resolution was satisfying and fit the story well. There are some difficult and painful things happening throughout the book and I felt for all of the men in this story. I enjoyed spending time with them and am very glad I went along on their adventure.

Reviewed by Nina

[Portia]

Normally, I begin a review with a bit of a blurb. But, I have to preface that with a bit of a confession. I am always nervous when an author jumps genre. I know, that sounds petty, but oh well. Sue me. I like when my favorite writers are predictable and consistent. But, every now and then, one of them surprises me. Scotty Cade shocked the hell out of me…in the nicest possible way.

Now as a writer, I can tell you flashbacks can be hard to pull off. If you put them in the wrong place, or cover the wrong time frame, you can lose your reader. Scotty Cade pulled wove flashbacks into this entire story brilliantly. The Mystery of Ruby Lode begins at the beginning, in the spring of 1914. Frink and his best friend Counter are two young prospectors trying to strike it rich. Realizing that they lack both experience and equipment, they hook up with two other miners to better their odds of actually striking gold. Before they can pull a single piece of ore out of the ground disaster strikes.

Then, we jump to present day. The four friends have been on this type of adventure before. But, this time is different. This time not only their lives are in danger, but their very sanity.

This is a fabulous romantic suspense. I can’t say that enough times. Absolutely brilliant. The pacing was just right. The flashbacks that are woven into the main story let us stay just a head of the four friends. And the touch of paranormal is so well done, that it if you don’t believe if ghosts, you might.

For those of you who are wondering, there is some really hot sex, but it is always tempered with the intimacy of lovers…at least in the present day. ;-) And in true Cade fashion, these are grown ass men, who don’t play head games with their lovers. Each has a secret that must be revealed in order to solve The Mystery of Ruby Lode, all trusting that their secrets will be safe, with their closest friends.

I am recommending this one for, of course, all the Scotty Cade fans…trust me, he delivers. And anyone who loves a good cold case mystery with a touch of paranormal thrown in. Highly recommend.

[Becky Condit]

Please leave comments on Kiwi's 5 sweet pea review of The Mystery of Ruby Lode at http://mrsconditreadsbooks.com/index....

“Oh, Mr. McAllistar, you act just like a tonic on me.”-Cy, giving us his best Scarlett O’Hara impression.

The blurb to this book covers the bare bones, but believe me when I tell you that there is much, much more. You have all of these wonderful ingredients mixed together to form this book. You take four friends and add a huge cup of mystery, intrigue, the paranormal and danger, mix and you come up with this wonderful story. Cy, Bo, Duff and Locky are four best friends who share a love of exploring old abandoned gold mines. This trip to Colorado to explore the old Ruby Lode mine should be no different, right? Each man has demons in their pasts that have not been exorcised and their secrets are brought to the surface after being buried for so long once they decide to explore that particular mine. Someone or something clearly does not want them to reveal the secrets that were buried there so long ago. The most surprising part of the story is exactly WHAT is left behind in the mine and the circumstances that led up it being there. All of the men’s back stories will break your heart and you will get a bit misty eyed, especially at the beginning and towards the story’s end. The beginning of the book starts off slow but that was brilliant as it was necessary to set the scene for the rest of the story. What I love about Scotty Cade’s writing style is that it is always spot on perfect. The editing, wording, sentence arrangement is always spot on perfect. Another great thing about Scotty Cade is that his books are always well researched. Whether he’s writing about acquisitions and mergers, buried treasure in the high seas, or old gold mines, you know that every detail was very well researched. There is no single way to label this book: it’s a mystery and suspense novel, a love story (or stories), a horror, as it was a little scary (okay, I’m a bit of a ‘fraidy’ cat). My attention was grabbed from the first page to the last. I give this a book 5 sweet pea, 5 stars, and 2 thumbs up rating.

[Fay MMBookworm]

Wow this book is an exciting story of exorcising the pasts and present demons and contains some triggers for people that may put people off but I can say Ive definitely read worse than this. In saying that this is a great book. It starts out in 1914 in Colorado when Frink and his friend Counter buying a mine called the Ruby Lode and along came Hepp and Shull to form a partnership. What becomes them, you'll may need tissues for this part..
But it then comes to 2011 in New York, Cy loved exploring old mines with his boyfriend, and his two best friends. Although Cy hated closed in paces he takes a break from wall street markets he longs for the next exploration to begin. Cy and Bowen have been together for about 10 years, with Duff and Lockhart all friends since collage days. Duff is the shy one in the group and also the psychic. I absolutely love psychic/ghost story's and being one of Scotty's books I couldn't pass it up.

[Lidia]

I didn't know by this book and I was also surprise of plot because different of other books written by Scotty Cade but I also found his style also in a different genre.Nothing Alaska forests, or nice city of sud, or boat in the sea or wonderful islands but one dark and dusty mine. I love the stories of souls lost as the love story and of friedness so I liked very much read this book , where there is mystery,suspance but also the story beautiful and drammatic of four protagonists. The first chapter is as one little book for the intense and exciting story also if tragic of Frink and Counter . I appreciated the methaphor of the exploration of the mine as exploration of fears and past traumas of Bo,Cy,Duff and Lock. Finally I tell that in this book there are all thing that I love of books of Scott Cade and more.

[Jackie Mckenzie]

I truly enjoyed this book. The journey these four men went through together can be a lesson to all of us. I truly read this from beginning to end in one sitting. If you are squeamish there is a storyline that might get to you, but it is handled well. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good love story with a few bumps in the road. The beginning is sad, but ofcourse as with all HEAs it all works out in the end. I would put this on a must read list. If you haven't tried Scotty Cade give this book a spin. If you have read the Wings of Love series then maybe you are like me and he is an autobuy for you also. Thank you for the story Mr.Cade and I will be looking for your next offering.

[Heather York]

I loved the blend of history and paranormal all mixed together with romance. When Frink and Counter meet Hepp and Shull, they had no idea what would be set in motion. Even though the majority of the story is set around the four friends, Bo, Cy, Duff, and Lockey in present day, what went down in the past hovers over the entire story. Love, friendship, betrayal(at least in one character's perception), and a certain level of creepiness that makes this a perfect read for lovers of October scariness but will make a great read any time.

[Misty]

The Mystery of Ruby Lode is complex and sophisticated. It combines suspense with a variety of themes. It's a story within a story, past and present closely entwined. It's a gripping novel, dark, disturbing, emotional, heart-breaking and scary. It's about putting the past to rest but most of all, it's about friendship and love. Highly recommended!

[Nikko]

I hate Counter to the Max.. I ache for Frink for loving such a jerk.. This story is so beautiful that i can't stop reading it.. I love all the mcs Cy and Bo, Lock and Duff.. I love this one!!! A def. re read!!!

[Vic Rodick]

I have read all of Scotty Cade's book and loved each and everyone. However, I just finished Mystery of Ruby Lode and could not put this book down. It has the perfect mix of a love story, and enough intrigue to keep you going page after page.

[S.J.D. Peterson]

Review to come

[Danyrae]

I think it's important to note this is a book about deep homosexuality issues and how they are dealt with through a few characters in a his story.

[CraftyBirdies]

This wasn't just the best book for me. It was okay but I skimmed through some parts to hurry it up.

[Andrea]

A little too syrupy for me in places but a very good story - enjoyed it.

[Paul]

3.5 STARS