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On The Edge #18
Beyond The Edge
As Brett Andrews, owner of the famous club On The Edge, reaches the big ‘four-O,’ he has one request and one question for his two vampire lovers, Leo and Lisa: he doesn’t want them to organize any sort of celebration for him – but he does want to know why neither of them has ever mentioned the possibility of turning him into a vampire.
The question finds an answer, and the three of them share a promise for the year to come. His request, on the other hand, is doomed from the start as they already have plans for the big day: they have a gift for him to match presents he offered each of them, and the party they planned with help from a couple of friends promises to be something special.
Vampire Anando and his human lover Virginia met at On The Edge. They are friends and occasional lovers of Leo, Brett and Lisa. When asked, they gladly accept to host the big-bash birthday party – and the private after-party, too. A good time is had by all, but the last gift is only revealed a few weeks later, to be delivered after nine months.
With both humans in love with vampires, neither expected a child in their future. As for the vampires, they knew for a fact that they’d never become parents. For all five, once the first shock has passed, decisions have to be made. Will this new adventure strengthen bonds of love and friendship, or will it tear lives apart?
(68.000 words)
The question finds an answer, and the three of them share a promise for the year to come. His request, on the other hand, is doomed from the start as they already have plans for the big day: they have a gift for him to match presents he offered each of them, and the party they planned with help from a couple of friends promises to be something special.
Vampire Anando and his human lover Virginia met at On The Edge. They are friends and occasional lovers of Leo, Brett and Lisa. When asked, they gladly accept to host the big-bash birthday party – and the private after-party, too. A good time is had by all, but the last gift is only revealed a few weeks later, to be delivered after nine months.
With both humans in love with vampires, neither expected a child in their future. As for the vampires, they knew for a fact that they’d never become parents. For all five, once the first shock has passed, decisions have to be made. Will this new adventure strengthen bonds of love and friendship, or will it tear lives apart?
(68.000 words)
ebook
First published April 15, 2013
2 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Kallysten
134 books432 followersKallysten is a writer of romance novels and short stories, most of them with paranormal elements.
Her first eBooks were published by Linden Bay Romance in 2005. The defunct Venus Press subsequently published a few of her short stories. Because so many of her stories are linked as series and part of the same universe, she decided it would make sense to have them all in the same place, which is why she self-published, first with the co-op Alinar Publishing and now on her own. When she sees calls for submissions that speak to her muse, she sometimes tries for them, and was published this way by Samhain and Torquere.
Her first eBooks were published by Linden Bay Romance in 2005. The defunct Venus Press subsequently published a few of her short stories. Because so many of her stories are linked as series and part of the same universe, she decided it would make sense to have them all in the same place, which is why she self-published, first with the co-op Alinar Publishing and now on her own. When she sees calls for submissions that speak to her muse, she sometimes tries for them, and was published this way by Samhain and Torquere.
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May 23, 2013Most of the time, authors have a hard time pinpointing to the moment when the first spark of a story came to life. Sometimes, though, we can look back and see what event or conversation started it all. Here’s how Beyond The Edge came to be…
I’ve been writing about Anando and Virginia in the Out of the Box series and Leo, Brett and Lisa in the On The Edge series since 2007. Their paths sometimes crossed: Virginia met Anando at the club On The Edge, and all three characters from On The Edge were featured in small or bigger roles in the Out of the Box series. Not a year has passed since 2007 without me revisiting one series or both, and when I wasn’t writing books, I was penning flash fiction about them. More so than any other characters, these five have a tendency to invade my thoughts and demand I give them yet another adventure, even if it’s only a few hundred words long.
It’s one such flash fiction that sparked the idea of Beyond The Edge. In late 2011, I asked my readers which characters they’d like to see featured in a holidays-themed collection of flash fiction pieces. Anando and Virginia were at the top of the list, and their counterparts from On The Edge weren’t far behind…
The piece I wrote featuring Brett and Lisa was set before their series, and it ended up giving me momentum to write the prequel that had been tickling my muse for a while, Before The Edge.
The piece I wrote for Anando and Virginia, on the other hand, was set some indeterminate time after the latest of their adventures, with Virginia sporting a very pregnant belly. One of my cousin had just given birth at the time, and babies had been on my mind for some time already. While I didn’t make it explicit in the flash fiction who the daddy was - not Anando, because as a vampire he can’t father children - at the back of my mind there was only one possibility: Brett. While Virginia and Anando have sometimes ‘played’ with others, Brett was the only human, and the only one capable of fathering that child.
For the next few months, that bit of story continued to resurface in my mind every so often. If Brett was the daddy, how did Anando feel about it? How about Virginia, how did she feel about carrying another man’s child when she loved Anando so much? How did Brett feel about it for that matter, and his two lovers? Had the pregnancy been planned, with Brett asked to serve as donor, or had it all happened one heated night when basic precautions simply fell to the side?
I had to figure it all out, and the only way to do that was to write the story, which I started doing in 2012, late in the summer. The words flowed easily enough, and I was excited to revisit these old friends with a full-length novel. Just as I was nearing the end, however, things came to a grinding halt.
Unlike Virginia who had not imagined herself getting pregnant before it happened, my husband and I have been trying to add to our family with no success for several years. Just as I was about to finish the story, we finally became pregnant… but it only lasted for a very few short weeks. Here I was, having to write the birth of a new character, and mourning a real life that would never be.
Finishing the story might have been one of the hardest things I ever did as a writer. I wrote the hospital scenes through a curtain of tears. But I had to finish it. If we couldn’t have this joy, at least I could give it to my characters.
Looking back, I think finishing Beyond The Edge became part of my grieving process and helped me move past this sad episode in our lives. Maybe someday we can bring a new life home, the way Virginia does in the last chapter of the story.
I’ve been writing about Anando and Virginia in the Out of the Box series and Leo, Brett and Lisa in the On The Edge series since 2007. Their paths sometimes crossed: Virginia met Anando at the club On The Edge, and all three characters from On The Edge were featured in small or bigger roles in the Out of the Box series. Not a year has passed since 2007 without me revisiting one series or both, and when I wasn’t writing books, I was penning flash fiction about them. More so than any other characters, these five have a tendency to invade my thoughts and demand I give them yet another adventure, even if it’s only a few hundred words long.
It’s one such flash fiction that sparked the idea of Beyond The Edge. In late 2011, I asked my readers which characters they’d like to see featured in a holidays-themed collection of flash fiction pieces. Anando and Virginia were at the top of the list, and their counterparts from On The Edge weren’t far behind…
The piece I wrote featuring Brett and Lisa was set before their series, and it ended up giving me momentum to write the prequel that had been tickling my muse for a while, Before The Edge.
The piece I wrote for Anando and Virginia, on the other hand, was set some indeterminate time after the latest of their adventures, with Virginia sporting a very pregnant belly. One of my cousin had just given birth at the time, and babies had been on my mind for some time already. While I didn’t make it explicit in the flash fiction who the daddy was - not Anando, because as a vampire he can’t father children - at the back of my mind there was only one possibility: Brett. While Virginia and Anando have sometimes ‘played’ with others, Brett was the only human, and the only one capable of fathering that child.
For the next few months, that bit of story continued to resurface in my mind every so often. If Brett was the daddy, how did Anando feel about it? How about Virginia, how did she feel about carrying another man’s child when she loved Anando so much? How did Brett feel about it for that matter, and his two lovers? Had the pregnancy been planned, with Brett asked to serve as donor, or had it all happened one heated night when basic precautions simply fell to the side?
I had to figure it all out, and the only way to do that was to write the story, which I started doing in 2012, late in the summer. The words flowed easily enough, and I was excited to revisit these old friends with a full-length novel. Just as I was nearing the end, however, things came to a grinding halt.
Unlike Virginia who had not imagined herself getting pregnant before it happened, my husband and I have been trying to add to our family with no success for several years. Just as I was about to finish the story, we finally became pregnant… but it only lasted for a very few short weeks. Here I was, having to write the birth of a new character, and mourning a real life that would never be.
Finishing the story might have been one of the hardest things I ever did as a writer. I wrote the hospital scenes through a curtain of tears. But I had to finish it. If we couldn’t have this joy, at least I could give it to my characters.
Looking back, I think finishing Beyond The Edge became part of my grieving process and helped me move past this sad episode in our lives. Maybe someday we can bring a new life home, the way Virginia does in the last chapter of the story.
April 19, 2013
Rating: 5
Heat Rating : 5 out of 5
When I first learned that Kallysten was writing Beyond The Edge I was totally ecstatic. I love all the characters involved in the two series that would be combined in this new novel - Out of the Box & On The Edge. After about 20 short stories, flash fiction pieces, novellas, and novels revolving around Virginia, Anando, Lisa, Brett and Leo, the characters have become my close friends. I mean, Kallysten can breathe life into her characters not only by writing about them but by making you want to jump into the pages and join them in their struggles and trials. Anyways, after I got over the fact that Virginia was having a baby (way to advertise that with the cover Kally :P) I started to think that maybe this time Kallysten wouldn't it be able to pull it off. I have no idea where the doubts came from but they were utterly ridiculous because Kally pulled off out all the stops with this one and it was utterly fantastic! I mean, I'm talking absolutely splendiferous!
I liked this book so much that I have no idea where to start and how to keep this review from being pages long LOL. Let's start with my emotions. Beyond The Edge managed to spark nearly every emotion in my being. I was happy, sad (I cried but then I'm a sap) surprised, pissed and as expected, horny as hell. My heart ached because of what the characters were going though. At one point I actually yelled out "WHAT!?!" And Leo? OMG I was so proud of him in this book! Also, you know that feeling of supreme satisfaction you get after reading something amazing? Yup! That was me as I read the last words of this story.
Lisa has always been the hardest character for me to connect with and it was no different in this book. She totally ticked me off. Talk about a drama queen! She did redeem herself by the end of the novel though. But man, she really made me mad - even disgusted. Kallysten's ability to elicit such strong emotions from her readers is absolutely amazing.
While the general story arc was as I expected in Beyond The Edge, Kallysten managed to twist the events so that they were new, fresh, interesting, exciting and surprising. But of course, how could she not have? Vampires with human children? A child that was creating during group sex? These types are topics aren't exactly the norm in paranormal erotic reads. Kallysten's creativity and imagination is astounding.
Like I said earlier, Kallysten has written tons of stories that involve the five characters in this book. While I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to read all of these stories (technically you only need to read three novels – Tales from the Edge, Out of the Box - Complete Series and Living Out of the Box) it is not necessary to read them before you read beyond the edge. Kallysten provides enough back-story to prevent any confusion. However, by reading the other books first you will be able to create an amazing emotional connection to the characters therefore enabling you to feel the utterly complete feeling of bliss that this book initiated in me.
I got a say that this book is a MUST READ. It evokes tons of emotion and is hot as hell. It lets you feel what true love, friendship and devotion is supposed to be like.
* Warning. This book contains M/M, M/F/M, exhibitionism, voyeurism group sex and sexy toys.
review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Heat Rating : 5 out of 5
When I first learned that Kallysten was writing Beyond The Edge I was totally ecstatic. I love all the characters involved in the two series that would be combined in this new novel - Out of the Box & On The Edge. After about 20 short stories, flash fiction pieces, novellas, and novels revolving around Virginia, Anando, Lisa, Brett and Leo, the characters have become my close friends. I mean, Kallysten can breathe life into her characters not only by writing about them but by making you want to jump into the pages and join them in their struggles and trials. Anyways, after I got over the fact that Virginia was having a baby (way to advertise that with the cover Kally :P) I started to think that maybe this time Kallysten wouldn't it be able to pull it off. I have no idea where the doubts came from but they were utterly ridiculous because Kally pulled off out all the stops with this one and it was utterly fantastic! I mean, I'm talking absolutely splendiferous!
I liked this book so much that I have no idea where to start and how to keep this review from being pages long LOL. Let's start with my emotions. Beyond The Edge managed to spark nearly every emotion in my being. I was happy, sad (I cried but then I'm a sap) surprised, pissed and as expected, horny as hell. My heart ached because of what the characters were going though. At one point I actually yelled out "WHAT!?!" And Leo? OMG I was so proud of him in this book! Also, you know that feeling of supreme satisfaction you get after reading something amazing? Yup! That was me as I read the last words of this story.
Lisa has always been the hardest character for me to connect with and it was no different in this book. She totally ticked me off. Talk about a drama queen! She did redeem herself by the end of the novel though. But man, she really made me mad - even disgusted. Kallysten's ability to elicit such strong emotions from her readers is absolutely amazing.
While the general story arc was as I expected in Beyond The Edge, Kallysten managed to twist the events so that they were new, fresh, interesting, exciting and surprising. But of course, how could she not have? Vampires with human children? A child that was creating during group sex? These types are topics aren't exactly the norm in paranormal erotic reads. Kallysten's creativity and imagination is astounding.
Like I said earlier, Kallysten has written tons of stories that involve the five characters in this book. While I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to read all of these stories (technically you only need to read three novels – Tales from the Edge, Out of the Box - Complete Series and Living Out of the Box) it is not necessary to read them before you read beyond the edge. Kallysten provides enough back-story to prevent any confusion. However, by reading the other books first you will be able to create an amazing emotional connection to the characters therefore enabling you to feel the utterly complete feeling of bliss that this book initiated in me.
I got a say that this book is a MUST READ. It evokes tons of emotion and is hot as hell. It lets you feel what true love, friendship and devotion is supposed to be like.
* Warning. This book contains M/M, M/F/M, exhibitionism, voyeurism group sex and sexy toys.
review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 16, 2013
One never expects to have a pregnancy and baby become the main plot line of a story that features vampires, and perhaps that is why this was so refreshing. Virginia is pregnant, after the after-party on Brett’s birthday, and Brett is the father. This unexpected twist throws both relationships into chaos: Virginia and her parents, Anando with his long-time friends Lisa and Leo, Brett and his lovers. While everyone is struggling to make sense of the situation, emotions are running high for all of the players in this little drama.
The most emotionally charged of all of the stories in this series involving these characters: each reaction nuanced and complex, full of realistic reactions, concerns, insecurities and even fears as to how this new entrant into the world will alter their dynamics. While never soft-pedalling the reactions or emotions, Kallysten brings the reader to an understanding about the complexities of these rather unconventional relationships and the dynamics that could alter them forever.
Not missing a beat with the sexual tension or enjoyment, the story does contain those moments: some tender and softly heartfelt while others are pure and raw steam. The sex, however, falls to the background of the twists and turns of this plot, the raw emotion and decisions that will alter their lives and bonds forever.
This was the first of the series that brought me to tears: with moments so sweet and sad that I realized that the characters had insinuated themselves into my heart, and felt real. While the series is well worth the read, the emotional connection to these characters is a slow-grow, that will surprise you. And that is never a bad thing.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
**Disclaimer** This book was read for review as part of the Beyond the Edge tour. Order for reading the books provided by author: Before the Edge, On The Edge, Over the Edge, Walking the Edge, Fifth Vision, Out of the Box, Living out of the Box and Beyond the Edge.
The most emotionally charged of all of the stories in this series involving these characters: each reaction nuanced and complex, full of realistic reactions, concerns, insecurities and even fears as to how this new entrant into the world will alter their dynamics. While never soft-pedalling the reactions or emotions, Kallysten brings the reader to an understanding about the complexities of these rather unconventional relationships and the dynamics that could alter them forever.
Not missing a beat with the sexual tension or enjoyment, the story does contain those moments: some tender and softly heartfelt while others are pure and raw steam. The sex, however, falls to the background of the twists and turns of this plot, the raw emotion and decisions that will alter their lives and bonds forever.
This was the first of the series that brought me to tears: with moments so sweet and sad that I realized that the characters had insinuated themselves into my heart, and felt real. While the series is well worth the read, the emotional connection to these characters is a slow-grow, that will surprise you. And that is never a bad thing.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review for the Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
**Disclaimer** This book was read for review as part of the Beyond the Edge tour. Order for reading the books provided by author: Before the Edge, On The Edge, Over the Edge, Walking the Edge, Fifth Vision, Out of the Box, Living out of the Box and Beyond the Edge.
May 7, 2013
Wow!
Kally can sure write some sexy books!
Let me start out by saying that I am completely new to this series. That's saying something considering there is quite a large amount of books in this series. One thing I must applaud the author for is doing a great job of giving people just enough background on the characters for me to feel that I hadn't missed out on a lot. That's a very hard thing to do. Besides, the characters and the very naughty things they do took my mind off of that very quickly.
This story is so very unique. You get the vampire aspect along with Virginia's pregnancy and Brett's club. It all combines to make a heck of a story. It's kinky and fresh and definitely brings the enjoyment of reading vampire novels back because there is nothing typical about this story. It's a quick, but delightful read, one that really draws you in with the vivid emotions and interesting situations the characters find themselves in. The different tensions build up nicely in all the right places and through some very key moments, the reader will find themselves connecting with the vampires in very human ways.
Five character's lives are tied together through the unexpected blessing of a child. Out of the two relationships, I really liked Virginia and Anando. The two just clicked so well, and their relationship is very special, much like the one the other three share. Being new to the series, it was amazing to see that even though this book is far into the series, the characters and the world they live in is still developing, still changing and growing stronger as the novel progresses.
I look forward to reading more about these characters and going back to read all of the books before these to see how the characters met and their relationships developed.
If you're looking for the next big HOT vampire read, check out these!
Kally can sure write some sexy books!
Let me start out by saying that I am completely new to this series. That's saying something considering there is quite a large amount of books in this series. One thing I must applaud the author for is doing a great job of giving people just enough background on the characters for me to feel that I hadn't missed out on a lot. That's a very hard thing to do. Besides, the characters and the very naughty things they do took my mind off of that very quickly.
This story is so very unique. You get the vampire aspect along with Virginia's pregnancy and Brett's club. It all combines to make a heck of a story. It's kinky and fresh and definitely brings the enjoyment of reading vampire novels back because there is nothing typical about this story. It's a quick, but delightful read, one that really draws you in with the vivid emotions and interesting situations the characters find themselves in. The different tensions build up nicely in all the right places and through some very key moments, the reader will find themselves connecting with the vampires in very human ways.
Five character's lives are tied together through the unexpected blessing of a child. Out of the two relationships, I really liked Virginia and Anando. The two just clicked so well, and their relationship is very special, much like the one the other three share. Being new to the series, it was amazing to see that even though this book is far into the series, the characters and the world they live in is still developing, still changing and growing stronger as the novel progresses.
I look forward to reading more about these characters and going back to read all of the books before these to see how the characters met and their relationships developed.
If you're looking for the next big HOT vampire read, check out these!
May 5, 2013
For those who have read Kallysten’s On The Edge and/or Out of the Box series you are familiar with these fabulous characters. While I haven't read every installment of the series I have spent several memorable hours reading the antics of Virginia, Anando, Brett, Lisa and especially Leo. I hate to play favorites, but Leo has always been the one. He had lots of great scenes in this book. I consider this is a capstone story. The author's writing style really shines through; it is both sensual and emotional. Kallysten always seems to push the envelope; never sure where the storylines are going to take me next. Even with the cover giving away what I considered a large item, there is plenty left to reveal.
Disclosure: This ebook was provided to BBMoreB free of charge by the author for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
Disclosure: This ebook was provided to BBMoreB free of charge by the author for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
May 16, 2013
Parts of this were really emotional and even unexpected (Brett freaking kills me and Leo makes me smile). The story covers a pretty good chunk of time (from before the pregnancy to after the birth) and explores the various emotional possibilities of a situation where a child is shared between two groups of lovers. Adding in the fact that more than half of them are vampires gives Beyond the Edge extra dimension. Some parts were slow but overall I really enjoyed this book. It has heat and menage, but don't read it for that. Read it for the journey of these two "couples" as they come together to be a family in truth.
September 23, 2015
Review coming soon!
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