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Wicked Reflection
When Kirk Stanford moves into his new home, strange things begin to happen. Messages appear in the steam on his mirror, warning him of a nameless threat. Then someone keeps breaking into his house, looking for something Kirk can’t identify. With the help of his boyfriend, Damon, Kirk digs into the house’s history, and discovers not just the previous owner’s brutal murder, but threatening letters written to him from someone named Sam. As the intruder strikes again, Kirk and Damon find themselves fighting not only to solve the mystery, but to keep from being murdered themselves.
Number of words: 34,338.
Number of words: 34,338.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2014
9 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Hank Edwards
82 books228 followersHank Edwards (he/him) has been writing gay fiction for more than twenty years. He has published over thirty novels and dozens of short stories. His books fall into many sub-genres, including romance, rom-com, contemporary, paranormal, suspense, mystery, and wacky comedy. He has written a number of series such as the suspenseful Up to Trouble, funny and spooky paranormal out for you gay romance Critter Catchers, Old West historical horror of Venom Valley, the erotic and funny Fluffers, Inc. series, and the funny and thrilling Lacetown Murder Mysteries series co-written with Deanna Wadsworth. Under the pen name R. G. Thomas, he’s published a young adult urban fantasy gay romance series called The Town of Superstition. No matter what genre he writes, Hank likes to keep things sweet, steamy, and fun.
Join his author group on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/hankshangout), visit his website at www.hankedwardsbooks.com or send along an email to hankedwardsbooks@gmail.com.
Join his author group on Facebook (www.facebook.com/groups/hankshangout), visit his website at www.hankedwardsbooks.com or send along an email to hankedwardsbooks@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 28, 2020
This was an exhilarating thrill-ride of a story! I felt like I was watching a movie, on the edge of my seat the entire time, needing to know whodunit and what happened next! The last couple of chapters were fast-paced and really pulse-pounding, a great climax to a great story! I highly recommend this to anyone who likes a little suspense and thriller.
October 2, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
Wicked Reflection by Hank Edwards is another little gem of a mystery wrapped in a bit of the macabre—something this author does with excellence. As usual his characters are genuine and well rounded, making the reader feel as though they have known them well before they are revealed on the page. Ryan is a capable and strong man who morphs into a shattered, nearly defeated victim by story’s end. As one nightmarish event after another pulls our hero down into its malevolent clutches, we watch with growing horror at the idea that both Ryan and Damon may not survive.
Edwards weaves a good mystery and I found myself shocked by the revelations in this story. I also found myself devouring this novel, delighted with its fast-paced action suspense and surprising plot twists. Even though we had stepped into a world filled with paranormal disturbances, the author kept us grounded in reality by making his leading man so vulnerable and down to earth. Fans of this author will be delighted with Wicked Reflection. I know I certainly was not disappointed!
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
Wicked Reflection by Hank Edwards is another little gem of a mystery wrapped in a bit of the macabre—something this author does with excellence. As usual his characters are genuine and well rounded, making the reader feel as though they have known them well before they are revealed on the page. Ryan is a capable and strong man who morphs into a shattered, nearly defeated victim by story’s end. As one nightmarish event after another pulls our hero down into its malevolent clutches, we watch with growing horror at the idea that both Ryan and Damon may not survive.
Edwards weaves a good mystery and I found myself shocked by the revelations in this story. I also found myself devouring this novel, delighted with its fast-paced action suspense and surprising plot twists. Even though we had stepped into a world filled with paranormal disturbances, the author kept us grounded in reality by making his leading man so vulnerable and down to earth. Fans of this author will be delighted with Wicked Reflection. I know I certainly was not disappointed!
Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.
December 14, 2014
WOW. I couldn't put this down. My heart was literally pounding every time the author described that the MC's heart was pounding. The last chapter or two had me on the edge of my chair staring at my kindle like l was watching a movie. I figured out the suspect or one of them the minute they entered the scene but it took nothing away from me enjoying the book and being scared right along with the characters. Very good mystery. Loved, loved it.
October 22, 2020
Wow, what an awesome paranormal entity! This book features the absolute best spirit! I just love it when the ghost can and will do something more than relay messages in a ghostly fashion! A little butt-kicking is such a good thing-so necessary sometimes and that yielded a very satisfying read! This story is also incredible because it evoked strong emotion by taking me to a place in my heart and mind I needed to visit for psychoemotional catharses. And that’s so awesome coming from a book I read just for a Halloween treat. It called attention to the disparity of perceived strength regarding gender roles and expectations within the horror genre. It’s wonderful to know men can be just as incompetent as women when faced with dangerous circumstances and menacing people! Yes, indeed. I felt a bit of grim satisfaction and maniacal delight as the men dropped keys, looked back when being chased, tripped over things when needing to move with some stealth, needing to sneeze when they were hiding, made a loud gasp when they were trying to avoid notice, erected something designed to keep them safe that only served to trap them with the killer. The list is longer than I can remember! Such vindication was good for the heart and mind as I remember being taunted by men including family members like brothers, uncles, and male cousins concerning such scenes in terror and thriller movies and books! It was an especially bitter experience when I was serving my country in the United States Air Force to get a college education my parents couldn’t afford to give me. As a woman prepared to give my life for my country, it was an especially low-blow! Yet this book featured a woman police officer that makes a couple of appearances demonstrating the strength and determination woman are capable of possessing. The story will always be on my favorite list for giving me the absolution I didn’t realize I so desperately needed!
April 3, 2020
4.5 stars
When Kirk Stanford moves into his new home, he is a bit overwhelmed by the change in his life. He’s invested all his savings in the beautiful home, and he wonders if he’s taken a too big risk. But the dangers he’ll soon have to face have nothing to do with the threat of bankruptcy, and a lot to do with a risk for his sanity and his life. Because the messages that appear in the bathroom mirror are not only scary, they seem to hint at a real evil waiting to strike again…
This was such a thrilling short story. The perfect mixture of paranormal, mystery and romance. I loved how down to earth Kirk is, besides his fear he tries to keep a logical and coherent attitude (honestly, I would run screaming after the first message in the mirror). And Damon is the perfect supportive boyfriend. The story is creepy, engaging, and so very entertaining I could not put it down
I really liked it!
When Kirk Stanford moves into his new home, he is a bit overwhelmed by the change in his life. He’s invested all his savings in the beautiful home, and he wonders if he’s taken a too big risk. But the dangers he’ll soon have to face have nothing to do with the threat of bankruptcy, and a lot to do with a risk for his sanity and his life. Because the messages that appear in the bathroom mirror are not only scary, they seem to hint at a real evil waiting to strike again…
This was such a thrilling short story. The perfect mixture of paranormal, mystery and romance. I loved how down to earth Kirk is, besides his fear he tries to keep a logical and coherent attitude (honestly, I would run screaming after the first message in the mirror). And Damon is the perfect supportive boyfriend. The story is creepy, engaging, and so very entertaining I could not put it down
I really liked it!
September 21, 2018
3.75 stars
June 21, 2020
Intense!
This was a fast read, and intense. Very well paced. A few details were missed (what happened to the found object?), but that is a minor point. Read this!
This was a fast read, and intense. Very well paced. A few details were missed (what happened to the found object?), but that is a minor point. Read this!
August 29, 2020
Creepy but good
Chilling haunting air about it. Not much of a romance as it focused on the mystery but I liked the characters and the story was engaging.
Chilling haunting air about it. Not much of a romance as it focused on the mystery but I liked the characters and the story was engaging.
November 14, 2020
Loved it!
Spooky, scary, touching and funny all mixed into one awesome book! I really really enjoyed reading this book! Loved it!
Spooky, scary, touching and funny all mixed into one awesome book! I really really enjoyed reading this book! Loved it!
September 7, 2016
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Before I started reading the m/m romance genre, I was not a mystery reader. I had zero interest before, but now in the world of gay fiction, mysteries have become a favorite. But I still shied away from anything too scary. I'll admit that I'm a big chicken. Ghost stories are outside my comfort zone, and even though this week isn't about pushing boundaries, I decided to do it anyway with my book choice. The mystery in the story was top notch and the paranormal/horror bits weren't too scary to keep me from finishing this fantastic book.
Kirk buys a house in what seems to be a quaint town. The neighbors and townspeople appear friendly and helpful. Kirk was kept in the dark about what happened to the previous owner of the house, though. Normally it might not be that important but someone keeps trying to break into his new home and mysterious messages are appearing and disappearing on the bathroom mirror. Suddenly the neighborhood doesn't seem to be quite as safe as Kirk thought it was.
Kirk's boyfriend Damon is a sweet bookish kind of guy. He worries about Kirk living there and is suspicious of one overly friendly neighbor. I really like Kirk and Damon. Their relationship is sturdy and solid from the the get go. He tries to help Kirk and be there for him with all that is happening, but he lives and works too far from the new house to really be there every night. It doesn't really matter in the long run because the story is less about any romance than the strange things happening to Kirk. It is still nice to know that they have each other's backs when the danger escalates.
Sleepwalking nightmares, dark scary basements, and the ghostly messages definitely give this book a creepy factor. I really had to read the book in the daylight hours. Big chicken, remember? Even though I was fairly sure who the bad guy(s) were pretty early on in the story, the action and danger still had me on edge. The ending was perfect with Kirk getting some help from his boyfriend and the friendly, vengeful ghost. I would definitely recommend this story. It's not a overly long tale but with enough plot that it didn't seem too short. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
9/10 Pots of Gold (90% Recommended) – Compares to 4.5/5 Stars
Before I started reading the m/m romance genre, I was not a mystery reader. I had zero interest before, but now in the world of gay fiction, mysteries have become a favorite. But I still shied away from anything too scary. I'll admit that I'm a big chicken. Ghost stories are outside my comfort zone, and even though this week isn't about pushing boundaries, I decided to do it anyway with my book choice. The mystery in the story was top notch and the paranormal/horror bits weren't too scary to keep me from finishing this fantastic book.
Kirk buys a house in what seems to be a quaint town. The neighbors and townspeople appear friendly and helpful. Kirk was kept in the dark about what happened to the previous owner of the house, though. Normally it might not be that important but someone keeps trying to break into his new home and mysterious messages are appearing and disappearing on the bathroom mirror. Suddenly the neighborhood doesn't seem to be quite as safe as Kirk thought it was.
Kirk's boyfriend Damon is a sweet bookish kind of guy. He worries about Kirk living there and is suspicious of one overly friendly neighbor. I really like Kirk and Damon. Their relationship is sturdy and solid from the the get go. He tries to help Kirk and be there for him with all that is happening, but he lives and works too far from the new house to really be there every night. It doesn't really matter in the long run because the story is less about any romance than the strange things happening to Kirk. It is still nice to know that they have each other's backs when the danger escalates.
Sleepwalking nightmares, dark scary basements, and the ghostly messages definitely give this book a creepy factor. I really had to read the book in the daylight hours. Big chicken, remember? Even though I was fairly sure who the bad guy(s) were pretty early on in the story, the action and danger still had me on edge. The ending was perfect with Kirk getting some help from his boyfriend and the friendly, vengeful ghost. I would definitely recommend this story. It's not a overly long tale but with enough plot that it didn't seem too short. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
9/10 Pots of Gold (90% Recommended) – Compares to 4.5/5 Stars
October 9, 2016
Before I started reading the m/m romance genre, I was not a mystery reader. I had zero interest before, but now in the world of gay fiction, mysteries have become a favorite. But I still shied away from anything too scary. I’ll admit that I’m a big chicken. Ghost stories are outside my comfort zone, and even though this week isn’t about pushing boundaries, I decided to do it anyway with my book choice. The mystery in the story was top notch and the paranormal/horror bits weren’t too scary to keep me from finishing this fantastic book.
Kirk buys a house in what seems to be a quaint town. The neighbors and townspeople appear friendly and helpful. Kirk was kept in the dark about what happened to the previous owner of the house, though. Normally it might not be that important but someone keeps trying to break into his new home and mysterious messages are appearing and disappearing on the bathroom mirror. Suddenly the neighborhood doesn’t seem to be quite as safe as Kirk thought it was.
Kirk’s boyfriend Damon is a sweet bookish kind of guy. He worries about Kirk living there and is suspicious of one overly friendly neighbor. I really like Kirk and Damon. Their relationship is sturdy and solid from the the get go. He tries to help Kirk and be there for him with all that is happening, but he lives and works too far from the new house to really be there every night. It doesn’t really matter in the long run because the story is less about any romance than the strange things happening to Kirk. It is still nice to know that they have each other’s backs when the danger escalates.
Sleepwalking nightmares, dark scary basements, and the ghostly messages definitely give this book a creepy factor. I really had to read the book in the daylight hours. Big chicken, remember? Even though I was fairly sure who the bad guy(s) were pretty early on in the story, the action and danger still had me on edge. The ending was perfect with Kirk getting some help from his boyfriend and the friendly, vengeful ghost. I would definitely recommend this story. It’s not a overly long tale but with enough plot that it didn’t seem too short. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
Kirk buys a house in what seems to be a quaint town. The neighbors and townspeople appear friendly and helpful. Kirk was kept in the dark about what happened to the previous owner of the house, though. Normally it might not be that important but someone keeps trying to break into his new home and mysterious messages are appearing and disappearing on the bathroom mirror. Suddenly the neighborhood doesn’t seem to be quite as safe as Kirk thought it was.
Kirk’s boyfriend Damon is a sweet bookish kind of guy. He worries about Kirk living there and is suspicious of one overly friendly neighbor. I really like Kirk and Damon. Their relationship is sturdy and solid from the the get go. He tries to help Kirk and be there for him with all that is happening, but he lives and works too far from the new house to really be there every night. It doesn’t really matter in the long run because the story is less about any romance than the strange things happening to Kirk. It is still nice to know that they have each other’s backs when the danger escalates.
Sleepwalking nightmares, dark scary basements, and the ghostly messages definitely give this book a creepy factor. I really had to read the book in the daylight hours. Big chicken, remember? Even though I was fairly sure who the bad guy(s) were pretty early on in the story, the action and danger still had me on edge. The ending was perfect with Kirk getting some help from his boyfriend and the friendly, vengeful ghost. I would definitely recommend this story. It’s not a overly long tale but with enough plot that it didn’t seem too short. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
November 22, 2014
The Blogger Girls
This book scared me almost immediately. How awesome is that? I find it irresistible when a book lives up to my expectations, especially a creepy book, and this one gave me chills right from the start. Love when that happens. It didn’t hurt that I started as soon as I crawled into bed…and was instantly thinking I’d made a bad decision and was setting myself up for nightmares. Thankfully, it’s a short story, because I could not stop once I’d started and ended up reading it straight through.
Kirk just bought a new home, and his excitement is immediately turned to confusion and uncertainty when strange things start happening. Those messages on his bathroom mirror really freaked me out. I am sure I’m not the only one who suffers from irrational fears from time to time, and this story just added to the list of imaginary monsters lurking in my dark basement and now on my bathroom mirror.
Something sinister is going on inside Kirk’s new home, and the reader is left unsure if it’s truly malevolent, if it’s after Kirk or someone else, and what exactly it wants. I was left trying to piece together the mystery to try and discern if the boyfriend, Damon, was actually a good guy or if he was hiding something. I was really hoping he was on the up and up, because the love and sex between the two was off the charts.
There isn’t much I can say without giving the mystery away, but suffice to say, it starts out swinging, and fortunately, it ends on a high note. I thoroughly enjoyed this little “poltergeist-like” story and was still able to sleep without monsters invading my dreams. So, do I recommend this little horror flick? Why yes, yes I do; but be prepared for some thrills and chills before you get to the exciting ending.
This book scared me almost immediately. How awesome is that? I find it irresistible when a book lives up to my expectations, especially a creepy book, and this one gave me chills right from the start. Love when that happens. It didn’t hurt that I started as soon as I crawled into bed…and was instantly thinking I’d made a bad decision and was setting myself up for nightmares. Thankfully, it’s a short story, because I could not stop once I’d started and ended up reading it straight through.
Kirk just bought a new home, and his excitement is immediately turned to confusion and uncertainty when strange things start happening. Those messages on his bathroom mirror really freaked me out. I am sure I’m not the only one who suffers from irrational fears from time to time, and this story just added to the list of imaginary monsters lurking in my dark basement and now on my bathroom mirror.
Something sinister is going on inside Kirk’s new home, and the reader is left unsure if it’s truly malevolent, if it’s after Kirk or someone else, and what exactly it wants. I was left trying to piece together the mystery to try and discern if the boyfriend, Damon, was actually a good guy or if he was hiding something. I was really hoping he was on the up and up, because the love and sex between the two was off the charts.
There isn’t much I can say without giving the mystery away, but suffice to say, it starts out swinging, and fortunately, it ends on a high note. I thoroughly enjoyed this little “poltergeist-like” story and was still able to sleep without monsters invading my dreams. So, do I recommend this little horror flick? Why yes, yes I do; but be prepared for some thrills and chills before you get to the exciting ending.
October 26, 2014
4 star review by Dan
I shouldn’t have started reading this book at 10PM. It had just enough spooky suspense that I had to keep reading until I finished it! And I’ll admit it, I did start hearing things outside my bedroom window as I was reading…
When Kirk moves into his new house, right away he can’t help but notice something is a little off. The first time he turns the shower on in his 3rd floor master bath, the room gets steamy and the message “HE LIES” appears, written on the steam covered mirror. He thinks maybe his boyfriend Damon has gotten there and is playing a trick on him. But when he looks, there is no one else in the house.
The author takes us into a mystery. Who wrote that note on the mirror and the subsequent ones that appear? What is up with the sexy neighbor down the street and the private investigator that shows up at the door? And most importantly what happened to the last owner, and why did his real estate agent never mention anything about it?
This book had me talking to myself like I was watching a horror movie at a couple points. Particularly when Kirk finds a small door in the basement wall which leads to a little room full of boxes. Of course he goes in. I was talking to my Kindle saying “don’t go in there, wait for Damon”. Of course the door slams shut. Again I’m talking to my Kindle saying “moron, haven’t you watched any horror movies?” I’ve read a lot scarier books, but this one is creepy enough to satisfy.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone looking for a good mixture of mystery and spooky suspense.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
I shouldn’t have started reading this book at 10PM. It had just enough spooky suspense that I had to keep reading until I finished it! And I’ll admit it, I did start hearing things outside my bedroom window as I was reading…
When Kirk moves into his new house, right away he can’t help but notice something is a little off. The first time he turns the shower on in his 3rd floor master bath, the room gets steamy and the message “HE LIES” appears, written on the steam covered mirror. He thinks maybe his boyfriend Damon has gotten there and is playing a trick on him. But when he looks, there is no one else in the house.
The author takes us into a mystery. Who wrote that note on the mirror and the subsequent ones that appear? What is up with the sexy neighbor down the street and the private investigator that shows up at the door? And most importantly what happened to the last owner, and why did his real estate agent never mention anything about it?
This book had me talking to myself like I was watching a horror movie at a couple points. Particularly when Kirk finds a small door in the basement wall which leads to a little room full of boxes. Of course he goes in. I was talking to my Kindle saying “don’t go in there, wait for Damon”. Of course the door slams shut. Again I’m talking to my Kindle saying “moron, haven’t you watched any horror movies?” I’ve read a lot scarier books, but this one is creepy enough to satisfy.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone looking for a good mixture of mystery and spooky suspense.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
November 9, 2014
Kirk Stanford is a very happy new home owner. The only downside is that his long term boyfriend, Damon, can’t move in with him due to the distance between his job and Kirk’s new house. Straight away Kirk starts noticing strange occurrences in the house though. Words appear in the steam left on the mirror when he showers, but then they are gone at second glance, making Kirk think it’s just his overactive imagination. Then he meets one of his neighbours, and to say the man makes Kirk nervous is an understatement.
Days pass and the mystery of Kirk’s new home slowly unravels itself to him. There are the words on the mirror, and letters that Kirk finds written to the previous owner written by someone named Sam. Stranger still, the words on the mirror and in the letters, they are identical. When Kirk does some digging into the history of the house, he learns the previous owner was murdered and starts to feel like the killer is now coming after him.
I literally got goose bumps while I was reading this story. Very mysterious and intriguing, the way the threat was slowly revealed. The anticipation built from the start with those first words on the mirror and Edwards kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Very much like reading a good scary movie with all the action and suspense. I wanted Kirk to trust his instincts just a little more, and I saw the ending coming a mile away, but there were just enough twists to keep me entertained.
Take a nice little cozy mystery, throw in some steam and a dash of spooky and you have Wicked Reflection.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Days pass and the mystery of Kirk’s new home slowly unravels itself to him. There are the words on the mirror, and letters that Kirk finds written to the previous owner written by someone named Sam. Stranger still, the words on the mirror and in the letters, they are identical. When Kirk does some digging into the history of the house, he learns the previous owner was murdered and starts to feel like the killer is now coming after him.
I literally got goose bumps while I was reading this story. Very mysterious and intriguing, the way the threat was slowly revealed. The anticipation built from the start with those first words on the mirror and Edwards kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Very much like reading a good scary movie with all the action and suspense. I wanted Kirk to trust his instincts just a little more, and I saw the ending coming a mile away, but there were just enough twists to keep me entertained.
Take a nice little cozy mystery, throw in some steam and a dash of spooky and you have Wicked Reflection.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
October 26, 2014
Why you should read it: Hank has a way with his heroes and of twisting in the paranormal with the normal. This one is a typical ghost story with a little extra kick. I loved the romance especially (so hot), but I really liked the mystery. There are a lot of players, and we all wonder just who Sam is and what is actually going on. I really loved the build-up. There's a lot of action, and it was the perfect blend of anticipation and mystery. It's fun, it's spooky and has a ton of steam to boot.
Head over to the HEA blog to see what Hank is working on next!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
Head over to the HEA blog to see what Hank is working on next!
http://www.usatoday.com/story/happyev...
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews