Stroke Frequency

Alchemy Ink #2

by Katherine McIntyre

One wild convention with a hottie cosplayer turns into Caspian’s worst nightmare—marriage.

Caspian

The point of this Vegas Comic Con trip is to unwind, enjoy myself, and steer clear of commitments—especially anything serious. A deadbeat dad and divorce debt sealed my opinion on marriage early on. So when I meet a gorgeous-as-hell cosplayer at the bar who’s on the same light-and-easy wavelength as me, my trip’s about to get even better.

Levi

One blackout drunk night in Vegas should’ve been just that, but when I get home, I find out…I accidentally got married. A quick search nets me the discovery that not only is the guy I met in Vegas on the East Coast like me…but he lives less than an hour away.

When I surprise him at work, we both agree that getting a divorce is first thing on the agenda. Should be easy, right?


However, between flaky lawyer hurdles, accidental Mom meetings, and a fake-real?-husband drop-in at my shitty sister’s baby shower, I end up falling head over heels in love with him.


Yet Caspian’s terrified of remaining married, and I’m terrified of what happens when this ends.

Genres: Found Family, M M Romance, LGBT, Queer, Contemporary

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Geeky Queer Romance.

Katherine McIntyre is feisty with a big attitude despite their short stature. They write stories featuring snarky women, ragtag crews, and men with bad attitudes—high chance for a passionate speech thrown into the mix. As a genderqueer geek who’s always stepped to their own beat, they've made it their mission to write stories that represent the broad spectrum of people out there. Easily distracted by cats and sugar.

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stroke Frequency is the second book in Alchemy Ink series.

This is the story of two men who, despite living in the same city, meet several thousand kilometers away at a convention, and whose pasts make it difficult for them to maintain a romantic relationship.

Caspian works as a tattoo artist at Alchemy Ink; serious relationships aren’t for him because of his parents’ example (his father walked out on the family, leaving them in financial ruin).

Levi is a professional cosplayer as well as a cam boy. Because of the latter, the boyfriends he’s had have seen him as the character he portrays, not as the person he really is.

They meet at a convention, are drawn to each other, and spend a night filled with alcohol that they don’t remember—until an envelope containing a marriage certificate appears in their mailboxes.

The banter between Levi and Caspian is off the charts.

I want to read the next one of the series.

[VicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute low angst.

Kelly is a twat.

So happy they realized their feelings and stayed together despite their revelations

[Ema · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining short story about Levi ( a cosplayer, camboy and leather worker) and Caspian (a tattoo artist artist) who meet at an convention and get black out drunk married which they don’t find out until weeks later when the marriage license gets delivered. They track each other down and start working towards getting divorced but while working on the divorce they spend more and more time with each other and realize that they don’t really want the divorce as much as they want each other

[Billy Mendes ⋆ · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

What a fun and easy read. Low angst, many humorous moments, and the sexy times were great! Caspian and Levi have my heart, they are cute, fun, and loving characters. Great book, the 2nd in the Frequency series 💜

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Abigail Beckwith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's "Stroke Frequency" by Katherine McIntyre. Its the second books in her Alchemy Ink series, which is in the same universe as the Brannon Boys series and the Hot Under the Collar series

["One wild convention with a hottie cosplayer turns into Caspian’s worst nightmare—marriage.

Caspian
The point of this Vegas Comic Con trip is to unwind, enjoy myself, and steer clear of commitments—especially anything serious. A deadbeat dad and divorce debt sealed my opinion on marriage early on. So when I meet a gorgeous-as-hell cosplayer at the bar who’s on the same light-and-easy wavelength as me, my trip’s about to get even better.

Levi
One blackout drunk night in Vegas should’ve been just that, but when I get home, I find out…I accidentally got married. A quick search nets me the discovery that not only is the guy I met in Vegas on the East Coast like me…but he lives less than an hour away.
When I surprise him at work, we both agree that getting a divorce is first thing on the agenda. Should be easy, right?
However, between flaky lawyer hurdles, accidental Mom meetings, and a fake-real?-husband drop-in at my shitty sister’s baby shower, I end up falling head over heels in love with him.
Yet Caspian’s terrified of remaining married, and I’m terrified of what happens when this ends."]

The instant chemistry, the easy flirting, the honest friendship, the utter fluff? Absolute. Perfection.

The banter was top fucking tier. These two could just talk and flirt and connect on a level that was so easy for them. It was adorable and honestly made me feel a little jealous (and lonely).

I needed something sweet and fun and with very little angst. This book was a perfect balm for...life. I looove this series (this universe), and I canNOT wait for more! Hopefully Owen is next!

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, sexism, and more.

#arc #advancedreadercopy #arcteammember
#inkcaps #openliner #strokefrequency #continuousoperation #katherinemcintyre #alchemyink #alchemyinkseries #brannonboys #brannonboysseries #hotundertehcollar #hotunderthecollarseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

[isthisakink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discounting the inconsistency and the mighty need for editing because this is an ARC, it was . . . mostly okay. This is probably the first one in the whole HUTC series that I’ve just not vibed right with. The story was good, the characters were wonderful, but maybe it was the pacing that fucked me up? It felt super rushed, and, like, a few places felt like something got cut and the patch over the hole didn’t set well? I don’t know how to explain it. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I usually do when diving back into this world. It just felt like something was slightly off, I guess, and that drug the energy down a bit. I do want to reiterate that I adored the characters and the story, and I can’t wait for the next one. That’s super important to take away from my unwanted internet rando opinions. This one just didn’t hit quite right and threw me off because I’m not used to it. This is a safe author for me. I know I’m always going to vibe with them, the vibes were just off this time for some reason. That’s on me, not the book, I’m sure. And I’m sure the mechanics will be cleaned up and polished before it releases officially so, again, I definitely didn’t even think twice about it whilst reading.


—I received an ARC from the author's ARC team. All ratings, reviews, and unwanted opinions are my own.—

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stroke Frequency is book two in the Alchemy Ink series and I think I may love it more than the first book. Once again Katherine McIntyre does an awesome job crafting a high heat low angst romance. Their books are a comfort read for me and this is one I will read again. This book features an accidental marriage trope and was such a fun read. It’s also the first book I’ve read with a femboy character and Levi is beyond sexy. He is a professional cosplayer and camboy. I may have went down an internet rabbit hole looking up Gerudo Link cosplay and I’m not mad about it. Caspian is a tough relationship weary punk tattoo artist working at Alchemy Ink. He and Levi meet when he attends a convention in Vegas where Levi is cosplaying. They both end up getting blackout drunk and don’t realize they got married until the certificate arrives in the mail long after they’ve left Vegas. Turns out they actually live about an hour away from each other in the Philly area. They meet up to work on getting a divorce but end up really liking each other. There is slight angst with homophobic family drama but there’s also positive family dynamics and the usual awesome found family we get with Katherine McIntyre’s books. I really enjoyed the humor and bratty banter between the characters. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. Thank you for the ARC.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was low-angst, fun, spicy and had the absolute sweetest HEA - simply perfect for curling up with and feeling good.
I absolutely loved these characters so much! They had so much energy and personality, and were tons of fun to read about!
The meet-cute was super fun and full of flirty energy.

I loved how confident and secure Levi was with his sexuality, body, and general appearance. That kind of confidence is super hot and inspiring.
And I really loved how quiet, gruff, relationship-shy Caspian couldn't (and didn't really want to) resist Levi's many charms. I was pleasantly surprised by his bedroom manner - definitely did not see that coming 😁

There was instant chemistry between the MMCs and the banter and flirting was top-notch! Not to mention HOT!
And the spicy scenes?!?! Hallelujah, nothing like knowing what you want and using your words to ask for it 🥵🥵🥵

Caspian's mom and Levi's parents were really great, too. The level of support and love they gave and showed each their own son was so beautiful.
The found family at Alchemy Ink, plus bff Reggie and Kell, all played very important parts in the story. I really enjoyed the many cameos of Rory (I really miss his dramatic flair) and the others, especially Owen, as it looks like he is going to be reaping some of the good-natured ribbing he sowed.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

4.25/5 Let me get my one issue out of the way first:

This is a personal trigger: I get that blackout drunk was needed for the entire premise, but it makes me uncomfortable as a behaviour, especially when it’s not addressed. We see no other behaviour to suggest this is usual, but there’s also almost no alarm that it’s happened, suggesting not so unusual. Plus, when the characters then used months-old test results to claim they’re negative: actually, if you got blackout drunk at least once and don’t remember what you’ve done (and woke up in bed with someone), you absolutely don’t know if you’re negative or not.

Leaving that aside, I really enjoyed the book! Levi and Caspian both have hang-ups and legit concerns about partners, and it was so lovely to see them get green flag after green flag from one another. I loved how they supported one another and defended one another, while also giving them space to be exactly as they are. (Content warnings for bigoted, homophobic family members.)

I liked how sassy they both were (in their own ways), how body type doesn’t indicate preferences, and how they surprise one another with how well they integrate into one another’s lives.

I love Alchemy Ink and the very supportive friend group. Really looking forward to Owen getting his HEA!

I received an ARC from the author. This is my honest review.

[Laura Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stroke Frequency is the 2nd book in the Alchemy Ink series by Katherine McIntyre. This series is comprised of stand-alone books and I do think they can be read as a stand-alone.

Caspian and Levi first meet at a comic con in Las Vegas. Levi is a professional cosplayer and adult entertainer. Caspian is a tattoo artist and is there with his friend. They meet at a bar and spend the evening hanging out. The next morning they wake up without much of a memory of the night before.

When they get home they learn they live near each other and they got married in Vegas. Marriage was never a part of the plan for Levi or Caspian.

There is definitely attraction between them but they think they need to dissolve the marriage. As they work together to do so, they learn about each other and become significant parts of each other's lives.

On the surface, Caspian and Levi are very different. However, Caspian and Levi complement each other so well. When one is struggling, the other can sense it and knows exactly what they need. They become a steading force for each other.

I loved this book and I am really looking forward to the next one in the series.


Thanks to the GRR for providing an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lets start this one off by saying I am not generally a fan of the married to a stranger in Vegas trope, their have been a few good ones but most are just not my kink. With having read Kat before I trusted they would do the trope justice and they did and than some. Caspian meets a beautiful Link cosplayer at a Vegas convention and spends a great night with him never planning to see him again. Levi had a great night even if the details are murky until he gets a letter hes married oops. What starts with two men trying to get a divorce turns into two men falling for the man inside. Both men are unapologetically themselves and show the other what's its like to be fully accepted and appreciated for who they are.
As with this whole combined world you have openly themselves characters building onto a found family that are their through it all. Loved Levi may be the Femme one but they are in charge, and albeit being bigger/more masc Caspian goes along for the ride and loves every minute of it. A great rendition of accidentally married to friends to lovers trope. With Owen's story next up I cannot wait to see what Kat has in store for our owner.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caspian and Levi have a wild night in Vegas that ends in an accidental marriage. They get together to dissolve the marriage, but might end up falling for each other in the process! I really enjoyed their dynamic. It isn’t the typical one you’d expect from their characteristics, but that’s what makes it so refreshing and enjoyable. All of the side characters were great, though they were not a heavy presence. Caspian and Levi each have their own hang ups as to why they’re not interested in a relationship, but luckily they work through them together. I’d say this story is low angst, though there is a touch of bigotry from a side character. Lots of sweet tender moments as their relationship develops too! There is plenty of spice throughout as well! Overall I really enjoyed their story. I dropped in mid series so I’ll have to go check out the other character stories.

[Thrilled Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite KM book to date! The chemistry between Cas and Levi was PERFECT. They met in a hotel bar at a Con in Vegas with Levi dressed as a character. Cas was immediately attracted to Levi, and was hoping that he could hit that before checking out the next morning.
Levi was interested in the same thing, but ordered multiple shots before heading out. The rest was a blur, and when Levi awoke fully clothed the following day, he snuck out and ran back to his room to make a bad dash for the airport.
When both MCs returned to their lives, they get a serious surprise! I don't want to say what it is, but boy is it great! Luckily, both guys live in Philly so they can figure out what to do about their dilemma. In the meantime, they start enjoying each other more and more and end up in love by the end!

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment in the series—and I really enjoyed it.

The main characters are so endearing that they immediately won me over. The supporting characters felt wonderfully familiar, too; it’s always a pleasure to see them return to the story.

It was beautiful to see how an "accidental" moment blossomed into a wonderful future.
The way the main characters navigated difficult times, and the fact that everyone was accepted just as they are, is truly heartwarming.
Fortunately, together they are strong enough to stand up to those who refuse to accept them and to support one another.

I can’t wait for Owen’s story; he deserves to have someone special in his life, too.

💞Thank you to the Author for the opportunity to read and review this ARC💖

[Bere Peltier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A drunk marriage in Vegas between two complete strangers that somehow turns into something meaningful?? I LOVED IT💍

The chemistry between these two was so good, and the fact that they both fall in love at the same time made my heart so happy. Their dynamic was EVERYTHING: dominant twink, power bottom, brat vibes, protective partners, dirty talk, hidden piercings… and the smut??? SO kinky and SO good.. so BDSM ish.

I also loved the sweet little moments between all the spice, especially the post orgasm afterglow confessions. They were actually so cute together!

I definitely enjoyed the Strangers to husbands to lovers to boyfriends to probably husbands again HAHA Honestly, what a journey 😂❤️ I had such a fun time with this one!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Alchemy Ink series and I loved it. It’s Caspian’s turn for his HEA and Levi is so different, but perfect for him. Due to his childhood, Caspian is very anti-relationships, so he had no intention of creating one with hot, professional cosplayer Levi, until one night, and overindulgence, conspired against them. What follows is a sweet tale, full of fun banter, support for each other, and try as they might to avoid it, developing feelings. I loved this book, and both Caspian and Levi are standout characters. I highly recommend this as a brilliant read and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

[Ζωή Παππά · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Stroke Frequency" is part of a series but it can be read as a standalone. In this book we follow Cas who is a tattoo artist and Levi who is a cosplayer. I loved how those two met and I really liked how the author handled the "accidentally married" trope, it was fun and different. The chemistry between the two of them was absolutely delicious, I really really loved their dynamic, chef's kiss.
I also liked the subplot with Caspian's mother and I found the sidestory with Levi's sister heartbreaking, it made me so sad.
The cameos were brilliant.
A very sweet and hot book, a great addition to the series. I can't wait to read the next one.Owen!!!

[Kari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Caspian and Levi meet at a cosplay event in Vegas. This is one of those 'things don't always stay in Vegas' situations. I loved both characters and the way they grew to trust each other and what they could be was amazing. Both comfortable with where they are, neither were looking or expecting happily ever after. This was another book by this author that put a smile on my face. And it's always good to see the other characters in this universe.
I received an advance copy from the author for my honest opinion.

[Henna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if Cas and Levi are from the same city, they meet on the other side of the country. One drink leads to another, then blackout, and few weeks later both get a surprise in the mail about what happened that night. Neither is looking for a serious relationship, and Cas especially is against marriage. Both have their own reasons and issues to fix before they can find a HEA.
I loved sassy Levi, and Cas just needed someone who would show him not all men were awful.
This was a lighthearted love story with some good spicy scenes.
Owen's book sounds intriguing!

[Jacqueline Halle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tattoo artist Caspian finally takes a vacation to a con, meets and hits it off with hot cosplayer Levi. After parting ways without much recollection of their evening together the post office delivers some unexpected news.

The next few months while they work on fixing their accidental marriage they find they may be exactly what the other needs. Lots of found family moments. Katherine's books are always a warm queer hug.

[Mandee · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! Cas and Levi were so amazing together!!!

When an oops wedding turns into a connection unlike anything either had ever known before, they start to question everything. Their chemistry is off the charts, and soon they cannot keep their hands to themselves.

They really saw one another, and let one another in. They were able to be vulnerable with each other. I adored their story and I cannot wait for the next one!

[Lynn Stifle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I loved this book! Caspian and Levi have a crazy night in Vegas and end up accidentally married. I loved the characters, their dynamics, and the way they are written they just come alive on the pages. I loved all the sweet moments, their banter was adorable, and their is chemistry is palpable. A great addition to this series and one I definitely recommend. I can’t wait for the next one!!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored Caspian and Levi. They were so perfectly matched. I really love when a character presents one way but is also sexually not what you would expect. I loved this pairing. I always have a weakness for camboys so I knew I would love Levi but it was so nice to see Caspian open up and be vulnerable. I also love how this author incorporates nerdiness into their stories. Cosplay is such a cool art form so I loved seeing that respected in this one.

[Afsanay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story . This is my first book by this author and i was not disappointed. The confidence in Levi was unmatched and i love to see that represented for the more femme boys. For a fellow geek im glad to see representation that didnt take away from the sexy in the 2 MMCs .i will def stayed tuned for the next installment.

[Edga · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Caspian and Levi’s story. After a few too many drinks, one thing leads to another, and in true Vegas style, they wake up the next morning married! What follows is just lovely and had me smiling throughout. Both guys agree on one thing though, a swift divorce is the only option. However, as they plan to meet to iron out the details, the inevitable happens, and they fall head over heels in love.
The character development, humour, and witty banter completely won me over. It is a wonderfully feel good, easy read. I was in the mood for a heartwarming romantic comedy, and this left me feeling completely satisfied. This lovely accidental marriage romance is an absolute must read, especially if you need a bit of a lift.

[Roxanna Mascarenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story to add from this author. This one is the wake up married but fall in love while filling for divorce, but of course you do!!!
Caspian and Levi seem like opposites but both keep people at a distance but when then end up married they discover they can see the other without the mask on.
Easy to find your perfect person that way. Fall in love at Alchemy Ink

[Heaterr11 · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

*Spoilers*

This was such a fun read! Caspian and Levi meet at the Vegas Con and spend the night having a great time, enjoying all the con festivities. But, as with all good times, they have to come to an end. When they get back home, they quickly realize that what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there! I love a good waking-up-married trope, and this one was particularly wonderful.

Having Levi and Caspian in the same state so close to each other was such a nice twist. Caspian carries past trauma about marriage, so discovering he's married to a stranger sends him into a bit of a panic. He’s not looking to be married or tied down, and he definitely doesn’t trust Levi. Levi, on the other hand, does what Levi wants he spent his youth having to be small because kids can be mean, and just grow up to be assholes. Now he’s just living his life for him. Working the con circuit, being married definitely puts a damper on his freedom. But honestly, these two are perfect for each other. Friends with benefits while going through a divorce? That’s a WILD choice, but I loved every second of it.

Pick up this book if you’re into grumpy men who fall for sunshine men and become fiercely protective of them.


I received a free copy of this book, and these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Helen Smith · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This is my second book by this author. While both Caspian and Levi were lovely men who were beautifully suited for each other, the story was primarily physically driven. I would have preferred different pacing that allowed for more emotional intimacy earlier in the story. While it was a pleasure to see them achieve their HEA, I would have preferred a different journey to arrive there.

[Lisa C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, hot story of Caspian and Levi (a cosplayer) who meet at a comic con. Waking up later to find out they're married is not the way either wants to start the week.. Loved these two together and how they help each other. Couldn't put it down.