Lead Me Into Darkness

by J.R. Gray, Santino Hassell, Kris Ripper

Lead Me Into Darkness: Five Halloween Tales of Paranormal Romance

All-Hallows-Eve brings out the wicked in even the most reserved among us… and the lure of romance is the keenest incentive to follow a beloved into the unknown. Lead Me Into Darkness is a compilation of original tales of queer paranormal romance by five of the hottest authors of contemporary romance.

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell
Brian Watts' boyfriend is a newly turned vampire, and he's shouldering the blame. Watts would do anything--including offering up a vein, stripping for cash, and demanding answers from other creatures of the night--to redeem himself and save the man he loves.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis
Billy Hartigan's been dead for ten years, and it's really pissing him off. Stuck in Memory Hill Cemetery due to "unfinished business," he fritters away the long days playing monster movies in his head, reliving the glory days of his indie band, and mourning his missed chance at love with his best friend. Then one Halloween he gets a visit from troubled teen geek Todd Racklin, the last living fan of Billy's old band. Todd needs some beyond-the-grave help from his idol--and his visits might hold the key to Billy's release from Memory Hill.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray
Secret agendas collide with guns, ghosts and confusing erections, on a tour through a haunted graveyard. Jesse's been carrying a secret and needs a night alone with George. But George has his own agenda, leading Jesse into darkness, the fright of his life, and a blinding release he won't soon forget.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper
In a perfect world, Truman Jennings would be spending Halloween with both his husband and his boyfriend; alas, in this one he's on a ghost tour with his husband, and his boyfriend is probably watching scary movies and eating pizza rolls.

The cemetery is appropriately creepy, their tour guide weaves a good yarn, and Hugh's in a very odd (but utterly delightful) mood. When Hugh leads him away from the group Truman doesn't know what to think, but considering his husband's filthy, kinky mind, he's more than willing to find out.

As usual, Hugh has both tricks and treats up his sleeve.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish
Jocelyn has been secretly in love with her best friend Bethany for a year. And it's hell. But there are other things—dark, creeping, illusory things—that are tormenting Jocelyn even more. They've been appearing more and more lately and Jocelyn is starting to doubt her sanity. But a Devil's Night ritual in a Detroit cemetery may reveal more than she ever imagined…

Genres: Anthologies, M M Romance, Paranormal, Romance, LGBT, Paranormal Romance, Short Stories

129 pages, ebook

First published October 29, 2015

About the author

When not staying up all night writing, J.R. Gray can be found at the gym where it's half assumed he is a permanent resident to fulfill his self-inflicted masochism. A dominant and a pilot, Gray finds it hard to be in the passenger seat of any car. He frequently interrupts real life, including normal sleep patterns and conversations, to jot down notes or plot bunnies. Commas are the bane of his existence even though it's been fully acknowledged they are necessary, they continue to baffle and bewilder. If Gray wasn't writing…well, that's not possible. The buildup of untold stories would haunt Gray into an early grave, insanity or both. The idea of haunting has always appealed to him. J.R. Gray is genderqueer and prefers he/him pronouns.

Reviews

[captain raccoon.]

ETA: rating (and review for Scamtino Hustle's story) removed.

***

Memory Hill by JC Lillis



I have a really big fear that something could happen and the person I'm indescribably in love with won't know just how much he means to me. This was a story where that was a reality. Just stunning. Absolutely stunning.

***

Grave Circumstances by JR Gray

Me while reading this:



Sheesh. This was a bit of a mess.

1. I was confused (kinda like Jesse's erection) as to what era it was meant to be set in. It started off feeling like it was from yesteryear - which was fine. But then the lingo made it very clear it was contemporary. It left everything disjointed and probably set the tone for the rest of the story.

2. The couple in this were characters from another series and it showed as lots of little references went over my head.

3. George (one of the MCs) was one of those rare occurrences in a BDSM story: A rich, damaged dominant...



4. 'Little one' as a term of endearment for a grown man is just... no. 'Little one' used as a term of endearment 11 times in a short story had me itching to kill or maim something.



5. Do not get me started on the improbability and ridiculousness of George hiding a handgun and a rifle in over-the-knee boots without ANYBODY noticing.

6. What was the point of introducing real Satanists if they weren't going to be used for scares? Oh wait. I know. They were used to convey the message that "Satanists are people too." I'm so glad I've been educated.

7. This story was docked all the points for this sentence alone:

Usually when George admitted he was close to cumming, he was telling Jesse to back off.

Cumming? He was close to cumming? Really?



That word can join 'moist' on the list of Words That Should Never Be Used During Sex Scenes Ever.

I think it's safe to say I didn't enjoy this one.

***

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper

Although this featured an established throuple (a husband and husband and their boyfriend) from The Scientific Method, The Complete Miniseries (a series I've yet to read), this story really, really worked for me. Super fun and it wins All The Things for its imaginative use of an Anna from Frozen costume.



***

Mayfair by Roan Parrish

Good news: Unlike In the Middle of Somewhere, this was thankfully devoid of repetitive words.

Bad news: The prose... Ohdeargodtheprose...



And it detracted and distracted so much from what was probably a very lovely coming of age story - if that's what this was. I just finished this and I can barely remember what it was about, although I do remember all the descriptions of the smells.

***

I'm kinda left with the feeling of what was the point of this antho, you know? To have three of the five stories (Take you Farther, Grave Circumstances & Boyfriends in the Boneyard) feature unoriginal couples leaves readers at a disadvantage. Plus, considering this was Halloween themed, it was sorely lacking in scares and creepiness.

[Julio Genao]

OMG I HAZ NEW J.C. LILLIS.



and don't be hating on me for getting to read it early, ok?

it's out next week, jeez.

you should be chiiill, like me.

my gosh. some people, amirite?

so excitable.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is FREEEEEEE :))))) -> Look here for all the links.


Take you Farther
by Santino Hassell

A lovely follow-up to Stygian. A must read featuring Watts and Quince.

5 stars (in combination with my rating for Stygian)


Memory Hill
by J. C. Lillis

One of the best short stories I've ever read, and that's saying a lot, because I think most authors are only mediocre at this, even if they write great full-length books.

This was bitter-sweet. I laughed, I swooned, I weeped.

I want to read more of the author's stories now. This was amazing.

5 stars


Grave Circumstances
by J. R. Gray

Um, so... wow. This was so out of my comfort zone. I only managed to read a few pages and then I skipped some and then I stopped, because slaves and satanists, and this was just totally not for me. If I'd go there, this couldn't be sprung upon me like this, and it would probably help if the protagonist wouldn't behave like a douche.

DNF, no rating


Boyfriends in the Boneyard
by Kris Ripper

Hehe.

If you've read Kris's Scientific Method Series, you will really appreciate this. The story works on it's own, but when you already know the characters and their dynamics, it'll be even better, I think.

I love these guys. Period.

Nevertheless, I think that this felt a little bit rushed and less dense than I am used to. Also, also... I feel interrupted and teased. Damn you, Ads ;-P

3.5 stars


Mayfair
by Roan Parrish

I think this is the most Halloweeny story of the collection. It's creepy and a little scary.

I wish I had read this not tired at 7am on my commute because I think I couldn't fully appreciate the depth of the language. It was both smart and different, beautiful.

Another really good short story. It felt complete, the pacing was great, all necessary information and character built was there, leaving open spaces to be filled by the reader.

4 stars

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read**]

Review and rating removed.

[Kasia Bacon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by Kasia BB

Lead Me Into Darkness is a free Halloween collection of five short stories, generously and spontaneously put together by a group of authors of queer romances. It contains four M/M tales and one of F/F variety. I wouldn’t necessarily brand it as a “paranormal anthology”, as not all the stories carry a paranormal undercurrent per se. However, there is unquestionably a certain tinge of spookiness or mysteriousness to every tale.

I’m on the fence on anthologies. They frequently feel uneven to me. On occasion, the content might vary so significantly – both style and quality wise – that reading it resembles a rollercoaster ride, making my head spin and giving me bipolar-like mood swings. It is not the case here, although some stories resonated with me more than others.

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell

This story is a follow-up to Santino Hassell’s novel Stygian, which I luckily finished a few days before reaching for this short. It is presented from Watts’ perspective.

If I were asked to capture the essence of this story in one word, I’d say transition. Everything alters, since Q became “vamporized”, including the dynamics of Watts and Quince’s relationship. The blood deprivation transforms Quince’s personality. This sweet, non-confrontational, considerate, placatory, good-natured guy becomes sullen, slightly depressed, emotionally stunned, broody, angry and possessive. Watts also changes, quitting his arrogant, selfish, obnoxious asshole routine and discovers the ability to feel concern and express his feelings.

In brief - I loved it. Both characters, given a chance to unveil their intriguing complexity a little more, merely blossomed. The writing is touching, emotionally charged and sweet, despite the lurking darkness. There’s also a bit of heat.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis

J.C. Lillis is a new author to me. I shall do my utmost to immediately rectify this monstrous abomination, reminiscent of ignorance.

This story is exquisite. Perfectly thought through, well composed and beautifully executed. I loved the entire original concept. A ghost of a musician, trapped in the cemetery, is unable to move on until certain things are fulfilled. Also featuring are wasted opportunities, which - quite literally - haunt him. In addition, there is an adorable geeky character.

This was the story I connected with the most. It is a clever tale about the transience of life and happiness, reminding us to seize the day. It evokes a keen sense of sadness and regret mixed with hope. It is simultaneously funny, poignant and bittersweet. It left me teary-eyed and clutching my chest. In my view, this is undoubtedly the jewel in the crown of the whole collection. In the words of one of the characters: “Emo, but pretty. And sad.” Indeed.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray

To a fan of Gray’s Bound series, such as myself, this short will be a real treat. I thought it was amusing and I liked it a lot. Reading about my least favourite character getting his ass kicked by his temporarily zombified ex-girlfriend (who he did wrong), can feel strangely satisfying. It is always good to see George being a good old sadist, especially sporting the seventeenth century riding boots. The writing is funny and concise. As ever, I enjoyed the BDSM element to it. The final scene, tremendously hot, was the icing on the cake.

However, I fear this story doesn’t stand alone well. If you haven’t read any of the Bound books, you’ll likely end up just as confused, as Jesse’s erection. Regrettably, all the delicious subtleties, clues and references to the characters’ little idiosyncrasies will be completely lost on you. Remedy? Read the series first.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper

Having not read Ripper’s Scientific Method series (which I’m planning on reading eventually), I feel I find myself at a slight disadvantage. Had I read it, I’d have probably had more insight and appreciated this short story more. However, it still can be read as a standalone.

What I enjoyed most was the depiction of an interesting unconventional threeway relationship with a kinky twist and genuine emotions between all the involved parties. The sexy action at the cemetery underneath the dress was both naughty and hot. All written in a light style with a humorous undertone.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish

I don’t typically read F/F romances, so frankly I felt a little out of my depth. Nevertheless, it is an angsty coming of age story with a hint of darkness and creepiness up its sleeve, featuring the theme of unrequited love. The main character is psychologically intriguing and well sketched. However, what struck me most about this story was the quality of the descriptive language deployed here. Suspenseful, imaginative and pretty. I also enjoyed the surprising ending.

This anthology constitutes a diverse and perfectly entertaining romantic Halloween read - a bit of fun with a touch of darkness, a handful of emotions and a pinch of heat. I highly recommend it and reward it – as a whole collection - the rating of 4 out of 5.

I loved the atmospheric cover. Regarding its title, paradoxically I thought Lead Me OUT of Darkness would have been more apt. The implied: Through Your Love sign flashing in neon red in my head.

Good Lord, I’m such a sap.


https://kasiabb.wordpress.com/

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually read anthologies – I find I will like one story very much and often not finish the rest. Lead Me Into Darkness made a refreshing change for me. Yes, I have favourites but I wanted to finish them all. I gave the anthology 4* overall and have given my individual ratings below.

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell 4*

I think this is best described as a vignette. This story follows on from the excellent novel Stygian. Here we catch up with lead singer Brian Watts and his boyfriend Quince. I find it hard to write a review, as I don’t want to spoil for those who have yet to read Stygian. However, it can be read as a short story of love and seeking redemption. As always with this author’s work it is well written, enjoyable, sexy and as near to bordering on sweet as this author would ever wish to be.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis 5*

I have not read this author's work before, after this short story I am sure I will remedy this. A true little gem set in a graveyard over several Halloweens. It is a heartbreaking, funny, expressive and honest account of young people’s lives and experiences of becoming a ‘whole’ adult. We learn so much about the characters, Billy and Todd, as well those who affect their lives. The way this author creates deep feeling and communication between the main characters, is a beautiful example of an accomplished writer. I’m not spoiling anything by saying that Billy is a ghost, and so cannot directly communicate with the all too human, Todd. How J.C. Lillis achieves the emotion and story telling – well I am a confirmed fan now. This is a story of unfinished business and how by helping Todd in his life – Billy finds his eternity. The ending is just perfect.

Grave Circumstances by J.R.Gray 3.5*

For a few lines I wasn’t quite sure if this is a contemporary story, but it is. The slaves mentioned are of the BDSM variety. I did enjoy reading this, it is well written, and the relief of reading a whole anthology so well edited…is a joy to this reviewer. The story revolves around a wealthy man, George, and Jesse his submissive. Jesse wants to tell George something he feels is very important to their future and decides to take George on a Halloween tour of a graveyard. This idea is to get George away from his slaves, who presumably live with them. George however, has his own ideas and slightly alters the plans for the evening. An enjoyable interlude but not quite for me, comparatively speaking. Although….zombie paint ball.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper 3*

I would call this a Halloween romp. Two husbands go on a Halloween tour of haunted graveyard. while their boyfriend is out of town, but one of them has a surprise. This was light hearted, themed, sex romp in a graveyard. It was funny and there were some lovely touches – where the uncomfortable nature of certain fantasies are described. Not really a story, but an enjoyable sexy romp.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish 5*

This last short story in the anthology surprised and enchanted me. Surprised, because I do not read lesbian fiction – not for anything silly about lady bits, but because I find it a genre I don’t usually connect, or identify with. First of all let me say there is no ‘sex’ so please don’t, as I saw one reviewer say, be put off and avoid for that reason. This is an amazingly, haunting and beautiful piece of writing that I have already read twice. It involves secret yearnings and love, loneliness and human misunderstandings. It is all about growing up, and being a teenager discovering love and the secrets of the universe – with no one to discuss these things with. It is also about friendship and dealing with the pain of being different. The ending could fall under the ‘be careful what you wish for’ category, or a deeper meaning of discovering what is illusory about life…A mini triumph that had me quietly crying at the end.

[Mónica BQ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Deleting review because of reasons. They are easy enough to find if you care to.
I'm leaving my original rating and review under a spoiler tag to evidentiate I did read it and that the majority of this space is dedicated to the book.
The JC Lillis story is still worth it.



Orginal rating: 4 stars

This book is not a 4 stars book. But it's a free anthology and the effort the authors put into getting it out there is commendable (and again, FOR FREE) and honestly?
It's worth a download just for the J.C. Lillis story.
Seriously, go get this and read that fucking beautiful story.

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell
4 stars
I finished Stygian 3 days ago and this story fulfilled my predicted statement that it's getting a sequel and that Q is a vampire now. Even so, seeing Watts and Q was fun. Still full of angst, still full of miscommunication, still full of unforgivable assholish behaviour and this story depicts an even more unhealthily codependent couple than in Stygian. But Santino Hassell can definitely write and he gets you hooked easily to the characters and the story.
You should have read Stygian to understand this story.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis
5 stars
This story is basically the heart and soul of this anthology. Not only is the story perfectly understandable on it's own, it is ONE THE BEST SHORTS I'VE READ THIS YEAR.
Words are not enough to express how GOOD this was. Just please, read it.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray
1 star
I couldn't understand a thing that was happening until I was in the middle of the story. The two POVs are so similar they are undistinguishable from one another and it is so confusingly written that I almost never knew who was speaking. Furthermore, I didn't get what was happening with the slaves, with the brother, or even with the main couple.
I have no idea if this story features characters from an already existing book, and if it does, well, it's impossible to understand then, without having read the original story before.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper
3 stars
Again, no idea if this features already existing characters (I think it does?), but mercifully it was completely understandable on it's own. It was fun and cute, basically just a sex scene, nothing special, just a treat.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish
1 star
I was excited for this. A YA F/F. I thought this would be a slam dunk for me. But this has just confirmed that Roan Parrish's writing is most assuredly not for me, not even when maybe the story is worth overlooking it's faults. Horrible flowery prose. This is what a poem written by me at age 12 would have read like, had I been one for writing poems, or anything at all really.

[McGee Magoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've only actually read Take You Farther by Santino Hassell. I HAD to know what happened to Quince after Stygian abruptly ended. This short story also ended abruptly and I can't help but hope there's a continuation in the works for the men of Stygian. But, at least I get to go to bed tonight knowing Quince sort of survived--- and Watts' is really in love with him.

[Janeylou · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars are for J C Lillis and Kris Ripper...excellent short stories

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lead Me Into Darkness is an anthology with five fantastic authors. The fact that it's a free book is an added bonus. I would have happily paid to read this.

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell - 4/5. I definitely do not consider this a standalone read. If you have not read Stygian, you should before you read this short. I loved the story which picks up shortly after Stygian ends. Watts and Quince are trying to figure out how to live their new lives. The story is sweet with Watts finally admitting his feeling for Q, but left me with more questions. Another book is needed....pretty please!

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis - 5/5. This is the first piece I've read by this author and after reading it I will definitely read everything she writes in the future. Billy Hartigan is dead and has remained in the graveyard where he's buried and cannot pass on. He's not happy about that either. Todd visits Billy's grave for help and comes back a few times on Halloween to talk to Billy. The story is beautifully told. Heartbreaking, funny, sad and had me sobbing by the end. Do yourself a favor and read it.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray - 5/5. While this can be read as a standalone, I think you'll get much more from it if you've read the Bound Series. George and Jesse embark on a graveyard tour on Halloween. Jesse being my favorite character in the Bound Series is as always absolutely wonderful. I love Gray's ability to write witty, snarky, beautifully damaged characters that always pull me in and on whatever emotional roller coaster they're riding. Throw in some Zac and Kennedy and you will be laughing, a little spooked and definitely enthralled.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper - 4/5. Another short that I think I would have enjoyed more if I'd read the series. That being said, I really enjoyed this short. Truman and Hugh are darling husbands and their graveyard tour is funny, sweet and definitely ends with sexy when boyfriend Will shows up. I am new to Ripper's books, but love everything I've read so far.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish - 4/5. This is the first story I've read by Roan Parrish and I loved it. I was mesmerized by the tale of Jocelyn. Her obsession with Bethany, her friendship with Gabe and the creepy illusions that haunted her. This story had a perfect balance of spooky and longing.

This is an anthology that you don't want to miss.

[Aviva]

Rating and review removed

[Zuli · Rating 2 out of 5]

– 2.5★ ish–

Not dark stories as I expected, but they were entertaining and had a spooky vibe.

I loved the MCs from Take You Farther and Grave Circumstances, even though they seem to be part of their own series and these are just extra stories about them. And I expected the second one to take a different direction, the heavy emphasis on D/s was not up my alley.

Memory Hill was my absolute fav. This read like an original short story and not part of a series, so the pace was perfect and the characters funny. Now that’s a cute way to settle unfinished business.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard was the most boring to me. I just didn’t care and barely finished it. Tbh I skipped the sex scenes, which were most of the whole story.

I promise I meant to read Mayfair, the only f/f story, it’s just that right now I’m obsessed with another thing and couldn’t manage to focus on this one, so I preferred to go back to my current obssession 🍄 🫢. It’s just bad timing, I swear!

Individual ratings:
• Take You Farther   ★★★★
• Memory Hill   ★★★★★
• Grave Circumstances   ★★★
• Boyfriends in the Boneyard   ★
• Mayfair   unfortunate dnf

[Leyna]

Nope, because - see my comment below

[Jax]

Only read Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis - 5 stars

[DaisyGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall rating: 3.5 rounded up to 4.0 Stars

In the spirit of spooky ... an anthology of m/m paranormal shorts written by some of the most talented contemporary romance authors. What's not to like?

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell
4.0 Stars
Whoa. This was a very interesting read about Brian Watts' boyfriend who is a newly turned vampire. It definitely whet my whistle. Unfortunately, I was obviously missing some much needed context because I hadn't yet read Stygian. Fortunately, that gem has been recently released!

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis
4.0 Stars
Billy Hartigan died 10 years ago but due to "unfinished business" he's been stuck in Memory Hill Cemetary. Troubled teen geek Todd Racklin, the last living fan of Billy's old band, visits Billy's grave seeking help. I absolutely loved Billy and Todd ... and even the mad scientist. But waaaaaah! Be forewarned: this was a tear-jerker about missed opportunities and lost love. Bring tissue!

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray
1.5 (2.0) Stars
This was about Jess, George, secret agendas, guns, ghosts, and a tour through a haunted graveyard. The story had potential but the sloppy use of pronouns made it hard to decipher the POV at times. Truth be told, I was mostly lost with this story. It didn't work for me.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper
3.0 Stars
In a perfect world, Truman Jennings would be spending Halloween with both his husband and his boyfriend; alas, in this one he's on a ghost tour with his husband, and his boyfriend is probably watching scary movies and eating pizza rolls. That plot summary says it all: m/m/m fans take note! I enjoyed this entertaining m/m/m (husband/husband/BF) Halloween short. BUT, an unfinished sexy smexy scene is just wrong and left me grouchy.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish
2.5 (3.0) Stars
Jocelyn, her best friend Bethany (who she's been secretly in love with for a year), and a Devil's Night ritual in a Detroit cemetery made for a creepy tale. This story was very well-written with incredible descriptions. But for me, the story was a little disturbing and felt unfinished.

[Sandra]

FREE at ARE

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell (Stygian, #1.5) - (vamp) 3 stars You definitely must NOT read this if you haven't read book one! But if you have read book one, then this is a nice little follow up on how Quince and Watts are doing. The first book was a bit vague at the end on whether or not Quince did actually get turned into a vamp, so is this was nice even just for that closure. But given all the angst in Stygian, it was nice to see our guys working it out.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper

Mayfair by Roan Parrish (F/F)

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always struggle to enjoy anthologies as they just don't usually give me enough to form a satisfying connection to the characters/story. This book is no different. I mainly downloaded it to read Santino's follow-up story to his Stygian book. While it was wonderful to read about Watts finally admitting his feelings to Quince, it still felt incomplete and left so many questions unanswered. So, still the feeling of incompleteness. I can't really say anything bad about the writing. I just am not an anthology fan. Santino's story is a fan must but otherwise, I could have passed on the rest of these.

[Pixie]

Writing this so I don't forget. Read S. Hassell's story because that is what I wanted to read. Follow up to Stygian, if I was rating I'd say 3...was short.

[Jewel]

Review Removed.
http://riptidepublishing.com/a-statem...
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

[El · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Just Love Romance!

This is a short anthology collection just in time for Halloween, filled with five super creepy graveyard stories from five incredibly talented authors! And best of all, IT'S FREE!

No, this isn't a trick... it's definitely a treat! So check out my reviews of each story, and then go grab your copy.

One thing to note, though, is that most of the stories in this anthology are set in pre-existing universes. So if you, like me, have not read some of these authors, you may feel a bit lost at times. But it's still an excellent chance to find new books to check out... my TBR list has definitely grown!



Take You Farther, by Santino Hassell (a Stygian short)

I just finished Stygian a couple of days ago (my review), so having a follow-up story in this anthology is awesome!

He was the most beautiful monster Watts had ever seen.

Because I suspect a lot of people still haven't finished Stygian, I'll avoid talking about the plot of the short story. It picks up a couple of months after Stygian ends, and focuses on Watts and Quince as they try to adapt to their new lives. Watts is still an emotionally constipated dick, but he's also a brilliantly complex character, and Santino has a way with words that makes the eerie feel beautiful.



Memory Hill, by J.C. Lillis

Billy Hartigan’s been dead for ten years, and it’s really pissing him off. Stuck in Memory Hill Cemetery due to “unfinished business,” he fritters away the long days playing monster movies in his head, reliving the glory days of his indie band, and mourning his missed chance at love with his best friend. Then one Halloween he gets a visit from troubled teen geek Todd Racklin, the last living fan of Billy’s old band. Todd needs some beyond-the-grave help from his idol–and his visits might hold the key to Billy’s release from Memory Hill.

J.C. is a new author for me, but I'm a fan now, that's for sure! Todd is incredibly sweet, in a geeky, overly-earnest way...

Todd Racklin is so raw and embarrassing I can barely stand to hover three inches from him.

Normally I struggle with second-hand embarrassment when I read a character like Todd, but his sincerity and devotion are really admirable! Told over eleven years, we get to see Todd grow and find his Happily Ever After through Billy's eyes, as Billy waits for his own After.



Grave Circumstances, by J.R. Gray

So this story is set in J.R.'s Bound series universe, although I didn't realize that going in. Made me very confused at first, because they were talking about slaves and cravats, and I couldn't figure out what time period it was! But once I sorted things out (and realized "slave" was probably in a BDSM sense), I could sink into the story.

Secret agendas collide with guns, ghosts and confusing erections, on a tour through a haunted graveyard. Jesse’s been carrying a secret and needs a night alone with George. But George has his own agenda, leading Jesse into darkness, the fright of his life, and a blinding release he won’t soon forget.

The story itself is really fantastic, and I'm intrigued by George and Jesse's relationship. But without having read his Bound series, I'll admit that I didn't enjoy this as much as I could have.

That said, I'm definitely going to check out the Bound series now!



Boyfriends in the Boneyard, by Kris Ripper

A Halloween ménage story with sex in a graveyard! Oh yes, please!

You are a grown man. A professional. You are forty-one years old. You will not get arrested having sex with your husband in a cemetery. Neither of you can run fast enough to risk it.

This is another short set in a pre-existing universe, Kris' Scientific Method series. But I feel like ze did an amazing job of opening this up for new readers so they wouldn't be confused. Truman and Hugh are married and poly, and Will is their boyfriend, and there are sexy kinky times. It's funny and adorable and super hot!



Mayfair, by Roan Parrish

This is a super creepy story about what lurks beneath the surface of our everyday world.

Jocelyn has been secretly in love with her best friend Bethany for a year. And it’s hell. But there are other things—dark, creeping, illusory things—that are tormenting Jocelyn even more. They’ve been appearing more and more lately and Jocelyn is starting to doubt her sanity. But a Devil’s Night ritual in a Detroit cemetery may reveal more than she ever imagined…

Even Jocelyn's one-sided relationship with Bethany is written as eerie, two girls rebelling against authority by spending time in the local graveyard.

I love seeing things unfold from Jocelyn's point of view, and the subtle hints we get about her background and the things she's seen out of the corner of her eyes.

So where can you find your own copy of this fantastic anthology?
Nook / Kobo / Apple / Oyster
Page Foundry/Inketera / ARe / Scribd

This review was originally posted on Just Love Romance!

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Lead Me Into Darkness: Five Halloween Tales of Paranormal Romance
Author: Santino Hassell, J.R. Gray, Kris Ripper, J.C. Lillis, and Roan Parrish
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 29, 2015
Genre(s): M/M Paranormal
Reviewed by: JLoves2Read for Gay Book Reviews Gay Book Reviews and Alpha Book Club
Heat Level: 3 flames out of 5
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Blurb:

Lead Me Into Darkness: Five Halloween Tales of Paranormal Romance

All-Hallows-Eve brings out the wicked in even the most reserved among us… and the lure of romance is the keenest incentive to follow a beloved into the unknown. Lead Me Into Darkness is a compilation of original tales of queer paranormal romance by five of the hottest authors of contemporary romance.

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell
Brian Watts' boyfriend is a newly turned vampire, and he's shouldering the blame. Watts would do anything--including offering up a vein, stripping for cash, and demanding answers from other creatures of the night--to redeem himself and save the man he loves.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis
Billy Hartigan's been dead for ten years, and it's really pissing him off. Stuck in Memory Hill Cemetery due to "unfinished business," he fritters away the long days playing monster movies in his head, reliving the glory days of his indie band, and mourning his missed chance at love with his best friend. Then one Halloween he gets a visit from troubled teen geek Todd Racklin, the last living fan of Billy's old band. Todd needs some beyond-the-grave help from his idol--and his visits might hold the key to Billy's release from Memory Hill.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray
Secret agendas collide with guns, ghosts and confusing erections, on a tour through a haunted graveyard. Jesse's been carrying a secret and needs a night alone with George. But George has his own agenda, leading Jesse into darkness, the fright of his life, and a blinding release he won't soon forget.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper
In a perfect world, Truman Jennings would be spending Halloween with both his husband and his boyfriend; alas, in this one he's on a ghost tour with his husband, and his boyfriend is probably watching scary movies and eating pizza rolls.
The cemetery is appropriately creepy, their tour guide weaves a good yarn, and Hugh's in a very odd (but utterly delightful) mood. When Hugh leads him away from the group Truman doesn't know what to think, but considering his husband's filthy, kinky mind, he's more than willing to find out. As usual, Hugh has both tricks and treats up his sleeve.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish This book was not Reviewed
Jocelyn has been secretly in love with her best friend Bethany for a year. And it's hell. But there are other things—dark, creeping, illusory things—that are tormenting Jocelyn even more. They've been appearing more and more lately and Jocelyn is starting to doubt her sanity. But a Devil's Night ritual in a Detroit cemetery may reveal more than she ever imagined…

This is a great collection of fun reads that fits right in with the time of year it's being released, Halloween. I have to admit that all of these authors were new to me but I enjoyed them all and will look to read work from them in the future. So starting in order as they appear in the book let me give you a little feedback on each book, ready?

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell 3 Stars
This book takes place in the paranormal playground of the United States, yes - that's right, New Orleans! So right away, you have to love the story because no paranormal story can go wrong in the magical city. I felt a bit lost in this book because as I came to realize it's a spin off from Stygian so not having read that story I came in at a loss. I have to say this is one of my pet peeves from authors, don't put a book in an anthology that the reader is not able to fully enjoy without reading a prior book. However, I was still able to enjoy the story - I just think I would have enjoyed it more had I read the previous book.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis 4 Stars
This story had me laughing. First, we have ghost who is trapped because he didn't tell his best friend he loved him, unfinished business and all.. and I love the creative wordplay of "Memory Hill Cemetery" where Billy is forced to relive and mourn all the areas in his life he either messed up or missed an opportunity. The way poor Billy get's "un-stuck" is very creative and adds to the story well. This really was a great little story.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray 2 Stars
I am going to be brutally honest here, because I feel like that is how reviews should be done-right? The highlight of this story was a very-very hot sex scene, beyond that I fee this story really needs to head back to the editing room. There were so many time jumps and lapses I was unable to fully follow this story. I feel like I missed so much because I got frustrated with it. However, I think if it was reworked a bit it would be great.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper 3.5 Stars
HOT. SEX. GRAVEYARD. MENAGE - Twisted, but very well written. I enjoyed this book second most out of the Anthology. It has a hot premise easy to follow and is a quick fun read.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish -Did Not Read
This book was not reviewed simply because its f/f -- Sorry.

[Jeffrey G · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very brief collection of five short stories, all set in a graveyard. Mostly this a "funny" or ironic take on ghost stories, and you will not come here for genuine chills or thrills. There is also no real emotion in these stories. Basically, this is terrible, at times borderline unreadable due to the cringe factor with some of the sexual fetishes, etc. I dnf'd the fourth story and was very tempted to quit the book period, but I finished it.

Got no enjoyment out of this. The best story was the second one, and it wasn't good.

[Carol Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell - 4 stars
Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis - 5 stars
Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray - 2 stars
Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper - 3 stars
Mayfair by Roan Parrish - didn't read

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

With a title like Lead Me Into Darkness, I thought I was getting some dark stories. I got no such thing. I'm guessing the title is literal, as in everything takes place at night, at least I think it does. I didn't realize that a few of the stories were part of others and not meant as a stand alone. J.C. Lillis' story was the only enjoyable story of the bunch.

[Vyou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only wanted to read this because of Santinos' story. But i also ended linking J.C.lillis' too. Overall..

Take you Farther - 5 stars
Memory Hill - 4 stars
Grave Circunstances- 3 stars
Boyfriend in the Boneyard - 3 stars
Mayfair - 1 stars

[M. Arbon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five graveyard-set stories with different moods. They ranged from just my cup of tea (J.C. Lillis' lovely "Memory Hill") to side stories of series I'm not familiar with and therefore can't judge.

[Sarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review written for Love Bytes Reviews with Jenna

Take You Farther by Santino Hassell — Reviewed by Jenna — 5 stars

I am so glad I discovered this story. Take You Farther is actually a side story that takes place after Stygian. Since I read Stygian, I had the advantage of having some background to the characters and their situation. Despite being a side story, I’m sure Take You Farther can also be read as a stand alone. The story begins with Watts and Quince who are holed up in New Orleans. They are lovers, but ever since Quince was turned into a vampire, he’s been slowly slipping away from Watts. Their only source of income is from Watts working as a stripper. When Watts goes to work and finds a way to get answers to help Quince, Watts jumps on the opportunity without any regard to his own safety.

Though this story was extremely short, I loved having a window into the lives of some of the Stygian characters. Quince is slipping into darkness, and though Watts doesn’t seem like he cares about anything anymore, it’s clear that he cares about Quince. After reading this, I’m curious about whether Stygian will have a sequel. I recommend this story to anyone who loves dark M/M fantasy and vampires.

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis — Reviewed by Sarina — 4 stars

This was my favorite story in the anthology. Todd is a really sweet boy with quite a few problems when he stumbles into Billy Hartigan’s afterlife but since Billy hasn’t found a way to move on yet, he decides to give helping Todd a try. The story takes place over about 16 years though it progresses in mainly 5 year clumps at a time. I enjoyed seeing how Todd grows up and changes over the years and how Billy keeps waiting for him to come back, even when it takes a while. One of the best parts of the story for me was Billy’s side of the dialogue, however; his reactions were really amusing to me at times. I found the ending a bit bittersweet though; Todd got his HEA but while Billy was given some closure, I still felt bad for him at the end.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray — Reviewed by Sarina — 3 stars

This was probably the most amusing story in the anthology though it was a little confusing at first. The way things were spoken about with slaves and cravats made me think the story took place in a much earlier time period than it actually does. The reality is that the main characters are in a BDSM relationship and once I realized that, I was better able to understand what was going on. I thought George’s ‘surprise’ was entertaining and it seems like something that would be a lot of fun to do. I did find myself a little confused with all the talk of Jesse’s various ex’s, however; I also did found out that this is a side story for the author’s Bound series after the fact and that would probably make a difference in how much someone understands about character interactions and conversations in the story.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper — Reviewed by Sarina — 2.5 stars

This turned out to be side story from the Scientific Method Series and I hate to say I wasn’t terribly impressed with it. I’ve read ménage books before but none where you have a married pair with a boyfriend on the side; that’s fine, I guess, but the entire thing just seemed unequal to me. The majority of the story takes place between Truman and Hugh, the married couple, with their boyfriend, Will, thrown in at the end. What kind of turned me off to it was that the interactions between Truman and Hugh was mostly talking while Will is the only one you get to see having any kind of sexual gratification. Maybe I’d feel differently about the entire thing if I had any experience with the rest of the series but from what I’ve read of it, the series doesn’t make a lot of sense to me either.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish — Reviewed by Sarina — 3 stars

I liked this one even though during quite a bit of the story I had no idea what was actually going on. Jocelyn has a thing for Bethany, which I got, but she’s also seeing things and apparently has been for a while. I thought the glimpses of what Jocelyn was experiencing was interesting and really got me into the Halloween vibe but I thought a lot of what I read about the trio hanging out was kind of superfluous and took away from the overall story. I also would’ve liked to get more information about Ruby; she’s there are the beginning and the end of the story but those were really only glimpses when I thought she should’ve had a bigger part to play. (From when she was introduced, I expected to see her more and was disappointed when I didn’t.) Still, the story was interesting and a bit mysterious so that’s a plus.

[Molli B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: Three of the five stories are about established couples from existing series. I think they're probably all spoilerish ("Take You Farther" definitely is), so consider that before reading.

I believe this collection is free, and it's more than worth it just for JC Lillis's story.

"Take You Farther" by Santino Hassell ~ 4 stars
This is a mini-sequel to Stygian, which I've read, so I was able to enjoy the story without being confused. I liked seeing a bit of what happened after they all left the house in Stygian, and I particularly liked getting Watts' POV and getting an inside look at his and Quince's relationship. It hurts me to see Quince like that :\ Both of them need snuggles.

What keeps this from being 5 stars is that it ended a scene too soon. We really needed to see the sex scene, not just because Sonny Hassell writes some of the best sex I've read but because I feel we need to see if it actually works for Quince, if there's hope for him. I think we need that glimpse of hope, as a reader. So I was disappointed when it ended rather abruptly. Otherwise, I liked the story just fine.

"Memory Hill" by JC Lillis ~ 5 stars
This is the collection's standout. A ghost story from the ghost's POV, it's a fully formed, standalone story in which we watch the same kid visit the ghost over years. It was shiveringly good (and feel-good!), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Just...super good. ♥

"Grave Circumstances" by JR Gray ~ DNF
I got about halfway through, was having trouble connecting with the characters, and went to investigate. Turns out these characters are part of a 4-book series. I'm sure if I had read the series, I'd have enjoyed this little story, and what I saw of JR Gray's writing was very good. I'll make a mental note to check out the series at some point.

"Boyfriends in the Boneyard" by Kris Ripper ~ DNF
This one is also about guys from an established series, and I got about halfway through before I went and found that out. As with "Grave Circumstances," I didn't have any complaints about the writing or story, I was just unable to get into. Some short stories that are parts of a series do work okay as standalone, but this, and "Grave Circumstances," didn't work for me on their own. (I read a couple other reviews in which the readers did like this one and found it worked on its own—maybe if I'd stuck with it...)

"Mayfair" by Roan Parrish ~ 3.75 stars
This one is F/F YA and it's lovely. It's actually almost too lovely (I have a feeling that people who liked this story the most will think I'm perhaps too simple to have enjoyed it). While Roan has a wonderful way with words and the imagery in the story was strong and evocative, I was hyper-aware of the writing itself, and I don't know if that's just me (it could very well be) or if it's the writing. I just don't know. I really wanted to love the writing, but for me, it got in the way of itself and the story (which I think I would have otherwise really loved). But it was the creepiest of the stories, so there's that!

[Isabella ~Mikku-chan~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

- finished Santino Hassell's story "Take you Farther" - [date: 04/05/2016]
The continuation was good but I hoped for Jeremy an Kennedy, not Watt and Quince. Because I don't really liked Watt in Stygian I could only gave the story 4 out of 5 stars...

Rating of other stories will follow...

Edit: - [Finished 05/26/2016]

Now, after I'm through will all I have to say Santino's story is and will be my favourite story. It was the best. Period. XD

My short review to the other stories (chronological):

Memory Hill by J.C. Lillis:
this was the most emotional story after the first by Santin0.
It was very well written and I liked the bittersweet topic. Definitely the saddest story of the book. :3

4 out of 5 stars.

Grave Circumstances by J.R. Gray
With this I had my problems... I was sooo annoyed by the dom, George, and I guess I understand a bit more if I read the series. I don't know if I want to read it yet, his described sadism isn't really my cup of tea but it depends on my mood.

Because of the topic and my mood I give the story 3 out of 5 stars.

Boyfriends in the Boneyard by Kris Ripper
Although I don't wanted to read about threesomes I liked the chemistry between the person. I give the series where the person come from a chance...

I give the story 4 out of stars.

Mayfair by Roan Parrish
Short: I liked the idea of reading a F/F story - but unfortunately I didn't see any interacitons. :/ I was very disappointed, alas I didn't really understand the story or the plot... To be honest I was confused...

Can't give more than 2 out of 5 stars... I guess this is one story I wouldn't remember if I had read elsewhere... What a pity... :/

So, my overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars is still valid. :3 Because I was captivated by Santino's story :3