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The Warfield Hotel Mysteries #3
Roaring Waters
Damien Fitzgerald has lived through hell and is determined to never let anyone get close to him again. A fervent reporter, he throws his life into his work and doesn’t care whose toes he steps on. But someone else does. He’s got a stalker, and the messages are growing increasingly threatening. He turns to his best friend, Justin Warfield and his lover, Private Investigator Marcus Drummond. Seems like a good idea until Robert Wyler becomes part of the package.
Robert Wyler, the manager of the bar at the Warfield Inn, has always been misunderstood. Sure he takes care of his body, wears his hair long and likes tatts, but that doesn’t mean he’s domineering. A cold exterior hides the more passionate man inside. Men like Damien Fitzgerald get on his nerves. Too good looking. Too arrogant. But when Justin and Marcus needed his help to guard the man from a stalker, Robert couldn’t say no.
Damien and Robert have a history. Whenever they are near each other sparks fly. Can Damien and Robert get past their prejudices to find the real men hiding underneath. Will they find love before the stalker gets to Damien and their chance at happiness is destroyed forever…
Robert Wyler, the manager of the bar at the Warfield Inn, has always been misunderstood. Sure he takes care of his body, wears his hair long and likes tatts, but that doesn’t mean he’s domineering. A cold exterior hides the more passionate man inside. Men like Damien Fitzgerald get on his nerves. Too good looking. Too arrogant. But when Justin and Marcus needed his help to guard the man from a stalker, Robert couldn’t say no.
Damien and Robert have a history. Whenever they are near each other sparks fly. Can Damien and Robert get past their prejudices to find the real men hiding underneath. Will they find love before the stalker gets to Damien and their chance at happiness is destroyed forever…
- GenresMystery
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 24, 2017
3 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 2, 2017
Review by Gloria Lakritz Review Chair for the Paranormal Romance Guild
5*****Stars
Book: Roaring Waters
Series: The Warfield Hotel Mysteries#3
Author: C.J. Baty
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Rated:/Romance/Mystery Thriller
Pages: 194
Release: July 24, 2017
Rated: Mature
CJ Baty has written a few books reviewed highly by our Guild. The author had sent us this book for review submission and I chose it for me….my weak spot; I love mysteries and romance. Roaring Waters is the 3rd book in the Warfield Hotel Mysteries. The author mentions this book is a standalone which makes me think it would not have a cliff hanger, making it all good for me.
CJ Baty has given me a very haunting story introducing first Damien Fitzgerald. He is a newspaperman, digging up the worst in people and writing exposes to bring them to justice. Not a safe job by any means, retaliation can bite you in the ass. Presently, he has Tony as his assistant, digging up dirt on his next story. We also learn he has a stalker bothering him with threatening phone calls, yet he ignores them which was kinda odd as we slowly learn his past history.
He finally decides to leave town for a few days as the maniac caller becomes more threatening. He makes a trip to Justin and Marcus his best friends, who own the Warfield. This is where the sparks fly when he and Robert Wyler who is the bar manager at the hotel meet. Robert ‘s looks are deceiving. He is tall, wears his hair long, well muscled and tattoo’d ……Looks are deceiving as inside he is not into the life and is kinda nerdy. Damien likes the finer stuff, Robert is a beer and pizza guy.
While Marcus and Justin handle the maniac stuff, we learn slowly about Damien’s past, that has caused him to have extreme panic attacks. Big steady Robert is there to talk him down and the relationship blossoms; each learning not to judge a book by its cover.
The author takes us on a wild story and wonderful coming together of two beautiful men. Robert’s tenderness blew me away. Damien hated being weak, yet I felt him very strong with what he has gone through!!
I am assuming these back stories might have been told in the first two books and now I feel the need to read those as well. I think you will too. Loved it Ms. Baty.
5*****Stars
Book: Roaring Waters
Series: The Warfield Hotel Mysteries#3
Author: C.J. Baty
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Rated:/Romance/Mystery Thriller
Pages: 194
Release: July 24, 2017
Rated: Mature
CJ Baty has written a few books reviewed highly by our Guild. The author had sent us this book for review submission and I chose it for me….my weak spot; I love mysteries and romance. Roaring Waters is the 3rd book in the Warfield Hotel Mysteries. The author mentions this book is a standalone which makes me think it would not have a cliff hanger, making it all good for me.
CJ Baty has given me a very haunting story introducing first Damien Fitzgerald. He is a newspaperman, digging up the worst in people and writing exposes to bring them to justice. Not a safe job by any means, retaliation can bite you in the ass. Presently, he has Tony as his assistant, digging up dirt on his next story. We also learn he has a stalker bothering him with threatening phone calls, yet he ignores them which was kinda odd as we slowly learn his past history.
He finally decides to leave town for a few days as the maniac caller becomes more threatening. He makes a trip to Justin and Marcus his best friends, who own the Warfield. This is where the sparks fly when he and Robert Wyler who is the bar manager at the hotel meet. Robert ‘s looks are deceiving. He is tall, wears his hair long, well muscled and tattoo’d ……Looks are deceiving as inside he is not into the life and is kinda nerdy. Damien likes the finer stuff, Robert is a beer and pizza guy.
While Marcus and Justin handle the maniac stuff, we learn slowly about Damien’s past, that has caused him to have extreme panic attacks. Big steady Robert is there to talk him down and the relationship blossoms; each learning not to judge a book by its cover.
The author takes us on a wild story and wonderful coming together of two beautiful men. Robert’s tenderness blew me away. Damien hated being weak, yet I felt him very strong with what he has gone through!!
I am assuming these back stories might have been told in the first two books and now I feel the need to read those as well. I think you will too. Loved it Ms. Baty.
August 9, 2017
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
This was a nice addition to the Warfield Hotel Mysteries series, this book focuses on a different couple than the first two books which makes it possible to read this book without reading the others. However, you see much of the previous characters and it does reference things that happened before but they are described quite well.
Damien and Robert have been hurt in different ways by previous lovers and have to learn to accept that their first impression of each other might not be all they are about. Damien has spent years staying busy to distract himself from his past while continuing to push people away when they get to close after he was abused by a previous lover. Robert hasn’t had a long term lover in a long time and know how others view him and is tired of not living up to others’ assumptions.
In this story we get to see both characters’ points of view which allows us to understand them better and what they were thinking and feeling. Damien rips Robert’s heart out when he pushes him away when he gets scared of his own feelings. Robert gets over his feelings and will to anything to protect Damien from the man who is stalking him. Throughout most of the book I thought I knew who it was that was behind everything but it turns out to be someone else and he surprises everyone. I loved seeing the characters from the previous books and am excited to see what will be happening for Christmas at the Warfield.
Cover art by Select-O-Grafix is great and gives a great visual of Damien.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
This was a nice addition to the Warfield Hotel Mysteries series, this book focuses on a different couple than the first two books which makes it possible to read this book without reading the others. However, you see much of the previous characters and it does reference things that happened before but they are described quite well.
Damien and Robert have been hurt in different ways by previous lovers and have to learn to accept that their first impression of each other might not be all they are about. Damien has spent years staying busy to distract himself from his past while continuing to push people away when they get to close after he was abused by a previous lover. Robert hasn’t had a long term lover in a long time and know how others view him and is tired of not living up to others’ assumptions.
In this story we get to see both characters’ points of view which allows us to understand them better and what they were thinking and feeling. Damien rips Robert’s heart out when he pushes him away when he gets scared of his own feelings. Robert gets over his feelings and will to anything to protect Damien from the man who is stalking him. Throughout most of the book I thought I knew who it was that was behind everything but it turns out to be someone else and he surprises everyone. I loved seeing the characters from the previous books and am excited to see what will be happening for Christmas at the Warfield.
Cover art by Select-O-Grafix is great and gives a great visual of Damien.
July 24, 2017
Roaring Waters was an engaging tale that caught my interest right from the start. Although I came to this book not having read the first two in the series, that didn't pose a problem and I had no trouble following either the plot or the character relationships. There was plenty of nicely-paced action and the romantic storyline wove into that well. All up, a great read for lovers of MM tales with a bit of mystery.
Disclaimer: I was involved in part of the pre-production process on this title.
Disclaimer: I was involved in part of the pre-production process on this title.
August 7, 2017
Investigative journalist Damien Fitzgerald has recently left a very abusive relationship and is determined to let no one that close to him ever again. He throws himself into his work and tries to forget about a social life altogether. His friend, Justin Warfield and Justin's lover, Marcus, a private investigator are both worried about him. More so now, when he has become the victim of a stalker. But who could it be? His abusive ex-lover? Someone named from his latest exposé?
Text messages, threatening phone calls and death threats are just the beginning and soon Damien is suffering panic attacks and anxiety that he thought he'd had well under control.
Justin and Marcus ask their bar manager, Robert Wyler to act as a sort of bodyguard for Damien while Marcus does his best to investigate who is behind the stalking.
Robert and Damien do not hit it off straight away. Robert thinks Damien is arrogant and aloof, when really he is trying to hold himself together. Robert is large, muscle-bound and covered in tattoos and Damien mistakenly thinks that Robert is into BDSM and he wants to run a mile. He'd been in abusive BDSM relationship before, but his previous lover was really just a domineering, abusive man pretending he was into BDSM. He wouldn't have known a proper, loving, consensual BDSM relationship if it bit him on the nose!
They are thrown together more and more and when they finally do get together, Damien gets cold feet and calls the whole thing off altogether. Are they just fooling themselves, or can they really make a go of i?
I hadn't realised it was part of a series before I got my review copy, but luckily enough this is a self-contained story with some recurring characters, who are introduced again anyway, so you won't miss out if you read this one first.
It's a well-written compelling tale with a good balance of romance and mystery. There are some flashbacks of Damien's time in that abusive relationship, although not particularly graphic, it does hammer it home how bad Damien's past was and now he's trying to recover.
Both Robert and Damien were well-drawn characters and you got to read inside both their heads, which is always a bonus for me. The slow pace of their developing relationship suits these characters and the love scenes flow quite naturally.
Robert is so understanding and tender with Damien that some scenes were very emotional. Damien has been through the wringer and Robert is just the man to help him get back on track.
A very satisfying read. Oh, and thanks to the author for explaining the title in the book. I would have been wondering the whole time what it meant!
Review copy from promoter.
Text messages, threatening phone calls and death threats are just the beginning and soon Damien is suffering panic attacks and anxiety that he thought he'd had well under control.
Justin and Marcus ask their bar manager, Robert Wyler to act as a sort of bodyguard for Damien while Marcus does his best to investigate who is behind the stalking.
Robert and Damien do not hit it off straight away. Robert thinks Damien is arrogant and aloof, when really he is trying to hold himself together. Robert is large, muscle-bound and covered in tattoos and Damien mistakenly thinks that Robert is into BDSM and he wants to run a mile. He'd been in abusive BDSM relationship before, but his previous lover was really just a domineering, abusive man pretending he was into BDSM. He wouldn't have known a proper, loving, consensual BDSM relationship if it bit him on the nose!
They are thrown together more and more and when they finally do get together, Damien gets cold feet and calls the whole thing off altogether. Are they just fooling themselves, or can they really make a go of i?
I hadn't realised it was part of a series before I got my review copy, but luckily enough this is a self-contained story with some recurring characters, who are introduced again anyway, so you won't miss out if you read this one first.
It's a well-written compelling tale with a good balance of romance and mystery. There are some flashbacks of Damien's time in that abusive relationship, although not particularly graphic, it does hammer it home how bad Damien's past was and now he's trying to recover.
Both Robert and Damien were well-drawn characters and you got to read inside both their heads, which is always a bonus for me. The slow pace of their developing relationship suits these characters and the love scenes flow quite naturally.
Robert is so understanding and tender with Damien that some scenes were very emotional. Damien has been through the wringer and Robert is just the man to help him get back on track.
A very satisfying read. Oh, and thanks to the author for explaining the title in the book. I would have been wondering the whole time what it meant!
Review copy from promoter.
August 10, 2017
3.5 Stars
Roaring Waters is book 3 in the Warfield Hotel Mysteries series and it can be read as a standalone, even if the main characters from books 1 and 2, Justin and Marcus, and Justin's brother and his bride to be, feature prominently in this story.
I was really interested in Robert and Damien when they met in Crashing Waves (book 2), the tension between them promised great things. However, unfortunately, the reality of it all didn't quite meet my expectations.
I loved Robert, he was a great and loyal friend, supportive and helpful. Always going out of his way to come to Damien's aid even when the dumbass kept rebuffing his attempts. Damien, as you might have noticed, I didn't like as much. I get being independent, I get wanting to do things your way, but when it puts you in harm's way, especially in his line of work and after what he went through with his ex-boyfriend? No way, no how. I just wanted to punch him and see if that made him see the light, but no. Grrrr!!! He kept fighting Robert, Marcus and Justin every step of the way and really, it got old really fast. Just how stupid can you be not to mind the sound advice someone you supposedly trust is giving you? Let me tell you, very much so!
Other than that, well, while Robert and Damien had chemistry, it was kind of ruined for me with twatwaffle, er, Damien's attitude. They were hot together, but I couldn't fully appreciate it.
The mystery was well-done and while I did guess who the bad guy was, what he did to Damien came as a shocking surprise. Bad guy was definitely batshit crazy.
The book is well-written, it flowed nicely and it kept my interest (despite my dislike of Damien), so I'd recommend it, perhaps you won't hate Damien as much as I did.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.***
Roaring Waters is book 3 in the Warfield Hotel Mysteries series and it can be read as a standalone, even if the main characters from books 1 and 2, Justin and Marcus, and Justin's brother and his bride to be, feature prominently in this story.
I was really interested in Robert and Damien when they met in Crashing Waves (book 2), the tension between them promised great things. However, unfortunately, the reality of it all didn't quite meet my expectations.
I loved Robert, he was a great and loyal friend, supportive and helpful. Always going out of his way to come to Damien's aid even when the dumbass kept rebuffing his attempts. Damien, as you might have noticed, I didn't like as much. I get being independent, I get wanting to do things your way, but when it puts you in harm's way, especially in his line of work and after what he went through with his ex-boyfriend? No way, no how. I just wanted to punch him and see if that made him see the light, but no. Grrrr!!! He kept fighting Robert, Marcus and Justin every step of the way and really, it got old really fast. Just how stupid can you be not to mind the sound advice someone you supposedly trust is giving you? Let me tell you, very much so!
Other than that, well, while Robert and Damien had chemistry, it was kind of ruined for me with twatwaffle, er, Damien's attitude. They were hot together, but I couldn't fully appreciate it.
The mystery was well-done and while I did guess who the bad guy was, what he did to Damien came as a shocking surprise. Bad guy was definitely batshit crazy.
The book is well-written, it flowed nicely and it kept my interest (despite my dislike of Damien), so I'd recommend it, perhaps you won't hate Damien as much as I did.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement.***
August 22, 2017
Roaring Waters is the continuing saga of the Warfield Hotel Mysteries. I highly recommend reading Crashing Waves and Drifting Sands first, as both Damien Fitzgerald and Robert Wyler have been major characters throughout the series. The books give readers an in-depth look at Damien and Robert’s irritating and frustrating acquaintance—both have loved and lost the one man who’d held their interest, Justin Warfield. But, Justin’s heart always belonged to Marcus Drummond; Damien and Robert have always wanted what Justin and Marcus have.
As the blurb covers the storyline and characters, I’m only going to mention a few items, the first being that Damien has definitely put his life in danger with his revealing news articles. He also had an abusive ex who haunts him, continuously, and causes him to spiral into some serious panic attacks. Damien is protecting his heart and with that comes hurting others.
Robert has dealt with the frustrating and sarcastic Damien before, and he’s even saved Damien’s life. Robert also helps Damien with his panic attacks—he has iron-clad patience and finds himself going above and beyond for Damien.
This third novel in the series is a suspenseful, drama-filled murder mystery, and has several suspects, but as Marcus narrows them down, the outcome is a surprise. I liked that Marcus was able to show his investigative skills, and hope there will be more to come. Marcus and Justin’s relationship is still going strong, and Peter and Sally have a couple of surprises in store too. It was good to have Damien and Robert’s tumultuous story come to the forefront. I’m hoping for more to come from this easy to read mystery series.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
As the blurb covers the storyline and characters, I’m only going to mention a few items, the first being that Damien has definitely put his life in danger with his revealing news articles. He also had an abusive ex who haunts him, continuously, and causes him to spiral into some serious panic attacks. Damien is protecting his heart and with that comes hurting others.
Robert has dealt with the frustrating and sarcastic Damien before, and he’s even saved Damien’s life. Robert also helps Damien with his panic attacks—he has iron-clad patience and finds himself going above and beyond for Damien.
This third novel in the series is a suspenseful, drama-filled murder mystery, and has several suspects, but as Marcus narrows them down, the outcome is a surprise. I liked that Marcus was able to show his investigative skills, and hope there will be more to come. Marcus and Justin’s relationship is still going strong, and Peter and Sally have a couple of surprises in store too. It was good to have Damien and Robert’s tumultuous story come to the forefront. I’m hoping for more to come from this easy to read mystery series.
Reviewed by Maryann for The Novel Approach
July 2, 2025
Damien was a very damaged man who still had not fully recovered from being imprisoned and tortured by his ex and you knew that the ex had gotten out of prison due to Moses Lee's interference in the last story just to torment Damien. Now he has a stalker but you are not sure that it is Carter but the threats are getting worse and I appreciated how Justin and Marcus tried to help him and keep him safe. Robert was one of my favorite characters and I was upset with how Damien judged him and was so sarcastic and cutting with him and then turned around and was nice and confused Robert. I was unsure about Tony and then when he came up with new information about Carter that supposedly he had not seen before I was sure he was working with Carter. Then people who Damien had been responsible for sending them to prison turned up dead and I was sure that Carter had tracked them to Robert's cabin in Tennessee and was shocked at who was actually the stalker. Glad that he was going to prison for a long time and that Damien finally was able to tell Robert that he loved him. Going to read the last book next.
January 2, 2018
Good book
Read all of this series because I won copies at a book event I attended. Not a genre I would usually choose but I felt it was well written and loved the characters. Glad for the HEA
Read all of this series because I won copies at a book event I attended. Not a genre I would usually choose but I felt it was well written and loved the characters. Glad for the HEA
Read
October 14, 2018CJ Baty has written a few books reviewed highly by our Guild. The author had sent us this book for review submission and I chose it for me….my weak spot; I love mysteries and romance. Roaring Waters is the 3rd book in the Warfield Hotel Mysteries. The author mentions this book is a standalone which makes me think it would not have a cliff hanger, making it all good for me.
CJ Baty has given me a very haunting story introducing first Damien Fitzgerald. He is a newspaperman, digging up the worst in people and writing exposes to bring them to justice. Not a safe job by any means, retaliation can bite you in the ass. Presently, he has Tony as his assistant, digging up dirt on his next story. We also learn he has a stalker bothering him with threatening phone calls, yet he ignores them which was kinda odd as we slowly learn his past history.
He finally decides to leave town for a few days as the maniac caller becomes more threatening. He makes a trip to Justin and Marcus his best friends, who own the Warfield. This is where the sparks fly when he and Robert Wyler who is the bar manager at the hotel meet. Robert ‘s looks are deceiving. He is tall, wears his hair long, well muscled and tattoo’d ……Looks are deceiving as inside he is not into the life and is kinda nerdy. Damien likes the finer stuff, Robert is a beer and pizza guy.
While Marcus and Justin handle the maniac stuff, we learn slowly about Damien’s past, that has caused him to have extreme panic attacks. Big steady Robert is there to talk him down and the relationship blossoms; each learning not to judge a book by its cover.
The author takes us on a wild story and wonderful coming together of two beautiful men. Robert’s tenderness blew me away. Damien hated being weak, yet I felt him very strong with what he has gone through!!
I am assuming these back stories might have been told in the first two books and now I feel the need to read those as well. I think you will too. Loved it Ms. Baty.
CJ Baty has given me a very haunting story introducing first Damien Fitzgerald. He is a newspaperman, digging up the worst in people and writing exposes to bring them to justice. Not a safe job by any means, retaliation can bite you in the ass. Presently, he has Tony as his assistant, digging up dirt on his next story. We also learn he has a stalker bothering him with threatening phone calls, yet he ignores them which was kinda odd as we slowly learn his past history.
He finally decides to leave town for a few days as the maniac caller becomes more threatening. He makes a trip to Justin and Marcus his best friends, who own the Warfield. This is where the sparks fly when he and Robert Wyler who is the bar manager at the hotel meet. Robert ‘s looks are deceiving. He is tall, wears his hair long, well muscled and tattoo’d ……Looks are deceiving as inside he is not into the life and is kinda nerdy. Damien likes the finer stuff, Robert is a beer and pizza guy.
While Marcus and Justin handle the maniac stuff, we learn slowly about Damien’s past, that has caused him to have extreme panic attacks. Big steady Robert is there to talk him down and the relationship blossoms; each learning not to judge a book by its cover.
The author takes us on a wild story and wonderful coming together of two beautiful men. Robert’s tenderness blew me away. Damien hated being weak, yet I felt him very strong with what he has gone through!!
I am assuming these back stories might have been told in the first two books and now I feel the need to read those as well. I think you will too. Loved it Ms. Baty.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews