Badlands

Badlands #1

by Morgan Brice

Medium and clairvoyant Simon Kincaide owns a Myrtle Beach boardwalk shop where he runs ghost tours, holds séances, and offers private psychic readings, making a fresh start after his abilities cost him his lover and his job as a folklore professor. Jaded cop Vic D’Amato saw something supernatural he couldn’t explain during a shootout several years ago in Pittsburgh and relocated to Myrtle Beach to leave the past behind, still skeptical about the paranormal. But when the search for a serial killer hits a dead end, Vic battles his skepticism to ask Simon for help. As the body count rises, Simon’s involvement makes him a target, and a suspect. But Simon can’t say no, even if it costs him his life and heart.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Mystery, Romance, Audiobook, Fantasy, Ghosts

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2018

About the author

Morgan Brice writes Urban Fantasy M/M Paranormal Romance with lots of magic, spooky stuff, and sexy men.

Pen name of author Gail Z. Martin.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I enjoyed this more, considering I already own two more in the series, but I just... didn't.

Most of my friends enjoyed Badlands by Morgan Brice, but I struggled with it a great deal. So many info-dumps and so boring. My attention kept wandering over and over again. I'm being nice keeping this rating at 2-stars because I simply didn't enjoy the story.

I honestly didn't understand why Simon (weird nickname for Sebastian, but whatever) kept insisting that the police wouldn't help when he didn't even try to get them to help. Was it a savior complex or white knight thing? Why was Simon doing his own little investigation when it was so clearly dangerous and over his head?

The romance was meh-city, and I just didn't see the appeal between the two. There was very little chemistry there, and I just wasn't into it at all. Vic was really rude to Simon at first and then it all was brushed under the rug, even with so many secrets still between them.

I even thought the mystery was a bit anticlimactic at the end. Overall, I guess I was just disappointed. Bummer.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

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[Lyn❤Loves❤Listening to Real Voices Only!!!!❤️🎧📚 Addict ON HIATUS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio – 5 stars!!
Story – 3.5 stars

I would have liked more relationship development. Things happen pretty fast between the MCs. But it was easy for me to warm up to them as a couple because they were affectionate with one another. As for the case, it held my interest. I’m a sucker for cases that involves a serial killer. Add a paranormal/mystical aspect to it, and I’m all in.

New to me author. I’m impressed, and looking forward to more by Morgan Brice.

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook: ***3 Stars**

Did I miss something? Was this supposed to be twincest? Both main characters surely did sound like that... I'm a bit bummed because Kale Williams can do better. :(

Story: *** 3.5 Stars***

Magic probably stirred up the hormones to do a little samba because these guys hit it off in no time and the epilogue came out of the blue - I would have rather wished for a bit less telling and more showing towards the end -, but other than that it was really enjoyable. On to the next. :)

[~Nicole~ · Rating 2 out of 5]

“Scooby Doo and the boring cop” should be the name of this book. Kinda bad,honestly. Sooo much telling and so many internal monologues (and even dialogues-the MC had honest to God conversations with himself!) The pnr stuff was …as I said , worthy of a Scooby Doo episode and the guys were sooo so so boring. The insta lust was immediate and the insta love followed in no time. I skipped a lot because I wanted to see who the murderer was (he was just as boring, don’t worry) and despite the fact that I was close to dnf a couple of times I insisted and finished it (don’t ask why) but I won’t go on and wouldn’t recommend it either. One star for Simon because he was kind of cute .

[BookSafety Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.

4.5 stars

A psychic medium, a homicide detective, magic, ghosts, a murder mystery, mortal peril and romance — literally nothing more I could want. I have lots of reviews to write, but I’m writing this first so that I can start book 2 as soon as possible.

For the most part I absolutely adored this book. It clearly had everything I love, but also two men who actually want a relationship, which is rare, even if it wasn’t that straightforward for them. My only complaint is that they said they wanted more than sex but their actions and thoughts were a level of sexual at times that really didn’t align with the ‘I want a relationship’ thing. But then again, maybe that’s just an allosexual thing, lol.

Anyway. Greatly enjoyed it and will continue immediately.

(The books aren’t in KU and I listened to the audiobook so no quotes, sorry).

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Psychic MC
Police officer MC
Law enforcement
Mortal peril
Romantic suspense
Same-couple series
For lovers of Supernatural (the show)
Serial killer mystery
Ghost-whisperer
Psychic vision
Magic

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Mention of minor SC being a drug addict
Brief mention of self harm scars (minor SC)
Attempted murder of MC
Killer targeting immigrants
Gun violence
Injured MCs (gunshot wound, minor)
Using ‘clean’ to describe sexual health
Explicit sexual content
Details of graphic violence and murder
Alcohol consumption
Harry Potter reference
Vomiting
Death of minor characters
Severely injured MC (beaten, gunshot)
Resuscitation of MC (on page)
Hospitalization (MC)

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Supernatural romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: 31 and 35
Series: Series
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 286
Happy ending: Mild HFN




You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...

[Trio · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating supernatural murder mystery, Badlands is the first novel I’ve read, well - listened to, by Morgan Brice and I’m completely entranced! With an exciting and creative plot, plus a stellar romance, Badlands held me captive from start to finish. I’m glad there are more episodes in this series, plus a whole additional series available by this talented author. I can’t wait to get started!

Narrated by Kale Williams, his rich voice adds an alluring atmosphere to this spooky tale, and his skill with accents is perfect for the wide variety of regional characters. As is his way, Mr. Williams makes the most of the erotic moments in this story; the sex scenes are supremely hot and the dirty talk is spectacular.

What an appealing pair these two characters make. Vic, a hunky, heavily tatted, motorcycle riding cop, and Simon who rocks the nerdy professor with his man bun and glasses. Both men are in their thirties, have moved on from past mistakes, and are ready to make a fresh start. Unfortunately, a persistent serial killer (and Vic’s skepticism of Simon’s abilities) keeps getting in their way.

The mutual attraction is clear and it’s fun to watch the tension build between the two men. It’s endearing to see how anxious they both are to make a connection, and thankfully it doesn’t take long. These guys have great chemistry, and once they get started, we’re treated to some first-rate lovemaking.

The mystical atmosphere of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is a great setting for this series and Morgan Brice keeps it entertaining with all the ghosts, folklore, and legends of the Grand Strand. Badlands is a fun and fast paced mystery and it was all over much too soon. Luckily for me the second audiobook in this Badlands series, a novella called Dirty Town, also narrated by Kale Williams, is already loaded on my device and ready to go.

[fleurette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am sooo positively surprised. I found this book by accident, read a blurb and quite enjoyed it. Then I started reading and totally sunk into this story.

Vic and Simon - the main heroes - are a very nice and well-constructed characters. You can consider both of them as some kind of a tortured heroes or at least heroes with difficult past but it's not overbearing. This just adds another dimension to their personalities and that's great. Makes them more careful with their feelings, they don't just jump down into the relationship, they have doubts. Which is good since this is after all a love at the first sight or instant love story. I usually don't like it but I was somehow okay with it here.

Simon can communicate with ghosts and has some visions. Which is an important thing for the plot. I like that Vic, despite his experiences and family abilities, is a bit wary when it comes to Simon's gift. I only wish that in the end Vic is more involved in the unnatural world that seems to be out there and that we end up knowing a bit more about what happened in Pittsburgh. But I still hope that this is not a stadalone and we will see Vic and Simon again.

The suspense part is really interesting, but it could be more developed. The police work is quite realistic with not too much guessing and abundance of tedious work. That's good. I would prefer to see more of Simon and Vic working together on a case but I can get over it. The paranormal part is not innovative but I can live with that too.

I seriously hope this is not the only book about Simon and Vic.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great murder mystery with a paranormal twist !
I really enjoyed these two characters - Vic the cop who had witnessed a strange event in his previous precinct with the outcome resulting in him almost losing his job. In moving to a new town, he kept his head down and his emotions closed. Simon was the ex uni lecturer who was eventually shunned by his peers as being too out there with his folklore / paranormal history class. Simon left everything and everyone to start his own little business that involved selling readings, ghost tours and all things spiritual. Both men lost their credibility and their partners and were longing for someone. Circumstances brought them together and their murder mystery journey began. Really enjoyable 😊

[Meep · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blurb sounded interesting but this was soooooooooo boring. Seriously boring. A generous 2*
Very wordy, so much telling and info dumps.

There were a lot of side characters who were inconsistent and had no impact on the story, yet we had to hear their backstory. The serial killer plot was so low impact I'm not entirely sure who of the side characters we met died, but their sort-of-friend didn't care so neither did I.

There was no clear reason for Dr Sebastian, who goes by Simon -for no given reason- to be investigating, or to be keeping the threats on his life from the police. They wouldn't have to believe in woo-woo to see the clear threat! We kept hearing 'the police don't care' with nothing to back that up. They can hardly investigate what you've bleached up without telling them! His actions often seemed stupid to me. It's dual pov but love interest cop Vic's whole page time was thinking of the bulge in his jeans and the are-they/aren't-they.

Romance-wise they hooked up two or three times, spend a lot of time doubting each other and then were declaring love. Left my head spinning. Zero chemistry between them making the sex scenes totally skippable.

It's marked as first in a series and I can only think all the lengthy character intros means these people (who survived) will be re-appearing. The woo-woo (the general used term) kinda took over without having any presence. It was emotionless, he burnt Sage,scattered dust... but it all felt rote rather than reaction. When it came to the dramatic showdown I couldn't help thinking a more mundane operation would make more sense to the bad guy This is a big plot spoiler, gives away the end game he worked construction and wanted to bring a building down - explosives likely within his capabilities but nooo lets kill a bunch of people 'cause some old book says you can drain their powers then woo-woo the building down but it would have cut page time. The throwaway mention of Weres and 'other things' made me think the author hadn't decided what this series was to be.

[Cat the bookworm (semi hiatus ish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very mixed feelings about this one: the mystery was great, the romance… could have been done better 😕

I just hate it when there’s so much potential to a story, but it probably needed some good alpha readers (or editors) no take the step from “ok enough” to “really good”.

It’s the start to a series where one of the main characters (Vic) is a cop, and the other a medium (Sebastian, middle name Simon - although I have no idea why the author decided to keep switching between calling him “Sebastian” when it’s official business, or “Simon” when it’s private).

We have a serial killer on the loose, and he seems to target people with supernatural abilities. Yes, there’s a slight urban fantasy touch to the story, but nothing too crazy.

So yes, as mentioned before, the mystery part was great, and I won’t spoil anything in case you want to start reading.

The romance though… I mean… there’s a time and place for insta-everything, but this wasn’t it. Why rush it when you have an entire series ahead? You can even let them hook up early, but going to complete in love and “he’s my forever” in the matter of days? Why? Why not let them work for it?

It really irked me.

On top of that, there are a few editing issues where one and the same thing are repeated more than necessary, like the fact that Simon doesn’t give out his phone number easily.

Oh and Simon’s TSTL moments? Choosing repeatedly to NOT inform Vic about the dangerous situations he’s about to embark in? Because Vic is “busy” or because it might draw unwanted attention to him?

Sure 🙄🙄🙄 wise choice, smartypants…

I can’t help but compare it to other mystery series where one of the main characters sees ghosts (like The Spectral Files series, or PsyCop), and this one isn’t as good, at least not in book 1 🤷‍♀️

Still: the showdown was pretty dramatic and cool, so I’ll round my 3.5 stars up, also because of…

… the audiobook (narrated by Kale Williams) which is free with an audible subscription. I felt the urge to slow the narration down a bit, but other than that, I really enjoyed it.

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second foray into urban fantasy and a first time reading this author's work and I can say that enjoyed it immensely. It had the perfect balance between murder mystery and love story. The characters were well written and their background - solid. The plot line of psychic and a policeman is not new but this has such twists that immerse you into the story and you can't stop reading it. It's very good.

I loved Simon from the start. He is compassionate, friendly and loyal. He is like the godfather of all the psychics of Myrtle Beach. He is very genuine in his feelings to others and always willing to help even to the detriment to himself. His folklore knowledge is amazing (author did a very thorough research here). But he is also lonely and wary to become involved with anyone due to being betrayed in the past.

Vic is our skeptical detective. Don't get me wrong, I know for some seeing is believing but the way Vic behaves in the beginning is a little boorish. He upsets Simon a lot and if I were him I would have given Vic the boot! I can understand why he acts that way to a certain point considering his own past. But the murders and constant attacks on Simon keep drawing them together and it's inevitable that they fall for each other. The chemistry is explosive, the intimate moments are well written and very enjoyable.

I loved the psychic part of the book. It sounded authentic and not theatrical at all. It felt like the real deal. All those people with gifts in the community supporting each other - I liked how protective Simon was of them. The murder was not exactly complicated albeit gruesome and vicious but the way Simon uncovered it I think was brilliant especially with the clues that he had available. The whole magic aspect was fascinating as well as the execution of it in the end. I loved how everything turned out - it was edgy, gripping, dark and slightly violent - just how I like it so it was a real treat for me! I really hope that this will turn out to be the beginning of a new series. There are some very riveting characters that I would love to know better. I highly recommend it!

** ARC kindly provided for my honest review **

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. A neat murder mystery with a paranormal twist which was grounded in reality and provided an interesting twist on the usual police procedural by having the cop's boyfriend do a lot of the investigating work!

I liked Simon's character a lot, he'd been through the ringer because of his psychic gifts and had uprooted his life to try and start over. Vic, the detective, was a bit of a harder sell but I understood his reticence given his previous experiences with the paranormal.

The steam level's on the lower side but what's there works well and the setting is exceptionally done, I could feel the heat and smell the boardwalk of Myrtle Beach as Simon walked among the shops and Vic carried out his investigation.

The plot itself is also handled well and, while there were no unexpected twists, it still carried the tension as the race to discover the serial killer became more important.

There's a good set of secondary characters and a link to the previous book Witchbane from this author, who also writes as Gail Z Martin where some of the characters appear in series' there.

I'd happily read more with these two investigating now they've sorted out their romance and become an official pair, the epilogue was sweet.

#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Caz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from 2019

I gave this a B for narration and a C+ for content at AudioGals.

Morgan Brice’s Badlands is the first book in a series featuring medium and clairvoyant Sebastian (Simon) Kincaide – a former university professor and expert in mythology and folklore – and Lt. Vic D’Amato, a homicide detective whose one brush with the supernatural a couple of years before the story opens almost cost him his career. It’s a murder mystery with a paranormal twist, but although the premise was intriguing, the execution left a bit to be desired, both in terms of the romance and the mystery.

Sebastian now goes by Simon (which I think is his middle name?) and has done since he moved to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina following his dismissal from his university post some three years earlier. His courses on myths and folklore were popular, but when the crazy fundamentalist father of one of his students – who was also a member of the university board – took issue with the course content and then discovered reports online of Simon’s clairvoyance, his department was forced to dismiss him. Simon now owns a thriving business in the resort of Myrtle Beach – Grand Stand Ghost Tours – and makes his living from holding seances, running tours, and giving talks and classes.

Vic D’Amato relocated to Myrtle Beach after he left his post in Pittsburgh following an incident he still can’t explain. He shot a suspect and then watched some sort of glowing green fog transfer from the body to another person, like in a horror movie – but with no witnesses, nobody believed his story or wanted to work with him. Now, he’s on the hunt for the serial killer dubbed the Strand Slitter, who is preying on the migrant workers who flock to the area during the tourist season.

Vic meets Simon while they’re standing in line at the local coffee shop, and immediately likes what he sees. They’re chatting easily and just a bit flirtatiously over their coffee when Vic has to step out to take an urgent phone call – and is disappointed when he returns to find Simon gone. But the case has to be his priority, so in the face of the frustrating lack of progress – and in spite of his intense scepticism about the paranormal – Vic has decided to see if the psychic of Grand Stand Ghost Tours can contact the spirits of any of the victims. And along the way, he can pop into the other shops along the boardwalk… just in case he might spot Simon in one of them.

Vic’s idea of the Grand Strand psychic as a middle-aged woman in flowing robes with a dodgy accent is quickly dispelled when he enters the shop to find the very man he’s been searching for behind the counter. Vic explains what he wants and Simon agrees to do a reading – but Vic gets more than he bargained for when Simon not only contacts the most recent victim, but also gives him a message from the glowing-green-fog-woman from two years before. Vic is completely fazed by this and throws all sorts of unfounded and unpleasant accusations at Simon before walking out, infuriated with himself at having had the stupid idea of going to a medium in the first place… and severely disappointed because the first man he’s really connected with in a long while has proved to be a charlatan whack-job.

Vic’s reaction is nothing Simon hasn’t seen before, but he’s no less hurt and disappointed; and though Vic knows he behaved like a total arsehole, he also knows he can’t afford to get mixed up in something that could hurt his career again – no matter how strong the spark between them. But when Simon becomes a target, it becomes impossible for Vic to hold to his determination to keep his distance – and not only that, it opens up the possibility that the Strand Slitter may not have been targeting itinerants after all, but is selecting his victims for entirely different reasons.

The set-up for the mystery is intriguing, and the opposite positions taken by Vic and Simon on the supernatural are naturally going to provide plenty of conflict in the romance, but the story didn’t quite live up to its promise. I mostly liked Simon and Vic, although it was hard to believe that such a hardened sceptic as Vic would come up with the idea of attempting to contact the spirits of the victims, and there’s no getting away from the fact that he’s a dick to Simon on several occasions. Simon doesn’t cover himself in glory either, and veers dangerously close to TSTL territory when he withholds information on the assumption that Vic won’t believe him and then, near the end, heads out to confront the villain alone. I liked that both men were looking for something beyond a short-lived affair, but their relationship moves rather quickly from hurt and anger and scepticism to true-wuv – plus it’s a wonder they can walk a lot of the time given their propensity to sprout boners whenever they’re in proximity to each other! Honestly, do men in their thirties (Vic is thirty-one, Simon thirty-five) get erections every five minutes (or ten seconds!) just from talking to someone they find attractive?

The writing is decent, albeit prone to more telling than showing, and the pacing is slow in places and gets bogged down in unnecessary repetition. The final showdown between Simon and the Slitter is suitably dramatic, but the killer’s motivations prove to be surprisingly mundane, which was a big disappointment.

I’ve enjoyed a number of Kale Williams’ performances before, so I knew the narration would be more than decent when I picked up Badlands for review. He has an attractive voice that’s easy on the ear, his pacing is just right, and although his character differentiation tends to be quite subtle (by which I mean he’s not one for huge variations in pitch or timbre) the two leads are clearly delineated, with Vic having a slightly gruffer, deeper tone than Simon. He communicates their shifting emotions for and about one another really well, infusing their playful banter with genuine warmth and ably conveying the hurt and frustration they feel when Vic’s scepticism causes him to mistrust Simon and his motives. Many of the secondary characters speak accented English – most of them Eastern European, a few not – and Mr. Williams is able to adopt appropriately convincing accents and maintain them across a variety of characters and scenes. The few female characters in the story are delineated more by means of accent than any major change in pitch or tone, but again, they’re easily distinguished and I was never confused as to who was speaking at any given time.

Badlands was reasonably entertaining, but while Kale Williams’ performance is certainly worth listening to, the story has weaknesses I couldn’t quite ignore which prevent me from giving it an unreserved recommendation.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since this is my 350th book of this year and will complete the challenge on Goodreads, I thought I would end it with a reread of a favorite...a favorite series...a favorite author...and a sexy, hot favorite couple....Simon Kincaid and Vic D'Amata. I've have to confess that this is the third reread of this series and I have reread several of her other series as well. I am well assured that this won't be the last time for this one either. I can't seem to leave the guys for very long. Simon and Vic are perfect. Perfect in their chosen professions...perfect in their love for one another and perfect and comfortable in their own skins. Vic, the cop, and Simon the professor that was fired from the university in Columbia, South Carolina where he taught a class on folklore and mythology. A students rich, influential father made accusations to the board that he was teaching devil worship. Leaving the city behind he found himself in Myrle Beach running a shop that sells books, protection charms, gives physic readings, and leads ghost tours. He has many interesting friends that only add to the stories. In this opener...a serial killer with supernatural abilities is killing people with various levels of physic talents. Vic reluctantly brings Simon...who he had only just met... in as a consultant. This brings Vic and Simon together both on the job and then into one another's lives. I have read three of Morgan Brice's series...several times... and all of them are 5 star quality. She brings characters from all her other series into each of her books, so we get to always see our "old friends". I wish the books were longer, but there is that thing known as the "reread" that I have honed to an expert level

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.75 stars

Oh, I really liked this one so much! Morgan Brice has only written two books under this name (she also writes under Gail Z. Martin), but count me as a fan because I am really loving her writing style. She does a great job combining mystery and paranormal in a way that gives her books an urban fantasy vibe that I really enjoy. I was just caught up in this one from the start and still can’t stop thinking about the book. It is exciting, romantic, sexy, and intense, just what I look for in a good romantic suspense.

Read Jay’s review in its entirety here.

[Aricka Decker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐

Give me a normal cop and paranormal person falling in love, involving something supernatural and I'm good to go. In this we get Vic the murder cop dude and Simon the clairvoyant medium dude who get the hots for each other in a coffee line while some dude is out there being a serial killer. Through shenanigans and dudes doing dude things like fucking and trying to solve murders, they fall in love, the end. Simple. Easy. Just like every other book like this but that didnt keep me from eating it up and wanting a second helping. I defiantly will continue this series, especially since it is free on audible for me at the moment. Sexy paranormal crime, thats my jam at the moment and this hits the spot. I even kinda teared up, so 4.5 cause it was kind of insta-lust/love but like that shit doesnt bother me, they just didnt have a lot of talking getting to know each other which is what I crave in a romance. But either way, do recommend.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to a new paranormal/murder mystery series for me. Took me a while to get into it, but Simon and Vic make a great pairing, and I like Simon's best friend Tracey too.

There were a few typos [you pedal a bike, not peddle 🙂], but I've downloaded the freebies and bought Lucky Town and The Rising to carry on with the series. 4.25 stars.

[Alexis Ames · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Soooooooooo much telling instead of showing--all of the characters' backstories could have been folded into the text in a more interesting way than an info dump every time they're on the page. Plus the characters' characterizations were inconsistent, and all the MCs could think about was sex. No matter what. Even when they're being shot at or women are being murdered in horrible ways.

[Kathleen]

DNF 28%

Way too much melodrama and redundant internal dialogue for this reader.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

A psychic who has the key to dreadful events, a skeptical yet dedicated police detective, and a serial killer with his own agenda on the Myrtle Beach Grand Strand sounded just the thing for a suspenseful, paranormal romance from a new to me author and narrator.

Badlands is the start to a series and introduced a psychic shop owner, Simon Kincade, and police detective Vic D'Amato when a serial killer starts killing the temp and seasonal workers along Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand. The chemistry is good and they both anticipate getting to know one another better until Simon learns Vic is a skeptic and Vic learns Simon believes in the 'woowoo' of ghostly visitations. But, in spite of their rocky start, they both tentatively give the other a chance even though with each killing, Simon looks more and more like perp than innocent. Soon the serial killer turns his sights on Simon and they must outwit someone more powerful than the average human before it's too late.

Badlands is one that I have mixed feelings about.

The set up was all systems go for me with the twisting murder plot involving ghostly witnesses and magical aid along with the internal conflict this pair face as they attempt a relationship. I left out a lot in my summary, but they have both been burned by past relationships and psychic gifts were at the heart of both those pasts so they have a lot to overcome. It was fascinating learning the darker side behind the Myrtle Beach Tourist and hospitality industry. I loved all that part and loved the colorful, well-drawn cast of characters particularly Simon and Vic.

What got to me was the prevalent remarks that occurred a few dozen times about the police. Everyone in this book had the idea that either the police were doing nothing because the deaths were low-paid foreigners or people living on the fringes or, the police wouldn't use what they knew so why tell them anything. It got really old because, for a bunch of people who were supposedly scared or cared, they sure were willing to sit back and do nothing, but criticize, clamming up when the police interviewed them or showed them drawings of a suspect- you know, working that case they were supposedly not working....

What got me frustrated was that Simon, who was hearing all this, could have set them straight that Vic and his partner were working overtime on the case and Vic was desperate enough to get the killer that he went to a psychic when he doesn't even believe. Simon bemoans to his friend, Tracy, about wanting Vic to stand up for him before others when it came to his psychic talent (which, btw, Vic did stand up for him), but this shows he wasn't willing to do the same when it comes to Vic's rep as a cop.

The other thing that drove me nuts- and will always drive me nuts when it crops up in a romance- is when one romance partner decides to keep important stuff to themselves and take the choice of action away from the other one because they are so sure they know what will happen if they do or they feel they are acting for that person's best interest. In this case, it was Simon withholding tips and facts and things of interest about the case. He likes to say its because the police and Vic won't believe him, but that doesn't fly with me because he'd already told Vic a few airy fairy things the ghosts shared and Vic acted on them even though he got teased and questioned by his partner. In fact, Vic defended Simon hotly every time Simon's gift was questioned and tried to keep an open mind after the first time when he freaked and left. Not once, did he give Simon reason to hold back.

The story lagged in places and it was mostly due to going over the same ground almost verbatim and sometimes within a few chapters of the last time. It was pertinent and fascinating detail the first time, but not the second and the third.

Now, for all that got into my craw, this was an overall win and this is because of Simon and Vic as a pair together and how they wrestled to overcome tough pasts to reach out to the other guy. They had their sexy times, but I enjoyed it when their were other moments together as well. And, they both had good friends in Simon's bestie and cousin and Vic's partner. I can see how the relationship both as a couple and detecting partnership along with fitting their lives together will only get better as the series progresses.

Kale Williams was a great voice for this story. He gave the locals a southern drawl and Vic had a good raspy northerner voice. Gender was done well and he matched up well with the pace and tone of this book. I would definitely pick up other books he narrates and hope he is the narrator for this whole series.

All in all, I was glad to have listened to this one. As you saw, it was not a complete win for me, but there is plenty to love and want more of for future books. I'm hoping that future books will pace better now that the intro to setting and world are done. This one will be for those who enjoy spicy m/m romantic suspense with strong paranormal elements.

My thanks to Tantor Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded down to 3 because still no 1/2 stars here on GR. I enjoyed this one full review to follow soonish.

Good times in the Badlands!!!

It's been years since an encounter of the supernatural kind sent police officer Vic D'Amato away from Pittsburgh to Myrtle Beach looking for a fresh start. So the last thing he's looking for is an attraction to someone like Simon Kincaide...someone who runs a shop that caters to the those interested in the paranormal with ghost tours, seances and private psychic readings...someone with psychic powers of their own.

But that's exactly what happens when the search for a serial killer pushes Vic to take desperate measures when every lead that the police have in the case comes up as dead as the killer's victims.

Vic's more than a little resistant to both the idea of accepting help from Simon and being attracted to him...after all magics not real...is it? and Simon's been burned before by someone he should have been able to depend on...someone who was suppose to love him, but when the going got tough...that person got going and Simone found himself alone during one of the worst times of his life.

Vic and Simon have a love to hate you/hate to love you relationship but the one thing that they can both agree upon is that there's a killer that needs to be stopped. These two were a prime example of we don't always get to pick the people we love. Despite all the reasons that they wouldn't work as a couple neither man is immune to the attraction that they share.

The relationship between these two was not only a slow start, it also held a definite one step forward, two steps back dance to it and I felt like that was very much due to the past relationship history that each of these men had...both of them were coming out of a relationship that for their own reasons ended badly and left them both a bit gun shy. So the shaky start they they got on their romance for me felt kind of natural if not inevitable.

However, on the professional side of things the main thing that bothered me was the fact that Simon was very adamant that if he called the police they wouldn't help...so why call them? And for me it seemed like Simon was in a damned if I do and damned if I don't situation which I think if we'd been given a stronger sense of any failed efforts in Simon's past to obtain police assistance would have helped to validate his reluctance to contact the police in the current situation giving Simon's point of view validity.

This is the 4th book narrated by Kale Williams that I've listened to and he's definitely a narrator that I've come to enjoy listening to and I'm looking forward to enjoying 'Lucky Town' which is the next story in this series also narrated by Kale Williams and I'm looking forward to enjoying it soon.

Overall I enjoyed this first story in Morgan Brice's 'Badland's' series and I'm looking forward to seeing what paranormal hijinx these two get up to next in Myrtle Beach and I'm looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for these two men now that they're together as partners both personally and professionally...sort of.

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An audio book of 'Badlands' was graciously provided by 'Gay Book Promotions' in exchange for an honest review.

[Daphne · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Fantastic start to a new series with a chilling mix of the occult and run of the mill psycho humans. Simon and Vic were both walking wounded, each having been betrayed by the same perspective the other displayed. Because of this, there was a push/pull, should I, shouldn’t I that was very well done. Strongly recommend!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was (surprisingly) good. I'd never heard of the author and for some reason this popped up in my recommendations. This is M/M Romance with mystery + supernatural, but it all blends pretty smoothly.

Recommended and I'll read Morgan Brice's next book.

Mike

[Don Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a favorite trope of mine and Ms. Brice did a brilliant job with it. The characters were believable and flawed. I found the under belly of Myrtle Beach interesting and quirky.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast to fall in love,
but slow to trust. Psychic/cop
duo fuck, solve crimes.

[Carra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan Brice has quickly slipped into my list of go-to authors for paranormal M/M romance. The strong storytelling and solid writing skills yield books that easily capture my attention. Here in Badlands, we’re presented with some great characters who instantly piqued my interest in the romance while still staying true to their selves—a clairvoyant paranormal nerd and a cop good at his job while still being skeptical of all the “woo-woo” stuff…even when he’s had his own personal encounter before.

I really liked how different folklore aspects were incorporated into the story without making it feel overdone. Paranormal stories are my favorites, so those features were a big draw for me while I was reading. I liked that Vic was open to that side of things, even though his own confrontation previously led to some ridicule.

Simon was intelligent and very knowledgeable, and I thought the fact that he was willing to help even if it meant he might be the one in trouble was noble, if a bit unwise. He felt a responsibility to others, even if that also meant that he was the one in danger. My only nit-pick with him is his reluctance to share information with the authorities—or at least with Vic.

The story moves along at a mostly even pace, though after the big conflict scene near the end everything seemed to get wrapped up pretty quickly, and the aftermath was a lot more tell than show, feeling more like a summary to get things ended faster and Vic and Simon’s relationship moved along more rapidly.

Badlands was a suspenseful and intriguing story, getting 4.5 stars from me. The author is doing a great job at establishing a solid track record in the M/M paranormal romance genre, and I can’t wait for more! This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

[Maijie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading stories that mixes paranormal, urban fantasy elements with mystery/thriller and romance is one of my comfort reads. I've been meaning to read this series in a while and just didn't have the time or wasn't in the mood to do so before.

I started this a few days ago and I did like what I read. It was a nice start to the series.

Simon is a very likeable character. He has psychic abilities and he is quite open about it. He's friendly, loyal and quite passionate on the things he love. He's very genuine with his feelings towards others but at the same time quite wary in getting more involved romantically having been betrayed before. He's quite self-less to the point that it can be a detriment to himself.

Vic is very much your skeptical detective. He was a bit douchey at the start with Simon, but eventually as they get to interact more began to slowly understand Simon and accept him for who he is with his gifts. The reason for his attitude towards Simon's gift early on was explained and one can't help be a bit more understanding of Vic though frankly a nice little boot would've been also appropriate.

The psychic and whole magic thing was quite fascinating. I liked how nicely it was woven into the narrative without really being out of tune with the rest of the story. It felt quite organic and having all the other people having the gift in the community band together to help and support each other was wonderful to see. The mystery wasn't exactly that complex, but I think it was nicely done.

There were other characters from another series that appeared here but I don't think one needs to actually read the other series at all to grasp their role in this story.

Overall, I am looking forward to the rest of the series and I do recommend giving this one a try.

4 stars out of 5 stars for me.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Badlands by Morgan Brice

A paranormal M-M romantic suspense.
Someone is targeting and killing psychics in Myrtle Beach. Vic decides to seek psychic help on behalf of the police department, but Simon’s reading gets a little to close to home for Vic. The two grow close and the danger on the Strand gets closer.

A romantic suspense that gets more intense as the story progresses.

I liked that the two started their sexual relationship slowly but thought the first sex scene was rushed and without much heat or arousal. Their next dinner and talking and getting to know each other made it more of a relationship than an encounter which made the couple more interesting. Simon’s dismissal of how the police would react seemed overdone, in particular because Vic is a cop.

A good paranormal romance in the end with fun appearances by characters from the author’s other series.

[Shelba · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

Simon is described as having shoulder length hair, so I'm not sure you the guy on the left-hand side of the cover is supposed to be. And Vic has shaved hair, almost military style, which definitely isn't what the guy on the right has going on.

Why do I need to know the surname of every frigging character? Why?!

Anyway, this story doesn't really seem to be going anywhere, other than telling a bunch of superfluous information that doesn't pertain to the plot. I'm annoyed that I bought this in paperback, because the writing really isn't working for me and suffering through reading this would be just as much of a waste of my money as not reading it.

[Liz (Bugetta) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was underwhelming. There was too much telling and overuse of internal monologues to try to justify bad decisions and reasons for the various misunderstandings that happened throughout the book, plus a TSTL MC. Oh, there also some really weird word choices in the sex scenes Thank goodness for 3.5 times speed in Audible!