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Beyond the Pale #1
A Touch of Lightning
Jake Barton, an Air Force veteran, is on a mission of a completely different kind from his days of deployments and training. In order to protect the ones he loves from the threat of twisted powers from beyond the veil of reality, he must undertake an incredible journey across the face of the United States, performing rites of alchemy to help him consolidate and focus his power. Fox Foster, a handsome, red-headed young man living and working in Moorcroft, Wyoming, is dealing with the fallout of insecurities and indecision plaguing his life. Abandonment, a short list of bad apples, and a good heart that only wants to make his father proud has Fox at odds with himself. A chance encounter has Fox serving Jake as a guest at his family's hotel lodge. The strangely charged meeting has Jake considering just how massive his undertaking is--protecting the friends and son he holds dear, and bringing new love into his life after years of literal solitude.How does one man face off against the threat of the enemy's shifters in the dark? Against the odds of scores of mages in the world versus the rarely discovered alchemists? Against a son who believed he was abandoned by his well-meaning father? How does he come to terms with the forces in the world that pushed him and Fox together?A Touch of Lightning is the first novel in the Beyond the Pale series. Elements of alchemy, magic, and adventure in the present-day world exist side by side. Touch is a modern fantasy fiction blended with steamy, inventive, M/M romance. Pick up the book and let the journey begin!
378 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2019
34 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 22, 2019
It could have been really good
Characters? Complex, good, a little sweet, a little broken. Father/son relationship was realistic, all things considered. World Building? Pretty good. The alchemy stuff was satisfyingly rich. Lots of seeds planted for future stories in the series to grow on. Plot? Some nice anticipation, although the pacing suffered a bit in the last 10%. That was a lot to squeeze in there. There was also a bomb dropped in the bad guy's monologing that was never addressed. Still, the book as a whole could easily have been a 4+.
However, it wasn't professionally edited. My understanding is that there is a plan to fix this in the future. For now, expect turbulence. There were enough errors to throw me out of the story often enough to be tempted to quit. I'm glad I didn't.
Characters? Complex, good, a little sweet, a little broken. Father/son relationship was realistic, all things considered. World Building? Pretty good. The alchemy stuff was satisfyingly rich. Lots of seeds planted for future stories in the series to grow on. Plot? Some nice anticipation, although the pacing suffered a bit in the last 10%. That was a lot to squeeze in there. There was also a bomb dropped in the bad guy's monologing that was never addressed. Still, the book as a whole could easily have been a 4+.
However, it wasn't professionally edited. My understanding is that there is a plan to fix this in the future. For now, expect turbulence. There were enough errors to throw me out of the story often enough to be tempted to quit. I'm glad I didn't.
September 3, 2019
Really good read
It moves slowly, but packs in a lot. A very well written story. Fully developed characters. Excellent magic system. I totally recommend this book.
It moves slowly, but packs in a lot. A very well written story. Fully developed characters. Excellent magic system. I totally recommend this book.
November 8, 2019
This was one hell of a fantastic, fascinating, intriguing, gripping, gritty, fast paced, action packed, smoking hot, totally awesome, and completely unexpected twist on the same old urban fantasy storyline. It had me hooked from beginning to end, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
October 21, 2019
this is amazing.. not my usual type of story.. but it was sexy and sweet and entertaining. i loved it
May 13, 2020
Kit Fortier conjures up an awesome actiony romance in A touch of Lightning! Jake Barton is crisscrossing the United States as he battles unspeakable evil with his alchemy. But when he stays at a hotel and chances across insecure Fox Foster, his mission suddenly becomes more complicated. I love the mythos of Fortier’s world and his fine blend of cool action and pulse-quickening romance! Jake and Fox’s dynamic really takes center stage and makes the whole story for me! I’m really excited to see where their adventure takes them next!
November 7, 2019
This is the first book in The Beyond the Pale Series. A sensational book the writing was good. The plot was entertaining and it was steady throughout the book. I found the story and characters interesting. The characters were developed and thought out. Fox and Jake are the MC’s of this book. There was humor, shifters, betrayal, a journey, alchemy, family and more in this book. I can recommend this book as a good read. And looking forward to book 2. I voluntarily read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
November 8, 2019
This was definitely a great read. The characters had such depth, their emotions were very real and relatable. The storyline was interesting and intriguing, and the way that magic/alchemy was woven into the story didn't make it seem like a stretch to believe. I'll definitely be reading this author's next book.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
November 7, 2019
Different in a great way.
Never read this author before,so was not sure what to expect. What I got was a really great story. Not your typical wizards and witches. Predictable in some areas, but not in most.
Never read this author before,so was not sure what to expect. What I got was a really great story. Not your typical wizards and witches. Predictable in some areas, but not in most.
November 7, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Great characters, amazing world building, and I really liked the employment of alchemy in the story as a vehicle to move the plot. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
Great characters, amazing world building, and I really liked the employment of alchemy in the story as a vehicle to move the plot. I'm looking forward to continuing the series.
November 3, 2019
This is a new series, and we are meeting Jake and Fox and some other support characters.
Jake comes to the hotel where Fox works, and fromm there on the two of them drags you into their storyline with finesse. There are so much going on between them and it is also a slowburn read. But wow what a great slowburn.
The storyline is super and it is deeper than normal. it is also sprikled with magic, and sweet love.
Definitely a series I am going to follow the developement of.
Arc provided by LesCCourt ArcTeam
Jake comes to the hotel where Fox works, and fromm there on the two of them drags you into their storyline with finesse. There are so much going on between them and it is also a slowburn read. But wow what a great slowburn.
The storyline is super and it is deeper than normal. it is also sprikled with magic, and sweet love.
Definitely a series I am going to follow the developement of.
Arc provided by LesCCourt ArcTeam
November 14, 2019
So far as the originality of the concept and the care put into the universe building, including the paranormal mythology, extend, this is a four-star book; the plotting as well as the cast of heroes are rather less strong, while still very respectable by current standards in MM fiction; such a pity, then, that the writing technique falls well below mediocrity. Few traits reveal more auspiciously an author's subpar literary chops than the lack of ability to juggle POV in competent fashion, as here (to state that Mrs Fortier has her characters practise head hopping every few strings of sentences, including twice or thrice within the same paragraph, is the least unkind comment I am able to make with respect to her narratological focus). Furthermore, copy editing leaves so much to be desired that the dramatic illusion gets broken on almost every page due to the morass of syntactic blemishes, wrong tenses, verbs or connectives, and butchered words, that the absence of beta reading, and the lack of even the crudest typesetting (apparently the book is self-published), have brought about. It took fortitude to finish this long on the tooth novel. Nonetheless, a fair measure of the underlying value of the concept can be taken by the mere fact that I was able, not only to complete my reading, but to derive entertainment from this process, even if rather muted. Let the author grow better at her trade and get out soon (but not too soon!) a stronger, much sounder linguistically and professionally proofread, sequel. Should she persist in coughing out this kind of uncouth, prematurely released literary production, I shall stand corrected and not care one bit about skewering her; errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum.
October 26, 2019
3.75 🌟
This book is set on a really interesting premise. The characters are well developed throughout the story, and the writing is done well. There are quite a few editing issues. Not enough to ruin the story, but they did get distracting at times. If not for those, it might have been a higher rating. Also, this book is not just fantasy with a romance; it is hot and heavy sexy times consistently throughout. I haven't read that many sex scenes in the last five or more books combined, lol. But, if you know what you're getting into (which I didn't;), it's totally worth the read.
This world is full of magic users, alchemists, and the creatures created by their combined forces in the past; shifters. Jake is an alchemist, and has been keeping to the plans his mentor laid out before his great "sacrifice." It's taken him years away from his family, but he's almost done. He stops for a rest in a small town near his destination where he meets Fox.
Fox is much younger than Jake, and is currently running the business for his father and trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. He's not that young, he just doesn't want to disappoint his dad, but he knows he doesn't want to keep doing what he has been doing. In walks a wanderer, and Fox is smitten.
When events lead to Jake realizing that Fox has the potential to be an alchemist himself, he is given a warning. He asks Fox to leave his life behind and come with him on his quest. Fox agrees, and learns extremely quickly how to use his newfound power.
They have many stops to make, and several tasks to complete, but not a day goes by that they don't find time for some seriously hot sexy times. Jake brings Fox more deeply into his plans, and they both gain more than expected along the way. Eventually, the time comes to reunite with Jake's family. It's hard at first, but soon the angst turns to love and acceptance.
There is a plot twist thrown in at the denouement of the story, and tragedy seems immanent. But the betrayal of one trusted leads to a broken promise by one loved. This sets off a course of action that could have been catastrophic under other circumstances. But love and sacrifice bring about a miracle that saves hearts from being shattered; but not the anger of the promise broken.
With patience and a different form of communication, apologies are made, anger is expressed, and forgiveness is granted. And, for now, our characters are facing a happy future...at least until the sequel. Who knows what will happen next.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
This book is set on a really interesting premise. The characters are well developed throughout the story, and the writing is done well. There are quite a few editing issues. Not enough to ruin the story, but they did get distracting at times. If not for those, it might have been a higher rating. Also, this book is not just fantasy with a romance; it is hot and heavy sexy times consistently throughout. I haven't read that many sex scenes in the last five or more books combined, lol. But, if you know what you're getting into (which I didn't;), it's totally worth the read.
This world is full of magic users, alchemists, and the creatures created by their combined forces in the past; shifters. Jake is an alchemist, and has been keeping to the plans his mentor laid out before his great "sacrifice." It's taken him years away from his family, but he's almost done. He stops for a rest in a small town near his destination where he meets Fox.
Fox is much younger than Jake, and is currently running the business for his father and trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. He's not that young, he just doesn't want to disappoint his dad, but he knows he doesn't want to keep doing what he has been doing. In walks a wanderer, and Fox is smitten.
When events lead to Jake realizing that Fox has the potential to be an alchemist himself, he is given a warning. He asks Fox to leave his life behind and come with him on his quest. Fox agrees, and learns extremely quickly how to use his newfound power.
They have many stops to make, and several tasks to complete, but not a day goes by that they don't find time for some seriously hot sexy times. Jake brings Fox more deeply into his plans, and they both gain more than expected along the way. Eventually, the time comes to reunite with Jake's family. It's hard at first, but soon the angst turns to love and acceptance.
There is a plot twist thrown in at the denouement of the story, and tragedy seems immanent. But the betrayal of one trusted leads to a broken promise by one loved. This sets off a course of action that could have been catastrophic under other circumstances. But love and sacrifice bring about a miracle that saves hearts from being shattered; but not the anger of the promise broken.
With patience and a different form of communication, apologies are made, anger is expressed, and forgiveness is granted. And, for now, our characters are facing a happy future...at least until the sequel. Who knows what will happen next.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *
November 10, 2019
This story is hot, emotional at times and full of magic. I enjoyed the world building and loved all the alchemy stuff.
Fox and Jake's story was intriguing, descriptive and well written, but I found the story to be a bit slow going. The two men are beautiful together and I loved how they trusted each other. There was a lot of information to take in and thankful Jake explained it to Fox, because there were times, I needed that extra bit of information to understand.
I really liked Taylor and Sarah as I felt they brought a little light to the story. Though I did like the mood most of the story, after a while I just wanted something upbeat and bright to happen. Taylor and Sarah did that for me, granted it was at the end of the story, but it still helped.
The ending was a bit rushed and to neatly wrapped up. I felt like the drama with Ben was over a bit too quickly.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and found it fascinating with all the magic. I'm excited to see what happens next.
Fox and Jake's story was intriguing, descriptive and well written, but I found the story to be a bit slow going. The two men are beautiful together and I loved how they trusted each other. There was a lot of information to take in and thankful Jake explained it to Fox, because there were times, I needed that extra bit of information to understand.
I really liked Taylor and Sarah as I felt they brought a little light to the story. Though I did like the mood most of the story, after a while I just wanted something upbeat and bright to happen. Taylor and Sarah did that for me, granted it was at the end of the story, but it still helped.
The ending was a bit rushed and to neatly wrapped up. I felt like the drama with Ben was over a bit too quickly.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story and found it fascinating with all the magic. I'm excited to see what happens next.
October 12, 2019
Hard to rate
While there were some great moments in the story (I really liked the alchemy and magic) but, there were other flaws that kept me from loving this story. While the author attempted to keep pov’s straight, they often flip flopped within the same paragraph. Also there were some continuity flaws and basic editing errors. The sex was good at first but then it became strange with the dirty daddy kink. The ending was a twist but it felt rushed. Things came too easily for them.
Not a bad read but not stellar.
While there were some great moments in the story (I really liked the alchemy and magic) but, there were other flaws that kept me from loving this story. While the author attempted to keep pov’s straight, they often flip flopped within the same paragraph. Also there were some continuity flaws and basic editing errors. The sex was good at first but then it became strange with the dirty daddy kink. The ending was a twist but it felt rushed. Things came too easily for them.
Not a bad read but not stellar.
October 18, 2019
The blurb says it all so don’t want to give too much away. For me an original storyline, I’ve learnt so much about alchemy, descriptive writing, pushed my imagination and flowed through the pages. Jake and Fox were complex broken men that had a spark from the moment they met, to an all consuming fire, kinky I loved it all. Secondary characters were awesome.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. Can’t wait to read Kit’s next book in this series, definitely recommend this story.
I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. Can’t wait to read Kit’s next book in this series, definitely recommend this story.
September 9, 2019
I enjoyed this book immensely. I loved the relationship that builds between the main characters. The writing and research was well done. Be prepared to be swept away to another world where alchemy and magic exist in today’s world and two people fall in love. I loved it from the first page until the last and I cannot wait until the next book. It’s a love story with magic — what’s not to like? I highly recommend this book!
dnf
May 1, 2020I wasn't very far into this but there were some pretty glaring issues. Namely editing. Also, the main character is talking about magic and such but you literally have no idea what it is he is talking about. I realize that it probably becomes clearer the more you read. He's some kind of alchemist mage but then they are talking about these towers. Honestly, it was a little all over the place. Didn't care too much for the main character, again mostly because you don't understand what is going on... like AT ALL. I did like the love interest, probably because he seemed normal and far more grounded in reality. Overall this book needed to world build before dropping you into the thick of it.
As a rule of thumb, if I have read MM fanfic that is better written then I typically DNF.
As a rule of thumb, if I have read MM fanfic that is better written then I typically DNF.
December 3, 2020
The first published book by the author is a pleasant surprise. Though perhaps not the most gracefully written or the best storyline tempo. The story is extremely entertaining. The fantasy behind Fortier’s world is an exciting one that embraces the spark of life within each living being. Although many of the relationships seem less than realistic, it’s not called fantasy for a reason. And why we are on the topic of fantasy... oh daddy bear... there are some pleasantly of scenes in this book to get you going.
Overall probably a 3.5-4 star book. But as this is a small author, I’m adding a star. The book really was entertaining and I felt like it didn’t waste my time. I have already purchased the remaining books in the trilogy and hopes he continues to write more.
Overall probably a 3.5-4 star book. But as this is a small author, I’m adding a star. The book really was entertaining and I felt like it didn’t waste my time. I have already purchased the remaining books in the trilogy and hopes he continues to write more.
April 2, 2020
dnf ...
February 9, 2020
Despite all the promised threat of malevolence - the appearance of and combat with vicious antagonists were few and far between in this rather lengthy paranormal first volume. The MCs had an almost insta-attraction and then fell into the expected M-on-M action rather quickly, and then more such action, and then even more .... I was seriously fast-forwarding big time by halfway through the book; terms of endearment such as 'foxy-baby and papa-bear' began to grate big time! The mechanisms of the alchemist magics was the most interesting thing about this book and I would have enjoyed the reading much more if the romance side was toned down by 60%.
November 9, 2019
A Touch of Lightening by author Kit Fortier is the first book in the Beyond the Pale series. I loved this book. Set in a modern-day, but in this modern world there is magic, and most importantly alchemists. I really loved this one. Alchemy is one of my favorites and seeing in it in an MM book really made my day. I like the modern twists.
There is a ton to uncover in this book. From emotional angst too action and adventure. I loved reading this story.
The slow burn love story in this novel is between Jake an Air Force vet who wants to be a strong alchemist and Fox the electrically charged younger man with so much potential to be more than even he knows he can be.
Together they will face Jakes demons from his past, find magic together, and find love that will take them through it all.
When you want a story that is original, fun, and lots of content I highly suggest this one.
Five Shooting Stars
There is a ton to uncover in this book. From emotional angst too action and adventure. I loved reading this story.
The slow burn love story in this novel is between Jake an Air Force vet who wants to be a strong alchemist and Fox the electrically charged younger man with so much potential to be more than even he knows he can be.
Together they will face Jakes demons from his past, find magic together, and find love that will take them through it all.
When you want a story that is original, fun, and lots of content I highly suggest this one.
Five Shooting Stars
October 6, 2025
4.25 out of 5
I loved so many things about this book! Jake and Fox are an adorable couple. Even though there's some insta-love going on I get where it comes from. Two things that gave me a feeling of real personality for these characters. First was the fact that Fox is not body-shy in the least (and it's not a huge plot point or sexual or anything just...he's a guy who'd rather not wear clothes if he doesn't have to. I respect that.). The other was the fact that neither of these men are afraid to show real emotion, able to weep when sad or overcome. This made them feel real to me.
I liked the world-building, the plot, and the real-world setting. What didn't quite work for me, though, was the final assembly of everything into a story. It's slow going through the first part of the book (I love a slow burn, so I'm OK with that!) but then the plot pacing got to be a little off.
Even with this quibble I would happily recommend this book, and look forward to diving into the sequel soon!
I loved so many things about this book! Jake and Fox are an adorable couple. Even though there's some insta-love going on I get where it comes from. Two things that gave me a feeling of real personality for these characters. First was the fact that Fox is not body-shy in the least (and it's not a huge plot point or sexual or anything just...he's a guy who'd rather not wear clothes if he doesn't have to. I respect that.). The other was the fact that neither of these men are afraid to show real emotion, able to weep when sad or overcome. This made them feel real to me.
I liked the world-building, the plot, and the real-world setting. What didn't quite work for me, though, was the final assembly of everything into a story. It's slow going through the first part of the book (I love a slow burn, so I'm OK with that!) but then the plot pacing got to be a little off.
Even with this quibble I would happily recommend this book, and look forward to diving into the sequel soon!
October 31, 2019
Amazing start to the series
This was one epic start of this series.
I really enjoyed the world building, and the setting of the story.
The story is a way slow going, but the love story is burning hot and fast.
It was amazing and different, and had its twists and turns. It sweet moments and heart racing moments. Full of emotions.
Overall a great book
This was one epic start of this series.
I really enjoyed the world building, and the setting of the story.
The story is a way slow going, but the love story is burning hot and fast.
It was amazing and different, and had its twists and turns. It sweet moments and heart racing moments. Full of emotions.
Overall a great book
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews