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Borderland
They were young.
In the prime of life and recently married.
And then the diagnosis came.
Cancer.
George and Jason make arrangements to travel back to George’s home state of Vermont so he may pass away in the town where he grew up, but a terrible storm diverts the couple into the gates of an out-of-the-way hotel called Borderland.
Sure, the employees are well dressed and polite. Sure, the food and entertainment is old time fare. But it’s all a schtick, right?
Or is there something far more sinister at work here?
Welcome to the Borderland Hotel, where you may check in, but you’ll never, ever leave.
In the prime of life and recently married.
And then the diagnosis came.
Cancer.
George and Jason make arrangements to travel back to George’s home state of Vermont so he may pass away in the town where he grew up, but a terrible storm diverts the couple into the gates of an out-of-the-way hotel called Borderland.
Sure, the employees are well dressed and polite. Sure, the food and entertainment is old time fare. But it’s all a schtick, right?
Or is there something far more sinister at work here?
Welcome to the Borderland Hotel, where you may check in, but you’ll never, ever leave.
230 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2020
8 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
F.E. Feeley Jr.
19 books257 followersNoted author, poet, producer, and all-around badass, F.E. Feeley Jr. is one of the most important queer voices writing today. He lives in the Deep South with his fur babies, campaigning for social justice, and occasionally howling at the moon.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
October 10, 2020
Wonderfully clever and thoroughly romantic, F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden’s novel Borderland is an incredibly fun read! These characters intrigued me to no end, and I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the creative twists and turns this story takes. The thrill of never knowing what might come next. Plus, the heart-breakingly beautiful love story, makes Borderland a huge success.
F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden bring their artistic genius together, and have created a paranormal romance like I’ve never read before. It’s going to be impossible to come close to explaining what makes this magical tale so special, but (darn it) I’m going to try!
First and foremost, is the ghost story. It is wonderful! Seriously, on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, butterflies in my stomach - wonderful. Can’t say more or I’ll give something away, and each of you deserve to read this and enjoy it as much as I did.
No less important, and equally breathtaking, is the romance. The love that George and Jason share, I admit, I’m totally jealous. These two men are simply incredible together. From their thorough devotion and mutual respect, to their obvious physical attraction. It’s a treat just getting to witness the absolute joy they find simply being together. I adored every moment I spent with them.
Finally, and what really blew my mind, is the world-building. What an achievement! From the moment these men step out of their car and turn to face the Borderlands Hotel, authors Feeley and Fessenden pull out all the stops. Lavish descriptions of the physical world they encounter, the beauty of the countryside and the sumptuous décor of the hotel. And when things get spooky, there are spine tingling accounts of the goings on within the spiritual world that take the story to amazing heights.
I don’t dare say another thing other than: read this amazing book! And here’s to hoping Borderland is the beginning of a long list of amazing novels by the team of F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden.
F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden bring their artistic genius together, and have created a paranormal romance like I’ve never read before. It’s going to be impossible to come close to explaining what makes this magical tale so special, but (darn it) I’m going to try!
First and foremost, is the ghost story. It is wonderful! Seriously, on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, butterflies in my stomach - wonderful. Can’t say more or I’ll give something away, and each of you deserve to read this and enjoy it as much as I did.
No less important, and equally breathtaking, is the romance. The love that George and Jason share, I admit, I’m totally jealous. These two men are simply incredible together. From their thorough devotion and mutual respect, to their obvious physical attraction. It’s a treat just getting to witness the absolute joy they find simply being together. I adored every moment I spent with them.
Finally, and what really blew my mind, is the world-building. What an achievement! From the moment these men step out of their car and turn to face the Borderlands Hotel, authors Feeley and Fessenden pull out all the stops. Lavish descriptions of the physical world they encounter, the beauty of the countryside and the sumptuous décor of the hotel. And when things get spooky, there are spine tingling accounts of the goings on within the spiritual world that take the story to amazing heights.
I don’t dare say another thing other than: read this amazing book! And here’s to hoping Borderland is the beginning of a long list of amazing novels by the team of F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden.
June 7, 2020
Oh. God...
This book-
Hit a personal nerve
Is well written
Has lots of elements to make it an incredibly interesting story
Makes you want to know where it's going
Is best read without knowing the detailed ins and outs or the ending
Non-spoiler review at
This book-
Hit a personal nerve
Is well written
Has lots of elements to make it an incredibly interesting story
Makes you want to know where it's going
Is best read without knowing the detailed ins and outs or the ending
Non-spoiler review at
July 5, 2024
Three days ago, I got word that my dear friend Jamie Fessenden - the coauthor of this book - passed away after complications from heart surgery.
This book explores the loss of a lover and friend as it's theme.
How were we to know that the feelings we explored in this book would be explored by everyone you left behind, Jamie?
I love you forever my friend and I do believe love survives death into eternity.
I'll see you again someday.
This book explores the loss of a lover and friend as it's theme.
How were we to know that the feelings we explored in this book would be explored by everyone you left behind, Jamie?
I love you forever my friend and I do believe love survives death into eternity.
I'll see you again someday.
June 13, 2020
Borderland
F.E. Feeley, Jr. and Jamie Fessenden
Beaten Track Publishing, 2020
Five stars
“Have you had a good life…? Were you loved? Did you love in return?”
“Borderland” is a ghost story with a point. It is eerily timely, and it deals with a topic all too present in America’s consciousness at this very moment of global pandemic: death before one’s time. It is also, however, a love story, a commentary on how the world has changed in a hundred years, and, perhaps, the very nature of good and evil.
These are all things about which F.E. Feeley has made us think in his other novels, but this collaboration with Jamie Fessenden, whose books are happily familiar to me, creates a rich stew of plot, emotion, symbolism, and downright horror-show creepiness. Both Fessenden and Feeley have a penchant for the paranormal, both for its cinematic special effects, and for its emotional potential.
Borderland is the name of a hotel, established as a place of relaxation and retreat from the world, deep in the Vermont countryside near the Canadian border. It is exactly the kind of resort that flourished in such beautiful parts of America in the late nineteenth century, providing the opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ for people exhausted and harried by life in a time of immense social and economic change. But, unknown to its builder, and to its current owner, Rebecca Thibault, there is another Borderland involved, and this one we get to discover along with the guests at the hotel after the arrival of Jason and George Uphill.
I remember distinctly, back in the late 1980s, when I found out for sure that neither my partner nor I were HIV-positive, thinking ‘now all we have to fear is everything else we can die of.’ This is where the story begins, with a relatively young gay couple, legally married, ten years into their life together. George is diagnosed with a brain tumor, and all efforts to stem its growth fail. George and his husband Jason decide to return to Vermont from Texas, so that George can make peace with his family and find peace on his native soil. He and Jason are determined to make the most of their last six months together, to enjoy each day to its fullest until the inevitable end comes. It is an oddly melancholy beginning to a classic horror story, in which they are marooned on an isolated road during a violent thunderstorm, their car damaged. The two young men manage to coax the crippled vehicle up a long driveway to a charming Victorian hotel called Borderland, hoping to use the phone to call AAA.
What they find instead is Miss Rebecca Thibault and her staff, all smartly costumed like something out of “Downton Abbey,” ready to tend to their every need. Borderland is luxurious and elegant, yet oddly lacking in some obvious modern conveniences – like a telephone, or any motor vehicles.
The collaborative writing of Feeley and Fessenden is impossible to pick apart; they seamlessly weave their tale of increasing weirdness, like an extended episode of ‘The Twilight Zone,’ until Jason and George can no longer deny that they’ve stepped into something beyond their experience. Like a narrative fractal expansion, the story spins increasingly out of control, to the point where it takes on a cinematic horror-movie quality that defies logic. There comes a moment when both the main characters and the reader simply must let go, embrace whatever faith they have in what they believe to be good, and fight. Jason and George fight in honor of their life together, out of love for each other. The real surprise here is that they have allies they didn’t expect to find.
In the end, it is not about dying, but about the idea of a good death – a concept extant in every major religious system. As much a lover of romance as I am, I know all too well that there are no happy endings in this life; none of us will get out of this story alive. Seeking solace in some measure of control over our end is, perhaps, the best happiness we can achieve. Feeley and Fessenden give us a moving and page-turning adventure that is as much an exploration of the metaphysical as it is of the supernatural.
This would make some crazy movie, if Hollywood had any courage.
F.E. Feeley, Jr. and Jamie Fessenden
Beaten Track Publishing, 2020
Five stars
“Have you had a good life…? Were you loved? Did you love in return?”
“Borderland” is a ghost story with a point. It is eerily timely, and it deals with a topic all too present in America’s consciousness at this very moment of global pandemic: death before one’s time. It is also, however, a love story, a commentary on how the world has changed in a hundred years, and, perhaps, the very nature of good and evil.
These are all things about which F.E. Feeley has made us think in his other novels, but this collaboration with Jamie Fessenden, whose books are happily familiar to me, creates a rich stew of plot, emotion, symbolism, and downright horror-show creepiness. Both Fessenden and Feeley have a penchant for the paranormal, both for its cinematic special effects, and for its emotional potential.
Borderland is the name of a hotel, established as a place of relaxation and retreat from the world, deep in the Vermont countryside near the Canadian border. It is exactly the kind of resort that flourished in such beautiful parts of America in the late nineteenth century, providing the opportunity to ‘get away from it all’ for people exhausted and harried by life in a time of immense social and economic change. But, unknown to its builder, and to its current owner, Rebecca Thibault, there is another Borderland involved, and this one we get to discover along with the guests at the hotel after the arrival of Jason and George Uphill.
I remember distinctly, back in the late 1980s, when I found out for sure that neither my partner nor I were HIV-positive, thinking ‘now all we have to fear is everything else we can die of.’ This is where the story begins, with a relatively young gay couple, legally married, ten years into their life together. George is diagnosed with a brain tumor, and all efforts to stem its growth fail. George and his husband Jason decide to return to Vermont from Texas, so that George can make peace with his family and find peace on his native soil. He and Jason are determined to make the most of their last six months together, to enjoy each day to its fullest until the inevitable end comes. It is an oddly melancholy beginning to a classic horror story, in which they are marooned on an isolated road during a violent thunderstorm, their car damaged. The two young men manage to coax the crippled vehicle up a long driveway to a charming Victorian hotel called Borderland, hoping to use the phone to call AAA.
What they find instead is Miss Rebecca Thibault and her staff, all smartly costumed like something out of “Downton Abbey,” ready to tend to their every need. Borderland is luxurious and elegant, yet oddly lacking in some obvious modern conveniences – like a telephone, or any motor vehicles.
The collaborative writing of Feeley and Fessenden is impossible to pick apart; they seamlessly weave their tale of increasing weirdness, like an extended episode of ‘The Twilight Zone,’ until Jason and George can no longer deny that they’ve stepped into something beyond their experience. Like a narrative fractal expansion, the story spins increasingly out of control, to the point where it takes on a cinematic horror-movie quality that defies logic. There comes a moment when both the main characters and the reader simply must let go, embrace whatever faith they have in what they believe to be good, and fight. Jason and George fight in honor of their life together, out of love for each other. The real surprise here is that they have allies they didn’t expect to find.
In the end, it is not about dying, but about the idea of a good death – a concept extant in every major religious system. As much a lover of romance as I am, I know all too well that there are no happy endings in this life; none of us will get out of this story alive. Seeking solace in some measure of control over our end is, perhaps, the best happiness we can achieve. Feeley and Fessenden give us a moving and page-turning adventure that is as much an exploration of the metaphysical as it is of the supernatural.
This would make some crazy movie, if Hollywood had any courage.
June 28, 2020
I’m familiar with Jamie Fessenden’s works but not F.E. Feeley Jr., even so, I think “Borderland” was an amazing collaboration. In my opinion, the more I read, I felt the horror and twisted terror could be straight from the Stephen King playbook. The authors have expertly written highly emotional scenes between George and Jason, along with the horror of Borderland.
The relationship between George and Jason is a long lasting love, with romance, determination, friendship, commitment and fear of loss, as both find themselves saving each other. Not only do they face a fatal disease but they come face to face with evil of the unknown. Is there any possible way they can overcome both?
The authors transport us from the year 2020 to the 1920’s with their description of Borderland and the various styles and music of the era. Borderland is haunting in several ways, suspenseful, chilling and a heart-stopping page-turner!
There’s an abundance of characters that George and Jason become familiar with. When they become aware of the evil residing at Borderland, they fight to save themselves and the sadly, odd occupants of Borderland. Without the help of George and Jason could they have faced their fate?
The authors give us an in-depth look into many of the lost souls of Borderland. Miss Rebecca Thibault, the owner; the mysterious Mr. Harvey; Thomas the handyman along with the staff, Tilly and Grace. Of course, it’s not without the revengeful and evil menace that’s determined to destroy everyone.
As for myself, I feel this is a fantastic read and I congratulate Feeley and Fessenden, for a great collaboration. They have a unique chemistry and I hope they have many plans to continue as a writing team!
The relationship between George and Jason is a long lasting love, with romance, determination, friendship, commitment and fear of loss, as both find themselves saving each other. Not only do they face a fatal disease but they come face to face with evil of the unknown. Is there any possible way they can overcome both?
The authors transport us from the year 2020 to the 1920’s with their description of Borderland and the various styles and music of the era. Borderland is haunting in several ways, suspenseful, chilling and a heart-stopping page-turner!
There’s an abundance of characters that George and Jason become familiar with. When they become aware of the evil residing at Borderland, they fight to save themselves and the sadly, odd occupants of Borderland. Without the help of George and Jason could they have faced their fate?
The authors give us an in-depth look into many of the lost souls of Borderland. Miss Rebecca Thibault, the owner; the mysterious Mr. Harvey; Thomas the handyman along with the staff, Tilly and Grace. Of course, it’s not without the revengeful and evil menace that’s determined to destroy everyone.
As for myself, I feel this is a fantastic read and I congratulate Feeley and Fessenden, for a great collaboration. They have a unique chemistry and I hope they have many plans to continue as a writing team!
June 3, 2020
5 *****Stars
Borderland
F.E. Feeley Jr and Jamie Fessenden
Beaten Track Publishing
June 1, 2020
MM Suspense/ Paranormal Romance
230 pages
It was with great expectation I awaited this book…..I am a longtime follower of these two authors and expected nothing less than perfection….I received it hands down!!
Borderland has many components, the hotel itself, its mystery, the secrets, and the guests themselves. Jason and George’s part in this story only add to the humanness and subtlety of the paranormal and horror. The story bridges all genres, for fans of the macabre; along with an integral love story.
I have always surmised F E Feeley and Stephen King were brothers from another mother, so seeing this on Amazon as Coming Soon I was ecstatic. To not give anything away, I can only say it is a DO NOT MISS read.
Feeley’s joining with Jamie Fessenden was magical choice. I hope they collaborate again!
Borderland
F.E. Feeley Jr and Jamie Fessenden
Beaten Track Publishing
June 1, 2020
MM Suspense/ Paranormal Romance
230 pages
It was with great expectation I awaited this book…..I am a longtime follower of these two authors and expected nothing less than perfection….I received it hands down!!
Borderland has many components, the hotel itself, its mystery, the secrets, and the guests themselves. Jason and George’s part in this story only add to the humanness and subtlety of the paranormal and horror. The story bridges all genres, for fans of the macabre; along with an integral love story.
I have always surmised F E Feeley and Stephen King were brothers from another mother, so seeing this on Amazon as Coming Soon I was ecstatic. To not give anything away, I can only say it is a DO NOT MISS read.
Feeley’s joining with Jamie Fessenden was magical choice. I hope they collaborate again!
July 4, 2020
“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you.” ~ C.S. Lewis
George and Jason, of ‘Borderland’ by F.E. Feely, Jr. and Jamie Fessenden, have a great life, are able to retire early, and are making plans for their future, when tragedy strikes and George is diagnosed with cancer. Alienated from his family, George and Jason decide to try to reconcile before he dies.
On the way, a terrible storm causes them to wreck their car and seek shelter in a rundown hotel nearby called Borderland. There, they are greeted by people who seem to be from a different era. At first, George and Jason marvel at the employees' abilities to complement the ambience of the old hotel by acting as if they were from the last century. The accommodations are excellent and the service is amazing, yet George and Jason can’t help but feel that something is amiss. The staff’s performance is simply too realistic. There are other oddities that they can’t quite rationalize. The hotel doesn’t have any other guests, or a phone, or transportation and, even more unbelievable, none of the staff has left the property in years. George and Jason reach a point when they can’t simply “excuse” the staff’s behavior any longer. They begin to look for clues that will help them better understand their circumstances.
George and Jason only intend to stay for one night, but decide to stay longer because the stay there seems to be doing George a lot of good. He is feeling better than he has in a long time. He has more energy, color in his once pale cheeks, and has an appetite that won’t quit! With their car still broken and no other cars on the property, Jason has no way to get to the nearest town without walking. Rebecca, the hotel’s owner, tells him about a train station about five miles away that may have a phone. As much as he doesn’t want to but knowing it’s the only way they have of contacting anyone, he decides to hike to the station.
When Jason finally reaches the station, he is dismayed when he realizes that no one has been there for a long time. He can’t fathom why Rebecca would tell him to go there if it was closed; he wonders if it is possible that she doesn’t know since nobody has left the hotel in so long. There’s nothing to do but to go back. When Jason gets back to the hotel, he has a conversation with Rebecca in which he tells her about the closed train station. She tells him that she did not know it was closed and is distressed. From then on things get really weird in the house, especially after Jason and George meet the other guests. Just as Jason is about to figure out a significant part of what is going on, he becomes seriously ill. George is now the strong one, while Jason lies in bed while he fades away.
‘Borderland’ is an excellent title for a book concerning a vague state of being between “borders”. I’m a fan of both F.E. and Jamie and found this collaboration brilliant. The story blends F.E.'s penchant for terrifying me with supernatural beings along with Jamie’s thorough understanding of how to frighten me with all things occult. The combination of the two created a frightening, suspenseful, and philosophical journey into the space between life and death while challenging the norms of the two states of being. The book achieved what I assume was its purpose, to scare me and, at the same time, challenge me to think about life and death from a different perspective. However, I do have to admit that I was disappointed in the ending. I do realize that, considering the professed premises in the tale, it does have a happily ever after ending; it just wasn’t the one I was hoping for. Thanks, F.E. and Jamie! I hope you co-author more books together!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
George and Jason, of ‘Borderland’ by F.E. Feely, Jr. and Jamie Fessenden, have a great life, are able to retire early, and are making plans for their future, when tragedy strikes and George is diagnosed with cancer. Alienated from his family, George and Jason decide to try to reconcile before he dies.
On the way, a terrible storm causes them to wreck their car and seek shelter in a rundown hotel nearby called Borderland. There, they are greeted by people who seem to be from a different era. At first, George and Jason marvel at the employees' abilities to complement the ambience of the old hotel by acting as if they were from the last century. The accommodations are excellent and the service is amazing, yet George and Jason can’t help but feel that something is amiss. The staff’s performance is simply too realistic. There are other oddities that they can’t quite rationalize. The hotel doesn’t have any other guests, or a phone, or transportation and, even more unbelievable, none of the staff has left the property in years. George and Jason reach a point when they can’t simply “excuse” the staff’s behavior any longer. They begin to look for clues that will help them better understand their circumstances.
George and Jason only intend to stay for one night, but decide to stay longer because the stay there seems to be doing George a lot of good. He is feeling better than he has in a long time. He has more energy, color in his once pale cheeks, and has an appetite that won’t quit! With their car still broken and no other cars on the property, Jason has no way to get to the nearest town without walking. Rebecca, the hotel’s owner, tells him about a train station about five miles away that may have a phone. As much as he doesn’t want to but knowing it’s the only way they have of contacting anyone, he decides to hike to the station.
When Jason finally reaches the station, he is dismayed when he realizes that no one has been there for a long time. He can’t fathom why Rebecca would tell him to go there if it was closed; he wonders if it is possible that she doesn’t know since nobody has left the hotel in so long. There’s nothing to do but to go back. When Jason gets back to the hotel, he has a conversation with Rebecca in which he tells her about the closed train station. She tells him that she did not know it was closed and is distressed. From then on things get really weird in the house, especially after Jason and George meet the other guests. Just as Jason is about to figure out a significant part of what is going on, he becomes seriously ill. George is now the strong one, while Jason lies in bed while he fades away.
‘Borderland’ is an excellent title for a book concerning a vague state of being between “borders”. I’m a fan of both F.E. and Jamie and found this collaboration brilliant. The story blends F.E.'s penchant for terrifying me with supernatural beings along with Jamie’s thorough understanding of how to frighten me with all things occult. The combination of the two created a frightening, suspenseful, and philosophical journey into the space between life and death while challenging the norms of the two states of being. The book achieved what I assume was its purpose, to scare me and, at the same time, challenge me to think about life and death from a different perspective. However, I do have to admit that I was disappointed in the ending. I do realize that, considering the professed premises in the tale, it does have a happily ever after ending; it just wasn’t the one I was hoping for. Thanks, F.E. and Jamie! I hope you co-author more books together!
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 14, 2020
This book... is SO, SO great.
It completely scared and freaked me out with its paranormal aspect, but at the same time it's pure romance with George and Jason living their love and their lives to the fullest knowing that George's days are numbered.
I was so completely absorbed in the story I found I couldn't do anything else while listening (whereas I usually listen to audiobooks while working or driving). I just had to sit there and listen and soak into the wonder that is this story, this freaky Edwardian hotel where very strange things happen and the people seem to be stuck in time...
It completely scared and freaked me out with its paranormal aspect, but at the same time it's pure romance with George and Jason living their love and their lives to the fullest knowing that George's days are numbered.
I was so completely absorbed in the story I found I couldn't do anything else while listening (whereas I usually listen to audiobooks while working or driving). I just had to sit there and listen and soak into the wonder that is this story, this freaky Edwardian hotel where very strange things happen and the people seem to be stuck in time...
November 9, 2020
Dying of cancer, George begs his husband, Jason, to take him to Vermont to farewell his estranged family. Trouble causes them to spend the night at the Borderland Hotel, and trouble seems to be preventing them from ever leaving. I absolutely loved this. I was a little apprehensive that it would be a frightening horror story, but it was a gentile ghost story with the perfect amount of mystery and creepiness. Jason and George were decent people and I loved that, despite his cancer, George was the hero of the story. The ghostly world building was logical and compelling, the villain was a great surprise, and the ending was satisfying and moving. Perfect all round! 🎧 While he narrates extremely well, I was a little thrown by Gary Taylor’s narration at the start, because he clearly doesn’t have a young voice that matches Jason or George’s age. But, in fact, it was the perfect voice for a ghost story about ancient inhabitants lost in the mists of time. Gary pitched the emotion perfectly and paced the story well, I grew to love every word he spoke!
——————-
The authors generously gave me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review and I’m extremely grateful - it’s going to be a firm favourite!
——————-
The authors generously gave me a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review and I’m extremely grateful - it’s going to be a firm favourite!
July 23, 2020
Very well done. As usual, the ghost stories have a new twist on an old theme. This author has a way with these stories that makes them so refreshing.
March 31, 2021
Spellbinding from beginning to end, this deserves to win awards and to be taught in masterclasses in plotting and writing.
November 30, 2020
I’m reviewing the audio version. I don’t usually have anything to do with supernatural or anything like that stories. But there was something that just drew me to this one. There is so much sadness for most of the book yet the love between these two characters almost breaks my heart. When I realized the ghost parts I was already so deep in the story it was impossible to stop. As the twists and turns really turn up the intensity of the story I couldn’t wait to see where it was going. I also felt the narration by Gary Taylor added a reality to the story. I really enjoyed this story and will be checking out more by these authors.
June 19, 2024
What starts off as slow quickly picks up and turns in to an original spooky story. I wanted someone for horror book club during pride month and the book did not disappoint. A quick and easy read.
April 6, 2021
Just lots to like in this!
The bitter sweet of knowing how George and Jason’s journey will end.
The oddness of Borderland.
The gradual build up of nasty.
The characters, even those you know are long gone, get you invested.
The bitter sweet of knowing how George and Jason’s journey will end.
The oddness of Borderland.
The gradual build up of nasty.
The characters, even those you know are long gone, get you invested.
October 7, 2020
Holy Cow, what an adventure! Borderland by F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden is a love story wrapped in a supernatural suspense/thriller. Picture this: you are living in the year 2020 and you step back in time to the early 1900s, 1920 to be exact. Must be a gimmick to attract the hotel guests, right? But things don’t add up as multiple eras intertwine and you realize that the folks you are interacting with aren’t putting on a performance. This is all so much to comprehend that there is no way my brain will be able to relay the aspects brought to life within Borderland’s pages but, I’ll give it a try!
George Uphill is dying from an incurable brain tumor. In the face of death, George and his husband, Jason, decide to live life as an adventure. They can’t change the fact that George will pass on soon, so why sit around waiting and dreading the inevitable? Without a lot of planning, they set off from Texas to George’s hometown in Vermont. Along the way a freak storm damages their car and as luck will have it there is a hotel within sight.
The Borderland Hotel is a gorgeous Edwardian-looking hotel, with a hint of its age peeking through. Upon entering, George and Jason meet the inviting staff and are transported back in time. There is no phone to call Triple-A, the staff are in early 1900s attire, and they seem to have trouble understanding that two men can be married. Initially, George and Jason chalk it up to a reenactment of the times. How quaint!
Holy Cow, what an adventure! ‘Borderland’ set my heart thumping with adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of my stay.
Within the pages of Borderland there is elaborate world building taking place with a host of characters. Rebecca, Thomas, and Mr. Harvey stand out, along with the main characters, George and Jason Uphill. Rebecca Thibault is a strong woman and the owner of the hotel. She takes great pride in her establishment, ensuring that her guests have a pleasant stay. Thomas is the general handyman, from gardening to small repairs. Mr. Harvey is a sweet older man who no longer has the capacity to tend to the hotel and is Thomas’ mentor.
Borderland is the blending of time via a mystery and a series of events that must be experienced to get the full impact. Above it all is love. The love between George and Jason, a love for the hotel, and a love among the staff, who are more family than co-workers. George and Jason are the catalyst that tears through decades of suspension for these souls. As the past unfolds, enlightenment occurs, and evil is exposed. The love, present within the Borderland Hotel, is the mechanism that extinguishes the evil and puts the universe back on track.
My stay at the Borderland Hotel was not a relaxing poolside vacation by any means. There is manipulative evil present and an abundance of sorrow and loss but, through it all, love triumphs. Borderland set my heart thumping with adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of my stay. The collaboration between F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden is well done, and it will be a pleasure to visit with them again.
George Uphill is dying from an incurable brain tumor. In the face of death, George and his husband, Jason, decide to live life as an adventure. They can’t change the fact that George will pass on soon, so why sit around waiting and dreading the inevitable? Without a lot of planning, they set off from Texas to George’s hometown in Vermont. Along the way a freak storm damages their car and as luck will have it there is a hotel within sight.
The Borderland Hotel is a gorgeous Edwardian-looking hotel, with a hint of its age peeking through. Upon entering, George and Jason meet the inviting staff and are transported back in time. There is no phone to call Triple-A, the staff are in early 1900s attire, and they seem to have trouble understanding that two men can be married. Initially, George and Jason chalk it up to a reenactment of the times. How quaint!
Holy Cow, what an adventure! ‘Borderland’ set my heart thumping with adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of my stay.
Within the pages of Borderland there is elaborate world building taking place with a host of characters. Rebecca, Thomas, and Mr. Harvey stand out, along with the main characters, George and Jason Uphill. Rebecca Thibault is a strong woman and the owner of the hotel. She takes great pride in her establishment, ensuring that her guests have a pleasant stay. Thomas is the general handyman, from gardening to small repairs. Mr. Harvey is a sweet older man who no longer has the capacity to tend to the hotel and is Thomas’ mentor.
Borderland is the blending of time via a mystery and a series of events that must be experienced to get the full impact. Above it all is love. The love between George and Jason, a love for the hotel, and a love among the staff, who are more family than co-workers. George and Jason are the catalyst that tears through decades of suspension for these souls. As the past unfolds, enlightenment occurs, and evil is exposed. The love, present within the Borderland Hotel, is the mechanism that extinguishes the evil and puts the universe back on track.
My stay at the Borderland Hotel was not a relaxing poolside vacation by any means. There is manipulative evil present and an abundance of sorrow and loss but, through it all, love triumphs. Borderland set my heart thumping with adrenaline coursing through my veins, and I absolutely enjoyed every minute of my stay. The collaboration between F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden is well done, and it will be a pleasure to visit with them again.
June 17, 2020
5+ stars- utterly wowed
I made a calculated error when I started Borderland. I had a list of things to do on my days off and it all fell to the wayside once I stepped into this jarring, sometimes beautiful, but always intriguing world the authors created. I honestly never thought Mr. Feeley would top Closer in my mind, but his collaborative effort in Borderland with Mr. Fessenden was as captivating as it was spooky. I experienced the full range of emotions- I cried, smiled, laughed, awed over sweet moments, jumped with fear, sat on the edge of my seat, and got choked up with emotion…in short, I absolutely loved Borderland.
It’s difficult to classify Borderland. The story follows an established couple facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. While Borderland definitely explores the beauty of love and the pain love can cause, it’s hard to really call Borderland a romance. I’d probably term it more of a paranormal story with a romantic subplot. George and Jason were fantastic main characters who were easy to root for, but it was the range of secondary characters that made this story come alive and take hold. I simply didn’t expect it, and every time I thought I had it figured out, the characters encountered a new twist.
Borderland offers a memorable story featuring ghosts, demons, and the uncertainty of death and an afterlife. From the descriptive scenery to the energetic action scenes to the smooth writing and dialogue to the subtlety brilliant quotes, this book had everything to set it apart. If you are looking for a book that will ensnare you cover to cover, I’d definitely recommend this title.
*eARC received via author distribution. The authors had no influence over this review*
I made a calculated error when I started Borderland. I had a list of things to do on my days off and it all fell to the wayside once I stepped into this jarring, sometimes beautiful, but always intriguing world the authors created. I honestly never thought Mr. Feeley would top Closer in my mind, but his collaborative effort in Borderland with Mr. Fessenden was as captivating as it was spooky. I experienced the full range of emotions- I cried, smiled, laughed, awed over sweet moments, jumped with fear, sat on the edge of my seat, and got choked up with emotion…in short, I absolutely loved Borderland.
It’s difficult to classify Borderland. The story follows an established couple facing a terminal cancer diagnosis. While Borderland definitely explores the beauty of love and the pain love can cause, it’s hard to really call Borderland a romance. I’d probably term it more of a paranormal story with a romantic subplot. George and Jason were fantastic main characters who were easy to root for, but it was the range of secondary characters that made this story come alive and take hold. I simply didn’t expect it, and every time I thought I had it figured out, the characters encountered a new twist.
Borderland offers a memorable story featuring ghosts, demons, and the uncertainty of death and an afterlife. From the descriptive scenery to the energetic action scenes to the smooth writing and dialogue to the subtlety brilliant quotes, this book had everything to set it apart. If you are looking for a book that will ensnare you cover to cover, I’d definitely recommend this title.
*eARC received via author distribution. The authors had no influence over this review*
January 24, 2025
I spent much of my time in middle school tucked under the covers reading books by John Saul. Sure, Stephen King too, but it was the ghost stories by Saul who comforted me during some difficult times. It's likely because ghost stories are based on the spiritual world, and while I had developed a keen sensitivity to the light side of the spirit as a child, I couldn't always reconcile my inner turmoil and traumas with a belief that all was right with the world. Ghost stories comforted me because in them I could recognize my own dark side, my own demons.
My second book by a friend got me through the 17-hour return from London this month. Borderland, by F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden, made me incredibly nostalgic. I was suddenly the 12-year-old boy, quickly wrapped up in a plot I found wonderfully unique, charmingly gay, and surprisingly plausible. For me, a ghost story must have logic, a historical basis, clever juxtaposition of time/place, and be smart. Borderland was all these things and more. No plot reveals here--you can't do that with these types of stories. Just know that the authors put you to work quickly, giving you oddities begging to be examined and questions needing answers. The characters were well-developed and had depth. The book plays with time, but you are well cared for by the writers who make sure you know who is who. It gave me everything I could want. On top of that, I lived in that area in which the story takes place in my early 30's (Newport, VT, at the Canadian border), so I was feeling additionally sentimental from the start. Great read.
My second book by a friend got me through the 17-hour return from London this month. Borderland, by F.E. Feeley Jr. and Jamie Fessenden, made me incredibly nostalgic. I was suddenly the 12-year-old boy, quickly wrapped up in a plot I found wonderfully unique, charmingly gay, and surprisingly plausible. For me, a ghost story must have logic, a historical basis, clever juxtaposition of time/place, and be smart. Borderland was all these things and more. No plot reveals here--you can't do that with these types of stories. Just know that the authors put you to work quickly, giving you oddities begging to be examined and questions needing answers. The characters were well-developed and had depth. The book plays with time, but you are well cared for by the writers who make sure you know who is who. It gave me everything I could want. On top of that, I lived in that area in which the story takes place in my early 30's (Newport, VT, at the Canadian border), so I was feeling additionally sentimental from the start. Great read.
December 7, 2020
Lots of twists and turns that I never expected. George, who is dying from cancer, and his husband Jason are returning to George's home state of Vermont to say his last goodbyes to his family. They have end up wrecking their car and find themselves in front of a hotel that hadn't been there previously.
A hotel suddenly appearing out of the fog is not a good thing. The staff are ghosts or at least souls that have been stuck in the hotel for decades. The head groundskeeper dates from the Civil War while most of the other staff date from the 1920s. They know that something isn't quite right, but it takes George and Jason's visit to break the proverbial spell.
The story just takes off in twenty different directions which is a very good thing. The staff figures out what's going on. George and Jason are fighting their own physical and metaphysical battles. We have an ancient demon who wants revenge because of how she was treated centuries ago. We have Death personified making an appearance. We have a couple of gay angels thrown in for good measure.
I had to go back and reread sections because I kept missing plot points. That's my fault. It's a great read. The characters are wonderful. The plot zooms but doesn't skip over important points.
Highly recommended
A hotel suddenly appearing out of the fog is not a good thing. The staff are ghosts or at least souls that have been stuck in the hotel for decades. The head groundskeeper dates from the Civil War while most of the other staff date from the 1920s. They know that something isn't quite right, but it takes George and Jason's visit to break the proverbial spell.
The story just takes off in twenty different directions which is a very good thing. The staff figures out what's going on. George and Jason are fighting their own physical and metaphysical battles. We have an ancient demon who wants revenge because of how she was treated centuries ago. We have Death personified making an appearance. We have a couple of gay angels thrown in for good measure.
I had to go back and reread sections because I kept missing plot points. That's my fault. It's a great read. The characters are wonderful. The plot zooms but doesn't skip over important points.
Highly recommended
November 17, 2020
This book is SO cool. - it's like a cross between Peter Straub's Ghost Story, (both the book & the 1981 movie), and the movie The Others, but with its own original additions. I wasn't sucked in suspense for the first hour or so, I'll admit, but once things got more haunting & eerie, I became rapt and binge-listened every chance I got, needing to know how it would end and truly having no idea.
It's also periodically a tear-jerker, so I periodically found myself sniffling and wiping my eyes while out in public, walking the dog.
For the audio version, the narrator's voice is odd for an m/m book - he has a sort of gravelly old man's voice for the "narrator" voice, (as it's 3rd person POV), like someone who's smoked a couple packs a day for the past 40 years, but he also has different voices for all the characters, giving smoother voices to various characters. Because the book has an ominous feel at time, lost in time, it kind of suits, though it took me aback at first. He has a sort of lilting accent to his voice at times, which seems out of place, perhaps, for some characters, but eventually, I didn't notice it anymore, so thoroughly entranced.
If this book were faithfully made into a movie, I'd watch it every Halloween and Friday the 13th.
It's also periodically a tear-jerker, so I periodically found myself sniffling and wiping my eyes while out in public, walking the dog.
For the audio version, the narrator's voice is odd for an m/m book - he has a sort of gravelly old man's voice for the "narrator" voice, (as it's 3rd person POV), like someone who's smoked a couple packs a day for the past 40 years, but he also has different voices for all the characters, giving smoother voices to various characters. Because the book has an ominous feel at time, lost in time, it kind of suits, though it took me aback at first. He has a sort of lilting accent to his voice at times, which seems out of place, perhaps, for some characters, but eventually, I didn't notice it anymore, so thoroughly entranced.
If this book were faithfully made into a movie, I'd watch it every Halloween and Friday the 13th.
June 25, 2020
Jason and George, married, deeply in love, have to face the end. George has a brain tumor and doesn’t have long to live. They go to Vermont to spend their last few days together. They are forced to seek shelter at a quaint hotel called Borderland. Where nothing is as it seems and everything is suspect.
This book had great characters and the story was excellent. The premise of the “door” was an interesting concept. The writers created a believable world. Inhabited by good and evil and a group of people who discovered a forever kind of love for each other.
I tend to base my reviews for paranormal m/m books on how they compare to the writing and story development of Closer by F.E. Feeley. The co-authors created a book that will probably be used in future comparisons.
This book had great characters and the story was excellent. The premise of the “door” was an interesting concept. The writers created a believable world. Inhabited by good and evil and a group of people who discovered a forever kind of love for each other.
I tend to base my reviews for paranormal m/m books on how they compare to the writing and story development of Closer by F.E. Feeley. The co-authors created a book that will probably be used in future comparisons.
November 21, 2020
Borderland, written by F.E. Feeley, Jr. and Jamie Fessenden, narrated by Gary Taylor is a paranormal romance/mystery. This was the first book that I've read/listened to by this author. I will admit that it was a bit slow the first two chapters, for me anyway. I think the reason for that was I didn't know what to expect from a MM Romance suspense book or from this author. Once I moved passed this, I was hooked!! I'm a huge fan of F.E. Feeley Jr. now.
Gary Taylor did amazingly with the narrations. I completely recommend this book.
Gary Taylor did amazingly with the narrations. I completely recommend this book.
November 7, 2020
This story boggled my mind as I listened to it. I was on edge going back and forth and trying to figure out what was happening. Astounding world building. I was fine until the epilogue where I totally fell apart sobbing with relief and joy. The narrator did a great job bringing the characters to life. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. Highly recommend this book/ audio.
September 8, 2021
This was a sweet romance that wasn't overly saccharine. And the fantasy/horror elements added some creepiness which made the story even better. I have to say I enjoyed the characters of Rebecca & Thomas even more than the married couple or the "demon.". And the hotel setting and ambiance just topped it off.
February 26, 2023
A death sentence no one wants to hear. That’s what George and Jason had to live through. Hurt, deep deep anger and grief. A decision to live out the next precious months in nature, to say goodbye to family, to escape the heavy weight of waiting.
Then, when on the thin edge of reality and understanding as one knows it before the precipice of death, George and Jason plunge into a paranormal world. Time and reality fluctuate.
F.E.Feeley wove a story that pulled this listener into a fugue state, becoming fully engaged in the fate of the lovers who accidentally land smack dab into the evil that inhabits the Borderline Hotel.
At first I wasn’t sure the narrator would work for me, but in a relatively short time Jamie Fessenden’s voice was perfect for the struggle we all face at some point between life and death. The inevitability. The resistance. The unexpected and unwanted twist that evil interference takes in life.
Lovely take on mythology, spirituality, love, sacrifice, grief, truth that loss in inevitable.
Then, when on the thin edge of reality and understanding as one knows it before the precipice of death, George and Jason plunge into a paranormal world. Time and reality fluctuate.
F.E.Feeley wove a story that pulled this listener into a fugue state, becoming fully engaged in the fate of the lovers who accidentally land smack dab into the evil that inhabits the Borderline Hotel.
At first I wasn’t sure the narrator would work for me, but in a relatively short time Jamie Fessenden’s voice was perfect for the struggle we all face at some point between life and death. The inevitability. The resistance. The unexpected and unwanted twist that evil interference takes in life.
Lovely take on mythology, spirituality, love, sacrifice, grief, truth that loss in inevitable.
January 3, 2021
Borderland was one of my top reads of 2020, so I jumped at the opportunity to listen to the audiobook as I closed out the year. (original review) I rarely reread in general, whether that entails listening to books I’ve read or simply picking up the same e-book a year or two later. However, books that wow me the way Borderland did will always entice me to come back for another round.
The writing, imagery, and story was just as captivating as the first time. Once again, I was struck at the originality of the story and how it took me through the full spectrum of emotions from fear, to sadness, to comfort. Borderland is undoubtedly a book I’ll recommend time and time again be it to romance fans or simply those readers looking for a great story with gay characters, simply because it delivers.
The narrator was a different but solid choice for this unique story. His grizzled, rough voice fit the tone of the book; and while I wasn’t certain at first, he smoothly navigated the scenes of the book- capturing the ghostly fascination, the macabre suspense, and the ethereal beauty- so much so that I cannot imagine a different voice for Borderland now. If you’re a fan of different stories or love ghostly fantasies, I cannot recommend this title enough- however you’d like to experience it.
The writing, imagery, and story was just as captivating as the first time. Once again, I was struck at the originality of the story and how it took me through the full spectrum of emotions from fear, to sadness, to comfort. Borderland is undoubtedly a book I’ll recommend time and time again be it to romance fans or simply those readers looking for a great story with gay characters, simply because it delivers.
The narrator was a different but solid choice for this unique story. His grizzled, rough voice fit the tone of the book; and while I wasn’t certain at first, he smoothly navigated the scenes of the book- capturing the ghostly fascination, the macabre suspense, and the ethereal beauty- so much so that I cannot imagine a different voice for Borderland now. If you’re a fan of different stories or love ghostly fantasies, I cannot recommend this title enough- however you’d like to experience it.
July 11, 2020
Editor's Review
This novel has already received a whole slew of excellent reviews, and I doubt I can add to what's already been said. I edited, proofread and then read for pleasure this beautiful, brilliant literary novel, and if it's ever made into a movie, I'll watch it over and over again. From heart-wrenching tragedy to comedic quips, light and dark, jump scares, psychological cold chills, and an ultimately satisfying ending, this is one of those 'how it's done' novels, and I'm grateful the authors afforded me the privilege of publishing Borderland on their behalf.
This novel has already received a whole slew of excellent reviews, and I doubt I can add to what's already been said. I edited, proofread and then read for pleasure this beautiful, brilliant literary novel, and if it's ever made into a movie, I'll watch it over and over again. From heart-wrenching tragedy to comedic quips, light and dark, jump scares, psychological cold chills, and an ultimately satisfying ending, this is one of those 'how it's done' novels, and I'm grateful the authors afforded me the privilege of publishing Borderland on their behalf.
March 4, 2021
This wasn't for me. Too much horror, not enough romance.
June 24, 2020
Okay, so on first reading the blurb, this book doesn’t sound like a whole barrel of laughs. Borderland is the story of a young married couple, but of the MC’s has a one-way ticket to the next realm, via a terminal cancer diagnosis. Their final journey to George’s home town is hindered by their car breaking down in a ferocious storm, just outside the gates of an old hotel, the Borderland. This hotel has all the elements of “don’t go there or you won’t come out,” but George and Jason have no choice. George is sick and needs looking after.
See the whole review at http://www.wrotepodcast.com/borderlan...
See the whole review at http://www.wrotepodcast.com/borderlan...
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