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Souls Deep
As a child, Griffin Hilliard’s special abilities were attributed to an overactive imagination. But by adulthood, his psychic talents were so strong he’d become a threat to his politically powerful family. To protect their dirty little secrets, they arranged an “accident” for him. He survived, but now he lives on the run, only one step ahead of his family’s hired assassins.
Until one night, when he’s finally caught...
His life is saved by a mysterious man named Jarrah. Griffin senses a dangerous, primal undercurrent in the stranger—as if he’s not quite human. Yet Griffin’s inexplicably drawn to him. It could be the emotional pain he suspects his rescuer hides. But Griffin fears the real reason is more disturbing—Jarrah stirs a powerful longing in him that goes against everything Griffin’s ever believed about himself.
As the assassins close in once again, and his rescuer reveals himself for what he really is, Griffin’s torn between running, as he’s done his whole life, or standing up to face his past...and his own soul-deep desires...
Gay / Dark Fantasy / Vampire / Action / Adventure / BDSM / Paranormal / Psychic Phenomena / Science Fiction / Futuristic / Suspense / Thriller
Until one night, when he’s finally caught...
His life is saved by a mysterious man named Jarrah. Griffin senses a dangerous, primal undercurrent in the stranger—as if he’s not quite human. Yet Griffin’s inexplicably drawn to him. It could be the emotional pain he suspects his rescuer hides. But Griffin fears the real reason is more disturbing—Jarrah stirs a powerful longing in him that goes against everything Griffin’s ever believed about himself.
As the assassins close in once again, and his rescuer reveals himself for what he really is, Griffin’s torn between running, as he’s done his whole life, or standing up to face his past...and his own soul-deep desires...
Gay / Dark Fantasy / Vampire / Action / Adventure / BDSM / Paranormal / Psychic Phenomena / Science Fiction / Futuristic / Suspense / Thriller
163 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
7 people are currently reading
326 people want to read
About the author
M.L. Rhodes
42 books570 followersI’m author M.L. Rhodes and I write m/m romance and fantasy. This means my books are about gay or bisexual men meeting, falling in love, and finding happily-ever-afters with other men. Sometimes the settings are contemporary, sometimes the stories take place in worlds filled with dragons, witches, or other fantasy and paranormal creatures. But there’s one thing of which you can be certain…in my books, love always wins!
If you'd like to know more about me and writing, swing by my website when you have a few minutes! http://authormlrhodes.com
If you'd like to know more about me and writing, swing by my website when you have a few minutes! http://authormlrhodes.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 19, 2012
Almost a hundred pages were about Jarrad and Griffin having sex, about-to-have-sex, just-had-sex, and I-don't-want-to-have-sex-with-you.
Who do I have to kill for a good MM vampire novel? Clearly, the answer is: MOAR people.
Didn't like this one. It had so much of potential, but wasted a lot of it. It could have explored the future world and built an epic story. Instead, it set up the stones and then stop short at building a house.
Their love was instalove, and I had no idea why they even liked each other, unless you count loneliness. The characters had potential, but the book was too short to show any of it. Most of the book was about them wanting-but-not-quite-getting-it-on.
Moaning =/= insight into personality. So what you get is a couple of characters with history but no personality (they're not the same thing) and a world with great potential reduced to a few sentences in the first chapter.
Not cool.
Who do I have to kill for a good MM vampire novel? Clearly, the answer is: MOAR people.
Didn't like this one. It had so much of potential, but wasted a lot of it. It could have explored the future world and built an epic story. Instead, it set up the stones and then stop short at building a house.
Their love was instalove, and I had no idea why they even liked each other, unless you count loneliness. The characters had potential, but the book was too short to show any of it. Most of the book was about them wanting-but-not-quite-getting-it-on.
Moaning =/= insight into personality. So what you get is a couple of characters with history but no personality (they're not the same thing) and a world with great potential reduced to a few sentences in the first chapter.
Not cool.
March 7, 2011
4.5 stars
Just when I thought I have exhausted vampire stories, I did backtrack of M.L Rhodes's story and found this one. Oh, gosh, how I love it.
I'm a sucker for brooding, silent hero. So, yeah, you can definitely guess that Jarrah owns my heart. He used to be a doctor, so as a vampire, he still values human life highly. He guarded his feeling so tight due to the betrayal he experienced from his ex-lovers some sixty years ago. Until he meets Griffin, that is. The empath/telepath human, who is willing to explore his sexuality with Jarrah, even if Griffin is never been attracted to any males before.
While the story sets to be in 2067, I don't find the world building to be too much different. Maybe because the scenes basically happen inside Jarrah's house, so I don't really feel the "world" outside. This story focuses on interaction between Jarrah and Griffin. Griffin who uses to run from hunters and now decides to fight back. Jarrah, who has been living a solitary life, until Griffin comes along. Their dialogs move me. Their love making is hot ... the shower scene is definitely one of the most sensual scenes I have ever read.
The villain in the end feels like a comic-book villain, too evil to be real. BUT, it doesn't bother me much, maybe because Griffin and Jarrah have taken over me so completely, for me to complain about that one detail. I can see myself reading this story over-and-over again without being bored. And believe me, THAT does not come often (I'm not very much a re-reader)
Just when I thought I have exhausted vampire stories, I did backtrack of M.L Rhodes's story and found this one. Oh, gosh, how I love it.
I'm a sucker for brooding, silent hero. So, yeah, you can definitely guess that Jarrah owns my heart. He used to be a doctor, so as a vampire, he still values human life highly. He guarded his feeling so tight due to the betrayal he experienced from his ex-lovers some sixty years ago. Until he meets Griffin, that is. The empath/telepath human, who is willing to explore his sexuality with Jarrah, even if Griffin is never been attracted to any males before.
While the story sets to be in 2067, I don't find the world building to be too much different. Maybe because the scenes basically happen inside Jarrah's house, so I don't really feel the "world" outside. This story focuses on interaction between Jarrah and Griffin. Griffin who uses to run from hunters and now decides to fight back. Jarrah, who has been living a solitary life, until Griffin comes along. Their dialogs move me. Their love making is hot ... the shower scene is definitely one of the most sensual scenes I have ever read.
The villain in the end feels like a comic-book villain, too evil to be real. BUT, it doesn't bother me much, maybe because Griffin and Jarrah have taken over me so completely, for me to complain about that one detail. I can see myself reading this story over-and-over again without being bored. And believe me, THAT does not come often (I'm not very much a re-reader)
April 20, 2015
Fun book but WAY too short. Because of the length of the story, I didn't connect with the characters but the book itself was very well written. Jarrah and Griffin were hot together. Their relationship was definitely in the insta-love category.
Fans of M.L. Rhodes would not be disappointed.
Fans of M.L. Rhodes would not be disappointed.
April 23, 2021
3.5 stars
August 21, 2010
This was my first M.L. Rhodes story. Of kind, it's an enjoyable, light read, rather like munching through a packet of M&Ms as a bedtime snack. And I'd actually give this 3.5 stars if I could.
This is a gay-for-you tale set in the globally-warmed near-future, in Delta Sector (formerly Colorado). Griffin is a human with empathic abilities who has been running from his family for four years--they're out to terminate him. During one confrontation, Jarrah, a vampire, miraculously appears and saves Griffin's life. Jarrah heals Griffin of a gunshot wound. Griffin--not gay--finds himself attracted. This leads to predictable results.
Both charas are carrying baggage, and we learn the dimensions of it in a tell-not-show way. Both must overcome their baggage to find their souls-deep bond. Both charas are 'type-ish': Griffin is caring, persistent, curious, and he's not good with 'no;' Jarrah is distant, cold, emotionally wounded, mistrusting. Jarrah's basically the one who has to change to make this work.
Predictability has its advantages (and if I'm reading romance for the romance, I really want the HEA closure ... that predictability is necessary). It can be fulfilling when I find my expectations satisfied at the end, even if I figured them out at the beginning. It can be relaxing to let go niggling over why either would be attracted to the other in the first place and just run with it. In these ways, Souls Deep works perfectly.
The sex is nice - explicit and caring. There's one straight-forward spanking scene of the naughty-boy variety and the promise of another off-camera. Dialogue is good, writing style is more than competent and in keeping with the genre. Scene POV alternates between Griffin and Jarrah in third-person style.
I never know why these "books" are so short, and that's so often a disappointment, because I do look to sink my teeth into these things. When I discover they are this short, I figure I'm looking at a bare bones boy-meets-boy, boy-falls-in-love-with-boy, boy-loses-boy, boy-gets-boy-back structure, with a fringe of plot. This is true here, which motivates my 'of kind' qualification. But short makes it a start-to-finish bedtime read, which has its advantages.
I have no idea why the setting and time period had to be futuristic; this is immaterial to the story. I just think if you're going to world-build beyond the known present, there should be plot and context justification for it, and a dwindling supply of electricity to explain Griffin's family's position in a future shaped by global warming just felt contrived.
Read it? Sure! You'll discover a nice, little romance-driven story; a satisfying candy snack. Just don't go in with the expectation of a full-course meal.
This is a gay-for-you tale set in the globally-warmed near-future, in Delta Sector (formerly Colorado). Griffin is a human with empathic abilities who has been running from his family for four years--they're out to terminate him. During one confrontation, Jarrah, a vampire, miraculously appears and saves Griffin's life. Jarrah heals Griffin of a gunshot wound. Griffin--not gay--finds himself attracted. This leads to predictable results.
Both charas are carrying baggage, and we learn the dimensions of it in a tell-not-show way. Both must overcome their baggage to find their souls-deep bond. Both charas are 'type-ish': Griffin is caring, persistent, curious, and he's not good with 'no;' Jarrah is distant, cold, emotionally wounded, mistrusting. Jarrah's basically the one who has to change to make this work.
Predictability has its advantages (and if I'm reading romance for the romance, I really want the HEA closure ... that predictability is necessary). It can be fulfilling when I find my expectations satisfied at the end, even if I figured them out at the beginning. It can be relaxing to let go niggling over why either would be attracted to the other in the first place and just run with it. In these ways, Souls Deep works perfectly.
The sex is nice - explicit and caring. There's one straight-forward spanking scene of the naughty-boy variety and the promise of another off-camera. Dialogue is good, writing style is more than competent and in keeping with the genre. Scene POV alternates between Griffin and Jarrah in third-person style.
I never know why these "books" are so short, and that's so often a disappointment, because I do look to sink my teeth into these things. When I discover they are this short, I figure I'm looking at a bare bones boy-meets-boy, boy-falls-in-love-with-boy, boy-loses-boy, boy-gets-boy-back structure, with a fringe of plot. This is true here, which motivates my 'of kind' qualification. But short makes it a start-to-finish bedtime read, which has its advantages.
I have no idea why the setting and time period had to be futuristic; this is immaterial to the story. I just think if you're going to world-build beyond the known present, there should be plot and context justification for it, and a dwindling supply of electricity to explain Griffin's family's position in a future shaped by global warming just felt contrived.
Read it? Sure! You'll discover a nice, little romance-driven story; a satisfying candy snack. Just don't go in with the expectation of a full-course meal.
May 31, 2012
I'm not going to sugar-coat it. This could have been a lot better written than it was. The relationship happened almost immediately, with little explanation as to how these two people could possibly want to be together. I am an avid reader of M/M romance/erotica, but I don't understand the whole concept of one or more people in the couple being apparently completely straight before they meet the other(each other), and only actually being romantically or sexually interested in this one man. It doesn't make a great deal of sense, but it is a character device I have seen done over and over again. The only time it has ever been honestly believable to me was in Torchwood between Captain Jack and Ianto Jones.
I also had a problem with how much sex there was. Don't get me wrong, I like reading about sex. But it is only acceptable to have a story that is 75% sex and 25% plot, with both main characters being constantly aroused around each other (really? Who honestly thinks that is believable?), is in poorly written fanfiction.
When the plot actually happened, it was generally good. I just wish there had been a lot more of it, and that the story had been more fully explored and plotted-out. I've read other Rhodes books that were, but this one was a disappointment.
I also had a problem with how much sex there was. Don't get me wrong, I like reading about sex. But it is only acceptable to have a story that is 75% sex and 25% plot, with both main characters being constantly aroused around each other (really? Who honestly thinks that is believable?), is in poorly written fanfiction.
When the plot actually happened, it was generally good. I just wish there had been a lot more of it, and that the story had been more fully explored and plotted-out. I've read other Rhodes books that were, but this one was a disappointment.
November 1, 2012
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 8/10
PROS:
- Fascinating futuristic world. Lots of small details are thrown in unobtrusively.
- Includes the impossible (or at least very unlikely/rare) scenario in which a guy has back-to-back orgasms with no recovery time--this is a feature of a fair number of the m/m romances I’ve read--but also contains a humorous, possibly plausible explanation for it.
- HOT sex scenes. Wow. Even for Rhodes, whom I have discovered is consistently good in this area.
- Satisfying resolution to the main conflict that pleasantly surprised me. In fact, I liked it a lot.
CON:
- The biggest problem with this story is that the ending is missing something rather big. It has a typically happy ending, but there’s an element that comes up in all stories of this nature that is usually resolved one way or another but is left absolutely untouched at the end of this story. As a result, there’s a degree of uncertainty that kept me from being entirely satisfied with the conclusion.
Rating: 8/10
PROS:
- Fascinating futuristic world. Lots of small details are thrown in unobtrusively.
- Includes the impossible (or at least very unlikely/rare) scenario in which a guy has back-to-back orgasms with no recovery time--this is a feature of a fair number of the m/m romances I’ve read--but also contains a humorous, possibly plausible explanation for it.
- HOT sex scenes. Wow. Even for Rhodes, whom I have discovered is consistently good in this area.
- Satisfying resolution to the main conflict that pleasantly surprised me. In fact, I liked it a lot.
CON:
- The biggest problem with this story is that the ending is missing something rather big. It has a typically happy ending, but there’s an element that comes up in all stories of this nature that is usually resolved one way or another but is left absolutely untouched at the end of this story. As a result, there’s a degree of uncertainty that kept me from being entirely satisfied with the conclusion.
October 24, 2011
The setting, a near-future & vampire-inhabited U.S., is what drew me to this book. Unfortunately, it is not a very big part of the story. There is also not much of a relationship, these two people meet and nobody knows why, but they can't live without each other. There is just not a lot of story here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2010
I own a lot of M/M ebooks. A lot. Once I get them all added you will be able to see just how many. This book is right there at the top of the heap. Loved it.
February 11, 2015
Second read was even better. I do have a terrible tendency to skim. That might be a good thing because I also like to re-read books, so when I go back to read I usually find something I missed the first time around. Geesh, I'm thinking about what I just wrote and how weird is THAT? To read a book and not get the whole gist of it. Shame on me for wasting my time :)
Anyway, I love the ghost, Billy, and really feel his problem. To lose a life you love and have it traded for a life of unending... boredom, nothingness, no touching, no feeling, no interaction.
Terrance is hurting, he can see and talk to the dead, but everyone thinks he's insane. How good must it have been to have someone believe in him, and help others to believe in him also. I think that's why he and Billy connected. They both needed to find something, anything, that would make them feel REAL.
Loved the story... time after time :)
========================================
1st Read Jul 31, 2011
2nd Read Oct 09, 2011
3rd Read Feb 05, 2015
Anyway, I love the ghost, Billy, and really feel his problem. To lose a life you love and have it traded for a life of unending... boredom, nothingness, no touching, no feeling, no interaction.
Terrance is hurting, he can see and talk to the dead, but everyone thinks he's insane. How good must it have been to have someone believe in him, and help others to believe in him also. I think that's why he and Billy connected. They both needed to find something, anything, that would make them feel REAL.
Loved the story... time after time :)
========================================
1st Read Jul 31, 2011
2nd Read Oct 09, 2011
3rd Read Feb 05, 2015
March 4, 2010
This is the second book I’ve read by M.L. Rhodes, and again I enjoyed it, didn’t love it though. I did love both Griffin and Jarrah right away. I must admit I do love my vampires and I fell for Jarrah right off; I’m a sucker for the tortured, lonely vampire and he didn’t disappoint. Griffin was a great character also. He’s instantly attracted to Jarrah, but doesn’t understand because he’s never been attracted to a man before. This one was both romantic and hot. I loved watching the relationship between these two develop. As much as I was enjoying it, I lost it toward the end. It felt to much like a corny TV soap opera style ending when the villain is revealed and the whole thing wraps up.
All in all, I liked this one. I look forward to reading more of books by M.L. Rhodes. Maybe next time I’ll be able to find a full length novel, I’m not a big fan of the shorter books.
All in all, I liked this one. I look forward to reading more of books by M.L. Rhodes. Maybe next time I’ll be able to find a full length novel, I’m not a big fan of the shorter books.
July 9, 2010
Griffin is a young man with psychic abilities running from danger. Jarrah is the vampire who saves him. Set in the not too distant future in a world devastated by global warming these two meet in a dark alley where Griffin almost loses his life at the hands of the killers hired by someone close to him. This is GFY story was a nice read. Griffin's never been interested in men before and certainly not in vampires so his attraction to Jarrah is a huge surprise. I liked for protags and the plot was interesting. The book fell a little short for me at the ending but overall was an entertaining read.
June 15, 2010
I presume you know what the book is about. I'm letting you know what I liked or disliked about it.
This was a good read. Well written with awesome heat between lovers. It's about the size of a novella. I suspect if it were longer (more story intrigue, etc.) I'd have enough time to "really like it" or give it 4 stars at least.
Loved the names of Jarrah and his brother River. Really liked Jarrah as the vampire he was written to be. I genuinely enjoyed Jarrah's lover Griffin.
I enjoyed the authors writing style and story so much I purchased "Passion". I've since read Passion and will review that book next.
This was a good read. Well written with awesome heat between lovers. It's about the size of a novella. I suspect if it were longer (more story intrigue, etc.) I'd have enough time to "really like it" or give it 4 stars at least.
Loved the names of Jarrah and his brother River. Really liked Jarrah as the vampire he was written to be. I genuinely enjoyed Jarrah's lover Griffin.
I enjoyed the authors writing style and story so much I purchased "Passion". I've since read Passion and will review that book next.
June 25, 2011
I absolutely was loving Souls Deep until the ending. TOO RUSHED! The introduction of the characters was good and the scene setting was good, the pace of the story was good and the unfolding of the characters relationship was good. But, out of nowhere, like someone flipped a switch, the book ended. Everything was wrapped up and we were sent home. The sad part is that everything that had passed to that point was for naught because the ending destroyed all that was good. If the author had spent as much time with the ending as she did with the story then this would have been an excellent book. As that isn't the case, I give Souls Deep three stars.
July 19, 2014
This book didn't really go the way I thought it would. For one, I expected more action overall with the fact that Griffin is being hunted and I also didn't expect him to find out about Jarrah so quickly. The dystopian society was a nice touch but I would have liked some more detail about it to make the backbone of the story a little stronger. Overall I liked the story but, honestly, I think it would've been better if there had been more conflict; really the entire thing was just too EASY and that's a shame because I could see the potential for a more in depth story.
June 8, 2012
Good erotic scenes, but I think the plot could be better explored.
I still prefer other books by ML Rhodes as the terrific
or the amazing series
I still prefer other books by ML Rhodes as the terrific
or the amazing series
August 12, 2016
I need to start reminding myself that I'm just not into shorter stories. Not enough pages to fully develop the world or the characters. However, it was a nice bit of light reading, pleasurable, no glaring faults, but nothing to remember a couple of months down the road. Something for a rainy afternoon.
December 20, 2014
Because I will read almost any m/m vampire book, (it's just a thing of mine) I picked this up. It was about 90% porn, 10% plot. Really not much to it.
I'm a hopeless romantic at heart and a pretty forgiving reader, but all this instalove I keep coming across is starting to really try my patience.
I'm a hopeless romantic at heart and a pretty forgiving reader, but all this instalove I keep coming across is starting to really try my patience.
December 15, 2013
This was a very nice quick read. It is mostly about the two MCs learning to accept each other as mates and staying put without running from who they are. I wish there was more to the story though, that it would take them a while to get together, but oh well, this was nice too xD
December 13, 2014
Vampire? Check. Stupid human? Check. Lots of smutty sex? Check.
There is really nothing new here and even though there is no fated mate or whatever there is insta-love. The plot was obvious as well as the resolution.
The fluttering anus and butt folds was funny though!
There is really nothing new here and even though there is no fated mate or whatever there is insta-love. The plot was obvious as well as the resolution.
The fluttering anus and butt folds was funny though!
March 7, 2021
5 stars
May 14, 2010
Another great read. This time you are reading about a vampire that has a conscience. Great love story. Read it, REad it.
June 2, 2010
It was a great love story about two people that have special abilities one human and one vampire. I was left wanting more but in a good way.
April 26, 2011
Not ML Rhodes best work I sad to say and I normally really like her stories. This one for me was just meh ok. Lovely cover though.
June 8, 2012
Insta-love, and plot felt 2D rather than 3D
July 30, 2013
Sorry, this one just didn't work for me :(
2 Stars for Jarrah though!
2 Stars for Jarrah though!
October 7, 2013
Not horribly deep or whatever and rather heavy on the sex, but overall a nice read.
December 4, 2013
3.5 really. I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews