Finding Persephone

by P.J. Braley

Caroline Taylor is very good at pretending.

The polished surface of her life appears perfect until the morning a smitten grad student brings the cracks in her illusions into sharp focus. No longer willing to live a lie, Caroline’s journey of transformation sets her on a collision course with Dr. Grant Gates. Blinded by his quiet power, good looks, and impressive credentials, Caroline fails to see that Grant is also very good at pretending.

Created from flesh and fire, Grant has a past he would like to forget, an assignment he cannot reveal, and a forbidden obsession with his newest client whose beautiful eyes miss nothing. As the enforcer of an underground brotherhood, he must protect their secrets at any cost, but Grant is determined that Caroline will not become his latest victim. Striking a devil’s bargain to keep the woman he has been searching for safe from his brothers’ plans, Grant struggles to hide who–and what–he is until he becomes her only hope of escape...but will he let her go?

There’s not a chance in Hell.

A contemporary retelling of the Greek myth of Hades and Persephone with a conflicted yet compelling male protagonist and a voice-driven narrative from the woman’s perspective, Finding Persephone is the intriguing tale of an alien assassin’s search for absolution and the woman whose love lies at the heart of his redemption.

399 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2022

About the author

After nearly two decades of copy editing other writers’ manuscripts, P.J. Braley embarked on her own writing path. Her debut novel, The Fire Slayers, introduced the reading community to an alien species living beneath the Earth’s surface who are determined to save the world from human destruction. Finding Persephone tells the story of an alien assassin who makes the unforgivable mistake of falling in love with a human. In her third novel, Persephone’s Children, P.J. creates a love story so complete that it transcends the boundaries of life—and death.

In The Bookbinder’s Apprentice and other Impossible Love Stories, P.J. reaches beyond the boundaries of romance to twist the paranormal, history, and fantasy genres into a delightfully sensual tangle of devotion, redemption, sacrifice, and a love that could last forever.

When she isn’t writing about aliens negotiating the labyrinth of human love while trying to save the planet, researching her next work of historical fiction, or discovering the “possible” in impossible love stories, you will find her sitting under the umbrella on the sundeck with her rescue Aussies, Nymeria and Kaela.

Learn more about P.J., at PJBraley.com or follow her on Facebook at PJBraleyAuthor and/or ‪@pjbraley.bsky.social‬. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

P.J. Braley is the Past President of Citrus Writers of Florida.

Reviews

[Tiffnicholle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a sequel to The Fire Slayers by P.J.Braley. This story follows Timaeus, the child of Venzel and Destani, who now goes by Dr. Grant Gates. Following his species' plan of trying to continue their existence, a medical health spa is opened by their collective where Dr. Grant and his brothers are the doctors in charge.

Caroline begins attending the spa and is assigned to Dr. Grant as a patient. Caroline is ready to make big changes for a new flame.

Dr. Grant has many patients, but he doesn't start to break the rules until he meets Caroline. Caroline is different. Caroline is worth dying for.

Caroline has to make a choice between following her heart or following her vows.

This story left me wanting and needing more. P.J. Braley has a way of dragging you into the story. I look forward to her future works.

[Mary Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sensuality and Science fiction

I don't think it would have occurred to me to combine the two, but now I'll never be able to separate them. One of those books where certain sequences, scenes, will pop into mind at odd times for a very long time...
Reminiscent of the Morlocks and Eloi, or a certain episode of Star Trek...