Time of the Soul

Pembroke Eve Chronicles #3

by Mark Alders

Time of the Soul continues the adventure a month after the events of Light of the Body. This time the townsfolk are celebrating the Spring Dance. An event that will hopefully kick away the worries of past incidents in the town. Although, even an occasion such as the Spring Dance can't remain uneventful for long, especially because this is Pembroke Eve, after all. Unfortunately, for Jacob things are about to get really weird as a pan-dimensional being whisks him away just as Corey Harrington decides to make a scene at the dance and start throwing punches. The being, who also happens to fall in love with Jacob, shows him a different past, a possible present and a future he must choose. But the consequences of the being's love is more than Jacob can handle or allow to happen. He will lose all of his friends and a life he thought he had if he accepts the being. Something he knows cannot possibly happen. Jacob is alone, without Callum or Zane or Suzy this time. Even Mr. Barnaby and his strange friend can't really help in the alternate reality the being has created to woo Jacob into his web. In the end, Jacob must resort to making a deal with the devil--his arch enemy Corey Harrington--and use all of his wits to make sure his life is as it should be before the being discovers his plan and decides that Jacob no longer deserves his affection…or his life.

Genres: M M Romance, Gay, Fantasy, Erotica, Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance

208 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

I live in Melbourne, Victoria, in the land of Oz. According to my own Teenage mis-adventures, I am just an ordinary guy with a penis which likes to get me into trouble…a lot. I’ve seduced trees, copulated with watermelons, and had nice old ladies pick ants off my naked body. Yep, that’s me. Mark Alders. All round nice guy and with my brain firmly in my pants, exactly where it belongs!

So what about the here and now? Well, I am a mild, mannered post office worker by day. I have a mortgage to pay and a partner named Lee who I have been with for *cough* twenty one years *cough.* At night, my muse, the bitch, forces me into bondage and makes me sit at my computer and type out stories about men having sex with each other…all the time…over and over…in varying degrees of WTF, too!

I mean, I have stories out there about alien spiders needing humans to nourish their eggs, red-skinned aliens whose balls glow when they are sexually excited, beings who cock dock with their victims to drain them of their life force, and a young man who discovers puberty is just the start of his problems as he comes into ‘magolescence’ on his eighteenth birthday and his penis turns into a snake!

Ah, the life of a story teller. The fun never ends.

Reviews

[Tj · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was almost like reading a step out from the series. Jacob has his own little adventure. I had a harder time rating this one. It's not anything like the two books before it. Even while reviewing it I'm going back and forth. I would give it a 4.5 but it's not an option here.

I love the character of Jacob. He's a fighter and you see even more of that within this story. If you've read any of Mark Alders's works you see his common elements in this plot and character come to life. I do love how the author is always coming up with the strangest story lines.

The only detractors I think for me was some of the editing. I don't know if it is the format I got or if it was the editing itself but it really threw me this time. I am hoping I just got a bad format:( In the end I couldn't bring myself to down grade the book a star for it:)

[Nancy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This installment sucked me in and wouldn't let go until I felt drained (yes, pun intended!) I'm amazed at the ingenuity and creativity of Mark's mind on this one. I'm like everyone else thinking that Thomas was evil. Didn't like him once he started really manipulating Jacob. LOL a cock docking vampire...very creative!

I loved how Jacob got closer to "new" friends who helped out. I want to know more about lawnmowerman Brad now :D Getting to know more of the people of Pembroke is making it a fun place to visit.

Then finding out the truth of Thomas made things clearer. I loved the twist of the end where Jacob thought he had the answer....turns out way different and so easy!

[~~~Heather S.~~~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jakey is one hot piece of meat or something, everyone seems to be attracted to him and he just goes with the flow, rolling with whatever punches come his way. I see why all the guys adore him!

This adventure was complex and strange, but yet again the characters pulled me through. I enjoyed getting to know different guys in the town, although I missed Callum and Zane. I can't believe I like Corey, how you doin' Daddy?! And the end was so sigh- worthy, how exciting!!!!!

[Heather C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So its finally time for the much talked about Spring Dance...and by the end of the 1st chapter, its already gotten weird. And in time, it gets even weirder!

This book is twisted and bouncing around all over the place, LITERALLY and Non-LINEARLY! I think I was only confused once and had to backtrack and pay closer attention to the details and then it made sense.

I like how Mark uses minor characters from the previous 2 books and brings them into the main plot for this one. Although I am ready for Jacob to be back with his friends. I missed Zane and Callum and Mr. Barnaby.

Corey shocked me the most, I think. I actually kinda like that "meat heat" now. :) hmm?

I love Jacob and I love when says "My Callum" and I'm pretty sure I got a little "misty eyed" at the end. But, I would really like to see him focus more of his attention and love on Callum. I guess its the romantic in me. I want to see more of Callum soon!

On to book 4 now

[Wendy❤Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me until the 3rd book to realize what clever titles this series has and how well they fit the theme for each individual book - awesome! During the first part of Jacob's adventure in this book I had a deja vu moment because it felt a bit like the "Ghosts of Christmas - past, present, future" and I thought this is going to be interesting. I had no idea exactly how interesting it was about to get! I was completely caught up in the action-packed storyline of this book. At times, my heart was actually racing a bit and I found I was reading pages faster because I was worried or anticipating what might come next. That's the definition of a great story!

This one was very different from the first two because we see a break from a couple of the key main characters (Callum and Zane) for most of the book, but then several secondary characters come to life and make for a very well rounded picture of Jacob's life in Pembroke Eve. I have to say, for as much as he professes his love for Callum, I'm thinking Jacob is just a little easily distracted. I wanted to cuff him a couple of times and I'm definitely keepin' my eye on him - naughty boy! On the other hand, wowzer, some pretty hot stuff going on!!

I continue to be delighted and entertained with this wonderful series and I'm moving straight on to the next one! I won't even try to imagine what surprises will be in store for me there;) Another winner from Mark Alders!!!

[Leaundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow another great one Mark. This one didn't gross me out as much. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole book though. It never slowed down. I really felt for Jacob in this one. He went through so much to try and get back. Your books always have me thinking what would I do if it happened to me. I enjoyed meeting Brad and even Corey wasn't too bad, I know shocking!!, LOL. I'm going to miss everyone so it will be cool if maybe we get to visit them again. (No pressure though Mark, lol) Once again great one!!

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 4.5 stars for #3. I loved the vampire/eternal character! I did miss Callum and Zane who didn't have much a role in this one but I'm sure they'll be back. I also enjoyed Corey (he was still a d*ck but his true side came out - too bad it's only in the alternate reality).

Great job, Mark!

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although I am enjoying the series of Pembroke Eve Chronicles, this third book was just confusing. Being whizzed around in place and time plus an eternal vampire who fed through his genitals being "docked" with Jacob was for me maybe a step too far in the SF genre.
Just 2 stars for this one.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Mark Alders created an interesting world that sucked me in and left me wanting more. Although, for the first half of this one, I was wondering what the bloody hell was going on! This time Jacob is on his own, when a pan-dimensional being sweeps him away to a world not unlike his own, but where time travel is possible and the being needs to be fed by taking his sustenance from Jacob. To make things even more interesting, this being comes in the form of Thomas, Jacob’s first crush. Like me, Jacob had no clue what was going on for the first part of the book and was unsure of whether he was suppose to be helping this Thomas or trying to get the hell away from him.

There was another unexpected twist in this story, Corey Harrington, the boy despised by Jacob (and probably all of Mark’s readers) comes to Jacob’s rescue more than once in this one. I know, strange right? Go Corey! He’s still a bit of a smuck, but after getting to know him in this alternate reality, he has moved up the ranks considerably on my list of fictitious characters I enjoy.

Then, to top off this fantastically creative book, there was a wonderfully sweet ending that literally had me making sappy aww noises while I read it, both times, I had to re-read the ending again immediately it so so friggin’ perfect!

[Kendra T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where do I even begin. First of all, Mark Alders has a mind that is crazy and brilliant. How he even comes up with these concepts is beyond me. He writes very well and is engaging as a storyteller. I enjoyed the first 2 books but this one was very different than those. Jacob is once again a hero, saving himself mostly in this story but his actions would eventually save the town as well. That said, WTF?!?! haha. My complaint with this book is the same as last book. Jacob is way too horny to be monogamous! It drives me crazy. He is so in love with Callum but has trouble resisting other temptations? Mark wrote some justification for that but it still annoys me for Jacob as a character. I was initially annoyed with Zane as well because his first thought when Suzy had another boyfriend was jealousy and wanting to win her. He is with Jacob and Callum and it confused me, but Mark justified that as well and clearly stated that Jacob and Callum are the forevers and Zane is just along for the ride until Suzy wakes up and decides she wants him. (Seriously though?? If she hasn't by now Zane...MOVE ON!) :-)

[Lexi Ander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark, babe, why for are you messing with me?

I stomped around work all day today because reading on my breaks only made me more angry. I HATED Thomas from the beginning. (Hey! He got kicked in tha nads!) I was plotting all of the ways to get rid of his evil ass...Anyone who comes between my guy Callum and Jacob will only earn animosity from me. I was freaking worried that Jacob would be stuck in that horific time line with Callum married to...Ack!...and what the hell "my littl man", who knew...Corey Harrington?

This is an AWESOME series. The characters are vivid and engaging. The challanges they face are complex and unique. Just when you think you have it figured out, Mark takes you in a whole new direction. It seems I have become emotionally invested in their well being. I now have to wait 36 hours before I can start book four. I can already feel the withdrawal coming on.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mark Alder's mind. He comes up with some of the strangest yet imaginative plots I've EVER had the pleasure of reading. Mind-bending and mind blowing doesn't even come close to describing this one. I loved it!

Corey, the bully/gay-bashing jock became one of my favorite characters in this series. He's right up there with Zane now. I knew he protested a bit too much. He and Jacob's rendition of "Daddy" and "Little Man" had me giggling with glee. It was the hottest scene in the book.

If you are tired of the same old m/m romance stories and want something new, this series is awesome. It's a cross between the X-Files, Eureka and Warehouse 13. The first book had tentacle aliens from outer-space, the second had insectmen, and this one had a time traveling energy sucking vampire.

[Phil Ansell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab! My favourite of the series so far. Loved the new characters and particularly what happened with Corey, great!

[James Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sex was hot and the story was exciting, what's not to like!