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Neon Scars #1
Surface Scratch
Some nightclubs take your money. This one might take everything.
Caleb Walsh just wants to survive. After a car accident left him scarred and his family shattered, he's desperate for a job to pay his rent. When he stumbles into Club Euphoria, he never expects to find a home among its staff—or to catch the eye of the enigmatic owner, Marcus Graves.
Marcus Graves has owned the popular nightclub for years, cultivating a mysterious persona that keeps people at a distance—exactly where he wants them. But when the quiet young man with the striking scar applies for a job, Marcus feels an immediate pull he hasn't experienced in decades... perhaps centuries.
Their attraction is immediate, forbidden, and dangerous. Each kiss draws Caleb deeper into the shadows, each touch binds him tighter to a world where pleasure and pain are intimate companions. But as their passion ignites, so does the attention of those who hunt in the dark—a merciless group determined to exterminate Marcus and his kind.
Blood will spill. Loyalties will be tested. And Caleb must decide if loving a monster is worth becoming prey himself.
Because in this world, the cover charge is paid in blood.
Surface Scratch is an M/M Dark Paranormal Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It is the debut novel of author Gale Ian Tate in a planned series.
Warning: This book contains adult content not suitable for underage readers and features foul language, steamy scenes, a psychopathic teenager, violence, blood, and torture.
Caleb Walsh just wants to survive. After a car accident left him scarred and his family shattered, he's desperate for a job to pay his rent. When he stumbles into Club Euphoria, he never expects to find a home among its staff—or to catch the eye of the enigmatic owner, Marcus Graves.
Marcus Graves has owned the popular nightclub for years, cultivating a mysterious persona that keeps people at a distance—exactly where he wants them. But when the quiet young man with the striking scar applies for a job, Marcus feels an immediate pull he hasn't experienced in decades... perhaps centuries.
Their attraction is immediate, forbidden, and dangerous. Each kiss draws Caleb deeper into the shadows, each touch binds him tighter to a world where pleasure and pain are intimate companions. But as their passion ignites, so does the attention of those who hunt in the dark—a merciless group determined to exterminate Marcus and his kind.
Blood will spill. Loyalties will be tested. And Caleb must decide if loving a monster is worth becoming prey himself.
Because in this world, the cover charge is paid in blood.
Surface Scratch is an M/M Dark Paranormal Romance with a HEA and no cliffhanger. It is the debut novel of author Gale Ian Tate in a planned series.
Warning: This book contains adult content not suitable for underage readers and features foul language, steamy scenes, a psychopathic teenager, violence, blood, and torture.
372 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2023
38 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Gale Ian Tate
9 books39 followersGale writes the kind of mm dark/gray romance that makes you question your life choices in the best possible way. When not crafting morally questionable characters doing questionable things, she can be found buried in a book, rolling dice in yet another D&D campaign, or frantically crocheting while binge-watching whatever series has stolen her soul.
She is a gaming enthusiast, horror movie aficionado, and BL manhwa collector who believes the best stories live in those deliciously gray areas. Between wrangling her four kids and making elaborate to-do lists (that will definitely be ignored), she is always down to geek out over a good book rec or debate which problematic character deserves more love.
She is a gaming enthusiast, horror movie aficionado, and BL manhwa collector who believes the best stories live in those deliciously gray areas. Between wrangling her four kids and making elaborate to-do lists (that will definitely be ignored), she is always down to geek out over a good book rec or debate which problematic character deserves more love.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
February 19, 2024
4.25 stars. Vampires and paranormal goodness. Awe, you guys, there was something so charming about Caleb. He’s vulnerable, self-conscious, down-on-his-luck, struggling with a life that hasn’t handed him much joy. I longed for someone to snatch him up and spoil him rotten. He is constantly blushing and adorably inexperienced, so stinking cute!
There is violence and some gore in this one, it’s a bit dark overall with perfectly imperfect main characters, friends and family.
Contemporary, m/m, vampires, human, violence, blood.
There is violence and some gore in this one, it’s a bit dark overall with perfectly imperfect main characters, friends and family.
Contemporary, m/m, vampires, human, violence, blood.
Want to read
August 7, 2023So I found this while cruising the new series/also-boughts banner for Violent Desire, (thank you Amazon, please keep that new feature, it works!), and the book cover caught my eye. I'm a sucker for a shiny cover. The blurb is intriguing and it has good reviews. I'm going to take a look.
June 22, 2025
This was a really good book! Vampire stories can become repetitive and this brought a fresh perspective to a story that’s been told over and over again. I had started the second book in this series but decided to put that down and read this first. I am very glad I did. The characters in the second book are featured extensively in this book.
There are a lot of errors and they did detract from the story at times. Parts also dragged a bit and I thought the last part of the book was more exciting than the first part. There is a lot of world building though and that was important. I so hope the second book flows better.
This is a promising start to what seems to be a series for this lovable and crazy bunch of vampires. I look forward to more!
There are a lot of errors and they did detract from the story at times. Parts also dragged a bit and I thought the last part of the book was more exciting than the first part. There is a lot of world building though and that was important. I so hope the second book flows better.
This is a promising start to what seems to be a series for this lovable and crazy bunch of vampires. I look forward to more!
May 14, 2023
May 2023
Epub edition
Copy received from Book Sirens. Thank you. Nope, I didn't get paid for this. Yep, full honesty.
I chose this one because I liked the cover. The dark background, neon lights and silhouettes. On a closer look at what I thought was a guy in an old coat and top hat, it was actually some blurred alien looking types of humans. Didn't like the cover so much now.
Caleb was an innocent though and through. It showed. He was the damsel in distress with the mean right hook. I forgot vampires were a secret. There's so may books now where its just the norm. So it was a change, a nostalgic one.
Marcus was hopeless. It felt like he was trying the mysterious thing and instead came across as a tsundere puppy. The will they won't they game felt like it would drag on, until Caleb showed his fire and they finally got somewhere.
I liked Tariq. I liked Ophelia. Up until Ophelia gave Caleb a warning, I liked Andrew. I didn't like Vincent. Not to start with. He grew on me with the protectiveness, Marcus admitting they were friends and being called Uncle Vinny. Hard not to like the guy after that. There's still the thing with Adam going on, so curious about that.
From there its blood and sex with Andrew growing more creepy and Vincent more likable. Ophelia's little mission proved just how little power Marcus really has, and whilst it was good they had backup, it could've been worse.
Then there was the countdown to the ending, where the book almost lost me and a star. After all the danger and the known threat, Caleb decides he's going back to his apartment - where he was followed before and his brother knows where he lives - to get a few things. Stupid. Marcus is okay with this, choosing to be teasing rather than acknowledging the threat. At this point it was guaranteed he'd end up kidnapped.
Then there was the rescue, where Caleb tells Marcus to stop, like the hunters will just accept their defeat, up and go home. Zealots. He was warned. I'm surprised Caleb got through with his humanity intact. I liked that he easily accepted Marcus' vampiric state, but he was pushing the light in the darkness thing. He got in the way with V and he got in the way with the hunters. Marcus should've put him to sleep and tossed him to safety until it was over. I'm now asking myself why I am giving this one 4 stars. Ah, that's right. The other characters. Its the support.
Sweet m/m vampire/human with hunters. An innocent human with past trauma and a mean right hook and a vampire with a beast.
Epub edition
Copy received from Book Sirens. Thank you. Nope, I didn't get paid for this. Yep, full honesty.
I chose this one because I liked the cover. The dark background, neon lights and silhouettes. On a closer look at what I thought was a guy in an old coat and top hat, it was actually some blurred alien looking types of humans. Didn't like the cover so much now.
Caleb was an innocent though and through. It showed. He was the damsel in distress with the mean right hook. I forgot vampires were a secret. There's so may books now where its just the norm. So it was a change, a nostalgic one.
Marcus was hopeless. It felt like he was trying the mysterious thing and instead came across as a tsundere puppy. The will they won't they game felt like it would drag on, until Caleb showed his fire and they finally got somewhere.
I liked Tariq. I liked Ophelia. Up until Ophelia gave Caleb a warning, I liked Andrew. I didn't like Vincent. Not to start with. He grew on me with the protectiveness, Marcus admitting they were friends and being called Uncle Vinny. Hard not to like the guy after that. There's still the thing with Adam going on, so curious about that.
From there its blood and sex with Andrew growing more creepy and Vincent more likable. Ophelia's little mission proved just how little power Marcus really has, and whilst it was good they had backup, it could've been worse.
Then there was the countdown to the ending, where the book almost lost me and a star. After all the danger and the known threat, Caleb decides he's going back to his apartment - where he was followed before and his brother knows where he lives - to get a few things. Stupid. Marcus is okay with this, choosing to be teasing rather than acknowledging the threat. At this point it was guaranteed he'd end up kidnapped.
Then there was the rescue, where Caleb tells Marcus to stop, like the hunters will just accept their defeat, up and go home. Zealots. He was warned. I'm surprised Caleb got through with his humanity intact. I liked that he easily accepted Marcus' vampiric state, but he was pushing the light in the darkness thing. He got in the way with V and he got in the way with the hunters. Marcus should've put him to sleep and tossed him to safety until it was over. I'm now asking myself why I am giving this one 4 stars. Ah, that's right. The other characters. Its the support.
Sweet m/m vampire/human with hunters. An innocent human with past trauma and a mean right hook and a vampire with a beast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
3.7 ⭐️
For a contemporary mm romance, it was definitely one of the better ones out there for sure. Probably because there was actual plot in it, with vampires, a traumatized human mc and a vampire hunting society. It was a fun, easy read, perfect for when you’re in class or on the train tbh (maybe not the spicy parts tho lol). Of course it contained some level of cringiness - as any (in my opinion!!) contemporary romance does haha, however, not that cringe that it ruins the plot, if you know what I mean.
For a contemporary mm romance, it was definitely one of the better ones out there for sure. Probably because there was actual plot in it, with vampires, a traumatized human mc and a vampire hunting society. It was a fun, easy read, perfect for when you’re in class or on the train tbh (maybe not the spicy parts tho lol). Of course it contained some level of cringiness - as any (in my opinion!!) contemporary romance does haha, however, not that cringe that it ruins the plot, if you know what I mean.
August 29, 2023
DNF @ P44 (12% - Ch.4)
March 18, 2023
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I've seen this described as slow burn, and I couldn't disagree more. It's pretty instalovish if you ask me, even if some things go slowly between the two.
I liked some things while wasn't totally convinced by others.
For starters, I still don't understand Marcus and Caleb's relationship. Or more likely, the beginning of it. I'm the kind of reader that needs the build up of the romance, it's part of the highlight of a romance for me. I love the pining, the falling in love, the craving and the longing. Not much of this can be found here since, like I said, instalovish.
Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of instalove, but there are some times I don't dislike it, and does times tend to be pnr, so this could have been one of those. The issue is I didn't understand what was going between them? The don't even interact much to begin with, so I was confused by them kinda liking each other lol
As things went on, it got better for me. I still didn't understand what happened, but the relationship establishes and things got interesting.
It was an interesting take on vampires. I'm a goner for vampire romances and it's nice to see a new kind of vampire.
The last 20% of the book was the best IMO, since it's action packed, we have hot scenes and some drama.
With all, sorry to say everything was pretty predictable.
As always, I can't wait to know more about the supporting characters. I'm very intrigued by Adam and Vincent, but I want to know more about the twins, Tariq, Petrov and many other vampires we met here.
I've seen this described as slow burn, and I couldn't disagree more. It's pretty instalovish if you ask me, even if some things go slowly between the two.
I liked some things while wasn't totally convinced by others.
For starters, I still don't understand Marcus and Caleb's relationship. Or more likely, the beginning of it. I'm the kind of reader that needs the build up of the romance, it's part of the highlight of a romance for me. I love the pining, the falling in love, the craving and the longing. Not much of this can be found here since, like I said, instalovish.
Generally speaking I'm not a big fan of instalove, but there are some times I don't dislike it, and does times tend to be pnr, so this could have been one of those. The issue is I didn't understand what was going between them? The don't even interact much to begin with, so I was confused by them kinda liking each other lol
As things went on, it got better for me. I still didn't understand what happened, but the relationship establishes and things got interesting.
It was an interesting take on vampires. I'm a goner for vampire romances and it's nice to see a new kind of vampire.
The last 20% of the book was the best IMO, since it's action packed, we have hot scenes and some drama.
With all, sorry to say everything was pretty predictable.
As always, I can't wait to know more about the supporting characters. I'm very intrigued by Adam and Vincent, but I want to know more about the twins, Tariq, Petrov and many other vampires we met here.
March 29, 2023
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Surface Scratch is the first book in the Neon Scars series and introduces a wold of vampires and vampire hunters that seems to balance between conventional tropes and unique world building. There are the vampires on one side, some good, some not so good, all of whom need to feed on blood. Some use blood banks, some use volunteers, some use trials — humans who have chosen, or been chosen, to stay beside their vampire patron, offering up their blood and devotion — and others simply feed on whomever they like. Hunters are on the other side, some good hearted, rescuing the victims of vampires and offering vengeance and justice to victims, while others want to erase any taint of vampires from the world.
The writing was strong, the pace was a little on the fast side (or maybe I just like to linger), but the story still had time to breathe. The characterization was strong and the world building was a study pillar supporting the story. I honestly had fun with this one, finishing it one night.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Surface Scratch is the first book in the Neon Scars series and introduces a wold of vampires and vampire hunters that seems to balance between conventional tropes and unique world building. There are the vampires on one side, some good, some not so good, all of whom need to feed on blood. Some use blood banks, some use volunteers, some use trials — humans who have chosen, or been chosen, to stay beside their vampire patron, offering up their blood and devotion — and others simply feed on whomever they like. Hunters are on the other side, some good hearted, rescuing the victims of vampires and offering vengeance and justice to victims, while others want to erase any taint of vampires from the world.
The writing was strong, the pace was a little on the fast side (or maybe I just like to linger), but the story still had time to breathe. The characterization was strong and the world building was a study pillar supporting the story. I honestly had fun with this one, finishing it one night.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
September 19, 2025
A surprisingly wholesome read for something that contains vampires and the assorted violence and blood that brings.
It’s a refreshing take on the standard human down on their luck starts unknowingly working for a vampire playbook and Gale writes the characters very well. Caleb may not be to everyone’s taste, he’s a flimsy ball of depression and anxiety at the start of the story but he settles into himself and develops a spine which is appreciated. Marcus is an interesting vampire as well, an adoptive father and an Asian immigrant, he adds both diversity and a depth of character to the story.
I’m intrigued by the side characters as well. Vincent is introduced here and is the topic of the next book, while I’m more intrigued by Matteo and his brothers.
The plot is solid, well-written but not surprising, but kudos for the adoptive child in Ophelia. She’s an interesting human counterbalance to the vampires in the story.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC!
It’s a refreshing take on the standard human down on their luck starts unknowingly working for a vampire playbook and Gale writes the characters very well. Caleb may not be to everyone’s taste, he’s a flimsy ball of depression and anxiety at the start of the story but he settles into himself and develops a spine which is appreciated. Marcus is an interesting vampire as well, an adoptive father and an Asian immigrant, he adds both diversity and a depth of character to the story.
I’m intrigued by the side characters as well. Vincent is introduced here and is the topic of the next book, while I’m more intrigued by Matteo and his brothers.
The plot is solid, well-written but not surprising, but kudos for the adoptive child in Ophelia. She’s an interesting human counterbalance to the vampires in the story.
Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC!
April 4, 2023
It was hard for me to finish the book.
At the very beginning the story started really well but very soon after that i found it all over the place.
I personally had a little bit of issue with the pacing of the story. I felt like at one time it was going very smoothly and right after that it was slowing down significantly - at those times I had difficulty continuing reading.
I think the feelings between the two main characters developed too fast. I would've liked more yearning looks.😁
I liked them both as individuals and as a couple but I couldn't connect with them as I hoped.
The secondary characters are truly hilarious i had a blast reading about them.
Over all I liked the world the author created. The book itself is about vampires but it does touch many different problems we as a society face every day. 👍
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
At the very beginning the story started really well but very soon after that i found it all over the place.
I personally had a little bit of issue with the pacing of the story. I felt like at one time it was going very smoothly and right after that it was slowing down significantly - at those times I had difficulty continuing reading.
I think the feelings between the two main characters developed too fast. I would've liked more yearning looks.😁
I liked them both as individuals and as a couple but I couldn't connect with them as I hoped.
The secondary characters are truly hilarious i had a blast reading about them.
Over all I liked the world the author created. The book itself is about vampires but it does touch many different problems we as a society face every day. 👍
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 16, 2023
Pretty good story, an interesting take on vampires. The eye changes and fangs were well thought up details, as were the human enemies. I just didn't really feel the main characters. Ophelia was really excellent.
August 24, 2023
DNF @ 47%.
I didn’t even realize I was almost halfway done, because hardly anything happened so far. And when I did, it just became less interesting, which really isn’t a good sign.
I don’t get the instalove towards Marcus. He seems so bland. They hardly interact, and when they do, again, just bland.
I’m just getting less invested with every page, so I’m going to tap out now.
I didn’t even realize I was almost halfway done, because hardly anything happened so far. And when I did, it just became less interesting, which really isn’t a good sign.
I don’t get the instalove towards Marcus. He seems so bland. They hardly interact, and when they do, again, just bland.
I’m just getting less invested with every page, so I’m going to tap out now.
March 15, 2023
This was a new to me author. I really enjoyed this book! Caleb is a little marshmallow learning his own self worth in a story about vampires. It was grittier than I was expecting it to be, which I really enjoyed. It did take a hot minute for the MCs to really get together but the chemistry was great. The secondary characters knocked it out of the park though. Ophelia probably deserves her own story, to be honest. I received an ARC of this book but I probably would've found a way to read it regardless as I'm a sucker for some vampire romance.
March 4, 2023
On March 14, 2023 author Gail Ian Tate will be releasing her debut novel Surface Scratch!!! I received this as an ARC and was not disappointed. I will be giving this a 4 star review. The writing flowed very well and the characters were interesting. My favorite was not either MC though. There is a 16 year old girl named Ophelia that is a complete psychopath and she made me so happy. That is off topic. The actual book is the beginning of a series that includes vampires and the humans that love them. Each vamp has a special gift and the human is broken in some way. Of course there is a protagonist in the form of hunters, but what would a story be without some drama. This novel will be available on KU.
March 27, 2023
Too bloody and violent to my tastes. The main character walks almost though the entire book covered in bruises and severely wounded, with swollen face, split knuckles and puncture marks. Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t find it appealing at all. I made myself finish this book, but I don’t want to read the next one.
dnf
March 29, 2023It’s a me problem. I’m picky with vampire book and I couldn’t get myself to care about anything 😭
March 20, 2023
I was so lucky to receive an advanced copy of Surface Scratch! It’s fantastic. Each of the characters are so unique that I can see future books focused on each of their origin stories. Caleb and Marcus make an adorable couple, for a human and a 201 year old vampire. Throughout the book you see Caleb develop and become the star of the story. I’m excited to read the next books in the series.
March 18, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
very minor spoiler warning
I have a lot of feelings about this book. Firstly, I love anything about vampires, so it isn’t surprising that I enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for an emotionally scarred protagonist, and Caleb is exactly that. It’s even better when the love interest sees past their pain to see their beauty, as well as wanting to make them happy. Marcus was an excellent example of this. I also quite liked how Marcus was so human and not human at the same time. Including details like his love for movies and that he cries when a dog dies in a movie make him feel human. I feel like vampires are usually cold and calculating, and he was soft, gentle, and human (while also being the dark “touch my love and you die” type that everybody loves). Put simply, I explained Marcus’s character to my cousin because I was excited reading him and she said “I think he’s your soulmate.” (LOL)
On the other hand, there are things about this I didn’t enjoy as much. Some parts of the plot and character reactions didn’t make sense/click a lot to me. Like nearly immediately forgiving Vincent.
I also am not a fan of the “insta love” type in general. I would have loved to see more emotional connections between Marcus and Caleb instead of it just being that they’re drawn to each other. I think if the characters were developed a bit more then this could also make the love seem slightly less flat. It’s still good as it is, but again I typically don’t like “instant” love or anything along those lines.
As for the spice? Brilliant. The slow burn of building up to them actually having sex was done really well.
If I could do half-stars, I would give this 3.5. Rounding it up because Marcus deserves it lol
But I do want to repeat that I enjoyed this book, despite all of my criticisms. And I definitely want a signed copy and a physical copy to annotate.
very minor spoiler warning
I have a lot of feelings about this book. Firstly, I love anything about vampires, so it isn’t surprising that I enjoyed this book. I’m a sucker for an emotionally scarred protagonist, and Caleb is exactly that. It’s even better when the love interest sees past their pain to see their beauty, as well as wanting to make them happy. Marcus was an excellent example of this. I also quite liked how Marcus was so human and not human at the same time. Including details like his love for movies and that he cries when a dog dies in a movie make him feel human. I feel like vampires are usually cold and calculating, and he was soft, gentle, and human (while also being the dark “touch my love and you die” type that everybody loves). Put simply, I explained Marcus’s character to my cousin because I was excited reading him and she said “I think he’s your soulmate.” (LOL)
On the other hand, there are things about this I didn’t enjoy as much. Some parts of the plot and character reactions didn’t make sense/click a lot to me. Like nearly immediately forgiving Vincent.
I also am not a fan of the “insta love” type in general. I would have loved to see more emotional connections between Marcus and Caleb instead of it just being that they’re drawn to each other. I think if the characters were developed a bit more then this could also make the love seem slightly less flat. It’s still good as it is, but again I typically don’t like “instant” love or anything along those lines.
As for the spice? Brilliant. The slow burn of building up to them actually having sex was done really well.
If I could do half-stars, I would give this 3.5. Rounding it up because Marcus deserves it lol
But I do want to repeat that I enjoyed this book, despite all of my criticisms. And I definitely want a signed copy and a physical copy to annotate.
August 7, 2025
Such an easy to read, well written novel that makes me very excited to start the next in the series. As the debut novel for this author I can’t wait to see how they improve, the writing already has so much foundation and connection that I’m excited to see where it all goes from here. It’s not just an average or basic vampire romance novel, the story is so much more than that and the universe itself is very well done and unique - less ~cutesy Twilight~ more gay Supernatural.
The characters were beautifully written, I couldn’t wait to continue learning about each one of them and see their role in the story. I very much enjoyed slowly uncovering the secrets and backstories behind everything and everyone, and the connection between each person and how they all tied in together. Caleb was just a wonderful main character who I was desperately just wanting the best for, it was easy to put myself in his place, I loved his reactions and inner monologue throughout. His relationships with each character were unique and thought out. There was just enough of everything, when I needed a soft sweet moment we got it, when I needed him to be a badass and step up, he did what he needed to. The story settled into a nice pace, Caleb’s reactions and adaptability to the things happening around him was well written. For someone being thrown into a completely new and crazy world, his character fit perfectly and the changes happening around him was something desperately needed and deserved, I found myself aching for this sweet boy to find joy and love. And his relationship with each character was so unique and heartwarming (for the most part shh) it was wonderful to read.
The story flowed very very well, I had a hard time putting it down and was always looking forward to reading more. Definitely has some darker tones and violence to it, but those were some of my favorite parts, where the writing was delivering those shocking events that kept me on the edge of my seat. And the romance was done so well, not over bearing, and having a great story for the backbone, it all fit together so perfectly.
Overall, I am very excited to start the next book and can’t wait for more to come out in this series, I will definitely be following this author and looking forward to any other series or universes they create!
The characters were beautifully written, I couldn’t wait to continue learning about each one of them and see their role in the story. I very much enjoyed slowly uncovering the secrets and backstories behind everything and everyone, and the connection between each person and how they all tied in together. Caleb was just a wonderful main character who I was desperately just wanting the best for, it was easy to put myself in his place, I loved his reactions and inner monologue throughout. His relationships with each character were unique and thought out. There was just enough of everything, when I needed a soft sweet moment we got it, when I needed him to be a badass and step up, he did what he needed to. The story settled into a nice pace, Caleb’s reactions and adaptability to the things happening around him was well written. For someone being thrown into a completely new and crazy world, his character fit perfectly and the changes happening around him was something desperately needed and deserved, I found myself aching for this sweet boy to find joy and love. And his relationship with each character was so unique and heartwarming (for the most part shh) it was wonderful to read.
The story flowed very very well, I had a hard time putting it down and was always looking forward to reading more. Definitely has some darker tones and violence to it, but those were some of my favorite parts, where the writing was delivering those shocking events that kept me on the edge of my seat. And the romance was done so well, not over bearing, and having a great story for the backbone, it all fit together so perfectly.
Overall, I am very excited to start the next book and can’t wait for more to come out in this series, I will definitely be following this author and looking forward to any other series or universes they create!
April 18, 2023
Surface Scratch is a very enjoyable beginning to a new series. The characters are fully fleshed out, complete with quirks, shortcomings, and struggles to overcome. Caleb is still suffering PTSD stemming from a life-altering car accident four years ago. Marcus is afraid to get close to anyone for fear that they could be violently killed - exactly like what happened to several others in the past. And Ophelia wears her bitterness like the latest Louis Vuitton creation - proudly and with blatant panache.
There were a few things that hung me up, however. Vincent went from super scary and so violent that he left Caleb bleeding on the floor to a "sarcastic uncle" character so fast I got whiplash. So much time was spent on Ophelia and her bitterness that I felt the relationship between Caleb and Marcus got overshadowed. And it was never fully explained what it was that inspired Marcus and his buddies to move away from the accepted vampire way of life and to an entirely new city. (Hopefully that will be further explained in the next book, which will be about Caleb's brother - the vampire hunter.)
Despite those few drawbacks, I truly loved this book. The pacing is steady, the characters are relatable, and the settings are so well described I could practically smell the alcohol and cigarette smoke from the nightclub. I am looking forward to the sequel!
Recommended to fans of Magen Cubed, Skyler Snow, and B.A. Stretke.
* I received this as a free eARC from the publisher via BookSirens. The opinions here are my own and are left without any compensation. *
There were a few things that hung me up, however. Vincent went from super scary and so violent that he left Caleb bleeding on the floor to a "sarcastic uncle" character so fast I got whiplash. So much time was spent on Ophelia and her bitterness that I felt the relationship between Caleb and Marcus got overshadowed. And it was never fully explained what it was that inspired Marcus and his buddies to move away from the accepted vampire way of life and to an entirely new city. (Hopefully that will be further explained in the next book, which will be about Caleb's brother - the vampire hunter.)
Despite those few drawbacks, I truly loved this book. The pacing is steady, the characters are relatable, and the settings are so well described I could practically smell the alcohol and cigarette smoke from the nightclub. I am looking forward to the sequel!
Recommended to fans of Magen Cubed, Skyler Snow, and B.A. Stretke.
* I received this as a free eARC from the publisher via BookSirens. The opinions here are my own and are left without any compensation. *
March 25, 2023
**A slow burn paranormal romance with some great world building and the right dose of mystery**
My reader soul has been craving a good paranormal read and the blurb, title and the awesome cover, hooked me right in.
We met Caleb - a sweet, young boy grappling to keep up with all the trauma and hurt life has thrown at him.
Just when he thinks he's got a breather with his job at Euphoria and his new found friends, he uncovers the world of vampires and the true mystery behind his charismatic and intense boss-Marcus.
Right from their meet, the heroes share an off-the-charts chemistry, that morphs into a beautiful romance. The author's lovely penmanship describing the strength of Caleb's feelings, the solace he feels when he's with Marcus and the bond they share is beautiful to read. It's the most tormenting of slow-burn's but totally worth the wait.
Couple with some great world building, action sequences and amazing side characters (Ophelia and Tariq are a treat), the story is a perfect beginning to the Illinois cornfield vampires series!
Looking forward to reading Vincent and Adam's story.
My reader soul has been craving a good paranormal read and the blurb, title and the awesome cover, hooked me right in.
We met Caleb - a sweet, young boy grappling to keep up with all the trauma and hurt life has thrown at him.
Just when he thinks he's got a breather with his job at Euphoria and his new found friends, he uncovers the world of vampires and the true mystery behind his charismatic and intense boss-Marcus.
Right from their meet, the heroes share an off-the-charts chemistry, that morphs into a beautiful romance. The author's lovely penmanship describing the strength of Caleb's feelings, the solace he feels when he's with Marcus and the bond they share is beautiful to read. It's the most tormenting of slow-burn's but totally worth the wait.
Couple with some great world building, action sequences and amazing side characters (Ophelia and Tariq are a treat), the story is a perfect beginning to the Illinois cornfield vampires series!
Looking forward to reading Vincent and Adam's story.
April 20, 2023
Caleb was so broken. He was dealing with the death of his mom, his looser of a brother who took off, he had no job and no money for rent. Caleb filled out so many job applications. However, no one would hire him. The bar, Europhia, was looking to hire, figuring he probably wouldn't get the job he still went in. To his suprise, he was hired on the spot. When meeting the bar owner, Marcus, Caleb felt had an instant attraction.
My heart broke for Caleb. He couldn't catch a break. He was beaten physically and mentally through the whole book. There was quite a bit of action in this story. At some points, I thought I wanted it to move along quicker. That said, I did enjoy this book.
I absolutely adored Ophelia and Tariq. They cracked me up. The other secondary characters were a bit odd, which made you kinda like them.
I am so excited to read Vincent and Adam's story. That will be an interesting story. I was a little disappointed we didn't find out more about Nick. Hopefully, he will have his own story. All in all, this was a really good debut book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
My heart broke for Caleb. He couldn't catch a break. He was beaten physically and mentally through the whole book. There was quite a bit of action in this story. At some points, I thought I wanted it to move along quicker. That said, I did enjoy this book.
I absolutely adored Ophelia and Tariq. They cracked me up. The other secondary characters were a bit odd, which made you kinda like them.
I am so excited to read Vincent and Adam's story. That will be an interesting story. I was a little disappointed we didn't find out more about Nick. Hopefully, he will have his own story. All in all, this was a really good debut book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 25, 2023
Caleb is grief-stricken, and desperate to just keep his head above water. A car accident emotionally paralyzed and irreparably damaged his mom, his brother, and Caleb. Now that he’s all alone, Caleb finds himself at Club Euphoria hoping for a job and having reached the end of his options.
Caleb meets Marcus, the devastatingly handsome owner of the club where it is clear attraction from the start. There’s a tension and a dance around each other, close and then distanced - but the inevitable is unavoidable!
I loved the tension of the love story between Caleb and Marcus. Caleb is such an emotional person, it is so evident that he needs to be cared for and loved. Seeing Marcus ease naturally into that role for Caleb was so sexy. Adding to that the existential threat from the Sunshine brigade, and the whole book becomes a must-keep-reading drama! The blood-red cherry on top is the intensely steamy scenes… it takes “changing the sheets” to a whole new dirty level and I’m here for it! Caleb and Marcus might just make Anne Rice blush 😉
For a debut author, this book reads as if it’s written from a seasoned veteran. Yes, there were some typographical errors, but the structure and plot of the story, the character arcs, and the twists were well thought out! I got to the end and wanted more - and am so happy to see sequels in the work!
Tropes:
🫦 age-gap
🩸hurt/comfort
🫦 vampires
🩸 protective vibes
🫦 suspenseful romance
🩸bl00d play
Caleb meets Marcus, the devastatingly handsome owner of the club where it is clear attraction from the start. There’s a tension and a dance around each other, close and then distanced - but the inevitable is unavoidable!
I loved the tension of the love story between Caleb and Marcus. Caleb is such an emotional person, it is so evident that he needs to be cared for and loved. Seeing Marcus ease naturally into that role for Caleb was so sexy. Adding to that the existential threat from the Sunshine brigade, and the whole book becomes a must-keep-reading drama! The blood-red cherry on top is the intensely steamy scenes… it takes “changing the sheets” to a whole new dirty level and I’m here for it! Caleb and Marcus might just make Anne Rice blush 😉
For a debut author, this book reads as if it’s written from a seasoned veteran. Yes, there were some typographical errors, but the structure and plot of the story, the character arcs, and the twists were well thought out! I got to the end and wanted more - and am so happy to see sequels in the work!
Tropes:
🫦 age-gap
🩸hurt/comfort
🫦 vampires
🩸 protective vibes
🫦 suspenseful romance
🩸bl00d play
April 4, 2023
3.5/5 stars
Surface Scratch is a dark gay paranormal romance and a series starter. Caleb is a scarred young man on his last ropes after the recent death of his mother who he has been taking care of after a car accident. He is in desperate need of a job and is hired on at Club Euphoria. When he meets its enigmatic owner Marcus, the attraction is immediate, but there’s something off about the club, its employees and its clientele. After an attack, all is revealed and Caleb must choose whether to stay or go.
The book was slow to start with a bit too many descriptions and had a slow forward progression of the story. In fact, the vampire reveal doesn’t come until 40% into the book which by then had already been way too long and obvious. But it does move faster and get more action-packed thereafter. The twists were predictable but well executed. The book tells a self contained story, but leaves enough threads for more sequels or spin offs with other characters.
This was certainly a dark romance with some iffy consent issues and deaths, but it was not quite as dark as I was expecting. I did like the humanity the author gave Marcus and the other vampires as well as the vulnerability and layers to Caleb. He struggles with his self image and worth, his traumatic past, and his desires in the face of the questionable morality of the vampires. Their romance came on really fast, but I thought it was still believable given who they are. The spice was pretty great too if you don’t mind some blood and pain mixed in.
*I received an eARC via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
Surface Scratch is a dark gay paranormal romance and a series starter. Caleb is a scarred young man on his last ropes after the recent death of his mother who he has been taking care of after a car accident. He is in desperate need of a job and is hired on at Club Euphoria. When he meets its enigmatic owner Marcus, the attraction is immediate, but there’s something off about the club, its employees and its clientele. After an attack, all is revealed and Caleb must choose whether to stay or go.
The book was slow to start with a bit too many descriptions and had a slow forward progression of the story. In fact, the vampire reveal doesn’t come until 40% into the book which by then had already been way too long and obvious. But it does move faster and get more action-packed thereafter. The twists were predictable but well executed. The book tells a self contained story, but leaves enough threads for more sequels or spin offs with other characters.
This was certainly a dark romance with some iffy consent issues and deaths, but it was not quite as dark as I was expecting. I did like the humanity the author gave Marcus and the other vampires as well as the vulnerability and layers to Caleb. He struggles with his self image and worth, his traumatic past, and his desires in the face of the questionable morality of the vampires. Their romance came on really fast, but I thought it was still believable given who they are. The spice was pretty great too if you don’t mind some blood and pain mixed in.
*I received an eARC via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2025
This took me a little bit to get into. The beginning is a little clunkier and then I think she found her stride. The relationship isn't quite insta-love but its definitely instant attraction and progresses to feelings pretty fast. There is a sweet and natural progression to get to the sex though, which I really liked.
The book is also dark dark. Some of the background details are Tragic with a capital T and Violent with a capital V. There is a lot of violence and I like how she did it, it felt less like glossed over for the sake of romantizing it and more on the realistic side-as realistic as you can get with vampires anyway lol. Caleb puking after a particular violent scene was a great touch!
Marcus was a great character but I think he could have been fleshed out a bit more. I also just wanted a little more closure. The last chapter was a little abrupt for me. Overall, it had great characters, great violence, a sweet and spicy relationship, and some good hurt/comfort moments. I'm excited for the rest of the series.
The book is also dark dark. Some of the background details are Tragic with a capital T and Violent with a capital V. There is a lot of violence and I like how she did it, it felt less like glossed over for the sake of romantizing it and more on the realistic side-as realistic as you can get with vampires anyway lol. Caleb puking after a particular violent scene was a great touch!
Marcus was a great character but I think he could have been fleshed out a bit more. I also just wanted a little more closure. The last chapter was a little abrupt for me. Overall, it had great characters, great violence, a sweet and spicy relationship, and some good hurt/comfort moments. I'm excited for the rest of the series.
April 9, 2023
Oh my god I absolutely loved this book! Caleb is a broken human and Marcus is the strong vampire he didn’t know he needed. I really enjoyed the plot of this book, and it kept me on my toes wondering what was going to happen next. I loved all of the side characters (except Andrew) but most definitely Tariq and Ophelia. I want to see a story about Tariq now! I am excited that Gale will be writing possibly the next book about Vincent and Adam, so fingers crossed! I highly recommend this book to readers who are not squeamish and can handle reading about kinky sex (mostly biting and rough handling). This book was amazing and now I want more! 10/10 recommend!
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
I received a copy of this book from BookSirens and this is my honest review.
March 21, 2023
Thank you BookSirens and Gale for the arc of this novel. This review is my own opinion and I am giving it completely voluntary.
I will start by saying that this is a semi-dark gay romance. There are aspects that can be very uncomfortable for some readers so I highly recommend checking trigger warnings before jumping in. That being said I really had a great time with this book. The take on vampires was interesting and a much less utilized take on them. The spice was bloody and the characters were well developed and each had their own personality. Our main characters Caleb and Marcus were super cute together. I really enjoyed Caleb's resilience and tenacity. Marcus has some golden retriever boyfriend energy while also remaining a bad boy and rather dominant. The story was also very good and kept me wanting to keep reading constantly. I am looking forward to exploring the other couples relationships in the remainder of this series.
I will start by saying that this is a semi-dark gay romance. There are aspects that can be very uncomfortable for some readers so I highly recommend checking trigger warnings before jumping in. That being said I really had a great time with this book. The take on vampires was interesting and a much less utilized take on them. The spice was bloody and the characters were well developed and each had their own personality. Our main characters Caleb and Marcus were super cute together. I really enjoyed Caleb's resilience and tenacity. Marcus has some golden retriever boyfriend energy while also remaining a bad boy and rather dominant. The story was also very good and kept me wanting to keep reading constantly. I am looking forward to exploring the other couples relationships in the remainder of this series.
July 20, 2025
I read the series out of order, discovered book 2 before realizing that there was a book 1. Stories stand well alone, even with both story lines being strongly interwoven. My challenge was to stop trying to connect the timelines as I was reading - ah so at this point this was happening in the second book kinda thing.
Left emotionally and physically scarred from a horrific car wreck, Caleb is struggling financially. His addict brother has disappeared, his mom recently passed, and if he can't pay his rent he will be homeless. What with the scar across his face and his tendency to spiral into recalling the wreck that destroyed his family, he isn't someone most folks would immediately want to hire.
But things are looking up - he has landed a job at a bar within walking distance from where he lives. He's making friends and paying his bills. Now he just needs to stay focused on the job and not on his sexy boss, Marcus! If he doesn't stay focused, neither his virginity, nor he himself may survive loving Marcus...
Left emotionally and physically scarred from a horrific car wreck, Caleb is struggling financially. His addict brother has disappeared, his mom recently passed, and if he can't pay his rent he will be homeless. What with the scar across his face and his tendency to spiral into recalling the wreck that destroyed his family, he isn't someone most folks would immediately want to hire.
But things are looking up - he has landed a job at a bar within walking distance from where he lives. He's making friends and paying his bills. Now he just needs to stay focused on the job and not on his sexy boss, Marcus! If he doesn't stay focused, neither his virginity, nor he himself may survive loving Marcus...
August 15, 2025
I started this series off by reading the second book first as an ARC and loved it
Then the first became available as an ARC and I love it even more than the second!
Caleb and Marcus's story is so full of life, passion, love and protectiveness.
I flew through it, I just couldn't wait to find out more. Having more info about Marcus and Ophelia definitely helped my understanding of the second.
There were parts in the first that I remember from the second book and I love how I could meld it all together for one big picture.
I want more of these stories, with all the chat that are mentioned so far.
Then the first became available as an ARC and I love it even more than the second!
Caleb and Marcus's story is so full of life, passion, love and protectiveness.
I flew through it, I just couldn't wait to find out more. Having more info about Marcus and Ophelia definitely helped my understanding of the second.
There were parts in the first that I remember from the second book and I love how I could meld it all together for one big picture.
I want more of these stories, with all the chat that are mentioned so far.
March 27, 2023
I'm sort of in the middle of this book. The plot was decent, and the secondary characters really make me want to keep reading. I'm not sure that I actually liked Marcus and Caleb together. There were still questions unanswered in my opinion, and I wish the backstory was presented a bit more in detail. I really feel bad for Caleb, who just can't seem to catch a break, and spends most of the story bloody and beaten. As much as it pains me to say I didn't really like this book, I will say I am absoultely looking forward to the next one.
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