Title: Past Tense
Author: Ethan Stone
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Mystery
Length: Novella (162pgs)
Publisher: Wilde City Press (29th May 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb: Jason Holt was a young man when he lost everything; his family, his boyfriend, and his safety. He’s been on the run since, hiding from an evil man bent on revenge. Las Vegas was supposed to just be another pit stop in his travels but when he learns the very man he’s hiding from is in Sin City Jason decides it’s time to stop hiding.
Private detective Quinn Reynolds lost the man he loved several years ago and since then he has been hiding from life. He can’t move on and is obsessed with making the man responsible for his lover’s death pay for the crime.
When Jason comes to Quinn for help, Quinn finds a reason to move on. The dangerous situation around them quickly escalates and together they face an unimaginable evil. Can they survive the darkness and make it through to the light on the other side?
Purchase Link: http://www.wildecity.com/books/gay-mainstream/past-tense/#.UbM18_nVCAV
Review: Jason has been on the run for years, ever since he lost everything that ever meant anything to him. Having settled in Las Vegas for the last couple of months, he is surprised to learn that the very man (Damos) who wants him dead is in Vegas under another name. But, Jason is sick of running and decides that his running days are over. Quinn is a private detective who lost his lover the year before, now he hides from life taking pleasure in being a thorn in the side of the man responsible for his lover’s death. Quinn takes Jason’s case with no clear plans on what to do, but Damos forces them to act.
Paranormal meets private investigator and crime boss, a great combination that gives us an interesting story. Quinn is still not over the loss of his lover, Liam, so when his spitting image walks through his door, he knows that whatever the case is, he will take it. Jason just wants a peaceful life without having to look over his shoulder. He will do anything to have a fresh start. But, he makes new discoveries when Quinn takes him to the ranch. Quinn and Jason both have to discover just what it is they want from each other as they grow closer. They face dangers untold when someone betrays them. But, getting to the bottom of what they feel for each other is nearly as difficult.
I really enjoyed this story and as usual because I rarely read the blurbs or the genre assigned (what can I say, I love surprises). I got the delightful twist halfway through the book that added a dark thrill to the main storyline. The story is wonderfully written with the unsureness of both MC’s feelings. does Jason really want Quinn or does he want him because he feels he has to? With Quinn we have to wonder if he really and truly wants Jason for himself or because he looks so much like Liam? Both these questions are answered quite plainly late on and thankfully Quinn is much more sensible than Jason. He makes Jason wait before giving in to sex (hot passionate sex).
The paranormal twist is great. I really enjoyed discovering, along with Jason, the paranormal world and the evil that hides there. The way that the storyline twists the crime boss and the paranormal world together was really well done and the way that surprises came out was good. I can’t help but want more from Quinn and Jason now that everything has been revealed. Imagine the cases they could work together.
I have to recommend this to those that love difficult beginnings, finding new love, paranormal twists, hot sex, great characters and a great storyline.