We are back with Tales of the Tarot this time with the Temperance card in Arcanum. A mystery surrounding his new neighbor has Chris falling deep into a relationship with Greyson.
From the blurb:
From the moment his new neighbor moves in, K9 officer Chris Brandt senses there’s something not quite right about the guy. His instincts are confirmed when he discovers the mysterious Greyson Darkholme is the prime suspect in a murder investigation—a murder that wiped out his entire family.
Despite his best efforts to keep his distance, Chris is captivated by Greyson’s eccentric charm, awakening desires he never knew he had. As they grow closer, it becomes evident that Greyson is hiding something. Determined to uncover the truth, Chris faces a shocking dilemma when Greyson’s secrets come to light.
To protect the man of his dreams, the dedicated officer must confront the ultimate question: how far will he go for love?
Arcanum is a standalone paranormal MM romance novel and part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card Temperance.
This book contains themes intended for a mature audience and reader discretion is advised. A full list can be found in the front matter of the book and on my website under Tropes & Triggers.
Molly Otto's review:
We are back with Tales of the Tarot this time with the Temperance card in ARCANUM. This story is unlike others from Ashlyn and yet still the angst and all-encompassing love we have come to expect from them as an author.
Greyson needs to get out of Chicago for a fresh start after his family is unfairly taken from him. He moves next to Chris, a K9 officer with trust issues. The two have an immediate connection even with both hiding secrets that almost tear them apart. The Magic Shop is a major part of this story, along with the Owner who helps Greyson move forward from tragedy. Ashlyn does a beautiful job in building the suspense of finding justice along with the after effects of Greysons trauma.
Thank you for writing a book on a subject matter in a way that resonates with more people than should ever be considered acceptable. Thank you for taking care on the subject in such a beautiful and profound way.
Jacqueleen the Reading Queen's review:
"ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋɴᴇꜱꜱ ᴍᴀʏ ʙᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜʀɪᴠᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴏɴ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ꜱᴜɴʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜱʜɪɴᴇ. ʟᴇᴛ ɪᴛ ɪɴ."
This is the second book I've read in the Tales from the Tarot collab, but it is not my first Ashlyn Drewek book. This novella is a bit different from the previous series' I have read by her. There was a lot less angst and no tears, unlike when I read about my favorite murder husbands. Side Note: If you haven't read the Leander Welles series, I highly advise you to check it out. However, be mindful of the CWs. But back to Greyson and Chris.
I enjoyed the "slow burn" at the start of this romance. Chris is a cop. He's a practical guy and he doesn't buy into all that woo-woo BS. So imagine his surprise when his new next door neighbor starts talking to him about tea and crystals like they are more than just a beverage and rocks. He's also privy to the not so happy past Greyson appears to be running from since of course he ran a background check at his place of work. That all adds up to Chris being pretty wary, not to mention downright suspicious, of his new neighbor. That is, until he actually gets to know him.
Greyson was such a kind man. It killed me to see the horrors he was being put through because of his stalker. And like Chris, it also made me incredibly angry at how the law worked against them when it came to protecting Greyson. Thankfully, Chris took it upon himself to take up the mantel of Greyson's protector. It was very sweet seeing these two start to fall for one another. The addition of Greyson's magic added a whimsical feel to a book that contained a lot of foreboding feels. I liked how the tarot deck was prominent throughout the book as well, tying it into the series.
Luke and Jace, two side characters friends of Chris's, brought a dose of levity to the storyline. Based on Lukes curiosity and a few quips from Jace, it wouldn't surprise me if either of them decided to try out some man love to see what all the fuss is about. Even better if it was with each other! Seeing as this is a novella in a collab, I'm unsure if the author will go any further with this universe. But if she does, this is me throwing in a vote for Luke!
Arcanum is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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