Haunted Mediation (Conflict Mediation: Not So Normative Spin-Off Series Book 2) by D.C. Emerson

A super cute and spooky continuation of the Conflict Mediation series, what a lovely way to kick off the month of October!


From the blurb:

It’s been six months since workplace rivals James and Leon were sent to conflict mediation, only to end up in couple's counseling. Since then, they’ve become friends, and James would even go so far as to call them best friends.

Which is great. Truly. James is so grateful for their lunch dates and weekend hangouts...even if his feelings for Leon moved way past platonic months ago.

What matters is his mom is doing better now. She’s been in remission for almost a full year and is becoming increasingly independent—right in time for her all-time favorite holiday: Halloween. All James has wanted for years is for her to be healthy enough to enjoy the small things in life, like having her new “friends” over for scary movies and pumpkin flavored treats.

So why does he feel so lost and aimless now? He knows he should talk to Leon about it. Halloween night doesn’t seem like the right time, though, especially not when they get tricked into visiting a house of horrors. If James can get through it, maybe then they can talk, even if doing so feels scarier than anything they’ll face in the haunted house.

Haunted Mediation is an MM novella with trans rep, featuring a troublesome neighbor, a needy cat, and a Haunted House.

The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.


Angel's review:

When I read Conflict Mediation, I began to adore Leon and James, both as individuals but also as their potential together.. In this book I can say I absolutely fully adore them now, they are just so cute together! You might think with the way Leon's character is described he wouldn't be as hesitant and shy to take a risk with James but the truth is that he's a big softie under his tougher exterior and he's so sweet. The way he was constantly checking in on James throughout the Haunted House they went into and how he helped the other man through the whole thing without making it a bit deal was just the epitome of sweetness.

And James also ended up helping Leon get through a certain horrific room in the Haunted House as well, they both helped each other and were each other's shoulders to lean on when they needed help. While this is a short story, DC knows how to make a book feel full and expansive while being on the shorter side. I didn't feel as though anything was lacking or rushed, things just flowed so naturally it was seamless! I am happy to say what once was a budding friendship turned into a blossoming one, and now they've even started a romantic relationship too! Yay!

I'm really excited to see what DC has Leon and James get up to next and to find out how their story continues from here.

(P.S. I love Hailey, she's so confident, bold, and snarky, her banter with Leon was so amusing to read through.)


Haunted Mediation is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription