Archive for March 3, 2014

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I’m gonna warn ya right now, this is a long post!

While this is a tour for Special Attractions, I just happened to have read the first two books and included reviews for them as well.

I adore this series and my reviews are a bit lengthy.

Learn all about these characters, check out my reviews and the glimpse inside Special Attraction, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

And Special Offers, the first book in this series is on sale right now for only 99 cents!

Get your copy HERE!

Special Offers by M. L. Ryan

Book One of The Coursodon Dimension Series

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I was curious about this story after reading the synopsis. I don’t usually use one in my reviews but I’ll let you read this one.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Hailey Parrish is quick-witted, irreverent, and hasn’t had a date in three years. She only wanted an eBook reader because her collection of paperbacks threatened to take over her small living space. Little did she know that the “special offers” that prompted the purchase included much more than a reduced price in exchange for a few ads. The device came pre-loaded with the essence of Sebastian Kess, an erudite womanizer with magical abilities from a parallel dimension. When she inadvertently releases him and he inhabits her body, she finally has a man inside her, just not in the way she imagined. And soon her predicament introduces her to yet another supernatural, the handsome could-be-the-man-of-her-dreams Alex Sunderland. Can Alex and Hailey find a way to return Sebastian to his own body, stay one step ahead of the criminals who want to keep him where he is, and not lose their sense of humor?

My Review

It’s something new for me and naturally I had to read Special Offers. I really like the title. It ties in neatly with the book.

The first thing that popped into my head when I read it was a genie in a magic lamp!

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I thought, Wow, a new take for an old tale. I thought it was quite creative. Don’t know if that was the authors basis, but it works for me.

From the beginning I knew I liked Hailey. She is so normal and genuine. I could relate to her, right down to her eating habits. I too stand at the kitchen sink and chow down sometimes. When you are cooking for one, why make a mess at the table to clean up. And her daily routines. I also feel like a robot going through the motions half awake.

Her life is anything but routine when she purchases the Kindle and presses the on button. It came fully loaded. Loaded with the essence, or spirit, of Sebastian, a Coursodon from another dimension. And now he’s inside her. She can hear him in her head.

Along comes Alex. He’s another Coursodon and he has been tracking Sebastian, trying to return him to his body. He comes clean about who and what he is to Hailey. He’ll be needing her help. This part made me laugh!

I knew you were too good  looking to be in insurance,” I remarked flippantly and he shot me a reproachful glare. “Hey, when I get nervous, the smart-ass just comes cascading out of my mouth,” I shrugged. “It’s a character flaw. Get over it.”

What Hailey lacks in size, she makes up for with her snarky, tough as nails attitude.  I ‘d enjoy hanging with her.

Sebastian and Alex can communicate with each other when Alex is in physical contact with Hailey. They will be holding hands a lot. The plan is to find where Sebastian’s body has been taken, and return his essence to it. That means Hailey will have to be present.

Hailey adjusts to having Sebastian in her head, but she doesn’t have to like it. He is a very sexual male and his frustrations are very front and center at times.  Hailey’s having none of his suggestion that she bed someone to satisfy his needs. She’s not going to be his “psychic f!!k buddie.”

Hailey is slow in trusting Alex. She had a shitty marriage with a low down cheating husband and her heart took a major hit. She is very attracted to Alex, but will take it slow and easy. I like how the author keeps the heat of their relationship for the end. I thoroughly enjoyed the getting to know you parts.

My connection to Alex was gradual, but became very strong near the end. His revelations to Hailey made me want to hug him. And this scene is just so heart melting:

Alex was already in my bed under the covers, and I paused for a moment when I saw he had claimed the left side. Since as far back as I can remember, I’ve always slept on the left side of any bed bigger than a twin. It’s probably just habit, and after my initial hesitation, I started over to the opposite side, because, really, what’s the big deal about one side over another? As I pulled back the covers, however, Alex stopped me.

“Wait,” he said as he scooted over to his right. “I was just warming up your side for you.”

He held up the covers in the spot he had just vacated and I dutifully moved around the bed and climbed in. The sheets were, indeed, warm and cozy, a far cry from the chilliness that winter usually imparts to bedding.

That is the most considerate thing anyone has ever done for me,” I said softly. “I really don’t deserve you.”

Alex is a keeper.

As their feelings for each grow so does the danger and intrigue. Sebastian’s body is being held as a trophy by his nemesis and it won’t be easy to get it back.

Thumbs up to Special Offers. M. L. Ryan has a winner for originality and her quality of writing. She took what could have been heavy reading and made it light and fun.  Throughout the book, tidbits of everyday things in life made it very real.

And the comedy kept me laughing. I had many laugh out loud moments, like when Hailey teases Sebastian with a view of her sexy friend Rachel, and about her job – she milks Chinchillas. And the back and forth with Sebastian, in her head, is too funny!

Special Offers came along at a low point, and it was a perfect cure for my blues. It will make you laugh and smile, cheering you up.

Here are some scenes I really cracked up at:

“By the way, how did you get my number?”

“Men’s bathroom wall, second stall,” he stated matter-of-factly.

“Excuse me?”

“Just trying to lighten the mood…”

And this one:

I really had enough of Sebastian at the moment. “Hey Sebastard,” I sputtered. “Yumago! Do prdele! Haista paska! Jabiesz jeze! Foda-se!”

“What was all that?”

I stood and huffed out, Korean, Czech, Finnish, Polish and Portugese!”

I started this book with a peek. Next thing I knew I was on Chapter 4. I fell asleep reading it the first night. Couldn’t stay awake. Tried to finish it the next night, and so tired from work I fell asleep again. Getting frustrated! I had a surprise day off the next morning and finished it while my son was in the dentist’s chair. People were giving me funny looks when I chuckled. I ended up talking to two women in the waiting room, and they said they were going to check it out.

You should check it out too. It’s a perfect book to lighten your mood and make you smile.

5 STARS

  I loved it and so did my Kindle!

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Special Rewards

 Book Two of The Coursodon Dimension Series

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Blurb

What would you do if you discovered there was a parallel dimension?

Hailey Parrish used to be an average, everyday human. Boring, in fact. After being possessed by Sebastian Kess, a magically inclined enforcer from the parallel dimension Coursodon, her life took a decidedly less mundane turn. Besides coming to grips with the existence of supernatural beings, she risked her life helping Sebastian and her heart falling for his protégé, Alex Sunderland. Now, Hailey has to deal with the bit of arcane power that Sebastian left behind when he returned to his own body and try to stay out of the crossfire when an unknown assailant seeks revenge against Alex.

My Review

I approached this book with caution. I adored Special Offers and didn’t want my balloon to be burst by setting my expectations too high.

My balloon is intact and flying high! I had just as much fun with Special Rewards as I did with the first book.

Now that Sebastian is out of Hailey’s body and back in his own. Hailey and Alex are heating up their romance.

But just because she’s rid of Sebastian doesn’t mean he’s not still too close. He’s staying with her and Alex, training her to control her new power.

When Sebastian was expelled from Haileys body, he left a little bit of his Courso power inside her. Now she has to get it under control quickly. Otherwise, anything and anybody could become a pile of ash or blown to smithereens when she loses her temper.

On top of that, the animals of the desert are drawn to Hailey, hanging out beyond her walled property. On any given day there can be tarantulas, hawks, deer, coyotes and many other creatures and they show no interest in each other. They just calmly stand and watch and eventually drift back into the desert.

When someone sets a tree on fire outside their rented ranch, Alex and Hailey are determined to get to the bottom of who did it. Could it be Alex’s mother? She did summon him to visit her by throwing a talisman through their window. Or is it someone else? Do they have an enemy? And who were they after, her or Alex?

And that’s just the beginning.

I’m happy to tell you, this is every bit as good as the first book!

I like that Alex and Hailey are fogging up my Kindle with their steamy romance. Now that they’ve put humpty-dumpty back together again they are busy getting to know each other a whole lot better.

And Sebastian is his usual smug and charming self.

There’s a whole lot of action and we get to go to Coursodon! It’s similar to our dimension in some ways, but quite different in others.

Hailey discovers Alex’s roots and gets quite a surprise. And Sebastian gets in a heap of trouble that requires her help.

With so much to entertain, I flew through this book. I hope the author is a fast writer because I really want more soon.

5 STARS

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Here’s a  little excerpt I want to share with you.

This is about her inherited powers from Sebastian:

“I had a STD – a supernaturally transmitted deposit.”

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Special Attraction

Book Three of The Coursodon Dimension Series

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My Review

After loving the first two books in this series, I was looking forward to reuniting with old friends. When I really get into a story the characters become almost flesh and blood, almost family.

The beginning paragraph is a shock, a jump start to your nervous system. The scene looks like a massacre, with body parts scattered all over the place.

Hailey took this all in from her perch on a tree limb. She was in her avian form as a large brown hawk. Mighty convenient for ‘fly on the wall’ surveillance as a member of the supernatural enforcers team, or Xyzok. Their job is to keep the inter-dimensional bad guys from harming humans.

Yterita, or form bending is one of the residual abilities left behind in Hailey after expelling Sebastian from her body. All Coursos have magical abilites.

The killer’s signature is body parts left like a trail of bread crumbs, but the trail remains a dead end. Hailey and Alex have to track down the illusive Courso who killed the hikers and stop him from killing again.

While on an early evening jog, Hailey is kidnapped by the killer. She’s not a threat to him so she’s in no immediate danger. He wants her to deliver a message to the Courso. If what he reveals is true, then both worlds are in danger.

It’s been fun getting reaquainted with these characters.

Sebastian is still trying to hook up with Hailey’s best friend Rachel. She’s the one for him, if there is such a thing. He is a fan of the female form and quite a womanizer, but he’s curbed his appetite in anticipation of sweeping Rachel off her feet, literally.

Rachel still has so idea about the Courso or Hailey’s hidden abilities. I was curious as to if or when she might learn their secrets.

Then there’s the matter of Hailey’s peculiar sense of smell. I wondered where that might come into play as the author kept reminding me of it in interesting tidbits.

Another thing I liked were the animals. Vinnie, Haileys cat is your typical cat. Deigns you with his presence when he feels like it.

And now, Hailey has brought home a stray. A large dog of questionable breed that needed a home. The fun part was reading to see what she would name him. She had many temporary names such as Curly Dog, Putrid Pup(he was in need of a bath),Big Brownie, Feed-Lot-Fido, and finally Rufus. Not sure if that will stick as she says she’s just trying it out.

Everyone stayed in character and the scenes, whether humorous, steamy, or mysterious, were never boring, always enticing me to read further. And the dialogue was so well written I found myself wanting to join in and add my two cents worth.

Another hit from M.L. Ryan and a big thank you for a job so well done!

5 STARS

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A brief scene I liked:

…I was damn lucky to have Alex in my life. You gotta love a guy who knew when to shut up. That, and the view of his well-toned ass as he made his exit made me downright giddy.

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BLURB:

The weirdness continues….

Thanks to a magical transplant from an inter-dimensional enforcer, Hailey Parrish can transform into a hawk. When someone begins dismembering hikers along the Appalachian Trail, the enforcers make use of her feathery talents to pursue the killer. Unfortunately, like most things in Hailey’s life, there is nothing ordinary about the assignment. Their target turns out to be maddeningly elusive, they rescue a stray dog that makes a sewage treatment plant seem pleasantly fragrant, and stopping the murders turns out to be the least of their worries.

Special Attraction, the third book in the Coursodon Dimension series, combines paranormal romance, urban fantasy, a bit of science fiction and a healthy dose of quirky humor.

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Excerpt

“Where was the latest victim found?” Alex inquired as we moved to where we could see what was so engrossing in front of them. A close-up photo of a man’s severed head filled the screen. It looked like a beige scarf was wrapped around what remained of his neck, and his eyes were open wide, as if he couldn’t quite believe he was about to die.

Sebastian answered, “Near Ketchum, Idaho,” and tapped the touch pad to display the next image. A wider shot appeared, and I realized what I thought was a scarf was actually flesh. The decapitated body was propped into a sitting position against a tree trunk, its head cradled in its arm sort of like a football. Something seemed off, though. Well, more so than a murdered guy posed, holding his own head. I examined the image for a while until I realized what was wrong. The skin tone of the head was about three shades lighter than the arm’s.

“Why doesn’t the skin color match?” I asked, pointing to the various body parts in question.

Tapping to reveal another photo, Sebastian didn’t need to respond. There was another body, a few feet away from the first, posed in the same macabre fashion, but with a dark-skinned face and lighter arms.

“That’s sick,” I said, wincing.

Karttyx turned slightly and looked at me. “Yes, but that’s not the worst of it.”

I was about to ask, “What could be worse?” when I noticed the second man had something balanced where his head should have been. I leaned closer to the image and could just make out some lettering on what appeared to be a horizontally folded card. Sebastian zoomed in so I could see the fancy, scrawling script. It read, For you, Hailey.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

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M.L. Ryan is a professional woman – which is not to say that she gave up her amateur status, but rather that she is over-educated with a job that reflects her one-time reluctance to leave school and get “real” work – and she spends a lot of time in that profession reading highly technical material.

She has many stories rolling around in her head, and she finally decided to write some of them. She prefers literature that isn’t saddled with excruciating symbolism, ponderous dialogue or worldly implications. She also doesn’t like plots so reliant on love at first sight that it makes her feel like her head might implode.

She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband and teenage son, four cats, two dogs and an adopted desert tortoise.

Buy Links:

eBook:

Amazon ~ Smashwords ~ Barnes & Noble

Paperback:

Amazon / CreateSpace

Other Links:

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook

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One randomly drawn commenter will receive a $20 Amazon or B&N Gift Card.

To follow the tour for more fun stops and more chances to win, click on the banner below.

***And remember to comment. The more you comment, the more chances of winning.***

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Welcome to the cover reveal for Mathew D. Ryan’s upcoming release, Children of Lubrochius.

A dark, otherworldly story of supernatural and magical turmoil.

Very well done cover art. It represents the series title, From the Ashes of Ruin.

It’s dark and haunting and I’m wondering if that candle is to see with or for hope, a light in the darkness.

Check it out, enjoy the excerpt, and don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

ChildrenLubrochius

Children of Lubrochius

by Matthew D. Ryan

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BLURB:

The vampire, Lucian val Drasmyr, has been defeated, but not destroyed: Now he serves another evil: Korina Bolaris, a young and gifted sorceress bent on subverting the power structure of Drisdak. Only Coragan of Esperia can hope to stop them. But is even he prepared to face the dark cult who claims her as their own: the Children of Lubrochius?

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Excerpt

“We have gone a bit off topic, I think,” Korina said.

“You asked about magic,” Lucian said with an arrogant sneer. “I told you what I know.”

Korina frowned. He had not told her much. Barely a smattering. Instead, they had detoured into a lecture on philosophy. “Tell me about the Sceptre of Morgulan,” she said. She knew much already: the sceptre was a weapon of tremendous power wielded by Morgulan during the course of many wars and battles fought over a thousand years ago. It had mysteriously disappeared immediately after Morgulan’s demise.

Lucian sighed as if surrendering to the inevitable. “The Sceptre of Morgulan?” The vampire locked his gaze with her, and smiled. “The wizard Arcalian was also interested in the sceptre. That interest got him killed. As you may or may not know, I have a history with wizards. Generally speaking … I win.”

The arrogant monster! He had lost to Regecon and the guild.

“I’m not interested in your boasts, vampire. I’m interested in the sceptre. Tell me what I wish to know.” A part of her doubted if she was ready for the knowledge the vampire might give her. The sceptre, after all, was an artifact of legend. It had destroyed armies. She longed for its power, but she knew that she must match its power with her own else it would come to rule her. An untrained peasant with a sword was as much a danger to himself as he was to others.

Lucian folded his arms beneath his breast and looked askance at the wall. “Ask your questions, then,” he said.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

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Matthew D. Ryan is a published author living in upstate New York on the shores of Lake Champlain. Mr. Ryan has a background in philosophy, mathematics, and computer science. He has a black belt in the martial arts and studies yoga. He has been deeply involved in the fantasy genre for most of his life as a reader, writer, and game designer. He is the operator of the web-site matthewdryan.com which features his blog, “A Toast to Dragons,”a blog dedicated to fantasy literature, and, to a lesser extent, sci-fi. Mr. Ryan says he receives his inspiration from his many years as an avid role-player and fantasy book reader. He has spent many long hours devising adventures and story-lines for games, so it was a natural shift moving into fantasy writing.

Mr. Ryan is the author of the exciting dark fantasy novel, Drasmyr,, its sequel, The Children of Lubrochius, and a growing number of short stories. His first novel, Drasmyr, has consistently earned reviews in the four and five star range and serves as the prequel to his upcoming series: From the Ashes of Ruin. In addition to Drasmyr and The Children of Lubrochius, Mr. Ryan has published several short stories on-line, including: “Haladryn and the Minotaur,” “The River’s Eye,” and “Escape.”

Links to the Author

Website ~ Smashwords  Facebook  ~Amazon ~ Goodreads

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Matthew will award a metal miniature of a demon from the Reaper Fantasy Miniatures to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour (US ONLY).

To enter, show some comment love. Something about the book or author or anything you’d like!

***Click on the banner below to follow the tour for more fun stops. And make sure you comment. The more you comment the more chances to win!***

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

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Will Shakespeare and the Ships of Solomon

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Author : Christopher Grey

Genre: Action/Adventure

Audience: Adult

Formats: Paperback and E-book

Publisher: Pacific Coast Creative Publishing, Imprint: Basilicus Press

Cover By: Pacific Coast Creative Publishing

Editor: Julia DeGraff

Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 978-0-9839641-9-3

Date Published: March 3, 2014

blurb

In the fall of 1947, Will Shakespeare saw the world collapse around him. Shakespeare, a secret soldier for the Knights Templar, barely escapes the slaughter of his entire knighthood at the hands of a rogue militant arm of the Vatican in a small Montreal church.

With orders to escort Templar business associate Dorothy Wilkinson back to her home in Bermuda, Will must locate and rescue the most important secret treasure in human history before it is devoured by a hurricane in the watery caves beneath her father’s property.

The spiraling quest sends Will and Dorothy into uncovering dark secrets that make up the origins of the knighthood as they confront the traps and puzzles that masterfully protect the world’s most coveted treasure.
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excerpt

Sir William Shakespeare lit a cigarette to pass the time. Even through the fog he could make out the silhouettes of the surrounding landmarks in Old Montreal. On this particular overcast day, the city was more akin to London than Paris, from which many locals declared their heritage. Will spent a great deal of time in both cities and could personally attest to the ambiance of each. No matter what the charcoal skyline of this city presented or feigned, it was no doubt as cold as London. His wool overcoat did little to help, and the gray fedora on top of his well-combed black hair only stopped the moisture from disrupting the hair treatment.

Blue eyes scanned the skyline. It was the most interesting place to look. Cowering fog oppressed the Canadian cityscape with little regard for daylight. Traffic down St. Catherine’s was all but extinct. Every twenty minutes or so a distant hum of a car would be complemented by fading headlights as they turned from Union or University, submitting to the thick moisture by employing useless headlights. It was infrequent enough that he could spend a great deal of time examining them as they passed, refracting in dismal displays of frigidity. Pontiacs … Chevys … gray … beige … black… . Nothing to cause concern.

The humidity was high enough to turn the city into a veritable swimming pool; such was not uncommon for this time of year. Only the day prior a storm passed through, throwing down sheets of incessant rain, taking away fallen leaves and other autumn debris into the confluence of the Saint Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers. A frigid day coming out of an even more brisk night cost many Montrealers a pleasant morning. In just a short time, snow would mark the landscape and herald a long winter ahead.

Brown bristles of deleafed deciduous trees from the largest green space in the city combed over the gentle slope of Mount Royal, which stretched, devoid of people, into the throngs of McGill University. A forest of meager but still prominent buildings decorated the campus and lowland shores on the east end of the island, humbly marking Montreal’s downtown area. Not quite in the vicinity of Old Montreal, but close enough to see the Gothic fingers of aged colonial skyscrapers and churches, lay one of the more prized structures in the well-populated Ville-Marie borough. The Christ Church Cathedral, promenading an entire city block, catapulted its own religious testament toward the already aged and humbling skyline. Buried next to McGill’s nineteenth-century manicured campus and amid one of the larger commercial districts of the borough, it was a more permanent marker on the skyline.

Beneath the skyline and at the enclave of the cathedral, Will watched for any unusual activity. Pedestrians were just as scarce as cars, if not more so. No one in their right mind would be walking down St. Catherine’s on this morning. Not unless they were a McGill student or hopelessly lost. It wasn’t St. Catherine’s, Will corrected himself. The locals called it Rue Ste-Catherine O. The French pride here took some getting used to, and even after two years he was nowhere near tolerant enough. Living in Montreal did affect his French, however, and on a good day he could very easily get around using the language. He already had a base from his years in Vietnam, but the dialect was very different. His French-Canadian accent was strange enough that most people didn’t even guess he was American, much less a Connecticut native.

The delicate lights inside Christ Church Cathedral danced from behind stained glass. It was likely quite a lot warmer in there, and as much as he’d like to go in, he couldn’t. His job was to make sure no one went inside who wasn’t authorized by the Order. With the complete lack of passersby, the job was far easier than he’d thought it would be.

The regular churchgoers and staff weren’t a problem, as Will had arranged to have the facility completely vacated three days before. The Order had high contacts within the Anglican Church, and it really only took verification of who they were to keep the facility clear. The staff closed the doors to the public, citing plumbing problems, and ensured that the congregation was well aware of the issue. That wouldn’t disrupt normal services, as everyone would be out by evening, allowing the clergy to prepare for the next day’s sermon.

It was three-thirty the last time he checked his watch, and that was recent enough that he didn’t bother to check again. Looking at his watch too many times made the time pass slower. They’d been in there for four hours—a very long time to watch nothing, although Will was accustomed to this sort of work. During the secret war of the mid-1930s, he’d spent countless hours in the dark streets of Havana watching walls rot. The jungles of Vietnam were no different. Even his work on the Allied fronts of the war kept him at watch more than once. The secret was simple: watch the horizon and focus on points only when there was movement.

Very important men were inside the church at the moment discussing things Will had no earthly idea about. The last time the commanders were all in the same room was the dawn of the war. If the threat of Nazi Germany was the one thing that brought these old men together, it horrified Will to know what had gathered them here on this day.

The 1939 meeting was a much different time, even though it was less than ten years prior. He was still a knight, but the work in 1938 put him on the path to promotion, earning him the prestigious title of turcopolier. His work in Havana with Lucky Luciano and other Mafioso leaders secured private interest in Cuba from rising communist influence. Suddenly wrenched from the secret affairs of the Latin world, Will was dropped directly into the middle of Europe while a madman marched across the landscape. Will wasn’t the only one dispatched. In fact, the crew present in Montreal that day was the very same one that had kept each other alive in the European war. If it wasn’t world war these men were meeting about, Will didn’t really want to know what it was.

The grounds were clean. He and Sam Adams had just completed a fourth sweep. There were six other sergeants patrolling the area. No one was getting through. He stayed with Sam, his prodigy, at the front. There were two men on either side of the cathedral, and two patrolling the perimeter. Will had asked for more knights–or even sergeants, but the commanders weren’t able to bring them back to Montreal soon enough. Many were still supporting the security of Berlin’s occupation, and after recent outbursts in Vietnam against the French, a dozen were placed back there.

His curiosity was piqued, but any guesses on his part would only be speculation. Knowing the meeting took place under the direst of necessities, he also knew that the Order was in great danger. Having all members of the entire leadership in one place was rarely practiced, and for good reason. A secret society needed safeguards in place to ensure the knowledge of its members was not lost. Whatever brought them all to Montreal was no concern to Will—he was a soldier. He didn’t need to know the politics behind his organization. He followed orders as he always did.

Keeping trained eyes on the distant Montreal background, he pondered the location. Out of all the world’s cities in which the Order operated, their base of operations was this somewhat small city in Canada. Knowing the full history of the Order meant it was no mystery. In fact, the city of Montreal was created on the Order’s influence as a sort of Utopian society. Fighting the impulse to use the word Utopian, he reminded himself that the city more appropriately represented the concepts described in Francis Bacon’s novel New Atlantis. Montreal was the center of a New Scotland with high liberal ideals. These concepts were still inbred in the society, it seemed. Just three years prior, there had been great national conflict when the mayor protested conscription for the war. Ottawa put the mayor in prison, and the conscription was enforced.

Will was somewhat dismissive about Canada. He didn’t particularly care for the climate and was accustomed to slightly more exciting locations. Used to being in the center of it all, adjusting to the slow-paced northern life wasn’t without its challenges. No longer concerned for his life whenever he stepped outside his house, and working a somewhat regular job with the Order training sergeants, the days of working the field were sorely missed. He’d also been stuck as a trainer for long enough that he hadn’t managed to make it to his home town, Hartford, since the war. A ping of guilt crossed his consciousness as he recalled Hartford. It had been too long.

Will had been promoted to turcopolier during the war, a fantastic honor and one awarded to only three dozen people in the entire world. He was in command of the sergeants of the Pauperes Commilitones Christi Templique Salomonici and had access to some of the most powerful secrets in human history. Part of becoming a knight in the first place, however, was erasing his old identity. He was now immersed in an ancient tradition and as such operated above any nation or society on the planet. He could no longer be a normal citizen. He took a vow of poverty and of chastity. His old life was over, and a new, secret one had begun. One in service of God and of man. The knighthood faked his death in the war and sent reports home to his mother and sister that he’d died honorably in combat in Germany. He would never contact his family again.

Those were distant and painful thoughts to have on this morning, and so he sidetracked himself by checking the position of his crew. Glancing back, he made sure Adams was still in position. Nothing had changed. As turcopolier, however, security was on his shoulders. He couldn’t allow any of the sergeants to lose focus. The commanders had tightened security for a reason. His reevaluation of the crew brought his attention to another oncoming car.

This one was different from the others. Immediately Will knew it wasn’t a civilian. The pace was too slow as it crawled forward deliberately. The driver was making no mistakes, watching for every conceivable detail. Even in fog, civilians tend to move forward with a flare of recklessness. Content to crouch behind their steering wheels and squint into the white nothingness, they think that by squinting they’ll see something before it becomes a problem. A military person, however, will simply travel more slowly, having built the fog into the mission as a component.

The car stopped precisely in front of the cathedral, close enough that Will could spot the signature maple-leaf Canadian flags attached to the hood—far too showy for his tastes. He had been expecting this car. Ottawa was personally escorting a civilian for the leadership to interview. That’s all he knew. Given the security concerns, he was appalled they’d arrived in diplomatic style. Anyone with half a brain would know something important was happening at the cathedral today. Their low profile was effectively blown.

His face darkened as he watched a man step out of the backseat in a pressed navy-blue suit and yellow tie, black overcoat, and fedora. A public servant, not a spook. Why were they being so careless?

The politician opened the back door and helped out another passenger. Will had taken the vows and he was a professional, but he did take an interest in the woman who stepped out. Short brown hair. Youthful face but with years behind her brown eyes. She was sun-kissed yet dressed like a New Yorker. He allowed himself enough leeway to lose focus for only a second. Long enough to nod and offer an obligatory smile as they approached. But long enough to feel the stab of guilt that inevitably follows temptation.

“Miss Wilkinson, for you, my friend,” the politician said.

Glancing back at Sam Adams, Will gave the unspoken order to hold his position while he escorted the guest. Adams, standing at ease, snapped into focus and put out his cigarette, now being the eyes of the operation. Shakespeare was free to greet the newcomers.

“Good afternoon, Miss Wilkinson, we appreciate your prompt arrival. You are free to go inside.”

Will kept his smile, but it was only an act. He was being polite because she was a civilian, and possibly because she was pleasant to look at, but much more important issues were on his mind. I am not a doorman.

The woman smiled and hesitantly went into the cathedral, looking back at the politician as she did so. As soon as she was out of sight, Will’s smile dissolved into severity. He broke through the politician’s milk-toast expression with an unblinking and official stare.

“You took a public vehicle. Why?”

“I thought your guest should arrive in style,” he said with a high tone in his voice, emoting a certain level of offense.

“Before you leave, remove those flags. Tell the driver to dump the car at the university.”

Now the man was openly offended.

“Wait a minute, sir! Do you have any idea who I am? You are talking to …”

“An elected official, yes I know. You are compromising our security.”

“Just who do you think you are?” his voice was raised now.

“If you have to ask, you are not cleared to know. Leave the car at McGill’s. Find another way back.”

“This is ridiculous. I’m calling the office!”

Will looked back at Adams with another unspoken order. The sergeant immediately stepped forward and opened his coat. The sidearm was quite visible underneath.

This openly threatening gesture stunned the official into silence. Sputtering and glancing between both men with a reddened face, the Canadian did what he was told, removing the flags and crawling inside the vehicle. Will watched him go with no expression. He only hoped it would be enough. They could already be compromised.

He turned to Adams. “Walk the perimeter again. Make absolutely sure it’s clean.”

Adams nodded and went on his way.

Will reflected on this woman and how she’d arrived. There was no good reason a woman like that would be meeting with the grand master and the commanders. Slamming his mind back into focus, he finished his cigarette and took a good look around the premises. Moving down the steps of the church, he checked around the corner to see if any headlights were approaching.

It was a good thing he did because in the next moment he was forced to pull his gun.

trailer

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author

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Christopher Grey is an author of fiction focusing on conspiracy theories, secret societies and the occult. His special brand of storytelling dives into conspiracies and the occult from the point of view of the secret societies, attempting to dispel popular mistruths and paranoia prevalent in the mainstream.

Grey’s fascination with the secret world began when he was sixteen after a chance meeting with a conspiracy theorist in a coffee shop sometime in the 1990s. The conversation with this man led Grey on a lifelong scholarly endeavor to learn about secret societies and the occult from a skeptical and secular point of view.

Over the past 15 years, he has been involved in various fraternal societies and has sought to explore the undercurrents of human civilization–to uncover the hidden histories and the forces and patterns that have designed what society has become and to demystify the hidden forces in our society that, for so long, have been vilified and misunderstood.

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