Synopsis
Dylan Matthews lives in a world of fantasy. As a video game designer, there are no limits on how far or wide his imagination could stretch. He loves his work and excels at bringing the visions in his head to a game console. The luck of his Irish heritage seems to touch him when his prototype Zombie ApoXalypse is bought days after he inherits a mansion in the heart of the Appalachian mountains. Life is indeed magical.Ansleigh has waited centuries for one man, only to find him and then lose him due to his own inability to trust in their burgeoning love. The magick of Mother Earth flows within him and through him allowing him to nourish the Grotto where he makes his home. Yet, he yearns for the male that nurtures his soul. When the whims of Fate bring his Cosantoir back into his life, does he have the courage to accept his heritage?
As the fantasies in his head become reality and the monsters of nightmares crawl through the forest, can Dylan forgive broken promises to protect the Croi? There is no pause button when the Fae and human worlds collide. Will Dylan have what it takes to master the maze and win Ansleigh’s freedom?
Excerpt
Darkness shrouded the forest. In places, moonlight streamed through the canopy of trees creating scattered pools of light. Shadows tracked alongside him in the underbrush, but Ansleigh feared nothing in the Grotto. It was his home, his to protect, his to nourish. It infuriated him that something tainted had invaded the Grotto. Even worse, whoever or whatever had intruded upon his forest had harmed Dylan.
“Ansleigh, don't you think we should wait for daylight? Evil thrives in darkness,” Sterling, Head of the Border Patrol, paused in his trek and clutched Ansleigh's arm. The male stood shoulder to shoulder with Ansleigh's six foot five height and looked him square in the eye. Ansleigh was surprised to see fear lurking in the aquamarine depths.
“I want whatever is out here gone. You said Thaine reported weird vibrations coming from the meadow just before sunset. We need to check it out,” Ansleigh said, pulling his arm free.
“Yes, but not in the middle of the night. The UnSeelie are unpredictable,” Sterling hedged. His eyes darted from shadow to shadow. “And, they are dangerous. You have more power when the sun rules the sky. They prevail under the light of the moon.”
“We would have been out here sooner if you'd contacted me as soon as Thaine reported. I will not sit by and let another under my protection be visited by violence. If you do not wish to proceed, you may return to your homes.” His eyes swept the elves, gnomes and trolls that fanned out behind him.
“As long as there is a threat to my Cosantoir, I cannot wait for sunrise,” Ansleigh continued. “It could be too late.” Frustration stole his usual patience. When the elf sighed and cast his eyes in the direction of the meadow, Ansleigh resumed walking again. Sterling kept pace. Behind them, Thaine and the others maintained a constant surveillance of all sides.
Gradually, the trees thinned and the meadow stretched out before them. Sweet memories trickled through Ansleigh's mind. The first time he met Dylan had been in the meadow. He'd been so young and so full of life. Each summer they'd met there for the first time and returned on the last day to say their goodbyes.
Too vividly, he recalled their last time together before Dylan fled the Grotto. The consummation of their love, the promises, the plans for the future. He'd returned the next day and the next. Terror had sent him to Marcus only to have his fears confirmed. Ansleigh shook his head. It was not the time for past regrets. He turned his full attention to the meadow. He moved to enter the open area.
“Wait,” Sterling cautioned. “Something doesn't feel right. Let me get Silas out here.”
Mari's Review
*** ARC provided to Bayou Book Junkie in exchange for an honest and fair review. ***
Ansleigh’s Grotto by JT Cheyanne was a delightful surprise. I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting into after reading the blurb, but it exceeded my expectations.
Dylan, a video game designer, inherits a mansion from his grandfather. But it isn’t all he inherits, as there are some secrets that his grandfather has been keeping away from most of the family. Once upon a time, Dylan was privy of those secrets.
Ansleigh has been in the Grotto where this mansion is located for centuries, waiting for his Cosantoir (Keeper), so he can share his life and all he is with that person. He’d thought he’d found him once in Dylan and then something happened to keep them apart for 15 years. Uncertain if he could trust Dylan to keep the secrets of the Grotto, he erases Dylan’s memories of their time together.
Once they meet again, when Dylan is forced to stay in the mansion for a year, Dylan feels the pull toward Ansleigh, or rather Leigh, as he introduced himself as, but can’t explain the reason for it and Leigh refuses to elaborate, thinking what he did would just make things worse.
There’s a threat afoot, though. One neither of them could see coming and suddenly, we’re thrown into a fast-paced, intriguing, suspenseful plot with lots of Irish lore and elves, faes and sprites, intermingled with a sweet and hot romance.
I loved both Ansleigh and Dylan. I loved that while there was a little angst with the memory spell, it was mostly over Ansleigh’s guilt over it and it didn’t get dragged on endlessly, which was good with so many other things happening at the same time.
I loved the secondary characters, too, especially Grail and Shea, the sprites, who were a riot! The villain was evil, and got what was coming to him in a very satisfying manner.
All in all, a fantastic book that I had a great time reading and that I definitely recommend.
*** 4.5 Stars ***
Buy Links
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SPHC5OE/Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00SPHC5OE/
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00SPHC5OE/
Barned & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ansleighs-grotto-jt-cheyanne/1121152861?ean=2940046551877
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ansleighs-grotto/id963959627?mt=11
Giveaway
4 ecopies of Ansleigh’s Grotto by JT Cheyannea Rafflecopter giveaway
About the author
#1 Best Selling Author of Grand Slam, J.T. Cheyanne is a genre crosser who writes romance and paranormal in the m/m and m/f genres. J.T. Cheyanne resides in the beautiful state of Alabama. J.T. lives with her two sons and daughter. An avid reader since fourth grade, she has only just started writing her own stories. She also has several works published with her co-author, V.L. Moon.Social Links
Website: http://www.lazandlachi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jtcheyannestories
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JTCheyanne
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6534660.J_T_Cheyanne
Thank you for hosting Ansleigh's Grotto during the tour and for the awesome review!
ReplyDeleteJT