Genre: Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Haunted by the vengeful spirit of a serial killer, Mick must confront his fears. Will he find the strength to overcome it or will the entity consume him and everyone he loves?
In the small, unassuming town of Piston Creek, Mick carries the haunting burden of a past he can’t escape. As a child, he was nearly the victim of a notorious serial killer, only to be saved by his fierce grandmother, who took matters into her own hands. Now, years later, Mick strives for a sense of normalcy. Unfortunately the darkness surrounding that fateful night has left its lingering mark.
As his beloved grandmother ages, the malevolent spirit of the killer grows stronger, haunting Mick with terrifying visions and threatening to consume him. Desperate for help, he encounters Rory, a psychic whose erratic abilities seem both a blessing and a curse. Together, they must navigate the treacherous landscape of the supernatural, battling the ghost that seeks to reclaim what it lost.
Is Rory’s unpredictable powers enough to sever the ties between Mick and the vengeful spirit, or will the blood bond between it and Mick be the curse that destroys them all?
The Review
At the age of fourteen, Mick Hensley went to live in Piston Creek with his Great-Grandma Ida Jamison and his Grandmother. His mother had her problems, and they followed her to Piston Creek.
Great-grandma was seventy-six, and now she is she’s ninety. Mick spends much of his time with Granny Ida, even though he has a small apartment of his own in Chattanooga. His days are spent working her farm and picking mustard and turnip greens, string beans, snap beans, and more, and getting them ready for canning. He also helps with the heavy work, like planting and tilling the farmland.
In the evenings he worked at Milner’s, where he loves to bake. He has a special following, and takes personal request from those he knows, and does his best to keep himself busy.
He and Granny Ida have a special connection because she saved his life. After what he had witnessed he had ‘spells’ that scared them both. The counselor wanted to put him in the state hospital for observation, but Granny refused. She took him to the church, where he got help from the young minister who told him to “fight the demon.” Mick still feared staying at Granny’s alone, as there is still something eerie and dark about the house.
Gran’s brother, Uncle Eddie, had died a couple years earlier, and left the store he owned to her and cousin Joann. Gran had the attorney split the inheritance, with enough to pay the taxes and give Joann some much needed cash. She asked Mick to clean out the old store. Gran would have liked to have bulldozed it, but the Mayor Betty Sue wanted to protect the town’s historic buildings. Mick agreed, and cleaned out the old store. He had big dreams of his own. After working at the bakery for four years and changing his degree to culinary arts, he hopes to open a Southern dessert store.
When Granny Ida suffers a stroke, she knows she won’t return home soon. She makes arrangements to leave her house to Mick. He now has some decisions to make. If he gives up his small apartment and cleans out Uncle Eddie’s store, he could live in the upstairs apartment. One thing he knows for certain – he can’t live in Gran’s house without her.
Rory Jenkins Kennedy occasionally sees ghosts. He’s been working along side Madame Bellamy, a very powerful psychic. She’s gifted with the magic of readings of all sorts, especially tarot cards and shared information from the dead. She has one important rule: “never lie to a client.” She sees things happening in Rory’s near future, but even though he can occasionally see ghosta, his other abilities just aren’t there. She tells Rory it’s time for him to move on and find his own future. She makes him aware of three men in his future: the Emperor – a fatherly figure; the Ten of Swords – an evildoer and a nasty, angry man who wants to hurt him and others; and the Empress – someone who could be a lover, friend or a sibling, a good relationship.
She tells Rory he needed to return home, to his past where his future lay. Rory was left an inheritance that would see him through his life. While at the cemetery at his Grandparent’s plot, he meets Mrs. Cox, whose husband has passed. As they talk, she shares some information with him about the Kennedy family. He also meets Elias and his wife Brenda and their daughter, Rebecca.
When Rory and Elias start to talk, Elias clears up many mystreries about the Kennedy family. Rory hesitates but finally shares in what he does for a job. Elias’s wife Brenda shares some information about Ida and her grandson Mick. Elias takes Rory to Uncle Eddie’s store, which Mick is busy cleaning it out.
When Mick and Rory meet, they have no idea how much their lives will begin to change. They find that they have so many connections. Mick has had a hard time growing up with a fear that he struggles to fight off. And Rory learns so much from moving to Piston Creek. What they discover about each other will lead to another step into their futures. As they get to know each other, will Rory find a way to help Mick with his nightmare?
Adam J. Ridley and Blake Allwood have crafted an epic tale of love and evil in Stronger Than Blood, a story of strength, guidance, caring and taking care of others.
The world building is crisp and clear – the small town setting of Piston Creek evokes the closeness of many small southern towns, where people reach out to help one another and solve issues. It’s very easy to imagine what the small town looks and feels like.
There are so many marvelous characters that come to make this story wonderful: Ida, Mick, and Rory. Elias Kennedy, his wife Brenda, and daughter Rebecca; Brenda’s first cousin EsmereldaIda Jenkin and wife Bev; Ida’s first cousin Joann; Madam Kalinda Bellamy and her niece Madam Dupris Baptiste; and Arden Hernandez.
I highly recommend Stronger Than Blood, a story full of interesting characters who revolve around the world of the occult, discovering their futures. Mick and Rory especially make this an entertaining read with their wonderful personalities. Brilliantly done!
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.