Solstice by Eli Easton & RJ Scott Release Blitz

From the dramatic peaks of the Olympic mountain range to the small town of Prophet, murder is only a footstep away.

Gabriel is a former undercover cop haunted by the things he’s seen and done. He returns to his small hometown of Prophet, taking on the role of sheriff, hoping to mend his fractured relationship with his estranged brother and rebuild his life. But when a chilling murder occurs at Sentinel Rocks, a sacred Makah site on Lake Prophet, Gabriel’s dreams of peace and reconciliation are shattered.

Gabriel navigates a web of intrigue, where suspects abound; from local tribal elders to fervent Solstice worshippers and even those hunting the elusive Big Foot. When the brutal murder leaves Duke, a loyal Labrador retriever, as the sole witness, Gabriel stumbles upon an unexpected ally—a local animal behaviorist named Tiber.

Tiber, a newcomer to Prophet, seeks refuge in this remote haven, attempting to escape his own inner demons. Armed with his extraordinary ability to communicate with animals, he offers his expertise through video consultations, helping pet owners with their beloved companions. While he attributes his gift to his academic background in Animal Behavior, there is a mystical Navajo heritage at play that he cannot deny.

With the relentless rain washing away sins and good intentions alike, Gabriel and Tiber must begin to confront their own vulnerabilities and unravel the truth.

 

 

Book 1
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Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Big brown eyes stared back at me from my computer screen. They were set in a face with a shiny black nose and gray fur resembling an Ewok’s. The dog, Merci, looked away, but not before I saw that he was basically a happy little guy. Nothing too traumatic there. That was a relief. New clients were always worrying.

Denise, his owner, droned on over the laptop’s speaker. She was in her forties and wore a pink jogging suit that matched her one-inch pink nails. She and Merci were seated on a big white ottoman in a white room with windows overlooking the ocean.

She’d never have to worry over vet bills, that was for sure.

“…twice last week!” Denise complained. “On brand new pumps, too. I have a cleaning place I take them to, but you can’t get pee out of silk moiré. This is getting to be a serious problem! I just don’t understand where it’s coming from. Merci has always been such a good boy. He hasn’t had an accident in the house for years, and never before on my shoes.”

Her words were scolding, but her obsessive petting of Merci’s ruff told me more than her words. The way Merci leaned against her told me more still. She might be annoying to me, but Merci adored Denise Lafferty. And vice versa.

Which crossed several possibilities off the list.

“My friend, Lonny said you can read pets’ minds. Can you really do that?” Denise asked hopefully.

“I’m an animal behaviorist, Ms. Lafferty.”

“I know. But she said you knew what Snowball was thinking. And I figured maybe because you’re Native American… Or—is that the right term? First peoples? First nation? Merci and I don’t want to offend.”

I sighed inwardly. “Native American is fine.” I re-tucked my long black hair behind one ear. If a behaviorist had been reading me, that would be a tell. I always felt a bit like an imposter when clients assumed I was some kind of Native American shaman. I was only a quarter native, despite appearances suggesting otherwise. And I drew from my education—which I’d worked damned hard for—and not from anything supernatural.

Well. Mostly.

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of goodness

I love a good murder mystery, and this one has all the elements that one could want – out of the way location, dubious collection of suspects, great misdirects, and, at the heart of it, three vital characters... Gabriel, a sheriff who is back after a (very) rough time in the LAPD; Tiber, an animal psychologist who is hiding out after a horrible relationship; and the most heartwarming, grieving yellow lab who knows exactly what happened and is trying to get justice for his owner.

And whilst that would have already been enough, we also get the strong sense of how Gabriel needs to reconnect with his family; that ties were broken, and his brother doesn't believe that there could be any valid excuse for his absence... and yet...

Tiber refuses to trust his feelings after he was so manipulated by his previous boyfriend, so he'd rather live with his menagerie and far away from any suggestion of romance... But Gabriel is clearly attracted to him, and Tiber cannot deny that his body, even maybe his heart, is inclined to change the rules which his head is insisting stay in place.

I loved all of it, but the family times chez Tiber with Gabriel visiting were delicious! I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Solstice is just the kind of story I love to read. It is a great mix of murder mystery in a small town with romance. The first murder in ten years in his quiet town brings up difficult memories from Gabriel’s past. He is also dealing with estrangement from his brothers, so life isn’t easy for Gabriel. On the other hand, Tiber, our animal expert, had a peace about him. I loved his “pack” of animals and his intuition.

The first few interactions between Gabriel and Tiber were not the most comfortable, but the clear underlying attraction was there. I was thirsty for every little bit of interaction between Gabriel and Tiber I could get. But I loved that nothing between the men was rushed and by the end of the story, it was clear this is just the beginning, leaving me wanting more.

For me, the relationship between Gabriel and Tiber was the highlight but I really enjoyed the mystery too. It isn’t too complex, but it was still interesting. Also, I have to take note of the blue chicken – it was certainly an original clue.

Solstice is a great start to a new series, and I eagerly await book two so I can spend more time with Gabriel and Tiber.

 

 

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, ELI EASTON has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has published over 30 gay romances.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story.

Connect with Eli Easton

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Facebook Group: Eli Easton's Mad Creek Clubhouse

 

USA Today bestselling author RJ SCOTT has written over one hundred and fifty romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.

Connect with RJ Scott

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Facebook Group: RJ Scott – Special Secret Group

 

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Solstice (The Lake Prophet Mysteries #1) by Eli Easton & RJ Scott to read and review.