Zenith by Eli Easton & RJ Scott Release Blitz

A killer haunts Prophet, and this time it’s personal.

The discovery of a body at the Thompson Cabins sets off a chain of events that hits too close to home for Sheriff Gabriel Thompson. When his brother Sam becomes a prime suspect in the murder investigation, Gabriel is forced to keep secrets from Tiber and call in outside help as he fights to prove Sam’s innocence. It’s a nightmare that becomes all consuming.

Tiber Russo, animal whisperer, is dealing with problems of his own. A stalker threatens him and his entire menagerie of pets. With Gabriel wrapped up in the new case, Tiber tries to solve the mystery on his own. Who in the sleepy town of Prophet wants to do him harm? But when the threats turn lethal, Tiber finds himself in over his head.

Tiber and Gabriel have solved two murders together and started a deep relationship. But this time the forces ranged against them are personal and the target is on them and on the backs of everyone they love. With each of them isolated trying to protect the other, their strength is diminished. Even with the love they share, can they make it out of this alive?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of The Lake Prophet Mysteries!
For book one, Solstice, click HERE.
For book two, Equinox, click HERE.

 

 

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Tiber

“You said in your application that Bruno is having anxiety issues?” I peered at the man and dog on my computer screen, a polite, non-judgmental expression on my face. Or my best attempt at one anyway.

I was getting weird vibes from this new client, and I’d only been on the Zoom call for sixty seconds.

“Anxiety. Yeah, that’s it.” The man awkwardly patted the head of the dog seated on the couch next to him. With the other hand, he slipped a treat that was in his palm. It was done sneakily, as if I wasn’t supposed to notice.

Was the guy—Jim Smith, according to his application—thinking I’d judge him for spoiling the dog? Or was he worried the dog wouldn’t stay seated on the couch if he didn’t bribe him?

The dog, Bruno, was a large boxer with the breed’s typical brown coat and white muzzle. He sat upright and stiff, his alert gaze off-camera as if looking at someone or something else. I made a note.

“Tell me about the anxiety,” I said. “What in Bruno’s behavior make you think he’s anxious?” Though he seemed pretty anxious to me right then.

Jim Smith gave me a half-smile. “Before we get into that, tell me about yourself, Tiber. I’d like to know who I’m dealing with.”

I hesitated. “You can find my bio on my website.”

“I know that. But I wanna hear it from you.” He gave me what presumably passed in his mirror as an encouraging smile. It had the legitimacy of a three-dollar bill.

I was puzzled about Jim Smith. He was not my usual caller. My pet consulting clients were often, though not exclusively, women. If they were men, they tended to be older; Jim Smith appeared to be in his late-twenties, close to my age. They included people who were worried about their pets, obsessed with their pets, and people who were at the absolute end of their rope. Some of my clients were desperate—their dog hated their new love interest or was about to be tossed by their landlord. Some simply wanted to communicate with their furry friends. But, whatever their issue, they were always people who loved their pets. If they weren’t, they wouldn’t have sought me out or willing to pay my consulting fees.

Jim Smith didn’t strike me that way. His pale skin was flushed, as if he’d been exerting himself or was angry. His face was plain, his physique too thin, his blue eyes dull, and he was dressed in a black turtleneck, black slacks, and—perhaps a personal quirk—even black gloves. But it wasn’t his sartorial choices that made my skin crawl. I got the vibe he was someone with a hair-trigger temper.

“That’s fine,” I said easily. “I have a Master’s in Animal Behavior from the University of Washington. It’s a field that combines zoology and psychology. I’ve been working with private clients for four years, and I have reviews and references on my website if you’d care to take a look.”

“I know all that,” Jim said. “I can read. I want to know about you as a person. What are your hobbies and interests? Are you married? In a relationship?” He raised his eyebrows and half-smiled again.

“Mr. Smith, you’re paying for my time. I think we should focus on Bruno.” Sweat gathered under my arms, tickling my skin, and I felt lightheaded. I hated it. I hated that it was so easy for me to get thrown off on a call. Or by any human interaction, really.

Unlike animals, humans often had hidden agendas, ulterior motives. I was shit at dealing with those.

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Gabriel and Tiber’s love life is going well and they are now living together. But his work life is far more difficult. For the third time in a year there has been a murder in the small town of Prophet, and this time the body was found on his brother’s property, adding to Gabriel’s stress.

But the murder is not the only problem in Prophet. The tension continues to build as there is a fire, a missing tortoise, and a mystery stalker harassing Tiber. The tension and my eagerness to see who was behind the problems had me turning the pages. Then as we approached the climax of the story, I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was on the edge of my seat and for the first time in a long time, I was up until 2.30am reading because I just couldn’t put the book down.

While I loved the mystery, suspense, and action, my favourite scenes in Zenith are when Tiber and Gabriel are at home with their pack of doggies and animals. The homey, cozy feel filled me with joy. And after all the drama, Zenith ends with an absolutely lovely epilogue. I have loved reading Zenith and the Lake Prophet Mysteries. I’m not sure if the authors are planning more stories for Tiber and Gabriel, but if they are, I’ll definitely be reading them.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series – and you most definitely need to have read them in order to understand the dynamics between the main characters, and the important background information.

Every fan will be delighted that Tiber and Gabriel are now properly together and clearly happily in love. Of course, we can guess that they are going to experience more drama in their supposedly sleepy town of Lake Prophet, but will they stand together or fall apart? Interestingly, they definitely don't communicate well, but it is out of a desire to protect the other, rather than for any more sinister reason. I love that the menagerie at Tiber's house has a significant part to play in all parts of the mystery and are a central part of the men's relationship.

This is a really good ending to the series – and I most definitely plan on rereading them all in one go, so that I can get all the goodness in one hit!

 

 

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!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
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!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: RJ Scott – Special Secret Group

 

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Zenith (The Lake Prophet Mysteries #3) by Eli Easton & RJ Scott to read and review.