Erik Mitchell traveled the world uncovering art fraud and relic theft, which pitted him against spoiled billionaires, unscrupulous collectors, mobsters, and cartels. He worked with law enforcement across the U.S. and Europe, but then a sting goes wrong, Erik ends up injured and returns to find his partner cheating. He decides to stop globetrotting and buy an antique shop in scenic Cape May, NJ, … NJ, rebuild his life, and nurse his broken heart.
Undercover Newark cop Ben Nolan went down in a hail of bullets when a bust went sideways, after a tip-off from a traitor inside the department. When he recovers, he spends a couple of years as a private investigator, only to tire of seeing the worst of human nature. So when his aunt offers him the chance to take over her rental real estate business in Cape May, it seems too good to be true. Now if he could just believe he could ever be lucky again in love.
Sparks fly when Erik and Ben meet. But when a cursed hotel’s long-ago scandals resurface, the two men are pulled into a web of lies, danger, and deception that will test their bond—and might make them Cape May’s newest ghosts!
Treasure Trail contains sexually explicit material intended for adults 18 and over.
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Ben and Erik are destined to be together, they never really stood a chance of it not happening, from the second they first spoke to each other. The magic/supernatural version of fated mates. Then throw in a sixty year old murder to solve, another one 30 years ago – with the potential to still cause problems, dodgy law enforcement, ghosts – good and bad, magic, witches and a vampire for good measure, and a possibly deadly ending all add up to fast paced story with a LOT going on. Not the best of circumstances for a love-at-first-sight, full on romance, with most of the action happening over less than a fortnight. At least there is a HEA when everyone catches their breath!
Ghosts Among Us
Murder, cursed hotels, haunted houses, danger, intrigue and most of all, love. Ben was an ex-police detective turned PI. Erik used to recover stolen art and investigate art frauds. Both moved to Cape May for a change in career and way of life. With them, they bring a whole lot of trouble as strange things start happening.
Erik has some special skills that help him with his antiquities business and make him fit right in with Cape May. Ben is more cautious in believing things that can’t be seen. The two have an instant connection from their first encounter, but their fragile bond is tested when Ben is forced to reevaluate how he sees the world.
I like how patient Ben is, how he listens and doesn’t judge Erik when he opens up. Erik is sweet and I hope he learns how to grow into his skills. Their journey to be together is a slow burn with lots of yummy tension, including some hot phone calls, as they keep trying to be together, but life interferes. They also each have past issues they are working through but when they are together they help each other heal.
I want to visit Cape May and try all this food, maybe go on some ghost tours. I love a mystery and combine it with paranormal happenings, it’s a win-win! A fun read by Morgan Brice and a great start to a new series.
I loved how we got cameos from the other series by this author where the characters were well known to those who have read the others, but we weren’t expected to know them – I’ve found that balance to be pretty rare.
I loved that both Erik and Ben felt that they were damaged/broken in a way that would make a relationship hopeless, and yet that exact flaw that they saw in themselves became the greatest attraction each had with the other. I really want to know more about Erik’s talent and what about it will help in the preservation of Cape May. I also wonder about Ben’s talent, and if it too will be able to grow as they learn more about the Alliance.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Awesome story. I love these, they get better and better all the time. The Badlands Series and this book have a connection. The two leads in the different stories were collage buddies and kept in touch over the years. Very exciting and danger all around. I loved the the story. I know you will also. I received a complimentary review copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving a honest review.
Morgan does it again with this new book and series. I love how the author mixes romance, mystery and supernatural in all her books. In this new series we are in Cape May, NJ and meet Erik and Ben. Both men are smart, hunky and have a background they both need help getting over. This is a love at first sight book. There is a good murder mystery with a supernatural twist. It was nice to see Simon pop up a couple of times in this book. I look forward to reading more in this series.
*I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.*
I am already a fan of this author’s ghostly stories, and this is another great one. I found both Erik and Ben to be interesting, skilled, strong, and sensitive men. They had each gone through difficult times with family and previous jobs, and they both deserved a fresh start. Finding each other so soon after moving to Cape May was nothing less than meant to be. My one and only issue with the men was that they each trusted new people pretty quickly, considering the deception they each had a history with. Other than that, there was nothing about this story I would have changed. It kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages, unable to do anything productive until I found out how things turned out for Ben and Erik. I hope to read a lot more about the world they’ve become a part of, and I recommend this sometimes sweet, sometimes chilling story to other fans of romance and paranormal mysteries.
Edited Jan. 11, 2021 to add my comments on the audidobook.
Audiobook review:
Performance – 5
Story – 5
Overall – 5
Loved the book, loved the audio even more!
Treasure Trail was the first book I read by Morgan Brice and the first (as far as I can remember anyway) urban fantasy book I read – that was back in June 2019 and I haven’t missed a Morgan Brice book since. I was thrilled when I found out that Treasure Trail was coming to audio and being performed by one of my favorite audiobook performers, John Solo.
Below is my original review from when I read the book in June 2019:
A new genre and new author for me and I loved it!
Treasure Trail is the first book in a new series and the first one I’ve read by Morgan Brice. It’s also the first (as far as I can remember anyway) urban fantasy book I’ve ever read. I can’t really say why, but I just never thought that urban fantasy books would appeal to me. But Morgan Brice will be an attending author at a book convention I’m going to in February 2020 so I decided to read and review Treasure Trail when I was offered a review copy.
I am so glad that I decided to read this book. It grabbed me right from the start and kept me fully engaged until I finished it. It brought me to tears in a few places, which is a sure sign that I really liked it. I really liked the MCs and there were several secondary characters that I also found interesting.
The book has mystery, suspense, romance and good friends who help each other. Both of the MCs have special gifts (they can see ghosts), but Erik has something more. As Erik and Ben get to know each other bad things keep happening around them. There are unsolved murders, a skeleton found in a closet, and other interesting objects involved in the story.
After I read this book, I learned that some of the supporting characters are from another series by this author (Badlands), and some are from series written by her other pen name, Gail Z. Martin. You don’t need to have read these books to fully enjoy Treasure Trail but I’m sure that fans of these other series will be happy to visit with them again. I know that I am now especially eager to read the Badlands series.
Treasure Trail was a great introduction to the urban fantasy genre and a great introduction to Morgan Brice’s writing. I will definitely be reading more of her books and I look forward to meeting her in February 2020.
A copy of this book was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Treasure Trail by Morgan Brice. It has mystery, suspense, humor, steam, sweetness .. and ghosts. Erik and Ben are interesting characters who have great chemistry together but also have interesting talents in this story. The plot intrigued me and I was not disappointed in the mystery and the surprising twists. Very interesting read and I really am excited for more books to come.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
4.5 stars
“Treasure Trail” by Morgan Brice introduces Erik Mitchell, who is the new owner of a unique antique shop, and Ben Nolan, who is temporarily managing his relatives’ real estate rental business. Each man has had experiences with the paranormal world, which means they’ll fit right in to their new town. However, neither expects to become embroiled in several cold cases that may be life-threatening to solve.
This adult gay paranormal mystery story is the first book in a new series and definitely starts things off with plenty of eerie elements to pique one’s interest. The small-town feel juxtaposed with the casual acceptance of ghosts and “other” is vividly depicted and convinced me that this is NOT somewhere I want to visit, lol. I love this author’s world-building and ability to create realistic, likable characters who accept their abilities with equanimity and a sense of responsibility.
I was drawn in to the story immediately and sympathetic to each of the main characters as their pasts are gradually revealed. I love that this is a mystery story with that unique twist of the paranormal (including ghosts demanding justice) that enhances the mystery and investigation. The tension mounts even as the two guys gradually accept their burgeoning relationship and reveal their respective painful pasts and dangerous past professions.
It was even better to have several cameos by folks from the other series penned by this prolific and talented author. I delight in the opportunity to get a glimpse of them and look forward to some of them getting their time in the spotlight again. Those in search of an exciting mystery story with a paranormal twist will enjoy this tale—but beware, once captivated, nothing else will get done!
A copy of this title was provided for review