Jake Barton, an Air Force veteran, is on a mission of a completely different kind from his days of deployments and training. In order to protect the ones he loves from the threat of twisted powers from beyond the veil of reality, he must undertake an incredible journey across the face of the United States, performing rites of alchemy to help him consolidate and focus his power. Fox Foster, a … Foster, a handsome, red-headed young man living and working in Moorcroft, Wyoming, is dealing with the fallout of insecurities and indecision plaguing his life. Abandonment, a short list of bad apples, and a good heart that only wants to make his father proud has Fox at odds with himself.
A chance encounter has Fox serving Jake as a guest at his family’s hotel lodge. The strangely charged meeting has Jake considering just how massive his undertaking is–protecting the friends and son he holds dear, and bringing new love into his life after years of literal solitude.
How does one man face off against the threat of the enemy’s shifters in the dark? Against the odds of scores of mages in the world versus the rarely discovered alchemists? Against a son who believed he was abandoned by his well-meaning father? How does he come to terms with the forces in the world that pushed him and Fox together?
A Touch of Lightning is the first novel in the Beyond the Pale series. Elements of alchemy, magic, and adventure in the present-day world exist side by side. Touch is a modern fantasy fiction blended with steamy, inventive, M/M romance. Pick up the book and let the journey begin!
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A Touch of Lightening by author Kit Fortier is the first book in the Beyond the Pale series. I loved this book. Set in a modern-day, but in this modern world there is magic, and most importantly alchemists. I really loved this one. Alchemy is one of my favorites and seeing in it in an MM book really made my day. I like the modern twists.
There is a ton to uncover in this book. From emotional angst too action and adventure. I loved reading this story.
The slow burn love story in this novel is between Jake an Air Force vet who wants to be a strong alchemist and Fox the electrically charged younger man with so much potential to be more than even he knows he can be.
Together they will face Jakes demons from his past, find magic together, and find love that will take them through it all.
When you want a story that is original, fun, and lots of content I highly suggest this one.
Five Shooting Stars
3.75
This book is set on a really interesting premise. The characters are well developed throughout the story, and the writing is done well. There are quite a few editing issues. Not enough to ruin the story, but they did get distracting at times. If not for those, it might have been a higher rating. Also, this book is not just fantasy with a romance; it is hot and heavy sexy times consistently throughout. I haven’t read that many sex scenes in the last five or more books combined, lol. But, if you know what you’re getting into (which I didn’t;), it’s totally worth the read.
This world is full of magic users, alchemists, and the creatures created by their combined forces in the past; shifters. Jake is an alchemist, and has been keeping to the plans his mentor laid out before his great “sacrifice.” It’s taken him years away from his family, but he’s almost done. He stops for a rest in a small town near his destination where he meets Fox.
Fox is much younger than Jake, and is currently running the business for his father and trying to figure out what he wants to be when he grows up. He’s not that young, he just doesn’t want to disappoint his dad, but he knows he doesn’t want to keep doing what he has been doing. In walks a wanderer, and Fox is smitten.
When events lead to Jake realizing that Fox has the potential to be an alchemist himself, he is given a warning. He asks Fox to leave his life behind and come with him on his quest. Fox agrees, and learns extremely quickly how to use his newfound power.
They have many stops to make, and several tasks to complete, but not a day goes by that they don’t find time for some seriously hot sexy times. Jake brings Fox more deeply into his plans, and they both gain more than expected along the way. Eventually, the time comes to reunite with Jake’s family. It’s hard at first, but soon the angst turns to love and acceptance.
There is a plot twist thrown in at the denouement of the story, and tragedy seems immanent. But the betrayal of one trusted leads to a broken promise by one loved. This sets off a course of action that could have been catastrophic under other circumstances. But love and sacrifice bring about a miracle that saves hearts from being shattered; but not the anger of the promise broken.
With patience and a different form of communication, apologies are made, anger is expressed, and forgiveness is granted. And, for now, our characters are facing a happy future…at least until the sequel. Who knows what will happen next.
Happy reading!
* I received an ARC of this book and I am leaving my honest review. *