Beneath the Bare and Twisted Branches: Spooky Stories of MM Romance

A chill tumbles down your spine.... You feel the ghost of a breath on your skin.... Under the moon, lovers meet to steam up the cold October nights. At Halloween, the veil between worlds is thin, and the denizens of other realms come out to play. Accompanied by the rattle of brittle leaves and lit by the grinning glows of jack-o-lanterns, these men have mischief in mind. But they must beware, for there are other things haunting the autumn darkness. This collection of spooky, spicy stories will have you wondering whether you're alone... and maybe wishing you weren't. Individual story blurbs: Mr. Brimstone Something sinister and sensual resides in the huge Maine Coon cat Gilbert MacNeil adopted as part of a prison program... and it follows him home after his release. As Halloween approaches and ancient magical forces gain strength, an old associate of Gil's tries to coerce him back into his criminal business. Gil has never been good at refusing others, and his indecision traps him between two very different fates. As Gil tries to balance his illicit activities with protecting those he cares about, an unseen battle wages in the shadows. Gil and his otherworldly companion must choose whose demands to satisfy... and they'd better choose wisely. Mrs. Finnegan and Mrs. Krause A young mother faces harsh small-town judgement when her toddler wanders off on a misty autumn night. Gil MacNeil has first-hand experience with gossip that feels impossible to escape, especially when tragedy and violence seem to follow him... and no one knows the secrets he really keeps. He's determined to help Peggy Clougherty find and keep her son, though not even he can imagine who truly wants the boy or for what dark purpose. His mission puts him at odds with not only influential townspeople, but with the dark and powerful being who's come to mean everything to Gil. The Apple River Graveyard Watch Folklorist Benny Durand travels to a remote corner of Nova Scotia to investigate tales of ritual magic and gruesome rites surrounding a crumbling mansion. He's surprised to find it occupied by Sigar Sigridsson, an artist and musician who took refuge there following a disfiguring accident. Sig resents Benny's intrusion on his solitude, but the land itself seems determined to push them together. As they delve into the property's history and find a budding friendship with promises of much more, the former owner's depravity comes to light, and they realize they're far from alone in isolated Apple River.