by
- Shades of Sepia (The Sleepless City book 1)
- Electric Candle (The Sleepless City book 2)
- Family and Reflection (The Sleepless City book 3)
- Shifting Chaos (The Sleepless City book 4)
When a rebel werewolf and a vampire thief fall in love, only one thing is certain—trouble.
For as long as Lucas Coate can remember, werewolves have been taught to mistrust vampires. Lucas is an exception—he has close friends who are vampires. The werewolf pack in Boggslake—and their leader, Jacob Coate—have made it clear that Lucas’s association with vampires is barely tolerated, and another transgression will be his last. When Lucas finds out about the plague of werewolf deaths in the area, he wants to help even though his own life may already be in danger.
Declan has been away from Boggslake for ten years, but he isn’t surprised to learn that the internal politics of the Supernatural Council haven’t changed for the better. When a series of burglaries hit close to home soon after he arrives, Declan—a vampire and professional thief—is their prime suspect, although for once, he isn’t responsible. With the council keeping secrets, no one is safe. Time is running out, and for Lucas and Declan, everything is about to change.
Author’s Note: This story was originally released in 2015 by another publisher. This edition has been re-edited.
“If someone had told me twenty years ago I’d be having a conversation about something like this with a vampire, I’d have told them they were crazy.”
“You’re having this conversation with a friend,” Declan corrected him. “It doesn’t matter what we are, but who we are.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I want to.” Declan thought for a moment, wanting the right words. Why was this so difficult? He’d given advice to Jonas and Simon many times without any trouble.
“We’re both as bad as each other, yeah?” Lucas seemed sad.
“Why do you say that, and about what?” Declan let go of Lucas.
“I’m a werewolf, and you’re a vampire—”
“You’ve only noticed that now?” Declan interrupted dryly. He walked back to his chair, adjusting it so he was opposite Lucas and could see his face.
READ MORELucas laughed, but this time it sounded natural, not forced. “I’ve gotten used to living at the castle. I love it here, and the guys are my friends. Most of the time I forget we’re different. They’re family. I don’t care what they are. It’s like you said. The important thing is who they are.” He sobered. “Then crap like this goes down… Why do I suddenly feel as though I’m a part of the pack again and need to follow their stupid rules?”
“You’re a part of whatever family you want to be, Lucas.” Declan knew what he wanted—needed—to say now. “One thing I’ve learned with having a long life is that family is who you choose. I didn’t get on with mine that well. I had a father who had expectations too.” He pulled himself up sharply before he went anywhere near those memories. Very little of what he’d done had pleased his father. “We might be different, you and I, mon ami, but in many ways we’re the same.”
“I kind of get the expectation thing with you guys.” Lucas paused and looked apologetic before continuing. “Simon’s not said much about his past, but I get the impression his father expected him to do stuff he didn’t want to do as well.” He scowled. “Be a good son and carry on the family name and traditions. I’m guessing Forge went through the same thing, but he’s never said anything about it. At least not to me.”
“Why do you get it with us?” Declan figured he already knew the answer but wanted to be certain he and Lucas were talking about the same thing.
“You’re a lot older than I am. I can understand this stuff going on a hundred, or even two—”
“Closer to three hundred,” Declan said.
“Yeah, that. You’re old. No offense.” Lucas waved one hand.
“None taken.” Declan couldn’t help but smile. “I know I’m old. But you know what they say about fine wine?”
“Yeah, and, hey, I’m not complaining.” Lucas took a long drink of coffee. “You interrupted my flow. I was making a point here.”
“Sorry.”
“So you’re old, so I expect that kind of stuff from you guys. It was a long time ago.” Lucas growled low in his throat. “But us… the pack… we… they’re carrying on like we’re still living in that society. I’ve told my father that he needs to move with the times or the pack will be left behind. Sure, they use technology, but for the rest of it, you’d think we’d only just gotten off the Mayflower or something.”
“It takes a long time for some people to accept change.” Declan leaned over and brushed a lock of hair back from Lucas’s forehead. “Some never do.” He’d seen vampires who couldn’t move past what their lives had been like as humans. Most of them hadn’t survived.
“Yeah.” Lucas swallowed. He shook his head when Declan started to move his chair farther back and away from temptation. “I don’t mind you touching me like that,” he said softly.
“I should…” Declan hadn’t thought, just reacted. He’d meant what he’d said about flirting and had no intention of leading Lucas on. “We’re friends,” he said finally.
“I wouldn’t be talking to you about this stuff if we weren’t.” Lucas looked like he was about to say something but cleared his throat instead. “I know you’re kind of touchy-feely and all that. So am I. So—”
A loud knock sounded at the front door.
“Now what?” Lucas muttered.
Boggs materialized in front of them. He looked annoyed. “There are two gentlemen at the door,” he said. “I don’t know who exactly they are, but I heard them talking before they knocked. They’re from the council.”
“I already apologized about that weird stuff in the garbage,” Lucas said.
“Not that council.” Boggs rolled his eyes. “The other one.”
COLLAPSELinda on Queeromance Ink wrote:Anne Barwell has all the residents at Boggs Castle getting into the chaos with the third installment of “The Sleepless City” series. Declan is in big trouble as he’s called before the Supernatural Council.
Declan is still staying at Boggs Castle. He’s getting settled and he and Lucas have made a peculiar connection. But they’re both fighting the inevitable that other residences of Boggs Castle have noticed. Just when things seem to really settle down, Declan is called before the Supernatural Council and Elders, who still believe in the old rules. They’ve made up their collective minds that Declan is the thief, and plan to put an end to the vampire.
Lucas has his hands full: can he prove Declan’s innocent? He’s also helping his sister Anita with her loss, trying to figure out the mysterious death’s of the unborn, planning a reunion with Ivan an old friend, and having to deal with his father. Most of all, Lucas just wants to continue to explore this new and odd relationship with Declan.
Ben’s best friend, Ange Duncan, has come for a visit, and everyone has to be careful not to show their true identity. Ange has made a special friend very quickly, but does she really know who she’s talking to? Ange becomes a witness to many strange things, but she slides right into this unique group and finds her place.
The team finds they still have lots to solve: who’s the thief? What new evil will they find lurking in Boggslake? And who planted the sigil in Boggs Castle?
There are also the scrolls with the myth about vampires and werewolves.
When Declan’s time is up, Simon comes up with an old plan and everyone has a part to play. Can they all keep this intricate plan in motion and save Declan?Anne Barwell does an outstanding job with the storyline and continues to brings another action packed, eerie mystery, with so many twists and turns. Barwell delivers intriguing lore with the subject of vampires vs. werewolves, and doesn’t miss a beat in giving all the characters (Simon Hawthorne, Ben Leyton, Jonas Forge, Blair Turner, Lucas Coates, Declan and Boggs and even Ange Duncan) a chance to get into the act.
“Family Reflection” is a re-edited version from the first publication in 2015. Not only is it just as good the second time around, but it has a gorgeous new cover from T.L. Bland.
To bring “The Sleepless City” series to a close, Elizabeth Noble is up next to deliver the final novel “Shifting Chaos”. Coming soon!
This series just keeps getting better and better, and each time I am lucky enough to join the gang in whatever trouble they will get into, I count myself lucky. A castle filled with vampires, a werewolf, a human and a ghost – how could that be anything but great? Of course, there’s also the newest danger surrounding everyone, and the issue of finding out the guilty party, which comes as a surprise.
Lucas Coate has been falling for Declan, a vampire who was involved with Jonas Forge for hundreds of years, making a relationship between them very awkward. That’s exactly what Blair, Forge’s new soulmate is living with, because he knows that Jonas has loved Declan and probably still does. A werewolf and a vampire, each living long lives and still too stupid to communicate how they feel. If they did they would find they feel the same way.
After being away from Boggslake for ten years, Declan has returned, and things are not as he remembers them. Declan is a thief, and when members of the Supernatural Council have items stolen from them, Declan is their prime suspect. Declan is given the job of finding the real thief, or he will suffer the consequences, and the Council is the last word on sentencing.
So stealing is a problem, but not the most egregious one. Women in the wolf packs are miscarrying their babies, even after the first trimester and the wolves are convinced there is a plague and the vampires are to blame.
Unborn litters are dying with no idea why, and it could mean the end of the werewolf population. Declan and all his friends have their hands full, and finding answers is filled with danger. Werewolves and vampires are on the edge and Declan knows he is going to be the one to pay the price.Making things even harder is the fact that Ben’s childhood friend Ange has come to visit for a few weeks with no knowlege whatsoever that she is rooming with vampires, a werewolf and a ghost, so everything has to be done in secret for fear of exposing her to a world she could never have anticipated.
This series is a collaboration of two different authors, each writing a book, which makes it great for readers like me since the wait for the next book in the series will not be too long.
The characters are amazing, not wonderful but amazing. The search for answers finds betrayal and surprise after surprise.
Now I just have to wait for book four to once again connect with the all my castle friends.