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Author: Shayla Kersten | Website


Published Works & Book Reviews

River of Need

Two years after their breakup, Detective Kyle Shelton didn’t expect to see his lying, cheating, closeted ex. Especially not behind bars for prostitution. Bailing him out is one of the stupidest things Kyle has done in a while. Although letting his ex back in his bed probably ranks higher on the dumbass scale.

Dustin Eldridge’s lies about his sexual preferences have left him with nothing. Literally. He’s lost his home, his family, his job and, worse, he’s lost Kyle. On the streets, with no one to turn to, he’s resorted to selling his body to survive. Then Kyle—of all people—comes to his rescue. Dustin can’t fix the past but maybe there’s hope for a future.

Unless Kyle really believes Dustin added serial killer to his resume, along with hooker.

Note: For maximum reader enjoyment, we suggest also reading Hidden Force (Tony and Ryan) and Hidden Hands (David March), in which these secondary characters were heroes. 

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Dec 7, 2010
Genre(s): GLBTQ, M/M
It's been two years since Dustin and Kyle broke up and Detective Kyle Shelton doesn't expect to see Dustin again and especially not in a jail cell. Kyle ends up bailing Dustin out. Dustin's live has not been an easy one. In the passing years he has lost everything his life. His marriage is gone, his self-esteem is low and now he's living on the streets. When he's arrested he doesn't expect to see Kyle nor to

Shrouded Angel

Terra offers sanctuary to both Angellum and Virkola. Unknown to the humans, a truce exists there. To Terrans, the two species exist as myths. One is a frail, winged creature from religious texts. The other, a demon of the night, living off blood. Both are far from the truth…

Because of the Angellum, Patrea, a Virkolan, has spent his life afraid of loss. When darkness descends on his ship in the form of a strange angel, Patrea feels he can’t stay on the Avere. But departing would mean leaving behind the only light in his life—his bunkmate Hadreal. He needs to find the courage to tell Hadreal how he feels.

Hadreal has always felt more than friendship for his younger bunkmate, but bitter past experience keeps him from acting on his feelings. When a new danger brings them closer, he decides it might be time to live again. But now his chance at happiness may end before he’s able to sample it.

Sometimes it takes a brush with death to make life worth living.

Publisher’s Note: While a standalone, for maximum reader enjoyment, we recommend reading Angel Moon first.

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Oct 29, 2010
Genre(s): Paranormal Romance, GLBTQ
Virkolan Patrea has a reason to hate the Angellum for they murdered his family in front of him. When the new Captain and his mate bring a strange angel on board the ship, Patrea isn't sure if he wants to stay or leaving the ship. Leaving would mean giving up Hadreal to whom he has always been attracted to though he hasn't admitted it to Hadreal. When the ship is attacked by Angels though, Patrea and the rest

Icing On the Cake
Length: Novella
 
Jeff Morgan’s life is all about career. Relationships aren’t on his radar. His friendships are limited to a very few and his sex life consists of wham-bam-thank-you-man sexual encounters. He doesn’t do long term. He doesn’t even do breakfast.
 
Then the fate of a cake brings Ollie Cranford into his life. Shaved head, tats and piercings, the baker is far from Jeff’s type, but Ollie is as luscious as the treats he whips up in his bakery.
 
Now if only Jeff can relax long enough to enjoy the icing on the beefcake.
 
Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Jun 19, 2010
Genre(s): GLBTQ
To Jeff Morgan relationships are not what he is seeking. He is busy with work and is trying to make something of himself. But when his best friend needs him to order a wedding cake for her wedding he ends up going to Cranford Design's. At Cranford’s he finds a man who isn't really his type. Ollie Cranford is tattooed, bald, and pierced. But Ollie’s bulging muscles make Jeff’s knees go week.

Angel Moon

Terra offers sanctuary to both Angellum and Virkola. Unknown to the humans, a truce exists there. To Terrans, the two species exist as myths. One is a frail, winged creature from religious texts. The other, a demon of the night, living off blood. Both are far from the truth…

Sorin thought sanctuary was the answer to their problems. Terra with its plentiful creatures, full of fresh blood and off limits to the millennia-long war with the Angellum—who wouldn’t think it paradise? Except paradise comes at a high price. Claiming a bounty on a renegade angel hasn’t ended up the way he planned at all.

Teo loves his ship, his life in space, but he loves Sorin more. The plan seemed sound, but the bounty is a fraud and now the price is on him and Sorin. He’ll make the best of the rest of his life with Sorin, even if it’s only for a few weeks.

But when hope appears from an unexpected source, both men grab chance by her wings.

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Jun 2, 2010
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Terra offers Sorin as well as Teo sanctuary from the Angellum whose appetite for conquest has all but destroyed the two men’s race. They think that one last job will take them to Terra and away from the fighting and terror of the running.  But their last mission turns out not to be a boon but a trap for them as well as the Angellum woman they had taken from the planet. Teo will do anythi

For Olympus Sake
Book Length: Short Novel
 
Stephen Liatos’ career as an archaeologist hit a brick wall a long time ago. His love life crashed and burned right behind it. When a young intern claims to have the key to the elusive artifact known as Aphrodite’s necklace, Stephen’s life takes a strange turn. Suddenly, he’s in the middle of the hottest wet dream he’s ever had. Until all hell breaks loose. Literally.
 
Alex’s mission was to retrieve his mistress’s necklace. He didn’t need a passenger along for the ride, although Stephen’s overactive libido makes for an interesting trip. Nor did he expect to end up in Hades instead of Olympus. Now he has to get the necklace and Stephen out of the Underworld before they both become permanent residents.
Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Jan 31, 2010
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Stephen Liatos' archaeology career came to a staggering halt when his peers laughed at him for thinking Aphrodite’s Necklace was a real artifact. He was sent to a museum at an already completed dig and his love life crashed as well. Then his life took an unexpected turn when Alex an intern shows up. Things really get complicated as Alex is sent to find Aphrodite's Necklace and bring it back to the godde

Fighting For Eternity
Eternity, Book Four
 
Searching for a murderous rogue vampire, Watcher Estefan Garza’s life is turned upside down by tragic loss and a surprise from his past. His bone-chilling loss is warmed by fires of passion reignited by vampire Karl Brandt.
 
On a quest to destroy a former friend, Karl is startled by Estefan and his mysterious companions. Karl can’t understand why Estefan hasn’t aged in seventy years. Unwilling to let him leave until Karl discovers the truth, he offers Estefan and his friends refuge and assistance for their common mission.
 
As a bloody battle for Memphis ensues, Karl and Estefan bond between danger and destruction until all that remains separating them is a fight for eternity.
 
Note: While a stand-alone, it is recommended the novels be read in order for maximum reading pleasure.
Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Oct 18, 2009
Genre(s): GLBTQ
This is the fourth book of the Eternity Series, though it can be read alone as well as part of the series. Watcher Estefan Garza has been killing rogue vampires for over 70 years. His life though is turned upside down by the tragic death of his mentor and the reappearance of an old lover…Vampire Karl Brandt. Karl Brandt can't believe his eyes when Estefan re-enters his life while he is tracking a cra

Positive Possibilites
Chicago attorney Gabe Layton’s life has just turned upside down. His lover of six years is cheating and his supposedly straight best friend of twenty-something years claims to be in love with him. Throw in that his cheating ex has possibly exposed him to HIV and Gabe’s world is a confusing place.
 
Paramedic Dean Bannon has always been attracted to both sexes, but after seeing his lifelong friend Gabe deal with prejudice and hate, staying on the straight and narrow seemed an easier path. But his deepening feelings for Gabe push him to reveal his hidden side. Now to convince Gabe of the positive possibilities of taking their friendship to another level.
Reviewer: Tigger9
Review: Jun 15, 2010
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Positive Possibilities grabbed me by the heart from the very beginning. Gabe and Dean are very lovable characters and you root for the two of them through this short story. I wanted more of the characters and their relationship when I got to the last page but, unfortunately, there was no more. Gabe and Dean have such a great friendship that they have hidden their desire for each other becuase they do not want

Hidden Force

Cold-blooded murder and hot-blooded passion…

Memphis homicide detective Tony Costa's life is twisted with both. A killer is stalking prey in the bitter winter nights leaving a trail of victims with hauntingly familiar features. The blond-haired, blue-eyed young men resemble the vice cop whose bed he secretly shares. Afraid of revealing his secret to the world, he may be too late to tell the one person who matters.

Ryan Nilsson wants more than a friend with benefits. Out about his sexuality since high school, Ryan doesn't like hiding his relationship with Tony, but he's not willing to end it. Asked to work with Tony on a series of murders, things heat up and not always in a good way. When an old lover resurfaces during the investigation, Ryan makes a decision that may be his last.

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: May 15, 2009
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Homicide detective Tony Costa's life has been changing since meeting vice detective Ryan Nilsson. They have become lovers, but are keeping their relationship a secret. It’s all taking a toll. Tony is called to a homicide and he finds a body. The body is of a young gay man with blond hair, blue eyes and a slight build. The victim resembles Ryan and it’s just too much of a coincidence. Tony just kno

Hidden Hands

Detective Jeremy Lawson doesn’t expect anything from his one night stand except sex. What he gets is a shooting, a mystery plus some of the best sex he’s had in a long time. Somewhere along the way, he also finds some tenderness for a lost soul in need of rescuing.

David March has let his troubled past blind him to any kind of happy future. But when a one night stand turns out to be a cop in shining armor, David begins to think differently about his life. As in, he wants one. But to have one, he has to stay alive.

Note: For maximum reader enjoyment, we suggest reading Hidden Force (David) and A Helping Hand (Jeremy) where our two heroes were secondary characters.

 

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: May 15, 2009
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Detective Jeremy Lawson doesn't except happily ever afters since loosing the man he loved to another. So He turned to the bar scene never expecting to find David March a tortured man who has also lost his first love. When Jeremy takes David home with him for a night of passion he finds that David has a lot of hang ups about loving another man. So Jeremy ties him to the bed and gives him the night of his

A Helping Hand
Deputy Sheriff Rich Taylor has many secrets. His sexuality is only the top of the list. Even his best friend Dan doesn’t know Rich is gay. For good reason. His feelings for Dan are more than friendship. When Dan’s injured, the thought of losing him forces Rich to admit his years-long lust has turned to love.
 
An accident turns State Trooper Dan Fletcher’s life, and his car, upside down. With his right hand out of commission, he has to rely on his best friend for his basic—sometimes intimate—needs. After spending most of his life looking for the right woman, he begins to wonder if he’s been looking at the wrong gender—an impossible concept in their small-minded world.
 

 

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: Sep 16, 2008
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Best friends Sheriff's Deputy Richard Taylor and State Trooper Dan Fletcher have been living in the same town and working the same area for years until an accident puts Dan out of action for awhile and he has to have help doing just the basics to live so, Rich moves in with Dan. Rich as loved Dan for years but has never told Dan that he is gay. Things change when things heat up between Dan and Rich sexually.

Double Happiness

Chen Jin Tai faces the worst possible news only days from his commitment ceremony with his lover—Tai’s estranged mother is coming to the wedding. Unable to accept her son’s sexuality—she’s determined to have a daughter-in-law—Chen Qi Xiang’s visit is unexpected. Tai wants to believe she’s looking for reconciliation but he knows his lover’s attitude will be anything but optimistic.

David Anderson never thought about settling down until he literally bumped into Tai on the street. Before Tai, sex was for fun and love wasn’t an option. Now two years later, he can’t imagine life without his partner. Tai’s Ice Queen mother showing up with malice in mind could be the beginning of the end of the best thing in his life.

Two beautiful men, one tiny Chinese soon-to-be mother-in-law, a live cricket as a present and a red wedding dress. It’s about to be an interesting next few days and the men are going to learn a whole new level of sexual excitement.

 

Reviewer: Sandra
Review: May 12, 2009
Genre(s): GLBTQ
Chen Jin Tai's mother shows up and he is hoping for reconciliation. He would like that to come before he and his lover David Anderson upcoming Commitment Ceremony. She has never been able to accept his choice of sexual partners. Quickly it becomes clear to David that her attitude hasn't changed at all. She wants a daughter-in-law and not him. He doesn't want anything to come between Tai and himself, not even

The Cost of Eternity

First in the Eternity series

For over two hundred years, the cost of eternity for Lorcan MacKenna has been unending loneliness. Territorial creatures of darkness, vampires can't peacefully exist near each other. Human companions age and die, leaving him to face the long nights alone. After the death of his last lover, Lorcan vows to avoid the pain of loss. Until a down-and-out actor finds himself in danger and Lorcan can't resist saving the young man.

Kevin St. James never expected to find himself offering sex for money, especially not to men. A desperate need for quick cash, a dark alley, and things go terribly wrong. His dark rescuer brings out feelings hidden so deep, Kevin never realized they were there. Reveling in newfound sensations, Kevin welcomes his new lover.

But just as Lorcan has a secret, so too does Kevin.

Reviewer: Nica
Review: Jun 28, 2007
Genre(s): GLBTQ
When the vampire Lorcan saves Kevin from an attack, he gets more than he bargained for-a lover, and a conspiracy. While it's a readable book, the relationship seems a little off. The sex is good (though we could use some variety with the language used,) but the onset of the love between them seems a bit sudden and illogical, and things that should have thrown tension into the relationship (like Lorcan's r

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