It’s been a couple of years since I read Blink, the previous novel in the Treasure Trail series, so I can say without a doubt that you won’t be lost if you choose to read Last Resort without having read any of the other books in this series. Now having said that, all of the other books are great but book one, Treasure Trail, will give you the background on how Erik and Ben get together so reading it might make Last Resort more satisfying. I’ve said it before, one of the things I really like about Morgan Brice’s books is how she writes them so that you can read them as standalone stories.

Ben has just moved in with Erik and they are settling into new routines that cohabitating requires. I enjoyed the romance aspects of this book but what was really captivating was the gripping mystery and suspense. There are good ghosts and bad ghosts, good witches and bad witches, and lots of woo-woo stuff. I also enjoyed the secondary characters of Susan and her son, Police Chief Hendricks. This story held my attention from start to finish and I’m looking forward to reading more adventures with Erik and Ben.

Reviews for Morgan Brice

Five random facts about the book/series.

1. Many of the sites in the book exist. I’ve changed the names of some, but other public locations (like the lighthouse) are under their real name, although I have significantly changed their history.
2. All my urban fantasy series tie in with each other whether they are written under my Gail Z. Martin or Morgan Brice names, so the Treasure Trail series has particularly close ties to my Deadly Curiosities series.
3. Cape May really does have a large number of beautifully-maintained Victorian houses, and is said to be very haunted!
4. The Christian Admiral Hotel is the inspiration for my Commodore Wilson Hotel. The opulent Christian Admiral had an amazing streak of bad luck, causing hardship for its many owners.
5. One of the owners of the Christian Admiral Hotel tried to get around FCC regulations by running a pirate radio station off a retired minesweeper moored just outside of US waters.

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“This brings back memories.” Ben Nolan and his partner carried the last boxes up the stairs. “I spent too many Saturdays in my twenties helping my friends move in and out of apartments for free pizza and beer.”

“Look at it as a built-in fitness workout,” Erik Mitchell, his boyfriend, replied. “The good thing is that most days, you don’t need to go up and down more than once.”

“I’m sure I can come up with reasons to stay in.” Ben dripped his voice to a sexy growl and gave Erik a knowing look.

Erik shook his head fondly. “Sounds good—but we still need to go to work sometime.”

Erik owned Trinkets, the antique shop in the first floor of the old Victorian house where their apartment took up the second level. “Can’t beat the commute,” he added.”

“True—and mine’s still totally walkable unless the weather is foul.” Ben managed Nolan Resort Real Estate, owned by his aunt and uncle. Until recently, he had stayed in one of the company’s rentals. Ben had moved in with Erik a few months ago, but forgotten about a stack of boxes that were still stored in Trinkets’ back room.

The important stuff had already found a place in the apartment. Now Ben needed to figure out what in these last boxes to keep or toss. He’d packed long enough ago that he had forgotten what remained.

“Actually, I was surprised how fast I got used to the stairs,” Erik told him. “My place in Atlanta had an elevator, but nowhere near the charm.”

Both Ben and Erik had recently moved to Cape May, New Jersey to make a fresh start after their old lives went off the rails. Ben stepped away from being a Newark cop after a betrayal and a near-fatal shooting, and becoming a private investigator had left him burned out and bitter. Erik left his high-profile work stopping art fraud and antiquities smugglers when a bust gone wrong nearly got him killed—and his boyfriend cheated. Differing circumstances led them to Cape May and chance brought them together, but Ben thanked his lucky stars every day for how things had turned out.

“Now we just have to figure out what’s worth keeping.” Ben surveyed the stacks of boxes in the living room. “We already have an interesting decorating style.”

They had found a quirky way to blend his statues of Spider-Man and Optimus Prime and wall art of some of his favorite comics and sci-fi movies with Erik’s more traditional taste, honed by his work for art museums.

“Bring it on,” Erik said with a laugh. “It’s good to shake things up.”

Ben reeled him in for a kiss. “I can think of ways to get a whole lotta shakin’ going on,” he growled.

Erik kissed him and stepped away. “Hold that thought. We need to be able to navigate through the living room, so the boxes can’t stay—which means unpacking.”

“Spoil sport,” Ben grumbled good-naturedly.

Treasure Trail Series

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