Hot Reads... Vertigo

#1 Bestseller at Amber Allure!

Book 1 in the Vertigo Chronicles!

Each night Simon Saint-Saëns hunts the creatures of darkness that others fear—beings that come through dimensional rifts into our world from a world called Vertigo.  Simon has unexplained superpowers that help him fight, but his is a desolate existence, fraught with danger.  He works by himself and never allows anyone to get too close to him because his powers come at a terrible cost—a secret he’s never revealed to anyone.  Better to be alone than jeopardize the life of someone he cares about.     

Enslaved in Vertigo for years, Jaden Cole was one of the innocent lives Simon saved when he first started hunting.  Jade had almost forgotten what it meant to be human…until Simon found him and brought him back to this world.  But when their friendship turned into something more, Simon sent Jade away and cut him out of his life to keep Jade safe. 

Nine years later, when a new, powerful evil stirs to life in Vertigo and targets Simon as its enemy, Jade returns.  He’s not the same innocent he was all those years ago, though.  Now he has his own secret, one that could turn Simon against him, even force Simon to kill him.  But Jade’s willing to risk everything, even his life, to save the man he’s always loved.

Genre: Dark Fantasy/Werewolf gay (M/M) erotic romance
Release date:  May 24, 2008
AQP Heat Level:  3 (Amber Quill's hottest level of sensuality)
Length: Novella (23K words) 
Price (electronic): $5.00 
Price (paperback): $13.50
ISBN (electronic):  978-1-60272-276-7
ISBN (paperback): 978-1602729094

Available in ebook formats at: Amber Allure!
Available in paperback at:  Amazon.com (Under the title The Vertigo Chronicles, Vol. I)

Excerpt...

Simon’s hand slid lower, cradling Jade’s ass, and his other hand came up to tangle in his hair. Then his lips were against Jade’s forehead, his eyes, and finally his mouth in a gentle, tentative touch, as if he were afraid Jade might break or disappear.

For Jade, the contact was electric, a gift he’d thought he’d never again receive. With a soft moan, he opened to Simon willingly, slid his hands beneath Simon’s coat to clutch his waist, and leaned into him.

At Jade’s easy acceptance, Simon’s hesitation morphed into a raw, desperate hunger that stole Jade’s breath. It was a side of Simon he’d never seen. The last time, he’d been the one to initiate the contact with Simon, and their coming together, brief though it was, had been sweet and almost cautious on Simon’s part. This, however, was both better and more fierce than it had been nine years ago. Maybe because there were nine years of pent-up need between them.

Not a day had gone by that he hadn’t thought of Simon, hadn’t wanted him. Now he wondered why he’d waited so long to come back.

You know why…because you’re not the same as you were before. And neither is he. Simon’s a man on a mission now, hunting and killing creatures like you.

But Simon hadn’t killed him outside when he’d had a chance.

He’s still uncertain, though. You saw it in his eyes. If you continue playing with fire like this, he’s going to break your heart again.

The last time Jade had had a taste of what being with Simon was really like, had let himself care, it felt as if his heart had been ripped from his body when Simon backed off. If he let himself get too close and it happened again, if Simon shut him out again, this time he feared he’d lose his soul.

Yet even knowing the risk, he didn’t think he had the willpower to step away now. Not with the way Simon was kissing him, touching him. His callused hands roamed Jade’s body, tracing the contours of his chest, brushing over his nipples, exploring his back, stroking his hips, kneading his ass. Their groins moved in sync, rocking together, trying to get as close as possible.

Simon touched him like a man dying of thirst who’d just found water. And Jade didn’t have any desire to stop him because he felt the same way.

When Simon’s hand slid between them and his fingers curled around Jade’s cock, the last of Jade’s internal warnings and cautions faded under the onslaught of much more powerful cravings. He groaned against Simon’s mouth, and Simon kissed it away, licking at his tongue, then thrusting with it in the same slow, seductive motion as his hand pulled at Jade’s shaft.

I missed you. Missed you so damned much.

He wanted to speak the words aloud, but Simon’s plundering of his mouth prevented it. All he could do was thrust his cock into the man’s warm, skillful hand, and moan softly in appreciation.

Reviews...

A Fallen Angel Reviews Recommended Read!

5 Angels!

"M. L. Rhodes is an author on a mission. She delivers action, suspense, romance, and erotically laced sex, then dribbles in a bit of mystery in Vertigo. What is not to love about these characters? Simon is a brooding force when it comes to the demons that endanger humans. Handsome, strong, and special powers to boot there is nothing like a man who knows how to work the sword he was born with and the cold steel he wields while fighting. Jaden is just as dark and dangerous as Simon, and will do anything to protect the man he loves. He has come a long way in nine years, no longer the innocent; he’s ready to show Simon how the big boys play for keeps. I loved the fact that he didn’t allow hatred to harden his resolve, and focused on the love he felt for Simon to be a guiding force. If you love a bit of fantasy mixed with your male-male love stories, then Vertigo is just what the doctor ordered!" --- NeNe at Fallen Angel Reviews

4 1/2 Stars!

"...this author is very skilled both in terms of plot and characterizations and she pulled off a very complex storyline that's not run of the mill. The romance between Jade and Simon helped to relieve some of the very dark aspects of Vertigo and I'm really looking forward to reading Shattered, the next book in this series.

I recommend Vertigo to readers who enjoy dark fantasy and stories about vampires, werewolves or other paranormals." ---Wave at Reviews By Jessewave

"Vertigo is a romantic, love-compelled story of two men who undergo the worst terrors and torments in their search for each other. The deep heart bond between Simon and Jaden is fascinating and believable. Their sexual presence is steamy but doesn’t overrun their romantic entanglement and the emotional battles each undergoes as they face the truth about their lives and about each other’s true natures. Author M.L. Rhodes is notable for her ability to reach deeply into the characters, personalities, and sensual natures of her protagonists and Vertigo is a fine example of her talents."

--Reviewed by Frost at Rainbow Reviews

"Vertigo is book one in the Vertigo Chronicles series, a dark tale filled with monsters, demons and black magic. Simon is a man who is not only fighting dimensional demons but his personal demons also. He has powers that he cannot explain and he fears allowing anyone to get close to him. Jade also has secrets and personal fears concerning his capability of control. The only thing both men are sure of is that they love each other. M.L. Rhodes produced a tantalizing story of mystical intrigue and monsters that come to crunch on you in the night. Vertigo is a fascinating story!" ---Chocolate Minx, Literary Nymphs Reviews