The Witch Brothers Saga a M/M Romantic Urban Fantasy by Adam J. Ridley ➱ Series Tour with Giveaway

  

 

Emerald Earth

The Witch Brothers Saga Book 1

by Adam J. Ridley

Genre: LGBTQ M/M Romantic Urban Fantasy 

Cursed to never find love, Crea is shocked when he finds the perfect man. Choosing to fight the curse could cost him everything, including his life.

After his father cursed him, Crea has faced decades of dead end relationships. Just as he’s almost given up hope he finds a handsome stranger broken on the side of a desolate road. Once he drops the stranger off at the hospital, he figures all is done. Nothing could be further from the truth. The stranger becomes so much more as he pursues Crea, threatening the curse. Crea learns quickly falling in love is easy, but surviving a nasty cantation that’s determined to destroy you, isn’t as much.

Eli isn’t what you’d call a social person. His love for isolation in his beloved forest fully defines him. After breaking his leg in a mishap, Eli’s life is turned upside down as his life is filled with things he didn’t even dream of having before.

Unfortunately, those dreams turn to nightmares as he and Crea, the man he’s become bonded to, battle a curse that should’ve never been cast.

Crea and Eli’s bonding must be strong enough to overcome the curse, or they could both be lost, forever.

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Diamond Air

The Witch Brothers Saga Book 2

Could this man be his first real chance at love, or will his curse stop it from happening? More important, could pursuing this man put both of their lives at risk?

Lance loved his grandmother, but, even though he knew it was real, he tried hard not to buy into all her witch stuff. Real enough that his homophobic father cursed him and his brothers to never find love.

Regardless of what he believed or wanted to believe, his late grandmother’s young friend and former roommate was causing him to feel things he didn’t want and didn’t trust. After all, love had only ever left him in pain.

Drew is a pragmatist. His skills with magic only heighted under the mentorship of his late friend Gwen. When Gwen’s much too sexy and arrogant grandson shows up to collect his grandmother’s things, Drew is immediately dragged into a decades long drama filled with curses and malicious hatred embodied in Lance’s father’s cantation.

The curse Lance’s father cast on him and his brothers continues to plague him. Because of their attraction, their love/hate relationship embolden’s the curse and puts both men’s lives at risk.

Will the two men learn to trust one another, or will their animosity be what the curse needs to destroy them both once and for all?

**New Release – Aug 5th 2022!!**

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Excerpts from Emerald Earth

Excerpt 1

I turned to open the door again and just about jumped out of my skin when the lumberjack appeared in front of me, blocking the door.

“Fuck!” I yelled in shock. 

He moved closer into my space, his energy vibrating with anger. I should’ve been afraid. Hell, he could’ve beaten me to a pulp. I wasn’t weak by any means. I worked with my body and worked hard, but I was no competition against a man with rippling muscles so nicely set upon his huge frame. 

I didn’t back off. Instead, I looked squarely into his eyes.

We stood staring at one another for a good thirty seconds. Pure lust slowly replaced the anger… 

That was enough to cause me to step back, but when I attempted to turn, Eli grabbed me, twirled me around and, pushing my back up against the car, kissed me hard, letting the anger flow through the kiss.

I couldn’t resist, even if I wanted to. He was pure heat, pure sex, and I thought as my mind melted that I was being kissed by some sort of forest-dwelling Greek god.

When he released me, I saw in his eyes the fire that he’d just poured into my mouth.

“You’ll keep it, god damn it, or I’ll shove it up your ass!”

It physically hurt when his hard body pulled away from me. Almost like I was under a spell, I grabbed his huge forearm, twisted him back around and reaching up, I pulled him back down for another kiss. This time I was in control, and I willed myself to show him how sorry I was for being an asshole. I willed the kiss to show him how thankful I was he’d thought of me, and created such a beautiful masterpiece.

I could feel the anger that had been in him seconds earlier slide from his body as the kiss between us melted from aggressive to something more primal and needy.

When Eli pulled away this time, the fire had been replaced with need. I could deal with that, felt more comfortable with that.

I cleared my throat, willing my voice to work. “I’m sorry for how I acted, and I don’t deserve the piece you created. I just took you to the hospital. Any decent person would’ve done that. Then, when you brought it…”

He placed his big arm on the top of the car, letting his body lean into mine.

In a soft voice that sent blood rushing into my already hard cock, he said, “It isn’t something you deserve or don’t deserve. It’s just a gift, and it’s meant to be yours. I don’t care what you do with it, except you can’t leave it here.” He pulled back then, looking at me for a long, delicious moment with those dark brown, lust-filled eyes. “You should leave now before it’s too late.”

He walked back toward the door my niece had disappeared through. After stepping inside, he closed the door behind him.

Excerpt 2

I should’ve known he was going to react like he did. Hell, if I thought someone was trying to hurt Jennie, I’d react the very same way and I’d only known her for a few weeks, but his rejection had hit me in the heart like an arrow.

I also knew the upset and anger I was feeling toward him was more than just me. I’d seen it in my dreams, been warned by them that I was going to be tested by this, and despite that, I wasn’t able to resist the anger and frustration at how he’d reacted.

I expected it to be done with after leaving his home. Jennie was upset too, but I thought it was more to do with her being embarrassed and maybe feeling a little guilty about how things worked out. We’d driven the six hours back to the workshop mostly in silence.

That night, Lee and Indigo demanded we go to their home for dinner, and Indigo basically confirmed that my reaction was more than just being upset. “Aren’t you concerned you’re being manipulated?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’m concerned, but I also don’t seem to have the ability not to feel what I’m feeling.”

She nodded and said, “It’ll work out, but you are going to have to work through your emotions.”

I shook my head. “No, it’s over. I’ve delivered the piece, and now I’m free.”

She actually laughed at me. “You know it won’t be that easy. You were warned if you finished that piece, you’d be challenged. He’ll be coming. You and I both know it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t show up tomorrow.”

Something about that statement sent a rush of anger flowing through my entire being. I could almost see the darkness settling over me. Indigo looked concerned, but didn’t try to touch me. I wrestled back the emotion, and when I had it under control again, she said, “This is the curse you are fighting. These emotions aren’t yours.” She picked up a leather pouch, and it looked like she was going to hand it to me, then thought better of it. 

Her eyes took on the light that told me she was prophesying. “You must fight this yourself. You are the tool to overcome this hatred. He is strong, but he’s been hurt time and again. You must be strong for him, lend your strength to him. That’s what’s needed to overcome.”

She sighed, the light leaving her eyes along with her strength. “Damn,” she said. “That really gets more exhausting as I grow older. Go, prepare yourself for his arrival. We’ll keep Jennie here for now,” she said. “You must work through this anger, so you don’t attack him when he arrives.”

I knew she was right. The anger was real, even if it wasn’t mine. It seemed to possess me. I went back to my workshop, and used my hand planer to work out my frustrations on some rather gnarly pieces of wood for another project.

I could tell Jennie was concerned, and my desire to protect her kept me from letting the anger go. I was glad she wasn’t with me in the workshop, that she hadn’t come back with me when I left Indigo and Lee’s place.

After a few hours’ work, I cleaned up my mess, put the tools away and went home. Of course, the anger that continued to course through me kept me awake, sitting in the chair, and staring at the fire until I remembered the raven’s feather. I pulled it out, laid it on the floor in front of my little fireplace, and said, “Well, if you can help, this would be the time to do so.”

The feather lifted from the ground as if a wind was blowing it, then when it was at eye level, it seemed to explode in green light.

I was standing in a forest I didn’t recognize. There was a waterfall, and I was in a cave behind it. The forest smells were all around, and with the exception of the water, all other sounds were muted.

I saw him lying naked on a blanket in the corner of the great cave. I went to him, the anger still coursing through me, but that anger was banked up against my lust. I was torn between aggression and wanting to press my own naked body against his. My lust won out, and when I knelt beside him, he pulled me into an embrace.

As our bodies entwined, the anger began to lose its hold on me as it was replaced with need. 

I awoke hard and swollen. Where the anger had once been, now I only felt desire—hot, inconsolable desire.

I looked at where the feather had been. I’m not sure how that helped, but at least I can do something about the situation at hand. When I got into bed, I let my hand take over, relieving myself again and again. Still, the feeling of need and want quickly returned. I knew before this was over, I’d need to have him under me. It would be the only remedy for this kind of craving.

The next morning, I didn’t go to the workshop. Instead, I walked through the forests adjoining Lee’s and my properties. Ours backed up to state forest land, but both Lee and I had agreed not to harvest our trees, so it was clear where our land ended, and the state’s began. 

I stayed among the older trees, letting them help me navigate the anger and frustration. Forests always touched my soul and grounded me. Even with their help, I was still struggling between the desire to hit and destroy things, and the lust I’d experienced the night before. 

By late afternoon, I was beginning to lose the fight, and anger was beginning to find purchase inside me again. I walked back to the workshop, intending to work off the frustrations again with the hand planer and gnarled wood when I saw a car coming up my driveway. I knew it was Crea the moment he pulled up, although I couldn’t see him. It was like whatever possessed me was telling me he was here.

I walked toward the car, red anger blazing my trail, and saw Jennie step up and speak to him. She was angry too, but seeing her and experiencing my feelings for her caused the anger to lose some ground. I hesitated until I saw her stomp off, and found myself standing in front of him. 

That which possessed me wanted me to attack, prompted me to damage him. Remembering the feather, the vision of lust and sexuality between us, I allowed those feelings to take over instead. I tried to warn him to leave, willed him to do so while I warred with the emotions that I neither understood nor controlled, but he wasn’t afraid, didn’t cower down. 

His bravery gave me pause and magnified my natural attraction for him.

When he resisted me, the anger wanted to explode. I channeled it into a kiss, rough and edgy, hoping he’d feel the anger, hoping he’d see I was trying to control it. I pulled away from him then and intended to leave.

Instead, he twisted me around and kissed me back. His kiss was different, pliant, giving. He expressed himself in that kiss in the only way my brain could comprehend at that point.

When he pulled back, I yearned for him. The anger still there, banked in the back of my mind. I was unable to compete with the kind, sweet and gentle kiss he’d returned for my angry and aggressive one.

He had undone me with his reaction. It was like cold water on a flame. I was still unsteady, so I issued the only warning I could. “You should leave now before it’s too late.” 

As I walked away, I knew he wouldn’t go. I didn’t want him to. I had the vision of the sculpture in his hands, and felt the anger give way again. I’d found the antidote–compassion. My own feelings of gratitude and compassion were stronger than the imposed emotions of this cursed anger.

Jennie looked up at me when I walked into the workshop, but neither of us spoke. I went to where I’d left the boards attached to the clamps and began to plane them. This time, it wasn’t with anger, but with the feelings I’d had the night he came to meet me before I went into surgery. I let the emotions I’d felt so strongly take precedence over any other feelings within me as Jennie and I worked in silence.

I worked late into the night, and when I finally got home, I crashed on my bed. When I woke at dawn the next day, the anger was almost gone—almost. I showered and got dressed. I was about to leave for Lee and Indigo’s house when I froze, sexual need coursing through me. Like a predator who knew his prey was never going to escape, I sensed I was about to have my prize. I just needed to take it, and it was mine.

Excerpt 3

I felt the circle close as Donna finished with the salt. Combined with the circle the Kels had created outside the cave, it felt impenetrable. 

Indigo and Donna stood opposite each other, and directed the rest of us to join hands. The moment we did, I felt more than heard the Kels start chanting outside.

Indigo reached into her pocket and drew out a leather bag. “Earth and water, fire, and air, four elements combined as we speak this prayer!” She poured the contents of the bag onto the fire, which leaped greedily to consume it.

Donna lifted her arms toward the flame, still holding my and Jennie’s hands. “Family, friends, and a lover have gathered. We call out to Brother Crea, may he know how much he matters.”

Lee began to hum low and deep, something I’d only heard him do a couple times.

As soon as the humming started, Jennie’s eyes filmed over, and she began to hum in harmony with Lee. The effect was both eerie and comforting.

I reached into my pocket, letting my instincts guide me, and took the wood and emerald amulet into my hand as I began to chant, “I sacrifice this gift from thee, who found me injured by a wayward tree. We feel your need and stand within these stones, so you will have us and not be alone.”

I placed the amulet in the fire, and immediately a green flame leaped from it. When I looked around, all four of our friends were humming, eyes glazed.

I fell to my knees then, and tears fell from my eyes as I watched the amulet burn. “Come back to me, Crea, give us a chance, please don’t give up yet.”

I didn’t know how long we stayed like that, but when I looked up again, the fire was out. Donna, Lee, Indigo, and Jennie were standing, eyes closed, no longer humming their eerie melody. Inside the fire pit where the amulet was laid was a perfect emerald heart, polished as if by a craftsman. I reached out and took the heart in my hand. The moment my hand encased it, the spell was broken, and my four companions woke up.

 

What inspired you to write this series?

A couple things. One, I have always loved fantasy. There’s something deep inside me that just forced me to try writing it. So, the Witch Brothers is my first go at writing urban fantasy.

Second, I have had several older men ask if I could write something more their age, and as I pondered it, I kept coming back to three brothers who’d been cursed by a homophobic dad and had spent their lives searching for love as a result. Learning to overcome that curse seemed to be the perfect way to incorporate older gay men, learning to love another man for the first time.

What can we expect from you in the future?

There are several books in the works. Next year, I plan to release a Selkie series based on a long lost relative of the Witch Brother.

I’m also working on a young adult fantasy series about a sorcerer’s son, and playing with the idea of a urban fantasy horror with all sorts of delightful yet rather nasty monsters.

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

I guess there are always side stories for me and my writing. In the first book, Emerald Earth, for example, I may have a bit of a crush on Eli, the lumberjack. LOL

I love contrasting characters, so I really enjoyed writing all three books since there’s a bit of an opposites attract in each of the stories, and those are always fun to play with.

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Emerald Earth?

Sure, Eli is everything you’d think an independent, introverted, lumberjack male witch would be. Tall, dark, handsome, intimidating, with a soft underbelly. Crea is much more of an open book emotionally, and although he’s desperate for love, he’s quick to let outside influences keep him from looking Eli’s way.

There are a lot of side characters in this story as well, and I let those side characters do most of the world building for me. You’ll meet Gwen, who frankly, even though she’s dead, and a ghost, she’s a nutty, wonderful, character.

You’ll also get to know Jenny, Crea’s niece, Donna, a nosy hippie who is definitely one of my favorite character in the story, and some powerful forest dwellers who help both MCs overcome the dark that stalks them.

You also meet the side characters again in the other two books, along with additional characters who live in the unique little town governed by modern day witches.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Urban fantasy and fantasy in general seemed to let my imagination go wild. Unintentionally, I wrote book one with much more of a romantic twist to it, than the other two books. I think that’s because I was used to writing romance. However, as books two then three came to be, I felt myself letting go more and more. By the time you get to book three you’ll see it’s much more of an urban fiction book, and the romantic elements slip further and further to the side.

Again, I love reading fantasy and urban fantasy, so it was a lot of fun to write stories, so different from what I’ve written in the past.

Who designed your book covers?

A couple of years ago, a young writer by the name of Samrat contacted me via Facebook asking if I would be willing to read his writing. Of course, always a sucker for a young person learning to write, I quickly agreed.

Since then, Samrat has become my personal assistant and an exceptionally good one at that. About a year ago, Samrat disclosed that he is both an artist and graphic designer. So, after seeing some of his amazing artwork, I challenged him to attempt a cover. The end result is that I fell in love with his work.

The Witch Brothers Saga is the series I’ve let him take full creative license with and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I truly love these covers.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book(s)?

I mean yes and no. This is my first attempt at an urban fantasy series. I’ve learned so much by my experience writing them. I believe any author would tell you their writing improves with every book they put out. I’m certainly the first to admit, I grow as a writer each time I take on a new project.

So, would I do anything different? Sure, if I were to start this series all over again, it’d probably be an entirely different series, but I’m extremely proud of the witch boys, exactly as they are…

If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Oh honey, I have an intense crush on Ewan McGregor. How does he get better looking with age? I need his secrets! Anyway, I digress… Ewan McGregor for Crea, and maybe Chris Hemsworth, Henry Cavill, or Jason Momoa for Eli… you didn’t say we couldn’t reach for the stars… (pun intended.)

Anything specific you want to tell your readers?

Ride the wave. I did intentionally make the book slower in the beginning and built the suspense, so it has a pretty climatic ending. All three books follow that some formula. Just remember, these three guys have been living under a curse that’s kept love just out of reach. There are several hurtles to cross before they can let themselves trust again.

What is your favorite part of these books and why?

I think I love that these books are about letting go of the past. I mean, there are a lot of us who’ve had some level of trauma about coming out of the closet? I’d say, even though this is fantasy, many of us have dealt with our own curses from family, friends, and society in general.

I believe, the game is won by overcoming that crap. I don’t mean to say this book is some deep philosophical attempt at making a point because it really isn’t. Mostly I wrote it just for fun, but there are elements I think play true to a lot of LGBTQ+ folks experiences. Especially those who’ve had to fight to be who they are.

Helping show that there is life after trauma is kinda my thing, so of course, that’s my favorite part about writing these books.

If you could spend time with a character from your book who would it be? And what would you do during that day?

Eli, and it’s um, probably not appropriate to say why in this interview. LOL

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Nope, they are all imaginary. Although I’ve known people who remind me of the characters, not one person influenced them more than anyone else.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters hijack the story every single time, then take it where they want it to go. LOL

For the most part, I’m what they call a pantser, or someone who writes by the seat of their pants. That’s virtually impossible to do when you are writing a series where each book builds upon the next, but, I will say, I wrote an outline for Emerald Earth and the characters destroyed it. Then I rewrote an outline for the Diamond Air, which those characters destroyed… well you’re getting my point.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

Yep, I have over a dozen books working their way through the pipeline. There’s a superhero novel which will probably show up next year, there’s a young adult fiction series about a deceased sorcerer’s son, and many others that are still being drafted.

Is there a writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

Terry Brooks is one of my favorite fantasy novelists. I would LOVE to pick his brain… more than that I’d love to cowrite a book/series with him.

Fun Facts/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?

1. I’m prefer pansting over outlining… but writing fantasy requires me to be organized, Ugh!

2. I write romance under Blake Allwood.

3. I live full time in a 40 foot RV with my dogs and husband. We’ve been full time for 5 years. Time really flies when you’re having fun.

4. I have a Jack (jerk) Russell Terrier (terrorist) named Buddy who just turned 17 years old. During our last vet visit the vet was shocked and she called him a miracle dog. I say he’s alive cause he loves to torment me. We also have a lug of a Siberian Husky mix named Denver who truly believes he’s a lap dog. Both of these nutty creatures keep me well entertained and my heart full.

5. My husband and I have been married for over 27 years. Our anniversary is on Valentine’s Day.

6. I grew up in Tennessee, went to college in Iowa, but lived most of my life in Kansas City.

7. I taught kindergarten for five years, became a foster parent and did that for 12 years before we sold everything and ran away from home. My favorite saying is if the kids can’t find you, they can’t move back in. I joke, we adore all our youngons.

Adam J. Ridley is the pen name used by Blake Allwood for his urban fantasy and fantasy novels. I travel full time with my husband and two dogs in a forty-foot motor home, constantly looking for inspiration in the towns we find ourselves in.

I’ve loved fantasy all my life, and after several years of writing romance, finally took the time to try my hand at a romantic urban fantasy.

The Witch Brothers Saga is my debut series. Next year, I’ll release a Selkie series and possible my first science fiction, superhero novel as well.

Thanks for joining me on this journey and I look forward to reading your reviews on the Witch Brothers Saga.

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