Cover design by L.C. Chase
Tested in Fire
A supernatural suspense story
Art Medium, Book Two
Six months ago, Stefan Cobbe was at rock bottom: grief-stricken, guilt ridden, debt laden, artistically blocked, and living on charity in an isolated mountain cabin. But after reconciling with his first love, Luke, and moving to Sarasota with him, Stefan is preparing for his first major show. Yes, he still has debts, and no, Luke doesn’t understand Stefan’s desire for independence. But compared to last year? No contest.
Luke Morganstern ought to be happy. After all, his art-investigation business has recovered and he’s got his boyfriend back. But Stefan stubbornly refuses to move in with him or accept Luke’s financial help, and it’s really starting to bug him. Who knew that the biggest test of their relationship wouldn’t be time or distance, but his own insecurities? After Luke’s next job—a trip to Italy to retrieve a mysterious artifact—he plans to convince Stefan that it’s time to totally commit.
But when Luke returns, he changes, and Stefan begins to suspect that the person in Luke’s skin isn’t Luke at all. He can hardly go to the police and claim his lover is the victim of a supernatural hijacking though. He needs alternative help to find Luke and get him back, because he refuses to let anyone—or anything—come between them again.
Russell’s solid second paranormal Art Medium romance (after The Artist’s Touch) hums smoothly along from the first page to the last. … A hair-raising finale finishes off the tale in fine form.
I thought this was a wonderful continuation of the series, because the depth of Luke and Stefan’s love for each other was seriously challenged, and they truly rose to face it. There was no hesitation in their defense of each other, and this time Stefan was the one to come to the rescue.
A slightly crazy medium who takes a ghost with her everywhere she goes, and a nude model/caregiver added a depth to the story I wasn’t expecting. Throw in true evil and a psychic bond and this book was very entertaining.