All The Write Stuff: Cordelia Manor

Cordelia Manor

A Haunted Hearts Series Book

by Adam J. Ridley

Genre: LGBTQ M/M Paranormal Romance

His inheritance may lead to his death, unless a magical caretaker can save them both.

Evan inherits a mysterious manor house that's filled with restless spirits and Cary is the manor’s magical caretaker charged with managing them.

When the two meet, they unwittingly become the target of one of the manor’s most vengeful ghosts.

Despite the dangers, a passionate and deep love blossoms between them. Will that love be enough to protect them as they unravel Cordelia Manor’s secrets, or will the past repeat itself, destroying them and all they’ve built together?

Cordelia Manor is part of the Haunted Hearts series.

Scary Excerpt:

“You have got to leave,” I said, entering the area behind the huge boiler that heated the entire manor. I heard his laughter, but wasn’t sure if it was in my head. “You can’t stay here any longer. Not after attacking a living being. I’m giving you fair warning because I don’t like to force the spirit world.”

Just then, he materialized in front of me. His body not quite corporeal, as I assumed he’d be able to make it if he still had his full power.

He opened his mouth to say something, then looked over my shoulder. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle and my stomach fall as I realized Evan must’ve come back downstairs and followed me into the basement.

I threw up a quick shield, but not fast enough to stop the attack. The ghost shattered the shield as he collided with it, throwing Evan back against the boiler.

I rushed forward, grabbing him under the arm, pulling him up, and rushing him toward the stairs. “Go, now!” I demanded, and turned around just as the entity was reforming.

“Leave here!” it bellowed, and this time I knew I was hearing him, and not just in my head.

I didn’t try to confront him again, not when he was so angry. Instead, I cast a bubble around myself and forced it toward him hoping that’d give me enough time to escape.

I made it to the top of the stairs when I felt sharp nails swipe the back of my shoulder. “Shit,” I said, and slammed the door behind me. I secured the boundaries I’d set when I first arrived, effectively sealing the nasty thing in the basement for now. Not that they would last long. He was still too damned powerful.

Sexy Excerpt:

I stripped and went into my equally impressive newly remodeled bathroom. I slipped into the shower and sighed with pleasure as the hot water poured over my tired muscles. We’d moved furniture around a hundred times today, and yes, I’d wanted it moved that many times to get it all just right, but still.

Just then, the water stopped. “What the heck?” I asked, thankful I’d rinsed off most of the soap and shampoo.

I dried off as fast as I could before grabbing my skimpy-ass housecoat I’d had since I was fourteen. It no longer fit, obviously, but I still loved it and didn’t want to spend money to replace it.

“Cary,” I yelled down the stairs. “You better come look. The water stopped in the shower.”

“Hold on. I’m headed up,” he said, and rushed up the stairs.

His eyes swept over me in my skimpy housecoat, and I’d swear his gaze turned heated before he looked away and asked what the problem was.

His reaction caused me to lose my breath for a moment. I knew what it looked like when a man wanted me. Even my stupid ex, critical as he was, never said I wasn’t a good fuck.

“Um, the water stopped in the shower.”

He nodded without looking at me, then popped into my bathroom to check on it.

When the shower didn’t come on for him, he opened a panel I wasn’t even aware was there, picked up some bizarre-looking key, and twisted it. Just like that, the water came back on. “We didn’t turn the valve all the way on, so it must’ve jarred closed. Here, let me show you how it works.”

My wet skin must’ve been steaming with all the heat coming off me. “Okay, thanks, Cary,” I said, and was about to push him out of my room because damn, it was that or attack him with my mouth.

Instead of leaving, he stood with his two feet planted firmly in front of me. “Evan, do you… do you want me?” he asked, uncertainty clouding his handsome face.

I looked up into his eyes, surprised by his directness. “Huh?”

“Do you want me? I mean, like, sexually? Because I want you. A lot.”

I didn’t hesitate. Instead, I launched myself into his arms, putting my mouth on his. Fuck, if he didn’t ever need to ask that question again. I explored his mouth with my tongue, and moaned as his big rough hands slipped under my robe and caressed the skin underneath.

“Yes, please,” I whispered, need pouring from me.

Cary reached down and, like I weighed nothing, swept me into his arms and into the bedroom. He laid me gently on the bed and, after taking his shirt off, pressed his lips to my neck. “Oh fuck,” I said as his tongue began to explore, then his mouth took my earlobe.

My ears always made me crazy. Usually I was too sensitive, but damn, right now, everything this man was doing to me felt good.

His mouth ravished every inch of exposed skin he could get his lips on, and I writhed with pleasure. He was so big, so strong, and I was at his disposal, but I eventually had to get my mouth on him again. When he pulled back, I leaned up and licked his throat.

The purr of pleasure from him made me weak. “Lie down, lie down on the bed for me,” I told him.

He looked me in the eye, and I knew he didn’t want to give up the power he had at the moment, the freedom to take me, but he nodded and did as I asked.

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cordelia-Manor-Haunted-Hearts-Ridley-ebook/dp/B0D6RR9CV5

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/cordelia-manor-by-adam-j-ridley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214861539-cordelia-manor

**Check out the rest of the Haunted Hearts Series!**

Haunted Hearts is an Own-Voices Paranormal Romance Series about love and the things go boo in the night. Join us on our romantic journeys over 10 books from some of your favorite authors! Be sure to read the entire series so you don’t miss a moment of falling in love, or sometimes falling into a happily ever after-life! Each book is a standalone but why not read them all? Everyone deserves the HEA!

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About the Author

After years of writing romance under the pen name Blake Allwood, I decided to pursue my other genre passion, fantasy and science fiction. Adam J. Ridley is the reality of that pursuit.

My husband of 28 years and I have had an adventurous life. We’ve had many businesses, we’ve raised over twelve foster children, two of which we adopted, and had at least two professional careers.

To say we are people who seek experiences is an understatement.

As I’ve grown older, my passions seem to be better reflected in my imagination. Fantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction all allow me to escape into worlds that transcend life. I’ve always been a major lover of fantasy writing and started reading it at a rather young age.

My husband and I travel full-time now in our RV (caravan for those not in the United States.) We’ve been doing this since 2017 and y’all, we love it.

Please join me on Facebook, and other social media sites. I work hard to be easily accessible to my readers, cause you all are the reason for all the lovely work!

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