Book Reviews

Book Blurb

All Denton wanted was a few minions. He got frogs instead.

Web developer by day and necromancer by night, Denton Mills is used to seeing things nobody else can. When he starts hallucinating frogs, he simply assumes they have something to do with his boyfriend Bran's obsession.

Bran Maurell is a witch, who in a youthful outburst, accidentally turned his then-lover, Peter, into a croaker. Bran has been trying ever since to reverse the spell. A fresh amphibian encounter only spurs him to double his efforts.

As if Peter's ghost coming between them weren't enough, Denton and Bran are forced to deal with several errant spirits stalking the citizens of Chicago. Between a French chef who refuses to admit he's dead, and malevolent creatures bent on causing mayhem, jealousy may be the least of Denton's problems.

 

Book Review

'Dead Man and the Army of Frogs' by Lou Harper picks up where the first book (‘Dead Man and the Restless Spirits’) left off. Denton and Bran are close, but Bran is moody and unpredictable which hurts Denton's feelings. Often, Denton gets frustrated with Bran, especially when he attempts to help Bran be more sociable and receptive. Fortunately, this doesn't affect their ongoing work of battling supernatural elements plaguing the city.

Denton is studying up on his necromancy skills and has made some impressive progress in a relatively short amount of time. He has discovered that besides his ability to see the dead, Denton is also endowed with other uncanny powers which he is still discovering. He's more accepting of his abilities since he's found a productive use for them, but like any hero, he wants minions to help him; only a few, not an army. When he and, eventually, Bran too, see frogs everywhere; they begin to realize that these frogs are the key to changes which are occurring around them, due to Bran's ongoing failed attempts to bring back his ex-lover of years ago, whom he accidentally turned in to a frog. Denton wants to be closer to Bran, who often shuts him out, Denton yearns to have Bran be more emotive and supportive, but isn't sure how to convey this to him. He wishes that Bran were less obsessed with finding a way to change his first boyfriend, Peter, back into a man and is tinkering with all sorts of ways to do this. Bran has little regard for the consequences. Denton doesn't want to be jealous, but he worries about what will happen if Bran succeeds. Denton wonders if Bran will want to pick up where he and Peter left off and what will happen to him if that's the case. Despite their lack of communication, Denton and Bran are finding it easier to express themselves in bed, resulting in some hot and sexy loving. They know how to stoke each other's fire to the nth degree, but need to let some of that passion filter down into their daily lives.

Bran is a complicated, but talented and suave man when he needs to be. He loves Denton, but finds it hard to show him. He's been alone for so long that he doesn't know how to be with someone else. Bran is afraid of getting too close, especially since bad things sometimes happen when he does. When he becomes too anxious, he simply shuts down. Bran normally doesn't rely on his parents for help, but due to the complexity of a case they are dragged into and because he's messed with things he shouldn't have, he calls on both of them to help solve the case and fix the mistakes Bran has made. Due to their willingness to help, Denton sees Bran's parents in a better light.

Even though there are a lot of serious aspects in this story, they are balanced with quirkiness and humor. Lou has a talent for taking situations which would not normally be amusing and expertly wording them so they are humorous, no matter how off the wall or unlikely they may be. Bran and Denton are extraordinary characters who have remarkable character growth in this story; they are taught a lesson: people in love need to keep a clear line of communication open in order for their relationship to grow into what it's meant to be. I recommend this book to those who enjoy necromancers, witches, demons, paranormal events, and two sexy men in love. Thanks, Lou, for a delightful follow up. I look forward to more of Bran and Denton's adventures.

 

 

 

 

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Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 44000 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	05-August-2014
Price	$3.99 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-deadmanandthearmyoffrogs-1588153-149.html