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The Crimson Coven #5
The Vampire Code
Benjamin Franklin Johnston is still reeling from the loss of his job and wondering what to do with his life when he shows up on the doorstep of his best friend Chris Hawthorne’s newly inherited Victorian mansion in Crimson, Virginia. He’s come to help Chris settle in and ends up getting much more than he bargained for. He finds himself in the middle of a supernatural battle and in the arms of a man named Raul, a security man for the Crimson Corporation. The very Corporation that bought out his employer and handed him a pink slip, essentially ruining his professional life. Ben doesn’t forgive easily and holds a grudge longer than anyone, but something about Raul has his defenses faltering. There is something different about Crimson, Virginia and there is something different about Raul that has Ben craving more. Can Ben let his anger go and give Raul a chance? Or will suspicions and mystical forces be the end of them?
Raul Abella has never been called an easy man. He’s gruff and to the point, sometimes too much so. He got off on the wrong foot with Chris Hawthorne, letting his prejudices get the best of him and now he finds himself drawn in a way he has never been before to this man Ben Johnston, who just so happens to be Chris’s best friend. Raul is certain he won’t be getting a glowing review from Chris, but he’s determined to capture the heart of Ben Johnston, his forever chosen love. The going is slow, Ben’s defenses are hard to penetrate, but Raul is willing to put in the work. Raul knows his position within the Crimson Corporation and the true nature of himself and his coven will be hard for Ben to believe, but he knows he must try if he wants a chance with his forever love. Raul may be gruff and at times off-putting, but he has the heart and soul of a warrior - he never gives up.
Raul Abella has never been called an easy man. He’s gruff and to the point, sometimes too much so. He got off on the wrong foot with Chris Hawthorne, letting his prejudices get the best of him and now he finds himself drawn in a way he has never been before to this man Ben Johnston, who just so happens to be Chris’s best friend. Raul is certain he won’t be getting a glowing review from Chris, but he’s determined to capture the heart of Ben Johnston, his forever chosen love. The going is slow, Ben’s defenses are hard to penetrate, but Raul is willing to put in the work. Raul knows his position within the Crimson Corporation and the true nature of himself and his coven will be hard for Ben to believe, but he knows he must try if he wants a chance with his forever love. Raul may be gruff and at times off-putting, but he has the heart and soul of a warrior - he never gives up.
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2016
52 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
B.A. Stretke
173 books406 followersB.A. Stretke is a Gay Romance and fiction author who publishes through Dreamspinner Press, LLC, and Amazon.com
B.A Stretke began writing as a hobby. He read his first Jane Austen novel as a teen and was instantly hooked. The age-old dream of being a novelist took hold. Now long into adulthood, and a few years as an editor under his belt, B.A. is a full-time writer. B.A. spends his days reading, engaging in sarcasm, and plotting the next storyline, often leaving little headspace for much else. He loves hiking through the Northern Michigan woods he calls home, often finding inspiration for his books. Writing and finding that perfect cup of coffee occupy the rest of his time.
B.A. Stretke lives in Northern Michigan with one royally spoiled cat and his dear friends and family.
You can connect with B.A. Stretke on his website: www.bastretke.com
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/BAStretkeWriter
Like me on Facebook! - B.A. Stretke
B.A Stretke began writing as a hobby. He read his first Jane Austen novel as a teen and was instantly hooked. The age-old dream of being a novelist took hold. Now long into adulthood, and a few years as an editor under his belt, B.A. is a full-time writer. B.A. spends his days reading, engaging in sarcasm, and plotting the next storyline, often leaving little headspace for much else. He loves hiking through the Northern Michigan woods he calls home, often finding inspiration for his books. Writing and finding that perfect cup of coffee occupy the rest of his time.
B.A. Stretke lives in Northern Michigan with one royally spoiled cat and his dear friends and family.
You can connect with B.A. Stretke on his website: www.bastretke.com
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/BAStretkeWriter
Like me on Facebook! - B.A. Stretke
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 18, 2019
I finished this book like hours ago and I don't remember anything, or almost, about it...All goes way too fast, and the story is too short to make the reader really fall in love with its characters.
February 17, 2021
2.5 stars
These books aren’t gold but their enjoyable in their own right.
Unfortunately this one was probably my least favorite so far, it was so kinda awkward and weirdly mushy. It just didn’t sit right with me.
Anyways I plan to continue onward since I really want to get to some of the later books.
These books aren’t gold but their enjoyable in their own right.
Unfortunately this one was probably my least favorite so far, it was so kinda awkward and weirdly mushy. It just didn’t sit right with me.
Anyways I plan to continue onward since I really want to get to some of the later books.
April 26, 2017
HEA
Ben got his HEA and after being in a slump without a job he deserved one. He is a great friend of Chris's and when faced with the reality of the paranormal he doesn't flinch. Meeting Raul was definitely a highlight to the story, however the threat to the coven makes this story relevant to the series.
Ben got his HEA and after being in a slump without a job he deserved one. He is a great friend of Chris's and when faced with the reality of the paranormal he doesn't flinch. Meeting Raul was definitely a highlight to the story, however the threat to the coven makes this story relevant to the series.
September 7, 2016
*** 3.5 stars ***
Interesting enough story but took off half star rating because of the editing.
Interesting enough story but took off half star rating because of the editing.
October 9, 2018
I just love it when a vampire finds his, forever mate. If only that could happen in reality. :) Raul (the jerk in the previous book), finds his chosen, Ben, who is Chris's best friend. I loved the bond that they were beginning to build, but I totally dislike misunderstandings in my romances since they cause so much unnecessary angst. I just happen to be one of those people who wants to see everybody happy (in books, movies, and real life) so yeah, I don't like too much personal angst. It still ended very sweetly, so hooray for that. =) Also, a compelling story.
November 28, 2018
This author has a lot of very good story ideas, but the complete lack of editing is horrifying. As I read this book I was mentally correcting grammar errors on almost every page. I am not a professional editor, but I HIGHLY RECOMMEND that B.A. Stretke hire one. If he has one currently then he needs to get a better one. I would almost guarantee that most of the low reviews on his stories are due to poor editing. Overall it was a good story, but it was executed very poorly.
November 2, 2022
I want to complain that the book again is too short, but I think that book 5 is a continuation of book 4, so that makes it a little longer. Good story, I laughed when they discovered who Ben was. Now on to the next.
May 4, 2017
3.5✨
October 29, 2025
3,11⭐️
March 20, 2017
2.25 stars.
December 28, 2016
Why Me?
In this fifth book of the Crimson Coven series, Chris's best friend came to see him at the worst time possible. Ben Johnston witnessed things he never imagined existed. Sworn to secrecy by Chris, he saw why he'd never convince his friend to return to their previous city residence. Chris was obviously heads over heels in love with his big Vampire and he fit right in with his latent family gifts. Still since he'd been cruelly fired from a job he loved, Ben decided to spend a little more time with Chris and now his new "man", Kegan at the property that Chris had inherited from his great Aunt.
While with Chris & Kegan, Ben spied a big handsome Crimson Coven Vampire which he was surprised at how attracted he felt to the man. What Ben didn't realize was that he had been noted as Raul's Chosen? What Raul wasn't privy to is all the antipathy that Ben felt about the Crimson Corporation for how shabbily he'd been treated. Raul already had to work to prove to Kegan's Chosen that he wasn't the jerk he'd come across during their first encounter. And now he had to prove it to Chris's best friend and his very own Chosen.
Ben couldn't figure out why the sexy man was pursuing him so hard. Being such a gentleman and very charismatic. Opening doors, pulling out chairs....Gentle touches and kisses. Wanting to take him to meet the men he considered his family. To say that was an unmitigated disaster is an understatement. Just as their burgeoning relationship was falling apart a catastrophe occurred at the plantation.
How could Raul convince Ben that there had been a monumental misunderstanding if Ben wouldn't talk to him? How could Ben miss a certain Vampire so much especially since they hadn't known each other all that long? And he knew it had been too good to be true that such a gorgeous man could be interested in a nobody like him.
The last third of this story was action packed. Some of it definitely deserved a R rating or a "G" for gruesome. This book was a direct continuation of the Crimson Coven's Book Four. I hope you enjoy as well.
In this fifth book of the Crimson Coven series, Chris's best friend came to see him at the worst time possible. Ben Johnston witnessed things he never imagined existed. Sworn to secrecy by Chris, he saw why he'd never convince his friend to return to their previous city residence. Chris was obviously heads over heels in love with his big Vampire and he fit right in with his latent family gifts. Still since he'd been cruelly fired from a job he loved, Ben decided to spend a little more time with Chris and now his new "man", Kegan at the property that Chris had inherited from his great Aunt.
While with Chris & Kegan, Ben spied a big handsome Crimson Coven Vampire which he was surprised at how attracted he felt to the man. What Ben didn't realize was that he had been noted as Raul's Chosen? What Raul wasn't privy to is all the antipathy that Ben felt about the Crimson Corporation for how shabbily he'd been treated. Raul already had to work to prove to Kegan's Chosen that he wasn't the jerk he'd come across during their first encounter. And now he had to prove it to Chris's best friend and his very own Chosen.
Ben couldn't figure out why the sexy man was pursuing him so hard. Being such a gentleman and very charismatic. Opening doors, pulling out chairs....Gentle touches and kisses. Wanting to take him to meet the men he considered his family. To say that was an unmitigated disaster is an understatement. Just as their burgeoning relationship was falling apart a catastrophe occurred at the plantation.
How could Raul convince Ben that there had been a monumental misunderstanding if Ben wouldn't talk to him? How could Ben miss a certain Vampire so much especially since they hadn't known each other all that long? And he knew it had been too good to be true that such a gorgeous man could be interested in a nobody like him.
The last third of this story was action packed. Some of it definitely deserved a R rating or a "G" for gruesome. This book was a direct continuation of the Crimson Coven's Book Four. I hope you enjoy as well.
August 14, 2016
Excellent
I have only one question with this book; what happened to the Dragon Stone? I'm not entirely clear on how Ben's work can help the vampires detect magic attacks, but I though that it was a good way to inject misunderstanding between Raul and Ben without it feeling manufactured.
I have only one question with this book; what happened to the Dragon Stone? I'm not entirely clear on how Ben's work can help the vampires detect magic attacks, but I though that it was a good way to inject misunderstanding between Raul and Ben without it feeling manufactured.
January 20, 2017
Getting there
I was upset with the unend ending of the last two books, but this one was better and you got a glimpse at other things going on within the coven. It was a bit predictable as it was more of a continuation to book 4 with a new love interest. Still love the author and series and looking forward to the next book.
I was upset with the unend ending of the last two books, but this one was better and you got a glimpse at other things going on within the coven. It was a bit predictable as it was more of a continuation to book 4 with a new love interest. Still love the author and series and looking forward to the next book.
September 9, 2023
Exciting sequel to book 4
This can be read as a stand-alone but it better if you read book 4 where you find out why Ben is visiting Chris and where Raul fits in. There is a lot of action swirling around fated Ben and Raul as they get their HEA. This is a great series and so far, this is my favorite book but you will want to read them all along with me.
This can be read as a stand-alone but it better if you read book 4 where you find out why Ben is visiting Chris and where Raul fits in. There is a lot of action swirling around fated Ben and Raul as they get their HEA. This is a great series and so far, this is my favorite book but you will want to read them all along with me.
August 12, 2016
No codes
This installment ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. There are a few unanswered questions, but I suspect B.A will answer in the next installment.
This installment ends on a bit of a cliff hanger. There are a few unanswered questions, but I suspect B.A will answer in the next installment.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews