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Layla Reyne
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Variable Onset Kindle Edition

by Layla Reyne (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 250 ratings
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To catch a killer, a forensics expert and his former student pretend to be newly married in this queer romantic suspense.

When the serial killer known as Dr. Fear seemingly reemerges after a cooling-off period, Special Agent Lincoln Monroe wants on the case. He knows his research on the calculating criminal, who targets couples and uses their worst fears to kill them, could prove invaluable. But nothing can prepare Lincoln for the agent waiting for him in Apex, Virginia: a brash and cocky former student. Carter Warren is everything Lincoln is not, and somehow everything he wants. And they’ll be going undercover. As newlyweds.

For Carter, seeing Lincoln again—and flustered to boot—pokes his raging bear of a crush something fierce. He thinks posing as lovers will provide the perfect bait for Dr. Fear. But pretending to be married forces them to confront fears of their own . . . like giving in to the very real chemistry between them. With evidence pointing to the possibility of a copycat killer, Lincoln and Carter will have to race to separate truth from fiction. But when another couple goes missing, finding the killer will test every ounce of their training, skills and the strength of their bond like never before.
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  1. Part of series
    Variable Onset
  2. Print length
    287 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Carina Press
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    May 4, 2020
  7. File size
    3.1 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

ACCLAIM FOR VARIABLE ONSET

"Variable Onset is a fabulous suspense that kept me eagerly turning pages as I dug into the exciting story." – Joyfully Jay

"There’s banter, there’s good-hearted teasing and the air positively crackles between them, but the two also share some wonderfully tender moments." –Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

"Variable Onset is a terrific read – a fast-paced, suspenseful mystery combined with a sexy, slow-burn romance that is just right for this particular story." --All About Romance

About the Author

Layla Reyne was raised in North Carolina and now calls San Francisco home. She enjoys weaving her bicoastal experiences into her stories, along with adrenaline-fueled suspense and heart-pounding romance.



Tristan James is an award-winning voice-over artist whose work has crossed over commercials, promos, and industrial projects for over a decade. He's an extrovert caught in the world of imagination. A natural storyteller with smooth tones, unique inflection, clear diction, rich depth, and a love for accents that accomplishes to curl the toes of those listening. His greatest passion is telling stories through the eyes of others, and to do that every day for his growing fan base is an exquisite joy of the highest proportions. He hails from the East, and now lives in the West.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0822WQW2G
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Carina Press
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 4, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 287 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781488055140
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1488055140
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Variable Onset
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 250 ratings

About the author

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Layla Reyne

Layla Reyne

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Layla Reyne is the author of What We May Be and the Agents Irish and Whiskey, Fog City, and Perfect Play series. She writes sexy, intense LGBTQIA+ romance featuring highly competent adults in kitchens, sports arenas, car chases, and other high-stakes situations. Whether it’s adrenaline-fueled suspense, rival athletes, vampires and shifters in alt-realms, or love mixed with mouth-watering foodie goodness, queer folks finding happily-ever-afters is guaranteed.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
250 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's suspenseful plot engaging, with one review highlighting its slow-burn M/M romance. Moreover, the forensic genealogy elements receive positive feedback, with one customer particularly appreciating all the forensic aspects. Additionally, the romance elements are well-received, with one customer noting the beautiful and talented teenage daughter character.

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SuspensefulForensic genealogyRomance
8 customers mention "Suspenseful"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book suspenseful with fascinating plots, and one customer describes it as a slow-burn M/M romance.

"...Oh. My!! This is a slow-burn M/M romance which is well-written, fast-paced with some really intriguing secondary characters...." Read more

"...The ending chapter was so romantic and heartfelt what with the second mystery being on display. It was personal, sweet and a bit steamy in the end...." Read more

"...She creates such believable, interesting characters and fascinating plots that we as readers are hooked from the beginning...." Read more

"Solid suspense yarn. I liked the way they used forensic genealogy as one of the tools to find the killer...." Read more

4 customers mention "Forensic genealogy"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the forensic genealogy elements in the book.

"...burn age gap romance ( I mean 8 years slow burn) and a good case of investigative work...." Read more

"...to detail is spot on in this book, whether it’s the science behind forensic geneology (she made it so easy to understand!)..." Read more

"Solid suspense yarn. I liked the way they used forensic genealogy as one of the tools to find the killer...." Read more

"What a fantastic book!! I absolutely loved all the forensic aspects, it wasn't too much that I, layman, couldn't understand but it gave it so much..." Read more

3 customers mention "Romance"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, with one describing it as sweet and beautiful, while another mentions the beautiful and talented teenage daughter character.

"Lincoln Monroe lives a good life. Has a beautiful and talented teenage daughter from his previous marriage to Gabby who is still a good friend, has..." Read more

"...It was personal, sweet and a bit steamy in the end...." Read more

"...how Carter and Lincoln’s personalities were so different but together was beautiful!" Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Linda Reads
    5.0 out of 5 stars How do you catch a serial killer who likes to torture his victims until they beg to be killed?
    Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Lincoln Monroe lives a good life. Has a beautiful and talented teenage daughter from his previous marriage to Gabby who is still a good friend, has a job he loves as a Special Agent and Instructor with the FBI, has lived an eventful 42 years and is bisexual. His last M/M relationship ended badly so he’s kind of staying “off the market.” His only regret is never finding the infamous serial killer, Dr. Fear.
    Along with 32yo hunk FBI Special Agent Carter Warren, Lincoln is thrust into a possible lead on Dr. Fear and an undercover opportunity to catch the bast**d. Carter was the only student who got under his skin. What Lincoln doesn’t know is that Carter requested L to get on this case b/c he has had a man-crush on L since seeing him come into the classroom 8 years ago. Now they will play the parts of Mr. and Mr. Polk! Oh. My!!
    This is a slow-burn M/M romance which is well-written, fast-paced with some really intriguing secondary characters. I hope we get to know some more about the student/library assistant, Jeremiah. And it wouldn’t be at all bad to see Lincoln, Carter and Elena living happily ever after…I volunteered to review an ARC of this book and it comes highly recommended if you like mystery, suspense and slow-burn M/M romance with a wee bit of humor. Very poignant chapter 22
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  • Gerbera_Reads
    4.0 out of 5 stars Nice cozy mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Good cozy mystery with elements of steam, plenty suspense and two cases that span decades. Despite the not so small hiccup in the beginning with the whole undercover gig and the entire letter agency's lack of prep for their agent and a whole slew of surprises that would never happen IRL, I was able to put it aside and enjoy the town of Apex, a slow burn age gap romance ( I mean 8 years slow burn) and a good case of investigative work.

    Two agents, Carter and Lincoln, worked well together and were well suited for being undercover husbands. There were some funny moments involving locals at Apex as well as some tender moments between two men who held feelings for each other for 8 long years. The mystery of the killer was solved for me 3/4 into the book, but I enjoyed the chase and how clever Lincoln was in figuring out little clues left by Carter.

    The ending chapter was so romantic and heartfelt what with the second mystery being on display. It was personal, sweet and a bit steamy in the end. Both men were a little bit in love and a lot smitten, ready to start a life together free from the past and looking forward to their future.
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  • LisK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Murder.. mystery.. mayhem.. and fake newlyweds!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    FBI Agent Lincoln Monroe is a professor of forensics at Quantico, with a defined specialty of forensic genealogy. FBI Agent Carter Warren is a hotshot undercover agent. To catch a killer, teacher and student, who caught each others’ eyes in class eight years ago, go undercover as newlyweds, much to Lincoln’s shock and Carter’s delight. They are searching for a ruthless killer who preys on his targets’ greatest fears.. and kills them that way. Pyrophobic? Death by fire. Clautophobic? Death by being abandoned in a tight space. As they work together, the sparks between the cool professor and the bold undercover agent fly off the charts. Apex is a small town full of suspects, and we meet so many along the way. Those small towns always have secrets, and Apex is no exception.

    Layla Reyne’s attention to detail is spot on in this book, whether it’s the science behind forensic geneology (she made it so easy to understand!) or the build up to the romance between Lincoln and Carter, she leads the reader on a fascinating journey. She creates such believable, interesting characters and fascinating plots that we as readers are hooked from the beginning.

    This one was a page turner for sure, to solve the mystery and to find out if those sparks ignite between Lincoln and Carter. But it’s also a study in what makes people tick, their quirks and emotions, their deepest fears and their greatest joys. Variable Onset is a must read and I highly recommend it.
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  • AMP
    3.0 out of 5 stars Super convenient plot points and lots of biscuits
    Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Hmmmmm, I've really liked Reyne's other books. But this one just didn't do it for me. Lots of plot holes and conveniences. Some mild spoilers in this review:

    Seems like a VERY elaborate under cover operation/story for two agents who had 72 hours or whatever to find the original couple (and about that... first we hear the Dr. Fear kills couples. And then later it's single victims (a trucker), and then it's couples again. And why couples? As much as L and C delved into Dr. Fear's psyche, the book didn't explain well why couples were targeted. It doesn't fit at all with the "diagnosis" of Dr. Fear that L and C come up with).

    For agents with a limited number of hours to find the victims, L and C spend a lot of time going to breakfast. Then going to church. Then looking at old photos. Then going to breakfast again. Then more photos. Then more breakfast. Yes, they learned information each time they went to church or breakfast, but that's just fictional magic. Wouldn't happen that way in reality. (The whole town goes to the same church? One church in a college town? One? That every person goes to every week? Jesus must be happy).

    Reyne writes about the chancellor's huge mansion. And then later we find out that it only has one bathroom. Really? One bathroom in a mansion?

    I didn't buy AT ALL that L or C's phobia's were enough to put them under Dr. Fear's thrall. Really, your phobia is performing in public and for THAT you'd let Dr. Fear manipulate you? Nah. Soooooooo contrived.

    Let's just not even mention the "recently dug" underground passage that conveniently appears for no reason other than a plot contrivance.

    I was looking forward to this book, but finished it pretty unsatisfied.

    The writing is good. The dialog is OK. I didn't see any obvious errors (other than I struggled with figuring out that his meant "hi's" at the end). But the plot was ludicrous.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Donna Marie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Taut search for serial killer
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Solid suspense yarn. I liked the way they used forensic genealogy as one of the tools to find the killer. The romantic tension between the two agents added depth to the story.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • emse
    5.0 out of 5 stars OMG
    Reviewed in Germany on May 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Das war spannend, das war aufregend , das war sexy. Und es hat immensen Spaß gemacht es zu lesen. Schade das es keine Serie wird. Ich würde gerne mehr über Lincoln und Carter lesen.
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  • AshPenny37
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Mystery and Slow Burn Romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Variable Onset follows Carter and Lincoln as they go under cover to catch a serial killer whose MO is to commit murder using a method based on their victims' fears. The two men are very likable as characters, and I thought the way they grew close over the span of the investigation was just about perfect. The plot has twists and turns, and is nicely pitched - it doesn't feel like it's dumbed down when explaining the technical/scientific elements of Carter and Lincoln's work. Variable Onset I'd a standalone, but I would love to see more of these guys in the future. 5*
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  • Mashara
    4.0 out of 5 stars Delightful slow burn
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. Lincoln and Carter are great characters and there's enough contrast between them to create conflict and enough similarity to make them believable as a couple.
    This book has a wonderful HEA but be warned, they only kiss halfway there, so when I say slow burn. I mean slooooow BUT it's full of longing and emotional turmoil.
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