Friday, January 17, 2020

Behind the Stick by K. Evan Coles & Brigham Vaughn


Love, served behind the stick.

Kyle McKee lives a charmed life. He co-owns Under, an uptown speakeasy, where he is chief mixologist. Friends poke fun at Kyle’s tiny one-bed apartment in Chelsea, but they’re the best support system a man could ask for. Unfortunately, Kyle’s lackluster love life has led him to take a break from dating.

Harlem resident Luka Clarke is a lieutenant with Engine 47, the Pride of Morningside, where he carries on his father’s legacy with the FDNY. Luka, who is mixed race and bisexual, has his eye on Kyle, whom he met at a local burger joint and he just needs to make time to visit Kyle’s bar.

Before work one evening, Kyle is trapped inside the luncheonette when a fire breaks out. Luka’s firehouse answers the call and he connects with Kyle again under the most unexpected of circumstances. When Kyle gratefully invites Luka and the firehouse squad to Under, the flirting between the two men leads to a date.

Kyle and Luka quickly grow close, but Luka’s mother and sister distrust Kyle for being both white and gay. Luka believes his family will come around and accept Kyle in the end, but Kyle is not optimistic and hides his disquiet as attraction blossoms into love.

Kyle and Luka’s near-idyllic bubble is shattered one evening after a hate crime leaves them scarred, inside and out. Shaken, they put on a strong front but struggle inwardly against fear and personal demons. As the emotions seething beneath the surface finally come to a head, both men must decide if they have the strength to find love enough to conquer hate.

Reader advisory: This book contains references to non-nurturing parenting; homophobia; racism and racist slurs. There are references to recreational drug use. This book also contains scenes of mmmm ménage and characters caught in fire.

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Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Pride Publishing



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, but I must admit my first. I will be going back and catching up on the other two romances, as even though I know the outcome, I have little doubt the journey was an adventure worth reading! I did not feel a lack of understanding for having read this first.

In a brilliant move, this book combines the New York world of sexy bar owner with a penchant for designing clever cocktails, and a firefighter working nearby. It works so well, giving us the decadent atmosphere of the Speakeasy called Under, and the peril and responsibility of saving lives. It also deals with a white man being attracted to biracial man, one of whom is gay, the other bi; a family who are everything, and one who has just a brother.

But at its heart, this is a romance between two people who find that they are it for each other, if only the issues of the world could let them be... and if they don't, are they strong enough to love more than leave?

I really loved every minute of the book – beautifully written, so that I was nearly halfway through before I even raised my head for air! It is incredibly engaging, moving, and full of questions that we should all ask ourselves about acceptance, perception, and expectations. So don't expect a free ride, you will get involved and soon be fighting in their corner too.

I really recommend this book as a force for good, in a world which needs reminding of how life is still not easy for everyone.



K. Evan Coles

K. Evan Coles is a mother and tech pirate by day and a writer by night. She is a dreamer who, with a little hard work and a lot of good coffee, coaxes words out of her head and onto paper.

K. lives in the northeast United States, where she complains bitterly about the winters, but truly loves the region and its diverse, tenacious and deceptively compassionate people. You’ll usually find K. nerding out over books, movies and television with friends and family. She’s especially proud to be raising her son as part of a new generation of unabashed geeks.

K.’s books explore LGBTQ+ romance in contemporary settings.

Connect with K.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
K’s Whiskey Words Café Facebook Group


Brigham Vaughn

Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Her books range from short stories to novellas. They explore gay, bisexual, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.

To stay up to date on her latest releases, sign up for the
Coles & Vaughn Newsletter.

Connect with Brigham

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Brigham’s Book Nerds Facebook Group


https://www.pride-publishing.com


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Behind the Stick (The Speakeasy #3) by K. Evan Coles & Brigham Vaughn to read and review.

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