Set Ablaze by KC Burn

California firefighter Hayden Hurst is starting to realize there’s more to life than fighting fires and drinking with his buddies. He has room in his home and his life for someone special, but no one has stood out among his hookups. And while he’s out at work, admitting he’s gay is very different from showing up at social functions with a man. He’s afraid that’ll be too much for his less-than-accepting “friends.”

Broadway dancer Jez Bouchet hasn’t been mistaken for straight since he was gay-bashed at seventeen. After getting a lucrative job offer in Hollywood, he uproots his life in New York and drives to Los Angeles. His brother, who is Hayden’s best friend, arranges for him to crash at Hayden’s place.

The attraction between Hayden and Jez is unexpected but fiery, and they succumb before they’re even sure they like each other. But Jez hates Hayden’s homophobic friends, and Hayden knows Jez is too flamboyant for him to fly under the radar. Then there’s the complication of Jez’s brother.

Despite those hurdles, they fling themselves into a relationship. But Jez has secrets: a tiny spoiled dog and a determined stalker. If he doesn’t come clean, he might torch their burgeoning relationship before it has a chance to bloom.

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Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this sweet and reflective romance, but it isn’t quite what I expected from the cover or the blurb. It’s the story of Hayden, a not-quite-closeted firefighter and Jez, his new roommate (and a Broadway dancer). Jez’s flamboyant arrival forces Hayden to reevaluate his own identity and the toxic bro-culture he clings to.

While I was expecting steamy firefighter scenes, this book takes a hard look at friendship, respect, and identity. There is some heat, but I liked the way the story pushes beyond romance tropes to examine some difficult realities faced by gay men – even in liberal environments like LA and New York.

I didn't love this story. I’m not sure two men would ever talk so earnestly with each other and there were a few moments when Jez and Hayden push past cute into adorable in a way that made me feel slightly nauseous. Time lurches in the story and I didn't always have a good grip on the timeline of the book. Some of the characters are too cliché to be believable or have an impact, and other characters like Jez's brother aren't coherent through the book. But I appreciated the ideas and I loved Jez’s fierce resilience and Hayden’s aptitude for reflection and change.

Author of gay erotic romance, writing for Loose Id, Carina Press & Dreamspinner Press. Occasionally NSFW. KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own—getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does.

Connect with KC

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Set Ablaze by KC Burn to read and review.

Banded Together by KC Burn

Punk’s not dead, but it’s time to redefine life.

Devlin Waters thought he’d have music forever. But the tragic death of his best friend ended the twenty-year run of his punk band, Negative Impression. Unable to process the loss, Devlin distances himself from everyone and everything that reminds him of the band. But forty-one is too young to curl up and wait for the end. In a search for a second career, he finds himself at university with a bunch of kids young enough to be… his kids. His sexy archeology professor, however, makes Devlin think about life beyond his grief…

Dr. Jack Johnson does not appreciate Devlin’s lack of respect, his inability to be serious, or his chronic lateness. Worse, he hates that he’s attracted to a student. When he realizes Devlin is the rock star he crushed on in his youth, he drops his guard—against his better judgment.

Before they can move forward together, Jack must admit to Devlin that he’s not only an admirer, but he also sings in a cover band. How will Devlin react to his ultimate fanboy when his own music has died?

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Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
What happens to a rock star when the music stops? Devlin Waters takes himself back to university to finish his degree – and finds himself falling for his sexy professor. I loved the premise of this story and I love that it was inspired by the Offspring’s Dexter Holland’s real life experience.

There are some very funny moments as the celebrity rocker attempts to become just another anonymous student. His peers are young enough to be his children and his flippant banter doesn’t win him any respect from his teacher.

Jack is an interesting character. He’s a buttoned-up professor who also moonlights in a tribute band – as Devlin. I liked Jack but the fanboy ick factor was unnerving. I was never absolutely certain that his relationship with Devlin was because of the man, not the rock star.

There is great chemistry between Jack and Devlin, fabulous flirtation, and a few steamy moments. I liked these two together, but I think I responded more to Devlin’s grief and his midlife crisis than I did to the romance in the novel.

Parts of this story didn’t quite work for me. For slightly older characters, there is too much miscommunication and there are too many moments where Devlin feels more like a sulky, cocky 20-year-old than a confident 40-year-old. Maybe it’s a rock star stunted development thing, but it really wasn’t sexy. I also felt like too much of this story is spent with side characters and as a result, there aren’t enough moments where we actually see Jack and Devlin building a relationship together.

Author of gay erotic romance, writing for Loose Id, Carina Press & Dreamspinner Press. Occasionally NSFW. KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own—getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does.

Connect with KC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Banded Together by KC Burn to read and review.

Tea or Consequences by KC Burn

Riley Parker: temp, twink, geek… sleuth?

Maybe Riley isn’t living up to his full potential, but being a temp executive assistant suits him. He’s never bored at work, he’s got friends who let him geek out, and he’s got a carefully crafted twink exterior… which might be getting constrictive now that he’s on the other side of thirty. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s comfortable.

It all unravels when he takes a job working for a tea-obsessed cosmetics queen, the owner of Gautier Cosmetics. During the launch party for a new product, Riley finds his boss dead under suspicious circumstances, and the homicide detective is none other than Tadeo Martin, Riley’s high school obsession who never knew he was alive.

Tad drafts Riley to get the scoop on the inner workings of Gautier, and for Riley, it’s like a drug. His natural inquisitiveness is rewarded with more and more Tad. Unfortunately, his snooping puts him in the running for two other roles: suspect and victim. The killer doesn’t care which.

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B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This was a fast-paced, who did it story. At first, I was kind of skeptical because it seemed that it was more about the spoiled kids of the great Gabrielle.

Riley had a major crush on the police detective who is investigating his boss' death, Tad. Riley has a fairly good life and he likes what he does. Working for a temp agency allows his scenery to change. It seems that the one regret in his life is his relationship with his brother. Jonathan raised Riley for a while and now, despite wanting more from Jonathan, Riley doesn't really know how to break through Jonathan's awful wife. I wanted to do some bodily harm to her and Jonathan.

Tad is a hard-working detective who doesn't seem all too comfortable in his own skin. However, while investigating a murder, he runs in to an old school acquaintance – Riley. Tad knows that he's crossing some boundary lines, but he can't see to keep away from Riley.

The mystery within this love story is a good one and keeps you guessing. Once the main characters figure out that they can't be without each other, it's fairly typical.

Overall, this was a good mystery with a good romance woven in.

Author of gay erotic romance, writing for Loose Id, Carina Press & Dreamspinner Press. Occasionally NSFW. KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own—getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does.

Connect with KC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tea or Consequences by KC Burn to read and review.

Tartan Candy by KC Burn Audiobook Review

Finlay McIntyre (aka Raven) is a successful adult film star with a penchant for kilts, until an accident cuts short his stardom and leaves him with zero sexual desire, lowered self-esteem, and no job. He knew his porn career wouldn’t last forever, but he wasn’t prepared for retirement at twenty-eight. While trying to figure out the rest of his life, Raven agrees to attend a high school reunion. That’s when a malfunctioning AC unit in his hotel room changes everything.

Caleb Sanderson, an entrepreneur with his own HVAC business, has no idea what to expect when he steps into Raven’s hotel room to fix his AC unit. They’re attracted to each other, but Caleb, closeted, can’t afford a gay relationship, not with his mom pressuring him to produce grandchildren. If he wants to keep Raven—who no closet could hold—he’ll need to tell his family the truth. But Raven has a few secrets of his own. He refuses to reveal his porn past to Caleb, a past that might be the final obstacle to Caleb and Raven having any kind of relationship.

Length: 7 hrs, 21 mins

Narrator: David Ross

Book 1
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Amazon Audiobook  ~  Audible  ~  Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Men in kilts!?!?! Yep, I can be that shallow. Well, shallow enough that the cover of Tartan Candy absolutely caught my eye, but it was the combination of an enticing blurb and Ross’s voice that had me queuing this audiobook up. I am delighted to report that neither Burn’s storytelling nor Ross’s vocal talents let me down because Tartan Candy will be a definite re-listen for me.

Raven and Caleb are both sympathetic characters in my world. Caleb’s decision to live in the closet, both why he made the decision to begin with and why he continued to do so, was an understandable one. Sad, but understandable. While it’s fortunate that Caleb’s best friend and cousin, Jaime, was able and willing to run interference at family functions to help draw attention away from Caleb, it’s also exceedingly sad that there is only one person in his large extended family who knows the truth about Caleb. Raven’s mental prison is just as suffocating, but in a way I suspect a lot of readers won’t fully grasp, and even my understanding of it is from a position of friend and confidante. I expect most people will understand how devastating the scars and injuries that Raven suffered from a motorcycle accident can be, that feeling that the scars make the person less attractive. However, having lived with a gay porn star for almost a decade, there is a HUGE part of their personal identity that is tied to their physical appearance, so when their “looks begin to go” or are changed drastically in the way that Raven’s were, there is a loss of identity that can scar worse than the physical marks. That loss of identity is exactly what Raven is dealing with in the novel – learning who he is now that he’s no longer in porn and how to overcome the stigma that some people place on him when they learn he did porn. I watched my best friend and emotional partner grapple with that loss of identity, that need to find his new place in the world, and it’s a difficult journey. Because of my experience, I was even more sympathetic to Raven’s plight, especially when Caleb learns of Raven’s past and lashes out in one of the harshest scenes I’ve read in a while. Harsh, but utterly realistic and believable, and it had my heart breaking for both men because with a handful of hurtful words, Caleb nearly destroyed the best thing that ever happened to them.

As for the relationship that develops between Raven and Caleb, it’s a nice mixture of sweet and sensual. Because of the extensive scarring, Raven had resigned himself to a life of celibacy. So to find a man who makes his body respond, who he finds attractive, and who is willing to take things as slow as Raven needs him to, it’s more than Raven ever hoped for. And Caleb is exceptionally patient, not simply because he takes “no” for an answer without getting angry, but rather because he accepts the intimacies that Raven is able to give and cherishes them. While they get to know each other, they snuggle, they kiss, they share a bed, they’re physically intimate without actually having sex – extended emotional and physical foreplay. When Raven is ready to take that next step with Caleb, it makes it even more meaningful – and sexy. What makes Tartan Candy even more enjoyable is Ross’s vocal performance. He does a great job with Raven and Caleb, but also with the myriad of side characters, making it easy to follow the story even during the Escobar family gatherings. I loved how effectively he conveyed the emotions of Burn’s characters, adding even more dimension to a beautifully written story. What I did not know when I started Tartan Candy, and am truly excited about, is that the author has written a second book in the series, featuring Will. I cannot wait!

Author of gay erotic romance, writing for Loose Id, Carina Press & Dreamspinner Press. Occasionally NSFW. KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own—getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does.

Connect with KC

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tartan Candy (Fabric Hearts #1) by KC Burn, Narrated by David Ross to listen to and review.

Wicked Reads Reviews – North on Drummond by K.C. Burn

Sandy Bottom Bay, Florida--Come for the Haunts, Stay for the Beaches!

Drew Drummond might call himself a psychic tarot reader, but he doesn’t believe in the supernatural. The business was left to him by his grandmother, and seemed the best way to rise above the chronic criminal behavior of the Drummond family. Despite his efforts, few of the townspeople consider him a good romantic match. Being gay only makes finding love more difficult.

When Cliff Garcia, Drew’s teenaged crush, moves back to town and joins the police force, Drew doesn’t think he has a chance. After all, the skeptical cop considers Drew’s profession on par with professional conmen, and Cliff had spent his entire school career feuding with Drew’s volatile brothers. Despite the obstacles, Drew and Cliff begin a fiery relationship.

Just when Drew starts to believe they might have a chance, he suffers a head injury and begins having visions of the future. If Drew tells Cliff the truth, he’ll lose the man he’s falling for, but keeping his new ability a secret is no longer an option. If he can’t convince Cliff he’s for real, a murderer will walk free.

Buy Links

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
3 1/2 Stars
Northcliff Garcia is returning home after being away for the last eight years. He left the small town of Sandy Bottom Bay for California where he felt he would be finally be free to be himself. Knowing from an early age, he felt compelled to keep his secret to himself and the only way to be who he truly was, was to leave.

Little did he know, he found himself only leading half a life in California. Once again, he felt that in order to keep his job as police officer, he had to keep his sexual orientation private. It was hard being a police officer when he couldn't trust himself enough to tell his fellow officers he was gay.

After a bad breakup, Cliff is heading home, where once again he is hiding. Not the fact that he is gay, but from his mother. Moving across country to the same small town he grew up, Cliff can't find the wherewithal to tell his mother he's back.

Drew Drummond is one of those Drummonds. His family has a reputation for being on the wrong side of the law. Drew's grandmother did her best to give Drew the opportunities to stay straight and with a little help from his ne'er-do-well brothers, he is surviving well enough. His business as a psychic medium is holding its own – barely – and his new internet store is finally starting to take off. Drew knows that only with this grandmother's firm belief in him, he would have been led down the same path that his brothers traveled.

Out of all of the small minded people in this town, his brothers stand up for him and do their best to make sure their little brother is not singled out for being gay.

When a chance meeting with his high school crush (who had no idea he existed) brings Drew and Cliff together, sparks fly and Drew thinks he may just have a chance at happiness. Until he learns that Cliff has little tolerance for the supernatural, which is unfortunate when the town of Sandy Bottom Bay is known for this paranormal activity.

A sweet romance between two people who appear to have it all, but the insecurities they face are real. With the help the other, can they find their way to a happily ever after?

KC Burn has been writing for as long as she can remember and is a sucker for happy endings (of all kinds). After moving from Toronto to Florida for her husband to take a dream job, she discovered a love of gay romance and fulfilled a dream of her own ­­ getting published. After a few years of editing web content by day, and neglecting her supportive, understanding hubby and needy cat at night to write stories about men loving men, she was uprooted yet again and now resides in California. Writing is always fun and rewarding, but writing about her guys is the most fun she’s had in a long time, and she hopes you’ll enjoy them as much as she does. – Loose Id bio

Connect with K.C.

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Blog  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of North on Drummond by K.C. Burn to read and review.