Damage Control by Kate McMurray

Senate candidate Parker Livingston chose his political dreams over a future with the man he loved. He lives with constant regret about not having Jackson Kane in his life. Or his bed. And when a strange woman is found murdered in Parker’s apartment, Jackson is the only person Parker trusts to help clear his name.

Jackson never forgave Parker for the way their relationship ended. He moved on, built a name for himself as a criminal defense attorney and swore he’d never let heartbreak back in. But when Parker shows up on his doorstep, wild-eyed and handsome and desperate for his help, Jackson can’t say no. Parker is a lot of things, but he’s no murderer.

Forced back together, searching for answers, their attraction returns with a vengeance. Any distraction—personal or professional—could be deadly. The murderer is still at large, and he’s made it clear one of them is his next victim.

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book which combines a second chance romance with a political murder mystery. I loved the legal issues raised, and the twist which brought the criminal to justice.

Jack and Park spent eight years together until Park left as he wanted a republican political career – which would not happen with a boyfriend in the picture. So, for the last five years he has been living a lie. When he needs a criminal lawyer though, it is Jack's office that he goes to first. As we learn more about these two, my admiration for Jackson could only grow, and for Park, well maybe there wasn't a lot there in the first place!

As the murder case draws to a conclusion, the men have admitted how they feel, but Jack will not be in a closeted relationship – so we know that there has to be a major change on Park's behalf. It is interesting being present as he weighs up his current career against losing the man he loves for a second time. The fact that he has a significant financial cushion, and other businesses which could replace the senatorship didn't make me feel too sorry for him, but I did understand that he was ambitious and wanted to effect change from the inside. Let's just say I liked Jack's brand of honesty better!

An intriguing, chemistry laden story with plenty of mystery and legal issues of ethics thrown into the mix. I find Kate McMurray's writing style to be conducive to continual turning of the pages, so do make sure you have plenty of time when you start this book, as you will be sucked in and suddenly find you forgot dinner.

Kate McMurray is an award-winning author of gay romance and an unabashed romance fan. When she’s not writing, she works as a nonfiction editor, dabbles in various crafts, and is maybe a tiny bit obsessed with baseball. She has served as President of Rainbow Romance Writers, the LGBT romance chapter of Romance Writers of America. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Damage Control by Kate McMurray to read and review.

There Has to Be a Reason by Kate McMurray

Dave is enjoying his junior year at a big New England university, even if none of his relationships have been especially satisfying. He plans to hang around with his best friend Joe and focus on his studies until he graduates, and then he’ll figure out the rest.

Meeting Noel changes his plans.

Noel is strikingly beautiful and unlike anyone Dave knows. Something about Noel draws Dave to him—an attraction Dave doesn’t feel ready to label. And even if he was, why would Noel be interested in Dave? And what about Joe? He hates Noel and everything he represents, and he might hate Dave if he finds out about Dave’s secret desires. So Dave will have to keep those feelings hidden—along with his relationship with Noel.

But Noel has fought too hard for his identity to be Dave’s dirty secret. Will Dave tell the truth and risk the life he’s always known… or live a lie and risk losing the love of his life?

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
This is the story of a college junior who finds himself questioning his sexuality. This is an angsty new adult college romance. Dave’s journey from a comfortable existence as a typical jock to a place where he is comfortable in his own skin is alternately frustrating and very moving.

Somehow, Dave makes it to twenty before he meets a man who makes him question his sexuality. He is both a student athlete and a straight A student who needs to keep up his GPA to keep his scholarships. His friends are the ubiquitous lads/fratboys familiar to every campus everywhere. They drink, they shag, and they make offensive homophobic comments.

Noah is Dave’s opposite. Kicked out of his family because of his sexuality, Noah is out, proud, and unwilling to be anyone’s dirty secret. Dave finds him beautiful, Noah fancies the unobtainable jock and the result is heartbreak for Noah as Dave tries to hide his sexuality and Noah from everyone else in his life. Attempting to keep his sexuality a secret, Dave ends up losing friendships and alienating his family.

This is an easy college romance full of familiar college characters and tropes. The characters are young and their problems are relatively simple. For me, neither Noah or Dave ever really became more than a type – Noah is a swishy twink who loves fashion and musical theatre. Dave is a jock who loves drunken parties. As the story progresses, Dave grows up and develops some emotional sensitivity, but I’m not sure he is ever fully developed into a character who feels entirely human and loveable.

Kate McMurray is an award-winning author of gay romance and an unabashed romance fan. When she’s not writing, she works as a nonfiction editor, dabbles in various crafts, and is maybe a tiny bit obsessed with baseball. She has served as President of Rainbow Romance Writers, the LGBT romance chapter of Romance Writers of America. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of There Has to Be a Reason by Kate McMurray to read and review.

The Greek Tycoon's Green Card Groom by Kate McMurray Audiobook Review

Marriage gets less convenient when love is involved.

It started simple: Ondrej Kovac marries Archie Katsaros so Ondrej can stay in the US, away from his judgmental family in eastern Europe. Archie marries Ondrej in exchange for the money to bail out his failing company. It’s a fraud neither man is convinced he can pull off.

But as Archie introduces Ondrej to New York society and Ondrej proves his skill in the office, they start to discover a connection between them. Can they overcome the rocky foundation their relationship was built on, meddling immigration agents, gossip columnists determined to out their deception, and an aggressive executive set on selling Archie’s company out from under him? Only if they can prove to each other their love is worth fighting for.

Length: 5 hrs, 3 mins

Narrator: Rusty Topsfield

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆
McMurray has added an interesting twist to the green card marriage theme in The Greek Tycoon’s Green Card Groom. Not only are both partners in the marriage men, but the money exchange is far above the “going rate” and the American groom, by all appearances, doesn’t need the money. Unbeknownst to the public though, Archie Katsaros’s business is failing due to his father’s poor decisions. As such, both men have something the other needs – an American spouse for Ondrej and money for Archie’s business. What neither man knows is that they both want the same thing from their new spouse – the chance at a real relationship. Granted, in the beginning, the sexual attraction seems easy enough to admit to and indulge. Yet as they spend more and more time together at the office, at home, and in bed, they each learn that there’s more to the man he married than he ever expected to find or dared to hope for.

My biggest issue with the book was Archie. I understand wanting to protect one’s heart, but there are times when he is so bullheaded and convinced he’s right, that he forgets that Ondrej isn’t America. There was one scene when Ondrej was having trouble explaining himself, goes so far as to tell Archie that he’s having a hard time saying what he means, yet Archie gets his feelings hurt and sulks. That peeved me off, but what really ticked me off was that when Ondrej tried to explain it better, Archie blows him off, refusing to listen. It’s as though Archie forgets that despite Ondrej’s grasp of the English language, English is not Ondrej’s native language and things get lost in translation. As a man who engages in international business dealings, his failure to give his spouse the benefit of the doubt regarding his misspeaks seriously irritated me. However, despite Archie’s “the world revolves around me” attitude, the romance between him and Ondrej was enjoyable, once Archie got out of their way and let it finally happen.

In regards to the narration, once again, Rusty Topsfield has impressed me. I had completely forgotten who was narrating The Greek Tycoon’s Green Card Groom until I reached the end of the audiobook and it was announced again. His vocal talents are such that I don’t always recognize his voice and there have been times I haven’t been able to listen to an audiobook because the characters’ accents were too good, too realistic, and thus, too annoying (for me). Topsfield did a great job creating voices for Archie and Ondrej, as well as all the side characters, making this a truly enjoyable listening experience. I found The Greek Tycoon’s Green Card Groom audiobook to be very entertaining and I look forward to experiencing more of McMurray’s and Topsfield’s work.

Kate McMurray is an award-winning author of gay romance and an unabashed romance fan. When she’s not writing, she works as a nonfiction editor, dabbles in various crafts, and is maybe a tiny bit obsessed with base­ball. She has served as President of Rainbow Romance Writers, the LGBT romance chapter of Romance Writers of America. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Connect with Kate

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Greek Tycoon's Green Card Groom by Kate McMurray, Narrated by Rusty Topsfield to read and review.

The Boy Next Door by Kate McMurray

Life is full of surprises and, with luck, second chances.

After his father’s death, Lowell leaves the big city to help his sick mother in the conservative small town where he grew up. He’s shocked to find himself living next to none other than his childhood friend Jase. Lowell always had a crush on Jase, and the man has only gotten more attractive with age. Unfortunately Jase is straight, now divorced, and raising his six-year-old daughter. It’s nice to reconnect, but Lowell doesn’t see a chance for anything beyond friendship.

Until a night out together changes everything.

Jase can’t fight his growing feelings for Lowell, and he doesn’t want to give up the happy future they could have. But his ex-wife issues an ultimatum: he must keep his homosexuality secret or she’ll revoke his custody of their daughter, Layla. Now Jase faces an impossible choice: Lowell and the love he’s always wanted, or his daughter.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
Katie McMurray is a new-to-me author, and I found the writing style enjoyable to read, but found a few scenes redundant in nature, slowing the pacing down to a crawl at a few parts.

Lowell buys a new home in his hometown to be near his ailing mother, only to discover he inadvertently moved in next door to his childhood friend. Lowell and Jase’s friendship had fallen apart in junior high, with Jase moving toward being jock and Lowell coming out and turning into the town’s pariah.

Fast-forward many years, Lowell feels safe to come home now that his abusive, alcoholic father has passed, only to find his old friend a divorcee with a six-year-old little girl.

For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, but there were a few things that were off-putting. Lowell was a good narrator, with a strong characterization that never floundered. However, I felt Jase to be a weak character, as his personality wavered as the story flowed, so I never truly felt I knew him, even when I was inside his head. Most of the things he said or did were irrational, sounding more like a flighty woman who blamed all of their issues on everyone, while giving themselves permission to dwell in their problems – when the only issue Jase has is himself. The only thing in the way of Jase’s happiness is Jase. No actual issues to be had, aside from boundaries with his ex-wife. Jase whined about his life but did nothing to change it, actually enabling the problems to continue and fester by apologizing for who he is.

Any and all conflict in the story was due to Jase not dealing with his ex-wife, whom I felt was written one way while Jase’s narration showed conflicting arguments on her as a person. Responsible. Irresponsible. Good mother. Bad mother. Good friend and wife. Bad friend and wife. Human nature dictates that you can’t be both at the same time. So I felt the author needed to find a middle ground by making sure the characterization wasn’t conflicting – contradictory. Mentally disturbed, when prior she was shown to not have any such mental illnesses. Pre-divorce, Jase’s narrative states his wife was a good wife and mother, attentive and loving. She divorced him, yet is written to be the spurned wife? Now she is a deadbeat, flighty, homophobic, rash actions, which Jase blames Lowell instead, who doesn’t stick up for himself by telling Jase he’s acting irrational.

The major conflict, I didn’t enjoy because of the contradiction and the fact that I felt there was never any true closure. The ex-wife went ‘away’, but the problems were never dealt with, as the problem wasn’t the ex-wife but how Jase kowtowed to her – actually agreed with her, blaming Lowell instead of himself, or his ex, or no one because no one was to blame. Why does anyone have to be blamed for the ‘core’ issue? He never apologized, and Lowell didn’t stand up for himself. Yes, Jase was scared, but that doesn’t give a person license to say what was said – you’re at your basest when angry or drunk, those words were meant, and Lowell shouldn’t be with someone so disillusioned and irrational if they truly believed them. By book’s end, I wanted Jase to own who he was, and he didn’t. It just ended.

”If you hadn’t moved here…

How about take ownership in your own choices? Whether Lowell moved back to their hometown or not, the situation was still the same – the actions belong to the person committing them, and I didn’t like how that was portrayed, influencing readers to not take responsibility for their own actions or to stand up for themselves. An abused boy grew up to be treated disrespectfully by his partner, as the author wrote it. Jase was no better than his ex-wife. Actually, the ex-wife took responsibility for her actions, while Jase never did.

For such a short novel, there were many redundant scenes, with many being between the sheets action. A few I felt took away from the emotional impact that was being written on the pages, lessening it. I skimmed all these scenes after the halfway mark, completely skipping one that occurred within a paragraph after an important fight. It was the wrong time, not only unnecessary, it brought nothing to the story except to lessen the emotional impact. It was in that scene, instead of sex, when the issues I outlined above should have been addressed, when the guys were having a ‘moment.’

Issues aside, I do recommend this title to MM romance fans, (I must apologize, because I read a book like an editor, not a reader – wish that wasn’t the case). I’d be willing to give the author another try to see if it was the plot of this book (Jase the character) or the writing style that isn’t my cup of tea. Sometimes a plot or character and the reader just don’t mix – hit or miss – but that doesn’t mean the author isn’t a good writer or the book worthy of being read.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Lowell loves living in the city but has to move back to his home town to care for his mom after his father's death. The town is very small and conservative, not extremely gay friendly. The house he buys just happens to be next to his childhood friend and crush.

Jase married his college sweetheart because he thought that's what was required of him as a man. After having a daughter and trying to make the marriage work, he couldn't fake it anymore. He refused to think of himself as gay, but he's known he has an attraction to men. His ex-wife grants him custody of his daughter with the stipulation that he will keep his attraction and any relationship away from his daughter.

Jase is happy to see Lowell again. They were once the closest of friends until they grew apart as teenagers. Lowell is out and has been for years. Jase has always kept his one night stands away from his town and his house, until he can't control his attraction to Lowell. Can he make the only relationship that's every felt right work? Or will his ex-wife use his attraction to Lowell to keep his daughter away from him?

Ms. McMurray is a new to me author. I enjoyed The Boy Next Door, it was an enjoyable quick read. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Kate McMurray is an award-winning author of gay romance and an unabashed romance fan. When she’s not writing, she works as a nonfiction editor, dabbles in various crafts, and is maybe a tiny bit obsessed with baseball. She has served as President of Rainbow Romance Writers, the LGBT romance chapter of Romance Writers of America. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

Connect with Kate

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Boy Next Door by Kate McMurray to read and review.