Six Degrees of Lust by Taylor V. Donovan

New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong, he sticks to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn't have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.

Former firefighter Machlan O'Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston, and after years of waiting, he’s ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud, and drama-free. His politically aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.

One man is as high-strung as the other is laid-back. A chance meeting brings them together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don't want to get involved, but they might not be able to keep apart.

2nd Edition
First Edition published by MLR Press, December 2011.

Book 1
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

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

I will start by saying that this is a good book, but that it does have holes for me. While I enjoyed the story, the back and forth between the murder mystery and the romance was choppy.

Sam is a hardworking officer who is trying to solve a string of horrific murders aimed towards gay men. These are sadistic murders, but we only catch small glimpses in to the murders. Sam is trying very hard to figure out if he can even handle a relationship. With him having to catch a serial killer, his family moving in unexpectedly, him finding Mac and developing more than lustful feelings, it's all jumbled.

Mac is trying very hard to abide by his word. Despite the fact that he has known he's been gay since he was in his teen years, his family made him promise that he wouldn't come out – they have a family name to uphold. Now, nearing the ending time of their agreement, Mac realizes that they had no intention of holding up their end of the bargain.

Like I said in the beginning, this book is all over the place. You have a couple who meets on the sly, both not really knowing if they want a relationship, but then developing a relationship. Then you have Sam's family situation, which is both distracting and somewhat predictable. Finally, you have the serial killer and people trying to figure this out... There is so much going on, but the storyline is kind of missed somewhere along the line. While I do want to find out where the mystery heads, I think that this would have been a far more successful story had they stuck to one line: Murder or Romance.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Sam is a hot, bi, controlled FBI agent who heads up a unit that solves hate crimes. He is currently trying to catch a killer who is targeting gay men in the tristate area. Mac is a former Texas fireman who now runs a bar. He is gay and has stayed in the closest at the request of his family, but the time for him to come out is fast approaching.

The highlight of this story is definitely the relationship between Mac and Sam. Their chemistry is off the charts. Their coupling isn't easy. They live in different states and Sam keeps insisting that there can't be anything more than sex between them and he sets down rules. As time goes on and they get to know each other, sticking to the rules becomes harder and harder. Sam's fear of having an emotional relationship is a huge issue between them and I confess I got a bit sick of it towards the end. It started to feel a little juvenile.

This is a slow moving but never boring story that covers a large cast of characters and a story with many different threads, told from various points of view, including that of the killer, whose identity remains unknown. The transition from one character to another wasn't always smooth and sometimes it look a little bit of reading before you figured out which character's head you were in, but it wasn't a huge issue for me.

Six Degrees of Lust is a good start to a new series and I look forward to reading more to see how all of the pieces of the story fit together.


Sarah – ☆☆☆
In this series, a New York FBI agent, Sam, and his team chase a serial killer hunting young gay men. Early in this first book, Sam meets Huston club manager Mac and their lives and their friends’ lives slowly start to entwine.

In this first story, I really struggled to like Sam. He’s a brooding Scandi Noir style agent in the style of Mankell’s Wallander or Nesbo’s Harry Hole. He obsesses over his job. His family life is messy, he struggles to sustain friendships, and he only allows himself casual hook-ups with no repeats. But unlike most crime fiction heroes, Sam is also supposed to be a romantic lead. It doesn’t work terribly well for me. His treatment of gentle, quiet Mac is pretty terrible for most of this book and I really struggled to like him. In the second book, Sam feels more human and he acts with more kindness. Here, the only kindness we see is with his nephew and it wasn’t enough.

Mac is possibly a little too good to be true, but his relationship with his corrupt wealthy family adds a bizarre Southern soap opera that only detracted from the central murder mystery. I liked Mac but I didn’t like the way he allowed himself to be treated badly by his family and his lovers. To work as Sam’s partner, I needed him to be stronger and more confident but it doesn’t happen in this first story.

I read this second edition of the first book in this series nearly two years after reading the first edition of the second book. There was so much overlap between the two books that by the time I was 100 pages into this story, I was sure I’d read it before. Almost, but not quite. Sam and his FBI team chase the same murderer through both books. His and Mac’s personal lives move very slowly through both books. But while the pace in the second book speeds up some and includes some action and suspense, this story just seemed to drag. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen but it just didn’t. Too many characters are introduced and too many side stories take us away from the hunt for Sam’s serial killer.

I’d honestly recommend that new readers start with the second book because I’m not sure I gained much from this first one. I preferred both leading men in the second story and I found myself frustrated by the lack of any resolution in this first book.

TAYLOR V. DONOVAN is a compulsive reader and author of gay romance and suspense. She is optimistically cynical about humanity and a lover of history, museums, and all things 80s. She shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television, is crazy about fashion, and is passionate about civil rights and equality for all.

When she’s not writing or making a living in the busiest city in the world, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in their home.

Connect with Taylor

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Six Degrees of Lust (By Degrees #1) by Taylor V. Donovan to read and review.

Heavy Hitters by Taylor V. Donovan Spotlight Tour

His toughest opponent is himself.

World Boxing Champion Santino Malavé González has been fighting since he was a kid. Poverty, domestic violence, and emotional abuse were early contenders. Guilt and self-loathing were beaten into him at an impressionable age, and now machismo, an integral part of the Latino culture, rules his life. In the ring he’s undefeated. Outside the ropes life constantly hits him below the belt. It takes a sucker punch from his best friend to finally knock the denial out of him and force him to face his true nature like a real man.

A natural born entertainer, Luca Jenaro Betancur Ferrer has grown up serving God, performing, pursuing a career in music, and celebrating life among his tight-knit Catholic family under the scorching Puerto Rican sun. Singing the wrong note on stage is not a mistake the multi-platinum award-winning singer would ever allow. Falling in love with a man is not a transgression his devout family may ever accept. The ties that bind him are strong, but the pull toward his childhood best friend may just be enough to tear it all to shreds.

Anger, mistakes, bigotry, and the need to conform put up a good fight throughout their life journeys. Their religious and chauvinistic society constantly challenges their pursuit of happiness, and only time will tell if their relationship will survive the battles, or if they’ll lose each other by technical knockout.

*Standalone Gay Romance Saga*

Book 1
Coming Soon

Julito looked at their mom, nodded quickly, and took a deep breath before he asked in a taunting voice, “Did it ever occur to you the reason me and Héctor didn’t make it as boxers is because you’re a lousy trainer?”

Oh, Jesus, Santi thought, his gaze darting between his brother and his mom. What’s happening? What is he doing? Why isn’t Ma telling him to let it go, like she always does?

“Fuck you, cabrón,” Papi snarled, punching Julito’s ribcage. “How dare you say that to me?” He tried to headbutt his way out of Julito’s hold to no avail. “You think you could’ve done better without me? You think your brother could’ve won a single amateur bout without my guidance? You really think he can get anywhere without having me to teach him how to fight and how to be a man? Go out and try to fight again, maricón. I’ll just sit here and watch you fail.”

“I don’t need you to teach me anything,” Santi barked, even though he would’ve done anything to have his dad’s support. “I’ll show you I can win. I will win every single fight. I’ll win at everything for the rest of my life!”

“Shut the hell up!” Papi yelled. “Shut up.” The more he yelled, the more pronounced the veins on his forehead became. His face was so red Santi had no problems seeing it in the dark, and his neck was so tense it looked like it was about to snap. He punched Julito in the head and kicked his shin. “You won’t get anywhere without me.” He twisted his body and finally got away. “None of you will, and I won’t have you say otherwise in my house. This is my house. Mine. You either respect me or get the fuck out!”

Santi couldn’t be sure, but he thought he saw relief flash in Julito’s eyes.

“This is our house,” Julito said in a mocking tone. “The only reason we aren’t on the streets is because Tío Benny took pity on us and let Mami have this ranch. Did you conveniently forget you drank the mortgage money away and made us lose our house? Because I haven’t forgotten—none of us have!”

“Did you tell them about that?” Papi demanded to know, taking a step toward the bed and pointing at Mami. “Did you put me down in front of my kids?”

“She didn’t have to tell us.” Omayra snorted. “We aren’t stupid.”

“And we have no respect for you, you miserable drunk,” Julito added.

“All of this is your fault,” Papi yelled at Mami, nostrils flaring and spittle building up in the corners of his mouth. “You gave birth to a fucking pato and made me lose the respect of my kids to boot. You’re a fucking disgrace. Worst woman I’ve ever met.”

Julito’s face twisted in disgust. “You’re the only disgrace in this house.”

“Get out of here.” Papi pushed Julito and then grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the dresser and threw it against the wall. It was promptly followed by a brush, a coffee mug, and a jar of Vicks VapoRub. “Se me van pa’l carajo los tres. Get the fuck out right now.”

“I’m not gay,” Santi whispered for the hundredth time. Mami was right. He hadn’t done anything with another boy, and if he’d thought he wanted to kiss a boy it was because he was curious—that was all! “I swear I’m not. Why won’t you believe me?"

“I never meant to give you a gay kid,” Mami said quietly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t do better with him.”

Papi roared.

Julito grunted.

Santi gasped when a pair of strong hands wrapped around his throat.

“I knew it,” Papi snarled, squeezing harder. Was he trying to strangle him? “You’re dead to me, you hear me? I don’t want to see you ever again.”

Tears spilling from his eyes, Santi reached back and grabbed his dad’s head. He tried not to panic by breathing rapidly through his nose.

“Let him go,” Julito yelled. Santi’s body jerked every time Julito tried to pull Papi away from him.

“Leave my brother alone,” Omayra shrieked, jumping on the bed and grasping Papi’s fingers. “You’re killing him.”

“Please, let him go.” Santi was still trying to make sense out of his mom’s betrayal when she moved Omayra out of the way and put her hands on Papi’s shoulders. “You’ll get arrested if you kill him, and he’s not worth going to jail for,” she whispered, staring at Santi. She looked sad, but she also looked determined. “You heard your dad,” she continued. “You’re dead to him. Get out of this house and never come back.”

“All of you,” Papi yelled. “I want all of you out of my house.” He let go of Santi’s neck and slapped Mami. “You destroyed my life, desgraciá. You destroyed my son’s future, and you’re going to pay for it.”

“Do as he says,” Mami sobbed, pressing her hand to her bruised cheek. “Go!”

“Ma, no,” Santi whispered. He didn’t want to leave her in the room with his dad. He might beat her badly before passing out.

“I said go,” she barked, sliding off the other side of the bed, farthest from the door. “Get out, all of you. Julito, take your brother and sister and get out.”

“But Ma, you can’t stay—”

“Don’t argue with me, Omayra.” Mami covered her face with her arms at the same time Papi’s fist landed on her head. “I love you, mamita. Now, go,” she said one more time, then she sobbed.

Julito didn’t hesitate. He grabbed Santi’s arm and rushed him and Omayra out of the room.

“We can’t leave her with him,” Omayra said, trying to break free of Julito’s hold.

“She thinks she has to stay,” Julito said as he entered his and Santi’s bedroom and pulled four bags out of the small closet. “She’s convinced it’s the only way.”

“We’ve got to do something,” Santi argued, his attention firmly focused on the noises coming from his parents’ bedroom. There was a crash. A thud. A yelp. He took a shuddering breath. “He’s going to kill her.”

“He can barely stay up,” Julito pointed out. “He’ll pass out in no time, and we’ve got to be out of here before he decides to come after us.” He handed one bag to Omayra and another to Santi along with a chiding look. “Hopefully he’ll be so ashamed of you that he’ll leave us alone for the rest of our lives.”

Santi’s eyes grew hot, and he was hit with yet another pang of nausea.

He felt like the biggest scum of the earth—like his brothers and sisters knew he was the main reason life in their house was hell, and they all hated him for it.

“What’s in the bags?” Omayra asked, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“Clothes for a few days and a pair of shoes—stuff to start us out.”

His brother had gone through his things, and he’d taken the time to light a candle before going to their mom’s bedroom. He’d been prepared. Clearly he’d known all along they’d be leaving this house.

Omayra pressed her bag to her chest. “Where are we going?”

“We can’t just leave,” Santi rasped.

Julito grabbed his wallet and shoved it in his back pocket. “We must, and we are.”

“Ma—”

“Wants you out of here so that you can do something useful with your life,” Julito cut him off. “Should’ve kept your mouth shut if you wanted to stay in this stupid house.”

Santi swayed on his feet and hung his head—his brother’s words a hard blow to the chest.

Julito was right, though. Santi should’ve never said a word to his mom.

“But I have school,” Omayra protested. “I don’t want to—”

“You’ve got exactly thirty seconds to run to your room and get your diary and favorite books,” Julito said over his shoulder. “Thirty seconds, Omayra, or we’ll go without your stuff.”

“I’ll be right back.” She rushed down the hall.

“Put on your shoes,” Julito ordered Santi in a gruff voice, “and go wait in my car.”

Santi’s chin trembled. Tears burst from his eyes.

So this was really happening, then. He’d been thrown out. Not even his mom wanted him in the house.

Biting down on his lower lip, Santi stepped forward and started taking his Tito Camacho newspapers clippings from the wall. They were his inspiration. He wasn’t leaving them behind. “I need my bracelets, too,” he mumbled.

“Here.” Julito moved Santi’s pillow to the side and gave them to him. “You won’t care about those cheap beads in a few months, but Luca’s your best friend, so, whatever.” He shrugged. “I already put all your letters from him in your bag along with your copies of The Secret Garden and The Little Prince.”

Santi wrapped his fingers around his most precious possession without saying a word. He didn’t move a muscle as he watched Julito gather things in the dimly lit room either, but he winced every time his mom cried out.

She was getting the shit kicked out of her, and it was his fault.

The only reason I hit her is because she gave me a maricón for a son.

Santi rubbed his belly and swallowed hard. “I don’t think Tío David got AIDS, and the landslide story’s bullshit. He isn’t dead,” he mumbled, “but the family likes to pretend that he is.”

From what he could tell, the family had no idea of what had happened to Tío David after they disowned him. They didn’t give a shit if he was scared or homeless, and how could they? What kind of heartless monster acted like that? No one deserved that treatment from their own family—not even if they were gay.

Julito frowned. “What are you talking about?”

Gays are considered sexual deviants that shouldn’t be allowed around kids. His mom’s words soared into his mind and heart like a wild fire, consuming his most private fantasies and turning his decision of telling Luca about himself into ashes. You can’t be like David. I’ll die if you’re ever treated the way he was.

“Nothing,” Santi whispered, wishing he could ask his uncle if being gay and wanting to have sex with little boys were really the same thing.

But he knew he wouldn’t.

David could appear in front of him out of thin air right this second, and Santi wouldn’t ask anything related to being a maricón. His uncle would wonder about his interest, and there was no way Santi could be honest with him. It was too risky…too dangerous…too fucking painful.

No.

He’d never tell anyone else what was in his mind and his heart. He was burying that shit tonight.

Taylor V. Donovan is a compulsive reader and author of gay romance and suspense. She is optimistically cynical about humanity and a lover of history, museums, and all things 80s. She shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television, is crazy about fashion, and passionate about civil rights and equality for all.

When she’s not writing or making a living in the busiest city in the world, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in their home.

Connect with Taylor

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

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