GRL 2019 AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Sins of the Father (Wilde Love #2) by Sam Burns

In my attempt to explore some of the attending authors for this year's GRL,
I am reviewing 

Sam Burns' 
Sins of the Father!

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BLURB

Six years ago, Keegan Quinn was working for his father in the Irish Mob. When a shootout left him shattered in more ways than one, he left the family business and opened a bar in downtown Chicago. Now with his father sick and the FBI investigating the family, his old life is threatening to tear his new one apart.

The last thing FBI agent Jon Brookfield expected to find while investigating the mob was a kind, soft-spoken man like Keegan Quinn. Dating wasn’t in Jon’s plans, but he’s willing to make changes. When the Quinn family business and Keegan’s ex-boyfriend threaten to come between them, Jon has to decide just how important their newfound relationship is to him.

This novel is intended for adult audiences, and contains swearing, violence, and sex scenes.

REVIEW

My Rating -  5 Stars!

Damn! Sins of the Father is another fantastic read by Sam Burns. It has all the charm and romance of the first book, Straight From the Heart.

Full of some mystery and intrigue, it's still a relatively low angst read. In fact, my favorite thing about this book, and series, is the light hearted feel despite the ominous subject matter. This is definitely not a dark or heavy read. I had expected a dark story, but instead I was treated to a delightful and sweet romance, with the perfect mix of bad guys, good guys, and romance.

Jon and Keegan are so amazing together, and certainly make for an odd couple. A federal agent falling in love with a crook's son? Hell, yes! I love this twist of Jon falling for the son of the man he's investigating. 

Jon falling for Keegan, being able to separate the actions from the man, is wonderful and makes for an amazing storyline. As well, it's a fascinating take on family loyalty, as Keegan knows of his dad's sins, yet still loves him. 

The tale is certainly different than most, with a whole lot of intrigue and suspense, while being mainly a romance. Keegan's father is certainly not a good guy and Marcus is no saint, but love can conquer all for these men, Keegan and Jon.

Sins of the Father is a fun and compelling read. I fell in love immediately and couldn't put it down. It's easily read as a standalone, but definitely is more fun when the books are read in order. And best of all, there are more books in the series!

Sam Burns

Sam lives in the Midwest with husband and cat, which is even less exciting than it sounds, so she's not sure why you're still reading this.

She specializes in LGBTQIA+ fiction, usually with a romantic element. There's sometimes intrigue and violence, usually a little sex, and almost always some swearing in her work. Her writing is light and happy, though, so if you're looking for a dark gritty reality, you've come to the wrong author.

Keeping Secrets (Castaways #3) by Alexa Land

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Blurb

The truth can cost you everything.

Twenty-six-year-old Beck Medina is convinced of that. He’s been abandoned by so many people over the course of his life, including most of his adopted family. Now he’s created a new family for himself at the resort he manages on Catalina Island. But they don’t know the whole truth about him.

As much as he hates keeping secrets from the people he loves, he knows revealing the truth is a gamble. What if they all walk away from him, like so many others have before?

Then there’s gorgeous, mysterious Lee Speros. The tall, handsome Greek is harboring secrets too, and some of his are deadly. Just as Beck and Lee take the first tentative steps toward becoming a couple, Lee’s dark past finally catches up to him. The fallout threatens to destroy not only the two of them, but everyone they hold dear.

With impossible odds stacked against them, can two stubborn, fiercely independent men learn to accept help not only from each other, but from the people who care about them? And once they reveal all, will the truth set them free? Or will it cost them everything, just like Beck always feared?

This gay romance is book three in Alexa Land’s Castaways Series, but it may be read as a stand-alone. It is intended for a mature audience. 

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Keeping Secrets is another superb book by Alexa Land. The third in her Castaways series, it has everything I love about her writing. Most importantly however, we finally get Beck's story, which is full of heart and emotion. 

Beck's been keeping secrets from his uncle, and it's hurting his ability to move forward with his life. And, damn, his handsome Greek lover, Lee, certainly has some secrets of his own. What starts as a business arrangement gently turns into more for these two. I love how the lines start to blur and both men are falling in love secretly. Yes, more secrets. 

As with every one of Alexa Land's couples, Beck and Lee are perfect together.  Their sexual relationship is hot, and emotionally satisfying, as both men get the control and submission they desire. Simply put, they may be from two different worlds but they are amazing together, both in and out of bed. 

Beck is so damn loveable. His sacrifices for the ranch gut me. He's an amazing young man. The way Lee treats him from the get go had me falling for him immediately.  

My favorite scene has to be when Lee switches things up. Not wanting to give things away, just know this scene is tender, sweet, and extremely emotional.

What I love most about Alexa's books are the continued sense of family. Every book has appearances from past characters, from the Castaways series as well as the First and Forever series. And, damn, the appearance of Dante and Vincent made me so damn giddy. It just doesn't get any better than this, and the way everything ties together. 

Keeping Secrets is a beautiful story of two men trying to make their different worlds mesh. This story of forgiveness and understanding is full of love, romance, and heart. It's classic Alexa Land and I love it!

No Pressure (Accidental Roots #2) by Elle Keaton

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Blurb

Joey James has given up on his ‘Prince Charming’. There is no such thing, he needs to be realistic about his chances of finding a lasting relationship. A chance encounter with a former school mate at the local grocery store changes everything-maybe.
Before Joey can decide what to do about it, he is swept into a terrifying scheme. Forced into helping a dangerous stranger in exchange for his family’s safety, Joey begins a perilous journey into the criminal underbelly of Skagit. He will do whatever is needed to protect his family.

Buck Swanfeldt had a secret crush on Joey James in high school. Buck’s social anxiety and two-year age difference made it impossible for him to approach Joey then. Life since high school has been challenging, and lonely. Eight years later, fate brings them together and Buck decides to act. He utterly fails. He would have left it at that, except fate seems to be intent on pushing Joey in his direction, and clearly, Joey needs someone at his back.

Dark, sordid secrets hiding in Skagit are bubbling to the surface, danger lurks in unexpected places. Buck has never been anyone’s hero but something about Joey has him throwing caution to the wind. Together the two men take on a dangerous force greater than themselves. But sometimes our worst enemy is ourselves.

*warning may need a tissue!

This book is a work of fiction intended for mature audiences only.

Review 

My Rating -  4 Stars!

No Pressure, the second book in Elle Keaton's Accidental Roots series, is a whole lot of fun. Including Blackmail and threats, this romance will keep you intrigued. It isn't an easy read. Involving such horrific issues as child trafficking and murder, the theme is heavy. The romance, however, is definitely sweet. 

Joey and Buck are a great couple. I love they way they interact with one another and the way they relate to each other. And in particular, I love Buck's attitude about their relationship.

The writing is great, with interesting characters and a thrilling storyline. Full disclosure, it did take me a bit to get fully invested, however, as something about the story just annoyed me at first. I think I was just mad about someone being forced to steal drugs.

Snatched by K. Sterling

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Blurb

The fall of a powerful gangster is just the beginning…

It was just another crime scene and just another body as a turf war gripped the city but things take a shocking turn when Dr. Jake Tyler is abducted and the body stolen. Determined to restore his reputation and solve a crime without a body, Jake risks his life and career when he battles wits with the elusive and merciless head of an Irish crime family. Too stubborn to back down and take the loss, he’s determined to get answers and see justice served.

Sometimes, too much power is the hardest curse to break and Dilan O’Shea is trapped when his father goes into witness protection. Dilan’s devotion to his baby brother and fear for his family forces him into a life of deception and crime. The murder he’s determined to hide is the least dangerous of his secrets. It’s just another piece of the deadly high-stakes game Dilan’s playing when he snatches the snarky, hardheaded medical examiner.

Jake can’t keep his mind off the brutal mobster and the investigation gets complicated when they can’t stay out of each other’s way or keep their hands off each other. Dilan gets more than he bargained for and he has no choice but to trust a man he kidnapped at gunpoint. Can two men from opposite sides of the law solve a mystery together or will their inescapable passion cost them everything?

This is a stand-alone title but features characters from Throttled.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

K Sterling's Snatched is a great suspense/thriller. It's riveting and compelling, keeping me intrigued throughout. Heck, it starts with an action scene that drew me into this crazy mix of murder and crime families immediately.

Dilon and Jake are absolutely amazing together. Two men who shouldn't be together, they definitely belong together. The way they meet is great, as Dilon steals one of Jake's dead bodies. Yes, you read that right. Jake is a coroner. It doesn't get much more unique than that. As the two spend time together, trying to figure out who the bad guy is, they fall in love quite quickly. 

It's refreshing as this is the first time either has kissed a man, and they both do so with someone they shouldn't be involved with at all. They are hot together as they explore this new attraction.

Their relationship involves a whole lot of action and danger, as they deal with rivals, crime families, and a whole lot of lies, betrayal and manipulation. 

I am beyond impressed with how seamlessly K Sterling's able to make us fall in love with a murderer. Dilon's so damn lovable in the end, despite his past. We start learning about his history early on, allowing us to get glimpses at what made him into the bad guy that he is. And, holy hell, a murderer who we can fall in love with, who's romantic side jumps off the pages, is as good as it gets. 

Overall, K Sterling's writing is fluid, has well developed characters and non-stop entertainment. She excels in her sharp writing and her flawless delivery.

The end is fantastic, the whole idea of Dilon ending up where he does is just phenomenal and a whole lot of fun. Dilon's a great character, as he's a tough mob guy who loves and protects fiercely.

Snatched is an amazing action romance, that spares no punches, with an impeccable pace. I can't wait for the next book in the series, which I can only hope involves Dilon's brother Roan.