Burden

I’m so glad to see all these guys again. This story couldn’t have started off or ended better. I think the only thing that makes this sad for me, is it brings up a harsh reality. Yeah, the brothel and part of the ring may have been shut down, the bad guys put away, but what happens to the workers once it’s over? So many don’t know any other life or have any place to go after it’s all over and they fall through the cracks. I love that these books are fictional and there’s a happily ever after, but let’s not forget the ones who don’t get theirs.

Ok, I will quit being sad now. I am, of course, in love with this book and series. I was so happy to see this was going to be Randy and Jesse’s story, after reading them in book 1. They needed some happiness, along with everyone else, after all that mess.

After being in that brothel, Randy’s eyes got opened in a lot of ways. Especially after they shut it down and he saw what happened to a lot of the people that worked in it or others. His mission now in Vice was to stop the johns and pimps, but also the prostitutes. And after seeing that some of these guys, MOST of these guys, were just trying to survive, he didn’t know what to do anymore. And seeing Jesse at the trial, just brought up more things he didn’t know what to deal with. For someone who always said he was straight, he knew now he really wasn’t. He was trying to come to terms with it, but at a sex party with his neighbor Owen, he didn’t think he could go through it. He decided to try, until he saw who was being ‘rented’ for the night. And his anger was unreal. At himself, at Owen, at Jesse and at the whole damn situation. He has to make a stand for who he is and wants or let it go.

I wanted for these guys to be with somebody to give them what they need. Them being together was going to be perfect. Randy needs someone to show him and allow him to be who he truly is and Jesse needs someone who can accept him, past and all. But it’s a complicated situation for both of them. Yes, Jesse loves sex but it’s not the fun he was looking for from before. Now he’s just trying to survive. And not be homeless. This isn’t the life he wanted for forever. He wants to finish school, settle down, be happy. But how could the vice cop he wants ever want him?

Randy is just as torn. He was hoping Jesse hadn’t turned to that lifestyle. He wants to help, but Jesse won’t let him. And who can blame him to a point? He doesn’t want to be ‘kept’. Randy wouldn’t want that if he was in that position either. It’s also a definite conflict of interest, seeing as it’s his job to actually arrest Jesse for what he does. So what do they do?

Thankfully, they have good friends to steer them right.

I am so ready to see the next book, seeing as who it’s going to be. He so needs a story. I love all these guys. They are so real. So fun. They bring the pages to life and leave you wanting more. It’s been such a pleasure to be able to get to know these guys. I can’t wait to see them again.

This is another great book by KC Wells. I picked up this book because--well, it’s KC Wells, do I have to say more?—but I didn’t realize it’s the sequel to Debt. Burden picks up where Debt ended, and even though I haven’t read the first book, I could easily follow the story. From the first page, I was swept into the lives of Randy and Jesse and got a rather good insight into what’s happened in Debt.
Randy has worked as an undercover in the place where Jesse earned his living as a hooker. Having completed his task and arrested the culprits, Randy meets Jesse again at the courthouse where the trial against the Black Lounge owners begins.
What follows is a sweet, slow-burn love story between Randy and Jesse. Once again, KC Wells nailed the characterization of these men. Randy, the former undercover cop, who slowly begins to see Jesse as more than a friend, although he’s always thought he was straight. Thinking back on his time in the Black Lounge and with help from his neighbor, Owen, he comes to acknowledge his sexuality, without stumbling but in a natural way.
Jesse has always been smitten by Randy, and he’s over the moon that Randy finally sees him in a different light. At the same time, he knows that they won’t ever work as long as he’s an escort.
The chemistry between Randy and Jesse was tangible from the beginning. Even with them being “just” friends they had that unmistakable link. The slow dancing around each other was fun to watch, and you just knew that first kiss would happen.
There is a bit of angst between the lovers, but it’s entirely appropriate to the story. I understand why Jesse did what he did. Jesse is a sweet guy who only wants the best for others above his own happiness. Thankfully, the author kept it to the bare minimum, so we have a very lovely happy ending.
This book is the sequel to Debt and can be read as a stand-alone. You might want to read Debt first though as it will give you more understanding of the back story and get acquainted with the characters.

4.25 Stars ~ “There was a time when he’d loved this, but that was when he’d worked at the Black Lounge a couple of nights a week, more during vacation time, to have a bit more money in his pocket. It was an enjoyable way to make a buck. But times had changed. This was different. This was tougher. This was survival.” ~ Jesse

An undercover vice cop and a hooker sounds like a feel-good rom-com but this is no ‘Pretty Woman’ as Jesse often says. ‘Burden’ is the tough streets of New York City when your parents have cut off all of your funding, kicked you out of their lives, and you’re couch surfing with friends while hooking with escort services to try to just exist. ‘Burden’ is a cop who thought he always knew himself but eighteen months undercover in a brothel has not only made him doubt himself, but also how he looks at sex workers in general, knowing most of them have no choice and they have to do it in order to survive.

I have no concept of ever truly having to struggle to survive. I grew up in a wonderful family, always knowing I was loved, and when I screwed up, I knew it, took responsibility for it, and then it was done. As soon as Jesse’s parents found out he’d worked at the Black Lounge as a sex worker they were done with him as their son. There went the money for him to finish his master’s and to live on, leaving him with no choice except to do the one job he knows he can make enough money at to survive. Unfortunately, his growing friendship with Randy, the undercover cop who was at the Black Lounge, isn’t helping him feel any better about his decisions.

“Am I… evolving? He wasn’t sure. When it came to the crux, Randy thought it was less a matter of changing from one state into another, and more a case of acknowledging what he’d known for a while. All he had to do now was accept it.” ~ Randy

Randy has always loved his job as a vice cop but recently the way he views it has become conflicted. Before he went undercover at the Black Lounge, he thought he had a pretty good handle on sex workers – they were breaking the law and deserved to go to jail for it. Eighteen months is a long time, however, to get to know these men and learn their histories and why they do this for a living. Throw in Randy’s doubts about his own sexuality, at least in regards to one man, and Randy’s world is going through quite an upheaval.

Much like ‘Debt’, the first book in this series, ‘Burden’ is an unashamedly sweet, gentle, loving romance that holds nothing back. It’s a wee bit spicier than Mitch and Nikko’s story with Randy and Jesse exploring the limits of their relationship. Once again, I was very pleased to see the author not taking the easy way out nor the predictable one. Randy and Jesse had serious issues to confront and resolve before they could get to their happy ever after.

“Nothing’s perfect in this life, but you know what? We’ve got each other. I’ll help you carry your burdens because you’re there to carry mine.” ~ Jesse

‘Burden’ is an incredible follow-up to ‘Debt’. I loved seeing more of Mitch and Nikko but getting to know Randy and Jesse was truly wonderful. Their love story is a balm to any romantic’s soul and I’m so glad to have met them. I can’t wait to see what the author brings next in this world!

NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews

I just love this author, and she doesn’t disappoint. K.C. is very good at connecting me to the characters and sucking me in her stories. I love her writing style and the way the story reads smoothly. This is a great opposite attract, sexual identity, law versus moral and first-time experience stories all rolled into one book.

Jesse is a hooker that works at the Black Lounge and really enjoys his job. He was going to school for his MBA and was getting paid for something he loved doing. What could go wrong? Well, to start with finding out that where you work is the mob and is involved with human trafficking. Then finding out the guy you have the hots for at Black lounge is a straight vice cop. And to top it off, your parents cut you off because they find out you’re a gay hooker. So school comes to an end.

Detective Randy Michaels is a vice cop working undercover at the Black Lounge to bust a human trafficking ring. What he doesn’t expect is to get to know these young men and become friends. What he expects even less is to be attracted to the young blond that gets under his skin. He doesn’t understand the feelings he’s having due to the fact that he’s straight.

Owen, a psychologist and Randy’s neighbor, helps Randy figure out who he is but it’s not an easy road. One night changes everything and Jesse and Randy have an amazingly hot night with each other. Randy never knew that sex could be so good, and Jesse couldn’t believe it could ever work between them. Jesse leaves before Randy wakes up and Randy feels like a john. Nikko helps Jesse escape to Maine and Randy is losing his mind.

How could it ever work between a cop and hooker? Will these two figure out their feelings for each other? Will Randy be able to find Jesse to tell him how he really feels? Can these opposite lifestyles come together and find true love? These are all good questions, and you will have to read this great story to find out. Enjoy!

Burden by K.C. Wells was given to me in exchange for an honest review. This is a story of how Jesse ‘s life is turned upside down by testifying in a human trafficking case for Randy, an undercover cop, who helped bring down the men of The Black Lounge. When Randy finds out what Jesse is still escorting, he realizes how much he loves Jesse and doesn’t know what to do when Jesse thinks he isn’t good enough for Randy. I really enjoyed this book. The story was amusing, sad and intimate at times, where you felt you were a voyeur peering into the lives so messy and complicated you can’t help but root for the couple to find their way to each other.