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L.A. #5
Bermuda Heat
A letter. A secret. A tragedy. David's mother told him his father died when he was born. His mother lied.
David Eric Laine always believed his father had died in Vietnam before his birth. His mother remarried and he was adopted by his stepfather and grew up knowing Graham Laine as his only father. Forty years later, a letter arrives and David finds out everything he thought was a lie.His father, Joel Cameron, is alive and living in Bermuda where he came from back in 1968 to attend college. He met David's mother, at the time a much more rebellious child of the turbulent sixties. Following David's birth his mother fled back to the safety of her familiar, protected world and the lie was born. Rather than face her shame, David was told his father died a hero in Vietnam.
Now the lies unravel and the newly married Chris and David embark on a journey to discover the truth.
David Eric Laine always believed his father had died in Vietnam before his birth. His mother remarried and he was adopted by his stepfather and grew up knowing Graham Laine as his only father. Forty years later, a letter arrives and David finds out everything he thought was a lie.His father, Joel Cameron, is alive and living in Bermuda where he came from back in 1968 to attend college. He met David's mother, at the time a much more rebellious child of the turbulent sixties. Following David's birth his mother fled back to the safety of her familiar, protected world and the lie was born. Rather than face her shame, David was told his father died a hero in Vietnam.
Now the lies unravel and the newly married Chris and David embark on a journey to discover the truth.
260 pages, ebook
First published February 25, 2011
3 people are currently reading
152 people want to read
About the author
P.A. Brown
35 books127 followersPat Brown, writing as P.A. Brown, is the author of the Chris and David police procedural novels featuring LAPD homicide detective David Eric Laine and his lover, computer network engineer Christopher Bellamere. In L. A. Heat the first in the series, David is an uptight, in the closet cop living a life of denial and dark secrets he will protect at all costs. Then his life becomes entwined with Chris who is a suspect in the brutal slayings of young gay men. Neither of them ever expected to find love. L.A. Heat was followed by L.A. Mischief which follow Chris and David as they try to reconcile their vast differences and forge their relationship into one of true love. In L.A. Boneyard, a dark thriller that moves from the bright streets of West Hollywood to the gang ridden streets of East L.A. All the while David faces the temptation of his sexy new partner, Jairo Hernandez.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 28, 2011
3.5 stars
David finds out that his mother has lied to him, all this life, that his real father is still alive and well in Bermuda. So taking his husband, Chris, David embarks on a supposed-vacation to meet his father's family. Only to find out that his half-brothers are not really thrilled with him being gay and act hostile to him. Not soon after they arrive and meet the family, David's father is found murder. David is the last person seeing him and he is arrested as a suspect, which leaves Chris scrambling to find help in an island that is not really friendly to gay people ...
Bermuda Heat is not about thriller/suspense. While there is a murder of David's father, but that has never been the focus of the book (it happens about half the story, around 50% in my Kindle). Instead, It's more about family and relationship. ... as David tries to find out about the truth of his father from his mother and then, his father in Bermuda. It's also about David thinking about retiring from LAPD because he feels old to deal with "this shit" and talks about it to Chris. That is what the book is ... I feel that David has finally and completely accepts who he is and what Chris means in his life. On the relationship front, they are now solid.
For those looking for sex scenes, they are done behind closed doors. There are some kisses and holding hands but sex are not part of the story.
In a way, this is different from the previous 4 books. It is less gritty, edgy, dark -- except if you count the hostile reception of gay people in Bermuda -- and more about one event that happen after the HEA.. I enjoy reading it; it is a nice read, even if I don't feel as involved as the previous 4 books. But it's always good to read about established couple, and Chris/David are surely one of my favorites.
David finds out that his mother has lied to him, all this life, that his real father is still alive and well in Bermuda. So taking his husband, Chris, David embarks on a supposed-vacation to meet his father's family. Only to find out that his half-brothers are not really thrilled with him being gay and act hostile to him. Not soon after they arrive and meet the family, David's father is found murder. David is the last person seeing him and he is arrested as a suspect, which leaves Chris scrambling to find help in an island that is not really friendly to gay people ...
Bermuda Heat is not about thriller/suspense. While there is a murder of David's father, but that has never been the focus of the book (it happens about half the story, around 50% in my Kindle). Instead, It's more about family and relationship. ... as David tries to find out about the truth of his father from his mother and then, his father in Bermuda. It's also about David thinking about retiring from LAPD because he feels old to deal with "this shit" and talks about it to Chris. That is what the book is ... I feel that David has finally and completely accepts who he is and what Chris means in his life. On the relationship front, they are now solid.
For those looking for sex scenes, they are done behind closed doors. There are some kisses and holding hands but sex are not part of the story.
In a way, this is different from the previous 4 books. It is less gritty, edgy, dark -- except if you count the hostile reception of gay people in Bermuda -- and more about one event that happen after the HEA.. I enjoy reading it; it is a nice read, even if I don't feel as involved as the previous 4 books. But it's always good to read about established couple, and Chris/David are surely one of my favorites.
May 8, 2011
Chris and David are a great couple and I'll read anything the author wants to write about them. This book brings out more of David's background and family, which helps deepen his character, but the best parts for me are still Chris and his relationship with his husband. Speaking of which, I keep hoping for a flashback or short-story about their wedding. I'd love to see David getting married. (Is it out there somewhere and I missed it?) I was a little disappointed by the choice of murder victims here. It made a tension-filled story, but removed some opportunities for more complicated relationships down the road. And Chris had a little too easy of a time getting information when he needed it. Those plot quibbles are the only reason I'm not giving it five stars. One thing that is a little odd about this book is that 99% of it is PG-13, with the sex all off the page. This is fine, although P.A. Brown can write some seriously hot sex scenes with these two characters. But then near the end of the book there are about three lines that bump it up to 18+, and make it impossible to recommend to someone uncomfortable with that. Or maybe it's intended as a stealth introduction? Anyway, not complaining. I finished the book and then read a few of my favorite bits again before I could turn out the light.
October 8, 2012
It started pretty well, but at about 50% it lost it's steam considerably so that I couldn't wait to reach the end - but not in a good way:(
May 29, 2012
I got the feeling reading this series that Brown might have been influenced by the JD Robb, "In Death" series. One thing that strikes me as similar is the tuned down sex. There are always a couple romantic scenes in Robb's books between Dallas and Roarke. The LA Heat scenes between David and Chris have become more and more tuned down to the point where the sex scenes are referred to but not shown. I guess it's good that they aren't gratuitous but come on, I like my "good parts" in addition to a solid plot. I would call this series reminiscent of Robb's "In Death" series, as opposed to a gay version of it set in the present. Other things that reminded me of the Dallas books - the stories tend to focus on David's job and how Chris intersects or supports or doesn't - a lot like Robb's. Also - the mention of "murder books." I have mainly seen cops call it that in Robb's series. I am sure it's viable, cop-mystery lingo but it seems to be kind of a give-a-way as a nod to Robb's series, I think. Similarities between characters - Chris as the beautiful Roarke figure... tight with computers, does illegal computer searches that lend to the solving of the crimes, he's wealthy and throws his money around, buys David clothes... David similar to Dallas in that he has little use for the materialism but humors Chris. Another parallel is the issue of fame - both couples deal with it and it's becomes a device of the plots.
When it comes down to it, I don't think the plots are as challenging as Robb's by any means, but I do think Brown's series is worth the read and getting better as she goes and develops the series. Would I read the next book in the series? Yeah, but I sure hope there is some good sex in it.
When it comes down to it, I don't think the plots are as challenging as Robb's by any means, but I do think Brown's series is worth the read and getting better as she goes and develops the series. Would I read the next book in the series? Yeah, but I sure hope there is some good sex in it.
August 2, 2012
Good gay mystery in which Chris and David go on vacation to Bermuda to check out a startling revelation about David's past. Their vacation goes downhill after David is arrested for murder... This was definitely my least favorite of the series - I'm not a fan of books in which the main series characters are accused of murder. It worked ok in the first book with Chris because it was the start of the series; not so much now.
January 31, 2014
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
A guest review by Buda
Summary Review: The blurb for this fifth installment in the LA Heat series carried a lot of promise for fans of David and Chris. Unfortunately, the book is a massive disappointment.
***This review contains what might be considered spoilers.***
The Review:
LA Homicide detective David Eric Laine and computer genius Christopher Bellamere have been married just over a year at the time of this book. A package arrives for David. In it is a letter and two plane tickets. The letter is from his biological father, a man David had been told was dead. The letter explains that Joel “Joey” Cameron had finally found David after years of believing that his son was dead. The plane tickets are for David and Chris to use to meet David’s new family in Bermuda. Chris convinces David to use some of his unused vacation time and, after a brief phone call, during which they meet David’s charming half-sister Imani and his father Joel, they eventually set out on a journey of discovery. But first, David and Chris take a side trip to New Hampshire to confront David’s manipulative bitch of a mother, Barbara, his stepfather, Graham, and grandmother, Nanna.
Once the two men finally make it to Bermuda, they meet Joel, Imani and half-brothers Jay and Baker. The Cameron boys are less than pleased to meet their bastard brother, the fag from the States. It is immediately clear, too, that Jay is in some sort of trouble, though our two heroes seem to miss that. While she doesn’t fully understand David’s sexuality, Imani welcomes him and Chris into the family and is probably the one redeeming character in the book.
Shortly after David and Joel’s reunion, things go from awkward to horrible. I don’t think it’s a secret at this point (but I’ve issued a Spoiler Warning), so I will reveal that Joel is murdered and David is arrested for it. Chris is left to deal with the situation in a foreign country with a wholly different legal system and what seems to be a rather common dislike of, and in some cases open contempt for, gay men. Chris is able to spring his husband from jail, but shortly after, David is arrested again. This time for the murder of his brother, Jay. Of course, this means Chris has to find the truth, which he does with remarkable and eye roll-inducing ease. The baddie is telegraphed from his first appearance (which is an automatic loss of one review star), so nothing really surprising happens.
One usually doesn’t read this far into a series without developing an attachment or fondness for the characters. It is no different for me here. I genuinely like David and Chris and enjoy their interplay. Sadly, even that couldn’t rescue this book for me. There are so many problems, issues and niggles that I could probably write 73,000 words detailing them. Instead, I will highlight a few and leave the rest for you to find if you’re brave enough to try the book.
Sprinkled throughout the previous books were references to David’s mother Barbara’s lack of acceptance of David’s sexuality and her refusal to attend his and Chris’s wedding. In LA Mischief, David thinks of his “rigid, New England born and bred mother and her Puritan sensibilities and morals.” Graham was more accepting of David, but allowed Barbara to take the lead in their relationship with their son. I mention this because never in the previous books did I ever get the impression that David came from a wealthy, class-conscious family, only that they were extremely uptight. In the New Hampshire scenes, however, this new information is taken to the reader like a lead pipe to the head, repeatedly and with no subtlety. I kept wondering if this was the same David Laine from LA Heat. The man who restored his old car as he could afford it, the man who was so incredibly uncomfortable with Chris’s nearly limitless funds. The two or three (depending on how you count them) days David and Chris spend in the Laine home are awkward, which is the intention, but the dialog is so stilted it borders on the ridiculous. During the confrontation scene, Barbara describes his biological father to David:
If you must know, I made a mistake when I was young and foolish and…and impetuous. I let my head be turned by a charming, but empty, man.”
“Where’d you meet this ‘empty man’? At university? You’re a Willerton, of course you went. Some East Coast debutante college no less, I’m sure.” He glanced at his stepfather, then looked away. He didn’t want to see the distress in his eyes.
Also a common theme with Chris is his fear and resentment of David’s work. Seven years into their relationship, Chris still gives guilt trips when David comes home having forgotten to duck a swinging fist. Even after David admits he’s been contemplating retiring from the force, Chris continues to whine about the danger David faces. Chris knew who and what David was when he signed up for their relationship. To spend the next seven years whining and sniping about how “I’m tired of hearing ‘it’s my job’” is ridiculous.
Numerous strange leaps occur, too. At one point, David can apparently tell–totally out of nowhere–that Joel is upset about something that happened hours before, despite the fact that neither man has mentioned it. Later, David says, “I used to fantasize that you were alive–what adopted kid doesn’t, right? That it was all an accident that I was left alone.” Alone? Really? With his mother, stepfather and grandmother. After he’s been arrested, David thinks, “Most homicides are committed by family members. That was a cold, hard fact every cop knew.” Except…according to the 2009 FBI Uniform Crime Report summarized at Top5ofanything.com:
Out of 13,636 murders studied in the United States, 30.2% of the victims were murdered by persons known to them (4,119 victims), 13.6% were murdered by family members (1,855 victims), 12.3% were murdered by strangers (1,676 victims) and 43.9% of the relationships were unknown (investigators were not able to establish any relationship).
PA Brown’s introduction to the book tells that she was living on Bermuda when Hurricane Florence brushed by in 2006. While David and Chris are on the islands, a hurricane comes along, too. But aside from lots of descriptors of sheeting rain and driving winds, it didn’t really stand out as an experience I felt. And I still have no idea why Trev was considered such a bastard in LA Bytes.
Aside from all the above, the biggest problem I had with this book is that, had I not been reading it for this review, I would have quit on it. In fact, the first couple of chapters detailing David’s days on the job were so awkwardly structured (the getaway car, wanting a warrant but leaving it unsecured were my first niggles) and pointless that I nearly stopped reading then. I did take a break when our heroes still had not made it to Bermuda at 18%. A week or so later, when I finally picked up the book again, my impatience and frustration came immediately back. It is not until 24% that David and Chris land on Bermuda.
As much as I really wanted to like it, Bermuda Heat was a colossal disappointment for me. So much so that it will most likely be the last LA series book I read. If you’re such a fan of David and Chris that you must know what happens in Bermuda, then this may be for you. Otherwise, I won’t recommend it.
Reviewed for Reviews by Jessewave, March 22, 2011.
A guest review by Buda
Summary Review: The blurb for this fifth installment in the LA Heat series carried a lot of promise for fans of David and Chris. Unfortunately, the book is a massive disappointment.
***This review contains what might be considered spoilers.***
The Review:
LA Homicide detective David Eric Laine and computer genius Christopher Bellamere have been married just over a year at the time of this book. A package arrives for David. In it is a letter and two plane tickets. The letter is from his biological father, a man David had been told was dead. The letter explains that Joel “Joey” Cameron had finally found David after years of believing that his son was dead. The plane tickets are for David and Chris to use to meet David’s new family in Bermuda. Chris convinces David to use some of his unused vacation time and, after a brief phone call, during which they meet David’s charming half-sister Imani and his father Joel, they eventually set out on a journey of discovery. But first, David and Chris take a side trip to New Hampshire to confront David’s manipulative bitch of a mother, Barbara, his stepfather, Graham, and grandmother, Nanna.
Once the two men finally make it to Bermuda, they meet Joel, Imani and half-brothers Jay and Baker. The Cameron boys are less than pleased to meet their bastard brother, the fag from the States. It is immediately clear, too, that Jay is in some sort of trouble, though our two heroes seem to miss that. While she doesn’t fully understand David’s sexuality, Imani welcomes him and Chris into the family and is probably the one redeeming character in the book.
Shortly after David and Joel’s reunion, things go from awkward to horrible. I don’t think it’s a secret at this point (but I’ve issued a Spoiler Warning), so I will reveal that Joel is murdered and David is arrested for it. Chris is left to deal with the situation in a foreign country with a wholly different legal system and what seems to be a rather common dislike of, and in some cases open contempt for, gay men. Chris is able to spring his husband from jail, but shortly after, David is arrested again. This time for the murder of his brother, Jay. Of course, this means Chris has to find the truth, which he does with remarkable and eye roll-inducing ease. The baddie is telegraphed from his first appearance (which is an automatic loss of one review star), so nothing really surprising happens.
One usually doesn’t read this far into a series without developing an attachment or fondness for the characters. It is no different for me here. I genuinely like David and Chris and enjoy their interplay. Sadly, even that couldn’t rescue this book for me. There are so many problems, issues and niggles that I could probably write 73,000 words detailing them. Instead, I will highlight a few and leave the rest for you to find if you’re brave enough to try the book.
Sprinkled throughout the previous books were references to David’s mother Barbara’s lack of acceptance of David’s sexuality and her refusal to attend his and Chris’s wedding. In LA Mischief, David thinks of his “rigid, New England born and bred mother and her Puritan sensibilities and morals.” Graham was more accepting of David, but allowed Barbara to take the lead in their relationship with their son. I mention this because never in the previous books did I ever get the impression that David came from a wealthy, class-conscious family, only that they were extremely uptight. In the New Hampshire scenes, however, this new information is taken to the reader like a lead pipe to the head, repeatedly and with no subtlety. I kept wondering if this was the same David Laine from LA Heat. The man who restored his old car as he could afford it, the man who was so incredibly uncomfortable with Chris’s nearly limitless funds. The two or three (depending on how you count them) days David and Chris spend in the Laine home are awkward, which is the intention, but the dialog is so stilted it borders on the ridiculous. During the confrontation scene, Barbara describes his biological father to David:
If you must know, I made a mistake when I was young and foolish and…and impetuous. I let my head be turned by a charming, but empty, man.”
“Where’d you meet this ‘empty man’? At university? You’re a Willerton, of course you went. Some East Coast debutante college no less, I’m sure.” He glanced at his stepfather, then looked away. He didn’t want to see the distress in his eyes.
Also a common theme with Chris is his fear and resentment of David’s work. Seven years into their relationship, Chris still gives guilt trips when David comes home having forgotten to duck a swinging fist. Even after David admits he’s been contemplating retiring from the force, Chris continues to whine about the danger David faces. Chris knew who and what David was when he signed up for their relationship. To spend the next seven years whining and sniping about how “I’m tired of hearing ‘it’s my job’” is ridiculous.
Numerous strange leaps occur, too. At one point, David can apparently tell–totally out of nowhere–that Joel is upset about something that happened hours before, despite the fact that neither man has mentioned it. Later, David says, “I used to fantasize that you were alive–what adopted kid doesn’t, right? That it was all an accident that I was left alone.” Alone? Really? With his mother, stepfather and grandmother. After he’s been arrested, David thinks, “Most homicides are committed by family members. That was a cold, hard fact every cop knew.” Except…according to the 2009 FBI Uniform Crime Report summarized at Top5ofanything.com:
Out of 13,636 murders studied in the United States, 30.2% of the victims were murdered by persons known to them (4,119 victims), 13.6% were murdered by family members (1,855 victims), 12.3% were murdered by strangers (1,676 victims) and 43.9% of the relationships were unknown (investigators were not able to establish any relationship).
PA Brown’s introduction to the book tells that she was living on Bermuda when Hurricane Florence brushed by in 2006. While David and Chris are on the islands, a hurricane comes along, too. But aside from lots of descriptors of sheeting rain and driving winds, it didn’t really stand out as an experience I felt. And I still have no idea why Trev was considered such a bastard in LA Bytes.
Aside from all the above, the biggest problem I had with this book is that, had I not been reading it for this review, I would have quit on it. In fact, the first couple of chapters detailing David’s days on the job were so awkwardly structured (the getaway car, wanting a warrant but leaving it unsecured were my first niggles) and pointless that I nearly stopped reading then. I did take a break when our heroes still had not made it to Bermuda at 18%. A week or so later, when I finally picked up the book again, my impatience and frustration came immediately back. It is not until 24% that David and Chris land on Bermuda.
As much as I really wanted to like it, Bermuda Heat was a colossal disappointment for me. So much so that it will most likely be the last LA series book I read. If you’re such a fan of David and Chris that you must know what happens in Bermuda, then this may be for you. Otherwise, I won’t recommend it.
Reviewed for Reviews by Jessewave, March 22, 2011.
May 5, 2012
It's really unhappy when you realize a book in the mystery/thriller/whatever series would be better off WITHOUT mystery/thriller/whatever. Parts with David dealing with his relatives were superb. On the other hand, the murder annoyed me and the conclusion was unsatisfying, to say at least. To me, it screamed "oh, bloody hell, there SHOULD be a murder in this book, so let's put one there". Not much time spent thinking about it.
If I'm not mistaken, this is an ongoing problem with L.A. series. Things David and Chris are going through are MORE interesting and much better written than mystery parts that feel forced and if like the author herself didn't really enjoy writing them.
If I'm not mistaken, this is an ongoing problem with L.A. series. Things David and Chris are going through are MORE interesting and much better written than mystery parts that feel forced and if like the author herself didn't really enjoy writing them.
September 2, 2016
I know a lot of readers felt this book didn't jive in many ways to facts depicted in the previous four books, and I have to say that in some ways I agree. However, these things didn't really alter my perception of the story much; I still enjoyed it. Yeah, circumstances felt a bit too much at times but, hell, that's a story for you, something imaginative and creative, meant to take you away from the real world for a bit. After five books, David and Chris have grown on me, so I'm always happy to read more about them, no matter the situation they find themselves in.
July 1, 2013
OK here 's my problem the victim was predictable so was what happened after that. Add to that I guessed the real killer right off I felt like I was just killing time till the reveal I was hoping that after my patience I would be rewarded with the local cops getting there just deserts but no we didn't even get the case laid out against the killer so I am left feeling a bit cheated.
March 26, 2011
3.5 stars.
March 12, 2012
It's a bit slow but the actions picked up after half the book and it's full of so much tension, I had to put it down a few times.
March 21, 2013
2,5 stars
February 24, 2012
I liked this book, but not as much as the others in the series. David's storyline seemed a little unbelievable and pretty depressing.
September 20, 2012
An unfortunate misstep in this once brilliant series.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews