What do you think?
Rate this book
Wilde Love #1
Straight from the Heart
On the same night that Alex finds himself disowned and sleeping on his best friend's couch, he meets Liam, who saves him from being mugged. It's a strange time for him to be starting a relationship, but everything about being with Liam feels right. When it becomes apparent that Liam isn't exactly the prince charming he seems to be, Alex has to deal with some hard truths about not just his new boyfriend, but his own history as well.
Liam is just trying to do his job, but everything keeps getting in the way. First he gets assigned to watch some stranger, then somehow, he finds himself dating the guy. Even if it doesn't offend the boss, Liam knows the wrong thing to do when he does it. He finds himself wondering, though: is his job really the most important thing in his life, or can he walk away from it all for a brand new relationship?
Straight from the Heart contains sexual scenes, and is intended for an audience age 18 and up.
Liam is just trying to do his job, but everything keeps getting in the way. First he gets assigned to watch some stranger, then somehow, he finds himself dating the guy. Even if it doesn't offend the boss, Liam knows the wrong thing to do when he does it. He finds himself wondering, though: is his job really the most important thing in his life, or can he walk away from it all for a brand new relationship?
Straight from the Heart contains sexual scenes, and is intended for an audience age 18 and up.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2017
127 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
April 13, 2021
Time of death 55%.
This is just bad, I can't deal with the cheesy robotic dialogue.
WTF is up with the plot?
This is just bad, I can't deal with the cheesy robotic dialogue.
WTF is up with the plot?
June 28, 2021
Re-read June 2021
I still liked this. It was fun and pretty light.
---------------------------------------
I liked this! I liked that there was no relationship angst despite all the secrets Liam was keeping from Alex. I liked that Alex knew there were secrets and that Liam told him Alex would be so mad at Liam when he would find out. Alex decided to date him anyway..
Alex is a bass player in a band called Fred (love the name!), but only in his free time. He is supposed to become a lawyer, like his father. But one day Alex has had enough. He quits school and tells his mom he doesn’t want to become a lawyer. And that’s how he finds himself homeless (since his mom paid for his apartment), without a job or any money. He has friends though. So he can stay at his best friend Jake and his sister Jenna’s place.
And that’s how he finds himself at a bar with his meager belongings in a box, spending the last of his money throwing a freedom party for him and his band mates. When Alex goes to the bathroom someone tries to mug him. But a stranger comes to his aid. Since Alex is too drunk to stand on his own two feet he ends up going home with Liam, the stranger. It is in Liam’s bed that Alex finds himself the next morning.
When Alex wakes up he is afraid he had the first sex of his life and he doesn’t remember a thing. But Liam tells him he would never take advantage of anyone like that. He does tell Alex that he is interested in seeing Alex again. And Alex is fine with that. And that’s how the two of them start dating.
But what Alex doesn’t know is that Liam has been told to watch Alex by his boss, crime boss Brendan Quinn…
I liked this. Alex was just adorable, and Liam was sweet and so protective of Alex. But Liam never felt like a caveman alpha kind of guy. He was struggling with his feelings for Alex and staying loyal to his job. He felt real, and not cocky or arrogant like most I read about.
I really liked the scene where these two meet and how Alex figured out he was gay.
“You okay?” the man asked, laying a steadying hand on Alex’s right arm.
“I think that jackass had a knife.”
“He totally did,” Alex agreed, “but he didn’t stab me or anything. I think he might have been confused. He wanted my wallet, but he didn’t want me to put my hand in my pocket.”
There was a hint of a smile on the other man’s half-visible face, and Alex felt him nod.
“Muggers can be a twitchy lot. You probably scared him with your terrifying drunk-off-my-ass act.”
His voice was deep and smooth, as quiet as the mugger’s, but without the nefarious intention. It was as though that was just his natural speaking volume, and Alex found it charming. He smiled. “This is so weird. I swear, I didn’t even know I was gay.”
Alex was so earnest in everything he did and said, I just loved him. This book could have been one angst fest. Especially because Liam had so many secrets, but I was so happy to see the author didn’t go there.
Liam couldn’t tell Alex anything about his job or what he was doing (), but since Alex knew something was going on, Liam was open about the fact that there were a lot of things he couldn’t tell Alex. And Alex didn’t like it, but accepted it and understood that Liam would explain everything later.
I do think that the whole Alex being disowned thing wasn’t even necessary for the story. It definitely wasn’t that Alex was actually hurt by any of it, so no chance for hurt/comfort from that angle anyway.
But other than that this was a nice, low angst story about a sweet virgin of a guy and a secretive guy who works for a gangster, .
I still liked this. It was fun and pretty light.
---------------------------------------
I liked this! I liked that there was no relationship angst despite all the secrets Liam was keeping from Alex. I liked that Alex knew there were secrets and that Liam told him Alex would be so mad at Liam when he would find out. Alex decided to date him anyway..
Alex is a bass player in a band called Fred (love the name!), but only in his free time. He is supposed to become a lawyer, like his father. But one day Alex has had enough. He quits school and tells his mom he doesn’t want to become a lawyer. And that’s how he finds himself homeless (since his mom paid for his apartment), without a job or any money. He has friends though. So he can stay at his best friend Jake and his sister Jenna’s place.
And that’s how he finds himself at a bar with his meager belongings in a box, spending the last of his money throwing a freedom party for him and his band mates. When Alex goes to the bathroom someone tries to mug him. But a stranger comes to his aid. Since Alex is too drunk to stand on his own two feet he ends up going home with Liam, the stranger. It is in Liam’s bed that Alex finds himself the next morning.
When Alex wakes up he is afraid he had the first sex of his life and he doesn’t remember a thing. But Liam tells him he would never take advantage of anyone like that. He does tell Alex that he is interested in seeing Alex again. And Alex is fine with that. And that’s how the two of them start dating.
But what Alex doesn’t know is that Liam has been told to watch Alex by his boss, crime boss Brendan Quinn…
I liked this. Alex was just adorable, and Liam was sweet and so protective of Alex. But Liam never felt like a caveman alpha kind of guy. He was struggling with his feelings for Alex and staying loyal to his job. He felt real, and not cocky or arrogant like most I read about.
I really liked the scene where these two meet and how Alex figured out he was gay.
“You okay?” the man asked, laying a steadying hand on Alex’s right arm.
“I think that jackass had a knife.”
“He totally did,” Alex agreed, “but he didn’t stab me or anything. I think he might have been confused. He wanted my wallet, but he didn’t want me to put my hand in my pocket.”
There was a hint of a smile on the other man’s half-visible face, and Alex felt him nod.
“Muggers can be a twitchy lot. You probably scared him with your terrifying drunk-off-my-ass act.”
His voice was deep and smooth, as quiet as the mugger’s, but without the nefarious intention. It was as though that was just his natural speaking volume, and Alex found it charming. He smiled. “This is so weird. I swear, I didn’t even know I was gay.”
Alex was so earnest in everything he did and said, I just loved him. This book could have been one angst fest. Especially because Liam had so many secrets, but I was so happy to see the author didn’t go there.
Liam couldn’t tell Alex anything about his job or what he was doing (), but since Alex knew something was going on, Liam was open about the fact that there were a lot of things he couldn’t tell Alex. And Alex didn’t like it, but accepted it and understood that Liam would explain everything later.
I do think that the whole Alex being disowned thing wasn’t even necessary for the story. It definitely wasn’t that Alex was actually hurt by any of it, so no chance for hurt/comfort from that angle anyway.
But other than that this was a nice, low angst story about a sweet virgin of a guy and a secretive guy who works for a gangster, .
August 6, 2017
Is this a rom-com, a crime drama, a romance? All three? *shrugs*
The story reads like a lighthearted meet-cute, but one of the MCs, Liam, is an undercover cop investigating illegal gun trade. Said cop's job is to tail Alex, who just quit law school to be in a band.
Liam meets with his detective partner in restaurants (Chinese is a favorite) to discuss the case—yeah, in PUBLIC where anyone can hear. And someone does hear, which leads to a ridiculous hostage scene that had me rolling my eyes because could we get any more Made for TV Crime Drama Special?
The "mob boss" is a pretty nice guy, and both his sons are gay and have big hearts. Everyone in this story has a big heart. There's ZERO tension, zero angst, and very little steam.
The dialogue struck me as silly and contrived rather than funny; there was just SO MUCH of it, and it was less banter, more constant quips.
The writing is solid, but the story just didn't hold my interest. I found myself constantly skimming. Straight from the Heart was a miss for me.
The story reads like a lighthearted meet-cute, but one of the MCs, Liam, is an undercover cop investigating illegal gun trade. Said cop's job is to tail Alex, who just quit law school to be in a band.
Liam meets with his detective partner in restaurants (Chinese is a favorite) to discuss the case—yeah, in PUBLIC where anyone can hear. And someone does hear, which leads to a ridiculous hostage scene that had me rolling my eyes because could we get any more Made for TV Crime Drama Special?
The "mob boss" is a pretty nice guy, and both his sons are gay and have big hearts. Everyone in this story has a big heart. There's ZERO tension, zero angst, and very little steam.
The dialogue struck me as silly and contrived rather than funny; there was just SO MUCH of it, and it was less banter, more constant quips.
The writing is solid, but the story just didn't hold my interest. I found myself constantly skimming. Straight from the Heart was a miss for me.
June 20, 2020
Okay, I'll say right out that the story is great, which you can't say for a lot of books in this genre. I absolutely loved it. It was so we'll thought out and flowed seamlessly from beginning to end. And the characters leapt right off the page. They became people I knew and cared about and I am so very, very glad that this is book 1 in a series because I can't wait to read more about them.
Especially Mickey, and Drew.
You won't find any hard core sex here, which would have been completely out of character for the book but the romance that you will find is sweet and tender and will make you smile.
This is a well written first book from the author and I can not wait for book 2!
If you like Alexa Land, you're going to like Sam Burns, too.
Especially Mickey, and Drew.
You won't find any hard core sex here, which would have been completely out of character for the book but the romance that you will find is sweet and tender and will make you smile.
This is a well written first book from the author and I can not wait for book 2!
If you like Alexa Land, you're going to like Sam Burns, too.
June 21, 2017
BEWARE EXPLICIT SPOILERS
Usually, I will nitpick. And yes, there are a lot I can nitpick. Like the serious case of insta-love, or the ridiculousness of the situation of Liam's assignment in the first place.
In addition, being an ex-Marine and then later an undercover cop, Liam is totally incompetent. He can't lie to save his life. Liam falls in love with his mark in an instant and botches his responsibility. I mean, his mafia boss, whom he is being undercover for, knows who he is!! *shakes head*.
In all honesty, I'm baffled that Liam manages to have a career in Chicago Police Department
But maybe it's my mood, or I'm being nice, or it's just the chemistry I have with the writing -- it just clicked! -- I found myself throwing all those quibbles to the wind. Because I was wholeheartedly entertained. I loved these characters -- and the banters (sassy, humorous, FUN) sparkled like crazy.
It got to the point that I couldn't put it down. Also, Alex is pretty bad ass near the end; considering that he's able to save himself and helps his cop boyfriend to take down the bad guy.
So this is the case where I suspend my disbelief, stop listening to my critical inner-voice, and enjoy the ride
I'm glad I'm taking a chance with it (Natasha Snow's cover -- I come to know her trademark -- helped my decision). Now I definitely want to read the next story about Keegan Quinn :)
Usually, I will nitpick. And yes, there are a lot I can nitpick. Like the serious case of insta-love, or the ridiculousness of the situation of Liam's assignment in the first place.
In addition, being an ex-Marine and then later an undercover cop, Liam is totally incompetent. He can't lie to save his life. Liam falls in love with his mark in an instant and botches his responsibility. I mean, his mafia boss, whom he is being undercover for, knows who he is!! *shakes head*.
In all honesty, I'm baffled that Liam manages to have a career in Chicago Police Department
But maybe it's my mood, or I'm being nice, or it's just the chemistry I have with the writing -- it just clicked! -- I found myself throwing all those quibbles to the wind. Because I was wholeheartedly entertained. I loved these characters -- and the banters (sassy, humorous, FUN) sparkled like crazy.
It got to the point that I couldn't put it down. Also, Alex is pretty bad ass near the end; considering that he's able to save himself and helps his cop boyfriend to take down the bad guy.
So this is the case where I suspend my disbelief, stop listening to my critical inner-voice, and enjoy the ride
I'm glad I'm taking a chance with it (Natasha Snow's cover -- I come to know her trademark -- helped my decision). Now I definitely want to read the next story about Keegan Quinn :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2017
Impressive debut from this author! It was a good blend of romance and undercover cop action. Alex is a very naïve and sheltered 23 year old, who recently took control over his own life and destiny. He plans on playing in the band with his best friend Jake and twin sister Jenna, along with their friend Ilsa. Celebrating his freedom, he ends up threatened by a mugger and saved by Liam. Alex is struck by an epiphany, that he is attracted to his tall, dark and handsome savior. Liam’s presence isn't exactly an coincidence but he never expected to fall for Alex.
Told in alternating POV’s, Liam and Alex are well drawn characters and the editing was excellent, which I appreciated. The suspense was quite cleverly done, even though it was pretty easy to connect the dots, once all of the characters were on page. But there was a good plot twist that kept it from becoming too cliché. It was enhanced with the addition of Keegan, the owner of the bar where Alex works, and the band plays. The romance is fairly slow burn, since Alex is a virgin in every sense of the word and Liam has his own reasons for not rushing. When they get to actual sex, twice, it's short and simple, but to me, not terribly passionate. The action scenes weren't over the top and were realistic, although it suffered from a somewhat cliché bad guy.
It's not strong suspense but it also keeps the focus on the romance and Alex’s successful independence. I did question some minor details and scenes sometimes lacked a sense of urgency. It was an excellent escapist read, not heavy on violence, humorous at times and satisfyingly happy at the end. I would recommend it for its light suspense and sweet, yet still naughty, romance.
*An ARC was provided to me via Hearts On Fire Reviews, in exchange for an unbiased review*
Told in alternating POV’s, Liam and Alex are well drawn characters and the editing was excellent, which I appreciated. The suspense was quite cleverly done, even though it was pretty easy to connect the dots, once all of the characters were on page. But there was a good plot twist that kept it from becoming too cliché. It was enhanced with the addition of Keegan, the owner of the bar where Alex works, and the band plays. The romance is fairly slow burn, since Alex is a virgin in every sense of the word and Liam has his own reasons for not rushing. When they get to actual sex, twice, it's short and simple, but to me, not terribly passionate. The action scenes weren't over the top and were realistic, although it suffered from a somewhat cliché bad guy.
It's not strong suspense but it also keeps the focus on the romance and Alex’s successful independence. I did question some minor details and scenes sometimes lacked a sense of urgency. It was an excellent escapist read, not heavy on violence, humorous at times and satisfyingly happy at the end. I would recommend it for its light suspense and sweet, yet still naughty, romance.
*An ARC was provided to me via Hearts On Fire Reviews, in exchange for an unbiased review*
could-not-finish
September 16, 2017I'm giving up at 34%. This was just too comedic for me and didn't seem to fit with the subject matter.
August 4, 2019
Straight from the Heart was just what I'd been needing: a good, fun, fast-paced, dual POV, meet cute, love at first sight romance, with a great cast of a characters, and a sweet happy ending.
Uncomplicated, this book isn't trying to do any more than offer you some escapism hours and two great candidates for your new book boyfriend. There's even a bit of danger and action!
Gabriel Amari is a new-to-me narrator. He uses clear, distinctive character voices, has a steady pace, and has good breath control. Straight from the Heart is a fun and easy listen that's great for escaping for a few hours. I've enjoyed both stories I've read so far and hope the whole Wilde Love series will get released on audio. Regardless, I need to bump up this series on my TBR.
Audio copy of Straight from the Heart (Wilde Love #1) provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
December 15, 2017
I don't know about this one...
It certainly wasn't bad, but I'm not sure that I know what is was. It wasn't quite funny enough to be a considered a comedy or dramatic enough to be classed as a romantic suspense novel. It was cutesy, but not cutesy enough to be considered fluff. It just sort of sat in this strange in between state.
Take that for what you will.
It certainly wasn't bad, but I'm not sure that I know what is was. It wasn't quite funny enough to be a considered a comedy or dramatic enough to be classed as a romantic suspense novel. It was cutesy, but not cutesy enough to be considered fluff. It just sort of sat in this strange in between state.
Take that for what you will.
June 23, 2017
When Alex decides to defy his mother and leave college to pursue a career as a musician, he is taking a huge risk. Not only is he left hoping that his band, Fred, can actually make it, but his mother cuts off the cash flow so now he is broke for the first time in his life. But despite how much he loved his father, Alex knows that if he was to follow in the man’s footsteps and become some type of hot-shot lawyer, he would spend the rest of his life miserable. He will also admit, though, that he has no clue how to live a life on his own terms. Hence how he almost winds up mugged and/or stabbed on his first night of “freedom.”
He is saved, though, by the rather dashing Liam. And while Alex had no clue that he might be gay…ten minutes in the presence of his rescuer has made that a rather mote point. He wants the man, and the man seems to want him…so cool. Too bad he is too drunk off his ass to do anything about it. But what starts as a drunken sleepover on Liam couch, turns out to be something much more. More than Alex even realizes, because Liam wasn’t at that bar by chance; and despite the fact that they both care for each other, their futures may not rest solely in their own hands.
Right off the bat I have to say I found the plot of this story a bit ridiculous. But it was ridiculous in a fun way. Good mafia dudes, questionable policing, and bodyguard/”pretend” boyfriend subplots are not things I particularly crave…but there was something about how this book took all those things and said, “fuck it, let’s have some fun!” that I really enjoyed. This story knew just how to approach those things in order for me to be totally willing to suspend my disbelief, and so I did. And had a really good time reading this.
I was not a huge fan of Alex when I started this story. What can I say, rich-boy woe-is-me is something I can happily live my life without. He was unfulfilled? So what? That describes 90% of the population. And most of them have to worry about crippling debt and/or starvation. Yet…there was a genuine spark about him. He seemed to actually be a nice guy. And despite my better judgment, I started to like him. It helped that this book didn’t end with him having a big wad of cash thrown at him as a reward for “slumming it” for a bit. That is something I really appreciated. He made a choice, and lived with the consequences of that choice. For both the good and the ill.
The fact that the story never really goes into details about several things in this book was probably it’s saving grace. If it had tried to come up with explanations or excuses for the actions of several of these characters I can’t help but feel that I would have had a hard time enjoying it as much as it did. Instead we were told just enough to understand we needed to, and to let our brains fill in as much details as it needed/wanted.
This was a more character-driven story, than one with a lot of action. There were certainly action bits, near the end, but for the most part this book just stuck to telling us a rather nice romance. Which was best. I will say though that I loved how those actiony bits resolved in the end. No fainting damsels in this story. It was a nice twist.
Overall I had a fun time reading this and recommend it for mafia-lovers…as long as you like it on the light side. There was good writing all round, and I never felt like it shortchanged the main or the secondary characters. And I definitely wouldn’t say no to a sequel about Keegan.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
He is saved, though, by the rather dashing Liam. And while Alex had no clue that he might be gay…ten minutes in the presence of his rescuer has made that a rather mote point. He wants the man, and the man seems to want him…so cool. Too bad he is too drunk off his ass to do anything about it. But what starts as a drunken sleepover on Liam couch, turns out to be something much more. More than Alex even realizes, because Liam wasn’t at that bar by chance; and despite the fact that they both care for each other, their futures may not rest solely in their own hands.
Right off the bat I have to say I found the plot of this story a bit ridiculous. But it was ridiculous in a fun way. Good mafia dudes, questionable policing, and bodyguard/”pretend” boyfriend subplots are not things I particularly crave…but there was something about how this book took all those things and said, “fuck it, let’s have some fun!” that I really enjoyed. This story knew just how to approach those things in order for me to be totally willing to suspend my disbelief, and so I did. And had a really good time reading this.
I was not a huge fan of Alex when I started this story. What can I say, rich-boy woe-is-me is something I can happily live my life without. He was unfulfilled? So what? That describes 90% of the population. And most of them have to worry about crippling debt and/or starvation. Yet…there was a genuine spark about him. He seemed to actually be a nice guy. And despite my better judgment, I started to like him. It helped that this book didn’t end with him having a big wad of cash thrown at him as a reward for “slumming it” for a bit. That is something I really appreciated. He made a choice, and lived with the consequences of that choice. For both the good and the ill.
The fact that the story never really goes into details about several things in this book was probably it’s saving grace. If it had tried to come up with explanations or excuses for the actions of several of these characters I can’t help but feel that I would have had a hard time enjoying it as much as it did. Instead we were told just enough to understand we needed to, and to let our brains fill in as much details as it needed/wanted.
This was a more character-driven story, than one with a lot of action. There were certainly action bits, near the end, but for the most part this book just stuck to telling us a rather nice romance. Which was best. I will say though that I loved how those actiony bits resolved in the end. No fainting damsels in this story. It was a nice twist.
Overall I had a fun time reading this and recommend it for mafia-lovers…as long as you like it on the light side. There was good writing all round, and I never felt like it shortchanged the main or the secondary characters. And I definitely wouldn’t say no to a sequel about Keegan.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
January 2, 2020
This seems to be this author's first book and I've got to say - it shows. Luckily for us, she's gotten a lot better. I recommend the Rowan Harbor Cycle by this author but this book here - not so much. The characters are likable, so there is that and it's on KU. So, yeah, well I finished it and it was okay but really nothing much to write home about.
Want to read
May 29, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/29/2019)! 🎁
July 10, 2017
Very impressive debut novel!
We are first introduced to Alex, 23 and a little naive, who has just defied his mother and dropped out of college, after which she has kicked him out to couch-surf with his friends from his band and cut off his cash-flow. Undeterred, Alex takes his box of things and his guitar and his last bit of cash to celebrate his freedom in the local bar. While there, a little drunk, he's almost mugged but saved by a hot hunk named Liam, and Alex has an epiphany while being pressed against Liam - yep, he's gay.
As his Liam. Alex wastes no time wallowing in angst, embraces what he's feeling, and goes home with Liam. Who's a perfect gentleman and doesn't take advantage of the slightly younger and much drunker man.
And that's basically the first couple of chapters. From there, the story takes off, and the author does a great job mixing the suspense with the budding romance between Alex and Liam. Except Liam isn't exactly who he says he is, but he's mostly honest with Alex about all the things he can be honest about.
The relationship between Alex and Liam develops quickly, and love is rather insta, but I didn't care, because the two characters just made me want them to succeed. And the drama/intrigue plot is action-packed and had me more often than not on the edge of my seat.
I suspended disbelief on occasion, but the unrealistic moments didn't bother me all that much. What felt real are the complex characters. Not only in Alex and Liam, but also the supporting cast. Alex's bandmates (one of whom will also get a book, I'm told), the crime-boss Liam works for, and his son were fully fleshed out and not just cardboard characters. The villain was perhaps slightly over the top, but that was to be expected.
Alex as a baby-gay was well done, and I suppose I chalked it off to his age and lack of romancing girls before that there was little angst for him when his body reacted to Liam's hot bod saving the day. He just accepted it, though I would think he had to have had some inklings before. Jumping feet first into exploring his sexuality, with Liam as a willing subject, burning up the sheets - oh yeah, that was fun to read.
Alex's best friend and bandmate Jake has a confession too, and there's a little bit of drama when they come out to each other, but Jake definitely has Alex's back, and is a bit suspicious of Liam at first.
I don't want to give away the plot itself, and don't want to spoil the experience for anyone, but I will say this: If you like romance mixed with suspense and action, and you like when two men just completely fall for each other and make it work against the odds, this book is for you.
I cannot wait for Keegan's story - that's coming next. Sign me up!!
** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **
We are first introduced to Alex, 23 and a little naive, who has just defied his mother and dropped out of college, after which she has kicked him out to couch-surf with his friends from his band and cut off his cash-flow. Undeterred, Alex takes his box of things and his guitar and his last bit of cash to celebrate his freedom in the local bar. While there, a little drunk, he's almost mugged but saved by a hot hunk named Liam, and Alex has an epiphany while being pressed against Liam - yep, he's gay.
As his Liam. Alex wastes no time wallowing in angst, embraces what he's feeling, and goes home with Liam. Who's a perfect gentleman and doesn't take advantage of the slightly younger and much drunker man.
And that's basically the first couple of chapters. From there, the story takes off, and the author does a great job mixing the suspense with the budding romance between Alex and Liam. Except Liam isn't exactly who he says he is, but he's mostly honest with Alex about all the things he can be honest about.
The relationship between Alex and Liam develops quickly, and love is rather insta, but I didn't care, because the two characters just made me want them to succeed. And the drama/intrigue plot is action-packed and had me more often than not on the edge of my seat.
I suspended disbelief on occasion, but the unrealistic moments didn't bother me all that much. What felt real are the complex characters. Not only in Alex and Liam, but also the supporting cast. Alex's bandmates (one of whom will also get a book, I'm told), the crime-boss Liam works for, and his son were fully fleshed out and not just cardboard characters. The villain was perhaps slightly over the top, but that was to be expected.
Alex as a baby-gay was well done, and I suppose I chalked it off to his age and lack of romancing girls before that there was little angst for him when his body reacted to Liam's hot bod saving the day. He just accepted it, though I would think he had to have had some inklings before. Jumping feet first into exploring his sexuality, with Liam as a willing subject, burning up the sheets - oh yeah, that was fun to read.
Alex's best friend and bandmate Jake has a confession too, and there's a little bit of drama when they come out to each other, but Jake definitely has Alex's back, and is a bit suspicious of Liam at first.
I don't want to give away the plot itself, and don't want to spoil the experience for anyone, but I will say this: If you like romance mixed with suspense and action, and you like when two men just completely fall for each other and make it work against the odds, this book is for you.
I cannot wait for Keegan's story - that's coming next. Sign me up!!
** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Read
July 31, 20174/5 Stars for Straight from the Heart.
Alex had me feeling all kinds of mixed emotions. He left home at a young age to pursue a career as a musician and in doing so was completely cut off from all financial assistance from his family for the first time in his life. Since he grew up a little sheltered and had no real world experience, it's no wonder he almost gets himself killed the first night. But Liam swooped in like a knight in shining armor and saved him from ending up in a body bag. Alex immediately wants him.
The plot for this book was a little bit ridiculous and it sounds completely crazy if you try to summarize it, but the way it was presented in the book actually passed over quite well. This is my first read by Sam Burns and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. The characters were well written and despite completely hating Alex at the beginning, he kind of grew on me. He went from being a spoiled rich boy with no idea how the world works and expecting to have everything he wanted thrown at his feet to being a respectable human being who wasn't afraid to work for what he wanted even when the rewards weren't immediate.
The romance between Alex and Liam started off kind of meh, and I think that's part of the reason I rated this book 4 stars instead of 5. There's something about the whole insta-love type scenario in this book that was a little bit underdeveloped and not really called for. I think I probably would have liked Alex as a character much more if he didn't instantly go on an internal dialogue about how much he wanted Liam within 10 minutes of meeting him. I just think a slow burn romance between the two wound have made this book a lot stronger plot wise.
All in all, though, this was really good. I liked the writing and the characters grew on me. Eventually I had my self rooting for them and by the end I was wishing for a couple dozen more pages so I could keep reading about them. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of Sam Burns' work.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
Alex had me feeling all kinds of mixed emotions. He left home at a young age to pursue a career as a musician and in doing so was completely cut off from all financial assistance from his family for the first time in his life. Since he grew up a little sheltered and had no real world experience, it's no wonder he almost gets himself killed the first night. But Liam swooped in like a knight in shining armor and saved him from ending up in a body bag. Alex immediately wants him.
The plot for this book was a little bit ridiculous and it sounds completely crazy if you try to summarize it, but the way it was presented in the book actually passed over quite well. This is my first read by Sam Burns and I must say, I'm pretty impressed. The characters were well written and despite completely hating Alex at the beginning, he kind of grew on me. He went from being a spoiled rich boy with no idea how the world works and expecting to have everything he wanted thrown at his feet to being a respectable human being who wasn't afraid to work for what he wanted even when the rewards weren't immediate.
The romance between Alex and Liam started off kind of meh, and I think that's part of the reason I rated this book 4 stars instead of 5. There's something about the whole insta-love type scenario in this book that was a little bit underdeveloped and not really called for. I think I probably would have liked Alex as a character much more if he didn't instantly go on an internal dialogue about how much he wanted Liam within 10 minutes of meeting him. I just think a slow burn romance between the two wound have made this book a lot stronger plot wise.
All in all, though, this was really good. I liked the writing and the characters grew on me. Eventually I had my self rooting for them and by the end I was wishing for a couple dozen more pages so I could keep reading about them. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of Sam Burns' work.
Reviewed by Jordan at Alpha Book Club.
Disclaimer: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own and not influenced by the author or the publisher in any way.
August 3, 2017
Solid 3 Stars
This was fun and quirky. The plot is kind of unbelievable and OTT, it's a bit too insta-love for my tastes, and the banter was silly rather than funny but fuck it....something about it still worked for me. I liked these guys and I liked how solid they were in spite of Liam keeping secrets. Plus, I really loved Alex and his bandmates. This author has a lot of potential.
Recommended for a light and fun read.
This was fun and quirky. The plot is kind of unbelievable and OTT, it's a bit too insta-love for my tastes, and the banter was silly rather than funny but fuck it....something about it still worked for me. I liked these guys and I liked how solid they were in spite of Liam keeping secrets. Plus, I really loved Alex and his bandmates. This author has a lot of potential.
Recommended for a light and fun read.
May 15, 2019
DNF @ 30%.
I kept waiting for when this would get interesting, and it just wasnt happening. The plot doesn't interest me. The characters don't interest me. The dialogue doesnt interst me. The whole thing reads very YA. And I'm finding it a but hard that Alex made it 23 years without once thinking about his sexuality and then *boom* he's gay.
I kept waiting for when this would get interesting, and it just wasnt happening. The plot doesn't interest me. The characters don't interest me. The dialogue doesnt interst me. The whole thing reads very YA. And I'm finding it a but hard that Alex made it 23 years without once thinking about his sexuality and then *boom* he's gay.
June 23, 2021
Virgin Alex is saved from a mugger by undercover Liam. The story starts out funny and sweet and just keeps moving along. There are secrets, the mob, music, great friends and a restaurant I want to go to. I adored this book and jumped into the next book immediately.
May 16, 2019
✮3.5 ➜ 4 Stars✮
July 31, 2017
2.5 stars
August 25, 2017
I enjoyed the heck out of this book. Have you ever gone through phases and then get burnt out? That is where I was. I had been reading all these serious, angsty, tension and suspense filled stories (most of which I absolutely liked), and frankly, I was at a point that the idea of jumping into another one was daunting. I really was in a place where a change of pace, something light and fun, was called for, and Straight from the Heart fit the bill. It turned out to be delightful and exactly what I needed. Alex and Liam totally had me along for their journey, and I absolutely adored several of the secondary characters and can’t wait to see what is in store for them.
The romance is super sweet, and Alex is just a darling. He truly is an interesting character, sheltered and naïve, but actually fairly mature in his reactions to the info bombs he received. He didn’t usually make an emotional, knee-jerk reaction; rather, he tended to ponder and analyze before making a full decision and then talking it over. I expected an explosion of angst more than once, but, surprisingly, it didn’t happen.
Liam didn’t fit the mold of his profession either, not at all the gruff, alpha-like personality I had been expecting. He joked and was in line with Alex’s sense of humor, appreciated his open honesty, and that the poor guy was in a crap situation and doing his best to be as honest as possible without giving away too much, which was not an easy feat. The two got along so well that the relationship drama wasn’t there. I found it nice to see a relationship that isn’t constant push/pull drama, drama, drama. Don’t get me wrong, I will still jump into a book that has those elements, but a change in dynamic isn’t a bad thing either.
Usually when the romantic element lacks tension, it’s made up for somewhere else, but that wasn’t the case here. There was this whole plot with mobsters, cops and protective bandmates, but even the majority of the ‘bad guys’ were more likable than I am used to. Since I needed a book that lacked all that angst, I was on board with this direction and appreciated the more lighthearted approach.
Look, we all have pet peeves when reading; the things that bug me don’t bug others, and vice versa, right? So, although I liked the story so much that this didn’t bother me, I would be remiss not to put this out there, especially as I know a couple people this would be a problem for: if you’re a stickler for the investigation procedures being believable and without inaccuracies, be aware there are some unbelievable parts in the process, and in how it all gets wrapped up. I have found this isn’t uncommon in crime category contemporary romances such as this one. Though I tend to pick out the inaccuracies because of my professional background, it is rarely something that will ruin a story for me. My pet peeves lie elsewhere, so not a problem for me, but it could be if it’s something that irritates you.
I don’t think this book will be for the hard-core crime drama lovers who are looking for an in-depth plot with a ton of suspense; you won’t find that here. However, if you are like me, looking for a sweet contemporary with endearing characters and an entertaining little plot, then I say give this one a try! I am ready for book two, because I had such fun with Straight from the Heart.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
The romance is super sweet, and Alex is just a darling. He truly is an interesting character, sheltered and naïve, but actually fairly mature in his reactions to the info bombs he received. He didn’t usually make an emotional, knee-jerk reaction; rather, he tended to ponder and analyze before making a full decision and then talking it over. I expected an explosion of angst more than once, but, surprisingly, it didn’t happen.
Liam didn’t fit the mold of his profession either, not at all the gruff, alpha-like personality I had been expecting. He joked and was in line with Alex’s sense of humor, appreciated his open honesty, and that the poor guy was in a crap situation and doing his best to be as honest as possible without giving away too much, which was not an easy feat. The two got along so well that the relationship drama wasn’t there. I found it nice to see a relationship that isn’t constant push/pull drama, drama, drama. Don’t get me wrong, I will still jump into a book that has those elements, but a change in dynamic isn’t a bad thing either.
Usually when the romantic element lacks tension, it’s made up for somewhere else, but that wasn’t the case here. There was this whole plot with mobsters, cops and protective bandmates, but even the majority of the ‘bad guys’ were more likable than I am used to. Since I needed a book that lacked all that angst, I was on board with this direction and appreciated the more lighthearted approach.
Look, we all have pet peeves when reading; the things that bug me don’t bug others, and vice versa, right? So, although I liked the story so much that this didn’t bother me, I would be remiss not to put this out there, especially as I know a couple people this would be a problem for: if you’re a stickler for the investigation procedures being believable and without inaccuracies, be aware there are some unbelievable parts in the process, and in how it all gets wrapped up. I have found this isn’t uncommon in crime category contemporary romances such as this one. Though I tend to pick out the inaccuracies because of my professional background, it is rarely something that will ruin a story for me. My pet peeves lie elsewhere, so not a problem for me, but it could be if it’s something that irritates you.
I don’t think this book will be for the hard-core crime drama lovers who are looking for an in-depth plot with a ton of suspense; you won’t find that here. However, if you are like me, looking for a sweet contemporary with endearing characters and an entertaining little plot, then I say give this one a try! I am ready for book two, because I had such fun with Straight from the Heart.
Reviewed by Lindsey for The Novel Approach
June 24, 2017
I didn't like how easily Alex came to terms with being gay. There was no conflict or internal struggle. It was just hot guy equals Alex is gay no questions asked. Wtf? I was also peeved at the fact that after he came to terms with his sexuality suddenly everyone else was gay too. His best friend, his boss as well as his bosses brother.
I'm not saying that gay men are a rare commodity and I'm also not saying that they don't interact with each other but, what I am saying is that people don't go from never having thought about their sexual identity to suddenly (and accidently I might add) being surrounded by others who are gay as well.
Liam has to be the shittiest known to man. He was terrible at his job. I think that was the authors way of redeeming him but that was an epic fail IMO. Sort of like he's not really a bad guy he just does bad things where his job is concerned. I felt that was a totally lame way out of excusing Liam's shady behavior.
I also didn't like how neatly everything wrapped up, I mean there were no consequences to be had for any of it. Quinn has to be the nicest mobster on the face of the planet but the thing is, theres no such thing. Mob life his cut-throat and there is no place in that lifestyle for bleeding hearts. He knew what Liam was and just let him walk away? Yeah right! At the end of the day this book was too sugary sweet for my liking. I dont really like easy and that's exactly what this book was. It's safe to say I won't be continuing with this series.
I'm not saying that gay men are a rare commodity and I'm also not saying that they don't interact with each other but, what I am saying is that people don't go from never having thought about their sexual identity to suddenly (and accidently I might add) being surrounded by others who are gay as well.
Liam has to be the shittiest known to man. He was terrible at his job. I think that was the authors way of redeeming him but that was an epic fail IMO. Sort of like he's not really a bad guy he just does bad things where his job is concerned. I felt that was a totally lame way out of excusing Liam's shady behavior.
I also didn't like how neatly everything wrapped up, I mean there were no consequences to be had for any of it. Quinn has to be the nicest mobster on the face of the planet but the thing is, theres no such thing. Mob life his cut-throat and there is no place in that lifestyle for bleeding hearts. He knew what Liam was and just let him walk away? Yeah right! At the end of the day this book was too sugary sweet for my liking. I dont really like easy and that's exactly what this book was. It's safe to say I won't be continuing with this series.
March 21, 2021
I absolutely loved this! The chemistry between Alex and Liam was awesome, and the snark was fantastic. Alex was such a fun character, and Liam was a great balance for him. I'm glad I heard Jeff recommend this on the Big Gay Fiction Podcast. I need to read the whole series now!
Edited to add:
I did a re-read of this by listening to the audiobook, and it was so well done! I loved the story itself, but it was just as good the second time around. Such a great series.
Edited to add:
I did a re-read of this by listening to the audiobook, and it was so well done! I loved the story itself, but it was just as good the second time around. Such a great series.
December 31, 2022
I picked up this book because I love Sam Burns and I love stories about musicians. Although Alex is a bass player in the fantastically named band Fred, the story is not really about music. This doesn’t stop it from being a 5-star read. MC Alex has such a great outlook on life. He dropped out of law school to concentrate on his music career and was disinherited by his mom. This does not get him down. His love interest Liam is in a bit trickier situation. He has to act like a tough guy, but he is sweet and caring when dealing with Alex. Alex and Liam have a great connection right from the start. You can’t help but root from them. I highly recommend this book and will definitely continue the series.
September 5, 2017
This is not a rock star romance. If I had read the blurb I probably would've known that but hey the cover was pretty. The book was an easy read, an odd mix of romance and the mob. I liked the characters, Alex and Liam had me smiling right from the start. The instalove was too much even for me and the story was far fetched but it wasn't sinister. I'll look out for the next in the series.
April 6, 2018
Either the book or I was confused about what it was, but I liked it anyway. I’d read several reviews that mentioned suspending disbelief. I went in with that thought in mind and just rolled with. I’m still not sure if this was a comedy or romantic suspense, but it worked for me today. Your mileage may vary.
December 10, 2018
Really fun story! Alex is a little more clueless than I can easily believe, but Liam is amazing (and hot) enough to make up for it. Very well written -- no annoying "wtf is this author trying to really say" moments -- this series is going onto my TBR, and I'll be looking for more books by Sam!
October 6, 2018
3.5 STARS
This was just one of those cute, sweet stories. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just a run of the mill romance.
This was just one of those cute, sweet stories. Nothing wrong with it, it’s just a run of the mill romance.
April 15, 2025
It was slow. Really slow. "It got interesting by 60%" kind of slow. When it picked up, it was good, but it took way too long to do so.
Read
June 7, 2017Review to come :)
January 18, 2018
These guys were so adorable and so sweet together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews