Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Burden
SERIES: Love, Unexpected #2
AUTHOR: K.C. Wells
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 194 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 23, 2019
BLURB:
They never knew what hit them.
A hooker with a heart, falling for a Vice cop? This is no Hollywood movie, and if they want a happily ever after, it’s not going to be easy.
Detective Randy Michaels is back with Vice, working to help NYC crack down on its prostitution problem. When he suspects Jesse Bryant of soliciting, Randy is torn between duty and his knowledge of what put Jesse on the streets. Jesse is clearly struggling, and he isn’t the only one. Recent events have forced Randy to question his sexuality, and a shocking encounter with Jesse plunges him into a crisis of conscience.
Jesse didn’t think his life could get any worse. His family cut all support, his education is on hold, and he’s surviving the only way he knows—selling himself on the streets. Of all the people who could have offered him a helping hand, why did it have to be Randy?
Two men carrying their own personal burdens: How long will it take them to realize that what they really need is each other?
REVIEW:
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.
RATING: 
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