“Where there’s nothing to gain and everything to lose.”It’s modest, but after a lifetime spent barely holding on, former car thief Peter Bauer is proud of what he’s managed to achieve. He’s got a legal, legitimate job as a mechanic, a firm grasp on his addictions, and a steady relationship with Nikos Petrakis—stable, handsome, and recently widowed. Nothing is going to upset that, not the … the ever-present memory of Nik’s wife, not the claustrophobia Peter is starting to feel trapped in domestic bliss, not even the sudden reappearance of Peter’s ex—the sexy and dangerous Stavros Giannopoulos.
But when Nik’s daughter goes missing, Peter will be forced back into the seedy underbelly of the LA crime world, where anything goes. Can his and Nik’s relationship survive? Can Peter?
Backstreets is the second book in Kat Cassidy’s Hot Wire series which contains themes of crime, suspense, family drama, hurt/comfort, dark humor, addiction, and abuse. It should not be read as a standalone.
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Backstreets is the second book in the Hot Wire Series by Kat Cassidy. It continues the story where the first book left off. This book focuses alot on the fallout from the events of the past. Nik is trying to figure out how to move on in life and make room for Peter, while not feeling like he is betraying his deceased wife. Peter is adjusting to life as an ex-con, living the clean life and also dealing with insecurity in his relationships. To add more drama and suspense, an ex rears his dirty head and wrecks havoc, Nik and Nina want justice for their spouses’ murders, and other things are in play that threaten their family and the future.
This book draws us in even further into this world of crime and recovery. There is suspense, action, violence, danger… there is also family vs Family and then there is LOVE. So much going on in this book and each moment is exciting and interesting. I really am enjoying this series.
I received an advanced reader’s copy and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.
Goodness, I loved this! I needed a book to review for a podcast and went through a bunch of duds before I found this gem. In a rush, I thought I could review Backstreets without reading Night Moves and don’t I regret it! I was able to figure out who was who but I am definitely going back and reading Night Moves and the third in the series, as soon as the author releases it. I LOVED Peter and Nik and the reader gets a back seat while they stumble through the first year or so of their relationship. They struggle with real issues and it’s frustrating and angsty and everything I was hoping for. My very favorite part of Backstreets was the women. Why do the women in MM have to be gross and vicious to justify men sleeping with men? I loved that the secondary characters were developed and had compelling stories of their own. There’s no evil ex girlfriend or the ham-handed use of an old lady to prod our MCs with intrusive and inappropriate questions to catapult them into major changes or force them to make life-altering decisions. In Backstreets, even a “villainess” is relatable and sympathetic. None of the women are stupid by default. Which has always confused me, seeing as how many women write MM but that’s a discussion for another day… Backstreets is full of gritty, intense emotion but it’s also fun and there’s just enough heat. But, wait, there’s more! Peter and Nik are angsty and you’re invested and then you get sucked into a mystery and Kat Cassidy makes you read the rest of the book on the edge of your seat. There were a few moments where I was legitimately freaking out. I had to leave Backstreets and pee and spent the interlude not on the edge of my seat but thinking “Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God…” until I could return. It’s been a long time since a book got me like that and it was so refreshing! Backstreets is well-written, original, emotional and gripping. If you’re into that. It’s not a cash trap written by a ghostwriter and you can tell by the way Kat Cassidy crafts her world and loves her heroes. You have to read Night Moves AND Backstreets.
4.5 stars
Heat Level: 3.5
This series keeps getting better! A thrilling ride, with twist and turns I didn’t see coming!
I’m loving Peter and Nik. Both such deep characters with a fair bit of baggage trying to find a balance in each other’s lives and families.
Backstreets was a whirlwind, I couldn’t put it down! A dangerous adventure from start to finish but with such captivating characters the journey means so much more! Following on from book one Peter and Nik are finding their feet in their new relationship while dealing with real life issues. Nik is still mourning the loss of his wife Helena and Peter is trying his best to stay straight and continuing to fight his addiction. I love Kat honesty when dealing with addiction. It’s a hard ride to lead a life with addiction and honesty, even with fictional characters can help others understand the struggle!
This book explores more of the crime families of LA’s seedy underbelly but this allows for some awesome secondary characters. While the story could be considered on the darker side, Kat injects wit and comic relief throughout the story to create a balanced thrill ride where these characters grow and strengthen both together and individually.
This series has great secondary characters and I have to give a special shout out to Nina. She’s hilarious, tough and clueless all at the same time! She and Peter have a very unique relationship and by the end of this book have finally reached a peaceful agreement.
Now for the Epilogue: O.M.G. Kat, what have you done!!! Now I can’t wait for the next book!!!
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Backstreets picks up about a year after Night Moves ended and, because it’s a continuation of Nik and Peter’s story, doesn’t work as a standalone. Like the first book, Backstreets is very fast-paced, driven by action and suspense. In fact, the action scenes had me much more on the edge of my seat this time around, partially because of their excitement and partially because I am now very invested in these characters. Not only did the action step it up, but with Nik and Peter being an established couple from the get go, there was much more in the way of their love story. The Hot Wire series is definitely proving to be a fun ride and I’m loving all the flawed, unique characters.
Going in, I was eager for more time with Nik and Peter and I liked the way Backstreets addressed the men’s relationship- divulging the difficult transitions both men face starting new lives together while trying to leave their pasts behind. From a romantic standpoint, it was nice to see a deeper side to the relationship that was primarily fueled by chemistry in Night Moves. The relationship conflicts and resolutions represented the characters well, never seeming overly dramatic, and I was happy with the way things closed with these two as a couple, especially since we got a bit closer to a happily-ever-after than the first book. I also liked seeing the secondary characters play bigger roles in Backstreets. Seeing different interactions added more depth to the main characters, giving them opportunities for personal growth, while also enhancing the series as a whole. And that ending! Though it’s not a cliff-hanger, there’s a great tease at the close of Backstreets that ensures I’ll be eagerly awaiting the third and final book in the Hot Wire series.
*eARC received via author*
As a second book in the series, I wouldn’t recommend this as a standalone. That being said, you should absolutely pick up the first book if you haven’t. This series is so full of action, suspense, thrills and romance.
We pick up a few months were we left off with Nik being the affectionate, sweet but dirty widower in love with the newly reformed bad boy Peter. But not everything is roses. Peter is having a hard time fitting into the home of Nik and his late wife and it’s coming up on the anniversary of her death. With that tension between them, Nik’s daughter is taken from school.
Since Peter is out of the game, they have to rely on Peter’s sister and father to help them figure out which Family is involved in the abduction and then decide if there’s still enough between them to make it work.
I really love Kat Cassidy’s writing style. It seems effortless and fun, but is so fast paced and full of action. The characters are seemingly simple, yet are so capable of twisting your emotions on a dime. This is really well done and I’m excited for another book!