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, … 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?
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4.5 stars
I liked Debt but I love Burden! Randy (the undercover officer from Debt) has always believed he was straight. Then he meets Jess who brings out unexpected earnings in him. Jess resigns himself t the fact that he’s crushing on a straight man and falls back on ‘work’. Randy tags along with his neighbor to a friend’s “sex party” to see if he like men. While leaving, Randy sees the entertainment… it’s Jess.
When they confront each other, sparks fly (and clothes fly off).
While there is a little bit of angst, the issue is resolved fairly quickly and naturally.
**~**possible spoiler alert**~**
In this book, Jess still prostitutes himself to survive but once Randy and Jess get physical, he stops… there is NO cheating
**~** end spoiler**~**
As usual, KC’s writing is wonderful and her characters are well thought out and likable.
*****
POV… Third person
Standalone or series… book 2 of series but can be read as standalone
hangover… slight
recommend.. yes
reread… yes
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.
I love this cover. It really says Jesse to me. This is a book two or sequel in the Love Unexpected series and I feel you should read them in order. I had read Debt, but it had been a long time ago and wasn’t fresh in my mind and at times I struggled just a bit, but that didn’t hold me back.
Burden picks up ten months or so after Debt and the events there, with Jesse and some of the other guys at Richard’s trial waiting for the verdict.
Jesse’s life was changed more than he expected to testify in the trial. His parents disowned him when they found out how he was supplementing his income for the school and cut him off. He had to put his studies on hold and was back to hooking to survive. Things began getting slow with the commissioner having stings set up, causing some escort sites to close down and a lot of johns to quit hiring escorts with fear of being caught.
Randy also found his life changed after the undercover job. He now kept thinking of Jesse and couldn’t figure out why. He was straight or at least he thought so.
This is a very good story of finding love in unexpected places or in the last person you would expect.
I loved all of the characters, Both Randy and Jesse but I loved Randy’s neighbor Owen even more. I do so hope we get his story soon. There is plenty of other characters mentioned throughout both old and newer that would have great stories. I can’t wait.
There is some very hot sex in this book ( of course there would be with the main character being a hooker) I have to admit I had some issues with a couple of them. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn’t wrap my head around the position it described in great detail. One I have to admit I even drew stick figures trying to figure it out to no avail…but it just slowed me down some.
If you like gay for you or bi-curious stories, May-December, friends to lovers, escorts, hot detectives and an allover good romance you will like this one.
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.