Contemporary Authors

• Of Echoes Born - 2018 Bold Strokes Books, Valley Falls, NY
• Triad Blood - 2016 Bold Strokes Books, Valley Falls, NY
• Light - 2013 Bold Strokes Books, Valley Falls, NY
• Three - 2016 Bold Strokes Books, Valley Falls, NY
• (With Angela S. Stone) Saving the Date - 2018 Decadent Publishing Company,
• Handmade Holidays - 2017 NineStar Press, Albuquerque, NM
• In Memoriam - 2016 Lethe Press, Maple Shade, NJ
• Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks - 2018 Bold Strokes Books, Valley Falls, NY
• Triad Soul - 2017 Bold Strokes Books, Valley Falls, NY

• Nathan Burgoine Home Page - https://apostrophen.wordpress.com/about/

  QUOTE:
  "mostly short queer fiction from a tall queer guy."
  About
  NathanBurgoine
  Courtesy Daniel Smith Photography

  ‘Nathan Burgoine grew up a reader and studied literature in university while making a living as a bookseller. His first published short story was “Heart” in the collection Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. Since then, he has had dozens of short stories published, including Bold Strokes titles Men of the Mean Streets, Boys of Summer, and Night Shadows as well asThis is How You Die (the second Machine of Death anthology). ‘Nathan also has a series of paranormal erotic short stories that begins in the Bold Strokes anthology Blood Sacraments, and continues with further installments in Wings, Erotica Exotica, and Raising Hell. His standalone short erotic fiction pieces can be found in the Lambda Literary Award finalist Tented, Tales from the Den, and Afternoon Pleasures. ‘Nathan’s nonfiction pieces have appeared in I Like it Like That and 5×5 Literary Magazine.

  ‘Nathan’s first novel, Light, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award. His second and third novels, Triad Blood and Triad Soul, are available now from Bold Strokes Books. Both are available wherever quality LGBT fiction is found—always check Indiebound for your local brick and mortar, if you can. For novella lovers, ‘Nathan’s wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey gay romance In Memoriam is available on Kindle and Audible, and his gay holiday chosen family romance Handmade Holidays is available from NineStar Press.

  A cat lover, ‘Nathan managed to fall in love and marry Daniel, who is a confirmed dog person. Their ongoing “cat or dog?” détente ended with the rescue of a six year old husky named Coach. They live in Ottawa, Canada, where socialized health care and gay marriage have yet to cause the sky to cave in.

• Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Nathan-Burgoine/e/B003B93U90/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1

  About Nathan Burgoine
  'Nathan Burgoine grew up a reader and studied literature in university while making a living as a bookseller--a job he had for nearly twenty years, and loved. His first published short story was "Heart" in the collection Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. Since then, he has had over two dozen short stories published, including This is How You Die (the second Machine of Death anthology).

• Corey's Book Corner - https://coreysbookcorner.wordpress.com/2018/02/21/interview-with-nathan-burgoine/

  QUOTE:
  I mostly inhabit contemporary spec-fic; generally speaking a reader is most likely to get our world but with a dash of something magic, psychic, or other, but I do also write contemporary without that spec-fic. The latter is less often (and includes Saving the Date). I write queer, though, no matter what I’m writing. Usually my POV character(s) inhabit a queer male voice, but they live in a queer world as much like my own as I can make it (albeit often with access to magic of some kind).

  That’s all really wordy, though, so how about: mostly queer shorter fiction with a dash of magic, though sometimes novels happen despite my best efforts.

  Interview with ‘Nathan Burgoine
  FEBRUARY 21, 2018 ~ XANWEST
  I am excited to have ‘Nathan Burgoine here today talking about his upcoming m/m romance release, Saving the Date which is out this Friday! This story, which he co-wrote with Angela S. Stone, centers a gay trauma survivor who wants to give himself a new memory, a positive memory, to associate with the anniversary of his queer bashing. It’s a short meet-cute erotic romance with a matchmaking theme, and it centers a one night stand.

  NathanBurgoineA Bit About ‘Nathan
  ‘Nathan Burgoine grew up a reader and studied literature in university while making a living as a bookseller. His first published short story was “Heart” in the collection Fool for Love: New Gay Fiction. Since then, he has had dozens of short stories published. He has also released two gay romance novellas, In Memoriam, and Handmade Holidays. ’Nathan’s first novel, Light, was a finalist for a Lambda Literary Award. Since then, he’s written Triad Blood and Triad Soul.

  A cat lover, ‘Nathan managed to fall in love and marry Daniel, who is a confirmed dog person. Their ongoing “cat or dog” détente ended with the rescue of a husky named Coach. They live in Ottawa, Canada, where they bake, go snow-shoeing, and play board games like the geeky nerds they are.

  An Interview with ‘Nathan
  C: How would you describe yourself to a new reader just discovering your work?
  N: I mostly inhabit contemporary spec-fic; generally speaking a reader is most likely to get our world but with a dash of something magic, psychic, or other, but I do also write contemporary without that spec-fic. The latter is less often (and includes Saving the Date). I write queer, though, no matter what I’m writing. Usually my POV character(s) inhabit a queer male voice, but they live in a queer world as much like my own as I can make it (albeit often with access to magic of some kind).

  That’s all really wordy, though, so how about: mostly queer shorter fiction with a dash of magic, though sometimes novels happen despite my best efforts.

  C: What sparked Saving the Date for you? What made you want to write this particular story?

  N: There’s a local romance con, Romancing the Capital, where I met Angela S. Stone (among many other awesome authors) and she introduced me to the concept of the 1Night Stand series: it’s a very large series many authors have written where the commonality seed is a woman, Madame Eve, who has a perfect ability to match people. And although many sign up for just a one night stand, they often find much, much more than they were looking for.

  We were discussing how some of the authors in that series had paired men up for their titles, and Angela herself had done a couple of them, and she put forth the idea of co-writing one. I’d never co-written before, and I’d never been a part of a multi-author series before, either. The temptation was there, and it took root. Over the next few months we began batting ideas back and forth. We decided to take turns with character POVs, and picked our characters.

  When I pondered a character who’d be using a service like 1Night Stand, it clicked for me that this was an opportunity to tell a story about someone surviving/thriving after violence, and in a way that spoke a bit to my own experience: an active seeking out of a way to reclaim a calendar date from a bad memory.

  C: I was struck by the role queer bashing takes in this m/m romance, partly because it’s such a stark contrast to how this kind of trauma often occurs in m/m romance, where it often occurs during the timeline of the story. You placed it in the past, after Morgan has been working on recovery from this trauma for quite a while. It makes for a very different kind of story, and a different kind of engagement with queer hatred, I think. Can you talk about this choice, and where you see this story in the context of m/m romance as a genre?

  N: I very purposefully placed Morgan’s bashing three years into his past. My own experiences were this: the first anniversary, many people remember, and gather to help. It was a horrible day, but I had so much backup if I wanted it. The second anniversary? Less people rallied, and I handled it. The third? I was on my own and really resenting the power the day had over me. I specifically set up an alternative—I took a short vacation—and that helped rob the day of some of its power.

  And it was all done with the help of therapist and friends both. That was a huge piece I wanted included in Morgan’s back-story. There’s this awful “time heals all wounds” thought that sometimes gets bandied about I think is applied too easily to the trauma of others. For many, many people recovery is work. Hard, exhausting work.

  So by placing Morgan’s bashing three years in the past, I could frame him as being in a particular emotional and mental place, and not feel like I was cheapening the impact of the violence on his life. It happened, and it has had a very real and harsh impact on his life, but three years later Morgan is feeling more in control of his life. He’s ready for a new step. He’s not rushing. He’s trusting his therapist to help. I wanted it to be about him, not the violent thing that happened to him.

  I often struggle with the representation of bashings in m/m romance. A person’s reaction to violence is individual, of course, but the volume of hurt/comfort built around bashing often disconnects me as a reader, as it rarely strikes a chord with my experiences.

  C: It’s clear that one of the core things you wanted to do in this book was to center a character who is reclaiming the date of an anniversary of his hate crime and making it into something else. Can you tell me about why that’s important to you?

  N: Morgan is probably one of the most “goal oriented” characters I’ve ever written, in the sense that his character is all about trying to accomplish something very specific, and he vocalizes it from the get-go. Given that he’s in an erotic romance, his goals are also sexual, but reclaiming a sense of sexuality after a bashing can be a huge deal. And going back to m/m romance, it’s not generally something I’d bumped into before.

  Anniversaries and holidays have power, often regardless of whether or not we’d like them to. In the same way Handmade Holidays dealt with Christmas for a queer kid kicked to the curb, Saving the Date let me explore something similar but without the cultural relentlessness. Unless others are told or are in the know, an anniversary of violence remains personal. It’s not like Christmas, which is a loud, brash, unescapable noise for weeks. A character like Morgan let me put a voice to something I rarely saw in romance, and in an organic way.

  The importance of it to me, personally, comes from the same place, though. Whether it’s Christmas or a personal anniversary of violence, I try to write stories to resonate with my lived queer experience. I know I’m by no means the only person out there who looks at Christmas with trepidation, and I’m sure the same holds true here. I like not feeling alone myself, and much of the positive reader feedback I got from Handmade Holidays included other queer people who’d made their own good things from the holidays when what was “supposed” to happen wasn’t available.

  C: One of the things that really resonated for me as a reader was how Morgan has a complex relationship to being touched; there are some kinds of touch that are triggering and difficult for him as a result of the trauma he’s experienced. This is something that comes up organically during the sex scene with Zach, which made so much sense, as it’s his first time having sex after the bashing, and not something that’s often predictable. One of the more interesting aspects of this moment in the story is that it is told from Zach’s POV. What motivated that choice? What does Zach’s POV bring to those moments?

  N: This was a big choice, and if I remember correctly, Angela and I were sitting on a couch in between panels at last year’s Romancing the Capital when we were really working on those scenes, and we did make the conscious decision to keep a few key moments in Zach’s POV. It became about finding the balance between some authenticity in Morgan’s processes and not forgetting that the readership of the story in question is reading an erotic romance, and was probably the piece we went back-and-forth over the most.

  The very first move (which is also in Zach’s POV) is Morgan kissing Zach in one of the changing booths on the canal. That was on purpose, and communicated Morgan’s intent for the date. Zach interprets that for what it is, and they head to the hotel. Once at the hotel, Zach moves at a pace that isn’t unusual for two queer men in their situation.

  And then things go a bit wrong. Morgan shuts down.

  So why Zach’s POV?

  For one thing, as an erotic romance and part of an established series with a particular tone, we needed to balance Morgan’s reality with—I’ll speak bluntly—not being completely overwhelming or potentially too dark. Seeing him from the outside takes the reader a step away from that moment, while still giving us a window through someone living that moment—Zach—who realizes and reacts pretty close to perfectly, given the situation.

  And it gave us an opportunity to do exactly that: show a character reacting well to someone shutting down. Zach communicates, supports, and is patient. Angela and I both have very strong opinions on the intersection of consent and erotica, and it was a great opportunity to show how checking in is sexy, for example. How changing the pace for someone can be necessary.

  C: I liked that the story doesn’t automatically assume that Morgan getting triggered meant that sex would stop. That instead it’s assumed that they can figure out a way to have sex that will work for Morgan, as that’s what he wants. Zach comes up with a strategy that sparks one of the hottest moments in the book. That moment in the story, and Zach’s creative approach to it, feels like it’s very much about honoring consent in complicated ways. Can you tell me more about consent in your writing, and how you navigate the complexities of it?

  N: The chair scene was the first scene to occur to me when I tried to frame a thriving/surviving story in my head as an erotic romance.

  I wanted to show how specific a trigger can be, even when it’s something many people would think of as anything but. Morgan struggles with the physical size of Zach (even though that’s also something he finds attractive), and sometimes it is just as simple as how someone moves. Removing that movement, or circumventing that movement, with clear communication and stated intent and putting all the power back into Morgan’s hands?

  I wanted to make that sexy.

  I also wanted it to be a moment of triumph for Morgan, so while he stumbled, he stumbled with someone who understood enough to know that it didn’t mean everything had to stop, just that things needed to change direction if they wanted to go forward. They talk to each other. Zach makes an offer, and Morgan accepts—and Morgan also knows he can call a halt at any point, and in that moment achieves a level of trust with Zach that lets him continue.

  I tried to show every step of those consents in action, and stated very clearly when possible. Zach backing off. Morgan making it clear he’d still like to keep going, but that he’s feeling stymied and why. Zach coming up with a potential solution and offering it. Morgan taking time to digest that offer, to test how it felt to him, and then to accept it. And then, after all that, to give Zach permission to move forward again.

  Consent is always on my mind when I write erotic content, and Morgan’s frame of mind made me consider it all the more carefully. The difference in the scene with the chair from the scene where the two men first arrive in the hotel room was entirely about clear communication, and I wanted to underline it.

  C: I’d love to hear a bit about your co-writing process. How did collaboration work on this story?

  N: One of the nice things about splitting character POVs was we mapped out the events and narrative, wrote our scenes, and often left in place-holder statements in dialog. Most of our input in each other’s chapters were about our own character’s dialog or characterization. There was lots of “How would Morgan answer this question?” and “How would Zach say this?”

  Having two authors work two different POVs made keeping the character voices pretty organic. I’d never co-written anything before, so I had no idea how it would go, but Angela had done it before, so before I knew it, there were shared files and tracked comments and little dialog boxes everywhere. It threw me a bit at first—I’m not used to getting feedback while I write (literally while I was writing, feedback could pop up!) but it certainly kept us on track.

  Our backgrounds came into play, too. Zach’s bisexuality, and how his sexuality was presented and written was key to his POV. And Angela helped me tone down some of Morgan’s darker tone in places, for example. And I think we each stole one block of dialog from the other and moved it to our own chapters, so that balanced out.

  C: I really appreciated the bisexual representation in the story; it resonated for me, and felt very real. Particularly the moment that references Zach’s distance from queer community because of how bi folks are often treated when they speak openly about their lives. Can you talk a bit about Zach and your other bisexual characters?

  N: Full props to Angela for that moment. We worked that scene a few different ways to get it right, so it dropped organically, didn’t make Morgan out to be too much of a jerk, but had the right level of biphobia/sting/frustration for Zach’s lived experience.

  One of the reasons I call myself a queer man is I struggled with “bisexual enough” and find no one argues with me calling myself queer, but even some good friends made (unintentionally) frustrating comments along the lines of “I guess you’re pretty much gay now” once I married my husband. Depending on the crowd I’m in, I’ll adjust how I introduce myself, using queer or gay.

  Angela wanted to write Zach as clearly bisexual-but-leaning-to-women, and that meant it was easy to explore the kind of biphobia that comes into play from within the queer community and leads to bisexuals-in-relationships never coming out. Certainly there was zero reason for married Zach to come out given his life, family, and career. Now divorced and facing a moment where he’s feeling actively closeted in a different way, he’s faced with a different scenario. That’s a very real frustration, and I think Angela wrote it clearly and cleverly.

  In my own writing, I get to be emphatic with intent and statement. Matt (in Triad Soul) is on-page stated pansexual, Rebekah and Luc (Triad Blood) are bisexual, Pheobe’s boyfriend Dennis (Handmade Holidays) is bisexual, Pheobe (Handmade Holidays) is a straight trans woman, and I think Nico, one of her trans man friends, is mentioned in Saving the Date, too. I like being specific. Using the words, using the identities, is important especially in my representations of fictional chosen queer families, because that’s my lived culture. So often I bump into romances where the only two queer characters are the two gay men falling in love. They don’t even have queer friends. That never feels authentic.

  C: This story has crossover with another story of yours, Handmade Holidays, which centers queer chosen family. Can you tell me about why writing stories that center queer characters who are connected to queer community and queer chosen family is important to you?

  N: In many ways, writing for me is a form of time-travel wish-fulfillment. I write the stories I never found and wish I could have found when I was first looking for them. I don’t think that’s uncommon for queer writers—we never got to see ourselves growing up, let alone thriving versions of ourselves. And even though strides are being made in some places, for some notions of queerness, there are still characters that go missing.

  One of my particular focuses is queer chosen families specifically because it’s my reality, but in fiction—especially mainstream fiction—it’s not there. If there are disowned queer kids, it’s all wrapped up in a fictional arc and everyone ends up reunited with their families with rainbow and glitter and it’s a Very Special Episode, and everyone learns their lesson.

  Except I don’t believe the lesson is for (or even about) queer people in those stories, so it misses the mark for me. That isn’t to say every parent of every queer I write is going to be awful (because that’s not my lived reality, either). It’s just that I pretty much owe my own survival after I came out to a particular group of drag queens and the local bear community, and a growing circle of queer friends were there for me through the worst of it, and it’s important to me those kinds of stories are told for other people in the same situation.

  C: What’s next on the horizon for you? What stories are you working on?

  N: This June I’m releasing my first collection of short fiction, Of Echoes Born, and I’m beyond excited. Short fiction is my first and best love in the world of writing. The dozen stories in the collection (half of which are new including one novelette) interconnect—I like to share characters in my fictional Village—and it includes a few references to Handmade Holidays and other stories I’ve written even if they’re not in the collection. All the stories are speculative fiction, in that there’s the dash of magic, or psychic, or other, and is bookended with a pair of new stories with a character, Ian Simon, I’ve been working on for over a decade.

  I’ve also got a YA in the pipeline, Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks, about a somewhat hyper-organized gay teen who has his whole life plan ready to go and is just waiting to graduate high school and then develops a teleportation problem.

  Currently, I’m working on Triad Magic (the third in my paranormal Ottawa series) as well as another holiday novella I’m hoping to have done for this Christmas, Faux-Ho-Ho, which is a fake-relationship holiday romance and the inciting plot incident is more-or-less where Handmade Holidays ended.

  And somewhere in there? I’m going to try to write more short stories for anthology calls, too.

  Note: In addition to this interview, ‘Nathan has written about Saving the Date on his blog. I highly recommend reading this post about scars, in particular.

  More about Saving the Date:
  CoverAfter a vicious gay bashing, Morgan has spent the last three years working hard to survive and thrive. His latest plan? Using Madame Evangeline’s high-end dating service, 1NightStand, to take the anniversary of the worst night of his life and replace it with a good—and maybe even sexy—memory.

  Zach, a police officer with the Hate & Bias Crime Unit, is still coming to terms with his divorce and struggling to move on with his life. Using a matchmaking service is so very not his style, but sometimes a guy has to trust his friends—even if they don’t know everything about him, and he’s not sure they ever will.

  Face-to-face, however, it becomes clear that despite an attraction, there’s a problem. Morgan and Zach have already met—three years ago. But with some courage, a couple of pairs of skates, and a leap of faith? Morgan and Zach have a shot at saving more than one day. Together? They might just make a future.

QUOTE:
Burgoine's anthology has some appeal but is too much of a mixed bag to really satisfy.

Of Echoes Born
Publishers Weekly. 265.19 (May 7, 2018): p52.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Of Echoes Born

'Nathan Burgoine. Bold Strokes, $18.95 trade paper (252p) ISBN 978-1-63555-096-2

Burgoine (Light) assembles 12 queer supernatural tales, several of which interlock, for his inconsistent first collection. The best tales could easily stand alone; these include "The Finish," about an aging vintner whose erotic dalliance with a deaf young man named Dennis gets complicated, and "Struck," in which beleaguered bookstore clerk Chris meets Lightning Todd, who predicts his future wealth and romance. A pair of stories set in "the Village," a gay neighborhood, feature appealing characters and romances and could be components of a fine Tales of the City--like novel. But several entries, such as "Time and Tide" and "A Psychometry of Snow," are too underdeveloped, and readers never get invested in wanting the male protagonists to couple up. Color is a theme throughout the book: chapter interludes offer pretentious observations about color and emotion, and it factors into "Negative Space," in which a man has visions of people right before they die, and "There & Then," about a teenager who can see people's auras. Burgoine's anthology has some appeal but is too much of a mixed bag to really satisfy. (June)

Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Of Echoes Born." Publishers Weekly, 7 May 2018, p. 52. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A538858689/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=13dfad5a. Accessed 13 Aug. 2018.

Gale Document Number: GALE|A538858689

• Joyfully Jay
  https://joyfullyjay.com/2018/08/review-of-echoes-born-by-nathan-burgoine/
  Word count: 1307

  QUOTE:
  Burgoine’s collection of short stories is an absolute treat to read. Each new story introduces a small set of engrossing characters that are as unique as they are relatable. He encompasses the gamut of romance, from unrequited young love to love lost, from the slow burn to instalove.

  HOME | 5 STARS | REVIEW: OF ECHOES BORN BY ‘NATHAN BURGOINE
  Review: Of Echoes Born by ‘Nathan Burgoine
  aug
  8
  2018
  3 COMMENTS
  Rating: 5 stars
  Buy Link: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
  Length: Short Story Anthology

  Native son or transplant, the Village is a special place. It is colored by the myriad people who live there, by their emotions and by their experiences. For high school student, Christian, and a man named Julian, they quite literally see the colors of lives, future and past respectively. For artist and museum curator, Michel, and sketcher, Andre, they pour the emotions of the city into their work. Personal trainer, Aiden, breathes golden fire and the taste of his own icewine brings winter, Jesse, the bitterest of sweet memories.

  Something magical and mysterious runs through the city. It brings the disparate spheres of each character together along a tangent. Sometimes, this link is tenuous and ephemeral—the name on a clothing label produced by local fashion icons is all there is to connect two spheres. Other times, the link is like an ouroboros—a notebook from a boy’s adolescence reappears in his adulthood, bringing with it answers to questions asked long ago, while asking new ones.

  Yet in each story, there is a common theme: love is love. Some are stories of getting together, of finding another kindred spirit. Some are stories of rekindled romance or a great love lost.

  As you can tell by the 5-star rating, I simply adored this collection of short stories. Burgoine has subtly built a stunning alternate reality of present day Canada. The story crafting is truly superb. The kick-off story features a closeted teenager named Christian who befriends a fellow misfit/malcontent named Dawn. Christian and Dawn have different connections to track star, Bao, but any ideas of romance get kicked to the curb when Christian’s ability to see what might be described as “auras” of color clue him into the emotional states and wellbeing (or lack thereof) of people. What follows is a collection of short stories that are all subtly interconnected, even if only in a superficial way. Personally, I appreciated and rather enjoyed simple references in passing to the other stories or characters in this collection. If nothing else, this allows the reader to feel like they are in on the secret, that this world is all somehow one and the same despite a parade of characters who display various paranormal-esque abilities, and (and this is crucial for me) in such a way that avoids the story sounding like everything just oh-so-conveniently interconnects. Crucially, I didn’t notice that every story has a definitive link to another one (maybe it does and I missed it, but that’s something to look for on a second read through—and this book is certainly worth a second or third read through).

  That crucial first story sets the tone for the book; the characters are introduced with compelling narrative that made me pay attention to them from the first line of text—every time. Each character and side character (sometimes main characters in one story are worked in as side characters in another) felt genuine and individual. This is no mean feat considering the first three chunks did leave me feeling like this would maybe be a parade of endless angst filled get togethers. To be sure, there is plenty of angst and plenty of getting together; however, there is also a nice selection of painfully bittersweet stories. My favorite of the collection was probably the one about Jesse (a vinter) and Dennis (a deaf man who ends up being a dishwasher at Jesse’s vineyard). While there is clearly joy shared between these two characters, there is deep emotional pain, too. Plus, the magic or mystery (or, more truthfully, misery) of Jesse’s “ability” means his story follows a “linear” pattern, but allows intense flashbacks from his lover’s perspective that makes it feel almost non-linear. I also appreciated that the characters run the gamut in terms of age. There are teenagers, young adults, middle aged adults, and elderly folks in various starring and supporting roles. This, too, helped keep my interest in the story.

  I found Burgoine’s prose as delightful to read as it was well-suited to the stories themselves. Going back to the first story about Christian and his “aura” sensing ability, Burgoine’s descriptions were evocative and alarming. This matched a teenager discovering his ability for the first time and feeling freakishly alone because of it. Bodybuilder Aiden’s ability also manifests in ways that are visible only to him and other similarly-abled people—but because his grandmother shared a similar ability and talked about it with Aiden, the descriptions of Aiden’s ability in his and Miah’s story are much more lyrical and beautiful. In addition to the quality of the prose, there are a few flat-out humorous moments as well.

  As a few examples, here is one where Bailey, who owns a newage shop in The Village, is trying to convince Gabe, who has self-confidence issues, to ask out the hot mural painter working across the street from their shop:

  “Don’t sell yourself short, Gabe. I mean it. You’re short enough already.”

  “Ba-dum-bum,” Gabe said, but he smiled. “You’re here all week.”

  “Don’t forget to tip your waiter.”

  Maybe it’s a bit subtle, but I really liked that this exchange did not simply end with “ba-dum-bum” and that Bailey rolls on with the bit about the waiter.

  Another quick example was this line from “Struck,” which features Chris as a book slinger in the mall who is stocking shelves with YA book:

  Chris balanced a dozen copies of the latest teen hardcover in his left arm…The books were getting heavier by the moment. It was probably all the angst.

  Burgoine’s collection of short stories is an absolute treat to read. Each new story introduces a small set of engrossing characters that are as unique as they are relatable. He encompasses the gamut of romance, from unrequited young love to love lost, from the slow burn to instalove. Some of these themes are even present in the same set. Again, I must commend the usage of this broad array of characters as well. The MCs from stories crop up, mostly in passing, in the stories of others. This lends a powerful sense of cohesion and, yes, reinforces the idea that this is a community. Between each story, there are snippets a few paragraphs long that expound on the nature of emotion. It took me a while to figure out this can be read as a loosely over-arching narrative—one that provides another common thread linking the stories.

  If you are hard pressed for time, this makes for a great read because each short story can be knocked out in 30 minutes or less. Burgoine excels at this form of storytelling, providing plenty of detail and rich descriptions of time and place. Each story has a build up that works well with the climax—sometimes to gut-wrenching effect (for me, that was “The Finish”). I highly recommend this book, especially as we wend our way towards the end of summer, beginning of fall where a bit of the supernatural would not go amiss.

• Joyfully Jay
  https://joyfullyjay.com/2017/06/review-triad-soul-by-nathan-burgoine/
  Word count: 1001

  QUOTE:
  Burgoine really excels at creating a fascinating and unique supernatural world full of interesting politics. In this story we delve deeper into the lore of the wizards, demons, and vampires. Between Luc, Anders, and Curtis, we get a window into each of these groups and it is all quite well done. We are also introduced to the werewolves here and it was interesting to see this new supernatural group explored.
  I know not everyone is a fan of stories where the romance isn’t central, but I encourage you to give this series a try anyway as I find their relationship quite rewarding, and it seems to be moving into a more romantic direction.
  Review: Triad Soul by ‘Nathan Burgoine
  jun
  20
  2017
  2 COMMENTS
  triad soulRating: 4.5 stars
  Buy Links: Amazon | iBooks | Amazon UK
  Length: Novel

  Luc, Anders, and Curtis have formed an unlikely triad of vampire, demon, and wizard. They are the only mixed group of supernatural beings anyone knows about, and for that they are both feared and disliked. After the men worked together to take down the corrupt former vampire Duke of Ottawa, with Luc taking on the role as his replacement, the group has become even more notorious. But they are a strong triad and the men are bonded emotionally in a way that gives them each enhanced strength and power.

  When a demon is suspiciously murdered and more deaths follow, the three men are brought into the case to see if their combined talents can help figure out who or what is behind it. Once again they are caught in the midst of varying supernatural factions, including the wizard Families, the werewolves, and a host of other groups with questionable motives and allegiances. And of course, even those seeking their help in the investigation have reasons that aren’t all altruistic. As the men dig further into the murders, they get deeper into the various supernatural politics of the city. It takes all their combined skill to figure out who is behind the murders, and once they find the killer, they still must find a way for them all to make it out alive.

  Triad Soul is the second book in the Triad Blood series and it is one that I am thoroughly enjoying. Once again I think ‘Nathan Burgoine really excels at creating a fascinating and unique supernatural world full of interesting politics. In this story we delve deeper into the lore of the wizards, demons, and vampires. Between Luc, Anders, and Curtis, we get a window into each of these groups and it is all quite well done. We are also introduced to the werewolves here and it was interesting to see this new supernatural group explored. While the first book focused a lot on the vampires, this one goes deeper into the wizarding world and the leadership of the five Families that oversee the community. There are a lot of politics involved as these groups jostle for position and control. Once again Burgoine makes this political maneuvering interesting and accessible, rather than convoluted, and I was really drawn into the world. I particularly enjoyed seeing more of Curtis’ group of fellow young wizards who represent each of the Families and kind of end around the politics of their older generations to work together and learn from one another.

  The mystery element here is nicely twisty and well developed. I didn’t guess who was behind it all, and yet it still all makes sense when we get the big reveal. There are a lot of clever elements here as the guys work to uncover what is really going on, bringing us into politics, magic, and an interesting investigation. So I think the suspense intertwines nicely here with the larger supernatural world building.

  I continue to really enjoy Curtis, Luc, and Anders together. While they first met as a sexual encounter, the men followed it by binding together into a unique supernatural triad. This bond has made them more than just friends and sexual partners, but connected them intensely in an emotional way that strengthens each of their individual powers and also gives them incredible support. As with the first book, this is not particularly a romance, or at least not a traditional one. While we do get glimpses that more romantic feelings are beginning to grow, at this point these guys are not in a romantic relationship, or at least one we typically find in this genre. I’ll also note that while these guys are sexually active with one another, they are not exclusive, particularly Anders who, as a sex demon, must have sex with others to survive. That said, I quite like their relationship and I am actually very impressed by the way Burgoine pulls it off. It would be easier to make their connection all about romantic love; I think it is much harder to show how these men care so deeply for one another without being in love quite yet. Their bond is so strong, so apparent in everything they do. It is more than just the natural bond that comes of their triad, but a connection that defines them all so deeply and is really enjoyable to experience. So I know not everyone is a fan of stories where the romance isn’t central, but I encourage you to give this series a try anyway as I find their relationship quite rewarding, and it seems to be moving into a more romantic direction.

  So I am really quite enjoying this series and very much looking forward to more. If you are a paranormal or a suspense fan, I think there is a lot here that will appeal to you, particularly if you are looking for a unique take on the various supernatural beings. Burgoine has really created something engaging here and I definite recommend the series.

• Binge On Books
  http://bingeonbooks.com/urban-fantasy-review-triad-soul-by-nathan-burgoine/
  Word count: 1072

  QUOTE:
  I really enjoy a well-crafted paranormal mystery. But what sets it apart, and makes me genuinely love this book (and series) is the depiction, both in fact and in allegory, of queer community. This is an own voices work, and found family and the sense of support one can find in a queer community are clearly really important to Burgoine.

  Urban Fantasy Review: Triad Soul by Nathan Burgoine
  June 12, 2017 by Judith
  Triad Soul by Nathan Burgoine

  Published by: Bold Stroke Books

  Format: eArc

  Genre: urban fantasy/queer fiction

  Order at: Publisher | Amazon | B&N | Kobo

  (available now at the publisher, 20 June at other retailers)

  Reviewed by: Edwin

  What to Expect: Wizards, Vampires, and Demons with a heaped serving of queer found family and an unconventional not-quite-romance.

  Plot: The law of three is everything: three vampires for a coterie, three demons for a pack, and three wizards for a coven. Those alone or in pairs are vulnerable to the rest. Luc, Anders, and Curtis—vampire, demon, and wizard—sidestepped tradition by binding themselves together.

  When something starts brutally killing demons in Ottawa, the three find themselves once again moving among the powers who rule the city from the shadows—this time working with them to try to stop the killings before chaos and blood rule the streets.

  Hunting a killer who seems to leave no trace behind, the triad are forced to work with allies they don’t dare trust, powers they barely understand, and for the good of those they already know to be corrupt.

  They have the power of blood, soul, and magic. But they have to survive to keep it.

  Review: ‘Nathan Burgoine’s Triad Blood, the first book in this series, was one of my favourite books of last year and Triad Soul is, if anything, even better. It’s possible to read it without having read Triad Blood (the plot largely stands alone) but you’ll miss a lot of background and Triad Blood is amazing, so I’d suggest reading that first.

  As the blurb states, the main plot motivator here is a murder mystery: someone is killing demons, and the supernatural government (such as it is) want it investigated but doesn’t want to be seen to be involved. So they ask our triad of main characters – powerful, but outside the usual hierarchy of the supernatural world – to investigate. The mystery plot works nicely, and I didn’t guess until close to the end who the culprit was. It’s quite important that we get clear plot drive from the mystery element, because the book does a lot of other things, and has a number of allegorical strands, that would have bogged down a less skilful writer.

  One of the most prominent of these other elements is the fantasy worldbuilding, and it’s done very well. Wizard, Demon, and Vampire magic and society are well explained and really interesting, as are the werewolves (a new supernatural species that didn’t feature in the first book in the series). It’s also a specifically Canadian form of society: the French/English dichotomy that’s defined Canadian society for 200 years. In very broad terms the Wizards seem to be Anglos and the Vampires are French. It’s the sort of detail that entirely makes sense in a story set in Ottawa, and really helps give the book a concrete sense of place (and does Burgoine’s local knowledge of various Ottawa neighbourhoods and landmarks).

  So far, all of this is good – I really enjoy a well-crafted paranormal mystery. But what sets it apart, and makes me genuinely love this book (and series) is the depiction, both in fact and in allegory, of queer community. This is an own voices work, and found family and the sense of support one can find in a queer community are clearly really important to Burgoine. The Triad are all, in their own way, alone and vulnerable: the cultured Luc has lived a long time, but most of that has been in the shadows. Anders, a confident, assertive man, had to fight his own instincts to stay beneath the radar and survive. And most of all Curtis, who’s only in his early twenties, watched his parents killed by those he ought to have been able to trust. In each other, the three of them find community and find safety, even if others don’t understand how. Their relationship isn’t quite a romance (though Anders is a sex demon so there is some sex there), and though it may be heading that way, the mutual support the triad provides doesn’t depend on it. It’s great to see this – it’s something that is largely absent from both m/m fiction and urban fantasy.

  Throw in Anders helping other queer demons find a pack and Luc finding places for vampires who are usually ignored or hunted down, and the book’s overriding concern with finding a place for people who the mainstream has cast out becomes crystal clear. At a more prosaic level, I also like that all three in the triad, but particularly Curtis, have other queer friends and acquaintances. Too often the main queer character and his love interest are the only gays in the village, and Burgoine avoids that trap. I love Curtis’s pansexual friend Matt and his boyfriend and Anders’s frenemy gay demons.

  The prose is generally crisp and cleanly written, but there are also flourishes of creativity that elevate the writing above the prosaic. It has heart, imagination, and skill. Like Triad Blood before it, I suspect this is going to be one of my favourite books of its year.

  What you might not like/doesn’t work for you: The relationship at the heart of this book isn’t romantic, though there is the hint of one starting to appear. If you’re coming for a full-on romance, you’re going to be disappointed.

  What you will love: A creative urban fantasy world that you’ll love exploring. An outstanding own voices reflection on the importance of found family and community. And a hilariously profane sex demon.

• Rainbow Gold Reviews
  https://rainbowgoldreviews.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/triad-blood-by-nathan-burgoine-lgbt-review-paranormal-mystery/
  Word count: 836

  QUOTE:
  This is a very intricate, well-written story with some fantastic world-building.
  I liked each main character’s attributes and appreciated them learning how their skills have sharpened, constantly putting them in a learning state, and realizing their personal strength and power is only strengthened by being in a relationship with the other two MCs.
  This story has an underlying mystery, and you can kind of guess who the villain is, but more and more is slowly revealed as you journey through the different scenarios each character has to deal with. And in the end, it all just makes them stronger.

  Triad Blood by ‘Nathan Burgoine #LGBT #Review #Paranormal #Mystery
  mtsnow13 / June 6, 2016
  MtSnow reviews ‘Triad Blood’ by ‘Nathan Burgoine, published by Bold Stroke Books on May 1st 2016. 240 pgs.

  Why MtSnow reviewed this story: It’s Different Publishers week at RGR, and I thought the blurb on this one looked good. The cover was also a refreshing change from the sexy, bare male torso. I did realize after starting it and seeing it looked like an established relationship, that I might benefit from some insight by purchasing the 33 pg short titled ‘Three’ which originally was published in the anthology ‘Blood Sacraments’ where the characters initially meet. It helped. It looks as if there are a few other prequel short stories from each of the main characters’ POV in print as well, if you want to grab the various anthologies that the publisher has released.

  This has been a great opportunity for me to branch out and I’m enjoying reading new-to-me authors.

  Note: a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

  imageBLURB:

  The law of three is unbroken: three vampires form a coterie, three demons make a pack, and three wizards are a coven. That is how it has always been, and how it was always to be.

  But Luc, Anders, and Curtis—vampire, demon, and wizard—have cheated tradition. Their bond is not coterie, pack, or coven, but something else. Thrust into the supernatural politics ruling Ottawa from behind the shadows, they face Renard, a powerful vampire who harbors deadly secrets of his own and wishes to end their threat. The enemy they know conjures fire and death at every turn. The enemies they don’t know are worse.

  Blood, soul, and magic gave them freedom. Now they need to survive it.

  review[1] (1)

  Wow. This is a very intricate, well-written story with some fantastic world-building. I recall now that I had read one of this author’s short stories in an anthology than Lethe Press released, and I very much enjoyed it as well. The descriptive language is not at all flowery, but well-paced and keeps the reader wanting to just keep reading, even as you finish the previous chapter. I think the different points of view from each character helps with this movement. It flows well, is not boring at all, and kept me wanting more.

  I liked each main character’s attributes and appreciated them learning how their skills have sharpened, constantly putting them in a learning state, and realizing their personal strength and power is only strengthened by being in a relationship with the other two MCs. I also like that they aren’t in a ‘normal’ grouping, and it allows them to realize diversity is good, disproving the prejudices of other triads, and the fact that their differences are what make them stronger and more of a surprise to others that cross their paths.

  There are some enjoyable supporting characters in this story too. Catherine, the stately vampiress in charge of her own coutiere (vampire triad) but somewhat of a friend to Luc; MacKenzie, the very bookish, but friendly wizard friend to Curtis that helps get him out of a jam or two; and David, the prickly solo incubus that is a police officer. He and Anders seem to have some history that makes them just barely stand to be in each other’s company.

  This story has an underlying mystery, and you can kind of guess who the villain is, but more and more is slowly revealed as you journey through the different scenarios each character has to deal with. And in the end, it all just makes them stronger.

  Highly recommended read, and I am hoping the author has more stories up his sleeve for this universe! I now am wanting to read all the other prequels of these characters from the previously published anthologies. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to branch out to Bold Strokes Books this week, and look forward to more from ‘Nathan Bourgoine. Nothing light and fluffy about this one, and that is perfect for me.

  9.5 of 10 pots of gold – Equivalent to 4.75 of 5 stars or recommended 95% out of 100%

• Impressions of a Reader
  http://www.impressionsofareader.com/2016/06/review-triad-blood-by-nathan-burgoine.html
  Word count: 955

  QUOTE:
  I finished Triad Blood in two sittings only because I couldn't stay up all night reading, the plot was that good. Burgoine did an excellent job of pulling everything together: the characters, world-building, and plot. Luc, Anders, and Curtis just want to live in peace but someone or a few someones cannot let such a powerful triad stick around, particularly such an unorthodox one.
  Burgoine is a talented writer. He has the right touch whether he chooses to write his exquisite short works or full-length novels, speculative fiction, romance, fiction, erotica or urban fantasy.

  Review: Triad Blood by 'Nathan Burgoine
  'Nathan Burgoine is a favorite writer. I read Triad Blood as soon as it released, and was not disappointed, but then, that was never an expectation.
  The law of three is unbroken: three vampires form a coterie, three demons make a pack, and three wizards are a coven. That is how it has always been, and how it was always to be.

  But Luc, Anders, and Curtis—vampire, demon, and wizard—have cheated tradition. Their bond is not coterie, pack, or coven, but something else. Thrust into the supernatural politics ruling Ottawa from behind the shadows, they face Renard, a powerful vampire who harbors deadly secrets of his own and wishes to end their threat. The enemy they know conjures fire and death at every turn. The enemies they don’t know are worse.

  Blood, soul, and magic gave them freedom. Now they need to survive it.
  Characterization and world-building make this urban fantasy a success. The characters, however, are the first to ensnare the reader, as Burgoine first establishes the all-important emotional connection and continually deepens characterization throughout the story. Additionally, the personalities are different and provide a balance between the characters.

  Luc is an old-world, suave, sensual vampire with a cynicism and ruthless toughness built through centuries of living as a lone vampire not allowed to feed except during the full moon. He brings power and the experience of dealing with vampire coteries and their politics to the triad. Rejected and continually beaten by the demon packs because he is gay, Anders is a brash, crass, in-your-face sexual, incubus demon. He is a complex, contradictory character whose tattooed muscled-bound body hides a sensitive side, and whose sarcastic humor overshadows a wicked intelligence and caring personality. Curtis is a young, cute, lovable, powerful wizard, and the center of the triad. He is beloved by Luc and Anders for his pure soul, kindness and naiveté, but rejected by wizard covens for having been born to 'non-magical' parents. For that reason, Curtis is considered an 'Orphan' and banned from using magic. He is the catalyst to this story, and the character whose good decisions and/or mistakes drive the plot forward.

  Burgoine's sets his urban fantasy world in Ottawa, Canada where he resides. I love the setting and that he utilizes the fact that Ottawa is a 'government town' in the world-building and plot. First, we have the ancient, powerful, cold-hearted vampires and their coteries. They are expert manipulators and merciless killers when seeking power among themselves or fighting against others. Then, we have the wizard covens living by strict guidelines set by mob-like "Families" who don't hesitate to murder in cold blood when their rules are broken. And last, there are the obviously homophobic demon packs whose main purpose is to procreate by stealing souls to gain power. Note: although demons (incubus and other) as individuals are drawn in an excellent fashion, in this world, the demons as packs were not as clearly defined.

  I finished Triad Blood in two sittings only because I couldn't stay up all night reading, the plot was that good. Burgoine did an excellent job of pulling everything together: the characters, world-building, and plot. Luc, Anders, and Curtis just want to live in peace but someone or a few someones cannot let such a powerful triad stick around, particularly such an unorthodox one. The attacks and murder attempts begin small, but soon they gain momentum and get more violent in nature. All three investigate, and with help from a few friends and frenemies, they slowly begin to make sense of what is happening. There are unforgettable secondary characters, including a couple of villains, but mostly characters that I would love to see again. The book ends with an action-packed climactic scene, a few unanswered questions, and what I think of as a great beginning.

  Do you know what I loved about this book, besides the characters, world-building and plot? The theme(s): Outsiders: three people who don't belong where they should. Diversity: three people who are so different it should be impossible for them to be anything more than careful enemies. Family: Having been rejected by their own, they forge a strong friendship and become a loyal family. Additionally, despite the use of the word "triad" on the title, this urban fantasy does not focus on erotica or traditional romance. This is UF and although there is loving, sexual scenes appear only when necessary -- no gratuitous sex.

  'Nathan Burgoine is a talented writer. He has the right touch whether he chooses to write his exquisite short works or full-length novels, speculative fiction, romance, fiction, erotica or urban fantasy. Burgoine's first novel, Light, and most of his short works appear all over my favorite books lists. I can safely say that Triad Blood is highly recommended. And, hopefully, this is the first of an urban fantasy series.

  Category: Urban Fantasy - LGBT
  Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
  Release Date: May 17, 2016
  Grade: B+

• GLBT Reviews
  https://www.glbtrt.ala.org/reviews/book-review-light-by-nathan-burgoine/
  Word count: 450

  QUOTE:
  Engaging and hard to put down, Light speeds along at an incredible pace in a mixture of humor and urgency. A great narrator, Kieran is forced to juggle his new relationship, his hidden powers, and his ongoing battles in a plot that mixes drag queens, giant dogs, astrally-projected mentors, superhero-style battles.
  Burgoine’s Light transcends the traditional limitations of its genre.

  Book review: Light, by ‘Nathan Burgoine
  Burgoine LightBurgoine, ‘Nathan. Light. Bold Strokes. 2013. $16.95. 264p. PB. 9781602829534.

  Massage therapist Kieran Quinn’s vacation is not working out for him. Because he loves Pride, Kieren usually spends a week off attending all of the festivities in Ottawa, but this year the arrival of Stigmatic Jack, a religious fundamentalist who mysteriously has stigmatic wounds appear while he is speaking, disturbs the event. As people are hurt by psychic daggers during Jack’s protests at the opening of Ottawa Pride, it falls to Kieran to put a stop to him. Kieran is a little bit telepathic and a little telekinetic, making for a crappy first date but giving him the super hero abilities that Ottawa Pride needs.

  This speculative romance shines when it begins to subvert some of the typical motifs of m/m fiction. At the beginning of the novel, Kieran is set up on a blind date by his best friend, and they find each other attractive at first meeting. The device seems to be a lazy way to create the start of a love interest, but Burgoine toys with the notion. The blind date goes terribly wrong, and their recurrent encounters are so awkward that the two will never ever ever get back together. Instead, Kieran falls for the leather daddy pride organizer after he performs first aid on the man because of the first clash with the forces of Stigmatic Jack.

  Engaging and hard to put down, Light speeds along at an incredible pace in a mixture of humor and urgency. A great narrator, Kieran is forced to juggle his new relationship, his hidden powers, and his ongoing battles in a plot that mixes drag queens, giant dogs, astrally-projected mentors, superhero-style battles. Throughout the many sub plots, no minor character ever gets forgotten, and a twist ending changes everything I thought I knew about the bad guys. Burgoine’s Light transcends the traditional limitations of its genre.

  This book is recommended for libraries of all types as well as anyone interested in dipping a toe into the waters of m/m romance. With a minimum of angst combined with a lot going on, this may be a good jumping off point.

  Mack Freeman

• On Top Down Under
  http://ontopdownunderbookreviews.com/light-nathan-burgoine/
  Word count: 918

  QUOTE:
  Overall, this is an outstanding book. There’s a bit of violence, a bit of romance, and several out there situations. I laughed a few times and I cringed once or twice. But in the end, I was very happy that I read this book. There is a lot more I could add to my review as a lot happens in the story. However, I will just say read it. You won’t be sorry.

  Rating: 4.5 Stars

  Publisher: Bold Strokes Books

  Genre: LGBT (G), Contemporary, Fantasy, Mystery

  Length: 264 Pages

  Reviewer: Cindi

  Purchase At: Bold Strokes Books

  Blurb: Kieran Quinn is a bit telepathic, a little psychokinetic, and very gay—three things that have gotten him through life perfectly well so far—but when self-styled prophet Wyatt Jackson arrives during Pride Week, things take a violent turn.

  Kieran’s powers are somewhat underwhelming but do have a habit of refracting light into spectacular rainbows for him to hide behind. Even so, it’s not long before Kieran is struggling to maintain his own anonymity while battling wits with a handsome cop, getting some flirting in with a hunky leather man, saving some drag queens, and escaping the worst blind date in history. It’s enough to make a fledgling hero want to give up before he even begins.

  One thing’s for sure: saving the day has never been so fabulous.

  I don’t normally put blurbs in my reviews but I felt that it was warranted in this case as it really describes parts of the book much better than I could in my review.

  Kieran discovered that he was different when he was ten. His mother was dying and young Kieran was in the hospital bed with her watching a program on TV where Thomas Wright: Psychokinetic was going to be the first person ever to demonstrate his abilities publicly, on national television. Only the demonstration doesn’t quite go as planned.

  Years later, Kieran is a masseuse at Now & Zen. Each year he takes Pride Week off feeling happy to have been born the gay child. He plans to go to as many events during Pride Week as he can but first he has to get through one of the worst blind dates in history, courtesy of his best friend Karen. Karen can’t understand why in the world Kieran is still single. She is too but that is so not the point. The dud of a blind date turns into Kieran being forced to allow the guy to go with him to the Pride flag raising ceremony at City Hall. While there, they see Wyatt Jackson, a preacher (similar to Westboro Baptist Church, as I’m sure was the point) and his cronies trying their damndest to disrupt the ceremony. When it turns violent is when Kieran has to step in and use his own telekinetic powers to stop the violence. He must do this without anyone seeing him as his abilities are a closely guarded secret that he has shared with no one, including his father, brother or Karen.

  When it is all said and done there are injured people everywhere. When Kieran could run away (like his date did) instead he stays behind and helps an injured man who is bleeding badly from his arm. When the man is rushed to the hospital Kieran figures he’ll never see him again. Thankfully he’s wrong about that.

  The so-called preacher and his misguided followers make appearances (and cause violence) at various events during the week. Kieran does what he can to stop it but has problems doing so because he believes that the preacher may have the same powers as he, only stronger. The man he helped, Sebastian LaRoche, plays a big part in Kieran’s life later and ultimately becomes more than just some random stranger whose arm he bandaged.

  Light has a great set of characters, from Kieran and Sebastian to Karen and the blind date. Karen is a total blast. I read so many books with the token bitch female so it was refreshing to read one with a great character like Karen. There is Kieran’s brother, who is not in the book much but when he is, you gotta love him. Kieran is adorable. He has accepted his powers and is trying to use them to rid Pride Week of the bigoted pastor and his minions. Sebastian, I totally fell in love with from the moment he was lying on the ground with blood running down his arm. Throw in a few entertaining drag queens, a funny cat, and a very excited dog and you simply can not go wrong with the characters in this book.

  Overall, this is an outstanding book. There’s a bit of violence, a bit of romance, and several out there situations. I laughed a few times and I cringed once or twice. But in the end, I was very happy that I read this book. There is a lot more I could add to my review as a lot happens in the story. However, I will just say read it. You won’t be sorry.

  This book was provided by Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for a fair and honest review.