Title: Slow Burn by Sam B. Morgan
Publisher: Loose Id
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense, Erotic, Romance, M/M
Length: Novel
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher
Summary:
Detective Douglas Brody has only ever known the life of a cop. Raised strict but fair by his police chief father, he joined the academy right out of school, climbed the ranks hard and fast, and now works homicide for the City of Charleston. The job is his entire life. For years it’s kept him happy enough to minimize the side of him that craves what he believes is wrong. An accident on the job puts him on medical leave and everything in Brody’s world changes. He has to prove himself once more to be best cop in the department, all while dealing with Zack – his persistent, sexy, and out of the closet physical therapist.
Zack is tan skin, big grins, floppy hair and tackles his job with the same full-blown enthusiasm he does everything else. When the “patient from hell” is thrown his way by another PT who can’t handle him, Zack is committed to achieving the impossible. His new patient is a head strong and hot as hell homicide detective, who oozes as much resentment as he does sex appeal. Any involvement with a patient, especially a man who is so deep in the closet he can’t see light, is something Zack swore he’d never do. But Brody slowly proves too much to resist…
The Review:
Sam B. Morgan’s Slow Burn is a delightfully angst-free romance between closeted homicide detective Douglas Brody and his laid back physical therapist Zack. With plenty of heat and not much conflict, it is a light easy to read novel that is sure to delight fans of contemporary m/m fiction.
Brody is so dedicated to his career that his personal life is pretty much non-existent. His job keeps him deep in the closet and one night stands are about as serious as his relationships ever get. One case has haunted him his entire career and Brody is obsessed with catching the serial killer before he strikes again. Unfortunately he is riding a desk during physical therapy and if he plans on getting back out in the field, Brody needs some intensive one on one therapy to get him in the best shape of his life. And he knows just the person to help him: his physical therapist, Zack.
Zack is everything Brody isn’t: easy going, cheerful and out of the closet. He takes his job seriously but he also knows how to relax and have a good time. Zack is extremely patient with Brody and he successfully gets Brody’s therapy back on track. Zack might be attracted to Brody, but he is too professional to act on it. Zack has reservations about taking Brody on as a private client but Brody easily convinces him to change his mind.
Zack and Brody settle into an easy camaraderie once they begin their private training sessions. Brody slowly begins to loosen up and Zack finally realizes that Brody is also gay. Their attraction simmers on the back burner but once it comes to a boil? These two eagerly (and frequently) give in to their desire. Their sex scenes are deliciously sexy and their lovemaking is quite steamy. There is also an emotional connection between them, but Brody has no intention of living openly as a gay man. Zack understands where Brody is coming from, but how long will Zack be content with keeping their relationship under wraps?
Slow Burn is an enjoyable romance with engaging and likable characters. The mystery aspect of the story is understated but it serves as a catalyst for Brody to make some much needed changes to his personal life. Sam B. Morgan wraps up the story with a lovely epilogue that is absolutely the perfect ending for Brody and Zack.
