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    REVIEW: Banded Together by K.C. Burn

    Banded Together – K.C. Burn

    Punk’s not dead, but it’s time to redefine life.

    Devlin Waters thought he’d have music forever. But the tragic death of his best friend ended the twenty-year run of his punk band, Negative Impression. Unable to process the loss, Devlin distances himself from everyone and everything that reminds him of the band. But forty-one is too young to curl up and wait for the end. In a search for a second career, he finds himself at university with a bunch of kids young enough to be… his kids. His sexy archeology professor, however, makes Devlin think about life beyond his grief….

    Dr. Jack Johnson does not appreciate Devlin’s lack of respect, his inability to be serious, or his chronic lateness. Worse, he hates that he’s attracted to a student. When he realizes Devlin is the rock star he crushed on in his youth, he drops his guard—against his better judgment.

    Before they can move forward together, Jack must admit to Devlin that he’s not only an admirer, but he also sings in a cover band. How will Devlin react to his ultimate fanboy when his own music has died?


    I had to grab this, how could I not?

    Banded Together by K.C. Burn stars band vocalist Devlin Waters, grieving the death of his best friend and bandmate, Trent. The two are the founding members of the goth punk industrial band Negative Impression. Devlin, also the bassist, is known as Blade; Trent, the lead guitarist, is Reaver (loved the nod to Nine Inch Nails!); their drummer and rhythm guitarist are Dragon and Moth.

    With the band on indefinite hiatus, Dev is going back to school for a second career. It so happens that in his Archeology 101, the professor, Dr. Jack Johnson, is cute, uptight, and grumpy, and Dev just had to push his buttons.

    Jack is infuriated with the cocky, always late Dev, who got under his skin. Only for Jack to discover, this Devlin Waters is THE Devlin Waters a.k.a. Blade, vocalist of his all-time favorite band and ultimate crush.

    It’s very rare to read stories of rock stars embarking on second careers. So rare that this is my first time reading about it. Dev goes back to college and finds that he enjoys his classes, especially Archaeology 101.

    It helps that his professor is not only attractive but is passionate about the subject. Only Dr. Jack is intentionally making the class as boring as possible to weed out dabblers who think they are the next Indiana Jones. Apparently, Indiana Jones is a terrible archaeologist. Something I found hilarious since I wanted to be Indiana Jones when I grew up.

    Usually, I steer clear of teacher/student romances, as I found real-life examples to be iffy because they frequently involve middle-aged persons preying on impressionable teenagers. The story fortunately avoids the cradle robbing, with Devlin being 41 years old and Jack younger at 34. This is also a rare look at the life of a mature student who had to deal with classmates old enough to be his children.

    Devlin’s cool confidence and shameless flirtations hide a broken man who literally couldn’t face the music and his remaining band members, the grief too intense, the memories too painful. It also doesn’t hide the fact that he could be an ass, especially to Jack, who secretly bears the trauma of a one-night stand from years ago that Devlin doesn’t remember.

    The romance is a rollercoaster! The highs are hopeful and sweet, with scenes of open conversations, humorous banter, and comfort food. The lows are angsty and incredibly raw, where band-aids are ripped off wounds that barely healed, and Dev walks off to escape his overwhelming feelings, which is frustrating as hell!

    The healing took time, and so Jack and Dev slow-burned their way through Archeology 101, drunken sleepovers, painful revelations, and eventually, acceptance and happier memories of Trent. While the book is easy to read, it is also very emotional and heartbreaking. I wasn’t impressed with Devlin’s attitude at first, but he was willing to change. Ultimately, his journey with Jack was very rewarding, and it was a well-deserved, hard-won HEA.

    My favorite part is Jack’s other secret, Crimson Corrosion, a tribute band to Negative Impression. I loved how this part brings the story full circle in a tribute that is intensely personal, cathartic, and intimate, even with an audience. If I were in the audience, I would have tears streaming down my face too!

    Banded Together is a story about second chances and healing. It is a rare glimpse into the lives of mature rockstars starting over, and a heartfelt exploration of grief, growth, and the redemptive power of love. Overall, a cacophony of emotions that leaves a lasting impression!

    Rating:
    4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

    Soundtrack: Gave Up
    Artist: Nine Inch Nails
    Album: Broken


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    SERIES REVIEW: Galactic Alliance Books 1&2 by K.C. Burn

    Galactic Alliance by K.C. Burn is an oldie but goldie sci-fi romance series about intergalactic love affairs with far-reaching consequences. Published in 2011, three interconnected books can be read as standalone but better experienced by reading them in order.

    It’s too bad that the series is short. The stories are pretty enjoyable. The way the world-building is conceived and with many intriguing side characters, the potential for more books are endless.

    I’ll be reviewing the first two books.

    Galactic Alliance: Spice n’ Solace – K.C. Burn

    Every year, Jathan One-Moon faces increasing pressure that he marry and have children. What Jathan really wants is a male mate that can enjoy both playful sex and his more dominant nature. To tame his stress, Jathan orders a male escort from Spice ‘n’ Solace, the premier male brothel in the Galactic Alliance–and is thrilled to be sent a man whose air of innocence and obvious desire for Jathan arouse him like never before.

    Jathan doesn’t know he has mistaken Kazha Deinos, the owner of Spice ‘n’ Solace, as his escort. Kaz doesn’t intend to pleasure Jathan personally, but his powerful masculinity is irresistible. Kaz has dreamed of a man who’d take charge and indulge his hidden cravings–a man just like Jathan.

    With their explosive passion and unexpected tenderness, Jathan and Kaz soon want to stay together–if Jathan’s position and Kaz’s secrets don’t tear them apart…


    Spice ‘n’ Solace opens the series in Elora Ki, a frontier planet hosting the most important event in the galaxy, the yearly negotiations between the Ankylos Empire and the Galactic Alliance. The Empire and the Alliance have previously been at war, and the most important human in all the galaxy, Jathan One-Moon, is tasked to negotiate on behalf of humans and prevent another war at all costs.

    With the fate of humanity on his shoulders, Jathan’s only stress reliever is the submissive rent boys from the top brothel of the planet, Spice ‘n’ Solace. However, brothel owner Kazha Deinos encountered problems with supply and so went to Jathan’s headquarters to talk to him about it. Neither had met before, but the moment they did, BAM! Pants flew off!

    This employs the mistaken identity trope to steamy results. But this is not just about dominance and popping butt cherries. It also deals with brothel business woes, homophobic friends, sneaky competitors, familial pressures to produce an heir and how Kaz’s presence in Jathan’s life is affecting the tense negotiations.

    The plot is straightforward. The lust was so intense and insta it zinged. The romantic development was equally lightning-fast but executed satisfyingly. These are the best parts and offset the many things glossed over. The negotiations itself barely had page time, the ending was rushed, and how people can still be homophobic at a time where you can fuck all manner of alien lifeforms is beyond me.

    Jathan’s a great character. Son of a famous war general, a man of his word and a considerate dom, he’s the perfect match for Kaz. But my favorite character in the entire series will always be Kaz! He appears down-trodden most of the time. The man is too hard on himself and doesn’t seem to recognize his value but he’s actually a very savvy businessman.

    Kaz created a certain mystique about him whether he intended to or not. I liked how everyone knows his name but couldn’t put a face to it. The only people who do recognized him are the high-ranking members of society who patronized his business. So, of course, he knows all their dirty secrets. It’s like this guy is sitting on a goldmine of information. Imagine what he can do with all that power!

    Sadly, this was not the focus here but I would loved to read a story about something like that. I did get a thrill when Kaz put a scheming politician in his place with his dirty secret when the man was pressuring Jathan. Overall, Spice ‘n’ Solace is engrossing, gritty, sizzling, and sometimes cute.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Solace
    Artist: Feint & Laura Brehm
    Album: Solace


    Galactic Alliance: Alien n’ Outlaw – K.C. Burn

    R’kos, son of the Ankylos Emperor, is expected to settle down. But he’s much more attracted to human males than to his own species. Eager to explore his forbidden longings, he steals a ship and heads to Elora Ki to see if he can find the right human guy.

    Darien robs the corrupt to give to those in need, but now he needs a ride off Elora Ki, stat. Pursued by drug lords, he accepts help from the amorous stranger who calls himself Ricky. As they fly together along Darien’s route, their friendship quickly turns into passion.

    But when Ricky is injured, Darien must contact the embassy to get his alien lover the medical care he needs. As Darien finds himself accused of kidnapping, and Ricky fears his family’s disappointment, can the two protect their growing relationship? Or are their differences just too great?


    Alien ‘n’ Outlaw stars R’kos, one of the many princes of the Ankylos Empire. This year, it’s his turn to be the negotiator. He’s hanging at an Elora Ki bar incognito, looking for a human hookup, when he saw Darien. Liking how the man smelled, R’kos followed the man out to the back. It became apparent Darien was on the run, and R’kos decided then and there to help him.

    R’kos’s species are a hive-minded people who mate in triads, usually a female and two males. They are lavender-skinned, some have horns, have keen sense of smell, but with light-sensitive eyes. As a prince, R’kos’s three parents already arranged who he will marry.

    R’kos is different in that he prefers to be alone, and he’s attracted to males only, specifically human males. How would the Ankylos Empire react to such a union? Not to mention, another catastrophic war might erupt should the prince’s affair with a human go sour.

    R’kos is more familiar with humans because of the negotiations. Darien was a complete fish out of water among R’kos’s people. I loved how these two are all about patience, trust and open communication. R’kos and Darien’s romance is gentle yet passionate. They navigate their similarities and differences and made it work.

    The plot is a road trip across the galaxy, visiting cult-dominated planets, doing some Robin Hood side hustle, fighting off space pirates and meeting R’kos’s sprawling family. The most fun part is witnessing Darien’s culture shock at how spectacularly oblivious the Ankylos are to the concept of privacy. From throuples blithely having sex in corridors to open space unisex lavatories where your business is everyone’s business, Darien was gob smacked and just a liiiittle bit scared.

    With a suspenseful space fight, much-appreciated cameos from Jathan and his crew, and a happy reunion, the ending was much better than the first book. While I didn’t enjoy the visit to the cult, the story as a whole was highly entertaining. Overall, Alien ‘n’ Outlaw is a thrilling space adventure, an eye-opening cultural experience, and an endearing alien romance.

    Rating:
    4 Stars – minor quibbles but I loved it to bits

    Soundtrack: Run With You
    Artist: Middle Kids
    Album: Today We’re The Greatest


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