Make You Burn
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4.2 • 18 Ratings
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Meet the Deacons of Bourbon Street, bad boy bikers who are hell on wheels—and heaven between the sheets. Megan Crane revs up an irresistible new series co-written with Rachael Johns, Jackie Ashenden, and Maisey Yates.
Sean “Ajax” Harding’s oaths are inked into his skin. Once second-in-command of the Deacons of Bourbon Street motorcycle club, he left New Orleans to protect the brotherhood, and only the death of his beloved mentor, Priest Lombard, could lure him back. Walking into the old hangout gives him a familiar thrill—especially when he gets an eyeful of the bar’s delectable new owner. A wild ride with her is just the welcome Ajax needs. Then he realizes that she’s Priest’s daughter, all grown up and totally off limits.
Sophie Lombard loved her father, not his lifestyle. She’s done with bikers . . . until Ajax roars into town—arrogant, tough, and sexy as ever. And although he treats her like the Catholic schoolgirl he once knew, Sophie’s daydreams tend to revolve around sin. With the very real possibility of heartbreak looming, Sophie knows better than to get too close to an outlaw. But every touch from Ajax is steamier than the Louisiana bayou—and heat like this may just be worth getting burned.
Praise for Make You Burn
“If you are looking for a hot and dirty read in the motorcycle club genre, then Megan Crane is a new voice to follow. Her characters are gritty, unapologetic, and led by their animal instincts, whether in war or love.”—Heroes and Heartbreakers
“Launching a biker-themed contemporary series, Crane piles on the passion and danger. . . . This tough and dirty world is fascinating and satisfying in its own way.”—Publishers Weekly
“There’s hot and then there’s smoking, and Megan Crane’s start of the Deacons of Bourbon Street series is the sexiest thing I’ve read in a while. . . . Her style was so sultry and thick that I could almost feel the sweat of the bayou and the pulse of Bourbon Street as I read. I sunk deep into the story and enjoyed every minute of it.”—Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
“There’s heat, emotion, mystery, suspicion and danger coating every page in equal measure. . . . Make You Burn is an explosive start to what will be a truly hot series.”—My Written Romance
“Hang on to your seat as you read this one and get ready to take a cold shower. . . . If you want a hot, sexy read that is not your typical MC read this is it! May the Deacons go on forever!”—Southern Yankee Book Reviews
“Fans of dirty romances with seriously naughty and sexy heroes should not miss this book. It may make readers spontaneously combust. Make You Burn is . . . hot enough to start a fire with a plot that makes me want to know more.”—Romance Novel News
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Launching a biker-themed contemporary series, Crane piles on the passion and danger while skimping on story. Sean "Ajax" Harding returns to his hometown of New Orleans when the death of Priest Lombard, president of the motorcycle called the Deacons of Bourbon Street, releases him from 10 years of exile. Sophie Lombard, Priest's daughter and a Southern spitfire, is looking for reckless ways to cope with her grief. Sophie and Ajax's reunion is instantly erotic, and they soon ignore the demands of planning the funeral and corralling the Deacons in favor of sexual escapades. Crane focuses on the erotic, sketching in characters and events without much detail. The plot is quickly abandoned, presumably to be resumed in future volumes. The narrative voice leaps from one character to another, leading to confusion as the point of view shifts. But all of this may be forgiven, as the sex scenes more than make up for the weakness of composition. While there is no resolution to speak of, this tough and dirty world is fascinating and satisfying in its own way.
Customer Reviews
Great start to new series!
Coming home can be difficult, but coming home after losing someone important is even harder. Ajax is home but he's grieving the loss of his mentor and surrogate father Priest. He still hasn't been able to figure out why he and his brothers were exiled a decade ago and now he's tasked with calling his brothers home. Things have changed though, both in his city and family. The biggest noticeable change is Sophie Lombard, the daughter of the man he respects most.
The attraction between Sophie and Ajax was instant and undeniable. It seemed like even before they'd exchanged names they were getting off with each other. I like how the insta-lust between them was not confused for insta-love on either of their parts. I really liked Sophie. My heart hurt for her knowing she'd lost her only family. I also hurt when she realized her father whom she'd sacrificed so much for hadn't cared enough to do the same. It was certainly jarring. I liked Sophie and her wits. She was smart and mostly level headed. She was reliable and responsible for someone so young. She also had a wild streak.
Ajax was an interesting character. I liked him, sometimes. Other times I felt like he was too overbearing and rude. Ajax might have been short on words and emotions but the ones he shared and showed carried a lot of weight. I also felt horrible for him when I learned how he came to be a Deacon. I loved Ajax's loyalty and commitment to family, even if he knew pursuing Sophie broke the rules. Once he made Sophie his, she was his concern, even if she didn't like it.
I think I liked watching Sophie and Ajax butt heads as much as I did seeing them get along. I was a little concerned about how blase they were regarding Priest's death especially when they realized it might not have been an accident. I don't feel like it was given the attention it deserved and when you have characters like Sophie and Ajax who have strong connections to the deceased, it felt wrong. I do feel like the murder mystery was pushed aside and Sophie and Ajax's bedroom romps took center stage. Now I'm not complaining because they were hot, but I would've liked the story and sex to be balanced. However since there are more books coming, I'm hoping that there will be more about finding the truth.
As it is, I'm really excited to see Megan Crane writing something new and unfamiliar. It's definitely the hottest book of hers I've ever read. I like that she's pushing her boundaries. Overall, this book was a great introduction to a new story and characters and a great way to start off a new series. I'm already eagerly looking forward to the next book.
n okay story, not a good or great one.
Motorcycle club focused stories seem to be one of the new hot topics for romance, and I’ll admit that I have encountered a mix of good and not so. Make You Burn brought compelling characters who felt plausible, and the club influence was not prevalent enough to become a character in its own right, one that often runs contrary to or overruns the core romance.
Sophie has just lost her father, Priest, the founder and president of the Deacons of Bourbon Street. Although she loved her father dearly, she wasn’t a huge fan of the club, the time it took from her, the behavior of her father and the others. Now that he is gone, she’s expecting the boys to pay their respects and move on. But she wasn’t expecting Ajax to return.
Ajax is a dyed in the wool bad boy – he’d left New Orleans to “save the club” and is now back. He’s finding the woman he spotted walking into the Priory is actually Sophie – all grown up.
Of course, there is attraction, and there is some serious steam, but the rest of the book just missed for me.
There wasn’t enough interaction after pages and passages of interior monologue that really didn’t feel like it went anywhere. The moments between Sophie and Ajax are seriously steamy, but most of that comes from descriptions and interior monologue – little from dialogue and actual interaction.
I expected the misogyny, and it was used to good effect without overreach here – and kudos to the author for alluding to drug deals, violence and other unsavory one-percenter activities that gave a feel, but never really graphically delivered. What was missing was the interest in Priest’s death – if it is questionable there wasn’t a ton of “we must know’, and the other two former members: why they left, what was the purpose, didn’t get answered well enough for me.
It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t a complete and compelling story that encourages me to keep on with the series. Good writing that just didn’t suit the grit and texture that I want from a MC story, with a limited emotional draw to either character that left me thinking it was an okay story, not a good or great one.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.