Author: L.A. Cannon

Series: Burn to Rise

First Published: 30 June 2023

“You’re a mess. I’m a miss. And that’s fine. We don’t need to be perfect. Broken chords can also be a part of a song.” 

I will start by saying that I was given an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own. Thank you so much to L.A. Cannon for sending a copy my way! While this is the third in the Burn to Rise series, they are interconnected and you can read this without reading the first two.

After a decade of friendship and a shared passion for music that is borderline obsessive, Chris had assumed that unless they came to a dead end of irreconcilable differences, nothing would ever change between him and Marc.

He couldn’t have been more wrong.

With a bright future ahead of them and their band, the lead guitarist of Buried Alive finds himself swamped in dark memories and impulses that he thought were long forgotten when a new, yet strangely familiar desire strikes in the middle of the Burn to Rise festival.

He’s never felt attracted to another man, much less a friend, but the bassist has something he can’t fight, no matter how hard he tries to ignore the urge. Maybe it’s his voice or how he looks at him, or the way his touch ignites his soul.

However, intentionally blind or unaware that Marc has been in love with him for years, Chris’s constant hesitation causes friction, leading to a rift when their relationship is challenged by the past.

Torn between his fears and what he wants, Chris will be forced to come to terms with his feelings and admit that this is a lot more than just a fling, or risk losing Marc and everything they’ve built altogether.

Of Chords and Dreams is the next instalment of L.A. Cannon’s Burn to Rise series. Oh my god! I adore being back in this world. We do get a taste of Marc and Chris’ relationship in the previous books, so I loved watching their relationship unfold. This story is filled with Cannon’s signature steam and angst. Honestly, it was everything I wanted.

Chris and Marc are the founding members of the German metal band, Buried Alive. After almost a decade of being broke and stuck playing local tours, their obsessive passion for music lands the band a spot on the Burn to Rise tour, one of the biggest metal tours in the world. The pair’s friendship plunges into murky waters as the lines are crossed during a group hook-up. Chris is forced to confront that maybe he is not as straight as originally thought and Marc is working overtime to protect his heart as the object of his unrequited love is finally showing him attention. 

On tour, Chris is confronted with his sexuality. He firmly believes that he is straight. But after a group scene where he ends up getting close and personal with Marc, something changes. He is battling what he feels against what he always thought himself to be all while battling the toxic masculine and homophonic rhetoric his father preached at him his whole life. My heart breaks for him. I couldn’t imagine how conflicted and confused he must be feeling. To make matters worse, Chris has never been one to express his emotions and always keeps people an arm’s length away. He lashes out at everyone, especially Marc. The number of times I wanted to shake Chris because it is so clear that he loves Marc too but he’s either too scared to admit it or has never been in love before so doesn’t recognise the feeling.

Marc’s pining is next level, he’s secretly been in love with Chris for years. This pinning honestly amps up the angst. Marc is openly bisexual and has never hidden his romantic partners. He is the sweetest most sensitive soul and all he wants is to be openly loved and wanted. But with Chris’ rocky bisexual awakening, Marc is forced to sneak behind everyone’s backs. My heart ached that he is willing to sacrifice this need to get any part of Chris’ heart and affection.

There is a delightfully surprising BDSM twist to their dynamic, which I just ate right up. Marc, under his calm, peaceful exterior, lies a primal Dom and Chris for all his alpha bravado is the brattiest bottom I think I’ve ever read. Their physical connection is instant once Chris feels comfortable exploring his bisexuality. Marc is the sweetest. He does all he can to make Chris feel comfortable, even at the expense of his own needs. The pair do take a little bit of time to open their communication channels as Chris is struggling with the label of his bisexuality, and he does not open up to anyone, while Marc is trying his best not to scare Chris with the intensity of his feeling. When they finally got on the same page, it was pure magic. The scene in the motel room? If you know, you know!

Like I have come to expect from L.A. Cannon, music is front and centre! Which is all I want from my rockstar romance. Marc and Chris are extremely driven and passionate. Music plays a massive part in their lives, and you can feel it. I loved the touring element. You can feel this duality. On one hand, there is the elation of being able to play and that people know who you are. And on the other, is the exhaustion of the touring schedule and the chaffing feeling of living in close quarters with half a dozen people, even if they are people you love to death. I also loved getting to see Soren and Leah again. They are honestly the cutest couple and are 100% meant to be.

These boys own my heart and soul! I am so glad they got their HEA, even if the angst hurt so good! If you are looking for an angsty and spicy MM romance with a bi awakening this one is for you. I have my fingers and toes crossed that we get another book in the world because I’m greedy. I’m not ready to leave these characters and this world behind just yet.