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Book Review: Burning Tracks
When Interlude...
Book Review: Burning Tracks
When Interlude told me they were branching out into publishing more lesbian and bi lead titles this year, I was thrilled to see that Burning Tracks would be amongst them. Lilah Suzanne’s vivid settings and character driven writing style lends itself perfectly to the country music scene, with a twist. This is Nashville meets The L Word, with a punk rock and country soundtrack mixtape of Dolly Parton and The Slits.
Suzanne’s characters come already established in Broken Records (book one of the Spotlight series) where we left Nico and Grady in the start of their happily ever after - however a story centred around Gwen’s punk rock vibe is the perfect way to rock the boat. When the boys hit a rough patch, it’s only the start of a rocky road in which Gwen, Flora, Nico and Grady must learn to navigate life as part of a couple. And avoid falling back into destructive patterns.
Gwen may have the perfect life from the outside, as stylist to the stars, wife to teacher Flora, and the ideal Nashville home, but readers soon get a peek inside her head and heart and see that all is not smooth going when domesticity and commitment are your biggest fears. Throw in Clementine Campbell, who reminds me of both Chenoweth and Swift, and Gwen’s ideal day to day is rocked with a pinch of temptation. You’ll cheer her on, fall hard for her over the worries of her past, shout at her to think things through and learn to listen to the music.
I also fell hard for Flora (who reminded me of The L Words Tina…only less of a season three nightmare!) her steadfast love and compromising nature may seem to make her a pushover, but she loves Gwen in all of her tornado moments, without letting herself be walked over.
Burning Tracks sees protagonists make tough choices, and there’s no sugar coating the temptations and troubles of adulthood. It’s a swoonworthy whirlwind that tiptoes a line along a dangerous path, with addiction, infidelity, and flightiness nipping at their heels. But love conquers and prevails…the question is for who?
I highly recommend Lilah Suzanne’s evocative and sensually sensational stories, and the next adventure in the Spotlight series more than lives up to her promise. They’re hot, country, queer and proud.
