Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Criminal Intentions #9

A Single Bright Candle's Flame

Rate this book
ABOUT THIS EPISODE

Detective Malcolm Khalaji is at a loss.

For the second time in his life, he wasn't there when his lover needed him. And with Seong-Jae Yoon on leave pending an internal investigation, Malcolm doesn't know what to do with a shattered partner and boyfriend who's retreated from him into a dark and broken place. It's Gabrielle all over again...yet this time, Malcolm is determined to do this right. This time he's determined to be there no matter what Seong-Jae needs, even if it means taking time off from the pressures of their job to hold Seong-Jae through every moment of trauma, of guilt, of self-recrimination.

Until a frantic phone call from Seong-Jae's parents destroys any hope of peace.

Because Seong-Jae's younger sister is missing—and there's only one place she would go.

Yet even if the desperate search breaks Seong-Jae's numbness, it's the warmth of family that brings him back from a black and dangerous edge—and shows Malcolm a side to Seong-Jae he never could have imagined. But not even these idyllic moments of calm are safe, as the twisted machinations surrounding them continue. If each player in this game is a chess piece, then none other than Edmund Bishop is a pawn, sacrificed to save his queen. Yet is Lillienne Wellington really the one pulling the strings?

Or is someone else trying to eliminate Bishop for their own dire ends?

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2019

59 people are currently reading
455 people want to read

About the author

Cole McCade

65 books1,530 followers
Slender. Angry. (Part) Asian.

Yeah, that about sums me up.

Hi. I’m Cole. Xen. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted author of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.

Sometimes I shout about things on the internet. Usually intersectional feminism and marginalized voices, and whomever’s punching down in those directions today. Sometimes human sociology, the psychology of sex and gender, and my own gender non-conforming arse (he/him, by the way). Sometimes I get really mad at Stephen Hawking and nerd out all over the place about hairy black holes, and believe it or not, that’s not a terrible pun or even worse innuendo.

That’s it. I’m a huge dork. My humor’s so dry it could empty oceans. I’m a native Southerner from the New Orleans area with zero Southern accent; I’m a mess of multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual influences; I have two cats. I wake up at daft hours of the morning to go running. I crochet terrible, lumpy things that never really turn into anything. I’m older than you think I look. I’m much more shy than my fury makes me sound (signifying gods only know what, but probably nothing). Recently I decided, at 36, that I needed to restart my life and move cross-country, so I tossed 75% of my possessions in the trash and randomly trucked it to Seattle. I’m in love with books and music and technology, and they war with each other for dominance and sometimes come together in a beautiful confluence. Most of the physical books I own are strange, obscure, out of print, overseas imports, or any combination of the four. Most of the physical books I used to own were destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, and have been replaced with the infinite library on my Nook. My wallet has a dangerous attraction to anything with pages; it flirts and teases and gives its all, until there’s nothing left but emptiness and ruin.

There will always be things you don’t know, and I won’t tell.

But ask me late at night over live music in a seedy bar, and you might just get an honest answer.

...or you can poke me via:

* Email: blackmagic@blackmagicblues.com
* Twitter: @thisblackmagic
* Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/xen.cole
* Website & Blog: http://www.blackmagicblues.com
* Tumblr: http://thisblackmagic.tumblr.com/

And there's my Xen Sanders SFF / Horror profile:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
739 (44%)
4 stars
669 (40%)
3 stars
220 (13%)
2 stars
26 (1%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews
Profile Image for Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus.
1,120 reviews1,058 followers
October 27, 2019
4.5 stars

The Wolf and The Black Cat.

Every time, Malcolm thought.
Every time he thought he had Seong-Jae figured out, he learned something new. He saw some other facet that only made him shine all the brighter.
And he remembered the closed, mistrustful crow of a man he’d first set eyes on in that blood-filled alley, and how in that moment when their gazes had locked he’d had no idea that one day…
One day they would be this. Here.
Together.


I feel like i am being fed the good sweet candy, before Pennywise appears and force feed me the extreme sour candy.

GAAAAH! How can this keep getting better? We are 9 books in and not one has been a disappointment.

-This is so sweet and cuddly.

- Hotness level is off the charts, Cole writes some of the best intimate scenes i have ever read. And the sex scenes... GAAAAHHHH!!!

-Mal and Seong-Jae off days are the best times ever.

- Seong-Jae's sister is a great addition to this series. I love her already.

“Oh my god, Jae, fuck off,” Seong-Jae said, her eyes rounding with horror. “You’re embarrassing me in front of your hot Daddy boyfriend.”

Daaaaaaaddyyyyy!!

description

Chapter 0 was too long this time, but i guess it has something to do with the story in the long run.

I am almost done with book 10. I just couldn't wait after reading this one.
Profile Image for Lau ♡.
575 reviews604 followers
May 19, 2021
Silly girl, thinking there were too many books in this series: they aren’t enough. I really don't know what I'm going to do when I finish them. If I could, I would live between their pages!!

“You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you, and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for the air.”
Profile Image for Han.
327 reviews495 followers
April 10, 2023
4.0 “You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for air” Stars

Thoughts:
I’ll keep this short and sweet because that’s exactly what this book was. There was no case involved for this one. We got recovery turned into domestic bliss!

What we get:
-Life-is-paused-until-my-baby-is-okay-again feels from a supportive boyfriend
-Support from friends too!
-Family heart to hearts
-Lil sibling picks on older sibling dynamic
-Steamy shower scene!!!
-nudges, smiles, stares <3
-Future meet the parents talks
-LEARNING YOUR PARTNER’S LANGUAGE SECRETLY BECAUSE “I want to understand you” *cries happy tears*
-Cliff hanger endings

Cole McCade is truly a legend for the inclusion and diversity within this series! My heart also goes out to those with ptsd. The insight to some of the experiences those who have it have to deal with is not something to be brushed aside.

As always a shoutout to my bestie, lila, for another fabulous buddy read! Onto the next one soon!!

Would I recommend this and to who:
Crime junkies and slow burn romance lovers
Paperback/Hardcover/Audiobook/E-book:
E-book - KU Supremacy! :)
How did I discover this:
My love lila <3
Pace:
Fast
POV:
Multi - Malcolm and Seong-Jae primarily

Quotes:
Death is warm, death is quiet, death is calm.

“That’s all living is, Seong-Jae. Finding a way, every day, to live with the outcomes of every choice we’ve made.” “Tell me how I can help. Please.” “You are helping simply by being here”

He hated how no one ever talked about the things that never went away; the things that changed you; the things that reshaped how the world around you looked, and how you fit into it.

“You’re embarrassing me in front of your hot Daddy boyfriend.”

He had missed his family. But this, right now, was beginning to feel like family, too.

Maybe just because it was Seong-Jae, and Malcolm was fucking infatuated with every new thing he discovered about him.

One day they would be this. Here. Together.

“I’m not quitting … Not when you give me every reason to stay. As long as you stay…I stay. As long as you can handle it, so can I.”

“Don’t ever apologize for needing time or space. Don’t ever be sorry for what you need from me.”

Malcolm always seemed to know just what Seong-Jae needed, when what it came down to quite simply was that all Seong-Jae needed was Malcolm.


Triggers:
Death?, Graphic Horrific Details, Swearing, Sexual Content, Toxic Relationships, etc.

_______________________________

Back at it with my boo, lila, for this br! You can’t keep us away from Malcolm and SJ for too long! 💕
Profile Image for Evie.
558 reviews290 followers
January 14, 2025
“I don’t know what you’re saying,” he said wryly, “but I know you’re talking shit about me.”

“Can you not use that sort of language in front of my fifteen- year- old sister?” Seong- Jae hissed.

“Oh my god, Jae, fuck off,” Seong- Ja said, her eyes rounding with horror. “You’re embarrassing me in front of your hot Daddy boyfriend.”

“My what?” he spluttered, while Malcolm just grinned, the creases in the corners of his eyes deepening.

“I like you already,” he said, and offered one thick hand. “Malcolm Khalaji.”




I loved this episode so much and my only complaint is that it's the shortest one by far at 116 pages. I would have happily read a book twice as long just following around Malcolm, Seong-Jae and Seong-Ja.

I feel like after how heavy the ending of book 8 was that the path to emotional recovery for Seong-Jae felt very authentic here and I'm glad to see him slowly coming back to himself. I'm so glad that McCade took the narrative choice he did in book 8 and not the alternative he spoke about in the Afterward cause that would have been shattering.

McCade has written some fabulous side characters but Seong-Ja has taken the cake as my favourite and it's not even a close competition. All her interactions with Mal had me grinning like a crazy person cause they were so cute. And the bond between Seong-Jae and Seong-Ja? Just gorgeous.

I really appreciate that McCade made the very conscious choice that Seong-Ja is trans and then just let it be. McCade making the point by stating in the afterward that "this isn’t a story of trans pain or suffering…and fuck if I have time, patience, or interest in cis-centric trans reveal/shock stories. Seong-Ja is an ordinary, happy girl who has high school issues and growing pains just like any other teenage girl, and she should get to be just that: a happy trans girl with a normal life and a loving family that doesn’t treat her or her trans-ness as a burden or an oddity.".

My heart hurt for Seong-Jae having his little faux family moment and angsting over potentially wanting a future and a family with Mal and thinking it wouldn't be impossible. Seong-Jae, that man wants to lock you down so bad, you barely even know lol.



Malcolm always seemed to know just what Seong-Jae needed, when what it came down to quite simply was that all Seong-Jae needed was Malcolm.
Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,059 reviews417 followers
July 17, 2025
I've been trying to find the right words for this book for a few days ... it's just far too beautiful.
You know that moment when you're reading something, a lump gets stuck in your throat, tears run down your face and your heart wants to burst with happiness? That's how it feels to me every time I get to enjoy Malcom and Seong-Jae in a scene together, no matter what the plot is. The two of them together are just pure perfection.

Seong-Jae became liquid, dissolving. This was his high. This was his fix. This was his craving, and if he ever had to quit Malcolm…
He would not survive the withdrawals, when he did not know if he could live without his old wolf ever again.
🌹🖤🌹🖤🌹
Profile Image for aleksandra.
773 reviews3,715 followers
October 30, 2023
5/5

The review contains spoilers!

I probably say this in all the reviews from this series, but I adore Malcolm and Seong-Jae. They will be one of my favorite mm couples. This episode was pretty short, but it gave me everything I wanted and more. In this book, we focus mainly on them, and not on the case as usual, so of course I read it in one sitting.

My heart was pretty much breaking at the beginning from everything Seong-Jae has to deal with. This man deserves a serious break, not two weeks, but a year. Especially when Silas is around and I know this guy will fuck up everything. I’m so happy that he has Malcolm who takes care of him and is really understanding. He's real husband material, even though his marriage with Gabi didn't work out. He is such a simp for Seong-Jae.

“You look so fucking moony right now,” Seong-Ja murmured.
“I can’t help; it,” Malcolm said, smiling faintly. “He just does that to me.”


Let's get to the point, because this episode gave me so much happiness, even though many mysteries still remain unsolved. Interactions between Malcolm and Seong-Ja were pure perfection. She is officially my favorite side character in this series.

“You’re embarrassing me in front of your hot Daddy boyfriend.”
“My what?” he spluttered, while Malcolm just grinned"


I was pretty much laughing my ass of here, because she is SO right.

“She’s just threatening my life if I ever break your heart.”
Seong-Jae blinked—then looked away, setting his jaw. “Hnngh.”
“Jaaaeeeee,” Seong-Ja lilted. “What.”
“You’re blushing.” Seong-Jae bared his teeth. “I will drop you at the closest animal shelter, you little rat.”


How can you not lover her???

“You’re learning Korean?” “A little bit at a time.” “Good. You just earned sister points.”


Malcolm learning Korean for Seong-Jae, and Seong-Jae learning Farsi for Malcolm, is the cutest thing ever.

"No matter what came… Seong-Jae made every day better, and one day, some way… Malcolm would hope to call Seong-Jae his not just for now, but for always."

“You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for air.”



I can’t wait to finish first season, even though I know next books will probably bring pain and anxiety, but I will finish it because I love this series too much.
Profile Image for moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus].
763 reviews1,629 followers
September 15, 2021
"Who we are, what we love, what we intend, what we feel..." The old wolf shook his head. "Sometimes we can't find that in English, but it's our common meeting ground. Yet we were shaped by other tongues, and move to the cadence of other music." His gaze dropped to Seong-Jae's lips. "So I want to know what music moves you to speak."

random thoughts/fav moments:

↠ karaoke scene!! so freaking precious. 🥺
↠ reading about my bb SJ suffering hurt my heart, but bless Malcolm's soul for being such a caring and understanding bf. he's literally one of a kind. 😭
↠ Cara x SJ, Gabi x Anju = some of my fav friendships in this series.
↠ ok listen, SJ wanting to keep his past with Sila a secret is understandable. it really is. but, i swear, every time a scene comes up and we're reminded of it, my nerves go up so high. 😭
↠ SEONGJA (SJ's sister) BEST CHARACTER EVER. i mean, duh. she is a gemini, after all. 😌 on a serious note, i truly loved her. the way she was so blunt and hilarious and accepted Mal so easily, but also her moments with SJ in this ep made me sob.
↠ MAL LEARNING KOREAN FOR SJ. I REPEAT, MAL LEARNING KOREAN FOR SJ. what more is there to say? 🤷🏼‍♀️
↠ one of the (many) things i love about Mal and SJ's relationship is seeing SJ's growth. with each episode that passes, you could tell how far he's come from his interactions with Mal in the beginning vs this episode. although Mal is more vocal about his feelings than SJ, SJ's way of showing he cares is through the little things/actions he does for Mal, but when SJ shows back affection through words, it warms my heart bc it's not a recurring thing. 🥰
↠ the ending?? brb, omw to read the next book.

leaving off with my fav SJ x Mal scene:

"Don't." Malcolm stole another quick, fervent kiss, as if he could sear the apologies from Seong-Jae's lips. "Don't ever apologize for needing time or space. Don't ever be sorry for what you need from me."
Seong-Jae bit his tender lower lip, gaze dipping lower, and let one hand drift down to play his fingertips over Malcolm's inner thigh, following coarse denim and taut muscle toward the prominent rise against Malcolm's jeans. "What about what you need from me?"
Malcolm shuddered, eyes closing as he bowed his head, taking a deep breath. "All I need from you is you, Seong-Jae...if you want me."
Profile Image for Simone - on indefinite hiatus  -.
751 reviews40 followers
July 15, 2024
***4.5 Stars***
Malcolm always seemed to know just what Seong-Jae needed, when what it came down to quite simply was that all Seong-Jae needed was Malcolm.

Cuteness overload...
Bildergebnis für Jason momoa gif

Umm, sorry for swamping you with yet another Mal gif...

#iregretnothing #charactercrush #fangirlmoments

The intro was a tad long this time compared to the whole book being rather short, but the rest was...

~ heart-warming
~ swoonworthy
~ panty-melting
~ soul-stirr... okay, I should stop now...

Let's just say it basically made me pop heart-eyes on every single page!

And yet it felt a bit like... like... Do you remember the unforgettable movie moment when the Titanic seemed to hold its breath before it went down in a vortex underlaid with dramatic sound effects? Yep, that's exactly how I felt after I was done. Four weeks to brace myself for the next part! ;-)
Profile Image for Nicola.
1,390 reviews287 followers
March 12, 2019
Seriously. This series is everything.

description

Everyone needs a good dose of lovely in their lives and, after how events played out in our previous visit, Malcom and Seong-Jae need that too. Enter Seong-Ja, younger sister of Seong-Jae, bringer of all things honest and bubbly in life and the one to bring him back out of himself.

description You make my life bright.”

According to McCade’s series Q&A section, ”This episode is your last chance to take a deep breath before…well…everything.” Excited? Damn bloody right I am, I love a good calm before the storm and this episode was just that, leaving me flat out chomping at the bit for the next book.

description As long as you stay…I stay. As long as you can handle it, so can I.”
description
Profile Image for Layla .
1,468 reviews76 followers
October 22, 2024
Reread #2
🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹


Reread #1

“Hey.”
“Hn?”
“I missed you,” Malcolm said softly.
Seong-Jae hit him.
Just a light thump of his curled fist against his shoulder, before he shoved, turning face away. “Get off me.”
“Fine, fine.”

THIS IS SO PRECIOUS I CAN'T!
..........................................

“You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for air.”

That's it. That's my review.


PS... does anyone else think that when SJ says "I will kill you in your sleep" , he really means "I love you" ?
No? Just me?
Ok then.
Profile Image for Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘.
1,314 reviews3,104 followers
July 24, 2021
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Cute*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

The book picks up two weeks since the end of book eight. It picks up after Seong-Jae has to deal with the fact that he was forced to end someone's life for the first time. He is suspended until the investigation of the death is finalized, but Seong-Jae isn't in any shape or form ready to go back to work anyway. He can't see the light at the end of the tunnel and the only thing keeping him grounded is Mal. But it isn't enough to get him to feel again. Until he gets a hysterical call from his mother. Overall, there was no mystery for Mal and Seong-Jae in this one. It was all focused on Seong-Jae finding his footing again, for him to start to heal with a little help of family and his relationship with Mal. It was cute and a nice change. I like it.



The Characters:
The list is a bit long so I've put it in a spoilers tag.


He had once pulled himself from the dark and fought his way out of the gloom. He could do it again. He could, and Malcolm’s nod seemed to agree. Seong-Jae nodded back, slipping his hands into his coat pockets. In one he found his last pack of cigarettes, and curled the box in his fingers and crushed until he felt the sticks inside snap and crumple in the packaging.
Then he stepped through the doorway, and into the light.

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Contemporary Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, Book Nine.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Malcolm ‘Mal’ Khalaji.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Yes, I think so.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - Unsure..
Rating - 3 stars.
Profile Image for Bev .
2,222 reviews481 followers
June 24, 2021
I didn't think I could love these two men any harder till I saw them with Seong-Ja, be still my beating heart. I loved the softer, sweet tone to this one, it gave me a chance to breathe.
Profile Image for Rina Pride.
362 reviews105 followers
March 30, 2024
Agora quero ver Seong-Jae e Seong-ja cantando K-POP 🤣🤣🤣 Esse livro foi curtinho, mas para o conforto do coração do Seong-Jae com a visita de sua irmã. Amei a irmã dele 🥰
Profile Image for oshiiy.
415 reviews56 followers
May 27, 2021
3.7 stars 💫

This time we met a family member of Seong-Jae. Seong-Ja was Jae’s little sister. I loved Seong-Ja. She was enjoyable and amazing. She knew how to deal with everyone being just her.

Seong-Jae frustrates me. I know he suffers from his past. But it will sure lessen by telling everything to Mal. I love how Mal takes care of Jae after his enormous breakdown. He really loves Seong-Jae.
I like Gabe. Her instinct is amazed me. I'm scared of that Sila guy. He is always near Gabe.

The ending confused me. I don't know what the heck is going to happen. But I know it's not a good thing. ☹️
Profile Image for MarianR.
235 reviews67 followers
May 16, 2021
4.5⭐
Sometimes when you are in the bottom, when you're grieving and can't get up, being with your family can be the strength you needed. Their presence can bring you back to life.

I loved Seong-Jae's sister, she's a whirlwind in a good way.

"Can you not use that sort of language in front of my fifteen-year-old sister?” Seong-Jae hissed. “Oh my god, Jae, fuck off,” Seong-Ja said, her eyes rounding with horror. “You’re embarrassing me in front of your hot Daddy boyfriend.”

And, oh, Mal is a very sweet man. Always being there for Seong-Jae.

Context: Malcolm trying to learn Korean.

“I want to understand you,” Malcolm admitted softly. Fuck, how could he not realize what he did to Seong-Jae when he spoke that way, when he looked at Seong-Jae as if he was the entirety of Malcolm’s world and nothing could compel him to look elsewhere, when he wrapped him in that dark and smoky voice? “Who we are, what we love, what we intend, what we feel…” The old wolf shook his head. “Sometimes we can’t find that in English, but it’s our common meeting ground. Yet we were shaped by other tongues, and move to the cadence of other music.” His gaze dropped to Seong-Jae’s lips. “So I want to know what music moves you to speak.”

🤩🤩🤭.
Profile Image for juli✨.
1,177 reviews144 followers
July 12, 2023
𝟬𝟰/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟬 ~ 𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟬/𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟭 ~ 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩

❝Seong-Jae. In uniform. At a crosswalk.❞
❝I don’t know how he didn’t spontaneously combust at the indignity.❞


𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰
𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗼𝘄
𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴



Everything I love about Criminal Intentions is encapsulated in A Single Bright Candle's Flame. What makes this series so wonderful - aside from the captivating relationship at its center - is the way McCade lets his characters actually feel the repercussion of their choices.


The previous book ended with a gunshot, and this book begins with the aftermath. McCade forces his characters to sit with their past. He doesn't just skip over life changing events, but instead revels in those emotions.


Morevoer, ASBCF was a nice break for our leading men. We got to meet Seong-Ja (whom i love) and we got to see another side of Seong-Jae. Additionally, Seong-Jae and Malcolm once again lean on each other, which is always a treat to witness.


That said, I already know that this book is the calm before the storm…

❝I’m not quitting,❞ Malcolm answered softly. ❝Not when you give me every reason to stay. As long as you stay…I stay. As long as you can handle it, so can I.❞


┍━━━━━✧✦━━━━━┑
𝗖𝗥𝗜𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦: 𝗦𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗢𝗡 𝗢𝗡𝗘

𝟭. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗮𝗻𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟮. 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗸 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝘀 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗘𝘆𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟰. 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 - 𝟰.𝟲 ✩
𝟱. 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟱 ✩
𝟲. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗼𝗸𝗲 - 𝟰 ✩
𝟳. 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟴. 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟳𝟱/𝟱 ✩
𝟵. 𝗔 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗙𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲 - 𝟰.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟬. 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 - 𝟰.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟭. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼 - 𝟯.𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜 - 𝟯.𝟮𝟱 ✩
𝟭𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗜𝗜 - 𝟰 ✩

┕━━━━━✧✦━━━━━┙

₊˚

₊˚

₊˚

₊˚

₊˚

₊˚

₊˚

(original review - 04/18/2020)


this was literally me once I finished reading A Single Bright Candle's Flame!

As others have pointed out there is nothing better than when Mal and Seong-Jae have days off! I was so happy that Seong-Jae was able to get just some time to decompress after the previous installments events.

------------------------------------------------------

“You know, you’re not quite as big a dick as I thought you were.” “Hey. I thought we were friends.” “Yoon’s my friend.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder, at the door. “You’re just the tagalong I put up with.”

“Oh my god, Jae, fuck off,” Seong-Ja said, her eyes rounding with horror. “You’re embarrassing me in front of your hot Daddy boyfriend.” “My what?” he spluttered, while Malcolm just grinned, the creases in the corners of his eyes deepening.

Seong-Ja was a great addition (and I was just dying of laughter at half the stuff Seong-Ja said) and I loved how she brought out a new side to Seong-Jae!

------------------------------------------------------

And he remembered the closed, mistrustful crow of a man he’d first set eyes on in that blood-filled alley, and how in that moment when their gazes had locked he’d had no idea that one day… One day they would be this. Here. Together.

“Don’t ever apologize for needing time or space. Don’t ever be sorry for what you need from me.”

“What about what you need from me?” Malcolm shuddered, eyes closing as he bowed his head, taking a deep breath. “All I need from you is you, Seong-Jae…if you want me.”

Mal was awesome as always! I really love how he is just so understanding of Seong-Jae needs and just wants to be there for him in any way that he can be.

This was his craving, and if he ever had to quit Malcolm… He would not survive the withdrawals, when he did not know if he could live without his old wolf ever again.

“You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for air.”

Mal and Seong-Jae just bring a smile to my face!

------------------------------------------------------

Also I am both hype that I am almost done with season one but also very sad at the same time! I'm about to start book 10 and then there will only be 3 books left :( Just wow......

Profile Image for Ariana  (mostly offline).
1,680 reviews96 followers
March 12, 2019
*4,5 stars*
We knew this was going to be a short episode and it was.
For that very reason I felt slightly aggrieved at the length of chapter 0. There was an awful lot of Mr. Bishop! I am sure it will have relevance eventually, but, God, I found it hard to concentrate on it when all I wanted was to see how our two guys were getting on!

However, all was forgiven when we get some beautiful, excellent Malcolm/Seong-Jae relationship development (with the usual effects: the gooey puddle on the floor = me) and some very important insights about Seong-Jae.
And Omg, it was so good, as always.

Highlights:

.) another Karaoke, and boy, does it do things to Malcolm:
Ah, fuck. Malcolm was such a fucking goner, if this was all it took to make him feel like he would break. His throat hurt, his chest ached, and he couldn’t stop smiling as he watched Seong-Jae (singing)
Of course, you have to see this in the context of Seong-Jae’s total breakdown after the last case!

.) the never-ending beautiful dialogues these two have:
“Don’t ever apologize for needing time or space. Don’t ever be sorry for what you need from me.” (Malcolm)

“What about what you need from me?” (SJ)
Malcolm shuddered, eyes closing as he bowed his head, taking a deep breath. “All I need from you is you, Seong-Jae… if you want me.”

And God, does Seong-Jae want that man – he is just not ready to share the intensity of his feelings with Malcolm.

“You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for air.” (I just wished he had said that to Malcolm in the right language

.) Seong-Jae’s struggle with his addiction and his way of tackling it:
(He was) drugging himself on Malcolm. His wolf. His lover. His addiction, and when Malcolm lifted him up just right, dug his fingers into his ass, spread him open, dragged him down onto the throbbing spurt of that swelling, painfully thick shaft… Seong-Jae became liquid, dissolving. This was his high. This was his fix. This was his craving…

.) Seong-Ja: Seong-Jae’s transgender sister:
Loved her and how much she loves her big brother. She sets so much straight and it means so much!

.) the deeds of a good friend:
Cara Sten is quickly becoming my favourite of all secondary characters. That woman really looks after these two guys!

The thing is: although we got calm and reflexion in this episode as there is no real case, the events happening around Sade, made my eye-brows shoot up in startled worry. And Sila is hovering around Gabrielle. You just know that everything is going to come to a head and that we are in for one big nasty explosion.

And Malcolm still doesn’t know about Sila yet … (although he does find one vital clue that there are things Seong-Jae isn't telling him...)

One little thing though:
Profile Image for Lisazj1.
2,072 reviews193 followers
March 11, 2019
4.5 stars. *sigh* When the last episode ended, Seong-Jae was in a bad place, from the decision to take a life to save a life. Like Malcolm tells him, it should never be easy, even when it's the right thing to do. And Seong-Jae is suffering for it, to the point where Mal is getting a little worried. But Seong-Jae is snapped out of his misery when a bigger worry suddenly falls in his lap....in the form of his fifteen year old sister, Seong-Ja, who decided to grab her mom's credit card and hop a plane (without telling anyone, of course) to come and see her brother. Because she missed him. <3 Yep, nothing like a teenager to drive every thought out of your head but WTF are they thinking?? LOL!

This episode is all the sweetness and romance we all needed, especially our guys, who absolutely deserve it. Even with the teenage girl added in. :) She's Seong-Jae's beloved sister, so you know she's a pretty cool kid. However, even Seong-Ja comes with her own disturbing news.

Seong-Jae and Mal have turned another corner in their relationship, admitting all but those so frightening words, even if only to themselves. In doing so, Mal gets his first concrete clue that there are definitely things Seong-Jae isn't telling him. Pretty sure that's going to have to be discussed and I'm very much afraid of how Seong-Jae will react. Because all of this sweetness and romance? There's going to be a price for this, and it's going to be too damn high, no doubt at all. Now is the time Mal & Seong-Jae need to be strong together, not divided over secrets.

The end had a surprise twist and I am extemely on edge waiting to see what happens! Is it next month yet?
Profile Image for Preeti.
802 reviews
June 28, 2022
It has happened to me after a while that I am equally in love with both the MCs and didn't like to blame even when one of them is hurting the other. I was feeling bad for Malcolm but didn't dare to blame Sheong-Jae. No...no never...my black cat could do no wrong.(I am actually not a cat person😝😝😝)
Profile Image for Denise.
823 reviews161 followers
December 31, 2022
4 Stars

Great episode! This one was pretty short and dealt with the aftermath of what happened in book 8. It's so sweet to see how much Malcolm and Seong-Jae care for one another 💛

Malcolm always seemed to know just what Seong-Jae needed, when what it came down to quite simply was that all Seong-Jae needed was Malcolm.


We also got to meet Seong-Jae's little sister, Seong-Ja, who was a breath of fresh air. I loved seeing him in protective big brother mode and how much he adored his sister. The banter between the three of them was hilarious and was the perfect touch to contrast the last book. I hope we get to see more of Seong-Ja! She brought out a different side of Seong-Jae, one that I hope we will see more.

Seong-Jae bared his teeth. “I will drop you at the closest animal shelter, you little rat.”
“Hey. Mal. Pro tip.” With a wink, Seong-Ja tumbled out of her chair and glued herself to her brother’s side, hugging his arm. “Insults are how you know he loves you.”


Lastly, there is obviously something going on with Sade and I hope we find out soon. McCade has left so many hints that shit's about to go down, so hopefully, the truth will come to light soon. 😬
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,004 reviews89 followers
February 1, 2025
Swift and soft, this has a different vibe. A nice breather, no case in this one, more relationship building and focus on healing from the harsh impact of cop life. Would have happily read this for another 200pages of Seong-Jae’s family moments. A lovely touch of brightness and positive inclusion of a trans character. I enjoyed Cole’s Q&A in the back of the book and his reasons for having a non-troubled trans character make me question how many times I’ve read books with a troubled trans character.

Sila’s lingering, pervasive presence is getting genuinely creepier and more foreboding. For a character with very minimal page time he has an impressive presence.
Profile Image for Reem.
359 reviews
April 21, 2024
this book is so cute and fun, so much fluff and I'm so glad it's the one I got to buddy read with the lovely Sarah 🥰🥰🥰 Mal is a hot daddy boyfriend and SJ's sister is a sassy little thing and I want more!!!

and that freaking cliffhanger got me & Sarah like:
description
Profile Image for Deborah.
3,836 reviews496 followers
September 15, 2020

And breathe....

A much welcome break. Here we get to spend time with Malcolm. Aka hot boyfriend daddy. Seong-Jae and his bubbly bright sister Seong-Ja.

While this is a chance to at catch our breath. We can’t fully relax. Not with Sila looming.
Profile Image for ♥Sharon♥.
985 reviews139 followers
March 19, 2020
"Stars....and Malcolm, looming over him, this dark beast vibrating with an intensity Seong-Jae had never seen in the old wolf before, did not understand, but craved so much that he kissed it from his lips, searching deeper and deeper, drugging himself on Malcolm."

His wolf.

His lover.

His addiction.


My heart broke for Seong-Jae at the end of Collateral Damage. He was broken. So I needed this edition to be about Malcolm and Seong-Jae. Thank you CM for giving us this one. I loved every minute of it! Their relationship isn't perfect but it truly is amazing. ❤

And we get to see a different side of Seong-Jae when his sister makes an unexpected visit. She's a mini-me of him. LOL It was fun having her around.

As I was devouring this edition I thought I'd get to the end without the knot in my belly getting any tighter but no such luck. Malcolm finds something that confirms his fear that Seong-Jae is hiding something from him. Uh oh. :(

Secondary character developments are getting interesting too!

And the ending. A twist. All I have to say is WTF!?!
Profile Image for patrícia.
696 reviews123 followers
February 14, 2024
This episode was so emotional, my heart can’t help to beat a little faster with these two being so beautiful, open, raw, real and so fitting. Loved meeting the full of life Seong-Ja 💖

The old wolf need to protect his crow… the intensity of it it’s mind blowing!

I don’t think I ever read this kind of love, connection. And the beautiful way Cole gives us those intimate moments it’s… poetic! It’s more than a sex scene, it’s almost transcend…

“Stars…and Malcolm, looming over him, this dark beast vibrating with an intensity Seong-Jae had never seen in the old wolf before, did not understand, but craved so much that he kissed it from his lips, searching deeper and deeper, drugging himself on Malcolm. His wolf. His lover. His addiction, and when Malcolm lifted him up just right, dug his fingers into his ass, spread him open, dragged him down onto the throbbing spurt of that swelling, painfully thick shaft…
Seong-Jae became liquid, dissolving. This was his high. This was his fix. This was his craving, and if he ever had to quit Malcolm…
He would not survive the withdrawals, when he did not know if he could live without his old wolf ever again.”



And those special moments when Malcom just decides to spoil us with sappy romantic shit? I understand why Seong-Jae goes boneless every time 🫶

“Who we are, what we love, what we intend, what we feel…” The old wolf shook his head. “Sometimes we can’t find that in English, but it’s our common meeting ground. Yet we were shaped by other tongues, and move to the cadence of other music.” His gaze dropped to Seong-Jae’s lips. “So I want to know what music moves you to speak.”



Or even when Seong-Jae can’t find words in English to say how Mal makes him feel special, rooted and so so loved:

“Seong-Jae could not quantify what it was, and for just a moment he slipped into soft Korean, whispered, pulled up from the deepest places inside him. “You’re everything. You overwhelm me and I don’t want to lose myself but I need to drown in you and you make me feel like I could sink forever and never come up for air.” He let it out in a rush, not stopping even once until his chest went tight with the need to breathe and he stopped with his pulse wild, watching Malcolm intently. “Did you understand that?”


“Some of it.” Malcolm drew in closer, gaze sharpening. “Enough of it.”



This book was pure perfection and also quote porn🖤
Profile Image for Gerbera_Reads.
1,678 reviews154 followers
March 11, 2019
By author's admission this is the sweetest episode to date, and I couldn't agree more. After so much intensity and fast-paced events, it was a nice change to see Malcolm and Seong-Jae at home and dealing with their feelings rather than suspects.

Seong-Jae is not in a good place after their last case ended so tragically but necessary. He can't breathe and is simply numb. He craves his worst addiction and does not know how to move forward. Malcolm is trying to be there for him unlike the last time when he failed the person he loved most at the time - Gabrielle. But he is at a loss and floundering. When a panicked phone call comes in, it's enough to snap Seong-Jae out of his mental stupor into immediate action. His little sister Seong-Ja has run away from home and coming to Baltimore.

What could have been a disaster turns out to be wonderful opportunity for Seing-Jae to reconnect with his sister and finally be able to start putting the whole ordeal behind him. Malcolm is treated to a new look of Seong-Jae that of a smiling and care-free man, unguarded and sharing his affection with both him and Seong-Ja. It was a treat to hear siblings bicker, to see Seong-Ja poke at her brother and flirt shamelessly with Malcolm.

The sheer domesticity of the situation brings thoughts of family and commitment to Seong-Jae, and something between Malcolm and Seong-Jae shifts just a bit. The images of permanency are not as frightening as before, and their passion for each other is even higher. The doubts are still there niggling at the back of the mind but the desire to feel closer is stronger than fear.

Gabrielle and Anjoulie are both struggling with each other's presence in their lives. Some things between them never change but others make way to new possibilities and questions yet to be asked.

This episode we return to the man with glass eye Edmund Bishop, and his internal musings allowed me to see him as a human being with feelings despite all that he's done. How he came to be who he was and what shaped him, the acceptance of his fate and reasons behind it is just another line in many that connect all the characters of Baltimore. The last chapter is a bit of a shocker. Sade is frankly speaking an enigma that seems to have their fingers in many pies at the same time. Their connection to Bishop is yet another mystery to unravel, and it is not clear whose side they are on... Awesome as always! I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for lakshmi.
705 reviews553 followers
May 6, 2021
Previously on ranting with lakshmi

*sigh* I feel like im becoming too emotionally invested in each book and its breaking me.

“Please,” he said, and the note of uncertainty in his voice nearly broke Malcolm’s heart. “Do not leave me alone.”
Yet some unspoken thing seemed to whisper, more than the words Seong-Jae said…
Do not leave me at all.


You know that feeling when you’re reading a book and you’re mentally begging the closed of MC to just let us peek behind his door and he does you better by showing us the entire goddamn room and throwing away the key? Leaving you satisfied and heartbroken at the same time? No? just me?

This probably is the only book in the series without a mystery or case. This book solely focuses on Malcom and Seong-jae and how they heal from their previous case. We see so much of Malcom taking care of Seong-jae and it’s probably the sweetest and most tender scenes I’ve ever read!

We also meet Seong-ja, our MC’s little sister. I practically laughed my ass off when she called Malcom “ Hot Daddy Boyfriend”

Can you practically dissolve into a puddle while reading? Yes, yes you can [ferb’s voice]

Malcom turns into older brother/ father figure for Seong-ja, while her brother turns into a grumbling – blushing mess and it made me want to permanently etch those moments in my mind.

Yes, yes, mark me want me touch me hurt me own me claim me

AND THE SEX! JESUS BUBEFDCNOS THE SEX! Such a descriptive way of showing Seong-jae break down every wall and just feel.

These books really make me feel like shitt. I don’t know why i torture myself.
Profile Image for haletostilinski.
1,519 reviews648 followers
March 11, 2019
This was definitely the calm before the storm, and I loved it. Give me the almost fluffy - for this series - goodness before the storm.

Seong-Jae is still in a bad place at the beginning of this, and it's been two weeks since he had to kill to save a life, and it's still greatly affecting him. And all Malcom can do and is doing is be there for him no matter what.

Malcolm almost feels helpless because he can't save Seong-Jae, but he doesn't give up and the thing is he can't save Seong-Jae, he can only be there for him and be there when he's ready to talk.

But what snaps Seong-Jae out of it is when he gets a call from his mother that his sister has run away to Baltimore. It snaps Seong-Jae out of his stupor, really, and back into the real world.

I really liked Seong-Ja, Seong-Jae's sister. She's 15 and she just has this sweetness, this kindness about her, and she was able to snap Seong-Jae out of his stupor and get to the point where he is ready to deal with it.

I loved the Malcom and Seong-Jae moments we got too, which were perfect. Malcolm is SO in love with Seong-Jae and it's just so apparent throughout these books, how much he adores Seong-Jae and I love that. If you don't adore or even like the person you're with, then why be with them? Malcolm likes and adores Seong-Jae and more. And Seong-Jae does as well, he just shows it in a different way and is going through more right now, and with the whole threat of Sila hanging over his head.

Which! Speaking of:

Another thing I loved was one more step in their relationship. I know part of why Seong-Jae takes Malcom to his apartment (finally!) is because of Seong-Ja, but still, they could have made it work at Malcolm's but Seong-Jae chose to invite Malcolm to his place. I loved that.

The last chapter was SUPER interesting and confusing and awesome. I wonder what the hell is going on with Sade, honestly. I think ultimately they're a good person, but their actions are confusing because one minute they seem to be good and the next their doing questionable things or suspicious things. I have no idea what their ultimate goal is, but I feel they're good, I just do.

Loved this installment and can't wait for the next one. Bring it on - although it sure will be insane when Sila finally shows his face and Malcom finds out and all that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 287 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.