Make You Burn

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. Agent: Holly Root, Waxman Leavell Literary Agency. (Aug.)