I have to admit I was not expecting Sunburnt to be what it turned out to be. It's misleadingly labeled as a romance, romance with intrigue to be specific, so I was thinking it would be a romance between the two leads. Unfortunately, Sunburnt is not a romance at all. It's a mystery, a thriller perhaps with its two leads having a relationship.

That being said, the mystery itself is interesting. Lenox is coming off a bad breakup with a boyfriend when he and some friends decide to vacation in Ibiza. It's where he meets a sexy local, Lyric, and they strike up a relationship. What the mystery turns out to be I won't spoil, but the way it's revealed, and the twists is perhaps a well-used trope in mysteries/thrillers. But I did like the way it was revealed. I just didn't like that Sunburnt is not a romance or a romance with intrigue. Rather that it's just a mystery/thriller with a relationship between the two leads.

this was an interesting read... it had mystery and it wasnt your typical hea lovey dovey which is a lovely read once in a while. lol.. i enjoy a good dark story.. this one wasnt as dark as i wanted but was well written and i liked it a lot. im glad i read it

3 stars.

Synopsis: Lennox is coming off a bad break-up with a boyfriend with a mental disorder. He and his best friend, along with some of their co-workers, are looking forward to heading to Ibiza for vacation. Lennox is leery of men, but one man in particular catches his eye, and Lennox can't resist the lure of the man.
Lyric has lived in Ibiza most of his life, and after tragedy took the rest of his family from him, including his twin brother, Lyric has been alone. He runs his parents' business and tries to find a lasting connection with people who vacation there.
Lyric treats Lennox well, and Lennox feels a connection to both Lyric and Ibiza (which he's always loved.)

What I liked: it honestly felt like I could be in Ibiza with the descriptions and depictions of something more than just the tourist destinations. I liked the connection that Lennox had with his best friend.

What I didn't like: this is not a romance in any way, shape, or form. And while I actually do read non-romance books, I kind of like to know going in that they aren't. This is more of a thriller-esque story, when I was expecting a darker romance. So, I read the prologue, and then, within the first sentence of the start of the story, I was going "please tell me this doesn't end the way I think it's going to end." (It does, btw). The story tries to keep the reader guessing, and does, my flash of accurate prediction notwithstanding. (I kept second guessing my original guess.) I also didn't like the way Lennox and Lyric never really got to know one another, and that Lennox just threw away his friendships for a guy he just met and didn't know. Lennox seemed to think that since the guy made him all hot and bothered, and was nice to him in the two seconds that he'd known him, it equaled a forever love.

Overall impression: the writing was pretty good, but author seemed more focused on the twist and not letting readers guess the twist than the story between Lennox and Lyric. And if I as a reader had felt more connection and believed the connection between Lennox and Lyric, the twist would have had more impact on me.

*I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Lenox Winter is a young man who has a pretty good life. His father was a famous rock star from the 70s and 80s, and his mother was the road manager, and came from a wealthy family. Lenox’s upbringing taught him to be self-sufficient, so he didn’t rely much on the family fortune. He’s doing well as a senior at the University of the Arts in West London, and in his final semester of his Honors BA in Photography. He also DJs at a strip club, and his close friends work at the club too. They’re all ready for a vacation, and what better place for that than Ibiza? Lenox has vacationed on the island since he was a child, and it was a place he was taught to respect. It’s where he began to feel safe to be himself, and where he’s now hoping to put the break up with his abusive ex-boyfriend behind him. And, maybe meet someone. He just hopes he doesn’t make the same mistake again.

Lyric Reed lives on Ibiza. He’s laid back, has a golden tan, long blond dreadlocks, and fits in perfectly with the island climate. He inherited properties after the tragic accident that took the lives of his parents and identical twin brother, Cedar, but even though they were twins, they were unalike. Cedar was jealous of Lyric. He’d always tried to protect Lyric, and felt no one was good enough for his brother. Lyric has such an easy going way about him, but he still carries the pain, guilt and trauma of the accident.

When Lenox first lays eyes on Lyric, he can’t stop thinking about him. As fate would have it, they meet again, and eventually start a wonderful romance. But was this the perfect romance that Lenox was looking for?

Sunburnt is a first time read for me from Joey Jameson, and he had me fooled several times with this eerie and dark psychological storyline. This is very well written, and I found the use of ‘Now’ and ‘Then’ at the beginning of each chapter pertinent to the intriguing plot. Jameson really keeps the focus on Lenox, but then things start to twist, and Lyric becomes the focus. I was caught up in their relationship, hoping it would work out for them, but then situations would arise and make me suspicious. Lenox’s and Lyric’s life stories were solid, and the secondary characters were a plus throughout the novel. A couple of times I was so sure I knew how this story was going to end, but it was a total shocker for me.

Sunburnt is an absolute, mind-boggling page turner!!

Lenox Winters cannot wait to get away. Although he’s got a good life in London and he’s the son of a famous rocker, Lenox much prefers the laid back vibe in Ibizia. He also wants to get away from his ex, but nowhere may be far enough from him. But Lenox’s closest friends are going with him and he has plans to enjoy the sun and sand. He wasn’t planning at all on meeting Lyric.

Lyric has spent most of his life on Ibizia and the bohemian style suits him well. The men are intrigued by each at first glance and a holiday romance blossoms between the two. Lenox even starts thinking of the possibility of more than just a passing fling as Lyric truly captivates him. But Lyric has an unsettling past and not everything is always as it seems. Lenox cannot be at all prepared for what happens when a seemingly perfect vacation romance goes so very wrong.

I have reviewed one other book by Joey Jameson and the style of that book twisted and turned, so I was intrigued by this story, as well as expecting some more twists along the way here. There isn’t a lot that can be said about this book without truly ruining the enjoyment of it and while the blurb itself doesn’t really give anything away, I almost wished I hadn’t read it so I could have truly gone into this book without knowing anything about it.

The story is told in three parts and we are told early on about an incident regarding one of the characters. The story then winds its way around so we can learn how we got to the beginning of the book. The story is told from different points of view (by section) and in a “now” and “then” style. It is incredibly easy to follow and Jameson writes a tight narrative that never wavers or wanders.

Lenox is part of a wealthy, successful family that he is close to, but he still wants to make it on his own and pay his own way. He just got out of an abusive relationship and is wary and afraid. He meets Lyric and immediately feels at ease. The men have that instant spark together, though Lyric is hesitant at first about getting involved with Lenox, but is continually drawn to him.

The story is about a lot of things—it’s about what will ultimately break a person and it’s about perspective and what a person can and cannot see. I will tell you that this book is incredibly well done and that both characters draw empathy and it raises the question about whether any of that empathy is misplaced at the close of the book. I will tell you that this book starts out as a romance, but that there is absolutely no HEA. It’s even stated in the warning for the book. There is not even the slightest hint of an HFN and if that is a requirement, look far away from this one.

When the POV shifts, so does the focus of the book, and there was one aspect where I will admit to feeling cheated that it wasn’t at all expanded on and felt incomplete for me as I would have liked much more closure in that area.

Jameson writes a story of intrigue, as well as violence, in a tropical setting. If you like the darker side and are looking for something well done and different, give Sunburnt a try. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time to come.

This is an interesting tale in perspectives. What does a tourist see compared to a resident, compared to a killer? Can we see warning signs in people before it's too late? Lenox Winter, a rich Londoner goes on vacation with some friends and meets the hunky Lyric and begins a steamy romance. While he is falling for Lyric, and worrying that his friends will be upset that he's spending so much time away from them, Lyric has his own set of problems to worry about. The warning in the front of the book warns that a character will die, and you get flash forwards to a male offender with four murders and an attempted murder under his belt. Will Lenox and his friends survive? Is Lyric in danger from his past?
This was a fun romance/mystery and a decent vacation fling before everything turns darker. I don't know if the psychology of the killer is accurate, but for a short tale of love and murder, I was willing to go along with it.