Keegan Monroe has just returned from undercover police work and is finding it hard to settle to normal life. He's enjoying a coffee with a pal and congratulating him on expecting a baby, when Brennan Maguire enters the coffee shop. Lucky for Keegan he does, because Brennan spots a man raising a gun and shoves Keegan aside just in time.

BURDEN continues with the policeman, highly suspicious and on a hair trigger, arresting Brennan. There's a major crime gang that would like Keegan killed before he can testify, and for all he knows Brennan is part of that bunch. Brennan's got his own troubles, and doesn't need more. He was seriously injured in a car accident and is rehabilitating himself to everyday living, a few words and actions at a time. His memory is poor and he can't always say what he means without stammering. All he can do is ask for his doctor to be called to the station.

Realising that Brennan is on the level, Keegan simmers down and treats him as a witness, then asks where he lives. Brennan can't remember. He has a paper with his details in his wallet, so Keegan offers to drive him home. The two men each find the other attractive, but the bad guys might be on their tail, and Brennan's got these four hungry kittens which climb his leg looking for food....

I liked the way that Brennan's reactions were sharp although his speech was halting, and he's obliged to live with an aunt but he's determined to be as independent as possible. The kittens were very lively and a nice touch. This is an adult male romance which asks how we know who we can trust. BURDEN by Annemarie McKenna is a fast-moving novella, and she has written other novellas in similar style.