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Cole McGinnis #3
Dirty Laundry
For ex-cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis, each day brings a new challenge. Too bad most of them involve pain and death. Claudia, his office manager and surrogate mother, is still recovering from a gunshot, and Cole’s closeted boyfriend, Kim Jae-Min, suddenly finds his teenaged sister dumped in his lap. Meanwhile, Cole has his own sibling problems—most notably, a mysterious half brother from Japan whom his older brother, Mike, is determined they welcome with open arms.
As if his own personal dramas weren’t enough, Cole is approached by Madame Sun, a fortune-teller whose clients have been dying at an alarming rate. Convinced someone is after her customers, she wants the matter investigated, but the police think she’s imagining things. Hoping to put Sun’s mind at ease, Cole takes the case and finds himself plunged into a Gordian knot of lies and betrayal where no one is who they are supposed to be and Death seems to be the only card in Madame Sun’s deck.
As if his own personal dramas weren’t enough, Cole is approached by Madame Sun, a fortune-teller whose clients have been dying at an alarming rate. Convinced someone is after her customers, she wants the matter investigated, but the police think she’s imagining things. Hoping to put Sun’s mind at ease, Cole takes the case and finds himself plunged into a Gordian knot of lies and betrayal where no one is who they are supposed to be and Death seems to be the only card in Madame Sun’s deck.
260 pages, Paperback
First published April 18, 2013
41 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Ford
79 books1,890 followersRhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and is a two-time LAMBDA finalist and a multiple Gold and Silver Medalist by the Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Awards. She is published by Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications and Rogue Firebird Press.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 269 reviews
September 1, 2016
I dare you, I double dog dare you, I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU to find someone who is not obsessed with this audiobook. This audiobook makes all other audiobooks want to crawl into a hole and cower. All hail Greg Tremblay, master of the Cole McGinnis narration, and Rhys Ford for giving him such a fabulously written, nuanced script.
I'm suuuuuper choosy about my audiobooks. I listen to a ton of them and I have very particular tastes.
I need my audiobooks to feel natural and I NEED a wide range of voices for each of the different characters. Greg Tremblay did a seriously masterful job with this book. It was like listening to a movie featuring a dozen different actors. Greg must have play dough for vocal chords because he managed to make each character sound perfect and unique. This book now makes my favorite audiobook list, up there with the Adrien English series (Fatal Shadows) and books narrated by Holter Graham and Bahni Turpin.
I mentioned this before, but a huge portion of the reason that the narrator was able to shine was because Rhys Ford really pulled out all the stops with this one. Not only was I kind of able to follow along with the Korean names for once (yay!), but I was totally taken with the plot. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made it hot... GOD it was awesome. The mystery was great and the chemistry between the MCs was even better. The tension, the love, the emotions between Cole and Jae left me feeling raw and vulnerable. I was so into the story that I felt like I personally was in the thick of it.
And these poor men... holy crap do they get put through hell. One person after another gets shot or hurt. I swear, Cole's life is a huge tangled mess of pain.
But it is also SO funny. So funny. I alternated between laughing and crying and just smiling manically to myself on my commute to and from work, listening to this book.
If you are a fan of audiobooks, mysteries, Asians, M/M, hell, even just ROMANCE, you have to try this series. It just keeps getting better and better.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
December 28, 2019
Well, this was another awesome read! This series just keeps getting better and better.
This is also the first book, where I could actually follow the mystery plot. I even knew who the killer was !! Yay me !!
It could have been, because of the chart that was in the book, but I'm just going with the fact that I'm really smart :P
This was also the first book in the series that made me cry... Damn these guys don't have it easy. There was this one point, where I wanted to throttle Jae !! A few pages later though, I wanted to hug the shit out of him.
Thankfully Cole was still his funny self, even though his heart was hanging on by a thread, people's brains were exploding in his face and everyone wanted to kill him. So there was still plenty to laugh about.
And let's not forget about the steamy scenes !! These two are still as hot as they were in the beginning...HOTTER even !!
I have no idea what's gonna happen next, but I can't wait to find out. These men have definitely deserved a spot in my top 10 of favorite couples !!
Next one, please !!!!
April 8, 2018
Another win.
Loved it! The audio-book is the best.
-The writing amazing
-The conversations and banter engaging as usual
-The Sex hot
-The Mystery never boring.
My cast
Cole
Jae
The Cat
-Jae's mother should just be shot in the head so we can all forget about her.
-I loved Ichiro, Bobby and Claudia.
Loved it! The audio-book is the best.
-The writing amazing
-The conversations and banter engaging as usual
-The Sex hot
-The Mystery never boring.
My cast
Cole
Jae
The Cat
-Jae's mother should just be shot in the head so we can all forget about her.
-I loved Ichiro, Bobby and Claudia.
Read
April 2, 2013First off, thanks to everyone who has been with me so far on this ride. Thank you for being here and flinging coffee beans at me when I start to twitch. 'Cause man these two make me twitch.
Some thoughts on this book.
Several things happen in this novel. Cole and Jae are tested in a lot of ways. The mystery deals less with murder...although people do die... and more with lies. Lies told to other people as well as those delusional white lies we tell ourselves. It was a fun one to write in that aspect.
As many of you know, Bobby will be getting his own book. His "love interest" is introduced in this book. There are several possibilities. I won't be holding a contest to see who it is. I know who it is. But there will be a book and you'll be seeing Cole and Jae... as well as others... from Bobby's POV.
There will be two interviews in the promotion of this launch. One will be an interview with Bobby, the man himself. This will be posted at MrsCondit. Another will be a fun Q&A with Neko. Yeah, we went with the silly murderous fanged cat this time. She'll be found on The Novel Approach.
And lastly.... well more thanks. Really. To all of you for reading. For taking the time to read Cole and Jae's stories. Please, explore the genre and the fantastic writers that are out there.
HWAITING!~
Some thoughts on this book.
Several things happen in this novel. Cole and Jae are tested in a lot of ways. The mystery deals less with murder...although people do die... and more with lies. Lies told to other people as well as those delusional white lies we tell ourselves. It was a fun one to write in that aspect.
As many of you know, Bobby will be getting his own book. His "love interest" is introduced in this book. There are several possibilities. I won't be holding a contest to see who it is. I know who it is. But there will be a book and you'll be seeing Cole and Jae... as well as others... from Bobby's POV.
There will be two interviews in the promotion of this launch. One will be an interview with Bobby, the man himself. This will be posted at MrsCondit. Another will be a fun Q&A with Neko. Yeah, we went with the silly murderous fanged cat this time. She'll be found on The Novel Approach.
And lastly.... well more thanks. Really. To all of you for reading. For taking the time to read Cole and Jae's stories. Please, explore the genre and the fantastic writers that are out there.
HWAITING!~
April 6, 2013
3.5 stars
The 3rd book in the Cole McGinnis series and, thankfully, the least confusing! Don't get me wrong, there are still the myriad of Korean characters with their very similar names. But, either I'm getting used to the way the author peppers these characters around in her book OR I'm better at ignoring those times I can't remember who is who.
In any case, the series continues with, again, a solid (if a little over-the-top) mystery plot about 2 Korean fortune tellers and a string of murders. It also progresses the relationship between our MC's Cole & Jae. They've finally professed that they "saranghae" (love, in Korean) each other and are building on the fragile foundation they've established the first two books.
Couple beefs:
1. There just isn't enough of Cole and Jae together. Jae has pretty much faded to the back as a side character and exists mostly in Cole's thoughts of missing him or his comparisons of everything he sees/encounters with Jae's lips/ass/jeans etc. I was tempted, at times to skim to their parts. The bits that are of the two of them are both emotional (happy and painful) and erotic (very hot). Need more.
2. Cole turned into a Harlequin romance novelist or something. Since this book is in 1st person POV, it started to get really, really sappy when Cole would go on and on in his head describing...everything. And if it had to do with Jae...geez...don't get me started on the how everything came across as an old-fashioned sonnet or a cheesy 80's love ballad.
3. Lastly, the final chapter and epilogue were shocking and exciting, but felt totally out-of-place and I really didn't know why they were included in this book.
Now, Rhys Ford CLEARLY has done her research when it comes to Korean-American culture, and especially that which exists in Los Angeles. Her descriptions of both the people and the town are SPOT ON. However, I wonder if, had I not been Korean or had I not lived in Los Angeles, I would have understood what she was talking about and why she had to go into such minute, of not inconsequential, detail.
I really do like Cole and Jae as MC's and part of me wants to read more of them. The other part of me feels like maybe the series has run its course and there's not much more of a story to tell.
Guess we'll wait and see what Ms. Ford has up her sleeve...
Recommended if you liked the first 2 books. If you were on the fence, I wouldn't say it's a "must read".
Thanks to the author for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 9, 2015
Written August 23, 2014
4.2 Stars - Fully convinced; this is fun and heartwarming romantic crime reading
Book #3
Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis series have been in my ears a couple of days now.
I'm so to speak -highly enchanted- and I try to listening to theses audiobooks every spare moment. The first two where lovely romantic, had good suspense and where filled with well written bantering, great characters and other fun stuff. They where also narrated in a praiseworthy way by Greg Tremblay
...It was time for the third book (of four so far released).
There is a very happy Swedish Lady here after a third round too.
As after the second part will I jump on the next train again with Cole & the gang at once. Rubbing my hands this one ended in a very intense moment and I was eager to know more.
***********************************************************
Contemporary crime M/M set in Los Angeles about
Cole Kenjiro McGinnis, an ex-cop and PI,
and the younger U.S. Korean photographer Kim Jae-Min
My reviews so far:
***********************************************************
Once again, it was an intricate crime mystery
for our lovely gay PI, Cole. This time was Cole asked by a older woman, a Korean fortune teller, to investigate why some of her clients recently died in terrible accidents. This leads to an ever-increasing avalanche of events, shoots drama and fights.
Unfortunately is a child seriously injured and Cole begins to get really cold feet. Who is there to blame and what are all these peoples relationships with each other? It was all almost impossible to unravel. Everyone seems to be related to everyone and it was past events in South Korea and things that had happened today in LA.
I should say that the main topic this time was: "parents who are failing". On all fronts. ~ It is the theme of this crime-mystery, but also up to date in both Cole's and Jae's life. My tears dripped and it pained in my heart, so d@mn sad. I want to scream to them: "No, no, you'll regret that so much later on. Sigh!! ...Stupid silly woman (or man)!!!"
Obviously (this is feelgood fiction..) its end with a success for Cole, with help from my favorite second character, —the best buddy— Bobby. This time also with the strong arm of the law through Wong, a friendly (U.S. Chinese) cop.
Cole's and Bobby's bickering and joking is almost the best thing about these books. (My Bobby:
***********************************************************
As always we meet a lot of fun, kind, lovely and interesting second characters.
Course also the most important of them all. Cole's great big love: the gorgeous —but also very sad, a bit whining and troubled— young lover, Jae-Min. ~ Jae's talk quite often about food. His cooking makes me so tempted to soon eat from the Korean cuisine again
Sometimes it is perhaps slightly too long sex scenes
(or = I have read too many romances ...). They are somewhat too colorful and flowing sensual. It becomes so intensely hot that these two lovers almost explodes with pleasure there in their bed. Hhmmm..., too much for my taste perhaps.
~ Well yes anyway, it's okay. The steam here is always very tender and our hero Cole describes beautifully how he gets his beloved to enjoy. Big, strong, tough manly men who just want to give, is actually quite impossible not to fall head over heels for. ~ Right!?
Dirty Laundry is yet another good gay crime romance worth reading. These books just get better and better and I'll go for more books from this author in the future. I like her style...
***********************************************************
The narrator Greg Tremblay make always these audiobooks so wonderful to listen to. He really has his own style (...all these pants, grunts, hacks, hesitatings, screaming, etc.) and it is soooo freaking good. ~ As I said after the first two:
I'm a addicted Cole McGinnis Audio's fan by now.
***********************************************************
If you like books in the Adrien English or Nick Nowak mysteries style, or any other bookseries about a gay —often horny, brooding but realistic, cynical, tough but still very charming— former cop, now a private investigators, it is possible that you will also like these.
Next ut #4 - Dirty Deeds
I LIKE - without doubt unrestrained and crazy captivated now
*******
Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis series:
...and later
4.2 Stars - Fully convinced; this is fun and heartwarming romantic crime reading
Book #3
Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis series have been in my ears a couple of days now.
I'm so to speak -highly enchanted- and I try to listening to theses audiobooks every spare moment. The first two where lovely romantic, had good suspense and where filled with well written bantering, great characters and other fun stuff. They where also narrated in a praiseworthy way by Greg Tremblay
...It was time for the third book (of four so far released).
There is a very happy Swedish Lady here after a third round too.
As after the second part will I jump on the next train again with Cole & the gang at once. Rubbing my hands this one ended in a very intense moment and I was eager to know more.
***********************************************************
Contemporary crime M/M set in Los Angeles about
Cole Kenjiro McGinnis, an ex-cop and PI,
and the younger U.S. Korean photographer Kim Jae-Min
My reviews so far:
***********************************************************
Once again, it was an intricate crime mystery
for our lovely gay PI, Cole. This time was Cole asked by a older woman, a Korean fortune teller, to investigate why some of her clients recently died in terrible accidents. This leads to an ever-increasing avalanche of events, shoots drama and fights.
Unfortunately is a child seriously injured and Cole begins to get really cold feet. Who is there to blame and what are all these peoples relationships with each other? It was all almost impossible to unravel. Everyone seems to be related to everyone and it was past events in South Korea and things that had happened today in LA.
I should say that the main topic this time was: "parents who are failing". On all fronts. ~ It is the theme of this crime-mystery, but also up to date in both Cole's and Jae's life. My tears dripped and it pained in my heart, so d@mn sad. I want to scream to them: "No, no, you'll regret that so much later on. Sigh!! ...Stupid silly woman (or man)!!!"
Obviously (this is feelgood fiction..) its end with a success for Cole, with help from my favorite second character, —the best buddy— Bobby. This time also with the strong arm of the law through Wong, a friendly (U.S. Chinese) cop.
Cole's and Bobby's bickering and joking is almost the best thing about these books. (My Bobby:
***********************************************************
As always we meet a lot of fun, kind, lovely and interesting second characters.
Course also the most important of them all. Cole's great big love: the gorgeous —but also very sad, a bit whining and troubled— young lover, Jae-Min. ~ Jae's talk quite often about food. His cooking makes me so tempted to soon eat from the Korean cuisine again
Sometimes it is perhaps slightly too long sex scenes
(or = I have read too many romances ...). They are somewhat too colorful and flowing sensual. It becomes so intensely hot that these two lovers almost explodes with pleasure there in their bed. Hhmmm..., too much for my taste perhaps.
~ Well yes anyway, it's okay. The steam here is always very tender and our hero Cole describes beautifully how he gets his beloved to enjoy. Big, strong, tough manly men who just want to give, is actually quite impossible not to fall head over heels for. ~ Right!?
Dirty Laundry is yet another good gay crime romance worth reading. These books just get better and better and I'll go for more books from this author in the future. I like her style...
***********************************************************
The narrator Greg Tremblay make always these audiobooks so wonderful to listen to. He really has his own style (...all these pants, grunts, hacks, hesitatings, screaming, etc.) and it is soooo freaking good. ~ As I said after the first two:
I'm a addicted Cole McGinnis Audio's fan by now.
***********************************************************
If you like books in the Adrien English or Nick Nowak mysteries style, or any other bookseries about a gay —often horny, brooding but realistic, cynical, tough but still very charming— former cop, now a private investigators, it is possible that you will also like these.
Next ut #4 - Dirty Deeds
I LIKE - without doubt unrestrained and crazy captivated now
*******
Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis series:
...and later
April 13, 2013
This book kills me. Totally. Fucking. Kills. Me!!
First, I was dying with laughter! As with the previous two Cole McGinnis books, it starts off with another crazy opening scene. Cole may or may not have received a "bit" of an ass chewing. So fucking hilarious!
Then, there was the ripping out of my heart! Not going to reveal what happens but I still may be having some agonizing pains in my chest.
Next, there was some dirty, rough sex that possibly went down in a very inappropriate place. Cole and Jae are defiantly off the scale of the smexy meter...for me anyway. I think its because their passion and love for each other just burns so bright and the words just pour from the page alighting me with...um...oh. Excuse me, where was I again? Heart palpitations...yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
Wait, somewhere between laughing my ass off and getting my heart broken there was a really good mystery. Of course there were a bunch of Asian names that I can no longer remember, but conveniently there is a nice little glossary and character list at the beginning of the book. Plus, the mystery was not nearly as confusing as the one from Dirty Secret. I must say that my initial suspicion was correct, but then I still never saw it coming in the end. So, yeah, the mystery technically didn't kill me, but I promise you many fictional characters were harmed and/or killed in the making of this story.
Then there was the ending! Well, close-to-the-ending. Surprise, surprise. My heart has gone through being ripped out of my chest, fluttered and flopped around on the floor for a bit, made whole from all the passion and love that IS Cole and Jae...and yet still is somehow sustaining life hopefully until I have book 4 in my suffering little hands!
I'm already dying for more of Cole and Jae and really want to know more about Ichi. And Bobby, too. Please, please, please! I really want to find out all of Ben's buried secrets soon!
First, I was dying with laughter! As with the previous two Cole McGinnis books, it starts off with another crazy opening scene. Cole may or may not have received a "bit" of an ass chewing. So fucking hilarious!
Then, there was the ripping out of my heart! Not going to reveal what happens but I still may be having some agonizing pains in my chest.
Next, there was some dirty, rough sex that possibly went down in a very inappropriate place. Cole and Jae are defiantly off the scale of the smexy meter...for me anyway. I think its because their passion and love for each other just burns so bright and the words just pour from the page alighting me with...um...oh. Excuse me, where was I again? Heart palpitations...yeah, that's what I was gonna say.
Wait, somewhere between laughing my ass off and getting my heart broken there was a really good mystery. Of course there were a bunch of Asian names that I can no longer remember, but conveniently there is a nice little glossary and character list at the beginning of the book. Plus, the mystery was not nearly as confusing as the one from Dirty Secret. I must say that my initial suspicion was correct, but then I still never saw it coming in the end. So, yeah, the mystery technically didn't kill me, but I promise you many fictional characters were harmed and/or killed in the making of this story.
Then there was the ending! Well, close-to-the-ending. Surprise, surprise. My heart has gone through being ripped out of my chest, fluttered and flopped around on the floor for a bit, made whole from all the passion and love that IS Cole and Jae...and yet still is somehow sustaining life hopefully until I have book 4 in my suffering little hands!
I'm already dying for more of Cole and Jae and really want to know more about Ichi. And Bobby, too. Please, please, please! I really want to find out all of Ben's buried secrets soon!
February 11, 2016
Oh wow.
Rhys Ford has delivered yet another astounding story in the Cole McGinnis series. I'm blown away. This one was so much more than just a mystery. This one was about family. About relationships. About love.
Cole loves with a fierceness you just don't get from most books. He loves with his whole being. With his soul.
Yes, I was stumped by the whodunit once again but this time I really didn't care because I was too busy feeling.
I have no more words. They are all stuck in my throat right now.
Just... read this book, will ya? You won't be sorry.
September 27, 2018
Audiobook ReviewI want to start with the beginning. As all of these books do, this one opens up with Cole in trouble of the unpredictable sort. This time he’s been tasked with getting a little girl’s dog back, for the meagre payment of a chocolate bar. Little did he know that he’d end up being chased by huge, angry dogs and ultimately being arrested and having to be bailed out by a furious Jae. These have nothing really to do with the rest of the book, but they just get me in a good mood, and ready for what’s to come next.
The case Cole is investigating this time – and the one that ultimately leads him into trouble is one Madame Sun, a fortune-teller comes to him with. She’s distraught over her clients that keep dying around her. Cole, and the police for that matter, is far from convinced but he agrees to have a look to hopefully be able to reassure her. He’s barely started to investigate when bodies starts to pile up around him, making him even less popular with the LAPD – not that they liked him to begin with.
This book has a lot more focus on family. Both of Cole and Jae's families. In Cole's case it's in the form of a half-brother he never knew he had. A half-brother he doesn't want anything to do with - until one day when Ichi stands outside his door asking him to talk. For Jae, his younger sister runs away from her troubled home and into Jae's apartment, causing extra tension between Jae and Cole. Jae is so torn between family and love and how he can’t have them both.
I love how each of the characters grow with every book. The relationships grow and strengthen. And I don’t only mean between Cole and Jae, but the friendships and family bonds as well. Some grow with baby steps and others with leaps and bounds. We also learn more of the past, layer by layer, teasing the listener and making us need to know more. As with the previous books, there are a lot of sexy times, and some of them are quite emotional and just perfect.
Greg Tremblay is magic, and combining that with the words of Rhys Ford and it's a guaranteed winner. He portrays these characters to perfection, both in mannerisms and the emotions. It shines through every word. You feel the pain Jae feels, how torn he is between loving Cole and his loyalty to his family. It breaks your heart listening to him asking Cole to leave, and it's equally heartbreaking to listening to him when he can't stay away. It's all there with Tremblay's narration. He brings the characters to life in a way that very few narrators can.
Then there is that ending... talk about cliffhanger! If that doesn't make you want to pick up the next book in the series, I don't know what will.
A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
October 8, 2018
**3.5 stars**
Well, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. Cole and Jae spend very little time together in this book. I needed them to make some headway on their relationship. They did but it wasn't until the end. This was definitely a time where the romance took a back burner and the mystery/suspense was up front. I still enjoyed it because I absolutely LOVE Cole. He's so funny at times especially with the cat.
The ending about gutted me but luckily it's all good. Moving on to the next...
Well, I didn't enjoy this one as much as the others. Cole and Jae spend very little time together in this book. I needed them to make some headway on their relationship. They did but it wasn't until the end. This was definitely a time where the romance took a back burner and the mystery/suspense was up front. I still enjoyed it because I absolutely LOVE Cole. He's so funny at times especially with the cat.
The ending about gutted me but luckily it's all good. Moving on to the next...
June 25, 2022
Cuando Madame Sun le pide a Cole que investigue porque algunos de sus clientes estan muriendo inesperadamente, el se ve inmerso de nuevo en el barrio Coreano, pero esta vez lejos de los poderosos y mas cerca de la gente normal. Descubre que no son tan diferentes de ellos mismos, pero si tienen muchas tradiciones que han provocado mas de un encubrimiento. Pero ademas de su caso, Cole tiene que lidiar con que Jae lo abandone para no defraudar a su familia, un medio-hermano desconocido que quiere conocerlos y su oficina sin asistente mientras Claudia se encuentra en recuperacion.
Por momento Cole siente que su vida vuelve a estar destrozada, pero su fe en que su amor por Jae puede contra todo es lo unico que lo mantiene vivo, luchando por encontrar la verdad del asesino mientras intenta evitar cruzarse en el camino de los detectives de la policia.
Este libro tiene drama, romance y un misterio que no llama mucho la atencion. Senti que el foco del libro se perdia por momentos, y que las relaciones del prota se desdibujaban. Me falto mucho que apareciera Mike o Maddy, esa pareja puede hacer cualquier cosa graciosa, ademas de Claudia y Bobby, siento que son los personajes que le dan mas profundidad a la trama.
En cuando al romance, por lo menos ahora sabemos un poco mas de Jae, pero descubrir su drama familiar resulto absurdo, despues de todo lo que Jae idolatraba a su madre y sus hermanas, que no vea otra salida mas que esconderse, no parece logico, o quizas el autor no supo explicar el dilema cultural, lo cierto es que me resulto absurdo la forma como su madre lo corta de su vida, despues de todo lo que ella ha hecho.
En cuanto a Ichiro, me gusto mucho el personaje, es un alma libre, espero ver mas de el mas adelante, pero me hubiera gustado ver una interaccion con los tres hermanos juntos y con Maddy y Bobby, tal vez una parrillada o algo asi.
En fin, la serie sigue siendo interesante, vamos a ver si ahora en el proximo libro podemos averiguar por fin, porque su compañero le disparo a el y a su novio y despues se suicido, y si hay algun tipo de complot detras de todo eso.
Por momento Cole siente que su vida vuelve a estar destrozada, pero su fe en que su amor por Jae puede contra todo es lo unico que lo mantiene vivo, luchando por encontrar la verdad del asesino mientras intenta evitar cruzarse en el camino de los detectives de la policia.
Este libro tiene drama, romance y un misterio que no llama mucho la atencion. Senti que el foco del libro se perdia por momentos, y que las relaciones del prota se desdibujaban. Me falto mucho que apareciera Mike o Maddy, esa pareja puede hacer cualquier cosa graciosa, ademas de Claudia y Bobby, siento que son los personajes que le dan mas profundidad a la trama.
En cuando al romance, por lo menos ahora sabemos un poco mas de Jae, pero descubrir su drama familiar resulto absurdo, despues de todo lo que Jae idolatraba a su madre y sus hermanas, que no vea otra salida mas que esconderse, no parece logico, o quizas el autor no supo explicar el dilema cultural, lo cierto es que me resulto absurdo la forma como su madre lo corta de su vida, despues de todo lo que ella ha hecho.
En cuanto a Ichiro, me gusto mucho el personaje, es un alma libre, espero ver mas de el mas adelante, pero me hubiera gustado ver una interaccion con los tres hermanos juntos y con Maddy y Bobby, tal vez una parrillada o algo asi.
En fin, la serie sigue siendo interesante, vamos a ver si ahora en el proximo libro podemos averiguar por fin, porque su compañero le disparo a el y a su novio y despues se suicido, y si hay algun tipo de complot detras de todo eso.
May 30, 2016
This installment hurt. In good and bad ways. Cole's longing for Jae is at the forefront of this novel and... it was beautiful and painful to hear about.
The mystery completely lost me in places, but it had a high body count so I was happy. Also I read this for Cole and Jae, so seeing them together makes me a happy woman!!
The mystery completely lost me in places, but it had a high body count so I was happy. Also I read this for Cole and Jae, so seeing them together makes me a happy woman!!
January 19, 2019
*****11/18/15: Ok, I had to up my rating to 5 stars this time around. I don't know what I was smoking last time, but this book was AWESOME!! I love it when I re-read a series and find myself loving it even more than before.*****
I loved getting another installment in this series. I want to see this series go on for many many more books. BUT...
there were just a couple things in this one that didn't do it for me. One was that Jae-Min wasn't as big of a presence in this book as he was in the previous stories. I'm a huge Jae fan and it was a bit of a bummer that he wasn't in the book more.
Another was the mystery itself. It was a bit, well, boring really. And that sucks, cuz I adore Rhys Ford and I absolutely hate having to say that I was not 100% enthused about this story. But I gotta be honest, and the mystery just didn't capture my interest this time.
On the bright side, Bobby was HOT! And I mean smokin'. He's become such a huge part of the series, and I'm so glad he's getting his own book. I can't wait to read it.
So, while the mystery itself didn't really capture me, the characters were well worth the read. I'm off to re-read the first two, then read this one again.
I loved getting another installment in this series. I want to see this series go on for many many more books. BUT...
there were just a couple things in this one that didn't do it for me. One was that Jae-Min wasn't as big of a presence in this book as he was in the previous stories. I'm a huge Jae fan and it was a bit of a bummer that he wasn't in the book more.
Another was the mystery itself. It was a bit, well, boring really. And that sucks, cuz I adore Rhys Ford and I absolutely hate having to say that I was not 100% enthused about this story. But I gotta be honest, and the mystery just didn't capture my interest this time.
On the bright side, Bobby was HOT! And I mean smokin'. He's become such a huge part of the series, and I'm so glad he's getting his own book. I can't wait to read it.
So, while the mystery itself didn't really capture me, the characters were well worth the read. I'm off to re-read the first two, then read this one again.
July 17, 2014
I'm finally done reading this, Yayyyy!
Ok so I'm giving this one 3.5 stars, mostly because I could not follow along with all the names being bandied about, and same for the mystery. I got the gist of it though, so that's all that matters. I liked everything else, including the fun mentions of Kpop music that I like (G-Dragon!) and k-dramas that I've heard of ( Sungkyunkwan Scandal! And yes, K-dramas are that addictive).
I'll admit that I normally really dislike when authors use euphemisms during sex scenes but Rhys Ford has SUCH a lyrical way with words that I end up going along for the ride with a smile and a nod.
So, Jae and Cole have managed to worm their way into my top 5 favorite couples in this genre. Yep they have, which means I'm on to the next book to see how they're doing.
As G-Dragon and T.O.P would say:
I'm out.
Ok so I'm giving this one 3.5 stars, mostly because I could not follow along with all the names being bandied about, and same for the mystery. I got the gist of it though, so that's all that matters. I liked everything else, including the fun mentions of Kpop music that I like (G-Dragon!) and k-dramas that I've heard of ( Sungkyunkwan Scandal! And yes, K-dramas are that addictive).
I'll admit that I normally really dislike when authors use euphemisms during sex scenes but Rhys Ford has SUCH a lyrical way with words that I end up going along for the ride with a smile and a nod.
So, Jae and Cole have managed to worm their way into my top 5 favorite couples in this genre. Yep they have, which means I'm on to the next book to see how they're doing.
As G-Dragon and T.O.P would say:
I'm out.
July 4, 2014
I think this is my favorite of the series so far. As always, great mystery, complex characters and most importantly, Cole and Jae.
This was a serious roller coaster of action and emotion, one does not relax while reading/listening to a Cole McGinnis mystery, that is for damn sure.
Greg Tremblay, the AMAZING narrator for this series brings Cole to life, I can't imagine anyone else could be Cole the way he can. When he reads parts where Cole is feeling extreme emotion, which he does because he is SO incredibly passionate to those he loves, I am right there with him. It's never overdone and the subtle breaks and cracks in his reading tear me up!
Also, how much do I love Bobby? That guy is the best!
This was a serious roller coaster of action and emotion, one does not relax while reading/listening to a Cole McGinnis mystery, that is for damn sure.
Greg Tremblay, the AMAZING narrator for this series brings Cole to life, I can't imagine anyone else could be Cole the way he can. When he reads parts where Cole is feeling extreme emotion, which he does because he is SO incredibly passionate to those he loves, I am right there with him. It's never overdone and the subtle breaks and cracks in his reading tear me up!
Also, how much do I love Bobby? That guy is the best!
August 27, 2018
***** 5 Dirty series stars *****
Audio edition, narrator Greg Tremblay
8 hours 56 minutes
Overall: 5
Performance: 5
Story: 5
Love this book! There is so much going on at all fronts. We finally get to meet . Lots of emotional stuff going on between Cole and Jae. Jae is struggling between his responsibility as Korean man towards his family and doing what he actually wants.
The criminal case is easier to follow this time around, and I actually understood who the killer is. LOL
And that cliffhanger, though!
#1 Dirty Kiss
#2 Dirty Secret
#2.1 Interview with Kim Jae-Min (read after Dirty Secret)
An interview by Rhys on her homepage. Link
#2.2 Dirty Afternoon with Bobby Dawson (read before Dirty Laundry)
An interview by Rhys on her homepage. Link
#3 Dirty Laundry
#3.5 Dirty Sweets
Link
#3.6 Dirty Day (short story from LYLBTB Advent Event 2013)
Link
#3.8 Dirty Deeds interview: Catching up with Cole McGinnis (read before Dirty Deeds)
Link
#3.9 Dirty Deeds interview with Mike and Maddy McGinnis. (During release of Dirty Deeds)
Link
#4 Dirty Deeds
#4.5 Dirty Minds (short story done for the Dirty Deeds tour)
Link
#5 Down and Dirty
Bobby and Ichi's story.
#6 Dirty Heart
The criminal case is easier to follow this time around, and I actually understood who the killer is. LOL
And that cliffhanger, though!
#1 Dirty Kiss
#2 Dirty Secret
#2.1 Interview with Kim Jae-Min (read after Dirty Secret)
An interview by Rhys on her homepage. Link
#2.2 Dirty Afternoon with Bobby Dawson (read before Dirty Laundry)
An interview by Rhys on her homepage. Link
#3 Dirty Laundry
#3.5 Dirty Sweets
Link
#3.6 Dirty Day (short story from LYLBTB Advent Event 2013)
Link
#3.8 Dirty Deeds interview: Catching up with Cole McGinnis (read before Dirty Deeds)
Link
#3.9 Dirty Deeds interview with Mike and Maddy McGinnis. (During release of Dirty Deeds)
Link
#4 Dirty Deeds
#4.5 Dirty Minds (short story done for the Dirty Deeds tour)
Link
#5 Down and Dirty
Bobby and Ichi's story.
#6 Dirty Heart
August 16, 2019
Well here we are at book #3...
Ok, so once again it's Cole McGinnis by Rhys Ford and narrated by Greg Tremblay. So the e-book was a exuberant 4 star read and the audio has just bumped it up to 5 stars. I loved it do much that I of course just dove into book #4...well, actually I did dive into book #4 and I'm currently listening to book #5 because I admit it this lady has decided the best thing to do for the holidays is be sick so I don't really have the where-with-all to do much more than listen to an audio book and do a bit or reading...thankfully I'm all ready for Christmas and I hope you all are too...Happy Holidays!!!
Sept. 11/2018 - I think this is probably the most heartbreaking story of this series for me...many a tissue was sacrificed during my listening time for this story...in my heart I have adopted Jae and he is my book son and any parent with a half a brain would be so, so proud to have a son like him...ok, on to 'Dirty Deeds' and more Cole, Jae and the gang!
Ok, so once again it's Cole McGinnis by Rhys Ford and narrated by Greg Tremblay. So the e-book was a exuberant 4 star read and the audio has just bumped it up to 5 stars. I loved it do much that I of course just dove into book #4...well, actually I did dive into book #4 and I'm currently listening to book #5 because I admit it this lady has decided the best thing to do for the holidays is be sick so I don't really have the where-with-all to do much more than listen to an audio book and do a bit or reading...thankfully I'm all ready for Christmas and I hope you all are too...Happy Holidays!!!
Sept. 11/2018 - I think this is probably the most heartbreaking story of this series for me...many a tissue was sacrificed during my listening time for this story...in my heart I have adopted Jae and he is my book son and any parent with a half a brain would be so, so proud to have a son like him...ok, on to 'Dirty Deeds' and more Cole, Jae and the gang!
April 18, 2013
Originally reviewed for: http://liveyourlifebuythebook.wordpre...
This is book 3 in a series about PI Cole McGinnis and his Korean lover, photographer Kim Jae-Min. I absolutely recommend reading them all, and in order, to best understand the full history of Cole, Jae and their complexities.
Wow, where to start!! This is such an absolutely fantastic addition to a wonderful series in which Rhys Ford has taken each book up a notch and increased my emotional investment in Cole and Jae. Dirty Laundry had me alternatingly laughing, crying and peeking between my fingers to see what was happening next in Cole and Jae’s oft challenging journey through life as individuals and as a couple.
One of the things I loved most about this book is that I felt as though I became Cole when I was reading. His emotions, his reactions, his absolute bone deep love and need for Jae, I felt them all. While at times it might have been nice to gain access to Jae’s absolute inner thoughts, the writer leaves us with no need. Not when Cole is so good at telling us what he deciphers from Jae’s words and actions, and when the author graces us with dialogue from Jae such as this:
“I need to be this man with you, Cole-ah. A man who loves men, and it scares me. It scares me so deep inside, I am cold from the fear of it, but,” he whispered in the deepening darkness, “I want to come home to you. When we’re here, I feel…safe. I feel wanted. You make me doubt when I’m happy because I feel like I can’t hold it inside of me. Being with you is like…my soul coming with happiness. Does that make any sense?”
Well, hell yes! It certainly makes sense to this reader. Lovely words. They speak volumes. Sigh.
This is a book (and series) that has a great emotional/relationship/individual growth arc for Cole and Jae. The focus on Korean culture requires attention to detail – names and familial ties need to be kept sorted – and is a plus. I find it to be a wonderful and thoroughly intriguing aspect of the appeal and uniqueness of this series.
Rhys has written love making scenes that absolutely top my list for combining white hot passion, emotional exposure, soul- baring words and actions, and very importantly to me, these scenes always hold direct impact to the course of the relationship. I’m talking Gah-worthy scorching and mind blowing here folks. The love and chemistry between Cole and Jae is palpable and off the charts during all aspects of the story. The lengths they would go to see each other obtain what they need in life is indeed beautiful to behold.
I found myself completely charmed by and enjoying all of the secondary characters, both old friends and new. Some of them turned out to be as much of a surprise to Cole and Jae as they were to me. They are strongly drawn, fully portrayed and important and relevant to the main story. I look forward to seeing more of them in the future of the series.
Cole’s investigation case was fully engrossing and, as usual, full of twists and turns. Rhys seamlessly weaves together subplots and the secondary characters in a way that keeps the story fresh and captivating and had me always wondering what was coming next.
And the ending… geez oh man the world could have stopped and I wouldn’t have noticed until I came to the last words. During the last few pages I.Did.Not.Breath. Bring on book #4!!
Highly recommended.
April 2, 2013
WARNING: I had to swear, because this series just GETS me!
I'm always struck by how fucking MALE the character Cole is. I LOVE him. He swears a lot, he threatens bizarre hilarious violence on people that piss him off, he loves it when he catches another guy checking out his hottie, he avoids emotionally challenging situations... It's awesome! It's real and that just makes the love affair between him and Jae so much hotter for me. More visceral. I can taste it. How they love each other, how they try to show it but don't want to look weak. It's heartbreakingly tender, because it's mostly not tender in the traditional sense.
God there's this scene (not a spoiler really) where Jae bails Cole out of jail and talks about seeing the caller ID from a police station and thinking that something's happened to Cole and how painful and scary that is, but the scene is under played. Jae doesn't burst into tears, he's pissed. When Cole puts his arms around Jae, Jae tries to push him away. It's not sappy but that just makes it sweeter and more romantic to me.
It's fraught in a male way. God, seriously, the best love scenes I've ever read, straight, gay or whatever, are written by Ford featuring these 2 characters. So goddam hot, not because they're graffic, but because I can feel what each character needs in their messy imperfect guts, and what it costs them to offer up what they have.
This is book 3 in the series and it does not disappoint! It was a treat to get to live inside of these people again, and watch the body count rise and the shit hit the fan as they try to navigate through very dark waters indeed without losing what they most need, each other!
If you are offended by swearing, ok well you probably haven't read this far since I swore in the first sentence. If you're offended by hot sex, I'm sad for you, but note: this book will offend you. There's violence too, mostly because Cole just can't keep his nose out of trouble.
PS Bobby (the muscled boxer best friend) and Cole's long lost younger bro (SO cute and heavily tattooed) seriously need their own book! A spin-off? PLEASE?? I may have to write Fan Fiction if Ford won't put this out, and I seriously don't have time for that! Have mercy!
PSS Another super fun thing is that this author is on Twitter, will tweet back and is super hilarious! Check out @Rhys_Ford
I'm always struck by how fucking MALE the character Cole is. I LOVE him. He swears a lot, he threatens bizarre hilarious violence on people that piss him off, he loves it when he catches another guy checking out his hottie, he avoids emotionally challenging situations... It's awesome! It's real and that just makes the love affair between him and Jae so much hotter for me. More visceral. I can taste it. How they love each other, how they try to show it but don't want to look weak. It's heartbreakingly tender, because it's mostly not tender in the traditional sense.
God there's this scene (not a spoiler really) where Jae bails Cole out of jail and talks about seeing the caller ID from a police station and thinking that something's happened to Cole and how painful and scary that is, but the scene is under played. Jae doesn't burst into tears, he's pissed. When Cole puts his arms around Jae, Jae tries to push him away. It's not sappy but that just makes it sweeter and more romantic to me.
It's fraught in a male way. God, seriously, the best love scenes I've ever read, straight, gay or whatever, are written by Ford featuring these 2 characters. So goddam hot, not because they're graffic, but because I can feel what each character needs in their messy imperfect guts, and what it costs them to offer up what they have.
This is book 3 in the series and it does not disappoint! It was a treat to get to live inside of these people again, and watch the body count rise and the shit hit the fan as they try to navigate through very dark waters indeed without losing what they most need, each other!
If you are offended by swearing, ok well you probably haven't read this far since I swore in the first sentence. If you're offended by hot sex, I'm sad for you, but note: this book will offend you. There's violence too, mostly because Cole just can't keep his nose out of trouble.
PS Bobby (the muscled boxer best friend) and Cole's long lost younger bro (SO cute and heavily tattooed) seriously need their own book! A spin-off? PLEASE?? I may have to write Fan Fiction if Ford won't put this out, and I seriously don't have time for that! Have mercy!
PSS Another super fun thing is that this author is on Twitter, will tweet back and is super hilarious! Check out @Rhys_Ford
May 12, 2015
- Narrator - Grey Tremblay Another great story of Cole McGinnis... Review maybe later.
NEXT...
May 5, 2013
3.5 stars – A good continuation of the Cole McGinnis mysteries (following Dirty Kiss and Dirty Secret.) In this one, Cole is asked to check who might be offing the clients of a local Korean fortune-teller. Meanwhile, his happy time with his closeted boyfriend Jae is interrupted by the sudden appearance of Jae’s runaway (and homophobic) younger sister. Toss in his (surprise) younger brother visiting from Japan, and things are pretty busy (and murderous) in the life of Detective Cole McGinnis.
For fans of the series, I think you’ll enjoy this story. It has a lot of the hallmarks of the earlier books, including Cole’s first person POV, which is often both sly in its humor and full of interesting details that describe the scene or his inner thoughts. You also have the mainstay characters of sexy, understated Jae, lecherous buddy Bobby, and near the end, wonderful Claudia comes in to help slap some structure back into Cole’s life. (She was still recovering from the events in Dirty Secret. I did like seeing her grandkids Mo and Sissy try to hold the fort at Cole’s office in the meantime though.)
The mystery was good, but I found it very over-complicated and hard to follow at times. At one point, Cole describes his chart of people connected to the mystery as something like the Flying Spaghetti Monster tangling with two krakens, and that description was very apt. When things finally got figured out, I got the reasoning, but I found the whole thing still a little confusing.
The ending is a very solid HFN and not a cliffhanger, but there are some sudden events near the end of the book that felt a little tonally off. It was supposed to be sudden, and those surprise moments are pretty standard for this series. (One moment a character is reaching over to shake a hand, and the next, a hail of bullets is flying through the air.) But for me, it felt a little tacked on to add some separate surprise drama at the very end. I almost wish it was incorporated into the next book rather than coming at the end of this one.
Like the other books, the writing was still good. I’m a big fan of Cole’s POV, it’s funny, insightful, and sympathetic. If I could make one recommendation, I would try to lessen the word “lover” to describe Jae in Cole’s POV. It’s an oddly distancing word when you’re in the character’s head. I think just Jae’s name could have been substituted in for most of those instances, and I wouldn’t have been kicked out of the flow.
I also agree with Susan’s review about wanting more Cole/Jae time. It was limited on purpose for this book as Jae was dealing with his family issues, but I definitely missed it. What time they had they often used for sexy time, which is fine, but I hope there’s more in the next book of them just being together, talking, living with each other, or even working on a case. (Cole and Jae’s working chemistry is kind of fun, and a neat difference from Cole and Bobby’s buddy chemistry.) That’s my hope for the next book.
For fans of the series, I do recommend this book, even though it’s my least favorite of the three. It was still nice to connect to the characters, and things happen in it that will have impact later, so it’s not one you can miss if you’re reading the series.
So, looking forward to the next book. My hope is for some more Cole/Jae, along with the follow-up from the tail-end events of this book. (I do appreciate the author gave us a good HFN ending here and not a bad cliffhanger. Thank you!!)
And if you're new to the series, I don't recommend that you start here. You should start with #1, the excellent Dirty Kiss.
For fans of the series, I think you’ll enjoy this story. It has a lot of the hallmarks of the earlier books, including Cole’s first person POV, which is often both sly in its humor and full of interesting details that describe the scene or his inner thoughts. You also have the mainstay characters of sexy, understated Jae, lecherous buddy Bobby, and near the end, wonderful Claudia comes in to help slap some structure back into Cole’s life. (She was still recovering from the events in Dirty Secret. I did like seeing her grandkids Mo and Sissy try to hold the fort at Cole’s office in the meantime though.)
The mystery was good, but I found it very over-complicated and hard to follow at times. At one point, Cole describes his chart of people connected to the mystery as something like the Flying Spaghetti Monster tangling with two krakens, and that description was very apt. When things finally got figured out, I got the reasoning, but I found the whole thing still a little confusing.
The ending is a very solid HFN and not a cliffhanger, but there are some sudden events near the end of the book that felt a little tonally off. It was supposed to be sudden, and those surprise moments are pretty standard for this series. (One moment a character is reaching over to shake a hand, and the next, a hail of bullets is flying through the air.) But for me, it felt a little tacked on to add some separate surprise drama at the very end. I almost wish it was incorporated into the next book rather than coming at the end of this one.
Like the other books, the writing was still good. I’m a big fan of Cole’s POV, it’s funny, insightful, and sympathetic. If I could make one recommendation, I would try to lessen the word “lover” to describe Jae in Cole’s POV. It’s an oddly distancing word when you’re in the character’s head. I think just Jae’s name could have been substituted in for most of those instances, and I wouldn’t have been kicked out of the flow.
I also agree with Susan’s review about wanting more Cole/Jae time. It was limited on purpose for this book as Jae was dealing with his family issues, but I definitely missed it. What time they had they often used for sexy time, which is fine, but I hope there’s more in the next book of them just being together, talking, living with each other, or even working on a case. (Cole and Jae’s working chemistry is kind of fun, and a neat difference from Cole and Bobby’s buddy chemistry.) That’s my hope for the next book.
For fans of the series, I do recommend this book, even though it’s my least favorite of the three. It was still nice to connect to the characters, and things happen in it that will have impact later, so it’s not one you can miss if you’re reading the series.
So, looking forward to the next book. My hope is for some more Cole/Jae, along with the follow-up from the tail-end events of this book. (I do appreciate the author gave us a good HFN ending here and not a bad cliffhanger. Thank you!!)
And if you're new to the series, I don't recommend that you start here. You should start with #1, the excellent Dirty Kiss.
April 13, 2017
This was a brutal, emotional entry on the personal front for Cole and Jae. Unfortunately Jae is outed and there are consequences. In and among the central mystery Cole's trying to solve, the theme of family runs rampant in this book. The ties that bind - are they strong enough to withstand new and shocking revelations? Do they automatically entail acceptance and unconditional love? When and where does obligation begin and end?
Cole remains a great character with a sarcastic wit that often gets him into trouble. He's not afraid of his feelings, he's not afraid to communicate. The emotions here are extra poignant; the smex factor is high as always. At times this was bleak, but there's also again a lot of hope. These two men face a variety of issues in trying to be true to themselves and to each other. However I think Ford did an excellent job of portraying the strength love can give and that everyone is entitiled to their own bit of happiness no matter what.
And that ending?? Wow - I don't think the thought ever crossed my mind. Holy smokes!
Cole remains a great character with a sarcastic wit that often gets him into trouble. He's not afraid of his feelings, he's not afraid to communicate. The emotions here are extra poignant; the smex factor is high as always. At times this was bleak, but there's also again a lot of hope. These two men face a variety of issues in trying to be true to themselves and to each other. However I think Ford did an excellent job of portraying the strength love can give and that everyone is entitiled to their own bit of happiness no matter what.
And that ending?? Wow - I don't think the thought ever crossed my mind. Holy smokes!
July 13, 2014
I like Cole and Jae, but the story lines are getting to be a bit samey. Yes, they are comfortable and enjoyable and I am fond of the LA setting. At this point, it’s Bobby that keeps me coming back. However, I am really glad that I read Dirty Laundry because 1)I got some great Korean BBQ recs from Susan and 2) I found out that Vivian and I like the same westside strip mall Korean BBQ joint.
October 3, 2015
This review is going to be disjointed because my notes are long and all over the place and I’m too lazy to make everything all orderly.
The story is excellent, the mystery quite good and would almost stand alone, the pacing and the rest of the plot also very good, and there’s a lot of mortal danger, mayhem, action, drama, and intense declarations of love. Yummy.
The best part is the characters. There are many different characters and each one is a clear individual that I can picture. There are strong women in addition to the men and there are different ethnicities, not just Korean and white American. Jae drives me crazy but I love him and Cole together and by the end of the book, I loved him, too.
Good things
The opening line is hilarious:
I knew she was trouble as soon as she walked through my door.
Those of you who have read or know Sam Spade, will probably find amusing the fact that this was said about a little girl seeing a dognapped puppy.
It continues (after she’s listed the things she has to offer):
Not bad for a nine year old with a net worth of three dollars and fifty-one cents. I admired her bravado. Then I dialed her mother to come pick her up. I took the case. For the cost of the chocolate bar. I gave Ava back the pig and unicorn. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Now, in the middle of a warm Los Angeles night and being herded by the savage growls behind me, I was beginning to think I should have held onto the unicorn.
I LOVE this paragraph:
People who raise dogs to fight should be shot. Men who steal a little girl’s dog to bait a fighting dog should die the slowest, most torturous death possible. Their skin should be separated from their flesh with an air hose through minute slits and then have water from the Salton Sea injected slowly into the cavities while someone rips off strips of duct tape from their balls. But that’s just off the top of my head. I was sure I could come up with something more concrete if given a little time.
The sex scenes were both beautiful and hot.
More humor:
Even if most of the boys in blue weren’t too happy about us waving the rainbow flag, we were still their brothers. Okay, Bobby was still their brother. I was that second cousin once removed everyone had to invite to the wedding or else there’d be talk.
*****
“Can I bring my girlfriend?” Wong teased. “You know, so you don’t get any ideas that it’s a date.”
“Sure, so long as I can bring Jae. You know, so you don’t get any ideas that you actually have a chance with me,” I countered.
This cracked me up because I’ve so done this:
I chewed on the end of my pen, then pulled it out of my mouth as if Claudia was next to me admonishing me not to get ink on my lip.
Seriously, once in the middle of a meeting someone stopped to point out that I had ink all over my face.
I closed the door behind my laughing brother and headed back into the living room to soak in more of the Pastafarian Ouija board I’d created.
If you know what a Pastafarian is, I’m pretty sure you’ll find that sentence as hilarious as I do.
One great character has prosthetic legs.
Cole is an ass about his Japanese brother. Cole hates him even though being alive isn’t his fault. The reason I love this, despite my frustration and annoyance with Cole, was that it’s realistic and shows that Cole has both his good and bad sides. It also provides a way for us to see how Cole processes information and an opportunity for growth.
A teenage boy is left to his own devices at a computer for an hour, and later the adults find pictures of naked women on it. Completely realistic and totally funny.
This is a pretty big spoiler but it happens about midway through the book:
I was practically sobbing at this point.
But this was the clincher that made me fall in love with Cole:
In that moment, I knew what love was. It was walking away from the man in front of me. It was turning my back on the man I’d made cry out my name and beg for more of me inside of him. I needed to turn away because he asked it of me. Whether I wanted to or not, because I loved him, I was supposed to step back into the shadows and fade from his view. “If that’s what you need, baby. I’ll give you anything you need.”
I have always said that this is what someone would do if they truly loved the other person. They wouldn’t stalk them, they wouldn’t push and push and push. The only other time I’ve seen this, though, was in a Tim McGraw song:
When you said time was all you really needed
I walked away and let you have your space
'Cause leavin' didn't hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rollin' down your face
You know, the whole “if you love it/him/her, set it free. If it/she/he comes back, it/she/he was yours and if not, he/she/it was never yours in the first place”? That so rarely happens in books.
Not so much:
Cole frequently refers to his nerve-seizing scar tissue. This is confusing to me as the scar I have after major surgery has no feeling at all nor does most of the skin around it.
dont understand .my nerves are gone
Then there are sections that are a bit overwrought:
It was still pitch black outside, but the liquid stink of a Los Angeles morning was already rising up from the streets. A rotary cleaner chugged past us, spurting out lukewarm suds to wash oil and soot from the road. The foam slunk down to the curbside, a frothy curl of dirt and black specks.
I’ve gotten really sick of the whole Korean family thing. I get that a man’s identity is wrapped up in his family but that’s not the only culture that thinks that way. And frankly, losing your family whether it’s your identity or not is damn hard. It happened to Cole and he thinks he’s selfish for wanting Jae to come out.
The rejection is extremely difficult to overcome. Why else would so many gay teens commit suicide? It’s the rejection by their peers and often perception that they’ll be rejected by their family. Different sources site that gay teens are anywhere from 3 to 5 times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual teens. There are also numerous sources that have done research that concludes that gay men and lesbian adults are also significantly more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual adults. I don’t believe those are all Korean. That means that gay people in general are sad and alone, the general consensus being that rejection from society and family are by far the biggest factor. I think Jae and Cole need to get over their narrow definition of family. It would be simpler coming out, not always hiding. Maybe you’d be equally miserable. But if you’re going to be miserable, why not be miserable with the love of your life and happy in your own home rather than alone and rejected at family gatherings?
He also knew, once he came out of the closet, he would have no one left… no one but me, and he wasn’t quite ready to trust that I’d be with him to the end of time.
In this book in particular, but all through the series, more and more extended Korean family members turn out to be gay. He’d still have family left and if he and Cole didn’t last, he’d find a new man to love. He lives in the US, not Korea.
On top of that: (large spoiler) That scene right there completely contradicts everything else.
Cole sees a really hot guy that is his type but has no reaction at all, the man does nothing for him. Yeah right. Cole is a red-blooded gay American male. He would still see the guy was hot despite having no interest in him.
There are way too many metaphors.
The family tree is so complicated that in second book I had to draw a diagram. In this one, it was so complicated, I couldn’t. While a complex family tree is good, and I loved it in the other book, this was too much for the story. I would have liked a diagram in the back of the book or something.
There are several references to Jae being the sole financial support of his mother even though she already doesn’t like him. He has no money as he’s an artist. How is he supporting himself and a family back in Korea? This is given as a reason why he can’t come out. Well why can’t he still send her money? It’s her own fault if she rejects the money, not his. I don’t know why he’s sending it to her in the first place since she’s so awful.
Jae brings Cole a lot of places and I think it’s a little strange that no one suspects that they’re lovers.
This comment bugged me:I didn’t have a chance to get her to love me. Isn’t that what all mothers want?
It is implied that this is the most important thing. It would be nice, but that’s not the primary thing a good mother cares about. Good moms want their kids to be happy. And I’m speaking as a mother whose daughter’s mental health issues mean that she’s incapable of experiencing love like the rest of us do and doesn’t usually even indicated that she cares a whole lot. I’m not a mother so that I can have someone love me.
Another part that I didn’t like because I thought it was forced was that (mild spoiler)
February 8, 2017
I really had no intention of ever reading this book (or the rest of the series). I struggled hard with Book 1 and only read 2 because it fit a challenge I needed. To many Korean names and words and a mystery I didn't care about made them hard books to get through. I ended up deciding on this book the same way I did #2, for a team challenge. Of course scrolling through the reviews for it I noticed Heather K (dentist in my spare time)'s review about how wonderful the audiobook is (seriously check out her review. She puts things so much better than I do). I love a good audiobook so I thought I would give it a try. So glad that I did now.
The story itself was good and gave me more of Cole and Jae, who I absolutely adore. I love these two and the relationship that they have managed to forge amidst all the uncertainty of Cole's tendency to get shot and Jae's family drama. They have a very strong connection that is put to the test in this book.
I love all the secondary characters...Bobby, Mike, Claudia, and of course Ichi, who I'm pretty sure I'm going to love like I do Jae.
Now for the best part of all, the audiobook itself. Greg Tremblay did an absolutely fantastic job narrating this. He gives each character their own distinctive voice and carries them through all the way to the end. There is never a question of who is talking at any given point. I didn't have to stumble over unfamiliar Korean names and words, because he handled that for me. Although I will say that I had a few issues near the end when there was talk about Jae's family from the first 2 books. I think I was seriously mispronouncing those names in my head because I was clueless as to who a few of them were. I think I might go back and buy the first 2 books on audio and listen to them before I continue with the series. It made such a difference to my enjoyment level.
The story itself was good and gave me more of Cole and Jae, who I absolutely adore. I love these two and the relationship that they have managed to forge amidst all the uncertainty of Cole's tendency to get shot and Jae's family drama. They have a very strong connection that is put to the test in this book.
I love all the secondary characters...Bobby, Mike, Claudia, and of course Ichi, who I'm pretty sure I'm going to love like I do Jae.
Now for the best part of all, the audiobook itself. Greg Tremblay did an absolutely fantastic job narrating this. He gives each character their own distinctive voice and carries them through all the way to the end. There is never a question of who is talking at any given point. I didn't have to stumble over unfamiliar Korean names and words, because he handled that for me. Although I will say that I had a few issues near the end when there was talk about Jae's family from the first 2 books. I think I was seriously mispronouncing those names in my head because I was clueless as to who a few of them were. I think I might go back and buy the first 2 books on audio and listen to them before I continue with the series. It made such a difference to my enjoyment level.
April 18, 2013
5 Stars - KAPOW!!
This is book 3 in a series about PI Cole McGinnis and his Korean lover, photographer Kim Jae-Min. I absolutely recommend reading them all, and in order, to best understand the full history of Cole, Jae and their complexities.
Wow, where to start!! This is such an absolutely fantastic addition to a wonderful series in which Rhys Ford has taken each book up a notch and increased my emotional investment in Cole and Jae. Dirty Laundry had me alternatingly laughing, crying and peeking between my fingers to see what was happening next in Cole and Jae’s oft challenging journey through life as individuals and as a couple.
One of the things I loved most about this book is that I felt as though I became Cole when I was reading. His emotions, his reactions, his absolute bone deep love and need for Jae, I felt them all. While at times it might have been nice to gain access to Jae’s absolute inner thoughts, the writer leaves us with no need. Not when Cole is so good at telling us what he deciphers from Jae’s words and actions, and when the author graces us with dialogue from Jae such as this:
“I need to be this man with you, Cole-ah. A man who loves men, and it scares me. It scares me so deep inside, I am cold from the fear of it, but,” he whispered in the deepening darkness, “I want to come home to you. When we’re here, I feel…safe. I feel wanted. You make me doubt when I’m happy because I feel like I can’t hold it inside of me. Being with you is like…my soul coming with happiness. Does that make any sense?”
Well, hell yes! It certainly makes sense to this reader. Lovely words. They speak volumes. Sigh....
Dianne's full review can be found at
Live Your Life, Buy The Book
This is book 3 in a series about PI Cole McGinnis and his Korean lover, photographer Kim Jae-Min. I absolutely recommend reading them all, and in order, to best understand the full history of Cole, Jae and their complexities.
Wow, where to start!! This is such an absolutely fantastic addition to a wonderful series in which Rhys Ford has taken each book up a notch and increased my emotional investment in Cole and Jae. Dirty Laundry had me alternatingly laughing, crying and peeking between my fingers to see what was happening next in Cole and Jae’s oft challenging journey through life as individuals and as a couple.
One of the things I loved most about this book is that I felt as though I became Cole when I was reading. His emotions, his reactions, his absolute bone deep love and need for Jae, I felt them all. While at times it might have been nice to gain access to Jae’s absolute inner thoughts, the writer leaves us with no need. Not when Cole is so good at telling us what he deciphers from Jae’s words and actions, and when the author graces us with dialogue from Jae such as this:
“I need to be this man with you, Cole-ah. A man who loves men, and it scares me. It scares me so deep inside, I am cold from the fear of it, but,” he whispered in the deepening darkness, “I want to come home to you. When we’re here, I feel…safe. I feel wanted. You make me doubt when I’m happy because I feel like I can’t hold it inside of me. Being with you is like…my soul coming with happiness. Does that make any sense?”
Well, hell yes! It certainly makes sense to this reader. Lovely words. They speak volumes. Sigh....
Dianne's full review can be found at
Live Your Life, Buy The Book
January 24, 2016
Dear Greg Tremblay,
I love your voice. Your narration is like a gift from the angels. You make me so happy.
Yours truly,
Belen
P.S.: Rhys Ford, I hope you have thanked whatever deity or essence you believe in for them pairing the awesomeness of Greg Tremblay with your wonderful storytelling.
Now that's out of the way...let's get to the review. I can't say much because it would spoil a lot, and I don't want to do that. There's a whole lot of drama in this installment of the series, with a pretty healthy heaping of angst to work through. In the end though, Cole has his boyfriend, Jae-Min and his best friend, Bobby, to shore him up while he tackles it all.
I'm going to be honest a moment here. I have a really hard time reading these books. The Asian honorifics, the similar names, all the world-building the Rhys Ford does - which, don't get me wrong, it's absolutely awesome - but...it all confuses the hell out of me. This is where having a fabulous narrator like Greg Tremblay is a huge benefit. Because Tremblay sorts it all out. He makes it so I understand the different characters: who they are, where they're coming from, what they're saying, he just breaks it down so I can immerse myself into the story and just enjoy it. So that's what I did. I just enjoyed this. Thoroughly and completely.
Recommended.
This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.
October 23, 2015
Audio. Narrator: Greg Tremblay
4.5 stars
When I started listening to this series, I wasn’t sure what to think. The first half of book 1 didn’t really suck me in. But I got more and more invested when I listened on. I can honestly say that I’m totally hooked now. I don’t ever want this series to end.
I have the best time driving to and from work! Traffic jams have never been this much fun. When everyone else is doing this
I’m all
I am very much in love with Cole, Jae-Min, Claudia, Bobby, Ichiro. I love it how the love between Cole and Jae is not easy, but it’s not deliberately angsty. One thing is clear, there is so much love between them.
And one thing I usually feel when reading books about established couples is that the sex is quite boring. Never with these two. They burn up the sheets (if they make it to a bed that is)!
I cannot wait to see how everything will work out with Cole and Jae and of course Bobby and Ichiro.
4.5 stars
When I started listening to this series, I wasn’t sure what to think. The first half of book 1 didn’t really suck me in. But I got more and more invested when I listened on. I can honestly say that I’m totally hooked now. I don’t ever want this series to end.
I have the best time driving to and from work! Traffic jams have never been this much fun. When everyone else is doing this
I’m all
I am very much in love with Cole, Jae-Min, Claudia, Bobby, Ichiro. I love it how the love between Cole and Jae is not easy, but it’s not deliberately angsty. One thing is clear, there is so much love between them.
And one thing I usually feel when reading books about established couples is that the sex is quite boring. Never with these two. They burn up the sheets (if they make it to a bed that is)!
I cannot wait to see how everything will work out with Cole and Jae and of course Bobby and Ichiro.
October 24, 2015
Hands down Dirty Laundry is the best book in the series so far. Since I loved the other two its not insane to realize how over the top I am about this book. The writing is still some of the best I've ever read. That, and the creative ways of maiming people.
Cole and Jae. Wow. Two of my all time favorite main characters in a series. Cole is such a GUY! He and Jae bring this incredible romance to life while still pissing each other off, cursing a lot and trying their damnedest to not be vulnerable. It's so real life it's almost scary. Throw in Cole's best friend Bobby. A K9 chase. A number of dead people. Claudia coming back to work. And, well, it's a world I wish I could live in all of the time.
This book actually dealt more with relationships and less with mystery than the two before. Not to say that there isn't a good whodunit involving a fortune teller and her clients. And, since its a Rhys Ford book there are plenty of dead bodies. But, there is more emphasis on Cole and Jae, Cole and his brother Mike, Cole and his new brother Ichiro (who I really hope we see lots more of) and Jae and his sister. It's about family. It's about lies. It's about pain. It's about hurt. It's about love.
It's about life.
Cole and Jae. Wow. Two of my all time favorite main characters in a series. Cole is such a GUY! He and Jae bring this incredible romance to life while still pissing each other off, cursing a lot and trying their damnedest to not be vulnerable. It's so real life it's almost scary. Throw in Cole's best friend Bobby. A K9 chase. A number of dead people. Claudia coming back to work. And, well, it's a world I wish I could live in all of the time.
This book actually dealt more with relationships and less with mystery than the two before. Not to say that there isn't a good whodunit involving a fortune teller and her clients. And, since its a Rhys Ford book there are plenty of dead bodies. But, there is more emphasis on Cole and Jae, Cole and his brother Mike, Cole and his new brother Ichiro (who I really hope we see lots more of) and Jae and his sister. It's about family. It's about lies. It's about pain. It's about hurt. It's about love.
It's about life.
April 20, 2013
Poor Cole he went through so much in this book. I'm glad he and Jae Min are working everything out. They are becoming a more solid couple. And Cole has a new brother. I could understand why Cole was angry and reluctant to meet Ichi. I would have been too. I didn't want to like Ichi either, but damn he was cool! And I looove Bobby! I can't wait for Bobby's book now, because I think I know who his love interest will be :). One of the things I love about this series is how Ford incorporates Korean pop culture into the novels. The way she describes Korea Town makes me feel like I am actually there. And it made me smile and even squeal when I saw her add in a song by G-Dragon (Crayon), or talk about dramas such as Sungkyunkawan Scandal (one of my favorites), or even a simple shirt with the band L'arc en Ciel. It just made it feel more authentic.
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