How to Deal

Stories from the Sound #3

by T.M. Smith

This book/series has been pulled and is no longer on sale. The series is being revised and rereleased with new content, covers and a new series title, Stories from the Sound. You can find the 1st book for the rerelease here.... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

Genres: M M Romance, Audiobook, Romance, Contemporary, Gay, M M Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

185 pages, ebook

Published November 27, 2015

About the author

TM Smith
Author bio and links:

A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; Smith is an avid reader that just happens to write sweet & sexy gay romance. A Texas transplant, she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel.

Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!

Website: www.authortmsmith.com
Blog: www.ttcbooksandmore.com
Facebook Author: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTMSmith
Join the TRIBE Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/99462...
Twitter - https://twitter.com/TTCBooksandmore
GoodReads: https://goo.gl/XQugse
Pinterest: https://goo.gl/cq9R9t
Youtube: https://goo.gl/Rpq5gX
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1muE5AA
iTunes: https://goo.gl/vrLfOl
Audible: https://goo.gl/7Iu4Zf
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2syj3Ij
Amazon AU: https://goo.gl/0sCPxq
Amazon DE: https://goo.gl/fhBB9c

Reviews

[BWT · Rating 4 out of 5]

T. M. Smith offers up another entertaining story in the All Cocks Stories Series.

The story begins when Detective Jon Brennan is called in to help with the investigation of the club incident that happens at the end of Fame and Fortune and follows from Jon's meeting of his favorite star of the All Cocks site, Hayden Cox, or Kory White when he isn't performing, through their entire relationship from the first few moments until their HEA.

Told from both Kory and Jon's POV the story follows the same construct of the rest of the series with the focus on the relationship ins and outs, a huge dose of insta-love, and all kinds of hot, sexy times, then some drama towards the end to keep readers/listeners on the edge of their seats. There's also a sprinkling of hurt/comfort as well.

I loved Jon and Kory together. They were loving, volatile, and real. I know couples that behave the way they do. I recognized them. I loved getting to see the other All Cocks guys again and getting a glimpse of the next story in the series.

My only small complaint is I didn't particularly love that there are, once again, time jumps where a lot of time gets packed into the story. However, this time around I didn't feel like we lost relationship development with the time passages. The timing worked well and Joel Leslie was able to transition from period to period easily.

I love Joel Leslie's narration. Leslie does another great job with his character voices, pacing and timing all being on point. Leslie doesn't disappoint with his performance.

Sweet relationship story with some deep emotion, some hurt/comfort and great narration, How To Deal ticked off all my boxes for a good listen. I'm looking forward to continuing the series with Joel Leslie at the helm.

Audio copy of How to Deal (All Cocks Stories #3) provided by Author in exchange of an honest review.

This review has been cross-posted at Gay Book Reviews.

[Mandie Foxylutely · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

How To Deal is the third book in the All Cocks Stories series. Kory White is the obnoxious one of the porn star troupe so I was wondering how TM Smith was going to turn this guy around and become a character we would fall in love with. I needn’t have wondered or worried. I just knew this guy was throwing that prickly façade for a good reason.

Kory has been in the series since the start and even though he was caught up in the drama he has always been on the periphery of the stories until now. He is one tough cookie and he almost has a three way persona – that of his porn star alto ego, Hayden, the blunt and hard faced Kory and the shy, vulnerable, sweet Kory underneath. After all that he had been through in his childhood it was understandable. Now he pushes away from feelings as feelings cause him hurt, anguish and loss. There was a lot to unravel of this man and Jon was the man to do it.

Jon Brennan is a tough NYPD cop. He comes from a large Italian/Irish family with the tradition of all the men being in the NYPD. He first sees his porn star crush Hayden in a bar where a suspected drugging has taken place with Mattie, one of the owners of the company Kory works for. Although it is the porn star Jon at first sees, he then looks closer at the man and finds himself wanting to know more about the real man, so he makes his interest known.

It takes a while for Kory to let Jon in but from their first date these two were never going to be along for a smooth ride. Not when you have two headstrong hulking men both fighting for dominance, no way. It was a journey filled with a lot of passion, a touch of angst but a lot of soul searching. I loved how Jon was able to dig deep and get Kory to open up and talk out his fears and feelings. This was also helped with the wonderful brood of the Brennan family, who welcomed Kory with open chaotic arms. If he was the one for Jon then he got the same bantering, the same teasing and the same love. Well it almost was but it took Jon’s brother, Sal and his grandmother a little longer to let him in.

It took me longer to dive into this book in comparison to the first two books but I think that is because I had this preconception about Kory. Once that was pushed aside I found it easy to be sucked into this eventful romance. There were some areas I felt were a little rushed and an enormous curve ball of a coincidence, but no biggie, it was still an enjoyable and engaging m/m romance that I would happily recommend. Four stars.

[The Reading's Love Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

RECENSIONE QUI: https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/...

4.5 STELLE


I Cocky Boys sono colleghi, amici, sono una famiglia. In Andare Oltre conosciamo uno dei ragazzi di punta dell'agenzia All Cocks, Kory, l'egocentrico e scontroso non lascia avvicinare nessuno, indossa una maschera per proteggersi dalla sofferenza, dalla paura. Kory è agli occhi di tutti una star strafottente e sicura di sé ma oltre la facciata c'è molto di più e quando Jon lo guarda, capisce che c'è tanto da scoprire e anche da amare. Questa è una dolcissima romantica storia d'amore, un colpo di fulmine, la conoscenza reciproca, il rispetto per un sentimento che potrebbe crescere e diventare grande. Come sempre l'autrice usa uno stile fluido e diretto, semplice e senza fronzoli prediligendo vari pov alternati e coinvolgendo anche i personaggi secondari in modo da far diventare la storia corale. Kory e Jon sono caratterizzati benissimo nei pregi e anche nei difetti. Kory abbandona la sua maschera e svela le sue insicurezze ed i suoi traumi, si lascia andare anche se non è affatto facile accettare che forse può essere felice, questo grazie alla forza e cocciutaggine di Jon, un uomo meraviglioso senza pregiudizi, onesto e generoso. Come ho detto è una storia molto dolce ma con contenuti importanti, forse è la storia più completa della serie fino ad ora, probabilmente perché racconta non solo del passato tragico di Kory e della sua solitudine ma anche della famiglia sopra le righe di Jon e della completezza che porta nelle loro vite. Parla di crimini d'odio e dei rischi che corrono chi come Jon lavora ogni giorno per le strade, parla di dolore e perdite che spezzano ma anche di sostegno incondizionato, di come la famiglia si può trovare anche tra i membri di amici e colleghi uniti e coesi a creare un nucleo dove sentirsi amati e appartenenti a qualcosa di grande…

CONTINUA SUL NOSTRO BLOG. VENITE A TROVARCI
https://thereadingslove.blogspot.com/

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed the series so far and how the All Cocks' world was developed. It was like getting a behind the scenes look into the porn industry - the mechanics, the people, the life. I have no idea how accurate it actually was, but it had a true sense of realism that reflected certain real life studios. I understand T.M. Smith spoke with some gay porn stars to gain insight before writing this series.

There is an ensemble cast of characters who appear throughout the books, including the three men who own All Cocks, their actors, and other friends. The characters are well fleshed out, and the dialogue realistic. Of course, there's sex in the stories. What made this interesting was the varying scenes by main characters, in both their 'everyday' persona, and while wearing their porn star mantle. This included each character having their real name and a porn star name. When you add all these names, including the supporting characters, there were a lot of people to keep track of but it wasn't too hard to do. By the time you get to How to Deal (book 3), the Cast of Characters in the beginning of the book is really helpful. :)

Interestingly, each book doesn't just focus on the main couple (or throuple as the case may be), but gives background to the other characters, including scenes from the point of view of the non-featured characters. I think this is part of getting the reader invested in the characters who will appear in subsequent books.

The stories themselves are interesting, perhaps a touch predictable in some instances, but it kept me turning the pages. All in all, I recommend this series. I think How to Deal was actually my favourite so far and I'm looking forward to reading the rest. Tristan please. :)

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fair warning: if you prefer your MCs to be completely monogamous throughout their entire relationship, this might not be the book for you. Kory continues his work in pornography until near the end of the book, though Jon is completely aware of it and doesn’t object.

The audiobook narration by Joel Leslie was good. He had the pacing and timing down. The character voices weren’t shabby either, though Jon’s voice was a bit slow.

I really liked that the MCs in this book started on honest footing. Jon is aware from the get-go that Kory is a porn actor, and Kory doesn’t make any false promises. Granted, I wasn’t entirely realistic, and I would have expected some more discussion or introspection on the matter.

But it was refreshing to read an MM with a porn star MC where the romance didn’t devolve to constant lying and jealousy. Jon and Kory didn’t get worked up over it, and that’s good enough for me.

Jon is in many ways the perfect boyfriend - patient, understanding, and persistent. Plus he’s got a great family (his very non-PC but completely loving Gran was a hoot!). Kory is stand-offish at first, picking fights often, but it becomes clear that it’s a defence mechanism. Once he lets his guard down, he’s much more likeable.

The romance is insta-love. It doesn’t take Kory and Jon long to fall hard for each other. Though the two fell fast, I thought they were sweet. I also liked that it wasn’t just about the sex between them, and they actually got to know each other.

But I just didn’t connect to them. While this book works perfectly fine as a standalone, I think this is a case where you would have to read the series from the beginning to be really invested in the characters. Jon and Kory’s romance was sweet and sexy enough, but they didn’t really grab my attention.

That could be in part because of the time jumps, which I often didn’t immediately pick up on through the audiobook. The relationship development seemed to sometimes get lost in these jumps. Also, the drama at the end did little for me. It seemed to come out of left field, and was just too soap-opera-ish for me.

There is nothing wrong with ‘How to Deal’. It’s a sweet romance and the audiobook was good. But sometimes a book, and the characters, just doesn’t capture your attention. Perhaps if I’d read the series from book 1 and was already invested in Kory, I would have enjoyed this book more.

[Carra · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the overly brash and cocky attitude I had come to expect from Kory based on the first two books, I was curious as to how his story would play out here in How to Deal. But while I was expecting a nonstop smartass, I got to see the rest of Kory's personality instead. It was actually pretty entertaining since all that self-assuredness flew out the window when it came to interacting with Jon and Jon's family.

Jon is a fantastic character--laid back, easygoing, but then very alpha and assertive when it's called for...which makes for some pretty interesting scenes between him and Kory (who you'd expect to be the dominant top based on the first two books). Jon knows exactly how to handle Kory, no matter how Kory tries to short circuit their relationship.

There's drama and strong emotion--something I've now come to expect from this series (I'd be disappointed if it was missing)--which really drags the other side of Kory's personality to the forefront and lets us see him in a whole new light. Seeing his reaction to events that happen with Jon and how that really opens Kory up to emotion was moving and showed even greater depth to his character. He and Jon work extremely well together, giving us another strong match to celebrate in the All Cocks family. Because yes, they are all definitely a family.

The only thing that bugged me about this story-and the only reason this is 4 stars for me instead of more-is how things played out at the end with the sub-plot of Kory and his sister. In my opinion, how this is resolved is based way too much on coincidence which for me diminishes the believability of the situation's resolution.

How to Deal is another success in the All Cocks series, and just keeps me wanting to hear more and more about the characters in this unique family. 4 stars, recommended for fans of M/M romance 18+ due to adult language and explicit M/M sexual content.

The narration:
How to Deal is another in a long line of exemplary narrations by Joel Leslie. He brings so much to these characters, and the accents and individual voices are magnificent. The character voices are consistent, and also match the voices for the same characters in the previous book in this series he narrated. Joel expertly infuses the narration of each character with emotion, which made it very easy for me to slip right into the All Cocks world while listening. 5 stars for Joel Leslie's audio interpretation for How to Deal!

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good addition to this series!
This can be read as a stand alone because it features a different couple then the previous books.
Kory is a porn star who works for All Cocks porn site. Jon is a huge fan of his work and a police detective. They meet during a incident at a bar and there is a instant attraction.
So let me start of this review by saying although I did really like this book there were a few things I had a hard time wrapping my head around to be honest at first. Now I know being a porn star is just a job but that does not stop me from thinking how can a relationship work when one partner does this for a job. Now for me personally I do not think I could ever be comfortable with the person I care about being a porn star but that is just me. Now usually I really do not have a problem with it in a book because the way everything works out.
But with this book it went into too much detail for me when Kory was working because then I am left sitting there thinking I wonder what Jon feels about this. I also know that this all comes down to trust and it would take a lot of trust to be okay with this I do understand that. But that still for me personally is still hard to understand and fully wrap my head around.
So through a majority of this book I did have a hard time thinking about them as a couple. But farther along in the book the author had them discussing it and the way it was handled made it easier for me to see how Jon was okay with it so I felt like that was handled perfectly.
That was the only part I had a hard time with other then that I really did like this book and these characters. You also see a lot of characters from the pervious book too. It did take me a little longer to feel like Jon and Kory made a good match but by the end of this book I did really get them as a couple and could feel their love for one another.

So all together I really liked this book!
I would recommend this book!
I received this book free in exchange for an honest review from Inked Rainbow Reads.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kory White gehört zu den Veteranen von All Cocks und arbeitet unter dem Namen Hadyen als Internet-Pornostar. Zwar gehört er zur großen Familie der All Cocks, doch irgendwie ist er auch ein Aussenseiter, den keiner so wirklich versteht. Und Kory schafft es auch immer wieder sich in unglückliche Situationen zu bringen. Beziehung hat er keine und seine Gefühle behält er für sich. Einzig sein Kollege Dusty und Mitbewohner steht ihm nahe. Aber auch nicht so nahe, dass er ihm jemals seine Geschichte erzählt hätte.

Da trifft Kory auf Jon Brennan. Ein smarter und attraktiver Polizist, der keine Scheu davor hat sein Interesse an Kory zu zeigen. Und auch Kory kann seine eigene Faszination nicht leugnen. Doch eine Beziehung kommt nicht in Frage. Allerdings hat er nicht mit dem irisch-italienischen Starrsinn des Cops gerechnet und Kory lässt sich auf ein Date ein. Immer wieder. Zwar macht er Jon von Anfang an klar, dass er für so etwas nicht gemacht ist, doch entziehen kann er sich Jons Charme und Freundlichkeit auch nicht.

Und Jon ist auch ein extrem geduldiger Mensch, der Kory viel Zeit gibt. Der Polizist spürt, dass Kory eine Tragödie und viel Trauer mit sich herumschleppt. Dass er sich mit Nähe und Gefühlen schwer tut und seine Ängste durch sein arrogantes Verhalten zu kaschieren versucht.

Teil drei der All Cock Reihe konnte mich restlos überzeugen. Jon ist wahnsinnig sympathisch, freundlich und einfach ein Traummann. Das erkennt auch Kory, der in den anderen Büchern weniger positiv aufgefallen ist. Doch die Tragödie seines Lebens ist all gegenwärtig und man versteht nun auch seine Verhalten und seine Aussetzer. Auch ihn habe ich schnell in mein Leserherz geschlossen und von der ersten Seite an mit diesem ungewöhnlichen Paar mitgefiebert.

Dieses Buch enthält wieder viel Romantik und Sex, doch es kommt auch hier zu einem großen Drama und auch zu einem großen Verlust. Die Autorin hat mich jedoch mit Stil, Witz und Einfühlsamkeit überzeugt. Vielleicht ist Jons Familie ein wenig zu nett, aufgeschlossen und auch verrückt geraten, doch vermutlich ist es genau das was Kory braucht. Ich liebe Jons Familie, auch wenn ich kein Teil davon sein wollte. Einfach herrlich! Besonders gefallen hat mir Jons älterer Bruder Tristan, das schwarze Schaf. Es wäre toll wenn der auch noch sein Buch kriegen würde.

Thanks for this book. It's so heartwarming and awesome. :)

[Lorenzo Adduci · Rating 4 out of 5]

VOTO: 4,5
I romanzi della serie "All Cocks" sono storie di ragazzi che cercano un loro riscatto da un passato oscuro e doloroso e finiscono per ritrovare serenità e amore in una grande e stramba famiglia allargata, che verte intorno ai tre proprietari della azienda pornografica All Cocks, Vic, Andy e Mattie, e ai loro bellissimi modelli.
"Andare oltre", il terzo volume della serie, è indubbiamente un romanzo più complesso e articolato rispetto ai precedenti. I suoi protagonisti sono Kory, modello di All Cocks, un ragazzo che mostra all'esterno un atteggiamento arrogante e rabbioso, ma che nasconde una profonda fragilità, e Jon, un poliziotto di origini italiane e irlandesi, dalla forte tempra, dal carattere testardo, ma con una capacità unica di comprendere i sentimenti altrui e leggere dentro.
La storia tra Kory e Jon inizia con uno scambio di sguardi al Club Berlin, durante l'incidente in cui era rimasto coinvolto Mattie, che aveva involontariamente assunto una droga con una bevanda, e continua con un serrato corteggiamento di Jon che desidera il ragazzo a ogni costo. La passione per l'attraente poliziotto finisce per avvolgere Kory sgretolando man mano le sue incertezze, legate a un passato di dolore, perdita e delusione (la madre uccisa, la sorella scomparsa, relazioni amorose fallite miseramente) e che hanno minato la sua capacità di credere in un vero rapporto di coppia. Kory inizia ad abbattere i suoi muri e a confidarsi con Jon, ritrovando in lui un compagno vero.
Quando tutto sembra scorrere liscio, Kory e Jon si ritrovano ad affrontare insieme eventi drammatici e scoperte sconvolgenti, che finiscono, però, per cementare la loro unione spazzando via ogni incertezza e paura.
La Smith con la sua scrittura semplice ed efficace ha dato vita ad una bella storia, emozionante, appassionata e ricca di sentimenti sinceri, che riesce a inchiodare l'attenzione fino all'ultima pagina, con i suoi due protagonisti, la cui caparbia passione, condita da qualche litigio, finisce inevitabilmente per coinvolgere il lettore, e tutti gli altri personaggi (tra cui l'impareggiabile nonna di Jon) che pongono le fondamenta per le successive storie.

[Caroline Brand · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE

How to Deal is book three in the All Cocks Stories series and focuses on Jon and Kory.

Kory White, or Hayden Cox as he is known on screen, is probably the character most readers won’t have connected with yet. Aloof and distant he is also not a favourite with his co-stars but as so often is true the persona he presents is not really the person he is. His childhood wasn’t great and when it was cruelly ripped from him he ended up in the system until he was a young teen. The walls he has built up around himself are for self-preservation out of fear that everyone will leave or be taken away.

Jon Brennan is the big burly and often outspoken cop we met in book two when Mattie ended up in hospital. Brought up in a loud and brash Irish/Italian family he followed in his father’s footsteps when he put on the uniform. He loves his family, he loves his job and he has a soft spot for Hayden Cox when it comes to his porn but what he really wants to do is get to know Kory, the man who he senses is very different to his alter ego.

This pair together are feisty and there are a lot of heated arguments with a strenuous make up when they are done. Jon’s family were fantastically written and a real hoot. It was refreshing to find a family of cops who not only accepted their son but didn’t blink an eye when they found out what Kory did for a living and when Kory got his Christmas gift from Jon’s gran I was crying with laughter.

Jon really gets under Kory’s skin in a way nobody has managed to. He is a stubborn man and it’s clear he’s in for the long haul even when Kory is doing his best to push him away. The danger of Jon’s job is an issue for Kory and it becomes an issue on page for a while and leaves the entire group with a deep sense of sadness. There are a couple of other surprises along the way but I will leave you all to discover them yourselves.

My last wish would be to see more of Tristan further on in the series and I’m left wondering and rather excited about whether we will see another throuple.

[JustJen "Miss Conduct" · Rating 4 out of 5]

A review by The Blogger Girls.

I have really enjoyed this series. Each installment shows us this world from different perspectives through the various players involved.

In How to Deal, we have the ever cocky Kory, one of the porn stars who always seems to have a chip on his shoulder. Jon is the police detective who helped out with a previous issue involving some of the other guys. He also happens to be a fan of Kory’s work.

Jon doesn’t want to know Kory though. He wants to get to know the man he is when he isn’t Kory. It takes a little time to earn that trust as we find out more and more about Kory’s past and learn more about why he is the way he is today. Jon is there for the long haul though. He was just what Kory needed. Add to that Jon’s crazy family, and Kory seemed to hit the jackpot.

When these two are together, it is so easy to see how different things are from when Kory is working. They are hot stuff. A sexy confident cop and the experienced porn star make quite the steamy couple.

As with the previous stories, this one was a fast read as well. They have this comforting feel about them that make you want to be a part of the story. Whether the guys are hot and heavy in the middle of a shoot or just commiserating in the kitchen, it’s a family built on friends and coworkers and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

[Morgan Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the earlier books in this series we know Kory is kind of a big drama queen. He’s hard to work with and struggles to make friends. When there’s trouble and the police get involved we meet Jon – Tristan’s brother from book 4.
Jon is a cop and doesn’t put up with a lot of drama. He puts Kory in his place but with a gentle hand.
There’s a lot of drama in this story – it’s about Kory after all!- but there’s also a lot of sentimentality and sweetness.
I had a hard time with how Jon and Kory relate to one another - sometimes with violence. That's just a trigger of mine and it made me uncomfortable.
I thought the Cass part of the story was a little to good to be true, but lovely nonetheless.
We get to see how the throuple is doing as well as catch up with the guys from book one.
This wasn’t my favorite in the series, but it’s still an excellent addition to the other books and I really liked it.

3.5 of 5 stars

Audio

Joel Leslie had a tough job here. He had to switch back and forth from a NYC accent to a Southern Drawl – over and over and over! He did a great job! I loved Jon’s accent (his whole family’s really!) and can’t wait for Tristan’s story in audio as a result! Kory’s accent was fab too and I know it had to be hard to use such distinct voices then add in Irish too! Gah! It was really well done. Joel is great with the emotion and the non-dialog parts as well. Highly Recommended!

5 of 5 stars

Overall 4.25 of 5 stars (rounded to 4.5)

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series keeps getting better and better. With so many sexy characters it’s hard to pick a favorite but I think Jon and Kory are on the top for now. At least until the next book. I did not think I would like this since I didn't like Kory in the previous books. In how to deal we learn about Kory’s past. There is drama a bit of mystery and some angst.
Then we have Jon and his family. Wow! What a family. I adored all of them even hateful Grams.
This story has it all. Angst, comedy relief to soften the darkness, A bit of mystery on Kory’s side, some tragedy and drama, twists and of course really hot man-sex.
I was on pins and needles for a while there and fanning myself at other times. I highly recommend this book. It is a book three in a series though it stands alone pretty well. If you read the others you do know the other characters a bit more.
If you like hot cops, sexy porn stars, funny families, drama, angst and, of course hot man-sex you gotta read this!

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I thought It could not get any better, TM Smith, does it again. This time, we follow Kory and Jons bumpy relationship. We find out why Korey can be off the cuff with his fellow all cocks boys. And John sometimes could strangle Korey but the one thing that stops him is the fact he can not see him surviving without Korey by his side.

I am not going to say anymore, as I'd probably end up spoiling the surprise in the book (now you know you have to read it to see what the surprise is lol)

If you have liked the other books in the series. You will love this one.

[T.M. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book/series has been pulled and is no longer on sale. The series is being revised and rereleased with new content, covers and a new series title, Stories from the Sound. You can find the 1st book for the rerelease here.... https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...

[xxoabbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read by TM Smith. Was fun to go back into the world of the All Cocks..

[Sonia Donelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://www.esmeraldaviaggielibri.it/a...

Recensione a cura di Dalia – Andare oltre di T. M. Smith, pubblicato il 4 febbraio 2019 dalla Quixote Edizioni.

Nella grande famiglia della All Cocks, questa volta conosciamo più da vicino, un altro dei suoi Cocky boys: Hayden Cox, al secolo Kory, uno degli attori più impudenti e sfacciati dell’intero gruppo. Ma chi è davvero Hayden Cox, o meglio chi si nasconde dietro questo nome e questa maschera che sembrano essere stati creati apposta per sviare l’attenzione e creare un vuoto emotivo intorno a se?

Kory ha sofferto e lo ha fatto in mille modi diversi. A otto anni ha trovato la madre morta assassinata da uno spacciatore, nella stessa notte lo hanno separato dalla sorellina più piccola, per anni ha girato da un affidamento all’altro senza mai trovare stabilità e per concludere, quelli che per brevi momenti credeva essere gli uomini della sua vita, lo hanno usato e poi gettato via. Quando si soffre in questo modo per anni è facile crearsi un’altra personalità per non permettere a nessuno di farti soffrire più, viene quasi naturale nascondersi dietro una facciata di aggressività e impudenza, per sviare da te qualsiasi possibilità di creare nuovi legami che potrebbero rivelarsi pessimi come quelli che hai già vissuto. Solo che facendo così, continuando a nascondersi da tutto e da tutti, si corre il rischio di rimanere da soli e di non riuscire più ad aprire il proprio cuore a qualcosa di più grande e di più bello di quanto si è conosciuto fino a quel momento. Ed è così che quando Kory incontra per la prima volta gli spettacolari occhi di Jon Brennan, pensa che sia giunto il momento di aprire qualche spiraglio della sua anima e provare a cercare un pezzettino di quella felicità che gli è sempre sfuggita.

Jon Brennan è un poliziotto, uno di quelli che non la mandano certo a dire, uno di quelli su cui si può contare sempre e comunque a prescindere dalle situazioni che si trovano ad affrontare e quando durante il lavoro incrocia lo sguardo di quel bellissimo modello che ammira da anni, niente può distoglierlo dal volerlo fare suo. Quando poi scopre tutto il dolore che è nascosto dietro quel sorriso impudente non può fare a meno di volerlo ancora di più.

Due uomini forti e combattivi come loro, messi nella stessa storia, non possono che fare scintille ed è proprio così che è stato per me questo libro: pieno zeppo di scintille. Le fanno a letto, quando litigano per una cavolata, quando sorridono per un film, quando affrontano le paure, i dubbi, i pregi e i difetti l’uno dell’altro. Jon e Kory sono due personaggi difficili da dimenticare e da mettere in un angolino perché l’autrice li ha caratterizzati alla perfezione, evidenziandone ogni tratto peculiare, sia nel bene che nel male e lo ha fatto con una maestria innegabile, usando poche parole ma ben dosate. Ho adorato la folle famiglia di Jon, le loro riunioni di famiglia con un misto di italiano e gaelico, la nonna che ha sempre qualcosa da dire e tutto quel variopinto mondo che solo due culture come quella italiana e quella irlandese, possono tirare fuori.

Pur trattandosi di un libro legato al mondo del porno, le scene di sesso descritte dall’autrice non sono assolutamente volgari, al contrario, sono così ben scritte che si ha l’impressione di essere uno dei protagonisti della storia.

Nel libro vengono trattati molti temi importanti come l’omofobia, il pericolo che incontra in ogni momento della giornata chi indossa una divisa, la gioia di avere una famiglia che ti appoggia e il dolore di chi, invece, non ha potuto più averla. Tutti temi forti che l’autrice ha saputo sviscerare senza cadere troppo nel melodrammatico né con lo sguardo superficiale di chi mette un argomento lì, solo per catturare più lettori.

Consiglio vivamente la lettura di questo libro e, per chi ancora non lo avesse fatto, suggerisco di dare una sbirciatina anche ai due libri precedenti, che meritano come e quanto questo.

[Tina J · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐ ⭐ Provided by Promotion in Exchange for an Honest Review ⭐ ⭐

Judging a Book by it's Cover:
My first thought was, "Strange... neither look as I imagined them." Cover composition makes it seem as though it's a dark and suspenseful plot. Synopsis does not support the cover, not fully. I guess we'll see!
Looking Deeper:
Third-person pov. Prologue kicks us off with the scene from Club Berlin when Mattie drank one that was not meant for him [no spoilers, but full scene is covered in FAME AND FORTUNE] and Jon first encounters Kory.
Jon is a multi-generation, Irish-Italian NYPD detective. He's had a crush on Hayden, Kory's online persona, for quite a while now and is dumbstruck coming face-to-face with him at the nightclub one night when responding to a 911 call. While he may lust over Hayden, Jon really wants the opportunity to get to know Kory. He's strong, patient, and stubborn to a fault.
Kory's a mess and hides it behind a pain in the ass, cocky, grouchy attitude. Afraid to ever get close enough to love again in fear of it being taken away from him, dating has never been on his agenda, let alone dating a person with a high-risk job like Jon's. The real Kory is sweet, somewhat shy and uncertain, but loyal. His insecurities tend to be his biggest undoing. Both men have their admitted strengths and weaknesses, which makes them all the more developed as characters. Their chemistry is natural and a joy to watch build up. The secondary cast are an equal blend of All Cocks members and Brennan family - oh my gawd, grandma cracked me UP! She and Grandma Mazur (Stephanie Plum's grandma) could take on the world, I think. The dialogue and interaction between the characters is believable and natural. The plot is dynamic and has plenty if dimensions. I think this was the most exciting one so far . The story was fluid and was easy to read and follow. There were some minor conflicts that were resolved easy enough. Predictability was leaning towards moderate. The conclusion is solid and contains a great epilogue. I look forward to seeing who will be next to receive a book in this series. Can't wait. It's a very good series and I would recommend it to fans of the m/m world, BUT - for maximum benefit and comprehension - I'd suggest reading GAY FOR PAY then FAME AND FORTUNE prior to HOW TO DEAL although this * * can * * stand on it's own.

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Rating: 4.5 [R+] ~ Score: 4.3 ~ Stars: 4
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*********************
* Audible version *
*********************
TM Smith hit the jackpot upon selecting Joel Leslie to narrate. This was my favorite book in the written series so far and listening to Mr. Leslie portray Kory and Jon's story was a true joy. Jon's voice did NOT sound like it did in my head when I'd read it, but it grew on me. The coaster conversation between Kory and Mattie had me in tear-induced giggle fits. The sex scenes were hot enough to get the heart beating just a little harder and faster, no lie! Gran Brennan... man, he nailed it! The post-Monster Bar scenes were heartbreaking and so very perfectly conveyed. Annunciation, intonation, clarity and speed were perfect for each and every scene spoken.
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Rating 4.5 [R+] ~ Score: 4.8 ~ Stars: 5
=====================================
Overall: 4.5 [R+] ~ Score: 4.6 ~ Stars: 4.5
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[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vega Vampy - per RFS
.
È giunto il momento di conoscere un po’ meglio Kory Withe, alias Hayden Cox, e Jhon Brennan, il fratello poliziotto (e gay) di Tristan, protagonista con Micah e Gabe del quarto episodio della serie.

Confesso che, se non fosse stato per la curiosità di scoprire come si sono conosciuti effettivamente i tre, ero tentata di saltare questa storia, ma avrei sbagliato.

In occasione di “Gay for pay” (All cocks #1) Kory non fa una gran bella figura: Linc lo trova a novanta con l’allora fidanzato, inoltre viene descritto come strafottente e incazzato con il mondo, tanto che gli altri modelli poco comprendono come mai faccia parte della scuderia di All cocks.

Scopriremo che anche il passato di Kory è assai doloroso. A 8 anni, tornando a casa da scuola, trova la sorellina di 2 anni in lacrime e, dopo essersi occupato di lei, si imbatte nel corpo della madre a terra in un lago di sangue; come se non bastasse gli assistenti sociali, nella notte, gli portano via la sorellina di nascosto mentre dormivano abbracciati. Sono passati molti anni e lui, malgrado abbia cercato notizie della sorella per poterla rintracciare, non è mai riuscito ad avere alcuna informazione.

«Mi piace un sacco, Mattie, tanto da poterlo amare, ma chiunque io abbia amato è morto oppure è sparito dalla mia vita.»

È proprio Kory, parlando con l’ amico Mattie, che ci spiega quanto questo episodio lo abbia segnato, rendendolo schivo e scorbutico verso gli altri per difendersi dal dolore dovuto all’ennesimo distacco.

Vi ho già parlato di quanto la famiglia Brennan (Italo/Irlandese) sia fantastica, e anche John non poteva essere da meno.

La sera che interviene al Club Berlin per un caso di overdose, mai più si sarebbe aspettato di trovarvi tutti i modelli di All cocks, soprattutto rimane sorpreso di vedere, in carne e ossa, il suo attore preferito, Hayden Cox. Malgrado la scontrosità del ragazzo, dopo aver adempiuto ai suoi compiti, inizia a corteggiarlo senza arrendersi mai.

La vera svolta si avrà in occasione di un episodio tragico: un’edizione straordinaria del telegiornale interrompe le trasmissioni per segnalare una sparatoria al “The Monster”, popolare locale gay nel quale lavora Giò, compagno di Gabe, come barista. John è di turno e la sua squadra si sta recando sul luogo. Per Kory e Gabe inizia un’odissea e si recano sul luogo per avere notizie dei loro uomini. Purtroppo, Giò muore (Confesso! Quando avevo letto “Il coraggio di sperare” non avevo ben capito gli eventi) e Jhon rimane gravemente ferito.

Kory passerà notti e giorni ininterrotti al suo capezzale, col terrore di perderlo. Sarà la devozione dimostrata in questa situazione a fare breccia in nonna Brennan, donna autoritaria con idee apparentemente tradizionaliste; ma l’amore per i nipoti e la famiglia viene prima di tutto, e Kory ha dimostrato una devozione tale per il nipote che ha convinto la donna.

La storia mi è piaciuta molto più del previsto: Jhon è l’uomo dei sogni per antonomasia, un super sexy poliziotto dal cuore d’oro, e persino Kory è risultato tenero e simpatico, malgrado le premesse non esaltanti.

Sarà proprio Kory a pensare a Tristan per aiutare l’amico Gabe a elaborare il lutto e riprendersi dalla disperazione in cui è caduto.

Anche qui, come precedentemente in “Fama e fortuna” , ho riscontrato ciò che può apparire una forzatura degli eventi, ma non vi svelerò cosa, a voi scoprirlo e giudicarlo.

Malgrado questo, il libro conferma il tatto e la bravura della Smith nel trattare argomenti spinosi.

[Sandra Shipman ~ Two Book Pushers · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Deal is the third book in the All Cocks Series but each book can be read as a standalone. I have read each one so I knew a bit about Kory before going in...he wasn't exactly my favorite character before but I knew there was something about him that I liked...I do tend to like the troubled ones.

Kory and Jon first saw each other when Jon was called out to Club Berlin over an overdose that involved one of Kory's friends. The moment Jon saw Kory aka Hayden a Cox he took his breath away, it wasn't the first time he had seen the man but has never seen him up close. Kory happened to be Jon's favorite porn star. They didn't even talk that night but when he saw him again a few days later, he knew he wanted to get to know Kory and not Hayden...

Kory thought the sexy cop was something else when he saw him but he is not the type to date so when Jon asked him out he wasn't sure if it was because he wanted Hayden Cox, the porn star or the standoffish, stubborn as hell, troubled Kory. He was the type to keep people at a distance, he has a very painful past and because of that he has trouble trusting others and also afraid once he cares for them that they will leave him in some way. But what he didn't know was that Jon was also stubborn as hell and determined to show Kory that he wasn't going anywhere. Can Kory let his walls down when it comes to Jon?

Jon and Kory are both stubborn and at times they want to rip each other's heads off but then they also want to tear each other's clothes off and have crazy passionate sex. They have to also deal with one another's careers, Jon is a detective and that makes Kory fear for the worst, that he could be killed. And then there is Kory's job as a porn star, Jon knew going into the relationship what that meant but can he handle it?

I think these two are awesome. Jon is supportive, sweet and can also be alpha when he needs to be. Then there is Kory, he might be an ass but once you get to know him, he is pretty amazing. I thought it was also sweet of him to keep some physical acts away from the set so it was just for Jon. There is also more to this story than just sex and love, it's about family too. Will Kory finally find the family he has been missing?

Overall...it was sexy, fun and emotional. I can't wait for the next book...I know who I want to read about next but we have to wait to find out who the next couple is...hmm.

P.S. Jon's family is hilarious!

Quotes:

“Well, you should know I don’t give up that easily. When I see something I want I go after it. Right now, I want you, and I can run very, very fast. You should watch out; I just might catch you.”

“Well, I have to know, did it really taste like raspberries?”

“Do not even try to argue with me. You stink. Go wash your nasty ass. And what is that thing on your face? It looks like a ferret’s ass has taken up residence on your chin.”

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, although not great. I do think that in this case, having the audio version actually increased my enjoyment of it. The narrator did a nice job and I enjoyed hearing Kory's Alabaman accent and John's Irish-Italian-New-Yorker voice. It added to their characters and made it a bit more interesting to listen to.

I found the format a little odd. We actually breezed through their relationship quite quickly, just seeing a few dates and then being told that they had been dating a few weeks and having it explained to us that they actually fight frequently and are uber passionate. But I hadn't actually seen that. So it was fine, just odd. It kept me at a bit of an emotional distance, however, it did allow us to progress through the relationship and accept that they were further along than I might have thought.

The drama was to be expected, but was handled well. It was important to their relationship development and us believing that they would last although I think it's INSANE for a cop's significant other to go running to a crime scene. But I have to say that I was disappointed with the way Kory's family background was handled. I was waiting to see how that would be resolved the entire book, and then it seemed like such a cop out. SHE WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME?! ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!? No one noticed?! And it never came up?! And that is actually a REALLY BIG FUCKING DEAL if someone forged her paperwork to split them up WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!?. So that was frustrating and unsatisfying.

The sex was good, although could have been hotter. When we saw that super awkward and cheesy porn scene, I figured it was there to juxtapose what would be there beautiful and emotional love making. Not so much. Like I said, the sex was alright, but I wasn't squirming in my knickers or anything.

I didn't read the previous books in this series, but I'm curious to know who the next MC will be most eager to see who Tristan is paired with. While not an all-time favorite series, I think this is a nice and easy audio to listen to that is enjoyable and not too emotional draining. I probably wouldn't back track but I wound carry-on with the next books on audio.

Received audio version from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, reviewed for Hearts On Fire

[multitaskingmomma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original Blog Post: Blog Tour, eARc Review, Author Interview & #Giveaway: How To Deal (All Cocks #3) by TM Smith

Review by: multitaskinmomma
My Rating; 4 of 5 Stars



How To Deal is the third installment to the All Cock's series by T.M. Smith. It is the story of Kory and his policeman lover, Jon. When they were first introduced, I was one of those who wondered how their romance developed, and how it would end. I was a bit scared to get into the first book when Ms Tams first talked about it on her social network thinking its about porn actors, then again, I love her Opposites series and there was no doubt in my mind, she was going to come up with something controversial and yet totally readable. She came up with Gay for Pay and followed it up with the incredible Fame and Fortune—my favorite of the lot.

Now that it's Kory's turn, I guess I still have F&F hangover so this one fell a bit short in the sense that even here, the throuple continues to steal thunders from everyone. I just love Victor, Andrew and Matthew too much.

Kory's snarkiness is just a facade. He had learned how to cope after going through so much pain and loss. His being a porn star is just a job, nothing personal. So when Jon came into the picture, he literally got lost.

Jon had set his eyes on Kory and just fell for the guy. Jon did not care what Kory's profession was, he knew if he went into their relationship with eyes wide open. Introducing him to his family was not a hardship, but it was hard, truly hard, introducing his family to Kory. Shhhh, don't tell, but... the family is crazy!

Reading HTD was not hard, in fact, it developed so well, and so fast, it was a surprise when I hit The End. The angst is there but did not overwhelm the story. The erotic scenes were there yet it was part of the story and missing it meant you lose track on the character and plot development. I really don't know how Ms Tams does it, but she is superb at her storytelling.

Overall, this is a great addition to the All Cock's series and kind of an eye opening read. It tells stories from within the industry though I have no idea if these tales are true. I must admit to a similarity in some when I did bother to research. As a series, this is beyond the 'norm' and I like

[Gay Media Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To Deal-All Cocks Stories #3 by T.M. Smith!!!

Jon Brennan the hot NYPD detective is out to his family, friends and coworkers as they completely support him in everything that is important. Finding a guy is another story altogether with his hectic job and his very outspoken Irish-Italian family. Kory White lost his mother when he was very young and being separated from his sister and living in foster homes for most of his childhood has caused him to build a very huge wall to protect himself and who could actually blame him. He has also created an alter ego named Hayden whose An All Cocks model!

These two men have most definitely found a match in each other as both are very stubborn and hate to give in. Jon is used to being in control and Kory is like, I don't think so, some strong battles will occur but they love each other so they just need to find a middle ground and let love win! Drama and tragedy does not escape these beautiful men as more bad news comes looking for Kory and they will need each other more than ever to get through this new tragedy.

I completely love this third installment of the All Cocks Story and I wasn't disappointed in the least. In this series the author has given us great new characters in each installment and a prospective through their eyes which was very eye-opening to the series. I loved Kory's cockiness as I knew it came from a place of protection and I know John could tear down that wall and and see the real Kory not just Hayden. I thought the way Jon dealt with Kory's profession was so mature and very open-minded of him. Now Jon's crazy family, oh my they were a bunch I tell you, very supportive yet nuts which I just loved and was so drawn to.

T.M Smith has done it again releasing another great and brilliantly written novel. Yes I am addicted to her writing, stories, characters and amazing series but I just love that she still surprises me more and more with the hot sex, great twist, heartbreaking angst and glorious writing. The way she developed these characters, stories and atmosphere is for some fun and truly entertaining reading. She never disappoints me and I don't think she ever will. I highly and I mean highly recommend...How To Deal by T.M Smith!!!!


"Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review."

Reviewed by Paul at Gay Media Reviews!

[Tracy~Bayou Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I loved this book. Jon and Kory aka/Hayden meet when Jon, an NYPD Detective comes to the All Cocks home to get Mattie's statement after Lance drugs him. Jon is a huge Hayden fan, but he doesn't want Hayden. He wants to get to know Kory. These two get together and sparks ignite!! Can Kory open up, and trust enough to let Jon in?

I loved this story, but more than the story, I LOVED these characters. They were both bullheaded, stubborn and feisty. Neither willing to back down and at times it got physical, not abuse physical just throwing things mainly. (Both of these guys could definitely could use some anger management!) These fights, along with the interactions between Jon and his bothers and grandma(OMG Gran is SO funny), led to some serious comic relief. Yes, this book had a serious undertone to it, but it was also funny as hell. I spent a good portion of this book laughing out loud. I wouldn't recommend reading this book in public, because people tend to look at you strangely if you are laughing out loud for no apparent reason! Hehe

I couldn't wait to get to Jon and Kory's story, and Ms. Smith didn't disappoint. She well exceeded my expectations with this story. This book was everything I wanted and more. It was sad, sweet, hot and hilarious. It was fast paced and kept me entertained and turning the pages to see what would happen next.

Jon and Kory had an amazing chemistry and their characters were well developed. I loved getting to see the All Cocks characters, and I especially loved getting to meet Jon's hilarity family. I look forward to seeing more of them in the future. The story had some surprising twists and turns I didn't see coming. I walked away from this book satisfied and feeling the warm and fuzzies! This is part of a series, but could definitely be read as a standalone, although this is a great series, so why would you want to miss any of these books?!

[Kendra T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review

Kory was such a jerk in the first book (Gay for Pay), but we never got much in the way of why except for the fact that Linc found Kory with his boyfriend at the time. Although we don't get much backstory in this book about that incident, I kind of got the impression in this book that Kory felt bad about how it affected Linc.

The beginning events of this book take place simultaneously with book 2 (Fame and Fortune) where we first meet Detective Jon Brennan. There is some immediate spark between Kory and Jon when they first meet, and despite him seeming like a big old tough guy, Jon is just a bit more tougher. He doesn't take no for an answer and worms his way right into Kory's life and heart. Poor Kory has had such a tough childhood, and it was great to see him come to terms with things he hasn't let himself think or talk about.

Jon's family is so awesome! Their banter, support, unconditional love, and crazy Gran were fabulous. I loved reading about them, and I am so glad Tristan gets his HEA in the next book. I'm hoping to see more of this family!

Another wonderful continuation to this series. I am really looking forward to reading more of these. I love the reading about the All Cocks Family. I hope there are many more books to come, because there is such potential for more stories! :-)

EDIT: I am editing this review to mention that I have also listened to the audiobook, and it is FABULOUS!!!!! Joel Leslie has done a great job with these characters!

[AussieMum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing as Kory had slept with Linc's ex-boyfriend rather unapologetically and was disliked by many members of All Cocks I was looking forward to this book. I was a bit disappointed though. It has all the elements of a good emotional and angsty story but I never felt connected emotionally to any of it.
I feel like all the opportunities for those heartbreaking and putting back together conversations were missed and while there are some lovely conversations between Jon and Kory I feel like most of the book was about telling me what was happening in their relationship and not having the MC show me and so I wasn't as invested as I hoped to be.
I wanted the conversation between Linc and Kory but it never happened. It was just mentioned that Lance basically took advantage of him to get him into bed- and that was it. Such a wasted moment.
When Kory finds out Cassie is his sister it could have been a really deep beautiful moment but again information was spewed out and a little to easily accepted and glossed over. Wasted moments.
I liked the basics of this book and I even read it without skimming pages. Jon was a great character (his family is awesome) and he is the right one to love Kory but I just never felt like I was right there in the moment feeling what these guys do.
There was just so much sadness, drama, pain and the opportunity for love in this story that it was rushed and should have been longer. The best bits happened at the end of the story when Jon was in hospital. Kory is amazing there. So vulnerable and loving and it's all on the page and in the moment. That's what turned this around for me because I probably would have DNF otherwise.
I still like this series though and will read the next one.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Deal is book three in the All Cocks Stories series and focuses on Jon and Kory.

Kory White, or Hayden Cox as he is known on screen, is probably the character most readers will have the hardest time connecting with. He was very distant and made himself an enemy or two with his co-workers. Through the hurt, pain, and protecting himself he doesn’t show his true persona. He had a tough childhood wasn’t great, he ended up in the system until he was a young teen. The walls he has built up around himself are for self-preservation out of fear that everyone will leave or be taken away.

Jon Brennan is a big ruff and often outspoken cop we met in book two. He loves his family, he loves his job and also has an attraction for Hayden Cox when it comes to his porn but what he really wants to do is get to know Kory.

Put these two together and you will get plenty of heated arguments with even hotter make up. Jon’s family played an amazing part in this story. They were hilarious. I loved that this family filled with cops accepted their son for who he is. They didn’t even bat an eye when they found out about Kory’s occupation.

Jon was just as stubborn as Kory. He never backed down when Kory try his best to push him away. The danger of Jon’s job is an issue for Kory. He is scared to get attached to Jon because of his separation during his childhood. This story took a few twist and turn that will have you on the edge of your seat. It was a great read. I have these book 4 stars.

[Susan65 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blogger Girls

I loved the storyline, not so much the narration. However, the story was so good that I was able to push through my issues with the narrator because I really wanted to see how the Kory, Jon, and Gabe, Gio plot played out…and it was so good, and so very heartbreaking, and now I am desperately wanting to read the next book.

Review – Audio:
As much as I love audiobooks, I have a hard time listening to Joel Leslie. His southern accents and different character voices sound nothing like any man I’ve ever heard and honestly, it threw me out of the story more than once. And his pronunciation of certain words had me questioning my own education and brought to the forefront of my mind one of the rules of pronunciation…and that is, spelling does not determine pronunciation. I feel awful giving a bad review on the performance, because you can tell the narrator really put forth the effort and you could hear the emotion, but the pronunciation and accents were a bit too much for me.

Fortunately, the story was strong and my 4 stars will stand for the writing, but I choose to not rate the narrator. As much as I want to listen to an audio to finish out the series, I think I will switch formats and actually read the books. I am so looking forward to Gabe’s story and I don’t think Joel Leslie, if he is the narrator for that book, can do it justice.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me. I was definitely interested in seeing how Kory's story would play out, since he wasn't the most likable guy in the previous stories. But Jon was a great fit for him, and brought out more layers and depth to his character.

What kept this from being a 4 or 5 star rating for me is what I'm starting to think is just the writer's style of writing vs. my personal tastes and wants as a reader. I want to SEE what is happening between the characters, get to see the arguments and the making up as it is happening. Many times in this story, we are just told what has recently happened, and it's just summarized. And some important moments are written about, but it doesn't hit me as major - like Kory finding his sister.

Clearly, there are plenty of people who LOVE this series, it has a wide range of ratings, but many are 4 and 5 stars. And I do like the characters and the setting, and how this one introduced new characters very well. I just am not a huge fan of how major events or, like, first arguments, are just summarized. So I say to people on the fence about this - get the first book and try it, see if it's for you!

This is an Advanced Readers Copy, there may be minimal errors as the ARC is set prior to completion of edits. I received this for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana Busenbark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story focuses on Kory and Jon. Jon is the detective we met previously, when Mattie was drugged at the bar. He invites Kory to call him anytime, and Kory finally does it. Watching these two go through the getting to know you phase is at times wonderful, and at other times very frustrating and can possibly make you angry because of their fighting. Anything worth keeping and having is worth the headaches though, right? We learn a lot more about Jon's family as well as Kory's past. It broke my heart when reading about what happened to Kory. Will he ever find his sister again, after she was taken from him after the death of their mother, when he was asleep? What happens when there is a shooting at the club where Gio, Gabe's boyfriend works? Who all is shot? Who dies? This was one hell of a good read and a hard book to put down. If you haven't read any of the other two books, go back and read them first, so things will make more sense, though this story could easily work on it's own.

RECEIVED THIS BOOK AS A GIFT FOR A FAIR/HONEST REVIEW and REVIEWER FOR Bloggin' With M.Brennan.