Dirty Heart

Cole McGinnis #6

by Rhys Ford, Greg Tremblay (Narrator)

7 hrs 19 mins

Final book in the Dirty Series arc.

Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.

Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.

As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.

Genres: M M Romance, Mystery, Contemporary, Romance, Audiobook, Suspense, LGBT

8 pages, Audible Audio

First published March 18, 2016

About the author

Rhys 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.

Reviews

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*TOTALLY SPOILER-FREE REVIEW*

4 stars for the story, 5 BIG stars for the audio narration, and 1,000,000 stars for how happy this series made me. 4.5 stars for my final rating.

I've been eagerly anticipating this book for over a YEAR. However, it was a total mixed emotions thing. See, this is the final book in a series that has become near and dear to my heart, and though I was excited to get another chapter in the story of Jae and Cole and FINALLY find out what motivated Ben to do what he did, I was heartbroken at seeing the last of some of my favorite characters.

When I got a review copy of the audiobook, I stopped EVERYTHING to pick this one up.

I'll start with a mention of the audiobook narrator, Greg Tremblay.



I LOOOOVE Greg Tremblay, and I've loved him every since I first listened to Dirty Kiss. I love him so much that I ATTACKED him when I met him for the first time at GRL (Not the most flattering picture of me but you get the idea). I think Greg is so special as a narrator for a number of reasons. There are at least a dozen separate and distinct voices in Dirty Heart, and Greg manage to give each voice the exact intonation and flair that it needed to fit the character. He is really a master at studying a character and his/her background, and making the voice fit like a glove. I've listened to almost 200 audiobooks, and I KNOW a good narrator when I hear one, and Greg is a GREAT narrator. But he not only does voices in a way that makes each unique, but he also reads the story like he is LIVING the story. I've listened to many a very dry reading, and I hate it when the narrators sound amateur-hour. Greg is a total professional, reading the sex scenes with heat and without making them cheesy, making the emotional scenes tender and heart-breaking, and making the action scenes exciting and intense. I just adore him. Also, the quality of his work is excellent. I've listened to a lot of stories where I can hear changes in volume where scenes have been re-edited, or there is a lot of background interference. There is none of that in Greg's recordings. It is honey-smooth and great to listen to.

And don't think that I missed that shout-out to you, Greg! You made it as a character in one of Rhys Ford's books! Go you!

Now, as for the story, it is really classic for a Cole and Jae plot. There is a lot of action, bullets, hitting, sex-ing, bleeding, and loving. We see more from Bobby and Ichi, though they take the far backseat in this story. This book is all about Cole and Jae being a STRONG couple with no couple drama (phew!), and Cole FINALLY finding out what happened with Ben. This book was funny, exciting, charming, and emotional. It was everything that I've come to expect and want from this series.

Ben. I found the final mystery to be a bit... anti-climactic and predictable, but everyone may view it differently. It fit the story well, and it made sense, but it wasn't super exciting for me. And I still don't really understand all of the drama in the story. It seemed a little over-the-top and unrealistic, but I won't really complain because I loved seeing these characters in action. All of these characters mean the world to me, and I give Rhys Ford all the credit in the universe for creating such wonderful, flawed, lovable characters. They are all special to me and I will miss them dearly.

I KNOW that all readers of this series will be pleased with this final story. Yes, we all want more, but I feel very happy with how it all came together. Goodbye, Dirty Heart characters, and may you keep living on with all new readers who discover your stories.

**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**




*See below for my fan-girling in anticipation of this book*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
ALERT, ALERT! Audio is ON MY PHONE!




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NO SPOILERS, NO SPOILERS! I'm waiting for the audio! Noooooo spoilers!!!!!





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

SHUT YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU SAY "FINAL BOOK" TO ME!

[Jenni Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

*sobs* I can't believe it's over! I need, like, fourteen more epilogues. Then I'll be satisfied. Maybe.

WARNING! Long review is long!

Long, long ago, back in Ye Olden Tymes (ok, more like 2013) when I was but a wee unicorn, upon the advice of the beautiful Piper Vaughn I decided to crash GRL in Atlanta. I was nervous and timid and really out of my comfort zone because I was going to meet some of my favorite authors. To be honest, I was a bit starstruck. Oh, I put on a brave face when, really, I was trembling inside. What if I did something stupid like trip over my own two feet or drooled or spit when I talked? What if no one talked to me? What if no one liked me?

But guess what happened when I got there. Almost immediately after I walked into the lobby of the hotel I was met by Piper, who was hanging out at the time with Rhys. Rhys brought me into the fold and made me feel welcome. We talked a bit and she put me on her mailing list. Rhys is a warm, kind and thoughtful person who put me at ease with her humor and really set the tone for one of the most wonderful days I’d had in a long time.

And this thoughtfulness, warmth and humor translates into the stories she writes.

I first met Cole and Jae two years ago when I was asked to review Dirty Deeds, book 4 in the Cole McGinnis series. Seeing as how I hadn’t even read book 1, Rhys generously offered the entire series up to then for me to read. I was a bit reluctant to get into the series because, really, I don’t like mysteries. I always figure out whodunit early into the story and it detracts from my enjoyment. Well, guess what. I didn’t know whodunit! In fact, I was stumped by each and every one of the books in the series, never guessing who the culprit was until they were revealed. To say that this quickly became one of my most favorite series of all time is a severe understatement.

To be honest, I’ve been a little scared to read this. I’ve had the ARC since January but I kept putting it off because what if I didn’t like it? What if it didn’t live up to my expectations? To have a series that I hold so close to my heart disappoint me in the end was a bit daunting. But of course, of course I loved this. I have loved every book that Rhys has ever written so I’m ashamed that I had any reservations about this one. I’m sorry, Rhys, for ever doubting you.

Each one of these books starts out with shenanigans. Whether it’s a gun-toting grandma in a leather bikini, a daring dog rescue for a little girl with anime eyes and a unicorn toy for payment or even clowns and llama shit, Cole can’t seem to stay out of trouble. It’s like he’s a magnet for the absurd. But don’t worry, this is balanced out by the meat of the story where we get to ride along with Cole on his adventures.

Throughout the series we’ve witnessed one overall story arc: Why did Cole’s best friend and partner on the force, Ben shoot him and his then lover Rick, murdering him and then kill himself? What was it all for? What the hell happened? It was a senseless murder-suicide that came out of nowhere, the consequences of which Cole has been carrying around ever since. Even years later he hasn’t been able to put it behind him and move on with his life because he needed to know what. The fuck. Happened.

Jae coming into his life has helped him heal somewhat but he’s never been able to get over it enough to live an emotionally healthy life. He’s still stuck on stupid a lot of the times, rushing headlong into danger and sometimes forgetting he has someone to live for again. But here’s the thing about Cole. He’s fierce in his love, not only for Jae but for his brother Mike, his best friend Bobby, his pseudo-mom Claudia and anyone else he considers ‘family’. The man may not be able to dress himself in colors that coordinate but if he thinks you’re in danger he will protect you with everything he has, even if it is to his own detriment. I think that has a lot to do with all the survivors guilt that he can’t seem to let go of, though throughout the series we see him becoming stronger and more confident in himself.

Thankfully, in this last book of the series, we finally learn why Ben did what he did all those years ago. And let me tell you I did not see that coming. Rhys has stumped me again! That wasn’t even on my radar! And no, I’m not going to tell you why. Read the book! Better yet, pick up Dirty Kiss, book one of the series. Seriously, you can’t go wrong with this series. Rhys Ford is a phenomenal writer, with words so descriptive I can see and hear and smell and even taste everything that goes on within the pages. Her words have the ability to suck you in and not let go until you’ve finished, then leave you with the worst of book hangovers. It always takes me a while to pull myself back out of whatever world she’s created after I’ve finished one of her stories. And she writes some of the most amazing characters I have ever read. Everyone, even the secondary and tertiary characters are fully fleshed out and have their own unique voice. She has made me fall in love with these figments of her imagination and to think of them as real people.

How do I go about telling you what Cole and Jae and Bobby and Ichi and Mike and Maddy and Claudia mean to me? Where do I begin? How can I encompass all of the feelings of love and laughter and companionship and frustration and annoyance and friendship into a few short words? Well, I guess it all boils down to one thing. Family. This feels like my family. I feel a part of this fictitious world. Every one of the characters in this series are special to me. I’m so sad to see them go but this couldn’t have been a more perfect ending for them.

Saranghae-yo Cole. Saranghae-yo Jae-Min. I will miss you all and I hope to hear from you again in the future.






**************************************************
I HAVE THE ARC!!! I HAVE THE ARC!!! I HAVE THE ARC!!!



I'm gonna read the FUCK outta this book! Gimme gimme gimme!

[Dalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the final book in the Cole McGinnis series everything's perfectly wrapped up.

Cole faces the sudden reappearance of his past that he's locked away and wants to keep everyone he loves safe from harm. Thankfully, he's not alone in this fight. He can always count on Jae, Ichi, Bobby, Mike, Scarlet, as well as Claudia, to be there for him whenever he needs them.

I could talk for hours about how wonderful this book was. I adored all the emotions, characters and romance. The mystery was engaging, and I was highly satisfied with the answers we got. All in all, I couldn't have asked for a better ending. It still makes me smile every time I think about it. Rhys Ford just stole my heart with this series.

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

[Shile (Hazard's Version) on-hiatus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe:



5++++++ stars for the Audio book and the whole series

What an enjoyable Mystery-Romance Series.

Greg Tremblay *Le SIGH*



- I enjoyed this series so much.

-Cole and Jae are permanently added to my favorite couple list.

-The writing was good as always and when the mystery about Ben's motive was revealed, i was like:



I had it all wrong! and that made me giddy. It added to my enjoyment since my prediction was off. Finally we got that out of the way.

-Good to see Ichi and Bobby still going strong.

- The secondary characters are the best, especially Claudia. I love that woman.

- There is a character Named Greg Tremblay 😍😍, what a nice way to give the narrator a shout out. And Detective Dante Mantoya 💖made a cameo. Oh I love you Rhys.

-We have a Cat named cat and a Dog named Honey 😘😘. This made me a very happy reader/listener.





Still



I had the time of my reading life with this series.

[BWT · Rating 5 out of 5]

ETA 4/8/2016 for audio book.

I just finished listening to this and I have only a few things to say.

First, Greg Tremblay was a perfect choice for narrator of this series. He made this series such a pleasure for me to enjoy and listen to.

If you're wondering if you should get this audio? Yes. A thousand times...YES. It's worth it for the llama scene alone, but thankfully it's just as perfect all the way through as the story is.

I will miss these characters, but am so happy I have all the audios to keep me company in the future.

Saranghae-yo, Cole-ah.

Saranghae-yo, Jae-Min.

Saranghae-yo, Rhys Ford.

Saranghae-yo, Greg Tremblay.

******************************
FEEL FREE TO READ - THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS HERE, MY FRIENDS!

When I got the ARC for the final book in the Cole McGinnis Mysteries "Dirty" Series I was really excited. Sure, maybe not as excited as I'll be when I get my hands on the audio, but excited nonetheless.

Then I started reading. Hands down, no other qualifications, this is the best thing I've ever read by Rhys Ford. The flow, the characters, the mystery, the love and romance - everything. was. perfect.

Cole is once again drawn into a mystery with a lot of interconnecting tendrils. This time the mystery includes his ex-partner Jeff Rollins, who had also been friends with Ben Pirelli, the partner who killed Cole's lover, Rick, and emptied his service weapon into Cole before taking his own life. It's all connected together, and Cole is determined to see it through to the end.

"LA’s kind of a small place, you know? You think it’s huge, but it's not. Not really. We're all connected, some closer than others, but pull on one string, and you'd be amazed at how many people dance."

Staying close to Cole's side, as always, is his best friend, Bobby, his brothers Mike and Ichi, his mother (in all but genetics) Claudia, his good friend Scarlett, and the love of his life Kim Jae-Min.

“Promise me one more thing?”
“Anything.” I was tired. Probably more tired than I’d been in my entire life, and sleep tugged at my brain.
“Promise you’ll love me. Forever, if I need it.” He slurred a bit, dipping down into a cadence more Korean than English, but he was clear enough for me to understand him.
“Forever. Even if you don’t need it,” I whispered, nestling up into him. “Because I will.”

I absolutely LOVED AND ADORED the romance in this story. It was pitch perfect for me every step of the way.

I was stupid in love with Jae-Min. He’d become my touchstone, a far cry from the suspicious and wary enigma I’d first met at his aunt’s house. He was subtle, not something I’d been used to. I’d lived my life as openly gay as I could, embracing a lifestyle loud enough to make someone’s ears bleed… no, my father’s ears bleed. It was funny how after I’d been kicked out of my family for loving men, I wanted nothing more than to have my own family. And I’d found it in a sloe-and-honey-eyed Korean man with a wicked, sardonic sense of humor and an even wickeder mouth.

I was especially happy with the way the mystery of Ben, which has been a constant throughout the series is tied up, and also so happy that I got to spend time with all the characters I've come to love over the last few years. But, for me, this series has always been, at its core, about Cole, the damaged ex-cop private eye and Jae-Min, the Korean ex dancer/photographer shouldering his own world of hurt. I've always loved how much Cole loves Jae, and how much Jae loves Cole in return.

There were a lot of things about Jae I liked. I enjoyed who he was as a person, and he put up with so much of my crap. We shared the same tastes in movies, and he expanded my world in so many ways. I loved the way he laughed in low, soft tones and how he was a grumpy, ruffled mess for the first half hour or so after waking up.
I also loved the way he felt against me.

Of all the things I loved about Jae, it was the taste of him I adored beyond measure.
I could live off of Jae’s kisses.

When I'd finished the book my initial reaction was and still is - I'M BLOWN AWAY. I am absolutely stunned at how good this is and how much I loved it. I mean, I knew it would be good, since I've enjoyed the series...but this is, by far, my absolute favorite. Wow.

The only thing left to say is I literally cannot imagine my fangirling reaction when Greg Tremblay does the narration for this. Oh, it's going to be a happy, happy day in my house when that comes out!



HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Advanced Review Galley copy of Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) provided by Dreamspinner Press in exchange of an honest review.

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

[Meep · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I loved it - but it was horrible because with every page turn I knew I was getting nearer to the end of the series. The books have so much character and I've enjoyed my time with each of them. Truly I read this as slow as I could!

You definitely need to read the series is order, there's complicated tangled links and every story takes you a step deeper, with a lot of the pleasure being from watching the characters and relationships develop.

Plot wise I found this the fastest paced of the series; it starts as all the books in this series do, with a quirky laugh aloud situation that throws you into the story without a safety net. From there it's an explosion of action that rarely lets up; a little Korean cooking, some bonding, lots of bullets flying all over the place and our heroes gaining 'ambulance points'. It's everything the series has been building towards. It's over the top ridiculous, but it works. Reminds me of the 80's action films that I still love. Cole frequently does stupid/brave things but there's always at least one person there to call him on it, makes him real.

"You are the most almost murdered person I know, honey."

With so much going on there is perhaps less time mingling with other characters, I'd have liked a little more Ichi but that's because I'm greedy, rest assured everyone vital makes an appearance - there's plenty of bonding and by now a very strong family unit of choice. The Scarlet, Claudia friendship is the greatest of things. The friendships in these books are as important as the relationships.

There's a 'Crossroad's Gin' t-shirt and audio fans be on the look out for a special bonus appearance past the halfway mark - I'm going to listen to that scene with the biggest grin once it's available!

It's a satisfying conclusion. Teary moments, cooing, tense moments of 'she wouldn't do that to us would she?', smiles and love. Our boys have come a long way and with all secrets revealed can finally draw a line under the past and move on. Together. The last lines (don't peek!) are worth the journey.

....though should Ms Ford choose to re-visit them in the future, that would be very nice too ;)

-- -- -- --
Review after caffeine (I feel cheated that it's not instant Vietnamese with water from the coffee maker!)
-- -- -- --
Why isn't this out yet?
Why?

I've read all the others and I needz it.
Needz it now.

2017?! *cries*

March 2016
I can be patient, I can!

[Barbara➰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually the best of the series in my opinion. I love Cole and Jae together. It's hard to believe this is the end. I'd love to see more of them.

I was glad to see some closure for Cole regarding Ben though it shocked me a bit especially since Cole didn't have a clue. I wish we had got to see Cole and Jae get married. Those two deserve a break. I also was hoping the baby would come.

Overall, it's been a great series and I've enjoyed bingeing on it.

[Simone - on indefinite hiatus - · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 emotionally laden stars


My journey with Cole McGinnis and Kim Jae-Min began almost a year ago with Dirty Kiss and I fell in love with this series after I read the first page. Back then, it started with a pursuit and I remember laughing my head off, reading this scene where Cole was chased by an elderly woman with a shotgun down a backyard.

The whole series was not only funny, but also suspenseful and very emotional. It broke my heart more than once because of Cole and Jae and what they had to go through. I love both guys! I love the way their relationship evolved and the character development is just great. But I must admit that Cole is my absolute favorite! I love him! Cole is a man who has his heart in the right place, he is funny and caring, but he tends to act first and think later, especially when he wants to save those who are close to him.

He is who he is despite of – or maybe due to – the drama in his life and his family background (being the gay son of a homophobic father and an equally homophobic stepmother). A man who's almost been killed by his own partner and best friend, Ben, and who lost his lover at the hands of that very man.

After building up a new life with his new found love, Jae, the reason why Ben did what he did and why he killed himself afterwards is still an unsolved mystery.

Reading this book, it felt like coming home again. Dirty Heart started in exactly the same way as the first book, with a pursuit. Only this time it's Cole who is chasing somebody. This scene was simply hilarious. I was laughing so hard, at first I wasn't able to keep reading. Dear Rhys Ford, never again will I mistake a llama for harmless. My next visit to the zoo should be interesting, when El Llama Diablo comes to my mind. :)

Not only because of the beginning, the last book feels like a bridge forged between all the books. Finally - FINALLY – the reason for Ben's deed came to light, although the road leading to this point was not easy.

The numbness I'd covered myself in from the moment Jae said Rick's name lasted until the hot water from the showerhead hit me. Then my world shattered, its sharp ends slicing through my sanity and leaving me weeping on the shower's tiled floor.

The pain was back. In my side. In my heart. Deep down in my soul.

It was so fucking stupid. A dog. The fucking damned dog showing up brought me back to that night when I'd lost every goddamned person I held dear.

Dirty Heart was as suspenseful as all the other books in this series, with Cole searching for the man who wants to kill all those Cole loves and eventually Cole himself, but mostly it made me cry and after the first chapters I had a box of hankies within reach. Near the end, the tears were running freely down my face, but the epilogue also made me laugh again.

All in all, this book was the perfect wrap-up for this wonderful series and I'm more than happy for Cole and Jae-Min to have their well-deserved HEA.

We'd survive anything the universe threw at us. It wasn't anything we questioned anymore. After everything we'd gone through, we were together. Would stay together. No matter what.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 HEARTS


Greg Tremblay…



I have binge listened to this series over the past 6 weeks and the fact that I'm still not sick of listening to Tremblay's voice after 40ish hours of listening to him, is saying something about his talent.

I said this in my review for Dirty Kiss, but Tremblay's voice for Cole is amazing, not because of the type of voice he uses but the inflection he has and the way he accentuates certain words. I wish I could copy and paste sections of his narration and put it here as an example, but because I can't, you'll have to do with my poor excuse of trying to explain his talent in words.

Tremblay consistently staying on the right character's voice was very impressive. Not just in this book but across the entire series. Cole, Jae, Claudia, Bobby, Scarlett and every other main side character had their own unique voice and it stayed the same throughout every conversation in every book.

As for the story. Cole and Jae were as beautiful as ever, although I would've like to have seen more of them together, especially being the last of the series.



There was a ton of shooting, of course. A very important side character got shot and it hurt to listen to. Poor Cole has been through and goes through so much more in this book, and Tremblay's narration delivered that extra punch right into the feels.

It was great to finally get some conclusion to the whole Ben fiasco, that was by far my favourite part to this installment. The ending for Jae and Cole was sweet but I did want a bit more... omph or something, considering it's the last we'll see of them after 6 books following their relationship.

I can honestly say I would not have enjoyed this series as much as I did if it wasn't in the audio. Mysteries are never my thing because the romance usually takes a back seat, but Tremblay was Cole, and I needed to stay with him until he got his HEA.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiler free review!

BR with partner in crime, Els.

I loved this!



What an excellent ending to this series. I think Rhys Ford did a great job.



We got it all, a confusing mystery (as always), lots of guns going off, Cole running into danger head first, lots of romance and of course a lovely HEA.

This is the first Cole McGinnis book I actually read. I only listened to the other books (several times). And I did miss Greg while reading this. I cannot wait for the audio to do it all over again.

But I did love how Greg was still there, but as a (very minor) character!



I love this series and I feel kind of sad this is the end. Well, I guess I just have to re-listen a lot.

[Wendys Wycked Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the wonderful end of a wonderful series. What am I gonna do with myself now that I have finished this series. I'm gonna miss these guys so much !!!



I was a bit dissapointed with the previous book (Bobby and Ichy), because there was a lack of people getting shot and action. Thankfully that wasn't the case with this book. There was plenty of shooting going around



Cole and Jae were their usually HOT selves....



And we finally got an answer to the question...why did Ben go batshit crazy !! I have to say, I really didn't see that one coming....



So why 4,5 stars and not 5 ? Well that's because of Bobby and Ichy getting married before Cole and Jae !! This little fact still pisses me off..what can I say...I'm a bitter person.

I really hate saying goodbye to this awesome couple, but thankfully there are always re-reads.

"Saranghae-yo, Cole-ah. Together we're all that's important"

[Jenni Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the hell am I supposed to listen to now?

[Tamika♥RBF MOOD♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Since I've gotten my arc copy, I've read this 4 times already. I'm dedicated. I did not want to right a review for this, I just don't want this to be a last full novel for Cole. I don't even know all the words to describe how I feel right now. It's currently a full week until release day and I just scrapped my previous review. This last book is on a non-stop loop in my head. Everything has come full circle for Cole in this book. We get to find out why Ben decided to kill him all those years ago. We get to see the love Cole has for Jae bloom through all of this. We get to see Cole's family love and accept him as the glue that holds him together. I have highlighted the hell out of this book. It's so many passages that I want to talk about, but I won't spoil it for others just know Rhys worked her butt off for this series, and I don't think we'll ever get anything like this again.

"Promise you'll love me. Forever, if I need it." "Forever, Even if you don't need it," I whispered, nestling up into him."Because I will."

 
This book has the classic Cole formula, laughter, pain, tears, rejoice, sexy times, and comfort. I love how evolved Jae is from book one up until now. He has become his own man in this relationship. He has opened up and loved Cole in ways Cole never thought was possible. I love the give and take of their relationship, the small things Jae say that end up being so earth shattering to Cole and myself. I love Mike and his need for protection of Cole. Lord those scenes between those two always leaves me in tears. One of my favorite relationships ever in this series is Cole and Claudia, it's a guarantee that I'll be smiling or bawling tears whenever these two are on page. It's no different in this book. Claudia is what Cole needs, and she's his moral beacon. This woman was able to show Cole that even if she didn't birth him, that don't mean she can't be his mother. The love that is shown by both of them always clogs my throat because it comes in a time when Cole is at his worst. I love that he has her to fall back on, and I love that he is always thinking of her well being. So many people make loving Cole easy for me. Bobby, Ichi, Scarlett, Maddy, and two cop friends make this such a well rounded group of people. I have come to love seeing each and every person make a presence in Cole's life. I thought this book was really good. It's spot on and clear what everyone intentions were. I was nervous reading the why's of Ben, but then I got angry at him. I got angry for what he did to Cole as a brother and as a friend.It makes total sense by the end of it. I truly love this series and thank Rhys for writing about Cole.

"Saranghae-yo, Cole-ah"

 

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's great about this book is that we've been waiting for the mystery of Rick's murder and Ben's death to be revealed. We, like Cole, want to know the why and while it's still important, it almost takes a backseat to the love that we've witnessed grow between Cole and Jae. These two men went from lust to love to hopeful to forever and the rock-solid, put-down-roots ending, made the scary dips in the road so worth the trip. At some point in the book, I was scared for everyone and I held my breath through several chapters. I will miss Cole and Jae and all the others so very much. Wildly recommended.

[* A Reader Obsessed * · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. That was one seriously f*@#ed up reveal. I mean, I kinda knew what to expect. One can't not have certain assumptions regarding Cole's past, but the truth still hurts and shocks and devastates.

Regardless, Cole has gone full circle. He's been through personal hell on more fingers than he can count, and has slowly returned to living his life fully. And it shows. It's seen through every relationship he has, and of course most importantly, with Jae. Both of them have endured so much, and truly, the greatest gift is each other and finally, them wholeheartedly embracing that.

Like many other reviewers have said, that though bittersweet, this was a great conclusion to the series. One can be reassured that Cole will continue to survive and thrive. He's going to be all right. More than all right.

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow! What a fantastic wrap up for the series! I'll try to come back and review more properly, but until then -- just wow.

[Gerbera_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow! This was absolutely amazing! It left me so emotional - no more Cole and Jae? I had to say goodbye to all the characters that I fell in love with - resilient and steadfast Cole, passionate and loyal Jae, cantankerous and constant Bobby, good-natured and rebellious Ichiro, protective and slightly annoying Mike, strong and fierce Maddie 'Mad Dog', alluring and unforgettable Scarlet, caring and motherly Claudia and all the others who gave life to the world and escapades of Cole McGinnis. The ending blew my mind! I so didn't expect to finally know why Ben did it. Oh man, what a tragedy it was. I even felt sorry for him just for a second.

This book was a farewell to the past and yet a new beginning for every single character who graced the doors of McGinnis Investigations and whose life changed irrevocably after that. Fast-paced, thrilling, sensual and so intense this book kept me on the edge of my seat. Cole and Jae are so loving, so sweet together. The best is the acceptance they give each other as well as the strength to go through inevitable pain and hold each other up. Ah, the fierce power of their love.

This was one heck of an adventure that will stay with me forever. Jalgayo Jae and Cole.

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Si Cole pensaba que habia superado su pasado, y que habia dejado atras a Ben y Rick con la detencion de Sheila, estaba equivocado. Una llamada de telefono diciendole que encontraron a su perra (mas bien de Rick) abandonada, y que uno de sus ex-amantes (y ex-companero policia) habian vuelto a aparecer, revuelve todos sus sentimientos y su pasado, dandose cuenta que la culpa de sobrevivir todavia estaba ahi, comiendolo vivo.
Pero la unica forma de superarlo era enfrentandolo, y mas aun cuando este hombre estaba intentando matar a sus seres queridos, hiriendo de muerte a su hermano Mike e intentando herir a Claudia y a Scarlet. Lo que no logra entender es porque ahora, porque despues de tantos anos este hombre esta decido a acabar con su vida, la busqueda de estas respuestas le revelaran mucho mas de lo que le hubiera gustado saber, pero solo encontrandolas podra poner fin a las amenazas con el y los suyos, aunque tenga que morir en el intento.

No puedo decir que la solucion del drama no la veia venir, porque desde el 3er libro cuando Sheila hablo de lo que leyo, supe que tenia que ver con los celos, o sea, el misterio no lo fue tanto y la forma como el autor lo abordo tampoco fue muy complicada, asi que se veia venir desde lejos.
En cuanto a las escenas eroticas, en este libro son mucho mas romanticas, dulces que otra cosa, pero sigue teniendo demasiadas descripciones filosoficas en el momento del sexo, que no se sienten realistas y hacen la lectura un poco aburrida.
Ahora, con las preguntas que nos ha mantenido el autor desde el principio, solo senti que respondio una, el porque Ben les disparo, pero quedaron tantas pendientes, tantos otros personajes secundarios de los que no volvimos a saber y que prometian agregarle mucho a la trama.
No puedo negar que es una buena serie de investigacion, con sus toques de diversion, pero le falta ese algo que te atrapa, que te mantiene enganchada, aunque funciona para pasar el tiempo.
Asi que seguramente volvere a leer otros libros de este autor, mas adelante.

[Marte - Thunderella · Rating 4 out of 5]

**** 4,5 Dirty stars ****

Audio edition, narrator Greg Tremblay
7 hours 19 minutes

Overall: 4,5
Performance: 5 
Story: 4

For those who haven't read the book yet, there are slight spoilers in this review, hence it being behind a spoiler tag.


I got everything I expected or want from this series, in this last book. A somewhat confusing and all-over-the-place mystery, bullets flying, hospital visits, Cole's almost over the top love for Jae, Cole and Jae's hotness together, Bobby and Cole's banter, angry llamas, and running clowns. It was a true Cole McGinnis book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I listened to the audio book during the course of one day, and it was my first listen-through. I might be bumping up the story rating later, when I re-listened later. I put the story at 4 star. I couldn't quite grasp why Rollins got so mad and went after Cole, and why he shot people left, right and center for no apparent reason that he was off his rocker and developed an obsession with Cole. I had a small face palm moment and a "are you kidding me?" outburst with how the big show down played out. I mean **plot spoiler!** Rollins got into the house because the door was left ajar?? There's a crazy gunman out to get you all (again, I might add) so you don't make sure the doors closed and locked? Also, how the heck did Rollins get Suh into the house and messily kill him without making any noise? I kinda expected the story of the book revolve more around why Ben shot Rick and Cole that night. And I'm also a little disappointed in the "big reveal" about Ben. I don't want to go into much details about it, but the explanation didn't quite sit well with me. Ben killed his therapist, Rick, (almost) Cole and himself. Because of... the explanation? Hmm... no, a bit disappointed about that. And I missed Ichi's presence.

But all in all, a great end to one of my favorite series. Greg Tremblay did an excellent job as always, being the voice of Cole and all the other characters. 

#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

[Maja (The Nocturnal Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing a favorite series never really means saying goodbye, at least not for me. If I’m attached enough to the characters, I often revisit them and read my favorite parts just to feel close to them once again. I must have read every one of the first five Cole McGinnis books at least three or four times and I don’t see why Dirty Heart would be any different.

Rhys Ford has kept her secrets very well for a long time now. We’ve been dancing around the mystery of Cole’s past for years now and although everyone had a theory about it, I think all of them proved to be wrong. Finding out what really happened when Cole’s best friend and police partner Ben shot him and killed his boyfriend Rick was unbelievably painful, but necessary.
All things considered, Cole has been handling the traumas from his past extremely well through the first five books. In Dirty Heart, however, everything he’s buried for so long comes back out as the truth of what happened finally comes to light. It’s the most difficult and emotional journey Cole and Jae have had to endure from the beginning of their relationship, but I admire them even more for how they faced their hardships.

On the other side, the love and hope Cole shares with his Jae made the darkness of this book somewhat easier to stand. The two are still such an odd pair: Cole, always affectionate and demonstrative, and his quiet, reserved Korean man. Both of them have been rejected by their families for loving a man, and I’m glad that Rhys offered no easy fixes for either of them. Instead, she gave them a new family, made of blood relatives and friends they picked up along the way, and their new people (including the most brilliant surrogate mother for our Cole) are far better than anything either of them were born to.
The Cole McGinnis series is one of the best M/M fiction has the offer, if not THE best. Keep that in mind, especially if you’re new to the genre. Oh, and if you decide to read these, which you should, the audiobook narrator is simply amazing and his voice has long ago become Cole’s voice in my head. He is so awesome, in fact, that Rhys named a character after him. So thank you to Rhys Ford for giving us all these amazing characters, but also, thank you to Greg Tremblay for making them come truly alive.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, that was impressive. In the final book to the Cole McGinnis series, Rhys Ford delivers everything a reader could want! DIRTY HEART takes what Ford has built throughout this entire series and almost amps up everything. The action, the humor, the suspense and also the romance all improved in this book. I found that I enjoyed the other books in the series but this last and final book seemed to be the best in the series. Ford really upped her game with this one.

From the opening chapter, readers are once again thrust into the action, but Ford doesn’t simply bombard you one movement after the other. It’s interspersed with plenty of Cole’s trademark personality that I think makes this book even better. I love being in his head and seeing this world through his eyes has never been more better than now. Cole is finally in a place where he can relax. But of course, nothing can be that simple for the former LAPD detective. When a man named Jeff Rollins comes back into his life, trying to dig up old graves. Now Cole is wondering what really happened to Ben and why this all seems to be happening again.

I won’t go into details because one, I was asked not to include spoilers in the review, but mostly because I think there’s more pleasure in reading the events yourself. There’s no point in reading a LGBT mystery if I spill the beans here. But I will say that Ford devises a well-thought out plot that will keep readers engaged and entertained. Over the course of the series, readers have grown to love Cole and Jae so when their happiness is threatened, I have no doubt that it will ignite a slew of reactions from readers.

If you haven’t read this series yet, what’s stopping you? The romance is excellent, the action and suspense is superb. But more than that, I think you’ll fall in love with Cole and Jae.

[❀~Amy~❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sad it's over again. This is definitely one of my favorite series ever!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It's here, it's here, it's here!!! Awesome audiobook time!!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I had intended to listen to this last book in the series over the course of my work week. My commute is my audiobook time and I wanted to draw this listen out. I didn't want the series to be over because I am so not ready to say goodbye to these characters that I have grown to love. So I sat down with the intention of listening to the first 2 chapters or so before getting some chores done. Funny thing was, once I sat down and started listening, I couldn't turn it off. It was a good thing I didn't have anything important planned for my day today, because nothing except this book got done. I am still sad that it is over, but so glad for the ride this book takes us on.
The mystery in this one is a little easier to figure out than past book. It also wraps up all the unanswered questions that past books left us with. There is plenty of action, silliness, drama, and love to be had here. Cole and Jae are in a good place and they deal with the events of this book solidly together and very much in love. I have loved watching their relationship develop over the course of the series. They are now one of my favorite couples of all time...maybe the favorite. =D
We get plenty of time with Bobby and Ichi as well as Mike and Maddy. There were tears, smiles, laughter, and more tears to be had here. All in all I loved it so fucking much!!!
Also, if you like audiobooks, put this series at the top of your To-Buy list if you haven't already. Greg Tremblay is so absolutely amazing!! The stories are great, but he brings them to life as no other narrator I've ever heard before. =D

[Susan Mac Nicol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rhys’ Cole McGinnis series and Dirty Heart was no exception. It ends Cole’s and Jae’s story the only way it could, and Rhys uses her trademark snark and devious plotting to bring this series to its finale. Murder, violence, llamas (too funny!), new and existing relationships, and some explanations – they are all present in this book, written with Rhys’ inimitable style and talent. Anyone wanting closure on Cole’s story will be very pleased with the result. And that’s about all I’m telling you as Rhys will kill me if I reveal even a sniff of what’s it all about. And being killed by Rhys isn’t on my bucket list. Of course, Cole gets shot again – that goes without saying. The man attracts bullets like a damn magnet. But Jae- he has his part to play in this story more than ever and it’s a doozy.
The ending is typically gut wrenching and emotional, and brings the love of these two men even more into focus as roles are reversed and their relationship becomes stronger. Truly remarkable. Rhys, you did it again and I’m gonna miss these guys. So what’s next??

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I know they're not real people but I'm SO sad to say goodbye to these characters. Really good ending. Full review to come.

[FantasyLiving · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is hard to believe that this series is over. I have been caught up in it ever since I bought a discounted copy of Dirty Kiss from a ARe sale in January last year. I’ve read some of this series in print, and listened to some of this series on audio, and each story gave more depth to Cole and Jae-Min.

This journey was epic. Rhys Ford is epic. There are very few writers I have read that give you a complete sensory experience. This is one of the things that makes Rhys Ford stand out as an exceptionally skilled writer. I am awed by the style. And to have this series written in one of my favourite genres, creating something all consuming, is an experience I will never forget.

I want to get my hands on EVERYTHING Rhys Ford writes, and hope that I have the time to fit it all in.

This book brought me back to the questions from book one. Why did Ben do it?
And that is the question that is answered in this book.

Along the way I got swept back into Cole and Jae’s relationship. How seamlessly it flows, even when they argue. It is forever love. There is a sense that they are settled, and cannot be broken, because they have done the work.

Cole’s recklessness hasn’t changed from book one. It is still the same hold onto your junk and hope for the best type of recklessness. But it has a purpose. To keep everyone safe. Because he is still so, so, wounded from the death of his lover Rick, and best friend Ben.

”I felt the cracks of my sanity begin across my face, shattering away the numb mask I’d somehow put on downstairs without knowing I’d tied it on. Something sharp punctured through my chest, shards of a broken heart I’d kept hidden for years…
..I didn’t want to cry. I didn’t want to remourn the two men I’d lost, but the dog - Rick’s fucking animal - let loose the demons I’d buried, and they came roaring back with a vengeance, hungering for any bit of my mind they could consume.”

This is heart-heavy. This story will tear you apart and make you bleed as sure as Cole bled while holding his dead lover on the sidewalk. But within the pages of pain, there is still the light moments that makes Cole so resilient. A warrior of survival. Someone who will always bounce back so he can come home to Jae.

”I was tired, too worn out to do anything but talk, but my cock tingled a soft hello from its nest beneath my briefs, happy to have Jae near it.”

Cole’s support as grown large since the first story. His family is a mismatch of brothers, adoptive mothers, and loyal friends. He isn’t doing this alone this time, and no one will allow him to take on this burden by himself.

”But you have to remember that I love you. Jae loves you. We all love you. And should you fall, I shall catch you and lift you up. Because no matter what comes of this, baby boy, Mama’s going to be here for you. You can count on that.”

There is nothing this book doesn’t have to offer. From the comedic relief in the intro, a trademark of McGinnis series starters, to the soft ways the author leads a heart shredding, and then gives you time to breath. The descriptive texts that flow so seamlessly, from scene to scene. The mystery element is there, but it is secondary to the relationships that Cole has with Jae, and the people around him. Jae is the centrepiece. He supports Cole with the grace of someone who can do nothing but show support. It’s not always roses and sunshine, but Jae is there, even when he’s not. All the secondary characters are vital to the story. They all have an exact place in supporting Cole and Jae. Without them the story would be empty. Losing any of them would hurt as much as losing Cole.

And then in walks an Ode to the narrator……

”Tremblay had a rich voice, a booming, melodic roll that reminded me of butterscotch and whiskey every time I heard him.”

Standing ovation Ms Ford! Who else could slip the series narrator in with such stealth and seamlessness. I grinned so hard when I read this scene. And it was fitting. The voice of Cole, right there for the world to see. Why not give Greg Tremblay his own character in this series? He's earned it with is perfect pitch, and exceptional range of distinctive character voices, and accents. Perfect!

This book ruined me, and I want everyone else to go out and be ruined by this series, because it is amazing. The writing is beautiful, the characters are vibrant and alive, and even if you cry, you’ll do it with your softest teddy bear because it just feels so good to let it go.

Thank you Rhys Ford, for an amazing journey. I really couldn’t ask for a better ending to this series, and I know I will be re-reading this for years to come.




---------------------------
25 March 2016
I'm fucking wrecked....... Just....UUUNNNGGGGHHH
I'll be back later ....

[The Novel Approach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in July of 2011, I accepted a book for review from Dreamspinner Press. This book was penned by a new author in the M/M genre, and if you ask me now why I chose to read it, I couldn’t rightly tell you—although, it probably had a lot to do with the book’s title. Rhys Ford had me at Dirty Kiss, and she sealed my love for Cole McGinnis the moment a rifle toting leather granny chased his delightful ass over a fence.

From that moment on, those of us who’ve followed this series have watched Cole get shot, stabbed, chased by dogs, beaten to a bloody emotional pulp. We’ve ached for his losses and been enraged by a father and stepmother I wouldn’t spit on if they were on fire, for fear of dousing the flames (fictionally speaking, of course ::maybe::). We’ve watched Cole navigate a sometimes complicated relationship with his brother Mike; love his sister-in-law Mad Dog; discover he has a younger brother, Ichiro; good-naturedly endure getting his arse whooped and being called Princess by his best friend, Bobby; and build a relationship with a woman whose patience and wisdom and affection filled a void in Cole’s life he wasn’t entirely cognizant of until he nearly lost her in a hail of gunfire. We’ve watched that lush and luminous black woman become friends with a lithe and lovely Filipino transwoman. We’ve spent time with Bobby Dawson and have had a few laughs at Cole’s expense, but the affection between the two men is undeniable—and then we watched Bobby, the manwhore, fall head over heels in love with Cole’s baby brother, which felt deliciously karmic on so many levels.

And, we watched Cole fall madly, deeply, and irrevocably in love with Kim Jae-Min. A love that wasn’t easy to win but one that’s become so all-encompassing and all-consuming that in the face of everything Cole learns about the murder of his lover Rick, and his best friend Ben’s suicide—after Ben had laid down that spray of bullets that nearly killed Cole too—we witness, in Dirty Heart, the power that time and perseverance and a soul-deep connection have to heal a heart and empower a man who’d once been so broken that a part of him did perish on that sidewalk while his lover bled out in his arms.

It’s easy to become sentimental over the end of this series. In book one, we saw the spark that turned into a flame. We watched a love that didn’t suit Jae well—a love that was ill-fitting, too constricting and yet loose at the seams—alter his life in ways he likely couldn’t have imagined when Cole rescued his diva-cat Neko from a bombed out building. Jae’s commitment to honor a duty to his family and a culture that says the way he loves is wrong was, at times, frustrating and made it difficult to align our western sensibilities with his Korean heritage and understand why he was loyal to a family that treated him so shabbily. But now we see a Jae who has wrapped that love around himself, wearing it with honor, and oh, it fits him so well.

Told with a skill and precision we’ve become accustomed to from this author, and in this series, one that’s part mystery and part romance, Dirty Heart gathers together all the loose threads that have become the warp and weft of the series’ tapestry, and has lain them all out for us to see in the culmination of years of weaving these characters and their lives together into a family and, finally, reveals all its beauty—in the building of these relationships through trials and triumphs, through joy and sadness, through hilarity and heartache. We’re drawn into each scene, viscerally, emotionally, imaginatively, and, I might add, quite happily. And, in the end, Dirty Heart culminates in a place we’ve all been waiting for yet dreading because The End is never easy once a colorful palette of characters become so deeply ingrained in our lexicon of favorites.

The Big Reveal we’ve waited six books for was worth every word it took to get there. The tone of the scene is poignant, not belabored by extraneous detail and overwrought drama, in large part because along the way we’ve watched a slow purging of Cole’s anguish, a lancing of the pain that got him to the point of being strong enough—with Jae’s help—to read the truth behind Ben’s betrayal. The scene is laid out in the perfect blend of sorrow and the realization that a present which has been built upon the foundation of that grief may have been difficult to get to but has been more than worth the struggle to get there.

Dirty Heart is the perfect bookend to Dirty Kiss, and the beginning and the end support every book in between, wrapping up the lives of Cole and Jae and the family they’ve made together. For fans of this series, it’s a Must Read…although it may break your heart a little along the way.

Reviewed by Lisa for The Novel Approach Reviews
http://www.thenovelapproachreviews.co...

[Cindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've not read the other books in this series don't pick this one up. You won't get it and the story will likely make little sense to you. The first five books (and the shorts in between) build up to what happens in Dirty Heart.

This is the book fans have been waiting on. It all started in Dirty Kiss when we were introduced to Cole McGinnis. Cole was dealing with the loss of the love of his life and his best friend, who was responsible for that loss. Cole met Jae later and the series has focused on bringing the two of them together (among other things) but Cole's past has always been there. Why would Ben, a man Cole called brother, kill Rick, shoot Cole, and then turn the gun on himself? Regardless of everything else that happened in the series later, the reader was left wondering why Cole's best friend would destroy everything.

We get those answers in Dirty Heart.

I couldn't wait to read to this book. I've been totally invested in Cole and Jae's world since day one. Of course, we also have Claudia (my favorite character in the series), Mike, Maddy, former bad boy Bobby, and Ichi. They've played a big part all along and are back in all their glory here.

This is a very emotional book. The reader is along for the ride as Cole slowly discovers why his world was ripped apart years before. It's not all sad tears, though. You'll find your eyes misty by a conversation Cole has with Claudia and during other touching moments. Rhys Ford's humor (that we've grown to love as well) is also here. You can't have Cole and Bobby in the same room without cracking up a little bit. :)

Overall, an outstanding ending to a series I've loved since I picked up the first book. You'll be eagerly turning the pages to finally find out all the answers we've all been waiting on. While it's sad to see these guys go, I applaud the author for giving them the ending they definitely deserved.

If you read this, please don't ruin it for other readers by posting spoilers.

You can find my full review at -



There are NO spoilers in my review.


This book was provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good-bye Cole McGinnis

'Dirty Heart' is the final book in a series that grabbed the attention of a good number of readers of the m/m genre by then new author, Rhys Ford. It's been a hella' good and exciting journey from start to sadly the finish. With this book Ms Ford has given us the answers to questions that have plagued Cole McGinnis, the main character of these stories from the very beginning.

Ironically my introduction to the writings of Rhys Ford came with her series Sinner's Gin, but I loved it so much I immediately searched out and discovered this gem of a series. I bought everything that was available and jumped in with both feet. No looking back and no regrets.

In Ms Ford I found an author who not only told me a story she made me feel it. The love that Cole felt for Jae-Min for his brothers Mike and Ichi, for his sister-in-law Maddy, the mother of his heart Claudia and even for Rick the partner who was taken from him before this series even started and Ben his brother in blue who was like another brother and his best friend but betrayed him in the worst possible way and yet there was always a part of Cole's heart that while it ached for what Ben had done it loved him too and as Cole loved all these people so did I. And as much as I loved the people who had surrounded Cole to become his family I raged at the family who had abandon and abused him and Jae-Min, the man who Cole came to love so completely.

I can't conceive of a better way to make anyone understand the talent with words that Ms Ford has than to simple say you need to read this. It will make you laugh and cry and fall in love with a lot of amazing characters who will stay in your heart long after you're done reading.

I have no words better suited to describe Cole McGinnis and the relationship he shares with Jae-Min than those spoken by Jae-Min to Cole, so I will borrow them and leave you with this...

"I know you, Cole-ah. You love fully. With everything in your soul. I don't think about how he and I compare. Or who you love more. He's gone. And I'm sorry about that. Because he shouldn't have died. But I am glad for two things. He was loved by you while he was alive and that I am loved by you now."

Sept. 13/18 - Well that's it...it's the end of the road for Cole, Jae-Min and the world of McGinnis Investigations for now...but, these guys are just too hot and to entertaining to stay away from so I'm sure we'll be spending more time together in the future.

[BevS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I have to be perfectly honest and say I didn't enjoy this one as much as some of the others in the series, but the laughs and the tears and the pop culture references were still there, and I LOVED the possible ending. Greg's narration was superb as usual [Greg Tremblay, security guard too 😏], and you could've knocked me down with a feather when we finally discovered what was in Ben's letter to Cole, just never expected it.



You never know, Rhys might let us have some catch-ups if we pester her enough ;) 4 stars for this story but



for the series and especially the amazing narration as a whole, thanks Rhys and Greg.

[Bitchie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great ending to a favorite series, I'm sad to see Cole and Jae and the gang go!

I'm not quite sure I got all the aspects of the mystery this time, if it didn't all come together, or if I just missed something somewhere, but it was all so engaging, that I just don't even care.

I love how much Cole, and especially Jae, have grown since book 1.