Audiobook Review: Fame and Fortune (All Cocks #2) by T.M. Smith

Victor Dimir moved to America with his traditional Romanian parents when he was just a child. His Romani parents taught him their traditions and how to be a shrewd business man. But it was the attention of a classmate at school that taught a teenage Victor about his sexuality. When he came out to his parents he knew it would be difficult for them to understand, but he never expected them to disown him.

Andrew Jones grew up with a single mom and his grandmother teaching him about life; he had an absentee father at best. The only thing the man ever did for Andy that stuck was buy him a camera for his 13th birthday. When Andrew went off to college on a scholarship to study photo journalism, he wound up falling in love with his Romanian roommate.

They became inseparable and wound up starting their own business together; a gay porn website where people could go and watch romantic gay porn instead of the rough and tough, or wham bam thank you man crap that was flooding the Internet at that time. After 10 years together, they were still perfectly happy, but they didn't even realize something was missing until they met a broken young man that needed a family.

Matthew Carlson was homeless, jobless, and broken. He'd been on his own since he was 16 when he ran away from home after being brutally assaulted by several other young men that he thought were his friends, and then being told he brought it on himself for being gay by his parents. Matthew has done a lot of things these last few years just to get by. When he finds the flyer for All Cocks, he decides to call and see where it leads. What has he got to lose?

Matthew has deep-rooted scars that aren't usually visible on the outside. But when he walks into All Cocks, both Victor and Andrew see them, they also see him. Can three men that didn't even realize they needed each other get past the stigma of society to find a place of happiness together?

*Advisory warning: This story contains a scene of sexual assault.*

Narrator: Joel Leslie
Listening Length: 4 hours and 24 minutes

Reviewer: Shee Reader

We met Victor, Andrew and Matty in book one, but this is the story of how Andy and Victor meet and fall in love with Matthew.

Matty has had some horrendous experiences and is deeply scarred. Seeing a flyer for All Cocks search for performers, he decides to give it a go! Andrew and Victor are intrigued by Matthew and concerned for his motivation to be an All Cocks star. Taking him home to feed and care for they both independently develop feelings for Matty. Being him break down when he’s filming his first scene prompts Andrew to offer Matty a behind the scenes job to give him a reason to stay.

It was fascinating watching these two strong men who had been in a long-term monogamous relationship for ten years develop feelings for Matty, and how they drew him into their relationship to be an equal partner. How the men approached a physical side to their relationship, given Matty’s experiences was moving and emotive, and eventually beautiful.

I found some aspects of this book hard to read, but they were well written and sensitive. The budding “thruple” was a joy to see. Andrew and Victor found just what they didn’t know they wanted, and Matty found everything he needed.

Joel Leslie’s narration was perfect. I loved his characterisation, and the emotional performance was stellar.

Highly recommended.

I was given a copy of the audio book in exchange for an honest review.