Blog Tour + Giveaway: Back in Black (McGinnis Investigations #1) by Rhys Ford

Rhys Ford visits on the Back in Black (McGinnis Investigations #1) blog tour! She shares a special gift with this tour for her readers: a serialized short story, Nothing Else Matters. Read part 6, listen to narrator Greg Tremblay's "slice of cake" and enter in the awesome giveaway - win $25 USD gift certificate to your online store of choice!

Take it away, Rhys!

Hello! And thank you for joining the Back in Black Blog Tour! My name is Rhys Ford and I will be your guide through this serialized short story featuring Cole McGinnis and his trip to the altar. Hit each blog stop for the next bit of the story AND as a special bonus, Greg Tremblay has narrated each “slice of cake” on this wedding tour!

As some of you know, Cole McGinnis is a former LAPD detective who found love again in a romance suspense series called the Cole McGinnis Mysteries or as I call it, the Dirty Series. It is there he meets and falls in love with Kim Jae-Min, a Korean photographer with a few secrets of his own and a tiny black cat with an attitude. I left Cole and Jae in quite a happy place five years ago in Los Angeles with a promise to come back and “reboot” Cole’s life in a mystery series.

(You can find the first series here at Dreamspinner Press, including a special free bonus collection of shorts in both ebook and audiobook format)
https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/cole-mcginnis-mysteries-6335-s

If you’ve already met Cole, well then I am happy to announce he’s back and well, while things are a little bit different… and he’s a hair older… his life is still as insanely jam-packed with action and more than few mysteries to figure out. All of the old gang is back along with a few new faces and I hope you all enjoy Back in Black as much as I enjoyed writing it.

And as if Cole wasn’t fun enough to write, Greg Tremblay is back as Cole McGinnis in the upcoming audiobook which is supposed to be out on Feb 13th! If you aren’t a part of my Facebook group or follow me on social media, please be sure to find me to learn about any future stuff. Because 2020 is going to be a hell of a lot of fun.

As always, there is a giveaway! Please enter in rafflecopter for this blog's giveaway - ends February 9th 12AM EST. Please enter to win a $25 Gift Certificate to the online store of your choice!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Nothing Else Matters: Part Six
Audio Snippet Link: https://rhysford.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/pt6_bib_wedding.mp3


“You ready to do this, little brother?”

If I wasn’t so nervous, I’d have mocked Mike calling me little. He’d inherited some stocky Japanese ancestor’s build and features, including a bristle of hair no amount of product could tame. I’d lost my other best man, Bobby to his husband, hopefully to check on if there was enough wrapping paper for Jae’s gift. Mo’s wife whose name I knew quite well appeared to have fallen into a bubble of amnesia for me because at the exact moment she offered to take care of it, everything I knew about her, her family and possibly the alpaca she’d rescued out of a raging river in Peru slipped from my brain.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, I couldn’t for the life of me remember my niece’s name either but I wouldn’t have to really worry about that until after the ceremony although I did grunt approvingly at her fluffy princess dress when she and Mad Dog came by to show off her rose-petal scattering skills.

I didn’t even know we were going to have scattered rose petals.

Hell, if it wasn’t for Mike, I wouldn’t have even been sure I’d made it to the right place.

“Why the hell am I nervous?” I paced about, feeling the carpet tickle the soles of my feet. Staring down, I realized my pinky toes were tucked right into the curve of the one next to it, something I hadn’t noticed before. “Why are my feet naked? Did you know my feet were naked? I’m commando right now.”

“Cole, come here.” Mike held his hand out to me then grabbed my wrist when I stared at his fingers as if I’d never seen them before. “You need to breathe. You’re about to pass out.”

Easy for him to say. He had working lungs and was already married.

I said as much as soon as my ass hit the chair in the room they’d given us as a place to get ready for the wedding.

“Suppose I screw this up, Mike?” There were wasps buzzing about in my head, unsettling my thoughts. On the other side of the expanse, tucked away in a room similar to the one we were in, Jae probably was asking his friend Ivo if he was doing the right thing by marrying me. “Jae’s… he helped me find myself again. Without him—”

“You two found each other,” my brother said, sliding a nearby ottoman over to sit on. After parking himself in front of me, Mike grabbed at my right foot, lifting it up to work a sock over my toes. “Shut up and listen to me because I know you’re losing it right now because you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared about marrying him,” I refuted, exhaling hard enough for my chest to hurt. “Hell, I think I fell in love with him the moment I saw him.”

“You fell in lust. Which isn’t a bad thing because if anyone needed to get his blood pumping again, it was you, little brother.” Mike tugged the sock up then grabbed my other foot. “It took you a bit longer to fall in love and I had some worries about him. Don’t punch me in the face. Because I know you’re thinking about it. But the day Jae told Dad to go fuck himself — that time at my house — I knew he was the one you needed in your life. So, since I have you here, and our father’s a piece of crap not worth the stamp to even tell him you’ve found happiness, I guess it’s up to me to tell you about what you need to know about being married.”

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Back in Black
There are eight million stories in the City of Angels but only one man can stumble upon the body of a former client while being chased by a pair of Dobermans and a deranged psycho dressed as a sheep.

That man is Cole McGinnis.

Since his last life-threatening case years ago, McGinnis has married the love of his life, Jae-Min Kim, consulted for the LAPD, and investigated cases as a private detective for hire. Yet nothing could have prepared him for the shocking discovery of a dead, grandmotherly woman at his feet and the cascade of murders that follows, even if he should have been used to it by now.

Now he’s back in the dark world of murder and intrigue where every bullet appears to have his name on it and every answer he digs up seems to only create more questions. Hired by the dead woman’s husband, McGinnis has to figure out who is behind the crime spree. As if the twisted case of a murdered grandmother isn’t complicated enough, Death is knocking on his door, and each time it opens, Death is wearing a new face, leaving McGinnis to wonder who he can actually trust.

Purchase Back in Black at Dreamspinner, Amazon (Globally) and other online book stores:
Dreamspinner Press (https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/back-in-black-by-rhys-ford-11514-b)
Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Back-Black-McGinnis-Investigations-Book-ebook/dp/B07YZLRMPG)
Back in Black Audiobook can be preordered here: https://www.amazon.com/Back-Black-McGinnis-Investigations-Book-ebook/dp/B07YZLRMPG

About Rhys Ford

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 with her Murder and Mayhem novels. She is also a 2017 Gold and Silver Medal winner in the Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Awards for her novels Ink and Shadows and Hanging the Stars. She is published by Dreamspinner Press and DSP Publications.

She’s also quite skeptical about bios without a dash of something personal and really, who doesn’t mention their cats, dog and cars in a bio? She shares the house with Harley, a grey tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled alley cat who isn’t sure living inside is a step up the social ladder as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird and enjoys murdering make-believe people.

Rhys can be found at the following locations:
Blog: www.rhysford.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author
Facebook Group: Coffee, Cats, and Murder: https://www.facebook.com/groups/635660536617002/
Twitter: @Rhys_Ford

For more information and to keep track of his upcoming releases, visit Greg Tremblay at: https://gregtremblay.com/

Audiobook Review: Heart Untouched (Hearts Entwined #3) by Andrew Grey

An accident crushed Duncan's Olympic dreams and landed him in a chair, but he knows it's time to get his life back on track - and he has a plan in mind. Working with his friend Todd, an Olympic skeleton racer, on a promotional campaign will not only help Duncan regain some direction, but it'll give Todd the financial boost he desperately needs. The sport Todd loves is draining his resources - so much so that he's thinking of giving up racing just to make ends meet.

As the two men work together, their friendship blossoms into much more, and suddenly the future is looking brighter than it has in a long time. But just when love, happiness, and success seem within their grasp, the USOC steps in with plans to stop their campaign. That'll mean an end not just to Duncan's business, but to Todd's dreams...and Duncan isn't about to let that happen to the man who means everything to him.

Listening Length: 5 hours and 38 minutes
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This audiobook is classic Andrew Grey! It is a beautifully written gently rolling tale of two men who need each other and work out the path to happiness and love. Andrew writes characters with real problems and disability that are written so accurately and sensitively that any reader can connect to and enjoy the story. As a disabled reader, I felt represented without being made to feel helpless or hopeless. Duncan’s struggles were so relatable and realistic.

There was plenty of engagement in the story to keep me reading, and the characters were so well formed and charming that I was rooting for them from the start. Not officially a series, this book has characters in that overlap with Heart Unseen and Heart Unheard, both stories having a main character with a disability and they are all equally enjoyable.

Greg Tremblay is one of my absolute favourite narrators and he performs this book with the same style, grace and ability as we have come to expect form him. He is a master of his craft, giving emotion and character depth to the written word that enhances the listener’s enjoyment of what is a lovely book.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Jacked Cat Jive (Kai Gracen #3) by Rhys Ford

Stalker Kai Gracen knew his human upbringing would eventually clash with his elfin heritage, but not so soon. Between Ryder, a pain-in-his-neck Sidhe Lord coaxing him to join San Diego’s Southern Rise Court, and picking up bounties for SoCalGov, he has more than enough to deal with. With his loyalties divided between the humans who raised him and the Sidhe Lord he’s befriended and sworn to protect, Kai finds himself standing at a crossroads.

When a friend begs Kai to rescue a small group of elfin refugees fleeing the Dusk Court, he’s pulled into a dangerous mission with Ryder through San Diego’s understreets and the wilderness beyond. Things go from bad to downright treacherous when Kerrick, Ryder’s cousin, insists on joining them, staking a claim on Southern Rise and Kai.

Burdened by his painful past, Kai must stand with Ryder against Kerrick while facing down the very Court he fears and loathes. Dying while on a run is expected for a Stalker, but Kai wonders if embracing his elfin blood also means losing his heart, soul, and humanity along the way.

Listening Length: 8 hours and 19 minutes
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Rhys Ford has a varied repertoire. She can do contemporary just as well as fantasy, but it’s the latter where I think she shines and she’s truly outdone herself here with this latest installment.

Briefly, this is a world where fae and humans have been forcibly meshed together, an existence neither really wants but all agree that war is no longer an option due to heavy losses on both sides. Kai is a product of the dark sidhe court, and he’s escaped, prospered, and committed to fight and kill the various monsters that troll the newly formed lands. Ryder is a high fae lord with lofty ideals to guarantee his race’s survival which does not sit well with the more traditional members of the court. Ryder knows that having Kai as his ally (and hopefully eventually in his bed) is the best thing to see his goals become reality. They both agree that change is needed and that starts by retrieving 3 rare fae children in the wild Borderlands.

Of course, what should be simply a dangerous mission turns into one life threatening fiasco after the other. Throw in plenty of new and old monsters alike, meddling sidhe relatives, and haters on both sides, and Kai and company can never catch a break!

Gruesome, brutally violent with quite a bit of gore, Ford definitely puts our reluctant hero through the ringer but what a gripping adventure it is! Kai for sure never wants the attention nor the accolades, all of which make him the best at what he does - a champion for those who have none.

Narrated by Greg Tremblay, I know I don’t have to say anything else, am I right? Also, if ever there was a narrator closely associated with an author, it’s this unbeatable combo.

Overall, points for a tightly woven plot that never fails on the complexity, the world building, or the gritty realism and stomach roiling horror. There’s a story arc in play and it has been since the beginning, but this latest installment really brings to light what I hopefully foresee as wonderful things for this fractured troubled reality where both races must come together to actually survive and thrive. I still believe this is classic urban fantasy at its best, and the romance is just starting to brew a bit stronger here (though don’t get your hopes up that this is typical Ford erotica because it isn’t). Nonetheless, the more realized love potential is compelling to say the least.

Seriously, this series just keeps getting better and better, and I’ve already babbled long enough. Change is definitely a’coming, and Kai will no doubt spearhead the charge with Ryder by his side. I can’t wait to see this unravel, and Ford needs to hustle on getting the next story out because that ending??? Oh my!

A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Fire and Agate (Carlisle Deputies #3) by Andrew Grey

When Chris Anducci is moved off jail duty and into the sheriff’s office, he doesn’t expect his first assignment to be protecting a witness against a human trafficking ring. Knowing the new sheriff doesn’t abide screwups, Chris reluctantly agrees to work the case.

Pavle Kasun has spent the last four years of his life at the mercy of others. When an opportunity presented itself, he took it, resulting in his rescue. Now the safe houses he’s placed in are being threatened and he needs protection if he is to have any sort of chance at a life.

Chris opens his home to Pavle, but he doesn’t expect Pavle and his story to get under his skin… and stay there. Soon they discover they have more in common than either of them thought. Slowly Pavle comes out of his shell and Chris finds someone who touches his heart. But as the men looking for Pavle close in, they will stop at nothing to get him out of the way. Even if Chris can keep him safe, he might not be able to protect his heart if Pavle moves back home.

Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Listening Length: 6 hours and 9 minutes

Reviewer: Annika

I'm of two minds about this story. On the one hand I really enjoyed it - I mean it would take a hell of a lot for me to not enjoy something that Tremblay narrates. The story as a whole was a good one and the characters likable. But on the other hand the romance didn't work for me.

Chris Anducci was recently promoted from jail duty to the sheriff's office - something he was very happy about. When the new sheriff summons Chris to his office he expects it's to tell him to return to jail duty again. Instead he's tasked with protecting a witness, Pavle, in a human trafficking case. Every safe house Pavle has been put in has been breached or blown, so the decision is made to have Pavle stay at Chris' home. As the traffickers, and I kind of want to say vile monsters here and that's not even strong enough for those creatures but I'm getting off track, anyway as the bad guys get closer and closer Chris soon realises that the only way that they could know all of Pavle's previous locations was to have an inside man at the sheriff's office. And they were playing to win - at all costs.

At the same time we get to know Pavle. How he'd been sold into slavery four years ago. How he was abused and mistreated. Details of it were never (thankfully) revealed, just on the broader scale, but let me tell you that was plenty for my poor bleeding heart. For my heart to break for Pavle. When we first meet him he's this broken shell of a man, afraid of everything and mistrusting everyone - and no wonder. But slowly he comes out of his shell, dares to believe no one will take his food or drink from him, and dares to bask in the sunlight in the backyard. Dares to have a voice. Dares to believe not everyone is out to hurt him or use him.

I love this kind of journey. This kind of healing. Watching someone find themselves and starting to believe, starting to live. However, this is also where this book takes a sour note for me. It takes place over a very short time, can't really tell you how much, but say a few weeks at most. During those weeks Pavle learns to trust Chris, feel attraction to him and subsequently fall for the man. I'm sorry but that feels so wrong for me. Yes I do know that everyone has their own mind and handle trauma differently and has the right to decide of their own body etc. But come on, if someone's (very) recently been rescued from four years of severe abuse, sexual and otherwise, had been indoctrinated to pay for everything, even food with their body. Are they truly of sound mind entering into a relationship just a few weeks later (no therapy in sight)? Where a raised voice causes them to curl up in the foetal position? I'm not saying I don't see why they got together, it's just the timeline that makes it feel very iffy and sticky and not right. Had they met a year down the road, where Pavle had had a chance to land, to understand everything going on, had a chance to heal, I truly would have enjoyed their romance, because it was a sweet one. But as it was I just couldn't.

Greg Tremblay did a wonderful job narrating this story, treating it with the seriousness that this kind of subject deserves. He gave Pavle a voice, captured his fear, hopes and dreams, in a very nice accent as well. He's this kind of narrator - performer - that can take any book and make magic. Make you forget the world around you and just enjoy the story he's telling.

Parts of this story worked for me, and others didn't. One thing is for sure though; if Tremblay narrates - I will be listening.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: A Few Good Fish (Fish Out of Water #3) by Amy Lane

A tomcat, a psychopath, and a psychic walk into the desert to rescue the men they love…. Can everybody make it out with their skin intact?

PI Jackson Rivers and Defense Attorney Ellery Cramer have barely recovered from last November, when stopping a serial killer nearly destroyed Jackson in both body and spirit.

But their previous investigation poked a new danger with a stick, forcing Jackson and Ellery to leave town so they can meet the snake in its den.

Jackson Rivers grew up with the mean streets as a classroom and he learned a long time ago not to give a damn about his own life. But he gets a whole new education when the enemy takes Ellery. The man who pulled his shattered pieces from darkness and stitched them back together again is in trouble, and Jackson’s only chance to save him rests in the hands of fragile allies he barely knows.

It’s going to take a little bit of luck to get these Few Good Fish out alive!

Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Listening Length: 10 hours and 15 minutes

Reviewer: Annika

Jackson and Ellery are again swimming against the stream – investigating Owen’s past to find the person who trained him, who let him loose in society. So while the big bad from the first couple of books is dealt with – in a permanent way – it seems like he was just the beginning. There are secrets that people high on the food chain are willing to go to great lengths to keep hidden. It’s big and it’s bad and very, very dangerous.

Fish Out of Water is without a doubt my favourite Lane series. I love the mystery, the characters, not to mention Billy Bob the three legged cat. That being said, A Few More Fish is my least favourite in the series so far. The story just got too big and too unbelievable, not to mention that Ace and Sunny (from Racing the Sun) aren’t my favourite couple, so that cross-over didn’t quite work for me.

I love how far Jackson has come since we first met him, and seeing him now in a committed relationship is beautiful. His and Ellery’s relationship isn’t perfect, but it’s a work in progress. You feel the connection, and even though they might stumble at times you know they’ll pull through. With each book they grow stronger, they move forward. Don’t get me wrong, Jackson especially still have ways to go, but it’s still nice to see them making progress.

Greg Tremblay is music to my ears. I love listening to him and consider him to be one of my all-time favourite narrators out there. I love him narrating mystery and suspense books, there’s just something about that narration that really fits him. Once again he delivered a flawless performance. I mean he nails everything just right, the characters, the voices, the emotions he adds, the pacing. In short; everything was just right.

These books don’t really stand on their own; they build on each other, each a part of a whole, leaving things to be resolved. Knowing Jackson, a few more cars will be sacrificed in the future, all for the greater good of course.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Audiobook Review: Devil Take Me by Various Authors

Temptation lurks around every corner in worlds sometimes dark, sometimes lurid. Giving in is both dangerous and satisfying, though never in the ways one expects. While these enticements offer a vast range of benefits and boons, the cost is a soul and the devil expects his due. Sometimes suave and charming or calculating and cruel, these devils have schemes and desires of their own. They can be creatures to run away from… or toward.

Join the most unique and celebrated authors of LGBT urban fantasy and paranormal fiction for a fast-paced and unpredictable ride, from a city on the other side of reality, to a world suspended in dusk, to a twisted version of the 1960s and 70s.

Meet devils in top hats and waistcoats, a defrocked motorcycle-riding priest, and a genderfluid antihero—among many more. Full of humor, romance, horror, action, intrigue, and magic, these stories have one common element….

They’re one hell of a good time.

Narrator: Greg Tremblay
Listening Length: 18 hours and 21 minutes

4.5 Enthusiastic Hearts

Admittedly, I’m not a ready and willing reader of stories involving the devil because of the doom and gloom themes that are typically pervasive. However, since this is narrated by Greg Tremblay, I took a chance because sometimes I’m all about broadening my horizons right? Well, I came out the winner for this is probably the most consistent anthology I’ve ever read as it provides compelling stories about those trying to do the impossible for a second chance.

I started out a huge fan of four of these authors, and I am now officially a fan of the other two! Not one of these six gals drops the ball, each presenting their unique brand of creativity!

Again, I thought Greg Tremblay was fabulous to begin with, but he really showcases his talent for accents here, just further solidifying himself as one of the top narrators around!


Internal Affairs - Jordan L. Hawk - 4 Hearts

A sassy, quasi-rom/com look at the underworld and the crossroads demons who serve to capture souls.

Newbie demon Ralgath, makes the rookie mistake of giving a contract that’s too good to be true. He’s a lot blinded by lust and allows Chess to become a powerful paranormal slayer to fight evil. Such perks aren’t supposed to be given, and poor Ralgath’s relegated back to hell to serve all of eternity in the torturous department known as Administrative Intake. When the opportunity to redeem his reputation is offered, Ralgath must ask for help from the very person who made him stray.

Fun and funny, the attraction between Ralgath and Chess hasn’t dimmed. A fast paced adventure to solve a mystery and bonus points where they end up saving each other!

Collared - TA Moore - 4.5 Hearts

My first Moore and certainly not my last!

Gritty, brutal, this is a world where hell never rests at trying to corrupt, slowly and insidiously spreading its darkness.

Jack is a condemned priest who’s been serving the demon Math, for years. Understandably, he regrets his past decisions but can’t help being enamored by Math who basically holds him prisoner. When given the chance to get his soul back, it’s not a difficult decision to make - a decision he can’t say no to nor does he want to.

This was dark and violent and disturbing but not short on the eroticism as the moral compass is tested over and over again. Bittersweet, not quite a romance, this surprised me in a good way as a twisted reveal shows the potential of what could be unraveled should Moore choose to continue with this unconventional storyline.


The Counterfeit Viscount - Ginn Hale - 4.5 Hearts

My debut read with this author and I’m impressed!

Bridging historical and fantasy, this is a world where descendants of demons perpetrate the human world, always deemed less but always wanted and used for their extra abilities and magic. Here we meet Archibald, a human bastard who sells his soul to the charming Nimble, to enact revenge on an evil uncle. What slowly unravels is a plot that has far reaching repercussions, not just for Archibald but for the underprivileged and many more innocents caught in the crosshairs.

Full of mystery and intrigue, this smartly shows class and species divide and the carefully laid out plans that can all go awry. Effectively complex, along with an equally swoony sweeping romance (with nice smexy) and an ending that brought a huge smile to my face.


11:59 - CS Poe - 4 Hearts

Brilliant in execution, I’ve not read anything other than short stories from this author, but the lady sure can create quite the gripping tale, and this was no different.

On the cusp of death, Asuka agrees to sell his soul in exchange to battle a terrible foe and to never dream again. Reality is slowly being overtaken by an unrelenting force, killing those brave enough to sleep and succumb to their nightmares. For five years, Asuka’s been going through the motions of fighting an unwinnable war, slowly losing ground as the human world is being methodically destroyed.

When Asuka’s interest is sparked for the first time in a long time by an tenacious young man, he feels a tug that might compel him to care once more. Thus, when the devil asks for his help in return for a chance to desire and want again, Asuka has no choice but to take up the dangerous challenge.

Full of action with vivid imagery and an interesting take on time and realms, this makes a very ingenious, satisfying full circle.


Wonderland City - Rhys Ford - 4 Hearts

An extended look at the wonderful world of Wonderland, where Alice is long gone and the fate of the White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts takes a different turn towards something so much worse.

Here, Wonderland houses those who trade their souls for a chance at a different life, and Xander has carved out a very very hard fought existence. Though he would love to be with the prince Jean Michel, too many extenuating circumstances (not to mention his own stubborn independent self) keep them apart.

However, danger threatens Wonderland's very existence when a devil makes a terrible mistake, and Xander must ask for Jean Michel’s aid to prevent the unthinkable. If he wins, he just might lose the very thing he wants the most.

This was classic Ford, who never fails for me when she writes fantasy with a grumpy antihero to root for. Action filled, high stake consequences but always with a rewarding win!


Dark Favors - JCP - 4 Hearts

No doubt JCP is original, as this envisioned world shows the many many people who have gotten ahead by owing and asking for favors - a form of currency to get what they want in exchange for their eternal soul.

After years of not playing the game, Johnny accepts the rare favor from the devil himself, longing to be blissfully ignorant again. What he doesn’t expect is the surprising high stakes task he’s agreed to do. When Johnny hesitates, it’s just the opening for someone to throw a wrench into his well laid plans… a very sexy wrench at that.

JCP does not fail on the eroticism here and definitely brings about an unusual conclusion to Johnny’s dilemma but one that is no less satisfying.

Thank you to the authors/publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review

Audiobook Review: Red Fish, Dead Fish (Fish Out of Water #2) by Amy Lane

They must work together to stop a psychopath—and save each other.

Two months ago Jackson Rivers got shot while trying to save Ellery Cramer’s life. Not only is Jackson still suffering from his wounds, the triggerman remains at large—and the body count is mounting.

Jackson and Ellery have been trying to track down Tim Owens since Jackson got out of the hospital, but Owens’s time as a member of the department makes the DA reluctant to turn over any stones. When Owens starts going after people Jackson knows, Ellery’s instincts hit red alert. Hurt in a scuffle with drug-dealing squatters and trying damned hard not to grieve for a childhood spent in hell, Jackson is weak and vulnerable when Owens strikes.

Jackson gets away, but the fallout from the encounter might kill him. It’s not doing Ellery any favors either. When a police detective is abducted—and Jackson and Ellery hold the key to finding her—Ellery finds out exactly what he’s made of. He’s not the corporate shark who believes in winning at all costs; he’s the frightened lover trying to keep the man he cares for from self-destructing in his own valor.

Listening Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Reviewer: Annika

This book was intense! And I loved every minute I spent reading it. It drew me in from the start and held me in an iron grip and wouldn’t let go until it was all said and done. Or well, until I reached the last page of the book that is, because there are more lose ends for Jackson and Ellery to find and tie up and more adventures to be had.

Red Fish, Dead Fish is not a standalone story, it is a continuation of the first book, where Jackson and Ellery is doing everything they can to track and stop Owens, the big bad from Fish Out of Water. And boy is he bad, truly depraved in every imaginable ways. So squeamish people might want to be careful reading certain parts of this book, cause they are graphic and paints images that will stay with you and possibly make you a bit green around the gills. I honestly didn’t mind that, it made the hunt for him so much more intense, made me invested to really want to stop the SOB once and for all. And preferably in a permanent way….

Again, the relationship between Ellery and Jackson took a backseat to the hunt, but it was always there. They moved forward – Jackson kind of kicking and screaming, but they still moved forward. They grew into something more, something deeper. It was nice to see Jackson coming out of his shell and starting to trust, starting to want, to hope. He’s suffered so much in the past and being there for some of the happy times was really wonderful.

I did have one problem though, and that was that no matter how banged up he got (and that was more than his fair share) he was up and about in no time, ready to start hunting again. I’m not a fan of übermenches so it was a bit much. But since that’s probably the only thing that don’t work for me in this series, I count myself lucky.

As mentioned at the start, even when we reach the end of this book the story doesn’t end. Sure, Ellery and Jackson takes some huge steps, saved a few people but there are still bad guys to find and stop, and something tells me that it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Audiobook Review: Fish Out of Water (Fish Out of Water #1) by Amy Lane

PI Jackson Rivers grew up on the mean streets of Del Paso Heights—and he doesn’t trust cops, even though he was one. When the man he thinks of as his brother is accused of killing a police officer in an obviously doctored crime, Jackson will move heaven and earth to keep Kaden and his family safe.

Defense attorney Ellery Cramer grew up with the proverbial silver spoon in his mouth, but that hasn’t stopped him from crushing on street-smart, swaggering Jackson Rivers for the past six years. But when Jackson asks for his help defending Kaden Cameron, Ellery is out of his depth—and not just with guarded, prickly Jackson. Kaden wasn’t just framed, he was framed by crooked cops, and the conspiracy goes higher than Ellery dares reach—and deep into Jackson’s troubled past.

Both men are soon enmeshed in the mystery of who killed the cop in the minimart, and engaged in a race against time to clear Kaden’s name. But when the mystery is solved and the bullets stop flying, they’ll have to deal with their personal complications… and an attraction that’s spiraled out of control.

Listening Length: 9 hours and 20 minutes
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Reviewer: Annika

You might know this about me (or not) but I’m not really a fan of Amy Lane's. She’s written a couple of good books, but for the most part I don’t really like them. They mostly end up on the okay scale and are books that I could really do without. But I picked this book up – I’m a sucker for mysteries and romantic suspense and just couldn’t resist. So colour me very surprised the first time I picked up Fish Out of Water and not only liked it but I loved it. Maybe even worshipped it a little. I was hooked from the first to last word and just couldn't put the book down. So here we are, some 2.5 years later and at least a couple of re-reads, or in this case listen later, and I’m as in love with this book now as I was the first time around.

Jackson Rivers lost all faith in the system eight years ago when he was almost killed by a crooked cop. Now he’s working as a PI for a law office, but he’s still haunted by past evens and trust don’t come easy – or at all. When his brother is (falsely) arrested for killing a cop, Jackson knows things are about to get hairy again and that they need all the help they can get if they want to clear Kaden’s name. Ellery Cramer believes in justice, believes in the system. So when he’s asked to take on a case to defend a man accused of killing a cop he’s reluctant. But he’s persuaded to takes a look, and then he takes a closer one and realises there were far more going on than the arresting officers want to him to know.

This book’s main focus is the mystery. The romance between Jackson and Ellery is secondary. It’s there but never the main focus of the book, nor does it end with a happily ever after, rather a start of sorts. And it’s fitting with the characters; Jackson is so jaded and mistrustful that anything more would have been unbelievable. They are so different, but they still fit in some weird way, they are right for each other. I love them together.

Greg Tremblay is an outstanding narrator! He hits every word, every note and flicker of emotion just right. It’s almost like magic. It’s always such a joy to listen to his performances. It’s effortless on the listener’s part as he has so many distinct voices for the different characters that it’s easy to follow along. You never have to wonder who’s speaking, you just know. All of this is the reason of why I never tire of his books, I can listen to him days on end.

The story is not over when the book ends, there’s no major cliffhanger, nor is it finished, and I couldn’t be happier about that, I haven’t gotten enough of these guys just yet. Fish Out of Water is definitely worth the read! And a re-read or two for that matter ;)

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Fire and Granite (Carlisle Deputies #2) by Andrew Grey

The heat is growing from the inside, but danger is building on the outside.

Judge Andrew Phillips runs a tight ship in his courtroom. He’s tough, and when he hands down a sentence, he expects to be obeyed. So when a fugitive named Harper escapes and threatens his life, Andrew isn’t keen on twenty-four/seven protection… especially not from Deputy Clay Brown. They have a past, one that could cause problems in their careers.

But with Clay assigned to Andrew and the two of them together every minute, there’s nowhere to hide from their attraction—or from the fact that there’s much more than chemistry blooming between them. As the threat intensifies, Clay knows he’ll do anything it takes to protect the people who are taking their places in his heart: Andrew and his young niece and nephew.

Listening Length: 6 hours 40 minutes
Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Reviewer: Annika

Each book in the Carlisle Deputies series can be read as a standalone as each book focuses on a new couple. The previous ones make appearances, but not to the point where you’ll feel left in the dark if you haven’t read their story. We are back in Carlisle and in the courtroom for this book - well kind of. At least in the sense that our first main character; Andrew Phillips is a judge. A judge whose life is threatened when a man he sentenced escapes from prison promises to come after him. He is less than thrilled with having a protection detail around the clock. And even less so when Clay Brown is added into that detail.

The two has some shared history, and working together causes tension to say the least, and when attraction is added to the mix the only question becomes who'll break first? Things get even more complicated when Andrew's sister is hospitalised and he's awarded temporary custody of his niece and nephew. And with a fugitive on the lose hell bent on revenge they have some tough times ahead.

As mentioned before Grey has a formula to his stories. The love between our two men are always sweet, almost always bordering on insta-love, with instant connection and inherit trust. And I'm sorry, I just don't believe in that, even though Grey tries so hard to make me. That doesn't mean I didn't or don't enjoy his books because I did and I do, but not to the point where I can't put them down or when I do a happy dance when I get a new one in my hands or ears. What I do appreciate is that his book are always quick and easy reads and don't require anything from the reader or listener. They are perfect brain candy when you just need something sweet, and in this case with some added suspense on top.

Greg Tremblay did it again. Just like the first book, his performance of this one is pure perfection beginning to end. He has it all the voices, the feelings and pacing. His voice is pure magic and I'll happily listen to anything that he says!

A copy of this audiobook was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Audiobook Review: Fire and Flint (Carlisle Deputies #1) by Andrew Grey

Jordan Erichsohn suspects something is rotten about his boss, Judge Crawford. Unfortunately, he has nowhere to turn and doubts anyone will believe his claims - least of all the handsome deputy, Pierre Ravelle, who has been assigned to protect the judge after he received threatening letters. The judge has a long reach, and if he finds out Jordan’s turned on him, he might impede Jordan adopting his son, Jeremiah.

When Jordan can no longer stay silent, he gathers his courage and tells Pierre what he knows. To his surprise and relief, Pierre believes him, and Jordan finds an ally...and maybe more.

Pierre vows to do what it takes to protect Jordan and Jeremiah and see justice done. He’s willing to fight for the man he’s growing to love and the family he’s starting to think of as his own. But Crawford is a powerful and dangerous enemy, and he’s not above ripping apart everything Jordan and Pierre are trying to build in order to save himself...

Narrated by: Greg Tremblay
Listening Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Reviewer - Annika

I have to confess... I'm not really an Andrew Grey fan. His books mostly end up on the okay scale and I'm never first or even in line for his new releases. On the other hand, I am a huge fan of Greg Tremblay. He is an awesome narrator. And as I'm also a big fan of mystery and suspense novels I decided to give this book and series a chance.

Jordan Erichsohn's life is on track. He's in the process of adopting a special boy and has a job he really enjoys. That is until letters starts arriving threatening the life of the judge he's working for. Enter deputy Pierre Ravelle who's been assigned to the case to find the author to the letters and protecting the judge. The two starts working together to piece the puzzle together, and soon they both realise there is something more between them.

The love story between Jordan and Pierre was everything that I've come to expect from Grey. Fast paced to the point of insta-love. I liked them as individuals, but the meet-to-love was so quick and I just didn't believe in it. But then again, I didn't really expect any different either, hoped maybe, but not expected. The mystery part however I liked, I'm always a fan of those, and it was a nice break from the sweet, sweet love and sugar fest this book would have otherwise been.

Greg Tremblay is fantastic, amazing and wonderful - to say the least. I love to listen to his narrations - or performance of the books. He adds such feeling to it that it takes you to that place and that time. Walking alongside the characters, and fighting beside them. He makes you feel what they are feeling, in a way that just reading the words don't always do by their own. To keep it short and simple: pure perfection.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review