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Cole McGinnis #2
Dirty Secret
Loving Kim Jae-Min isn’t always easy: Jae is gun-shy about being openly homosexual. Ex-cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis doesn’t know any other way to be. Still, he understands where Jae is coming from. Traditional Korean men aren’t gay—at least not usually where people can see them.
But Cole can’t spend too much time unraveling his boyfriend’s issues. He has a job to do. When a singer named Scarlet asks him to help find Park Dae-Hoon, a gay Korean man who disappeared nearly two decades ago, Cole finds himself submerged in the tangled world of rich Korean families, where obligation and politics mean sacrificing happiness to preserve corporate empires. Soon the bodies start piling up without rhyme or reason. With every step Cole takes toward locating Park Dae-Hoon, another person meets their demise—and someone Cole loves could be next on the murderer’s list.
But Cole can’t spend too much time unraveling his boyfriend’s issues. He has a job to do. When a singer named Scarlet asks him to help find Park Dae-Hoon, a gay Korean man who disappeared nearly two decades ago, Cole finds himself submerged in the tangled world of rich Korean families, where obligation and politics mean sacrificing happiness to preserve corporate empires. Soon the bodies start piling up without rhyme or reason. With every step Cole takes toward locating Park Dae-Hoon, another person meets their demise—and someone Cole loves could be next on the murderer’s list.
234 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2012
49 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Rhys Ford
79 books1,890 followersRhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and is a two-time LAMBDA finalist and a multiple Gold and Silver Medalist by the Florida Authors and Publishers President’s Book Awards. She is published by Dreamspinner Press, DSP Publications and Rogue Firebird Press.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
She shares the house with Harley, a gray tuxedo with a flower on her face, Badger, a disgruntled former alley cat, and Gojira, a mercurial Tabico as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep of a 1979 Pontiac Firebird named Tengu and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 331 reviews
December 28, 2019
After finishing book 1, I jumped right into this one. I have a feeling I will be reading the books in this series in one sitting (maybe I will take a break to actually sleep).
I have a confession though. This book confused the crap out of me :p
I didn't know what was going on and there were so many people. All Korean and all with weird names I couldn't remember or understand.
Then, I remembered Susan telling me not to get too caught up in all the names, so I let it go and just enjoyed the story :)
The mystery part might have been a bit confusing and bodies were dropping left and right. Just when I thought I had everything figured out towards the end....it turned out I didn't even know who the killer was. I didn't even remember that name being in the book :P !!!
But you know what...I don't even care. This book was awesome! I loved Cole and Jae together. I loved seeing how they got closer and closer and damn they were HOT. They even broke the freaking bed.
I loved all the side-characters....except for Cole's fucked up parents. Even Mike got back on my good side, for sticking up for his brother.
I can't wait to find out what happens next, jumping straight into book 3.
I have a confession though. This book confused the crap out of me :p
I didn't know what was going on and there were so many people. All Korean and all with weird names I couldn't remember or understand.
Then, I remembered Susan telling me not to get too caught up in all the names, so I let it go and just enjoyed the story :)
The mystery part might have been a bit confusing and bodies were dropping left and right. Just when I thought I had everything figured out towards the end....it turned out I didn't even know who the killer was. I didn't even remember that name being in the book :P !!!
But you know what...I don't even care. This book was awesome! I loved Cole and Jae together. I loved seeing how they got closer and closer and damn they were HOT. They even broke the freaking bed.
I loved all the side-characters....except for Cole's fucked up parents. Even Mike got back on my good side, for sticking up for his brother.
I can't wait to find out what happens next, jumping straight into book 3.
September 1, 2016
**4 stars for the story, 10++++ stars for the audiobook narrator!**
Greg Tremblay, you rock my world.
You are a perfect, PERFECT, Cole McGinnis and your range of voices is... sigh... *me so happy*!! This narrator is one of my favorite audiobook narrators and has MADE this series for me! I could kiss you... for real! No, seriously, let's make out...
It takes a lot for me to LOVE an audiobook, especially an audiobook in which I have no idea what is happening. Honestly. I was totally clueless.
I had no idea what was happening in this book and I loved it anyway.
This might be terribly close-minded or something of me, but I couldn't for the life of me keep those Korean names apart. I had maybe one or two down pat, but the rest? A complete blur. Who were the main characters again? No idea. And listening in audiobook, where the names aren't written down for me to see them, it was even more of a problem.
In fact, when the bad guy/girl was revealed at the end, I had no clue who it was. Talk about anticlimactic...
So why did I love this book if I couldn't follow it?!
Answer: Well, the rest of the book rocked!
The scene with Cole and his parents... I cried. The scene with Cole and Claudia? Cried. The scenes with Cole and Jae? I got HOT and bothered! The book was funny! And sexy and crazy and I LOVE Rhys Ford for delivering again and again with this series.
I don't care that every Korean person Cole meets is gay. I don't care that I have no idea who the side characters are. I still love this series, no small part due to the audiobook narrator.
Keep narrating, Greg Tremblay, and I'll keep listening!
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
April 6, 2018
Oh Holy Hell!! Where have i been all this time?
-I loved it! There were too many people and very confusing Korean names, but i took Simone's advice and just went with the flow. In the end i concentrated on the Mystery part not the names. It worked, i ended up loving all of it.
-Cole and Jae are slowly climbing my Best mm couple list.
Greg Tremblay's voice
It ends like this:
“It’s a man from Tokyo calling about your mother,”
That means i Need to listen to book 3 immediately.. right?? Greg already read the blurb for me, it will be rude to keep him waiting.
Book 3 here i come...
-I loved it! There were too many people and very confusing Korean names, but i took Simone's advice and just went with the flow. In the end i concentrated on the Mystery part not the names. It worked, i ended up loving all of it.
-Cole and Jae are slowly climbing my Best mm couple list.
Greg Tremblay's voice
It ends like this:
“It’s a man from Tokyo calling about your mother,”
That means i Need to listen to book 3 immediately.. right?? Greg already read the blurb for me, it will be rude to keep him waiting.
Book 3 here i come...
November 14, 2018
Audio November 2018
Narration: 3.5 Pants Off
I don’t know...I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hope, Greg Tremblays narration doesn’t wow me. So it was just an alright listen for me. It was great to revisit the story, I love me some Cole McGinnis but it’s around a 4 ⭐️ s now for this sequel, while exciting it wasn’t as exciting as I remembered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2012
~WHEN A SEQUEL KICK-ASSES!!!~
4.5
Thank you Rhys Ford for surpassing my expectations and making me happy. Let’s be frank, sometimes sequels can be a let down and though I was excited out of my pants to read Dirty Secret I wasn't anticipating gold. Well folks I got platinum, I never thought I would like this book so much and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first. It was like sitting down to a kick ass episode of Cole McGinnis P.I. Sometimes even the most awesome has faults and so I do have a few things that bothered me.
Dirty Secret begins with a bang just like the first book Dirty Kiss, where Cole finds himself on one of his unusual cases. Think sex shop and instead of "Dick in a box", it's dick in a bottle. It’s a good thing he has his beautiful Korean lover Jae-Min to feed him and give him endless amount of cuddles, but it seems his cuddles are gonna have to wait. When the beautiful Scarlet, sexy Filipino man/woman shows up on his doorstep with a case to find a missing person Cole knows things are about to go south. Because being tangled up in Korean business either leads to him getting shot or people dying.
Gay and being Korean does not mix well and Cole is seeing it firsthand with his investigation. It’s also something he is experiencing on a personal level with Jae-Min because good Korean boys must get married, make the babies, and make their families happy. Now Cole is digging up old dirt and opening old wounds and that isn't going over well with the prestigious families. When bodies start dropping like flies, Cole knows he should walk away but he cant help wanting to find the truth even if it might cost him the ones he loves the most.
There is so much to enjoy in this book, with its constant action and bombs of surprise. I laughed so much and cried as mush equally. Cole's estranged parents make an appearance and man... was it sucky. They really brought the hatred and my heart broke so much for him, which really made me realize how much I am wary of Jae-Min for him. Yes, he is this beautiful Korean and that is my ultimate bias but I feel like Cole is living his truth and its not easy and he deserves someone who is living equally as honest. It’s a complicated relationship and I am looking forward to where the author is taking them. Their future might be unclear but they still know how to set the sheets on fire and cause a pants losing, "Wowza" they were hot.
My overall peeve is that I don't think the story came together well. It went all over the place by the end, and then the conclusion just felt "Meh". I kept wondering, "So the point of this was?" Would have been better if someone was trying to keep the truth from coming out instead of a looney with a gun (because really he was just a loony with a gun).
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book in a pants-less state. I really am hoping Jae-Min proves something in the future cus right now I just view him as the glorified pretty boy who is still just there (I want him to shine). Cole is still the best and one of my fave characters ever, he's really made of awesome. I believe fans of the first book will enjoy Dirty Secret and then faint at the end of it. I have a sneaking suspicion that instead of Chaebols, Cole will be taking up with the Yakuza it only seems fair that he handles his Japanese side.
SideNote- The next book should be titled Dirty Pants y/y (ok that would be too much)
Narration: 3.5 Pants Off
I don’t know...I didn’t enjoy this as much as I’d hope, Greg Tremblays narration doesn’t wow me. So it was just an alright listen for me. It was great to revisit the story, I love me some Cole McGinnis but it’s around a 4 ⭐️ s now for this sequel, while exciting it wasn’t as exciting as I remembered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
2012
~WHEN A SEQUEL KICK-ASSES!!!~
4.5
Thank you Rhys Ford for surpassing my expectations and making me happy. Let’s be frank, sometimes sequels can be a let down and though I was excited out of my pants to read Dirty Secret I wasn't anticipating gold. Well folks I got platinum, I never thought I would like this book so much and I enjoyed it a lot more than the first. It was like sitting down to a kick ass episode of Cole McGinnis P.I. Sometimes even the most awesome has faults and so I do have a few things that bothered me.
Dirty Secret begins with a bang just like the first book Dirty Kiss, where Cole finds himself on one of his unusual cases. Think sex shop and instead of "Dick in a box", it's dick in a bottle. It’s a good thing he has his beautiful Korean lover Jae-Min to feed him and give him endless amount of cuddles, but it seems his cuddles are gonna have to wait. When the beautiful Scarlet, sexy Filipino man/woman shows up on his doorstep with a case to find a missing person Cole knows things are about to go south. Because being tangled up in Korean business either leads to him getting shot or people dying.
Gay and being Korean does not mix well and Cole is seeing it firsthand with his investigation. It’s also something he is experiencing on a personal level with Jae-Min because good Korean boys must get married, make the babies, and make their families happy. Now Cole is digging up old dirt and opening old wounds and that isn't going over well with the prestigious families. When bodies start dropping like flies, Cole knows he should walk away but he cant help wanting to find the truth even if it might cost him the ones he loves the most.
There is so much to enjoy in this book, with its constant action and bombs of surprise. I laughed so much and cried as mush equally. Cole's estranged parents make an appearance and man... was it sucky. They really brought the hatred and my heart broke so much for him, which really made me realize how much I am wary of Jae-Min for him. Yes, he is this beautiful Korean and that is my ultimate bias but I feel like Cole is living his truth and its not easy and he deserves someone who is living equally as honest. It’s a complicated relationship and I am looking forward to where the author is taking them. Their future might be unclear but they still know how to set the sheets on fire and cause a pants losing, "Wowza" they were hot.
My overall peeve is that I don't think the story came together well. It went all over the place by the end, and then the conclusion just felt "Meh". I kept wondering, "So the point of this was?" Would have been better if someone was trying to keep the truth from coming out instead of a looney with a gun (because really he was just a loony with a gun).
Overall, I really enjoyed the story and am looking forward to the next book in a pants-less state. I really am hoping Jae-Min proves something in the future cus right now I just view him as the glorified pretty boy who is still just there (I want him to shine). Cole is still the best and one of my fave characters ever, he's really made of awesome. I believe fans of the first book will enjoy Dirty Secret and then faint at the end of it. I have a sneaking suspicion that instead of Chaebols, Cole will be taking up with the Yakuza it only seems fair that he handles his Japanese side.
SideNote- The next book should be titled Dirty Pants y/y (ok that would be too much)
September 9, 2015
Written August 21, 2014
4 Stars - Already familiar and homely with fast-paced crime, a lot of yummy smex and a wonderfully charming private investigator
Book #2
I downloaded this second audiobook in Rhys Ford's M/M crime series Cole McGinnis as soon as I finished the first installment: #1 - Dirty Kiss (3.5 stars). I liked this style, these guys and this great narrator at once.
A very happy Ingela after a second round.
I immediately jump on the next train with Cole & the gang now. Rubbing my hands with excitement.
***********************************************************
Contemporary crime M/M set in Los Angeles about
Cole Kenjiro McGinnis, an ex-cop and PI,
and the younger U.S. Korean photographer Kim Jae-Min
Once again, it was an intricate crime mystery for our PI Cole. This time was Cole asked to find a father who dissapeared around twenty years ago. A Korean gay married man in the U.S.
This crime-drama are involving many people, dead and alive, and most of them with Korean names. Name that is kind of hard for me and it wasn't all that easy to keep up with who person was who. My head was spinning. ~ Luckily Heidi tipped me about a 'cheatsheet' After that it became a lot easier to keep up with the various intrigues, events, gossip, etc in this book.
I should say that the main topic this time was family homophobia. On all fronts...
It makes me so angry, and very sad, to think about this betray and often also deny of love for your gay son, brother etc. Freaking upsetting!! How can they do that? It's unbelievable. ~ And of course it is not only in these circles this happens.
The crime mystery was, in any case finally solved by Cole. But before that it was both gunfire and exploding burning cars. Full speed ahead and really tricky.
***********************************************************
I didn't think the first book Dirty Kiss was fantastic, but a good start to something that.
It had a style I usually like.
# We have the main character: A slightly tired, worn, cynical private investigator who, with his own narration gives us a good detective story. He lives in Los Angeles...yes, yes, yes.
# Here are several fun, kind, lovely and interesting second characters:
Big brother Mike, the best friend Bobby, the adorable office manager Claudia and the beautiful primadonna (transvestite) Scarlet. And of course Cole's gorgeous —always cooking— young lover, Jae-Min. ~ They all take care of their dear friend, and sometimes sloppy, Cole, in the best way. I love them all.
# This interesting community with migrant Koreans. They have other traditions, strong family cohesion, a somewhat feudal system etc and many exciting dishes. ...And names to are hard to learn and remember.
....Simply great characters and crime plots in these books.
***********************************************************
After this second book has the feeling strengthened and my first impression is proven. This cole Mc Ginnis series gets better and better. ~ Funny, sexy, romantic with good suspense.
The narrator Grey Tremblay make this so wonderful to listen to. He really has his own style (...all these pants, grunts, hacks, hesitatings, screaming, etc.).
***********************************************************
As I said after the first one:
I am a new addicted Cole McGinnis Audio's fan by now.
Dirty Secret was yet another crime M/M romance worth reading. If you like books like Adrien English or Nick Nowak mysteries, or any other gay —often horny, brooding but realistic, cynical, tough but still very charming— former cop, now private investigators, it is possible that you will also like these.
Next up in my iPhone headphones: #3 - Dirty Laundry
I LIKE - without doubt even more captivated now
*******
Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis series:
...and later
Check also the nice "Whispersync for Voice" price for an audio and a kindle book ($8) for a lot of them.
4 Stars - Already familiar and homely with fast-paced crime, a lot of yummy smex and a wonderfully charming private investigator
Book #2
I downloaded this second audiobook in Rhys Ford's M/M crime series Cole McGinnis as soon as I finished the first installment: #1 - Dirty Kiss (3.5 stars). I liked this style, these guys and this great narrator at once.
A very happy Ingela after a second round.
I immediately jump on the next train with Cole & the gang now. Rubbing my hands with excitement.
***********************************************************
Contemporary crime M/M set in Los Angeles about
Cole Kenjiro McGinnis, an ex-cop and PI,
and the younger U.S. Korean photographer Kim Jae-Min
Once again, it was an intricate crime mystery for our PI Cole. This time was Cole asked to find a father who dissapeared around twenty years ago. A Korean gay married man in the U.S.
This crime-drama are involving many people, dead and alive, and most of them with Korean names. Name that is kind of hard for me and it wasn't all that easy to keep up with who person was who. My head was spinning. ~ Luckily Heidi tipped me about a 'cheatsheet' After that it became a lot easier to keep up with the various intrigues, events, gossip, etc in this book.
I should say that the main topic this time was family homophobia. On all fronts...
It makes me so angry, and very sad, to think about this betray and often also deny of love for your gay son, brother etc. Freaking upsetting!! How can they do that? It's unbelievable. ~ And of course it is not only in these circles this happens.
The crime mystery was, in any case finally solved by Cole. But before that it was both gunfire and exploding burning cars. Full speed ahead and really tricky.
My favorite character, the adorable best buddy Bobby, was also mightily annoyed at all these long traffic jams in LA.
***********************************************************
I didn't think the first book Dirty Kiss was fantastic, but a good start to something that.
It had a style I usually like.
# We have the main character: A slightly tired, worn, cynical private investigator who, with his own narration gives us a good detective story. He lives in Los Angeles...yes, yes, yes.
# Here are several fun, kind, lovely and interesting second characters:
Big brother Mike, the best friend Bobby, the adorable office manager Claudia and the beautiful primadonna (transvestite) Scarlet. And of course Cole's gorgeous —always cooking— young lover, Jae-Min. ~ They all take care of their dear friend, and sometimes sloppy, Cole, in the best way. I love them all.
# This interesting community with migrant Koreans. They have other traditions, strong family cohesion, a somewhat feudal system etc and many exciting dishes. ...And names to are hard to learn and remember.
....Simply great characters and crime plots in these books.
***********************************************************
After this second book has the feeling strengthened and my first impression is proven. This cole Mc Ginnis series gets better and better. ~ Funny, sexy, romantic with good suspense.
The narrator Grey Tremblay make this so wonderful to listen to. He really has his own style (...all these pants, grunts, hacks, hesitatings, screaming, etc.).
***********************************************************
As I said after the first one:
I am a new addicted Cole McGinnis Audio's fan by now.
Dirty Secret was yet another crime M/M romance worth reading. If you like books like Adrien English or Nick Nowak mysteries, or any other gay —often horny, brooding but realistic, cynical, tough but still very charming— former cop, now private investigators, it is possible that you will also like these.
Next up in my iPhone headphones: #3 - Dirty Laundry
I LIKE - without doubt even more captivated now
*******
Rhys Ford's Cole McGinnis series:
...and later
Check also the nice "Whispersync for Voice" price for an audio and a kindle book ($8) for a lot of them.
February 11, 2016
She did it again.
That's twice now Rhys Ford has shocked me.
I'm not even sure what to say here. Just that this book was amazing. And wonderful. And entertaining as hell. And the FEELS! Oh man, the feels in this one.
Read. This. Book.
October 6, 2018
How in the world does Cole find himself in the situations he does? Jae has every right to tell him not to get shot at when he walks out the door.
This one was much better for me than book 1. Mike came through for me. Go Mike! Tell asshole daddy where to stick it.
Jae grew on me too. I love how he takes care of Cole. And when the one person who has been a momma to him is injured, Jae drops everything and comes to his side.
This one had me in tears a few times. That scene with Claudia in the hospital? Balling like a baby I was. Cole has people in his life who love him even if the rest of his family is shit.
The mystery part and what was going on there was interesting enough, but, I will say, all the Korean dynamics does confuse me a bit. I get who's who mixed up and find I have to go back and reread a few passages to figure things out. I'm catching on though as the series continues. And while the baddie in this one wasn't that big of a surprise to me, there's someone who's actually someone else that DID surprise me.
And let's hope Jae and Cole finally get their HEA eventually.
This one was much better for me than book 1. Mike came through for me. Go Mike! Tell asshole daddy where to stick it.
Jae grew on me too. I love how he takes care of Cole. And when the one person who has been a momma to him is injured, Jae drops everything and comes to his side.
This one had me in tears a few times. That scene with Claudia in the hospital? Balling like a baby I was. Cole has people in his life who love him even if the rest of his family is shit.
The mystery part and what was going on there was interesting enough, but, I will say, all the Korean dynamics does confuse me a bit. I get who's who mixed up and find I have to go back and reread a few passages to figure things out. I'm catching on though as the series continues. And while the baddie in this one wasn't that big of a surprise to me, there's someone who's actually someone else that DID surprise me.
And let's hope Jae and Cole finally get their HEA eventually.
"I wanted my fucking forever. My forever. Not the one that seemed laid out for me. Certainly not the one laid out for Jae. I just had to have the patience and the strength to fight for him, even if he was the one I was fighting with."
July 26, 2017
1st read 6/14
2nd read 9/15.
Still love Cole-ah and Jae Min even more.
Eff me sideways, this book was so freaking good. I thought the first one was good, this was better. Aside from the names(I had to make a chart, don't judge me) the story sucked me in. I cried and laughed and cried again. I don't know why I waited to read this serIlies or anything by this author but she is on auto buy for me now on. Cole was an emotional wreck at times but I loved it. His strength, his vulnerability and his ability to be the rock that Kim Jae Min needs. I have to say Google translator worked big time. Cole's parents were heartless douchebag and I wanted to reach through my kindle and Bitch slap them twice. I figured the shooter out and want surprised as the case went on. The ending though, wow can't wait to read book 3.
2nd read 9/15.
Still love Cole-ah and Jae Min even more.
Eff me sideways, this book was so freaking good. I thought the first one was good, this was better. Aside from the names(I had to make a chart, don't judge me) the story sucked me in. I cried and laughed and cried again. I don't know why I waited to read this serIlies or anything by this author but she is on auto buy for me now on. Cole was an emotional wreck at times but I loved it. His strength, his vulnerability and his ability to be the rock that Kim Jae Min needs. I have to say Google translator worked big time. Cole's parents were heartless douchebag and I wanted to reach through my kindle and Bitch slap them twice. I figured the shooter out and want surprised as the case went on. The ending though, wow can't wait to read book 3.
Read
August 19, 2012Yes, I'm writing a review for this book. Honestly, I'm not leaving a review for reading it. I'm leaving one for writing it.
Scribbling down this book was a fantastic experience. Through Dirty Kiss, I met so many lovely people and interacted with fantastic readers. This book really belongs to everyone who read DK and told me they fell in love with Cole and Jae.
I hope you find them interesting and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed writing them.
So thank you. Every one of you, my deepest thanks.
Now, off to Book Three... Dirty Laundry.
Haato and Kamsamida!
Scribbling down this book was a fantastic experience. Through Dirty Kiss, I met so many lovely people and interacted with fantastic readers. This book really belongs to everyone who read DK and told me they fell in love with Cole and Jae.
I hope you find them interesting and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed writing them.
So thank you. Every one of you, my deepest thanks.
Now, off to Book Three... Dirty Laundry.
Haato and Kamsamida!
October 10, 2012
Gah! This sequel was awesome!!!
What I loved:
Cole His snark still cracks me up! He had me laughing A LOT. But my favorite is how protective he is of Jae; its very obvious that Jae is his world.
Jae-Min He breaks my heart; I just want to give him a hug. And its also very obvious that Cole is his world, too. I love the tenderness between them. I thought it was a little sappy in the first book, but I was totally loving it here.
Neko She's still EVIL!!
Scarlet She's still as beautiful as ever and I liked getting to know more about her and hyung
Claudia She's the best mother and I don't see why she can't just make it official and adopt Cole as her own.
Bobby He's the biggest man-ho and I still want his story, but he needs to stay away from the tweaking-twinks. Eww!
Mike and Maddy and how they stood up for Cole.
The Opening Scene It was another crazy opener! Who the hell would get their penis stuck in a glass bottle? And who the hell would think to break it off using a brick?!
The Mystery With the missing person and the who-done-it...I had no fucking clue until the end. Great twist! Once again, I had no idea who to suspect and who to trust.
The Pace Was fast-past with a perfect mix of mystery and romance
The Ending Oh.My.God!
What confused me:
I stumbled a bit with the Korean names in the beginning. Although I'm only a tad better at remembering American names so... What I needed was a diagram of that incestuous family tree!
I'm loving this series and I want Dirty Laundry NOW!!
What I loved:
Cole His snark still cracks me up! He had me laughing A LOT. But my favorite is how protective he is of Jae; its very obvious that Jae is his world.
Jae-Min He breaks my heart; I just want to give him a hug. And its also very obvious that Cole is his world, too. I love the tenderness between them. I thought it was a little sappy in the first book, but I was totally loving it here.
Neko She's still EVIL!!
Scarlet She's still as beautiful as ever and I liked getting to know more about her and hyung
Claudia She's the best mother and I don't see why she can't just make it official and adopt Cole as her own.
Bobby He's the biggest man-ho and I still want his story, but he needs to stay away from the tweaking-twinks. Eww!
Mike and Maddy and how they stood up for Cole.
The Opening Scene It was another crazy opener! Who the hell would get their penis stuck in a glass bottle? And who the hell would think to break it off using a brick?!
The Mystery With the missing person and the who-done-it...I had no fucking clue until the end. Great twist! Once again, I had no idea who to suspect and who to trust.
The Pace Was fast-past with a perfect mix of mystery and romance
The Ending Oh.My.God!
What confused me:
I stumbled a bit with the Korean names in the beginning. Although I'm only a tad better at remembering American names so... What I needed was a diagram of that incestuous family tree!
I'm loving this series and I want Dirty Laundry NOW!!
August 14, 2018
Audio listen -- When listening in work be where no-one can see you for the Claudia heart-to-heart, I had a terrible case of er allergies!
-- --
Well that's one giant head f*ck!
A Celtic Knot of incestous Koreans, a disappearance, multiple shootings, family and romance.
Lots going on. More thriller than mystery, the type where there's lots of characters, guns, threats and it would take a sharper mind than mine to keep them sorted. Interestingly Cole is investigating the disappearance not the murders, the conclusion of which is so sudden I had to go back and check facts to understand it - the clue is right there on the page if you catch it!
I got lost with all the Korean names, all introduced at once it was hard to know who was who, doing who... but once I pushed past that I enjoyed the story. There's no glossary though there is a character break-down available on Ford's website. It amused me that Ford isn't afraid to laugh at tropes with characters commenting on every Korean character being gay...
Cole and Jae continue their dance. So much emotion, different family issues and pressures, they're still feeling their way. It's not just the food that's hot - they even break the bed!
Loved meeting 'Mad Dog' hope there's more of her in the series. That's a woman you'd want in your corner.
There's a lot of homophobia, old and new, dictated by culture, religion and ignorance. It's ugly but real, there's also a lot of love, not always with understanding. Some emotional moments to cause a sniffle along the way. Claudia is a special lady.
And the ending! We're back to the evil teasers that marked the Sinner's series. I'd be cursing if I didn't have the next book downloaded ready to read.
-- --
Well that's one giant head f*ck!
A Celtic Knot of incestous Koreans, a disappearance, multiple shootings, family and romance.
Lots going on. More thriller than mystery, the type where there's lots of characters, guns, threats and it would take a sharper mind than mine to keep them sorted. Interestingly Cole is investigating the disappearance not the murders, the conclusion of which is so sudden I had to go back and check facts to understand it - the clue is right there on the page if you catch it!
I got lost with all the Korean names, all introduced at once it was hard to know who was who, doing who... but once I pushed past that I enjoyed the story. There's no glossary though there is a character break-down available on Ford's website. It amused me that Ford isn't afraid to laugh at tropes with characters commenting on every Korean character being gay...
Cole and Jae continue their dance. So much emotion, different family issues and pressures, they're still feeling their way. It's not just the food that's hot - they even break the bed!
Loved meeting 'Mad Dog' hope there's more of her in the series. That's a woman you'd want in your corner.
There's a lot of homophobia, old and new, dictated by culture, religion and ignorance. It's ugly but real, there's also a lot of love, not always with understanding. Some emotional moments to cause a sniffle along the way. Claudia is a special lady.
And the ending! We're back to the evil teasers that marked the Sinner's series. I'd be cursing if I didn't have the next book downloaded ready to read.
April 13, 2017
Looking back on Dirty Kiss I fully appreciated this sequel a lot more. It doesn't hurt that the narrator Greg Tremblay is seamless with all the different characters and accents - he's quite impressive.
I really liked Cole. He wasn't overly emotional; he doesn't say a lot of pretty words. But his feelings for Jae are intense and for the first time, in a long time since his past lover was killed, he's living and loving again.
What this series has that Ford's other series (i.e. Sinner's Gin) doesn't, is true grit. In its own way it's still romantic, it's still hot - but I felt more with this. Homophobia runs rampant - it comes from strangers, friends and unfortunately family, and its ugliness is not glossed over or tucked away neatly. It also features prominently in the mystery that Cole has been hired to unravel. Cole and Jae struggle with this throughout the story, and despite their fear and reservations, they strive to carve out a bit of happiness for themselves as much as they can. So overall I enjoyed this a lot. Cole and Jae have hope in being able to live freely with each other in the future and I'm definitely looking forward to see that come true.
I really liked Cole. He wasn't overly emotional; he doesn't say a lot of pretty words. But his feelings for Jae are intense and for the first time, in a long time since his past lover was killed, he's living and loving again.
What this series has that Ford's other series (i.e. Sinner's Gin) doesn't, is true grit. In its own way it's still romantic, it's still hot - but I felt more with this. Homophobia runs rampant - it comes from strangers, friends and unfortunately family, and its ugliness is not glossed over or tucked away neatly. It also features prominently in the mystery that Cole has been hired to unravel. Cole and Jae struggle with this throughout the story, and despite their fear and reservations, they strive to carve out a bit of happiness for themselves as much as they can. So overall I enjoyed this a lot. Cole and Jae have hope in being able to live freely with each other in the future and I'm definitely looking forward to see that come true.
August 3, 2025
To make this short:
Romance: 5
Relationship: 5
Mystery plot: 3 (at best)
Humour: 4,5
Feels: 5
Best part:
Whenever Cole and Jae are on page. Their chemistry crackles, their attraction sky rockets, their feelings are intense. Also: the author is not so afraid to call a cock a cock anymore, even if the odd definition ‘sex’ does come up a couple of times.
Best moment: :
At 85% when Jae says something in Korean, he is not ready to say in English to Cole yet.
Funniest moment: :
When the slapstick ‘how to be sick over a person’ is taking to new heights.
Most gutting moment: :
Cole’s conversation with his ‘ex-mother’. How vile, how vicious and hurtful can one person be? My heart broke manyfold for Cole.
Not that Jae’s situation is so much different. No doubt, the toxic relationship with his family and whether he is able to come out to them will be a topic in the coming books.
Worst part:
The mystery in the plot remains exactly that … a mystery.
I admit I struggled with the plethora of three part, (to me) very much alike Korean names and family relations thrown at us in the first half of the book. Worse, I still wonder who the heck the guy at the end was Cole was asked to find. I even retraced my steps, trying to find a character that fit the bill rereading various parts of the book, but … no luck!
On the up side there is a good bit of tense and heart-stopping moments!
And yet … I am hooked and want to know how Cole and Jae sort out their problems.
Romance: 5
Relationship: 5
Mystery plot: 3 (at best)
Humour: 4,5
Feels: 5
Best part:
Whenever Cole and Jae are on page. Their chemistry crackles, their attraction sky rockets, their feelings are intense. Also: the author is not so afraid to call a cock a cock anymore, even if the odd definition ‘sex’ does come up a couple of times.
Best moment: :
At 85% when Jae says something in Korean, he is not ready to say in English to Cole yet.
Funniest moment: :
When the slapstick ‘how to be sick over a person’ is taking to new heights.
Most gutting moment: :
Cole’s conversation with his ‘ex-mother’. How vile, how vicious and hurtful can one person be? My heart broke manyfold for Cole.
Not that Jae’s situation is so much different. No doubt, the toxic relationship with his family and whether he is able to come out to them will be a topic in the coming books.
Worst part:
The mystery in the plot remains exactly that … a mystery.
I admit I struggled with the plethora of three part, (to me) very much alike Korean names and family relations thrown at us in the first half of the book. Worse, I still wonder who the heck the guy at the end was Cole was asked to find. I even retraced my steps, trying to find a character that fit the bill rereading various parts of the book, but … no luck!
On the up side there is a good bit of tense and heart-stopping moments!
And yet … I am hooked and want to know how Cole and Jae sort out their problems.
June 23, 2022
Colin comienza a vivir de nuevo el amor y la pasion con Jae, pero un nuevo caso los expone de nuevo a la cultura Coreana y le muestra a Colin exactamente por lo que tiene que pasar Jae para estar con el. Pero Jae no es el unico que sufre por su familia, sino que los padres de Colin tambien estan en la ciudad y su hermano quiere que tengan una reunion familliar, para que pueda encontrarse con sus tres hermanas a quienes apenas conoce. Pero el drama familiar no solo esta dentro de sus familias, sino tambien en el caso que esta trabajando, donde el padre de un joven desaparecio hace muchos anos, y este esta desesperado por saber que paso con el y porque los abandono.
Colin debera aprender a lidear con los dramas familiares coreanos, los de su propia familia y los de la familia de Claudia, todo esto para poder descubrir que ha pasado con el hombre que desaparecio hace casi 20 anos.
En este libro hubo mucho mas drama que accion, pero hubo suficiente diversion para mantener los momentos mas duros sin hacerlos pesados, pero eso no impidio que llorara de impotencia mas de una vez. El autor refleja muy bien la impotencia del prota, tanto que hay momentos que logras sentirla, y eso hace que el prota se sienta mas real, mas humano. Pero senti que no se reflejan como deberian, los sentimientos de otros de los personajes, como los de Mike y Bobby, pero tambien los de Jae, el distanciamiento que el autor causa con el tema que Colin no habla coreano, es como una brecha para que conozcamos mejor el personaje.
Sin embargo, la serie es interesante, aunque este misterio fue demasiado sencillo de resolver (ya sabia que habia pasado en menos de 100pgs!), me mantuvo el interes fue el drama familiar y las interacciones de los protas con los otros personajes, mas que la investigacion en si. Quiero saber que viene a continuacion y cuando y como van a terminal oficialmente como pareja.
Colin debera aprender a lidear con los dramas familiares coreanos, los de su propia familia y los de la familia de Claudia, todo esto para poder descubrir que ha pasado con el hombre que desaparecio hace casi 20 anos.
En este libro hubo mucho mas drama que accion, pero hubo suficiente diversion para mantener los momentos mas duros sin hacerlos pesados, pero eso no impidio que llorara de impotencia mas de una vez. El autor refleja muy bien la impotencia del prota, tanto que hay momentos que logras sentirla, y eso hace que el prota se sienta mas real, mas humano. Pero senti que no se reflejan como deberian, los sentimientos de otros de los personajes, como los de Mike y Bobby, pero tambien los de Jae, el distanciamiento que el autor causa con el tema que Colin no habla coreano, es como una brecha para que conozcamos mejor el personaje.
Sin embargo, la serie es interesante, aunque este misterio fue demasiado sencillo de resolver (ya sabia que habia pasado en menos de 100pgs!), me mantuvo el interes fue el drama familiar y las interacciones de los protas con los otros personajes, mas que la investigacion en si. Quiero saber que viene a continuacion y cuando y como van a terminal oficialmente como pareja.
October 10, 2012
Cole McGinnis is hired by Park Shin-Cho (Scarlet's hyung's nephew) to find out what is happened with Shin-Cho's father, who disappeared almost 20 years ago (back in 1994). Shin-Cho is gay as is his father, and Shin-Cho's brother is now marrying his father's lover's daughter (yes, I know, very confusing and in some way, incestous, no?), so Shin-Cho thinks it is the right time to find the truth once and for all.
But as the investigation starts moving, people are starting to get shot. Cole wonders if there's a whole lot more secrets are coming out
-------------------------------
I want to get the dislikes/random tidbits out of the way first ...
1) The Korean names are way too similar, I got confused in more than one occasion. Some of the Korean terms are also overwhelming. In fact, I put down this book once because of it and picked it several days later. It's definitely not the author's fault in anyway, it's just the fact.
2) I have a very, VERY, short memory on details, so I don't remember ANYTHING from book #1 (even if I rate it 4-stars). Again, it's just fact. I sort of wish the author does a small recap, but I know it could be very annoying for other readers. It's my own fault, really.
3) Mystery wise, while there are several twists introduced (people who are suspects turn up dead) but I have to admit I'm sliiiightly disappointed with how it turns out (
4) I do love the if-you-blink-you'll-miss-it nod to Adrien English AND the fact that Jae smokes Djarum Black, a kretek cigarette brand from Indonesia (I consider that uncommon :p).
Once I get pass the confusing/overwhelming Korean names/terms and power through the story, I find it quite engaging. I really enjoy Cole's voice. He's snarky and often comes out with great quips, which makes the story a whole lot of fun. Though his best friend, Bobby, also shares the snarks.
I love how Cole is quite romantic (without being sappy) and protective of his lover, Jae. Their sex is pretty hot -- and I have to laugh a little when in one HOT session of love-making, they actually broke the bed!! I'm hoping for the very best for this couple.
The story has the common harsh acceptance of being gay (Cole's family is vicious, except for Cole's brother and sister-in-law - that family dinner scene breaks my heart in Cole's behalf) but I also respect it for bringing the harshness from another culture than American.
All in all, I think it's a solid sequel. I'll be waiting for the next McGinnis book ...
But as the investigation starts moving, people are starting to get shot. Cole wonders if there's a whole lot more secrets are coming out
-------------------------------
I want to get the dislikes/random tidbits out of the way first ...
1) The Korean names are way too similar, I got confused in more than one occasion. Some of the Korean terms are also overwhelming. In fact, I put down this book once because of it and picked it several days later. It's definitely not the author's fault in anyway, it's just the fact.
2) I have a very, VERY, short memory on details, so I don't remember ANYTHING from book #1 (even if I rate it 4-stars). Again, it's just fact. I sort of wish the author does a small recap, but I know it could be very annoying for other readers. It's my own fault, really.
3) Mystery wise, while there are several twists introduced (people who are suspects turn up dead) but I have to admit I'm sliiiightly disappointed with how it turns out (
4) I do love the if-you-blink-you'll-miss-it nod to Adrien English AND the fact that Jae smokes Djarum Black, a kretek cigarette brand from Indonesia (I consider that uncommon :p).
Once I get pass the confusing/overwhelming Korean names/terms and power through the story, I find it quite engaging. I really enjoy Cole's voice. He's snarky and often comes out with great quips, which makes the story a whole lot of fun. Though his best friend, Bobby, also shares the snarks.
I love how Cole is quite romantic (without being sappy) and protective of his lover, Jae. Their sex is pretty hot -- and I have to laugh a little when in one HOT session of love-making, they actually broke the bed!! I'm hoping for the very best for this couple.
The story has the common harsh acceptance of being gay (Cole's family is vicious, except for Cole's brother and sister-in-law - that family dinner scene breaks my heart in Cole's behalf) but I also respect it for bringing the harshness from another culture than American.
All in all, I think it's a solid sequel. I'll be waiting for the next McGinnis book ...
June 27, 2016
Definitely ALL the stars!! I absolutely adore this series. Cole and Jae-Min. Dreamy sigh. I will admit that it was somewhat difficult to keep up with all the Korean names, but I made myself a little cheat sheet and that helped a lot. Mishy and I are moving right along and starting book #3 immediately.
July 8, 2017
*Edit*
4.5 stars. Though it took me a while to work around to it, this was a fabulous, much-appreciated Secret Santa gift from Just another CyberMonday Elf, better known as Karen, since she outted that SS name *at least, I'm pretty sure she did, anyway :D*
So much better than Dirty Kiss, and I really enjoyed that one. I got to know both Cole and Jae a lot more here, while they grow ever closer to each other. They both have a lot of baggage and difficulties from their lives prior to each other, but Cole is working hard to convince Jae that together they can be worth it. *sigh*
Dealing with all of the cultural issues here and just homophobia in general can get pretty intense and ugly and I'm glad that Rhys Ford manages to balance that out with some amazing and supportive friends/family for both our guys. Love Mike, Maddy, Bobby, Claudia and nuna so very much!
Not going to go into the plot *because I'm lazy like that and would rather be reading than writing, LOL*, but the investigation was an education, and had me all over the place at what was truly going on. Still, the writing was great and I really like how this author spins her stories. This is yet another set of characters and a series that I'm now hooked on. Yay me! :)
***************************************
This is an awesome gift from Just another CyberMonday Elf, thank you so much!! xx
4.5 stars. Though it took me a while to work around to it, this was a fabulous, much-appreciated Secret Santa gift from Just another CyberMonday Elf, better known as Karen, since she outted that SS name *at least, I'm pretty sure she did, anyway :D*
So much better than Dirty Kiss, and I really enjoyed that one. I got to know both Cole and Jae a lot more here, while they grow ever closer to each other. They both have a lot of baggage and difficulties from their lives prior to each other, but Cole is working hard to convince Jae that together they can be worth it. *sigh*
Dealing with all of the cultural issues here and just homophobia in general can get pretty intense and ugly and I'm glad that Rhys Ford manages to balance that out with some amazing and supportive friends/family for both our guys. Love Mike, Maddy, Bobby, Claudia and nuna so very much!
Not going to go into the plot *because I'm lazy like that and would rather be reading than writing, LOL*, but the investigation was an education, and had me all over the place at what was truly going on. Still, the writing was great and I really like how this author spins her stories. This is yet another set of characters and a series that I'm now hooked on. Yay me! :)
***************************************
This is an awesome gift from Just another CyberMonday Elf, thank you so much!! xx
October 27, 2012
Another 3.5 stars...
First half of this book was a mix of snooze-fest and utter confusion. I was getting bored of the storyline moving so slowly and the barrage of Korean-named characters was confusing…even for me! Truly, how likely is it that every single Korean man Cole comes in contact with is gay and every single person in his seemingly small world gets shot at and killed? (And PS: not all Koreans sleep with their cousins as this series may suggest! Ha!)
BUT, the book took a turn when the author finally decided to spend some quality time on the relationship between Cole and Jae. The story is just richer and more interesting when it’s focused on the two MC’s…go figure. Their playfulness and tenderness was endearing and I started to finally feel invested. I love witnessing Cole breaking down Jae's walls.
Too little, too late? Maybe. I’m not certain I’ll read the next book once it’s released. Not convinced it’s going to entertain…we’ll see
OH…but a huge shout out to Rhys Ford for a brilliant little nod to Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English fans: “I spied the Cloak and Dagger bookstore before we hit our next turn. Bobby followed my gaze and murmured, “Ever go in there?” “Yeah, it’s a nice place. Mostly mysteries, I think,” I said, remembering the last time I’d made it out to Pasadena. “Guy who runs it is fucking hot.”” LOVE IT!
August 25, 2013
3.75 Stars
Cole and Jae have embarked on a torrid - but sorta secret - love affair. Jae's familial obligations and the expectations of the Korean chaebol keep him firmly ensconced in the closet. Cole is out and proud so, needless to say, being with Jae is an adjustment. Nevertheless, Cole is happier than he's been in a long time. When Scarlet asks Cole to help find Park Dae-Hoon, a gay Korean man who disappeared nearly two decades ago, Cole finds himself submerged in the tangled world of rich Korean families (aka the chaebol). But his questions are unwelcome and the bodies start piling up as someone tries to keep the truth from coming out.
This book was a lesson in Korean names 101. I seriously needed a mini spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. With the family names, given names, American names, and variations of honorifics ... I sometimes felt like giving up. But I'm glad I didn't because, in the end, I liked book 2 better than book 1. Why? Jae. He's finally thawing and I was overjoyed to see some real development between he and Cole. The mystery was engrossing (although the villain was a little contrived). I enjoyed the insight into Claudia's clan and Cole's family (I loathed Barbara and Cole's sorry excuse for a father). I <3 Maddy and Mike!
Bottom line: a super sequel! I hope book 3 brings more of the same (i.e., Cole and Jae).
Cole and Jae have embarked on a torrid - but sorta secret - love affair. Jae's familial obligations and the expectations of the Korean chaebol keep him firmly ensconced in the closet. Cole is out and proud so, needless to say, being with Jae is an adjustment. Nevertheless, Cole is happier than he's been in a long time. When Scarlet asks Cole to help find Park Dae-Hoon, a gay Korean man who disappeared nearly two decades ago, Cole finds himself submerged in the tangled world of rich Korean families (aka the chaebol). But his questions are unwelcome and the bodies start piling up as someone tries to keep the truth from coming out.
This book was a lesson in Korean names 101. I seriously needed a mini spreadsheet to keep track of everyone. With the family names, given names, American names, and variations of honorifics ... I sometimes felt like giving up. But I'm glad I didn't because, in the end, I liked book 2 better than book 1. Why? Jae. He's finally thawing and I was overjoyed to see some real development between he and Cole. The mystery was engrossing (although the villain was a little contrived). I enjoyed the insight into Claudia's clan and Cole's family (I loathed Barbara and Cole's sorry excuse for a father). I <3 Maddy and Mike!
Bottom line: a super sequel! I hope book 3 brings more of the same (i.e., Cole and Jae).
October 24, 2019
Wow, wow, wow!!! I loved this so much! Cole and Jae are so perfectly imperfect together! I liked that it was not all smooth sailing, I liked that there were so many emotions, tension and sharp turns. It was hard to follow who was who for a bit but I enjoyed figuring it all out.
I really liked three lead female characters - Maddie "Mad Dog" McGinnis, Claudia and Scarlet. Each was unique and in their own way supported Cole and Jae. I enjoyed their interactions with Cole and how he leaned on them. The book was fast-paced, suspenseful, steamy and simply put, delicious! I enjoyed myself immensely! The surprise that Ms Ford dropped in the end was out of this world awesomely mean! But I am glad that the next books are already out, and I don't have to suffer waiting! Very good story!
I really liked three lead female characters - Maddie "Mad Dog" McGinnis, Claudia and Scarlet. Each was unique and in their own way supported Cole and Jae. I enjoyed their interactions with Cole and how he leaned on them. The book was fast-paced, suspenseful, steamy and simply put, delicious! I enjoyed myself immensely! The surprise that Ms Ford dropped in the end was out of this world awesomely mean! But I am glad that the next books are already out, and I don't have to suffer waiting! Very good story!
January 15, 2019
I'm in love with Jae-Min I swear. For someone who's supposed to be the secondary character, he steals the show with every scene he's in. He is bee-uuu-tee-full! And Cole's not so bad either. This is a kick-ass sequel to Dirty Kiss, and I can't wait to read the next one, Dirty Laundry. Gotta say, I hope there are many more books to come in this series. It rocks.
May 20, 2016
Audio is still amazing! I honestly didn't care about the mystery in this story at all, but I do love Cole and Jae together xoxo.
Lots more yummy sex as well ;-)
Lots more yummy sex as well ;-)
August 5, 2016
Overall this was a nice sequel to the first story. It left me immediately wanting to read the third in the series because of course it ends on a cliffhanger. It was confusing to begin with--there are so many characters and the intricate relationships were ridiculous. I kid you not: I had to make a family tree on paper that I kept updating. It was so complicated the lines overlapped.
Cole and Jae are getting closer and I need Jae to step it up. Cole is incredibly patient, although I was reminded they’ve only been together for three months. I liked that Cole’s own family was contrasted with Jae’s so it’s clear that Cole has already lost his family against his will. Jae can consciously choose to do so; Cole didn’t have a choice. Shunning is one of the worst punishments imaginable. Amish and Mennonites use it because it’s incredibly effective without being violent. I think it’s cruel.
And yet I feel that we’re supposed to think it would be so much worse for Jae because family is so important in their culture. I find that kind of offensive. How many gay people have lost everyone because of their sexual orientation? It’s true that extended family isn’t as important in many white cultures as perhaps in Korean, but not in all and certainly not in many other cultures such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Chinese, and so forth.
And judging just from the book, it isn’t true that a Korean man would automatically be completely shunned. The book itself has characters who are still accepted up to a point. They have had to get married or are being pressured into it, but at least one brings his lover to places where his family is. Plus, each has at least a sibling or a cousin that is still supportive and sticks up for them. One character is treated like crap but he’s still kept around. The book is filled with gay characters who are Korean in the city where they live. A new extended family is right there.
I do get that it’s different, that a man has nothing without a family and descendants. But these people live in the US so they are exposed to other ways of life. I don’t judge people who make the choice to remain closeted but I think the excuse that it’s worse for them is ridiculous. Losing your family is losing your family. Just the potential has sent how many gay kids to commit suicide recently, white, middle-class kids?
I figure Jae’s going to come around because most M/M romance thankfully has happy endings. (Not the book I read last night but my fury at that is for another review, not here.)
Moving on, the pacing is excellent, a lot of action, danger, and death/near-death. The writing is mostly good, although occasionally overwrought:
The mystery was good and I was definitely surprised at the end, although it kind of came out of left field to use a trite metaphor.
Some other things I feel the need to comment on:
Pros
So nice to have someone else acknowledge that clay is slimy. Brick tiles at my university nearly killed me a dozen times.
Some really funny parts, like when a guy’s penis is stuck inside a glass bottle he was trying to pee into outside his own store (that had a bathroom) and his stupid employee tried to shoot it off but his lay for the day instead breaks it with a rock resulting in him having an ER nurse pick glass out of his ding-a-ling for hours.
They eat a lot of Korean food and describe it. Even though it sounds disgusting, I think the authenticity is great and the attempt to make it sound appetizing is wonderful. (I love most ethnic food I’ve tried from Afghani to Ethiopian, from Thai to Native American, but I just have never liked and Korean food I’ve had. I probably have just never had the good stuff. Lest I sound biased, the food of my own heritage, Scottish, is full on disgusting and/or boring for the most part.)
Cole doesn’t idealize Jae nor his dead lover, nor does he canonize either. He sees he had to make compromises with Rick but he still remembers how much they were in love. He knows he has to make compromises with Jae.
There was an adorable reference to Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English. The
That series isn’t for everyone but I loved it and it was cute having Adrien referred to as if he were real.
The book starts to acknowledge that family isn’t necessarily genetic:
Cons
Blow up dolls do not come blown up, they are packaged in a box deflated. Don’t ask me how I know this. It’s just common sense, but yes, I do know. To be honest, I don’t know how I know, I have just seen a box with a blow up doll in it in the past.
They never solve the case they’re working in the beginning. In fact, they never address it at all.
There were some racial/cultural stereotypes and some ways of referring to people that were a little derogatory like referring to folks as “granola munching.” I don’t know why (I am so not a hippie so it’s not personal) but that phrase just sounds rude. Worse were things like
No family in the story, in any of the stories, is nice. There are a tiny handful of nice people but for the most part, families are awful, evil beasts.
They flush their condoms. This is bad for so many reasons but it’s just plain stupid if you own your own home.
In one sex scene, the author got confused about who was on top physically.
At one point a character says something along the lines of, “I’d been raised that being gay was a sin, and nothing he did would save his soul.” That is not Christian belief at all, not even right wing Christian belief. The whole point of Christianity is that all people sin and Jesus died for human sins. Anything can be forgiven as long as the person repents. So even in ultra conservative Christianity, if this person recanted being gay and “became” straight, then his soul would be fine. There are ministries run by ultra conservatives devoted to turning gay people straight. Plenty of parents still kick their kids out, but the character is claiming that she was raised to believe that which doesn’t make any sense.
During sex scenes, she kind of doubles the ending, like in porn where they show the ejaculation twice from two different angles making the orgasm seem longer than it is. (Not that I have watched any porn myself to have seen that. (***whistling, looking around in the air anywhere but at the person reading this***) Here’s an example (warning, this is explicit):
Overall, I really liked the book and am about to read the next one. 4.5 stars rounded up because the cultural information is so well done.
Cole and Jae are getting closer and I need Jae to step it up. Cole is incredibly patient, although I was reminded they’ve only been together for three months. I liked that Cole’s own family was contrasted with Jae’s so it’s clear that Cole has already lost his family against his will. Jae can consciously choose to do so; Cole didn’t have a choice. Shunning is one of the worst punishments imaginable. Amish and Mennonites use it because it’s incredibly effective without being violent. I think it’s cruel.
And yet I feel that we’re supposed to think it would be so much worse for Jae because family is so important in their culture. I find that kind of offensive. How many gay people have lost everyone because of their sexual orientation? It’s true that extended family isn’t as important in many white cultures as perhaps in Korean, but not in all and certainly not in many other cultures such as Mexican, Puerto Rican, Chinese, and so forth.
And judging just from the book, it isn’t true that a Korean man would automatically be completely shunned. The book itself has characters who are still accepted up to a point. They have had to get married or are being pressured into it, but at least one brings his lover to places where his family is. Plus, each has at least a sibling or a cousin that is still supportive and sticks up for them. One character is treated like crap but he’s still kept around. The book is filled with gay characters who are Korean in the city where they live. A new extended family is right there.
I do get that it’s different, that a man has nothing without a family and descendants. But these people live in the US so they are exposed to other ways of life. I don’t judge people who make the choice to remain closeted but I think the excuse that it’s worse for them is ridiculous. Losing your family is losing your family. Just the potential has sent how many gay kids to commit suicide recently, white, middle-class kids?
I figure Jae’s going to come around because most M/M romance thankfully has happy endings. (Not the book I read last night but my fury at that is for another review, not here.)
Moving on, the pacing is excellent, a lot of action, danger, and death/near-death. The writing is mostly good, although occasionally overwrought:
“A silver urn steamed a fragrant promise of nicely roasted and brewed beans, while a tempting array of dainty cakes glistened on a plate nearby. Poking at one of the frothy concoctions with a fork, I asked…”
The mystery was good and I was definitely surprised at the end, although it kind of came out of left field to use a trite metaphor.
Some other things I feel the need to comment on:
Pros
So nice to have someone else acknowledge that clay is slimy. Brick tiles at my university nearly killed me a dozen times.
Some really funny parts, like when a guy’s penis is stuck inside a glass bottle he was trying to pee into outside his own store (that had a bathroom) and his stupid employee tried to shoot it off but his lay for the day instead breaks it with a rock resulting in him having an ER nurse pick glass out of his ding-a-ling for hours.
They eat a lot of Korean food and describe it. Even though it sounds disgusting, I think the authenticity is great and the attempt to make it sound appetizing is wonderful. (I love most ethnic food I’ve tried from Afghani to Ethiopian, from Thai to Native American, but I just have never liked and Korean food I’ve had. I probably have just never had the good stuff. Lest I sound biased, the food of my own heritage, Scottish, is full on disgusting and/or boring for the most part.)
Cole doesn’t idealize Jae nor his dead lover, nor does he canonize either. He sees he had to make compromises with Rick but he still remembers how much they were in love. He knows he has to make compromises with Jae.
There was an adorable reference to Josh Lanyon’s Adrien English. The
I spied the Cloak and Dagger bookstore before we hit our next turn. Bobby followed my gaze and murmured, “Ever go in there?”
“Yeah, it’s a nice place. Mostly mysteries, I think,” I said, remembering the last time I’d made it out to Pasadena. “Guy who runs it is fucking hot.”
That series isn’t for everyone but I loved it and it was cute having Adrien referred to as if he were real.
The book starts to acknowledge that family isn’t necessarily genetic:
Cons
Blow up dolls do not come blown up, they are packaged in a box deflated. Don’t ask me how I know this. It’s just common sense, but yes, I do know. To be honest, I don’t know how I know, I have just seen a box with a blow up doll in it in the past.
They never solve the case they’re working in the beginning. In fact, they never address it at all.
There were some racial/cultural stereotypes and some ways of referring to people that were a little derogatory like referring to folks as “granola munching.” I don’t know why (I am so not a hippie so it’s not personal) but that phrase just sounds rude. Worse were things like
Trust me; you don’t want to get into an argument with two Asians about money. You’ll lose every time. It’s like going against a Sicilian when death is on the line.”
No family in the story, in any of the stories, is nice. There are a tiny handful of nice people but for the most part, families are awful, evil beasts.
They flush their condoms. This is bad for so many reasons but it’s just plain stupid if you own your own home.
In one sex scene, the author got confused about who was on top physically.
At one point a character says something along the lines of, “I’d been raised that being gay was a sin, and nothing he did would save his soul.” That is not Christian belief at all, not even right wing Christian belief. The whole point of Christianity is that all people sin and Jesus died for human sins. Anything can be forgiven as long as the person repents. So even in ultra conservative Christianity, if this person recanted being gay and “became” straight, then his soul would be fine. There are ministries run by ultra conservatives devoted to turning gay people straight. Plenty of parents still kick their kids out, but the character is claiming that she was raised to believe that which doesn’t make any sense.
During sex scenes, she kind of doubles the ending, like in porn where they show the ejaculation twice from two different angles making the orgasm seem longer than it is. (Not that I have watched any porn myself to have seen that. (***whistling, looking around in the air anywhere but at the person reading this***) Here’s an example (warning, this is explicit):
Overall, I really liked the book and am about to read the next one. 4.5 stars rounded up because the cultural information is so well done.
November 3, 2012
Wow! I enjoyed the first book, Dirty Kiss, but I loved this one so much more! It's left me speechless, to be honest.
I felt like Cole and Jae grew so much closer in this one. Their relationship is intense and deep and so touching it makes me want to cry sometimes. They obviously love each other so much but their circumstances stop them from taking that final step into full blown life partners. It's heartbreaking. Cole's still the snarky man I fell in love with and Jae is still the caring, but sometimes distant, person he was before. But they still grew and developed. They're more secure in their feelings and their love. I adored the secondary characters but my heart stopped several times when things got too intense and dangerous.
The plot is full of twists and turns. This well written story is face paced and addicting. What I love about this series is that I never really can figure out the mystery. I have my suspicions and while they might be right, I'm led around and made to second guess everything then figure out that I didn't figure out all of it. It's refreshing to have such a complex and intriguing story. I loved that we got to see Cole's family but my heart twisted with what Cole had to go through with them.
My only reservation about the book is that I got confused with the names but these are Korean names so that's understandable. But then there's a cliffhanger! A big one! Gaaaaaaaaaah! Talk about torture!!!
All in all, a fabulous read. I fall more in love with Cole and Jae with each book I read of them. This one kept me up until the wee hours of the morning and I loved every single second of it. I can't wait to read the next one!
I felt like Cole and Jae grew so much closer in this one. Their relationship is intense and deep and so touching it makes me want to cry sometimes. They obviously love each other so much but their circumstances stop them from taking that final step into full blown life partners. It's heartbreaking. Cole's still the snarky man I fell in love with and Jae is still the caring, but sometimes distant, person he was before. But they still grew and developed. They're more secure in their feelings and their love. I adored the secondary characters but my heart stopped several times when things got too intense and dangerous.
The plot is full of twists and turns. This well written story is face paced and addicting. What I love about this series is that I never really can figure out the mystery. I have my suspicions and while they might be right, I'm led around and made to second guess everything then figure out that I didn't figure out all of it. It's refreshing to have such a complex and intriguing story. I loved that we got to see Cole's family but my heart twisted with what Cole had to go through with them.
My only reservation about the book is that I got confused with the names but these are Korean names so that's understandable. But then there's a cliffhanger! A big one! Gaaaaaaaaaah! Talk about torture!!!
All in all, a fabulous read. I fall more in love with Cole and Jae with each book I read of them. This one kept me up until the wee hours of the morning and I loved every single second of it. I can't wait to read the next one!
February 28, 2019
Audio book. Narrator: Greg Tremblay.
I am so in love with Cole and Jae-Min.
I often have trouble reading more books about the same couple. A lot of times I feel like the chemistry is gone somehow.
But not with Cole and Jae-Min! Their romance kept me glued to my seat. And with Cole’s snarky comments and the times he could get himself shot.. this book kept me entertained!
The whole case was a bit confusing and all the Korean names did not make it better, but in the end I didn’t care who actually did it. Cole and the way he was trying to solve the case was just so much fun to read about.
And when there is a lot of things going on in a story, I often have the feeling the romance needs to take a backseat. We get short sex scenes and not a lot of romance. So glad that is not the case with these guys! It’s not like they are fucking like bunnies, but damn, the sex scenes were off the chart HOT!
They. Broke. The. Bed.
So anyone looking for a great M/M series with a lot of humor, read this.
I am so in love with Cole and Jae-Min.
I often have trouble reading more books about the same couple. A lot of times I feel like the chemistry is gone somehow.
But not with Cole and Jae-Min! Their romance kept me glued to my seat. And with Cole’s snarky comments and the times he could get himself shot.. this book kept me entertained!
The whole case was a bit confusing and all the Korean names did not make it better, but in the end I didn’t care who actually did it. Cole and the way he was trying to solve the case was just so much fun to read about.
And when there is a lot of things going on in a story, I often have the feeling the romance needs to take a backseat. We get short sex scenes and not a lot of romance. So glad that is not the case with these guys! It’s not like they are fucking like bunnies, but damn, the sex scenes were off the chart HOT!
They. Broke. The. Bed.
So anyone looking for a great M/M series with a lot of humor, read this.
February 22, 2016
3. 5 stars for a solid mystery and a deeper insight into the main characters of the series
I read the first part of this series Dirty Kiss quite a while ago due to the many positive reviews of my GR fiends, but somehow I didn't connect that easily with the main characters. However, I remember that I liked the solid mystery of the first book and I wanted to give the series another chance. And I have to say that I liked this part slightly better than the first.
I got more familiar with Jae and Cole. Reading about the way Cole is treated by his family made me so angry, but it also made me understand his character way better. I'm still struggling with the many korean names and words used in the book and I had to go back several times to make sure that I got it right. But I guess this might be only me! The author really tries to ease the reader into the korean traditions.
Once again, the mystery did it for me. I wanted to find out who was behing the crimes and I kept changing my mind about the possible outcome. I can't say that this is one of my favorite series, but I liked it well enough to keep on reading.
3.5 stars!
I read the first part of this series Dirty Kiss quite a while ago due to the many positive reviews of my GR fiends, but somehow I didn't connect that easily with the main characters. However, I remember that I liked the solid mystery of the first book and I wanted to give the series another chance. And I have to say that I liked this part slightly better than the first.
I got more familiar with Jae and Cole. Reading about the way Cole is treated by his family made me so angry, but it also made me understand his character way better. I'm still struggling with the many korean names and words used in the book and I had to go back several times to make sure that I got it right. But I guess this might be only me! The author really tries to ease the reader into the korean traditions.
Once again, the mystery did it for me. I wanted to find out who was behing the crimes and I kept changing my mind about the possible outcome. I can't say that this is one of my favorite series, but I liked it well enough to keep on reading.
3.5 stars!
May 12, 2015
- Narrator - Grey Tremblay Review to come...
October 14, 2012
Review posted at The Armchair Reader.
4.75 stars
I read this sequel to Dirty Kiss (reviewed here) directly after that book, simply because I really love these characters and I feel very invested in their happiness. As a sequel, this book did everything it needed to rise above Dirty Kiss, both in the mystery and in the continuation of the romance.
Cole and Jae ended the first book on shaky ground but with a solid commitment to give their relationship a try -- at least for the time being. The atmosphere of the Korean-American culture in southern California is such that Jae feels as if he'll eventually have to give up Cole and create a family, if he wants to keep his own family. In Dirty Secret, the couple is surrounded by evidence of that decision made by other men, both in their father's generation and their own, and the consequences of it are frightening.
Cole is brought a case by Scarlet, his cross dressing Filipino friend, to help a young man find his father. Park Dae-Hoon was Scarlet's best friend and disappeared from a club in the pre-LA Riot's days. He's been missing a long time now, and his now grown sons are looking to make their own lives. One son is like his father, a gay Korean man entangled with the politics of their demanding society, the other is getting married to the daughter of their father's lover. It is a hopeless mire of family secrets and lies that Cole must wade through, and nothing seems to be what he expects. At the same time his family has shown up and he must put aside his pride and hurt towards his parents if he wants a chance to meet his younger sisters, all while Jae is having problems with his own mother. Their obligations are slowly but surely encroaching upon their relationship, in a race against time until Cole can convince Jae that the shit-storm is worth sticking to his side.
The first book was really an incredibly written novel, and I was at first worried that this sequel might not be able to match it. I should have had some faith. The two things this book really needed were an even better mystery and a real progression in their relationship, both of which happened. The mystery is different from most that I'm used to reading. I found it less along the lines of serial killers and more in line with actual private detective work, and I love seeing Cole in his work. He's such a wonderfully multi-faceted character and where the first book got the history out of the way so that we got to know Cole and Jae well, this book allows them to really shine. Cole really gets a workover in this book when his family crops up and he has to face his father and step-mother. It was a really, really difficult scene to read. I'm usually so scared to read angst, I just don't like it, and it was beautiful how this author could explore such heavy emotion and hurtful things without getting lost in it. Instead, we really understand Cole better because of the way that pain is excised and also Jae for the way he handles it. This book shows them really working as a team, for the first time, and that gave me hope for their relationship. Where the first book explored their passion for one another, this one showed their commitment and deeper connections, something they'll need with the teaser we're left with in the end about the next book (and it is a DOOZY).
The only complaint I might have is how much like superheroes these characters seem, especially Cole. There is only so many times you can be shot at, or even shot without dying! It became absurd at one point near the end, and maybe that is because I read both books back to back and there are so many (cumulative) bullets flying by that point, all the characters should have been dead. It's like the OK Corral in Cole's front yard, seriously! If I had my way, I wouldn't necessarily want the near death experiences to end, or even lessen, but I would enjoy a little more diversity than just flying bullets. A few more creative scenarios would be fun to read about ;)
I love these books. Rhys Ford has become one of my new favorite authors and I won't be able to rest until I read any book she releases. She's incredibly talented and I'm really excited to see where both this series goes in the future and where her writing goes in the future. It would be interesting to read a different genre of romance from this author. Everyone should read this series, though you may want to do a quick search about how to read Korean names first! It would help you to have any trick in hand to keep them all separate and not slow down your reading.
4.75 stars
I read this sequel to Dirty Kiss (reviewed here) directly after that book, simply because I really love these characters and I feel very invested in their happiness. As a sequel, this book did everything it needed to rise above Dirty Kiss, both in the mystery and in the continuation of the romance.
Cole and Jae ended the first book on shaky ground but with a solid commitment to give their relationship a try -- at least for the time being. The atmosphere of the Korean-American culture in southern California is such that Jae feels as if he'll eventually have to give up Cole and create a family, if he wants to keep his own family. In Dirty Secret, the couple is surrounded by evidence of that decision made by other men, both in their father's generation and their own, and the consequences of it are frightening.
Cole is brought a case by Scarlet, his cross dressing Filipino friend, to help a young man find his father. Park Dae-Hoon was Scarlet's best friend and disappeared from a club in the pre-LA Riot's days. He's been missing a long time now, and his now grown sons are looking to make their own lives. One son is like his father, a gay Korean man entangled with the politics of their demanding society, the other is getting married to the daughter of their father's lover. It is a hopeless mire of family secrets and lies that Cole must wade through, and nothing seems to be what he expects. At the same time his family has shown up and he must put aside his pride and hurt towards his parents if he wants a chance to meet his younger sisters, all while Jae is having problems with his own mother. Their obligations are slowly but surely encroaching upon their relationship, in a race against time until Cole can convince Jae that the shit-storm is worth sticking to his side.
The first book was really an incredibly written novel, and I was at first worried that this sequel might not be able to match it. I should have had some faith. The two things this book really needed were an even better mystery and a real progression in their relationship, both of which happened. The mystery is different from most that I'm used to reading. I found it less along the lines of serial killers and more in line with actual private detective work, and I love seeing Cole in his work. He's such a wonderfully multi-faceted character and where the first book got the history out of the way so that we got to know Cole and Jae well, this book allows them to really shine. Cole really gets a workover in this book when his family crops up and he has to face his father and step-mother. It was a really, really difficult scene to read. I'm usually so scared to read angst, I just don't like it, and it was beautiful how this author could explore such heavy emotion and hurtful things without getting lost in it. Instead, we really understand Cole better because of the way that pain is excised and also Jae for the way he handles it. This book shows them really working as a team, for the first time, and that gave me hope for their relationship. Where the first book explored their passion for one another, this one showed their commitment and deeper connections, something they'll need with the teaser we're left with in the end about the next book (and it is a DOOZY).
The only complaint I might have is how much like superheroes these characters seem, especially Cole. There is only so many times you can be shot at, or even shot without dying! It became absurd at one point near the end, and maybe that is because I read both books back to back and there are so many (cumulative) bullets flying by that point, all the characters should have been dead. It's like the OK Corral in Cole's front yard, seriously! If I had my way, I wouldn't necessarily want the near death experiences to end, or even lessen, but I would enjoy a little more diversity than just flying bullets. A few more creative scenarios would be fun to read about ;)
I love these books. Rhys Ford has become one of my new favorite authors and I won't be able to rest until I read any book she releases. She's incredibly talented and I'm really excited to see where both this series goes in the future and where her writing goes in the future. It would be interesting to read a different genre of romance from this author. Everyone should read this series, though you may want to do a quick search about how to read Korean names first! It would help you to have any trick in hand to keep them all separate and not slow down your reading.
September 29, 2016
So I read the first book in this series in January, and wasn't convinced. I haven't written a review, so I don't know why it wasn't a big hit, but I had this craving for a police/PI/mystery/smexy-plot and since this series has received HIGH praise, I thought I would give this a go - again.
It turns out I have read this book before (I recognized a few things when I was reading), but had forgotten about it, and it was clearly my loss.
I was thoroughly entertained throughout.
So Cole and Jae are sort of living together (Jae goes 'home' once in a while, but his cat is at Cole's place), and trying to find a way to be together, that both of them can accept. Jae's family are still complete douchebags, and treating Jae like dirt, but he cannot tell his family to go fuck themselves, since he is Korean after all.
(The all-around family 'condemnation' of homosexuality, was doing my head in, but it seems like Rhys Ford did a fantastic job of researching the structure of Asian families and traditions. So bravo Rhys, but FUCK the ridiculous 'ideas', that nobody adheres to anyway; what with all the cheating, gay-smexy times and maneuvering everybody is drenched in.)
In this one Scarlet (LOVE that girl) and one of the sons of the missing guy hire Cole to find Park who disappeared in 1994. Park's other son is getting married and the son looking for him is gay and apparently so was his dad. Both Scarlet and the son want answers.
Cole takes the case and promises Jae that he won't get shot... *snort* Seriously, Cole is a great character. His musings and mannerisms are great, and I loved his belief and trust in Jae.
Of course nothing in the case is simple, and the bodies start piling up, while Cole is swimming in lies, deceit and secrets.
Not only is Cole (and Bobby) trying to find this Park-guy, at the same time Mike and Maddy are pushing Cole to get together with his dad and stepmum. M&M set up a BBQ-night, and the subsequent confrontation was HORRIBLE! M&M were WAAAAY to slow to back up Cole, and tell these two ignorant bigots to shove it where the sun don't shine. They get with the program, but IMO M&M were too oblivious (especially with Mike and Cole's history.)
The mystery in this one was fun, BUT the names! Jeebus THE NAMES! I don't want to seem culturally insensitive, but I could not keep the names/characters straight, and that disturbed the enjoyment of this book for me.
When you have to keep a Family tree beside you at all times to understand the plot, it is almost too much. In the end I sort of ignored most of the names surrounding the mystery, and just read on, but it was confusing at times.
Another thing was that the 'end' of the mystery was sort of... Weird? Vague? I don't know, the conclusion of the mystery was not what I expected, but the rest of the book had me entertained!
I'm glad I read this (again apparently); I was thoroughly entertained.
It turns out I have read this book before (I recognized a few things when I was reading), but had forgotten about it, and it was clearly my loss.
I was thoroughly entertained throughout.
So Cole and Jae are sort of living together (Jae goes 'home' once in a while, but his cat is at Cole's place), and trying to find a way to be together, that both of them can accept. Jae's family are still complete douchebags, and treating Jae like dirt, but he cannot tell his family to go fuck themselves, since he is Korean after all.
(The all-around family 'condemnation' of homosexuality, was doing my head in, but it seems like Rhys Ford did a fantastic job of researching the structure of Asian families and traditions. So bravo Rhys, but FUCK the ridiculous 'ideas', that nobody adheres to anyway; what with all the cheating, gay-smexy times and maneuvering everybody is drenched in.)
In this one Scarlet (LOVE that girl) and one of the sons of the missing guy hire Cole to find Park who disappeared in 1994. Park's other son is getting married and the son looking for him is gay and apparently so was his dad. Both Scarlet and the son want answers.
Cole takes the case and promises Jae that he won't get shot... *snort* Seriously, Cole is a great character. His musings and mannerisms are great, and I loved his belief and trust in Jae.
Of course nothing in the case is simple, and the bodies start piling up, while Cole is swimming in lies, deceit and secrets.
Not only is Cole (and Bobby) trying to find this Park-guy, at the same time Mike and Maddy are pushing Cole to get together with his dad and stepmum. M&M set up a BBQ-night, and the subsequent confrontation was HORRIBLE! M&M were WAAAAY to slow to back up Cole, and tell these two ignorant bigots to shove it where the sun don't shine. They get with the program, but IMO M&M were too oblivious (especially with Mike and Cole's history.)
The mystery in this one was fun, BUT the names! Jeebus THE NAMES! I don't want to seem culturally insensitive, but I could not keep the names/characters straight, and that disturbed the enjoyment of this book for me.
When you have to keep a Family tree beside you at all times to understand the plot, it is almost too much. In the end I sort of ignored most of the names surrounding the mystery, and just read on, but it was confusing at times.
Another thing was that the 'end' of the mystery was sort of... Weird? Vague? I don't know, the conclusion of the mystery was not what I expected, but the rest of the book had me entertained!
I'm glad I read this (again apparently); I was thoroughly entertained.
October 18, 2012
Wow. I absolutely loved this story. Loved it. This series has moved up into my top 5 favorites.
There are plenty of reviews already breaking down this book so I'll spare you doing the same. What I do want to talk about is Rhys' writing. It's phenomenal. I don't think people truly understand the talent it takes to write a mystery with a romance entwined with it. I believe I've read just about all there is out there in the m/m mystery field (that's worth reading) and Josh Lanyon has been by far the best I've read and happens to be my favorite author. So I couldn't help but to compare Rhys to him throughout this series. Even though their styles are completely different, their ability to plot out a story, have it unfold slowly, delicately and with care to keep the reader's interest and keep them guessing at who is behind the mystery til the end ALONG with a slow-building, realistic romance between two unlikely people, is second to none (IMO). So imagine my surprise when Bobby and Cole are driving in Pasadena and they mention the Cloak and Dagger book store and how hot the owner is. I squealed with delight!!! It gave me chills because I just reread Adrien English a few days ago for the 3rd time and to have it mentioned in a book that I was comparing it to (and thoroughly enjoying) was the icing on the cake for me.
I also love Cole and Jae's relationship. It is so realistic. It's slow building with no rushed I love you's. They have a lot of problems to overcome, if they can at all, to even have a future. It's depressing to even think them not being able to be together.
Then we have Cole's past that is still being dealt with.
The ending was a bit of an O.M.G.!!!! Hint, it has nothing to do with Jae and Cole's relationship. I was fully expecting it to be but it wasn't. It certainly has me anxious for the next book, "Dirty Laundry."
There are plenty of reviews already breaking down this book so I'll spare you doing the same. What I do want to talk about is Rhys' writing. It's phenomenal. I don't think people truly understand the talent it takes to write a mystery with a romance entwined with it. I believe I've read just about all there is out there in the m/m mystery field (that's worth reading) and Josh Lanyon has been by far the best I've read and happens to be my favorite author. So I couldn't help but to compare Rhys to him throughout this series. Even though their styles are completely different, their ability to plot out a story, have it unfold slowly, delicately and with care to keep the reader's interest and keep them guessing at who is behind the mystery til the end ALONG with a slow-building, realistic romance between two unlikely people, is second to none (IMO). So imagine my surprise when Bobby and Cole are driving in Pasadena and they mention the Cloak and Dagger book store and how hot the owner is. I squealed with delight!!! It gave me chills because I just reread Adrien English a few days ago for the 3rd time and to have it mentioned in a book that I was comparing it to (and thoroughly enjoying) was the icing on the cake for me.
I also love Cole and Jae's relationship. It is so realistic. It's slow building with no rushed I love you's. They have a lot of problems to overcome, if they can at all, to even have a future. It's depressing to even think them not being able to be together.
Then we have Cole's past that is still being dealt with.
The ending was a bit of an O.M.G.!!!! Hint, it has nothing to do with Jae and Cole's relationship. I was fully expecting it to be but it wasn't. It certainly has me anxious for the next book, "Dirty Laundry."
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