What do you think?
Rate this book
Phoenix Club #10-12
GABRIEL TRILOGY
When an old acquaintance from Gabe’s past shows up to collect on an unpaid debt, Gabe is wise enough to the ways of his old world to understand the dangers of refusing to pay up.
But when he learns that the “payment” involves acts that will cause him to betray Cole’s love and trust, he is torn between his fear of losing the man he loves - and the threat of harm that could come to Cole should he interfere.
This book contains homosexual relations and language not suitable for readers below 17yo.
For those coming across the 'Phoenix Club' series sporadically, they were written in this order, and if possible, should be read accordingly, due to story lines that run through all the books :
ABEL
CALEB
ANGEL
GABRIEL
MAXWELL
But when he learns that the “payment” involves acts that will cause him to betray Cole’s love and trust, he is torn between his fear of losing the man he loves - and the threat of harm that could come to Cole should he interfere.
This book contains homosexual relations and language not suitable for readers below 17yo.
For those coming across the 'Phoenix Club' series sporadically, they were written in this order, and if possible, should be read accordingly, due to story lines that run through all the books :
ABEL
CALEB
ANGEL
GABRIEL
MAXWELL
- GenresM M RomanceRomance
464 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2014
9 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Bishop
155 books530 followersPen name of author A.M. Snead.
Born and raised in scenic Coos County, Oregon, CJ enjoys the small town atmosphere and down-to-earth country folk who populate the area. She is a single mother and lives with her 18-year-old daughter, 1 horse, 4 dogs and 6 cats deep in the country woodlands which gives her plenty of time to write.
She is a Christian and a strong supporter of the LGBT community and favors gay erotic romance when it comes to writing. She hopes that her stories of love and acceptance will help further compassion and understanding for LGBT people who she feels is greatly misunderstood and persecuted - in a large party by the Christian community.
Most of all, she is hopeful that her stories will bring comfort to those who have been told that God hates them because they are different. It is her strong belief that God loves everyone and His love covers all.
Born and raised in scenic Coos County, Oregon, CJ enjoys the small town atmosphere and down-to-earth country folk who populate the area. She is a single mother and lives with her 18-year-old daughter, 1 horse, 4 dogs and 6 cats deep in the country woodlands which gives her plenty of time to write.
She is a Christian and a strong supporter of the LGBT community and favors gay erotic romance when it comes to writing. She hopes that her stories of love and acceptance will help further compassion and understanding for LGBT people who she feels is greatly misunderstood and persecuted - in a large party by the Christian community.
Most of all, she is hopeful that her stories will bring comfort to those who have been told that God hates them because they are different. It is her strong belief that God loves everyone and His love covers all.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Read
January 27, 2023I got a couple of the stories from this series for free (via Smashwords) which started me on the series. Those that know me, also know that I have a bit of an obsession with finishing a series once I have started, so I read these pretty much back-to-back. I'm not going to write about each story individually, rather just leave some overall notes.
- the series is made up of a number of trilogies so there are 3 books to be read to bring each characters story to conclusion (you can buy them as separate stories or as the trilogy which I think is more cost effective)
- there are recurring characters through out each book, including Max and Horatio who don't get their stories until right at the end, although there are teasers right the way through
- there are very dark moments - rape, abuse, torture
- there is lots and lots of sex between all the couples, not just the main ones featuring in the current story. All couples seem versatile and all call each other 'baby'.
- condoms and lube seem entirely optional (mainly earlier in the series?) although there's an HIV theme
- these guys have lots of emotions and like to think about their feelings. They are also all prone to tears and heartache for each other
In summary, I think this series suits a reader looking for lots of drama, characters who agonise over emotions, are comfortable with abuse themes and like lots of sex in a book. I moved between 3 and 3.5 stars as I read through the series. In general I liked it, I did get invested in the stories.
- the series is made up of a number of trilogies so there are 3 books to be read to bring each characters story to conclusion (you can buy them as separate stories or as the trilogy which I think is more cost effective)
- there are recurring characters through out each book, including Max and Horatio who don't get their stories until right at the end, although there are teasers right the way through
- there are very dark moments - rape, abuse, torture
- there is lots and lots of sex between all the couples, not just the main ones featuring in the current story. All couples seem versatile and all call each other 'baby'.
- condoms and lube seem entirely optional (mainly earlier in the series?) although there's an HIV theme
- these guys have lots of emotions and like to think about their feelings. They are also all prone to tears and heartache for each other
In summary, I think this series suits a reader looking for lots of drama, characters who agonise over emotions, are comfortable with abuse themes and like lots of sex in a book. I moved between 3 and 3.5 stars as I read through the series. In general I liked it, I did get invested in the stories.
November 9, 2017
As always, prepare for heartbreak, suspense, and ultimately an endearing HEA. I never thought anything could split apart Gabe and Cole. Boy was I wrong. Fortunately, they did make it through their darkest trials. Boy was it scary at times! My heart was ripped out and stomped on before finally getting patched up and sewn back together again. CJ Bishop really knows how to get my waterworks flowing! As usual, I can't get enough of these boys!
October 29, 2014
Hostage Hearts
I was afraid to begin this first book in Gabriel's trilogy, and the tenth in the overall series. Gabe and Cole have been a fixture in all of the previous books, and watching them change from friends with benefits to exclusive has been a joy. I couldn't stand the thought of Gabe's past coming between them, and even though I had an inkling of how this was going to transpire, knowing how protective Gabe is, I still wasn't sure how well I was going to handle it. Let's face it, people, I'm a sucker for the guys of Phoenix Club.
The author left me hanging, a little, at the end of the previous book. Who is Quint Santini, and what does he want with Gabe? It seems that Gabe had a rough upbringing, got involved in a gang, and then he met Nathan Santini, head of a mob family. Nathan became the father Gabe never had, and Quint, Nathan's son, resented Gabe as the "golden boy". There is bad blood between Gabe, and Quint, and now that Nathan is dead, Quint has all the power he needs to seek revenge on Gabe.
Much like the other books in this series, 'Hostage Hearts' had a number of converging storylines occurring together. In many ways, it was wonderful to see Angel, Dane, and Maddy so happy together, and, of course, the emotional drama brought about by Horatio and Max was ever present. Including watching Max start a potential relationship with Carl. When I finally get to Max's books, it better be a really good secret about Horatio and him, since I've been front and center for this since book one. Anyway, I would've liked more of just Gabe and Cole, but I also understand that since they've been so prevalent in all of the other books, the author is taking her time getting to their climax. Pun totally intended.
You'd think by now I'd be used to these cliffhangers the author leaves me on. Well, I'm not. So there. I guess I'll just have to hurry up and read the next book.
Ransomed Love
It was with mixed emotions that I started 'Ransomed Love', the second book in Gabriel's trilogy. I was impatient to get through it, so I'd be one step closer to the ending, but I was scared as to what revelations the author might have in store for me. Let's face it, people, she left me on a cliff, dangling, at the end of the previous book. After reading so many of these books, I've now become accustomed to that feeling. But I don't like it, and I keep hoping the drop will be over quickly.
Oh, Gabriel, honey, when will you learn that lying to protect the people you love is never the right way to handle a problem? Gabe, trying to keep Cole from discovering the deal made with Quint long ago, lies to Cole. Cole finds out that Gabe has been having sex with Quint, and Cole is devastated. As horrible as this is, it's nothing compared to Quint setting his sociopathic tendencies against all the guys at Phoenix Club in an attempt to show Gabe that when you love people, you're weak. Quint makes it very plain that if Gabe tries to rebel against him, in any fashion, Quint will kill everyone Gabe loves.
Another heartrending addition to the trilogy and the series. Max and Carl are tentatively beginning a relationship, as are Horatio and Seth. Ricky and Levi are dancing around each other, while Maddy and Savannah are making eyes at each other. But at the base of it all is the destruction of Cole and Gabe's love. I'm not sure how, or even if, these two can come back from all of this. What I do know is that if Gabe doesn't tell his friends the truth, there is no hope for any of them.
Heroes and Villains
I'm not sure I'm ready for Gabe's final story within his trilogy. The two previous books have ripped out my insides, and, to be honest, I'm not so sure of how much more I can take. I need Cole and Gabe to find each other and their love again. I need Gabe to let his friends and his lover in, and let them help him, much like he's helped so many of them. I need Cole and Gabe to learn to trust each other again, and to have a stronger, impenetrable relationship. And the mean part of me needs Quint to get every nasty thing he so deserves, for all the pain he's caused.
It was devastating, in the previous book, to watch Cole see Gabe and Quint having sex, and to, literally, see Cole's heart break and shatter into a million pieces. How can they survive this? Especially since Gabe is honor bound to Quint, for an age old debt, and the mafia doesn't forgive those kind of debts. Interspersed with this horrific drama, is Max and Horatio trying to get over each other by finally starting something new with Carl and Seth, respectively. I understand the heavy focus on their story line since Max's trilogy is up next, however, I would've liked more with Gabe and Cole, exclusively.
I honestly believed that I'd seen the worst that could happen to these young men of the Phoenix Club. I was so wrong. Quint sells Gabe to the most violent sexual sadists, for a forty-eight hour period, and they can do what they want to him. I couldn't believe it when Gabe even survived the first "client". I liked seeing Gabe get rescued, but Quint didn't suffer nearly enough, in my mind. I enjoyed this story, but I would've liked more of Cole and Gabe, as I mentioned previously. All in all, though, it was done well.
I was afraid to begin this first book in Gabriel's trilogy, and the tenth in the overall series. Gabe and Cole have been a fixture in all of the previous books, and watching them change from friends with benefits to exclusive has been a joy. I couldn't stand the thought of Gabe's past coming between them, and even though I had an inkling of how this was going to transpire, knowing how protective Gabe is, I still wasn't sure how well I was going to handle it. Let's face it, people, I'm a sucker for the guys of Phoenix Club.
The author left me hanging, a little, at the end of the previous book. Who is Quint Santini, and what does he want with Gabe? It seems that Gabe had a rough upbringing, got involved in a gang, and then he met Nathan Santini, head of a mob family. Nathan became the father Gabe never had, and Quint, Nathan's son, resented Gabe as the "golden boy". There is bad blood between Gabe, and Quint, and now that Nathan is dead, Quint has all the power he needs to seek revenge on Gabe.
Much like the other books in this series, 'Hostage Hearts' had a number of converging storylines occurring together. In many ways, it was wonderful to see Angel, Dane, and Maddy so happy together, and, of course, the emotional drama brought about by Horatio and Max was ever present. Including watching Max start a potential relationship with Carl. When I finally get to Max's books, it better be a really good secret about Horatio and him, since I've been front and center for this since book one. Anyway, I would've liked more of just Gabe and Cole, but I also understand that since they've been so prevalent in all of the other books, the author is taking her time getting to their climax. Pun totally intended.
You'd think by now I'd be used to these cliffhangers the author leaves me on. Well, I'm not. So there. I guess I'll just have to hurry up and read the next book.
Ransomed Love
It was with mixed emotions that I started 'Ransomed Love', the second book in Gabriel's trilogy. I was impatient to get through it, so I'd be one step closer to the ending, but I was scared as to what revelations the author might have in store for me. Let's face it, people, she left me on a cliff, dangling, at the end of the previous book. After reading so many of these books, I've now become accustomed to that feeling. But I don't like it, and I keep hoping the drop will be over quickly.
Oh, Gabriel, honey, when will you learn that lying to protect the people you love is never the right way to handle a problem? Gabe, trying to keep Cole from discovering the deal made with Quint long ago, lies to Cole. Cole finds out that Gabe has been having sex with Quint, and Cole is devastated. As horrible as this is, it's nothing compared to Quint setting his sociopathic tendencies against all the guys at Phoenix Club in an attempt to show Gabe that when you love people, you're weak. Quint makes it very plain that if Gabe tries to rebel against him, in any fashion, Quint will kill everyone Gabe loves.
Another heartrending addition to the trilogy and the series. Max and Carl are tentatively beginning a relationship, as are Horatio and Seth. Ricky and Levi are dancing around each other, while Maddy and Savannah are making eyes at each other. But at the base of it all is the destruction of Cole and Gabe's love. I'm not sure how, or even if, these two can come back from all of this. What I do know is that if Gabe doesn't tell his friends the truth, there is no hope for any of them.
Heroes and Villains
I'm not sure I'm ready for Gabe's final story within his trilogy. The two previous books have ripped out my insides, and, to be honest, I'm not so sure of how much more I can take. I need Cole and Gabe to find each other and their love again. I need Gabe to let his friends and his lover in, and let them help him, much like he's helped so many of them. I need Cole and Gabe to learn to trust each other again, and to have a stronger, impenetrable relationship. And the mean part of me needs Quint to get every nasty thing he so deserves, for all the pain he's caused.
It was devastating, in the previous book, to watch Cole see Gabe and Quint having sex, and to, literally, see Cole's heart break and shatter into a million pieces. How can they survive this? Especially since Gabe is honor bound to Quint, for an age old debt, and the mafia doesn't forgive those kind of debts. Interspersed with this horrific drama, is Max and Horatio trying to get over each other by finally starting something new with Carl and Seth, respectively. I understand the heavy focus on their story line since Max's trilogy is up next, however, I would've liked more with Gabe and Cole, exclusively.
I honestly believed that I'd seen the worst that could happen to these young men of the Phoenix Club. I was so wrong. Quint sells Gabe to the most violent sexual sadists, for a forty-eight hour period, and they can do what they want to him. I couldn't believe it when Gabe even survived the first "client". I liked seeing Gabe get rescued, but Quint didn't suffer nearly enough, in my mind. I enjoyed this story, but I would've liked more of Cole and Gabe, as I mentioned previously. All in all, though, it was done well.
February 28, 2015
3.5 stars
Ms. Bishop has a knack for creating angsty stories about damaged characters caught in horrible situations. Add to that a lot of hot, sexy manlove and you've got a winning formula.
I've read most of the Phoenix Club series and will say that the writing, uneven at times, has steadily improved throughout. I like the way that faith and prayer are integrated into the novels in a subltle way.
One criticism I have of this particular trilogy is that there are so many characters with developing romantic plotlines, plus those from previous trilogies, that it's hard to keep track. It might have been best to focus on just one primary and one secondary couple.
Ms. Bishop has a knack for creating angsty stories about damaged characters caught in horrible situations. Add to that a lot of hot, sexy manlove and you've got a winning formula.
I've read most of the Phoenix Club series and will say that the writing, uneven at times, has steadily improved throughout. I like the way that faith and prayer are integrated into the novels in a subltle way.
One criticism I have of this particular trilogy is that there are so many characters with developing romantic plotlines, plus those from previous trilogies, that it's hard to keep track. It might have been best to focus on just one primary and one secondary couple.
May 28, 2015
The books in this series are set around The Phoenix Club, a gay dance club, and the men working there.
Each MC has their secrets and a past which comes and bites them and the trouble the past brings is surprising, violent and will keep you guessing.
The men look after each other like family with Max the owner of the club as their leader.
Absolutely fantastic series, I'm addicted to C.J Bishop books and can't wait to read more.
Each MC has their secrets and a past which comes and bites them and the trouble the past brings is surprising, violent and will keep you guessing.
The men look after each other like family with Max the owner of the club as their leader.
Absolutely fantastic series, I'm addicted to C.J Bishop books and can't wait to read more.
November 23, 2014
While the Gabriel trilogy is still painful, dark and twisted it is also filled with the love the Phoenix family feels for each other. Either I've become somewhat immune to the horrors the author inflicts on her characters or Gabriel was written so well the pain, rape and torture he went through while terribly vivid did not in any way overshadow his inner strength and love for Cole and their family.
February 7, 2016
This one is definitely one of my favorites!!!!! With the others in the series I would have to take a break between reading because of all the devastation in the story. This one there were plenty of angst going on but nothing compared to the other books which suited me just fine! I can't wait to read Max & Horatio' s story!!! file:///C:/Users/Frank/Pictures/book%...
December 4, 2017
The craziest of the whole series.
I never thought Gabriel had so many secrets, and so many tortured in his life.
The hardest for me. I was broken knowing Gabe had to experienced something like that.
My heart is broken.
March 6, 2015
Holy shit...
Now this story just blew my mind and I actually enjoyed it. Perhaps it took the three volumes before it to break me in. All the unprotected sex makes me still squeamish, but protection is being used. Finally! Now I'm on to the next. Max.
Now this story just blew my mind and I actually enjoyed it. Perhaps it took the three volumes before it to break me in. All the unprotected sex makes me still squeamish, but protection is being used. Finally! Now I'm on to the next. Max.
March 27, 2015
Sex fixes everything...or at least helps for a few minutes. I really liked this book but considering it was Gabe and Cole's story I felt there was more of everyone except Cole.
I liked the Levi/Ricky side story too.
I liked the Levi/Ricky side story too.
November 22, 2023
Gripping
This follows on from the previous books and needs to be read in the correct order.
This book is thrilling sad ,heartwarming and terrifying all at the same time.
There is several stories running through the book which keeps you on your toes. It is a brilliant read
This follows on from the previous books and needs to be read in the correct order.
This book is thrilling sad ,heartwarming and terrifying all at the same time.
There is several stories running through the book which keeps you on your toes. It is a brilliant read
October 8, 2016
So much love and tears. I adore Cole and Gabe.
October 9, 2016
Loved the story but read more like an extended epilogue to Angel / prequel to Maxwell. Wanted more Cole and Gabe! :(
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews