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Nashville Spicy #3
I Hear You: Nashville Spicy, Book 3
I Hear You follows the journey of Tyler, a devil-may-care, party boy mechanic who loves his job, his friends, and his faithful dog, but the thought of settling down is the last thing on his mind.
That all changes when he meets Gabe, an adorably dimpled, floppy haired deaf man who challenges him in ways he never imagined.
As Tyler starts to fall for Gabe, he realizes his carefree lifestyle may be holding him back from true happiness.
Will he be able to overcome his past and embrace love, or will his desire for freedom and the lure of the party scene prove too powerful?
This heartwarming and steamy story of love, self-discovery, and second chances includes scenes of hurt/comfort, found family, and the cutest doggone puppy love. It is a must-listen for M/M romance fans.
This story includes use of multiple substances.
That all changes when he meets Gabe, an adorably dimpled, floppy haired deaf man who challenges him in ways he never imagined.
As Tyler starts to fall for Gabe, he realizes his carefree lifestyle may be holding him back from true happiness.
Will he be able to overcome his past and embrace love, or will his desire for freedom and the lure of the party scene prove too powerful?
This heartwarming and steamy story of love, self-discovery, and second chances includes scenes of hurt/comfort, found family, and the cutest doggone puppy love. It is a must-listen for M/M romance fans.
This story includes use of multiple substances.
Audible Audio
Published April 24, 2023
215 people are currently reading
192 people want to read
About the author
Casey Morales
62 books417 followersCasey Morales is an LGBT storyteller and the author of multiple bestselling MM romance novels. Born in the Southern United States, Casey is an avid tennis player, aspiring chef, dog lover, and ravenous consumer of gummy bears.
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June 30, 2024
I Hear You is book three in the Nashville Spicy series by Casey Morales. This is a slow burn, mildly spicy romance with one sexy mechanic and one hearing impaired man.
Tyler Hyatt is a twenty nine year old auto mechanic. He is the best friend and employee of Sam from the previous book. Tyler is a multi-layered man by his own definition. He is happy for his friend Sam and Miguel for the love they found. But it’s not for him. He is a party boy! He frequents the clubs and what they call circuit parties where he has different partners every night, often several partners. But at home, he loves to cook, has a beautiful home, and loves his border collie, Domino, more than he ever thought possible.
Gabe Rossi came from Italy when he was nineteen years old. He is completely deaf but lip reads well. It was quite an adjustment coming to a foreign country alone but he found a support system, and eventually started his own business, Pawsome Academy and Doggy Day Care. Gabe is twenty seven years old. He has a very highly trained German Shepherd.
These two had my favorite kind of first meeting, when the eyes meet across the room. That little first zap of electricity. And I also loved that it was Gabe that took the initiative to find out who Tyler was and make contact. I pretty much fell head over heels for Gabe. He was so brave. He just put it all out there. I had more trouble with Tyler. I didn’t like how he lived. It took me a long time to warm up to him.
I adored their dogs. They were both so smart, so highly trained. Then I would look at my own dog who ignores me most of the time and thought, where did I go wrong?! I also struggled a bit with Gabe’s friends. I knew they were just protecting him but it seemed way over and above what is acceptable. They seemed more judgmental then the people they claimed to be protecting Gabe from.
So while I enjoyed this one, and it did have a super sweet ending, I struggled with parts of it. I do hope to see more of Gabe and Tyler, though, in the next book, The Batter’s Box, to see how their life turned out. And would love to see more of Sam and Miguel as well.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
Tyler Hyatt is a twenty nine year old auto mechanic. He is the best friend and employee of Sam from the previous book. Tyler is a multi-layered man by his own definition. He is happy for his friend Sam and Miguel for the love they found. But it’s not for him. He is a party boy! He frequents the clubs and what they call circuit parties where he has different partners every night, often several partners. But at home, he loves to cook, has a beautiful home, and loves his border collie, Domino, more than he ever thought possible.
Gabe Rossi came from Italy when he was nineteen years old. He is completely deaf but lip reads well. It was quite an adjustment coming to a foreign country alone but he found a support system, and eventually started his own business, Pawsome Academy and Doggy Day Care. Gabe is twenty seven years old. He has a very highly trained German Shepherd.
These two had my favorite kind of first meeting, when the eyes meet across the room. That little first zap of electricity. And I also loved that it was Gabe that took the initiative to find out who Tyler was and make contact. I pretty much fell head over heels for Gabe. He was so brave. He just put it all out there. I had more trouble with Tyler. I didn’t like how he lived. It took me a long time to warm up to him.
I adored their dogs. They were both so smart, so highly trained. Then I would look at my own dog who ignores me most of the time and thought, where did I go wrong?! I also struggled a bit with Gabe’s friends. I knew they were just protecting him but it seemed way over and above what is acceptable. They seemed more judgmental then the people they claimed to be protecting Gabe from.
So while I enjoyed this one, and it did have a super sweet ending, I struggled with parts of it. I do hope to see more of Gabe and Tyler, though, in the next book, The Batter’s Box, to see how their life turned out. And would love to see more of Sam and Miguel as well.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
August 26, 2025
My first Casey Morales book and I really enjoyed this!
I liked that the deaf MC and his friends weren't portrayed as saintly or angelic just because they're disabled - disabled people can be arseholes too! Gabe's friend Lucas in particular was a grade A cunt!! The deaf group of friends were incredibly judgmental of Tyler and didn't even give him chance to 'speak' during their ambush of him. Also, the absolute audacity of Lucas demanding to know if Tyler loved Gabe when Tyler and Gabe hadn't even had that conversation yet!!!! As if you're going to tell some absolute twat that's insulting every single thing about you that you're in love with your boyfriend before you even tell your boyfriend....come on!!! I was feeling pretty ragey at that point, but then Gabe pissed me off even more! There was so much judgment and assuming going on that I kinda wanted Tyler to meet someone else 😂
When Gabe wasn't being led by his band of merry twats, he was a decent guy and I loved how he was so amazing with dogs. Tyler and Gabe bonding through their dogs was beyond cute too and I loved how easily they fell into domesticity once Tyler got his head out of his arse.
I also really liked that there was an explanation that ASL (American Sign Language) is not what the whole world uses. I use Makaton with my son, but as he gets older we'll no doubt transition more to BSL (British Sign Language), which is again different to LIS (Lingua dei segni Italiana) which is what Gabe knew when he moved to America.
Tyler was a difficult character for me to relate to because the party lifestyle has never appealed to me. I don't understand it, I don't get the appeal, I'm not a fan of drug culture, alcohol or dancing...so his lifestyle was hard for me to understand. I did like that he had all these realisations about what he actually wanted from life though, and that he really put the work in to make sure he was in a better place to support Gabe.
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HRCYED2: Disability Representation
I liked that the deaf MC and his friends weren't portrayed as saintly or angelic just because they're disabled - disabled people can be arseholes too! Gabe's friend Lucas in particular was a grade A cunt!! The deaf group of friends were incredibly judgmental of Tyler and didn't even give him chance to 'speak' during their ambush of him. Also, the absolute audacity of Lucas demanding to know if Tyler loved Gabe when Tyler and Gabe hadn't even had that conversation yet!!!! As if you're going to tell some absolute twat that's insulting every single thing about you that you're in love with your boyfriend before you even tell your boyfriend....come on!!! I was feeling pretty ragey at that point, but then Gabe pissed me off even more! There was so much judgment and assuming going on that I kinda wanted Tyler to meet someone else 😂
When Gabe wasn't being led by his band of merry twats, he was a decent guy and I loved how he was so amazing with dogs. Tyler and Gabe bonding through their dogs was beyond cute too and I loved how easily they fell into domesticity once Tyler got his head out of his arse.
I also really liked that there was an explanation that ASL (American Sign Language) is not what the whole world uses. I use Makaton with my son, but as he gets older we'll no doubt transition more to BSL (British Sign Language), which is again different to LIS (Lingua dei segni Italiana) which is what Gabe knew when he moved to America.
Tyler was a difficult character for me to relate to because the party lifestyle has never appealed to me. I don't understand it, I don't get the appeal, I'm not a fan of drug culture, alcohol or dancing...so his lifestyle was hard for me to understand. I did like that he had all these realisations about what he actually wanted from life though, and that he really put the work in to make sure he was in a better place to support Gabe.
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HRCYED2: Disability Representation
March 9, 2023
Tyler is still sleeping with others @ 90% therefore totally unconvincing HEA for me.
June 15, 2025
It was good until like 50%
Spoilers below
I was into this story line until it reached about 50% when Tyler was still denying they were dating but Gabe had no idea and seems to think they were exclusively seeing eachother and around i think it was 70% one of his f*** buddies texts him for a hookup and he was getting turned on and contemplating it until Gabe texts him at the same time and he declines after seriously debating like wtf?? This same guy later turns up at his bday party and is running his fingers down Tyler's chest and flirting and Gabe comes in and was like who's that and he straight up lies and says oh and old friend no one.... 😑 and then after this party games friends basically tell him that Tyler isn't in love with him ect. And Gabe pretty much ghosts Tyler and it taking several days to even attempt to contact Gabe.
So they have a 3rd act breakup at like 90% which skips several months where Tyler proceeds to invite the same problem guy to Vegas with him to party do dr*gs and have s*x. Then they happen to run into eachother at their mutual friends wedding have a 5 second conversation which he tells him the truth about the "friend" and they went to Vegas but not that they were hooking up and but tells him that he's in love with him and all is forgiven. It went to the epiloge after that and I stopped reading lol I just really didn't care to finish Tyler is a POS
Spoilers below
I was into this story line until it reached about 50% when Tyler was still denying they were dating but Gabe had no idea and seems to think they were exclusively seeing eachother and around i think it was 70% one of his f*** buddies texts him for a hookup and he was getting turned on and contemplating it until Gabe texts him at the same time and he declines after seriously debating like wtf?? This same guy later turns up at his bday party and is running his fingers down Tyler's chest and flirting and Gabe comes in and was like who's that and he straight up lies and says oh and old friend no one.... 😑 and then after this party games friends basically tell him that Tyler isn't in love with him ect. And Gabe pretty much ghosts Tyler and it taking several days to even attempt to contact Gabe.
So they have a 3rd act breakup at like 90% which skips several months where Tyler proceeds to invite the same problem guy to Vegas with him to party do dr*gs and have s*x. Then they happen to run into eachother at their mutual friends wedding have a 5 second conversation which he tells him the truth about the "friend" and they went to Vegas but not that they were hooking up and but tells him that he's in love with him and all is forgiven. It went to the epiloge after that and I stopped reading lol I just really didn't care to finish Tyler is a POS
March 26, 2023
I was excited to receive an ARC for I Hear You by Casey Morales. This is the third in the Nashville Spicy series. Morales delivers an emotional love story that is sweet and a teensy bit spicy.
Tyler, our party loving mechanic, falls for Gabe, a deaf Italian dog trainer. They meet through their love of coffee and dogs.
Their love story is sweet and adorable, but I feel like it was glossed over. There could have been more dates, more adorable kissing, more spicy scenes. The third act miscommunication trope was a big issue for me.
Tyler did nothing even remotely close to what Gabe did. Gabe ended their relationship without talking to Tyler and trying to figure things out. He assumed what was going on between Tyler and Marcus and instead of trying to get answers, he bailed. I also felt he had no right to be upset with Tyler for trying to forget Gabe in a way he was used to. Vegas was MONTHS after Gabe ditched him.
Tyler wasn’t perfect, don’t get me wrong, but he went even given a chance to do better because Gabe bailed.
I was not a big fan of the ending of this book. It needs to be flushed out more, along with most of the story.
Tyler, our party loving mechanic, falls for Gabe, a deaf Italian dog trainer. They meet through their love of coffee and dogs.
Their love story is sweet and adorable, but I feel like it was glossed over. There could have been more dates, more adorable kissing, more spicy scenes. The third act miscommunication trope was a big issue for me.
Tyler did nothing even remotely close to what Gabe did. Gabe ended their relationship without talking to Tyler and trying to figure things out. He assumed what was going on between Tyler and Marcus and instead of trying to get answers, he bailed. I also felt he had no right to be upset with Tyler for trying to forget Gabe in a way he was used to. Vegas was MONTHS after Gabe ditched him.
Tyler wasn’t perfect, don’t get me wrong, but he went even given a chance to do better because Gabe bailed.
I was not a big fan of the ending of this book. It needs to be flushed out more, along with most of the story.
March 10, 2023
Great series.
This book was a bit different to the first two books, the first one had the political undertones, the second one the murder, and this one was focused mainly on the romance, however, until about 95% into the book I found it the most least romantic one of the trio.
This is definitely a different kind of romance book, I loved Tyler’s character in the previous book and was looking forward to reading his story, we all know his type, the typical playboy character who just needed the right guy to show him the error of his ways, and the former didn’t disappoint with his party lifestyle and drug induced orgies, the latter however took him quite a while to figure out and see the shallowness of his former lifestyle, I was running out of book waiting for him to get his shit together.
Gabe’s character was sweet as hell, I loved him from the beginning. Being deaf didn’t seem to change his outlook on life, he was just such a nice guy and deserved to be absolutely adored, which is why for a good chunk of this book I didn’t think Tyler deserved him, even 90% into the book when Tyler wakes up in bed with another man after a drug fuelled party and has his epiphany, I still wanted to throw him into the sea. Did I change my opinion in the end? Yeah I did, what can I say, the boy came good, I may have even got a bit misty eyed.
The side characters in this book were good, it was great to see so much of Sam and Miguel from the previous book in this one, but Gabe’s friend Lucas, I get he was protective and just wanted the best for Gabe, but to me he just came across as an asshole.
I’m really impressed with Casey Morales writing, I’ve loved this series and definitely recommend it.
This book was a bit different to the first two books, the first one had the political undertones, the second one the murder, and this one was focused mainly on the romance, however, until about 95% into the book I found it the most least romantic one of the trio.
This is definitely a different kind of romance book, I loved Tyler’s character in the previous book and was looking forward to reading his story, we all know his type, the typical playboy character who just needed the right guy to show him the error of his ways, and the former didn’t disappoint with his party lifestyle and drug induced orgies, the latter however took him quite a while to figure out and see the shallowness of his former lifestyle, I was running out of book waiting for him to get his shit together.
Gabe’s character was sweet as hell, I loved him from the beginning. Being deaf didn’t seem to change his outlook on life, he was just such a nice guy and deserved to be absolutely adored, which is why for a good chunk of this book I didn’t think Tyler deserved him, even 90% into the book when Tyler wakes up in bed with another man after a drug fuelled party and has his epiphany, I still wanted to throw him into the sea. Did I change my opinion in the end? Yeah I did, what can I say, the boy came good, I may have even got a bit misty eyed.
The side characters in this book were good, it was great to see so much of Sam and Miguel from the previous book in this one, but Gabe’s friend Lucas, I get he was protective and just wanted the best for Gabe, but to me he just came across as an asshole.
I’m really impressed with Casey Morales writing, I’ve loved this series and definitely recommend it.
March 11, 2023
Gabe is the shining star of this book! He is brave and kind, not learning the fact that he is deaf stop him from working for what he wants in life. I was fascinated by his journey from Italy to the US all on his own. He’s amazing and heartwarming!
Tyler is the reason I’m having trouble with this review. He’s a textbook playboy, not only enjoying the sex from the party scene but also the drugs. Seems like someone who wouldn’t give Gabe a second glance. But he does.
This book doesn’t follow the traditional romance book formula - which I both liked and disliked. It was unique and real in the slow way the Gabe and Tyler slowly grew their friendship. And it’s almost more of a friendship building only rather than a slow burn. We are well over halfway through the book and not much romance has happened between the two. I was getting impatient with Tyler to make up his mind what he wanted. And that’s the part I disliked - I didn’t enjoy watching Gabe and Tyler be smitten with each other, then Tyler go off to the party scene and be sandwiched between two guys. It didn’t sit well. I especially had a hard time reading about the party he went to in Las Vegas.
The last chapter of the book does a wonderful job of bringing the men together and giving them a moment to share their hearts. I loved that chapter and it was beautifully written. It just took while to get there, and then I would have loved to see more of their actual relationship and love together.
When Gabe and Tyler do finally come together, it is something special! They are amazing together, just a bumpy road before and after those moments.
Oh - and the dogs must get a shoutout! ❤️ So sweet and fun!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Tyler is the reason I’m having trouble with this review. He’s a textbook playboy, not only enjoying the sex from the party scene but also the drugs. Seems like someone who wouldn’t give Gabe a second glance. But he does.
This book doesn’t follow the traditional romance book formula - which I both liked and disliked. It was unique and real in the slow way the Gabe and Tyler slowly grew their friendship. And it’s almost more of a friendship building only rather than a slow burn. We are well over halfway through the book and not much romance has happened between the two. I was getting impatient with Tyler to make up his mind what he wanted. And that’s the part I disliked - I didn’t enjoy watching Gabe and Tyler be smitten with each other, then Tyler go off to the party scene and be sandwiched between two guys. It didn’t sit well. I especially had a hard time reading about the party he went to in Las Vegas.
The last chapter of the book does a wonderful job of bringing the men together and giving them a moment to share their hearts. I loved that chapter and it was beautifully written. It just took while to get there, and then I would have loved to see more of their actual relationship and love together.
When Gabe and Tyler do finally come together, it is something special! They are amazing together, just a bumpy road before and after those moments.
Oh - and the dogs must get a shoutout! ❤️ So sweet and fun!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 31, 2025
I have mixed feelings on this one. There were so many aspects of this book I loved including the most adorable dogs who jumped started this relationship. Their not dates were so good.
My struggle came with Ty’s struggle for commitment and lack of attempt to learn Gabe’s language. It felt like Gabe did a lot of the heavy lifting. And then when things did change it was too quick for me.
My struggle came with Ty’s struggle for commitment and lack of attempt to learn Gabe’s language. It felt like Gabe did a lot of the heavy lifting. And then when things did change it was too quick for me.
May 2, 2023
Horrible!!!!!
March 19, 2023
4.5 stars. Not the standard formula for this type of book, which I always really appreciate. Gabe is amazingly brave, just imagine moving to a different country having to learn two new languages at the same time while being deaf. I had a feeling that there was more behind Ty's choices to be single but his history wasn't written in depth. The dogs were brilliant.
January 6, 2026
This is my favourite book of the series! I love the main characters and how their story evolves over a longer time frame than in some other books. As much as I wanted Tyler to make some better choices, I liked that his character was portrayed without shame for his outlook on sex/ relationships. This is also the best representation for a deaf character that I have read so far with the right amount of challenge of privilege for hearing people. Absolutely lush
March 8, 2023
This story starts off with Ty and Gabe meeting and being fun and flirty together the dogs are their common denominator and then the chemistry plateaus slighlty and they go into friend mode. Ty is convinced he doesn't feel emotion towards people and is happy hooking up and partying. Gabe has spent his life thinking ir at least being told to think that his deafness will always create a barrier to dating a able hearing person. There is a lot of food for thought when his friend Lucas gets involved. At first we think he is cruel and angry but it all comes from love for a friend and it is indeed eye opening as a hearing adult to realise how vulnerable Gabe is if this relationship doesn't work out. At 60% into the story nothing has really happened between the two MC's just a few dates and getting to know each other and a quick chaste kiss. Ty has been partying and hooking up with other people so the reader isn't really sure where his head is at. It's clear he is confused with his feelings.
This isn't a stereotypical romance book, it is about delving deeper, checking in with your true emotions, your self worth and realising what you actually had before you nearly lost it. This message isn't obvious early on in this book so we, the reader, are left wondering when the two MC's will admit feelings and the steamy scenes will start. The answer is, it doesn't because it is a book that will build and build so the friendship is solid but will tease you throughout with the 'will they or won't they' figure themselves out. It takes you to the last chapter to take the emotion as high as possible and will give you the most romantic ending I have read in a long time. It was the crescendo we needed in order for this book to work against the slow burn nature. This book took its whole being to turn into a romance story so now I feel we need a side story to see how they are getting on. I have loved all of these book in this series, they are all so different, but also have a commonality that links them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This isn't a stereotypical romance book, it is about delving deeper, checking in with your true emotions, your self worth and realising what you actually had before you nearly lost it. This message isn't obvious early on in this book so we, the reader, are left wondering when the two MC's will admit feelings and the steamy scenes will start. The answer is, it doesn't because it is a book that will build and build so the friendship is solid but will tease you throughout with the 'will they or won't they' figure themselves out. It takes you to the last chapter to take the emotion as high as possible and will give you the most romantic ending I have read in a long time. It was the crescendo we needed in order for this book to work against the slow burn nature. This book took its whole being to turn into a romance story so now I feel we need a side story to see how they are getting on. I have loved all of these book in this series, they are all so different, but also have a commonality that links them. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 17, 2024
So.
I'm not happy about my rating as I felt pretty good about the book for about half of the time, but in the end there's no way I'm able to give it more stars. I really don't know why it all went to shit in the 2nd half, and I guess even the author would be hard pressed to explain - they probably felt need to have some conflict, but the way they went to get it... please just don't do it again!
Let's get all my grievances out here, then:
1. Ty - he's the least of them actually, though I can understand if some people have issues with his sexcapades during the Miami party in the first half. I didn't feel so great about it myself, but it made sense given his character - he's a playboy with deep abandonment issues and all things relationship scare him to death, so it makes sense if he's unwilling to call his dates with Gabe dates though that's clearly what they are and behave accordingly. So yes, he could have done better, but it had happened before his relationship with Gabe gathered any speed and traction, and he's just a human after all:) And actually, once he gets over himself, he tries to make it work, which sadly can't be said about..
...2. Gabe. I was absolutely in love with him at the beginning, admiring his sunny disposition and courage to lead his life freely despite his disadvantage, and I especially loved how he went after Ty despite previous disappointments with hearing men and warnings from his friends - that's a way to go, man! You want something, you go after it. I want more people like this in my romances! There are never enough of them.
But sadly that fresh wind turns pretty stale really fast, shortly after he really gets what he was after :D Talk about irony here! And all it takes to bring all his insecurities out of the hiding is one "intervention" from his so called friends, after extremely uncomfortable scene in which they grill Ty about his intentions at Ty's birthday party. I don't get why they are even there, actually - Gabe didn't even deem it necessary to introduce them to Ty previously, and I'd say with good reason as they don't bother to hide their disapproval and suspicion towards Tyler. Yet suddenly he lets them loose at the poor man during the event which is supposed to make him feel good! (that's the purpose of surprise birthday parties, right? to celebrate someone you know and like with others who know and like them?)
And the mindfuck doesn't end here. Ty's sad, Gabe is enraged his friends made him sad and then left in a huff like a bunch of fucking primadonas, so he goes after them to give them piece of his mind and.... And it takes Lucas, the "friends'" pack leader and unbelievable prick, about ten minutes to explain to him that Ty and him are just not to be, not only because Ty hears and Gabe is deaf so there always will be something Ty's not sharing with Gabe, but because he knows all about Ty based on information from some common acquaintance and so he knows for a fact that Ty is a party slut that can't be trusted. And, a real cherry on the top of this shit sundae, he holds against Ty even his lack of knowledge about Gabe's illness which is something Gabe somehow forgot to tell him.
And there go all my positive feelings towards Gabe. He just goes incommunicado without Ty literally doing anything wrong, then agrees to one meeting to clear things up but after seeing Ty TALKING IN A PUBLICE PLACE with previous hookup he goes MIA again without letting him get in ONE word of explanation..... And that's it. All those shared moments and deep conversations, all that kinship and those weeks when they spent all their free time sandwiched together - it's all worth nothing because prophet Lucas spoke and Gabe's courageous facade slipped away to reveal little insecure coward.
And that's it folks. That's the conflict. And let me tell you, its resolution after MONTHS of no contact is equally disappointing and underwhelming (and Tyler's doing all the work, obviously, God only knows why). And yes, these months apart involve Tyler hooking up with other guy which I saw described as cheating in some reviews here, but, seriously?! You disappear out of your lover's life refusing to explain anything and hear anything he has to say, you have ZERO rights to claim his faithfulness, his devotion, his anything, actually. So that didn't bother me at all, just left me wondering what the hell happened to that nice story I started to read?
And now to my biggest peeve of them all, if you please:
3. Lucas and his cult. This is exactly the impression I got about Gabe's deaf gay circle of friends, and I'm pretty sure that's not the result the author was aiming for, but let's just look at the facts: We have cult leader holding a court, preaching his teaching to his followers and disapproving any relationship outside of his circle. We have a group tightly knit together, spending most of their free time together, keeping to themselves and suspicious if not downright hostile to people "outside", discouraging others members to reach out to them. Seriously, the only way missing is a walled compound somewhere in deep woods.
The way I see it, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE WAY HOW TO PORTRAY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ANY STORY - not if you want to do them any service, at least :D. Yes, there are pricks and idiots anywhere so there are without any doubt amongst deaf people as well. Yes, there is undoubtedly some reason for a bit of wariness and certain guardedness towards hearing people. But anything I hear from and about disadvantaged people suggests the majority of them feel and want to be treated pretty normal, so I somehow don't feel they would be overjoyed by this portrayal.
I'm certainly not, and I would really appreciate a better explanation of the motives, some progress in the group's thinking shown, and at least one person from this circle supporting Gabe, advocating for relationships based on feelings instead of deafness level - I thought Bryce would be the person to play this role and offer other perspective, but somehow this "flamboyant" and "extravagant" freethinker ended to be the same judgy self-rightous closed off hypocrite as Lucas himself. Speaking about hypocrisy, I really wonder how Lucas - the middle-aged set in his ways conservative man disapproving of drugs and parties - even knows anyone from Tyler's clubbing world so he knows anything about tickets to parties Tyler bought months ago.. something you'd like to explain to a class, dear author?
All in all, a disappointment, all the bigger for the promising beginning. Wasted opportunity for a really great story.
I'm not happy about my rating as I felt pretty good about the book for about half of the time, but in the end there's no way I'm able to give it more stars. I really don't know why it all went to shit in the 2nd half, and I guess even the author would be hard pressed to explain - they probably felt need to have some conflict, but the way they went to get it... please just don't do it again!
Let's get all my grievances out here, then:
1. Ty - he's the least of them actually, though I can understand if some people have issues with his sexcapades during the Miami party in the first half. I didn't feel so great about it myself, but it made sense given his character - he's a playboy with deep abandonment issues and all things relationship scare him to death, so it makes sense if he's unwilling to call his dates with Gabe dates though that's clearly what they are and behave accordingly. So yes, he could have done better, but it had happened before his relationship with Gabe gathered any speed and traction, and he's just a human after all:) And actually, once he gets over himself, he tries to make it work, which sadly can't be said about..
...2. Gabe. I was absolutely in love with him at the beginning, admiring his sunny disposition and courage to lead his life freely despite his disadvantage, and I especially loved how he went after Ty despite previous disappointments with hearing men and warnings from his friends - that's a way to go, man! You want something, you go after it. I want more people like this in my romances! There are never enough of them.
But sadly that fresh wind turns pretty stale really fast, shortly after he really gets what he was after :D Talk about irony here! And all it takes to bring all his insecurities out of the hiding is one "intervention" from his so called friends, after extremely uncomfortable scene in which they grill Ty about his intentions at Ty's birthday party. I don't get why they are even there, actually - Gabe didn't even deem it necessary to introduce them to Ty previously, and I'd say with good reason as they don't bother to hide their disapproval and suspicion towards Tyler. Yet suddenly he lets them loose at the poor man during the event which is supposed to make him feel good! (that's the purpose of surprise birthday parties, right? to celebrate someone you know and like with others who know and like them?)
And the mindfuck doesn't end here. Ty's sad, Gabe is enraged his friends made him sad and then left in a huff like a bunch of fucking primadonas, so he goes after them to give them piece of his mind and.... And it takes Lucas, the "friends'" pack leader and unbelievable prick, about ten minutes to explain to him that Ty and him are just not to be, not only because Ty hears and Gabe is deaf so there always will be something Ty's not sharing with Gabe, but because he knows all about Ty based on information from some common acquaintance and so he knows for a fact that Ty is a party slut that can't be trusted. And, a real cherry on the top of this shit sundae, he holds against Ty even his lack of knowledge about Gabe's illness which is something Gabe somehow forgot to tell him.
And there go all my positive feelings towards Gabe. He just goes incommunicado without Ty literally doing anything wrong, then agrees to one meeting to clear things up but after seeing Ty TALKING IN A PUBLICE PLACE with previous hookup he goes MIA again without letting him get in ONE word of explanation..... And that's it. All those shared moments and deep conversations, all that kinship and those weeks when they spent all their free time sandwiched together - it's all worth nothing because prophet Lucas spoke and Gabe's courageous facade slipped away to reveal little insecure coward.
And that's it folks. That's the conflict. And let me tell you, its resolution after MONTHS of no contact is equally disappointing and underwhelming (and Tyler's doing all the work, obviously, God only knows why). And yes, these months apart involve Tyler hooking up with other guy which I saw described as cheating in some reviews here, but, seriously?! You disappear out of your lover's life refusing to explain anything and hear anything he has to say, you have ZERO rights to claim his faithfulness, his devotion, his anything, actually. So that didn't bother me at all, just left me wondering what the hell happened to that nice story I started to read?
And now to my biggest peeve of them all, if you please:
3. Lucas and his cult. This is exactly the impression I got about Gabe's deaf gay circle of friends, and I'm pretty sure that's not the result the author was aiming for, but let's just look at the facts: We have cult leader holding a court, preaching his teaching to his followers and disapproving any relationship outside of his circle. We have a group tightly knit together, spending most of their free time together, keeping to themselves and suspicious if not downright hostile to people "outside", discouraging others members to reach out to them. Seriously, the only way missing is a walled compound somewhere in deep woods.
The way I see it, THIS IS ABSOLUTELY NOT THE WAY HOW TO PORTRAY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN ANY STORY - not if you want to do them any service, at least :D. Yes, there are pricks and idiots anywhere so there are without any doubt amongst deaf people as well. Yes, there is undoubtedly some reason for a bit of wariness and certain guardedness towards hearing people. But anything I hear from and about disadvantaged people suggests the majority of them feel and want to be treated pretty normal, so I somehow don't feel they would be overjoyed by this portrayal.
I'm certainly not, and I would really appreciate a better explanation of the motives, some progress in the group's thinking shown, and at least one person from this circle supporting Gabe, advocating for relationships based on feelings instead of deafness level - I thought Bryce would be the person to play this role and offer other perspective, but somehow this "flamboyant" and "extravagant" freethinker ended to be the same judgy self-rightous closed off hypocrite as Lucas himself. Speaking about hypocrisy, I really wonder how Lucas - the middle-aged set in his ways conservative man disapproving of drugs and parties - even knows anyone from Tyler's clubbing world so he knows anything about tickets to parties Tyler bought months ago.. something you'd like to explain to a class, dear author?
All in all, a disappointment, all the bigger for the promising beginning. Wasted opportunity for a really great story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2023
Casey Morales is a new author to me, but when I read the blurb I was very intrigued. In this story, we have Gabe, a deaf dog trainer, and Tyler, a party-boy mechanic. It can be read as a standalone though it is book 3 in the series.
I adored everything about Gabe. He was such an interesting character and deserved so much more than he got in this book. I would have loved to have seen more about his friend group.
My main issue with the book was Tyler. Tyler was a vain, self-centered hedonist who would recreationally take drugs during his parties. We saw more sex between Tyler and random characters than we did with Gabe, his supposed love interest. He also led Gabe on for most of the book. He refused to call what they were doing dating, but he planned outings, was affectionate, and flirted via text often. He had to know that Gabe was looking for more and it felt very one-sided.
In the end, I didn't feel a connection between these two characters because I honestly felt like they were after different things. I think Gabe deserved a man who would put him first and I don't really see Tyler being that man. I feel like Lucas, Gabe's friend, had a lot of good points about why Tyler and Gabe were not a good fit. This feels like a HFN rather than a HEA.
I received an ARC for my honest review
I adored everything about Gabe. He was such an interesting character and deserved so much more than he got in this book. I would have loved to have seen more about his friend group.
My main issue with the book was Tyler. Tyler was a vain, self-centered hedonist who would recreationally take drugs during his parties. We saw more sex between Tyler and random characters than we did with Gabe, his supposed love interest. He also led Gabe on for most of the book. He refused to call what they were doing dating, but he planned outings, was affectionate, and flirted via text often. He had to know that Gabe was looking for more and it felt very one-sided.
In the end, I didn't feel a connection between these two characters because I honestly felt like they were after different things. I think Gabe deserved a man who would put him first and I don't really see Tyler being that man. I feel like Lucas, Gabe's friend, had a lot of good points about why Tyler and Gabe were not a good fit. This feels like a HFN rather than a HEA.
I received an ARC for my honest review
February 24, 2025
This is where I gave up on series. This author has a real thing for MC to have relationships with other ppl in his book. But this takes the cake. The MC is a player whore. Not just go out n hook up. But fly to another city,do drugs n do 3niggts of gang bangs ( 6 men at a time) whore. Yeah. There are lots of other writers out there that don't need to write about the MC constantly hooking up ELSEWHERE. Before they find love. So far this series this author has 3/3 books have done it..
May 17, 2025
DNF. One character is thoroughly unlikeable. The other is deaf, which could have made for an interesting read as it poses questions about how to portray the communication in novelisation format, but this is done very badly. It's like the author spun a wheel and picked whatever character trait it landed on without any real consideration. I'll give the award-winning book (Buckeye) a go, but if that one isn't any better than the first three, I'm done with this series.
dnf
March 20, 2023I wish I knew that one of the MCs was sleeping with other people for the majority of the book before I started it. I loved the first book in this series, the second one was quite good but this one is not for me.
April 7, 2025
Once again, the ending was blindsidingly abrupt, but I loooooove this couple. Gabe is precious and I couldn't wait to get through whatever I was doing with my day to get back to the story. Favorite in the series so far.
April 3, 2023
I've been reading and loving Casey's stories since his first Raised by Wolves, The Complete Series book and so far, this is the hardest one for me to review. Don't get me wrong. It's still 5 stars for me, and therefore I highly recommend it.
Throughout the book, I've been chatting with Casey Morales about my doubts or things that were hard for me to accept and he was sharing why he wrote them that way, and yes, I understand them, but... that's not to say that I end up liking them. In reality, they all point to one thing: Tyler's behavior.
Apart from discussing it with the author, I've also know that several readers had problems with this character, and I must say that I understand them, because I think they are the same ones that I had. What they are: Tyler is a party boy, who likes to hook up and attend parties where he can get high and enjoy sex with different people. So far everything is fine. It's his life and his right to live it as he prefers (and good for him!) But. BUT. When this begins to affect the life of another person, who is more vulnerable due to his life circumstances, his choices are no longer so good. I mean, they weren't in an "official" relationship, but there was a relationship, and Tyler, more experienced, had to see how his actions were affecting Gabe, and some of his choices show him to be more flippant and more callous or selfish than what he really is. It's like he only cares about his next party or his next hookup. And while Gabe doesn't give him a chance to explain himself when he sees him in a "fishy" situation with Marcus (a side character) and walks out of his life, Tyler tries very little to figure out what happened and fix it (although if he added two plus two, he'd have to realizing that what Gabe saw with Marcus on his birthday and afterward was probably part of the problem) He just gives up. And although in that situation he had rejected Marcus, later during the time he was separated with Gabe, who does he look for to go to his next party in Vegas and who does he hook up with? Yep, with Marcus. There was no other? So, yes, I understand what bothers about this character.
In addition, it is a great contrast with Gabe, who is someone who, despite his deafness, never changed his way of seeing life, who is cheerful and kind, who left his native country and settled in the US and knew how to create a pleasant amd stable life for himself, with a career and friends who are like family, and it hurts to see how in his first attempt to be with someone, Gabe chooses someone who doen't want to settle down and who treats him with that "apparent" indifference, or who sometimes it seems like he's completely set on being with Gabe and sometimes quite the opposite.
With all that being said, I understand what Casey wanted to show. I understand that he wanted Tyler to grow little by little, for him to question himself and begin to see that there was more to life than parties and drugs and orgies. But that is a path that each person must follow at his own pace and in that case, no one can rush that person, nor blame them for the mistakes they may make on their own journey. Not everyone reaches the end of said journey following the same path or at the same time. So in the end, I forgive Tyler for his mistakes, because when the time came, he knew how to decide and choose what really made him happy and Gabe knew how to forgive and accept that everyone, including himself, makes mistakes.
The ending is beautiful, and it made me want more!!! As always, I must say that I love this writer's style. He is refreshing and versatile, his stories are original and his characters seem so "human" that it is impossible for them not to have flaws, which makes them even more real, and always with a touch of humor that characterizes him.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Throughout the book, I've been chatting with Casey Morales about my doubts or things that were hard for me to accept and he was sharing why he wrote them that way, and yes, I understand them, but... that's not to say that I end up liking them. In reality, they all point to one thing: Tyler's behavior.
Apart from discussing it with the author, I've also know that several readers had problems with this character, and I must say that I understand them, because I think they are the same ones that I had. What they are: Tyler is a party boy, who likes to hook up and attend parties where he can get high and enjoy sex with different people. So far everything is fine. It's his life and his right to live it as he prefers (and good for him!) But. BUT. When this begins to affect the life of another person, who is more vulnerable due to his life circumstances, his choices are no longer so good. I mean, they weren't in an "official" relationship, but there was a relationship, and Tyler, more experienced, had to see how his actions were affecting Gabe, and some of his choices show him to be more flippant and more callous or selfish than what he really is. It's like he only cares about his next party or his next hookup. And while Gabe doesn't give him a chance to explain himself when he sees him in a "fishy" situation with Marcus (a side character) and walks out of his life, Tyler tries very little to figure out what happened and fix it (although if he added two plus two, he'd have to realizing that what Gabe saw with Marcus on his birthday and afterward was probably part of the problem) He just gives up. And although in that situation he had rejected Marcus, later during the time he was separated with Gabe, who does he look for to go to his next party in Vegas and who does he hook up with? Yep, with Marcus. There was no other? So, yes, I understand what bothers about this character.
In addition, it is a great contrast with Gabe, who is someone who, despite his deafness, never changed his way of seeing life, who is cheerful and kind, who left his native country and settled in the US and knew how to create a pleasant amd stable life for himself, with a career and friends who are like family, and it hurts to see how in his first attempt to be with someone, Gabe chooses someone who doen't want to settle down and who treats him with that "apparent" indifference, or who sometimes it seems like he's completely set on being with Gabe and sometimes quite the opposite.
With all that being said, I understand what Casey wanted to show. I understand that he wanted Tyler to grow little by little, for him to question himself and begin to see that there was more to life than parties and drugs and orgies. But that is a path that each person must follow at his own pace and in that case, no one can rush that person, nor blame them for the mistakes they may make on their own journey. Not everyone reaches the end of said journey following the same path or at the same time. So in the end, I forgive Tyler for his mistakes, because when the time came, he knew how to decide and choose what really made him happy and Gabe knew how to forgive and accept that everyone, including himself, makes mistakes.
The ending is beautiful, and it made me want more!!! As always, I must say that I love this writer's style. He is refreshing and versatile, his stories are original and his characters seem so "human" that it is impossible for them not to have flaws, which makes them even more real, and always with a touch of humor that characterizes him.
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
August 20, 2025
'I Hear You: Nashville Spicy, Book 3', written by Casey Morales, (Audible) narrated by Dan Levy.
Well-written MM love story between a deaf dog trainer and a car mechanic. Great, fun interactions between the men and their dogs, who can act all boisterous and silly, but also well-behaved... the dogs and the men...(grin).
(side note: it irks me to no end when people don't spend time with their dogs, training them, playing with them and loving them. I'm not only talking about pets here, but good training and treatment also applies to guard dogs, police and military dogs and other working dogs like those who work with sheep/cattle, etc; they all should be treated well. And know that working dogs are treated differently from pets, as they are one's working partner on the ranch/farm, etc, and not coddled nor spoiled.
(OMG, I sound like my grandparents, lmao!)
However, if you've ever seen a working sheep/cow dog you know how absolutely amazing the are! It's like they have a psychic connection with both their owner and the animals they work with.
Anyway...
I really liked Tyler's friends, Sam (also his boss at the garage) and Sam's husband, Miguel (a cop), who seems to wear a perpetual smile, most of the time. They didn't put up with his shit, and at the same time they loved him like family, good family, often acting like a "Dutch Uncle" to Tyler. (oh ffs, look it up)
(since this is not the first book in this series, I want to backtrack to read the previous ones, including Sam & Miguel's story)
Appreciated the author writing a storyline which included a deaf character, and all the little or not-so-little everyday things that hearing people can take for granted and deafened people can struggle with.
Good epilogue with the author giving more info about Gabe's particular type of hearing loss.
I really liked Gabe's character, a lot! He had so much patience with others, in the hearing community and with other disabled people, and with kids, and with dogs, that my heart went out to him, both in his joyous laughter and when he was emotionally hurting.
I liked the fact that the author took his time in delving deep into the worlds of hearing impaired people as there was a lot to learn; there was more info in the epilogue, which I appreciated. Even pointing out that sign language was different in various cultures and countries and not a universally understood language was a "wake-up" call for me...because (doh!) of COURSE it was different in every language! Somehow I'd just not realized that (embarrassedly) even though I had learned a few words/phrases years ago from a couple of deaf friends, who used ASL (American Sign Language).
Gabe also used some kind of gadget to help him talk out loud, but I didn't catch exactly what that was? Maybe I need to get the paperback to re-read this, even though the Audible was awesome!
Tyler, on the other hand: hmm...
sometimes he was the sweetest guy, but at other times I just wanted to throw him in the ocean so he'd "Wake up!" because he was such a clueless idiot when it came to relationships that he sometimes really hurt Gabe's feelings!
Their intense connection, even from the moment they first met in the coffee shop, just kept building up until they basically exploded (pun intended) and couldn't keep their hands (and more) off each other!
There were both pitfalls and romantic times while they both experienced scrambled brains and emotions while trying to figure it all out. I feel like Gabe was the most aware of their emotions and situations.
It didn't help their developing romance that Tyler had always been a party boy, you know a "dick & dash", and a "one & done" kind of guy and had absolutely no clue how to be in a boyfriend/love type relationship. He screwed up...a lot! But he was learning.
Gabe, on the other hand, had never been in a full-blown romantic type situation either, but coming from the opposite end of the spectrum from Tyler, as in the fact he wanted that kind of connection but he had never experienced anyone wanting him romantically.
Eventually, it all comes to a blowout during a big party! You'll have to read this book to discover what happens next!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
Well-written MM love story between a deaf dog trainer and a car mechanic. Great, fun interactions between the men and their dogs, who can act all boisterous and silly, but also well-behaved... the dogs and the men...(grin).
(side note: it irks me to no end when people don't spend time with their dogs, training them, playing with them and loving them. I'm not only talking about pets here, but good training and treatment also applies to guard dogs, police and military dogs and other working dogs like those who work with sheep/cattle, etc; they all should be treated well. And know that working dogs are treated differently from pets, as they are one's working partner on the ranch/farm, etc, and not coddled nor spoiled.
(OMG, I sound like my grandparents, lmao!)
However, if you've ever seen a working sheep/cow dog you know how absolutely amazing the are! It's like they have a psychic connection with both their owner and the animals they work with.
Anyway...
I really liked Tyler's friends, Sam (also his boss at the garage) and Sam's husband, Miguel (a cop), who seems to wear a perpetual smile, most of the time. They didn't put up with his shit, and at the same time they loved him like family, good family, often acting like a "Dutch Uncle" to Tyler. (oh ffs, look it up)
(since this is not the first book in this series, I want to backtrack to read the previous ones, including Sam & Miguel's story)
Appreciated the author writing a storyline which included a deaf character, and all the little or not-so-little everyday things that hearing people can take for granted and deafened people can struggle with.
Good epilogue with the author giving more info about Gabe's particular type of hearing loss.
I really liked Gabe's character, a lot! He had so much patience with others, in the hearing community and with other disabled people, and with kids, and with dogs, that my heart went out to him, both in his joyous laughter and when he was emotionally hurting.
I liked the fact that the author took his time in delving deep into the worlds of hearing impaired people as there was a lot to learn; there was more info in the epilogue, which I appreciated. Even pointing out that sign language was different in various cultures and countries and not a universally understood language was a "wake-up" call for me...because (doh!) of COURSE it was different in every language! Somehow I'd just not realized that (embarrassedly) even though I had learned a few words/phrases years ago from a couple of deaf friends, who used ASL (American Sign Language).
Gabe also used some kind of gadget to help him talk out loud, but I didn't catch exactly what that was? Maybe I need to get the paperback to re-read this, even though the Audible was awesome!
Tyler, on the other hand: hmm...
sometimes he was the sweetest guy, but at other times I just wanted to throw him in the ocean so he'd "Wake up!" because he was such a clueless idiot when it came to relationships that he sometimes really hurt Gabe's feelings!
Their intense connection, even from the moment they first met in the coffee shop, just kept building up until they basically exploded (pun intended) and couldn't keep their hands (and more) off each other!
There were both pitfalls and romantic times while they both experienced scrambled brains and emotions while trying to figure it all out. I feel like Gabe was the most aware of their emotions and situations.
It didn't help their developing romance that Tyler had always been a party boy, you know a "dick & dash", and a "one & done" kind of guy and had absolutely no clue how to be in a boyfriend/love type relationship. He screwed up...a lot! But he was learning.
Gabe, on the other hand, had never been in a full-blown romantic type situation either, but coming from the opposite end of the spectrum from Tyler, as in the fact he wanted that kind of connection but he had never experienced anyone wanting him romantically.
Eventually, it all comes to a blowout during a big party! You'll have to read this book to discover what happens next!
Two thumbs up! 👍👍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2024
What an unexpected treasure! The first two books in this series were non-remarkable as far as my reading went - not bad, just nothing special. Worth the read. So I was ambivalent about continuing to the third. I'm SO glad I did. I Hear You was beautifully written. I had to struggle just a bit with the extremely promiscuous side of Tyler's lifestyle, and I applaud the author for not sugar-coating it while also not shaming. It was a significant part of his character growth, and it humanized him and made his journey more special and poignant when he finally accepted that he could have a meaningful relationship. I have an increasingly low tolerance for angst, and these days if there's more than a bit, I tend to skip to the end to see how things will play out. This is the first book since I can remember that the journey was so important that I didn't want to ruin it by taking a peak at the end. Read this book. Tyler is flawed and so believable in his desire to be better once he meets Gabe. Gabe is innocent but complex and strong. His deafness does not remotely define him, thank goodness. The book isn't about that - it's just one element, and far from the most important. Both of them evolve, and the supporting characters are absolutely wonderful, including their dogs, who are not just cute diversions, but a significant and well-written part of their relationship. Tyler's dog is an extremely important part of his life, and Gabe owns and runs a dog training academy. That core initial connection is really sweet and well-written. Sam and Miguel from book 2 are significant characters in an organic and completely necessary way. It's heartwarming to see how supportive they are of Tyler. I can't claim to speak to the aspect of the story centered around the deaf community. I hope the author did it justice, and he clearly did deep research and was respectful. I know I learned a lot, and I hope the portrayal was fairly accurate, especially since the author made clear that there is no monolithic deaf culture any more than there is in any subset of humanity. Anyway...this was a beautiful, tender, sometimes hot, and always authentic love story with plenty of character development that drove the story. I'm so sorry it's over! I'm hoping Tyler and Gabe make significant appearances in the rest of the series. And by the way, Audible has the series in a boxed set, so great value! The narrator, Dan Levy is *extremely* good, and I'm very, very picky about my narrators, since I am a voice person by profession. Absolute highest praise. Again - I was so moved by and grateful for this story. Do yourself a favor and read it, and then support the author and narrator with your positive reviews! ❤️
March 20, 2023
I Hear You is the third installment in Casey Morales' Nashville Spicy series. This book takes Tyler from Wrenched and gives him a HEA. Taylor is a man who loves to party and has very few commitments; among them, his job as a mechanic, his friends, and his dog, Dom. He loves the club and hook-up scenes, even traveling to different cities to attend them. He likes his life, but he feels like there might be something missing. Meeting Gabe cements that belief. Gabe is deaf, diagnosed with usher Syndrome as a child, and has a very full life with his social group, dog training academy, and his dog Audie. This story, much like Wrenched, has a lot of snarky and witty quips throughout. There is some angst as Gabe realizes the full weight of his diagnosis and how that can affect his relationship with a formerly self-obsessed party animal. Tyler, equally rocked by the prospect of Gabe being alone and lonely while immersed in his world of hearing friends, panics.
What I liked:
1) 1st Person POV
2) Inclusive nature of the story
3) Sweet ending
4) Comical quips and including Sam and Miguel from Wrenched
5) Supportive community
6) Good read
7) Well developed characters and relationships among them
8) Interesting characters
9) I got to see Sam and Miguel again ;-)
What I did not like
Minor inconsistencies in the story. This is so small it hardly merits mentioning, but the review would be incomplete without it. I understand that writing is not always linier and sometimes authors forget minor details of their characters, but there were a few inconsistencies in the story which were a little distracting. Gabe's age when he emigrated to America(1st 19, then 18); the age of Tyler's dog (He went from being one to almost one); the transition from apartment to condo (Tyler) and then from house to apartment (Gabe); Tyler makes a comment in one chapter that he is not a chef but knows how to grill a burger, but then in the following chapter, they revealed he went to culinary school).
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I liked:
1) 1st Person POV
2) Inclusive nature of the story
3) Sweet ending
4) Comical quips and including Sam and Miguel from Wrenched
5) Supportive community
6) Good read
7) Well developed characters and relationships among them
8) Interesting characters
9) I got to see Sam and Miguel again ;-)
What I did not like
Minor inconsistencies in the story. This is so small it hardly merits mentioning, but the review would be incomplete without it. I understand that writing is not always linier and sometimes authors forget minor details of their characters, but there were a few inconsistencies in the story which were a little distracting. Gabe's age when he emigrated to America(1st 19, then 18); the age of Tyler's dog (He went from being one to almost one); the transition from apartment to condo (Tyler) and then from house to apartment (Gabe); Tyler makes a comment in one chapter that he is not a chef but knows how to grill a burger, but then in the following chapter, they revealed he went to culinary school).
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 4, 2023
Tyler and Gabe
I loved this book, the characters drew me in from the start, feeling like they were old friends. Tyler is a party boy, a mechanic, a man with few friends and most “connections” of the hookup variety, no emotions involved. His dog is his biggest love, followed by his two best friends. Life revolves around work and the dog park with Dom, and partying on the weekends. Being with someone more than once almost never happens, life has few feelings or emotions involved. At his coffee shop one afternoon he catches the eye of a young man and pauses, thinks for a moment, then leaves, surprised the man is in his thoughts later.
Gabe is the man he thinks about, a bit younger, deaf, a dog trainer, and a man that approaches life open to feelings and with a solid friend base. Gabe runs into Tyler and Dom at the dog park a few days later, they talk, then go their separate ways. Tyler is surprised to get a note the next day at the coffee shop, written to Dom from Audie, Gabe’s dog (a very creative note, by the way), and a meet is set up for the dogs.
Tyler is drawn to Gabe and they spend time together with the dogs as Tyler starts to learn about having a deaf friend. As they learn more about each other, and spend even more time together, the attraction between them grows. As feelings start to creep in, Tyler isn’t quite sure what to make of this pleasure spending time with Gabe, not taking a lot of time to analyze it, just letting things grow between them, until some hard questions are raised and some truths need to be faced.
These are two memorable characters, and the topic of being deaf and how individuals and society handles it, the challenges faced by the deaf that few of us think about unless we are around the deaf, is dealt with in a sensitive way to educate as well as move the story forward. The last chapter had a few tears from me as Tyler was finally able to express much of what he felt but had trouble saying. Not a long read, easily done in a day, beautiful in the development of the love between these two men.
I loved this book, the characters drew me in from the start, feeling like they were old friends. Tyler is a party boy, a mechanic, a man with few friends and most “connections” of the hookup variety, no emotions involved. His dog is his biggest love, followed by his two best friends. Life revolves around work and the dog park with Dom, and partying on the weekends. Being with someone more than once almost never happens, life has few feelings or emotions involved. At his coffee shop one afternoon he catches the eye of a young man and pauses, thinks for a moment, then leaves, surprised the man is in his thoughts later.
Gabe is the man he thinks about, a bit younger, deaf, a dog trainer, and a man that approaches life open to feelings and with a solid friend base. Gabe runs into Tyler and Dom at the dog park a few days later, they talk, then go their separate ways. Tyler is surprised to get a note the next day at the coffee shop, written to Dom from Audie, Gabe’s dog (a very creative note, by the way), and a meet is set up for the dogs.
Tyler is drawn to Gabe and they spend time together with the dogs as Tyler starts to learn about having a deaf friend. As they learn more about each other, and spend even more time together, the attraction between them grows. As feelings start to creep in, Tyler isn’t quite sure what to make of this pleasure spending time with Gabe, not taking a lot of time to analyze it, just letting things grow between them, until some hard questions are raised and some truths need to be faced.
These are two memorable characters, and the topic of being deaf and how individuals and society handles it, the challenges faced by the deaf that few of us think about unless we are around the deaf, is dealt with in a sensitive way to educate as well as move the story forward. The last chapter had a few tears from me as Tyler was finally able to express much of what he felt but had trouble saying. Not a long read, easily done in a day, beautiful in the development of the love between these two men.
November 7, 2025
⚠️Spoilers Ahead⚠️
I was excited for this book because I love reading about deaf characters finding love. It’s always so Interesting to see how the communication gap is bridged. I was disappointed by the book though.
Gabe is wonderful and I love his happy personality. Learning how he had to navigate his deafness after moving to the states made me appreciate him more. My main issue is with Tyler though. He was way more likable in Sam’s book and his character profile in I Hear You is vastly different than it was in Wrenched. The partying and drugs seemed to come out of left field but I pushed through anyway. He gave off so many mixed signals. He would ask Gabe on a date, treat it like a date during the date but then tells himself and Sam that they aren’t dates. Then flies to Miami to basically attend a weekend orgy, comes back home and ask Gabe on another date. Who does that? I also dislike that he lied to Gabe about dumb things on a few occasions. I was particularly pisssed when he lied about the comment the elderly woman made about him. Gabe already lives in a world without sound and has to trust that the hearing folks in his life and help with communication. Lying about what was said was unfair to Gabe.
I’m also not sure I like Gabe’s friends, Lucas and Brian, either. Brian encourages Gabe to pursue Tyler immediately after they spot him in the coffee shop and then is suddenly anti Ty when Lucas gets a bug up his butt about their relationship. Lucas was overbearing and acted like he was Gabe’s Daddy rather than his friend. He pointed out valid concerts, but the timing and approach makes him a unlikable for me.
I won’t get into my annoyance with third act break ups but the reconciliation was sweet. The breakup didn’t add much value to the plot and I didn’t like that Tyler went back to party during the break.
I have more complaints but This is already too lengthy. hopefully the next book is better
I was excited for this book because I love reading about deaf characters finding love. It’s always so Interesting to see how the communication gap is bridged. I was disappointed by the book though.
Gabe is wonderful and I love his happy personality. Learning how he had to navigate his deafness after moving to the states made me appreciate him more. My main issue is with Tyler though. He was way more likable in Sam’s book and his character profile in I Hear You is vastly different than it was in Wrenched. The partying and drugs seemed to come out of left field but I pushed through anyway. He gave off so many mixed signals. He would ask Gabe on a date, treat it like a date during the date but then tells himself and Sam that they aren’t dates. Then flies to Miami to basically attend a weekend orgy, comes back home and ask Gabe on another date. Who does that? I also dislike that he lied to Gabe about dumb things on a few occasions. I was particularly pisssed when he lied about the comment the elderly woman made about him. Gabe already lives in a world without sound and has to trust that the hearing folks in his life and help with communication. Lying about what was said was unfair to Gabe.
I’m also not sure I like Gabe’s friends, Lucas and Brian, either. Brian encourages Gabe to pursue Tyler immediately after they spot him in the coffee shop and then is suddenly anti Ty when Lucas gets a bug up his butt about their relationship. Lucas was overbearing and acted like he was Gabe’s Daddy rather than his friend. He pointed out valid concerts, but the timing and approach makes him a unlikable for me.
I won’t get into my annoyance with third act break ups but the reconciliation was sweet. The breakup didn’t add much value to the plot and I didn’t like that Tyler went back to party during the break.
I have more complaints but This is already too lengthy. hopefully the next book is better
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
I Hear You (Nashville Spicy book 2)
By Casey Morales
Published by the author, 2023
Four stars
The trick to gay romance is that you have to fulfill your reader’s expectations while creating something compelling and emotionally satisfying. Casey Morales knows how to do this, and his gift for dialogue and character is what makes his books such a pleasure to read.
Tyler Hyatt, close friend and employee of Sam Prescott (from Wrenched, book 1 of this series), is the hottest boy in Nashville. He lives his life from party to party, and works for the weekend. Approaching thirty, Ty is bemused by his best friend’s sudden domesticity, glorying in the sexual freedom his looks afford him.
Then, one morning, he spots a group of deaf gay men having coffee and conversation at his favorite brew spot and is mesmerized by a head of dark curly hair. This is Gabe—Gabriel Rossi—an émigré from Italy who runs a successful dog training academy and day-care facility. Here’s the link that draws the men together: their dogs. Being a dog fan myself, this aspect of the story was both accurate and endearing.
A classic trope in m/m fiction is the hook-up master converted, but it’s not as simple a plot change as you might think. Morales handles Ty gently and without judgment. If Ty is going to leave the party circuit behind, it won’t be because some of his friends disapprove of it.
Gabe, on the other hand, has found a home in Nashville’s deaf gay community. As embracing and protective as they are, their personal experience in the hearing world has made them cautious and mistrustful. I loved the way the author presents Gabe’s reality.
Love may be destiny, but it’s not necessarily a smooth path. Morales really sells the emotional transformation of both men, and that’s what it takes to make the story sing.
By Casey Morales
Published by the author, 2023
Four stars
The trick to gay romance is that you have to fulfill your reader’s expectations while creating something compelling and emotionally satisfying. Casey Morales knows how to do this, and his gift for dialogue and character is what makes his books such a pleasure to read.
Tyler Hyatt, close friend and employee of Sam Prescott (from Wrenched, book 1 of this series), is the hottest boy in Nashville. He lives his life from party to party, and works for the weekend. Approaching thirty, Ty is bemused by his best friend’s sudden domesticity, glorying in the sexual freedom his looks afford him.
Then, one morning, he spots a group of deaf gay men having coffee and conversation at his favorite brew spot and is mesmerized by a head of dark curly hair. This is Gabe—Gabriel Rossi—an émigré from Italy who runs a successful dog training academy and day-care facility. Here’s the link that draws the men together: their dogs. Being a dog fan myself, this aspect of the story was both accurate and endearing.
A classic trope in m/m fiction is the hook-up master converted, but it’s not as simple a plot change as you might think. Morales handles Ty gently and without judgment. If Ty is going to leave the party circuit behind, it won’t be because some of his friends disapprove of it.
Gabe, on the other hand, has found a home in Nashville’s deaf gay community. As embracing and protective as they are, their personal experience in the hearing world has made them cautious and mistrustful. I loved the way the author presents Gabe’s reality.
Love may be destiny, but it’s not necessarily a smooth path. Morales really sells the emotional transformation of both men, and that’s what it takes to make the story sing.
July 11, 2023
Independent reviewer for BookSirens, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 3 in the Nashville Spicy series, and I have not read the other two. I didn't feel I missed anything by not doing, so I can confidently say that this can be read as a stand alone.
I have some . . . issues . . I think is the best word with this book.
The time line isn't too clear. Ty does *something* but I'm not sure how close after Gabe does what he does, this falls. If it was close, then I feel that Ty wasn't in the right frame of mind to be going to Vegas and doing what he did. Later, maybe, but book feelings, people! That firsts time, Ty does what he does, you can forgive him, cos he wasn't with Gabe at the time.
I didn't like Ty for much of this book. He grated on my every nerve. I can't pinpoint WHY he did, just that he did. I liked Gabe well enough. He was sweet. I liked how his hearing loss was portrayed. As a hard of hearing person (in the UK) I liked that differences were pointed out between the different camps as to how to communicate with deaf children (speech/signing/lip reading) and the differences between various sign languages.
The series has spicy in the title, but I didn't find it that way.
Highlight of this book, though, were the doggies! Domino and Audie (but, really?) need puppies!
First I've read of this author, but maybe not one for me.
3 stars (but only because I did finish it, and I told myself that if I finish a book, it needs at least 3 stars)
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 3 in the Nashville Spicy series, and I have not read the other two. I didn't feel I missed anything by not doing, so I can confidently say that this can be read as a stand alone.
I have some . . . issues . . I think is the best word with this book.
The time line isn't too clear. Ty does *something* but I'm not sure how close after Gabe does what he does, this falls. If it was close, then I feel that Ty wasn't in the right frame of mind to be going to Vegas and doing what he did. Later, maybe, but book feelings, people! That firsts time, Ty does what he does, you can forgive him, cos he wasn't with Gabe at the time.
I didn't like Ty for much of this book. He grated on my every nerve. I can't pinpoint WHY he did, just that he did. I liked Gabe well enough. He was sweet. I liked how his hearing loss was portrayed. As a hard of hearing person (in the UK) I liked that differences were pointed out between the different camps as to how to communicate with deaf children (speech/signing/lip reading) and the differences between various sign languages.
The series has spicy in the title, but I didn't find it that way.
Highlight of this book, though, were the doggies! Domino and Audie (but, really?) need puppies!
First I've read of this author, but maybe not one for me.
3 stars (but only because I did finish it, and I told myself that if I finish a book, it needs at least 3 stars)
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
July 23, 2025
Mechanic Tyler Hyatt is the quintessential party boy, he loves his dog but his men only ever stay for the night—he gets wasted on dance party weekends with multiple partners—and as he approaches his thirties, he can’t imagine a better life. That is, until he meets Gabriel Rossi, a cute deaf dog trainer who has emigrated from Italy. Gabe has never had a boyfriend and his degenerative condition may cause him to eventually lose his sight as well as his hearing so he’s reluctant to take a chance on someone who may struggle with his conditions. Although their dogs seem to love each other, the guys find themselves in uncharted territory: Ty has never had feelings for someone while Gabe has never been physical with someone. Can the two men take chance on each other?
I adored this story. Tyler’s journey involved learning there’s more to life than sex and partying while Gabe’s journey involved shaking off feelings of inadequacy or being a burden. That said, some readers won’t like a story where a MC continues to have sex with other people while getting to know someone or while they’re ‘on a break’. For me, it felt in keeping with Tyler’s party-boy lifestyle and character and I could be patient while his character changed. I also really liked the exploration of Gabe’s deafness, it was great to sit with a character who has triumphed over some big challenges and leads a happy, fulfilled life. 🎧 I’ve been really enjoying Dan Levy’s narration throughout this series; he has a deep, engaging voice that suits the writing style.
I adored this story. Tyler’s journey involved learning there’s more to life than sex and partying while Gabe’s journey involved shaking off feelings of inadequacy or being a burden. That said, some readers won’t like a story where a MC continues to have sex with other people while getting to know someone or while they’re ‘on a break’. For me, it felt in keeping with Tyler’s party-boy lifestyle and character and I could be patient while his character changed. I also really liked the exploration of Gabe’s deafness, it was great to sit with a character who has triumphed over some big challenges and leads a happy, fulfilled life. 🎧 I’ve been really enjoying Dan Levy’s narration throughout this series; he has a deep, engaging voice that suits the writing style.
May 9, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I'm puzzled over how to review this book. Overall, I really liked it! Casey is a new to me author and I hadn't read the previous books in the series but I had no trouble jumping in and enjoying this book.
Tyler is a party boy who never turns down a good time and is certainly not ever going to be ready to settle down. That said, he's funny, smart, charming and undeniably sweet once you get past his good times persona. Gabe is the absolute best - strong, sensitive, determined and unapologetically happy with himself. Add in 2 great dogs and you have a fantastic cast of characters.
I struggled a bit with how Deaf culture was portrayed here. I'm not Deaf, but I do have friends and family who are so I have no idea if that gives me a right to comment on any of that. All I will say is that I hope Casey had a sensitivity reader for the book as I realize that not all lived experiences are the same.
There were a few editing issues with the book, but not enough to take me out of what is a quick, sweet read.
There is a potential plot point that some will find off putting, so I will note that here for anyone wishing not to go in blind.
Tyler is a party boy who never turns down a good time and is certainly not ever going to be ready to settle down. That said, he's funny, smart, charming and undeniably sweet once you get past his good times persona. Gabe is the absolute best - strong, sensitive, determined and unapologetically happy with himself. Add in 2 great dogs and you have a fantastic cast of characters.
I struggled a bit with how Deaf culture was portrayed here. I'm not Deaf, but I do have friends and family who are so I have no idea if that gives me a right to comment on any of that. All I will say is that I hope Casey had a sensitivity reader for the book as I realize that not all lived experiences are the same.
There were a few editing issues with the book, but not enough to take me out of what is a quick, sweet read.
There is a potential plot point that some will find off putting, so I will note that here for anyone wishing not to go in blind.
May 13, 2023
In theory this was cute and there are some sweet scenes- enough that I gave this 3 stars.
In the first two Tyler chapters, we get the age of his dog mentioned 3 times. Like I get it. And then having a dog talk through buttons like Bunny on Tiktok? Just unnecessary. While we're on the topic of dogs, love that it helped bring them together that they both have dogs. I also love dogs! But the notes referring to Tyler as daddy the whole time from one dog to another makes me wanna puke and the line inspired by the dogs "I might piddle myself if you wear that tight shirt again".....I can't do it, I'm so sorry.
Continuing right on with the great transitions, a little more on the phrasing. Some of it just seemed off/forced to me, like calling a teenager "the little puddin'" or "silent cocoon amid the flowering world of sound." And one character kept describing men as young or having childish giggles- it's weirdly infantilizing, don't love.
I was left with questions about pacing (suddenly boyfriends? Gabe is suddenly at the wedding even though he didn't want to see Tyler?), but the ending is cute, I've gotta give it to them.
I feel like that was a lot of criticism, but there were nice parts of the story and the deaf community in the book was enjoyable to read about...it added something a little different than your average romance book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
In the first two Tyler chapters, we get the age of his dog mentioned 3 times. Like I get it. And then having a dog talk through buttons like Bunny on Tiktok? Just unnecessary. While we're on the topic of dogs, love that it helped bring them together that they both have dogs. I also love dogs! But the notes referring to Tyler as daddy the whole time from one dog to another makes me wanna puke and the line inspired by the dogs "I might piddle myself if you wear that tight shirt again".....I can't do it, I'm so sorry.
Continuing right on with the great transitions, a little more on the phrasing. Some of it just seemed off/forced to me, like calling a teenager "the little puddin'" or "silent cocoon amid the flowering world of sound." And one character kept describing men as young or having childish giggles- it's weirdly infantilizing, don't love.
I was left with questions about pacing (suddenly boyfriends? Gabe is suddenly at the wedding even though he didn't want to see Tyler?), but the ending is cute, I've gotta give it to them.
I feel like that was a lot of criticism, but there were nice parts of the story and the deaf community in the book was enjoyable to read about...it added something a little different than your average romance book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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