No Ghosts

The Cowboy and the Dom #3

by Jodi Payne, B.A. Tortuga

alternate cover edition of ASIN B0851V13ZS

Months after James’s brutal murder, Sam gets an opportunity to help Thomas find closure. That means leaving New York City to travel to the O’Reilly’s Texas home, to meet Sam’s parents and get a taste of how and where the O’Reilly brothers grew up.

Their vacation is also an opportunity for Thomas and Sam to move beyond the past, drop their remaining baggage, and finally solidify their tumultuous relationship.

But that may be easier said than done given that Thomas has a secret he’s been keeping from Sam, and Sam is sick and tired of everyone in his life knowing what’s going on but him. It’s the worst time for their trust to break down, because their final confrontation with James’s killer looms, and if they’re going to walk away, they’ll have to do it together.

Note to our readers: Each of the three books in The Cowboy and the Dom Series has a fully realized, romantic ending. However, the overarching suspense element will leave readers on a cliffhanger after books one and two, to be fully resolved in book three (this book). Readers should begin the series with book one, First Rodeo.

Genres: BDSM, M M Romance, Romance

297 pages, ebook

First published March 10, 2020

About the author

JODI spent too many years in New York and San Francisco stage managing classical plays, edgy fringe work, and the occasional musical. She, therefore, is overdramatic, takes herself way too seriously, and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her men are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after.

For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila however you pour it. She’s also obsessed with Shakespeare and Broadway musicals. She can be found wearing sock monkey gloves while typing when it’s cold, and on the beach enjoying the sun and the ocean when it’s hot. When she’s not writing and/or vacuuming sand out of her laptop, Jodi mentors queer youth and will drop everything for live music. Jodi lives near New York City with her beautiful wife, and together they are mothers of dragons (cleverly disguised as children) and slaves to an enormous polydactyl cat.

Reviews

[Saimi Vasquez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sam y Thomas estan volviendo a retomar su relacion despues de la golpiza que recibio Sam, y el proximo paso es ir a Texas y conocer a la familia de Sam. Thomas espera poder encantar a la familia de Sam, y quiere conocer todo sobre el lugar donde su pareja-amante-sub llamaba hogar. Durante el viaje la relacion Sam-Thomas se afianzo como nunca lo habian esperado, lograron un nivel de comunicacion y compenetracion casi perfecto, pero la vida y el regreso del acosador de Sam volvio todo patas arriba cuando este descubrio que habia estado siendo "cuidado" por los que el llamaba amigos. La traicion que sintio Sam fue muy fuerte, sera posible que pueda perdonar a Thomas y a sus amigos? Sera posible que pueda sentirse a gusto en el Club o en Mark's? Sera posible que capturen a su acosador?

Este libro fue un poco mejor que el anterior, porque vemos una mejor evolucion de la relacion de pareja, ademas conocemos y nos reimos con la familia de Sam y su vida en Texas. El autor nos muestra un poco mas de la forma de pensar de Sam y de Thomas y entiendes un poco porque le cuesta tanto a ambos entenderse. Pero cuando Sam descubre que lo han estado "cuidando" su reaccion me parece sumamente infantil, y no la senti acorde con el avance que habia tenido el personaje hasta el momento. Ademas, tenemos algunas escenas eroticas que estan mas de relleno que otra cosa, siendo las escenas mas interesantes (para mi por lo menos) donde van a los respectivos clubs y la interaccion con el "acosador-asesino".
Me gusto basntante la forma como incluyen a los secundarios, sobre todo a Angel y a la familia, pero senti que quedaron muchas preguntas sin respuestas. Preguntas que el mismo autor nos obligo a hacer durante la trama y que quedaron en el aire.
Sin embargo, se que todavia quedan un par de libros en este universo, que corresponden a dos parejas diferentes, y quizas en esos libros se aclaren esas dudas, asi que seguire leyendo, y espero que los proximos libros sean tan entretenidos como este.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was right about who killed James!!! Yeah!!! It's good to be right at least once:) This is a trilogy that you will never want to see end. Sam and Thomas take a trip to Sam's home state, Texas, for Thomas to meet Sam's parents and other family as well as visit James' grave to say their goodbyes. Thomas wasn't invited to attend the funeral in book #1, because the family didn't, at that time, know about him or about his and James' relationship. Sam showed Thomas all his favorite things about Texas and the two guys grew closer. Then they returned home to New York...and the killer started tracking them again. The relationship between the two grow and of course there are problems that arise as in any close relationship... but they learn to trust each other and work through them. I was happy with the conclusion to the story and have the companion to the trilogy... The Soldier and The Angel which is Gabe (Angel), Thomas and Sam's friend, and Bowies', (Sam's older brother story. I will spend time revisiting these two guys, often. Someone has to keep them out of trouble...might as well be me. Again, I emphasize that these books must be read in order to understand what is happening and keep the story flowing. It's an absolutely wonderful, trilogy by two of my favorite authors.

[Kaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

im so sad to see this series end but it did so wonderfully.. it was fun and sexy.. interesting and fast paced. i really liked it.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

So we pick up where book two finished. The relationship between Thomas and Sam is still evolving, both as a couple and as a Dom/Sub. Even though we're on the third book, it's still a fairly new relationship and their constantly learning things about themselves and each other. I love how much time they spend on each other, wanting to care for the other man and their love really shines through.
There's definitely a lot of resolution for the couple. Stresses for them both have included James' murder, Sam's attack in book two, how they work as a dom and sub. As has been the same in the previous books, we're treated to a lot of hot moments between the two men and the tender, loving moments, all of them bringing the couple that much closer together, strengthening their bond.
I loved the interaction that we get when the couple travel to meet Sam's family. With Thomas' history with James and Sam now being his partner, it makes for a nerve-wracking trip but very worth going, for the both of them. I think it definitely helped their relationship move forward. Then we have the great group of friends that they've built up, from the D/S club that Thomas has always been a member of to Mike's bar that Sam worked at. It's an interesting bunch but they really come through and show their love and support, especially in the tough moments.
The climax of the drama/mystery of the story is really good (Ha,I was right!) though it only takes up a small portion of the book which I felt could have been longer considering how it's affected the couple across the series.
I've really enjoyed reading this series and think that No Ghosts is a great ending to it. Things are finished nicely for the MC's and you know they've got their HEA. I'd recommend to fans of dom/sub relationship but also for new people to the genre/kink as it's fairly easy going, especially as Sam is new to the world right from the start. This is also a series that needs to be read in order as events follow on from each book and there's an overall plot involved.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas and his boy, Sam are on their way to healing in the conclusion to their story. The mystery of James' murder still weighs on them, but they are still going strong. They learn a lot about each other and themselves, they explore their D/s relationship and their intimate relationship. I love how tender they were with each other, and how very passionate they are at the same time. This has truly been a great relationship to read. It's grown and developed until finally the healing and love they were reaching for the whole time came their way. I'm going to miss Thomas and his cowboy, Sam.

ARC via GRR/LesCourt ARC Team for an honest review.

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[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam and Thomas have gone through so much, both separately and together, since James was murdered. The killer has been terrorizing them, but they have still managed to move forward in their relationship. In this final installment, they travel to Texas so that Thomas can meet Sam's parents and the men can enjoy a wonderful vacation together.
Of course, these men are complicated, so things are not always easy for them. I love every minute of watching them work things out, with both their D/s dynamic and their communication issues. And, at last, the killer reveals himself. I am completely satisfied with the ending and completely in love with Thomas and Sam. I also appreciate the friends who support them, especially Angel. This three-book story arc is full of great moments. Though we are reminded that someone is out there who wants to hurt Sam., the mystery definitely takes a back seat to Thomas and Sam's growth as a couple. That works well here. This is such a good love story, and I am happy to recommend it to others.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for the conclusion to the mystery of who killed James and attacked Sam and that was very satisfyingly resolved here. More importantly, our two guys finally put their inner ghosts to rest by being honest with each other. That certainly didn't come as naturally to them outside the bedroom as it did inside. They almost managed to damage the trust that had been hard won in the first two books beyond repair. I loved having my heart bruised and then watching them come back together stong enough to fight their inner and outer demons successfully. This book and the first in the series were my favorties. The emotions that brought them together over James' death were reopened at his home and processed. I also loved how this book started slowly with them getting back to something resembling daily life after Sam's attack. Those loving moments of hurt/comfort were very welcome after the attack and felt realistic. The healing didn't magically happen overnight. A great trilogy from authors who never disappoint me.

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing addition to The Cowboy and the Dom series and though I am sad that it is the last book I am so happy that Sam and Thomas finally get their HEA. No Ghosts is beautifully written, intense, sweet, emotional, sexy, deals well with some difficult issues, the characters are incredible and the ending is perfect. The relationship between Sam and Thomas is continually evolving as they deal with the aftermath of the attack on Sam and learn how to navigate their Dom/Sub dynamic so that they both get what they need. When times get hard they have some wonderful friends to rely on and I love how they never doubt their love for each other even when they struggle to communicate. The relationship Sam has with his family is complicated but overall they are very accepting and supportive as well as a lot of fun. I love the secondary characters and I can't wait to read Angel's book.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

No Ghosts is the third book in The Cowboy and the Dom series by Jodi Payne and B.A. Tortuga. This book must be read in order. Not everything is resolved in this book, and I found I liked that. The relationship though is a HEA. There are other on-going things that are not resolved in this book though.
I found this story to be for me the most satisfying. Thomas and Sam are still working on who they are together. They are growing in a lot of good ways. They still have a ton to work out. But I felt they were finally solid as a couple. That they literally had no more ghosts holding them back.
I loved the emotional connection in this book. These two men I adore and want to read more about them in the future. When you want a well done but on-going love story, I highly recommend picking this one up.


Five Shooting Stars

[Heather Rawlins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved No Ghosts. This was an excellent conclusion to The Cowboy and His Dom trilogy. I really loved the dynamic between Sam and Thomas, they haven’t had an easy relationship, but I loved how they worked together. I was glad we got to visit Texas and Sam’s family. Sam’s aunt was a hoot and I loved how Thomas warmed up to Sam’s parents. I liked the mystery about James’ murder and the attacks on Sam was solved, that it wasn’t the most important aspect of the story which is good as I suck at mysteries. I really liked the bdsm elements in this story and how they worked to make being a dom and sub fit them instead of trying to fit the rules. Plus the sex and love story were great. I totally recommend this book and the series.

[Audrey Pott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jodi is an amazing story teller love her writing style. A great conclusion to this trilogy, I loved all the characters except for the evil person. I’ve also loved the unique take on this D/s relationship how Sam constantly challenged Thomas, a beautiful heartwarming, with hot steamy scenes, romance. I loved Sams family as well. I would love for Bowie to have his story, I will keep my fingers crossed lol. Because of the complexities of Sam and Thomas’s relationship, for me, made them more realistic, loved them so much. I loved the ending and guessed right.

I voluntarily reviewed an arc of this book for my honest opinions of which I’m under no obligation to do so. I absolutely recommend this book.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on all the reviews, I know I’m in the minority. I feel like this book was a letdown in regard to ending this series. It took forever to reveal the murderer which was made way to obvious through the series. Three books of build up and then a few pages to end the mystery that was easily figured out earlier in the series. Okay, I know people may say that wasn’t the focus of the series, that the relationship between Sam and Thomas was the focus, but why start with a murder make that a central theme and not really take advantage of it? Again, I’m in the minority, but I was...disappointed. In terms of the overall story arc, I’d give this a 2.5. In term as of the writing style, Texas colloquialisms, and quality, I’d give it a 4. Sorry folks, that’s all I can say. I just wasn’t immersed.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this third book in the series, Sam and Thomas draw closer than ever, enjoy good times on vacation, and learn to communicate to overcome obstacles. Danger continues to lurk, as the murderer of Sam's brother remains at large and continues to threaten Sam. This book is the culmination of the series and it brings together a very satisfying conclusion. At times, it was difficult to read through all of the pain and mental anguish in the earlier books, but if the reader sticks with it, the last book in the series is worth it all. Healing, deep love, and a hopeful future await. Highly recommended series! I look forward to reading the companion book "The Soldier and the Angel", the story of Sam's brother, Bowie, and Dom friend Angel.

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in the series definitely did not disappoint, and wrapped up the series perfectly.

While it was fantastic the person who has had them under attack, and had murdered James, was finally caught, the most amazing part of the whole series for me was watching the 'Cowboy and the Dom' grow together.

So many times I got so wrapped up in their story that the focus for me changed from being "whodunnit", to "you need to talk to each other dumb arses" and sort things out.

An amazing book and series which reminded me that no one is perfect, but sometimes you can be perfectly imperfect together, and it works just right - I hope that made sense.... it did in my head, lol

[Ana Nimity · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No Ghosts" is a fitting title for the final volume in The Cowboy and the Dom trilogy. A ghost walks with both Sam and Thomas, though in different ways. While Sam is still being targeted by an unhinged person, that situation is really only a catalyst for what therapists would call "growth opportunities" between the two men. I love these men and how they learn to communicate with each other. There's a lot more D/s in this book than there is full-on BDSM, but it works well. It's not often I'm interested in more than one or two books centering around the same two characters unless they're a mystery series, but this trilogy is, to me, solid and entertaining, as well as hot af. Highly recommend.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.. The story continues for Master Thomas and his sub, Sam in Thomas's care after an attack .
Both Thomas and Sam are still learning their limits with the bdsm scenes and more importantly communication. A good start to the book and they story progresses but trouble is not far away. Angel has some great advice for Sam that hits the nail on the head.
includes tender loving moments, communication fixes and new rules, travel, and more danger.
This has a dramatic ending to the book with the identity of razor-blade man. Nope.. not telling LOL

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know a story ends well when all the loose ends are tied up. And this is true in this story as well. From a romantic angle Sam and Thomas are finally able to work through their communication issues and get pasts all those "ghosts" in their closet. From a mystery angle, all is reveled on who has been stalking who. There is so much more than just that. There is closure, there is love, there is heat, and there is getting the bad guy. It's all there and well done! And to top it off there is a set up for a spin off. What more can you ask for?

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this whole series one after the other so I’m posting the broader dates and the same review for all three. First, please start with book one. If you don’t like it don’t bother with the rest, this author is probably not for you. On the other hand, if, like me, you really like it and can’t wait to see where Sam & Thomas go next, you are in the right place. The relationship building arc is wonderful, the MCs are so relatable, the kink is hot and the mystery is a minor player but interesting.

[Xochitl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The evolution of this series from book 1 to 3 is pretty interesting. From the personal aspect in which they learned how to be together, their kinks and limits and finally falling in love, to all the threats and danger and finally discovering what was happening and who the bag guy was. All this action and emotions around kept me at edge and I couldn’t stop reading until the very end. Wonderful way to finish a series!!
I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

[Julie Bedwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved seeing Thomas and Sam's relationship continue to grow and strengthen. They face difficulties and aren't always perfect making them so wonderful and lovable in my opinion. This has been an excellent series that I highly recommend! And there's a teaser of a book to come that I was hoping for and as such am very much looking forward to. Also one of my favorite places to visit in Texas is mentioned. Love it!

[Jocelyn Whaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved No Ghost. This book was more about Sam and Thomas finding their way and a new normal for them as a couple. It was a sweet story. You could feel the need of one to take care of the other. I guessed right about the villain. I’m glad the story was more about the dynamics between Sam and Thomas than them and the bad guy. I can’t wait for Angel’s Story. Clint needs one too.

[Cynthia Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous story this was in continuing the story and wrapping it up. I am in love with Thomas and Sam. They aren’t perfect in their roles which make the book wonderful and so heart felt.
So many roller coaster moments had me breathing deeply at times.

Recommend this to any one loving the genre.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely a perfect title for this final story. This is an amazing conclusion to Thomas and Sam's story. We have this mystery that has me on the edge of my seat. But we also have how these two grow in their relationship. Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga both pull me into this whole world with these characters and make me fall in love.

[Rachwithheadinabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a good series of action, based on sexy in a wonderful way. It is so well written with a great HEA. I have liked the characters from the start and how their relationships have evolved and grown as they explore their sub/Dom dynamic. I am sad that this trilogy is over but can’t wait for other characters to shine in their stories.

[lori forsyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew it!!!!

Loved this series & have The Angel & Soldier waiting - but just had to say I loved this series - I think it was part way through the 2nd book that I had a bunch about who the killer was!!! I won't spoil it but I was proven right - also great series fun loving laughter & lots of suspension great story
Thanks Lori

[Patricia Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic, grab-you-by-the-feels, amazing, poignant, suspenseful, smoking hot, fascinating, exciting, dangerous, unconventional, completely unexpected, definitely different, and totally awesome end to this marvelous series.

[Suzanne Irving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific conclusion to series

I literally just finished this book and I feel so full of emotion that it’s hard to put into words. I can tell you that I adore this book and this series. If you like kinky mm romance then you definitely need to read these books.

[devil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good conclusion to Thomas and Sam's trilogy... Interesting characters, romance with plenty of kink, and a very well written storyline.

Looking forward to Angel's story.

[Colleen Cremen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series

So glad I found these two authors on a readers group on Facebook. I loved the power exchange and the storyline. I'm going to read about Bowie and Angel.

[D · Rating 5 out of 5]

A vacation in Texas for Thomas to meet Sam's family. Sam is taken again by the murderer.