The Man Who Loved Cole Flores

Dig Two Graves #1

by K.A. Merikan

You want revenge? Dig two graves.
Ten years ago, a vicious gang called the Gotham Boys descended on a homestead in the mountains like a pack of wolves, leaving nothing behind but death and destruction.
Ned O'Leary was the only one to survive the ordeal.
He lost hope for revenge long ago, but its flame erupts in his heart when the gang is spotted again. By a stroke of luck, he is recruited to infiltrate the Gotham Boys and bring them all to justice. Ripped out of his wholesome life on a ranch, he has to find his footing with a band of ruthless outlaws who challenge his morals every step of the way
But the one who tests him most of all is Cole Flores . Deadly, full of himself and unpredictable, the gang leader's adopted son should be a man easy to hate, but instead, he sparks illicit desires Ned has never felt before.
Cole Flores is forbidden. Cole Flores is corruption. Cole Flores is everything Ned craves.
Torn between love and revenge, lust and loyalty, Ned has to face impossible choices that are bound to leave scars, no matter how hard he tries to do the right thing.
*
"I don't know what this means, or how to do this with you," he whispered as his heart broke into a gallop. "But I want to. I need to."

Dark, dangerous, yet desperately romantic , "The Man Who Loved Cole Flores" is a gritty western M/M romance novel. Prepare for violence, emotional turmoil, and scorching hot, explicit scenes, as well as a heart-pounding cliffhanger to book 1.
The epic love story of Ned O'Leary and Cole Flores gets its HEA in book 2 - "The Man Who Hated Ned O'Leary".
Enemies-to-lovers, first love, revenge, undercover, friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance, outlaws and cowboys, crime, gang, secrets, loyalty, betrayal, Old West, corruption of the innocent, self-discovery, opposites attract

Genres: Historical, M M Romance, Romance, Westerns, Friends To Lovers, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT

466 pages, Paperback

First published February 10, 2021

About the author

(Goodreads profile run by Kat)

K. A. Merikan is a duo of queer writers who don’t believe in following the well-trodden path. In their books you can dip your toe into dangerous romance with mafiosi, outlaw bikers and bad boys, all from the safety of your sofa. They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and in fiction. Their stories don’t shy away from exploring the darker side of M/M romance, and feature a variety of anti-heroes, rebels, misfits, and underdogs who go against the grain.
Be prepared for shocking twists, dark humor, raw emotions, and sizzling hot scenes.

K.A. Merikan also writes steamy M/M romcoms as Devon Doe.

e-mail: kamerikan@gmail.com

More information about ongoing projects, works in progress and publishing at:
K.A. Merikan’s author page: http://kamerikan.com
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/kamerikan

Reviews

[lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zeb shoved at his chest. “He asked you a question, boy! Is this piece of shit your woman?” he mocked, an incredulous grin dancing across features already twisting with disgust.
This couldn’t be happening.
The black eyes that had had so much softness for Ned went hard as steel, with jagged edges to draw Zeb’s blood. Cole rose, squared his shoulders, and faced both Zeb and Tom with his cheeks on fire.
“Ned O’Leary is my man. You told me yourself, Tom, that I shall have whatever I want to take. And I want him. I found him. I took him. And he’s mine.”

such beautiful, sparkling, engrossing prose. this book was brimming with uncertainty and exploration and was chock-full of development when it came to the progression of the romance between the mcs. they didn’t have the ideal situation for love, what with ned out to betray the gotham boys and keeping it a huge secret from cole while cole and ned were outlaws, but i savored every little moment they had — like them being each other’s firsts (for cole, with a man, for ned, ever). cole presenting ned with a bouquet of wildflowers to “romance” him. them being each other’s sweethearts. the “snake bite”. ned blowing cole a kiss “for fun”. watching the stars together. them saving each other’s lives numerous times. they’re so adorable pls. cole is my favorite (hey, i can’t resist a guy who’s that loyal and sweet-talks/flirts so much!!) but i did love ned’s moral greyness and how determined he was to get his revenge lol.

They meant nothing yet enraged Ned to the core, because Cole was Ned’s sweetheart, no matter how sappy that was. He was respite in a world filled with betrayal and cruelty, a glimmer of honesty and real emotion.

i also loved how realistic the pain was when cole just pushed his cock into ned’s asshole without any prep 😭 like people!! have you ever heard of oil/lubricant used for anal sex!!! i loved that scene where ned went to a brothel to ask how anal sex works to please his wife, cole — uh, colleen. the way the woman immediately caught on to the fact that cole was his partner when he just rushed in too lmao i was cackling please.

“I know who I want. And it’s you.”

i just want them to have escaped to california, to see the ocean, to let go of their past lives and simply be who they are with each other. no explanations. they yearned for that and i do too.

“My heart feels so tight. As if you were holding it,” he whispered.

a huge thank you to dan for the recommendation, and afy for the buddy read!! this was such a fun as well as intense ride, and i can’t wait to follow their journey into part two.

[nark · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

this was pretty great! i absolutely loved Cole and Ned together, their connection seemed so pure and romantic, even if you know as the reader that bad shit is gonna happen and tear them apart.💔 the plot was very engaging and interesting for the most part too, i absolutely loved the setting for this story! however, it did start to drag for me in the last hundred pages or so, i kinda just wanted it come to a conclusion already lmao. this also ends on a major cliffy, which i expected, since this is a duology. definitely interested in reading the sequel, i'm very curious to see just how the mcs will overcome all the lies and betrayals between them. to conclude, i definitely recommend this if you feel like reading something with morally dubious characters, lots of steam and lots of adventures. 🐎

[afy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want what these two idiots have, and no, i'm not referring to their wick/poker/prick/pecker/prong/tool/dick/cock🤣💀

Buddy read with my yapping partner Lila, it was such a refreshing read. Can't wait to start book 2.

[K.A. Merikan]

You've got no idea how excited I am about this new duology. It's an epic M/M romance!

Pinterest board! <3 https://www.pinterest.co.uk/KAMerikan...

Epic cover by Natasha Snow!

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You were never broken. Maybe you were just meant to find me”

I finished The Man Who Loved Cole Flores right before bed last night, and I kept waking up thinking about it. That ending... I knew going in that there was a cliffhanger, but GODDAMN, it was a DOOZY! I have no regrets, though, because Cole and Ned are just what I needed. Also, book 2 will be out in just a few days. The anticipation is real, folks!

Cole Flores is larger than life. He's a bad guy, there's no doubt, but he's so much more than that. Loyalty and his found-family mean everything to him. He is loyal to the man that saved him when he was 12. He's loyal to his gang, and he takes what joy in life he can. He's also a ruthless killer and doesn't harbor regrets. Layers.

Ned O'Leary has grown up longing for revenge on the gang that tore his family apart. Taken in by his uncle after his parents died, he worked on their ranch to earn his keep, but he never felt like he belonged. Ned, for all he hasn't lived and hasn't done, seems full of regrets, though. Some his own and some by proxy. But he dreams. He dreams of finding someone to love and he dreams of the ocean and of horses and a life beyond his uncle's ranch.

Then, fate met opportunity and put Ned on the path to get his revenge, but also to fall in love, in only the way that KA Merikan has been able to manage for me. I mean, there's murder and pillaging, and blood and gore, and playfulness and tenderness, and beauty and love. Loyalties shift and lines get blurred. Nothing in life is as black and white as Ned O'Leary had assumed it would be.

The ending is heart-wrenching, I won't lie. Sometimes things just don't go to plan. And sometimes, they really don't go to plan.

There is a minor plot hole where it is never explained where Clara managed to see the wanted poster. The authors, when I asked them about it, explained one of the possibilities, which was plausible, but I do wish Clara would have indicated at the time where & when she saw it, because it had me searching the book for references that were not there. It could have been handled with a single sentence, like "That's the man in the wanted poster those lawmen in town showed us." But, it wasn't, and the reader is left wondering. I didn't count off for this plot hole, though, because it happens near the end and so my brain was busy with THAT ENDING and didn't' really have time to worry about that damn poster.

The Man Who Loved Cole Flores is told, entirely, in Ned's POV, and it just worked for me. The Man Who Hated Ned O'Leary will be in Cole's POV and I. Can't. Wait.

Gimme :)

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

UH! HOLY FUCKING SHIT THAT ENDING!

It's 3AM, I gotta get to the next book, at least start it, and I will get to this review tomorrow. Holy fuck!

RTC....
~*~

Okay, WOW. This was...holy shit.



This is definitely going under my favorites, but it was....a revelation. It was basically perfect in my book.

The premise, the characters, the ROMANCE 😍, the SEXYTIMES 😉, the emotions, the angst, the hurt, the absolute fucking love between Cole Flores and Ned O'Leary, and the bETRAYAL OH MY (and this isn't exactly a spoiler by saying there is one with the title of the next book in this series.

And yes, the ending - FUCKING WILD - and this is why I waited for the second book to be out - so if you haven't read this, no worries, you can get the second right away and the cliffhanger won't affect you too much - that ending...it was insane, it was intense, it was heartbreaking, scream-inducing-out-frustration, on the edge-of-my-seat good, had to get the second one right fucking then.

These two wrote, dare I say it, their best work so far with this. I LOVE the Guns 'n Boys series like nothing else, and Seth and Dom are TOP NOTCH, I swear, but these two...this book...I think it might surpass even those in my eyes. And that is saying something. Couple wise, I think I'll have to say these two are even, because I adore both too much to say I love either one more.

The year is 1880 (seemingly the height of outlaws in US history), and Ned O'Leary, 23, has been through some shit.

When he was 12/13, his father was murdered by the leaders of the Gotham Boys gang, especially Butcher Tom, cut up like he was nothing, all because he wasn't "accommodating" enough, and Butcher Tom also raped Ned's mother, and they were left alone and soon after, she brought Ned to Ned's uncle's farm, and killed herself the next day.

So for 10 years, Ned as grown up on his Uncle's farm, but his Uncle and Aunt more tolerate him than anything else, and don't really see him as family.

Cole Flanders, 22 or 23, has been through just as much shit. His father was killed when he 4, and his mother had to turn to prostitution to keep them alive, and she died when Cole was only 12. But he was taken in by Tom and the Gotham Boys, and has spent almost half his life as an outlaw, and he has a strong sense of loyalty to Tom for taking him in.

And Cole was was just a boy of 12 as well, only just having been taken in by Tom, and he was there in the house at Ned's, and saw him in the cupboard but didn't say anything, and saved his life.

Ned heard Cole's name when Tom called Cole from the pantry, but Cole didn't know Ned's, so when they meet in the present time, Ned feels there's something familiar about Cole's eyes, and when he hears Cole's name in the Saloon they truly meet for the first time, he remembers him.

There is an instant connection between them, and their chemistry was fire. They just clicked from the beginning.

But the next time, Ned is offered to infiltrate the Gotham Boys gang by law enforcement, and is offered money, so he could get away from the farm where he's not welcome and start a new life, but mainly he agrees to it so he can get revenge on the Gotham Boys, especially Butcher Tom.

And when Cole comes to offer to bring Ned with him into the gang....Ned agrees. But isn't just to get into the gang, he feels that connection with Cole and that want - although Ned is oblivious to it being lust and attraction, and later feelings for some time.

This book did such a good job making both Ned's side of things and Cole's so understandable. I agreed with both of them, I felt for both of them, my heart broke for both of them. Ned deserves justice for what Tom and the others did to his parents, to his life, the trauma he endured. But for Cole, Tom and the gang became the only family he had, and with so little family in his young life, of course he would cling to that.

But these two fall so deeply in love with each other, eventually all it really comes down to is them being with each other. But things aren't that simple, and the longer Ned stays in the gang, the more complicated things get, especially with how long he's lying and keeping the real reason he joined the gang from Cole.

And Ned, who is law abiding and pretty naive at the start, changes so much throughout this. His time with the Gotham boys changes him, his time with Cole changes him.

These two love each other with all the fire of first love - and just as blindly - but also with the fire of true love. But there's outside factors and also each other - mainly Ned - that makes it more complicated and angsty. If only these two could have met in a different time, in a different world, under different circumstances...but it is not to be, and the ending left me reeling.

But no worries! We get the second book, and hopefully these two will be able to get past everything and fall in love all over again, this time even more, and better, and more adult and mature like. Here's hoping.

These two are flawed men, they make mistakes, their relationship isn't perfect, but their love...*happy sigh* it made me happy, it made me swoon, it made giddy. The chemistry was off the charts.

And of course this comes with the violence and gore and darkness that I'm used to from these two lovely authors, and it's just so good

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this. Two MASSIVE thumbs up, all the stars. I fucking loved this. And I am well into the second book of this series already, because I stayed up until 3AM to finish this one, and then almost 6AM to get about 20% into the second one. YEP. I can't put these books down. A MUST read, in my book.

[Preeti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of Duology, 'Dig two Graves series'
Setting- 1880, Colorado
Subgenre- Historical Romance, Western
Tropes-forbidden love, friends to lovers gunslinger/outlaws/gang based,)

"Ned O’Leary is my man. You told me yourself, that I shall have whatever I want to
take. And I want him. I found him. I took him. And he’s mine.”

Saying that I have a hate/love relationship with KA Merikan will be an understatement of the decade. Because this author duo is so full of surprises, sometimes their work is mediocre at best and then they come up with something like 'THIS'. A book that feels especially written for me. A book that hits all the right goals in its specific genre.
A Historical Western is a pretty rare subgenre but to find it in MM romance is like finding a real treasure. 

Summary
Ned O' Leary is an orphan who lives as a ranchman with his uncles' family. After a chance encounter with some outlaws in a local pub, he gets a proposition from a Pinkerton detective agency to become an undercover agent for the agency,  then joins the outlaws Gotham boys and help the agency to catch these deadly group of gunslingers. 

Ned agrees to do the job because a. He wants revenge for the brutal murder of his parents.
b. He needs a job. 

But, things get complicated when he became friends with Cole Flores, a member of the Gotham boys and suddenly Ned started feeling new emotions towards Cole which is forbidden and exciting. Cole is an outlaw and kills as easily as others but he has still got a heart of gold.

Romance
Although this book has some pretty horrible descriptive scenes of mass murder and brutality, the romance is slow and sweet. 
Both Ned and Cole are attracted to each other from the very start but Ned is from a conservative family and not to forget the setting is of the 1880s. So, it took him a long time to understand his feelings for Cole. 

But, this slow-paced romance is a built-up for a great friendship and also allow us to understand the dynamics of Gotham boys. 
The book is only from Ned's POV, but we can see how both of them fought with everyone for their forbidden love.

Things I love about the book
1. The author's well-known love for moral ambiguity is at best. We have Ned, an MC with a strong moral compass who is forced to live with a gang. 
2. Again I love that the author duo never simplifies the brutality. You get a set of characters who are mostly bad with very few redeeming traits and an outsider MC, to give us glimpses into the inner psyche of these outlaws.

3. The moral ambiguity on how our MC views the world and how his beliefs are constantly changing. 

4. The accurate depiction of the Old West, lives of outlaws on-road and the gory details of the death and mayhem, made me feel like I am watching a movie by Sergio Leone.

5. Again despite all the savagery the relationship development is precious. 

I am not giving this one five stars because I am looking forward to the next book in this duology. And, thank god!! I am reading this series after the release of both books because the cliffhanger is brutal. 

The next one is from Cole's POV, and, I am dying to see how stone-hearted our lover boy could become.

"You’re the one for me, Neddie. I just know it.”

P.S- Thanks, Claudie for recommending this series to me. This feels like it's written for me.

[Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up reading anything western (Zane Grey/Louis L’Amour) so when I spotted that Merikan had written a gay western romance, yes please!!! This is not your grandpa’s western (and thank goodness for that!)

“You’re like me. I wasn’t completely sure until last night, but that’s clear now. It was… like nothing I ever felt,” he whispered…

It’s hard to stomach some of the brutality of the West, but this story feels realistic for the time period. This slow-burn love story soothes over the harsh edges until I just wanted to wander around the country with Ned and Cole. Listening to their banter and watching Cole sew up Ned’s clothing.

From the train scene, the bird calls, to an explosive first kiss, the photograph that showed more than they meant to, I really loved this unique love story.

But Ned only had eyes for Cole. No other men like them needed to exist, as far as he was concerned, because no one could ever hold a candle to Cole. That would always be his truth.

Ned’s backstory is more than horrific, his choices make complete sense, but what a heartbreaking position he is in throughout this story!

Ends on a cliffy, have book two prepared to go!

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow... this is the authors' best work apart from Guns and Boys IMO.
RTC

The first part of an epic duet



****Spoiler Free Rec****
****Highly Recommended Westerns****

What I Loved….
1. The Characters:
- Ned: After the death of his family, he lives with his uncle’s family, but is an outsider nonetheless. A chance encounter gives him the chance to avenge his family, but what he didn’t expect was to fall for Cole Flores. Cole evokes feelings in Ned that he never experienced. He sees a beautiful man, who is as deadly as he is sweet. #TheHeartWantsWhatItWants


- Cole: From the moment he lays his eyes on Ned, he knew that he was his. Ned was the one and he would do anything, defy anyone to get him, to keep him, to love him. Cole is a nuanced and deep character. He has all the strength, cunning and bravado of a gang member, but under all of that he is a vulnerable little boy in search of love, attention and a person to share a life with. #MyPerson


2. The Plot:
While Ned wants to avenge his family, he infiltrates the Gotham Boys and befriends Cole. Cole takes Ned under his wings and together they navigate the life of gang members. Ned isn't accustomed to this life and Cole tries his best to be there for him, even after Ned continues to prove himself time and time again. but Ned has his own agenda, one that Cole doesn't know about but has ultimately sidetracked. #DominoEffect


3. The Romance:
It is tentative and slow. These guys live in the 1800s and being gay isn’t something to acknowledge, talk about or embrace. Both of them have confusing feelings towards the other and their attraction sizzles even when they don’t fully understand what they are feeling. Once the first spark ignites, they are all in and take any chance they get to connect. Small touches, fleeting glances, stolen moments and secret meetings are all what they can have in their world. #NotEnough



4. The Steam:
This is a slow burn and with good reason. Both men are practically gay virgins. They don’t know what to do and fumble through their encounters, driven by their attraction, lust and mounting feelings. Together they are sweet and patient, taking their time to learn what the other likes and give him more. Even with that, their lust jumps at you from the pages and shows how much these men come to take comfort in the others’ body. Scents, texture and taste come together to enrich their love making. #SenseOverload





5. The Ending:
Keep in mind that this is duet, with the second book coming soon. The ending will leave you handing. You will curse and rage and look at the pages in horror. #BraceYourselves

[Ky · Rating 5 out of 5]

* 5 stars *

So, you see the cover and it captures your attention. Then the title catches your eye and it's so unique and intriguing that it makes you want to know more. You want to read the blurb and see what it's about, so you do that too.

But nothing can prepare you for what comes next...

Cole Flores and Ned O'Leary are part of a harsh and brutal world, where justice is scarce and the laws are twisted to fit those who enforce them.

The Wild West they call it.

I'll agree with that. What started as a promise, as a hope for justice and a better life, became a nightmare in the heat of the desert and in the company of immoral men.

Ned O'Leary made a choice and it led him down a path he never could have imagined.

Cole Flores made a choice too and it changed everything he knew.

Together, they tried to navigate quietly in a world where two men can never be together, where murder and thievery are tolerated and even cheered on, but what they feel for each other has to remain a secret.

Cole Flores and Ned O'Leary are characters with flaws, they do immoral things and they have their own sense of right and wrong.

From the first chapter, the book drew me in and transported me in a past where the world was simpler and more complicated at the same time. The train and the telegraph were the only means of communication between towns and horses were the way to travel from one place to the next. It took hours or even days for news to reach the next town over and moral people were few. Everyone lived by a different set of rules back then, rules so different from what we know today.

The book ends at a point where everything is up in the air, but that's to be expected as it's just the first part. If you've read that title for the second book you can guess a little how that part is going to go down. My guess is that it will be from Cole's POV, but who knows....

Either way, nothing can prepare you for the last chapters in this book. For me it was a constant state of holding my breath, murmuring "no way" and being wrong about thinking that things couldn't get any worse.

Don't worry though, this is still a romance, and the fact that it takes place in such a world makes it even more so. The things they confess to each other, even if they use the same words someone might use today, even if they leave some things unsaid, even if they insinuate some others, have more meaning because of the society they live in.

It's been more that a year since the last time I read a book that sucked me in so effectively and so completely. There are good books and then there are books that you can't even find the words to describe them. "The Man Who Loved Cole Flores" is one of those for me, I dived in and forgot about the here and now. It transported me in a world filled with dust and guns. In a world so simple that you could loose yourself in a walk or a swim without being interrupted by a ringing phone and so complicated that justice came in the form of more crimes....

[Rina Pride · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
My first review of 2022! Happy it's about a book I loved!
Written by K.A Merikan Always Bringing us impactful stories.

The Man Who Loved Cole Flores It wasn't my first Western-themed book, but it was one of the ones that held me the most.

The path of those seeking revenge is always something interesting to follow, we have here a young man with enough reasons to enter this path without turns. Ned O'leary saw his father being killed and his mother being raped, a young man who lived with these painful memories, when his desire for revenge had a chance to be realized, Ned decided that he would follow this until he could reach the final. But Ned didn't expect Have feelings for Cole Flores and that's when it all got more complicated .

In the path of revenge, was also love😭


Ned got into a complicated mess, he was falling in love with the "son" of the man he wanted to kill. Life is always playing tricks on us that are not funny.
As I said... The path of revenge is a path of no return, I wanted Ned to get revenge, Tom is a deplorable man and he deserved to die! His whole gang was deplorable. I was embarrassed to witness women groveling in front of asshole men like that. Tom, Zeb, Scoth, chernobyl were jealous of their radiation☠

In the midst of so much rotten fruit... There was a good fruit, Cole Flores was a victim of life, unfortunately he ended up in the middle of this rottenness and got used to them. We can't blame him for wanting to defend his people, he grew up in that milieu, but he didn't become as rotten as most of the gang.

There were great moments between Ned and Cole 💖 I had a lot of laughs when Ned goes to seek advice on sex from one of the women in the brothel. It's normal not to know about anal sex in those times, but I laughed a lot at the stupidity of the characters. Seeking knowledge is essential 😂

The most terrifying moment was when the townspeople were poisoned and killed, it was horrible. Not even children were spared, I think Tom should be tortured more before he died. That man really was a plague from hell. Another terrible moment was when Ned shot the girl in the barn, I felt that after that there would be no turning back for Ned, I was sad to realize that Ned has ruined his life.

The most painful moment was when Cole found out that Ned was a traitor, Ned didn't even have a chance to explain everything. It was painful 😢

Now I'm going to read the second book and see how this story will end, I expect great afflictions to my heart.

[lakshmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

For now it’s meh

[Ele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe in this author duo's work so much, I'm ready to jump head first into whatever they put out. This book exceeded all my expectations, and they were A LOT to begin with.

"I want him. I found him. I took him. And he's mine."

The Man Who Loved Cole Flores takes the reader to a very unique adventure. Imaginary cities of the old Wild West come alive, true to the last detail but without boring us with too much info. There is passion and feelings and scorching hot steamy scenes. There is blood and gore and the trademark heart stopping action that really escalates in the last 10%.

There is an undoubtful Guns & Boys feel to this...outlaws, anti-heroes, loyalty to a gang like family, falling in love over dead bodies. But it soon became clear to me that the characters only shared a few similarities. I did not foresee the way Ned and Cole acted, mostly because they kept finding new sides of themselves as the story unfolded.

Ned's case in particular is almost like a character study. I think that he managed to surprise himself more than the reader. What he was willing to do in the name of revenge, and then in the name of love.

This is one of the cases where the single POV benefited the story greatly. Cole's character unfolded slowly and part of him remains a mystery. I can't wait to get inside his head.

The book ends with a mega cliffhanger. Initially I gave this 4.5 stars because of that but nope...it's the perfect jaw-dropping ending of the first part of a duology. I honestly have no idea what's going to happen from now on but the second book seems to have my name written on it, as it seems to embody my favorite tropes. I strongly suggest you don't read the blurb for the second book before finishing the first one.

Although I always meshed with K.A.Merikan's style, I have to say that the writing is ten times better here. Is it because it's been too long since I've read anything by them? I don't know.

On to the next one!

*ARC provided by the authors*

[Mug · Rating 5 out of 5]

omgg the seduction y’all….masterclass….cole was out here subtly giving hints and pushing boundaries and lowkey flirting and then being like 👀 is ned catching my drift….meanwhile, ned’s accidentally giving all the right vibes back while being completely oblivious to it all lmao it’s the cutest thing ever!!!!!

the night with the photograph and first kiss was literal perfection. ned’s gay awakening was just beautiful. i really love that these two men went headfirst into each other, and the authors did a great job showing their deep and meaningful connection despite not having known each other that long. i love their fearlessness and the way they chose each other.

i swear i knew this would be 5 stars when i read the snake bite scene lmao that shit was cinema!!!! and don’t even get me started on the nickname neddie🥺🥺🥺🥺 they were sooooo sweeetttttt ugh FUCK ME the intimacy was gorgeous….the three stones brothel scene where they get some much needed instruction omfgggg cole’s outrage and then embarrassment, they’re just the cutest!!!!

and even the action was fantastic, the heart stopping thrill of the dynamite, bridge, train heist….the fucking crazy shit that happened in three stones, holy fuck, my eyes were glued to the page….bring on all the juicy angst in book two, i neeeeeddd it

[Rosabel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars to The Man Who Loved Cole Flores and I am the girl who loved this book! 🥰❤

This series has every characteristic that make K.A. Merikan the author I love: MC's with fucked up morals in fucked up situations, a lot of violence and steamy sex. This book's setting make all of the above points really effortless to belive, when we find the characters in the year 1880, where kill or be killed was the norm and homosexuality was a sin. The story Of Cole Flores and Ned O'Leary was not an easy one, it was doomed from the beginning, it had so many complicated layers and was surrounded by so much violence that I was really worried for their safety at all times.

But, it was a sweet story of a romance between a man who didn't know he could love a man and a man who was wild enough to show him. Their love had many stages through out the book and every one of them was lovely to read, really meant to be even with the clusterfuck at the end.

It is also a complicated story about love and revenge, about what's right and wrong, about that internal battle between doing what's right and what is needed to survive. Loved it with all it's fucked up layers. 🥰🥰❤

[Ariana Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good. Two morally wonky men are thrown together on a background of revenge. Ned thinks he's the good guy and he's out for justice for the death of his parents, and Cole thinks he's the bad guy. But nothing is ever that simple.

Poor Ned, bless him. He can't figure out why Cole tickles his whistle so much while Cole tries to gently coax feelings from Ned in a way that won't have him running for the hills. These two are just so frikkin' adorable, but they're both hard men who make bad choices along the way.

A wonderful story, within a living, breathing world. I loved every word.

For those who can't handle cliffhangers, Book 2 is out now.

[Starr (AKA Starrfish) Rivers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up. It’s like a long, western movie. The descriptions are vivid. The simplicity and depth of Ned holds me captive. How his character changes. How sometimes a good man can do bad things for the right or even wrong reasons.

Still don’t like the cover.

On to book 2, to see how these fated lovers find their way back to each other…

[Gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Damn, that was a wild ride!
I loved it! 🤠

Powerful and intense MM Western romance - Not for the faint-hearted. 😅

Outlaws
Action packed plot
Nice slow burn
Great chemistry (Cole and Ned are just …😍🥵)
Huge cliffhanger

“I don’t know what this means, or how to do this with you,” he whispered as his heart broke into a gallop. “But I want to. I need to.”

**********

“Ned O’Leary is my man. You told me yourself, Tom, that I shall have whatever I want to take. And I want him. I found him. I took him. And he’s mine.”

***********

“If you’re the devil’s son, I’d be happy in hell.”

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Western M/M Romance
Type: Book 1 of 2 from Dig Two Graves duology
POV: Third Person
Rating:




For 10 years, Ned O’Leary held a grudge against the people who changed the course of his life. When an unexpected opportunity came, he gladly took it. But Cole Flores stood in the middle of his path and could potentially derail his journey to vengeance.



This was my first time reading Old West M/M story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book is very long, but the story was interesting and engaging.

Like the devil himself, Cole had made promises of freedom, tempting Ned into a life of sin and outlawry. All he needed to do was let to go of his morals.

I loved both of the characters who were endearing in their own way. I loved seeing how they navigated this new experience together, which often time led to funny situations. The story might be “cute” at times, but also peppered with violence and the hardness of the time-period.

The Man Who Loved Cole Flores is a story of retribution and sexual awakening. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a slow burn M/M Romance.



Books in the series:





✖️🐴✖️ . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . ✖️🐴✖️






For more reviews/interviews/promo visit:

[Claudie ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

So far, this duo’s work has been a hit or miss for me, but after seeing so many good reviews of this series, I couldn’t resist and decided to give them one more chance. And I’m so glad I did! Reading this book was a very enjoyable experience — like watching a really fast-paced, dark western, only with the added bonus of some hot man-love. 🔥

I liked both MCs, but Cole stole my heart, which should surprise absolutely no one. 💘 As always, I found myself worrying for the ‘bad’ guy, and screaming my head off at the ‘good’ guy’s stupid decisions… and as I waited with bated breath for the moment that Ned’s plot would finally be revealed, I knew it would be super-dramatic. I wasn’t disappointed!

Of course, I still had a few minor issues — mostly with some awkward turns of phrase and the somewhat-predictable plot — but they didn’t bother me that much.

P.S., the cliffie at the end is fucking brutal, so make sure you have the second book handy.

[peach · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book started off very slow and without as much tension as I would have expected from the premise (and from these authors), both when it came to the general plot and the romance. The first half felt like a bit of a slog for me and I almost gave up on it, but thankfully I stuck it out and the book caught more of my interest in the last third. The prose is nice with colorful descriptions and metaphors, and once the romance got properly started it had a lot of sweet and romantic moments interspersed among the drama and tension of the plot. I particularly liked the realistic sexual struggles between Ned and Cole.

[the kevin (vaguely alive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit this was amazing!!! maybe I’ll write a coherent review someday but no chance for now with that cliffhanger!! omg holy fuck I’m not doing anything until I finish the next book

COHERENT REVIEW:

I don’t usually write detailed reviews for books I loved, but here we are. Definite spoilers.

Characters:

Ned:

I liked seeing Ned struggle with his morals while living with the gang, and trying to decide how far he was truly willing to go for his revenge. He also struggled with his growing feelings for Cole, and how that complicated his previously single-minded drive for vengeance.

At the beginning of the book, he’s a naive, innocent farm boy. He’s unhappy, as he subsumes his own desires to try to appease his relatives. When he talks about the wild men in the mountains, you can tell he almost wishes he could run away to be one of them, even though he knows they go feral. He’s never quite willing to take that leap to uncertain freedom.

Cole’s appearance at the saloon lights a fire under him, making him want things he never knew he wanted. He joins the gang both for revenge, but also because he wants freedom from his restrictive life - even if he doesn’t realize it. He admires Cole, and wishes he could be more like him - to be able to live so openly, so freely and confident in what he wants. Ned was unhappy and unsure of what he wanted, and Cole simply swans in and steal him, his horse, and a cake all at once.

Ned tries to maintain his moral code, but eventually his love for Cole forces him over that last cliff. He kills someone just to protect Cole, even though he knows he’s likely already lost Cole through his betrayal of the gang.

Comparing his character from the beginning to who he ends up being at the end - a conflicted, complicated man who is willing to do everything for the man he loves, but still can’t give up his revenge - was amazing character growth. It was done so smoothly that it snuck up on me, much like it did for Ned.


Cole:

Our perception of Cole is filtered through Ned, which colors him as a character. Ned admires (and lusts) after him, so Cole becomes an almost a larger than life person. He’s the confident, smooth-talking handsome man who just takes what he wants.

His brash take-what-I-want attitude is admired by Ned, but it’s also Cole’s weakness. He doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking things through, he has the immortality of youth complex. He thinks nothing can go wrong for him, that he can have it all - the gang, the outlaw life, Ned - which comes around to bite him in the end. Along with this attitude, he loves completely and his devotion to Ned was absolute, he would do anything for Ned…until the betrayal.

Cole was hindered by his need to see the world a certain way. He needed Tom to be good, to have a code, so much that it interfered with his relationship with Ned. I’m not sure what would have happened had Ned revealed his undercover purpose earlier, and I’m not sure Cole knew what he would have truly done. Would he really have run away with Ned still, after he was lied to? After Three Stones, he was willing to abandon the gang, but I’m not certain he truly would have prior to that.


The Gotham Boys:

There were a lot of secondary characters in the gang, but they were all very well fleshed out as individuals, and definitely added to the plot and romance. They were all present in ways that helped events along, but it never felt like they’d been stuffed in a box in between appearances. They felt like real parts of the story.

Tom and Zeb featured most heavily, even indirectly. They weren’t always physically present, but what they represented and meant for Ned and Cole was always hanging over their heads. Tom’s specter especially hung heavy.



General thoughts:

Having the book be solely from Ned’s POV is what made it work. It would have erased any tension to know what Cole was thinking, and the internal evolution of Ned was critical to the story. Ned was uncertain of his feelings for Cole, uncertain of how strong Cole’s loyalty was to the gang, uncertain of what he meant to Cole, and this was fantastic. It lets the reader be uncertain of what will happen, because we don’t know Cole, even if we see signs that Ned misses at times.

I liked the path the plot took. It started out with a clear path, and yet it went nowhere near where I thought it would. The Pinkertons suggested the bank robbery, but that never happened. It took going all the way to Arizona for Ned to call them in. I really enjoyed the surprise on that front. If I can briefly wax dramatic, it beautifully mirrored Ned’s development from a clear minded character to something unknown and unexpected. The backdrop of the 1880’s Wild West was…perfection.

This book was the headlong rush of passion, the naive puppy love that lets you throw everything into the ring without regard for consequences - and then get burned. We see and feel their all-consuming love for each other, they way they’re drawn to each other again and again, even as we know a train is barreling down the tracks for them. Ned tries to hold onto reservations for loving Cole, but ultimately they both recklessly jump in with both feet. The story hooks you and drags you on the wild ride of emotions that Ned and Cole experience together.



I couldn’t put this down, and I in fact did not do anything until I finished the second book. i think i would have died if i’d had to wait for the sequel with the way this book ended.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was intense. And brilliant. Easily one of the best and most authentic westerns that I have ever read.

It was slow going in some parts but I was caught up in other things. Once I got back on the bullet train, it is dizzying to the very end, with one serious cliffie just waiting to fuck you up. Unless of course book two is waiting at the train station. Mine is, thank God. I hate cliffies.

No seeking redemption with these two boys. It's brutal and ugly and all to real. Not an ounce of fantasy to be found anywhere.

You can appreciate the love story without falling in love with the characters. I mean, sure, Cole is hot, but he's a murderer. Ned is also a murderer by the end. There is no glory in losing one's humanity and at what price? It costs them everything, even each other. That is where book one ends.

Tragic and sad. If there were no cliffie, consider it a cautionary tale. Becoming what you so despised in all the world and losing your one true love in the process.

[❥ Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is amazing! I was fully immersed in it and I could picture the setting & characters so well it was like watching a movie. It’s an epic Wild West romance with themes of revenge & betrayal

The romance between Ned & Cole is a slow burn and angsty because it’s so forbidden in 1880 - for me that makes it a perfect trifecta of romance novel catnip. They have incredible chemistry from the moment they meet and their first kiss is one of the best I’ve ever read

Ned’s whole purpose for joining the Gotham Boys is to get revenge for the death of his parents. This revenge plot stands in the way of his happiness with Cole, who is loyal to the gang and views them as family.

It all comes to a head at the end. With this being a duology and with the second book being titled as it is, you know that something bad is going to happen. As the action amped up I had to make myself read slower because I was so excited to see what happened that I kept missing lines. It ends on a banger of a cliffhanger and I can’t wait to find out how their paths cross again and how they get their HEA!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

For about the first 50% I thought this was just okay. And then it ticked every “us against the world / murderers in love” box I have and I was done for. Death by K.A. Merikan.

I’d you would like an essay comparing Ned O’Leary to KJ Charles’ Will Darling please sign up for my TED talk.

[thosemeddlingkids · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotionally destroyed at the moment. Might come back for a coherent review, who knows.

Book 1 = Ned's POV, protect Cole at all costs.

[W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty. Sexy. Fun.


Both , the storyline and the heroes - Ned and Cole - grabbed my attention from the start.

The Man Who Loved Coles Flores is intense, raw , violent, thrilling , Cowboy revenge story while simultaneously being an intimate, romantic , passionate , fun , sexually explicit , sweet love story . In other words , a wonderfully entertaining tale ; I enjoyed a lot.

And if , ends in the Mother. Of. All. Cliffhangers. - it does - IT'S OKAY , because book 2 - and the story conclusion - is already written and being released next week - February 20, 2021 - . That's right folks , I checked 😊

Meanwhile, I am going to be re-reading this book . Yeah, I know, just finished it BUT it's so good it merits a second and a third read. LOL , can you tell , I like it?

In conclusion , this is the best story I read in 2021 , thus far ! Hey, it even made me forget about Covid-19 , Politics and Social distancing...that's a WINNER in my book.

[Lily Mayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in one sitting, and did the same with the second half. I knew pretty quickly that this was going to be one of those rare books that lives in the back of my brain for a very, very long time after. It was just wonderful.

The world was rich and fascinating and (almost) as addictive to read about as Cole and Ned’s blossoming romance. The supporting cast of characters were just so real and alive. Despite not knowing a huge amount about this time period, I could picture everyone. I could hear their voices and see them in their surroundings. Just fantastic writing.

And by the way, I am firmly, 100% in Cole’s camp. I liked Ned, but I disagreed with many of his choices including his inability to put Cole above his lust for revenge. But at the same time I understood it. But still... how could anyone not want to do everything they could for that adorable, misguided, vulnerable little cinnamon roll?!?!

Cole was such a beautiful, rich character. Ned was too, but even through his eyes for this entire book (the second is from Cole’s perspective) I just fell in love with Cole.

I know I’ll reread this books many more times. I’ve already reread them both.

Some of KA Merikan’s best work, IMO. I desperately hope they write more westerns!!

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐ - I'd round it down because I wasn't that impressed, but it's a good story and I think most readers wouldn't regret reading it, so up it is.

This book took me so long to read. So long. The story's dragging and dragging even though this was a good historical from the 19th century about a love connection between two men that seems completely impossible. So far.

🟣 Outlaw/good, innocent country boy
🟢 Age gap - 23/25
🔵 Bisexual/gay-awakening
🟡 MMCs connected since childhood (without them knowing)
🟠 Almost no angst
🌶️ Good smut; first times, oral, penetrative, kissing, no protection, lube, hygiene good for that era (they bathe a lot), satisfying, hot; t/b hinting at vers

Cole and Ned really took me on a ride here. Their love story developed with a very slow pace and I think the book could've had about 50 pages less. It picked up near the end and became interesting when both were finally committed and officially in a relationship.

This is a sweet story of Cole, a half white/half native boy saving Ned from being murdered when the outlaws Cole was riding with killed off Ned's family.
A decade later both of their paths crossed again, but this time Ned was living with his aunt and uncle and got kicked out, but then offered to infiltrate into the very same outlaw gang that murdered his family and bring them to justice.

Ned meets Cole again, they become fast friends and then lovers. Cole has a pretty dark past of being poor, abused and abandoned as a kid and he's fiercely loyal to the gang that saved his life.

"“Oh, Neddie. You’re built like an ox, and you have such pretty green eyes. I’ve imagined this so many times,” Cole whispered, rubbing his face against Ned’s until his stubble scratched Ned’s neck, triggering a series of uncontrollable shudders."



The wild west and especially the gang was pretty corrupt and immoral but when Cole and Ned get outed, they're treated with disgust, even though they're the least promiscuous in the group and actually have a conscience. Not to mention better hygiene than the rest.
Cole and Ned are building a really sweet, devoted relationship where they decide to be monogamous and stick together despite the world they live in.

"Ned stared at him, slowly turning this situation around in his head. Cole’s protective fury, his tenderness, the watch he’d insisted on gifting him once Ned laughed at the bundle flowers… Just like that, his anger turned into confusion.
“Are you… are you romancing me?”

Cole stilled, his mouth hanging open as he took in Ned’s face.
“What… what did you think this is?” he asked, his grip on Ned’s hand growing tighter.

Oh."



The story was soooo drawn out, it didn't pull me in as much even though I really liked both MMCs. Maybe because there were so many side characters and events that were happening, I have no idea.
Cole and Ned really started to get interesting when they had more one-on-one time and when they were starting to make plans to get away from the gang.

Ned's character goes from being a law abiding citizen to killing people in the name of love. He really falls in love and wants to get away with Cole, but the story gets completely messed up at the very end when they're trying to run away, but make a fatal mistake of stopping at some ranch - and that costs them everything.

At first I wasn't going to read the second part of the story, simply because I was trying so hard with this one for more than a week, but now I'm really interested.
We still have to get to the part where Ned and Cole realise they know each other since they were kids.

The covers aren't working for me.

🤷

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ★



Set in the American Old West, this story centers on how the lives of Ned O’Leary and Cole Flores converge. Now that an opportunity presents itself to Ned, he is committed to exacting revenge on the outlaw gang that irrevocably changed his life. But Ned doesn’t expect to befriend Cole or what transpires between them.

“You’re never really safe because of a roof over your head. But good friends, ones who share your secrets, can be for life.”

Narrated in third person, the connection between Ned and Cole is immediate and the wild west setting becomes its own character. While Ned originally thought his mission would lead to justice, it soon causes conflict in different ways. From living a sheltered life on a ranch, Ned never envisioned such feelings for another man and Cole is just the man to entice him.

“I – you’re the one for me, Neddie. I just know it.”

From the beginning, the moment that unites Ned and Cole is full of impact. Together, they are combustible, with Ned’s naivete and Cole’s outgoing nature, they are a good balance. I loved all the experiences they share, ranging from sweet and romantic to dangerous and deadly. The Gotham Boys also added an intriguing and entertaining element to the plot. Though this book is a long one, I did feel immersed in the setting and invested in the characters.

The Man Who Loved Cole Flores is a M/M romance steeped in grit, danger and revenge. This book would appeal to who enjoy damaged characters that redefine morality and boundaries.

Dig Two Graves Duet:
The Man Who Hated Ned O'Leary


This was a (F)BR with Twinsie Hawkey!


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