Hiya guys! We have Rhys Ford visiting today with the tour for her new release Back In Black, we have a brilliant guest post from Rhys which has an excerpt and an amazing audio excerpt of Nothing Else Matters: Part Eight, and we have an amazing $25 GC giveaway, so check out the post and enter the giveaway ❤️ ~Pixie~ PS keep an eye out for my review coming soon!
Back In Black
(McGinnis Investigations 01)
by
Rhys Ford
There are eight million stories in the City of Angels but only one man can stumble upon the body of a former client while being chased by a pair of Dobermans and a deranged psycho dressed as a sheep.
That man is Cole McGinnis.
Since his last life-threatening case years ago, McGinnis has married the love of his life, Jae-Min Kim, consulted for the LAPD, and investigated cases as a private detective for hire. Yet nothing could have prepared him for the shocking discovery of a dead, grandmotherly woman at his feet and the cascade of murders that follows, even if he should have been used to it by now.
Now he’s back in the dark world of murder and intrigue where every bullet appears to have his name on it and every answer he digs up seems to only create more questions. Hired by the dead woman’s husband, McGinnis has to figure out who is behind the crime spree. As if the twisted case of a murdered grandmother isn’t complicated enough, Death is knocking on his door, and each time it opens, Death is wearing a new face, leaving McGinnis to wonder who he can actually trust.
Blurb: Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.
Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track – until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.
As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers.
Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.
Every really good Author has their proverbial ‘Murphy’s Law’ coupling. Diana Gabaldon has Claire and Jaime, Mary Calmes has Sam and Jory, Abigail Roux has Ty and Zane, and Rhys Ford has Cole and Jae. Cole and Jae have been through so much, both as a couple and on their own before they even met. It’s taken a very long time for Jae to live his life openly, to admit he loves Cole and to own his sexuality. Whereas Cole has always worn his sexuality like a badge.
As this story starts, it looks like Cole is still up to his finding trouble no matter where he goes antics, but it also looks like he and Jae are finally settling into a comfortable relationship with no boundaries or barriers.
Well, if you know Cole and Jae, you know that them being happy is like a homing beacon for trouble. You also know Cole will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. Everything is about to come full circle for this unlikely duo. Someone in Jae’s estranged family reaches out to Cole and Jae for help, which is laughable, considering what said family have put them both through.
And then another ghost from Cole’s past decides to start wreaking havoc and putting bullet holes in anyone or anything standing still. Is it just an unhappy coincidence that these things are happening simultaneously? Or has the grim reaper finally come to collect the debt Cole squirmed his way out of when he survived the shooting that took his former lovers life?
I think what has drawn me to this series with each new story is not only watching Cole and Jae struggling with issues both as a couple, and as individuals. Watching their bullet riddled love story unfold. I think it’s the way their feelings, emotions and thoughts have been described in such meticulous detailing that I feel I can almost see inside them. Ford could possibly make a sociopath feel with the way she vividly describes the characters and their emotions.
Another fantastic aspect of Ford’s stories, not just this series, is how she creates these secondary characters that are as vital to the story as Cole and Jae are. Then there is the dry, witty sarcastic sense of humor Cole embodies.
Jae goes off on Cole at one point in this story, having had enough of his pleas with Cole to “not get hurt” or “not get shot” ignored quite long enough. It is hysterical. I laughed so hard I think I peed my pants just a bit. Claudia deserves mom of the year y’all! And Bobby, that man cracks me up. One of my favorite lines in the book came from Bobby, talking to Cole.
“Get out of my truck so I can go home and fuck your brother.”
Definitely a must read story for fans of the Author and/or the series. If you don’t grab a copy you will never know exactly what drove Cole’s former partner on the police force to shoot Cole and his then lover, leaving one of them dead before turning the gun on himself. I’ll admit that I have had a couple of theories since the first book.
And I was surprised when the truth is revealed. If you like action packed, non-stop, thrill a minute stories with flawed, three-dimensional characters and these absolutely insane story lines… I would wonder why you haven’t read this series yet.
Tams’ 5 Heart Audiobook Review (June 2016)
Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay… a more perfect union could not be found I tell you. Between Ford’s immaculate attention to detail and the way she can shape and mold words, and Tremblay’s ability to breathe life into any character he voices… its chocolate for my ears! I couldn’t be more pleased that Tremblay carried the torch from start to finish for this series. I came to feel like the characters I was listening to were old friends, and every year or so we would have a visit, bullet proof vest and riot gear required, of course.
Everything comes to a volcanic head in this last book, and when it finally blows, no one is safe. I think that Cole is pretty much done. The man has more holes in him than a slice of Swiss cheese, and the constant worrying for every single person he loves and holds dear. He’s just ready for some semblance of a normal life with Jae, growing old and fucking like bunnies until they can’t see straight. Being an uncle, brother, best friend and son (to Claudia of course, not that SOB father of his).
But there is one more bad guy to take down before Cole can rest easy.
I highly recommend this series… well, this Author and Narrator in fact. I believe Rhys Ford had some water bottles at GRL one year that read “Murder – Mystery – Mayhem” those three words aptly describe this series, with a metric ton of passion and just a little bit of angst. You can read, listen or do both as I did.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Hiys peeps, we have Rhys Ford stopping by with her new release Dirty Heart, we have a fantastic guest post from Rhys where she shares her goodbye to Cole and Jae, Dirty Bits 3 and a fabulous giveaway, we also have Tams review for you to check out, so enjoy the post and leave a comment to enter the giveaway! <3 ~Pixie~
Dirty Hearts
(Cole McGinnis Mysteries 06)
by
Rhys Ford
Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.
Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.
As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.
Former LAPD detective Cole McGinnis’s life nearly ended the day his police partner and best friend Ben Pirelli emptied his service weapon into Cole and his then-lover, Rick. Since Ben turned his gun on himself, Cole thought he’d never find out why Ben tried to destroy him.
Years later, Cole has stitched himself back together. Now a private investigator and in love with Jae-Min Kim, a Korean-American photographer he met on a previous case, Cole’s life is back on track—until he discovers Jeff Rollins, a disgraced cop and his first partner, has resurfaced and appears to be working on the wrong side of the law.
As much as Cole’s fought to put the past behind him, he’s soon tangled up in a web of lies, violence, and death. Jeff Rollins is not only trying to kill Cole’s loved ones, he is also scraping open old wounds and long-forgotten memories of the two men Cole loved and lost. Cole is sure Rollins knows why Ben ruined all their lives, but he isn’t looking for answers. Now Cole is caught in a cat-and-mouse game with a cold-blooded killer with the key to not only his past but his future.
Review: Every really good author has their proverbial ‘Murphy’s Law’ coupling. Diana Gabaldon had Claire and Jaimie, Mary Calmes has Sam and Jory, Abigail Roux has Ty and Zane, and Rhys Ford has Cole and Jae. Cole and Jae have been through so much, both as a couple and on their own before they even met. It’s taken a very long time for Jae to live his life openly, to admit he loves Cole and to own his sexuality. Whereas Cole has always worn his sexuality like a badge.
As this story starts, it looks like Cole is still up to his finding trouble no matter where he goes antics, but it also looks like he and Jae are finally settling into a comfortable relationship with no boundaries or barriers.
Well, if you know Cole and Jae, you know that them being happy is like a homing beacon for trouble. You also know Cole will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. Everything is about to come full circle for this unlikely duo. Someone in Jae’s estranged family reaches out to Cole and Jae for help, which is laughable, considering what said family have put them both through.
And then another ghost from Cole’s past decides to start wreaking havoc and putting bullet holes in anyone or anything standing still. Is it just an unhappy coincidence that these things are happening simultaneously? Or has the grim reaper finally come to collect the debt Cole squirmed his way out of when he survived the shooting that took his former lovers life?
I think what has drawn me to this series with each new story is not only watching Cole and Jae struggling with issues both as a couple, and as individuals. Watching their bullet riddled love story unfold. I think it’s the way their feelings, emotions and thoughts have been described in such meticulous detailing that I feel I can almost see inside them.
Ford could possibly make a sociopath feel with the way she vividly describes the characters and their emotions. Another fantastic aspect of Ford’s stories, not just this series, is how she creates these secondary characters that are as vital to the story as Cole and Jae are. Then there is the dry, witty sarcastic sense of humor Cole embodies.
Jae goes off on Cole at one point in this story, having had enough of his pleas with Cole to “not get hurt” or “not get shot” ignored quite long enough. It is hysterical. I laughed so hard I think I peed my pants just a bit. Claudia deserves mom of the year ya’ll! And Bobby, that man cracks me up. One of my favorite lines in the book came from Bobby, talking to Cole.
“Get out of my truck so I can go home and fuck your brother.”
Definitely a must read story for fans of the Author and/or the series. If you don’t grab a copy you will never know exactly what drove Cole’s former partner on the police force to shoot Cole and his then lover, leaving one of them dead before turning the gun on himself.
I’ll admit that I have had a couple of theories since the first book. And I was surprised when the truth is revealed. If you like action packed, non-stop, thrill a minute stories with flawed, three dimensional characters and these absolutely insane story lines… I would wonder why you haven’t read this series yet.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
So a funny thing happened on the way to a tweet, Greg Tremblay, the fantastic narrator of my Dirty series, texted me and said… hey, you should giveaway a custom ringtone. Or something to that effect. There was some discussion. A few emails and then well, long story short—there may have been some pixilated shots of whiskey and banter but a plan was formed. A plan so cunning I could have stuck a tail on it and called it a weasel.
Mostly, it involved Greg. And your phone. But it was still a plan!
After a furious, intense process of queries, eliminations, debating on who said what, we came up with a set of phrases from Cole, Bobby, Jae, Claudia, Scarlet and one from Maddy then Greg went to work. And returned to me with a brilliant sound bites forged by a narrative master—in the style of the characters’ voices.
So dear reader, as a thank you for everything you’ve done for Greg and me, I’d like to present the entire set of ringtones—twenty one in total—FREE, as a gift to you.
Available in Android (MP3) and iPhone (formats for Android and Apple phones, Greg has also graciously included the WAV files if that’s your thing. Download links to the zipped files are provided below.*
A great humongous thank you to all of the blogs who helped me with this guerilla gifting. This swirled up on Tuesday and Greg just MADE it happen. He is the voice of the series and I am forever grateful for his talent.
If you’ve not tried out Greg Tremblay’s narrations, please do so. He makes audiobooks fun and damn, he brings Cole and the others to life.
Greg Tremblay’s body of work can be foundhere—and yes, the Dirty series is there but so are many other lovely audio books. I highly recommend one of Greg’s audiobooks, a comfy chair, a pair of headphones and a nice hot cup of coffee… or tea… with or without whisky.
* These are copyrighted and available free for individual use. The files included in the zip cannot be sold by third parties nor can they be altered in anyway as to destroy the integrity of the original work. Animals were test subjects for these sound files and while the cat could not have given less of a shit, the dog seemed mighty interested. Please note, neither own nor use a phone or a computer so results may vary.
Title: Down and Dirty Author: Rhys Ford Series: A Cole McGinnis Mystery, #5 Genre: Romantic Suspense Length: Novel (200 pages) Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (January 2nd 2015) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: From the moment former LAPD detective Bobby Dawson spots Ichiro Tokugawa, he knows the man is trouble. And not just because the much younger Japanese inker is hot, complicated, and pushes every one of Bobby’s buttons.
No, Ichi is trouble because he’s Cole McGinnis’s younger brother and off-limits in every possible way. And Bobby knows that even before Cole threatens to kill him for looking Ichi’s way. But despite his gut telling him Ichi is bad news, Bobby can’t stop looking… or wanting.
Ichi was never one to play by the rules. Growing up in Japan as his father’s heir, he’d been bound by every rule imaginable until he had enough and walked away from everything to become his own man.
Los Angeles was supposed to be a brief pit stop before he moved on, but after connecting with his American half-brothers, it looks like a good city to call home for a while—if it weren’t for Bobby Dawson.
Bobby is definitely a love-them-and-leave-them type, a philosophy Ichi whole-heartedly agrees with.
Family was as much of a relationship as Ichi was looking for, but something about the gruff and handsome Bobby Dawson that makes Ichi want more.
Review: Bobby Dawson is conundrum. The former cop has spent most of his life in the closet, and still isn’t technically out of it. He doesn’t necessarily hide his sexuality. In fact, at times he wears it like the badge he used to sport.
There is pain in his past linked to the knowledge of who he is, or at least who he wants to be, that he will have to come to terms with to be completely open. His best friend’s little brother makes him want to dive head first into everything he has run from up until this point, and it scares him shitless.
Ichiro Tokugawa came to America to meet his half brothers, and decided LA was as good a place as any to set up his own Tattoo parlor. Having spent most of his young life under the thumb of his traditional Asian father, Ichi rebelled as soon as he figured out he could and has done a fine job of taking care of himself since.
His first impression of Bobby Dawson, the larger than life shadow of his brother Cole, is trouble. Everyone in Ichi’s life warns him away from the playboy ex-cop that goes through men like most people go through underwear. This only makes Ichi want Bobby all the more, well that, and the way Bobby undresses him from across the room with just a look.
Against their better judgment, a dual pitiful excuse of willpower and the constant hindrance of just about everyone they know, Bobby and Ichi succumb to their mutual attraction thinking it’s just a one off. No sooner than lips, tongues, fingers, and teeth mix, they both know they are in big trouble.
The man who never “slept” with anyone because that would involve waking up next to them and the slightly inexperienced guy that didn’t want any attachments, other than his family, find themselves wanting, no needing, each other. But hell hath no fury like a half Asian, half Irish PI that has just learned his best friend is banging his little brother. Katie, bar the door.
While this story shifts the main focus from Cole and Jae over to Bobby and Ichi, the story runs parallel to the events of the last two books of the Cole McGinnis series, so it would probably be best that you read these books in order. I did enjoy the alternate view from Bobby and Ichi’s perspective of what was happening outside of Cole’s head at certain moments though.
One thing I can tell you about the characters in this book, this series, when they love, they love with everything they have in them. Bobby is stripped bare and laid raw on the pages of Down and Dirty, there are no hidden places and no more secrets by the end. And I absolutely loved that! That Ford finally tore open the doors that Bobby has kept himself so securely hidden by for the duration of this series.
Bobby may turn out to be even sappier than Cole when it comes to his man before we see Ford close the pages on this series. And that ending, I want so badly to be pissed off about that fade to black, but I’m more excited and anxious to see what is coming next for these characters I’ve come to know and love.
Ford’s unique sense of humor and writing style, where as she is extremely descriptive when necessary, and less than forthcoming when called for is ever present in this book. The difference in Bobby and Ichi’s story is the body count, there isn’t one, shocking, I know. The calm before the storm as they say. Definitely a must read for fans of the author and the series, or anyone that is looking for a strong read with lots of passion and story.
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Dirty Deeds Series: A Cole McGinnis Mystery, #4 Author: Rhys Ford Narrator: Greg Tremblay Genre: Mystery/ Suspense Length: 8 hours and 5 minutes Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (08-12-2004) Heat Level: Explicit Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥5 Hearts Blurb: Sheila Pinelli needed to be taken out.
Former cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis never considered committing murder. But six months ago, when Jae-Min’s blood filled his hands and death came knocking at his lover’s door, killing Sheila Pinelli became a definite possibility.
While Sheila lurks in some hidden corner of Los Angeles, Jae and Cole share a bed, a home, and most of all, happiness. They’d survived Jae’s traditional Korean family disowning him and plan on building a new life—preferably one without the threat of Sheila’s return hanging over them.
Thanks to the Santa Monica police mistakenly releasing Sheila following a loitering arrest, Cole finally gets a lead on Sheila’s whereabouts. That is, until the trail goes crazy and he’s thrown into a tangle of drugs, exotic women, and more death. Regardless of the case going sideways, Cole is determined to find the woman he once loved as a sister and get her out of their lives once and for all.
Review: Cole McGinnis has been through hell and back in search of a little piece of something to call his own, to have a family, and to just be happy. But there always seems to be some deranged psychopath hell-bent on destroying Cole and those he holds dear. The last person he expected to come after him, or try to kill his lover Jae was his dead partner’s wife, Sheila.
In the world of Cole McGinnis you will learn, whatever can go wrong will and as tough as Cole claims to be, the man is not bulletproof. All that he can handle, what he can’t handle is the threat of losing the person that means more to him than anything, again, and that is threat that Sheila Pinelli poses. All Sheila did when she pulled that trigger was bring down the wrath of the one man that will hunt her to the ends of the earth to make her pay for her sins.
Of course, this is Cole we are talking about, so the situation has to be more involved than just a bit a revenge. A very bad man is paying young Asian men that want to be women to come to America with the promise of hormones and surgery. The price is for his generosity is unquestioned allegiance with the pills and the operations dangled in front of them like a carrot.
Cole is quickly neck-deep in bodies trying to find Sheila and a very elusive transsexual. And while he and Jae are finally living their lives openly as a couple, both of Cole’s brothers are having a little trouble adapting to the danger Cole deliberately puts himself into. To make matters worse, there is something weird going on with Bobby.
Murder, mayhem, and madness are an everyday occurrence in the life of this Private Dick. But this case may uncover one too many secrets for Cole to come back from.
This is the best Cole McGinnis book to date! Everything was more grandiose and extreme in this story, but at the same time, it was not overwhelming as one might think. Both Ford’s writing and Tremblay’s narration kept an even, steady pace that built from the first line to the last, and what an ending. I mean, I saw it coming it was just so direct that it left me cracking up and oh so anxious for that particular story to unfold.
I have always been completely enamored with the relationship between Cole and Jae, it would seem that Jae finally being able to live his life out loud was just what the doctor ordered. The passion and innate sexual energy between these two literally exploded in this book. I’m talking toe curling, eye blurring, ears ringing, off the charts sexy! It’s not JUST their animalistic attraction to one another and the way they can tear up a bedroom though, it is the way they love each other with no apologies, the trust and the admiration they have for one another that just make them that much more endearing.
As usual, Ford builds a masterpiece full of mystery, suspense, and intrigue that is bathed in blood and bodies then wrapped up nicely with a sexy little bow. I cannot wait to sink my teeth into Down and Dirty and see where she takes Cole’s big, brooding best friend and the brother he swore he wouldn’t take skinny-dipping. A note to the author… please write faster! I need more Cole and Jae, and Miki and Cain, and Damie and Shion and isn’t there a naughty little tease you put out there for Quinn Morgan?! Hustle woman, hustle!!
Oh, right, narration. It’s fantastic. Greg Tremblay really has given Cole and Jae their own voice through Ford’s writing and his translation of how these characters would sound. The beauty of it is, I can literally picture them in my mind and think of them as real people because of his talent. Must read series people, Must Read!
* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
Title: Dirty Heart
Title: Dirty Heart
Title: Down and Dirty