Blog Tour ~ Dare To Hope by TM Smith ~ (Review + Excerpt)
Blurb:
Tristan is the second oldest of the Brennan brothers and the odd man out. Most of the Brennan men have careers in law enforcement, but as a psychiatrist, Tristan chooses to help people in a different way. Quiet and restrained, he is content to hover in the background of his more gregarious brothers. Then he meets two men, each broken and damaged from losses beyond their control.
Gabriel Simenson is mourning his lover’s death. The random act of violence that took Gio’s life has left everyone at All Cocks reeling. The only thing keeping Gabe from drowning in misery is the friendship he’s forged with Micah, the newest model at All Cocks. He continues to struggle, and at the urging of his All Cocks family Gabe agrees to counseling with Tristan under one condition: Micah must go with him.
Micah Solo can relate to unbearable loss, having lost his leg and so much more in Iraq. The past two years he has been alone, adrift and vulnerable — the memories of war haunting his dreams, spilling over into his daily life. At All Cocks, Micah has found the acceptance he craves and the family he lost, but still he yearns for happiness and peace within.
The friendship between the three is instant, the mutual attraction evident. They circle each other, wanting more, yet unsure if it is truly possible. Is life the mundane reality they’ve each come to accept for themselves or do they dare to hope?
The All Cocks Stories is a series set within the world of online gay porn.
*Warning* Micah’s PTSD is told in detail, including flashbacks to his time in Iraq.
The noise coming from the kitchen penetrated Micah’s senses before he was halfway down the stairs. Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, Micah stood, watching the chaos that was considered normal in the house. Victor sat at the kitchen table deep in conversation with Chris, both men tenderly holding their cups in their large hands. Andrew and Mattie were washing dishes — Micah smiled as he watched them. Andrew kept tickling Mattie who would retaliate by flinging suds in Andrew’s face. Gabe, Linc and Kory sat at the table talking and laughing, about what, Micah didn’t know.
It was all… too much. Micah spun around and flung his body against the wall where he was out of anyone’s sight if they were to turn and look toward the stairs. He stood there, taking deep, calming breaths and trying to decipher what it was about all the normality in the kitchen that set him on edge.
“Micah, you okay?” Tristan’s deep baritone broke through the fog that had settled over Micah and he opened his eyes, slowly focusing on the handsome man that stood just inches away, watching Micah like he was a bomb ready to blow. Micah was caught up in Tristan’s beautiful blue eyes, unable to speak. The last time Micah had seen him, his black hair was longer. Today it reminded Micah of the high and tight cuts that were required when he was in the Army, but Tristan wore it better than anyone else Micah could remember. Tristan was tall enough that if he were standing close, Micah would have to lift his head to look up at him, to see into those eyes of his that promised warmth, understanding and safety.
He and Gabe had both grown to trust Tristan over the last few months. The man had blown into their lives one day out by the pool, and had just stuck. These days, it was perfectly normal for Micah to walk downstairs and find Tristan sitting at the table drinking coffee, or in the den playing some stupid game with Mattie. He blended into their odd family dynamic and no one bothered to question whether or not he belonged, he just… did.
“Micah?” Tristan spoke again. Micah shook his head, attempting to wrangle his wandering thoughts.
Micah flinched as Tristan’s hand moved toward him, but exhaled, relaxing when Tristan gently gripped his shoulder. Tristan had these large hands with long fingers that made Micah both nervous and curious, all at the same time.
“I, ah… fine!” Micah cringed at the high pitch of his voice. Tristan just smiled. “Could you… could you give me a minute?” Micah asked.
“Take your time,” Tristan whispered, moving into the kitchen and leaving Micah in the relatively quiet, dark hallway.
Buy links:
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Dare-Hope-Cocks-Stor…/…/B01DV38BH6
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/Dare-Hope-Cocks-Stories-E…/…/B01DV38BH6
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dare-Hope-Cocks-Storie…/…/B01DV38BH6
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-daretohope-2014104…
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/627542
4.5 Stars
*copy provided the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review*
This was a quick, sexy and enjoyable read. It was heartbreaking and difficult to read at times, but enjoyable none the less. Although this can be read as a standalone, I think you'll better understand if you read the series in order. The characters from the previous books, and from ones yet to be written, along with Tristan's family are a big presence in the story, and I think you'll lose something in translation if the prior books aren't read.
Definitely recommended!
TM Smith
Author bio and links:
A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel.
Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!
Gay for Pay
An All Cocks story book 1Christopher Allan Roberts thought he had a promising future; Captain of the football team with the promise of a scholarship to play for Alabama. His high school sweetheart and best friend for as long as he could remember, Amanda, by his side, and the love and support of his family. One night, one mistake changed everything. Chris moves to New York, adrift and alone. A walk one night brings him to the flashing lights, loud music and thrumming bodies at club Berlin. A flyer in the men’s room promises fame and fortune for anyone willing to go on camera and have sex, with another man. Money is money, and how hard could it be, right?
Christopher Allan Roberts becomes Kris Alen, All Cocks newest addition, a gay for pay porn star.
Lincoln Carter is honest with everyone in his life, including his family, about who he is and about his sexual preferences. Linc Larson, the openly bi-sexual gay porn star will do anything with anyone, which pretty much writes his ticket in a versatility charged industry. It’s not his sexuality that interferes with his personal life; it’s his inability to trust.
What Linc wants right now, more than anything, is the chance to do a scene with All Cocks newest acquisition, Kris Alen. Six foot two with Auburn hair, an exquisitely toned and inked up body, Kris Alen is sex personified. Linc doesn’t know if it’s the “I want the shiny new toy” aspect that calls to him, or the distant and wounded expression that haunts Kris’s eyes.
Linc figures out early on that Kris is only working the gay for pay angle that All Cocks brings to his bank account. Can a bi-sexual man with trust issues break down the barriers that Kris has built around himself and help Christopher overcome the painful past he is running from.
Gay for Pay is a gay for you story about two men that will have to come to terms with the mistakes they made in their past, if they want to stick around and have a chance at a future.
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JCBbgZ
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B010MIG1BG
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B010MIG1BG
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B010MIG1BG
Amazon FR: http://www.amazon.fr/Gay-pour-salaire-M%C3%A2le-dAmour-ebook/dp/B01CVZPZTC
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gay-for-pay-tm-smith/1122233121?ean=2940152004595
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-gayforpay-1841688-351.html
SW: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/554989
Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Erotica-Sexuality/Gay-for-Pay-Audiobook/B01AGMBMFI
Amazon audio: http://amzn.to/1nEuHv4
Kobo France: https://store.kobobooks.com/fr-fr/ebook/gay-pour-un-salaire
Fnac: http://www4.fnac.com/livre-numerique/a9548467/T-M-Smith-Gay-pour-un-salaire#FORMAT=ePub
Fame and Fortune
An All Cocks story, book 2
Victor Dimir moved to America with his traditional Romanian parents when he was just a child. His Romani parents taught him their traditions and how to be a shrewd business man. But it was the attention of a classmate at school that taught a teenage Victor about his sexuality. When he came out to his parents he knew it would be difficult for them to understand, but he never expected them to disown him.
Andrew Jones grew up with a single mom and his grandmother teaching him about life, he had an absentee father at best. The only thing the man ever did for Andy that stuck was buy him a camera for his thirteenth birthday. When Andrew went off to college on a scholarship to study photo journalism, he wound up falling in love with his Romanian roommate.
They became inseparable and wound up starting their own business together; a gay porn website where people could go and watch romantic gay porn instead of the rough and tough, or wham bam thank you man crap that was flooding the internet at that time. After ten years together they are perfectly happy, they don’t even realize something was missing, until they meet a broken young man that needs a family.
Matthew Carlson was homeless, jobless and broken. He’d been on his own since he was sixteen when he ran away from home after being brutally assaulted by several other young men that he thought were his friends, and then being told he brought it on himself for being gay by his parents. Matthew has done a lot of things these last few years just to get by. When he finds the flyer for All Cocks, he decides to call and see where it leads. What has he got to lose?
Matthew has deep rooted scars that aren’t usually visible on the outside. But when he walks into All Cocks, both Victor and Andrew see them, they also see him. Can three men that didn’t even realize they needed each other get past the stigma of society to find a place of happiness, together?
Advisory warning: This story contains a scene of sexual assault.
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1KjNu8k
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014LQ12RI
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B014LQ12RI
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/gp/aw/d/B014LQ12RI
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fame-and-fortune-tm-smith/1123440901?ean=2940152628548
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fameandfortune-1876682-351.html
SW: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/572963
How to Deal
An All Cocks story book 3
Jon Brennan comes from a long line of men in uniform; all born and bred to both bleed and wear blue. His family and the majority of his co-workers support him every step of the way, so he doesn’t need to hide the fact that he prefers men over women. Between the job and his larger than life, loud and rowdy half Irish, half Italian family, there isn’t much time for dating, much less finding a guy that can deal with the stress and demands placed on the shoulders of an NYPD Detective.
Kory White is cocky and abrasive with most people, but it is all a mirage, a façade he hides behind to keep his heart safe. As a child, Kory lost his mother to an act of violence. Soon after, he and his baby sister Kassandra were separated by the system. Kassandra was immediately adopted, but Kory spent the next ten years cycling through foster homes before moving to the Big Apple. In an effort to keep everyone at a distance, Kory has meticulously built himself an alter ego: Hayden Cox, All Cocks’ cockiest model.
These two strong willed men definitely prove opposites do attract. Both are stubborn and hard headed to a fault, Kory more so than Jon. But Jon is used to being in control, the one calling the shots, and Kory fights him at every turn. Just when it seems they have found a way to navigate the unchartered territory that is love, tragedy knocks on Kory’s door yet again. Volatile and strong, even in the face of adversity, both men refuse to give up on each other - or their love.
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1kUYAp6
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Deal-Cocks-Story-Stories-ebook/dp/B017YB4ILE
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/How-Deal-Cocks-Story-Stories-ebook/dp/B017YB4ILE
Amazon DE: http://www.amazon.de/How-Deal-Cocks-Stories-English-ebook/dp/B017YB4ILE
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/how-to-deal-tm-smith/1123441086?ean=2940152628562
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-howtodeal-1928167-351.html
SW: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/596202
Thanks for hosting me! Great review!!
ReplyDelete