Review of Two Audio Books: Survivor and Lover by TM Smith, performed by Nick J. Russo

Story: 5

Narration: 5

5.0Overall score

Two great audio books!

Survivor By TM Smith

Genre: Contemporary Romance, MM, GLBTQ, Age-gap

Released: ebook-August 2017; audio-January 2018

Publisher: TTC Publishing

Series: Survivor, Books 1 and 2

Synopsis

Taylor Langford’s world is torn apart when he is only thirteen years old—his parents killed, leaving him alone and orphaned. With no living relatives, he’d certainly be another statistic if not for the intervention of the policeman who found Taylor in the crawl space where his mother hid him that fateful night. Despite the tragedy and resulting anguish in his life, Taylor knows how lucky he is.

Frank Moore is a rookie with the Dallas Police Department when he and his partner answer a call in Devonshire, one of the city’s more affluent neighborhoods. They think the young boy in various pictures throughout the home has been kidnapped until they find him, shaken but alive. Officer Moore recognizes the pain in the kid’s eyes, having lost his own mother to cancer when he was just a boy. He steps in, making sure Taylor is placed with a loving foster family. Over the years, Frank becomes a permanent fixture in Taylor’s life.

A decade later, the case remains unsolved and the once gangly, uncertain teenager is now a college graduate who knows exactly what he wants. He’s coming home to the man that helped mold and shape his life, the man he’s loved for as long as he can remember, Frank Moore. But Taylor isn’t the only person returning to Dallas, and while Frank is distracted by his own conflicting feelings and the new bond growing between the two, the past creeps up on them, determined to finish what was started ten years earlier.

Lover By TM Smith

Genre: Contemporary Romance, MM, GLBTQ, Age-gap

Released: ebook-April 2018; audio August 2018

Publisher: TTC Publishing

Series: Survivor, Books 1 and 2

Synopsis
Life has not always been kind to Shannon Dupree. On the outside he’s carefree and fun loving, but when it comes to his past he’s evasive and secretive. Running away from emotionally bereft parents at just fifteen, Shannon escapes life with them but steps into the waiting arms of the devil.

Rory Landers is a rising star at the Bureau. His personal life, however, is nothing to write home about. He hopes to take his limited relationship with Frank Moore to the next level when they finally solve the Langford murder case, but that doesn’t turn out as planned. On the plus side, he meets free-spirited college senior Shannon Dupree.

Rand Davis finds himself fortysomething and single when his partner of more than a decade is unfaithful. Taking over the Cold Case Squad frees up some of his time, and Rand welcomes newfound friendships within the Langford-Moore family circle. He thinks relationships are not in the cards for him until he meets an agent with an attitude and a vivacious blond that make him want so much more.

Past, present, pain, and suffering collide, ushering in the possibility of a life and love worth fighting for. Although their personalities couldn’t be more different, their three hearts beat the same. Shannon, Rory, and Rand learn the definition of love, commitment, and strength and if they allow themselves, the trio will find all that and more—in each other.

Review

Reviewed by ButtonsMom2003

Two great audio books!

Both of these books span several years. Survivor spans 11 years (2005-2016) and Lover spans 7 years (2010-2017). While some of the storylines run concurrent with each other, you could probably read Lover without reading Survivor first. Just know that Lover will contain some spoilers for Survivor.

I listened to these audiobooks one right after the other and I loved both of them. Nick J. Russo’s narration was great. His voice is soothing to listen to and he gives each character a unique voice.

Survivor:
This is a great age-gap story about a relationship that starts with tragedy. Taylor Langford’s parents were murdered when he is only 13. Frank Moore is one of the police officers that finds Taylor hiding in his home after the tragedy. Over the years Franks keeps in close touch with Taylor and a relationship eventually develops between the two.

This story is loaded with emotion and had me sobbing more than once. While what Taylor went through was heart breaking, Frank’s devotion to Taylor as he was growing up, and then later loving him, put it back together again.

While the love story between Taylor and Frank was great to read, the underlying mystery surrounding who killed Taylor’s parents kept me listening to this book almost obsessively until I finished it. Epilogues are one of my favorite things when I read a book and the one for Survivor was the cherry on top of an already great story.

Lover:
As I’m writing this review, I realize that if I say anything too much about this story it will create spoilers for Survivor. So, fair warning – If you haven’t read Survivor you might want to stop reading here.

We met Shannon, Rory and Rand in Survivor. Shannon is Taylor’s best friend; Rory was an undercover FBI agent and Rand a Cold Case detective. During most of this story Shannon and Rory are in a committed relationship with each other but each of them are also attracted to Rand.

While this story is about how the three of them eventually form a relationship with each other it is also Shannon’s survivor story. He was in an abusive relationship that he eventually escaped from.

For some reason I’m having trouble putting into words what I liked about this story. There is a lot going on: mystery, hot sexy time between the three MCs, and a very satisfying HEA.

After listening to these two audiobooks, I was happy to learn that a third book is expected. I’m really looking forward to that story, which will feature two secondary characters from Lover.

Story: ♥♥♥♥♥

Performance: ♥♥♥♥♥

O Factor: Scorcher

Reviews for TM Smith

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About Author

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!

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