Tequila Mockingbird

Best of the series to date, in my opinion.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Oh hell yes! Between the writing and the narration it is one of the best series in the genre right now.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Connor Morgan, of course. The way he loves Forest, the terms of endearment and emotion he puts behind that love is absolutely amazing.

Which character – as performed by Tristan James – was your favorite?

Again, Connor Morgan. James takes Fords words and turns them into something solid with all the characters, but Connor is just another level.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes it was, had to split it up over two days though.

Any additional comments?

*** Updated December 21, 2014 to include both e-book and audio reviews ***

Tams e-book review from May 2014…

Conner Morgan is the eldest of the eight Morgan children and with that, he holds himself to a higher standard. He feels the burden of having to project a certain persona to everyone because of who his father is. Everything he thought he was is about to be called into question on his latest case. When one blonde haired, brown eyed, barefoot musician barrels into his life.

Forest Ackerman has had a very hard life. Used, abused and tossed out like trash by his own mother... unless she needed something from him, of course. He was saved by a man who saw the innocence of a child that needed to be protected. Forest found solace in his drums and the studio his dad owned, until an explosion tears his world apart and throws him right into the arms of a large, in charge and sex on a stick Irish cop. Conner Morgan.

Both men struggle with the attraction from the start, sort of. Forest doesn’t want to fall for a straight guy, but said straight guy keeps showing up at the coffee shop Forest works at, every day, making him impossible to ignore. And I don’t think Conner struggled so much with his attraction to Forest, as he did with this persona he had created for himself and a fear of not being what he thought his family wanted him to be.

After the initial explosion and the coffee shop bombing and then the hit and run, Conner finally admits his feelings for Forest. And once Forest is released from the hospital, Conner doesn’t give him much choice but to stay with him. So Forest gets a crash course in Morgan family politics 101 before these two even have a chance to define their relationship. Now this alone would send most men running, screaming and searching for the nearest EXIT. But not Forest. I think Brigid Morgan, the spitfire pixie matriarch of the Morgan clan, nails it when she tells Forest that his mother simply gave birth to him for her, for Brigid, that he was hers now. And unlike Mickey, Forest relishes the attention.

There was a lot more interaction with various members of the Morgan clan in this book, and I loved that. Classic Rhys Ford with drama, suspense, a mountain of bodies, a psycho killer and some hot, steamy, sweaty gay man sex dripping off of every page! I love the Irish and Gaelic terms that are used throughout this series and the strength of the family unit that is the Morgans. Every last one of them is fiercely loyal, stubborn, outspoken, full of piss and vinegar and carry an exorbitant amount of love.

Yes, if I really need to say it, this is a must read. You must read them in order as well to appreciate the Morgan family as a whole. As well as Mickey/Sinjin and Damien/Damie who it looks like will be staring up a new band, now that they found themselves a drummer. They just need a bass player. Oh, wait, Sionn’s best friend Rafe is a bass player. And this story ended with Quinn Morgan making his way up that tree!

Tams Audio review addition from December…

It is such a joy to listen to an Audio of a book I’ve already read, and find something new within the story. The relationship between Connor and Forest was so much more powerful when the characters were given a voice. To “hear” Connor call Forest a ghrá with so much emotion behind the word added even more depth to this story for me. Don’t get me wrong, Ford did a great job of conveying emotions with the written version and I devoured that copy. But to hear the strain in Connor’s voice when he is calling out to Forest after the bombing, to hear the love in his voice when he uses the Irish Gaelic term of endearment, hell, to hear the struggle in Forest’s voice as he slowly falls in love with his big, brooding, Irish cop, it was a thing of beauty.

Narrated by Tristan James who is fluent in the Irish brogue that is the Morgan Clan. And you will never be confused as to which Morgan is talking at the time, he has mastered the art of nuance and tone inflections so you always know when there is a shift in character. If you are like me and love to put a voice with the words on paper, then you are really going to get a treat with this one.

This is one of the best M/M series you can get your hands on right now, written by a well rounded author and narrated by a talented story teller. Definitely a must read and/or listen, but either way you chose to experience these stories, do so in order or you won’t understand a lot of what is happening from one book to the next. While each story is for a different couple, the core of the stories is a continuation of the characters relationships and how they develop as a whole.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Just gets better and better

I want to be a Morgan. I love this series. There are only a few books I will buy the ebook and the audio and this is one of them. This is the 3rd book in the series and Connor Morgan's story. And be still my heart, Tristan James' voice!! My god the man could melt a glacier just with his voice. This story is a GFY as until Connor met Forest, he thought he was straight. But he adjusts his thinking with the help of his amazing family. Forest comes from an abusive childhood and was saved by a pot smoking hippy. Now his childhood demons are trying to kill him and Connor is determine to protect him at all costs. Good stuff all around with the trademark Rhys Ford body count.

I love all the MCs in this series, but I seriously want Donal and Bridget to adopt me, I don't care that I'm in my 40s. There seems to be at least one more book in this series and I look forward to it. But I really look forward if Tristan James continues to narrate it. Sooooo worth a credit.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Love, Love, Love

What did you love best about Tequila Mockingbird?

Everything! I love this series, love the narration, love the characters, loved Bridget, loved them all.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the relationship between Conner and Forest. I love the Morgans and want to be adopted into their family.

Which scene was your favorite?

Yes, Rhys is the best at descriptions! You feel like you are there.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Absolutely nothing!

Any additional comments?

Will not be disappointed, Loved it, Love Tristan James in this series!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Gimmie Gimmie More Sin...

I cannot get enough of the Sinner series. Rhys is Fantastic !!!

*spoilers ahead*

As the end of Book 2 indicated, This book-- book 3-- focuses on Conner, the oldest Morgan brother, who is struggling with the reality of veering off his very well planned life path. What makes this such an exceptional read is that most of what he experiences, and talks about is very real, and overall very difficult. It takes a LOT of strength and a confident sense of self to defy societal and familial expectations. But if anyone can do it, the Morgan brothers can.

What I love most about this book was the reality of coming to terms with falling for someone so far from your expectations. I think love transcends gender so,I didn't blink an eye, but I loved how Rhys emphasized how scared Conner was to be a disappointment to his family for not carrying out the (hetero) life he believed his family-- most importantly his dad-- expected of him. As is typically the case with the Sinner series, Connor and Forest don't go riding off into the sunset, as usual, we readers are drawn into some type of murder mystery that the Morgan clan helps investigate.

I knew where Rhys was going with this series by book 2, and since I have no qualms about speaking my mind.... I will tell you... Her Sinner's series is about re-birth and re-discovery. Therefore, the new lives that Miki, Damien, and now Forest have with the Morgan clan will allow them and of course (book 4's tortured musician) Raif to come together and re-create a band similar to that of the original Sinner's Gin band.I love each and every one of those soulful and strong musicians, and I welcome more glimpses into their lives.

Oh and lines like this don't hurt either...

" Hey... just the guy I'm looking for... I needed to ask you a question.... I kind of need to lose my virginity, and I was kinda wondering if you could help me out."

Seriously? Seriously? Rhys keeps me coming back for more Sin. Book 4 is on my MUST GET NOW LIST... And after reading this (book 3) and of course Books 1 and 2... it is sure to be on yours.

FANTASTIC READ!!! Credit or Cash... get it!!!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Highly recommended

I absolutely love Tristan James as a narrator. However, I could only bring myself to give this 4 stars for performance because the audio had dozens of places that sounded like narrator was in a tunnel. It was very distracting and pulled me from the story. Other than that, I highly recommend this series. Rhys Ford's characters are well rounded and the story line is a great balance of emotion and action.

Good

This book was a little different then the other two books but good to listen to

Addicted

I have become addicted to this series. The writing is great and the stories are interesting with great plots, but Tristan James brings something already great into a third dimension. I love his Irish. Don't miss this series.

Disappearing into the story

Third book in the Sinners series
Connor is straight, or so he thinks until he meets Forest. His comforting Forest when he comes to a crime scene where Forest's foster dad is found killed.
There is a good crime story in the book besides the romance and hotness. And AS always the books from this author has me captured from the first sentence. The writing style is so colourful and describes everything in a way that makes you feel that your in there with the characters. This is what makes a book 5 stars for me, I disappear in it. Hubby has to shake me to get me out.
Read people, read. Or even listen like me because the man reading has a really great voice.

Overall great!

I really enjoy Tristan’s voice in this series. His use of accents is excellent. My minor complaint in this book, not the first two, the speech tone would change. Like you could tell where he went in to edit it. It had a different tone, more tinny. But I will be downloading more of his audios for sure

Love the story, not the narration

"Follow yer heart, because no matter where it takes ye, the journey is worth it-especially if it's love."

Forrest never had it easy in life. His upbringing before he met Franklin Marshall is the stuff nightmares are made of. And when he finally found his place in the world, someone from his past is determined to take it all away. No matter what or who might be in the way.

Conner Morgan, SWAT, and all around tough guy has a plan. He wants it all; the job, the house, the wife and the 2.5 kids. But then he meets Forrest and all of his carefully made plans crumble. He finds himself needing to reevaluate his life and what and who he wants, finally daring to be true to himself if he'd ever have a chance at that happily ever after.

When things get rough, the Morgan clan once again closes ranks around their loved ones, and I just love how they love each other. It’s unconditional, and knows no bounds. They are just wonderful to read about. They are the kind of family many can only dream of being a part of. Donal is there with his unerring wisdom, and is as always the rock that holds everyone together. Brigid, with her hugs and warmth. She might be a tiny woman but she sure does keep everyone in line.

There is a formula to these books. We always have the broken and scarred musician thirsting for love and with horrible pasts. Pats that comes back and try to kill them. Then we have the tough Morgan often one in some kind of law enforcement or protective detail there to save the day. We know this going in to the books and it still works. Sure there are not many surprises but the books are very enjoyable just the same.

Tristan James didn't work for me this time around. Once again I was bothered by his monotone voice and kind of lifeless narration. It felt like he was reading the words but nothing was connecting you to them, you know, they didn't resonate as it should. I do like his ability to varying accents and voices for the different characters, but it still wasn't enough.

I do love this family, and the books are incredibly well written and absolutely worth reading. If you are choosing between reading or listening to this series I would probably say read it. My advice is to really listen to the sample before going for the audio to see if it might be for you.

A copy of this book was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review for Love Bytes.