The Devil's Brew

Sinners Series, Book 2.5

By: Rhys Ford

Narrated by: Tristan James

Length: 1 hr and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Miki St. John's life has been turned upside down, but it's the best thing that's ever happened to him.

His best friend, Damien Mitchell, is back from the dead. He has a dog named Dude. And more importantly, he and his lover SFPD Inspector Kane Morgan now share Miki's converted warehouse.

For the first time ever, Miki's living a happy and normal-ish life, but when Valentine's Day rolls around, Miki realizes he knows next to nothing about being domestic or domesticated. Nothing about the traditional lover's holiday makes sense to him, but Miki wants to give Kane a Valentine's Day the man will never forget.

Can he pull off a day of wine and roses? Or will his screwed-up childhood come back and bite Miki in the ass?

Again.

©2014 Rhys Ford (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

Not much story but lots of swearing

The story was mostly Miki insecurely debating his Valentine's Day present to Kane. I actually debated quitting and returning the book but if I make it through, I keep it. I don't remember this much swearing in the 2 other audiobooks I have from this series. There was so much, it actually took me out of what little story there was. I like the two main characters a lot and usually give Rhys Ford 5 stars. The narrator was excellent.

Sweet

I thought this short book was really sweet great for valentine day Or to the next book in the series

Sweet and fun

Miki and Valentine's Day. What could possibly go wrong? Well a few things to be honest. To start he needs to realise that not only het people celebrate this day, gay people does too ;) Then there are the gifts, buying of them and probably worse - wrapping the gifts. Now that is what I call a challenge!

For such a short book it sure does pack a punch. While reading/listening we go through a wide range of emotions. We laugh at the antics and goofing around and the sheer cluelessness of Miki at certain times. Our hearts break for Miki and Damien and their past. Our hearts mend again when Donal comes around for one of his talks. And if that wasn't enough, we do get some sexy times as well.

It's a rare talent when an author can give us so much in so few words. Short stories have a tendency (for me at least) to fall flat, to feel incomplete and unfinished. Not with Rhys Ford. Her shorts are these wonderful snippets that you just can't get enough of. Sure this book probably wouldn't have been as good if you haven't read the first two books, but it could stand on its own just fine, but why should it when the other books are so good?

I find it interesting that I can both like and dislike the same narrator. You might know that I liked him narrating the first book in this series, but I didn't enjoy his narration of the second book. I can happily say that I enjoyed listening to him narrating this one. He has some great voices for our characters and it didn't feel so monotone as the last one. So all in all, it was a good hour and a half spent listening to Miki's first Valentine.

This was just such as great interlude for Miki and the rest of them and I just can't wait to get to the rest of the series.


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

Short, Sexy and Steamy!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Devil's Brew to be better than the print version?

Yes, only because you get to actually hear the Irish and Gaelic accent's of the Morgan men.

What did you like best about this story?

The depth of the relationship between Kane and Miki.

Which scene was your favorite?

Kane and Miki "exchanging" their gifts.

If you could rename The Devil's Brew, what would you call it?

Why mess with perfection??

Any additional comments?

Short, Sexy, Steamy and down right hysterical!

Miki St. John and his partner, SFPD Inspector Kane Morgan have settled into a comfortable lifestyle. Miki, Kane, Miki's best friend Damie and Dude the dog have their own definition of family in the warehouse they all live in. First Damie drags Miki out shopping for Sionn, Damie's boyfriend who is also Kane's cousin, at a jewlery store. Then the two friends settle in for fish & chips for lunch. At a place they used to haunt with their deceased band mates. So the holiday, the certainty that he's going to screw it up with Kane and missing his 2 fallen friends all have Miki in a slightly sore mood. Can the promise of an evening at home alone with Kane brighten the young rockers otherwise dreary mood?

Things are definitely looking up until Kane gets called in to work. The working doesn't bother Miki, he can understand and loves Kane all the more for what he does. It's the, dare I say, wrapping of Kane's gift that get's Miki all in a tizzy! At the end of the day the guys exchange their gifts and solidfy their love for each other that ends with Miki underneath Kane... hot, sweaty, sticky and completely debauched.

This was the perfect addition to the Sinner's Gin series, just to give all us hard core fans a little update with the goings on in the lives of our two favorite couples. Miki is one of the most messed up, comical, endearing and lovable characters of any series I've read to date. The way that he and Kane communicate is equal parts baffling and beautiful. They crack me up! And the love letter that Kane wrote to Miki, but he has it shoved inside his guitar, like a little morsel just waiting for Miki to find it in like twenty years.

** Updated review to include audio review 9-11-14 **

Tristan James returns to continue telling the story of the Morgan clan and their men. It's amazing to me how James manages to maintiain a different tone and inflection for each of the Morgan men, so much so that the listener always knows exactly which character they are following. His voice and narration adds an extra edge to this already amazing series. Whether it's the big, bad cop Kane whose patience and love for Miki is neverending. The unwavering best friend Damie. Or young, insecure and slightly psychotic Miki St. John himself. James gives each and every one of them their own distinct personality and voice that only compliments Ford's written characters.

This audio version is the perfect addition to an already stellar series of books, I've both read and listened to all the books and while they are highly similar, each version gives you a different persepctive to the characters and the stories. I'm anxiously awaiting for Tequila Sunrise to release on audio, and for book 4 to release on Amazon, write faster Rhys!!

Loved it!

Another wonderful audiobook, I love the characters so much. Tristan brings them to life so well.

Sweet interlude in Miki & Kane's relationship

Very sweet interlude in Miki and Kane's life. Miki has serious doubts about his ability to "do" a relationship. He thinks that because he is in a gay relationship no "straight" trappings come along with it (boy is he wrong). What he finally gets is that there is nothing about loving someone that you can take for granted and that everyone needs to feel loved. He does a wonderful job of it all the while thinking he is failing. Hopefully this episode sets him to rights and they can flourish in their love.

I can't even.

Great little novella but I will review the series as a total on book 4.

I love Tristan James and this series!

I love Miki’s relationship with the Morgans and am always touched by Donal’s contributions to Miki’s healing process.
Without giving anything away, I did a happy dance when Miki gave Sionn his second gift… yippee!!
One other thing, though I absolutely love it, sometimes I think the amount of “sharing” the boys do of their feelings is a little…unrealistic. Small thing, just saying.
Otherwise, like the rest of Rhys’ work, this is amazing and I have already read it/listened to it 4 times.
Audio:
Oh man. Tristan James. He is the vocal equivalent of crack for me. I have every one of his narrations (luckily they are great stories, too) simply because I adore his voice. His cadence is superb and his intonation is like butter. I love his accents (even when they wobble a bit) and the bit of “acting” he does as he reads the emotional parts is just right.
I can’t say enough positive things about this narration or his others and I highly, highly recommend his work.
For the book I give a solid 5 of 5 stars, for the narration 5 of 5 stars, overall 5 of 5 stars
(Actually I’d give it a six if I could!)

Good Series!

Really enjoyed this entire series, I always enjoy a sense of friendly sarcasm and it came through here as well. Tristan James was great as narrator, and truly made the listening experience a wonderful experience. Mr. James is probably top of my list as favourite narrator. Well done.

Wonderful - Tristan James is Spectacular

Holy heck... wow, no one writes a sex scene quite like Rhys Ford, and no one can read 'em like Tristan James.

Four stars for the story but five huge 'oh my god' stars for TJ.

Kind of a sweet and sappy story about Valentines Day and the guys giving each other gifts. The ending scene is crazy and I'm not sure how TJ was able to read it without cracking up a little - but that is a huge part of why I love him, the way he delivers everything so seriously. Damn he's good.

Bottom line? Don't read it, listen to it, just... yeah.