Hide and Seek

Stories from the Sound (All Cocks Stories), Book 6

By: T.M. Smith

Narrated by: Mackenzie Brennan

Length: 7 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's Summary

Truths come out and trust is put to the test. Can the All Cocks family find the happiness they deserve?

Dusty Anderson left his hometown in Justin, Texas, for the Big Apple not long after graduating high school with dreams of becoming an actor. A year later, no closer to realizing his dream but pretty damn close to being broke, he comes across a flyer in a local gay bar that provides a solution to his dilemma.

Six years later, Dusty has all but forgotten his dream to be an actor. The family he gained when he went to work at All Cocks and the job itself are enough for him - for now, at least.

David Thompson is barely 21, high on life and starting his second year at NYU as an art student. Now that he is old enough to enjoy the city’s night life, David finds his first crush at a local hot spot in the village, The Monster Bar. Young love is laid to rest, though, when David comes out to his mother and older brother...with disastrous results. 

A tragic incident at the hands of David’s brother changes the course of all of their lives and brings the two together, but is it coincidence or fate? Regardless of unlikely circumstance, Dusty is inexplicably drawn to David, who suddenly finds himself alone in the world. Protective of David from the start, Dusty realizes his extended family at All Cocks and his best friend Kory will not understand this new relationship. Fearing the worst, Dusty plays a dangerous game of hide-and-seek, risking everything to keep David safe and sheltered. 

But hiding can only last for so long, and David and Dusty aren’t the only ones dealing with uncertainties. The Dimir men find that the one thing they’ve longed for might be within reach and Dusty’s father, Dean, arrives in town unexpectedly with secrets of his own.

Note: This book was previously released in the All Cocks Stories series. This book is intended for mature listeners due to adult content.

©2016 T.M. Smith (P)2020 T.M. Smith

Raw and Emotional

This is book 6 in the series and can be listened to as a standalone.

I loved listening to Dusty and David l's story.
It was an emotional and heartfelt journey. Their bond and connection they shares was so beautiful.

There is brief mention if homphobic violence and the author did a great job handling it.

The characters were likeable and well fleshed out and the writing style appealed to me.

I absolutely love this series and recommend listening to them if you enjoy real and raw stories.

The narration was enjoyable and engaging as well.

Emotional Story

This is a very emotional story. Everything that David went through is absolutely heart wrenching. It's a miracle he even survived and then had to face an uphill battle to work through everything that had happened. Dusty is an incredible man, his support for David was unwavering and he was there for him every step of the way. These two really deserve their HEA. I voluntarily reviewed a gifted copy of this audio book.

David and Dusty

Hide and Seek is Book 6 in the Stories from the Sound series. This is an emotional story about Dusty and David. David is in a coma after being beaten half the death by his homophobic brother. Dusty is drawn to David and sits and talks to him. When David wakes up and is ready to be released Dusty takes him in. I love how protective Dusty is of David, they have such a wonderful connection. I also love how they call each other D. Although they have to confront what David's brother has done, to more than just David, Dusty and his work family make it through together. And though David lost his blood family he gained so much more with Dusty, a true family. This is an enjoyable series and I recommend it.
Narrator Mackenzie Brennan does a fabulous job. He has a lovely voice and really brought the characters to life.

Dusty's secrets finally revealed.

I was so happy to be back with the All Cocks crew after so many months from listening to the latest book. I admit I was a bit nervous about the narrator’s change, also because Mackenzie Brennan is a new to me narrator. But I did love his performance! It was clear, paced right and with the right amount of emotion portrayed.
And the book has so many emotions! And so many things happening! Really, I feel like Dusty and David need at least a year of vacation and super boring life to get past everything that happens to them (well, mostly to poor David, really) in the span of the book.
I loved Dusty’s protectiveness and David’s resolve to go on with his life and not let anything bring him down anymore.

Good story

This was a new to me author. I really enjoyed the story. Dusty is really sweet, he’s got a caring and protective personality. He’s drawn to David. David’s family is a piece of work! This was the first narration by Mackenzie Brennan, well done.

Angel in my Dreams

Mackenzie Brennan did a really good job with this narration and bringing the story to life. Enjoyable voice to listen to.
Definitely would help understand the back story and characters if you listen to all the books an in order. I think it's worth getting to know all the couples and characters that make up this unconventional family. A true Brotherhood.
Dustin and David a sweet story of Love and deep emotions that comes from a very tragic start. The attraction between these two is so fast and deep, enough to last a lifetime.
A coming out Horror story turned Love and strength story.
throw in Victor and the other models and a father showing up to end up with a man and it's an entertaining story ending of course with a wedding.... Well worth the credit and your time to listen.

Okay but I don't think this works as a standalone

Hide and Seek is a bit harder for me to review. Initially, I jumped at the chance to try a new-to-me author and narrator. The blurb sounded interesting and different, with a promise of angst and heat. Unfortunately, while this story is said to work as a standalone, I think my enjoyment was significantly hampered by not reading the full series. The author does attempt to summarize the events leading up to Dusty and David finding one another, but I think being invested in the entire storyline and array of characters is necessary to really appreciate their portion of events.

Dusty and David meet in an interesting way and their bond becomes very deep early on. Typically, I'm not a huge fan of insta-love, but given the scenario in Hide and Seek, I hoped it would make sense. While I understand how their connection originated and solidified, I had a hard time believing in them as a couple. Things just seemed too convenient, I suppose, and I wanted to see their bond deepen and develop on-page rather than read a brief summary of all the things the couple and characters faced off-page. The more I reflect on my thoughts, the more I believe my lack of investment was likely due to trying to jump into this series so late in the game. There are simply too many storylines referenced throughout Hide and Seek, as well as appearances by secondary characters who play important roles in Dusty and David's lives. Ultimately, I felt like I was always on the outside looking in.

While I don't know that the Stories from the Sound series is a complete match for me, I do think those readers who have read the series would enjoy this audiobook. The narrator for Hide and Seek fit the characters and pace well, and his performance was very good. I definitely would listen to more from Mackenzie Brennan in the future and would recommend the audio version to fans of the series or this particular title.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

Fantastic

Hide and Seek is the sixth book in the All Cocks Stories by T.M. Smith. If you have not read the previous books, do yourself a favor and go read them and join me in my addiction. These characters in the series are intriguing and endearing, fun and sweet and can get very very steamy.

In this book, we get the story of Dusty and David. Dusty is caring and protective, drawn to David, even though he is a stranger, in a coma, and the brother of someone who brought pain and destruction to his "family" at All Cocks. David was a victim of his own blood family... luckily he is finding out what real love is in Dusty's arms. Their journey is full of emotion, sweet moments, steamy interactions and a strong sense of family and love. This story had me smiling, laughing a loving these characters. I can not wait to read the next book in the series.

Mackenzie Brennan did a fantastic job as narrator.   Clear and smooth recording, enjoyable voice performance.  

Great story, OK narration.

I really love this series. I read the first book back in 2018 and quickly read through as much of the series as was written at that time and then I went through the audiobooks. The series was known as All Cocks back then and the narrator was different for most of the other books. The series is best read in order as some of the books overlap timelines and build on one another. It’s possible to read this as a standalone but you probably won’t understand who all of the characters are (and there are quite a few of them).

Mackenzie Brennan did an OK job with his narration of this book. My main issue was that I had a hard time distinguishing between the two MCs. They call each other “D” and this caused some confusion for me because the narrator did not use voices that were different enough for me to always tell who was speaking. Other characters had voices that were more easily distinguishable. His voice was pleasant to listen to but I would have enjoyed this more if the voices were more distinct.

The blurb is really good and quite detailed so I’m not going to rehash it. I loved the story and really felt for David and everything he’d been through. His homophobic mother and brother were just awful. Dusty was drawn to David since he first learned that he had survived the attack on him and began visiting him in the hospital.

After David and Dusty settle in with each other, Dusty’s father comes along with a big surprise for Dusty. I really can’t say more as it would be too much of a spoiler. There’s a lot going on in this book and it sets up the next one in the series very nicely.

A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.

PERFECT

Really good book to listen to and pass away the time. Funny, emotional but not too sad, sexy and basically just a great story.

as good as the ebook

The story is always 4-5 stars, because if I wouldn't like the story as ebook, I wouldn't listen to the audiobook. I can't listen to an audiobook without knowing the book, that's not possible for me.

The performance from the narrator is also very important for me. I can't listen to a lot, because my English as a non-native-speaker isn't so perfect to follow a whole story over hours, when the narrator speaks too fast or too sloppy. Normally I have to SEE the person, who is talking to me in English. It took me a little bit, to come into the narrator, but at the end, it worked. I only have to take a few breaks between. I'm just not yet finish with the book, I’m over the half, but I listen enough to give a review.

PLEASE READ MY RATING SYSTEM!!!

To my ratings:

5* - very very good
it's like an A+

4* - very good and will be often re-listening
it's like an A

3* - it's more then a one-time-listening.
it's like a B

Emotional, redemptive story

I knew from reading the blurb that this would have a bit more angst than the other books in the series, so I had put off reading it for a bit. I should have read it earlier! While there are sad parts, overall it's a story of sheltering those who have no one, of the family you make and falling in love. It took this and more for Dusty and David to get their HEA. There might be triggers for some, (homophobia, some violence - not graphic), but overall, this is a great story and a great addition to the series.

The narrator was just OK - he sounded good - had a nice voice to listen to, but I didn't feel the emotion of the characters in his narration. Would I listen to him again? Yes. I just wish he had brought a bit more oomph more to the story.

Wonderful story

TS Smith did a wonderful job with the story. David and Dusty had a very unique and interesting story. Mackenzie Brennan did a great job with the narration. A great story, was the first book in the series I listen to and although you want to know more about the supporting characters the story can stand on its own, will getting the rest of the series if they are as good.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

enjoyed the story.

this is a new to me narrator. they weren't bad but not one of my favorites. I would certainly listen to them again though.

as for story. it was good and I enjoyed following up with characters from previous books. I really enjoyed the love these two had considering the circumstances.

Out of tragedy comes love

A while back I listened to the first few All Cocks books and then the series sort of fell off my radar. I own all the audios, and I plan to listen to all of them at some point, but life kind of got in the way. When I had the opportunity to listen to this book and review it, I leapt at the chance. So let me start by saying you don’t have to have read the other books. Does it help and provide context and backstory? Yes. Is this book compelling and complete on its ow? Also a yes.

Dusty has just undergone a tremendous tragedy, and although he’s affected, he wasn’t personally injured. But people he cares about have been hurt and that’s enough to pique his ire. Yet there’s another offshoot of the tragedy and something compels him to dig deeper. He finds the younger brother of the perpetrator of the violence only to discover not only is the young man hovering near death, he’s all alone in the world. Dusty is moved. He is, as I said, compelled. He doesn’t yet understand why, but he starts to care for David – a young man he’s never met. But there’s a long way from the injuries David has suffered to some kind of recovery.

David has undergone profound physical and psychological trauma. He meets the man he considers to be his angel who has been by his side this whole time, yet he knows he doesn’t know the man. This Dusty. But alone and facing a harrowing recovery, David accepts help. Every day is a struggle but every day things improve. And when it’s time to leave the hospital, he accepts Dusty’s offer of a place to stay. Because, truthfully, he has no where else to go.

My heart broke for David. My heart sang for Dusty. That the men came together under such tragic circumstances cemented their friendship, although the relationship – to David anyway – never feels equal. He has to rely on Dusty for just about everything and that doesn’t sit well. That I can relate to.

Dusty is hiding things to people. To David, he doesn’t share that he’s a gay porn star. To his friends, he doesn’t share the fact David has become his someone special. There will be ramifications for this deception, and the question was whether Dusty would lose those closest to him. Then his father comes to town and things get really crazy. (A subplot I loved, btw.)

There are plenty of emotions and feels in this book – as I expect from T.M. Smith. The book just worked for me and to see others living in their happily ever after was pretty sweet as well. I love when previous characters make cameos and you get to see what their lives now look like. Finally I’ll mention Mackenzie Brennan. I loved the previous narrator and was a little trepidatious about taking on a new narrator. He did a good job. I expected more Texan from Dusty and his dad, but since Mackenzie was solid with all the other characters, it wasn’t a big deal. Overall I think it was a great ending to a great series.

Enjoyable

Wow, that was intense! while a very emotional premise and the book definitely has hard, sad, and horrible issues and events throughout, Dusty and David are meant to be! They're journey is hard, emotional and confronting, they make each other better and find hope and growth together. Beautiful!

I will say I think this book is better read as part of a series. I haven't read any other books so was confused by all the characters (there are so many) and the found family (& company they all seem to work for) I had to look up as it wasn't mentioned/explained until a far way through the book.

Another note is it got a little confusing with so very many characters and too many "D" names. And all the varying D names were related. And the fact that both Dusty and David call each other "D" and all Dusty's friends call him D, my goodness that got confusing.

Good narration, easy listening, although with same many characters and too many similar names I feel different voices would have been great (but probably impossible with so many people in one book lol)!

I will say I loved the friendship, family and love and really want to hot back and read the rest!

Incredible pain leads to a great pair

David has a family you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. Fortunately, Dusty is there to stand by him and help him recover from a vicious beating. I loved that Dusty was willing to be there for David even though he knew there would be consequences to face and that David got to see that there are good, caring people in the world. I really enjoyed Mackenzie Brennan's performance here. This was a new narrator for me and I am always leery of that in case I don't quite "hit it off with them". No worries about that here, all the emotions both good and bad were spot on and the characters were easily identifiable. A new audiobook performer to look forward to more from.

amazing

this was amazing.. this series is wonderful anyways but this narrator did an awesome job hitting the personalities and emotions of these characters on the head.. it made me happy and made me laugh.. kept me guessing and curious.. i really liked it and cant wait for more.