Lover

Publisher's Summary

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 15, 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 40-something 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.  

NOTE: This is the sequel to Survivor. The stories should be heard in order.

©2018 TM Smith (P)2018 TM Smith

Lover

~ 5 Stars Book & Narration ~

I really enjoy reading the stories that T.M Smith puts out, no matter how many main characters we get, whether it’s MM or MMM. They are all just fabulous, well rounded, thought out stories. With this one, I really do believe you need to read book one Survivor first or you will be a little lost and confused as to who the characters are and how they came to be at this point in the story and series. But, this book is a great addition and second installment to this full storyline. There are a few parts that had me a little confused at times and a few twists that I didn’t fully understand until the storyline was laid out completely. But this book was really interesting and it will definitely keep you guessing as to what will happen next. I think this author did a great job with the suspense and mystery aspect of this book, and was happy that it wasn’t just a sappy romance with no substance. This book had a really solid premise and plot especially with it being an MMM book and giving us three main characters instead of just two.

Shannon, you can’t help but completely fall in love with him. His background and what he had to deal with after he came out to his parents was horrible and will make you feel all kinds of emotions while reading it. Even though he still has fears to conquer and deal with daily, surviving that ordeal just made him so much stronger as a person. Shannon is someone you just want to hug and keep safe and close to you. He is totally adorable and I love that Rory and Rand totally dote on him, they all have a great connection and chemistry with each other.

Rory, I loved that Rory fell in love with Shannon first. He gave his all in their relationship right from the start, even knowing that Shannon had parts of his past he was holding closed off from everyone, he made sure not to push, knowing that Shannon would tell him when the time was right. Rory is the one who brings these men together and I thinks he’s the glue that will keep them together long term. I was really impressed with how his character was written. He’s sweet towards Shannon, but still has a rougher, snarky edge when it comes to his time with Rand.

Rand, his character was fun to watch. He feels an instant connection to both men, but being the standup honorable guy he is, he is very hesitant to act on any of his desires with either of the other men. I really liked seeing how all three guys fell in lust and love with each other, being so different but loving each other in their own ways. I really liked that even though Rand has a more dominant and strong type personality, he didn't push any of that onto Shannon and just became really sweet and a teddy bear when it came to him.

Audio – Nick J Russo, Another outstanding narration. I really enjoyed his voices for the first installment of this series and was really looking forward to seeing what he would give us with this one. He really made Shannon and Rory and Rand come to life. I really think he did a great job keeping all their voices different and making sure that they were on point with each characters personality and traits. He did a really solid job with his vocal performance on this book, and would highly recommend Lover, as well as book one Survivor in audio format.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Fantastic narration!

Story: 4 Stars
Narration: 5 Stars
Overall: 4.5 Stars!

First of all, I can't stress enough that you need to read Survivor before reading Lover. Not only are there recurring characters that we met in book 1, but the series follows a certain line and you'll be lost otherwise.

Lover is told from Rory, Shannon and Rand's perspectives, and spans over several years, showing us some of the experiences that made them who they are in the present. The book focuses mostly on the case both Rand and Rory are working on and that ends up being connected with Shannon, so the MMM portion isn't explored until the last 30% of the story. That doesn't mean there aren't some very sexy scenes between Rory and Shannon, who are in a relationship, or that we aren't privy of the sparks flying between Rory and Rand, or the attraction blooming between Shannon and Rand. It was good seeing it come to fruition, I just would've liked it to be a bit more developed. Still, I think the three of them fit well together and each brought something the others needed into their relationship.

The case was interesting and I loved all the detail in the investigation. I kind of figured who the other bad guy was almost from the start, but it was still nice to have it confirmed.

I liked most of the characters, both main and secondary, some of which we already met in book 1 like Taylor and Frank, who I loved catching up with. I adored Connie and I'm looking forward to hopefully seeing more of her and Rory, Shannon and Rand in Blair and Manny's book.

The narration was amazing, just about as good as Mr. Nick J. Russo has me used to. Each character had its own distinctive voice and they were all great! He managed to imprint the different scenes with the right amount of emotion, without going overboard and his tone is pleasant and easy to listen to.

All in all, definitely an audiobook (and series) you don't want to miss!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

WOW!!!

T.M. Smith and Nick J. Russo have teamed up to bring this fantastic, pulse pounding, grab-you-by-the-feels, intense, gritty, raw, and smoking hot tale to brilliant life.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great hurt comfort

I definitely enjoy this series. I thought book 1 was amazing and really heart wrenching at times. This had some of that same emotional pull but didn’t feel as tightly presented as book 1.

I’m not always a big fan of ménage and it has to be done right for me to enjoy it versus think it’s ok as far as the romance goes. For me – the chemistry and the hurt/comfort was right on target for this throuple – however, I didn’t always feel they were equal partners and that Rand sort of felt like a addition rather than integral to the overall success.

Perhaps if the story had gone on longer or the throuple had developed sooner I might feel differently – but we get to see these guys acting as a unit for only a very short time and while it has huge potential – I can’t say it’s more than HFN for me.

The writing/editing/pacing seemed up to the author’s usual standards and I think fans of her work will be pleased.

Recommended.

4 of 5 stars


Audio

Nick is awesome as always. He manages to keep each of the distinct voices in the throuple separate as well as unique and fitted to their character. He handles the emotions and drama well and makes their smexy times absolutely smolder!

I absolutely adore listening to this narrator and I always know he will not only do a writer’s words justice but that he will – in many cases – add to the overall experience and make it better!

Highly recommended!


5 of 5 stars

Overall 4.5 of 5 stars

loved it!

I listened to both "Survivor" (Book 1) and "Lover" (Book 2) back to back and found myself completely invested in the characters and outcome of both stories. "Lover" was my favorite of the two.
All the characters in both books felt very real and I loved that both Taylor (Book 1) and Shannon (Book 2) had a strong and loving support network.
Nick Russo did an excellent narration of both titles, with all characters distinct and consistent in both books.

Menage

Love Nick Russo's narration, he truly gives all three guys a voice and conveys their story so well.

Lover

Once again TM Smith wrote an amazing book and Nick J. Russo did an amazing job narrating it. You get absorbed listening to all the characters and cheering them on. This is definitely another audio book that will be added to the listen again pile.

A great M/M/M story, excellent narration!

So first things first…Lover is the second book in this series, and I would strongly recommend you read the first book, Survivor before starting this one. While Survivor does focus on Taylor and Frank’s story, the events that occur and the characters that are introduced in that book directly shape Lover and you may find yourself lost at some points during the story if you haven’t read Survivor beforehand.

Lover centers on three of the men we met in Survivor: Shannon, Rory, and Rand. Shannon’s past was beyond rough, and the way he fought back from his darkest point shows just how strong and determined this young man is. I love how he and Taylor went from hookup in book one to best friends with an unbreakable bond here in book two. Shannon is the definition of a survivor, and he is by far my favorite character in this story.

When we met Rory in Survivor, he was undercover watching Frank…though much more closely than what the FBI intended. I felt bad for him in that story, and I was glad he would be getting his story told here in Lover. He and Shannon are a natural, easy fit from the start, and are crazy hot together as their relationship develops. At first, Rand feels like the odd man out…but the more time he interacts with both Shannon and Rory, the more you can see the chemistry developing between him and each of the other two men.

What eventually develops between the three men comes slowly, and it isn’t until very late in the story that they finally come together as a threesome (and even then don’t expect hot and steamy from them together right away). There’s a lot of buildup before then, and much of the focus of the story is on the case Rory and Rand are working that winds up encompassing Shannon’s past as well.

Lover is filled with drama and emotion, and while I actually preferred this author’s other threesome stories more (from the All Cocks series), this story was still a very solid 4-star read for me, and fits very well in this series. This story also plants the seed for the next book, and I can’t wait to read more about Blair (another FBI agent) and Mannie (someone from the case Rory and Rand worked in this book). Lover is meant for readers 18+ for adult language, descriptions of assault, and sexual content.

The narration: Once again Nick J. Russo does a fantastic job with both characters from the first story of the series, along with new ones introduced here in Lover. He easily communicates the characters’ emotions, and brings the story to life so that you feel like you’re right there in the scenes with them. The pacing was perfect, making for a very easy listening experience. 5 stars for the narration!

Really enjoyed this

This is the sequel to Survivor, so it helps to have read/listened it beforehand. I really liked the story and the way the 3 MCs came together. Throw in the suspense and mystery from the abuser (suspense) and the mystery (the circumstances around Taylor's dad), and you have an engaging story - one that held my attention the end.
Nick J Russo does another solid job with the narration. I enjoyed listening to him voice Rand, Rory and Shannon - they had a lot going on - he captured their emotions perfectly. As always, he brings the story to life 😍

Perfect Menage: Author/Narrator/Love Story

If you’re like me and need just the right book to grab you in audio, then TM Smith’s 'Lover' is one you don’t want to miss. In fact you should nab up the Survivor series and listen, because Nick J. Russo’s narration is the perfect marriage to Ms. Smith’s emotional words.

I rarely do the audio version once I’ve read a book, as it tends to change how I see and hear (yes I see and hear) the characters. But Nick J. Russo couldn’t be more on point with his portrayals. In fact, he heightens the experience for me!

'Lover' brings Shannon Dupree, undercover Agent Rory Landers and Senior Detective Rand Davis together, and the journey these three men take is fantastic! If you don’t know who I’m speaking of then you must go read the first book in this read-in-order series, 'Survivor'.

We learn Shannon came to Dallas running from abuse at the tender age of eighteen and we’re reminded that Rory fell for the man he’s meant to protect, who now belongs to Taylor. Rand? He’s beginning a new life after his long-time boyfriend cheated on him.

Through the first three years of the book the author goes back and catches us up with how Shannon met Taylor, who is the connection to this thruple coming together. She then spends the next seven enthralling us with how these men meet by fate, face desires, mount obstacles, grow, change… and realize what they may be looking for may be nothing of what they imagined.

TM Smith truly knows how to weave a tale and capture an audience. Little by little these guys become part of each other’s lives. When Shannon and Rory are introduced sparks fly and they easily begin a relationship. In the meantime Rand and Rory are partnered to investigate a serial killer. When the investigation heats up, we can surmise how Shannon is going to fall into the mix. What happens from here, you can only guess… and yet it’s nothing like you imagine.

Lover captivated me when I first read it, and yet Nick J. Russo brings so much of what I felt to life, taking me on an entirely different journey. Shannon’s past brings dangers of its own and you feel the fear he faces, while at the same time aching at the devoted protectiveness of Rory and Rand. The sensations absolutely shine through in Russo’s impressive narration, making your heart ache.

Russo has an ease with his delivery in this series, and he outdoes himself in this edition. There is never any guessing as to when he’s transitioning from narration to each individual character. His portrayal of Rand’s smart-mouth nature is absolutely on par, and Rory, oh my God – I about died! Thanks Mr. Russo for almost outing me at work. *grins*

Nick J. Russo makes so many scenes radiate with sentiment, whether it’s laughter or tears. Some of my personal favorites are when Rand’s witty, supportive sister meets Detective Gonzalez, and when Rory and Rand’s sexual frustration comes to a head during business travel, forcing them to think rationally. Most of all… when Shannon’s memories are narrated, I literally wanted to cry!

Don’t get too hung up on thinking you know who the killer is… the author delivers a delightful twist. Speaking of twists – you’re in for a real treat with the true web of deceit in Taylor’s case. I’m willing to bet there’s a little bit more where this came from.

TM Smith’s delightful storytelling, partnered with Nick J. Russo’s narration, is a winner! 'Lover' is a thrilling suspense read from beginning to end with a beautiful ménage born along the way. It’s a celebration of friendship and survival. As Shannon ruminates, “Having not one, but two men to love, that loved him? That was karma getting it right for a change.” I couldn’t agree more! Ever thine, ever mine, ever ours….