Survivor

By: T. M. Smith

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 5 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

Taylor Langford’s world is torn apart when he is only 13 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 10 years earlier.

©2018 TTC Publishing & TM Smith (P)2018 TTC Publishing & TM Smith

M/M is not my typical

I loved the way this book was written and the journey it took me on.

Amazing

This book is one of the best books I have read in a LONG time, and I can’t recommend it enough!!
Taylor is just 13 years old when his mom and dad are brutally murdered. The cop who responds to the call, Frank, is the one who connects with Taylor and forms a bond with him and his foster family that last through the years he is growing up. But ten years later, Taylor is noticing Frank in a different way, and Frank keeps noticing Taylor as well. Are they willing to risk their friendship and everything they have built over the years to try a relationship. Also, are they able to come together to figure out who murdered Taylor’s parents before he finds Taylor to finish the job?
I can not describe how much I loved this book! The characters were so well written and well developed over a long period of the book. You keep learning little bits of information that helps you build a clearer picture in your mind with each chapter, but it never feels like you are missing the part of the story! And the twists at the end just keep you guessing!! I can’t wait to start the next book!

Frankie and His Tay

This book covers a decade, from the moment Taylor’s parents were murdered through to the reappearance of someone who might kill Taylor, the only survivor of that night of horror. The bulk of the book, though, is the love story. After the murder of Taylor’s parents, the young man was adopted by a very loving couple who made him their own, coping with the outbursts and tantrums and nightmares that plagued the young boy.

Fortunately, Valerie and Charles Stone are great people who understand keeping Frank and his partner Caleb in Taylor’s life provides stability and continuity. The two men, as well as Caleb’s girlfriend, form a support system to guide Taylor through his teenage years and into a successful college and then graduate program. At one point, Taylor assures the Stones that they are his parents and for anyone who has been adopted by loving people, that is an easy thing to assure. He will never forget his parents, but he’s built a good life for himself.

Ten years is not that much, but the power imbalance was a good reason for Taylor, and his savior Frank, to keep their feelings to themselves. Now, Taylor is ready to go out and get what he wants, and he wants Frank. Everyone around them has seen this coming and most are accepting. Is that realistic? I don’t know, but when two men love each other, fighting for that love makes sense. It’s interesting how the dynamic works for them – both men have an equal role in the relationship. Sometimes one takes the lead, while, appropriately, the other is willing to defer. And when it comes to being together, they do their best.

I did have a couple of issues. The 13-year-old Taylor, on the night of the murder, felt more like a 6-year-old. In fact, I had to double-check his age. Maybe it’s just me. Also, Frank is really expressive. That’s great except he’s a police officer and it’s hard to believe he can be so easy to read. Finally, the dénouement. There is an element of suspense, for sure, but the backstory of the murderer was just a bit over-the-top. It was so ridiculous, it took me out of the story. And, to be frank, I’m not sure I understand the entire ‘mystery’.

That being said, I did enjoy the book. I am a huge Nick J. Russo fan and aside from a few words that were mispronounced, he did a great job. I liked that he didn’t make Taylor sound too juvenile – making it believable that a man in his early twenties could be mature enough to be in a relationship with an older man. His narration brought the book to life.

I’m very glad I listened to the book. I was expecting something more angsty, but this worked out well. A good love story always pulls at my heart and I fell in love with Tay and his Frankie. Well-done.

Engaging

I have to admit, I am loving this writer. I have been on a T.M Smith binge for the last 48 hours. First with the All Cocks Series and now this.

This read was very engaging. I didn't think I would like it, but it was actually very good. It was written very differently and the characters' dynamic was not really expected. Both characters showed strength as well as vulnerability. I really enjoyed it.

The narrator was great as well. The voices for the characters very distinctive. Nick Russo's voice seems to fit this story.

I really love T.M,'s writing style. Now, I can't wait to read the next book.

Also, this book was given to me by request for my unbiased review.

Survivor

I Love this book. I was really happy when it came out in Audio. This book really gives you a bit of everything and the writing is structured really well. It pulls you in at the beginning prologue with the intrigue of what is going to happen with the Murder of Taylors parents. Then the author gives you little snippets from all the different years/ages of Taylor’s life after his parent’s deaths so we get to watch and hear him growing up as the story goes on, with his first crush's and love interests and then with his schooling through all different stages in time. And how Frank lives his life basically around Taylors but he doesn’t seem realize it till further into the story, literally everything he does revolves around Taylor. I really enjoyed watching the two of them grow as people and then fall into love with each other over time after being best friends for years. You have some Sex, and Romance, & then your pulled right back into the suspense of what is going to happen and who did it when the bad guy from Crazy town comes back, the ending is perfect in this book. I want more of their story. I didn't want this book to finish. And.... Will there be more?!?!

Audio - Nick was a great choice as a narrator for this book!! He makes it very clear which character is speaking throughout the entire story and going back-n-forth between the two characters, it was extremely easy to follow along with this book and not get lost at all. I really believe He did a great job on this one!!

Cute story

Any additional comments?

A cute story where love can change from friendship to something more
without really knowing it till it smacks in face.

A young man of 13 looses his entire world. A rookie cop that finds him
and watches over him through the years. Now Taylor is 23 just finished
college. Time to set his ducks in a row and tell the man that holds that
special place in his heart.

Age gap, hurt/confort, a love built over a decade.

I really loved this book!
It's both deeply emotional and comforting. I loved how Taylor and Frank's relationship evolves, from Frank being Taylor's saviour, to a sort of big brother, a confidante, and then, as Taylor grows up and starts have feelings for the older man, to an explosion of love that solidifies their already unbreakable bond.
This is the first book I ever read from T.M. Smith and I thouroghly enjoyed it, it's well writen, captivating and interesting. The background of Taylor's parents murder always looming just behind the surface until the cold case is re-opened makes it even more edgy to read. I just couldn't put it down!

Nick J. russo was a great fit for this book. He has an uncanny ability to portray all the different characters, and each voice was so unique that you never can have any doubt about who's speaking at any given moment.

The Perfect Marriage of Author, Narrator and Story

Where does Survivor rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Definitely in my top 5!

I didn’t think this taboo-ish coming of age story could get any better but Nick J. Russo brings it with his telling of 'Survivor'. It’s as if Smith wrote the script with the audiobook in mind.

What did you like best about this story?

Russo's narration of Frank and Taylor’s soul deep connection, their need to be with one another not only physically, but mentally, is everything!

Which scene was your favorite?

Russo's delivery in chapter seventeen absolutely shines - saying it all!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Every gasp of fear, surprise and lust; all the moans of pleasure, desperation and desire; even the deep breaths of confusion, need and resignation can be felt deep in your heart making you want to cry.

Any additional comments?

Between her picturesque narrative, and Russo’s reading, the listener can see everything – the characters’ actions and their surroundings – pulling you in and immersing you in their journey.

If you haven’t yet read 'Survivor' it isn’t just worth reading. It’s worth reading again and again and listening to Nick J. Russo deliver a cast of characters who you wish you could chum around with. It’s a story of hurt and comfort, youth and maturity, of friends becoming lovers and will hit you in all the good places leaving you wanting more time between the pages.

May December romance with a murder mystery twist.

Love Nick Russo's narration, he truly brings Taylor and Frank to life and gives them a voice.

A great story and great narration.

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.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.