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Toronto Tales #1
Cop Out
Detective Kurt O’Donnell is used to digging up other people’s secrets, but when he discovers his slain partner was married to another man, it shakes him. Determined to do the right thing, Kurt offers the mourning Davy his assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps Kurt deal with the guilt that his partner didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth, and somewhere along the way Davy stops being an obligation and becomes a friend, the closest friend Kurt has ever had.
His growing attraction to Davy complicates matters, leaving Kurt struggling to reevaluate his sexuality. Then a sensual encounter neither man is ready for confuses them further. To be with Davy, Kurt must face the prospect of coming out, but his job and his relationship with his Catholic family are on the line. Can he risk destroying his life for the uncertain possibility of a relationship with a newly widowed man?
His growing attraction to Davy complicates matters, leaving Kurt struggling to reevaluate his sexuality. Then a sensual encounter neither man is ready for confuses them further. To be with Davy, Kurt must face the prospect of coming out, but his job and his relationship with his Catholic family are on the line. Can he risk destroying his life for the uncertain possibility of a relationship with a newly widowed man?
200 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2011
47 people are currently reading
2790 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 573 reviews
December 29, 2019
Okay, I won't beat around the bush. I loved this.
But will you love it too? I don't know.
This book fits my very particular and specific tastes. I'll read almost anything, M/F, M/M, paranormal, historical, sci-fi... you name it, I'll read it. However, my true love remains a good old fashioned sexuality discovery story. I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times- give me a gay virgin and I'm a happy camper!
"Cop Out" was 100% in my wheelhouse.
If you are looking for a cop story with a lot of detective work or a romantic suspense plot, look elsewhere. The fact that one of the MCs is a cop is more background information than anything else. There is no mystery and little focus on the job.
If you are looking for a book with lots of sex, also look elsewhere. While the sex scenes in this book were squirm-in-my-seat hot, they were very infrequent.
If you are looking for a fast-paced read, pass this one up. It is an agonizingly slow burn romance with a plot that takes its sweet time to develop.
However, if you are like me and you love the struggle, the inner tension of a sexuality discovery story, the slow, slow burn of a romance, and some amazing chemistry between two men going through some extreme life changes, then you should not let this one slip through your fingers.
What really made this perfect for me was the narrator, Tristan James. I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I'm very picky about my narrators. This narrator was awesome. He had a perfect voice for the part and I'd rank him as one of my favorite M/M narrators to date.
An excellent GFY and another 5 star audiobook for me.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
December 13, 2012
A love story that slowly blooms from a friendship borne of tragedy and one man's voyage of self discovery!
It was hard for me to put this book down, it was one of those "just one more chapter" books. I have had this sitting on my Kindle for a while "to read" like so many others! but with the second book in the series released on Friday, I thought I had better get a wriggle on and read it!
K.C. Burn is a new author to me and I have to say I loved her writing... It drew me in and had me totally engrossed, with some real laugh out loud moments as well as leaving me emotionally drained. I was fully invested in the relationship of these two adorable characters, I loved them... I really wanted to see how she was going to move them forward from the grief that enveloped them both whilst also dealing with a man that was totally oblivious to his own sexuality!
Kurt O'Donnell was injured in the line of duty and his partner and friend of 3 years, Ben Kominski was killed.
Kurt is torturing himself with survivors guilt and berating himself for not really knowing the man he had considered a friend... and also hurt that Ben had never trusted him enough to share the fact that he was in fact Gay and living with someone! Driven by these emotions he is determined to comfort the grieving man, Davy - who Ben had shared the last 10 years of his life with.
Armed with his Mothers Irish Stew and his sense of obligation to his partner, he visits Davy. What he finds is a broken and fragile man, a lost soul, so overwhelmed by grief and obvious self neglect that Kurt immediately goes into Alpha mode. Watching Davy fall apart in his arms and taking in his surroundings, what he sees is not a home. It is clinical, impersonal with no warmth or any indication of the men that had lived there together for 10 years. The first seeds of doubt over Ben and Davy's relationship are troubling him... Davy was helpless, unable to function, with no friends and his Sister heavily pregnant and unable to help he was desolate. Ben's paranoia at being "outed" as "Gay" had seeped into Davy's being, ingraining isolation and solitude into his life... now, without Ben he was lost and alone. Ben had totally fucked up Davy and Kurt's compassionate and caring nature cried out to his protective instincts, compelling him to nurture Davy through his grief.
Months go by and their shared grief forms the foundations of a friendship with both of them so comfortable and easy in each others company. Kurt finds himself missing Davy and looking forward to the time they spend together, just so happy to see the odd half smile, a glimpse of playfulness and Dimples!?! Well... that bit confused him! The man's dimples made certain parts of his body stir that really shouldn't... which led to some hilarious inner musings!
Kurt was straight. He had never had any indication physically that he was Gay! He dated women. Had sex with women... nothing earth shattering but that was OK, he just hadn't found the right one. Yet!
It took them a while, but with Kurt's Alpha shouting "mine" he decided it was time to prove it! It was well worth the wait, but it didn't last long! A huge bust up ensued and left them separated with no contact for months, during which time Kurt spiralled into a state of depression turning to the bottle in solace and worrying his friends and his family.
This novel is told completely from Kurt's POV, so we got a lot of wallowing in self pity! In my opinion I think deep down he was confused, including Davy in his life would enable others to see what he was not sure he could fully understand himself! Hence the journey of self discovery... which took months and was something that could have been cleared up in a matter of days with a little communication! But, good Lord, this is fiction... where is the fun in that?!?
My only gripe with the book... I would have liked less self pity and more epilogue, I felt this was a bit rushed and could have been elaborated on, I am hoping we will see more of them in the second book.
So... I loved this and was very impressed with the characterisation and fell in love with Kurt's voice. There are some great secondary characters including all of Kurt's big Irish Catholic family and Davy''s old school friends, all of which were Gay and so funny I was laughing at their hilarious interactions. The next book Cover Up is set up nicely and I for one will be sitting down curled up over the weekend reading it.
Thank you so much Kelly for sharing Kurt and Davy's journey with me! even if we were chasing each other around good reads.. as always it was fun to buddy read with you!
For more reviews, please visit... Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
It was hard for me to put this book down, it was one of those "just one more chapter" books. I have had this sitting on my Kindle for a while "to read" like so many others! but with the second book in the series released on Friday, I thought I had better get a wriggle on and read it!
K.C. Burn is a new author to me and I have to say I loved her writing... It drew me in and had me totally engrossed, with some real laugh out loud moments as well as leaving me emotionally drained. I was fully invested in the relationship of these two adorable characters, I loved them... I really wanted to see how she was going to move them forward from the grief that enveloped them both whilst also dealing with a man that was totally oblivious to his own sexuality!
Kurt O'Donnell was injured in the line of duty and his partner and friend of 3 years, Ben Kominski was killed.
Kurt is torturing himself with survivors guilt and berating himself for not really knowing the man he had considered a friend... and also hurt that Ben had never trusted him enough to share the fact that he was in fact Gay and living with someone! Driven by these emotions he is determined to comfort the grieving man, Davy - who Ben had shared the last 10 years of his life with.
Armed with his Mothers Irish Stew and his sense of obligation to his partner, he visits Davy. What he finds is a broken and fragile man, a lost soul, so overwhelmed by grief and obvious self neglect that Kurt immediately goes into Alpha mode. Watching Davy fall apart in his arms and taking in his surroundings, what he sees is not a home. It is clinical, impersonal with no warmth or any indication of the men that had lived there together for 10 years. The first seeds of doubt over Ben and Davy's relationship are troubling him... Davy was helpless, unable to function, with no friends and his Sister heavily pregnant and unable to help he was desolate. Ben's paranoia at being "outed" as "Gay" had seeped into Davy's being, ingraining isolation and solitude into his life... now, without Ben he was lost and alone. Ben had totally fucked up Davy and Kurt's compassionate and caring nature cried out to his protective instincts, compelling him to nurture Davy through his grief.
Months go by and their shared grief forms the foundations of a friendship with both of them so comfortable and easy in each others company. Kurt finds himself missing Davy and looking forward to the time they spend together, just so happy to see the odd half smile, a glimpse of playfulness and Dimples!?! Well... that bit confused him! The man's dimples made certain parts of his body stir that really shouldn't... which led to some hilarious inner musings!
Kurt was straight. He had never had any indication physically that he was Gay! He dated women. Had sex with women... nothing earth shattering but that was OK, he just hadn't found the right one. Yet!
It took them a while, but with Kurt's Alpha shouting "mine" he decided it was time to prove it! It was well worth the wait, but it didn't last long! A huge bust up ensued and left them separated with no contact for months, during which time Kurt spiralled into a state of depression turning to the bottle in solace and worrying his friends and his family.
This novel is told completely from Kurt's POV, so we got a lot of wallowing in self pity! In my opinion I think deep down he was confused, including Davy in his life would enable others to see what he was not sure he could fully understand himself! Hence the journey of self discovery... which took months and was something that could have been cleared up in a matter of days with a little communication! But, good Lord, this is fiction... where is the fun in that?!?
My only gripe with the book... I would have liked less self pity and more epilogue, I felt this was a bit rushed and could have been elaborated on, I am hoping we will see more of them in the second book.
So... I loved this and was very impressed with the characterisation and fell in love with Kurt's voice. There are some great secondary characters including all of Kurt's big Irish Catholic family and Davy''s old school friends, all of which were Gay and so funny I was laughing at their hilarious interactions. The next book Cover Up is set up nicely and I for one will be sitting down curled up over the weekend reading it.
Thank you so much Kelly for sharing Kurt and Davy's journey with me! even if we were chasing each other around good reads.. as always it was fun to buddy read with you!
For more reviews, please visit... Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews
January 2, 2018
3.75
This was such a sweet slow burn story with a little bit of angst.
I liked the writing, the pace and Kurt's journey.
I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and i would have loved to get Davy's POV.
Overall it was a cute, easy-read.
This was such a sweet slow burn story with a little bit of angst.
I liked the writing, the pace and Kurt's journey.
I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and i would have loved to get Davy's POV.
Overall it was a cute, easy-read.
November 6, 2021
Cop Out by K C Burn
Toronto Tales #1. Contemporary M-M romance.
Kurt doesn’t find out his former police partner was gay until after he was killed in an explosion. Kurt comforts and befriends a devastated Davy and eventually finds his feelings are more than just friendship.
Kurt has been unsatisfied with his dating for years and has no interest in going to strip clubs with his brother. When his feelings for Davy become jealousy, Kurt must take a look at his own life and sexuality. Is it possible he prefers men to women?
A coming out discovery for Kurt. His family doesn’t care as long as he is safe in his police job.
Touching and heartwarming. Especially the acceptance his family.
🎧 I listened to the audio version narrated by Tristan James. He did a wonderful job with all the males voices and made the main ones very distinct from each other. The mother’s voice…well, a good effort but rather humorous. I listened to this recording at 1.2 speed which I found the most natural speaking tempo.
Toronto Tales #1. Contemporary M-M romance.
Kurt doesn’t find out his former police partner was gay until after he was killed in an explosion. Kurt comforts and befriends a devastated Davy and eventually finds his feelings are more than just friendship.
Kurt has been unsatisfied with his dating for years and has no interest in going to strip clubs with his brother. When his feelings for Davy become jealousy, Kurt must take a look at his own life and sexuality. Is it possible he prefers men to women?
A coming out discovery for Kurt. His family doesn’t care as long as he is safe in his police job.
Touching and heartwarming. Especially the acceptance his family.
🎧 I listened to the audio version narrated by Tristan James. He did a wonderful job with all the males voices and made the main ones very distinct from each other. The mother’s voice…well, a good effort but rather humorous. I listened to this recording at 1.2 speed which I found the most natural speaking tempo.
January 13, 2015
2.75 STARS
“Cop Out” is a cute GFY m/m romance and tells the story of Kurt O’Donnell. Kurt is in his 30s, he’s a Detective and he recently was injured in the line of duty. Unfortunately, his partner of three years, Ben, didn’t survive. When Kurt finds out that Ben was not only gay, but he had been in a committed relationship for ten years, living with his life partner, he is more than socked. He feels a little hurt as well. He meets, Davy, Ben’s life partner, a lost man who doesn’t know how to live anymore without his lover. Kurt wants to help Davy in any way he can. Davy is alone, he doesn’t have any friends. His only support is his sister, because Ben was a little paranoid. He didn’t anyone to know about his sexual orientation, so practically isolated himself and poor Davy as well.
Soon Kurt and Davy become friends, but Kurt has a problem. For the first time in his life he feels a strong attraction for another man, for Davy. He refuse to think he is gay, thinking that is only a phase. He fears his Catholic family will find out and they will hate him. The shame and guilt are strong, but he can’t control his feelings for the other man. Davy doesn’t want to be involved with another closeted cop. Not anymore, so Kurt will have to choose between staying in the closet and being with Davy.
This was only a nice read for me. The story had potential, but in my opinion everything was too rushed. I can’t say I liked how Kurt and Davy’s relationship progressed. Everything progressed too quickly for my liking. Kurt was great, I liked him. He’s a great cop, a great son and brother and a great new friend for Davy. He is patient and supportive and a good man. However, Davy’s characterization/character development is missing.
The side characters were all great – Kurt’s family, Kurt’s new partner, Simon and his wife and Davy’s old school friends. The gay for you aspect is nicely done, but it could have been better. The steam here is very low, which I admit I didn’t like it too much. I also didn’t feel too much chemistry between the MC.
Overall, a nice enough slow burn romance with some angst and drama.
“Cop Out” is a cute GFY m/m romance and tells the story of Kurt O’Donnell. Kurt is in his 30s, he’s a Detective and he recently was injured in the line of duty. Unfortunately, his partner of three years, Ben, didn’t survive. When Kurt finds out that Ben was not only gay, but he had been in a committed relationship for ten years, living with his life partner, he is more than socked. He feels a little hurt as well. He meets, Davy, Ben’s life partner, a lost man who doesn’t know how to live anymore without his lover. Kurt wants to help Davy in any way he can. Davy is alone, he doesn’t have any friends. His only support is his sister, because Ben was a little paranoid. He didn’t anyone to know about his sexual orientation, so practically isolated himself and poor Davy as well.
Soon Kurt and Davy become friends, but Kurt has a problem. For the first time in his life he feels a strong attraction for another man, for Davy. He refuse to think he is gay, thinking that is only a phase. He fears his Catholic family will find out and they will hate him. The shame and guilt are strong, but he can’t control his feelings for the other man. Davy doesn’t want to be involved with another closeted cop. Not anymore, so Kurt will have to choose between staying in the closet and being with Davy.
This was only a nice read for me. The story had potential, but in my opinion everything was too rushed. I can’t say I liked how Kurt and Davy’s relationship progressed. Everything progressed too quickly for my liking. Kurt was great, I liked him. He’s a great cop, a great son and brother and a great new friend for Davy. He is patient and supportive and a good man. However, Davy’s characterization/character development is missing.
The side characters were all great – Kurt’s family, Kurt’s new partner, Simon and his wife and Davy’s old school friends. The gay for you aspect is nicely done, but it could have been better. The steam here is very low, which I admit I didn’t like it too much. I also didn’t feel too much chemistry between the MC.
Overall, a nice enough slow burn romance with some angst and drama.
August 3, 2016
Written September 29, 2014
3 1/2 Stars - Lovely sweet, softly touching. A very thoughtful 'GayForYou'
Cop Out, my first romance by K.C. Burn, was an a perfect calm "to come down to earth" reading (listening) after a couple of more intense and emotinal books. In my opinion a genuine and very nicely written gay romance.
***********************************************
Toronto Canada
After a terrible blast-attack, own injuries and his nearest police partner's tragic death, discovers Detective Kurt O’Donnell his very secretive partner Ben was married to another man. It shakes him a lot.
Why didn't Ben tell him...after three years together?
Kurt can't let it go and after a while is he offering the mourning Davy his help and assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps also Kurt to deal with the guilt that his partner didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth. ~ Davy really really needs a lot of help, he is a mess, mourning and is quite shocked.
Here starts a nice story a story that runs over a few months. Pretty soon are Kurt and Davy good friends and Kurt starts to feels a scary growing attraction.
~ But he is straght. Or?
The male main character, Kurt, is a young police officer who never even thought about if he is gay. He really captured my heart. Moreover, Cop Out felt very believable with a casual sense of authenticity. ~ Two men meet under terribly sad circumstances. They become friends, time goes by and there are something really beautiful and genuine growing here.
***********************************************
I listened to the 7:03 hrs audiobook. ~ As icing on the cake an excellent audiobook. Very well narrated by Tristan James. A narrator I'd listened to earlier and am quite fond of now.
***********************************************
Tender & Sweet (but in no way sugary cute).
A perfect read for you M/M readers who just want to read (another) nice feel-good romance. Maybe not something world-changing, innovative or particularly shocking - but still memorable fine.
I LIKE - it's heartwarming with an authenticity feeling
3 1/2 Stars - Lovely sweet, softly touching. A very thoughtful 'GayForYou'
Cop Out, my first romance by K.C. Burn, was an a perfect calm "to come down to earth" reading (listening) after a couple of more intense and emotinal books. In my opinion a genuine and very nicely written gay romance.
***********************************************
Toronto Canada
After a terrible blast-attack, own injuries and his nearest police partner's tragic death, discovers Detective Kurt O’Donnell his very secretive partner Ben was married to another man. It shakes him a lot.
Why didn't Ben tell him...after three years together?
Kurt can't let it go and after a while is he offering the mourning Davy his help and assistance. Helping Davy through his grief helps also Kurt to deal with the guilt that his partner didn’t trust him enough to tell him the truth. ~ Davy really really needs a lot of help, he is a mess, mourning and is quite shocked.
Here starts a nice story a story that runs over a few months. Pretty soon are Kurt and Davy good friends and Kurt starts to feels a scary growing attraction.
~ But he is straght. Or?
The male main character, Kurt, is a young police officer who never even thought about if he is gay. He really captured my heart. Moreover, Cop Out felt very believable with a casual sense of authenticity. ~ Two men meet under terribly sad circumstances. They become friends, time goes by and there are something really beautiful and genuine growing here.
***********************************************
I listened to the 7:03 hrs audiobook. ~ As icing on the cake an excellent audiobook. Very well narrated by Tristan James. A narrator I'd listened to earlier and am quite fond of now.
***********************************************
Tender & Sweet (but in no way sugary cute).
A perfect read for you M/M readers who just want to read (another) nice feel-good romance. Maybe not something world-changing, innovative or particularly shocking - but still memorable fine.
I LIKE - it's heartwarming with an authenticity feeling
December 21, 2011
4.5 stars. This is a nice, slow GFY story. I liked the time that the author took to get her guys together, and particularly enjoyed the cast of supporting characters. I like when a MC has a family and friends to interact with who are well integrated into the story. Although Kurt is a cop, there is no mystery component to this book, but his profession does have a significant impact on the course of the story. A few unexpected twists between the MC's kept things interesting.
August 10, 2016
3.5 stars
This was a nice read. A story about Kurt, a Detective, from a big Irish family, living in Toronto. He is straight. He meets Davy, his work partner’s partner. Davy is gay. They form a friendship and Kurt questions his sexuality. But he is not ready to “come out” and tell friends and family. He is especially not ready to tell his Irish, Catholic, mother.
Its fairly heartbreaking in parts. But overall a good solid read.
This was a nice read. A story about Kurt, a Detective, from a big Irish family, living in Toronto. He is straight. He meets Davy, his work partner’s partner. Davy is gay. They form a friendship and Kurt questions his sexuality. But he is not ready to “come out” and tell friends and family. He is especially not ready to tell his Irish, Catholic, mother.
Its fairly heartbreaking in parts. But overall a good solid read.
"My parents are Irish. I have tea somewhere."
December 9, 2012
Loved it! Such a sweet story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series. If you haven't read a m/m romance before this book would be a perfect introduction to the genre.
Thanks for asking me to read this with you, Monique! x
Thanks for asking me to read this with you, Monique! x
June 10, 2015
Well-written, very realistic feeling story, loved Kurt and his family. Tristan James is a wonderful narrator (listened to this on audio). As you can tell by my stars, I LIKED this story and this author rocks, a favorite actually. Just wanted to make that clear up front! So I really enjoyed everything about this story except that I hated Davy. Ok, yeah Ben was an ass, from what little we got to know about him but since he was killed at the start, never really knew him so much & Davy never really said much about him either. But Davy. . . *GRRRR*
WARNING: this is a total rant, really it is. . . it's not pretty and it has cursing and so please ONLY look at this spoiler if you're ok with a long and very emotional rant.
So, um. . . yeah. . . *blush*
I considered briefly that maybe if Davy had been a POV character that I might have gotten a better insight into his motivations and had a different feeling towards him, but based on his lame ass explanations & assumptions. . . I tend to think not.
I still give this 4 stars, because I liked Kurt's story.
WARNING: this is a total rant, really it is. . . it's not pretty and it has cursing and so please ONLY look at this spoiler if you're ok with a long and very emotional rant.
So, um. . . yeah. . . *blush*
I considered briefly that maybe if Davy had been a POV character that I might have gotten a better insight into his motivations and had a different feeling towards him, but based on his lame ass explanations & assumptions. . . I tend to think not.
I still give this 4 stars, because I liked Kurt's story.
February 9, 2012
A little bit of angst and a little bit of sap!
I loved it! I think on any other day, I would probably not give this 5 stars. But today, it was exactly what I was in the mood for. I devoured it! Could not put it down. Its the usual cop gfy/ofy drama..."straight" cop falls for dead partner's lover... But I just adored the friendship between these two men and how they were somewhat able to help each other heal. There was a fair amount of sexual tension and when they finally had "angry" sex it was hot!
If your aren't a fan of gfy then I recommend that you stay away from this one. I wouldn't say that it was entirely realistic on how everything goes down in the end and it was pretty predictable.
Sweet story for a sappy mood.
Thanks, Ladies, for the recommendation. You know who you are.
I loved it! I think on any other day, I would probably not give this 5 stars. But today, it was exactly what I was in the mood for. I devoured it! Could not put it down. Its the usual cop gfy/ofy drama..."straight" cop falls for dead partner's lover... But I just adored the friendship between these two men and how they were somewhat able to help each other heal. There was a fair amount of sexual tension and when they finally had "angry" sex it was hot!
If your aren't a fan of gfy then I recommend that you stay away from this one. I wouldn't say that it was entirely realistic on how everything goes down in the end and it was pretty predictable.
Sweet story for a sappy mood.
Thanks, Ladies, for the recommendation. You know who you are.
December 22, 2020
I don't remember how I found out about this book but I'm happy I did! I've never read anything from this author but the reviews were awesome, I love Cop stories, so I gave it a go and I'm pleased with it! ❤💜
We have a Cop who goes to do an op with his partner and they are blown, he survives, his partner doesn't. He goes to the funeral and finds out that his death partner was gay and had a husband/partner of his own, so he feels shocked and betrayed because said partner never told him anything and he thought they were good friends.
He starts a relationship with Davy (the deceased's husband) wich is built out of grief and necessity so it isn't a very good one and then starts to develop feelings. Oh, and he also finds out his ex-partner was abusive in his relationship out of fear of people finding out he's gay. The cherry on top!
I really like this story, when I read the blurb I imagined something totally different but I prefer this version. Grief can make people stop their lives because of the pain and seeing this two finding each other in this circumstance was a little heartwarming. Then they started to have feelings but the straight/closeted guy never said a thing, so it became a little bit toxic but then all that starts well ends well and we got out HEA.
Very well written, consistent and intriguing. Loved it! 💜❤
We have a Cop who goes to do an op with his partner and they are blown, he survives, his partner doesn't. He goes to the funeral and finds out that his death partner was gay and had a husband/partner of his own, so he feels shocked and betrayed because said partner never told him anything and he thought they were good friends.
He starts a relationship with Davy (the deceased's husband) wich is built out of grief and necessity so it isn't a very good one and then starts to develop feelings. Oh, and he also finds out his ex-partner was abusive in his relationship out of fear of people finding out he's gay. The cherry on top!
I really like this story, when I read the blurb I imagined something totally different but I prefer this version. Grief can make people stop their lives because of the pain and seeing this two finding each other in this circumstance was a little heartwarming. Then they started to have feelings but the straight/closeted guy never said a thing, so it became a little bit toxic but then all that starts well ends well and we got out HEA.
Very well written, consistent and intriguing. Loved it! 💜❤
July 19, 2012
This was an easy read. I enjoyed the fact it had it's sweet moments while simultaneously being angsty and tension filled without being overly so.
This book started out very well, in my opinion. It grabbed my attention from the start. Kurt is a rather stubborn and forceful detective when it comes to Davy which I found very cute. My heart broke over Davy and what he's been through and going through. He was just so fragile and vulnerable, it's hard not to feel something for him. The relationship these two men develop starts as just Kurt helping Davy get through losing a life partner. Slowly, they become friends and it was easy for me to enjoy the interactions and fun these boys had together. When they finally become lovers, things blow up and I didn't realize until that happened how much I was able to connect with Kurt and Davy. It was fun going through every emotion Kurt when through. Although, a lot of his harsher feelings were consequences of his stupid actions.
The story is rather slow and anticlimactic, aside from the beginning and end. It's a story about self-discovery and healing, about finding love in the most unlikely places and coming to terms with that love. It was very well written but more than that, the sexual tension between Davy and Kurt, even when neither realized it was there, I could feel right off the pages. I also liked the fact that everything started because of a tragedy and injury. I even found the fact they reconnect over Kurt being injured again sweet.
I loved the book but I had some problems with it. Kurt was an idiot the second half of the book. And a hypocrite. I didn't appreciate the way he'd say he was nothing like Ben but then kept his and Davy's whole friendship a secret. Just like Ben did. It just amazed me because they were friends not lovers but he still hide that from everyone. I thought the way Kurt grieved was heartbreaking but the way he handled the situation after he came to terms with who he was, was just ridiculous. I understand wanting to get things settled with yourself first before dealing with a relationship but how was Davy supposed to know Kurt came out for him if he never tells Davy?! Aside from that, Kurt was well fleshed out but I felt like I barely knew Davy beyond the surface. I'd have liked to know more about him.
Overall, this was a great, well-written story. I loved the slow build up to the relationship and seeing a real friendship develop between Davy and Kurt. Kurt's family and his partner were great secondary characters that, I think, made the story more appealing. I'm hoping with what happens with the epilogue, Ian will be getting a story, too!
This book started out very well, in my opinion. It grabbed my attention from the start. Kurt is a rather stubborn and forceful detective when it comes to Davy which I found very cute. My heart broke over Davy and what he's been through and going through. He was just so fragile and vulnerable, it's hard not to feel something for him. The relationship these two men develop starts as just Kurt helping Davy get through losing a life partner. Slowly, they become friends and it was easy for me to enjoy the interactions and fun these boys had together. When they finally become lovers, things blow up and I didn't realize until that happened how much I was able to connect with Kurt and Davy. It was fun going through every emotion Kurt when through. Although, a lot of his harsher feelings were consequences of his stupid actions.
The story is rather slow and anticlimactic, aside from the beginning and end. It's a story about self-discovery and healing, about finding love in the most unlikely places and coming to terms with that love. It was very well written but more than that, the sexual tension between Davy and Kurt, even when neither realized it was there, I could feel right off the pages. I also liked the fact that everything started because of a tragedy and injury. I even found the fact they reconnect over Kurt being injured again sweet.
I loved the book but I had some problems with it. Kurt was an idiot the second half of the book. And a hypocrite. I didn't appreciate the way he'd say he was nothing like Ben but then kept his and Davy's whole friendship a secret. Just like Ben did. It just amazed me because they were friends not lovers but he still hide that from everyone. I thought the way Kurt grieved was heartbreaking but the way he handled the situation after he came to terms with who he was, was just ridiculous. I understand wanting to get things settled with yourself first before dealing with a relationship but how was Davy supposed to know Kurt came out for him if he never tells Davy?! Aside from that, Kurt was well fleshed out but I felt like I barely knew Davy beyond the surface. I'd have liked to know more about him.
Overall, this was a great, well-written story. I loved the slow build up to the relationship and seeing a real friendship develop between Davy and Kurt. Kurt's family and his partner were great secondary characters that, I think, made the story more appealing. I'm hoping with what happens with the epilogue, Ian will be getting a story, too!
December 19, 2012
A story of discovery and overcoming grief.
I truly enjoyed this book. It had a wonderful cast of characters, and the writing was so appealing that I have to admit that I read this in one sitting.
Kurt, the youngest of a large Irish brood is a cop. On the job he is hurt, but worse is the fact that his partner, and a man he thought of as a friend, was killed.
Davy was adorable. He was the partner of Ben. They had been together for ten years. Ben was Kurt's partner. As Ben was strictly in the closet, Kurt had no idea that Davy existed.
When Kurt became aware of Davy, his sense of loyalty took over, and he started to take care of Davy through his unbearable grief. But Kurt discovered things about Ben that he didn't like. Ben was so in the closet that he had made Davy's life one of no colour or friendships. He had turned Davy into a whole different person.
As time went on, Kurt's feelings toward Davy changed from wanting to be friends to so much more. This lead Kurt on a journey of discovery about who he really was and who and what he wanted from life.
The journey these two men took was one I became very involved with. I felt Kurt's emotions and at times he made my heart hurt, but Davy just took my heart from my chest and broke it. I fell in love with both of these men.
The story was filled out with snippets of Kurt's family, and old friends from Davy's past. These scenes were brilliant, and lead to some very funny moments.
My only complaint, and the reason for four stars instead of five was the ending. It seemed to all fall into place a little too easily and quickly for me. I feel another chapter or two would of taken the rushed feel away, and made this book a little better.
This was my first book from this author, but I know it will not be the last.
I truly enjoyed this book. It had a wonderful cast of characters, and the writing was so appealing that I have to admit that I read this in one sitting.
Kurt, the youngest of a large Irish brood is a cop. On the job he is hurt, but worse is the fact that his partner, and a man he thought of as a friend, was killed.
Davy was adorable. He was the partner of Ben. They had been together for ten years. Ben was Kurt's partner. As Ben was strictly in the closet, Kurt had no idea that Davy existed.
When Kurt became aware of Davy, his sense of loyalty took over, and he started to take care of Davy through his unbearable grief. But Kurt discovered things about Ben that he didn't like. Ben was so in the closet that he had made Davy's life one of no colour or friendships. He had turned Davy into a whole different person.
As time went on, Kurt's feelings toward Davy changed from wanting to be friends to so much more. This lead Kurt on a journey of discovery about who he really was and who and what he wanted from life.
The journey these two men took was one I became very involved with. I felt Kurt's emotions and at times he made my heart hurt, but Davy just took my heart from my chest and broke it. I fell in love with both of these men.
The story was filled out with snippets of Kurt's family, and old friends from Davy's past. These scenes were brilliant, and lead to some very funny moments.
My only complaint, and the reason for four stars instead of five was the ending. It seemed to all fall into place a little too easily and quickly for me. I feel another chapter or two would of taken the rushed feel away, and made this book a little better.
This was my first book from this author, but I know it will not be the last.
October 23, 2016
3- 3.5 stars - very cute story - if you're looking for a break from the tough stuff you've got the right book.
5 stars - if you are looking for a gorgeous Tristan James, you've come to the right place. Damn, that man is hot - no one in the world can narrate a masturbation scene like he can. Just damn. Wow.
5 stars - if you are looking for a gorgeous Tristan James, you've come to the right place. Damn, that man is hot - no one in the world can narrate a masturbation scene like he can. Just damn. Wow.
November 8, 2014
DNF at 57%
I lost all my interest in the story after around 20%.
Too sweet, too MM-female, too unreal, too predictable, too boring.
It is a kind of book that can be labeled NOT FOR LENA .
April 28, 2021
This author is fast becoming another of my favorites. The characters are so real and their situations are so true to life. I hoped so much for them to get their “happily ever after”. The story is heartwarming, but also heart wrenching at times. The characters of Kurt and Davy are believable, and so very layered, and brilliantly complex. I felt sorry for Kurt learning things about his work partner, Ben after Ben’s funeral. The more he learned and the things he saw when he went to help Davy told him more and more that he had never really known him at all. And here was Davy...Ben’s life partner...well let’s just say things were far less than anything resembling “good” and much more than a surprise. The story from here is an emotional roll-coaster; I had read one other book by this author. That was not in this 3-book series...and really enjoyed it so was happy that my two book bringing friends had bought more by this author. Thank you, guys.
March 14, 2022
I was totally expecting fragile-treatment from Kurt but damn, that possessive sex was hot as hell and more so was getting to know a smirking Davy.
January 21, 2012
More of my reviews and ramblings at PANTS OFF REVIEWS
Kurt O’Donnell is a cop struggling from the lost of his partner. Suffering injuries of his own he trying to come to grips with the death of a man he thought of as a friend. While attending his funeral it seems that his detective skills aren’t as good as they thought because the man he thought he knew for over three years has been keeping a really big secret.
Its seems the big secret was Davy, his partner’s lover for over ten years and Kurt hand no clue about the relationship. He’s feeling somewhat betrayed, and a pull to the widowed man with the big eyes. So Kurt sort of forces himself into Davy’s life. He never expected to find friendship with the shy man, or be fighting an attraction he never expected.
I am mildly surprised by the turn the story took, but it’s a good surprise. I loved that it wasn’t an insta-love type of book it really would have ruined the overall tone of the story. Cop Out takes a real slow progression of the relationship, somewhat dragging but still entertaining. I felt that Kurt struggles with being attracted to a man were sound. Davy is somewhat hard to understand, and I am still trying to figure him out.
Leading up to the ending is where the book fizzled for me; I think the distance between the men was too long, which made the ending seem too rushed. Plus the injured cop at the end is too predictable, and I wished the author had found another way to bring the lovers together.
Overall, I liked the book and I would really like to read a short in the future about Kurt and Davy.
Kurt O’Donnell is a cop struggling from the lost of his partner. Suffering injuries of his own he trying to come to grips with the death of a man he thought of as a friend. While attending his funeral it seems that his detective skills aren’t as good as they thought because the man he thought he knew for over three years has been keeping a really big secret.
Its seems the big secret was Davy, his partner’s lover for over ten years and Kurt hand no clue about the relationship. He’s feeling somewhat betrayed, and a pull to the widowed man with the big eyes. So Kurt sort of forces himself into Davy’s life. He never expected to find friendship with the shy man, or be fighting an attraction he never expected.
I am mildly surprised by the turn the story took, but it’s a good surprise. I loved that it wasn’t an insta-love type of book it really would have ruined the overall tone of the story. Cop Out takes a real slow progression of the relationship, somewhat dragging but still entertaining. I felt that Kurt struggles with being attracted to a man were sound. Davy is somewhat hard to understand, and I am still trying to figure him out.
Leading up to the ending is where the book fizzled for me; I think the distance between the men was too long, which made the ending seem too rushed. Plus the injured cop at the end is too predictable, and I wished the author had found another way to bring the lovers together.
Overall, I liked the book and I would really like to read a short in the future about Kurt and Davy.
February 13, 2012
This story started out heartbreaking and kept a lump in my throat for the first half of the book…but I loved it….and I loved Davy and Kurt together. Davy just about broke my heart. His grief was all consuming and you wanted to fold him up in your arms and take his pain away. Kurt felt the same way, even though he was unsure why. Where Davy was dealing with grief, Kurt was dealing with his own recovery, learning his partner was not who he thought he was, and trying to come to terms with his attachment to Davy…who was his work partners unknown life partner.
This was a pretty awesome story of what family us supposed to be like. As Kurt struggles to understand his own orientation at the age of 31, he falls into despair of thinking he will lose the love and respect of his parents and 6 older siblings. But when it finally comes out, they are all very accepting with the exception of his one brother. At the same time, he is trying to convince Davy that he wants to be with him, but Davy is not ready to move on and doesn’t want to be with another deeply closeted cop.
It takes quite a bit of time, and yet another hospital stay, but eventually Kurt and Davy come to terms with their feelings for each other and decide to give their relationship a try. This was a loving but angsty story and seeing Kurt accepted by his family when he comes out and seeing Davy learn to laugh again, makes it a wonderful and very heartwarming story.
This was a pretty awesome story of what family us supposed to be like. As Kurt struggles to understand his own orientation at the age of 31, he falls into despair of thinking he will lose the love and respect of his parents and 6 older siblings. But when it finally comes out, they are all very accepting with the exception of his one brother. At the same time, he is trying to convince Davy that he wants to be with him, but Davy is not ready to move on and doesn’t want to be with another deeply closeted cop.
It takes quite a bit of time, and yet another hospital stay, but eventually Kurt and Davy come to terms with their feelings for each other and decide to give their relationship a try. This was a loving but angsty story and seeing Kurt accepted by his family when he comes out and seeing Davy learn to laugh again, makes it a wonderful and very heartwarming story.
November 28, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. It was a friends to lovers story, and those are always great. It was also Gay For You and those are always one of my favourites. I also enjoyed the Canadian setting.
I really loved Kurt and Davy. Davy was a sweetheart and I enjoyed seeing him heal and grow. I hated hearing how he was abused by Ben. I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was a top. Kurt was also very sweet and romantic. I loved how dedicated he was to Davy and even after Davy tried to kick him out Kurt never moved on even after so long. He really loved him.
I loved Kurt's family and I knew they would be supportive of Kurt even though he was worried. I was very surprised by the revelation about Kurt's brother, but it was an interesting twist. It reminded me of another book I have read, In the Middle of Somewhere.
I was hoping book 2 would be about Ian, but it seems I will have to wait for book 3 for that, and book 2 is about Ivan, who we hardly know. But I am sure it will be great.
I really loved Kurt and Davy. Davy was a sweetheart and I enjoyed seeing him heal and grow. I hated hearing how he was abused by Ben. I was pleasantly surprised to find out he was a top. Kurt was also very sweet and romantic. I loved how dedicated he was to Davy and even after Davy tried to kick him out Kurt never moved on even after so long. He really loved him.
I loved Kurt's family and I knew they would be supportive of Kurt even though he was worried. I was very surprised by the revelation about Kurt's brother, but it was an interesting twist. It reminded me of another book I have read, In the Middle of Somewhere.
I was hoping book 2 would be about Ian, but it seems I will have to wait for book 3 for that, and book 2 is about Ivan, who we hardly know. But I am sure it will be great.
February 17, 2013
Kind of sappy, but altogether a very sweet book.
I was not sure I would like this book. It had one of my pet hates which is a dead lover. But he was a jerk and I was so glad he was dead. This was one of those books you would find hard to put down. The characters and the plot was nice. I enjoyed reading it.
I only had one tiny niggle about this book. But after that I could not fault it. It was slightly predictable, nothing wrong with that though and I would honestly say I had put off reading it for no reason what so ever.
I would highly recommend this book, but if you don't like sappy I would stay away from this!
I was not sure I would like this book. It had one of my pet hates which is a dead lover. But he was a jerk and I was so glad he was dead. This was one of those books you would find hard to put down. The characters and the plot was nice. I enjoyed reading it.
I only had one tiny niggle about this book. But after that I could not fault it. It was slightly predictable, nothing wrong with that though and I would honestly say I had put off reading it for no reason what so ever.
I would highly recommend this book, but if you don't like sappy I would stay away from this!
November 30, 2011
The beginning of this book was a little slow, but soon grabbed my attention. This is a book about a friendship that begins from of a tragedy and a man needing to find answers and ends up changing his life. I enjoyed learning about Davy and Kurt, even though you really only get the true emotions and troubles that Kurt was going through, but it didn't really detract too much from the story. It was an overall good story with only a little angst. The other characters were good also, I would however like to read more about Ian, Jon and Rick.
November 19, 2011
3.5 - Interesting premise, interesting characters, and a more realistic approach to realizing you may be gay at the age of 31. K.C. did a great job with the road to discovery - it was not instant and not just a shrug of the shoulders and say 'huh, must be gay' and be okay with it. Both of the MCs had major head issues and it was good to see that they both realized they needed the time to figure it out. I needed more at the end, but all in all a good book.
March 6, 2020
Audio 4 Stars
Story 3.75 Stars
Story 3.75 Stars
October 13, 2024
Probably my main motivation for reading this book was that it was set in Toronto, but there were only like two references, which was kind of disappointing. Most books are based in the US, so I was expecting more Canadian vibes, but alas, they were practically nonexistent.
I’ve read some really angsty books, and I wouldn’t say this one is super angsty. It’s more of a low to medium-low angst, mostly centered around self-loathing, denial, and binge drinking.
I would have given it 4 stars, but I wasn’t a fan of the time jumps or how many months passed before the MCs got back together.
I’ve read some really angsty books, and I wouldn’t say this one is super angsty. It’s more of a low to medium-low angst, mostly centered around self-loathing, denial, and binge drinking.
I would have given it 4 stars, but I wasn’t a fan of the time jumps or how many months passed before the MCs got back together.
August 24, 2018
It's been a long time since I read this series and while I originally gave this one 4 stars...maybe, I'm feeling sentimental because Tristan James, Toronto and I am Canadian but whatever, I enjoyed this just a little the second time around and I think that's due at least in part to the awesome audio narrations of one of my top 5 narrators...so 5 stars it is and definitely recommended.
May 24, 2015
- Narrator: Tristan James2 stars for book, 1 star extra for excellent narrating!!
Thank heavens for Tristan James.. Kudo’s for him!!! He sure saved this book for me!!
He did the Irish voices of Kurt’s mom and dad pretty good.
I appreciated Kurt looking after his partner’s partner Davy. Davy was so lost!! It was hard understanding Davy was kept a secret by Ben. That Davy was being belittled by Ben for 10 years!!
I loved that Kurt and Davy became good friends before Kurt realized his sexual attraction to Davy.
But I didn’t like that a big part of the book happened when they were apart..
Of course I understood Kurt needed time to come out, to accept his homo-sexuality, but I don’t know.. it just took too long for me for him to figure it out.
Then Kurt and Davy reconnected and that was that!! Just felt soo rushed. We never came to understand what was going through Davy’s mind, what his feelings were in his relation with Ben…
I was just left unsatisfied!!
I have nothing more to say than to just add a picture of Kurt!
Oh and a quote when he came out to his mom.. His partents were awesome!!
“Oh, baby. I was afraid you were going to tell me you were sick or something awful.”
“This isn’t awful?” Kurt couldn’t stop whispering.
“No, honey, no. I love you. I want you to be happy, and you haven’t been. Not for a long time.”
January 29, 2016
3.5 stars
Kurt finds out that his dead partner of three years was keeping a secret -- a partner by the name of Davy. At first, Kurt wants to be a shoulder to lean on to for Davy, especially since apparently, Davy has been pushed inside a closeted relationship for a decade. Until Kurt realizes he has feeling for Davy, which confuses him because Kurt never thinks of him as gay. But Davy doesn't want to be another secret skull in this relationship ...
This is a nice GFY story (well, never-think-that-I'm-gay-until-I-meet-you, story :p). Written from Kurt's perspective, in 3rd person, I like how he approaches friendship with Davy (even if the quick comfortable friendship is a bit tad unbelievable sometimes). The story moves smoothly, EVEN if there are chunks of timeframe being fast forward several times ... you know, suddenly it's a couple of weeks later, or few months later.
My biggest issue is probably in the middle, after Kurt decides to acknowledge himself as gay. The fact that Seriously, he should've tell Davy sooner, so the story will not dragged on like it is ...
Kurt finds out that his dead partner of three years was keeping a secret -- a partner by the name of Davy. At first, Kurt wants to be a shoulder to lean on to for Davy, especially since apparently, Davy has been pushed inside a closeted relationship for a decade. Until Kurt realizes he has feeling for Davy, which confuses him because Kurt never thinks of him as gay. But Davy doesn't want to be another secret skull in this relationship ...
This is a nice GFY story (well, never-think-that-I'm-gay-until-I-meet-you, story :p). Written from Kurt's perspective, in 3rd person, I like how he approaches friendship with Davy (even if the quick comfortable friendship is a bit tad unbelievable sometimes). The story moves smoothly, EVEN if there are chunks of timeframe being fast forward several times ... you know, suddenly it's a couple of weeks later, or few months later.
My biggest issue is probably in the middle, after Kurt decides to acknowledge himself as gay. The fact that Seriously, he should've tell Davy sooner, so the story will not dragged on like it is ...
October 1, 2014
**** 4,5 stars ****
Oh, this was so gooooood. Like slow developing romance, toppled with new realizations and coming to peace with them.
There is no mystery in this, no crime story. Kurt is a cop, but this story is about romance, not police work. Actually, I just finished listening to Dirty Kiss by Rhys Ford before this one, and the two books can't be more different. Dirty Kiss focuses on solving a crime mystery with a bit of romance on top, Cop Out is just romance. They are both good, but in their own way. I did prefer Cop Out, though, hence the higher rating.
Don't let the cover fool you. This isn't a smexy, sweaty hot cop story. here's not a lot of sex in this book, which was fine, because this book is not about sex, it's about feelings and relationships and grief and healing and... much more. The blurb is spot on. And it is a pleasure listening to both character grow and develop.
I loved Kurt, the MC's POV, and his huge Irish family. His mother and father have the accent which the narrator nails. Davy was such a sweet and great character, and my heart really ached for him along side Kurt as he discovers more and more about him.
It was so heartwarming.
A very recommended book (audio)!
Oh, this was so gooooood. Like slow developing romance, toppled with new realizations and coming to peace with them.
There is no mystery in this, no crime story. Kurt is a cop, but this story is about romance, not police work. Actually, I just finished listening to Dirty Kiss by Rhys Ford before this one, and the two books can't be more different. Dirty Kiss focuses on solving a crime mystery with a bit of romance on top, Cop Out is just romance. They are both good, but in their own way. I did prefer Cop Out, though, hence the higher rating.
Don't let the cover fool you. This isn't a smexy, sweaty hot cop story. here's not a lot of sex in this book, which was fine, because this book is not about sex, it's about feelings and relationships and grief and healing and... much more. The blurb is spot on. And it is a pleasure listening to both character grow and develop.
I loved Kurt, the MC's POV, and his huge Irish family. His mother and father have the accent which the narrator nails. Davy was such a sweet and great character, and my heart really ached for him along side Kurt as he discovers more and more about him.
It was so heartwarming.
A very recommended book (audio)!
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