Review: Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6)
Written by: Rhys Ford
Reviewed by: Erin
Follow Erin's Reviews on Goodreads
Follow Erin's Reviews on Goodreads
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Length: 204 Pages
Publication Date: March 21, 2016
I remember when I first read Dirty Kiss, book 1 of the Cole McGinnis series. It was back in 2013
when I was still relatively new to reading LGBTQ fiction. Book 3—Dirty Laundry—had just been released,
and I’d had the first two books saved on my computer for awhile so I figured it
was about time I gave the books a go. I grabbed two very good friends and said,
“Hey, buy these books and read with me. They look great, I think we’re gonna
love them.” So they did. And we read. And read. And read. We flailed. There
were more messages than I could count going “OMG can you believe that
happened?” and then “Holy shit, how does someone DO that?” and of course there
were lots of “oh Cole’s and poor Jae’s.” By the end, I fell in love. Completely
in love with Cole and his sarcasm and humor that tried to hide his broken
heart. With Kim Jae-Min and his quiet demeanor but fierce and complicated
struggle to remain true to his heritage while wishing to follow his heart. With
Bobby and his staunch protectiveness of his princess and best friend, Cole.
With Claudia and her complete devotion and acceptance of Cole and all his
faults. With Scarlet, this beautiful creature who loves Jae with absolute
abandon.
Like the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Dirty Heart is the final book in the
Cole McGinnis series, and it is the perfect culmination of an incredible
journey. Not just for the characters, but for us, the readers, as well. We’ve
all laughed at each and every improbable but somehow totally believable
situation Cole has found himself in, no matter how outlandish. We’ve gasped and
cringed as Cole has been knifed and shot and chased by llamas and gun-wielding
granny’s wearing leather. We’ve cried as Cole and Jae have navigated their
sometimes rocky but always real and true relationship. We’ve swooned and sighed
at the heart-achingly beautiful words these two very flawed men have whispered
to each other, speaking from soul-deep love and commitment. We’ve raged at the
cruelty Cole and Jae have suffered from the people who were supposed to love
them unconditionally, and then felt our hearts soar as they found that love and
acceptance from Claudia and Scarlet and the rest of their make-shift family.
These aren’t just characters on a page, but friends and family we’ve watched
grow and learn and fall in love on their journey toward their
happily-ever-after.
One of my favorite moments from the book:
“Promise me one more thing?”
“Anything.” I was tired. Probably more tired than I’d been in my entire life, and sleep tugged at my brain.
“Promise you’ll love me. Forever, if I need it.” He slurred a bit, dipping down into a cadence more Korean than English, but he was clear enough for me to understand him.
“Forever. Even if you don’t need it,” I whispered, nestling up into him. “Because I will.”
“Anything.” I was tired. Probably more tired than I’d been in my entire life, and sleep tugged at my brain.
“Promise you’ll love me. Forever, if I need it.” He slurred a bit, dipping down into a cadence more Korean than English, but he was clear enough for me to understand him.
“Forever. Even if you don’t need it,” I whispered, nestling up into him. “Because I will.”
Dirty Heart is
written in Rhys Ford’s incomparable style: poetic prose interspersed with
evocative and often biting, sharp realism. She has a way of writing that is
unparalleled (anyone who can write the gruesomeness of death in a way that
seems almost artistic is a true master at her craft). Whether it’s humor or
mystery or violence or sex, Rhys is beyond compare. Dirty Heart is the perfect and fitting end to the series. The
answers to the questions we’ve been waiting years and 5 books to get to is done
so well, and it’s worth all the pain and heartbreak it’s taken to get here (not
just for Cole, but for us, too, who have desperately ached—and dreaded—for the
moment). As with every book in the series, you will laugh and cry and gasp and
cringe and get angry more than a few times. But at the end, your heart will be
full, you’ll be left very satisfied, if a tad bittersweet, knowing that Cole
and Jae and all their family, will be moving on. The joy though, is knowing
that they’re happy and at peace.
Saranghae-yo Cole and Jae.
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