Random Review: Sin and Tonic by Rhys Ford #Review #Giveaway

Author: Rhys Ford
Title: Sin and Tonic
Series: Sinner #6
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reece Notley
Publication Date: May 11, 2018
Length: 270 pages

Reviewed by Erin

Synopsis

Miki St. John believed happy endings only existed in fairy tales until his life took a few unexpected turns… and now he’s found his own. 

His best friend, Damien, is back from the dead, and their new band, Crossroads Gin, is soaring up the charts. Miki’s got a solid, loving partner named Kane Morgan—an Inspector with SFPD whose enormous Irish family has embraced him as one of their own—and his dog, Dude, at his side.

It’s a pity someone’s trying to kill him.

Old loyalties and even older grudges emerge from Chinatown’s murky, mysterious past, and Miki struggles to deal with his dead mother’s abandonment, her secrets, and her brutal murder while he’s hunted by an enigmatic killer who may have ties to her. 

The case lands in Kane’s lap, and he and Miki are caught in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse. When Miki is forced to face his personal demons and the horrors of his childhood, only one thing is certain: the rock star and his cop are determined to fight for their future and survive the evils lurking in Miki’s past.

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Review

Writing reviews can sometimes be a tricky endeavor for any number of reasons but for me, the hardest review to write is for the final book of a series that has been a beloved favorite for many years. Sin and Tonic is the final book (*cries*) in Rhys Ford's iconic Sinner's Gin series. Like all of you, I'm terribly sad to say goodbye to this series and these wonderful characters, but it's time. I always give major props to authors when they end a series that's as universally loved as Sinner's Gin because it can't be easy, especially when your fans tell you over and over again--and often beg--for you to keep going. All things come to an end, and even though it's hard and sad, for Miki, Kane, and the Morgan's and kudos to Rhys for giving them all the send off they deserve. 

I finished Sin and Tonic with both tears on my face and the biggest smile I've had in a long time at the end of a book. It's been quite the wild ride for our Sinner's Gin boys, but for no one more so than Miki St. John. Of all of Rhys's characters from all of her books it is Miki St. John who is my absolute favorite (with Donal a VERY close second!). Feral and prickly and jaded and oh so vulnerable underneath that hard as nails outer shell, Miki captured my heart back in book one and it's been his ever since. It'd be SO very easy to pity Miki for all he's been through, and boy has it ever been A LOT, but Miki'd kick anyone's ass who dared say such a thing. really, by the end of Sin and Tonic it's made abundantly clear that while Miki might wish certain things might have turned out differently, he's really pretty okay with his life. I won't spoil a thing for you by revealing what happens in Sin and Tonic--if you've been reading the books thus far and read the blurb then you know this book is about Miki's past coming back in a big way. Not only is he dealing with new information about his mysterious mother, but there are demons he's been fighting for a long time and they're biting at his heels, hard. Luckily for Miki, his cop, his soul mate, Kane Morgan is right there by his side. 

*sigh* Kane Morgan. Where to even begin with this fella? He's something else, that's for sure. As an inspector with the San Francisco PD, Kane has seen a lot, but nothing in his life ever prepared him for someone like Miki St. John. He knows what love looks like--after all he's got the perfect model in his parents Donal and Brigid--but even still, loving Miki isn't always easy. It sure as hell is always worth a little pain though. As Miki's demons come to the forefront, Kane is as solid as he's always been, that Irish slab of mountain as Rhys often refers to him, but this time, to me at least, it's a little different. Oh for sure Kane is stupid in love with Miki, that's never, ever in doubt, but as Miki has grown as a character over the series, so has Kane. In Sin and Tonic Kane is every single bit as fabulous as he's always been--supportive to a fault, strong and steady, flirty and so very sexy when it comes to his Mick, but there are moments where we see him really shine. He's always accepted and loved Miki for the person he is without trying to change him too much, but here we see that even more. Their honesty with one another, the way they make themselves vulnerable to each other is something that makes my heart beat faster and my knees weak. I'm not even kidding. Then imagining it in Kane's (or Tristan's) voice, with the Irish lilt that's just so swoony, makes it even better. 

There are some scenes throughout the book that I'm sure once you get to them, you'll feel the same way I did. Elated, my heart full, with eyes stinging and everything. Scenes with Miki and Damien, Miki and Brigid, and especially Miki and Donal. I mean, really, if you can read a scene, any scene, with Miki and Donal and not get teary eyed I don't even know what to say about that. There is also a scene between Kane and his partner/best friend, Kel which completely blew me away and took me utterly by surprise! The entire Morgan clan, along with the rest of the Crossroads Gin band are all present, though some might not get as much page time as you might want. Never fear though, Rhys gives Miki and Kane the send off and the happily ever after they've fought so hard for. As a long time fan of this series and of Rhys in general, I want to say thank you for giving us such wonderful characters to know and love and feel as if they've been a part of our family for the past five years. It's been one hell of a ride and I know that Miki, Kane, Damie, and all the rest of the Morgan clan will live happily ever after! 

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Flashback Friday: Sinner's Gin by Rhys Ford #Review #Giveaway

Author: Rhys Ford
Title: Sinner's Gin
Series: Sinners
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reece Notley
Publication Date: December 24, 2012
Length: 260 pages

Reviewed by Erin

Synopsis

There’s a dead man in Miki St. John’s vintage Pontiac GTO, and he has no idea how it got there.

After Miki survives the tragic accident that killed his best friend and the other members of their band, Sinner’s Gin, all he wants is to hide from the world in the refurbished warehouse he bought before their last tour. But when the man who sexually abused him as a boy is killed and his remains are dumped in Miki’s car, Miki fears Death isn’t done with him yet.

Kane Morgan, the SFPD inspector renting space in the art co-op next door, initially suspects Miki had a hand in the man’s murder, but Kane soon realizes Miki is as much a victim as the man splattered inside the GTO. As the murderer’s body count rises, the attraction between Miki and Kane heats up. Neither man knows if they can make a relationship work, but despite Miki’s emotional damage, Kane is determined to teach him how to love and be loved — provided, of course, Kane can catch the killer before Miki becomes the murderer’s final victim.

Link

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Review

Doing a flashback review is always such fun. Looking back, visiting favorites, remembering the first time I fell in love with a certain book always leaves me feeling warm and fuzzy. When I pick the book I'm going to review, I try to pick one that might have been overlooked way back when, or might not be on everyone's radar, or has a special meaning to me. Books are personal things, am I right? The characters, or the setting, or even the time in your life when you read a certain book can have a lasting effect on you. I knew when my turn came around this month exactly which book I would choose. It's definitely not one that has been overlooked or been under any sort of radar, but it IS special to me and to so many of you as well.

Rhys Ford's Sinner's Gin is a classic in every sense of the word. I first read Sinner's Gin only a few months after it was released a little more than five years ago. It was my first book by her and it was the beginning of a long standing, bordering on obsessive (in the best possible way) love of Rhys as an author and her books. Whether Rhys is writing urban fantasy, shape shifters, or contemporary romance with a bit of murder and mayhem thrown in for good measure, there isn't another author quite like her. Or another family quite like the Morgan's. 

Who knew way back when that Kane and Miki and the rest of the Morgan clan would be so beloved? Well, maybe Rhys did, and by the end of reading Sinner's Gin the first time I knew Kane and Miki would always and forever find themselves in my top favorite couples of all time. I'm not alone. I've seen more times than I can count Kane and Miki on lists of favorite couples, Miki on lists of favorite rock stars, the audio listed on many favorites, too. And let me just tell you, Tristan James's Irish accent is to die for, no lie. But back to Kane and Miki. These two, I swear, my heart just melts and my sighs are epic whenever I think of them. Of Kane's strength, his commitment to his family, his job, and especially to Miki. Of Miki's vulnerability, though it's hidden beneath his prickly personality. Until it comes to the brother of his heart, Damien, or to Kane's da, Donal, or to his dog, Dude, and most importantly to Kane. Watching them fall in love was such a gift. Full of ups and downs, but so deep and tender and permanent. 

I could gush for a really long time about Sinner's Gin. About why it means so much to me, about how Rhys's portrayal of the Morgan family is wondrous and makes me wish everybody could have a Donal, a Brigid, and a Quinn. A Connor wouldn't be bad, either. Neither would a Kiki. How everyone should have someone like Damien in their life, someone to stand beside you as you face the world and all the cruelty it can sometimes bring down on someone. How having someone like Kane in your corner means everything and having someone like Miki, while not always easy, is always worth it in the end. I have the honor and privilege of being able to review Sin and Tonic, the final book in the Sinner's Gin series in a few weeks, so I'm going to save the rest of my gushing for then. Not to be mean or anything (or not TOO mean) to you all but let me just say, Sin and Tonic is EVERYTHING you want it to be. If by some chance you're reading this review and haven't read Sinner's Gin for whatever reason, please fix that immediately. Anyone who loves romance, who loves mystery, who loves books about family, both biological and found, needs to read this book and the series as a whole. Kane and Miki along with the rest of the Morgan's will forever embed themselves into your heart, I promise. 

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Release Day Review: Absinthe of Malice by Rhys Ford #Review #Giveaway

Author: Rhys Ford
Book: Absinthe of Malice
Series: Sinners (Book 5)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: June 22, 2016
Length: 181 pages


Reviewed by Morningstar



Synopsis

We’re getting the band back together.

Those five words send a chill down Miki St. John’s spine, especially when they’re spoken with a nearly religious fervor by his brother-in-all-but-blood, Damien Mitchell. However, those words were nothing compared to what Damien says next.

And we’re going on tour.

When Crossroads Gin hits the road, Damien hopes it will draw them closer together. There’s something magical about being on tour, especially when traveling in a van with no roadies, managers, or lovers to act as a buffer. The band is already close, but Damien knows they can be more—brothers of sorts, bound not only by familial ties but by their intense love for music.

As they travel from gig to gig, the band is haunted by past mistakes and personal demons, but they forge on. For Miki, Damie, Forest, and Rafe, the stage is where they all truly come alive, and the music they play is as important to them as the air they breathe.

But those demons and troubles won’t leave them alone, and with every mile under their belts, the band faces its greatest challenge—overcoming their deepest flaws and not killing one another along the way.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

This book is about Crossroads Gin getting back up and out on tour to bring themselves closer together, not just friends but more, family. Damien is determined to make this happen so much that he willing to leave his love Sionn at home while he travels the country with Miki, Forest, and Rafe. Just the band, no managers, no fancy hotels, no arenas of screaming fans, none of the pomp and circumstance that would normally go with them. Will it work?

There’s this song by Andra Day called Rise Up that fits perfectly for what these guys are meant to be to each other. The bases of the song is about saying one piece isn't better than the other. And when this piece is struggling the other pieces are there to help. They’re gonna lift the others up. They’ll be there. If one is going through pain, the others go through it with them. In Absinthe of Malice each one of these is struggling with their past and their demons and if they can learn to trust and lean on each other they can bring each other up from the bottom so that they aren’t doing it alone. But trust for some of these guys is hard won.

I always find it a struggle to read a book about more than one couple but Rhys does it perfectly in this book! Each POV was clearly understood and a flow that made the switching easy to follow and see why the switch was important. And yeah this book is about all of Crossroads Gin and each has their own struggle to work through but most of the main focus is on Miki. How Damien and Kane have to learn to coexist within Miki’s life without putting Miki in the middle of their issues. It’s about Miki finding his music again out on the road and not losing Kane, the love of his life. It’s about what Miki has lost in his life and what he has found on the journey to where he is now. And most importantly there is there’s a mystery and danger involving Miki.

The banter and dialogue with each couple always makes me smile and brings warmth to my heart and this book was no different. Rhys makes it hard to choose a favorite couple and for that I am grateful because it makes it much more enjoyable to love them all equally. And as always the smexy is strong in this book!!! She creates so many FEELS in this story and such a range that we are laughing, crying, scared, and shocked! It truly was a great way to catch up with these guys and get me looking forward to next and last book! You do NOT want to miss it!

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