Book Reviews

Book Blurb

The body might be reluctant, but there's more than one spirit willing to step in and keep two stubborn men from walking away from each other forever…

Deputy Matt Nixon has had a rough time of it lately. He's put up with the spirit of his boss's dead lover, been stabbed, and had his fledgling interest in another man cruelly flung back in his face. His only close friend is an elderly woman who gets her kicks from calling in false prowler reports then greeting the responding deputies with a lewd proposition and little clothes.

When he finds her dead, Matt grieves for the old woman so many people snickered at—and he fumes at the idea of her snooty nephew from New York who never bothered to visit her. Matt is going to give Carlin Douglas a piece of his mind if he does show up.

Carlin Douglas hates the small town of McKinton, Texas. The only other time he'd been there was years ago when Zeke Mathers was almost killed in a gay bashing. Now Carlin has obligations that keep him tied to New York, but he doesn't mind.

Until he clashes with Deputy Matt Nixon, a man who seems determined to hate him. But McKinton is a different place, and there's always a spirit or two lingering, just waiting for an opportunity…to meddle.

Reader Advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series but can be read as a stand alone title.

Publisher's Note: This book has previously been published under the same title. It has been expanded, revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

 

Book Review

Is it worse not to know what you need out of life, or to know, but deny yourself that satisfaction? In 'All of the Voices' by Bailey Bradford, Deputy Matt Dixon knows what he wants and needs—a committed relationship with another man. The same goes for Carlin Douglas; although he puts up a gruff front, he's actually a loving, caring person. For their own reasons, both have been avoiding the emotional commitment they crave. When Carlin's aunt dies, she brings them together in more ways than one.

Matt is a decent guy. After taking years to come to terms with being gay, he's totally discouraged when his first attempt at exploring this inclination ends abruptly, leaving him broken hearted. He's not in any great rush to be hurt again. His friendship with Mrs. Hawkins, Carlin's aunt, shows that Matt is a compassionate, generous, and caring man. One thing I admired greatly about Matt is that when he makes a decision about something, he follows through wholeheartedly.

Carlin Douglas, Mrs. Hawkins's nephew, is a paradox. On the outside, he seems self assured, almost arrogant, in control of every situation; but inside, he's emotional and caring. Fear of reprisal keeps him from showing his true personality and letting anyone get close enough to hurt him, especially in McKinton. His real strength lies in the fact that he is able to put all this in perspective and come out a happy, healthier person.

Bailey did a good job with character development in this series and I've enjoyed revisiting previous ones while getting to know new people. Her story lines are interesting and entertaining although some of her theories about supernatural phenomena seem farfetched; others however, are spot on. Even with these quibbles, I was able to suspend my disbelief enough to thoroughly enjoy the story. In spots, the rhythm dragged a little, and I would have liked it more if she'd found another way to fit these in without long, drawn out explanations. The majority of the story, however, read smoothly with events often reaching fever pitch emotionally and physically adding enough suspense and tension to keep me vested in the characters and their welfare.

'All of the Voices' is the third book in the Southern Spirits series. It can be read alone, but will be so much more fulfilling if you read the first and second book beforehand. If you like love stories with lots supernatural phenomena, a whole lot of hot sex, and a happy, but open ended conclusion, you might like this story.

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been provided by Pride Publishing for the purpose of a review.

Additional Information

Format	ebook
Length	Novella, 104 pages/36572 words
Heat Level
Publication Date	08-September-2015
Price	$4.50 ebook
Buy Link	https://www.pride-publishing.com/book/all-of-the-voices