Title: Tricked Out
Author: J.M. Snyder
Published in June 2008 by Aspen Mountain Press
Genre: Contemporary M/M Erotic Romance
ISBN: 978-1-60168-110-2
Other Books by J.M. Snyder: Working Man Series Del Fantasma: Undertow, Trin, Scarred,
The last thing Will Moore needed was a relationship, well, that is what he told himself. Things went so very bad with the last one, things Will couldn't think about, didn't want to remember. He blames himself, and is certain that only he is at fault for the action that cost his young friend and lover his life. It is the guilt and anger he was swamped by, the rage at the situation that earned him a month's leave to collect himself, to try and gain a new perspective on things involving his feelings about his job, the actions of others, and whether or not he was going to allow the incident to reflect on further actions in the field. It has been rough, but he is coping. It is NOT getting easier every day, but he is learning to accept the way things are, Tea is gone, and he has to go on to keep it safe for others. Oh, they got their man, the gang was broken, but Will still wonders if it was worth the price. No one promised being a cop would be easy, but that was life in general. The curves life threw you measured your skill, the strength of character. Will figures life found his weakness, and at a really bad time. Now he has to adjust to the losses, and count himself lucky that he only lost a month of work, and not his job.
Tea was tough, streetwise, but it was his blind devotion to Will that got him killed, at least that is how Will sees it anyway. He has not accepted anything else at this point, but he knows he has to move on. What he needs is a night of sex, no-strings, and no attachments sex. He knows where to go for it too, but even as he cruises the Slip, he is having second thoughts. Things are so unsettled, but his being back at work was ok, not great, stuck behind a desk, but it assured him he still has a job. Like most cops, Will hates desk duty, but it is something he has to suffer through. He knows the Chief has him on probation, and he understands why, but being back is what matters to him, all the rest is tolerable. Even Grantland's slights and innuendo, no matter that he wants to drive his fist through the man's face, have him pulling in his horns. He knows sex isn't the answer to everything, but Will needs to let off some steam, needs to try to forget, and needs some relief. Breakdowns are never pretty, and he never thought he was unstable, but when Teabag was killed, he truly lost his sanity temporarily. He has no doubts Chief Sorenson is watching him closely. When he spies the group of young hustlers on the strip, seconds thoughts are stopped cold by a slender frame, blue-black hair, and an angel face...
Corey Thomason was not expecting his dreams to come true. Hustling was a way of life he had resigned himself too when he dropped out of school. He made good money, and he was content for now. He also realized he couldn't last forever, because a hard life can cause looks to go and when they are gone, you'd better have something to fall back on to survive. He knows him limitations, and Corey has an edge. Banding together a group of young hustlers, splitting expenses, and setting rules for their actions has provided him with some substance, a semblance of the life he craves. He has a place to live, there is room for all "his boys" and there is safety in numbers. With everyone chipping in to pay the bills, they all manage to live better than the street kinds, better than the two-bit hustlers, and have a sense of family, connection, and support. Corey dreamed of setting up housekeeping with a lover, however, one he could claim as his on a permanent basis, someone who would take him away from this life. No matter how good and convenient it was now, it was not something he really wanted permanently. He wants to be a mate, a wife, a lover to someone who will return the feelings and appreciate the way he would care for and take care of him.
The car cruising the Slip slowed again, and Corey stepped forward, he knew in his gut the trick was his, but he was totally unaware of the ramifications. The fates were being kind to two people they had treated badly, and as the window slid down, Corey was stunned at the beautiful man behind the wheel. The banter soon changed to interest, spurring his dreams anew. This was a man he could truly spend his life with, and though there's a horrible sadness lurking behind the deep chocolate eyes, and a desolation in his very attitude, Corey knew he was the man for whom he'd been looking. No nonsense, no silly names, the man knew what he wanted from him, and was willing to meet his price. It was a shame he was so lonely, but Corey made up his mind right there and then he was going to try to erase some of the hurt he sensed. There had to be something he could do to help, and he was driven by something he didn't quite understand to be the one to put the light back in those dull eyes, to wipe the strain from that face, and to bring an honest smile to his lips. What he didn't expect, was to meet the man again, especially while filing a criminal complaint for one of "his boys"...
J. M. Snyder has a way with romance, and a way with the eroticism of the male on male relationship. She has made a name for herself with her witty, sensual and insightful characters, her sexy scenarios, as well as her short stories. In Tricked Out, she presents us with a pair of characters buffeted by fate, one a cop, with a bust-gone-horribly-bad behind him, the second, a streetwise hustler with dreams of love. The two are made for each other, and yet as fate would sometimes have it, their meeting at Will’s workplace is only by chance. When one of Corey's housemates gets beaten by a john, Corey goes to the police station to file a complaint. There are only two officers on duty as most of the others have gone to lunch. Knowing of Grantland's attitude and tendencies with these types of cases, the desk sends Will to take the complaint. This is the beginning in a series of meetings that will cement the relationship for both if The Fates have their way.
Tricked Out is a story of a promise, and the ability of love and the human desire to protect that brings two people together. Will's strong protective instincts were blurred by the desire to get a real slime-ball off the streets. Teabag's desire to please Will, and his overconfidence in his ability to fool the drug dealer led to his death, but Will can't accept that as the truth, he is not quite ready yet to forgive himself, or Tea. Corey's appearance in his life complicates matters. He tells himself he won't get involved with another relationship like he had with Tea, but The Fates have other plans. Even at the risk of his job, Will knows he has to take this case on and prove to himself and the Chief that he is ready to return to work. Neither he nor Corey can anticipate the outcome, but you will enjoy every minute of the excitement and the depths of the story when you read Tricked Out. This is definitely a must read for those of you who enjoy this genre of erotic story, and one readers of J. M. Snyder's work cannot afford to miss. Will and Corey draw you into Tricked Out before you know what is happening, and the ending will definitely surprise and satisfy you. This is a book I recommend, and it is one of her best Contemporary M/M romances, so get to Aspen Mountain Press and get a copy of Tricked Out today.
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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