Taylor Langford’s world is torn apart when he is only thirteen years old—his parents killed, leaving him alone and orphaned. With no living relatives, he’d certainly be another statistic if not for the intervention of the policeman who found Taylor in the crawl space where his mother hid him that fateful night. Despite the tragedy and resulting anguish in his life, Taylor knows how lucky he is.… is.
Frank Moore is a rookie with the Dallas Police Department when he and his partner answer a call in Devonshire, one of the city’s more affluent neighborhoods. They think the young boy in various pictures throughout the home has been kidnapped until they find him, shaken but alive. Officer Moore recognizes the pain in the kid’s eyes, having lost his own mother to cancer when he was just a boy. He steps in, making sure Taylor is placed with a loving foster family. Over the years, Frank becomes a permanent fixture in Taylor’s life.
A decade later, the case remains unsolved and the once gangly, uncertain teenager is now a college graduate who knows exactly what he wants. He’s coming home to the man that helped mold and shape his life, the man he’s loved for as long as he can remember, Frank Moore. But Taylor isn’t the only person returning to Dallas, and while Frank is distracted by his own conflicting feelings and the new bond growing between the two, the past creeps up on them, determined to finish what was started ten years earlier.
A note from the author…
I hope you enjoy Frank and Taylor’s story. It’s been a long road to get them settled, but I’m happy with where this story has taken them. When I started this book, the intent was to write a stand-alone story, but that has changed. Characters continually evolve throughout the writing process, and there are several characters in the book that want to tell their story. I’ve grown especially fond of Rory and I can’t wait to write his book, which will take us back to when he first joined the Bureau, and continue on to his happy ever after.
Please be advised: This is a May/December romance, and as in life, there are sexual situations that take place prior to the main characters finding their way to one another. This is not gratuitous; it is meant to show character growth and self-realization. There is absolutely no cheating.
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I received a copy of this book from the author, I was not required to give a favorable review. This is the first book that I have read from this author, and I found it very interesting. Taylor was living with his parents in their home in Dallas, and one night his mother comes into his room and makes him hide in a cabinet in the attic and told not to come out until she gets him. He was 13 at the time. Little did he know that his parents were being murdered downstairs. When a kind police officer named Frank came to rescue him his life changed for every. It took over 10 years to finally find their killer, but in that time he had come closer to Frank, but he had great guardians and they excepted that his was gay. But when he was 24 he finally admitted that young officer was besides his friend and buddy was also someone he was in love with.
Age gap, hurt/confort, a love built over a decade.
I really loved this book!
It’s both deeply emotional and comforting. I loved how Taylor and Frank’s relationship evolves, from Frank being Taylor’s saviour, to a sort of big brother, a confidante, and then, as Taylor grows up and starts have feelings for the older man, to an explosion of love that solidifies their already unbreakable bond.
This is the first book I ever read from T.M. Smith and I thouroghly enjoyed it, it’s well writen, captivating and interesting. The background of Taylor’s parents murder always looming just behind the surface until the cold case is re-opened makes it even more edgy to read. I just couldn’t put it down!
Nick J. russo was a great fit for this book. He has an uncanny ability to portray all the different characters, and each voice was so unique that you never can have any doubt about who’s speaking at any given moment.
Survivor by T. M. Smith is the first book in the Survivor Trilogy. It is a contemporary m/m romance with suspense, surprises, sweetness and steam….and the romance has an age gap theme that adds spice. The story was well written, intriguing and a great mix of drama and romance, with a few moments that made me smile with humor. Taylor and Frank are fantastic characters who I really loved them together.
Audiobook review:
Story – 5 stars
Performance – 5 stars
Nick J. Russo’s narration was great. His voice is soothing to listen to and he gives each character a unique voice.
Survivor:
This is a great age-gap story about a relationship that starts with tragedy. Taylor Langford’s parents were murdered when he is only 13. Frank Moore is one of the police officers that finds Taylor hiding in his home after the tragedy. Over the years Franks keeps in close touch with Taylor and a relationship eventually develops between the two.
This story is loaded with emotion and had me sobbing more than once. While what Taylor went through was heart breaking, Frank’s devotion to Taylor as he was growing up, and then later loving him, put it back together again.
While the love story between Taylor and Frank was great to read, the underlying mystery surrounding who killed Taylor’s parents kept me listening to this book almost obsessively until I finished it. Epilogues are one of my favorite things when I read a book and the one for Survivor was the cherry on top of an already great story.
A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.