Chief Steele told me to pick my battles when it comes to Cole Gunn. He must not know me very well because I haven’t even started to fight.Jamie:I only have two rules: first, I don’t tangle with anyone who wants a relationship. And second, I’m the one who decides when it’s over. The guys I see are fun and easy—exactly how I want them. I keep my head down and my heart to myself. The only person who … to myself. The only person who sees the real me is my daughter; I don’t make friends or keep them in a town that hates me. I don’t need redemption. I just want to make it through the day.
The minute I see Cole Gunn, everything changes. I can’t keep him off my mind—or out of my fantasies—even when I’m interrogating him at a crime scene. Cole makes me want to bend both of my rules—but he’s an ex-con, I’m a cop, and my boss thinks Cole is the one behind a recent string of thefts.
Screw that. Cole Gunn isn’t going to prison again. He gives me hope, passion, love: all the things I thought I didn’t deserve. I’ve never been a hero before, but when it comes to Cole, I think it might be time for a change.
Cole:
I don’t fit in here in Abingdon. I don’t have a fancy job, and I got my degree in prison instead of Jackson Academy. My only goal is survival on the outside. I ain’t got time for anything else. Yeah, I had dreams. I wanted a boyfriend, maybe a family. That went down the tubes the second I was convicted. My name has been cleared, but the scars are still there—and no good man would want anything to do with me.
Did I say Jamie Grant was a good man? He’s not. In fact, he might be the brashest son of a gun I’ve ever met. He rolled up to my uncle’s farm the week after I got out of the clink to accuse me of stealing the beehives on my property, and before I could even prove my innocence, he asked me for my number.
I dodge every one of his advances. I keep telling him he’s pissing me off, that he’s a fool for hanging around. But I’m lying through my teeth, and that smirk tells me he knows it. I can’t get that infuriating man off my mind—the things I’d do to him in bed would make a stripper blush.
But in the midst of an investigation where I’m getting framed again, it turns out Jamie Grant is the only one who gives a d@mn about my story. Unlike everyone else who’s abandoned me at the first sign of trouble, he keeps coming back, begging for more.
Turns out he’s the part of my story I never expected. But it’s only when Jamie’s lost to me that I realize: he’s the love of my life, and I’m not ready to give up on my happy ending.
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Smoking Gunn is the seventh book in the Bridge to Abingdon series. Each book focuses on one sizzling couple, and each can be read as a standalone. There’s plenty of hot mm love, lots of sensual firsts, gorgeous beehives, redneck uncles, ex-wife best friends, a sweet lil girl, and an HEA that’s sweeter than honey. Cole Gunn and Jamie Grant are the redemption at the end of the Abingdon Series. Enjoy!
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Cole and Jamie
After spending ten years behind bars, innocent, Cole is free to go with a lot of money to compensate. Cole can’t believe it until he is at his uncle Thad’s farm. He is the only relative who cares for him. Cole wants a simple life, withdraws and sets up his dream holding beehives and going to a gym to keep in shape.
Jamie is a cop, after work in the gym, he is impressed by the beautiful man full of tattoos.
When they get together it seems they fit perfectly.
Only there are thieves who steal beehives and Jamie’s chief has his eyes on Cole.
A wide story with a lot of education about bees and beehives. We meet Jamie’s daughter and her mother, we meet Cole’s uncle Thad. There is a lot going on with thieves and criminals who aim at Cole. For the second time, there is a chance Cole gets convicted. His biggest nightmare!
A very nice story, with kind characters, original environments and sweet romance, and lovely family members, there are even some angsty moments.
I almost couldn’t handle the injustice towards Cole. Thank goodness for Jamie and his unconditional love and dedication. Overall a captivating story.
This book is part of a wonderful series but can be read as standalone. This beautiful story is about Cole and Jamie. It has all the feels and keep tissues handy you just might need them. It’s definitely one of my favorites.
Cole is wrongfully convicted and sent to prison. On a good note he learns a lot about bees and beekeeping and when he’s finally released, because his conviction is overturned, he becomes a beekeeper and makes a business out of it.
Jamie works for the police department and when he sees Cole at the gym working out he’s interested and wants to know him.
I loved seeing these two come together and their love grow and deepen. When push came to shove they were there for each other. They got their HEA.
I highly recommend this book and the entire series. Tatum West does a beautiful job writing her characters and drawing you in, even through their tragedies you just want good things to happen to them.
This is the 7th book in this addictive series, and is cop Jamie, and ex con Cole’s story. This is a well written flawless story which is an emotional roller coaster, as well as tugging at the heartstrings, with drama, and twists which all lead to a steamy read. I recommend for all.
When you can’t tell who is your friend from your enemy, what do you do?
This was a poignant, steamy M/M romance between a former convict and a small-town cop. What we find out very quickly is that sometimes what you think you know is not the complete story.
At 17yo Cole’s best friend does a very stupid thing and dies for it. Cole gets blamed and ends up in prison for 10 long years. With nothing much else to do, he gets a buff body, but remains quietly diligent learning from a friend how to tend bees. When it is proven to be a wrongful conviction, Cole is exonerated and released into the custody of his supportive uncle, Thad. Cole is mistrustful of most people but especially of the police. He meets Jamie at a fitness club and there are sparks immediately. But can things go smoothly for this poor guy? NO! Cole finds out that Jamie is a cop.
Things get much worse before they end happily. This book made me fist-pump when the bad guys get their comeuppance and cry when it looks like all is lost. Another plus for me about this book is that both men are handsome and buff. That’s how I like my M/M romances 😉
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book and it comes highly recommended for those who like M/M love stories with medium steam, angst, suspense and a beautiful HEA.
As a teenager, Cole was railroaded into prison before he could comprehend what was happening. While locked up, he kept his sexuality a secret and did what he had to do to survive. While he comes out on the other side intact, he’s big, tough, and withdrawn but still holds on to some of the innocence he had as a teenager. Innocence that shines through for Jamie to see. They’re total opposites, the ex-con and the cop. But they find they have much in common and an attraction they can’t resist. Throw in some narrow-minded people ready to believe the worst and some baddies trying to use Cole’s past to make him a scapegoat and you have a great romantic suspense that can be gulped down in one sitting. At least that’s what I did! Great story, great characters. I haven’t read the entire series yet, so this can definitely be read as a stand alone. But I fully intend to read the books I’ve missed in the series! Thanks, Tatum for giving your readers a great book!
I have read every single one in this series and they just keep getting better and better. We meet Cole and Jamie. Two unlikely guys to fall for each other but in the end love wins out and life proves that even even if evening you even if you get screwed you’ll still find out that people will trust you no matter what. I am so pleased to have been able to read this series and I hope it’s not done just yet. I give it 5 stars. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book as an Advanced Reader’s Copy
No spoilers of any kind included!
So all I’m going to say about Smoking Gunn is I thought it was pure awesomeness, and I’m going to leave it at that because if I say anymore I’ll be giving away spoilers!
So it’s a big HECK YEAH I definitely do recommend this book to anyone who’s searching for a fantastic story to climb into and get completely lost within its pages.
Smoking Gunn is a wonderful redemption story in the Bridge to Abingdon series. I immediately fell in love with Cole. He had been treated horribly all throughout his life and, despite his conviction finally being overturned, he still had it far from easy. It was hard not to feel outrage at the injustice he experiences, especially how he was treated during the investigation. The author did an amazing job at writing his character, so much so that all I wanted to do was wrap Cole up in a hug and protect him from all the hate and prejudice being thrown his way. This is honestly the main reason why I adored Jamie, because he did exactly that. He was extremely devoted to Cole and truly believed in him despite what others thought. Cole and Jamie fit together perfectly and I was so desperately rooting for them to get the HEA they truly deserved.
[I received an advanced copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review].
Cole was dealt a raw deal and a low blow by life. He was given a second chance, and met Jamie. Once he learned that Jamie was a cop, and once he learned that Jamie was different, he was then framed again. And it was up to Jamie to come to his rescue. This was wonderfully written and filled with all of the feels that I wanted.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
This could be read as a stand alone. Cole and Jamie,whoa opposites attract. Ex prisoner or is he and a cop! Honestly this shouldn’t work but it does! It is hot, made me cry and get upset on Coles behalf. A great gripping read.
I didn’t think it was possible, but this series just gets better and better with every new release,each new story more heart-wrenching then the previous one.
Cole and Jamie are the most unlikely couple for the fact that one is an ex con and the other is a cop. But what they do have in common is the shield they have built around their hearts. Watching them put down their defences was an incredible,touching, emotional reading experience.
Loved it!
The great character and plot development kept me totally engaged throughout the entire book! I was so engrossed in this wonderful story that I read this book in one sitting!
Thank you for the ARC read,I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Cole was just a kid in the wrong place, Going down for a crime that he had no part in all because the home town sheriff hated anyone that wasn’t as corrupted or just like his good ole boys. When a life sentence was overturned Cole can’t believe his luck. Getting out all his cares about his bees and his uncle Thad after all everyone else turned their back on him for tens of his life. Keeping out of sight out of mind was his rules when it came to anyone in law until he meets a cop that he just can’t resist even when trouble comes to his door step. Can he trust in one man to do right by him even if that one man is in the law. This was such a moving story that reaches so many levels, drama, heartache, and the freedom to just be. Of a little girl just wanting everyone and everything to be perfect. One man’s fear to trust while another’s is of being trusted. Over all a very wonderful and recommend read.
I’ve read all of the BRIDGE TO ABINGDON books and I love this series. Tatum West writes characters who are complex, imperfect people with very real problems and who you love to root for. She does an excellent job of letting the reader watch her characters grow and take risks and fall down and pick themselves up again. As a reader, nothing beats finding yourself “in” the story with the characters and Tatum West pulls you in like that. This one was a little bit different in that one of the main characters is dealing with his wrongful incarceration as a teenager by a corrupt police chief. You don’t need to have read the earlier book(s) to understand the situation and learning about that part of Cole’s life makes you want things to just go well for him now. This story has humor and witty dialogue, a character who evokes sympathy but overcomes the raw deal that life threw at him, and of course romance and heat. Lots of heat 😉 As always, characters from earlier books in this series makes you feel like you’re seeing old friends again. I also always enjoy a book where the setting is as important as the characters. And lastly, a bonus: I learned a lot about beekeeping! Highly recommend.
Cole Gunn’s been given a second chance to prove his worth. Jamie Grant’s been given a second chance to prove his integrity. Together they must fight against forces determined to undermine them and ultimately for their trust and belief in each other and their future.
Abingdon is a wonderful place and each visit there is an emotion-filled journey. This is certainly full of heart-stopping and heartwarming moments that will keep you captivated from start to finish. Cole and Jamie’s story will definitely tug at your heartstrings. You’ll be outraged at the injustice Cole has to endure and ready to cheer on Jamie’s efforts to support Cole and find out the truth behind the circumstantial evidence.
It’s a roller coaster of drama with some unexpected twists and turns and plenty of hot, steamy passion. And if Cole and Jamie don’t steal your heart, there’s an adorable, precocious pixie who will. Of course, you get to touch base with some of the characters you’ve met from previous trips to Abingdon, which is always a joy, but it’s the meeting of new characters that make these stories so engaging and make you never want to leave. I truly hope there’ll be more to come as I will always want to visit again!!
I was privileged enough to receive an ARC of this book. I really enjoyed it. The characters are well-written and believable, and I fell in love with them immediately. I had a hard time putting the book down- I just needed to know what happened mext. This is the latest installment in an outstanding series, but can definitely be read as a standalone. I would definitely recommend this!