Down and Dirty by Rhys Ford | Author Interview, Review & COMMENT Giveaway {A Cole McGinnis Series Novel}

From the moment former LAPD detective Bobby Dawson spots Ichiro Tokugawa, he knows the man is trouble. And not just because the much younger Japanese inker is hot, complicated, and pushes every one of Bobby’s buttons. No, Ichi is trouble because he’s Cole McGinnis’s younger brother and off-limits in every possible way. And Bobby knows that even before Cole threatens to kill him for looking Ichi’s way. But despite his gut telling him Ichi is bad news, Bobby can’t stop looking… or wanting.

Ichi was never one to play by the rules. Growing up in Japan as his father’s heir, he’d been bound by every rule imaginable until he had enough and walked away from everything to become his own man. Los Angeles was supposed to be a brief pitstop before he moved on, but after connecting with his American half-brothers, it looks like a good city to call home for a while—if it weren’t for Bobby Dawson.

Bobby is definitely a love-them-and-leave-them type, a philosophy Ichi whole-heartedly agrees with. Family was as much of a relationship as Ichi was looking for, but something about the gruff and handsome Bobby Dawson that makes Ichi want more.

Much, much more.

Purchase Down and Dirty at DreamspinnerPress or Amazon today! 

Tams 5 Star review... 

Bobby Dawson is conundrum. The former cop has spent most of his life in the closet, and still isn’t technically out of it. He doesn’t necessarily hide his sexuality, in fact, at times he wears it like the badge he used to sport. There is pain in his past linked to the knowledge of who he is, or at least who he wants to be, that he will have to come to terms with to be completely open. His best friends little brother makes him want to dive head first into everything he has ran from up until this point, and it scares him shitless.

Ichiro Tokugawa came to America to meet his half brothers, and decided LA was as good a place as any to set up his own Tattoo parlor. Having spent most of his young life under the thumb of his traditional Asian father, Ichi rebelled as soon as he figured out he could and has done a fine job of taking care of himself since. His first impression of Bobby Dawson, the larger than life shadow of his brother Cole, is trouble. Everyone in Ichi’s life warns him away from the playboy ex-cop that goes through men like most people go through underwear. This only makes Ichi want Bobby all the more, well that, and the way Bobby undresses him from across the room with just a look.

Against their better judgment, a dual pitiful excuse of willpower and the constant hindrance of just about everyone they know, Bobby and Ichi succumb to their mutual attraction thinking it’s just a one off. No sooner than lips, tongues, fingers and teeth mix, they both know they are in big trouble. The man that never “slept” with anyone because that would involve waking up next to them and the slightly inexperienced guy that didn’t want any attachments, other than his family, find themselves wanting, no needing, each other. But hell hath no fury like a half Asian, half Irish PI that has just learned his best friend is banging his little brother. Katie, bar the door.

While this story shifts the main focus from Cole and Jae over to Bobby and Ichi, the story runs parallel to the events of the last two books of the Cole McGinnis series, so it would probably be best that you read these books in order. I did enjoy the alternate view from Bobby and Ichi’s perspective of what was happening outside of Cole’s head at certain moments though. One thing I can tell you about the characters in this book, this series, when they love, they love with everything they have in them. Bobby is stripped bare and laid raw on the pages of Down and Dirty, there are no hidden places and no more secrets by the end. And I absolutely loved that! That Ford finally tore open the doors that Bobby has kept himself so securely hidden by for the duration of this series.

Bobby may turn out to be even more sappy than Cole when it comes to his man before we see Ford close the pages on this series. And that ending, I want so badly to be pissed off about that fade to black, but I’m more excited and anxious to see what is coming next for these characters I’ve come to know and love.

Ford’s unique sense of humor and writing style, where as she is extremely descriptive when necessary, and less than forthcoming when called for is ever present in this book. The difference in Bobby and Ichi’s story is the body count, there isn’t one, shocking, I know. The calm before the storm as they say. Definitely a must read for fans of the author and the series, or anyone that is looking for a strong read with lots of passion and story.  

Rhys Ford was born and raised in Hawai’i then wandered off to see the world. After chewing through a pile of books, a lot of odd food, and a stray boyfriend or two, Rhys eventually landed in San Diego, which is a very nice place but seriously needs more rain.

Rhys admits to sharing the house with three cats of varying degrees of black fur and a ginger cairn terrorist. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird, a Toshiba laptop, and an overworked red coffee maker.

My Blog: www.rhysford.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhys.ford.author

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rhys_Ford

And at the Starbucks down the street. No really, they’re 24/7. And a drive-thru. It’s like heaven.

My books can be purchased, folded and first chapters read at Dreamspinner Press. http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Thanks for stopping by today Rhys and doing a quick Q&A with me for fans all about your Cole McGinnis mystery series. I have to say, this is one of my favorite series. The amount of research you must have to do to make add that depth of reality to the stories just amazes me.

Hah, thank you so much for having me here! Really. Much love.

So I’ll start there, what research went into this latest installment in the series?

Not a lot of research, really. A lot of it is stuff I’ve picked up over the years and I know Los Angeles pretty well. I do occasional spot checks on locales to makes sure something works. But everything else is pretty easy. I try to keep as close to the environment as possible.

I did have to research out everyone’s birth years but that’s normal. I can fudge a little bit on ages but birth years kind of have to hit the mark. 

Is the character Bobby Dawson based on anyone in particular?

Not really? I think Bobby is the modern day rake. He’s bad for you but rather delicious. Not something you can have every day. But there are layers to him. I never intended for him to have his own book. That just sort of happened. The push-pull of him and Ichi through the series was just something I folded in. As time went by, apparently it became too much for some to bear and I kept getting letters. So, it just seemed like a natural progression to then unpeel the layers for the reader to see who Bobby is.

He’s a good friend and very loyal. Someone like that has a heart inside of them. So it was a simple step forward for him to take the plunge into loving someone romantically. And that someone happened to be Ichi.

How difficult is it to balance all the different characters with their various personalities when writing these stories?

Another not really answer. *grins* This is so easy! I try to create characters that either fit into one another or almost fit. That friction is as important as everyone meshing together. Bobby and Mike don’t always agree with what Cole is doing and Ichi sure as hell doesn’t. Bobby really thought Jae was bad for Cole but he manned up and kept his mouth shut when Cole was hurting. Claudia, Maddy and Scarlet all provide very strong female input but are vastly different personalities. Since everyone is different in life, they should also be different in fiction.

I have to say your sex scenes in particular are very precise and detailed, what research do you do to get in the right place to put so much passion to words?

Ah, sex scenes. It is well known how much I hate writing sex scenes. Mostly, for me, they have to convey a something extra to the characters. There has to be something that scene brings to the book. It can’t just be Slot A and Tab B with reverse mechanics for the sake of being there. Each scene in a book should progress the story or a relationship in some way. Sex scenes are the most intimate and vulnerable points in writing and coming up with something fresh each time is staggering. I think each sex scene should be flavoured with an emotion or something gristly. There has to be an oomph for it.

Research. Mostly I do finger positionings to see if something’s possible. Really that is the hardest part about a sex scene, remembering where you put that appendage last. SO very important. *nods*

Your knowledge of Asian culture and specifics is sort of amazing. What is your history with the culture personally?

Well, I’ve dedicated my entire lifetime to being Asian… *grins* Heh. Joking. Well, yes and no. I am a mixed bag of ethnicities and I grew up in a very Asiatic society so writing an Asian aspect is merely an extension of who I am. 

A HUGE thank you to Author Rhys Ford for stopping by and sharing her new release with us today! For giveaway, she is offering up one of her backlist titles for one lucky winner, so leave a comment below to be entered. I will have the Author pick the winner on 1-10-15. Have you read any of Ford's other books/series? If so, tell us which book or character you like best. My personal favorite would have to be Conner Morgan, good lord that man is sexy!! Happy New Year everyone, talk to me...