Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Down and Dirty 
SERIES: Cole McGinnis #5
AUTHOR: Rhys Ford
NARRATOR: Greg Tremblay
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
RELEASE DATE: February 9, 2015
LENGTH: 6 hours, 43, minutes
BLURB:
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’ 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 with which Ichi wholeheartedly agrees. Family was as much of a relationship as Ichi was looking for, but something about the gruff and handsome Bobby Dawson makes him want more.
Much, much more.
REVIEW:
Down and Dirty is the only book in this series not focused on Cole and Jae. This time we follow Bobby and Ichi. Another change from the previous books is that this time the story is told in third person and from both Bobby and Ichi’s POV. However, we still get the amazing Greg Tremblay doing the narration.
Sometimes the things that are forbidden are the things we want the most. No one knows this better than Bobby Dawson. From the first moment he laid eyes on his best friend Cole’s baby brother, Ichiro Tokugawa, he was drawn to him and couldn’t stop thinking about the fascinating man. Being the same age as his son made Ichi even more off limits.
Bobby has been there from the beginning, the kind of slutty best friend, but one with the biggest heart and who’s always there, no questions asked. He’s always been in the periphery and we haven’t fully gotten to know him beyond the superficial level. That is until this book. We get to know his past, his heartbreak, his dreams and secrets, and they all made me fall for this man so much harder. He was so worth all the happiness he found with Ichi.
It’s not only Bobby that was drawn to Ichi from the get go. Ichi too is drawn to the gruff Bobby the rough around the edges older man. He made him feel safe, feel loved. Something that’s been lacking in his life growing up.
Ok, so I just thought of another difference compared to the previous books. They have had a large portion focused on solving a mystery, a case in some form. Down and Dirty is mostly focused on the relationships, getting to know Ichi and Bobby as individuals, their pasts, and then their growing relationship. Sure, as they still reside in the same city as Cole McGinnis, there are a few bullets flying, but that’s not the focus of the book, but merely a catalyst of sorts. Bobby and Ichi are the focus. Getting to know them and their growing relationship. On the surface they are so different but together they become whole, complete.
I love Greg Tremblay. I know I’ve said that before, but it bears repeating. He is without a doubt my favourite male narrator and I have a smile on my face every time I pick up one of his works. They are always pure perfection, he never misses a single thing.
Down and Dirty was everything that I wanted from Bobby and Ichi’s story. It had a gentler feeling than the other books, and it’s nice to have a bit of a breather from the intenseness that’s Always present when Cole is around. As I’m feeling good and relaxed, I’m going to jump right into the fire and ne next adventure with Cole McGinnis.
RATING: 
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