Fighter Audiobook By T.M. Smith cover art

Fighter

Survivor, Book 3

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Fighter

By: T.M. Smith
Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
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Fighter - A Survivor Story

Dedication and smarts have given Blair Cummings a leg up in the Bureau. His job is all-consuming but rewarding. It doesn’t leave much time for a love life though, not that Blair believes in love. In his early 30s, he’s only ever been in one long-term relationship due to his inability to commit to anything other than his job and his family.

Born into a family that’s as successful as they are hateful, Howard Manning Tullor Junior ran so far away from his last name that he wound up in the arms of Satan himself. Freedom comes at a high price but it’s one Mannie is willing to pay, setting him on a path that leads him to a quiet, laid-back FBI agent.

Their attraction is unexpected, and yet, welcomed. Blair seems to have finally found something worth fighting for, but Mannie, still haunted by ghosts of the past, wonders if he’ll ever be able to move on. The two are working toward their future, but can a budding romance survive when past and present collide?

©2019 TTC Publishing (P)2019 TTC Publishing Literature & Fiction Romance Survival Heartfelt
Engaging Storyline • Emotional Connection • Distinct Character Voices • Satisfying Series Conclusion • Believable Romance
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
Did the story keep me engaged: yes
Were there any parts I found annoying: no
Did I feel an emotional connection to the characters: yes
Would I listen to it again: yes

This has been a great end to the series. Good pace, interesting characters and although could be read as a standalone, would be better enjoyed having read Books 1 and 2 first to know the key players as some of the events reference the earlier books. I loved that Manni found a strong support system in Blair and that Blair gave Manni the time and space he needed.

Nick Russo has consistently carried the characters through this series bringing them to life and adding to the audio experience.

loved it

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Listener received this title free

I admit it’s been awhile since I’ve read/listened to the first books in this series. As a result it took me quite awhile to get back into the groove of this story as it leans heavily on prior information in those books being remembered by the reader.
This is a great series of hurt/comfort and recovery and growth. I was glad to see all the stories wrap up and to revisit some of our MCs from previous books.
This wasn’t my favorite – but that doesn’t mean it was bad – it just didn’t grab my heart as strongly as the others in the series.
I always love Nick Russo’s narration and he was wonderful as I expect him to be.
Recommended for fans of the series – not a standalone!

Story 3.5 of 5 stars
Narration 5 of 5 stars
Overall 4 of 5 stars

Good addition to the series

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Listener received this title free

Audio book performer Nick J. Russo is fast becoming a favorite of mine. He's done all of the audio books in the Survivor series and I've loved each of them. Fighter has several particularly heart-wrenching scenes and the emotion that the character is feeling comes through in his performance. He has distinctive voices for each character and he does great female voices. 😊 I look forward to listening to many more of his performances.

Below is a copy of my original review from when the book was released back in August.
* * * * * * * * * *
Fighter is the third book in TM Smith's Survivor series and some of the events overlap with the first two books, Survivor and Lover. You might be able to read Fighter OK as a standalone (the author does a good job of telling you things you need to know from books one and two) but for best enjoyment of the story you really should read Survivor and Lover first.

Mannie suffered unspeakable things at the hands of his family, and later by a man who said he loved him. Blair, an FBI agent, was wounded helping to solve a case that ultimately lead them to Mannie (Howard Manning Tullor, Jr.) who had been missing for years and was presumed dead.

This is kind of an insta-love story but I'm OK with that. Blair is taken with Mannie from the moment they meet and he knows that Mannie is someone he wants to get to know better. Knowing how much Mannie has suffered, Blair uses kid-gloves when approaching him. The tenderness he feels towards Mannie really comes out on the pages of the book.

I was pretty much glued to my e-reader, except when real life things forced me to put it aside. After things in the story settled down, I admit to waiting for another climax in the story and wondering what it could be and if it would ever happen. Maybe my head just wasn’t in the right space but I didn't guess what the "thing" ended up being. Props to TM Smith for adding a twist that made this engrossing story even more so for this reader.

I should also note that the sexy time between Blair and Mannie is off-the-charts hot! I understand that Fighter will be out as an audiobook before too long and I can't wait to listen to it.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to me but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author or narrator.

***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***

So good, made me laugh and cry.

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Listener received this title free

TM Smith does an excellent with this series!! Manny and Blair go through a lot and try to come out the other side!! Nick Russo does a wonderful job of the narration!!

Wonderful!

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Get Ready to meet FBI Agent Blair Cummings Family, and, the family and friends of Howard Manning Tullor Junior, the 2nd surviving victim of the Columbia River Serial Killer case.

Book 3 takes us into the individual life's of both Manning and Blair long before and Manning contacts FBI Agent Blair during the investigation. detailing Manning's past history with the Serial killer and introducing us to Manning's Arizona family of friends. We meet Blair's family shortly before his sounding in he rescue of Taylor in Book 1, and see his recovery in the hospital and see how his need to protect Manning as an agent evolves into friendship and then something more than friends.


HEA Series Ending M\M Blair & Manning's tale

HEA Series Ending M\M Blair & Manning's tale

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Listener received this title free

I read this book a few months back and enjoyed it a lot. Listening to it narrated by Nick J. Russo added to my enjoyment. This is the third book in the Survivor series and, in some ways, has the most damaged hero. Howard Manning Tullor Junior has endured some truly horrific things and even though he started his life over a number of years ago, that fear has never left him. Mannie found a family who accepted him for who he is and they’ve helped him move forward. His past has continued to dog him, though, and he’s never felt truly safe.

Enter Blair Cummings. He’s been with the FBI for years and put in quite a few of those years as a friend to a young man whose life was at risk. Until his cover was blown, he had the absolute trust of Taylor. Their friendship survived and now Blair is back to his regular duties. Then an arrest brings Mannie into his sphere. Mannie is a victim who is no longer willing to be silent. He puts himself in Blair’s capable hands and basically reveals himself. He knows his past will catch up with him, but now he’s got a G-Man in his corner.

I admired Mannie for being willing to come forward. Many victims never do and it’s understandable. I liked that Blair was willing to take things slowly with this damaged young man. He’s ready to court Mannie as well as get to know his found family. He’s willing to undergo scrutiny to prove he’s a good man. As their story unfolded, I rooted for them to find their happy ending. When Mannie’s past truly catches up with him, I held my breath waiting to see what would happen.

I got my happy ending, so that made me happy. I also got to revisit all the characters from the previous books and that was even better. I love series for that exact reason. Nick J. Russo did a great job narrating both this book as well as the entire series. He always delivers a solid and reliable performance and this book was no exception. I can highly recommend this book.

Nick J. Russo at his best

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Listener received this title free

First I want to say how much I love this cover . The model is absolutely beautiful . This book follows Manny and Blaire as they navigate a relationship together . I am glad Manny found such a loving adoptive family after his harsh beginning . This book doesn't have very much action or mystery like it's predecessors . The twist at the end with Taylor caught me off guard and I am curious about the aftermath . Smith and Russo make a great team this series is worthy of a relisten .

Series Finale

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Listener received this title free

In the final book of the Survivor series some questions are answered. As with T.M. Smith books there’s plenty of heavy steamy sexy times and MC moving past previous hurts with the love and support of the other MC. I do recommend reading/listening to the books in order to completely understand the plot. As always Mr. Russo’s narration was super.

Getting a final resolution

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Listener received this title free

I love the first two books of this series and it was one of my favorite listen of the year. I would premise by saying that you have to listen to the first two books before you start this because the characters and story overlapped in the timeline. Nick did a wonderful job narrating this book and he really brought the book to life. You can hear the distinction between the different characters and the emotional turmoils Mannie went through and how mistrustful he is. Love the heck out of Blair. So glad he gets his HEA in the end.

Finally Mannie story is told.

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Listener received this title free

From the moment Mannie appeared in person in Lover, and the spark with Blair was evident when he was with everyone in his interview, I was immediately attached to them and couldn’t wait for their story. Given Mannie’s past I knew their book should be the most emotional of the series. That said, this series is meant to be read in order as you’ll find references to events that happened previously here, so make sure you’ve read Survivor and Lover first.

We really get to see more in depth the horrible things Mannie had to live through not just with Bruce, his ex, but also with his own family before that. Blair provides the perfect counterpoint for him, being patient, considerate, and gentle with him even before they start a relationship. Blair’s protective, nurturing nature is very evident here, and is exactly what Mannie needs.

I did think that their relationship moved pretty quickly, and the beginning of it did seem to skim over the details to get them to the point where they were more comfortable and settled as a couple.

Though this is the final book in the trilogy, there are still some drama and surprises to be found as things are tied up with Mannie’s family—but also an interesting twist with some favorite characters in the series. And I have to say, the Director (FBI, Blair and Rory’s boss) has been raising my interest with the role he plays in things.

If you’ve been following the series, you’ll want to check Fighter out to see how things wrap up. For me, this was hovering between 3.5-4 stars, mostly due to the rushed feeling Blair and Mannie’s relationship had. This book is for readers 18+ for adult language, sexual content, and references to past abuse.

The narration: Nick J. Russo again delivers a solid performance with his narration of Fighter. With distinct character voices and spot-on emotions being conveyed through them, it made for another enjoyable listening experience with this series. 4 solid stars for the narration!

A solid 4 star story and performance

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