Kiss-Fist (Deaf Hearts Book 1) by Cora Rose & E.M. Lindsey

A set-in-his-ways professor meets a happy-go-lucky gym owner and sparks fly. Well worth the wait for this dynamic story with fantastic characters and a great plot! I can't wait to see who gets their HEA next!


From the blurb:

Whoever convinced me to join the gym needs to be hung, drawn, and quartered. Or, at the very least, suffer with a pillow hot on both sides every night, because this? This is terrible.

Running? No thank you.
Lifting? Who needs biceps anyway.

Now, I will say the eye-candy is nice. Especially my new personal trainer with the tattoos and dimples. But that’s all he can ever be: eye candy.

Because he’s fit and I’m not.
He’s gorgeous and I’m, well, me.
He’s hearing…and I’m Deaf.

For some people that might not be an issue, but for me, I have rules. And I’m a stubborn man who will not break them, not even for that sexy crooked smile that almost makes me forget my own name.

But I don’t date men who can’t speak my language, and while we can say plenty with our bodies, that’s where our communication ends.

Still, the longer I spend with him, the more I’m starting to realize there may be more to this relationship than frantic, feral office hook-ups. After all, he might be the first hearing person to learn sign for me. And he’s one of the first people I’ve ever known to make me feel worthy.

So maybe, just maybe, that’s worth a little compromise.

Kiss-Fist is the first book in the Deaf Hearts series and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. It's a spicy MM enemies to lovers rom-com featuring a grumpy professor, a sunshine gym-bro, and their swoon-worthy happily ever after.


Angel's review:

Dual POV °° Gym Trainor/Client °° Acquaintances with benefits that morphed into friends with benefits °° ADHD rep ° Dyslexia Rep °° Deaf & HOH representation °°

I've been eagerly waiting for Thom and Robbie's story ever since this book was first announced. Let me tell you, the wait was well worth it! I'm a big fan of EM's writing and while I'm newer to Cora's writing, I was so excited when I saw them announcing this series they co-wrote together.
Thom and Robbie are so special and their story is so beautiful, they had a tricky road to travel down but they got there in the end. Through language barriers, learning challenges/disabilities, jealous ex's, gym routines, work, and a pesky groundhog, they found a way to work through all of those things together.

Usually EM's writing is heavily angst fueled, and while this does still have some angst, its not as angsty as their other works. I like when authors can diversify what they write while still staying true to themselves, and both EM and Cora achieved just that. I am currently learning ASL, I have been for a while now, so I really love how detailed these authors got when it came to describing deaf culture, signing do's and don't's and the descriptions of signing certain words was much appreciated. I love learning new information while I'm reading and I learned quite a lot while reading Robbie and Thom's story.

The dialogue between Thom and Robbie was fantastic, engaging, detailed, loving, and full of humor. I adore how these authors wove comedy and lighthearted humor throughout the story while still having a serious plotline with heavy themes. They managed to somehow meld all of those elements together and created something really special.

I just have to say that while Robbie and Thom are absolute sweethearts and are a great couple and are the MC's, I think Leaf and the illustrious groundhog stole the show and are the stars within this story. I loved reading the scenes where Leaf was ranting on about what he was going to do to the creature who is eating his stuff, it made me laugh out loud! I really hope we get more information about him and the pesky rodent as the series progresses.

I am so eager to see who is going to get a story next in this new and exciting series!

SNik's review:

First in series (Deaf Hearts). Opposites attract. Deaf representation. Dyslexia representation. Dual POV. Heed content warnings. 

Robbie has one hard rule: no dating hearing people, but when he meets gym owner Thom he can’t stop lusting after the hot friendly himbo. Thom is attracted to sexy professor Robbie, and figures learning ASL will be his way of showing Robbie he really is interested beyond the physical, but he has to overcome a lot to get Robbie to give him a chance beyond just hooking up. 

This story had its share of humorous situations, witty banter between friends and the main characters, and all kinds of spicy interactions. Thom really is the epitome of golden retriever energy, knows his own worth and is willing to try so hard to be accepted by Robbie and the deaf community. Robbie sees Thom’s efforts and slowly breaks his own valid hesitations in order to navigate something new and wonderful and loving with Thom. Since communication was such an important focal point for the story I do wish there had been more “getting to know” each other, but when they did communicate it was honest, heartfelt, and sometimes heart wrenching. Overall an entertaining read and I am looking forward to more as I have no guesses on the next main characters as there were many interesting secondary characters that could get their own story.


Kiss-Fist is currently available as an audiobook, e-book, and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription