REVIEW: Kiss-Fist by EM Lindsey & Cora Rose (Deaf Hearts #1)

- September 12, 2025

KISS-FIST

Deaf Hearts - Book One

by EM Lindsey

Release Date: September 12, 2025

Review

An emotional and entirely endearing story that had me tearing up all over the place. They are opposites and don’t seem like they could ever work, and not just because of the hearing/deaf reality. Which granted is pretty big. Communication is fundamental. But they are both good men. And really it’s hard to resist Thom and his affectionate, positive outlook.

I’ll admit, Thom had me all up in my feels. Growing up I secretly believed I had mild dyslexia, which i now understand (in my 40s) that it was my ADHD that caused me to struggle. Those raw emotions make me want to protect Thom with everything I have.

But Robbie, despite his brusque attitude and his reluctance to want anything to do with Thom, also sees him completely. And Robbie’s family were adorable.

Really they both melted my heart, and had such a sweet happy ever after.

Add to your TBR List

GOODREADS LINK

Synopsis

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.

About EM Lindsey

E.M. Lindsey is a non-binary, MM Romance author, an ancient historian, and avid lover of nerdy things. They live on the East Coast of the United States.

Where to find them:

About Cora Rose

Cora Rose loves any kind of romance and consumes way too many books each year. She currently lives in the U.S. and spends her days daydreaming about the characters inside her head.

Where to find them: