What do you think?
Rate this book
Torus Intercession #2
In a Fix
How can a man unaware of his own worth ever hope to value anyone else…
Croy Esca is a fixer at Torus Intercession, paid to guard, advocate for, and help those in need of the services his boss, Jared Colter, provides. But that doesn’t mean he’s willing to expend the energy to invest himself in the people he’s assigned to help. Professionally, Croy goes in, gets the job done, and doesn’t allow for anything that might resemble interest—which mirrors the way he handles his personal life as well. He’s been described as aloof, apathetic, and incapable of feeling anything approaching empathy despite his boss’s continual mentoring.
Those lessons aren’t easily learned, though, when you’ve been taught that you’re expendable.
When Croy is assigned to act as bodyguard to a billionaire during a long weekend trip to Las Vegas, he expects another in and out job made all the more tedious by the company he’ll be keeping, and his loathing of Sin City. What he ends up with, however, is far more than he bargained for.
FBI Special Agent Dallas Bauer is good at what he does, some might even say he’s consumed by his work, to the point of insomnia and at the cost to anything resembling a full life. Hit it and quit it is Dallas’s grind. Then Croy Esca comes crashing into his life, and it doesn’t take long before he’s struck by how desperate he is to make sure the fixer doesn’t become the one that got away.
When Croy’s assignment evolves into something so much more dangerous and complicated than he could have ever predicted, and his and Dallas’s lives collide, the fixer finds himself in a fix. One Croy is not altogether sure he wants to escape.
Croy Esca is a fixer at Torus Intercession, paid to guard, advocate for, and help those in need of the services his boss, Jared Colter, provides. But that doesn’t mean he’s willing to expend the energy to invest himself in the people he’s assigned to help. Professionally, Croy goes in, gets the job done, and doesn’t allow for anything that might resemble interest—which mirrors the way he handles his personal life as well. He’s been described as aloof, apathetic, and incapable of feeling anything approaching empathy despite his boss’s continual mentoring.
Those lessons aren’t easily learned, though, when you’ve been taught that you’re expendable.
When Croy is assigned to act as bodyguard to a billionaire during a long weekend trip to Las Vegas, he expects another in and out job made all the more tedious by the company he’ll be keeping, and his loathing of Sin City. What he ends up with, however, is far more than he bargained for.
FBI Special Agent Dallas Bauer is good at what he does, some might even say he’s consumed by his work, to the point of insomnia and at the cost to anything resembling a full life. Hit it and quit it is Dallas’s grind. Then Croy Esca comes crashing into his life, and it doesn’t take long before he’s struck by how desperate he is to make sure the fixer doesn’t become the one that got away.
When Croy’s assignment evolves into something so much more dangerous and complicated than he could have ever predicted, and his and Dallas’s lives collide, the fixer finds himself in a fix. One Croy is not altogether sure he wants to escape.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2020
About the author
Mary Calmes
121 books4,917 followersMary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a six-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
August 27, 2020
God, I just love Mary!!! Absolutely awesome series and I loved this second book. I just hope many will follow because I need my Mary-fix ;)
5 stars !!!
5 stars !!!
Shelved as 'dnf'
August 28, 2020DNF at 50%
I don't think Mary's books are for me anymore.
I've loved lots of her older books, but there have been just as many misses.
I absolutely love the way Mary Calmes writes romance. The insta-love, the posessiveness, the sweetness. I adore it.
But what I don't care about is the rambling. I can't even call it a plot. It's a buch of people with weird names who are thrown together to make some complicated story. And in some of her older books the story makes sense and it's a pretty decent plot. But in her recent books I'm simply bored by the whole thing, because it's so farfetched that I'm losing interest and can't keep track.
Now if there was more romance I think I would have liked this more, but I got to the point where I was so bored that not even the romance could save this.
I think I should just stop with the Mary books. :(
I don't think Mary's books are for me anymore.
I've loved lots of her older books, but there have been just as many misses.
I absolutely love the way Mary Calmes writes romance. The insta-love, the posessiveness, the sweetness. I adore it.
But what I don't care about is the rambling. I can't even call it a plot. It's a buch of people with weird names who are thrown together to make some complicated story. And in some of her older books the story makes sense and it's a pretty decent plot. But in her recent books I'm simply bored by the whole thing, because it's so farfetched that I'm losing interest and can't keep track.
Now if there was more romance I think I would have liked this more, but I got to the point where I was so bored that not even the romance could save this.
I think I should just stop with the Mary books. :(
August 31, 2020
3.5 Stars!
The only M. Calmes series I have really enjoyed was the Marshal's series. I think I just don't mesh with her writing style.
This one was ok for me. But I found the storyline completely unrealistic and there were just too many coincidences.
Yes, it was insta-attraction, insta-love, insta-proposal, insta-everything. Strangely that didn't turn me off so much. I liked Dallas and Croy well enough.
I don't know. It was fine.
The only M. Calmes series I have really enjoyed was the Marshal's series. I think I just don't mesh with her writing style.
This one was ok for me. But I found the storyline completely unrealistic and there were just too many coincidences.
Yes, it was insta-attraction, insta-love, insta-proposal, insta-everything. Strangely that didn't turn me off so much. I liked Dallas and Croy well enough.
I don't know. It was fine.
March 20, 2021
4.5 stars!
I loved it! This was one of the better Calmes books I've read in a while. How does she do insta-love so well? She makes that connection tangible, no matter how unrealistic. This is a great series so far.
I loved it! This was one of the better Calmes books I've read in a while. How does she do insta-love so well? She makes that connection tangible, no matter how unrealistic. This is a great series so far.
January 28, 2024
Book safety, content warnings, and tropes down below.
He thought giving me advice was a smart option before I had coffee. It was an interesting life choice.
I’ve been trying to think of a way to explain why I like this book so much, but it isn’t easy. This is my third re-listen. I don’t want to talk badly about it, but it doesn’t have an *amazing* plot or anything, and the romance, even though absolutely sweet and fun, happens really fast. I think it’s Croy, the POV main character, who makes me love this one so much. He is really fun, but in the driest way possible. He seems cold and calculating, and when he smiles people think there’s something wrong with him, lol.
“And you can’t change your mind.” “I can,” I assured him. “But I won’t, and that’s the difference.” “I broke you,” he quipped. “No. I think you made me.”
He’s very straightforward but will also absolutely lie to your face if he feels like it. He’s just interesting to me. I’ve added a bunch of highlights to this review in hopes that will better show the vibe of the book than I can.
Because logically, if someone made you feel free and weightless and happy and content and like you could say anything at all to them, then leaving was completely counterintuitive.
Oh, and the plot *is* actually good as well, by the way. Perfect if you love some suspense and action with your romance. I also really like that the gruff and badass FBI agent is a total needy bottom for his clean cut GQ-model looking man. They have a delicious dynamic that gives definite Dom/sub vibes.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
FBI agent
Fixer/bodyguard
Undercover mission
Quiet and ‘cold’ MC
Mild D/s dynamic
Ex cop
Romantic suspense
Possessiveness
Former playboy
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Gun violence
Explicit sexual content
Insomnia
Mentions of being disowned by family (homophobia, past)
Vague mentions of statutory rape/underage sex work (no MC involved)
Brief mention of death by fire (off page, past)
Brief mention of drug addiction (side character)
Gunshot wound
Violence
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No drama, but Dallas especially used to get around, and they run into a few of them. Croy is possessive but not jealous.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Romantic suspense, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles. Both willing to switch but neither wants to.
Main characters’ age: 32 and not specified.
Pages: 324
Her tone was flat, stilted, and downright cold. Okay. That reaction usually didn’t manifest until people were around me for a few days.
Do you know how much some women pay to get, and keep, their hair that color? Has anyone ever told you, you look like a GQ model?” The sigh, if I’d allowed it to escape, would have been eloquent.
“Did you hear me?” he grumbled. “Not at all, no,” I confessed.
I crossed my arms, studying him. “So tell me, Digby,” I began, drawing out his name, snide because I could be, and because it would irritate the hell out of him, […].
“Your color’s off,” I said before he could open his mouth. “You should eat something.” My tether was short, and getting shorter by the minute. He scowled at me. “I’m fine,” he grumbled just as his stomach growled. I arched an eyebrow at him. “You’re a real smartass, you know that?” “So I’ve been told once or twice.” “I bet,” he muttered,
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
He thought giving me advice was a smart option before I had coffee. It was an interesting life choice.
I’ve been trying to think of a way to explain why I like this book so much, but it isn’t easy. This is my third re-listen. I don’t want to talk badly about it, but it doesn’t have an *amazing* plot or anything, and the romance, even though absolutely sweet and fun, happens really fast. I think it’s Croy, the POV main character, who makes me love this one so much. He is really fun, but in the driest way possible. He seems cold and calculating, and when he smiles people think there’s something wrong with him, lol.
“And you can’t change your mind.” “I can,” I assured him. “But I won’t, and that’s the difference.” “I broke you,” he quipped. “No. I think you made me.”
He’s very straightforward but will also absolutely lie to your face if he feels like it. He’s just interesting to me. I’ve added a bunch of highlights to this review in hopes that will better show the vibe of the book than I can.
Because logically, if someone made you feel free and weightless and happy and content and like you could say anything at all to them, then leaving was completely counterintuitive.
Oh, and the plot *is* actually good as well, by the way. Perfect if you love some suspense and action with your romance. I also really like that the gruff and badass FBI agent is a total needy bottom for his clean cut GQ-model looking man. They have a delicious dynamic that gives definite Dom/sub vibes.
⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & tags ⚠️
FBI agent
Fixer/bodyguard
Undercover mission
Quiet and ‘cold’ MC
Mild D/s dynamic
Ex cop
Romantic suspense
Possessiveness
Former playboy
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Gun violence
Explicit sexual content
Insomnia
Mentions of being disowned by family (homophobia, past)
Vague mentions of statutory rape/underage sex work (no MC involved)
Brief mention of death by fire (off page, past)
Brief mention of drug addiction (side character)
Gunshot wound
Violence
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
OM/OW drama: No drama, but Dallas especially used to get around, and they run into a few of them. Croy is possessive but not jealous.
Breakup: No
POV: 1st person, single POV
Genre: Romantic suspense, M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles. Both willing to switch but neither wants to.
Main characters’ age: 32 and not specified.
Pages: 324
Her tone was flat, stilted, and downright cold. Okay. That reaction usually didn’t manifest until people were around me for a few days.
Do you know how much some women pay to get, and keep, their hair that color? Has anyone ever told you, you look like a GQ model?” The sigh, if I’d allowed it to escape, would have been eloquent.
“Did you hear me?” he grumbled. “Not at all, no,” I confessed.
I crossed my arms, studying him. “So tell me, Digby,” I began, drawing out his name, snide because I could be, and because it would irritate the hell out of him, […].
“Your color’s off,” I said before he could open his mouth. “You should eat something.” My tether was short, and getting shorter by the minute. He scowled at me. “I’m fine,” he grumbled just as his stomach growled. I arched an eyebrow at him. “You’re a real smartass, you know that?” “So I’ve been told once or twice.” “I bet,” he muttered,
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
September 4, 2020
Yeah I gave up at 50%, the writing is just too confusing for me.
I don't understand the characters, I don't feel like the author had the personalities defined so I just didn't understand them. Croy is supposed to be "aloof, apathetic, and incapable of feeling anything approaching empathy despite his boss’s continual mentoring". Well thats not the guy in the book, he is worse than grandmas asking questions and meddling in other people's life, what's worse people let him do it and they tell him deep secrets at just hours of meeting him.
Since the pov is Croy, I have no idea who is Dallas and I will never know because at 50% his appearances are few. Double pov would do wonders for this stories I'm sure.
So yeah there are no kids in this one so I didn't find myself engaged in the story, a lot of things are just absurd and the characters are confusing. 😔❤
I don't understand the characters, I don't feel like the author had the personalities defined so I just didn't understand them. Croy is supposed to be "aloof, apathetic, and incapable of feeling anything approaching empathy despite his boss’s continual mentoring". Well thats not the guy in the book, he is worse than grandmas asking questions and meddling in other people's life, what's worse people let him do it and they tell him deep secrets at just hours of meeting him.
Since the pov is Croy, I have no idea who is Dallas and I will never know because at 50% his appearances are few. Double pov would do wonders for this stories I'm sure.
So yeah there are no kids in this one so I didn't find myself engaged in the story, a lot of things are just absurd and the characters are confusing. 😔❤
December 25, 2022
I really really adore a Mary Calmes story. I admit to swooning every time she mentions the Chicago marshals, though. I’ve already re-listened to that series (4th time through) this year, so I’m sticking with the fixers. My friends have told me that the series gets even better with each book. About to push play on book three!
July 18, 2021
uggg I can't use same review for this as I did for Scratch the Surface, but it's still true. I admit that I started reading this book
weeks ago
, but I stopped at about 40% because I was kind of confused? Ok... not kinda confused... I was SO confused. So to say that picking it up where I left off, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it. I did like it (I think). I liked the last half of the book a LOT more than the first half. I'm a Mary stan, so I'm used to (and apparently love) her tropes. This had a bit more instalurve that I'm used to, even from her. It sort of works? We haveJory Croy, whom everyone loves upon meeting, and SamDallas (tough guy agent). It's a formula that works. It's Mary. You can infer the rest of the story without me having to go into detail. LOL. I repeat. It's MARY. Love her or hate her. She knows her audience and delivers. I stan.
Three stars for the beginning and probably not quite four stars for the last half. I'm still giving it four. Sue me.
Three stars for the beginning and probably not quite four stars for the last half. I'm still giving it four. Sue me.
August 26, 2020
I usually read books without looking at the summary. I’m almost 20% into the book and I still don’t know who the second MC is. There’s so many plot lines going on so many things so many characters I really don’t know what to focus on it’s so distracting I want a MM romance. I’ll continue reading and update you when I have more to say.
I am now 40% into the book and the
MCs have maybe said a couple of sentences to each other.
At 55% finally there is some relationship development between the two and I’m really surprised that these characters are a bit different than the usual Mary calmes characters. I like that they Are not the stereotypical Uke and seme.
At 64% and i am bored again.
At 80% am i still reading the same book? I cant follow this plot line any more and i do not even want to make an effort.
At 100%😐😐 just skimmed thru the ending.
Why can’t these books be like the ones written five years ago by Mary Calmes.
Is this writing style changed or have I changed why arnt the story interesting to me anymore.
I am now 40% into the book and the
MCs have maybe said a couple of sentences to each other.
At 55% finally there is some relationship development between the two and I’m really surprised that these characters are a bit different than the usual Mary calmes characters. I like that they Are not the stereotypical Uke and seme.
At 64% and i am bored again.
At 80% am i still reading the same book? I cant follow this plot line any more and i do not even want to make an effort.
At 100%😐😐 just skimmed thru the ending.
Why can’t these books be like the ones written five years ago by Mary Calmes.
Is this writing style changed or have I changed why arnt the story interesting to me anymore.
September 6, 2020
3.5 Stars!
August 31, 2020
3.5
peacoats, hunking, grunting and growling, insta love, obliviousness all good and seasoned with a dose of everybody loves *jory*: the Mary formula works for me. In these very confusing, hard and heartbreaking times reading one of Calmes romances is like wrapping yourself up in a fave blankie with a cup of tea while it rains outside.
This particular book I kind of got lost with the plot and did not find it as engaging as some as her previous work but all in all I liked it, it helped pass the time in a very pleasant manner and I will probably keep going with the series once more books are out.
peacoats, hunking, grunting and growling, insta love, obliviousness all good and seasoned with a dose of everybody loves *jory*: the Mary formula works for me. In these very confusing, hard and heartbreaking times reading one of Calmes romances is like wrapping yourself up in a fave blankie with a cup of tea while it rains outside.
This particular book I kind of got lost with the plot and did not find it as engaging as some as her previous work but all in all I liked it, it helped pass the time in a very pleasant manner and I will probably keep going with the series once more books are out.
November 6, 2020
Torus #2
I admit, it took a little bit for me to get into it, and I felt the reason Croy ends up in Vegas was a bit too twisty turny, with a couple of side plots that were abandoned, but once Croy meets Dallas, their insta-love hooked me and I was in my happy place.
I admit, it took a little bit for me to get into it, and I felt the reason Croy ends up in Vegas was a bit too twisty turny, with a couple of side plots that were abandoned, but once Croy meets Dallas, their insta-love hooked me and I was in my happy place.
February 17, 2022
Insta-love at it’s best!
Despite my reservations about this series, this particular book is even better then the first. Mary Calmes brought her A game. Book two has two mc’s that I could read endless books about, their chemistry and personality was memorable. I seriously loved them so much and their complexity despite both being Alpha-males. 🥰
Despite my reservations about this series, this particular book is even better then the first. Mary Calmes brought her A game. Book two has two mc’s that I could read endless books about, their chemistry and personality was memorable. I seriously loved them so much and their complexity despite both being Alpha-males. 🥰
February 7, 2022
2.5 stars
The beginning 50% was promising, but again once Dallas and Croy got together that’s when it went down hill…
Mary Calmes is not for me.. or not for me at this moment..
The beginning 50% was promising, but again once Dallas and Croy got together that’s when it went down hill…
Mary Calmes is not for me.. or not for me at this moment..
August 29, 2020
3.7
I loved the two main characters, but everything happened very fast. I loved that Croy was very logical, and I loved the chemistry that he had with Dallas. I loved the side characters and the plot, but I wanted to see more romance.
I loved the two main characters, but everything happened very fast. I loved that Croy was very logical, and I loved the chemistry that he had with Dallas. I loved the side characters and the plot, but I wanted to see more romance.
May 18, 2022
I'm always amazed how Mary Calmes manages to write extremely unique stories but stay true to her also unique (and wonderful) style.
Love the overlaps of characters in most of her books too. I'm always excited when I recognise them and are reminded of the story they were part of.
Love the overlaps of characters in most of her books too. I'm always excited when I recognise them and are reminded of the story they were part of.
August 31, 2022
The story was excellent in Mary Calmes' usual fashion. I don't believe that I have ever had one of her books that wasn't good. The 4-star rating came from my irritation with one of the main characters. I listen to the book, and that, I'm sure, also produced my rating. The reader gave Cory a gruff, "know-it-all, having it my way or no way, "attitude that just never went away. The character of Cory was also an "over-thinker". He even had to overthink what he was going to have for breakfast and dinner. One thing was undeniable though... Cory and Dallas love each other. They found themselves in a partnership that is highly stressful and packed full of heat. You could almost feel the sizzle. The one thing that overrode the annoyance with the reader and the attitude of one of the characters, was their intensity for one another. They needed each other like they needed to breath. Readers will love the ending. On to the next one, which i see has a different reader.
August 30, 2020
3.5 stars.
Not a bad book...I just felt like something was missing.
Not a bad book...I just felt like something was missing.
September 14, 2020
I finished this on 08/26/20 and it is now 09/14/20 and never stopped to review or even mark it as read so I'm just jotting a couple things down that I can remember. You can probably tell by those dates that this is a more for me kind of review. I need something for when I get ready to read the next one so I know I at least had a few thoughts.
I know that I struggled a bit with the beginning. I was not really a fan of the setup or the why but once Dallas showed I was ALL IN.
I love, love, love how Mary can write instalove that feels like fate and just has to be.
I loved everything about Croy and Dallas's relationship. Everything.
So, Easter Eggs. I recognized the names at the end from Miro and Ian but were there more? Some of the other names dropped sounded familiar.
I know that I struggled a bit with the beginning. I was not really a fan of the setup or the why but once Dallas showed I was ALL IN.
I love, love, love how Mary can write instalove that feels like fate and just has to be.
I loved everything about Croy and Dallas's relationship. Everything.
So, Easter Eggs. I recognized the names at the end from Miro and Ian but were there more? Some of the other names dropped sounded familiar.
February 19, 2022
One of my favourite from the series so far (but the first was the one with the better plot and chemistry)
September 9, 2020
A typical Mary Calmes story! OTT and ridiculous, which I kind of like. :) Unfortunately the first half was also often confusing and filled with in my opinion unnecessary trivia, therefore only a 3 stars read for me.
Nonetheless I'm looking forward now to Locryn's story "Fix It Up"!
Nonetheless I'm looking forward now to Locryn's story "Fix It Up"!
October 7, 2022
❊ Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook ❊
-------- SECOND READ --------
4.5 ⭐
Ok, so here we are. Another successful reread. I liked it as much as the first time. The plot is rich, has a lot of action an pretty nice relationships. The found family is deep for these books, as our guys always end up finding family, both with their significant other as well as with people they don't share blood with but that mean the world to them.
I won't repeat what I said in my first review, you can check it below. I reread what I wrote and I feel I thought mostly the same. Funny how this one time I also thought how ugly the name Croy was 🤣 and I didn't remember I'd said so in my original review lol
There's something where I don't agree with my past self lol I said this second book's instalove wasn't as fast as in the first book, and I'm realizing, actually, here's faster. Don't know why it didn't feel like that at that time. The first book's story develops throughout a couple of months, maybe more, while this one is a week long. A week!
How does Mary Calmes archive making stories this "short and fast" not feel like it? I usually hate instalove, but somehow these books didn't feel like that, even if they kind of are when you think about it.
Anyway, if the fast pace makes you afraid, don't be a give it a chance!
-------- FIRST READ --------
4.5 ⭐
I liked this second book more than the first. Where the first one won me over by its cuteness and lightness, this felt more intense, both the romance and the action plots.
Our main character and sole narrator this time is Croy Esca (am I the only one who finds Croy to be a truly ugly name?), he was briefly mentioned in book one, but that's not weird because apart fron Locryn and Jared, none of the other members of Torus had a big part in the first story. He finds himself to be quite hard to like, not that emphatic and the kind of guy who doesn't like to get attached. But that's how he sees himself... and we don't always see how we really are, right?
In Vegas he must take care of Brig, a rich guy soon to be CEO whose life's been threatened. He must keep it low key since the client doesn't want his friends to know he need a bodyguard, so the job is bound to be bumpy and funny. After how the first book developed, I was so not ready for how different would this one be. In the good sense.
For starters, it takes quite its time for Dallas and Croy to meet each other. This may sound as a negative aspect... but not really. That allowed the bodyguarding plot to be better developed, and in contrast with book 1 (which had nearly to none action), here the action is intense and the plot is really interesting!! You can't help but want to know what's going on and what's going to happen. There's drug dealers, betraying friends, kidnappings and we have quite a mixture of agencies: DEA, FBI... there's no time to get bored!
And when Dallas finally shows up... romance, here we go! Since this is the first series I'm reading by this author, I can't be sure if this is how her stories usually go... but I'm starting to think she's a master of nice developed instaloves. And yeah, instalove and nice developement are not usually in the same phrase for me... which speaks volumes of her skills, right?
This time the instalove is not as big as it was for Brann in no Quick Fix, but it's undeniable things go fast between our MCs, and that's one of the main points in their relationship: can love really bloom so fast? Is it worth giving a shot to something as new as what they have? What are they up to giving up to try it, to make it work? will they regret if they give up?
We have lots of romance and many steamy scenes that had me loving them together. They have much chemistry but it's not only that... they are total opposites and, with all, they work together. They found themselves being totally not themselves when they are together, they undo each other and they just can't help to feel so much when together that they are scared of what's going to be of them when Croy hast to go back to Chicago...
There are many things I loved about this book, it was intense and there was always something going. There also were many funny and loving supporting characters that made the story perfect. Also, I was surprised a couple of times because there happened some things I was totally not expecting, and that's always good news for me.
I can't wait for book 3 to be out this fall. I'm dying to discover Locryn's story, he's an intersenting character that I hope will give us a story full of emotions!
-------- SECOND READ --------
4.5 ⭐
Ok, so here we are. Another successful reread. I liked it as much as the first time. The plot is rich, has a lot of action an pretty nice relationships. The found family is deep for these books, as our guys always end up finding family, both with their significant other as well as with people they don't share blood with but that mean the world to them.
I won't repeat what I said in my first review, you can check it below. I reread what I wrote and I feel I thought mostly the same. Funny how this one time I also thought how ugly the name Croy was 🤣 and I didn't remember I'd said so in my original review lol
There's something where I don't agree with my past self lol I said this second book's instalove wasn't as fast as in the first book, and I'm realizing, actually, here's faster. Don't know why it didn't feel like that at that time. The first book's story develops throughout a couple of months, maybe more, while this one is a week long. A week!
How does Mary Calmes archive making stories this "short and fast" not feel like it? I usually hate instalove, but somehow these books didn't feel like that, even if they kind of are when you think about it.
Anyway, if the fast pace makes you afraid, don't be a give it a chance!
-------- FIRST READ --------
4.5 ⭐
I liked this second book more than the first. Where the first one won me over by its cuteness and lightness, this felt more intense, both the romance and the action plots.
Our main character and sole narrator this time is Croy Esca (am I the only one who finds Croy to be a truly ugly name?), he was briefly mentioned in book one, but that's not weird because apart fron Locryn and Jared, none of the other members of Torus had a big part in the first story. He finds himself to be quite hard to like, not that emphatic and the kind of guy who doesn't like to get attached. But that's how he sees himself... and we don't always see how we really are, right?
In Vegas he must take care of Brig, a rich guy soon to be CEO whose life's been threatened. He must keep it low key since the client doesn't want his friends to know he need a bodyguard, so the job is bound to be bumpy and funny. After how the first book developed, I was so not ready for how different would this one be. In the good sense.
For starters, it takes quite its time for Dallas and Croy to meet each other. This may sound as a negative aspect... but not really. That allowed the bodyguarding plot to be better developed, and in contrast with book 1 (which had nearly to none action), here the action is intense and the plot is really interesting!! You can't help but want to know what's going on and what's going to happen. There's drug dealers, betraying friends, kidnappings and we have quite a mixture of agencies: DEA, FBI... there's no time to get bored!
And when Dallas finally shows up... romance, here we go! Since this is the first series I'm reading by this author, I can't be sure if this is how her stories usually go... but I'm starting to think she's a master of nice developed instaloves. And yeah, instalove and nice developement are not usually in the same phrase for me... which speaks volumes of her skills, right?
This time the instalove is not as big as it was for Brann in no Quick Fix, but it's undeniable things go fast between our MCs, and that's one of the main points in their relationship: can love really bloom so fast? Is it worth giving a shot to something as new as what they have? What are they up to giving up to try it, to make it work? will they regret if they give up?
We have lots of romance and many steamy scenes that had me loving them together. They have much chemistry but it's not only that... they are total opposites and, with all, they work together. They found themselves being totally not themselves when they are together, they undo each other and they just can't help to feel so much when together that they are scared of what's going to be of them when Croy hast to go back to Chicago...
There are many things I loved about this book, it was intense and there was always something going. There also were many funny and loving supporting characters that made the story perfect. Also, I was surprised a couple of times because there happened some things I was totally not expecting, and that's always good news for me.
I can't wait for book 3 to be out this fall. I'm dying to discover Locryn's story, he's an intersenting character that I hope will give us a story full of emotions!
August 27, 2020
Peak MC
Ista love, growly, possessive ( but not usually) , instantly part of the family, change your life, live happily ever after.
Totally OTT. Loved it
Ista love, growly, possessive ( but not usually) , instantly part of the family, change your life, live happily ever after.
Totally OTT. Loved it
August 27, 2020
Loved it! I always look forward to new Mary Calmes books and buy them on the day of release. Some are good, some are great - all of them make my head hurt with the many, many characters and their random names... :) and yet I love them all because she uses her writing skill and quirks so that I recognize and can sink into each story. I’ve also grown to love the passive tense usage which is such a calling card for this author.
Did I get lost trying to follow the storyline and minor characters? Yes. Am I planning to reread now to try to follow it better? Also, yes. That is what sets her books apart for me - they are convoluted and complicated in storyline ways but it does not take away from what I do love about the books and it makes my inevitable rereads more interesting.
Can’t wait to read the next one with grumpy Locryn. He seemed like such a dbag with Brann but now I’m catching lonely loner who doesn’t people well vibes from him.
Did I get lost trying to follow the storyline and minor characters? Yes. Am I planning to reread now to try to follow it better? Also, yes. That is what sets her books apart for me - they are convoluted and complicated in storyline ways but it does not take away from what I do love about the books and it makes my inevitable rereads more interesting.
Can’t wait to read the next one with grumpy Locryn. He seemed like such a dbag with Brann but now I’m catching lonely loner who doesn’t people well vibes from him.
September 18, 2020
At best, this is a mishmash of Calmes' favorite tropes (which work in some of her previous work but here there is no basis in any kind of reality.)
But mostly, it’s incomprehensible.
But mostly, it’s incomprehensible.
November 4, 2022
Ok
3.5 stars
Unsure of how to rate this one as while I did enjoy it, I think I prefer the first book to it. The parts of the first book that I really liked, the spending time getting to know you parts were missing here as we returned to love at first sight. I do enjoy that scenario at times but it didn’t really allow us to get to know either character. I especially don’t feel like I know Croy and his motivations which is disappointing as he was the narrator.
I did enjoy the story itself, it was entertaining just wanted more from the relationship side.
3.5 stars
Unsure of how to rate this one as while I did enjoy it, I think I prefer the first book to it. The parts of the first book that I really liked, the spending time getting to know you parts were missing here as we returned to love at first sight. I do enjoy that scenario at times but it didn’t really allow us to get to know either character. I especially don’t feel like I know Croy and his motivations which is disappointing as he was the narrator.
I did enjoy the story itself, it was entertaining just wanted more from the relationship side.
September 4, 2020
The first one was soooo good
And this was meh
Kinda boring TBH. And the plot was crazy convoluted- why? To what end? No one is reading these because of some half baked plot about a drug dealer/undercover agent/tangential ecowarrior sister/former college roomie/now FBI blah blah blah
If someone held a gun to my head and asked me to explain the plot I would surely die
And the romance? Also meh. Nothing new or fun or interesting happening here. Very rote.
And this was meh
Kinda boring TBH. And the plot was crazy convoluted- why? To what end? No one is reading these because of some half baked plot about a drug dealer/undercover agent/tangential ecowarrior sister/former college roomie/now FBI blah blah blah
If someone held a gun to my head and asked me to explain the plot I would surely die
And the romance? Also meh. Nothing new or fun or interesting happening here. Very rote.
September 7, 2020
Balance
4.25*
Dallas and a Croy balance each other in the best way, not in a loud over the top way, just what they both need. It was romantic, there was crazy out of the blue shenanigans and guns as always with Mary and great female supporting cast.
4.25*
Dallas and a Croy balance each other in the best way, not in a loud over the top way, just what they both need. It was romantic, there was crazy out of the blue shenanigans and guns as always with Mary and great female supporting cast.
August 25, 2020
I thought this book was a bit of a mess. Sorry.
There was this crime story and the love story and somehow they didn’t fit together. Like at all. I’m the beginning there is the bodyguard job and then bam! love story and then back to the other stuff.
I really liked the couple but for me it was like switching between two books. I love a good fbi story. But this wasn’t for me.
Then there were so many side characters. I couldn’t remember who is who.
Also Dallas Character was a bit odd. I don’t know he was the hard fbi character and then not anymore? Then the story with his stepbrother didn’t seem to fit in this book?
Overall everything was a bit strange.
I‘m sure it’s just me as the other reviews are praising.
There was this crime story and the love story and somehow they didn’t fit together. Like at all. I’m the beginning there is the bodyguard job and then bam! love story and then back to the other stuff.
I really liked the couple but for me it was like switching between two books. I love a good fbi story. But this wasn’t for me.
Then there were so many side characters. I couldn’t remember who is who.
Also Dallas Character was a bit odd. I don’t know he was the hard fbi character and then not anymore? Then the story with his stepbrother didn’t seem to fit in this book?
Overall everything was a bit strange.
I‘m sure it’s just me as the other reviews are praising.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews