Two Chicks Obsessed with Books & Eye Candy

Sharing our love of M/M Romance

Mary Calmes

Just Desserts by Mary Calmes: TBT Throwback Thursday Review

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A Tale of the Curious Cookbook

Boone Walton has tried hard to create some distance between himself and his past. He’s invested in his new life, his New Orleans art gallery, and his friendship with Scott Wren. Things finally seem to be settling down to normal, and Boone couldn’t be happier.

Chef Scott Wren wants much more than normal with Boone. He wants to raise things to the next level, but Boone is terrified—and not because of the ghost in Scott’s apartment or Scott’s relatives. No, Boone’s past is about to pay him a visit, and the only thing that can get between Boone, Scott, and a hinky recipe for chocolate mousse found in a curious cookbook is the river of pain Boone had to swim across to get to this side of The Big Easy. There’s a secret behind the ingredients, though—one that might reveal the trust and love that have been missing from Boone’s life.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

 

Sigh…..

I have never, in all the books I’ve read by this author, find one that I didn’t adore. This one was no different. In this one, we have Scott and Boone, best friends for the last two years, they literally hadn’t gone a day without seeing to or speaking to each other since the day they’d met.

And they were so cute, they complimented each other so well…For as hard as Scott fought to become someone to Boone, Boone was the one that always took care of Scott.

It worked for him though, he wanted that role and took it seriously. They weren’t just friends, they were soul-mates…just ask the cookbook that came with the oven that Boone bought for Scott…
And a nice little friendly haunted apartment LOL

Unfortunately, stuck in the friend category, it was easy to see why Scott jumped from relationship to relationship, and my heart broke so badly for Boone, when e learned of his life before moving to Louisianna. It was a tough pill to swallow, but, I felt like after learning so much about his hardships, you couldn’t help but fall in love with him. He’d had such a rough life and I was rooting for him and Scott, because they deserved each other. Boone deserved Scott, and to be happy, and I had no doubt that given the chance, that Scott would do anything to make him happy.

Another fantastic Mary Calmes read.

5 pieces of eye candy from me!

Kairos by Mary Calmes: Audiobook Review

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Sometimes the best day of your life is the one you never saw coming.

Joe Cohen has devoted the past two years of his life to one thing: the care and feeding of Kade Bosa. His partner in their PI business, roommate, and best friend, Kade is everything to Joe, even if their relationship falls short of what Joe desires most. But he won’t push. Kade has suffered a rough road, and Joe’s pretty sure he’s the only thing holding Kade together.

Estranged from his own family, Joe knows the value of desperately holding on to someone dear, but he never expected his present and past to collide just as Kade’s is doing the same. Now they’ve stumbled across evidence that could change their lives: the impact of Kade’s tragic past, their job partnership, and any future Joe might allow himself to wish for….

Title: Kairos
Author: Mary Calmes
Narrator: Michael Fell
Release Date: March 16, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Length: 5 hours, 10 minutes

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Audible

Wow, what I didn’t expect with Kairos was how funny it was. Full disclosure though…quite often that is exactly how my family interacts. We talk over each other, make fun of each other, get up in each other’s business, etc. That is exactly how Joe’s family interacted, and it made me laugh over and over.

Joe and Kade clearly had some communication issues, and from the beginning you couldn’t help but feel bad for Joe who had clearly been pining for Kade for years. Yet they managed to work well together, covering each other’s back, no matter what, and ensuring that they were loyal to those who had proven themselves loyal to them.

I had to laugh (again) at the comments throughout, once they arrived at Joe’s family winery, to Joe’s mother about not collecting people…and yet, Joe and Kade collected their own person and brought him to the winery themselves.

There wasn’t a lot of angst in here, other than poor Joe’s unrequited love…well and a few dead bodies, but a lot of great interactions, and a satisfying ending.

I will admit, as often happens with a Mary Calmes book, I want more of these guys. Much more. 🙂

Story: 4 pieces of eye candy

Narration: 4 pieces of eye candy

Any Closer by Mary Calmes: TBT Throwback Thursday Review

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Charlie Ryder has a colorful past, painful memories, and an embarrassing secret. After three years working for Leo Foster’s construction company, Charlie’s worst fears are realized, and Leo finds out what Charlie has worked so hard to hide. When Leo meets the revelation with absolute love and acceptance, Leo has to trust that Charlie’s love isn’t just gratitude, and Charlie has to learn to trust again, period. It’s going to take a lot of work for these two men to get any closer.

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Sigh… is there anyone that can write some man love, like this author?

I don’t think so either. So, in this one, we have Leo, who owns his own construction company with his brother-in-law, and a lot of really great guys. I loved the way that they seemed like a big family, and I loved that there was no hatefulness or bad words cause trouble. Everything was normal. That’s different to read.

Charlie, though… had come to apply for a job almost 4 years ago, and he was broken and scared and jumped at his own shadow, but he was accepted into the makeshift family, and he fit right in. Unfortunately, nobody knew what he was running from, and omg, was it tragic and heartbreaking and I was so, so disappointed that we didn’t get to see any karmic justice for the people who had hurt him… He was okay, though; especially around Leo.

It was clear as day that they both liked each other, but they were sticking to the friend zone because that’s just the way it worked and neither wanted to ruin it. However, once Charlie was done with that… once he got himself together and knew that he would be good for Leo, he was done messing around, and it was sweet and cute and gorgeous, and even really hot. Even if they didn’t go to pound town on page. It was still hot, just trust me.

So, it’s short and sweet, but it was still so big. Does that make sense? It didn’t feel like a short read, even though it was much too short for my liking, but that’s just cuz I’m greedy and wanted more….It also just felt like it all came together so flawlessly that it didn’t “need” anything else, even though I just wanted 100 more chapters…. Sigh…. I love when that happens.

So, it was a perfect feel good read for me, and I loved it.

5 stars from me!

Twisted and Tied by Mary Calmes: Release Day Review * 2

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Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones finally has everything he ever wanted. He’s head-over-heels in love and married to the man of his dreams, his partner Ian Doyle, he’s doing well at work, and all his friends are in good places as well. Things are all tied up nicely… until they’re not.

Change has never been easy for Miro, and when situations at work force the team he’s come to depend on to break apart, and, worst of all, when his and Ian’s individual strengths put them on two separate paths, he’s pretty certain everything just went up in smoke. But before he can even worry about the future, his past comes for a visit, shaking his world up even more. It’s hard to tell what road he should truly be on, but as he learns some paths are forged and others are discovered, it might be that where he’s going is the right course after all. If he can navigate all the twists and turns, he and Ian might just get their happily ever after.

Title: Twisted and Tied
Series: Marshals: Book Four
Author: Mary Calmes
Release Date: March 13, 2018
Category: Contemporary
Pages: TBD (Novel)

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Sigh…Ian and Miro…and a good amount of Sam Kage, which I will never ever complain about.

In this one, I started off a little disappointed because the guys were married and we didn’t get to see this big elaborate wedding that I felt like Miro would’ve wanted…. But I shouldn’t have worried, I know better than to doubt this author… everything was perfect, and when you read it, you’ll totally get it.

There’s a lot going on, as there usually is in this particular series, but it’s all art of seeing these two grow, not only as a couple, but also as characters. Things kind of get thrown up in the air, when Sam Kage shakes things up a little bit regarding his team and their new roles. It creates some tension between Miro and Ian, and I could see where they were both coming from, so it was hard for me to pick a side! Not that you have to, but….well, you’ll see.

What I loved about this one, is that in the other books in this series.. I felt like Miro was the strong one…. Not physically, that’s not what I mean… But he was confident and so sure about everything and he knew who he was and was okay with that. He didn’t struggle like Ian did, so I felt like Miro was the one with the reigns the majority of the time, keeping Ian together, reassuring him and being there for him in the ways that only Miro could. And in this one, we see Miro depending on Ian a little bit more, and Ian being the one that needed to do the reassuring. I mean, even in last books with all the Hartley and all that Miro had gone through with him… being kidnaped and tortured and all that, Miro was still the one that kept it together so Ian would be okay. Not that it was ever a problem, because, that’s just how their relationship worked… but in this one, it was nice to see the shoe on the other foot.

Speaking of Hartley…he’s back. Of course he is, that’s no secret… and while I know I’m probably a minority in this, for all the terrible things he’s done… I still found it hard to hate him in this one. Who I did hate though, was Miró’s coven sisters husband…You will too, and I wasn’t expecting that…and I don’t know how relevant it is to the story, because it was kinda just thrown in there, but…. Ugh, didn’t like that…

But, back to Hartley… I felt like Miro got some closure there, which I was relieved about. He also rooves that its true what he’s always said, nobody knows Harley like Miro and it gets proven several times in this page turner.

Side note, I was really worried about Cabot and Drake in the last one, and if you read my reviews at all, I made it very clear as to why, and I am leased to say that Im so happy with the way all that turned out…And I’m over the moon with the way Ian and Miro turned out.

I want to gush, and I’m probably uber vague and annoying because of it, but if you’ve been waiting for this book like I have, and you’re anxious to know what happens.. I promise, it’s well worth the wait, and you’re going to fall in love with these guys all over again. It’s impossible not to!!!

No surprise here, but this one was 5 very deserved pieces of eye candy from me!

So…. this is the first book in a spin-off series of A Matter of Time. I thought I couldn’t love anyone as much as I do Jory Harcourte and then Mary Calmes threw Miro Jones at me. It was love at first sight.

Sam Kage has been promoted from US Marshall to Supervisory Deputy in charge of his own team. Miro Jones and Ian Doyle have been partners for 3 years. Miro has been in love with his partner for every bit of those three years assuming his affections will never be returned because Ian is terminally straight.

Ian Doyle is as tough as they come, an Army Ranger and badass US Marshall. He never plays by the rules but knows without a doubt that Miro will always have his back. Ian has always treated Miro more like a boyfriend than a best friend or partner, just minus the sex. When Miro is hurt in the line of duty while Ian is off playing Army Ranger it causes him to rethink his position.

Just when Ian and Miro start to focus on a future together a tough witness relocation assignment has them wondering if they’ll survive long enough to see happily ever after.

I don’t know where to begin. The story was so entertaining, the plot and attention to detail was amazing. The characters were all well developed and so relatable, even the secondary characters.

Ian and Miro, what can I say. They made my top ten favorite couples of all time list. Ian is so tough on the outside but so caring with Miro at the same time. Miro has a great sense of humor and the internal dialogue was hysterical.

This series is definitely going to be reread often. If you haven’t read it yet give it a shot. You won’t be disappointed.

5 pieces of eye candy

Kairos by Mary Calmes: Release Day Review with Giveaway

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Sometimes the best day of your life is the one you never saw coming.

Joe Cohen has devoted the past two years of his life to one thing: the care and feeding of Kade Bosa. His partner in their PI business, roommate, and best friend, Kade is everything to Joe, even if their relationship falls short of what Joe desires most. But he won’t push. Kade has suffered a rough road, and Joe’s pretty sure he’s the only thing holding Kade together.

Estranged from his own family, Joe knows the value of desperately holding on to someone dear, but he never expected his present and past to collide just as Kade’s is doing the same. Now they’ve stumbled across evidence that could change their lives: the impact of Kade’s tragic past, their job partnership, and any future Joe might allow himself to wish for….

Title: Kairos
Author: Mary Calmes
Release Date: December 15, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: TBD (Novella)

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

 

Honestly… did you expect this book to be anything other than Mary Calmes perfection? Shame on you, if you did.

If you love Ian and Miro, you’re going to love this one, they reminded me so much of them… not too much, that it’s like reading the same thing but with different dudes, but enough to where I’m like… oh yes, I love them already!

Kade and Joey are PI’s in Chicago, partners, roommates and best friends. Hired by someone that Kade knew, back when he was a police officer, has some truths thrown up in the air along with everything he thought he knew crumbling around them when the guy they were supposed to find. He has a lot of information on Kade…. This kid reminded me a little of Jory and a little of the two kids Ian and Miro found, Cabot and Drake… Can I tell you how much I love them all?

Well, deciding to get out of town, Kade takes it upon himself to reunite Joey with his estranged family. Estranged by Joey’s doing, not theirs and you’ll fall in love with all of them, they’re their own brand of crazy!

Also, like Ian and Miro, they’re best friends, partners and always together, they’re also madly in love with each other and my heart broke for Joey several times because I thought Kade just didn’t see it, or didn’t want to. That wasn’t the case though and I loved every heart breaking minute of it!

It’s short and a bit familiar, but everything we love about this author and the boys she gives to us. It’s short-ish, but you won’t be disappointed…. AND there’s a mention of Mr. Aaron Sutter, would you not read it just for that? I mean, come on!

Overall, it’s an amazing story, with amazing hot guys and their amazing love….

5 well deserved pieces of eye candy from me!


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You Never Know by Mary Calmes: Release Day Reviews with Giveaway

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Hagen Wylie has it all figured out. He’s going to live in his hometown, be everybody’s friend, explore new relationships, and rebuild his life after the horrors of war. No muss, no fuss is the plan. He’s well on his way—until he finds out his first love has come home too. Hagen says it’s no big deal, but a chance encounter with Mitch Thayer’s two cute sons puts him directly in the path of the only guy he’s never gotten out of his head.

Mitch returned for three reasons: to raise his sons where he grew up, to move his furniture business and encourage it to thrive, and to win Hagen back. Years away made it perfectly clear the young man he loved in high school is the only one for him. The problem? He left town and they have not talked since.

If Hagen’s going to trust him again, Mitch needs to show him how he’s grown up and isn’t going to let go. They could have a new chance at love… but Hagen is insistent he’s not reviving a relationship with Mitch. Then again, you never know.

Title: You Never Know
Author: Mary Calmes
Release Date: July 21, 2017
Category: Contemporary
Pages: 200

Amazon

Dreamspinner Press

Kobo Books

 

Hagen Wiley… knew he had the love of his life when he was sixteen years old.

Unfortunately, life happens, especially when you’re young and stupid and I hate so badly that he got hurt like he did. The phone call between the two guys, just about gutted me. But here it is, 17 years later, and the love of his life is back, with his adorable two kids and they’ve come to claim Hagen.

Unfortunately, again, Hagen’s had a lifetime of heartbreak and getting hurt that he doesn’t just not trust Mitch, but he doesn’t trust any guy.. Which is a good thing, because we see him with a FWB, who all the sudden wants more…. Even though he’s a liar and kinda douche, I did kind of feel sorry for him before I knew all that. I’ve known what it’s like to lose the love of your life and then I’ve been on Ash’s side where I wanted someone to want me but they couldn’t, because of the love they had for someone else. I wouldn’t want to be in either of those positions, ever!

I loved Hagen, he’s so forgiving, much more so than I would be, ever….especially with how badly Mitch hurt him and how many times Ash lied to him… he just forgave… they said sorry, he said, okay. With Mitch, it was a little harder for him to win back his trust… not as hard as it should’ve been, because I think he needed to have to prove himself…. But, there was no denying that he loved Hagen… no doubt at all. It was in everything he did. I loved that for Hagen.

So, overall, this is just another amazing story from Mrs. Calmes; one that I couldn’t wait to read and now I’m sad that I’m finished with it. I get so sucked in to each of her stories to a point where, I want to wish them so hard to be real so I can see such amazing love between two people. I feel that way about all the guys in her stories, every single one.

So, I’ll end this with 5, well, well, well deserved stars and I’ll go ahead and declare my impatience for literally anything else she writes, ever!

Don’t skip it, you’ll love it.

I love the idea of high school sweethearts reuniting after they have experienced life a little. They’re not as naive and they know who they are and what they want from life. So, with that story line and the added bonus of Mary Calmes being the author, I knew going in this was going to be a great story.

Hagen and Mitch dated in high school. They had plans to go to the same college and see where Mitch’s promised NFL career took them. Life got in the way, Mitch went to college and Hagen joined the Army. Hagen has returned home needing to heal both his body and mind from the war. His leg needs mending and he needs to get a grip on his PTSD. Mitch has lived his whole adult life in the closet due to his football career. He married a woman and had two children, but after a hip replacement and a trip to rehab he can’t continue to lie to himself. Armed with a divorce and two small children, Mitch heads back to his hometown to raise his boys and to win back the love of his life.

Hagen has long since forgiven Mitch for changing their plans. What he has no intention of doing is picking up where they left off all those years ago. Hagen is just getting his life back to normal and he doesn’t want to disrupt that with bringing Mitch back into his life. It seems that fate has something to say about that and throws Mitch and his adorable boys right into Hagen’s path. Hagen stands no chance again Mitch’s boys and before you know it Hagen is spending time with Mitch and his family. Hagen needs to decide whether he can trust Mitch with his heart a second time or if he needs to tuck tail and run before he gets too attached to all three of them.

Love, love, love! I love stories with kids, especially when the kids are as cute as Brandon and Ryder Thayer. The kids play an important part in the story, making Hagen realize that he wants to be a father. The kids are well adjusted and make Hagen realize that by trusting his heart to Mitch he gets a chance at fatherhood that may not have been a possibility before.

The town of Benson is a great setting for this story and I am hoping that there are a few more stories in this setting. I would love for Ash to get his happily ever after and remain friends with Hagen.

The characters are well developed, their backstories are perfect; no too vague and definitely not too over the top. Hagen was cautious without being whiny and Mitch pursued him with confidence that didn’t come off as cocky or entitled.

There isn’t anything I didn’t like about this book. It was everything I have come to love and expect from Mary Calmes.

5 pieces of eye candy

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