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Miro Jones is living the life: he’s got his exciting, fulfilling job as a US deputy marshal, his gorgeous Greystone in suburban Chicago, his beloved adopted family, and most importantly, the man who captured his heart, Ian Doyle. Problem is, Ian isn’t just his partner at work—Ian’s a soldier through and through. That commitment takes him away from Miro, unexpectedly and often, and it’s casting a shadow over what could be everything Miro could ever dream of.

Work isn’t the same without Ian. Home isn’t the same, either, and Miro’s having to face his fears alone… how to keep it together at the office, how to survive looming threats from the past, and worst of all, how to keep living without Ian’s rock-solid presence at his side. His life is tied up in knots, but what if unknotting them requires something more permanent? What would that mean for him and Ian? Miro’s stuck between two bad choices, and sometimes the only way to get out of the knot is to hold tight to your lifeline and pull.

Title: Tied Up in Knots
Series: Marshals: Book Three
Author: Mary Calmes
Release Date: September 16, 2016
Category: Mystery/Suspense
Pages: 260

Amazon

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Dreamspinner Press

Alright…. First I have to say I was given an ARC of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review… Okay, now that that’s out of the way… I’m gonna fan girl-and fan girl HARD…. Prepare and Beware, there might be some mild spoilers….

I have been in love with Mary Calmes stories since the day I picked up “A Matter of Time”.  Jory and Sam have been my favorite m/m couple since the history of ever…only slightly ahead of Ian and Miro, they’re my second favorite ever, so when I saw that this story was up for review, I almost wanted to beg for it.  Having read and then re-read the first two in this series, I was ready to get my hands on this one and let me tell ya, after book 2, it had some tall shoes to fill. I had very high expectations for this one.  The emotion I felt all through the last one when Ian got deployed and the suffering of Miro when he was with Hartley and seeing Ian suffer through that… Man, this one would have to top that one, ya know?

It did.

In the beginning, we had a lot of new people, since Miro was loaned out while Sam was on vacation, that’s a big no-no with Sam and the situation Miro found himself in was exactly why. Ian was currently deployed again, which sucked because, they work best when they work together, he and Miro… There were a lot of new guys, of course, being in a different place with all new players but I have to tell you, I was interested in getting to know them all! The guy who approached Miro to work with him, he was hot and reminded me a lot of Ian, his brother, the SWAT guy who was like G.I. Joe and the Terminator all in one, and the Sam Cage of their department, Xavier Vance’ and of course Morgan and his Miki… I’m hoping there’s a new series for all those guys cuz I’d love to read about ALL OF THEM! Just take a second and get the visual….. I know, right!?!

We also get a little background on Miro’s ex partner (actual partner on the force) his betrayal and we get some cross over guys!! It took me a minute to remember the names and where they came from, like Tony Strada and Andre Fiore from “Acrobat”… I love when we get crossovers, because I loved Professor Nathan Quells and his Andreo, and Dreo’s nephew Michael… might have to go back and re-read that one as well, just cuz! (sidenote: the homecoming with Chickie was so cute, I giggled myself sick, I love that puppy and brace yourself for an emotional scene or two with him)

Next, we get the homecoming of Ian, and that is always emotional for me, this author has a way of pulling you in emotionally, I love missing these fictional people when I read that they’re away and I love getting choked up when they return to their partners, happy and healthy and in love. I love watching them stand up for each other, like Miro did Ian at the funeral of one of his old team members from military past, and I loved watching that guy get his face bashed in for the things he was saying about Miro’s, Ian. That’s what it feels like too, when you’re so neck deep in a book and it’s like you can see it while it’s happening. I got a sick satisfaction from that broken nose and I wished for a lot more, especially those bigots that Ian used to work with. I wanted retribution for the gross crap they spewed, something painful to make them beg to take it back… didn’t happen though, unfortunately…. That’s probably something I should keep an eye on eh?

Now, with Ian being home, let me tell you how that lasts for like a minute, and it’s with all kinds of drama in between… I won’t go into too much detail because it’s intense and kind of heartbreaking and so many things thrown at them at once, and then Ian has to leave again and I cried during the whole scene… Do you see what you do to me, Mary Calmes? Do you? …. Sigh…. I love it and hate it all at the same time but it keeps me flipping pages almost faster than I can read them.

Now….now Miro, as punishment from a job well done in my opinion, he’s got to go to Vegas and pic up a WITSEC dude, who let me tell you, is so freakin cute. He reminds me of Jory in a way, just because of the stuff that comes out of his mouth. It was refreshing and so random, Miro was the perfect person to put him with, but I was glad he got to be friends with Cabot and Drake…. although with those two… I didn’t like where that was heading, I know they love each other and was planning on getting married in the spring, I know they’re young, but I’ll be devastated it doesn’t work out with them. I have so much hope for them.

I also loved the two guys, Callahan and Redeker… I’m hoping they also come to Chicago, I think they’ll fit in with the rest of the bunch just fine.

Now… Hartley…. We know how horrible he is, we know what he’s done and who he’s done it to and we get a recap when Kage tells Miro he’s back, through no fault of any of them, a stupid decision from the FBI and of course, he escapes. Again, the way Miro needs Ian and the way he feels is so expertly portrayed that, you can’t not get mixed up in that. You just can’t. Man, I felt for Miro so bad, all the crap he’s been through and then this falls on his lap… it’s the last thing he needs right now, especially since Ian isn’t there for him to lean on. He comes back just right on time of course, and we have some nice, funny, family time, everything is easy and sexy with Ian being back and Thanksgiving coming up with everyone and their brother coming around…. But then…. Utter chaos….

Friends who you think are friends are not, and puzzle pieces are getting clicked into place and then enter… Dr. Craig Hartley… I swear my heart stops every time he makes an appearance, it was no different this time. I was so wrapped up when everything was going down, I was crying for Chickie and the agony from Miro, I actually audibly gasped and let fly some colorful F bombs laced with anger and emotion that is just plain ridiculous for fictional people….But I love it…. I love every single nail biting, hair pulling, hot and steamy, man loving second of it. I love Sam Kage and all the guys who have Ian and Miro’s back, I love the family and brotherhood and unity they all have. I love this author and everything she writes and I absolutely love and cherish and adore, this series…. I love how this one ended and I can say with absolute certainty that I will be waiting on pins and needles until we get the next one, and I can see Ian and Miro’s wedding. I have wanted that so bad and man, it will be a bittersweet happiness when we all get it.

If there is ever any doubt about reading his book or reading this story… get rid of it. In my honest opinion, it’s simply one of the very best, m/m series’ I’ve ever read.

Don’t pass it up!

5 pieces of eye candy