Friday, August 31, 2018

Twisted and Tied (Marshals #4) by Mary Calmes

A perfect ending to Miro and Ian's love story. I loved everything about this book. Going through the whole journey together with these two, I could see how much they work and how well suited they are for one another. I had many times wished for Ian's POV, but all in all I really can't complain. The book ended with a beautiful closure to basically everything (and naturally with a hint to another series, Mary can't have it any other way hehe).

While Miro and Ian have been first partners as US Marshals, then best friends before they became a couple, things are changing now. Recently married, they have a new issue to deal with as a couple - their jobs. They both expected to STAY partners and yet, they are different, and though they work well together, they have their own skill set which means promotions shouldn't be just about sticking together but about what they are good at and suited for. Sam Kage, their boss, have already figured it out but now it's up for them to make sense of it, and find a way to accept the changes and embrace them.

Wednesday, August 29, 2018

Together Tied (Marshals #3.5) by Mary Calmes

I liked the idea behind this one, truly meshing together Sam Kage and Jory Harcourt (from "A Matter of Time") with our current couple - Miro and Ian. Yet my problem was it got too complicated way too soon.. with WAY too many name dropping and intricate relationships of (suppose to be) known and unknown to us characters.

Frankly I'm not sure what was the true meaning of this one.. Maybe allowing Ian and Miro to see a different side of Sam, the man he is with his husband and kids but also his close friends. It WAS nice, but I had a hard time following, especially their 13 years old daughter Hannah, whom I had no patience for also in the 3 short novellas from her POV from their series, and this one was no different.

Tied Up in Knots (Marshals #3) by Mary Calmes

For me this one wasn't an easy read.. I think I had a hard time getting ONLY Miro's POV when their relationship difficulties started to rise. I could see how much it all cost Miro and I was thinking - Is Ian worth it? Which was basically what Miro was thinking but it took him long enough to say it to himself and out loud. Choosing Ian not only as a partner but as a lover when he is more away than present makes it difficult especially when he has so many things to deal with - like the PTSD from the torture he went through in the previous book.

In a way everything is at it was before, they are still partners, still best friends, working together and now living together, but Miro is struggling to make his life his own when he feels like he is living from (Ian's) one deployment to the next. Missing Ian like crazy and needing him to actually be able to sleep a whole night. Ian doesn't want to give up being a Special Forces but in a way we start to see his resolve crumbling when he realizes how much it costs not only Miro but himself.

Monday, August 27, 2018

Fit to Be Tied (Marshals #2) by Mary Calmes

This one was quite the ride! Though the first half of the book was easy going, made us see how 6 month after the ending of the previous installment our couple are getting used to being not only best friends and work partners but also lovers. Things are doing well enough even though Miro wants more than Ian feels he can offer. Yet things take a HUGE turn when Miro's life is in danger.

In the first book in the series we've briefly met Dr. Craig Hartley. When Miro was in the police force he was the one who got him arrested but also saved his life (while sustaining a stab wound from said Dr. Hartley..). Somehow the psychopathic Dr. Hartley is fascinated by Miro and though he wants to do "good" by him and keep his company (asking he visits him in jail twice a year) he also doesn't have any problem admitting he also wants to kill him. When Hartley escapes prison Miro's life is in danger! His boss finds him and Ian a place to "hide", while still continuing as Marshals in a different area yet things don't go so smoothly over there and not only because it's too hot to breath and the new boss is obnoxious.

Saturday, August 25, 2018

All Kinds of Tied Down (Marshals #1) by Mary Calmes

This book was a nice surprise. I really enjoyed it and the fact it was somehow action packed with two seemingly "Alpha guys" yet sweet and endearing (with very light elements of BDSM). Also was happy to realize the guys' boss is no other than Sam Kage from "A Matter of Time" which was an absolute FAVORITE series of mine.

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones and likewise Deputy US Marshal and a former Green Beret Ian Doyle have been partners and best friends for the past three years, yet it haven't been easy on our sole POV - Miro who have also been somewhat not that secretly in love with Ian. It seems the only person not realizing Miro's feelings towards Ian was, well, Ian!

Monday, August 20, 2018

Catching Irish (The Summerhaven Trio #4) [Finian & Tate] by Katy Regnery

This short novella is a bitter-sweet farewell to a wonderful endearing series I SO enjoyed. It was short yet I felt we got a whole story even if a bit condensed. Both Tate and Finian deserved to find their HEA and though they might seem an unlikely couple - because neither WANT a relationship and also because of distance (she from Florida, he from Ireland) and yet when karma throws both of their chairs to the floor as they stood up in Rory and Brittany's wedding it seems like their struggle against a relationship is quite frankly futile..

Finian Kelley is the Haven triplets' cousin. He has come for the summer to help out in the Summerhaven Resort, especially nearing Rory's wedding to Britt. After a bad relationship and a bad breakup he is mostly looking for a good time and Tate Jennings, coming to one of her closest friends - Britt's - wedding, is exactly the kind of fun he had in mind. Yet he is surprised at how much Tate's idea of a good time is boxed into a strict "no strings attached". She is HOT to fool around with but she is COLD as ice when the deed is done. Maybe that's what draws him even closer to her, trying to figure out who she is and finding staying away from her is simply out of the question even or maybe a bit BECAUSE she keeps pushing him away.

Friday, August 17, 2018

Wait for It by Mariana Zapata

Diana and Dallas's story was beautiful. It wasn't my usual read but maybe because of that I appreciate it even more. Mostly because this is not only their story but also the story of the little family Diana has formed with her two nephews now under her guardianship ever since her brother died.

Diana had to grow up fast when she became the guardian of Josh and Louie. She had changed her life and made a home for the two young kids, putting their needs first. Her mother might think she isn't the best option but she must have realized Diana is the best available option. Lucky for her she does have help from both the kids' grandparents or otherwise she wouldn’t be able to truly make it on her own. Yet its still difficult. She isn't sure what she is doing is the right thing half of the time but what she does know makes her in my eyes the best kind of mother – one who first loves and believes in her little guys.

Saturday, August 4, 2018

A Fool and His Manny (The Mannies #4) [Quinlan & Dustin] by Amy Lane

WOW, this book was simply AMAZING, but it was also heart breaking. I had to hold my hand to my chest to keep my heart either in place or intact.. Quin and Dustin broke my heart time and time again, mostly Quin. Sad, lonely, quiet Quinlan who is all alone in the world even when he is surrounded by the family he wished was his (and little by little BECAME his).

The Robbins-Graysons have A LOT of kids, 6 to be exact. we've met all of them before in the previous installments. Truth being said, I'm not a fan of kids in books but it this series it somehow works though I feel like if I was actually THERE I would get dizzy in one second and just collapse. I think that's what Quinlan Gregory thought when he saw the lot of them at a family wedding he was invited to by his friend Sammy. Sammy thought maybe Quin would consider being the manny now that the "old one" is getting married.. At first Quin was terrified, but somehow he thought staying so close to Sammy, one of the few people in his life, would be a good idea so he stays though he keeps mostly to himself and doesn't truly "mingle" with the family. He doesn't feel like he has a place in one. It didn't work with HIS family, so he won't even think of taking this one for his own, though in his heart it's all he can wish for.

Friday, August 3, 2018

A Date for Hannah (LIFE - Love Is For Everyone, #1) [Hannah & Liam] by Callie Henry (Katy Regnery)

I LOVED this one, it was sweet and simply PRECIOUS. I'll admit I was a bit worried I won't connect with this one. I haven't been a teen for a while now... and I feel quite disconnected from a lot of things that happened "back then", and yet I could more than connect with Hannah and her struggles. As an "adult romance" reading I didn't mind one bit that this was quite innocent. I actually found it refreshing. This book is a YA intended to ALL readers, YA included. I wished I read this kind of a book back then though I feel I was a bit TOO cynic to enjoy it. Hannah has NOTHING on me on how isolated I was. Yet hope can be packaged in all kinds of different packages, sometimes you need to find the one best suited for you and most of the times, it's not the one you expect.