Review: Couldn't get enough
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2014
"When I was first partnered with him, some of the other marshals were confused about it. Why was the new guy - me - being partnered with the ex-Special Forces soldier, the Green Beret? How did that make sense? I think they thought I got an unfair advantage and that getting him as a partner was like winning the lottery. I was the newest marshal, low man on the totem pole, so how did I rate Captain America? What everyone missed was that Ian didn't come from a police background like most of us. He came from the military and wasn't versed in proper police procedure or adherence to the letter of the law. As the newest marshal on the team, I was the one who had the book memorized the best, so the supervisory deputy, my boss, assigned me to him. It actually made sense. Lucky me."And so begins one of Mary Calmes's hottest novels. Now that's saying quite a bit since I'm a dyed-in-the-wool, devoted fan and love this author’s works. The fact that one of my favorite characters, and a sinfully sexy marshal himself, Sam Kage, was their boss just did all kinds of extra special yummy things to my insides while reading Ian and Miro's action-packed and oh so hot story. Although, to be completely honest, two pages into the story and I knew it didn't make a difference whether Sam was around or not, I was positive that Ian and Miro were going to give me a lot of laughs, some serious hotness, wrapped around action/adventure and an incredible story. As always, I was right.Miro and Ian couldn't be more different and still complement each other if they worked at it. Miro is gay. Ian is straight. Miro is a bit of a clothes horse who owns a lot of high end items. Ian is happy in Wranglers and his beat-up military combat boots. Ian has a girlfriend. Miro has his hidden desire for Ian and Miro is never getting laid. Ian is in the Individual Ready Reserve and as an officer in the Army, when they call, he goes. Miro spends the whole time he's gone worrying that he's okay. Ian spends the same time worrying that Miro is okay without Ian to watch his back and protect him. At their job they're the perfect partners. Miro is more levelheaded, usually, while Ian is always set to argue and fight. Miro is better at social situations and Ian can only be sociable when Miro is near him.As is normal, and part of her fabulousness, the author rarely leaves the story as simple, as cut-and-dried as the blurb might make it seem. Weaving the story in and around witness transports, serial killers, jumping off balconies, and rescuing teenagers, I also saw Miro's difficult and lonely life growing up in foster homes and how policemen positively influenced his life. I saw the four amazing women he met freshman year in college and they're still his best friends. I saw Ian's loneliness and how the only person he wants to be near is Miro but these feelings confuse him. I watched Ian and the fierce loyalty and protectiveness he has for those he loves, including his dog, Chickie Baby. I was blessed with seeing Ian bare his soul and admit that he needed Miro to hold him, to mark him, and to own him."The way he was looking at me.....the light came on. All of his frustration, his anger, was about ownership. It all suddenly made sense: his unease in the car, the fidgeting like his skin was suddenly too constrictive, acting as though he wanted to get away from me. He needed grounding. He needed to know where he belonged, and to whom."I have no words. Mary Calmes has stunned me with this incredible book and these two men whom I fell madly in love with. There's nothing I would change about it, I will reread it again and again, and I'm adding Miro and Ian to my list of favorite couples. Wow.NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews