Another great read from Mary Calmes! Don't know how she does it but her characters grab me every time! ( )

I really liked this story. It's very "sneaky": starting out as a perfectly normal romance, it quickly gives quite a few hints that something else might be going on. A mystery, I thought. Ryan has some deep dark personal secret that he isn't ready to share with his lover Julian.

And when the truth of the actual story twist hits you, it changes pace, full-force into paranormal land. Nicely done! ( )

Or should I say, BOOK CRACK! (SRAL says no to drugs, yo!)

*scratches*

Um...WTF was dis? I am still confused. This was Mary Calmes...urban fantasy? *squints*

Why did the paranormal aspect happen at 75%?
What da fuck is a warder? Are they human? Alien mutant paratroopers that love butt sex? Stealthy magic ninjas that fight crime at night?
Does the baddies sleep during the day?

I love Mary Calmes. Badly. Dearly. Madly? I dunno but she's my chicken soup for my reader's soul. She is my balm...she's Mary Calmes.

I don't give a flying shit if she has the same ingredients in her stories (for the most part--sometimes she can surprise you, ex. Mine) that shit works for me.

Doesn't work for you? Okay! More for me!!

But this must have been beginning Calmes because this was clunky like a motherfucker. The excessive repetition about the same shit the character just said like every other page, the weak paranormal/Buffy-like plot device thrown in and the domestication of well, just about everything.

The title is "His Hearth" I should have known something was going to be homey, right?

I think my biggest problem is being stuck on the characterisation of the main characters. Julian is 6'3", believes in monogamy, doesn't do one night stands, kisses like he's fucking your soul and his tongue is a monster dick.

Basically he has it going on. (And he doesn't know it...of course)

So he got cheated on by this guy he was seeing on the day of his promotion, he goes out drinking to celebrate the promotion and try to forget the cheating. And he meets a client, high profile male model/ reality TV star Ryan Dean.

Ryan Dean is like a walking erection. His whorish ways are LEGENDARY. Our boy likes to fuck. (Nothing wrong with that) So like a predator that smells rebound prey, he's on Julian/Jules' jock. My issue is, you know what? Let me summarize it and you can maybe see my conundrum.

Julian drinks his Patron, knocking it back, feeling nice. Hottest mofo (Ryan) on two legs presses against him with a stiff dick, wants to bone. But Julian believes in monogamy, likes to get to know who he has sex with, wants a relationship. So...Ryan basically invites Julain back to his place to slap skins.

Julian's all "no...I don't do that. thanks anyway, Ryan."
Ryan's all "let me just stick the tip in [or something to that effect]"
Julian's all "no, no. I'm not like that. You have a reputation for fucking and leaving."
Ryan then changes the game, "I like to pump butts BUT lemme invite you over for brownies."
Julian's all "no no. I'll kiss you and that's it. M'kay. Monogamy forever."
Ryan proceeds to ply this guy with more drinks (standard I want in your drawers behavior), Julian continues his monogamy spiel.

And then you know how the night ends?

Ryan - 1 ; Julian - 0

Why drag out the inevitable? I couldn't get over it. Just fuck him already and be done! The first 40% was this dragged out back and forth and he still boned him anyway!



Raspberry cheesecake brownies (FROM SCRATCH) were consumed, along with cocks. It was a mix of mixed signals, weaker fantasy and over explaining.

BUT...

I got possessive "mine"-ing, consuming kissing and buttsex. Oh and everlasting monogamous love.

SO...

This is probably my lowest Mary Calmes rating.

BUT...

I want to read the rest of the series.



Fuck it. Long live Mary Calmes! " ( )

Really enjoyed this one! I loved the characters (especially Julian) and I have to admit, I was surprised by the 'twist' in the story (which I won't say anything else for fear of spoiling anyone).

Awesome read! ( )

I really enjoyed this 140-page story. It gave me a lusty m/m romance with some hot love scenes, a paranormal surprise and a bit of ninja-like action. Just what I like! Plus the fact that this starts a series, so I get to follow all those interesting characters a while longer. YUM! ( )