A Matter of Time, Vol. 1 (A Matter of Time, #1-2) by Mary Calmes

May 28, 2012 Fiona Goodman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, m-m-romance, m-m-thriller, best-bottoms, m-m-first-of-two, review-to-follow, m-m-favorites-read-2011, m-m-favorites, m-m-read, fictionwise, mary-calmes, re-read, lend-me

Casting of A Matter of Time. Written review to follow

Jory: Mathias Lauridsen (The only guy pretty enough to make a straight man gay....)

Sam: This gorgeous unknown man...

Or....

Chris Hemsworth (Blonde,brown hair, check. Slate blue eyes, check. 6"3 inches, close enough...and hot,hot hot!!!)

Dane: Hugh Jackman (Hansome, debonair and damn sexy in a tux!).

Dane's expression when Jory does something stupid....

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Sep 07, 2012 Amanda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-mm-read, mary-calmes, favorites, ebooks-i-own, cops-hitmen-military-pi, growly-alpha-males, bdsm-ds, coming-out, crazy-killer-on-the-loose, enemies-to-lovers, gay-for-you, honey-baby-sugar-pie-gag, hot-as-hell, im-a-ball-of-rage, ridiculous-but-i-still-read-it, sex-sex-sex, worth-buying-one-two-or-five-copies, this-really-should-be-longer, guilty-pleasure, favorite-author

5 stars

1. Jory is unbelievably nice and patient. I don't know of anyone in this world that is as patient as him. I don't think it's possible.

2. Sam Kage is a complete jackass but I can't stop myself from liking him no matter how many times I wanted to go through my Kindle and beat his ass.

3. Nick the Doctor. What the hell man? Stage Five Clinger.

4. Dylan reminds me of my best friend.

5. Dane. He's so screwed up but I love him A LOT. I'm going to say more than Sam even.

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Jun 17, 2012 Heller rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, cops-military, m-m, younger-older

Classic Calmes and I loved it.

One of the things that I adore about this book is the relationship between Jory and Dane. That concept of found family is so fascinating to read and their scenes together just work so well.

I really enjoy reading about Jory's adventures here. Sliding through the sea of men that surround him until he runs into the immoveable Sam Kage. These two men just work together so well there's a tremendous frustration when their relationship runs into the rocks. Tremendous fru...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Èmina rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance, worst-books-ever, police-fbi-and-so-on

I started out liking the story even though I got a bit confused when Jory started naming one friend after another but I thought it was ok and soon I will be able to tell who was who and get to know the secondary characters a bit better.
If you thought the same....good luck to ya!!!
Jon, James, Rick, Mich, Evan, Michael, Mary, Jill, Sue, Alexander, Cleopatra, Madona, Cher and so on and on and on....one name after another...seriously Jory knew almost every person on this planet (well ok that is not...more

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May 27, 2012 Gwenith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Huh...The End....but, but, but...

Gosh Really...Even After That!

WTF

This is now one of my favorites, most adored series and I love, love, love Jory and even Sam, together their chemistry is fun, delightful and sizzling, and gosh I can't wait for more....BUT..AGAIN I SAY....WTF...CLIFFHANGING, so not fair...and that's the only reason this book is 4 stars and not 5~.

I Have Lost My Mind, Cuz, I Still Love This Book!

This is in 1st person POV, I thought I hated 1st person POV...I am really a picky rea...more

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Jan 29, 2013 Christina rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-out, cops, crime, m-m-romance, suspense

Warning to all you Jory fans out there, this is going to be rough.

This was one of the most irritating and annoying books I've read in a long time and it's mainly because of the MC, Jory. The story is told from the first person narrative, by Jory. Jory is the most perfect person to walk the face of the Earth. At least this is what EVERYONE thinks, apparently except for me. Colleagues, friends, ex/new lovers, anyone who's fortunate to lay their eyes on the halo of light that surrounds him, loves h...more Warning to all you Jory fans out there, this is going to be rough.

This was one of the most irritating and annoying books I've read in a long time and it's mainly because of the MC, Jory. The story is told from the first person narrative, by Jory. Jory is the most perfect person to walk the face of the Earth. At least this is what EVERYONE thinks, apparently except for me. Colleagues, friends, ex/new lovers, anyone who's fortunate to lay their eyes on the halo of light that surrounds him, loves him. This is not an exaggeration. Nobody could keep their hands off of him. They all thought he could be a model and all you heard was "God, you are beautiful." *rolls eyes* The thing is, I could probably get into the character (a little) if everyone didn't fall head over heels for him. I felt like the author was jamming his beauty and how perfect he is down my throat. By the time the third person was entranced by him, I wanted to kill him. Yes, he's good-looking and always wants to help people but he is not perfect. He treats his ex-lovers like shit and honestly he makes some extremely stupid decisions. (view spoiler)

Now onto the writing. I finally pinpointed what aggravated me about the dialogue. It was choppy and clipped. Questions were answered with questions and it appeared over and over again. "Yeah, I know." "You know?" "Whaddaya want?" "What do I want?" "What do you want to eat?" "Eat?" "Yes, eat." "I'm okay." "Okay?" Grrrrr.....the repetitiveness aggravated me to know end.

A few more issues to wrap up. We have the possessive and pushy cop, Sam. At first I was intrigued by him. His abrasiveness didn't bother me but after a while even he grated on me. I didn't feel like he was genuinely confused about his sexuality. He seemed to be just going through the motions.

The plot was predictable and honestly this seemed more like a day in the life of Jory rather than focusing on the crime/suspense aspects. Chapter one started off good. Jory finds himself witnessing a murder. Then it goes right in to his personal relationships with a little of the crime portions of the story thrown in here and there. It doesn't really pick up until the end.

The sex scenes were boring and completely forgettable.

Basically, there wasn't much I could say that I liked. (less)

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Oct 13, 2012 Sophia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-suspense

I have been seeing this one pop up frequently on my recommends boards so I finally decided to give it a whirl. And yes, once again, I'm kicking myself for missing out on a great read and new series to follow. I already knew that it would be a decent read because of the premise- cop, murder witness, etc- but it went well beyond that because of the characters. Sam and Jory are a fab set of heroes and lovers.

Jory is one of those cocky, mouthy, quick-tempered types that get on my last nerve in real...more I have been seeing this one pop up frequently on my recommends boards so I finally decided to give it a whirl. And yes, once again, I'm kicking myself for missing out on a great read and new series to follow. I already knew that it would be a decent read because of the premise- cop, murder witness, etc- but it went well beyond that because of the characters. Sam and Jory are a fab set of heroes and lovers.

Jory is one of those cocky, mouthy, quick-tempered types that get on my last nerve in real life, but I loved him in fiction. He is just the perfect match to push all the buttons on the the stoic, hard Sam and bring him to life. The two meet when Jory, who gets into deep trouble with little effort at all, finds himself the number one witness for a big time murder that if he testifies will cause trouble for a crime organization. Jory loves his life and in particularly his job with boss Dane Harcourt so he refuses to be hidden away and he definitely refuses to cooperate with the big lethal-looking police detective who is assigned to the case. But it is not long before even the oblivious Jory realizes the detective seems to always be around- even following him- to get him out of trouble. The two men take a tumble into bed after one such moment and it is the beginning to a relationship between a jaded 'out in the open' gay man and a man who never had an attraction to another man before (some call it 'gay for you'). The story moves along toward a climactic finish when the crime organization finally catches up with Jory and Sam makes a fateful decision (one of those I'm doing what is best for us) that leaves the story on a cliffhanger.

As with all the Mary Calmes stories that I have read in the past, and this one is no exception, there are some truly well-written main story characters and their romance, but also a host of good strong secondary characters almost with their own story line. I loved the character of Dane Harcourt. He's typical in some ways as the wealthy, handsome charismatic playboy man about town, but then there is that 'can't be reached by anyone' emotional shell he wears that is only dropped when he is around Jory. Sam's family members were also big hits with me.

The romance plot is on the angsty side. Jory is a drama queen and not one to confront his issues and Sam is a really confused man who hasn't got his stuff sorted out enough to know what he wants. Usually, this type of mess is not my thing, but other than a few twinges of ire when Jory or Sam were being particularly obtuse I was very caught up in the story. In fact, I was so caught up that I dashed out and got the next installments in the series right away.

Highly recommend for those who enjoy their contemporary m/m romance with a dash of drama.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Octobercountry rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"A Matter of Time: Volume One" has a great premise for a romance: a closeted, hard-boiled police detective protects a witness to a crime, and finds that he's falling in love with his charge. However, the execution of this idea is a bit, well, odd. The entire story unfolds in a most unrealistic way; time after time the characters act or react in a manner completely divorced from the way a person would in real life, and the plot doesn't progress in a logical fashion.

As an example----Jory KNOWS peo...more "A Matter of Time: Volume One" has a great premise for a romance: a closeted, hard-boiled police detective protects a witness to a crime, and finds that he's falling in love with his charge. However, the execution of this idea is a bit, well, odd. The entire story unfolds in a most unrealistic way; time after time the characters act or react in a manner completely divorced from the way a person would in real life, and the plot doesn't progress in a logical fashion.

As an example----Jory KNOWS people are actively trying to kill him, and yet he seems completely oblivious to the fact, incapable of taking even the tiniest precautions to protect himself---with the predictable result that he's constantly being pursued or shot at. But does this bother him? Not really---after each crisis he immediately goes back to his daily routine, only to be surprised when, whoops, the bad guys are on his tail yet again. This stupidity is rather frustrating, as is his complete infatuation with Sam the detective, because I don't think the author really conveys precisely WHY Sam is so irresistible to Jory. Sam's constant on-again, off-again mixed signals as he inches out of the closet get tiresome after a while. I can't even remember how many times these two broke up and then got back together again during the course of this story.

Now, ordinarily this sort of disregard of reality would drive me crazy while reading a story like this. But in this case, for some reason I found the book to be very readable---I was willing to let go of my objections and just go along for the ride. A reviewer said that this book has to be taken as a "fantasy soap opera," and I'll agree---if you're thinking of it in those terms, and not as a slice of life, you may find that there's much here to enjoy.

So, while my summary may sound rather negative, I still found this to be a pleasant diversion. It should be noted, however, that (as can be guessed from the title) this book is only half of the story; it continues in a second volume. And I think I'm curious enough about the plot that I'm willing to check out the second book to see how it all turns out. Oh, I'm not going to move the second book to the top of my Kindle wish list, but I do plan to read it eventually. (less)

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Dec 31, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic, contemporary, anal-play-sex, m-m

Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

This is a lovely story that delves into the mind of a young gay man at the age of twenty-two. After witnessing an awful crime, Jory is in danger and must use all his smarts and skills to survive.

Jory Keyes is a force of nature and people are drawn to him. He will blow into your life, exceed your expectations and leave you wanting more in the wake of his destruction. He's a gorgeous man who is comfortable with who he is. His mother aba...more Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...

This is a lovely story that delves into the mind of a young gay man at the age of twenty-two. After witnessing an awful crime, Jory is in danger and must use all his smarts and skills to survive.

Jory Keyes is a force of nature and people are drawn to him. He will blow into your life, exceed your expectations and leave you wanting more in the wake of his destruction. He's a gorgeous man who is comfortable with who he is. His mother abandoned him as a baby to his grandmother, and then he lost his grandmother at the age of ten. Growing up in a group home, he came out a strong self sufficient man. After graduating high school he moved to Chicago, found a great job and then attended and graduated from college. He is a smart, resilient person, who because of his age seems to believe he is invincible and untouchable.

Detective Sam Kage is instantly drawn into Jory’s universe, a straight man attracted to a beautiful soul. Sam is 100% alpha male and he doesn’t cope well with his attraction to Jory and fights it all the way. He is tasked with the protection of Jory after he witnesses a cold blooded murder. There is now a price on Jory’s head and Sam is determined to keep him safe and alive. But is he shadowing Jory to protect him or just to be near him? These two polar opposites are thrust together due to circumstances but eventually unite due to attraction.

This book is written in the first person point of view. Reading a single point of view is a rarity for me and took some getting used to, but once I got into it, I actually enjoyed it tremendously. I was able to feel Jory’s emotions all the stronger and I enjoyed living vicariously through him. If I only had 10% of Jory’s life, I could die happy. Even though he has countless flings, he is surrounded by people that adore and care for him. His closest relationships are priceless and filled with devotion and love.

It’s been awhile since I’ve wanted to reread a book right away after finishing it. The writing was spot-on and the sexual encounters were written with heat but not explicitly, most were assumed after the fact. This book is very erotic, just on the lighter side with the descriptions of the sexual encounters. There was very little predictability in the plot, but the issues that were predictable had surprising conclusions that had me in awe. The supporting cast is extremely relatable and I loved Jory’s relationship with his boss Dane. I sure hope that in the next volume I can see Dane, a serial dater, be taken down by an exceptional woman. If not, I would definitely enjoy a book about him.

The ending of volume one is abrupt, but it does seem to be good ending location. You feel you are on the cusp of another great adventure. You end it wanting the next volume immediately. A Matter of Time – Volume One is a sensual read with the addition of adventure and intrigue. The emotions are well written and the characters become your friends and family. I totally enjoyed my journey into the mind of Jory Keyes and I can see myself visiting it again in the future.

(less)

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Nov 05, 2011 GymGuy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m-romance

I really wish I could give this book 5 stars. It had such great potential. I so enjoyed some of the characters but grew weary of others. There were multiple themes what could have been developed but were ignored.

Here is my reasoning:

While I enjoyed the themes of different kinds of love, there was no development of these concepts. So much could have been done to really explore brotherly love. Dane seemed so willing to give it, but it was never explained why. Jory on the other hand was all too wi...more I really wish I could give this book 5 stars. It had such great potential. I so enjoyed some of the characters but grew weary of others. There were multiple themes what could have been developed but were ignored.

Here is my reasoning:

While I enjoyed the themes of different kinds of love, there was no development of these concepts. So much could have been done to really explore brotherly love. Dane seemed so willing to give it, but it was never explained why. Jory on the other hand was all too willing to accept it, but gave almost nothing in return.

Another theme which could have been developed is the contrast between Sam and Jory. Jory was from the wrong side of the tracks with almost no stability while Sam grew up in a very warm, conventional family. There was huge potential for showing the contrast between these two, but again nothing was developed.

I enjoyed Sam as a character. He seemed to be generally steady, but at times exasperating. Jory was sweet, cuddly and adorable. But as the novel wore on, I became more and more and MORE irritated with him. I felt that he was just a 'taker' and one who just rode on everyone's fortune. I don't know whether this was the intent of the author, but it was never developed as a theme. I got SO tired of how everyone he met dripped sugar over him. His life seemed to be like reading an Abercrombie and Fitch catalog.

There were moments--and I will emphasize moments--of excitement, but the author seemed to be incapable of making them real. They just seemed to be like watching TV. Jory never acted naturally to any of the crises.

I wish I could have enjoyed Jory more, but in the end, he was an irritating self-centered, shallow, selfish little twit--and again--if this had been developed as a theme then I would count it as a positive, but since it was not, I can only conclude it was lack of good writing.

I would love to give this story 5 stars because all-in-all I enjoyed the book, but because of the it's serious flaws, I just can't bring myself to give it more than three.(less)

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Donna I've had both volumes of this series on my Kindle for quite a while and just got around to reading them today. I was wondering if I was going to be in...more
updated Nov 27, 2011 07:51pm

GymGuy This series gets only worse. I don't think most of the readers have much taste. Lol. My average score is about a 3. I don't understand how some of the...more
Nov 27, 2011 06:29pm

Donna I feel ya,D. I can't in good conscience bring myself to read the 3rd book in this series. The first 2 are wallbangers for me and I respect my Kindle t...more
Nov 27, 2011 07:56pm

Oct 31, 2011 Amy Lane rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, I was exceptionally stressed and I needed a story that was going to give me a tremendous happy so I reached for these books, which I had been saving for a rainy day. I could not have chosen better.

Jory is one of Mary's most memorable creations--flighty, brilliant, self-indulgent at the same time he'd do anything for a friend, Jory is complex, irritating, and wonderful. Sam starts out the series as a complete bastard--but he's also tormented and pretty in love with Jory so we can forgive hi...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Top 2 Bottom Reviews Interviews and More rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Mary Calmes’ A Matter of Time: Volumes One and Two ought to come with a variety of warning labels cautioning readers that beginning this series will cause extreme bouts of anxiety and fatigue, (because you’ll be up till all hours of the night, reading) will have you laughing and crying alternately in a case of emotional whiplash, will keep you on the edge of your seat in anticipation of betrayal and danger, but to top it all off, this book will make you fall irrevocably in love with its narrator...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Bee rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action, broke-my-heart, favorites, gay-for-you, i-cried-a-river, kindle, passion-erotica, pissed-me-off, romance, m-m, stuck-in-the-closet, survival, crime-mystery

Mother f*cker!!!!! How could she end the book like that? *wails* Erm, sorry...but before you consider reading this amazing book - beware of the major, torturous, cliffhanger ending!

Right from the get go I knew this was going to be good! Even though the beginning is a little mismatched to the rest of the book it served its purpose, to drag you into the story so deep that you couldn't even think of giving up before the last sentence. Well done. The character of Jory (love that name btw) is introd...more Mother f*cker!!!!! How could she end the book like that? *wails* Erm, sorry...but before you consider reading this amazing book - beware of the major, torturous, cliffhanger ending!

Right from the get go I knew this was going to be good! Even though the beginning is a little mismatched to the rest of the book it served its purpose, to drag you into the story so deep that you couldn't even think of giving up before the last sentence. Well done. The character of Jory (love that name btw) is introduced by throwing him directly into the action, as he is headed there he tells us a little something about himself...a little something that doesn't match his true character at all but ok, maybe he's got no clue of who he really is (although I don't think that's the case).

After that we get to meet the people in his life, they are all amazing and the way we are told about Jory's life is just wonderfully done. There is so much information and so many characters and situations squeezed into this book that it should make you crazy, instead it makes you feel like you're seeing the real deal. The book is a perfect caption of Jory's life. It's chaotic, messy, fun, and full of new meetings, new people and new situations. As he says, hardly anything in his life is constant...only his boss is.

There are really two major relationships in this book. The first one being between Jory and his boss - Dane. At first I almost thought that the love-story would include him, because he's a magnetic man in every way and although he is a serial-dater of women, the only person really close to him is Jory. As we get further into the story we notice that there is something else going on between these guys, very non-romantic, but it's immensely sweet.

The other relationship is between Jory and Sam. Sam is a police detective and when Jory stumbles upon a crime scene that puts him in lethal danger Sam is the guy trying to convince Jory to go into a witness protection program. Yeah, not that easily done because Jory is a stubborn man. Instead Sam ends up dogging Jory, everywhere he goes there Sam shows up yelling at the top of his lungs for Jory not to be so goddamned stupid and reckless. That is until Jory realizes that there is something else underneath that loud-ass concern...

These two character have so much chemistry it's ridiculous! They are flawed characters, Sam more than Jory, but they fit so well together. I love their dialogues, and I love the two of them together. Period. That their relationship is so freaking complicated just makes things better...and worse!

I have too much to say about this book but I will just settle for saying this: The characters are wonderful. The descriptions well done but not allowed too much space, which I'm so grateful for because I find them tedious most times. There are ups and downs and twists and turns to the story and it's all so very realistic and cleverly written. This book made me laugh, cry, groan and anguish. It's a beautiful journey. And it ends in hell... guess there's nothing for me to do but read the sequel!(less)

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Feb 05, 2013 Jae rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: authors-to-follow, brwd, cliffhanger, mm-glbt, series, zzread-2013

3.5 stars

As I got to the end of this book I was not sure how I really felt. I enjoyed the writing and most of the flow of the story. Jory was a wonderful character to read, but after 2 books of everyone falling at his feet,...ummm? I understand he's a great guy but it just seemed a little excessive sometimes. SAM... I don't know how I feel. He's is perfect, when he is perfect. When he's not he's an a$$. He accuses Jory of running away, but would you stay when someone basically says,(view spoiler ...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Sharon Cox rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: gay, mystery, murder, police

I've just finished the first 2 books in the 'A matter of time' series and i have to say I liked them even if I did find Jory to be a bit too perfect and Sam to be quite a pain sometimes.
Jory is perfect - lovely to look at, perfect clothes, perfect relationship with his boss and a great friend to all. He comes through the most difficult times almost with ease but I suppose that some people can be like this.
Jory was witness to a murder and Sam, the police officer who is smitten with him wants to...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, comedy, erotica, law-enforcement, m-m-romance

4.5 STARS

I really liked this book a lot. It held my attention and flowed really well, making it an easy read. Jory, the protag, is very funny and I liked him within the first few sentences. There are times early on when he comes off a bit arrogant (e.g. being rude to past lovers) but he changes and grows up a lot in this story, and I love that. Character growth is so important to me for a good book. Sam is also very likable, with his extreme, all or nothing passionate personality. I loved Dane,...more

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May 31, 2012 Cat rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: bisexual, 4_stars, drama, ebk, guns, civil_service, i_own, mf, mystery, marriage, siblings, novel, mm, romance, murder

I've never read such a "shifter-like" story that isn't an actual shifter novel but it's definitely one of the reasons I enjoyed this series so much. Jory is a complete mix of headstrong, stubborn male with a strong submissive, vulnerable "female" side. One of the great things about Jory is that he knows it and has accepted these aspects of himself even though there are times that he feels down about it. He just comes off as a very real, fun, sweet yet flawed person that you would love to know an...more

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Sep 02, 2011 Stacy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I will admit that having read the book summary for each of the "Matter of Time" books, I kept skipping over them when they appeared on "best of" lists. Sam sounded a bit like a jerk, and Jory. . . well, twinky doormat came to mind.

When I finally decided that I would give them a try. . . we'll, I'll be the first to say that I'm kicking myself and wishing I had done it a long time ago. I'm in love with both of the main characters and wish I were a part of their ever-expanding world. I will certai...more

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Feb 12, 2012 Sylvie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: m-m, romance-contemporary

3.5 rounded down

Definitely one of those books that could have been stellar had it been properly edited and refined. The dialogues were stinted for the most part, and the main protagonist - Jory - was a bit over the top for me. In many ways, he read as someone who's too good to be real/true, and he was the perfect character, yet irreconcilably stupid.

I have issues with the author's style - too much dragging in random characters that go nowhere just to show how amazing Jory was... After the 3rd t...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m

I'm glad I read this in the volumes combined because if I would have stopped at the first one with a choice to buy another book I would have to stopped there.

ok- Well both Sam and Jory are pains but I did like Jory a lot better than I liked Sam, I didn't have a problem that a lot of other readers seemed to have with the back and forth, I think if they were real people it would have been a lot worse. To discover that want a man and you're not a teen or a young 20's either but a man who knew he w...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Angela rated it 3 of 5 stars

the second half of this book is infinitely better than the first. it has a sit com, check your brain at the door feel to it.

if you imagine jory as kelllan, its much more enjoyable. lol.

if you liked this one, or want something a bit more....um...cohesive and well, explicit, the you must read;

and

The Hell You Say (Adrien English Mystery, #3)

both those series are really compelling.

jory had adhd, and were in his head, thus the scattered thoughts. it gets better as the story progresses.

adding to the confusion,the . names are exactly the same...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Marqie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: they-said-it-was-good-but

Actually the starter was okay, here we go and see a gay guy with a balls and flipped a murder at the police station but after that it becomes too much.

1. Too many coincidences meetings between Jory and Sam. Jory went to the club he met Sam, Jory went to other club he met Sam, Jory went somewhere he met Sam. coincident. Because how could Sam know where Jory was, they did not communicate and definitely Sam didn't planted a bug on Jory.

2. Jory is too.... perfect. Everyone said how beautiful he is,...more

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Oct 21, 2012 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-lendable

3.5 stars

My dentist is going to be a RICH man! This book is so sugary that I have a mouth full of cavities.

Jory is perfect.
Sam is perfect.
Dane is perfect.
Everyone is so freaking perfect.

But here’s where my weakness comes in: I love any freaking book with a closeted cop and his more-than-likeable love interest.

EVERYONE loves Jory…so why should I be any different?

Yes, this book is too sweet.
Yes, this book is unbelievable.
Yes, everyone in this book is gorgeous and charming and attractive and sexy.
Y...more

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Jul 20, 2012 A rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Here's how I feel about Mary Calmes: I'm obssessed with her. People may talk about how her books are all the same. And that may have some truth to it. But bring it the hell on. Because there is no one that is better at creating chemistry between her characters as Mary. And yes, it's totally ludicrous to think that there are people like Jory out there, whom everyone likes, and who is swatting off multiple propositions per hour. But, who cares?!!? If I wanted real life, I'd stop reading, and start...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Monika rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, mm-uniform, no-longer-have

3.5 stars

This book was very strange for me to read.I so wanted to love it but all I could muster is that I more than liked it but didn't quite REALLY like it hence the 3.5 stars.

There was a lot good about the book especially at the beginning.The first book was great loved the characters,even though there were a lot of names to sort through that didn't have any significant reason to be in the book except to give Jory's playmates names.The suspense/thriller part of the story was good and had me wa...more 3.5 stars

This book was very strange for me to read.I so wanted to love it but all I could muster is that I more than liked it but didn't quite REALLY like it hence the 3.5 stars.

There was a lot good about the book especially at the beginning.The first book was great loved the characters,even though there were a lot of names to sort through that didn't have any significant reason to be in the book except to give Jory's playmates names.The suspense/thriller part of the story was good and had me wanting to read on.Then it start to go wrong, Jory started to get annoying not him personally but everyone around him, the OHHHH!! he's so pretty and everyone, and I mean everyone, loved/lusted after him immediately after meeting him that got really old fast.

I liked Sam and thought there was a strong connection between him and Jory.Sam being "straight" then falling for Jory presented a lot of conflict for him and I felt sorry for him it made me tear up.But I hated how as soon as they got it together immediately something separated them,once is fine but it happened too much to these two.I thought they were madly in love?Bad times come and you cut and run!Whats that?

I think if I keep writing I could go on and on about this book and I don't want the review to end up being as long as a short story.I see after I read what I've written it appears that maybe I didn't like this book that much, but not so, even with the stuff that was annoying over all this book(or books depending how you look at it)was absolutely worth the read.Be aware the ending just stops and doesn't come near completing the story,so getting Vol 2 is a must.I've just started reading it and even though it starts out being more of the same I can't let these guys go.I'm rooting for them.

One last thing I wish more time was spent developing Dane and Jory's relationship, there was a LOT missing here.I had a hard time understanding how these two became as close as they end up being!The whole story about these two should have been a big or bigger part of the book.(less)

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Nov 28, 2011 Evaine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, m-m

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Oh man, I was SO primed to love this book (these books?). It got some great reviews from authors and readers whose opinions I totally respect and I had read great word of mouth in the m/m romance group, but, in the end, I was disappointed. (And I find myself wondering if we're just so glad to have readable m/m romance books readily available these days that we tend to go easy on them?)

So, why did it disappoint me? Well, first off, Volume 2 seemed to me to be an emotional rehash of Volume 1. Jory...more Oh man, I was SO primed to love this book (these books?). It got some great reviews from authors and readers whose opinions I totally respect and I had read great word of mouth in the m/m romance group, but, in the end, I was disappointed. (And I find myself wondering if we're just so glad to have readable m/m romance books readily available these days that we tend to go easy on them?)

So, why did it disappoint me? Well, first off, Volume 2 seemed to me to be an emotional rehash of Volume 1. Jory is going along happily in his life, there is some upheaval but he keeps his positive outlook, he meets up with Sam, there is hot sex, good things happen in Jory's life aside from Sam, they seem to affirm their relationship, there is a crisis, they split up. And there are horrible cliffhangers that leave you with absolutely NO closure at all if you've come to love Jory, the MC.

And Jory is lovable! Totally! Maybe a little too much so at times? I found his chemistry much better with the secondary characters of both books - the friends, family and co-workers - than with either Sam (the romantic interest) or Dane (the um... other big interest?). I did quite enjoy his quirkiness, however... I found myself thinking, about halfway through Volume 2, that Jory must be a bit of an idiot for the things he does - and especially when he meets up with Dom at the apartment - but then I remembered WAY BACK to the beginning of Volume 1 where Jory describes his 'tuning out' of conversations. I think that should have been made more clear throughout both books.

After two books of this series, I still don't know WHY Jory loves Sam so much. Or why Sam loves Jory so much. They can't keep their hands off each other, that's obvious, but, there has to be more than that for a romance to work for the reader, I think. Where does Sam's possessiveness come from? Why is he SO different when he's with Jory from when he's without - so much so that his family is all so very cool with discovering that he's gay after all these years? To be honest, I wasn't very fond of him with Jory either. Hopefully he'll become more simpatico for me in the next volume - of two books.

And then there's Dane Harcourt. What the hell is the deal with this dude? I don't understand his obsession with Jory. And it does come across as very much of an obsession to me. For the longest time, I thought it was going to be revealed that Dane was actually in love with Jory and was waiting for the boy to grow up, to experience life and then they could meet on a level playing field, I guess. This relationship, which is very important in the books, puzzles the hell out of me. I don't get it.

And dear Lord, if someone puts their hand on the back of Jory's neck again, I might just scream! Every scene, it seemed, with some sort of intimacy between Jory and a male character had the male character putting his hand on the back of Jory's neck. It got very old after a while.

(Oh, and Sam's mom? Totally Richard Castle's mom and I LOVED HER!)

It sounds like I didn't like the book, but I honestly did! It was a good read and the sex scenes were very, very hot. And there was a plot and subplots - they just were mostly a little iffy in my opinion. So now I've got to go and buy A Matter of Time Vol 2 (Books 3 and 4) so I can find out how else this relationship is going to screw itself, maybe figure out what the hell is up with Dane and if Jory's going to make it to 25. And sadly, it's more that I have to get it because I'm annoyed at the way this book left me and hope there's some redemption to come than because I want more of the story and characters because I loved them.

(less)

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Mar 28, 2013 Laura marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: calibre-owned, owned-to-read

Vol. 1 (Books One and Two)

Jory Keyes leads a normal life as an architect’s assistant until he is witness to a brutal murder. Though initially saved by police Detective Sam Kage, Jory refuses protective custody—he has a life he loves that he won’t give up no matter who is after him. But Jory’s life is in real jeopardy, especially after he agrees to testify about what he saw.

While dealing with attempts on his life, well-meaning friends who want to see him happy, an overly protective boss, and a

...more

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May 18, 2013 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, best-of-the-best, plenty-of-angst, steamy

5 solid stars--maybe even 6 or say, 10!!! I absolutely loved these two books and am so grateful that there are plenty more ready and waiting. Jory is a sweetheart--the nicest guy, the best friend you'd ever want with the biggest heart around. You have to love him. And Sam, he's frustrating and frustrated; he's tough and yet weak and he loves Jory, but does he have his head on straight??? And then there is Sam's family and Jory's brother, Dane, and J's work partner and so many delightful secondar...more

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Aug 01, 2012 Beck rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: series, mm, contemporary

This will be a review of the series as each book is really just a long chapter of a long story. None of these books stand alone & you need to be prepared for that when you start to read. If I find myself forced to purchase subsequent stories in a series to get resolution of a plot-line, I can get a bit snippy, but I knew the deal with this series prior to starting.

This book is a romance, a bit of a drama, a bit of a thriller, with a dash of crime mystery tossed in. If you don't get too preci...more

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May 11, 2012 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, m-m, romance, suspense, audiobook, gay-for-you

This was a book just impossible to put down!!

The relationship between Dane and Jory it's s really heartwarming one and their dialogues were just the funniest thing to read without lacking a wide variety of other emotions (love, anger, exasperation, friendship and so much more).

Sam though can only be described as someone you hate to love and love to hate. Still you can't fault him much (only about 90%) when he comes to the realization of his orientation in the age of 35. The poor man has a lot to...more

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