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His Quiet Agent
(The Agency #1)
by
Arthur Drams works for a secret government security agency, but all he really does is spend his days in a cubicle writing reports no one reads. After getting another “lateral promotion” by a supervisor who barely remembers his name, it’s suggested that Arthur try to ‘make friends’ and ‘get noticed’ in order to move up the ladder. It’s like high school all over again: his
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Start your review of His Quiet Agent (The Agency, #1)
This is a book about two closed-off men finding another mind and heart that speaks to their own. Although there is an asexual character (and probably a demisexual one) that aspect is not what drives the narrative. There is so much else that these guys have to do, to unpack their pasts and fears and personal isolations, that the issue of sex is almost a coda, a sideline in the slow dance of coming together. Except that in much of society, especially for men, sexual attraction is a short-cut and a
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3.75 stars rounded up
I thought this was different -- and because I've read over 1500 MM titles over the years, different is GOOD .
In an unnamed government Agency, Arthur -- who just gets another lateral promotion after four years because his supervisor doesn't remember him at all -- is determined THIS TIME to make himself known in his new-yet-old position as 2nd level analyst on the fifth floor. He sure gets it when he is able to somehow befriends Martin, a quiet, detached agent, whom ...more
I thought this was different -- and because I've read over 1500 MM titles over the years, different is GOOD .
In an unnamed government Agency, Arthur -- who just gets another lateral promotion after four years because his supervisor doesn't remember him at all -- is determined THIS TIME to make himself known in his new-yet-old position as 2nd level analyst on the fifth floor. He sure gets it when he is able to somehow befriends Martin, a quiet, detached agent, whom ...more
The most mundane things can change your life. For Arthur Drams, a mid-level analyst at “The Agency”, it’s wondering if the ficus trees at his job are real or plastic. After four years Arthur feels a promotion is due, along with better plants, so he requests one. What he gets is a lateral move to a higher floor but in the same position largely because he’s a bit of an invisible man at work. No one knows him. But all that is about to change.
This book has zero sex, no extended conversations about ...more
This book has zero sex, no extended conversations about ...more
Who would have known, my first Soto turning into such a QUIET GOOD READ. Very happy to have found this book and have great hopes for my other Sotos.
She crafted this little novel very well. She fitted in a good story with great characters and what is left out is cleverly written in as part of the story. It's one of those stories with people who continue living on in my head.
Wow! Where the hell has this book been hiding? His Quiet Agent by Ada Maria Soto just shot to the top of my favorites list in a big way.
Communication can take so many different forms. From bellows and strong handshakes to silent nods and eye winks. Big or small, loud or quiet every connection we make in this world has the potential to change our lives and hearts forever. It only took one “Hi, can I sit here?” for Arthur Drams to find that out.
Agents Arthur Drams and Martin Grove are two quiet, ...more
Emotionally delicate in the best way, powerful storytelling, nerdy secret agents with hearts of gold, both main characters are on the asexual spectrum, more than one round of hurt-comfort, and I have no idea why I waited so long to read this M/M romance! Instant all-time favorite.
Agent Arthur Drams, an office-based analyst, needs to socialize in order to advance in his career. Because reasons, he ends up focused on the only analyst more socially un-engaged than he is: Agent Martin Grove, who ...more
Agent Arthur Drams, an office-based analyst, needs to socialize in order to advance in his career. Because reasons, he ends up focused on the only analyst more socially un-engaged than he is: Agent Martin Grove, who ...more
I usually avoid books with asexual characters like the plague, because I don’t trust authors to not depict those characters as somehow defective or traumatized people who finally learn to appreciate sex once they meet the right person.
There’s a very personal reason for my reluctance and it has little to do with authors. I’m sure there are many out there capable and willing to write a good story without erasing asexuality or making it seem like a phase or a psychological problem, and this book is ...more
There’s a very personal reason for my reluctance and it has little to do with authors. I’m sure there are many out there capable and willing to write a good story without erasing asexuality or making it seem like a phase or a psychological problem, and this book is ...more
The term of being a demisexual is as understandable for me as the origin of the universe.
I would have lied if I had said that I was happy about the lack of testosterone between the MCs.
But...damn...they seemed to be really happy with their sexuality or, better to say, the absence of it. And also they were convincing with their way of living. Even if I, honestly, would rather see Martin as a secret saver of the world than a simple kid's library hero but DAMN, the whole story-line was ...more
THIS WAS SUCH A CUTE AND AWESOME ACE STORY I LOVE IT TEN HEARTS OUT OF FIVE.
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I LOVE THIS SO MUCH!!!!!!
#favorite ...more
#favorite ...more
Review also posted on the blog.
I hadn’t actually planned to review this on the blog when I picked it up. This was supposed to be an “in-between” book before I read another review copy. Not sure if it’s only me but sometimes I need books in between where I can just read, and not try to remember everything I want to mention in my review.
But then this wasn’t just the nice read I expected: no this one went straight for the heart. If the author ever decides to put this out in paperback or audio I ...more
I hadn’t actually planned to review this on the blog when I picked it up. This was supposed to be an “in-between” book before I read another review copy. Not sure if it’s only me but sometimes I need books in between where I can just read, and not try to remember everything I want to mention in my review.
But then this wasn’t just the nice read I expected: no this one went straight for the heart. If the author ever decides to put this out in paperback or audio I ...more
7/7/17 - Just as wonderful the 2nd time. Love this story.
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6/4/17 - A rare 5 stars from me
THIS BOOK. Heed the blurb which says "heat rating of zero" - then TOTALLY DISREGARD it. This book is extremely romantic but in a way I've never read before.
Two "weird" outcasts find their version of love. I can't recommend this book enough.
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6/4/17 - A rare 5 stars from me
THIS BOOK. Heed the blurb which says "heat rating of zero" - then TOTALLY DISREGARD it. This book is extremely romantic but in a way I've never read before.
Two "weird" outcasts find their version of love. I can't recommend this book enough.
Re-read - Think I may have liked this more on a second read. Not sure if this is to be a series but I wasn't quite ready to leave them when the book ended.
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High 3*-4
The quiet agent makes for a quiet book, any drama is off page and what is shown is dulled by a non-standard personality.
Arthur as narrating character is likeable; he's had a complicated upbringing and wants to be liked, to get on, but it doesn't come naturally to him. I don't doubt the view of the agency people is skewered by his ...more
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High 3*-4
The quiet agent makes for a quiet book, any drama is off page and what is shown is dulled by a non-standard personality.
Arthur as narrating character is likeable; he's had a complicated upbringing and wants to be liked, to get on, but it doesn't come naturally to him. I don't doubt the view of the agency people is skewered by his ...more
This was such a beautiful and gentle romance. It was a delight to read.
So wonderful. This novella really grabbed a hold of me and I absolutely loved it. It was very much an impulse buy and I'm so glad I picked this up without really thinking about it because it's delightful and charming and romantic and made me really happy. This is a wonderful love story where two fairly quiet, awkward, ace-ish people find each other and it's a beautiful thing. The romance genre is full of characters who are charming and extroverted and smooth-talking and good at witty banter and
...more
A truly unique offering among the many, many similar M/M storylines out there.
I don't even want to touch plot details; part of the appeal is discovery in this unabashedly oddball book.
- Highly romantic with no steam whatsoever, and it works if you're open to this kind of experience. If you're in the mood for something a bit more explicit, I'd look elsewhere and circle back around.
- A lot of things are left unexplained, and I'm okay with that here. Soto's approach to detail is minimalist on the ...more
I don't even want to touch plot details; part of the appeal is discovery in this unabashedly oddball book.
- Highly romantic with no steam whatsoever, and it works if you're open to this kind of experience. If you're in the mood for something a bit more explicit, I'd look elsewhere and circle back around.
- A lot of things are left unexplained, and I'm okay with that here. Soto's approach to detail is minimalist on the ...more
Finally picked it up after hearing a lot of good things about the ace rep. I got really attached, really quickly--stories where someone tries to slip into another's life without shattering their boundaries and being super stalkerish are my jam.
Bonus, this one has two ace characters on different part of the spectrum (Arthur is demisexual and will adopt that label over the course of the novel; Martin is likely asexual, although all we know for sure is that he is sex-repulsed). I do wish that the ...more
Bonus, this one has two ace characters on different part of the spectrum (Arthur is demisexual and will adopt that label over the course of the novel; Martin is likely asexual, although all we know for sure is that he is sex-repulsed). I do wish that the ...more
4.5 stars from me, and yes there were a few typos, but which story doesn't have typos nowadays ??
Such a lovely, gentle, quirky little read featuring two MC's who know absolutely nothing about each other when they first meet [and not a whole lot more at the end of this particular story either it has to be said], but Arthur is fed up of being known as a nobody, and wants to find out all he can about the 'Alien' from the upper floor. Martin has told Arthur that it's OK to have his heart and his ...more
Such a lovely, gentle, quirky little read featuring two MC's who know absolutely nothing about each other when they first meet [and not a whole lot more at the end of this particular story either it has to be said], but Arthur is fed up of being known as a nobody, and wants to find out all he can about the 'Alien' from the upper floor. Martin has told Arthur that it's OK to have his heart and his ...more
After recommendations from Ami and Annie from FTtB, I knew I had to read this one. There aren't many books with any kind of asexual representation, and fewer with anything I'd call /good/ representation. (Hint, if your character is somehow 'reformed' into a different sexuality, then it's bad rep.)
This did not disappoint. The characters were well-formed, realistic people, with flaws and quirks that made them fun to read about. I'm sure one of the common problems people might have is that there ...more
This did not disappoint. The characters were well-formed, realistic people, with flaws and quirks that made them fun to read about. I'm sure one of the common problems people might have is that there ...more
5+++
LOVED this story so very much: the writing, the characters, everything. The ending is both satisfying and left me wanting to know so much more about it all, which is such a good combination. I miss the characters already.
LOVED this story so very much: the writing, the characters, everything. The ending is both satisfying and left me wanting to know so much more about it all, which is such a good combination. I miss the characters already.
This is a story about two agents working for an unnamed government agency. Artur is introverted and likes to keep his head down and do the work, but after another non-promotion because his bosses didn't know who he was, he decides to put himself out there and get himself noticed. Unfortunately, when he tries to make friends he mostly comes off as creepy. Eventually he gravitates towards the resident weirdo - Martin "The Alien" who hasn't spoken to any of his colleagues in several years. And,
...more
I really enjoyed this one. It's my first by this author, but I'm certainly interested to read more.
This is a very quiet story and a very slow build. Martin is highly shielded and Arthur is socially awkward. They're both considered weird by their coworkers and Arthur tries to find out if they're weird compliments each other.
The cover made me think this was going to be historical Brit fic rather than contemporary American, so that took a couple of chapters to adjust to. I did like the quiet tone ...more
This is a very quiet story and a very slow build. Martin is highly shielded and Arthur is socially awkward. They're both considered weird by their coworkers and Arthur tries to find out if they're weird compliments each other.
The cover made me think this was going to be historical Brit fic rather than contemporary American, so that took a couple of chapters to adjust to. I did like the quiet tone ...more
Did I not review this the first ten times I read it? Well, this is a fast read that I can’t help but reread A LOT. I love it. It’s ridiculously sweet. Best MM Asexual romance I’ve read yet. Yes, there are some errors an editor should have found, but they’re minor and don’t detract from the story at all.
This was my top favorite book of 2017. Hands down. LOVE THIS. Almost want to reread it again right after finishing it again last night. ...more
This was my top favorite book of 2017. Hands down. LOVE THIS. Almost want to reread it again right after finishing it again last night. ...more
An excellent love story about two shy, ace, secret agents. Beautifully written and giddily romantic (which is a tour de force since one guy is not only ace but hardly speaks). It would have been a 5* had it not ended so abruptly .
I suppose that the information: "Please note this book has a Heat Rating of zero" is there to avoid complaints, but for me it was an encouragement to read the book. I loved the fact the both MCs are asexual. The relationship here was also the opposite of insta-love (another plus point for me): the MCs slowly connect and Arthur basically courts Martin with homemade food. I also liked Carol, the lesbian colleague, and Arthur's family, messy situation notwithstanding. Martin's teaching technique
...more
Intense. Unique. Heart wrenching. Brilliant.
My only complaint... wish it was longer.
My only complaint... wish it was longer.
5 stars
Loved! Have no idea how I missed this one last year :)
Loved! Have no idea how I missed this one last year :)
So lovely
Loved!
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Ada Maria Soto is a born and raised Californian, Mexican-American/WASP, currently living as an expat in the South Pacific. Writing is her day job for the two days a week her toddler is in daycare. The other five days a week her toddler is her day job.
A psychologist once told her she has a fantasy prone personality, but since she’s trying to be a writer that’s not a bad thing. She has dysgraphia ...more
A psychologist once told her she has a fantasy prone personality, but since she’s trying to be a writer that’s not a bad thing. She has dysgraphia ...more
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“Finally, he raised his hand and touched his fingers to his forehead. "I can give you this." He lowered his hand and pressed the tops of his fingers to the center of his chest. "And I can give you this. But not the rest. It's not who I am. Or what I am.”
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“His supervisor sighed. "Agent Drams, no one knows who you are." "We're a black budget government agency. No one is supposed to know who we are." "To the general public yes, however, when your supervising agent and the promotion board have to ask 'who' at seeing your name and don't even recognize your picture, you need to show your admittedly somewhat generic face a bit more.”
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