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More Than Life
Hart Jarrett was only supposed to be passing through Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He wasn’t supposed to get involved, no emotional entanglements to tie him down. Setting down roots was never part of the plan, not until he opened himself up to love. Too bad the man he bet on bailed and left Hart holding the ranch. There were two choices after run away, or stay and build something real from nothing.
Nearly six years later, Hart has created a home and a life he never expected, with the help of his best friend and foreman, Morgan Brace. The ranch is thriving thanks to its loyal men and strong ties to the community. But there’s a snake in the garden, and it takes many forms. There’s a dead man on Hart’s property, a man he knows, and the questions are piling up. As if that weren’t enough, his ex has reappeared out of the blue, with plans to reclaim what he willingly gave.
And, to make matters worse, it appears Morgan is finally taking his dating life seriously.
Everything Hart has built is unraveling.
The life Hart wants doesn’t work without Morgan in it. Imagining a future without Morgan, him turning elsewhere for love and coming in second to someone else in Morgan’s heart—as well as his bed—is almost unbearable. So maybe, just maybe, the answer lies in Hart confessing that he loves Morgan more than life itself. If Hart gambles and loses, will he even still want the life he’s worked so hard to build?
Nearly six years later, Hart has created a home and a life he never expected, with the help of his best friend and foreman, Morgan Brace. The ranch is thriving thanks to its loyal men and strong ties to the community. But there’s a snake in the garden, and it takes many forms. There’s a dead man on Hart’s property, a man he knows, and the questions are piling up. As if that weren’t enough, his ex has reappeared out of the blue, with plans to reclaim what he willingly gave.
And, to make matters worse, it appears Morgan is finally taking his dating life seriously.
Everything Hart has built is unraveling.
The life Hart wants doesn’t work without Morgan in it. Imagining a future without Morgan, him turning elsewhere for love and coming in second to someone else in Morgan’s heart—as well as his bed—is almost unbearable. So maybe, just maybe, the answer lies in Hart confessing that he loves Morgan more than life itself. If Hart gambles and loses, will he even still want the life he’s worked so hard to build?
362 pages, Paperback
First published March 9, 2020
315 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Mary Calmes
125 books5,019 followersMary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a six-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 235 reviews
April 12, 2020
2 Stars
DNF @ 41%
So far I couldn’t find any romance in there, not even some intensity between the characters! This story is a bit different compared to what I’d read by her before (IMO) and to be honest I liked her previous books more. Hope you enjoy it more than me though!
DNF @ 41%
So far I couldn’t find any romance in there, not even some intensity between the characters! This story is a bit different compared to what I’d read by her before (IMO) and to be honest I liked her previous books more. Hope you enjoy it more than me though!
March 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this one ;) Review to come...
March 18, 2020
I used to be crazy about every new Mary book, but these days it’s pretty rare for me to really love a Mary Calmes book.
Hart started out as the lover of a rancher. Lee was left the ranch when his father left and when the ranch turned out to be much more work than he figured, he decided to walk out and leave the ranch to Hart. After he beat him so bad he put Hart in the hospital.
Now 6 years later Hart has made the ranch a thriving business. Together with his crew and foreman Morgan he runs the place, even though Hart is more suited for the business end of the ranch and not really the ranching itself.
Hart has loved his best friend and foreman Morgan for years. But Morgan is of course straight.
But right in the middle of a murder investigation with Hart as the prime suspect, Morgan has finally decided to make a move and to show Hart how not straight he really is.
I liked the romance in this. I thought Hart was your typical Mary character and of course I loved him (I always do with Mary characters). Morgan was growly and possessive and just perfect for Hart.
Too bad the inner ramblings ruined everything else. Hart just went on and on and on in his head in the middle of a scene. We had constant flashbacks to the past and it was hard to keep track of what was going on at times.
And it seemed like there was so much going on with so many different people that there was hardly any page time left for the romance. I’m not really interested in everyone and its mother’s background. It was just too much.
So while there were parts I liked (the romance, little as it was), I can’t say I enjoyed this book all that much. It exhausted me a bit tbh.
So even though the classic Mary formula sucked me in at times, I’m going with 3 stars. It could have been better.
Hart started out as the lover of a rancher. Lee was left the ranch when his father left and when the ranch turned out to be much more work than he figured, he decided to walk out and leave the ranch to Hart. After he beat him so bad he put Hart in the hospital.
Now 6 years later Hart has made the ranch a thriving business. Together with his crew and foreman Morgan he runs the place, even though Hart is more suited for the business end of the ranch and not really the ranching itself.
Hart has loved his best friend and foreman Morgan for years. But Morgan is of course straight.
But right in the middle of a murder investigation with Hart as the prime suspect, Morgan has finally decided to make a move and to show Hart how not straight he really is.
I liked the romance in this. I thought Hart was your typical Mary character and of course I loved him (I always do with Mary characters). Morgan was growly and possessive and just perfect for Hart.
Too bad the inner ramblings ruined everything else. Hart just went on and on and on in his head in the middle of a scene. We had constant flashbacks to the past and it was hard to keep track of what was going on at times.
And it seemed like there was so much going on with so many different people that there was hardly any page time left for the romance. I’m not really interested in everyone and its mother’s background. It was just too much.
So while there were parts I liked (the romance, little as it was), I can’t say I enjoyed this book all that much. It exhausted me a bit tbh.
So even though the classic Mary formula sucked me in at times, I’m going with 3 stars. It could have been better.
April 9, 2020
There were so many thing wrong with this book, I can only offer up a snapshot:
- Callous disregard for domestic violence
- No justice sought or pursued for multiple assaults
- An avalanche of “tell” and two snowflakes of “show”
- Far too many characters
- A wildly unrealistic fabrication of a working ranch
- Total lack of concern from main characters upon discovering no condom was used in their first sexual encounter
- Hart = Jory. Need I say more?
Ok, I’m done. So done. If you need a more definitive summary, scroll down to Kendra’s review. She wrote what I could not.
- Callous disregard for domestic violence
- No justice sought or pursued for multiple assaults
- An avalanche of “tell” and two snowflakes of “show”
- Far too many characters
- A wildly unrealistic fabrication of a working ranch
- Total lack of concern from main characters upon discovering no condom was used in their first sexual encounter
- Hart = Jory. Need I say more?
Ok, I’m done. So done. If you need a more definitive summary, scroll down to Kendra’s review. She wrote what I could not.
March 19, 2020
This is a typical Mary Calmes book and in this particular book that isn't a compliment. You have the perfect, gorgeous, naturally tanned, smart guy who happens to be an airhead that can't stay focused (Hart Jarrett). He constantly needs saving from himself. Who was viciously beaten by the ex-boyfriend but can't seem to make the ex pay for his actions. Then there's the strong, rugged, gorgeous alpha who everyone counts on to keep everything going and is saving the airhead from himself (Morgan Brace). There's a mystery of a dead man on the ranch property, the ex showing back up with his current in tow and a whole cast of supporting characters half of which are a waste of space. The mysteries of the dead body and the ownership of the ranch are solved rather anti-climatically. There's pain and suffering in both MC's background that was hard to read. I would have given this book a 3 star if not for the callous way the domestic violence was handled. Hart was viciously beaten and the ex wasn't made to pay for the crime. No beat down of his own, no criminal charges, nothing. Just a lot of posturing with no action. Domestic violence is not just something to throw into the story for filler. I'm thoroughly disgusted by this story line. Not Calmes worst book but definitely not good. Can't recommend this to even Calmes fans.
November 15, 2020
This book is the equivalent of a dog seeing a squirrel...
Also: this gloss over and nonchalance with dealing with an abuser. Sorry I don’t see the point of featuring someone who beats his lover to a bloody pulp and all he gets is a “remember when you beat cuz you were going through stuff” 🙄 this shit is ridiculous.
Also: this gloss over and nonchalance with dealing with an abuser. Sorry I don’t see the point of featuring someone who beats his lover to a bloody pulp and all he gets is a “remember when you beat cuz you were going through stuff” 🙄 this shit is ridiculous.
June 30, 2022
Funny how a re-read sometimes feels brand new. I remembered pieces of this but a lot of I didn't seem to remember at all.
Some of this was hard to read. There was a lot of violence, not all on page, but a lot talked about that was a little difficult to read. It really hurt my heart what Morgan endured.
I'm glad I did a re-read and really, this just makes me more frustrated there aren't more M/M books on ranches.
Re-Read 2022 - Honestly, Mary mentioned this book at the end of Timing and After the Sunset and I could not recall the book or the story so here I am. Even reading the blurb and my review left me a little fuzzy so I am just jumping in for a re-read.
-------
This is exactly what I needed. With the world just crazy around us and so much uncertainty, I knew Mary would make me feel better.
She's always like a warm blanket and who doesn't need that right now?
I loved the setting, the entire cast of characters and especially Hart and Morgan.
This had a couple very dark moments and it killed me to read some of it but the rest, classic Mary.
I really needed this and for right now, I feel better.
Some of this was hard to read. There was a lot of violence, not all on page, but a lot talked about that was a little difficult to read. It really hurt my heart what Morgan endured.
I'm glad I did a re-read and really, this just makes me more frustrated there aren't more M/M books on ranches.
Re-Read 2022 - Honestly, Mary mentioned this book at the end of Timing and After the Sunset and I could not recall the book or the story so here I am. Even reading the blurb and my review left me a little fuzzy so I am just jumping in for a re-read.
-------
This is exactly what I needed. With the world just crazy around us and so much uncertainty, I knew Mary would make me feel better.
She's always like a warm blanket and who doesn't need that right now?
I loved the setting, the entire cast of characters and especially Hart and Morgan.
This had a couple very dark moments and it killed me to read some of it but the rest, classic Mary.
I really needed this and for right now, I feel better.
i-m-a-quitter
March 30, 2020DNF @60% maybe?
Returned to KU before I could check my exact spot. Not that it really matters. By around 40% I was skimming.
It's safe to say Mary Calmes is definitely more of a miss for me. I think the only series I have actually liked is the Marshal's series.
This one was way to detailed about shit that didn't matter. And Hart was annoying. The dialogue was cheesy. I was trying to hold out to Hart and Morgan "getting together" but when that happened things got even worse.
Safe to say, Mary Calmes just isn't my cuppa.
Returned to KU before I could check my exact spot. Not that it really matters. By around 40% I was skimming.
It's safe to say Mary Calmes is definitely more of a miss for me. I think the only series I have actually liked is the Marshal's series.
This one was way to detailed about shit that didn't matter. And Hart was annoying. The dialogue was cheesy. I was trying to hold out to Hart and Morgan "getting together" but when that happened things got even worse.
Safe to say, Mary Calmes just isn't my cuppa.
August 24, 2021
I'd missed some new Calmes crack that harkened to her slow burn friends and/or strangers, enemies to lovers era.
This book was sweet, almost saccharine, with how perfect everything was. It was also nice to see the Jory/Jin type being the business owner for once.
I also loved the use of the obliviously-in-love trope. As I am also used to Calmes, I was able to keep up with all the characters. All of them. There are characters you will meet midparagraph who have a fully fledged personality that won't matter a few paragraphs later. And somehow I was able to keep up with it because it's Mary fucking Calmes' world and I'm just living in it.
This book was sweet, almost saccharine, with how perfect everything was. It was also nice to see the Jory/Jin type being the business owner for once.
I also loved the use of the obliviously-in-love trope. As I am also used to Calmes, I was able to keep up with all the characters. All of them. There are characters you will meet midparagraph who have a fully fledged personality that won't matter a few paragraphs later. And somehow I was able to keep up with it because it's Mary fucking Calmes' world and I'm just living in it.
March 24, 2020
Too much going on. Far to many characters. Crazy murder mystery. And not that much romance really between Morgan and Hart.
Big disappointment for me.
Read
March 24, 2020I was going to DNF but decided I wanted to find out what happened with the mystery. Skimmed too much to rate.
March 24, 2020
3.5
Reading Mary Calmes is like Jennifer wrote a warm blanket in words, like visiting the same destination as last summer, feeling at home because you already know all the necessary stuff and you probably meeting the same people like last year. You don't mind that Jory is now going by the name of Hart and the destination looks like a ranch instead of a big city or an old chateaux but who doesn't like a bit of scenery change as long as you feel at home and can enjoy the finding the changes in the new version of well loved characters.
Reading Mary Calmes is like Jennifer wrote a warm blanket in words, like visiting the same destination as last summer, feeling at home because you already know all the necessary stuff and you probably meeting the same people like last year. You don't mind that Jory is now going by the name of Hart and the destination looks like a ranch instead of a big city or an old chateaux but who doesn't like a bit of scenery change as long as you feel at home and can enjoy the finding the changes in the new version of well loved characters.
April 3, 2020
I'll admit, the first chapter was rough, and I wasn't sure if I would even be finishing this. It was a huge amount of info dump, with a LOT of characters and back story thrown at the reader. But I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. I loved Morgan, and of course, everyone loved Jory, er, Hart, except for the couple of people who only exist to cause problems for him.
There were several flat out crazy moments, but it was tempered with the sweet found family of Hart, Morgan, Wes, and the rest of the ranch hands. Everyone knew Hart and Morgan were in love with each other, but themselves. Hart didn't even know if Morgan liked men that way, but it was obvious to everyone around them, and the reader. These two have been in a relationship for years, they just didn't know it yet. It takes about halfway before they get their heads out of their asses, but once they do, they move at warp speed. All in all, I really enjoyed this, in spite of a rough start.
There were several flat out crazy moments, but it was tempered with the sweet found family of Hart, Morgan, Wes, and the rest of the ranch hands. Everyone knew Hart and Morgan were in love with each other, but themselves. Hart didn't even know if Morgan liked men that way, but it was obvious to everyone around them, and the reader. These two have been in a relationship for years, they just didn't know it yet. It takes about halfway before they get their heads out of their asses, but once they do, they move at warp speed. All in all, I really enjoyed this, in spite of a rough start.
April 24, 2025
Hart Jarrett was only supposed to be passing through Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He wasn’t supposed to get involved, no emotional entanglements to tie him down. There’s a dead man on Hart’s property, a man he knows, and the questions are piling up. As if that weren’t enough, his ex has reappeared out of the blue, with plans to reclaim what he willingly gave away.
I’m a big Mary Calmes fan. I've read and reread almost everything she has written, but somehow, I had missed this one. This is a book that readers seem to either really like or really dislike. I'm on the "really like" side. Like most of her books, I wouldn’t change one single thing about it. The story, the characters; I had no problem with any of it. I just never wanted it to end. But then, I never want a good story with good characters to ever end:)
Hart is a very successful ranch owner...a ranch that he came by in a rather odd way. Six years ago, his boyfriend beat him to a pulp...signed over the ranch and land to Hart and left. Hart made a success of the ranch by hosting weddings and other events that gave folks a little taste of what "cowboy and ranch life" was like. They even made and sold candles and donated part of the sales to charities in the town. Everything is going along nicely and then "trouble" comes back. Hart is determined to not let his ex's return or his demands for Hart to "give him back the ranch", interfere with his life or that of the people that live on the ranch and make up his "found family".
Hart hadn't heard a single word from his ex until the day he returned asking to be allowed to take back what he had so willingly gave away; what he never ever wanted to begin with.
Along comes the man that will take over and live in Hart's heart...Morgan. He's grumpy, he's damaged, and he's harboring feelings for Hart that he never ever imagined that he could act upon because of his past. Eventually he got to the point that he just didn’t care about any of that anymore, he just HAD to have Hart. It was perfect when they did finally get together. They were one another's "other and best half". Then a dead body is found on a disputed piece of the ranch property...things again become complicated.
As usual with one of this author's books, there is a lot going on. We have an unsolved murder, a land dispute, an angry ex-boyfriend, with an angrier father that wants his ranch and land back, but it all works out well in the end.
I’m a big Mary Calmes fan. I've read and reread almost everything she has written, but somehow, I had missed this one. This is a book that readers seem to either really like or really dislike. I'm on the "really like" side. Like most of her books, I wouldn’t change one single thing about it. The story, the characters; I had no problem with any of it. I just never wanted it to end. But then, I never want a good story with good characters to ever end:)
Hart is a very successful ranch owner...a ranch that he came by in a rather odd way. Six years ago, his boyfriend beat him to a pulp...signed over the ranch and land to Hart and left. Hart made a success of the ranch by hosting weddings and other events that gave folks a little taste of what "cowboy and ranch life" was like. They even made and sold candles and donated part of the sales to charities in the town. Everything is going along nicely and then "trouble" comes back. Hart is determined to not let his ex's return or his demands for Hart to "give him back the ranch", interfere with his life or that of the people that live on the ranch and make up his "found family".
Hart hadn't heard a single word from his ex until the day he returned asking to be allowed to take back what he had so willingly gave away; what he never ever wanted to begin with.
Along comes the man that will take over and live in Hart's heart...Morgan. He's grumpy, he's damaged, and he's harboring feelings for Hart that he never ever imagined that he could act upon because of his past. Eventually he got to the point that he just didn’t care about any of that anymore, he just HAD to have Hart. It was perfect when they did finally get together. They were one another's "other and best half". Then a dead body is found on a disputed piece of the ranch property...things again become complicated.
As usual with one of this author's books, there is a lot going on. We have an unsolved murder, a land dispute, an angry ex-boyfriend, with an angrier father that wants his ranch and land back, but it all works out well in the end.
April 2, 2020
I love Mary Calmes and I was very excited about her new book. Unfortunately this story did not work for me. There were a lot of things that bothered me, first and foremost I didn't relate to the main characters, yes they were nice and obviously very much in love, but I didn't really feel it. I also didn't like that the romance was put to the background by so many other things happening. And honestly a lot of those things were ridiculous, yes it's a fiction and yes it would be nice if a ranch like this (with a vegetarian boss who has no idea about ranching) existed anywhere in the world, but for me this was just too far from reality. And in spite of all the action and crime and suspense I really got bored and started skipping pages. Maybe it's just me and I am in a bad (Corona) mood, but I just couldn't bring myself to care for those guys, so the story was interesting enough to keep me reading but not more than an average read for me, and yes an average read from Mary Calmes is probably still better than a good one from some other authors, but I expected more and was disappointed. 3 stars, but don't take my word for it, this might still be working for you...
January 25, 2021
A possible new series?
I do hope this becomes a series, as I liked a lot of the secondary and tertiary characters, like I usually do with Mary Calmes's books. With 'More Than Life' the plot was like a jigsaw trying to get pieced together, and a bit frenetic at times, but as a die-hard Calmes fan I just rolled with it and, as usual, enjoyed the ride.
I do hope this becomes a series, as I liked a lot of the secondary and tertiary characters, like I usually do with Mary Calmes's books. With 'More Than Life' the plot was like a jigsaw trying to get pieced together, and a bit frenetic at times, but as a die-hard Calmes fan I just rolled with it and, as usual, enjoyed the ride.
March 24, 2020
Mary Calmes is someone whose books I have enjoyed for a while now so seeking comfort in this one wasn’t out of the norm for me and was exactly what I needed to pull me out of this book slump. More Than Life brought out all those warm, cozy and romantic feelings that just make you want to sigh aloud.
I recommend this to anyone who needs a comfort read and enjoys the friends to lovers trope.
4.5 stars
♡ arc given in exchange for an honest review ♡
I recommend this to anyone who needs a comfort read and enjoys the friends to lovers trope.
4.5 stars
♡ arc given in exchange for an honest review ♡
March 25, 2020
Trite, but not awful. I felt like I was rereading one of Mary's earlier books, but with better editing. I did find some of the banter between the characters to be cute at first, but it started to get repetitious and a bit annoying after a while. It's hard when it seems that no one can complete a full sentence, or they keep losing track because they get lost in a memory. It is part of Mary's signature style though, so I was used to it. But yeah, this was a two star read for me, meaning it was ok, just not one that really kept me glued to the page.
April 5, 2020
4.25*
Oh I missed this kind of Mary Calmes story! There are the usual shenanigans, plenty of guns and crazy bad guys , heart pulling hurt, but as always the MCs complement and comfort each other to perfection. I enjoyed this thoroughly!
Oh I missed this kind of Mary Calmes story! There are the usual shenanigans, plenty of guns and crazy bad guys , heart pulling hurt, but as always the MCs complement and comfort each other to perfection. I enjoyed this thoroughly!
March 17, 2020
I love Mary Calmes' books, and this was no exception. I typically dont even like cowboy/ranching themes.
My one qualm was with the narrative/formatting. Often, Hart would start recounting past events in the middle of the scene, sometimes there was even recounting the past in the scene in which the past is already being recounted. It wasn't always clear when the narrative returned to present. A couple times I thought it had, but as I read the next few paragraphs, I'd realize I was still reading about past events.i think just having formatted it with a page break at the start and end of the recollections, it would have made for a little less confusion.
My one qualm was with the narrative/formatting. Often, Hart would start recounting past events in the middle of the scene, sometimes there was even recounting the past in the scene in which the past is already being recounted. It wasn't always clear when the narrative returned to present. A couple times I thought it had, but as I read the next few paragraphs, I'd realize I was still reading about past events.i think just having formatted it with a page break at the start and end of the recollections, it would have made for a little less confusion.
March 16, 2020
*Received A Copy To Review From The Author*
This book is so Mary Calmes. Which is not a bad thing at all. I loved it. It made me happy as I read it. Watching Hart and Morgan figure their stuff out and finally get together was hilarious. All the side characters were fun, and I liked the report everyone had. There was fun banter. Hart is the Jory-like character here, everyone loves him and he makes poor choices when it comes to life expectancy, but I found him much less....obnoxious? about it. I don't know the word I'm searching for. He's more human I guess? And it's toned down a bit? Morgan is the stalwart rock of support as is the archetype you know you'll get but he has an interesting backstory, that adds some flavor. He has a specific trauma in his past and I really loved how it was handled and halfway dealt with on page. It was laden with emotion and care, it was great to read.
This book is so Mary Calmes. Which is not a bad thing at all. I loved it. It made me happy as I read it. Watching Hart and Morgan figure their stuff out and finally get together was hilarious. All the side characters were fun, and I liked the report everyone had. There was fun banter. Hart is the Jory-like character here, everyone loves him and he makes poor choices when it comes to life expectancy, but I found him much less....obnoxious? about it. I don't know the word I'm searching for. He's more human I guess? And it's toned down a bit? Morgan is the stalwart rock of support as is the archetype you know you'll get but he has an interesting backstory, that adds some flavor. He has a specific trauma in his past and I really loved how it was handled and halfway dealt with on page. It was laden with emotion and care, it was great to read.
March 30, 2020
4.5 stars.
This was such a good book!!! First 60% were 5 stars. I felt like the last 40% dragged a bit but nonetheless was amazing, so 4 stars. 4.5 overall.
This was such a good book!!! First 60% were 5 stars. I felt like the last 40% dragged a bit but nonetheless was amazing, so 4 stars. 4.5 overall.
May 2, 2020
No consequences for domestic abuse/assault? No thanks! Then later Hart gets assaulted again and he's okay with it because they had a nice chat after he got punched in the nose and bled all over the place. So yeah, no thanks. 2 stars for Morgan.
January 4, 2025
(4.5/5) This book won't be for everyone. And to be honest, I'm quite surprised with myself that I enjoyed this book so much. When I think about it, many things and many small details of the story would normally not have been for me.
For example, there was hardly any romance in the first half of the book. That's something I don't usually like—I need my romance.
(On a side note, there is heaps of romance in this book, just really only in the second half).
Then there's the whole, very detailed explanation of how the ranch works and where all the income comes from, etc. Not necessarily what you'd expect from a love story, but I actually found it all very exciting.
And finally, there's the matter of the dead body. Quite random and definitely not a necessary detail for the actual story, but not uninteresting.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the chaos, the crazy ex-boyfriend (that surprised me too, I don't usually like those types of stories) and all the legal drama surrounding the ranch. It was just all so captivating and I couldn't put the book down.
“I wanted only the best for ya,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracking, fractured. “But that just can’t happen ’cause…it’s gotta be me. I want ya to love me.”
I definitely don't know how or why I liked this book, but there you go.
For example, there was hardly any romance in the first half of the book. That's something I don't usually like—I need my romance.
(On a side note, there is heaps of romance in this book, just really only in the second half).
Then there's the whole, very detailed explanation of how the ranch works and where all the income comes from, etc. Not necessarily what you'd expect from a love story, but I actually found it all very exciting.
And finally, there's the matter of the dead body. Quite random and definitely not a necessary detail for the actual story, but not uninteresting.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the chaos, the crazy ex-boyfriend (that surprised me too, I don't usually like those types of stories) and all the legal drama surrounding the ranch. It was just all so captivating and I couldn't put the book down.
“I wanted only the best for ya,” he said hoarsely, his voice cracking, fractured. “But that just can’t happen ’cause…it’s gotta be me. I want ya to love me.”
I definitely don't know how or why I liked this book, but there you go.
March 21, 2020
one can always count on Mary Calmes for a couple of hours of lovely, romantic, occasionally funny romance. There were grunts and peacots and beanies and that my friends is all I needed on our second Friday in isolation.
March 19, 2020
Rating: 4 stars
I really liked this story. Many parts reminded me strongly of the Timing series which not a bad thing as I loved that series. I am usually not a big fan of friends to lovers stories, but I really enjoyed this one. It was good to read about a romance between two people who have known each other for years and just didn’t fall into bed together within minutes of meeting. Also, there wasn’t a lot of the angsty back and forth, “I love him but if I tell him, I’ll lose him” bs that you get in a lot of these types of stories. So although this story was pretty predictable, it was an entertaining read and I really enjoyed it.
I really liked this story. Many parts reminded me strongly of the Timing series which not a bad thing as I loved that series. I am usually not a big fan of friends to lovers stories, but I really enjoyed this one. It was good to read about a romance between two people who have known each other for years and just didn’t fall into bed together within minutes of meeting. Also, there wasn’t a lot of the angsty back and forth, “I love him but if I tell him, I’ll lose him” bs that you get in a lot of these types of stories. So although this story was pretty predictable, it was an entertaining read and I really enjoyed it.
April 14, 2020
it's like she doesn't care about what she writes
I'm very disappointed with this book.
It's such irresponsibility to write about rape and then make the victim have sex in the same scene, he have so many issues with sex and all is ignored and forgot for the scene sex
it's no nice at all, all authors must know this
The book have no tigger of warning, you read about rape, abusive relationships, PSTD...
None of this have real development, none!
Mary has a very unique writing but it's very bored as you read some books of her one after another because the feeling the all of hers characters is the same ir very regular
they all have the same personalities
they all follow the same line of plot
they all have the same dialogues
it's no real how one minute the dialogue it's about a victim of abusive relationships and another it's about how big is a house!
The way that even the couple was not development is insane
the 5 years is all we need to see the love grow but not
it's about the monologue, I don't even know how calling the main character, because he can be anyone of other books of her, really
It's just really bad, and I was looking for something like that, but rape it's very serious to be treat like was aborted here. Responsibility Mary, please.
I'm very disappointed with this book.
It's such irresponsibility to write about rape and then make the victim have sex in the same scene, he have so many issues with sex and all is ignored and forgot for the scene sex
it's no nice at all, all authors must know this
The book have no tigger of warning, you read about rape, abusive relationships, PSTD...
None of this have real development, none!
Mary has a very unique writing but it's very bored as you read some books of her one after another because the feeling the all of hers characters is the same ir very regular
they all have the same personalities
they all follow the same line of plot
they all have the same dialogues
it's no real how one minute the dialogue it's about a victim of abusive relationships and another it's about how big is a house!
The way that even the couple was not development is insane
the 5 years is all we need to see the love grow but not
it's about the monologue, I don't even know how calling the main character, because he can be anyone of other books of her, really
It's just really bad, and I was looking for something like that, but rape it's very serious to be treat like was aborted here. Responsibility Mary, please.
January 4, 2021
Very typical Mary Calmes story, however, it was exactly what I needed. (A little secret: I read and/or listen to Acrobat at least once a year.) Mary Calmes is like my own personal anxiety reducing medication.
That being said, there's a lot going on in this story including a murder mystery, a hateful ex-lover, an even nastier ex-lover's father, some major misconceptions, and a host of wonderful secondary characters.Because this is a new setting, there's a whole lot of info dumped in the first few chapters but all in all there's a lot of dialogue to balance it out. MCs Hart and Morgan are very much like Stefan and Rand in Timing, though Hart isn't quite a Stefan.
I like this author's work and some of her series are MM classics so I'm not likely to leave her soon. I sat on this review for two days just to be sure and, yes, I still feel the warm and fuzzies from this book so it's a definite four star for me.
That being said, there's a lot going on in this story including a murder mystery, a hateful ex-lover, an even nastier ex-lover's father, some major misconceptions, and a host of wonderful secondary characters.Because this is a new setting, there's a whole lot of info dumped in the first few chapters but all in all there's a lot of dialogue to balance it out. MCs Hart and Morgan are very much like Stefan and Rand in Timing, though Hart isn't quite a Stefan.
I like this author's work and some of her series are MM classics so I'm not likely to leave her soon. I sat on this review for two days just to be sure and, yes, I still feel the warm and fuzzies from this book so it's a definite four star for me.
February 9, 2021
Trigger warning: multiple mentions of violence.
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Calmes has a serious problem with violence. The problem being she seems to think it’s perfectly ok. I read another book of hers (Stand in Place) where the main character was viciously beaten by his family and thrown out. They then shunned him into adulthood where, inexplicably they suddenly wanted a relationship with the main character again. And everyone just forgave the family. They weren’t even particularly remorseful. The vicious beating was treated like they’d exchanged a few harsh words instead of nearly killing him and leaving him for dead.
In another book (Change of Heart) the main character was, again, viciously beaten by his family and the other MC thought it would be perfectly reasonable to forgive his family, a family that had shown zero remorse.
In this book, very similar. Calmes treats extreme violence like it’s nothing. Just boys being boys. It’s the strangest thing. Someone, please stage an intervention. Calmes needs to understand vicious assault and battery isn’t ok. Certainly if she’s writing about it her books shouldn’t treat it like a bit of roughhousing.
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Calmes has a serious problem with violence. The problem being she seems to think it’s perfectly ok. I read another book of hers (Stand in Place) where the main character was viciously beaten by his family and thrown out. They then shunned him into adulthood where, inexplicably they suddenly wanted a relationship with the main character again. And everyone just forgave the family. They weren’t even particularly remorseful. The vicious beating was treated like they’d exchanged a few harsh words instead of nearly killing him and leaving him for dead.
In another book (Change of Heart) the main character was, again, viciously beaten by his family and the other MC thought it would be perfectly reasonable to forgive his family, a family that had shown zero remorse.
In this book, very similar. Calmes treats extreme violence like it’s nothing. Just boys being boys. It’s the strangest thing. Someone, please stage an intervention. Calmes needs to understand vicious assault and battery isn’t ok. Certainly if she’s writing about it her books shouldn’t treat it like a bit of roughhousing.
January 14, 2021
I will always read anything and everything MC releases because I love her stories, her characters and her writing style.
This one is a classic MC novel and everything you expect from one of her stories, I just wish there were fewer side characters that don't do much for the story, a little less side plots all running at the same time and a bit more focus on the MCs. I really think Hart and Morgan should have had more intense UST before they ended up together, which I felt was missing.
All and all though an enjoyable read especially for reading at work while I'm bored out of my mind.
This one is a classic MC novel and everything you expect from one of her stories, I just wish there were fewer side characters that don't do much for the story, a little less side plots all running at the same time and a bit more focus on the MCs. I really think Hart and Morgan should have had more intense UST before they ended up together, which I felt was missing.
All and all though an enjoyable read especially for reading at work while I'm bored out of my mind.
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