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The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion
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A Matter of Time Book I
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Mary Calmes, "A Matter of Time, Volume 1 (books 1 and 2)
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Yes. I agree with all your quibbles, though I didn't mind the name Jory. Sam was a puzzle to me - it really did seem like Jory must have been able to cast some magical spell to catch him. But Sam was a womanizer before, yes? That also seems to be part of the GFY trope - unable to settle with one woman because he just hasn't met THE man. And yet, there's Dane - who I also thought might be in love with Jory there for a bit. And yet - I devoured both vol. 1 & 2 last week in a fit of willful procrastination/escape from my own projects & work. Total escapism, pure romantic fantasy, and I loved every minute of being emotionally manipulated. I'll probably purchase the 2 sequels for my next bout of procrastination.
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This is a case of my opinion changing after I wrote my initial reviews, because I'm wondering now if perhaps I was too generous when first writing about the books. In retrospect, all I feel is annoyance when I think about Jory---that character's complete lack of common sense just rubs me the wrong way.
In a review of another book, Mary Calmes wrote "The tortured tragic hero who needs his alpha to lean on, who can be strong himself, but desperately needs to be loved––that's totally my kink." Most of her books reflect this theme and I am a fan of hers. This series was among her first books in the genre I believe and were the first m/m romances that I read. I still really enjoy them- but I take them as they I think they were meant- not realistic (I have never met anyone or heard of anyone like Jory in my life) but attractive fantasies. As a gay man, wrapping my head around the GFY theme can be difficult at times but I can still enjoy the story. Here, I don't think Sam is truly a GFY character- he has aggressively repressed that part of himself and past failed heterosexual relationships are implied. Further development of the story comes in additional volumes.
I don't think I even dwelt on the GFY trope on my review of this book, and you know I am totally not a fan. I love what Lori says about the GFY trope: " unable to settle with one woman because he just hasn't met THE man." , as that is part of why I hate it so much. If that really is the case than any gay man only needs to find THE woman, and well how insulting a thought that really is.I have only read one other book by Mary Calmes Frog which I actually re-read a couple of months ago. Curiously both characters are gay on that book. But Weber is an orphan that everyone just lurrrves just like Jory. It seems is an ongoing theme with this author as I saw it commented somewhere I can't recall now.
I don't mind the alpha/beta pairing at all...my own romantic soul wouldn't rebel at strong dark and handsome (and I'll tell you, a long-term marriage with two betas can have its own problems!)... The relationship between Sam and Jory is the core strength of the book...and I concede that Sam isn't a "self avowed" GFY...so maybe you're tipping me toward the rest of the series...
It's definitely worth a read- yes, her books can be a bit too sweet and considered "fluff" by some, I find them enjoyable. If you don't have the other volumes (and you use a Kindle app), I'm happy to loan Vol 2 and the sequels.
There have been so many times I wanted to slap Jory for his obtuse stupidity in getting into all manner of strife ... and I wish that he doesn't get rescued so often or easily by alpha males and fabulous females - how else will he learn??? I vowed after the first book that I wouldn't succumb to reading more but I guess I've now broken same vows and will now suffer untold fates for having read all FOUR! of the books in this series.
Calmes' writing style doesn't change - and neither does the Jory-Sam dynamic. They just get older and have a family. And still wanted to slap Jory at the end of the final book (despite the happy endings etc).
Based on our discussion, I found the perfect description for this book in a review at the website "Smart B*tches, Trashy Books" (romance reviews blog) --The reviewer referred to a book as "my first crack book... The one that has some crazy going on and some plot elements I normally hate, but still I couldn’t put it down. The whole time I was reading (book being reviewed) my rational mind would have thoughts like “that’s a lot of subplots” or “the hero is really being an ass clown,” and then the emotional side of me would say “Shut up and turn the pages!”
Lori wrote: "Based on our discussion, I found the perfect description for this book in a review at the website "Smart B*tches, Trashy Books" (romance reviews blog) --The reviewer referred to a book as "my fir..."
LOL Lori. You've got a perfect description there alright.
I like the narrative, the plot arc, the emergence of passion and the way love is there. Romance in great gooey shovelsful...just fine. I liked the characters, largely, including the background characters. Calmes creates a vivid cast with which to populate her book.
So what are my quibbles? I've read other reviews here and find the same things reiterated, so I'll add to that repetition.
Is Jory an empath? Everyone loves him, wants to touch him, thinks he's beautiful - instantly! I kept expecting there to be some paranormal element unveiled, revealing that Jory is a human empath and didn't know it. But no, this highly appealing but totally unrealistic character is just the way he is. Never in my own life have I encountered a person like this, so without a conscious "magical" element, I have a little trouble believing in Jory. And also, just can't resist: I hate names like Jory, unless it's a nickname.
And, like many gay men, I have a real problem with the whole "gay for you" trope. I loved that Sam Kage sort of embraces his attraction to Jory - but hate that there is no discussion from this big butch hetero cop about the fact that somehow at - what? 30? - he never NOTICED attraction to men at all ever? Just not believable. Suppression, denial, whatever - but "duh, I never noticed"? No, really. I rather liked Sam, but had no sense of how he managed to fall in love with something entirely different from any thing else in his life - again, this "magical" aspect of Jory that is never explained or even considered unusual.
Dane Harcourt seems for much of the book like a straight-guy playboy schmuck. Arrogant and smug. He finally turns into something loving and admirable in his relationship with Jory, and I admit I really liked that story arc.
Jory himself seems like a jerk half the time and a guardian angel the other half of the time - no attempt made to explain or tie these two aspects of his personality together. His fight with and reconciliation with Nick the Doctor appealed to me - but didn't really seem to grow out of any narrative logic.
Finally, as many of the critics have said, the cliff-hanger seems contrived and hard to swallow. I can't spoil the end, because many people will love the book without qualms, but I read the last page and just seethed with annoyance.
It's hard to believe, with all this carping, that I actually really enjoyed reading this, mostly. I am not sure I'll go for the second and third volumes, because I'm not sure I want to be quite that baldly manipulated all over again...we'll see.