Most humans live in blissful ignorance, never dreaming of the
frightening surprises and paranormal danger that lurks in the night.
Most… but not all. These few who stand against the darkness are the
Warders, men who fight demons and square off against all kinds of
creatures from the pit with only their brothers-in-arms and their
lovers—their Hearths—to strengthen them in the unending battle of good
versus evil.
Novellas included:
Sinnerman
Nexus
Cherish Your Name
Sinnerman (June 2011), Nexus (October 2011), and Cherish Your
Name (December 2011) were previously published individually in eBook
format by Dreamspinner Press.
You didn't expect us to read volume one without immediately diving into volume two, now did ya?
BOOK FOUR - SINNERMAN
Red’s Review
YAY and holy hell was this good! I loved Raphael when we met
him in Tooth and Nail. He was fun with Dylan telling him all about the world of
the Warders and he even saved Malic’s life even if it almost went too far. But
when we get more of the kyrie in Heart and Hand and all he does for Simon and
Leith I was so damn intrigued and then, he saves Jackson and the little bit he
tells Simon about what he wants… yeah, I knew I needed this book.
So, it was interesting to get Jackson in the beginning all
drunk and the other warders coming to help him out. You see, Jackson has, er uh
had a Hearth but apparently, Frank couldn’t take what was required of him and
decided to cheat on Jacks. First, I have issues with Frank because I am so
sorry but the poor man couldn’t handle being fucked against the kitchen wall by
an intimate and insanely passionate warder who would literally die to keep his
heart safe? Poor thing but Frank is an ass and doesn’t deserve to be a hearth
and though it was sad to see Jacks find Frank with his new lover, it’s the
appearance of Raph that made me flip off Frank and shove him to the corner of
the room.
I am in love with Raphael.
I can’t help it. I love that we get more of him in this and exactly what
a kyrie is and what would happen to a kyrie if they are not claimed. Goodness,
the need coming off Raph was so intense it made me squirm but knowing who
Raphael wants made this super swoony.
Jackson is in a tough place, he loved his hearth and he is
finding it kinda hard to get over Frank. But that one night, the one night he
is used to Raphael always being there and isn’t he goes looking for the kryie
and what happens had me swooning right off my bed. GAH! I love these two. I
love that Raph gives Jacks exactly what he thinks he needs until that moment he
gets it. When Raphael falls, he falls so damn hard and it was just a joy to
witness.
I like that Jael felt the need to question his warders about
bringing a kyrie in to the mix and how they all reacted. OMG and I loved Phoebe’s
reaction to Jackson and her daughter’s reaction to Raph. Seriously, this book
was just so much fun and so romantic between these two. It was great seeing all
the warders and their hearths and getting just enough of Marcus and Joe to know
that the next book would be another thrill ride full of passion and love.
Moving on.
Red: Good
lord. Frank is an asshole loser! Who wouldn't want to be fucked hard against
the kitchen wall by a warder whose love is insane and passionate. He doesn't
deserve Jackson at all. I love Raphael! GAH! He wants Jacks so bad and just saved
him. I bet he follows him to Malibu and man, I hope they fuck on the beach!
JL: Raph
& Jacks's story is so heartbreaking at first but when you get closer to the
end you really see how amazing Raph really is.
JL’s Review
It’s Raphael’s story!
Oh, how I’ve been waiting for this one!
We first met Raph way back in Tooth & Nail, Malic and Dylan’s
story. I was intrigued by this snarky
maybe-demon and I was hoping that I would get to see more of him. Thank Mary I got my wish!
Jackson is in the middle of a foot chase across the rooftops
of the city when he spies his hearth, Frank in another man’s apartment. He watches in horror as his life falls apart
thus causing him to spiral into a deep depression. Thankfully Raph steps in with some
yummilicious angry sex before things go too far.
I loved how we got to see both Raph and Jacks grow as the
story progresses. At first it looked
like the relationship would be a bit too toxic as Raph basically uses Jackson
to get off and Jacks just lets him since he thinks that he’s no good for
anything else any more. I mean, his freaking
hearth left him; he wasn’t good
enough to even hold onto him. But, bit
by bit, Jackson starts to believe in himself again and you begin to see how
truly amazing Raphael really is. He was
so patient with Jacks!
Though I do wish we could have had more of Raphael’s snark
in his book, I was happy that we got a peek into his loving soul.
BOOK FIVE - NEXUS
Red’s Review
That title that, word… Nexus
- from Latin nexus "that
which ties or binds together," goodness it means so much to this
story.
I have to say how much I loved that we get an established
warder/hearth couple of five years in this story with Marcus and Joe. We’ve met
the couple before of course and know of Joe’s jealousy with Malic and how it
all ended when Malic found Dylan. We know Joe is blind and that Marcus is a
black man but what we don’t know is how they met and how they are the most
adorable couple with the best banter!
This was a great addition to the series. Seeing Marcus go to
Joe’s home to celebrate his grandfather’s birthday and being with Joe’s family
was a lot of fun. Joe’s quips about them being special was so damn cute but
when Joe needs the strength of his warder, things get deep and serious.
Let me say that Joe’s family and their reaction to what
Marcus is was great but his sister’s and mothers reaction to Marcus’ warder
family was hysterical even though I would have been the same way.
I love in this that we not only get Marcus and Joe but we
get this clutch and all they have come to mean to one another. They have become
so damn strong since book one with each of them having a hearth and realizing
all they can do together when they are bonded. They are a true family and each
one has their individual strengths but they are always stronger together and
when they are needed by a brother, they drop everything to come.
Seeing another clutch, other warders and how they function
was so bizarre but I get it was meant to be that way. Still, they need to get
their shit together, you know?
But anyway. There are demons doing shit to Joe’s family they
shouldn’t and being total douchenuggets to folks in town that Marcus and the
boys need to do house cleaning at a club. Oohh the club! I have three words for
you: Assless Chaps. I won’t say who wore them that would ruin the surprise but
dayum boy!
Where was I. Oh yeah. The clutch is there to help Marcus
take care of Joe’s family which is totally his family and Marcus does the
unexpected, but not really. It was unexpected because it shocked me and then
what happens had me crying through the last part of the book. Mary pulled out
the feels with Dylan’s speech to Marcus and Joe’s as well. These men, these
warders and their hearths are so amazing I am rambling my butt off about them
but really, they are amazing.
Another great book in the series that keeps getting better.
Red: They
are adorable !!!
“Are you the only nonwhite guy in the room?” Joe asked.
“Yes.”
“Am I the only blind guy?”
“Yes again,” I said, squeezing his
hand.
“And are we the only gay people here?”
“For the third time, and the win,” I teased
him, scanning the crowd. “I’m gonna go with yes.” “Oh thank God, I wanted us to be special.”
“No worries about that, love,” I assured
him.
“Awww, thank you, honey. I—hey, wait a minute… that’s not a
compliment."
JL: Lol,
Joey is a hoot! And Marcus... swoon.
Red: "It
was just like Malic to go. He would mever say he cared; he would just
show it instead."
I love this series!!! I hope Raphael gets to kill the witch!
JL: I
love that Marcus and Malic are so close. Malic needs a best friend and
Marcus is perfect for that role. This
book made me cry near the end. Marcus does something incredibly stupid
and it broke my heart. Don't worry, it all worked out in the end but Mary
makes you work for it.
Red: Lord.
If you cried I'll be a mess. I just met Kyle and Shane. I loved Joe's
family and how the handed Marcus being a Warders and their reaction to Leith
was priceless!!
JL: I
love how Joe's mom went and put makeup on after meeting them. I think she
did it for Jackson? You're about to get to the part that made me cry.
Red: Malic
hugged him.. Ugh. Joe saying he can live without Marcus but doesn't
want to... She does the best reunions.
JL: that
part just really got to me. Joe being so angry and upset made me cry. His heart
was broken and mine was too.
JL’s Review
This is my second favorite, after Tooth & Nail. Marcus and Joe have been together for six
years and are visiting Joe’s family to celebrate his Joe’s grandfather’s birthday. I love that they are in an established, long
lasting relationship. I love that Joe’s
family loves and accepts Marcus and have welcomed him into the fold like he was
born there. I love that Joe’s family
finds out about warders and demons and hearths and instead of freaking out they
just roll with it. I just love this
everything about this story!
BUT! (and it’s a big but) this story made me cry so
much. Marcus does something incredibly
stupid and breaks Joe’s heart and it broke my heart as well. I cried for Marcus because he felt like he
let Joe down and doesn’t deserve him anymore.
I cried for Joe because what Marcus did was just devastating to him. (I’m
just going to spoil you right here by saying no, Marcus didn’t cheat on
Joe. I know some of you won’t read a story
with cheating in it. Rest assured that
wasn’t the stupid thing that Marcus did.)
And I also cried during Dylan’s speech at the end.
There were so many feels in this one I had to take a break
before reading the final book in the series.
My heart was broken but Mary, in true Calmes fashion, pieced it back
together for me by the end.
BOOK SIX – CHERISH YOUR NAME
Red’s Review
I went into this book thinking it was going to be so fun and
light with Malic going home to meet Dylan’s family over the Christmas holiday
and um, I was wrong. From the start, we get Dylan hanging out with his friends
and leaving Malic behind. Sure, this was Malic’s choice but seeing him
miserable enough to start doing handyman chores and yard work made me side eye
Dylan. What the heck is wrong with this angel that he would leave Malic to the
coldness of his family who obviously see the age difference between them and
not the love? Ugh.
But, the love is strong with Malic and his hearth that when
a little jealousy gets tossed in, Dylan realizes what he is doing and freaks
out. Of course his worries are for nothing because Malic loves Dylan beyond the
beyond, he was just feeling lonely. When Dylan tells his story and why he needs
his friends the way he does, my heart hurt. How much shit can he go through in
his young life? Goodness. It’s a good thing he has a handsome warder who is
built to protect at his side now eh?
I loved Dylan’s family and their turnaround with Malic. It
was genuine and they all start turning to him for support, comfort and
protection which is totes what Malic does best.
But…fucking Brad! I’m just going to say that because WTF
Brad? Neighbors shouldn’t be like Brad but it did bring Ryan and Marcus to the
Shaw house and seeing those men is always a good thing. I loved Marcus dealing
with Brad and OMG Dylan’s mother and her reaction to the warder was hilarious.
Again, the warders are mind blowing in so many ways that how else would a man
or woman react to them? Sigh.
So shit went down, Malic handled it and he handled his
hearth terrifically. This is another series by the Goddess Mary Calmes that, in
the words of her characters, annihilated me with the pouring of emotions, of
family, of fun banter and of swoony romance.
I am a Calmes addict and I will never get enough.
Red: I
thought Malic and Dylan would be cute but it's hurting me.
Poor Malic. I don't like him upset and feeling left out this
way when he's finally found his hearth and his place
JL: yeah,
Dylan is acting a fool in this one but only for a little bit. He pulls his head
out of his ass soon though, don't worry.
Red: Dylan
just told Malic about Ethan. Kinda reminded me of Joey telling Marcus
about Shane and that deal.
Red: Malic
just said his name is Dylan? I am so lost now. WTF did Brad do?
JL: I
know, right? Fucking Brad! He's
such a douche!
Red: Dylan
being all bossy with Malic was hot AF! Love that boy!
JL’s review
Yay, we get more Dylan and Malic! I was so looking forward to this book. I needs me some more Dylan!
Malic and Dylan are visiting Dyl’s family for Christmas in
Georgia (Marietta, in fact, which is about 20 minutes from my house). This is the first time Malic has met Dylan’s
family and it’s not going too well. They
feel that Malic is too old for Dylan and that what they have is just a passing
fancy so they give Malic the cold shoulder.
Poor Malic! If only they realized
just how important Dylan is to Malic they would surely welcome him with open
arms.
And Dylan isn’t making it any better with his running off to
party with old friends every night.
Malic seeks solace with the neighbor and seriously contemplates just
going home to spend the holiday with people who actually care about him. I was so mad at Dylan at this point! He’s taking Malic for granted and Malic doesn’t
deserve the treatment he’s getting at all.
Thankfully, Dylan pulls his head out of his ass before too
long. Just in time, too, as there’s evil
afoot.
This was a great ending to a remarkable series
and I’m so glad that I was able to revisit this world. Mary is an astoundingly creative writer who
has created a fascinating world. I just
want to sink into the stories and never surface. Thankfully I own the series so I can re-read
them any time I wish.
