Fit to Be Tied

Marshals, Book 2

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Tristan James

Length: 7 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's Summary

Deputy US Marshals Miro Jones and Ian Doyle are now partners on and off the job: Miro's calm professionalism provides an ideal balance to Ian's passion and quick temper. In a job where one misstep can be the difference between life and death, trust means everything. But every relationship has growing pains, and sometimes Miro stews about where he stands with his fiery lover. Could the heartstrings that so recently tied them together be in danger of unraveling?

Those new bonds are constantly challenged by family intrusions, well-intentioned friends, their personal insecurities, and their dangerous careers - including a trial by fire when an old case of Miro's comes back to haunt them. It might just be enough to make Ian rethink his decision to let himself be tied down, and Miro can only hope the links they've forged will be strong enough to hold.

©2015 Mary Calmes (P)2015 Dreamspinner Press

High Octane Thrill Ride!

Any additional comments?

Once again, Tristan James outdoes himself. He takes this story and shines a light on all the deeply nuanced corners and crevices. It's a fantastic performance for a superb story!

I have one thing to say about this story: Buckle up, 'cause this ride goes from zero to a hundred sixty in three point one seconds flat!

Okay, so obviously I have more to say than that...

At the beginning of the story we find ourselves back with Miro and Ian being...Miro and Ian. It's been about eight months since they've become partners in private too and their private relationship is not all kittens and rainbows...

" What was sad was that I always did that, always wanted it all instead of being happy with what I had. My friends had different theories about why I pushed when the person I cared about—and in this case: desperately, madly, loved—wasn’t ready. The idea everyone liked the best was that because I was a foster kid who was passed around from pillar to post until I was legal, when I saw my happily ever after, I went after it like a charging bull. "

Even though privately Miro and Ian are having some growing pains their professional relationship is the same as ever. Seriously. In the first chapter alone there's two foot chases, a roof jump, and Sam Kage being a badass. It's AWESOME!

So what do I think you need to know? The story is once again told entirely from Miro's perspective. Chickie Baby, Drake and Cabot, and Dr. Hartley all make appearances. And I really, really don't want to give anything away with this review - suffice it to say I think I said, "Holy shit!" more times than any other book this year. This was a roller coaster ride of action and emotion that I didn't want to end. Fans of All Kinds of Tied Down will not be disappointed with this installment.

Bottom Line: This story grabs you by the throat and doesn't let up the grip until the final page. Packed with action, humor, scorching hot sexy times, and plenty of emotions...Fit To Be Tied was a rollicking, action packed, good time I just wanted more of!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

Excellent Follow up

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The narration was on point, the plotline was very good and I like how the characters were fleshed out.

This really delved into why our main characters are the way they are. It was the right mix of plot and steamy, passionate sex scenes.

M/M romance or Prada catalog?

I don't know how I feel about Mary's writing. Some of it is a little trite, and she spends an awful lot of time on Miro's designer clothes than she does on the relationship between Miro and Ian. There's a nice bit of humor and drama for sure, but just like in book 1, I spent a number of chapters wondering where the hell she was going with all of this. As I said in the Book 1 review, this is obviously influenced by Silence Of The Lambs, but since we're talking about an M/M romance, it can't get deep enough to actually make me care about the dysfunctional relationship between Miro, Hartley, and Ian. The real problem here is that Mary can't delve as deep into this story as she should go. It would be inappropriate for a romance, but it also loses its bite because of it's pretty much forced to be nothing other than superficial. If you can't take it all the way, perhaps you shouldn't go there at all.

Loved it!

Two marshals in love, a very bad guy, and some burden about getting married... A really good story perfectly narrated by Tristan James. This narrator is really excellent, expressive, always the right tone and such a silky masculine voice. Enjoy!

Intense and Emotional, but so worth the ride.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Hell yes! It's fantastic. Intense and emotional without all the angst. Hilarity and sexy, passionate mens. It's pretty much a no brainer.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Miro, of course. The story is told from his POV, so you are always inside his head. I love listening to how fiercely he loves Ian, how he would rather die at the hands of the crazy man that has him, than risk Ian being put in harms way for a minute.

Which scene was your favorite?

TeeHeeHee, up against the door.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but it's a bit long, took a couple days. I will, however, be listening to this one again and again, it was that good.

Any additional comments?

US Marshalls Ian Doyle and Miro Jones have transitioned to partners, both on and off the job, fairly easily. The problem they face isn't hiding their relationship, their boss Sam Kage is fully aware as are most of their other co-workers. The bump in the road is their divided views on marriage. Miro wants to put a ring on it, he wants people to see that band on Ian's finger and know that is spoken for, that he belongs to someone already. He wants the house, the 2 car garage, maybe even kids. Ian, however, does not. He feels that they are already committed and promised to each other, why do they need rings and a piece of paper.

Unfortunately for them, the bad guys don't seem to want to take a day off. They are stuck on cases, stakeouts, teaming up with other law enforcement to catch a few of said bad guys and then Ian gets deployed. At this point in the story, there is some serious comic relief when Miro takes Chickie to the vet (for those unfamiliar Chickie is Ian's BIG dog that people often mistake for a wolf) and gets held up at gun-point when leaving the clinic. Hilarity ensues, and I now know that was just to give us a breather for what was coming. A case Miro worked when he was still a detective that left him with permanent scars, both inside and out, resurfaces. And the killer is coming back for the one that got away.

This book was emotional, hysterical, intense and passionate. Ian and Miro may not agree on the whole getting married thing, but the one thing that is never in question is their love and commitment to one another. They argue and debate the pros and cons of marriage like two grown men that would discuss an issue, but there is absolutely zero angst, thank god! The banter back and forth between them is hysterical, definitely some comic relief going on throughout. Even when Miro is in the clutches of Mr. Crazy, he still comes up with dry, witty comebacks. There was so much growth in this story from both sides. Their relationship has always been a series of give and take, very supportive of each other regardless. Ian comes to realize that all the reasons he had for not getting married aren't as important as he thought they were. While Miro has to learn that even if he can't be Ian's partner at work, Ian will still want to come home to him, to lean on him.

Narrated by Tristan James, lord I love this mans voice. There were a lot of characters in this story and James made sure that every character had their own voice. Doyle's New Yorker accent is amazing and cracks me up, Miro is the usually level headed tone that occasionally looses that well maintained control. What I find most intriguing is Sam Kage. I have to wonder if James didn't listen to the Matter of Time series that was narrated by another great voice over artist, Paul Morey, because the voice he uses for Sam Kage is almost identical to the way Morey's voices the character. The marriage of Mary Calmes and Tristan James is perfectly flawless, in my opinion.

If you are a fan of cop stories, intense and emotional reads, men that fight hard and stop at nothing to get their GD happy ever after... you really should consider this series. If you haven't either read or listened to the first book, you have to start there, this is a continuation. Definitely worth a listen.

Side note: I adore Chickie! I want one!!!

Excellent!

As always a well written book with good characters that make you part of the story! Love Miro and Ian.

Quintessential Mary Calmes.

I am afraid this is going to be a bit of a lackluster review.

I love Mary Calmes. I love her world, her characters and the (sometimes subtle and sometimes not...) threads that tie them all together. I loved the first book in this series. I enjoyed this second book. It is quintessential Mary Calmes ... which means, if you are craving a Mary Calmes book, this will fill the spot, and do it nicely. It's got characters we love, a few hot sexy times moments, action, strife, and ultimately some happy feels.

So why a lackluster review? Precisely because it *is* "quintessential". It felt very much like every other Mary Calmes book I've ever read; characters I love, a few hot sexy times moments, action, strife, cameo's of other characters I am attached to and always love to see, and ultimately some happy feels - but no real sparkle, shine or excitement of something new.

To be honest, I was a bit put off by the marriage discussion in this book and I had a difficult time shoehorning either position into who I have come to believe Ian and Miro are. In many ways I think that whole sub-plot could have just been dropped. It didn't go at all the way I would imagine it might between those two and felt kind of like a forced in sub-plot. Marriage equality is a hot topic right now, but this story didn't really address the discussion or resolution of it in any manner I found compelling, interesting or sincere. It isn't a huge complaint though, as there was enough other stuff going on to keep me entertained and happy with the book.

I suppose that it could be read on it's own - it has it's own self-contained story. Reading it as a follow up to Book 1 will add more breadth and depth to it. And if you are really enamored, and aren't familiar with it ... throw her Matter of Time series in for the full immersion experience. Tristan James is a good fit as a narrator for these books.

All in all - it is perfectly Mary Calmes - worth the time, energy and credit if you are looking for M.C. that you haven't already consumed.

A Serial Slip

I loved the narrator. the pacing of the story. and the series. I'd have given it 5 stars, but the author was inconsistent with a protection detail. I mean, if you have police officers outside your house to keep you safe, WHY would you decide to go out alone to do some light shopping? Why leave the police watching an empty house?? We're to believe this is a choice a US Marshall would make; someone whose job involves knowing how protective custody works. Although the author has done a better job in this book than earlier ones, she still has her characters making unsafe. unbelievable choices at times.

Very good #2

Very good progression to this series. The relationship is growing, and Miro slays his own dragons.
The narration is excellent with the voices more distinctive and sounding as you might expect from two Chicago Marshals. In this book it is easier to hear the difference between the two MCs.

Marvelous Marshals!!

Great character development and love story. It's always a treat to spend time with Ian , Miro and their crew!

Great series

Very enjoyable story with likeable characters. This is a spin off from the matter of time series.

Good

I would have rated this a 5 except I couldn't get past the plot hole towards the end. Everything else was great.