Still

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Tristan James

Length: 4 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

What happens when two men who have been together for 17 years fall out of love? Sivan Cruz, a set director in San Francisco, and Walter Wainwright, a big shot Bay Area lawyer, find out the hard way. Walter loves Sivan with all his heart but rarely talks about it, and Sivan needs to hear the words. The language of the love they have shared for so long, that has enabled them to build a life together and raise two children, stops working. They become - still.

When Sivan asks for a divorce, Walter doesn't know how to say no. They separate, but while Sivan sees the relationship as over, Walter sees only a temporary setback. He has never lost his passion for Sivan and decides he has to say something before he ends up loving his husband in silence for the rest of his life.

©2013 Mary Calmes (P)2014 Dreamspinner Press

All the feels

I loved this book. Mary Calmes writes a gut-wrenchingly perfect book and Tristan James brings the whole thing into 3-D. The emotion is there, the story is there, and the the narration is perfect. Well worth the credit and you will love the story.

Just ok, but I STILL love Mary!

Love Mary Calmes and I'll read ANYTHING she writes. I like how this one started but the split (the supposed essence of the story) didn't make sense, and the way they got back together wasn't natural. But I love Mary Calmes! The feelings that go with her work? Amazing. Even if the plot is weak. I seriously don't know why EVERYTHING she writes give those feels. What's up with that? It's like crack, I suppose. And I'm just that addicted to her! (Twelve steps needed??? Maybe!) :-) And Tristan James? Love him too!!!

A touching Romance

Would you consider the audio edition of Still to be better than the print version?

Not sure, I haven't read the print version.

What did you like best about this story?

The wall Walter loved Siv with his whole heart from that first kiss.

What does Tristan James bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Again, not sure, but James is one of the best narrators there is. It took him a few chapters to find his footing with this story though, which was a little disappointing, but overall he did a great job as usual.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Siv meets Walter's parents.

Any additional comments?

Walter Wainwright has been in love with Siven Cruz since the first time he watched him half fall, half somersault off of a set design at a retail store Siv worked at some seventeen years ago. Walter is a talented attorney and an amazing father, and while he thinks he is being a good husband, Siv longs for the one thing he thinks he’s not getting from Walter... communication.

Siven Cruz thought the tall, blonde, smart attorney hated him the way he always barked commands and even tried to get him canned after the set debacle. A fierce kiss in the elevator, followed by a damn sexy romp show Siv that he may have misread Walter. And from that night on, Walter has never let Siv out of his bed, until now. Like a lot of couples along the way, Walter and Siv have stopped talking, stopped listening and become stagnant in their relationship. When Siv takes the initiative and asks for a divorce, then moves out of their home, Walter will have to find the words he rarely uses if he is going to save his marriage and bring his husband back home, where he belongs.

Still is a story about a couple that have been together so long and know each other so well, and yet, somewhere along the way it’s taken for granted that they will always just be there. Communication is key, and while Walter isn’t as forthcoming with his thoughts and feelings as Siv is, when he finally does try to talk to Siv, the man is too damn stubborn to just shut up and let him. That drove me a little crazy. I was so immersed in the storyline though, that I was able to overlook the abundance of push backs from Siv. Seriously, more than once I wanted Walter to just grab him, throw him up against the wall and kiss the living shit out of him just to get him to shut up and listen!

Narrated by Tristan James, who has always been one of my favourite narrators, but he dropped the ball just a little with this one. Afterwards, when I look back I think maybe James was trying to voice Walter and Siv similar to show that they were equals (?) I’m not sure. But a few times, especially in the first few minutes, there was no tone change or difference in his voice between characters. I know he can do better, so that disappointed me just a little.

That being said, overall this was a fast, romantic listen. Calmes fans will love this new short story from her, its trademark Calmes with equal parts anxiety, passion, love, angst and romance. To spite the two afore mentioned hiccups, I really got lost in this story, literally sitting at my desk blinking back to reality trying to remember what I had been about to do. Another great love story from Mary Calmes!

Appreciate what you have

This is a beautiful story about how to nuture our long-term relationships. Respecting the different ways we express love and not measuring our partner against story book standards. It is tells us how easy it is to take every day loving gestures for granted and see them as routine.
The fact that this is M/M romance is incidental and hopefully makes readers understand the universality of love.

Entertaining story.

I'm a big fan of Mary Calmes but this story isn't my favorite. I found myself annoyed with the mc. However, it was still entertaining and the book went by quickly. Tristan James also did a great job as always.

Just lovely

I loved this book when I read it and loved Tristan James narration even more. He has such a wonderful voice and really brings the MCs to life. This is the story of what happens after the HEA. An established couple with grown kids grow apart -- and this is the story of their self discovery in pure Mary Calmes fashion. Not a lot of surprises, just a very nice comfort read. Worth a credit.

Sweet reconcilliation story

In this somewhat unique story, the two MCs have been together for 17 years and are now facing a crossroads that looks like divorce is on the horizon.

The kids are gone, and the glue that kept these two together seems to be gone. All the fighting and lack of communication has accumulated and the only thing that makes sense is to complete the separation formally.

The problem is that both men still love one another deeply. Walter, who ironically is a lawyer and unable to express himself verbally, can’t find the words to tell Siv just how important he is. Siv, can’t see that Walter’s actions are his declarations of love.

Over the course of nine months of separation Walter and Siv find their way back into each other’s arms and lives.
3.5 stars

Audio

I have to admit that when I read the book originally, my general feeling was that this was a nice book – Mary only writes good and amazing books ☺ - but that the separation of the MCs and the fact that they were an established couple left me a bit cold. I’m not as big a fan of reconciliation as I am of the first blush of new romance.

But… the audio done by Tristan James absolutely upped my enjoyment factor immensely. I loved the characters: Siv with his cluelessness and devotion to family, Walter with his Alpha domination and the fact that they’re both older and that they have the kids which gives a sense of normalcy and family that is a really nice change of pace.

Tristan’s voice is like chocolate and I always enjoy his narrations. He added just enough zest to help me get more involved in the story than I had before and bring the story to life.

I recommend this book to fans of second chance love stories, alpha males and snarky, older MCs.
5 of 5 stars

overall

4 of 5 stars

Sooo Good!

I simply LOVE LOVE LOVE Mary Calmes' books! From her paranormal m/m romance to her Warders and Matter of Time series... I just love her writing. Now we have Steven and Walter! OMGOSH!!! Blush Blush... I loved how Walter was all slick rick lawyer but totally gone for Steven.. the flightly, artistic theater director. '

I was a bit sad for both Walter and Steven going through thier issues... but the ending.. so worth it... I loved it..

Great narration.. So worth the credit or sale, I would even buy, because I am that much of a Calmes fan...

And I Love you...........Still

When you think your in a rut, sometimes you need to look at the world with new eyes.
Sivan and Walter, are an established couple - going thru a change in their lives, and loves.

I loved that the main characters were all in their 40's. You rarely have m/m romance with both leads older than 20 something. Refreshing change, and another top notch story from Mary Calmes

OMG The Feels

Never have I ever hoped so much that characters in a book would wake up and see the truth but I found myself doing just that as Sivan and Walter try to come to terms with the growing chasm forming in their 17 year marriage.

So often in any relationship the things that don't get said can start to overshadow all the things that do. it's the trial of any long relationship and it is that gulf that Sivan and Walter find themselves facing. Life after 17 years of marriage when late nights become the norm and animosity and neglect toils and erodes years of careful nurturing.

Finding a way to cross that divide is a tricky thing and coming through the other side is far from the given but that is what this is a story about. Coming to realize that a house doesn't make a home and longing for that missing half to find a cold a vast emptiness instead is a heartbreak whose betrayal is difficult to get past. But if you do...you find your way home. To that place of sanctuary that you have built with the only other person you breath for.

Mary my dear you have out done yourself and then some in this offering and Tristan delivers a performance so sublime it elevates the story beyond words to encompass the feelings and heart of the characters you have created. So amazing!