No Quick Fix: Torus Intercession Book 1, Mary Calmes

I think I'm hoping really hard for Mary Calmes to write more manny stories because they seem to be my favorites.  First with Frog, and now with No Quick Fix, we are given these fantastic alphamallows who seem to have the perfect natural instinct to bring out the best in a family by connecting with children who need love, understanding, and a straightforward personality.  It doesn't hurt that they also have a special way of bringing together a community either.

So first...there is NO cheating.  The premise makes it seem like that might be an issue and I don't consider it a spoiler to assuage anyone's concerns about that.  This is a much slower burn romance than with many other books by this author and I really enjoyed that it took so long for them to get to that part of their relationship.  It felt right considering their situation and it also gave them time to lay a strong foundation before adding in all that lovely passion.  I do wish we got a lot more background and depth to Emery though.  We don't get anything until the big confession scene and up to that point Emery felt separate despite his efforts to be a good father and constantly touching Brann.  By the end I could connect with him, but it was a long wait to get to that point.

A couple issues I had were pretty basic but not without frustration.  First, the cussing around the kids was uncomfortable for me.  I mean, there's nothing wrong with being casual, being yourself around children, but the more adult language doesn't have to come from you as the caregiver.  A few slips here and there are completely natural and I have no issue with that at all, it's that it became more common as the story progressed and I didn't agree with that.

Second is when the more amorous intentions become known Brann does what a lot of Mary Calmes' characters do and they do a whole lot of running away, talking over the other person, and making unilateral decisions based on their hurt, embarrassment, or disappointment.  While Brann doesn't run from Ursa or his responsibilities, he does a whole lot of it in virtually every other way he can.  Beyond annoying.  It did bring about the distance necessary for Emery to make the important choices, but it doesn't mean I had to like it while it was happening.

Some readers might have an issue with how fast everything comes together, how virtually every person falls under Brann's über perfect spell despite his intentions, or with how simple the suspense aspect ended up, but honestly I just don't really mind all that too much.  It's a typical Calmes story and I'm not ashamed to say that I love the style.  The confrontation was a bit too full of dialogue and light on believability for the scenario, but as the focus of the story was Brann's role and place in Ursa, I'm glad the more sinister aspect of the story didn't take precedence.  Brann was pretty much universally well-liked by all but the bad seeds, but it worked for the character and the story.  The timeline is a bit truncated, but the setup is that both men, not to mention the entire town, are at the point of needing to make some big changes in their lives so it's like everything is primed and ready for them to be made and to fall in place.  I just think it's a sweet, nice, simple story that works.

My last surprise in this story was the tone.  I've read almost every book this author has published and there's a certain feeling of immediacy, a dire need for everything to happen, and a bit of urgency at the same time as there's some kind of acceptance of the romantic situation and despondency that goes along with it that can be found in just about every single one.  With this story I was shocked and extremely pleased that there was a bit of those feelings, but it all seemed somewhat muted, softer, and more mature.  It was a new subtlety that I'm loving.  I cannot express how eager I am to see if that continues with the rest of the series or any of her other works.

*$3.99 on Amazon!

A retired SEAL is about to face his toughest assignment yet. As a nanny…

Fixer. Bodyguard. Advocate. Brann Calder is expected to play all these roles and more as a member of Torus Intercession, a security firm guaranteed to right what’s wrong. In the military, catastrophe was his specialty. Five months out of the service, Brann is still finding his way, so a new assignment might be just what he needs. Unless it includes two things sure to make a seasoned, battle-trained veteran nervous: life in a small town, and playing caregiver to two little girls.

Emery Dodd is drowning in the responsibility of single fatherhood. He’s picked up the pieces after losing his wife and is ready to move on now, hopeful that his engagement to a local patriarch’s daughter will not only enrich his community but will grant his daughters some stability too. 

The only thing standing in Emery’s way is that he can’t seem to keep his eyes—and hands—off the former soldier he’s hired to watch his girls until the wedding.

Emery’s future is riding on his upcoming nuptials, but being with Brann makes him and his family feel whole again. Too bad there’s no way for them to be together.

Or is there?