Marshals: Book Four

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones finally has everything he ever wanted. He’s head-over-heels in love and married to the man of his dreams, his partner Ian Doyle, he’s doing well at work, and all his friends are in good places as well. Things are all tied up nicely… until they’re not.

Change has never been easy for Miro, and when situations at work force the team he’s come to depend on to break apart, and worst of all, his and Ian’s individual strengths put them on two separate paths, he’s pretty certain everything just went up in smoke. But before he can even worry about the future, his past comes for a visit, shaking his world up even more. It’s hard to tell what road he should truly be on, but as he learns some paths are forged and others are discovered, it might be that where he’s going is the right course after all. If he can navigate all the twists and turns, he and Ian might just get their happily ever after.

I’m going to be honest with you. I have no idea how to begin this review. I’m so freaking in love with this book, and I know that no matter what I say, I won’t do it justice.

Let’s start with the one tiny thing that bothers me. When Mary Calmes writes, her characters do something almost unthinkable. They age. This means that Sam Kage, once a virile man, has grown older. He’s now pushing fifty-three (can you believe it?), but that doesn’t stop him from being a freaking beast. Though this isn’t Sam’s book, he does appear in a few places as the boss of Ian and Miro, and each time he’s on page, his very presence is larger than life, and rightfully so. He commands attention and respect, and it’s easy to see that his men absolutely adore him…even if a glare from the man could make them wet their pants. I think the reason I have a problem with them aging is I’m never going to be ready to let them go. Like EVER. The men of the Marshals are more than just characters, they’re family we’ve grown up with. But, like all people of flesh and blood, the people of ink and paper grow older too.

However, with their age comes change. No one in this series remains static. They grow, becoming more than they were the last time we saw them. This is the case with Ian and Miro, who are now married. (And if you were wondering, their wedding isn’t at all traditional, and even though we know from Mary’s freebie story that they tied the knot, in this book they flashback to the rather unorthodox wedding. If you missed it, you’ll want to read it before this book. You can find it here.)

But back to this story. A lot of what I want to say would come across as a spoiler, and I am not willing to do that, so let me just say that the people–and dog–we have come to love make an appearance here. Some twisted threads of stories that have teased us for a long while get tied up (see what I did there?), but new possibilities also open up, which goes back to the change and growth of these men.

Now for the hard part… Ian and Miro? God, I love them. They fit so well together, but remember that growth and change I was talking about? A huge one is barreling toward them, and one of them won’t handle it well. But I guess many of us just don’t like things to change. I know I’m one of them. In my mind, Sam Kage is in his thirties, and just starting out life with Jory Keyes. And now? The guys are more mature (well, the jury is out on Jory if you’ve read the free short and see what happens in the restaurant. Just kidding, Jory totally shows why Sam loves him, and Sam shows he will do anything for Jory. Anything.)

Twisted and Tied was such a great story, and the new doors opening are full of exciting possibilities. I can’t wait to see what Mary has in store for these Marshals of hers, and I know without a doubt, I will be along for the ride.