Review: Twisted and Tied by Mary Calmes

Title: Twisted and Tied

Series: Marshals: Book Four

Author: Mary Calmes

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 266 Pages

Category: Contemporary

At a Glance: As amazing as this book was, it didn’t knock Tied Up in Knots out of the top spot for me as my fave of the series, and one of my favorites of all of Mary Calmes’s work, in fact. But, I still loved the hell out of it.

Reviewed By: Jules

Blurb: 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.

Review: Oh my gosh, you guys. I can’t believe I’ve just finished the final Marshals book. I put my Kindle down, took a deep breath, and started thinking about how I would even begin to write this review. But first, before I opened the doc, I went back and read my reviews for the previous three books. Reading those reviews, thinking about this series, had me smiling so big. And, OMG, So. Much. Gushing! Miro and Ian’s journey has been incredible, and I’m so thankful to Mary Calmes for giving us these guys to love. I know there is more to come in the Marshals universe…but, Twisted and Tied is the final book with Agents Jones and Doyle at the helm, and it’s a fantastic send-off.

The opening of Twisted and Tied is action-packed, as we’ve come to love and expect from this series. There’s a chase—Sam Kage jumps off a building after a fugitive, with Miro right on his heels—and then later that same day another incident ends with Miro at the hospital getting stitches and checked for concussion. And that’s just the first chapter! But, despite the adrenaline rush at the start, overall, Twisted and Tied has a more introspective vibe than the previous books. It’s a time of transition for both Miro and Ian, and how they deal with all the changes in their lives is a huge part of the story. They are already adjusting to not having to worry about Ian getting deployed, and enjoying their brand-new marriage, and now they’re also facing the possibility of significant changes on the professional front.

I love the way Calmes writes these guys so much. Relationship drama is presented realistically but never in a way that causes massive worry. They fight. They make up. Their relationship is so solid and there is so much love between them; I never worry about any undue angst coming from them. They have their little insecurities, and, like I said, they definitely fight, but we know that it’s either going to end in intense make-up sex or some kind of tender moment. Or both. And, I love when one of their moments of insecurity—as ridiculous as it may seem for them to be insecure about each other at this point—leads to some small revelation. Like this:

Sometimes, stupidly, I wondered if I was as important to Ian as he was to me. But always, inevitably, inexorably, he proved to me I was paramount in his mind. It had been like that since the night in the truck in the rain when he told me he was leaving the Army because I was the adventure he wanted.

A truck scene reference!!!!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!

Sorry…having a little Tied Up in Knots moment there. :-D

Aside from Ian and Miro being amazing, and my never-ending love for them, there are lots of other things to get excited about in this book. Sam Kage continues to be the tough but kick-ass role model who is worthy of every bit of their hero worship. We are reminded of the importance of Miro’s chosen family and just how awesome Min, Janet, Catherine and Aruna are, as well as Ian and Miro’s boys, Cabot, Drake, and now Josue. The rest of the team are present and fantastic, with Eli and Redeker and Callahan especially standing out, I’m sure to prime us for their upcoming books. And, of course, the author couldn’t wrap things up without giving us an update on our favorite serial killer—so, expect to hear from Dr. Hartley as well.

As amazing as this book was, it didn’t knock Tied Up in Knots out of the top spot for me as my fave of the series, and one of my favorites of all of this author’s work, in fact. But, I still loved the hell out of it. I loved the direction she took the guys professionally (Miro is so beyond perfect for his new role), and their adoration and respect for each other absolutely shined through, as usual. And, she did a fabulous job of setting up the spinoff books. I can’t wait for Redeker and Callahan’s story! Thanks so much for the ride, Mary Calmes! Ian and Miro will always be one of my favorite book couples of all time.

You can buy Twisted and Tied here:
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