Diverse Reader: Release Day Review: When The Dust Settles By Mary Calmes #Review #Giveaway

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Release Day Review: When The Dust Settles By Mary Calmes #Review #Giveaway

Author: Mary Calmes
Book: When The Dust Settles
Series: Timing #3
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication date: November 16, 2016
Length: 122 pages

Reviewed by Erin

Synopsis

Glenn Holloway’s predictable life ended the day he confessed his homosexuality to his family. As if that wasn’t enough, he then poured salt in the wound by walking away from the ranch he’d grown up on, to open the restaurant he’d always dreamed of. Without support from his father and brother, and too proud to accept assistance from anyone else, he had to start from scratch. Over time things worked out: Glenn successfully built a strong business, created a new home, and forged a life he could be proud of.

Despite his success, his estrangement from the Holloways is still a sore spot he can’t quite heal, and a called-in favor becomes Glenn’s worst nightmare. Caught in a promise, Glenn returns to his roots to deal with Rand Holloway and comes face-to-face with Mac Gentry, a man far too appealing for Glenn’s own good. It could all lead to disaster—disaster for his tenuous reconnection with his family and for the desire he didn’t know he held in his heart.

Buy Links

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon

Review

I can't even begin to describe my joy when I saw that Mary was releasing another book in her Timing series ... AND that it was going to be Glenn's book! I'm talking epic flailing and squeeing here people. When the Dust Settles is indeed about Glenn and anyone who has read After the Sunset, book 2 of the series, knows that Glenn's story has been begging to be told. And told it most definitely was. With typical Mary Calmes finesse and skilled writing, this book will make you fall in love with Glenn, Stef and Rand, and all the rest of the cowboys on the Red Diamond ranch all over again.

Glenn Holloway is the epitome of a tortured hero. Estranged from his brother and father, he's set out on new path and the chip on his shoulder is the size of Texas. Not without reason for sure, but Glenn has convinced himself that it's him against the world ... well him and the self-made family he's developed at his new restaurant. He'd do anything for the men and women who work for him and they look up to him, something Glenn hasn't had a lot of in his life. But when Stefan Joss calls in a favor, Glenn reluctantly heads to the Red Diamond to fulfill his promise to help if Stef ever needed him. Of course, as all us readers know, Stef never does ANYTHING without an ulterior motive, and this time, he wants Glenn and Rand and Zach (Glenn's brother) to bond and move past the obstacles keeping them from being a family. Glenn grumbles and growls but deep down he wants the same thing. Only problem, an irascible and downright sexy cowboy named Mac Gentry will be along on the cattle drive. Glenn has come out to his family but it hasn't been easy for him, not to find someone to spend time with, or accept all aspects of his sexuality. And he sure as hell wants Mac Gentry, if only the two weren't like oil and water.

When the Dust Settles is told exclusively from Glenn's point of view and my my my it was such a treat to be inside his head. He's vulnerable and snarky and a little mean but man does he have a soft gooey center. He's my favorite type hero. And the chemistry between him and Mac was off the charts hot. This story just hit all of my buttons. It had it's tender moments, it's funny moments (Rand Holloway is as sarcastic and dry as the desert and he's SO fabulous) and there was a bit of unexpected suspense at the end that took me totally by surprise in the best way. My only complaints? Well, I'm greedy so I wish this book was longer. I also wish we could have more actual Glenn and Mac time. I'm hoping there's more because there are unresolved issues with Glenn's father that definitely need exploring. And of course, I would have LOVED to have seen more of Stef and Rand (and their son!) BUT When the Dust Settles is as awesome as the absolutely gorgeous cover, and then some! If you haven't read this series yet, fix that immediately! Trust me.