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Frog
Weber Yates's dreams of stardom are about to be reduced to a ranch hand's job in Texas, and his one relationship is with a guy so far out of his league he might as well be on the moon. Or at least in San Francisco, where Weber stops to see him one last time before settling down to the humble, lonely life he figures a frog like him has coming.
Cyrus Benning is a successful neurosurgeon, so details are never lost on him. He spotted the prince in a broken-down bull rider's clothing from day one. But watching Weber walk out on him keeps getting harder, and he's not sure how much more his heart can take. Now Cyrus has one last chance to prove to Weber that it's not Weber's job that makes him Cyrus's perfect man, it's Weber himself. With the help of his sister's newly broken family, he's ready to show Weber that the home the man's been searching for has always been right there, with him. Cyrus might have laid down an ultimatum once, but now it's turned into a vow-he's never going to let Weber out of his life again.
Cyrus Benning is a successful neurosurgeon, so details are never lost on him. He spotted the prince in a broken-down bull rider's clothing from day one. But watching Weber walk out on him keeps getting harder, and he's not sure how much more his heart can take. Now Cyrus has one last chance to prove to Weber that it's not Weber's job that makes him Cyrus's perfect man, it's Weber himself. With the help of his sister's newly broken family, he's ready to show Weber that the home the man's been searching for has always been right there, with him. Cyrus might have laid down an ultimatum once, but now it's turned into a vow-he's never going to let Weber out of his life again.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2012
133 people are currently reading
3927 people want to read
About the author
Mary Calmes
125 books5,016 followersMary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a six-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,033 reviews
May 29, 2017
Wow. Oh, wow.
I get now why everyone loves this book. I get the high ratings now. I get it.
This book is like sitting in your front porch swing, drinking sweet tea on a warm summer day, just watching the world go by without a care in the world.
It’s like coming home from a long, hard day at work and having a candlelight dinner ready and waiting for you.
It’s like walking into the living room and seeing your husband asleep on the couch with your newborn daughter curled up on his chest.
It’s like sleeping in late, cuddled up under the covers with your love on a rainy Sunday morning.
It’s like hearing your favorite song on the radio and singing it at the top of your lungs with your best friend in the world.
It’s like birthdays and anniversaries and holidays.
It’s like puppy kisses and baby’s breath and the squealing laughter of children.
It’s like home.
This book brought tears to my eyes. Tears of joy, of happiness and of hope. I’m not sure why I haven’t read this book sooner. It is a complete failing on my part that I waited this long. From now on, whenever I’m feeling down, lonely or depressed, I will most definitely be re-reading this beautiful, heart-warming story as I know it will pick me up and put me back to rights again.
Mary Calmes, I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful gift you have given to me.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Re-read 5/26/14.
Loved it just as much, if not more than the first time.
I get now why everyone loves this book. I get the high ratings now. I get it.
This book is like sitting in your front porch swing, drinking sweet tea on a warm summer day, just watching the world go by without a care in the world.
It’s like coming home from a long, hard day at work and having a candlelight dinner ready and waiting for you.
It’s like walking into the living room and seeing your husband asleep on the couch with your newborn daughter curled up on his chest.
It’s like sleeping in late, cuddled up under the covers with your love on a rainy Sunday morning.
It’s like hearing your favorite song on the radio and singing it at the top of your lungs with your best friend in the world.
It’s like birthdays and anniversaries and holidays.
It’s like puppy kisses and baby’s breath and the squealing laughter of children.
It’s like home.
This book brought tears to my eyes. Tears of joy, of happiness and of hope. I’m not sure why I haven’t read this book sooner. It is a complete failing on my part that I waited this long. From now on, whenever I’m feeling down, lonely or depressed, I will most definitely be re-reading this beautiful, heart-warming story as I know it will pick me up and put me back to rights again.
Mary Calmes, I cannot thank you enough for this wonderful gift you have given to me.
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Re-read 5/26/14.
Loved it just as much, if not more than the first time.
May 8, 2023
A big reason why I absolutely love to read fluff is simply because of the “no drama” it has. And that’s the reason why many others don’t, which is fine.
Reading, as many of us say, is a way to escape. A means to get away from the real world. It’s different for all of us.
But am I really escaping when I’m reading about other peoples problems? Are they really not my own when I’m witnessing them?
So sometimes I ask myself: Do I really want to read about “fictional problems” when I already have my own?
Sometimes, yes.
Which leads to:
Crying. Yelling at my kindle. Yelling at my phone. Screaming. Groaning. Crying. Rolling my eyes. Punching my bed. Pulling my hair. More crying. Dragging my hand down my face. Jittering. Talking to the characters as if they can hear me, telling them they’re being stupid and why would you do this and why why WHY? Did I say crying? There’s also doses of happiness, laughter, wide grins, happy shrieks, and all of that.
Other times…
No, not really.
Homework deadlines. Work deadlines. Paper deadlines. Food deadlines. Bill deadlines. Mental health deadlines. Life deadlines.
No thanks.
I just want to read about two people falling in love in the most OTT and unrealistic ways. Part of it is to fill the void, yknow?
So, with that being said, this is fluff.
Angst free. Drama free. All the free.
Nothing but sweet. Perhaps even too sweet for some.
Not the sweetest and fluffiest book I've read for sure, but still sweet.
Is there a “brain” version for sweet tooth? Cause mine absolutely loved this.
So if you don’t like fluff, and basically “too sweet” books, don’t read this.
I, however, consider fluff my comfort place. A place I go to when I'm stressed and yeah, don't wanna read about other's problems, even if they aren't real (because sometimes they're relatable and I feel called out and exposed).
Now, on to my actual thoughts about this.
Frog is nothing but about love. It's a short book, less than 200 pages of love. It can get annoying, yes, but there is nothing but love. It follows Webber Yates, who is a bull rider when we meet him, and Cyrus Benning, a successful neurosurgeon. The two are completely different. The story starts off with Web calling Cyrus asking him to meet up. We learn that seven or eight months ago, Cyrus gave Webber an ultimatum, telling him he'll either stay forever with him or go and never come back. Cyrus, as we see, regrets what he said and did, and this presents an opportunity he uses to try and get Web back. The story then drifts to a memory of the time when the two met, where they had an insta-lust attraction, causing them led to them engaging sexually. Back to present times, Cyrus takes Web home, where Cy uses it to his advantage to prove Web why he’s enough. With the help of his sister’s newest revelation about her ex-husband and her children needing a nanny, Web and Cyrus' second chance may be the new sign the both needed.
I think the only “angst” is some inner angst one of the MC’s, Webber, has. He’s very prideful and doesn’t want to admit to himself that being taken care of isn’t bad. He doesn't accept or see how and why he's “good enough” for Cyrus and wonders what exactly he sees in him. He has his insecurities and feels like he isn't enough. There’s also a sort of push and pull relationship between Web and Cyrus, where they know they want, need, and love each other, but Web’s pride gets in the way a lot, and Cy is quite persistent too. Other than that, there's no drama or conflicting situations.
They still have a lot of cute moments, though.
And sexy times.
Cy's family is a big and important addition to the story, and they're all completely supportive. His mother, father, and siblings are supportive of their sexual orientations and don’t diminish their feelings or take them as inferior for who they are. Oh! And there’s kids. Adorable kids who actually act their ages (thank you Mary). Shocker, I know. Web has them all completely wrapped around their finger, and the friendship that grows between them is fast but wholesome. They all love each other as a small but big family, and it’s completely tender and loving. Carolyn, Cy’s sister, is also a lovely addition to the story. I’ve stated before how annoying secondary characters can be, especially family members, but Carolyn was supportive from the beginning and a necessary piece in Web's life, I loved how trustworthy she was with Web and how honest she was about her feelings towards him. Cy’s family was also not meddling but instead a sweet addition and providing a new relationship to his life he didn’t think he needed. They were all wonderful.
In conclusion, yes, this was quite forgettable, but it was also enjoyable enough to check out more of her works. Plus I was smiling so damn much. Love can be so cute.
Reading, as many of us say, is a way to escape. A means to get away from the real world. It’s different for all of us.
But am I really escaping when I’m reading about other peoples problems? Are they really not my own when I’m witnessing them?
So sometimes I ask myself: Do I really want to read about “fictional problems” when I already have my own?
Sometimes, yes.
Which leads to:
Crying. Yelling at my kindle. Yelling at my phone. Screaming. Groaning. Crying. Rolling my eyes. Punching my bed. Pulling my hair. More crying. Dragging my hand down my face. Jittering. Talking to the characters as if they can hear me, telling them they’re being stupid and why would you do this and why why WHY? Did I say crying? There’s also doses of happiness, laughter, wide grins, happy shrieks, and all of that.
Other times…
No, not really.
Homework deadlines. Work deadlines. Paper deadlines. Food deadlines. Bill deadlines. Mental health deadlines. Life deadlines.
No thanks.
I just want to read about two people falling in love in the most OTT and unrealistic ways. Part of it is to fill the void, yknow?
So, with that being said, this is fluff.
Angst free. Drama free. All the free.
Nothing but sweet. Perhaps even too sweet for some.
Not the sweetest and fluffiest book I've read for sure, but still sweet.
Is there a “brain” version for sweet tooth? Cause mine absolutely loved this.
So if you don’t like fluff, and basically “too sweet” books, don’t read this.
I, however, consider fluff my comfort place. A place I go to when I'm stressed and yeah, don't wanna read about other's problems, even if they aren't real (because sometimes they're relatable and I feel called out and exposed).
Now, on to my actual thoughts about this.
Frog is nothing but about love. It's a short book, less than 200 pages of love. It can get annoying, yes, but there is nothing but love. It follows Webber Yates, who is a bull rider when we meet him, and Cyrus Benning, a successful neurosurgeon. The two are completely different. The story starts off with Web calling Cyrus asking him to meet up. We learn that seven or eight months ago, Cyrus gave Webber an ultimatum, telling him he'll either stay forever with him or go and never come back. Cyrus, as we see, regrets what he said and did, and this presents an opportunity he uses to try and get Web back. The story then drifts to a memory of the time when the two met, where they had an insta-lust attraction, causing them led to them engaging sexually. Back to present times, Cyrus takes Web home, where Cy uses it to his advantage to prove Web why he’s enough. With the help of his sister’s newest revelation about her ex-husband and her children needing a nanny, Web and Cyrus' second chance may be the new sign the both needed.
“I finally understood that the man truly and completely loved me. And he didn’t love me because I was a cowboy, and he didn’t love me because I was some romantic ideal but because I was me. He loved plain old Weber Yates, poor, out of work, and clueless. He worshipped the ground I walked on. It made no sense. We were as different as we could be. I was a nothing, and he had the world at his feet, but apparently, in this scenario, he didn’t see it like that. He didn’t have everything unless he had me. The man saw me, cherished my heart, recognized how much I loved him, and knew that it would never occur to me to stop, ever. There could be no mistake. We would be in this for the long haul if I would finally, could finally, let it start. And really, why would I not?”
I think the only “angst” is some inner angst one of the MC’s, Webber, has. He’s very prideful and doesn’t want to admit to himself that being taken care of isn’t bad. He doesn't accept or see how and why he's “good enough” for Cyrus and wonders what exactly he sees in him. He has his insecurities and feels like he isn't enough. There’s also a sort of push and pull relationship between Web and Cyrus, where they know they want, need, and love each other, but Web’s pride gets in the way a lot, and Cy is quite persistent too. Other than that, there's no drama or conflicting situations.
They still have a lot of cute moments, though.
And sexy times.
“You could undo your belt and them jeans, slip down your underwear, and bury your dick in my throat. Whaddya say?”
Cy's family is a big and important addition to the story, and they're all completely supportive. His mother, father, and siblings are supportive of their sexual orientations and don’t diminish their feelings or take them as inferior for who they are. Oh! And there’s kids. Adorable kids who actually act their ages (thank you Mary). Shocker, I know. Web has them all completely wrapped around their finger, and the friendship that grows between them is fast but wholesome. They all love each other as a small but big family, and it’s completely tender and loving. Carolyn, Cy’s sister, is also a lovely addition to the story. I’ve stated before how annoying secondary characters can be, especially family members, but Carolyn was supportive from the beginning and a necessary piece in Web's life, I loved how trustworthy she was with Web and how honest she was about her feelings towards him. Cy’s family was also not meddling but instead a sweet addition and providing a new relationship to his life he didn’t think he needed. They were all wonderful.
In conclusion, yes, this was quite forgettable, but it was also enjoyable enough to check out more of her works. Plus I was smiling so damn much. Love can be so cute.
“His hands were clutching at my thighs. “Jesus, Web, your body is so hard. I love touching you.”
“Are you listening to me?”
“You look so good, so healthy and beautiful, your whole body… it’s like you were carved out of stone or something.”
“You ain’t listenin’ at all,” I groused at him.”
December 14, 2014
Oh, Mary, where have you been my whole life?
Seriously, my heart grew two sizes while reading this book.
And even though I wanted to throttle Web more than once for not realizing that he's more than good enough and lovable enough and beautiful enough for Cy, I still loved him and want him to come train my children who are little shits and not nearly as perfect as Carolyn's boys (no, really, where did she find these kids?).
There are some smexy scenes in this one, but the focus is love. LOVE, people, heart-pounding, only-you, don't-ever-leave-me, fuck-me-now kind of love, the BEST kind.
Also, once Web finally gets it, the HEA is so over the top, it makes you feel like your own life is totally inadequate (in a good way!). Because who can compete with the perfection that is Cy and Web together:
"I lost track of everything but the man in my arms, the smell of his skin, the taste of his sweat, and the sound of his breathing. How could I have ever thought that I wouldn't be spending the rest of my life with him?"
How indeed?
Seriously, my heart grew two sizes while reading this book.
And even though I wanted to throttle Web more than once for not realizing that he's more than good enough and lovable enough and beautiful enough for Cy, I still loved him and want him to come train my children who are little shits and not nearly as perfect as Carolyn's boys (no, really, where did she find these kids?).
There are some smexy scenes in this one, but the focus is love. LOVE, people, heart-pounding, only-you, don't-ever-leave-me, fuck-me-now kind of love, the BEST kind.
Also, once Web finally gets it, the HEA is so over the top, it makes you feel like your own life is totally inadequate (in a good way!). Because who can compete with the perfection that is Cy and Web together:
"I lost track of everything but the man in my arms, the smell of his skin, the taste of his sweat, and the sound of his breathing. How could I have ever thought that I wouldn't be spending the rest of my life with him?"
How indeed?
September 12, 2016
A lot of people around here call Mary Calmes "crack." I need some more of this sweet, sweet crack. I want to smoke it all day and all night; when the crack runs out, I will knock over a gas station to get some more of this delicious goodness.
The MC of Frog, Weber, is the perfect guy; he seems a bit rough around the edges at first, but then you find out he's actually an angel who's good with kids, animals, and everything else under the sun. I was waiting for the scene where he charms a grizzly bear into dancing for the children in the book.
I have seen the Calmes light! It's a Hershey's Kiss wrapped in sunshine and tied with a rainbow ribbon.
The MC of Frog, Weber, is the perfect guy; he seems a bit rough around the edges at first, but then you find out he's actually an angel who's good with kids, animals, and everything else under the sun. I was waiting for the scene where he charms a grizzly bear into dancing for the children in the book.
I have seen the Calmes light! It's a Hershey's Kiss wrapped in sunshine and tied with a rainbow ribbon.
February 3, 2015
4 stars!!!
Frog was a pleasant surprise for me. It a lot of sweet with the perfect amount of sexy thrown in. I loved the authors writing style and both of the main characters were so damn lovable!
Weber Yates doesn’t have any family and has spent a majority of his adult life in the bull riding circuit. Many years ago he met Cyrus Benning. Cyrus is a neurosurgeon. He’s settled in San Fransisco with his job and his family that lives close by. Weber and Cyrus have stayed close over the years, seeing each other when they can, but each time they’re together it gets harder and harder to part. Now that Weber is a little older and with injuries, he can’t do everything he used to. He’s going to settle down somewhere, maybe as a ranch hand. Cyrus is determined to keep Weber with him. He wants more than the short times he’s had with Weber over the years. He wants him forever.
Weber deep down feels the same way Cyrus does. He just doesn’t feel worthy of him and doesn’t know what he would do for work there. Cyrus’s sister needs help with her boys and her sons start to give Weber a purpose. Maybe with this purpose Cyrus will finally be able to keep Weber for good.
Frog is told from Weber’s perspective. I love that cowboy! He is the sweetest man. Such a gentlemen. And watching him with the kids was just great! He’s such an amazing guy and he doesn’t even realize it. I loved the bond that Cyrus and Weber had. They were great together.
My only complaint and the reason it wasn’t a 5 star read for me is that I wanted more of Weber and Cyrus’s past. They had this great love for each other and knew each other for the longest, but besides that one small glimpse into the past when they first met, we didn’t get to see any of their love develop and grow.
Overall, this is a story that I truly enjoyed listening to. It brought me to tears at times, warmed my heart and left a giant smile on my face when it was all said and done. If you’re looking for a sugary sweet and steamy m/m romance this is the perfect read!
Frog was a pleasant surprise for me. It a lot of sweet with the perfect amount of sexy thrown in. I loved the authors writing style and both of the main characters were so damn lovable!
“We both know you could do better than me.”
“We believe two different truths."
Weber Yates doesn’t have any family and has spent a majority of his adult life in the bull riding circuit. Many years ago he met Cyrus Benning. Cyrus is a neurosurgeon. He’s settled in San Fransisco with his job and his family that lives close by. Weber and Cyrus have stayed close over the years, seeing each other when they can, but each time they’re together it gets harder and harder to part. Now that Weber is a little older and with injuries, he can’t do everything he used to. He’s going to settle down somewhere, maybe as a ranch hand. Cyrus is determined to keep Weber with him. He wants more than the short times he’s had with Weber over the years. He wants him forever.
Weber deep down feels the same way Cyrus does. He just doesn’t feel worthy of him and doesn’t know what he would do for work there. Cyrus’s sister needs help with her boys and her sons start to give Weber a purpose. Maybe with this purpose Cyrus will finally be able to keep Weber for good.
Frog is told from Weber’s perspective. I love that cowboy! He is the sweetest man. Such a gentlemen. And watching him with the kids was just great! He’s such an amazing guy and he doesn’t even realize it. I loved the bond that Cyrus and Weber had. They were great together.
My only complaint and the reason it wasn’t a 5 star read for me is that I wanted more of Weber and Cyrus’s past. They had this great love for each other and knew each other for the longest, but besides that one small glimpse into the past when they first met, we didn’t get to see any of their love develop and grow.
Overall, this is a story that I truly enjoyed listening to. It brought me to tears at times, warmed my heart and left a giant smile on my face when it was all said and done. If you’re looking for a sugary sweet and steamy m/m romance this is the perfect read!
June 20, 2016
Re-read June 2016 - fucking perfect
There is nothing I can say about this book that will do it justice. I can just say, "Read it. It was phenomenal. It will make your heart sing." If you don't believe me, you can read the thousand plus other reviews written here at GoodReads. I am speechless with emotion at how much I loved this book. This will be one I'll come back to again and again when I'm feeling blue and need a little piece of sunshine.
There is nothing I can say about this book that will do it justice. I can just say, "Read it. It was phenomenal. It will make your heart sing." If you don't believe me, you can read the thousand plus other reviews written here at GoodReads. I am speechless with emotion at how much I loved this book. This will be one I'll come back to again and again when I'm feeling blue and need a little piece of sunshine.
April 11, 2013
My first book by Mary Calmes and I was pleasantly surprised. This book was perfect for my current mood. It was sweet and sexy with very little conflict. Just a feel good straight up romance with some hot cowboys to boot (what can be wrong with that!). I will definitely be trying more Mary Calmes in the future.
December 3, 2023
The perfect re-read for this time of year. Better than a Christmas hallmark movie, filled with found family, personal growth, a deep love story, and way more heat than you’d ever find from hallmark!
*Original review:
*Original review:
“Did you ever think that the only thing you're supposed to do is just love me?”A bull rider and a neurosurgeon fall in lust and then love. This is one steamy and sweet gay/mm love story. I was so lucky to stumble on this little treasure the other day. It’s one of those "feels too good to be true, but you like how happy it makes you reading it" stories. It’s a little OTT with Webber being a unicorn man (perfect with children and solves everyones problems) but I didn’t care.
I would worship him so he'd know that he was everything.So cute. So adorable. Loved it. Going on my favorites and reread list.
August 23, 2015
Audiobook review August 21, 2014
I’ve read the ebook version of Frog twice. The first time I loved it (4 stars), the second time I really liked it (3.5 stars), but couldn’t get past my initial niggles. But, what Frog does well as a book is…well…it serves as a comfort read. It’s one of those stories you can go back to time and again and just enjoy.
The audiobook version is one of those that really adds something to the story. Hearing the cowboy drawl in the narrator’s voice, making everything Weber says sound like honey…it was soothing. I found myself enjoying Weber even more than I had in my own head. And when he shifted his voice to become the all-business Cyrus, I believed it was a separate narrator at times.
Now, there were moments when the narrator might’ve forgotten that he was using different voices and suddenly Cyrus had a drawl that should not have existed for the San Francisco doctor. But, *shrugs*, it didn’t happen enough times to be annoying…just enough to be noticeable.
All in all, a fun book to listen to and short enough that you can get through it quickly.
AUDIOBOOK RATING: 4 stars
******************************
Re-read March 30, 2014
When I first read Frog, it was gosh-darnit the sweetest thing I had ever encountered. Weber Yates stole my heart, much as he did everyone else’s, both in the book and those reading it. I adored it. And though I noticed some stuff that could potentially bug me, there was no telling me otherwise…this was gonna be my go-to-feel-good book!
I rarely re-read books. I just don’t want to be reminded about what I liked or didn’t like about them because they fit for a time and place. But, I needed something sweet in my life to read…and I remembered loving Frog so much the first time around.
Again, it’s hard NOT to love Weber. He’s a cowboy. And he’s a good, kind, solid man. And he’s 6’3″, a ginger, and made of all heart. :) So, nothing changed there. But this time around, I came to find that I really really really loved Cyrus too! He’s a neurosurgeon. And he’s a caretaker and he’s brave and he asks for what he wants. I was so smitten with Cyrus during this read-through because he represents the things I want to be. And he and Weber are so freaking HOT and ADORABLE together.
Now, my first reading was back in September 2012 and it was one of the first M/M books I’d gone through. Here we are 1.5 years and 100′s of books later and sure, the issues were more prominent. There was a LOT of emotional manipulation going on here. The sister, the doctor, the parents…all forcing Web into something THEY wanted. It really got to me this time. I was livid, to be honest. I found all the parts outside of Web & Cy to be…despicable, actually. And it really bummed me out. And that started to overflow into the perfect ending that I found not-so-perfect this read through.
But, then thinking of Weber & Cyrus made me feel like I was being hugged in a warm blanket and it’s hard to stay mad. Frog remains a safe ‘feel good’ book and I’d still recommend and endorse should anyone ask…
ORIGINAL RATING: 4 Stars
REREAD RATING: 3.5 Stars
******************************
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
I could read this book 10 times in a row and not get sick of it...the smile would NEVER leave my face!
This was such a sweet, endearing, pleasant, heartwarming, tender, adorable, story. How can you go wrong with a cowboy and a doctor? How can you miss with 2 guys loving each other so dearly? How can you not love a family that supports their gay son and loves his partner?
Weber Yates: Cowboy. 6'3", 170'ish lbs. Ginger. Great with kids, dogs, parents, and a man of respect and manners. Slightly unsure of himself. Stubborn. But, a "mountain"...wants to carry your burden. Affectionate and says some of the sweetest things.
Cyrus Benning: Doctor (neurosurgeon). 6'1". 165'ish. Chestnut hair, brown eyes w/ gold flecks. Hard as nails and very serious...EXCEPT when he's around Cy...where he's reduced to a giggling hugger. Makes his parents proud. Isn't afraid to fight for Cy. Adorable when he's drunk.
I mean...C'MON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to be their wife...I'm totally fine w/ 2 husbands. Ok, if not, can I at least be their best girlfriend?
Ok, yes, the end got to be a bit over-the-top cheesy, but not too drawn out. Only a couple cavities. :)
DEFINITELY READ THIS BOOK if you're in the mood to be swept off your feet and feel like smiling for a few hours or more...
PS - worst name for this book ever!
June 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
Seven months ago, Cyrus had given Weber an ultimatum; stay forever or never come back. He was just tired of waiting. Web left but then he came back again but not for good, so Cy decided it’s a good chance to show him when someone loves you unconditionally nothing else matters…
Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novella. It was insta-attraction/lust; I knew it is the author’s specialty so I didn’t mind. It’s low angsty and an easy quick read. Web was so headstrong and I loved them headstrong but what I didn’t like was his reason! It wasn’t strong enough, maybe because I don’t believe that kind of insecurity in real life. Another thing was I liked to see them with each other before Cy’s ultimatum! Yes, there was one flashback but I wanted more of those, maybe more emotional!? All in all, it still was a good read and I hope you enjoy it as well!
Seven months ago, Cyrus had given Weber an ultimatum; stay forever or never come back. He was just tired of waiting. Web left but then he came back again but not for good, so Cy decided it’s a good chance to show him when someone loves you unconditionally nothing else matters…
Told in single POV, 1st person, it’s a standalone novella. It was insta-attraction/lust; I knew it is the author’s specialty so I didn’t mind. It’s low angsty and an easy quick read. Web was so headstrong and I loved them headstrong but what I didn’t like was his reason! It wasn’t strong enough, maybe because I don’t believe that kind of insecurity in real life. Another thing was I liked to see them with each other before Cy’s ultimatum! Yes, there was one flashback but I wanted more of those, maybe more emotional!? All in all, it still was a good read and I hope you enjoy it as well!
September 29, 2022
Totally adorable, super gushy, mushy, and sweet with just a bit of “what defines a man” inner angst for our rambling cowboy Weber.
I was sucked in from the get-go with a super hot scene behind a tool shed between two strangers who end up being our MCs.
Typically, I’m not a Mary Calmes fan since I find her writing a bit OTT in a bodice ripper kind of way. But here, it worked for me due to the short length of the story, and the loveliness of Weber...the man everyone loves except himself. I also enjoyed the needy heat between him and Cy.
Fun, hot & short...who wouldn’t want Web for a manny?
And you know what? I would totally read this again because it SCREAMS “UBER COMFORT READ!”
I was sucked in from the get-go with a super hot scene behind a tool shed between two strangers who end up being our MCs.
Typically, I’m not a Mary Calmes fan since I find her writing a bit OTT in a bodice ripper kind of way. But here, it worked for me due to the short length of the story, and the loveliness of Weber...the man everyone loves except himself. I also enjoyed the needy heat between him and Cy.
Fun, hot & short...who wouldn’t want Web for a manny?
And you know what? I would totally read this again because it SCREAMS “UBER COMFORT READ!”
April 28, 2012
Can I Fall In Love With A Book? You Bet Your Sweet Ass I Can!!
Of all the cute, sexy, awesome books I've been reading lately Frog takes the cake. Not only does it take the cake but it takes the cake, body slams all of the other books and stands on top of them yelling "I'M KING OF THE WOOOOOOOOOORLD!!!".
Web is a cowboy and an amateur bull rider at the end of his career. He's 44, homeless and has forty-two dollars to his name. The one sunshiney bright spot in his life is the brilliant neurosurgeon, Dr. Cyrus Benning. Frog is the story of how these two men, who've met approximately 15 times in the last three years, settle into being two halves of a whole.
Wait, that's not quite right...Cyrus and Web are already two halves of whole when the story starts. The thing is that Web is scared to stay put, scared to let himself grow used to being loved, scared to settle into a life because his worst fear is that he could lose it all.
Web, oh Web, you broke my heart. Web's inability to see how fantastic he was, how kind he was, how he cared for people and made them feel worthwhile had me wiping my eyes more than a few times. You see, even though Web doesn't have much materially, he has a good soul and that made him the richest man in the world. It was a joy to watch him love Cyrus and bring out a side a Cyrus that people thought didn't exist...
And that brings us to Cy. Cy had me rooting for him like I've never rooted for a character in a book. He KNOWS how great Web is. He KNOWS that Web is damn near a blessing and Cy loves Web with every breath he takes. Cy wants Web, and a life with Web, like I've never seen one character want another character in a book. It wasn't just want; it was need.
And then there's the kids. Cy's nephews latch onto Web and they are just so damn adorable! Pip,who's 4 and miniature cowboy in flannel pajamas. Micah, who's 6 and doesn't speak due to a traumatic experience. Tristan, who's 8 and needs to trust someone now that the boys' father has abandoned them. Web is good with those kids. He treasures them, gives them structure, rules and someone to believe in.
Reading this book is reading about a group of people who find home, family and a support system in each other. I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long time.
Am I gushing here? Hell yes and I don't give a damn! The pacing of this story was excellent. Web's insecurities were not dragged on to the point where they became pointless melodrama. The writing was good. I never thought "Oh, this needs more editing" or anything like that. The characters made me fall in love with them. I got a good dose of seeing Web and Cy as a settled couple. The book ended in a beautiful spot and I didn't feel like there needed to be any less or any more.
I'm not really a fan of Mary calmes' other books but this was just my kind of story. If you feel like you want a hit of sweet romance, family and devotion then I recommend this book. I loved it and if you decide to read it then I hope you love it too.
Of all the cute, sexy, awesome books I've been reading lately Frog takes the cake. Not only does it take the cake but it takes the cake, body slams all of the other books and stands on top of them yelling "I'M KING OF THE WOOOOOOOOOORLD!!!".
Web is a cowboy and an amateur bull rider at the end of his career. He's 44, homeless and has forty-two dollars to his name. The one sunshiney bright spot in his life is the brilliant neurosurgeon, Dr. Cyrus Benning. Frog is the story of how these two men, who've met approximately 15 times in the last three years, settle into being two halves of a whole.
Wait, that's not quite right...Cyrus and Web are already two halves of whole when the story starts. The thing is that Web is scared to stay put, scared to let himself grow used to being loved, scared to settle into a life because his worst fear is that he could lose it all.
Web, oh Web, you broke my heart. Web's inability to see how fantastic he was, how kind he was, how he cared for people and made them feel worthwhile had me wiping my eyes more than a few times. You see, even though Web doesn't have much materially, he has a good soul and that made him the richest man in the world. It was a joy to watch him love Cyrus and bring out a side a Cyrus that people thought didn't exist...
And that brings us to Cy. Cy had me rooting for him like I've never rooted for a character in a book. He KNOWS how great Web is. He KNOWS that Web is damn near a blessing and Cy loves Web with every breath he takes. Cy wants Web, and a life with Web, like I've never seen one character want another character in a book. It wasn't just want; it was need.
And then there's the kids. Cy's nephews latch onto Web and they are just so damn adorable! Pip,who's 4 and miniature cowboy in flannel pajamas. Micah, who's 6 and doesn't speak due to a traumatic experience. Tristan, who's 8 and needs to trust someone now that the boys' father has abandoned them. Web is good with those kids. He treasures them, gives them structure, rules and someone to believe in.
Reading this book is reading about a group of people who find home, family and a support system in each other. I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long time.
Am I gushing here? Hell yes and I don't give a damn! The pacing of this story was excellent. Web's insecurities were not dragged on to the point where they became pointless melodrama. The writing was good. I never thought "Oh, this needs more editing" or anything like that. The characters made me fall in love with them. I got a good dose of seeing Web and Cy as a settled couple. The book ended in a beautiful spot and I didn't feel like there needed to be any less or any more.
I'm not really a fan of Mary calmes' other books but this was just my kind of story. If you feel like you want a hit of sweet romance, family and devotion then I recommend this book. I loved it and if you decide to read it then I hope you love it too.
October 3, 2018
DNF at 62%
I tried.
Should I mention, I wanted to like it?
Though I'm not sure I wanted to like it.
I THOUGHT I needed something easy and cute and hot.
I still need something easy and cute and hot...but SOMETHING.
It was NOTHING. About NOTHING.
And it has at least 3 kids to much for my taste.
Not that I don't like kids, but I don't like them in this amount in my MM books.
I know, it is unfair to compare books, but to read it after Joseph Hansen was not a good decision. For the book.
It is a comfortable read that made me very uncomfortable.
But it is me. You could like it.
Read Jenni Lea's review before you decide to skip it.
The book is not bad and I can understand all readers who enjoyed it.
It was just a wrong book for me.
And the next time I'm going to ask my personal consulter,Ingela, before I buy me a book!
She knew that I wouldn't like it before I even started to read it!!!
It's why I like GR so much!
I tried.
Should I mention, I wanted to like it?
Though I'm not sure I wanted to like it.
I THOUGHT I needed something easy and cute and hot.
I still need something easy and cute and hot...but SOMETHING.
It was NOTHING. About NOTHING.
And it has at least 3 kids to much for my taste.
Not that I don't like kids, but I don't like them in this amount in my MM books.
I know, it is unfair to compare books, but to read it after Joseph Hansen was not a good decision. For the book.
It is a comfortable read that made me very uncomfortable.
But it is me. You could like it.
Read Jenni Lea's review before you decide to skip it.
The book is not bad and I can understand all readers who enjoyed it.
It was just a wrong book for me.
And the next time I'm going to ask my personal consulter,Ingela, before I buy me a book!
She knew that I wouldn't like it before I even started to read it!!!
It's why I like GR so much!
June 6, 2018
After three years of on again, off again visits, Weber is back to see the only man he's ever kissed. The only man he's ever wanted for more than one night. The only man he's ever loved.
But he's not good enough for the neurosurgeon who could have any one he wanted. Anyone on the same level as him. Not some out of work, ex rodeo drifter.
But Cyrus has other plans. He wants Weber to stay this time.
Mary Calmes is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. She has a way of writing characters to make me love them even when everything going on is OTT and a mess. This one was no different. It was sweet and mushy. Weber was the "perfect" guy. The kids loved him. Cyrus' family loved him. Parents, teachers, coaches, co-workers, other nannies...you get the picture. But it worked.
I did find myself a little annoyed at times with Weber and his insistence that he was going to leave. Of course I knew it would all work out. I just hoped it would happen sooner. It was still sweet and definitely swoon-worthy.
"The man was mine. Heart, body, soul. All mine. I was such an idiot"~Cyrus
But he's not good enough for the neurosurgeon who could have any one he wanted. Anyone on the same level as him. Not some out of work, ex rodeo drifter.
"Our chemistry was combustible, but we could not have been more different if one of us had been from the moon."~Web
But Cyrus has other plans. He wants Weber to stay this time.
“...one of these days you are going to let me love you, and you’re going to stay.”~Cyrus
Mary Calmes is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. She has a way of writing characters to make me love them even when everything going on is OTT and a mess. This one was no different. It was sweet and mushy. Weber was the "perfect" guy. The kids loved him. Cyrus' family loved him. Parents, teachers, coaches, co-workers, other nannies...you get the picture. But it worked.
I did find myself a little annoyed at times with Weber and his insistence that he was going to leave. Of course I knew it would all work out. I just hoped it would happen sooner. It was still sweet and definitely swoon-worthy.
“Christ, Weber, you’re my prince, idiot. You were never a frog,”~Cyrus
July 30, 2015
Other than an infuriating inability to see his own worth, Weber Yates is perfect. He's very sexy, honest, caring, intuitive, self-reliant, competent, affectionate in public, kind to women and children, and adored by almost every human and animal who comes in contact with him. Oh, and he's a tall cowboy and he cooks. Perfect. By all rights, I should hate him. But the author's skill is such that I actually adore him just like everyone else in this book. This is a sweet story about Web slowly allowing himself to believe that he truly matters to the man he loves, and that he is good enough to be worth keeping, and that his lover is not better off in the times when Web leaves him. A wonderful choice for reading after something dark and harsh.
April 6, 2025
Jeeez, what an absolutely gorgeous, moving novella about a broken, broke, lonely cowboy and the crisp, successful, desperately-in-love-with-said-cowboy neurosurgeon.
We’re thrust into the middle of their story, which is mostly set three years after their first encounter. Three years of Web traveling the country and never settling down. Too proud, too independent, too self conscious and scared to really give himself to Cy. Convinced he’s not good enough for him while Cy is screaming at him in words and actions that Web is in fact good enough, that he always has been, that he doesn’t care which possessions or profession Web has or doesn’t have or where he comes from.
He just wants Web to let him love him and is so utterly desperate for his idiot to see their potential; just waiting for him to finally, finally accept that they belong together. Believing in their connection enough for the both of them. And when Web finally caught on? Gave in? Uff, so fucking good, so fucking joyful 🥹
There was fighting and sex, and so much yearning, affection and tenderness and then disagreements again and it made it all feel so real and raw and I LOVED all of it.
And my god.
Then there was the “You don’t get it yet, but you will“
And the
“Thank you for wanting to hold me, Weber.”
“Thank you for lettin’ me, Cyrus.”
And the
“Did you ever think that the only thing you’re supposed to do is just love me?”
And the
“You’re the thing I don’t have, Weber Yates. You’re what I miss. You’re the part I only have when I know I can wake up in the morning and see your face.”
And the
“When we get home, will you hold me so tight that I can feel your heart beating?”
And the
“You’re going to stay,” he whispered close to my ear. “And be mine.”
I mean… come on.
This isn’t a story about big, dramatic plot twists, angst or drama. It’s about showing up for someone when they’re convinced they don’t deserve it. It’s about tenderness and patience and that aching moment when someone finally, finally lets themselves come home. 5⭐️
We’re thrust into the middle of their story, which is mostly set three years after their first encounter. Three years of Web traveling the country and never settling down. Too proud, too independent, too self conscious and scared to really give himself to Cy. Convinced he’s not good enough for him while Cy is screaming at him in words and actions that Web is in fact good enough, that he always has been, that he doesn’t care which possessions or profession Web has or doesn’t have or where he comes from.
He just wants Web to let him love him and is so utterly desperate for his idiot to see their potential; just waiting for him to finally, finally accept that they belong together. Believing in their connection enough for the both of them. And when Web finally caught on? Gave in? Uff, so fucking good, so fucking joyful 🥹
There was fighting and sex, and so much yearning, affection and tenderness and then disagreements again and it made it all feel so real and raw and I LOVED all of it.
And my god.
Then there was the “You don’t get it yet, but you will“
And the
“Thank you for wanting to hold me, Weber.”
“Thank you for lettin’ me, Cyrus.”
And the
“Did you ever think that the only thing you’re supposed to do is just love me?”
And the
“You’re the thing I don’t have, Weber Yates. You’re what I miss. You’re the part I only have when I know I can wake up in the morning and see your face.”
And the
“When we get home, will you hold me so tight that I can feel your heart beating?”
And the
“You’re going to stay,” he whispered close to my ear. “And be mine.”
I mean… come on.
This isn’t a story about big, dramatic plot twists, angst or drama. It’s about showing up for someone when they’re convinced they don’t deserve it. It’s about tenderness and patience and that aching moment when someone finally, finally lets themselves come home. 5⭐️
May 4, 2017
11/29/15 Reread - This gets bumped to a full 5 stars!!
I must have been in a picky mood the first time I read this because I found NO flaws this time.
Still is, and always will be, a favorite! Just wish it was available in paperback so I could add this to my shelves.
"You've never been so aggressive before."
"I never knew you belonged to me before."
----------------------------------------
***4.75 Stars***
"Thank you for wanting to hold me, Weber."
"Thank you for lettin' me, Cyrus."
Me and Mary Calmes go together like caramel and chocolate. I wouldn't dare say peas and carrots because, well who likes vegetables that much?? And Mary and I are a much more guilty pleasure pair.
"This will change everything," he said, and because of that, because of his very last word, I should have said wait. I should have said no, but all that passed my lips was "please."
This book ticked off all the things I like when wanting to escape into a book.
Engaging story - CHECK
Endearing characters - CHECK
Butterflies in the stomach - CHECK
Heart flutters - CHECK
Great secondary characters - CHECK
Steamy satisfaction - CHECK
"Jesus, Weber, do you realize you sigh like you're coming home very time you kiss me?"
There's just something so effortless about her writing that has you sucked in, committed to the story and fully engaged within minutes of starting.
This was just the perfect amount of angst, with a heartwarming story of acceptance and unconditional love. I absolutely adored Weber and Cyrus.
"Will you hold me so tight that I can feel your heart beating?"
So in short, did I like the book?
Would I recommend it? Should you read it?
"I don't have roots like you and your family, but I'm here and I won't move. You can build on me, count on me, and we'll use your roots, and I can make a home for all y'all."
**Just one small nitpick that kept me from giving this a full five stars. There were a couple of instances/conversations where the MC's were a little immature. It was hard for me to believe a 40 year-old man would behave that way. But it was just a minor grievance in a book that overall, hit the spot HARD.
January 17, 2019
Fluff fluff fluffer the fluff.
Weber and Cyrus meet each other on the ranch were Weber is working. It is lust at first sight. But because Weber is a bull rider and Cyrus a neurosurgeon they don't get to spend a lot of time together (and they live miles apart). The book starts with Weber calling Cyrus because he is in town. Cyrus is so happy to hear from him and picks him up from the bus station. Cyrus is determined to keep Weber this time.
I loved these men together. It was sweet, it was fluffy, I was in my happy place. Don't judge.
Weber and Cyrus meet each other on the ranch were Weber is working. It is lust at first sight. But because Weber is a bull rider and Cyrus a neurosurgeon they don't get to spend a lot of time together (and they live miles apart). The book starts with Weber calling Cyrus because he is in town. Cyrus is so happy to hear from him and picks him up from the bus station. Cyrus is determined to keep Weber this time.
I loved these men together. It was sweet, it was fluffy, I was in my happy place. Don't judge.
April 27, 2012
Oh the sugar! Oh the wish fulfillment! It's not like Calmes is a good writer, but god, this hits every little shameful button in my stash of secret desires: to be cared for, fed, and loved, forever, by a possessive, rugged, strong man with a big prick. And a cowboy accent :-)
August 11, 2023
Sweet, sappy and I loved every word of this!
January 31, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. It was funny, sweet, light-hearted and sexy. I adored both men. They may be different but they love each other fiercely and after some thinking are finally ready to build a life together. I enjoyed Weber and his easy way about everything. But what made him less perfect were his misgivings and doubts about himself, the fact that he, just like anyone else, needed to find himself in order to finally understand what it was that Cyrus saw in him. I liked Cyrus and how freely he gave his love and affection to Weber. They were a perfect fit. The ending was so romantic. I liked how things worked out between them. A very cute story showing that opposites do attract and that love and family are possible at any age. I recommend it!
April 26, 2012
I wanted this book so badly from the moment the first excerpt was published. I LOVED the entire first chapter--Weber, calling Cy, forgetting the bad, remembering the good, tore up and alone, and wanting only the comfort of Cy's company. It was beautiful, beautifully written, and Weber may not have understood everything, but he sure did understand how to be a foundation for all good things to be built upon. There were no big misunderstandings, and the character comes to understand what we ALL understand about his life and his value JUST in time to keep us from wanting to beat him silly. Nope, there's only hugs for Weber. Yes--he IS perfect, why do you ask?
June 19, 2012
I actually finished the whole book, which I consider a bit of a feat, considering I didn’t like this one. I didn’t hate it to the depths of it’s soul but frankly I find very little appealing about Frog. It’s clichéd, ridiculous, full of perfect Gary Stu characters and the author’s voice is muddled with too many cutesy and perfect moments. There is no tension, no romance, and no real genuine emotion by anyone without even getting into the various situations that simply wouldn’t happen in real life and the story doesn’t even attempt to make the reader buy into them.
I like Calmes’ work when it’s interesting and readable fluff – she has the same problems in every single book though and I’ve read enough to now know she’ll never change. You have to be willing to suspend incredible disbelief because nothing is realistic about her books. Perhaps that’s why I can read her paranormal shifter series easier because it’s not believable to start. When you get into contemporary there is an onus to at least make the story relatable somehow to the reader. Frog doesn’t care about that or creating complex characters. It relies on being super sweet, super cliché, and super obvious. There is no subtly or nuance anywhere in Frog, which I hated. I hated that I knew exactly what these ridiculous characters would do and how they would react, even when all the reactions are over the top and so far from realistic that even knowing this is fiction doesn’t help.
To start with the plot, well there’s not much of one but it has the bare bones of a decent idea. A broken down traveling cowboy who’s finally given up the dream calls his on/off boyfriend for one more fling before heading to the next rancher type job. The boyfriend is overjoyed and spends the whole time trying to convince the cowboy to stay. The premise is clichéd, sure, but it has some internal tension that can work. Unfortunately the story goes right for the easy outs. First the boyfriend is of course ridiculously handsome and ridiculously rich – a neurosurgeon of course. This wealthy, cultured, sophisticated man is obsessed with the broken down, unintelligent cowboy for no real reason. Not to say the two couldn’t work and fall in love but there’s no real connection there, no basis for the overwhelming obsession on the doctor’s part.
The cowboy of course is so perfect he made my teeth ache. All of the characters are stereotypes and so perfect it’s boring but the cowboy (also the narrator) just tips the story into almost unreadable territory. He’s the “ah shucks” character that EVERYONE adores and loves instantly but he doesn’t get it nor believe it. He spends the entire story being complimented at every turn while being actually pretty rude to people. He’ll interrupt conversations and activities to go reprimand kids that he just met and aren’t his. Of course every single kid, parent, and person in the world loves Weber to DEATH the instant they meet him so they don’t care that he’s rude and takes over the kids’ parenting immediately. I can’t think of a single parent that wouldn’t be offended by his over the top actions towards the kids – but then again I can’t really think of a kid that would act like the ones in this book.
I get that it’s fiction but I dislike the way the story portrayed Weber as so perfect yet he just didn’t realize it. It’s not a point of tension and drama, it’s boring. The doctor is no better. Cyrus is one dimensional at best and used simply as another device to show how fabulous Weber is. The supposed sophisticated and introverted neurosurgeon changes depending on what the story needs. On the one hand he’s a loving, caring, obsessive lover to Weber who never shares his private life ever but is happy to introduce Weber around. Cyrus then gets rip roaring drunk at a party with fellow doctors and shouts to the world how much he loves Weber and no one gets to fuck Weber’s ass but him. Then there is the reserved doctor who never even laughs around his family but fawns all over Weber in front of them. Cyrus’ behavior changes so much he’s practically schizophrenic.
There are so many aspects that could work here but just don’t. There is Cyrus’ sister that begs Weber to marry her because she’s in love with him (or at least seems that way) and wants this stranger she’s never met before to raise her kids, even over her successful neurosurgeon brother. None of this makes any sense, nor does any of the actions of the other characters. They’re all used to fawn over Weber’s genius. I got tired of this VERY early on and mostly stuck with the story just to prove to myself I wasn’t missing something.
I like Calmes’ paranormal writing with super hot sex, easy writing flow, and light on any depth. This is certainly prevalent in Frog but the lack of ANY appreciable substance or any believability, which is more important in contemporaries than paranormals, just makes this very difficult to like. I’m sure there is a market for this kind of book but I may be done with Calmes entirely.
I like Calmes’ work when it’s interesting and readable fluff – she has the same problems in every single book though and I’ve read enough to now know she’ll never change. You have to be willing to suspend incredible disbelief because nothing is realistic about her books. Perhaps that’s why I can read her paranormal shifter series easier because it’s not believable to start. When you get into contemporary there is an onus to at least make the story relatable somehow to the reader. Frog doesn’t care about that or creating complex characters. It relies on being super sweet, super cliché, and super obvious. There is no subtly or nuance anywhere in Frog, which I hated. I hated that I knew exactly what these ridiculous characters would do and how they would react, even when all the reactions are over the top and so far from realistic that even knowing this is fiction doesn’t help.
To start with the plot, well there’s not much of one but it has the bare bones of a decent idea. A broken down traveling cowboy who’s finally given up the dream calls his on/off boyfriend for one more fling before heading to the next rancher type job. The boyfriend is overjoyed and spends the whole time trying to convince the cowboy to stay. The premise is clichéd, sure, but it has some internal tension that can work. Unfortunately the story goes right for the easy outs. First the boyfriend is of course ridiculously handsome and ridiculously rich – a neurosurgeon of course. This wealthy, cultured, sophisticated man is obsessed with the broken down, unintelligent cowboy for no real reason. Not to say the two couldn’t work and fall in love but there’s no real connection there, no basis for the overwhelming obsession on the doctor’s part.
The cowboy of course is so perfect he made my teeth ache. All of the characters are stereotypes and so perfect it’s boring but the cowboy (also the narrator) just tips the story into almost unreadable territory. He’s the “ah shucks” character that EVERYONE adores and loves instantly but he doesn’t get it nor believe it. He spends the entire story being complimented at every turn while being actually pretty rude to people. He’ll interrupt conversations and activities to go reprimand kids that he just met and aren’t his. Of course every single kid, parent, and person in the world loves Weber to DEATH the instant they meet him so they don’t care that he’s rude and takes over the kids’ parenting immediately. I can’t think of a single parent that wouldn’t be offended by his over the top actions towards the kids – but then again I can’t really think of a kid that would act like the ones in this book.
I get that it’s fiction but I dislike the way the story portrayed Weber as so perfect yet he just didn’t realize it. It’s not a point of tension and drama, it’s boring. The doctor is no better. Cyrus is one dimensional at best and used simply as another device to show how fabulous Weber is. The supposed sophisticated and introverted neurosurgeon changes depending on what the story needs. On the one hand he’s a loving, caring, obsessive lover to Weber who never shares his private life ever but is happy to introduce Weber around. Cyrus then gets rip roaring drunk at a party with fellow doctors and shouts to the world how much he loves Weber and no one gets to fuck Weber’s ass but him. Then there is the reserved doctor who never even laughs around his family but fawns all over Weber in front of them. Cyrus’ behavior changes so much he’s practically schizophrenic.
There are so many aspects that could work here but just don’t. There is Cyrus’ sister that begs Weber to marry her because she’s in love with him (or at least seems that way) and wants this stranger she’s never met before to raise her kids, even over her successful neurosurgeon brother. None of this makes any sense, nor does any of the actions of the other characters. They’re all used to fawn over Weber’s genius. I got tired of this VERY early on and mostly stuck with the story just to prove to myself I wasn’t missing something.
I like Calmes’ paranormal writing with super hot sex, easy writing flow, and light on any depth. This is certainly prevalent in Frog but the lack of ANY appreciable substance or any believability, which is more important in contemporaries than paranormals, just makes this very difficult to like. I’m sure there is a market for this kind of book but I may be done with Calmes entirely.
January 25, 2019
re-read January 2019 - just as wonderful this time round!
Review
That was absolutely gorgeous!! No angst, but sooo much emotion and the sweetest book I've read in ages! I loved all of these characters, the boys were super super cute! Sometimes kids can be unrealistic or quite annoying, but not these boys.
I really liked that while Weber was rather annoyingly stubborn about leaving again, once he realised he loved Cyrus and was needed by the boys, he sat down and THOUGHT about his other options, instead of just running scared.
This book kicked me hard in the feels, I felt Cryus's desperation to keep Weber around and I just wanted Weber to see him as everyone else did, which is why I LOVE this quote:
“I am a mountain. I don’t have roots like you and your family, but I’m here and I won’t move. You can build on me, count on me, and we’ll use your roots, and I can make a home for all y’all.”
*happy sigh* So beautiful!
It was nice to see Calmes staple possessiveness towards the end, but I felt this book was so unlike the rest of her books (that I've read), it's probably all summed up nicely in this quote:
“We’re both grown men, Cy, thinking such foolish things.”
AWARENESS. No running off doing stupid things in the name of love, it's communication! Also they actually chose to talk instead of have sex at one point *gasps in suprise*.
The sex was rough and tender and dominate and vulnerable! I just couldn't stop reading, hence why I didn't go to sleep until 3am last night.
Review
That was absolutely gorgeous!! No angst, but sooo much emotion and the sweetest book I've read in ages! I loved all of these characters, the boys were super super cute! Sometimes kids can be unrealistic or quite annoying, but not these boys.
I really liked that while Weber was rather annoyingly stubborn about leaving again, once he realised he loved Cyrus and was needed by the boys, he sat down and THOUGHT about his other options, instead of just running scared.
This book kicked me hard in the feels, I felt Cryus's desperation to keep Weber around and I just wanted Weber to see him as everyone else did, which is why I LOVE this quote:
“I am a mountain. I don’t have roots like you and your family, but I’m here and I won’t move. You can build on me, count on me, and we’ll use your roots, and I can make a home for all y’all.”
*happy sigh* So beautiful!
It was nice to see Calmes staple possessiveness towards the end, but I felt this book was so unlike the rest of her books (that I've read), it's probably all summed up nicely in this quote:
“We’re both grown men, Cy, thinking such foolish things.”
AWARENESS. No running off doing stupid things in the name of love, it's communication! Also they actually chose to talk instead of have sex at one point *gasps in suprise*.
The sex was rough and tender and dominate and vulnerable! I just couldn't stop reading, hence why I didn't go to sleep until 3am last night.
December 22, 2020
Omg. I don't think I will ever recover from this 💞
August 14, 2013
Ummm - not so much.
I regret to inform you that I will be unable to join the love fest for Frog, please accept this basket of mini muffins in lieu of my attendance - *runs away*
I tried, I really, really did. I have to say, I totally get why this is such a comfort read and why it is THE go to book for a literary hug. I get that part.
For me though, oy, the sweet was a little painful. There is sweet, which I like and appreciate, and then there is SWEEEEEEEET. This was the latter. Unfortunately, when I’m confronted with so much sunny perfection that keeps trying to hug me, instead of feeling warm and fuzzy I kinda want to run stuff over. My romance books should not make me want to run stuff over.
I need snark with my smut, so ‘smark’ (thanks to Jenni Lea for that one!). Frog is the anti-snark. The smut was good and tingly though, if a little short, so yay for that.
Weber is a Gary Poppins, Andy Taylor Frog/Prince Mountain of a Miracle Worker. He attracts kids, animals and in-laws like a drifter pied piper. Cy is a bit of a needy teenage girl with PMS (that man had a few serious mood swings) who trembles at the drop of a hat, or at the drop of Web’s shorts. I kept waiting for a round robin soundtrack of Wind Beneath My Wings, Lean on Me and Have I Told You Lately. I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to read somewhere in there “You complete me.”
Now, if my husband read m/m (or anything for that matter) he would LOVE this. He’s a big bear of a construction worker who I love more than anything but has a seriously unnatural attraction to the Lifetime Network and old chick flicks like Steel Magnolias. I hate everything about all of that so very much.
So, Frog and I were not a match. I still can appreciate the love for this story and these characters, I just didn’t have it myself. Unfortunately, and I’m embarrassed to say, I was a Calmes virgin before this and from what I understand this is the sticky sweetest of them all. I’ll read another one, not real soon, but I will. I’ll just need to find one that’s a better fit for my cynical old self :).
Please continue the party and I hope you enjoy the muffins.
I regret to inform you that I will be unable to join the love fest for Frog, please accept this basket of mini muffins in lieu of my attendance - *runs away*
I tried, I really, really did. I have to say, I totally get why this is such a comfort read and why it is THE go to book for a literary hug. I get that part.
For me though, oy, the sweet was a little painful. There is sweet, which I like and appreciate, and then there is SWEEEEEEEET. This was the latter. Unfortunately, when I’m confronted with so much sunny perfection that keeps trying to hug me, instead of feeling warm and fuzzy I kinda want to run stuff over. My romance books should not make me want to run stuff over.
I need snark with my smut, so ‘smark’ (thanks to Jenni Lea for that one!). Frog is the anti-snark. The smut was good and tingly though, if a little short, so yay for that.
Weber is a Gary Poppins, Andy Taylor Frog/Prince Mountain of a Miracle Worker. He attracts kids, animals and in-laws like a drifter pied piper. Cy is a bit of a needy teenage girl with PMS (that man had a few serious mood swings) who trembles at the drop of a hat, or at the drop of Web’s shorts. I kept waiting for a round robin soundtrack of Wind Beneath My Wings, Lean on Me and Have I Told You Lately. I wouldn’t have been the least bit surprised to read somewhere in there “You complete me.”
Now, if my husband read m/m (or anything for that matter) he would LOVE this. He’s a big bear of a construction worker who I love more than anything but has a seriously unnatural attraction to the Lifetime Network and old chick flicks like Steel Magnolias. I hate everything about all of that so very much.
So, Frog and I were not a match. I still can appreciate the love for this story and these characters, I just didn’t have it myself. Unfortunately, and I’m embarrassed to say, I was a Calmes virgin before this and from what I understand this is the sticky sweetest of them all. I’ll read another one, not real soon, but I will. I’ll just need to find one that’s a better fit for my cynical old self :).
Please continue the party and I hope you enjoy the muffins.
July 13, 2017
Ok I know I'm a little late to this Mary Calmes party and there isn't much I can add to this fan favorite.
I really, really liked this. It totally hit my angst buttons of want, desire, insecurity and doubt. I also admit that though not much happens, I was perfectly ok with that. As I've said about past Calmes books, I appreciate stories depicting couples in their every day lives - it must be my love of epilogues because it was so enjoyable watching these two care for each other despite Weber's stubbornness.
How do two individuals reconcile their very disparate lives? Their relationship over the years was tender and heartbreaking. It killed me how much Weber loved Cyrus but would not allow himself to have him, thinking his blue collar, cowboy roots would never measure up. And I felt for Cyrus, pining away for every scrap Weber would deign to give of himself.
This was hot and full of emotions - I'm seriously basking in the joy of this story!
I really, really liked this. It totally hit my angst buttons of want, desire, insecurity and doubt. I also admit that though not much happens, I was perfectly ok with that. As I've said about past Calmes books, I appreciate stories depicting couples in their every day lives - it must be my love of epilogues because it was so enjoyable watching these two care for each other despite Weber's stubbornness.
How do two individuals reconcile their very disparate lives? Their relationship over the years was tender and heartbreaking. It killed me how much Weber loved Cyrus but would not allow himself to have him, thinking his blue collar, cowboy roots would never measure up. And I felt for Cyrus, pining away for every scrap Weber would deign to give of himself.
This was hot and full of emotions - I'm seriously basking in the joy of this story!
June 4, 2020
Reread (listen) 1/9/017, Month of Mary 5/9/2017, 1/25/2018, 3/29/201
Reread 6/4/2020 I really needed that.
******************
Original review8/21/2015
I needed fluff to combat taking my only child for the start of his first year in college. I knew that any book by Mary would deliver. Frog did not disappoint. The narration by K.C. Kelly was nice (a lot better than I expected).
Reread 6/4/2020 I really needed that.
******************
Original review8/21/2015
I needed fluff to combat taking my only child for the start of his first year in college. I knew that any book by Mary would deliver. Frog did not disappoint. The narration by K.C. Kelly was nice (a lot better than I expected).
November 27, 2012
I won't review this.
All I'll say is that it should have ended at around 70%. It would still have been 99% sugar fluff, but it wouldn't have taken that sharp turn straight down to sugar-coma-ville.
It's one star for the book and one star for my dear friend, Susan, who recommended it to me. You tried, love. That's what counts! Plus, it worked. My brain has been effectively numbed.
All I'll say is that it should have ended at around 70%. It would still have been 99% sugar fluff, but it wouldn't have taken that sharp turn straight down to sugar-coma-ville.
It's one star for the book and one star for my dear friend, Susan, who recommended it to me. You tried, love. That's what counts! Plus, it worked. My brain has been effectively numbed.
August 6, 2013
Has your day gone to shit?
Are you finding it hard to smile?
Are the people around you driving you insane?
Think there's no answer?
There is!!!!!!!!
Try Frog by Mary Calmes.
It removes sadness, and has special ingredients designed to inject fluffy goodness straight to your heart.
Doctor recommended, CM approved.
Guaranteed to make you feel good.
*Side affects include, but are not limited to: overheating (on account of the sexy), lack of sleep, smiling until your cheeks hurt, sentimental tears, and a serious case of the warm and fuzzies.
4 Stars
Are you finding it hard to smile?
Are the people around you driving you insane?
Think there's no answer?
There is!!!!!!!!
Try Frog by Mary Calmes.
It removes sadness, and has special ingredients designed to inject fluffy goodness straight to your heart.
Doctor recommended, CM approved.
Guaranteed to make you feel good.
*Side affects include, but are not limited to: overheating (on account of the sexy), lack of sleep, smiling until your cheeks hurt, sentimental tears, and a serious case of the warm and fuzzies.
4 Stars
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