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Stand in Place
One summer won’t be enough….
Kaenon Geary was done fighting the small minds in his sleepy Texas town when he made his escape and never looked back. But now, for the first time in more than a decade, he’s returned to Braxton to spend the summer with his beloved grandmother—her final summer—and no longer recognizes the home he’d left behind all those years ago.
Everything has changed.
Everything but the man he’s never stopped wanting.
Brody Scott was the local football hero who became a gridiron champ, but he retired from the fast lane to forge a new life as the Chief Constable of Braxton. He longs to put down roots in the community he is now sworn to protect. Though he’s not at all sure he can protect his heart from the quiet, earnest boy he once knew. The boy who has come back a man.
Starting something would be a mistake. Kaenon plans to fly away at summer’s end, but his love is something Brody desperately wants to have…and to keep. Their days together are numbered. Unless some simple hometown magic can make all the right things bloom and show them the true definition of love.
Kaenon Geary was done fighting the small minds in his sleepy Texas town when he made his escape and never looked back. But now, for the first time in more than a decade, he’s returned to Braxton to spend the summer with his beloved grandmother—her final summer—and no longer recognizes the home he’d left behind all those years ago.
Everything has changed.
Everything but the man he’s never stopped wanting.
Brody Scott was the local football hero who became a gridiron champ, but he retired from the fast lane to forge a new life as the Chief Constable of Braxton. He longs to put down roots in the community he is now sworn to protect. Though he’s not at all sure he can protect his heart from the quiet, earnest boy he once knew. The boy who has come back a man.
Starting something would be a mistake. Kaenon plans to fly away at summer’s end, but his love is something Brody desperately wants to have…and to keep. Their days together are numbered. Unless some simple hometown magic can make all the right things bloom and show them the true definition of love.
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2019
374 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
Mary Calmes
125 books5,015 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 347 reviews
March 17, 2020
It's been a long time since I've read Mary Calmes, and now I remember why.
Holy crap, the descriptions. Anyone who has read Mary Calmes knows what I mean, but it was so excessive in this book that I could barely keep listening. Polo shirts with contrasting buttons and in a deep, forest green. That's one shirt!, but the descriptions are for everyone and everything. It's endless.
But it wasn't the descriptions that really killed this book for me, it was the insane way that Kaenon forgave all of his tormentors in about five seconds. All they had to do was complement him in an "aw, shucks" way, and they were best friends again. JUST NO. I've never even been through abuse like his and I felt triggered.
I rolled my eyes at how everyone loved Kaenon and found him irresistibly attractive, and how opportunities fell in his lap (because Mary Calmes). I went along with the mysticism elements because, sure. But there was no excuse for the draggy plot and half-cooked romance. I think there was an actual romance there, but I'm not sure. It went from attraction to some deep love somehow, but I must have missed the transition.
My only thing to raise this above one star was the killer narration by the always amazing Greg Tremblay. Greg is such a pro, and he really gave his book his all. I love him, and it's the only reason I bought this book in the first place, many moons ago.
Time for another long, long break from Mary.
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July 20, 2019
I really enjoyed this story but...so many things also pissed me off. I just can't get over how fast everyone was forgiven for their asinine and homophobic behavior. I wanted Keanon to hold on a bit longer, to really make them sweat. We are talking about his own brother and sister here, not to mention his piece of shit father !!!
Now don't get me wrong, I know they haven't seen or spoken to each other in more than 10 years but still....one apology and everything is forgiven ?? It made me so angry !! Especially since we got all those flashbacks and so I knew how bad they all treated him... I wanted to bitch slap each and every one of them... Okay...so I may have some anger issues :P
It didn't stop me from enjoying the story, though I could have done with some more. The romance really took a backseat in favor of the whole gardening deal. I just wanted to really feel and see the connection between Keanon and Brody, and because of the few short (private) interactions between them, I didn't. I just needed more...
The ending felt a bit abrupt as well...but hey it could be just me.
3 - 3,5 stars from me ;)
Now don't get me wrong, I know they haven't seen or spoken to each other in more than 10 years but still....one apology and everything is forgiven ?? It made me so angry !! Especially since we got all those flashbacks and so I knew how bad they all treated him... I wanted to bitch slap each and every one of them... Okay...so I may have some anger issues :P
It didn't stop me from enjoying the story, though I could have done with some more. The romance really took a backseat in favor of the whole gardening deal. I just wanted to really feel and see the connection between Keanon and Brody, and because of the few short (private) interactions between them, I didn't. I just needed more...
The ending felt a bit abrupt as well...but hey it could be just me.
3 - 3,5 stars from me ;)
July 21, 2019
I didn’t like this. :(
Now I know Mary can ramble in her books, and if there’s a solid romance I don’t really mind, but here it felt as if she’d kind of lost the run of herself. I mean, these characters just went on and on and on. And on. I skimmed pages and pages and still I missed nothing.
Keanon was thrown of the house when he came out at 14. His brother beat him and outed him to the whole school, making sure that Keanon was severely bullied and beaten all through high school.
His grandmother took him in after his parents kicked him out and raised him. Now Jo is dying and Keanon is back in town to spend time with her before she dies.
Even though he promised he would never return to the town, here he is. When he sees his highschool crush, Brody, again, Keanon is surprised when Brody shows an interest in him.
Meanwhile Jo has asked Keanon to restore the garden to its former beauty. Especially since according to Jo, Keanon is the only one who has the magical power to make the garden grow again.
And then the whole town shows up to help Keanon with the garden, everyone hits on him, and Brody is doing his best to stake his claim…
What bothered me the most in this was that the romance took a backseat to all the garden stuff that was going on (and that was soooooo boring).
I also hated how it was constantly mentioned how Keanon needed to forgive people. His brother beat him, outed him, and is now sorry 20 years later. Why on earth should Keanon forgive him?? Or his sister who never spoke to him again. But we got pages and pages of why it was important to forgive these people. And if course Keanon did, because sure, why not! :(
I was also ridiculous how everyone and their mother dropped by to assist Keanon with his garden. And how everyone treated him terribly in his childhood, but was now suddenly his best friend. And no one cared about the gay thing anymore.
And all of them just went on and on and on and on. It’s worth mentioning twice that’s how much rambling this book had.
I think this was one of my least favorite Mary books out there.
Now I know Mary can ramble in her books, and if there’s a solid romance I don’t really mind, but here it felt as if she’d kind of lost the run of herself. I mean, these characters just went on and on and on. And on. I skimmed pages and pages and still I missed nothing.
Keanon was thrown of the house when he came out at 14. His brother beat him and outed him to the whole school, making sure that Keanon was severely bullied and beaten all through high school.
His grandmother took him in after his parents kicked him out and raised him. Now Jo is dying and Keanon is back in town to spend time with her before she dies.
Even though he promised he would never return to the town, here he is. When he sees his highschool crush, Brody, again, Keanon is surprised when Brody shows an interest in him.
Meanwhile Jo has asked Keanon to restore the garden to its former beauty. Especially since according to Jo, Keanon is the only one who has the magical power to make the garden grow again.
And then the whole town shows up to help Keanon with the garden, everyone hits on him, and Brody is doing his best to stake his claim…
What bothered me the most in this was that the romance took a backseat to all the garden stuff that was going on (and that was soooooo boring).
I also hated how it was constantly mentioned how Keanon needed to forgive people. His brother beat him, outed him, and is now sorry 20 years later. Why on earth should Keanon forgive him?? Or his sister who never spoke to him again. But we got pages and pages of why it was important to forgive these people. And if course Keanon did, because sure, why not! :(
I was also ridiculous how everyone and their mother dropped by to assist Keanon with his garden. And how everyone treated him terribly in his childhood, but was now suddenly his best friend. And no one cared about the gay thing anymore.
And all of them just went on and on and on and on. It’s worth mentioning twice that’s how much rambling this book had.
I think this was one of my least favorite Mary books out there.
March 27, 2021
What the hell, Mary? I need to know about new releases so I can plan my day accordingly. :)
July 20, 2019
Basically if you are not comfortable with the notion of reconciling with your abusers/torturers who abused you, bullied you, chucked you out of the house at 14, beat you, tortured you etc etc, (hey, they’re sooooory! And they’re nice now!) you should avoid this book. If this book is physically in your house, you should probably take a flame thrower to it.
I’m surprised i didn’t dislike it as much as I expected, considering I had issues with the characters, the theme and the plot.
The MC is a standard Calmes hero. Just so delightful and perfect! While not being aware of it! His love interest is the more caveman husky (as vocal act) grunting two dimensional moron of her more recent books. But less rapey, so that’s good. It meant I didn’t dnf it. Then there’s the stupid old lady who knows better than her grandson what is good for him, ie returning to live in the town he left 18 years ago due to the sheer level of abuse, rejection and bullying he endured there.
Why did I not dnf this book or give it less stars? Because somehow I just couldn’t take this book seriously. It’s like an early Catherine coulter; so absurd and stupid you just go along with it.
I’m surprised i didn’t dislike it as much as I expected, considering I had issues with the characters, the theme and the plot.
The MC is a standard Calmes hero. Just so delightful and perfect! While not being aware of it! His love interest is the more caveman husky (as vocal act) grunting two dimensional moron of her more recent books. But less rapey, so that’s good. It meant I didn’t dnf it. Then there’s the stupid old lady who knows better than her grandson what is good for him, ie returning to live in the town he left 18 years ago due to the sheer level of abuse, rejection and bullying he endured there.
Why did I not dnf this book or give it less stars? Because somehow I just couldn’t take this book seriously. It’s like an early Catherine coulter; so absurd and stupid you just go along with it.
December 6, 2019
This story is more than a romance and Mary Calmes did an excellent job of making me feel the heartache of being rejected by family. At the age of 14 Kaenon, a much loved child of his family, announces that he is gay. His innocence is that of a 14 year sheltered by his family until that night where his parents and much loved brother and sister violently reject him as evil, sinful and physically hurt him. Kae is fortunate in having grandparents and an aunt who take him in and love him. As an adult he is successful as a college professor with good friends but must go back to the town he grew up in because his grandmother wants to die at home.
Brody and Kae went to the same high school and Kae yearned for Brody so Kae’s heart was open for love.
This story is more about forgiveness and how years later you can forgive the child or adult that had caused so much destruction in your life. Terrific story, I cried buckets!
Brody and Kae went to the same high school and Kae yearned for Brody so Kae’s heart was open for love.
This story is more about forgiveness and how years later you can forgive the child or adult that had caused so much destruction in your life. Terrific story, I cried buckets!
August 9, 2022
Re-Read 2022
I think maybe I liked it better this time around. I think I saw more in the relationship. I think I still feel the same about forgiveness though and sometimes it just isn’t deserved.
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This is one of those reviews I feel like I keep rewriting because I just don’t know what to say! Gah!
First off, this was cute and totally Mary. Normally I go on and on about witchcraft. Mary’s writing normally is some sort of magic for sure. This time though, I don’t have to tell you anything about magic because there really was magic.
This totally had a Practical Magic type vibe and of course, that is the part I loved the best. I love gardening, I love flowers, and I especially love watering. I love how magical a garden feels and it is my favorite place to be.
So Jo wanting her garden back totally appealed to me. All the Kaenon and Jo. I loved. All the garden talk and house talk and the coming home talk, I loved, but the magic talk I loved the most.
But the rest, I just don’t know.
I think that Kaenon had a crush on Brody and vice versa but I only know this because I was told. There was nothing else to this really. Nothing happened when they were kids and there was no longing as adults. Kaenon admits he has no idea what happened to Brody after he left for college. I dunno, thinking your Brother’s BFF is hot is probably a normal thing and I felt like that was all this was.
So, now, here we are and Brody is flirting and Kaenon feels like the fourteen year old with a crush and then they sleep together and then they do that again. Again, there was nothing. There wasn’t really a romance and man oh man, I wanted one. I’m so confused by this relationship. They didn’t seem to spend very much time together. Sometimes the Mary crazy love totally works but this one just felt like it needed just a bit more. Now, that’s not to say that the fast and crazy didn’t make me smile in the end, because of course it did. It is still Mary after all.
Next, the family. No. No, no, no. I know forgiveness is important, it is a weight that is always there and closure is key, but CLOSURE DOES NOT HAVE TO EQUAL A SECOND CHANCE. Kaenon could have forgiven and closed the door. Kaenon should have done that. His brother and sister were kids, ok, I can maybe give them the smallest amount of something, they were kids, ignorant kids but still allowed a bit of stupid, but his parents? Never. I don’t understand, if they wanted him back why no one tried. Years and nothing.
So, I’m just confused. I love a coming home story probably the most and this had all the right ingredients for a perfect one, it just didn’t come out right in the end.
It’s still Mary though and I couldn’t put it down because of her magic. The book having its own magic, well, that kind of makes me want to do a re-read and reevaluate.
PS~I love, love, love the Easter Egg in this one!
I think maybe I liked it better this time around. I think I saw more in the relationship. I think I still feel the same about forgiveness though and sometimes it just isn’t deserved.
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This is one of those reviews I feel like I keep rewriting because I just don’t know what to say! Gah!
First off, this was cute and totally Mary. Normally I go on and on about witchcraft. Mary’s writing normally is some sort of magic for sure. This time though, I don’t have to tell you anything about magic because there really was magic.
This totally had a Practical Magic type vibe and of course, that is the part I loved the best. I love gardening, I love flowers, and I especially love watering. I love how magical a garden feels and it is my favorite place to be.
So Jo wanting her garden back totally appealed to me. All the Kaenon and Jo. I loved. All the garden talk and house talk and the coming home talk, I loved, but the magic talk I loved the most.
But the rest, I just don’t know.
I think that Kaenon had a crush on Brody and vice versa but I only know this because I was told. There was nothing else to this really. Nothing happened when they were kids and there was no longing as adults. Kaenon admits he has no idea what happened to Brody after he left for college. I dunno, thinking your Brother’s BFF is hot is probably a normal thing and I felt like that was all this was.
So, now, here we are and Brody is flirting and Kaenon feels like the fourteen year old with a crush and then they sleep together and then they do that again. Again, there was nothing. There wasn’t really a romance and man oh man, I wanted one. I’m so confused by this relationship. They didn’t seem to spend very much time together. Sometimes the Mary crazy love totally works but this one just felt like it needed just a bit more. Now, that’s not to say that the fast and crazy didn’t make me smile in the end, because of course it did. It is still Mary after all.
Next, the family. No. No, no, no. I know forgiveness is important, it is a weight that is always there and closure is key, but CLOSURE DOES NOT HAVE TO EQUAL A SECOND CHANCE. Kaenon could have forgiven and closed the door. Kaenon should have done that. His brother and sister were kids, ok, I can maybe give them the smallest amount of something, they were kids, ignorant kids but still allowed a bit of stupid, but his parents? Never. I don’t understand, if they wanted him back why no one tried. Years and nothing.
So, I’m just confused. I love a coming home story probably the most and this had all the right ingredients for a perfect one, it just didn’t come out right in the end.
It’s still Mary though and I couldn’t put it down because of her magic. The book having its own magic, well, that kind of makes me want to do a re-read and reevaluate.
PS~I love, love, love the Easter Egg in this one!
July 27, 2019
The first half of this book, I really loved. I loved Kaenon's relationship with his grandmother, Jo. Their banter was fantastic and funny and heartwarming. Him coming home to take care of Jo, taking her home from the hospital, and integrating back into a town that he hated was a great read.
But then in the second half, Calmes' trademark "everyone must love the her" comes out in FULL effect. The reason Kaenon left town 18 years ago was because the entire town, his own family included (excepting his grandparents, and his grand-aunt Peg) treated him like utter shit from the moment he came out. He was abandoned by his parents and his siblings, bullied and beat up by his classmates, it's no wonder why he left as soon as he could.
Now, though, he's finally back after all this time, to take care of his grandmother in her final days, and everyone in town just starts falling all over themselves for the guy. EVERYONE apparently saw the error of their ways, and now they just can't do enough for him, and for a town full of people who apparently hated the gay kid, there's now tons of men who want to get all up in Kaenon. I felt that he forgave everyone entirely too easily, because it seemed like it was REALLY bad before he left.
There was a wiff of witchcraft here, stories of the family and their gifts, and how they get strength from the land, but it felt like it was used as an excuse for why everyone loved Kaenon than a real part of the plot.
Basically, I loved and laughed the first half of this book, and it was a solid 5 star read, but all the eye rolling moments and insta-forgiveness in the second half knocked it way down, averaging out to around a 3 star read for me.
But what really pissed me off here was this: several people, including some of his family, said they realized how wrong they were after a year or so, but by that point, he wouldn't talk to any of them. Like it was HIS fault, somehow. WTF? They treated him like shit, and it's his fault for not forgiving them fast enough?
And the romance? Total instalove! Yes, they knew each other way back then, and apparently both had crushes, but it's been 18 years, they barely knew each other then, let alone now, but they are declaring love and changing lives in less than a week. I guess I wanted more between Kaenon and Brody, and less fawning townspeople, gardening lessons, and how perfect Kaenon apparently is now.
But then in the second half, Calmes' trademark "everyone must love the her" comes out in FULL effect. The reason Kaenon left town 18 years ago was because the entire town, his own family included (excepting his grandparents, and his grand-aunt Peg) treated him like utter shit from the moment he came out. He was abandoned by his parents and his siblings, bullied and beat up by his classmates, it's no wonder why he left as soon as he could.
Now, though, he's finally back after all this time, to take care of his grandmother in her final days, and everyone in town just starts falling all over themselves for the guy. EVERYONE apparently saw the error of their ways, and now they just can't do enough for him, and for a town full of people who apparently hated the gay kid, there's now tons of men who want to get all up in Kaenon. I felt that he forgave everyone entirely too easily, because it seemed like it was REALLY bad before he left.
There was a wiff of witchcraft here, stories of the family and their gifts, and how they get strength from the land, but it felt like it was used as an excuse for why everyone loved Kaenon than a real part of the plot.
Basically, I loved and laughed the first half of this book, and it was a solid 5 star read, but all the eye rolling moments and insta-forgiveness in the second half knocked it way down, averaging out to around a 3 star read for me.
But what really pissed me off here was this: several people, including some of his family, said they realized how wrong they were after a year or so, but by that point, he wouldn't talk to any of them. Like it was HIS fault, somehow. WTF? They treated him like shit, and it's his fault for not forgiving them fast enough?
And the romance? Total instalove! Yes, they knew each other way back then, and apparently both had crushes, but it's been 18 years, they barely knew each other then, let alone now, but they are declaring love and changing lives in less than a week. I guess I wanted more between Kaenon and Brody, and less fawning townspeople, gardening lessons, and how perfect Kaenon apparently is now.
August 3, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the main characters and the story overall, but I have to admit I felt Keanon forgave his family too quickly. I mean, his "family" tortured him. Mary's classic rambling is there, and the end is HFN. While not a total hit, it was enjoyable.
July 20, 2019
This was a typical Mary Calmes (which shouldn't be a surprise, she writes very similarly in all her books) with overly charismatic people doing impossible things. Unfortunately for this one, I struggled with the extremely rushed romance and also somehow making it seem unfair on the part of Kaenan not to immediately forgive his abusers because they are family and it's been a long time and they all are nicer now. We don't even get to find out why these people all had an 180 degree change of heart. It didn't help that I didn't like Brody.*
There were too many terrible elements coming together and being downplayed in the effort to get to a romantic end of "coming home again". I might have been able to come around to all of that if this had been longer and we had more time to invest in the people trying to make amends but it didn't work in this book.
*Spoiler:
There were too many terrible elements coming together and being downplayed in the effort to get to a romantic end of "coming home again". I might have been able to come around to all of that if this had been longer and we had more time to invest in the people trying to make amends but it didn't work in this book.
*Spoiler:
March 15, 2020
Kaenon had a very terrible past. Kicked out of his home at 14 for being gay, his grandparents take him in and raise him. Between them and his great aunt, he was taught what love is, healing, nature and being in tune with the land. But Kaenon is still holding on to his pain. His grandmother’s dying wish is for him to come home. Kaenon doesn’t plan on staying.
This was different than the usual Mary Calmes book. I captured my attention from the very first page. There's a bit of a supernatural feel to it with plenty of references to Wiccan and metaphysical aspects.
After just finishing her Timing series, I expected the usual alpha male and perfect guy everyone loves. And while we get some of that, I wouldn’t say this was centered around a romance. Kaenon and Brody move into a relationship from one page to the next and actually have little time on page together. I missed the build up and development of their relationship. Being a romance reader at heart, that’s a bit disappointing but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I liked all the characters. It’s more about finding yourself, coming home, family and forgiveness.
I took off half a star because of the ending. It ended abruptly imo. I don’t know if more books are planned about them or not. There are things left open. I honestly expected Jo to die and see the aftermath of that, but no. It just ends. There's still healing to be done and I want to see Brody and Kaenon's relationship. Hopefully there is more to come.
This was different than the usual Mary Calmes book. I captured my attention from the very first page. There's a bit of a supernatural feel to it with plenty of references to Wiccan and metaphysical aspects.
After just finishing her Timing series, I expected the usual alpha male and perfect guy everyone loves. And while we get some of that, I wouldn’t say this was centered around a romance. Kaenon and Brody move into a relationship from one page to the next and actually have little time on page together. I missed the build up and development of their relationship. Being a romance reader at heart, that’s a bit disappointing but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I liked all the characters. It’s more about finding yourself, coming home, family and forgiveness.
I took off half a star because of the ending. It ended abruptly imo. I don’t know if more books are planned about them or not. There are things left open. I honestly expected Jo to die and see the aftermath of that, but no. It just ends. There's still healing to be done and I want to see Brody and Kaenon's relationship. Hopefully there is more to come.
July 20, 2019
This is a tough review to write. When I originally finished this book, I gave it 4 stars. I really enjoyed it while reading it. However, have you ever read a book, but after you started thinking about it later realized things were really lacking!? Sorry for the long run on sentence. I was emotionally invested while reading, but after I was finished... I had to ask myself why!? This book takes place almost entirely in the present. These 2 MCS are in their thirties, and I realized I barely knew anything about them. One is a former soccer player who is now a professor, but how did that happen. I have no idea. There is barely any info about his life with the exception of a few childhood flashbacks. The other MC is a former football star who is now a constable. How!? I have no idea. We don't really get any glimpses of his past. SPOILER ALERT!!
Kaenon's family kicked him out for being gay, and now they all wanna cry and apologize, BUT they never say why or for what. They never explain why they were such bigoted assholes!!! Also, everyone LOVES AND ADORES this guy a la shades of Jory! He hasn't been home in over a decade, but everyone loves him sooooo much, even his previous abusers! WTF! The ending was also really abrupt to me. I kept thinking that's it!? If MC could write just one character who didn't say "yanno", I would really be happy!😉 Why do all of her characters talk the same way, they're from different places!? I'm done with my rant now. I did enjoy reading this, but it could've been much better. I needed more info on the MCS, and how their lives were before the present. There is much more I could say, but this is already way longer than I wanted. MC is one of my faves, but I'm sad to say I didn't really love this or her last book. Howver, I am eagerly anticipating Eli's story from the Marshall series, and dying for Aaron and Duncan's second book!
Sorry for my long ass rambling rant/review!?
Kaenon's family kicked him out for being gay, and now they all wanna cry and apologize, BUT they never say why or for what. They never explain why they were such bigoted assholes!!! Also, everyone LOVES AND ADORES this guy a la shades of Jory! He hasn't been home in over a decade, but everyone loves him sooooo much, even his previous abusers! WTF! The ending was also really abrupt to me. I kept thinking that's it!? If MC could write just one character who didn't say "yanno", I would really be happy!😉 Why do all of her characters talk the same way, they're from different places!? I'm done with my rant now. I did enjoy reading this, but it could've been much better. I needed more info on the MCS, and how their lives were before the present. There is much more I could say, but this is already way longer than I wanted. MC is one of my faves, but I'm sad to say I didn't really love this or her last book. Howver, I am eagerly anticipating Eli's story from the Marshall series, and dying for Aaron and Duncan's second book!
Sorry for my long ass rambling rant/review!?
dnf-or-hated
July 26, 2019DNF 60% - no rating.
I am absolutely heartbroken, as I am a HUGE Mary Calmes fan, but I just cannot keep reading this. I haven't had enough therapy yet to work through the triggers in this book: specifically physical/emotional abuse, ostracization, and a dying family member who was one of the few there for you. That Kea can come home and so quickly work through his feelings is brilliant and I hope to one day be at the point where I can do the same.
I am absolutely heartbroken, as I am a HUGE Mary Calmes fan, but I just cannot keep reading this. I haven't had enough therapy yet to work through the triggers in this book: specifically physical/emotional abuse, ostracization, and a dying family member who was one of the few there for you. That Kea can come home and so quickly work through his feelings is brilliant and I hope to one day be at the point where I can do the same.
July 24, 2019
This is one of Mary Calmes’s typical sweet guy meets his soul mate story but with a ton of outside information and a host of family and small town characters. I liked Kaenon Geary, and I liked him more because the author tells us how his name is pronounced. (I would dearly love an MC named Joe sometime. But I digress.) Kaenon is back to spring his grandmother, who raised him after his parents disowned him when he came out at 14, from the hospital where she is dying of cancer. Her other family members want her in a nursing home, and she knows he’s the only one who will listen to her. (Picture the white knight riding to the rescue.)
When he deposits her home, we start to meet other family members and then most of the townsfolk. Kaenon is going to restore her garden and while he’s doing that, he (like the flowers, trees, and herbs planted) begins to set his roots back down while entertaining everyone, sponsoring high school girls who need AP English that summer (he’s an English professor) and discussing his deceased aunt (who practiced a form of witchcraft and taught him all about herbs) and, of course, falling in love with one of his high school bullies, now chief constable in his hometown, Brody Scott.
Kaenon is only there for the summer at the beginning of the story but by the end he realizes he needs the town as much as the town needs him and he decides to stay. So those who want the warm and fuzzies and a HEA—this is for you.
But there’s a lot I didn’t care for as well. The story was overloaded with information about gardens, plants, herbs, various herbal mixes used for health cures and spirit lifting, and about the person who taught Kaenon…Aunt Peg. We learned her life story while learning the stories of Grandma Jo and Kaenon’s grandfather and everything that happened to Kaenon in high school that made him decide to leave and never come back until now when he’s in his midthirties. So much information…overwhelming.
And then there are the townspeople and the family members, all with forgiveness on their minds. Some begging for it, including Kaenon’s sister and brother and eventually, his father. It was very difficult for me to buy in to the loving, warm family. I mean, the sister, who he hasn’t seen in nearly twenty years, who cold-shouldered him and never tried to reach out to him, wants his forgiveness, and then when he makes an overture of acceptance, she runs to him, climbs him like a spider monkey, and enfolds him in her arms. A similar scene plays out with his brother, and later, the father! In my experience, people who are cold, stay cold, or at the minimum, are not demonstrative. It would be very difficult for anyone in my extended family to do more than hug, possibly with tears, but outright sobbing and this incredibly warm and cozy in-your-face hugging and loving? Uh-uh. Not a chance. And my own experience likely strongly influenced my belief in the actions here, but I just couldn’t see all that lovey-dovey stuff happening. Not after 15 to 20 years of noncommunication.
On to Brody—tall, ruggedly handsome, muscular—the perfect cop. And Brody wasn’t such a bad guy as Kaenon remembered…much. Granted, he didn’t bully him, but he didn’t stop it either. So warm and fuzzy forgiveness might have been more related to the strong sexual attraction there. I don’t think we actually got enough of Brody or his own story because he got lost in the sea of other characters and, for a time, I thought I was wrong about him being the love interest.
So lots to like and lots to dislike here. I could go on and on, but all I can say is this will likely have two camps of readers—those who love it and those who didn’t—and the gap between them will be wide.
When he deposits her home, we start to meet other family members and then most of the townsfolk. Kaenon is going to restore her garden and while he’s doing that, he (like the flowers, trees, and herbs planted) begins to set his roots back down while entertaining everyone, sponsoring high school girls who need AP English that summer (he’s an English professor) and discussing his deceased aunt (who practiced a form of witchcraft and taught him all about herbs) and, of course, falling in love with one of his high school bullies, now chief constable in his hometown, Brody Scott.
Kaenon is only there for the summer at the beginning of the story but by the end he realizes he needs the town as much as the town needs him and he decides to stay. So those who want the warm and fuzzies and a HEA—this is for you.
But there’s a lot I didn’t care for as well. The story was overloaded with information about gardens, plants, herbs, various herbal mixes used for health cures and spirit lifting, and about the person who taught Kaenon…Aunt Peg. We learned her life story while learning the stories of Grandma Jo and Kaenon’s grandfather and everything that happened to Kaenon in high school that made him decide to leave and never come back until now when he’s in his midthirties. So much information…overwhelming.
And then there are the townspeople and the family members, all with forgiveness on their minds. Some begging for it, including Kaenon’s sister and brother and eventually, his father. It was very difficult for me to buy in to the loving, warm family. I mean, the sister, who he hasn’t seen in nearly twenty years, who cold-shouldered him and never tried to reach out to him, wants his forgiveness, and then when he makes an overture of acceptance, she runs to him, climbs him like a spider monkey, and enfolds him in her arms. A similar scene plays out with his brother, and later, the father! In my experience, people who are cold, stay cold, or at the minimum, are not demonstrative. It would be very difficult for anyone in my extended family to do more than hug, possibly with tears, but outright sobbing and this incredibly warm and cozy in-your-face hugging and loving? Uh-uh. Not a chance. And my own experience likely strongly influenced my belief in the actions here, but I just couldn’t see all that lovey-dovey stuff happening. Not after 15 to 20 years of noncommunication.
On to Brody—tall, ruggedly handsome, muscular—the perfect cop. And Brody wasn’t such a bad guy as Kaenon remembered…much. Granted, he didn’t bully him, but he didn’t stop it either. So warm and fuzzy forgiveness might have been more related to the strong sexual attraction there. I don’t think we actually got enough of Brody or his own story because he got lost in the sea of other characters and, for a time, I thought I was wrong about him being the love interest.
So lots to like and lots to dislike here. I could go on and on, but all I can say is this will likely have two camps of readers—those who love it and those who didn’t—and the gap between them will be wide.
Read
July 22, 2019I have no idea how to rate this. I loved some parts (Kae's relationship with Jo was spectacular), but there were parts I found lacking. I could NEVER have forgiven his family. Full stop. NO. The bullshit they pulled was horrible. I can, sort of, forgive Brody. Sort of. But not enough for a relationship. Speaking of the relationship, was one really there? I saw no real development. I had no reason to believe that either of them wanted anything other than to get laid. Neither past nor present gave the impression of longing for each other. Just BAM! We're in lurve...
I don't know. I am a proud Mary Stan. That means I will read this again, buy any available audio and paperback, and probably love it. And if not, it won't change my absolute adoration of Mary.
I don't know. I am a proud Mary Stan. That means I will read this again, buy any available audio and paperback, and probably love it. And if not, it won't change my absolute adoration of Mary.
August 3, 2019
Review to come. So many issues with this book, minimising abuse is a big no no.
August 10, 2019
2.5
Typical Calmes fare, although, lately I can’t seem to make any kind of emotional connection or investment in any of her new characters or stories, and unfortunately this book didn’t give me that either. I thought it would, given the premise—going home to a small Texas town (after being outed and ostracized at fourteen) to take care of a dying grandmother—how could I not find emotional heft in that?
Unfortunately, any emotional heft for me was quickly lost under the standard format of the gorgeous MC (recently out of a crap relationship, of course) with the new twist of while, yes in that first year everyone DID ostracize and brutalize Kaenon and his family literally abandoned him, by his sophomore year, most people just wanted to be his buddy again. But he was too closed off, so technically, it was his fault he thought the town hated him so the book is basically everyone is town fawning over him and his garden with Kaenon and Brody’s insta-love interspersed in between. I can’t say much about their romance or Brody beyond the fact that it fit the Calmes’s mold with Brody not having much to his character development besides growly alpha except SURPRISE! The growly alpha BOTTOMS.
Calmes also likes BIG emotions in all things so of course, not only do the town’s people love Kaenon, suddenly his family does as well, but instead of trying to contact him in the decade+ he’s been gone, they all want him to forgive them within a few days and again, it is basically Kaenon’s responsibility to magically do this almost instantly, but the theme of magic and the power of hearth and home run throughout so I guess that’s no more unreasonable than anything else.
The ending was surprising abrupt. It was definitely a wham-bam-thank you ma’am— seriously, the MCs bone behind a cottage, have an “ok, I’ll stay convo with Kaenon’s grandmother and that’s about it. All the threads and everything mentioned in the book are just kind of left there. All in all, the book is a quick read (though I skimmed A LOT), the hedge witch and gardening elements are interesting, and if you’re looking for typical Calmes, you’ll probably like this one.
Typical Calmes fare, although, lately I can’t seem to make any kind of emotional connection or investment in any of her new characters or stories, and unfortunately this book didn’t give me that either. I thought it would, given the premise—going home to a small Texas town (after being outed and ostracized at fourteen) to take care of a dying grandmother—how could I not find emotional heft in that?
Unfortunately, any emotional heft for me was quickly lost under the standard format of the gorgeous MC (recently out of a crap relationship, of course) with the new twist of while, yes in that first year everyone DID ostracize and brutalize Kaenon and his family literally abandoned him, by his sophomore year, most people just wanted to be his buddy again. But he was too closed off, so technically, it was his fault he thought the town hated him so the book is basically everyone is town fawning over him and his garden with Kaenon and Brody’s insta-love interspersed in between. I can’t say much about their romance or Brody beyond the fact that it fit the Calmes’s mold with Brody not having much to his character development besides growly alpha except SURPRISE! The growly alpha BOTTOMS.
Calmes also likes BIG emotions in all things so of course, not only do the town’s people love Kaenon, suddenly his family does as well, but instead of trying to contact him in the decade+ he’s been gone, they all want him to forgive them within a few days and again, it is basically Kaenon’s responsibility to magically do this almost instantly, but the theme of magic and the power of hearth and home run throughout so I guess that’s no more unreasonable than anything else.
The ending was surprising abrupt. It was definitely a wham-bam-thank you ma’am— seriously, the MCs bone behind a cottage, have an “ok, I’ll stay convo with Kaenon’s grandmother and that’s about it. All the threads and everything mentioned in the book are just kind of left there. All in all, the book is a quick read (though I skimmed A LOT), the hedge witch and gardening elements are interesting, and if you’re looking for typical Calmes, you’ll probably like this one.
October 5, 2019
Sometimes it's the things we want the most...
That are the hardest things to keep...
There's a romance in this story and it's sweet and I enjoyed it a lot but what really captured my attention and my heart in this story was the other part of this story...the one about family.
'Family' is really such an abstract word. It holds different meanings for all of us. For me it's that group of people who are there for you no matter what, it's your shelter from the storm that can be the rest of the world...family it's unconditional love and acceptance...it's something that we all want but don't always get. So yeah, I could go on and on about how important...how special I think family is but I think I've made my point...family when it's the way it should be is magical.
Kaenon thought he had that special family until they threw him out but that was also when he learned that sometimes the family we have isn't the one we need and just like so many other things in life...families shift and change.
When Kaenon's family threw him out it was his grandparents and his aunt who were there to create an new family for him...to be the family that he needed to take him into adulthood and give him the love that he needed to go out into the world and make a life for himself...to leave Braxton, Texas and not return...until over a decade later when his grandmother...the last member of the family that saved him calls him home, to spend her final summer with her.
'Stand in Place' is set at the beginning of that summer and Kaenon's determined to spend that summer with his grandmother and then return to his home and the life he's made away from Braxton. What Kaenon doesn't realize is that his grandmother's plans for the summer don't include just sitting around waiting to die. Nope, grandma's determined to make sure that Kaenon's family once again shifts to make sure that the grandchild she helped raise isn't alone that he has a family to love him...to give him back the family that years ago failed him.
I have to admit I don't think I would have been as quick to forgive as Kaenon was especially towards his father and having brothers and sisters of my own I get why he might have been more willing to forgiving his brother and sister, I get how much he missed having them in his life.
There's a fine line being walked when someone is seeking/giving forgiveness...how soon is too soon? and at what point has it gone from giving forgiveness to handing out retribution? and those are questions that have to be determined by each person on an individual basis.
This story held a plethora of secondary characters that were all intriguing in their own right but most of all I was enchanted with Keanon's grandmother (Jo as she preferred to be called) this woman is the grandmother we all would love to have and she was delightful and not to forget Kaenon's love interest 'Brody'.
Brody was the high school football star, best friend to Kaenon's brother and Kaenon's had a crush on Brody that goes all the way back to high school...it's a crush that Kaenon doesn't realize has been reciprocated for years. But now that he's got a second chance Brody's not going to let Kaenon slip away without putting up a fight.
Last but not least there's Jo's garden...over the years it's gone to ruin and now Jo want's Brody to restore it to help bring it back to its former glory. There's so much symbolism to this garden. The connection that Kaenon's family holds to the land...the connection they hold to the community and so many other things. I enjoyed the potential sybolisms that are loosely woven into the is part of the story allowing the reader to put their own interpretation on them.
Ok, so by now it's pretty obvious that for me this story just worked and I really enjoyed it, but I need to add that this was also due in no small part to the wonderful narration provided by Greg Boudreaux. I have no doubt in my mind that when I do my annual... semi-annual...quarterly...re-listen of my Mary Calmes audio collection, this one will be on my list...I don't have them all if her books on audio but I'm working on it!
That are the hardest things to keep...
There's a romance in this story and it's sweet and I enjoyed it a lot but what really captured my attention and my heart in this story was the other part of this story...the one about family.
'Family' is really such an abstract word. It holds different meanings for all of us. For me it's that group of people who are there for you no matter what, it's your shelter from the storm that can be the rest of the world...family it's unconditional love and acceptance...it's something that we all want but don't always get. So yeah, I could go on and on about how important...how special I think family is but I think I've made my point...family when it's the way it should be is magical.
Kaenon thought he had that special family until they threw him out but that was also when he learned that sometimes the family we have isn't the one we need and just like so many other things in life...families shift and change.
When Kaenon's family threw him out it was his grandparents and his aunt who were there to create an new family for him...to be the family that he needed to take him into adulthood and give him the love that he needed to go out into the world and make a life for himself...to leave Braxton, Texas and not return...until over a decade later when his grandmother...the last member of the family that saved him calls him home, to spend her final summer with her.
'Stand in Place' is set at the beginning of that summer and Kaenon's determined to spend that summer with his grandmother and then return to his home and the life he's made away from Braxton. What Kaenon doesn't realize is that his grandmother's plans for the summer don't include just sitting around waiting to die. Nope, grandma's determined to make sure that Kaenon's family once again shifts to make sure that the grandchild she helped raise isn't alone that he has a family to love him...to give him back the family that years ago failed him.
I have to admit I don't think I would have been as quick to forgive as Kaenon was especially towards his father and having brothers and sisters of my own I get why he might have been more willing to forgiving his brother and sister, I get how much he missed having them in his life.
There's a fine line being walked when someone is seeking/giving forgiveness...how soon is too soon? and at what point has it gone from giving forgiveness to handing out retribution? and those are questions that have to be determined by each person on an individual basis.
This story held a plethora of secondary characters that were all intriguing in their own right but most of all I was enchanted with Keanon's grandmother (Jo as she preferred to be called) this woman is the grandmother we all would love to have and she was delightful and not to forget Kaenon's love interest 'Brody'.
Brody was the high school football star, best friend to Kaenon's brother and Kaenon's had a crush on Brody that goes all the way back to high school...it's a crush that Kaenon doesn't realize has been reciprocated for years. But now that he's got a second chance Brody's not going to let Kaenon slip away without putting up a fight.
Last but not least there's Jo's garden...over the years it's gone to ruin and now Jo want's Brody to restore it to help bring it back to its former glory. There's so much symbolism to this garden. The connection that Kaenon's family holds to the land...the connection they hold to the community and so many other things. I enjoyed the potential sybolisms that are loosely woven into the is part of the story allowing the reader to put their own interpretation on them.
Ok, so by now it's pretty obvious that for me this story just worked and I really enjoyed it, but I need to add that this was also due in no small part to the wonderful narration provided by Greg Boudreaux. I have no doubt in my mind that when I do my annual... semi-annual...quarterly...re-listen of my Mary Calmes audio collection, this one will be on my list...I don't have them all if her books on audio but I'm working on it!
January 10, 2020
Beautiful... there was a lot of forgiving in this book, not sure I would have had the same strength. Loved Kae & Brody, adored Jo. I enjoyed the mystical vibe which resonated with me.., in all, a lovely read.
August 19, 2019
Initially I wrote a really mean review but I’m better than that so it’s been deleted and now I have this to say:
I will never again read anything from this author.
I will never again read anything from this author.
November 3, 2021
2.5 stars
Greg Boudreaux saved this book honestly.
I swear I looked down at the percentage I was at and it said 89% and I’m like umm what?! How is it already almost over and so much still has to be done.
We didn’t see the friends from the beginning, I felt like there was waaaaay to many characters brought up I was getting lost.
I didn’t 100% believe the connection between Kaenon and Brody… I felt it at times but sometimes I felt nothing was between those two.
I don’t know this was a weird book, didn’t expect the paranormal aspect too it I wasn’t mad about it, but wish it flowed better in the story than how Mary made it.
Idk I am just disappointed because “More Than Life” I really enjoyed and this one was the complete opposite 😢
Greg Boudreaux saved this book honestly.
I swear I looked down at the percentage I was at and it said 89% and I’m like umm what?! How is it already almost over and so much still has to be done.
We didn’t see the friends from the beginning, I felt like there was waaaaay to many characters brought up I was getting lost.
I didn’t 100% believe the connection between Kaenon and Brody… I felt it at times but sometimes I felt nothing was between those two.
I don’t know this was a weird book, didn’t expect the paranormal aspect too it I wasn’t mad about it, but wish it flowed better in the story than how Mary made it.
Idk I am just disappointed because “More Than Life” I really enjoyed and this one was the complete opposite 😢
January 20, 2021
Welcome to another installment of Jory (Kaenon) and Sam (Brody). Mary does not know how to write new interesting characters. Regardless of their different physical attributes, they all sound and speak the same way, like Jory and Sam.
This story did not make any sense. Kaenon came out to his family after dinner, when he was only 14 years old. His mother slapped him, his brother beat him up, his sister ignored him and didn't speak to him again and his father called his pastor and some other members of their church and assisted in restraining him while the men attempted to flog him.
His grandparents, on his fathers side, made it to their home to stop the men before they completed their horrid tasks. Kaenon then leaves his parents house, never to return, with his grandparents. His parents give up legal custody of him and his grandparents adopt him. He graduates from high school and doesn't return for 18 years until his grandmothers dying wish is for him to return to take care of her in her final days.
Within 2 days of returning, everyone in the town is falling over themselves crying-literally- at his feet, expressing how sorry they were. On top of that, the town is crawling with handsome gay men who are flocking to his grandmothers house as if he were some kind of special gay beacon, and naturally, they all want Kaenon. Not only is he irresistible to every man, he's a male Mary Poppins. He makes trees, bushes and flowers that have been dead for years, bloom overnight. At one point, I was waiting for him to fly with the whole town, birds and insects following behind him.
Although his own brother outed Kaenon his freshman year of high school, which led to relentless bullying-he even ended up in the hospital after a severe beating- Kaenon forgave him and his sister after just 2 days. He also forgave his father after seeing him once on the street. Keep in mind this is the same man who tried to flog him and gave up legal custody because he didn't want him as a son. Kaenon forgave him after one blubbering apology and a hug.
Speaking of blubbering, in classic Mary Calmes style, everyone was crying. "Their eyes filled," just from looking at Kaenon and waiting for his forgiveness/blessing. It was nauseating!! And why does every man in her books have to "husk" and "rasp?" Can anyone just speak? And when they do speak, can they complete a sentence without someone interrupting them?
The only reason why I finished this book was because I was already 70% through it and wanted to be done with it. Therefore, I skipped through to the end.
I think I'm done with Mrs. Calmes.
This story did not make any sense. Kaenon came out to his family after dinner, when he was only 14 years old. His mother slapped him, his brother beat him up, his sister ignored him and didn't speak to him again and his father called his pastor and some other members of their church and assisted in restraining him while the men attempted to flog him.
His grandparents, on his fathers side, made it to their home to stop the men before they completed their horrid tasks. Kaenon then leaves his parents house, never to return, with his grandparents. His parents give up legal custody of him and his grandparents adopt him. He graduates from high school and doesn't return for 18 years until his grandmothers dying wish is for him to return to take care of her in her final days.
Within 2 days of returning, everyone in the town is falling over themselves crying-literally- at his feet, expressing how sorry they were. On top of that, the town is crawling with handsome gay men who are flocking to his grandmothers house as if he were some kind of special gay beacon, and naturally, they all want Kaenon. Not only is he irresistible to every man, he's a male Mary Poppins. He makes trees, bushes and flowers that have been dead for years, bloom overnight. At one point, I was waiting for him to fly with the whole town, birds and insects following behind him.
Although his own brother outed Kaenon his freshman year of high school, which led to relentless bullying-he even ended up in the hospital after a severe beating- Kaenon forgave him and his sister after just 2 days. He also forgave his father after seeing him once on the street. Keep in mind this is the same man who tried to flog him and gave up legal custody because he didn't want him as a son. Kaenon forgave him after one blubbering apology and a hug.
Speaking of blubbering, in classic Mary Calmes style, everyone was crying. "Their eyes filled," just from looking at Kaenon and waiting for his forgiveness/blessing. It was nauseating!! And why does every man in her books have to "husk" and "rasp?" Can anyone just speak? And when they do speak, can they complete a sentence without someone interrupting them?
The only reason why I finished this book was because I was already 70% through it and wanted to be done with it. Therefore, I skipped through to the end.
I think I'm done with Mrs. Calmes.
February 15, 2020
For lovers of all things Mary Calmes, this book is for you. It has all of her trademark quirks and I am here for all of them! Kaennon is beloved by all, surrounded by close girls who adore him, 6’2, oblivious to his own charm/appeal, rough early life and adored by a man who declares him his home (and with whom he has smoking hot sex). There’s no mention of pie or pea coats that I can recall but absolutely the gratuitous high dollar shoe reference is there. This ticks every single fabulous, warm, cozy box that we can count on from this author and I Iove that - I love knowing exactly what I will get but at the same time, the stories and details are different.
Unlike the crime/procedural books, this book is character driven with a big dose of emotional catharsis and natural/earthy lore. We aren’t worried about someone getting a rib removed by a psycho, but that’s not to say there aren’t fraught moments. Some bits of this book made my heart clench because it was so damn sad but in a Calmesian way, it was also made okay and then better than okay. I loved this satisfying and heartwarming book and I think other might as well if they are fans of this author and looking for warm fuzzies in these tumultuous times.
And P.S. what a fabulous surprise on a random Thursday.
Unlike the crime/procedural books, this book is character driven with a big dose of emotional catharsis and natural/earthy lore. We aren’t worried about someone getting a rib removed by a psycho, but that’s not to say there aren’t fraught moments. Some bits of this book made my heart clench because it was so damn sad but in a Calmesian way, it was also made okay and then better than okay. I loved this satisfying and heartwarming book and I think other might as well if they are fans of this author and looking for warm fuzzies in these tumultuous times.
And P.S. what a fabulous surprise on a random Thursday.
Read
June 9, 2024TW: the MC is abused by his parents, physically and verbally, outed very publicly by his bother (who punched the shit out of him when he came out to his family), and his sister turns her back on him; also there are slurs.
I need this book rewritten without the above events. Then it would be wonderful because it’s filled with magic.
Edited to add: I seriously keep thinking about this book and how if the multitudes of abuses were left out and if there had been attempts at reconciliation throughout the years (that Kae wasn’t ready to deal with)...this would be up there in my favorite Mary books. Forgiving his brother and his father was...I am still having a hard time with how quickly it was done. It wasn’t immediate but damn. MAJOR TW for abuse: They both hit him when he came out and his dad had the church people show up and they were going to whip with a fucking crop him and send him to conversion camp. How...how do you forgive that? I couldn’t even read it. The book did not need this at all.
I need this book rewritten without the above events. Then it would be wonderful because it’s filled with magic.
Edited to add: I seriously keep thinking about this book and how if the multitudes of abuses were left out and if there had been attempts at reconciliation throughout the years (that Kae wasn’t ready to deal with)...this would be up there in my favorite Mary books. Forgiving his brother and his father was...I am still having a hard time with how quickly it was done. It wasn’t immediate but damn. MAJOR TW for abuse: They both hit him when he came out and his dad had the church people show up and they were going to whip with a fucking crop him and send him to conversion camp. How...how do you forgive that? I couldn’t even read it. The book did not need this at all.
August 24, 2019
Quite a disappointment; at first I thought this was a return to form for Calmes, but alas no. I skimmed a good third. The only reason I finished it is that I liked the central romance. The rest is mushy AND tedious. Did we really need blow-by-blow reconciliations with everyone who ever done our hero wrong? And Mary, did you have to pile on that much cheese?
January 29, 2020
These books are like Kraft macaroni and cheese -something I occasionally consume even though they don't really taste that good.
I also do the same with ravioli in a can.
That doesn't mean I won't do it again.
I also do the same with ravioli in a can.
That doesn't mean I won't do it again.
August 12, 2019
3.75 stars.
As much as I loved this book, there were some major things that could've gone differently which turned this into the rating it is.
Review to follow later this morning!
As much as I loved this book, there were some major things that could've gone differently which turned this into the rating it is.
Review to follow later this morning!
October 3, 2022
Pomysł był świetny. Cała reszta to już inna bajka. To powinno mieć tytuł "Miłość w pendolino" i to pomiędzy jednym przystankiem a drugim. Miałam wrażenie, że w dwa dni wybuchł wulkan. Główny bohater wrócił na chwilę, zakochał się, wybaczył rodzince, założył ogródek, wyhodował w nim wszystko co się dało, postanowił się ożenić i zostać. Koniec. Dawno tak się nie męczyłam czytając. W dodatku przez pierwsze pięćdziesiąt stron odbierał babcię ze szpitala i prowadził z nią błyskotliwą rozmowę. Nowe informacje i kolejni ludzie pojawiali się, jak lawina. I wszędzie opisy, ubrań, domu, kamieni, kwiatów. Czuję się przytłoczona.
April 22, 2025
Kaenon Geary was done fighting the small minds in his sleepy Texas town when he made his escape and never looked back. But now, for the first time in more than a decade, he’s returned to Braxton to spend the summer with his beloved grandmother—her final summer—and no longer recognizes the home he’d left behind all those years ago. Everything has changed. Everything but the man he’s never stopped wanting.
Kaenon Geary (Kae) came out to his parents when he was fourteen years old. To say they were not thrilled was a gigantic understatement. Being the “good Christian people” that they were, they told him that he was an evil, depraved sinner and threatened him with bodily harm. His grandfather, grandmother, and an aunt intervened. They took him in and gave him all the love and care that his own family were obviously not capable of. Kaenon still sometimes had to suffer alienation and ridicule from some people in the little Texas town.... but surprisingly, not very many. Kaenon finally escaped to New York and swore to never come back. When his grandmother, Jo, was diagnosed with cancer and told she only had a short time left, she needed Kaenon to come home for what was to be her last summer.
Kae owed his very life to his grandmother and would do anything for her but coming back to the town that caused him so much heartache is almost too much to ask. He knew that he owed his grandmother for him being the person that he became, so of course nothing could stop him from going to his grandmother and his aunt. He was prepared, but the unwelcome tension he expected to feel just wasn't there. The town's people were actually anxious to see him...anxious to catch up and apologize for their role in causing him so much misery when he was young, including his brother and sister and their family. Their acceptance, and generosity were actually overwhelming.
The one person he never expected to see again was Brody Scott....his "crush" for as long as he can remember. Brody never teased or was mean to Kaenon, but he never stood up for him either. That resentment almost kept Kaenon from accepting Brody’s apology and his confession of love for him. Brody and Kae decide to take the chance, however Kae is still determined to leave at the end of the summer.
You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Kae's many excuses for not staying begin to disappear and the reasons for him to stay there grow. Even the land seems to be happy that he is there. The plants and flowers he and his aunt and grandmother had planted had begun to die when he left. Now that he is back, they begin to almost magically flourish. Everyone tells Kaenon that it is his magic, but he insists that it is not. Slowly but surely, Kaenon’s resolve begins to weaken.
Mary Calmes has created a deeply moving, slightly magical story, full of love and redemption. Kae, not without all good reason, wants to avoid the town where he endured so much pain. What he doesn’t realize, at least at first, is no matter where he goes, this is the only place he will ever really feel at home. This story is not only magical but very thought provoking.
Kaenon Geary (Kae) came out to his parents when he was fourteen years old. To say they were not thrilled was a gigantic understatement. Being the “good Christian people” that they were, they told him that he was an evil, depraved sinner and threatened him with bodily harm. His grandfather, grandmother, and an aunt intervened. They took him in and gave him all the love and care that his own family were obviously not capable of. Kaenon still sometimes had to suffer alienation and ridicule from some people in the little Texas town.... but surprisingly, not very many. Kaenon finally escaped to New York and swore to never come back. When his grandmother, Jo, was diagnosed with cancer and told she only had a short time left, she needed Kaenon to come home for what was to be her last summer.
Kae owed his very life to his grandmother and would do anything for her but coming back to the town that caused him so much heartache is almost too much to ask. He knew that he owed his grandmother for him being the person that he became, so of course nothing could stop him from going to his grandmother and his aunt. He was prepared, but the unwelcome tension he expected to feel just wasn't there. The town's people were actually anxious to see him...anxious to catch up and apologize for their role in causing him so much misery when he was young, including his brother and sister and their family. Their acceptance, and generosity were actually overwhelming.
The one person he never expected to see again was Brody Scott....his "crush" for as long as he can remember. Brody never teased or was mean to Kaenon, but he never stood up for him either. That resentment almost kept Kaenon from accepting Brody’s apology and his confession of love for him. Brody and Kae decide to take the chance, however Kae is still determined to leave at the end of the summer.
You know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? Kae's many excuses for not staying begin to disappear and the reasons for him to stay there grow. Even the land seems to be happy that he is there. The plants and flowers he and his aunt and grandmother had planted had begun to die when he left. Now that he is back, they begin to almost magically flourish. Everyone tells Kaenon that it is his magic, but he insists that it is not. Slowly but surely, Kaenon’s resolve begins to weaken.
Mary Calmes has created a deeply moving, slightly magical story, full of love and redemption. Kae, not without all good reason, wants to avoid the town where he endured so much pain. What he doesn’t realize, at least at first, is no matter where he goes, this is the only place he will ever really feel at home. This story is not only magical but very thought provoking.
December 30, 2019
Ok
3.5 ⭐️
Not my favourite Ms Calmes book. I did have some issues with the forgiveness aspect but at the same time I couldn’t stop reading it, there was just something about it.
I liked Kaenon and his relationship with Jo, it was lovely to read, but I felt a bit sorry for Brody. He seemed to cop all the anger from Kaenon when all he really did as a teenager was ignore him and not stick up for him. The ones who did the damage and who should have been there seemed to get off easier without much grovelling.
I liked Brody and Kaenon together and would enjoy seeing more of them.
3.5 ⭐️
Not my favourite Ms Calmes book. I did have some issues with the forgiveness aspect but at the same time I couldn’t stop reading it, there was just something about it.
I liked Kaenon and his relationship with Jo, it was lovely to read, but I felt a bit sorry for Brody. He seemed to cop all the anger from Kaenon when all he really did as a teenager was ignore him and not stick up for him. The ones who did the damage and who should have been there seemed to get off easier without much grovelling.
I liked Brody and Kaenon together and would enjoy seeing more of them.
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