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Warders #4
Sinnerman
As a warder, Jackson Tybalt is one of the good guys until he sees the man he loves kissing another. Betrayed and angry, Jackson tempts danger and death, ignoring the pleas of other warders to be careful. It’s a vile mood in which to start a romance, but that doesn’t stop the kyrie Raphael, who more than anything wants Jackson for his very own.
Jackson doesn’t want a hearth, he doesn’t want a lover—he just wants dark and painful, and Raphael will give him what he wants. But sometimes the sins of the flesh are just what a body needs to bandage the wounds of the heart, and Raphael will hide the tenderness he feels for Jackson for as long as the warder wears the guise of the Sinnerman.
Jackson doesn’t want a hearth, he doesn’t want a lover—he just wants dark and painful, and Raphael will give him what he wants. But sometimes the sins of the flesh are just what a body needs to bandage the wounds of the heart, and Raphael will hide the tenderness he feels for Jackson for as long as the warder wears the guise of the Sinnerman.
131 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 16, 2011
55 people are currently reading
518 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 148 reviews
July 2, 2018
4 Stars
The bond between a warder and his hearth is meant to be unbreakable, so it’s no surprise when Jackson Tybalt’s heart shatters into a thousand pieces when he witnesses his beloved hearth cheating on him with another. Heartbroken and alone, Jackson spends the months that follow isolating himself from his friends and exhibiting reckless behaviour where his warder duties are concerned.
It’s in Jackson’s increasingly intense exchanges with kyrie Raphael which eventually mends his once fractured spirit and jolts his heart back to life full force. What begins as a purely physical relationship - aimed to get out all the anger and self-loathing Jackson has stored up in the wake of his breakup – slowly turns into something much more tender and profound than he could ever have imagined.
There were a lot of dark and moody moments early on in this one. Although we never really witnessed Jackson and Frank (his hearth) together as a couple, Jackson’s loss and heartbreak was keenly felt, so much so that I was a little worried about how this would successfully turn itself into a romance. Thankfully, I enjoyed the progression of Jackson and Raph’s tumultuous relationship and was absolutely smitten by the two of them by the time Jackson realised how deep his feelings for the kyrie truly ran.
I daresay this might just be my favourite story of the series (to this point). I went in already really excited to get Raphael’s story – I felt like this guy stole the show in the previous two books, with his dark and dangerous bad guy vibe, continually popping in to save our warders and their hearths, even though he was largely considered an enemy. He was truly a fun character to follow and it was great to dig a bit deeper into the whole kyrie thing, too (although I’m still a little unclear on all the hows and whys of it all).
I also enjoyed seeing all the other warders and their hearths playing a much greater secondary role in this one, with everyone appearing on page at least once. I believe this was also the first time all the characters shared a scene together, and what a scene it was. I had a lot of fun watching them all interact – it was fun and playful, lightening the mood a bit from all the heavier stuff felt earlier on in the story.
There is nowhere to go now but onward to the next instalment!
The bond between a warder and his hearth is meant to be unbreakable, so it’s no surprise when Jackson Tybalt’s heart shatters into a thousand pieces when he witnesses his beloved hearth cheating on him with another. Heartbroken and alone, Jackson spends the months that follow isolating himself from his friends and exhibiting reckless behaviour where his warder duties are concerned.
It’s in Jackson’s increasingly intense exchanges with kyrie Raphael which eventually mends his once fractured spirit and jolts his heart back to life full force. What begins as a purely physical relationship - aimed to get out all the anger and self-loathing Jackson has stored up in the wake of his breakup – slowly turns into something much more tender and profound than he could ever have imagined.
There were a lot of dark and moody moments early on in this one. Although we never really witnessed Jackson and Frank (his hearth) together as a couple, Jackson’s loss and heartbreak was keenly felt, so much so that I was a little worried about how this would successfully turn itself into a romance. Thankfully, I enjoyed the progression of Jackson and Raph’s tumultuous relationship and was absolutely smitten by the two of them by the time Jackson realised how deep his feelings for the kyrie truly ran.
I daresay this might just be my favourite story of the series (to this point). I went in already really excited to get Raphael’s story – I felt like this guy stole the show in the previous two books, with his dark and dangerous bad guy vibe, continually popping in to save our warders and their hearths, even though he was largely considered an enemy. He was truly a fun character to follow and it was great to dig a bit deeper into the whole kyrie thing, too (although I’m still a little unclear on all the hows and whys of it all).
I also enjoyed seeing all the other warders and their hearths playing a much greater secondary role in this one, with everyone appearing on page at least once. I believe this was also the first time all the characters shared a scene together, and what a scene it was. I had a lot of fun watching them all interact – it was fun and playful, lightening the mood a bit from all the heavier stuff felt earlier on in the story.
There is nowhere to go now but onward to the next instalment!
June 17, 2011
I love the amusement park ride that Mary Calmes takes you on--you know there's going to be parts when you scream, parts when you squeal, and parts when you laugh. You know your stomach's going to drop and you're going to be a little bit afraid, but then at the end, it will all come out okay--and that's why you sign o for a Mary Calmes ride, and that's why she always delivers.
In Sinnerman, she gives us perhaps her most flawed hero. Jackson is a warder who has lost his hearth, and although we don't see how the connection worked when they were together, we see that Jackson isn't functioning well with the break up. His exchanges with his ex are raw and painful, and Jackson is both pathetic and frightening as he tries to figure out how this part of his life has gone wrong. Jackson believes it's gone wrong because he is a bad person--and his exchanges with Raphael reflect this. Their relationship is dark and twisted at the beginning, and although, like Jackson, we crave something more meaningful, like Jackson, we're at a loss for how to climb out of that hole of self-loathing that a break up will throw us into so we can make it better.
There is a happy ending--and a glorious one--and a revisiting of all of the previous warders and their hearths which was nice as well. The dialog was sparkling and pretty, andRaphael's aching faith, as well as Jackson's bluntness (and his ability to kill a mood!) were showcased in some lovely, totally enjoyable prose. I love urban fantasy, and I do love this novella cycle, and this could be my favorite installment yet.
In Sinnerman, she gives us perhaps her most flawed hero. Jackson is a warder who has lost his hearth, and although we don't see how the connection worked when they were together, we see that Jackson isn't functioning well with the break up. His exchanges with his ex are raw and painful, and Jackson is both pathetic and frightening as he tries to figure out how this part of his life has gone wrong. Jackson believes it's gone wrong because he is a bad person--and his exchanges with Raphael reflect this. Their relationship is dark and twisted at the beginning, and although, like Jackson, we crave something more meaningful, like Jackson, we're at a loss for how to climb out of that hole of self-loathing that a break up will throw us into so we can make it better.
There is a happy ending--and a glorious one--and a revisiting of all of the previous warders and their hearths which was nice as well. The dialog was sparkling and pretty, andRaphael's aching faith, as well as Jackson's bluntness (and his ability to kill a mood!) were showcased in some lovely, totally enjoyable prose. I love urban fantasy, and I do love this novella cycle, and this could be my favorite installment yet.
February 23, 2023
I'm changing my original rating for this one. Bumping it up a star. On my re-read, this just packed more of a punch. Add to that the fact that I forgot most of it and I just enjoyed it more.
Raphael is my favorite.
Re-Read 2023
Nice new cover!
Doing a quick re-read of the series in anticipation of Trick Of Light coming out on the 28th!
*******
I wasn't sure about this one at first but then I realized I loved it anyway.
I will admit to being really confused by what I thought the relationship would be even though it seemed it wasn't and well, that was a little uncomfortable...at first.
Then well, then it was what I thought, what I wanted and what I have loved about this series and I just smiled and was and am still happy.
I do wish that
Off to read the next one!
Raphael is my favorite.
Re-Read 2023
Nice new cover!
Doing a quick re-read of the series in anticipation of Trick Of Light coming out on the 28th!
*******
I wasn't sure about this one at first but then I realized I loved it anyway.
I will admit to being really confused by what I thought the relationship would be even though it seemed it wasn't and well, that was a little uncomfortable...at first.
Then well, then it was what I thought, what I wanted and what I have loved about this series and I just smiled and was and am still happy.
I do wish that
Off to read the next one!
February 12, 2020
Things in a Calmes novel:
- Tall men
- Technicolour blue eyes, quicksilver eyes, bronze skin
- A female friend who is a platonic soulmate
- Gorgeous men who are multilingual
- Food
- Angst
- MCs who have cavemany singleminded devotion to each other
Me when I get that Calmes crack- comfort crack for the horny soul:
PS/ Author once said that Jackson and Raphael would get a sequel so I'm always hoping for that.
- Tall men
- Technicolour blue eyes, quicksilver eyes, bronze skin
- A female friend who is a platonic soulmate
- Gorgeous men who are multilingual
- Food
- Angst
- MCs who have cavemany singleminded devotion to each other
Me when I get that Calmes crack- comfort crack for the horny soul:
PS/ Author once said that Jackson and Raphael would get a sequel so I'm always hoping for that.
June 20, 2011
Not sure about the quality of this review, so this serves as a fair warning to all - my review might contain small servings of spoilers here and there.
I read Heart in Hand and Sinnerman back-to-back and it must be quite obvious that I prefer one over the other. That is not to say that I have problems with Leith and Simon. However, I just found Jackson and Raphael's story much more powerful and meaningful. This book simply isn't about the power of love; it's about the power of love and the redemption it provides, the many opportunities that love opens once you accept it.
There are so many dark elements in this book that made me wary of it first. To start, the protagonists were not exactly the biggest teddy bears we've seen. (Perhaps Malic may have been even less sinister and threatening than Jackson, Raphael, and their crazy actions.) Despite the seemingly lack of redeeming qualities within these two, Jackson and Raphael were close to my heart. Not that I have even remotely experienced what they've experienced. But there is something about these two crazily flawed characters that pulled me in as a reader. Jackson's hurt is understandable, as we ourselves became witnesses to Frank's betrayal. And while Raphael's rough edges are somewhat blurred and can be misread until perhaps you hit the 75% mark of the book, you learn to love him.
Another thing that makes this so dark and different from the first three books in the series was the palpable pain that both protagonists felt. It isn't just the pain of having the roughest sex you can imagine. It was also the pain of being left behind, the pain of knowing this new guy can fit the hole in your heart but doesn't seem to be turned the right way. And for a while I honestly thought that the pain would last until the end, that Raphael would remain as a last puzzle piece that wasn't quite fit in properly.
Except, you know, there is a happy ending. A most wonderful one, even amongst all the angst that surrounded Jackson and Raphael throughout most of the book. Raphael did what he could for Jackson, gave the warder all that Jackson thought he needed, deserved. And from here on, the power of love worked its magic and gave us redemption and acceptance and so much more.
As a whole, this book is emotional and flawed. I loved it for its flaws, though, because Mary Calmes didn't try to hide them. Jackson and Raphael weren't hidden behind smiling marionettes - it wouldn't have been them. Not all of the loose ends were tied; this is, after all, a series. But in the end, the story touched me and took me through different ranges of emotions. My heart was tugged. Yours would most likely be tugged too.
I read Heart in Hand and Sinnerman back-to-back and it must be quite obvious that I prefer one over the other. That is not to say that I have problems with Leith and Simon. However, I just found Jackson and Raphael's story much more powerful and meaningful. This book simply isn't about the power of love; it's about the power of love and the redemption it provides, the many opportunities that love opens once you accept it.
There are so many dark elements in this book that made me wary of it first. To start, the protagonists were not exactly the biggest teddy bears we've seen. (Perhaps Malic may have been even less sinister and threatening than Jackson, Raphael, and their crazy actions.) Despite the seemingly lack of redeeming qualities within these two, Jackson and Raphael were close to my heart. Not that I have even remotely experienced what they've experienced. But there is something about these two crazily flawed characters that pulled me in as a reader. Jackson's hurt is understandable, as we ourselves became witnesses to Frank's betrayal. And while Raphael's rough edges are somewhat blurred and can be misread until perhaps you hit the 75% mark of the book, you learn to love him.
Another thing that makes this so dark and different from the first three books in the series was the palpable pain that both protagonists felt. It isn't just the pain of having the roughest sex you can imagine. It was also the pain of being left behind, the pain of knowing this new guy can fit the hole in your heart but doesn't seem to be turned the right way. And for a while I honestly thought that the pain would last until the end, that Raphael would remain as a last puzzle piece that wasn't quite fit in properly.
Except, you know, there is a happy ending. A most wonderful one, even amongst all the angst that surrounded Jackson and Raphael throughout most of the book. Raphael did what he could for Jackson, gave the warder all that Jackson thought he needed, deserved. And from here on, the power of love worked its magic and gave us redemption and acceptance and so much more.
As a whole, this book is emotional and flawed. I loved it for its flaws, though, because Mary Calmes didn't try to hide them. Jackson and Raphael weren't hidden behind smiling marionettes - it wouldn't have been them. Not all of the loose ends were tied; this is, after all, a series. But in the end, the story touched me and took me through different ranges of emotions. My heart was tugged. Yours would most likely be tugged too.
May 20, 2020
While the story was a bit chaotic and slightly all over the place with alternating time frames, I enjoyed it simply because I have had a soft spot for kyrie Raphael since he first appeared in the series. Their relationship is tumultuous and a bit unconventional, but they mesh so well together and, I think, Raphael is better hearth for Jackson than Frank Sullivan ever was. There were couple of moments that made me howl with laughter. I liked that all the warders were on page as well as their Sentinel Jael, whose private life was on display as well. I had fun reading this book.
January 16, 2012
What a series this is turning out to be! The one thing I hadn’t expected is for one of the pairs to break up – yet, when I read the blurb for this book it became clear that the warder Jackson would lose his hearth. What a traumatic experience, and one which normally doesn’t end well at all, or so we are told. With the strength of the bond seen between warder and hearth in the first three books, it surprised me it was even possible.
Jackson, as the warder, tries to stay strong. The problem is that he tells the story, so his pain became really clear. I was truly pulled into his pain, and it was so well written that I suffered with him, even though I didn’t know him that well at the beginning of the story. His journey is amazing and, even thought he is still a gruff bear on the outside at the end of it, I really came to like him.
Raphael, the kyrie, follows a logic all his own and I loved that. In a sense, that makes him the true equal of Jackson, and that is new in this series. Exhausting, because it takes him a while to adapt, but good and somewhat refreshing. There is a lot more to Raphael than meets the eye, and he gradual unveiling of his secrets as Jackson gets to know him is nicely done.
This is a powerful story of supernatural forces and what happens when they collide. The cast of characters is great, and it was wonderful to see some old friends from the first three books reappear. At the same time, there are new people as well, and it will be interesting to see what happens to this group in the next few books. I love that there is lots of room to maneuver, since that will keep the tension up and the surprises coming. A great book if you’re looking for a touch of the supernatural, combined with some great emotions and a true journey of discovery for the main characters.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online.
Jackson, as the warder, tries to stay strong. The problem is that he tells the story, so his pain became really clear. I was truly pulled into his pain, and it was so well written that I suffered with him, even though I didn’t know him that well at the beginning of the story. His journey is amazing and, even thought he is still a gruff bear on the outside at the end of it, I really came to like him.
Raphael, the kyrie, follows a logic all his own and I loved that. In a sense, that makes him the true equal of Jackson, and that is new in this series. Exhausting, because it takes him a while to adapt, but good and somewhat refreshing. There is a lot more to Raphael than meets the eye, and he gradual unveiling of his secrets as Jackson gets to know him is nicely done.
This is a powerful story of supernatural forces and what happens when they collide. The cast of characters is great, and it was wonderful to see some old friends from the first three books reappear. At the same time, there are new people as well, and it will be interesting to see what happens to this group in the next few books. I love that there is lots of room to maneuver, since that will keep the tension up and the surprises coming. A great book if you’re looking for a touch of the supernatural, combined with some great emotions and a true journey of discovery for the main characters.
NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Queer Magazine Online.
May 18, 2019
3.4 Stars
Argh, this one pains me to rate. It's the installment I was most looking forward to as the way the other Warders reacted so negatively to Rafael seemed entirely out-of-proportion/over-the-top...which made me think he was a misunderstood pseudo-demonish character, judged for his origins rather than his actions.
And that IS who Rafael turned out to be...but man, it didn't feel like it. The summary mentions a hidden "tenderness" - and maybe it was the narration, but that did NOT come through at ALL. I mean, he's not the evil entity most of the Warders assumed he was...but those sex scenes and other interactions didn't really hint at any kind of "tenderness." (Could also be that the story was told from Jackson's POV and he didn't really experience that aspect of Rafael much either.)
Also, this one was all over the place with the drama; and what's with a gay man "falling in love with" (his words) a straight, pregnant, married woman? That was so confusing - I couldn't tell if we were gonna veer off into MMF territory or something else...but no, just weirdness.
So disappointed.
(Of course, I'll still listen to rest...because I'm a completist and I have to see how it all ends.)
Argh, this one pains me to rate. It's the installment I was most looking forward to as the way the other Warders reacted so negatively to Rafael seemed entirely out-of-proportion/over-the-top...which made me think he was a misunderstood pseudo-demonish character, judged for his origins rather than his actions.
And that IS who Rafael turned out to be...but man, it didn't feel like it. The summary mentions a hidden "tenderness" - and maybe it was the narration, but that did NOT come through at ALL. I mean, he's not the evil entity most of the Warders assumed he was...but those sex scenes and other interactions didn't really hint at any kind of "tenderness." (Could also be that the story was told from Jackson's POV and he didn't really experience that aspect of Rafael much either.)
Also, this one was all over the place with the drama; and what's with a gay man "falling in love with" (his words) a straight, pregnant, married woman? That was so confusing - I couldn't tell if we were gonna veer off into MMF territory or something else...but no, just weirdness.
So disappointed.
(Of course, I'll still listen to rest...because I'm a completist and I have to see how it all ends.)
November 6, 2020
3.75 stars
One of the better ones of the series
I enjoyed Raphael and how he got Jackson to notice him. It was interesting seeing what happens if a hearth no longer wants the warder. Although I wanted Jackson to snap out of it a little bit quicker than he did.
It was also nice to see the the fellow hearths all stand with Raph when he was questioned.
The narrator still isn’t the best, but at this point I’m kind of used to him and can ignore it.
One of the better ones of the series
I enjoyed Raphael and how he got Jackson to notice him. It was interesting seeing what happens if a hearth no longer wants the warder. Although I wanted Jackson to snap out of it a little bit quicker than he did.
It was also nice to see the the fellow hearths all stand with Raph when he was questioned.
The narrator still isn’t the best, but at this point I’m kind of used to him and can ignore it.
January 24, 2024
Dang it, we're back to italicized memories again. But at least they're mostly short. So, this one's rougher, given the MC and the hearth. It's good. Maybe simpler than the first three since the primary obstacle is the MC's attitude rather than outside forces. I was amused all the way through that last warder meeting. On to #5.
December 30, 2016
Review will be included in a full Volume review of Warders: Volume 2.
~
This was one of my favourite stories in this series so far.
I loved Jackson and how he embraced the sweeping darkness and the meltdown from Frank's cheating. He didn't let his Warder brothers try to tell him that he couldn't be angry or hurt, though I was surprised that the whole 'cheating boyfriend' theme was being revisited again. This is the third story where it plays a big part in the overall story arc.
I was intrigued by Hayden, who I hope to see in future stories. Despite being a spoiled rich kid, making wrong choices, he was just looking to be loved and would make a great Warder's hearth.
However, once again the 1st person POV meant that the only way I knew it was Jackson's POV was from the mention of Frank within the first page, because, without that, Jackson's name didn't appear until 4 pages in.
I loved the way that the hearths stood up for Raph, later in the story. Raphael was the best minor character from all the other stories and the one I wanted to see the most. His chemistry with Jackson was off the charts and I loved the way he gave Jackson what he needed, even when it wasn't what he wanted or needed.
Again, we had a side storyline of an ex-boyfriend causing trouble for the warder. This time, it had a more advanced storyline in Frank's antics, but again it wasn't properly explored or explained. It's the only problem I've found with the series; the theme of ex-boyfriends and the fact that certain side plots are used but never really explained.
~
Favourite Quote
““I guess I shouldn't have worried,” Raphael said beside me.
I turned to look at him.
“It's like a damn frat house around here. How do you people inspire any fear at all?””
~
This was one of my favourite stories in this series so far.
I loved Jackson and how he embraced the sweeping darkness and the meltdown from Frank's cheating. He didn't let his Warder brothers try to tell him that he couldn't be angry or hurt, though I was surprised that the whole 'cheating boyfriend' theme was being revisited again. This is the third story where it plays a big part in the overall story arc.
I was intrigued by Hayden, who I hope to see in future stories. Despite being a spoiled rich kid, making wrong choices, he was just looking to be loved and would make a great Warder's hearth.
However, once again the 1st person POV meant that the only way I knew it was Jackson's POV was from the mention of Frank within the first page, because, without that, Jackson's name didn't appear until 4 pages in.
I loved the way that the hearths stood up for Raph, later in the story. Raphael was the best minor character from all the other stories and the one I wanted to see the most. His chemistry with Jackson was off the charts and I loved the way he gave Jackson what he needed, even when it wasn't what he wanted or needed.
Again, we had a side storyline of an ex-boyfriend causing trouble for the warder. This time, it had a more advanced storyline in Frank's antics, but again it wasn't properly explored or explained. It's the only problem I've found with the series; the theme of ex-boyfriends and the fact that certain side plots are used but never really explained.
~
Favourite Quote
““I guess I shouldn't have worried,” Raphael said beside me.
I turned to look at him.
“It's like a damn frat house around here. How do you people inspire any fear at all?””
September 18, 2018
Goddamn, I loved this book!!! I adored Jackson from the beginning and finding out in the book before that Raph did too made my mouth water for this book. And Mary Calmes did not disappoint. There was passion, trauma, emotions - God, this book had just about everything I look for in a keeper.
I always feel guilty at how quickly I devour any Mary Calmes book in case I miss anything, but I make myself feel better by reading and re-reading it several times just to be sure I pick up all of the nuances.
An absolutely excellent addition to the Warder and Hearth series, to simply say this surpasses all the others should give you an inkling as to the joy awaiting you. Loved it, absolutely loved it.
I always feel guilty at how quickly I devour any Mary Calmes book in case I miss anything, but I make myself feel better by reading and re-reading it several times just to be sure I pick up all of the nuances.
An absolutely excellent addition to the Warder and Hearth series, to simply say this surpasses all the others should give you an inkling as to the joy awaiting you. Loved it, absolutely loved it.
June 18, 2011
I think this might be my favorite of the Warder series so far. :D
March 5, 2019
And yes, we have another warder with poor taste in men. This one is about warder Jackson Tybalt and I have to admit Jackson's probably a favorite of mine in this series.
Jackson it turns out gets way more than he's looking for when he's out on demon patrol one night and spots his 'hearth' doing the nasty with ironically one of fellow warder Malik's friends...or I guess I should say 'former friend'.
Now for a little sidebar...in the world of Warders we have Warders obviously men & women who hunt demons, Sentinel's who are the head of the Warders in their city/district (5 Warders per location seems to be the magic number), Hearths who are the warders life partners that person who for them is home and keeps them grounded giving them a place of love and security...a home and of course we have demons the things that warder's hunt.
While I'm sure there are other creatures of the night the last one that we need to worry about right now are called kyrie. Kyrie are neither Warders (Protectors) nor are they demons. Kyrie are the bounty hunters of the preternatural world.
Raphael is a kyrie and we first met him back back in 'Tooth & Nail' when he helped Malic and then again in 'Heart in Hand' when he helped to rescue Simon. But now in 'Sinnerman' we find get to see him get a warder of his own.
Andrew Schultz is once again the narrator for this one and once again has done a solid job of narrating this story making for an even more enjoyable listening experience.
In the world of Mary Calmes I can't honestly say that this is one of her best series but sometimes it's not the quality of something that defines the story for the reader it's the connection and for whatever the reason I love this series and the stories make me laugh and have even gotten me a little misty eyed at times. There doesn't always have to be a reason that we love, what we love...sometimes it's ok to just love it.
Jackson it turns out gets way more than he's looking for when he's out on demon patrol one night and spots his 'hearth' doing the nasty with ironically one of fellow warder Malik's friends...or I guess I should say 'former friend'.
Now for a little sidebar...in the world of Warders we have Warders obviously men & women who hunt demons, Sentinel's who are the head of the Warders in their city/district (5 Warders per location seems to be the magic number), Hearths who are the warders life partners that person who for them is home and keeps them grounded giving them a place of love and security...a home and of course we have demons the things that warder's hunt.
While I'm sure there are other creatures of the night the last one that we need to worry about right now are called kyrie. Kyrie are neither Warders (Protectors) nor are they demons. Kyrie are the bounty hunters of the preternatural world.
Raphael is a kyrie and we first met him back back in 'Tooth & Nail' when he helped Malic and then again in 'Heart in Hand' when he helped to rescue Simon. But now in 'Sinnerman' we find get to see him get a warder of his own.
Andrew Schultz is once again the narrator for this one and once again has done a solid job of narrating this story making for an even more enjoyable listening experience.
In the world of Mary Calmes I can't honestly say that this is one of her best series but sometimes it's not the quality of something that defines the story for the reader it's the connection and for whatever the reason I love this series and the stories make me laugh and have even gotten me a little misty eyed at times. There doesn't always have to be a reason that we love, what we love...sometimes it's ok to just love it.
September 24, 2016
WOW... it would appear that Raphael is not only very good at demon hunting but also, calming cranky babies and understanding broken hearted Warders! Years ago, I read Nexus because it was FREE and caught my eye... and I fell in love with this series (one of the few times I have read a book in a series out of order) and found a wonderful new author to read!
Jackson is having a bad day... week... month? Heck, his hearth dumps him for another (richer) man and leaves Jackson to fend for himself and thinking that he doesn't deserve a hearth or love... Frank is an idiot! Just sayin'!!!
Raphael is a Kyrie who hunts demon and will eventually become one himself if he isn't claimed by the one that he loves... which is our "clueless" Jackson... much rough, and what appears to be "meaningless" sex ensues... (for some reason, in this book, the demon hunting is pretty much done off page... hmmm) *shakes head* Anyways... Jackson must learn a valuable life lesson... we ALL deserve to be loved if we are prepared to love ourselves and others! Much humorous dialogue, (more so than usual for this series) Warder comradery and the arrival of a beautiful baby girl all work to bring Jackson to the place he needs to be so that he can see Rafael for the loving, protective man that he is... well, Kyrie that he is! *grin*
Since I have already read Nexus, which would have been the next book in this series... I guess I need to move on to Cherish Your Name... but will probably wait 'til closer to the holidays! ;D
Jackson is having a bad day... week... month? Heck, his hearth dumps him for another (richer) man and leaves Jackson to fend for himself and thinking that he doesn't deserve a hearth or love... Frank is an idiot! Just sayin'!!!
Raphael is a Kyrie who hunts demon and will eventually become one himself if he isn't claimed by the one that he loves... which is our "clueless" Jackson... much rough, and what appears to be "meaningless" sex ensues... (for some reason, in this book, the demon hunting is pretty much done off page... hmmm) *shakes head* Anyways... Jackson must learn a valuable life lesson... we ALL deserve to be loved if we are prepared to love ourselves and others! Much humorous dialogue, (more so than usual for this series) Warder comradery and the arrival of a beautiful baby girl all work to bring Jackson to the place he needs to be so that he can see Rafael for the loving, protective man that he is... well, Kyrie that he is! *grin*
Since I have already read Nexus, which would have been the next book in this series... I guess I need to move on to Cherish Your Name... but will probably wait 'til closer to the holidays! ;D
March 6, 2016
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
Story 4 Stars
Narration 3 Stars
Jackson has loved and lost his hearth and that loss is killing him. His behaviour is out of control and his sentinel and the other warders are worried. The last person in the world you would expect Jackson to turn to or talk to would be Raphael but that’s what happens. It’s not really a friendship to begin with but more of a truce. Jackson has the most reason out of all the warders to dislike and not trust Raphael who is a Kyrie but something in him calls to the man.
Raphael is snarky and exactly what Jackson needs as a distraction. At the beginning I had real doubt as to how the pair could work but Raphael isn’t as big as a jerk as he likes to make out and I absolutely loved his possessive streak, it was exactly what Jackson needed and at just the right time.
Out of darkness and snark comes a real romance and an overwhelming feeling of ownership. Raphael loves hard and when he gets what he wants there will be no turning back – if ever a character was going to beat his chest and shout ‘mine’ Raphael is that person. Their story is about moving forward, healing and finally finding the right one.
Narration Review:
This is the last book in the series narrated by Andrew Shwartz and if I’m honest I won’t be sorry. The fact that these books are short is his saving grace as he isn’t the best narrator for the job.
Story 4 Stars
Narration 3 Stars
Jackson has loved and lost his hearth and that loss is killing him. His behaviour is out of control and his sentinel and the other warders are worried. The last person in the world you would expect Jackson to turn to or talk to would be Raphael but that’s what happens. It’s not really a friendship to begin with but more of a truce. Jackson has the most reason out of all the warders to dislike and not trust Raphael who is a Kyrie but something in him calls to the man.
Raphael is snarky and exactly what Jackson needs as a distraction. At the beginning I had real doubt as to how the pair could work but Raphael isn’t as big as a jerk as he likes to make out and I absolutely loved his possessive streak, it was exactly what Jackson needed and at just the right time.
Out of darkness and snark comes a real romance and an overwhelming feeling of ownership. Raphael loves hard and when he gets what he wants there will be no turning back – if ever a character was going to beat his chest and shout ‘mine’ Raphael is that person. Their story is about moving forward, healing and finally finding the right one.
Narration Review:
This is the last book in the series narrated by Andrew Shwartz and if I’m honest I won’t be sorry. The fact that these books are short is his saving grace as he isn’t the best narrator for the job.
May 22, 2021
Jackson broke my heart! I fell totally in love with him and his horrible heartbreak when he found his hearth cheating on him. Oh I would have liked to slap his hearth across the face for hurting him and then tearing his heart out and stomping on it with his ugly words to Jackson. I really despised his former hearth.
Enter Raphael the kyrie we've met in prior books. Raphael is a bounty hunter and apparently has found what he needs in Jackson. The best part is that Raphael knows what Jackson needs more than Jackson does himself. In the beginning you think Raphael is a real jerk, but he's just responding to what Jackson thinks he needs. When they find their way together it's beautiful.
My favorite part of this story, though, is when all of the warders and their hearths are gathered at the sentinels home and WOW the back and forth friendly bickering and verbal jabs is hysterical. This is a great addition to the series and I totally loved this story!!
Enter Raphael the kyrie we've met in prior books. Raphael is a bounty hunter and apparently has found what he needs in Jackson. The best part is that Raphael knows what Jackson needs more than Jackson does himself. In the beginning you think Raphael is a real jerk, but he's just responding to what Jackson thinks he needs. When they find their way together it's beautiful.
My favorite part of this story, though, is when all of the warders and their hearths are gathered at the sentinels home and WOW the back and forth friendly bickering and verbal jabs is hysterical. This is a great addition to the series and I totally loved this story!!
June 20, 2011
Nothing in this book makes me want to check out the others in this series. Instead of giving a clear picture of the main characters, the author concentrated on mentioning as many characters from previous installments as possible. After finishing this book I still don't know who Jackson and Raphael are or why they're attracted to each other. The pacing is weird. Sluggish and full of infodumps in some places, sped up by time jumps that left me scratching my head as to what happened in the meantime.
December 8, 2013
This is one of those stories that start up in a really bad storm and by the end of the book the sun is shining really brightly. I was glad that Jackson (and the other warders) was finally able to see that Raph was not bad at all. I loved how Raph forced Jackson to admit to himself that he deserved way better than to be treated the way he had been by his supposed Hearth. This series is so good that I don't want to start the next book because that means I am closer to the end. I'll wait a bit for now xD
December 16, 2017
Boy howdy, this book gave me whiplash! It was all over the place! Lots of non sequitur moments; like Jackson runs into his exes new man and instead of confrontation he goes to the salad bar where he has this long convo about beets. What? So Frank doesn't want Jacks, then he does. So Raphael is a bad guy, then he's good. First a top, suddenly a needy bottom. What the heck?!? 2.5 stars, at least it evened out in the end...
June 23, 2011
Honestly? I don’t get this series. I don’t get the point of this book. It was 173 pages and the two characters aren’t on the page together (not counting a flashback) until page 100. THEN there is absolutely no relationship building. NONE. The entire book happens off-stage. What, then, was the book about? Your guess is as good as mine.
Not happy.
Not happy.
April 24, 2017
A Warder may protect the city he serves and kill demons and things that go bump in the night but some of life's lessons still holds true for them as well.
1. You have to like yourself & believe that you are worthy of love before you can let others into your life.
2. If you are truly lucky, you can find love again after your heart has been bruised.
1. You have to like yourself & believe that you are worthy of love before you can let others into your life.
2. If you are truly lucky, you can find love again after your heart has been bruised.
April 12, 2023
3.5 stars
I really liked the beginning and the ending. However the middle part seemed to have weird jumps in the characters logic. This stopped me from really understanding how that character felt - its hard to explain.
I am looking forward to future books :)
I really liked the beginning and the ending. However the middle part seemed to have weird jumps in the characters logic. This stopped me from really understanding how that character felt - its hard to explain.
I am looking forward to future books :)
June 18, 2011
Very good paranormal m/m romance about a warder who's not doing very well at all - he's been taking too many chances ever since his hearth left him for another man. At least fighting with that pesky not-quite-a-demon's been keeping things interesting...
November 15, 2020
I enjoyed reading this again.
Original review...
Sinnerman is well-written and entertaining and for me the best story of the series so far.
Original review...
Sinnerman is well-written and entertaining and for me the best story of the series so far.
November 24, 2012
Raphael is probably my favorite character in this series. Mysterious and a bit scary. Jackson is kind of emo and flails around, but Raphael wants him so I have to like him too.
August 19, 2014
Solid 4 stars for this installment. I love Rafe. He's awesome.
August 2, 2023
RR August 2023
June 12, 2018
Great series to listen to.
January 6, 2017
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