Book Reviews

Book Blurb

How will a man who doesn’t believe in fairy tales ever hope to recognize when he’s found the love of a lifetime?

Locryn Barnes knows what it means to be a fixer for Torus Intercession. Torus is the place that people in need turn to for everything from bodyguards to chaperones, and God knows Loc is the kind of man who’d rather play human shield against a bullet than spend even a moment of his life as a glorified babysitter. Which is why he tells a prospective client, in no uncertain terms, that he’s not the right fixer for the job when Torus is tapped to play what amounts to a life coach for a spoiled, burned out, fresh-out-of-rehab rock star.

Nick Madison has been living on the edge since he was seventeen—drugs, booze, men, women . . . you name it, Nick has done it. Now, at twenty-six, aimless and on the verge of losing everything, he can’t seem to give a damn. When he wakes up one afternoon, hungover and strung out, to find a stranger in his house ordering everyone around like he owns the place, Nick is sure he’s woken up in his own little corner of purgatory. When he realizes why Locryn Barnes has invaded his life, Nick is determined to prove he doesn’t need anyone’s help, least of all from the walking, talking definition of infuriating.

Through weeks of recovery, of rebuilding his life and facing his past, Nick comes to realize that Loc is not the enemy. Nick has met every challenge and is finally ready to spread his wings and fly, but not alone, which means another daunting challenge to face. Now, Nick needs to convince the fixer that the rock star is his happily-ever-after. Which could prove to be Nick’s biggest challenge yet.

 

Book Review

A cantankerous fixer and a recovering addict are at the heart of this third volume in Mary Calmes’s ‘Torus Intercession’ series. Locryn has intrigued me from the very beginning, because even to the few (very few) people who know him as more than just a colleague, it feels as if there is more under the mask he shields himself with. Watching Nick discover the many layers of Loc was extraordinarily entertaining.

 

The very first thing I learned about Loc was the immense love and truly awesome relationship he has with his mother. I knew immediately that no man who loved his mom with so much of his heart could ever be the a**hole and inconsiderate jacka** many had accused him of being. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a mother-son “oh boy, the umbilical cord doesn’t stretch that far” kind of relationship. No, this is one built on love, respect, and genuine caring for each other. The fact that Loc’s mom is a hippie extraordinaire makes the whole thing quite hysterical, and when she talks to him about her latest protest movement, or natural balance and alignment, etc., I was in stitches laughing so hard!

 

Loc doesn’t like change and so much of his attitude has been because of significant change in his life and at his job. It was interesting for me to realize that not too long into reading I recognized that the very best words to describe him are noble and honorable. He feels deeply and cares so much about the downtrodden. Granted, I hadn’t thought he was as unfeeling as he came across, but to discover his depths was eye-opening. He was a cop before Jared hired him and that was a very good thing as his soul was about to be completely stifled by the massive shades of gray and downright black that existed in the police department. Well, that, and his lack of filter plus not knowing when to keep his mouth shut to the higher-ups in the chain of command. Loc doesn’t really believe much in “protocols”. *grins* In some ways Loc reminds me of Ian from the author’s ‘Marshals’ series so if you’ve read that then I think understanding Loc will come easy.

 

“I got it then, what Mr. Sawyer meant about what he needed for Nick Madison. I wasn’t there to get Nick Madison clean; I wasn’t qualified to do that… What he needed now was someone to keep him clean and sober, on the straight and narrow, and build him up until he could fly on his own.”

 

Nick is so much more than what Loc, and frankly everyone outside his true friends, believes him to be. Yes, he’s a pop star with the looks, the talent, and the money that accompany it. But there’s a core of steel inside him and once Loc takes over the managing of his daily life and starts Nick on a schedule of eating healthy and regular exercise, Nick finds his balance and that strength within. The fact that he’s been used and tossed away by his family when he was just a kid has left him rudderless to deal with the massive amount of management that comes along with his.

 

“I’m here to help you, shelter you, keep you safe and build you back up… I will never ambush you.” ~ Locryn

 

This third installment in the series is very much a character study and I was turning pages so quickly that if I’d been reading a paperback, I might have cut myself. The intricacies of both men were fascinating along with what they needed from each other. Loc has never had a full-on relationship. Not because he doesn’t want one (regardless of what he says), but because no one has ever seen inside him and realized what he longs for. Nick has been used by so many people that it takes him a while to find who he is and what he’s capable of.

 

“I don’t need a fixer anymore, Loc, I just need you with me,” he said, holding my hair back from my face as he kissed my forehead. “I will always listen to you, I will be your partner and your lover and your home, just like you’ll be mine.” ~ Nick

 

I have adored each and every book in this series to date but I think this might just be my very favorite. I’m always attracted to the “difficult” men and so Loc has been on my radar since I read Brann’s story in volume one. Nick might be young, and considering the cesspool he’s been inhabiting since he became a star, his compassion and love are remarkable. I fell completely in love with both men. ‘Fix It Up’ was so much more than I had expected and I thank you, Mary, for this true gem of a tale. Now, not to be rude, but when can I expect Jared’s book? *smiles evilly*

 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book has been purchased by the reviewer.

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 327 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	27-October-2020
Price	$4.99 ebook, $12.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Fix-Up-Torus-Intercession-Three-ebook/dp/B08LGRJ533