Title: Parting Shot
Series: Matter of Time, #7
Author: Mary Calmes
Narrator: Tristan James
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8 hours and 2 minutes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (03/07/14)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts (can I give 10?!)
Reviewer: Tams
Blurb: A Matter of Time Story
(Duncan Stiel from Acrobat by the same author)
Life has never been easy for Duncan Stiel. His childhood was the stuff of nightmares, and his day job as an undercover police officer forces him to hide his true self and occasionally lands him in the hospital. So when he finally meets the perfect man, it comes as no surprise that everything falls apart around him. What Duncan doesn’t expect is that the hardest hurdle to get over before he can make a life with Aaron Sutter is the one inside himself.
Everyone thinks Aaron has it all—looks, money, fame, and success beyond measure. Everyone, that is, except Aaron. At the end of the day, the cameras stop flashing, friends go back to their own lives, company business is handled, and Aaron is always alone. The moment he meets Duncan Stiel, Aaron knows he’ll do anything to hold onto the larger-than-life detective. But when he realizes money won’t buy him the ultimate happiness, Aaron needs to find the strength to give Duncan something much more important—his heart.
Purchase Link: http://www.audible.com/search?advsearchKeywords=Parting+Shot
Review: Duncan Stiel has been a very prominent secondary character through two of the Matter of Time books and Acrobat, as Aaron was close to a main character as the couldn’t take no for an answer ex of Jory Keyes. I sink to my knees and thank whatever forces above convinced Calmes to write Duncan and Aaron’s story!
Duncan Stiel loves his job in law enforcement. The big, burly undercover cop is much better with his hands than with his gun, so his body carries far too many scars, prominent memories of his years on the job. He keeps his sexuality a secret, even knowing how well it turned out for fellow officer and friend, Sam Kage. He lost the one man he thought he could love because of it. So when Aaron Sutter lands in his lap, he thinks they might actually be able to make a go of it. After all, the billionaire, socialite playboy is snugged tightly away in his closet as well. But the threat of Aaron losing his position and power at his family company is hovering over them, and when a case and miscommunication drive a wedge between them, it would seem that their almost was not meant to be.
Aaron Sutter is at a loss, he has never wanted to keep someone so badly before, until he met Duncan. Their relationship has its ups and downs and definitely gets off to a rocky start. First, they are blazing hot, then Duncan disappears for a while on a case, and when he comes back, there is no contact. When he finds out why he sets out to prove to Duncan how much he truly wants the cranky cop in his life. And when the board backs him, to spite the fact that he is gay, his and Duncan’s relationship becomes front-page news overnight.
Duncan is working a high-profile undercover investigation, trying to nail a guy for murder, a guy that wants something from Duncan he has promised to only share with Aaron. So he and Aaron go under cover at a BDSM resort, but even all Aaron’s billions and bravado may not be enough to catch this bad guy. And when Duncan is hurt, Aaron’s judgement is clouded by fear, the fear of losing the man he loves, and he blows their cover. Locked inside a guard tower with no windows, a way to escape or contact with the outside world, both men finally say those three little words. But they make not make it out of this one alive, so the declaration may just be a moot point.
What happens when you unite two alpha males full of good looks, snarky personalities and the innate need to be in control? Aaron has never relied on anyone, HE takes care of people. But Duncan won’t be manhandled. That is the major struggle they have to overcome in their relationship. Both men will have to learn give and take, finding a balance they are both comfortable with in order to maintain the love they have for each other. I assure you that they have absolutely no problem what so ever in the bedroom, or on the floor, up against several doors, behind a curtain or the floor of the limo. They are white hot with their shared passion for each other, and when they each individually figure out just how much each is willing to give and take (pun intended!) they are poised to be a power couple.
Brilliant writing, of course, Calmes has found her niche’. There is some drama and mystery, suspense, intrigue and lots of guy on guy action, hell, even the angry sex is sexy! This is a must read series, but this book in and of itself, could be read alone. And the narration was phenomenal. Tristan James takes over for this ‘parting shot’ in the Matter of Time series, and he did not disappoint. I don’t think the dry, snarky and witty Aaron Sutter could have been spoken any better. As much as I love the narration of Paul Morey for the first books in this series, Tristan James brought something new and fresh to the table for these characters. Subtle nuances and inflections were evident and he didn’t skip not one moan or groan either.
Still the best M/M series out there to date, in my opinion!
** I received a copy of this audio book from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through MM Good Book Reviews **
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OMG I so agree w/u on this one!!! I wish the auth had just this narr. for all the bks!