Still by Mary Calmes
M/M Contemporary Romance
May 15, 2013
Dreamspinner Press
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote:
“ I was […] the guy that when you read about him in a book, you hope he gets left alone, unloved, and wallowing in abject misery.”
“Really? Abject?”
Sivan and Walter Wainwright have been married for over seventeen years. One day, Sivan wakes up and realizes that he and Walter don’t know each other anymore. He wants more from their marriage; right now they are nothing more than roommates with benefits and he’s so tired of it all. Sivan approaches Walter, asking for a divorce. Walter agrees and soon Sivan finds himself in his own apartment and wondering what the hell happened to them.
Walter never wanted anyone the way he wanted Sivan. Nothing could go wrong in his life as long as he was able to come home to Sivan. When Sivan dropped the D word on him, he allowed his pride to get the better of him and instead of begging for another chance, he agrees to let Sivan go and now he wanders the house they built together, alone and miserable.
Still by Mary Calmes is a fast paced short novel that deals with the ups and downs of marriage and the little things that mean the most and require the least amount of effort. We start out with Sivan asking for a divorce, then flash to the beginning when Sivan and Walter first met and we learn a little about the dynamics of their relationship. We then flip back to the present and start the story back up nine months into Sivan and Walter’s separation.
Sivan was the artist, the dreamer, the caregiver. He made their house a home. Walter, a high powered attorney was the breadwinner. The dominant. An intense man who was grounded by Sivan’s more calming nature. Even after Sivan leaves, their journey is far from over. They constantly run into one another as their lives remain intertwined. Sivan begins to see a change in Walter. He is more possessive and working less hours. Everything Sivan wanted from Walter before their separation. Walter seeks to do everything to change Sivan’s mind about divorcing him but Sivan requires a lot of persuasion. A mild conflict erupts that helps to give Sivan that final push back into Walter’s arms.
An enjoyable story with some growly smexy times and a cast of characters-each stepping in to give Sivan some much needed advice. I would have enjoyed it more had the story been longer and we could have seen some scenes from Walter’s POV. The short length give a rushed feel to the story, causing it to feel a bit over crowded. Seeing more of Sivan and Walter’s seventeen year marriage would have been give the reader more investment into their future.
Regardless of my issues, Still is a short sweet second chance romance that Mary Calmes fans are sure to enjoy.
Overall Rating: C+
Love Mary Calmes…adding to the bursting TBR.