Review: Timing

Title: Timing
Series: Timing
Author: Mary Calmes
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Publication Date: 1 March 2010
Reviewed Format: ebook
Length: 223 pages

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review: Stefan has never gotten on with his friend Charlotte's brother, Rand--a feeling that is quite mutual. When it turns out that Charlotte wasn't entirely truthful about Rand not showing up at her wedding, Stefan is put out, to say the least, and even more discomfited when Rand suggests a ceasefire. When barbs are replaced by sexual tension, how is Stefan supposed to resist the gorgeous man who is suddenly much more than Stefan had ever thought? And how is he supposed to figure it out when someone is trying to kill him?

Everyone--and I do mean everyone--loves Stefan. He's beautiful and forthright, able to put people at ease without even trying, a master at putting out fires, and able to hold his own in a bar fight. He's also commitment-phobic; he likes to be able to leave people, not vice versa. He comes across as someone who (despite said commitment phobia) should be too perfect, like a literary Ken doll, but that's masterfully skirted, leaving him quite an appealing, likable character.

Rand starts out as a dick, from his introduction to Stefan until well into the story. Even once they've declared a ceasefire, he comes across as the same dick, nearly up until the moment that he makes his move on Stefan. He's brusque and possessive, a bit controlling (or, perhaps, more than a bit), and utterly uncaring of what other people think of him. He actually stays a bit of a dick throughout the story, but it's tempered by his obvious affection for Stefan to make him far more approachable than how he began.

I'm conflicted about Stefan and Rand as a couple, I really am. On one hand, they're admittedly very hot together--Rand's take-charge nature is certainly appealing in bed. On the other hand, they seem very unbalanced to me--Rand's take-charge nature is less appealing in every other situation. What goes a long way toward making up for the latter, though, is Rand's refusal to care what other people think about them, when even Stefan is thinking they'd be better off either apart or keeping secrets.

The supporting cast is almost too large, mostly comprised of Charlotte and Rand's family, but also including Stefan's co-workers and business contacts, and Charlotte's soon-to-be-in-laws. They're for the most part interesting, though the prevalence of male members of it hitting on Stefan made some of them a little silly. Charlotte in particular has her own fascinating backstory, the revelation of which adds a layer to Stefan's character as well.

The story is a confluence of Charlotte's wedding, Stefan and Rand's romance, and a mystery involving attempts on Stefan's life. All are interesting in their own right, but they overlap well also, none overwhelming the others. I could've done with a little more of the latter two, as the kerfuffle over the wedding got draining after a while, but that's totally a personal preference. The writing itself was tight and pleasant, with solid editing.

Appealing characters and an interesting romance make this an easy read, with a good plot to keep things moving. Although I could've done with less in the way of wedding preparation, it was overall quite a pleasant read, and I look forward to picking up the sequel.