LGBT Monday: When the Dust Settles

Author: Mary Calmes
Series: Timing, #3
Released: November 16 2016
Publisher: Dreamspinner
Length: 107 pages
Source: Publisher for review
Buy: Amazon
        Dreamspinner Press

Glenn Holloway’s predictable life ended the day he confessed his homosexuality to his family. As if that wasn’t enough, he then poured salt in the wound by walking away from the ranch he’d grown up on, to open the restaurant he’d always dreamed of. Without support from his father and brother, and too proud to accept assistance from anyone else, he had to start from scratch. Over time things worked out: Glenn successfully built a strong business, created a new home, and forged a life he could be proud of.

Despite his success, his estrangement from the Holloways is still a sore spot he can’t quite heal, and a called-in favor becomes Glenn’s worst nightmare. Caught in a promise, Glenn returns to his roots to deal with Rand Holloway and comes face-to-face with Mac Gentry, a man far too appealing for Glenn’s own good. It could all lead to disaster—disaster for his tenuous reconnection with his family and for the desire he didn’t know he held in his heart.

By now, even the little birdies know that I’m addicted to all things Mary Calmes. Her special brand of romance – intense and uncompromising – pulls me in every single time. I must admit, in the interest of full disclosure, that I’ve already read this beauty twice, despite giving it mere 3.5 stars. With Mary, it’s not about objective opinions or reason, there’s a magnetic pull between her characters that’s just so very contagious.


Glenn Holloway appeared in After the Sunset as Rand Holloway’s cousin. We had every reason not to like him, but somehow we all warmed up to him quickly. When he finally received Stef’s seal of approval, it was pretty much already done – he had wormed his way into our hearts and he was definitely there to stay. When the Dust Settles shows us a different Glenn, a more vulnerable, reactive and stubborn man, at least when it comes to his family. With other people Glenn is a nurturer, but no one at Rand’s Red Diamond ranch is allowed to see it.

When Stef calls in a favor, Glenn is forced to spend a few days with his brothers and Rand’s people, but he is none too happy about it. He is even less happy about spending time with Rand’s foreman, Mac Gentry, whom he’s been attracted to for years. Mac is seemingly straight as an arrow, and well out of Glenn’s league. But Mac has his own opinion on the matter, and when Glenn finally allows him a second of closeness, he isn’t shy about them.

It’s impossible not to like Glenn, except when he’s around his own family, but Mac is the real surprise hiding in this book. One would expect an alpha male and a cowboy to be closeted and mean about it, but Mac is precisely the opposite. Seeing these two finally interact was a constant source of surprises! To make matters even better, we get to revisit Rand and Stef and their gorgeous son Wyatt.

You can read When the Dust Settles even if you haven’t read Timing and After the Sunset, but why on earth would you want to? It’s Mary… read one of hers, and you’ll end up like the rest of us poor, pathetic people, stalking her on the internet and breathlessly waiting for her next release.

A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.