Book Review: Fighting Instinct by Mary Calmes

Title: Fighting Instinct
Series: L’Ange, Book 2
Author: Mary Calmes
Genre: Paranormal Romance, M/M Romance
Sensuality Rating: Erotic
Source: review copy provided by publisher
Published: December 8, 2014 by Dreamspinner Press 

Only a privileged few know L’Ange’s head of security Arman de Soto is a shifter, and even fewer know he’s been systematically killing off a pack of werewolves. The reason for this vengeance is a secret Arman trusts with no one, quite the opposite of his obvious longtime pursuit of the château’s overseer, Linus Hobbes. Despite Arman’s reputation as a loner, the only thing he needs to complete his life is Linus. Predator and prey just don’t mix—but Arman won’t give him up.

Linus has lived alone for more than seven years, sheltered at L’Ange under an assumed name and hiding secrets of his own, including his terrifying attraction to the most dangerous man he’s ever met. Arman knows Linus should be afraid of the predator stalking him, but Linus is still drawn to him like a moth to a flame, no matter how much he tries to deny his instincts. It’s not until Linus’s past and Arman’s crusade exposes their secrets and opens L’Ange to attack that Arman realizes waiting any longer is a risk he just can’t take. So he’ll have to take his quest to the source of the threat in a gamble to protect L’Ange, Linus, and any future they might have together.

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Reviewed by: Crissy

In A Nutshell: This is a must read for fans of m/m paranormal romance. As a Mary Calmes fan-girl, I almost had no choice to dive into this book, and after reading the first in the series, I was dying to find out more about Arman and Linus.

The Setup: For seven years, Arman has made his intentions for Linus known, but Linus has continued to push him away. Although when jealousy and the past creep in, neither man is able to deny what they feel. But danger is just around the corner and in the wake of their new mating, Arman will stop at nothing to keep Linus safe. He can only hope it doesn’t scare his mate away.

What I Liked: My first obsession with this world is the fact that the author uses uncommon shifter species and intermingles them. Not only that, but each species has specific and definitive rules and histories that make them concrete, yet the characters in this story break those rules and create their own history. I love this story, whereas shifters and mating are common, is not a common play on shifters. It’s a new and unique twist. It’s fun and exciting and I loved everything about it.

What I Also Liked: There is so much mythology and fable intermingled into this story. Linus is an unsuspecting man and even more so as a shifter until he’s not. The myth and legend that flows through Linus is perfect. It’s a wonderful mix of fantasy and history. Then Arman is a mysterious component. He’s secretive and evasive, but he does so to keep those he cares for safe. I love Arman because he thinks he’s this cold, heartless man (except when it comes to Linus) but he’s not. Mind you, there are aspects of Arman that are bordering on sociopathic, if not full on. But that’s part of his intrigue. Linus’s beauty and heart are what bring about Arman’s humanity and grounding.

The plot is vast and layered wonderfully. There are so many intricate layers that make up this story. The hunt, the closure, the relationship—there are so many pieces that weave together to make Arman’s and Linus’s story so captivating. Not to mention the pieces you don’t expect. There are levels—the lives of the secondary characters, for one—that are unexpected. The lives of these characters entwine to make a family of the oddest, rag-tag bunch, but it’s so strangely perfect.

In My Opinion: Fighting Instinct is a definite must-read and re-read. It’s an easy read full of action and adventure and excitement and smexy, smexy romance.

Memorable Moments:

“Now all I can smell is you and me… and your drying cum on my skin.” It was dirty and I loved it. “Good.”

“Walk around in the world knowing that your place is forever by my side, in my arms, just with me.”

Crissy’s Rating: