Missing In Action by Kate Canterbary

Coming March 30!

Missing In Action is a beautiful M/M romance by one of my favourite authors. It’s the love-story of Wes and Tom who are both part of the fabulous Walsh universe Kate Canterbary has created. This book isn’t technically a part of the Walsh family series, but to fully appreciate Missing In Action you absolutely need the full backstory that the previous books provide.

The main characters are two very different men. There’s Wes, a hunky, broody, undercover agent with an affinity to meat-cleavers who also happens to be closeted. At least to his parents. Then there’s Tom. A health obsessed, fashion conscious perfectionist with slight OCD who has fought hard to overcome the bigotry and abuse he was subjected to in his youth. When these guys meet, Wes is recovering from several serious injuries and just waiting to get back in the field while Tom has promised himself to never settle for being someone’s casual fling ever again. So, even though they don’t appear to be an obvious fit, appearances can be deceiving.

But just so you know. I’m not an impartial reader at all. Not in the least.

I’ve been waiting for this book for years. Years! I couldn’t quite believe it when I heard Canterbary would finally release Wes’ story. I got all giddy. And when I realized that Tom would be the other half of that couple, I was pretty close to swooning. Basically, I pretty much loved this read way before I even started in on it. And I was not disappointed.

Neither Wes nor Tom was what I expected. They’ve been peripheral characters in several of the Walsh-books and I’d already formed a picture in my mind about their personalities and traits. Boy was I wrong and I couldn’t have been happier. Wes is an extremely grumpy piece of man-meat with the softest of centers. That softness and the ease and comfort he had with showing affection made him utterly endearing. Tom on the other hand was way more assertive than I’d imagined him to be. Strong but in other aspects really frail. He was perfect. And they were perfect together.

It was also a real treat to get some sneak peeks of so many of the Walshes and the Halsteads. I looove sequels and overlapping stories allowing me to reacquaint myself with favourite characters. And Canterbary’s characters are the best, so of course I have many favourites.

So yes. I loved Missing In Action. This is feel-good fiction at its best. Sure, there’s some drama, but all great love-stories need that and sure, maybe I cried a bit too. But I’d still call it a low-angst story that’ll leave you feeling all warm and happy. There were a couple of less than likely events happening, and the conclusion of the story was a bit too quick and easy for my taste. But hey, this is romance, and it didn’t distract from the warm fuzzies, so it’s all good.

I did miss the epilogue though. There was no epilogue! I live for those bonus, happily-ever-after scenes – and not just because they usually include one last naughty romp. I can only hope and pray that Canterbary will release a Tom-Wes epilogue in the near future. Hopefully one including a dog.