Out of a Fix

Torus Intercession, Book 7

By: Mary Calmes

Narrated by: Greg Boudreaux

If you put a family back together, how can you ever leave them?

Through the years, Nash Miller has watched all his buddies fall in love and get married. It was romantic, and he’d wondered when he himself would find the one. Now, older, wiser, he realizes that what he’s always wanted—a husband and a family—just isn’t in the cards for him. And that’s all right. He has wonderful friends, a good life, and he gets to help people, which has always been his true calling. So when the time comes to protect a family in a tiny town in Washington State, he’s more than willing to get on his white horse and ride.

The family needs a bodyguard, but it goes beyond that. The mother abandoned them for a new life, and the father is absent, stuck on a work project he took on to keep his family afloat. What Nash finds are three kids in need of a fixer, and lucky for them, that’s exactly what he does. Providing support and structure is second nature to him, and he’s on solid ground, confident…until their father, Luke Duchesne, gets home. He’s nothing like Nash assumed he’d be, and with each passing day, the lure of the man, and his great kids, gets harder to resist. But he can’t stay there. He’s a fixer, after all, and what they’re all feeling is simply gratitude. Isn’t it…? Though when Luke kisses him, it starts to feel like so much more. Nash hopes he’ll be able to explore a life with Luke—he just needs to make sure his own isn’t cut short.

©2025 Mary Calmes (P)2025 Mary Calmes

My favourite book in my favorite series!

Best storyline in a most heart felt romance! All of Mary Calmes books are terrific! And she just keeps writing!

Warmth and Comfort to Fix It All!

Nash offers the kindness, patience, and steady strength of all our fondest dreams! This was a fun and mostly relaxing story. Nash’s interactions with the children are especially uplifting. The “Fixer” elements were almost jarring and a definite reminder that life isn’t all cozy meals and quiet conversations. Highly recommended!

nice series ender

Audio: 4.5⭐️

I like the bookend nature of the series, with Nash finding a family and LEO job in a small town like Bran in the beginning. Though idealized, Calmes has a knack for lived-in family dynamics and conversations, and I loved the Duchesne household.

I’m loving the more toned-down nature of the POV MC's love interest in Calmes’ recent books. There are more deep breaths to listen rather than yell. I also liked that there is a breather between "I've never been with a man" and "getting thrown on the floor for some D in virgin A".

I hated Luke's complete disregard at the beginning. It is understandable that he is drowning; leaning on his oldest; and becoming almost obsessed with financial security, but I'm sorry, there's being overburdened and adultifying your kids and then there's the CPS level.

You're a parent; there is no amount of grinding for the fam or lost phone where you don't contact your kids or the caregiver for approx. a week. Dafuq? There's also no town small enough that you can assume that your lovely neighbors will be around to help in an emergency. There didn't even need to be the level of dangerous complication that Nash walked into; it's just beyond irresponsible and frankly disrespectful to your kids.

Luke wouldn't have looked like such a knob if the kids said they didn't tell their dad if something was wrong when he called/texted, but the family bonds and light-hearted nature of Calmes' writing encourages sympathy, especially since he's carrying an extra ugly burden from his ex-wife. Additionally, Luke is as charming as his kids in their similar personality and addiction to Nash. This was a great ending for Nash and Torus.

Nice romance

This was a wonderful climax to all of the intercession books. Was happy that Nash got his ending. If you like the author, you’ll love this book full of warmth, romance, holiday spirit, family.

I hate the character of Luke!!!

I have liked most of the books in this series as well as some of the other books written by this author, but the character of Luke is disgusting. What kind of parent leaves his kids for nine days and doesn't even bother to check on them even once the entire time. This guy reminds me of so many of the men in my life who believe that their only responsibility, besides providing the sperm, is to be a walking checkbook. These men go to work then check out of any other responsibility. Meanwhile, the mothers juggle childcare, healthcare, housework and many time also a professional life that has to be put on a shelf until they are able to work again. I know from experience, losing a spouse is hard and taking over both roles is even harder, but this character didn't even try to take on both roles as he let childcare fly completely out the window. I would like to hope in real life that someone, whether it's the caring and considerate neighbors or a parent of one of the kids' friends would have contacted children's services about the obvious neglect. I have always liked the character of Nash and he deserves better than a manchild like Luke. I did like the kids, but in reality kids are not usually that easily fixable nor that mature. The narrator did a good job, but for me nothing could counteract the visceral feeling of disgust I felt for Luke.