Former Navy SEAL turned covert agent Wes Halsted spent his days—and weeks and months—being someone else. But with his cover blown and his injuries requiring months of recuperation, he must learn how to be himself again.
Only…he’d rather save his issues for another day and get to know a stressed-out, suited-up businessman instead.
Tom Esbeck has everything under control. Meal plans, workout … plans, workout plans, project plans, five-year plans. A plan for everything and everything according to plan.
Except there’s no plan for a surprise—and shirtless—encounter with the built-for-sin spy he’d crushed on years ago.
But crushes—and spies—burn out fast.
MISSING IN ACTION is a full-length steamy contemporary romance standalone with strong ties to the Walsh Series.
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My first read by Kate Canterbary, and true to my current reading genre binge it’s m/m. Even though this is book 2 in a spin-off series it’s a complete standalone, be aware though, one thing it has done is make me want to read more of this author’s work. Opposites most definitely attract as ex navy seal/secret agent Wes Halsted starts wooing sexy businessman Tom (no h) Esbeck. Tom is looking to settle down in a relationship, and that is not going to happen if he spends his days lusting after his boss’s brother, a fly by the seat of his pants nomad, who doesn’t want to settle down, and isn’t completely ‘out’ to his parents and work colleagues. Nope, he’s not going to go there, but Wes is persistent, and sweet, and fun to be with. A wonderful audio narrated by my two most perfect narrators, Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan, with a couple of additional chapters narrated by Christian Fox and Lucy Rivers. A wonderful, sweet and addictive m/m romance.
– Plot – Fans of the Walsh Associates crew are in for a treat with this glimpse into the private life of Tom, Shannon’s assistant turned Managing Director of Operations. We discover the history behind Tom’s quirks and need for control. We also take a deep dive into Wes’ Navy SEAL psyche. The progression of their relationship is one of the sweetest I’ve read. The personal growth of both characters and their journey toward a HEA is heartwarming. Plus: although secondary in this title, the Walshes bring plenty of the shenanigans we know and love!
– Sexy Times – My first Canterbary MM, I was curious how she would approach intimacy. In their first scene, I expected more prep, but overall, the passion was genuine, with plenty of heat. This couple’s dirty talk game is strong: “I want you to jog your hot ass up the stairs, get rid of your clothes and decide where you want to choke on my dick.” – Wes. Don’t worry- the tenderness isn’t lacking in any way.
– Style – As usual, Ms. Canterbary knows what we want and she gives it to us, including thorough character development, a complete plot progression and plenty of playful banter. You’ll be transported into the story as the vivid details play like a movie in your head. Another gem in Ms. Canterbary’s catalog, I’m looking forward to more of her MM in the future.
– Memorable Quote – “There we were. Laughing and f*cking and coming and holding each other like this, this was the only way we’d ever have sex again.” -Wes
– Memorable One-liner – “Suck my dick.” – Shannon
5 Stars!
I went into this book not knowing what to expect. Boy was I surprised. SO many emotions. I absolutely loved Wes & Tom’s story. And Teddy Hamilton & Jacob Morgan really killed it on the narration. I’d give anything to have more time with them. The book hangover was intense. If you are a fan of MM romance, please read this book! You’ll be happy you did.
I love falling in love with characters through their snarky banter. It’s something I don’t get much in real life and I long for witty repartee. Wes has it in spades and Tom gives as good as he gets. Loved watching these two bickering their way into a relationship.
LOVE this series!!
Wes and Tom were just what I needed! I expected to love Wes, and I did, but Tom stole a huge piece of my heart. I laughed at the banter between them and the side relationships with awesome beloved characters, and the love that was evident from the second they met, or met again.
It’s the perfect romance you need!
Really loved this ex-spy meets tightly laced perfectionist. Wes and Tom achieve that fabulous perfect for each other but how will they make it work set up. Canterbary writes deep (DEEP) POV so well. She sucks you into their thoughts and fears and it is wonderful. Love her voice, her characters, and the sweet HEA for this long-awaited story about Wes. Wonderful and just what I needed.
I can’t breathe!
From the first chapter, I was left breathless by this book! I was gob smacked by the emotional depth, I don’t know why, but I was not expecting it! Tom and Wes have seemingly nothing in common, and yet they are perfect for each other! I loved everything about this book!
OH my love of Tom and Wes- These men overcome so much more and their love story is just as sexy :).
See more of my review on YouTube- https://youtu.be/iuJD013mDOw
Let me start by saying I’m a fan and had been waiting on this book but to read Missing In Action you do not need to be. Wes is everything you want in a in a hero sexy, smart, funny but hurt (physically). Tom is Shannon’s right-hand man he has his life together and has climbed up the ranks of the family business. He has worked his whole life to be who and where he is and is very comfortable in his red bottomed shoes.
Tom and Wes were not ready for each other. Wes wanted a distraction while he figured out the next steps and Tom wanted a little fun to warm up the winter months till his next climb. They both went in with eyes wide open but instead they discover they are just what the other needs and some super sexy times.
The book had a few great Walsh moments! And some great scenes with past characters. We get glimpses of why we love the characters we love so much. Shannon has an amazing moment in the nursery. As a reader, I wanted to read this slow to savor it but ended reading fast in one quick sitting. I just had to see Tom and Wes work it out. Of course it left me wanting to go back and visit the rest of the clan form previous books.
First let me start by saying I love Kate’s writing style. It is crisp, smart and funny, but also emotional and beautiful and sexy as hell. Her depth of character is beyond measure. Tom and Wes are part of the Walsh world. That being said, I have only read 2 books in that series and was totally ok reading Missing in Action. It can definitely be read as a standalone. Tom and Wes are opposites, but they balance each other out so beautifully. Their push/pull chemistry is scorching and the tender moments had me clutching my heart. So much love for these beautiful, broken men who fill in each others empty places. So so good!
Worth the Wait!
I was intrigued by Wes when I first met him and have been waiting a long time for what I thought his story would be. I should have known that Kate would instead give us the story that Wes and Tom deserved. This was a tale of family (the ones by blood and the one’s we make), accepting yourself, defining yourself, and of course love. Laughter and frustration, smiles and tears, sweet hugs from a four year old some dirty, rowdy love scenes all make up this perfection of a book.
This romance was about finding oneself after having your life blown up. Wes came home after being injured during an undercover mission where his future was uncertain. Tom is a former conversion camp survivor turned homeless teen who evolved into the strong, confident man Wes meets while recovering. Tom was sweet if not controlling while Wes was protective with a sense of humor. The two had instant chemistry but had a lot of issues to work through before finding their happy ever after.
MIA or missing out on love?
Wes, you sweet, cuddly man! How I want to hug you, hold you, and smack the snot out of you!
Tom, you silly boy, with your schedules and need to be in control, you never knew he was coming. You may still be a control freak, but I bet you don’t mind a little deviation from the plan.
Missing In Action is sexy, sweet, and full of cuddles. Its also got PTSD, a bit of denial, and a deserted tropical island getaway. However, not all of these things were used for good!
Wes and Tom struggle with their own baggage while attempting this thing between them. When push comes to shove, their baggage spilled open and choices needed to be made. Repack or unpack?
I’m just happy they made the right choice.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I would never have put Wes and Tom together. The big bad, tough Navy Seal, CIA spy did not seem like he would match up with the snooty, perfectly put together Tom. Boy was I wrong!!
They are so good together. They compliment each other so well and where one is lacking the other brings their strength. Getting more of Wes and Tom’s back stories made me see them in a completely different light. I had so much sympathy for their situations. These amazing men had different upbringings but neither were truly accepted for who they were. Tom was so lucky to find Shannon when he did. He found his forever family when he couldn’t count on his. Wes has such a loving family but he was never able to completely be himself. Shannon helped both characters with her no nonsense, passionate kick ass personality. I absolutely loved having her sprinkled throughout the story.
Kate does an amazing job of pulling you in. There were so many times that I felt like I was right there with them. When they went to have lunch at the crowded cafe, I felt so bad for both of them. Like I was there with them cringing because this intimate conversation was happening with the entire restaurant.
Once again Kate brought these deep, intellectual, passionate characters to the pages. I had so many feelings throughout and I found myself putting the book down so many times because I DID NOT want it to end. I ABSOLUTELY recommend the entire Walsh Series and Kate Canterbary!!
“god save me from this thunderous man”
The perfect recipe for the ultimate MM romance.
Take one bruised, battered but not totally broken spy,
Add in one sassy, snarky, organised to the nth degree man called Tom,
Blend together with enough chemistry and heat to power a volcano,
Throw in great writing, a sprinkle of Walsh goodness, some sunburn and a wedding.
Shake, stir, shake some more and then sit back and enjoy this masterpiece of romance.
Both characters who have appeared at one time or another in previous Walsh books, Wes is the brother to Lauren and Will whilst Tom is the guy who keeps the Walsh architecture firm running. However you can 100% read this as a stand alone story, though you’d be barking mad to miss out on the rest of the Walsh and Halstead families finding their HEA’s.
I can promise this book will grab ahold of your emotions, pummel them into submission, make you laugh, swoon and cry before leaving you with all the feels and a hugely satisfied smile on your face. If this book isn’t better than sex it’s as close as anything is going to get to it.
Don’t like MM? This is the book that will make you change your mind. Love MM? This is the book that will set the bar so high you’ll struggle to find anything else as good. Which ever camp you are currently in, Tom, Wes, their inner struggles, physical and emotional baggage and tender hearts will totally enthrall you. I wanted to snatch this pair up and wrap them up in cotton wool, clutch them to my breast, lavish them with love and hug them until all their hurts went away.
” He squeezed my hand again, hard enough to snap my attention away from everything else. “I’ve got you.” ”
There are moments of humour, from little Abby and her feisty attitude, to Shannon’s salty and full of snark texts, moments that will make you swoon and melt, and others that will cut deep into your heart. These are all tied together into an incredible story, one where you won’t want to put the book down, one where you won’t be able to turn the pages quickly enough, one where you want to get to the end whilst simultaneously never wanting the end of the book to be reached.
My words can’t do adequate justice to this story. I loved it. I highly recommend it. It’s amazing, fantastic, astounding.
“and then he kissed me, hard and fast at first but then deep and deliberate, like sucking caramel off a spoon.
…
…
..and it was everything. Absolutely everything.”
If you haven’t read one of Kate Canterbary’s books about the Walsh Family (or their universe) then you will be in for an amazing story from a wonderful writer. This story of two people who shouldn’t work, but do, is wonderfully told and full of nods to her previous stories. Do you need to read the stories that precede this, not at all. Will you want to, yes you will! Tom is a bit of a perfectionist. Everything planned, three piece bespoke suits and spreadsheets that track his life. Wes is a burned out CIA agent and former SEAL who had his cover burned and barely made it to his brother and sister in laws home in Massachusetts alive. This story draws you in with its dialogue, characters and passion and it doesn’t let you go. I will be honest, when I got to the last page I kept clicking my Kindle looking for the next page. It was truly that good. I trust this author to deliver a story that will make me laugh at her dialogue, cry at her character development and cheer at here HEA. You will not be disappointed.
This book, y’all. It. was. everything!
Wes has been such a mysterious character in the Walsh series and like many, I’ve always wanted to know his story and see him find his HEA. Boy-oh-boy was it worth the wait! I’m so glad that he found his way back home and found his way to Tom! This book was filled with everything that you need in a romance. Growly boys! Fun text conversations, check-ins with some of my favorite characters of all time, some sweet moments, some angsty moments, and of course a HEA to tie it all up in a nice little bow tie. Oh, and the shower scenes….. they’ll melt you on the spot!
This book is an absolutely perfect escape from reality, I got lost in the story of love and acceptance and finding the one that makes it all worth it. A male/male romance that starts off with mystery and intrigue and develops into a beautiful romance of two men overcoming obstacles of their past and present to get to that elusive happily ever after. And without a doubt there’s some off the charts chemistry between the two, leading to some extremely sexy and steamy moments.
“Affection wasn’t my first language but I desperately wanted to find someone for whom it was because I wanted to learn.”
Wes Halsted is a wanderer, a former Navy SEAL turned covert agent, a true nomad with no home to call his own and an odd sense of feeling alone though he has a loving family. When his mission goes awry and he lands at his brothers house to recover, he finds his possible career end might not be so bad with a man like Tom Esbeck in his life.
And Tom is certainly up for the task, a man with a tragic past of misguided hate by his own family and a need to control everything down to his color coordinated socks and underwear, he has the overwhelming need to care for Wes even if it upends his life. I loved the push and pull between these two, both strong men who like to be in control yet willing to bend for each other and the happiness it could bring them.
“For once, I wanted to be important enough to keep.”
Nothing about Wes was domestic or tame but with Tom there was the sense that settling down and rooting himself to a town like Boston wasn’t bad. He was needed by a man just as much as he needed him, and their mutual need for each other was a beautiful journey. If you love a good story of self discovery and acceptance- this book will have you smiling and maybe even shedding a tear. Closely linked to The Walsh Series, this book can be read as a standalone or a wonderful addition to the series.
This book is life in the time of pandemic for me. For fans of Kate and the tales she weaves this is a long anticipated book. I devour this book in little chunks because I don’t want it to end. I always wanted to read more about Wes and Tom and this book dive deeper into their psyche and there is so much to unpack. Reading Kate’s book one need to pause sometimes just to appreciate the imagery and wordplay that she has such mastery over. I can’t get enough of the snarks and the tender underbelly of these two men. One seeming alpha ex spy who can charm his way out of any situation and Tom who overcame so much in life to live his truth. Their relationship is just so full of tenderness and smart banter that I want to savor every morsel of it. For fans of gay romance this book rank up there in my all time favorite for the writing. For fans of the Walshes it make so complete. I can’t wait to listen to this book because such smart dialogue needs to be narrated.