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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This was not what I expected. I mean, yeah it was everything Kate Canterbary. Every witty, funny, stupid sexy word that always completely draws me in every single time. But this was even MORE if that is even remotely possible. Kate always brings us depth in every story. Even when you expect it to be moderately silly (aka Riley), there is always just MORE and MIA is absolutely no different. We’ve (the Walsh family fans) have been clamoring for a story about Wes, we’ve been clamoring for a story about Tom and finally we can stop badgering our poor author. Both Wes and Tom must come to terms with their pasts, presents and futures in order to really discover who they are and what they are made of. We know Wes is a badass because hello, SEAL, Alphabet soup. What we really didn’t know other than the fact that he keeps Shannon in check, is that Tom is his own special brand of bad ass and I could not love him more. Being yourself is often the most difficult thing to do but also the most freeing.
I have one big problem with any Kate Canterbary book and this one is no exception… I just want more!! More of the most amazing gruff, growly, grumbly hero, more of the most fun and entertaining banter, more of the best, happiest tears, and more of the hottest, swooniest romance!
“I damn near swooned. Wrist to the forehead, breathy sigh, buckling knees swoon.”
Wes Halsted is a bit of a complete mess. After a deep cover operation that has gone terribly wrong, he is recovering at his brother Will’s house. He should be using the time to get himself together and figure out what comes next, but cannot resist everything that is Tom Esbeck.
“He only climbed mountains and ran an architecture firm and whipped up sesame sauces and wore suits like a revelation. Nothing about him was inconsequential.”
MiA can be read as a standalone, but why wouldn’t you want to catch up on all of the Walsh family and friends? Don’t even think about it, just one-click now.
-6 Stars!-
It’s been 84 years….. and we finally got Wes!
From hearing about Wes through Lauren, Will and Erin, finally, he gets to take center stage. No longer the elusive deep-cover spy military operative (enter more cool-sounding words here), Wes has to figure out civilian life. Being cooped up with crazy family you haven’t seen for ages and having your entire life put on its head can’t be easy for anyone, and a distraction is really necessary. Enter Tom. Tom, the awesome right hand to Shannon, who I’ve loved for all this time. Now order and chaos clash.
Kate Canterbary has once again delivered a beautiful MM story of characters that aren’t just one thing, not just strong or domineering, or weak or vulnerable or friendly or whatnot. Complex, changing, growing. Diving back into the Walsh, or Walsh-adjacent world was all the fun I needed right now, and their careful walk into a relationship was just absolutely precious. Reapparances by other Walsh-Halstead characters rounded it out perfectly.
I wish some of the problems brought up were explored a touch more, but overall a great story.
4.5 stars
Wes Halsted has been on the periphery in Kate Catherbary’s Walsh series for many years. In fact, we never heard his “voice” until “Thresholds” and then he was immersed in secret agent-ing. So when we got his story in “Missing in Action”, I had a hard time wrapping my head around him as a person. I couldn’t separate “action Wes” with “private Wes” and they are very different people. Then I went back and reread the book and told myself to let go of my preconceived notions of how I thought Wes was and let him lead me, let him unfold before me in the pages. And that, my friends, was when he came alive. I let him lead the way and boy, oh boy, was he a funny, sad, complicated, conflicted, beautiful soul.
Tom Esbeck has been around the Walsh’s from the very beginning. And it was wonderful to see this man get a story all his own. His story also highlighted the love and friendship that is at the heart of the extended Walsh world. I’m so happy that these two strong men found each other.
This book CAN be read as a STANDALONE. In fact, you might have a little bit of an advantage over a long time series reader. Like mentioned above, it is easy to pigeonhole Wes but that is a disservice to Wes and this book.
For series readers, this book is a pay off to all kinds of little story lines that Kate Canterbary has woven since the beginning. Very glad to have Wes and Tom’s story out in the world.
** spoiler alert ** This is absolutely the perfect distraction for the current state of the world. Definitely an opposites attract kind of romance that even as a devoted Canterbary reader I didn’t see coming! Loved seeing Tom and Wes’s relationship grow, both as a part of the broader Walsh world as well as independent from it. I’ve read M-M romance from several different authors, and this one is unique in that it feels less stereotypical than most, no obvious alpha here, the constant power push-pull is enjoyable as their relationship builds. This book was smart, sexy, and surprising and I can’t recommend it enough!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Missing in Action is one of the best MM books I have read in a while. These two broken characters just come to life on the page and they tug at your heartstrings. You just want them, no NEED them to be ok, be happy and have each other forever.
If you’ve ever wanted to read a MM book stop what your doing and one click this is one. It’s a perfect place to start. The word building is epic. And the funny, steamy, and emotional moments are crafted perfectly.
Kate Canterbary is always a sure choice for an amazing romance and Missing in Action is no exception. Will Halstead’s brother Wes was introduced to us earlier in the series and I am so happy that he got his own love story. Former Navy Seal and CIA operative is battling finding his new normal in the aftermath of a mission gone wrong, holed up at his brother’s house when Tom entered the picture. Tom is intentional, routine and consistent which is everything we’d had never been able to be.
What happens is almost explosive in nature when Wes and Tom get together. There is mega-hot, explosive downright dirty chemistry. There is the building, mega-feelings that neither of them are prepared for. There’s the fireworks.
This book is a can’t put it down, page turning, I need more Wes and Tom style novel that just makes me love the Walsh family more than I already did.
Do yourself a favor and read this book now.
Oh my wow. The emotional journey of Tom & Wes was everything. They fell in lust on the way to falling in love, and I loved every second of it. I love the way family is woven into the fabric of this story. Both characters had to journey through pain and be vulnerable to find each other, and bearing witness to it was beautiful. Don’t miss this story!
So worth the wait!
As someone who has read, re-read and re-read again the Walsh series by Kate Canterbary, I was very familiar with the characters of Tom and Wes and felt I had them and their story figured out. I quickly found out everything I thought couldn’t have been further from the truth. Our glimpses of Tom and Wes were in fact just glimpses and did not show the amazing depth of these two men.
This story is about endings and a new beginning for Wes and beginnings and a new ending for Tom. It’s also about family. For Tom, the absent biological family that has rejected him, and for Wes the family he hopes will not reject him. The is a very emotional story of two strong men who each is living their life due to past hurts in their lives. Keep the tissues close.
I’ve heard that it took Kate Canterbary a considerable amount of time to write this book. It is so well written and she was able to really bring out the emotions of these two men. I would say the wait for this book was well worth it!
For all of you Walsh fans, you will be happy to catch a glimpse of nearly all your favorite characters in this book. There are scenes with Wes and his nieces that are just too cute for words and glimpses of the relationship between Wes and Will and between Tom and Shannon.
This is master story telling! My heart broke, was repaired, and ultimately found satisfaction with this happily ever after.
This is a stand alone M/M romance. It plays into the Walsh empire, but you do not need to have read that to follow along with this book. However, if you love this book, please do yourself a favor and go on over to the Walsh series. You absolutely will NOT be disappointed!
On to this book. As a huge Walsh lover I have been waiting for Tom and Wes to get their days to shine. Although I had hoped it would be together, I wasnt pushing the genius writer lady on this. Wes is a big burley SEAL operative who is on a mission gone wrong. Tom is a take charge yet very scheduled and streamlined impeccably well dressed man. Tom has his life figured out while Wes is absolutely the exact opposite. They find love in unexpected places and figure out how well they complete eachothers lives. As always there is turmoil and you will laugh and cry.
This book is rather steamy in all the most delicious ways. To anyone not versed in Kate Canterbury welcome to the family! You are now hooked and can wait, sometimes, patiently on the next book with the rest of her followers because she is amazing! Give it a read, you wont be disappointed!
It’s taken me a while to feel like I can express how special reading the story of two characters who have been woven into the background of one of my favorite series is. Wes and Tom are nothing like I expected either of them to be but are so much more than I ever could have hoped for.
I have needed Will to come home since the end of Thresholds and have wanted Tom’s HEA since meeting him in Underneath It All and learning more about him in The Cornerstone. I never wanted to savor and rush through a book so much. I did my best to take my time with these amazing men but I gave up savoring about halfway through.
I knew I needed this book in my life but I really underestimated how much. I have missed the Walshes immensely but it was wonderful to visit again.
Like every Kate Canterbary fan, I wondered what happened to Wes. Finally we know what happened after a mission went terribly wrong.
Missing in Action is everything I could have hoped for and more. First it’s Wes and Tom, who didn’t want to see these two get together? I always loved Tom and getting to see more of him was a gift. There is so much to him….he’s a little bit damage and broken, family can do that to you, and he’s a whole lot of sass and whether he realized it or not, he has a family that cares for and loves him. I loved getting to know him and I loved him getting to know Wes. They seem like they should be opposites but they are much alike. Wes is dealing with a lot of issues but he has the help of his family and extended family….the Walsh’s. It felt like going home and catching up with family you love.
I went through so many emotions reading this book and I loved every single minute of it.
“…a memory I’d forgotten…”
This book…it’s magic.
We’ve seen Tom on the periphery for years. And we’ve seen hints of how Shannon saved him…there’s more of his story here
And Wes. Last seen bleeding, and dressed as a nun…how do you get there from here?
These two…the weight of expectations is hard. The expectations of others are heavy, but the expectations of yourself? Those are immense.
How did they come together, and how did they overcome that weight? It’s a story. There are more “words” than I expected from these two…and more snuggling. The world needs more snuggling.
I’ve read this twice so far. What are you doing here? GO READ!
My review is for an ARC of Missing in Action. This was another successful story by the creator of the Walsh family series, Kate Canterbary. From the very first chapter, you are immediately drawn into the action involving Wes Halsted and the circumstances leading to his encounter with Tom Esbeck. From the start, you can sense the sizzling chemistry between Wes and Tom as told from both their point of views. Throughout the entire book, the bantering between these characters kept this reader glued until the very last scene. At the end of the book, I was craving for the storyline to continue, not only as it pertained to the main characters; but also for the side scenes involving the Walsh/Halsted family members. Kate Canterbary cleverly and eloquently creates a book world where her devoted readers can happily lose themselves for few hours. This book lived up to the hype and exceeded all expectations.
I’ve been salivating for Wes since the end of Thresholds when Kate left us hanging in the most delicious way.
This did not disappoint. Wes is everything you want him to be. Slightly grumbly, a lot of independent and a whole lot of male. Tom is his perfect pair. We finally get a full glimpse into why Tom is absolutely the best match as Shannon’s counterpart and why he runs Walsh Associates with an iron fist.
The two of them together is nothing short of magic. Tom doesn’t take Wes’s shit, and Wes brings out the spontaneous in Tom. It’s absolute perfection in so many ways. Not to mention Kate BRINGS it, and it’s deliciously filthy.
I’ve yet to meet a Kate Canterbary book I didn’t devour. I cannot wait to see where she brings us next.
I loved loved loved reading Missing in Action!! Although this can absolutely be read as a standalone, fans of The Walshes series will be as thrilled as I was to see so many appearances of favourite characters from that series, especially Shannon, Will and their adorable girls. I’ve been waiting for Wes Halsted’s story, and really looking forward to reading it – more so once I realised who his love interest was.
Wes’s character was a bit of a surprise at times. Used to taking on the persona of whoever he is required to be on his past missions, it takes him some time to actually figure out who he is and what he wants out of his life. At the start of Missing in Action, Wes’s life as he knew it has changed. With his cover on his latest mission blown, and with serious injuries to recuperate from, he finds himself living at his brother’s with no real direction. He’s lonely, grumpy, and in pain. Enter Tom Esbeck.
I adored Tom. If anyone deserves to find someone to love and be loved in return, it’s Tom. I loved Wes as well, but Tom really pulled at the emotions. The attraction between these 2 was strong, and they were super hot together. I admired Tom for knowing what he really needed in a partnership to be happy. Great read, can’t wait to listen to the audio whenever that’s available 🙂
Wes Halsted is alive…and that’s the least of his problems
How good is that tag line? Well Wes I know how you feel! I’m having problems trying to write a coherent review to convey just how much I absolutely loved this story. I’ve been hanging out for Wes’ story but was also a little anxious about how it would play out… last time we saw Wes he was injured on a Russian freighter in the middle of the ocean… but I needn’t have worried… the Laydee Writer has exceeded my expectations YET again with a gorgeous, witty, emotional, sexy story that is just beautiful [cue huge smile]
The Laydee Writer gets him home and straight into an encounter with Tom Esbeck, who is now the Managing Director of Operations at Walsh Associates. Our Tom has grown a lot since we first met him as Shannon’s Right Hand Man. I really loved how Kate surprised me with how she bought Wes and Tom to life. They weren’t how I thought they would be and I just absolutely loved that. For a story that she said was difficult to write, Kate absolutely nailed it.
Getting to check in with my favourite family was a bonus, but I was utterly taken with Wes and Tom and their journey to their HEA.
This book can read as a standalone, but do yourself a favourite and read everything that Kate Canterbary has ever written. This book has it all – all the feels, all the sexy times, all the wit and banter. Wes and Tom are everything – 10 stars **********
Given all the craziness going on in the world right now, this long-awaited book could not have arrived at a better time for me.
Having met Wes and Tom in prior books, albeit briefly, it was lovely to really get to know them here. I think what I enjoyed the most was that I’ll admit I came into this with some preconceived ideas on these characters yet KC blew me away. Both Wes and Tom were simultaneously exactly what I was expecting and yet totally unexpected in so many (great) ways.
As always, KC’s writing is on a level I don’t often get to encounter. It is witty, well-honed and viscerally real. Nothing seems forced or contrived. These are real people, living real lives and having real conversations with each other.
In addition to Wes and Tom’s story, there are appearances by much-loved characters from prior books. And although this can easily be read as a stand-alone, I will offer the advice I always proffer when recommending Kate Canterbary’s books to those who aren’t familiar with her work: Read this now! (But then go read ALL her other books ASAP – you’ll thank me later!).
Wes has finally made it home. So many thoughts and excitement around Wes’ book! I don’t know where to begin. Kate is amazing at her character development and Wes and Tom are no different. It feels like we get even more with Wes and Tom. They both have pasts that have shaped them into the men that they are. They are in different worlds but meant for each other if they can overcome their life obstacles. I loved getting to see snippets of other Walshes and of course Shannon and Will. Kate continues to give us wonderful growly, alpha boys, Missing in Action gives us double!!!