A Day Makes

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
WHOA! That was an awesome audiobook experience. Granted, being as I’ve yet to be disappointed by Calmes’ writing and ad I’m quite enamored with Tremblay’s performances, I expected to enjoy A Day Makes. Buuuut, I didn’t simply enjoy the audiobook, I was sucked in to Ceaton’s story to the point that I lost sleep, unable to turn it off at a decent hour, and then pressing play as soon as I got to work so that I could finish it. I had to know how life as a mob enforcer worked out for Ceaton, if he found the sense of family he was looking for, and if he found someone to love and who would love him back – someone who could look past his job and see the good man inside.

Opening the story with Ceaton worried about whether or not he would soon die was one heck of a hook. Seriously. I just met this guy, know practically nothing about him, and I’m worried that he’s about to die – and for all I know, he might deserve to die. But much like Ceaton’s curiosity was piqued by Pravi and Marko, mine was too and I found myself hopping into the car with Ceaton, eager and fearful as to how it would play out. Fortunately for Ceaton, that day turned out to be another pivotal day in his life and he quickly rose up the ranks in the family, demonstrating his loyalty and forging bonds with this new band of brothers – finally finding the family he so badly needed. This is where the author’s wordsmithing is so effective as Calmes moves the story forward over the course of several years, showing the reader important scenes and everyday scenes that illustrate why Ceaton was so good at what he did and why the men at his back, had his back. Yet despite the bonds forged, when life gets sticky for Ceaton – even at the same time as he’s discovered the man he can, maybe, possibly see forever with – he’s not sure who he can he trust and why his loyalty is being questioned to begin with. And this is when the story really kicks into high gear and I was glued to my Kindle, braced for the worst even as I hoped for the best because Ceaton wasn’t the only character whose outcome concerned me. There were moments when I was holding my breath, worried about the plans being made and the bullets flying – I may have even crossed my fingers once or twice. But that ending, ooooooh, that was one unexpected ending. And boy am I glad that I have Late in the Day ready to go because I cannot wait to see what happens next!

I’ve already said I’m enamored with Greg Tremblay’s vocal performances and A Day Makes just made my voice-crush even worse. This is not the first audiobook I’ve listened to in which Tremblay performed multiple accents, but the cast of characters with accents was much larger this time and not once did I get confused as to which of the regular characters was speaking. The only time I wasn’t sure as to which character was speaking was when I was expected to be, when a character who’d only been introduced briefly was suddenly taking center stage, and it took a moment for Ceaton to realize who was talking from the other side of the wall – so I couldn’t feel bad for not knowing who it was. Never having heard a Serbian speak (at least that I’m aware of), I cannot comment on the authenticity of the accent, but I can say the subtleties between Marco’s Russian accent and the Serbian accents of the other major characters was impressive and convincing to the untrained ear. And discovering that Tremblay also narrates book two has me ending my review here so that I can dive in because I MUST know more about The Vault.

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free audiobook copy of A Day Makes (The Vault #1) by Mary Calmes, narrated by Greg Tremblay to listen to and review.

Now, it's true that I'm a Calmesaniac. I make no bones that Mary Calmes writes the kind of crack I'm addicted to.

But this story? Holy. Shit. What a fantastic freaking ride you guys! Seriously, that was like the best roller coaster, and when you get off you immediately want to ride it again.

Mary Calmes always manages to take a first person single POV and make it so dynamic and enthralling that I cannot help but love it.

Our POV this time is solely from Ceaton Mercer, a mob enforcer with a conscience. Think that's an oxymoron? Nope. Mary Calmes pulls it off in a way it not only makes sense, but as the reader I was absolutely on board with Ceaton's decisions. I love how Ceaton's doing his best to be as ethical as possible in situations that don't normally find themselves to be on anyone's moral compass. Ceaton is making the best out of some truly hard situations.

The first half of the story sets up Ceaton and his friends, Pravi, Luka, and Marko, while the second half focuses on a single day in the life in where Ceaton meets his future, in more ways than one, learns some truth about his past and the lives he's saved and changed forever. And folks? Get ready for some ties to the past.

Now, this is sort of a slow burn. Though there's some romance (and sexy times) it doesn't come until later in the story, but it's definitely worth the wait. I absolutely loved Ceaton and Brin! I loved the banter, the action, the suspense, the Easter eggs...I loved it all!

All I can say without spoiling this was that I thought this was fantastic and sets up a possible series brilliantly. I really hope to get a better look at the Vault and get to spend more time with the guys in the future.

I love that Calmes can write a fantastic, mesmerizing series like the Marshals series that focuses on law enforcers, but can switch it up and write a story (and hopefully series - no seriously, please let this become a series!!) from the "bad" guy's perspective that is just as riveting and absorbing.

If you love bad guys with a heart of gold, some action, a bit of romance, and definitely some great storytelling I highly recommend you pick this up.

--AUDIOBOOK--
Quite simply: Greg Tremblay made this even better, and I didn't even think that was possible. Fantastic character voices, especially accents (of which there were MANY), all done brilliantly.

100% Recommended.

I wanted to love this as much as other books by Mary Calmes. I really, really did. I couldn't manage it, unfortunately. Making a mob enforcer into a sympathetic character and romantic lead... Sorry, but no. It felt wrong. I won't be reading any more in this series.

Miro from Mary Calmes Marshal's series has remained my favorite character of hers since he first appeared, but Ceaton just became a close second. He's a man of integrity, loyalty and ethics, with very, shall we say flexible?, morals. The majority of the first half, written in first person from Ceaton's POV, relates his current activities along with memories and reminiscences about how he got to where he is. He's an enforcer for a kingpin in the Serbian mob, doing the things that require getting his hands dirty, so the kingpin can pretend to be respectable. Ceaton works with Luka, Pravi and Marko, his trusted brothers in arms. There's quite a bit of activity and action contained in the book, complete with the quirky personalities that Mary Calmes is known for and lots of humor. In this case, it's kind of black humor at times. Then around halfway through, Ceaton meets his love interest.

I'm afraid this is when the book went a little off the rails for me, because I couldn't get a sense of romance at all. Ceaton was practically steamrolled into instant love and commitment. Okay, yes, I can buy into love at first sight, but it was like the dude never even gave him a choice. I didn't like it. Fortunately, the "romance" was thrust into the background by an escalation of problems with a surprise ending to them. There was one lonely sex scene at the end, so don't look for a steamy read. That was fine with me, since everything else was a rollicking ride through mob life, complete with flying bullets, and the growth of loyalty and friendship between the guys while disposing of bodies. Trust me, it all works. No, it's not gross.

There's a little homage to Mary's good friend Rhys Ford tucked into the narrative, so look for it! I'm really hoping this is a prequel to a series, since it's perfectly set up for a story arc, and I want to read it! I do hope Ceaton is a big part of it though. I absolutely adore a criminal with a soft, squishy center and there's a whole boxful of that kind of book candy here!

If you are Serbian or Russian native speaker you'll be slightly annoyed by a number of not-so-right details, starting from names and surnames, nonsense phrases in your native languages and even religion... That's really disappointing and prevent you from seeing the story as a whole. I think it'll be made into a series, so I'd like to ask the author to pay a bit more attention to details, I'm sure you can find some native Russian or Serbian speakers within your fan base and they'll be glad to help.