Seeking The Balance 1, 2 & 3

Title: Seeking The Balance
Author: A.R. Moler
Publisher: Torquere Books
Genre: M/M contemporary, paranormal romance
Length: Combined page length of 108 pages
Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

A guest review by Jenre

These TQ Chasers follow on from the Hell Dog’s Squadron chasers that I reviewed on this site here, here and here. Instead of doing separate reviews for each one, I’m going to review all three in this review. This is mainly because, although you can read these shorts separately, in order to get the full benefit of the story arc then it’s best to read all three.

Seeking The Balance 1: Blue Bike Blues

THE BLURB

Lt. Cameron Bradshaw is an adrenaline junkie. You have to be to be a navy fighter pilot. It would never occur to him that his new lover, Dr. Mason Flynn, would think buying a new motorcycle to replace the one that was destroyed in his near fatal accident, was an insanely stupid idea. After a brief, vicious argument, Cam seeks distraction in the company of a young woman he’s dated a few times in the past. Will anger push him into her bed or will guilt stop him?

THE REVIEW

This short follows on directly from Hells Dog Squadron: Cut Pass. Cam has recovered from being forced off his motorcycle and decides that it’s time to get back on the bike. When Mason sees him, he’s furious and they have a huge argument.

This is the shortest story of the three and is basically a slice of life for Cam and Mason. There’s also the beginnings of a commitment being made between them. The fight makes both men evaluate what they’ve got and both of them realise that some compromise must take place if they are going to move on in their relationship. I enjoyed seeing the two men working through the beginnings of their feelings towards each other but I was left scratching my head over the lack of plot when compared to the previous stories in the series.

Seeking the Balance 2: Lack of Control

THE BLURB

When you see a note for an oncology appointment on the calendar, you make some assumptions, and they’re not always the right ones. Cam Bradshaw knows that his lover Mason Flynn is burning the candle at both ends, juggling his regular job as an orthopedic surgeon against refining his psychic healing skills with the help of training at Division P.

Mason is stressed and tired, nothing seems be going right. Seeking all possible ways to save a dying patient Mason reluctantly agrees to tag along on an assignment that Cam is doing for Division P. Things go wrong, drastically wrong. Choices have to be made and not all of those choices are Mason’s to make.

THE REVIEW

The story arc starts to pick up the pace here as Cam and Mason are sent into a potentially dangerous situation. Mason is coping with the frustration that his healing powers do not seem to be enough to cure a small boy of cancer, and Cam is coping with trying to have a relationship with Mason, whilst also keeping things quiet as he risks his navy career should he be found out.

This was my favourite of the three stories. It had a nice balance of tense action and quieter moments. I felt that the way the two men are slowly coming to terms with the push and pull of their relationship was handled well in the story, as they both want more commitment in terms of time but also realise that Cam has much to lose. The focus of the story is mainly on Mason as he learns to use his healing powers safely without risking his life and I thought it quite poignant that Mason is torn between his drive to heal someone but also keeping himself out of harm for the sake of Cam.

Seeking the Balance 3: Clutching

THE BLURB

When you’re just learning to ride a motorcycle, clutching is an acquired skilled. Learning to judge when to squeeze tight and when to relax your hand is not necessarily an easy task. Mason Flynn is not very good at the letting go part, and that’s true of all the parts of his life.

Coming to terms with the concept of a patient he cannot save, seeing an old lover, and realizing that Cam Bradshaw’s love for him may run deeper and stronger than he dared to hope all weave together into Mason working toward learning when it’s time to let go.

THE REVIEW

This final instalment of the series sees Mason spiralling into stress. He’s using his powers more and more and yet not keeping himself healthy enough to maintain the stress on his body. There’s also the added weight of knowing that his relationship with Cam must be kept secret and the difficulties that brings to the out and proud Mason.

The focus of this story shifts back to the relationship between Cam and Mason. Their feelings for one another have grown throughout the three stories and now they are getting to the stage of making a lasting commitment to each other. This is shown in the way that Cam reacts badly to seeing Mason with an ex-boyfriend and also his care and concern for Mason own lack of self-care. I have to admit that it’s the romantic story arc which has interested me most about these stories and whilst I enjoyed some of the action sequences, especially with Mason using his healing powers for good, it’s the quieter time when the men are talking and working through their relationship which has been the highlight of these stories for me. I finished this final story, pleased that the two men were on their way to a HEA.

OVERALL

The title, Seeking the Balance, has been a good one for this series as there are several balancing acts which take place in the lives of these characters. Mason has to balance his drive to heal with the consequences of his powers. He also has to balance his life as a doctor with that of being an agent for P division. Cam has to balance his need for thrills and speed with the knowledge that Mason worries about him. He also has to balance his relationship with Mason and his navy career. Both men have to balance their very different personalities with their love and care for each other. It was all very interesting to read about the way these men juggle their lives but in the end find that perfect balance with each other.

If you’ve read the Hell Dog’s Squadron books then you’ll like these as well. I was happy to revisit Mason and Cam and enjoyed seeing them head off into a future together.