It’s A Calling

Title: It’s a Calling
Author: Mara Ismine
Publisher: Torquere Books
Genre: Fantasy M/M Romance
Length: short story (33 PDF pages)
Rating: 4 stars out of 5

A guest review by Tj

Summary Review: A sexy short that explores a second chance at happiness.

This Sip is part of Torquere Books’ Charity Sip Blitz and all proceeds from the sale of this Sip goes to the charity Doctors Without Borders.

The Blurb: Weary of life and of his job practicing medicine, Jock reevaluates his life when an old friend passes on. World travels eventually lead him back to the Scottish town where he grew up, where he must face his memories of Ewan, the lover he left behind many years before. Will Ewan still be there? And if he is, can they recapture the magic they once had together?

The Review: Dr. Jock Darling seemingly has led a good life. He married a lovely woman, raised two children and had a successful medical practice for almost 30 years. Outwardly, this would seem like a wonderful and fulfilling existence. But deep down Jock has been running from something that he has never shared with anyone. But his longtime receptionist, Louise had always known Jock better than he knew himself. She had told him, “You should stop running and go face whatever it was sent you here in the first place.”

Louise had always been there for Jock, helping him through his wife’s sudden death a few years prior, a death for which Jock still feels responsible. As Jock sees it, he is a doctor and should have seen the warning signs. But Louise would have none of that self pity and called Jock on his god complex. She was a constant in Jock’s life, and her death shook Jock to the core of his being and made him reevaluate his life. “He felt world weary, drained and exhausted. He had given his all to medicine and now it didn’t seem to be enough.”

I think many of us have been where Jock was at some time in our lives, where you say “what’s the point?”. After Louise dies, it was intriguing how he found himself suddenly completely free, with no obligations and no one depending on him, where anything was possible. So Jock decided to retire from his practice and travel the world while making up his mind on where to settle. His travels eventually bring him back to his native Scotland and the memories of the boy, Ewan that he left behind  over 30 years prior.

I admired Jock’s ability to grab the opportunity to leave everything behind and take off on an adventure. He had done his duty to his parents, his wife and his children and now was his turn to be happy. I enjoyed watching him let go of his old life, a life where he had held onto a lot of guilt regarding his wife’s death, and feelings that he was not a very good husband. I also liked the interesting development once he returns to Scotland and how his feelings about his former home and a possible future change. It was an enjoyable adventure that Jock ends up taking, and he gets his HEA.

I think if you like fantasy stories with a healthy dose of escapism, you’ll enjoy It’s a Calling.