I flew through this, from opening the file this morning until finishing it tonight, with grumbled interruptions for such pesky things as lunch and dinner and errands needing to be run.

The romance was slow burn, frustrating at times, and sweet at other times. The mythology is still well done, and I enjoyed catching up with the couples from previous books. 

Nine years ago, Eric's chosen mate broke their bond, and he's been in wolf form ever since, roaming the woods, thinking he can never go home again. An unexpected encounter leads him home, returning him to his human form, having to learn to be human all over again. Opposing thumbs are a tricky thing if you've been on paws for a long time. 

Soon after coming home, Eric runs into Ben, a newcomer to their pack, and finds his destined mate, the person their goddess has chosen just for him, a mate that trumps a chosen one. 

And Eric freaks out. 

Because he's a dumbass. Because he's been hurt and he doesn't trust that this one won't also leave him. 

Like I said, this was a frustrating read at times - I wanted to slap him in multiple times as Eric keeps asking for time and patience, and Ben was a fucking SAINT and kept giving Eric time and space and whatever he needed, because that's what destined mates do.

Ben has some struggles of his own - for all his life, his mother told him that the wolf within is a demon to be kept inside. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why Ben's father would choose his wife (a destined mate also, but one who never took the bite to become wolf) over his son, when he could see how much his wife's ranting about the demon-wolf hurt his kid. He never really stepped in to stop her from inflicting this emotional abuse on his son. I was ENRAGED! And then she... well, no, I won't give that away.

But Eric and Ben have friends now, and they have support, and they learn, they grow, and they accept what Diana has given them. 

I would say that this book was probably my least favorite of this series. For one, I found Eric disappearing for nine years a bit long, considering that Kim wasn't his destined mate. Secondly, I strongly disliked that both important females in this book were portrayed as uber-bitchy and had few, if any, redeeming qualities. I really don't like that in a book. 

The author has a writing style that works well for this type of book, and there weren't any lulls in the plot or any kind of big time jumps. I appreciated seeing couples from the previous books all step up to help Eric and Ben where they can - the sense of family, of belonging, is strong with this series. 

While this could be read as a stand-alone, I would recommend you read this series in order for full impact. 



** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

Cover Reveal tomorrow, 2/4/17, on My Fiction Nook!!

 

 

The blurb tells you the gist of what you'll find within so I won't bore you with a repeat of that. I will however tell you that there is much more to this story than what you find hinted at in the blurb. I will also tell you that the female wolf mentioned doesn't play as big a role as the blurb might hint, but she is the catalyst for... well, you read this for yourself.

This book was a blast to read. I adored Liam Scott, and I adored Mason Hayes. I loved their bond, their relationship, I loved how well they worked together, I loved how they were both kind and thoughtful and so, so in love with each other, even if Liam doesn't believe it and Mason is afraid to say it.

The mythology used here was also rather interesting - Mpreg obviously, but giving the Omega wolf an actual uterus - and the author did a great job, IMHO, of weaving the various aspects of her specific mythology seamlessly into the narrative and dialogue without making it sound like info dump.

There were moments when I giggled, there were moments that made me go 'awww', and there were moments when I wanted to reach into the book and knock both of these men over the head so they'd finally just bloody talk about what was bothering them.

Also, lots and lots of sexy, steamy times. Because, wolves. And knotting. Knotting! And pheromones, and an Omega wolf in heat, and mating bonds, and family times, and misunderstandings, and realizations, and love, so much love.

I didn't want to stop reading until I had reached the final page. The epilogue, set 8 years after the main part of the book, was super cute too. I enjoyed watching Liam and Mason with their pups, and also appreciated the family tree image at the end. By then, it was really clear how much Liam had grown into himself, how his view of himself had changed, because of Mason's love for him, how he was an equal partner in their relationship despite the discrepancy in incomes, and how supremely happy and fulfilled they were.

This was a nearly perfect Mpreg wolf shifter novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute I spent reading. I couldn't ask for more.

Well done, Grace, well done!


** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **

Book – Acceptance (Forbes Mates #3)
Author – Grace R. Duncan
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 236

Cover – So cute!
POV – 3rd person, dual POV
Would I read it again – Yes.

Genre – LGBT, Contemporary, Shifter, Wolf, Jaguar


** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine


I looked forward to this story since the minute I read the first interaction between Quincy and Miles at the end of the previous book in this series. Not only does this one get straight into the action, with Quincy still on the run and separated from Miles, but it maintains a good pace throughout. The relationship is strained with the forced separation, but somehow they still manage to keep the chemistry and hope alive.

As main characters, Miles and Quincy are just as loveable and full of chemistry as always. Their interactions are both fun and full of heat, even as they go through the long road of trouble and chaos. Though they're different species, they find a way to be together, to work together and really learn about one another, even when they're not together or when things are hard.

I really liked that we got to see all the previous characters back together again – Finlay and Tanner, Chad and Jaime – as well as a few new characters of cats and wolves alike.

However, there are a few down points to this story. Though I loved all the previous books in this series, this one had some issues. There was no definition of memories; they were just included in the main text and because the entire story is in 3rd person past tense, there were times when you couldn't tell whether it was supposed to be present time or in the past. A clear distinction of the two would have helped eliminate this issue.

There were a few really annoying bugs where sentence phrasing, spelling/grammar and the tense weren't as they should be, making it read awkwardly. On top of that, the story slipped into present tense a few times; 1 – “being how they're supposed to be” – 2 – “having a mate near can help.” Neither of which are dialogue, which could have made sense or been excused. There are also some really odd placements of italics that don't read well or place stress on the wrong words for the meaning of the sentence. It's a little odd and made me question the meaning or re-read the paragraph a few times, to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

There's also a lot of repetition in the story – Miles being bisexual, expecting a male or female mate but never a cat; Quincy being shocked when his dad is nice; the story about Chad and the skunk and acting like a pup, while a new wolf. All of these are repeated more than once throughout, almost verbatim. It got a little tiresome at points, having to keep rehashing the same conversations over and again. There was also a lot of “tilted his head” which appeared to mean something to the characters, but was never really explained. It was some sort of secret code or animal instinct, from what I read, but it was never explained and only ever really deemed that one person should obey the other while somehow knowing exactly what they were thinking.

Consistency and description were also problems. Example; at one point, we start a new chapter/scene with Quincy flopping into a seat. But we don't know where this is, when it is or where the seat is (they've just left one room and may be in another, a hotel room or anywhere). It's not until we get to the end of the scene that we find out where this is. It was confusing, trying to pinpoint where they were, where they were going or why.

I found the epilogue just as confusing. I really don't want to give spoilers, but there was no explanation of how or why the epilogue happened. Let's just say that it has something to do with biology and some specific resemblance descriptions, that are never explored or explained.

I assume this is the final book in the series, due to the Epilogue being the first in the series that takes place years later. Though I was kind of hoping that the Scribe or Riley might get a story, I imagine this might be for the best. The series has been fantastic, but this one fell short on the editing side which was a problem the other stories didn't suffer from.

~

Overall, it felt like the editing was too slack for the exceptional series this has been. Hopefully it will be cleared up before publishing, as this was an ARC, but who knows.

The story and plot was fantastic, sticking to the great quality of the previous books. But there is definitely an issue with the editing, which is what the last star was docked for. With the characters and overall family feel of this series, it could run on for a long time and I'll read every book, because the stories never fail to grasp my heart and make me root for the characters. However, it will be sad to see the end of this series, if the Epilogue is any indication. The whole thing is wrapped up so cleanly, with everyone getting their HEA, that I can't imagine there are more on the cards.

It was a great way to end the series, though.

~

Favourite Quotes

“Hey, I wonder if we can buy exploding pens at Staples...,”

What About Now - Grace R. Duncan Review originally posted at Sinfully.

3.5 stars

This is a story about two men whose stubborn failure to communicate led to the end of their long term relationship, resulting in five years of separation even though they both still loved each other. Now, through a bit of well-intentioned meddling, Rafe and Braden have a chance to lay the past to rest and move on either with or without each other. Rafe hopes that when he leaves their month-long cruise, Braden will be his once again. He’s determined but Braden is stubborn so he’s sure the road won’t be an easy one.

The story is not burdened by much outside action, and the cruise setting makes it easy for the focus to be solely on Rafe and Braden’s past and present. I’m a big fan of second chance stories so this one initially grabbed me, but I was somewhat disappointed that the blurb reveals a big plot point thereby dissipating some of the tension and emotion that should have fueled the two men meeting again after so long. I assume the wording was placed in the blurb in lieu of a trigger warning elsewhere, but the book was clearly written with the intent of the information being revealed to the reader when Rafe finally reveals it to Braden. Despite my issues with the set-up, I liked Rafe from the start and wanted to see these two men find a way to at least mend some bridges.

Since Braden refused all attempts at contact from Rafe immediately following his leaving, Braden has no idea what really went on when he saw Rafe with another man. Braden admits that they had been having some problems relating to sex and that Braden’s shame, confusion, misguided commentary from a friend and his fear of discussing it with Rafe was a big part of their downward spiral. I had a hard time buying that Braden would walk away from not only Rafe, but the business they owned together with such finality, not allowing any communication whatsoever, but I was able to mostly put that aside to focus on the rebuilding of things. What bothered me more is wondering why Braden allowed one person’s comments to direct such a significant part of his future as opposed to giving the benefit of the doubt to a man who had been his best friend and then lover and business partner for years. That’s what made it harder for me to forgive Braden’s actions.

In the five years since Braden ran out on him Rafe (unlike Braden, who appears to have stagnated) has not only undergone therapy, but has educated himself about his dominant nature and the BDSM lifestyle by becoming a member of a club and training with a Dom. He has learned that it’s not a part of his nature that he can or would want to suppress. He has recognized that Braden does have a submissive nature and that although he seemed to enjoy some of the control Rafe exerted in bed, he sensed Braden’s fear and shame and he’s not sure if Braden will be able to accept that part of himself or be willing to have a D/s relationship. Rafe is also fairly certain that if Braden wants nothing to do with the lifestyle, that he likely will have to walk away. Once the men are back together, Rafe struggles with how to introduce the subject to Braden.

Braden’s immediate response to deal with things seems to be retreating or running away. His submissive nature is not only sexual, but extends to his everyday life, allowing others to push him into things and influence his decisions. That, combined with his fear of openly talking to Rafe seems to doom the relationship unless he makes some big changes. Just loving each other and wanting to be together isn’t going to be enough.

I loved Rafe. He is strong and calm and incredibly forgiving, with a love for Braden that is unwavering. He hasn’t spent the past five years hiding away, but has used them to better understand himself and what will be necessary to get back the man he has always loved. Braden was a tough sell for me though. Other than his general nature, I never truly understood why he was so afraid of talking to Rafe about that one aspect of their life. I’m also not sure that Braden really solved that issue though he is working on it.

I’ve enjoyed Grace Duncan’s writing in the past, especially her handling of BDSM themes. In fact [b:Beautiful boy|27266145|Beautiful boy|Grace R. Duncan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445683309s/27266145.jpg|47318393] was a hot pick for me in November 2015. The scenes here were the strongest part of the story for me. Rafe is a good Dom knowing just what Braden needs, likes and dislikes. The scenes of tease and denial were hot and incredibly intimate, and despite his misgivings, Braden submits beautifully when not worrying about what other people would say or think.

This story is really all about Rafe and Braden learning how to redefine their relationship going forward and Braden learning how to communicate. I’ll admit that it was frustrating and a bit slow at times; stories where communication is a problem often are for me, but if you like a second chance story, light BDSM and don’t mind working through the issues I’ve mentioned this will probably work for you.

If you've read the first book in this series, you'll surely remember Jamie Ryan - he who befriended Finley when Tanner couldn't pull his head out of his ass, and was sort of vying to take Tanner's spot in Finley's heart, even though they weren't destined mates. So, after Tanner and Finley got their HEA, Jamie feels kind of left in the dust and doesn't believe he will ever find his mate. While in doggie form, and coincidentally trying to run from Animal Control, Jamie happens across Chad Sutton, ex-detective who's now a private investigator. His mate. Tongue lolling, he runs up to Chad and tries to convince his human to save him. Chad's no dummy - while he doesn't know that the dog he names Murray is not quite canine, he senses something and pretends the dog belongs to him. I really liked how the author created their immediate connection, giving us a great visual of the human Chad interacting with this very smart dog Murray aka Jamie, who seems to understand every word he says. I giggled a lot during this part, especially at Jamie's thoughts. And Chad has no idea that the smart doggie is actually a man - well, until he finds him naked and peeing one morning in the bathroom. That scene was just precious. Their relationship seemed strong from the start, and since Chad is trying to find a man who doesn't want to be found, and Jamie is studying Criminal Justice, the two team up as dog and master as Chad pursues all leads, all the while having wild monkey sex, because mates. Also, knotting. Which requires some explanations from Jamie, of course, but Chad doesn't seem to be fazed by anything he finds out about the dog that wasn't. There are two actual plots that merge/converge - the plot line about finding Chad's assigned target, and the plot line about Jamie being afraid to deliver the mating bite to a human, because nobody in their pack history has done so, and there's nothing in the archives anywhere in the country that will tell them if Jamie has a chance to succeed. So, the two embarge on a trip to Italy, where the wolves' most ancient pack lives, to find out more. I really enjoyed this book very much - from the instalust to instalove, bc we're talking mates here, the knotting, their easy banter, Jamie ribbing Chad about his strong affection for all things 80s, the trip to Italy, finding out that the grand Poobah wolf in the USA isn't as honest as expected (and I sure hope that'll be addressed in a future book), the actual mating (because HEA, y'all), and even the setup for the next book in the series - it was all very well done, and kept me interested from start to finish. I don't recommend reading this book by itself. With as much screen time as Jamie gets in the first one, it would be better to start there. And you're in luck since both books are now available - read them one after the other for full impact. Absolutely worth your time. Hot, sexy, fluffy shifter romances are so much fun, right? ** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **