Zale Zelinski is a billionaire, and pack Alpha Tawera is a runaway fae. Their worlds are about to collide in more ways than one.
Zale Zelinski is a CEO, a playboy, a pack Alpha and a billionaire. When attacks are made on livestock in nearby farms, suspicion falls on the shifter community.
Tawera, one of the patupaiarehe of the nearby forest, is horrified to find his family is planning his marriage—one he doesn’t want. He runs away to hide in the human world.
When the two meet, instinct takes over before both recover their wits. But when they meet again, Tawera recognizes that Zale is the mate he has dreamed of.
However, while there’s danger nearby, Zale keeps Tawera at arm’s length, prepared to let him—as well as others—think he feels nothing.
Time is against them as Zale slowly uncovers a nest of betrayal, treachery and murder. Then his enemies strike at those dearest to him.
Even if Zale can track down those responsible for the attacks and bring them to account, can he keep the love of an increasingly estranged Tawera—or will he lose him forever?
Being bitten doesn’t change the man who becomes a wolf. Only the love of a strong alpha does that.
Markus Julson IV is a billionaire investment financier who lives in New York with his husband, Danny Fletcher. His family has led the Manhattan pack for more than a century. Once a month, he flies to a secluded island in the ocean to let the wolf living in him run free. But when a stranger crashes onto his island and is bitten by his wolf, Markus’ world changes in an instant.
Dr. Peter Roberts is an assistant professor of marine cell and molecular biology at NYU whose research vessel is forced ashore onto an uncharted island during a storm. To find help, he leaves the protection of the boat and is bitten by a wolf during the storm, which changes him in more ways than one.
Markus must quickly bring Peter into the underbelly of wolf politics, because their chance encounter on the island may be fate or something more sinister. To further complicate things, Markus must manage his life with his husband while dealing with his wolf, who has chosen Peter as his mate.
Polyamorous relationships with paranormal beings are always complicated.
Reader advisory: This book has a scene of double anal penetration, and a murder.
Living in clean, green New Zealand, Pelaam is a multi-published author of gay romance and erotica. When not working at writing, Pelaam likes to indulge in her other passions of cookery and wine appreciation.
Jason Wrench is a professor in the Department of Communication at SUNY New Paltz and has authored/edited 15+ books and over 35 academic research articles. He is also an avid reader and regularly reviews books for publishers in a wide number of genres. This book marks his first full-length work of fiction.
Find out more about Jason at his website.
Giveaway
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Author Amanda Meuwissen and Gay Book Promotions share new release info on Blue Moon Rising (Moonlight Prophecies #2)! Find out more about the paranormal romance and enter in the Moonlight Prophecies series giveaway!
RELEASE BLITZ
Book Title: Blue Moon Rising (Moonlight Prophecies Book 2)
Sometimes the right answer is the part of yourself you are afraid to face.
Blurb
Alpha Jay Russell’s broken engagement may just be the best thing that ever happened to him. His ex-fiancé’s twin, Bari, is much more his type and straightforward about his flirting and desire to unite their packs.
Jay returns home after his misadventures in Centrus City to a new prophecy, an unknown enemy, and tribal unrest over a series of racially-driven murders. Furious, Jay is determined to bring whoever’s responsible to justice… but the unrest upsets the fragile peace he’s been working to achieve, threatens his new lover’s life, and undermines his position as Alpha, which makes investigating a challenge.
Can Jay and Bari work together to fight their inner demons—and a strange adversary dead set on returning to the past—or will mistrust and political machinations tear them apart?
Blue Moon Rising is the second book in the Moonlight Prophecies series. Fans of shifters, soothsayers, and shadowy villains will fall under Amanda Meuwissen’s spell in this suspenseful, sexy urban fantasy romance.
Excerpt
“I’m not texting or calling with what went on in Centrus City. Those events need to be explained in person. What’s Ursula asking?” Jay added as an aside, curious if she’d heard anything from the rumor mill.
“She knows you well.” Maximus scrolled through some of the messages. “Wondering if you’re bringing home any strays with your new husband.”
Jay cringed. He wasn’t even technically bringing home a fiancé anymore. It was better things hadn’t worked out between him and Bashir, but that didn’t mean what happened didn’t hurt. Instead of breaking things off between them from the start, Bashir had slept with Ethan—twice—before Jay backed out of the marriage himself. Jay just wanted to be someone’s first choice, but being a hopeless romantic didn’t mean he had luck in love.
“You’re not still poring over pack reports, I hope.” Bari appeared as if summoned, depositing himself gracefully in the seat next to Jay with a dramatic crossing of one leg over the other and leaning toward him. Bashir smelled like sandalwood, but Bari smelled like jasmine, another sign Bari was more Jay’s type, because that smell made his insides quiver, and scent was a common factor in choosing a mate. “Even an Alpha needs to take breaks, darling. And we’re nearly home! Well, home for you. Speaking of….” He batted impossibly long lashes, and his exaggerated nature reminded Jay like a slap to the face how different he was from Bashir in every way. “Foolish little ol’ me forgot to look into any hotels. I hope everything won’t be booked.”
Maximus scoffed at the obvious lead-in, but Jay had already intended this offer.
“No hotel necessary,” Jay said, enjoying Bari’s scent but trying to stay focused and hopefully not look as red in the face as he felt. “Only Max and our Magister are mated, so we have plenty of spare rooms at our den. We’ll head there once the train arrives so you can get settled and I can address my circle about what’s gone on the past few weeks.”
“You haven’t told them anything?”
“Not yet, but I’m sure they’ve heard whispers. While I intend to tell my circle everything, I’ll make sure it’s understood that talk of Seers, Focuses, and Nulls needs to be kept as only gossip for everyone else.”
“My pack thanks you for that,” Bari said with a gentle touch to Jay’s arm. He was very casually physical, another contrast to his brother. “I know you were gone much longer than planned. I hope everything ran smoothly without you.”
“Smooth enough,” Maximus growled, reminding Jay that they weren’t alone. “Are you an ambassador or a spy?”
“Max,” Jay chided him.
“It’s okay,” Bari dismissed. “I was prying. I won’t pretend like Bash didn’t ask me to keep him informed of the state of your city. But allies should be honest with each other.” He looked squarely at Maximus and grinned. “When I spy, I’ll warn you first.”
Maximus turned away with another scoff.
“But before any espionage, I’m looking forward to a better meal than the train food we had for lunch.” Bari returned his attention to Jay. “Would you like to get dinner later?”
In an instant, Jay was a flustered teenager again because he couldn’t think of a response. He wasn’t used to anyone being so forward with him, especially someone who’d almost sort of already proposed.
“He’s been gone for weeks,” Maximus broke in, “and you think he’s going to immediately start playing tour guide just because—”
“Max,” Jay chided again, which at least helped him find his voice. He knew his Second was only looking out for him, but being a good Alpha meant taking time for himself too, something he often forgot. “Pack business comes first, always,” he reassured Maximus, and then looked to Bari. “But I do have to eat. I’d love to take you to dinner tonight.”
There was that unique crinkle at the corners of Bari’s eyes that Jay had never seen on Bashir. “Marvelous. It’s a date. That is a very fetching shirt on you, by the way.” He lightly tugged Jay’s collar and stroked once more down his arm before getting up and heading back toward Theresa and William with a sly smirk.
It wasn’t that special of a shirt, Jay thought, just black with a few horizontal stripes in gray, but since he’d taken his jacket off during the ride, he supposed the short sleeves flattered his biceps well, which was where Bari had touched.
Jay realized he’d followed Bari’s retreat almost to the point of turning in his chair and quickly sat forward again.
Maximus stared at him deadpan.
“What? It’s just dinner.”
As soon as Maximus huffed and looked back out at the city, Jay couldn’t contain his smile. Just dinner—for now.
About the Author
Amanda Meuwissen is a bisexual author, with a primary focus on M/M romance. As author of the paranormal romance trilogy The Incubus Saga and several other titles with various publishers, Amanda regularly attends local comic conventions for fun and to meet with fans, where she will often be seen in costume as one of her favorite fictional characters. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with her husband, John, and their cat, Helga.
At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad's trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he's no longer the alpha-a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can't read or write.
Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn't afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn't hesitate to come to his defense . . . a man that saw past Bishop's grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn't intimidated by his stern features and his silence.
Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He'd made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn't expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did-as if Bishop was somebody.
Narrator: Tor Thom Listening Length: 13 hours and 10 minutes
Reviewer: Shee Reader
Bishop has made some terrible decisions in his life, most of them not his fault, but he is determined to put all that behind him, leave his life of crime and gangs and be the man he always knew he could be. He works with his dad and his crew doing landscape gardening.
Before he has really gotten started on recreating himself, Bishop meets Edison, a lovely quiet man who manages an office (and reads and cooks) who turns Bishop’s head even though a man like Edison would never look twice at a man like Bishop. Until he does!
Oh the set up is delicious, and we are not disappointed! Bishop and Edison are so perfect for each other if they can both get over their own insecurities. A.E. does her alpha heroes so beautifully and a flawed hero is just what the doctor ordered in this book!
Edison is kind of sad and definitely lonely, but he is a delightful character with a lovely strong will, who can be just what Bishop needs if only he’ll let Edison in.
The sleazy bad guy is pretty awful, but he gets what he deserves, as do our two heroes.
Tor Thom is a new-to-me narrator and I found his voice to be a delight! Deep and rolling, he gave such a depth to Bishop and the aching loneliness of Edison was so tangible I could almost taste it. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books performed by him in the future!
This is the first in a new series I hope and I cannot wait for the second installment, Bishop’s best friend’s story…
Highly recommended.
I was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Omega Milan Pryor knows his duty. He must travel North through the continent towards the snow, the cold, and his new betrothed. They say that Lord Alpha Raphael Ledford, the man he is to marry, is as artic as the weather of his land. But Milan has always been an optimist. Perhaps he might find friendship in the arranged marriage. Even love.
It doesn’t take long for Milan to realize that all the rumours about Lord Raphael are true. Reclusive, distant, frigid. Milan finds himself unwelcome in what he must now call his new home. He’s used to fighting for what he wants—but can he survive a husband as cruel as Lord Raphael?
Being bonded to one who rejects you is a painful thing. Will Milan be able to win his husband’s regard? What terrible secret is Lord Raphael keeping, and will Milan be able to discover it before it’s too late?
Or will Milan perish along with his heart?
Honeythorn is set in an AU with a regency feel and a healthy side of steampunk tech. I really enjoyed the world the author built and she did a great job of working it all into the story organically so I got a good “visual” of the setting. And the setting is just as much a character as the MC’s and secondary characters. Rather than a gender divide between men and women, the society is split between Alphas and Omegas where the Omegas are not typically treated as equals.
The war has ended and to keep the peace the monarchy of each country has agreed to arranged marriages between the royal families. Milan, an Omega from the warm and sunny south is paired with Raphael, an Alpha from the cold and frigid North. The two of them are opposites personified. Milan may be an Omega, but he’s no shrinking violet and he’s determined to make the most of his new life and be a good Omega to the citizens of Raphael’s realm.
In the beginning their relationship was . . . not good. Raphael was really a dick, that’s basically the best way to describe it. There were enough glimpses of interactions with his subjects to show me that he was really a good guy underneath the prickly exterior, but his dynamic with Milan said otherwise. It was obvious he had a backstory that broke him, but being that the story is told completely from Milan’s perspective I didn’t get those pieces until much later.
So, the first half of the book was the push/pull of an arranged marriage between an Alpha and an Omega who had no hope of ever falling into like with one another much less love. Raphael comes across as just plain cruel for awhile and I have to say, it was a period where I enjoyed hating him along with Milan. You know how that goes? You and an MC get on the same hate train for another character? It’s fun.
Raphael’s cruelty was born of ignorance though and when shit officially got real for Milan and Raphael had his nonsense called out for what it was, he turned the corner and became the character he was meant to be all along. His backstory came out and so did the romance. It was hard won and well earned by the time the two of them started “courting”. There was some good steam before the romance came along, but the steam in the second half was so much better because the feels were finally along for the ride too.
Milan is a great character and once Raphael got his head out of his ass so was he. If enemies to lovers is your jam, then this book will be your crack. The enemy part was so well done and visceral, I really DID NOT like Raphael, but the second half romance was even better and sold me on Raphael eventually. I also swooned over how very protective of Raphael Milan was especially considering their Alpha/Omega roles. I think that’s what I appreciated about Honeythorn so much; while the trope is not new, the delivery was fresh and fun to read.
Quick little paragraph of love for the cover of Honeythorn. Look at it. Look how pretty it is! It also captured the mood of the book really, really well. That’s Milan and one of his beautiful suits right there, no doubt about it. And there he is sitting in his favorite room of the castle. I do appreciate the author making him so much more than just a pretty face with a side of sass. His intelligence and empathy towards others made me love him all the more.
The secondary characters were very strong and I enjoyed reading the interactions between them and the MCs. Secondary characters with that much depth can be helpful when getting to know MCs with so much story to tell so I’m being shown who they are and getting to know them at the same pace the secondary characters are and it makes it so much more interesting than being told who they are.
I would love a short follow up with Milan and Raphael (and their puppies) to see them settled into their HEA. Once the BIG conflict is solved there’s some downtime for them, but I wanted some more. Mostly just because I’m greedy and I was enjoying the warm fuzzies of their relationship.
**A copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
Stoic men, who believe they’re happy alone, find the world turned upside down when their perfect someone stumbles across their path.
Marc joins the Lonely Hearts chat room where men support men on their way to finding true love. He wants to believe that kind of love is possible for him, but his once-burned heart stops him from going all-in with anyone.
The chat group’s philosophy is, “Figure out how you keep screwing up your happily ever after. Once you know, you’re more likely to find the true thing.”
Skeptical as he is, Marc logs in and meets men in various degrees of getting there. At least he’s not alone. Luther truly loves his single life on the Bakken oil fields. William’s not sure he’ll ever measure up, let alone find someone he can be himself around. And Andrew still pines for a guy he hooked up with on a reenactment battlefield before he got blown up on a real one.
One by one they start dropping like flies. Flies drunk on love. And sooner than he expects, Marc’s luck starts changing thanks to these new friends.
Walk alongside these men as they find the men of their dreams and discover their happily ever afters.
Lonely Hearts: a novella bundle includes: Bent Arrow, Stroke of Luck, Momo, My Everything, and Love on a Battlefield.
blue-collar, reluctant lovers, rural, bisexual, gay, fated lovers, Halloween, white-collar, opposites attract, multicultural, coming out, second chance, first time, disability, recovery romance, meant to be, military, artist, world traveler, coming of age, long distance, pen pals, gay romance, contemporary, MM romance, lone wolf, alpha male.
Welllll, 3.75 Hearts averaged out, but definitely rounded up for the way the author tied it all together.
The author uses a clever technique to tie four novellas together along with a connection to The North Star Series. It works well and bundles all four stories cohesively via chat room conversations between Hugo (from North Star) and one half of each of the couples in the novellas. I liked it, it allowed me to get to know each of the guys organically and get a taste of their personalities going into their new relationships.
Bent Arrow (Luther and Eric) - 4 Hearts
I just love Luther. Then I met Eric, and I just love Eric. While Luther comes across, at first, as a man who has convinced himself he never wants to attach himself to another person, it’s easy to see that a connection with another person is exactly what he needs most. Luther uses the excuse of work environment and that he’s not out to his family to stay in his one night stand lifestyle. Eric is a bit of an introvert, mostly out of necessity and concern for his safety in the oilfields. The two of them have chemistry from the very beginning and while the physical is a no brainer between them, the relationship they begin to develop is the real treat to read. The very best part of this story is the communication and honesty. It wasn’t like the relationship was angst free, the two of them had to go through some level of nonsense considering where they were coming from. But, they knew they wanted one another and I loved that they both owned it.
Stroke of Luck (Marc and Cas) - 3 Hearts
Marc is too pure for this world and I had trouble believing anyone could deserve him. It took me a while to warm up to Cas. I liked him, but there was a lot of “work” that had to go into being with Cas. By the end I did like the two of them together but it was a little too unnecessarily difficult to get there. Cas wasn’t even the real issue, the problem was Maisie. Ugh, that woman. I get that the relationship between Cas and Maisie was the main conflict that fed the story, she really detracted from my Marc and I love Marc. By the end, everything conveniently worked out and Marc and Cas were happy, so, yay! But I could have done with less Maisie and more Marc and Cas together.
Momo, My Everything (William and Nate) - 3.5 Hearts
This story was more than just a romance it was a real character study of William. He was a tough guy to get to know, but the author did a great job of showing who he was and how much we wanted to love and be loved in his own voice. Nate was William’s complete opposite and reading William fall in love was absolutely lovely. I don’t feel like I got to know Nate as deeply as William, which is why this is definitely a William story for me and I very much liked it. William evolved a lot for the novella length of this story. Nate was such a breath of fresh air and life for William and William appreciated everything about Nate. What they gave each other and how thankful they were for one another was the highlight for me, so while the bulk of the story is about William and his evolution, there was plenty of true romance to be had.
Love on a Battlefield (Andrew and Shep) - 4.5 Hearts
Oh, my heart. The bittersweet arc in Love on a Battlefield broke my heart and put it back together in the best possible way. I absolutely loved how this story was told. The flashbacks, the letters, the current life struggles, all of that combined to make Andrew and Shep fully fleshed out characters that I embraced from page 1. My only complaint was that the story was a novella and not a full novel. You know how the romance world gives us stories with couples who are “meant to be” and we love it and eat it up with a spoon? But then, once in a while a story comes along where two people weren’t just “meant to be” but they “had to be”? Like, they are so meant to be together there is no other option for them, they are “next-level meant to be”. That’s Andrew and Shep. Life and time were in the way for awhile as they worked there way back to one another. They may have had just a few teenage fumblings (happy ending fumblings) back in the day, but they basically ruined each other for anyone else. I do believe they had to grow up though and the distance probably made their appreciation for each other even stronger once they did meet up again as adults. It was like their first time all over again and I loved it. I’ll be rereading this one for sure.
**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**
A lustful young alpha meets his match in an older omega with a past.
Professor Vale Aman has crafted a good life for himself. An unbonded omega in his mid-30s, he's long since given up hope that he'll meet a compatible alpha, let alone his destined mate. He's fulfilled by his career, his poetry, his cat, and his friends.
When Jason Sabel, a much younger alpha, imprints on Vale in a shocking and public way, longings are ignited that can't be ignored. Fighting their strong sexual urges, Jason and Vale must agree to contract with each other before they can consummate their passion.
But for Vale, being with Jason means giving up his independence and placing his future in the hands of an untested alpha - as well as facing the scars of his own tumultuous past. He isn't sure it's worth it. But Jason isn't giving up his destined mate without a fight.
This is a stand-alone gay romance novel, 118,000 words, with a strong HFN ending, as well as a well-crafted, non-shifter omegaverse, with alphas, betas, omegas, male pregnancy, heat, and knotting. Content warning for pregnancy loss and aftermath.
Listening Length: 14 hours and 7 minutes Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo
It is definitely not a secret that I love me some ABO and this right here? Probably one of the best in depth reflections on this dynamic, delving into its origins and complicated culture, as well as the intricate rules and laws that aid the genetic drive and instinct that fuel the coming together of an alpha and an omega.
Here, in this post apocalyptic society, the human race has survived a long ago referenced “Great Death”. Females are extinct, but through many years of gene manipulation and evolution, the creation of different male subtypes have yielded a situation where only the alpha/omega pairing can reproduce. Thus, any and all social obligations are geared towards that top priority where, unless detrimental to one’s health, inhibiting conception or interfering with pregnancy is illegal. To help along the procreation urge, alphas and omegas look for their one true mate - their “Erosgape” - a primal instinctual imprinting that is the ultimate and most coveted life goal.
Jason is a young alpha who greatly romanticizes his future. He’s only ever thought about finding his “Erosgape”, and Jason cannot wait to meet this man so they can live happily ever after. He just has to be patient in finishing his education so he can attend the social events that facilitate such. However, when Jason suddenly and surprisingly comes across older omega Vale on campus, what Jason thinks is a done deal with his “Erosgape” is anything but. Being 16 years older, Vale long ago gave up his wish of finding his alpha and settling down and having kids. His life has not been easy and past circumstances have basically rendered Vale infertile and thus, the story mainly revolves around whether he and Jason will officially sign a contract to seal their bond.
I readily admit that most of the time I don’t quite mesh with Blake’s stories. What should be slam dunks, often leave me wanting or frustrated. Not this time around. Now, I know I have ABO beer goggles on, but I’ll reiterate again that this is probably one of the best I’ve come across (not counting my love for a particular fanfic pairing) at being thorough in relationship progression and keeping it angstily interesting and fueled by boatloads of UST. I was impressed about the exploration of this AU that highly prizes the relationship between an alpha and his omega and all the nuances that can come into play. Once imprinted, and definitely once consummated, neither will ever find another that can give them what they need. The uncontrollable alpha drive, coupled with the omega desire to be claimed, marked, and protected is what makes this push pull so compelling and fascinating.
Narrated by Michael Ferraiuolo, I’ve definitely found me a new narrator to enjoy. To me, he was a complete win, often reminding me of both Tremblay and Russo all in one. Ferraiuolo perfectly conveyed the longing and desire and painful insecurities of these two men. It simply was just a wonderful listen, and I hardly noticed that this was 14+ hrs long. Almost. Lol.
However, never fear that through all this contemplation and conflict is a really great story about two mismatched individuals who would be very hard pressed to work on paper, let alone real life. Jason and Vale are given the pheromone nudge to find their win with each other, and I enjoyed both MC’s immensely despite some niggles that other reviews have already probably commented on. This satisfied all my ABO buttons, where the good ones always make me squirm but titillate me nonetheless with dominance and submission, heat fueled yumminess, and of course KNOTTING. Luckily the sequel has just been recently released featuring supporting cast members Xan and Uhruo. I’m torn between diving right in or waiting for hopefully Ferraiuolo’s narration, but for sure, I won’t be saying no to reading more!
Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review.
When Ward Johannsen’s little girl Ava shifted into a werewolf, she was taken into custody by the feds and shipped off to the nearest pack, all ties between father and daughter severed. Ward burned every bridge he had discovering her location, and then almost froze to death in the Colorado mountains tracking her new pack down. And that’s just the beginning of his struggle.
Henry Dormer is an alpha werewolf and an elite black ops soldier who failed his last mission. He returns home, hoping for some time to recuperate and help settle the pack’s newest member, a little pup named Ava who can’t shift back to her human form. Instead he meets Ward, who refuses to leave his daughter without a fight. The two men are as different as night and day, but their respect for each other strikes a spark of mutual interest that quickly grows into a flame. They might find something special together—love, passion, and even a family—if they can survive trigger-happy pack guardians, violent werewolf politics, and meddling government agencies that are just as likely to get their alpha soldiers killed as bring them home safely.
Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins Narrated by Jack Wesley
Cari Z. really pulled off a unique take on shifters with Off the Beaten Path and Jack Wesley did the tale justice with his reading. There was more to Off the Beaten Path than just the shifter dynamic basics we all know and love; big strong alpha rescues weaker, heart of gold omega/human, the whole pack loves and respects said alpha, omega/human is stronger than anyone thinks, omega/human has alpha wrapped around his little finger, etc., etc. I love it, I really do, but having such a refreshingly different shifter story to read was a real treat.
The world building is really well done and given the conditions in which the shifters live, it was a smart decision to have one of the MC’s be a human. It put the shifters forced way of life into a perspective that connects with the reader. Ward (the human) has had his daughter Ava, taken from him because she unexpectedly shifted during preschool and hasn’t been able to return to her human form. Shifters are only raised with other shifters in seclusion so Ward doesn’t even know where Ava has been taken and is informed he has no recourse to get his daughter back.
Ava is Ward’s entire world and there is no way he is just lying down and letting his daughter go. He pulls strings, makes calls and gets some intel as to where she is being held. He takes off on his own to be with her again. Ward isn’t the healthiest of human specimens, but he doesn’t let his asthma stop him from the brutal trek to get to his daughter. The listener can’t help but root for him and feel his pain. The narrator conveys Ward’s emotions with enough emphasis to be effective but not overly so, keeping him real and not a caricature.
Henry is the alpha of the pack that has “adopted” Ava and he’s none too keen on the idea of having a human in his pack. But Henry is overworked and disrespected by the humans he has to answer to so having Ward around is not really on his agenda at the mo. Ava isn’t doing well though and Henry’s best option to bring Ava some comfort is to welcome Henry to the pack. Henry’s character is just as sympathetic (in a different way, obviously) from Ward, but he’s no less appealing in how much I wanted to root for him and sympathize for what he has to endure to be sure his pack is kept safe.
The secondary characters were strong as well and there’s some interpack dramatics that add to the story and overall world building. The extra plotlines helped explain some of the background of the society the author built and it all flowed together pretty seamlessly.
Off the Beaten Path is definitely more than just an alpha/human love story, there’s a lot more depth to it, and the only thing I would have liked was just a little more of Henry and Ward together once the resolutions started flowing. I wanted more of a sense of them as a couple without a world of stress hanging over their heads.
The uniqueness of the story engaged me from the beginning and the narrator added to that engagement easily. I stayed and loved the story for the characters and to hear their HEA.
**A copy of this audiobook was provided for an honest review**
Celebrate the release of Rended Hearts with author Riza Curtis and Signal Boost Promotions! Learn more about the witch/shifter mate romance today! Enter in the $10 Amazon gift card giveaway!
After a life on the run, witch Gabriel just wants to enjoy having a home. He’s perfectly happy pottering around his garden and using magic to quietly help people. Then the Alpha of the local wolf pack is attacked by a member of the local coven, and everything changes. There’s no love lost between the witch and the wolves, but Gabriel saves the life of the Alpha in an attempt to keep the peace.
Simon finds his mate in the witch that saves his life, but the coven is coming for Gabriel, and they don’t care who gets in their way...
Excerpt
“That’s better.” Simon couldn’t help his own smile after seeing Gabriel’s joy. His face was flushed pink from laughing, and he looked radiant in the soft light of the clinic.
“What is?”
Simon took a chance and moved closer. Gabriel’s eyes widened as he startled, but he didn’t seem alarmed. “Seeing you smile.”
Gabriel flushed a deeper red, a hint of confusion displayed on his face.
Simon took another step closer so that he was face-to-face with a flustered Gabriel. He brought his hand up to gently touch the side of the Gabriel’s face. His skin was softer than Simon had thought possible.
“Are you—” Gabriel broke off the sentence and moved back. Simon dropped his hand immediately. He didn’t want to make Gabriel uncomfortable.
Gabriel glanced at Simon and took a hesitant breath. Simon tried to look reassuring.
“Forgive me if I’m wrong, but you’re flirting with me? Why?”
Simon chuckled. Gabriel was adorable. “Because I like you.”
Gabriel frowned before glancing away. He didn’t seem satisfied with the answer.
“But wolves have mates,” he interjected.
Simon’s eyes widened momentarily. He hadn’t thought Gabriel would know about mates, but maybe this would be a good thing—maybe Gabriel would be more receptive, more understanding about the situation.
“Why do you think I am flirting with you?” Simon asked, dropping his voice to no louder than a whisper, soft and alluring.
Gabriel inhaled sharply, and his eyes widened. “Surely not?”
Simon didn’t know if that was positive or negative, but he couldn’t take it back now. He nodded, moving closer and crowding Gabriel against the wall.
“Don’t you feel it too?” he asked. “My mate?”
Author Bio
Riza began writing stories at a young age to the a?n?n?o?y?a?n?c?e? delight of anyone she could b?u?l?l?y? persuade to read them. Now somewhat older, if not wiser, things haven't really changed.
Riza lives in England where they enjoy adding extra letters to words, tea, and discussing the weather (it's always raining). She has a FdSci in Manufacturing Engineering and is currently working towards her BEng. When she's not writing, studying or doing her day job, Riza is obsessed with target archery and enjoys shooting barebow.
Zev Hassick is surprised and confused when he finds himself attracted to his best friend. His very human, very male best friend. Zev is the son of the pack Alpha, regarded as the strongest wolf in generations, born to lead. And everyone knows a male shifter has to mate with a female of his own kind to keep his humanity. So shifters can't be gay, right?
Jonah Marvel wants a relationship with Zev, his best friend, the man he has loved since childhood. It wasn’t easy to maintain that relationship over years spent living apart while Jonah studied to become a doctor. And then things grow more difficult when Jonah becomes his own patient. Before he can make a life with Zev, he has to understand his past and cure the unexplained ailments that plague him.
Zev and Jonah know they’re destined for each other, but they’re facing traditions ingrained over generations and long-buried secrets that may threaten any future together.
Narrator: Charlie David Listening Length: 7 hrs and 55 mins
I’m kinda odd. I don’t re-read books anymore because I like to keep the first feeling I had with a book. But with audio, it’s different. I love listening to a book I’ve already read to see how different the story looks while being told to me. With someone bringing the characters, the setting and the romance to me in a new way that I see it with new eyes… or rather new ears? You get what I mean, right?
Anyway.
I adored Zev and Jonah when I first read their book. Their story is endearing and fluffy and sexy and romantic and so freaking fracking angsty with the separation but I loved it.
And then…
Then Charlie David took over and told me the same story with so much feeling that I was either swooning, squirming or screaming in frustration and delight waiting for Zev and Jonah to get their HEA.
Let me say, Charlie David as a narrator does not just read the story, he becomes it and by becoming it he pulls you in on a deeper level than you ever expected. I felt everything with Zev and Jonah. I felt the pull of them wanting to be together but not understanding the why of it yet. I felt the affection Jonah had for the wolf he calls “Pup” and how he always felt safe with the wild creature. I felt the horrible separation and what it did to both of them and I felt. I felt and I felt some more and then when I didn’t think I could feel anything more, Charlie David panted in my ear.
I need to take a moment for station identification… when you read a book and it says the character panted, you know what panting means and what it sounds like. Some narrators just read that “he panted” but Charlie David took it a step farther and he panted. It sounds so simple but that action, that really becoming the character took this story to a whole new level and took my blush a few shades darker.
Yup. I’ll say it. The panting was hot!
I don’t know what else to say other than fantastic story. Fantastic narration. Fantastic paring of Jonah and Zev.
Katze Snow and Signal Boost Promotions celebrate the Demons & Wolves series! Learn more about the paranormal series in today's release blitz! Enter in the giveaway to both eBooks: Broken in Silence (Book #1) and Within These Depths (Book #2)!
Demons & Wolves Series - Available to borrow on KU
Tannerian Wulfric is a leader—a strong alpha who bows to no-one, especially those who try to undermine his authority.
When an opportunity arises, he grabs it with both hands and lets nothing get in his way. Trouble is, his brother has been caught in the crossfire of glorious retribution, and Tanner is in need of assistance.
For many years, Alex Jonas has lived his life in peace. But when fate lands him in the hands of his ex-lover and alpha, he finds himself in the centre of a feud he never knew existed, and must immerse himself in ways he had never imagined. One chance encounter, one night, and everything comes crashing down around him. Alex must fight for his life while Tanner fights for one thing and one thing only—vengeance, which has never tasted sweeter.
Can Tanner avenge his family’s death without spilling more blood? Or will his inner demon tear apart everything he has worked for, and lose the man who owns his heart?
Within These Depths
Tanner is so close to his revenge that he can almost taste it. With an unusual brand of negotiation skills under his belt, he has everything he needs. Now all that stands between him and destroying Elijah Ravenhill is a dangerous mission into the depths of Hell. Accompanied by his guides, he will enter where loyalties and souls are tested, and few ever return.
Newly mated Alex just wants to keep his loved ones safe. In the sprawling grandeur of Wulfric Manor, he finally has his family under one roof, even if it may only be temporary, and his dreams of having something normal seem to be within reach. Yet what’s normal for the wolf is torture for the prey, and chaos descends on Alex with one mysterious phone call.
Can Alex have all he ever dreamed of without sacrificing his life? Will Tanner put an end to Elijah once and for all, or will his revenge go up in smoke within the fires of hell itself?
Warning: Within These Depths is the highly anticipated sequel to Broken in Silence: Demons and Wolves Series, and things are really heating up. This story is NOT a typical romance and it's not intended for those who seek a HEA. It cannot be read as a standalone.
Excerpt - In his own unique way, Tanner tells Alex he loves him
“You,” Tanner seized Alex’s chin and lifted it upwards, “are mine. I won’t let you out of my sight again. A minute, a day, a decade—I want every second of them. Is that understood?”
“You promise?” Alex joked, though his heartbeat spiked with confusion at what Tanner was announcing. He loved him? The alpha had never told him that. He’d never even hinted towards him being anything more than an eyesore he’d taken in off the streets. Although Tanner wasn’t exactly serenading him, the meaning was there, all right––a faint glow between the cracks of darkness. And Tanner had claimed him.
“Promises are for the weak. You are mine, and I intend to keep it that way even if I must hunt you to the ends of the abyss.” His lips assaulted Alex’s, crashing against his mouth with wild abandon…
Author Bio
Katze Snow never learned when to shut up. Food and coffee are what encourage Katze to function in a semi-normal, sort of socially acceptable way. Doses of sarcasm and sass are what she lives for, and her wolf, Kiba, who is Katze's little furbaby. She's been writing since she was a child, but finally published her debut novel, Alpha's Bane, in Autumn 2016.
While Katze also writes MF, MM is where her heart truly lies. Her writing is dark, gritty, and takes satire to a whole new level. Come and join her! But be warned: Katze likes her men dark, twisted and all kinds of messed up, and she hopes you do too.
When Katze's not writing, she's working for a top secret, underground organisation, or taming wolves. (Check out her furbaby, Kiba!)
"Why ever would I want to go to heaven, when hell is so much more fun?" ~ Broken in Silence (Demons and Wolves #1)
Betrayal by Pelaam
Being bitten doesn’t change the man who becomes a wolf. Only the love of a strong alpha does that.
