Audiobook Review: Acceptance (Forbes Mates #3) by Grace R. Duncan

Dr. Miles Grant acknowledges that his destined mate could be either gender even though his bisexuality cost him his family and his pack. Luckily, he found the Forbes Pack, who happily accepts him just as he is. What he never counted on was finding his mate in Pittsburgh or for his mate to be another species entirely - a cat!

Quincy Archer isn’t just any jaguar shifter. He is the heir to the leadership of his pride. Destined mates are nothing but legend to the nearly extinct and generally solitary jaguars, and Quincy certainly never expected to find one for himself, much less a male...or a wolf.

However, finding each other and coming to terms with their species is the least of their worries. Quincy is expected to select a proper female mate, father a cub, and take his place as heir to the pride. Except Quincy refuses, having no interest in women or leadership and knowing he isn’t right for it. But his father will stop at nothing - not even attempting to kill Miles - to get his way.

Quincy and Miles must overcome many obstacles to stay together as the destined mates they’re meant to be.

Listening Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins
Narrator: Chistopher Boucher

Reviewer: Shee Reader

This is quite an epic rolling tale including intrigue, drama, threats, love, violence and happiness. It took me several chapters to get into it, I’m not sure if it was the world building, narration or just me, but it didn’t flow from the outset. Once we got going though it was a hugely interesting and well told story. I really liked Miles and was rooting for him. Not so much with Quincy, though he did grow on me!

I really liked that the close relationships Miles had in his pack became important to Quincy too. The guys worked together to help avoid outright interspecies war. There were some lovely tender moments in the book, but often the characters felt a little distant from each other and the reader/listener.

Christopher Boucher has a lovely voice that is relaxing to listen to, and his characterisation was terrific, but I found his accent for Quincy and his dad to be a little confusing as I’m not sure where they were supposed to be from, but it didn’t really detract from the story, its just a personal thing!

There was violence on the page, but it was consistent with the story. The shifter worlds were described but plenty was left to the imagination. It was a nice relaxing listen.

I was given a free copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Three Hearts by Grace R. Duncan

Liam Scott is sick. That’s not supposed to be possible. As a wolf shifter, he’s supposed to be able to heal. The omega gene he was born with means he’s capable of carrying shifter young and Liam is worried that whatever is wrong will mean his one-day hope of having pups will be dashed. But despite the fears keeping him away from the doctor until now, he knows he needs to go.

It turns out the sickness is temporary, but the treatment causes a whole other problem.

Mason’s alpha gene means he’s one of very few wolves who can impregnate an omega male. For two years, he’d been watching Liam, but things kept getting in the way. When Liam shows up in heat, Mason recognizes the opportunity he needs and doesn’t hesitate make to Liam his mate and the father of his pups.

But Liam has old wounds and fears to work through which the pregnancy is only making worse, and Mason isn’t sure how to get past them to show he’s serious about making a life together as loving mates. It’s not until a female wolf decides Mason should be hers that Liam makes his biggest worry known—and Mason can finally put the fears to rest.

 

This was the mpreg-iest mpreg story I have ever read.   

Liam is an independent omega who has no plans on mating or starting a family any time soon.  He’s got his eye on the future and it doesn’t include some overbearing Alpha-hole or a gaggle of ankle biters getting underfoot.  Sure, he one day hopes to have the family he’s always dreamed of but that’s for when he’s older, not right now. That all goes out the window when his heat suppressant meds go on the fritz and he finds himself alone in the presence of Alpha and long-time crush, Mason.

This story is sweet.  And… that’s about it.  There’s not much angst to it.  What little angst there is comes by way of miscommunication or, really, just not talking to each other.  I wouldn’t say there is much of a Big Misunderstanding (thank God, because I hate that trope!) but I did utter a few choice words at Mason’s obtuseness when it came to his lack of saying how he truly felt.

As for the rest of it, well, to be honest it was a bit bland.  A little too… domestic.  It was all about breeding Liam, meeting the parents and buying a new home.  There was not much else to it.  Frankly, I was bored through a good chunk of it.  It didn’t feel like I was reading an A/o shifter mpreg story; instead it read more like a sheltered suburbanite’s pregnancy diary.  There was none of the “mate, mine!” that I look for when reading mpreg.  There was no sinister villain out to get anyone.  There was no danger.  The woman out to steal Mason away from Liam referenced in the blurb wasn’t really a part of the story; just a small plot device thrown in near the end to facilitate the resolution of their miscommunication issue.

Now, I’m all for reading some brain candy, of which this story definitely qualifies, but I need some action or charm to balance out the fluff and there was not enough of either here for me.  I want the chocolate bar with the caramel and nougat center.  This was more like a Chick-O-Stick.  I’ll eat it if it’s offered and maybe even enjoy it but it’s not what I would pick when standing in the candy aisle.

This is not to say that I didn’t like the book because I did for the most part.  The birth scene was worth quite a chuckle and the epilogue was over-the-top ridiculous just the way I like it.  I ‘awwed’ when I got to the family tree at the end and saw they got mated on my birthday.  The story is well written with few editing issues and it flowed smoothly (albeit a little too slow for me).  So, it’s not a bad book at all.  It’s just not my type of brain candy.

A copy provided for an honest review.

 

Review: Patience (Forbes Mates #2) by Grace R. Duncan

Jamie Ryan was almost ready to accept he’d never find his destined mate. They’re uncommon to begin with and same-sex versions downright rare. Since his gay best friend found a destined mate, Jamie figured he was out of luck. Until end of semester stress forces him to go through the full-moon shift early. Stuck in wolf form, he runs into none other than his destined mate. Who’s human.

Chad Sutton has always had good instincts. They served him well as a detective and continued on when he went private. Those instincts tell him there’s something about the dog that comes up to him while running away from animal control that isn’t quite right. He works to put the pieces together, but is unsuccessful until his dog turns into a human before his eyes.

Jamie has no idea what a shifter mate bite will do to a human. He’s terrified to try—and possibly kill his mate. They hunt together for answers while working together on a case for Chad. It’s easy to see they belong together, but Jamie fears the gods gave him someone he can’t keep.

Poor Jamie is so stressed because of finals that he is forced through his shift earlier than expected and completely unprepared. Stuck in a city and away from safety, he's unable to shift back, and knows it will be days before he'll be back to walking on 2 legs again.

Life is about to get more complicated for him when he's running from the dog catcher in broad daylight, only to run smack dab into his mate. Jamie has always been doubtful that he'd find his destined mate. Odds stacked against him, he's more than surprised when he accidentally runs into his Mate on the street.

First things first, he'll have to get the dog catcher off his back. Luckily for him, his mate is a quick thinker, and able to save Jamie from the dog pound, just in the nick of time.

Chad wasn't expecting to bring home a new dog when he went out for coffee, but it looks like he has one now. He can't put his finger on it, but he knows there's more than meets the eye when it comes to "Murray"/Jamie. This dog is way too intelligent, and there is nothing normal about a coffee drinking dog, who answers his questions by nodding yes or no.

His suspicions are confirmed when one moment he's watching Murray use his toilet (neat trick) and the next there's a gorgeous man in Murray's place.

Now there's talk of Mates and shifters; all of which Chad takes in with calm acceptance. He doesn't know what's going on between Jamie and himself, but he feels the attraction, and knows he doesn't want to give it up.

Jamie and Chad are all for strengthening their bond, but a wolf's bite is fatal to a human, and they'll have to go on a road trip to find out the answers they need. And by road trip, I mean fly, train and drive their way to Rome. Which is not as fun as you think. In fact, this is the one thing that really slowed down the pacing of an otherwise very well written story.

There are, however, several little side plots to this book that keep it interesting. From the mysterious search for Quincy, a man who determined not to be found, to the secret hidden in Chad's past, and all the politics behind human mates and wolf shifters, there's a little bit of something for everyone.

And sex. There's a lot of sex.

These two take every opportunity available to reinforce their mating bond. But it's also sweet and fluffy and all kinds of adorable. Especially when Jamie calls Chad pup.

If you like shifter books, then you'll enjoy this. Especially because these wolves are on the playful side, and don't take their wolfy side too seriously.

Check out on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

Review: Healing by Grace R. Duncan

In a world that's gone to hell, will you let old fears keep you from the chance at more than just survival?

When Duncan stumbles into a pharmacy in search of something to fix his broken leg, he’s surprised to find someone else there. Like the rest of the post-pandemic world, it appeared empty. Instead, he discovers Mark, a former nurse who walked away from his profession after losing too many patients to the virus. Despite swearing he’d never practice medicine again, Mark patches Duncan up over Duncan's protests. He even finds an abandoned house in the tiny town, and they settle in until Duncan heals enough to look out for himself. Much to the chagrin of both, they find themselves caring for each other.

Duncan welcomes it, thrilled at finding someone he can trust. However, he’s well aware of the shadows in Mark’s eyes and understands Mark’s reticence as he learns the story. But as he’s starting to do things for himself again, Duncan realizes he doesn’t want Mark to leave. He’s not sure if can get Mark to let go of his fears so they can stay together and love. But Duncan’s damned sure going to try.

Duncan is rummaging through a pharmacy, looking for something for his injured leg, when he meets Mark. Both men have been surviving on their own since a virus hit and it was every man for himself.

They were wary of each other, as they should be, since people had been proven to be untrustworthy in this post-apocalyptic world. Despite the initial wariness, they find that they have the desire to trust each other.

This was an enjoyable novella, I only wish it were longer. I especially enjoyed the world created. There wasn't much detail on the pandemic and there wasn't interactions with other survivors, but I could still feel the devastation and loss from the virus.

I would have liked more from Mark and Duncan. The story was mostly focused on them. I was totally digging them together and their slow-burn relationship, but a more solid ending would have been perfect. It just kind of stopped, with only the hope of an HEA.

This was a surprisingly light and easy read, considering the setting. Although this is the second book in a series, I didn't feel lost having not read the first book. Even if post-apocalyptic isn't your thing, this novella is worth the read.

A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

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