I think this is number 9 of 12 of my smut buddy read, and I’m struggling a bit. So, I decided that I’m not going to continue with the ones thDNF @ 38%
I think this is number 9 of 12 of my smut buddy read, and I’m struggling a bit. So, I decided that I’m not going to continue with the ones that have no plot. And while this one has a general storyline. The Dragon King trying to save his world by kidnapping every female from the h’s line on her 21st birthday. There's a TON of smexy filler and I’m super bored.
So, I’m not going to rate this, but I will note a few potential issues. (view spoiler)[ 1️⃣ There's not a ton going on with the plot until around 60%. 2️⃣ The H has kidnapped her female family members and had sex with them for extended periods of times for generations, including her mother and grandmother. 3️⃣ There're some loose ends left. We never learn why her family members returned crazy and shells of themselves because she just forgot she cared to find out, and the villainess is left smirking and disappearing. What's up with that? (hide spoiler)]...more
Interesting rejected mate scenario, but the execution kills all the emotion and feels out of the story. The writing is very odd at times almost like mInteresting rejected mate scenario, but the execution kills all the emotion and feels out of the story. The writing is very odd at times almost like maybe it could be AI … possibly.
The tiring conflict between my heart's desire and my mind's logic made me pause in my path after every few steps, questioning whether I should just turn back.
In a nutshell, (all in the blurb and within the first 2 chapters) Inaya and Zane have been “dating” in secret for years because it is forbidden to date anyone other than your mate. (It is never explained, but I’m wondering if they are the only pack and can’t have human mates since they have no other option if they never find their mate. ...more
DNF @ 30 This didn’t shake out how I thought it would. It’s not bad, I’m just not into YA anymore and I didn’t realize these are HS kids and are actualDNF @ 30 This didn’t shake out how I thought it would. It’s not bad, I’m just not into YA anymore and I didn’t realize these are HS kids and are actually pranking each other. I skimmed out several chapters, and it looks like it stays with the same feel.
I will say, I didn't think the H was totally underserving of forgiveness for the "betrayal". Avery was SUPER immature and prickly. She started a prank war because he accidentally bumped into her at a party. His pranks were minor compared to hers until the last one which wasn't even a prank, it was a threat to get her to stop, which she agreed to. But then she immediately snuck into his house to "get her own leverage" and upped it again, so I felt like they were both wrong. But I'm coming at it with a teen mom brain which is why I don't read YA anymore. ...more
2.5 Stars I’ve read several books by this author and really enjoyed them because she typically does alpha males and crazy wannabe OW drama, two things 2.5 Stars I’ve read several books by this author and really enjoyed them because she typically does alpha males and crazy wannabe OW drama, two things I LOVE. Sadly, this was pretty much missing both. And although technically this has a rejected mate scenario, it’s really more of a misunderstanding than a real rejection, so it doesn’t really generate super angsty feels.
The blurb sets it up, the winter wolves have been raised with close-minded beliefs including that fated mates don’t exist, so when Sabine tells Mitchell (the alpha) she’s his mate, he assumes she’s trying to trick him. He doesn’t formally reject her but tells her she is wrong and proceeds to tell the pack she’s a scheming liar, pretty much ruining her business. Stuff happens, and he's forced to work hard to earn her trust and fix his pack.
Bottom Line- It was alright, just a smidge bland at times. Sabine was pretty kickass, but Mitchell was one of the wimpiest alphas I’ve ever read. The pacing was off. It started out good, but the middle DRAGGED on, then the ending was rushed WAY too quickly at 97%. Even the author knew it. “Is it just me or did anyone else find that far too anticlimactic?” I asked. Yes, yes it was.
Safety(view spoiler)[- The day after she tells him they’re mates he has sex with his on/off GF Carmella and almost kills her with cheating mate pains. He didn’t really think they were mates or know it would hurt her. The Dr. has her make out with a dude to prove to him it’s true and so he can experience a piece of the pain. (he may have been spelled/fuddled into the sex as he was under her influence) (hide spoiler)]...more
This was Ok, but I thought both main characters sucked LARGE. The H, Drake, because he was such a wuss and honestly quite stupid when it came2.5 Stars
This was Ok, but I thought both main characters sucked LARGE. The H, Drake, because he was such a wuss and honestly quite stupid when it came to the whiny OW and the safety of his kingdom, and the h ,Ember, was absolutely selfish in the choices she made that hurt an innocent because of her pride. I can’t really review and give zero spoilers, so I’ll tag the rest, but will try to be vague. (view spoiler)[
The blurb sets this up, Ember (Shifters) and Drake’s (Dark Fae) kingdoms have been warring for years when they attend a peace summit and discover they are mates. This part was a smidge confusing because the little world building was delivered via an info dump, but I think there were different Fae groups and maybe some elves. (??) The leaders decide an arranged marriage (neither wants to mate despite being mates) will be the answer for peace and they ship Ember off to the Fae Kingdom. Unfortunately, Drake is conflicted because years earlier he promised his dying best friend that he would marry his sister (not romantic), Rosalana.
Stuff happens. The couple grows closer, but Rosalana keeps creeping up like a bad rash to remind Drake of his promise and make him feel guilty. More stuff happens and the couple separates. Ember leaves with a secret. There’s a time jump and this is where I got pissed at Ember because their daughter is struggling. She acknowledges that the kid doesn’t fit into the human world, she’s lying to her about everything including her father being dead, and knows she has no friends/never fit in. I thought this was incredibly selfish, she could’ve gone to her kingdom if she didn’t want to live with Drake, but he wasn’t a bad guy and didn’t deserve to have his kid hidden from him. Regardless, the only person she hurt was her daughter who was miserable and ended up in a terrible situation because of Ember’s choices and stubbornness.
Bottom Line- Just ok. It wasn’t super angsty. The potential was there, but the characters are written in a way that kills the feels. There is some drama and action though. It would've helped had the mcs actually had conversations about the promise situation and expressed some feelings towards each other. (introducing more of a forbidden/I love you but I already made a promise sort of situation-- I also think it would've worked better had he already been engaged) Instead all the parts were just laid out separately without really connecting them together.
The Ow drama was fun at times, and I liked that the h wasn’t a pushover. But some parts were SUPER frustrating, and Ember held on to her bitterness for so long that she killed the romance for me. Which was frustrating because Drake’s feeling and attraction for Ember was never the issue, it was his misguided sense of honor he had to his dead friend… that she never really let him explain… but then he didn’t try super hard to make her listen either. Like I said, frustrating.
Safety- H thinks of OW as a little sister. Both are celibate during the separation.
I was really looking forward to a rejected mate situation… and it was something new… but SW doesn’t really do feels, so this follows the standard outlI was really looking forward to a rejected mate situation… and it was something new… but SW doesn’t really do feels, so this follows the standard outline… danger/kidnapping, ex-partner drama, a couple bad guys, but nothing heavy. (no angst)
If you’re this deep in the series, you know that she’s very formulaic and readers typically enjoy it or don’t. I’m a huge fan and have read pretty much everything she’s ever released, and I reread them often, but more in a comfort read kinda way.
The book opens with Quinley being rejected by her mate, then it FFW nine years later with her and Isaiah both joining the find your mate dating site. I liked both main characters, and I found their chemistry believable. I loved Quinley’s personality. She was strong while still being calm AND mature, which was a nice change after suffering through annoying Bailey.
I always enjoy new shifter species, but I was confused a bit by the indestructibility of the Black-footed Cat shifter. I know Alex the wolverine can take a beating, but it seemed completely unbelievable.
Bottom Line- Much better than the previous book. IMO the H’s of this series are always a little flat, but this h was the best we’ve had since Bree. There’s a bad guy gang trying to kill them, and the ex-mate comes on the scene around 30%. It looks like she’s setting things up for Elle next book… maybe… I think it could be Joaquin… but I’m hoping it’s Gabriel. My only concern is that I’m SO over her Damian is Beelzebub/anti-Christ, etc., etc. shtick. It was bearable when she was a teenager, but that shits OLD now. I don’t know if I could handle an entire book from her POV. ...more
**spoiler alert** I wanted to read the next book (Gabe’s) because I saw it mentioned on a rejected mate list, so I decided to read this because it’s s**spoiler alert** I wanted to read the next book (Gabe’s) because I saw it mentioned on a rejected mate list, so I decided to read this because it’s short in case I’d miss something… and the characters overlap, but you could easily read either as a standalone.
I’m writing these after already reading both, and my issues are the same. They’re pretty boring because the characters are so flat that they generate ZERO feeling, attachments, investment. There’s also little world building and some holes.
The book opens with Karly escaping her abusive husband and moving to a new town. We’re told (from H’s POV) that she’s a chevolak (human) and he’s volka (werewolf/shifter).
Things started out fairly exciting with the action above ⬆️, but it slowed down almost immediately because Karly has no idea that volka’s exist and isn’t enlightened until almost the end, so much of the book is spent waiting around for her to catch up (and the inevitable “freak out”). She’s also technically married and hesitant to jump back in, so the relationship barely moves. Add in the matter of fact writing style and I was bored… so very bored.
Bottom Line- This needed more… more action, more development, more worldbuilding, more relationship constructing. Just more. Karly was clueless, and Colton was a limp noodle of an alpha. The last 30% picked up a bit, but it wasn’t enough. I’m not a fan of human/shifter pairings, but drama/feels could’ve been generated by introducing pack politics. Like maybe the elders (this has no real pack dynamic or elders) were pressuring him to mate with a wannabe she-wolf, or others were challenging her, threatening to leave his pack, etc. Then make her superior/stand out by discovering a talent, secret power, a family lineage, or have the alpha be an alpha. Regardless, SOMETHING needed to happen and nothing really did. The freakout finally came, but after fleeing without even a discussion she decides she’s all in out of the blue when she was never all in before. And for some crazy reason after having her ass HANDED to her when she challenged the she-wolf trying to stake a claim on Colton… everyone was suddenly good. ...more
**spoiler alert** I saw this on reddit as a possible rejected mate read (IMO it’s not), so I tracked it down on KU. After the prologue, it jumps to ju**spoiler alert** I saw this on reddit as a possible rejected mate read (IMO it’s not), so I tracked it down on KU. After the prologue, it jumps to just before the bride hunt from the first book.
Neoma is part of the Scullamy pack that was mentioned in Karly’s book. The pack is hated because they’ve tried to take over other packs and are cruel. They’re led by Deacon and Joella (the she-wolf that kicked Karly’s ass then tried to attack her before and after the hunt) is his daughter.
I want to keep this short-ish… the book had issues and I had issues. Like the last book, the female lead has an abusive past, but they’re written so flatly that it kills all potential feels. I also found all the characters so uninspiring it was a struggle to get invested.
Gabe was FURIOUS with Neoma, and I completely understood why, but his attitude felt so immature. I’d have rather him be cruel, but instead he throws rocks at her! Rocks? Like he’s 10. He’s supposed to be so pissed but has her sleeping in his bed and is feeding her.
And Neoma, I get she was desperate, but she (IMHO) was written in a way it was hard for me to feel sorry for her. She wanted ANYONE from a different pack, she didn’t care who it was, so why wouldn’t she just run around and get claimed? Why purposely knock someone out of the way? She had no idea if they were strangers or dating. I wish it would’ve happened by accident like she tripped and fell into her.
It also rubbed me wrong how aggressive and rude she was to Karly (who was trying to be kind) because she didn’t trust or like chevolaks. We’re literally in her head as she’s thinking how unfair it is for the townspeople to hate her merely for being from an enemy pack while she’s doing the exact same thing… being prejudice.
We're supposed to accept that she does all this stuff (stealing someone's mate, growling at people, sniffing for poison while accepting a meal, dragging her son around by his collar) because she's desperate for him to have a life, but then is running from Gabe and dragging her son off to live in the Scruff (loners) with no money, car, or supplies because the grocery store owner was rude to her. (her old pack killed her son) It made zero sense.
Bottom Line- This didn’t work for me. I REALLY struggled with all the characters. The only two I even liked were Marcus and Sebastian and they both had shitty outcomes. I really hope she doesn’t try to give Joella a PR-revamp redemption tour. They never work for me because I can’t accept the I’m hurt so that justifies me hurting innocent people school of thought.
A few random tidbit/inconsistencies/thoughts that won’t fit in the notes….
Note to self... you watched this (pretty much books 1 & 2) on the ReelShort app because you got sucked in on the teasers on reels... worst mistake eveNote to self... you watched this (pretty much books 1 & 2) on the ReelShort app because you got sucked in on the teasers on reels... worst mistake ever as the app is the WORST. Same plot but h is a red wolf ends with the second mate entering the story.
I guess this was popular on wattpad, so I thought I’d check it out. It’s written well, I just wasn’t feeling it. I prefer my wattpad reads toDNF @ 20%
I guess this was popular on wattpad, so I thought I’d check it out. It’s written well, I just wasn’t feeling it. I prefer my wattpad reads to be more drama driven/soapy and this was a smidge bland.
The blurb sets this up. It opens with Annabelle being raised in an abusive situation. She flees, runs into her mate Jax, and the rest is him trying to get her to accept him and her shifter-ness.
He’s sweet and understanding, she’s fragile… no drama… no action. I’m bored.
Bottom Line- Fifteen or so years ago, I might have enjoyed this. Jax is the swoony type of besotted Book BF I used to like to read about… but now I like feels, drama, bitchy wannabe OW, and assholes. ...more
I saw this on KU and it looked juicy AF. I’ve always wanted to see this scenario… a couple dating when the mate shows up… YUM. Unfortunately, it didn’I saw this on KU and it looked juicy AF. I’ve always wanted to see this scenario… a couple dating when the mate shows up… YUM. Unfortunately, it didn’t deliver the gut punch I was hoping for.
The book (prologue) opens with Helena and Webb already having been together for several years. Helena’s mate has died, and Webb believes his has either died or mated with another as it’s very rare to not find your mate in your early 20’s. (he’s turning 30) They live together, and he pushes to start a family. The first chapter skips 6-months later with Helena learning she’s pregnant the same day Webb meets his mate, Hugo. (both H's are bi)
Two things killed my feels.
❌ The book skips over the relationship building of Helena and Webb, so I wasn’t really feeling their pain. ❌ The plot/relationship is poorly executed and lacks any development or emotion. For me, it didn’t work that the dudes were true mates, it made Helena feel like a sidekick. At the same time, it didn’t make sense how quickly Hugo changed his mind.
Bottom Line- This was a miss for me. Their relationship had no substance, and I got zero feels. There was no chemistry or connection, so everything felt like it was about sex. I like smut, but 300+ pages is a lot with no emotional connection.
For example, (view spoiler)[ this happens while Webb supposedly is deeply in love with her, and Hugo is getting feelings…
A door slammed, jolting me from my place between Hugo’s legs…
Hurt. Anguish on her face. She definitely had heard, and I had no fucking clue where she was heading off to.
“Bedroom. Now!” I was finishing this even if it killed me. We got as far as inside the bedroom door before I was whipping Hugo around and dropping to my knees, taking his zipper and shorts down with me. Then, my tongue was on him, lapping at the bead of dew at the head of his cock.(hide spoiler)]
That doesn’t make me feel like they love her, nor can I get into the smut because it all feels cold and flat. I needed something and ended up bored for much of the book. It does have a nice epilogue six years later.
Skim read-no rating. I didn’t realize this was a book 3… not sure if that would’ve made much difference though. I’m not super familiar with this authoSkim read-no rating. I didn’t realize this was a book 3… not sure if that would’ve made much difference though. I’m not super familiar with this author, I know she writes a lot of smut with rough, spanking alphas… but I heard this had a plot, so I thought I’d give it a shot.
And it does have a plot I suppose, but there really isn’t any character/relationship development… and the plot doesn’t flow in a way that it’s easily followed. I mean the gist is that a dragon (Roken) has been cursed living in exile for 500-ish years when he meets Sophia after she stumbles through a portal. And the two are mates and need to work together to break the curse/defeat the Dark King… but a lot of the middle part is confusing… and not really explained. Not to mention, there are several loose ends left at the end.
Bottom Line- It was ok but felt like half a story. I got bored and started skimming… I got really bored and skimmed to the end to see how it ended. ...more
I realize 79 pages isn’t much to work with, but this had no real plot… and the smut wasn’t hot. They meet, have sex, more sex, small action-- that's rI realize 79 pages isn’t much to work with, but this had no real plot… and the smut wasn’t hot. They meet, have sex, more sex, small action-- that's raced through, more sex. No buildup, no drama- everyone is nice and accepting of the human, the characters were flat… no emotions… loads of telling instead of showing… it was all so drab.
Bottom Line- Not great—not terrible. Just bland. I still recommend the 8th (Lich) book, but I haven’t been super impressed with the others. ...more
I didn’t love this, BUT, I’m an impatient reader (I love drama) and am in a book funk, so keep that in mind. It’s available on KU, and most of my GR fI didn’t love this, BUT, I’m an impatient reader (I love drama) and am in a book funk, so keep that in mind. It’s available on KU, and most of my GR friends loved it… so this could definitely be a Jac thing.
The plot is broken down into two parts. Part 1 is a slow buildup of the relationship and Part 2 picks up after the betrayal. I struggled HARD through the first part because although I understood the h had baggage to work through… the slow burn was sweet but getting to know someone for 150+ is not the most riveting read. I also don’t like the human/shifter matchup when they have no idea paranormal beings exist. It forces the shifter to tip toe around the human while we sit and wait for her to catchup. Things take a much darker turn for the second part, and it does pick up, but I never really got onboard with the betrayal… so it felt a bit of a repeat (slow moving build up to a relationship) of part 1 with groveling.
I went in thinking the rejection would be based on something completely different, so my brain got hung up on that, and I was disappointed… because the situation she ended up in was terrible… I just didn’t really feel like it was Max’s fault. I mean, (view spoiler)[ if we’re living in a Walking Dead world, and you get bitten by a zombie… my initial reaction would probably not be to stand around and wait to see if you're going to eat my face off. (hide spoiler)]...more
I was worried about this one… especially after the disappointment of Reaper. Larkin hasn’t been around as much as the guys in previous books, she alwaI was worried about this one… especially after the disappointment of Reaper. Larkin hasn’t been around as much as the guys in previous books, she always seemed nice, but we didn’t get much personality from her… and I never really found her badass. Teague seemed a bit like a goof… sort of like Khloe and Keenan. I ended up liking them both, but it took a while to get going, and I put it down several times.
I’m not sure why I struggled so much, they agree to the fake dating within the first chapter and the first mystery/conflict is introduced by chapter 2… but I couldn’t get lost in it. It has the standard double conflict (a wannabe ex + someone trying to kill one of them) but it just took too long to gain momentum.
We get some from the OG’s, but there’re several new characters (Teague’s clan) thrown into the mix. (Gideon, Slade, Tucker, Archer, Saxon) and hints of a spinoff with the Fallen MC (that were in Raine’s book) Viper and Ella (Levi’s witch friend).
Bottom Line- Solid 3 ⭐’s for me. I enjoyed the last 40%, but the rest was a struggle at times. It felt about 100 pages too long… but my biggest disappointment was the lack of an epilogue. I had assumed this would be it for the series as we’ve went through all the major characters, and 9 books is quite long… so I expected an epilogue several years out similar to how she ended her Phoenix and Mercury Pack series… but nope… we got zero, zip, zilch, nada. ...more
I REALLY should’ve listened to my gut with the cringy cover and title, BUT rejected mates is my kryptonite and I couldn’t NOT click.
The book DNF @ 29%
I REALLY should’ve listened to my gut with the cringy cover and title, BUT rejected mates is my kryptonite and I couldn’t NOT click.
The book opens TEN years after the rejection, so we skip right over all the heartbreak and angst and land on a bitter – yet horny h that gives it away without much effort. I read these for the feels, so that was a HUGE bummer…but… I have to say, my biggest disappointment was the cowardly wuss H.
(view spoiler)[ He dumped his mate because he assumed she was infertile, and he wanted to be alpha. He proceeded to sleep with tons of women, but couldn’t get them pregnant either, so his cousin became alpha. (hide spoiler)]
Now I give imaginary people massive leeway to feed my need for drama, but Ryker didn’t come off as an asshole who needs to grow a heart… he came off as a disloyal, wishy-washy wimp that did what everyone told him too… and I couldn’t respect that.
Bottom Line- No chemistry-- No heartbreak—No angst—No grovel. ...more
I’m a sucker for a rejected mate story, but this isn’t one. There’s the one scene told in the blurb where “Brandon pretends another is his mate” but iI’m a sucker for a rejected mate story, but this isn’t one. There’s the one scene told in the blurb where “Brandon pretends another is his mate” but it’s not really a rejection, and it’s sorted out very quickly.
Brandon is the alpha and possesses a bit of a condescending attitude towards humans. Jokes on him because his mate happens to be a human. I’ll admit, I don’t love the shifter/human couple dynamic. I tend to grow impatient waiting for the human to get with the program.
The h was such a bore that I forgot her name… was a dud. Her personality was being stubborn and hesitant, that was it. Brandon was bossy... and kind of dumb. I wasn't impressed with either.
There’re huge chunks with little going on and the OW drama was very uneventful There’s a teeny bit of mystery at the end but nothing is resolved.
Bottom Line- I didn’t like this. It’s the first book, but the beginning was jarring. It might be a spinoff, but there’s virtually no introduction/world building. I felt like we were just dropped into the middle of the story with a ton of characters. There’s no chemistry between the mc’s and little plot. ...more
I’m trying to clean out some of my older TBRs. I thought this was going to be a prison planet scenario, and they’re in prison together for a lot of thI’m trying to clean out some of my older TBRs. I thought this was going to be a prison planet scenario, and they’re in prison together for a lot of the book, but it was different from previous reads. There’s a lot going on, and I initially felt lost in the world building, but it was a pretty good read.
The book opens in the year 3028, I’m not sure if this is a spinoff, but I was lost. I guess there are telepaths and planet travel. Dara is convicted of murder after she shares a vision of the killer. They place her with Tristan, another telepath that has been experimented on. It’s a slow burn while Tristan tries to teach Dara how to use her gift. There’re a couple subplots with the evil prison guards and the serial killer with a mind link to Dara.
Bottom Line- It was ok, but I won’t continue the series. It took a while to get going, and the middle was slow at times, but I really enjoyed the last 35% or so. The plot was unique, but I felt lost at times. The book is under 200 pages, but it dragged in certain places. ...more
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