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Holland Brothers #3
Protective Mate
Life isn't meant to be easy, but for Zachary Bennet the last two years have been downright hell. The one shining light in his life, his precious daughter, Hayley. Deciding he needs a clean break, Zack gets a new job in a small town called Leyburn in the hopes they can settle down and live a peaceful life.
Between worry over one brother's increasingly erratic behaviour and constantly walking in on the other two making out with their mates, Simon Holland is ready to pull his hair out. All he'd ever wanted in life was a mate and a family. When his wish is finally answered with Zack's arrival, Simon finds out first-hand how far hate and bigotry can drive some people. But life wasn't meant to be easy and Simon would protect what was his to the end.
Please Note: PM has been reedited, and expanded by 25 K.
Between worry over one brother's increasingly erratic behaviour and constantly walking in on the other two making out with their mates, Simon Holland is ready to pull his hair out. All he'd ever wanted in life was a mate and a family. When his wish is finally answered with Zack's arrival, Simon finds out first-hand how far hate and bigotry can drive some people. But life wasn't meant to be easy and Simon would protect what was his to the end.
Please Note: PM has been reedited, and expanded by 25 K.
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2011
36 people are currently reading
480 people want to read
About the author
Toni Griffin
47 books512 followersToni Griffin lives in Darwin, the smallest of Australia’s capital cities. Born and raised in the state she’s a Territorian through and through. Growing up Toni hated English with a passion (as her editors can probably attest to) and found her strength lies with numbers.
Now, though, she loves escaping to the worlds she creates and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come. She’s a single mother of one and works full time. When she’s not writing you can just about guarantee that she will be reading one of the many MM authors she loves.
Feel free to drop her a line at info@tonigriffin.net anytime.
Now, though, she loves escaping to the worlds she creates and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come. She’s a single mother of one and works full time. When she’s not writing you can just about guarantee that she will be reading one of the many MM authors she loves.
Feel free to drop her a line at info@tonigriffin.net anytime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
November 8, 2015
A scared gay man with his overprotective mate. Sound familiar?
Even though I kind of liked this one, one thing really ruined it for me. 2 year old girls do not talk like that! I have 3 boys myself and the youngest is almost 2. Even if they are extremely smart for their age and can form complete sentences, they do not talk like Hayley did in this book.
I almost DNF-ed it when there was an interesting development with one of the MCs from the other books. MPREG! Never thought I would be cheering when that happened… It looks like I’ve gone over to the dark side….
Even though I kind of liked this one, one thing really ruined it for me. 2 year old girls do not talk like that! I have 3 boys myself and the youngest is almost 2. Even if they are extremely smart for their age and can form complete sentences, they do not talk like Hayley did in this book.
I almost DNF-ed it when there was an interesting development with one of the MCs from the other books. MPREG! Never thought I would be cheering when that happened… It looks like I’ve gone over to the dark side….
September 3, 2011
1.5 stars
When I first read the blurb, as well as reading the first chapter, I thought this could be better than the previous two books. I'm a huge fan of M/M family theme, so Zack as a single-father with two years old daughter is just a delight. Unfortunately, the story becomes BORING very quick. There is no real issue in Zack and Simon's relationship. Yeah, sure, the in-laws are threatening to get Hayley (Zack's daughter), but they're human. What can human do to fight wolves??! THAT is not a conflict, at all!! While it's not lovey-dovey NOR quick wham-bam-sex thing, the relationship is FLAT.
On top of that, the author introduces a plot in the last chapter, that personally, just puts the nails in the coffin for the rest of the series for me:
.
That one is just a HUGE deal-breaker, for any type of M/M stories. I can take cheating or even threesomes, sometimes (not always, I prefer to stay away from those plots, but if it's done nicely, I'm good). But THAT one, it's a BIG NO NO NO.
Argh, I'm done. I don't care about the last brother.
PS: The extra 0.5 stars is only for Hayley and her cute wolfie stuffed-bear. Otherwise this is a 1-star rating.
When I first read the blurb, as well as reading the first chapter, I thought this could be better than the previous two books. I'm a huge fan of M/M family theme, so Zack as a single-father with two years old daughter is just a delight. Unfortunately, the story becomes BORING very quick. There is no real issue in Zack and Simon's relationship. Yeah, sure, the in-laws are threatening to get Hayley (Zack's daughter), but they're human. What can human do to fight wolves??! THAT is not a conflict, at all!! While it's not lovey-dovey NOR quick wham-bam-sex thing, the relationship is FLAT.
On top of that, the author introduces a plot in the last chapter, that personally, just puts the nails in the coffin for the rest of the series for me:
.
That one is just a HUGE deal-breaker, for any type of M/M stories. I can take cheating or even threesomes, sometimes (not always, I prefer to stay away from those plots, but if it's done nicely, I'm good). But THAT one, it's a BIG NO NO NO.
Argh, I'm done. I don't care about the last brother.
PS: The extra 0.5 stars is only for Hayley and her cute wolfie stuffed-bear. Otherwise this is a 1-star rating.
August 12, 2016
Sto rimanendo piacevolmente sorpresa da questa serie, che migliora di libro in libro, almeno secondo i miei gusti personali.
Mi piace l’argomento ‘figli’ nel m/m romance, quindi questo volume acquista automaticamente punti bonus e poi la bimba è adorabile, ti fa venire voglia di spupazzarla!
Simon e Zack sono dolcissimi insieme e, anche se l’andamento del disbroglio della matassa è abbastanza prevedibile, la nascita e il consolidamento del loro rapporto è molto carino.
Finalmente anche il terzo fratello è sistemato e ora non ci resta che scoprire cosa turbi l’ultimo Holland.
Ma, prima di chiudere, non mi aspettavo proprio questa bella sorpresa finale su una delle coppie secondarie! So che molti lettori m/m non amano l’argomento, ma io ci vado a nozze e, quando a metà libro avevo fatto un mezzo pensiero, non mi sembrava possibile… ma sono contenta di essere stata smentita e sono felicissima per la piega presa dalla serie (anche se non farò spoiler), spero che nel prossimo si approfondisca!
Beh, non mi resta che consigliarlo: piacevole come i precedenti.
Mi piace l’argomento ‘figli’ nel m/m romance, quindi questo volume acquista automaticamente punti bonus e poi la bimba è adorabile, ti fa venire voglia di spupazzarla!
Simon e Zack sono dolcissimi insieme e, anche se l’andamento del disbroglio della matassa è abbastanza prevedibile, la nascita e il consolidamento del loro rapporto è molto carino.
Finalmente anche il terzo fratello è sistemato e ora non ci resta che scoprire cosa turbi l’ultimo Holland.
Ma, prima di chiudere, non mi aspettavo proprio questa bella sorpresa finale su una delle coppie secondarie! So che molti lettori m/m non amano l’argomento, ma io ci vado a nozze e, quando a metà libro avevo fatto un mezzo pensiero, non mi sembrava possibile… ma sono contenta di essere stata smentita e sono felicissima per la piega presa dalla serie (anche se non farò spoiler), spero che nel prossimo si approfondisca!
Beh, non mi resta che consigliarlo: piacevole come i precedenti.
May 9, 2016
Same formula as the others in the series: traumatic/life changing event happens propelling the more effeminate main character to pick up stakes and move to Leyburn in Victoria.
Once there, immediately find their mate, but have some reason to postpone mating. Use this time to get to know one another.
Finally mate, hot sexy times, finds happiness, have something terrible/traumatic happen, mate saves the day, the end.
The only thing different in this one is the introduction of possible male pregnancy in the epilogue.
Which everyone knows...mpreg is my crack. So you know I've already gotten the 4th book just to see that storyline continue.
I also want to take a moment to cackle as I point out
I'm sure someone much more interested than I am can give you a whole rant on that one.
On to the next!
Once there, immediately find their mate, but have some reason to postpone mating. Use this time to get to know one another.
Finally mate, hot sexy times, finds happiness, have something terrible/traumatic happen, mate saves the day, the end.
The only thing different in this one is the introduction of possible male pregnancy in the epilogue.
Which everyone knows...mpreg is my crack. So you know I've already gotten the 4th book just to see that storyline continue.
I also want to take a moment to cackle as I point out
I'm sure someone much more interested than I am can give you a whole rant on that one.
On to the next!
September 7, 2011
2.5
This was a 4 till the end then it dropped to a 2 (an ok). SO I went middle.
Which was really too bad, cause I was looking forward to the rest of this series.
Some have said what is said at end in spoilers,
To have it come out of the blue, with no explanation at all, even if it's covered in next book, some possible back ground should have been said here.
While sometimes I don't mind that type of situation coming up in a book, it has to be done with some kind of reasoning.
(Not just to jump on the band wagon so of speak.) Which is what this seems like,
But I did like Zach and Simon's story, it's just to bad with the the way the ending was.
This was a 4 till the end then it dropped to a 2 (an ok). SO I went middle.
Which was really too bad, cause I was looking forward to the rest of this series.
Some have said what is said at end in spoilers,
To have it come out of the blue, with no explanation at all, even if it's covered in next book, some possible back ground should have been said here.
While sometimes I don't mind that type of situation coming up in a book, it has to be done with some kind of reasoning.
(Not just to jump on the band wagon so of speak.) Which is what this seems like,
But I did like Zach and Simon's story, it's just to bad with the the way the ending was.
July 15, 2024
Omg! No way!!!
SURPRISE MPREG 😍
I loved Zack's back story with Sarah.
I wasn't a fan of the romance in this, but the storyline was juicy.
I would have sued that daycare so fast.
SURPRISE MPREG 😍
I loved Zack's back story with Sarah.
I wasn't a fan of the romance in this, but the storyline was juicy.
I would have sued that daycare so fast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2016
More of the same, but I'm hooked and bought the whole series. Going in for book 4!
July 2, 2016
1,5 stars.
I do ask myself "Why I still bother with this serie?!" And the answer it's still "Because I'm curious of the other two brothers." But there's a limit to curiosity too!!
At first I thought this book could be better than the previous two... but it's not! *cries*
There's really no issues between Simon and Zack -the grandparents-in-law of his daughter didn't really mattered, they really didn't had a chance against werewolves. Their relationship was smooth as oil, no angst, no nothing. =/
But the worst of it all, was nearer the end: Brian is supposedly pregnant. A male werewolf pregnant, but please!! I can't possibly believe it. And that's it for this serie -I have really enough. And I don't know if I ever do bother with the last brother, disappointed as I am from the entire serie. =/
I do ask myself "Why I still bother with this serie?!" And the answer it's still "Because I'm curious of the other two brothers." But there's a limit to curiosity too!!
At first I thought this book could be better than the previous two... but it's not! *cries*
There's really no issues between Simon and Zack -the grandparents-in-law of his daughter didn't really mattered, they really didn't had a chance against werewolves. Their relationship was smooth as oil, no angst, no nothing. =/
But the worst of it all, was nearer the end: Brian is supposedly pregnant. A male werewolf pregnant, but please!! I can't possibly believe it. And that's it for this serie -I have really enough. And I don't know if I ever do bother with the last brother, disappointed as I am from the entire serie. =/
September 4, 2011
This was just okay for me. Everything was very simple and even. Very narrative for the first part so you don't get a sense of emotion or of the heart break that comes before. No real threat. Smooth realtionship, no angst. Just simple. Not sure about the ending though. This new development was thrown out there without any explanation, forwarning or cause.
August 3, 2017
Protective Mate (Holland Brothers, #3) by Toni Griffin
Enjoyable fast read, part of the Holland Brothers series. Best to read in order.
I really liked Zach and Simon's romance story.
I also really enjoy Toni Griffin's writing.
Enjoyable fast read, part of the Holland Brothers series. Best to read in order.
I really liked Zach and Simon's romance story.
I also really enjoy Toni Griffin's writing.
August 3, 2016
Bellissimoooo rileggerlo in italiano poi, stupefacente! ❤️
Adoro questa serie!!!
Adoro questa serie!!!
May 9, 2016
This may well be the snarkiest review I've ever written. You've been warned.
What a selfish, cruel, lousy excuse for a human being! Let me just decide that even though I'm going to die let's cross being a parent off the bucket list. You know, on a whim, because it won't be a big deal for a child to have her parent die when she's a baby. It couldn't possibly result in Reactive Attachment Disorder, an incurable, debilitating, and potentially life destroying mental disorder, because I'm hiding my head in the sand and just doing something I want regardless of the consequences.
And let me ask my best friend to be the father knowing he'd do anything for me and just pretend all I want is his sperm not the rest of his life being a dad which could hinder his options in the dating world, having children already. Let me beg and guilt trip him since he knows that I've always wanted a family. Let me continue to push and beg when he says no at first.
[Let's all go watch Steel Magnolias together and praise the idiotic, selfish heroine of that story.] I'm a single parent and chose to take in kids as a single woman. I fully support those that are in a situation where they raise kids on their own. But deciding to have a child when you know you will not survive for them to even know you, plus increasing the odds of birth defects as your own body is ravaged by cancer and unable to mend itself let alone likely to create a healthy baby. She is choosing to have a child and die or make it sick because no known effective cancer treatments are conducive to pregnancy, and I'm not disregarding the controversies over chemo and radiation nor alternative treatments. Even if she could do those things, pregnancy is hard on a body. Good and natural, but hard. A cancerous body would not do well.
I can understand her feelings. I'm now too old to have birth children of my own and it wrecks me when I think about it. But I wouldn't just go ahead and try knowing that there are women my age who have had healthy kids. It would be selfish and cruel of me to risk the potential harm to the fetus.
Thank god the character dies because I would not be able to read about her as an MC without fuming. Fucking bitch.
(RAD results from a combination of things but one of those is always a break from the primary caregiver during the child's first year. My daughter has reactive attachment disorder and there is no cure. She will never be able to live or develop attachments with other people in the same way that the rest of us do. It's hell for her and it's hell for those that love her.)
"Sarah hovered over him, making sure he slept and ate, and, most of all, showered."
Good thing. Eating is a plus but heaven forbid he be dirty. Yes, number one priority: shower. Then, if he's up to it, we can get him to sleep and eat maybe.
Changing a two year old's diaper on a changing table is funny. Most people I know rarely use them even for infants.
Oh god, the child was two when Sarah died meaning she might have memories. That's so fucked up. I hate Sarah.
Another THINK coming, not another "thing." If you break down the expression, it's obvious. "If you think...then you have another think coming (when you realize you're wrong)." What "thing" came to begin with that you'll have another one coming? Why do so many people get that wrong?
Australia is apparently the opposite if the U.S. job wise. There are gobs if unemployed teachers and no one would wonder if it would be hard to replace him if he left. There aren't "so many positions available it wasn't funny." If only I wouldn't have to put my dogs in quarantine and if it weren't so freakin' sunny... My sister lives there and loves it. Her skin is darker than mine, though. Then there's that pesky hole in the ozone layer down there. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to visit and not move there.
That was a very short trial. He keeps saying Sarah was the only woman he ever lived, but he loved his mom. His love for Sarah was platonic--they used in vitro fertilization, not sex.
Okay, finally the story can start. The description of Simon's emotional pain is really good.
All his possessions fit in a Camry? Just the stuff for an American two year old wouldn't fit in a Camry. There's barely enough room for a two year old, her stuff, and two adults to go shopping. :)
Like this review, this story is all over the place.
Um, leaving the keys in the car with the car running and your toddler asleep in the back while you are inside a hotel somewhere you've never been? That sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. Okay, but then he doesn't trust enough to leave his stuff in the car and moves it all into the hotel room?
Way too much detail about what he's doing.
The daughter is an enigma. She sometimes baby talks but other times is clear enough she corrects an adult's grammar. The dad keeps correcting her "yep" and making sure she says "yes" and yet she can't pronounce a lot of the words she says and he doesn't correct those. (She's two! Her language skills are rudimentary!) Where would she have learned yep anyway if he's so bothered by it?
"Yep!"
"Yes, Hayley, not yep," Zack corrected lightly.
"Sorry, Daddy."
"It's okay."
That is just a bizarre conversation with a two-year-old. Plus, it was followed by sending the two-year-old out alone into a house she is unfamiliar with that hasn't been childproofed while the two adults leisurely get dressed. The author is a mom. I don't get it.
Just now, she was asked to come around the table so she stood and walked around. Stood? You mean climbed down? Wouldn't she have been in a booster seat or high chair? She's two. A toddler, not preschooler. And she's too effing perfect. Her life went to shit 6 months ago (which we are told repeatedly) and she's happy and giggly and easygoing and polite. She's two! She doesn't have the ability to conceive of the word polite let alone be so as she's instructed.
Good that the guy's dick isn't insanely big only a bit above average.
If this turns out to be mpreg I'm going to throw my reader across the room.
Homage or just bizarre coincidence that the two wolf cops that show up are Mikah and Gabriel, which happens to be the couple in the first book of B. Bradley's Southwestern Shifters?
Good that there were new members and makings, etc., from other pack members at the meeting.
Okay, I know I said pregnancy is hard on a body but not to the point that an otherwise healthy person would be have such horrible morning sickness they couldn't get out of bed and looked like they were dying.
Btw,
That was the longest short book ever.
I'm going to read the next one because the previous two were okay and this next one promises a lot of angst and melodrama.
1.5 stars rounded down because I'm so pissed off.
What a selfish, cruel, lousy excuse for a human being! Let me just decide that even though I'm going to die let's cross being a parent off the bucket list. You know, on a whim, because it won't be a big deal for a child to have her parent die when she's a baby. It couldn't possibly result in Reactive Attachment Disorder, an incurable, debilitating, and potentially life destroying mental disorder, because I'm hiding my head in the sand and just doing something I want regardless of the consequences.
And let me ask my best friend to be the father knowing he'd do anything for me and just pretend all I want is his sperm not the rest of his life being a dad which could hinder his options in the dating world, having children already. Let me beg and guilt trip him since he knows that I've always wanted a family. Let me continue to push and beg when he says no at first.
[Let's all go watch Steel Magnolias together and praise the idiotic, selfish heroine of that story.] I'm a single parent and chose to take in kids as a single woman. I fully support those that are in a situation where they raise kids on their own. But deciding to have a child when you know you will not survive for them to even know you, plus increasing the odds of birth defects as your own body is ravaged by cancer and unable to mend itself let alone likely to create a healthy baby. She is choosing to have a child and die or make it sick because no known effective cancer treatments are conducive to pregnancy, and I'm not disregarding the controversies over chemo and radiation nor alternative treatments. Even if she could do those things, pregnancy is hard on a body. Good and natural, but hard. A cancerous body would not do well.
I can understand her feelings. I'm now too old to have birth children of my own and it wrecks me when I think about it. But I wouldn't just go ahead and try knowing that there are women my age who have had healthy kids. It would be selfish and cruel of me to risk the potential harm to the fetus.
Thank god the character dies because I would not be able to read about her as an MC without fuming. Fucking bitch.
(RAD results from a combination of things but one of those is always a break from the primary caregiver during the child's first year. My daughter has reactive attachment disorder and there is no cure. She will never be able to live or develop attachments with other people in the same way that the rest of us do. It's hell for her and it's hell for those that love her.)
"Sarah hovered over him, making sure he slept and ate, and, most of all, showered."
Good thing. Eating is a plus but heaven forbid he be dirty. Yes, number one priority: shower. Then, if he's up to it, we can get him to sleep and eat maybe.
Changing a two year old's diaper on a changing table is funny. Most people I know rarely use them even for infants.
Oh god, the child was two when Sarah died meaning she might have memories. That's so fucked up. I hate Sarah.
Another THINK coming, not another "thing." If you break down the expression, it's obvious. "If you think...then you have another think coming (when you realize you're wrong)." What "thing" came to begin with that you'll have another one coming? Why do so many people get that wrong?
Australia is apparently the opposite if the U.S. job wise. There are gobs if unemployed teachers and no one would wonder if it would be hard to replace him if he left. There aren't "so many positions available it wasn't funny." If only I wouldn't have to put my dogs in quarantine and if it weren't so freakin' sunny... My sister lives there and loves it. Her skin is darker than mine, though. Then there's that pesky hole in the ozone layer down there. Sigh. I guess I'll just have to visit and not move there.
That was a very short trial. He keeps saying Sarah was the only woman he ever lived, but he loved his mom. His love for Sarah was platonic--they used in vitro fertilization, not sex.
Okay, finally the story can start. The description of Simon's emotional pain is really good.
All his possessions fit in a Camry? Just the stuff for an American two year old wouldn't fit in a Camry. There's barely enough room for a two year old, her stuff, and two adults to go shopping. :)
Like this review, this story is all over the place.
Um, leaving the keys in the car with the car running and your toddler asleep in the back while you are inside a hotel somewhere you've never been? That sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. Okay, but then he doesn't trust enough to leave his stuff in the car and moves it all into the hotel room?
Way too much detail about what he's doing.
The daughter is an enigma. She sometimes baby talks but other times is clear enough she corrects an adult's grammar. The dad keeps correcting her "yep" and making sure she says "yes" and yet she can't pronounce a lot of the words she says and he doesn't correct those. (She's two! Her language skills are rudimentary!) Where would she have learned yep anyway if he's so bothered by it?
"Yep!"
"Yes, Hayley, not yep," Zack corrected lightly.
"Sorry, Daddy."
"It's okay."
That is just a bizarre conversation with a two-year-old. Plus, it was followed by sending the two-year-old out alone into a house she is unfamiliar with that hasn't been childproofed while the two adults leisurely get dressed. The author is a mom. I don't get it.
Just now, she was asked to come around the table so she stood and walked around. Stood? You mean climbed down? Wouldn't she have been in a booster seat or high chair? She's two. A toddler, not preschooler. And she's too effing perfect. Her life went to shit 6 months ago (which we are told repeatedly) and she's happy and giggly and easygoing and polite. She's two! She doesn't have the ability to conceive of the word polite let alone be so as she's instructed.
Good that the guy's dick isn't insanely big only a bit above average.
If this turns out to be mpreg I'm going to throw my reader across the room.
Homage or just bizarre coincidence that the two wolf cops that show up are Mikah and Gabriel, which happens to be the couple in the first book of B. Bradley's Southwestern Shifters?
Good that there were new members and makings, etc., from other pack members at the meeting.
Okay, I know I said pregnancy is hard on a body but not to the point that an otherwise healthy person would be have such horrible morning sickness they couldn't get out of bed and looked like they were dying.
Btw,
That was the longest short book ever.
I'm going to read the next one because the previous two were okay and this next one promises a lot of angst and melodrama.
1.5 stars rounded down because I'm so pissed off.
January 12, 2023
RECENSIONE A CURA DI SLANIF
Zachary “Zack” Bennett e sua figlia Hayley, di due anni, non se la stanno passando molto bene.
Dopo la morte della mamma della piccola, i genitori di lei hanno deciso di prendersi la nipote, nonostante abbiano ripudiato la figlia anni prima, solo per toglierla a Zack in quanto gay.
Dopo una battaglia legale, l’uomo riesce a vincere e a tenersi Hayley, ma questo comporta che, stanco ormai della sua vecchia vita che è piena solo di brutti ricordi, Zack imballa tutte le loro cose, lega Hayley sul seggiolino e parte verso una nuova città e un nuovo lavoro, sperando di poter ricominciare.
Non immagina certo che, presentandosi all’Alfa della città, un tale Alex Holland, in un momento in cui neanche ci stava pensando, trovi in uno dei fratelli di questi, Simon, il suo compagno.
Tra i due le cose sono subito esplosive, ma i nonni materni della bambina non sono disposti ad arrendersi tanto velocemente…
Continua sul nostro blog!
Zachary “Zack” Bennett e sua figlia Hayley, di due anni, non se la stanno passando molto bene.
Dopo la morte della mamma della piccola, i genitori di lei hanno deciso di prendersi la nipote, nonostante abbiano ripudiato la figlia anni prima, solo per toglierla a Zack in quanto gay.
Dopo una battaglia legale, l’uomo riesce a vincere e a tenersi Hayley, ma questo comporta che, stanco ormai della sua vecchia vita che è piena solo di brutti ricordi, Zack imballa tutte le loro cose, lega Hayley sul seggiolino e parte verso una nuova città e un nuovo lavoro, sperando di poter ricominciare.
Non immagina certo che, presentandosi all’Alfa della città, un tale Alex Holland, in un momento in cui neanche ci stava pensando, trovi in uno dei fratelli di questi, Simon, il suo compagno.
Tra i due le cose sono subito esplosive, ma i nonni materni della bambina non sono disposti ad arrendersi tanto velocemente…
Continua sul nostro blog!
August 23, 2016
This third story in the ‘Holland Brothers’ series definitely wasn’t easy on my heartstrings or my tear ducts. Neither of the main characters had it easy, but Zach had such an awful time of it before he ever met Simon! Simon is so ready to meet his mate, it is hard for him to hold back—but he knows he has to, so Zach gets a chance to learn to trust again. This setup between the mates is nicely different from what the previous two Holland brothers went through so far in the series.
Zach has lost so much, it is a miracle he hasn’t given up. His best friend died from cancer, followed by his parents, but the one person who is able to make Zach hold it all together is his daughter Haley. As if that weren’t enough of a challenge, Haley’s other grandparents suddenly decide they want to raise her, and even thought the court gives Zach sole custody. Beginning a new life in Leyburn is enough of a challenge, and then Zach meets his mate, Simon. Zach is unable to cope, but he does what he can…. After all, Simon is his mate and Zach does want to make a life with him.
Simon is too cute! He falls in love with Haley from the start, he knows he will love Zach as well, but being patient about the whole thing is very, very difficult for him. He never doubts Zach and Haley are a “package deal”, as Zach puts it, and he does everything to win Zach’s trust. In the end, he knows he’ll have to be the one to ensure their family becomes and stays a unit, despite what the evil grandparents are planning...
If you like stories about men who have lost almost everything and have to learn to trust and love again, if you enjoy reading about a single father who meets his mate and isn’t sure if the new man in his life can accept his child, and if you’re looking for an emotional romance full of cute moments, a cuter kid, and some nail-biting tension when the villains reappear, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Zach has lost so much, it is a miracle he hasn’t given up. His best friend died from cancer, followed by his parents, but the one person who is able to make Zach hold it all together is his daughter Haley. As if that weren’t enough of a challenge, Haley’s other grandparents suddenly decide they want to raise her, and even thought the court gives Zach sole custody. Beginning a new life in Leyburn is enough of a challenge, and then Zach meets his mate, Simon. Zach is unable to cope, but he does what he can…. After all, Simon is his mate and Zach does want to make a life with him.
Simon is too cute! He falls in love with Haley from the start, he knows he will love Zach as well, but being patient about the whole thing is very, very difficult for him. He never doubts Zach and Haley are a “package deal”, as Zach puts it, and he does everything to win Zach’s trust. In the end, he knows he’ll have to be the one to ensure their family becomes and stays a unit, despite what the evil grandparents are planning...
If you like stories about men who have lost almost everything and have to learn to trust and love again, if you enjoy reading about a single father who meets his mate and isn’t sure if the new man in his life can accept his child, and if you’re looking for an emotional romance full of cute moments, a cuter kid, and some nail-biting tension when the villains reappear, then you will probably like this novel.
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
August 15, 2016
http://bianchianita1971.blogspot.it/2...
Tra i fratelli Holland fin'ora Simon era stato quello rimasto più in sordina; ora finalmente anche lui ha la sua storia! Simon desidera disperatamente incontrare il suo compagno predestinato: dopo che due dei suoi fratelli si sono felicemente accasati, sente ancora più acutamente la mancanza di qualcuno di speciale con cui stringere il legame... ma il destino è in agguato! Zack ha vissuto molte tragedie nella sua giovane vita ed ora sta cercando di fare di tutto per proteggere la figlioletta dalle grinfie di persone stupide e bigotte; ciò lo porta a trasferirsi nella cittadina di Leyburn e ad incontrare il suo compagno! Questa storia parte con un registro piuttosto drammatico ma ben presto ci regala momenti dolcissimi ed emozioni forti, grazie alla meravigliosa famiglia Holland (e ai suoi forti e iper-prottettivi componenti!)! In più, verso la fine, c'è una sorpresa del tutto inaspettata... ma ovviamente non vi dirò nulla di più in merito se non che è una sorpresa positiva!
Tra i fratelli Holland fin'ora Simon era stato quello rimasto più in sordina; ora finalmente anche lui ha la sua storia! Simon desidera disperatamente incontrare il suo compagno predestinato: dopo che due dei suoi fratelli si sono felicemente accasati, sente ancora più acutamente la mancanza di qualcuno di speciale con cui stringere il legame... ma il destino è in agguato! Zack ha vissuto molte tragedie nella sua giovane vita ed ora sta cercando di fare di tutto per proteggere la figlioletta dalle grinfie di persone stupide e bigotte; ciò lo porta a trasferirsi nella cittadina di Leyburn e ad incontrare il suo compagno! Questa storia parte con un registro piuttosto drammatico ma ben presto ci regala momenti dolcissimi ed emozioni forti, grazie alla meravigliosa famiglia Holland (e ai suoi forti e iper-prottettivi componenti!)! In più, verso la fine, c'è una sorpresa del tutto inaspettata... ma ovviamente non vi dirò nulla di più in merito se non che è una sorpresa positiva!
May 15, 2012
I liked this one better than the first two. I was easily engaged in the story and felt like I was able to know the characters at least a little bit more than the characters in the previous stories.
The conflict was pretty basic and I think was way too short considering what it was about. It just kind of pops up and disappears within a max of three pages. The mpreg also kinda gets sprung on at the end of the story but Hayley was so cute and I liked the way Zack and Simon's relationship evolved. Especially since Simon was forced to accept both Hayley and Zack and not just Zack. Plus, Zack is a ginger and that's like a major kink for me.
Overall, a nice story I really liked especially since the mpreg was added into it. ^_^
The conflict was pretty basic and I think was way too short considering what it was about. It just kind of pops up and disappears within a max of three pages. The mpreg also kinda gets sprung on at the end of the story but Hayley was so cute and I liked the way Zack and Simon's relationship evolved. Especially since Simon was forced to accept both Hayley and Zack and not just Zack. Plus, Zack is a ginger and that's like a major kink for me.
Overall, a nice story I really liked especially since the mpreg was added into it. ^_^
August 9, 2016
Qui la mia recensione:
http://mmedintorni.blogspot.it/2016/0...
http://mmedintorni.blogspot.it/2016/0...
April 20, 2018
This series is just what I was in the mood for, growly possessive shifters with just a touch of drama. And I love that there are 6 of them to read.
Three stars vs four because the editing needs a little work and there are some continuity issues.
Three stars vs four because the editing needs a little work and there are some continuity issues.
November 16, 2016
Zach’s story starts off when he meets a woman! She ends up his BFF and the mother of his daughter but ends up leaving him essentially a widower and a single father. Her family ends up being super creepy and Zach flees, luckily to land in the same Pack as his Mate, Simon.
Simon is one of the middle Holland brothers and seeing his older brothers mate up has him yearning for his own start at a family.
Though both Zach and Simon want to mate, Halley – Zach’s daughter – provides a few wrinkles to the process.
Luckily, the power of the mate bond and the Holland brothers make everything work out in the end.
**
Just as with the other books in this series, the chemistry between Zach and Simon is scorching hot! Halley is really cute and a remarkable 2 year old. We get to see the other couples and Brian and Alex begin to learn that there’s something special about being mated into the Holland family.
I really love this series. The writing is excellent, the characters are unique and Zach is different from Brian and Jason in that he’s not the typical “twink”. Halley adds a slightly different twist to things though the “evil family” plot is pretty predictable.
One complaint is that nobody spends a lot of time in wolf form and beyond the mating thing and some senses being heightened this could have been a story about anyone falling in love in an instant.
4.5 of 5 stars
Audio
Dominic McCartney did another excellent job with this narration. He manages to give even Halley a sweet little girls voice at the same time giving Alex the super-deep Alpha voice. He’s great with emotion, handles the “Australian” perfectly and absolutely added to my overall enjoyment of this series.
5 of 5 stars
Overall 4.75 of 5 stars
Simon is one of the middle Holland brothers and seeing his older brothers mate up has him yearning for his own start at a family.
Though both Zach and Simon want to mate, Halley – Zach’s daughter – provides a few wrinkles to the process.
Luckily, the power of the mate bond and the Holland brothers make everything work out in the end.
**
Just as with the other books in this series, the chemistry between Zach and Simon is scorching hot! Halley is really cute and a remarkable 2 year old. We get to see the other couples and Brian and Alex begin to learn that there’s something special about being mated into the Holland family.
I really love this series. The writing is excellent, the characters are unique and Zach is different from Brian and Jason in that he’s not the typical “twink”. Halley adds a slightly different twist to things though the “evil family” plot is pretty predictable.
One complaint is that nobody spends a lot of time in wolf form and beyond the mating thing and some senses being heightened this could have been a story about anyone falling in love in an instant.
4.5 of 5 stars
Audio
Dominic McCartney did another excellent job with this narration. He manages to give even Halley a sweet little girls voice at the same time giving Alex the super-deep Alpha voice. He’s great with emotion, handles the “Australian” perfectly and absolutely added to my overall enjoyment of this series.
5 of 5 stars
Overall 4.75 of 5 stars
January 27, 2014
I liked this. I thought it was cute with Hayley :) I am sucker for cute kids. I thought Zach deserved a break in his life after everything he's been through and Simon and his family were just that.
I liked that Zach put Hayley first before anyone else. It showed he really was a parent first since that's all he knows. I also liked how Simon slid into the roll of being a partner without question.
As far as the other thing at the end:
Simon and Zach together, ummm...if I were Zach I am not sure I would want to live in the Holland house with a kid. They are constantly groping each other and basically having sex wherever they want. Why wouldn't you want to start over in a new house with your new family? Even if it's next door or down the street, yes, you feel safer with the alpha present, but it's Simon's brother who would be there in a minute if called. I guess I just didn't like the fact that even though Simon, Zach, and Hayley are a family they still won't move away from the other Holland brothers. Silly, but that's just me.
I liked that Zach put Hayley first before anyone else. It showed he really was a parent first since that's all he knows. I also liked how Simon slid into the roll of being a partner without question.
As far as the other thing at the end:
Simon and Zach together, ummm...if I were Zach I am not sure I would want to live in the Holland house with a kid. They are constantly groping each other and basically having sex wherever they want. Why wouldn't you want to start over in a new house with your new family? Even if it's next door or down the street, yes, you feel safer with the alpha present, but it's Simon's brother who would be there in a minute if called. I guess I just didn't like the fact that even though Simon, Zach, and Hayley are a family they still won't move away from the other Holland brothers. Silly, but that's just me.
September 6, 2011
After first read I find that it was an ok book. However, afterward I got curious as to why Zack's old pack wasn't helping him out. Maybe this means that the werewolves in this world are not that close even though they are of the same pack with good alpha.
It also seems that Simon character haven't been polish very much. We still didn't know what was his occupation (He mention he got to attend meetings and work on spreadsheet but nothing specific, although I suppose they implied office job). His wolf form wasn't describe much at all too.
As to what happens with Brian... I somehow thought (or hope) that it might have something to do with the fourth book. The author mention on her blog that the fourth book will be the longest of the series with 35k words (not sure how that will translate to pages). So hopefully the 'WTF' moments will be explained or freshen out in the fourth book.
It also seems that Simon character haven't been polish very much. We still didn't know what was his occupation (He mention he got to attend meetings and work on spreadsheet but nothing specific, although I suppose they implied office job). His wolf form wasn't describe much at all too.
As to what happens with Brian... I somehow thought (or hope) that it might have something to do with the fourth book. The author mention on her blog that the fourth book will be the longest of the series with 35k words (not sure how that will translate to pages). So hopefully the 'WTF' moments will be explained or freshen out in the fourth book.
September 8, 2011
Spoilers ahead
While Simon and Zack made an ok couple this book didn't work for me.
First off the whole issue wih the grandparents was silly. That kid will turn into a wolf one day so I'd think the whole of Zack's pack would have gotten involved in the issue of bigoted A-holes raising a wolf shifter kid. If nothing else scare them into hiding.
Second, the way I see it if everyone Zack loved aside from his daughter hadn't had died, he wouldn't have met Simon so both of them would have spent their lives without a destined mate. And that's creepy.
Lastly, the m-preg thing came out of nowhere. Now, I don't mind m-preg books. They can be good and entertaining reads. (Unless the birth is "natural". Then they freak me out.) However, this was a third book in the series. The rules should have been astablished, so how come no one knew such a thing was possible up until the end of this book?
I'll still read the next book, to see Rick get his man, but won't be holding my breath for it to make sense.
While Simon and Zack made an ok couple this book didn't work for me.
First off the whole issue wih the grandparents was silly. That kid will turn into a wolf one day so I'd think the whole of Zack's pack would have gotten involved in the issue of bigoted A-holes raising a wolf shifter kid. If nothing else scare them into hiding.
Second, the way I see it if everyone Zack loved aside from his daughter hadn't had died, he wouldn't have met Simon so both of them would have spent their lives without a destined mate. And that's creepy.
Lastly, the m-preg thing came out of nowhere. Now, I don't mind m-preg books. They can be good and entertaining reads. (Unless the birth is "natural". Then they freak me out.) However, this was a third book in the series. The rules should have been astablished, so how come no one knew such a thing was possible up until the end of this book?
I'll still read the next book, to see Rick get his man, but won't be holding my breath for it to make sense.
September 19, 2015
I did like this book a little better than the first two. It seemed like I was able to learn a little bit more about the characters than in the previous stories.
But I do have a problem about the conflict, it was all pretty basic. I think the book was way too short considering what it was about. There was no back story, and it wasn't really fleshed out so a reader could really grasp what was going on. It was all just very blah, and uninspiring. The whole mpreg issues and how that just kinda was sprung on a reader, and to just add it to the end of the story was really bizarre.
Also, I just have to put this out there, I am a parent of two boys, and let me tell you they never talked like this little girl in the story. Even if they are extremely smart for their age and can form complete sentences, they do not talk like Hayley did in this book.
So for me, just an okay read.
But I do have a problem about the conflict, it was all pretty basic. I think the book was way too short considering what it was about. There was no back story, and it wasn't really fleshed out so a reader could really grasp what was going on. It was all just very blah, and uninspiring. The whole mpreg issues and how that just kinda was sprung on a reader, and to just add it to the end of the story was really bizarre.
Also, I just have to put this out there, I am a parent of two boys, and let me tell you they never talked like this little girl in the story. Even if they are extremely smart for their age and can form complete sentences, they do not talk like Hayley did in this book.
So for me, just an okay read.
March 2, 2014
I have to say as much as I loved the series the first time around, this newly expanded version is just that much better. I feel like I am getting to know the characters better, and there is much more history revealed, which draws me into the story even more.
The final chapter of this book reveals a HUGE secret that will be expanded on in the next book, and I cannot wait to read it. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. I am completely hooked on the Holland brothers and their families.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
The final chapter of this book reveals a HUGE secret that will be expanded on in the next book, and I cannot wait to read it. I highly recommend this book and the entire series. I am completely hooked on the Holland brothers and their families.
See the entire review at The Novel Approach: http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/20...
July 31, 2014
Pretty much as bad as the previous two books in the series ... at least the iced tea has been replaced by beer ... shame the verandah was called a porch; Zack addressed his new in-laws as Sir & Ma'am; & Simon kept on saying "y'all" ... Australia isn't Texas dammit ... there's a new twist added to the series with this book (can't say more without spoiling the story) which is so ridiculous I actually hurt myself because my *eye roll* was so extreme ... book 4 had better live up to the hype or I'm going to cry.
Read
January 24, 2023This book followed in the footsteps of it's predecessors - insta-love with the mating bond, the usual shifter things including mental telepathy and hot alpha males, the closeness of the pack - but this one had something additional thrown in with the inclusion of a child.
For me, it's very much a light read without much thinking involved - a little bit of escapism into a fantasy world. The strength of the story was in the handling of Hayley and not glossing over her presence and what that meant for her father - the child really did come first.
For me, it's very much a light read without much thinking involved - a little bit of escapism into a fantasy world. The strength of the story was in the handling of Hayley and not glossing over her presence and what that meant for her father - the child really did come first.
October 3, 2011
I had read the first two and had high expectations for this one which were not met. I felt that Simon and Zach didn't have much in characterization and the issue with his wife's parents seemed overdone at the end and resolved too quickly, in the "boo" and they're gone mode. I will pick up the last book in the series to finish all the brothers, but with much lower expectations.
March 18, 2013
Loved it :).An awesomely intense read between 2 men finding the lost connection of love through physical and emotional intimacy
The sex was awesomely hot and intense the book was very well written.you could feel the emotions of both the main characters Zach and Simon ..will definitely be reading the rest of the series :)
The sex was awesomely hot and intense the book was very well written.you could feel the emotions of both the main characters Zach and Simon ..will definitely be reading the rest of the series :)
September 9, 2011
Well hell this book started out well, but then quickly went down the drain and the ending... ridiculous. I would have okay with that if it hadn't come out of the blue.
The story had promise but was poorly executed
The story had promise but was poorly executed
January 18, 2015
This was the worst in the series IMO. I feel as if it were written because every brother had to have a story, so here's a throw away quickie to satisfy the contract.... I didn't really care for Simon, while Zach had some real issues that could have been dealt with a bit better. Very disappointed.
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