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Heart's Home
Outcast werewolf Alun Blaney is jaded, fearful of what could happen if even one human were to discover monsters are real. Police Constable James Heron is an idealistic young man convinced that love can overcome any differences. When they meet over the body of a woman murdered in the streets of 19th century London, they form an uneasy friendship.
As the murder investigation progresses, the attraction between them grows, but before they can see the case or their relationship through, there are obstacles to overcome. A sadistic pack leader is out to get Alun, a daemon has fallen in love with James, and James’s immediate supervisor is determined to pin the recent murders—and last year’s rash of Whitechapel homicides—on Alun.
As the murder investigation progresses, the attraction between them grows, but before they can see the case or their relationship through, there are obstacles to overcome. A sadistic pack leader is out to get Alun, a daemon has fallen in love with James, and James’s immediate supervisor is determined to pin the recent murders—and last year’s rash of Whitechapel homicides—on Alun.
260 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2011
4 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
H.B. Pattskyn
5 books111 followersHelen Barbara Pattskyn lives with her husband and children (both human and four footed) in a quiet suburb of Detroit, MI. She is working on becoming a full-time writer as well as doing volunteer work and still trying to find time to putter in her garden, watch the stars, and paint.
Helen describes herself as a storyteller, a science fiction geek, and a bookworm; as introverted, but not shy. Her favorite jobs (besides being a writer) have been hawking left-handed mugs at the Georgia and Michigan Renaissance Festivals and painting polyurethane corpses for Gag Studio. She’s also waited tables, cut fabric, and worked as a library assistant. If anyone ever asks, she describes her life as “quiet”—but even she’ll admit that when you condense it into two paragraphs, it suddenly looks a little more interesting.
Visit Helen’s website: http://helenpattskyn.com. You can also e-mail her at thylacine.yawn@gmail.com.
Helen describes herself as a storyteller, a science fiction geek, and a bookworm; as introverted, but not shy. Her favorite jobs (besides being a writer) have been hawking left-handed mugs at the Georgia and Michigan Renaissance Festivals and painting polyurethane corpses for Gag Studio. She’s also waited tables, cut fabric, and worked as a library assistant. If anyone ever asks, she describes her life as “quiet”—but even she’ll admit that when you condense it into two paragraphs, it suddenly looks a little more interesting.
Visit Helen’s website: http://helenpattskyn.com. You can also e-mail her at thylacine.yawn@gmail.com.
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January 15, 2012DNF 43%. I'm suffering.
A plea to authors who do this:
NOTE: I've been cursed with 3 books like this in less than two weeks time. I'm a bit aggravated hence the plea and the rant. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I'm going to rate. I think I would've liked this story if it weren't for these distractions. I might come back and try to finish, but I can't bear to continue at this time.
A plea to authors who do this:
NOTE: I've been cursed with 3 books like this in less than two weeks time. I'm a bit aggravated hence the plea and the rant. I'm still on the fence about whether or not I'm going to rate. I think I would've liked this story if it weren't for these distractions. I might come back and try to finish, but I can't bear to continue at this time.
February 25, 2013
2,5 stars rounded up to 3
Alun is a werewolf, who’s been banished from his pack and lives as an outcast, James is a sort of out of the closet, sweet and bold young earl, building his own life as a constable. One year after Jack the Ripper terrorized London, women are slaughtered again in Whitechapel and they meet over a victim’s body. Literally.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was way better than what I expected before reading it and on the other hand, it left me frustrated because it didn’t quite live up to its promising beginning.
The author set a compelling darkish atmosphere for this historical romance and I couldn’t wait to see how she would develop the introduced threads.
My complaint is that a great amount of pages was spent overdeveloping the romance to the detriment of the paranormal world building that occurred a little late in the book and to the murder solving intrigue that was rushed.
The story dragged a bit while Alun agonized endlessly over his burgeoning romance with James and I rolled my eyes at many repetitions and tapped my feet as I waited for the story to move forward.
It did but I had the feeling that each thread was developed as a block instead of being weaved with the others and the result was somewhat unbalanced and unsatisfactory to my taste.
In other words, each part had most certain qualities but ended up being only okay when I thought that the whole could have been really, really good.
Now, I realize that this story had the merit to get me invested and I invite you nonetheless to give it a try. I certainly don’t regret doing so because, all in all, it was a pleasant surprise and you might end up liking what frustrated me!
Alun is a werewolf, who’s been banished from his pack and lives as an outcast, James is a sort of out of the closet, sweet and bold young earl, building his own life as a constable. One year after Jack the Ripper terrorized London, women are slaughtered again in Whitechapel and they meet over a victim’s body. Literally.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was way better than what I expected before reading it and on the other hand, it left me frustrated because it didn’t quite live up to its promising beginning.
The author set a compelling darkish atmosphere for this historical romance and I couldn’t wait to see how she would develop the introduced threads.
My complaint is that a great amount of pages was spent overdeveloping the romance to the detriment of the paranormal world building that occurred a little late in the book and to the murder solving intrigue that was rushed.
The story dragged a bit while Alun agonized endlessly over his burgeoning romance with James and I rolled my eyes at many repetitions and tapped my feet as I waited for the story to move forward.
It did but I had the feeling that each thread was developed as a block instead of being weaved with the others and the result was somewhat unbalanced and unsatisfactory to my taste.
In other words, each part had most certain qualities but ended up being only okay when I thought that the whole could have been really, really good.
Now, I realize that this story had the merit to get me invested and I invite you nonetheless to give it a try. I certainly don’t regret doing so because, all in all, it was a pleasant surprise and you might end up liking what frustrated me!
September 2, 2016
A surprisingly different historical M/M romance with a paranormal element, set in London, one year after the Ripper murders. While many elements illustrate the time in which it is set, it is also a story that could take place in a modern time period with only a few adjustments. If you like urban fantasy/paranormal romance, then there is every chance you will enjoy this novel, even if you're not a fan of historical romance. (Luckily, I love PNR and enjoy a well-written historical romance, so this was a win-win for me).
March 8, 2012
I really enjoyed this book and the gentle love that develops between the two main characters, Alun, the werewolf, and James, the well-bred and wealthy man who shuns the trappings of society and becomes a constable in 19th Century London. There were two things that struck me as particularly outstanding in Ms. Pattskyn's writing: her way of describing the setting and her obvious love for her two main characters.
The London of "Heart's Home" is comprised of two different worlds. First, there's the dirty and disheartening Whitechapel, where women are being brutally murdered, and the world is a frightening place as police hunt for Jack the Ripper. Then there's the lovely, upper crust neighborhood where James lives in a huge house. It's clean and comfortable, but James is not much happier than the people he helps keep safe in the slums.
James is lonely. When he first meets Alun, he doesn't even imagine the other man might come to care for him. Alun, a werewolf who has been shunned by his family because he loves men, is barely alive. He's a powerful creature, but the local werewolves want nothing to do with him and even abuse him.
Without spoiling the plot, these two very different "men" are drawn to each other in ways neither expected. Their lives become intertwined, each man stepping beyond his comfort zone to aid the other. The love scenes are sexy and passionate, the characterizations strong.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a mix of historical and paranormal romance. The writing is strong and the story is satisfying. And, of course, I look forward to learning more about the universe James and Alun inhabit in the next book!
The London of "Heart's Home" is comprised of two different worlds. First, there's the dirty and disheartening Whitechapel, where women are being brutally murdered, and the world is a frightening place as police hunt for Jack the Ripper. Then there's the lovely, upper crust neighborhood where James lives in a huge house. It's clean and comfortable, but James is not much happier than the people he helps keep safe in the slums.
James is lonely. When he first meets Alun, he doesn't even imagine the other man might come to care for him. Alun, a werewolf who has been shunned by his family because he loves men, is barely alive. He's a powerful creature, but the local werewolves want nothing to do with him and even abuse him.
Without spoiling the plot, these two very different "men" are drawn to each other in ways neither expected. Their lives become intertwined, each man stepping beyond his comfort zone to aid the other. The love scenes are sexy and passionate, the characterizations strong.
I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a mix of historical and paranormal romance. The writing is strong and the story is satisfying. And, of course, I look forward to learning more about the universe James and Alun inhabit in the next book!
August 19, 2015
I wish we could get this book in an audiobook edition, because really, this story is amazingly good. I found some time today and decided to re-read this story.
Once more - Still, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED book!!
2011/December/20 - 5 star rating
Wow, when I started to read this book late at night I couldn't stop it. The story was truly pulling and really well written. I loved it.
Both main characters were real and warm, I liked them both. Each one had his own childhood story and good developed characteristic. I could say more about the plot, about how James and Alun met, about their feelings and emotions... but I rather stay silent, so that everyone can enjoy it, equally. I could feel all emotions James and Alun felt and it was real.
I wouldn't mind reading it on and on and on.
I simply have to RECOMMEND this book to everyone. It's definitely one for a keeper shelf. For my piece of mind it was an excellent written and developed story and I hope we will see more from this author!
Once more - Still, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED book!!
2011/December/20 - 5 star rating
Wow, when I started to read this book late at night I couldn't stop it. The story was truly pulling and really well written. I loved it.
Both main characters were real and warm, I liked them both. Each one had his own childhood story and good developed characteristic. I could say more about the plot, about how James and Alun met, about their feelings and emotions... but I rather stay silent, so that everyone can enjoy it, equally. I could feel all emotions James and Alun felt and it was real.
I wouldn't mind reading it on and on and on.
I simply have to RECOMMEND this book to everyone. It's definitely one for a keeper shelf. For my piece of mind it was an excellent written and developed story and I hope we will see more from this author!
May 18, 2013
3.5 stars. This is an m/m murder mystery set in Victorian London complete with werewolves and demons. There were various annoying Americanisms: peppers, timber wolf, second story; and anachronisms: teabags, duvet, coffee table. Plus the accents were a bit odd. However it was an engaging if somewhat preposterous little story.
'He wanted James, his soul had already claimed him... but James was human. Humans didn't mate, they married, divorced... hurt each other. Not that wolves were perfect, far from it, in fact, but another wolf would understand what it meant to claim a mate. Another wolf wouldn't betray him the way a human would. The way a human had.'
Acquired during one hour free giveaway from http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
'He wanted James, his soul had already claimed him... but James was human. Humans didn't mate, they married, divorced... hurt each other. Not that wolves were perfect, far from it, in fact, but another wolf would understand what it meant to claim a mate. Another wolf wouldn't betray him the way a human would. The way a human had.'
Acquired during one hour free giveaway from http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/stor...
January 31, 2012
I love that book. Alun and James are perfect for one another. I hope H.B. Pattskyn will write book about Rob to. He was interesting to.
May 5, 2012
Some books take you by surprise and just refuse to be labeled. This is one of them. It was a splendid read that touched on the historical, paranormal, m/m romance, and mystery genres. Above all this enjoyable book is a romance. This story demonstrated that not everyone is the same and as I have learned over the years 'diversity is good' and even when you have been betrayed not everyone is out to hurt you.
James, a unique man, who chooses to forsake his birthright and follow his own desires is a constable for Scotland Yard in Victorian London. He is a little man that bravely does his duty walking the dark gas-lit fog-filled streets of the infamous Whitechapel district of London which a year before had been the place that Jack the Ripper chose to commit his crimes. On the night that will change his life, James is convinced that the Ripper has returned when he comes across a horrific scene in an alley. A young woman is slaughtered on the cobblestones and a large man is leaning over her. Before he can summon aid, he is accosted by the man who with little effort slams him into a wall and informs James of his innocence.
This man, Alun, is not a human man at all, but an exiled Welsh werewolf and he knows that he is in trouble on more than one level. He looks like the number one suspect for a gruesome murder and he is attracted to the younger man before him. Their relationship begins when James first believes in Alun's innocence, but wishes first friendship and then companionship with Alun. Alun's instinct feels that he has come home when he is with James in his beautiful home and spending time with the human, but another instinct is hard to ignore too. James' kindness and openness are suspect by Alun because he has been taught to mistrust humans and has experienced a betrayal of the heart by one before so Alun runs from James' offer of love more than once hurting James in the process.
In a plot driven by James and Alun's forbidden romance, the murders, and the lurking wolf pack set against Alun, can the two not only survive, but find their heart's fulfillment?
The author spun a very good plot that was well paced and constantly kept my interest to find out what would happen next. The danger element caused by the murders and the werewolves was exciting, but the steamy romance was gripping too. Normally, I am not big on characters who blow hot and cold in their actions toward their lover, but in Alun's case it did not bother me because he had a great deal to think through and his motives were selfless and guided by his love. The scenes that were most gripping were in the courtroom when Alun stood on trial for murder and James was called as a police witness and the final big moment near the end when its life and death for both of them. Then just when I thought 'whew' they survived, it came down to that issue that had been 'the elephant in the room' through much of the story- werewolves and humans were not supposed to mix and now Alun must choose.
The characters were great. The story was almost completely focused on Alun and James, but I loved some of the minor characters like James' irascible housekeeper Mrs. Dunberry and the puckish Robin.
It was my first time reading this author, but I would definitely read more of what she has to offer.
James, a unique man, who chooses to forsake his birthright and follow his own desires is a constable for Scotland Yard in Victorian London. He is a little man that bravely does his duty walking the dark gas-lit fog-filled streets of the infamous Whitechapel district of London which a year before had been the place that Jack the Ripper chose to commit his crimes. On the night that will change his life, James is convinced that the Ripper has returned when he comes across a horrific scene in an alley. A young woman is slaughtered on the cobblestones and a large man is leaning over her. Before he can summon aid, he is accosted by the man who with little effort slams him into a wall and informs James of his innocence.
This man, Alun, is not a human man at all, but an exiled Welsh werewolf and he knows that he is in trouble on more than one level. He looks like the number one suspect for a gruesome murder and he is attracted to the younger man before him. Their relationship begins when James first believes in Alun's innocence, but wishes first friendship and then companionship with Alun. Alun's instinct feels that he has come home when he is with James in his beautiful home and spending time with the human, but another instinct is hard to ignore too. James' kindness and openness are suspect by Alun because he has been taught to mistrust humans and has experienced a betrayal of the heart by one before so Alun runs from James' offer of love more than once hurting James in the process.
In a plot driven by James and Alun's forbidden romance, the murders, and the lurking wolf pack set against Alun, can the two not only survive, but find their heart's fulfillment?
The author spun a very good plot that was well paced and constantly kept my interest to find out what would happen next. The danger element caused by the murders and the werewolves was exciting, but the steamy romance was gripping too. Normally, I am not big on characters who blow hot and cold in their actions toward their lover, but in Alun's case it did not bother me because he had a great deal to think through and his motives were selfless and guided by his love. The scenes that were most gripping were in the courtroom when Alun stood on trial for murder and James was called as a police witness and the final big moment near the end when its life and death for both of them. Then just when I thought 'whew' they survived, it came down to that issue that had been 'the elephant in the room' through much of the story- werewolves and humans were not supposed to mix and now Alun must choose.
The characters were great. The story was almost completely focused on Alun and James, but I loved some of the minor characters like James' irascible housekeeper Mrs. Dunberry and the puckish Robin.
It was my first time reading this author, but I would definitely read more of what she has to offer.
Read
December 18, 2011All right, so obviously, I'm baised, I wrote it ;-) (Which is why I didn't give it a star rating... yes, I *was* that kid in school who would never have voted for herself for anything.)
I love my boys in this one:
Alun is jaded, hurt by the rejection of his birth pack and his own family when over his sexual orientation. Expelled from pack lands at 13, he is literally thrown out into the world to make his way however he can. Things don't get any better when he arrives in London, some years later. There, he becomes the target of the local wolf pack leader, a sadistic bully.
What Alun doesn't know is that there is someone far more cruel than the pack leader pulling the strings...
James is a bright, optimistic gentleman with a streak of kindness in him the size of the English Channel. It's not that he hasn't seen his fair share of tragedy--more than his fair share, in fact. But what he remembers of his childhood are the parents who loved him--parents he is certain would have loved him even if they'd lived long enough for him to discover that he it's men he finds himself attracted to, not women. James's father was an athiest with no use for the rhetoric of either Church *or* Crown and his mother encouraged a young James to "look at all the flowers in the field. Wouldn't it be boring if they were all the same?"
Unfortunately, James's immediate supervisor, Inspector Franklin Lamont, doesn't share the young constable's views on life.
Add to the mix a not so young daemon inhabiting the body of a very young man--although he's been in it for almost two centuries, so really, it *is* a case of "don't judge the book by its cover* (except of course that James doesn't believe in Heaven or Hell, ergo, he doesn't believe in angels or demons, either). This particular daemon has taken quite a fancy to James and would do anything for him, no matter the cost...
The night that James and Alun meet, over the body of a young woman murdered in the streets of Whitechapel, will change the lives of all three of these men forever.
...
Heart's Home is set in Victorian London, one year after Jack the Ripper terrorized the East End. The slums of the East End were miserable, smelly, dirty places to live and work. The more research I did into the era, the more happy I became to be living in this century.
And yes, there is a sequel in the works...
I love my boys in this one:
Alun is jaded, hurt by the rejection of his birth pack and his own family when over his sexual orientation. Expelled from pack lands at 13, he is literally thrown out into the world to make his way however he can. Things don't get any better when he arrives in London, some years later. There, he becomes the target of the local wolf pack leader, a sadistic bully.
What Alun doesn't know is that there is someone far more cruel than the pack leader pulling the strings...
James is a bright, optimistic gentleman with a streak of kindness in him the size of the English Channel. It's not that he hasn't seen his fair share of tragedy--more than his fair share, in fact. But what he remembers of his childhood are the parents who loved him--parents he is certain would have loved him even if they'd lived long enough for him to discover that he it's men he finds himself attracted to, not women. James's father was an athiest with no use for the rhetoric of either Church *or* Crown and his mother encouraged a young James to "look at all the flowers in the field. Wouldn't it be boring if they were all the same?"
Unfortunately, James's immediate supervisor, Inspector Franklin Lamont, doesn't share the young constable's views on life.
Add to the mix a not so young daemon inhabiting the body of a very young man--although he's been in it for almost two centuries, so really, it *is* a case of "don't judge the book by its cover* (except of course that James doesn't believe in Heaven or Hell, ergo, he doesn't believe in angels or demons, either). This particular daemon has taken quite a fancy to James and would do anything for him, no matter the cost...
The night that James and Alun meet, over the body of a young woman murdered in the streets of Whitechapel, will change the lives of all three of these men forever.
...
Heart's Home is set in Victorian London, one year after Jack the Ripper terrorized the East End. The slums of the East End were miserable, smelly, dirty places to live and work. The more research I did into the era, the more happy I became to be living in this century.
And yes, there is a sequel in the works...
May 11, 2013
There were a lot of things with this story that were just a little too convenient, but overall it was an enjoyable read. What I liked best was how the two love interests came together and separated and returned to each other throughout the story. The insta-love was very well handled and the background of the copycat Jack the Ripper murders were intriguing. I would have loved to learn more about being a "Spirit Dancer" and the lack of resolution regarding the killer was realistic for the time period and yet frustrating. Werewolf lovers will enjoy this story and look for more...
October 12, 2012
Oh man, what a story! Yes, there were things that drove me a bit bonkers... but overall an engaging and entertaining read. James was easy to love instantly, Alum grew a pair, but it was Robin who stole the show for me! I can't imagine there not being a sequel with Robin's story!
The mystery was a nail biter that I'm sorry to say kind of fizzled out for me at the end, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
The mystery was a nail biter that I'm sorry to say kind of fizzled out for me at the end, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
March 11, 2013
There's first time for everything. This book marks my first time I really liked a werewolf story.
Mostly because it was NOT about being a werewolf (which usually means a drooling idiot) and finding his unlikely mate for life. Nope. Here we have a real character, someone who's been an outcast for too long.
Also, I loved the setting, it felt very real. Also, supporting characters.
maybe-later
July 7, 2013Hooo damn. Someone turned up the HEAT with that cover...
August 17, 2013
Well written, interesting, but cold -and the story suffers from too many plot devices which at times drag the story.
September 15, 2012
~* 4.5 Stars *~
Intense, Emotional, and Utterly Gripping
A year earlier it had become notorious, London's East End district of Whitechapel forever linked with the hunting grounds of a vicious serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper. For the poor and wretchedly unfortunate, the criminals, prostitutes, gangs...and dispossessed lycanthrope Alun Blayney...it was home.
Flush with winnings from a recent card game, Alun is on his way to a doss house to rent a room when the unmistakable scent of blood, death, and werewolf washes over him. Following his nose, he finds the body of an eviscerated young woman, slain by one of his kind. Not by fang or claw, however, but by blade.
Police Constable James Heron is walking the beat on his shift in Whitechapel. As he turns a corner late that night, he's rocked by the scene before him. A tall, rangy man is leaning over a body on the ground. Before he can blow his whistle to call for assistance, the man has him pressed against the brick wall, swearing he wasn't a killer. That if he had been, James would be as dead as the woman whose blood was even now spreading across the cobblestones.
While that logic is just enough to relax James a little, it's the look in the eyes of the dark, brooding man that stirs something in James, despite the vicious circumstances.
Two men from vastly different worlds, one human, one lycan, both outcast. Together they discover a tentative, fragile happiness. It's a feeling Alun can't trust to last, not with the secrets he holds, or the situation in Whitechapel. There are no happy endings for the werewolf who has sexual congress with men, and no possibility of a human mate, even if James could accept his existence. And as the body count in the East End continues to rise, the grim, unalterable fact is that happiness is a luxury when survival alone is in doubt.
~*~
What a fantastic read this was! The depth and scope of the plot impressed, and Pattskyn imbued the tale with a dark, rich sense of decaying desperation that perfectly accentuated the world and its inhabitants, setting the tone of the story and providing the framework for the often deeply conflicted emotional landscape of the characters. And speaking of the characters...wow.
Alun and James just absolutely slayed me. Their story sucked me up, slammed me down in their world, and dragged me along for the whole ride. I adored them. I loved them even when I wanted to grab Alun by his shaggy hair, shake him senseless, and kick him in the kneecap for his stubborn, jaded cynicism, feelings of inferiority, and doubt in the face of James' absolute commitment to him. Oh, sure, I totally understood where those feelings came from, they were absolutely organic to his personal history and his circumstances. I still wanted to kick him.
James was both Alun's diametric opposite and his absolute match in every way. His ability to love, his temperament, the determination in him to live with love in his life despite huge social and legal opposition, his commitment to Alun, even his concern for Rob, all made him yang to Alun's yin. I both respected him as a man and loved his character.
Both characters were so well drawn, so perfectly conceived and executed, that they lived and breathed on the pages - to the point that they made me hyperventilate. I did not want their story to end. I was completely caught up in the traumatic angst of their relationship, the suspense of the crimes that impacted them both, and the frustration with Alun's relentless negativity. Though he'd call it realism.
And they weren't the only characters of note in this book. Pattskyn was brilliant in the judicious creation of unforgettable secondary and ancillary characters. I absolutely fell in love with Robin and would love to see him in his own book, and though she was only featured briefly towards the end, Gwenyth was a fantastic character. A slightly darker and more ancillary character that intrigued me was James' boss, Inspector Lamont.
None of these characters would have had as much going on for them if the storyline hadn't been so great. Pattskyn could give lessons on creating a multi-layered, complex tale with a wealth of internal and external conflicts to drive the plot-driven story elements even as they were adding gravitas to the character-driven elements. Between the mystery surrounding the murders, the perplexing connection between the crimes and the local pack, the fact that werewolves exist and Alun is one, James and Alun's sexuality, the class difference, and a sundry of other tribulations and trials they must weather, there was just so much damn story in this book that it could have easily been twice as long.
I do wish Alun had been a little less persistent in mentioning again and again that James was human and therefore couldn't be Alun's mate. That got repetitious and became a little one-note as a conflict, especially when there was so much else inherently working against them.
I also felt there were some emotional elements that were glossed over towards the conclusion of the book, the paradigm shift that Alun has about his relationship with James addressed almost subtly. The doubt was such a big part of Alun's makeup for so long that the moment he started to have faith would have been more satisfying had it been better defined. There was a brief acknowledgement, but I felt it lacked the emotional impact necessary to balance out the negativity and doubt that drove Alun for most of the book.
Still, my sincerest appreciation goes to Pattskyn for this debut. It was a fabulously written, complex, and gritty tale. The historical elements seemed authentic, the paranormal elements were original and fresh in their setting, and both the romance and characters were divine. I hope she doesn't make readers wait too long for the sequel in the works. I'm dying to revisit these beloved characters and their dark, gritty world.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Dreamspinner Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Intense, Emotional, and Utterly Gripping
A year earlier it had become notorious, London's East End district of Whitechapel forever linked with the hunting grounds of a vicious serial killer known only as Jack the Ripper. For the poor and wretchedly unfortunate, the criminals, prostitutes, gangs...and dispossessed lycanthrope Alun Blayney...it was home.
Flush with winnings from a recent card game, Alun is on his way to a doss house to rent a room when the unmistakable scent of blood, death, and werewolf washes over him. Following his nose, he finds the body of an eviscerated young woman, slain by one of his kind. Not by fang or claw, however, but by blade.
Police Constable James Heron is walking the beat on his shift in Whitechapel. As he turns a corner late that night, he's rocked by the scene before him. A tall, rangy man is leaning over a body on the ground. Before he can blow his whistle to call for assistance, the man has him pressed against the brick wall, swearing he wasn't a killer. That if he had been, James would be as dead as the woman whose blood was even now spreading across the cobblestones.
While that logic is just enough to relax James a little, it's the look in the eyes of the dark, brooding man that stirs something in James, despite the vicious circumstances.
Two men from vastly different worlds, one human, one lycan, both outcast. Together they discover a tentative, fragile happiness. It's a feeling Alun can't trust to last, not with the secrets he holds, or the situation in Whitechapel. There are no happy endings for the werewolf who has sexual congress with men, and no possibility of a human mate, even if James could accept his existence. And as the body count in the East End continues to rise, the grim, unalterable fact is that happiness is a luxury when survival alone is in doubt.
~*~
What a fantastic read this was! The depth and scope of the plot impressed, and Pattskyn imbued the tale with a dark, rich sense of decaying desperation that perfectly accentuated the world and its inhabitants, setting the tone of the story and providing the framework for the often deeply conflicted emotional landscape of the characters. And speaking of the characters...wow.
Alun and James just absolutely slayed me. Their story sucked me up, slammed me down in their world, and dragged me along for the whole ride. I adored them. I loved them even when I wanted to grab Alun by his shaggy hair, shake him senseless, and kick him in the kneecap for his stubborn, jaded cynicism, feelings of inferiority, and doubt in the face of James' absolute commitment to him. Oh, sure, I totally understood where those feelings came from, they were absolutely organic to his personal history and his circumstances. I still wanted to kick him.
James was both Alun's diametric opposite and his absolute match in every way. His ability to love, his temperament, the determination in him to live with love in his life despite huge social and legal opposition, his commitment to Alun, even his concern for Rob, all made him yang to Alun's yin. I both respected him as a man and loved his character.
Both characters were so well drawn, so perfectly conceived and executed, that they lived and breathed on the pages - to the point that they made me hyperventilate. I did not want their story to end. I was completely caught up in the traumatic angst of their relationship, the suspense of the crimes that impacted them both, and the frustration with Alun's relentless negativity. Though he'd call it realism.
And they weren't the only characters of note in this book. Pattskyn was brilliant in the judicious creation of unforgettable secondary and ancillary characters. I absolutely fell in love with Robin and would love to see him in his own book, and though she was only featured briefly towards the end, Gwenyth was a fantastic character. A slightly darker and more ancillary character that intrigued me was James' boss, Inspector Lamont.
None of these characters would have had as much going on for them if the storyline hadn't been so great. Pattskyn could give lessons on creating a multi-layered, complex tale with a wealth of internal and external conflicts to drive the plot-driven story elements even as they were adding gravitas to the character-driven elements. Between the mystery surrounding the murders, the perplexing connection between the crimes and the local pack, the fact that werewolves exist and Alun is one, James and Alun's sexuality, the class difference, and a sundry of other tribulations and trials they must weather, there was just so much damn story in this book that it could have easily been twice as long.
I do wish Alun had been a little less persistent in mentioning again and again that James was human and therefore couldn't be Alun's mate. That got repetitious and became a little one-note as a conflict, especially when there was so much else inherently working against them.
I also felt there were some emotional elements that were glossed over towards the conclusion of the book, the paradigm shift that Alun has about his relationship with James addressed almost subtly. The doubt was such a big part of Alun's makeup for so long that the moment he started to have faith would have been more satisfying had it been better defined. There was a brief acknowledgement, but I felt it lacked the emotional impact necessary to balance out the negativity and doubt that drove Alun for most of the book.
Still, my sincerest appreciation goes to Pattskyn for this debut. It was a fabulously written, complex, and gritty tale. The historical elements seemed authentic, the paranormal elements were original and fresh in their setting, and both the romance and characters were divine. I hope she doesn't make readers wait too long for the sequel in the works. I'm dying to revisit these beloved characters and their dark, gritty world.
Disclosure: An ARC of this book was provided to me by Dreamspinner Press via NetGalley. This rating, review, and all included thoughts and comments are my own.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
February 9, 2012
4.5 stars
This was, in all honesty, an amazing book. From the start I was invested in the story and what would happen next.
The book takes place in London, a year after Jack the Ripper. James Heron is a constable who comes across a dead woman and sees Alun Blayney at the scene of the crime. The tension between James and Alun is intense and James believes Alun when he says he's not a killer. The intensity between the two is scorching, though, and they can't seem to stay away from each other even with their desires being punishable by death. They each have their own problems, however. More murders are happening and James is present for all of them. Alun, on the other hand, is tasked to find the killer by the local pack leader. While their relationship deepens, their feelings are put to the test when one thing after the other happens that could make James see Alun as a monster instead of the man he loves.
This was a great, well-written book. I loved the time this story is based around and the paranormal twist Alun being a lycanthrope puts on it. I loved James because of the emotions he lets himself freely feel for Alun from the start. James and Alun, however, are completely different. James comes from money and Alun is a diangen, an outcast, with no money, job or place to live. They are complete opposites and on top of their roles in society, they have to deal with their forbidden desire. Make no mistake, neither of these boys are in denial. They both know and accept their love of men. Alun is the type of character that would torture himself, instead of allowing someone else he cares about to be hurt so when his friends show up dead, it hurts him deeply. Alun is also afraid to tell James what he is because he doesn't want James to loathe him which is heart-breaking.
The mystery I thought was well done. You are curious about it and drawn into it. Wondering how this could happen, what they'll do next and how they'll handle it all. At one point, the intensity of what was happening when they found the 'killer' and tried him was excruciatingly captivating. I was on the edge of my seat with butterflies in my stomach waiting for what the verdict of it was going to be. Who knew reading about court could be so fun?! But the conflict revolving the murders was interesting while the situations around Alun being a lycan was doubly so. I loved seeing how different the lycan society was from humans. How their world is even harsher than human society. It amazed me and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the fact that Alun worried over what James would think of him and then how James would worry about Alun leaving. I also enjoyed the secondary characters - Rob and Mrs. Dunberry - were interesting and made the story fun. This story was simply suspenseful.
There was a time or two when the repetitiveness got annoying, though. Alun's constant need to bring up the fact he was diangen, useless, outcast and how because he's diangen he'd never find a mate especially not a human one was a little too much. There were a few things left unanswered . I'm also curious about some things but I still loved the story as it was.
All in all, I adored this story. The secondary characters, in addition to the main characters, were amusing and fun. The plot was engaging and the conflict regarding Alun and James made this historical paranormal a great story. I do hope there will be more books based in this setting because I would love to have one about Rob and Thad! Definitely recommended.
This was, in all honesty, an amazing book. From the start I was invested in the story and what would happen next.
The book takes place in London, a year after Jack the Ripper. James Heron is a constable who comes across a dead woman and sees Alun Blayney at the scene of the crime. The tension between James and Alun is intense and James believes Alun when he says he's not a killer. The intensity between the two is scorching, though, and they can't seem to stay away from each other even with their desires being punishable by death. They each have their own problems, however. More murders are happening and James is present for all of them. Alun, on the other hand, is tasked to find the killer by the local pack leader. While their relationship deepens, their feelings are put to the test when one thing after the other happens that could make James see Alun as a monster instead of the man he loves.
This was a great, well-written book. I loved the time this story is based around and the paranormal twist Alun being a lycanthrope puts on it. I loved James because of the emotions he lets himself freely feel for Alun from the start. James and Alun, however, are completely different. James comes from money and Alun is a diangen, an outcast, with no money, job or place to live. They are complete opposites and on top of their roles in society, they have to deal with their forbidden desire. Make no mistake, neither of these boys are in denial. They both know and accept their love of men. Alun is the type of character that would torture himself, instead of allowing someone else he cares about to be hurt so when his friends show up dead, it hurts him deeply. Alun is also afraid to tell James what he is because he doesn't want James to loathe him which is heart-breaking.
The mystery I thought was well done. You are curious about it and drawn into it. Wondering how this could happen, what they'll do next and how they'll handle it all. At one point, the intensity of what was happening when they found the 'killer' and tried him was excruciatingly captivating. I was on the edge of my seat with butterflies in my stomach waiting for what the verdict of it was going to be. Who knew reading about court could be so fun?! But the conflict revolving the murders was interesting while the situations around Alun being a lycan was doubly so. I loved seeing how different the lycan society was from humans. How their world is even harsher than human society. It amazed me and I couldn't get enough of it. I loved the fact that Alun worried over what James would think of him and then how James would worry about Alun leaving. I also enjoyed the secondary characters - Rob and Mrs. Dunberry - were interesting and made the story fun. This story was simply suspenseful.
There was a time or two when the repetitiveness got annoying, though. Alun's constant need to bring up the fact he was diangen, useless, outcast and how because he's diangen he'd never find a mate especially not a human one was a little too much. There were a few things left unanswered . I'm also curious about some things but I still loved the story as it was.
All in all, I adored this story. The secondary characters, in addition to the main characters, were amusing and fun. The plot was engaging and the conflict regarding Alun and James made this historical paranormal a great story. I do hope there will be more books based in this setting because I would love to have one about Rob and Thad! Definitely recommended.
August 1, 2012
I enjoyed Heart's Home a lot, and I think anyone who likes werewolf or historical m/m stories would too.
There were one or two minor historical niggles, but not really worth mentioning unless you're particularly into 19th-century London, which isn't my area of expertise so it didn't bother me too hugely. Though the frequent mention of duvets did make my teeth grind a bit. Sheets and blankets were the thing back then. I remember having them as a child and feeling very modern when I got married and switched to duvets, and I'm not that old, LOL! I did have an eiderdown, which was a similar thing, but 'In Victorian Britain the Eiderdown became popular and whilst we might describe it as an early form of duvet it did not replace blankets which were much heavier and warmer for the Victorians.' This came from a webpage on the history of the duvet, oddly enough. I love the internet!
Still, enough of that, and back to the book, for H.B. Pattskyn successfully managed to show some of the grim reality of working class life at about 1890, and while not as dark as the reality would have been, her word-portrait was quite enough to provide a background to the tale without making the whole book unremittingly grim.
I did like the Jack the Ripper feel to the book, including details like the police surgeon and the carriages to transport prisoners, and the quite desperate haste with which a poor man could find himself captured, tried and strung up. Great world-building and tension during those scenes.
Alas, though, once again I found myself dismaged to find the plot device of
On the other hand, I really liked the werewolf setup in this novel. The idea of 'diangen', the outcast wolves, was original to me. I don't read a huge number of shifter stories so it might or might not be original to H.B., but if it is, well done her, because it's a good one. The different types of werewolf, according to the phase of the moon when they were born, was intriguing and worked well.
I liked the fact that Alun was Welsh. We don't see enough Welshmen in m/m, or indeed enough Brits from the provinces or less common regions of England for that matter.
There were some editing faux pas and misuse of words along the way - 'transverse' for 'traverse'; 'distain' for 'disdain' (a common one, that - distain means: to discolor; stain; sully, and has nothing to do with holding anyone in disdain). It always makes me wish I could have had a go at it with my own red pen. If these are obvious to me, shouldn't a paid editor catch them?
To sum up: this was a long (for m/m) and satisfying novel that moved at a good pace but never felt rushed. There was also room for a sequel, if I don't miss my mark, and I for one would like to read it, but the book never left you feeling short-changed or dissatisfied despite that. I'd give it a solid 4.25 stars :)
A final note about the cover. Ummm... ick? Okay, there were one or two scenes this might illustrate, but this book would have been so much better served by a nighttime East End street scene with a suggestion of prowling lycanthropes, for instance. Something to show it's not pure romance but has an edgy, quite dark plot in there too, which stays with you at the end. I'm sorry to say I haven't yet seen a Paul Richmond cover I've liked. Obviously his style just isn't for me. Another book I'm currently reading, A Devil's Own Luck by Rowan McAllister, has an even worse example.
There were one or two minor historical niggles, but not really worth mentioning unless you're particularly into 19th-century London, which isn't my area of expertise so it didn't bother me too hugely. Though the frequent mention of duvets did make my teeth grind a bit. Sheets and blankets were the thing back then. I remember having them as a child and feeling very modern when I got married and switched to duvets, and I'm not that old, LOL! I did have an eiderdown, which was a similar thing, but 'In Victorian Britain the Eiderdown became popular and whilst we might describe it as an early form of duvet it did not replace blankets which were much heavier and warmer for the Victorians.' This came from a webpage on the history of the duvet, oddly enough. I love the internet!
Still, enough of that, and back to the book, for H.B. Pattskyn successfully managed to show some of the grim reality of working class life at about 1890, and while not as dark as the reality would have been, her word-portrait was quite enough to provide a background to the tale without making the whole book unremittingly grim.
I did like the Jack the Ripper feel to the book, including details like the police surgeon and the carriages to transport prisoners, and the quite desperate haste with which a poor man could find himself captured, tried and strung up. Great world-building and tension during those scenes.
Alas, though, once again I found myself dismaged to find the plot device of
On the other hand, I really liked the werewolf setup in this novel. The idea of 'diangen', the outcast wolves, was original to me. I don't read a huge number of shifter stories so it might or might not be original to H.B., but if it is, well done her, because it's a good one. The different types of werewolf, according to the phase of the moon when they were born, was intriguing and worked well.
I liked the fact that Alun was Welsh. We don't see enough Welshmen in m/m, or indeed enough Brits from the provinces or less common regions of England for that matter.
There were some editing faux pas and misuse of words along the way - 'transverse' for 'traverse'; 'distain' for 'disdain' (a common one, that - distain means: to discolor; stain; sully, and has nothing to do with holding anyone in disdain). It always makes me wish I could have had a go at it with my own red pen. If these are obvious to me, shouldn't a paid editor catch them?
To sum up: this was a long (for m/m) and satisfying novel that moved at a good pace but never felt rushed. There was also room for a sequel, if I don't miss my mark, and I for one would like to read it, but the book never left you feeling short-changed or dissatisfied despite that. I'd give it a solid 4.25 stars :)
A final note about the cover. Ummm... ick? Okay, there were one or two scenes this might illustrate, but this book would have been so much better served by a nighttime East End street scene with a suggestion of prowling lycanthropes, for instance. Something to show it's not pure romance but has an edgy, quite dark plot in there too, which stays with you at the end. I'm sorry to say I haven't yet seen a Paul Richmond cover I've liked. Obviously his style just isn't for me. Another book I'm currently reading, A Devil's Own Luck by Rowan McAllister, has an even worse example.
March 24, 2012
Heart’s Home
By H.B. Pattskyn
Dreamspinner Press
December, 2011
PDF Galley courtesy of NetGalley
***Some spoilers***
I am fairly new to the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genres despite having read fantasy for years. At first, I was tentative over the premise of Heart’s Home, but something about the description of it appealed to me. I generally don’t read much having to do with lycanthropy, but have started to become more interested in period and fantasy books involving M/M relationships.
The author takes no time involving the reader immediately into the story. Alun Blayney, a down on his luck Welsh lycan, and James Heron, a police constable, are a true case of opposites attracting. James, on patrol, finds a man hunched over the body of a dead woman, and is immediately assaulted by the man, Alun. Against the backstory of the murder(s), the relationship between James and Alun gets off to a somewhat odd beginning. James is a kind, generous man, so much so that he abandons all sense, seemingly, and invites Alun to his home to clean up his injuries. James is almost childlike in his trust of others. Alun finds himself drawn to James immensely, but isn’t sure whether his advances would be returned or spurned. Much of their relationship is their determination of whether or not it is a relationship, given the significance of the fact that James is human and Alun isn’t.
The reader knows at this point that Alun is an exiled lycan, alone in the world. This parallels James’ feelings of being alone in the world as well due to his sexual orientation. Both of them have no family. Alun’s desire to find his mate, which he thinks is impossible as an exiled lycan, drives him. He is attracted to James, but can’t imagine having a human male as a mate. Despite Alun’s determination that a relationship between the two of them wouldn’t work, his path and James’ continue to cross, and James continues to bring him home, where it’s obvious that the two are very well matched to each other desires and needs.
When Alun is arrested for the murder of a third woman, James takes desperate measures to keep him from being found guilty. The worlds of the lycans and the humans move around each other touching only at the edges, as separate as the edges of the impoverished society of London’s East End and the Magistrates who are to try Alun for murder. James hires a family friend, one of the country’s best attorneys, to get Alun out of jail.
What seem to be impossible situations are convincingly resolved, the characters are given depth and it is easy to be drawn into their lives once the story gets going. What appeared to be a difficult combination things to combine are mixed together well, and Heart’s Home is an enjoyable read.
By H.B. Pattskyn
Dreamspinner Press
December, 2011
PDF Galley courtesy of NetGalley
***Some spoilers***
I am fairly new to the paranormal romance/urban fantasy genres despite having read fantasy for years. At first, I was tentative over the premise of Heart’s Home, but something about the description of it appealed to me. I generally don’t read much having to do with lycanthropy, but have started to become more interested in period and fantasy books involving M/M relationships.
The author takes no time involving the reader immediately into the story. Alun Blayney, a down on his luck Welsh lycan, and James Heron, a police constable, are a true case of opposites attracting. James, on patrol, finds a man hunched over the body of a dead woman, and is immediately assaulted by the man, Alun. Against the backstory of the murder(s), the relationship between James and Alun gets off to a somewhat odd beginning. James is a kind, generous man, so much so that he abandons all sense, seemingly, and invites Alun to his home to clean up his injuries. James is almost childlike in his trust of others. Alun finds himself drawn to James immensely, but isn’t sure whether his advances would be returned or spurned. Much of their relationship is their determination of whether or not it is a relationship, given the significance of the fact that James is human and Alun isn’t.
The reader knows at this point that Alun is an exiled lycan, alone in the world. This parallels James’ feelings of being alone in the world as well due to his sexual orientation. Both of them have no family. Alun’s desire to find his mate, which he thinks is impossible as an exiled lycan, drives him. He is attracted to James, but can’t imagine having a human male as a mate. Despite Alun’s determination that a relationship between the two of them wouldn’t work, his path and James’ continue to cross, and James continues to bring him home, where it’s obvious that the two are very well matched to each other desires and needs.
When Alun is arrested for the murder of a third woman, James takes desperate measures to keep him from being found guilty. The worlds of the lycans and the humans move around each other touching only at the edges, as separate as the edges of the impoverished society of London’s East End and the Magistrates who are to try Alun for murder. James hires a family friend, one of the country’s best attorneys, to get Alun out of jail.
What seem to be impossible situations are convincingly resolved, the characters are given depth and it is easy to be drawn into their lives once the story gets going. What appeared to be a difficult combination things to combine are mixed together well, and Heart’s Home is an enjoyable read.
October 12, 2013
3.5 stars rounded up
This was a really interesting story, set the year after Jack the Ripper has terrorised Whitechapel, James Heron, a police constable, comes upon the body of a murdered woman with a man leaning over her. A man he’s attracted to, and who assures him that he isn’t a murderer. Alun is a werewolf, cast out by his own pack for being gay, and not welcomed by the London wolf pack, he is totally alone. The pair begin a relationship – but it appears it must come to an end and Alun’s life hangs in the balance when he’s found over the body of another woman and thrown in jail, to be charged with murder.
Whilst I did enjoy the story, I was pulled out on numerous occasions – for a story set in Victorian London there were just too many things that were incorrect for the period and the country. What’s more whilst Alun is said to be Welsh, the two female members of the London wolf pack have Welsh names which didn’t fit with their London setting. Alun’s accent was difficult for me to fathom, the author had thrown in a couple of Welsh phrases, but I wasn’t sure whether the accent was meant to be Welsh or Cockney….
This was a really interesting story, set the year after Jack the Ripper has terrorised Whitechapel, James Heron, a police constable, comes upon the body of a murdered woman with a man leaning over her. A man he’s attracted to, and who assures him that he isn’t a murderer. Alun is a werewolf, cast out by his own pack for being gay, and not welcomed by the London wolf pack, he is totally alone. The pair begin a relationship – but it appears it must come to an end and Alun’s life hangs in the balance when he’s found over the body of another woman and thrown in jail, to be charged with murder.
Whilst I did enjoy the story, I was pulled out on numerous occasions – for a story set in Victorian London there were just too many things that were incorrect for the period and the country. What’s more whilst Alun is said to be Welsh, the two female members of the London wolf pack have Welsh names which didn’t fit with their London setting. Alun’s accent was difficult for me to fathom, the author had thrown in a couple of Welsh phrases, but I wasn’t sure whether the accent was meant to be Welsh or Cockney….
March 8, 2014
Set in London, this historical m/m paranormal mystery has a lot of things I usually like. James Heron is a police constable facing Jack the Ripper like killings on his patch. He comes across Alun Blayney (who is the pov character more often than not), a werewolf exiled from his pack for being gay. Alun also seems to have a bit of magic as well, or at least the ability to deal with spirits.
Naturally just as they are falling for each other, Alun becomes the prime suspect as is nearly jailed. Worse, Alun is at the mercy of a cruel local pack leader. Neither man is safe until they can find the killer and deal with the pack leader but they do have some help in the form of another young man, Robin.
Over all, I did like it. I found it a bit unbalance. The end seemed a bit rushed but not too bad. What did bug me a bit was Alun's constant repetition about how he's a werewolf without a pack (and why he was tossed out), that he shouldn't be with a human and that he's not really worthy of James's love. A few reminders is okay but there is a good few too many in this. But reading past that, I liked it.
Naturally just as they are falling for each other, Alun becomes the prime suspect as is nearly jailed. Worse, Alun is at the mercy of a cruel local pack leader. Neither man is safe until they can find the killer and deal with the pack leader but they do have some help in the form of another young man, Robin.
Over all, I did like it. I found it a bit unbalance. The end seemed a bit rushed but not too bad. What did bug me a bit was Alun's constant repetition about how he's a werewolf without a pack (and why he was tossed out), that he shouldn't be with a human and that he's not really worthy of James's love. A few reminders is okay but there is a good few too many in this. But reading past that, I liked it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2012
Werewolf stories aren't exactly my favorite, but I read this book for a challenge. I'm very glad I did! I loved the historical setting and felt that those very few who did accept homosexuality did so believably. The main characters had depth and a lot of the side characters as well. Pattskyn set London up nicely and I was able to really walk the streets with James and Alun. The werewolf thing was also nicely done.
I was getting a bit frustrated with the , but that would have ended the book sooner, I guess.
Pattskyn weaved the plots and sub plots nicely and I felt content in the end. I was very impressed with the writing skill and the book as a whole was a pleasure to read. - was that to set up a second book? I hope so!
I was getting a bit frustrated with the , but that would have ended the book sooner, I guess.
Pattskyn weaved the plots and sub plots nicely and I felt content in the end. I was very impressed with the writing skill and the book as a whole was a pleasure to read. - was that to set up a second book? I hope so!
Read
March 18, 2012Heart's Home by H.B. Pattskyn is about 19th century a werewolf named Alun Blaney and a human police constable named James Heron. Alun is a very cynical individual and is mistrustful of humans discovering his secret. Despite himself, however he finds a growing friendship and attraction to Police Constable James is an idealistic young man convinced that love can overcome any differences. When a woman is murdered James and Alun begins tentative friendship that grows into mutual admiration as they both purse the killer.
As the investigation deepens, Alun find opposition from a cruel pack leader, while James must battle a demon.
What made this werewolf book unique was the 19th century murder mystery as a kind of side plot to the relationship between James and Alun. This book allowed me to see a context of a very gritty and gothic werewolf version of a Jack The Ripper. It was a good murder mystery paranormal read, vert tastefully done. Look forward to reading more of this author.
As the investigation deepens, Alun find opposition from a cruel pack leader, while James must battle a demon.
What made this werewolf book unique was the 19th century murder mystery as a kind of side plot to the relationship between James and Alun. This book allowed me to see a context of a very gritty and gothic werewolf version of a Jack The Ripper. It was a good murder mystery paranormal read, vert tastefully done. Look forward to reading more of this author.
March 8, 2012
This is absolutely what you would consider a guilty pleasure. It's also very well done. Gay werewolves and demons, in a love triangle with an English police officer, set against the backdrop of Victorian London in the wake of Jack the Ripper's murders. It was NOT full of typographical and/or spelling errors, which was a treat. (I get really sick of that) The characters were clearly defined, vulnerable and likable. I loved all the Victorian trappings and the foggy murder-haunted streets of the Whitechapel district. I was not expecting the full-on porny sex scenes, but they were very... thorough. So much so that I'm a little shocked to discover the author is a woman. I totally appreciated the fact that the star-crossed lovers were NOT whiny, weak, and annoying, like male versions of Bella from you-know-what. By the way- I downloaded this for free to my Kindle from NetGalley.
January 17, 2012
A well written historical paranormal romance story set in the time of Riper murders. Pattskyn's debut novel is well done has a solid plot and interesting characters.
There is a new spin to the werewolves, at least she has new categories I haven't read about before, so it was not your typical *see mate and claim him* story. It actually really has a mystery story and is not only about James and Alun's relationship.
I was left wondering what happened to some character's who left or were banned. I mean the split was not exactly amicable, why was there not more resistance or trouble for the pack alpha?
Otherwise and interesting book which did hold my attention till the end
There is a new spin to the werewolves, at least she has new categories I haven't read about before, so it was not your typical *see mate and claim him* story. It actually really has a mystery story and is not only about James and Alun's relationship.
I was left wondering what happened to some character's who left or were banned. I mean the split was not exactly amicable, why was there not more resistance or trouble for the pack alpha?
Otherwise and interesting book which did hold my attention till the end
November 30, 2015
I enjoyed this book very much. It’s an interesting historical that takes place in London at the end of the 19th Century with Jack the Ripper’s shadow… The two main characters are endearing and I like how their relationship grows up. There is at the same time suspense, mystery and paranormal. But what’s also interesting is that the author tells much about the differences: social, cultural, racial (human/non-human), and so on… Not very much change since 1889…!
December 21, 2011
There are a few WTF moments but overall, it is a wonderful debut from HB. Just a right story for Christmas!
Despite the minor mishaps, I like the way she portray the characters...imperfectly normal like us and her world building is slow but surely caught my attention that I had to complete the story within the night.
A story for Robin or maybe a little followup to Heart's Home, please?
Despite the minor mishaps, I like the way she portray the characters...imperfectly normal like us and her world building is slow but surely caught my attention that I had to complete the story within the night.
A story for Robin or maybe a little followup to Heart's Home, please?
July 19, 2012
I literally could not put this book down. Stayed up till 5am or so reading it. There were enough twists and turns to satisfy even the most avid fiction reader. Can't wait for her next book to come out!
June 11, 2012
3 stars. Interesting story, but dragged in the middle (for me anyways). And the ending was pretty open to a sequel of sorts. Which I would buy if it had Robin's story in it and he got his own HEA. :)
September 24, 2012
Absolutely could not put it down. >:)
January 21, 2014
3.75 stars
The writing needs a little improvement. There was too much "the younger man", "the blonde", "the lanky Welshman"....and so on and sometimes it was a bit repetitive. But I liked the plot.
The writing needs a little improvement. There was too much "the younger man", "the blonde", "the lanky Welshman"....and so on and sometimes it was a bit repetitive. But I liked the plot.
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