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Dark Hollow Wolf Pack #1
The Alpha's Pet
Nicky Anderson is living a normal, if hectic life as an artist and part time waiter in a large city, when he’s attacked by a mugger who slashes his throat. When he awakens, he’s naked, and surrounded by large, muscular men. Nicky feels an immediate attraction to Marco, the most handsome man Nicky has ever seen, which is strange, since Nicky is straight. His attraction is overwhelming and downright embarrassing as he licks the man and tries to climb all over him. He soon discovers he’s the newest “pet” of the Mountain Wolf Pack, and Marco is his new master. Saved from certain death, has he exchanged one horrible fate for another? All he knows is that he’s in heat for this beautiful man. When he learns his new master is a wolf shapeshifter who demands his love and obedience, he begins to wonder just what he’s gotten himself into.
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Word 26642
120 pages, ebook
First published May 8, 2012
22 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 18, 2013
"Darling?"
"Yes Baby-Pet-Mate-Snooky-Fucking-Uppims?"
"I'm a 'Chick with a Dick'!"
"Oh Goody...because I'm a Big Bad Wolf who likes being misogynistic so the fact you're "pretty enough to be a girl" makes it so much easier to treat you like shite!"
"Oh Master...sigh...tell me again what an idiot I am so I can have more of my self-esteem eroded!"
"Come here Baby...let me spank you into submission because, after all, this IS erotica and we have to incorporate some sex into this drivel..."
Ack!
"Yes Baby-Pet-Mate-Snooky-Fucking-Uppims?"
"I'm a 'Chick with a Dick'!"
"Oh Goody...because I'm a Big Bad Wolf who likes being misogynistic so the fact you're "pretty enough to be a girl" makes it so much easier to treat you like shite!"
"Oh Master...sigh...tell me again what an idiot I am so I can have more of my self-esteem eroded!"
"Come here Baby...let me spank you into submission because, after all, this IS erotica and we have to incorporate some sex into this drivel..."
Ack!
December 4, 2013
WARNING: this review may contain spoilers!
Oh man this one messed up book.
it has a lot of potential, despite the over-descriptive writing style and downright bad phrases (He wanted to go to sleep with Marco’s dick in his mouth and suck on it like a pacifier) SERIOUSLY?! And there are many more like that.
I like that there is a resistant mate, who doesn't instantly become the perfect mate and fights for his right.
However, it was poorly executed. Marco never explains anything and he wonders why Nicky resists? And it didn't make any sense that Nicky just went along with everything and only fighting minimally.
Needless to say the first half of this story is aweful. Full of holes and contradictions. The characters were more made to fit the story than actually part of the story.
The second half was better. As Nicky comes to realizes, while with the rogues, that he doesn't have to be a brainless, kept slave.
I liked this much much better.
Then it all turned sour again. Marco is unreasonable stubborn. He neither listens nor looks around or ask question. He is in all ways a bad alpha and it made me wonder why none one else asked questions. Marco may be alpha but he is not a dictatorial ruler.
What I completely, utterly and seriously do not understand is how Marco could treat and hurt Nicky like he did in the challenge.
What was even worse was how Nicky then accepts things for what they are after he wakes up. Marco never apologizes to Nicky at all and Nicky falls right back in the slave mind set. Even though he's apparently given more liberties.
So in the end nothing has changed. Nicky was treated so poorly and obviously has no pride. I mean, come on, a mate bond can only influence a person so much.
Marco will allow Nicky to paint again? Allow? Seriously? And then he continues to spank Nicky, despite Nicky's protests that he doesn't want to be treated like that.... Uhm? This is not someone in the life-style who says one thing and means anothers...
Hell even submissives in the lifestyle are treated better than this.
So no... while this book had a lot of potential, I was very disappointed in the outcome. It made me wonder if the author read her story back or even had beta readers or if an editor even looked at the story...
At the end of the story we're left with a
Oh man this one messed up book.
it has a lot of potential, despite the over-descriptive writing style and downright bad phrases (He wanted to go to sleep with Marco’s dick in his mouth and suck on it like a pacifier) SERIOUSLY?! And there are many more like that.
I like that there is a resistant mate, who doesn't instantly become the perfect mate and fights for his right.
However, it was poorly executed. Marco never explains anything and he wonders why Nicky resists? And it didn't make any sense that Nicky just went along with everything and only fighting minimally.
Needless to say the first half of this story is aweful. Full of holes and contradictions. The characters were more made to fit the story than actually part of the story.
The second half was better. As Nicky comes to realizes, while with the rogues, that he doesn't have to be a brainless, kept slave.
I liked this much much better.
Then it all turned sour again. Marco is unreasonable stubborn. He neither listens nor looks around or ask question. He is in all ways a bad alpha and it made me wonder why none one else asked questions. Marco may be alpha but he is not a dictatorial ruler.
What I completely, utterly and seriously do not understand is how Marco could treat and hurt Nicky like he did in the challenge.
What was even worse was how Nicky then accepts things for what they are after he wakes up. Marco never apologizes to Nicky at all and Nicky falls right back in the slave mind set. Even though he's apparently given more liberties.
So in the end nothing has changed. Nicky was treated so poorly and obviously has no pride. I mean, come on, a mate bond can only influence a person so much.
Marco will allow Nicky to paint again? Allow? Seriously? And then he continues to spank Nicky, despite Nicky's protests that he doesn't want to be treated like that.... Uhm? This is not someone in the life-style who says one thing and means anothers...
Hell even submissives in the lifestyle are treated better than this.
So no... while this book had a lot of potential, I was very disappointed in the outcome. It made me wonder if the author read her story back or even had beta readers or if an editor even looked at the story...
At the end of the story we're left with a
April 19, 2014
❤♡♡♡♡
Usually, I'm a big fan of werewolves and shapeshifters stories. But this one didn't do it for me, essentially because of the heroes.
Nicky wasn't the kind of character whom I would sympathize with. He was weak, passive, whiny and childish. I didn't like him at all. He went along with everything that was ordered to him, without demanding explanations or protesting too much (for example, see the tattoo part). He rebelled a little in the middle of the book, but it didn't last. At the end of the story, things didn't change for Nicky, except for the fact that he could come and go without a guard and a leash. But he wasn't treated like an equal, or like a mate should be treated. His opinion didn't matter any more at the end than it did at the beginning. What disturbed me also with Nicky's character was the fact that, despite his heterosexuality, he almost wasn't bothered by being mated to Marco. There was no introspection or any doubts.
Marco wasn't better. He was the wrong kind of alpha male (and before reading this book, I didn't know that existed). He demanded respect and obedience without earning it. The word "communication" was completely out of his vocabulary, he never sat Nicky down to explain anything to him. He expected his mate to know everything about his world and its rules, as if Nicky were a psychic. And, even though, he was stubborn and made a lot of mistakes, he never owned them and apologized. He didn't change his behavior either.
As for the sex scenes, they lacked sensuality, eroticism. They seemed perfunctory, as if they were mandatory but not a pleasure to write (or read). There was no chemistry at all between Nicky and Marco.
I was really uncomfortable about the whole pet thing. I've read books with this kind of lifestyle and it didn't bother me like this one. It may be because the author went a little too far. In this book, the adopted pets are leashed like dogs and it was not only during a scene, it was all day every day !!! Plus, they weren't always leashed by their masters, it could be by another werewolf. There also were the tattoo and the groomers that turned me off. The fact that pets weren't allowed to wear anything other than pants was strange too. I understand the need for the author to set herself apart from similar stories. But, the execution didn't match the idea.
Usually, I'm a big fan of werewolves and shapeshifters stories. But this one didn't do it for me, essentially because of the heroes.
Nicky wasn't the kind of character whom I would sympathize with. He was weak, passive, whiny and childish. I didn't like him at all. He went along with everything that was ordered to him, without demanding explanations or protesting too much (for example, see the tattoo part). He rebelled a little in the middle of the book, but it didn't last. At the end of the story, things didn't change for Nicky, except for the fact that he could come and go without a guard and a leash. But he wasn't treated like an equal, or like a mate should be treated. His opinion didn't matter any more at the end than it did at the beginning. What disturbed me also with Nicky's character was the fact that, despite his heterosexuality, he almost wasn't bothered by being mated to Marco. There was no introspection or any doubts.
Marco wasn't better. He was the wrong kind of alpha male (and before reading this book, I didn't know that existed). He demanded respect and obedience without earning it. The word "communication" was completely out of his vocabulary, he never sat Nicky down to explain anything to him. He expected his mate to know everything about his world and its rules, as if Nicky were a psychic. And, even though, he was stubborn and made a lot of mistakes, he never owned them and apologized. He didn't change his behavior either.
As for the sex scenes, they lacked sensuality, eroticism. They seemed perfunctory, as if they were mandatory but not a pleasure to write (or read). There was no chemistry at all between Nicky and Marco.
I was really uncomfortable about the whole pet thing. I've read books with this kind of lifestyle and it didn't bother me like this one. It may be because the author went a little too far. In this book, the adopted pets are leashed like dogs and it was not only during a scene, it was all day every day !!! Plus, they weren't always leashed by their masters, it could be by another werewolf. There also were the tattoo and the groomers that turned me off. The fact that pets weren't allowed to wear anything other than pants was strange too. I understand the need for the author to set herself apart from similar stories. But, the execution didn't match the idea.
July 15, 2012
This is possibly one of the worst books I've read recently. The writing is technically sound, however there is little else to highlight. The concept of a resistant mate is poorly executed, with very little believable emotion between the main characters. Marco, the dominant alpha male, is completely unyielding and his approach to pursuing a relationship with Nicky feels a lot more like abuse than love. This issue is compounded with some generally ridiculous concepts like giving Nicky his finger to nurse at night since he can't suck on his penis. It may appeal to some, but I recommend spending your money elsewhere.
December 4, 2013
First up, this is my opinion and all reviews are subjective. You may totally have loved this book and that's cool. It just did not work for me on any level.
Now, as everyone knows I love shifter books. On a friend's Livejournal, I saw The Alpha's Pet reviewed and decided to try it. From the initial chapter, I could tell this was not going to be my type of book. There were good and bad things in the novel. Let's start with the good.
Shannon West knows how to move a plot along, so the pacing was fine. She's also able to string together sentences in a fun, well-written way. I truly enjoyed the rogue wolf pack and Rory...but I am afraid that was all I liked. (And that's why I gave it 2 stars instead of one.)
The things I disliked far out numbered the things I liked. First, there were HUGE consent issues (dub-con, non-con) and all sorts of other things I have no desire to read about. Now normally, I love Insta-Love, mating bonds, knots and other werewolf tropes, but for some reason the tropes in this book just failed to pull me in and actually turned me off. The whole M/s thing could have been interesting if the world building had been better, but quite frankly after reading the book, I wanted Marco to die because he was such an idiot to Nicky. (Not a good thing when you want to love interest to bite the big one!) If I had been a pet I probably would have killed the guy. No cursing? Really?
While the book followed the typical werewolf formula of mates meeting, bonding, etc. the GFY plot did not work in this instance. Since Nicky was straight before meeting Marco and it was only the mating bonding affecting his decision to be with Marco, I did not think this was a tried and true GFY plot. The dubious consent of Nicky being "under the influence" and only bonding to Marco because of that took away all his free will and while it made for a rape fantasy plot, the GFY aspects weren't enough for me.
So, overall, not my cup of tea. If you like to read a similar book that in my estimation worked these tropes better you might want to try Lynn Lorenz's Bayou Dreams (GFY wolf bonding) or Finn Marlowe's A Thread of Deepest Black and I, Omega (BDSM and wolves), which are all easily 4 stars or above.
Now, as everyone knows I love shifter books. On a friend's Livejournal, I saw The Alpha's Pet reviewed and decided to try it. From the initial chapter, I could tell this was not going to be my type of book. There were good and bad things in the novel. Let's start with the good.
Shannon West knows how to move a plot along, so the pacing was fine. She's also able to string together sentences in a fun, well-written way. I truly enjoyed the rogue wolf pack and Rory...but I am afraid that was all I liked. (And that's why I gave it 2 stars instead of one.)
The things I disliked far out numbered the things I liked. First, there were HUGE consent issues (dub-con, non-con) and all sorts of other things I have no desire to read about. Now normally, I love Insta-Love, mating bonds, knots and other werewolf tropes, but for some reason the tropes in this book just failed to pull me in and actually turned me off. The whole M/s thing could have been interesting if the world building had been better, but quite frankly after reading the book, I wanted Marco to die because he was such an idiot to Nicky. (Not a good thing when you want to love interest to bite the big one!) If I had been a pet I probably would have killed the guy. No cursing? Really?
While the book followed the typical werewolf formula of mates meeting, bonding, etc. the GFY plot did not work in this instance. Since Nicky was straight before meeting Marco and it was only the mating bonding affecting his decision to be with Marco, I did not think this was a tried and true GFY plot. The dubious consent of Nicky being "under the influence" and only bonding to Marco because of that took away all his free will and while it made for a rape fantasy plot, the GFY aspects weren't enough for me.
So, overall, not my cup of tea. If you like to read a similar book that in my estimation worked these tropes better you might want to try Lynn Lorenz's Bayou Dreams (GFY wolf bonding) or Finn Marlowe's A Thread of Deepest Black and I, Omega (BDSM and wolves), which are all easily 4 stars or above.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2015
A werewolf story with a difference is pretty hard to write. Hundreds of them are already out there and while the mythologies and exact details vary, a lot of the basic assumptions and the ways they interact with humans are actually pretty similar. One of them is the ‘machoness’ of the dominant werewolf partner and the submission of the physically weaker human. Want to see a different way this can go? This story has an interesting twist in that dynamic which had me pay close attention to what was going on. I’ll admit the first third of the story was pretty ‘standard’ – but once it takes off? Buckle your seatbelts!
Nicky is an artist, but also works as a waiter to make ends meet. He doesn’t think of himself as special, and isn’t particularly happy with his life, but it is his, and he stands on his own two feet. But when he is mugged, changed into a werewolf to save his life – but without his consent, and suddenly finds himself mated to a big, strong alpha werewolf, he is understandably upset. Imagine his horror when he is called ‘pet’ and treated no better than a dog. Possibly a spoiled and protected pet, but still. Marco, his mate and master, demands total submission and even cussing is forbidden as a sign of ‘becoming feral’. I really felt for Nicky and all the wolves’ constant reassurances about how treasured he was did not help.
Marco is an overbearing, arrogant werewolf who may say he has his pack’s best interests at heart, but he is too stubborn to listen when something new and unexpected happens. The way he treats Nicky is pretty bad, even if he doesn’t mean it to be degrading. For him, having a pet and what they are expected to do is very clear, rooted in tradition, and acting against the old laws can only bring danger – mostly for the pet. I felt like banging his head against the wall and yelling at him to wake up and smell the roses during most of the book, but he was so well-meaning and protective of Nicky that it was as difficult for me to remain mad at him as it was for Nicky.
This is a great story. I loved the emotional tension between Nicky and Marco, Nicky’s struggle to understand what was going on, and then his fight to make Marco see that he was wrong. I liked the message that people (and I include werewolves here!) are not all the same and that there are differences that need to be taken into account if they want a happy relationship. Nicky’s fight for what he knows is right is heart-breaking, and I can only be very relieved that the ending was worth all the suffering.
If you like werewolf stories with a twist, if strong-willed characters are your thing, and if you prefer your main characters to have emotions as well as a physique to die for, you will probably like this story as much as I did.
NOTE: This book was provided by Secret Cravings Publishing for the purpose of a review on Raonbow Book Reviews.
Nicky is an artist, but also works as a waiter to make ends meet. He doesn’t think of himself as special, and isn’t particularly happy with his life, but it is his, and he stands on his own two feet. But when he is mugged, changed into a werewolf to save his life – but without his consent, and suddenly finds himself mated to a big, strong alpha werewolf, he is understandably upset. Imagine his horror when he is called ‘pet’ and treated no better than a dog. Possibly a spoiled and protected pet, but still. Marco, his mate and master, demands total submission and even cussing is forbidden as a sign of ‘becoming feral’. I really felt for Nicky and all the wolves’ constant reassurances about how treasured he was did not help.
Marco is an overbearing, arrogant werewolf who may say he has his pack’s best interests at heart, but he is too stubborn to listen when something new and unexpected happens. The way he treats Nicky is pretty bad, even if he doesn’t mean it to be degrading. For him, having a pet and what they are expected to do is very clear, rooted in tradition, and acting against the old laws can only bring danger – mostly for the pet. I felt like banging his head against the wall and yelling at him to wake up and smell the roses during most of the book, but he was so well-meaning and protective of Nicky that it was as difficult for me to remain mad at him as it was for Nicky.
This is a great story. I loved the emotional tension between Nicky and Marco, Nicky’s struggle to understand what was going on, and then his fight to make Marco see that he was wrong. I liked the message that people (and I include werewolves here!) are not all the same and that there are differences that need to be taken into account if they want a happy relationship. Nicky’s fight for what he knows is right is heart-breaking, and I can only be very relieved that the ending was worth all the suffering.
If you like werewolf stories with a twist, if strong-willed characters are your thing, and if you prefer your main characters to have emotions as well as a physique to die for, you will probably like this story as much as I did.
NOTE: This book was provided by Secret Cravings Publishing for the purpose of a review on Raonbow Book Reviews.
July 23, 2019
When I see a book (in a genre I enjoy) that has a ton of reviews with drastically opposing ratings/comments (4&5 star reviews with glowing comments, and 1 star reviews that completely rip it a new one) I get intensely curious...
So, I decided to give this one a try. And...I'm definitely in the "haters" camp on this one.
I understand that Nicky was acting out of character simply because of what had happened to him. That being turned had affected his mindset and "instincts", making him react in a way he normally never would, even though he was aware of what he was doing, and horrified/confused by it. But still, it was just so...nauseating and creepy (I'll explain that further down in my review). And it was made even worse by Marco's treatment of him, and the sickening overuse of pet names like "baby" and "sweetheart".
But aside from that, Nicky, in his own right, is one of those "TSTL" characters. It's something I've really only seen applied to heroines in Het romances (TSTL = Too Stupid To Live), but it definitely applied here. Who the hell wakes up in someone's bedroom and thinks they're in a hospital? Who the hell sees a collar around their neck and thinks it's some kind of hospital identification tag? Someone who is lacking a vast majority of brain cells, that's who. Good god... :(
But the main reason I just couldn't continue with this story was the sheer creepiness of it. It had a very strong pedophilia-like tone to it that made my skin crawl. Not quite as bad as Lynn Hagen's Hawk's Pretty Baby, but it still creeped me out quite a bit. Having the urge to fall asleep while sucking on Marco's cock "like a pacifier"? And actually falling asleep, curled up and grasping onto Marco's hand while sucking on his thumb? Being threatened with a spanking if he threw a "temper tantrum". WTF??!!
I'm very open to a lot of kinks and extreme content. But pedophilia is where I draw the line. As well as stories that obviously want to be pedophilia, but where the author tries to mask it somewhat, in an attempt to make it more "acceptable". Like this one for example, where an adult character acts just like a baby/infant because of supernatural circumstances. Or in Lynn Hagen's book, where an adult character acts like a small child because of mental retardation.
Anyway...this was my first book by this author, and it will be my last.
So, I decided to give this one a try. And...I'm definitely in the "haters" camp on this one.
I understand that Nicky was acting out of character simply because of what had happened to him. That being turned had affected his mindset and "instincts", making him react in a way he normally never would, even though he was aware of what he was doing, and horrified/confused by it. But still, it was just so...nauseating and creepy (I'll explain that further down in my review). And it was made even worse by Marco's treatment of him, and the sickening overuse of pet names like "baby" and "sweetheart".
But aside from that, Nicky, in his own right, is one of those "TSTL" characters. It's something I've really only seen applied to heroines in Het romances (TSTL = Too Stupid To Live), but it definitely applied here. Who the hell wakes up in someone's bedroom and thinks they're in a hospital? Who the hell sees a collar around their neck and thinks it's some kind of hospital identification tag? Someone who is lacking a vast majority of brain cells, that's who. Good god... :(
But the main reason I just couldn't continue with this story was the sheer creepiness of it. It had a very strong pedophilia-like tone to it that made my skin crawl. Not quite as bad as Lynn Hagen's Hawk's Pretty Baby, but it still creeped me out quite a bit. Having the urge to fall asleep while sucking on Marco's cock "like a pacifier"? And actually falling asleep, curled up and grasping onto Marco's hand while sucking on his thumb? Being threatened with a spanking if he threw a "temper tantrum". WTF??!!
I'm very open to a lot of kinks and extreme content. But pedophilia is where I draw the line. As well as stories that obviously want to be pedophilia, but where the author tries to mask it somewhat, in an attempt to make it more "acceptable". Like this one for example, where an adult character acts just like a baby/infant because of supernatural circumstances. Or in Lynn Hagen's book, where an adult character acts like a small child because of mental retardation.
Anyway...this was my first book by this author, and it will be my last.
December 4, 2013
Some notes while I read --
"Nicky considered his good looks to be a curse, one he could gladly do without. He didn’t like a lot of attention over his handsome face. Around age eighteen, when he realized he had blossomed into an extremely attractive man, his good looks only served to embarrass him."
Really?? Sounds like the setup for a classic Mary Sue character. Gag.
"All of his focus, his entire center of being honed in to the man standing beside him as if he’d been waiting for this one person all his life and just hadn’t known it until he saw him. All the light in the universe convened and decided to shine and sparkle on this one man....He heard himself whimpering deep in his throat as he wanted—no, make that craved—the man’s hands on him. His mind felt separate from his body, watching, horrified, at what his body did. Totally unable to stop himself, his arms reached out to the man, like a child begging to be picked up by his daddy."
Oh, just gag me.
"He wanted to go to sleep with Marco’s dick in his mouth and suck on it like a pacifier."
Ugh!
And what is with the thumb sucking? Not his own thumb, of course -- oh no, sucking his MATE's thumb while he falls asleep.
"“A tattoo and a number? What is this place, some kind of concentration camp?”"
Dingdingding! This guy is kidnapped, essentially drugged, raped, collared, tattooed, and expected to instantly expect to submit. And this is supposed to be sexy and he's supposed to like it. Gads, this is exactly the kind of crap I despise.
"Remember, everything they do for us is for our own good.”"
The classic refrain of abusers around the world.
"We’re treating him with female hormones to make him less aggressive."
Aaaaaaannnnnndddd.....the ones who refuse to submit are treated with emasculating hormones. And these "masters" are supposed to be the GOOD guys???
"In the real world, you told me submissives are people who willingly give their obedience to someone they love and trust to care for them and give them what they need. I never chose to do that. It isn’t me.[....]I can make my own decisions. Maybe they’re not the greatest at times, but I should be able to do it anyway."
Finally, some sense!
"“Yeah, well, I am, and you’re getting a spanking, sweetheart, and probably on a regular basis from now on, and that’s not a threat, that’s a promise.”"
OMG, did this idiot not learn ANYTHING??
"Nicky considered his good looks to be a curse, one he could gladly do without. He didn’t like a lot of attention over his handsome face. Around age eighteen, when he realized he had blossomed into an extremely attractive man, his good looks only served to embarrass him."
Really?? Sounds like the setup for a classic Mary Sue character. Gag.
"All of his focus, his entire center of being honed in to the man standing beside him as if he’d been waiting for this one person all his life and just hadn’t known it until he saw him. All the light in the universe convened and decided to shine and sparkle on this one man....He heard himself whimpering deep in his throat as he wanted—no, make that craved—the man’s hands on him. His mind felt separate from his body, watching, horrified, at what his body did. Totally unable to stop himself, his arms reached out to the man, like a child begging to be picked up by his daddy."
Oh, just gag me.
"He wanted to go to sleep with Marco’s dick in his mouth and suck on it like a pacifier."
Ugh!
And what is with the thumb sucking? Not his own thumb, of course -- oh no, sucking his MATE's thumb while he falls asleep.
"“A tattoo and a number? What is this place, some kind of concentration camp?”"
Dingdingding! This guy is kidnapped, essentially drugged, raped, collared, tattooed, and expected to instantly expect to submit. And this is supposed to be sexy and he's supposed to like it. Gads, this is exactly the kind of crap I despise.
"Remember, everything they do for us is for our own good.”"
The classic refrain of abusers around the world.
"We’re treating him with female hormones to make him less aggressive."
Aaaaaaannnnnndddd.....the ones who refuse to submit are treated with emasculating hormones. And these "masters" are supposed to be the GOOD guys???
"In the real world, you told me submissives are people who willingly give their obedience to someone they love and trust to care for them and give them what they need. I never chose to do that. It isn’t me.[....]I can make my own decisions. Maybe they’re not the greatest at times, but I should be able to do it anyway."
Finally, some sense!
"“Yeah, well, I am, and you’re getting a spanking, sweetheart, and probably on a regular basis from now on, and that’s not a threat, that’s a promise.”"
OMG, did this idiot not learn ANYTHING??
January 11, 2016
Ugh. I actually like alpha/omega, D/s, and dub/noncon, but this still fell flat on all levels.
The scene where Nicky meets Marco for the first time? Bad writing aside, yeah, it was hot for me. But then I was supposed to accept that the two of them were "in love", even though Marco was nothing but an abusive douchebag? No thank you. Either have it all be consensual or have the rapist be an actual rapist, don't use that horrible rape-is-love trope.
I might have accepted this story and the plotline if Nicky had broken it off with Marco, but I can't believe in a HEA between these dudes.
I'm so sad that a concept that could have been kinky goodness ended up just being horrible and badly written.
The scene where Nicky meets Marco for the first time? Bad writing aside, yeah, it was hot for me. But then I was supposed to accept that the two of them were "in love", even though Marco was nothing but an abusive douchebag? No thank you. Either have it all be consensual or have the rapist be an actual rapist, don't use that horrible rape-is-love trope.
I might have accepted this story and the plotline if Nicky had broken it off with Marco, but I can't believe in a HEA between these dudes.
I'm so sad that a concept that could have been kinky goodness ended up just being horrible and badly written.
April 17, 2016
2,5 - Dunque, alcune cose non le ho digerite.
Prima di tutto la struttura sociale stessa di questa presunta comunità di licantropi e dei loro pet.
Mi ha infastidito il fatto che vi sia una costrizione iniziale e costante di un soggetto rispetto all'altro nella coppia. Per quanto tutto ricada sotto l'alibi "siamo compagni di sangue", è anche vero che l'umano viene prelevato dalla sua vita, catapultato nella nuova comunità (per il suo bene e per la sua protezione, ovvio...) e ridotto a fare il compagno da "monta" per l'alpha, senza che abbia mai espresso un preventivo consenso o desiderio in tal senso.
Ragazzi, per quanto schifido, uno aveva una vita, un lavoro, qualche ambizione. Qui il protagonista finisce drogato/cambiato nel dna/ridotto a fare il pet al guinzaglio, soggetto a punizioni e ai capricci di un tipo che parla come se fosse il capo di una setta (tranquillo, lo faccio per il tuo bene... ti devo educare... è giusto così...) insieme a altri pet sorridenti e allegramente schiavizzati che sembrano usciti da una lobotomia di gruppo.
Non è BDSM, non è una scelta volontaria.
Nei primi capitoli viene costantemente ribadito che il protagonista è costretto dal morso e dalla sua nuova natura.
E anche qui ci sarebbe molto da dire: trasformato da etero a gay in uno schiocco di dita, con in più rieducazione obbligatoria???
Mi spiace. Non mi sono divertita. Le scene erotiche sono sopra le righe (come se il tocco paranormal servisse solo a giustificare la dotazione militare del lupo al di là di ogni immaginazione), le parti didascaliche sono un concentrato delle varie saghe sui licantropi in circolazione, le parti originali scarseggiano.
Prima di tutto la struttura sociale stessa di questa presunta comunità di licantropi e dei loro pet.
Mi ha infastidito il fatto che vi sia una costrizione iniziale e costante di un soggetto rispetto all'altro nella coppia. Per quanto tutto ricada sotto l'alibi "siamo compagni di sangue", è anche vero che l'umano viene prelevato dalla sua vita, catapultato nella nuova comunità (per il suo bene e per la sua protezione, ovvio...) e ridotto a fare il compagno da "monta" per l'alpha, senza che abbia mai espresso un preventivo consenso o desiderio in tal senso.
Ragazzi, per quanto schifido, uno aveva una vita, un lavoro, qualche ambizione. Qui il protagonista finisce drogato/cambiato nel dna/ridotto a fare il pet al guinzaglio, soggetto a punizioni e ai capricci di un tipo che parla come se fosse il capo di una setta (tranquillo, lo faccio per il tuo bene... ti devo educare... è giusto così...) insieme a altri pet sorridenti e allegramente schiavizzati che sembrano usciti da una lobotomia di gruppo.
Non è BDSM, non è una scelta volontaria.
Nei primi capitoli viene costantemente ribadito che il protagonista è costretto dal morso e dalla sua nuova natura.
E anche qui ci sarebbe molto da dire: trasformato da etero a gay in uno schiocco di dita, con in più rieducazione obbligatoria???
Mi spiace. Non mi sono divertita. Le scene erotiche sono sopra le righe (come se il tocco paranormal servisse solo a giustificare la dotazione militare del lupo al di là di ogni immaginazione), le parti didascaliche sono un concentrato delle varie saghe sui licantropi in circolazione, le parti originali scarseggiano.
May 24, 2012
I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately, having finished it, I would not recommend it. It was hard to get through, but I wanted to give it a fair chance. The D/s relationship, even once things were resolved at the end, felt forced and somewhat non-consensual. There was very little believable or relatable emotion in the story. It's possible it just wasn't the book for me, but I felt strongly enough to want to let others know what I thought.
March 26, 2013
I really had a hard time finishing this one. I hated how the 'pets' where treated with no dignity at all, and since our MC had more backbone than the rest of the pets, he *oh of course* was going feral (It's been a while since I read it so I can't remember if that's the term they used).. I would have HATED HATED HATED being turned into a pet, I think I just might have done anything to get away from there!
January 10, 2015
Not to be taken very seriously, though obviously there are werewolves in RL.
So, it's naughty. Lots of taboos. Lots of filthy knotting and lusty sex , some of dub con and all of it hairy. But...
Also, I quite liked the characters. I might read the rest.
So, it's naughty. Lots of taboos. Lots of filthy knotting and lusty sex , some of dub con and all of it hairy. But...
Also, I quite liked the characters. I might read the rest.
May 16, 2012
I almost stopped readying this because I thought the author got the whole D/s role play wrong. The synopsis is a little misleading because the definition of what a proper "pet" should be, and do, is the whole angsty question. So I am glad that I pushed through to see what would happen.
The first half, was the world building. The second half I really got into and didn't put it down. Overall, I really enjoyed it. My one wish would have been Nicky questioning/fighting the blood bond since he had been a 'straight' man. His acceptance was a little too easy for me.
3.5 Stars
The first half, was the world building. The second half I really got into and didn't put it down. Overall, I really enjoyed it. My one wish would have been Nicky questioning/fighting the blood bond since he had been a 'straight' man. His acceptance was a little too easy for me.
3.5 Stars
May 27, 2016
While I found some of the sex scenes hot, the overall theme of the book frankly... sucked. I will not be following up on this series
January 18, 2022
I finished it. I was really tempted to walk away because I just didn’t care for this version of shifters. The whole treating your mate as a pet was bothersome to me. I’m not really opposed to forced sex in a book, however, I don’t like forced submission. I usually love the big alpha male and the weaker omega, but this just didn’t work . Marco was all loving and sweet one minute and all cruel and demeaning the next. Nicky seemed to much like a girl. He was even described as looking like Shirley Temple. The writing was fine so I’ll try the next book in the series.
August 27, 2012
Not sure what all the fuss is about. I enjoyed this story - yes it is forced mating/dubious consent (perhaps non consent but by the end I think you'd have a hard time showing that). The characters were pretty good - a darn sight better than some I've seen in D/s books. The patronizing attitude had some reasons -- that were shown later to be a bit on the faulty side but I think the author did a good job explaining things. The renegade's really brought to the forefront how tradition and "the way we always did it" don't always work. Dude's def. alpha -- but he didn't seem overly asshole-ish to me. Perhaps I'm more jaded than some others? I thought what he allowed was pretty good actually for an old fashioned guy. The sex and spanking was fine - fit within the story. I really am looking forward to reading the next ones!
dnf
August 25, 2015DNF. In the first few pages of this book, one of the MCs is forced to have sex with the other.
May 4, 2013
Though the story behind this was interesting, it didn't deliver. This book really wasn't well written at all. There's a lot of telling going on and little to no showing. They're in love with each other - sweet. I get it. Love at first sight, blood-mates and all...but I really did NOT feel it. At all. I didn't fall in love with the characters. Oftentimes I just wanted to slap the crap out of them for being and/or talking like idiots. There were also way too many misogynistic messages that I absolutely despised, nuances that you can have brilliant gay erotica without. I've read steamy gay fanfics that made my jaw drop, so I know it's doable.
So basically, had the potential...but really didn't hit the mark.
So basically, had the potential...but really didn't hit the mark.
May 23, 2012
Wow...Just wow, this book was horrible. Well it sounded good, but it was not. I think maybe i could have gotten around the pet stuff. maybe. but then the sucking on stiff like a pacifier was just too much. From the way the description was worded i thought nikcy would put up more of a fight,especially with him being straight him just giving in was a disappointment. I would not recommend this book.
February 10, 2013
Let me just start by saying that I rated this book so high maybe because my expectations were so low. It was so much better than I was expecting. Yes, it had some cheesy parts but I actually got teary at one point. For real! A little different take on the normal shifter book in that the non shifters become "pets". Intersting and really fun! It fit in the "Bratty Bottom" perfectly. :)
Read
July 14, 2016So that happened ...!
It's so bad!!!!!!!! DO NOT READ PLS RUN YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!
Shannon West has no idea what she is talking about...i mean who aproved this book to be published?!
For those who might have Dom or Sub tendencies : Doing things against your consent it called abuse and has nothing to do with BDSM.
Shannon shame!
It's so bad!!!!!!!! DO NOT READ PLS RUN YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!
Shannon West has no idea what she is talking about...i mean who aproved this book to be published?!
For those who might have Dom or Sub tendencies : Doing things against your consent it called abuse and has nothing to do with BDSM.
Shannon shame!
September 8, 2013
Ugh. Just so poorly written. All tell, no show, insta-love dreck. There was no real emotional thru line and the sex scenes were along the lines of stroke this, insert that and then - amazing orgasm! And I hated all the characters, especially the MCs.
January 13, 2013
Pet? Seriously? Ugh.
July 11, 2012
Nicky Anderson is an average man working shifts as a bartender to make ends meet. Then one night his life assaulted by robbers after finishing his shift but he's saved by a man who's been watching him at work. He's a man pledged to protect Nicky at any cost for Nicky is the blood match for Marco the leader of a were clan. Bleeding and near death, his savior's bite heals Nicky, but now he's consumed by sexual needs and an attraction for Marcus that he can't fight. This is a frightful complication for Nicky who is human and who isn't gay; but there is no going back. His link to Marcus can't be undone. Now he must deal with his uncontrollable desire for Marcus, while trying to still be his own man.
The Alpha's Pet is a captivating tale of change. It's also a D/s parable of sorts. Once bitten Nicky is a werekin. His life is taken over by his physical urges and desires for Marcus. In essence, Nicky is addicted to Marcus.; an addiction that has no cure.. I had no problem with the idea that this werekin transform could, in essence, alter a man's sexuality and make him desirous of one particular person. What really hooked me into the story was Nicky trying to maintain his `self'. Yes, circumstances have changed that now he is physically and emotionally enthralled with Marcus, but he maintains his self image. He's still a man who doesn't need or want to be treated like a pet and the conflict between Nicky and Marcus,who believes must be always be protected and emotionally subdued, generated the tension in this tale and was the focal point of the plot. This primary plot line along with the secondary one regarding `rogue' weres and werekins who live their lives as equals and not in the strict stratified society that Marcus leads I think really is a parable about the types of Dominant/submissive relationships. There's a D/s dynamic where the sub is treated as less than an equal partner It's a dynamic where the submissive is seen as weak, in need of extreme levels of protection and incapable of doing anything without direction- Marcus' clan. The flip side is a D/s relationship where through an agreement of power exchange, both the Dom and the sub are equal partners in their relationship and the sub isn't seen as weak needy and incapable of being his/her own person -`rogue' weres. I found the story line fascinating and I loved the passion and conflict between Nicky and Marcus as well as the ideological conflict between Marcus and the rogues.
The Alpha's Pet is a captivating tale of change. It's also a D/s parable of sorts. Once bitten Nicky is a werekin. His life is taken over by his physical urges and desires for Marcus. In essence, Nicky is addicted to Marcus.; an addiction that has no cure.. I had no problem with the idea that this werekin transform could, in essence, alter a man's sexuality and make him desirous of one particular person. What really hooked me into the story was Nicky trying to maintain his `self'. Yes, circumstances have changed that now he is physically and emotionally enthralled with Marcus, but he maintains his self image. He's still a man who doesn't need or want to be treated like a pet and the conflict between Nicky and Marcus,who believes must be always be protected and emotionally subdued, generated the tension in this tale and was the focal point of the plot. This primary plot line along with the secondary one regarding `rogue' weres and werekins who live their lives as equals and not in the strict stratified society that Marcus leads I think really is a parable about the types of Dominant/submissive relationships. There's a D/s dynamic where the sub is treated as less than an equal partner It's a dynamic where the submissive is seen as weak, in need of extreme levels of protection and incapable of doing anything without direction- Marcus' clan. The flip side is a D/s relationship where through an agreement of power exchange, both the Dom and the sub are equal partners in their relationship and the sub isn't seen as weak needy and incapable of being his/her own person -`rogue' weres. I found the story line fascinating and I loved the passion and conflict between Nicky and Marcus as well as the ideological conflict between Marcus and the rogues.
hell-to-the-no
December 4, 2013I give up. This has been on my currently-reading shelf since May 2012 & I have not gotten any further in it.
This book, for the 30 or so pages I read, have nothing but annoying, selfish, arrogant characters.
The main character, Nicky (I had completely forgotten his name) is so into himself, he doesn't even realize that there's more in the world than his looks & sex.
Let me post a few quotes taken directly from the book itself:
"Steven was the first gay man Nicky had ever really gotten to know well, and he considered him one of his best friends. Steven had a very jealous boyfriend who came by the bar every night to give dirty looks to anyone foolish enough to hit on Steven. The boyfriend was even unfriendly to Nicky, simply because of the way he looked."
Mmmm, I can see how everyone would be jealous.
The paragraph right after this one made me roll my eyes & I wish I could literally hammer my head against the wall. I settled for growling at the book instead.
"Nicky considered his good looks to be a curse, one he could gladly do without. He didn’t like a lot of attention over his handsome face. Around age eighteen, when he realized he had blossomed into an extremely attractive man, his good looks only served to embarrass him. At five feet nine inches tall, he’d been a little chubby as a teenager and started working out at a young age when he was subjected to teasing by his classmates. As a result, his body was as muscular and sculpted as a young Greek god’s, if Steven was to be believed."
Oh, but good graces, stop the character and stop the author already.
Like that isn't enough the use of the "I'm not gay" is too much. On the first 10 pages it's mentioned a dozen times. I think we got the idea from the first time Nicky uttered/thought said sentence & therefore, we truly don't need it repeated.
I have absolutely nothing positive to say about this book. Nor the writing style, which seemed immature at times and Shannon West needs a good editor to go through this book.
I don't plan on reading anymore in the series & truthfully this one has put me off this author. If I'm bored I may end up finishing it, but I highly doubt it.
Just, yeah ... Don't!
This book, for the 30 or so pages I read, have nothing but annoying, selfish, arrogant characters.
The main character, Nicky (I had completely forgotten his name) is so into himself, he doesn't even realize that there's more in the world than his looks & sex.
Let me post a few quotes taken directly from the book itself:
"Steven was the first gay man Nicky had ever really gotten to know well, and he considered him one of his best friends. Steven had a very jealous boyfriend who came by the bar every night to give dirty looks to anyone foolish enough to hit on Steven. The boyfriend was even unfriendly to Nicky, simply because of the way he looked."
Mmmm, I can see how everyone would be jealous.
The paragraph right after this one made me roll my eyes & I wish I could literally hammer my head against the wall. I settled for growling at the book instead.
"Nicky considered his good looks to be a curse, one he could gladly do without. He didn’t like a lot of attention over his handsome face. Around age eighteen, when he realized he had blossomed into an extremely attractive man, his good looks only served to embarrass him. At five feet nine inches tall, he’d been a little chubby as a teenager and started working out at a young age when he was subjected to teasing by his classmates. As a result, his body was as muscular and sculpted as a young Greek god’s, if Steven was to be believed."
Oh, but good graces, stop the character and stop the author already.
Like that isn't enough the use of the "I'm not gay" is too much. On the first 10 pages it's mentioned a dozen times. I think we got the idea from the first time Nicky uttered/thought said sentence & therefore, we truly don't need it repeated.
I have absolutely nothing positive to say about this book. Nor the writing style, which seemed immature at times and Shannon West needs a good editor to go through this book.
I don't plan on reading anymore in the series & truthfully this one has put me off this author. If I'm bored I may end up finishing it, but I highly doubt it.
Just, yeah ... Don't!
Read
June 17, 2012This is the classical Alpha male/omega male pair, with Marco, the Alpha of his pack, finding and mating with his fated companion, Nicky, who is human and above all a man, while instead Marco has, more or less, always preferred women (even if he has experienced also with men). Plus also Nicky, even if small and pretty, is straight, never once he has felt sexual desire for men. Nicky is not homophobic, his best friend is gay, and so, first he had the chance to discuss about man on man sex, and also the chance to meet gay men. Only that, they never have done anything for him.
When Nicky is forcible turned into a werekin, he goes into heat and his desire to mate with Marco is overwhelming. Nicky is practically forced into having sex with Marco, not by Marco himself, but by his own body which craves the alpha that is in Marco. In this shapeshifter society, there are precise role/play: each pair is made by a Dominant and submissive lover, and when a pair is made, the combination is strict; the wolves are the Dominant, the pet are the submissive. A pet is a werekin without the ability to turn into a wolf, and as a pet he/she is managed: with a collar, on a leash, always submissive to their Master’s orders.
At first I found that the submissive attitude of Nicky was a little too much, above all since he seemed to have not a chance: it was his own body betraying him, even if his mind was against the idea. If there was not the turn in the events, I would have probably thought that everything was too much: Nicky is behaving more like an eager puppy than a partner, arriving to crave sucking his Master’s thumb to fall asleep. But with the turn into rebellion that Nicky will have, the plot became more balanced and as such, I liked it better. Truth be told, even if handsome and strong, I didn’t find Marco particularly clever, on the contrary, he seemed to me a leader who was more used to command with his strength more than with his strategy.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00839I6AQ/?...
When Nicky is forcible turned into a werekin, he goes into heat and his desire to mate with Marco is overwhelming. Nicky is practically forced into having sex with Marco, not by Marco himself, but by his own body which craves the alpha that is in Marco. In this shapeshifter society, there are precise role/play: each pair is made by a Dominant and submissive lover, and when a pair is made, the combination is strict; the wolves are the Dominant, the pet are the submissive. A pet is a werekin without the ability to turn into a wolf, and as a pet he/she is managed: with a collar, on a leash, always submissive to their Master’s orders.
At first I found that the submissive attitude of Nicky was a little too much, above all since he seemed to have not a chance: it was his own body betraying him, even if his mind was against the idea. If there was not the turn in the events, I would have probably thought that everything was too much: Nicky is behaving more like an eager puppy than a partner, arriving to crave sucking his Master’s thumb to fall asleep. But with the turn into rebellion that Nicky will have, the plot became more balanced and as such, I liked it better. Truth be told, even if handsome and strong, I didn’t find Marco particularly clever, on the contrary, he seemed to me a leader who was more used to command with his strength more than with his strategy.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00839I6AQ/?...
April 6, 2014
DNF. This book borders on abusive control more than Master/slave/submissive. It was a total turn off. I'm sure further on there is a slight difference when it came to the Rogues mentioned...but omigod this was highly abusive territory where Nicky couldn't or any other pets (don't get me started on that either) could speak up. Brainwash anyone? Cult anyone? Bad vibe from the get go. I'm sure it could have been executed differently, but I just couldn't get past the no explanations from Marco, the cold feeling of the mating, and overall characterizations. Yeah, I'm sorry but not for me, at all. Had such potential though failed horrifically. I'm still shuddering for poor Nicky and the pets ...AND it was a DNF for me. UGH!!!!
July 9, 2014
This book is awful, just awful. I hated nearly everything about it. This isn't a D/s relationship, it's a slave & rapist. I hated the forced feminism of Nicky. It was more of an insult to subs & women than anything sexy or kinky. I hated all of Marcos numerous endearments which I felt weakened him as a dominant character. The climax of the book was actually leading up to something I found somewhat interesting, and then the author just yanks the rug from out of under you, contradicting everything she was leading up to. I would not recommend this book in any way, shape, or form. How it got so many good review just baffles me.
July 7, 2014
4.5 stars
I read this book cause I liked A lot of what the negative reviewers didn't. And I loved it. I get this book isn't for everyone, but I absolutely loved Nicky. He was no doormat either. Yes in the beginning he was a little needy, which didn't bother me none, but come on he was going through the change that saved his life after have his fckin throat slit. Who the fck wouldn't be feeling needy, vulnerable, and scared?
I loved that he went through with trying to prove something to Marco, even going so far as turning feral (unintentionally of corz, but he got pushed that far) and scaring the shit out of everyone, especially Marco. Ppl listened then.
I want more of Nicky.
I read this book cause I liked A lot of what the negative reviewers didn't. And I loved it. I get this book isn't for everyone, but I absolutely loved Nicky. He was no doormat either. Yes in the beginning he was a little needy, which didn't bother me none, but come on he was going through the change that saved his life after have his fckin throat slit. Who the fck wouldn't be feeling needy, vulnerable, and scared?
I loved that he went through with trying to prove something to Marco, even going so far as turning feral (unintentionally of corz, but he got pushed that far) and scaring the shit out of everyone, especially Marco. Ppl listened then.
I want more of Nicky.
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