What do you think?
Rate this book
Midnight Matings #19
Spits and Bellows
[Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, shape-shifters, public exhibition, sex toys, HEA]
After Huckleberry drank the spiked toast at the UPAC conference, he had but one thought on his mind… Claim a mate. He jumped the first good-looking stranger he didn’t think would eat him, and manic need took over. Unfortunately, the man he picked was less than thrilled.
Peyton just wanted to be left alone and keep to his strict work schedule. Was that really too much to ask? He’d gone to the UPAC conference to get his required attendance for the decade out of the way. He never thought he’d bring anyone home.
But when Huck tries desperately to make up for what he’s done to Peyton and nothing helps, he works himself to exhaustion. And with the strange anger issues and quirks his mate has, he doesn’t see the loving mating he always dreamed of. Will he even last the required four years?
After Huckleberry drank the spiked toast at the UPAC conference, he had but one thought on his mind… Claim a mate. He jumped the first good-looking stranger he didn’t think would eat him, and manic need took over. Unfortunately, the man he picked was less than thrilled.
Peyton just wanted to be left alone and keep to his strict work schedule. Was that really too much to ask? He’d gone to the UPAC conference to get his required attendance for the decade out of the way. He never thought he’d bring anyone home.
But when Huck tries desperately to make up for what he’s done to Peyton and nothing helps, he works himself to exhaustion. And with the strange anger issues and quirks his mate has, he doesn’t see the loving mating he always dreamed of. Will he even last the required four years?
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 6, 2012
8 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 15, 2024
There were parts I liked, but there were others I didn't.
I didn't like Peyton for most of the book. He was an asshole. Part of me understood his beginning anger, being forced to mate (or die) when one didn't want to would be something that'd piss me off. I got that.
What I didn't understand was him treating his mate like a slave. The list? I mean, seriously. Where's my dinner? Why are you late? Why didn't you suck me off like I like? Why are you tired? Etc etc. What an ass. Peyton was cold, demanding and at times cruel. Huck on the other hand took it all, was understanding, accommodating and just wanted to be loved. That made me dislike Peyton all the more.
And the comments about if Huck was going to eat his way to being obese (when really, he just skipped meals because he was too busy doing Peyton's list) and him having to buy his own pool (or to use the shower -- hello, how can a hippo fit in a shower?) so he could relax in hippo-form didn't endear me to Peyton either. He's your mate, don't disrespect him or ignore his needs. Ugh.
The reason given for Peyton being an asshole didn't fly for me. doesn't make people into cold, uncaring assholes. He didn't really exhibit any characteristic symptoms either. It seemed like a pretty lame excuse to me. I don't like the fact that a legitimate mental illness was used as an excuse/cop-out for being an utter douche.
And when Huck heard from Peyton's brother (Peter) that Peyton said he was a fatty and ugly (to his father, on the phone), I didn't believe Peyton's explanation about needing to tell his father that and that he didn't really mean it. I didn't believe it because he made the obese comment to Huck prior, all on his own with no one else around. Why did he say it then? I think he meant it at the time. The explanation given just didn't fit right to me. The whole 'I really didn't think that, but I had to say that to get my father off our back' idea didn't explain why he said it to Huck when Huck was eating in the kitchen and they were all alone (prior to Peter showing up). Hopefully, I'm making sense with this...I'm sure people can get what I'm meaning.
Peyton did snap out of being a douche, but still. Though there were moments I liked, I couldn't shake my annoyance with Peyton, hence the 2 stars.
I didn't like Peyton for most of the book. He was an asshole. Part of me understood his beginning anger, being forced to mate (or die) when one didn't want to would be something that'd piss me off. I got that.
What I didn't understand was him treating his mate like a slave. The list? I mean, seriously. Where's my dinner? Why are you late? Why didn't you suck me off like I like? Why are you tired? Etc etc. What an ass. Peyton was cold, demanding and at times cruel. Huck on the other hand took it all, was understanding, accommodating and just wanted to be loved. That made me dislike Peyton all the more.
And the comments about if Huck was going to eat his way to being obese (when really, he just skipped meals because he was too busy doing Peyton's list) and him having to buy his own pool (or to use the shower -- hello, how can a hippo fit in a shower?) so he could relax in hippo-form didn't endear me to Peyton either. He's your mate, don't disrespect him or ignore his needs. Ugh.
The reason given for Peyton being an asshole didn't fly for me. doesn't make people into cold, uncaring assholes. He didn't really exhibit any characteristic symptoms either. It seemed like a pretty lame excuse to me. I don't like the fact that a legitimate mental illness was used as an excuse/cop-out for being an utter douche.
And when Huck heard from Peyton's brother (Peter) that Peyton said he was a fatty and ugly (to his father, on the phone), I didn't believe Peyton's explanation about needing to tell his father that and that he didn't really mean it. I didn't believe it because he made the obese comment to Huck prior, all on his own with no one else around. Why did he say it then? I think he meant it at the time. The explanation given just didn't fit right to me. The whole 'I really didn't think that, but I had to say that to get my father off our back' idea didn't explain why he said it to Huck when Huck was eating in the kitchen and they were all alone (prior to Peter showing up). Hopefully, I'm making sense with this...I'm sure people can get what I'm meaning.
Peyton did snap out of being a douche, but still. Though there were moments I liked, I couldn't shake my annoyance with Peyton, hence the 2 stars.
March 22, 2019
This was book 19 in the
"Midnight Matings"
series. After Huckleberry Ike is a hippo shifter who drank the spiked toast at the UPAC conference, he had but one thought on his mind claim a mate. He jumped the first good-looking stranger he saw. Unfortunately the man he jumped one was not very nice. Peyton Fahey was a rude arrogant jerk and he was even an aggressive shifter he was a llama. I hated the way Peyton treated Huck he was very demanding and his family was even worse and I really felt bad because he didn't kick his brother's ass for hitting Huck. Turns out Peyton suffers from OCD and it gets worse when his schedule is messed up. Huck just wanted to be loved and cared about he work his self hard to please Peyton and to make up for mating him without his say. Peyton's family tries to force him to marry a woman so he can produce heirs but it didn't work. After reading about the things that Peyton went through I started liking him and he did start treating Huck better. The sex between these two was hot. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series.
October 28, 2012
Okay, what happens when two herbivore shifters are paired up? You'd expect the situation to be a little less volatile than with some macho wolves or tigers, right? Wrong. This story proves that the situation can be just as explosive when two seemingly more peaceful shifters are forced to mate.
Huckleberry, or Huck for short, is a hippo shifter and more than a little impulsive. He also desperately wants to please whoever he is with, so when he jumps Peyton and mates him, he will do anything to make up for his 'surprise attack' and unasked-for claiming. Yes, he made a mistake, but I felt truly sorry for him. Peyton goes out of his way to punish him and poor Huck suffers a lot before it gets better.
Peyton maybe a herbivore, but he behaves like a conceited macho idiot. Yes, there is an explanation, but whatever happened to the brain being more powerful than emotional and uncalled-for outbursts? He has quite a few things to deal with but a few friendly words for Huck, or even just less hurtful ones, would not have killed him, I thought.
While the pairing in this story was funny (a hippo and a llama), and the issues these guys deal with real to a point, I have to admit that Peyton's harsh tone and behavior during pretty much the first half of the book somewhat spoiled my enjoyment. I just thought he was overly cruel, and even thought there is an explanation which Huck accepts and deals with, I was far less forgiving. If you like shifters fighting for a way to live together, if you enjoy one mate almost being emotionally destroyed before true love comes through for him, and if you liked the other books in this series, you will probably enjoy this one.
Huckleberry, or Huck for short, is a hippo shifter and more than a little impulsive. He also desperately wants to please whoever he is with, so when he jumps Peyton and mates him, he will do anything to make up for his 'surprise attack' and unasked-for claiming. Yes, he made a mistake, but I felt truly sorry for him. Peyton goes out of his way to punish him and poor Huck suffers a lot before it gets better.
Peyton maybe a herbivore, but he behaves like a conceited macho idiot. Yes, there is an explanation, but whatever happened to the brain being more powerful than emotional and uncalled-for outbursts? He has quite a few things to deal with but a few friendly words for Huck, or even just less hurtful ones, would not have killed him, I thought.
While the pairing in this story was funny (a hippo and a llama), and the issues these guys deal with real to a point, I have to admit that Peyton's harsh tone and behavior during pretty much the first half of the book somewhat spoiled my enjoyment. I just thought he was overly cruel, and even thought there is an explanation which Huck accepts and deals with, I was far less forgiving. If you like shifters fighting for a way to live together, if you enjoy one mate almost being emotionally destroyed before true love comes through for him, and if you liked the other books in this series, you will probably enjoy this one.
December 27, 2019
Amkor két lelki nyomorultat összeraknak... Az elején baromira haragudtam Paytonra éa Huck-ra, mindkettőre más miatt. A közepétől nagyon aranyosak voltak, de még mindig nehéz elhinnem, hogy ennyi lelki nyomorral egészséges kapcsolatuk lehetne...
January 31, 2014
Peyton and Huck. Peyton is a big huge giant DOUCHEBAG! His reasoning? Yeah, didn't make a lick of sense. It doesn't make someone so cruel they resort to name calling and treating your mate like a slave. Yet, he states later that he didn't like the way his parents treated the hired help. LIAR! He was exactly like this parents. Yes, he got better, but was it really enough? Calling your hippo shifter fatty and obese? If I were Huck I would have shifted and trampled Peyton's ass.
Then the thing with Peter. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Peyton ALLOWED that? Nope, no way. Huck is supposed to be Peyton's mate and putting your hands on a mate is like a death sentence, but apparently just a stern talking to was enough. Fuck that! Kick his ass. Let out some of that anger you have there, Peyton. If he really cared about Huck he would have done a better job of standing up for him. What he did was NOT enough.
This would have been a one star from me, if it hadn't been for the first page: "Need to hump. Really need to hump. Hippo need to hump, now." Then: "Hippo need to hump." Followed by: "Humping. Claiming. Need to hump." GREAT start. Then it failed :(
Then the thing with Peter. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Peyton ALLOWED that? Nope, no way. Huck is supposed to be Peyton's mate and putting your hands on a mate is like a death sentence, but apparently just a stern talking to was enough. Fuck that! Kick his ass. Let out some of that anger you have there, Peyton. If he really cared about Huck he would have done a better job of standing up for him. What he did was NOT enough.
This would have been a one star from me, if it hadn't been for the first page: "Need to hump. Really need to hump. Hippo need to hump, now." Then: "Hippo need to hump." Followed by: "Humping. Claiming. Need to hump." GREAT start. Then it failed :(
September 8, 2012
It made my favorites list for this series. There were element in the book that I liked and some that I thought were a bit awkward. I love stories where one of the MC's is a jerk and the other one manages to cause some changes in them. Peyton was that jerk and his treatment of Huck made me tear up a little since Huck was such a sweet strong character. The awkward part of the book came around chapter 7 I think and bdsm was presented in the novel. I have nothing against (I'm not really into it but hey I'm no one to judge) but it just didn't really work for me. I felt like Huck was just abusing Peyton (even if it was consensual and Peyton enjoyed it). It was hard to wrap my brain around it.
January 9, 2015
Ok first of all I kind of call bull to him just using the excuse of having OCD. Peyton is so lucky that I wasn't Huck's friend because I would have had a lot of words for the way he was treating Huck. Then Peyton's family was crazy. Overbearing rich family that's trying to control your life. I can understand why Peyton's the way he is. Didn't see have of the stuff that happened to happen, but it was still good. I'm glad Peyton finally got his head out of his a** to realize how he felt about Huck,
All in all, it was an interesting read. Hated the first 30 pages but once you get past that, it's awesome
All in all, it was an interesting read. Hated the first 30 pages but once you get past that, it's awesome
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2012
Just goes to show you that there is actually a very valid reason behind the major 'jerk'ness
October 27, 2016
One of the more disappointing books in this series. It had potential, but it was hard to like Peyton. By the time we understood the issues, it was hard to change the first impression.
Poor editing and the writing was not up to par. I'm finding that though this series started as one of my favorite go to's for a relaxing afternoon, the most recent books have been pretty disappointing. I may have to give up on the series. The last couple of storylines sound so promising but haven't come up to snuff.
============================
1st read - Oct 18, 2012
2nd read - Oct 27, 2016
Poor editing and the writing was not up to par. I'm finding that though this series started as one of my favorite go to's for a relaxing afternoon, the most recent books have been pretty disappointing. I may have to give up on the series. The last couple of storylines sound so promising but haven't come up to snuff.
============================
1st read - Oct 18, 2012
2nd read - Oct 27, 2016
February 19, 2019
Two stars. Lots of plot holes. I thought it was brave to have such an unlikable mc in this story and I wanted to see how the author would make me start to like him. But I feel like he was given an easy pass and that turn around was where alot of the plot holes showed up. The explanations didn't hold up compared to the earlier behavior and attitude.
September 28, 2012
WARNING: 1st person writing style
May 28, 2013
Peyton was way too bipolar - one moment nasty bastard and next tender, sweet lover.
And his mate way too much of a pushover. Should have said *** you long time ago.
And his mate way too much of a pushover. Should have said *** you long time ago.
December 6, 2023
A llama and a hippo? Those boys issues have issues.
Read
August 27, 2022***zaterdag 27 augustus 2022***
I know I've read this series before because once upon a time I was on binge and read almost everything by these authors. Like everything.
But I also didn't logged it back then and that is bugging me now so I'm adding them based on the one review I did wrote:Fur And Flightless by Joyee Flynn
I know I've read this series before because once upon a time I was on binge and read almost everything by these authors. Like everything.
But I also didn't logged it back then and that is bugging me now so I'm adding them based on the one review I did wrote:Fur And Flightless by Joyee Flynn
May 14, 2018
Like so many other reviews said...Payton was the biggest douchebag. But I'm still enjoying this whole series.
December 9, 2014
Such a fun series! There are currently 20 books in the series, each book is written by either Joyee Flynn, Gabrielle Evans or Stormy Glenn. They could keep writing more as long as they continue creating interesting characters who shift into all kinds of wonderful and different animals/mythical beings and coming up with unique stories full of romance, crazy drama, angst and let's not forget the very hot sex!
You don't have to read them in order, very rarely are other characters mentioned, but each story is very different and engaging and together they make for a fun few weeks of entertainment.
There is a spin-off series by Joyee Flynn with 8 books out so far called "Unmated by Midnight." I have not read those yet but they are on my to-be-read list next.
You don't have to read them in order, very rarely are other characters mentioned, but each story is very different and engaging and together they make for a fun few weeks of entertainment.
There is a spin-off series by Joyee Flynn with 8 books out so far called "Unmated by Midnight." I have not read those yet but they are on my to-be-read list next.
May 29, 2013
I must admit I never thought I’d read a story with a Hippo shifter, but it worked so well. Huckleberry was very loveable in this story. He tried so hard to please Peyton and to make up for claiming him. I understood and liked both characters. I could understand why Peyton was angry and it is explained very well why. The way that they could find love despite their rocky start is why this is one of my favorite books in the Midnight Matings series. I love that all these books start at the same point in time and to see how each of the characters react differently to the spiked drinks. This story didn’t disappoint and I will definitely read again.
September 7, 2012
It started out slow, and, of course, Payten had to work very,very hard on my nerves! But it got better as the book progressed and ended on a very high note. Adored both Payten and Hackleberry (love that name!)at the end...
September 7, 2012
3,5 stars
October 10, 2012
"Hippo need to hump"
September 10, 2012
I liked it a lot. another hit.
November 26, 2012
loved it
September 2, 2013
3.5 stars. At first pleasantly surprising. But, around 40% mark on my kindle an episode of Dallas started. I enjoyed it though. ;3
October 14, 2014
This was my favorite of the series! I loathed Peyton...and then he made me smile!
November 29, 2014
Spits and Bellows [Midnight Matings]
Another great book in the Midnight mating series I wish there was more I would love to read them.It's a great loss for this series.
Another great book in the Midnight mating series I wish there was more I would love to read them.It's a great loss for this series.
August 26, 2016
Бедняга Хек, мне его очень жаль.
March 30, 2017
A hippo and a llama. Well, at least they are both herbivores. Peyton really is an ass but once I learned why it made it easier to like him. Huck is simply adorable and has the patience of a saint.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews