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Brian's Mate
Brian is the alpha of the least impressive pack of wolves at the whole Moon Ceremony. When a human is discovered uninvited in their midst, he bonds with the man to save his life.
Luke doesn't know about all this wolf stuff, but he’s starting to develop feelings for the gentle man who rescued him. Both Brian and Luke expect to quietly dissolve the bond later. But feelings intervene, and some bonds are not so easy to cast aside.
Building a life together as alphas will take love and hard work—especially when new wolves keep inviting themselves into their lives.
Luke doesn't know about all this wolf stuff, but he’s starting to develop feelings for the gentle man who rescued him. Both Brian and Luke expect to quietly dissolve the bond later. But feelings intervene, and some bonds are not so easy to cast aside.
Building a life together as alphas will take love and hard work—especially when new wolves keep inviting themselves into their lives.
158 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2014
5 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
September 1, 2016
When I get a book to review, my first and foremost priority is honesty. Integrity is my friend and I want to keep our relationship tight. So after listening to five hours of this book, and they were long hours, I was left with... very few positive things to say.
Where do I start? This book has a terrible case of insta-love, one of my biggest no-goes. It takes a very skilled author to pull off insta-love and Hollis Shiloh didn't manage it here. The relationship between Brian and Luke was awkward and stilted at best, so the jump from "hello"---> "love" was sudden and unwelcome. In terms of the chemistry between Brian and Luke, well, I didn't feel any.
I happen to really enjoy paranormal books, shifter books in particular, but this shifter world was... yeash. These shifters were so tame! They bought their meat from a grocery store, didn't fight, and didn't do much of anything, really. The world was lackluster and left me wondering why the author wrote a shifter book in the first place. I like my shifters large and in charge, not meek.
In addition, the plot never seemed to go anywhere. It was rambling and unfocused. The writing also had too much telling and too little showing for my taste. I felt numb to these characters. Even the love scenes did nothing for me.
I also wish the author had left out some more... indelicate... details. I did NOT need to know that Brian could smell some woman's urinary incontinence pads. TMI, man.
Lastly, I can't write a review of an audiobook without a comment on the narrator. I did not enjoy the narration of this book. It was overacted and all of the characters sounded exactly the same. It felt campy and it was difficult for me to listen to.
As you can see, this book was a miss for me.
*Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
August 10, 2016
Luke is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He's found trespassing during a sacred ceremony and he's surrounded by shifters who have little choice but to kill him. His life is saved when, Brian, an Alpha of a small inconsequential pack agrees to take him to mate.
This is a bit instalove-y and more than overly sweet in places but I have to say that didn't stop me from enjoying the hell out of it. The first half of the read establishes the relationship between Brian and Luke, they have great chemistry together and more than a few misunderstandings but they really work. The second half is really more about pack building and pack feels...puppy piles and finding places for displaced shifters. I'm a sucker for that...and lay much of the blame there on my intense love of Teen Wolf fanfiction.
This is a sugary, delicious confection with a wolf on top.
This is a bit instalove-y and more than overly sweet in places but I have to say that didn't stop me from enjoying the hell out of it. The first half of the read establishes the relationship between Brian and Luke, they have great chemistry together and more than a few misunderstandings but they really work. The second half is really more about pack building and pack feels...puppy piles and finding places for displaced shifters. I'm a sucker for that...and lay much of the blame there on my intense love of Teen Wolf fanfiction.
This is a sugary, delicious confection with a wolf on top.
June 4, 2020
I liked the description of this story seeing as Brian has a very small pack, without a lot of power, and Brian himself is laid-back and relaxed. Usually with shifter stories, the alpha is all about the power, whether it is portrayed as positive or negative, so I was immediately caught by what appeared to be a dichotomy for this genre. This was my first book by Hollis Shiloh and I really enjoy learning new authors, especially in the paranormal shifter arena, as it is my favorite.
Hands down, Luke was in the wrong place at the wrong time and could've easily been killed had it not been for Brian. Being human and inadvertently wandering onto pack lands during their Moon Ceremony celebration, pretty much gave the head-alpha the right to kill Luke. Brian didn't want to see this happen and so he declared Luke his mate, making him untouchable. In a funny twist of fate, Brian discovers that Luke really is his once in a lifetime mate, but Luke is at ground zero trying to learn all the rules for his new life as a man mated to a wolf shifter alpha. What will happen when the days of celebrating are done and Brian and Luke must return to the real world as a couple?
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
Hands down, Luke was in the wrong place at the wrong time and could've easily been killed had it not been for Brian. Being human and inadvertently wandering onto pack lands during their Moon Ceremony celebration, pretty much gave the head-alpha the right to kill Luke. Brian didn't want to see this happen and so he declared Luke his mate, making him untouchable. In a funny twist of fate, Brian discovers that Luke really is his once in a lifetime mate, but Luke is at ground zero trying to learn all the rules for his new life as a man mated to a wolf shifter alpha. What will happen when the days of celebrating are done and Brian and Luke must return to the real world as a couple?
Please find my full review at Rainbow Book Reviews
March 13, 2014
This review can be found at The Blogger Girls review site.
3.5 stars
During the Moon Ceremony, Brian, the alpha of a very small pack, had a choice. Mate with the human who was intruding on the Head Alpha’s pack land or let the human be killed. Instantly aware the human is his mate, Brian saves Luke and tries his hardest to get Luke to accept him. Luckily, after a rough start, Brian convinces Luke to stay with him. As time passes and they return home, they still have a few issues but soon enough they have bigger problems when strange wolves start showing up on their land. Before they know it, Brian’s small pack has grown so much they’re like one gigantic family. But when Luke is called away, Brian and the other wolves realize that while Luke is the only full-blooded human in the pack, he’s also the glue that keeps them together and the heart of the whole pack.
This was so sweet. Gah, I really, really adored this story. The first half is a little slow to get through. I liked it but I was waiting for something bigger to happen. As the story progressed, I enjoyed it more and just loved how Brian and Luke’s home became a shelter for abused and homeless wolves. It was sweet how Luke became so determined to take in every wolf and I liked that the wolves were so battered but grew healthy and strong.
As characters, I didn’t feel like they had enough depth to them. However, what there is I liked. Luke, at first, is terrified of everything then becomes angry and sullen at his new situation with Brian. Eventually, once the new wolves show up, he becomes a sweet, nurturing guy that everyone turns too and I really liked him as the ‘mother hen’. Brian, well, he’s a good alpha but I felt like he could have been stronger. His emotions towards Luke had him acting a little weak-willed and while I liked that he couldn’t say no to Luke’s big eyes, I didn’t necessarily like the fact that he became so needy and desperate at times. Still, I actually liked the two of them together. They’re very, very cute.
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this story although it has quite a few issues with it. Mainly, the author tended to tell just about everything that happened in Brian’s life instead of showing it. So, 80% of the story is Brian explaining how things are developing, the new wolves that showed up, how they looked, how they acted. By doing this, I never got to get to know any of the characters so I could never get a connection to any one of them. Secondly, this story could have used another round of edits. I kept noticing typos, grammar issues, even name switches and a few inconsistencies. Most of all, though, I had a ton of questions about everything throughout the story that just were never answered. Why these people headed in Brian’s direction, how they got to Brian’s place, why Brian didn’t get in trouble with Farn, how everything in the shifter world worked, etc.
One thing readers should be aware of, this is an insta-love story. Within a day, Brian and Luke declare their love for each other. I don’t have issues with insta-love, although I will admit that I was a little bemused by how these two were in love so quickly considering Luke was cowering in fear for most of the day they spent together but I suppose a little bit a sex cures all, eh? ;)
Overall, this was a good story. It had a lot of potential that, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to (mostly just because of the telling) but what there is of the story is sweet. A little too sweet at times but I won’t deny that I enjoyed it. As the new wolves kept showing up, I couldn’t help but feel my little smile grow bit by bit. It was all just so cute! I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing one of the new gay wolves find their mates and HEAs either!
So, if you’re like me and enjoy a bit of shifter fluff, you’ll like this one as well.
3.5 stars
During the Moon Ceremony, Brian, the alpha of a very small pack, had a choice. Mate with the human who was intruding on the Head Alpha’s pack land or let the human be killed. Instantly aware the human is his mate, Brian saves Luke and tries his hardest to get Luke to accept him. Luckily, after a rough start, Brian convinces Luke to stay with him. As time passes and they return home, they still have a few issues but soon enough they have bigger problems when strange wolves start showing up on their land. Before they know it, Brian’s small pack has grown so much they’re like one gigantic family. But when Luke is called away, Brian and the other wolves realize that while Luke is the only full-blooded human in the pack, he’s also the glue that keeps them together and the heart of the whole pack.
This was so sweet. Gah, I really, really adored this story. The first half is a little slow to get through. I liked it but I was waiting for something bigger to happen. As the story progressed, I enjoyed it more and just loved how Brian and Luke’s home became a shelter for abused and homeless wolves. It was sweet how Luke became so determined to take in every wolf and I liked that the wolves were so battered but grew healthy and strong.
As characters, I didn’t feel like they had enough depth to them. However, what there is I liked. Luke, at first, is terrified of everything then becomes angry and sullen at his new situation with Brian. Eventually, once the new wolves show up, he becomes a sweet, nurturing guy that everyone turns too and I really liked him as the ‘mother hen’. Brian, well, he’s a good alpha but I felt like he could have been stronger. His emotions towards Luke had him acting a little weak-willed and while I liked that he couldn’t say no to Luke’s big eyes, I didn’t necessarily like the fact that he became so needy and desperate at times. Still, I actually liked the two of them together. They’re very, very cute.
Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this story although it has quite a few issues with it. Mainly, the author tended to tell just about everything that happened in Brian’s life instead of showing it. So, 80% of the story is Brian explaining how things are developing, the new wolves that showed up, how they looked, how they acted. By doing this, I never got to get to know any of the characters so I could never get a connection to any one of them. Secondly, this story could have used another round of edits. I kept noticing typos, grammar issues, even name switches and a few inconsistencies. Most of all, though, I had a ton of questions about everything throughout the story that just were never answered. Why these people headed in Brian’s direction, how they got to Brian’s place, why Brian didn’t get in trouble with Farn, how everything in the shifter world worked, etc.
One thing readers should be aware of, this is an insta-love story. Within a day, Brian and Luke declare their love for each other. I don’t have issues with insta-love, although I will admit that I was a little bemused by how these two were in love so quickly considering Luke was cowering in fear for most of the day they spent together but I suppose a little bit a sex cures all, eh? ;)
Overall, this was a good story. It had a lot of potential that, unfortunately, it didn’t live up to (mostly just because of the telling) but what there is of the story is sweet. A little too sweet at times but I won’t deny that I enjoyed it. As the new wolves kept showing up, I couldn’t help but feel my little smile grow bit by bit. It was all just so cute! I wouldn’t be opposed to seeing one of the new gay wolves find their mates and HEAs either!
So, if you’re like me and enjoy a bit of shifter fluff, you’ll like this one as well.
August 11, 2016
They met under stressful circumstances... Luke's life was in danger due to a misunderstanding. Brian declared him his mate in order to save his life; it was only supposed to be temporary, but Brian's wolf doesn't want to let Luke go.
Luke spent the last few years of his life barely scraping by. He's at the end of his rope, shocked to discover that werew......wolf shifters..... exist outside of the horror movies he grew up watching. Emotionally damaged and financially insecure, Luke tries to resist the gentle man who just saved his life, but he's ever so tired of being alone.
Brian's mate is a story about love in its purest form. The kind of love that heals those who are broken hearted, warms the soul that has been trampled down by life, and gives those who the world has given up on a second chance when no one else would.
An uplifting and inspiring story from the expert pen of Hollis Shiloh, this book is guaranteed to be one of those rare stories that you just can't help but read again and again. Well written, full of tenderness and courage, Brian's Mate contains all the sweet romance I've come to expect from one of my favorite authors!
A copy of Brian's Mate was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Luke spent the last few years of his life barely scraping by. He's at the end of his rope, shocked to discover that werew......wolf shifters..... exist outside of the horror movies he grew up watching. Emotionally damaged and financially insecure, Luke tries to resist the gentle man who just saved his life, but he's ever so tired of being alone.
Brian's mate is a story about love in its purest form. The kind of love that heals those who are broken hearted, warms the soul that has been trampled down by life, and gives those who the world has given up on a second chance when no one else would.
An uplifting and inspiring story from the expert pen of Hollis Shiloh, this book is guaranteed to be one of those rare stories that you just can't help but read again and again. Well written, full of tenderness and courage, Brian's Mate contains all the sweet romance I've come to expect from one of my favorite authors!
A copy of Brian's Mate was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 26, 2014
I just finished reading Finding Zach and The Island. I needed a sugar coma like something fierce.
This did the trick in that aspect, but unfortunately, the book lacked something for me. I think it had a lot to do with the telling rather than showing. I thought it was going great until they left the Moon Ceremony then a shift happened. Perhaps the author wanted to cram too much in a short amount time so it would be better to tell us what was happening? I wanted to know more! I think I would have rated it higher if we were shown the tutoring, the chaos at dinner, the kids growing up, etc.
I really wanted to know more about Gary!
Did I like the story? YES! I thought it was super cute, but I was kind of hoping for a bit more.
This did the trick in that aspect, but unfortunately, the book lacked something for me. I think it had a lot to do with the telling rather than showing. I thought it was going great until they left the Moon Ceremony then a shift happened. Perhaps the author wanted to cram too much in a short amount time so it would be better to tell us what was happening? I wanted to know more! I think I would have rated it higher if we were shown the tutoring, the chaos at dinner, the kids growing up, etc.
I really wanted to know more about Gary!
Did I like the story? YES! I thought it was super cute, but I was kind of hoping for a bit more.
July 19, 2014
I expected more from this book... seeing as I loved shifter stories. In the beginning of the book the story started out very well, but that was quickly short lived... when things began to feel jumble up. Characters were introduced as if just thrown in the story... to give the book more depth and dialogue. I found the plot to be very lacking... what little plot it did have. The book to me felt very rush & before you knew it... you were done reading. Would definitely not recommend this book to anyone. I'm very disappointed... & felt bored out of my mind reading it. I only finish the book hoping things would change my opinion... Unfortunately it didn't.
March 14, 2014
I wanted some more depth from the characters
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- The transformation that Luke undergoes through the story is sweet. He’s a weakling at the start, but by the end he’s thriving on the love of his mate and his family and the sense of community within their pack.
- Some of the mating rituals are amusing, as are Brian’s and Luke’s unusual performances of them.
- When Luke’s vulnerability is subtle (rather than slap-you-in-the-face-with-a-fish obvious), it’s endearing. Brian’s protective nature is well established.
CONS:
- I almost stopped reading very early on because of the abundance of werewolf stereotypes and unoriginality. Instamating, extreme possessiveness, a dude in distress… You get the idea.
- The story is heavy on “telling.” Here’s a quote to illustrate: “All the wolves got to know one another, sharing meals, running through the woods as wolves, and talking as humans. It went well… The smaller puppies were intimated by their big cousins, but in a very hero-worship way that soon earned them a welcome. The women got along extremely well.” I want to see PROOF of this kind of stuff in a story. I want to *hear* the conversations they have, I want to *see* the puppies and their cousins interacting, and I want to *watch* the women spend time together and see HOW they’re getting along so well.
- There are short descriptive phrases throughout (examples: “a strong yet gentle, manly touch”; “revealing his masculine figure curled small”) that seem designed to convince the reader how very masculine the two men are in spite of the stereotypically feminine things they’re always doing (crying, for instance). I didn’t find these phrases convincing.
Overall comments: I liked the idea here; if it had been fleshed out, with some deeper exploration into the characters’ heads, I think I might have loved it. But it’s mostly told in a “this happened, this happened, this happened” format, rather than showing much exploration of the characters’ feelings.
Warning: This review might contain what some people consider SPOILERS.
Rating: 6/10
PROS:
- The transformation that Luke undergoes through the story is sweet. He’s a weakling at the start, but by the end he’s thriving on the love of his mate and his family and the sense of community within their pack.
- Some of the mating rituals are amusing, as are Brian’s and Luke’s unusual performances of them.
- When Luke’s vulnerability is subtle (rather than slap-you-in-the-face-with-a-fish obvious), it’s endearing. Brian’s protective nature is well established.
CONS:
- I almost stopped reading very early on because of the abundance of werewolf stereotypes and unoriginality. Instamating, extreme possessiveness, a dude in distress… You get the idea.
- The story is heavy on “telling.” Here’s a quote to illustrate: “All the wolves got to know one another, sharing meals, running through the woods as wolves, and talking as humans. It went well… The smaller puppies were intimated by their big cousins, but in a very hero-worship way that soon earned them a welcome. The women got along extremely well.” I want to see PROOF of this kind of stuff in a story. I want to *hear* the conversations they have, I want to *see* the puppies and their cousins interacting, and I want to *watch* the women spend time together and see HOW they’re getting along so well.
- There are short descriptive phrases throughout (examples: “a strong yet gentle, manly touch”; “revealing his masculine figure curled small”) that seem designed to convince the reader how very masculine the two men are in spite of the stereotypically feminine things they’re always doing (crying, for instance). I didn’t find these phrases convincing.
Overall comments: I liked the idea here; if it had been fleshed out, with some deeper exploration into the characters’ heads, I think I might have loved it. But it’s mostly told in a “this happened, this happened, this happened” format, rather than showing much exploration of the characters’ feelings.
June 1, 2016
This gotta be one of the most boooooooring audiobooks I've ever listened to. o_O;
The few conflicts were solved right in the beginning in a very boring and uninventive way. Everyone liked each other really fast. There was no suspense and after 2 of 5 hours not even a plot anymore. The first part of the book was about Alpha wolf Brian meeting and "rescuing" (in a very boring and uneventful way) his mate. The second part of the book only consisted of them adding more and more and more and moooore members to their pack. It read like the "story of a small and boring rural town".
I'm giving 2 stars, because I only give 1 star to books that are really icky. This book made at least an attempt at a story, at the beginning of the book, albeit a weak one.
The few conflicts were solved right in the beginning in a very boring and uninventive way. Everyone liked each other really fast. There was no suspense and after 2 of 5 hours not even a plot anymore. The first part of the book was about Alpha wolf Brian meeting and "rescuing" (in a very boring and uneventful way) his mate. The second part of the book only consisted of them adding more and more and more and moooore members to their pack. It read like the "story of a small and boring rural town".
I'm giving 2 stars, because I only give 1 star to books that are really icky. This book made at least an attempt at a story, at the beginning of the book, albeit a weak one.
February 10, 2014
I'm not sure what I was thinking here. (buying this book)
I like shifter stories and I was in the mood for one.
I will tell you what I don't like. InstaLove just add 2 sentences. No real plot. No real characters, just 2D versions.
Maybe people will like this story because its light, easy and uncomplicated. Which is fine however I just like a healthy dose of half-way-decent with my light and fluffy.
I like shifter stories and I was in the mood for one.
I will tell you what I don't like. InstaLove just add 2 sentences. No real plot. No real characters, just 2D versions.
Maybe people will like this story because its light, easy and uncomplicated. Which is fine however I just like a healthy dose of half-way-decent with my light and fluffy.
February 7, 2014
Such a sweet, sweet story. I definitely want a sequel.
February 13, 2014
This was just tooooo sweet and a bad case of insta-love. I'm sure some people will really like it, but it just wasn't for me.
September 6, 2020
A very heartwarming paranormal mm romance tale. Alpha wolf shifter Brian's pack consists only of himself plus his brother's family of four. He's at an annual wolf retreat and is alerted to a human intruder named Luke. The only way to save Luke is to declare him his mate. Unlike many fake-to-real lover stories, this one felt genuine from the start.
Luke is a timid drifter with low self esteem. He meshes well with Brian's reclusive lifestyle but insists he has to pull his weight. Before you know it, he's helping Brian with his job, calming Brian down, and expanding Brian's pack by taking in strays. Soon he is the heart of the pack.
Luke is a timid drifter with low self esteem. He meshes well with Brian's reclusive lifestyle but insists he has to pull his weight. Before you know it, he's helping Brian with his job, calming Brian down, and expanding Brian's pack by taking in strays. Soon he is the heart of the pack.
February 6, 2014
This review was done for the Blog of Sid Love
Review: Everyone knows I love shifter stories best of all and I was excited to read this one. Having previously read Adrian’s Librarian by this author and finding it excellent, I had high hopes for this story.
Brian is sweet and unassuming, the lowest alpha with the smallest pack and he’s content to just go with the flow…until he sees Luke, a human who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds himself in danger. Brian goes with his first instinct to save Luke and they end up mated.
It’s a great premise and it should have been an interesting journey, watching the two men from different worlds find their way together. But the first half of the novel comes across as rushed and it’s like trying to read on a bumpy road.
The immediate chemistry between them is almost too immediate, even for the usual “instinctual” bond between mates found in most shifter stories. I would have liked to have seen them struggle with their relationship a little more before moving on to the happily-ever-after part that seems to start half way through the book. There was very little angst involved once the mating ceremony was completed.
Every spot of angst was pretty much resolved within a page or two and I think that some of it could have used a little more time to fester before being fixed. Even a confrontation with another pack was just sort of blah and left me thinking that there should have been more to it than that.
I didn’t mind the lack of sex in this story. It was all done “behind closed doors” without any explicit details but it did let the good parts of the story shine through.
I liked how Luke grew and gained confidence once he became responsible for the care and safety of the other wolves that find their way to Brian’s house. I also like how his enthusiasm for having a big, happy family balanced out Brian’s natural wariness. It was nice to watch as Luke opened up Brian’s world just as much as Brian opened up his. It made them both better alpha’s to their growing pack.
If you like sweet and pretty much angst free, or if you are just looking for something nice to read then you will probably love this story. I like a little more anticipation and angst in the story lines I read and I think the pacing at the beginning could have used a little smoothing out.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: Everyone knows I love shifter stories best of all and I was excited to read this one. Having previously read Adrian’s Librarian by this author and finding it excellent, I had high hopes for this story.
Brian is sweet and unassuming, the lowest alpha with the smallest pack and he’s content to just go with the flow…until he sees Luke, a human who ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time and finds himself in danger. Brian goes with his first instinct to save Luke and they end up mated.
It’s a great premise and it should have been an interesting journey, watching the two men from different worlds find their way together. But the first half of the novel comes across as rushed and it’s like trying to read on a bumpy road.
The immediate chemistry between them is almost too immediate, even for the usual “instinctual” bond between mates found in most shifter stories. I would have liked to have seen them struggle with their relationship a little more before moving on to the happily-ever-after part that seems to start half way through the book. There was very little angst involved once the mating ceremony was completed.
Every spot of angst was pretty much resolved within a page or two and I think that some of it could have used a little more time to fester before being fixed. Even a confrontation with another pack was just sort of blah and left me thinking that there should have been more to it than that.
I didn’t mind the lack of sex in this story. It was all done “behind closed doors” without any explicit details but it did let the good parts of the story shine through.
I liked how Luke grew and gained confidence once he became responsible for the care and safety of the other wolves that find their way to Brian’s house. I also like how his enthusiasm for having a big, happy family balanced out Brian’s natural wariness. It was nice to watch as Luke opened up Brian’s world just as much as Brian opened up his. It made them both better alpha’s to their growing pack.
If you like sweet and pretty much angst free, or if you are just looking for something nice to read then you will probably love this story. I like a little more anticipation and angst in the story lines I read and I think the pacing at the beginning could have used a little smoothing out.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
March 21, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
3.5 stars
Brian’s Mate is a sweet tale of unexpected love and chosen family. It has its high points and lower points, but all around it’s a decent read and quite precious.
So let’s talk about what worked for me.
The characters. Yes. There are a lot of them. Luckily we only “hear” two points of view. I like Brian for his ability to compromise and grow as his life changes around him. As an alpha, he’s okay. He’s not as fierce as I’d expect an alpha to be and he’s kind of a pushover. But as a partner to Luke, I like him. He’s very accepting and caring. Luke on the other hand is sweet. I’ll be honest, though. In the beginning, I was a little annoyed with him because he’s so wishy-washy and needy, but he stabilizes about halfway through the story and it’s easier to get a read on him. I like his huge heart. His need to love and be loved. And together these men are cavity-inducingly sweet.
Read Crissy's review in its entirety here.
3.5 stars
Brian’s Mate is a sweet tale of unexpected love and chosen family. It has its high points and lower points, but all around it’s a decent read and quite precious.
So let’s talk about what worked for me.
The characters. Yes. There are a lot of them. Luckily we only “hear” two points of view. I like Brian for his ability to compromise and grow as his life changes around him. As an alpha, he’s okay. He’s not as fierce as I’d expect an alpha to be and he’s kind of a pushover. But as a partner to Luke, I like him. He’s very accepting and caring. Luke on the other hand is sweet. I’ll be honest, though. In the beginning, I was a little annoyed with him because he’s so wishy-washy and needy, but he stabilizes about halfway through the story and it’s easier to get a read on him. I like his huge heart. His need to love and be loved. And together these men are cavity-inducingly sweet.
Read Crissy's review in its entirety here.
June 1, 2016
I initially read this book when it first came out and gave it four stars, I just listened to the audio book and it was because of that that my rating has dropped down to one star.
I could not stand Luke! What a pathetic and whinny human. It was like every time he opened his mouth he was making a massive exaggeration or some grand assumption. It didn't matter what Brian said or did, Luke would stick to his assumptions that were just ignorant.
I hated the insta-love! I understand it more with Brain because he is a wolf shifter (not a werewolf) and the whole mates thing, but with Luke it made no sense what so ever. In one scene he was making the stupid assumption that Brian would have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde like personality, and just start beating on him one day, but in the very next scene he is professing his love to Brian. WHAT?! Is he that submissive that the moment he is show a little bit of kindness from a guy he falls in love?
I would to rip apart all the stupid reasons given as to why Luke is afraid of everyone (seems more ignorantly racist then afraid half the time), but that would take far to long. I am so done. I quit the audio book three hours in.
I could not stand Luke! What a pathetic and whinny human. It was like every time he opened his mouth he was making a massive exaggeration or some grand assumption. It didn't matter what Brian said or did, Luke would stick to his assumptions that were just ignorant.
I hated the insta-love! I understand it more with Brain because he is a wolf shifter (not a werewolf) and the whole mates thing, but with Luke it made no sense what so ever. In one scene he was making the stupid assumption that Brian would have a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde like personality, and just start beating on him one day, but in the very next scene he is professing his love to Brian. WHAT?! Is he that submissive that the moment he is show a little bit of kindness from a guy he falls in love?
I would to rip apart all the stupid reasons given as to why Luke is afraid of everyone (seems more ignorantly racist then afraid half the time), but that would take far to long. I am so done. I quit the audio book three hours in.
August 6, 2016
Too sticky sweet for me. And I didn't like the way the shifters were portrayed. At all. Weak, human, vulnerable. I like my shifters kickass, badass, kings of their known verse.
December 22, 2014
This book had 99 characters and I cared for none.
December 17, 2015
1.5 Stars - not a lot of detail - insta-love done badly ... audiobook - meh
March 29, 2016
Audible Edition:
Story - 3 stars
Performance - 4 stars
Overall - 3 stars
Story - 3 stars
Performance - 4 stars
Overall - 3 stars
June 3, 2017
This was a really sweet love story. The kind that just makes me feel good.
August 15, 2024
The romance was sweet. The characters were charming. The story has some insightful ideas on how individual views of self-worth affect relationships with partners and the community.
August 30, 2014
Brian is probably the most unassuming Alpha wolf ever. He inherited his pack upon his father’s death as the eldest son, and the pack still holds to small numbers. Just Brian, his brother, sister in law and nephews. Brian is an artist, a sort of free spirited loner who makes good money, but gives the majority of it to support wolves that don’t have a pack or a home. He would love to find a mate and have a family, increase his pack, but as a gay shifter he realizes that probably isn’t in the cards for him. That is, until he meets Luke.
During the annual Moon ceremony, Luke unknowingly stumbles onto pack land and, by law, is about to be killed. To save the adorable, sad man with scared eyes, Brian claims him as his mate. What starts out as an arrangement of sorts quickly becomes something more for both the Alpha and his new human mate. Luke is scared, defiant and sexy all at the same time and Brian enjoys nearly every minute of it. But will Luke want to stay mated to him once the ceremony ends, and the threat on his life is no longer hanging over their heads?
This story was totally cheesy, slightly predictable and yet, absolutely adorable and so much fun! Brian and Luke become the Alpha’s of one of the strongest packs there is, a pack full of misfits and outcasts. They have half wolves, gay wolves, homeless wolves... any wolf that either doesn’t have a home or isn’t wanted or treated right in their current pack for any number of reasons, including being gay, is accepted and fully embraced into their pack. This unlikely coupling of Alpha wolf and human, two gay men that thought they’d never find a husband, much less a family, become the head of a large and loving pack. And in a lovely little twist, Luke the only full human member of the pack becomes the heart of them all, his spirit holds them together.
This is my first audible with Stone Cannon, and while I’ve heard better, I’ve heard worse as well. At times it seemed like he was just reading off his grocery list, completely void of emotion. But other times he would dive right into the character and the situation at the time. I think he has promise to become a great narrator, he just needs to find his niche. Overall though this was just a fast, fun listen that I’ll probably listen to again.
If you are a fan of light hearted romance, shifters and cheesy love stories then grab a copy of this one. It will leave you with a smile on your face.
* I received a copy of this audiobook from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
During the annual Moon ceremony, Luke unknowingly stumbles onto pack land and, by law, is about to be killed. To save the adorable, sad man with scared eyes, Brian claims him as his mate. What starts out as an arrangement of sorts quickly becomes something more for both the Alpha and his new human mate. Luke is scared, defiant and sexy all at the same time and Brian enjoys nearly every minute of it. But will Luke want to stay mated to him once the ceremony ends, and the threat on his life is no longer hanging over their heads?
This story was totally cheesy, slightly predictable and yet, absolutely adorable and so much fun! Brian and Luke become the Alpha’s of one of the strongest packs there is, a pack full of misfits and outcasts. They have half wolves, gay wolves, homeless wolves... any wolf that either doesn’t have a home or isn’t wanted or treated right in their current pack for any number of reasons, including being gay, is accepted and fully embraced into their pack. This unlikely coupling of Alpha wolf and human, two gay men that thought they’d never find a husband, much less a family, become the head of a large and loving pack. And in a lovely little twist, Luke the only full human member of the pack becomes the heart of them all, his spirit holds them together.
This is my first audible with Stone Cannon, and while I’ve heard better, I’ve heard worse as well. At times it seemed like he was just reading off his grocery list, completely void of emotion. But other times he would dive right into the character and the situation at the time. I think he has promise to become a great narrator, he just needs to find his niche. Overall though this was just a fast, fun listen that I’ll probably listen to again.
If you are a fan of light hearted romance, shifters and cheesy love stories then grab a copy of this one. It will leave you with a smile on your face.
* I received a copy of this audiobook from Dreamspinner Press in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *
February 27, 2014
Reviewed on Hearts on Fire
Just like one of those sweet and gooey chocolate candy this goes down nice and easy even while knowing this is nothing but a whole lot of empty calories. Brian, a wolf shifter takes Luke as his mate in order to save his life. We are told though that the pair are on equal footing and both are considered alphas. But in Luke’s case, the use of the term alpha is just a word with no meaning as there’s nothing alpha about the constant cowering he does behind his mate’s back and his constant quaking in fear whenever any wolf so much as looks at him. Still Luke does eventually settle into a comfort zone where he finds some strength even if it sometimes feel as if he’s playing the little woman behind the strong man character in an old fashioned love story.
The plot is fairly simple. Luke accidentally strays into Brian’s territory. Brian is a wolf shifter and Luke is fully human. There’s a ridiculous rule about having to kill Luke or anyone who comes into the territory at the wrong time. To avoid that Brian takes Luke as his mate. In the space of a few sentences Brian and Luke find out they’re really compatible and fall in love. It happens so quickly that it could win a contest in the fastest m/m instant love book I’ve read. The pacing is much too fast with not enough details in the early parts of the story although it feels it finds its equilibrium after the two get together.
The rest of the story centers around the two of them getting in lockstep with Luke getting over his fear of wolves and Brian overcoming his loneliness to accept other wolves in his life. The wolves from the earlier part of the book though don’t play much of a part. Instead we get a repetitive story about Luke recruiting and adopting new pack members. It starts to feel like a continuous loop with Luke going way overboard in trying to extend the pack, Brian getting exasperated but eventually giving in to luke’s ideas with this pattern repeating itself again with the next recruit.
Everything is glossed over in this story as we’re told more than shown most of it. Although Brian and Luke are affectionate there’s no sex on the page. There’s a lot of cuteness involving cranky but adorable old wolves and sweet little ones though. Brian and Luke are very likable which is pretty much what carries this story. This doesn’t have a lot of depth but if you’re craving sweet and easy then this might hit the spot.
Just like one of those sweet and gooey chocolate candy this goes down nice and easy even while knowing this is nothing but a whole lot of empty calories. Brian, a wolf shifter takes Luke as his mate in order to save his life. We are told though that the pair are on equal footing and both are considered alphas. But in Luke’s case, the use of the term alpha is just a word with no meaning as there’s nothing alpha about the constant cowering he does behind his mate’s back and his constant quaking in fear whenever any wolf so much as looks at him. Still Luke does eventually settle into a comfort zone where he finds some strength even if it sometimes feel as if he’s playing the little woman behind the strong man character in an old fashioned love story.
The plot is fairly simple. Luke accidentally strays into Brian’s territory. Brian is a wolf shifter and Luke is fully human. There’s a ridiculous rule about having to kill Luke or anyone who comes into the territory at the wrong time. To avoid that Brian takes Luke as his mate. In the space of a few sentences Brian and Luke find out they’re really compatible and fall in love. It happens so quickly that it could win a contest in the fastest m/m instant love book I’ve read. The pacing is much too fast with not enough details in the early parts of the story although it feels it finds its equilibrium after the two get together.
The rest of the story centers around the two of them getting in lockstep with Luke getting over his fear of wolves and Brian overcoming his loneliness to accept other wolves in his life. The wolves from the earlier part of the book though don’t play much of a part. Instead we get a repetitive story about Luke recruiting and adopting new pack members. It starts to feel like a continuous loop with Luke going way overboard in trying to extend the pack, Brian getting exasperated but eventually giving in to luke’s ideas with this pattern repeating itself again with the next recruit.
Everything is glossed over in this story as we’re told more than shown most of it. Although Brian and Luke are affectionate there’s no sex on the page. There’s a lot of cuteness involving cranky but adorable old wolves and sweet little ones though. Brian and Luke are very likable which is pretty much what carries this story. This doesn’t have a lot of depth but if you’re craving sweet and easy then this might hit the spot.
June 19, 2014
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
Audio 3.75 Stars
Story 3.75 Stars
This is a heart warming story. Usually when we read about a pack alpha in a shifter story he is powerful and strong. Brian has a very small pack and doesn’t really have many alpha duties to perform. He doesn’t have to spend all his time intervening between badly behaved wolves or throwing his weight around to make sure people follow rules. He is laid back and generally happy.
When human Luke wanders into the moon ceremony, unaware of what he has walked into, Brian bonds with the man in order to save his life. Luke is scared, skittish after his encounter with the large wolf enforcers, and also at the end of his rope where his own life is concerned. Their plan is to separate when the ceremony finishes but the best laid plans don’t always work out!
The pair falls for each other pretty quickly, as is often the case in shifter stories, but for me the story is not really about their relationship per se. For me the important thing was how they both grew as people once together and how they both needed and thrived when they built their family.
People start turning up to join their pack once they are home. People who have been shunned by their packs for all sorts of irrelevant reasons. People who are not seen as ‘normal’ in shifter society. People who are damaged and have been treated badly and unfairly.
Luke, now an alpha through his mating, builds this mismatched family and never turns anyone away. He gives them love, feeds them, talks to them and generally makes them feel welcome and in return everyone respects him and loves him back. Brian, who hadn’t even realised he needed all these wolves around him, grows into a competent alpha with a strong pack.
By the time the next moon ceremony comes around something is wrong. It is clear and obvious what the problem is and there is only one thing that will resolve it. Brian comes to truly appreciate just what the heart of his family is and what it means to him.
Narration
This was my first time listening to Stone Canon and I think he did a good job. I found it very easy to just sit back, relax and let him take me through the story. Definitely someone I would listen to again.
Audio 3.75 Stars
Story 3.75 Stars
This is a heart warming story. Usually when we read about a pack alpha in a shifter story he is powerful and strong. Brian has a very small pack and doesn’t really have many alpha duties to perform. He doesn’t have to spend all his time intervening between badly behaved wolves or throwing his weight around to make sure people follow rules. He is laid back and generally happy.
When human Luke wanders into the moon ceremony, unaware of what he has walked into, Brian bonds with the man in order to save his life. Luke is scared, skittish after his encounter with the large wolf enforcers, and also at the end of his rope where his own life is concerned. Their plan is to separate when the ceremony finishes but the best laid plans don’t always work out!
The pair falls for each other pretty quickly, as is often the case in shifter stories, but for me the story is not really about their relationship per se. For me the important thing was how they both grew as people once together and how they both needed and thrived when they built their family.
People start turning up to join their pack once they are home. People who have been shunned by their packs for all sorts of irrelevant reasons. People who are not seen as ‘normal’ in shifter society. People who are damaged and have been treated badly and unfairly.
Luke, now an alpha through his mating, builds this mismatched family and never turns anyone away. He gives them love, feeds them, talks to them and generally makes them feel welcome and in return everyone respects him and loves him back. Brian, who hadn’t even realised he needed all these wolves around him, grows into a competent alpha with a strong pack.
By the time the next moon ceremony comes around something is wrong. It is clear and obvious what the problem is and there is only one thing that will resolve it. Brian comes to truly appreciate just what the heart of his family is and what it means to him.
Narration
This was my first time listening to Stone Canon and I think he did a good job. I found it very easy to just sit back, relax and let him take me through the story. Definitely someone I would listen to again.
July 19, 2017
If you had asked me to rate this book the first third of the way into it, I would have said only three stars, but at the end of it, the impression left on me by this book is a sweet one and I would say this is a three and a half, easily rounded to four. The idea of a gentle alpha caught my attention and I was excited for this book to be released. I haven’t read this author before but I’ve been wanting to. There isn’t much introduction into the characters before the story starts right off. We meet Brian and told he’s the alpha of a very small pack (his brother, sister-in-law and two nephews) and then we rush right into meeting a captured human-Luke whom other wolves feel obligated to kill due to an old law. Brian rescues Luke-all he has to do is claim Luke as part of his pack, instead he tells the head-head honcho that Luke is his mate. Luke’s scared one minute, full of bravado the next and crying the third. It’s hard to get a bead on him; first he tries to bluff his way out of captivity, then he breaks out crying, then clings to Brian, then tells Brian he’s terrified of him due to being a wolf. And after only a couple days together, (and a rather cute ceremony with chicken wings) Brian declares his love for Luke. TOO SOON! I am guessing he does so because he feels that Luke is his mate and Luke responds with a shaky ‘well, we did just meet but I think I might love you too’. I was cringing a bit at this but let me tell you, after a rocky start and a rough ride home, things change and become a sweet little fairy tale.
The story unfolds as Luke begins to take in unwanted and stray wolves into Brian’s home and onto his land, and I quite enjoyed the fantasy of feeding the underfed, clothing the poor children and loving the unloved. This is the main part of the story and it resonated with me-I simply loved it! I do intend to read more of this author now that I know what to expect. The sex was minimal and the romance was light but definitely there. Just a lovely little story!
The story unfolds as Luke begins to take in unwanted and stray wolves into Brian’s home and onto his land, and I quite enjoyed the fantasy of feeding the underfed, clothing the poor children and loving the unloved. This is the main part of the story and it resonated with me-I simply loved it! I do intend to read more of this author now that I know what to expect. The sex was minimal and the romance was light but definitely there. Just a lovely little story!
August 7, 2016
This is written in single perspective and it’s very sweet, very simple. Love pretty much happens on day one, but apart from that the story is not really rushed.
It further provides yet another fresh take on the usual shifter premise. I love how wolfish the shifters are in their instincts and behaviour – lots of cuddling in piles for reassurance – and that Brian never refers to his wolf side as though it were a separate being as so often is the case in similar books.
Plus, this is all story and romance and hardly any sex at all. In fact, sex is alluded to or implied rather than described – except for that first . I really like that.
I mean, meaningful sex scenes are great and I do not appreciate it when an author seems to skim them out of bashfulness of misplaced modesty. But in this case it just feels… normal. As in, no need to discuss more than is relevant for the story. Even so there are still plenty of implications about Luke’s sad past in this regard.
I was surprised when the plot eventually took the turn it did: . But it made so much sense for this kind of atmosphere with these particular alphas.
So while, for some obscure reason, I was in no great hurry to read on, everything just felt sweet and right – almost too good to be true, except that little splash of realness took care of any possible, related complaints.
Cute and sweet story, wherein the only goal appears to be everyone’s lasting happiness.
It further provides yet another fresh take on the usual shifter premise. I love how wolfish the shifters are in their instincts and behaviour – lots of cuddling in piles for reassurance – and that Brian never refers to his wolf side as though it were a separate being as so often is the case in similar books.
Plus, this is all story and romance and hardly any sex at all. In fact, sex is alluded to or implied rather than described – except for that first . I really like that.
I mean, meaningful sex scenes are great and I do not appreciate it when an author seems to skim them out of bashfulness of misplaced modesty. But in this case it just feels… normal. As in, no need to discuss more than is relevant for the story. Even so there are still plenty of implications about Luke’s sad past in this regard.
I was surprised when the plot eventually took the turn it did: . But it made so much sense for this kind of atmosphere with these particular alphas.
So while, for some obscure reason, I was in no great hurry to read on, everything just felt sweet and right – almost too good to be true, except that little splash of realness took care of any possible, related complaints.
Cute and sweet story, wherein the only goal appears to be everyone’s lasting happiness.
July 12, 2014
C+
A sweet and simple love story with a lot of heart and family.
Brian is content as the alpha of a tiny pack. Openly gay and a talented and successful artist he is content with his life, if a little lonely. When he first meets Luke there is an attraction and Brian has no problem doing what he can to save him. As Brian gets to know Luke, he falls fast and hard and quickly realizes that he needs to do everything he can to make their mating permanent.
Luke is skittish and scared. His first experiences with shifters are frightening, and he isn’t sure what he should do. The spark between the men is strong, and Luke can’t help wanting the kind and generous Brian in his life. If he is going to make their mating something more than a long weekend, he will have to learn how to make his past an asset rather than allowing it to hold him back from the life that is waiting for him, if he only has the courage to reach for it.
There are several sweet, touching and even a few sad moments with the men and the family they create together. It was nice watching Luke come out of his shell and gain confidence as they made their lives and grew their pack as mates. There was an element of hope and acceptance to the story that I enjoyed.
Reviewed by Nina
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
A sweet and simple love story with a lot of heart and family.
Brian is content as the alpha of a tiny pack. Openly gay and a talented and successful artist he is content with his life, if a little lonely. When he first meets Luke there is an attraction and Brian has no problem doing what he can to save him. As Brian gets to know Luke, he falls fast and hard and quickly realizes that he needs to do everything he can to make their mating permanent.
Luke is skittish and scared. His first experiences with shifters are frightening, and he isn’t sure what he should do. The spark between the men is strong, and Luke can’t help wanting the kind and generous Brian in his life. If he is going to make their mating something more than a long weekend, he will have to learn how to make his past an asset rather than allowing it to hold him back from the life that is waiting for him, if he only has the courage to reach for it.
There are several sweet, touching and even a few sad moments with the men and the family they create together. It was nice watching Luke come out of his shell and gain confidence as they made their lives and grew their pack as mates. There was an element of hope and acceptance to the story that I enjoyed.
Reviewed by Nina
To see more of this review and others like it please visit us at Gay List Book Reviews at www.gaylistbookreviews.wordpress.com
November 18, 2015
I am use to a very different shifter novels. The hot and steamy to the abuse/hate/love kind but this one did not fit in any of the boxes. One Alpha of a pack with six or seven members who are his own family meet a human man who he claims is his mate. No instant chemistry, no bond, no nothing except he wanted to save the man from the Head Alpha during their Moon Festival because the Head Alpha was going to kill him. I was unsure of why he did this but I had spent about an hour reading and figured why not see where this was going. Reading further in the book Luke (human) starts to have real loving feeling for Brian but still no destined mates or true mating was involved and I was like with the hell is going on.
So over the course of their time together after the Moon Festival they go back to Brian's farm house and try to make a go out of it. Brian being a wolf can do all the thing that normal wolf mate's do but Luke wants to try and that is where I said okay maybe there is a point to the book after all. Brian and Luke are so opposite that they really do work well together as an Alpha pair.
So over the course of their time together after the Moon Festival they go back to Brian's farm house and try to make a go out of it. Brian being a wolf can do all the thing that normal wolf mate's do but Luke wants to try and that is where I said okay maybe there is a point to the book after all. Brian and Luke are so opposite that they really do work well together as an Alpha pair.
February 10, 2015
Okay, so. Brian and Luke meet because Luke, a human, somehow accidentally ends up wandering far enough into the woods to show up at a wolf shifter gathering. Within hours of meeting, Brian catches Luke when he faints twice, comforts him when he cries 298375986 times, has sex with him at least 3 times, takes him shopping for meat (Yes, meat. Apparently it's a thing.), and tells him he loves him.
And that craziness all happens in like the first few chapters.
The rest of the book made me think it should have been called something like "Brian's pack" or "Brian and Luke save every needy wolf shifter in the greater Tri-State Area." After the first 20 or so shifters we got to know one at a time, and watch heal and find their place in the pack it got just crazy repetitive and spectacularly un-interesting.
And that craziness all happens in like the first few chapters.
The rest of the book made me think it should have been called something like "Brian's pack" or "Brian and Luke save every needy wolf shifter in the greater Tri-State Area." After the first 20 or so shifters we got to know one at a time, and watch heal and find their place in the pack it got just crazy repetitive and spectacularly un-interesting.
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