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A Winter Fox
Albion Rasendin, the renowned general known as the Winter Fox, has only one option to save the lives of his surrender. After a war that nearly ripped two nations apart, Albion knows he’ll be executed. The victor, Prince Treynar Massan, has other plans. Locking a slave collar around Albion’s throat, the prince hopes to sully the legend of the cunning and elusive Winter Fox. But Draven, the prince’s bastard half-brother, sees only an act of dishonor and the undoing of the man he once secretly loved.
It breaks Draven’s heart to see Albion enslaved and humiliated. Before the war, he had studied tactics under the Winter Fox, until family honor demanded he use those tactics to defeat him. But family honor can be a slippery thing, and secrets don’t always stay hidden. When Draven learns that the war against Albion might have been unjust, he uncovers secrets he was never meant to learn. Yet, his love for Albion cannot be destroyed by lies and obsession. He’s forced to make choices that will shake his world to the core, creating both a nightmare and, just maybe, one final hope for a life with the man he loves…
It breaks Draven’s heart to see Albion enslaved and humiliated. Before the war, he had studied tactics under the Winter Fox, until family honor demanded he use those tactics to defeat him. But family honor can be a slippery thing, and secrets don’t always stay hidden. When Draven learns that the war against Albion might have been unjust, he uncovers secrets he was never meant to learn. Yet, his love for Albion cannot be destroyed by lies and obsession. He’s forced to make choices that will shake his world to the core, creating both a nightmare and, just maybe, one final hope for a life with the man he loves…
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2025
25 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Owens
31 books613 followersAlso known as J.C. McGuire.
J.C Owens lives in small town, rural Alberta and is a self confessed writing-a-holic. In the absence of help for this affliction…
I do indeed love to write and have now completed thirty published stories, along with over twenty books sitting idle in my computer, waiting… I love the genre of male/male stories and conflict in what a person thinks they want, versus what they truly need to become themselves. I think any writing that shows the beauty of men loving men is worthwhile.
I love to hear from my readers and always appreciate suggestions and comments for future books. Sharing a love of reading and good, hot sensuality between men is always a cause for celebration!
J.C Owens lives in small town, rural Alberta and is a self confessed writing-a-holic. In the absence of help for this affliction…
I do indeed love to write and have now completed thirty published stories, along with over twenty books sitting idle in my computer, waiting… I love the genre of male/male stories and conflict in what a person thinks they want, versus what they truly need to become themselves. I think any writing that shows the beauty of men loving men is worthwhile.
I love to hear from my readers and always appreciate suggestions and comments for future books. Sharing a love of reading and good, hot sensuality between men is always a cause for celebration!
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 28, 2023
TL;DR: This novel focuses on some deep and triggering (for some) themes, however the author is respectful, nothing is superfluous or gratuitous, and the author devotes equal time to healing, which I appreciated. Be aware of the subject matter going in and don't expect a light beach read, but worth the journey in the end.
THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE
CHARACTERS: We follow the points of view of the three main characters, two of which are the main romantic pairing. What I appreciated the most is that each of them has demons and ghosts, strengths and vulnerabilities. I find it so rare as well to read a m/m romance with such a degree of equality. How they come together on an emotional level is so different, but a gentle relief to read.
PLOT: The plot is very character-based, focusing less on the external and more upon the relationships between the three characters as they attempt to heal from various traumas of the past. I was surprised to find that the usual 'story structure' was changed by the author for this one and a lot of time was spent on the denouement and healing. The climax in terms of structure occurs so much earlier than usual for this reason, which allowed for me to sit and spend time healing with the characters. I was impressed by that, and in many ways, expecting and fearing that there would be more conflict mirrored the characters themselves.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
The themes of this story are high in terms of emotional intensity. Emotional, psychological, and physical abuse are all present. This story stayed in the 4 out of 5 range and kept me from 'I need a therapist' level because the author is so careful and respectful with these themes and devotes time to showing the healing, and showing a healthy relationship and not just the toxic ones of the main conflict.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
99% fulfilled and settled. The book does seem to leave an opening for a sequel and I believe that one of the main conflicts isn't fully settled by the end. There's a sense that this is very much the beginning. That being said, after all the hurt we go through with the characters, the time spent in the healing, in the 'comfort' side of 'hurt/comfort' is key. I finished this book able to breathe and also relieved because I got to spend time basking in reading a healthy relationship that is more equal than anything I've read in the genre. I give the author such huge, huge kudos for that.
WOULD I GO BACK IN TIME AND READ THIS BOOK KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW?
Yes, I would still go back and read this book.
THIS REVIEW IS SPOILER-FREE
CHARACTERS: We follow the points of view of the three main characters, two of which are the main romantic pairing. What I appreciated the most is that each of them has demons and ghosts, strengths and vulnerabilities. I find it so rare as well to read a m/m romance with such a degree of equality. How they come together on an emotional level is so different, but a gentle relief to read.
PLOT: The plot is very character-based, focusing less on the external and more upon the relationships between the three characters as they attempt to heal from various traumas of the past. I was surprised to find that the usual 'story structure' was changed by the author for this one and a lot of time was spent on the denouement and healing. The climax in terms of structure occurs so much earlier than usual for this reason, which allowed for me to sit and spend time healing with the characters. I was impressed by that, and in many ways, expecting and fearing that there would be more conflict mirrored the characters themselves.
EMOTIONAL INTENSITY: There is no good/bad here. Sometimes I just want a low-investment entertainment read whereas other times a high-stakes 'I need a therapist to recover' is what I need.
The themes of this story are high in terms of emotional intensity. Emotional, psychological, and physical abuse are all present. This story stayed in the 4 out of 5 range and kept me from 'I need a therapist' level because the author is so careful and respectful with these themes and devotes time to showing the healing, and showing a healthy relationship and not just the toxic ones of the main conflict.
CATHARTIC FULFILLMENT: Is the emotional journey worth it? Do I finish this book feeling that I've crested the wave of the climactic moment and everything has been settled, leaving me settled and fulfilled?
99% fulfilled and settled. The book does seem to leave an opening for a sequel and I believe that one of the main conflicts isn't fully settled by the end. There's a sense that this is very much the beginning. That being said, after all the hurt we go through with the characters, the time spent in the healing, in the 'comfort' side of 'hurt/comfort' is key. I finished this book able to breathe and also relieved because I got to spend time basking in reading a healthy relationship that is more equal than anything I've read in the genre. I give the author such huge, huge kudos for that.
WOULD I GO BACK IN TIME AND READ THIS BOOK KNOWING WHAT I KNOW NOW?
Yes, I would still go back and read this book.
April 12, 2024
This would have been better as a fantasy book than a fantasy romance, because the romance sure was lacking. You have to rely on the feelings Draven had before the war were love, or damn near close to. But of course, we don’t see any of that. And it’s Draven’s bodyguard that confesses Draven’s love to Albion, not Draven. Draven and Albion hardly spend much on page time together, and half of that time, Albion isn’t conscious. Might as well have made it MMM, since Trey exhibited more passion towards Draven than either Draven or Albion did for most of the book.
And maybe they spent a bunch of time together. It’s hard to say. The only way to note the passage of time was that Albion’s hair had grown back out to his shoulders… but I don’t know if it was cut to his scalp or 2” from his shoulders.
I also don’t know how old Draven or Trey are. They are at least 21, since it mentions meeting Albion when they were 17 sometime before the war.
The epilogue was also awful. I don’t like epilogues, but this was Not Good TM. As a fantasy, this could have been a 4-5 star read. As a fantasy romance, 3 stars. Tack on this epilogue, and it’s a 2. The only reason it isn’t a 1 is because I really enjoyed the first half of the book.
And maybe they spent a bunch of time together. It’s hard to say. The only way to note the passage of time was that Albion’s hair had grown back out to his shoulders… but I don’t know if it was cut to his scalp or 2” from his shoulders.
I also don’t know how old Draven or Trey are. They are at least 21, since it mentions meeting Albion when they were 17 sometime before the war.
The epilogue was also awful. I don’t like epilogues, but this was Not Good TM. As a fantasy, this could have been a 4-5 star read. As a fantasy romance, 3 stars. Tack on this epilogue, and it’s a 2. The only reason it isn’t a 1 is because I really enjoyed the first half of the book.
May 15, 2025
This dark romance has many painful points of suffering and betrayal. Despite all, love finally prevails. Albion, known as Winter Fox, has served as general for four years. Now, his remaining army is ragged and in decline. Albion decides to sacrifice himself to save his people. What he doesn't expect is to live through the capture and to become enslaved.
Draven is half-brother to the opposing general. He has participated in the war, although he knew Albion as a young man and had an innocent crush on him at the time. Now, with Albion captured and seriously injured, Draven cannot stand the abusiveness of his half-brother. Also, his half-brother is exhibiting alarming signs of obsession and psychological dependence on Draven. As time goes by, it's clear that not is all as it seems with the King and court politics. Can Draven and Albion overcome years of being enemies to find healing and love? This book has intensity, darkness, intrigue, passion, and love.
Draven is half-brother to the opposing general. He has participated in the war, although he knew Albion as a young man and had an innocent crush on him at the time. Now, with Albion captured and seriously injured, Draven cannot stand the abusiveness of his half-brother. Also, his half-brother is exhibiting alarming signs of obsession and psychological dependence on Draven. As time goes by, it's clear that not is all as it seems with the King and court politics. Can Draven and Albion overcome years of being enemies to find healing and love? This book has intensity, darkness, intrigue, passion, and love.
December 3, 2023
Umm, idk how to feel, I’m not sure if it’s a 3 or a 4… I didn’t like how it felt in the beginning that it could almost have turned into a love triangle. I don’t know that I wanted Trey’s POV. It was giving wayyy to much Lannister and Targaryen for me. I also wanted a little bit more background, and the epilogue didn’t super work for me. It was definitely creepy and made me wonder what the kingdom would be like when Trey takes over since he’s obviously super mentally unstable. But I don’t really care about him. I care about the MMCs and I wanted an epilogue of them being happy and their new family. Also what happened to the other country? Like did another country take over? He got captured and then what happened?
May 11, 2023
I was so happy to see this had come out today! I love Owens’ books, no matter the subject. I especially love the enemies to lovers trope and this was perfect! I fell in love with Albion and Draven, those two truly deserved to live a happy
life together after the crap they both went through. I’d say good riddance to Trey, but he didn’t exactly get what he deserved. I’m just glad he can’t hurt Albion or Draven anymore.
life together after the crap they both went through. I’d say good riddance to Trey, but he didn’t exactly get what he deserved. I’m just glad he can’t hurt Albion or Draven anymore.
May 22, 2023
A classic Owens - a lot of noble suffering, a lot of mental and emotional wounds you feel way too keenly because she knows what she's doing. I actually had to skip a certain part because I have enough self-preservation/awareness not to torture myself needlessly. Despite everything and because of it, I enjoy this well-written emotional torture and I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of the characters later despite the rather abrupt HFN.
September 27, 2023
This is pretty grim in the early parts, and there’s a brutal SA scene, too, so be warned. The romance is sort of unbelievable, contrived, and oddly declared when its elements are finally introduced, but the two MCs are interesting and likable, and the world-building, particularly with Zebatere, is interesting.
June 9, 2023
Rating: 3.5 stars
I'm not sure what I think about this book. I didn't totally buy into the love between Dravan and Albion. Still the story was good. There was some really dark things that happened that I can't mention in this review but they could be triggering for some.
I'm not sure what I think about this book. I didn't totally buy into the love between Dravan and Albion. Still the story was good. There was some really dark things that happened that I can't mention in this review but they could be triggering for some.
June 6, 2025
Not as vicious as some of the author’s earlier books, although like them full of suffering and evil doing. The escape was easy but the journey to HEA was long; an evil twist saved the ending from being blah. However missing words were beyond annoying and unforgivable in a book of this price.
May 16, 2023
186/244
June 5, 2023
Excellent story.
A war ending drama.
A war ending drama.
August 29, 2023
Bit depressing and really didnt like the epilogue.
Over all it was a very brutal story and the relationship and happy times were not satisfying to read.
Over all it was a very brutal story and the relationship and happy times were not satisfying to read.
September 18, 2023
See my web site for a full review of “A Winter Fox.”
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews