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Mates
Looking for a world where danger lurks around every corner, where Mates mean three werewolves taking on the world together, and where the men love their girls as much as they do each other? Look no farther than the Mates anthology. Julia Talbot presents Fur and Phobias, a story about a sweet girl named Abby with a terrible fear of dogs. Aaron thinks he might just be the one to cure her, but he and his lover, Lee, have a secret that may send Abby running for the hills. Can they work together to ease Abby's fears? In Sean Michael's Running with the Wolf, a roving pack of werewolves have made terrible trouble for artist Vicki, who's been bitten and has no idea what to do about it. Swan and Dibs know what to do, though, and the two boys are determined to help Vicki, whether she wants it or not. Can they show her what it's like to run with the wolf? Finally, BA Tortuga presents For Life, Jamie and Brett both know something terrible is about to happen to Melody, and they come back into her life after years spent apart, turning her carefully ordered world upside down. Someone is determined to make them pay for a mistake from the past, but these three are older and wiser now. Can they find a way to stay together? If you want compelling, hot werewolf stories, Mates is the book for you! Don't miss it!
184 pages, paperback
First published March 5, 2008
About the author
Sean Michael
663 books1,212 followersOften referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and persuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 25, 2008
I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, It fell short to me for a few reasons. If you like A LOT of sex, but not much plot this book is for you. There are three different stories in this anthology. All have the same premises in it. Two male werewolves who are lovers meet a female, is instantly attracted to her, and they set out to seduce her. There is M/M/F, M/F, and M/M interactions in this book. It was okay, just nothing extraordinary about it...been there, read that.
January 22, 2015
Fur and Phobias by Julia Talbot
A talented and dedicated horticulturist is plagued by a morbid fear of dogs. This is a large complication for her. On the tantalizingly bright side she is very comfortable with all manner of sexual innuendos making this a gloriously erotic yet intriguing story. I reveled in all the seductive undertones while being empathetic with her panics. Captivatingly erotic!
Abigail Mann is a remarkably sensuous woman with a deliciously open mind on most issues. I would tag her as a dynamic modern free-living woman. In the background, she appears to be a very competent and dedicated horticulturist, too. However, her career and current job is being undermined by her massive panic attacks when confronted with dogs of any kind. She willingly and openly follows her doctor's suggestion to work with a gentleman who has had remarkable success minimizing to eliminating animal phobias, in particular dogs. Fantastic!
Aaron Weiler, according to Abigail's doctor, is a real looker and incredibly talented with folks immobilized by animal aversions. The second part is essential; the first part is just plain good fortune as it easily presents the opportunity for many dalliances. Early on we meet his male lover and business associate who seems equally entranced with the idea of female partners. What a refreshing and open point of view. I would love to meet these guys! Aaron and Abigail make a good connection right from the start during their first meeting for lunch in a lovely bistro. All of the professional encounters seem to be constructed in a remarkably believable sequence. The sexual heat and natural follow-up also feels quite plausible and an overall plus for all. However, there is a very complicated scenario following Aaron and Abigail's first passionate tryst, that strongly hinted at some strange underpinnings in Aaron's life. Startling!
Lee is Aaron's business partner and the love of his life. Lee doesn't quite get to display his masculine qualities upon his first encounter with Abigail as she meets Aaron for her second dog incorporated session. Oh my goodness, if Abigail only knew who this large dog really is as Aaron works diligently to bring Abigail out of her neurosis. Lee and Aaron are not only lovers, but seem to share a paranormal connection that certainly presents some amazing interactions and tantalizing other worldliness. Beguiling!
This opening novella for the 'Mates' anthology is a delightful romp. It is certainly a spicy gambol that masterfully entwines normal and not so normal life situations and energies.
Do enjoy this fanciful frolic that doesn't stint on the sexy clinches. Enticingly far-reaching!
Running with the Wolf by Sean Michael
I have to say the second novella in the 'Mates' anthology was delightfully different, but seriously super hot. Once again there are some superlative tensions and beautifully balanced warmth, love, and intoxicating clinches for twosomes and threesomes. I was feeling gloriously melded into the majestic sensation of *pack* connectedness. This is a high energy winner!
Vicki is an extremely talented yet reclusive painter whose portraits of wolves are so magnificent they practically leap off the canvas. Recently, she has on a least one occasion found herself exhausted and naked on her porch upon awakening. These unexplained and upsetting events did do not make Vicki really feel open and welcome when two unknown guys appear at her door. The younger of the two gentlemen thoroughly licks Vicki's face in his enthusiastic greeting because he knows she is *wolf*. He then becomes completely flustered and bewildered when she slams the door on both of them. It is a remarkable feat that these two gents get re-invited for lemonade, cookies, and fudge brownies. They do, however, after making a much quieter and gentler attempt to befriend her. The older gentleman projects the needed soothing sensation that helps Vicki to place her fears in perspective and begin to trust them both. Spectacular!
Dibs is the curious name of the young gent from the pair who seek to bring Vicki into a comfort zone because of her new condition. Dibs is remarkably sensitive to Vicki but does have a great deal of difficulty reining in his intensity. His youthful exuberance pops up again and again. His good intentions are to help Vicki understand and learn what has happened to her. It is not too difficult to excuse and actually appreciate Dibs's demonstrative nature. Dibs loves life, he loves to love, and along with his partner Swan he wants to not only help Vicki, but cuddle her and draw her into their passionate mating. Dibs really enjoys, revels, and soars in every kind of sexual activity that blossoms before him. He is one sexy dude whether he is a man or a dazzling wolf. Phenomenal!
Swan sometimes looks heavenward and feels he is way too old for all of this. Mainly, that he may be too old to deal with Dibs's youthful robustness. However, he is deeply and passionately in love with Dibs and the feeling is returned vigorously. What Swan most definitely displays is how he knows Vicki needs to be cared for and if he could get his hands on the low-life ne'er-do-wells that didn't take her under their wing, he would totally thrash them. Swan is a real gentleman in whatever form he takes and additionally a beneficent leader. Preternaturalness!
I felt as warm and welcome in Swan and Dibs's *pack* as they embrace Vicki. They get closer with such tenderness and progressing intimacy to a fully loving rapprochement. The lovely threesome soon are ready to face all that may cross their paths. This story is just such a charmer. I certainly give it a thumbs-up. Rapturous!
For Life by B.A. Tortuga
The third novella in the 'Mates' anthology is extraordinarily intense with some delightfully energetic and erotic trysts. Three pack members, separated for a long time, reunite for love, essential re-bonding, and the establishment of a unified home base. Blood, tears, and sex prevail!
Mel, short for Melody, is a powerful and centered woman. She works really hard on her ranch that she truly loves and seems kind of in tune with the universe. Her super friendly, but skitterish cattle dog, Frannie, senses before Mel tunes in that *visitors* are in the neighborhood. Mel seems long past her wild and wooly younger days, but given the opportunity to reconnect with a couple of favorite pack mates, she more than rises to the occasion. In fact, she is the central glue for the trio, but much to her chagrin, she is actually the focal point of some really bad doings moving into her neighborhood. The reconnected threesome needs to pull together if they are going to survive the fight of their lives. Disquietness personified!
Jamie initially seems to materialize out of nowhere, rattling Mel's Frannie and nearly gets his hairy ass turned into a rug. He has been away a long time, but Mel's Frannie cuts him some slack as if she sensed via Mel he was more than what he appeared to be. So he is not only filled out, grown up, but has damn fine chest hair, too. Pretty soon after just saying hello, these two rapidly transform and go high tailing out and about. The feelings are more than good, even with something evil that may have wiped out their entire pack hovering. Additionally, the feeling of family quickly surfaces. Mel and Jamie reconnect as they race through the hills with the wind at their backs, their inner wolves running in all their natural glory as if the years that had separated them vanished in a blink. Revitalization!
Brett in his native mode, too, easily faces and towers over his two mates. After a very brief scuffle, his two pack mates recognize his scent and triumphantly embrace another family member. After some odd and silly miscues plus Brett and Jamie hooking up for a superheated sexual reunion of their own, the trio is solidly together once again. Soon the three conjoin for some delicious sexual play before pulling their resources and skills together to face and hopefully defeat the danger tracking them. Brett and Jamie establish a separate agreement about defending and protecting Mel, but they also kind of luxuriate in having a decidedly luscious female pack partner who owns and manages a very fine ranch. Reconnection!
There is more danger, more pain, and more heartache in this final segment of the 'Mates' trilogy anthology, but even though it is gritty, it feels like a solid, satisfying, and triumphant story coalescing all the previous tales into a rewarding reading experience. I give this story and the collection of the three tales in 'Mates' a thumbs-up. Wonderfully engaging and entertaining!
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
A talented and dedicated horticulturist is plagued by a morbid fear of dogs. This is a large complication for her. On the tantalizingly bright side she is very comfortable with all manner of sexual innuendos making this a gloriously erotic yet intriguing story. I reveled in all the seductive undertones while being empathetic with her panics. Captivatingly erotic!
Abigail Mann is a remarkably sensuous woman with a deliciously open mind on most issues. I would tag her as a dynamic modern free-living woman. In the background, she appears to be a very competent and dedicated horticulturist, too. However, her career and current job is being undermined by her massive panic attacks when confronted with dogs of any kind. She willingly and openly follows her doctor's suggestion to work with a gentleman who has had remarkable success minimizing to eliminating animal phobias, in particular dogs. Fantastic!
Aaron Weiler, according to Abigail's doctor, is a real looker and incredibly talented with folks immobilized by animal aversions. The second part is essential; the first part is just plain good fortune as it easily presents the opportunity for many dalliances. Early on we meet his male lover and business associate who seems equally entranced with the idea of female partners. What a refreshing and open point of view. I would love to meet these guys! Aaron and Abigail make a good connection right from the start during their first meeting for lunch in a lovely bistro. All of the professional encounters seem to be constructed in a remarkably believable sequence. The sexual heat and natural follow-up also feels quite plausible and an overall plus for all. However, there is a very complicated scenario following Aaron and Abigail's first passionate tryst, that strongly hinted at some strange underpinnings in Aaron's life. Startling!
Lee is Aaron's business partner and the love of his life. Lee doesn't quite get to display his masculine qualities upon his first encounter with Abigail as she meets Aaron for her second dog incorporated session. Oh my goodness, if Abigail only knew who this large dog really is as Aaron works diligently to bring Abigail out of her neurosis. Lee and Aaron are not only lovers, but seem to share a paranormal connection that certainly presents some amazing interactions and tantalizing other worldliness. Beguiling!
This opening novella for the 'Mates' anthology is a delightful romp. It is certainly a spicy gambol that masterfully entwines normal and not so normal life situations and energies.
Do enjoy this fanciful frolic that doesn't stint on the sexy clinches. Enticingly far-reaching!
Running with the Wolf by Sean Michael
I have to say the second novella in the 'Mates' anthology was delightfully different, but seriously super hot. Once again there are some superlative tensions and beautifully balanced warmth, love, and intoxicating clinches for twosomes and threesomes. I was feeling gloriously melded into the majestic sensation of *pack* connectedness. This is a high energy winner!
Vicki is an extremely talented yet reclusive painter whose portraits of wolves are so magnificent they practically leap off the canvas. Recently, she has on a least one occasion found herself exhausted and naked on her porch upon awakening. These unexplained and upsetting events did do not make Vicki really feel open and welcome when two unknown guys appear at her door. The younger of the two gentlemen thoroughly licks Vicki's face in his enthusiastic greeting because he knows she is *wolf*. He then becomes completely flustered and bewildered when she slams the door on both of them. It is a remarkable feat that these two gents get re-invited for lemonade, cookies, and fudge brownies. They do, however, after making a much quieter and gentler attempt to befriend her. The older gentleman projects the needed soothing sensation that helps Vicki to place her fears in perspective and begin to trust them both. Spectacular!
Dibs is the curious name of the young gent from the pair who seek to bring Vicki into a comfort zone because of her new condition. Dibs is remarkably sensitive to Vicki but does have a great deal of difficulty reining in his intensity. His youthful exuberance pops up again and again. His good intentions are to help Vicki understand and learn what has happened to her. It is not too difficult to excuse and actually appreciate Dibs's demonstrative nature. Dibs loves life, he loves to love, and along with his partner Swan he wants to not only help Vicki, but cuddle her and draw her into their passionate mating. Dibs really enjoys, revels, and soars in every kind of sexual activity that blossoms before him. He is one sexy dude whether he is a man or a dazzling wolf. Phenomenal!
Swan sometimes looks heavenward and feels he is way too old for all of this. Mainly, that he may be too old to deal with Dibs's youthful robustness. However, he is deeply and passionately in love with Dibs and the feeling is returned vigorously. What Swan most definitely displays is how he knows Vicki needs to be cared for and if he could get his hands on the low-life ne'er-do-wells that didn't take her under their wing, he would totally thrash them. Swan is a real gentleman in whatever form he takes and additionally a beneficent leader. Preternaturalness!
I felt as warm and welcome in Swan and Dibs's *pack* as they embrace Vicki. They get closer with such tenderness and progressing intimacy to a fully loving rapprochement. The lovely threesome soon are ready to face all that may cross their paths. This story is just such a charmer. I certainly give it a thumbs-up. Rapturous!
For Life by B.A. Tortuga
The third novella in the 'Mates' anthology is extraordinarily intense with some delightfully energetic and erotic trysts. Three pack members, separated for a long time, reunite for love, essential re-bonding, and the establishment of a unified home base. Blood, tears, and sex prevail!
Mel, short for Melody, is a powerful and centered woman. She works really hard on her ranch that she truly loves and seems kind of in tune with the universe. Her super friendly, but skitterish cattle dog, Frannie, senses before Mel tunes in that *visitors* are in the neighborhood. Mel seems long past her wild and wooly younger days, but given the opportunity to reconnect with a couple of favorite pack mates, she more than rises to the occasion. In fact, she is the central glue for the trio, but much to her chagrin, she is actually the focal point of some really bad doings moving into her neighborhood. The reconnected threesome needs to pull together if they are going to survive the fight of their lives. Disquietness personified!
Jamie initially seems to materialize out of nowhere, rattling Mel's Frannie and nearly gets his hairy ass turned into a rug. He has been away a long time, but Mel's Frannie cuts him some slack as if she sensed via Mel he was more than what he appeared to be. So he is not only filled out, grown up, but has damn fine chest hair, too. Pretty soon after just saying hello, these two rapidly transform and go high tailing out and about. The feelings are more than good, even with something evil that may have wiped out their entire pack hovering. Additionally, the feeling of family quickly surfaces. Mel and Jamie reconnect as they race through the hills with the wind at their backs, their inner wolves running in all their natural glory as if the years that had separated them vanished in a blink. Revitalization!
Brett in his native mode, too, easily faces and towers over his two mates. After a very brief scuffle, his two pack mates recognize his scent and triumphantly embrace another family member. After some odd and silly miscues plus Brett and Jamie hooking up for a superheated sexual reunion of their own, the trio is solidly together once again. Soon the three conjoin for some delicious sexual play before pulling their resources and skills together to face and hopefully defeat the danger tracking them. Brett and Jamie establish a separate agreement about defending and protecting Mel, but they also kind of luxuriate in having a decidedly luscious female pack partner who owns and manages a very fine ranch. Reconnection!
There is more danger, more pain, and more heartache in this final segment of the 'Mates' trilogy anthology, but even though it is gritty, it feels like a solid, satisfying, and triumphant story coalescing all the previous tales into a rewarding reading experience. I give this story and the collection of the three tales in 'Mates' a thumbs-up. Wonderfully engaging and entertaining!
NOTE: This book was provided by Torquere Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
November 7, 2009
Running With The Wolf, Seam Michael, 4 stars
For Life by B.A. Tortuga, 4 stars
Fur and Phobia by Julia Talbot, 4 stars
For Life by B.A. Tortuga, 4 stars
Fur and Phobia by Julia Talbot, 4 stars
September 21, 2011
["Fur and Phobia" by Julia Talbot: 3.5]
Cute, if sometimes a little bit ... off. Abby is realistic in her phobia and I especially liked how it wasn't belittled. Aaron and his partner Lee are just freak'n hot and I think they fit Abby perfectly. My only kitch was how it was repeatedly bounced back and forth between them, how Abby was just a 'thing' to 'share' and then ... well, whatever. Don't get me wrong, when they realized they were stuck with her both were plenty pleased with that fact. It just kind of bugged me to think that two normally nice and caring guys had actually made a - habit? - out of 'sharing' and leaving others before her.
["Running with the Wolf" by Sean Michael: 4]
Sean Michael is a take-it-or-leave-it writer. Never much more than schmex and a few charming characters, and that's really all this one is, too. I just have a thing for Swan and Dibs though, and Vicki grew on me. I ended up liking her - not as much as I did Swan and Dibs, but in the end I *did* like her, and that last scene just makes me smile every time. ^_^
["For Life" by BA Tortuga]
Cute, if sometimes a little bit ... off. Abby is realistic in her phobia and I especially liked how it wasn't belittled. Aaron and his partner Lee are just freak'n hot and I think they fit Abby perfectly. My only kitch was how it was repeatedly bounced back and forth between them, how Abby was just a 'thing' to 'share' and then ... well, whatever. Don't get me wrong, when they realized they were stuck with her both were plenty pleased with that fact. It just kind of bugged me to think that two normally nice and caring guys had actually made a - habit? - out of 'sharing' and leaving others before her.
["Running with the Wolf" by Sean Michael: 4]
Sean Michael is a take-it-or-leave-it writer. Never much more than schmex and a few charming characters, and that's really all this one is, too. I just have a thing for Swan and Dibs though, and Vicki grew on me. I ended up liking her - not as much as I did Swan and Dibs, but in the end I *did* like her, and that last scene just makes me smile every time. ^_^
["For Life" by BA Tortuga]
February 8, 2009
I give this book 3 1/2 tombstones. Each author put their own twist on the shapeshifter angle and wrote it from an interesting perspective. I truly enjoyed Fur and Phobia it was definitely an amusing story...
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Mates in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of Mates in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
October 21, 2010
"Fur and Phobia" by Julia Talbot was fun, but none of the stories were memorable. One of the male wolves, Dibs, in "Running with the Wolf" by Sean Michael, seemed very childlike. It made it wierd and gross to read about him having sex.
June 14, 2011
The first story, Fur and Phobias, was cute and enjoyable but the editorial errors were atrocious.
The second story, Running with the Wolf, was good, the best of the lot. I really liked Dibs.
The third story, For Life, was about 90% sex, 10% story. I didn't like it much.
The second story, Running with the Wolf, was good, the best of the lot. I really liked Dibs.
The third story, For Life, was about 90% sex, 10% story. I didn't like it much.
Read
August 16, 2008Mates by Sean Michael (2008)
October 9, 2008
Please see bittenbybooks.com for a review of this book
May 22, 2010
Three sexy m/m/f shifter stories.
May 1, 2017
The three stories were ok...but just ok.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews