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Urban Wolves #1
Jared
Jared just wanted to celebrate his birthday and make new friends, but he quickly finds that clubbing can be dangerous. In fact, the whole world is a different place than he thought it was. Werewolves, vampires, and faeries turn out to be all too real. Front and center of it is is Steven Chang- alpha heir and all around good guy. He says Jared's his mate. It's all a bit much for Jared to process, but maybe it'll all be okay as Steve says he's willing to date first. For a while anyway. Jared just hopes it's long enough to wrap his head around it all, hopefully without getting disappeared by the mysterious men in suits or anything weirder happening.
Trigger warning: contains a sexual assault.
Trigger warning: contains a sexual assault.
187 pages, ebook
First published July 8, 2016
60 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Leona Windwalker
34 books99 followersLeona is a longtime staunch supporter of human rights and environmental causes. Her favourite genre to read is M/M fiction and she particularly enjoys science fiction, fantasy, and action/suspense subgenres—especially if they have a nice seasoning of romance. She has far too many books on her Kindle, has overloaded her phone with even more and, when not reading, writing, being driven to distraction by her children, or being overlorded by her three cats, can be found trying to locate the portal that the sock monster uses to steal socks from her dryer.
pseudonym for Loretta Johns
***Works by this author are protected by Muso. Please help support the author who is supporting her family by only purchasing legal copies***
pseudonym for Loretta Johns
***Works by this author are protected by Muso. Please help support the author who is supporting her family by only purchasing legal copies***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
July 29, 2016
Not a bad book as such, BUT the book starts out with only Jared and Stevens POV, and suddenly a chapter is from Desmonds POV or Silas'. (Also in my mind Desmond was an older, distinguished gentleman, and it confused me, when suddenly he was... NOT) It was a wee bit weird.
I thought Jareds 'thoughts' were witty, but also too 'showy'... I liked that Jared and Steven didn't just jump each other, which was a nice new perspective.
However it would really, really be flattering and responsible, if for ONCE the author Rant over...
Maybe. Okay, now I've talked myself down to 2 stars... I don't know, nice book, some issues, but those were mine I think, hmm... I will probably read the next book.
I thought Jareds 'thoughts' were witty, but also too 'showy'... I liked that Jared and Steven didn't just jump each other, which was a nice new perspective.
However it would really, really be flattering and responsible, if for ONCE the author Rant over...
Maybe. Okay, now I've talked myself down to 2 stars... I don't know, nice book, some issues, but those were mine I think, hmm... I will probably read the next book.
August 22, 2020
Mpreg…
Other than the Mpreg stuff I liked this book.
I wasn’t a fan of the rape scenes but it did give context to the rest of the book.
I loved when Jared and Steven come together it’s a slow burn kind of love they let Jared heal and come to terms with things.
Jared is a human and Steven is a Alpha shifter who finds his mate. I like that he explains everything in a way that well it does freak him out but doesn’t scare him off.
The stuff in the other is a little confusing and sometimes I wondered if we were there or here. But overall I enjoyed the book.
I liked the narration, Randi Johnson gives each character a voice without over doing it and that is always a good thing.
Other than the Mpreg stuff I liked this book.
I wasn’t a fan of the rape scenes but it did give context to the rest of the book.
I loved when Jared and Steven come together it’s a slow burn kind of love they let Jared heal and come to terms with things.
Jared is a human and Steven is a Alpha shifter who finds his mate. I like that he explains everything in a way that well it does freak him out but doesn’t scare him off.
The stuff in the other is a little confusing and sometimes I wondered if we were there or here. But overall I enjoyed the book.
I liked the narration, Randi Johnson gives each character a voice without over doing it and that is always a good thing.
April 30, 2017
Voto: 3.5.
Come ho già detto in altre mie recensioni, rientro fra quelle persone che apprezzano quando un autore mette degli avvertimenti nella sinossi, perché i possibili lettori facciano scelte consapevoli, adeguate ai loro gusti, senza rovinarsi una storia a metà, magari davanti ad una sorpresa sgradita.
Gli argomenti di questo libro mi hanno stuzzicato parecchio, perché – fra le altre cose – ho un debole per le storie fantasy, con mutaforma ed altri elementi sovrannaturali, per le M-preg (le gravidanze maschili, chiaramente tramite mezzi magici) e per le trame dove le Anime Gemelle si incontrano.
Il grosso scoglio era rappresentato dal contenuto esplicito non consensuale, un concetto che mi urta parecchio.
A tal proposito, vorrei rassicurare quelli che, come me, avrebbero scartato la storia per questo avviso. Sì, qui abbiamo due umani abbietti che usano la bocca del povero, indifeso protagonista per i loro porci comodi, lo fanno in modo volgare ed esplicito, ma la faccenda si chiude lì. Se la cosa vi secca troppo, è meglio saperlo subito e croce sopra, altrimenti vi consiglio di dare una chance a questa storia piacevole, che potrebbe regalarvi qualche ora di intrattenimento.
Purtroppo, la trama inizia proprio così, nel punto più infimo. Jared è un giovane umano, rimasto solo al mondo, trasferitosi a New York in cerca di una nuova vita, di lavoro e amici. È d’animo buono e forse un po’ ingenuo, ma la solitudine lo porta a cercare amicizie e a fidarsi delle persone sbagliate, perché finisce in mano a due individui disgustosi e senza scrupoli. A salvarlo, prima che l’aggressione degeneri, ci pensa nientemeno che la sua Anima Gemella, il mutaforma Steve, il futuro Alpha dei lupi. Quest’improvviso aiuto stravolge per sempre la vita di Jared che, suo malgrado, si ritrova al centro di un mondo sconosciuto, dove esseri magici (mutaforma vari, lupi, vampiri, fate, maghi, folletti…) e umani convivono da sempre, benché i secondi ne siano beatamente ignari.
Per Jared, già scosso dalla violenza subita, non è facile accettare questo cambiamento abissale, nonché decidere se corrispondere o meno Steve solo perché è scritto nel Destino. Eppure, Legame o no, l’attrazione e la complicità ci sono, quindi Jared accetta un suo corteggiamento, prima dell’inevitabile unione.
Anche se i momenti dolci e coccolosi non mancano, in questo primo libro possiamo gustarci un’unica scena d’amore, sensuale e piacevolmente descritta, che lava via il sapore amaro dell’inizio e che segna un punto di non-ritorno per i nostri protagonisti che, in barba alle leggende e alle tradizioni, si ritrovano a metter su famiglia.
Non c’è un momento di pace per loro, tra segreti da svelare, minacce da sventare, oscuri figuri che si appostano sotto casa, fate gelose, traslochi improvvisi e amici da aiutare, nozze, cerimonie di successione, corredini e… Non vi basta?
Essendo il primo libro di una saga, c’è molta carne al fuoco e molti personaggi, ancora marginali, penso che avranno il loro spazio in futuro. Anche i protagonisti, che alternano le proprie riflessioni, meritano ancora maggiore introspezione e uno sviluppo ulteriore del loro rapporto, di cui hanno appena gettato le basi.
La resa italiana è generalmente gradevole, anche se avrei desiderato che i soggetti di alcune frasi fossero più chiari. In un paio di punti, non si capisce bene chi dice (o fa) cosa. Da quanto mi è stato detto, è l’autrice stessa che, nella versione inglese, ama essere un po’ contorsionista nelle idee. L’editing risulta curato, ho notato giusto un paio di imprecisioni, ma nel complesso è buono.
Come ho già detto in altre mie recensioni, rientro fra quelle persone che apprezzano quando un autore mette degli avvertimenti nella sinossi, perché i possibili lettori facciano scelte consapevoli, adeguate ai loro gusti, senza rovinarsi una storia a metà, magari davanti ad una sorpresa sgradita.
Gli argomenti di questo libro mi hanno stuzzicato parecchio, perché – fra le altre cose – ho un debole per le storie fantasy, con mutaforma ed altri elementi sovrannaturali, per le M-preg (le gravidanze maschili, chiaramente tramite mezzi magici) e per le trame dove le Anime Gemelle si incontrano.
Il grosso scoglio era rappresentato dal contenuto esplicito non consensuale, un concetto che mi urta parecchio.
A tal proposito, vorrei rassicurare quelli che, come me, avrebbero scartato la storia per questo avviso. Sì, qui abbiamo due umani abbietti che usano la bocca del povero, indifeso protagonista per i loro porci comodi, lo fanno in modo volgare ed esplicito, ma la faccenda si chiude lì. Se la cosa vi secca troppo, è meglio saperlo subito e croce sopra, altrimenti vi consiglio di dare una chance a questa storia piacevole, che potrebbe regalarvi qualche ora di intrattenimento.
Purtroppo, la trama inizia proprio così, nel punto più infimo. Jared è un giovane umano, rimasto solo al mondo, trasferitosi a New York in cerca di una nuova vita, di lavoro e amici. È d’animo buono e forse un po’ ingenuo, ma la solitudine lo porta a cercare amicizie e a fidarsi delle persone sbagliate, perché finisce in mano a due individui disgustosi e senza scrupoli. A salvarlo, prima che l’aggressione degeneri, ci pensa nientemeno che la sua Anima Gemella, il mutaforma Steve, il futuro Alpha dei lupi. Quest’improvviso aiuto stravolge per sempre la vita di Jared che, suo malgrado, si ritrova al centro di un mondo sconosciuto, dove esseri magici (mutaforma vari, lupi, vampiri, fate, maghi, folletti…) e umani convivono da sempre, benché i secondi ne siano beatamente ignari.
Per Jared, già scosso dalla violenza subita, non è facile accettare questo cambiamento abissale, nonché decidere se corrispondere o meno Steve solo perché è scritto nel Destino. Eppure, Legame o no, l’attrazione e la complicità ci sono, quindi Jared accetta un suo corteggiamento, prima dell’inevitabile unione.
Anche se i momenti dolci e coccolosi non mancano, in questo primo libro possiamo gustarci un’unica scena d’amore, sensuale e piacevolmente descritta, che lava via il sapore amaro dell’inizio e che segna un punto di non-ritorno per i nostri protagonisti che, in barba alle leggende e alle tradizioni, si ritrovano a metter su famiglia.
Non c’è un momento di pace per loro, tra segreti da svelare, minacce da sventare, oscuri figuri che si appostano sotto casa, fate gelose, traslochi improvvisi e amici da aiutare, nozze, cerimonie di successione, corredini e… Non vi basta?
Essendo il primo libro di una saga, c’è molta carne al fuoco e molti personaggi, ancora marginali, penso che avranno il loro spazio in futuro. Anche i protagonisti, che alternano le proprie riflessioni, meritano ancora maggiore introspezione e uno sviluppo ulteriore del loro rapporto, di cui hanno appena gettato le basi.
La resa italiana è generalmente gradevole, anche se avrei desiderato che i soggetti di alcune frasi fossero più chiari. In un paio di punti, non si capisce bene chi dice (o fa) cosa. Da quanto mi è stato detto, è l’autrice stessa che, nella versione inglese, ama essere un po’ contorsionista nelle idee. L’editing risulta curato, ho notato giusto un paio di imprecisioni, ma nel complesso è buono.
August 9, 2016
(¯`v´¯)
.`•.¸.•´ ★★★★
¸.•´.•´¨) ¸.•¨)
(¸.•´(¸.•´ (¸.•¨¯`*
*´¨✫)I was missing out and
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*I had no idea.
This book had been on my list for a while, but due to commitments, I failed as a reviewer. I was unable to get to it until just now, and boy am I glad that I did.
I have been neglecting my paranormal books, but yes, I am back, if only for a bit. The backlog did little to prepare me for the adventure that Jared would find himself in. Instead of a perfect ending to a perfect day, Jared found him on the shitty end of the stick when he's attacked. He is rescued by Steven, heir apparent to the Chang destiny.
Werewolves, vampires, and faeries, oh my!
Jared entered the world of the supernatural as the True Mate of the future Alpha. Steven thought he would never find his true mate, but holding Jared in his arms, he vowed to protect him at all cost. And that meant finding the men who had hurt his mate. That also meant, careful explaining this new life to Jared and hoping he would not freak out. And boy, was there freaking out all over the place, especially as a surprise awaited the newly engaged pair.
A good beginning... to a new series. The author was able to plant the foundation of the books to follow. Already I see this magical realm and plenty HEAs. This was a good read for paranormal lovers who like the unexpected.
ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
.`•.¸.•´ ★★★★
¸.•´.•´¨) ¸.•¨)
(¸.•´(¸.•´ (¸.•¨¯`*
*´¨✫)I was missing out and
¸.•´¸.•*´¨)✯ ¸.•*I had no idea.
This book had been on my list for a while, but due to commitments, I failed as a reviewer. I was unable to get to it until just now, and boy am I glad that I did.
I have been neglecting my paranormal books, but yes, I am back, if only for a bit. The backlog did little to prepare me for the adventure that Jared would find himself in. Instead of a perfect ending to a perfect day, Jared found him on the shitty end of the stick when he's attacked. He is rescued by Steven, heir apparent to the Chang destiny.
Werewolves, vampires, and faeries, oh my!
Jared entered the world of the supernatural as the True Mate of the future Alpha. Steven thought he would never find his true mate, but holding Jared in his arms, he vowed to protect him at all cost. And that meant finding the men who had hurt his mate. That also meant, careful explaining this new life to Jared and hoping he would not freak out. And boy, was there freaking out all over the place, especially as a surprise awaited the newly engaged pair.
A good beginning... to a new series. The author was able to plant the foundation of the books to follow. Already I see this magical realm and plenty HEAs. This was a good read for paranormal lovers who like the unexpected.
ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Cee from Alpha Book Club
July 9, 2016
First reading this author
This is the first time reading a book by this author and I must say I am a fan. This wasn't the typical shifter book were they fall insta love on both parts it took the human awhile to open up to his feelings and all e paranormal. Can't wait for book two.
This is the first time reading a book by this author and I must say I am a fan. This wasn't the typical shifter book were they fall insta love on both parts it took the human awhile to open up to his feelings and all e paranormal. Can't wait for book two.
April 1, 2017
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
With so many paranormal books under my belt, its always a surprise and pleasure to find something I haven’t read before. In Jared the author gives us what I consider a more modern, integrated look at shifters and other paranormals while still remaining true to the overall shifter genre. Steve, one of the main characters, was born in the city and has learned to manage his senses and the needs of his wolf in such an environment. I really liked how the shifters adapted to not having a big country setting to run in whenever they wanted and the author’s solution also allowed for the fae characters to be something more than just a background mention. The vampires were also a nice addition and while they aren’t around as much, (like the fae) I’m looking forward to seeing more of them, as well as their differences to ‘regular’ vampires as the series continues.
The book itself is primarily story driven with the romance between Steve and Jared front and center but there is also quite a bit of other stuff going on revolving around an investigation, other couples coming together and more unanticipated occurrences than Jared knows how to handle. I don’t mind an easy instalove book but it was kind of refreshing to see Jared freaking out over the existence of shifters; it lead some realism to the character interactions because really, no one is so laid back as to not freak out when finding their entire world view was missing some pretty big components.
Now, there were some things I wasn’t expecting to find in this book so let me put down my warnings. First, there is a sexual assault in the first chapter of the book and some lesser scenes tying into it further into the story. If this is a trigger for you, you have been warned. Also, this story features surprise mpreg. While I wouldn’t warn for that normally, some people find it squick worthy and I wouldn’t want it to catch you by surprise. I don’t mind it and actually liked how the author both brought it about and handled the birth. Nothing is really ‘shown’ but it was a different concept than what I’ve seen before in other mpreg and I thought that was great.
While I did think a lot of things came together fairly quickly in the last half of the book, and I would’ve liked a little more suspense in dealing with the agents, I did really enjoy this one; the world building was interesting and I found the characters well developed. This was just a really good start to a new series. I’ve not read this author before but I’m looking forward to seeing more of her work in the future; if you enjoy paranormal stories you might want to give this one a try. :)
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/08/0...
With so many paranormal books under my belt, its always a surprise and pleasure to find something I haven’t read before. In Jared the author gives us what I consider a more modern, integrated look at shifters and other paranormals while still remaining true to the overall shifter genre. Steve, one of the main characters, was born in the city and has learned to manage his senses and the needs of his wolf in such an environment. I really liked how the shifters adapted to not having a big country setting to run in whenever they wanted and the author’s solution also allowed for the fae characters to be something more than just a background mention. The vampires were also a nice addition and while they aren’t around as much, (like the fae) I’m looking forward to seeing more of them, as well as their differences to ‘regular’ vampires as the series continues.
The book itself is primarily story driven with the romance between Steve and Jared front and center but there is also quite a bit of other stuff going on revolving around an investigation, other couples coming together and more unanticipated occurrences than Jared knows how to handle. I don’t mind an easy instalove book but it was kind of refreshing to see Jared freaking out over the existence of shifters; it lead some realism to the character interactions because really, no one is so laid back as to not freak out when finding their entire world view was missing some pretty big components.
Now, there were some things I wasn’t expecting to find in this book so let me put down my warnings. First, there is a sexual assault in the first chapter of the book and some lesser scenes tying into it further into the story. If this is a trigger for you, you have been warned. Also, this story features surprise mpreg. While I wouldn’t warn for that normally, some people find it squick worthy and I wouldn’t want it to catch you by surprise. I don’t mind it and actually liked how the author both brought it about and handled the birth. Nothing is really ‘shown’ but it was a different concept than what I’ve seen before in other mpreg and I thought that was great.
While I did think a lot of things came together fairly quickly in the last half of the book, and I would’ve liked a little more suspense in dealing with the agents, I did really enjoy this one; the world building was interesting and I found the characters well developed. This was just a really good start to a new series. I’ve not read this author before but I’m looking forward to seeing more of her work in the future; if you enjoy paranormal stories you might want to give this one a try. :)
http://lovebytesreviews.com/2016/08/0...
November 7, 2017
There's potential!
So, here’s the thing. I am stuck trying to figure out how to approach this review. While there were so many good things going on this book in turn there were also some not so good things. Let me try to elaborate.
On one hand the amount of imagination and new ideas that went into the overall storyline was fantastic! From the way Mpreg works (there are no Omegas in this one) to the way justice is carried out in the realms. In addition, I really enjoyed the world/realms that the author developed as well. How each one develops as the supernaturals themselves expand.
However, when it came to character development and editing; well that is where the author was lacking IMO. I felt that the chemistry/sexy times between Jared and Steve; especially with them being True Mates was lacking. I understand Jared suffered something horrible; which could in turn affect their connection, however if that is the case, the author didn’t do a good enough job relaying those thoughts.
Case in point, the “something horrible” that happened to Jared. IMO I felt the author should of taken some time in this area to let the reader in on how he was affected. Because what I got out of it, was that something bad happened and he moved on. Other than him experiencing a nightmare we really don't know what is going on in his head. That drove me nuts!
So, I think in order to give it justice I will have to give it two different ratings.
World Building/Innovation: 4
Character Development/Editing: 2
Average: 3
I am hoping that in the next installment, the author will have a few beta readers and someone to help with editing and proofing. Overall, I do feel that there is so much potential with this series. Here’s to hope!
So, here’s the thing. I am stuck trying to figure out how to approach this review. While there were so many good things going on this book in turn there were also some not so good things. Let me try to elaborate.
On one hand the amount of imagination and new ideas that went into the overall storyline was fantastic! From the way Mpreg works (there are no Omegas in this one) to the way justice is carried out in the realms. In addition, I really enjoyed the world/realms that the author developed as well. How each one develops as the supernaturals themselves expand.
However, when it came to character development and editing; well that is where the author was lacking IMO. I felt that the chemistry/sexy times between Jared and Steve; especially with them being True Mates was lacking. I understand Jared suffered something horrible; which could in turn affect their connection, however if that is the case, the author didn’t do a good enough job relaying those thoughts.
Case in point, the “something horrible” that happened to Jared. IMO I felt the author should of taken some time in this area to let the reader in on how he was affected. Because what I got out of it, was that something bad happened and he moved on. Other than him experiencing a nightmare we really don't know what is going on in his head. That drove me nuts!
So, I think in order to give it justice I will have to give it two different ratings.
World Building/Innovation: 4
Character Development/Editing: 2
Average: 3
I am hoping that in the next installment, the author will have a few beta readers and someone to help with editing and proofing. Overall, I do feel that there is so much potential with this series. Here’s to hope!
December 18, 2020
DNF at the end of chapter 7.
This started with a lengthy rape scene that I felt was unnecessary, as the reader had already been told what happened. We didn't need to relive it. But I didn't want to give up on the book. However, everything after that just got more ridiculous and more ridiculous until I simply couldn't stand it anymore. The narrator did as good a job as he could with the material provided and I didn't want to DNF, as I received the book for free and prefer to at least give a review in return. But in the end, I just couldn't continue anymore. It's simply that bad.
This started with a lengthy rape scene that I felt was unnecessary, as the reader had already been told what happened. We didn't need to relive it. But I didn't want to give up on the book. However, everything after that just got more ridiculous and more ridiculous until I simply couldn't stand it anymore. The narrator did as good a job as he could with the material provided and I didn't want to DNF, as I received the book for free and prefer to at least give a review in return. But in the end, I just couldn't continue anymore. It's simply that bad.
February 16, 2017
Carino anche se boh, alcune cose troppo affrettate, e a volte nei dialoghi mentali non capivo chi parlasse dei due personaggi.
December 22, 2019
Please Edit. Mistakes are Unacceptable.
Intriguing story line. Enjoyable characters. I liked the diversity in the magical universe. Loved the concept of these characters working together for all and entwining magic and modern life.
Why the low score? So many errors and they interfered with my reading flow. Words left out. Words repeated in a sentence. I stopped making notes on the mistakes. Please use Beta Readers. You cannot successfully editing you have written. Your mind reads what you meant to write and does not see the mistakes. Then have ARC readers review. There is too much promise in this authors imagination to forgo editing and Beta Readers.
Intriguing story line. Enjoyable characters. I liked the diversity in the magical universe. Loved the concept of these characters working together for all and entwining magic and modern life.
Why the low score? So many errors and they interfered with my reading flow. Words left out. Words repeated in a sentence. I stopped making notes on the mistakes. Please use Beta Readers. You cannot successfully editing you have written. Your mind reads what you meant to write and does not see the mistakes. Then have ARC readers review. There is too much promise in this authors imagination to forgo editing and Beta Readers.
January 23, 2020
Get an editor
The story itself was good, with some interesting ideas. But some of the sudden tangents it went on and the really bad spelling errors where very distracting. A good editor two would help these mistakes.
The story itself was good, with some interesting ideas. But some of the sudden tangents it went on and the really bad spelling errors where very distracting. A good editor two would help these mistakes.
February 22, 2017
I truly enjoy experiencing new-to-me authors, and the trope of a human discovering the paranormal world and his own intimate ties to it can be a really good one when written well. Jared just thinks he is going out for a night of fun, and never expected to be sexually assaulted in the alley behind the club, or to be rescued by the alpha heir, Steve, who turns out to be Jared's True Mate. Jared being human, he knows nothing of any of this at first. It doesn't take him long to learn. (Fair Warning: the sexual assault scene is on paper and is disturbing.)
“Wolves, huh? You don't look much like ... oh fuck!”
He jumped back, nearly clearing the arm of the sofa at his back as a suddenly lupine Steve landed in his lap.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck...” he said as he fainted.
Can't say that I blame Jared for that reaction. I'm fairly certain anyone in this day and age would do the same. I liked Jared a lot, right from the beginning, because even though he'd been hit with all of this crap on a day that was supposed to be a good one, he didn't get cowed by Steve, and fall right into line. He thought Steve was nuts, but Jared wasn't willing to just drop everything and toe the company line, so to speak. Jared insisted they date first and I cheered for him doing what was right, and most comfortable, for him.
I really, really, liked the way the author wrote how Jared learned about the paranormal world, how he became friends with his coworker, Desmond, who happens to be a husky shifter, and the way Jared is introduced into their world. I liked that these are real people, doing real life stuff, and talking about regular things, plus intermingling with the supernatural aspect. The author did a good job mingling traditional lore with her own vision to create a fascinating world.
There is a side story involving the FBI and the men who attacked Jared, but I thought it was handled very well and didn't overtake the main story, although it did provide some humorous moments, and another almost rape scene. Oh, love the sneaky little extra thrown in that I wasn't anticipating. It's always so much fun to have shifters scrambling and trying to explain something no one was expecting by saying "we have legends but we didn't really think they were true". Can I just say that I totally fell for Jared because in his position, I think I might have freaked out!
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were fun and interesting, the world building held my attention, and except for a few inconsistencies, the writing was crisp, sharp, and sarcastically funny. I am looking forward to the next book in the series as this is definitely a world I want to revisit. If you enjoy the paranormal and want a nontraditional world, then I can readily recommend 'Jared'.
“Wolves, huh? You don't look much like ... oh fuck!”
He jumped back, nearly clearing the arm of the sofa at his back as a suddenly lupine Steve landed in his lap.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck...” he said as he fainted.
Can't say that I blame Jared for that reaction. I'm fairly certain anyone in this day and age would do the same. I liked Jared a lot, right from the beginning, because even though he'd been hit with all of this crap on a day that was supposed to be a good one, he didn't get cowed by Steve, and fall right into line. He thought Steve was nuts, but Jared wasn't willing to just drop everything and toe the company line, so to speak. Jared insisted they date first and I cheered for him doing what was right, and most comfortable, for him.
I really, really, liked the way the author wrote how Jared learned about the paranormal world, how he became friends with his coworker, Desmond, who happens to be a husky shifter, and the way Jared is introduced into their world. I liked that these are real people, doing real life stuff, and talking about regular things, plus intermingling with the supernatural aspect. The author did a good job mingling traditional lore with her own vision to create a fascinating world.
There is a side story involving the FBI and the men who attacked Jared, but I thought it was handled very well and didn't overtake the main story, although it did provide some humorous moments, and another almost rape scene. Oh, love the sneaky little extra thrown in that I wasn't anticipating. It's always so much fun to have shifters scrambling and trying to explain something no one was expecting by saying "we have legends but we didn't really think they were true". Can I just say that I totally fell for Jared because in his position, I think I might have freaked out!
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were fun and interesting, the world building held my attention, and except for a few inconsistencies, the writing was crisp, sharp, and sarcastically funny. I am looking forward to the next book in the series as this is definitely a world I want to revisit. If you enjoy the paranormal and want a nontraditional world, then I can readily recommend 'Jared'.
March 5, 2018
Recensione pubblicata su Cronache di Betelgeuse
Jared dovrebbe essere un libro fantasy che ci introduce in un mondo di licantropi civilizzati, ma sembra invece una storiella senza capo né coda, in cui i vari personaggi fanno un po’ quello che vogliono. Non aspettatevi profondità di sentimenti o un protagonista ben delineato, perché ogni capitolo riesce a stravolgere quel poco di trama che pensavamo di aver capito.
Jared dovrebbe essere un ragazzo in gamba, un po’ solitario, che dopo una notte in un locale si trova catapultato in un mondo che non immaginava esistesse. Nominate una creatura magica qualsiasi e la ritroverete nel libro, che farà capolino mostrandosi nella sua scintillante anomalia rispetto alla normalità che invece lascia trasparire il protagonista.
Ovviamente gli essere sovrannaturali rispecchiano lo stereotipo più conosciuto. Abbiamo maschi alfa che mettono in mostra i muscoli e hanno un forte istinto di protezione, vampiri schivi e solitari e fatine pronte a fare scherzi ridicoli. La magia è utilizzata come espediente per risolvere i problemi, senza alcuna reale spiegazione del suo funzionamento e della logica dietro alcuni comportamenti.
La trama fa acqua da tutte le parti, anche perché non c’è un vero filo logico in tutto il romanzo. L’obiettivo principale è di far unire il protagonista con Steven, fargli superare un po’ di difficoltà e arrivare così al lieto fine. Gli ostacoli non sono così importanti, considerando anche che i traumi più brutti sono superati velocemente per non creare intralci al corso della storia. Insomma si ha la sensazione di leggere un avvenimento dietro l’altro senza che ci sia una vera relazione.
Jared dovrebbe essere un libro fantasy che ci introduce in un mondo di licantropi civilizzati, ma sembra invece una storiella senza capo né coda, in cui i vari personaggi fanno un po’ quello che vogliono. Non aspettatevi profondità di sentimenti o un protagonista ben delineato, perché ogni capitolo riesce a stravolgere quel poco di trama che pensavamo di aver capito.
Jared dovrebbe essere un ragazzo in gamba, un po’ solitario, che dopo una notte in un locale si trova catapultato in un mondo che non immaginava esistesse. Nominate una creatura magica qualsiasi e la ritroverete nel libro, che farà capolino mostrandosi nella sua scintillante anomalia rispetto alla normalità che invece lascia trasparire il protagonista.
Ovviamente gli essere sovrannaturali rispecchiano lo stereotipo più conosciuto. Abbiamo maschi alfa che mettono in mostra i muscoli e hanno un forte istinto di protezione, vampiri schivi e solitari e fatine pronte a fare scherzi ridicoli. La magia è utilizzata come espediente per risolvere i problemi, senza alcuna reale spiegazione del suo funzionamento e della logica dietro alcuni comportamenti.
La trama fa acqua da tutte le parti, anche perché non c’è un vero filo logico in tutto il romanzo. L’obiettivo principale è di far unire il protagonista con Steven, fargli superare un po’ di difficoltà e arrivare così al lieto fine. Gli ostacoli non sono così importanti, considerando anche che i traumi più brutti sono superati velocemente per non creare intralci al corso della storia. Insomma si ha la sensazione di leggere un avvenimento dietro l’altro senza che ci sia una vera relazione.
February 5, 2017
Jared, Urban Wolves #1, is the first in what looks to be a wonderful paranormal series. The first book focuses on Jared, a human, discovering he is the True Mate to the werewolf Alpha Heir, Steve.
Fair warning, the book begins with a horrific sexual attack on Jared by two men in an alley behind a club. Jared is rescued by Steve, who immediately recognizes that this man is his true mate and takes him home to his pack’s condo. From there on the story is partly a search for the rapists but mostly an introduction to the world of the paranormal in Los Angeles. Even the FBI gets involved.
The author initially sticks to the standard canon of shifters but then builds on that to create her own world and rules. There are fae, vampires, werewolves, even a husky shifter, and more. Eventually there is a major mpreg subplot, which is different but well produced.
Many, and I do mean MANY characters are introduced, presumably as MCs or critical secondary characters for future stories. There is more than one world here, one in the world we know and one beyond the Veil where the magic really happens. Oh, and when the rapists/murders are finally caught their punishment is creative and horrifying. This is a true “death would be better” kind of punishment, but it isn’t bloodthirsty. Fascinating.
If you enjoy paranormal stories of any kind, mpreg, werewolves, or any such, I know this is a book you will really get into. Highly recommended.
Fair warning, the book begins with a horrific sexual attack on Jared by two men in an alley behind a club. Jared is rescued by Steve, who immediately recognizes that this man is his true mate and takes him home to his pack’s condo. From there on the story is partly a search for the rapists but mostly an introduction to the world of the paranormal in Los Angeles. Even the FBI gets involved.
The author initially sticks to the standard canon of shifters but then builds on that to create her own world and rules. There are fae, vampires, werewolves, even a husky shifter, and more. Eventually there is a major mpreg subplot, which is different but well produced.
Many, and I do mean MANY characters are introduced, presumably as MCs or critical secondary characters for future stories. There is more than one world here, one in the world we know and one beyond the Veil where the magic really happens. Oh, and when the rapists/murders are finally caught their punishment is creative and horrifying. This is a true “death would be better” kind of punishment, but it isn’t bloodthirsty. Fascinating.
If you enjoy paranormal stories of any kind, mpreg, werewolves, or any such, I know this is a book you will really get into. Highly recommended.
July 27, 2016
The first thing that you need to know about the book is that the sexual assault at the beginning of the book is horribly graphic. Way more detailed than it had to be to tell the story. It made me feel ill. Beyond that the book, which had a good plot concept, had a lot of problems. I think the author had dreamed up a full and rich fantasy world and felt like she had to convey every element of that to the reader. The way this got done was information dumps to Jared. The POV was also wonky. We start out with Jared and Steve as POV characters and then suddenly include the POV of very minor characters like Silas. I also bristled at the way Steve operates as the alpha-to-be. At one point he decides that Jared needs to move and tells Jared casually that he has people packing Jared's stuff as they speak. What?! There is a lot of high-handed stuff like that going on. Added to all this were some editing errors. I put the book down out of frustration and went on to something else, intending to come back, then realized late that it was just languishing on my ereader and I wasn't motivated to go back to it. I'm interested enough that I would check out other things the author does but don't see myself heading back to this one.
May 2, 2017
http://bianchianita1971.blogspot.it/2...
ATTENZIONE: POSSIBILI SPOILERS!!!
La scrittrice è riuscita a creare un mondo molto complesso in cui convivono esseri umani ed esseri sovrannaturali, provvisto di portali fatati che si aprono su "Il Velo" e su altre dimensioni; ed è proprio questo, secondo me, il punto forte del romanzo.
"Jared" narra la vicenda di un giovane uomo solo e parecchio sfortunato che, dopo la serata più spaventosa della sua vita, viene salvato da un affascinanate lupo mutaforma che si rivela essere il futuro Alpha del branco nonchè suo compagno predestinato. Il loro rapporto cambierà drasticamente la vita di entrambi portando anche sorprese del tutto inaspettate...
Per quanto mi riguarda continuo, ahimè, a non apprezzare pienamente l'mpreg, ma devo ammettere che la Windwalker ha saputo rendere la situazione "naturale" e leggera (anche se non mancano i momenti di tensione e di preoccupazione), facendomi apprezzare abbastanza anche quest'aspetto del romanzo.
A non avermi convinta del tutto è il personaggio di Steve: da un futuro Alpha, nonchè lupo mutaforma, mi sarei aspettata più carattere e più spessore.
Nel complesso un Urban Fantasy scorrevole e piacevole, con qualche buono spunto originale.
Voto: 7+
ATTENZIONE: POSSIBILI SPOILERS!!!
La scrittrice è riuscita a creare un mondo molto complesso in cui convivono esseri umani ed esseri sovrannaturali, provvisto di portali fatati che si aprono su "Il Velo" e su altre dimensioni; ed è proprio questo, secondo me, il punto forte del romanzo.
"Jared" narra la vicenda di un giovane uomo solo e parecchio sfortunato che, dopo la serata più spaventosa della sua vita, viene salvato da un affascinanate lupo mutaforma che si rivela essere il futuro Alpha del branco nonchè suo compagno predestinato. Il loro rapporto cambierà drasticamente la vita di entrambi portando anche sorprese del tutto inaspettate...
Per quanto mi riguarda continuo, ahimè, a non apprezzare pienamente l'mpreg, ma devo ammettere che la Windwalker ha saputo rendere la situazione "naturale" e leggera (anche se non mancano i momenti di tensione e di preoccupazione), facendomi apprezzare abbastanza anche quest'aspetto del romanzo.
A non avermi convinta del tutto è il personaggio di Steve: da un futuro Alpha, nonchè lupo mutaforma, mi sarei aspettata più carattere e più spessore.
Nel complesso un Urban Fantasy scorrevole e piacevole, con qualche buono spunto originale.
Voto: 7+
July 31, 2016
I'm a little torn on how to rate this one - think I'll settle on 3.5.
This one kept me reading the whole way through, but it was partly because I wanted to know what was going to happen but also a little because I wanted to know when the seemingly superfluous bits would end. There seemed to be several sections which didn't really add to the main thread of the story. There were clearly several subsequent books in the series set up here (almost too many really since most other character couples seemed to be laid out here) and that may be where the plodding along came in. And a little too much internal dialogue-ing for my tastes. That said, when you get to the main crux of the book, ie Jared and Steve, the story moves well and is engaging.
Given it was a KU read, I would get book 2 to see how the series pans out, although a beta reader is required - the first half of the book was error free, but as you move further through the book a few errors popped up - mostly grammar/typos, but not enough to ruin the overall effect.
This one kept me reading the whole way through, but it was partly because I wanted to know what was going to happen but also a little because I wanted to know when the seemingly superfluous bits would end. There seemed to be several sections which didn't really add to the main thread of the story. There were clearly several subsequent books in the series set up here (almost too many really since most other character couples seemed to be laid out here) and that may be where the plodding along came in. And a little too much internal dialogue-ing for my tastes. That said, when you get to the main crux of the book, ie Jared and Steve, the story moves well and is engaging.
Given it was a KU read, I would get book 2 to see how the series pans out, although a beta reader is required - the first half of the book was error free, but as you move further through the book a few errors popped up - mostly grammar/typos, but not enough to ruin the overall effect.
July 22, 2016
Jared is having a great day until it all goes bad. He's attacked by two men he thought could become friends and is rescued by Steven, who happens to be a wolf shifter. That's when Jared learns that there are all kinds of paranormals out there and his life becomes very interesting.
The world in which all this is happening is well presented, the main characters are lovable and the story is quite interesting.
The problem with this book is the lack of editing, which was really bad. However, I intend to get the second book in this series because I need to know what happens next.
I received an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
The world in which all this is happening is well presented, the main characters are lovable and the story is quite interesting.
The problem with this book is the lack of editing, which was really bad. However, I intend to get the second book in this series because I need to know what happens next.
I received an ARC copy in return for an honest review.
September 30, 2016
2016 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Jared (Urban Wolves #1) by Leona Windwalker
This book is not for everyone. For starters, Jared, the title character is violently assaulted in the first few pages of the book. However, if you can get over the jarring scene that unfolds, what you’ll discover is a slow, percolating love story between Steve, the Alpha-designate as Steve searches for his Alpha-Mate. The prose is simple, not chocked full of clutter, and once you get into the story, moves pretty quickly. The characters of Steve and Jared are very likable. This is definitely a 4 plus star story.
This book is not for everyone. For starters, Jared, the title character is violently assaulted in the first few pages of the book. However, if you can get over the jarring scene that unfolds, what you’ll discover is a slow, percolating love story between Steve, the Alpha-designate as Steve searches for his Alpha-Mate. The prose is simple, not chocked full of clutter, and once you get into the story, moves pretty quickly. The characters of Steve and Jared are very likable. This is definitely a 4 plus star story.
September 30, 2016
This book is not for everyone. For starters, Jared, the title character is violently assaulted in the first few pages of the book. However, if you can get over the jarring scene that unfolds, what you’ll discover is a slow, percolating love story between Steve, the Alpha-designate as Steve searches for his Alpha-Mate. The prose is simple, not chocked full of clutter, and once you get into the story, moves pretty quickly. The characters of Steve and Jared are very likeable. This is definitely a 4 plus star story.
September 14, 2020
I can't believe it but I REALLY LOVE this book. It was so funny and cute. Totally not my normal kind of book. When I first figured out what it was about I thought, "Oh God...," But I really did love it. The narrator did an awesome job. I honestly can't believe that it is the same guy the whole time. I can't wait for the next book! I am already a fan!
This book was given to me at my request. *Thanx StoryOriginapp* I am providing a voluntary and honest review.
This book was given to me at my request. *Thanx StoryOriginapp* I am providing a voluntary and honest review.
June 3, 2020
There was so much going on in the book that it was hard to keep up. It was like 60% Jared and Steven’s story and 40% set up for the rest of the series. I liked the story overall and I’ll definitely listen to the next one. I’m on the fence with the narrator. I liked his voice some of the time but the voice made the characters seem older than they are.
February 27, 2020
Wow, this book is so raw. It’s written very well, however you can tell that Randi gives his everything to his performance. It’s a delicate storyline that has been handled by both author and narrator absolutely perfectly. I wish there was more stars for performance as I “felt” the emotion from Randi. Highly recommend.
February 10, 2017
Sicuramente non vedo l'ora di leggere il seguito.
September 21, 2017
buona serie,letto con piacere,non mi piace molto il finale in sospeso
April 19, 2020
Jared
MMy Thoughts and Review:
This was my first novel by Windwalker even though I have been a "stalker" via newsletter and social media for a few months now. When an audio ARC for JARED came down the pike, it seemed too good a chance to let slip by. It ticked so many of my happy boxes it was a bit of a no-brainer.
Now, things you need to know. This book will NOT, I repeat, will NOT be for the faint of heart. There is a fairly explicit rape/ assault scene pretty in the beginning. It is from this scene that our MCs find each other. I see this as a silver lining, and not something to turn from or be upset by.
You should also know the human attacked is an amazing character created by the author to show the strength and perseverance inside each of us. This is not to be Jared's last shock, nor will it be Jared's last attack. Each time, however, the reader gets to experience his rise back to his feet. Either on his own, or with the help of his new friends and his mate, Steve, and his found family.
This is a shifter Omegaverse with Mpreg, there are also fae, vampires, and Jared is still waiting on his answer to Big Foot.😁
Some survivors, not all, but some survivors of rape, (like me), find this kind of story cathartic. We get to face our monsters that tend to stay hidden in the dark, and for a lot of us, we get a form of justice, even if it's a fictional one. We also get our HEA, and in the end, isn't that what we are all chasing?
The Story: 4.5🌟
The Narration: 4.00🌟
Sharonica Stars:4.25🌟
I received an audio copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.☔
MMy Thoughts and Review:
This was my first novel by Windwalker even though I have been a "stalker" via newsletter and social media for a few months now. When an audio ARC for JARED came down the pike, it seemed too good a chance to let slip by. It ticked so many of my happy boxes it was a bit of a no-brainer.
Now, things you need to know. This book will NOT, I repeat, will NOT be for the faint of heart. There is a fairly explicit rape/ assault scene pretty in the beginning. It is from this scene that our MCs find each other. I see this as a silver lining, and not something to turn from or be upset by.
You should also know the human attacked is an amazing character created by the author to show the strength and perseverance inside each of us. This is not to be Jared's last shock, nor will it be Jared's last attack. Each time, however, the reader gets to experience his rise back to his feet. Either on his own, or with the help of his new friends and his mate, Steve, and his found family.
This is a shifter Omegaverse with Mpreg, there are also fae, vampires, and Jared is still waiting on his answer to Big Foot.😁
Some survivors, not all, but some survivors of rape, (like me), find this kind of story cathartic. We get to face our monsters that tend to stay hidden in the dark, and for a lot of us, we get a form of justice, even if it's a fictional one. We also get our HEA, and in the end, isn't that what we are all chasing?
The Story: 4.5🌟
The Narration: 4.00🌟
Sharonica Stars:4.25🌟
I received an audio copy of this book from the author in exchange for my review.☔
May 25, 2020
A rambling, poorly-edited mess of a fated-mate shifter tale. Trigger Warning: contains rape scenes.
Leona Windwalker had a very good idea: have an Alpha wolf-shifer face dealing with the rape of his human fated-mate. She failed in execution because she fails to maintain POV; gets distracted by and bogged down in subplots she has no room for (that's what sequels are for); and fails to understand that just because she has a good idea for a scene doesn't mean it belongs in that particular book. So, as the book rambles on she increasingly abandons developing the main characters' stories and relationship and instead throws in all manner of secondary and tertiary material.
I tried to give this 2 stars, because the premise was promising. But, the story didn't do anything with the trauma of a character being raped TWICE. No counseling. No anxiety problems. Just nothing more than one nightmare. That alone is unforgivable. But, then, it turns out that the resolution to the story was NOT done by the main characters or even the principal secondary characters. No, it was tertiary characters that barely had any other role in the story who saved the day with a badly constructed deus ex machina.
I honestly don't know why I finished the book, but I did. It is terrible.
Leona Windwalker had a very good idea: have an Alpha wolf-shifer face dealing with the rape of his human fated-mate. She failed in execution because she fails to maintain POV; gets distracted by and bogged down in subplots she has no room for (that's what sequels are for); and fails to understand that just because she has a good idea for a scene doesn't mean it belongs in that particular book. So, as the book rambles on she increasingly abandons developing the main characters' stories and relationship and instead throws in all manner of secondary and tertiary material.
I tried to give this 2 stars, because the premise was promising. But, the story didn't do anything with the trauma of a character being raped TWICE. No counseling. No anxiety problems. Just nothing more than one nightmare. That alone is unforgivable. But, then, it turns out that the resolution to the story was NOT done by the main characters or even the principal secondary characters. No, it was tertiary characters that barely had any other role in the story who saved the day with a badly constructed deus ex machina.
I honestly don't know why I finished the book, but I did. It is terrible.
March 7, 2020
Jared finds himself fated to be the mate of a wolf shifter who is the alpha-in-waiting. He also soon finds himself pregnant. Windwalker has created a complex fantasy world with humans, shifters, fairies, vampires, and others, and in an effort to paint this complex world, I felt we got too much irrelevant fantasy knowledge and trivia at the expense of the story. The two unsettling rape scenes which bookend the story were at odds with the overall tone of the book which is light, fluffy and benign, focussing mostly on world-building, banter, minor story arcs, and getting ready for the baby. It felt like the author couldn’t quite decide whether to focus on the MPREG, fantasy / supernatural, or hurt / comfort tropes so didn’t quite cover off on any of them. Randi Johnson narrates the audiobook extremely well: he has the perfect voice for epic blockbusters so suited the fantasy / supernatural trope; I think he’s a little wasted on fluffy MPREG tropes.
January 19, 2022
Not good. 2.5 at best
This was not a great book or even a good one. I'd give it 2.5 stars since I read it til the end even if most of it was skimmed. The spelling and grammatical errors were extremely distracting and there were a lot of them. The pov changed to other characters sometimes and it was kind of jarring. And honestly one of the worst things was that 90% of this book was an info dump and most of that info had nothing to do with the story. There was a very graphic rape scene in the very beginning that seemed unnecessary, it could have been implied and we still would have emotionally connected to the character. The time flowed really weirdly, the characters were annoying and the plot was loose at best. Not a good book. Don't bother.
This was not a great book or even a good one. I'd give it 2.5 stars since I read it til the end even if most of it was skimmed. The spelling and grammatical errors were extremely distracting and there were a lot of them. The pov changed to other characters sometimes and it was kind of jarring. And honestly one of the worst things was that 90% of this book was an info dump and most of that info had nothing to do with the story. There was a very graphic rape scene in the very beginning that seemed unnecessary, it could have been implied and we still would have emotionally connected to the character. The time flowed really weirdly, the characters were annoying and the plot was loose at best. Not a good book. Don't bother.
February 7, 2019
MPreg romance shifter & human.
The storyline was enjoyable but not that exciting , the villians were nasty but also somehow cartoonish.
The whole book felt rushed, with the author tossing way too many paranormal creatures into the story but not taking time to give effective world building, with minimal explainations for sudden implauseable mpreg, character behavor etc. And for a book titled Jared, neither Steve nor Jared got much page time, especially together. I am not sure I'll read the next in series, in spite of very likeable characters I think I spent too much time skimming pages.
The storyline was enjoyable but not that exciting , the villians were nasty but also somehow cartoonish.
The whole book felt rushed, with the author tossing way too many paranormal creatures into the story but not taking time to give effective world building, with minimal explainations for sudden implauseable mpreg, character behavor etc. And for a book titled Jared, neither Steve nor Jared got much page time, especially together. I am not sure I'll read the next in series, in spite of very likeable characters I think I spent too much time skimming pages.
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