What do you think?
Rate this book
Shifters and Partners #10
Journey
From the moment they meet, Nat feels a strong connection with the injured wolf...and later with the same gorgeous man. Nat is just an ordinary cop, with his own problems and insecurities, but if he can help Journey in any way, he'd love to. He'd also love to date the sweet, handsome shifter, although that might be more complicated than he first thought. Two men navigate the waters of learning to trust, love, and accept themselves and each other, as they work to build a life together. A Shifters and Partners Novel 51,000 words shifters, relationship growth, asexuality, self-acceptance, sweet gay romance
150 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2016
9 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 28, 2018
3.5 Stars
This is a really lovely romance with great heroes. Mostly, we get to see them build a relationship which is really well done.
Many couples have issue with matching sexual desire levels in their partnerships either consistently or at one time or another and this love story explores that dynamic between an asexual hero and one who is not.
Even if you aren't asexual, I think the working out what sex and connection mean in this romance is really moving.
This is a really lovely romance with great heroes. Mostly, we get to see them build a relationship which is really well done.
Many couples have issue with matching sexual desire levels in their partnerships either consistently or at one time or another and this love story explores that dynamic between an asexual hero and one who is not.
Even if you aren't asexual, I think the working out what sex and connection mean in this romance is really moving.
February 7, 2020
3.5 Stars. I really found this one interesting. I loved they way Nat and Journey had to continually communicate and work through their differences and how the sexual dynamic with Journey being asexual would work for them. It wasn't glossed over and Nat didn't immediately accept it and say no big deal. They both had realistic concerns and struggles and I enjoyed reading about it as their relationship grew.
January 25, 2018
Sweet and Sincere
Journey brings back the romance to the Shifters and Partners series with Hollis Shiloh presenting a love match which burgeons from two hurt men seeking to find someone to trust to help them heal. I was heartbroken reading about how wounded Journey was when Nat finds him chained up, beaten almost to death, and how he couldn't even bring himself to stay in his human form due to his injuries. I loved seeing Nat push aside all his problems to be the Good Cop anyone would need in order to survive those circumstances.
Nathaniel North has this Awkward Guy is Awkward way about him I loved. He grew up that Jewish kid with the weird mom who bailed on him, leaving him with his decidedly straight-laced father who had no idea what to do with him. He's got a lot of hang-ups about himself. He knows why he's failed in relationships in the past so it makes sense why he's so cautious to enter into a new one. I loved how he allowed Journey to help him heal from the loss of his father. Grief can be all consuming. It was nice to see Journey shoulder dealing with his father's things so he wouldn't have to bear up that burden alone.
Journey Strong -Yes, that's a name.- made me smile even from the beginning when he was so wounded I wasn't sure he'd survive without some kind of permanent injuries. I loved his jealousy of the vet, Oliver Green, and I loved the way he trusted Nat with everything about him. He is the first asexual shifter or character in the Shifters and Partners series; it was interesting to see how he explained his lack of interest in sex by equating it to how Nat enjoyed running with him while he was a wolf even if he had no idea what it was like to be a wolf himself. Everyone does things for their lovers to please them. It doesn't mean they're being harmed or taken advantage of because it is definitely possible to enjoy knowing you've been the one to please your lover.
Journey is another standalone in the Shifters and Partners series. It's got a very, very strong hurt/comfort element as well as dealing with the loss of a parent on the part of Nat. I would recommend it to any reader who enjoys an emotional read. Please note there's not any really explicit sexual content as Journey is an asexual character so this is a very sweet romance.
Journey brings back the romance to the Shifters and Partners series with Hollis Shiloh presenting a love match which burgeons from two hurt men seeking to find someone to trust to help them heal. I was heartbroken reading about how wounded Journey was when Nat finds him chained up, beaten almost to death, and how he couldn't even bring himself to stay in his human form due to his injuries. I loved seeing Nat push aside all his problems to be the Good Cop anyone would need in order to survive those circumstances.
Nathaniel North has this Awkward Guy is Awkward way about him I loved. He grew up that Jewish kid with the weird mom who bailed on him, leaving him with his decidedly straight-laced father who had no idea what to do with him. He's got a lot of hang-ups about himself. He knows why he's failed in relationships in the past so it makes sense why he's so cautious to enter into a new one. I loved how he allowed Journey to help him heal from the loss of his father. Grief can be all consuming. It was nice to see Journey shoulder dealing with his father's things so he wouldn't have to bear up that burden alone.
Journey Strong -Yes, that's a name.- made me smile even from the beginning when he was so wounded I wasn't sure he'd survive without some kind of permanent injuries. I loved his jealousy of the vet, Oliver Green, and I loved the way he trusted Nat with everything about him. He is the first asexual shifter or character in the Shifters and Partners series; it was interesting to see how he explained his lack of interest in sex by equating it to how Nat enjoyed running with him while he was a wolf even if he had no idea what it was like to be a wolf himself. Everyone does things for their lovers to please them. It doesn't mean they're being harmed or taken advantage of because it is definitely possible to enjoy knowing you've been the one to please your lover.
Journey is another standalone in the Shifters and Partners series. It's got a very, very strong hurt/comfort element as well as dealing with the loss of a parent on the part of Nat. I would recommend it to any reader who enjoys an emotional read. Please note there's not any really explicit sexual content as Journey is an asexual character so this is a very sweet romance.
October 8, 2020
Maybe 3.5 stars because this was such a short read, but I rounded up because I knew it was a novella when I chose to read it. That being said, because it's a novella, there is a LOT of telling and summarizing feelings and the progression of the relationship instead of showing. The whole third act of Nat and Journey training together at an academy was 90% summarized without any showing.
My other gripe is that authors CANNOT figure out the definition of asexuality. It is someone who does not experience sexual attraction. If you want to go into more nuance past that, that's fine! There's not a right WAY to be asexual, but there is a correct definition. Defining it as "someone who doesn't care that much about sex" or "doesn't want to have sex" is inaccurate, and makes everything confusing when you try to go into that nuance of "some asexual people do have sex for these reasons" because you literally just said the defining trait of asexual people is that they don't. Just use the right definition the first time, it's really not that hard.
Otherwise, the depiction of asexuality was good, the romance was sweet, there wasn't anything horrible or problematic about it. I'm just sick of authors trying to write about something they can't even be bothered to google. It's on par with people who call John Boyega ""African American"" despite being British because they just can't be assed to figure out what terms mean.
My other gripe is that authors CANNOT figure out the definition of asexuality. It is someone who does not experience sexual attraction. If you want to go into more nuance past that, that's fine! There's not a right WAY to be asexual, but there is a correct definition. Defining it as "someone who doesn't care that much about sex" or "doesn't want to have sex" is inaccurate, and makes everything confusing when you try to go into that nuance of "some asexual people do have sex for these reasons" because you literally just said the defining trait of asexual people is that they don't. Just use the right definition the first time, it's really not that hard.
Otherwise, the depiction of asexuality was good, the romance was sweet, there wasn't anything horrible or problematic about it. I'm just sick of authors trying to write about something they can't even be bothered to google. It's on par with people who call John Boyega ""African American"" despite being British because they just can't be assed to figure out what terms mean.
August 28, 2017
Thought provoking
This book was great in showing a believably asexual character and the difficulties inherent in clearly communicating wants and needs.
Nat was an ordinary cop who really has a heart of gold, but who had been bullied, criticized, and put down so much that he doesn't really see much value in himself. Journey is an asexual wolf shifter who was tortured to force him into a fighting ring, and rescued by Nat during a police raid. As the two of them get to know one another, Nat's feelings of low self value only become exacerbated as Journey says he likes Nat, but has no strong sexual inclinations. Nat, at first, takes this personally and both he and Journey end up being hurt through their assumptions.
Once they learn to communicate with each other, it gets better, but perfect is a long, slow process. This was a very slow burn, low heat book. It was, at times, frustrating and delightful, but it ended with a very hopeful and happy outlook.
This book was great in showing a believably asexual character and the difficulties inherent in clearly communicating wants and needs.
Nat was an ordinary cop who really has a heart of gold, but who had been bullied, criticized, and put down so much that he doesn't really see much value in himself. Journey is an asexual wolf shifter who was tortured to force him into a fighting ring, and rescued by Nat during a police raid. As the two of them get to know one another, Nat's feelings of low self value only become exacerbated as Journey says he likes Nat, but has no strong sexual inclinations. Nat, at first, takes this personally and both he and Journey end up being hurt through their assumptions.
Once they learn to communicate with each other, it gets better, but perfect is a long, slow process. This was a very slow burn, low heat book. It was, at times, frustrating and delightful, but it ended with a very hopeful and happy outlook.
January 23, 2025
HS can do better than this (spoilers)
I’m used to little to no heat in Hollis Shiloh’s stories, but here the (off page) sex they had was unbelievable. Journey is a lone wolf, by the time the book ends, we still don’t know who he really is, where he came from (he’s not from the area), or anything about his background. Nathaniel finds him injured during a crime bust, but because Journey never testifies and NEVER discusses it with Nathaniel, we never know what happened to him. And I really disliked the fact that he would act so hot and flirty like he wanted to jump Nathaniel’s bones, but he didn’t even like sex! No matter how it was explained, he only did it because Nathaniel wanted it.
When it came down to it, they were both 2 very lonely men who had no family, no friends, and had only ever had bad relationships. They drifted together. That’s what their love was based on. Not good enough.
I’m used to little to no heat in Hollis Shiloh’s stories, but here the (off page) sex they had was unbelievable. Journey is a lone wolf, by the time the book ends, we still don’t know who he really is, where he came from (he’s not from the area), or anything about his background. Nathaniel finds him injured during a crime bust, but because Journey never testifies and NEVER discusses it with Nathaniel, we never know what happened to him. And I really disliked the fact that he would act so hot and flirty like he wanted to jump Nathaniel’s bones, but he didn’t even like sex! No matter how it was explained, he only did it because Nathaniel wanted it.
When it came down to it, they were both 2 very lonely men who had no family, no friends, and had only ever had bad relationships. They drifted together. That’s what their love was based on. Not good enough.
July 13, 2019
More like 3.5, but this story felt like it was trying to cover too much territory. I don't feel like it covered any of it well enough. I liked Journey and Nat, I just didn't love them. I wanted them to be happy and I'm glad things worked out. I don't think we really dealt with Journey being ace/demi. I don't think we dealt with Nat's self-esteem issues. They at least went to a counselor for Journey's PTSD in prep for the trials, but even that was glossed over when it could have been used to deal with so many other issues. In some ways this is the most disappointing story for me if only because it showed so much potential but never reached it.
December 12, 2017
This was a comfortable and familiar book in the shifters and partners series. A cop encounters a crime victim who’s a wolf shifter. They form an attachment and go through the certification program. The wolf shifter has a strange problem that interferes with their love life.
Typo: Marine is always capitalized when referring to USMC personnel.
Typo: Marine is always capitalized when referring to USMC personnel.
March 29, 2019
Insecurity
Nat and Journey had an instant connection the only problem was letting their past get in the way of a future. Great story but did hang on to the couples sexual dysfunctions a bit much.
Nat and Journey had an instant connection the only problem was letting their past get in the way of a future. Great story but did hang on to the couples sexual dysfunctions a bit much.
April 19, 2018
strange book
May 11, 2020
I've sort of dreaded reading this because of I was afraid of how the author would handle the topic. Turns out I shouldn't have feared.
It was simply a very good story.
It was simply a very good story.
December 19, 2016
I enjoy Hollis Shiloh's writing. I recently read a novella of hers where both protagonists were asexual. I was dubious, but it was a sweet romance, and some of her novellas are low heat anyway. This one was one where one protagonist was asexual and the other really liked sex. It seemed very uneven to me. Aside from that I liked the book, but reading romances with asexual characters really isn't my thing, especially ones where one partner wants sex and the other doesn't. I didn't think it would be my thing, but I figured I'd try. There wasn't any forcing or coercion, but it was told from the viewpoint of the protagonist who had a libido, and it was hard on him.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews