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Beholden
Julian Thomas made the unpopular decision to become Beholden and focus his magic only on scrying. Because of it, he's the best at his job and the top scryer for the Department of Extranormal and Magical Affairs. Which why Investigations Agent Wes Caldwell goes right to Julian for help locating a missing person.
When Wes needs to use his magic to boost Julian's, they find a magical resonance between them that quickly leads to more. Julian doesn't want to move too fast, but Wes knows Julian is it for him. He's fine with waiting, as long as Julian stays close as they work through it.
But then Julian falls ill, and it's clear there's a magical reason. Wes will stop at nothing to find out what's plaguing Julian, and when they realize just how deep the plot goes, they have more questions than answers. Magic is increasing in the world, and no one can figure out why. Julian and Wes have found love, but will it be enough to get them through what's to come?
When Wes needs to use his magic to boost Julian's, they find a magical resonance between them that quickly leads to more. Julian doesn't want to move too fast, but Wes knows Julian is it for him. He's fine with waiting, as long as Julian stays close as they work through it.
But then Julian falls ill, and it's clear there's a magical reason. Wes will stop at nothing to find out what's plaguing Julian, and when they realize just how deep the plot goes, they have more questions than answers. Magic is increasing in the world, and no one can figure out why. Julian and Wes have found love, but will it be enough to get them through what's to come?
124 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2018
3 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Kris T. Bethke
64 books63 followersKris T. Bethke has been a voracious reader for pretty much her entire life and has been writing stories for nearly as long. An avid and prolific daydreamer, she always has a story in her head. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, or knitting/crocheting her latest project. Her biggest desire is to find a way to accomplish all three tasks at one time. A classic muscle car will always turn her head and weekend naps are one of her greatest guilty pleasures. She lives in a converted attic with an aquarium full of tropical fish and the voices in her head. She’ll tell you she thinks that’s a pretty good deal.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 3, 2020
3 Hearts
It’s not a secret that I like Bethke for her straightforward realistic and natural progression of how she writes her romance. I’m not typically all for insta-love or a lot of waffling, but I felt this veered a bit towards that and it was just a little underdeveloped than what I usually get from this author.
Definite points for an interesting AU that reminded me of Harry Potter where all in this world can do some form of magic which is an integral part of their daily lives. Some choose to coalesce all their power into one skill, and MC Julian has done just that, focusing his abilities on being able to find things whether they’re abstract or concrete.
One day while diligently working his job at the Department of Extranormal and Magical Affairs, Julian helps two investigators with their case and is intensely and immediately drawn to the handsome Wes. The feels are instantaneous, but Julian is level headed enough to realize it’s just lust and resists Wes’s overtures despite an initial lapse in control. However, someone or something is affecting Julian’s magic, draining him of his powers as quickly as he uses it. Good thing his “connection” to Wes also encompasses a magical affinity, and they complement each other quite nicely. This allows Wes to refuel Julian’s empty reserves easily while both work together to find out what’s going on personally and globally, as immense magical surges hint that sinister machinations are at work.
Bethke hardly ever skimps on the smex, and this was no different. Though it doesn’t explicitly say that this is a series, I can’t see how it’s not, as it definitely ends on a note where certain things were left a-dangling.
However, like I said, the development of feels, plot points, and world building was just a tad lacking. For me, that is not the author’s typical MO, so it was incongruous from what I usually get. Overall, I liked this despite the vibe that it was more a 3rd or 4th draft than a finished piece. Regardless, this will not deter me from reading more!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
It’s not a secret that I like Bethke for her straightforward realistic and natural progression of how she writes her romance. I’m not typically all for insta-love or a lot of waffling, but I felt this veered a bit towards that and it was just a little underdeveloped than what I usually get from this author.
Definite points for an interesting AU that reminded me of Harry Potter where all in this world can do some form of magic which is an integral part of their daily lives. Some choose to coalesce all their power into one skill, and MC Julian has done just that, focusing his abilities on being able to find things whether they’re abstract or concrete.
One day while diligently working his job at the Department of Extranormal and Magical Affairs, Julian helps two investigators with their case and is intensely and immediately drawn to the handsome Wes. The feels are instantaneous, but Julian is level headed enough to realize it’s just lust and resists Wes’s overtures despite an initial lapse in control. However, someone or something is affecting Julian’s magic, draining him of his powers as quickly as he uses it. Good thing his “connection” to Wes also encompasses a magical affinity, and they complement each other quite nicely. This allows Wes to refuel Julian’s empty reserves easily while both work together to find out what’s going on personally and globally, as immense magical surges hint that sinister machinations are at work.
Bethke hardly ever skimps on the smex, and this was no different. Though it doesn’t explicitly say that this is a series, I can’t see how it’s not, as it definitely ends on a note where certain things were left a-dangling.
However, like I said, the development of feels, plot points, and world building was just a tad lacking. For me, that is not the author’s typical MO, so it was incongruous from what I usually get. Overall, I liked this despite the vibe that it was more a 3rd or 4th draft than a finished piece. Regardless, this will not deter me from reading more!
Thank you to the author/publisher for a copy in exchange for a honest review
May 1, 2018
Fast paced and intriguing Beholden is told in Julian's first person, single POV and has quite a bit going for it, but it's missing some world building, it drops some plot points, and ends on a cliffhanger with way too many unanswered questions. Grr. 😒
April 12, 2018
This was such a surprise! I've wanted to read Kris T Bethke's work for a while and actually own a couple of her other books but have't got round to it, so I jumped at the chance of having a go with this re-written and updated release.
I love me a good world building fantasy and this had all the makings of one and I never felt like I was missing out on any information which explained how magic worked or why different people had different abilities.
Julian is such a sweetheart, at odds with his family because he's chosen to bind his magic to just one form - scrying - and considered a bit of a second class citizen because of it. But he's good at what he does and for him, there's no hardship in choosing to best use the power which flows through him.
When he's asked to look for a missing magic user he bumps into Wes, tall, dark, broodingly handsome Wes, who - inexplicably in Julian's opinion - seems to have the hots for him.
These two are totally sweet together. Wes knows Julian is the one and is just waiting for him to catch up. He's devoted to finding out what's going wrong with his love, whose magic is getting weaker, and this forms the central part of the plot.
There's some great side characters who I'd love to know more about and the book does end with a bit of a cliffie as the one plot involving these two is just part of a much wider story arc which I'm hoping is the beginning of a new series!
Lots of good things going on in this one and a real pleasure to read. It's not too short either so just a couple of hours buried in the well crafted world.
#ARC kindly received from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
I love me a good world building fantasy and this had all the makings of one and I never felt like I was missing out on any information which explained how magic worked or why different people had different abilities.
Julian is such a sweetheart, at odds with his family because he's chosen to bind his magic to just one form - scrying - and considered a bit of a second class citizen because of it. But he's good at what he does and for him, there's no hardship in choosing to best use the power which flows through him.
When he's asked to look for a missing magic user he bumps into Wes, tall, dark, broodingly handsome Wes, who - inexplicably in Julian's opinion - seems to have the hots for him.
These two are totally sweet together. Wes knows Julian is the one and is just waiting for him to catch up. He's devoted to finding out what's going wrong with his love, whose magic is getting weaker, and this forms the central part of the plot.
There's some great side characters who I'd love to know more about and the book does end with a bit of a cliffie as the one plot involving these two is just part of a much wider story arc which I'm hoping is the beginning of a new series!
Lots of good things going on in this one and a real pleasure to read. It's not too short either so just a couple of hours buried in the well crafted world.
#ARC kindly received from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
May 31, 2018
This story read much more like a work outline than a complete book. The concept is good but there needs to be more flesh on the bones. The cliff hanger ending was awful and not well thought out.
May 14, 2018
A Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review An Alisa Review:
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
As with all the stories I have read by this author, I really enjoyed this one and I was hooked from the beginning. Julian has pretty much been reject by most of his family and doesn’t have a great history with relationships so he is very cautious about getting involved with someone. Wes is more than a simple investigator that he seems and is adorably sweet.
We saw the story from Julian’s point of view so it made it easy to see his emotions and feelings. Wes is extraordinarily patient and will do anything to keep Julian safe and find out what’s wrong. They were able to fix Julian’s problem but there is still the mystery of who did it hanging out there. I really hope that there is another book in this world that will help solve that.
The cover art by Written Ink Designs is great and gives a perfect visual of Julian.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
As with all the stories I have read by this author, I really enjoyed this one and I was hooked from the beginning. Julian has pretty much been reject by most of his family and doesn’t have a great history with relationships so he is very cautious about getting involved with someone. Wes is more than a simple investigator that he seems and is adorably sweet.
We saw the story from Julian’s point of view so it made it easy to see his emotions and feelings. Wes is extraordinarily patient and will do anything to keep Julian safe and find out what’s wrong. They were able to fix Julian’s problem but there is still the mystery of who did it hanging out there. I really hope that there is another book in this world that will help solve that.
The cover art by Written Ink Designs is great and gives a perfect visual of Julian.
June 24, 2018
No world building to speak of (even so obvious a rip-off of the Potterverse fails at sustaining itself in this respect), with a narrative that is all over the place, cardboard characters who evince little interest, inadequate evocation of magics (entirely left to the reader's imagination, of course! since when the unscrupulous imitators of J.K. Rawling take care to describe anything arcane-wise?), a smut-to-plot ratio high enough to evoke in a my mind a porny fanfiction, and an abrupt ending that does not even attempt to present itself as a HFN resolution - this novelette meets all the conditions, and many more, for being a failure, its only redeeming quality its sheer length. The bland, unimaginative writing, in itself, sufficed to make it sure that no magic watsoever would imbue the story.
April 13, 2018
3.5 stars
Beholden is a quick, fast-paced fantasy story. Julian has tied his magic into becoming “beholden,” which means rather than having average magic capabilities in many fields, he is superior in only one. Wes is an investigator who comes to Julian for help with a job. After augmenting Julian’s magic with his own, he notices the harmony and attraction between them and pursues Julian.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, the first being a contemporary (His Needs), so I was interested to see how she would handle fantasy. And I thought it was good. My only minor complaint would be that there was a lack of world-building. I would’ve been very interested in knowing more about the world Julian and Wes live in. I couldn’t tell if it was the same as ours, just plus magic, or if their world is a different universe or reality.
The story focuses on Julian’s mysterious illness that is hampering his magic, with the relationship building between the two close behind. There is quite a bit of insta-love. Julian is reluctant to commit to Wes, because he feels it is moving too fast, but the connection between them is immediate and inevitable from first sight. There is no angst surrounding their relationship. All in all, this book is pretty much angst-free. There’s some drama in the mystery solving, but it was a pleasant, stress-free read.
This story is in the 3.5-star range for me because, while I have no major complaints, it didn’t blow me away. This is the kind of book I’d pick up when I’m between heavy angst stories, or just want a quick pick-me-up read.
The ending is sort of HFN, but just because it heavily implies a sequel or subsequent series. The relationship between Wes and Julian feels pretty solid, but the mystery isn’t completely solved; though, I wouldn’t consider it a cliffhanger, as I felt satisfied enough with the ending. I’m likely to pick up the next book(s) in the series if there are any.
An advance copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
Beholden is a quick, fast-paced fantasy story. Julian has tied his magic into becoming “beholden,” which means rather than having average magic capabilities in many fields, he is superior in only one. Wes is an investigator who comes to Julian for help with a job. After augmenting Julian’s magic with his own, he notices the harmony and attraction between them and pursues Julian.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, the first being a contemporary (His Needs), so I was interested to see how she would handle fantasy. And I thought it was good. My only minor complaint would be that there was a lack of world-building. I would’ve been very interested in knowing more about the world Julian and Wes live in. I couldn’t tell if it was the same as ours, just plus magic, or if their world is a different universe or reality.
The story focuses on Julian’s mysterious illness that is hampering his magic, with the relationship building between the two close behind. There is quite a bit of insta-love. Julian is reluctant to commit to Wes, because he feels it is moving too fast, but the connection between them is immediate and inevitable from first sight. There is no angst surrounding their relationship. All in all, this book is pretty much angst-free. There’s some drama in the mystery solving, but it was a pleasant, stress-free read.
This story is in the 3.5-star range for me because, while I have no major complaints, it didn’t blow me away. This is the kind of book I’d pick up when I’m between heavy angst stories, or just want a quick pick-me-up read.
The ending is sort of HFN, but just because it heavily implies a sequel or subsequent series. The relationship between Wes and Julian feels pretty solid, but the mystery isn’t completely solved; though, I wouldn’t consider it a cliffhanger, as I felt satisfied enough with the ending. I’m likely to pick up the next book(s) in the series if there are any.
An advance copy of this book was received for review on OMGReads.
April 16, 2018
4.5 Stars!!!
I've read other books by Kris T. Bethke before, in fact, I have another lined up right after the one I am reading now and she's quickly becoming one of my favorite urban fantasy/paranormal writers. Her plots are different, her main characters likable and she does a fantastic job with the world-building without going overboard with the details.
Beholden is a very good example of this. Ms. Bethke did a great job setting up what I hope will become a series, even if I didn't find any information in this respect. The book was fast-paced and interesting and I was thoroughly entertained by both the case and the romance brewing between Julian and Wes.
Wes was a bit pushy, but I loved that he was there for Julian when he needed him, railroading any complaints Julian had. And truly, Julian needed the push or we never would've gotten anywhere. LOL Anyway, I loved their chemistry, their conversations and how Wes seemed to anticipate whatever Julian might need. I could practically see the sparks flying every time they came together and the sex was oh so deliciously hot.
I really liked the mystery surrounding Julian's illness, although I had thought someone else *cough his bitch of a sister cough* was involved. While it was resolved and we got a HEA, I felt it was open-ended enough that hopefully, we'll get more stories in this 'verse, even if I couldn't find any info about this. Please, please, Ms. Bethke?
Overall, I adored this book, it was fun and intriguing and hot and I couldn't get enough of Wes and Julian and Julian's partner, Max. Highly recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
I've read other books by Kris T. Bethke before, in fact, I have another lined up right after the one I am reading now and she's quickly becoming one of my favorite urban fantasy/paranormal writers. Her plots are different, her main characters likable and she does a fantastic job with the world-building without going overboard with the details.
Beholden is a very good example of this. Ms. Bethke did a great job setting up what I hope will become a series, even if I didn't find any information in this respect. The book was fast-paced and interesting and I was thoroughly entertained by both the case and the romance brewing between Julian and Wes.
Wes was a bit pushy, but I loved that he was there for Julian when he needed him, railroading any complaints Julian had. And truly, Julian needed the push or we never would've gotten anywhere. LOL Anyway, I loved their chemistry, their conversations and how Wes seemed to anticipate whatever Julian might need. I could practically see the sparks flying every time they came together and the sex was oh so deliciously hot.
I really liked the mystery surrounding Julian's illness, although I had thought someone else *cough his bitch of a sister cough* was involved. While it was resolved and we got a HEA, I felt it was open-ended enough that hopefully, we'll get more stories in this 'verse, even if I couldn't find any info about this. Please, please, Ms. Bethke?
Overall, I adored this book, it was fun and intriguing and hot and I couldn't get enough of Wes and Julian and Julian's partner, Max. Highly recommendable!
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***
June 7, 2018
There were a lot of pieces to this story that were barely held together by the romance, mainly because the romance felt like a bit of an afterthought. Like it was added to keep our interest since the other events felt like blips on a timeline rather than a fully cohesive and well-rounded story. That being said, there were individual parts that really grabbed my attention. The idea behind being "beholden" and Julian's reasoning behind his choice, his talents and how he used them, the sinister plot running throughout the story, the family drama, the antagonists and where other stories might go to further solve that, the side characters... There was so much to work with but there was something missing to integrate all the pieces to make the story really sing. Taken individually this story had great promise. Taken together, however, and the story fell short. The part that truly fell short was the romance. There wasn't much romance at all. No building of a relationship, no reasoning behind Wes' choice besides an initial attraction and a convenience of sharing power, no relationship history to explain either man's actions together or going forward... I was at a loss here to know what to feel about them. And the fact that we only get Julian's POV meant that most of those questions remained unanswered all the way through the end of the story. If there is more and this becomes a series I'll probably read it, if only to satisfy my curiosity about the men and the darker forces at work behind them.
ARC willingly read and reviewed.
ARC willingly read and reviewed.
November 27, 2018
Beholden is a fast-paced story, set in a magical, contemporary world, where our MC's both work for the Ministry of Magic. Okay, so it's not called that, but I can't help myself. Anyway, Julian is the top scryer, and has worked hard for that position, and paid a personal price too. He is coasting along, quite happy with his life, until Agent Caldwell comes knocking on his door. Within a short time, Wes has knocked down all of Julian's walls, and is quite happy to wait for Julian to 'catch up'. Yes, it's fast, but it fits, and is all part of the story. Things move up a bit when it becomes obvious that Julian is ill, but know one knows how or why.
This was a great read, with sparks flying off my Kindle whenever Wes and Julian were together. The story itself was full of twists guaranteed to keep my interest. There were no editing or grammatical errors that pulled me from the story, and I was fully invested until the very end. Although it appears this book is a standalone, it could quite easily become a series. I'm hoping it is, and I just missed the part that tells you!
A great read, not too heavy, and with plenty of steam - absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This was a great read, with sparks flying off my Kindle whenever Wes and Julian were together. The story itself was full of twists guaranteed to keep my interest. There were no editing or grammatical errors that pulled me from the story, and I was fully invested until the very end. Although it appears this book is a standalone, it could quite easily become a series. I'm hoping it is, and I just missed the part that tells you!
A great read, not too heavy, and with plenty of steam - absolutely recommended by me.
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
April 28, 2018
Now here’s a most enjoyable, sexy, and exciting story. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading Beholden. A Paranormal, romantic mystery; what’s not to love?
I’m impressed with the world the author introduced me to. She managed to create a believable universe without ever dumping information. I found myself believing in her world from the start. The magic and the operations of those working in the Department of Extranormal and Magical Affairs all made perfect sense to me.
Julian and Wes are great MCs. They are complete opposites and perfect for each other at the same time. It was impossible not to melt in front of Wes’s protective streak. His name should have been Wesley really; he fits the name in an ‘as you wish’ kinda way. Except that he has a dominant streak to make your blood heat up; just as well Julian likes that sorta thing. J Just to clarify; these two men are HOT together.
Mind you, there’s a lot more to this book than ‘just’ magic and hot sexiness. There’s a mystery to unravel and there are plenty of sweet, emotional, and soul searching moments too.
While this book reads as a stand-alone story, I was very happy to see that the overall story-line still needs to be resolved. I won’t mind spending more time with Julian and Wes at all…at all.
I’m impressed with the world the author introduced me to. She managed to create a believable universe without ever dumping information. I found myself believing in her world from the start. The magic and the operations of those working in the Department of Extranormal and Magical Affairs all made perfect sense to me.
Julian and Wes are great MCs. They are complete opposites and perfect for each other at the same time. It was impossible not to melt in front of Wes’s protective streak. His name should have been Wesley really; he fits the name in an ‘as you wish’ kinda way. Except that he has a dominant streak to make your blood heat up; just as well Julian likes that sorta thing. J Just to clarify; these two men are HOT together.
Mind you, there’s a lot more to this book than ‘just’ magic and hot sexiness. There’s a mystery to unravel and there are plenty of sweet, emotional, and soul searching moments too.
While this book reads as a stand-alone story, I was very happy to see that the overall story-line still needs to be resolved. I won’t mind spending more time with Julian and Wes at all…at all.
May 14, 2018
4.5* Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
Julian is used to having people look down on him; choosing to bind his magic into just one discipline instead of using it for a variety of different applications is considered ‘low class’ by quite a few, his sister included, but its what Julian enjoys, what he’s good at, and he’s never regretted it. When his talent brings Agent Caldwell to his door, Julian finds himself hit hard and fast with a serious case of lust but after helping with the other man’s case he figures he’ll never see him again. Besides being Beholden Julian is bookish and easy to overlook so it should be easy to forget all about the agent that makes his blood rush. Wes doesn’t just disappear after getting what he needed, however, and seems determined to prove to Julian he wants more than just a casual fling. When Julian’s magic appears to be draining faster than he can replenish it, Wes becomes even more determined to keep Julian by his side; especially when it becomes clear that without his help Julian may not survive.
I really like this one! I fell into the story really easily and enjoyed the heck out of it to boot; the characters were fleshed out enough that I found myself really liking them right away and you learn more about them as the book progresses so I was kept interested in them the entire way through. The plot kind of had two branches to it: one that will continue farther along as the series progresses (because regardless of a series not being listed, there’s no possible way this will just be limited to one book) and the other dealing with the problem Julian is facing with the loss of his magic. Both plot lines were interesting and I have a feeling that even though Julian’s issue was dealt with (as much as it could be anyway) that it will be connected back to the overall magical problem that was still being investigated in the background.
Also, Julian and Wes together just felt right to me. I didn’t have a hard time imagining them together both in the story and further down the road, which made reading about them together even more of a pleasure. Things do move a bit fast on the feelings front between them both but while Wes was pretty much all in right from the beginning, Julian does take a little longer to catch up. I liked that Julian was a bit of a hold out on the feelings/relationship front, to be honest.
I just really enjoyed this one; the world building, story and characters were all interesting to me and I’m really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this. If you enjoy Urban Fantasy stories or law enforcement/paranormal stories, I’d highly recommend giving this one a look!
Julian is used to having people look down on him; choosing to bind his magic into just one discipline instead of using it for a variety of different applications is considered ‘low class’ by quite a few, his sister included, but its what Julian enjoys, what he’s good at, and he’s never regretted it. When his talent brings Agent Caldwell to his door, Julian finds himself hit hard and fast with a serious case of lust but after helping with the other man’s case he figures he’ll never see him again. Besides being Beholden Julian is bookish and easy to overlook so it should be easy to forget all about the agent that makes his blood rush. Wes doesn’t just disappear after getting what he needed, however, and seems determined to prove to Julian he wants more than just a casual fling. When Julian’s magic appears to be draining faster than he can replenish it, Wes becomes even more determined to keep Julian by his side; especially when it becomes clear that without his help Julian may not survive.
I really like this one! I fell into the story really easily and enjoyed the heck out of it to boot; the characters were fleshed out enough that I found myself really liking them right away and you learn more about them as the book progresses so I was kept interested in them the entire way through. The plot kind of had two branches to it: one that will continue farther along as the series progresses (because regardless of a series not being listed, there’s no possible way this will just be limited to one book) and the other dealing with the problem Julian is facing with the loss of his magic. Both plot lines were interesting and I have a feeling that even though Julian’s issue was dealt with (as much as it could be anyway) that it will be connected back to the overall magical problem that was still being investigated in the background.
Also, Julian and Wes together just felt right to me. I didn’t have a hard time imagining them together both in the story and further down the road, which made reading about them together even more of a pleasure. Things do move a bit fast on the feelings front between them both but while Wes was pretty much all in right from the beginning, Julian does take a little longer to catch up. I liked that Julian was a bit of a hold out on the feelings/relationship front, to be honest.
I just really enjoyed this one; the world building, story and characters were all interesting to me and I’m really looking forward to seeing where the author takes this. If you enjoy Urban Fantasy stories or law enforcement/paranormal stories, I’d highly recommend giving this one a look!
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