Forbidden

Siren Cove #1

by Claire Cullen

All his life, Jonah’s been warned about wolves.

The last of a dying species, hiding amongst the humans, Jonah accepts his lonely life, knowing one day he’ll lose himself in the call of the sea. And then a pack of werewolves moves in next door. Wolves are dangerous, cunning, and vicious. He knows he has to chase them off before they discover the truth about what he is. But he hadn’t counted on Nate, their ruggedly handsome alpha. No one warned him wolves could be so… captivating.

As the lone alpha left, he’s their only chance of survival.

After an attack leaves his pack on the run, it’s up to Nate to lead them to safety. He brings them to the one place they won’t be followed, a place wolves don’t dare go. At first, the Cove seems like a haven and stories of monsters lurking in the shadows sound far-fetched. Jonah, the local vet, and their new neighbor, is just the sort of distraction Nate needs. When danger closes in on all sides, Nate must do what he can to keep his pack, and his new favorite human, safe from harm. But is Jonah all he appears to be?

The truth will tear them apart.

When Nate turns up at his door with an injured wolf cub in his arms, Jonah doesn't have the heart to turn him away. He knows he's playing with fire, letting himself be drawn further into the shifter's dangerous world, risking discovery with every word, every kiss. Self-preservation be damned.

Forbidden is a novel-length read, featuring a flirtatious wolf, a lonely siren, an evil alpha, a loyal dog, mpreg (kind of), and scenes not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen.

Genres: M M Romance, Shapeshifters, Paranormal, Romance, Fantasy, Omegaverse, Werewolves

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 20, 2019

About the author

Claire Cullen is an author and aspiring baker. Since she was a toddler, she has loved making up stories. Getting them down on paper proved a challenge in the early years when her preferred medium was finger puppets. She moved on to pen and paper, and later to keyboards, and hasn't looked back since, except for occasional bouts of nostalgia.

Reviews

[Elise ✘ a.k.a Ryder's Pet ✘ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Fast Forward, Easy Read*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱

Two years ago, Jonah Smith alongside his brothers, buried their father. While his brothers - being ambitious - decided to leave the small town called Cove, Jonah decided to say, to finish his degree, become a qualified vet, and take over their father’s practice and the shelter. Two years later the alpha of the Azure Grove Pack, Nate Williams and what is left of his pack (17 people), are on the run from the Alpha Prime, Magnar, who had moved against their pack, branded them all traitors. Any pack in their territory would be rewarded for capturing or killing them and punished for sheltering them. Which means that they need to stay under the radar and steer clear of other pack territories.

“Enough.” Harlan, as the eldest, had always had a knack for ending their squabbles. “Look, Jonah, I know you don’t want us to leave. I get that, I really do. But we have to face facts. There hasn’t been another of our kind seen in what, twelve years now? And we’ve been a dying breed for a lot longer. Our only chance of survival in this world is integration. Become part of the human world and forget about where we came from.”

Nate feels like he's nowhere ready to be an alpha, having just turned 21, but being the lone alpha left in the pack, the responsibility rests on him. Nate decides that the best plan for survival is to go to the Cove; a forbidden zone in the southeast. The land has been off limits to wolves for years. Generations. Little did he know that he'll meet Jonah, a beautiful human he can't seem to get out of his mind. But not everything is as it seems...

Overall, it's a cute and simple book. Really straight forward and easy to read. Makes the time go. The characters were simple too. Cute and nice. My problem with the book is the lack of depth. Though we get to know some of the characters, we barely really get to know them. We know who they are, their names and that's it. We don't get any friendships with prober depth even though they are said to be a close pack. I didn't feel it. It all felt like we only saw the surface.

So yeah, I needed more depth, but it was an easy read with not a lot happening, yet it was so fast forward that it didn't really bother me. Though I didn't quite like how fast the ending was and how things felt unsolved. Not sure if I'll continue reading the series though. Also, I liked to say that I wish it had more magic in it. Meaning; the feeling of this being a magical book with magical creatures like werewolves and sirens/mermans.

“I like who I am,” Jonah replied. “I’m proud of where we came from. I’m not going to just walk away and let our family’s legacy die with our father.”
Theo drained his glass and set it down on the table with a thunk.
“Let’s be real here. Our legacy died long before Dad did.”

The Siren Cove:

The Cove; a forbidden zone in the southeast. The land has been off limits to wolves for years. Generations. Every territory had places wolf packs were warned to keep away from. They’d all heard the stories about shifters being injured or killed by things much stronger than them, strange creatures, monsters that lurked in the dark. It was an old joke. If humans were afraid of werewolves, then what were werewolves afraid of?
“The most recent of those stories is at least a decade old, if not older. For all we know, they’re exaggerations pushed by some lone wolf who wanted to carve out a piece of land for himself. The point is,” he stressed, “the Alpha Prime and his people won’t expect us to come here. And they probably won’t risk following us even if they do figure it out.”

Magnar, Alpha Prime:

“Werewolves live in packs, like big extended families. Packs are grouped into huge areas of land called territories, and every territory has a senior alpha who oversees everything. That’s the Alpha Prime. The current Alpha Prime of our territory is Magnar. He was an outsider, from the territory south of ours. He mated an omega in a pack here, made allies, then challenged the previous Alpha Prime and won. That was a year ago. Since then, he’s done a lot of things that made my father uneasy. He uses violence where words would do. He’s used his Enforcer to carry out attacks as punishment or revenge when people defy him.”
“And your pack defied him?”
“Yes. He demanded that we give him something we weren’t willing to part with. When we refused, he sent Lucien, his Enforcer, to bring us to heel. It was a bloodbath.”
“I’m so sorry, Nate.” He stepped closer, clasping the alpha’s arm with his hand.
“It is what it is. It’s done. But now I’m the only alpha left. And we’ve no home, no money, and can barely support the mouths we have to feed.”

Little Sirens Information:

“As we said before, our people are similar to yours. Like wolves, we have a hierarchy.”
“You’re definitely an Alpha,” Nate said. “Maybe even an Alpha Prime.”
Harlan didn’t argue with that. “And Jonah would be the equivalent of an omega.”
“He said females were rare.”
“And so they were. Now, I’d say they’re close to extinct. Fifty years ago, we’d have had different visitors to the Cove every year, different individuals and families. Alphas like me would travel from colony to colony, looking for a mate to bring home to their family or to start a new colony with. But the world has changed, and our numbers keep dropping. Our mother left for the sea when we were kids, like she’d done many times before. Only she never came back. We’ve had one visitor in the years since. I went out there once, as a teenager, hoping to find others but… Theo and I have given it up as a lost cause. We don’t think there are any others left.”
“What does Jonah believe?”
“It’s not about belief for him. It’s about biology. Omega sirens yearn for mates. In normal circumstances, his mate would have arrived on the sea long ago. When that doesn’t happen, the call of the sea grows stronger and stronger, until it’s impossible to resist.”
“Then why leave him here, why not take him with you?”
“Take an omega away from the sea and you take away their soul. They can’t sing, they can’t swim. Jonah believes, for him, that it would be a life devoid of joy.”
“And if he goes to the sea? Will he find a mate?”
Nate hated the thought of another person’s hands on Jonah. But he hated the thought of a soulless Jonah even more.
“I don’t think there are any to be found. He’ll wander, cold and alone, and the human part of him will be lost. It’s as cruel an existence as taking him from the sea would be.”

Other Characters:
It's a long list, so I'll just add it into a spoilers tag.
→ Harlan (the eldest) and Theo, Jonah's brothers. In the two years since they left, neither of them had set foot in the Cove. From the occasional phone call or email, Jonah got the impression things were going well for both of them. Theo’s career was taking off. Harlan was busy building his business. It didn’t seem like they’d looked back even once after they’d left. Jonah didn’t just feel left behind, he felt… forgotten.
→ Logan and his brother Jason ‘Jay’, Nate's cousins, both betas. Karla, Jay's mate.
→ Lily ‘Lil’, Nate's sister. Jack, their brother who got killed in the attack.
→ Maddie, one of the youngest survivors (toddler), and her father, Mac and mother, Alison (dead).
→ Fred, pack member.
→ Scott, a beta with a bad tendency to act like an alpha. Betrayed the back. Dead.
→ Stefan, had been working for Jonah’s father part-time before his death. Afterward, he had agreed to continue that partnership with Jonah. For two years, he’d run the practice while Jonah studied and helped out whenever he could. But Stefan’s wife had got an opportunity to advance her career and the whole family had decided to move five hours north. Stefan had delayed leaving to give Jonah time to finish his studies, moving into the house for the last few months to save money on rent.
→ Bear, Jonah's chocolate Labrador (she).
→ Justin Harte, Jonah's neighbor.
→ Parker Jeffreys, the town’s vet for the bigger animals. Lives north of the town.
→ Betty, pack member.
→ Cole, pack member.
→ Jade, pack member.
→ Wendy, the veterinary nurse who works two days a week in Jonah's practice to help with surgeries.
→ Lucien, the Enforcer of Magnar, the Alpha Prime, his right-hand man.
→ Mylea, an old siren.
→ Jeremy ‘Jem’, pack member, alpha. He was staying with his aunt and uncle in another pack when the attack on Nate's pack happened. Nate hopefully, hope he’s still there, out of harm’s way.
→ Jack, Jonah and Nate's son; half wolf, half siren.

Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Paranormal Romance (M/M).
Series: - Series, Book One
Love triangle? - No.
Cheating? - No.
HEA? - Yes, for this couple.
Favorite character? - Ummmm, both?
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure..
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.

[Shin Mon Thway · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shouldn’t have doubted because Claire Cullen always manages to write one of the most refreshing and enjoyable shifter stories out there. And Mermen/sirens!!! 😏😉 Need I tell more?


Jonah has been lonely for a long time since his father’s death and his brothers left him all alone in their quiet coastal town. And when Nate the werewolf alpha arrived with his pack, Jonah didn’t know what to do about the intruder. He never expected to fall in love with the enemy while trying to chase him away. And for Nate, it was lust at first sight and he really wanted a taste of quiet, shy and kind vet neighbor. But Nate has a ugly past that’s slowly catching up to him and his pack and they could all end up dead before he has a chance to show his love to Jonah.


It is a slow-burn, feel-good story between Jonah and Nate and I love a bit of drama in my romances. And I love a good bad-villain. I was hoping for some intersperses sex (Jonah in merman form 😁) but I hope I’ll get it with some new characters in the future. 😉 I like the cross mating between a werewolf and a merman and their baby is just so adorable. And the romance is fluffy and sweet. I can’t wait to get more in this series. Thoroughly enjoyed it.






4 love triumphs different species stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Eugenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Precious!

This was a very light and engaging fantastical read.

What happens when a siren meets a werewolf? In this world, they are a match made in heaven even if they are mortal enemies.

A pack, wounded and terrorized, straggles into forbidden territory. The area has a reputation for monsters. Monsters who kill wolves. Nate, the alpha, of the remains of this pack figures it’s a good place to hide from those wanting to kill them.

At first trying to scare the wolves away, Jonah, the siren changes his mind when he has to tend to an injured werepup.

Soon the attraction between the alpha were and the omega siren reaches a peak and can’t be avoided.

End result? Mates (of course) and a little surprise for the pack.

Even though this story was very light on details (what happens to the weres clothes when they shift? The sirens had to strip, but the wolves never did), light on character development, light on UST, and light in general, I REALLY ENJOYED IT! Don’t let the three stars fool you! It was very sweet with little angst despite the dire circumstances the pack finds itself in.

I’m off to read the second in the series right now!!

[Zuzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was cruising along thinking this was going to be at least a 4 star read, but the last several chapters seemed rushed and left out so much information that was partially relayed after the fact. I also don’t think I’m interested in the follow on books now either.

[Rachel Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s like Claire Cullen knows exactly what to write for me - werewolf/siren (AKA Merman!) mpreg!

Nate is the alpha of his pack, well, what remains of them after their Alpha Prime (the overall leading alpha) kills most of their family and pack. Nate decides to hide out in one area where he hopes the enforcers and alpha won’t look - the Cove, an area that werewolves have long been afraid to go into. There, he manages to settle his family into a couple buildings whose land neighbors that of the local veterinarian, Jonah.

When Jonah and Nate first meet, it’s not exactly a warm one. Jonah is living a very solitary life with only his dog and the animals he saves for company, and he is fearful of werewolves coming into his territory. He is one of the last known sirens, along with his two brothers who left town after their father passed away. However, as Jonah learns more about Nate and the werewolves, he finds that they are not bad people, and that Nate especially is a kind alpha, who only wants to protect his family.

I really enjoyed this story. The romance between Jonah and Nate is gentle and sweet. I love how Nate is so open with touching Jonah, and I love them getting to see each other in shifted form. I also enjoyed the interaction between them all like at the cookout, how they are all finding family together.

I will admit, I’m not a huge fan of how the mpreg was handled. Jonah swims off, the call of the ocean too strong to stay away while he is pregnant, and only returns once the baby is born and they can swim back. I’m one that likes to see moments of the pregnancy in the story, and hate how Nate has to miss the entire thing and all those little moments, and I’m assuming will never see Jonah pregnant if they have another baby.

Looking forward to more stories - I’m hoping that Jonah’s brothers get stories and maybe some of the pack members…and that maybe they can take back their land from the alpha prime, although being that Jonah and his brothers are aquatic shifters, maybe they just stay in Siren Cove. I thought that this was a great start a new series and I really can’t wait for the next one!

[Jennifer☠Pher☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different and a little odd.

I'm not sure I completely get the whole Siren thing and the wolf world was very difficult to read about.

Enjoyable but another shifter book where I feel I am just missing the romance.

I guess the brothers are coming home.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
This came recommended to me, so I gave it a try even though I don't really like the omegaverse theme. I liked the book up to the point Jonah and Nate finally got together(around 60%, I think), after that it was as if I was reading a different book. Everything felt kind of rushed & superficial from that point on - things that I wanted explained were brushed over, the whole thing with the pregnancy felt... off. Maybe it's because it wasn't really heavy on omegaverse up to that point... In fact, I felt like I wasn't really reading an omegaverse book at all, and it kind of caught me by surprise. Even though I was fully aware what I was going into 🤦‍♀️ Anyhow, I really enjoyed the first half, the second half not so much. Glad I gave it a try, but I don't think the series/theme is for me.

[☆Kylie☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series actually helped me a lot. I was going through one of the worst reading slumps I’ve ever had—I couldn’t finish a book, and I wasn’t even making it past a couple of pages. Then I remembered this series, and out of nowhere I ended up reading all the books in just two days.

It’s a cute MM series, mostly focused on hurt/comfort. About 99% of the time, the MCs fall in love with someone who isn’t in the best place emotionally, but despite that, it’s not a dark read—far from it.
For now, this review will be the same across all the books, but once I re-read them, I’ll update.
If you enjoy MM romance and want something light and short, this is a great pick.

[Achim · Rating 3 out of 5]

After nearly all of his family and pack was killed by the leader of all the packs in region, Nate as the new alpha is leading his remaining pack into the forbidden zone rumored to be inhabited by wolf-killing monsters. Out of escape options he's caught between a rock and a hard place and has to believe that those monsters are a myth or at least no longer there but of course they are still there and the pack settles right next to them.

For Jonah the wolves are the monsters and he's worried. His ancestors did everything to scare those creatures away but now after his brothers left he's the last siren in residence and although in the water he's still strong enough to defend himself, he's no challenge for a pack.

What follows is a tentative approach and a bonding over a hurt cub, violent intervention by one of Jonah's brothers and defense against their common enemy. Of course during all that Jonah and Nate find out they are mates and because we're in an omegaverse there's a little wolf-siren baby.

Despite the dire reason for the relocation it's a light read with low angst. Unfortunately the near annihilation of the pack is not much more than a background noise. The obvious trauma is checked off quickly to have enough space for the romance and a bit more world building. On the plus side also the labor itself is off-page although the pregnancy takes a lot of space which I would have prefered to be used for other topics.

So, for me it's a nice read, an escape lasting until I closed the book but no longer and I still can't see the attraction other readers have for mpreg.

[S.R. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast cute read.

If you are into MPreg, then give this a try. This was adorable. I found both Jonah and Nate to be refreshing characters. I felt for Nate being thrown into an impossible position but still trying to do his best for his pack.

Some of the story line was a bit predictable, however, other parts surprised me.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Courtney · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be fair, this is my first shifter romance and first m/m romance, but if this story is indicative of these genres, I'll continue to stay away.

First off, the characters were just so poorly done. Nate was the least alpha-y alpha ever. There was like one scene where he told the rest of the pack to stop fighting, but otherwise he just came across like a second-string quarterback. Jonah could have just as easily been the heroine in a cliche regency romance as the male love interest in this story. He's just kind of blah, but the alpha wants him because.... the author tells us he does? Jonah giggles whenever Nate makes a pass at him, which to be fair, isn't too much because there's really no sexual tension between the two, but often enough to be annoying. And at the first sign of trouble Jonah needs to call his brother for help because even though he's like a powerful siren, he can't do anything on his own? Meh

Besides the characters, the story is just... nothing. The climax occurs and is resolved in all of 5 pages ( and of course Jonah's job is to just make the bad guy lust after him while his brother does all the work *eyeroll*). I gave up on the book and dnf after the leads finally hook up and Nate presents Jonah to the pack as his omega. It just felt like nothing. There was no chemistry between these guys, and I just didn't want to devote any more time to this book.

[Chappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book...I think it might be my first siren :D

Nate and Jonah are both struggling. Nate is trying to save his pack and find a safe place while Jonah is lonely and a little lost.

Once they are able to build some trust, the magic starts to happen.

I did want more details about Jonah's going off to sea to have his baby. It seemed very instinctual and he kind of left Nate hanging

[Fani *loves angst* · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a weird one: I loved the first half very much, found it hard to put down, but then those two kind of got together, it fizzled out :( As if any chemistry they had going on, suddenly disappeared as soon as they became a couple; it was a pity. Still, it was exciting enough to convince me to read the second book right away.

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes)]

DNF @ 20%

[llv · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 stars
I loved this book. My friend insisted that I put down all my other books and read this one first and I’m glad she did. Nate and Jonah were just wonderful. I loved that they had a slow burn romance and the sex didn’t kick in until around 70% in. I loved Nate’s pack. After the way his brothers left him on his own, I’m really glad that they stepped in and stopped him from being so lonely. I am really looking forward to more in this series. The book didn’t leave on a cliff-hanger, but the main conflict is still unresolved and while I would say that Jonah and Nate got their HEA, the pack situation is definitely a HFN. I read this on the KU program but liked it enough to buy my own copy.

[Steph ☀️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was really good, but I felt it dragged a bit in the end.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was . . . fine? It was fine. Really. The writing was smooth enough and all, but I just never got invested in, well, any of it. Nothing wrong with it, really, it just didn't grab me.

[Leelah🍁♋️ Orion · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

This was great start to the series. Two groups who don’t like each other because of past fears overcoming those fears and finding love within that struggle. I love how these two came together. I do wish she stood up to his brothers a little more, and really want to know if the pack stayed in the cabins or got their own land but maybe we will find out in the next books.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

a Siren and a wolf pairing that was sweet and low steam

-Mpreg

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Una historia preciosa. No obstante no puedo darle 5 estrellas porque creo que el hecho de que no explique cómo llegan a tener hijos...le falla. De forma sobrenatural, con un par de párrafos y quedaría listo.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was too pure. A bit of drama and fighting, but pure.

It cleansed my sins.

I skipped the only sex scene because it was “meh” and the fluff was enough to satisfy me....this time at least.

[Resch Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intriguing read, Claire Cullen is a new to me author and I decided to give her a go. The synopsis with a mix of sirens and werewolves was a unique combination that I couldn't pass up. The romance was very much insta-love but I was captivated by the larger story at play, which had me turning the pages time and time again.

So the story can be split into two segments and I will first start with my feels on Jonah and Nate's relationship. The whole relationship lacked any substance or depth, which isn't uncommon in shifter books. As Nate and Jonah are instantly drawn to each other, their attraction continues to grow as the story progresses. But they never seem to have any deep conversations or form a true emotional connection. I desperately wished that they had because this layer of depth would have taken the story to the next level for me. Aside from that, these two work well together, they compliment each other and I appreciated seeing both of their strengths come into play as different types of shifters.

Then there is the whole reason that Nate arrives to begin with. This is the part of the story that hooked me. Nate and what's left of his pack are on the run from the Alpha Prime, who is honestly a horrific monster of a leader. This part of the story was filled with suspense, will the Alpha Prime find them, how will things play out, and I truly enjoyed it. The ending was some swift satisfaction, not closure but definitely enough to show the Alpha Prime that the Cove is off limits.

In terms of the ending for Nate and Jonah, it was un-expected, a little rushed, but cute. I was glad to see they got their HEA as Jonah definitely deserves it. But I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Jonah's brother, Harlan returns and I can't wait to see how his story plays out. 

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC from author and I thank her!

The blurb’s good but the book is better. The story is strong and, while it reads well as a standalone, it’s also a great setup for the new series. I never thought werewolves and sirens could make a good pairing but it works very well, particularly the BABY! I’m looking forward to more of this series because there are a lot of characters who need their own story.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was caught off guard by how much I enjoyed this series. It’s the first I’ve read with sirens and I found it interesting and refreshing. The mate bond in this series seems to be something chosen and not insta-love. There’s not biting or ceremony so I feel it’s a little glossed over, as is the MPreg, especially here in the first book. I enjoyed the overall story arc and both of our MCs.

[emmasbookgasms · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first experience of m/m. I can't say I disliked it. The characters were lovable and there was some lovely description of the area. I was slightly confused in places, however on reflection, I put this down to my inexperience with this particular genre rather than the way it was written. I will be reading the next in the series.

[Ben Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a sweet shifter romance, between a werewolf and a siren.

What's left of Nate's pack is being hunted by the Alpha Prima. They escape to Siren Cove, which as long been marked as forbidden to wolves. This makes it the perfect place for Nate and his pack to recover from the wounds they've been dealt.

After the death of Jonah's Dad years previously, his two older brothers move away from the cove leaving him the only Siren left. Sirens are a species close to extinction. And when a pack of werewolves move in next door, Jonah fears the worst.

An icy start to their relationship is understandable, but Nate and Jonah grow closer and develope such a sweet relationship.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Meh this author has always been off and on for me.

Where this story kept me entertained and was enjoyable enough to want to know what happened and how it ended, it still somehow fell a little flat for me.

I will possibly elaborate later.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne
Nach einem etwas zähen Anfang doch noch richtig gut geworden. Gefährliche Sirenen und ein fast gebrochenes, kleines Werwolfrudel bilden nach anfänglichen Schwierigkeiten eine Familie.
Brutal und ungeschönt, aber auch richtig süß an manchen Stellen.

[⚣Michaelle⚣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wish we had half-stars here at GR because this was better than 3.5 but I don't round up. (Well, not anymore.) So, 3.7? Yeah, that. Definitely going to pick up the next one in the series but probably won't get to it until a challenge requires another Unusual Shifter book.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Full review soon.