Thicker Than Water

Fangs & Felons #1

by Becca Seymour

Following rules is for pussy cats. And since I’m a wolf, not a chance in hell I’ll toe the line. Well, not when my boss is a prick and he gives me bullshit assignments.

When I stumble upon an undercover operation, one that becomes deeply personal and impossible to walk away from, I do something that leaves my head spinning.

I follow the rules.

Joining an elite squad in the SICB, I work with a unit that has me questioning everything I thought I knew about working in a team.

They’re tightknit, work under the radar, and kick arse on a daily basis.

There’s just one problem. The team leader, my new boss, needs my help, which also means he becomes my housemate.

Mesmerizing, confident, and with the greenest eyes that make my head spin, Liam “Thatch” Thatcher is a newly changed wolf shifter who immediately draws my respect.

It’s a dangerous combination.

Bonded by memories and blood, together we have to navigate the blood farm operation that has wider reaches than we could ever imagine. And when it comes to matters of the heart, to win, I need to risk it all.

Even if it goes against every one of my instincts.

Thicker Than Water is the first book in a gay urban fantasy romance series. Between the pages, you’ll find high-octane action, snarky vampires and shifters, and steamy scenes to make you swoon.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Vampires, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Shapeshifters

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 14, 2020

About the author

Becca Seymour is a British/Aussie author and the #1 gay romance best seller of the True-Blue series. Known for "steamy and endearing" and "emotionally profound love stories" (InD'tale Magazine) her books have been nominated for multiple RONE Awards.

Becca has a sweet tooth for marshmallow-hearted monsters, swoon-worthy supernatural studs, and everyday guys and basketball players with hearts of gold. If you like your MM romance sweet, spicy, and occasionally action-packed, slip into stalker mode and fall hard for her True-Blue and Minnesota Eagles men—and maybe a shifter or monster two.

Monsters & Mates
Solan | Kael | Varek

Zone Defense

No Take Backs | No More Secrets | No Wrong Moves | No Backing Down


Fast Break

Rules, Schmules! | Facts, Smacts! | Regular Smegular! | Easy, Schmeasy!


True-Blue 
Let Me Show You | I’ve Got You | Becoming Us | Thinking It Over | Always For You | It’s Not You | Our First & Last | Next For Us


Outback Boys 

Stumble | Bounce | Wobble


Fangs & Felons

Thicker Than Water | Weaker Than Instinct | Brighter Than Fear | Stronger Than Fate | Softer Than Stone


Stand-Alone Contemporary

Not Used To Cute | High Alert | Realigned | Amalgamated | Under the Blazing Stars | Best Kind of Awkward | Tastes Like Sugar | Caden & Theo | Full Tilt


REVIEWS:
"WOW! Simply, Wow! A funny, steamy and endearing story that should be put into your family of books. Something that you can read over and over again when you need a pick me up." The Book Fairy Reviews

"An intense connection that smolders" - JayReads
"This book was a slow burn and I loved it." - Steamy Book Momma

"Characters to pull for, a romance to give you feels, and enough steam to keep you turning pages..." - Romantic Reads and Such

"Emotionally profound love story with many laugh aloud moments." - InD'tale Magazine

"Becca had me cracking up laughing and smiling ear to ear." - HeidiLynns BookReviews

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

Reviews

[Chelsea · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book honestly just felt like the plot was mansplained to me.

**Spoilers ahead**

Instead of showing us this urban fantasy/shifter universe, it would just add a "Oh and vampires exist" or a "Oh, see him, he's a Lion shifter"......
The depth in these characters was thinner than a crepes my dudes.

All surface, no substance and the MC's have no spark?

The amount of "cheeky giving the finger" incidents was giving me ACOTAR PTSD.

The "first shift" was like.... "Just think really hard about being wolf, and you will... be wolf" Um K? Da fuq is this unimaginative shit?

And there is the weirdest inner monologue that's like "Oh he's obviously stressed, and all I can do is think about whether his cock will fit in my ass"
CAN I GET A........ DAAAAAAAAAAAAA FUQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQQ????????????

I find it very strange as well that the love interest takes on the memories AND PERSONALITY TRAITS of the MC's DEAD sister who he found mangled and fucked up murdered LIKE ONE DAY AGO, and he's like...... mmmm SMASH. wut? That man is a hybrid of himself and YOUR SISTER????? He baked her cookie recipe and made her jokes????

I HATE BOOKS THAT PLACE PLOT DOWN IN FRONT OF YOU LIKE YOU'RE STUPID.
Oh, look at what I found here on the floor...
It's a ✨Major plot point✨ 🙄🙄🙄🙄
Soooooooooooo much telling, and no showing.

There was 2 pages of dialogue that I couldn't even understand (I reread the pages 3 times and decided to move on because I didn't get it) PAGES LATER, I fucking realised they were trying to have an inside joke??? Joke was so fucking inside, it may as well have been an inner monologue because where the fuck did that even come from?

I wasn't going to DNF and push through until I read "I cleared my throat and thought of vaginas. Immediately, I grimaced, my stomach turning. Yeah, it was a sure-fire way to deflate my masting dick" and I fucking hate this MC enough that I don't wanna let that fly.

Plus this book flip flops between Australian English and American/English and it's a weird juxtaposition that I don't enjoy.
Saying 'jocks' (as in underwear) and 'spag bol' but using "arse" no.

I'm drawing the line at "thinking about vaginas to make my erection go away" jokes, I only read 1, but apparently there are 3 of these jokes, ick, I'm DNF-ing at 44%.
✨Fuck this shiiiiiiiiit i'm out✨


GG's... NEXT


OMG I FORGOT TO ADD THAT THE MC AFTER TALKING ALL "we must torture this man to get the information we need for the plot of the book, and because we are scary people who do crime investigating...." AND THEN CONTINUE TO TORTURE SOMEONE....... WITH BOOGERS AND SNOT......

[Meags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Out of all the books I’ve read this year (so far), this is the one that hooked me the fastest. The opening chapter was really good, throwing the reader immediately into the action, introducing the main players, ensnaring with the mystery and intrigue, and setting a cool tone that I knew I was going to enjoy immensely.

As an M/M urban fantasy story, that follows the members of a supernatural law enforcement agency solving supernaturally executed crimes, the mish-mash of genre favourite themes and tropes was really good, showcasing some unique world-building/supernatural lore, action-packed crime-solving, great team banter (my favourite), and romantic tension aplenty.

The story wasn’t very long (clocking in just over 200 pages) but it was enough to set the scene, to give voice to some very likeable characters, and to build the suspense and draw an exciting (and satisfying) conclusion to both the crime-solving and romance portions of the story.

As a well-seasoned reader of shifter and vampire stories within the M/M genre, I really liked this unique take on shifter lore, especially when it came to the hows and whys of becoming a shifter vs being born one, and all the highly original elements that came with those experiences. It was cool and I ate it up.

If you’re a fan of the supernaturally-charged team dynamics, the romances, and the gripping action of Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS, Lousia Masters’ Hidden Species, or even Alice Winters’ VRC: Vampire Related Crimes series, then it's a safe bet that Becca Seymour’s Aussie-set urban fantasy series should be right up your alley too!

[~Mindy Lynn~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

This book starts off with action and it never really lets up. It had a really nice pace that kept me in the story till the end. It also helped that the MC was really likeable. I liked his personality and the fact that he brought humor relief to the story. Callen has a pretty laid back way about himself. He tries not to take a lot too seriously unless it's needed. He was quite fierce when he needed to be though. I really liked him and that made the book that much more enjoyable for me.

Callen is a bit of a lone wolf. Literally. He left his pack and his abusive Alpha father behind and joined the Supernatural Investigation & Crime Bureau (SICB). He's a bit of an outcast. His boss highly dislikes him and he really only has one friend, Lucas, who works with him, but more on the tech side of things. Callen can be quite spontaneous and he gets himself into trouble most of the time by putting himself in the middle of cases he's not supposed to be a part of. The one he recently finds himself in becomes not only deadly, but personal.

On this case he saves a man who will soon become more important to him then anyone. Thatcher. He saves the man thinking he is the biggest clue to figuring out what is happening. But when the man wakes up he finds him to be not just a witness to what happened, but the man running the show. It's his case. Liam Thatcher is the head of a special task force team. He brings Callen onto his team considering Callen now has a personal connection with the case and to him in a way I won't reveal. No spoilers here dolls! As the case gets more complicated, Callen and Thatcher get closer.

I really liked how the author brought a new spin to the wolf shifter world. Although there were more than just wolves in this book. We had vampires, panthers, and even lions oh my, lol. I hope there will be more to this story. Maybe about some of the other character that were introduced to us. I would definitely like to see a Lucas and Michael's relationship happen. Just sayin', lol...

The only issues I really had was the lack of background we had for Thatcher. We never got a clear picture of who he is or where he came from and how he got to be who he is. Why is he so well off? Who is his family? Why does he not like talking about them? So in the end I needed more from him.

Happy reading dolls! xx

I received an ARC from Indigo in exchange for an honest review.

[Gaby · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a complete disaster. I came for the shifters and ended up reading one of the most ridiculous and boring books ever. Seriously, it seems like a conundrum, but this was both extremely detailed and also didn’t have enough plot.

It starts with a fast-paced action scene where Callen (I think? I’ve already forgotten his name) is in some sort of facility and rescues MC2, Thatch, right alongside the corpse of his dead sister.

What follows is one of the most convoluted plots I’ve read this year. One minute the dude is absolutely depressed his sister is dead and worried for the fate of his missing niece, and the next minute he’s horny and wanting to fuck Thatch, who, by the way, is now also a werewolf and somehow got the dead sister’s memories and her ability to cook? As if that’s not random enough, Thatch picks up phrases from the dead sister, and while Callen is noticing this, he’s at the same time thinking about how horny he is.

This is a shifter book, in case that’s not clear, and we get the super awesome interaction where Callen helps Thatch through his first shift by saying something along the lines of, “think of being a wolf.” Oh wow, such wisdom. Who would have thought that?

If that wasn’t bad enough, it’s unclear how much time has passed since the MCs met, because time is apparently fluid. Even though we’ve only seen a couple of weird interactions between them, it suddenly appears as if weeks have passed when we get the “a couple of weeks later.” Okay, thanks for that, I guess?

The ending was weird, and it felt both rushed and like it took forever. Absolute dumpster fire.

[CCAM&GZM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes, choosing a book by its cover works! Let's be fair, look at it! It's different and promising, and I always liked authors who give importance to their cover.

Sometimes, choosing a book outside your direct, immediate interest works too! This is the third time I've read an MM story and I'm happy to say that it's the second I liked it.

I liked how the fantasy/paranormal aspects and romance parts are both important and contribute to each other. "The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb" is the key to both plans. I liked how the action elements are played and how our main character deals with his vulnerability, and that "Because I'm (he's) badass." His humor comes at the right moments to enrich and substantiate the atmosphere. Started with a boom, the storyline is well handled, there are several surprises or unexpected and I was fully involved.

I liked how the love story part debuted and evolved and how the author managed to reach the climax of passion and intimacy with only one or two explicit but delicate moments. What I would have liked is that the transfer between Hazel and Thatch to be more developed, especially giving the title. Callen and Thatch are so different and yet both very, very lovable. I would have liked a hetero story like theirs.

I loved all the characters, their diversity as species and how "politically correct" declarations were avoided. Everything is how it should be and we, as human or paranormal individuals, are not defined by our sexual orientations.

Becca Seymour is now on my list of writers to keep an eye on. Straight or gay, I believe many of you will enjoy Thicker than Water! Enjoy!

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/202...

[M'rella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am bored out of my mind.


I knew from the first chapter who the dirty cop was.
I don’t know why one of the characters is Black. His skin is black, that’s about it. No cultural references, no background.
I feel like I am missing chapters. Sure, it all makes sense in author’s head, but I, as a reader, need a connection, a background info, the characters' motivations, the first frigging installment or at least the first three chapters.

What possessed me to last until 62% mark? Bad writing. Boredom. I kept skipping, yet there was this key word - “focus” - in different variations, that repeated 70 times over 210 pages. It kept me mesmerised and … “focussed“.


And now I have cotton balls for brains.... or worse 😠



PS Did I mention holes in the story? Um... yeah, it was rather holey. Fishnet stocking are more solid than this tale.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a complex, intricate book, so if you're reading with a hard headache you'll likely miss details. Be warned. It was otherwise a really good book!
Being half out of my mind with pain didn't stop me from liking the book, though. I really enjoyed how the world is set, the crime fighting system, and the character development. I do wish we'd gotten a bit more detail in the worldbuilding. There's details left a bit too ambiguous, and it took me a while to find out it's set in Australia and not an imaginary city or a generic location. I know some people gripe about exposition, but I like the details. They make the books more special.

[Kristy Maitz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The start was pulling, characters interesting but writing stile, story development scattered. A lot of wholes inside the story plot stays unsaid (for example - Callen past). Even romance between Callen & Liam cant make it better. Why? Because there is no drama, no complicated moments between them - nothing. Their getting together is just it. So for me it was boring, boring boring.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5/5.0

“Thicker Than Water” immediately establishes Callen’s distinctive voice as a charming nonconformist with a tender heart.

Read full review in the 2020 May issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars

Thicker Than Water by Becca Seymour begins with a real bang and doesn’t let up. This novel is a fast-paced action thriller with a dash of romance thrown in for good measure. I really appreciated how the author chose to keep the attraction element between Thatch and Callen simmering almost the entire novel and give it just enough fodder to keep it percolating, but not overtake the plot. Instead, the book is really is all about unraveling the mystery of who is the head of the group developing the drug and the cold-blooded, systematic sacrifice of female shifters used to get results. When Callen finally learns just how those he loves are involved, his pain is realistic and his frantic worry to save others make for the heart of a good story that has multiple twists and turns.

Read Sammy’s review in its entirety here.

[Kim Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read this author before. This is a MM contemporary paranormal romance. Main characters are Callen a born wolf shifter and Thatch a new changed wolf shifter. Both belong to a secret arm of law enforcement. This book is set in Australia. Tragedy and fight scenes this book has it all. I’ll read more from this author. This book has the most amazing cover too.

[Shakera · Rating 4 out of 5]

When outcast, Callen Blackheath, breaks orders and rushes into a burning building, his life changed forever. In this building, he found two bodies, one belonging to his sister, who is now dead, and the other belonging to Thatch. Without knowing the connection Thatch has to his sister, Callen gets both bodies out of the burning building just in time. Together, can Callen and Thatch get the most lethal drug off the street and out of the hands of rogue shifters and other paranormals?

I have to say, I struggled with this a bit. I thought this was an exciting story, and there was a bit of humor to it, but something was missing for me. The characters were interesting enough, but I think a little more backstory on Thatch could have helped a little. There was too much effort in making him appear mysterious. Callen was a fantastic character. He was laid back, and his interactions with the vampire, Kent, added the comic relief. There was non-stop action, making almost every page a page-turner. If there is a sequel, I would be interested in reading it; hopefully, it will have Thatch’s backstory in it.

[DebbieReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Callen finds Thatch, the leader of a black ops task force, bleeding and bitten when he goes against orders, again. But Thatch was bitten by Callen's sister, and his niece is now missing and Thatch might be the only link to finding the child. But as the investigation spreads its net, Callen is forced to make some decisions, decisions that could cost him his heart.
I really REALLY enjoyed this from Ms Seymour! She usually writes fairly fluffy, contemporaries and this isn't fluffy, nor contemporary but it is great!
I loved the twist to werewolf lore, that the oly way for a wolf to be made is to be bitten. But that act kills the wolf and transfers all their memories to the new wolf.
I loved the supporting cast, and all the little . .hints/clues/dropped comments . . .about them. Some questions wre thrown up, that haven't been answered here. However, in my personal experience, its best not to wait for those questions to be answered cos the last time I felt like this, I had a right proper hissy fit when those questions were NOT answered LOL So I won't voice those questions, and then I can't be dissappointed, right?
I loved Callen. He is funny and hilarious, and dark and deadly. He is deep and meaningful, but takes great pleasure in winding his friends up.
I loved that fact tht the bond between Callen and Thatch creep up on them, and there isn't that MINE moment at first meeting. It DOES come, but it's more growled out of Callen in reaction to someone else touching Thatch.
So why only 4 stars with all those things I loved?
Thatch isn't given a voice.
Now, I know I say it a lot, and I will continue to say it where I think it necessary but HERE I think it really needed. Thatch takes ALL of his Hazel's, Callen's sister, memories and thoughts and feelings. ALL of them. And that had to be confusing when they start to come through! When those memories sends them far north to find Hazel's daughter. When he comes face to face with that daughter. What was Thatch feeling? I needed that, I really did, and if I HAD Thatch, I have no doubt, not a single one, that this would have been a 5 star read.
I don't know if this is a stand alone, or there will be more of this group of people, I hope so, I really do!
But I don't get Thatch, and so. . .
4 good, great solid stars
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**

[Mari Cardenas · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! 

So, I picked this book on a whim and what do you know? It actually paid off. LOL I'm a big fan of urban fantasy books and Thicker Than Water really hit its mark with me. 

Smart-mouthed SCIB Agent Callen Blackheath finds himself involved in a new case after his latest act of defying orders lands him in the middle of an operation that turns more personal than he would've wanted. The only good thing to come out of it, is finding a place in a task force lead by Liam "Thatch" Thatcher and getting close to the man as he helps Thatch adapt to his new shifter status and the bond and memories that come with it. As they close in on the bad guys, Callen and Thatch will need to trust in each other and their team to put an end to an operation that could potentially harm lots of shifters.

While the book is told from Callen's POV, it's well-rounded enough that I never felt like I didn't know Thatch enough, same with the rest of the secondary cast. Callen was all attitude and defiance with his immediate boss, yet, he fit so well with Thatch's team from the start. Thatch was a great team leader, and just perfect for Callen on a personal level. Even if there was enough going on with the investigation and the romance simmered on the background, the chemistry was definitely there from the moment they met. I actually loved that, it was a slow-burn and the UST was so thick it could be cut with a knife, but the author kept in mind that they were on a very important mission so it made sense for them to wait. 

The book was action-packed, fast-paced, with a fantastic main and secondary cast and a great, complex storyline that I couldn't get enough of. I am aware Ms. Seymour mainly writes contemp romance, but I really hope she writes more urban fantasy in the future, because she certainly has a gift for this kind of books.

*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. *** 

[Lana (Lore & Lullabies) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I didn't know I needed.

Thicker than Water is a queer paranormal romance. Callen is a shifter agent of the Supernatural Crimes Investigation Bureau, but is more of a rip-sh*t-and-bust kind of guy than a follow procedure guy. On mission where he does indeed rip-sh*+-and-bust, he stumbles into a much bigger case that gets him seconded to a secret unit within the bureau. This case is close to home for Callen will do whatever it takes to solve it, even if it means following the rules.

Becca Seymour has put a unique spin on how shifters are turned that I haven't read before and I was 100% here for it.

The ensemble cast was brilliant. I was invested in everyone. The sarcasm, humour and witty banter throughout the relationships, and Callen's monologue was hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud a few times.

I'm aware I haven't stayed anything about the romance. That is because it is so good, you should just read it and see it all play out. Just know that it involves one of the most intimate first shifts I've ever read.

I want more of this series so badly!!!

Actual rating 4.5

[Rosabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for another book when I found this one, it was a shifter story with an interesting plot so I went for it.

The story is about Callen, a wolve shifter who is also a cop and is investigating a case related to drugs, while scouting for information he finds himself in the middle of another operation that involves his sister. There he meets Thatch, the human/cop that his sister turns into a werewolve before dying. And then shit happens!

The story was interesting, the worldbuilding was decent, and the case was actually really well crafted. I had some issues with the writing, it was difficult to me to understand sometimes what was going on, English is not my first language but normally I don't have this problem.

Also, how they handled death sometimes made me uncomfortable, especially Jensen's, the guy died and in a hour Callen was lusting after Thatch in front of the whole team, not cool.

Overall was a fun read! 🥰

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Callen Blackheath left his pack and his sadistic father behind. He joined a supernatural investigative unit. His investigation leads him to Thatch.

He find his sister dead. She bit Thatch right before she died, giving him pieces and parts of her memories. Thatch is dealing with becoming a wolf shifter, trying to stop a deadly new drug and Callen. Which might be the biggest problem he’s ever faced.

I loved Callen and Thatch’s give and take. Kind of a fast slow burn. Really good, numerous characters with surprising depth. Inventive story line involving several types of shifters, vampires, and humans. Different type of story for this author but I liked it.

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written, fast paced, action packed shifter mystery romance that had me hooked from the first page. This story just flowed so well that I couldn’t put it down. The main characters Callen and Thatch have bucket loads of chemistry and both are interesting and likeable. Callen is pretty laid back with a great sense of humour whilst Thatch, the team leader, is a bit more on the serious side but let’s himself go a bit with Callen. Some great side characters really add to the story. There’s no angst, lots of action, a slow burning romance and little nuggets of humour sprinkled throughout the story. A really enjoyable read that I highly recommended.

[Cheryl_cajun · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC read, I voluntarily give this book an honest review. Callen was about to get rimmed after he went rogue on mission stumbling into a special ops while finding a shock in the lab his sister shifted and a human lab tech, things get interesting at head quarters. Finding out the tech was really a team leader of the special force's he had no knowledge of.. being pulled into the new team with Thatch. Just love Callens flirtatious attitude towards Thatch, while Thatch appears unaffected on the outside is he really or is he just not interested.

[Devoted❤️Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb

I need more of the SICB, Callen, Thatch and the team! Becca Seymour weaves a fantastic urban fantasy world that had me on the edge and pulled at my emotions. “Every single moment had led me to this moment.” I loved the vibe between Thatch and Callen. From how they protected each other to how they communicated, they’re amazing partners. I just wish they had more “them” time but what they could find was smoking. With such a wonderful, entertaining cast of characters, I hope there’s more to come as I think more teammates need a HEA and I know there’s more adventures to be had.

[Dahlia Donovan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

I LOVE a good urban fantasy.

And Thicker Than Water is DEFINITELY a brilliant one.

Fast paced. Sexy supernatural creatures. Twists and turns. Highly Emotional moments. Romance. Love. It has everything you want.

It was the perfect read on a day that I definitely needed the distraction of being carried away on an adventure.

Highly recommend.

[Tracie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
I was really taken by Thicker Than Water, the way Ms Seymour brought her characters together and captured their essence and stories within the pages made for compelling reading leaving me unable to put it down. A well-paced and delivered paranormal m/m romance I can only hope there is more to come, and the author makes this book the start to an amazing series.

[Jayne {aka cupcakesandbookshelves} · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not your usual shifter story, different and refreshing. Becca is a new author to me and she had me intrigued from the very start. Loved the characters and watching them evolve along with the story. Really enjoyable.

*ARC kindly given in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much*

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shifter romance with a cozy murder mystery.
Loved it ❤️

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads

This is an exciting and fast paced supernatural crime story. The story follows Callan, a bad boy special agent as he accidentally becomes embroiled in a dangerous secret investigation. When Callan’s own family is threatened, Callan must work with his new secret team to protect his niece and the other wolf shifters at risk.

I loved the Australian setting of this story and I liked the unusual characters. Thatch’s secret team has the kind of familial camaraderie fans of American crime dramas will appreciate and I enjoyed the way the author weaves Aboriginal communities into the shifter world building.

The romance between Callan and Thatch is a little bit instalove and a little too easy. I like the two men together but I wouldn’t necessarily read the book for the romance. Similarly, while the writing is strong enough to tell the story, the characters aren’t very well developed and there’s a lack of depth and complexity to the relationships in the story. There’s a breathless ‘and then, and then, and then…” structure to the story that sometimes feels more like teen fanfic than published novel. Fans of Marvel cinema will probably enjoy this but readers who love Patricia Briggs, TJ Klune or Kelley Armstrong’s shifters may find this shifter adventure somewhat disappointing.

[Ericka · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
1🌶️

Becca is a new to me author! I discovered this book during SYKD and am so happy that happened!

I did not realize this was an urban fantasy when I started reading this (I usually go in blind). It’s Full of shifters and vampires! Callen and Thorpe are both part of the SICB, a form of paranormal law enforcement. They’re unexpectedly thrown together and end up working a very emotional case. There are a few twist and turns trying to find the ones responsible. I ended up falling in love with and becoming invested in the side characters and so I do plan to continue the series.

There are a few times where it’s a lot of information aka world building, so it can read kind of slow, but it didn’t take from the story.

If you like banter, forced proximity, hurt/comfort, and a bit of found family feels, I think this is a good one for your TBR.

[Kathy Wideman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. Callen is a member of the Supernatural Investigation & Crime Bureau (SICB). While looking into something for a case, things become personal for him. His sister is found dead in a lab he learns they could be after his niece. Callen meets Liam while at the same lab. Liam is bitten and turned. Liam is the head of special task force. He could be the one to help Callen take these people down. What neither expected was to develop feelings for each other. Callen must battle his feelings for Liam while focusing on the case. Things are trickier than they first expected. Could someone from the agency be helping the bad guys? This was an interesting read. I liked that is was different than other shifter books I have read. I would love to read more about these characters and this agency. I will be keeping my eye out. Great job Becca.

[Raven and Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This has such a different take on shifters and I loved it! This story was awesome and I can’t wait for the next one.

[Jena (lit_editions) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sexy & Action Packed

Loved it! I absolutely love wolf-shifter novels and do not have enough in my arsenal.

This one was great and definitely recommend.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice start to a series, the writing style is a bit stiff. Callen and Liam were pretty set from the beginning, the author tried to build tension between them getting together but it was rather bland. There was a lot of action and it was pretty fast paced